Project Pan: Back-to-MAC edition!

I like having goals to work towards.

I shop at Sephora for the points, instead of searching somewhere else to buy beauty products. I like seeing that one thing leads to another.

And when doing Project Pans, there is no goal of more stuff. The goal is to downsize! And that doesn't always work for me.

Few stores (that I know of anyway) have programs where you can trade in packaging for new products. Lush does this (5 containers= 1 free face mask). And MAC does. 7 products (note: I was told 7 by a MAC employee, but others have told me that you only need 6 products!) that fall under the specifications can be returned for a lipstick (or an eyeshadow or lip glass in-store).7 products go out, 1 goes in. That sounds pretty good to me! If Sephora offered something like that I feel like my panning would increase.

I like to try new things, but I don't want to have so many products sitting around that will eventually become expired.

Check out my intro video with five MAC products.

And don't forget to subscribe to follow me on my panning journey!

30 Day Lipstick Challenge: Summer Edition

                                           Check out my latest YouTube video!

It's time to take on a beauty challenge!

The 30 Day Lipstick challenge is exactly what it sounds like- 30 days, 30 different lipstick shades. Every day is something different, and it gives you a good excuse to play around with shades you wouldn't normally reach for.

Do you normally rock a red lip? Try changing your makeup look with a more dramatic eye and a matte nude lip. Are you obsessed with pink lipsticks? Try a brighter or bolder version, like a fuchsia or hot pink. And if you're anything like me, who lives and dies by nude lippies, try a bright purple or even a coral!

You can learn so much about your makeup likes and dislikes by taking on this challenge. You may just surprise yourself and find a new favourite combination.

And if you have a lot of lipsticks, you might be able to decrease your collection by tossing (or giving away/selling) lippies you find don't work for you.

For a complete list of the 30 lipsticks I'm going to be rocking for the month of July, check out my YouTube video!

The Good and the Bad of Finishing Products

As many of you know, I've been on a journey to cut down on my beauty collection/stash. Sometimes, when I look at how much stuff I have I truly feel like a hoarder- I will keep everything and anything!

When I finish a product, or even hit pan on something, it can feel a little bit bittersweet. On one hand, I am excited to be moving that item out of my stash. On the other hand, I want to have all the things!

I am a beauty lover. I love to try new products, of all kinds- from new foundations to new eyeliners to new shampoo and face cleansers. There's something so fun about trying something new.

But I've been trying to wrangle those feelings in. I've been trying to be smart about my purchases, for many reasons. Gone are the days that I would finish a drugstore and leave with $100 grab bag of things to try out and play with. I shop with purpose. And something is missing.

My ultimate goal is to have a manageable stash of makeup and beauty products. I don't need to have 20 bottles of conditioner- I'm not going to run out tomorrow! But I also can allow myself to have more than one bottle. Variety, as they say, is the spice of life.

I think I am going to try something new, maybe three products (of the same type) out, one in. I will continue to downsize my collection, while still giving me some room to play. I don't like setting "rules" like this in stone though, as I immediately want to break them.

Check out my latest YouTube videos, where I talk about the products I've finished: 

GIVEAWAY: Too Faced's new Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar palette!

That's right! As a thank you for hitting 600 subscribers on my channel, I'm giving away one of these gorgeous palettes.

Check out my video for more and to enter...

Beauty Budget 2015- My Rules

Hello beautiful people!

So recently I shared this video:

In it, I discuss my plans for Project Use It Up for 2015. One of my goals for the new year is to use my blog more. And so, to begin, I'm going to further describe my goals and rules for all of these plans.

Project Pan Progress: 3 Down

I've been going on a Project Pan/Use It Up journey on my YouTube channel.

My third round of Project Pan has been going fairly well. There are always difficulties with these kinds of projects, especially when you really love makeup/beauty products.

I have made a few purchases (some necessary, some...well, not so much).

In this post I wanted to share some thoughts on three products I've finished up. 

Oh no! I went to the drugstore!

Hello friends!

I apologize for neglecting my blog.
I have been trying to update my YouTube channel more frequently (I think I'm due for a new video sometime this week), and in the process I haven't put the time into this blog that I should.

I have abandoned my previous Project Pan because it was a tad too ambitious. I am now working on completing a 10 product Project Pan.

I've been trying to do a low-buy, and I think I have been suceeding.

However, I went to the drugstore today and bought a few products. All on sale. The total of which, for 5 products, was around $15 Canadian dollars. I'm pretty impressed!

My sister is coming to town next week, and we're hitting Sephora, MAC, and Lush. We only see each other about once a year, so when she comes to town we SHOP. And it's a lot of fun. So I am not going to restrict myself there.

Then, a week later, I am hitting the States! 4 of them, to be exact. And I cannot wait to go to the American drugstores and places like Ulta (I've never ever been!). So no restricting there either.

But when I get back home, I am fully committing myself to a "No-Buy July" which I will talk more about on my channel.

Okay-- enough of the boring stuff.

Click ahead to see what I bought...