Rocaille Writes

My love of sticks and crayons, it is ever so strong. I've managed to rein in the 'MUST HAVE THEM ALL' attitude in the past couple of months, but not before securing another cream eyeshadow crayon for my stash: the Mally Beauty Evercolor Shadow Stick in Dusk ($25 for 0.06 oz/ 1.6g).

I'd never actually tried anything from Mally Beauty before buying this shadow crayon, which is one of the most beloved items from the brand. After my experience with the Evercolor Stick I'd be curious to try more things from Mally, although the higher price point and lack of counters anywhere near me dampens my spirit of brand adventure somewhat. But - back to Dusk.

The Evercolor Shadow Sticks have the standard twist-up eyeshadow crayon packaging; although I'm not so happy with the pretty but impractical white color of the stick (magnifies all the smudgy prints) or the fact that the shade name is printed on the side of the packaging without a colored tip indicating the actual shade. I only own this one Mally Shadow Stick, so it's not a huge deal, but I imagine if you have a few, finding the shade you're looking for in a drawer full of pencils is a bit of a pain in the backside.

Sorry for the phallic close-up.

And that's about it when it comes to my nit-picking about the product. There's nothing else to complain about - the Evercolor Shadow Stick in Dusk is simply a damn fine cream shadow crayon. It's smooth, soft, pigmented and blendable, and the shade Dusk is a beautiful medium mauve with complex shimmer (I spot silver, pink, orange and teal flecks) and an almost glossy wet finish on the eyes.

Compared to my other plums and warm taupes in the cream format, Mally's Dusk is the closest to Avon Extralasting Eyeshadow Pencil in Amethyst, but slightly lighter, rosier and more shimmery. Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in New Moon leans more burgundy, has less pigmentation but larger particles of shimmer/micro glitter. Both the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze and Benefit Creaseles Cream Shadow in No Pressure are more golden brown/taupe, and more of a pearl finish.

L-R: Mally Shadow Stick in Dusk, Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in New Moon, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze, Benefit Creaseless Cream in No Pressure, Avon Extralasting Pencil in Amethyst

Now here's what happened when I tried to remove these swatches with Avene Micellar Water, which I always use for blog-related swatching sessions. Chanel was gone in seconds, Maybelline Color Tattoo and Benefit Creaseless Cream resisted gentle swiping but started to give way to manic scrubbing, while Mally's Evercolor Shadow Stick and Avon Extralasting Pencil remained completely intact. How on Earth...?! I hasten to add that the Mally Shadow Stick lasts just as well on my actual (oily) lids. In the face shots, the photo on the left was taken about 5 hours into the wear, after taking two speedy and sweaty walks in Central Park, 2 miles each. You can see some slight unevenness in the photo, but to my naked eye, there was no creasing whatsoever. I tested it again a couple days later, this time carrying a mountain bike up and down subway stairs, and riding the hotter-than-hell subway with said bike (don't ask). Again, no creasing or budging without additional priming, until I took my make-up off with a cleansing oil at night.

In the photo on the left, I'm wearing Mally's Dusk all over the lid, with Rouge Bunny Rouge Delicate Hummingbird in the outer corner, blended up and out, and Too Faced Naked Beach in the inner corner to highlight. In the photo on the right, I have Dusk all over the lid and blended out into the crease, with Burberry Midnight Brown along the upper lashline, blended out in a wing shape at the outer corner. I definitely prefer the plummier look on the left as I felt that golden tones in Midnight Brown clashed a bit with the rosiness of Dusk, but overall, it's a very versatile shade, either on its own or for layering with powder shadows.

Have you tried anything from Mally Beauty? What are your favorites from this brand? And by the way - ready yourself for a mammoth of a post comparing all the cream shadow sticks in my posession, which I promised a while back (last year, more like). It's coming!

I was inspired by an older post of Liz's to do a little round-up of my most worn nail polishes for your viewing pleasure. In my post, I'm actually guided more by the actual usage than instant likes or dislikes and chose bottles where the level of polish was the lowest, which is a combination of a couple factors: how long I've had the bottle, and how many times I've worn a particular shade.

I was quite surprised at some of these - off the top of my head, I didn't think they were my most worn polishes, and one of these I actually disliked quite a bit when I first got it; but anyway, let's get on with it. In no particular order:

Neutrals: OPI Don't Burst My Bubble (more photos here, swatch here) & Orly Rage (a close-up shot here, partial swatch here).
I don't really like nude and neutral nails - they just don't hold my interest for very long, on top of it being very difficult to find a nude that doesn't give me mannequin hands. But OPI Don't Burst My Bubble is such a very, very light pink that it does stand out against my fair skin, and gives a nice, semi-sheer, glossy nude look to my nails. I also like it as a base for a couple glitter toppers from my stash. I also don't wear metallics very often, but love the foiled rose gold of Orly Rage. Both of these have the added benefit on not showing tip wear too badly, so I especially like them for traveling.

Pastels: China Glaze Lemon Fizz (swatched here and here), Essie Bikini So Teeny (another swatch here), OPI You're Such A Budapest (swatched here), Essie Splash of Grenadine (swatched here and here).

Wearing two coats of Zoya Mosheen on top of Bikini So Teeny on the ring finger.

I didn't expect there to be so many pastels among my most worn shades, but I guess I really like pastels? Any shade with a white base looks good on my skintone, actually. I pull out China Glaze Lemon Fizz every year around Easter, which would have been the fourth time this April - I just can't think of a better early spring cheery manicure shade. I wear both Bikini So Teeny and OPI You're Such A Budapest from spring well into summer; you can see in the photos that they're not miles apart, but You're Such A Budapest pulls more lilac. I've had Essie's Splash of Grenadine for four years now too, long before it was made popular by Estee from Essie Button. It's a fantastic purple pink that's not too girly; the white base in this shade causes the shade to look more muted than pastel. A firm favorite for both fingers and toes.

Corals and Reds: Wibo Express Growth no. 328 (an older swatch here; the most similar shade that's readily available worldwide would be OPI Hot & Spicy), Essie Cute as a Button (more photos here), Barry M Raspberry (another photo here, used in a manicure here; the closest shade that's available in the US would be China Glaze Merry Berry, which I own as a back-up), New York Color Manhattan (I haven't seen this shade around in a while, so the closest match would be OPI In The Cable Car-Pool Lane).

Wearing two coats of Maybelline Color Show Jewels in Precious Pearl on the ring finger.

Ok, so the Polish brand Wibo no. 328 isn't exactly a coral: it's like a muted apricot cream. It looks a bit more orange in my swatches, but it's a bit more neutral, with a delightful dusky quality. When I first bought this (maybe three or four years ago in Poland), I absolutely hated the application and wasn't convinced about the shade. But I've since learnt not to keep it out when it's very hot, and I find myself craving this apricot every summer without fail. I was surprised not to find any swatches of Essie Cute as a Button on my blog, but it's another staple polish for spring and summer, and I love it for pedicures.

Wearing OPI Polka.com glitter topcoat on the ring finger

Now, the Barry M Raspberry is possibly the oldest polish in my stash - I want to say it's 5+ years? And while it's still usable, especially with some nail polish thinner, I know it's nearing the end of its days. Raspberry is my favorite classic cool-toned berry red; not a terribly unique shade, but looks great on my skintone, and the formula is spot on. The same can be said about the New York Color Quick Dry Nail Polish in Manhattan; just the perfect balance of berry purple and red, vampy and dark, but not as dark as to look black on the nails.

What shades would make the cut in your most worn round-up?

The educational value of this post is that I had no idea what a boysenberry was, or what it looked like. According to Wiki, it's a cross of raspberry, blackberry, dewberry and loganberry - except now, I have no idea what dewberries and loganberries are, and what's worse, I'm getting hungrier by the minute, looking up photos of boysenberries on the vine, boysenberry jam and boysenberry pie. Which as it turns out, isn't even relevant, because the Laura Geller Blush-n-Brighten in Boysenberry ($27.50 for 0.176 oz/ 5 g, mine is a GWP mini size) is definitely NOT the color of a boysenberry (deliciously reddish maroon); it's the color of red ochre. Why so confusing, Laura?!

This Blush-n-Brighten in Boysenberry is an adorable mini I scored with a Beauty.com order. I've previously owned another shade of Laura Geller's Blush-n-Brighten, called Apricot Berry (is that a fruit as well? Some photos of that shade here and here), which I purged last year because of its similarity to a diferent blush I own; but I did enjoy the formula of the Blush-n-Brighten a lot, so I was happy to give another shade a go.

As you can see, this baked blush looks mighty interesting in the compact: there are marbelized veins of reddish brown, cool taupe, deeper berry and light pink. There are no shimmer particles visible, unlike the golden swirls in my Milani Baked Blush in Berry Amore. Boysenberry is, in fact, a smooth matte blush, and a very pigmented one at that - one swipe of my Hakuhodo cheek brush is enough to doll up a cheek. The matte formula of Boyseberry is creamy, not powdery, blends well, and lasts without fault throughout the day.

Are you already biting your fingernails in anticipation of the swatches? Well, I kind of gave it away in the title, because the way Boysenberry swatches on the skin is nothing like it looks in the pan. It's a red ochre shade, or a burnt orange - warm, earthy, with a tinge of brown. I tried swirling my fingers through the pink parts on the edges of the pan, but nope, there are no hints of coolness, no pink to be found.

Boysenberry is the warmest and most orange of my neutral blushes; Inglot Cream Blush no. 86 comes the closest but has more red tones, as does Milani Berry Amore, which is the only shimmery blush in this line-up. NYX Mauve leans the most cool/pink (mind you, on my cheeks it's still a warm neutral shade), while NARS Douceur has more muted brown and red tones than Boysenberry.

I'm going to freely admit that at first, I was quite disappointed at how orange Boysenberry swatched on my fingers - I was hoping for more of my typical peachy pink business. But after wearing it on the cheeks, I'm quire happy with this red ochre shade, especially for summer wear: it perks up and warms up the skin, giving me more of an outdoorsy sunburnt look and less that of a delicate porcelain doll. It's definitely somewhat unusual, and borderline clashy - and I'm cool with that.

