Update: Finish What You Started Make Up Project 2011

Another day, another make up product is officially done and a new one started. I honestly feel pretty proud of myself because of how well I'm doing with attempting to finish make up that has been in my collection. And I dont doubt it prolly is looking a little annoying that I am constantly updating my blog with posting in regards to my Finish what you Started Make Up Project!

I really thought I was going to have a bit of an issue trying to actually finish products, but so far I have been doing pretty good. Plus with finishing the various make up items, I am making more room in my collection (and storage area). Doesn't necessarily mean I'm off to immediately replace them as soon as I am done (as I end up having at least one back up product so that I can have something to use once one item is done).

Keep in mind, if I believe something is Holy Grail status I will be hopping in the car or online to get my hands on another product...as when I find something I really like (and that works well for me) I need to get my hands on it again. As my luck tends to be when I find something that I really like (and I only get one back up) the product gets discontinued...perfect examples the Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer and MAC's Moistureblend Foundation...both products I love. Both products that went BYE BYE!

This time it is one of my pressed facial powders that has finally taking a rest, my Wet N Wild Natural Blend Pressed Powder in 821 Natural (as when I originally purchased this powder it was during the winter..hence the light color choice).

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Overall, I have personally enjoyed using this pressed powder...and I love the fact it is at a good price point. Though I will not lie, I do have some shine through and have to retouch my T zone area about 4 hours after applying it...sometimes a little sooner (pending on if I get sweaty or not).

The powder is very light, it gives minimal coverage (if you are a pressed powder only faced girl) but it feels very soft on the skin...and does not leave a powdery feeling on your fingers (if you were to rub your hands across your face). Even though I had a very light shade for pressed powder...it actually ended up helping me out, as I had a liquid foundation that was a tad to dark (thus it gave me at one point a semi-orangey looking face). With a bit more of buffing this pressed powder in, I did notice that the liquid foundation coloring got a bit lighter (huge plus, considering I'm trying to finish up products...verses trying to purchase more).

I know Wet N Wild has been stepping up their game in regards to their eye products, thus I do think it might be time to at least change up the packaging a bit for their facial products. Understand that the actual packaging for this pressed powder is made of recycled paper...thus it will not make a good compact to throw in your travel make up bag or gym bag ( I did that to a different powder and I was sad to have to clean it out of my purse a week later). That is really my one issue with this product...is the packaging is left to be desired for!

According to the Wet N Wild website the Natural Blend Pressed Powder is "Paraben-free pressed powder made with natural ingredients and infused with vitamins and minerals to nourish skin. Enriched with light-diffusing pigments to help minimize imperfections and provide even-looking coverage."

Since I have scraped as much as I can from the Wet N Wild pan, I am now going to try out a powder I purchased on sale a few months ago and see how it goes....it is the Revlon ColorStay Pressed Powder in the color Light-Meduim.

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Now I personally have never used any pressed powders from the Revlon line, however I have used the Colorstay foundation on myself (I use the Photoready foundations in my make up kit for when I work on clients). Though I have one Colorstay Lip Liner in my kit (it's the truest red that I have ever seen and looks great on all skin tones).

So trying out another item within the Colorstay family should be pretty interesting. The biggest compliant that I have read when researching a bit about this pressed powder is that it doesn't sit right on the skin when using it to set liquid foundations (the only one it seemed best suited for is the ColorStay liquid foundation).

I just barely started using this so I will have to keep an eye out and see what happens with it! I suppose time will only tell if this product will be a good or bad...but no matter what at least I got it for 50% off the normal sales price! he he!

According to the Revlon website the Colorstay Pressed Powder is "Exclusive ColorStay™ jet-milled formula for ultra-fine, silkier texture helps to minimize shine and creates a fresh, flawless finish that wears for up to 16 hours over makeup."

MASSIVE SWAP 2011...second one for me this year!

I was very very lucky enough to be recently requested to do a swap with one of my wonderful subscribers, Lilian AKA Yaya8212335.

I gladly agreed and received my package of my AMAXzing goodies about two weeks ago. I am a little slow when it comes to getting my blog up and going. But I did want to share and thank Lilian for taking the time, effort , energy, and money to totally HOOK ME UP!!!

