A birthday treat contemplation

My birthday month has arrived and I will for sure go and collect my birthday gift from Sephora for the year, also I am contemplating what and if I should purchase some cosmetics for myself for my birthday. 

So what am I thinking if I should purchase? Well I have a few items I have been contemplating. First of all I am very curious about the Rhode pocket blushes, in particular shades Sleepy girl or Toasted teddy - but then again I already have 11 cream, liquid or stick blushes in my collection, and all of them I have accumulated since or after 2020 - so the question remains do I really need to add one more? Yes some of the ones I own are not full size but still they will take a long time to finish, and over half of them are in a very similar shade, which I think is similar to the blush from Rhode in the color "tan lines" so that shade in particular would be ridiculous for me to purchase. 

Or do I rather want to wait for the Rhode bronzers that Hailey Bieber has been teasing online?

On the bronzer note, should I get the RMS ReDimension hydra bronzer, perhaps in the color beachwalk betty?

Or the Jones Road bronzer in the color Dusty rose? Or the cult classic Mac Give me sun?

Or should I consider purchasing is a Nilens Jord Cheeks & lips - which I would consider to be a blush stick. It is highly unlikely though I would purchase this one though as I would like to swatch them in person, and they are not sold in Icleand or USA. But the next time I am in Copenhagen this purchase might happen. The colors I think I would lean towards are: berry and chestnut - and some say guava looks nice.

Another possible blush stick I have heard raved about online for the longest time is the Jane Iredale glow time blush stick in the color balmy.

Or Merit beauty flush balm which is kind of a blush stick? Some time back I was thinking about getting the color "Stockholm" now I am leaning towards are: Aprés, Archival, Bespoke or Postmodern. 

I also found the Saie Super suede baked powder blush in the shade Ciao to be an intriguing color or should I look towards Hourglass ambient lighting blush in the shade mood exposure.

Another route to go would be getting a bigger eyeshadow palette: Makeup by Mario master mattes - the neutrals eyeshadow palette, which I have had my eye on since it launched.

Another eyeshadow palette I have also considered in the past are Idun minerals mineral eyeshadow palette in the shade lavendel, but they seem to have discontinued that color and launched four new shades.

Yet another eyeshadow palettes I have considered purchasing recently are the Jane Iredale pure pressed eyeshadow palette either in naturally matte or pure basics, also I have contemplated the Hung Vanngo color story eyeshadow palette in new neutral. Or even the Sensai eye color palette, which is a quad, which has three very nice colors; shiny foliage, night sparkle and petal dance. Another eyeshadow brand I have coveted is Viseart Paris, but they regularly launch new color nuances, but I think I would rather lean towards a cool palette with that brand vs. the cult favorite neutral mattes palette. I have also thought about the Mac palettes in the line Connect in color, but the big one is quite warm, and the smaller ones which have six shades - there are always a few colors in each one I would not use.

Should I do a big splurge and buy the Tom Ford eye color quad in Nude dip, or Prada dimensions holo nude eyeshadow palette in 07 peony? At 95 and 85 USD a pop is a bit expensive though.

Another item I have contemplated to purchase for some time now is another shade in the Merit Solo shadows, a cream shadow in the shade "studio" which is more pinky toned (or cool mauve) compared to the color I have "vachetta" (warm beige). 

Or should I get another Makeup by Mario master mattes long wear cream eyeshadow in mauve, a color I should perhaps have gotten instead of the color I got in this formula - but the downside is that this is a very quick drying formula. The color of this eyeshadow I think though might be similar to the Merit sudio.

Another eyeshadow I have contemplated and thought about purchasing is Just a sec eyeshadow from Jones Road Beauty - a beautiful potted creamy shimmery eyeshadow  - I swatched it once in store and omg it is gorgeous!! I am not sure what color I would choose though, maybe golden peach, bronze, topaz or cool taupe - I would just aim to choose in store in New York.

Or should I get a matte shade in the Armani eye tint long-lasting liquid eyeshadow?

