Urban Decay X Gwen Stefani Eyeshadow Palette: A story of temptation, fall from grace, and redemption

I like stuff.  I like to buy stuff.  I like to own stuff.  However, I DO NOT like the guilt I have when I buy stuff.

I recently watched a video by the FABULOUS Kimberly Clark about the "Anti-Haul" and it got me thinking a lot more about being a better consumer.

As a result I have been much better about researching products, looking through my collection of clothes and makeup before I buy, etc.

Lately, I've been much better about my clothing purchases.  This summer I've only purchased a small number of items to fill gaps in my summer wardrobe: items such as plain t-shirts, a pair of shorts, a couple new bras to replace old ones, and one solitary dress.  Of all those items, the dress is really the only thing I would consider non-essential.  But it was like $10 and I'll wear it a lot.  If you know me, this is a huge accomplishment and a step in the right direction as far as being a smarter consumer.  

I thought I was doing ok with makeup--researching carefully, looking for dupes in my collection, reading/watching reviews, trying products before I buy online, etc.

For instance, way back in December I had wanted the Anastasia Self-Made eyeshadow palette.

Image from Temptalia.  Look at those COLORS!  

For one reason or another I never bought it and it went out of stock.  I was disappointed and I lamented the fact that I had waited too long.  Lo and behold, it came back in stock in May.  I had a gift card to Ulta and after reading reviews and watching videos and swatching stuff I already I have I decided to buy it.  No regrets.  It's an exciting and unique palette and I can use it a lot of different ways.

There have been quite a few recent launches and Past Courtney would have blindly bought a lot of them.  The Lorac 3 for instance; it's full of beautiful nudes with a pop of a rose gold and burgundy in there to shake things up.

Pretty, right?  Just look at all those nudes that are ever so slightly different from one another.

But after looking through what I've already got, reading reviews, and looking at swatches I decided this is something I essentially already have.  As Kimberly Clark would say, "I don't need it and I'm not going to buy it."

Another smart consumer moment?  The Anastasia Modern Renaissance Palette.

Image from Temptalia.  

It's lovely, and I don't have any of those gorgeous orange and burgundys in my collection.  Which is why I'm probably not going to buy this, at least not right now.  I don't wear those colors, so why waste my money?  If someday those colors become by jam, then maybe we will become friends.  Until then "I don't need it and I'm not going to buy it."

Sounds like I'm doing pretty good, right?  WRONG.

I am a sucker for a good deal.  There is something about saving money on a product that I just can't resist--even if I don't need that product.  Forgive me Kimberly, for I have sinned.

urbandecay.com

This is the Urban Decay X Gwen Stefani eyeshadow palette.  It recently was marked down to $25.  The following is the thought process that went through my brain when I saw the discount on this.

TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS.  It was $58.  FIFTY EIGHT!!  This palette is LESS THAN 50% of the original retail cost PLUS WOULD YOU LOOK AT ALL THOSE NUDES THAT SURELY I DON'T ALREADY HAVE PLUS BLUE AND PINK I COULD WEAR BLUE AND PINK  I COULD AND I SHOULD.

Yes, I think in all caps and run-on sentences.

So I bought it.  I caved.

This will never get old. 

I got the palette in the mail on Wednesday.  I opened it and immediately I knew it was a mistake to purchase this, even if it was only $25.  I decided I needed to find ways to justify this purchase:  It looked good on me, the colors suit my coloring well.  I don't have a pink or a green-y gold.  I can have all these lovely nudes in one place rather than three or four different palettes.  I bought the blush palette months ago and love it, use it at least two or three times a week.  Surely if I love and use the blush palette, I will love and use the eyeshadow palette.

Then I started thinking about what I could do with it and watching YouTube videos and tutorials.   Surely there had to be cool and new and different things I could do with this palette!  After two solid hours of watching videos of people using this palette, it dawned on me that this is really a one-trick pony for me.  My eyes looked something like this, no matter what combination of shadows I tried.

Sure, I could deepen it up, or add a pop of pink or gold (or heaven forbid BLUE) in there, but essentially this is the way I would wear it.  I am a teacher for crying out loud.  School starts at 7:45 in the morning.  I do not have the time or energy to utilize BLUE EYESHADOW at 6:30am.  Let's be realistic here.  There are videos of people doing some really cool things with the pops of color in here, but it's just not for ME.

