Low / No Buy Makeup Month : 3 September "Oops"

Hi Guys! I can not believe it is month 3 of my (Attempted) Low / No Makeup Buy Challenge!? (Let alone that it is September and in life and at work people are starting to talk about CHRISTMAS! What tha!?) As I have said before I'm hoping to continue my challenge until November this year and then all bets are off because it's IMATS time!

A quick reminder of the very simple rules I have set myself ; Only x2 Makeup Purchases a month - 1 Being a repurchase of a regularly used item and the second being something Limited Edition that I really admire for my collection. 

This month I did a little better with my challenge in that I stuck to the rules and only bought X1 replacement / repurchase / regularly used item.

And that's about where the "doing a little better with my challenge" stopped! 

Well, this first purchase or 'slip up' was kind of allowed .. kind of not more about that here.

I did also purchased only 1 Lipstick from MAC Cosmetics latest collection "MAC GIAMBATTISTA VALLI" in line with the rules I had set these an allowable purchase during my challenge as I am collecting limited edition packaging lipsticks from MAC. I chose to add the shade"Tats" a beautiful bright pink!

Let me tell you it was so hard to not buy all of these beautiful lipsticks ! 

http://www.maccosmetics.com.au/index.tmpl

"Well... Then this happened... "

have tried really hard to "justify" this purchase ..."But, it was limited edition" etc didn't seem to fly so I feel like this month (yet again) I have to dub my "Low, No Makeup Buy Challenge" a bit of a fail! I have been a bit naughty! I have been admiring these beautiful new 'Love Flush' LE blushes from 'Too Faced' since they came out and have been all over my fave social media pages and I simply had to have the shade 'Justify My Love' the worst thing is the print on the product is SO BEAUTIFUL I don't know how I am ever going to use it! #FirstWorldProblems 

And then this.... 

I don't know what happened, I had re affirmed to myself about not buying makeup this past month and *BAM* these two little cuties jumped into my hand at Priceline in my lunch break! 

I picked up these 2 new editions to the 'Australis Velour Lips' collection. I chose 'San-Fran-Disco' A vibrant orange & 'Mum-Bai' a delicious black / purple. I just could not resist and so inexpensive it hardly counts right!? 

"What I Didn't Buy" 

I am forever tempted lately by the gorgeous 'Jeffree Star' collection of velour / liquid lip shades! OH. MY. GOD. 

Liquid lips / Velour Lips is kind of my addiction at the moment! 

I am lusting after the shades "Blue Velvet" "Jawbreaker" & "Blow Pony" I'm attracted to these shades mainly I think because they are colours you don't often see in lipstick shades they are unique and bold and I would love to maybe one day add them to my collection! 

http://www.jeffreestarcosmetics.com

Yet another lip product I am simply dieing to try is the new "Maybelline Rebel Bloom Collection" I am a huge fan of Maybelline Lipsticks they are so pretty, affordable and beautifully comfortable on the lips to wear! 

So perfectly pretty for spring! 

I frantically swatched all the colours trying to give myself an excuse to buy all the pretties but resolved to wait until they go on sale sometime in the future! *Sigh* 

So another month is behind me and I have to say, it didn't go quite as well as planned.. Oops! Moving forward October is officially the last month of this "Challange" I have set myself so I'm hoping to finish up strong and still achieve the original goal of this whole process which is to save some money to spend up big at IMATS in Sydney in November! 

Thanks so much for reading, I thoroughly enjoy writing these posts, and adding different things to them as time goes on throughout the month! 

I would love to know what products are you lusting over lately? What big purchases have you made ? 

LLx  

Chi Chi Cosmetics Haul - New Brand Experience / First Impressions

I think its pretty clear by now that I am a little obsessed with Instagram … while browsing recently I found myself swooning over some gorgeous pictures of Chi Chi Cosmetics products… it started with the cute and eye catching lippy packaging, then eyeshadow palettes from the glamorous collection … Elegant, Smokey and Bright Gems … Oh My!

