Hi girls, please be warned this is a bit of long one!
Having decided I rely waaaay to much on my MAC products, I avoided using any for the whole of last week. My self imposed rules meant where I would usually grab a MAC product, I had to go for an alternative. Foundation and concealer have been excluded as my Studio Fix is the only thing with enough coverage and the right colour match at the moment.
So here's what I've been wearing:
Not included in the photo are my standard eyeliner & mascara which I don't have alternatives for, and obviously my foundation & concealer. Looks so pathetic without them!
Eyes
Urban Decay 'Naked Palette'
Sin.Naked.Sidecar.Buck. Sin. Naked. Buck
I didn't use Sidecar because the fall out is something stupid, which is frustrating as the shimmer is so lovely. So, I just stuck to the three on the right hand side of the photo. Using Sin with Naked blended into the crease for a bit of definition during the day; sometimes opting for a smudged eyeliner along upper lashline. Saturday night I went out, so I added Buck to create a darker smokey eye and used my Collection 2000 felt liner. I've also been using Primer Potion that came with the palette instead of my MAC PP.
Cheeks
Illamasqua 'Laid' Cream Blush Benefit 'Coralista' Blush
I've been alternating between these two blushes. Coralista is just over a month old and I've really been enjoying it. Love the soft peachy shimmer. Laid, I'm ashamed to say, has been in my collection since July and I hadn't used it once! So it was nice to have a play with it. Yes, it does looks scary and very bubble gum pink the pan, but using my Sigma F55 Duo Fiber Stippling Brush, helps avoid being too heavy handing and applies a light flush of health colour. Using fingers works well too, but I prefer the brush.
Highlighter
Bobbi Brown 'Bronze' Shimmer Brick
I have really fallen in love with my MAC highlighters, but this week I discoverd how gorgeous the Shimmer Brick is. I've been using the top two colours as a highlighter, I just rub my fingers over both the colours and then blend into the top of my cheek bones. I only acquired it recently when my mom said she didn't use it anymore so I could have it. And absolutely love it. One day, I just gave my F55 a light swirl over all the colours and used it as a light shimmer blush, as the bronze tones work really well with my skin tone without being too in your face.
Lips
sticking to the highstreet
No 17 Mirror Shine On 'Beehive / Topshop Lipstick 'Coy'/ Avon 'Pout'
Beehive has been my go-to lipstick all week. It's gorgeously glossy without being sticky, and adds a slight hint of colour. I've had it for 4 months now and I'm nearly finished. I feel less guilty wearing highstreet lipsticks during the day, saving my higher end for the evenings.
I reserved Coy for my one night out and had to use it with Carmex otherwise I found it too drying. Gorgeous colour and I got a few compliments on it. I know it's a really spring/summer colour but I finally found it the other week after searching all summer for it, and couldn't resist.
As mentioned in my Avon Haul post, Pout is one of my go-to lipsticks during the day. In the bullets Beehive and Pout look really similar, but Pout has a better colour payoff, and is more of a creamy peachy/nude.
So, you can see I kept it pretty simply. I hardly ventured out apart from a few lectures and then out on Saturday. It was nice to reduce the amount of make up to choose from, so it really helped minimise my getting ready time, and that was actually really refreshing. Might have to start shopping my stash a bit more, I do feel guilty about the amount of make up I hardly touch.
I've really been enjoying The Sunday Girl's Sunday Shopping the Stash feature, and really motivated me to do my MAC free week. It really helps rotating your make up and avoiding getting stuck in a rut (like moi!).
Phew! If you managed to get through all that I've very impressed. Thanks so much for reading. Please share your shopping the stash posts as well!
Nic xxx
