Yet another beauty & fashion blog.

September Favorites

2011-10-04T17:07:00.000-07:00

Another Sephora Haul

2011-06-13T22:43:00.000-07:00

This is an online haul from a week or two ago.. I am so slow at posting these online hauls. That combined with the fact that I haul online entirely too much. I always have a shopping cart full on sephora.com. What is in it is always changing but I plan out my hauls from there pretty meticulously.

Bare Minerals Get Started Complexion Enhancers Kit
One of my co-workers is really into bare minerals makeup so I decided to give some of it a try and this little kit is the perfect way of doing that. Not to mention it was also an absolute steal in my opinion at only $25. It comes with 3 brushes of all pretty good quality as well as, well rested, pure radiance all over face color, faux tan all over face color and mineral veil. I have tried them all except faux tan which I am a little intimidated by. I really like Well Rested so far.. I haven't used the other ones enough to form a set opinion.

Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Purity, Shiseido Eyelash Curler, Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner in 13 Mat Black

I love Illamasqua Nail Polishes so I decided to pick this on up after seeing swatches online. It will probably take me ages to try it out but I love the color... a gorgeous milky peach shade.

The Shiseido Eyelash Curler is kind of a boring purchase. I use it everyday and it is just Ok. Much better than the Revlon one I was using but still not fantastic. I really wanted the Shu Uemera one but Sephora doesn't sell it anymore. I'll probably end up getting it eventually.

The MUFE Aqua Liner I have only used a couple of times. This liner is a total reminder of how terrible I am at applying liquid liner. I prefer the application of gel liner hands down. This one is pretty similar to the MAC superslick liner but it dries slightly faster and the applicator is a little easier to use.

Samples!! :)
One of the reasons I like ordering online so much is the absolute abundance of samples. I love using promo codes and getting deluxe samples like the Laura Mercier Face Polish and Clinque Pore Refining Solutions above. I have had this same sample of Ojon before and I like it so I'm glad I can try it out a little more. I have heard the Fresh Soy Cleanser is pretty good as well. The others were just random throw-ins.

On a random note... This has been an absolute mad week at work. I work in a branch of a well known bank that has been built from the ground up (called a new build) and it opens tomorrow!!! It has been a long 3 months without a branch and all of our hard work comes together tomorrow finally. I am nervous and excited and slightly nauseous at the same time!

Summer Besties

2011-06-02T20:10:00.001-07:00

I know this is a Youtube tag but I thought it might be a fun blog post as well!

Here are my 'Summer Besties

Lip Product
Chanel Rogue Coco Shine in Liberte/Jack Black Lip Balm
I love the Rogue Coco Shine forumla. I know they aren't the most pigmented but I like how they just glide on and the glossy finish they leave. Jack Black Lip Balm is also a really great product. It leaves a cooling minty feeling on lips and it lasts quite a while on the lips.

Blush
NARS Torrid/NYX Cream Blush in Boho Chic
I like layering these together (very lightly) because they just create a nice pop of color on the cheeks.

Nail Polish
OPI Big Hair, Big Nails/Chanel Mimosa
I love bright nail polish for the summer. I have OPI's Big Hair, Big Nails on right now and it is a really nice and bright coral pink color. I have worn Chanel Mimosa a couple times already as well. I feel like Yellow is really in right now!

Liquid Face Product
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer/Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua
I personally don't like wearing heavy foundation during the summer so I'll be relying on my Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer and Chanel Vitaumliere Aqua. I am actually not a huge fan of Vitalumiere Aqua (*lowers head in shame*).. It just doesn't work well for me yet. This foundation was so expensive though that I am determined to make it work.

Powder Face Product
Dior Amber Diamond
My favorite highlighter ever. Just leaves the most beautiful natural glow.

Hair Product
Josie Maran Argan Oil
Hands down the most amazing hair product I have used of late. It leaves my hair unbelievably soft. I only have a mini version that came in a set but I plan on

Eye Product
Wet n'Wild Comfort Zone Palette
This palette is perfect for an everyday neutral look as well as a nice neutral smoky look at night. The colors are super pigmented and smooth and it is a steal at only $5 or so dollars.

Self Tanner
N/A
I don't use self tanner because I tan pretty naturally during the summer. I am thinking of kick-starting my tan this year and investing in some self tanner though. If I do I'll probably get St. Tropez because I hear it is pretty much fool proof.

Fashion Accessory
Bib Necklaces/Layered Bracelets
I love love love bib neckalces! I think they look great with a plain white button up or an off the shoulder tee. Layered bracelets are great with this look too. I only pictured one bracelet because it has a layered effect. Both of these pieces are from Forever 21.

Clothing Item
Oversized Button Up Shirts (not pictured)
I couldn't figure out a good way to photograph this so I just didn't. I'll try and do an OOTD post to show what I am talking about. I love oversized button up shirts with skinny jeans and Toms or with denim shorts (when it actually gets hot enough to wear shorts).

Hope everyone is enjoying the weekend!

Small Sephora Haul

2011-06-02T18:37:00.000-07:00

My sister got me a Sephora giftcard for mothers day so I bought a few things a couple weeks ago. I have already made an online order from Sephora since this haul but the pictures were already taken so I'll post that little haul later.

The few items I picked up were:
Bare Minerals Multi-Tasking Face in Summer Bisque Sephora Favorites Lock Stars Hair Kit Sample of Ojon Damage Restorative Shampoo + Conditioner

I have been using the Bare Minerals Summer Bisque on and off and I like it but I don't love it. I picked up a Bare Minerals kit which I think I'll review later along with a full review of Summer Bisque. I can say that some days I like it and it seems to cover the redness on my cheeks really well, and other days it just looks too cakey and powdery to me. The jury is still out on this one I guess.

The Sephora Favorites Lock Stars Hair Kit is something I absolutely love! I think it is a good value for $30 and you get to try quite a few products.
The products it comes with are:
Ojon Ultra Hydrating Shampoo To Go
Ojon Ultra Hydrating Condition To Go
Ouidad Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner Travel Size
Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum (currently with my makeup and stuff)
Living Proof Hold Flexible Hairspray Travel Size
Oscar Blandi Pronto Invisible Volumizing Dry Shampoo Spray To Go

I have only tried the Argan Oil and the Living Proof Hairspray and I love both of them! The Argan Oil is really amazing.. Once I use it a few more times I am going to do a full review. I'm usually not too impressed by hair care products and I am fully amazed!

The sales associate was nice enough to throw in some Ojon Samples which I have already used. I liked them but hard to tell from a 1-2 time use sample.

On a related but separate note, I bought these items in an actual Sephora store but I have been ordering online A LOT from them lately and I think I prefer ordering online. I usually buy over $50 so I don't pay shipping charges (I absolutely can't stand paying shipping charges on any website.. I'm not sure what it is but I just have a hard time with it) and I use ebates so that usually involves somewhere between 5%-12% cash back.. plus you get samples and deluxe samples (with codes)! I just feel like you get more for your money ordering online. Ok end of mini rant.

My next Sephora order is already in the works.. An illamasqua blush what I mainly want... Not too sure what else yet?

Hope everyone is having a nice night! I had the day off and it was amazing just spending some time to myself... and with the employees of the many stores I hit! ;)

Nails of the Day: Deborah Lipmann Waking up in Vegas

2011-05-29T22:41:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick nails of the day post for the weekend. I only have 3 Deborah Lipmann polishes (soon to be 4) and this is the first one I have actually used. This color is fairly well known because Lady Gaga wore it on a Rolling Stones cover. It is a nice cool grey color that is almost slightly matte. The quality and application of this polish really amazed me. It went opaque in one coat and wasn't streaky in the least. The pictures shown are with just the one coat.. more really isn't necessary! I still have remnants of this on my nails right now but it did chip pretty quickly. I'm not too bothered by that though because I did a rush job. Please ignore the terrible condition of my nails in these pictures.. I need a ridge filling base badly! And cuticle remover!

This polish has made me really excited to try my other Lipmann's so look for those in future nail of the day posts.

I hope everyone has had a nice holiday weekend (for those in the U.S.). This is my first bank holiday actually working at the bank so it has been really nice being off the past couple of days as well as not having to go to work tomorrow! I work in a branch of a bank that isn't quite open yet but we get the keys this coming Tuesday so I am really excited for that!! Again, hope everyone has had a lovely weekend. Where has May gone?? This month really flew by!

Current Favorites

2011-05-21T13:56:00.000-07:00

I haven't done a favorites post in who knows how long.. so I thought it was about time! I have quite a few more haul posts coming but I thought some kind of review post was due first. I have been using all the products above in my daily routine and absolutely love all of them!

The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover, Neutrogena Neutrals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover

The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Make-up Remover: I ran out of my Clinique Eye Makeup Remover (purple bottle) and I was planning on repurchasing but I ran across a blogpost where someone was raving about the Body Shop's Eye Makeup Remover so I thought I would give it a try. This eye makeup remover doesn't work quite as good as the Clinique one does for me but it is very very close and the price makes up for it. When I bought these the Body Shop wa`s having an earth day sale so you got tickets for different amounts off and mine happened to be 50% off my entire purchase. This eye makeup remover retails for $14 (for 8.4 fl oz) so I just bought 2 and got them both for $14. Much better than paying something like $18.50 for Clinique's. I am happy with the way it performs and I will definitely be repurchasing because even at full-price it is a good value.

Neutrogena Neutrals Fresh Cleansing + Makeup Remover:This was a random purchase from Walgreens one day and I am happy I decided to purchase this! It smells really fresh and kind of fruity and removes my foundation and excess grime off my face (that sounds gross). It doesn't remove everything 100% but I would say 85-90%, and that frankly is good enough for me.

Phyto 9: Daily Ultra Nourishing Botanical Cream

Phyto 9: I bought this from beautybar.com because I had a gift certificate from gilt groupe and needed to spend $50. Phyto products are really pricey so I decided it would be good to stock up while it wasn't my money. I believe this was $26 for 1.7 fl oz. This is meant for ultra dry hair and I use it after I towel dry my hair (mainly on the ends) but before I blow-dry. It doesn't have much of a smell but works pretty well. My hair feels a lot softer since I have been using this and my ends haven't been so brittle and dry.

Nars Ashes to Ashes, Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer, MUFE Aqua Cream #13, Sonia Kashuk Bent Eyeliner Brush

NARS Ashes to Ashes: This is a really useful color. I use all over the lid, in the crease, outer V etc. It works for everything and blends nicely. It isn't super super pigmented which I am fine with because it makes it easier to work with and more forgiving.

My Eve Pearl Salmon Concealer/Corrector: This has been a staple as well. I have it in the shade Light/Medium and it is super creamy and covers really well. It works for under eye concealing as well as spot concealing. I use this pretty much everyday and really love it.

Make Up Forever Aqua Cream in #13: This is the base I have been most frequently using. It is similar to Bare Study by MAC but more pigmented and slightly harder to blend. Once it is in place though, it stays in place! I got this in a kit around Christmas time but just started using it a couple of months ago. I don't know what I would do without it now.

Sonia Kashuk Bent Eyeliner Brush: I got this at Target on a whim and it has proved to be a handy little brush. I use it with my blacktrack fluidline and it makes a really nice thin and precise line. I am always looking for good brushes to use with blacktrack and this one doesn't disappoint. I wouldn't recommend the flat white eyeliner brush that Sonia Kashuk makes.. that thing is garbage. Definitely pick this one up instead!

Dior Amber Diamond, Estee Lauder Double Wear Light in 2.0, Covergirl Lashblast

Dior Amber Diamond: I got this in a blogsale and it is pretty much the only highlighter I use. It just gives the prettiest most subtle luminous glow. I think it definitely lives up to all the hype.

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation: I actually received this in a sample bag from Nordstrom when I placed an order. The shade they gave me was intensity 2.0 and it just happens to work pretty well for me. When I get a little more tan during the summer I'll probably need the 3.0 but 2.0 works for now. I have never tried the regular double wear foundation but I don't like or need full coverage foundations that much so this one is perfect. It has good coverage but feels lightweight and doesn't look cakey or anything at all. It is heavier than a tinted moisturizer but not by much. I plan on buying the full-size eventually.

Covergirl Lashblast: I have been on a huge mascara kick lately and since everyone raves about this mascara I thought I would give it a try. I am happy to say it lives up to the hype. I have tried lashblast length before and I didn't like it at all but this lashblast really works for me. It is lengthening and volumizing and while the brush is enormous and kind of weird, it works overall. I wish it would hold a curl a tiny bit better but even with that in mind, it still ranks pretty high among all the mascaras (drugstore or high-end) that I have tried.

MAC Dressmaker, Dressmaker, Rock and Republic Drama Queen

Mac Dressmaker, Dressmaker: This is a super pretty soft coral-peach color that came out with the pret-a-papier collection last year. It is a lustre finish so it provides a nice wash of color without being over the top.

R&R Drama Queen: This lipgloss is a coral-pink color with gold shimmer, although the shimmer isn't really noticeable on the lips. It matches dressmaker, dressmaker really well and is just a nice lipgloss. This is probably my most used gloss. It isn't sticky and has decent lasting power but mostly I just love the color.

Swatches above, click the pic to enlarge!

So those are my current faves right now. I'm sure there are more but those are all I can think of at the moment.. plus I didn't want this post to be too ridiculously long. Hope everyone is having a nice weekend.. I'm glad to be off work as I have been working 6 day weeks lately. I have a few more haul posts and several review posts coming soon so stay tuned for those :)

Nails of the Day: OPI Silver Shatter + Sally Hansen Gray by Gray

2011-05-15T21:14:00.000-07:00

Just a quick nails of the day post... A co-worker let me borrow Sally Hansen's Gray by Gray to so I decided to put Silver Shatter over it to jazz it up a bit. I like the result overall. Please ignore my gross cuticles. I need to find my lush lemony flutter ASAP. Gray by gray is actually more blue but a nice color nonetheless. It is opaque in 1 coat but really needs 2 coats. I was lazy and did 1 thick one. The brush on this polish was absolutely massive too. Way bigger than OPI brushes but not too bad to work with. I was impressed overall with this polish.. it wasn't streaky in the least bit.

As for the OPI's silver shatter, i love it! I like it better than the black shatter in terms of application and wear so far. I think it will go with a lot of colors so i'm excited to try it out a little more.

Hope everyone has had a nice weekend. I'm sad to see it end. Not really looking forward to work this week.. But what can you do? Have a great week!

Sephora Haul

2011-05-13T21:14:00.000-07:00

I have been a little obsessed with online shopping lately so this is the first of quite a few haul posts. These items were acquired over a few orders and not all at once. I have had a chance to use most of these items so reviews will be soon to come also.

On separate note, we finally got the internet hooked up in our new house (yay for being homeowners!) so I'll be able to post more regularly. I actually have another two orders on their way to me right now from Sephora.com as well. One of them was because part of one of my orders was messed up though. But here is this haul for now:

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer in Sand, Make Up Forever HD Foundation in 140

I have only worn the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer once or twice so I don't have too much to say about it but I have worn the MUFE HD Foundation quite a bit and so far I like it very much. I don't know if it is love per se, but it has nice coverage and good application. I am using a million different foundations right now so I need a little more time to make a definitive decision about it.

Urban Decay Primer Potion in Greed (deluxe sample), Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner in 23L

I cashed in 100 of my points with Sephora to get the primer potion. I have the original, sin and now this one. Greed is quite a yellow gold primer. I like it but I most likely won't purchase the full-size. The Make Up Forever Aqua Liner is a product that I absolutely love. For the longest time I tried to get a hold of MAC's 'I Get No Kick' eye kohl from the Champale Collection but to no avail so I was watching one of Michele1218's videos and she mentioned the MUFE aqua liner as being similar. Right when I heard that I ran out and picked it up and I love this on the waterline. I use it pretty much daily.

Stagnate, Gamma

Next up are two nail polishes. Illamasqua Stagnate and Gamma. These are my first Illamasqua nail polishes and so far I really like them! I have only worn Stagnate because I haven't been brave enough to wear Gamma to work. I think Gamma will look good under some Black Shatter but I'll save that for summer (if it ever gets here).

