the make-up blogette

Nails Story: Collection & Organisation (Jan 2009)

retail_therapy — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 09:04:04 -0800

Hi!

Nothing much really, just an updated collection entry on my nail polish stash.

All the OPIs, Sephora by OPI & China Glaze

In detail - but I shan't mention the names.

All the Blacks/ Gunmetal Colors

The Dark Maroon Red (Lincoln Park After Dark, etc)

Bright Oranges and Reds

Pinks & Mauves

Neutrals/ Nudes/ Beige

The Brown/ Taupe dirty colors (think You Don't Jacques, Metro Chic etc)

Purples & Lilac

Blues

Light Blue, Green, Teal

Back up of Metro Chic, Misc Colours, OPI top coat

Misc Brands (The Face Shop, Sally Hensen, Revlon)

Essie Nail Polish

All the MAC nail polish

All the Barry M nail paints

Chanel & YSL

Misc Brands, mainly glittery ones, and stones for nail art stuff (my sister is more into this though, I hardly ever use these. Nail files, tools stored in the little basket thingy. Top Coats and Base Coats all go inside here too.

Everything in these 2 drawers (from IKEA) , you may recall it's the same drawers I store my blushers.

That's all, thanks for reading!

Look at this cool thing! (Storage Ideas)

retail_therapy — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:54:02 -0800

Basically, you can turn/ shivel (?) this cool stationery holder thingy, and there are little units of varying heights to hold different items. In the middle is a deeper hole where you can put your pencils/ rulers whatever... And the base is very sturdy and non-slip, so it going to stand really nicely on your table or a shelf etc.

I saw and bought this at Prologue (the stationery section), and it costs S$13.90, there are other colors too (pink, green, etc). This is sooooooooo cool if you have a dressing table.

And I threw in some assorted makeup items inside for fun. You know, like you can put in things you use regularly, so you don't need to rummage through drawers and all that everyday.

Love this neat thing. Now I need to find a suitable place to put it. I think you can also use it for your accessories, hold random stuff like keys, coins, etc etc. Anything, whatever.... hehe, I knew I wanted it when I see that you can turn it around 360 degrees! :)

And while we are on the subject of storage, I went to Daiso a couple of days ago and got a few of their little storage cases and stuff, and just to show how I store most of my lippies---not all, because I store my YSL lippies in another drawer and I have another bunch all stuffed in purses and bag pockets. And I also store brand new lipsticks/ stock up lipsticks elsewhere. There are 4 partitions in this box thingy, and I can loosely categorise my lipsticks by color/ types in each section.

OK, that's all, and thanks for reading!

Disclaimer - Nobody paid me to rave about either of the items mentioned here, and I am just really a sucker for neat and cool organisation ideas and things, only because I am the complete opposite of being neat and tidy.

Wardrobe (dis)organisation

retail_therapy — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:56:41 -0800

Hi...

I have long come to accept that my room will never be in a state of pristine neatness. No matter how much time I spend to pack my stuff, everything will be messed up in a matter of hours. I can only strive to put things in their rightful places, and even so, that is short-lived. Hence, only the very close and beloved people are allowed into my room. Because there will be no turning back once they have seen the mess.

Usually I take my LOTDs rather close up, and sometimes I am in my sis's room, or living room. So my room is seldom exposed to the public eye (LOL).

I have this idealised vision of my room, that somewhere out there, in due time, a very spacious haven out there is waiting for me to live there, it will be fully furnished with built in shelves, dressing tables, customised storage units for my accessories, makeup, clothes and more.

Regardless, I wil show a small portion of my wardrobe. I recently cleared a couple of shelves to hold my bags and stuff, and meanwhile I threw away a trash bag full of unused stuff. What I did is to first stuff the bags with newspapers, so that they won't be out of shape or flatten beyond recognition when I don't use them for a long time. Then I put the bags into their own dust bags so that they don't go all mouldy etc.

I put the crushed newspapers into a plastic bag so they don't dirty the inside of my bag.

The shelves are pretty deep and I can put the bigger bags on there too.

Yup... that's nothing much to see, except for these covered lumps in my wardrobe space.

I just think it is better to stash them away, free from dust and all.

My MAC Palettes (Eyeshadows)

retail_therapy — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 07:55:30 -0700

As you may have seen others do the same, I ripped the dividers of my 2 mac palettes, so that instead of 15 eyeshadows, I can fit in 21 or 26 eyeshadows in one palette. You can even fit in blushers AND eyeshadow in the same palette. You can also depot other brands of eyeshadows and throw them in there. But I have only my MAC eyeshadows inside so far, and I thought I would give you a run down of the colors I own.

