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Sophie & Toffee 10% Off Coupon! For all your kawaii decoden needs! :)

2012-01-27T15:44:00.003-10:00

Hi everyone! For anybody interested in decoden and cute stuff, be sure to check out

SOPHIEANDTOFFEE.COM ♥

Here is a coupon code for 10% Off your order :)

http://sophieandtoffee.refr.cc/S31EW5

The promo code is STFRIENDS10.

In order for the code to work,

you NEED to get to the website through the click-through link.

Discount expires on February 27, 2012.

Happy shopping! ^__^

Website Spotlight: Strapya-World.com!

2012-01-14T13:25:00.006-10:00

As exemplified by many things on my blog, it's pretty obvious that I'm kind of a "Crazy Korilakkuma Lady" of sorts :P I'm pretty much OBSESSED with Korilakkuma (not to be mistaken with his counterpart Rilakkuma!). I will buy pretty much any Korilakkuma-related items I can get hands on lol.

One of my favorite places to buy from is
Strapya-World.com!

They offer a HUGE variety of Japanese cellphone straps, kawaii charms, otaku gadgets, decoden supplies, and much more!!!

Here are some of the things I've bought from Strapya-World:

Decoden flowers, pearls, cabochons, phone strap, charms, keychain, deco sticker sheet, pouch

Korilakkuma keychain, phone strap w/ charms, bow decoden for my DS!

Korilakkuma pouch that fits a camera perfectly~

Blingy Korilakkuma iPhone case! I LOVE this case :)

Ocean critter keychains!!! Little known fact about me, I loveee axolotls, jellyfish, and octopodes. The pink thing is an axolotl, and the white thing is a squid (close enough to the aforementioned! lol)

I also bought some furry Korilakkuma containers. I have this large one and a smaller square one at work for holding post its, paper clips, etc. Adorable and functional!

~ ~ ~

Overall, I love Strapya-World because they just have SO MUCH STUFF! It's one of my favorite websites to just go on and online-window shop when I have free time. They always have new items coming in too, so it never gets old. Another awesome thing about them is that they ship super fast! I've made 3 orders so far and EVERY order has come in 2-3 days FROM JAPAN. That's extremely fast, even faster than when I order from places in the U.S.!

So if you're into all things kawaii, Japanese, novelty, decoden, etc. I would highly recommend Strapya-World :)

EOTD: Ultraviolet Eyes

2011-12-26T20:55:00.004-10:00

One of my favorite eyeshadow colors to play around with is purple :) For this look I just used a purple shade all over the lid, darker purples at the inner and outer corners, a light brown shade above the crease, and a shimmery white shade to highlight.

Pretty much every time I do purple looks, I use NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencil in Oyster as a base, and also layer it over the shadow to build up the color intensity.

Again, I'm terrible at remembering the style names of which lashes these are, all I know is that they're 2 pairs of Forever 21 lashes layered together ;P

EOTD: NYX Glitter Cream Palette in Sweet Chocolate Brown

2011-12-26T20:40:00.005-10:00

I decided to try out this glitter palette from my last NYX haul a couple weeks ago. Although these palettes are super pretty and nice to look at, I don't think I'll be using mine that often XD

The pros are that the glitter is not gritty at all and it's easy to smooth/pat on. It also applies pretty evenly and it doesn't take a lot of layers to build the glitter up. It's very pretty and shiny and adds a pop of sparkle to my eyes :3

The cons are that it does settle into creases very quickly :/ Also I guess I made the "mistake" of applying it BEFORE putting falsies on. When I tried to put my lashes (NYX's Exclusive and Nostalgia layered together) on, the glue had a hard time adhering to my lids... I guess because of the waxy base of the glitter.

I also got glitter all over my face taking it off >_< But it wasn't too bad to take off, it came off pretty quickly. Overall though, because of the creasing and issues w/ lash glue, I'll probably be using this palette sparingly!

EOTD: 3-Layered lashes

2011-12-26T20:33:00.003-10:00

Here's another old EOTD. As of the last year, I haven't been able to live without false lashes XD One of my favorite things to do with lashes is to layer them. Normally I layer only 2, but for this look, I layered 3 just for the hell of it :P

I'm so bad with remembering which ones though. All I know is two of them were Forever 21 lashes and the other was Red Cherry lol.

False lashes can really pull together a look and make a huge difference IMO, that's why I love them so much :D

EOTD: Fall-inspired eyes

2011-12-26T20:16:00.004-10:00

Hello there, just randomly posting some old EOTD's that I actually took pictures of >_< I haven't had the chance to do eye diagrams like I used to, sorry :[

For this look I made use of a palette from Icing. Usually I stay away from palettes from Icing/Claire's since the quality tends to reflect the price lol. But I was pleasantly surprised with the shades in the palette I used (got it as a gift).

From the Icing palette, I used a rusty red shade all over the lid, black on the outer-V, a shimmery taupe very lightly above the crease, and a shimmery white to highlight below the brow.

Then I went over my lid with ELF Shimmer Eyeliner in Gunmetal to give it a pop of metallic silver.

For lining my eyes, I used Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Zero on my lashline & waterline, and Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eyeliner in Black to do the wing.

The lashes are 2 pairs of Forever 21 lashes layered together.
Sorry I forget which ones exactly! >_<

Review: Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream To Go

2011-12-22T16:50:00.007-10:00

I brought this product on a whim from Sephora while I was on Oahu 3 days ago, and it has quickly become a life saver for me!

I'd been suffering from a dry skin patch at the corner of my left eye for about the past 3 weeks, until roughly 4 days ago, it became a full-blown "I really can't keep ignoring this" kind of issue :S After removing my eye makeup one night, both of my eyes started burning and watering, and by the next morning, both eyelids and the area surrounding my eyes was red, SUPER swollen, painful, and itchy. I still don't know if it was makeup, allergies, or something else that caused it... Needless to say, I was mortified :[ The swelling went down the next day, but then my eyelids and area surrounding my left eye was still red and painful, and then it dried out and started flaking like crazy!

This picture below is from google (because I didn't think to take before/after pictures of my own eye), but this is basically what my eyes looked like, except MORE flaky and dry:

Enter Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream To Go!

Price: $16 for 1.25 oz from Sephora

What they say: Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream Tube To Go soothes and moisturizes dry skin. This glycerin-based cream is enriched with vitamin E, vitamin B2, and camphor. It has an uniquely high glycerin content and absorbability achieved through a special manufacturing process which makes Yu-Be so effective. Use it to smooth rough, dry patches on hands, elbows, knees, and feet. It softens and reduces tough calluses, including hard, cracked heels, and helps heal and prevent split cuticles. It replenishes lost moisture from water damage or frequent hand washing, helps heal and minimize scarring from burns, and protects and moisturizes skin exposed to cold, wind, and water.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
 - Sulfates 
- Synthetic Fragrances
 - Synthetic Dyes 
- Petro-Chemicals
 - Phthalates  

Invented in 1957 by a Japanese pharmacist, Yu-Be is the #1 selling medicated, vitamin-enriched skincare cream in Japan today. Yu-Be is safe and effective for the whole family. The non-greasy formula absorbs quickly and stays locked in for hours.

What's in it:

Glycerin, Water, Isopropyl Myristate, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Triethanolamine, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Camphor, Riboflavin (Vitamin B2), Hydrogenated coco-glycerides, Stearyl Alcohol, Polysorbate 80, EDTA, Methylparaben.

Glycerin: This natural humectant attracts and retains moisture in the skin, making it softer.
Camphor: Soothes irritation and stimulates blood circulation improving the overall health of skin. The mild scent disappears in minutes.
Vitamin E: A natural antioxidant and skin protector.
Vitamin B2: Helps to smooth rough or damaged skin and also gives Yu-Be its natural yellow color.

The good stuff:

Convenient size
Non sticky/greasy
Smooths on and absorbs well
GREAT for dry skin
Healing and moisturizing
Leaves skin soft and smooth
Safe for pretty much all-over use

The low-down:

Pricey
Camphor scent

My take: Overall, I am SUPER glad I bought this cream. I originally just grabbed it since it was near the checkout and I wanted to try it on the boif since he has dry skin (it worked for him too!). But after I decided to try it around my eyes, I was hooked! After 3 days of use, it DRAMATICALLY reduced the flakiness, puffiness, redness, and made the area around my eyes soft and smooth. Almost back to normal!

Just a little bit of flakiness remains:

I was a bit wary to try it around my eyes because I had been using a little bit of emu oil but it had the tendency to actually go into my eyes and although it didn't irritate my eyes, it made my vision blurry :/ (sidenote -- I absolutely ADORE emu oil for piercing aftercare and lubricant for stretched lobes. It is pricey but VERY worth it!!!). Anywho, the Yu-Be cream smoothed onto my skin and although I wouldn't say it dries down, it does absorb into my skin and doesn't migrate into my eyes at all. The cream itself is yellow but when you rub it on, it's kinda white. So I just gently smoothed it on until the white color disappeared. From my experience, this cream definitely performed as it claimed, and I'm VERY happy with the results!

For those who don't like scented products though, this might not be for you. It has a somewhat herbal/medicinal scent because of the camphor, but like they said, it does disappear quickly. But if you don't like that kind of scent, it might bother you.

Would I repurchase/recommend?: I would definitely repurchase this product, and I actually want to try some of the other products from the Yu-Be line as well! I would recommend this to anyone who wants a natural product that helps deeply moisturize dry skin!

The Rundown:

Packaging: 5/5
A cute tube. Nice and simple.

Product: 5/5
Does exactly what it claims! Perfect for dry, flaky skin.

Price: 4.5/5
It's actually pretty up-there at $16 for such a small tube, but it DOES work, so it's such a small price to pay for quality.

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

Review: Misikko.com HANA Professional 1" Flat Iron

2011-12-06T19:53:00.002-10:00

Hi all! I recently got to try out this fabulous flat iron from Misikko.com, much thanks goes out to John for this amazing opportunity! :) From their website:

"Located outside of Philadelphia, a city known for its creative - but practical! - approach to high style, Misikko emerged from a desire we share with many of you: to easily shop and compare the best professional styling tools & beauty products on the market. As beauty aficionados and savvy consumers, our goal is to help you learn about the tools of the trade so you can find the right salon tools & products at the right prices - whenever & wherever the mood strikes."

Misikko specializes in hair and beauty products, including the brands HANA, Chi, Croc, and Corioliss. They offer a selection of the best blow dryers and flat irons!

I was blown away with everything I received! Everything was packaged beautifully, and I really loved all the little touches like the bows & roses!!

Goodies! I was really excited that I got a bottle of HANA's Shine Shield too :D

And here is the flat iron!

It comes in heat-proof storage bag, in a sturdy tin case.

HANA Professional 1" Flat Iron

(click to enlarge)

The size compared to my hand:

It's made in Korea.

On/off switch & heat settings.

Price:
$204.99 BUT the sale price is currently $119.98

What they say:

Advanced Tourmaline Ceramic Plates for Accelerated Ion Generation and Maximum Frizz-Free, Conditioning Shine
Ceramic is naturally hygienic, protects color & retards fading
Floating 1" Plates Auto-Adjust To Glide Over Any Hair Texture
Curved Plate Edges For Versatile Styling - Curl, Flip or Straighten!
Adjustable Temperature Dial - 5 Settings from 140-450° F for All Hair Types
Flash Heats in Seconds with Instant Compensation for Heat Loss
Ergonomic Handle Design with No-Slip Grip
Smooth Grooves Keep Hair Strands Separate and Snag-Free
Tangle-Free Salon Quality Cord Swivels 360°; Convenient Hanging Loop
Energy Efficient at 38 Watts
Independent On/Off Switch
Includes Luxe Heat Proof Storage Pouch, Heat Proof Silicone Mat, & Special Edition Tin Case
Two Year Warranty

Please Note:

LED indicator light remains steady when iron is heating up and will blink when desired temperature is reached. If the light is off but the switch is set to On, the iron is decreasing temperature to a lower setting.

From HANA:

Dedicated to high ceramic content and top of the line components, Hana's pursuit of high tech styling without hype led to the Hana Professional Flat Iron - Advanced Fusion Molding delivers glass-smooth ceramic-tourmaline plates while acccelerated negative ion output repairs hair follicles, sealing in natural oils for a conditioned, sleek, salon shine that lasts all day.
With professional features like damp-to-dry styling, floating plates that self adjust to different textures and adjustable temperature, the Hana Professional hair straightener is engineered to deliver luxury at a down to earth price.

My take: I've been on the market for a new flat iron for quite awhile now, so I was thrilled that I was able to try this one out! I've been using a mini Chi flat iron for the past couple of years, and I love it, but I think it's just getting kinda old. It doesn't have adjustable heat settings and although it doesn't "fry" my hair, it does leave it looking kinda dry. Also while it does make my hair really straight, it doesn't stay perfectly straight for very long in this humidity.

So how does the HANA compare? I LOVE IT!!! Although it's 1" while my mini Chi is bigger, it still makes quick work of straightening my hair. I love that you can use it on damp hair without damaging it, because I hate the hassle of blow drying my hair first.

I went from out-of-the-shower hair:

To smooth, silky goodness:

In about 10 minutes!

It did not make my hair feel "fried" at all. In fact, it left it feeling much healthier, smoother, and shinier after using it! The best part is I absolutely adore how perfectly PIN-STRAIGHT it makes my hair. I have relatively straight hair in the first place, but I've always envied those with that SUPER SLEEK straight hair that STAYS that way. And now I have the perfect flat iron for making my hair look like that! :D

(ignore the white things lol, they're steri-strips covering my fresh microdermals :P)

I love how totally sleek, soft, and wispy it makes my hair look. And even though the weather ranges from rather hot and humid to here, my hair stays pin-straight and smooth after flat ironing it. Amazing!!

I also fell in love with:
HANA Shine Shield Thermal Protectant

Hana Shine Shield is the latest product in a line committed to safe, effective heat styling. Shine Shield is a thermal serum that can be used as a leave-in conditioner - lightweight and never greasy, it protects and strengthens hair whether you use it with a flat iron, hair dryer or alone. Shine Shield contains the natural magic of Jojoba oil for its superb qualities of deep moisturization, fast absorption into hair follicles and scalp, and unparalleled shimmer & shine. 2 oz.

Hana Shine Shield Features:

Lightweight leave-in conditioning therapy
Designed to protect and restore both hair and scalp from environmental and styling stress
Jojoba absorbs quickly without a greasy feel for thorough deep conditioning
Jojoba naturally dissolves soil, removing build-up from other styling products to leave hair clean & supple
Jojoba naturally excels at thickening keratin layers, bringing out your hair's natural color overtones, highlights and brilliance
Periodic use over time is proven to advance the quality of your hair & the health of your scalp

I've been using a pea size amount (that really all you need!) on my hair after flat-ironing and it, and it makes my hair look so incredibly shiny, smooth, and healthy looking, WITHOUT feeling like it's weighing down my hair. My hair is gone through so much bleach and dye, so it's not exactly the healthiest -_-" But HANA's Shine Shield definitely restores radiance to my hair. I love this product!

Would I repurchase/recommend?: I definitely would recommend this flat iron and HANA products from Misikko.com. The quality of this flat iron is awesome, and if you want a straightener with adjustable heat settings that heats up and styles quickly, and will give you that sleek and smooth look; this is a great flat iron to try!

The Rundown:

Packaging: 5/5
Comes in a special edition tin case with a free heat proof storage pouch and heat proof silicone mat!

Product: 5/5
I LOVE this flat iron. It heats up super fast, can be used on damp hair, styles within minutes, doesn't make my hair feel "fried," leaves my hair feeling silky and smooth, and gives that perfect pin-straight look.

Price: 4.5/5
At $120, it's definitely a beauty investment, but it's definitely worth it! The quality is superb.

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

Disclaimer: These products were sent to me for review purposes from Misikko.com.
This is my honest review and experience with these products.

NYX Haul Pics & Swatches

2011-11-28T12:28:00.007-10:00

I made an order from cherryculture.com about a month ago when they had their 40% off NYX sale. I honestly haven't been buying much makeup for the last year, but this sale was too good to pass up, especially for false lashes! I got $70 worth of NYX for $40 :D This is what I ordered:

Bronzer & Blusher Combo in Phi Phi Island, NYX Girls Nail polish in Mushroom Glitter and Carnival, Jumbo Eye Pencil in French Fries, Glitter Cream Palette in Sweet Chocolate Brown, Round Lip gloss in Sorbet & Whipped, Round Lipstick in Pumpkin Pie, and 8 pairs of false lashes.

