Right, the first 4 months of this year I'd been doing very well with spending and suddenly comes May and I explode! During May and June I spent about 194 € altogether. Before May I spent about 123 € in 4 months. To be honest I did get a new job and had birthday so I felt that I deserved a treat... or several... So maybe I just post these now before the end of the June and hope that seeing everything deters me from shopping more!
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| TOP Idol, Kindred, Relapse: BOTTOM Sigil, Incarnate, Vertex. |
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Picture screencapped of Lethal Cosmetics Palette Designer. I love that tool! I have probably spent hours making different color combinations during the last year. I find it relaxing.
TOP Idol, Kindred, Relapse: BOTTOM Sigil, Incarnate, Vertex. |
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| Poor Unearthed couldn't fit into this palette. But I think I'll switch them around when I feel like it a lot. The sleeve is nice and protective but there was still some fall out with most of the shadows, especially Relapse. But the shadows are quite soft so no wonder. |
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| Such a cute palette with surprise petals! They can't be seen when looking from straight ahead. |
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| All the shadows came in individual sleeves as shown. Just couldn't wait to pop the shadows into the palette! |
Lethal Cosmetics Custom Palette: Cluster Palette,
Eyeshadows: Idol, Kindred, Relapse, Sigil, Incarnate, Vertex, Unearthed
Depotting Tool
My birthday gift for myself! I chose colors that I do not have and are partly out of my comfort zone. For my new bright and glittery eyeshadow obsession, you see. Safe choices were the peach one Kindred and the grey brown Unearthed that wasn't able to fit into the palette anymore!
My order was a bit over 50 €, I got a few euros off with a first order coupon (10%). So it was quite a pricy palette by my standards, about 38 €. Relapse wasn't in stock and got backordered and they told it would take 1-2 weeks for them to ship my order. They estimated it would take about a month for me to receive it. It took exactly 3 weeks including weekends. No customs because Lethal Cosmetics is based in Germany.
Everything was packaged really nicely, truly felt like gift. The palette had a plastic cover and wrapping. The individual eye shadows were in sleeves and also inside an extra paper wrapping.
The shadows are quite soft. What I have tried so far, they are pigmented and I am careful when dipping my brush in. But they are also easy for me (totally not pro) to blend, I feel it is effortless to create an impactful look. I have used these colorful shimmers as "one and dones" and they look really pretty just on their own, maybe not the most elegant look but they seem to be long lasting and catching the light really nicely. They are a bit messy to apply so I've had to learn to do my eyes before the rest of my face so I can wipe the fallen glitter off. But I do not notice the look getting messy during the day.
Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation in 1W
Dior describes 1W for "fair skin with warm yellow undertones". I swatched 0W and 1N at the counter as well, 1N was definitely too orange and 0W too light. Actually the jump from 0W to 1W looked quite big and I wish there was an in-between, or a more muted yellow. But, it seems the formula is sheer and blends into skin effortlessly, so the match doesn't have to be perfect. 2W was too dark however. 1W looks very yellow straight out of the bottle, but matches well once on face as a sheer layer! I would say it is for fair-light skin, it looks darker in real life than in the photos I saw online. So if you are truly fair and warm toned, maybe go for 0W. 1W starts to look too yellow on me if I layer it more than once. Maybe I'll try to add a drop of something else, like white, blue mixer or pinker foundation and it'll tone it down, if I want to layer Dior. But I think the point of Dior F&B is the sheerness.
Why did I buy another foundation and why Dior's F&B? I saw the ingredient list and alcohol is the third ingredient. I saw many people complaining that it is drying or enhances dry patches sooo... I figured it would be great for my combination skin for summer! Doesn't feel drying on me. Actually I was hoping it would feel dryer than it does. Anyway, it just disappears in and dries quite fast and requires very little blending so it is almost effortless to put on. I just use my fingers. It doesn't crack or slide during the day and wears nicely, even if I sweat. But, if I sweat and touch my face/have eyeglasses/mask it comes right off and looks very messy! Absolutely not as bullet proof as I hoped a high alcohol, face and body foundation would be.
So far I have to say I am pleased with my overpriced foundation purchase, even though there was a small issue with the shade and the lasting power because I expected more. But it is the easiest foundation to apply from the ones that I own and suits fast mornings when I can throw it on in 30-60 seconds. But Lumene's Skin Tint comes very close in my mind despite it being very different product, it is fast and easy to apply as well and wears nicely. If only I would have the right shade of that one, lol. I bought light instead of medium back in the day.