Yet another item I have also had my eye on is Violette Fr Bisou balm, possibly in the shades Betise, Bonbon Coquelicot, Guimauve or Amour Fou. This is a formula I am very curious about - but then I have more than enough lip products, so I need another lip stick like I need a hole in the head.

Do you have a suggestion on what of these I should choose?

June - August Haul 2025

 So how is my "no buy for 2025" going? Well it is going like this....

Brow glue, haircare, sunscreen, bronzer, nail polish etc.

Up close of the Camilla Phil all-over bronzing balm

Schwarzkopf & Henkel - Got 2be - 2 in 1 gel for brows and edges (16 ml): This I came across in a Normal store in Oslo and at first I was adamant NOT to purchase, but on my second visit to a Normal store in the city I could not resist the temptation as this has become super popular on social media.

Dr. Greve - Intimvask sensitiv med traenebær og aloe vera (200 ml): I saw a few of these personal soaps on the shelves in one of the supermarkets in Oslo and thought it might be a good idea to buy a smaller bottle than the one I have at home for travel. In retrospect I could have skipped this purchase as 200 ml is a bit much to take on holiday or travelling for work. So a small bottle in a Muji could have done the trick, and I have not ruled out to buy a small empty bottle next time I come across a Muji store.

Hawaiian Tropic - Sunscreen lotion sheer touch 30 (236 ml): While in Target, I thought it might be a good idea to buy this one again, as I have an open Spf 30 that would not last for a summer holiday - which I plan on taking later this summer. So this was quickly added to cart.

Aussie - 3 minute miracle moisture deep treatment (225 ml): This is another item I ran into in at a Normal store. I really do love the Normal stores I have gone into in Copenhagen, Paris and now Oslo. My dad used to LOVE this brand, and in particular the 3 minute miracle, so I decided to grab a bottle for old times sake. 

Herbal Essence - Rose hip shampoo (100 ml): I had just finished this shampoo I had from last year, and needed another for holiday so I picked this one up in Target.

OPI - Nail lacquer - Cajun Shrimp (15 ml): My favorite OPI polish; My chihuahua bites! is super thick and to the point I can not use it. And unfortunately that color it is not available in Iceland, but I knew the color Cajun Shrimp is pretty close, just a tad bit more red while "My chihuahua bites!" is tad more pink/coral. I had thought to purchase nail polish thinner (which I have not 100% ruled out). But as I ran into Cajun shrimp in Normal in Oslo for 50% of the price of a new OPI bottle in Iceland, I decided to grab the Cajun color. 

Camilla Phil Cosmetics - All-over bronzing balm in Universal glow (6,5 g): We came across a few Norwegian beauty brands while on holiday in Oslo, so there were a few brands we had never seen before, I would say though that the Danish brands are more tempting than the Norwegian brands (at least the in store options). But I did find this cream bronzer tempting enough for me to purchase it at the airport. It only comes in one color though, and even though I am quite fair I think it is more of a winter color for me. 

La Roche-Posay - Toleriane double repair face moisturizer (40 ml): This I came across in Target and I just could not resist the temptation, as I do love this brand and it was at a decent price point. 

So as you can read above, my no buy has not been going very well. But I am still getting less and less tempted by cosmetics in general that are sold in Sephora.. that is perhaps a good development as I do come across that store very frequently at work. 

January - March Haul 2023

 So here is what I hauled in January to March, plus a few birthday treats....

Cosmetics and a hair oil

Skin care

Ilia - Multi stick - At last (2.5 g): This was a part of the Sephora birthday gift I chose for myself this year

Ilia - Limitless mascara - After midnight (3 g): This mascara sample also came with the Sephora birthday gift.

JVN - Complete pre-wash scalp oil (50 ml): I decided to pick this up, as I have been dealing with an itchy scalp in the last few weeks. Hope it will work some magic for me.

Ilia - The necessary eyeshadow palette - Cool Nude (6x1.5 g): I had been quite interested in a talc-free eyeshadow formula as my eyelids have started to feel quite dry, and borderline peeling at times. So this being talc free and with vitamine E sounded like a great idea. It was some bit of a learning curve how to use the shades, they are quite powder and at first they seemed hard to blend, but the formula requires me to put down the light color all over my eyelid as base, before working on the other colors.