Closer pic of the Round Lip gloss in Whipped & Sorbet, Round Lipstick in Pumpkin Pie, Jumbo Eye Pencil in French Fries, and Glitter Cream Palette in Sweet Chocolate Brown.

NYX false lashes are some of my favorite falsies to use. They have a huge variety and the lashes are very durable. I like how they lash band is stiff but flexible... makes it so much easier to apply than with a really flimsy band. The style names of the lashes are:

Left column, from top to bottom: Gorgeous, Nirvana, Disco Queen, and Lash implant.
Right column, from top to bottom: Nostalgia, Exclusive, Nostalgia, Exclusive.

I bought 2 pairs of Nostalgia and Exclusive because I LOVE layering those 2 lashes together. And every time I try to buy them here, they're always out of stock! So I figure I might as well stock up :) The Gorgeous and Nirvana lashes are really full and voluminous, I really like them. If you like full, spikey style lashes, I'd recommend those. I was really excited for the Disco Queen ones because I liked how lush they looked. But unfortunately I don't think they look all that great on me :/ Ah, well maybe I'll find a use for them sometime. The Nirvana lashes I just bought on a whim. Usually I'm partial to really long, full, and thick lashes... obviously unnatural, but I love em! However I really like the Nirvana lashes because they're long enough and wispy but have some volume to them and they look rather natural. Good for everyday wear :)

Here's swatches of the Round lip gloss and Lipstick. From left to right:
Round Lip gloss in Whipped, Round Lip gloss in Sorbet, Round Lipstick in Pumpkin Pie

I love NYX's lippies! I did previous reviews/swatches of their lipstick here, and lip gloss here. I love the round lipgloss because it's cheap but the quality is really nice. It's pretty pigmented and goes on smooth, it's not sticky, has shine, lasts a couple hours, and doesn't dry out my lips. Whipped is one of my favorites for a quick glossy nude lip. I always wanted to try Sorbet as well. It's a cute baby pink with fine shimmer. The lipstick is also very affordable with nice quality and pigmentation. Orange Soda is my favorite nude lip shade, but I really wanted to try Pumpkin Pie. It's a nice light coral/salmon shade.

I love using NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencils as an eyeshadow base or layered over other shades. This is French Fries (which is kind of misleading because this doesn't remind me of french fries at all lol) but it's a rich dark brown/bronze with coppery tones in it. I mainly use brown eyeshadow on the daily, so this'll make a great base!

I had been wanting to try NYX's Glitter Cream Palettes for the longest. Something about the shining allure of glitter was just too tempting! XD Even if I never use it, I'll be happy just looking at it, 'cause the glitter's just so pretty :P I chose Sweet Chocolate Brown because like I mentioned above, I mainly use brown eyeshadow, so this was the most practical choice for me (although I did love the purples and blues they had!) I haven't tried this yet, but it does seem a bit promising. The top layer of the glitter is dry, so you kinda have to rub into it to get the waxy part to pick up. It's smooth and pats on nicely. These swatches are about 2-3 layers built up. It's actually pretty easy to build up the glitter without smearing it all over the place, so I can see it being not much of a problem to add layers of it over eyeshadow. However, it is really really messy to take off!

I love bronzer/blusher combos, so this was something I HAD to get XP It's very reminiscent of my ELF bronzer/blusher duo, which I love (I guess you could also compare those to NARS Laguna/Orgasm, but I don't have it :P). However, it's REALLY sheer, so if you're not one for subtle cheek color that needs to be built up, I wouldn't recommend this. I do like the iridescent sheen that both shades have to them though.

And lastly, here's swatches of the nail polish! From left to right: Mushroom Glitter and Carnival. I love how dense the Mushroom glitter is. I can see it being good by itself, or for doing glitter gradient nails. I was also really excited for Carnival, because it reminds me of Deborah Lippmann's Happy Birthday. Can't wait to try these on my nails :)

FOR SALE/SWAP: Coach Poppy Body Lotion

2011-11-17T10:25:00.003-10:00

FOR SALE/SWAP:
Coach Poppy Body Lotion 5.0 Fl Oz
Brand new, never opened
Asking $30, shipping included (sells for $45 at Nordstrom) or make an offer

I bought the $70 perfume/lotion set, but I wasn’t planning on using the lotion so if anyone is interested, feel free to leave a comment or email me at ec_tini@hotmail.com :)

Review: Maybelline Baby Lips Repairing Lip Balm w/ SPF 20 and Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara

2011-11-15T19:57:00.012-10:00

I got a chance to try a few of Maybelline's newest products through BzzAgent recently, so here's a review on their Baby Lips Repairing Lip Balm with SPF 20 and their Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara!

Price:

Baby Lips Lip Balm - $3.99

Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara: $6.40

What they say:
CLICK TO ENLARGE

What's in it:

CLICK TO ENLARGE
Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara info & ingredients:

CLICK TO ENLARGE
Baby Lips Lip Balm info & ingredients:

Great Lash Lots of Lashes Mascara:

My take: I honestly do not use mascara at all because my lashes are pretty much non-existant :P So I always use false lashes. These lashes (pictured below) were a favorite pair of mine, but they were nearing the end of their usefulness lol... they were getting really sparse and wispy. So on a whim since I wanted to try this mascara out, I decided to put it over the false lashes. And I must say, it does add some nice length and volume, WITHOUT getting clumpy and messy! I was pleasantly surprised. The unique shaped brush with all the little bristles definitely gets the mascara coated on each individual lash, even the little ones. This is with 3 layers:

So even though I don't use mascara personally, I would recommend people to try this mascara! I'll definitely use it to put some life back into my more worn-out pairs of falsies.

Baby Lips Repairing Lip Balm w/ SPF 20:

From left to right:
Peppermint, Cherry Me, Peach Kiss, Quenched, Pink Punch

From left to right:
Pink Punch, Quenched, Peach Kiss, Cherry Me, Peppermint

From top to bottom:
Pink Punch, Peach Kiss, Cherry Me
(Quenched and Peppermint are both clear)

My take: I LOVE THIS LIP BALM. I'm kind of a balmaholic, so it was a dream to get to try 5 of these! What I really love about this balm is that it goes on smooth and silky, not waxy or thick at all. It stays feeling smooth on lips for 4+ hours and doesn't end up drying out my lips afterwards like some other lip balms I've tried that guarantee moisture, but do the opposite. This lip balm really deeply moisturized my lips and after continuous use, I feel like it has improved my lip health. Normally my lips are dry, peeling, and chapped. But after using this lip balm, my lips are softer, smoother, and hydrated. The five different ones I tried all smelled great. The scent is very light and sweet. Everything with a self-explanatory name (Pink Punch, Cherry Me, Peppermint) all smell like what the name implies, except for Peach Kiss -- that one was kinda chalky to me. Quenched is kind of fruity and fresh smelling to me. The taste of all, however, I didn't really care for. They were all a bit artificially sweet and cloying, but it did fade very fast so it wasn't a huge problem. The three tinted balms pictured above all offer just a hint of color while retaining the moisture and shine. I would definitely buy more of these but it seems like they will last a really long time!

Would I repurchase/recommend?: Yes, I definitely would repurchase and recommend the lip balm especially. It has become my new favorite lip balm because it's so moisturizing and comfy on the lips without drying them out after several hours. I would recommend the mascara for anyone who wants added volume and length to their lashes.

The Rundown:

Packaging: 4.5/5
I love the colorful and fun packaging! The lip balm plastic tube does feel a TAD flimsy, but not a huge deal.

Product: 4.5/5
I LOVE the lip balm. It's super moisturizing and long lasting, and the tinted ones offer a nice touch of color. The only thing I didn't like was the taste, but it fades fast. The mascara gives length and volume without getting clumpy.

Price: 5/5
Wallet friendly!

Overall:
[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

Review: BlingUp.net Japanese 3D Nails -- Tri-Color Nail Tip with Pearl White Flower Nail Art and Austrian Crystals [Set 2 of 4]

2011-06-16T20:26:00.003-10:00

To recap from my original overview of Blingup.net nails:

BLINGUP.NET 3D NAIL ART!

Blingup.net specializes in 100% custom, handmade 3D japanese style nails. They make the nails specifically to your nail measurements to ensure a perfect fit. I also asked if the length of my nails could be shortened a bit. They came out PERFECT! Blingup.net's customer service is also FANTASTIC. Extremely quick and friendly replies to all of my questions and concerns :)

The nails are SO gorgeous; extremely detailed and intricate, but also very durable! The deco pieces do NOT fall off, even after 1+ weeks of wear.

You also get:

One free 3g nail glue each order (10g nail glue with brush if your order more than 4 nail sets).

10 pieces of Professional double-sided nail tape for each nail set.

Nail file (360Grit for filing nail surface and for sharpening of the nail)

Repair package (in the event gems, crystals or nail art fall off)

Here are the Tri-Color Nail Tip with Pearl White Flower Nail Art and Austrian Crystals nails.

From Blingup.net:
This nail set features various colors on each nail tip with a pearl white 3d flower nail art and genuine Austrian crystals. The detail continues with glitter and beads all throughout the nail art with a cluster of gold metal beads at the center of each flower.

These nails have a "summery" feel to me, and I especially love the detailing on the thumb and all the deco flowers. This is a more light and girly design, perfect for say, a wedding or some kind of special occasion :)

Also, like I mentioned in my first review:

These nails are rather long in length. So if you're not used to long nails, they take some getting used to! After I got used to them though, I had no problems typing, opening things, etc. And, make sure to use a good amount of glue! Use a thick, even coat, and the nails should not pop off for at least a week. None of the decorations fell off either, but since the nails come with replacement gems and such, you can easily replace gems if they fall off.

The Rundown:

Packaging: 5/5
Super cute packaging! Perfect for storing.

Product: 5/5
Amazing detail and quality. 100% Handmade to YOUR specifications!

Price: 4/5
These nails quite pricey if you're trying to stick to beauty on a budget, but you get what you pay for, and you're paying for the highest quality!

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this post were sent to me for review by the company.
This is my 100% honest opinion and experience with the product.

Circle Lens Review: Neo Dali Extra Gray & Brown from Shoppingholics.com

2011-06-16T19:58:00.005-10:00

These lenses were sent to me for review purposes by
Shoppingholics.com
They have a large selection of circle lenses, their customer service is great, and I received the lenses quickly and packaged very carefully. They also provide lots of information and pictures of the lenses on their website, so you can get a good idea of what they look like before you buy them.

The lenses I'm reviewing are:

Neo Dali Extra Gray

and
Neo Dali Extra Brown

And also some adorable lens cases!

OVERALL:
The brand of these lenses is Neo Vision, which I wasn't familiar with -- I've only tried GEO, G&G, and EOS before. However, they are very comfortable and I didn't have any problems wearing either pair. The diameter is 14.2mm, so they offer some enlargement, but they're not overly unnatural-looking at all. I must say though, that the grays are THE BEST gray lenses I have ever tried EVER. I LOVE them ^.^ The browns look nice, but the color doesn't show up the way I thought it would.

Neo Dali Extra Gray

I lovelovelove these lenses! The gray is quite noticeable, but not in an "unnatural" way. They give the PERFECT (for me, at least) bright gray pop to my eyes. The limbal ring is actually darkish brown, and fades into a pixely dark-to-light gray, which subtly fades into the pupil hole, which is quite large; but surprisingly, doesn't make my pupils look all that huge/creepy. Also, although the diameter is 14.2mm, it doesn't enlarge in an unnatural/borderline creepy way like some of the other lenses I've tried that were only 14mm. The color of these lenses shows up very well in person AND in pictures. It looks AND photographs beautifully, so if you want bright gray lenses, I think these would be a great choice.

Neo Dali Extra Brown

These lenses give off a distinct dolly/doe-eyed look. The limbal ring is dark brown and fades to a light brown, pixely pattern like the grays. The brown doesnʻt really show up on my eyes, it just looks dark/black, but that gives the illusion of more enlargement than the grays (though still not overly huge/freaky looking). These lenses do give a glossy/shiny look to my eyes though; so I think they are nice for everyday wear when you want a little sparkle to your eyes. If you're looking for bright, noticeable brown though, I wouldn't go with these.

Lens Cases

Theyʻre super cute, sturdy, and open easily/close tightly. Great for travel or everyday use... plus they're just fun to look at :)

The Rundown:

Packaging: N/A

Product: 4.5/5
These Neo Dalis are very comfortable. The grays are vibrant and look spectacular in photos/real life, and the browns are cute/dolly and give eyes a "shiny" look, but the color does not stand out. The contact lens cases are adorable and high-quality.

Price: 4.5/5
Their lenses are in the $21+ range, and you can get free shipping for purchases over $50.

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

Disclaimer: These lenses were sent to me for review purposes from Shoppingholics.
This is my honest review and experience with these lenses.

Click here to visit Shoppingholics.com!

Review: Burt's Bees Super Shiny Lipgloss in Juicy Peach

2011-01-17T19:47:00.000-10:00

Price: $7.00 (get it here)

What they say: Drench your lips in moisture and beautiful sheer color gloss. These hydrating natural lip glosses are flavored with citrus oils for a kiss of fresh-squeezed flavor. Choose from six juicy shades.

What to do: Apply gloss to your lips as often as needed for extra shine and hydration.

Featured Ingredient:
Sweet Almond Oil -- Prunus amygdalus. Cold pressed from the dried kernels of the almond tree, this medium-weight oil is rich in olein glyceride oleic and linoleic acid, proteins and vitamin D, and is excellent for the skin and nails. It is an outstanding emollient known for its ability to soften and re-condition skin and help balance skin's moisture loss and absorption. It soothes dry skin and irritated areas and is extremely nourishing, particularly when used regularly.

What's in it: Ricinus communis (castor) seed oil,, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, acacia decurrens flower wax, phytosteryl canola glycerides, silica, flavor, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, tocopherol, glycine soja (soybean oil)., May contain: mica, iron oxides, titanium dioxide, carmine

The good-stuff:

Affordable
Natural ingredients
Smells/tastes good
NOT sticky
Moisturizing

The low-down:

Not what I'd call "Super Shiny"

My take: I'd been wanting to try this lipgloss for awhile now, but every time I would take a look at the display in stores, the testers would be all gross and sticky and disgusting, which led me to think that these lipglosses would be the same. And I cannot stress how much I HATE sticky glosses. But after reading several reviews saying that they were in fact, not sticky, I decided I'd give it a try!

I opted for the shade "Juicy Peach" since the name was so alluring ;) It's more or less a MLBB shade, on my lips, it shows up a tad darker than my natural lip color. I really like the formulation of this gloss. It's like a cross between a gloss and a balm. It's very moisturizing and feels comfy on lips without drying them out, and it's not sticky AT ALL. It also has a nice citrusy smell/taste to it that's not at all overwhelming or sickly sweet.

The only thing I don't care for about this lipgloss is that it is definitely not what I would consider "Super Shiny." Maybe it's this particular shade? The tube I got? I don't know. But When I think of "Super Shiny," I think of YSL Gloss Pur. This gloss is nowhere near THAT patent-leather shiny. It adds glossiness, yes, but it's being distinctly advertised as SUPER SHINY, which I just don't think it is. It looks nice and glossy when it's first applied, after a few layers. But it seems to quickly dull down to just a subtle glossy sheen. But maybe that's just me :P

Overall, I think this is a good everyday wear gloss since the formulation is so nice and moisturizing and it adds a hint of color and glossiness. And of course, the natural good-for-you ingredients are a plus!

Would I repurchase/recommend?
I don't think I'd repurchase this particular shade, I think I'd like to try Sweet Pink or Nectar Nude. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone looking for a SUPER SHINY lipgloss though. It's a great gloss with a nice formulation, but it doesn't have that patent-leather shine to it that I was expecting.

NOTE - If you are ordering the shade Juicy Peach from Apothica.com, if you click on the link "More details," it will take you to a page that tells you the product cannot be found. So instead, just click "Add to cart" and it will show up in your cart.

The Rundown:

Packaging: 5/5
Standard squeeze-tube. Doesn't get messy.

Product:4/5
Feels good on lips, not sticky at all. Smells/tastes good. Moisturizing. Just not SUPER shiny!

Price: 5/5
Wallet-friendly.

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

Review Preview: Haul from Apothica.com

2011-01-17T17:43:00.000-10:00

Hey everyone! I recently got some products from Apothica.com for review, so I just wanted to do a quick preview post on what's coming up! :)

Stila Cosmetics Travel Palette - Trendsetting in Tokyo

This palette is super cute! Has a big mirror. 4 Eyeshadows and 1 LE Convertible color.
The eyeshadows are nicely pigmented and the convertible color is a nice bright pop of pink.