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| I didn't want to edit this picture in case I lost the true color of the blush! It is difficult to photo. |
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| Finger swatch, had to do about 4 layers. Tried to blend it towards the end but it just almost disappeared. |
Catrice Cheek Lover Oil-Infused Blush - 010 Blooming Hibiscus
This was called a dupe for Nars Orgasm but I can't compare since I don't have Orgasm. The golden shimmer is simply divine! The color is more pink on me than in the pan and on my face looks more pink than the swatch. So it is loveliest when applied lightly and it is easy because the blush needs a lot of layering, it's very sheer. Too bad the golden shimmer is not super visible unless heavily applied. Maybe I do need that proper golden highlighter. I wish Catrice would release similar blushes to this but with more peachy or plum tones. But, I think they should change the formula a bit too, I feel this is breaking me out a bit. So I can't quite decide if this impulse purchase was worth it.
Dermatica Subscription Tretinoin 0.025 % + Niacinamide 4 %
First full price bottle, about 28 € I think? Dermatica's customer service was excellent and they stood behind their promise to pay the custom charges in case EU customers got some. I had to pay almost 10 € customs and handling charges and contacted them, they requested proof, I sent the proof and they paid the whole sum back in a few days. I think I may have sounded quite annoyed in my emails as well, now looking back, but I was annoyed and the language barrier doesn't help. (English is my second language and my mother tongue is very to the point and lacks polite add-ons.) Anyway, just wanted to say, I keep complaining about Dermatica but it seems they really do try to make the service work well.
Neulii BHA PHA 5.5 Peeling Pad
About 20 € including shipping. Urgh, I think these pads used to be closer to 10 € including shipping back in the day before corona! But I felt I wanted another jar, and by cutting the pads into four pieces, they do last me forever. I do love how convenient the already soaked pads are and the essence is at the same time effective and very very gentle!
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| By Terry palette after two uses. The shades are quite soft so they make a bit of a mess. |
Schwarzkopf Got2B Glued Water Resistant Spiking Gel
Depend Everyday Eye Brow Knife
BaByliss Tweezers
RefectoCil Oxidant 3% Creme
RefectoCil Natural Brown No. 3
LA Girl HD Pro Conceal Green Corrector
By Terry Brightening Cc Palette Beach Bomb
I ordered from Lyko again. I was happy with the selection, speed and packaging the last time I ordered, so I return to browse their website from time to time.
Now it was all about my eyebrows that I have had an obsession with. Funny because I used to do nothing to eyebrows except pluck, and just about 1-2 years ago started to actively seek ways to do them naturally, easily and fast. And here we are, buying oxidants and dyes... I am lazy and not a morning person so I figured that my next step is to actually dye the hair to get a small lift for the look even if I only brush in clear gel that can't turn into clumpy mess for hold. And for that I bought Schwarzkopf Got2b Gel. I have heard a lot of good things about RefectoCil dyes so I chose them. As for tweezers and brow knife, I lost my previous knife and the tweezers look like the grab tweezer shape I love but they are so difficult to find!
I have been eyeing the blue color correctors and thought to try the green one first because they are cheap and easily available. And I have had good luck with green ones before for cancelling the surface redness. This time around I'll mix a bit into foundation to see if it neutralizes them at all and I can use green on its own anyway.
And the impulse purchase of the day... dun dun dun... is By Terry face palette. It was only 16,80 € and the real price is around 49 € - and it is a brand new release as well. I think someone messed up when putting in the price. Or Lyko just has a lot of dead stock they want to get rid of but a discount of 60-70 % seems a bit too good for that purpose. My whole Lyko order cost me about 49 €, including the palette. Lol. You see, I couldn't resist even though I have never entertained the thought of buying By Terry products before. I have already reviewed the palette a bit here in my random favorites post.
Nivea Sun UV Face Sensitive SPF 50
Garnier Ambre Solaire Anti-Dryness Super UV SPF50+Got these sunscreens from my mom. Interesting to test new sunscreens! What I tried so far, Garnier is indeed emulsion like it claims to be, and it is very moisturizing on my skin during this hot summer. Too much, almost. I do not need a separate moisturizer. No whitecast, no fragrance. I like it, but I like the UV Fluid more! But it is difficult to find at the moment for some reason.
Nivea is a cream, and it is very moisturizing as well. No white cast, no fragrance. Takes longer to set than Garnier one. The new sunscreens seem to be very good these days!!! If only they would be geared more for oily skin as well! This summer I have been sweating like a pig and I would survive completely without any moisturizers or hydrators, even when on tretinoin!!! This Anti-Dryness Super Uv from Garnier hasn't irritated my eyes yet. Haven't used Nivea very much so far. They are definitely not matte, they leave the satin, shiny finish, but not greasy.
