HITS & MISSES: Misses

Here are some products that disappointed me in the past month!

Rimmel Extra Wow Lash Mascara 

I should've known better than to expect more out of a $5 drugstore mascara. Although, I've tried some inexpensive mascaras that are quite good. This Rimmel one isn't one of them. It did absolutely nothing for my lashes, and for something that has the word "WOW" in its name I expected a lot. It's not worth it, not even $5.







L'Oreal Magic Perfecting Base


This "primer" does nothing that a primer is supposed to do. The texture is sticky and tacky, and does not feel good on the face at all. It feels like a thick layer of vaseline all over your face. I wore this for a day and it did not make my makeup stay on better. Putting this on is just like applying unnecessary gunk on your face. For $12 a pop, this was a huge waste of money.

What's In My Bag?

I haven't posted in a while! I am on vacation and have not been home for the most part. Anyway, I'm back now.

This is a What's In (makeup) My Bag? post. Basically, I have a makeup bag that I always have with me. It contains just the basic things that I use when I'm on the go, things that I need for just touching up.

1. Makeup bag - Forever 21 

2. Vanilla scented hand lotion - Cake 

3. Vanilla scented hand sanitizer - Bath and Body Works

4. Kabuki brush - Too Faced

5. Lip Balm - Maybelline Baby Lips in Quench

6. Studio Fix concealer - MAC

7. Blush - Bobbi Brown in Apricot

8. Translucent matte powder - Laura Mercier

9. Liquid Eyeliner - Maybelline by Eye Studio

10. Mascara - Covergirl Lash Blast Volume

Smell My Fingers

A great way to kick off the spring season is treating yourself to Dior's Garden Party nail polish collection for Spring 2012. Yeah, it might be too early to put away the boots and the coats... but you'll forget all about the nasty weather when staring at your lovely nails.


The 'collection' has two shades: Waterlily and Forget-me-not

Waterlily (left) and Forget-Me-Not (right)

Since I have never tried Dior's nail polish before, I was a little wary about getting both. Just because it is a high-end line does not mean that it will be impeccable. This was also my very first scented nail polish, and I didn't really know what to expect. I'm not a fan of anything scented, really. So, I decided to get only Waterlily for the meantime. 

Packaging

I am a little underwhelmed by the packaging. I suppose that it's simple and clean though, just like Chanel's 

Bottle & Cap cover

Keep in mind that I took these pictures with my 4s. I am way too damn lazy to take out my DSLR just to snap photos of a nail polish. Lol. That being said, the color that you see in these pictures don't even close to the real deal.

On my nails!

Waterlily is a gorgeous soft, jade green with subtle shimmer. Some people who have tried this polish are bothered by the floral scent. Personally, I don't hate it but I don't like it either. I thought that the scent would go away after the polish dries, but it actually lasts! I must have washed my hands at least 20 times since applying this yesterday, and the scent is still there. It is not a strong scent and can really only be smelled if you go and sniff your fingers.

I cannot really do a comprehensive review of Dior nail polish as I've only tried this one--which I DO like. Is it as good as Chanel polishes? In my opinion, no. The formulation is good, although I find that it's quite thick and heavy. I did have some difficulties applying it, but that might just be because I'm not used to it. The brush, however, is FANTASTIC. It is slightly larger than the regular nail polish brush and has an angled tip.

It's more than probable that I will go get Forget-Me-Not as well. It's such a beautiful purple! Also, I'm definitely not waiting until Spring actually rolls around to rock these babies!

Thanks for reading :)

Murderous Stare

I was finally able to find the Giorgo Armani Eyes to Kill eyeshadow. I've heard and read a lot about it so I was anxious to give it a try. They are available at the downtown Vancouver Holt Renfrew, the only place in BC that actually sells Armani cosmetics.

Anyways, I was flabbergasted when the saleslady told me how much that teeny tiny container of eyeshadow is. It came out to $47.50 after taxes. Keep in mind that the Naked palette is $50 USD. That being said, you can understand why I'm unable to justify the cost for this one eyeshadow.

Packaging

So I got shade number 6: Khaki Pulse. It's a beautiful golden bronze color with subtle hints of green.

