Project Pan 2017 - Start Point. Garnier, Gliss, NYX, Revolution, Too Faced, Boots, Kat Von D

So it's been a while since the last time I attempted a Project Pan type thing and maybe I'm being a little crazy to start it during my 50 Days, 50 Lipsticks projects but I figured as long as I didn't add any lip products in, I could probably give it a bash.

All photos here were taken on 16 April 2017, for updates sake later on.

So I've selected seventeen products as its 2017, to start with. A mix of hair and body care, make-up and perfume and as I finish or hit my goals with things I'll add more in. I've marked all the products I'm including with washi tape, more for my benefit as it makes them easier to identify when I'm half asleep first thing in the morning,

• Gliss Liquid Silk Hair Repair Conditioner. I've had this bottle since forever and just really want it gone now. I'm not sure if it does anything or not but it does smell pretty and I've only got a tiny bit left so it should be easy enough to use up.
• Percy and Reed Hairspray. I don't like this and I don't normally use hairspray but I got this in a sample box and I don't like binning usable things so I guess I'll be constructing some up-do's from my crazy mop in the near future.
• Garnier Body Repair Maple Sap Lotion. This is another product I've had forever and really need rid of it.  This wont take me long to use up so hopefully this'll be gone withing the next four weeks.
• Boots Tea Tree and Witch Hazel Mask with Active Charcoal. It's not a bad mask, it's just not my favourite. I've probably used it three or four times already so I guess I maybe had four or five more uses left. 
• B. Pure Micellar Water. It's OK. Its a micellar water, I don't love the twist top on it so I think thats why it's still kicking about. Lets get it used.
• (Asda)The Skin System Radiance SPF15 Daycream. Again, not something I love but it's usable. Also it's a glass jar which I find a little strange seeing as this really isn't expensive at all.

• Collection Lasting Perfection Powder in Fair. I want to say its powder and I should just suck it up and use it up but this has a really warm yellow tone and if I use it for anything other than just dusting my nose (like setting concealer) it looks so yellow I have to wipe it off. We should be heading into Summer here in Scotland soon (hahahahahahaha I wish) so I will hopefully be able to get this used up soon.
• Too Faced Sun Bunny Bronzer (mini size). I tend to avoid shimmery bronzer like I would a zombie that's on fire and spreading an airborne strain of measles(I don't actually know how measles spreads, is it airborne?) however I have somehow ended up with two of these wee Sun Bunny bronzers. I'm hoping to get some use out of this during the three days of previously mentioned Scottish summer, most likely across my chest, or maybe on my legs if I shave them and then decided to wear shorts. If not its a very pretty and very big eyeshadow. Goal - Hit Pan
• Benefit Porefessional Primer, its the brown stuff in the pot because I managed to loose the lid for the tube. I don't love it. It doesn't do anything for my oily T-Zone or dry spots but I will use it up.
• NYX HD Blush in Amber. I don't want to finish it, my goal is just to hit pan and then swap it out. I really like this blush, it's one of my favourites but I feel it gets completely lost in my collection. Goal - Hit Pan
• New Look Fix Makeup Setting Spray - Hey Kirstie, how about you don't buy stuff on a whim? I picked up a couple of the New Look Beauty products on a whim and both the lipstick and the foundation are actually OK, This spray does nothing though, Noooooooothing. Can't wait till its done.

• I <3 Makeup Naked Chocolate Palette. I pulled this palette out at the start of April in a vague effort to kind of shop my stash. I say kind of as I use what I pull out for about two weeks, get bored and end up going through everything every day again. I do not love this palette, and I find the shimmers are hard to apply with any intensity and the mattes really fade throughout the day. But dammit I paid for it, so I will get some use out of it. My goal for this is to hit pan on one of the shades, and I already know from the past two and a half weeks it will be a struggle. Also place your bets on which one, my moneys on either the second from the right on the top or second left or second right on the bottom. Once I've done that, if I've not fallen back in love its going in the bin, but at least it will feel less like a waste of money. Goal - Hit Pan
• Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in Trooper (Mini Size). I love this, but I'm conscious its getting old and I have no way of cleaning the tip that gets rubbed all over my eye lid every time I use it, which is every time I do winged liner. The plan is to use it up and buy a full sized one, and then not open the full sized one till I've gotten through another three black liquid liners as I have a fair few.
• 17 Va Va Voom Mascara, Like the liner I love it, but it's getting old. This will be done before my next update most likely, and it will get replaces with my mini Perversion Mascara from Urban decay.
• Models Own I-Definer Kohl Pencil in Black. I bought a big set of these just after Christmas and the only one I really played with was the Peacock blue shade which was beautiful. Sadly though, I somehow managed to pull the bottom coloured stopper off of it and that was really messy and I had to bin it. I just want to try and use this a bit, as I always seem to reach for my NYX Slide On Pencil, when I want a black liner pencil. I'll swap it out when I feel like it, or bin it if its not good. Goal - Play with it a bit
• Ralph Lauren Polo Sport 2 Perfume - I like this perfume, but I tend not to use it as I don't love it, and I have other small bottles of perfume I love. It has, at various points in time, lived in my handbag and now the paint on the bottle is chipping off and its looking crazy. It's a very sweet and summery smell, and is the UK is now in Spring, lets get it finished. I'm just below the top of the 2 on  the packaging and if I wear it to work four days a week, it'll be gone before we hit Autumn,
• M&S Nuit Perfume - I got this out a subscription box a while ago and, like the Polo Sport 2, I like it but I don't love it. Unlike it though, it's really, really strong, not very summery and not really suitable for work. I've barely made a dent in it so far (that line is way to close to the top for my liking) but I will get through it, and if I haven't by the end of the year, I'll get rid of it

