Shop My Stash #2

My first Shop My Stash post was a few months ago and in all honesty, I haven't really been making much progress in that endeavour. Partly because of my unending acquisition of new products, partly because I tend to stick with the same few things over and over again. In the morning rush to get ready, I grab reliable products that I know will do their best to transform my barely-awake face into a slightly more presentable form. It's not often a time to start experimenting with new eyeshadow combinations or to start mixing my own bases. But that doesn't mean I shouldn't attempt to switch up my current product rotation with several items that could easily substitute for what I'm already using. I had a dig around my makeup stash and picked out a few things that I hope to pay more attention to and make a concerted effort to use.

l-r: Daylight (matte), Gaze (shimmer), Color Du Jour (metallic), Lezard (matte)

This Lancome Color Design Sensational Effects Eyeshadow quad was been overlooked and neglected for a very long time. I bought it from Chemist Warehouse a while ago as it was super cheap for a high end product and the colours seemed appealing enough. The shadows are good quality, very nicely textured and decently pigmented. Color Du Jour reminds me of Laura Mercier African Violet, but warmer and more red (it's said to be similar to MAC Trax). The tiny size and inbuilt mirror makes it ideal for travelling with, especially as there's a good mix of finishes and light/dark shades.

Sportsgirl Time to Shine Bronze Cosmetic Palette is an old favourite. I never touch the lip gloss included in it, but the eyeshadows really surprised me in terms of quality. Sportsgirl is a bit hit and miss with their cosmetics and they're not exactly renowned for putting out incredible eyeshadows, but the ones in the Bronze Palette are without a doubt the best I've tried from the brand (miles superior than the Work of Heart eyeshadow palette). I've previously used the last two shades so much that there's a considerable dent in both pans. I remember being really happy with the performance and look of these eyeshadows, so I'm looking forward to getting some wear out of them soon. It's times like these I wish I knew how to depot eyeshadows so I could throw away the rest of the palette that just unnecessarily takes up space.

l-r: Face of Australia Sundae, Australis Screen Siren, Models Prefer Brown & Dirty, Maybelline Tough as Taupe

I wish I could find a way to make Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe work, because something tells me that it does have its purpose and value, I just haven't been able to tap into it yet. I mean, it's a matte, neutral cream eyeshadow — that in itself is exciting. As a base, it does increase the vibrancy and longevity of powder eyeshadows it's paired with. It also has the potential to effect subtle changes to the finish or colour. As Lau and Carolyn suggested in my post on L'Oréal Infallible eyeshadow in Tender Caramel, using a matte base like Tough as Taupe could be just the solution to tone down a super shimmery shade.

The Models Prefer Mineral Eyeshadow Duo in Brown & Dirty was something I purchased while trying to convince myself I didn't need Urban Decay Naked2 (needless to say, that plan backfired). The shadows aren't the most vibrant, richly pigmented or long-lasting, but the neutral colours and soft, satin finish are perfectly acceptable for a more low-key, daytime look. The peachy champagne gold and cool, slightly purplish, bark-brown taupe work well together.

In the blush department, I pulled out Australis Paparazzi Perfect High Definition Blush in Screen Siren. I honestly feel this blush is comparable in quality to MAC (though admittedly I don't have any MAC blushes — this is just from my experience swatching them in the store). It is super pigmented, finely milled, soft and blendable. This is a warm matte peach with some red tones, which makes it a bit tricky for me to apply without looking overdone or ruddy. I guess I'll just have to find the right brush and adopt a very light hand.

For lips, there's Face of Australia Sheer Gloss lip crayon in Sundae. This MLBB shade is extremely reminiscent of YSL Rouge Volupté Shine in 9 (Nude in Private). Back when Tiffany was tempting me with the YSL, I may even have placed a bit of Sundae on my hand and then headed to the shops to swatch Nude in Private next to it to compare. Seeing how similar they were side-by-side effectively put an end to that lemming, though I now have a new one for 19 (Fuchsia in Rage) thanks to Lisa Eldridge.

