Friday Finds & Check-ins, Volume #721
Share your recent beauty purchases or rediscovered favorites in your stash (for those on low/no-buys!), chit chat about weekend plans, and learn a little more about each other!
Let's Chat!
Share your own answers in the comments!
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: Fenty eyeshadow sticks, which I’m hoping to photograph/swatch this weekend or early next week.
Weekend plans: My foster pups are due for their second vaccinations, so I’ll be taking my five in for that this weekend. I’m also helping with vaccinations for another litter at the rescue the same day. I’m about to prep for their 9-week photoshoot. My parents are coming over this afternoon to visit the puppies and play mah jong.
What’s a hidden gem you’ve traveled to? Neither are THAT hidden, but I’ve always enjoyed Monterey, CA and South Lake Tahoe!
Psst… since it’s Friday and we’re heading into the weekend, if you have some downtime, consider playing one of the games hubby and I have created! 🙂 Here’s a breakdown of what we have:
- Adoptle (guess the name of an adoptable pet in six guesses)
- Concludle (figure out the subject within six clues)
- Mislettered (guess one letter at a time to figure out the phrase/quote)
- Word Frenzy (find as many words from the letters available before the shark devours them)
This week's doggo photo/video...
Share your pet photos to the Temptalia Pets flickr group!
Haul: I sort of went a little crazy this week.
Nordstrom’s Two of the Chanel Longwear Powder Eye Shadow Singles in shade 14 Talpa and 12 Rose Synthetique. Two of the Chanel Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Colors in shades 452 Emilienne and 444 Gabrielle. I wanted 466 Carmine but they were sold out. I will see if I want it bad enough to order online. Also, from Nordstrom’s I picked up Sisley Paris Les Phyto Ombres Single Radiant Eye Shadows in the shades 25 Metallic Khaki and 42 Glow Silver. I also purchased the Le Phyto Gloss in the shade Moon. I saw this used by a You Tuber and she swears by it for people with thin lips. I have always wanted thicker lips so even though I don’t wear a ton of gloss, I purchased this and will have to play around with it because I applied it on the way home and just on my bare lips, without any color underneath and it created a weird effect. The base color is a sort of milkish-white with silver reflects. The base seemed to gather in the corners of my mouth and looked very unattractive when I looked in the mirror. I think it might be nice over another lip color when applied just to the center of the upper and lower lips, rather than just on bare lips but we will see.
Sephora: Patrick Ta Double Take Crème/Powder Blush in shade, She’s a Doll, Rose Inc Blush in Camellia, Fenty Beauty Cheeks Out Blushes in RiRi and Cool Berry, and Lawless Forget the Filler Lip Plumping, Lip Filling Lipstick in shade Minx.
Ulta : Lancome L’Absolu Rouge Cream in the shade 366 Paris S’Eveille and MAC Waterproof MAC Stack mascara. I am still on the hunt for a holy grail mascara as all of my pre-pandemic ones have failed me!
Mercari: Okay, so I have discovered the world of Secondary Market makeup! Where has this been all my life? I am predicting I will be bankrupt within the year! I found Mercari during my incessant search for a dupe to the Fantaisie De Chanel Blush. I saw dupes here on the blog and went hunting. I found a treasure trove of makeup and while I assume I will have to be careful with what I order, I have limited myself to purchasing from sellers who have good reviews and who take the time to actually describe the makeup. Having said that, I purchased Kevyn Aucoin’s Neo Blush/Highlighter in the shade Rose Cliff which is a 95% dupe for the Chanel. I also purchased the Westman Atelier Powder in Pink Bubble, YSL Devoted to YSL Makeup Palette Parisienne Travel, the Florasis Nourishing Cushion Foundation in shade B10, and the Chanel Les Beige Water Tint in Light. While searching around I saw the Sisley blushes that I mentioned earlier in the week, in a comment, that I paid $127 for, selling untouched for anywhere from $25 to $200. I may never pay retail again. I got Givenchy Les Saisons Healthy Glow Powder Highlighter 00 Moonlight Saison.