How to do this? I mean, take out the divider? Check out both Enkore and Petrilude's tutorials.

(*) indicates my faves, (LE) Limited Edition, (Pro) only at Mac Pro stores

From L to R, and Top to Bottom:

Club, Terre A Terre (LE from Corps De Couleur Quad), Knight Divine

Nocturnelle, Beauty Marked, Black Tied*

Sushi Flower, Dear Cupcake (LE), Rose (Pro)

Cobalt (Pro), Climate Blue (LE), Top Hat *(LE starflash)

Fashion (LE starflash), Sky Blue (Pro), Haunting (LE)

Bitter, Aquavert (LE), Aquadisiac

Cool Heat* (LE), Swimming, Parrot (LE)*

The next palette is what you always see, my so called Neutrals.

From L to R. As you can see, it is easier for me to pick faves among neutrals.

TOP ROW: White Frost, Mylar*, Vanilla, Orb, Dazzle Lights*, Solar White (LE), Femme Fi (LE)*

SECOND ROW: Seedy Pearl, Ricepaper, Vapour (LE from Corps De Couleur Quad), Woodwinked, Patina, All That Glitters*, Tempting*

THIRD ROW: Wedge, Cooperplate, Apre Grey (LE), Poison Pen, Style Snob (LE Starflash), Vex

FOURTH ROW: Smoke & Diamonds (LE Starflash), Magnetic Fields (LE), Smut, "brown" from Cult of Cherry Tempting Quad (LE), Plummage, Carbon

The only shadow which is not depotted is Omega (Pro), a neutral brown blending matte color.

When it comes to eyeshadows, which are your faves??

Storage Tip: How I labelled my blushers

retail_therapy — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 07:38:27 -0700

You know those old school tape-type letter thingy---don't ask me the name, I don't know!! And if you do, please enlighten me!!!

I was looking at my sister making some cards/craft thingy, and she was using this tape-type letter thingy... and I had this idea to be OCD about my blushers... recently, it's been bugging me, how I need to shuffle around my blushers to find the color which I want to use for the day -- I don't depot my blushers, cos I don't want to bring the whole palette out with me when I travel - too risky if I drop or watever you know?

Anyway.......... I wanted to label my blushers so I can see them from the 'top', and I used this thingy to help.

I thought of using stickers and writing the names of my blushers on top... but I think the 'paper' material will wear off over time. I like this plastic tape.. it lasts longer, and blends in with the black packaging of the MAC blushers.

And so I started 'typing' away. This is what I end up with.

Woot to nicely labelled blushers and powders!!

Now, if only I can be as neat when it comes to the rest of my room.

Thanks for reading!!

Tagged: Updated MAC Collection (Aug 09) * Pictures Heavy*

retail_therapy — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:53:31 -0700

Hi hi!! Was tagged by the lovely Diana to do an Updated/ Expanded MAC collection entry.

Warning ahead: Makeup Porn Alert!

It is an understatement to say that I have way too much makeup. I have said here before, I prolly spent too much on accumulating my stash -- BUT obviously this is not the most gigantic collection out there. It took me over 2 years to amass my stash, I admit I like to do 'stock-taking' time to time, if you see the links which I am about to include later on. :) This I don't expect anyone except -- for all you beauty product junkies out there -- to understand, I like to play with my stash, take everything out from time to time, and rediscover what I like to use all over again.

The last time I went on Project 10 Pan, it ended up a total failure (and meanwhile I was hauling a drawer full of nail polish online), and now I am on a Aug makeup ban (gosh, who knows what else I end up hauling this month instead). *keeps my fingers crossed*

Anyway, to give you some idea, of how this started.......way back in JUNE 2006.

And this was everything, including skincare, and mostly non MAC stuff, cos I was using more of Shu Uemura and Dior stuff then.

One MAC blusher (Angel)

3 eyeshadows, a couple of concealers, eye prep and prime, Porcelain Pink MSF, Engraved, Blanketty lipstick -- Those were my basic and modest MAC collection.

Maybe a couple of years later....

Think this was AUGUST 2008

And my previous update in Jul 2009

I don't exactly keep track of SOLELY MAC products over the years, but if you click on the following links below you will have a good idea of the increasing size of the collection - some are entries on how I tried to organised my makeup mess.

JUNE 2007?? (Everything)

JULY 2008

http://retailtherapy.onsugar.com/2499990 ">NOVEMBER 2008

JULY 2009

Updated MAC collection AUG 2008

Updated MAC collection Video MAR 2009

I have not done an Updated MAC Collection since the Sugarsweet,Colorcraft, etc collections... and I guess this tag is kind of timely. Haha.

