Depotting Eyeshadows

After I noticed that I was getting a nice little collection of loose MAC and Urban Decay single eyeshadows, I decided to depot them to make life easier.  To start, I chose a Large MAC Pro Palette Duo and a Make Up Forever XL Palette to store them in.  I tried two methods of depotting, but when using the candle method I ended up dropping MAC Trax in the candle and ruining it.  After I switched over the the flat iron method, this is definitely the easier method (at least for me), but do whichever works for you!

{This post includes affiliate links.  Affiliate links are where I make a portion of sales from links used, which helps keep Beauty Freckled going.  Thanks for your support!}

MAC & UD Eyeshadows to depot + Graftobian Spatula

Tools:
Depotting Spatula (I used my Graftobian Double-Ended Spatula)
Rubbing Alchohol and Cotton Swab
Flat Iron/Straightener or Candle (and spoon)
Wax Paper
Round Magnets or Magnet Tape
Scissors
Sharpie
Magnetized Palette (Z Palette, MAC Pro Palette - Large/Duo, Make Up Forever Palette)

MAC Pro Palette and Make Up For Ever Metal Palette

Graftobian Double-Ended Spatula and MAC Shadow for depotting...

Steps:
1.  Open up the eyeshadow and stick the point of the depotting spatula in between the outer shell and the inner plastic pan where there is a little square hole.  Jimmy the inner pan out.
2.  Once your flat iron is hot, place the wax paper on one plate of the flat iron.  Place the eyeshadow on top of it.  This step is to melt the glue from the back of the metal pan so you can wiggle it out of that plastic pan.*
3.  After 3-5 minutes, take the pointed end of the spatula carefully press at the edge of the metal pan and see if the pan will move at all.  If not, set it back on the flat iron.
4.  Dip your cotton  swab in the alcohol and wipe the glue from the back of the metal pan.
5.  Label the back with the name of the eyeshadow, and the brand.
6.  Cut a piece of magnet if using a roll, or affix a round magnet to the back and pop in your palette!

*If you would prefer to use the candle method, put your eyeshadow pan in a spoon and lower it over the candle flame until the glue is melted and continue with steps 3-6.

I chose to melt the stickers off the back of my shadows and stick those on the back of the metal pans instead of labeling with the Sharpie (I have huge handwriting!).  Then I placed the magnet on the back where I could still read the color name.

MAC Pro Palette - Double

Using a palette also saves money since MAC sells their Pro Palette Refill Pans for $ (formerly $10), and are also already labelled on the back, versus their single eyeshadows which are $16!  I wish I had known that from the beginning.

MAC Pro Palette with MAC, Urban Decay, and Shea Moisture Shadows

Don't forget to save your shadow pans for the Back to MAC program!

Here is my finished product of my shadows in my MAC palette. So much easier just opening this up to do an eye look than a bunch of single shadows.  Plus I can take a few out to make a quad and put them in a smaller travel palette like the small version of the Make Up Forever palette, which I am going to buy just for that purpose.

MAC Pro Palette

I hope this helped everyone!  Let me know your favorite single eyeshadows and palettes to store them in below!

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation | Foundation Review

This is a pretty raved about foundation for many in the beauty community so I decided to check it out.  I've already tried the CoverGirl Outlast Stay Luminous [read my full review here], so I was hoping the 3-in-1 would be a more matte version for my combo skin self.  Read on for more...

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation

Claims from CoverGirl.com:

All-in-one foundation with a long-lasting formula that fuses primer, concealer, and foundation in one easy step! The 3-in-1 formula provides a flawless look that lasts all day long.

Price: $8.39 [Target]
Product Amount: 1 fluid ounce
Shade Range: 14 Shades
My Shade: 832 Nude Beige

I picked this up in 832 Nude Beige because the Stay Luminous in 825 Buff Beige was a bit light on me.  I'd say my perfect shade is more like these two mixed together (see more on that below*) but the 832 Nude Beige is fine in summer and just a tad dark in winter {shade comparisons are below as usual}.

The foundation comes in a glass bottle with a pump which is awesome.  It has SPF 20 and is a 3-in-1 formulation that includes primer, concealer, and foundation for an easy one-step application.  I've used this with and without primer and it was fine either way (I used this foundation during my Smashbox/e.l.f. Duel - read about that here).

