Makeup Obsessed

Prom Part 2

2011-07-01T12:10:00.000-07:00

Some pictures from my actual prom day as promised in my previous post! My dress is by Jessica McClintock. I loved the pleat details along the bust and waist. And the slit on the side made it that much better! I also had my hair curled at my local place. I liked it more than I thought it would. I don't think my date would have wanted to be on this blog, so it's just me here!

You can also see my shoes better because of the slit. They are by Me Too, and are the Jeanette slingbacks in champagne.

And my homemade corsage! I loved how unique it was, it's so easy to personalize when you have control over the sort of flower placement for the corsage.

Prom Part 1

2011-06-15T22:27:00.000-07:00

I miss discussing my beauty adventures with you guys, especially with prom and trying out new things! I decided to attempt my own lace nails for the occasion. All my friends had french manicures (and pedicures! :O), so I'm happy to say my nails were quite unique. I purchased a piece of lace from a fabric shop for around $1 and cut it roughly to size.

The base color is OPI's Skinny Dip'n in Lake Michigan. My bottle had dried up a bit, so it was gooey enough (gross, I know) to use as a sort of adhesive, and it stuck to the lace really well. Seche Vite helped finish it off, and I used tiny nail scissors to get the lace to fit my nail. Because I didn't use the heavy duty nail glue, my nails still felt bumpy, but it was worth the fun look!

I also went to Sephora for a makeup consultation. Please ignore the unkempt brows! I promise you I cleaned that up for the actual day! Sephora gave VIB's a special 45 minute makeover that month, so I was able to try a purple and gold look! It turned out pretty well.

My mom and her friend also made my corsages. This picture below is just an attempt to make a corsage out of flowers in the garden. I love the colors, but the flowers not as much.

This was a second try, I loved this one, but it wasn't my final one. I'll show you that one in another post! Along with my dress and shoes! :)

A Note

2011-04-17T17:26:00.000-07:00

Hello!
I just wanted to start off by saying that I loved this blog when I first started writing about makeup. I know I could call my love for makeup an obsession; but I feel different towards cosmetics these days. I can hardly even write up one post per week, and I used to do as many as three a day! I probably won't be posting regularly anymore, so I won't mind if you unfollow me. :) I might post a few things in the future, but definitely not as often. Anyways, I did enjoy these few years of makeup exploration and having you guys read it!

An Outfit for Warmer Days

2011-04-09T21:22:00.000-07:00

We had a week of warm weather last week, so I took the opportunity to wear my new high waisted skirt from Free People ($28). I really love how easy it is to wear this skirt. It can be easily dressed up or down. I know this will get a lot of wear during the summer! Definitely more comfortable then denim shorts. Did I mention that I'm currently loving belts?! I love how they change the entire outfit and emphasize your waist.

I played with some green eyeshadow looks as well. It didn't photograph as well as I hoped it would, but the green looked so vibrant in real life!

Another attempt to photograph the makeup. I like how you can see the blending a little better here.

N.Y.C. Blushable Creme Stick

2011-04-03T20:13:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting to post about this wondrous product for a while now, but I never got around to getting pictures taken. I got this last year, but they still sell it. The color I chose was Big Apple Blush. It reminds me of the NARS multiples, but probably 90% cheaper. Yay! With 8.0 grams of product to use, I'm nowhere near the end. So...onto some pictures:

Bare cheeks. Nothing to see here.

A quick swipe! So easy to get an even application. No baboon butt cheeks please.

Blended in! I am using concealer here, hence the improvement in skin appearance. It gives me a pretty glow too! I shall be using this blush all summer again! It literally takes less than thirty seconds to apply and blend. Lovee.

Rocking the Knuckle Ring

2011-03-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

I had been searching for a knuckle ring for a while, but I refused to spend over $30. I finally found the answer at Aldo Accessories! I looked through Forever 21's rings, but they had nothing even close to this beauty. I love how the pattern is more elegant but also tough because it's a knuckle ring! I got mine for about $15. Other places to get nice knuckle rings I found while on my search include Asos and Topshop. I was tempted to order, but I'm glad I found this one. I feel like this ring looks best with some dark, edgier polish.

I am still loving OPI's You Don't Know Jacques and tried the Suede version for the first time on my ring finger. The suede polish chips really easily, but it's so easy to reapply since it dries within a minute.

Just thought I'd throw in an outfit of the night. I love how my tall boots make me look taller! Always a plus when you're 5'3" (:

Lululemon & GAP Fit

2011-03-20T16:12:00.000-07:00

Gap Body Fit had some great workout clothes on sale. I scored the above top for under $20. If I wear a cardigan with it, it's fancy enough for a night out. But the back screams sport top!

The other top I got from Gap is pretty cool too. I love asymmetrical tops. I think I'll probably wear these more as actual clothes than for exercising! :)

And then...I feel like I have to tell you that right now, I am starting to fall in love with Lululemon! I know there are a lot of fans out there (just google lululemon blog). They hunt for those special edition items and buy them the minute they're released. Well, I might not be that crazy, but I made my first purchase the other day. The Hot Class Bra ($42). It is amazing!

I LOVE the color and design so much. It's probably my most fashionable sport bra. I can see myself making more purchases in the future. Plus, did I mention how much I love the free reusable totes they give with your purchase?

Nudes and Neutrals: Rock & Republic

2011-03-12T19:04:00.000-08:00

My absolute favorite eyeshadows at the moment have to be Rock & Republic's Femme and Vintage. When I first saw Femme in the pan, I thought it would look awful; too pink for my warm skin tone. But it actually evens out the darkness in my eye area. It's perfect for helping blend out the crease or just by itself to brighten the eye. I've been super low key with my makeup lately especially my skin care regimen is really helping to clear up my skin. I only have a few pimples here and there now!

Swatches above: Femme (left) and Vintage (right)
Vintage is also a great crease color. I love that it's matte and not too dark. I use it to help "sculpt" my eye shape. My eyes are not exactly symmetrical, so that's why the eyeshadow looks uneven. I didn't use these shadows with any base (again, keeping it very low key here).

I added mascara but overall, it looks super natural. I did take a picture of my entire look, but I was probably using Benefit's Lady's Choice, which is still my favorite nude lip color.

I love how open my eyes look! I've been a bit uninspired my makeup lately. Definitely expect my posts on clothes or workout gear now that I've started yoga!

OOTD: Free People Tunic

2011-03-06T17:34:00.000-08:00

I got this Free People tunic ($58) in "Hot Berry" from a local boutique the other day, so I thought I could post an outfit of the day with this tunic. I got it in small so I could also wear it as a dress in the summer.

Excuse the lack of makeup here...I did make my own version of the five foot chain necklace with some chain I got when I was in Hong Kong. Much more affordable! I am wearing it with leggings and a Free People bandeau in silver. I wore this out with some knee high boots.

I thought I could also show you how I display my jewelry! I got this little earring display with a little bird perched on top for about $10. It's so pretty, and I can fit a lot of earrings on it. You can see a bit of a miniature white wardrobe to the left, and I have some other necklaces in there. I forgot to get a picture of it though.

Above is my long necklace wall! My mom found some wooden hooks that I could attach to my wall. It's a really easy way to store all my necklaces without having to get them all tangled!

Glittery Guerlain Gloss

2011-02-27T22:18:00.000-08:00

I got the Guerlain KissKiss gloss ($30) from Sephora a while ago. The shade is Fraise a Croquer 821, which Sephora describes as a raspberry pink with gold glitter. The description is very accurate. Yes, this was when I was loving all the glittery stuff. Now...it just seems like a bad idea. The only thing I like is the raspberry shade. See swatch below:

Way too glittery to wear anywhere, except maybe at a night at some dance. It almost reminds me of the cheap frosty lip gloss I had when I was younger. I do give it credit for being nicely pigmented and not too gritty. The texture was smooth and felt quite moisturizing. I would love this gloss if it was some sort of cream shade (no glitter). Did I mention I love the smell? It reminds me of raspberries!

Dior Addict Lip Glow

2011-02-21T18:03:00.000-08:00

My mother got this for me from Sephora ($29). Even though I love the pretty packaging, I'm not that amazed by it. I remember reading a lot of raves about this product. Since I don't have pale nude lips to begin with, I didn't get any beautiful baby pink color when I applied this.

I tried to get a swatch to show you how this product changes color. On the left is when I initially apply it and the right is the color after a few minutes. You can barely tell it does this on my lips.

One more thing: moisturization. (Is that a word?) This is supposed to be a lip balm. I don't find it to provide any long lasting moisture. Oh well, it's still quite pretty to look at and use.

Revlon Super Lustrous Gloss

2011-02-18T00:23:00.000-08:00

I purchased the Revlon Super Lustrous glosses in Pink Pop and Firecracker from CVS because I had a $3 off any Revlon purchase. They have a strange artificial scent to them. They remind me of cheap artificially flavored popsicles. Not exactly pleasant, but the texture is really quite nice.

Pink Pop on the left and Firecracker on the right.

Firecracker doesn't look good on my lips at all. I definitely would not repurchase; it makes my lips turn into an unsightly shade of orange.

Pink Pop was way better. The look of each color is so different. They is so creamy and soft, and the color is definitely more opaque. I love how this shade looks when applied. I do want to try the coral shade in the line and I spotted some Colorburst glosses that look so elegant! Next on my drug store must try list!

Earth Therapeutics Brushes

2011-02-10T08:48:00.000-08:00

I went to Bed Bath & Beyond to find a new brush since my old one was super worn out. I'm not hairbrush snob, so this $10 one was good enough for me. The natural bristles on this one are supposed to act like boar bristles to distribute the oils in your hair to produce shine. It definitely works! If you want that sleek, shiny, straight hair you see in commercials, you can definitely get this effect just by brushing your hair! I also noticed that it helps detangle knots in your hair. The handle on this one is bamboo.

My messy hair seen above and a transformation...

Sleek shiny hair with shine! I do recommend you check out this brush! It helps tame fly-aways as well. No more annoying baby hairs that stick up. (: I found a link where you buy it online too.

Hoarder

2011-02-06T12:09:00.000-08:00

I have tons of makeup samples and new products I haven't even touched yet, but I admit I do love staring lovingly at each product waiting to be used. I also have backups of the Boscia Black Mask the Shu Uemura eyelash curler. I love my Nivea moisturizer (they don't sell this in the States) and I'm worried that I'll run out soon!

Always Love for Free People

2011-02-01T08:28:00.000-08:00

The mall with the Free People boutique is about an hour way drive so I never really get to visit it. But when I did go, I found some amazing stuff. I love that they give a cute resusable bag to put all your purchases in! The purple tank dress is amazing! It fits perfectly, and it also hides all the bra straps. I'm most excited for the plaid shirt with the lace on the top. I saw Spencer wear this on last week's episode of Pretty Little Liars (great show btw). The last item is a pair of gray-green skinny cargo pants. I can see myself wearing this with sandals in the summer!

I never go around to posting this jacket I got from my mom during the holidays. I really like this one. It has girly ruffles on the bottom! The color and style transitions well into Spring too!

And then...I check out I saw these Free People gift cards! How beautiful is that? I had to buy one and make my purchase with it. (: They even game me a little pouch to put it in!

And Rock & Republic Returns Again

2011-01-23T13:57:00.000-08:00

Rock & Republic always has a code "ROCKCOSMETICS" for 50% off their makeup, and around 2 weeks ago, all their eyeshadows were marked half off final sale! That came down to $7 per eyeshadow with the discount, so I had to take advantage of the offer. I have already tried the eyeshadow in Lost posted here and I knew about the great quality. I also love the glam packaging. The only bad thing I can say is that they're shipping is currently about $13 and I live in California, the same state they ship from. Super disappointing, especially since they used to have 99 cent shipping. The discount makes up for it in my opinion. :)

I decided on the eyeshadows Femme (pale pink), Twisted (blue-purple duochrome), and Vintage (light warm brown). I had a lot of trouble deciding which colors to get, but Karlasugar has some of the best swatches!

There were only three blush colors left to choose from, but I knew a definitely wanted to try them since I heard about the great pigmentation. The color I chose was Immoral. It's super vibrant in real life; my picture captures it pretty well. A very light swipe with a finger still produced a vibrant coral color.

