xarata’s blog

Cleaning my stash again. Need room on my shelves. I don't want to mail a million little packages so it's one box (30+ items). First one to post gets it.

The rules of the RAOK are that you pay shipping via paypal. This is currently only open to US makeup junkies (if there's no takers I'll open it to int'l.) I squished it all into a fairly small box which usually costs between $3 and $5 to mail in the states.

Makeup

SheerCover Bisque

Avon Smooth Mineral Foundation in Shell

Assorted Eyeshadow samples in reds and purples

Skincare

Garden of Cures Half moon Soap in Mango

Lure Beauty assorted Lotion Samples: Soft Jasmine, Kama Sutra Passionate Kisses, Kama Sutra Satin Sheets, Sun-Ripened Raspberry, Exotic Peach, Mango Sage Tea, First Kiss, Glow Type, Prade Type, Chocolate Delight, Georgia Sunrise, Almond, Neroli, L'Occitane Honey Type, Avocado Type

Mychelle Assorted Clamshell Samples: Sun Shield, Supreme Polypeptide Cream, Incredible Pumpkin Peel, Revitalizing Night Cream, Deep Repair Cream, Hand Cream

Kiss My Face Ulta Moisturizer in Honey & Calendula

MMBB AHA Moisturizer

BITP Protein Hair Mist and Silk Body Mist- Neroli Blossom

Random Beauty.com samples: DDF Retinol Energizing Moisturizer, L'Occitante Ultra Comforting Serum, DDF Enhancing Sun Protection, Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel

Scent Samples

For Your Nose: Coconut Pineapple, Alyssum

Dram vials (i don't remember which company): Vanilla Bean, Aquolina Pink Sugar Type

Valerie's Uncommon Scents Roll-On: Flower Child

Inan Tagged me with this one and you know I always do whatever Inan wants ;-D

Rules:
1. Share what's your favorite lip products, you could show pictures, swatch, ANYTHING !
2. Tell us why they're your favorite & is there anything interesting you've noticed from your pick?
3. Tag 7 people randomly
4. Let them know you tagged them : )

I tag:

-LisaLu, Moosie, Frond, Ann, and really...anyone who wants to be tagged!

*We all know I am lazy with taking pictures so I am just going to link pics from parent sites. For reference I have rosebud colored lips in the first place so i can wear just about any color i want to. In no particular order...

1. Dreamworld "Xirena" Twirling Treasure

 This is a orangey copper shade with just enough pink. It is Waaaaaaaay metallic and shimmery-opaque and reminds me a poisoned apple. It's uber-unique and I love that about it. It's long lasting and creamy althoug the glitter is a little gritty when you first apply. 

2. Silk Naturals- Tie between "Gold Blush" and "Berry Crush"

I like gold blush because it's sheer and adds just the right amount of subtle color, gloss, and gold shimmer to up your look without being obvious. Moisturizing and smooth,

I consider berry crush an opaque version of gold blush. Instead of gold shimmer, it has a gold metallic sheen and i have a thing for metallics. Smooth and the best of a gloss and lipstick because it has a demi-gloss texture and wearability.

3. Terra Firma Cosmetics Longevity Lip Stain in "Sedona"

It's an amped up version of my natural lip color (slightly redder) and it lasts all day with a subtle shimmer/sheen. (The image went on the right side because that's how terra firma has it coded on their website.)

4.Sheer Cover Lip Gloss in "Pink Praline"

I don't normally go for pink pink but i love this peachy pink- it's sort of like a pink champagne fusion.

5. Tie between Zosimos "Peach Fuzz" and Mary Kay "Apricot Glaze"

Peach with gold and copper shimmer. Smooth, tastes/smells like oranges, and it's the longest lasting natural gloss wand i think i've ever worn.

 Apricot with gold metallic sheen/shimmer. I seem to have a thing for metallics. This is just a great shade on me too.

