Empty NYC - March 2020 #StayHome

Just wanted to stop by and share pictures that my boss sent in our work group today. 

He had to drive to Manhattan to check the mail and see if the office still stands LOL. 

But all jokes aside.... I never seen NYC so empty! and I been here 13 years already. 

As of now there is no set date on when will the office reopen. I do miss it. 

So eerie. Ghost town. City that never sleeps actually sleeps. 

And I am happy to see people are staying home and saving lives.

Take a look 

Halcyon Cosmetics and their eye shadow collection - swatches

*pr sample*

I am pleased to present you a new brand. I found them on IG last year and fell in love. 

Halcyon Cosmetics was kind enough to sent over their eye shadow collection, and boy they are beautiful.

(Please note that I misplaced shade Reign, so it is not in the main pictures I will insert picture at the end of the post with a swatch of it)

Halcyon Cosmetics like I mentioned they are a new vegan and cruelty  free brand.
Here is an in info from their website:

" hal·cy·on - calm; peaceful; tranquil. Rich; wealthy; prosperous. Happy; joyful; carefree.

At Halcyon Cosmetics, makeup is our happy place. A therapeutic escape from reality where negativity doesn't exist. Where it's all about creating and reconnecting with your inner peace.

It's what our brand is all about. We want to celebrate makeup as a stress outlet by bringing you good vibes and luxurious, pretty things at an affordable price.

"
They have a collection of 11 shades. You can buy them individually or as a bundles.

*Whiteout-metallic white
*Buffy -pale matte nude (is is inspired by the tv show?It used to be one of my favorites!)
* Steampunk- metallic dirty silver
* Chelsea - matte greige
* Double Shot-smokey espresso brown
* Capricorn- metallic amber
* Salted Caramel - warm caramel
* October - matte true orange
* Phoenix - matte true red
* Lucid Dreamer- indigo
* Reign - matte smokey plum

Now you guys the formula is unbelievable! they feel so silky smooth!Swatch wise - as you can see they are freaking amazing. they glide on beautiful,and they are pigmented as hell! I never felt formula like this before.
The eye application same!you just need the tiniest amount.The blend nicely with out much fallout.
Each shade complements each other so well.

Check them out here. FYI  they ship worldwide!

New Drugstore Palettes ~ feat. Maybelline, Milani Cosmetics and Physicians Formula ~ Do you need them?

*Purchase by me*

Drugstore is a roll with all the new palettes or should I say Physicians Formula is.

I was thinking of doing a separate post for each palette but then I changed my mind and will include them here :) I feel its better if you see them all together and make your choice if you want it or not. 

First let's start with Maybelline Nudes of New York - all I have to say about this palette is wow wow wow....wow. Finally a palette in drugstore that is amazing seriously worth every penny. I actually didn't want a new palette but ugh I got it at discounted price and I could not be happier.

If you think that this one is same formula as the other palettes, im looking at you Nudes and Blushes Nudes, think again. This is so much better, 10000 times better. Even better then the city minis palette. We got mattes, we got shimmer and they all are so pleasant to work with. The 7 metallic shades are gorgeous. I personally like to apply them with my fingers :) the 9 mattes blend really good. I feel if you like nude shadows you will totally love this palette.

Seriously try it and let me know :) Retails $14

Next lets stick with warm neutrals shades. Milani Cosmetics Most Wanted in the shade Burning Desire - I think these are newer ones that recently launched. I believe there is 5 total. I only was able to get one. Now let me tell you that these remind me of the Maybelline formula, and no not the new palettes Nudes of New York, but the City Minis. City Minis formula was good at the time when they came out. Over the years most of the brand improved their formulas. I am not saying its bad, but it is not the best. The shadows feel really soft, there is a lot of kicks up a lot of powder and when you blend them they kinda blend away, just like Milani Gilded palettes. When swatched shades look beautiful. But once applied I get just one look. I used 2nd matte and 5th matte and they kinda blend it together and there is no saying which one was which. Even when applying 3rd and/or 6th shimmer, looks feel like everything blend into one warm shade on the eye.