Next up is Sephora Favorites Lash Stash Mascara Deluxe Sampler. This is a set from around Christmas time but still available on the Sephora website. It comes with 10 Deluxe sample size mascaras and a tarte eyelash curler. I will start off by saying I had to send the original one they sent me back because a few of the mascaras were broken and/or defective. Sephora's Customer Service was super nice about it though and sent me out a new one immediately. I have tried about 5-6 of these so a review is in the works. I will say right now that I hate the Tarte eyelash curler. It just doesn't work for my eye shape at all and I find it difficult to hold on to properly.

Samples! Gotta love them. I haven't used any of these yet because I was waiting to post this but I'll probably break into a few of these next week and see if anything is worth buying a full size of. I have tried the Bite Lip stuff briefly but nothing amazing. It isn't very creamy which makes it hard to work with. But oh well.

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend. It was soooo nice and sunny out today but it has already started to rain tonight. Darn. Nice weather never sticks around WA for very long. That is just how the cookie crumbles I suppose. Talk to everyone soon :)

Back with a mini ulta haul

2011-04-10T17:31:00.001-07:00

Why hello there? Miss me? Ha probably not but I am back from a looooong absence with a tiny haul. I don't have a good excuse for my absence, just life got in the way! I got a new job with JP Morgan Chase so with that comes a little bit more financial freedom and thus I have been able to try out some nice higher end items! Of course I will always love drugstore and other bargain finds :)

Enough rambling though. I went to ulta with my brother and sister-in-law and came out with a couple things:

I got a NYX soft matte lip cream in Antwerp, NYX Mosaic Blush in Love and OPI Black Shatter

NYX was 40% off so that's why I picked up the lip cream and blush. I am wearing the lip cream and it is definitely different. Will do a full review when I test it out more. Ulta finally also had black shatter in stock. About time.

I will probably go back soon because I have a coupon I forgot to bring and maybelline is also 40% off. I have been wanting to try the one by one mascara after hearing tiffanyd talk about it.

For good measure here are some swatches:

Antwerp is on the left and Love on the right.

Hope everyone has been lovely and I have missed you all!!! More to come soon!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Green Nail Polish = Obsession

2010-11-21T12:26:00.001-08:00

We are moving soon so I have been kind of reorganizing stuff and I thought I would do a short post on my green nail polish collection. I love green nail polish, especially mint green and I have accumulated quite a few green nail polishes. Here is the proof:

Top Row (L-R): L.A. Girls Can you Dig It?, L.A. Girls Tropical, Love &Beauty Mint, L.A. Girls Jade, American Apparel Office, Maybelline Minty, Revlon Minted, Milani Dress Maker
Bottom Row (L-R): Piggy Polish Daylilly's & Music, Essie Pretty Edgy, Essie Mint Candy Apple, Essie Turquoise & Caicos, China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint, China Glaze For Audrey, OPI Gargantuan Green Grape, OPI Who The Shrek Are You?, Catrice Sold Out Forever

I know some of them look more blue in the picture and some of them do have a lot of blue undertones, but for the most part they can all be considered green or in that family. Out of all of these I have only worn about 5 of them! Kind of a shame.. I tend to buy nail polish in huge binges and then never get around to wearing them. Plus since it's fall, I am on more of a taupe-brown nail polish kick. I still love my greens though.. I really want Barry M's mint green color, Models Wwn Jade Stone and Eyeko's Vintage polish. I know.. polish collecting is really a sickness!

Hope everyone's weekend was great. I am coming down with a cold so that stinks and it snowed here today so another bummer. I know some people love snow but where I went to college snowed like crazy for months and months so I am just not a fan of the snow. Thanksgiving is coming up soon also which means the dreaded Black Friday! I work retail at a really high traffic mall and our store is expecting at least a few hours wait to get in. I work at 10pm on Thanksgiving night :/ Booo.. ok enough ranting for now! Good night everyone!

NOTD: MAC Style Clan

2010-11-17T23:25:00.001-08:00

Sorry for the crappy application. I haven't painted my nails in ages and I am clearly a little rusty. This was before cleanup also. Anyways, this is one of the nail polishes that came out with the Tartan Tale collection and of course since it is a taupe color I had to have it! It is a darker grey taupe with a red micro shimmer and it is a great fall color. Application was fine for me (minus my own issues), the picture is with 2 coats and seche vite on top. This is similar to smooth harmony from MAC but darker and with a different color shimmer. I think they are different enough to justify owning both though ;))

Hope everyone is doing lovely. I am thinking of doing a giveaway for Christmas time. I work at Juicy Couture so I would definitely include some stuff from there and most likely some nail polishes and makeup items along with some fun little things. I would probably have a couple winners. Since I don't have too many followers that gives everyone that enters a pretty good chance right? Lol. I'll keep you guys updated!

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Clinique Haul w/GWP!

2010-11-11T16:32:00.001-08:00

My sister and I were both a little late on the whole birthday gift exchange but we finally swapped gifts this week and as part of my present she got me my favorite holy grail Clinique Eye Makeup Remover. Clinique also happened to be having a gift with purchase so I got some extra goodies as well.

So altogether I got:
- Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
- Take The Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes & Lips
- Color Surge Eyeshadow Trio (Pink Slate, Beach Plum, Coffee Shop)
- High Impact Mascara 2x (my sister gave me hers because she doesn't wear mascara)
- A large and small makeup bag
- All About Eyes Serum (giving this to Dan, he is always putting on m eye creams! lol)
- Lipstick in A Different Grape

Since my sister is friends with the Clinique lady (my sister works at Macy's) she threw in some extra things including a sample of some Acne Spot Treatment Gel and a Cream Shaper for Eyes in Black Diamond. I love Clinique's Cream Shapers so I was super excited this is included.

I think this was a great GWP and I'll definitely use everything included. I swatched the eyeshadow trio, the cream shaper and the lipstick below:

Yes, the picture is sideways for some reason?! When I upload it, it is turned the right way but for some reason on the blog it is sideways.. you get the idea though. My sister also got me a few other things which will be featured in another post. I have some super exciting hauls coming up so stay tuned. Hope everyone is having a good Veterans Day and Thank You to everyone that has served our great country!

Nails of the Day: Love & Beauty Light Grey

2010-10-30T17:15:00.000-07:00

This is a super overdue nails of the day! I must of had this on my nails at least a month ago. My sister bought this polish for me at ForLove 21 (forever 21 accessory store). I really like these nail polishes, i have never had any issues with the quality or application and this color was no exception. The names aren't crazy creative but are telling of the colors.. light grey is... a light grey color! Kind of a nice cement like color.

On a separate note, I know I have been completely MIA from blogging lately. Having a little one is so time consuming!! I can't believe Eli is almost 4 months old. Time is really flying! We are also in the process of buying a house and I'm in the process of getting a new job. So I am busy busy busy. I am going to try and set aside a little time every week to do a blog post though. Hope everyone has been doing lovely. And Happy Halloween!!

Couture Cuisine

2010-09-16T13:33:00.001-07:00

I was on facebook and saw that one of my friends had posted this. Haha love it!

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Smashbox Haul (Bargain Alert!)

2010-09-16T10:04:00.000-07:00

I recently placed an order with Smashbox.com after reading this post on Jessica's Coupons Blog. Basically, if you place an order on the Smashbox website on Tuesday or Thursday between 9am and 2pm then you get a free full sized item and if you are signed up for their free rewards program, you get a bunch of samples too. My entire order cost $13.03 shipped!

Here is what I got:

Untamed Creamy Cheek Color

Untamed is the actual name of the color apparently. This is a really pretty cream blush in a kind of burnt red color. The picture makes it look more brown than it is. The color is very warm toned and is really pretty when applied. It adds instant warmth to your face without being overly harsh. This is the only item I actually paid for. It was originally $24 and I paid $12 + tax.

Samples

The samples they sent me are (from L-R):
Photo Finish Foundation Primer
Limitless Eye Liner in Onyx
Reflection- High Shine Lip Gloss

The silver tin in the first picture is the birthday gift they sent me.

Birthday Gift

From L-R
Lip Gloss in After Hours
Lip Gloss in Crystal
Eyeshadow in Wrap

Here are some swatches:

The flash kind of washed out the eyeshadow but it is a really gorgeous light taupey shade. Right up my alley!

Something to keep in mind though, if you use the birthday code they send you (or one you find on the internet) it cannot be combined with the Let's Do Lunch offer.. Which i didn't know! I thought I was getting a free full-size bronzer as well.. but apparently not :( It's ok though because I am still happy with everything I got! This last weeks items were a lip liner on tuesday and a lipstick on thursday. Neither caught my eye but once another good item pops up I'm going to make another order! I'm not super familiar with Smashbox products but this is definitely a good way of trying a bunch of different items out!

Review: NYX Round Lipsticks + Swatches

2010-09-13T10:02:00.000-07:00

I recently hauled some NYX round lipsticks from cherry culture so I thought I would do a mini review of them and post some swatches in case anyone was interested. I have worn each color 1-2 times so this review isn't based off of extensive wear or anything.. these are just my initial thoughts on the colors I purchased, the quality etc.

So here are the colors I bought..

From L-R
Vitamin, Orange Soda, Pumpkin Pie, Circe

These lipsticks cost $2.25 from Cherryculture.com but can also be purchased from other places, like the NYX website and from ULTA stores (limited selection). I bought mine when Cherry Culture was having a 20% off promo so each lipstick was only $1.80. There is a huge range of colors to suit basically any skintone or preference. I chose these four colors based off of blog swatches, youtube and MUA reviews.

Here are swatches of the colors above:

Sorry this picture isn't great quality.. it was taken with my iphone. Anyways, bad picture aside, it does capture the colors decently.. although a tad washed out. All of these lipsticks are very smooth and moisturizing. I didn't find any of them to be super drying, although Orange Soda was the least moisturizing of the group. I'll just go through the colors one by one.

Vitamin - A bright shimmery coral/pink color. Not the most wearable color but I found that when paired with NYX Girls lip gloss in Peach (another seemingly unwearable color) it creates a lovely, but not too crazy, coral pink lip. I thought I wouldn't like this color when I saw it in the tube but it is actually one of my favorites.

Orange Soda - This is a really pretty nude shade with some orange to it (hence the name, ha). It is on the matte side, which is probably why I didn't find it as moisturizing as the rest of the bunch. The color is very opaque so I would be careful of this one if you don't like the whole concealer lips look. I think the orange-ness of it makes it a little more versatile though than other nudes.

Pumpkin Pie - This is also a nude shade but has more peach to it than Orange Soda. On the lips it produces a semi-sheer wash of peach that I think would be flattering on most skin tones. When I wear this on my lips, it almost has a slight pinky-ness to it also, especially when compare to Orange Soda.. it is much warmer.

Circe - This is another great nude that could work for many different skin tones. It is more of a beige-y nude brown tones nude. This one can get a little cakey looking so I recommend wearing a balm underneath or a gloss on top. I like to pair this with NARS Striptease lipgloss. Just like the rest, it glides on smoothly and is ultra smooth.

In case anyone was wondering also, these lipsticks do have a slight smell to them. I don't think it is anything too overwhelming though, I barely notice it. The wear on them is decent but not outstanding. I had to reapply every couple of hours, which really doesn't bother me because I like reapplying lip products. I own one other color from a while ago called Spellbound and it is a bright berry pink. It is super pigmented and long-wearing. I put a swatch on my hand and literally had to scrub to get it off... and it was still faintly there. I think some of the brighter colors probably wear longer than the nude/neutral shades above.

Overall, I would highly recommend these lipsticks. For $1.80 a pop you really can't go wrong. They are creamy, pigmented and just lovely! I can't wait to pick up more. Any recommendations?

August Favorites

2010-09-10T09:59:00.000-07:00

So this is a little belated but here are my favorites from the last month! I have been really boring when it comes to makeup lately and have just been using the same products almost everyday. I forgot to include a MAC lipstick in the picture above but I included it in the individual swatch photos.

First up is a body spray:

Victoria's Secret PINK With A Splash in Fresh & Clean
I haven't been wearing perfume much this summer so this body spray has kind of been my go-to scent for the summer. It is light and airy and when paired with the matching lotion, the scent lasts for a while (for a body spray). This smells just like the name indicates.. fresh & clean! I love clean smells.. my perfect smell would be fresh laundry/laundry detergent.. i know i'm weird! haha.

Next some eye products..

MAC Woodwinked
I have been using this color a ton in my outer V/crease

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in R.S.V.P.
Love this! Super creamy and a perfect base color. I have used this almost everyday I have worn makeup this last month

NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Cottage Cheese
Perfect highlight color.. I use it on the inner corners to just brighten my eyes a little

One more shadow..

Urban Decay Baked
I have this shadow from the Baked Palette, although I think it is in just about every Urban Decay palette. This is just a really pretty shimmery bronzey/gold color. I like that this shadow has shimmer to it but in a more metallic fashion, rather than chunky fallout type shimmer.

Face product + tool..

NARS Deep Throat Blush
A nice peachy pink blush with shimmer. I haven't worn another blush literally all month. This just gives me a really nice natural looking glow.

EcoTools Powder Brush
Just a nice soft powder brush. I use it to apply bronzer mainly.. and sometimes blush when I am in a hurry!

And finally, some lip products..

Victoria's Secret Lip Butter with Organic Shea Butter in Pure
I got this for just a couple bucks during one of Victoria Secret's Semi-Annual Sales and I love it! I use it before I do my makeup so by the time I get around to putting lipstick on, my lips are nice and moisturized. It has a nice soothing feel on the lips and a sort of minty smell/flavor.

MAC Lipstick in Quiet, Please
This is just one of those "my lips but better" lipsticks for me. It is a lustre finish so it isn't the most pigmented but I just love it because it is super wearable. This picture kind of distorts the color, it is a shimmery beige with some pink to it.. or a shimmery pink with some beige to it?? haha one or the other. It goes on a little frosty but nothing crazy.

Now for some Swatches!!

Whew this is a long post! Notice the better quality pictures? Finally got my new digital camera up and running. It is a Canon Powershot A495 if anyone is interested. It is a little on the chunky side but still smaller than my old Sony Cybershot. Hope everyone is having a good week.. even though it is just about over. This weekend is my last one before I go back to work.. ah these last 10 weeks of maternity leave have been soo nice! I am bummed about having to leave Eli, the longest I have left him is 2 hours and that was only once! Ah well enough jabber.. Enjoy the weekend everyone!

Cherry Culture Haul

2010-09-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

So this is a Cherry Culture haul I received a week or two ago when they were running one of their 20% promos. I always say I don't need anything when they do these, but somehow I always end up ordering exactly $40 worth of stuff (to get the free shipping). I just made another purchase today so as soon as I receive that package I'll get that haul up too.

This order took almost a week to process but after it was shipped it only took around 2 days to get to my house so not too bad. Cherry Culture always carefully wraps everything and I have never had a problem with any products arriving damaged or broken. But anyways, lets get on with the haul:

1st up are just some random eye products:

From L-R
Milani Liquif'Eye Metallic Eyeliner Pencil in Black
Milan Liquif'Eye Metallic Eyeliner Pencil in Brown
NYX Ultra Pearl Mania in:
Nude Pearl
Mocha Pearl
Pearl
Mink Pearl
NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Purple Velvet

NYX Round Lipsticks:

From L-R

Vitamin
Orange Soda
Pumpkin Pie
Circe

L.A. Colors Baked Eyeshadow Quads:
Galaxy (Right)
Equinox (Left)

NYX Single Eyeshadows:
Rootbeer, Champagne (Top Row)
Taupe Pearl, Iced Mocha (Bottom Row)

I forgot to include the 1 NYX girls gloss in Whipped that I got in this order also, but it is in my previous post where I reviewed them. I am in the process of swatching everything right now so look for reviews and swatches very soon! If there is anything anyone wants me to review/swatch first then let me know! Otherwise it will just be random, as I am scheduling most of my future posts to make things easier.

MAC A Tartan Tale Collection for Holiday 2010

2010-09-06T11:11:00.000-07:00

I just saw this on Temptalia.com and I am so excited!!! I am such a sucker for cute packaging + Limited Editions + MAC! It is sad because I know this collection will hit my CCO sometime after it's released but who wants to wait that long? Not me. haha. The colors on the facekits look identical to the ones in last years holiday collection but it is hard to judge from just these promo pics. I guess it is scheduled to be released in October 2010. Anyone else excited for this collection? Or not so much?