Have you recently discovered any unusual blush shades that work well with your skintone? What are your favorite warm neutral blushes for the summer?

BYOB, or Build Your Own Birchbox. When Birchbox's first store opened in SoHo back in July, I was instantly interested in coming down to pick out five mini beauty products of my choosing for $15 + tax, because a) I'm a control freak, b) minis are adorbs. Right?

I used to get my monthly boxes from Birchbox, a sample subscription service, back in 2011 - but after less than a year, I cancelled my subscription. While the boxes were fantastic for discovering new brands and products, and overall a good value for money with occasional full sizes thrown in, after a while I started amassing large quantities of deluxe samples I had no use for; some products just plain didn't interest me or weren't a good match for my skintone/ skin type/ hair type/grooming habits, while others I wanted to try, but couldn't keep up with the constant stream of new stuff. And so I cancelled.

But I still love getting minis and travel sizes, because they're a great (and cheaper) way to try new things without committing to the full bottle, on top of actually being useful for travel or carrying around in your purse. So for me, the Build Your Own Birchbox service is the best of both worlds: you're getting five deluxe samples to try out, but you get to choose what goes in your box. Perfect!

The area for making your own Birchboxes is located in the back of the store. There are glass top counters set up, displaying the samples available at the time. You choose one sample in each of the five categories: make-up, hair, fragrance, skincare and nails/ bodycare. In each category, there are three to five choices; I was hoping for even more products, but I'm guessing that the choices are a reflection of what's coming in Birchbox subscription boxes in a given month, and so the selection probably changes frequently. A sales associate helps you pick your samples by explaining the available choices (+ current deals and offers) and packing them all in a Birchbox for you - you get to choose from a white, pink or brown box.

Here's what I picked for my own Birchbox: a Laura Geller Beauty GlamLASH Dramatic Volumizing Mascara in Black (the other choices were a MAKE Make-up Remover, Smashbox primer or Cynthia Rowley lip stain), Klorane Extra-gente Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk (from Amika Blowout Spray, Frederic Fekkai Glossing Conditioner, DevaCurl Flexible Hairspray, and Beauty Protector Protect & Detangle), Juliette Has a Gun Mad Madame perfume sample (from an MCMC sample and something else - sorry, I can't remember), a COOLA Natural BB Cream Unscented Mineral Sunscreen SPF 30 Matte Tint (from Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel, Marcelle 8 in 1 Power Serum, Suki Exfoliate Foaming Cleanser and Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish), and lastly a pot of Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream (from Ruffian nude nail polish + nail polish remover wipe, or Whish body scrub).

I'm actually really excited to try all the samples I picked out: I've wanted to try the COOLA matte sunscreen for ages, and Egyptian Magic always intrigued me. Both the Laura Geller mascara and Klorane dry shampoo are super handy for travel, and I was happy to find two niche choices in the perfume category - I've read lots of reviews on Juliette Has a Gun perfumes on various perfume blogs, but have never seen the brand in person.

As for the rest of the store, the first floor offers full-size 'star products' from brands that make appearances in Birchboxes, divided into make-up products (further categorized into lips, face, eyes etc) and skincare. It can be a bit difficult to find what you're looking for, as the Birchbox doesn't carry a full range of products from a given brand, and then all products from one brand are not shelved together, but divided into subcategories. However, there are many helpful sales associates close by, and you can even test and swatch products before deciding on the samples to go into your own Birchbox, like I did when I was unsure whether the tint in the COOLA sunscreen would match my fair skintone (it was a bit too dark, but so sheer it still blended in, so I went for it).

The lower level houses haircare, bodycare, nails, men's products and services: there are hair styling, make-up application and manicures available, but I haven't really looked into that (here's a link for the list of services and pricing, in case you're curious. You can also book services online).

The benefit of shopping in the Birchbox store is that it carries a lot of niche and not easily available brands, like Marcelle (Birchbox is the exclusive retailer in the US), Liz Earle, Cynthia Rowley Beauty, Jouer, Sunday Riley, Dermablend, Sachajuan, Davines and many, many more, and everything has testers so you can swatch to your heart's content. You can also earn and spend Birchbox points (the members rewards program for subscribing, shopping, reviewing and referring through Birchbox) in the SoHo store.

Overall, I was really happy with my Build Your Own Birchbox experience, and the store had a nice ambiance for browsing hard to find products. I would definitely recommend the BYOB service, and in fact, I'll probably do it again myself with my best friend when she comes to visit New York in October. New Yorkers, have you visited the Birchbox store already? What are your favorite beauty spots in SoHo?

Bee VENOM for soothing sensitive skin? Sounds highly suspicious, if you ask me. But this Bee Venom Mist Essence from Nature Republic ($19.90 for 3.38 fl. oz/ 100ml) has some really interesting ingredients, and I'm always on the lookout for something to help calm down the redness in my skin.

This toning mist comes in a spray can, packaged in a lovely cardboard box with quite a bit of information in English for once (yay!). Now, the '98% bee venom complex' on the front of the box is a bit bogus, since the first couple ingredients are water and glacier water (so I'm guessing, tap water and fancy thermal spring water, right? ;), but the rest of the ingredients do sound very interesting:

- Phytosqualane (squalane): natural component of sebum, acts as a moisturizing emollient and carrier for active ingredients, helps increase skin's suppleness
- Bee venom: a blend of enzymes, peptides and aminoacids that supposedly can speed up the recovery of damaged skin cells and increase collagen production; also used by skincare brands such as Manuka Doctor and Wedderspoon
- Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP): a stable form of Vitamin C with antioxidant, hydrating, and skin brightening benefits
- Salicylic Acid: a BHA most commonly used in acne-fighting products, helps to increase the rate of cell turnover, unclog pores from inside out and prevent breakouts
- lots and lots of natural extracts, including rosemary, lavender, geranium and tea tree essential oils towards the end of INCI list.

Sounds like a bit of a multitasker, doesn't it? What I like the most about the ingredients in this Bee Venom Mist is a combination of natural extracts with scientifically proven components, something many brands calling themselves 'natural' rarely seem to be doing when formulating their products. By the way - judging from the products I've browsed in the Nature Republic store, the brand can only be described as aspiring to be natural, as most products contain alcohol and/or mineral oil. I don't really care how Nature Republic chooses to market itself; I always read ingredients anyway.

As far as the performance of the Bee Venom Mist Essence, let me start by saying that this is THE FINEST face mist I've ever had the pleasure of spraying on my face. When you press down the nozzle, it feels like walking into a soft, cool, humid cloud, fragrant with the energizing scent of candied ginger (I know it doesn't make sense, but that's what it smells like to me). The mist lightly settles on my face, and then I use my hands to gently press the moisture into my skin. The product doesn't feel sticky or heavy, aborbs quickly with no residue but does make my face feel instantly hydrated.

As for the irritation and redness reducing claims, I haven't noticed any results immediately after using the mist, like you would after a nice soothing sheet mask. I will admit that I was a bit disappointed, but in all honesty, I haven't yet found a spray that would instantly take down redness on contact. However, after using the mist for over two weeks, I've noticed that my skintone does look brighter and more even than before, and my face seems less aggravated by cleansing/ exfoliating. So overall, I do think the Bee Venom Mist Essence helps to soothe my sensitive skin, but it's not a miracle product. In comparison to another popular facial mist for sensitive skin, the Avene Thermal Spring Water spray, I like the performance of the Nature Republic product better.

All in all, this was a good buy, and I recommend you check out this Mist Essence if you're in the market for a soothing and hydrating spray toner. The Nature Republic Bee Venom range has a couple more products, and I think next time, I'd love to try out the sheet mask. What is your favorite facial mist or toner?

Exfoliating toners or pads with AHAs and/or BHAs are one step in my skincare routine that I make sure not to skip. My combination skin gets clogged very easily, and at any given time I'm fighting both active breakouts, blackheads, various lumps and bumps as well as hyperpigmentation from past imperfections AND sun damage. I've been trying different products for the 'acid tone' stage of my routine for over a year now, and I thought I'd share my thoughts on the strength and effectiveness of the ones I tested, so you can navigate the choices a bit more easily if you're new to the daily exfoliating game.

First off, let's start with exfoliating pads. Remember the alcohol-laden drugstore pads from your teenage years of fighting acne? These are not very different in principle, but much kinder for your skin; I try to look for alcohol-free, fragrance-free pads with a short and sweet ingredients list whenever possible. In the order from the most gentle to the strongest:

First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads ($30 for 60 pads, contain lactic & glycolic acids, as well as cucumber, Indian gooseberry, lemon peel and licorice extracts, suitable for sensitive skin): If I had to choose my absolute favorite from the all the pads I tested, these would be it. These pads do exactly what it says on the packaging: smooth skin's texture, brighten its tone, tighten the pores, all in a non-drying, gentle, lightweight formula. The FAB Facial Radiance Pads are my favorite to use in the morning, because they don't aggravate my skin, and the actual liquid the pads are soaked in has a clear, fragrance-free, non-sticky and non-greasy formula. I do cut the pads in half, so I consider spending $30 every four months to be a reasonable price for happy, glowy skin. Will repurchase.

St. Ives Scrub-Free Exfoliating Pads ($5.99 for 60 pads, contain lactic acid, fruit extracts and Vitamin E, suitable for daily use and sensitive skin). I know - St. Ives of the peach kernels?! This is one of the very few alcohol-free drugstore options I was able to find, however scented with a fruit punch fragrance. In short, they're not bad: gentle, non-sticky, non-drying. However, they're not as effective as the First Aid Beauty Pads; I just don't feel that they keep clogs and breakouts at bay as well as the FAB ones. So yeah, I cheaped out, but they're just not as good. Still a good option if you're on a budget or deciding whether exfoliating pads are something you'd like to try.

Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Peel Pads ($45 for 60 pads, contain glycolic, lactic, salicylic and linolenic acids, as well as aminoacids, Vitamins A, D, E, C and F, green tea, chamomile and aloe vera, suitable for daily use and all skintypes). Uhm, yeah, these are gooood - although better for evening use due to some reddening tingling and a somewhat greasier formula. Depending on your skintype, the brand suggests different frequency of usage, but I've gone with daily on my combination but sensitive skin and they've been working great. The instructions say to let the solution sit on the skin for a couple minutes and then rinse with water, but honestly, I just spritzed some hydrating toner on top and let it be. These unscented, alcohol-free Un-Wrinkle pads claim to minimize the pores, clarify the skin, reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and even out skintone. I can't vouch for fine lines, but my pores do seem tightened, the texture of my skin is smoother after use, and serums and moisturizers absorb better on top. I really like these pads, I just wish they were cheaper - and don't try to save by getting the less expensive PTR Max Complexion Correction Pads, as those contain both alcohol and fragrance.

Dr. Denis Gross Extra Strength Alpha Beta Peel Packettes ($145 for 60 two-step packettes, contain glycolic, lactic, mandelic, malic, citric and salicylic acids in the first step, retinol, phospholipids, yarrow extract and various antioxidants in the second step; stronger version of their regular Alpha Beta Peel, suitable for all skin types). I looked high and low for information on how often you're supposed to use these pads (the regular strength ones can supposedly be used daily), and couldn't find anything - but in my experience, these are too strong to be used every day. Unfortunately, the first (exfoliating) step contains alcohol, and it does feel stingy and makes my face more red, but the whole routine isn't overly drying or harsh if used with caution. I whip these out once in a while at night, when my regular exfoliating pads/ toners are not quite cutting it in unclogging my pores. I think these packettes are effective, but the price point is a bit prohibitive; I'd rather spend less money on a good exfoliating mask that can be used many more times than these packettes.

Cane + Austin Retexturizing Treatment Pads 10% Glycolic ($60 for 60 pads, contain Vitamins A, C & E, coenzyme Q10, phospholipids, antioxidants, witch hazel, recommended for daily use and all skintypes). So I've only had a one-time use sample of these Cane + Austin pads, so I can't vouch for longterm results. While these pads have a simple enough ingredients list and contain no alcohol, they do contain ACETONE (and ammonia. Oh, and some menthol). Wait. WHAT?! The pad smelt like nail polish remover, stung my face and made me look red and sore. Pass.

Alpha-H Liquid Gold Power Peeling Pads (~$60 for 30 pads, unavailable in the US and possibly discontinued, contain 5% glycolic acid, glycerin, licorice extract and hydrolized silk, to be used every other night on the T-zone and problem areas). These are supposed to be soaked in the famous Alpha-H Liquid Gold exfoliant, and if that's the case, I'd better stay away. These do contain alcohol, and they sting and sensitize my skin. They did help to get rid of some flakes, but did nothing for my clogged pores and breakouts; well, maybe not nothing, actually made them look more red and angry. If Liquid Gold works for you, then great, but I wouldn't exactly recommend these for sensitive skin.

Now, acid toners! I've only tried two so far, and still have a couple more on my radar, so I'm sure I'll churn out an addendum to this overview once I test out more liquid stuff. Again, from the most gentle to the strongest:

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid ($23 for 4 oz/118 ml, frequently available on sale for $18, contains salicylic acid, hydrating and absorption-enhancing methylpropanediol and green tea extract, fragrance and colorant-free, recommended for all skin types but especially combination/oily, to be used once or twice a day). I'm on the fence about the famous 2% BHA Liquid - on one hand, it's easy to use, non-irritating and non-drying, but on the other, it has a strange consistency that's slippy to the point of oily, and it doesn't seem as effective as First Aid Beauty or Peter Thomas Roth pads. I think this Paula's Choice exfoliant is a decent, gentle acid toner, but I wouldn't count on any miraculous results. Also, way better than Paula's gel BHA exfoliant.

Mario Badescu Glycolic Acid Toner ($18 for 8 oz, contains 2% glycolic acid, aloe vera and grapefruit extract, recommended for combination/dry skin types to be used twice a day). This alcohol-free but not fragrance or colorant-free toner worked very well for me in the beginning, but as the time went on, it started irritating my skin until I broke out in an itchy rash on my cheeks. Here's my full review in case you're curious about this product, but in short, I wouldn't recommend it for anyone with sensitive skin, and even if your skin isn't sensitive, please be cautious and don't use it more than once a day - it can definitely be drying if used more often.

Phew, that was a lot of information! I hope this comparison was helpful if you're looking into trying a daily exfoliant. My plan for tweaking the exfoliating step in my skincare routine is to repurchase the First Aid Beauty pads for use in the mornings, and look for another acid toner to alternate with Un-Wrinkle pads in the evenings - maybe the Pixi Glow Tonic, or the REN Clarimatte. What are your favorite exfoliating products?

Hello, stranger! I haven't actually sat down to write in quite a while; the posts you've been reading in August were all pre-scheduled for the time I was entertaining the family, and then on top of that, we had another house guest shortly after, and THEN it was my wedding anniversary/birthday weekend, and the idea of being glued to my laptop didn't quite appeal - or maybe I've just gotten out of practice. But I'm back!

To ease my way back into the swing of things, I've decided to share two weeks from my beauty diary - not that I actually keep one, it's just to sum up what has been going on with me and the products I've been using. If you like this type of posts, please check out Kar Yi's 'The Fortnight Face' and Liz's 'Makeup Diary', which inspired me to pour my oh-so-deep skincare and make-up thoughts out on these pages.

Let's start with the skin. In short, it's been shitty. The nearly three weeks that my in-laws stayed with us, my skin's been really bothering me: oily and dehydrated, with lots of larger breakouts, mostly on both cheeks - and when the first wave had finally healed, new ones popped up in the exact same area. Why?! I'm still nursing my face back to an acceptable state, but I think what helped to stop the constant crop of pimples was my previously underrated tube of Coral Actives 5% Benzoyl Peroxide Penetrating Acne Serum Gel. BP usually doesn't work great on my skin, but this time, it seems to have done the trick; lesson learnt that hoarding various acne treatments in the skincare drawer for desperate times can actually be a pretty good idea.

I've also been working my way through Murad's Essential-C range of moisturizers; when I first tried these I liked the Day Moisture SPF 30 more than the Night Moisture, which seemed too heavy and sticky, but I've since changed my mind. In fact, it's the daytime cream that's now too greasy and never seems to fully absorb into my skin, while the night cream, especially when applied on top of Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle, sinks in nicely and feels comfortable. But I wouldn't actually repurchase either; what I am considering buying in the full size is the Ole Henriksen Ultimate Lift Eye Gel. Lightweight but hydrating, non-tacky and perfect for both mornings under make-up and overnight.

For the base make-up, I've been sticking to a long-lasting foundation by way of Estee Lauder Double Wear Light, and setting it with both Make Up For Ever HD Powder andSkindinavia No More Shine Makeup Finish (I remain unconvinced whether the latter does anything to keep my skin matte, but I'm desparate to use it up). For concealing those pesky spots, I just can't quit Becca's Dual Coverage Compact Concealer - can someone please tell me to finally throw it out?! I guess I really like the convenience of a cream concealer in a pot.

Cheeks are the area where I mixed the old with the new: still trying to make a more significant dent in both NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink and the NYX Powder Blush in Angel. I've been really enjoying using the Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil bronzer this summer, and for a warmer cheek, I've been pairing it with Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Dazzled. Over the years, I've noticed that I get into real phases with blushes, where I fall in love with a particular shade and reach for it over and over again, until I finally make myself swap it out for something else from my collection. I've also put on some Canmake Cream Cheek in Clear Pink Joy here and there, but it failed to hold my attention away from the Tarte Dazzled.

I've been all about quick and boring eye make-up, with cream eyeshadow sticks and smudgy eyeliner being my preferred eye make-up routine. Firm favorites: Clinique Chubby Stick For Eyes in Ample Amber and Mally Evercolor Shadow Stick in Dusk, paired with Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Whiskey and copious layers of Benefit BADgal Lash. Contrarily to 95% of the Internetz (the percentage has been scientifically eyeballed by yours truly), I much prefer Benefit's BADgal to They're Real, and the big bonus is that it doesn't smudge or transfer on me.

So here's my ultra boring, neutral warm face, abundant in enlarged pores, spots, acne scars and summer freckles. The only area where I experimented on a nearly daily basis for the past 2-3 weeks was my lipstick; I frequently swapped out formulas and shades to suit my mood or sometimes even my outfit - I know, FANCY. The experience of having very limited access to my vanity (which is awkwardly situated in our apartment hallway, so for the comfort of my guests I just piled up my makeup essentials into a basket, grabbed my mirror and brush cup and moved all that to our bedroom) hasn't been as tedious as expected; since I was pressed for time to get ready in the mornings, I enjoyed the smaller selection of products. Now that I can use all of my collection again, I feel that I already have a lot of fantastic products in my stash that I missed using, and I don't feel the need to buy any new make-up for the time being - but I'm already planning my wishlist for the Sephora VIB sale in late October :)

So how have you been, my lovely readers? I missed talking to you! And by the way, thank you so much for all of your happy birthday wishes on Twitter - it made my day that much happier.

It hasn't been very long since I reviewed my first Shiseido Luminizing Satin Eye Color Trio in BE213 Nude, and now, via a passed-on PR sample gifted by a blogging friend, I have a second one to show you: a delicate pastel trio in BL215 Static ($33 for 3g/0.1 oz), which is part of Shiseido's Fall/Winter 2014 Collection.

Yes, I know: pale pastels for Fall. I'm really not sure where Shiseido was going with this combo, as the rest of the collection is decidely more autumnal; check out Larie's review and swatches of the Floracouture trio here. Given their mostly Asian customer base and the usual cold season trends, I can't see Static being a huge hit at the counters - quite undeservedly so, as this trio is beautifully executed in its own right. Once you get over the dark A/W palette, Static shines with its understated elegance, evoking wispy, cotton candy clouds lit by a sunrise, or the polished mother of pearl glow on the inside of a seashell.

In terms of texture/formula of the eyeshadows in this trio, I find it very similar to Nude - meaning excellent: soft, dimensional, easily blendable. In my experience, pastel eyeshadows are tricky to get right: either sheer and patchy, or pigmented and chalky, looking forced and unflattering on the lids. Static somehow manages to meander these obstacles, adhering to the skin evenly, and giving eyes a subtly luminous, fresh quality; mind you, Shiseido's formula isn't the most pigmented, but I have no problems whatsoever getting these to show up on me. All three shades have a soft opalescence (mint green, pale violet and light purpley pink respectively) and a strong white base, which manages to cover my veiny lids without looking too heavy. I don't have any comparison swatches for you this time as I don't really own many comparable pastels, but for reference sake, the shades in Static remind me strongly of the Fyrinnae 'Ghost' eyeshadow series, only with less duochrome and sparkle.