Maybelline - Expert wear eyeshadow - 40S Nude glow (2.3 g): I got this one by a recommendation from Jessica Braun - and supposedly it is a close dupe to Mac All that glitters. 

Inglot - Eyeshadow matte - 356 (3 g): I grabbed this single shadow during an online discount with Inglot. But I had been eyeing the Dior Backstage Cool neutrals palette, as it had similar colors to the Ilia Cool Nude one, but the Ilia was missing a matte light pink shade. So I decided to order it online from Inglot to be able to get a similar look to the Dior palette. 

RMS Beauty - Buriti bronzer (5.67 g): My friend gave me a credit in Elira, a relatively new beauty store in Iceland. They sell amongst other brands RMS and Roen. So it was a hard choice between this bronzer, an RMS blush or a Roen quad. And I decided with the Buriti bronzer as I would get the most use out of it. 

Kjær Weis - Eye pencil - Brown (1.1 g): I picked this up in Blue Mercury in NYC for a ridiculous price for an eye-liner, due to it not being a "refill" but as it came with the silver cap. The brown color is beautiful, and I will for sure buy a refill going forward. It is supposedly organic and I assume better for your eyes. 

Neutrogena - Cica-repair hand mask (1 pair): My friends gave this to me as a part of a care pack - when we went to Copenhagen for my birthday trip. 

Up & Up - Advanced scar gel skin protectant (20 g): I was on the hunt for a Mederma in Target, but I spotted this one next to Mederma, and it has exactly the same ingredients in it, and was considerably cheaper than Mederma. So I picked this up for my chapped knee, hoping it will diminish the likelihood of a permanent scar.

Biotherm - Aquasource gel (1 ml): This sample also came with my birthday care pack.

Biotherm - Aquasource Aura concentrate - Intense regenerating serum moisture and glow (2 ml): Also a part of the birthday care pack.

Biotherm - Aqua glow super concentrate (1 ml): Part of the birthday care pack.

Biotherm - Aqua pure super concentrate (1 ml): And lastly, also a part of the birthday care pack. 

So with these purchases, I have managed to use up my color cosmetics shopping quota for January - May - and it's only March!!

Birthday gifts

So this year I decided to be a little bit more timely in regards to sharing what I was gifted for my birthday (which was on the 11th of February). I will though not be showing all of my gifts, but only the beauty related ones, which were all gifted to me from a group of my girlfriends.

Bronzer, cream, brushes and a blush

Masks for hair, face and under-eyes

Nyx - California beamin' bronzer - CALIBB02 - The golden one (14 g): A gorgeous glowing bronzer with a golden hue, so the name "the golden one" is quite fitting.

Origins - Ginzing Ultra-hydrating energy-boosting cream (2 x 5 ml): Two super neat face cream testers, perfect for work.

Real techniques - Holiday 2019 - Luminous set (3 brushes + a brush bag): In this set there are three brushes; RT 307 shading brush, RT 402 setting brush and RT 221 complete coverage, as well as containing a small brush bag that these three brushes fit easily into. Love this set, already have the RT 402 in a different version, and love to get a second one, even better that it looks different, so I can use it for different products or colors than my original one.

Nyx - Sweet cheecks glow - creamy powder blush - SCCPBG12 - Day dream (5 g): A coral pink bush shade with subtle shimmer, super excited to try this one.

L'oréal Paris Elvital - Steam mask - for long damaged hair (20 ml): This will be perfect when my hair starts drying out and going on a tantrum!
Origins - Drink up intensive - overnight hydrating mask with avocado and gl. water (75 ml): A great replacement for my old Origins drink up 10 minute mask, that is a part of my beauty goals for 2020.

Garnier skinactive - moisture bomb eye tissue mask enhanced with orange juice and hyaluronic acid (6 g): This is supposed to give a skin cooling effect and visibly reduce eye bags and brighten the eye contours! Love me a good under-eye mask.

