MAC

Foundation and Concealer Purge of 2016

~ stashy ~ 68 Comments

This has been a long time coming. I just needed to set some time aside and be in the right mood to be serious about getting rid of some items from my stash. Sometimes I feel a bit attached to items due to nostalgia and I talk myself into keeping stuff I really shouldn’t. I think I did well:
foundation_purge_2016_2
Since I’ve been hauling like a madwoman, it’s only fair to purge some stuff too! Tomorrow I’ll be purging some lip products.  Let’s have a closer look at the foundation and concealer purge pile:

Continue reading →

I bought a few things off AliExpress…

~ stashy ~ 62 Comments

Happy Groundhog Day! I think it’s going to be an early Spring this year!

Out of sheer curiosity, I placed orders for some makeup accessories off AliExpress:
aliexpress2
This cost me only $13.97 for all 7 brushes! 😮 (all prices are in Canadian dollars)  I’ve been wanting to try the Real Techniques Bold Metals brushes for a while now, but at $35 for just the Flat Contour brush, I couldn’t justify the purchase.  It would have cost me $205 before taxes for all 7 brushes from the Bold Metals collection. I mean, aren’t RT brushes meant to be a cheaper alternative?

Continue reading →

MAC Purchases: Brushes, Eye Shadows…

~ stashy ~ 60 Comments

I couldn’t resist getting some MAC goodies while on lunch break last week.
MAC_haul2016_2
Some might think this is rather boring, a bunch of brushes, a few eye shadows and an eye cream…. but you know how I love brushes! 😛

Continue reading →

Comparison Posts From 2015

~ stashy ~ 28 Comments

I mentioned in my blogiversary post that I feel one of the strengths of the blog is that I’m able to do comparisons between various products due to my stash.  Here are some highlights of those comparison posts (I just remembered that I even did a week-long series called “Comparison Week” ha!):
EA_breathless
Breathless vs Breathless

Continue reading →

My Personal Favourite Posts From 2015

~ stashy ~ 45 Comments

Every parent says they don’t have a favourite child, but they’re liars!  Here are my personal favourite posts from last year:
inconsistent1
Inconsistent Products

Continue reading →

Stash Matters’ Favourite Things Giveaway!

~ stashy ~ 141 Comments

Edit: This giveaway has ended!  Winners are announced HERE. 🙂

Since it was my Blogiversary yesterday, I decided to host my first ever giveaway! 😀 These items are some of my favourite things – you may have seen me mention these items on the blog or in comments throughout the year. Here’s a group photo of the giveaway items:
giveaway2016_2

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE POST BEFORE ENTERING!

There will be multiple winners, each will receive FIVE (5) items of their choosing (see restrictions below).  I bought some items especially for this giveaway and some are from my stash (since I realize I do not need so many back-ups!) These are all brand new, unopened, full-sized products.  The open product shots and swatches I’m showing are of my own personal items.

Here are the items in more detail:

Continue reading →

Best of 2015 discoveries

~ stashy ~ 49 Comments

I posted my list of beauty discoveries in 2014 when I started this blog so I thought I’d continue the tradition this year. I consider something a “discovery” if it’s new to me, not necessarily something that was launched that year. Since I was on a No-Buy all year, I was either using up items in my stash or opening up unopened products that I had hoarded. I decided on the Top 15 since I saw it on Classic Maggie’s blog (I suppose next year I’ll need to list 16 items?)  I’ll differentiate the Rediscoveries with (R) and New discoveries with (N) on my list.
best2015_2
Where available, I’ve linked to blog posts where I’ve either reviewed or mentioned the products. In no particular order:

Continue reading →

Beauty Blender Battle

~ stashy ~ 92 Comments

[I’ve had this post in draft mode for ages!  Random timing to post this but no time like the present!]

The Beauty Blender needs no introduction.  These hot pink egg shaped sponges cost a whopping $26 each and have spawned a slew of BB-like sponges.  So is a $26 sponge 26x better than a $1 one?

For years, I refused to succumb to the Beauty Blender.  I resisted and bought the dupes to satisfy my Beauty Blender curiosity.  I simply could NOT justify paying $26 for a flimsy little egg shaped piece of foam.  So I bought some off ebay, and a few from drugstores before I finally decided to get the real thing during the Spring 2013 VIB sale.  I’ve been using my stash of makeup sponges for a while now.  Let’s have a look at how they stack up the the original Beauty Blender:
beautyblender2
L to R [These are arranged from the most airy / porous (L) to the most dense / heavy (R)]:
• Beauty Blender (hot pink) – $26 [note: I paid $26 for mine but I see that it’s now $28 – damn that exchange rate!] (Sephora)
• MAC Pro Performance Sponge (orange) – $24 (MAC)
• Quo Blending Sponge (purple) – $5 (Shoppers Drug Mart)
• Sephora Airbrush Sponge mini (teal) – $12 for 2 [bought this during Black Friday sale 2014] (Sephora)
• Blending sponge from eBay (black) – $1 (shipped from China)
• Kit Super Blenders (mint) – $12 for 3 (Rexall)

Continue reading →

Blogmas Day 18: Christmas Tree makeup

~ stashy ~ 32 Comments

I blame Kaily for this one. She came up with this topic and both Sharon and I scratched our collective heads as to how to interpret this.  What the heck IS Christmas Tree makeup? So I’m taking the cheater creative approach and doing a gold theme makeup look, because hey, some people have an all gold Christmas tree, ok:
blogmas_day18_gold2
This gold and diamond Christmas tree was worth $500k with five pounds of solid 18K gold and a 4.52 carat diamond set in a platinum star at the top – in 2007 it was the most valuable Christmas tree in existence (Source).

That’s how I roll. 😛

Continue reading →

Blogmas Day 4: Snow Themed Makeup

~ stashy ~ 45 Comments

Today is another coordinated Blogmas post where we’re pulling items from our makeup collections to create a snowy makeup look.
Blogmas_day4_snow2
To me, a snow themed makeup means 2 things: white and sparkly!

Continue reading →