I found two colors to be rather unique, the deep chocolate-burgundy color in the top right and the shimmery grey below it.  So I started swatching my existing collection and lo-and-behold, I found colors so similar that on the eye they are essentially the same.  The lovely rose golds in this palette?  Got 'em.  The perfect nude in the center?  Have that EXACT color in the UD Naked2 Basics I bought two years ago and love.  Same for the perfect brown crease shades.  UGH WHAT HAVE I DONE?!

At that moment, I knew my initial feeling of this being a mistake was correct.  I had to return it.  Past Courtney would have simply kept it, but the New and Improved Courtney knew this was a bad consumer move.  So I packed it back up in the box, stuck the receipt in the box, and it is in my purse waiting to leave my house forever when I return it to Sephora today.

TL;DR: I made a bad impulse purchase because it was a good value.  It was exactly like things I already own, so I decided to return it.

Moral of the story: a good deal does not a good purchase make.

The End.

Cheers!

Long Time, No See!

Well, it's been a minute since I've been here.

I decided today to change the name of this blog and try again.  Simple pleasures?  Pssh.  LAME.  Shopaholic Courtney?  Still lame, but accurate.  I am a Shopaholic AND my name is Courtney.

So we're going to give this another go.  Who knows, it may be another two years before I post again.

Better late than never, AMIRITE?

Fall Wish List

I don't know about you, but as soon as school starts I am ready for Fall.  Even though we've been in a heat advisory for the past week, I am itching to break out the jackets, sweatshirts, tights, and boots!  Bring on pumpkin spice lattes and crisp weather!

I've got a bad case of the "WANTS" this weekend, so I created a wish list of Fall favorites and staples.  Since I'm on a budget like everyone else, I searched only for items that I found to be affordable.  There is nothing worse than finding an item you are in love with costs more than you make in a month.  I mean, let's be realistic here.

Enough talk, let's get to the goods!

Boyfriend Jeans

Boyfriend jeans I am coveting.  

I love the slouchy, relaxed look of boyfriend jeans.  I have a hard time finding these though because of my very curvy figure!  These many time run very low cut and slim, which is irritating.  I am still on the hunt for the perfect pair of boyfriend jeans!

Work-Friendly Pants and Jeans

Work-appropriate denim and chinos...flattering fits and colors!

It's not a great idea to wear destructed jeans to work, so I am always looking for more polished looks for school days.  I have the two straight leg jeans from LOFT and I LOVE THEM.  I will be ordering more pairs as they are very flattering on my curvy shape and are very versatile!  I usually order petite sizes for length, but I think I will try the regular sizes so that I can do the cute roll with flats and ankle boots.  


Strappy and Cut-Out Ankle Boots

Strappy Ankle Boots

Omigosh am I needing some of these ankle boots.  I have very large calves, so the vast majority of cute tall boots do not work for me.  That's ok though, because they only make me look shorter than I already am, so ankle boots are a much better option for my shape and size!  I love how fun the straps and cut-outs make these boots, they look so fun and versatile.  I am pretty sure that all of these boots are pretty affordable too, which will be dangerous.  

Jackets and Vests

I love using jackets and vests to transition into Fall!  

I love wearing jackets, vests, and blazers.  I am especially loving the military jacket from LOFT!  The color is beautiful!  These will be great when I still want to get some wear out of my short-sleeve tops, but need something over them to keep out the chill.  I have a denim jacket from Old Navy that I bought YEARS ago.  Like, I'm thinking at least 10 years ago.  It's cute, but the color and cut are not on trend anymore.  I'll keep wearing it until I find a denim jacket to replace it that is affordably and cute.  

There is so much more that I'm coveting for Fall, but I must practice restraint!  I don't know what it is about Fall that makes me want an entire new wardrobe.  Does that happen to anyone else?


Cheers!

Courtney

Empty (and almost empty) Products #1

Well, I have finally decided it is time to start posting about one of my favorite topics, BEAUTY PRODUCTS!

I have always enjoyed trying new products, especially makeup and hair products.  I love collecting eyeshadow palettes and blushes in particular. For my hair, I am on a never ending quest for volume!  If I read about a product that claims to pump up limp hair, I will probably be trying it! 

I don't try many facial skincare products because I tend to break out easily. I generally stick with my tried and true routine and deviate very little from it. I don't have bad skin (finally, after 10 years of post pubescence breakouts), but it can be sensitive.  I would probably describe my skin as fair to light cool toned, with lots of freckles. I love my freckles! 