Source: http://www.temptalia.com/mac-a-tartan-tale-collection-for-holiday

NYX Gloss Swatches and Review

2010-09-05T21:54:00.000-07:00

I have 5 of the NYX girls glosses so I thought I would share my thoughts on them.

From L-R
Whipped
Baby Pink
Pinky Natural
Ballerina Pink
Peach

These glosses are only $2.00 at Cherryculture.com, although I only buy from Cherry Culture when they are having 20% off promotions.. making these glosses only $1.60 each. All the colors I have are in the pink family, with Whipped being the most pinky nude color of the bunch. I'll get right to the point and say that I really like these glosses. They aren't at all sticky, they are very pigmented and apply super smoothly. The lasting power is pretty good too, especially considering the price. My only real complaint would be that they have a slightly weird smell. Some people probably like it but I'm not a big fan. Baby Pink is my favorite out of the group, although to be fair, I haven't worn Whipped yet because I just got it.

Here are some swatches:

Overall, I really recommend these glosses! I think they are good quality, a great value and come in a nice range of colors.

Side note: Sorry if the pics aren't completely clear. These were all taken with my new iphone 4. Definitely an improvement from my old 3g iphone camera, but still not digital camera quality. Funny enough my b-day was yesterday and I got a new digital camera (and the iphone) from my husband so expect better pictures once I get a memory card for it!

Hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend.. labor day always means 2 things to me... 1) birthday time for me! 2) back to school for most people/the start of fall. More posts to come soon!

Showering With a Rock Star

2010-09-01T10:27:00.000-07:00

This is a review post on LUSH's Rockstar soap. I know many of you are all too familiar with this soap but for those of you who haven't tried it yet, hopefully this will help.

I bought this soap months ago and have just now made my way most of the way through it (I don't use it every time I shower). This was actually one of my first (and only) LUSH purchases.. most everything else I received in swaps. As you can see from the picture above it cost $14.74 (+ 9.6% tax). This was actually a bigger chunk of it than I wanted, the lady at LUSH was just really bad at guessing what $10 worth of soap was. Unwrapped it looks something like...

...this bright pink block of happiness :)

Now I know people say this smells like bubblegum but I have to disagree. I think it smells sweet and delicious but not bubblegummy.. I actually really dislike the smell of bubblegum but I love the way this soap smells. A definite plus is that after using this in the shower, your whole bathroom will smell like the soap.

As for the actual performance aspects of the soap.. I wish it lathered a tiny bit more but besides that it is creamy and soft feeling. The smell doesn't linger on your skin which can be a good or bad thing I guess. My biggest problem/regret is that I wish I would have cut this up into many smaller pieces and just used them as needed because this soap becomes a gross flaky mess after being in the shower for too long. It starts to get almost too gross to use because all the little flakes just stick to your skin.

Bottom line:
Rating: 6.5/10
Will I repurchase? maybe, but not right now.. it is a little pricey and I would rather try some different LUSH soaps out.

An old NOTD: Love & Beauty (Forever 21) Mint

2010-08-22T15:12:00.001-07:00

So this is very long overdue! I found the pictures I took of this mani a few days ago and realized I never posted them. This was my last mani before taking a little polish break before (and after) the baby was born.

This nail polish is from Forever 21's Love & Beauty line.. These polishes bear a striking resemblance to L.A. Girl Nail polishes, which they use to (and some still do) sell at Forever 21 and way back in the day they were sold at Urban Outfitters also. So this color is very similar to Essie's Turqoise and Caicos only a little more green. It is a great color, application was smooth (this is with 2 coats) and you can't beat the $2.80 price tag!

I really like these nail polishes actually. I think they are really good quality and a great value. I have bunch of them I haven't even used yet so hopefully i'll get around to doing some NOTD with more of these. I just hauled some OPI polishes from ULTA though so look for a new NOTD soon!

Where have I been?!?!

2010-08-19T17:13:00.000-07:00

So it has been waaay to long since I have updated this blog and I am going to try and keep it semi-updated from now on. If any of you were wondering why I haven't posted in so long then it is because..

... i was busy giving birth to this little guy :)

His name is Elijah Lee and he was born on July 9. He weighed a whopping 8 lbs 11.2 ounces! Needless to say after 6 hours of pushing, he was born via C-section. I'll spare you all the gory details but labor is definitely as hard and painful as everyone says it is (even with an epidural) but i would do it again a million times over for my little one.

Being a mom is great and although i am constantly exhausted, i love every moment of it! I can't believe Eli is 6 weeks old already! It's crazy. I feel like he is already growing up so fast..

.. This is him just yesterday! I love spending all my time with this cute little face :)

Anyways, enough gushing for now! I plan on trying to do one review post a week and then haul posts when they happen. I'm going to try and do NOTD posts every once and a while but I actually haven't painted my nails since he was born! I never have enough time and I don't want him breathing in the lovely smell of seche vite.

So hope everyone has been lovely and look for more posts coming soon!

Current (May??) Faves

2010-06-16T00:48:00.000-07:00

So I am extremely late doing my May favorites so this is sort of a May/Current Favorites post. I forgot to include lip products so i'll do a little add-on post for that later! My skincare faves stayed the same from last month so I figured I would just skip those. So everything altogether is above.. I've broken them into face products and eye products

Face Products

From L-R

NARS Deep Throat Blush
NYC Sunny Bronzer
MAC Golden Bronzing Powder (part of the Fab-Racadabra Bronzing Face Kit)

Since summer is here I have been using a lot of bronzer and going a little lighter on the blush. NARS Deep Throat isn't the most pigmented blush I own but it is perfect for giving a subtle pink sheen to my cheeks that is perfect for summer. NYC's Sunny Bronzer is perfect for contouring and that is mainly what I use it for. If you are fair you might have to be careful about application because this bronzer is matte for the most part and fairly dark. Great for me since my face becomes sooooo dark during the summer.. much to my dismay. I use Golden to contour sometimes or if I am feeling lazy I will use it as an all over face bronzer. It works with my skin tone really well. it does have shimmer to it but nothing crazy.

Eye Products

From L-R (Top to bottom)
MAC Fluidline in Macroviolet
MAC All That Glitters
Maybelline Lash Stiletto
NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Iced Mocha

I have been reaching for Macroviolet a lot lately because I like that it gives a pop of color to a neutral eye but isn't too crazy. It also is a lot less harsh than Blacktrack and for some reason I find Macroviolet easier to work with. All That Glitters is my current favorite all over lid color and is perfect when paired with NYX Deep Bronze or MAC Tempting. I really didn't like Lash Stiletto when I first tried it out but it has really grown on me and I know find myself reaching for it pretty much everyday. It beats lash blast length by a mile and really works at separating and lengthening my lashes. The only downside is that the smell is terrible. It smells like weed killer and I can still smell it an hour after I have applied it. Another product that goes with my current neutral eye routine is my Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Iced Mocha. This is great to use as a base or by itself. I tend to use it as a base with Urban Decay Twice Baked on top. It makes for a great bronzey eye without overdoing it.

So those are my current favorites and the products I have been repeatedly reaching for over the past month or so. There are of course more but I'll save those for June Favorites! I plan on doing a current favorite lip products post soon since I forgot to put any lip products into this post and all. I also would like to do a favorite nail polish post but when I tried going through my nail polishes I had a hard time picking out favorites! I love too many nail polishes and don't just have a few faves!

I hope this post was helpful to someone. If anyone wants a more in-depth review on any of these products just let me know :)

Nails of the Day: American Apparel Summer Peach

2010-06-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

This is my first experience with American Apparel nail polishes and it was successful for the most part. This is Summer Peach and it is a true creamy light peach color. I always like to ask my fiance what color my nails are right after I paint them and he actually said peach. Usually his guesses are way off and are more like, "um blue? purple? blue-purple?" lol. Application was a little difficult for me just because I found it a little goopy and I had to do a lot of clean-up. Maybe I was just having an off night with my nail painting skills though. haha. Overall, I love this color and I did get a lot of compliments on it! I am giving my nails a polish break right now but I think the break is over tomorrow!

Nails of the Day: OPI My Chihuahua Bites

2010-06-11T06:45:00.000-07:00

This is a very belated nails of the day, as I have already long moved on to another color. This isn't a new OPI color by any means, just new for me, but I really liked it and looking at swatches and whatnot, it looks like a dupe for MAC's Scorcher from To The Beach but I can't be sure because I haven't seen Scorcher in real life yet.

Sorry for the terrible pictures as usual. Seche Vite has also caused a terrible glare on my nails in these particular pictures so apologies for that as well. This color is great in real life though. It is a fairly bright orange-red color and is a perfect color for summer. I would love to wear this on my toes.. if only i could reach them! The application was good from what I remember. It went opaque in 2 coats. The brush on this one seemed extra wide (even for OPI) which probably would have bothered me a couple of months ago but I have finally begun to get the hang of massive OPI brushes. Overall, I would definitely recommend this color for summer!

On a completely unrelated note, I am coming up on 35 weeks in my pregnancy which means I am absolutely massive and also explains the lack of posts lately. I am still working and most likely will work up until a day or two before I deliver because lets face it, my job isn't that hard but it just means I have been extra exhausted lately and blogging has been put on the back burner. We had an ultra sound last week and the little guy weighs in at just over 4 lbs. I am hoping he is only around 6 or 7 lbs when he comes out and I am crossing my fingers he comes out after June 27 (my 2nd baby shower) but before my actual due date (July 16). Haha I'm sure nothing will work out like I want it to but as long as he is healthy when he comes out I'll be happy :)

Recent Purchases: MAC To The Beach & Nail polishes

2010-06-09T17:22:00.000-07:00

So this is kind of overdue considering I got this stuff about a week or two ago but I didn't think it was all that interesting and I know everyone is probably getting sick of To The Beach hauls! This is a pretty collective haul because I haven't posted in a while so sorry for all the randomness!

To The Beach Haul

Beachbound Lipstick
Marine Life Highlighting Powder

I decided to just get 2 things even though I wish I would have gotten Hipness now. Beachbound is a glaze so it goes on pretty sheer but it leaves a nice sheen and works really well with my skin tone. I haven't used Marine Life yet. I still can't bring myself to touch it! Pathetic. I know.

The rest of the haul are all nail polishes.. everyone already knows of my addiction to them.

Forever 21 Love & Beauty Nail Polishes

From L-R
Pretty Pink
Jade
Deep Teal

The colors look all washed out because of my lovely iphone camera but there is just a pretty light pink, a green that looks similar to Chanel Jade and an interesting looking blue-green color (no glitter, just shimmer).

American Apparel Nail Polishes

From L-R
Summer Peach
Mouse
Office

These are 3 for $15 when you buy them in an AA store so I figured for $5 a pop that wasn't a bad deal. I wanted every color! They are all creams which I love so I think next time I go I am going to pick up L'Espirit, Hassid and Palm Springs. Summer Peach will be an upcoming Nail of the Day.

Lastly,
Shrek by OPI mini set

From L-R
What's With The Catitude
Fiercly Fiona
Rumples Wiggin
Who The Shrek Are You

That's all for now. I also found my beloved Hidden Treasure!!! Rite Aids have just now begun to stock the displays that have Hidden Treasure on them so I went to 3 Rite Aids and cleaned them out. It hasn't disappointed either! Hope everyone is making it through the week ok. I was having a terrible day earlier.. my car broke down a bit, then the door knob to our house broke and i was temporarily locked out, then we were denied for this cash assistance thing that we were previously approved for because were $20 over the income limit and yeah.. then we went to the dollar store and found a $100 bill laying on the ground outside of it!! So at least the day ended on a nice note :)

In and Out number 1

2010-06-01T19:46:00.000-07:00

I am taking a cue from my favorite blogger/youtuber, lollipop26, and starting an In and Out series.

IN

Sunny Weather- Ok not that I have seen much of this lately since I do live in one of the rainiest states in the whole U.S. but we have seen glimmers of sun here and there lately and I love it! There is nothing like going to Seattle and walking around on a sunny day or going to a Mariners game (baseball) and the roof actually being open. Plus denim shorts are my absolute favorite things to wear... although they will probably stay in the dresser this year.. no one wants to see a mondo preggo woman in denim shorts!

Cute Sandals- This kind of goes along with the whole sunny weather thing but i love breaking out the sandals and my feet have thankfully stayed the same size throughout this pregnancy. I can't wait to buy a few more pairs for this summer!
Sorry for the sloppily thrown together polyvore.. but this will give you an idea of what i'll be sporting on my feet for the summer :)

My Dog- I know this is kind of an odd one but my dog was recently sick and now that she is all better I appreciate her that much more! I guess I should say 'our' dog as this started out as my fiances dog but I have adopted her as my dog as well.

.... this is Charli in all her glory. She is half black lab, half pitbull and 100% fun and adorable. She also happens to be addicted to tennis balls.

Blush- I used to not see the point in blush because my cheeks were so uncontrollably red that I didn't really have a need for it. The redness shone through any foundation and no amount of green or other colored concealer really hid it well. Well ever since I have started using Clinique's Even Better Skin Tone Corrector, the redness has gone down significantly and I have started to wear (and become obsessed with) blush! NARS Deep Throat and MAC's Peachykeen are my current faves but I would like to purchase Orgasm and/or Pennylane as well.

OUT

Being Pregnant- This isn't to say I'm not excited for the birth of my first child (a boy, for those of you that don't know :) but I am sooooo over being pregnant. I'm about 34 weeks along so the end is in sight but I am just at the point where I am very uncomfortable all the time. I have already made a list of things I can't wait to do once I am out of this pregnant body! This includes: Exercise (like crazy)! Shop for normal clothes, paint my toenails, play a match of tennis, go in our hot tub.. etc. I haven't gained that much weight so I'm not overly stressed about losing the baby weight but I'm not sure how I'm going to find time to fit any of this in once I have a little one around!

Unnecessary Makeup Purchases- I think I am getting to the point where I need to enjoy what I have in my collection so I am putting myself on a temporary spending freeze. This however does not include Nail Polish because I am aware I have an obsessive problem when it comes to that and I am ok with it for the time being. It is overall a cheaper obsession than makeup.. sort of.

My iphone Case- I hate it. It is Juicy Couture, bright green, glow-in-the-dark and has the world's most annoying dangling crown hanging off the back. It is mostly the crown that bothers me.. everything else about the case I could live with. Between the crown and the silicone material.. I can't hold the phone up to my ear and then take it away with out losing at least 5 hairs in the process. The thing is like a hair magnet and I'm surprised any hair by my ear still exists.

Sorry for the tacky photo.. Photobooth is so unflattering! There is the case in dispute. Why don't I just change it? Because the only other cases I have are two of the exact same thing except in purple and pink. I can't go without a case right now because I am on my 3rd iphone as it is. The easy solution is just to buy a new case but my fiance is a little bit of a nazi when it comes to spending money (understatement). I'll get one eventually, but for now, I use speakerphone.

People Thinking I am 18.. or Younger- I work at a place that starts their hiring at 18 and I get so many stares from people because I am pregnant who are probably thinking.. 'look at that knocked up teenager.' I get the same stares from strangers in the grocery store, the mall, the doctor's office etc. I wish there was a silent way of letting them know I am indeed 21. I blame it on being Asian.. I will forever look like I'm 15. At least I'm not alone.. there are 2 other pregnant girls at my work.. both Asian, both 21, both look like they are 15 as well.

So that is my first round of In's and Out's.. sorry it wasn't too makeup or beauty related but I am about to do my May Favorites so I didn't want to spoil that post entirely!

Nails of the Day: OPI Rumple's Wiggin

2010-06-01T11:33:00.000-07:00

I recently got the mini 4-pack of the new OPI Shrek Collection and this was the first one I decided to use mostly based on the fact that it is the safest! Sorry the picture is so washed out.. the color is darker in person but is still a really milky light purple. I don't own any other color like this and I really love it. I am going to get the full size bottle of it because I literally used almost 1/2 of the mini just for this mani. It took 2-3 coats for complete opaqueness but that could be due to the fact that the mini bottles are an absolute pain to work with. Nevertheless this color is definitely worth investing in.. I have never gotten SO many compliments on a nail polish. I had to of received at least 3 compliments everyday that I wore this. It reminds me of a purple version of Mod About You. The picture is before cleanup with a basecoat and seche vite on top.. blah blah..