"6 - Khaki Pulse"

Swatch

Despite the ridiculous price, I absolutely LOVE this eyeshadow. (This is dangerous because once I like one thing from a certain brand or line or collection, I end up buying more.) It goes on beautifully, does not crease and wears well throughout the day. Even just touching it is a magical experience. It's like touching powdered silk/cashmere. Lol. (Well, it is silk eyeshadow)

On my eyes

 So that is what it looks like on my actual eyelids. In this picture, I'm wearing only Urban Decay's primer potion underneath the eyeshadow. The pigmentation is great, I don't think that you need to use a base. It is very shimmery yet still appropriate for day time wear. I think that it's just the prettiest eyeshadow in existence. I look forward to playing around with it more and creating different looks.

Foundation: Make Up For Ever HD Foundation
Eyes: Giorgo Armani Eyes to Kill #6
Mascara: Covergirl Lash Blast Volume
Lips: Revlon Lip Butter in 'Lollipop'

If you like this eyeshadow but cannot shell out $50, try the L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadows. They are similar in formulation and have an array of nice shades. Of course the drugstore counterpart doesn't even come close to the real thing, but the L'Oreal ones are the next best thing. You can also try the MAC pigments if you like how this looks on the eyes.

To sum up, I was thinking about returning this eyeshadow, but after putting it on...I simply cannot even think about giving it up. It's my new favorite, and I'm definitely going to pick up the other shades. It's unfortunate though, that they are all shimmery. I wish that they also came out with matte shades. Then again, I'd go completely broke...so yeah.

Anyways, thanks for reading! :)

Sephora, Drugstore and Nail Polish Haul

Another haul!
I tried keeping it shorter by having less products, but the in the end, there was only a 2 minute difference. LOL.
Anyway.

Again, it is much better to view the video on youtube instead of here.

MAC, Sephora, and Drugstore Haul!

Hey guys, so i FINALLY made a video. Lol. I don't know why but youtube somehow made the quality so horrible. It certainly wasn't like that when I uploaded it.

Also, I realize that my autofocus wasnt working so the products aren't focused when i show them. SORRY ABOUT THAT. I'll know for next time...

Anyway, my battery dies at the end of the video, so sorry about that. LOL.



**I think it's better to view the video on youtube rather than on blogspot. It just seems slower here**

Oh Coco

I. AM. DYING.

Dying over the new Limited Edition Chanel exclusive Knightsbridge collection! I'm pining over all of the products and doing my best to try to justify how much it would cost me. This collection is exclusive to the Chanel website.

photo from www.chanel.com

'Brompton Road' Highlighting Powder and Blush -$80

'Hyde Park' Rouge Allure -$32

'Belgravia' Rouge Allure - $32

'Kensington' Rouge Allure - $32

'Chelsea' Glossimer - $28

I want the Highlighting powder and blush soooo bad!

Skip it

I bought the new Sephora Prisma Chrome eyeshadow as soon as I laid eyes on it at the store, the sole reason being that it looked cool. Swatched it at the store, looked great on my wrist, so I decided to get it. However, upon putting it on my actual eyelids I realized that all it was was a facade of...well, coolness.

Prisma Chrome Eyeshadow in Bronze Brilliance

So yeah, that's what it looked like.

Anyway. I didn't like it AT ALL. The swatch on my wrist looked nice and pigmented, but this barely showed up on my lids. I had to pack it on like 10 times before it looked the way it did on my wrist. Maybe it's just this particular shade, maybe they're all like that... I can't say as I only got this one. For an $18 eyeshadow, it's totally not worth it.

SKIP IT.

If I Ain't Got You

After searching what seemed like all the corners of the world, I finally found the Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo Eyeshadow!!! I went to London Drugs on Granville St. after work today, went to the makeup section, almost cried because I did not see them at first until I asked the saleslady. Turned out that they were in this hidden section of the store... they were conspiring against me, i knew it!

Anyway, I bought two of the color tattoos, 2 more Revlon Lip Butters, and Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm.

BAD TO THE BRONZE

Can I just make a prediction? This will be one of my ABSOLUTE MOST FAVORITE THINGS OF ALL TIME. I  am completely in love with this color, being someone who almost always only does many variations of neutral eyeshadows. This will make the perfect base for a darker, smokey, neutral eye look. I would have to say that it reminds me of MAC's paintpots in Indianwood and Constructivist.

