#mariobadescu – Forty, Flirty & Fabulous

Shop My Stash March 2020 Results and Monthly Empties

Hi All! I hope you are all doing well and staying safe. I’m back with my February Shop My Stash results! I enjoy dipping into my collection and using products I haven’t used in a long time, or just haven’t given much of a chance.

My rule with this is if I don’t like the item after the month, I will move it out of my collection to make some room and let someone else enjoy it! You can check out my first Shop My Stash post for March.

These are the gorgeous products I used this month. And I did so well in using all of these, even though I was mostly at home and was not going out! I love applying makeup almost everyday. It makes me feel put together and like myself.

Before I go into how my month went, I wanted to say I’m switching it up just for April. Since I’ll be at home all month, I’ve decided to do a different Shop My Stash. I am going to use a different eyeshadow palette every day. I’ll be posting the palettes I’ve used every few days with swatches of the shades I used. I think this will be fun and a great way to use some of my palettes I’ve been neglecting.

So back to March. I used the Steve Laurant liner a few times. I kept forgetting about it, LOL! I do really like it. I did use both the Urban Decay Vice Lip Chemistry shades a lot and enjoy that product. It’s so different. It goes on almost matte and light, then it turns a bit deeper and glossier. I have the two lightest shades.

Here are the palettes I used:

I kind of forgot about this palette, too. I used it a few times, but kept reaching for other blushes and highlighters. I think I’ll keep it through the summer and if I don’t reach for it I’ll pass it on.

You can probably tell from how messy this Sigma Enchanted palette is, that I used it a lot in March! I really like this one, especially the shimmers and metallics. My favorite shimmers are Budding, Moonglade and Plume. The pinks and roses are so gorgeous! I am absolutely keeping this palette!

Here’s another keeper, the bareMinerals Gen Nude Eyeshadow Palette in Neutral. Such a gorgeous everyday palette. I can create a full look with this, either all mattes or with one of the shimmers on the lid.

So I am keeping all of these products for now.

On to my empties:

I had ten empties this month. I’m pretty proud of that. Staying at home, I’ve really been digging into my products. I have been consistent with my skincare, too!

I received the Kate Somerville Kx Active Concentrates Bio-Mimicking Peptides Serum in my February Boxycharm. I used it only on my neck and chin in the morning and evening. I really noticed firming in that area. I would purchase this again but it is $98! So…not right now.

I used up two toners — the Pixi Milky Tonic and the Skinfood Peach Sake Toner. I liked both of these. The Skinfood primer was probably my favorite, because it’s so refreshing. The Pixi Milky Tonic is hydrating. I would purchase these again.

I also used two mists. The Derma E UPLIFT Skin Beneficial Mist Mood Enhancing and the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea. I enjoyed both of them and would repurchase.

I used up the Emma Hardie Moringa Cleansing Balm. I like it, but I just started using the Farmacy Green Clean and I like that one more. It’s a smoother texture. I wouldn’t purchase this one again.

My last skincare items were a deluxe sample of the Amazing Grace lotion. Amazing Grace is my signature scent and I love it! And the DHC Urumai Cream is very thick and hydrating. It’s perfect for the winter, but since we are heading into warmer weather, I’ll be using a lighter lotion.

My two makeup items are the Urban Decay Brush Of Loose Powder and my favorite Mascara, the Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara. I would repurchase both, but I am good on powder and mascara right now. I’m really trying to use up what I have right now.

So, although I was at home most of the month, March was pretty good beauty-wise. I hope you stick around for my fun palette-a-day April (or whatever I decide to name it)!

January 2020 Beauty Favorites

Hi all! I hope you had an amazing week! I don’t know about you, but I am so glad that January is over. Bring on a fresh new month!

Below are my beauty faves for January. I didn’t purchase much this month, so these are mostly older items to me. As usual, If I have reviewed them before, I will include the link, if not, I will link to where you can purchase:

Pixi Beauty Retinol Jasmine Lotion — I use retinol products a few days a week and love using this as my last step at night.

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea — This is cooling and smells amazing. It also helps to brighten my dull winter skin.