I used the foundation with a light dusting of the CoverGirl Tru Powder over it which is an awesome powder and a tiny bit of Maybelline Fit Me Concealer under my eyes.  It did a great job covering any redness and slight acne scarring but felt super heavy on my skin.  

Wear Test: After about 7 hours it was oily and breaking down a bit around my nose, but nothing else wore off.  It just looked a bit cakey for my liking, felt heavy and looked it as well.  It looked okay from a distance, but the closer you look, the more dry, powdery, and cakey it looked.  If you have a lot to cover up, this may be better for you, but if you're looking for a more natural look, this isn't it.  The color also oxidized a bit, not to super orange, but definitely darker than when first applied.

Overall, I prefer the Revlon Colorstay as a full coverage drugstore foundation over this one any day (see my review here) and will stick with the Colorstay over this because it doesn't feel or look as heavy.  If I had to pick one between the Stay Luminous and Stay Fabulous, I almost preferred the Stay Luminous, which I never would've guess since I'm more combo to oily skinned.  This one simply didn't live up to the hype for me.

*I decided to try and mix the Stay Lumious and Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 to see what the results would be.  I mixed the 832 Nude Beige and 825 Buff Beige equally, and stippled it on with the Real Techniques Stippling Brush.  The color was on the light (and more pink) side when I first applied it, but definitely oxidized almost a full shade darker.  832 is definitely more yellow and 825 is more pink (I'm neutral leaning more yellow).  The finish was slightly dewy, but not too shiny or matte either.  Up close, you can definitely see the shimer/glitter from the Stay Luminous, which I didn't notice at first but I didn't love that aspect but you don't see it unless you're super close.  If I were wearing these foundations again, I'd definitely mix them together, or just wear the Stay Luminous alone in winter.

I used to wear the CoverGirl Clean makeup when I first started wearing makeup and loved it.  Maybe a 'Blast from the Past' makeup post/review is in order :)

A note on colors too: I'm pretty sure I was one of these colors in the Clean Collection (I believe 825 Buff Beige) so I'm not sure why neither matched me in this line, however, I read this happened to others too.

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My Foundation Shade Comparisons:
MAC -- NC 20-25
MAC Studio Fix Powder -- NC30
Makeup Forever HD -- 130 Warm Ivory
Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Foundation -- Light 48
Kat Von D Lock-It Powder Foundation -- Medium 52
Urban Decay Naked -- 3.0
Bare Minerals -- Medium Beige N20
Tarte Amazonian Clay  Full Coverage Airbrush Foundation -- Light-Medium Neutral
Sephora Collection Perfection Mist Airbrush Foundation -- Light
Revlon Colorstay Combo/Oily -- Sand Beige 180 [winter] | Medium Beige 240 [summer]
Revlon Colorstay Whipped -- Medium Beige 250
Neutrogena Healthy Skin -- Nude
Neutrogena Nourishing Long Wear -- Nude 40
Neutrogena Mineral Sheers Powder Foundation -- Nude 40
Maybelline Fit Me! Matte - Nude Beige 125
Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse -- Nude (Light 4)
Maybelline Dream Smooth -- Nude Beige 180
Maybelline Dream Wonder -- Nude 40
L'Oréal Magic Nude -- Natural Buff 318
L'Oréal True Match -- N3 Natural Buff
L'Oréal True Match Lumi Cushion -- N2 Classic Ivory
CoverGirl Outlast Stay Luminous -- Buff Beige 825
CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 -- Nude Beige 832

What's In My Diaper Bag? | Skip Hop Duo Double | Toddler Edition with Baby Additions

It's time to find out...What's In My Diaper Bag?  The Skip Hop Duo Double edition!  You can find my full review of the bag here but I wanted to show you what I pack for my 2 1/2 year old daughter.  I will also add the things I used to pack for her when she was an infant below.

{This post includes affiliate links.  Affiliate links are where I make a portion of sales from links used, which helps keep Beauty Freckled going.  Thanks for your support!}

Just a quick rundown: the Duo Double has 16 total pockets.  On the outside there are 3 front pockets, 2 side mesh bottle pockets, 1 changing pad pocket, 1 long skinny pocket next to the changing pad pocket, and 1 mommy pocket.  Inside there are 2 more bottle pockets, 2 large fabric pockets, and 3 mesh pockets with elastic tops.  I'm guessing the last one included is the whole inner pocket between all the others, where I put blankets and the Pronto Changing Station.