PAINTED PURPLE

Now, I can't say that I'll be using this color a lot since I barely ever do purple eyeshadow. However, the color intrigued me and I want to experiment with it.

I haven't actually tried these on my eyes yet; I've only swatched them. That being said, I will do a more in-depth review once I've played around with them! Super excited.

....

If I still haven't adequately expressed my love for Revlon's Lip Butters, let me just say it again: I freaking love them. So when I found myself in the Revlon aisle of the drugstore, I picked up two more shades:

SUGAR PLUM

RED VELVET

Again, sorry for the quality of my iphone pictures. You cannot even tell the difference between the two shades in these pictures. Not to worry, I swatched them for you, as well as the color tattoos!

BABY LIPS IN "QUENCH"

Oh, I almost forgot. I also got the new Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm. I'm wearing it now and I must say my lips feel amazing. This is perfect for those cold winter days and nights when the frigid air just make your lips dry as hell. I'll post more about it later!

As always, THANKS FOR READING :)

Primer and Base

The key to good eye makeup is an excellent primer and eyeshadow base. You could use the best eyeshadow in the market and still get lackluster results. Of course you cannot count on a $5 shadow to perform as well as $50 one, but a primer and base make a whole lot of difference. 

First let me be clear about the difference between a primer and base.

A primer is used to coat the eyelids prior to the application of eyeshadow and/or base. It is used to:

• ensure that the eyeshadow stays in place
• prevent creasing, smudging, and 'melting'
• boost vibrancy of eyeshadow

A base is used to make the eyeshadow "stick" and "pop" more. Without the use of a base, you would have to pack the shadow on quite a lot until you get your desired results. A base makes the color show up much stronger, and also gives the illusion of dimension. ( Note that products that may be used as an eyeshadow base will not always actually say "eyeshadow base," although there are companies that do make such products.)

Now on to the fun part. Here are my favorites in the base and primer department:

PRIMER

1. Too Faced Shadow Insurance - $28 MUST HAVE

I put this the first on the list because it literally is, the best. I can honestly say that this primer put Guerlain's Ombre Eclat primer to shame (and that one is so much more expensive.) This product PERFORMS and is my bestfriend on those long nights that I need my eye makeup to last. Nothing to say but praises for this one. 

2. Urban Decay Primer Potion - $24

This cult favorite comes second on my list, as I just don't think that it performs as well as the Too Faced one.  It still is good, though. I am glad that they changed the packaging because before, it was super hard to get all the product out and half of it pretty much just goes to waste.





3. Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer - $22

Smashbox has great products, and their lid primer is no exception. This primer is very easy to blend and goes on smoothly. It prevents creases and smears, and makes your shadow last. The only thing is that when I got this, it was all used up within a month. It's kind of expensive for how much product you get out of it.




BASE

1. Mac Paint Pot in 'Painterly' - $20 - MUST HAVE!

This has got to be the best eyeshadow base in existence. I've been using this product for years and it has never failed me. Painterly is a nude beige color, so you can use it under ANY eyeshadow. It's very creamy and goes on like a dream. My eyeshadow goes on much better and lasts longer with this as a base.

Note: Paint pots may actually be used as eyeshadows on their own. There are very nice and pigmented shades available!



2. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencils - $5

These guys are SUPER convenient and easy to use. You simply swipe them all over your lids and blend them out with your fingers. The ones I use the most often are 'Milk' (white) and Pure Gold (gold). They are immensely pigmented (that it's actually quite difficult to get them off) so you only need a little bit. I use these babies when I want to make my eyeshadow 'pop' more, and to make it last longer, too.




That's it!

As always, thanks for reading!

Living up to the hype

So I've been hearing A LOT about these Revlon Lip Butters, and I finally made a trip to the drugstore to check them out. Turns out that they are more popular than I thought, as I went to 3 different stores downtown and they were all pretty much sold out. After much crying, I found them at Shopper's Drug Mart in Surrey. I picked up these three colours: 

Tutti Frutti, Lollipop, Strawberry Shortcake

I wanted to pick up more, but the selection was very limited. Apparently the store had sold out of these babies three times already. Bah!! There's 2 or 3 more colors that I must have.

