Spring Cleaning: Makeup Clear Out & Discovering My Holy Grails

 It might be because on the morning of writing this post I binged loads of The Anna Edit's (aka the organisation queen) 'Daily Edit' videos, or because I'm getting increasingly annoyed about the amount that falls out of my makeup bag every time I open it, but I decided to do a massive makeup clear out. I've had some of this makeup for as long as I can remember, and half of it I really don't use anymore. And I'm also slightly scared that I'll get chemical burn after putting some this stuff on my face now. So, I've drastically narrowed down my collection, and in this post we'll be celebrating the truly angelic products that have made it to the next stage - the judges' houses, if you will - while also paying tribute to some real troopers that, with a heavy heart, we bid a fond farewell to today.

BASE PRODUCTS 

If you take away anything from this post, ladies and gentlemen, please let it be: CHECK THE EXPIRY DATE OF YOUR MAKEUP. I was umming and erring over keeping my beloved MAC Face and Body foundation*, slapped it all over my face, loved the finish, but then noticed the funky smell and realised it went out of date three years ago. Sayonara, MAC Face and Body, and thank you for your service. I'm now a foundation-less beauty enthusiast. But, to be honest, I don't remember the last time I reached for foundation. I've never liked the way it feels on my skin, and I'm much happier with the dynamic duo that is the MUA Pro-Base Prime and Conceal in Peach and the Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer (I use the shade 1A Cool Fair). The MUA corrector does wonders for tired  eyes, while the concealer adds a smooth, medium coverage, as well as a beautiful touch of brightness. It does have a habit of sticking to dry patches though, so if you do have particularly dry skin, that might be something to bare in mind. 

EYE PRODUCTS 

 As you can probably tell from the photos, I've taken a shining to a particular product recently. Urban Decay's Liquid Moondust Eye Shadow in Solstice - you have my heart. I've never tried a liquid eye shadow formula before, but no doubt I'll use the fact I've chopped down my makeup stash quite a lot as an excuse to buy 100 more. I'm living for pink-toned eyes right now, and this gorgeous pink/silver shadow is heaven in a tube. Moving away from that, I've kept two other single shadows - MAC's Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Bare Study* as it makes for a perfect eye shadow primer, or gorgeous wash of sheer gold, and CYO's Matte an Eyelid Matte Eye Shadow in Zone Out: the best matte black shadow for a dramatic smokey eye. In terms of shadow palettes, I've kept 5, which is still a bit embarrassing - but who can say no to a beautiful eye shadow palette?  The mini MAC Natural Eyes palette* I received as part of the Shiny Pretty Things goody bag this Christmas is the best little neutral palette for on the go, while the NYX Warm Neutrals Palette isn't very neutral at all, but has some truly gorgeous colours (including the shade I use to dot on some fake freckles). I've had Too Faced's Natural Eyes palette for a very long time, and use the shade Sexpresso for my brows on the daily, and I Heart Revolution's Rose Gold Mini Eye Shadow Palette is a stunning choice for when you want a hint of somethin-somethin. And finally, the best palette of them all, the Morphe Happy Hour Palette. This is has been my go-to palette ever since I got it for my birthday last year; it has a stunning mix of mattes and shimmers, neutrals and colours - it really is a holy grail product. 

I was surprised at how many mascaras I actually owned considering I've just been switching between the Too Faced Better than Sex Waterproof and Revlon Dramatic Definition* mascaras for the longest time. I've decided to let both of those stick around, as well as MAC's In Extreme Dimension Lash*, which gives the blackest, most volumised lashes. My Elf Cream Eyeliner and I are still attached at the hip, despite the fact I've been drawing wings a lot less recently, and I'm keeping MAC's Technakohl Liner in Photogravure*, Barry M's Kohl Pencil in Electric Blue and Rimmel's Soft Kohl Kajal Pencil in Jet Black* for some smokey definition at the lash line.

