Super Overdue: US HAUL!

I was supposed to do a huge post on all the stuff I bought in the US which I completely haven't delivered. Basically it's been taking me forever because I had to take the pictures (which are not so great) and then I had to edit them and then I had to write the actual post. All of which took some time because, as per usual, I am going through my perennial I-don't-know-what-the-hell-to-do-with-my-life phase.

But lately I think I've kind of figured out what I want to do SO here I am finally writing this post. That and the fact that because I did a chemical peel today I'm at home from work. BTW chemical peels hurt like HELL.

So let's get to it - I'm going to do it store by store.

Online Shopping Haul

Nordstrom
Nordstrom was one of the stores that actually let me buy stuff with a non-US credit card. The initial plan was to go crazy shopping at Sephora online but I was completely thwarted by their US credit card only policy. In any case Nordstrom totally came through and I bought the following MAC staples. Oh yeah, MAC also totally rejects non-US/Canadian credit cards.

So this is the MAC 116 Blush Brush. I got it because it was recommended by Temptalia as a good brush for blush beginners which I definitely am. It has actually totally lived up to its reputation, its easy to pat on the blush and then sweep it to blend. The brush is a good medium size and is quite flat.

This is the MAC 219 Pencil Brush which is supposed to work as a precise crease brush and also as way to work color near the tearducts. Note that I wrote supposed. So far I've found it kind of difficult to work this. It's just so conical shaped and kind of fat that I find it difficult to do anything really precise with it.

This is the MAC 217 Blender Brush. For the longest time I thought this was completely useless because I initially bought it to be a crease brush but its way to big to work on my eye. It does however make a really invaluable blending brush especially when working with dark colors.

The MAC 239 Shader Brush which is like The Holy Grail or as beauty fanatics like to put it HG of all eye brushes. You can really just use this for everything and its just the perfect brush because it gives you a lot of control and you can just pack the color on. It's mentioned on basically every single beauty blog and its totally worth the price. I use it every single day.

Ebay
Again, as the result of not being able to use my credit card in different places I turned to Ebayyyyyyyyyyy. I bought Be Curly which is essential in my hair taming regimen and I also bought this amazing product:

Urban Decay Primer Potion - it makes my eyeshadow stay put all day long and works like a dream in humid Malaysia. Totally lives up to the hype.
























Amazon

Ok I bought Ella Enchanted because my cousins have borrowed this book and never given it back and I loved it as a child and seriously they totally know I want it back and I don't know what the hell is wrong with them.























So this is Benefit's High Brow, which is basically a matte light, light pink pencil that you're supposed to put under your eyebrows to make the shape really pop. It's actually got a really nice creamy texture. I find that it's a little cool on my skin but I'm sure if you're fairer or basically... white it's pretty good. But as long as I blend it well it looks pretty good.



























Now for when I actually got to the U.S.

Dillards
Dillards was actually super fun because the people there were really nice and it basically had everything anyone would need but it wasn't huge and overwhelming which was nice. Only thing, the clothes were fairly hideous. Especially the prom dresses.

Got these Steve Madden sunglasses because I've been looking for like Eurotrash sunnies that are not too glittery or monocle like. These are great they're a little CRon, a little aviator and they look goooood on.



























I got super excited when I found out there was this Lancome special where if I bought stuff worth $32 I would get this free bag and lipstick and some other stuff. Anyway what I did buy where these two eyeshadows above, they are Color Design Eyeshadow in Exhibition and Kitten Heel. To be honest they really don't blend well and don't stand out that much. So they were pretty much $17 a pop disappointments. But I do wear them... so I guess its ok.

Here's the GWP (Gift with Purchase) I got!
















































































I got a Lancome eco friendly bag, a makeup bag, a lipstick (kinda pulls a bit too orange on me - should be good with lipgloss), a dark brown eyeliner, Hypnose mascara (yaay!) and the most gorgeous Juicy Tube- the color is apparently Pink Horizon. Sorry the swatches are so crappy, it was a really cloudy time so I wasn't getting much light. That and I can't take pictures.

Walmart


These are the Revlon luxurious single eyeshadows which I've mentioned before. Technically I bought one of them at CVS and the other two at Walmart but whatever. They're pretty sheer but they are super pretty and really soft and easy to work with. Totally worth the $4.99 pricetag. I got the Perle and Satin finishes. I know a lot of people don't like to wear shiny/glittery eyeshadows on a daily basis but it's like then why bother wearing make-up at all? Plus I think maybe because I have a darker skin color I can get away with more glitter. Right?

Kohl's

I bought this shirt because my Mom made me. Anyway it does look super cute on and I wear it to work pretty much once a week.






















This backpack was super cheap like $20 and I was tired of carrying my Eddie Bauer sling bag around because my back was killing me so I got this crazy pink Adidas backpack. I know I totally look like a kid when I carry it but its so comfy and carries everything so perfectly that I don't care.






















Sephora




























I was looking forward to going to Sephora more than anything else when I found out I was going to the US. I know... but still! It was actually quite awesome mostly because I could actually buy things like Nars and Urban Decay. Also though I didn't buy any, Stila's eyeshadows are beautiful.



I didn't really want this. What I wanted was the Naked Palette but that wasn't going to happen because its only been released like now. So I got this instead. It's really pretty and all but I have two issues with it. I don't think the colors really pop that well on me and also the ones that have glitter have major glitter fallout which means I can only wear them at night. Which sucks ASS.


This is probably one of the best things I bought. It's a Nars Blush in Lovejoy and its this reddish brown blush with gold shimmer. Not flecks of glitter like Orgasm but just shimmer. I thought Nars would be too shiny for my oily skin but it actually looks amazing on, even if I do have to use a light hand.




















Target!

I went insane in Target because of two reasons: 1. It is awesome. 2. It was like down the road. ANYWAY I got a shit ton of stuff which included...

A black Mossimmo dress. Such a pretty dress on me. I know its super plain and I actually have no idea where or when I'm going to wear it given how casual my job is but I really don't care because it makes my body look beautiful.
























I bought 3 Loreal Voluminous mascaras because it actually does live up to its hype. Yes it seriously clumps but its also $5 and gives volume to my lashes without because trashy. And its $5.
















Neutrogena MoistureShine Gloss. Because my mother told me to buy it.


































































I got Sonia Kashuk's eyebrow comb and sharpener, Tweezerman hella expensive ($25!) tweezers and Goody's ouchless hair bands, hair clips, hair pins and scrunchie things. Great staples to have. I've been using the Tweezerman tweezers everyday since I got it. Ditto on the rest.

Store in the The World of Coca Cola in Atlanta

The t-shirt doesn't fit me even though its a bloody medium... the postcards are cute though. Not quite sure who to send it to...





That's pretty much it. I'm really broke post all the indulgent shopping but I really couldn't help myself since I probably wont be going Stateside anytime soon. Here's a picture of ALL the stuff!