Oh and side note, this polish didn't chip on me for a full 5-6 days! It was kind of amazing.

Another side note, Dan and I went and saw the new Shrek movie the weekend it came it out and it was... decent. I mean they are all kind of the same to me. I have only seen 2 and 4 now so i'm probably not the best reviewer though. lol. It was cute and definitely something a family with young kids would enjoy. The donkey and his half donkey, half dragon babies were the best part :)

Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day Weekend (or bank holiday weekend for the UKers).. I spent the entire weekend working but I thought of my grandpa, who served in the military for most of his life and passed away around this time of the year when I was younger. Thanks to those that serve and have served their countries.. goodness knows we need them!

Free Nicole by OPI Nail Polish @ Ulta!

2010-05-29T00:25:00.000-07:00

Just thought I would let everyone know that the June/July issue of Seventeen Magazine (something I haven't glanced at since I was probably 13..) features a coupon in it for a free bottle of Nicole by OPI nail polish from Ulta. If you don't want to spend the $3.99 or whatever it is on a magazine you may not read, you can also go here and just print the coupon out. You can choose any color you want which is nice but it is only good for one per person (so i'm going to assume they track it somehow..). I am going to make my sister print one of these and get a nail polish and if i'm feeling greedy enough i might even make the boy print one too.. they can't gender discriminate! lol. Sorry to all those who don't have an ULTA nearby! I feel like the girls in the UK are always getting free things with their magazines.. about time we get something here in the states :D

Nails of the Day: China Glaze For Audrey

2010-05-25T20:28:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty sure everyone is familiar with the infamous China Glaze Polish For Audrey.. nicely named after Audrey Hepburn and Breakfast at Tiffany's... a movie which I have actually never seen! Nevertheless, like any girl my age (or any age really), I love Tiffany's jewelry and couldn't wait to get my hands on this little bottle.

I do own a Tiffany's bracelet that was a gift from an ex.. purchased by him as an attempt to win me back after I broke up with him.. it was a pretty grand gesture but I had already met the real love of my life at that point.. Anyways, enough with that! The pictures above show the color comparison and I think it is pretty close. I would say the polish comes out a little darker than the actual Tiffany blue but just a tiny bit. It goes on opaque in almost 1 coat but I did two just so there was no show through. A lot of people have talked about how bad the application is so I was expecting the worst but it really wasn't too bad. The picture is also with a base coat and seche vite on top. Overall, I really like this color!! It is creamy and just very pretty and unique.

To Buy or Not to Buy..

2010-05-24T23:35:00.000-07:00

So most of you probably know that Cherry Culture is having a special sale on NYX items right now and I am having a real debate on whether to make an order or not! I do currently have a lot of NYX items that I have barely touched from my last Cherry Culture haul and goodness knows this is really a matter of want and not need. However, I have put together a carefully crafted potential order that I think would fill some gaps in my current makeup collection. Most of the potential order is made up of single eyeshadows, along with a lip lacquer pot (these are new.. and I have been dying to try one out!), one trio, a blush and a lipgloss. As long as I was potentially making an order, I also placed a Milani Liquif Eye Eyeliner in Black in there, which Temptalia gave an A to. I also had to add a random nail polish to make it to the $40 mark to qualify for free shipping... ah to press submit or not to??

If it was only this order that I was debating about I would just go ahead and do it but there are 2 purses on Urban Outfitters website that I have had my eye on for a while now and both just went on sale! And of course no free shipping codes at the moment.. holding out for memorial day sale on that one though.

... And then I also am tempted to make an order of OPI nail polishes from Trans Design since my ULTA was sold out of the Shrek collection polishes that I was in search of.

AND of course To The Beach launches here on Thursday and I already have my pre-order made at Nordstrom's for that (only 2 items though).

So should I go through with any of these orders? Or have some self-control and just pass for now? I think I'll sleep on it for now :\

Nails of the Day: Revlon Tropical Temptation

2010-05-18T07:00:00.000-07:00

I picked this up in my previous haul post. It is the first Revlon polish I have ever tried.

It is actually unlike any other color I own which is kind of amazing. It is a creamy orangey/red/coral with a hint of pink. Really descriptive, I know. I really like the formula though, it is super easy to apply and required little clean up. I am definitely going to look into other Revlon polishes and I can't wait to try out Minted, which I have already seen a million swatches of. The picture is with a base coat, 2-3 coats of polish and seche vite to top it off. Sorry for the crappy picture.. still taking pictures with my iphone.

Weekend Haul (H&M, Makeup, etc.)

2010-05-17T21:26:00.000-07:00

Hi lovelies! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. I didn't work on Saturday and I was off very early on Sunday so that was nice. I went to Seattle on Sunday with my sister and her boyfriend because there was a cheese festival going on. Yes, I love cheese :) There were loads of vendors and free samples but the crowds were insane.. I don't know if I have ever seen Pike Place that busy ever! We didn't do too much shopping but I picked up a few things. First up is the drugstore haul I promised in my last post though.

Walgreen's Haul

As you can see I have quite the sweet tooth lately. The Mountain Dew is a new flavor I just wanted to try, I don't usually drink soda or caffeine because it is bad for the baby. I like the (potential) new flavor though! Also picked up some sour dots which are the world's stickiest candy ever! Also, some coconut M&M's which I have never had and still have yet to try, along with some mambas, which never disappoint :)

Makeup Items

So here is the good stuff..

Revlon was buy one get one 50% off so I picked up two Nail Polishes in:
Minted
Tropical Temptation

Wet'n'Wild Single Eyeshadow in Nutty $1.99
This is a great color and is actually really good quality! It is a great taupey neutral with some shimmer. I am going to get a couple more of these because Wet'n'Wild is buy one get one free at Rite Aid this week.

At another Walgreens I picked up some Revlon Foundations
Revlon Colorstay in 300 Golden Beige
Revlon Photo Ready in 004 Nude

My colorstay in 320 is too dark so I thought I would try a lighter color however, I think 300 might be too light. I am going to do a full review on Photo Ready soon because I definitely have some thoughts on it but 004 is definitely too light for me so I have been mixing it with my 320 colorstay and the results have been decent.

One last thing from the drugstore..

EOS lip balm in Summer Fruit $3.59
I have wanted for forever! The packaging is just so cute. I know you can get this much cheaper when on sale but I was too lazy to wait that long.

Next up are the things I picked up in Seattle..

First up is the stuff from Old Navy

Light Orangey Polka Dot Scarf $6.39
Taupey colored Handbag $10.49

Both of these were just impulse buys.. I don't shop at Old Navy really but my sister's boyfriend needed some cheap flip-flops so I was browsing and found these two items in the clearance section. Gotta love a good deal.

H&M

I basically just picked up four tank tops in different colors/patterns. They were only $4.95 each except for the pinky peach colored one was $6.95? I think. These will be great to wear with leggings. H&M seems to run so big! Even with my 7 1/2 month preggo belly I still had to get smalls and they are still quite loose! Hopefully they still fit ok when this baby bump is gone in a couple months.

So that is it! Nothing too exciting. Hope that everyone had a great weekend as well. Review of Photo Ready coming soon and new NOTD post will be up tomorrow morning (love scheduled posts:)

E.L.F. Order #2 and LUSH sample Haul

2010-05-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

So my 2nd E.L.F. order came a few days ago and I have been trying out some of the products this week. I love E.L.F.'s studio line and think they are great value. I purchased these during their 15-hour sale when all of their studio line was 60% off (with promo code), making each (studio) item $1.20! I also did a swap for some LUSH samples with a really sweet girl off MUA named Kristie (check out her Youtube Channel Here). I also a MAC eyeshadow in the swap called Smoke and Diamonds which isn't pictured. But anyways here is the E.L.F. stuff:

Brushes

From L-R
Blush Brush
Small Precision Brush
Angled Foundation Brush
Complexion Brush

I have already said this before but I really like E.L.F.'s brushes, they are super soft and I haven't had any shedding issues. I have been using the Small Precision Brush for gel/cream Eyeliner and it works pretty well (not the best though) but it is good for lining your lower lash line with shadow. The Angled Foundation brush I have been using to contour with (then blending out with a kabuki) and it works great for that. The Complexion Brush has been good for a quick dusting of bronzer or powder when I am in a hurry.

Next are 3 non-studio items.. they are the All Over Cover Sticks

From L-R
Pink Lemonade
Golden Peach
Spotlight

I have used Golden Peach and Spotlight so far and these are great! The only thing is that one of my cheeks (yes, just one) is really sensitive and drys out really easy and Golden Peach makes it a little.. flaky? not the right word but you get the idea. Nothing a little moisture surge can't fix though. Spotlight is great as a highlight.

Face Products

Shimmer Palette
Warm Bronzer
Peachykeen Blush

I have used the Warm Bronzer quite a bit this week on lazy days when I just wanted a golden sun-kissed look. I just slap that on with my NARS deep throat blush and am good to go. It also works great with the Golden Peach All Over Cover Stick. I haven't tried the other two products yet but my other E.L.F. blush has been great so I expect Peachykeen to be the same.

...and lastly

Cream Eyeliner in Midnight
Cream Eyeliner in Black
Eye Primer & Liner Sealer

I have only used the Cream Eyeliner in Black so far. It applies very nicely but isn't the blackest of blacks and does fade throughout the day. For $1.20 I'm not really complaining though. It doesn't smudge on me and you get a fair amount of product. I'm excited to try the Eye Primer and Liner Sealer.. I always forgot to reach for it though. Out of habit I just always reach for my UDPP or a paint pot.

So that is my 2nd E.L.F. haul.. I probably won't make another order for a while unless they do the 60% off again but even then, I am pretty stocked up on stuff.

So here is my small LUSH Sample Haul from Kristie:

Ignore the Angel's Delight Soap.. I got that in a haul a while back now.

In no particular order I received samples of:
Rockstar Soap (will be giving these to my sister as I have a giant slap of Rockstar in my shower right now)
Porridge Soap
Honey I Washed The Kids (so excited to try this!)
Sultana of Soap
Sexy Peel Soap
Karma Soap
Snow Cake Soap (currently using this sample.. like the smell)
Angel's Delight Soap (going to my sis as well)
Mask of Magnaminty
Some Unknown Sample in a Black Pot.. I think it is American Dream Cream but I honestly have no idea.

She also sent me a tootsie tingler (not LUSH) to try out which was super sweet of her! I love getting samples of LUSH items before purchasing them because the nearest LUSH to me is an hour or more away and their items are a bit pricey for soaps and whatnot (my sister thinks I am absolutely mad for spending $17 on a chunk of Rockstar soap). This is a great way of eliminating what I don't like and just spending money on things that I do. I really want to try 17 Cherry Lane soap and the I Should Coco soap as well!

Whew! Made it through another long post. I picked up some things from the drugstore last night also so I am going to try and post those today or tomorrow and do a proper review post of something! I am sure everyone is sick of all the haul posts! Hope everyone is having a nice weekend. The weather is gorgeous right now.. Perfect for a 1/2 price frap from Starbucks in a few hours (3pm-5pm)! Bye for now!

Nails of the Day: OPI Coney Island Cotton Candy + Small Ulta Haul

2010-05-12T18:37:00.000-07:00

Time for another Nails of the Day post. I have had this on for several days now but I have been a little behind in posting so I am just now getting around to showing you all! This is OPI's Coney Island Cotton Candy, which I picked up in Ulta a few days ago (that haul is at the end of this post) and I couldn't wait to try it out. I felt like something kind of subtle, which this definitely is.

Sorry for the dodgy pics as usual.. still using my iphone to snap shots. For some reason these two pictures came out completely different even though my camera doesn't have a flash and they were taken seconds apart in the same lighting. ah well. Neither pic shows the color very accurately. It is much more pinky in person but it is a very peachy pink color for sure. I had to do 4 coats to achieve the look in the pic (along w/base coat and seche vite.. blah blah)! Thin coats albeit but still. Too much effort if you ask me. I do like this color though. It is very understated and pretty. OPI polishes are growing on me. I think I've finally figured out how to maneuver the gigantic brush.

And now onto the Ulta haul! I wanted to get in there one more time while they were having their buy 2 get 1 free on OPI/Essie/China Glaze etc. so my sister and I went last Saturday. I also had a $5 off a $10 purchase coupon.. I know this is bad but I have been ripping these out of magazines left and right! It is just such a better deal shopping at Ulta with this coupon instead of the 20% off one item or $3.50 off a $10 purchase coupons that they send out.

Anyways, here is what I picked up:

3 OPI Polishes in: Hot & Spicy, Gargantuan Green Grape, Coney Island Cotton Candy
NYX Single Eyeshadow in Deep Bronze
NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil in Iced Mocha

Their NYX stuff was also buy 2 get 1 free and I thought I already had Iced Mocha but I was looking for it the other day and I guess I was getting it confused with French Fries. I also picked up an eyeshadow for my sister in My Favorite Color.. which I like but the chunks of glitter in it are too big.

Here is my sad attempt at swatching the NYX items:

Here is Deep Bronze. Love this color!

Here is Iced Mocha, which will unintentionally go perfect with deep bronze :)

Hope everyone is having a nice week. I had a doctor's appointment yesterday and everything with the little guy is good. The doctor said he was having trouble locating the baby simply by feeling my stomach because my muscle definition is so good that my stomach literally feels rock hard. This gave me quite a good laugh because I have to be the most pathetically weak person I know and while I was skinny pre-pregnancy.. I have never had any muscle to speak of. lol.

E.L.F. Haul and Mini Review

2010-05-11T07:00:00.000-07:00

This haul is actually from a while ago but I am just now getting around to putting it up. Luckily, this has given me some time to try out and review some of the products.

I ordered this when they were having a 50% off promo for their studio line products. Then I made another order a week or so ago when they were having 60% off their studio line! I am still waiting for that order to come though, along with a replacement eye transformer palette which came in the first order but was smashed when I received it. Luckily E.L.F. customer service is great and replied very quickly to my inquiry. They sent out a replacement that day! Unfortunately their shipping takes forever here in the states.. around 10 days by Fedex! So anyways, on with the haul.

I haven't gotten around to trying everything so if there isn't anything written after the item name, then it just means I haven't used it quite yet.

Above are all the brushes I ordered, which include:
- 2 Powder Brushes: These are great!!! I use one for powder and one for liquid foundation and they are incredibly soft and easy to use.
- Fan Brush
- Contour Brush
- Small Angled Brush
- Blush Brush: Love this also, great for contouring, highlighting and applying blush

Overall these brushes are lovely so far! And such a good deal.. I paid $1.50 a brush.. way cheaper than even cheapy brushes at the drugstore and much better quality. But moving on..

Here we have:
- Studio Brush Shampoo: I have tried this out and it is pretty decent. I feel like you have to use a lot of shampoo for just one brush but it does get the makeup out pretty good. The bottle is quite small but for $1.50 I'm not at all disappointed.. even if I have to repurchase this more frequently, it is still a good deal.
- Makeup Removing Wipes
- Cuticle Pen

- Single Eyeshadow in Wild Wheat: a nice color and very smooth but not the most pigmented
- Blushed/Bronzed Duo: Infamous NARS orgasm/laguna dupe.. haven't tried this yet but i will soon!
- Blush in Candid Coral: This brush is super pigmented and really lovely! It has become one of my favorites and I have only used it a couple of times.

...and lastly

- Cream Eyeliner in Coffee: I've only swatched this but the swatch has held up amazingly so that is always good.
- High Definition Powder: Love this stuff! Goes on completely transparent. Gives a really flawless (or close to it) finish! Only complaint is that it is a little messy.

I'll have some more comprehensive reviews up soon of the products I haven't tried yet. I also have another order in the mail that should be here tomorrow so i'll try to put that up in a more timely manner! So far I am really impressed with E.L.F's studio line! It is such a great deal!!

Nails of the Day: Essie Chinchilly

2010-05-09T23:36:00.000-07:00

This is quite overdue, as I already have another color on my nails! Sorry for the bad quality pic.. I am back to snapping shots with my iphone again.