I guess I could use this as a side kick to other palettes I  have in my collection. Its pretty to look at but meh when applied. I don't think palette is necessary. Retails $10

Moving on to two Physicians Formula palettes I have:

* Rose All Play - lets just start by saying I love the packaging and the whole Rose All Day line is amazing. This palette comes in pretty flowery cardboard. the eye shadows are shaped like roses and its just brings the look of flower bouquet all together. When you first look at it it looks like Hudas New nudes palette. I don't own the original so I can't compare but I will say it is not the best dupe out there. I love the shades, I adore these type of the shades, pretty pinks, mauve's and pretty shimmers :)

Some matte shades have a kick up but not as bad as the Milani one. Shadows blend nicely together and I like to top them with the glitters that I use my finger to apply.  Over all I like this one and recommend getting it on sale :) Retails $18

* The Gold Vault - pretty but bulky packaging. This is all shimmer palette. There is no mattes or satin shades. There is shimmery bronzer shade and shimmery gold highlighter. Pigmenation on these is crazy! they shimmery sparkly what ever you want to call it LOL. I can get away using light handed that bronzer. But highlighter? NO. There is total of 8 eye shadows. Again all shimmery. But heck you can get a nice eye look out of it :)

 I was not sure I would like this palette but well I do! If you need mattes your can totally grab another palette, no harm there. ON the side note, some one compared this to New UD Honey palette and they look so similar! wish I had Honey so I could compare it as well :)  Retails $18

Out of all I believe Maybelline one will be the most popular with all and for all the good reasons :) I would recommend that the most. The second comes both PF palettes. Lastly Milani. Milani formula is not my favorite... If you can find any of the Obssesion palettes get them, formula on these is amazing and I heard Milani is discontinuing it. 

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon - Colourpop x Sailor Moon - Eye Shadow Palette swatches

*purchased by me*

Dang it!!!! this collection was a no joke. It kinda brings us back to when MAC used to launch new collection that would sell out in minutes and you needed be really really fast. Do you remember that times? Like I log in few hours later and there was nothing left, nothing! And I have no idea when its coming back. 

On March 15th it launched at ULTA and guys same story sold out within minutes! I managed to grab eye shadow palette. As a huge fan of Sailor Moon I wanted the whole thing!  Now I just have to wait, god knows how long... ugh . 

So while I am waiting for the rest to come back to stock lets me show you the eye shadow palette. 

As I mention I order it from ULTA Beauty for $20. Along side with that I grabbed 5 ABH Brow Wiz coz they were discounted to $11 for 21 days of Beauty Event :) Last year I bought two and I run out so fast... Back to the palette. 

12 pan eyeshadow palette is fan dream. I do think it does resemble the series as all. Its stunning, soft with pretty neutrals, pinks and purples. I brings back childhood memories. I even got my daughter hooked on sailor moon and we are watching it on youtube :) 

This palette is very soft almost pastely. I created one look so far and it came out good. Shades did apply evenly and blended nicely with no problems. I feel like this palette is a great transition to the Spring :) Kinda getting Sweet Talk vibes, as that one was also light and soft.

There is glitter in the palette of which I am not a fan of. I do think they are pretty but well not for me. 

The packaging is on the point. It have very girly and again pastley aesthetics. Cardboard box feature Usagi and Luna and the palette itself have this moving Image of Usagi in love :) Her mouth changes when you flip the cover back and forward. I think its cute!   

Shades:

* Shinning Moon - pale peach with hot pink pinpoints

* Twilight Flash - Vibrant tangerine 

* Sliver Crystal - soft pink with gold flip 

* Moon Castle - soft coral

* Full Moon - yellow orange with gold flip

* Silver Millennium - Yellow Gold

*Mare Serenitatis - mid tone pink with pinpoints of gold

* Luna - iridescent lavender 

* Justice - yellow with gold and silver pinpoints 

* Tuxedo Rose - vibrant coral with silver pinpoints

* Love - rosey pink with silver pinpoints 

*Miracle Romance - orchid

Overall I feel like this palette resemble the anime and overall Usagi character ( I prefer Usagi then Serena). I would love to see at some point a follow up collection. Maybe they could do what they did with Disney and make Sailor Moon Villains or just include other Sailor Senshi and not only Sailor Moon. 