StriVectin Peptight Tightening & Brightening Face Serum — I received this from BzzAgent a couple of weeks ago and have been using it every day (review to come).

Urban Decay Stay Naked Weightless Liquid Foundation — The shade I have is 20CP. It’s a bit light for me except for right now when I’m at my palest. I love how this makes my skin look, very smooth and youthful!

Urban Decay The Ultimate Brush Off Translucent Loose Setting Powder — I have the Universal Translucent shade of this. I love the texture of this powder. It’s very finely milled and doesn’t make my aging skin look textured! I do really use the brush that’s in the lid, but I can use it in a pinch.

e.l.f. 16HR Camo Concealer — This is in my 2020 Project Pan this year. I got this last spring and liked it okay. So I thought I should give it some love and use it up. I have found that I am really enjoying it. It’s full coverage and easy to blend.

Milk Makeup Mini Bronzer in Baked — I received this in a holiday gift set and was so excited to try it. And, it doesn’t disappoint! It’s easy to blend and the shade is so pretty on. This is the first cream bronzer that I have really enjoyed using.

Farsali Rose Gold Skin Mist — I received this in my November BoxyCharm. This was my first Farsali product, and I really love it. It has a fine mist and gives a light glow to the skin.

And…

Colourpop Going Coconuts Palette — I love this palette! It’s an amazing everyday palette that is more cooler tones. This has made me want to purchase more Colourpop palettes and I have! Colourpop releases so many palettes that I was kind of overwhelmed last year and only purchased a couple. But I’m really loving some of their current neutral collections.

I have enjoyed using what I have this month! I’ve really been going through my skincare, too. I will have my empties in my January Shop My Stash results coming up next.

What are your current favorites?

Ulta 21 Days of Beauty — Fall 2019 Haul

Hi all! 21 Days of Beauty is now over — so sad! I did enjoy shopping over the last three weeks stocking up for fall.

As I gathered everything I purchased, I realized I got much more than I did in the spring. I picked up items I wanted to try and items for an upcoming Instagram giveaway. It’s hard to pass up such great deals! And, I have purchased great drugstore items from Ulta’s Fall Haul this week and will probably pick a few up next week, too!

I love shopping at Ulta this time of the year, and I have been racking up the points! I will probably do a points haul at the end of the year.

I picked up:

Benefit Cosmetics Precisely My Brow Pencil Ultra-Fine Shape & Define

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Balm

Clinique Moisture Surge 72 Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator — 1 oz

Kylie Cosmetics Bare Velvet Lip Kit

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Cucumber and Green Tea

Mario Badescu Facial Spray With Aloe, Herbs and Rosewater

Urban Decay Online Only Travel Size Summer Solstice All Nighter Long-Lasting Makeup Setting Spray

Origins Fresh-Faced Faves Set

Kopari Coconut Lip Glossy in Clear

Too Faced Natural Face Highlight, Blush and Bronzing Veil Face Palette

MAC Cosmetics Lipstick Cream in Creme In Your Coffee

The items I’m most excited to use are the Benefit Precisely My Brow, the Origins set because it has a full sized eye cream and the Kopari Lip Glossy. A lot of this will go in my giveaway. I haven’t decided if I’m going to keep the Too Faced palette. It is so pretty!

Did you pick up anything during the sale?

Shop My Stash March 2019 Results and Monthly Empties

Hi All! Can you believe it’s almost April? It’s a nice, warmer day today (yesterday it snowed in Kansas City), and Easter is in a few weeks!

I’m here with the results of my March Shop my Stash. I had a fun time using products that I haven’t either used in a while or it’s newer to my collection and I want to give it a go. If I don’t like the item after the month, I will move it out of my collection to make some room!

My most used item from my stash was the Dose of Colors Desi x Katy Friendcation Eyeshadow Palette. I used the mattes in the palette all month long! Like I suspected, the metallics are too glittery for me. When I use them, all I see is glitter! And that’s not my everyday look. I am going to keep it, though, because the neutral mattes are so nice!

