TWO READS & HITTING PAN // 3 in 1 Challenge Update #1
Hey!
On this snowy February evening I wanted to update you on my progress regarding this year’s makeup and reading challenge. Last month I was busy with a project I hope to share with you sooner rather than later, and yet I still managed to get two reads and some panned makeup products under my belt. Beside sharing my progress update, in this post I’m also trying different lighting and background options for my blog photography, and I’d love to hear your feedback on it in the comments down below!
If you like the photos you see on my blog, check out my Instagram @xocaligo! I post beauty flatlays, makeup looks, nature shots, and some random lifestyle and cat related pics.
PROJECT PAN 2021
Last month I used makeup several times per week and I have some decent progress to share with you today!
Essence Sun Club Matt Bronzing Powder in 02 sunny
70g
I have used this bronzer several times, but I’ll need to use it regularly for a few more months to hit pan. How long does it take you to hit pan in barely used face products?
Revolution Skin Kiss Highlighter in Ice Kiss
70g ⇒ 68g
YOU GUYS! I hit pan!!! I never thought I’d hit pan in this highlighter, but now that my makeup preferences have changed, I love using this product. This shade can look grey on the cheekbones, but you can easily fix that by blending out the applied product with a fluffy kabuki brush.
Catrice Absolute Eye Colour in 420 Talk Like An Egyptian
22g
I was focusing all of my attention on the palette, so I barely used this product. Ideally, I’d use up half by the next update; think I could do that?
Catrice Defining Blush in 080 Sunrose Avenue
35g ⇒ 34g
I absolutely love the colour of this blush and the way it looks on my skin! As I apply it on the outer parts of my cheekbones to contour my face with it, the blush is visible even when I wear a mask. The pan is extending nicely, and I hope to use up this blush within the next few months!
turquoise and black pencil eyeliners
t. 50mm // b. 65mm ⇒ 60mm
Even though I didn’t reach for the turquoise pencil, the black eyeliner was put to good use during January. I’d love to use it up during February!
bronze cream eyeshadow stick
19mm ⇒ 10mm
This is a beautiful product that I’ll miss having in my collection! Do you know of any good drugstore eyeshadow sticks? I’d love to hear your product recommendations in the comments!
Maybelline New York Baby Lips in Sweet Apple
28mm ⇒ 24mm
I kept this lip balm by my computer and so far I’ve used up a decent amount of product. I can’t say that this lip balm keeps my lips moisturized in harsher weather conditions, but it is good enough for indoor use!
Also, I know it looks absolutely disgusting; I’ve noticed that many vaseline based lip products start to look this way once they’re being used!
Catrice Prime and Fine Lightening Make Up Transformer Drops + Rival de Loop Anti-Red Primer
l.d. 10g ⇒ 8g // pr. 14g
Last month I forgot to use the primer, however, I tried mixing the lightening drops with a darker concealer and it worked well.
Rimmel London Salon Pro nail polish Get a Nail Tan
19mm
I didn’t use any nail polish in January because I’m almost out of nail polish remover, and I’m pretty sure I can’t buy it in-stores for now. My country has put lots of restrictions on in-store purchases, and I don’t want to place an online order for only a few items, you know? That being said, once I get a hold of nail polish remover I’ll do my nails every week!
PAN THAT PALETTE
I love the palette I chose for this challenge, but it’ll be hard to pan any of these shades. Last month I used it around three times a week, though I should use it everyday to notice any real progress!
H&M LE Tuscan Escape Shadow Palette
262g
Even though the eyeshadow formula seems a bit dusty and easy to finish off, the pans themselves must be really deep! During January I used almost all of the matte shades and most of the shimmers; the formula of this product hasn’t changed and I still believe that this is a good palette!
My current eyeshadow looks include the matte pink shades, the lilac and red shimmers, and the champagne shimmer in the middle of the first column. I also use the two bottom shades from the second column to fill my brows. Would you like to see a springtime mask-friendly tutorial?
BOOK A MONTH
Before I write about the books I read last month, I wanted to introduce the book I’ll focus on during February.
The book I chose for February is Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden.
This historical fiction novel was first published in 1997, though some of you might recognize the name because of the film which was released in 2005 under the same name.
Since I picked a deeply political novel for January, for February I decided to choose a lighter read. I remember absent-mindedly watching Memoirs of a Geisha many years ago, so this month I decided to finally read the novel it was based on.
Throughout the month I’ll also continue reading Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments series. I’m about to start City of Glass but before I do that, I need to finish writing the important plot points of each book in my reading journal! Would you like to see my reading journal? If so, hit the like button of this post, or leave a comment down below!
JANUARY READS
I have two reads from last month to share today, City of Bones and City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare. I also started and nearly finished the book I intended to read during January, which was 1984 by George Orwell. While the latter novel is easy to read, it is very dark and depressing, so I’ve been reading it in-between young adult fiction novels. At some point I’ll review the TMI series in a separate post, while the review of 1984 is coming in one of my future challenge updates!
