MAC Archie's Girls Betty Powder Blush in Cream Soda

I had no intention of buying anything from the MAC Archie's Girls collections. First of all, I'm not a MAC "collector" so I don't feel the need to jump on every LE collection. Second, I have ZERO interest in Archie. Third, there's that whole pesky spending ban thing.  So how did I end up with this blush?

I'm weak. I was browsing the MAC counter the other day and I asked for some help getting matched to a foundation and the salesgirl applied not only foundation to me, but a bunch of other stuff including this blush, which was a beaut. I thought Cream Soda was pretty when I saw it online, but I figured it would be too light and wouldn't show up on my medium skin tone. Boy was I wrong. I mean, the effect is subtle, but you get a gorgeous, natural peachy glow. I'm not that familiar with MAC's blush formulations, but Cream Soda is a satin blush and although it looks matte in the pictures, there is a little bit of shimmer running through it.

Sooo, I bought something I shouldn't have, but I'm super happy with it. What else is new?? Maybe I should just give up on this whole spending ban thing completely! Just kidding... sort of.

Wishlist: Grown Up Foundations

Welcome to the first edition of Wishlist Wednesday! Today on my wishlist are what I will call, grown up foundations. As a 30 year old woman, I've been thinking that maybe it's high time I started wearing some foundation. Sure I own BB Creams and Tinted Moisturizers, but I only have two "actual" foundations and they are both drugstore and I don't particularly care for them. The problem is, I hate the way foundation looks! I mean, it can look awesome and do wonders when applied correctly, but I have seen people who look a cakey mess! Here are some foundations I'm lusting after...

The Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup is a dry oil based foundation that is supposed to offer super sheer coverage and work well for oily skin. It's pretty pricey at $62, but you only need a few drops for your whole face. I also appreciate the SPF 15!

Okay, so I just said that I like SPF, but there are also times when you don't want the dreaded flashback face. For those instances, I am eyeing MAC's Face and Body. Again, a super sheer foundation, but this time water based. I've heard staying power isn't that great though because of the whole water thing.

The only medium/full coverage foundation I'm interested in is the Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick. I've recently been using concealer to just target certain areas and I really like the way it looks! I think this would be great for that purpose and also awesome for travel since it's solid.

I'm really excited to start trying out some foundations! Of course, if only this darn spending ban would hurry up and end!

MAC Stereo Rose

 L to R: heavy, sheered out

Alright, I've done it. I've bought into the hype and promptly ordered MAC's Stereo Rose on Christmas Day. First of all, can I just say that MAC's shipping is kind of slow? I know I ordered it during the holidays, but I didn't receive it until January 4th! I was going to wait to do a collective holiday haul post, but I just couldn't wait any longer!

I'm not really sure what to say about Stereo Rose, because it's pretty much all been said. It is a Mineralize Skinfinish, retails for $29 and every time MAC has it in a limited edition collection people go crazy buying it. Currently Stereo Rose is party of the Apres Chic collection that was released around Christmas. I don't think the craze is as well, crazy, this time because while it was sold out on the MAC website, it was still available on Nordstrom.com. 

The color is a coral with gold veining. At first I thought it looked better suited to spring/summer, but after wearing it, I thought it was very appropriate for "Apres Chic" because it gave me those rosy, "just came in from the cold after a day of skiing" cheeks. To be perfectly honest, I really wasn't that blown away by the color. Immediately after application, I just feel like it looks too frosty/sheeny. I'm not sure if the sheen fades quickly or if I just get used to the look, but I find it much more tolerable even 15 minutes later. Speaking of fading, I also find that Stereo Rose doesn't last particularly long. I noticed significant fading after about 3-4 hours and since I was at home over the weekend, I topped it off (which I NEVER do!). 

L to R: MAC Stereo Rose, Nars Orgasm, Benefit Coralista, Sleek Guipure (from the Lace Blush by 3 palette), NYX Terra Cotta, theBalm Frat Boy

People often talk about dupes for Stereo Rose so I thought I'd check my own blush collection to see if I had anything similar. Nars Orgasm is much pinker and has visible gold flecks. Initially, I thought Benefit Coralista was the most similar, but now I see it is much lighter and slightly pinker. Sleek Guipure is probably the closest dupe I own, but it is much more golden and a little more orange. NYX Terra Cotta is much browner and not nearly as sheeny. And finally theBalm's Frat Boy is obviously matte and far more pink.

Bottom line - do you need Stereo Rose? I'm going to say no. Honestly, if I just saw this in the store, I doubt I would have bought it. But what can I say, I bought in to the hype! I will absolutely be able to use and wear Stereo Rose, but I would have been able to live a full life without it. 

The (After) Christmas List

Christmas isn't that big of a deal with my family anymore, especially now that we are older. We don't really do gifts and I feel kind of weird asking for stuff when I can just buy it myself. In fact, I think we're heading to Vegas on the 27th, so I'll do my after Christmas shopping there! It's a bit late to make a Christmas wish list, but here are some things I'm lusting over, whether it's as a gift or as a gift to myself!

 MAC Makeup - I really haven't used MAC in forever (like since high school!). My cousins were visiting from Japan in August and they were crazy buying MAC since it's so much cheaper here. I kinda joined in and bought a Shy Girl lipstick, but now I have my eye on a few other things. First, Face and Body Foundation. I really need a grown up foundation and I think this fits the bill since it's lightweight and without SPF. Next up is the Select Moisturecover concealer which looks like a great all purpose, moisturizing concealer. Finally, the infamous Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish which is being re-promoted with the Spring 2013 Apres Chic collection (in stores 12/26).

OCC Lip Tar Set - The last thing I need is more lip products, but I really want to try these OCC Lip Tars! This set at Sephora is a great deal with 5 full size lip tars and a brush for only $49. 

Isaac Mizrahi Fabulous - I kind need to smell this again to be sure, but I tried a sample and I absolutely loved it. It's fun, fruity and feminine (uh, just like Isaac?). And I absolutely love the polka dots and vintage-y atomizer. I think right now it's exclusive to QVC and Bloomingdales. On QVC.com, you can get the 1.7oz bottle, plus a rollerball for $69, which is like getting the rollerball for free.

Kate Somerville ExfoliKate - I'm going to do a full review of this, but I freakin LOVE this stuff. It makes my skin baby soft and so so smooth. It's not cheap at $85 for a 2 oz bottle, but a little goes a long way. This is the perfect gift item because I don't want to pay that much myself, but I will gladly accept it as a gift!

Sanuks - I never really understood the appeal of Sanuks because let's face it, they're ugly. Sure, I've had something like 4 pairs of Toms, but Sanuks just seemed worse. Then for some reason, I bought a pair when they were half off at Sport Chalet and I fell in love. They are crazy comfortable, even more so than Toms. Sanuks call their shoes "sandals" and maybe thats why I like them. I think these furry ones will be perfect for wintertime dog walking.

iPad - I am super late to this party, but now that Verizon has combined data plans it makes more sense for me to get one. I hate the idea of paying for internet for my home, phone AND an iPad, when I'm only one person! But now my phone and iPad could share plans. I'm in the market for a new laptop, but  I really just play games and surf the internet, so maybe I could get away with an iPad?