Taupe Tuesdays! - ELF Moondust

Today's Taupe Tuesday feature is a bit of a controversy.

There has always been the age-old debate, do lower-priced cosmetics deliver less than desirable results? Does more money always equal the best product? Well, I believe that this product transcends that whole notion.

ELFs Moondust , in my opinion, is exceptional. It doesn't perform like a $1 eye shadow. It has great pigment, and it goes on smooth. I believe it is the $1 long lost twin to MACs famous Satin Taupe.

This is a brand-new pan...however...

...this is what my current in-use pan looks like ;)

The swatch is pretty true true to life.

I have a comparison to Satin Taupe (somewhere), but I need to take a new one. A really gorgeous brown-based taupe with just the right amount of shimmer.

The texture reminds me of Stila, very soft (almost to the point where it's dangerous to travel with, they have the potential to break really easily) and a tad on the "powdery" side. It's an absolute STEAL at $1 a pop. I use this on it's own, but I normally use it as part of my "office" makeup during the week for a subtle/neutral smoky eye.

To venture away from the taupeness, I just want to say thanks to the folks who commented on my WWYD post a few days ago, it was great advise! Though I do admit that things have changed in the wardrobe department...I went to Gottschalks over the weekend and, on a whim, tried on this dress. Well, I left home with it :D I decided to wear this dress to the rehearsal with this cardigan over (Again, not in the color shown but in the darker green/olive color that is in the dress), and then happened to find these shoes right after (Mind you, everything was ON SALE! The dress and cardigan were 50% off and the shoes 15%...it was truly my lucky day. No...no, it was fate. Everything was on sale for a reason).

And! I told myself I wasn't going to do it but I bit my lip and placed an order for the new She Space Limited Edition collection. The whole collection. Wait, let me rephrase that, I did order the whole collection, but I ordered sample sizes. I figured I might as well. The colors are gorgeous (Seriously, check out the message board for swatches- beautiful!!!!!) and, let's face it, I'm a sucker for the names.

Saturday Night Live FOTD

I know, I'm not in NYC. But, I did go to a great comedy show Saturday night! 4 hilarious comedians and all proceeds going to charity. I went with my mom, my two aunts and my cousin. We were celebrating my birthday early (really early, my birthday isn't until May 8) and went to this really great little Mexican restaurant for dinner and drinks before. I had this huge drink...I don't know what it was called but it had Rum and that's all that mattered ;)

FOTD for Saturday, 4/19/08

Face:

• Bare Escentuals Prime Time Primer
• Revlon Colorstay Active in Buff
• Make Up Forever Full Cover Concealer in #4 Flesh
• Benefit High Beam

Eyes:
I just wanted something soft and pretty :)

• WnW Cream Shadow in Cafe au Lait (base)
• Avon duo in Luxe Life (old duo of purple and gold. Just used gold on lid)
• MAC Twinks (outer lid/crease)
• Stila Wheat (highlight and blend)
  
• Clinique Cream Shaper eyeliner in Egyptian
• Maybelline Full 'n' Soft mascara
• NYC Browser on brows
  

Cheeks and Lips:

• Jordana Tawny Beige blush (you're going to find out I use this about everyday, no lie)
• BECCA Soft Touch Blush in Malika
• Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips in Amber

I also have to share that I finally got in my She Space haul! I know it's been almost two weeks since I ordered but I knew she was backed up. I even got an email from her apologizing for the wait. But let me tell you, the wait was well worth it. I admired my pile of little baggies for about 30 minutes before digging in and having a swatch fest on my arm.

I'm already dreaming up of a second order (full sized and some other samples)....but tomorrow I'll be taking these for an all-day spin to see how they stand up at the office.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!

OUI: Ordering Under the Influence.

Surprise, surprise...I'm sick. Actually, I've been sick since last week. Did a doctor's visit last week cure me? Sadly, it did not. I've been nursing this cough and congestion deal for a few days and actually came home early from work today (after numerous comments consisting of "Um, you look like you're about to fall over", I eventually took my co-workers advice), bundled up and snoozed on meds and tea. I just popped some NyQuil softgels (that makes me sound so chic) and something prompted me to head over to The She Space, which is quickly becoming one of the hottest mineral brands around (I suspect it will eventually turn out to be Fyrinnae part II, which is an amazing brand, but so wildly popular you won't get your order for about 2 months); with a trillion (okay, maybe not that many) eye shadows offered and samples at only 50 Cents, what's not to love?


So I'm starting to feel a little happy, you know, that little buzz that the wonderful side effects of NyQuil are starting to kick in? As I'm on this high, I start entering in sample colors left and right. A greeen here, a purple there, a highlighter shade...before I know it I have 29 samples in my cart and I'm logging into PayPal. Honestly, there should be a disclaimer on all cold medications saying: "WARNING: MAY CAUSE IMPULSE ONLINE PURCHASES" Now, I'm not saying I regret my purchase, but it's just so often that I go shopping when I'm sick and medicated of some sort ;)

I wont list the samples I purchased, but my order consisted of 25 eye shadow samples, 2 highlighter samples, 1 finisher sample, and 1 blush sample. Total? $15.50,which included $1 shipping. Ahh, such low shipping fees makes my heart a'flutter. The current turnaround time is around 1 week, so hopefully I'll have delicious samples to photograph and share this time next week.

Until next post, it's off to NyQuil Land!