The eyeshadow that interested me most was Twisted, with this blue, purple duochrome quality. A lot of swatches online look different depending on the lighting, so I decided to try it with different cream eyeshadows as a base. The first one is just a black cream shadow from Benefit. It looks like a deep eggplant color. In the middle, I used the Stila Purple Pumps which yielded a vibrant grape shade. Last on the right was Stila Cobalt Blue smudgepot, giving the eyeshadow more of a violet blue sort of hue. I love the range of Twisted!

Here I am wearing Twisted over Stila's Purple Pumps and a darker blue color from the Stila Tokyo Palette in the outer corner.

A closer look (but I only took one picture and that ended up blurry...).
I have been experimenting with Femme and Vintage for an everyday look, but a FOTD will come later. Femme really evens out my eyelid area despite it being quite pink. I hope Rock & Republic does not discontinue these seeing as they're marked down half off.

What A Deal!

2011-01-12T18:08:00.000-08:00

I saw the NARS lip gloss and lip stain duo for only $10 at Sephora! Maybe they're discontinuing them, because there were other colors as well. I chose the one with Turkish Delight lip gloss and Sayonara lip stain. I've never loved NARS lip glosses because of the smell, but this was too good of a deal. The stain's consistency reminds me of whipped marshmallow, not liquid-y at all. The color is lovely; it'd go with anything.

I also saw the NARS Orgasm Illuminator as a deluxe sample so I grabbed that as well. Sad thing is, it doesn't show up on the skin very well. I love collecting minis, so I treasure it all the same.

I said I would put up some more outfits, so here's another one. My favorite Calvin Klein sweater worn as a sweater dress. I love how the gold bangle looks with the gray. I really want a small leather bag with long straps...this Kipling one with a denim print will have to do for now.

Last but not least...my very own Moleskine notebook! I really didn't see what was so great about a plain notebook that cost over $10 until I got a hold of this. My friend Cat got it for me. I love it!! There's something so classic and inspirational about it. I can't bear to just scribble in there, but I know it will be filled with beautiful things.

Winter Favorites

2011-01-02T16:53:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year my lovely readers! I thought I would just share some of my favorite makeup items this season. I noticed that all my favorite lip and cheek products are in the same color family (except the gloss). I also really love the open doe eyed look, so I haven't been using much smokey eyeshadow.

The swatches L to R: Boots Brown eyeliner, Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Lucky, MAC Florabundance l/g, Benefit Lady's Choice l/s, Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Powder Pink, NARS Oasis Blush, NARS Etrusque e/s

My friend gave me my first Pot Rouge. Quantity-wise, the Bobbi Brown cream blushes are worth the price. I love the color, you can even use it as a lip color! It's not sticky at all; very easy to blend.

I just line the top lid with Lucky, tightline with a brown liner and apply Etrusque eyeshadow wet along the bottom lash line. Sometimes, I'll even dot some Stila Kitten eyeshadow. I call it mixing metals on the eye! It makes your eyes look really wide and open.

NARS Etrusque eyeshadow is really pretty. I've been looking for a beautiful gold like this. MAC's Goldmine doesn't seem to be as pigmented or as creamy (even though both are powders). The photo above is pretty true to life.

My favorite pink lip combo at the moment! Benefit Lady's Choice topped with MAC's Florabundance. Not too nude!

The look together. What have you been loving?

A Trip to the Napa Valley

2010-12-29T12:13:00.000-08:00

My mom and I went on a 2 day trip to Napa and Vacaville. Above is a picture taken at Westwood Hills Park. It was still wet and sludge-y from a night of run, but still beautiful. So green. It'd probably be better to visit in the spring/summer to see all the vineyards. If you look closely, you can see a ring of rocks in the field. I think that's where some Boy Scouts camped.

The muddy trail, but it still looks amazing on camera!
My mother and I at the hotel. They had a sofa! We went to this restaurant in downtown Napa called Ristorante Allegria. It was delicious, especially their bread and dip. Moving on to the shopping part of our trip. (: Napa and Vacaville both have Premium Outlets. The one in Vacaville is quite nice but not one of the biggest. I got a new Burberry Washed Quilted Leather Wallet ($380). It's made from lambskin so it's super soft. It also has a zip compartment inside for change and a bunch of places for cards. I love the way all the little pockets. I know this has satisfied my desire for expensive wallets for a while...
Above is my outfit from the second day. I'm loving my lace up boots. They go with everything! I paired it with my new Hudson Military Skinny Cargos, a VS Pink slouchy tee and a F21 necklace. My boots go with everything!
I thought I'd also show you a picture of my eye makeup. Dark blue on top and gold on bottom applied wet. The eyeshadows are from the Sleek palette.

The Difference of One Lipstick

2010-12-22T10:01:00.000-08:00

The above color is Revlon Sassy Mauve. For a week or so, I thought this was my new favorite color. But one day I looked at the mirror and my teeth looked yellower. My skin looked sallow. Then I knew it was so not my color. Such a warm pink can be hard to pull off. I guess it can now rot in my lipstick box. For reference, I included a picture with a bluer pink. Do you notice how my teeth look whiter? The camera also picks up cooler tones so my skin doesn't look so yellow!

Mmm...Jeans

2010-12-19T14:11:00.000-08:00

I ordered these jeans from Rock & Republic in the "Obsessed" wash. The color is absolutely gorgeous. So soft too! I feel like this line is getting less popular and harder to find. Their jeans are usually too long, but these fit perfect! I'm only 5' 3" though. Jeans in action with some lace up boots (my favorites!).
I also went to Sephora last week and got a skincare challenge reward! It's such a good deal! A full size Philosophy Purity Made Simple cleanser. The reviews on this are really good and I've never tried it, so I'm glad I chose this. If you haven't used your points yet, do it soon because they expire this year! I also purchased the NARS Etrusque eyeshadow. I will definitely do swatches of this soon. I've been looking for a bright gold for a while!

Casual Red

2010-12-17T22:42:00.000-08:00

I tried out some bright coral red lips with a random white vneck tee I had. I like the effect! But trying to choose a red from my collection made me realize how little reds I actually have...

Free NARS Palette with Purchase!

2010-12-06T19:33:00.000-08:00

I couldn't justify spending another $100 on makeup but who doesn't love NARS? They have an awesome gift with $100 purchase at Neiman Marcus and free shipping as always. A full sized Best of Lips Palette that retails for $50!! I'd definitely consider takig advantage of this. Link here. I bet this will sell out soon so act fast!

One Soft Face Brush

2010-12-04T18:20:00.000-08:00

One of the worst reasons for buying a makeup product might be buying it for the gift with purchase. I was on at the Shu Uemura site and saw that one of the deluxe samples was a mini lip gloss! I knew I could either get some cheap makeup sponge or get a nice product I actually wanted. I opted with the latter. The lip gloss ended up being a tacky looking color anyway... so much for that. But I saw the Natural 18 face brush made of goat hair and knew I had to have it. I've been looking at it since this summer (even in HK), but finally decided to buy it. MUA alley gave it some stellar review, and I knew Shu Uemura is known for some great brushes. The brush head is slightly smaller than a quarter as you can see. Very dense but the uncut bristles make it amazingly soft. I wash this after EVERY use to ensure pristine whiteness of the bristles. It applies face makeup beautifully! Coverage depends on how many layers you stipple (and blend) on. I feel like I like using this for when I want a full face of makeup. I just use concealer these days. It sure beats using that mini MAC 190 brush. What took me so long? haha. I definitely recommend though.
Some information that came with the packaging. I noticed how they suggest you dry it laid flat as opposed to the upside down that everyone on youtube recommends...

Black Friday!

2010-11-30T18:13:00.000-08:00

I thought I'd share my Black Friday haul with you while it's still relevant. Here's a quick story of my trip: I went to an outlet at 10 pm after Thanksgiving dinner. At about 1, my mom and I drove to Walmart, which was way crazy and not worth waiting in life. Then, we went to a local mall after a one hour nap. Lastly, we went to Target and got home at 6 am and I slept for another 6 hours. I felt pretty productive, and it was definitely one of my best Black Friday shopping adventures EVER. I actually am one of those people who prefer shopping by themselves, but my mom and sister are the only exception. Ok, enough about that. What did I get? Good deals! J. Crew had some good stuff on sale, so I got a merino cardigan in a forest green color and a tshirt with a jeweled neckline. GAP was also having a 50% off before 10 am, so I got some yoga pants. I have to say, these have an AMAZING fit and cut. The crotch has a little triangle. I don't have the thinnest thighs, and that piece helps eliminate the V that forms when I squish my legs together. I would imagine that it would also really help eliminate camel toe. TMI, but very good to know. I think I might buy all my yoga pants from GAP now. They were originally $49.50 but I got them for $20! (: Then, I also bought a cute Calvin Klein sweater that can also be pulled down to wear as a dress. I love how soft it is. It's perfect with skinny jeans or leggings with some leg warmers. Bath and Body Works also had a bunch of my favorite foam soaps on sale (old and new packaging). I do like the old packaging more... looks classier. But at $1.25 a bottle, it was worth getting so many bottles. Overall, a very pleasant Black Friday experience. I have to admit, I like the crowds and the commotion. It's what makes it fun for me!

Cyber Monday was a bit of a disappointment though. No amazing deals to be found, though I did buy a pair of Rock & Republic jeans from their site on Saturday. It should be coming tomorrow!

I Love This Gloss

2010-11-27T22:05:00.000-08:00

I was able to get YSL Golden Gloss in 24, which is an Asia exclusive. It's such a pretty beige pink with golden shimmers. It definitely leans towards the nude family. These glosses don't feel that sticky on my lips either. It's reasonably pigmented for a gloss. This shade is becoming one of my winter favorites. (: I love the sparkly-ness of it!Since this is a short post, I thought I might also show you my new-ish lipstick/lip gloss storage. I cut the lipstick/lip gloss boxes in half and use it to hold my products. This box is already too small for everything. Maybe it's a sign to use up some of this stuff. I am nowhere NEAR finishing any lip product. I'm going to work on it.
P.S. I decided not to do an individual post on my Sephora F&F haul and actually just do mini reviews of each item instead.

The Epiglide

2010-11-21T15:56:00.000-08:00

The official name for this product is something along the lines of Panasonic Wet/Dry Epiglide 3-in-1 Epilator Hair Removal System with Skin Protector. This retails for $80, but I'm sure you can finally find it cheaper on amazon.com. I've been meaning to do a post on this for ages, but more exciting things always get in the way. This is going to be a long and useful (I hope) review.

On youtube, I see most people review the Emjoi epilators, but I always come back to the Panasonic ones. The main reason? The ability to shave AND epilate with one product. The Emjois only epilate, but I really like having both options from Panasonic. I believe this is the newest version. I purchased this to replace my old Panasonic which was blue. To me, this works the same. I've been epilating ever since I needed to shave, so I've actually never done anything else!

I remember when I first used this, I would get little spots of blood from where the hair was pulled out, but nothing scary. Try this on your legs first. I found that I am least sensitive there. It hurt a little at first, but after about a week, the pain goes away. These days, I use it and I don't even feel any pain. It's worth mentioning that everyone's pain threshold is different though. Of course, this is really useful on the armpits. I see a lot of girls at school with shaved underarms, but you can still see black specks from where the hair is under the skin but cannot be shaved. It looks quite nasty, and a epilator completely solves the problem since it pulls out the hair from the root.

Another great perk is that you don't need to epilate as often as you shave! I probably do it on my legs once a week (except in the winter because no one sees your bare legs anyway) and underarms about every other day. I know you can also use this epilator in the shower; I haven't tried this, but reviews say that it works best when wet! I really should emphasize how I love the shave option as well. Sometimes, I just shave to get the smallest hairs that epilating cannot get. You just need to switch the heads on the epilator -- very simple.

It also comes in 2 speeds (I only use the highest one), a plastic cover and bag to travel with, a brush to clean the machine of hairs, and a bikini trimmer. Overall, the advantages far outweigh any disadvantages (are there any?!). One last thing, make sure you charge this only when it's completely out, or else you will shorten the battery life (which I did with my first one). I've only charged it ONCE since June and amazingly, I could still use it until last week. Granted, I didn't use it for that long and I don't have too much leg hair. At least this means you can take this on vacation and not even worry about bringing a charger! Ask me anything in the comments if I haven't answered your question.

