FOTD: Rainbow - Old & New

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OCC & Sephora VIB NARS Haul

It hasn't been officially announced yet but I'm on a bit of a makeup buying ban and Project 10 Pan sort of thing.  I have to do a massive post about that later.

Meanwhile, here are things that I have purchased before deciding on the aforementioned commitments.  OCC had this really awesome set on sale for Valentine's Day.  I've never tried lip tars before, and as a set, they were much cheaper than if I were to purchase them each individually ($50 as opposed to $67).  I also threw in a white lip tar for mixing purposes.

Lip Tars in Feathered, Harlot, Stalker, Pretty Boy, and Pageant
Pink and Red Glitter

Sephora also had a GWP recently for VIB members featuring a little NARS goodie bag.  Their traincases also dropped from $90 to $59 so I decided it would be a good investment.

The only reason I opted for a pink one was because black and silver seemed kind of boring.  But now seeing this pink one in person, it's a bit too girly for my tastes.  I'm too lazy to return it so I guess I'm stuck with it.

As for the NARS goodie bag, it included a mini Laguna Bronzer, a mini Orgasm illuminator, and a mini eyeshadow primer.  I'm most excited about the illuminator!

I'm sure most of you are curious about the lip tars.  I haven't worn them yet, as I haven't found an appropriate time for it, but I will let you know how it goes!

FOTD: Untitled Work Look

Sorry for the lack of imagination.  I really have no idea what to call this look.  But I wore it this past weekend for another day at the ice cream parlor.  I looveeeeeed how the look turned out but HATEEEE the freaking pictures because it makes the makeup look like poop.  Sure, the makeup could use some refining but blahhh.

Anyways, I did this look in the early afternoon and was thrilled to have a bit of sunlight left to take pictures in.

But as it turns out, you really can't see much of the makeup so I resorted back to the harsh flash of my camera:

Yes, I'm kicking myself for not applying makeup properly to my two different sized eyes too.

Face:
-Inglot Face Primer
-Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer in Medium
-MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC20
-Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Ivory
-Cover FX Setting Powder in Light
-NARS Laguna Bronzer
-Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Amused

Eyes:
-UDPP
-Inglot eyeshadows in 395P, 422P, DS500, and 352M
-UD 24/7 Liner in Perversion and Oil Slick
-L'oreal Voluminous Mascara

Lips:
-Cover Girl Lip Perfection l/s in Romance

...And just for fun, here is a shot of the chaos that is the desk I use for makeup, cardmaking, and homework:

Like I said, CHAOS.

I feel like I've been using this blog for ranting and look dumping lately.  I have a lighter work load this week so I'm going to try to get some more fun posts in.  Comments? Requests? Randomness?  Let me know!

P.S.  I'm having trouble commenting on some of your blogs.  Blogger tells me that I need to be a member of some of your blogs in order to comment but that's all bullcrap.  I'm signed into blogger and all and I have been able to comment before so I don't know what the problem is.   Sorry :(

FOTD: Eurydice

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THERE'S LEAD IN MY LIPSTICK (and yours too)!!!

I found this out not long ago but I wanted to get the word out as soon as possible.  33 popular lipstick brands were tested in 2009 by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and the results have finally been published.  It is absolutely ASTOUNDING because so many of the popular lipsticks we rant and rave about are on this list.

L'oreal is the producer of the top 10 most lead-contaminated brands of lipsticks.  Brands that are contaminated include:

1. Estee Lauder
2. MAC
3. Clinique
4. Wet n Wild
5. Dior
6. Benefit
7. Maybelline
8. Cover Girl
9. Revlon
10. Mary Kay
11. Bobbi Brown
12. NARS
13. Avon
14. Shiseido
15. Clarins
16. Chanel
17. Rimmel
18. Burt's Bees
19. Elizabeth Arden
20. Almay
 ...and many many more

With that said, I don't think ALL lipsticks from each of these brands are contaminated with lead.  In this list, you can check for the specific shade(s) that are contaminated.

Just to throw a few out there, some of the lipsticks on the very very extensive list include MAC Angel, Clinique Black Honey, MAC Lady Danger, MAC Red, MAC Viva Glam I, MAC Show Orchid, Maybelline Nearly There.  I'm listing a lot of MAC lippies not because I'm picking on them, but because MAC is probably the most talked about brand in the blogging world.

So what does this all mean?  Research shows that there is no safe level of lead, and yet the FDA claims that there is no concern for the level of lead in lipsticks.  In fact, the FDA does not have a limit on lead in cosmetics and have never been very restrictive on beauty products in general.  At the very least, however, cosmetic companies should be REQUIRED to list ALL their ingredients on he label, which they currently are not.

Here are the lead-contaminated lippies (that I know of) that I dug out of my own personal collection:

Wet n Wild Red Velvet, L'oreal Undeniably Mauve, Maybelline Madison Mauve, and Maybelline Mauve Me.

I haven't decided what to do with these lipsticks yet.  I originally wanted to throw them out immediately, but I wonder what good it would actually do me.  All cosmetics that are not organic and natural are probably bad for us in one way or another, and all the food we eat is also processed and contaminated to some point as well.  With that said, I don't think that this makes it okay for there to be lead in our lipsticks in the first place.  You see how I'm bouncing back and forth here?

In any case, I wanted to put the facts out there and let you all decide for yourself what to do about the lipsticks.  I think one thing we can all agree on is that there should not be lead in our lipsticks to begin with, so we can email or facebook message many of the companies listed about lowering or eliminated the lead in lipsticks.