#sailormoon #colourpopxsailormoon #prettyguardiansailormoon 

Used Up Makeup That I Love So Much I Will Repurchase

*purchased by me*

It really feels good when you hit pan on your favorite products does it? 

I kinda feel like an ass coz I hit pan many many times through out the years and I don't think I took a pic or posted on my socials. Once it was done I just dumped it in the garbage and went ahead and grabbed new one. 

What I can do is to take a pictures of whatever was repurchased :) Maybe I can find a pan pic? Hmmm let me check my camera feed. 

For now lets talk about the picture I posted on my IG few weeks ago. 

As you can see there are 3 bronzers, powder, primer and foundation. 

Gosh don't let me started on how many bottles of foundation I went through out the years... 

Let me start with Touch in Sol No Pore Blem Primer - omg this have become a staple in my routine. First bottle was gifted to me by my sister in law and once it was running low I repurchased it on ULTA as they had it for around $12. I need this with me at all times. And once I am done with this bottle you can be sure I will be repurchasing it. 

Then we have Maybelline SuperStay 24H full coverage foundation (shade 120 Classic Ivory) - I purchased this when it first came out. The shade match was not the best, I felt like it was a bit too dark, but we don't have testers so it was kinda hard... Overall this is really good foundation. Will I repurchase once I am done with it (a tiny bit left) , not sure... They are other drugstore foundations that I like a bit more then this one ( they will be mention at the end of this post coz I did repurchase some more then once).

Cover Girl Vitalist Healthy Power (Classic Ivory) - I think this is an amazing powder. Very creamy and to my surprise it controls shine. I used a RT powder blush with this and any powder I have. I really like it, hence the huge pan I hit. I will continue using it up and I find it again I will repurchase. I believe they did discontinued this product so it will be a hassle for me to find a replacement. 

Now bronzers... I am going through bronzers like they are water :) Much more so then the powders.... What can I say I lime bronzers a lot :) 

The three I hit pan on and are already been thrown out are :

* Wet n Wild - Palm Beach Ready and Sunset Striptease - I love them both! I did a swatch and review a while back, here is the link. Both are so affordable and worked so well on my skin. I will be repurchasing both as soonest I can :)

* The Balm - Balm Dessert Bronzer - I bought this few years ago. It was either at Imats or Ipsy Gen Beauty. I was torn between this one and Bahama Mama. I went with Balm Dessert as it was a bit cooler and better match for me. I actually really like this bronzer and when ever Balm will have 50% off I will be getting it back and well as oone or two from the Oscar line :) Yes I been eyeing them for a quite sometime now :) 

Now here are products that I did repurchased and love:

* Maybelline Fit Me Foundation - my 3rd bottle

* Loreal Infallible Foundation - 2nd bottle

* Revlon ColorStay foundation for oily/combo skin - 3rd bottle

* Wet N Wild Photo Focus powder - 2nd

*  YSl Primer - I went through two mini (thrown them away a while ago). Pictured three more, one is gone, second almost gone and third one full. These are minis and I love this primer. I will be getting full size one day :)

* Loreal Colour Riche Shine Lipstick in the shade Burnished Blush - completely gone. Picture show a bit left but its been gone for a while now. I haven't repurchase since but I am planning on. I was keeping it at my work and wearing it daily.

I think that's what I remember from top of my head. 

I am not including mascaras in this post. There will be a whole post on that. I have a bag full of used up mascaras that I really want to write about. So stay tuned. 

What is your most repurchased product? 

Two palettes in one Box?!? - Boxy Charm LUXE unboxing *March 2020*

*purchased by me*

March is the LUXE month, which means bigger box, bigger value. 

