Revealed: Birthday Haul :)

Yes, the title's a bit dramatic but I am going to milk the stuffings out of this one as I can't foresee another big haul in the near future - I'm back on my Project Pan! :P

As you may have seen in my birthday post, I got a lot of make up for myself but didn't really tell you what everything was, or show you swatches - yes, that is all part of the milking.

Accessories/Tools..

MAC 129

I got this from Seanna's blogsale, and it's officially called the "Powder/Blush" brush which is a very apt name in my opinion. As I only ever powder my t-zone, the size is perfect for powdering and it also works really well for blush and natural contouring around the face - love.

Quad

Bought mostly for holiday - not a big fan, I find the way you take out eyeshadows quite damaging to the eyeshadow. Also I refuse to use it outside of travelling as I'm convinced the really strong 'clamp!' of closing the thing will loosen eyeshadows over time and make them easier to break.. paranoid? We'll see.. :P

Rediscovering my love for the drugstore..

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder

A mattifying powder was a definite necessity as 1) the warm weather is making me oily quicker and 2) my other 2 mattifying powders have both hit pan and will break instantly if I pop it in my bag/travel with it. I've only used it twice - but am in love.

Eyes..

MAC Brule E/S

I needed a highlight for my new quad and for my holidays, because all of my other highlights are part of other palettes. It's meant to be a satin finish but I think it's quite matte - great for brow highlight :)

MAC Rubenesque PaintPot

A bit of a disappointment - I was hoping for the duo-chrome gold and salmon, but on the eyes it's really just gold. That being said - it's a very pretty gold! So love the colour - it's just not what I wanted. But I love Paint Pots so I don't see myself not getting use out of this :D

MAC Rubenesque Paint Pot

Lips..

L: MAC Honeylove C: MAC Please Me R: MAC Girl About Town

MAC Honeylove

I bought this from Zoe - and while I like the colour, it's just a smidgen warmer than the Faerie Glen from the Tartan Tales collection, so a bit disappointed, as it's 1) a dupe, and 2) not the summer nude I'd hoped for. That being said - atleast I wont be afraid to use up the Faerie Glen ey? :P

MAC Please Me

Favourite of the bunch! Mid-tone, non-nude, warm pink, which on my warm skin, looks cool-toned - I hate it when this happens. That being said, it's bright, but still very appropriate for everyday wear. It's out of my comfort zone as it's pink but I'm learning to like myself in pink :) Love matte finishes!

MAC Girl About Town

Been wanting this for ages, and knowing that, Rachel sold it to me - thank you love! :) Love it - great for those sunny brave days ;)

MAC Jubilee

Never came. Debenhams claimed to have sent it to me but it wasn't in the box, then they offered to send a replacement. The next day they said it was now out of stock and they are now refunding me the 10% off price that I paid for - therefore I can't really get a replacement - absolute bollocks.

Top to Bottom: MAC Honeylove, MAC Please Me, MAC Girl About Town (and imaginary MAC Jubilee. Bastards.)

Cheeks..

L: Illamasqua Creme Blush in Rude, R: NARS Blush in Torrid

Illamasqua Creme Blush in Rude

First off - thoroughly impressed with the packaging. Cheaper than MAC but 100x more detailed/thought-out packaging!

Colour is GORGEOUS. Not a creme-to-powder finish, which preserves the natural look (instead of some blushes that ruin it by making it obvious my cheeks are actually just powder, and ruin that I've not powdered my face), and extremely pigmented - still learning to apply well. Love.

NARS Torrid

So much more buttery-er than Orgasm or Sin, and more of a matte with small gold specks than the sheen of Orgasm (watch video for demo). Finding it hard to work with due to immense pigmentation but that's all part of the fun - VERY pretty and appropriate for summer :) Another love.

Top to Bottom: Illamasqua Creme Blush in Rude, NARS Blush in Torrid.

Overall, a very very VERY loved haul - YAY! :)

Here is a video if you want to know a bit more in detail about what I think about the products. The video includes other products that I got during May, so sorry if it's a bit redundant if you read all my posts :P



What have you gotten recently that you have been loving? :)

<3yu

21.

May 26th was my birthday - and despite waking up with a soar throat and a splitting headache, I had an amazing birthday! :) I could write it out for you but it would be a bit boring, so here are some pics of the things I received and things I did :)

My birthday haul to myself - will post on products/tell you what they are in another post :)

One of the lippies from the haul, and 2 others from blogsales.. I also got a brush but I forgot to take a pic..

Eye products from the haul..

Some face products + a Sephora goodie from a friend :)

Everyone knows I love pigs.. 2 stamps from my mom, and a speaker/radio from said friend - CUTE!

A card and lovely stationary from my mom..

Birthday cards! Yes, the pig theme carries on here as well.. :P

Choccies and wine.. the middle box courtesy of the lovely Danni <3

The best gifts of the year! A trip to Berlin from my lovely boyfriend and a Kindle from my parents :)

..with the best case, ever.

The day started with a brekkie made by the boyfriend, and a lunch at the local pub with some friends. Then after a stroll around town, we went to see the Pirates of the Caribbean 4! (which, btw, are one of my favourite series, as my mom apparently knows..)

She sent me a shirt XD

I also got some jewelry from friends that I forgot to photograph (as I was wearing them LOL), but the same love goes out to them.

I had a lovely lovely birthday, and thanks to everyone that sent me birthday wishes via Twitter :) I got lots of private messages on Facebook from my friends, as my wall has decided to disappear.. lol.

The birthday spirit carried on until this afternoon, when I went to the BBQ hosted by a society I founded with my friend 2 years ago, where the exec had gotten me a chocolate cake and I experienced the embarrassment that is being sung happy birthday amongst a crowd of people.. :P

I love that the weather and my health had absolutely no say in the amount of fun I had! :) I'll leave you with what my mom wrote me in the card:

"21 is still an age when you are stupid. However, there are things that you can only do when you're stupid, so enjoy."

<3yu