Temptalia has been invaluable in researching makeup that I know nothing about or had forgotten about before placing an offer or an order. I have successfully bargained with sellers with mention that the reviews for the product are not good. I do not mention Temptalia in my offers but rather a general statement. I really wanted a particular LE Dior palette which the seller was selling as “new” and asking $150. When I read about it on Temptalia and looked at the individual swatches, I just declined.
Kjaer Wies website: Single Eye Shadow in Wisdom, Lipstick in Believe, Lipstick in KW Red, Cream Blush in Reverence and Abundance. These are my first purchases from the brand and I am excited to try them out.
HaruHaruUS website: I repurchased skincare items, namely the Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner, Black Rice Serum and an untried product, (seen on Angie’s YT channel) Black Rice Moisture Airyfit Daily Sunscreen Unscented.
TruAlchemy website: The Retinol Reset which is a repurchase. I haven’t had enough time to form an opinion yet.
Frownies website: the Forehead pack and the mouth and eyes pack. These are re-purchases for me. I started using them about a month ago and have been noticing really good results. They aren’t a permanent treatment although using them over a long period of time does make the benefit last longer plus it teaches you to not make broad facial muscle movements that results in deep lines.
Adipeau: I purchased one more bottle of the Adipeau treatment to reverse signs of adipose loss. I have used two bottles and want to use one more before deciding if I think it is working. Once you achieve reversal then they say you don’t have to keep using it daily but just every once in awhile to maintain the effect.
Vegamour Hair loss treatment plan. I am on my fourth bottle and I don’t believe I am seeing any results. I had my daughter check when she was home and she didn’t see any new hair growth. I purchased one more bottle at the suggestion of a YT’er who has used it successfully and she said to give it a full six months. This bottle should take me to the six-month mark and then I will have to decide if I am continuing on. I doubt I will.
Weekend plans: Not much. The weather has cooled off here and so I plan to be out a little. I don’t tolerate the heat very well so when it is in the 90’s, I pretty much hibernate. I plan to work a little on some craft projects that I am in progress on so that I can clear up the space to work on my daughter’s Advent Calendar. I will post pictures on IG when I get a few done. The project that I am working on now is to place in a window in my bedroom. I have this narrow, long window. It is about 10 inches tall and about 5 feet long. It is on a west facing wall and it allows a lot of light in which makes my bedroom very hot by late afternoon. I know I could just put a curtain up but decided to do something different. I am using glass blocks, covering them in a pattern of rice paper that is teal/greens/soft pink and dark pink flowers. I am adding 3 dimensional flowers and may add some pictures also. I will put fairy lights inside them to add some light at night if I want to. So, they are spread all over my workspace as I am making them flow across the space rather than just doing random shots.
Hidden gem: Locally, I have a stream that runs down from the mountains and empties into the river that my house is situated near. The forestry access road follows the creek up the mountain. Not far from the road is a place that you can drive right up to the creek. Each year in the spring and summer, Monarch butterflies hatch out there and it is magical. Every surface is covered in butterflies. A little later, swarms of little lavender moths hatch out. Again, an amazing site. I take a lawn chair and place it in the creek and just sit and watch them with my feet in the water!
Your hidden gem sounds absolutely amazing.
Quite some haul you made. What fun to try all the new makeup!
It is quite magical. I have to slow the buying down but there are a couple more things I am looking for and scouring the secondary sources as they are both LE and not available anymore. I am still really tempted by the Fantaisie de Chanel blush/highlighter and I know it is crazy to pay $130 for a blush. Every time I see it in use, I drool over it. It literally would be my HG blush. I have seen it on young women and older women and they rave about it. There are very few of them available and the cheapest is the one I cited. They go up to over $200 so I feel like $130 is a bargain, LOL!! So far, I am fighting it.
I just googled it, it looks lovely. I don’t think I’d pay $130 for any makeup, unless it’s a very useful palette. I think I would, perhaps if the inflation hadn’t floored me like it did. Silly me, I even knew it would come. Oh, well.
Have you checked here for dupes?
If you can, and really, really want it, go for it. I’m sure it would look lovely on you, and you would look lovely wearing it.