Here's how I pack the pockets...

Exterior:
3 front pockets - baby sunglasses, pen, Babyganics Foaming Hand Sanitizer
2 side mesh bottle pockets - water for mommy, Nalgene with water for BabyBeauty (formerly baby bottles with just water to mix Up & Up Sensitive Formula into - see below)
Changing pad pocket - changing pad and Munchkin Diaper Bag Dispenser
Skinny Pocket - empty, but would be good for a small umbrella
Mommy pocket - Burt's Bees lippie, Trader Joe's mints, gum, Neutrogena Powder Foundation

Interior:
2 bottle pockets - sometimes the Nalgene for BabyBeauty goes here, otherwise empty
2 fabric pockets - MediBuddy First Aid Kit, Wet Ones Wipes, Up and Up Healing Ointment (Target brand Aquaphor), Boogie Wipes in Fresh Scent (when needed), Table Toppers in Hello Kitty, BooginHead Sippigrip
3 mesh pockets - Pampers Swadders Diapers (Regular or Sensitive),  sample size of Honest Company Healing Balm, Pampers Sensitive Travel Wipes or Seventh Generation Travel Wipes, Itzy Ritzy Travel Happens Wet Bag in Avocado Damask
Center/Bottom - Skip Hop Pronto! Changing Station, coloring book and bag of crayons

I normally keep the mesh pockets strictly diapers wipes, and change of clothes/wet bag.  The fabric pockets are broken into "feeding essentials" and "other essentials" (mostly med stuff, etc.  So you might see me mention I put certain things in the feeding pocket for reference so you can see how I organize or pack this bag so I know where everything is.

Infant Additions:
* Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Bottles and Formula Dispensers or Avent Classic Bottles and Formula Dispenser
* Aden and Anais Swaddle Blanket (rolled up in the bottom next to the Skip Hop Changing Station)
* Aden and Anais Burpy Bib (feeding pocket)
* Skip Hop Pacifier Pocket with two Avent Soothie or Regular, Nuk, or Tommee Tippee Pacifiers (pacipod)
*BooginHead PaciGrip Pacifier Holder (feeding pocket)
* Oxo Tot On-the-Go Feeding Spoon with Travel Case or Nuk Spoons in Itzy Ritzy Snack Happens Reusable Snack Bag in Urban Jungle Blue (feeding pocket)
* Happy Baby / Plum Organics / Earth's Best Baby Food Squeeze Pouches (feeding pocket)
* Baby Mum-Mums (feeding pocket)
* Extra Set of Clothes in case of accidents (mesh pocket with wet bag)

* Skip Hop Grab & Go Double Bottle Bag in Onyx Tile

* Tommee Tippee Travel Warmer
* Babyganics Mineral-Based Sunscreen 50+ (other essentials pocket)

All of what is in the bag plus all the infant additions fit perfectly with plenty of room to spare.  It's not a heavy bag when packed normally and doesn't add a lot of additional weight due to the heavy duty fabric or anything like that.  It's advertised for twins, multiples, or parents with more than one child.  Being a mommy who likes being prepared for everything and to see everything inside without having to move items to get at anything else this was a great option for me.  It's a great bag for one child on up!

Check out the Skip Hop Duo Double on Amazon for a great price on this bag.

I fully recommend all the products I have listed and linked here, as they have been tested, tried, and true for us and our family.  Every family and baby is different, but these have always been great winners for us and for BabyBeauty.

Please let me know in the comments what products are baby bag/diaper bag essentials for you and your littles!

Empties #2 | Products I've Used Up

Welcome to my second batch of trash, er, empties!  To read about my first batch of empty products, see my post with Empties #1 here.

{This post includes affiliate links.  Affiliate links are where I make a portion of sales from links used, which helps keep Beauty Freckled going.  Thanks for your support!}

Empties #2

Hair

Pantene Color Preserve Volume Shampoo
I've used this before, and I don't know if the formula changed, but I liked it better the first time.  There are other shampoos I like better, but nothing wrong here.  Would Probably Repurchase.