Burt's Bees Super Shiny Natural Lipgloss in Juicy Peach.
It's NOT sticky YAY! It has a nice citrus taste/smell. However I don't think it's all that "Super Shiny" :/ But it is a nice cross between a gloss and a balm and feels good on lips.

Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate.
Super pigmented, but I'm not a HUGE fan of the formulation :/ It's not exactly as "buttery" as I expected it would be, but I've heard lots of good things about this so maybe it's just the one I got?

Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Has become an everyday staple for me :) A little goes a long way and it definitely helps intensify shadows and helps them last longer.

Too Faced Leopard Love Complexion Perfection Kit
Also an everyday staple ♥ Love love love leopard print! I've found them all to be rather sheer though -- although this is better to build the pigmentation to your liking.

Reviews coming up!

Perricone MD Advanced Eye Area Therapy GIVEAWAY WINNER!!!

2011-01-09T19:29:00.004-10:00

Hi everyone! Sorry it took me a few days to get around to announcing the winner of my Perricone MD Giveaway! >__< There was a total of 23 entries (including all additional entries) and the winner was #3!

Congratulations,
cyutiishortii!

I sent an email to the email address you provided, please email me back within 72 hours!! (If I don't hear back within 72 hours, I'll pick a new winner)

Thank you everyone for participating in my giveaway!
Hope you've all been having a great start to 2011 :)

Review: Revlon Beyond Natural & Fantasy Lengths False Lashes and Precision Lash Adhesive

2010-12-30T17:42:00.001-10:00

Hi everyone! I know I said I'd be making more scheduled posts... and obviously I failed miserably at that -___-; LOL! But anyway, I figured as a New Year's Resolution, I'm going to try and get back into the swing of things ;) So cheers to a new year very soon, and here's a review to start it all off :)

I had previously reviewed Revlon's Fantasy Lengths "Intensifying" false lashes here, but had mentioned that I had wanted to try different styles. To my surprise, Revlon contacted me and graciously sent me some false lashes and lash adhesive (as well as false nails) for review!

I haven't tried the Beyond Natural line of lashes until now and I thought I would like them less than the Fantasy Lengths ones because there is no thick lash band and you have to mess around with lash glue. However, I was pleasently surprised to find that I like the Beyond Natural line just as much (if not more) than the Fantasy Lengths ones.

These lashes retail for around $3-4.

Revlon Beyond Natural lashes
"Dramatic"

What they say: -With various styles available, each with a different length and volume, you can easily customize your lashes -Synthetic, Handmade -Available In 3 Styles

My take: I really like these lashes because of the great volume they give, while still having a nice "wispyness" to them :) They're really full and long, but like the box says, they are ULTRA lightweight and I barely feel them at all. The only thing I don't like about these lashes are that the inner ends don't taper down in length and the outer ends don't flare out as much as I'd like, so they don't exactly look quite "natural." Other than that though, they are a great fit for my eyes and feel perfectly comfortable on. The band is super thin and not rigid at all, so these lashes are easy to place on and adjust. If you're looking for full, voluminous lashes, I'd give these a try.

Revlon Beyond Natural lashes
"Natural Defining"

My take: I don't really care too much for these lashes on their own, as I found them to be too "natural" for my tastes. They look nice up close, but from a distance, they are not really noticeable at all on my eyes. However, they are FANTASTIC for layering with other lashes (will explain below!!!). If you already have naturally long, full lashes, I think these would be nice for adding some extra oomph to them. Like the name, they are definitely "Natural Defining" and don't add much noticeable volume if you have short, sparse lashes like me :( The band is super thin and invisible, and like the other Beyond Natural lashes, they are ultra lightweight, easy to apply, and comfortable to wear. (Sorry no picture with me wearing just those!)

Revlon Fantasy Lengths lashes
"Flirty"

What they say: REVLON® Fantasy Lengths® Maximum Wear glue on eyelashes are a revolutionary way to go from Plain Jane to Naturally Fantastic instantly. Without messy glue to fumble with- you can have perfect lashes that stay where you want them to- even in waterAvailable in four different styles.

My take: I had mentioned in my other Fantasy lengths review that I really like these lashes because of the innovative self-adhesive strips. I think this is a great idea for people on the go who don't want to mess around with lash glue (me!). They come with an extra pair of adhesive strips too. And you can still peel off the strips and use regular glue afterwards. This pair didn't have the same rigid black band that the other Fantasy lengths lashes I reviewd had. This was a good thing too though because they were more flexible and comfortable. I like this style because it has a good volume and length and is noticeable on my eyes without looking too natural or too dramatic.

& On to LAYERING!!!

I think that this is the best part about these lashes... Since they are SO lightweight and the bands are so thin, they are PERFECT for layering over one another. This is what the Natural Defining and Flirty lashes look like put together:

I really like this combination because it gives the perfect length and fullness for me, while still looking natural :D This combination gives the fullness I like from the Dramatic lashes, but it tapers off nicely and can be adjusted for more flare at the outer end. LOVE :D If you don't mind the extra steps, I'd suggest trying to layer these lashes together for a costumized fit and volume :)

All of the lashes that I've tried are also great quality. I've been able to get around 10 uses out of these lashes until they finally started getting a bit bent out of shape!

Revlon Precision Lash Adhesive

Price: ~$5.00

What they say: -Ultra thin brush allows for precise application on entire lash band or even the corners of lashes. -Saves time! Easy to apply with no hassle. -No need for extra application tool (such as cotton swab or brush) to apply onto lash band. -Easy touch-up anytime, anywhere. Convenient and purse friendly. Waterproof & Latex Free

My take: I really, really, REALLY like this lash glue. I think it's actually the best lash glue I've tried so far! Application is super simple and really mess free. It has a super fine brush tip that allows for easy application of just the right amount of glue to the lash band. It's not messy at all. The glue stays tacky for a good amount of time so you can easily place and adjust the lashes, but it dries rather quickly too, so the lashes don't fall off while you're in the middle of trying to put them on. And it lasts all day! The lipgloss-esque packaging is also great to keep in your purse if you need to do quick corner touchups throughout the day. I've tried other lash glues before that were sticky, smelly, hard to use, didn't dry quickly, were a bitch to remove, and were otherwise just plain gross! Never again! I'm so glad that I got to try out this lash glue because it's definitely become an HG for me!

The Rundown:

Packaging: 5/5
The packaging of the lash glue is great for stashing in your purse.

Product: 4.5/5
The lashes are fabulous: they're super lightweight, great for layering, and last a long time. It would be great if Revlon would continue to make more styles of lashes! The lash glue is the best I've used so far. Simple and mess free!

Price: 5/5
Completely wallet-friendly!

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

FTC Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this post were provided to me for review by Revlon.
This is my 100% honest opinion and experience with these products.

Custom iPhone 4 Theme & my old iTouch Theme (Non Beauty-Related :P)

2010-12-17T23:42:00.006-10:00

Hey everyone! I've resurfaced again, haha! School is finally over for me so I'll have a few weeks of break before it's back to the daily grind. I'll try to get some reviews in since I'll have more time to spare :) I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas & Happy New Years in advance!!! :D

Anywho, I mentioned a few posts back that I recently got an iPhone 4. Of course, I jailbroke almost immediately :P (I used limera1n and it worked perfectly. But this was like a month ago -- I recently JB'd 2 of my friend's iP4s, and it took a lot longer and had some glitches. So maybe this break might start crapping out soon?). So anywho, lately I've been working on custom-theming it, which has been a lot harder than I anticipated... but just felt like sharing what I've done so far =]

This is my old theme of my 2nd Gen iTouch:

Coding and tweaking was super easy to learn.
I created all the icons, background, dock, and status bar myself :]

However, theming for iP4 is quite the challenge.

The customizations that I used on my touch don't work with 4.1 :[ Everything is entirely different. There's cooler apps and whatnot, but less options for themes, and even though I've googled like a madwoman, I only found one worthwhile tutorial for full custom-theming, and even that didn't work out entirely for me :[

Anywho, here's what I have so far:

My current Springboard setup:

Black Navigation Bars
MakeItMine app to change appearance of Carrier logo & Banner
LiveClock
Notifier (not shown in this screenshot)
Custom background made by myself
iBlanks to rearrange app icons however I want
Five Icon Dock
Custom dock image
Emoji app lets you use different emoticons instead of just text (free from the App store)
Custom Folder Icon & Folder Switcher backgrounds
BiteSMS (this is THE SHIT!)
Cydia, Winterboard, Installous, & Skyfire in the iPwn'd folder :]

Close-up of the custom Folder Icon backgrounds (tokidoki ^.^) and custom Folder Switcher background. Both made by me. Sorrrry if you like Hello Kitty, 'cause I don't! LOL XD

What my Lockscreen looks like. Custom background made by me. I tried using LockInfo and SimplScreen, but they glitched out and wouldn't work right for me :/

Random:
A superrrr cute Rilakkuma calculator app I got off Installous :]
Makes me smile~

...Still a work in progress =]

Circle Lens Review: G&G Puffy 3-Tone Gray & Green, EOS J-202 Candy Doll Violet, & Hello Kitty Lens Kit (Pic Heavy!)

2010-12-05T15:50:00.001-10:00

Hi everyone! Here today to do more circle lens reviews! I have a Hello Kitty contact lens kit to review as well (: This post is PIC HEAVY, so if you don't want to see 5863491738 pictures of my face/eyes, feel free to pass ;)

These lenses were sent to me for review purposes from
Kiwiberry1's Collection!
I would highly recommend them for their great prices, helpful & friendly customer service, wide selection of circle lenses, and fast, hassle-free shipping!

I also made a video here, if you want to see these lenses "in action":

Here are the lenses I received, from top to bottom:
G&G 3-Tone Puffy Green
G&G 3-Tone Puffy Gray
EOS J-202 Baby Candy Doll Violet

OVERALL:

This is my first experience with G&G circle lenses, and my second experience with EOS circle lenses. I was really intrigued with the Puffy series, as I'd seen pictures and the color seemed very vibrant. And boy, do they NOT disappoint! The G&G Puffy 3-Tones are VERY bold and bright. VERY noticeable. They remind me of my Geo Twins, except less "freaky." They are 14.5 mm, so they do enlarge my eyes, and make my pupils seem especially large, which is a bit freaky but still not as freaky as the Geo Twins -- The pattern & color "blends" a lot better on my eyes than the harsh pattern of the Twins. If you're looking for vibrantly colored lenses, I'd definitely suggest these!

The EOS Baby Candy Doll Violets are a smaller diamter (14mm), so they look a little more "natural" in regards to size. The color does not show up on my eyes at all in natural light, they just look really dark. But they do give a really pretty jewel-like glossy shine to my eyes, which I like a lot :) They violet does show up very well in flash photos though. These are great for slight enlargement and "shiny" anime-esque eyes ;)

All of these lenses are very comfortable, and I have had no issues while wearing them other than the inevitable slight dryness and blurring. I've worn the Puffy grays for around 5+ hours, and the Baby Candy Doll Violets for 7+ hours. The Puffys are great for pictures and cosplay since the color is so noticeable, but the Baby Candy Doll Violets are definitely my favorite because they're more suitable for everyday wear.

EOS J-202 Baby Candy Doll Violet

Btw - experimenting again with drawing on falsies... triple-winged liner just for the heck of it :) For more anime-esque eyes ^.^

These are my favorite of the three because they are the most "natural" looking. The diameter is 14mm, so they don't enlarge too much. The color does not show up IRL on my eyes, but is bright violet in flash photos. I actually like that the color shows up rather dark (nearly black) on my eyes. These lenses give my eyes a certain shiny/glossy appearance. The effect is subtle yet noticeable. If you're looking for shiny dolly eyes, I'd try these out! These aren't for you if you're looking for vibrant colored violet lenses (besides in photos).

G&G Puffy Green

I was a little intimidated by these at first, since the color is SO bright, but they're starting to grow on me. They are similar to my Green Geo Twins, color-wise. The limbal ring is thick & dark, but it's actually made up of tiny little dots. It then fades into a bright aqua-green, then gold around the pupil hole. The color fading transition and pattern of these lenses are not as "harsh" as the Geo Twins, so I think the color blends a lot nicer on my eyes. Of course, it is still not natural looking, but it's a lot "softer" than the twins. I would recommend these lenses more for just pictures or cosplay. They're a little too bold for me for everyday wear. The color is VERY intense!

G&G Puffy Gray

I was the most excited to try these, since I've been looking for the perfect pair of gray lenses for FOREVER. These also have the same dark limbal ring that fades into a bright gray, then gold. These are pretty and GREAT for pictures because they give a kind of "mysterious" look, but they are very obviously unnatural in real life. I would feel really self-conscious wearing these out in public because the color is super noticeable and might freak people out :/ I think these would be awesome for cosplay as well though, and they look gorgeous in pictures!

Hello Kitty Lens Kit

I also received this awesome lens kit! Okay, I must admit I'm not a fan of Hello Kitty... LOL. But this lens kit is sooo cute! And so useful!

Travel kit contains:
-Sturdy plastic case
-Mirror
-contact lens case
-tweezers
-contact spoon/stick
-bottle for liquid solution
*Solution bottle cap & lens case cap may vary in color (green/orange/pink)

(Get it here)

I LOVE the tweezers!!! I've been wearing false nails lately so taking out my lenses has been a problem (putting them in isn't a problem though), so the tweezers were life savers!!! This kit is $8 and is PERFECT for when you're travelling, or just to throw in your purse incase you need to take out your contact lenses while on the go. I definitely would love to see more designs with other characters!!! These kits are AWESOME :)

Review: Perricone MD Advanced Eye Area Therapy

2010-11-29T16:38:00.000-10:00

Pssst.... stay tuned for a GIVEAWAY ;)

Price: $95 (buy it here)

What they say:
Reduces fine lines, wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles with Alpha Lipoic Acid and DMAE. 15mL / .5 fl oz. Advanced Eye Area Therapy is formulated with DMAE and Alpha Lipoic Acid to help prevent and correct the early signs of aging that appear around the delicate eye area, making us look older than we really are. It minimizes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and puffiness, while diminishing dark circles and discoloration with Vitamin C Ester. Paraben-free.

[ KEY SCIENCES ]

Alpha Lipoic Acid - Patented
• The ultimate antioxidant protects the cell
• Diminishes fine lines, wrinkles and discoloration
• Refines skin texture
• Reduces pore size, puffiness, imperfections and uneven skin tone

DMAE - Patented
• Provides ultimate contouring benefits to skin beginning to lose elasticity
• Delivers lifted, tightened and toned appearance to the skin
• Diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

Vitamin C Ester - Patented
• A powerful antioxidant that improves firmness and elasticity
• Diminishes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and discoloration
• Imparts a radiant, smooth and luminous appearance

[ CLINICALS ]
After 4 weeks of use: 90% showed less discoloration under eyes
84% reported improvement in under eye moisture (only 3 hours after application)

What's in it:
Aqua (Water), Tetrahexyldecyl Ascorbate (Vitamin C Ester), Aminobutyric Acid, Isopropyl Palmitate, Glycyrrhetinic Acid, Cetearyl Alcohol, Phosphatidylcholine, Thioctic Acid (Alpha-Lipoic Acid), Caffeine, Niacinamide, Ceteareth-20, Borago Officinalis (Borage) Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Squalane, Folic Acid, Tocophersolan, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Dimethicone, Polysorbate 60, Caprylyl Glycol, Dimethyl MEA (DMAE), Elaeis Guineensis (Palm) Oil, Phytonadione, Phenoxyethanol, Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin C Ester), Tocotrienols, Hexylene Glycol, Eicosapentaenoic Acid, Citric Acid, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Astaxanthin.

What to do:
Dr. Perricone recommends applying gently under the eye in the morning and evening.

