RETAIL THERAPY: MAC 'Hey Sailor!', Converse, Ulta and More!

I purchased these items within the last month, which is pretty good for me, considering I have a shopping addiction.  I recently went on a little weekend getaway to San Diego and went outlet shopping, where I purchased a couple of these things.  I am fairly pleased with everything and I think they were pretty good buys that will be favorites for me in the future. 

Real Techniques Stippling Brush

I am a huge fan of the Real Techniques by Samantha Chapman line.  There is no Ulta nearby where I go to school, so when I went to San Diego,  I jumped at the opportunity to go to Ulta to get a couple more brushes to add to my collection.  I already have the 'Core Collection' with the Buffing Brush and I knew that I wanted to get the Stippling Brush, since I heard so many good things about it.  It is actually much smaller than I thought it was going to be.  I wanted to use it for blush, but I feel like it might be too small and dense for me.  I tried it out with MAC 'Fleet Fast' yesterday and picked up a LOT of product, making my cheeks look a little crazy, but I think I'm going to keep playing around with it and try to figure out what works best with what.  I might try this with foundation as well. The quality of this brush is impeccable, though.  It's super soft and the hairs seem to be really amazing quality with no fall out or anything. 

Real Techniques Powder Brush

I've been looking for a new powder brush recently to use with my translucent powder when I set my foundation.  My kabuki brush is too dense and thick, and I wanted something much fluffier and soft.  I saw this and decided I would give it a try. I haven't heard too much about this brush online, but I figured it'd be just as good quality as the others.  This ended out being exactly what I needed.  It's very soft, and not too dense, so it just distributes the powder lightly and evenly.  I brushed this on my boyfriend's face and he didn't want me to stop, so when I say it's soft...I mean it's REALLY soft.

MAC 'Hey Sailor!' Collection

Okay first off, this packaging is unbelievably adorable. Just sayin'. I always love when MAC comes out with new collections.  However, most of the time they sell out before I even have a chance to look.  This time, I think I caught the email early and got to choose what I wanted from the 'Hey Sailor!' collection.  It is a gorgeous collection with lots of nautical themed shades like bright reds and navy blues.  I was really interested in the Suntints, since I missed out on the Tendertones and I thought that they might be similar. The rest of the products, though beautiful, didn't seem too special to me or were too bright for my taste.  

MAC Powder Blush in 'Fleet Fast'

I've been itching to get a new blush recently.  I was looking into getting the Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color blushes, but was unable to find the color I wanted.  When I was looking at the 'Hey Sailor!' collection, I was excited to see this blush. It is described as a pinky golden coral, but I'd say it's much more pink than they let off. It's a bit of a mauvy, bright pink with a hint of coral.  Like I've said a million times, I'm really not a huge fan of pink on my skin tone.  When I applied this yesterday, I was a little turned off by the shade on my face, but that could have also been because I put WAY too much on and sort of looked like a creepy doll. I do think the color is really pretty and I love the finish of it.  I own a lot of shimmery blushes, so it's a nice change to have something more matte. I'm going to play around with it more and see if it works out better when I don't coat my face in blush.

MAC Suntints in 'Au Rose' 

I was super excited to see this product in the collection.  I was sort of bummed that I wasn't able to get my hands on the Tendertones, so I was hoping that these would be a similar kind of product.  I have heard mixed reviews about the Suntints.  Some people love them and find them very moisturizing, but some find them extremely drying and way too sheer.  I agree that they're very sheer, but I like that in a lip gloss. I'm not really a fan of opaque glosses, so this sheer wash of color is perfect for me.  This is a really pretty coraly pink shade with golden shimmer.  I was really drawn to the shimmer in this product because I thought it would be really beautiful for spring/summer.  I find this product to be quite moisturizing.  It gives my lips a really beautiful sheen, but doesn't feel sticky or anything.  It lasts about an hour or two, which is what I expect from a gloss.  I actually really like it, though I'm not quite sure if it's anything too spectacular or out of the ordinary.