6. City Lips Lip Plumper in "Tinsel Town"

I always go for clear or subtle plumper shades so i can layer with any gloss i want. City Lips is the best plumper i have ever used (and from earlier blogs you know i've tried quite a few). It has great plumping effects within 5 minutes, not too sticky, doesn't burn, and it has collagen to build long term effects. 

7. Tie between Burt's Bees Lip Balm and epli pout in "Yuzu Menthol"

Can't live without this stuff. I always have a tube...or 3...somewhere. I saw that they have one where 5% of sales go to saving the bees (colony collapse disorder). Will have to put that one in my stocking. lol.

I found this because i was looking for certain ingredients from a discontinued brand and this one had them. When I received it, it was everything i wanted- impossibly smooth, deliciously scented, moisturizing, and with a little menthol tingle which i enjoy. The price is not wonderful but i really love the product.

I guess it's safe to say that all of my absolute fav. colors seem to fall into the peachy/pink metallics realm. Where I don't go for color, i go quality all the way.

Just for giggles, I finally took a picture of me in my kitchen. My ceilings are 11 ft high- which will make choosing a xmas tree way fun, but also poses some rather amusing challenges...

My Kitchen

2 comments

Tell everyone your TOP 5 Mineral Makeup Companies, that you just can't get enough of!!

I know I didn't say anything but...I spent the week in the Punta Cana (The Dominican Republic) had a marvelous time and am back with a tan (my first in 4 years- and no scolding, it's impossible not to end up with a tan that close to the equator). Lots of fun swimming and playing with the beach dogs (i took pictures. I am showing Honey pictures of her 'dominican cousins' since she looks just like them). We ate at lots of different restaurants, had shots of mama juana everyday, drank cocktails in the pool, dug treasures out of the ocean, went ziplining and bowling, and had couples photos taken on the beach by photographers. At $10 each and cash only we only ended up buying 4 of the 67 pictures they had of us but they're all very nice. 3 gorgeous beach shots of me and my boyfriend and 1 of me rolling in the sand with a beach puppy (prolly 10-12 weeks old- they're very friendly sort of strays though i think the beach vendors actually owned these ones or at least are affectionate with them). I also had my picture taken with a cappuccino monkey, a squirrel monkey, and two different types of parrots. I opted to pass on the iguana. My cousin gave birth to a little baby girl in Germany halfway through our trip. All 3 of my sisters and my niece are in the area this weekend and i go back to work tomorrow so no rest for me! lol. I did clean my apt. BEFORE i left for vaction so it was nice coming home to a clean house.

Unfortunately all 4 of the family dogs were together- my mom and bf were with me on the trip and my sister came back from her vacation the day after we left. Long story short, my dog has fleas again- the real awful part is that her skin and fur had JUST recovered from the last bout of fleas. It took a long time for all the scars to heal and all her fur to grow back because she had them BAD until i moved to an apt.  I got her back to the apt tonight and flipped her over and scabs and bites and scratches all down her belly and joints. I promptly: checked her, gave her a capstar anti-flea pill, checked her again, brushed her, checked her again, Sprinkled the carpets and furniture with 20 mule team borax (bleach powder) and vacuumed, and then, i checked her again... She was only in the apt for 30 minutes before I realized she had fleas again so hopefully my thoroughness means all she'll have to do is heal...again...My sister said she pouted the whole time we were gone.

Dominican Dogs 2

Below: Left is one of the dominican dogs keeping cool. Right is my dog at her 1st xmas(2 years ago). i call them her dominican cousins although they're probably about 10-15lbs bigger than she is.

Lisa- I'm so excited I won something! Woohooooooo

Frond- Will be mailing your package soon!

Edit: *Gasp* The new SN stuff went up while I was gone! AND it's all particularly gorgeous! so i bought all of it... Happy Belated Birthday to Karen- the fairy godmother of all things makeup! The new stuff looks GREAT and all for a terrific cause too!

I am trying to clean up my stash, I've been throwing things away and organizing and I came up with a small pile of makeup and skincare to go away. Some of it is all natural and some it is not. Some of it is totally random. I'm placing it all inside the pink vellum purse that came with my EGminerals order. If you want this bag (or want it because of one thing in it), all you have to do is pay shipping(probably $5). I AM going on vacation from Oct 3-10 so it won't get mailed til I come back.

