I headed to the mall on Friday armed with a limited amount of makeup knowledge and a Route 44 Diet Cherry Limeade from Sonic. I hadn’t really planned to make a stop at Sonic first, but that morning Caroline asked me if I’d come eat lunch with her at school and could I please bring her a Wacky Pack with a side of mozzarella sticks? And how do I say no to that?
Especially when I know that she won’t eat all her tots or the mozzarella sticks and I can eat whatever is left over with no caloric consequences because every mama knows that the food you eat off your child’s plate doesn’t count towards any official calories.
So I experienced all the entertainment and mouths full of missing teeth that the elementary school cafeteria has to offer and then grabbed my Cherry Limeade (and maybe a mozzarella stick) and left for the mall. Since Caroline eats lunch at 10:40 (absurd) I still had plenty of time to conduct my makeup research.
Here’s what I ended up with:
1. Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer
I walked into Sephora already totally biased towards this product, mainly because Gulley loves it and I totally trust her opinion on these sorts of things. Plus, it got a lot of shout outs in the comments.
I’d like to say that I’ve already used it and gotten countless compliments on my glowing complexion, but when you spend all weekend coaching soccer and laying on the couch in attempts to recover from aforementioned coaching experience, makeup doesn’t really seem necessary.
But I loved it when I tried it in the store and the nude shade is perfect for my skin tone.
2. Nars Bronzing Powder in Laguna
Nars has a blush that people rave about (I’m not going to mention it by name because, MY WORD, at the google searches it would generate). Anyway, I tried it but felt like it looked too pinkish for my skin. I don’t really enjoy a pinkish hue as much as I like to look as if I just returned from a long weekend at some tropical resort.
Even though if I’d just returned from a tropical resort I’d still be pale because Mamaw would wear her SPF 75 and oversized sunhat the entire time.
So this is like I’ve been to the tropics and live in a world where a little bit of sun exposure doesn’t come with ugly consequences like basal cell carcinoma and brown sun spots.
3. Cargo Blu-Ray High Definition Mattifier
A reader named Sara emailed me about a year ago and told me about this product. I’ll admit I was hesitant to buy it because I generally believe that any sort of makeup primers are just a big scam to get you to spend more money.
But on Friday I purchased my second tube of it because it absolutely makes a difference in how my skin looks. It evens out fine lines and covers your pores so your skin looks smoother even before you put on any kind of foundation. Or maybe I’m just seeing something I want to see and it’s just a placebo effect. Either way works for me.
4. Benefit Big Beautiful Eyes Palette
I wasn’t really looking for eyeshadow but I was walking through Macy’s after I left Sephora for other non-makeup related errands when the girl at the Benefit counter called me over and asked if she could do my eye makeup. It’s like she had a window into my soul.
And so of course I said yes because I am committed to the research. Next thing I knew she’d made my eyes pop and sparkle and highlighted my brows and she’d done it all with just this little palette of eye makeup.
What really sold me was when she showed me how I could use it to give myself a natural eye or a smoky eye depending on the occasion. Granted, I haven’t worn a smoky eye since I inadvertently got a little carried away with my Merle Norman palette of blues and purples back in 7th grade when I tried to match my eyes to my blue Izod shirt. But you never know when I might decide I want to sport a smoky eye at a PTO meeting or for a trip to HEB.
So those were my four purchases of the day. I still need a good eyeliner but couldn’t make a decision and, truth be told, I was actually pretty happy with my Revlon ColorStay eyeliner before I got overzealous and broke it in half the other day.
And the girl at Sephora and the one at Macy’s both tried to sell me on new mascara, but I’m a big fan of CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara. The price is right, I love the brush, and it doesn’t clump when I put it on. I’m sure I’d love DiorShow or one of those fancy battery-operated ones if I tried them, but since my family likes to eat and Santa Claus needs to show up next month I’m going with the whole ignorance is bliss thing.
