And Now, a Spending Ban

I'm back! For the most part, I loved New York and had a fairly flawless time there, apart from the two massive bruises on my legs from bumping into the corners of the bed because our hotel room was so tiny, losing a purchase from Gap because I left the shopping bag somewhere, and walking around so much during my time there but somehow not losing any weight. But those are truly minor quibbles. I loved finally being able to be in and explore a city that I'd always dreamt of visiting. I saw my favourite Impressionist artworks in person, had Steve Kazee sign my Playbill after seeing Once on Broadway, got up close and personal with Niagara Falls on Maid of the Mist, ate at Momofuku and Gramercy Tavern, and experienced the joy of flying 21 hours, twice. But most predictably, I bought makeup like I’d never be able to buy makeup again. I’ve lugged a treasure trove of stuff back home and probably have enough to fuel posts until at least the end of the year.

Sephora is the black hole into which my money disappeared. What I bought there, along with MAC goodies, a few drugstore purchases and some other random things, comprise my shamefully indulgent bounty.

The largest concentration of items are Benefit products, mainly because of the significant price difference between the US and Australia. I got a little overexcited buying 3 boxed powders (which at the end of the day, aren't exactly cheap at around $30 each with 8.875% sales tax) and even a $25 mascara, despite the fact I have about 5 unopened tubes from different brands at home, and I'm perfectly content with Maybelline Define-A-Lash, which I can easily buy for $10. I thought about buying more NARS blushes but I had no idea what to get apart from Orgasm, which now that I have, I'd be interested to compare against my existing blush collection as I've apparently purchased countless dupes. I considered getting Sin, but opted for Benefit Dallas instead.

I'm somewhat surprised I didn't buy more from Revlon, given how much cheaper its products are in the US compared to Australia. I was thrilled to finally track down Whimsical, and I also managed to test the real deal (Deborah Lippmann Glitter in the Air) at Bloomingdale's, and can verify the two are more or less the same. I made sure to grab a bottle of Neutrogena Healthy Skin foundation, which isn't available in Australia, despite also buying NARS Sheer Glow, which the Neutrogena is said to be a cheaper alternative to. 

Part of me wanted to buy more at MAC because of how relatively affordable the products were compared to Australian prices, but I already had gone overboard with blush, so I stuck to their raved about lipsticks (in Creme Cup, Shy Girl and Viva Glam Nicki). I also bought Rubenesque Paint Pot, as I was looking for something slightly different to the medium taupes and bronzes that I usually go for. Despite much temptation, I resisted buying Fluidline, Eye Kohl pencils, Satin Taupe, concealer or any brushes.

I also bought a couple of Laura Mercier face products, two beigey, rosey, slightly more neutral blushes, a Stila eyeliner pen and a small bottle of the seemingly polarising Caudalie Beauty Elixir. Posts about most of the stash to come. In the meantime, I need to battle jetlag and the depressing reality that my holiday is over and returning to work is just around the corner.