 First person to post that they want it, GETS IT! I have no desire to sell this off piece by piece and ship out a dozen envelopes so if you just want one thing out of it, you can do what you please with the rest- better yet, take what you want out, add something in, and ROAK it to someone else.

What does this mystery bag contain? 50+ items!

Silk Naturals

-FS Tarnish cream liner (unused)

-FS Mahogany cream liner (used 2-3x with clean brush. I'm allergic to soy and my eyes can't handle these)

-Fragrance Samples (unused- fresh, mystic, tease, and la femme)

-2 clear gel liner samples

-3 unused pigment samples (silver lining, naughty, charming-these are the free samples sizes)

-Tender Lip Gloss Sample (unused obviously)

Aromaleigh

-2 fragrance samples (Dulcinea and Madelaine)

-Backinblack rocks sample

The She Space

-4 blush samples (seeing stars, one hot night, without wonder, memory loss)

Archetype

-4 sealed/unused lip samples (2x red light district, 1 recycled virgin, 1 naughty kitty)

Foundations (light-medium, warm neutrals)

-Terra Firma 20g starter size H2O Minerals in Light #3

-Joppa 5g sample jars (Med Light #2 Full, Light #2.5 Full)

-EDM sample jars (3g-golden medium matte, 5g-medium beige matte)

-Dayna's Minerals samples (Vely, LG2)

-Dreamworld Sample bags-sand (Iris, metis, jata, ammut, cythera)

Completely Random Skincare

-Sheer Cover Sample bottles (Conditioning Cleanser, Nourishing Moisturizer SPF15)

-Mary Kay Embrace Mini Moisture Lotions (Happiness, Today, Harmony, Dreams)

-Mychelle Samples (Fruit Enzyme Scrub, Tropical Skin Smoother)

-Dreamworld Normal Skin Cleanser

-MMBB Pumpkin Masque Sample

-Sarafina Sample Jar of Oasis Body Lotion

-BITP (Aloe Silk Body Mist in Sweet & Creamy, Royalty Roll-On in Cherry Chocolate Cupcake)

-Celebrity Sexy Lips Lip Plumping Gloss (used 1x after shower)

-Some random little stuff

Ok before you get excited, I'm not reviewing the products...yet... I don't normally photograph my hauls but I was so excited to get this one, I just couldn't help it. Packaging is very classy and leaves you feeling like you just left a spa.

Pros: I bought kits and everything is very generously sized! Almost everything has a sticker over the opening that says thank you on it.

Cons (for some): The sifters don't have seals. I actually don't mind because i hate trying to peel the damned things off but i know some people really love their sifters for a reason.

Egmineralshaul2

I bought: Some blush and shadow samples, The normal skincare kit, and the haircare kit.Not a bad haul at all for $58. These things are FULL SIZED. I also got that fun little pink vellum purse thing for free which came with a soap sample (oatmeal and honey smells yummy), a jane mascara, and two sample shadows. the bummer about the free shadows is that it doesn't say what they are on it...just that they're shadows... The packaging is oh so fun and PINK lol. The facial scrub was packed in a ziplock baggy and it did leak a little (not a lot) which rubbed all the letters off the jar but c'est la vie! At least it was packed so as not to leak on anything else. The shiny gold labels really add a professional touch. Honestly, when you have it all in front of you, it just feels like you're being spoiled rotten.

I also thought it was nice of her to pay the difference in shipping. The flat rate box for ALL this stuff shipped for around $10 but I was only charged $5. I imagine that she might work out a system in the cart to change that in the future but it's nice to know that that it was taken care of without hassle.

UPDATE: INITIAL REVIEWS

Deep Conditioning Treatment: Smells kind of like laundry detergent with an undertone of red palm. It's orange and a little grainy but it does it's job of deep conditioning

Shampoo: Verrrrrrrry liquidy. Which is not something i love. I have long hair, I like to be able to apply my conditioner but this is like applying water (in texture and movement). It NEEDS to be thicker. i feel very wasteful trying to apply this. It smells kinda like dish detergent or greenworks cleaning supplies but not bad. It does get some light sudsing action and I do feel that it gently cleans hair.