By the way, I now have short hair, it just reaches the jaw. I’m thinking I’ll have to shave it after showering, though I would like to have it like this for a few days. Or hours. 😀
Yes, it is crazy expensive. I did check here and I have actually purchased one of the dupes. It is enroute to me now. I am waiting to see if I feel like it is close enough before making any decisions.
I know that making the decision to go ahead and shave your head is a difficult one. I finally reached a point where it falling out was more traumatic than just getting rid of it. In the end it was quite empowering. I felt that when it was gone was in my control and not the cancers. I didn’t look in the mirror for about a week. I literally would close my eyes while standing at the sink so that I wouldn’t catch a glimpse of myself. That passed and then there were other things to deal with and my bald head became so unimportant. Now, 23 years later, it all seems like a bad memory. There are so many new treatments out there and so much more that they understand. Just let me know if you need anything besides the prayers I am already sending.
I thought about buying one of the dupes as well. I think there was a Milani, inexpensive, and not bad.
I shaved what was left of the hair yesterday evening, I found that dropping hair all over everything, and seeing how thin it was, I might just take it off. Washing it was awful, I just kept getting my hands full of hair. I did however have a jaw length bob for about 24 hours. I’ve had long hair for over 40 years, so no hair will take some time to get used to.
I do look in mirrors, it is a chock, but I’ll get used to it, so many things to get used to.
Today I had the second chemo, I was going to wear my wig, but that’s also a ting to get used to, and I think I’ll have to practice putting it on. I went with my purple hat, of course with purple shimmery eyeshadow and MAC Syrup lipstick.
I find I need more makeup now, that’s something I don’t mind. I’ve been doing rather soft natural eyes for a while, now I need more definition, so a dark liner will be a good friend.
See, I managed to get back to makeup.
Just talking to you, like this is very helpful, and prayers are most welcome.
Thank you so much!
Recent purchases: Ouai St. Barts Body Wash, Algenist Triple Algae eye cream (I have 3 samples and fell in love with it pretty much at first use) and a sample/Points Perk of some cleanser from Tula (I’ve never tried anything from the brand). Rediscoveries – the UD Born to Run palette (I’d forgotten how nice that is to use).
Weekend plans: my niece’s wedding tomorrow – I am so excited and then all the regular stuff – gym, some meal prep for the rest of the week, maybe finally making time to finish the 2nd pair of Elizabeth Suzann culottes I’m sort of “tweaking”.
What hidden gem I’ve travelled to: well, it’s hardly hidden since it’s one of the most populated countries on earth but the old market in Old Delhi was one of the highlights (for me) of our trip to India. There were other, more “exotic” sites we visited but I like seeing where people lived and still live, where they shop, how the market is divided into sections (wedding item shops, carpet shops, etc.) and the spice market was a high point for me, as well as the small almost hidden little shrines with a statue of a holy figure – people would just stop in the middle of their day or errands and say a prayer. The Sikh gurdwara we visited was also amazing and so enlightening.
Gosh, India sounds amazing. I so love traveling and wish that I had done more when I was younger. I was too committed to working and didn’t think enough about the quality of life. Nursing is a calling and I committed to it whole-heartedly but it will eat you alive if you aren’t careful and I frequently felt the bite.
I tried several Tula products and didn’t like any of them. I broke out something fierce and I don’t have breakouts. I hope they work better for you as they have some interesting products.
Sorry, I forgot to ask, what is it about the Algenist eye cream that you like? I am using several samples of the Chanel eye cream that I was given when in Spokane. Given the amount of money I spent at Nordstrom’s they should have comp’d me a full bottle, LOL!! I am always looking for a good eye cream. I use to use the Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol *Ferulic but haven’t started back on it since I came back to makeup. I have been having terrible puffiness under my eyes and I know why, a medical condition, but nothing seems to be helping and when you have puffiness it just makes the area adjacent to the puffiness, even more crepey. Is crepey even a work?