This is Essie's Chinchilly. It is a really lovely and creamy grey color. It has hints of taupe in it but I think it comes off more grey than anything. The application was smooth and easy. I have really been loving Essie polishes lately. The formulation is amazing in most of the colors I have used! Mint Candy Apple was the only one that gave me problems and I think that might be because of the mini bottle and mini brush. The pic above is with a base coat, 3 thin coats of polish and seche vite to top it off. New nails of the day coming very soon!! Just painted them again tonight :)

April Favorites

2010-05-09T22:50:00.000-07:00

So I know May will be half way over after this next week but I'm just now getting around to doing April Favorites! Where has this month gone? Time seems to be flying by lately. Today was mother's day for us in the states so Happy Mother's Day to everyone no matter where you are :) I decided to do 10 favorite beauty items this month instead of 5 because I just seemed to use a lot of stuff this month!

So here is everything altogether..

and now everything broken down..

Face Products/Items

- Safeway Brand Makeup Removing Wipes: Yes these are from my local grocery store but they were dirt cheap and do a really surprisingly good job. I will definitely repurchase these lovelies!
- Revlon Colorstay Foundation in True Beige (320): I actually think this color is a shade or 2 too dark for me but I mix it with moisturizer and it works pretty good. You really can't beat the coverage!
- Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20: I received this in a GWP and have been using it for several weeks now every morning and I really like it and do believe it has improved my skin tone! My face is less splotchy and red and has made my acne scars fade very slightly. Plus, the GWP size is huge! I have barely made a dent in it.
- MAC Tinted Lip Conditioner in Pink Fish: This is obviously from the Hello Kitty Collection from MAC. I have had it for a while and have never used it that much but I started using it and now I'm literally addicted to it. It is slightly drying but I like using up products so I don't mind reapplying often.
- Studio Tools Duo Fiber Brush: I bought this at Target on Clearance and if I would have known at the time that is was being discontinued and that it is AMAZING then I would have bought all of them!! I used this with my Colorstay Foundation, which is why it looks all stained.. the colorstay color doesn't come all the way out even with washing but oh well... this is an amazing stippling brush!

Eye Faves:

- Dior Stylish Moves Quint: I use this quint quite a lot and find it really versatile. Not to mention the colors are extremely pigmented (especially the darkest purple color in the bottom left corner) and easy to blend.
- Clinique Cream Eyeliner in Black: I hate the little tub this comes in.. it makes working with it super messy. But nevertheless I have been reaching for this almost everyday. When you put it on it does NOT budge at all. It makes fixing mistakes hard but is also nice for when I work long hours and don't want my liner fading throughout the day!
- Sonia Kashuk Flat Eyeshadow Brush: I forgot if that is the actual name for this brush but close enough. This is easily my most used brush for applying eyeshadows. It is super soft and washes well also.

Body Products:

- Victoria Secret 'Sexy Little Things' Butter Me Up Body Butter: I have had this since the last VS semi-annual sale, where I got it for 75% off and have never really used it but I started putting it on after I get out of the shower and it is divine! It isn't greasy, is super moisturizing and the smell is amazing!!! I am no good at describing smells or notes but just believe me when I say it is heavenly and well.. sexy! haha
- LUSH Lemony Flutter: Not much explanation needed for this one.. Just a nice and effective cuticle butter!

Wow, sorry this was sooooo long. I like to ramble if you can't already tell. Hope everyone has had a lovely weekend! I have quite a few posts in the works right now so hopefully I will get those up soon!

Nails of the Day: Essie Turquoise & Caicos

2010-05-02T18:44:00.000-07:00

I love Essie's Resort Collection and ever since I picked up Lapis of Luxury along with Turquoise & Caicos in a recent haul, I have been dying to use them! I decided to go with Turquoise & Caicos first since it was the one I was most excited about.

Top pic is without flash, bottom is with. These were taken before proper cleanup. Neither picture does a good job of accurately showing the color.. it is MUCH brighter in person.. It is also much less green and more teal in person. The bottom pic makes it look almost mint green and it definitely isn't anywhere near that (for more accuate swatch pics check out Vampy Varnishes Blog Post) But oh well. The polish applied like a dream.. Slightly streaky and it did take 3 coats to achieve the right color but it wasn't much of a problem because it dried fast enough. As always, pic is with a basecoat and seche vite on top. I have had this color on for a couple days now and no signs of chipping or tip wear really! I could see how this color might not be for everyone.. it is quite bright, but I really love it and think it is a perfect summer color.

MAC Pret-a-Papier Mini Haul + CCO haul

2010-04-29T01:39:00.000-07:00

I apologize in advance for all the horrible quality pics.. i'm not sure what is up with my digital camera. But moving on, I went to mall with my mom the day Pret-a-Papier was released and all I got was the paint pot in Coral Crepe. Paint pots are probably my favorite MAC items so I knew from looking at promo pics that I wanted this!

So here it is: it looks all blurry in the pic and slightly dark in the pot in real life but it goes on a really nice coral color (duh haha). I don't recommend using this alone as an eyeshadow.. well i mean do what you want but the MAC MA did my makeup and just used the paint pot all over my lid with nothing else and my sister and my fiance asked me why I looked sickly.. so yeah, didn't exactly get any compliments from that look. I would have swatched this but obviously my camera was in no mood for this.

I also went to CCO the other day and they had the naughty noir eye kit back in stock so I picked one of those up.

This comes with a fluidline in Blacktrack, shimmertime pigment (my first MAC pigment), a promo size of Zoomblack Mascara and a 209SE brush. I'm excited to use Blacktrack, as I have 2 other fluidlines and I love them!

The last thing I got at CCO was a Tendertone:

Again, sorry for the frustratingly bad quality of pictures.. My camera did not like the shiny white box! But anyways, this is a MAC tendertone in EZ Baby. I know these are DC and I was really excited to find this one at my CCO. I was especially lucky because it was the very last one in this color. I haven't used this yet but it smells amazing!!

Nothing terribly exciting in this post. I have an E.L.F. order i just received to share and another one on the way so look for that soon!

Review: Neutrogena Night Calming Makeup Remover Cleansing Towelettes

2010-04-29T01:18:00.001-07:00

I used these up a while ago but I have been lazy about writing a review. I'll get right to the point and say that I think these are GREAT! I would say they remove 90% of my makeup and I consider that to be pretty decent. I still use Clinique makeup remover for my eye makeup but these wipes actually do a pretty good job at removing eyeliner, mascara etc. They also do have a nice feel to them which is probably due to the 'night calming' effect. I like them much better than the regular Neutrogena wipes (review here) even though they are slightly more pricey. I think these are around $1 more per package than the original wipes.. making them around $6 depending on where you get them. They are much less scratchy than the original wipes and have a nicer smell as well.

Overall:
Score: 8/10
Repurchase: Yes.. in theory

While I would definitely repurchase these I am trying out some wipes I found in my local grocery store because they were only $3 for 30 and I actually really like them. So price-wise, i prefer these right now.

Nails of the Day: China Glaze Peachy Keen + Polish Haul

2010-04-27T00:21:00.000-07:00

This is from my most recent polish haul at ULTA (haul to follow). They need to stop doing Buy 2 Get 1 free promos!!! But at least I always have a $5 off coupon whenever I shop there and they let you combine the coupons with the promos. So anyways, Peachy Keen is very similar to Essie's Tart Deco only the application for me was much worse than tart deco. The picture is with a basecoat, 2 coats of polish and seche vite. I do like this color a lot but the whole time I kept thinking.. this is too familiar.. then duh, it was because tart deco was only a couple weeks ago and they look almost exactly the same on me.

So here is the Haul:

From L-R
- China Glaze Peachy Keen
- Essie Lapis of Luxury
- Essie Turquoise and Caicos
- Essie Exposure
- OPI My Chihuahua Bites
- OPI You Don't Know Jacques

I am super excited to use Turquoise and Caicos! That was the whole reason for the haul really. So look for this color in next weeks Nails of the day (I really should change it to week..). I was a tad disappointed they didn't have the Shrek Collection out yet but my sister and I still have coupons so we will be back soon i'm sure. She also bought a few polishes.. Grape Pop, Sugar High and Heli-Yum? I think those were the ones she got. I already have Heli-Yum but I will definitely be borrowing Sugar High and Grape Pop from her eventually. Hope everyone had a nice weekend and I swear I am going to do a review post for some items in the next couple days!!

Some MAJOR Swap Haulin' (LUSH, NARS, NYX & more)

2010-04-23T22:57:00.000-07:00

I have been a little swap crazy lately and have been too lazy to post all the swaps individually so I thought I would just combine a few into one post.. *warning* this is going to be a long and picture heavy post!! Above shows some of the envelopes.. obviously without the goods in them!

So here is everything altogether:

And like always i'll break it down for you :)

LUSH Goodies

- Trichomania Shampoo: Smells sooo good!
- Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter
- Angels Delight Soap
- Sample of Herbalism Cleanser

NYX

- (top) 10 The Runway Collection in Versus
- (middle) The Caribbean Collection in I Dream of Barbados
- (bottom) Mysterious Brown Eyes Palette

NARS + E.L.F.

- The Multiple in Antibes
- Blush in Deep Throat
- Duo Lip Gloss in Giza and Boogie Nights
- Duo Lip Gloss in Harlow and Sweet Dreams
- E.L.F. Lip Stain in Birthday Suit
- E.L.F. Single Eyeshadow in Charcoal

Random Stuff (mostly extras)

From L-R
- LUSH sample (more herbalism?)
- MUFE eye seal
- (underneath eye seal) Elizabeth Arden Gel Liner in Bronze
- Benefit She Laq
- (in front of she laq) Urban Decay Eyeshadow in ?? color sticker missing
- Benefit Miss Popularity
- Clarins Wonder Perfect Mascara in Wonder Black
- Shiseido Benefiance Revitalizing Emulsion
- Little Estee Lauder Brush
- Paris Hilton Mini Perfume

So that is most of it.. or at least everything i could find and put together! Swapping is so much fun and I love always being able to expect something in the mail besides bills.. lol. Paying for postage is getting expensive though! Gotten anything good in a swap lately? Want any swatches or reviews? Feel free to leave me a comment!

Current Lemmings

2010-04-22T21:52:00.000-07:00

These are just some thing that I am lemming right now.. feel free to crush ANY of them as we are trying to pay off bills right now before the baby comes!! I think I might let myself get a couple things if we bonus at work soon.. or I come across a large lump sum of money by sheer luck.. lol
In no particular order..
NARS Blush/Bronzer Duo in Orgasm/Laguna: I was going to buy this during Sephora's F&F sale but I just didn't.. not a very good excuse.
Dior Creme de Rose Smoothing Plumping Lip Balm: This just sounds divine
MAC MSF in Cheeky Bronze w/Cleanse Off Oil and Charged Water: For $28 I don't think this is a very good deal b/c my CCO carries cheeky bronze for $19 but I really want the mini bottles of the cleanse off oil and charged water!!
NARS The Multiple Coffret: Oh how I love NARS.. There is a code on NARS.com for like 18% off and free shipping so I am still thinking about this one..
Dior Quint in Mystic Smokys: I got my first quint a bit ago and i looooove it.
Channelesque by China Glaze: This is actually discontinued but it is still available on ebay for about $11.. worth it?
Rock & Republic Eyeshadows: I got one of these recently and they are amazing!!!! I want so many colors!
American Apparel Nail Polish in Office and Palm Springs: I have seen waaaay too many swatches of these and still not bought one.. at $6 a piece they are cheaper than even some drugstore polishes.
Korres Lip Butter Roll: I really just want the Mango one but this roll is a good deal.. $19.50 for all 3 when 1 is $10 by itself.
Fresh Supernova Mascara: I've heard good things about this mascara
Esos Lip Balm: How cute is this?!

Nails of the Day: OPI Parlez-Vous OPI?

2010-04-18T13:32:00.000-07:00

I finally painted my nails again as my Tart Deco was chipping badly after a week. I was torn between painting my nails with For Audrey, Chinchilly or this color.. Parlez-Vous OPI? won because it is soooo sunny out right now and I wanted something spring-like.. even though this purple is probably a little dark for spring.. oh well :)

The top pic is in less sunglight.. the bottom is in more direct sunglight.. hence the bad glare. I love love the formulation and color of this polish! The purple isn't too light or dark and is very creamy looking. It goes on so nice too.. opaque in 2 coats. I only have a mini bottle of this that I received in a swap but I think I will invest in the full size bottle sometime in the future. I actually really like mini bottles little brushes though. They fit my small fingernails perfectly! lol.

Some recent purchases... all very random pic heavy

2010-04-11T23:04:00.000-07:00

So I have been lazy about putting up some recent hauls so i decided to do one random one. Some stuff is from a bit ago.. some of it from just today.

First up from CCO:
MAC Fab-Racadabra Bronze Face Kit From Holiday 2009

This kit includes:
Golden Bronzing Powder
Buffed and Polished Iridescent Powder
Sunbasque Sheertone Shimmer Blush

I think this little kit was a good deal at about $25. It is super convenient.. albeit a bit chunky to carry around. I am not a fan of Buffed and Polished just because it has some quite chunky glitter that isn't very practical but I love love love the Sunbasque Blush.. perfect warm bronzy peach for my skin tone.

Next:
Two shirts from PacSun

There is a PacSun Outlet in the same mall I work in so I picked these up after work one day.. I am kind of annoyed though, because I went to a regular PacSun in a regular mall and they had these same tanks.. but cheaper! So much for outlet being a better deal.. i paid $20 for the top one and $17 for the bottom one and at the other PacSun they were 2 for $20.. boo for getting ripped off.

The following are all a bit more recent..
Stuff from Target, Ulta, Urban Outfitters and one swap item

Here is everything together.. but you know how I like to break it down.. lol

Nail Polishes

From L-R:
Essie Chinchilly
Essie Fall Collection Minis: Mink Muffs, Midnight Cami, Angora Cardi, Pink Parka
Urban Outfitters Polish in Grey 2

I know I am supposed to be on a polish ban but obviously that doesn't work for me.. i love nail polish! It is such a cheap thrill. I had a coupon for Essie one, the mini set was on sale and the UO one was only $.99! Good deals :))) I also picked up a second set of minis and am going to put it in my giveaway goodies.

Food Related Items

Here are just some snacks I picked up..
Garden Cheddar Goldfish.. new flavor, quite yummmy.
Some Sweet and Sour Lifesaver Gummies
DKNY Red Delicious Perfume... not for eating but sort of food related.. haha
Oh and Glamour Magazine is underneath.. LC is on the cover. love her!

One last item!

Top from Urban Outfitters

I have this in white also.. in a smaller size from pre-pregnancy... or just pre-belly actually. Sorry it is all wrinkled. It has been stuffed in the UO bag since Wednesday.

Ok that is the end i swear! I need to stop making such loooooong haul posts. lol. Thank you if you made it all the way to the end of this rambling post.. feel free to comment as always!

Nails of the Day: Essie Tart Deco

2010-04-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

I got Essie's Tart Deco a haul or two back and have been dying to try it out. I thought this was a nice change from Mint Candy Apple... still spring-like but in a different color group. I am really happy with how it turned out too! The picture is with a base coat, 2 coats of polish and Seche Vite on top.. My right hand took 3 coats for some reason. The first coat goes on very streaky but the second is much better and i found the formula much easier to work with than Mint Candy Apple. In real life the color is a bit brighter but it isn't too off in the pic. Sorry for the horrible quality pic.. still stuck with iphone camera because every time i go to get digital camera batteries there are unbelievable lines and i always just give up. But anyways, I really love this color and this polish! Definitely recommend it!

Review: Clinique High Lengths Mascara

2010-04-08T20:15:00.000-07:00

I received a trial version of this in a GWP.. (see this post for that haul) and I have been using it ever since. That was a couple weeks ago now so I feel like it has been long enough that I can do a proper review on it. If you haven't heard much about this mascara, Clinique claims that it has the ability to "Stretch limp, lifeless lashes to lengths beyond your wildest expectations. And wow - eyes look noticeably wider, fully energized. Our curved, fine-toothed comb finds the tiniest lashes and brings them out of hiding. Ophthalmologist tested and appropriate for sensitive eyes" (Clinique.com).