#QOTD: Are you participating in a similar challenge? If so, I’d love to hear an update on your progress in a comment down below!
Until later,
xoCaligo
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I'm a 23-year-old blogger girl from Riga, Latvia who enjoys different books, tasty food, cuddling with my cats, and reviewing cruelty-free beauty products!
Hi, thank you for the update!
I like the new lighting, it’s easier to see the details.
I think bronzer is a hard product to hit pan on, I’m currently battling with my Butter Bronzer. I swear it fills up during the night.
Wow, congrats on hitting pan in a highlighter! I’ll never be able to do that, I use such a tiny amount with each application. Do you like this formula? I had this highlighter in the gold shade, but I ended up decluttering it, I always felt it went on my face too thick, no matter which brush I used.
You also made great progress on the blush. I also hit a pan on mine. I’ve been worried about repressing it, but your pan is bigger, you’ll get there before me. Could you please let us know how it turns out? I hope the formula/color doesn’t change very badly.
The Baby lips sure looks… interesting 😀
Re. Eyesgadow sticks, I really like the Clinique chubby Shadow Tints.
I’m definitely interested in an eyeshadow tutorial, maybe with some of the warmer colors?
I also read Memoirs of a Geisha, I’m curious what you will think about it. I’m currently reading the Discworld series. And it’s a definite yes for the 1984 review!
Hey, congrats on hitting pan in the blush!!! Seeing that shiny pan peek through is one of the most emotionally satisfying feelings out there, don’t you think?
I’ll include a look using H&M’s palette in my January favourites post next week. My hands have been itching to create something, so I’m glad you requested a warm tutorial!
By the way, thank you for the cream shadow suggestion, I’ll have to check it out. Are these shadow tints pigmented and long-lasting by themselves, or are they more suited as eyeshadow bases?
Thank you for your feedback regarding the lighting! Decent product shots are the bane of my existence and I’m always trying new things to see what works better. I guess that now the most important thing I need to figure out is how to take photos of my lip products without risking demonetization! 😀
This highlighter’s formula really is weird and it was hard to figure out how to apply it. At this point I dip one side of a flat foundation brush in the product, then apply it wherever I want to shine. After that, I take a fluffy kabuki brush, squish the bristles into a fan shape, and blend the highlighter using windshield wiper motions. I quite like this product because I don’t mind strong, super noticeable highlighters; if you prefer a neutral, lit-from-within type of look, you may not like it!
Blushes are one of the easiest products for me to finish off because I apply loads of blush the egirl way every time I do my makeup. The key is finding a product that isn’t overtly pigmented and blends out well! So far I haven’t experienced any colour or formula changes; have your powders done that while you’re using them? If so, that sucks!
What are the Discworld series about? I’m always looking for book suggestions, so tell me more!
I’m currently rereading The Mortal Instrument series because I’ve forgotten 90% of the story, and I’ll definitely do a full review of the series in March or April, depending on my schedule and inspiration levels.
As for the 1984 review, I’m a bit scared to share it because many people have strong opinions about it regardless of whether they’ve read it or not. However, I feel like the experience will offer me some personal growth, you know?
Thank you for the reply!
The shadow tints are pretty pigmented and long-lasting on me, but I have very dry skin and everything stays on for a long time.
I had one blush that shattered after I dropped it. I repessed it with some 70% alcohol and sadly the color changed very badly and I was not able to you it afterwards, had to throw it out. But that was the only time it ever happened. I repress my products regularly when I hit so much pan that only a ring around the outside remains, because that makes it hard to pick up product on my brush.
What do you do when you only have a little bit of powder/bronzer left? Do you repress them or just crush it up and use it as a loose product?
Re. Discworld books, it is a series written by Terry Pratchett. It has 41 books, so long series. It’s fantasy, it takes place in the fictional world of Discworld. It has a pretty big fan base, I adore the series too, I’m currently in the process of collecting all 41 books. If you have such varied tastes that you like both 1984 and the Mortal Instrument series then I think you will like this one. Check it out on Wikipedia/google, I absolutely recommend it 😊
I’ll need to look into those shadow sticks! I have normal to oily eyelids but I’m sure they’d work well for me, too.
I’ve tried repressing products in the past but it’s not my cup of tea. I prefer crushing up leftover product to turn it into a loose powder (if there’s very little left), or I’ll abuse my poor brushes by squishing their bristles and jabbing them against the sides of the pan! It’s so bad, I know, but I just can’t be bothered most of the time. Funnily enough, my brushes still look as good as new, and I’ve had most of them for 5+ years! 😀
As for the series, I’ll definitely add them to my to-read list! I love longer series, as I tend to get attached to the characters and go through all 9 stages of grief when it’s all over.