Best Beautymarked? & Tropez Maui Mauve

While going through my collection, I noticed a few similarities.. especially from one of my favorite eyeshadows, MAC Beautymarked. I prefer using this instead of black (ie: Carbon) because it's just.. less harsh.

NYX 143 Eggplant

MAC Beautymarked

*picture is overall slightly warmer than in real life

Tropez 39310 Maui Mauve

* only the top right shade was swatched

Stila Charmed EyeShadow Palette

* only the bottom right shade was swatched

**gift from Catherine (love!)

Kanebo KATE PU-1

* left three shades were swatched

N1 - not sure why I swatched this.. NYX Alaska

N2 - NYX Plum

M - MAC Beautymarked

K - *whoops, mislabeled!* Stila

T - Tropez

K - Kate.. three purple shades along the bottom left

The shades I really wanted to compare..

MAC Beautymarked

-VERSUS-

Stila Charmed Eye Palette

-VERSUS-

Tropez Maui Mauve

* in the same order as the picture above. they all look remarkably similar, no?

Glitter: MAC wins out, this shade almost looks duo-toned instead of black (I think they said maroon? on the MAC site) with glitter. Next is Stila, then Tropez.

Pigmentation: Tropez almost looks like it's the best.. look how dark the swatch is! One swipe, mind you. I think I had to swipe MAC twice. Stila is somewhere in the middle.

Texture: Tropez definitely feels a bit more gritty in comparison to Stila and MAC (both about the same smoothness).

Application: I wiped my fingers onto the tissue paper.. and MAC actually won out! Interesting.. so I guess Tropez is more powdery (sort of like KATE)?

Packaging: MAC wins in terms of a single eyeshadow being put into a 15-palette.. by itself, your collection can get kind of cluttered. Tropez is next, since it's slightly more sturdy-feeling plastic than the cardboard-esque packaging that Stila is in.

Overall, I think MAC Beautymarked is actually.. the best Beautymarked there is!

UNLESS we're talking about price/value!

In terms of price and value, the Stila palette was $28USD for 4 shadows ($7 per eyeshadow), the single MAC eyeshadow is $14USD. The Tropez palette, I'm actually not sure about the price since it was given to me as a present.. but it can be found at drugstores, and I can't imagine that it costs more than $8-10USD, plus you get 6 shadows. I think Tropez definitely wins out in this category; then Stila, then MAC.

In my own personal collection, I don't think the Tropez palette stands out enough for me to want to keep it (in efforts of uncluttering my collection).

The lovely looking cranberry shade is actually much more brown than I would've imagined, making it more of a mahogany--though it does have some very pretty silver microglitter. And the pretty peachy-champagne shade can be pretty easily duped (though not EXACTLY.. Tropez's shade is slightly more pink) by Wet and Wild "Fine Wink".

I swatched the Stila shade to show you what I sort of wanted the Tropez shade to look like--except darker, of course.

As for the lilac and salmon-esque pink in the Tropez palette.. I don't see myself reaching for those colors very often (as I'm not a big pink fan). BUT, I do have to say that this certain pink in the Tropez palette tempts me.. hahaha.

Overall, the Tropez "Maui Mauve" palette is a GREAT buy if you're starting your kit or you don't have like colors.. but for me, I think this is a pretty clear one to be phased out--check for it on my blogsale (will be updated soon)!

pic heavy!

NYX EYESHADOWS ($6/per)

(L-->R) alaska, oro, green tea, ocean

close-ups got mixed up and.. i am too lazy to fix them. so. deal! ;P

i think i like oro (gold) the most.. wish it was a little lighter. ah, well. sucks that you can't open and swatch while in store.. but.. not too bad. haven't worn ANY of them since i've been SUPER lazy.. but.. soon!

NAILPOLISH


pretty, eh? nevermind my shitty painting job ;P hahaha. it peeled off anyways! arghhhh.. even the red one. maybe it's just the nailpolish.. 'cause i switched my clear NP brands.. i dunno :\ worked OK when i put the color straight on my nail but it stained it a little, annoying. it's fine up until i go into the shower.. or do dishes.. hot water stuff.

NYC nailpolish (blue/red).. forgot the brand of the cinnamon/rusty one though.