I have to return it – they sold me the WRONG one!!!! And I didn’t notice!!! So I have to go back today to exchange (pain in the backside). I just really like the texture and it seems sort of “brightening”. I mean, I know it’s just an eye cream and some beauty “experts” say an eye cream isn’t necessary but I liked the Points Perks I got a while back – liked them enough to want to shell out for the full sized jar (if I can get the RIGHT ONE).
It was amazing. We were there for a wedding and so having people (the bride and her family) setting up side trips for us, etc., made it even more amazing but also heart-breaking – the extreme poverty, the pollution, the great wealth smack up against that extreme poverty… If I had endless money to travel, I might go back again (and travel more in the north this time) but as there are other places we really want to visit, I doubt we’ll go back again.
I felt the same way about Santorini when my daughter and I visited in 2018. The one major city on the island was quite beautiful and many wonderful hotels, cafes, boutique shops and then you drive out of the city and there is poverty everywhere. I saw brand new hotels that were boarded up and many with all the paraphernalia of building still just sitting there like they just walked away in the middle of the job. The people away from the city were not very nice to tourists and I asked someone about it when we were in our hotel and they explained that the government had really worked to increase tourism and the people thought they would see some monetary gains and the government just kept the money for themselves through taxes and other methods. It was truly sad. The cruise ships arrive daily at the island and disgorge about 10,000 people onto the little island and they only visit the city and then they get back on the ship and sail away. I don’t think we will ever go back either.
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: Was in Vegas last week and did a little makeup shopping. They’ve closed the Sephora flagship at The Venetian, but the regular Sephora shops at Miracle Mile and Caesar’s Palace are still open — the Caesar’s shop is pretty large, so I think they may have decided that two of those on the strip were overkill. I bought Benefit’s Precisely My Brow in 3.5 and am currently using it to death. I used to wear NYX’s Micro Brow in Ash Brown, but it caused my eyebrows to fall out and I have enough bare patches from old age. So far, the Benefit pencil has not caused the same issues — knock on wood. I find pencils much easier than pomades, but was sticking with pomades because I was afraid of losing my brows entirely.
Also restocked on Fenty’s Blurring Skin Tint in 2, because it was on sale and it’s a great no-makeup makeup look for me. Haven’t tried the sticks, but I dislike cream formulas for foundation anyhow. Picked up Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution in Lost Cherry, and I normally like this formula but the color is patchy. I keep comparing it to Too Faced’s Nothing Compares 2 U, and the Too Faced lip color is so much smoother and easier to apply. They’re both lovely reds, just that the Lost Cherry requires a lot more work.
Weekend Plans: Relaxing and decompressing. My daughter wants to dye her hair bright purple, so we might do that on Sunday.
What’s a hidden gem you’ve travelled to? I love Solvang, California for a quaint afternoon visit — delicious food, cute Danish desserts and architecture, and a little Christmas shop with gorgeous ornaments!
Gosh, mentioning Solvang takes me back. I grew up in Southern California and went to Solvang to visit a friend. It is such a quaint and wonderful little town.
I know what you mean about sparse brows. I never had great brows but after cancer treatment in 2000, they did not fully come back. I am not really a brow person, meaning that I am not willing to spend an hour to get IG brows so for me pencils are the best option. I also like MAC Shape and Shade Brow Tint. I don’t know if you are familiar but it is a brush end for “painting” on brows and a powder and brush on the other end to fill in gaps. I have used it for many years and always end up going back to it. I also use the Benefit pencil and usually use the two in conjunction.
Sephora has been quietly downsizing and then expanding in certain markets. A lot are very small and you can’t see a lot of products in person which I prefer, when I can. Ulta has expanded so much and I was shocked to find an Ulta in the Target store in Missoula. I didn’t even have to drive across town to visit Ulta. They have added so many new brands also. Times are a changin’.
Time sure did fly with the Liquor Bottle Litter! It’s so hard to believe that it’s just about time for them to get adopted into their furever homes, isn’t it?
Purchases/rediscoveries: Ordered another Drunk Elephant Protini Peptides refill cartridge, Sephora brand Gentle Exfoliating Wipes and Brow Razor 4-pack.