I also neglected to buy any sort of lipstick because I have approximately 84 tubes of various lip products floating around in the bottom of my makeup bag and countless others that I carry in a Ziploc sandwich bag in my purse. Gulley made fun of me for the Ziploc bag a while back and I tried to explain that it’s because I travel and need the Ziploc bag to get through security. Of course since I hadn’t been on a plane in about a month at the time, my explanation didn’t hold a lot of weight. What’s closer to the truth is that I’m lazy and don’t want to take the time to move all my lipgloss from the ultra classy Ziploc to a fabric makeup bag because can you even imagine the amount of energy and time that would take? How would I ever get those 30 seconds back?
Anyway, in the interest of knowledge and frugality, I’ll share with you that I’m a huge fan of CoverGirl Lipslicks in Daring. It’s a great color and it’s cheap. I own no less than six tubes of it because I keep losing them and finding them again. It’s my prodigal lipcolor.
And there you have it. I realize on the scale of boring to moderately interesting that this entire post would fail to register, but y’all were so helpful with all your suggestions that I felt like you deserved to know how it all turned out.
You should also know that the downside to makeup experimentation is that my face is breaking out like I’m a thirteen year old with a mouth full of chocolate and braces.
Of course it could also just be PMS.
But I believe it’s directly related to having my face covered with more makeup in a two-hour time frame than it usually sees in a week.
Unless I get all dolled up to deliver Sonic at 10:40 a.m. to the school cafeteria.
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First of all, that Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer changed my LIFE! I am so glad that you got it!
and secondly, that Nars bronzer is my second favorite beauty product and it lasts FOREVER. I’ve been rockin’ my same compact out since 2003 (ewwww…i probably souldn’t tell people that).
i’ve made a point to put on make-up everytime i go out- pretty much- it helps me not look like the frumpy housewife i am so desperately trying to avoid becoming.
i think you got some great ones! now you’ve gotta post pictures!
Good for you – everyone deserves to spend some good, quality time at Sephora (not to mention some hard-earned cash) once in a while. In fact, I think I’m long over due! But with a baby on the way, I think I’ll have to put it off for a while longer and just stick to my Cover Girl and Revlon.
My first grade classroom eats lunch at 10:30 am. I could eat my shoes by the time I go home each day.
I use LashBlast, too, but I clump up the bottom lashes. Someone should invent a mascara with a big brush for the top lashes and a tiny brush for the bottom lashes. Or maybe there is one and your blogosphere knows where to find it…
Thanks for the shout out! It makes me happy to know that I’ve had some small part in making women everywhere experience the joy of smaller pores.
Lunch at 10:40 seriously? I thought our kids ate early at 11:20. Where do they come up with this stuff?
The best thing I have ever done was…..drum roll please…..I had my eye liner tattooed on. It is absolutly fabulous especially for someone like yourself who spends most of the summer at the pool. Imagine always looking somewhat put together. My husband didn’t know until 6 months later when I told him.
My child in kindergarten ate at 12:40, which I thought was the other side of crazy. Here’s what it boils down to- to serve a snack or not serve a snack. The school is not serving a snack and then the kids will eat a snack when they get home from school. The older they are the less this whole snack thing falls into the dining equation. As you can tell, I spend a bit too much time thinking about this and not enough time at the makeup counter!
LOVE laura mercier tinted moisturizer! THE BEST!!
“Prodigal lipcolor”? Just another reason I love to start my day here with you. You never fail to leave me with a new must use phrase:-)
Sounds like a fun morning! But I do have a dumb question — do you use the tinted moisturizer before the mattifier? Do you use foundation too?
Thx!
Your fashion and make-up posts are changing my life. Seriously, changing. my. life. Happy Monday.
Love the “prodigal lipcolor”!
I’m so sorry to tell you about this eyeliner, but in the interest of being a good internet friend, I feel I must. It has changed my life!