The good stuff:

Hygenic pump bottle
A little goes a long way
Very moisturizing & hydrating
Easy to smooth on
No scent
Kept my undereye puffiness at bay
Seemed to help a bit with my dark circles & fine lines

The low-down:

The pump dispenses A LOT, so be careful how hard you press it down
Slight stinging sensation for the first few uses
Only 15 mL, it's a small bottle (but you only need to use a little at a time)
Expensive
Not a CURE for dark circles & fine lines

My take: This product is a light, moisturizing lotion. It is easy to smooth on the undereye area and very little will go a long way. I have to mention though, that although I love pump bottles, this one dispenses WAY too much -- One full pump is too much for BOTH of my eyes, so I only press it down a little to get less than a pea sized amount, which is enough for both of my eyes :)

I have a semi-sensitive undereye area, so the first few times I used this product, I would get a stinging/burning sensation. I'd also get the same stinging feeling if I apply this right after I remove my eye makeup with a makeup remover wipe (due to the rubbing, the skin around my eyes would be extra sensitive and applying the product over it would cause that irritation). The stinging faded after a couple of minutes and stopped entirely after a couple more uses, but if you have sensitive skin, I would try using only a little bit of this product, increasing the amount as time goes on, if you don't get any reactions to it.

This product is very moisturizing and hydrating for the undereye area. I prefer to use it as an overnight treatment since it does take awhile to fully absorb and sink into the skin. This product makes some big claims for stellar undereye improvement, but I must say that I can only speak for some of them -- I've been using this product for about a month now, so maybe as time goes on, the results will become more apparent. So far, I've been liking what I've been seeing though!

Let's take a look at the claims again: Minimizes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and puffiness, while diminishing dark circles and discoloration.

Has it been working for me?

Minimizes appearance of fine lines & wrinkles? As I've mentioned before, I have pretty bad fine lines :( I do think that this product seems to be helping at softening them out, but they are still visible (up close). The good thing, they're for sure NOT getting worse!
Minimizes appearance of puffiness? Ever since I used Cellnique's De-Puffy Eye Jewel, my undereye bags were significantly reduced. I have since ran out of that product, and started using Advanced Eye Area Therapy, and it has successfully kept the puffiness from returning! It had a similar effect to the Cellnique De-Puffy Eye Jewel though -- it seemed to "flatten" out the puffiness, but also created a sort of "hollow" area beneath my eye. Nothing terrible though, the main thing is that it kept the puffiness away!
Diminishes dark circles & discoloration? Also as I've mentioned many times before, I have THE WORST dark undereye circles. VERY Severe darkness and discoloration. I have yet to find a product that has worked to tone it down. However, I do think that this product has seemed to have a slight effect at lightening my dark circles A BIT. Maybe it's just my wishful thinking... it's nothing spectacularly noticeable, but it does seem to have helped some at making my undereye area look a little more rejuvenated. Hopefully with continuous use it will get better.

Would I repurchase/recommend:

I don't think I'd need to repurchase this anytime soon, as so little goes such a long way. I wouldn't really recommend this to anyone on a beauty budget, as it is quite expensive. But if you can afford it and you've been looking for a product to combat dark circles and puffiness, I'd say go for it! Although it might not be strong enough for people with dark circles as bad as mine, I do think it would work rather well for people with mild/moderate discoloration. Also, if you're looking for something to fight puffiness, I would recommend this!

The Rundown:

Packaging: 4/5
Convenient pump bottle! Dispenses A LOT though, have to be careful not to press too hard.

Product: 4/5
A little goes a long way, moisturizing, kept puffiness at bay, seemed to help diminish my dark circles somewhat.

Price: 2/5
Very pricey. Not really "beauty on a budget" friendly, but you are paying for quality and results!

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

Disclaimer: the product mentioned in this review was provided to me by Perricone MD. In no way does this alter my opinion on the product, this review is my honest experience and opinion. I am not paid by or affiliated with this company. Please use this product at your own discretion. Just because it worked/didn't work for me doesn't guarantee it will/won't work for you.

EOTD: 3 Step Smoky Eye + Circle Lens Preview: G&G Puffy 3-Tone Grays

2010-11-16T19:24:00.002-10:00

(This is actually NOT a scheduled post :D Weee!)

I recently received some new pairs of circle lenses from Kiwiwberry1's Collection, so I'll be reviewing those soon! But here's a quick preview of one pair + an EOTD! These are G&G Puffy 3-Tone Grays. They're SUPER bright and bold. A little freaky IRL, but not as "in-your-face" as my GEO Twins. If you're looking for very distinct bright gray, enlarging lenses, I'd highly recommend these :)

And as for the EOTD, I decided to do a super quick & simple smokey eye, featuring ELF's Shimmer Eyeliner pencil in Gunmetal. I mentioned in my review that I prefer to use these pencils as either eyeshadow or an eyeshadow base, rather than a liner. The staying power as a liner isn't that good, but it works fabulously as an eyeshadow or base!

The shimmers in the liner are noticeable and I like how it accents these lenses :)

The only other shadows I used were from my ELF e/s quad in Day 2 Night.

I've also been using L'Oreal's Infallible Neverfail eyeliner. It's pretty good so far. Smudges a bit, but then again, what eyeliner DOESN'T smudge on me?!?! My beloved Wet N Wild Mega Eyes Creme eyeliner dried out on me :( I also tried out Maybelline's gel liner, but I'm not liking it anywhere near as much as Wet N Wild :( So I've been sticking to this L'Oreal liner lately.

Happy Tuesday everyone!
Thank you also for all the kind words on my last "Life" post ^___^ ♥

I AM NOT DEAD!!!

2010-11-13T02:05:00.002-10:00

Hi everyone! (if anyone is still stopping by) XD

I feel like I've been SO absent from the blogging world lately, even though my last post was only a little over a week ago :/ It's been a LONG while since I've done a life-related post here -- most of that goes on @ my SIDESTORIES blog (which I am thinking of making private soon). So anywho, I just wanted to let everyone know that I am NOT dead!!! I still lurk everyone's blogs, just haven't been commenting or posting like I usually do :( As for my own blogging, honestly, I've been thinking of... not exactly taking a break, but just doing more scheduled posts.

I've currently come to a point in time where I'm inspired AND uninspired, somehow consumed AND yet left with free time... if that makes any sense :/ I feel like I have a lot of time on my hands, yet at the end of the day, I'm always asking myself "Where did the time go?" I have tons of posts lined up, just haven't found the enthusiasm to get them out. It may be kind of weird, but I consider blogging as more than just a "hobby," it's a really big part of my life that I enjoy VERY much and try to put a lot of time and effort into. But it's just something that I haven't been able to do... consistently right now :( It really feels like I'm missing a chunk of my life, since I haven't been blogging and keeping up with everyone lately, as weird as that may sound :P I miss everyone!

Eventually, I hope to get out of this slump (I've been in it once before), and I hope to be back to my usual posting-5x-a-week-self :) But until then, I'm gonna be straight-up and say that I'm not the kind of person that wants to be putting out half-assed posts just for the sake of writing something so I don't lose followers for not blogging as often. Whenever I start posting in full-force again, it will be at the right time, for the right reasons, and with the right attitude :) Till then, I'll mostly be scheduling posts.

I just want to say thank you so much to everyone who has followed & continues to follow so far, even though I've been rather absent from the blogging world. I ♥ you all, you're what makes me want to continue doing this! THANK YOU! ^___^

So anywho, what HAVE you been doing with your life, Erynn???
Well, let me recap the 3 main things other than school & work:

The Mister & I are no more.

We've actually been over for a couple months. I haven't brought this up on here until now because, well... it's just a B*TCH to even think about. FB friends, I'm sure you have an idea of what I mean :/ Let's just say... it wasn't working out anymore. I got sick of having this ridic double standard imposed on me for so long. Over time, he became someone totally different from the "best friend" I'd known 3 years prior. Even after we broke up, we still had a lot of drama with each other... It was really disappointing that it had to end on such a bad note, but the relationship was having too much of a negative impact on my life (in all honesty, both of our lives) for it to go on any longer. Saddening, but at the same time, I can't bring myself to continue trying to care about someone who only cares about me when he feels like it.

I'm enjoying the HiLife.

So another negative aspect of being in the aforementioned relationship... I lost ALL of my friends. Literally, no joke. But since that's over, I've started living life for ME, instead of trying (or being forced) into satisfying others by giving up the things/people I love. So I've been catching up with the REAL best friends, who I haven't spoken to in years. We fell out with each other during the end of high school, but you know it's real friendship when those years when you didn't speak to each other can be forgiven & forgotten in one night alone (gettin' slizzered & *toasted in the toaster* ;) yeee!) This line from Lil Wayne's Right Above It perfectly sums up what we got goin' on: "That's why I pick and choose, I don't get shit confused. I got a small circle, I'm not with different crews. We walk the same path, but got on different shoes." ♥

Love season is in progress.

Hahhaha so a few FB friends have been curious about what's been going on with "this Shane guy" :) So for starters, we've actually known each other since high school, but never got to really know each other until now. Due to some *interesting* circumstances, we started talking on FB. Which started a lot of drama in both of our lives. But long story short, we've been talking for over a month now, and we've been on 1 date so far :) The funny thing is, he doesn't even live on the same island as me! But I've never met a guy that would fly all the way back to this island, then drive halfway around the island just to take me to dinner XD Believe it or not, I've actually never been on a "real" date before. I've never experienced a guy opening doors or pulling out my chair for me and actually treating me like a GIRL :/ I'm pretty tomboy IRL so most guys treat me like just another guy lol. It's a nice change of pace :) The distance itself also seems to help rather than hinder... for example, when you can see a person whenever you want, you get tired of them faster and things get old quick. However, when you never know when's the next time you'll get to see them, you have more time to appreciate them and when you DO get to see them, it's that much more thrilling ;)

Overall, nothing is official right now, I'm just taking it slow and seeing where it goes. In the past, I've constantly made the mistake of rushing into a relationship without getting to know the person, which led to us finding out right away that we really weren't compatible, but by then, we were "stuck" together. So I'd rather not make that mistake again :/ I'm pretty content with where my life is at in general right now, so it makes me hesitant to put a label on things because I just got OUT of a relationship, and I don't want things to become *that way* again. But so far, I'm diggin' this :) I haven't vibed so well with someone since.... EVER. We're always "on the same page" and we just CLICK on so many levels, everything from dirty humor to taste in cars :) Funny because I never imagined we would even be actual friends, let alone fall for each other haha! Funnystuff. The best thing is that I feel COMFORTABLE with him. Like I can just be myself and live my life, he lives his own life; no worries & nobody judges or has any expectations. So far, it just WORKS. And I'm diggin' it very much, fingers crossed it doesn't change!!!

&That's what's been up with me lately (:

Review: BlingUp.net Japanese 3D Nails -- Black French Nail Art with Roses, heart, Rhinestones, & Pearl Beads [Set 1 of 4]

2010-11-01T22:36:00.001-10:00

Hey everyone! Just wanted to apologize for the lack of posting lately =[ Life has gotten so hectic recently... school, work, relationships.... even though I can find the time to blog, I just haven't found the motivation :( But I'm here today to share a review of....

BLINGUP.NET 3D NAIL ART!

I was so fortunate to be sent 4 pairs of nails for review!
Each nail set comes in its own cute little box:

Blingup.net specializes in 100% custom, handmade 3D japanese style nails. They make the nails specifically to your nail measurements to ensure a perfect fit. I also asked if the length of my nails could be shortened a bit. They came out PERFECT! Blingup.net's customer service is also FANTASTIC. Extremely quick and friendly replies to all of my questions and concerns :)

The nails are SO gorgeous; extremely detailed and intricate, but also very durable! I have been wearing one set for over a week now, and NO gems or deco pieces have fallen off!

You also get:

One free 3g nail glue each order (10g nail glue with brush if your order more than 4 nail sets).
10 pieces of Professional double-sided nail tape for each nail set.
Nail file (360Grit for filing nail surface and for sharpening of the nail)
Repair package (in the event gems, crystals or nail art fall off)

Here are the sets I received:

Tri-Color Nail Tip with Pearl White Flower Nail Art and Austrian Crystals
($42.99)

Black French Nail Art with Roses, heart, Rhinestones, and Pearl Beads
($40.99)

And two custom, original sets!

I was completely blown away by the absolute gorgeousness of all of these nails! I'll be reviewing the Black French Nail Art with Roses, heart, Rhinestones, and Pearl Beads set first.

Since they had black tips, I thought it would be good to wear during October =]
They're very "gothic lolita" ♥

These nails are great for special occasions but I personally love the gyaru style so I don't have a problem wearing them every day ^__^

One thing to note though, is that these nails are rather long in length. So if you're not used to long nails, they take some getting used to! After I got used to them though, I had no problems typing, opening things, etc.

Also, make sure to use a good amount of glue! I had about 4 nails pop off during the course of the week because I didn't put enough glue in the beggining. But after a thick, even coat, the nails had no problem staying on. None of the decorations fell off either, but since the nails come with replacement gems and such, you can easily replace gems if they fall off.

Overall, I am in LOVE with this set! Got a lot of compliments & "Oooh, can I touch them?!" Hehe =] Thank you so much, Blingup.net! Definitely check them out if you're a fan of kawaii hime-gyaru style japanese 3D nail art! ^__^

Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this post were sent to me for review by the company.
This is my 100% honest opinion and experience with the product.

Super late swatches: MAC Venemous Villains Strange Potion Lipglass

2010-10-31T13:18:00.004-10:00

Hey everyone! I know this is suuuuper late haha, but I figure better late than never! :) Just wanted to share some pictures and swatches of Strange Potion lipglass!

I liked the LE outer packaging.

But alas, the lipgloss packaging itself is quite tacky -_-;
Although I do think the Evil Queen had the nicest packaging!

Strange Potion is described as a "Soft coral pink"

And I must agree! I adore this shade. It's a gorgeous muted-coraly pink with slight shimmer. It's a great "tame" coral for everyday wear, not too bold but gives a pretty pop of color.

It's also surprisingly semi-opaque and covers my lip pigmentation rather well in just one layer :)

Did you get anything from MAC Venemous Villains?
Do you have Strange Potion?
Love it or leave it? (:

Review: Coach Poppy Perfume

2010-10-18T16:32:00.000-10:00

Hey everyone! I've never done a review on a perfume before, but I figured what the heck! I've finally come across one I really love, so I wanted to share :)

A little background:

Coach launched Poppy, a new fragrance for women, in July. The name is borrowed from the Coach Poppy fashion line, and it is the first Coach fragrance to launch directly in department stores. Poppy is a fruity floral with notes of cucumber flower, mandarin, freesia, jasmine, water lily, gardenia, crème brûlée accord, cedarwood, sandalwood, vanilla and whipped marshmallow. Coach Poppy is available in 50 ml Eau de Parfum, and in a purse spray and body lotion. (via wwd)

Price: $60 for 1.7 Oz

What they say: Poppy is a flower. Poppy is a girl. Now, Poppy is a fragrance.

The good stuff:

Smells SOOO DELICIOUS!
Super adorable packaging
It's PINK!

The low-down:

If you don't like fruity florals, this isn't for you.
Considerably pricey
I can see myself using this up quickly

My take: I am in love love love with this perfume! I had been needing a new one since I ran out of this random Paris Hilton perfume I had been using prior :P I purchased this from Sephora when I was on Oahu. Although I hate to spend $60 on something as trivial as perfume, I do think it was well worth it! It just smells so YUMMY. I couldn't really place my finger on what the scent was at first.... all I knew was that it literally smelled DELICIOUS. Like candy :) After doing some researching online, apparently the scents are "cucumber flower, mandarin, freesia, jasmine, water lily, gardenia, crème brûlée accord, cedarwood, sandalwood, vanilla and whipped marshmallow."

The only other downer besides the price is the fact that I can see myself using this up rather quickly because it's kinda tiny, and I like to smell good all the time. LOL!

Would I repurchase/recommend?: Yes, as long as I don't come across a scent that I like better, I would definitely repurchase this after I run out. I would recommend this to anyone who likes sweet, candyish, fruity floral scents!

The Rundown:

Packaging: 5/5
Adorable & luxurious!

Product: 5/5
Super "yummy" scent. A great fruity floral!

Price: 3/5
Of course, you're paying for the label so the price is to be expected. But it's still up-there for just perfume :P

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

Review & Swatches: Glamour Doll Eyes Eyeshadows

2010-10-18T16:08:00.001-10:00

Hey everyone! Here today to share some thoughts & swatches on 6 eyeshadows I got from Glamour Doll Eyes! I have not had many good experiences with loose powder eyeshadows (or loose powder anything, for that matter :P), but I've read several positive reviews on the brand and their products, so I was totally game to try them out! :) Glamour Doll Eyes specializes in mineral eyeshadows and their products are FDA approved. Currently they only have shadow collections & lashes in stock though.

The shadows arrived in about a week, nothing broken or spilling, of course! Also with very nice, pretty, professional business cards!