MAC Big Bounce Shadow in 'Impeccably Rich'

When I went to the outlets, I was thrilled to see a Cosmetic Company Store there.  I went in and almost directly went to the MAC stand.  I was hoping to get a lipstick, but I walked out with this Big Bounce Shadow.  I recognized the name from some beauty gurus and swatched the color on my hand.  I immediately fell in love with the goldeny champagne color and the amazing amount of shimmer.  I am a huuuuuge sucker for shimmery eye shadows, so I was basically sold.  At first I was a little bit put off by the consistency, which is very liquidy, but it dries fairly quickly to almost like a stain.  It's gorgeous, but quite sheer when you first apply it, so I usually have to be a few layers.  I saw many mixed reviews about this as well.  Many people thought that it creased extremely easily since it is such a liquidy consistency, but I actually found that with a MAC Paint Pot underneath and a light dusting of powder over, it lasted almost all day.

Converse Chuck Taylor Hi Top All Stars in 'Optical White'

In middle school, I probably owned every single color of Converse ever made.  I had a huge obsession with them but unfortunately, I ruined all of them.  I pretty much grew out of that obsession after a while, but I've recently developed a craving for Converse.  It probably has a lot to do with Swedish style.  I recently went on a trip to Sweden and literally, every single person there wears white hi top Converse and they make it look so effortless and cool.  I have been lusting over the idea of owning a pair of white hi top Converse for a while, but refused to pay full price for them when I knew that you could get them for a little bit cheaper at a Converse outlet.  I went to the Converse outlet in San Diego and was so excited to see these there for $45. Maybe not the biggest deal, but still....enough for me to jump at the opportunity to get them.  I basically haven't taken these off since I bought them.  The only thing is that they're SO stark white, it kind of freaks me out.  But with time, they'll dirty up and I won't feel like I'm blinding everyone around me with my feet.

Xhilaration Yellow Crossbody Satchel

So speaking of blinding people...I purchased this neon yellow satchel from Target a couple of weeks ago.  We've already established my love for neon, so this shouldn't be too surprising of a purchase.  I've been wanting a neon bag for a while and for a while, Target had a bunch of neon accessories.  I just couldn't justify spending $30 on a neon bag.  I was walking through the accessories section recently and I spotted this bag in the sale area and nearly peed myself when I saw that it was on sale for $8. That's right...8 dollars. I knew I had to get it.  It's a great medium sized satchel that would look really great in all seasons, whether it is with a fun, bright outfit in the spring/summer or as a pop of color with a neutral outfit in fall/winter.  

xx,

Jordana

OUTFIT OF THE DAY: Summer Skulls

Tank: Foreign Exchange

Bralet: Urban Outfitters

Jeans: American Eagle

Shoes: Sperrys

Bracelets: Forever 21

Watch: Timex

Rings: Asos and Urban Outfitters

Nails: Essie 'Tart Deco'

BEAUTY RAVE: My Current Favorite Lip Products

I find that with every season, I have certain products that I constantly reach for.  Since we are in May, I am preparing myself for 4 months of hot weather and constant sunshine.  With this change in climate, I am straying away from my usual fall/winter make up looks like smokey eyes or dark lips and opting for a more neutral, natural luminous eye look and neutral lips or bright lips.  These 7 products are the products I've been constantly reaching for and I think will be staples for me for the rest of the season. 

NARS Lipstick in 'Heatwave'

I am a huge sucker for wearing color on my lips.  During the colder months, I love wearing either a dark red lip or a berry lip.  However, in spring and summer, I prefer a brighter red.  This NARS lipstick is the perfect spring/summer red shade for me.  It's a bright, orangey red shade that is really flattering on my skin tone.  It's a true orange red which I think is perfect for the bright lip trend that always seems to come around when it's warm out.  The consistency of this lipstick is more matte than the other NARS lipstick I own, but I find that because of its matte finish, it lasts forever on my lips.  Even after taking this swatch, I had to basically scrub it off my hand.  It can be a little bit drying, but it isn't unbearable and works fine when layered over a lip balm.

