Virtual Money for Nothing: Illamasqua Hauling

Say the Muse gives you $150 virtual dollars to spend on Illamasqua today. What would you haul?

Jump ahead to hear what I'd blow my virtual moola on!

My hauling would start with concealer. Indeed, some people love eye shadow, some love foundation, some are obsessed with skincare...as for me I'm addicted to finding the perfect concealer.

Count me in for a pot of Illamasqua Concealer although I'm unsure which shade I'd want...this needs a swatch!


$22 bucks down $128 to go!

The Illamasqua Color Blushes I've seen so far look lush. Sign me up for Hussy, Tweak, and Beg...but that's not my final list so don't quote me there!


Uh oh $59 left...not much left now...!

Some people would say the heart of a brand would be it's foundation so of course, by all means, sign me up for Illamasqua Rich Liquid Foundation.


And finally I have just enough change left over to buy myself a Vanilla Frappachino and some Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Incite please.


How about you?

What are you hauling with your virtual cash?

Or should I say what have you hauled from the brand already?

Share it!

Hauled It: The Body Shop Cosmetics

Several days ago I was telling you The Body Shop had a super sale going on with it's cosmetics. Online all Body Shop Cosmetics were 3 for $10, pretty sweet deal. I passed The Body Shop last week and ran across their sale display and check it, the deal is sweeter in store. The sale is 5 for $10 bucks in store, likey! They had a whole lot of everything in the store I went to which was surprising as at these prices you'd think it would either be all destroyed or long gone. Guess the economy even stops us from great sales at this point, how sad.

Although much of what was offered I either wasn't into or had already I still dug around in the bins and came up with a few bits and bobs I hauled home with me!


Jump ahead for my Body Shop haul!

I honestly only seen one item I truly wanted in the sale bins which was The Body Shop RoseFlower Blush in 02. I already have 01 and it's a tad bit sheer but this is a bubbly rose shade that I absolutely fell for at my first glance when it popped onto the scene. I'm happy to have nabbed it on sale. The original price was $20 and they had it marked down for $10 bucks or pick 5 items for $10. I only wanted the blush but since it was pick 5 items for $10 bucks I thought of it as just getting the other four items for free.






I ended up getting the following bits and bobs.

Body Shop Lipstick in some unknown color, looks like maybe it was released last Summer? Not sure. It's a metallic burnt orange shade, quite pretty really for Summer.




I snatched up one of the Spring shades from the Moroccan Rose Collection which I actually have but decided to double up on as these lippies were really special.




The Body Shop Liquid Lip Color in 03? Not much help shade wise but it's a rather pretty maroon that will look lovely in the Fall or Winter.




And The Body Shop Lip Click Gloss in a very, very pretty metallic red shade which dupes MAC Royal Romp rather nicely.




I was pretty impressed with the offerings and the great price tag. The Body Shop's semi-annual sale was particularly great this year for hauling bath and body products or cosmetic items. Def head in store for a peek at what's left in your shop as it's ending soon.

Anyone haul from The Body Shop?

What steals and deals did you end up with?

Tell the Muse!

Stash Spoglight: Napoleon Perdis Eye Patrol Eye Shadow

It's been a while since I stash spotlighted hasn't it? I thought I'd do a rather quickie post of a haul I did months ago when Sephora was killing Napoleon Perdis from it's stores.


Check it below!

I'm not Napoleon Perdis's biggest supporter and yes I've been known to make fun of his tan a time or two. But I admit he had a few odd pieces in his collection that were decent enough one of which were the Eye Patrol Eye Shadows. I think they ran about $22 when they were fully priced at Sephora but I got them at the grand total of $6 bucks each when NP was axed. Btw take a peep at this post when I was predicting NP's demise from Sephora, I'm such a blooming fortune teller.

These are really quite pretty so we must give Napoleon a few props for creating such a nice little shadow. They have a hint of shimmer, a soft silky texture, and very nice color pay off. Likey! Plus hauling all of 'em for $6 bucks each didn't hurt either.














Anyone get these during the clearance sale?

Love 'em?

Tell it!

Napoleon Perdis was not harmed during the making of this post.

Hauled It: FaceFront Cosmetics Cheek Up Blush in Saloon 'n Saddle

My love affair continues with FaceFront Cheek Up Blush! My recently haul is FaceFront Cheek Up Blush in Saloon 'n Saddle. Oh my god how I love thee!


Click ahead to hear it!

It could prove to loud for those not brave enough to give it a whirl but Saloon 'n Saddle is such an incredible coral shade (or bright orange if you prefer) for Summer. I'm utterly loving how very unique and outrageous this one is. Obviously I need to use a very light hand with it as it's deeply pigmented but boy is it ever lovely. It also works a treat as a shadow too for a fiery sunset eye look!