Anyway, I LOVE the Revlon Lip Butter. They are SOOOO creamy, pigmented, and long-wearing. I wore Strawberry Shortcake today, which is my favorite, and it lasted until lunch when I had to wipe my mouth with a  napkin. 

Here are the swatches:

Strawberry Shortcake, Tutti Fruti, Lollipop

As you can see, they are quite pigmented and very creamy. They glide on like a dream and feel glorious on your lips. These lip butters have the pigmentation of lipsticks and the texture of lip balms. Just perfection. They actually remind me of Mac's Slimshine which is one of the very few lipsticks I ever wear. I usually don't like wearing lipsticks because I feel overdone and I just become very aware of the fact that I have lipstick on. But yeah, these are different. 

To sum up: I love them. They certainly live up to the hype, although I was told that SOME shades are better than others... some are SUPER sheen and don't even show up. Well I plan to pick up the other shades I want and perhaps do another review of those. 

Also, I wanna stock up on these 3 colors that I just LOVE, because who knows if they'll be available all the time...

Thanks for reading :)

Hair Woes

Here are my favorite hair products of all time!

1. Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Mask - $35-40 MUST HAVE


I have been dyeing my hair since I was in the 9th grade, so you can imagine the condition my hair is in. 2 years ago I dyed my hair BARBIE BLONDE (shut up) and it did extensive damage to my hair. It looked dry and fried and irreparable beyond belief. Then, salvation came in the form of this hair mask from Macadamia. It's called Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Mask. You apply it to wet, clean hair, wait 7 minutes, and you instantly have magically luscious hair. It smells great, too. Since this is a deep conditioning mask, you only want to use it once or twice a week. This stuff works wonders and I highly recommend it especially if you have color-treated hair!



2. Morrocan Oil Oil Treatment - $15-40




This leave-in hair treatment smells heavenly and makes your hair soft and shiny without weighing it down. I find that a lot of leave-in hair products are too heavy and greasy, so I generally stayed away from them until I found this one. This stuff is oil based so you only want to use a little bit. Little goes a long way. You can apply this to damp or dry hair, and expect amazing results!

You can buy this at most hair salons. A little pricey but totally worth it.




3. Biosilk Silk Therapy - around $20



I couldn't decide if I like Biosilk's Silk Therapy better than the Morrocan Oil Oil Treatment, so I am just going to post both. I just LOVEEEE the smell of the Biosilk one (and it's less expensive) I've gone through many bottles of this product because I use it literally everyday. Silk Treatment makes your hair shiny, silky, and smooth. Whenever I have those days when I just don't feel like doing my hair after a shower, I just apply this to wet hair and I'm out of the house. It controls frizz and tames my often wild hair from going all static-y when air-dried.
And as if it wasn't awesome enough, it can also be used heat protection from styling tools :)


4. AG Sterling Silver Toning Shampoo - $25-60

I have dyed blonde hair which is simply the hardest hair color to manage. If you don't take care of it right, it can turn all orange and brassy. I've tried several 'purple' shampoos for blonde hair and I got to say that AG makes the best one. This shampoo smells nice and sweet, and is super effective in toning blonde hair. I use this every other day together with the corresponding conditioner and it has kept my hair from going brassy! No complaints at all.

Tip: If you are using this product, make sure to not use it everyday, as the toner can be VERY drying on your hair!





5. K-Pak Reconstruct Shampoo - $20-30






My favorite daily shampoo is the K-Pak Reconstruct. It has a nice formula that is gentle yet effective at the same time. It's hard to review shampoos as the results vary from person to person. Some people use drugstore brands such as Herbal Essences and claim that it's the best thing ever, while others spend hundreds of dollars on high-end products just to be satisfied. My suggestion is to keep looking for that one that works for you, unless of course, you've already found it.




6. Sebastian Professional Shaper Plus Hairspray - $15-20




I don't really use a lot of hairspray, but when I do, I always reach for my Shaper Plus. This stuff is what is often used on the runways to create those towering heights of teased hair. (I used to tease my hair a lot) Apart from being great for backcombing, it's also got a flexible hold. When I curl my hair and spray this on, I am still able to run my fingers smoothly through my hair and style it. The smell is not too overwhelming like other hairsprays, either. Simply the best one out there.