I concocted a simple eye look using the light pink on the lid, the beige brown from the Nude trio in the crease, and the mint green in the inner corners and along the lower lashline. This is inadverently a very similar placement to the one suggested by Dick Page himself (here's a link to his 'Soft Look' tutorial using the Static trio), only substituting the light blue in/above the crease with a more neutral shade. I also used a warm blush on the cheeks (Laura Geller in Boysenberry) and the Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Shine in PK331 in on the lips - but I like the sheer mauve worn by Shiseido's model much better than this light pink.

Not much more to say about the awesomeness of Static; if you like pastel eyeshadows, I strongly recommend you check it out. I know that for some of you, especially of the darker and warmer complexions, pastels are extremely hard to work with; but for those who have similarly cool/neutral fair skin, the pastel shades in Static make for a beautiful accent on the eyes, in case you're not into using all three together. For some more ideas on using pastel eyeshadows, check out some of my other looks featuring Lancôme Color Design Infinité 24H Eyeshadow in Evermore Lilac here, bareMinerals Eyecolor in Celery here, and a general lower lashline accent placement here.

Have you picked anything up from the Shiseido Fall collection? Do you ever wear pastel shades on the eyes?

Blogging is NOT coming easy this month for some reason - sorry, folks. Which is why I'm even happier to have been tagged by Marianna from Marianna's Beauty Room over in the land of YouTube to do the Autumn Tag, which will hopefully bring some of the mojo back. If you're looking for an honest, sweet and relatable beauty YouTuber to watch for a change from all the popular gurus, who are all currently whipped into frenzy over various Fashion Weeks (yawn), do check out Marianna's channel - she's great :)

1. OK, we're talking coffee's - what's your favorite seasonal drink from Starbucks or another coffee shop?
The only reason I now go to Starbucks is when I'm stuck in the airport; I don't rate their coffee at all and don't patronize any other big chain coffee shop, although I admit Pumpkin Spice Lattes have their own spicy sugary charm that's far removed from the taste of actual coffee. I make simple lattes in our Breville Espresso machine at home, using the Stumptown Coffee Roasters Holler Mountain whole beans, and I very much enjoy Stumptown's lattes in their NYC locations in the Ace Hotel and West Village. Other coffee shops that have recently impressed me: Toby's Estate Coffee in Brooklyn, where you can watch the roasting process, and Thinking Cup in Boston's Back Bay area - they have delicious almond croissants too.

2. Accessories - what do you opt for: scarf, boots, or gloves?
Scarves are my biggest love, and I have quite a collection - I just find them to be the easiest way to dress up a simple outfit of skinny jeans and a T-shirt. Here's a little unsolicited tip, in case you have limited closet space like me and you're looking for an idea to display your scarves: I attached a big 3M damage-free hook on the inside of our closet door and put a scarf hanger on it (like this one from The Container Store), looping my favorite pieces through for easier access, and to save some space on the closet rod. I have way more scarves than the ones you can see in the photo, so I store the rest of my collection folded on a shelf, and rotate the scarves seasonally.

3. Music - what's your favourite music to listen to during Autumn?
Strange question; do people really alter their music choices seasonally? I don't, but for the sake of answering the question, here's what I've been listening to recently: Sylvan Esso (I especially like 'Hey Mami'), Fleet Foxes (mostly their eponymous first album), Haim and St. Vincent.

4. Perfume - what's your favorite scent for this time of year?
The heavier fall/winter perfumes are actually my preference year round, and this season I'll mostly be wearing TokyoMilk by Margot Elena Dead Sexy No. 6, which is a 'romantic and ethereal' scent with notes of vanilla, exotic wood, white orchid and ebony. I don't find it ethereal in the least; to me, it's lingering, heady, sweet woods with a sexy cologne feel. I'm also working on finishing my bottle of Victoria's Secret Dream Angels Heavenly fragrance mist (better than expected), and when those two become too boring, I reach for a cute mini of Kenzo Amour, which is definitely worthy of a full-sized bottle purchase.

5. Candles - what scents will you be burning this season?
I haven't been massively into candles recently; I've started to find the usual Bath & Body Works offerings a bit too artificial-smelling, although I enjoyed burning Leaves and Marshmallow Fireside in the past. I still have a few candles left from last year so I'll try to satisfy myself with what I have - I'd love to explore other candle lines but I'm not looking forward to spending my money on home fragrance. In the meantime, I also like to burn essential oils in our wax warmer; my favorites for colder weather are orange & cardamom and vetiver.

6. What do you love most about Autumn?
Lots of things to love about fall: the colors, the air, the scents, the cozy-up-under-a-warm-blanket-with-a-good-book-and-a-cuppa weather. But if I had to choose just one thing, it'd be the quality of sunlight in early fall - the warm orange glow and slightly more diffused rays that make autumn walks the best in the whole year.

Wearing some greys and the light blue from Shiseido's Static eyeshadow trio on the eyes, NARS Sin on the cheeks and Buxom Dolly on the lips.

7. Favorite makeup look?
Nothing new here: vampy berries for the lips and tips, nudes and plums for the cheeks, and cool taupes and greys on the eyes. I'm actually planning a separate post with my fall make-up palette, so this general answer will have to suffice for now. Recently, I've also rediscovered neutral mauve shades for my lips; Buxom Lip Polish in Dolly has been a firm favorite.

8. What are you looking forward to most in Autumn?
We'll be entertaining a lot of house guests in the next month and a half, and I'm looking forward to enjoying the rest of September with my brother (especially our upcoming trip to Chicago!) and October with my best friend, Mariya. I'm also looking forward to leisurely walks in Central Park and watching the trees change colors from green to gold to copper. What more could you want?

Tell me - what are your favorite things about fall? Or maybe you hate the cold, the grey and the drizzle?

It's hard to believe we're now almost into the last quarter of the year; I'm saying this not to bore you with the usual surprise at the inevitable passage of time, but rather the change of heart from when I first embarked on my stash downsizing project at the beginning of the year. In January, the challenge loomed ahead like a great commitment and immediately caused nervous doubts of the 'Can I do this?!' variety, but now it has come to feel almost like second nature; it feels good to throw away more than to buy. And it feels really, really good to enjoy using fantastic products I had stashed away as multiple back-ups, and then buy new things only when the old ones run out. Simple, right? ;)

The reason I'm doing the empties round-up a little bit early is because I've had so many that they started spilling from the bag and overtaking our apartment (well, that is a *slight* exaggerration, but I do dislike clutter). Because of the amount of products and your comments after my last empties post, I'm continuing with the same mini review format.

Bodycare and perfume. Some progress in using up my collection of bar soaps, and a big achievement by way of finishing a small bottle of L'Occitane Rose et Reines EDT. I'm hoping to use up one more full-sized bottle of perfume by the end of the year, and continue downsizing my collection of fragrance minis.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: The Body Shop Honeymania Bubble Bath Melt (scent was meh, not enough bubbles), Sande Cocoa Mint bar soap and Archipelago Pomegranate bar soap.
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Neom Three Nights of Peace Bath Oils (reviewed here, loved it but it's a bit pricey to indulge in on a regular basis), The Body Shop Coconut Shower Cream, L'Occitane Rose et Reines Eau de Toilette.
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): The Body Shop Body Butter in Brazilian Nut, Haus of Gloi Bubbling Scrub in Plotter's Breakfast (my HG body scrub formula but this scent wasn't my favorite).

Haircare - not a lot of progress for now, but I'm very nearly out of both shampoo and conditioner, as well as dry shampoo, all of which you'll see in my next empties post. I wouldn't repurchase either of these products, and while KMS Sea Salt Spray and Redken Powder Refresh Dry Shampoo were decent but not spectacular, I absolutely hated Pureology's Radiance Amplifier (a shine mist): it managed to be both greasy and drying at the same time, and smelt atrocious.

Skincare - so many things running out at the same time! But fear not, of course I had multiple back-ups waiting to be used, so no new purchases were made. I've linked reviews here for you in case you're curious, as most of these things deserved a post of their own.
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Kate Somerville ExfoliKate - tossed, check out Larie's mini review here; in short, it contains plastic micro beads that end up polluting the Great Lakes, and I have no interest in using or ever purchasing a scrub that's harmful to the environment.
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Wedderspoon Raw Manuka Honey (used as a cleanser and a mask, reviewed here), Avene Eau Thermale Thermal Spring Water, Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion (reviewed here), Murad Essential-C Night Moisture (mentioned here), Murad Renewing Eye Cream (review and comparison of different Murad eye creams here), Osmia Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair (reviewed here).
Products I would repurchase (but am probably trying out other things too): TATCHA One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil (reviewed here), Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil (mentioned here and here).

Make-up! Is this what you've all been waiting for?
Products I disliked and wouldn't repurchase: Everyday Minerals Jojoba Base (tossing, mentioned here), Benefit They're Real mascara, fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment in Honey (tossing because it's turned, but the shade is also wrong on me. I do like Rose and Passion though), bareMinerals Original Foundation deluxe sample (I much prefer Laura Mercier's Mineral Powder SPF 15 for a mineral foundation).
Products I enjoyed, but I'm trying out other things: Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Slippin n' Dippin (dried out, I liked the shade okay), Gosh Waterproof Eye Liner Pencil in Black Ink (there are better black eyeliners out there).

Now, for a plethora of sample packets: you can read my detailed review of Missha Time Revolution Night Repair Ampoule and First Treatment Essence here, the various Asian sheet masks are reviewed here, and my overview of exfoliating pads can be found here. Most of these samples were pretty unremarkable, although I do have a full size of L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream - I'm quite unsure whether it's worth the rather high price tag, as it does very little when my hands are suffering from eczema flare-ups.

Well, that's a lot of empty containers headed for the trash can, which makes me quite happy indeed. Have you been using up or stocking up on more products recently?