I'll get right to the point and say that this mascara is just eh.. It isn't terrible and it isn't fantastic by any means. It definitely lengthens but it gets a little clumpy and dry throughout the day. I wasn't able to layer this very well without it clumping and making my lashes stick together. The brush is also another issue.. The more rubber mascara brushes I try out the less of a fan I am. This brush worked ok for the bulk of my lashes but missed the very outer and inner ones (exactly the opposite effect that it claims to have) .. and it is so awkwardly shaped that I found it really difficult to maneuver without getting mascara somewhere other than my lashes. What I did like about this was that it really did lengthen my lashes and held a curl decently. I have very short and straight lashes and I use a heated eyelash curler and this wasn't too bad when used together.

Bottom line: 6/10
Repurchase? No.. for $14 there are much better mascaras out there..

As a side note.. for some reason blogger hasn't been notifying me when i get comments anymore so if i haven't responded (which i always try to do) i apologize! I am going to start checking the posts instead of relying on shady blogger to tell me. Please keep commenting.. i love hearing anything you guys have to say!!! And also.. i am planning on having a small (but great) giveaway soon so be on the lookout for that too :))

Nails of the Day: Essie Mint Candy Apple

2010-04-05T19:01:00.000-07:00

So I showed this polish in one of my recent hauls and I was super excited to give it a try. The formula was terrible to work with though. I am a horrible at painting my own nails and I found this polish extremely streaky and goopy. Not the easiest polish to work with that is for sure. I own other Essie polishes and they are nothing like this formulation so it might just be my bottle but who knows. Nevertheless, I love love this color. My sister thinks it looks more blue than green but I guess it just depends on the lighting. The picture is with a base coat, two coats of polish and seche vite on top. Sorry for the sloppy job again.. this one gave me some trouble! I can't wait to try my China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint and see if the color is similar or not.. but I think my next notd will be Essie's tart deco.. or OPI's parlez vous opi, which i just got in the mail today!

Hoppy Easter: Recent Swap Hauls + Easter Goodies :))

2010-04-04T21:13:00.000-07:00

Happy (or Hoppy:)) Easter to everyone!! Hope that everybody had a nice and relaxing holiday. My work was actually open today but I requested it off in advance so that Dan and I could go to church together in the morning then go to his mom's house for lunch and my parents house for dinner. It was really nice spending the whole day with family and then being able to come home and just chill out for a little.

On another note I've been doing quite a bit of swapping lately and these are just a few of the better things I have gotten. This definitely isn't everything but a lot of stuff isn't that interesting. Sorry again for the absolutely terrible pictures.. I still haven't gotten batteries for my camera so I had no choice but to use the crappppppy camera on my iphone again.

Here is everything altogether:

First Group:

- Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Reflect 657
- Yes to Carrots C is for Clean Gentle Exfoliating Facial Cleanser
- NARS gloss in Sweet Dreams

Second Group: NARS duos

- Left: NARS duo in Sea, Sex and Sun
- Right: NARS duo in Brazil
The pics are especially bad for the duos.. i might try and swatch them after i get my digital camera back in commission.

Third Group:

- Dior 5-Colour Eyeshadow Palette in Stylish Move (970)
- Estee Lauder Pure Color Eyeshadow GWP size.. Colors are: Vanilla, Tea Biscuit, Nutmeg, Sea Glass

Last One..

- Bobbi Brown Eye Brights Palette.. Colors from L-R: Lilac, Sky, Opal, Mint, Smoke

Those are my most recent swaps.. if anyone wants me to review a certain item let me know! Now just for fun I have some Easter goodies to show:

My mom made us all baskets to share with our significant others this year just for fun. There are 4 of us (i'm the youngest).. 8 if you count all our other halves (fyi only my oldest brother is married, i'm engaged and my other brother and sister just have bf/gf). Dan also got me a few goodies that I just put in the basket for the sake of the picture. He got me the fruit roll-up things (healthy, for the baby), the large Cadbury Chocolate bar and the fruit pie (my favorite!). Dan and I have already eaten a few of the goodies.. but i'm trying to be better about the amount of candy I eat because I have to go through a gestational diabetes test on friday, which is routine but still makes me nervous. Sorry this post is so loooooong and rambling.. bravo if you made it through it and hope your Easter was lovely!

March Favorites

2010-04-04T00:09:00.000-07:00

Here are my 5 faves from March. I kind of threw these together because I made a list and then lost it and then forgot what was on it.. typical me. So anyways read on for more details on my faves from this month!

Clinique Gentle Light Powder
I use this almost everyday to set my foundation.. I have it in the darkest shade (03?) but it really isn't that dark. It gives a really nice glow imo. My only complaint is that it's a wicked mess! I have spilled bits of this everywhere in my room.. but on the upside it come with so much it will last forever even with all the spills.

Seche Vite
This is pretty self-explanatory but I recently jumped on the Seche Vite bandwagon and I have to say I love this stuff! I always paint my nails at night before bed and it is nice not waking up with a bunch of smudges.

MAC cream colour base in Fawntastic
It is hard to tell in the pic what this actually is but it is MAC's Fawntastic and I love this stuff. I use it basically everyday as a base for my eyes and occasionally as a highlighter. It is the perfect neutral color and applies really creamy and smooth. I bought mine at CCO and I wish I would have grabbed a back-up because they don't have it there anymore.

True Religion Perfume
I only have this in a travel size but I really like the light refreshing smell of it. It isn't an overwhelming scent but it is enough for me :)

Clinique Cream Shaper in Black Diamond/Egypt
This is my HG liner. I love the creamy smooth application and the fairly decent staying power. Not great to use on your waterline but that doesn't bother me much. I gone through around 5 of these in the last couple of years and I will continue to re-purchase without a doubt.

Those were my 5 March Favorites.. what were yours??

I have an addiction.. Another Nail Polish Haul!!!

2010-03-30T22:35:00.000-07:00

So I am officially on a ban from buying nail polish for a looooong time and the only exception I will make is if I find a good deal on Channelesque by China Glaze which is actually discontinued so fat chance there. OR if I see an absolutely amazing deal I can't pass up.. which leads me to my nail polish haul. Sorry for the world's blurriest pictures too.. my camera died on me last night when I was taking pictures for my last blog post so these were all taken on my iphone.

Nail Polishes!

I didn't get these all at once now. I picked some of them up at ULTA and some at Sally's Beauty Supply. I'll break them into little groups:

Orly Mani Minis Classic Trio

This little set was only $4.95! It comes with mini bonder, mini basket case, and mini haute red. I will probably never wear the red (that will most likely end up in a giveaway) but I thought it was a good deal anyways! Plus I had ULTA coupons I needed to use.

Essie "Sweet Time of the Year" Mini Set

This set contains mini bottles of: Mint Candy Apple, Lollipop, Rock Candy and 3-Way Glaze Nail Treatment. This set was originally $17 and I got it for $7.99. I really just wanted the Mint Candy Apple color but I can't turn down a good set of minis.. especially when they are on sale!

Sally Hansen Salon Nail Lacquer and Essie Polish

The Sally Hansen Polish is in the color Mangoes Loco. It is a really pretty pinkish coral color. I have another polish from this same brand called Orange You Cute which is a bright Fuschia-coral-orange color and it is one of my favorite polishes of all time! I love the color and formulation so I thought I might like this one too. On the Right is Tart Deco by Essie. I'm sure everyone has seen this already but it is a great creamy orange color.. reminds me of orange sherbet.

China Glaze Polishes

From L-R: For Audrey, Heli-Yum, C-C-Courage, Lemon Fizz. Sorry my iphone camera washes the colors out so bad. I have been trying to find For Audrey for a bit now and it turns out the Sally's by my parents house had a couple left so I picked that up along with Lemon Fizz because China Glaze Polishes are 2 for $10 right now. I also found C-C-Courage at Sally's in the clearance bin for $2.99. I picked up Heli-Yum from ULTA because their deal was buy 2 get 1 free for all China Glaze and Essie so I got Tart Deco and a strong adhesion base coat from China Glaze (not pictured anywhere) at the same time.

It is literally going to take me forever to try out all of the polishes I have gotten recently.. I just love nail polish though.. it is a nice cheap thrill and I like just staring at the different ones I have. If only I was better at painting my nails!

Nails of the Day: Sephora by OPI Metro Chic

2010-03-29T21:52:00.000-07:00

I just bought this over the weekend and couldn't wait to try it out!! I have seen a million swatches of it and it was a nice change from the brightness of my China Glaze High Hopes nails.

Sorry for the crap pic and messy paint job.. i was in a bit of a rush!

I realized after looking at my nails for a while that A) I LOVE this color. B) It comes off a lot more purple in real life. C) I only did 2 coats and 3 probably would have been better.. Overall though, i am absolutely in love with Metro Chic!! i like the thin and long brush and the slightly thinner formula.. i think they are easier to work with even though it really doesn't matter because i am rubbish at painting my nails either way.

Product Rave: Redken Satinwear 02 Ultimate Blow-dry Lotion

2010-03-27T23:50:00.000-07:00

I have been using this product for the past couple of months every time i blow-dry my hair and I have to say this stuff is amazing!!! I am really picky about hair products and I tend to not love anything that much (see my CHI products review) so it is kind of a miracle that this product has made such a noticeable difference. My hair is medium-long length, straight, thick (!!!) and very coarse. I put a dime size amount of the Redken blow-dry lotion in my palm, rub together, and put throughout my hair from root to tip.. I usually comb through and then blow-dry as usual. It makes my hair sooooo much softer and more manageable.. I love it!! I have tried other blow-dry lotions and none of them compare to this one. I only have a small travel size bottle of this that was $4 from Ulta.. and it has lasted me a really long time. Now take into account I only blow-dry my hair 2-3 times a week because anymore than that and my hair starts to feel more like hay. I will definitely purchase a full-size bottle when mine runs out though, because even at almost $20 for 5oz.. i think it is totally worth the money!

Clinique GWP

2010-03-25T20:46:00.000-07:00

Clinique is doing a gift with purchase right now at Macy's so I decided it was probably a good time to get a back-up Cream Shaper in Egyptian and a Mascara. I originally went to get Pretty Long Lashes but they discontinued it :((( So the SA talked me into naturally glossy mascara, a "natural-looking lash enhancer." I will probably return the mascara though because it was just an impulse purchase since I didn't have much time.. I use Clinique toner so I might just get a back-up of that instead. Anyways here is what the GWP was:

You could choose from two different colored gifts and I chose the one that didn't come with green eyeshadow... It comes with two makeup bags.. a large one and a small one and then the products are:

From L-R
- Full Size Lipstick in Raspberry Glace
- 1 oz. Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
- Color Surge Eye Shadow Duo in Strawberry Fudge
- .5 oz Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer with SPF 20
- Sample Size High Lengths Mascara in Black

I am really excited to use the Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer because I have a super uneven skin tone. I have already tried the High Lengths Mascara and will probably do a full review later on. Right now I can say that it is just ok. The wand is pretty crazy but I actually don't mind it. I will probably give the Dramatically Different Moiisturizing Lotion away because it is for very dry to dry skin and I have combo oily skin.. plus the lotion version breaks me out. I tried to swatch the eye shadow duo and you can see my failed attempt below:

I had to put my hand at a weird angle in order to try and avoid a glare.. I suck at swatches in general though. And my camera sucks at them too. Oh well. Overall, I am pretty happy with the products and I hope to do a full review on some them in upcoming posts!

Nails of the Day: China Glaze High Hopes + Drugstore Haul

2010-03-24T00:21:00.001-07:00

I know I am a little late on the whole UP and Away collection but hopefully people aren't all swatched out yet! This is High Hopes.. This is actually the first China Glaze polish I have ever used and I really liked it. I definitely like the brush better than OPI's although the formulation for this polish was quite thick! It went on opaque in almost 1 coat but I did 2 to be safe.. along with a top coat of (my new) Seche Vite, which I love!!

So the top pic is in natural light without a flash and the bottom is in my room with a flash. Pretty similar color turn out. It is a very kind of bright fuschia, red, orange color. I have a color that is similar but a lot thinner in formulation, which is Sally Hansen's Orange You Cute. This was my first time trying out Seche Vite also and it is amazing! I did experience a teensy bit of shrinkage but it doesn't bother me that much. It really does dry super fast. I definitely recommend it!

On now on to a small drugstore haul.. I can't resist drugstores lately! Dan actually bought me these things when we went to pick up my prenatal vitamins and some milk.. odd combo, I know. But is what I got (minus the milk, prenatals and random supplements Dan got)..

So here we have 2 Maybelline nail polishes in Minty and Sweetie Pie from their Sweet Thing Collection, my Seche Vite, which I actually got in the mail the same day so I decided to throw it into the picture, and a random Prestige pressed bronzer/highlighter thing that was 75% off at riteaid. I also got a Prestige lipstick that was also 75% off (making it around $1). I was holding it in my hand when I took the first picture.. which is why I didn't just have 1 picture with everything in it. Dumb me. The color looks really nice and subdued in the picture but in real life it is a very bright orangey color. It goes on a very orange coral color.. not sure how much use this will get but it is still pretty and unlike anything I own right now. I tried to swatch it but I am terrible at swatching things and my crap camera does not help the situation.

How I Spent My Day (includes small haul)+ Lazy OOTD

2010-03-23T23:44:00.000-07:00

So I went to Seattle today.. for those of you not familiar with WA state (and believe me, I don't blame you if your not).. it is the biggest metropolitan city around and the most densely populated city in the state. It is a pretty big tourist attraction.. if you have ever seen Sleepless in Seattle.. well.. that is Seattle! lol. I went with Dan (Fiance) and my sister Kari. We basically ate our way through the city! For some reason I felt like such a tourist today even though I have been to Seattle like a million times and only live around an hour away! It was a beautiful day to go and I had a lot of fun so I'll start it out with what I wore:

So i know my outfits are really not that interesting lately and I wish I would have started this blog before I got pregnant because I swear at some point I did have a decent fashion sense! Lately though, I just throw on whatever is most comfortable.. or least uncomfortable rather because I have found comfort is a rare thing to come by when 6 months pregnant! So outfit is as follows:

-Grey Sweater from Hollister
-White Shirt from Love Culture
-Black Tank from Kohls (the only piece of maternity clothing i actually own)
-Dark Grey Leggings from H&M
-Brown Boots from Target... (I live in these)
-Necklace (which you probably can't see) from Marc Jacobs

So I took some pictures whilst in Seattle and I just thought I would share them.. Sort of a day-in-the-life-of type thing I guess..

Above is a fairly famous sign!

Piroshky Piroshky is my absolute FAVORITE place to eat in Seattle.. Anthony Bourdain has even been here! (If people know who that is?)

This has no real significance except that I adore Roger Federer..

My sister and I drinking our bubble teas!

So that was our trip to Seattle in a nut shell. We also ate at this delicious french place called Le Panier, as well as a yummy crepe place that I forgot the name of.. Oh and my sister ate some chicken gizzards from a stand in Pike Place.. no amount of pregnancy will get me to crave those things! I'll show you the only thing I ended up getting in Seattle (besides a full belly):

A boring shirt from H&M that was only $5.95! Good deal.. should have bought it in more colors but oh well.

I'm going to put up a NOTD post and small haul post from the drugstore next!

Sally's Beauty Supply Purchases

2010-03-21T23:56:00.001-07:00

I popped into Sally's the other day on the way to my parents house and they were having a sale on China Glaze nail polishes so I just picked up two from the new Up and Away collection. Sorry for the very bad quality picture..

So here is what I came out with from L-R:
-Sally Girl mini polish in ??? Sticker came off the bottom.. just my luck.
-China Glaze Re-Fresh Mint
-China Glaze High Hopes
-Sally Girl mini polish in Pink It Up (comes out very pinkish-orange.. which i don't
-Sally Girl Vitamin E lip Conditioner

The two little nail polishes and the little lip conditioner were only $.99 each and the China Glaze polishes were 2 for $10. I also picked up some manicure sticks for touch ups but those are boring so I didn't put them in the picture. I am painting my nails in High Hopes tonight so swatches of that tomorrow!