MY MAC COLLECTION as of AUGUST 2009

(plus or minus a couple of items which are in purses, pockets and God knows where, and MAC lashes which are stashed in a drawer elsewhere)

*Sheepish* It filled up 75% of the surface area on my bed. Needless to say, I don't think the point of this entry is to give a breakdown of each item.

Yup... Was caught by the bf arranging all these shizzzz on my bed, and he was sooooooooooooo 'WTH am I doing'..... hahaha.... Going to relax this afternoon, and enjoy the weekend! Maybe a quick look of the day later on!

I tag icyabstract, bailaoragaditana, and partialtopink to do their mac collection updates!!

Updated Stash (Jul 09)

retail_therapy — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 00:35:01 -0700

Hi hi

Spent some time clearing and packing my stuff this morning, cos I bought a couple of storage trays to hold my expanding blusher/powder collection. So I decided to take a few pictures of my stash so far. I am not going to list down everything I own, it's more like an overview, and how I keep my stuff organised.

I don't have a vanity table in my room (no space cos I have three wardrobes in my room), so whenever I do my MU routine, I sit on the floor or on my bed, and face the window if it is daytime, or if at night, I just use the bedside lamp. The shelf and drawer thingy are right next to my bed... so I feel 'safe' sleeping next to all my stash. Haha.

PART ONE:

PART THREE

PART TWO

This shelf contains my MAC palettes, Coastal Scents 26 & 28 Neutral palettes, 78 Palette, Highlight & Contour Palette, 10pc blush palette, Beauty Blender Sponge, My foundation products and Lipsticks, and my Brushroll with all my eye brushes.

Ok, here is the reason why I got started re-organising my stuff--- Remember that IKEA drawer thingy which I bought sometime back to hold my nail polish stash? I have been using one of the empty drawers to hold all the new products which I bought recently, and now I have finally decided to give them their 'permanent home'.

And the overview: I am quite happy with how the whole thing looks. All my MAC blushers, face powders, NARS blushers etc etc fit into this drawer. A couple of random MAC eyeshadows and makeup bases line the side.

Breakdown of MAC blushers:

The Pinks - Azalea (Pro), Pink Swoon, Angel

The Plums - Plum Foolery, Dirty Plum (Pro)

The Peaches - Peachy Keen

The Mineralised: Nuance, Pleasantry, Intenso, Improvise, Daft Pink, Style Demon

In the next tray, the Face powers and MSFs and Misc face stuff:

MSFs - Natural (Light Medium), Pink Porcelain, Perfect Topping, Smooth Merge, Blonde, Petticoat

Beauty Powders: Alpha Girl

Bronzer - Solar Riche

Smashbox Dolce Vita blusher, Stila Convertible Lip & Cheek Colour Illium

NARS: Sin, Orgasm, Deep Throat, and single eyeshadow in Night Star

Do I have too much makeup? Yes. Do I spend too much money on makeup? Prolly. What can I say? Makeup (beauty related stuff in general) is my hobby, much as how someone would spend money and time on gardening tools, plants, kitchen equipment, cooking, LEGO collection, figurines etc etc.

So my stash & hobby=my makeup. :)

That's all, and hope this might give you some idea of how to organise your stuff, and who knows, do share some tips on how YOU do your thing. :) Thanks for reading, have a fab weekend!!

Storage for too much nail polish and surprising discovery!

retail_therapy — Sat, 23 May 2009 19:04:18 -0700

Hi everyone!

Kind of a random post here. Because of my recent nail polishing hauling, my 4 plastic drawers can't fit in any more new products. And I had already thrown out one entire drawer full of polish that have dried up (usually those filled with glitter chunks), gave away polish that I don't use anymore etc. But the situation is BAD.. and I went to IKEA and bought this drawer thingy, which I am sure many of you would recognise it, cos it's so IKEA... you know? Got the bf to lug it home, and got my bro to assemble it for me - guys come in real handy for situations like this.

And then I spent maybe 2 or 3 hours organising my stuff, throwing out my old bed side table, organising, etc etc... and this is what I have by my bed now. I am too lazy to rotate the picture, but you get the idea. A ittle lamp on top, fancy furry mirror which my sister bought in Japan earlier this year. This is a HUGE improvement from my old bed side table which is filled with all sorts of stuff. Not pretty at all. So I am happy with my purchase. I have only used up 4 drawers (2 for all my nail polish!!!) so far. And the old plastic drawers thing which is on the shelf, I am using them to store my contact lenses and hair scrunchies stuff.