Boxy Luxe comes every three months, so next one will be in June :)

Anywho lets jump in and let me show you what I got in my box :)

As you can tell by the tittle there were two eyeshadow palettes in this month box. How exciting! I am a freaking eyeshadow hoarder LOL. 

The first palette was the choice item. Each month Boxy let you choose an item that you would like in your box. The choices were between mini hair tool, Murad cream, Tarte Eye Shadow palette and something else ... Don't remember what was the other option. 

I choose the Tarte "Tarteist Pro Remix Amazonian Clay" Palette - 20 beautiful and vibrant shades. The packaging is so freaking cool! Paint splatter all over that have this cover that shifts. Colors inside are absolutely stunning as you can see. I mean it might not be every ones cup of tea but I adore it. I heard so many positive reviews so I need it to have it :) Thanks BOXY :) 

Retail value $49

Second palette I got and everyone else who are subscribed to LUXE got the Hello Charmer palette by Boxy Charm - beautiful palette that contains 12 matte and shimmer shades that are inspired by all things Boxy Charm.

 Already by looking at I can see many great looks I can do. I am super excited and can't wait to get back to you with a full review of this baby. Stay tuned!

Retail $39

Lets move on to the other good products in the box:

Nars Powermatte Lip Pigment - this is the first time we are seeing NARS products and I hope not the last. I got my in the shade Wild Night, which is nice dark, vampy dark purple / eggplant color. Oh hello I sucks at describing colors LOL. but seriously this is the second NARS lipstick from this line that I own and I really like it. You guys now that I like to buy makeup that was included in boxy but not in my box on various Facebook group and I picked up two more shades of this lippie. Cant wait for them to get here so I can work on swatches and full on review :) 

Retail $25

PMD Beauty Smart Facial Cleaning Device - silicon device that cleans your face with 7,000 vibrations per minute. It has 4 speeds. I dunno I love my Michael Todd cleaning devices. I never got the hype over silicon devices tbh. I will try it and see how it work and if it is worth the $99 that claim to be the retail....

Bombshell Baker Glitzy Gold Steel Straws Set - that was another choice. It was either this or Appeal lip/eyeliner... I went with straws. I can find better use of of them then the lip/eye liner. Also is throwing in stuff like straws, cups and earrings in the boxes ... like huh? Why? If I want these kind of stuff I would subscribed to Fab Fit Fun box.. BOXY stick to skin care/ hair care and makeup ok?

Retail $21

Becca Skin Love Glow Glaze Stick - ughhhh another cream highlighter that I don't use and don't need. Love Becca but pass. 

Retail $28

Deborah Lippman Nail polish set - oh hi this is the first time I am getting nail polish in my box. I really like formula of DL nail polishes. I already own few.  Now her full size polishes are 15ml. this set contains two that are 8ml each ... deluxe size.... which is kinda odd as BOXY is a FULL SIZE BOX? since when do they send sample sizes? I mean two sample size can' t make full size. the value of this set is $19. and DL polishes usually go for $18-$20.. not sure what BOXY is trying to do ... Plus I feel these should have been send in the previous box for February ... 

Another deluxe sample that was thrown in the box was Sol De Janerio - oh how disappointing! two tiny creams that a half full. they put retail value for $15 .. that makes $7.50 each... Full size cream is $40 , travel size that is bigger then these minis is $20 ... so I don;t get it ... When did BOXY become IPSY? Anyone? Why paying $50 for a box where you get two deluxe size products. BOXY is all about Full Size ... 

SO here it is my whole LUXE box that I paid $50 for it. Now was it worth it? Yes and No. We have seen better LUXE boxes in the past. Way better .... This is my 4th LUXE and I am not happy with it. I know BOXy wants to add different products like straws, earrings, candles, slippers, socks and god know what else. .. Yes I did get a survey asking if I want to see those items ... I said NO to all except candles :) Candles are fine but rest pointless....   Just fyi Base Box this month was amazing! And next month Base box will have ZOEVA palettes! Im so excited for it .