Weekend Shopping

2010-11-18T22:14:00.000-08:00

I went shopping last weekend, and found some good pieces from Anthropologie and J. Crew. Around this time of year, I love asking for gift boxes with purchases so I can reuse them to wrap gifts for other people. Anthropologie's gift box is adorable! I love how they give the felt trim to really complete the look. The square cardboard box looks so organic.
I purchased some red sandals with a slight wedge heel. They are from the brand Dolce Vita. The style is Risa. They are still selling it online at some places marked down from $140. J. Crew is one of those places I love to shop at but usually don't want to pay the price. Their cardigans are usually around $90, and it just seems like a lot for a thin layering piece. Nevertheless, I love their cardigans because they have such beautiful detailing. The cardigan was such a rich purple-y color; I had to get it! The other thing I got was a tank top with silk ruffle trim. Definitely my type of top!

I also went to a local farmer's market over the weekend and finally picked up a bar of honey soap I've been planning to get forever. It wasn't too expensive. The lilac scent with the honey smells divine! I don't think I'm going to use this anytime soon. I keep this by my bed anytime I want a relaxing sniff. (:

Stila Tokyo Palette

2010-11-14T15:32:00.000-08:00

I purchased the Stila Tokyo Palette ($10) from Sephora from their Friends & Family sale (haul coming soon). I have seen all the other travel palettes they released and none of them caught my eye except this one. The blue seemed like such a striking color and at $8 discounted, why not?
I did a little FOTD with the palette. I'm not really sure how to use the colors together yet. I really like how the pink gives off a purplish feel when mixed with the blue. The convertible color that comes with the palette, Sakura, is much creamier and less sticky than their full sized convertible colors. I really like the new texture. The color does not last that long on my lips though. I also included some arm swatches. The colors are all very nicely pigmented. The mattes are not chalky at all! The pink eyeshadow could probably also double as a baby pink blush. The black was the hardest to swatch, but it blends well on the eyelid. Here's a close up of the lip color. I'd definitely recommend this palette! I know there was an issue with the other palettes about poor quality, but this palette combines good quality with great value!

Perfect Rouge

2010-11-09T17:38:00.000-08:00

I usually don't buy Shiseido products, but this color stood out to me at the counter. The color I purchased was BE 208 ($25). The name on the site is "Baby." I really love the texture of lipsticks from Asian brands. They are often super moisturizing. This was creamy and quite pigmented as well. Even thought it is a "BE" shade, this lipstick shows up as a very warm pink on my lips. It leans towards nude, but it's still one of those colors that I can apply quickly without a mirror. Online swatches seem to make it look much more beige. For the packaging, I really like the curves of the tube. It's unique yet still simple. This lipstick really makes me want to try more Shiseido lip products!

Nails the Color of Patent Leather

2010-11-07T15:58:00.000-08:00

Excuse my sloppily applied nail polish as seen above. I was aiming for a deep red color, something like the color of those patent leather Louis Vuitton bags. That first swatch is Essie Bordeaux by itself. It's a little too bright for the shade I was trying to get, so I put on some Essie Sassy Satchel over that. It made it much nicer! It's starting to remind me of berries in winter or something. Does that even make sense? I noticed a lot of people are starting to do one glitter nail (in magazines, blogs), and I really like the effect. The one I used was Chanel Illusion D'or. Gold shows up really well on the deep red.
I also went to Sephora with the Sephora iPhone app and got myself a mini Tarina Tarantino Pearl Glow primer! It's adorable! The bottle sounds like it's made of glass, and there's even a little pump. Super convenient. I need to try this and give you guys a quick review. The Boscia cleansing gel was another deluxe sample I got with my too many Beauty Insider points. It'll probably be a good thing for travel.

A Little Late

2010-11-06T17:13:00.000-07:00

I wanted to show you the makeup I did for Halloween! I went as a "wood nymph." The head piece was made of green ribbon with some jeweled trim sewed on. I even made wings out of a wire hanger and some old dance tights. It was basically entirely homemade.
The dress is the American Apparel Bandeau dress worn as a one shoulder dress. I just wrapped a piece of green scrap fabric around my waist. I mostly had fun with the makeup. I think the freckles really makes the look cuter! For the swirls next to my eyes, I used the Urban Decay glitter liner. The mask was cut out of a wide piece of ribbon and tied under my hair. Hehe, the mask kinda gives off a mischievous feel.
Last but not least, I got some new gray Toms, which I also wore with my costume (amazingly comfy!). I know I'm a bit behind on blogging. I have lots of stuff to show you!

Newest Obsession

2010-10-24T17:01:00.000-07:00

Braids! I really like the "boho" effect they create. I was never really into them, especially since my hair is so layered. Once you get the hang of it, it's so easy! Doing a little side braid (on the right side of my head) really helps keep the layers in. The pictures below describe what I mean. I also included a picture of how the side braid connects into the fishtail braid. Love it! Last week, I also ordered from Giorgio Armani since they were having a little sale on their site! I don't think you can find the link to it on the main page, but I bookmarked it here! I purchased the Giorgio Armani silk lipstick in 27. I got it for about $21 including shipping, but the original price is $29, so I'm still saving!
It's a beige-y nude. Sheer enough so I can pull it off quite easily. This lipstick doesn't slide around in the tube, which is a relief. I've been buying mostly lip products lately, but I ordered from Sephora with their 20% discount. So excited for that to come!

Convenience at Its Best

2010-10-14T18:39:00.000-07:00

The other week, I purchased the Bobbi Brown Face Palette off the Neiman Marcus site. This had actually been on my wishlist for a month or two, but I finally got tired of trying to hold a mirror while reapplying concealer. $15 does seem quite a lot for little plastic compact, but I don't know any other company that does this! The convenience it brought was definitely worth the price. I even got a free mini lip gloss with purchase. (:The palette comes with a very convenient mirror and a spatula to scoop out any makeup you want on the go. I even read in reviews that some people put two lip colors in one pan! Make sure the product is smoothed out evenly on top, or the product will get onto the mirror!
There is a label on the back where you can write in the products. I chose to cover it with tape because 1. I didn't want it to get dirty/wet and 2. I would definitely change the products I put in there!

And here is my palette filled with my favorite products! The top left corner is the Benefit Creaseless shadow, and that already dried out, so I would advise you not to put any gel liners or Benefit cream shadows in the palette. There is too much air exposure. I think this is also a great way to use up the last bits of any cream makeup (I am trying to use up two lip balms).
This might be the best purchase I made of the year! I can quickly apply concealer discreetly without needing to unscrew the lid and dropping it (been there, done that). I definitely recommend!

Quickie Reviews

2010-10-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

My friend bought me MAC's Vanilla Pigment (thanks Cat!) for my birthday a while back, and I'm still loving it! Even though the jar seems much smaller now, I'll probably never use it up. My favorite method to apply this is to wet my 239 brush with some Fix+! I also saw a little trick BelledujourNYC does; she uses it as a lip color! It's a bit too nude on its own, but with some pinker lipstick, it's beautiful!
Next up is the Edward Bess lipstick in Forbidden Flower. Initially, I was so excited to be able to try Edward Bess! But when I used it, I was pretty disappointed. The color was mediocre and it was one of those lipsticks that shifts around in its tube! The cap also didn't close properly so it fitted quite loosely. I wouldn't recommend them, especially the $12 shipping (eek!) and the $30 price tag... I'd much rather get 4 or 5 Revlon lipsticks.
Last of all is a new EcoTools blush brush! I loved my powder brush so much (I use it everyday to set my powder!) that I bought the other face brush in their line. It's much denser than my NARS Yachiyo, but it's great for those lesser pigmented blushes. I also love it for blending out my NARS blush when I apply too much.

I know I saw this about every other month, but I am trying to work on using up my collection before getting more stuff. Right now I'm craving some Lululemon pants! What about you?

I Love Being A V.I.B.

2010-09-29T22:46:00.000-07:00

I tried the Viva Glam Cyndi lip glass at MAC last weekend and it has to be my favorite bright lip glass! It looks really red, but when applied, it turns into this very pretty coral hot pink color! I took it in shade (top) and with flash (bottom).It's amazing how one lip product can literally brighten your whole face. Of course, I went to the mall with a purpose: to get my brother's birthday present! He is actually pretty much a beauty queen like myself (of course he wouldn't admit it), but he applies gel to his hair every day and even uses my Mario Badescu drying cream every night. I tease him about it, and he loves using his cologne everyday. I got him the Diesel Only the Brave. The bottle is a cool fist shaped design. Maybe I'll put up a picture later. But the other goodies was the V.I.B. freebie! With any $50 purchase, I got a mini NARS Laguna bronzer and mini Chihuahua lip gloss. There was a Too Faced and Benefit option, but NARS was most enticing to me. I'm glad to say I'm qualified for V.I.B. for another year! I don't know if that will keep up once I'm in college, but I'll enjoy it while I can!

Revlon Crazy

2010-09-25T19:53:00.000-07:00

When all is said and done, I end up with 6 new Revlon lipsticks. The first 3 are Color Burst lipsticks and the last 3 are Super Lustrous lipsticks. L-R: Rosy Nude, Soft Nude. Coral, Cherries in the Snow, Sassy Mauve, Pink VelvetOverall, I really like these lipsticks! Not too creamy or drying. The lipsticks actually last pretty long. The packaging is also the classiest of drugstore tubes. I also included swatches (Top: Pink Velvet, Cherries in the Snow, Sassy Mauve; Bottom: Rosy Nude, Coral, Soft Nude):

The Coral shade is pretty bright, but it's not too orange. It is definitely a shade you could call coral.Below is Cherries in the Snow on my lips. You can also really sheer this out like a stain, very versatile.

Exciting News and Free Lipstick

2010-09-20T17:07:00.000-07:00

Okay, this title might be a slight exaggeration. But anything to catch your attention right? Bobbi Brown is now sold at Sephora!! Another great line to buy from when their Friends and Family sale rolls around.
The second thing is a chance to get Revlon lipstick that is basically free. If you have a CVS near you (US), they are offereing $5 extra bucks when you buy a Revlon lipstick for $6.99. Revlon on Facebook also has a $2 off coupon for the Super Lustrous lipsticks here. So you end up paying $4.99 and you get $5 extra bucks. The limit is 6 at CVS. I picked up Cherries in the Snow and I LOVE it!! Tell me if you take advantage of this!

Black Goodness

2010-09-16T07:50:00.000-07:00

I tried Boscia's Black Mask and I absolutely love it! It applies totally opaque. I tried something similar when I had a facial in Hong Kong, but this one isn't as strong (doesn't pull as many blackheads). However, I find that this is a good substitute. After using this mask, my face felt smooth for the rest of the week. It got rid of all the little clogged pores that formed bumps around my mouth. The ingredients in this mask definitely moisturized my face. My pores looked smaller afterwards too! I wanted to give a few tips for application. Make sure it's thick and completely black when you apply it. Use a foundation brush you don't want to use for foundation anymore. It's much easier than applying with your fingers. Make sure it is COMPLETELY dry before you attempt to remove. If not, it's basically a gooey mess that sticks to your face. Before peeling, massage your face a little to loosen the mask. Then, roll the edges of the mask to get a good grip and then slowly peel it off! Of course, I had to include a picture of me using it: Overall, thumbs up! Try asking for a sample at Sephora if you don't want to commit to an entire bottle. Have anyone tried it?

My Only Duty Free Purchase

2010-09-06T23:10:00.000-07:00

It seems like I talked a ton about duty free, but I actually only got one thing: the Guerlain La Selection Couleurs Palette ($52 USD). I was able to find a online link to it here. It's a 2 layer palette with 6 eyeshadows and 4 lip colors. The lip colors are as versatile as you can get: bright pink raspberry, nude, mauve, and a muted red. They go on so smooth and light, but the color still shows through. None of the colors have names though.The shadows are also a good mix of neutrals: taupes, browns, pale pinks. It also comes with a mini lip brush, a sponge tip applicator, and velvet-like case. The cover is quite shiny, you can see your reflection in it! The colors actually remind me a bit of NARS colors. I actually bought this without swatching or seeing the colors in person; I'm so glad it came out to be a good purchase! The Guerlain scripting is such a beautiful touch.
Swatches seen here:
Overall, it's a great travel palette. Did I mention it also comes with a mirror?? I think the pictures do most of the talking. Have any of you ever seen this?