Continuing on with my reviews of products which are obscure, seasonally inappropriate and generally difficult to get hold of... Although having said that, at the time of writing it's 82°F/ 28°C in New York City, and it definitely does not feel like fall yet; but worry not, after this review, I'll try to fall in normal beauty bloggers' footsteps and post something with a more autumnal color scheme. Ekhm.

This Kanebo Lunasol Cream Cheeks liquid blusher in EX04 Tender Glow Pink (~$40 for 12g) was a lovely gift from Jenni (thank you!) and a quick Google search tells me it was released as a part of Lunasol Limited Edition Christmas 2011 coffret (here's a review from BirkinBagBeauty). While it seems that this product is not available at this time, it may get re-released - and then this review might, just might, become even remotely helpful. Failing that, my hair looks really shiny in the FOTD shot at the end, so you can at least pretend to enjoy this post.

I don't have huge experience with Japanese cheek products; I've only tried the Canmake blushes so far (reviewed here) and still really enjoy them. From what I've gathered though, Asian blushes usually tend to be highly shimmery (unlike the Canmake Clear cream blushes), and this Lunasol Cream Cheeks is no different: it's a (surprise surprise!) peachy pink with lots of refined gold shimmer that gives an almost reflective glow on the skin, which you can see in the close-up shot of a blush dollop on my finger.

Compared to my other peachy pink blushes, Lunasol Tender Glow Pink is the closest to NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink, although a bit cooler and with a gold rather than silver sheen. Laura Mercier Second Skin Cheek Color in Lotus Pink is a bit redder and deeper in tone but also not too far off, while both The Face Shop Pastel Cushion in Coral Cushion and NYX Powder Blush in Peach are a lot lighter (more pastel) and more peachy.

L-R: Lunasol Cream Cheeks in Tender Glow Pink, NYC Blushable Creme Stick in Plaza Pink, Laura Mercier Lotus Pink, The Face Shop Coral Cushion, NYX Powder Blush in Peach

The consistency of the Lunasol blush is a bit more runny than I expected (I've seen this described as a liquid rather than a cream like the name suggests), and due to the squishiness of the tube, it's quite difficult to control the amount you squeeze out. The blush is pigmented, so a small dab is enough to cover both cheeks; the dollop you've seen in the second photo is perhaps too much already. While I'm usually not a fan of very shimmery blushes, I have to admit that I like the refined finish of Tender Glow Pink; I do however have some issues with the formula. For whatever reason, Lunasol Cream Cheeks goes a bit patchy on my skin and pools in my pores right from the application. I also find that it fades quite fast throughout the day, and I usually have no problem with cream blushes lasting on my skin.

All in all, a beautiful shade, but a somewhat underwhelming formula. I think I'll try to experiment with this one a bit more again in the spring, but for now, I'm putting it back in my blusher drawer. Have you started swapping out your make-up for fall already? I'm quite excited for the deeper shades again!

Even though I'd been planning this post for about a month, there aren't really any totally unexpected product picks in here: just your usual berry, purple and plum shebang, with a couple warmer blushes and some greys thrown in for a good measure. What can I say? I like what I like.

I also haven't bought any make-up from fall/winter collections this year, so all of the products I'm featuring have been hiding in my stash and not getting the love they deserve - time to rectify the situation. In a way, think of this post as 'shopping my stash for fall'; let me know in the comments whether you're also sorting through your existing collection for seasonally appropriate hues, or if you've purchased some new products this month - I'd love to know!

Let's start with the eyes. While summer was all about wash of color on the lids with some smudgy eye pencils (read as 'couldn't be bothered to use more than one eyeshadow and be super precise with eyeliners'), I'm now craving some more put together looks. I haven't used my purples in a really long time and I like how they compliment my brown eyes, so I've unearthed a small GWP quad from Clinique with Frosted Blossom (light shimmery pink), Stone Violet (matte medium warm purple), a darker shade from Beach Plum duo (medium warm purple with gold shimmer) and Night Plum (matte aubergine). I'm wearing all four shades in the second FOTD below.

Illamasqua Powder Eyeshadow in Forgiveness is another matte purple (very similar to Stone Violet) I like to use in the crease to give my eye more definition. The texture of the Illmasqua matte is far superior to the dinky Clinique quad: smooth, creamy, more pigmented and blendable. On a cooler side of the color spectrum, I've been playing around with some greys from my collection: that's MAC Vex and MAC Hocus Pocus. Two of my cream eyeshadow sticks pair really well with both greys and purples: Avon Extra Lasting Eyeshadow Pencil in Amethyst and Laura Mercier Caviar Stick in Grey Pearl.

L-R: Clinique GWP quad, Illamasqua Forgiveness, MAC Vex, MAC Hocus Pocus, Avon Amethyst, Laura Mercier Grey Pearl.

I tried to reign in my lip product picks a little bit: that's usually the one element of my make-up routine I like to change out the most often. But here's an interesting detail: I haven't actually been that much into deep pinks and berries so far this fall (exhibit A: the first FOTD. Not digging that lip shade - it's Inglot Gel Lipstick no. 58 by the way, and as you can see, pointedly omitted from my lipstick picks). I'm all about the vampy blueberry shades, and deeper reds; and when I'm not feeling a dark lip, I reach for a sheer mauve gloss by way of Buxom Lip Polish in Dolly, which also pairs beautifully with those vampy lipsticks.

I like to wear all three of my deeper lipsticks either full strength or dabbed on as a stain: especially Revlon Superlustrous Lipstick in Black Cherry requires some careful layering and general cajoling to apply evenly - I'm wearing it as a stain in the second FOTD, with more product layered in the center of my lips. Maybelline Color Sensational in Plum Perfect has a lot more reddy brown tones, so if you're into the 90s trend but you're a bit more cool-toned like me, it's a very nice shade for the colder months. Both Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Grandest Grape and fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Passion are the most moisturizing of the bunch, so a more practical choice when the lips get chapped thanks to the freezing temperatures outside.

L-R: Clinique Grandest Grape, Buxom Dolly, fresh Sugar Passion, Maybelline Plum Perfect, Revlon Black Cherry

Lastly, blush: oh, how I love thee. The skin on my cheeks has finally started to clear up, so I can have more fun with cheek products again! All three of my picks have a sculpting effect on my face, but additionally I've been pairing them with Benefit's Hoola bronzer, used as a contouring powder. I am now the most tan I've been this whole year (despite daily SPF application), so I'm milking it by using some darker cheek products in my stash.

NARS Sin blush in particular gives my face a lot more definition thanks to the very fine gold sheen which highlights my cheekbones (second FOTD below), while NYX Powder Blush in Mauve and NARS Douceur warm up my coloring and will compliment my fading tan - yes, I'm giving it another month tops. A bronze goddess, I am NOT...

L-R: NARS Sin, NARS Douceur, NYX Mauve

I've also returned to liquid eyeliners and cat flicks - they just pair so well with a bold lip. In terms of foundation, I'm still trying to make a dent in my Estee Lauder Double Wear Light; having used it for a solid couple months non-stop now, I have to say I've grown quite tired of it, even though the shade Intensity 1 is my perfect match right now. Nails in the first photo are Zoya Payton, which will be featured in an upcoming fall nail polish picks post.

I rarely use pencils in my waterline or to tightline, but I've been experimenting with slightly lighter shades, like the shimmery taupe of Sephora Contour Eyeliner in Flirting Game, which you can see in the photo below. I'm also into bolder brows, making good use of my Shu Uemura Seal Brown pencil - but I'm thinking of investing in a tinted brow gel (Benefit Gimme Brow?), and maybe even a brow powder (Anastasia?). Do you have any favorites you could recommend?

And that's a wrap! I feel like this post is a bit all over the place, but hopefully you guys enjoyed it nonetheless. How do you change up your make-up for fall? Are there any specific shades, placements or techniques you like to use in the colder season?

As my stash downsizing progress continues, I'm now getting down to skincare back-ups and otherwise abandonded products from the back of my drawers. Some of them are surprisingly good, and thus restore my faith in trying deluxe samples and gifts with purchase. Some of them are meh; they'll get used up in due time, but the excitement levels are running low. And some of them... NO. Just no. But anyway, all of these serve the purpose of reviewing them for you, lovely people, so that you know what to try and what to avoid.

While I do most of my face washing with the Emma Hardie Moringa Lift & Sculpt Cleansing Balm, I sometimes prefer something lighter and quicker for the mornings: enter MyChelle Dermaceuticals Apple Brightening Cleanser ($14.25 for 2.1 fl oz) with malic and gallic acids, which was part of a GWP from drugstore.com. A quick shopping tip: if you're subscribed to their email offers, they sometimes do these amazing GWP bags with a $75 beauty purchase that come loaded with deluxe samples AND full-sized products. But back to MyChelle: I find this sulfate, gluten and cruelty-free face wash to be a decent low-foaming option; quite gentle but a bit more drying than an oil/balm cleanser. I haven't noticed any improvement in my hyperpigmentation, but I've recently been experiencing less breakouts and less overall congestion in my skin - not quite sure if it's thanks to just this cleanser, but I think it's helping along. A tentative thumbs-up.

To remove my make-up at night, I've switched to using the Eau Thermale Avene Micellar Lotion Cleanser and Make-up Remover ($20 for 6.76 fl oz/ 200 ml) after finishing the beautiful TATCHA One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil. In short: I ultimately prefer using cleansing oils for make-up removal. Not that the Avene micellar water is bad: non-irritating, subtly scented, doesn't leave a sticky residue. But in terms of really getting that black mascara and eyeliner off, nothing beats a solid cleansing oil. I now have to do multiple passes with a cotton pad saturated with the Avene lotion, and I still get smudges of mascara under my eyes in the mornings - so from now on, I won't be repurchasing micellar make-up removers (even Bioderma!) and sticking to my cleansing oils.