Speaking of YSL, my Touche Éclat barely ever gets used. It does make a powerful difference in terms of highlighting darker/discoloured areas of my face (including under the eyes), but not so much as a concealer for blemishes. I just never remember to use it because I'm reluctant and too time-poor to add another step to my base makeup after I've put on foundation. It's quite fiddly in that I have to be careful with the amount and placement, and sometimes I need to mix it with a tiny bit of moisturiser so it applies better to the skin. But maybe if I can be bothered to wake up a few minutes earlier one day, I'll give this pen a whirl.

Finally, we have the Clarins Toning Lotion with Camomile for normal or dry skin. This alcohol-free toner was in the unbelievably good value Renewing set that I mentioned I bought on Boxing Day in my January Favourites. I've seen similar value packs pop up at Myer and David Jones recently, though unfortunately none of them included a 30ml tube of the Multi-Active Night Youth Recovery Comfort Cream for Normal to Dry Skin that I'm now hooked on (only one had a 15ml tube which I thought was too small to warrant a purchase). I figured since I never use toner, I might as well try to regularly use this product and finish it up. I like that it's non-drying and doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or stripped of moisture, though I'd need to use it more consistently for a longer period of time to comment on any skin care benefits it has, if any.

Lipstick Loopy

I'm going through a lipstick phase right now. Can't get enough of the stuff. A week ago I did a significant purge of ancient, unwanted or otherwise neglected lippies, mentally freeing myself to buy some more. I was also struck with the tremendous urge to reorganise my entire lipstick collection. Not the greatest thing to embark on when it's past midnight and one has work in less than 7 hours.

Last Friday, I popped into Sportsgirl and automatically wandered to the beauty section. I was casually trying on nail polishes and lipsticks without any intention to buy, but once I put Pretty Please on my lips, I knew I couldn't leave without it. I was also reminded of Pink Ladies, the last Sportsgirl lipstick I bought (previously alluded to but never featured in detail). Largely inspired by Amanda, I thought I'd make an updated Sportsgirl lipstick collection post.

l-r: Sportsgirl Pink Ladies, Sportsgirl Pretty Please (faint dark line in the middle from unwashed eyeliner)

l-r: Sportsgirl Pretty Please, Sportsgirl Pink Ladies

Sportsgirl Pretty Please appears fairly unspectacular in the bullet and swatched on the hand, but somehow transforms into a true "my lips but better" shade on the lips. I've worn it over lip balm in the lip swatch, so the colour is a bit lighter and less intense than if I'd applied it to bare lips. It gives a soft, polished pout, bringing the rest of the makeup together and adding that finishing touch to the face. It's such a natural-looking, relatively subdued and versatile shade that I've chucked it into my everyday bag, rather than keeping it with the rest of my lipsticks which are displayed far more than they're used. Pretty Please is a medium, brownish pink that doesn't lean mauve or overly nude, the kind of neutral that I imagine could belong to the same family as MAC Patisserie, NARS Dolce Vita or Chanel Rouge Coco Mademoiselle. While it is dusty and muted on the lips, there is a pleasing touch of brightness and colour to it (perhaps a hint of peach?) that prevents it from being too mature-looking or dull. It's smooth and creamy, but not dense or slippery, with a glossy finish and nice pigmentation, but slightly drying on the lips.

Sportsgirl Pink Ladies was purchased in August last year when I was deeply rooted in my pink lipstick phase (I'm not sure whether I'm safely out of it, even now). It looks spectacularly bright in the tube, but what convinced me to buy it was that it actually applies quite sheer. Because of the glossy formula, it requires a couple of layers to be built up in intensity and can be worn very lightly or layered with other colours. It's a bright, cool pink that to my eyes, is still very much a party/going out colour. Admittedly, it's probably not the most flattering pink for my skin tone, but it's a fun, fashionable shade that at least it isn't too pale (unlike Sportsgirl Beauty Queen).