My Perfect Crease Color

2010-09-01T22:54:00.000-07:00

I bought the Rock & Republic eyeshadow in Lost from their website, and thanks to Karlasugar's swatches, it is the perfect crease color! It's so easy to swipe this on and blend with a 217. It defines my crease without looking too obvious. It's perfect for those days when you don't want to fuss with an entire eyeshadow look. I even use this without primer, and it doesn't fade much at all!
Needless to say, the packaging is heavy and luxurious. I love their style of packaging. It feels very "rock chic." And c'mon, what type of makeup comes with a little hatbox?? Another bonus: the mirror it comes with is also large enough to see both eyes. Lost is a lovely pigmented brown with golden sparkles. It's not too warm, because those tend to look ashy on me.
I have to admit that I got this for 50% off at $14 (retails $28) and the promotion is now over. If you need any excuse, this eyeshadow has twice the amount of product as a MAC eyeshadow! So you're basically investing the same amount of money. I would love to try the other colors, but I was able to restrain myself from ordering any more. I was quite disappointed that they didn't have all their blush colors on sale. R&R currently has 99 cent shipping. Their eyeshadows are definitely worth taking a look.

It's a Duty Free World

2010-08-25T19:35:00.000-07:00

I was able to visit duty free in five places this summer: USA, Toronto & Vancouver, Hong Kong, and Macau. Since Hong Kong and Macau are tax free even outside the airport, they even had duty free available in certain malls. Macau had the most unique selection while the duty free sets in all the other places remained the same. I even saw the old YSL Twin Lip sets (long discontinued) still being sold in Macau! They had mini Shu Uemura lipstick and YSL lipstick sets and even a mini + regular Shu Curler set!

I wouldn't advise buying in Canada though, their prices are higher (over $30 USD for an MSF!!). Duty free is the BEST place to get items that were hard to come buy such as MAC Stereo Rose (this was everywhere but I didn't want it), Chanel Genial, LE Chanel polishes etc.DFS Galleria, the duty free store at the SF Airport also had a branch in Hong Kong (above). It's like a giant Sephora! I believe it was in Tsim Sha Tsui.
Also, Hong Kong duty free sells Asian brands like Anna Sui!Dior has a TON of travel palettes and lip sets. Nordstrom releases similar sets as "exclusives" but really, duty free has a much greater selection. This is a bit unrelated, but LE Dior polishes in the US were all sold in Hong Kong as part of the regular line (Dior Nugget to name one). The picture above was taken at SFO, so the prices are all in USD. Click to zoom in!So, what did I get? My first Guerlain palette ($52)! I'll do a separate in depth post for this later. Duty free prices at the US airport were about 2-3 dollars cheaper AND no tax. But then again, most of these things I could get at Sephora for 20% off, so there was no point in buying non-travel exclusive items.I heard such great things about Chanel's Genial lipstick, but I don't know why I never tried it when it was still available, so I tried it in SF and Toronto. I fell in love with it at Toronto, but I really couldn't justify spending above retail price in Canada (unfavorable conversion rate as well), so it didn't come home with me. These lip swatches are lovely enough. (: Flash above and no flash below.I hope you guys were able to enjoy a little bit of window shopping through these photos! I truly enjoyed all the duty free makeup available, and it's definitely something to include in your vacation budget!

Just About Done

2010-08-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

Aside from my duty free post, this is going to be my last post on Hong Kong. The picture above was taken at one of the malls in Kwai Fong. They sold some pretty cheap stuff, all indoors. If you want the cheapest of course, you'd best find it outdoors. A nice place to browse though, but I didn't get anything. I went to Times Square with a friend, and they had a Toy Story display! And they had the aliens all dressed up/ painted in different costumes. I tried to pose with the cutest one. (: I had to mention, that in my hand, is my new backup Shu curler! It was 100 HKD, which makes it about $8 cheaper than in the US. My cousin also sent me a facebook invite to a makeup sale, and the things I bought are pictured above, aside from the Jill Stuart bag. The Kose SOFTYMO White Cleansing Oil set was a good deal! I have already tried it, and love it for removing every last bit of makeup. I have to admit, my cleansing towelettes are not doing the job. I also picked up an Anna Sui lip gloss (detailed post later) for a super deal price of 66 HKD! That's like 100 HKD off! Good find.
I also went to Macau and stayed at Four Seasons. My cousins stayed at Venetian, and it basically looks the same as the one in Vegas. I thought the water looked too fake though. And last but not least...a new favorite lip balm! I saw lollipop26 do a post of this a long time ago, but I never forgot about it. It's so much better than all the other balms I've used. Not too sticky or goopy. Perfection! I wish they sold these in the US! The rose scent is quite nice as well.

I'll have pictures of my duty free shopping soon!

Window Shopping: Harbour City

2010-08-19T23:36:00.000-07:00

The biggest mall in Hong Kong. This took my shopping experiences to a whole new level. Brands I never touched with my own hand before - I could find at Harbour City. I'm talking about By Terry, Lipstick Queen, and Le Metier de Beaute! So expensive, but so worth taking a look at! These are brands bloggers rave about, but are extremely difficult to find even in department stores. You can also find Jill Stuart at a store called Faces. If you can only go to ONE mall in Hong Kong, definitely go to this one.Another plus is that the quantity of stores in one mall is rather convenient. When I strike it rich (ha!), I'll be spending it here. I had never even seen a Christian Louboutin store before! Look at it (above); there are shoes on spinning pedestals! The display was so whimsical. I loveed it. The Dior display was equally worthy of a picture. Clouds topped with gorgeous Dior bags! If those two pictures don't persuade you...Just walk outside and enjoy the view! This was taken at around 6 pm (summer), and the sky was a dreamy shade of gray purple. Wow...seeing this was one of my best moments in Hong Kong. My camera couldn't quite capture the beauty of it, but it's a memory to cherish.

P.S. I didn't know where to plop this, so here are my Vivienne Westwood earrings given to me by my dear cousin from England for my birthday! Thanks Elaine!

First Stop: Seibu

2010-08-15T00:27:00.000-07:00

I decided to basically blog about my trip in Hong Kong from the beginning. The Seibu I went to was at Langham Place. Not the most high end, but I think they're are twelve floors! I snapped a picture of NARS and Paul & Joe boutiques. I knew I was in the right place. hahaI was MOST excited for Jill Stuart and Anna Sui this time, and of course, those were my first purchases. Jill Stuart packaging is amazing! I mostly bought this lip balm for packaging. It's not that moisturizing, but I love Jill Stuart makeup's rose scent! It's quite strong though. I had to buy one of Jill Stuart's most popular products: The Mix Compact Blush
Mine is in the color 09 Little Bouquet. I love the little brush it comes with! Super soft, but make sure you wash it after every time or it will be stained yellow (like mine :( ) It's surprisingly pigmented, and I find myself using this every time I use blush. Last but not least, is my Anna Sui lipstick in 301. I hate how there is no name on the label! It's pretty sheer, but very easy to wear and quite moisturizing. Again, the packaging wins my heart. I probably wouldn't repurchase as most of the colors in the Anna Sui line are too sheer to even show up on medium skin!

More to come soon!

Here and There

2010-08-02T06:44:00.000-07:00

I hope you don't mind my short (but hopefully informative) little posts every now and then. I'm still in Hong Kong, and I've seen some new products from fall collections here. I was able to swatch the new YSL Rouge Volupte Perle and the one color I swatched was really pretty! Not sure about the glitter/shimmer yet... I think people here don't really swatch things on their lips. It's pretty unsanitary!

Faces and SOGO had the new expensive Guerlain palettes! I only liked the warm one. I'm pretty sure it's about $10 cheaper here! $70 (converted) something as opposed to the $80 something here and no tax in HK! Still too expensive though.

I also went to this place called Joyce Beauty and saw By Terry and Le Metier de Beaute the first time in person! It was really an amazing feeling, but I could never drop so much money without planning.

One last thing: TARTE 40% OFF FF SALE! Code: FFAUG (Aug 2-Aug 9) and a free gift with purchase (plastic makeup bag + quilted makeup bag + brush)

China Glaze For Audrey & Essie Turquoise and Caicos: A Comparison

2010-07-28T05:20:00.000-07:00

You know you're in love when you constantly stare at your nails. In love with your nail polish I mean. I tried my friend's For Audrey (China Glaze) and knew I had to get it...until I saw one of Essie's newer shades: Turquoise and Caicos. Of course, it looked greener than For Audrey, but I like my greens. For Audrey *almost* bordered too-baby blue, but the Essie shade was a definite YES in my book. I refuse to wear sky blues; they must have a tinge of green in order to avoid the clash with my tan skin.
For Audrey:
Turquoise & Caicos (love the jelly finish!):For Audrey on index finger and Turquoise & Caicos on middle finger:
Pretty similar right? Crazily makeup obsessed that I am, I think they're different enough to warrant both purchases. To me, they just give off different vibes.

P.S. I can never resist layering Chanel's Illusion D'or over my latest polish (i.e. Turquoise and Caicos) as seen here:These pictures took an excessive amount of time to upload... I also wanted to mention that I took these before my trip. I didn't take 3 polishes with 2 of them being similar colors. (:

Asian Makeup Heaven

2010-07-15T06:38:00.000-07:00

For the three, four days I've been in Hong Kong, it has been pure makeup heaven. I'm admiring brands I never thought I'd have the chance to see. Some of this amazing goodness would include Jill Stuart, Anna Sui, Kate, Majolica Majorca and MORE MORE MORE!
They even had a store that sold GOSH. I *might* pick up some of those pigments. One of the best things about Asian makeup is definitely the packaging. Even the cheaper products have the most amazing cases. Can't wait to upload pictures (maybe later this trip or back home).

I never thought I was one to be into Asian makeup, but this trip has definitely made me a convert. My Cantonese actually isn't too bad, and speaking about makeup in another language is something I've never done. :P The SAs were also super nice and helpful. They weren't too pushy either, which is a main reason why I love Sephora. A few super random but interesting things I've learned:

- Jill Stuart Mix Compact blushes only look good over a base (is that what Asians call foundation?); it really picks up on the pigment!
- Jill Stuart Powder Blushes are getting replaced by a brand new product! So this product is actually going to be discontinued
- Anna Sui lipsticks are cheaper in Hong Kong than in the States (Urban Outfitters website)
- Paul & Joe lipsticks are more expensive in Hong Kong (see above)
- the makeup counters at Anna Sui and Jill Stuart had swatches on those little nail palettes for all their polishes (super useful!)
- most lines probably don't carry foundations for darker skin tones (think about NC35/NC40 and above)

Smashbox Haul + FOTD

2010-07-10T15:04:00.000-07:00

I love the Smashbox Let's Do Lunch specials, especially if you wait for a real good one. The one for last Tuesday was a Smashbox Fusion Soft Lights in Dimension. It retails for $30, which is a super duper deal! I really loved the combination of colors. I have to add that shipping was extremely fast. I ordered on Tuesday, and got it by Thursday. The product I purchased to get this freebie was the Sunset Blvd Lip Gloss in Heat. The potted balm is smooth and creamy. Not too pigmented, but definitely gives a pretty int. I tried to swatch the powder below:
I love the warm golden shades. It's so versatile that I was able to use it on my eyes and cheeks for a FOTD. I really like the warm pink in the outer crease.
I also went to Sephora to try out the new Makeup Forever Aqua Creams. The one in 5 Peach appealed most to me. It was unbelievably creamy. I tried it on my lips, but it definitely washed me out. Also, it felt drying once applied and looked too frosty for my taste. Here's what I mean by "washed out." My makeup stayed on pretty well. This was about 8 hours later too! P.S. I'm going to Hong Kong for a month on vacation! Can't wait to shop at duty free & try out some Asian makeup (Jill Stuart, Anna Sui, Maquillage)! I'm not sure if I will be able to blog there, but if I can't, see you all in a month! (:

Lilac Sky: A Review

2010-07-04T20:58:00.000-07:00

I bought the YSL palette in Lilac Sky about a month ago, and now I feel like I'm ready to give a good review on this product! I even managed to get pretty good swatches of it. I photographed it in a lot of different lights in order to get its true color. I'd have to say these are some of my better swatches that I have done. I'm sad to say that they are not as pigmented as I had hoped they would be. It took a bit of rubbing to get the most intense color. The shimmery shade in the middle and top right were definitely the hardest to swatch. It was super sheer. One thing I DO love about this is that the palette includes some of the best shades of purple I could want. One of shades leans towards pink while the other is more of a violet color. What else? I tried to do an eyeshadow combination with just this palette. One of my main inspirations for purchasing this palette was the Versace show. I believe this was Spring 2010? I may be wrong, not too up to date with fashion shows these days.
My look wasn't as smokey, and my purple eyeliner definitely made it a bit more fun. By the way, the liner is Stila's Smudge Pot in Purple Pumps (the Barbie one!). I have to leave on one last note about this palette: the colors do not last. This may well be a deal breaker for many of you. I haven't tried this with the popular bases likeUrban Decay's or Too Faced's, but my usually trusty Benefit cream shadow didn't keep this on. It did fade quite evenly/nicely so I ended up with a lighter version of the above, but it's something to keep in mind if you want to spend the $56 on this. I'd wait for the Friends & Family sales if I were you. I hope this helps you make a decision if you were interested in it. The colors are definitely worth a look at Sephora.