Weekend plans: Other than my Zoom meeting tomorrow morning, everything is up in the air for grabs! It will be too hot to even go for a swim, I believe. Nevermind doing more laundry. I so HATE this abysmal, hotter than any other summer I’ve ever experienced here. I am so over it!
I did see my PCP this morning, and have been prescribed Metformin. My doc believes that it will give me severe issues with my Crohn’s, but that’s what my insurance says she has to have me try out first. Once I fail it, then it’s going to be Ozempic. She’s had 2 Crohn’s patients go on Ozempic and get significant relief from their Crohn’s symptoms, so I’m okay with that!
Hidden gems you’ve been to? First up has to be Greenport Long Island, NY. We went there for a full day while I was pregnant with my daughter. So quaint and beautiful! We even picked our own strawberries after spending the day on the beach where there were no waves as it faced a peaceful harbor.
The other is a tossup between Wrightwood, CA, also very quaint, but also rustic and so many mountains, tons of huge pine trees, and Chapman Falls, CT where you can actually climb to different levels upward and swim in the ponds formed in the smooth, sandy rock bed swimming holes! All while being surrounded by tons of forest trees! Very fun, splendid place!
Wow, both places sound amazing, Nancy. I know you use to use the Dr. Dennis Gross Retinol and Ferulic eye treatment. Do you still use it? I mentioned it in another comment and reminded me that I use to use it so just wondered if you still do or if you have found something better. Also, with regards to Metformin, it will be hell to someone with Crohn’s disease. I use to take it and I don’t even have Crohn’s and it just about did me in. I took if for about 10 years and it was really life debilitating. You can’t get too far away from a bathroom and it doesn’t give you any warning. Here is hoping it fails quickly. I really hate when insurance companies put these types of plans in place. You have to suffer to get what we all know is going to help you and be good for you and will happen eventually. When my daughter was a baby she had chronic ear infections. Her pediatrician told me that in order to the the tubes inserted she had to be on prophylactic antibiotics and have 5 break through infections before they will let her have the BMT. So, she suffered some hearing loss because of it. I hope you feel better quickly, Nancy. I know it is miserable in Arizona in the summer time.
Hi Deborah, yes, I do still use the Dr. Dennis Gross Ferulic and Retinol Eye Serum, and definitely love the way it has kept working all these years!
How I look forward to hopefully visiting those places again, maybe someday soon? As for the XR Metformin, I thought I was doing halfway decent all of yesterday, but then, BOOM right before bedtime. Already scared of taking today’s dose, but I will just so that they know that I really tried for a good week or so before I complain about it. Metformin does NOT play well with Crohn’s! And I am so very sorry that your insurance for your daughter as a little one let her fall through the cracks like that with her ears. That was just so WRONG of them! These insurance companies can be so cold-hearted and uncaring.
They have definitely grown so much over the past few weeks and I am pleased to read that they have recovered from their recent operations. They will love the attention and affection of your parents and I hope you have an enjoyable weekend.
Recent Purchases: Nothing really
Rediscoveries: Naked 3 – it’s been quite awhile since I used this palette and had forgotten how versatile and beautiful it is with its rose gold tones and soft greys.
Weekend Plans: Our weather has been completely topsy turvy – on Thursday it was bright, sunny and warm. Yesterday it was freezing, with thunder and rain. However, my husband and I went up to a mountain town and had a beautiful lunch by the fireside at a hotel restaurant. My husband adores the Country Outfitters shop up there and came away with another new waterproof and windproof jacket.
This weekend is going to be about catching up with chores, grocery shopping and relaxing.
A hidden gem that we’ve travelled to: I always think that the NSW south coast is a hidden gem – stunning beaches, beautiful little villages and plenty of accomodation and restaurents.
I really love finding quaint little towns with hidden gem shops and restaurants. When I was growing up in Southern California, every Sunday after church we would take a long drive. My father loved traveling and we would head out in a different direction or just go visit places we had been before but really loved. We would find wonderful little restaurants, which we call “Mom and Pop” places.
