Project Pan

It's been a while but I'm back today to share my project pan with you. After Sam left I decided it was probably time to cut back on my shopping habits for a while, at least until we move. I've basically grown out of my current storage. I do have a new vanity waiting for me for when we move so I will re-evaluate once I get all set up at the new place. Another reason I'm cutting back is that I've never actually hit pan on a product. I almost never use anything up (besides mascara). To me, it's important that I appreciate the products that I have and get rid of things I don't want hanging around any more.

My rules are fairly simple. Items will be counted if I hit pan or use it up. I'm not completely banning myself from shopping but I'm not buying as much and trying to limit myself only to limited edition products. I put 5 items I'm really focusing on in this little basket that I keep on my vanity. Obviously everything in my stash is fair game but I'm really working on these 5 things. I don't really know how this project will end. It might be a number of products or a certain time frame, I just haven't gotten that far yet.

 These are three things I'm trying to use up. I've had this bottle of Neutrogena's Healthy Skin Enhancer for a long time. It's not really a tinted moisturizer as much as it's a light foundation. It has a slightly dewy finish, SPF 20 and it works well with dry skin. I also love airless pumps. But it can be difficult to work with and many days I struggle with it to keep it from looking slightly patchy. I probably won't repurchase this.
The EOS lipbalm is about half way, not including the wedges underneath. Lots of people love these but I don't really get it. It smells nice and the packaging is unique if not a little inconvenient. But it feels very waxy and it doesn't really hydrate my lips all that well. I'm ready for this to be out of my stash.
Maybelline's the Colossal mascara is probably my very favorite mascara! It makes my lashes look long and full and dark. But I have several other mascaras that need to be used up too so I'm working on getting this used up. It's very near the end of it's life.

Two products I'm just trying to hit pan on. ELF's Studio Blush in Tickled Pink is definitely one of my favorites. It's a little more peachy than what's showing up here. It works well with my skin tone and goes with almost everything. One of my things to do is layer it under a little bit of Benefit Hoola. It's the most natural way for me to look a little more sun-kissed.
I've had Maybelline Dream Matte Powder for as long as I have had the Neutrogena tinted moisturizer. It's a great powder. A little but not too much coverage, matte finish and it buffs into the skin really nicely. I've never found a foundation that this doesn't play nicely with.

So that's it! I'll update you periodically on this project. No hard and fast rules here, just trying to be appreciative of what I have. I love reading these types of posts so if you are working on one and blogged about it, let me know!

Deborah Lippmann Across the Universe

AHHH! I love this! I was wanting it pretty badly when I got it but for real, this is incredible! Uriah actually picked this one for me to wear and I'm so glad I did. Across the Universe is a blue jelly with light blue and green glitter. This is 4 coats plus Colorstay top coat. I probably could have stopped at 3 but there was a little bit of unevenness that I wanted to fix. Formula was fantastic. I didn't have to fool around to get lots of the big glitters on my nails. I got just the right amount with a normal technique. Overall, this is a fantastic polish. I don't have anything else like it!

Polish Debauchery Haul!

What happens when two polish junkies spend a week together?

This! We ended up going to three different malls, one Cosmetics Company Outlet, Ulta twice, and Target three times (I think). We did other things besides shop but this is what I have to show you today. You might want to get a drink and settle in, this is a LONG post.

 Zoya Charla, Sally Hansen CSM Loves Me Not, Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Pacific Blue, Wet N Wild Megalast Through the Grapevine, Wet N Wild Megalast Bite the Bullet, Revlon Colorstay Top Coat

The first three were lemmings, especially Pacific Blue. I've hunted for Pacific Blue for a while. The Wet N Wilds were buy one, get one 50% off but they aren't that expensive at full sale price. I know I've said this a few times but I really just needed a new topcoat and I've heard good things about this one.

Nails Inc. Topping Lane, Nails Inc, Sweets Way, Deborah Lippmann Across the Universe, Deborah Lippmann Mermaid's Dream, Butter London No More Waity Katie, Butter London Lovely Jubbly

All of these were major lemmings for me and my firsts from these brands! 

Lush Mask of Magnaminty, Bubblegum Lip Scrub, Heavanilli Massage Bar, Sultana of Soap, (not pictured) Cosmetic Warrior Fresh Face Mask

My first Lush items! There are two near me and even then they are both more than an hour away. We ended up visiting both. The only things I was absolutely determined to get were Bubblegum, Sultana of Soap, and a fresh face mask. The first Lush didn't have any of the fresh face masks so I ended up with the Mask of Manaminty. It's the only thing I haven't used yet. I love everything else. It all smells wonderful (except Cosmetic Warrior).

Benefit Sugarlicious set, Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream, MAC Fix+ mini, Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup, MAC Lipglass in Pink Lemonade, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains in Lovesick and Honey, MAC Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in In Anticipation

AHHH! I'm such a Benefit fangirl and I'm LOVING this set! Pretty much everything here has been major love even though half of it was unplanned. It's been a struggle to find the right match for me in the Invisible Fluid but this one is perfect (1N1, if you are wondering).

MAC 15 Pan Pro Palette, Motif, Jest, Woodwinked

Well, I got caught up in being at a MAC store for the first time and ended up with a palette. MAC is quickly turning into one of my favorite brands. I have 4 other shadows that I already owned that I need to depot.

Overall, I was happy with everything I got. I'm definitely going to be on a no buy for a while. I'm not really sure the terms of my no buy but we have so many things coming up in September and October that it probably won't matter that much anyways. If you want a review or swatches of anything in particular, let me know!

Butter London Lovely Jubbly

So hey, I'm back. Long time no see. Sam was here last week, she actually left almost a week ago. And as you can imagine, lots of fun times were had and many bottles of polish were purchased. This was one of them. It's one of my first Butter London polishes. I saw this on the Fall 2012 press release and I was like hmmm, how close is that to a China Glaze Prismatic. Answer is: very similar. The finish is very very close to that of the pristmatics. The glitter is a little more fine and the formula was a little frustrating. On my index finger is three coats, the other three are four coats. I had to let each coat dry completely or the glitter would clump up and be deposited at my tips. Not cool. It's a gorgeous color though and totally worth it. I also used a new topcoat - Revlon Colorstay. Of course using it with a glitter is not going to give me a fantastic idea of how well it works but I really needed a new one.
Now that the actual number of swatches doesn't matter to me, I'm considering posting more on this blog than just nail swatches. I actually have other hobbies besides nail polish but I'm not sure if I want to blog about them here or not. Any feedback is greatly appreciated.