P.S. While I was at Sephora the other day, I also picked up my free Birthday Gift! It is a lot more fun than the 3 mini lipglosses they gave last year. Can't wait to see if the products are any good.

Want This!

2010-07-02T10:44:00.001-07:00

So expensive. Maybe duty free will have it by next week... $42! Love the gorgeous pattern pressed on top.

Wanted: Lightweight Sunscreen

2010-06-27T21:27:00.000-07:00

Once I saw in one of fuzkittie's youtube video how the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Liquid was her favorite and felt super light, I knew I had to have it. CVS was also having this promotion where I could get Extra Bucks for purchasing a certain amount, so I tried the product in SPF 55 and SPF 70. So far, I've only tried the SPF 55, but I am loving it! The texture dries to a powder finish. It comes out of the bottle super light. You can hear the liquid-y goodness when you shake it! :) Below is me experimenting with basic editing techniques. Believe me, they are so basic that I usually just crop photos and adjust lighting.
The second thing I wanted to ramble on is this new Revlon ad. I think this is Jessica Biel. I think she always looks a bit awkward...but I love that lip color! At CVS, I think the poster said it was their new lip stain in Passion (might be wrong). But I would love to try to do a similar lip. Maybe MAC's True Babe lip glass with something underneath? It's such a pretty summer lip combo! P.S. I am on a mission to post more often! I've been hauling a lot (especially clothes).

Giorgio Armani Friends & Family

2010-06-24T20:54:00.000-07:00

I probably won't take advantage of it this time (trust me, it took some serious thinking lol), but I hope some of you will! It's 20% off and free shipping (only if you buy at least $75). But then again, $5 shipping is pretty reasonable! Definitely recommend the sheer lipsticks! I absolutely love them. This ends on June 27th, and keep in mind you can use ebates to get some money back!

Buttery Like Mango

2010-06-20T16:19:00.000-07:00

The first word I would use to describe a mango would definitely not be buttery, except these this lipstick is the Korres Mango Butter Lipstick! When applied, this lipstick is definitely super smooth, but not too creamy like a YSL Rouge Volupte. I bought this in 13 Natural Pink, which was featured on Temptalia's blog a while ago. It definitely doesn't look too nice in the tube, but when it's applied, it turns into a beautiful shade of warm pink! It reminds me a bit of Benefit's Lady's Choice, but definitely not as opaque. $18 isn't too bad for a lipstick. Did I mention that this also has SPF 10? I think SPF on lips is easily forgotten, but it's just as important! Below is a swatch. Did you see how glossy it looks? Hooray for low maintenance lips in the summer! Are there any shades you recommend?

Finally in My Hands

2010-06-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

I was strolling through downtown and I stopped by a store I knew sold Anna Sui. It just so happened that everything was 50% off! I was super excited and I proceeded to choose an item. They also had liners on sale, and even after washing my hands because of the swatches, they were still going strong! I purchased the prettiest item: the face color in 401.
The details on the case are amazing! It reminds me of a mini version of their loose powder (which doesn't have good enough reviews to justify the price). I mentioned earlier that I really wanted Exhibit A from NARS, so this will fulfill lemming for the meantime.
Of course, the pigmentation is NOWHERE as intense as NARS, but I think the sheer blendability and ability to layer is something more unique to Asian brands. I remember when NARS came out with a reddish eyeshadow a year or two ago, and I might try this on my eyelids as well! This purchase got me more excited about Anna Sui, and I saw on a fellow blogger's site that they now sell it on Urban Outfitters!

P.S. I haven't really been inspired by makeup lately, which kind of explains my lack of posting. I'm sure when school gets out, I'll a lot more time to experiment and generally have more fun. (:

Mini Lipsticks

2010-05-23T20:51:00.000-07:00

I find mini products to be some of the favorite iteme in my collection. They are so adorable, so I can never bear to touch them! The one above is a the Chanel Rouge Coco that came with a Chanel order earlier last month (used promo code). I can't believe how CUTE it looks!! Just looking at it excites me. Since I was on the topic of mini lipsticks, I decided to take a picture of my entire mini lipstick stash. The Dior Addict Shine is actually one of the prettiest, but you can't see how it has that cute little knob on the cap since I have it open. Benefit's Lady's Choice in mini size doesn't look as nice as the full size but it's still adorable nevertheless.

P.S. I got the NARS email a while ago, and I love these blushes! Such bright, bold colors. I already have Desire, but the other two I might need...

Another Day, Another Lip Balm

2010-05-16T13:11:00.000-07:00

I saw the Juicy Couture lip balm for only $6 on Sephora, so I just had to buy it. I basically collect cute tins of lip balm, so here's another lovely addition! Excuse the awful editing skills, it's just me trying to make things more interesting. I'll try it out when I use up at least one of my lip balms of the four currently in use.

The next item of discussion is press on nails! I basically got both items below for only $1! Rite-Aid has great discounts + coupons = YAY! I thought the nails were pretty cute. I might try them for my birthday or on a boring summer day. I have always wanted to try the L'Oreal HiP liners! The purple shade is totally amazing and it LASTS all day. Lasts lasts lasts and even takes a bit of time to remove. I would definitely recommend it, especially since it's cheaper than both Urban Decay and Make Up For Ever.

I tried Chanel Illusion D'or over Essie's Van D'go, and it made the coral pink look more coral. I'm a bit scared that it looks like childish Claire's nail polish but I still like it. I guess it's a bit tacky that way.
Up close picture! I find myself applying the Chanel color over anything and everything. I actually have Dior Golden Nugget on my nails right now, and I forgot how much I loved it! The Chanel Illusion D'or over Golden Nugget is a bit excessive especially since it's already so bronze-y, but I'm still obsessed with it. Any of you picked it up since my last post?

Wishlist 5.14.10

2010-05-14T16:28:00.001-07:00

Wishlist 5.14.10

Last Time for Shu Uemura

2010-05-10T16:22:00.000-07:00

I'm sure most of you know that Shu Uemura is being pulled in stores from the U.S., so I kinda took that as an excuse to buy some Shu. I have a feeling I also want another eyelash curler, but as long as I can shop online that shouldn't be a problem! I chose to get another Shu lipstick, since I love them! This time, it was BG 902, a really pretty shimmery raspberry shade. It looks a bit similar to my Barry M 132 or the Wet n Wild dupe, but I assure you they're different!
P.S. I was at Walmart the other day and look what I found!Above is Chanel Sparkling Satins and below is Rimmel's Sweet Smoulder! Exact color dupes and color placement. Of course, I don't know about the quality in comparison, but I just thought it was interesting enough to point out.

Love for Chanel

2010-05-02T14:49:00.000-07:00

Just had to put these pictures up! I love my new Chanel Illusion D'or Nail Polish ($25). It's limited edition, but still available on Chanel.com. It wasn't sold at counters I believe. They also had free shipping (ending today!) so I immediately purchased after seeing gorgeous swatches of it over Chanel Black Velvet. This, to me, was definitely the stand out in the collection. The shimmer and glitter flecks are so unique. They flash blue and pink/red and purple. Ordering from Chanel.com also gives you pretty promo cards and samples! I got a mascara and a Rouge Coco sample. They will even provide free gift wrap at checkout. I took tons of pictures and I only chose the ones that best represent the color.
I took pictures of it over OPI for Sephora Never Enough Shoes (which has silver shimmer in a black base). This is night time flash.
This one is daylight. It never looks black. So shimmery and intense. I love it! I'm not really sure how "appropriate" it is, but that doesn't really bother me. (:
Ultra close up of my nail! Do you see all the blue and purple colors!!? I highly recommend this. This was my first Chanel nail polish purchase, and I really like it. Plus, you can always layer this over other colors (ie Essie Van D'go which is a great combo!). It can make colors turn a bit more coral since it's so gold. I haven't tried it by itself yet though. Maybe that's next...

Yay for Sephora!

2010-04-25T18:13:00.000-07:00

I went to Sephora and picked up the Cosmedicine Medi-Morphosis Self Adjusting Exfoliator. By the way, the flowers are from Victoria's Secret. They sprayed them with perfume. It smells alright, but it will definitely be gorgeous if I wrap some small gifts with the flowers over it. Right now, Sephora has this skin care challenge thing where you buy four skin care items over $20 and you can get a free skin care product! I also got some Boscia samples for my sister. The Boscia Restorative Night Moisture Cream works SUPER well. I might get this for her even though it's $44! The skin care challenge also come with a skin care consultation, so there's some more samples to try! I might save these for my trip to Hong Kong in the summer. So excited! I tried out China Glaze's Refresh-mint nail polish. I think it's probably a bit too pastel for me, but it's interesting. This is the only nail polish a guy has even commented on. "Why are your nails green?" Haha they don't get it.
My friend and I decided to wear nail polish ever other week to let our nails "breathe." Hehe. But I've already purchased Essie Van D'Go. I love peachy pinks, so this will be perfect! The other two bottles I just purchased to reach the $10 maximum to use my Ulta coupon ($5 off $10!).

Mall Time...Again

2010-04-16T18:51:00.000-07:00

I finally picked up more YSL makeup! I purchased the YSL Golden Gloss #3 ($29)and the YSL Lilac Sky palette ($56) from Sephora with my 15% off coupon. They were very pricey, but can you see how beautiful they are?! I've never seen prettier shades of purple. I'll definitely try this out soon. I've also racked up a LOT of beauty insider points. Hehe. The sparkles from the gloss resemble my picture below (in bright sunshine!):It's kinda sheer but the sparkley makes up for it. (: I'm getting better and better at finding free stuff whenever I go to the mall. (: Proof below:
Can you believe I got all that for free? Plus a quick massage at Aveda! This includes a Lancome Genefique Repair Night Cream, 2 Dior HydrAction Radical Serum, a 10 day sample of Lancome's Teint Idole Ultra, an Aeropostale tshirt, and an Aveda damage remedy treatment. I also picked up some free Godiva chocolate samples with my mom and sister. This makes me one happy camper. (By the way, if you want the free Aero shirt, just print out the homepage of seventeen.com and show them at the store.)

Lancome foundation. Ew. At least I know I won't be buying this. I asked for no SPF but she gave it to me anyways, and I know that's the cause of the white grossness around my face. ): I liked the mascara though! Lancome Hypnose: it separates and thickens beautifully.

B is for Blurple

2010-04-11T18:33:00.000-07:00

I was at TJ Maxx the other day, and they had really good deal on Essie nail polishes, so I took the opportunity to buy Sexy Divide! I wonder why I didn't buy this earlier, it's definitely one of my favorite colors. Did I mention I've never gotten so many compliments at my nail polish before??
There's a really pretty shimmer if you look closely. A major reason why I love this would be that it never looks black! The picture above was with flash, and below, in daylight. I think blue purples are just more fun than a red-er purple. More funky while the red purples look more royal to me.I'm back to buying nail polishes. I just purchased so more today, but I haven't taken pictures yet. There was this great deal at Rite-Aid where these were marked off to 99 cents, and with a Maybelline coupon worth $1, they were basically free plus tax. The green isn't exactly opaque, but I think it'd be so pretty over some sort of color, maybe China Glaze Refresh-mint?I've got more makeup coming up! I have Spring Break this week too, so that means more time to blog. (:

Burst of Color

2010-04-04T12:57:00.000-07:00

There's nothing prettier than an unexpected pop of color. I'm really getting into colored liners now. Less dramatic then full on lid of color but so much more interesting than boring black liner! It also helped that Stila had this amazing deal of 3 Barbie Smudge Pots for only $20. I don't think it's still going on, but you can check at their website.
The three colors: Purple Pumps, Little Black Dress, and Cobalt Clutch are so bright and unique. I've only tried the purple so far, but I've never gotten so many compliments on my eye makeup at school! I've also used the purple shade as an eyeshadow color and it blends beautifully with my MAC 217. I also decided to squeeze in pictures of my pigment collection! I don't have very many, and a lot of them are MAC pigment samples. I ask for them every time I buy something. Golden Olive is gorgeous! I had fun stacking them, but below is how I really store them: a jumble of jars in a little basket. I think my favorite ones are the GOSH pigments. Hmm maybe I can get my aunt to buy me a few more. ;)

First MAC of the Year

2010-03-28T20:27:00.000-07:00

I haven't been buying MAC for a long time, but when I saw Temptalia's swatch of True Babe from the Riveting collection, I knew I had to try it! It was such a beautifully bright pink! I really like bright lips right now and it was limited edition! I always take the opportunity to ask for samples as well when I shop at MAC, so I asked for Vanilla pigment. It's a really fine shimmer. I'm building up my sample collection. By the way, I've been trying to take prettier pictures haha. The first pic is with flash. This is in natural light. It doesn't have shimmer, but I have Chanel Venus for that. Now I have to find out when I can wear it!