I found out about it 3 years ago when I loved a girls eye makeup in a magazine so much (okay okay, it was Angelina Jolie) I actually read the fineprint to see what kind it was. I decided to splurge and get myself some and ohmygoodness I LOVE IT. I’m on my second pencil now — which means one has lasted me two years. It’s a little pricey, and I don’t normally like math, but when this eyeliner pencil lasts two years, I figure the math works for me. I love it so much I have even gone back and gotten his lipstick too. But that’s another story.
Here’s the eyeliner that has made getting ready in the morning (or the afternoon as the case may be some days) such a good thing: http://www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com/_us/_en/makeup/eye/eye-liner/smooth-silk-eye-pencil.htm
My 5th grader eats lunch at 10:45, so basically, it’s brunch. She does take a snack everyday to eat in the afternoon though. I use the CoverGirl Lipslicks in Daring as well and love it!
Also, I’m sure you know this, but Old Navy is having an outwear sale – 50% off -I bought a green coat yesterday that I love. Of course, living in Austin, I’m wondering if I’ll ever get to wear it!
Do not feel bad about the mascara. I use Clinque for my make up needs but the mascara, I’m like you I use Lash Blast! It’s awesome!!!
I love the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer! It’s great! Her lipstick is also the best. I buy the “Bare” color and wear it all the time. A great eyeliner is Bourjois. It’s liquid and stays on until you take it off. They have it at Sephora. I use it every day and LOVE it!!
~Meredith
i am a huge fan of avon glimmersticks for eyeliner…it goes on easier than a pencil and lasts all day…
I LOVE Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer. Okay, I confess, I love anything from Laura Mercier!
k&c’s mom wrote, “Someone should invent a mascara with a big brush for the top lashes and a tiny brush for the bottom lashes. Or maybe there is one and your blogosphere knows where to find it…”
Alas, that would be me. Here to solve your makeup problems because well I have nothing else to do but splurge on makeup and waste hours in a Sephora (let’s face it though, those hours are NOT wasted!).
Guerlain makes a wonderful two sided/wanded mascara http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P204735&categoryId=B70 where the second wand is smaller and made precisely for those hard to reach very small lashes!
And I just have to show you the Givenchy mascara that doesn’t even look like mascara but works like a charm! http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P243008&categoryId=B70
Of course, my favorite mascara for my own personal use is Bare Escentuals Weather Everything Waterproof Mascara. Perfect for my hypoallergenic eyes!
I’m going to stop rambling about make up now.
Oh and I forgot to mention, whenever you’re in the mood to try a new eyeliner, you MUST try Make Up For Ever’s Aqua Eyes Liner. It stays put. Seriously. And it just glides on like butter. Which is really the only real reason I use it…
A 10:40 lunch? That’s crazy! Do you have to feed her dinner at 3:30?
I am intrigued by this high definition mattifier. And also by the Diet Cherry Limeade…they both sound like products I need to try.
Oh my gosh, this post is nothing less than a God sent, not boring at all. I love hearing what other folks are wearing for makeup. I’ve never heard of that Cargo Blu-Ray High Definition Mattifier, but I’m intrigued and may have to try it.
And I love a smoky eye, even if I’m just running to Target. Because you never know if you’ll run into the crew of “What not to Wear” or “The Rachel Zoe Project”. It is better to be safe than sorry. LOL
Have a great Monday!
Woohooh for the fashion research victory. Glad to know these products do their thing for you…so that when my do empty out, I can come back here and check things out
Thanks for posting this, I was wondering about a primer, maybe I’ll give the one you mentioned a try!
Great finds! I love Nars bronzer! Question – Do you use any other form of foundation other than the LM Tinted Moisturizer (which I’m totally about to go buy after seeing how many people love it!) and bronzer?? I still use Powder as a foundation and I wish I could quit.
You should be advised that I was all swept along on your little makeup journey, enjoying all your reviews and taking copious notes UNTIL you happened to mention that we’re buying Christmas presents NEXT MONTH and now I’m all in a dither.