I used the tarte Rainforest of the Sea highlighting eyeshadow palette vol. III’s shimmer shades with my Friendcation palette. They are very pretty, but kind of boring. All the shades are so similar. I might end up passing this one on to my daughter.

The Laura Geller Baked Gelato Swirl Illuminator Palette is so pretty, but the shades are a bit dark for my skin. I might keep it and try again in the summer if I tan, or pass it along.

I am not a fan of the Becca Glow Gloss in Malibu Soleil. The shade isn’t very flattering on me. I probably won’t keep it.

The Julep Eyeshadow 101 in Champagne Shimmer is so pretty! I haven’t really given it a chance before. It’s nice for the inner corner, under the brow or even all over the lid. I paired it with the Friendcation palette and used it all over my lid — it was gorgeous!

Here are my empties for February and March:

I just have four empties for the last two months. I didn’t post empties in February because I only had the Smashbox spray then. I have been trying lots of new skincare, so I haven’t used up a lot. I’m almost out of a few more skincare items, so I should have more next month!

This month I used up the Derma E Firming DMAE Eye Lift, The Smashbox Photo Finish So Chill Coconut Primer Water, Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe Chamomile and Lavender and Derma E Purifying Daily Detox Scrub.

The Derma E eye cream is amazing! It really smooths my eye area. I also really love the Derma E scrub. It makes my skin so soft! The two sprays were also so nice. Especially the Smashbox So Chill Coconut. I’m sad that it was a limited edition.

This was a fun month. I found a couple of products I will continue to use and a few I’ll move out of my collection and let someone else love them!

I will be posting my April Shop My Stash tomorrow. Do you like to shop your stash?

Drugstore Haul and My Ulta Birthday Gift!

A couple of weeks ago, I went into Ulta to get my birthday gift, a min Nars Orgasm blush. I picked up a few other drugstore products (of course).

This is my Ulta birthday gift this year. I think I’ve tried a sample of this blush years ago when it was first popular, but I haven’t tried it since them. It’s really pretty on and perfect for the summer.

CoverGirl Katy Kat Gloss ($7.99 USD) is a lip gloss created by CoverGirl Katy Perry. I have it in the color Cateloup. This claims to give shiny lips, but it is is moussey and shimmery. I purchased it to wear over the L’Oreal lipstick, and I do, but it is opaque enough to wear on it’s own. I like the shade a lot, and of course, the cat on the applicator! There are 11 shades. Most of them are brights, so this is probably the only shade I would wear.

Enhanced with an indulgent chocolate aroma, Infallible Pro Matte Liquid Lipstick Les Chocolats scented provides all day full, matte coverage. I purchased this in Dose of Cocoa after I saw Youtuber Tati review it. I love the formula and applicator, but the color I chose isn’t for me. When I first wore it, my husband said I had blue lips! It’s not blue, but it is very cool toned. I do want to purchase this in a warmer shade.

Here are lip swatches:

unnamed (1) The L’Oreal one in on the left and the CoverGirl is on the right.

Wet n Wild Megaglo Loose Highlighting Powder in Moon Tears. This was $6.99. I could only find it in my nearby Ulta store, and it was the only one left. I got this because it has received rave reviews and is not easy to find. I like it. It’s really sparkly, thought. I’m going to use it a little more, but might pass it on to one of my daughters.

Wet n Wild Color Icon Baked Blush in Don’t Flutter Yourself. This was $4.99 and it’s limited edition. It’s a shimmery peachy-pink. It’s a great blush topper and I also like using it on my eyes.

Swatches of the face products:

At the left is the highlighter, the middle is the Wet n Wild blush and on the right is the Nars.

Wet n Wild Color Icon Eyeshadow Quad in Flock Party — $2.99. This is pretty, but not as pigmented as I would like:

The first two are a bit light on my skin, but the other two look okay. I’m still playing with this palette. For the price, it’s a great deal!

I did not take individual photos of the Wet n Wild Perfect Pout Lip Scrub in Citrus Elixir ($3.99) or the Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Chamomile and Lavender ($7 for 4 oz), but I am loving both products. The lips scrub smells and tastes amazing and the spray is so hydrating with a relaxing scent.

Have you picked up any fund drugstore products lately?