Conditioner: Ok the smell is bad. I'm pretty sure it's the alcohol but it basically smells like a paint marker. I did use it and it works fine rinses out well, detangles, basically- it does what it's supposed to. But I do not like the smell. I've been postponing making a new batch of conditioner but i think that's what i'm doing this wednesday...

Leave-in Conditioner: I have not tried this yet. Why? Because the smell was so overpowering that i refuse to put it on my hair. I may feel adventurous enough later in the week to give it a shot but it smells like a hospital, like iodine or the alcohol swab. I don't use alcohol in my conditioner and have avoided it for a long time. It's not something i'm keen on reintroducing.

Botanical Face Cleanser: Light, gentle, effective. Doesn't strip your skin but leaves it clean.

I saw reviews for this back before it was open for business so i was always curious. Naturally, when it finally opened and EOTDs started popping up with Dayna's colors, I had to try it.

Now, As you've all seen from previous post, I have more than enough makeup for several lifetimes- I will probably never need to buy foundation again (short of shade changes) and i have sooooo many blushes and shadows. I really don't NEED more makeup but....

The Shadows: The shadows are all gorgeous wearable shades excellent for foiling. They have the most beautiful satin metallic sheen and I am in LOVE. Even shades I didn't think i would want, I am finding I would love. (Recently got a sample of luminous white gold. Yes, it's a nice highlighter but i am loving it as a lower liner to cancel the pink)

The Foundation: As I was putting it on, I was thinking I wasn't wowed. So I was quite surprised when at the end of my mu routine i stood back and thought- wow, my skin looks great. It's light coverage but I don't need heavy coverage. My skintone is pretty forgiving so Lili works well. I might be somewhere between lili and peeg but could definitely get away with just lili. I have to say, my skin looks...healthy, slightly glowing and practically perfect. It's not a miracle foundation if you have blemishes to cover but if you like it minimal or prefer light coverage, I think you'll love this one.

The Glows: Ok. i was skeptical on this one. I'm not a very big glow person perse- they just generally are not my thing but these have a lot of hype so how could i not at least try them? Now, I've only tested one so far since I got my first glow samples today but I'm thinking I NEED bronzed goddess. I dusted it on as a blush and at my temples and again, i just look healthy and happy and young (i am young but it's nice for your skin to look it too). A little extra oomph and it really doesn't look like i'm wearing any makeup which is always a good thing.

The Lips: Ok so these aren't out for purchase yet cuz she's still playing and testing formulas but I got a sample of lip butta #4 and yummmmmm. It's sheer so MLBB, smooth (like the name, lipbutta) and the coffee scent- OMG. I am taking this to work with me today just because of the scent. Keep me going. lol. I do think it could be just a TAD more moisturizing on, but the texture is spectacular, the scent is spectacular, and i see a great future for Dayna's lippies. Oh and the little pink cap is too cute.

AND...boyfriend said i look nice today :)

I like to layer lip fusion XL and either PF Plump Potion or City Lips

*All images linked from parent sites.

Physician's Formula Plump Potion

Retail price: $8.95

Flavor: chemically vanilla

Texture: Thick, very sticky, high shine/glass effect, can be drying

Colors: 12 colors available including clear

Application: Lip Brush

Tingle: Tolerable tingle. You do get used to it but the first time i used it, it was a little burny.

Plump Factor: Fantastic for instant plumping. Your lips are noticeably fuller and smoother (and redder, lol) within minutes. Lasts as long as the gloss is on (and it stays on pretty well)

Maybelline Volume XL Seduction Lip Plumper

Retail price: $8.49

Flavor: orange

Texture: slightly sticky, a little glittery, rather drying

Colors: 10 colors available including clear

Application: Lip tube that you twist from the bottom to dispense through holes at the top

Tingle: Just a little tingly

Plump Factor: Decent plumping. It isn't instant wow but you definitely get smoother, fuller lips and great color.

