Happy Monday! Last week I started a new series here called Makeup Bag Monday, where I select makeup products to try for the first time, re-discover, or rotate for a full week. I will come back every Monday with what worked, what did not work, and my new selections for the upcoming week. This series will help me clear out my makeup collection and curate it to be filled with products that I truly love. Hopefully this series will also share with you some in-depth reviews on multiple items and inspire you to rotate your makeup and purge the unwanted as well from your own makeup collection. Make sure to check out last weeks Makeup Bag Monday post here.

Purging From My Makeup Collection (what didn’t work)

Unfortunately very early on I found two items that just did not work for me. The Bobbi Brown Everything Eyes palette exclusive to Nordstrom and the Bare Minerals Lash Domination Petite.

Bobbi Brown Everything Eyes Palette

I was so excited when I first read about this exclusive to Nordstrom palette by Bobbie Brown on Raeviewer’s blog. The kit looked like the perfect palette for all of your needs. I should know by now there is no such thing for me. This will be the struggle for the rest of my makeup loving life. At first glance the palette looks beautiful, full of neautral mattes and shimmers. I found the colors to be too muted for my tastes. The beautiful shimmer champagne shade was also more of a pressed glitter that did not easily apply. If the sales associate helping me hadn’t been so rushed to get me out, I might have had time to do a bit more investigating and swatched the colors myself before purchasing. Most of the shadows are smooth and creamy. High quality overall, just not the right color combination for me.

BareMinerals Lash Domination Petite

I had a feeling this mascara might now work out for me. The original Lash Domination formula was not to my mascara tastes. I found the formula to be too sticky. The petite brush is defiantly an improvement from the original, especially for my Asian eyes and lashes. I love the applicator and sleek packaging, just not a fan of the actual mascara formula. If you like a heavier, thicker, consistency to your mascaras, you should try this one.

To Keep In My Makeup Collection (what worked)

There were a lot of items that worked very well for me and I was happy to re-discover a few oldies from my makeup collection. Let’s start off with the powders.

Laura Geller Filter Finish Setting Powder in Universal

This baked powder does an amazing job at setting your makeup with a radiant finish on the skin. I really enjoyed the lightweight powder that brightens up my whole complexion. This powder doesn’t do a lot in terms of keeping you shine free or matte, but if you have dry skin and are looking for a radiant finish, try this setting powder.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Opal

There is a reason this highlight is raved about all over the beauty community. Becca makes the smoothest, creamiest, pigmented powder highlights on the market. Opal is a golden champaign highlight that packs a punch. Seriously a gorgeous long wear powder highlight that every makeup collection should have. A little goes a long way, I also love using this in the inner corners of my eyes, center of my lips, and my cupids bow for an all over glow from within.

Becca Minearl Blush in Wild Honey

I forgot how much I love this blush. Wild honey is the perfect neutral blush shade. It brings color and warmth to the complexion without looking like you are wearing blush or makeup. The mineral powder finish is smooth, even, and blend-able. I hear the new Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Luminous Blush  is even smoother and more finally milled, can’t wait to try it out! Beti from Makeup Sessions did a great blog post on it here.

BareMinerals BARESKIN complete coverage serum concealer in light

I picked up this serum concealer because it was one of Victoria’s unsung hero products from In The Frow, plus I have been eyeing it for awhile. I’m happy to report that I love the concealer. I find it just the right consistency for under the eyes. It sets nicely with the Laura Gellar filter finish setting powder and looks natural on the skin, while being full coverage to cover those pesky dark circles.

Glossier Stretch Concealer in medium

Already a favorite ever since I tried it a few weeks back, I just haven’t been able to put this concealer down. It works great at correcting any discoloration or masking blemishes. When I’m in a hurry I use this all over the face as well as under the eyes and it just moves with my skin and looks flawless. Definitely a must buy! There are still a few days to use my discount code for $5 off any Glossier.com purchase (good thru 3/31/16) watch my full review on new glossier makeup here.

Cover FX Perfect Pencil in N Light

This little perfect pencil works great as a lip liner! I have been using this to line just outside of my lip line to make my lips look fuller. If I picked up a shade darker I could use it for pesky blemishes, but the light shade is perfect at highlighting the fine points of your face. Not necessarily a must have in a makeup collection, but defiantly a fun product to keep around.

BareMinerals Lash Domination ink liner

I was quite surprised by this ink liner. The felt tip is precise and also a bit stiffer than the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, which actually makes it easier to work with. I was able to create smaller more precise wings with the ink liner vs. a lot of my other felt tip liners, so defiantly check this one out next time you need a new felt tip pen liner.

Glossier boy brow in black

HUGE fan! Reminds me a lot of the Benefit Gimmie Brow, but less stiff. The glossier boy brow is a unique wax texture that thickens, fills, and tames your brows. I like to use a brow powder to elongate the ends of my brows, then go in with boy brow to fill in and tame my brows.

NUDESTIX lash lengthening mascara

Long time favorite, the ingredients will actually lengthen your lashes over time, so pack this baby on!

Color Me foundation applicator

Loving this applicator! Defiantly a unique tool that helps make your foundation go on flawlessly. Unlike the beauty blender I find the coverage is better, faster, and does not soak up any product. Also a lot more sanitary than the Beauty Blender, of course I still love my beauty blender for a more natural to sheer finish. More on the Color Me Foundation Applicator in my review and demo video here.

 

This Week

 

The Complexion

Glo Minerals Tinted Primer SPF 30 in Light $36

IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eyes illumination in light $24

Natasha Denona Face Glow cream shimmer in light $42

Natasha Denona blush duo in 10 (toutou and sheer peachy nude) $38

The Eyes

Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5 in #8 and #12 $48

PUR Cosmetics Hydra Gel Lift $26

PUR Cosmetics Fully Charged Mascara $22

Have you tried any of the products? I would love to know your thoughts on the.

xoxo

Serein

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