Tempted by rave reviews from Sandra and other bloggers, I splurged on the Paula's Choice Resist BHA 9 Treatment For Stubborn Imperfections ($40 for 0.3 fl oz/ 8.4 ml). First off, let's discuss the price: this is forty bucks for a product smaller than most of my deluxe samples. But whatever, it's supposed to be used as a spot treatment, so the tiny bottle should last a long time - EXCEPT the pump makes it impossible to get just a small amount, squirting product left and right. To get the amount I need, I barely touch the pump a couple times, and then a drop oozes out... but misshaps still happen. I could maybe suck it up if this clear oil (sic!) made any difference in my skin - but it doesn't. On me, it doesn't really prevent breakouts from rearing their ugly heads, doesn't dry them out, doesn't help with clogs and blackheads, nor post-inflammatory marks... Yeah. It's just annoying. Needless to say, I'll use it up but won't be repurchasing.

On days I'm at home and don't feel the need to wear SPF, I like to use just a plain, lightweight moisturizer to give my skin some much needed hydration, which is why I busted out the Dermo Face Sebio Light Mattifying Correcting Cream (32,99 PLN/ ~$10 for 40ml) from a Polish brand Tołpa. The moisturizer was a gift from a family member, and while a lot of Polish skincare products are great quality and a pleasure to use, this is unfortunately a dud. It has a strong, citrus bathroom cleaner scent and a glue-like consistency that eventually absorbs into the skin, but feels heavy and fails to both effectively hydrate my face or keep the oils at bay. Thank God it expires next month so that I won't have any second thoughts about throwing it away.

Lastly, the surprising hero of this post, the Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream with Super 7 Complex* ($42 for 1.7 oz or $16.50 for 0.5 oz, which is the size I'm using). I didn't have high hopes for this, especially after sniffing the jar: to me, it smells like a fermented/pickled cucumber with a touch of rose, and while I like both pickles and roses, I don't want them together in my moisturizer. But that is the only downfall of the Lotus Face Cream - otherwise, it's a lovely, lightweight, fast-absorbing, hydrating and soothing cream that leaves my face soft, plump and happy. I can't comment on longterm anti-aging results, but I like that it has ingredients to soften fine lines, improve elasticity and boost radiance. Two thumbs up - I may repurchase a full size in the future.

Have you recently added anything new to your skincare routine? Any interesting discoveries, positive OR negative? Come on, you guys know I love me a good product rant ;)

Disclosure: Product marked with an asterix (*) is a press sample I received as a part of a complimentary Glossybox. The remaining products were either gifts from family, gifts with purchase or my own purchases. All links are non-affiliate. All opinions are 100% honest and unbiased, no matter if the products featured were purchased with my own monies or provided as free press samples. Thank you for reading!

Time for the third progress update in my Project Make A Dent #1 series! In case you haven't been following this stash-reducing challenge, Project Make A Dent is an idea originated by Lola from Lola's Secret Beauty Blog (here's her latest update) where you try to focus on using certain make-up products from your stash, albeit not at the exclusion of other things from your collection. The project is more about giving your forgotten products some love rather than trying to use them up completely, but I'm not gonna lie - I'd love to see most of these in my empties bag.

Here's a shot of what I've been working with right now; I did use up two products completely at my last progress check (here - click!), so this is the updated version with more products added, and the usage on the rest of the items as of my last check-in. If you're curious, this (click!) is what I started with at the very beginning of the Project in January.

And here's my progress! I have used up one more item - the Gosh Waterproof Eyeliner in Black Ink, also shown in my latest empties post, and the Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick in Soft Coral is VERY nearly used up as well. The Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Whiskey is shorter by maybe two or three sharpenings, but I'll try to focus more on using it from now on. Again, not much progress with the blushes or the NYX Tea Rose lipstick, though I'm starting to reach for the latter a bit more now that the weather is cooling down. I'm estimating that my tube of Estee Lauder Double Wear Light foundation has about 1/3 left in it now (last time it was half full), and if you look closely (uhm, very closely), the naked pan winking from the Annabelle Vanilla Chilla eyeshadow is slightly bigger now. All in all, not too bad.

To be perfectly honest, I AM rather tired of using the same products over and over again; I'm quite an ambitious individual so I don't let myself stray too far from my Project Make A Dent selection. Perhaps Lily has the right of it - if you decide to switch up your products a bit more often, then it's not as painful to commit to using these select few. However, I now have less than three more months left to go, so I'm stubbornly sticking to my yearly version - and then in January next year, I'll decide what I want to do.

How are you guys faring with your stash-reducing challenges? I've heard of so many different versions making the rounds on blogs and YouTube right now, like 'Commit To Five Before The Snow Flies', lol. But overall, it makes me happy that so many people want to take control of their collections and use what they already have - what do you think?

You know my regular reticence to buy into any sort of product hype? Yeah, I prefer to quietly wait for the bandwagon to pass, smell the roses, ponder things in my own time, and then maybe, MAYBE, pull the trigger. So when opportunity arose to snag some Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pens ($12 for 0.04oz, or $18 for a set of 5 smaller pencils + sharpener) via Belly's blog sale and some poorly rationalized Asos order, I finally pulled. The trigger, that is.

From the utterly unsuspenseful title of this post, you already know that I'm really, really liking these Pixi eye pencils (not pens!). So much so that I like them better than the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on liners, and better than the NYX Slide-ons. And I like them just as much, or maybe even a teeny, tiny bit more than the Sephora 12HR Wear Contour pencils - I don't know yet, the verdict is still out on that one.

I hear you ask 'But Monika, what is so special about these boring old pencils?'. Weel, let me tell ye (not sure why this had to be said in a Scottish accent): apart from the pure awesomeness of the shades, they're unbelievably soft, creamy, pigmented and long-lasting. The brand also claims they're non-transfer and waterproof, giving the effect of liquid liner in a handy pencil form. I actually mostly use eyeliner pencils in lieu of liquid or gel liners ('cause, lazy), so I was excited about the level of pigmentation on these Endless Eye Pens; I find them more intense and opaque than the cult UD pencils and the NYX dupes of those. They do also wear like iron; I find that they can transfer a bit when applied in the waterline (sometimes they do, sometimes they don't) but otherwise there's no smudging, running or flaking.

I have five shades now: Black Noir (pure matte black), Black Tulip (dark indigo pearl over a black base), Deep Plum (eggplant with very fine multidimensional shimmer, similar but more intense than Urban Decay Ransom), Copper Glow (reddish brown with gold micro glitter) and Sage Glow (golden olive with gold micro glitter). They're all equally smooth and creamy with the exception of Sage Glow, which is the most glittery shade - the consistency of that one seems a bit drier and not as intensely pigmented, but I remember from my UD liners that their glittery shades (like UD Gunmetal) suffered from a similar issue. That minor flaw aside, the glitter in Copper Glow and Sage Glow is small enough to give just a twinkle of light on the eyes, and stays put without migrating all over the face; I even applied Sage Glow to my waterline with no irritation whatsoever.

L-R: Black Noir, Black Tulip, Deep Plum, Copper Glow, Sage Glow. The bottom photo shows the tenacity of the Silky Eye Pens - this is what I was left with after vigorous rubbing with a cotton pad soaked in a micellar make-up remover. A good cleansing oil/ waterproof make-up remover is a must with these pencils.

You will obviously see these pencils quite often in the upcoming FOTD posts and such (actually, I used Black Noir here already), but I wanted to show you a simple micro glittery look with both Copper Glow and Sage Glow. I was worried that Copper Glow would be too warm of a brown for my complexion, but you can see it works beautifully as a liner on my top lashline. While I rarely wear greens on my eyes, I love the subtle olive accent of Sage Glow on my lower lashline and waterline - like I said, I had absolutely no issues with the glitter moving or getting in my eyes (and I do wear contact lenses).

To complete the look, I'm wearing MAC Patina eyeshadow all over the lid and smudged on the lower lashline, with Soft Force to highlight the inner corners. For my blush I chose NARS Douceur, and I have MAC Viva Glam V lipstick on my lips. All in all, I'm really happy I've decided to pick these Pixi liners up - they're some of the best pencil eyeliners I've ever had the pleasure of playing around with. Have you recently got anything you're loving to pieces?

Burgundies, plums, purples - give me all the vamps for fall. While I like the cheerful colorfulness of warm weather nail polish shades, I've really, really missed the moody darker shades of fall and winter. I thought it was only appropriate to share my current favorites with you; mind you, none of these polishes are new but in my mind, that's for the best: you can often find these older treasures online for a lot less than MSRP.

Let's start with a bang - the darkest of five polishes I'm swatching for you today. This is China Glaze Naughty and Nice, originally released with the 2012 Holiday collection and first mentioned on the blog here. As you can see, I still have it and it's definitely been well loved, both worn on its own or as a dark base for glitter toppers. With two coats, it's basically a reddish black with a high glossy finish: simple and stunning. After two years, the formula is still on point, even and just the right thickness.

For a newer favorite, I thought that OPI Muir Muir On The Wall from the 2013 San Francisco Collection was just too beautiful to pass up. It's a charcoal black base with green, copper and burgundy shift - I had not really seen anything like it before and it really reminds me of the changing foliage in the fall. Unfortunately, the multichrome effect is not as strong on the nails as it is in the bottle and the formula is a bit on the thin side, but ultimately still worth it in my opinion.

From the same collection, I also got Lost on Lombard, a warm darkened red with a cream finish. Warm reds usually are not very flattering on my cool skintone, but Lost on Lombard works for some reason, and I quite like the brown undertones - I think it's a great red for fall, a bit more muted and subdued than the sparkly festive reds of the Holiday season. The consistency is on par with my other OPI creams and these polishes also last very well on me.

Jem was the first nail polish from Zoya that absolutely stole my heart: I ogled swatches online for a good couple months before finally deciding to pull the trigger. Jem is a dark plum base with copper and gold foil - the shimmer particles are bigger than those of OPI Muir Muir On The Wall. It looks absolutely stunning in the bottle, but again, the beautiful shimmer is much subtler on the nail than in the bottle, and there's not much shift between gold and copper. But, the delicate foil gives Jem some depth and I still find myself reaching for this shade again and again. The formula is easy to work with but not as long-wearing as the OPI shades.

Lastly, a bit of fun: this is Zoya Payton, an eggplant purple jelly base with holographic micro glitter. The holo effect in Payton isn't very strong: at most angles, it reads as scattered silver shimmer, but when light catches it just right, the micro glitters turn all the colors of the rainbow. I previously swatched Payton here, and I still very much enjoy wearing it; I also like it a bit better than Zoya Aurora, another purple with fine holo glitters. I layer two coats of Jem for full opacity and I find it wears very well on me.