So that's everything for now, wish me luck as I usually get bored around week three and give up.

XOXO Scruffy

Boots Rant - Bad Experiences at the NYX Stand

NYX Cosmetics are a brand that are fairly new to me. I'd heard of them but alas, thought getting them anywhere in the UK other than Boots horrific website was a no go(which I wasn't about to risk my sanity trying to order from there. Trust me, its not good for cosmetics puchases!). So when I wandered into their St Enoch store looking for my lunch one overtime shift at work and was suddenly greated by a huge NYX dislpay I was one happy bunny.

Well I say happy bunny, what I mean is surprised, then happy, then annoyed at having to fight for my lipstick, then annoyed at the queue. Once I got home my anger subsided though as, for being one of the lower end lipsticks you can get in the UK (I think they're £5.50) so similar to Rimmel maybe. I dont know how much brands like Rimmel and Maybeline cost anymore, as they're not cruelty free I tried to avoid buying from them. 

 On my first trip I found two colurs I absolutely loved. Number 11 - Licorice and 17 - Pops.

 Pops was sold out though... Boooo. Hissss.

Next time I was in Boots I decided to check if they had Pops back in. They did. One was snapped in the tube, break clearly visable through the panel, and the other had been opened by someone and rubbed all over god only knows what. Yuck. Use the tester, people!

I did pick up another couple of colours, cute pink shades called Fizzies and Cotton Cady. I was in a very girly mood that day.

Trip three, also called the time I almost lost it at a member of Boots staff.

Nipped into Boots for lunch and a new eyeliner, decide to swatch all the things. You know how it goes. Check up on Pops. I feel like this lipstick is becoming my Moby Dick and I'm wondering why bother, is it really worth it?

I round the corner, I check the display, they have two in stock. I'm reaching for them, they're in my hand....

 I quickly realise that both of them have been torn open, and rubbed all over things, by some discusting human being hellbent on ruining my day. A quick survey of the NYX display tells me that this is not an isolated incident. Pops isn't being  targeted, people are just being shit and ripping things open despite they're being plenty of testers for everything.

As this is my third trip I decide to find a member of staff and ask if they have any more, and also point out the state of the display, cause its disgusting and its right at the front of the store. I'd have got my arse booted if I left a display stand like that when I used to work in retail.

Locating a member of staff takes some time as there is no-one around and I'm beginning to see why the displays look so messy and gross. I eventually find someone and am like "Hey, I want to buy this lipstick but you only have these two ripped up ones out, do you have any more?"

She looks at me like I have about three nipples growing out my face, before telling me they don't. NYX gets stocked daily in the morning but they don't hold anything in reserve in the shop. I then ask what she wants me to do with the ripped up, nasty, open ones.

She tells me to "just put them back on the shelf".

Wait. What? You want me to put unsanitary, broken products you're not allowed to sell for hygeine reasons back in a huge display at the front of the store?

I couldn't deal with it. I sat them down solemnly on the shelf next to her and walked back to the makeup section to find my eyeliner. I then see her sticking them back in amoungst the lipsticks for sale. Thinking about it makes my brain hurt.

I didnt go in for a while after that as I couldn't cope with the display and the disappointment.

Last Saturday I was in town and between saying goodbye to a friend and meeting more and had to stock up on some bits. So headed to an uncharacteristicly quiet Boots, as I also wanted to grab some food and their sandwiches are (usually) nicer that Superdrugs.

My plan was to ignore all the make up, just get what was on the list and leave. Just keep walking, you don't need it. Just keep walking, just keep walking. You get where I'm going with this.

