Haul - MAC, The body shop and Urban Decay

I did a little shopping today, okay more than a little, and picked up a few makeup and body bits.
These are the first things i've brought in weeks, since I've been trying to use up items that I've barely touched
(I also went through all my nail varnishes working out which ones i'd used in the last 2 months then made myself try out all the others, as a result of which 3 were thrown out because they were awful).

MAC Prep + prime skin base visage, Creamsheen lipstick in CrossWires and Satin blush in Cubic.

Crosswires is a lovely red with pink and blue undertones. I'm planning a post with swatches of all my MAC lipsticks so a swatch will follow (as will a review on the skin base once i've used it a few times).
Cubic is what I was hoping for from Benefits Dallas, a muted pink-brown that isn't too harsh on pale skin like a typical bronzer.

I'd like to spend a moment just enjoying how pretty the box of this is, it has glitter!
My Porefessional was an item i've finished so I was in need of a new one and having ruled out all the ones in Boots and Superdrug as too thick and decided Porefessional just isn't for me I settled on this (shortly after I knocked a half full MAC palette off the counter breaking two of the eyeshadows, I was so embaressed).

Urban Decay Skyscaper Mascara
My mini Benefit Bad Gal had began disappointing me and i'm now hunting something that gives me proper curl and volume.

Body shop Pink Grapefruit shower gel, Wild rose hand cream, Strawberry scented hand sanitizer and Japanese cherry blossom body mist.

I've nearly finished my current shower gel (a little 100ml bottle of Lush's Happy Hippy) and I don't think i'll be repurchasing so a new shower gel would have been needed probably by the end of next week anyway.
The hand cream smells lovely so this and the hand sanitizer have been earmarked for school use.
The body mist is lovely, very cherry-ish but not overpowering.

March favorites

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Nars Orgasm dupes - swatches

For some reason this blush is a highly well known cult product. 

I dont know if its the hype or what but I dont see what all the fuss is about. Sure its pretty but i much prefer MAC blushes their just much softer and more pigmented.
One thing is like about it is the colour, its a lovely golden apricot colour.

Left to right; MAC Peachykeen, MAC Springsheen, Nars Orgasm, Benefit Bella Bamba and Benefit Coralista. 

Top to bottom; MAC Peachykeen, Nars Orgasm and MAC Springsheen

I love these shades of blushes, rose coloured with a gold sheen to them and no chunky glitter.

I think the MAC blushes are closest to Orgasm. Spring sheen is just that bit darker and Peachykeen is a bit too red.
Bella bamba has too much dark pink to it and Coralista is too orange.
Its hard to find an exact dupe of blushers but these are always compared to Orgasm.

Personally I love MAC Springsheen, it was my first MAC blush and i still adore it.

I do think Nars Orgasm is over rated and although I've used it a few times i just don't seem to be able to get into using it.

MAC - Mineralize skinfinish Swatches

I own three MAC mineralize skinfinishes (well four but the others a natural one). Their fairly standard colours that most people seem to have. 

Top to bottom; Petticoat, Blonde and Soft and gentle.

In bright natural light 

Duller natural light

Petticoat is hard to describe. All i can think of is a plum-copper colour with a golden shine. Its lovely though. 

Blonde looks really natural on me, its nice golden pink colour.
Soft and gentle i've only ever used one or twice because its just far too bronzer-ish for my pale skin. I'd use it as a contour but its got too much shimmer for that.

One thing with Mineralize skinfinishes (the non-natural ones) is that their vained which means there is some variety in the colour.

Rose-copper veining in Petticoat
(taken in rather bad energy saving light bub light).

These are really lovely colours, they make nice blushes (or bronzers or highlighters depending on the colour).
Nicely pigmented, soft and long lasting.

With blushes i like them to be soft and with medium pigmentation. Its not easy easy to be light handed so i'd rather need two swipes than do one and look like a clown. 

 I love these and plan to get more. I'm really wanting to find MAC Stero rose, it looks lovely.

Topshop cream blushes

Top to bottom; Flush, Neon rose and Head over heels

Flush is hot pink sort of colour and probably the most tricky to wear unless its applied very lightly and carefully.

Neon rose is a lovely coral colour, its a very 'all skin tone' colour. I'm really pale and this suits me perfectly, i can see this suiting every one.

Head over heels is orange-coral and my favorite of these, it looks so natural on me.

Left to right; Head over heels, Neon Rose and Flush.

I love these blushes.

Their cream to power so you don't get the glow that usually comes with cream blushes. Their not drying, as some powers can be. They have a matt/satin finish with no glitter, great for people who dislike the glitterball effect.

I recently developed a blush obsession, loads of swatches coming soon