My Sportsgirl lipstick collection now includes 5 lipsticks, and I could easily acquire more, but I try to be as selective as possible with my lipstick purchases (at least in theory). I was tempted by Berrylicious, and previously the now discontinued Night Owl, but managed to resist. At an affordable $9.95 a pop, Sportsgirl reliably put out a range of trendy, youthful colours with good formulations and cute, functional packaging (though I wish they would bring back the colour-coded sticker labels at the bottom of the lipstick).

A picture of my revamped lipstick storage. The clear box is from Daiso and the lipstick stand behind it is the same one I bought from Target a year ago. I do have more lipsticks that I keep with the rest of my makeup storage, but I figured at least this way, it'll be easier to see the majority of the shades that I reach for the most. The only thing I'm cognisant of is that non-makeup obsessed parents/friends will probably be freaked out by my sheer excess if they saw it, but they should know me by now.

Rockin' Rose Gold

There was a period when I was obsessed with finding the perfect rose gold polish. I decided Orly Rage was the shade to hunt for after trying out a range of unsatisfactory metallic/foil substitutes that didn't have any rose gold in them (Revlon Crème Brûlée, Chi Chi Go Go Girl, Ulta3 Envy). But even Rage fell short of my expectations. I still found it too frosty and more bronze than rose gold. Why was it impossible to find a polish that resembled rose gold? I decided it was an impossible task and let it go. But as I was casually browsing the shops the other day, I stumbled across a polish that reminded me of my abandoned quest: Sportsgirl Rose Gold. Not the most imaginative name, but at least it's no secret what they were aiming for.

Two coats of Orly Rage with three coats of Sportsgirl Rose Gold. That's what I'm talking 'bout. I never thought I'd stumble across a polish that was so intensely, blindingly rose gold. It's anything but subtle. The rose gold is very pronounced and almost borders on copper. It's probably a touch too orange rather than paler and more pink, but I find it more fitting with how loud and dazzling the polish is overall.

Rose Gold is basically densely packed, small hexagonal glitter in a clear base. I think a foil polish like Orly Rage is necessary as a base for a much more even, complete look than if the glitter were layered on its own. Rage in comparison is cooler, more subdued and not as copper in colour, which makes it the ideal backdrop for the glitzier, darker and more orange Rose Gold. This dries a little coarser than other glitters, especially the tips of the nails, so I filed mine down slightly for a smoother edge. Blinged up nails might not be appropriate for all occasions, but are consistently my go-to choice for a party, going out or weekend look.

Top 10 Nail Polishes

I was looking through my hot mess of a nail polish drawer this morning, and had an idea to do a post on my favourite ten polishes. Unsurprisingly, there's a lot of glitter featured. Glitter just holds my attention. There's more detail, more interest, more festivity in a glitter polish. But a good creme can't be overlooked (mainly pastel in persuasion, and from the green, blue or purple family), as well as intensely vibrant golds and reds.

l-r: Essie Absolutely Shore, Revlon Whimsical, Revlon Popular, Essie A Cut Above

l-r: China Glaze Snow Globe, Sportsgirl Storm, OPI Teenage Dream, OPI GoldenEye,
OPI The One That Got Away, Revlon Scandalous

l-r: Essie Absolutely Shore, Sportsgirl Storm

Essie Absolutely Shore 
The perfect pale seafoam green, which is one of my favourite colours. What I love about this polish is that the colour on your nails is exactly how it appears in the bottle.  That's always been a pet peeve of mine when it comes to pastel polishes, as I find they often apply darker and flatter on the nails. Even though I need 3 coats for completely streak-free application, the formula itself is very smooth and easy to work with.