Loves it!

It's available from from FaceFront but it's LE so step on it if you want to haul. I'm loving it, def part of my Summer Must Haves!

Musings of the Day: Haulage!

It's all about hauling today kids! What have you recently hauled? Makeup? Clothes?

Tell it!

Click ahead for my recent haul!

My most recent haul was from the Victoria's Secret Pool Party Collection. I got three of the body sprays, three cheek stains, three eye shadows, two lip glosses, a nail polish, and some lotions!

Eep! Couldn't resist.

How about you?

Doesn't matter if it's a big haul or a tiny one!

Tell us all about it!

MAC Beauty Powder Blush of Youth and MAC Eyeshadow SugarShot Review and Swatches

Hey, hey!

I'm just in from bumming around the mall with my mate Kira. We went to MAC to pick up some MAC Fix+Rose which we were both gagging for. Turns out one bottle was plenty, the Muse was thinking she'd need a case. Anyway I'll tell you all about it tomorrow or next week for now I'll spread a little cheer with some MAC A Rose Romance and MAC SugarSweet!




Jump ahead for it.

I've been so blooming busy that I didn't have time to hop to MAC to pick up the other items I was wanting from the MAC A Rose Romance and MAC SugarSweet Collections.

My first round up from SugarSweet didn't include two items I really wanted which was MAC SugarShot Eyeshadow and MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Perfect Topping. I ended up dropping Perfect Topping after seeing how chalky it was. Presented with it at my local CCO in the future I can see myself purchasing but for now I was being ever so frugal and just skipped it as it wasn't as pretty as Refined was. I did finally end up getting Sugarshot though. This was something I really wanted and wasn't available during my first purchasing spree. But finally snagged it! Yay! It's a good one and I rec getting one as it makes a rather nice all over color wash or a highbrow highlighter. It's a creamy white golden shimmer that's very pretty.








MAC A Rose Romance I pretty much hauled all there was too haul aside from the fix I so badly wanted and the Blush of Youth Beauty Powder. Blush of Youth isn't as nearly pigmented as Summer Rose but it is pretty none the less. With a bit of layering it might work well on it's own as a natural blush or best over some blush to amp it up a bit. As with Summer Rose I think it works best by using it over the new Just a Pinch Gel Blush. I think both of these Beauty Powders were some of the best I've seen from MAC in all my collecting days. Def grab them as they are well worth the cash.






Aside from this my haul was very tiny as I am looking forward to Style Warriors as everyone else is too I'm sure.

Feel free to spill what you hauled lately from MAC!

Hauled It! QVC Day of Beauty

If you're a beauty junkie you probably already knew that QVC had an all day beauty event on Saturday. As tempting as it was to stay inside and just watch beauty on the tube, the weather was too nice to resist the temptation of outdoor play so this Muse Tivo'ed up everything that was on this Saturday and fast forwarded through it early this morning to get a peep at what she missed!


After fast forwarding briefly I came across two or three items I had to have but was somewhat relieved that it wasn't a ton of must have items.

Here's what I hauled:






I'm not sure why but I got a bit crazy with all the Laura Geller items offered. It seemed like such a good deal and the Kiss and Bake set. The few times I've tried Laura's baked goodies they have always been a tad chalky but I decided what the heck, might as well re-try 'em!

As for the Bobbi Brown, obviously you can see why I love these shadows plus I thought it wasn't too bad a deal for all three.

I'm looking forward to scrolling through the rest of my Tivo'ed recordings to see what else was offered on Saturday!

What did you haul?

Share it!

Etsy Musings: Bead Passion Part 2

It's not Friday but I thought I'd share some more Etsy love with you! This is a follow up post from my original Bead Passion from a few weeks ago as I wanted to share with you some of the brand new pendants that arrived in my mail box!


Jump ahead for a peep!

By now I hope that you too got your package if you ordered from Helen. I got my order yesterday and was thrilled to bits and pieces with it.






Helen has gotten way more detail orientated since my first purchase hehe! The new cuppycakes are simply gorgeous and so life like!




I love the new chains she's shipping the pendants with as well. They are so nice and long so the pendant is really displayed nicely around your neck!

My free goodies!




In my original Bead Passion post Helen offered free earrings, a free cell phone charm, and stickers to anyone who made a purchase! The above are what I got ;D I'm loving the cell phone charms! Cutes!

Curious minds did anyone order?

If so what did you get?

Feel free to share pics! musings.of.a.muse@gmail.com