Pearls of Luxury

2010-03-21T14:48:00.000-07:00

I finally gave in and purchased the Guerlain Meteorites in Beige Chic. I don't know what to think of it so far. Of course, I forgot to take a picture and swatch it (ahh!), but as you can in the photo, the pearls are adorable! I was a bit disappointed that it wasn't very full because at over $50, I want to get my money's worth!
I have to say though, the shimmer is very fine and natural looking when applied. The packaging is also a lot better than the flimsy cardboard I was expecting. Would you ever splurge on this?

Hello Giorgio Armani

2010-03-13T13:46:00.001-08:00

Read on to see how you can get a Free Juicy Tube! Recently, I saw an offer to get a travel set of Giorgio Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation with Mini Blender Brush for $25 with any $50 purchase online. Of course, this lured me in and I made a purchase more expensive that I normally would. The foundation was only half the full size and the set sells for $85, which is way too expensive. I don't have pictures of it yet. But the two lipsticks I purchased to get to the $50 mark are gorgeous!!
I hauled the Rouge D'Armani in 600 ($30) and the Sheer lipstick in 11 ($27). They also gave two beautiful highlighter samples which are larger than I expected. The packaging is pretty basic. I have to say I think I like the Sheer lipstick tube better. Below is the 600.It looks crazy and unwearable, but trust me, it's gorgeous! You can build up the pigmentation or keep it as a stain. I found this to last super long but GA's site says it lasts for 8 hours. It doesn't make my lips look dry and it hugs the lips very nicely. They're way better than MAC lipsticks which I find I have to work harder with. That might explain why I don't really buy MAC these days.The second lipstick is the Sheer formula in 11. It has a lilac tone to it, which is really unique to me. This formula is my favorite! It's super moisturizing and gives your lips a gorgeous sheen. It doesn't last very long, but I love reapplying.
Overall, I'm super satisfied with my purchases! If you want to buy anything from the GA site, don't forget there's always a 5% cash back on Ebates.

P.S. I've been getting a lot of makeup for free/deeply discounted so I decided to start a blog to record my findings! I hope it'll be of use to you and help you see all the free things in life! It'll be kept separate from my beauty stuff here (: Free Lancome Juicy Tubes anyone? Visit here!

The Random Jumble

2010-03-07T22:11:00.000-08:00

Hello! I'm going to start out with another freebie! Revlon's makeup remover pen 75% off at CVS! I remember Emily from Beauty Broadcast raved about this, so for free (with coupon), why not try it out? It works pretty well. I really love using it for tiny eyeliner or mascara smudges. It's not greasy at all, so it's better than dipping a Qtip in Neutrogena's eye makeup remover. :)
I was shopping for a birthday gift for my friends and found out that the LUSH gifts actually come with a 15% off coupon inside them! Double gift! My friend didn't want it though, so I got to keep it. Haha. Any good recommendations?
I was able to get a few Mario Badescu samples from my local Nordstrom counter and I was not exactly pleased. I tried the Acne Facial Cleanser for a month and I have to say my skin got worse! I now have a lot of little bumps on my face. ): I'll probably go back to Proactiv which isn't that great or maybe I'll try Cetaphil! Ah. Now that I think of it, all the samples were just average.
On a more positive note, have you been to Forever 21 lately!? They have the cutest affordable rings EVER! The four rings shown above cost only $8 all together! The three flower/pearl set was $3.80. That deal just can't be missed. The other crystal/silver ring is really unique too. Jewelry is the only thing I go to Forever 21 for.

P.S. Did you watch the Oscars! I loved Rachel McAdams dress and Cameron Diaz's lipstick! Apparently, the shade was in the new Chanel Rouge Coco in Gabrielle.

Sponges for Skin?!

2010-02-28T20:40:00.000-08:00

This might sound a bit crazy, but I basically use sponges as part of my skin care routine. I think it really helps get off the makeup and provides light exfoliation. Of course, you need the delicate ones for the face, but I'm really loving how it works. I think Eco Tools sells some, but my mom got these for me from Hong Kong (I'm probably going this summer so excited!). I'm not sure how often to replace them though. Have any of you tried this? Where do you get the sponges?CVS has been having a lot of good sales lately, i.e. 50%-75% original prices. The L'Oreal true match powder which retails for about $10 I was able to get for FREE! So here's how it works, look for 75% off, which knocks the price to $2.50. Next, look for coupons in the Sunday newspaper or coupons.com. Mine was $3 off any L'Oreal face product. If you're lucky, the cashier may even let you take $3 off the price not just $2.50 so that pays for tax! I also grabbed another Revlon ColorStay lipstick in some nude-ish color. The texture of these are so smooth. I've been getting a lot of free stuff lately with this technique. ;)

I don't only get drugstore stuff for free, but I can also get clothes from places like Anne Taylor (not LOFT!) and Banana Republic for under $10. I'll explain that in another post. I'd really love to know if anything like this has happened to you. :)

Liquid Metal

2010-02-21T10:16:00.000-08:00

I've never foiled a pigment before, so I was super impressed with my results the first time I did it! The color was so intense and bright; I'm definitely trying it again. It's probably too intense for school/work so save it for night time or a party! Here, I used MAC's Gold Mode pigment. It seriously looked like I had molten white gold on my lids or something! I just put a matte brown in the crease to balance it and Stila Kitten Eyeshadow in the inner corners (my favorite highlight!) Here are some close-ups. By the way, I used CARGO Tonga on my cheeks. Perfect bronzey pink shade! The liner wasn't too dramatic, using my Stila Black Smudge Pot. Lashes! I thought my mascara application turned out pretty well. I also used some on my lower lashes, which I rarely do. I think the effect is pretty but again, too much for day. I'm really more of a natural person.And finally, the lips I had were Benefit Lady's Choice with MAC Nymphette over it. Nymphette, I tell ya, is good over everything and anything. I can't believe I never bought this before!P.S. I really like the stacked ring look right now. Do you like the one I have below? It's a wrap-around crystal leaf ring that's a little too big and made to fit better with a simple band of crystals. (: It was so GLITZY!

Latest Haulage

2010-02-15T15:43:00.000-08:00

Hmm I've been very behind on blogging lately! Here are my latest purchases. I got the mini nail polish for only 25 cents at Rite-Aid woohoo! I also bought two L'Oreal Voluminous mascaras for only $4 with my coupon and clearance at Target. That is $2 per mascara that retails for like $8. I also bought an Oscar Blandi dry shampoo at Sephora. Still testing it, but I'll tell you how it goes if I like it. I won this InStyle giveaway sponsored by Essie and got QUITE a lot of free nail polish. Mostly minis, but I got two full sized ones. I was looking around and this set is worth about $40! What a good deal. I would never have purchased these colors, and Mint Candy Apple looks a lot like Refresh Mint. I'm currently on a nail polish ban both buying and applying. My nails are NOT in the best of shape. ): Can you believe that there are three different shades of baby pink below?! They all look the same; Essie makes too many boring identical shades. I spotted this at Forever 21. Exact packaging of the Shu Uemura lipstick packaging? Oh yes! The lip print is just so classy. -end sarcastic tone- Well at least we know the Shu packaging is probably not very expensive. I've been doing some ebay selling. (: I can make some money off stuff that's laying around. You can look here if you're interested. (I know I get this stuff for free, but people do actually buy samples!)

Chris & Tell!!!!

2010-02-05T22:39:00.000-08:00

I just went to the mall today and got the limited edition Lancome Chris & Tell lipstick! Even the bag was pretty haha. I was so excited about it, especially reading about it on blogs and its release. I'm lucky enough to live very near a Lancome boutique, so I didn't have to get on the Saks wait list or go to the store. It was sold out online really soon. The Lancome Blog also mentioned that the boutiques were sold out, but at the one I was at, there were three more after I purchased mine.I took lots and lots of pictures to try to show you how it looked. It looks different in different sorts of lighting. I think it looked more pink in yellow light. The packaging is very nice. It even has a magnetic closure! The smell is just like the typical roses smell of high-end lipstick. Here is a lip swatch without flash: And here is the swatch with flash: I threw in a "naked" lips for good measure:Now I know $29 might not seem that much compared to the $45 Guerlain or $34 YSL, but it was a lot for me. I could've purchased a YSL or Chanel lippie with that money. I probably never spent so much on a lip product before. This color makes me feel as comfortable as if I were wearing a full face of makeup! I don't have anything like this. I definitely would recommend. After this, I need to seriously limit my makeup spending. The new MAC spring forecast collection looks so promising as well! (Maybe I'll do a one l/g, one l/s limit!) And finally, just a swatch on my hand: Overall: YIPEE NOT ONE OUNCE OF REGRET! :) Get it while you can!

The First Step into a Green World

2010-02-04T19:47:00.000-08:00

I ordered with a friend from transdesign. Apparently they're site was down for quite a while. And by the time it worked again, China Glaze's Spring Collection was out! That was worth the wait. :) The mint shade is Refresh-Mint. I have yet to try this. The other shade, which my picture does no justice to, is Wagon Trail (also by CG). It is really pretty. It's also very similar to D&G Stromboli but not as awesome. Stromboli, if you've seen swatches, it 100% amazing!! I don't know when I will splurge, so this will be a good enough for now. The shade is a deep green with shimmer that really shines in the sunlight! I also got some Seche Vite products. I don't know if I've told you, but my Dior Golden Nugget is dead dry. ): So I bought Seche Restore in hopes to bring my $20 polish back to life! And I think it worked. I haven't tried it on my nails yet, but the texture seems smooth again. I also got the much raved about top coat. I am disappointed that both products contain Toulene. I don't exactly know what's bad about it, and I know I should do research but meh, I'll just listen to what All Lacquered Up says. The top coat, which I forgot about, also smells awful. Even worse than nail polish. I'm not that pleased with it, but it'll do. On a more positive note, I tried OPI's Curry Up! Don't be Late and it is quite pretty. I like this type of yellow gold. It goes with most clothes too. (I've been getting a LOT of clothes lately hehe) I didn't have Seche Vite at this time, so I can't tell you how it wears yet. It's metallic, but not too streaky. I normally don't like metallics for that reason.

Eureka Topeka!

2010-01-28T17:03:00.000-08:00

I finally found some CARGO on sale in store where a larger selection of CARGO blushes on sale. The tin is huge! It might even have twice as much as the MAC pans. I thought CARGO Topeka was very similar to MAC Sunbasque (right) in the pan, but when swatched, they are (what any beauty junkie would say) different enough to keep the product. Below, left shade is Topeka and right, Sunbasque. I much prefer the Topeka shade with its smooth consistency and light shimmer. The MAC shade feels chunkier and less easy to blend. I find myself using either the CARGO blush or NARS Desire blush every day. These are my daily go-to shades.
Anyways, I've always wanted the Bonnebell lip gloss in Cappuccino, and I finally found it cheap enough. You probably think its odd I don't mind spending $30 on a Chanel lipgloss but $4 retail on a Bonnebell I can't bear to spend. This is the reason. This was marked down at Walgreens to $1.09! Now I can buy it. It is definitely worth it. The texture is MUCH better than any MAC lipgloss. Comparable to Chanel I will admit. It has a non-sticky, light texture. The smell wears off after like 30 seconds. Definitely would try the other colors (maybe if they are cheap).