NEUTROGENA LIPGLOSS

not really pretty separate.. but looks pretty good when i put them on together. haven't tried other lipstick/lipgloss combinations. not a fantastic lipgloss either (then again, it is drugstore..)

MERVYN'S.... again. more of the same stuff ;P just taken with my powershot.
better view of the back of the mime-esque shirt.. i think it's muy cute :)

again w/ the black/grey stripey long sleeve. aahhh.. i looks chubs :(

reeeeeaally liked this~! freaking comfortable. too bad it was WAY too big :| even if it doesn't look like it in the pic (hah, being a photog makes me know how to pose ;P who would've guessed).. i think it was an L but i think i need more of a M or S possibly. but! at least i know i can wear the style :)

here's a better pic of the actual style: HERE @ victoriassecret.com

see how it fits her waist better? this one was slightly too baggy, even if i do love loose fitting stuff.. 

THE RECENT SARAH

my hair is so black! ish. actually i think it's more of a dark brown.. dark dark dark dark brown.. but still. this is pretty dark as to how it normally is. KATIE! remember that shirt? ;) jtown baby!

THE HAPPY COUPLE
i love how he holds my hand when he drives.. <3 

hahha.. what a dork :)

KITCHEN RANDOMNESS
i spy me some bananas! wtf is that label on there? why are they on the microwave?

HAHAHAHAHAH. 'nuff said!

"the bananas in the kitchen LOL'd at me!"

MONEY-WISE/MONEY-STUPID

the boyfriend wanted to get a tripod head for his new cam (that's coming.. hasn't gotten it yet!) 'cause it has a video function.. so..... i decided to get it for him :| we were both wandering around the store and he finally decided he was going to get it.. and i decided that the present that i'd gotten for him was just satisfactory (wasn't TOO excited to give it to him.. in fact.. i think i was more excited about wrapping it obnoxiously LOL). blah? maybe. i can afford it. he was super happy :) PLUS i told him it was his christmas AND bday.. but i might cave in and get him something for his bday too (more sentimental though). we'll see. excited for jan/feb session though.. will have hit the mulah jackpot with my stipend from my fin aid checks! but.. all must be saved towards rent so the parents will have an easier time. MAYBE a splurge. ONE! if it's a good sale.. and only if i've wanted it for awhile! WILL POWER!

been browsing around (makeup) websites.. man. my makeup wishlists on the bathroom door next to my comp.. has been growing. but i have been resisting!! i add things to my "basket".. look at the price.. and close the window. arrrgh. so hard sometimes.. but.. really. how much MU do i use?! next to none! i really should be using my eyeliner that i bought.. and be experimenting with decent looking eyeshadow combinations, not buying MORE stuff. plus with my ELF stuff coming tomorrow w/ bronzer/blush.. and whatever else i got.. i should be fiinneeee. RESISTING THE URGE. RESISTING THE URGE. woohoo for will power! :) and if there happens to be some sort of monumental sale or if i win the lottery.. i will know EXACTLY what to get.. and ONLY THAT!

haven't been looking so much around clothing websites.. thankfully. who knows what i would buy. though, i must say.. i haven't been very tempted by some of the new stuff that's been coming out. and even though i spent so much at wet seal (grr, stace! but we both know we love our purchases.. le sigh), i can't say i like their stuff online. I DO WANT A PAIR OF GREY JEANS. and pure black (maybe?). i was looking for a pair of dickies at mervyn's but they didn't have my size.. for some reason.. i couldn't fit into their 7's. wtf, right? guess it was just the brand. made me feel humungoooo. but i did NOT want a camel toe.. or.. whatever my issue with the pants were. hmm.. 

i DO.. however.. want a new wallet :| i just noticed HOW MANY FREAKING CARDS I HAVE. grr! it really takes a toll on my wallet. oh, and i love it so much.. my cheapo wallet from mervyn's.. you have served me well. and i'm oh so tempted to get an expensive wallet too.. one of those ones that clasps and has two sets of card holding.. things.. slots? but.. nOoo! save, save.. find a deal. or something. hah, it was funny.. i told bryant that i wanted a new wallet and the FIRST thing he says was "hintity hint hint!".. and it took me awhile to realize what he meant. i was NOT saying it as a hint. jerkface ;P hahaha. just keeeeddin'. we're doing really well! :) 

and.. i think.. i don't really need a new wallet. it's more of a vanity thing. plus i'm super picky about my wallet.. because.. well.. i see it all the damn time. took me awhile to find a new one from my OLD OLD one.. so.. meh. i'll deal. though i think i did find a really cute coach one, one time.... i don't remember. plus it was coach.. and i was still very frugal at the time..