Sportsgirl Storm
I'd go so far as to say this is my favourite polish, ever. It was discontinued ages ago and I barely can use it now because I've already gone through 50% of the bottle and it's seriously gloopy, but something about the colour is just so perfect to me. There are probably similar shades out there (Essie Cocktail Bling, maybe), but nothing will match the exact lightness/darkness and mix of grey and purple of Storm. It's simply foolproof.

l-r: OPI GoldenEye, OPI The One That Got Away, Essie Absolutely Shore, Sportsgirl Storm

OPI GoldenEye
Already raved about here, but there's been no loss of enthusiasm. All other gold polishes can just go home, because GoldenEye can't be trumped.

OPI The One That Got Away
I really fell in love with this polish the last time I decided to wear it. There's a beautiful brilliance and depth to this slightly vampy raspberry with a glass fleck finish. Has to be seen in real life to be fully appreciated.

l-r: China Glaze Snow Globe over Sportsgirl Storm, Revlon Whimsical over Essie Absolutely Shore

China Glaze Snow Globe 
So, so pretty. My glitter dreams in a bottle. The iridescence of the different glitter particles is incredible (see more here and here). It's basically crushed opals on the nail, and I absolutely love the colours that it reflects.

Revlon Whimsical
I was ecstatic when I finally tracked this down in the US. It still hasn't made its way to Australia, and I'm not exactly holding my breath. I'm now berating myself for not buying a backup bottle when I had the chance. The composition is simple enough, with a sheer greenish blue base and pink and blue hexagonal glitter with smaller bits and blobs. But it's just so childlike and delicate. When this runs out, I may have to fork out for the Deborah Lippmann option because I can't be without it.

Essie A Cut Above over OPI Teenage Dream

OPI Teenage Dream
One day I will probably grow out of liking pink and sparkly things. In the meantime, I'll continue to exalt Teenage Dream. The circular holographic glitter in this is everything.

Essie A Cut Above
See above. I love the generosity of glitter and how relatively easy it is to spread uniformly around the nail. I usually wear A Cut Above on its own, though it's perfect for layering and gradient effects.

l-r (pinky and ring finger): Revlon Scandalous, Revlon Popular

Revlon Scandalous
To be honest, I haven't worn this polish in a while, but I remember the first time I painted this on my nails and how it exceeded all my expectations. The base colour is opaque in 2 coats and the glitter is plentiful. The blackish purple and magenta glitter combination is darkly alluring for autumn and winter.

Revlon Popular
An ethereal and super girly polish. Very pale pink base with packed silver microglitter and silver hexagonal glitter that appears almost white when layered. Another polish ideal for layering, though the base isn't as sheer as Revlon Whimsical. Because of the lack of contrast between the pink and the silver glitter, and the overall lightness of Popular, there's an understated quality to it that's in direct contrast to the exuberant bling of OPI Teenage Dream and Essie A Cut Above.

How Much Is My Face Worth?

I haven't done a tag on this blog before, and this one seemed to be the easiest one to start off with as it requires no thinking on my part. To my understanding, all you need to do is add up the price of all the products you usually use in the morning, and invariably become shocked at the total cost. I've picked items that I used on a particular day last week, so this is more or less my current routine. If I'd done this tag a month ago, the NARS Sheer Glow would be substituted for Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum or Missha Signature BB cream, the Benefit Hervana would be Rimmel or a Bourjois round pot blush, and the Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner would be a Maybelline gel eyeliner or Savvy by DB pencil.

For a long time now, I've been starting off with the eyes and then doing my base. I know that usually it's the reverse, but I just find it easier that way. I've been neglecting my powder eyeshadows for cream products, mostly due to laziness. I'd say that currently, I use cream eyeshadow for at least 3 of the 5 weekdays I wear makeup. I know I harp on about it constantly, but it's really been all about Maybelline Bad to the Bronze, usually darkened slightly with a deeper colour (here, I picked L'Oréal Infallible eyeshadow in Bronzed Taupe). I've been liking Benefit Busy Signal on my lower lashline and how it seriously doesn't budge. If I can be bothered, once or twice a week I'll use either of my Urban Decay Naked palettes, Wet n Wild Comfort Zone or Silent Treatment, or Revlon Polished Bronze. Cheap dual-ended Sportsgirl eyeshadow brushes, Bourjois Liner Feutre and my Shiseido eyelash curler are staples. Benefit They're Real has been my mascara of choice since I bought it.