Sally Hansen Lip Inflation Extreme

Retail price: $7.79

Flavor: clove

Texture: slightly sticky

Colors: 4

Application: Lip wand with sponge tip

Tingle: not tingly

Plump Factor: zero

Celebrity Sexy Pout

Retail price: $29.99

Flavor: clove

Texture: smooth/ non-sticky

Colors: 1

Application: Lip wand with sponge tip

Tingle: not tingly

Plump Factor: zero

City Lips Advanced Formula

Retail price: $35

Flavor: a little off scented. don't love the smell but it is subtle

Texture: smooth/ slightly sticky

Colors: 8 including clear

Application: Lip wand with sponge tip

Tingle: minimal tingle

Plump Factor: extreme within minutes. Bonus: lasting results

Lip Fusion by Fusion Beauty Micro-Injected Collagen Lip Plump

Retail price: $36

Flavor: orange blossom

Texture: smooth/ non-sticky, slightly drying

Colors: 20 including clear

Application: Lip wand with sponge tip

Tingle: none

Plump Factor: lips are visibly smoother

Lip Fusion XL by Fusion Beauty

Retail price: $50

Flavor: minty

Texture: smooth/ non-sticky, moisturizing

Colors: clear

Application: Lip wand with sponge tip

Tingle: minimal tingle

Plump Factor: lips are visibly smoother. Noticeably fuller lips over time.

Patricia Wexler Advance No-Injection Lip Plumper

Retail price: $17.50

Flavor: unflavored

Texture: smooth/ non-sticky 

Application: Lip brush

Tingle: slight tingle. If you lick your lips, your tongue numbs a little

Plump Factor: lips are visibly smoother and fuller. 3.5 out of 5 stars for plumping.

I haven't updated my collection since moving. In our new apt, I made my bathroom really pretty and the makeup just didn't quite fit in there BUT I have two huge closets in my bathroom so all of my makeup is on the wall inside one of them. Sometimes I hang the smaller boards with foam tape- in the pictures, 2 are nailed up and 1 is mounted with foam tape. There are magnets on all the jars and the lippies are clipped to the wall with marker clips. I do much prefer being able to see EVERYTHING when i'm deciding what to wear. I use a bigger variety that way!

 *There are no pictures of mascaras, brushes, lip plumpers or liquid glosses because i do not keep them in the closet...yet... Also not pictured (with the exception of 1-2 jars) are my MMBB shadows because they are all stackable!

Collection

2 comments

This is by no means EVERYTHING but it is most of what i keep out for easy access.

Lips

I mounted these to the wall using marker clips. I currently own ALL of the kisserslickers (Karen must have noticed I was only missing one cuz ashley came as a surprise in my last order), ALL of the Liquid Glosses (not pictured because they aren't clipped), ALL BUT 1 of the Demi-glosses (Fearless), and ALL BUT 2 of the lipsticks (sublime and decadent). Sooooo...I own all but 3 Silk Naturals Lippies...and I have mulberry spice, cordial, and celebration which you can no longer get... I also have a few dreamworld lippies which i find unique and really enjoy (Xirena is one of my favorites)

Blush

This is my blush board. I also keep glows and bronzers here. I have ALL of the SN blushes in a sample size or larger. I recently ordered some EDM blush samples and am really happy with what i picked (especially peach tree). There are 2 EDM shadows on there too because i didn't want those 10g jars taking up space on my shadowboard. lol. The big bronzer is from sheer cover and i do really enjoy it.

Shadowboard

And yes. The big Hoo-Ha! I have waaaaaay too much eyeshadows. Some of these are samples that were poured into jars, some are combinations of samples in jars, and many are full size jars. When I add the magnet, I peel off the name sticker and put it on the back of the magnet whenever possible. I hate to admit but i think I'm outgrowing this board... If you count, I think there's 70 Silk Naturals' shadows on there...