This is a small collection of empty or nearly empty products that I have used. All of these opinions are my own! Please excuse the horrible photography, my house is dark and I only have a cell phone as a camera. 

Batiste Dry Shampoo, original scent. 

I LOVE DRY SHAMPOO. Especially THIS dry shampoo. I have tried many dry shampoo products, and I  can say with certainty that this is my favorite. I found this at TJ Maxx, but I'm sure it can be found at drugstores as well. There are a ton of scents available, and every time I see a can of this, I pick it up. I never want to be without this product, so there are at least three more bottles in the wings when one runs out. 

I don't wash my hair everyday. Many times I am running late and I simply don't have time to wash, dry, and style my hair.  I just spray this at my roots all over my head, let it sit for 30 seconds or so, then gently massage it into my scalp. The. I brush through my hair to help disburse the product. Voila!! My hair is full and non-greasy. If I need to, I can run a flat iron or curling iron through my hair and it doesn't look like I skipped a wash. Plus, it smells really nice! 

The only thing to be careful about when using dry shampoo is to not go overboard with spraying, as it can leave a white powder on your hair. I use quick sprays all over my head to avoid this.  If I do end up spraying too much, I just have to work a little harder when massaging it into my scalp. When I used up this can, I started using the Batiste that has a touch of dark brown added to it to keep the white powder from showing up in your hair. I have only used it a couple times, but I love it! Smells like chocolate and doesn't leave white residue. 

Overall, this is one of my top beauty products. I love that it is extremely effective AND doesn't cost an arm and a leg. 

Beauty Protector Protect and Detangle

I am almost done with this product, there is just a little bit left in the bottom.  A small enough amount where I can still hear the product in there when I shake it, but it's not coming out of the sprayer as easily as possible.  Soon I will have to just store it upside down and pour it in my hand.  So I think I can form a good opinion of this product!  

If you are not familiar with this product, here is what the Birchbox website says about it: 

"This paraben- and sulfate-free detangler seals the cuticles (the microscopic scales that compose the outermost layer of each strand of hair). It also smooths and moisturizes, thereby minimizing frizz, while safeguarding color and adding shine. Lastly, it provides protection against UV rays and heat. Happily, it accomplishes all this through a weightless, non-greasy formula that leaves behind an airy floral scent."

I think what I like most about this is that you don't need a ton of product for it to be effective.  I usually do four or five quick sprays on my shoulder-length hair and it's PLENTY to get my hair detangled.   I do a lot of swimming in a salt water pool, and if I don't shampoo my hair afterwards, I will simply rinse the salt out and then use this product to help detangle and keep my hair from getting frizzy.  It smells AMAZING, like a sweet dessert of some sort; I love that aspect of it!  As for the claims about safeguarding color, I'm not so sure.  I rarely color my hair anymore, so I can't attest to the validity of that claim.  I ordered this product waaaaaaaay back in December of 2013, and I'm still using it.  Granted, as stated above, I don't wash my hair everyday.  However, I do use this product every time my hair is wet (either from swimming or washing).  This bottle has lasted me quite a long time, which makes the steep price a little more bearable.  I hate buying expensive products that run out quickly!

I'm not sure if I will repurchase this product, as I don't see it as being more or less beneficial than some other leave-in products I've used. I do feel like this was a good product to use and if I could get it more readily (it's only available at Birchbox, link above) and it weren't so expensive ($21.95) I would probably continue to use it.  I have liked using it and will use it until the bottle is empty, but it was nothing life-altering.

Tarte Maracuja C-Brighter Eye Treatment

Genetics have cursed me with very dark under-eye circles.  I have only recently been more self-conscious of them, so that's what led me to my recent fascination with under-eye creams and concealers.  

This was a deluxe sample size of this eye cream by Tarte.  I got it along with a deluxe sample size of their maracuja oil, a small blush, and a small lip product.  I mainly wanted the blush and the eye cream.  I saw the word "brighter" on the packaging, so I was intrigued.  Plus, I have found that I really like Tarte products, so I was in.  

I didn't use this on a regular basis, as I kept getting samples of eye creams and would try those out immediately.  So I don't know if I got the full effects of this product, but I do like it!  I think it does a decent job of making my dark circles a little brighter, but I definitely still need to use a concealer in order to not look like a raccoon.  The cream is moisturizing, and it only takes a little bit.  If I ever went too heavy on this before I put my makeup on, then my makeup didn't stay as well.  When applying this cream, I focused primarily on the dark circles under my eyes and blended it up and in past the inner corner of my eye and on the brow bone.  This isn't a wrinkle filler (I use another cream at night for that), so I tried to keep it away from the outer corners of my eyes.  