I sought out the Chi Chi stand at Target on my next visit swatched some lipstick shades, checked out the nail polish. I carefully chose the ELEGANT eyeshadow palette to be my first ever Chi Chi purchase and proceeded to the counter, I had my partners kiddies with me at the time so needless to say I was a little distracted, I decided this was a haul best hauled online.

Chi Chi Stand at my local Target 

Once the kids were asleep and with my fave swatches fresh in my mind, I jumped online to Chi Chi's Website, I joined up as a Chi Chi A Lister and discovered I could get $15 off my next purchase! Done Deal Chi Chi! 

My Chi Chi Package arrived and as each sparkling little product was revealed I could not help but ooh and ahhh over my newest editions to my makeup collection.

My Chi Chi Cosmetics Haul!

Chi Chi Cosmetics Glamorous Eyeshadow Collection Palettes : $22.95 Each

I  tried to choose carefully when I picked the Bases & Elegant palettes thinking it would be a great way to get to know the brands eyeshadow products and see what I thought. The bases has a selection of nude / neutral tones with assorted finishes which I am already enjoying playing with. The Elegant is a purple / taupe based palette and I was drawn to it on the shelf because of its mix of metallic / shimmer and matte shades.

Chi Chi Cosmetics - Bases - Eye Shadow Palette 

Chi Chi Cosmetics - Elegant - Eyeshadow Palette

I think I selected good palettes to create day & night looks Im hoping to use both of these palettes in my daily makeup creativity. 

Overall I am impressed with the quality of these new eyeshadow palettes in my collection, I have a variety of highly pigmented, opaque shades to choose from and at only $22.95 each a very affordable way to spoil and impress any make up lover!

Chi Chi Viva La Diva Lipsticks : $18.95 each

Chi Chi Viva La Diva Matte Lipstick – Checked In 

Chi Chi Viva La Diva Cream Lipstick – Paparazzi Princess 

I have to start of by saying I was initially impressed by the whole selection of colours, packaging and quality of these lipsticks when I swatched them at Target, however when my order arrived upon the first time swatching my new lipstick the tip crumbled and split which was so disappointing. 
I also noticed a distinctly unpleasant, sickly rosewater scent that I could barely stand to be on my lips so close to my nose. 

I picked up x2 Lipsticks in similar shades, being that this a shade I wear a lot and feel compliments my skin tone. I wanted to experience the different finishes Chi Chi Lipsticks offered. Im disappointed by the sheer and pasty consistency of the cream finish and won't be repurchasing. I have been loving wearing the matte finish shade a lot since this package arrived. 

I still love the brand and all the products I have picked up and these slightly negative experiences may stop me picking up any more of the Lipsticks I will certainly still be enjoying other products from Chi Chi! :)

Chi Chi Cosmetics - Salon Formula Mini's Nail Polish $5.00 each

 I could not leave the website without picking up some nail polish! I love the colours and quality I am so impressed have been wearing these newbies non stop and I am so glad to have the bright beauties for the summer season coming up! 

L - R Va Va Va Voom, Marcia Marcia Marcia, OMG & Me and My Girls R Tight. 

Chi Chi Salon Formula Mini’s Nail Polish

Overall despite some minor issues, I am impressed with the quality of the products I picked up both from my local Target and online, I have been enjoying taking some time to swatch, test and integrate these new products, some into my daily makeup routine and others into some new makeup looks to post on the blog.

I have really been enjoying playing around with my new products from Chi Chi and next I have my eye on the bright gems eyeshadow palette and Chi Chi Super BB cream after I read a few more reviews!

Do  you love Chi Chi Cosmetics? What is your fave product you have tried from the brand? I would love to hear your thoughts on this post, any of these products and be linked to any posts about Chi Chi's Super BB cream that I could read in the comments below!

LLx