I got 6 shadows:
Top row -- Phyrra, Boyfriend Sweater, Grease Lightning
Bottom row -- Lovers Lane, Glam Girl, Victorian

The packaging is super cute and conveniently labeled!
No sifters in this smaller size, but those irritate me anyway :P

Here's what they look like:
Top row -- Phyrra, Boyfriend Sweater, Grease Lightning
Bottom row -- Lovers Lane, Glam Girl, Victorian

(some may look a bit chunky and others smooth... they just settle differently)

Swatches:
(Same order as above)
All swatched over Time Balm Concealer in Medium.

The shadows, when swatched over a base, are SO GORGEOUS! Bright, vibrant, and bold. The shadows are very finely milled and smooth. They go on easily and very pigmented!

Phyrra is a purpley-fuschia with aqua sparkles.
Boyfriend Sweater is a light taupe-y brown.
Grease Lightning is a nice olivey mix of green/gold.
Lovers Lane is a deep, metallic red.
Glam Girls is a bright, vibrant purple.
Victorian is a very deep red-violety purple.

Grease Lightning & Glam Girl are my favorites :)

Without a base, these shadows are on the sheer side (and messy -- this is why I don't like working with loose powders! :P). They still offer some good pigmentation (Lovers Lane & Victorian being the most pigmented, Grease Lightning & Boyfriend Sweater in the middle, and Phyrra & Glam Girl being the least pigmented). It requires a lot of layering. So I would highly recommend using a base first, they adhere quite nicely and don't have as much fallout.

Overall, I am impressed with these shadows! I just love how vibrant they are when used over a base. If you're looking for a huge variety of shades to choose from and bold, bright, & vibrant pigmentation, I would definitely give Glamour Doll Eyes a shot! Will be doing some looks with these shades soon :)

The Rundown:

Packaging: 5/5
Super cute, nicely labeled jars. Caps screw on securely.

Product: 4/5
Gorgeous shades, super pigmented over a base! Some shadows are more pigmented than others though, and I prefer not to work with them dry/without a base.

Price: 5/5
I'm not sure on the exact prices ATM since only collections are on sale right now, but I know that the prices for individual shadows vary by amount, around $1.50-$6 depending on how much you want. So you can try sample sizes for less, or opt for the full size!

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this post were sent to me for review by the company.
This is my 100% honest opinion and experience with the products.

Latest MACquisitions: Fleur Power Blush & Richer, Lusher Cremesheen Glass (Pics + Swatches)

2010-10-13T22:57:00.001-10:00

Hey everyone! It's been a hot minute since I've done a MACquisitions post, haha :) I only got one thing from the Venemous Villains collection -- Strange Potion Lipglass, will swatch next! -- but while I was on Oahu, I picked up some other stuff I'd been lemming for awhile:

Richer, Lusher Cremesheen Glass & Fleur Power blush

Fleur Power is described as a "Soft bright pinkish-coral (Satin)"
It is uuuuber pigmented! This is the most pigmented MAC blush I own so far. A very light swipe packs A LOT of color for me. It is gorgeous though, a great fresh flush color :)

Richer, Lusher is described as "Peach Coral"
It also packs some punch in pigmentation. Not as sheer as I expected it would be! Although I was really excited to get this shade, on its own, it's a bit "bold" for me :P I like to use it to add some color to nude lippies.

L-R: Fleur Power blush, Richer, Lusher Cremesheen Glass

Richer, Lusher Cremesheen Glass

Will do a look w/ the blush soon!

NOTD: NYX "Pimp My Nail" & Glitter + Love Package from Sheila! ♥

2010-10-05T22:43:00.000-10:00

Hey everyone! Wow, I feel like I have been away from blogging for quite awhile, even though my last post was not TOO long ago :P Still, I'm sorry! I feel like I've been neglecting this blog! T_T ...I've been feeling so consumed by school/work lately that I just haven't found the time/energy to just sit down and write about all the things on my "to-blog" list :( I do lurk everyone else's blogs though! Haha XD I do have lots of reviews lined up, just gotta get around to writing them and taking pictures. Hopefully very soon :)

Anywho, today I wanted to share what I've been sporting on my nails this week: NYX's "Pimp My Nail" which is a fun, bright, neon green. Love it! :D However, I don't love the fact that this polish is VERY sheer, so I did about 5 coats, and it dried to a dull finish. I could still slightly see my nail line, so I decided to go over with glitter (another NYX polish) and NYC clear Extra Shiny Top Coat. Surprisingly despite all the coats, it dried relatively fast (compared to my OPI/China Glaze polishes). It was a bit tacky for an hour or so though, but hardened and shined up nicely after about 2 hours.

Also, I recently got a package in the mail from the lovely miss Sheila of MaddyLoves! Thank you so much love!!! ^____^ ♥

Sheila is the sweetest & I'm so glad I met her on blogger! :) I WILL visit you one day, Sheila! Or you should come to Hawaii for vacation... hehe ^.^

Ahhh! So much goodies! :D MBD masks, Dior samples, nail stickers, BIG HUNK OF LUSH SEXY PEEL!, falsies, eyeliner, mini Dior lipstick, Essie polish, and ZA Foundation! Can't wait to make use of everything!

YAY! Sheila was so sweet to get this for me because I had mentioned how much I liked this brand when it was still sold in Hawaii. I've been using this foundation since I got it. I'm still trying to get the hang of the best way to use it since my skin has gone back to being super-dry lately. If I don't moisturizer well beforehand, it can makes my skin look UBER DRY up close! But the coverage it gives is just as fabulous and flawless as I remember! Will review this soon :)

Thank you soooo much Sheila! ♥ If you haven't checked out her blog MaddyLoves yet, go for it! She does fabulous reviews & tutorials and is super sweet, friendly, & helpful ^__^ (Btw, if you were following her @ MademoiselleLovesBeauty and stopped getting her updates, her new url is http://www.maddyloves.com/, so be sure to visit & follow her there!~ ♥)

Hope everyone is having a great week so far! :)

Review: Sigma Brushes - Naughty in Black Travel Kit (Pic Heavy!)

2010-09-30T00:26:00.003-10:00

Hey everyone! I was recently given the opportunity to do a review of Sigma brushes. This brand has been rising in popularity lately, and is often compared to MAC brushes. I only own one MAC brush and have never owned any Sigma brushes before, so you're getting my honest first hand opinion and experience with these brushes :) For those who might not be familiar with the Sigma brand, you can visit their website to learn more about them!

"The Sigma Makeup brand is synonymous with quality and functionality. Our products are handmade and were developed to satisfy the highest quality standards."

Sigma offers many different professional brush kits for face, eyes, travel, etc. You can also buy individual brushes, brush rolls, belts, mirrors, and makeup bags. I chose the Naughty in Black Travel Kit -- yes, can you believe it? I passed up on pink! -- because I wanted to be able to test a variety of their face and eye brushes that are also travel-friendly (and because I fare better with shorter-handled brushes). I really like the signature sleek black look as well.

Shipping was very quick, it took about a week. I really loved the personal touches that Sigma included, it really made me feel like they take the time to make their customers feel special :) Their customer service and communication is also excellent. I was in contact with a marketing manager the entire time, and she was very accomodating and friendly.

Everything came in a cute purple bag!

Brush care instructions:

You also get a pamphlet with details on all the brushes. Very helpful.

And here is the Naughtly in Black Travel Kit:

The brush roll is black, simple, and sleek. It's made out of a soft pleather material that seems like it would be easy to clean. The brushes all fit snugly into their slots. There is also a zippered pocket, but you can't put much in their or the brush roll won't roll up and stay closed properly (it has a magnetic closure in the lining).

First look at the brushes:

Also comes with a free F50 Duo-Fibre brush!

Price: $49 from http://www.sigmabeauty.com

What they say: The Sigma Makeup travel kit Naughty in Black contains 7 essential brushes to achieve a flawless look on the go. Take Naughty in Black to your favorite travel destination or keep it in your purse for a quick touch-up during the day or a night out. All brushes are individually stored in a stylish black clutch equipped with a convenient pouch to carry all your must-have makeup items.

Clutch dimensions (closed): 7 x 4 inches.
Face brushes: 5 inches total
Eyes/concealer brush: 4 inches total

The brushes all come wrapped in plastic and the face brushes have their own brush guards.

I prefer the shorter-handled brushes because I do my makeup standing in front of my closet door mirror, and longer-handled brushes tend to tap against the mirror -_-; These handles are the perfect length for me and fit comfortably in my hand :)

Now, on to the brushes!

Large Powder (F30) - Very dense with a rounded top.
Ideal to apply powder products on face and body. Natural bristles.

First thoughts: Very soft yet very dense! After washing this brush, it had a few flyaways but held its shape very well. No color bleeding and no shedding while washing either. It did get that kind of off-putting smell you get with natural hair brushes afterwards, but it dissipates. As long as you're not shoving the brush up your nose (lol), the scent isn't detectable.

How I use it: I use this brush to lightly dust my EDM Pressed Powder all over my face.

Overall thoughts: I love that this brush is soft -- not as soft as my ELF Flat-top Powder Brush, which I normally use, but nowhere near scratchy -- AND it's dense. It easily picks up powder and deposits it evenly. It's also a good size even for a travel brush. Although the brush head is small, it's not so small that it doesn't pick up enough powder and takes forever to apply it. Three swirls of this brush in my EDM pressed powder is all it takes to apply my foundation nicely.

Large Angled Contour (F40) - The angled shape makes this
brush ideal to apply blush or contour shades. Natural bristles.

First thoughts: I was really excited to try this brush because I've been looking for a good angled blush/contour brush for the longest time. It also had a few flyaways after washing but had no problem maintaining it's shape. No shedding. It also had that smell to it, but it goes away like the Large Powder brush.

How I use it: I use this brush for applying blush on the apples of my cheeks and sweeping it upwards to my temples. Have not used it for contouring yet.

Overall thoughts: This brush is also very soft and firm. I really like that aspect of Sigma's face brushes -- many ELF face brushes, for example, are super soft but really flimsy and floppy. Sigma's brushes combine soft AND dense, which is ideal in my book :) This brush easily picks up powder blush and applies it wonderfully. It has a great shape for precisely applying blush just where you want it. I do wish it was a tad more dense and firm, though. It's a bit too flexible for my liking if I press too hard with it.

Foundation (F60) - Can be used to apply liquid or cream foundation.
It is also recommended to apply moisturizers and conceal large areas. Synthetic bristles.

First thoughts: I was also excited to try this brush because I've been looking for a good foundation brush that I could use with powder products. It had no flyaways after washing and held its shape perfectly. No bleeding or shedding and no smell (bristles are synthetic, but no chemical scent either).

How I use it: I know this brush is meant for liquid/cream foundation, but I use it for precisely applying powder foundation below my eyes, around my nose, forehead, and chin. I normally use a Kirkland Borghese Foundation brush for that (it also has a compact, dense shape), but it's been getting scratchy lately so I opted to try this one.

Overall thoughts: I really like the size of this brush head. It's dense and firm enough to pick up powder foundation perfectly and apply it just where I want it. I don't like other foundation brushes I've tried because they're meant for liquid foundation and are just too flimsy for the purpose I want to use them for. This brush is soft, dense, and has just the right amount of flexiblity. It just about replaces my beloved Kirkland foundation brush!

Eye Shading (E55) - Soft and dense with a rounded finish. Can be used to apply pressed or loose eye shadows and pigments. Ideal to build intense color on the eyelid. Natural bristles.

First thoughts: Soft and VERY dense. A couple flyaways after washing and only 1 hair shed while washing. Not really much a smell to this one even though the bristles are natural. The handles also come off as a little "chubby" looking with these shorter eye brushes (not that it bothers me, it's kind of cute ^.^)

How I use it: I used this brush to apply a highlight below the brow, and pack eyeshadow onto my lid.

Overall thoughts: This brush is a little too wide for my eyes when applying shadow to the lid and a little too dense for my liking to use as a brush for applying a highlight below the brow. It functions perfectly fine for both purposes and packs on color nicely, but the shape and density of the brush head is just a bit too bulky for my eye shape and leads to somewhat messy application :(

Concealer (F70) - The rounded, tapered, flat shape makes this brush ideal to conceal the under eye area. It is also recommended for a precise application in small areas. Synthetic bristles.

First thoughts: Very soft. No bleeding, shedding, or flyaways. No smell either!

How I use it: I use this brush to precisely conceal small areas -- it's good for covering up pimples and the redness around my nose. I don't use it to conceal below my eyes though, I use ELF's Studio Concealer brush for that because I prefer its larger, wider shape.

Overall thoughts: I love that this brush is very soft but not flimsy. It picks up creamy concealer and pats it down perfectly over tiny areas. It also is great for concealing around my nose. I don't prefer it for concealing under my eyes because I feel like it's too small to quickly cover my huge dark circles -_-;

Tapered Blending (E40) - Rounded and tapered top. Specially designed to apply and blend color on the crease. Natural bristles.

First thoughts: Very soft, but lots of flyaways before AND after washing. Doesn't hold its shape very well. No bleeding, but it did shed at least 4 hairs. Very floppy.

How I use it: I used this brush to lightly blend eyeshadow shades together.

Overall thoughts: I think I was the most skeptical about this brush because the brush head is so big and bushy. It's also quite floppy and soft, not really dense enough to easily and quickly blend for me since it's so soft and floppy. I think it will work better for applying a light highlight below the brow or doing a sheer wash of color over the lid. I wish the bristle length was shorter, and that the hairs were packed more densely together for a firmer brush. It is very soft and not scratchy at all though.

Pencil (E30) - Precise application of color on the crease, outer corner, and upper and lower lash line. Also ideal to smudge out pencil liner. Natural bristles.

First thoughts: Again, another brush I was excited for because I've been wanting a brush for precise application of eyeshadow. It is very soft and dense. Had a few flyaways after washing but maintained its shape. No shedding, not much smell.

How I use it: I use this brush to precisely apply eyeshadow to my lid, crease, and outer-V.

Overall: I adore this brush! It is perfect for applying shadow to small, precise areas and smudging it out. It picks up powder shadow perfectly, and deposits it with the same pigmentation as in the pan. Great! It is also the perfect size for my eyes. The bristles are soft but densely packed together so the brush is firm but still flexible. Great for precision!

Duo Fibre (F50) - Specially designed to generate an ‘airbrushed’ finish when used to apply liquid foundation. It can also be used to apply blush, highlight shades and loose pigments. Blend of synthetic and natural bristles.

First thoughts: A nice, soft brush. A few flyaways after washing but held its shape well. No bleeding or shedding while washing.

How I use it: I know this brush is best used for applying liquid foundation, but I haven't used it for that purpose yet. I used it to lightly apply blush using the stippling method.

Overall thoughts: This is a nice brush, like most of the other Sigma brushes I've talked about so far, it is soft but still firm and dense. It picks up powder nicely and is great for lightly applying a wash of blush (and also building it up). When I have the time to use it for liquid foundation and stippling, I'll update this review :)

OVERALL?

The quality of most of these brushes is excellent, very reflective of the price. They are all very soft. Some of them aren't as firm or dense as I'd like though. The face brushes are my favorites, as well as the pencil brush. The blending brush and eye shading brush may work better for others, just not for me. This is the perfect kit for travel, as it contains all the essentials you'll need! I took this kit with me on my recent trip to Oahu and got to make full use of each brush. I even want to buy some of the individual regular-sized brushes now!

LOVE IT: Pencil (E30), Large Powder (F30), Foundation (F60)

NICE TO HAVE: Concealer (F70), Duo-Fibre (F50), Large Angled Contour (F40)

PASS ON IT: Tapered Blending (E40), Eye Shading (E55) -- if you have small lids

Also, I was a little curious about why the brushes say "Made in USA" but the wrapper says "Made in P.R.C." Apparently, the brushes are designed in the USA but made in China. Just to clarify :)

Anywho, I hope this review was helpful for anyong looking to try Sigma brushes! :)

The Rundown:

Packaging: 5/5
Comes in a stylish, durable black brush roll. F30, F40, F50, and F60 come with brush guards.

Product: 4.5/5
The brushes are all very soft! They feel and look high-quality. Some of them aren't dense enough for my liking though.

Price: 4/5
A bit pricey for beauty on a budget, but the quality definitely reflects the price.

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

Have YOU tried Sigma brushes?
What are your favorites? Flops? Share!

Disclaimer: The products mentioned in this review were provided by the company.
This is my 100% honest opinion and experience with these brushes.