cards: 805 deli stamp card (2x).. optometrist business card.. dentist business card.. border's gift card ($11 left.. xmas '06 present from lejano i think??).. starbucks gift card ($2 left LOL).. chevron gas gift card.. blockbuster's movie card (last time i took it out.. i ended up needing it. so i just.. don't take it out anymore).. YL library card (same situation as blockbusters card).. APA photog membership card.. brooks ID card.. debit card.. license.. amex.. and visa. so.. that's.. 15 cards? wtf :( 

MY VAIN WISHLIST
($248.00) i adoooreeee this design.. but.. wish it was on a normal wallet (like one of the two below). i don't mind the zip up but i think i'd have LESS card slots.. and seems like it might be annoying to get stuff from that space (constricted by zipper?). i could totally be wrong though, never used anything like it. but oh so cute!

($228.00) also cute in brown. tons of card space. i dunno if i like the clasp as much though. it'd probably get unclasped in my purse.. and i would get annoyed. i wish the first one had as much card slots as this one.

($208.00) cute, no? :) lots of card space plus all the other essentials. black is also cute.. might be better 'cause.. i dunno how clean the inside of my purse stays. not too crazy about the white stitches but if i ever got one.. i could most definitely deal with them, if you catch my drift ;P 

but.. i could probably find a wallet just as cute at a regular store too. should've looked when i went to mervyns.. grr. oh well. i will eventually get a new one :)

weird experiences

peeling nail polish. i normally don't use an undercoat or anything.. but lately, when i've been using my dark colored nail polish, it started to get into my nail (made it look dirty) so i figured yesterday.. eh.. why not. since i didn't have a base (go figure), i decided to just use my clear wet n' wild top coat (clear) and it worked pretty well. today, i noticed some chipping so i poked at my nail like i usually do when i'm half-assedly chipping at it and... it peeled! the nail polish just peeled off. i probably had the hugest WTF look on my face so i started poking at my other 2 nails that i was sort of bothered with.. and.. they peeled too! not completely clean but the majority of the color came off. it was.. WEIRD :| have you guys had that happen before?? i remember hearing about nail polishes that you could do that with.. but the one that i used was definitely not one of them (at least not that i was aware of). oh, and i'm in love with the color i'm using now :) NYC's 115A.. skin tight denim creme. i don't really know if that's the actual name :| go figure.. but.. it's an awesome lustre-y dark blue.

realistic dreams (not fantasy). i "wake up" and go about a fairly normal routine.. ex, this morning i "woke up" and i was walking around the neighborhood, taking pictures. later i wake up and.. i've been sleeping the whole time. wtf? NOTHING out of the ordinary, no weird psycho fantasy dreams.. a normal every day something-i-would-be-doing dream. trips me out sometimes :|



anyway, had to get those off my mind before i could type anything else. plus i figured those were lots more interesting to you non-makeup-users :)



SO! i was at longs drugs, trying to find the same top coat nail polish.. just.. because.. you know, it was decent plus it had that really cool effect (unless it was just some weird side effect of me not using it for awhile.. or.. something, i dunno). either way, i was searching around.. could NOT find it. got distracted by some neutrogena lip glosses (looking for a peachy color, since i keep seeing so many pretty FOTD that all use some sort of peachy colored lip gloss).. got distracted by the NYC nailpolish colors (was sort of looking for a dark lustre-y red.. but saw a pretty cool dark purple--but it had some weird blue reflect/shine that i didn't like). i turned around, remembered what i came for and... GASP!