You most likely haven't noticed, but the top of my index finger has been cropped out of four of these photos - it's not because I can't shoot a good frame (well, maybe - but it's irrelevant here) but because the cuticles and nail bed on that finger are thoroughly f*cked up. Here's what happened: in August, I started getting particularly bad eczema flare-ups on that finger, so much so that I had to resort to using topical steroids again. Now, I'm used to steroids absolutely destroying the skin and cuticles on my fingers (think, 90 year old's hands), but this time, the nail got damaged as well, and it's been looking very, very wrong for at least a month now. I'm telling this sickening story not to make excuses for the quality of my swatch photos, but rather to inform my fellow eczema-sufferers, and in hope that maybe something similar has happened to one of you (in which case, I'm sorry!) and you could share your experience. I don't know if my nail & nail bed will go back to normal eventually - I'm hoping the damaged nail will just grow out in time. And speaking of eczema on my hands, would you guys be interested in a separate post on triggers and things I try to keep it at bay?

That huge tangent aside, I hope you enjoyed looking at these stunning fall polishes. Do let me know what you're wearing on your nails right now, or your all-time favorite shades for fall - I can never have enough of these vampy varnishes!

Uhmm, no, not done with glitter quite yet, my dears. I will admit that I went through a difficult phase of glitterophobia about two years ago - any glittery make-up product I touched would either leave my lips dry and gritty, or form a trail of sparkly dandruff all over my cheeks, and was always, always, an absolute b*tch to remove. But I'm over my fears now, as you may have deduced from my last nail-centered post: I've found glittery make-ups that WORK. Well, I do still avoid glitter on the lips though.

So let me present a perfect example of a glitter that works: Shu Uemura Silk Smooth Eyeshadow Refill in IR(idescent) Pink 115 ($15 for 1.4 g/0.049 oz), another stellar recommendation from Driveller Kate. Here's what Shu's IR Pink 115 is and isn't: it IS a fine fiery opal glitter, shifting between pink and orange, and it IS NOT a pigmented base with some chunky glitter thrown in for added interest. Iridescent Pink 115 is meant to be a glitter topper, to be layered with another, more opaque shadow underneath - very much like many other glitter eyeshadows from Asian brands.

Shu Uemura IR Pink 115 eyeshadow shot at different angles.

WHICH is also the reason why Shu's Iridescent Pink turned out to be nearly impossible to photograph accurately. But, instead of giving up completely, I thought I could at least try to show you a textural difference between some other glitter eyeshadows in my collection as well as a satin finish transforming shadows from the recent Shiseido release. I hope that in the arm swatch, you can see that Shu's IR Pink 115 is very similar in texture to the glitter shade in Visee Bitter Brown quad, and very much texturally different from something like Too Faced Nude Beach eyeshadow from the old Natural Eye palette (another example: Urban Decay's Sidecar shadow from the first Naked palette). Shiseido's Static trio is a similar concept to Shu's glitter, but a luminous satin finish instead of glitter. Shiseido's shadows can also be used alone without the need for layering, since they do have a colored base.

L-R: Shu Uemura IR Pink 115 on top of a plum base, Shu IR Pink 115 alone, glitter shade from Visee Bitter Brown quad, Too Faced Nude Beach, pink shade from Shiseido Static trio

In terms of application and wear, Shu Uemura's Iridescent Pink adheres very well on top of another shadow or a cream base, and doesn't migrate all over my face - no, seriously, I couldn't find any glitter specks on the rest of my face at all. It also doesn't hurt my eyes, and it's not difficult to get off, even with a micellar make-up remover. The texture is creamy & smooth and the glitter quite dense, so patting on with a brush is a piece of cake.

In the arm swatch above, you can see how absolutely stunning IR Pink 115 looks on top of dark shades: I used the Avon Extra Lasting Eyeshadow Pencil in Smoky Plum for the base. In the face shot below, I opted for a lighter base, using the Avon Extra Lasting shadow stick in Amethyst, and the effect was more subtle, but still very pretty, especially in the inner corners where the light hit the glitter at just the right angle.

I really wish more of the Shu glitter eyeshadows were available in the US; I guess for now, we have to console ourselves with the sparkly shades in the Tom Ford and Charlotte Tilbury quads. What are your thoughts on glitter eyeshadows? Do you love them, hate them, only wear them for special occasions?

... where I show you my slightly outrageous eyeshadow palette collection, as well as share my deepest thoughts on buying make-up palettes and sets in general, especially in perspective of the freshly launched Holiday Limited Edition collections and upcoming beauty sales. So, are you ready for some palette p0rn?

Just to clear some particulars: this is my entire larger eyeshadow palette stash, meaning trios, quads and quints are not included. I've decided to go ahead and share both my freeform/custom eyeshadow palettes as well as premade ones, with the latter reviewed previously on the blog for the most part, so I'll link separate posts with swatches where possible. Also... I like neutral eyeshadows. I make no excuses.

Let's start with the freeform/ personalized palettes. First off, the old school classic in every make-up fanatic's eyeshadow stash: MAC Pro Palette Eye Shadow X15. As you can see, I own the old version of the palette (I had gotten the new but disliked how bulky it was and sold it in a blog sale), and mine features a mix of MAC shadows as well as discontinued INGLOT round pans and an odd Annabelle shade. I do tend to switch things around here and there as I have more round pans in my collection that fit in this palette, but for the most part it looks like in the photo. I do still like my MAC palette and reach for it fairly often; it's my second go-to after the large Z Palette shown below.

I currently have two Large Z Palettes in my collection: an older (and fuller) one that houses my most used eyeshadows, and a second back-up palette which has other, less used eyeshadow pans, as well as some La Femme blushes. I do occasionally rotate shadows between the two palettes or even the MAC palette for added variety. My main Z Palette features a mix of pressed Fyrinnae eyeshadows, Rouge Bunny Rouge refills, some Inglot square pans, depotted Burberry shadows, as well as random Stila, Too Faced (depotted Natural Eyes palette), Shu Uemura, Yaby and Annabelle. I absolutely love my Z Palettes and also have an empty smaller one on hand for travel.

Now, the two lower-end freeform palettes in my collection: a anothersoul Book of Shadows from Etsy, filled with depotted Wet n'Wild trios, and an eBay 12 round pan, filled with pressed NYX and Barry M pigments, extra round Inglot pans, and a stray Elf shadow. Out of all the palettes I'm showing you today, I use the random round pan palette the least: it's mostly storage for eyeshadows that have fallen out of favor. I do however enjoy using the DIY Wet n'Wild palette, even though I haven't reached for it in a while. I should get back to it!

As for the ready-made portion of my eyeshadow palette collection, let's start with the two most hyped-up neutral palettes I own: the Urban Decay Naked 1 (old tutorial using the original Naked here) and theBalm Nude'Tude. From these two, I generally prefer UD Naked, although it has some shades I never reach for (Sidecar, Half-Baked, Gunmetal). However, the undertones of Nude'Tude don't suit me very well, and the palette lacks good matte medium depth blending/transition shades - maybe with the exception of Sultry, which is a touch too warm and dark for my skintone. But all in all, both of these are fantastic buys, especially for make-up beginners.

Here are my two Stila eyeshadow palettes. I don't own any other products by Stila apart from the eyeshadows, and while some shades in these palettes are slightly dry and not as pigmented as I would have liked, overall I do like them and I do still reach for them on occasion. The Stila 'In The Moment' palette occupies an interesting niche in my collection: it has both cool-toned purples as well as warm peach and bronze shades. The E! Live from the Red Carpet neutral palette is another great neutral staple; I'm pretty sure this one has been discontinued, but if you can find it, I think the quality is on point - I just wish they omitted the Convertible Color cream pan from the powder line-up.

Sleek MakeUp i-Divine Mineral Based Eyeshadow Palettes are some of the best powder eyeshadows you can find in a drugstore; unfortunately, not an American one, but I hear that Sleek online ships worldwide and the shipping charges are not too extortionate. I own two: the classic Storm 578 (top of the photo) and Oh So Special 658 (bottom, a spring look featuring Oh So Special here). I've definitely used Storm more but I've also owned it longer, and have fond memories of using it on my honeymoon. I haven't pulled these out in ages, but I like them too much to purge: in fact, I have gotten rid of one in the past - the warm yellow tones in Au Naturel didn't suit me very well at all, even though the quality was stellar.

Last but not least, the newest member of my palette stash, the bareMinerals READY Eyeshadow 8.0 palette in The Finer Things from the 2012 Holiday Collection. Here's a full review, but in short, I absolutely love the texture of bareMinerals READY shadows and the cooler undertones of The Finer Things suit me very well. I used to own The Power Neutrals palette too (swatched and reviewed here) but didn't like the shade selection even half as much, so I've passed it on to my warmer-complected best friend, who continues to use it daily.

And that's it! I like to think that I'm keeping my eyeshadow palette addiction under control by weeding out palettes I don't use very often: like I mentioned above, I purged the Sleek Au Naturel palette, bareMinerals Power Neutrals, and an empty new MAC large custom palette a while back, as well as a whole host of various eyeshadow pans I wasn't using. I'd also wanted to sell my old Too Faced Natural Eye palette, but due to lack of interest, I depotted it in the end and stuck the pans in my Z-Palettes. I'm still in two minds about doing the same to my Stila palettes in hopes of remembering to use them more often.

As for my reflections on expanding my palette collection/ buying make-up sets in general, I'm quite proud to say that I haven't bought a larger eyeshadow palette or a set in over a year. Here's my gripe with ready-made palettes: while I usually really like SOME of the shades, I never like ALL of the shades enough to warrant having the whole palette - same for various value sets and such. So before pulling a trigger on a new one, I think long and hard whether I like and need ALL of it, and 95% of the time, the final answer is NO. Which is precisely the reason I haven't bought Urban Decay Naked 2 &3 in the past, or the Laura Mercier Artist palettes, or the Lorac Pro 1 & 2, and of course the new Mega Pro (also - too big to fit comfortably in my drawer). Not that I wasn't tempted - I really was - but ultimately I'm glad I haven't sprung for either. I'm still tempted by all the value sets Sephora has now been putting out for the Holidays, but probably won't get anything in the end. And coming back to eyeshadow palettes in particular, I now have my eyes on smaller ones, five or six pans maximum, that fill a specific gap in my collection - this way it's a lot more likely I'll use and enjoy all the shades in a palette.