Haul Post: What I brought back from Oahu (:

2010-09-28T22:14:00.007-10:00

Hey everyone! It feels like I've been away for awhile from blogger, haha XP Anywho, I recently went to Oahu for my cousin's 1st bday party, so I also had a chance to do some shopping! :D

Here's what I brought back:

FROM SEPHORA:

Coach Poppy Perfume, Time Balm Concealer, & Boscia Purifying Cleansing Gel (My 100 point perk). I had been needing a new perfume lately, so I opted to try Coach Poppy because it smells super delicious and the bottle is adorable! :) Will be doing a review on that soon. Also, after reading Agnes' review on The Balm's Time Balm Concealer, I really wanted to try it out! It is super creamy and and has great coverage, but like all my other concealers, inevitably ends up creasing on me by the end of the day. It does make a great base though and conceals my redness and dark circles perfectly. Lately as well, I have been finding that no matter what concealer I use, my eyeliner will end up smudging below my eyes! And I've been using my normally budge-proof Wet N Wild Mega Eyes Cream Liner... I think it's because the weather is so damn humid during the day ~_~ Can't wait for the weather to get cooler!

FROM MAC:

Fleur Power Blush, Richer, Lusher Cremesheen Glass, Pro Longwear Concealer in NW25, and a sample of Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder. I had been wanting the blush & cremesheen glass for awhile now (swatches of those coming up), and our Hilo Macy's MAC counter was aggravating me too much... so I figured I'd pick them up while I was on Oahu. I went to the freestanding store and got a super nice, super helpful MUA this time, yey :) I also decided to try out the Pro Longwear Concealer and she matched me to NW25, which kind of threw me off because I always thought I'd be an NC. But she said these concealer shades run a little different, so I should try the NW. It does seem pretty accurate, but I'll keep testing it and see how it does. She also gave me a sample of the transparent finishing powder to set the concealer. So far, I love that it is in a cute little pump bottle and I haven't had problems controlling the amount of concealer that comes out.

FROM MARUKAI MART:

Got my Korilakkuma fix!!! Of course ;) An air freshener, a mousepad, 3 keychains, and a mechanical pencil. And 2 cute little plastic containers with heart cutouts on the side! Adorable and only like $2 ^__^

FROM DON QUIJOTE:

Kanebo Naive Foaming Cleanser (love this stuff), Koji Eye Tape, Koji Spring Heart false lashes, and NYX Nail Polishes. I've been wanting to try out eyelid tape for awhile now, so I decided to pick this one up. It was like $5. It isn't double-sided though :( We'll see how it goes. I also wanted to get some good Asian false lashes. But holy crap I had no idea how expensive the Dolly Wink lashes are! $17 is kind of a lot for false lashes, even if they are gorgeous :[ So I opted for the Koji Spring Heart brand which is $5. So far, I love these lashes! The band is rigid but flexible (if that makes any sense :P) and it feels super comfortable when on. The glue it comes with is also really good. The lash band length is also shorter than American-brand lashes, so I don't have to cut them to fit my eyes! They also are just the right length and volume. Not too long and not too short, not too dramatic but definitely noticeable. Will do a review w/ pictures soon :)

FROM WALMART:

My beloved $10 Fruit of the loom bras ahaha :P Seriously though, those bras are the ish. The sizing is a little weird though, but when you find the right size, they're awesome! The best fit and lift I've ever tried for such a great price ;) The other stuff I got: High Definition Angled Blush Brush, Super cute pink crystal penguin keychain, and Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Peach Petal. I've been on the lookout for a good angled blush brush for awhile now, and I think I've finally found THE ONE. We don't have this brand where I live but I'd heard a bit about it so I was super happy to find it on Oahu! This brush is so soft, but most importantly, it's DENSE. It can easily pick up blush and apply it perfectly. It's not floppy and scratchy like other angled blush brushes I've tried. It still doesn't take the place of my fav EcoTools blush brush, but it's pretty darn close. Will do a review of this soon as well :) I'll also swatch the Revlon Peach Petal with the rest of my Super Lustrous Lipglosses. I thought I'd really love Peach Petal, but sadly, I don't think I do :(

Anywho, I hope everyone has been having a good week so far! Will be back soon with lots of reviews!

Review: CVS Daily Moisturizing Lotion

2010-09-22T21:21:00.000-10:00

Price: ~$2.99 from Long's/CVS

What they say:
(Click to view larger)

What's in it:
(Click to view larger)

All Drug Facts:

The good stuff:

Inexpensive
Moisturizing and soothing
A little goes a long way
Might work well as a primer for others...

The low-down:

Takes awhile to feel like it's absorbed
Doesn't sit well under (my) makeup

My take: This was yet another moisturizer that I was attracted to because of the price. I was originally going to pay a little more and get the Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion, but I decided against it. Now I'm thinking I should have trusted my first instinct! Read on to find out why.

This is a dimethicone skin protectant (click here to learn about dimethicone), so it has a lot of slip and is easy to smooth on and feels slippery to the touch. It takes longer than I'd like to absorb on my face, and I don't like the slippery feeling on my hands. It is very moisturizing and soothing, however. It keeps my skin feeling soft and smooth.

The downside for me is that after it finally seems to absorb, it doesn't sit well underneath my makeup. I used this under my regular EDM Pressed Powder, and while it doesn't alter the appearance of my foundation, it just feels yucky on my skin :( After I apply the powder, my skin starts to feel sticky/tacky to the touch, and stays that way all day. It's very uncomfortable to feel the lotion sitting on my skin and getting that tacky feeling on my hands whenever I touch my face. It also doesn't seem to exceptionally smooth out my skin or make my foundation go on any better (well, it is a moisturizer, not a primer... but just sayin' :P). But, it might work better under other people's makeup versus mine.

Would I repurchase/recommend?: No, I personally would not repurchase this moisturizer because I'd rather try the Aveeno one. I prefer to use this one on rough skin like on elbows and legs, rather than on my face. Since it's so cheap though, it might be worth a shot if you're looking for an inexpensive moisturizer and you don't mind the slippery dimethicone feel. It might work better under different kinds of makeup and on different skin types.

The Rundown:

Packaging: 5/5
Your basic easy squeeze tube.

Product: 4/5
Moisturizing, but doesn't sit well under makeup.

Price: 5/5
Completely wallet-friendly.

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

Review: CVS Vitamin E Moisturizing Skin Cream

2010-09-19T21:05:00.000-10:00

Price: ~$3 from Long's/CVS

What they say/What's in it:
(Click to view larger)

The good stuff:

Inexpensive
A lot of product
A little goes a long way
Moisturizing and smoothing
Gives me a brightening effect

The low-down:

Extremely thick, sticky texture
Hard to smooth on evenly
Very sticky/tacky to the touch
Looks very greasy once applied
Doesn't really absorb... just sits on skin and feels heavy

My take: This is another moisturizer that I was attracted to because of the price. But ahhh, if only it wasn't such a hassle to use! -__-;

This moisturizer comes in your regluar ol' plastic tub. Rather large plastic tub. I can see this lasting me for... forever. Very little goes a long way. But the problem is... I don't even want to TOUCH that very little amount and then slather it all over my face. Why, you ask? Because this stuff is like GLUE. Literally. It's white, goopy, thick, sticky, and just... rather glue-like. If I were to smear Elmer's glue all over my face, I think it would feel EXACTLY the way it feels like to apply this moisturizer.

Because the consistency is so... glue-ish, you really have to take the time to rub it in or else it really will look like you have glue all over your face -- it stays white and splotchy. Then once it's fully smoothed on, it makes my skin look SUPER greasy. This is another one of those creams that I MUCH prefer as a night cream. This does NOT fully absorb, so I'm left looking and feeling like a sticky, tacky, greaseball until the next morning when I wash it off.

So, what are the benefits, right?! It does moisturize and smooth my skin the next morning, AND it has a wonderful brightening effect on my skin. Not sure if that is supposed to happen, but the next morning, I always have a smoother and more radiant complexion thanks to this cream. So although I can't stand the texture, I still use this cream every so often as a skin "pick-me-up" :) Also, despite its heavy, smothering feeling, it has not broken me out or otherwise irritated my skin!

Would I repurchase/recommend?: No, I wouldn't repurchase this because it will last me forever. If you're looking for a cream with the nourishing effects of Vitamin E and you don't mind looking/feeling like a greaseball for awhile, then you might want to try this.

The Rundown:

Packaging: 4/5
Standard plastic tub. (For hygiene's sake, I would always prefer a pump bottle)

Product: 3.5/5
Gives nice results, but I just wish the texture wasn't such a huge turn-off!

Price: 5/5
Completely wallet-friendly.

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

Review: Olay Active Hydrating Cream (Original)

2010-09-19T19:40:00.000-10:00

Price: ~$6.49 from Walmart

What they say:
(click to view larger)

What to do:
(click to view larger)

What's in it:
(click to view larger)

The good stuff:

Inexpensive
Lots of product, will last a long time
A little goes a long way
Moisturizes and smooths skin
Creamy texture, easy to apply
It's pink!

The low-down:

In a tub
"Old lady" smell
Doesn't absorb quickly
Feels tacky on skin
Leaves skin looking kind of greasy

My take: This is another moisturizer I have been trying out recently in my battle against dry skin! I was immediately attracted to it because of the price, and the fact that it is pink :) But does it work? Read on to find out!

Olay describes this cream as a "light, non-greasy formula." I would have to agree that it is light and easy to smooth on, and it doesn't feel heavy or smothering to my skin. It also doesn't feel greasy, but it does make my skin LOOK greasy after applying. It doesn't absorb quickly and feels tacky to the touch. This is why I mainly have been using this cream as a night cream -- It absorbs better overnight and I end up with smooth, moisturized skin in the morning. I can't really speak for its "restoring" claims (reducing fine lines & wrinkles), but it does keep my skin hydrated and smooth as promised.

The only thing I really didn't like is the smell. It has a very strong, perfumey, "old lady" type of scent :/ It fades quickly but initially, it isn't exactly what I'd call pleasant! XD

Would I repurchase/recommend?: No, I personally wouldn't repurchase this product because I love my Garnier Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream much more! This product has kept up to its claims but I just don't like that it takes a long time to absorb and makes MY skin look greasy. I would recommend this cream to anyone who doesn't mind dipping their fingers in a tub and who wants a rich yet light moisturizing cream that works well as an overnight dry skin treatment!

The Rundown:

Packaging: 4/5
Your basic chubby plastic tub. Does have a "sophisticated" feel to it though. (For hygiene's sake, I would always prefer a pump bottle)

Product: 4/5
Feels moisturizing and softening, but doesn't absorb quickly and stays tacky. Better as a night cream for me.

Price: 5/5
Good value for the price.

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

EOTD: "Mysterious" Smoky Purple, Black, & Brown

2010-09-13T22:09:00.000-10:00

Haven't done an EOTD in awhile!
Pardon the lame title, couldn't think of anything better XP

What I used:

Red Earth Eyeshadow in Star Light to highlight below the brow
NYX Ultra Pearl Mania Pigment in Purple, all over lid & above crease, then packed on lid
Black shade from NYX Champagne & Caviar palette on/above crease
Brown shade from Wet N Wild Vanity Palette on outer-V

What else did I use?

Physician's Formula Brow Pencil in Dark Brown
DHC Eyebrow Perfect Powder in Brown
NYX Jar Concealer in Beige as an eyeshadow base
Rimmel Exaggerate Eyeliner in Black to tightline
Wet N Wild Mega Eyes Creme Liner in Black to line lashline, waterline
L'Oreal Lineur Intense in Black Mica to wing liner
EOS Adult Gray circle lenses

Review + Swatches: ELF Shimmer Eyeliner Pencils

2010-09-13T17:35:00.007-10:00

Price: $1 each from eyeslipsface.com

What they say:
(click to view larger)

What's in it:
(click to view larger)

From left to right:
Twinkle Teal, Gunmetal, Iconic Ivory, Plum Passion, Boldly Bronzed, Grassy Green

The good stuff:

Only $1!
Handy sharpener built into the cap
Smooth, creamy texture
Does not pull or tug
Bold, pigmented colors with metallic shimmer
Long lasting as an eyeshadow
Works great as an eyeshadow base

The low-down:

Almost TOO soft, tip is easy to smash
Sharpener works well but takes a lot of product off with it
Does not work very well as an eyeliner on waterline
A bit smudgy

My take: I had originally said I wanted to wait on trying out these eyeliners because I wanted to see if other beauty bloggers would review it first... I mean, come on! It's $1 and usually, $1 eyeliners flat-out SUCK. I've had bad experiences with ELF's Brightening eyeliner AND Studio Eyeliner & Shadow Stick (can you say SMUDGE CITY?!), so I wasn't too keen on trying these liners just yet. But inevitably, curiosity got the better of me, and I decided to be the guinea pig. And I'm glad I did!

For $1, these liners are super smooth and pigmented. The colors are just wonderful and metallic and bold. Let the swatches do the talking:

From left to right:
Twinkle Teal, Gunmetal, Iconic Ivory, Plum Passion, Boldly Bronzed, Grassy Green

Pretty gorgeous, right? And pretty accurate to ELF's swatches (for once :P). The only shade that wasn't what I expected was "Grassy Green," which is depicted as a bright, kelly green on ELF's website, but turned out to be more of a dark, forest green. It is still nice though.

Despite all of their uber-pigmented, colorful goodness, these "liners" do not actually function very well as liners (or for me, at least). On my waterline, they don't last over an hour and end up smudging and migrating. However, I do think they work well to add a pop of color below the lower lashline.

Their redeeming factor is that they are FABULOUS as eyeshadows and/or eyeshadow bases. They are easy to apply, no pulling or tugging. The texture is very creamy and smooth. It stays a bit tacky on lids for a few minutes after application, so eyeshadow adheres to it VERY well. I use Boldly Bronzed daily under powder eyeshadow (since my everyday look is consists of browns) and it helps to intensify the color and keeps the shadow down pat, all day :)

Another great thing is that there is a sharpener built right into the cap:

And this ain't no cheapie sharpener. It works really well. The only thing is that it might work too well -- it shaves off a lot of product along with the wood shavings. Probably also because the pencil is SO soft. The tip can easily break or be smashed if you're not careful. The softness is good because it makes application a breeze, but just be careful when you're putting the cap back on!

The Rundown:

Packaging: 5/5
Handy sharpener built into the cap.

Product: 4/5
Not that great as a liner and is very soft, but works wonderfully as an eyeshadow/eyeshadow base!

Price: 5/5
Completely wallet-friendly!

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

Review: EOS Adult Brown, Gray, & Violet Circle Lenses (Pic Heavy + Video!)

2010-09-05T23:50:00.003-10:00

Hi everyone! Here today to do a review on 3 pairs of circle lenses:
EOS Adult Brown, Gray, and Violet.

I also made a video here:
(this is the very first Youtube video I've ever made, so I'm not talking or anything :P But you do get a chance to see these lenses "in action")

These lenses were sent to me for review purposes from
Kiwiberry1's Collection

This was my first experience with this company, which I had heard was a reputable business with great customer service. And I must say, they do not disappoint! :) This company is located in Canada, and I received my lenses pretty quickly, in a little over a week. My lenses were shipped in a small package, safely wrapped in bubble wrap.

I was in constant contact with "Kiwi" (the owner of Kiwiberry1's Collection) the entire time, and she quickly responded to all of my questions & concerns! She's so sweet!

Overall, I would highly recommend Kiwiberry1's Collection if you are interested in buying circle lenses. With all the recent controversy about circle lenses, many sites have shut down or stopped selling to USA. But Kiwiberry1's Collection still ships to USA customers and has not run into any problems with customs. They have excellent customer service and fast shipping. Their lenses are all $20 per pair and come with a free pink & white lens case!

OVERALL:

These are the first EOS circle lenses I've tried. I only owned GEO lenses previous to these, but was always curious about the EOS brand, and the Adults, especially. They are VERY comfortable. Easily the most comfortable circle lenses I own. I wore my Adult Grays for 9+ hours with no problems other than the inevitable slight dryness and slight blurring due to dryness. They did NOT move around or affect my vision like my GEO Twins do (when I wear those, I can see halos of color). I actually kind of forget I'm even wearing circle lenses when I have these on!

The color shows up pretty well, but does vary (will explain in the individual reviews below). All of these lenses give a "jewel-like" shine to my eyes. Very sparkly and pretty. The diameter is 14mm so they offer minimal enlargement, but they DO enlarge slightly because of the dark limbal ring and large pupil holes. However, they do NOT look super dolly or freaky at all. They make your eyes pop, but still look natural.