NYX stand at the nearby longs drugs! ironic because i was JUST looking through another MU blog and saw her "NYX" category.. looked through.. and found out SHE had a NYX stand at her work :| and was thus jealous. es are $6/ea (instead of $5/ea like online). AAHH. they replaced the wet n' wild stand with NYX (or at least wet n' wild used to be around that area).. and i could not resist :| bought "oro" (gold-copper), "alaska" (dusty purple w/ slight silver reflects), "ocean" (blue-green with slight green reflects) and "green tea" (green w/ slight gold reflects?). pics when i get un-lazy enough to get off my butt and find it.. which will.. probably be before the end of this entry :| definitely colors that i was looking at buying when i was ordering offline but figured i didn't need them either due to my mindset of "i don't need more than one shade/hue of one color" and "i'm a cheap asian.. yet i'm spending. must be more frugal! *deletedelete*".

wandered back to the NYC stand.. and hidden in the back, underneath all the "last chance! 50% off!" signs, misplaced and alone.. was this GORGEOUS dark red (pinkish??) lustre-y nailpolish.. that was incidentally one of the ones that was 50% off. of course i didn't find the REAL price so when i went up to the register, the lady asked me how much it was.. i just told her it was 50% off.. so it could've been less :| who knows. i'm hoping it's actually going to be red on my nails 'cause i just swatched it on paper and it seems more of a dark pink-fushia. who knows. i'm sure it's just my eyes playing tricks on me. like right now i keep focusing with my left eye only and it's making my head hurt -__- damn lazy eye!


anyway.. i ordered some stuff off ELF.. and i have another sephora order too. i was hoping the roomie would be there just in case it came over the weekend (for whatever reason.. or even today) but he's gone :| oh! i can check with my tracking number.. if the internet would work. but.. yes.



did i partake in black friday? YES! well. sort of. i went to mervyn's (as you all know, ALL the stores are closing). the entire store was at LEAST 50% off.. and i ALSO could not resist. but.. beyond christmas shopping (for other people!) this will be the LAST money i spend--besides on food and groceries--that i will be doing for at LEAST a couple months. until bryant's birthday rolls around in early feb :| and valentine's day shortly after. huh, and HE complains that my birthday and our year anni's are in the same month.. his isn't that much better. jerk :| hahha, i kid, i kid. and even with everything being 50% off, i still managed to get about $125 worth of stuff. 4 shirts, 1 sweater dress and 1 pair of ankle boots (love!).


damn, i guess that means i should go find my camera now...

165. Avon/NYX review, ranting

AVON EYESHADOW QUAD REVIEW

i was... pretty much terribly disappointed. i tried on the "blushing raisins" today and it just did NOT show up! the only color that did show up was the one on the end.. and it didn't look nearly as pretty (in swatch) as the other ones.. so i ended up using my regular colors + NYX eggplant. maybe they would show up on a lighter skintone.. maybe i just don't know how to apply it. i didn't use the provided applicators just because i don't like sponge tips (never did). i'm going to assume that the "fresh cut greens" won't do the trick either, plus i didn't like the shades nearly as much as i did in "blushing raisins"..

i e-mailed avon about it and am going to see if i want an exchange or a return.. or.. if they'll take it at all. GRR! the colors looked so pretty too! darn my dark skin. and hey, if they don't make me return the products, if someone else wants them, let me know. or better yet, if you have tips on how to apply.. maybe i should try it wet. i dunno :| 

other than that.. the case is sort of large to put in a regular makeup case, it's more ideal for putting it in your purse to reapply later during the day, but it's even large for that (IMO). it's round, which is nice, doesn't seem like it would open IN your purse but i haven't tried it. the middle two shades are VERY pretty but the dark matte color just doesn't cut it for me.

anyway.. i'm VERY satisfied with my NYX eyeshadows though!! :)

TOP: copper + rust / black / MAC shroom / glimmersticks blackest night

BOTTOM: algae + atlantis / black / MAC shroom / glimmersticks midnight blue

excuse the redness :| i had a dry patch and i scratched it off. STUPID!

on ANOTHER note...

i freaking hate being on my period :| everything seems like.. it takes such EFFORT. woke up this morning, felt exhausted. got up, felt sore. walked around, felt stiff. showered, still felt tired. got to studio, set up and was proud of myself, then realized i forgot something.. two things.. and that i had set up in the NORMAL amount of time it takes me.. but.. shooting went great. i freaking ADORE my model :) she used to be in my class and we talk occasionally.. she's just so cute. i'll post up pics.. sometime. but doesn't life just SEEM like it's so TIRING.. at least it is for me.. the first 3 days of my period.

and HEY! i finally.. am trying to get into the photographic world outside of brooks. we get notifications of doing volunteer work and/or internships.. so i e-mailed a lady who just needed help.. and could possibly turn into an internship. she e-mailed back, we've set up to meet on friday noon.. hopefully that goes well. bryant e-mailed her too but she didn't respond to him.... i dunno why :| but it increases MY chances. i know it's bad to think that way but.. man. it's a competitive world. PLUS right after i e-mailed her, there were 2-3 new e-mails (this lady sends out internships/etc) for what sounded like actual internships, etc. but. oh well. have to stick to it :) and hope it turns out for the best.