CHEEKS

 Cheek products aren't really my jam, so sorting these out wasn't too much of an issue. I have found, however, I'm more of a highlighter fiend than I thought. My favourite at the moment comes courtesy of The Balm, and their stupidly gorgeous Alternative Rock Vol 1 Face Palette (which also includes eye shadows - the addiction will never die). The Basalt and Pepper highlighter looks to be a plain white powder, but when it hits the light, it has a beautiful pinky-purple reflect to it. I'd love to invest in more The Balm highlighters - there's a massive hype around them, and I can definitely see why. Also sticking around for the ride are the Revlon Photoready Insta-Fix Highlighting Stick in Gold Light*, and the Sleek Highlighting Palette in Precious Metals - the cream shade Platinum is my absolute favourite inner-corner highlight. The The Balm palette also includes a bronzer and blush, but these are a bit too dark for my skin tone. Besides, I haven't used another bronzer or blush since purchasing the Elf Contouring Blush & Bronzing Powder duo in St Lucia - these powders are sheer, subtle, and stunning. Finally, I couldn't find it in my heart to part with my MAC Trip the Light Fantastic Powder in Highly Illogical* (limited edition) that I picked up from their Star Trek collection ages ago: this is bronzer, blush and highlighter all mushed into one incredible powder, which looks insane with a holiday tan. Plus, look at it. It's bloody gorgeous. 

LIPS 

If you thought my eye shadow addiction was bad, you obviously haven't discovered my love affair with lipsticks yet. And I clearly have a type. Any matte, browny-pink toned nudes - form an orderly queue. In the little selection above, we have the Fenty Beauty Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in Spanked and MAC Mehr* slotting into that category, alongside the equally lovely Urban Decay's Vice Comfort Matte Lipstick in Criminal, Fenty Beauty's Mattemoiselle Plush Matte Lipstick in Griselda, L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in Blake's Pure Red* and MAC's Captive* . All of these have creamy matte formulas, are extremely long-lasting and a dream to wear. Shamefully, these aren't all the lippies I've allowed to stay. Two liquid lips are remaining, both from the Sleek Matte Me range. I've kept the shades Shabby Chic and Vino Tinto. The formula of these aren't the greatest - they're very drying - but you can count on these lipsticks for amazing pigmentation, and they last all damn day. We also have lip pencils (I told you it was bad). The Elf Matte Lip Colour in Praline has replaced MAC's Velvet Teddy as my all-time favourite lipstick. It's just my perfect shade - slightly darker than Velvet Teddy, but has the same pinky-brown hues. Maybelline's Colour Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in Berry Much* is tagging along, and is basically the pencil form of Fenty's Griselda, perhaps a tad more purple-toned. And last but not least, my one and only lip liner still has a firm place in my makeup bag; Revlon's ColourStay Lip Liner in Red* is the ideal match for my L'Oreal lippy.

And that's my entire makeup collection now. It may still seem a lot, but I've listed all the products I got rid of below - then you'll see how much I really did squeeze into that makeup bag.  Now, all I need to do is keep reminding myself that just because I said farewell to a lot of stuff, I definitely do not need to buy anything else for a long time.

Goodbyes: 

MAC Mineralize Concealer

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder (Transparent) 

NYX 3C Palette 

Benefit Porefessional Primer 

Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer

Urban Decay One and Done Hybrid Complexion Perfecter (Light) 

Rimmel BB Cream (Light) 

MAC Face and Body (C1)

Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara

Max Factor Kohl Pencil in Black

Smashbox Eye Shadow Trio in Screenshot 

Sleek i-Divine Au Naturel Palette

Benefit They're Real Mascara 

Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Penicl in Brown 

Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara 

Topshop Magic Liner

Max Factor Eye Shadow Trio in 01 

Makeup For Ever Excessive Lash Mascara

Elf Mineral Infused Mascara 

Max Factor Cream Puff Blush in Lovely Pink 

Benefit Hoola Bronzer

MUA Undress Your Skin Shimmer Highlighter in Iridescent Gold 

Max Factor Colour Elixr Lipstick in Rosewood

Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Canvas

MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick 

Lipsy Lip Glosses

Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick in 08 

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Shanghai 

Elf Tinted Lip Oil in Coral Kiss

Revlon Colourburst Lip Colour in Juicy Papaya 

Sleek Matte Me Metallic Liquid Lipsticks in Volcanic and Rusted Rose 

Maybelline Colour Drama Intense Velvet Lip Pencil in Red Essential 

MAC Pure Zen Lipstick 

Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me 

*These products are not cruelty-free. I strictly only buy from cruelty-free brands now, but have either been gifted these products or have had them since before I decided to make the change to purchasing only from cruelty-free brands.