 Anyway, theres not a route through the store that involves me not going near any of the makeup however I pick the route that goes straight up the centre as then all I have to tempt me is the end displays. In the summer thought they're full of bronzer anyway and thats of about as much interest to me as having e-coli again. And I'm walking, and I'm walking, and its going well. And I walk past the NYX end and... the pull is too strong. I can't beat it. I need to look.

And they have it in stock. Two of them in stock. And neither of them are all funked up. I had to take a moment to catch my breath. What was happening to my life?

I bought that lipstick then and there. Best thing that happened for at least a couple of hours. I then went for a late lunch and drinks with some friends and quickly forgot about my victory against the cosmetic gods.

 

Was it worth that crazy level of effort though for a semi-sheer nude coloured lipstick?

Oh hell yeah it was. I got it three weeks ago today (boyfriend was a Glastonbury festival, only reason I know the dates) and I'd say I've probably worn it between 12 and 14 times, and I dont always do my makeup at the weekend so more than two thirds of the time.  It is my favourite lipstick for work and is really easy to not screw up first thing in the morning. Seeing as for the next few weeks I'll be starting work at 7am is something I need in my life.

The other Butter lipsticks I own are nice. I dont think they wear as well, but that might be because they are more out distinct colours (baby and bright pink, berry and purply brown) so it more obvious when they've rubbed off. Also it might be because I'm more concious of my makeup when I wear them, so naturally I check up more than nude tones, so I dont realise the nudes have worn off so much.

Had a bad NYX stand experience? Let me know in the comments.

xo Scruffy

June 2016 Favourites

Well what a month June was. A lot of work, a lot of makeup and a new blog. A couple of meetups with friends and a lot of quiet nights in. 

This is just a rundown of some of my favourite things from the month. If you follow me on instagram or found this through instagram them you've probably already seen some of these but I'm going to go into some more depth here and explain why I love what I love.

Shearer Candles Tin Candle in Cranachan

OK, I've been in love and working on this candle for a while. I have it in the bathroom and light it when I'm having a proper pamper night. I was going to descibe the smell but Cranachan itself is a Scottish dessert of raspberries, cream, whisky, honey and oats and it smells like if you imagine that being a candle. Love it

 

 

Orange Lipstick

Up until the middle of last year (when I started getting into liquid to matte lipsticks) I only owned 3 lipsticks. There were two nudey pink kind of shades and a red one. I had a couple of lipglosses as well I would sometimes wear, but I really hate lipgloss so those were more if I needed something to finish my face with. Orange is not a colour you would have ever caught me in, and if you askes me if I thought it would look good on me, I would have told you hell no. Now, as much as I wear mostly a nude or a rose pink to work most days, I have a total love for a tangerine lip. And it looks surprisingly good seeing as my hair is an weak reddy brown colour and my face is usually the same colour as a tomato.

The one in the pic is the MUA Luxe velvet laquere in the colour Zest. 

 Superdrug Gentle Creamy Cleanser and Nip+Fab Glycolic Instant Fix Mask

(Please ignore the pore strips, I'm typing this late at night and didn't have the lighting for new pics)

The cleanser is as described. Its gentle, its creamy, it cleanses, it doesn't irrated or sting my skin in any way. Win. My only critisism is that it has "moisturising beads" in it, you know those little ball things that burst when you work them into your skin. I've never been a fan of these, even in my teeange years when I first started using cleansers I didnt see the appeal. I just dont understand why you couldn't just mix some extra moisturiser (or whatever) into the wash itself

The mask was something new to me. Up until earlier this year almost every mask I used was designed to calm down breakouts or unclog pores. Its only since I hit my quarter century I even began to consider maybe my skin needed something else. My focus changed from OMG my pores are blocked to OMG my pores are huge and I realised how dull and dehydrated my skin could look.

Its a little weird to use as its a clear gel, and it doesn't reallydry or set on the skin, so I have to guess when it needs washed off. I've used it three times since I got it and definetely leaves my skin feeling smoother and brighter and my pores looking more refined and reduced. I cant really speak for its wrinke reducing properties as thats not a concern for me...yet.

I'll definetly be looking into more Nip+Fab stuff once I've got my bathroom decluttereds. Look out for a post about that project in the next couple of days.

NYX Butter Lipstick in POPS (BL17)

So this took me way too long to get. It was a whole thing we wont get into right now. All you need to know is I think it took five trips to NYX counter in the St Enoch centre to get one that hadn't been ripped open already by someone else (boke). However it was worth the wait. I've used this almost every day since I got it. Its just a really nice nudey pink colour. Its not drying but I do feel like the formula dries down a little on my lips. It also doesnt seen to transfer nearly as easily as some of the other shades I have in this like Ripe Berry and Fizzies.

And lastly... My New Bedspread

Yeah soak in that tackiness. 

Thats all for now duckies.

xo Scruffy