I've been alternating between NARS Sheer Glow (applied with a Real Techniques Buffing Brush) and Make Up For Ever HD foundation (applied with a Real Techniques Stippling Brush). I figure I might as well use up my higher end/"better" foundations since I probably won't be able to finish up both before it's technically time to dispose of them thoughtfully. According to the instructions in the box, you're supposed to apply the NARS with your hands (presumably to warm up the product and have it blend more seamlessly into your skin), but I still use a brush for convenience. Lately, I've also been powdering using my Real Techniques Powder Brush with the middle section of the Australis Face-A-Holic palette, which contains their pressed powder in Deep Natural. I never used to powder, but I'm finding it does make a significant difference to how long my foundation lasts.

Lastly, I do my cheeks and highlight. Blush is probably the one thing I change up the most, but I just picked Benefit Hervana (applied with my Real Techniques Blush Brush) as it's a nice all-rounder. I've been liking the 4ml bottle of Benefit High Beam that was included in the Go TropiCORAL Lip & Cheek Kit for my highlight, though I also frequently reach for my Jemma Kidd Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Crème. I'll sometimes use bronzer to contour (Benefit Hoola, NYX Taupe or the matte contour colour in my Napoleon Perdis Ultimate Contour Palette), usually applied with either my Real Techniques Contour Brush or Multi-Task Brush.

So what's the damage? If something belonged to a kit or set, I've included the price of the whole thing just to make it easier.

• NARS Sheer Glow in Fiji $46
• Benefit Hervana $30
• Maybelline Bad to the Bronze $12
• Sportsgirl eye brush $3
• Ecotools concealer brush (part of their Bamboo 5 Piece brush set) $26 (yes, you read right. The set's $26 in Australia. Crazy.)
• Bourjois Liner Feutre $14 (usually $24, but I purchased it with a $10 off voucher)
• Maybelline Baby Lips in Relieving Menthol $4
• Benefit They're Real mascara $25
• Benefit High Beam (part of the Go TropiCORAL Lip & Cheek Kit) $30 
• Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Busy Signal $21
• Shiseido eyelash curler $15
• L'Oréal Infallible eyeshadow in Bronzed Taupe $10
• Real Techniques Blush Brush $15
• Real Techniques Buffing Brush (part of the Core Collection) $30

Total: $281

Cue shock and horror. If I'd included items that I sometimes use (along with primers), the figure would be well above $300. If I'd replaced some of the more expensive items with cheaper alternatives and ditched some brushes, it'd still be over $150. But in terms of cost per wear, I still think I get my money's worth. A more horrendous prospect would be a tag like, "how much is my makeup collection worth?". I don't want to know.

Confetti Sprinkles

I popped into Sportsgirl the other day, not really expecting to buy anything, and I noticed a new glitter polish on display. (I also may have spotted a few new Pout About It lipstick shades and I may have bought another pink lipstick but the thought is enough to trigger another bout of self-flagellation that I'll stop there.) Sportsgirl All That Glitters (gold hex glitter suspended in a clear base) has been a huge hit for me, so I didn't hesitate to try this new one out. 100's and 1000's consists of red, silver, gold, blue and green hexagonal glitter in a clear base. The glitter pieces are fairly small and uniform in size. The colour composition reminds me a lot of OPI Rainbow Connection, but the glitter in 100's and 1000's isn't as dense and not differently shaped. It also dries super smooth, without any roughness or bumps. This is 5 coats (yes, I have a lot of time on my hands). I love the effect but it's not something I'd be rushing to repeat given how much patience is required to get to the final result. As a top coat, I don't think this would be as versatile as All That Glitters, which is why I prefer it layered on its own.