Small Swap Haul

2010-03-21T18:59:00.000-07:00

I received this swap in the mail the other day and was excited because I have never tried Orly polishes before. The person I swapped with owns some kind of beauty salon so she let me pick out 3 polishes I wanted from a kind of low res picture. The colors aren't exactly what I thought they would be but I am happy with them nonetheless.

From L-R the colors are Veriwinkle, Sapphire Luck, and a color with no sticker on the bottom :( Hopefully I can get around to posting a swatch of at least one of the colors soon-ish. Although I already know that my next nail color is going to be High Hopes from China Glaze's Up and Away collection. Just picked it up yesterday (haul post from that still to come).
This person also kindly threw in a couple extras, which were a nail file, and some slightly weird hair treatment items I have never heard of. But still pleased with the swap overall :)

Drugstore odds and ends

2010-03-21T15:38:00.001-07:00

So this is actually a haul from sometime last week but I am just now getting around to posting it. I always like to shop the promos that drugstores have and this week Walgreens had Rimmel products 50% off and Revlon Cosmetics 40% off. Not too shab. My Walgreens has a terrible selection of Rimmel to begin with and it was really picked over by the time I got there but here is what I ended up with:

- Revlon Satin Eyeshadow in Peacock Lustre: Kind of a grey-blue-green color.. not great pigmentation but really nice texture
- Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick in Airy Fairy: I am really late jumping on this bandwagon but it has always been sold out in the past. Glad I finally got it because it is quite a nice color and really creamy texture!
- Sally Hansen Manicure Clean-Up Pen: I have been painting my nails a lot lately and you would think that means I would be getting better at it but sadly not the case. I thought i would give this a go to clean up areas a Q-tip can't get to very easily.
- Rimmel Special Eyes Precision Eyeliner Pencil in Black Magic: Very creamy application but quite a small length for a pencil liner.. haven't tried it yet but hopefully it is ok...<--- I've tried the black one and I don't like the application.. it doesn't glide on easily and cracks a lot.. :( i'll give it another go sometime though to be fair.
- Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eyeliner Pencil in Pure White: I have a white NYX liner which I don't like very much so I am hoping this one is better.
- 3 Rimmel Spark It Up! Gleaming Eye Darkening Liners in Ultra Violet, Black Gold, Lapis: I swatched some of these in the store and they apply very creamy and nice and have fairly decent lasting power (on my hand anyways). I am most excited for the Lapis (a bright blue) one because my Stain Blue NYX one was a fail!
- Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro Nail Polish in Midnight Blue: I don't have any navy or dark blue polishes so I thought I would give this a go. Who knows when I will even get to it.. I have gotten SO many polishes lately and I'm on a bit of a pastel/coral kick as of late.

Three Things

2010-03-21T13:39:00.000-07:00

I found this in theNotice's blog and thought it was a good way to spend a few minutes :).. check out her responses ---> http://ethicnote.blogspot.com/2010/03/three-things.html

Three names I go by:
1. Marti
2. Chompers.. dan's nickname for me. lol
3. Banger (derived from my last name.. not from anything else!)

Three jobs I have had:
1. Receptionist at an insurance company
2. Merchandiser at Macy's
3. SA at Juicy Couture

Three places I have lived:
1. Seoul, Korea (born there)

2. Snohomish, WA
3. Lake Stevens, WA

Three favourite drinks:
1. Passion Tea Lemonade from Starbucks

2. Raspberry Bubble Tea from a place in Seattle
3. Mountain Dew.. which I haven't had since getting preggo..

Three TV shows I watch:
1. The Office.. American version.. although I do love Ricky Gervais in the Original version

2. Top Chef
3. American Idol.. even though this year is terrible

Three places I have been:
1. Edmonton, AB.. just to go to the West Edmonton Mall!
2. Hawaii.. My parents own a condo in Maui.. love it! I actually took the pic below from the balcony of the condo.

3. Disney world (much better than disney land).. the happiest place on earth :) lol but not really

Three places I would like to visit:
1. London
2. Paris

3. Minnesota. I have already been there but I loved Mall of America!

Three people who text (or bbm) me regularly:
1. Dan (Fiance)
2. Kari (Sister)
3. My boss.. always something to tell me.

Three favorite old TV shows:
1. Friends!!

2. Project Runway.. this is still on but i prefer the older seasons
3. Sex and the City.. of course!

Three favorite dishes:
1. Salads of all kinds
2. Soups
3. Sandwiches.

I know.. i'm boring.

Three makeup/beauty products I cannot live without:
1. Foundation.. i've tried not wearing it and my skin just looks yuck
2. black eyeliner

3. Toner

Three things I’m looking forward to:
1. Nice Weather
2. Mariners Games!!!!!! Season starts April 12th.. it is baseball for anyone that doesn't know :)

3. Getting the rest of my swaps in the mail

Three people I tag:
I tag anyone/everyone that wants to do this!!

Review: CHI Hair Products

2010-03-21T00:12:00.000-07:00

So ever since I got a CHI flat iron over the summer, I have been accumulating and trying different CHI products. It started with the Iron 44 guard, which led to the Infra Shampoo and treatment, which then led to to using the Keratin Mist and finally the Silk Infusion. Obviously CHI makes more products then just these but these are the ones I have tried so far! I am going to break the review down by product since I have different feelings about each product. Also, as a side note, my hair type is: VERY thick, coarse and straight for the most part (wavy if I let it air dry, straight without much effort if I blow dry)

Infra Shampoo and Infra Treatment

I have a difficult time finding shampoo and conditioners that I like because my hair is so thick and it tends to just eat shampoo right up. However, I do like both of these products, with the Infra Treatment having a slight edge over the shampoo. I find they both have kind of a thin consistency which makes the product easy to disperse throughout the hair, but the shampoo doesn't lather particularly well. I like the smell of both of them.. they have that signature kind of masculine CHI smell which I actually quite like (I know some people find it atrocious). I have a really sensitive scalp and tend to have a bad reaction to a lot of shampoo and conditioners and this one produced no such reaction so kudos for that also.

However, the whole point of this shampoo and conditioner is to thermally protect hair after it has been washed and I think it does an adequate, although not outstanding job at doing this. By this I mean that my hair is better off than without the shampoo + conditioner but not 100% protected by any means. I do notice a difference when I use this shampoo + conditioner and blow dry/straighten my hair then when I don't use it though. I do wish that this set had some kind of restorative factor or something to help with current breakage instead of just attempting to prevent more.

To factor in price to this, I think that these are both quite expensive. The shampoo is around $13 for 12 oz. while the treatment is around $14 for 12 oz. I didn't buy either of mine, as they were a gift from my brother but I know you can find them cheaper at Marshall's (or other places i'm sure).. for say around $8-$10 each, which I think is a better deal.

Conclusion:
Infra Shampoo: 7/10
Infra Conditioner: 7.5/10
Repurchase?: Yes to both.. only for the cheaper price!

Keratin Mist

This is a leave-in strengthening treatment meant to "provide hair with strength, protection and softness while leaving hair silky and shiny with incredible manageability" (Drugstore.com). I know people use this product in an assortment of ways, which I think is one of it's strengths. Of all the CHI line products this is probably one of my favorites. The smell is again.. very CHI like and nice. Sometimes I spritz this on towel dried hair to give it moisture and protection before blow drying and sometimes I spray this on right before or after straightening to do essentially the same thing. I find that after straightening is generally the best time for me to use this because my hair is so course and thick.. using this after I straighten it gives some shine and lightness to my hair.

Price wise this is still a tiny bit spendy but you get a lot of bang for your buck. For the 12 oz. it is around $10-12. You can again get it cheaper other places but the price of this product doesn't bother me so much because it lasts a super long time and is extremely versatile.

Conclusion:
Score: 8.5/10
Repurchase?: Yes!

44 Iron Guard

This, as most already know is a thermal heat protector meant for use before blow drying and/or straightening hair (also for curling hair maybe but I never do that so who knows?). I like this but I don't love it. I have used A LOT of heat protectants in my day and really none of them stand out. This one does stand slightly above the rest for the following reasons: smell (good... again!), doesn't leave any residue-y feeling after use, does work if used right, and decent price. However, the things I don't like about the product: the way it disperses the product and the amount it disperses (way too heavy of a spray.. soaks one small area), and the fact that the packaging is really weak. I have broken 2 of these bottles from a drop of like 3 feet! The plastic this is bottled in is pathetically weak and cracks really easy.. once the bottom is cracked there isn't much you can do to save the products except pour the remainder into a different bottle (if you happen to carry empty spray bottles around). My main wish for this is that it let out more of a mist than a full on spray because it takes a little while to dry once sprayed on hair and that just increases the already lengthy amount of time it takes for me to straighten my hair. It does also reduce but definitely does not cut out breakage from a straightener.

Price is around $10-$13 for 8.5 oz.. Bottle lasts for a while.

Conclusion:
Score: 7/10
Repurchase?: Maybe... can't think of anything better at the moment!

Silk Infusion

I know for a lot of people this a HG product but this doesn't seem to have much an effect on my hair. I still use it but more out of routine than anything else. I usually put this is after towel drying my hair so that when I blow dry it, my hair is a lot softer.. however, I have found that Redken's Satinwear Blow Dry lotion is much better. I also sometimes put this in my hair after I am done doing all the heat damage to it.. It leaves the hair silky and nice.. but sometimes a little too shiny and greasy feeling for my liking. The product itself has a goopy kind of thick consistency.. although it is quite runny, as I seem to always get too much. Definitely have a towel available to wipe your hands after applying, because it will leave your hands a greasy mess.

My biggest issue with this stuff is how expensive it is! The bottles I have pictured are teeny tiny ones that were on special at ULTA for $1 each. But normally this product is $15-$17 for 6 oz. Sure it lasts a while (or maybe it just has for me because I don't religiously use it) but it is still quite a lot.

Conclusion:
Score: 5/10
Repurchase?: Probably not

So those are my thoughts on CHI products thus far.. I have to say despite some of my negative experiences, overall I like them. These are just my personal opinions for my hair type also, so don't let this totally avert you from trying anything! If you don't have a thick mess of Korean hair then most likely these (and all) products will work better for you than for me. My advice though is to get the best deal possible on them.. CHI products are ridiculously marked up in most places.. so do your research and buy online, on promo or at someplace that discounts them!!

Boring OOTD + BIG News!!!!!

2010-03-19T13:35:00.000-07:00

So this is actually the outfit i wore yesterday to work.. (I work @ juicy couture and they have a very relaxed dress code).

Maroon-ish Sweater: Kohls
Silky cream top: Marshall's (only $2!)
Jeans: William Rast
Sandals: Love Culture (new)
Hair tie around wrist as always! Even though I seriously never put my hair in a ponytail unless I am slumming at home because I have a weird forehead and my hair looks funny up.

Pretty boring, i know.. but i felt pretty lazy that day. Maybe I'll post my OOTD from today later or maybe even tomorrow so i am always behind a day. lol

So onto the BIG news that is completely unrelated to anything having to do with beauty or fashion.. but as some and/or most of you know I am almost 6 months pregnant and today Dan and I found out what we are having!!!

Boy or Girl?????

......... It's a boy!!!

While the pink polar bear outfit would have been adorable, we actually have many more boy clothes at the moment and a boy name picked out already!! We are both really excited. Dan wanted a boy and I really didn't have any preference so it all worked out! My sister was so excited she bought us this giraffe themed set that I have been wanting from her work, and my former work place (Macy's). Hope everyone is having a brilliant day! I am going to try and do a review post on CHI hair products today if I have time.

MAC + Random Haul (Pic Heavy)

2010-03-17T22:21:00.000-07:00

So I decided to wander on into CCO (Cosmetics Company Outlet) after work today and low and behold they had pretty much the ENTIRE 2009 MAC holiday collection (Magic, Mirth and Mischief)!! Believe it or not I didn't start getting into makeup that much until January when I found out I was pregnant and decided my clothing obsession was going to have to be put on hold... and so my makeup obsession was born :) Anyways, I was tempted to buy everything but limited myself to just 2 things.. There are also a bunch of random things I have bought over the last couple of weeks from here and there. I'll explain everything with the pics.

So above is a picture of everything together.. Now for the breakdown.

I stopped at Wal-Mart after work and picked up TRESemme dry shampoo for oily/straight normal hair. I am really excited to use this, as I have been wanting a dry shampoo for forever!! I think the price was around $4. Then I picked up a bronzer by NYC in sunny. I always see youtube gurus rave about this bronzer and it was only $2.38 or something like that so I figured i'll give it a go.

The pic above shows what I got from Big Lots. I have never been in this store but I was waiting for my sister on monday and there was one nearby so I decided to stop in since a lot of people have done makeup hauls from this store.. it is a really odd store indeed but I got some great deals. I got a Borghese nail polish in Capri Coral for $2, a Maybelline Mineral Power blush in Gentle Pink for $1.50 and a POSH kabuki brush for $5!!! I looked this brush up online and it is $40 on the POSH website!!! Insane. I might go back for another one because it is seriously the softest brush I have ever felt and the leather case it comes with is really sturdy and great to throw in your handbag on the go.

I went to Victoria Secret to get some things for a swap I am doing and I picked up this cute mini bottle of body spray. I have the full size bottle (which is obviously in the picture too) and I use it pretty much everyday. The scent is called fresh & clean and it is in the PINK line of body sprays. I am excited to have this little one for my purse because I actually use to carry the big one around for a while!

Now for the best purchase! Two MAC palettes from CCO!! They are the Sorceress Palette and Smoke and Mirrors Palette. I have single MAC eyeshadows but no palettes so I am excited to use these. They were $25 each and then 10% off because I work in the same mall as the CCO is in.

So that's my very random haul.. hope you enjoyed it. I am thinking of going back to CCO after friday (payday!) to get the Naughty Noir eye set, which comes with a fluidline in Blacktrack, Shimmertime Pigment, Promo size of Zoomblack Mascara, a 209SE brush and a little silver makeup bag. I think this set was $29 (plus my 10% off).. what do you think??? Yay or Nay?? They also have all of the lip/lustreglass sets and mini pigment sets from this collection.. ah man. This is why i'm not allowed to go into CCO!

Nails of the Day: OPI Hopelessly in Love

2010-03-16T22:35:00.001-07:00

I decided to finally paint my nails again after my cheapy forever 21 nail polish (Love & Beauty brand NOT L.A. girl, which they also sell there) finally chipped all the way off. I just got this OPI polish a couple of days ago and was super excited about getting a really nude-ish pinky color. I forgot how much i hate OPI brushes though.. they are HUGE for my nails and scratchy. The polish went on really streaky the first coat but the second coat went on much better.

Overall i am happy with how it turned out although you can barely see it in the pictures. i guess that is kind of the point of such a light pink polish though. lol. I have bought a ton of light pink polishes lately so maybe when i get through them all i will do a review on which one i think is best!

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual: Review

2010-03-16T16:14:00.001-07:00

So I checked this book out from the library a couple weeks back and I have been reading it at night while Dan watches sports (NCAA march madness = Dan hogs the tube for 2 weeks straight). I am no makeup pro so I found this book extremely helpful and interesting. It talks about the importance of matching foundations and concealers to skintone and about how correctors brighten and concealers lighten. I don't use a corrector but this book is kind of making me think i should. The pictures from before certain makeup application and after were also nice, it is easy to see that makeup obviously makes a big difference (but we all know this already don't we?).

So the book also tells you what brushes/tools are essential, techniques for foundation, concealer, eye shadow application etc. And also it has a lot of pictures and step-by-step directions throughout the book. My absolute favorite part about the book is that it gives separate directions on some makeup applications for Asians! See picture below:

I found this really helpful obviously because i am Asian and my eyes don't have a crease so eyeshadow application can be a pain sometimes. MA's at counters always do my makeup kind of wonky looking because i'll have my eye closed and it will look great then when i open my eye it is like.. oh.. you don't really have much of a lid so now it looks really odd. I have what some people call a monolid so the fact that the book acknowledges that Asian makeup application calls for slightly different techniques is nice! It of course highlights application techniques for all you normal lucky buggers with regular eyelids and skin and whatnot too! lol

Overall, i think this a great book for (like the title says) "everyone from beginner to pro." It is informative and helpful and just a nice easy read for anyone that enjoys makeup!