7. Cake Satin Sugar Hair & Body Refreshing Powder (Dry Shampoo) - $12-15

It's funny how I'm sitting here talking about hair, when I constantly commit the ultimate "hair-don't" that is washing my hair daily. My hairstylist always yells at me for being stubborn and not listening to her when she says that it's simply brutal to wash my  hair everyday. Guys, I have honestly tried to abide by this rule, but I just CAN'T! I feel gross and greasy when I skip on washing my hair!

Anyway, this dry shampoo from Cake is a dream for hair in between washes. (It's what got me through whenever I attempted to skip shampoos.) Basically it's a powder that sprinkle into your hands and run through your hair, concentrating on the roots. It absorbs excess oil and eliminates that greasy texture. The powder is a light brown but matches pretty much all hair colors. (It also comes in an even lighter color for blondes)

I keep one in my locker at work and I use it to retouch my hair when I feel it's falling flat. It just gives your hair instant volume. Trust me, this is a life saver.

So this is it for now! Will be doing a part 2 in the near future. Please let me know if there's anything that just works wonders for you! Thanks for reading!

Get Naked, Again.

My mundane life suddenly got a lot better yesterday. Why? MY NAKED 2 FINALLY CAME! (Well, not really...my boyfriend had to pick it up from the post office. Lol.)

Anyway, I am BEYOND excited to finally have it I cannot even emphasize it.

A lot of people are saying that if you have the original Naked palette it is a waste of money to buy the sequel. I have to say that that isn't true. Although the palettes are very similar, they are still very different (if that makes sense...)

The Naked 2's shadows are mostly matte, whereas the ones in the original palette are mostly sparkly. That being said, if you own both then there's a great variety to choose from. Personally, I like naked 2 a lot better. I think that the matte shadows are better for daytime looks. ( I don't really go out so most of my makeup is done for daytime.)

The palette came with a "cooling and plumping" lipgloss that I just absolutely hate. It feels WEIRD on my lips. I hate plumping lip glosses. Why couldn't they have just included the primer again?

Anyway, super excited to play around with it and I'll post more later on :)

Original Naked (on top)
and Naked 2 

Original Naked on top, Naked 2 on bottom

Tried and Tested.

I love nail polish more than the average human being. That being said, I have tried and tested a gazillion nail polishes and nail stuff. I SWEAR BY ALL OF THIS STUFF!
Here are my picks for the best nail products:











1. OPI RapiDry Top Coat - MUST HAVE


This is quite possibly the best thing, ever. Not only does it make life simpler by making your polish dry to the touch within a minute, it also makes the color more vibrant and shiny! RapiDry dries fast and turns into a hard and shiny top coat that helps prevent chipping and cracking. 


I am absolutely in love with it and cannot think of anything that even comes close.


$14

2. OPI Nail Envy

I just started using Nail Envy and I can already tell the difference it makes to my nails. Since I grow my nails quite long, they tend to be a little brittle at the tip. Nail Envy hardens my nails and makes them more resistant to breakage and chipping. (I work in retail so I tend to break my nails quite often) Obviously, this product won't make your nails rock-hard but it toughens them up for sure. Quite pricey, but worth every penny if you ask me.

$19

3. Essie "Matte About You"


This product takes ANY nail polish from a gloss finish to a matte one. The end result? A velvety, cashmere-looking polish. Simply apply a coat on top of dry nail polish and watch the magic unfold! Very cool. 


I have to say though that it took me a couple of tries to get it right. If you don't do it properly you'll end up with a streaky finish. The trick is to apply just the right amount (not too much, not too little) and make sure that it's even all throughout. 


$10











4. Sephora Nail Polish Corrector Pen - MUST HAVE!

You know how when you paint the nails on your non-dominant hand, the result is flawless--while the other hand looks like a crime scene? Weep no more, for I have a solution to that. Sephora's nail polish corrector pen is literally the easiest way to clean up the mess. Simply glide the pen across the excess nail polish and you're good to go!

$8











5. Tweezerman Manicure Set

Not much to say other than Tweezerman is the best when it comes to beauty tools. I swear by their manicure set, as I do with their tweezers.

That's it for now!  I will be making a part 2, as I am not even close to being done. I am sleepy and tired though. I will also be making a post about my favorite nail polishes sometime this week. Stay tuned.

Thanks for reading :)