Seriously, she went above and beyond what any other person I have ever swapped with has done before. Not only did she get me the items I requested (as they do not carry them regularly here in Germany), but she also threw a ton of extra goodies of various products that I have NEVER tried or owned!!

The products that she sent covered all the different areas of the face that one could possibly imagine and want! Eyes, Lips, Face, Nails...lol the only thing that was missing in the box was acessories (btw that is just a statement...no WHINING from me).

Since we are talking about the various areas that the products I received went, the largest quanity of products that I recieved was for the eyes

The biggest and pleasant shock was receiving my first NARS eyeshadow product...which is a FIRST and an AMAZING first at that! I know NARS products are very very expensive and to have such goodie in my box...easily already matches the agreed upon price of products we agreed to swap for. Amongst the various items in the picture above is I did get alot of mascaras, one was particular for my make up kit (ie Mayebelline Falsies) and the others were random selection from Lilian...which is totally fine with me. I love trying out different drug store mascaras because I haven't found my Holy Grail one yet! The Wet N Wild Cream eyeliners in Black were also requested items as at my military exchange are always out of the color black.

The next section that I received the next most products in were Lips

I was also quite excited to receive all these different lip products (though like I really need anymore)...but whatever works. I did request the EOS lip blams, though Lilian was awesome and sent me two verses just one. I have recently opened and started to use the Passionfruit EOS lipbalm and I really really like it! I even had Joe test it out and he said he liked it as well!

She also included some of the new, improved Cover Girl Lipsticks that have been the rage on YouTube...though since I am working on my Make up Project Finish what you started as well as having given purchasing make up for myself for Lent. I have been unable to test out these new lipsticks...and boy are they pigmented and very creamy. She did give me a good variety of shades that go along great with both my skin tone as well as the Spring season. The most surprisening product within the lip section was the Victoria Secret Lipstick...one the packaging is just super cute. Two, the color choice itself is lovely...and three well it's the brand itself. I haven't personally purchased any products from Victoria Secret (beauty products) since 2006..as I use to work for the company. I was a total Victoria Secret brand whore...swore only by their products in both lingerie as well as beauty.

The most incredible section (as I am still a blush whore) was the Face products she sent

Again she blew me out of the water with including a personal favorite of hers (which really already become a favorite of mine) NARS blush in Mata Hari. It is a gorgerous matte purple/pink blush that really looks great with my dark hair! I was so amazed that Lilian sent not one but TWO NARS products...I didn't really know what to do with myself (if you watch the video below you will see what I mean). She also included a WONDERFUL cream blush in a nice peachy color..that at first I didn't think would go that great with my skin tone...but after last weekend of wearing it...I know it was a GREAT choice by her! Irony of course is the Fox in the Box that she also included from Hard Candy is actually perfect to set the cream blush! Talk about double score!

Hard Candy has been a new recent favorite of mine to try out...considering they have started to put more bang into their products (hence the new release of the Glamofage concealer...which is supposedly comparable to Kat Von D's concealer. As well as the addition of Fox in Box which is supposedly comparable to Benefit's boxed blushes). Thus Lilian, knowing my newest liking to the brand hooked me up with a mini package deal that had mini (travel) sizes of the various newly released products. I totally love the highlight powder in the package...and I'm pretty sure I will be using the mini's in my upcoming trip to the states!

The last...but not least section (one of my favorites ha ha) Nails

I have watched several YouTube videos on the new Sally Hansen Salon Effects nail stickers (and I am a bit torn about whether or not I will like them). As everyone who watches my videos know..I am notorious for not having a full pretty set of nails painted. Or if I do it doesn't last very long (ha ha). And I know with the Salon Effects it will possibly make it alot easier to have my nails look like. However with all the hassle of getting the sticker filed down to my original nail size and then getting it to stick will be interesting!

I am pretty excited about the Essie nail polish...it's actually funny..I have personally never purchased Essie. I have been very lucky and very spoiled that my fellow Youtube friends and subscribers have hooked me up with such wonderful goodies.

Overall, Lilian's swap was AMAZING...HUGE...and totally shocking! I'm very lucky to have a friend and person like her in my life that is so generous to share such great products with lil ol' me!

Thank you so much Lilian for making my second swap of 2011 rocking!!!

My Mail Time video of opening Lilian's BOX