Clothing Haul: Lauren Conrad for Kohls! + OOTD

2010-03-15T21:39:00.000-07:00

So Dan works at Kohl's which i think is kind of a tacky department store here in the U.S. but they do exclusively carry Lauren Conrad's clothing line which i am a big fan of! I admit that the Hills is a guilty pleasure, as was Laguna Beach when it was on. More than anything i love to see what all the girls wear and they also play great music on the show! Does anyone else remember that Lauren and Whitney styled Lady Gaga on an episode before she got really big?!

Anyways, on to the items that Dan got me!

From top to bottom we have:
*A long thin purple shirt/tunic.. will probably wear with leggings and boots
*A floral print think blue-ish shirt.. cute with skinny jeans or leggings
*Simple short black cardigan.. can wear with pretty much anything!
*Batwing sleeved purple sweater.. white tee or tank, skinny jeans and my brown boots!

I got one more thing which i wore today shopping with my sis..

Outfit of the Day:
Black Top: LC for Kohl's.. part of the haul
White Tank underneath: Victoria Secret
Jeans: William Rast from Nordstrom
Sandals.. which you can't see.. :( Dolce Vita from Nordstrom
Necklace: Forever 21
Bracelet(can't see): Juicy Couture
Clutch: Marc Jacobs.. actually my makeup bag from my purse. lol

You can finally start to see my pregnant tummy! It is getting harder and harder to hide it. Hopefully it is self-explanatory as to why all my clothing hauls feature loose-fitting, oversized clothes! I'm not just some big olsen twins fan ;) although i do like their style..

FOTD

2010-03-15T13:22:00.001-07:00

Going shopping with my sister today hopefully! Expect a haul video no matter what because Dan bought me some clothes yesterday which was very sweet of him :) Did a simple face of the day. I look a little washed out in these pictures because photobooth doesn't take the highest quality pics. But oh well what can ya do? ;)

Face:
Maybelline Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Foundation
Maybelline Coverstick Concealer in Green
L'oreal True Match Concealer in medium/deep
Clinique Gentle light Powdwer in 06 glow
MAC MSF in Medium/Natural w/shimmer
Maybelline Mineral Power blush in True Peach

Eyes:
UDPP
MAC cream colour base in Fawntastic
NYX trio eyeshadow in aloha/mink/dark brown (used all 3 colors)
Clinique Cream Shaper in black diamond
Urban Decay Skyscraper mascara

Lips:
C.O. Bigelow vitamin mentha lip balm
Urban Decay lipstick in Midnight Cowboy

Hopefully i can find a place with better lighting in my house to take these pictures.. every place i have tried is atrocious. Lol. Hope everyone is having a lovely monday.. i am off work today so i keep thinking it is sunday!

Neutrogena Make-up Remover Wipes and Up & Up Cleansing Towelettes: Review

2010-03-14T15:05:00.000-07:00

So this kind of a dual review of the Neutrogena Wipes and Up & Up wipes. Lets start with the Neutrogena ones.

These are the makeup removing wipes i have been using lately, which are the Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes (refill pack). They cost $5.27 for 25 wipes at Wal-Mart and claim to "Gently dissolve all traces of make-up, EVEN WATERPROOF MASCARA." These are the ones in the upper left hand corner... which you can see is empty because i just finished them off!

Pros:
*Fairly cheap in price
*Available practically everywhere
*Each towelette has plenty of make-up remover soaked into it, as they do not dry out AT ALL
*The smell wasn't bad.. not unbearable at least
*Removed most of my foundation and powder easily
*Alcohol free

Cons:
*They irritated my face immediately after use.. left me all red
*Did not completely remove everything.. i did a test using my toner to see if there was still makeup on my face and of course there was
*Does not remove waterproof mascara or eyeliner very well
*My face felt extremely wet/slightly residue-y afterwards

Overall, these wipes were just ok. I only used them to get off foundation/powder/bronzer but never eye makeup because i use clinique makeup remover for my eyes. I was slightly disappointed that these couldn't manage to get off all my face makeup because there are occasional nights where i just want to crash without having to wash my face as well.. although i try to always wash my face anyways! I have not repurchased them because i decided to try the Neutrogena night calming towelettes to see if that helps with the irritation. That is what the purple wipes are up in the right hand corner so once i start using them i will do a review (sorry the pic is kind of a tease;)

Up & Up Exfoliating Cucumber Cleansing Towelettes
These are a Target brand item and are very cheap.. only a couple dollars for 30 wipes. They claim to be wash-away wonders!

Pros:
*Smell really good! Obviously the cucumber in them
*Are gentle but exfoliating.. the wipes have little bumps that buff away dead skin, dirt etc.. but they don't feel harsh
*The wipes themselves are a good size.. not too big
*Good price!

Cons:
*I couldn't tell if these were actually cleaning my face
*Would still recommend using a regular exfoliator weekly with these
*Gave me a bad rash on my cheeks :(

I bought these around the same time as the neutrogena wipes and obviously they haven't gotten much use because i am pretty sure i am allergic to them. i have sensitive skin and am allergic to MANY face cleansers and i think i can add these to the list. My cheeks look terrible and all inflamed for a day after using just one. Disappointing because besides that i like them! The rest of this pack will most likely go to my sister.

I'm kinda new at this whole review thing but any questions about the products or anything else are welcome :)

On a separate note i just started my twitter up again so feel free to follow along.. link is in the sidebar.

Chelsey's Giveaway!

2010-03-14T00:39:00.001-08:00

Chelsey from fashion and beauty blog is having a gift card giveaway! Link in the sidebar if you wish to enter!

The Glamorous Gleam Giveaway!

2010-03-14T00:16:00.000-08:00

So The Glamorous Gleam's blog is having a great giveaway and everyone should enter! Link is in the sidebar if anyone is interested!

NYX Swap Haul

2010-03-13T13:34:00.000-08:00

I got this in the mail the other day as a swap with someone on MUA.. so of course i didn't actually pay money for these items but they weren't really free. I got 2 NYX eyeshadow trios in TS13 cherry/cool blue/hot pink (The one of the left) and TS15 aloha/mink brown/deep bronze. I am super excited to use the aloha color.. i have swatched it a zillion times at the place where i get NYX stuff but they are always sold out of the single. I also got a NYX blush in Taupe which i will probably use for contouring since it is a pretty matte brownish color. As an extra this person threw in an apple kohl eyeliner in dark brown. I have never heard of this brand but i needed a dark brown liner since my MAC one smudges SO badly. Something i forgot to include in my earlier swap haul is the avon gel liner that is at the bottom of the pic. The color is black pearl. i haven't tried this yet but i will soon! Hopefully i will get a look using some of these products up soon.. i have been working late inventory shifts lately and therefore haven't been wearing much makeup.. but next week back to normal shifts!

Movie Review: Alice in Wonderland

2010-03-12T12:53:00.000-08:00

So Dan and I went to see Alice In Wonderland on Tuesday and I have to say it was pretty good. Nothing mind blowing and maybe not as impressive as a lot of people have made it sound but overall i wasn't disappointed. The movie is definitely kind of a trip.. and it isn't really like the orignial cartoon.. more like a sequel to the cartoon. If you haven't seen it I won't spoil it but if you want to go see something entertaining and different then this is a good pick. I definitely liked it better than Tim Burton's last attempt at remaking a classic (Charlie and the chocolate factory) but i won't be rushing to the store when this movie comes out on DVD. We did get a steal of a deal on seeing it in 3-D though thanks to Dan's chat with the ticket guy.. we had orignially paid to see Brooklyn's Finest, which I am almost positive I would not have liked at all and before the previews Dan changed his mind about seeing it! Lol. But I feel like we got our money's worth anyways.. it was $1 popcorn day at the theater afterall :)

FOTD & OOTD

2010-03-11T19:11:00.001-08:00

This is my first face of the day and outfit of the day! Sorry for the crap picture quality.. i took these with my iphone and the camera is terrible.. not to mention the lighting in my bedroom is quite bad also.

So i went for a realllllly toned down look today and used the following (please excuse my horrific eyebrows)..

Face:
Clinique dramatically different moisturizing gel
Maybelline liquid mineral foundation (in medium 01)
Cover Girl Concealer
Mac MSF in medium/natural with shimmer

Eyes:
UDPP
MAC paint pot in Rubenesque
NYX shadow in blondie
Physicians Formula Shimmer strip for brown eyes (darkest gold color and middle gold color)
Urban Decay 24/7 liner in Zero (for top lid)
NYX Gold liner for waterline
Cover Girl Lash Exact

Lips:
Victoria Secret Pink lip balm
MAC lip glass in soft wave

Work outfit.. we have a pretty relaxed dress code but i decided to dress nicer today.. turned out to be kind of a waste because i ended up being in the back and doing stock most of the day! Anyways, outfit as follows:

Black Dress/tunic shirt: Urban Outfitters
Grey Sweater: Juicy Couture
Black Stirrup Leggings: BCBGeneration
Gold Flats: Coach
Gold Necklace: Forever 21
Ring: Engagement ring!

I also have a black hair tie on my wrist.. not a fashion statement just for practical reasons. lol. Hope everyone had a good day!

Cherry Culture SALE!

2010-03-10T23:22:00.000-08:00

Was just browsing the internet and saw that cherry culture is having a 20% off sale! Works on everything :) The code is MMM2010. http://www.cherryculture.com/index.php

This is a great place to get NYX makeup for a great deal. Happy shopping!!

TAG 40 Beauty Questions

2010-03-10T20:07:00.000-08:00

I got this survey from Lollipop26's blog.. thought it would be something interesting to do!

Skincare
-How many times do you wash your face daily?
1-2 times. Morning and night.. sometimes at night i get lazy and only use a cleansing wipe and toner.. but shh don't tell anyone ;)

-What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo)
oily-combination skin

-What is your current facial wash?
Clinique's mild liquid facial soap and their acne solutions foaming cleanser.. i switch off.

-Do you exfoliate?
sometimes. probably once a week or so.

-What brand do you use?
neutrogena or whatever i have around.

-What moisturizer do you use?
clinique's dramatically different moisturizing gel. The gel is much better than the lotion

-Do you have freckles?
i didn't use to but some reason i have developed some on ONE side of my face.

-Do you use eye cream?
Sometimes i use clinique's superdefense.. seeing a pattern?? lol

-Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
Not terribly acne prone but if you looked at my skin you would think i had bad ance as a teen. I scar terribly easily so every pimple/zit i have ever had as pretty much left a mark of some sort.

-Did you ever have to use Pro-activ?
nope

MAKE-UP
-What foundation do you use?
revlon colorstay, clinique perfectly real makeup, benefit some kind of gorgeous and maybelline liquid mineral foundation (just started). I like to switch a lot because my skin becomes allergic to stuff easily.

-How about concealer?
some covergirl one? and an NYX concealer stick

-Do you know your undertone color?
yellow!

-What do you think of fake eyelashes?
i think they look great and i wish i was better at applying them :(

-Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?
yes i did but i just get rid of it when it drys and gets all gross

-What brand of mascara do you use?
clinique.. i have almost every one ever made. l'oreal, covergirl, urban decay. i like clinique long pretty lashes. I am probably the only person to like this but it somehow works for me.

-Sephora or MAC?
I like the variety at sephora and that they occasionally have sales.. but who doesn't love MAC? tie?

-Do you have a MAC Pro-card?
nope

-What makeup tools do you use in make up application?
brushes, sponge, fingers!

-Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes?
yes! UDPP! or a MAC paint pot

-For the face?
Nope.. i feel like i am the only one that doesn't though.

-What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)?
There is a purple color in my NYX jazz night palette and i love it :)

-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?
both. and gel. i like to alternate depending on the look

-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?
never done that thankfully.

-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?
i don't own any pigments.. to messy for me and difficult for me.

-Do you use mineral makeup?
sometimes but more often not.

-What is your favorite lipstick?
i love NYX silver stone or my new Urban Decay peroxide.

-How about lipgloss?
MAC's naked frost

-What is your favorite blush to use?
i have very pink cheeks so i don't use a lot of blush

-Do you buy your makeup on ebay?
nope. I do look at it occasionally but with shipping costs it isn't that good of a deal.

-Do you like drugstore makeup?
yes! i absolutely love a bargain.

-Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets)
yes. I love it! i work in the same mall as one.

-Did you ever consider taking make-up classes?
not until this question but i would definitely love it

-Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
absolutely. q-tips are my best friend for mistakes.

-Name a makeup crime that you hate?
winged eyeliner that goes overboard. I love winged eyeliner but i see a lot of people take it too far and with very poor accuracy

-Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
neutral. i am not that brave and a lot of color looks terrible on my skin color

-Which celebrity always has great make up?
rachel bilson and victoria beckham.

-If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item,what would you use?
eyeliner. i have small eyes so i need it!

-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?
of course. i use to all the time afterall.

-Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?
sometimes. i know i look better with it though

-In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?
MAC of course

-What do you think of Makeup?
i think it is fun and you can get a lot for your money. Even if you are broke you can always find a deal at a drugstore and it is exciting waiting for new lines and limited editions. I love makeup!

Swap haul/more randomness

2010-03-09T22:47:00.000-08:00

Most of these items i got in a recent swap! the only thing that isn't from a swap is the true religion perfume.. and the magazine.. which dan made me swipe from the doctors office!

So from left to right is.. urban decay lipstick in Peroxide. Great color! love it. Blue nail polish from Charlotte Russe, Clinique Acne Solutions foaming face wash, a sample of some shiseido sun block, Charlotte Russe nail polish in pink. In the middle is a mini bottle of red OPI polish (not sure the exact color), then the true religion purse size perfume ($12.95 from designer fragrances), a sun silk sample and a tin of Hello Kitty candy things that my sister got me! The candies have a funny taste to them but the tin is really cute. She got these at Macy's for $5 even though i think you can get them cheaper other places. I will do a review on these nail polishes in an upcoming post!

Random Haul

2010-03-09T22:25:00.000-08:00

I had a doctor's appointment today and everything seems to be in order! We can finally find out what we are having on march 19th!! hooray!! After the doctors appointment we went shopping.. we went to marshalls, ULTA, and the mall. Pictures from Marshall's haul coming soon (nothing too exciting).

The pics above show a few of the things i got today. Most of the items were actually free! i'm so cheap. lol. The weird colored circle thing is a deluxe perfume sampler from victoria secret that i had a coupon for. If you are part of pink nation they send you coupons every month or so for free stuff or extra discounts.. this months was a sampler trio of their 3 new perfumes. There is Hope Pink, Wish Pink, and Live Pink. I really only like the Live Pink.. I would consider buying it! I also had a coupon for a free pair of underwear so i cashed that in. Then i also had a coupon from bath & body works for a free signature collection travel-sized item so i got the Japanese cherry blossom body wash. Dan actually picked that one out. At the mall i met up with my sister and a friend of hers for a quick minute and she had bought me the baby outfit! It is super adorable.. and will suit a boy or a girl ;) At ULTA i had a rewards coupon so i got a NYX jumbo eyeshadow pencil in slate. I hardly spent any money at the mall expect for on pretzels (auntie anne's has $1 pretzels on tuesdays!) and a hotdog on a stick (also $1 on tuesdays). haha.

I know this post makes me seem incredibly cheap.. which i can be, but really it is just because my fiance is quite possibly the cheapest person alive and i never spend money around him. I love him very much though.. we balance each other out :)

New Blogger Alert: Intro

2010-03-08T23:10:00.000-08:00

Hi there! Welcome to my blog.. It is going to be a mix of fashion and beauty.. i hope! My name is marti, i'm 21 and i recently graduated with a bachelors degree in apparel merchandising and economics and i am just working at Juicy Couture and figuring out what i want to do with the rest of my life ;) I love all fashion.. from high to low. I have recently become a makeup addict also! I love anything from drugstore to high end makeup and i will always try something once! I plan on putting up hauls, FOTD, reviews and just occasional musings on everything i love.

A little more about me.. I am engaged to a wonderful guy named Dan :) We are expecting our first child in July! I am also 100% Korean but 200% American! I'm adopted so while i am proud to be Korean, i can't say i am a very typical Asian! I hope that whoever reads this enjoys it and if you have any comments or questions please feel free contact me!