I Went on a Makeup Binge

Like bulimics, sometimes you just have to gorge yourself (on makeup).  Unlike bulimics, however, you don't have to throw your makeup in the toilet out of guilt...thank goodness!  Yesterday was one of those days for me.  It was a bad day, a very, very bad day.  I shopped.  I shopped a lot.  I shopped a lot to feel better.  I admit it, I shopped a lot to make myself feel better and it did, I felt better after spending money...don't hate.  I wasn't buying crack:)  I did bring home some lovely new additions to my makeup family.  I would like to officially welcome these newbies and hope they feel the warmth and love of living in my bathroom.

First up, The Vice Palette by Urban Decay.  Obviously, I've been lusting over this since it came out and yesterday was definitely the day to embrace the Vice into my life.  Twenty exclusive, triple-pigmented shades...yes, please.  UD is one of my top three favorite eye shadow brands (can you guess what the other two are?) and I just need this palette like, um, well, like an alcoholic needs liquor.  The Vice sells for $59 and is worth every penny.  If you're a hoarder, like a certain blogger you might be familiar with the gem and, obviously, you need it.  If you are looking for an exceptionally high quality palette with neutrals as well as play colors, this is one to shoot for.  It's gaaaarrgeous!!!!!!!  If there were an eyeshadow museum (is there an eyeshadow museum?  There should be.  Maybe I'll start an eyeshadow museum) this would be the featured exhibit.

It's easier for me to drop $ on makeup than hair appliances because #1, good hair appliances are not cheap and, #2, I'm MUCH better with makeup than hair...MUCH.  So, it hurt me a bit to buy the BaByliss Nano Titanium 1" Ultra-Thin Straightening Iron.  However, I've been using a craptastic straightener for years and I might as well have been running a brush through my coarse thick hair for all the straightening it did.  A few weeks ago a stylist friend used a Brocato Straightening Iron on my hair and it did to my hair in 45 seconds what I had been trying to do for 15 years.  It was amazing...I was amazed!  My decision to invest in an amazeballs straightener was made then but the actual commitment to one didn't come until yesterday.  Honestly, I was going to get the Brocato but there wasn't one in store, so I chose the BaByliss instead.  It gets great consumer reviews and, you guys, my hair this morning!!!!  Straight, shiny...not my hair at all!!!  

Dare I embrace the possibility that I might have makeup and hair that I like at the same time?!

Just Your Average Daily Routine

 Hello, my name is Erin and I have a makeup problem.  Hey, at least it's not coke.  I'd like to introduce you to my "everyday" makeup kit.  This doesn't include my back stock...Junkie/Hoarder/Lover of Makeup...call it what you will (just please don't call that hoarders show, that would be embarrassing).  I anticipate another post on that later.  I know you will be waiting for that one with bated breath...get excited.  My go-to's live in the giant train case and I have a side bag of Bare Minerals, I only use this to put over light foundations to achieve greater coverage or when I'm going to the Dr. with snot running down my face...pretty much my Bare usage.

I'll deconstruct the train case of makeup madness as we merrily roll along but I'll be hitting my faves and most-used loves RIGHT NOW!

• Primer: Too Faced Primed and Poreless Pure - this one really does what primers are supposed to do: even out skin tone, give a smooth surface to work on, help makeup last longer, mattify, reduce the look of fine lines and pores...all without making my skin look greasy (I'm looking at YOU POREfessional!)
• Foundation:  Good grief, this is embarassing.  The ones that are in my case at the moment are: Urban Decay Naked Skin, Smashbox BB Cream, Benefit Some-Kind-A-Gorgeous, Palladio Wet/Dry Foundation, Palladio Herbal Foundation (um, haven't taken this out of the package yet) and Bare Minerals Original.  Also Clinique translucent setting powder and about three different Bare Mineral Veils.  Honestly, apart from the Palladio, none of these give me the coverage I want so I always wear two because that makes sense.  I will probably go for Smashbox Studio Skin and Halo Powder when I run out of these and go through the back stock, which will be in ten years.  Because I clearly wait until I need something to buy more.  I should work on that.
• I LOVE eye makeup!!!  I always start with Urban Decay Primer.  I have the Original in my case now but I prefer Sin...guess where that is, yep, in the back stock.  I use Urban and Smashbox sticks A LOT and my Naked II Palette the most, but occasionally I make myself use my Stila Palette.  Honestly, I'm generally to lazy to work with my UD Black Palette but when I'm not being a bum I'll bust out with my more fun colors.  
• Cheeks - I have been totally obsessed with TARTE Gel Blushes for years.  They are the best and rock my world.  You should love them too.  I wear them under every powder blush, every day.  Word of warning: despite appearances, they WILL flush down the toilet and you will have to pay a plumber $250 to get your $30 gel blush out of the toilet.  Just keep an eye on that.  I am also obsessed with the Benefit Box O' Powders.  Bella Bomba and Sugar Bomb are my faves.  Devastated when they discontinued It's A 10.  How could you Benefit, how could you?  I also love to use Smashbox Softlights for highlight and definition.  Cheeks are so yummy to me.  
• If I'm not feeling lips I'll use my Korres Lip Butters.  They are the only tinted balms I have found that make my lips happy AND give me color.

My real lips, liners, brows, and mascaras live on my magnetic (with other cheeks and eyes) board so that's why they aren't in the case, I know you were wondering.  Yes, I know I'm ridiculous and, yes, I love it.