In one of the drawers dedicated to my nail polish, I have all the misc brands (Sally Hensen, the odd bottles of Essie, The Face Shop, Barry M), top coats, nail files, chanel boxed nail polishes etc.

And in this drawer are all my China Glaze, OPI and MAC nail polish. I prolly still have space for another 20 bottles at least inside. Cos the 2 boxes you see are empty, and I just left them there so I don't have to put the bottles all the way inside.

So that's all I want to say about my new storage solution. This isn't a collection thing... and I do need to post my latest nail polish haul, and continue my little series on the overview of colours etc etc.

And then I bought pressies for my BFFs at work! One of them is moving to another school, and I got her something from COACH, to match her bag. Cute paper bag. And another friend at work is having her bday next Sat, so I got her a Two Faced bronzed trio palette thingy, SUPER CUTE. I think I am pretty generous when it comes to buying pressies for people I love! :) makes me happy.

Because the Sephora bag they gave me is kind of cheap and ugly looking, I went digging around in my cupboard and found this sleeker looking Sephora bag which I think either my BF or the sis's BF got during one of the US haul... and I put her pressie inside instead. And holly molly, look what I found inside the bag. A BRAND NEW UDPP!!! Now this bag has been lying around in my cupboard since last year. I knew it contained some empty MAC boxes, but I didn't know the Urban Decay box has the product still in it. But since I am using my TFSI (which is lasting me almost ONE year already).... I don't need to use it yet. And I also have back ups of TFSI.. so.. I am happy! :)

Will post my latest haul from transdesign next. Thanks for reading!

Mid Week Post: Make up Storage

retail_therapy — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 05:25:05 -0800

This is not another make-up collection post.

I spent Sunday night packing my room. I just wanted to clear some space for my MU stuff, cos for the last few months they have all been 'living' in a random box covered up and stuff UNDER MY BED. Really pathetic. And I have this skinny shelf thing in my room which contains stuff which I don't really use or reach for very often. And it is right next to my bed where I do my make up all the time. (I have no vanity table simply cos my room has.... maybe 3 wardrobes, which are stuffed with clothes etc, hence there is no room for vanity table).

I had to push some drawers and little cabinets around, but in the end, I have cleared enough shelf space for my MU, and I shall show you some pictures of my hardwork. I threw out lots of stuff, cleared away so much dust and whatever but I am very happy and proud with the end results.

I am not really done yet, cos I might be getting one more of those plastic drawer thingy over the weekend, cos there are stuff just lying around in open trays now which is not very sanitary.

I managed to put my nail stuff in one of the shelf (it's from IKEA btw) and I won't show you what's in the nail drawers, but you can check out my nail stuff here.

Apologies for the weird lighting I was trying out flash and non flash pictures. Next to the nail drawer, are my remover, and bottles of room spray from Marks & Spencer and Body Shop and a stash of cotton pads.

These are the stuff lying in open trays. Stuff like my face powders, foundations, lip stuff, and brushes and more eyeliners. See that green bag? It is my sister's entire make up collection.

I bought this drawer thing, and I put mainly my random eyeshadows, back up stuff, pigments, concealer and eye primer stuff inside. And there is a top layer which I put my large brushes in. On the right, I keep my palettes, MAC brush cleaner, some false lashes, and also contact lenses.

Yup! Oh, and the stickers I put them on myself, cos the original has this very kiddy cartoons which I don't like, so I covered them up with some funky random stickers.

Okis, thanks for reading!

2nd attempt at organisation and storage

retail_therapy — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 06:32:37 -0800

It went better this time around.

My make up is happy, and all the bottles of nail polish are happy, and everyone can live happily ever after.

Bottom drawer holds all the glitters (my younger sis is super fond of these, not me though) and all the blacks (my fave, I keep a constant fresh supply and in every texture of black, metallic, frost etc) and funky weird colors.

3rd drawer holds all the pinks, reds, nudes and some nail stickers etc.

2nd drawer holds my "haute" nail polishes, such as the OPIs, MACs, and Chanel.

First and top drawer now holds all the base and top coats. I have a couple of fast drying ones, but my fave is Sally Hensen Mega Shine, I also keep a constant fresh supply of these, whenever there is a 20% discount at the drugstore, I grab a couple to stock up. They are awesome to dry your nails and reapply to make the colors fresh again. I also bring it with me when I do my nails at the salon.

So my make up stuff returns to their old home sweet home.

Sorrry about the picture orientation!

Side note Basically I spent the night organising my room, it all started when I was looking for a pair of exercise shorts that went MIA, and since I had to turn my room upside down to hunt it down, I just got to re-organising areas of my room. And in the end, MIA shorts still not found. BOO!!