Herbal Essences Color Me Happy Shampoo and Conditioner
I've bought these a few times now, and they're a good value and do their job.  Nothing life changing, not my favorite, but definitely a good duo.  Would Repurchase.

L'Oréal EverPure Moisture Deep Restorative Masque
This was a decent hair mask. It didn't weight my hair down terribly, but made it very sleek and silky.  My main issue is the smell - it's just not for me.  I love the EverPure styling line, but didn't like the shampoo and conditioner.  I didn't finish this one, just because I've found other things I like better.  It's a decent product, just not anything to write home about for me.  Probably Wouldn't Repurchase.

OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Conditioner
This is just a small travel size from the travel section of Harmon in BB&B because I wanted to try it out.  I love, love, love the smell but it's a tad heavy for my hair.  I think if you have dry or curly hair this would be better.  Wouldn't Repurchase.

Face
Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector - Medium/Deep
I've had this BB cream for over a year now and haven't used it up.  I just don't reach for it because it's very greasy and almost an orange color when on.  When I got it they didn't have the version for oily/acne prone skin so maybe that version would be better for me.  I used it for the beach when I wanted a little something to blur my imperfections with a light SPF as well.  Hoping to find a good BB cream for my normal to oily skin type that works for me.  Wouldn't repurchase (not this version).

Neutrogena Pore Refining Daily Cleanser
I am a huge Neutrogena fan, so I've repurchased this cleanser a few times, and I really like it a lot.  It cleans my skin fantastically without over drying it.  Would Repurchase.

Target Up & Up Exfoliating Cotton Rounds - 100 Count
These are great for applying toner or for removing nailpolish or the thousand other uses one can find for a cotton round.  I love that they have the extra little nubbie exfoilaters on one side, but if that bothers your skin, the other side is a normal cotton pad.  Already Repurchased.  [Note: They've since updated the packaging.]

Makeup
Ardell Fashion Lashes in Natural 109
I don't wear falsies a whole lot, but I've been wearing them for events like weddings lately and Ardell Lashes are my tried and true falsies.  I usually wear the 110's, so not sure if I grabbed the wrong pair here, but the 109's worked well, but I prefer the shape of the 110's slightly more.  Great lashes for everyday, or events.  Great for photography.  Already Repurchased [in 110].

Maybelline Voulum' Express The Falsies Flared Mascara Waterproof - Very Black
Maybelline's original The Falsies is a cult classic, and I love this version just as much (I own both in black/waterproof).  The only real difference is the brush as far as I can tell, but both give great length and volume.  Volume is more of an issue for me than length, so this is a great option for me.  Already Repurchased.

Body/Skin
eos Ultra Moisturizing Shave Cream - Lavender Jasmine
I've used this a few times now, and am always left a bit disappointed.  It's very thin and doesn't lather up at all (and I love a good lather so I can see where I've shaved).  It does get the job done, but there are others that I like a lot more.  I thought the smell would be nicer too - the vanilla version was better in that respect.  Wouldn't Repurchase.

Nails
None this time

BabyBeauty
Johnson's Baby Shampoo - Calming
I use the Burt's Bees wash on BabyBeauty, but I still love the smell of the Baby Bedtime line from Johnson's, so we just use the shampoo.  Already repurchased.

Johnson's Baby Bedtime Bath
I didn't realize this was just a bubble bath at first, I thought this was a wash.  I am working my way through the Honest Bubble Bath now before I try another.  Bubble baths aren't a necessity for us.  Probably Wouldn't Repurchase.

Johnson's Baby Bedtime Lotion
I am trying to switch BabyBeauty to more natural products, but I just love, love, love the smell of this one, so I keep coming back to it.  Would Repurchase.

Aveeno Baby Calming Comfort Lotion in Lavender & Vanilla
This is an amazingly hydrating lotion, and the smell is so comforting for night time.  It reminds me of the Baby Bedtime lotion above.  Already Repurchased.

Burt's Bees Baby Bee Shampoo & Wash
I love this wash for Little Miss Beauty and we use it every bath.  It's not drying and is a natural body wash and shampoo.  We got the bigger version with the pump in the calming scent now and will continue to use it.  Already Repurchased.

I hope you enjoyed reading these quick little mini-reviews of products I've used up.  Please let me know what products you've used up recently in the comments below!