Another thing to note is that these are the "Newer" version of EOS Adults. It is quite different from the "Older" in terms of color, limbal ring, and pattern. For example, these are the "Older" EOS Adult Browns:

(Image credit - frmheadtotoe.com)

Compare them to my EOS Adult Browns below and you'll see how different they are. The biggest difference is the color. It's VERY different. The older version is more gray-brown and the newer version is honey-brown. There is also not much of a limbal ring on the old version, and the pattern is a soft sunburst type of design. The limbal ring of the newer version is thick and dark. The pattern is a similar starburst pattern but also has darker "dash" patterns around it as well. I do think the newer version of the EOS Adults that I have are quite pretty, but I still think I'd like to try the older version, as they do appear to look more "natural."

EOS Adult Browns

These are definitely the most vibrant of the bunch. They color is a light honey-brown and shows up VERY distinctly. They don't make me look like a lizard like my GEO Honey Twins do, but they still take a little getting used to. The color is really pretty though and looks great in natural light and in photos. If you want a vibrant brown that will show up on dark eyes without looking too freaky, I'd say this is a good bet.

EOS Adult Grays

These are definitely my favorite of the three. The color shows up well, but still looks natural. These are the most "jewel like" and really have a certain sparkle to them. They show up on my eyes as a medium silvery-gray, which you might think would look strange, but they are actually really natural looking, in an "interesting" way. I think these are suitable for everyday wear because they give a "pop" to your eyes while still appearing natural and not fake or dolly-like. This color shows up well on dark eyes and look great in natural light and in photos.

EOS Adult Violets

I was really surprised with these lenses. I thought they'd be really vibrant, but they weren't. They were actually kind of dark. In terms of color, I actually found that they looked the most "natural" on me because from a distance, you cannot tell that these lenses are purple. They just look dark. Close up, you can tell that they are dark violet though. If you have dark eyes and are looking to have bold purple eyes, I wouldn't really recommend these. They do photograph wonderfully though, and the purple shows up nicely in pictures and in direct sunlight. But indoors, they just look "dark" and not all that noticeable.

The Rundown:

Packaging: 5/5
For every pair of circle lenses you by, Kiwiberry1's Collection gives you a free pink and white lens case! Very sturdy and adorable.

Product: 4/5
EOS Adults are very comfortable! The enlargement is minimal though, if you're looking for "dolly eyes," you might want to try a larger diameter. The color is good, but the vibrancy does vary. All of these lenses are great for taking pictures though ^^

Price: 5/5
$20 per pair is a good price and they also have various specials.

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

Disclaimer: These lenses were sent to me for review purposes from Kiwiberry1's Collection.
This is my honest review and experience with these lenses.

Circle Lens Review Preview #2

2010-08-31T20:33:00.005-10:00

EOS Adult Gray
("Newer" version -- Compare to "older" version)

Wore for 9+ hours today with barely any discomfort other than the eventual (for me, at least) SLIGHT dryness, and very slight blurring due to the dryness. Now I am definitely convinced that these are the most comfortable circle lenses I have ever tried. Color shows up very nicely (not uber vibrant but not unnoticable either) and looks natural. Photographs very well! :)

Stay tuned for full reviews on EOS Adult Brown, Gray, and Violet!
Big thank you's to Kiwiberry 1's Collection!

Gorgeous Necklace from Georgie Elysee, FOTD feat. Rock & Republic All Nighter, Preview of Circle Lens Reviews

2010-08-30T18:52:00.007-10:00

Hi everyone! Today I wanted to show you all this gorgeous necklace from the super sweet Jill Ng of Georgie Elysee (also on Etsy)! She specializes in 100% handmade, one-of-a-kind jewelry -- necklaces, bracelets, rings, earrings, and hairpins! She was SO sweet to surprise me with this unique, custom piece! Adorable white bows and swarovski crystal hearts! Most of you know I love all things kawaii/hime style and this necklace is perfect (: Thank you so much, Jill!

A little camwhoring :P

Definitely check out Jill's gorgeous handmade jewelry,
you can click the image below to visit her blog/store (:

Here's some of my favorite pieces of hers:

(my necklace was based off these earrings ^^)

Super sweet & sophisticated pieces! ♥

Also, I'm wearing Rock & Republic's All Nighter on my cheeks. It gives a fresh flush of orange-coral with gold sheen.

And this is only LIGHTLY tapping my blush brush to the blush. This is why you need to use a VERY VERY VERY light hand -- The pigmentation is so insane! Will definitely last me a lifetime!

What else am I wearing?

EYES

Physician's Formula Brow Pencil in Dark Brown
DHC Eyebrow Perfect Powder in Brown
ELF Shimmer Eyeliner in Boldly Bronzed and Gunmetal on lid
Shimmery pearl highlight shade & bronze shade above crease from Wet N Wild ColorIcon Vanity Palette
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Zero to tightline
Wet N Wild Mega Eyes Creme Eyeliner in Black to line lashline, waterline

FACE

EDM Pressed Powder in Light Golden
ELF Tone Correcting Concealer in Light Beige
NYX Concealer in a Jar in Beige

LIPS

Burt's Bees Repleneshing Lip Balm
NYX Round Lipstick in Orange Soda
MAC Cremesheen Glass in On The Scene

Also, you may have noticed by now that my eyes are different colors than they normally are XD

I just got my lenses in from Kiwiberry1's Collection! These are EOS Adult Browns. I have been wearing them for the past 5 hours and I must say these are the most comfortable lenses I have tried so far. A tad more comfortable than my Geo Angels (which used to be my favorite). So far, I have had no discomfort other than the usual dryness and very slight blurring due to the dryness. Not intolerable after 10 minutes like my Geo Twins. The color is also very nice and I like that the enlarging effect is not huge so it still looks relatively natural.

I will also be reviewing Adult Gray & Violet. Stay tuned!

[edit]
These are the "newer" version of EOS Adults, which is why they look different than a lot of the images you find when google searching. The color, pattern, and limbal ring is a lot different than the "older" version.

Review + Swatches: Rock & Republic Blush in All Nighter

2010-08-24T23:09:00.004-10:00

Hey everyone! I know, I know... reviews and swatches of these Rock & Republic blushes have been buzzing around the beauty blogosphere for quite some time now... but I just wanted to share my two cents on it ;) I made my order on 8/3/10 and it came in yesterday, 8/23/10. So it did take quite some time to get to me.

Price: I got mine from BeautyStory.com when they were holding a R&R sale, and the discount price was $20.20 (regular price from Rock & Republic is $40). I also found a promo code, so I got an extra $15 off! So I got a $40 blush for ONLY $5.20 ($11.70 including shipping)!!! SCORE!

It comes in a large outer box.

What's in it:
(click to view larger)

The real deal.
This packaging just oozes LUXURY.

The back.

Open:

What they say:

Smooth, silky texture
Available in three finishes: matte, shimmer and translucent
Can be used to highlight or accent

The good stuff:

Many shades to choose from
Packaging is weighty and luxurious
Lid is magnetized, not hard to open but isn't flimsy at all
9 grams of product
Pigmentation is FABULOUS
A little goes a VERY long way
Silky smooth texture
Long lasting

The low-down:

Very expensive
Packaging is a little bulky
Can be hard to blend

My take: Um, let's start out with the obvious: this shade is TERRIFYING in the pan! Err, well... to me, at least. It's literally a super vibrant, safety-vest ORANGE with gold shimmer. Holy crap O__o

One LIGHT finger swipe:
HOLY MOLY CRAP!

But not to fear, once blended out, it is a GORGEOUS shade of orangey-coral with a golden sheen. Super pretty and surprisingly, super wearable. I can see this being an everyday go-to shade of blush for me. It gives a nice fresh flush of color. To me, it's reminiscent of MAC's Marine Life High-Light Powder, except more orangey/less pink and a lot more pigmented in one swipe.

WARNING:
This blush MUST be used with a light hand unless you want to end up looking like a clown!

Now that swatches are out of the way, let's talk about this blush for a bit!

First off, the packaging. It's as gorgeous and luxurious as everyone says it is. Admittedly, it is quite bulky and not that purse-friendly but still... It's just nice to stare at and hold. The thing is HUGE! As large as my palm. You get 9 grams of product (compared to say, MAC Powder Blush, which is 6g).

The blush is silky smooth and is VERY easily picked up by my EcoTools blush brush. This is hands-down the most pigmented blush I own and have ever come accross. Just a light touch to the surface of the blush gets me almost TOO much color for my cheeks. I would suggest using a VERY light hand when using this shade. If you start off with too much on your brush, it'll make you look like a clown and will be harder to blend out evenly. So I very, very VERY lightly touch the surface of the blush and quickly swirl it around on my cheeks to get an even application. And because you need to use so little of this blush per application, I can see one pan lasting, well... forever, pretty much :P

On to the price. $40 is damn steep for a blush, even for a growing blush-addict like me. I would highly suggest waiting for discount beauty sites to hold R&R sales, and also find promo codes. I suppose you could say the price is justified by the packaging and the fact that the product is amazing, but still. Forty dollars is kinda ridic for just a blush.

Would I repurchase/recommend?: Yes, I would like to try more of these blushes but I will definitely wait for more sales and promo codes. There is no way I would pay full price for this, not because I have any doubts about the product... but only because I wouldn't be able to bring myself to shell out forty whole dollars (plus shipping!) for just ONE blush. However, I would reccomend this blush to anyone who's not on a beauty budget and is looking for a HIGHLY pigmented blush housed in some haute packaging!

The Rundown:

Packaging: 5/5
A sturdy, weighty compact. A little bulky, but oh so luxurious!

Product: 5/5
You get A LOT of product, and the pigmentation is out of this world! Silky smooth texture, not powdery or chalky at all.

Price: 1/5
While the quality is phenomenal, I still wouldn't want to pay a whopping $40 for this blush. Wait for sales and promo codes!

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

NOTD: Winter Party Nails [Glitter Tips]

2010-08-24T00:09:00.004-10:00

Hey everyone! Semi-random NOTD title today :)

I did some simple glitter-tipped nails using NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamel in 105A Starry Silver Glitter and topped it off with NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamel 271 Extra Shiny Top Coat. I built up several layers of the glitter polish so that I could get an even distribution of the larger circle glitters. I also did 2-3 layers of top coat so it would be extra-extra shiny.

The glitters reminded me of... party confetti. But the colors reminded me of winter time. So there you go -- Winter Party nails! ^.^ I like doing glitter french tip-esque nails because it's so easy and you don't need a crisp, defined line like with traditional french tips. It's a fun twist on a classic :)

Review: Lovelyshoes.net Shoe & Bag Haul (pic heavy)

2010-08-20T17:15:00.001-10:00

Hey everyone! I was contacted by Lovelyshoes.net AKA Lovely Fashion awhile ago to see if I'd like to particiapte in their affiliate program. For those of you who haven't heard of them before, they are a company which sells "Made in China" shoes and bags at wholesale prices. I was a little hesitant because I had heard quite a few less-than-thrilled reviews about inconsistencies in their quality, packing, shipping, and customer service. So I decided that I would make an order of my own so I could judge the quality and service for myself. And I am pleased to report that my experience with Lovely Fashion was a great one and I would not hesitate to order from them again :)

I ordered 2 pairs of flats, 1 pair of wedges, 1 pair of boots, and 2 bags so I could have some variety. One of the items I origianlly wanted was out of stock (even though it went through when I placed the order), but I was in contact with a customer service rep the entire time and was easily able to switch items. I was kept informed of my order status throughout the entire ordering process. The reps were all very helpful and accommodating (despite the Engrish! :P). It does take a few days for them to process your order (collecting all the items that you want from different suppliers) and can take longer if some of your items were out of stock and you choose new ones.

Shipping is both good and bad. Because shoes and bags are quite heavy and take up a lot of space, shipping ends up being expensive -- sometimes, almost as much as the total of the items you order. While it does seem a bit disappointing when you see the shipping cost, it actually is fair because the shoes and bags are only around $8-15, so, when the shipping is factored in, it's like you're paying, say $15-17 per shoe... which is great compared to how much shoes normally cost at someplace like Macy's. I've bought regular Roxy slippers from there for over $20 and the quality is just as good as from Lovelyshoes. The good part about the shipping is that I went through UPS, and my package got to me (Hawaii) from China in SIX DAYS. I thought it would take like... a month. So I was VERY pleased with how quickly it got here :)

My order came stuffed in a small, thoroughly taped up box. I had heard often that the shoes come squished out of shape, sometimes with rhinestones and such falling off, or fabric creasing. I was a little worried about that.

Each shoe was individually wrapped in plastic and neatly stacked on top of each other. The bags were also wrapped in plastic (not shown in the picture below). For me, everything came intact. Nothing missing, falling apart, creased, etc! Everything was kind of squished, but easily straightened out. The rhinestones on the pair of flats in the top right of the picture below were even wrapped up in tissue paper -- a thoughtful touch.

I got all the shoes in size 36, which is equivalent to a size 5.5 -- I usually run anywhere from size 5, 5.5, or 6, depending on the type of shoe / brand. 36 fits me pretty well. All the shoes fit perfectly except for the wedges, which were just a teeny tiny bit too big.

Another thing to note, once the box was opened, there was a really strong chemical scent. It was mostly from the bags, rather than the shoes, but they all needed to be aired out for the smell to fade.

And here's what I got!

2010 hot demanded star models of Roman style low-heeled plus size women’s sandals Z-XSD-318 (lol, what is up with the name?!)

Stock picture from the website:

What they look like in real life:

What they look like on:

Overall: 4/5 -- I like these flats a lot! I chose them because they were unique looking (to me) and are totally different from anything I currently own. The back is zippered so you can easily slip your feet in. I think they look pretty much exactly like the stock picture and are very comfortable. The only thing is that the bottom of the flats is uneven... like... not totally FLAT. So they kind of rock from side to side. But it doesn't affect my ability to walk in them at all. It just feels kind of weird if you're standing still :P

Chief cute flower diamond decoration flat heel slippers

Z-WLY-B-6 rice

Stock picture from the website:

What they look like in real life:

What they look like on:

Overall: 4/5 -- These flats also look pretty much just like the stock picture. They are super cute and also a unique style to me. The only "flaw" was that the rhinestone strips are noticeably crooked... not perfectly centered on the strap. However, all the rhinestones were intact and none fell off. Also, these flats are really rigid... the soles don't bend or flex at all, so they are a tad uncomfortable at first. I did wear them all day yesterday though, so they just take some getting used to.

Lovely bowknot decoratived boots
QZ-MY08 black

Stock picture from the website:

What they look like in real life:

What they look like on:

Overall: 4.5/5 -- I really wanted to get these boots because I thought they were just too cute! I've only had one pair of boots before these, believe it or not. Well, I mean, where and why would I need to wear boots in Hawaii anyway? :P But they're adorable and I've been wanting me some cute ankle boots for awhile now. They're made out of a cheapy suede material which will probably become really gross if they come in contact with water and looks like it can get dirty easily. But other than that, they are solid black (flash washed out the first picture) and look exactly like in the product picture. They fit perfectly and are super comfortable. The bow decoration in the back is perfect and looks just like in the stock picture too. There is a little bit of visible glue attaching the heel to the boot itself, but I only took off .5 for that because it's not visible unless you're looking at the bottom of the boots.

Wedges QZ- WLY888-1 white

Stock picture from the website:

What they look like in real life:

What they look like on:

Overall: 4/5 -- Most of you know that I pretty much never wear heels anymore because of falling down a few more times than I'd like to admit :P But I still drool over heels all the time. Other than heels, I love wedges. But still, not HIGH ones. These wedges are the perfect height for me... about 2 inches, so I don't feel like I'm going to be tripping in them. I thought they were going to be solid white, but they are this kind of silvery metallic white color. Still, from afar, they look white. They are super adorable with the bows, however, the size of one of the bows is uneven (no biggie, because they still look like the stock picture). Also, these shoes had the most imperfections, they were several marks on the back of the shoes (small marks, but still marks nonetheless). They are also a TEENY TINY bit too big. I still can walk in them though and they are very comfortable, but if I had to walk really fast, my heel would probably slip out of the shoe.

And now, on to the bags! First thing I wanted to note is that they bags are made out of what I think is faux-leather... pleather? It is very soft and doesn't hold the shape of the bag very well. Also, the bags have a slick, almost oily feeling on the surface... dunno what's up with that :S I've been airing them out for the past few days and the chemical smell and slick surface are starting to dissipate... but I think they'll take quite some time more before they stop smelling entirely.