This is gentle and didn't irritate my eyes.  I found it to be effective at brightening my eyes, but I don't know if I will repurchase.  I have a ton of Strivectin eye treatment to use up (like, three large sample bottles I got in various gift kits), so this will probably go on the backburner for awhile.  However, if I see another neat sample set that includes this, I wouldn't hesitate to use it again!    

Coola Radical Recovery After-Sun Lotion

Being of fair skin, the sun and I do not get along.  Sunscreen is one of my staples in my beauty routine.  I look for SPF in all of my foundations.  If I don't have SPF in my foundation, then I apply a primer that includes SPF.  No wrinkles or sun damage for this girl!

However, despite my carefulness in buying makeup products with SPF, I do occasionally get sunburned.  I am a band teacher and during band camp this year I was very good about keeping my face protected from the sun, but I was very bad at keeping my legs protected!  I ended up with a pretty bad burn on the backs of my legs and knees.  Have you ever had a sunburn on the back of your legs?  It's like the WORST spot.  It hurts to bend your knees!

Luckily I had two small bottles of this from my Birchbox.  I have been using Coola's sunscreens on my face and really like THIS and THIS as primers for my SPF-less foundation.  So when I got this burn, I came home and immediately applied this to the backs of my knees and legs.  Quickly, the burning sensation eased!  It smells very herbally, which I rather enjoy.  If you apply too much it can take a bit of rubbing to get it absorbed, so you only need a little bit.  I used this for a couple of days, and I was very happy to find that my skin was moisturized, the pain of the burn was minimal, and my skin did not peel.  My husband (who has beautiful olive skin that doesn't usually burn) went fishing in a boat and got a very bad burn on his shins earlier this summer.  He put this on his shins and found it had the same results; very quick pain relief and moisturized skin.

I have been an aloe vera user for years, but this was much better for a couple reasons.  First off, it was much less greasy and absorbed into my skin much faster.  Second, it seemed to lessen the burn much quicker.  While this is a rather expensive product, I am extremely happy with it and will be purchasing the full size bottle.

That's all for now!  Again, all of my opinions are my own and are my HONEST thoughts regarding these products.  I hope it was helpful!

Cheers,

Courtney

Confessions

So, I have a secret.  Not a big secret, but it's something that used to be ashamed of.  Something I hid from the world.

I have cankles.  

It feels so good to get that out there.  Wow.  

But seriously, I do.  And I have hid them for many years.  Pants at work, jeans in the summer, tights with dresses, leg warmers.  You name it, I've covered up my thick ankles with it.

What is a cankle, you may ask?  Here is a handy image to sum it up:

Source: http://kaitlinring.wordpress.com/2011/06/04/cankles/

But not anymore!  It occurred to me that I have spent entirely too much of my life worrying that someone might see *GASP!* my ankles!  (It's like I'm living in the Victorian era or something.) 

Scandalous!

There are several things wrong with this line of thinking:

1.) No one really cares about my ankles.  And if they do, screw them.  

2.) It's hot out in the summer.  I seem to sweat more as I age.  I want to wear SHORTS and DRESSES and SKIRTS. 

3.) We are often more critical of ourselves, than others are of us.  So chances are when I look at my ankles and see the dreaded cankles, another person probably sees, of all things, and ankle.  

4.) There are people who have lost limbs and who are starving and homeless and I am worried about my STUPID CHUBBY ANKLES?!

So recently I have decided that I do not care who sees my cankles.  The current temperature is somewhere between 90 and surface of the sun, so I have been wearing shorts.  And it feels more liberating than I could ever have imagined.  

Something like this.  

Maybe someday I will post a picture of my ankles.  But probably not.

Courtney

Another Blog

Gosh, how many blogs have I started over the years?  THOUSANDS.

Okay, that is probably an exaggeration.  You caught me.  However, I have started several blogs that are all now defunct (THANK GOODNESS).

I have decided to just write about things I want to write about.  I have always loved to write, and it is something that I don't do often enough.  When I was blogging before (years ago) I felt pressured to write deep, meaningful posts about life.  Now, not so much.

Here's the deal.  I'm in my 30's (why is that still so weird?), I like animals, music, teaching, and I like to read beauty and food blogs.  So that's the stuff I will write about.  And I will be honest about what I write, because that's important.  Hence the title.

Cheers,

Courtney