How did that slip past me?
Seriously. I’m asking. How?
I am all about high-end makeup purchases, but nothing will ever replace my plain old Maybelline Great Lash green-and-pink tube mascara and cheapo $1 Wet ‘n’ Wild eyeliner.
I just want to say that EVERY time I read your blog, I laugh. OUT LOUD. And, I need that laugh because my husband died in September. It takes a lot to make me laugh right now, but you do it EVERY stinking time! Thank you!!!
I’m sorry it this is slightly incoherent…I’m on my second glass of wine.
Yeah, now you’re laughing too!
NARS blush must have been “Orgasm” HAHAHA!!! Funny story…I got compliments on it from one of my coworkers while washing my hands in the restroom. She asked me what color it was, and knowing EXACTLY the name of the color, I quickly tried to change the subject. I walked back to my desk and she came by and said “Oh, you forgot to tell me the name of the blush”– I said oh, um well…and I leaned over and whispered “Please don’t judge me, but it’s called Orgasm”. Her eyes got about as big as um well…if she had experienced on and she ran off.
Did I mention this co-worker was in her late 60′s????
And I LOVE Laura Mercier foundation!!!!
Thanks for the info. I printed it out because I too will be replacing some of my makeup soon! I’ve been looking for a good eye color palette!
My sister is a makeup artist, and she SWEARS by Revlon Colorstay Foundation. She buys it and pours it into her own bottles and calls it “private label.” I use it on days that I need extra coverage because it really, really covers well!
I had a friend who used to work at Express. She said she made the most sales of anybody because she found the one line that women would fall for every.single.time.
And she didn’t have to perjure her soul when she said it.
No matter what the woman was wearing or how it fit, she could always say, “That looks great with your skin tone.”
Bingo.
Sold.
Made her look like an expert on color and skin tone and made the woman feel like she was buying something made FOR HER.
Anyway, just a word to the wise, if a salesperson ever uses that line on you, Run Away. They’re just trying to get into heaven and make a sale at the same time.
Your make-up crisis coincided with the depletion of my make-up bag. I’ve been scraping the walls of my own LashBlast mascara wondering if I should buy it again or try something new. It was so helpful reading through all your reader’s comments.
I too have been a long time fan of Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer. I may have to try the Cargo Blu-Ray High Definition Mattifier, because who isn’t a fan of smoothness.
Hope you enjoy your Benefit Big Beautiful Eyes Palette. I have a similar palette from Bobbi Brown and love it!
You are not alone! I, too, have been recently riducled for the use of a zip-top bag to hold the various small items in my purse instead of a makeup bag. I must confess it never occurred to me! The square shape of the plastic bag fits better than an rectangular makeup bag.
You are not alone! I, too, have been recently ridiculed for the use of a zip-top bag to hold the various small items in my purse instead of a makeup bag. I must confess it never occurred to me! The square shape of the plastic bag fits better than an rectangular makeup bag.
My son also eats lunch at 10:40am, which is mildly insane in my mind! Thankfully his teacher gives them a snack mid afternoon!
I am a HUGE fan of the Lancome vibrating mascara, my lashes have never looked better! And I think I may have to check out this Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer…
Thanks for the recap!
OK, I need pictures of the mattifier AND the woman who had her eyeliner tattooed. Because I’m TOTALLY curious about it. And what do you do when you want a natural look? Inquiring minds want to know.
Finally, based on your comments from last week, I succumbed to the Sephora and bought that Blinc mascara – you know, the one where you tube your lashes? And, it DOES NOT WORK WELL with sparse lashes! I need to return it to Sephora and stick with my original choice – Voluminous by Loreal. Just a word of advice for those of us who have long enough lashes, just not enough of them…
I’ve worn Cover Girl lipslicks Daring for YEARRRRRRRRRS now! In fact, it’s all I wear. I’m glad someone else is buying it because I keep fearing it will be discontinued any minute now!
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