R491 Sweet bowknot square bag

Stock picture from the website:

What it looks like in real life:

Overall: 3/5 -- I had originally wanted this bag in black, but it was out of stock so I chose brown. As you can see, the color is quite different from the stock picture. Don't get me wrong, it's still a nice taupe shade; but it's just not like in the picture. For the most part, the bag itself does look pretty much exactly like the stock picture. It's just that the material is so super soft that the bag won't hold its shape like in the stock picture (unless that bag is stuffed). Also, the print on the inside lining of the bag is blue in real life. In the stock pic on the website, it looks more dark gray to me. Still, it is a nice, roomy bag with pockets on the inside and outside. The last "flaw" I wanted to note is that the braided handles are inconsistent. One strap's braid really tight, and the other is loose; making the handles slightly different lengths -- Not terribly noticeable from afar, but still bothered me a bit.

Lovely fashion Bow diagonal belt bag
L513 M

Stock picture from the website:

What it looks like in real life:

Overall: 4/5 -- This bag pretty much looks just like the stock picture, except the bow on my bag is not as tight as in the stock picture. It's still very cute and roomy though. And pink pattern interior! Pink = always a plus. Very cute. Not much else to say about this one... I love how it looks. If only it wasn't for the strong smell and slick feeling of these bags, I would have liked them a lot more and worn them right away :(

The last few things I wanted to note before summing up my shopping experience with Lovelyshoes.net were some things I learned while keeping in contact with a customer service rep:

They have recently cut back on some of their suppliers due to quality problems. Maybe this explains why some people in the past had poorer quality items? I was quite satisfied with mine.
They are working on improving packing methods in order to pack the shoes better for the same shipping cost. International shipping is very expensive, but they are trying their best to keep the cost as low as possible while still safely packing your order.
There is no longer a minimum order amount. Maybe if you've visited the website in the past, you would have seen that you had to purchase a certain amount or else pay higher shipping costs for less pairs of shoes. Now, you can buy however many items you want at all wholesale prices.

I really do believe that they have been doing their best to improve the shopping experience with their customers. I honestly thought I might end up being disappointed because I had heard about other people's bad experiences in the past. But it was the exact opposite -- I was very pleased and happy with my order -- which leads me to believe that they really are following through with all the things they told me because I had MINIMAL problems with quality, fit, and the way my order was shipped.

To sum everything up:

Their customer service is very helpful and accommodating. They do write in "Engrish" though it is not hard to understand :P
They keep in constant contact with you to update you with the status of your order.
It takes a few days for them to process your order.
If there are out of stock items in your order, they will email you and you can have the option to choose another item or get a refund for the OOS item.
Shipping through UPS can seem pricey, but is actually fair AND fast.
Shoes are packed neatly, though only in plastic wrapping. Rhinestones and delicate detailing will be wrapped in tissue paper to prevent falling off.
Great wholesale prices. Very affordable yet the quality is still good.
Shoes/bags have a strong chemical smell that fades.
"Leather" bags can have a slick, oily feeling and stronger smell than shoes.
Shoe and bag quality is generally very good, inconsistencies were minimal.
Sizing equivalent is accurate and actual shoes do look nearly identical to the stock picture.
Most shoes were comfortable or easy to get used to.
Nothing was missing or ripped or falling apart or dirty, etc.

The Rundown:

Packaging: 4/5
Bare minimum, but sturdy and safe enough, keeps the price of shipping as low as possible.

Product: 4/5
Despite the strong smell and weird feeling of the bags, the items I ordered were all nearly identical to the stock photos and had minimal flaws. Shoes were comfortable and/or easy to get used to.

Price: 5/5
Wholesale prices -- very affordable. Shipping seems high but in reality, it's like you're paying $15-17 per shoe which is fair.

Overall:

I would not hesitate to order from them in the future :)
[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

I hope this post will be helpful if you've been interested in ordering from Lovelyshoes.net but was unsure if it would be worth it or not. I think the best idea is to try to pick styles of shoes that are unique to you or you think you wouldn't be able to get in the USA. I think to get your money's worth, it's best to buy different types of shoes (flats, heels, wedges, boots, etc.) and bags so you can see the differences in quality and which kinds you like best. While the product pictures are probably taken from Japanese/Korean fashion websites, the actual shoes themselves are pretty darn identical to the stock photos and the quality is rather good. However, the color, especially, can be quite different so don't expect EVERYTHING to be perfect -- Remember to take the wholesale pricing into consideration.

Here are some other reviews of Lovelyshoes.net which I found particularly helpful before I made my order :)

Love Packages & Giveaway Prize ♥ + Some Life Stuff

2010-08-19T21:58:00.001-10:00

Hey everyone! I feel like I haven't posted in ages. Just wanted to share some packages I got in the mail recently!

First, from the super sweet Pinky (gawd, I love her name!) of Sunnii's Adventures in Wonderland! She is SO sweet, thoughtful, and generous! She surprised me with this package as a "just because" love pack :) Thank you SO much, Pinky love! ^__^ She knew I'd been wanting to try Missha products (can't wait to try the BB cream!), and included lots of other goodies too hehe ♥

Candies! Which are, of course, gone already :)
I love love love those marshmallow candies.

Super cute teacup spoon! How dainty and adorable!

Thank you, Pinky! ♥

I also got a love pack from the lovely miss Chee! Thank you so much girl! :)

I was wondering what those little white things were lol!
I actually did think they were candy XD

NYX Runway Collection 10 Color Eyeshadow Palette in Champagne and Caviar!!! I love love all these shades! Perfect neutrals for my everyday look. The shadows are buttery smooth and super pigmented ♥

Criss cross style falsies! Been wanting to try this kind for awhile now :D

This Cure gel sounds promising :)

Thank you Chee! ♥

I also won Rai (Glam Morena)'s My Pretty Pink Box giveaway awhile back. I got the package in last week:

Lots of samples! I am so happy with the NYX loose pigment. It is SO vibrant purple and just lovely ♥ I'm also looking forward to trying the Derma Pro samples :)

Thank you lovely ladies! ♥

Hope everyone's been good. I've got a lot of reviews lined up for the next few days. And oh gosh, can't believe school is starting next week! I'm actually kind of excited lol. I've been bored most of the summer so I think going back to school will be a good change of pace. I also have some exciting (well, for me at least) news to share...

I got a (semi-dream) job :)

I've actually been working since last Thursday, but didn't want to post about it right away so I had some time to adjust and wouldn't jinx myself or anything :P It all started with my mom urging me to drop off my resume at my Uni's Graphics Department (will be referring to as "Graphics" for short) -- my parents know some of the people working there so they thought it would be a great opportunity for me to possibly work there. And it turned out that their current student worker was leaving near the end of summer. I figured there was not much chance that I would get the job since I'm an underclassman and I'd still have to apply for the position when school started. But I dropped off my resume anyway.

The next week, I got a call from Graphics that they could hire me immediately. I was floored! Apparently, they were going through some kind of grant-funded Summer Youth Employment Program that would give better job opportunities to students. So I had to go to an orientation the next day. However, in the end, they decided not to go with the program because I wouldn't get paid as much through the program vs through the University (ironically, the program was supposed to guarantee that you get paid more). So amazingly, I somehow landed this prime position in the perfect location without even having to formally apply for the job X__x Words cannot express how grateful I am for this opportunity and I will definitely be making the most of it and working and learning as much as I can :)

So anywho, I've been working at the Graphics Department for 6 days so far and will continue to work there until... who knows! It would be great to continue working there even after I finish college! So... my official title is "Graphics Design and Layout Assistant" -- It feels almost surreal because not too long ago, I finally came to a conclusion about what I wanted to do for a career. I still want to dabble in cosmetology and esthetics eventually, but my main goal was to become a Graphic Designer. I really want to design brochures, magazine ads, flyers, posters, etc. -- and I'm gaining the experience to do that in the future; right now. I'm currently working on small projects, but I hope to move on to bigger ones eventually :)

So the real funny/coincidental thing was... my horoscope. I'm not really big on that kind of thing because while I do find them entertaining; I feel like if you read it ahead of time, you tend to immediately attribute anything that happens to you; to your horoscope. But when I got my iTouch, I downloaded the horoscope app anyway, just for shits n giggles, and I check it out every now and then. It just so happened that that week, my horoscope was something along the lines of "an opportunity will come up that seems too good to miss... yada yada yada" Haha! It really struck me as so weird and wonderful.... Horoscopes can be uncannily accurate sometimes~ :)

Review: Garnier Nutritioniste Moisture Rescue Refreshing Gel-Cream

2010-08-14T21:19:00.006-10:00

Price: ~$7.75 from Walmart

What they say:
(click to view larger)

What's in it:
(click to view larger)

What to do:
(click to view larger)

The good stuff:

Affordable
You get a lot of product in a weighty glass jar
Easy to smooth on
Refreshing, cooling sensation
Moisturizes skin instantly
Absorbs quickly and doesn't oil up
Keeps skin feeling hydrated, soft, & smooth
Works fine under makeup

The low-down:

Some people might not like that it's in jar
The cooling sensation might be a little strong for some people
Denatured Alcohol is the 3rd ingredient

My take: Ever since my skin has gone back to being dry, I've been on the lookout for a good, affordable moisturizer. This is 1 out of 5 moisturizers I have been trying out recently. So far, it is also the best -- However, nothing beats my Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion, but I ran out of that :(

Anywho, I have been using this moisturizer for 5 days, morning and night. It has not broken me out or otherwise irritated my skin. But most importantly, it performs EXACTLY as promised (well, for me at least). But let's start out with the possibly "negative" points before moving on to why I love this product. First off, it's in a weighty, sturdy glass jar. Which I happen to love. I don't really like plastic jars because they feel sort of flimsy to me. However, some people might not like having to dip their fingers into the jar... just make sure you wash your hands first. Next, Denatured Alcohol is the third ingredient in this product. This contributes to the cooling sensation when applied (like when you use toner). However, the refreshing cooling feeling might be slightly strong for some people. Also, the Denatured Alcohol could possibly dry out skin... but I personally have severely dry skin and it hasn't caused any problems for me, just something to be aware of.

Now, onto the good stuff... this moisturizer is affordable and you get a lot in the jar. Although a little of the product doesn't go a long way, it's not like you need to completely slather the stuff onto your face to get results. I use three fingers, lightly dip it into the product, and dab it on my face in 4 areas -- on both cheeks, chin, and forehead. Then gently smooth it on. It's really light, cooling, and instantly leaves my skin feeling moisturized and hydrated, but absorbs really quickly so you can apply makeup right away. It also wears well under makeup -- doesn't oxidize foundation or oil up throughout the day. It lives up to its promises of locking in moisture for 24 hours and blocking dryness as well. My skin feels hydrated, soft, and smooth all day. Overall, this is one of those products that truly does live up to its claims!

Would I repurchase/recommend? Yes, I would probably repurchase this moisturizer if I don't come across something that I end up liking more. I love that it's affordable AND it works! I would recommend this product to those with dry skin and who want a moisturizer that will keep skin hydrated, smooth, soft, absorbs quickly, and works well under makeup!

The Rundown:

Packaging: 5/5
A weighty, sturdy glass jar.

Product: 5/5
Performs as promised!

Price: 5/5
Great value for the price!

Overall:

[ click here to read about my Review & Rating System ]

HURR DID: Another Angled Bob & ...Bangs :)

2010-08-12T21:53:00.006-10:00

So.... I'd been thinking about getting bangs for awhile now, because let's face it... you can pretty much land a plane on my forehead :P That's why I rarely post full-face pictures -- I have a fivehead. Seriously -_-; So I finally ventured into the world of bangs!

I am a little less hesitant to post pictures like this now, because my forehead is 50% less huge! *cheers* :D

Some weird slightly pouty face...

The overall cut I got is not too different from my last Hurr Did post, it's still a short angled bob, but less wispy and more "bob-y" than last time. I also got some short layers on the top but they're not too visible in pictures. I'm really happy with how it turned out because both sides came out the same this time.

I don't know about you, but I just love the feeling of getting my hair done. When it's over, you feel transformed! I love how weightless my head feels afterwards and it's neat to see how much hair got chopped off :P I always say this but gawd, I love my hairdresser :) She even gifted me with a Mini Chi flat iron and gahhdamnnn that thing is bomb! Heats up in like 30 seconds! But I still have my heart set on a Croc flat iron, which is what she uses on my hair. That thing is out of this world.

Buuut.. I am on a no-buy for the month of August! And I have been stickin' to it ;)
Happy almost Friday, everyone!

ELF Haul: Product Overviews & Swatches

2010-08-10T19:33:00.009-10:00

Hey everyone! I just got my ELF order (from their free shipping special) in today and wanted to share some swatches and a little bit about the products and my thoughts on them. I was also supposed to get one of their new $1 lipsticks in "Seductive," but apparently this was sold out even though it went through when I made the order :(

Anywho, here is what I got:
Back to School Eyeshadow Set - Natural Shadows & Brush ($3),
Back to School Concealer Kit - Zit Zapper ($3),
and Studio Small Angled Brush ($3)

Shimmer Eyeliner Pencils ($1)

First off, the Shimmer Eyeliner Pencils. I mentioned that I was a little hesitant to try these because all of the ELF eyeliners I own smudge on me really quickly... I was betting on these being no different. But... they are just so pretty looking! So I decided to play guinea pig and order a bunch.

The caps have a built in sharpener, like their Studio Concealer Pencils. Very convenient. However, the cap doesn't really stay on that well... I find it pulls off a little TOO easily.

I like how the color of the pencil is pretty much the actual color of the liner.

These pencils are very, very smooth and easy to apply. However, it is because they are VERY VERY soft. That's why I'm a little wary about the cap being so flimsy because you can easily smush the tip, and it'll probably be hard to sharpen since it's so soft.

L-R:
Twinkle Teal, Gunmetal, Iconic Ivory, Plum Passion, Boldly Bronzed, Grassy Green

However, the colors really are quite beautiful in person. The swatches on the ELF website are actually pretty accurate, except for Grassy Green. On the website, Grassy Green looks like a really bright, kelly green. But it is actually a dark, forest green IRL. Still very pretty though.

So far, I have only tried the Grassy Green one. It did not show up on my waterline very well, but it did show up nicely on my lashline though. I've only been wearing it for a few hours, but smudging has been minimal so far. Will continue to test the rest of the colors and see how they do. On the ELF website, it shows these liners being used more like eyeshadows, applied over the entire eyelid. I think I'll try them like that instead of just liners and see how they do as an eyeshadow or shadow base instead.

This is one of their Back To School Eyeshadow Sets, the Natural Shadows set.

I really like the packaging, it's very cute, sleek, and sturdy. I love the little windows on the outside so you can see the shadows. The inside has a little mirror. The tiny brush is pretty much useless though.

The shadows look quite pretty, no? I love neutral, natural shades so I thought this would be perfect. There are 3 matte shades (top left, top right, bottom right) and 3 shimmery shades (top middle, bottom left, bottom middle).

However, I must say, these shadows kind of suck. I was pretty disappointed with this product. The shadows are super soft and buttery, but also SUPER powdery and chalky and majorly lacking in pigmentation. At first swipe, they look alright I guess...

...But after some furious swatching, this is all you get:

This took about 5 layers to get the color to show up this much. I know this is supposed to be a "Natural" set, but I still wish it packed more pigmentation. I've been much more satisfied with their $1 Brightening Eyeshadow Quads. Out of the 6 shades, I can only really use one -- the dark brown one. The rest of the shadows are too sheer and shimmery for my liking, so I can only use them as highlights.

Here is the Back to School Concealer Kit. I got this mainly to try the Zit Zapper. I had also been wanting to try a lighter shade of the Tone Correcting Concealer, so I figured I might as well get the whole set. I have not tried the Zit Zapper yet but I will be back with a review soon!

Here's swatches of the Tone Correcting Concealer in Light Beige. I think it's an alright match for my skin tone. Haven't tried it on my dark circles yet. I semi-hate how just about everything in the $1 line has that strong citrusy scent though. This concealer is especially scented.

Here is the Studio Small Angled Brush. I've been religiously using my Wet N Wild Mega Eyes Creme Eyeliner lately, using Sephora and Coastal Scents bent angled eyeliner brushes, which are starting to get caked up and stiff. So I decided I would try an angled liner brush instead. I didn't really expect it to be so "long," but it is super soft. Have not tried it yet but I hear good things about it so I hope I'll like it :)

I was mostly disappointed that I didn't get my lipstick though... :( Was really looking forward to trying that out. Oh well, next time...

Have you hauled anything from ELF recently?