Your weather sounds like ours up here in Montana but in reverse. We are coming into winter and I went through last winter pretty easily but they are predicting a hard winter here and not necessarily with just snow. in fact, we are likely to not get as much snow but will have very cold temperatures. If it is too cold, I will be reevaluating staying here in Montana. I know the six month winters have taken a toll on me mentally and emotionally. If I had been raised here, I likely would be use to it but even though I was born here, I was raised in Southern California where winters were not hard at all. You could go to the beach most months of the year. I have added extra Vit.D which the Doctor says should help me this winter. Time will tell!!
Oh UD palettes. I haven’t pulled out my Naked 2 in quite a while. It runs a little more cool toned on me and has gorgeous colors.
Recent Purchases: No makeup, but I bought three fragrances: Full-size bottles of Vol de Nuit and Apres L’Ondee (both Guerlain), and a travel-size Burberry Goddess. Not a purchase, but I also got a free gift from Ulta of Drunken Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream, and so far I love it.
Weekend plans: Visiting family, doing a massive amount of laundry because I’ve been lazy, and relaxing at some point…hopefully.
What’s a hidden gem you’ve traveled to? Gravensteen Castle in Ghent, Belgium (in the 1980s). It’s probably not a hidden gem, but it was really amazing.
So I had to go hunting to read about Gravensteen Castle. My daughter and I did not visit Belgium during our five week trip to Europe in 2018 but it looks like we should have. We both like visiting old castles and this one sure has some history behind it. It sounds ghoulish in a somewhat fun way! When I visited the site of the Little Big Horn where Custer was defeated by the American Indian tribes, it was the eeriest feeling walking around. It was almost unnaturally quiet. No birds were singing and when we went into the museum and saw the weapons used by the Indians, it was very emotional. I will add it to my list of places to go if I ever get to Europe again.
That’s how it was at Gravensteen…eerie. We were there in the dead of winter and there was almost no one else around.
P.S. I returned the Burberry Goddess today. Just didn’t work out for me. Oh well.
Recent purchases & rediscoveries: bought the new inkey list peptide lip balm, and I like it so far!
Weekend plans: relaxing, reading, maybe taking the dog to the beach if we be weather is agreeable.
Hidden gem I have traveled to? I live in Monterey now, and I would agree that this area really is a bit of a hidden gem. It’s kinda out of the way over here on the peninsula , which gives it a really chill vibe. One of my faves is always Solvang, down in Santa Barbara county. It’s a Dutch village in SB wine country.
Hi! I love Monterey! The aquarium, etc.
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: They’re not here yet but I bought the new Shine by SD Eternal Collection!
Weekend plans: I actually have a medical appointment with a specialist on a Saturday!
What’s a hidden gem you’ve traveled to? I can’t think of any hidden gems – I tend to go to touristy places!
I have never heard of the brand SD Eternal and went looking. My some beautiful shades. Have you used them before and are they good? They seem a bit more expensive than a lot of other brands but if they are nice, then I am willing to pay the price!
Recent Purchases/Rediscoveries: No purchases. Rediscoveries, MAC Girlie eyeshadow, it’s warmer than most of the eyeshadows I wear, but having neutral skin tone does have perks. I generally prefer cool tones, but can easily use warmer shades, just not too warm. Girlie has such a nice satin, pearly finish.
On a side note, I did a quick mental comparison to MAC eyeshadows sold now and the ones I own. My have they DCed a lot! I will miss Malt a lot when it’s gone. It’s of course the same with lip products.
Weekend plans: I’m boring, but rest. I might plant my tulip bulbs in existing flower beds. Walking the dog when I’m not too tired. Don’t worry, he gets to go out for walks with my son when I’m not up to it.
I will probably cut my hair this weekend, though I dread it.
What’s a hidden gem you’ve traveled to? I don’t think I’ve ever found a hidden gem, but the over the day visit to Simonstown in South Africa was magical. They have penguins, we went to a public beach where you walk and swim very close to these wonderous birds.
They also made a heavenly seafood salad, and for the first time in my life I enjoyed octopus. Generally I find octopus very chewy, but this was tender and lovely.
I wish we had stayed longer, there’s much to see.
So not really a hidden gem, but an unforgettable experience.