163. more avon and NYX

so ho ho. more of my makeup came today :) just waiting for my urban decay one.

let me just say.. NYX's packaging.. is freaking INTENSE. i don't think i've ever seen ANYTHING this well wrapped! don't understand? can't comprehend? here's pics!

by the way, the order might be a little confusing. i wish i could upload ALL of my pictures in a certain order (the way i upload flips the other way when i'm posting.. stupid uploader!) then add text after but.. i keep forgetting.. and.. i'm too lazy. so there'll be lots of AVON.. NYX.. AVON.. NYX.. etc. but i'm sure you gals can figure it out ;)

looks like a normal box..

first thought: aw, crap. i have to dig through all that to find my little ES cases??

NOPE! wrapped in HUGEbubble bubble wrap.. wrapped again in the thing you see near my hand.. then finally you get a peak of what's inside.. you can see my three little cases there.

and inbetween EACH case is a little bubble wrap thing, taped. these babies are SECURE.

you can see the little divider pieces a little better here. 

now compare it to the avon packaging

simple box, simple packaging. i think it's just as effective. but, who knows.. that's just my opinion.

ON TO THE HAUL!

NYX colors! with and without flash :)

(eggplant, rust, black, algae, atlantic and rust.)

AVON's quadcolor palettes. dang i wish i had rotated these.. 

(blushing raisins and fresh cut greens.)

RANDOM

i have to say.. since i'm going to photography school and all.. you'd think i'd be decent with a point and shoot camera. NEGATIVE. i suck! i don't know what it is! i just can't handle on-camera flash. i just can't take those swatch pictures w/ flash.. and.. i don't know how to take them. slow synchro sucks, lowering my exposure sucks. i'm just hopeless with easy equipment :(

RANDOM 2

i feel like i bit the inside of my cheek.. it hurts, man! i can't stop messing with it, which probably doesn't help me at all. maybe it's more of a sore.. feels like there's a chunk missing :( it's not fun.

RANDOM 3

i am SO STUPID when it comes to checking something out at school. this is the SECOND time that i've booked things for the WRONG DAY! i honestly don't know how i do it. i even double checked this time but.. nope.. it's still for tomorrow. which is just as well because ALL of my models can't make it. original one got sick.. back up has to shoot.. back up's friend has class.. other friend is busy.. GAH. so i went in and tried to cancel as bryant was checking in and don tells me that it's for tomorrow. but STILL. i feel absurdly retarded! i probably had the most classic expression on my face after he told me i didn't have a reservation for today. "i DON'T?!" i'm sure my voice cracked or some other embarrassing thing like that! :( ugh.

AVON l/s (sparkling rich ruby) and l/g (darling pink)

the lovely patrick dempsey catalog.. jk. the avon one. i though it was primarily a MU place? so why is his face on there? who knows :|

SWISS WATCHES! aka swatches :)
NYX colors.. i rEALLY love the bottom three! love love :)

applied with sponge tip brush of my own. dunno the brand, generic drugstore one.. 

AVON swatches.. so pretty.. but.. they just don't show up! maybe it's just because my arms are fairly tan (wtf? i don't know how! i never go out!) so we'll see later when i apply it on my eyelids :) oh oh but isn't the top one look so pretty?? i think so! but sadly.. the bottom one doesn't look quite as promising. ah, well. we'll see. 

gotta go run some errands so i haven't swatched the lip stuff yet :| pic uploader failed on me twice and i was running through bryant and my schedules for upper division (we have to schedule our own classes! fancy that. i was enjoying being a lazyass where the only classes i could take were pre-req's.. hey that looks like a palindrome!). so i stuck us together in 6 out of 10 classes, sweet. he was lazy and did his all wrong.. so.. i got OCD and decided to fix it for him. and i better ruuuun to go turn these in and go pick him up from studio! :(