A Little Late

2010-01-21T21:30:00.000-08:00

I'm all for procrastinating, so here's a midweek post! I forgot to post pictures of some beauty gifts my friends got for me! There is the Philosophy 3-in-1 Shower gel in Red Velvet Cake, some Bath & Body Works goodies (can anyone have enough of those?), and a MAC lipglass in NYMPHETTE! :]
Everything smells absolutely divine. I really should stop using my boring lotions and use some nicely scented ones. 3-in-1s are so convenient, especially when you're showering at a gym or something. Of course I was most excited for my lipglass. It's absolutely gorgeous. My favorite lip combo at the moment includes Nymphette and Benefit's Lady's Choice. Can it get any better? The gold shimmer is beautiful.
I also grabbed a MAC pigment at the CCO for only $13.75 before tax. It's also in the older packaging, so I'm not losing any money. I really refuse to pay for the regular price ones now. I also saw Naked pigment, which I've always been interested in, but it's really nothing much. This is probably the smoothest pigment I've ever tried. It's also my first MAC one. The color is Gold Mode if you're interested. It looks even better on a black base. ;)

Recent Haul Part 1

2010-01-16T13:58:00.000-08:00

I went to CVS and they always Extra Buck offers, so I had the chance to get the Nivea lotion and 2 of those "A kiss of moisture" lip balms. So far I love the regular one. I haven't opened the shimmer one yet. They are probably even smoother than the regular Chapstick. The packaging sorta reminds me of a gluestick?!
Then I also picked up three nail polishes from a beauty supply store. Two are the OPI colors in You Don't Know Jacques Suede and Curry Up! Don't be Late. The third is just a nude from Rimmel called Milk Chocolate. I really need to put a stop to all this nail polish. I probably have ten shades I haven't tried yet. Oh no.
Free People was also having an online sale, and I picked up some cute tops. I also purchased the Lipstick Queen Big Bang Theory lipgloss in "Expansion" for a friend. I think it looks really nice. It's a frosty pink shade. It makes me want to try their other products. The packaging reminds me of those test tubes, and it holds a lot of product. Looks like twice as much as MAC to me. Speaking of product, have you seen those new MAC pigment bottles? So much smaller!! I heard from Temptalia that there is a 40% reduction in quantity (printed on the box).

CARGO ON SALE!!

2010-01-12T20:09:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to give you all a heads up on the CARGO sale online at Sephora. I'm not sure if this is in stores, but I definitely want to tell you about a deal most people don't know about. It seems to me that most of the stuff is 50% off. I've always wanted to try their big blushes in a tin. I'll be dropping by the mall this Thursday so I'll tell you if it's still in stores! Tell me if you get anything! I'd love to know.

Leftovers

2010-01-10T14:02:00.001-08:00

So now the holidays are over so what do you do with all those empty gift boxes?? Store makeup! I have a huge Sephora box and a smaller one. I used the bigger one for nail polish. It makes me feel so neat and orderly. ;) I thought I had more Essie, but I guess OPI is my brand of choice! My collection isn't that big. But I also have a bunch of cute little mini nail polishes that I stored in those tiny bags. I don't spend much on them either, My Dior Golden Nugget was the major "splurge" haha. The smaller box fits lipsticks best. I didn't have enough to fill it all the way up (yes, even with those ugly random colors I found around the house), so I found some shorter lipglosses and mini ones. MAC lip glasses fit perfectly and I had a bunch of mini Smashbox lipglosses. The Chanel and Dior Packaging is cutest to me. Look at that tiny little Dior Addict lipstick (the one with a silver button top)!! Overall, I think collecting makes me want more and realize those makeup gurus with the huge boxes of lipsticks, mine is just so small in comparison.

Golden Purple FOTD and White Nails?

2010-01-03T15:51:00.000-08:00

I saw a holiday look done by Michelle Phan and it was this golden lid with a vibrant purple crease. I thought mine turned out pretty well. It sucks that my camera doesn't pick up the color as well as I would have liked. I'm also getting better with the winged eyeliner! I have to cherish these few more days of break. I never experiment with makeup at school, just on the weekends and shopping! I'm not sure if I like the frosty lips look. Do you personally like frosty lips?Of course the holidays comes with awesome food! My mom made one of those Yule log cakes. I thought the snow flake was adorable! And the chocolate was super rich and decadent. Mm. For dinner, we also had little bunches of green beans (my favorite!) wrapped in bacon and baked in the oven. It adds really nice color.
Have you ever tried white nail polish? I bought a bottle of Rimmel's Nail Tip Whitener a while ago in New York for manicures. I haven't used it for that French tip yet, but I have tried it as a base so my polish applies more true to the bottle's color. I think it works very well! Hopelessly in Love by OPI is normally pretty sheer but with the white base, I really like it! It's that opaque peachy pink shade I've always wanted. :) Above is without flash and with flash is below. I saw someone on my cross country team with white nails and I had trouble deciding if it looked sporty or just cheap.

Light Up Gloss!

2009-12-30T16:52:00.000-08:00

The concept of a lighted lipgloss sounds very familiar, I just don't know where...But I saw these new? NYC lipglosses at Walmart! They even have a little mirror on the side. Of course, NYC is never expensive, so I guess it's worth a try if you're interested. I've tried their normal lipglosses before and hated it, so I won't be rushing to get these. I also saw the Bonnebell Lip Lites that everyone seems to love. I really want to try these! I restrained myself. Maybe later... Cappucino tops my want list of shades to try!I picked up a Clean & Clear Morning Burst In-Shower Facial. I actually like it a lot. Clean & Clear's skin care is pretty good according to Makeup Alley. I really love using it as an exfoliator. My face feels smoother after using this. The smell is alright, not that amazing. The Teen Vogue "It" girl program also sent me a deodorant to try...It doesn't seem all that special. The "vanilla" scent is a bit off putting to be honest.

Holiday Gifts

2009-12-27T21:24:00.000-08:00

I feel like I have so much to blog about but I just don't know where to start. I decided to write about the things I was most excited about: my presents! I love absolutely everything I received! The above picture was how my Stila Charmed Palette and brushes were wrapped. My mom definitely has the best ideas for wrapping. The flash on my camera kinda ruined the effect of the black gift bag over the red paper, but it was really gorgeous in real life. It looked like rubies were trapped behind this dim night sky. Something like that....

Here are most of my presents photographed together. The Stila palette has such pretty colors, and I don't have anything in my collection like it. The Stila brushes are as always, good quality and amazingly soft. I must do an individual review later. I got a new Sigg bottle since I lost mine, very good replacement. From Victoria's Secret, I got a hot pink bandeau bra and a shimmery white pigment from their new collection. The bra is going to be super useful under summer tanks and flowy tops (like Free People). It makes it less obvious that you're wearing a bra, just looks like a tube top. I wanted something like MAC's Vanilla Pigment, so this shadow will do just perfect! And last of all in the picture (and definitely NOT least), my brother made me the cutest Domo-inspired iPod Touch case! Eheehee, homemade presents can be the best. Love love love.
Then, one of the best present's I received was from my mother. She got me the dainty-est necklace from Tiffany. It didn't look that exciting when I first saw it, but wow when you put it on, it goes with everything! It definitely looks elegant and timeless. I will like it now and I'll like it when I'm 50. :) LOVE IT. I also noticed that the box was wrapped with a crimson ribbon, which is festive, but I think I still like the white color best. Haha, my mom even included a little note with the package. And last of all, one of my closest friends (thanks Tiff!! <3) gave me some Mario Badescu I've been wanting for a while. I am so excited to try these out. She got me the Aloe Vera Toner and the Drying Cream from Mario Badescu. The reviews for the toner are above 4 on Makeup Alley and I'm almost out of my toner so this is perfect. As I told you before, I love the drying cream so it will be so useful when I'm done with the sample. More to come later. Hope everything is having a great holiday so far. I am so thankful for everyone in my life. xoxo

Amazing Deals at Sephora

2009-12-24T10:23:00.000-08:00

I really recommend that you check these out on the Sephora site and maybe at the store itself. I did spot some of these gift packs.
The Benefit Beauty to Go Bestsellers ($10) is a great set with four of Benefit's best products. Although none are full sized, the samples are about the size of a deluxe Beauty Insider sample. Go for it if you don't have any of the products. Keep in mind that the Foundation Faker comes only in one shade!
I also saw this set called A Couple of Crushes for $10. Also a very good deal but they are quite small so don't be so surprised. They are NOT full sized. The colors are Pomegranate Crush and Mango Crush. The Good to Glow set contains two of the highlight powders much like MAC MSFs. I've tried these myself, and although the Rose Gold was mediocre, the Bronze one is the best! Plus, these retail for$32 each and the entire set is only $10!!
Last but not least, Stila has a new slew of products that look quite promising. Look at this eyeshadow trio! Cute right? You can also check Sephora.com for these. :) They're not available for sale though but you can always just keep that it mind. This post is getting to be pretty picture heavy, but I just had to tell you about it. I've been loving Mario Badescu Drying Cream lately. It's more convenient that any drying lotion and this was a huge sample. It has lasted me probably at least 2 months! I want to get the large jar but maybe until I'm done with this. Not even half way! The reviews on Makeup Alley aren't that great, but I love it. It reduces pimples and under the skin blemishes in a jiffy.

Shopping and Twitter

2009-12-22T18:11:00.000-08:00

I went shopping the other day for Christmas presents and the such. Isn't the Victoria's Secret color theme really cute? The handles are like gold too! Sephora has a really good deal each week so it's worth checking out at the checkout counter. Well anyways, I spotted a Sephora vending machine. Isn't it cool? They sell a lot of like popular products. I was surprised they didn't have NARS Orgasm, just Laguna. It's was still pretty nifty. There was this promotion on Benefit's twitter where you tweet about their daily deals and the first person gets a pretty prize! I got "that gal" primer from them. It got here really fast. It was very generous of them. I can't wait to try it! Their twitter name is BenefitBeauty if you want to check it out. :)

Silent Night....

2009-12-20T00:21:00.000-08:00

Nope it's not the Christmas carol...it's NARS eyeshadow in Silent Night! I spotted this at Sephora for $9 and retailing for $22, I just HAD to grab it. However, I was sorely disappointed. This was just crap! I'm talking about huge chunky glitter that's impossible to apply with a brush. (See eyeshadow photographs beautifully)It works better with a sponge tip applicator, but still not too pigmented. I couldn't get it to show up well on my eyelids, really disappointing. The unblendable bits of eyeshadow just fell onto my cheek. Don't buy it even it's on sale for $1. ): I've never been so disappointed. However, I did use up a L'Oreal Jelly Balm in Savory, which I'm so proud of. My love for these jelly balms are STILL going strong. I love love LOVE these. :) Definitely try them out if you haven't. Expect more posts now that I'm on WINTER VACAY!

Winged Eyeliner

2009-12-12T21:07:00.000-08:00

I wore this look to my friend's birthday party. It was just winged eyeliner with nude-ish lips. In the picture I actually don't have any lippie on because it was after eating so it faded. I used Benefit's Lady's Choice with Florabundance (MAC) over it if you're interested. My makeup isn't exactly perfect because this was about 5 or 6 hours after my application. As you can see, my blush held up really well (NARS Desire is LOVE) and the Laura Mercier setting powder kept my skin pretty matte. The flash doesn't make my face white! Do you like the foundation?
For the liner, I used Stila's Smudge Pot, which I think gives a very clean effect. Just use Q-tips if you need to clean it up. I also used a wash of nude cream shadow underneath just to even out the tone. I really like how it turned out. :)And then to go with the whole minimalist thing, I used OPI's Skinny Dip'n in Lake Michigan for my nails. I absolutely adore this shade. It's such a pretty beige pink. It stayed on for about a week, which is pretty amazing for me. Have any of you tried nude-ish nail polish and how do you like it?

NARS Order and Gifting

2009-12-05T17:05:00.000-08:00

Here is my haul from NARS with the 22% off code! It's the best deal I've ever found on NARS. Only two of the items are actually mine. I bought Mata Hari Blush and Striptease Lipgloss on behalf of my friends. :) For me... I got Desire Blush and the Yachiyo brush I've wanted for at least a year!!! Of course I had to take pictures of everything. Boxed and unboxed. On KarlaSugar, Mata Hari just looked like a tiny bit lighter version of Desire, but no way! Look at the difference in the picture below. It's even more dramatic in real life. Desire is amazing!! No need for Dollymix. :) I absolutely LOVE it. But you definitely need the perfect brush to apply high pigmentation. -hint hint-
And this is where the Yachiyo comes in! I will definitely do a separate review for my baby. Haha. It is uber soft and came in an adorable display-ish box. So much better than those plastic sleeves on MAC brushes. The NARS Striptease lipgloss was for my friend's birthday. I know some of you like to see how I wrap presents, so here is the picture! It looks really classy and elegant. The silver box from Nordstroms perfectly matched this GAP gift box I had. I thought the stacking was just adorable! I didn't take pictures of the goodies, but my friends and I got her a Juicy bracelet with lipgloss in a handbag charm, a Paul Frank Tshirt, the lipgloss, and a Revlon lipstick. Since it's the holidays, take advantage of all those free boxes and ribbons! They definitely come in handy when you give gifts to friends and family.