If you would like to read more about lead in lipsticks and see the extended list of lipsticks tested, please check out these very helpful and informational sites:

http://safecosmetics.org/article.php?id=223

http://www.fda.gov/Cosmetics/ProductandIngredientSafety/ProductInformation/ucm137224.htm#expanalyses 

FOTD: Cranberry

I spent Saturday afternoon rearranging my Inglot eyeshadows into color-coordinated palettes.  I had work later that night and it only made sense for me to use some of those eyeshadows, as they don't get enough love at all.  I chose to use a color that I obtained during my very first trip to an Inglot store, a maroon color that reminded me a lot like MAC's Cranberry eyeshadow.

Here's the look:

This look can be cleaned up quite a bit but I did like the way it turned out.  In my rush, I forgot to use concealer so I look a bit like a vampire in one of the pictures.

Face:
-Eve Pearl Priming Moisturizer
-Aveeno tinted moisturizer in medium
-Cover FX Setting Powder in Light
-NARS Laguna Bronzer
-Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Tarte

Eyes:
-UDPP
-Inglot eyeshadows in AMC 63 (matte black), 352 (matte cream), 344 (matte soft brown), and 452 (maroon)
-Inglot gel liner in 77
-Milani Liquifeye liner in black
-L'oreal Voluminous mascara

Lips:
-CoverGirl LipPerfection l/s in Sultry

On a totally unrelated note, the word cranberry makes me giggle now because I learned how to say it in French: canneberge.  It sounds funny :D

FOTD: Magic Tricks

I did this look last week with Gosh Eyeshadow Quad in Magic Tricks.  This is a color combination that I've never worn before, simply because I didn't own such an awesome green.  Or if I do, it's hidden deep within the bowels of my collection and it never sees the sun.  I didn't oomph up the colors as much as I could have because I wanted to keep it a tiny bit subtle for work.

Face:
-Aveeno Tinted Moisturizer in Medium
-Cover FX Setting Powder in Light
-NARS Laguna Bronzer
-Tarte Amazonian Clay Brush in Amused

Eyes:
-UDPP
-Gosh eyeshadow quad in Magic Tricks
-Naked Palette: Buck, Virgin
-Lise Watier 24 Hrs Glam Eyeliner
-Milani Liquifeye in Black
-L'oreal Extra Collagen Mascara

Lips:
-YSL Rouge Volupte Perle in 104 Stellar Pink

I will be the first to admit that I need some more color in my life, and my makeup has been too toned down lately.  How do you guys spice up your makeup when you're simultaneously trying to slap it on in a jiffy?

Gosh Magic Tricks: Swatches and First Impression

I picked up this eyeshadow quad while I was in Quebec.  These normally retail for $18 CAD, but I got it on clearance for $9.  I don't know if this means it is continued and no longer available, but you can find like items at Shoppers Drugmart/Pharmaprix.  I don't use greens and purples together in a look very often so this quad intrigued me.

With exception of the first two photos, all pictures were taken in natural light.  Swatches are done on bare skin with one swipe of the finger.

I have only used this quad once, but I found it to be a decent product.  There is good, not excellent, pigmentation with a primer.  The eyeshadows don't produce too much fall out and are not powdery.  I'll have to use this quad a few more times to make a final judgement, but I don't think I will be buying more quads from Gosh if they all have the same formula.  Because I have so many eyeshadows, I don't like to settle for ones that are just okay in pigmentation, and that is what this product has to offer.

With that said, I still like this quad for its fun colors.  I really like the lime green and purple together and hope to wear them more often. 

Inglot Black Friday Haul

Yes, I should be ashamed for posting this so late.  The packaged arrived at my house the day after I left for Quebec, and I did not have time to actually open the thing until last Saturday.  Here are the items I got:

I needed a some more empty palettes so I could rearrange all my eyeshadows and add the new additions.  I also got the matte black gel liner which is absolutely AMAZING.  I've been using it a lot so it is in my makeup bag, which is why it's not pictured here.

I apologize for the lack of swatches.  I wanted to do swatches after I rearranged all my eyeshadows so that the posts would be more easily organized.  Stay tuned for those! 

Inglot's Return Policy

I have never been disappointed by a makeup store/company's return policy before, so I thought I would do a post specifically regarding INGLOT.  For how big it is, this company by far has the worst return policy that I have come across.  Maybe it is because I have been spoiled by stores such as Nordstrom and Sephora that have fantastic return policies, but some of the things within INGLOT's return policy just don't make sense.

Let me break it down for you:

Inglot will accept returns only on unopened products, whether you purchase them online or in store.  If you do purchase them  in store, you must return the items to the store where you made your purchase.  And you must do so within 15 days of your purchase date.

This is all fine and good, but this is what gets me--there are no returns on freedom system items or any purchases with pro discounts.  My sister went to Las Vegas (where they have 3 Inglots now!) last weekend and I sent her with a short wishlist. I asked for some AMC lip pencils, and some freedom system blushes.  My sister gave the SA my list, and she returned home with the AMC lip pencils and some freedom system eyeshadows instead of blushes.  I called the store immediately asking if I could send the eyeshadows in for a refund or exchange, but they would do neither of their strict return policy.  This really bugged me because the items were still brand new, intact, and perfectly fine.  The manager did offer free shipping on the blushes I originally wanted if I were to make another purchase, which I did take up.

So what now?  I'm still a little pissed off.  I love the products the company has to offer but to keep their customers happy, there should definitely be more slack in their return policy.  I'm hoping things will change as they continue to expand.  Speaking of expanding, an Inglot counter has popped up in San Francisco's Macy's, so I will be checking that out when I can.  As for the eyeshadows I didn't want, I already have those colors, so I will probably be giving those away.

Am I overreacting?  What are your thoughts on Inglot's return policy?

FOTD: China Glaze Black Diamond

Hello lovelies,

This will be a quick and nearly wordless post about my nails from last week.  I apologize for the lack of posts.  This school and work thing is a lot more difficult than I remember.

<3,

Janny