Revlon Lip Butter in 'Tutti Frutti'

I usually gravitate towards orange or peach shades when I look for lip products, because I find that pink tones are not very flattering on my skin tone.  I definitely remember all of the hype surrounding the Revlon Lip Butters and remember that for a good couple of months, I could not find them anywhere! When I finally could get my hands on them, I was immediately drawn to this bright orange shade.  My favorite thing about this product is that when I apply it, I get a light wash of orange over my lips that brings the perfect amount of color to my lips while still looking springy and fresh.  It is super glossy and moisturizing, as well.  Nothing is worse than chapped lips in the summer, so this is the perfect multi-use product for warm months. 

MAC Lipstick in 'Kinda Sexy'

I recently featured this in my most recent 'Retail Therapy' post, and after I received in the mail, I've been wearing this at least 3 times a week.  It is the perfect "my lips but better" shade for me.  I haven't been able to find a good nude shade before, and this has definitely become my "holy grail" nude.  It's not too pink, but not too light so it still looks natural.  It is a little bit drying, which is really unfortunate, but I just chuck on a lip gloss on top and that usually helps.  It's a gorgeous, neutral rose shade that goes with almost every single eye look, without being too bright or overpowering.  

Laura Mercier Lip Glace in 'BonBon'

I purchased this product about a year and a half ago and went through a phase of not wearing it at all.  However, I rediscovered my love for this lip gloss and realized why I bought it in the first place.  First off, the formulation is perfection.  Laura Mercier Lip Glaces are not sticky at all and glide on like a dream.  Not to mention, they smell like vanilla.  This color is a bright pink, but it's a sheer shade so it doesn't look too overly pink on my lips.  And I can't stress enough how much I dislike pink on me! This is definitely the pinkest I'll go.  It looks really beautiful over MAC's 'Kinda Sexy' or with a peachy lipstick underneath.  I am thinking of adding to my Laura Mercier collection because this is the only product I own from the line, and I always hear such great things about it.

Revlon Lip Butter in 'Pink Truffle'

As I mentioned before, I love Revlon Lip Butters. I bought this shade on a whim, since it really isn't a shade I would normally go for.  However, I've found that I have been using this shade a ton since I bought it.  It is a darker, rosy brownish pink shade that is quite similar to my natural lip color, so it's a great lip product for me to just throw into my bag and go.  I can just slick it on without even thinking about it and know that it looks good on.  Since it's such a sheer product, it doesn't look quite as dark on the lips, but just looks really natural.

NARS Lipstick in Barbarella

I featured this lipstick in my 'April Favorites' post.  It's one of my favorite lipsticks of all time.  It's a beautiful, sheer, bright peachy shade that is kind of a no brainer product for me.  I can just always use this lipstick and know that it looks good with whatever make up look I'm wearing.  My only problem with this lipstick is that  because it is such a creamy consistency, it clings to any dry patches I'll have on my lips if they're dry.  So I always make sure my lips are moisturized whenever I use this.  It's a sheer shade, but can be buildable to a brighter peach shade that looks really good for the spring/summer months. 

MAC Lipstick in 'Shy Girl'

I purchased this shade a few months ago after hearing so much about it from a ton of beauty gurus, and I can't believe I waited so long to get it! I asked the lady at the MAC store for a peachy nude that would work for my skin tone and she instantly chose 'Shy Girl'.  It is a light, coral beige shade that is quite sheer but still nudes out my lips a bit, which makes it perfect for when I want to draw focus onto my eyes.  I find that this looks really good when layered with a coral lip gloss on top or even with a lip gloss like 'BonBon'.  I think this shade would look gorgeous on light to medium skin tones, especially with yellow undertones. It's the perfect nude shade without making you look like a corpse like a lot of light nude shades do.