Recess Review

2009-11-28T20:28:00.000-08:00

Here is the latest addition to my Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow collection! I love these shadows, and this color, Recess, is no different. It is a normal pink toned nude color in the pot, but when I layer this with Busy Signals (a red based brown) over it to smoke it out, the combination makes a smokey purple hue! It's pretty amazing, and it reminds me of MAC's Satin Taupe eyeshadow. This is quickly replacing Too Faced Shadow Insurance. I mean, it gives color and keeps your shadow in place. Here's a quick swatch of it:
I also got a lipgloss from Victoria's Secret. I find it funny that the most expensive lipglosses come in these gorgeous tubes that have so little product. This lipgloss has more than 10 grams to it if I remember correctly. I might remember to do a lip swatch later. It was such a pretty sparkly gloss. And SO cheap at $7. :) That picture is the newest makeup collection from Victoria's Secret (which isn't that new, just new to me). One of my readers told me about the cheaper version of Guerlain's Meteorites from this collection, but I think I will refrain from the purchase. It's worth checking out though!

Finally Gave In

2009-11-21T21:16:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting a nice finishing powder FOREVER, but I just didn't want to shell out $30 bucks for the famous Laura Mercier one. However, I decided to give in and see if this was the amazing product I wanted it to be. I will tell you soon. So far so good. I also picked up the Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Recess, which is just the typical nude cream color. I don't have any shades like this actually. It'll be pretty useful as a base. I'm pretty much out of the Too Faced Shadow Insurance, so this will be my replacement. I love these Benefit products!Then, I passed by Victoria's Secret and upon swatching these Glossy Sticks (I think they are called), I had to buy one. It's part of the Beauty Rush line were you can get like 5 for $20 or something. They are actually more pigmented than I expected, and have a very nice shine. I promise I will have swatches... I got it in Citrus Sorbet. I'm sad to say that the divine smell wore off after one use. ): It was quite wonderful too, fruity and sweet.

NARS Code: Expired

2009-11-17T21:57:00.001-08:00

Sorry this has expired now.

Hey everyone!
Just in case you don't read Temptalia's blog daily, here's a promo code for NARS for 22% off any order of $60 or more: 0011290CP

Hope you can put it to good use!! I will tell you what I haul when it gets here. Oh, I'm excited. :)

The Perfect Dark Blue

2009-11-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

When I saw the swatch of Essie's Midnight Cami on the Makeup and Beauty Blog, I knew I had to have it! It was the perfect shade of dark blue without looking black. In fact, when you just put on one coat, it almost looks like a turquoise shade. This does stain your nails though, so make sure you use a base coat! I also picked up a Revlon lipstick in Crystal Cut Coral. I have yet to put it on for a lip, but I'll do it as soon as possible. I let my friend borrow it and she loved it! It's a nicely pigmented hot pink color. I would never have tried this if it wasn't on sale. I mean, the green tube isn't exactly exciting...

Do you have a new favorite nail polish?

Sephora Friends and Family

2009-11-12T08:37:00.000-08:00

This is a lot later than everyone's post on their hauls, but here it is! I got the Makeup Forever Flash Color in Gold, my HG concealer: theBalm timeBalm, and the Benefit Get Bent Liner brush. I also got the Korres Lip Butter which I forgot to picture at the time, so it's in a separate photo. I didn't get too much because I wanted to limit it to about $60 but I endedup ordering more later anyway...I have used some of the items to give a pretty good review. I wasn't too happy with the MUFE Flash Color overall. It was hard to layer and blend. In fact, I couldn't even use it as a liner because of the consistency. It was creamy but it wouldn't stick to the tip of my liner brush. ): This will probably be going back. But I will say that the color was brilliant. It definitely looked like liquid gold.

The Get Bent brush was pretty good. It lets you use the thin liner brush but still be able to see where you're drawing the line. I'm not sure if this will replace my normal angled brush though. It's only $16 and with the 20%, it was a good deal. As for the Korres Lip Butter, I hope to finish one L'Oreal HiP Jelly Balm first before using it. :) Good motivation!
P.S. Are you guys in the Godiva Chocolate Rewards Club? They let you get a FREE piece every month. That's like 2 dollars! I also love their "Dark Chocolate Decadence" drink. It's so yummy! It's similar to the Starbucks Java Chip Frap but the chocolate flavor is richer. Oh, and when you spend $10, you get like a free 2 piece chocolate box the next month!

Bye Bye Blemish

2009-11-08T14:12:00.000-08:00

I've never done a formal post about my favorite blemish product: Bye Bye Blemish Drying Lotion! It's my favorite. I use it consistently when I see a angry bump under the skin and in 2 days, it'll be gone! You really have to attack it soon though. It won't do any good on pimples that have already erupted. It's definitely the same concept as Mario Badescu's Drying Lotion but half the price at $10. I've only seen this at Rite-Aid though. This was my second bottle of it. You have to be careful to keep it upright though. I'll also say two words about Clinique's yellow correcting powder. I didn't think it helped at all. I don't think this would help with the redness I get from acne. Wouldn't recommend it. :)

Urban Decay Liner for $6!!!

2009-11-01T13:40:00.000-08:00

Hey all! I placed an order for some goodies at All Cosmetics Wholesale and they came very quickly. Well, faster than Sephora I mean. I got it five days after I ordered. It came safely wrapped in bubble wrap. The products are also are a good price as well. The Urban Decay liner retails for $17 and I got it for $5.99! It was in the color Lucky. I have yet to fully test it out. It is a gorgeous penny copper shade. I also bought a Chanel lipstick in Barbados. I think this is continued, but it glides smoothly (Aqualumiere formula). I absolutely love the packaging. It has such a shiny top! Like everyone says, the fingerprints are quite noticeable on the packaging. They normally cost about $25 so $18 is a pretty good deal.
And finally, to add to my favorite Benefit creaseless shadow collection: Townecar! It's like a matte black so hopefully it'll work like MAC Blackground paint pot that everyone was talking about earlier this year. This was about $11. I really want to use it as a base to make colors show up brighter. Anyways, I really recommend their site if you want discounted, unused makeup.

Some Updates!

2009-10-30T17:03:00.000-07:00

How is everyone doing? I can't wait to show you Friends and Family orders, All Cosmetics Wholesale and whatnot. I'll definitely get some pictures up later this weekend. But at the moment, please tell me how you can resist this:I have no idea how I will or I'll have to swallow the $53 price! It's the Guerlain meteorite pearls from their latest collection. The packaging is so much nicer than the original cardboard container. Look at those pearls shining at you. Imagine using that everyday with your powder brush. Ooooh such a beautiful thought. I would even say it's prettier than the Anna Sui powder, which is NOT good because Anna Sui is cheaper and that could have changed my mind...

Mario Badescu Here I Come!

2009-10-24T16:44:00.000-07:00

I happened to stumble upon the 25% annual sale at Planet Beauty! I remember I signed up for their emailing list so I could be notified...but they never contacted me. Good thing I just happened to walk in that day. I've been waiting for this so I could try some discounted Mario Badescu. I can't help it, I love waiting for the sales. I decided to get the Healing and Soothing Mask since the reviews on MUA were so good!

The girl there was also really nice and was willing to give me some samples. I wanted to try the Drying Mask and this peeling gel. I never knew they had peeling gels; I always thought it was just the Asian brands. I'm really excited to try that out because if it is as good as the girl said it was, then it'd be so much easier to buy. I already tried the Drying Mask and I'm going to say....no thanks. It made my skin feel SO dry. I'll probably give it another go, but it really made my skin feel too tight and delicate. P.S. I just got this top from Free People. What do you think? I love how it shows a bit of shoulder it's adorable! I love the cut of Free People tops. They never look flattering on the hanger, but on a person, it just looks amazing. I am definitely still in love with this brand.

Quick Update

2009-10-20T08:14:00.000-07:00

I am so excited about Sephora's Friends and Family sale!! (Just in case you didn't know its 20% off w/ code FF2009.) I also get a backup of my concealer every year and I think I've decided on a MUFE Flash Color in Gold, an angled Benefit liner brush, and Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine. Now that I think of it, it seems a little boring. I really wanted the YSL eyeshadow palette and it's actually cheaper than MAC eyeshadows oz wise. But $56 is a bit hard to swallow. ><
I also picked up some stuff at the drugstore! There was a buy one get one free sale for Revlon plus I had a coupon to $2 off. That's the best time to buy drugstore. The lipglossthe right was already on sale. I got one of those moisturizing lipsticks in Creamy Coral because I saw Lisasz09's videos and it looked amazing! The eyeliner...I might return. The MUA reviews on like 2.1!!

Hopelessly in Love

2009-10-11T21:25:00.000-07:00

I bought the OPI shade in Hopelessly in Love, hoping (haha no pun intended) that it would be an opaque milky pink. It wasn't too pigmented, but not as sheer as something like Essie's Ballet Slippers. I would probably wear it again. Do you like these sort of colors? Or are they too boring?By the way, I also finished my L'oreal HiP Jelly balm! It was in the color Ripe. I really liked this product and even though it was too expensive at regular price, if you can get it on sale, it's a great balm. I just thought the jar was so fun to use haha. It didn't have much color, but made your lips look really plump and unwrinkly. They might have discontinued this though, so it might be hard to find now.

Stila EOTD

2009-10-03T21:55:00.000-07:00

It seems like I haven't posted for ages!! Anyways, I came up with a look with the Stila set I got last month. The eyeshadow is actually a bit too chalky for my liking and the gold isn't as beautiful as my Champagne Glow trio. I probably wouldn't recommend any of these products. None of them are absolutely must haves. The Lash Visor it comes with is just one of those everyday natural mascaras. Which is okay, but too average for a repurchase. The Natalie lip color is actually quite wearable. It looks too purple when you look at it, but when applied, the shade is nice enough. Since it was sort of purple, I tried using L'Oreal's jelly balm in Succulent over it. Did I tell you I think these are being discontinued? Noooo! I absolutely love the plush jelly look!

Zoya Freebies

2009-09-24T19:38:00.000-07:00

I know this is a bit late, but better late than never! Right? haha. It came safely wrapped with my bubble stuff! I love to squish it. Stress relief much?
I thought I chose colors that were really unique but then I realized that Essie Glitzy Gilders looked like that pink shade and my Wet n Wild Caribbean Frost looked a lot like the blue Akyra shade. Oh well. Akrya is darker than the Wet n Wild, making it more sophisticated. The purple shade is called Juno. Eventually, I'll have swatches for all of these. I'm currently enjoying my favorite Essie Pansy on my nails right now. It's SO me.
I tried out Akyra a few weeks ago. What do you think? It can look more green than blue sometimes. The pigmentation was quite good. You just have to experiment with the lighting. I will probably try out the purple sometime. I'm volunteering at the Renaissance Fair and it's so crazy I can't have those "unhistorically accurate" colors on my nails. I can only stick with those plain nudes and whatnots on the weekend.

Cheap Stila at Sephora

2009-09-18T22:42:00.000-07:00

I saw this for $20 online at Sephora so I had to buy it. I mean, that comes to about $5 an item! Cheaper than even drugstore. Even though it was for Mother's Day, no one can tell once you throw away the box. The packaging, as always, is absolutely gorgeous.
It came in a clutch. I don't really like it. It's too formal to be casual yet not pretty enough for a night out. Oh well, I won't be using it. On second thought...it might work well as a makeup bag.
Here are the goodies! I'm going to try to use this during the week and I'll post my look for you! The lipstick isn't as purple as it is in the picture. The color is Natalie. It also come in a highlight powder in Bronze, Lash Visor, and Gold Glow eyeshadow trio. I really liked my Champagne Glow so this will probably be good for me too. Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog loves Lash Visor, so I really wanted to try it out.
Have you ever tried any of these products? I love all the great sales Sephora has been having!