Garnier skinactive - Hyaluron shot fresh-mix tissue mask (33 g): Omg how interesting, on the packaging it actually states that this sheet mask contains the quantity of 1 bottle of serum for your skin!! That is an insane amount of serum for it to be a single use product! I might actually package this back together, put in the fridge and use again, the morning after I use it for the first time! If even all of the 33 g manage to soak into the sheet mask in the first place. 

Anything here on your wish-list?

April-June haul

A part of my beauty goals for 2019 was no-buy January and no-buy March, which was very successful. And in February I managed only to buy 3 items.

Well from there things have been quite down hill... and here comes my haul for April, May and June:

An accumulated haul - replacements, backups etc.

I purchased two palettes

Two brushes and Inglot duraline

Vichy - Aqualia thermal hydrating serum (30 ml): As I am over half way done with my previous botle, I decided to pick up a backup, as I have really fallen in love with this product. Even though I was planning to go "stock free", but I guess I have to accept the fact that is really not my style at all.

Vichy - Aqualia thermal rehydrating cream light (50 ml): As I am getting so well along with the serum from this range I decided to grab the moisturizing cream also to use in the nearest future.

The body shop - Aloe calming toner (250 ml): as the Lumene toner did not work for me I decided to buy something tried and true, that does not irritate my perioral dermatitis so I went with this toner from The body shop.

Cutex care - Non acetone nail polish remover with coconut oil (200 ml): After I started working as cabin crew, my nails have become very soft, and tend to peeling. I have tried a few types of nail-strengthening nail-polishes, nothing showing any remarkable results. So now I decided to try a non-acetone nail polish remover, and I bumped into this one in Canada with coconut oil, so I decided to give it a try.

TanOrganic - self tan oil (100 ml): I have not tried any self-tanners for the body before, but I had gotten a tester for this oil last year, and as a matter of a fact I did like it. So I decided to jump on the o so popular self-tan train, and give this a try. Have I used it so far? No not really.

Drunk Elephant - Protini polypeptide cream (15 ml): This I got as a part of the Sephora birthday gift for 2019. I have tried it a few times and it works great for sunburned, dry and flaky skin.

The body shop - Vitamin E overnight serum-in-oil (28 ml): As the Inika rosehip oil turned out to be quite irritating for skin, again I decided to purchase something tried and true, and was this serum in oil the one I chose. I had already finished up a bottle of this product with good results for my perioral dermatitis, so I went with that again. 

Nuxe - Honey lip balm (15 g): As I decluttered the Laneige overnight lip balm, I decided to go for something more organic and sensitive skin friendly, and as a friend of mine has raved about this product I decided to give it a try.

Drunk Elephant - Beste No. 9 jelly cleanser (30 ml): This I also got as a part of the Sephora birthday gift for 2019 and am I quite excited to give it a try.

Inglot - Eyeshadow in 164 (3,3 g): As Inglot in Iceland was closing and hosting a 40% discount on everything I decided to go on a lookout for a dupe for my favorite pink eyeshadow. My favorite is from Boots, this is not a 100% dupe, but comes quite close, the one from Boots is a bit brighter and was I choosing between color 164 and J301 the pink satin color from the JLo line. But that was a bit too peachy compared to the one from Boots. It didn't take me long after I got the color home, I got a big buyers remorse. In retrospect I fell into the pit of discount offers, which was one of my goals not to fall into. Well you live and you learn.

Clinique - Chubby stick, shadow tint for eyes in 04 ample amber (3 g): This shadow I had been eyeing for over a year, or ever since Meg says raved about it in her duty free haul. It is a beautiful golden/copper color, and can be sheered out to a beautiful sheen of a color. Still I am a bit overwhelmed of the cream eye shadow products I have in my collection, which now adds up to three pencils and two pots, one of which is a part of my beauty goals for 2019. 

Becca - Becca X Khloé Kardashian & Malika Haqq Bronze, blush and glow palette - Made with love by Khloé (12 g): It for sure was not a planned purchase to buy this Becca palette, but when I saw it was on a 40% discount in Sephore, I just could not resist, and even managed to tempt my friend into buying one. But hey when a Becca face palette with 4 shades retails for 26.40 USD it is just too good of a deal to pass up, especially when you do not own any Becca products. It contains a highlighter, two blushes and a bronzer and so far it performs beautifully, not too pigmented at all.