I hope you enjoyed this stash inventory post; of course, let me know if you have any additional questions or maybe would like to see my custom MAC or Z-Palettes in more detail. Do you also collect eyeshadow palettes? What are your criteria for getting a new one?What are your thoughts on make-up value sets?

We all know how it usually begins: you're feeling slightly lazy one day and opt for an evening of Sherlock instead of photo editing and writing, then the next day something comes up and you run out of time, then you're suddenly no longer in love with your original post idea... Before you even realize where the time has gone, a week/ a fortnight/ a month has passed and you've completely lost any inspiration and/or motivation to blog. Poufff! Your blogging mojo is gone - just like that.

I've been blogging for six years now and I've experienced major blogging crisises a good number of times. However, as you can see, I'm still here - so there must have been some strategies I've been using to deal with my posting malaise. This post was actually inspired by a Twitter conversation with Charlotte, and while I do not aspire to offer some incredibly innovative advice here, I hope someone somewhere will find my mind tricks at least amusing, if not helpful.

Let's start with an easier case of blogging idleness: you still really love posting, you've just fallen off the wagon and don't know where to start again. You know, I firmly believe there's nothing wrong with typing up some random nonsense to be completely scrapped later on, just to get you back in touch with your writer's voice (or in my case, hitting 'Publish' on it in a strange moment of bravado that I'm going to deeply regret some day). There are two choices you can opt for in terms of subject matter: either safely fall back on an easy feature you've done before, like a monthly favorites round-up, a tag, or an empties post, or if that feels too boring, go the opposite way and post something you've never talked about before: a recipe, a travel journal, maybe a book review. Or experiment with your photography, change up your lighting, angles, background, whatever. It's YOUR freakin' blog - you can post whatever YOU like. I also find that keeping a notebook with post ideas is immensely helpful when I scrabble around for something to talk about; whadd'ya know, this is exactly where the post you're now reading originally comes from.

Now, for the exponentially more serious MAJOR blogging crisis, by which I mean feelings somewhere along the lines of: 'I hate my blog', 'I hate posting', 'I can't stand social media', and, of course, 'I'm a lousy writer' (no judging: I've definitely been there before, my friends - still occasionally am). This is the stuff that makes people abandon their blogs overnight, to linger in a limbo of half-finished series and interrupted conversations. But how do I go back to loving blogging again?

Don't try to guess the ultimate reason behind the hulking mass of a writer's block - there can be many. It doesn't always help to try to pin it down, despite what psychotherapists may lead you to believe. Writing is not like childhood trauma, or Oedipus complex: it's such a twisting, intertwining nucleus of creativity, emotion and discipline that not only are any efforts at untangling the knot bound to fail in the end, they may actually hurt 'the magic' more than help it along. In the rare case of knowing exactly what's stopping you from blogging, go ahead and get it off your chest: I find that a good rant always feels good. But otherwise, leave the thicket for now. Don't poke at it.

For me, the first step of finding my way back to writing is in fact to disconnect from it entirely. Go, stand up from the blank laptop screen, get out there. Take a trip, go see an art exhibit, talk to new people, or an old friend. I've learnt again and again that ideas strike when you least expect them, especially when you're actually thinking about something else completely - and then when they strike, don't force them, just store them for later, to have just in case. In a more practical sense, disconnect from the elements of the blogging world that frustrate you, like maybe those rapid-fire reviews of just released products on multiple blogs, accounts from press events, instahauls, page view and follower counts. Just don't look at them - stop reading, tweeting and instagramming for a while. And please, please, under no condition try to compare yourself to other bloggers. It NEVER helps.

What fundamentally helps me to enjoy blogging again, is connecting with you, my Dear Reader. No, not readers, the strangely anonymous crowd of blog visitors: a singular Reader. I know you - you've left comments before, and from these, I've gathered glimpses of your personality, and I've kept them close to my heart. I know you're an amazing, critical-thinking, kind, unique human being, and I try to imagine my posts as personal letters to you, snippets of a longer conversation with a wonderful, caring friend somewhere out there, miles and days apart. I imagine we're sitting at a cosy cafe, drinking chai lattes, and I'm spilling my heart out to you, and you listen, you understand, and then you further contribute YOUR thoughts to my story. I'm sorry if this sounds vaguely stalkerish - I didn't mean it that way. This is just to say that I never cease to want to talk to (or with?) you, and yet it boggles my mind that you even exist. Because blogs are very much unlike books or magazines with their 'target audience' and 'ideal readers', because you're a real breathing person who brushes her teeth in the morning, NOT a concept, and definitely not a business venture, or an obligation. Reminding myself that you're there for me is enough to dispel the worst case of a writer's block. I just need to keep reminding myself. We all need to.

You know nothing, ~~Jon Snow~~ Monika.

This quote pretty much sums up my wishlist this time round. I've been very strict with my beauty purchases for the past two months in anticipation of the annual Sephora 20% off VIB sale and other online retailers' discounts. In the meantime, I've been editing and re-editing my picks, going in circles and chasing my own tail for so long now that I don't know anything anymore. Is this product cool? Do I need it?! More importantly, do I even want it?! I DON'T KNOW.

Let's try to start with the actual necessary purchases, meaning skincare.
First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads ($30 for 60 pads): I've reviewed these in my acid toner/ exfoliating pads overview here, and stated these were among my absolute favorite daily chemical exfoliants I've tried thus far, which is why a repurchase is in order. I'm currently finishing up the St. Ives pads and still have the Peter Thomas Wroth Un-Wrinkle backed up in the stash, but prefer the latter for the evenings, or at least to rotate with a milder option like the FAB pads.
Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cream ($65 for 1.7 oz; wait, wasn't this $55 just a couple months back?!): I'm down to using deluxe samples for my night moisturizer and also detest my current daytime option, so I'm hoping the Goat Milk Cream, which comes highly recommended from Caroline Hirons, will fit somewhere in my routine. I'm kind of balking at the price, but if I don't love it - cheers to Sephora's awesome return policy.
Pixi Glow Tonic Beauty Elixir with Aloe Vera and Ginseng ($29 for 8.5 fl. oz): Another recommendation from Caroline, a relatively clean acid toner with a fantastic price point. The Paula's Choice 2% BHA liquid I'm using now in the evenings is on its last legs, so I want to try the Glow Tonic as a replacement. Belly, I hear you're using this now - any thoughts?

Now, for the heart-wrenching wants, meaning make-up.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette ($58 for 3 x 0.11 oz): I've been meaning to pick up one of the Hourglass Ambient blushes and then they released this palette, and I love all three shades. Except, I have this feeling deep down in my gut that as soon as the VIB sale launches online, this is going to be sold out. Maybe I could track it down in store... but maybe I'm too lazy for that. We shall see.
Benefit Gimme Brow in Light/Medium ($22 for 0.10 oz): Yeah yeah, I know that Maybelline has a good dupe for this fiber brow gel - but I've also heard the spoolie is impossible to work with. I guess I prefer to shell out more money and get a product I know I'll love (or do I?). Currently, I have no brow gels in my stash, and I feel that having one would amp up my brow game.
Rouge Bunny Rouge Raw Garden Eyeshadow Palette in Chronos ($59 for 5 x 2g): Spoiler alert, I've already got it :) What can I say, BeautyHabit had a $10 off coupon and I jumped. Review coming next.
Urban Decay Naked Basics 2 ($29 for 6 x 0.05 oz): This is THE product on this wishlist that makes me want to pull my hair out. I would really, really like some good cool neutral matte shadows all in one palette. Naked Basics 2 sounds perfect in that case, I hear you say. Except, the lightest shades are more like medium shades on my skintone, and only half of the palette is really truly cool-toned. So ultimately, I don't think I'll get this one, even though I love the concept. I have a few ideas on how to satisfy my matte craving: a) gather all my neutral mattes in one Z-Palette and use that instead, b) press some of the matte bareMinerals loose shadows I have, c) buy some individual mattes from Inglot and/or KIKO. I may or may not combine all three options *evil laugh*.
Guerlain Rouge G de Guerlain Jewel Lipstick Compact ($51 for 0.12 oz): I had this *genius* idea I could finally get one of the Rouge Gs with the $15 off coupon Sephora usually sends out in early December. Except, it now seems that Rouge Gs are online only - and looks like they may be phasing them out entirely?! So, maybe not so genius after all :(
Chikuhodo PS-1 Passion Series Powder Brush ($64): I don't actually own a decent powder brush, and have never owned anything better than a cheap drugstore one. So I think the time has finally come to upgrade, and the price point on the Chikuhodo Passion Series seems not to excessive. I may wait with this purchase until early next year though to space out my spending at least a little bit - or, you know, not have to explain myself too much to the husband.

Now, time for you to spill the beans: what's currently on your beauty wishlist?

Apocalypse-Proof Mauve: Mally Evercolor Shadow Stick in Dusk

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Red Ochre Cheeks: Laura Geller Blush-n-Brighten in Boysenberry

Birchbox Store BYOB Experience

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In My Skincare Routine: Acid Toners & Exfoliating Pads Overview

My Fortnight in Beauty

Spring in September: Shiseido Eye Color Trio in BL215 Static

The Autumn Tag

Beauty Product Empties: 3rd Quarter 2014

Summer's Last Hurrah: Lunasol Cream Cheeks in EX04 Tender Glow Pink

My Fall Color Palette: Eyes, Lips & Cheeks

New In My Skincare Routine

Project Make A Dent #1: Third Progress Check

Rocaille Raves: Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pens

My Five Favorite Fall Nail Polishes

Glittery Glimmers: Shu Uemura Eyeshadow in IR Pink 115

My Eyeshadow Palette Collection

How To Blog Through A Blogging Crisis

My Fall 2014/ Sephora VIB Sale Beauty Wishlist