Nails: Essie 'Tart Deco'

xx,

Jordana 

LACQUER LUST: Essie 'Absolutely Shore'

Essie 'Absolutely Shore' is one of my all time favorite nail polish shades.  I bought it about a year or so ago when it came out with their Summer 2011 collection and wore it to death over the summer. Unfortunately, I don't think it's available in stores anymore, but you may be able to find it on Amazon.  It's a beautiful milky, sea foam green shade that is perfect for spring, especially with the pastel trend going on. It's so pale and light that sometimes it looks white, but the sea foam tint makes it truly unique.  I've gotten tons of compliments and questions whenever I've worn this polish, which is never a bad thing.  If I can find this online, I think I'm going to repurchase it because mine has gotten a bit thick through the year and I can't imagine not having this shade in my collection!

xx,

Jordana

OUTFIT OF THE DAY: Cut It Out

Dress: Urban Outfitters

Sandals: Forever 21

Rings (From Left to Right): Asos, Forever 21

Bracelets: Forever 21, Nordstrom

Nails: Urban Outfitters 'Early Morning'

xx,

Jordana

RETAIL THERAPY: A Couple of MAC Goodies

Where I go to school, we don't have a MAC store or counter nearby.  This breaks my heart every day.  Thankfully, MAC has an online store that has become my only link to my longtime obsession.  I recently got an email that MAC was having a free two day shipping offer and I jumped at the opportunity to pick up a couple of things I've been lusting after for a while.  I received them yesterday and immediately took photos for a blog post while they were still fresh and clean in their packaging. 

MAC Paint Pot in 'Bare Study'

This Paint Pot in 'Bare Study' has been a favorite among beauty gurus for a while.  I've seen countless swatches online and make up looks using it and decided that it was something that I needed for my collection. I already love the MAC Paint Pots but I only have 'Soft Ochre', so I wanted one that I could use for more than just an eye shadow base.  What I've heard about this Paint Pot is that it's a really great product to just swipe on the eyes and go.  It's a beautiful, peachy, champagne shade that adds a really subtle sheen to the eye.  

MAC Lipstick in 'Kinda Sexy'

I'm typically very picky about lipsticks, especially neutral shades.  I have a really hard time finding a neutral, every day shade since most are too light, too nude, or to pink.  I have pretty pigmented lips so most nude shades look really weird on me.  I've found some good neutral lip shades like MAC 'Shy Girl' and NARS 'Barbarella', but I wanted something a little bit more dusty rather than peachy.  I recently saw some beauty gurus rave about 'Kinda Sexy' and after looking at some more swatches online, I decided to give it a try.  I purchased this thinking I'd most likely return it, since I'm so picky.  But as soon as I swiped it on my lips, I fell in love.  It's a matte lipstick, but surprisingly, it isn't drying.  It's a neutral, dusty rose shade that is basically a "my-lips-but-better" kind of shade.  It's a good change of pace from my usual peachy, coral lip.  I wore this in my most recent 'Outfit & Face of the Day' post.

xx,

Jordana

OUTFIT & FACE OF THE DAY: Black, White, and a Bit of Green

Dress: Motel

Cardigan: H&M

Tights: Rite Aid (I'm not kidding...)

Boots: Rose Bowl Flea Market

Necklace: Urban Outfitters

Bracelet: Handmade from a friend

Rings (Left to Right): Brandy Melville, Urban Outfitters, Forever 21

Nails: Essie 'Absolutely Shore' (Lacquer Lust post coming soon!)

FACE OF THE DAY:

Eyes: Urban Decay 'Sin', MAC 'Woodwinked', MAC 'Sumptuous Olive'

Liner: Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eye Pen in Blackest Black

Blush: Revlon Photoready Cream Blush in 'Coral Reef'

Bronzer: Tarte Mineral Bronzer in 'Park Ave Princess'

Lips: MAC 'Kinda Sexy'

Today I had a little bit of extra time to get ready so I decided to curl my hair and play around with my make up a little bit.  I added 'Sin' by Urban Decay as my base lid color and then added a layer of MAC 'Woodwinked' over it, since 'Sin' is a really pink-y shade and I wanted to add a bit of warmth to it. Then I wanted to get REALLY crazy and went with a bit of green on the lower lashline.  The only green shade I own is MAC 'Sumptuous Olive', but I think it was the perfect way to add a tiny bit of color without being too bright.  It was barely noticeable from far away, but I think the look brightened up my eyes a little bit.  It's kind of refreshing to change up your make up routine every once in a while, don't you think?

xx,

Jordana