Tarte - Maneater eye shadow palette vol 2 (9 g): This had been on my wish list for a few months. But I had not tired any Tarte eyeshadows, or any Tarte product before I purchased this palette. But with the manageable size and everyday colors, it can be the perfect everyday palette. It has a faint sweet chocolate scent to it, and have I used this as my main eye shadow palette for the month of June. It might be a bit drying on my eyelids, as after a few day wear I started to get flaky skin in my crease, but I am now trying to use an eye shadow primer first and then the shadows, so I will see if that is not working better, than applying it straight to my eyelids. 

Zoeva - 100 Luxe face finish: I had heard so many good reviews about this brush online, and as it is a mix of natural and synthetic bristles I decided to buy it. As I tend to prefer natural bristle brushes for powder products. And I intend to use it for my hourglass powder trio.

Zoeva - 230 Luxe pencil (rose golden): I opted to grab this brush also, at the same time from Beauty Bay with the other Zoeva brush, as the 100 brush didn't fulfill the minimum for a free shipping, so I actually broke one of the rules for my Beauty goals for 2019 - which included only buying two brushes this year.

Inglot - Duraline (9 ml): This I also bought as Inglot is closing in Iceland, and had all of their products on 40% off, but I have heard so many good things about this product, as it can revive dried up liquid eyeliners and creams. So I snatched one up to have on hand.

So am I planning a no-buy month coming July? No but am for sure going to keep my purchases in check, maybe, max buy 1 item. Will keep you posted.

X-mas and birthday gifts

It is about time that I summarize up what I got for X-mas and for my birthday, which was on the 11th of February.

Nyx Ultimate shadow palette - warm neutrals, Chanel Soleil tan de Chanel - bronze universel 

and GlamGlow - waterburst hydrated glow moisturizer

GlamGlow - bubblesheet mask and Nyx - born to glow highlight palette

Morphe x James Charles 

Escada - Especially Escada delicate notes

Inika - truly organic - Pure rosehip oil

Nyx - Ultimate shadow palette in warm neutrals (13,28 g): a friend gave me this palette, which was something I had been contemplating buying for myself for months as I did not own any warm color eyeshadows prior. I am still having a learning curve in how to do my eye-makeup with warm colors, but it has a bunch of options that goes from neutral to dramatic, casual to events.

Chanel - Soleil tan de Chanel in bronze universel (30 g): another friend gave me this all so hyped bronzer for my birthday, something that was in deed on my wish-list. And in deed it is a lovely product.

GlamGlow - Waterburst hydrated glow moisturizer (15 ml): I got this with the bubblesheet mask for X-mas, and am I super excited to give this brand a try as I have not tried any of their products (apart from getting a free mini-spa mask treatment at the mall during a promotion).

GlamGlow - Bubblesheet oxygenating deep cleanse mask (1 mask): I am also super excited to try this mask out, as the brand is mainly known for their masks. 

Nyx - Born to glow highlighting palette (28,8 g): a beautiful highlighter palette my friend gifted to me over the holidays 2018. Slowly but surely becoming my favorite.
Morphe - The James Charles palette (75,7 g): my nephew was so kind to give me my favorite item for my birthday, a makeup item! And is this as a matter of a fact my first colorful eyeshadow palette, and my first Morphe product ever. So I am super excited to give it a try, and am in no doubt I can create a myriad of looks with it.
Escada - Especially Escada delicate notes (50 ml): I was gifted this scent from my parents for x-mas 2018. The scent is described as airy, fresh rose and grapefruit scent on Fragrantica.com
Inika - truly organic - Pure rosehip oil (15 ml): my mom gave me this oil for my birthday, but I had put it on a wish-list, as I heard rosehip oil is supposed to be really good for perioral dermatitis. So I am super excited to give it a try.

What is new in your "collection"?