MABETH & MAKEUP

Review & Swatches: Revlon Colorstay Lip Butters

2011-12-06T22:14:00.000-08:00

REVLON COLORSTAY LIP BUTTERS

OVERALL RATING: 5/5

WHERE TO BUY: Drugstores

WOULD I REPURCHASE: Yes

PRICE: Around $7 at Target, prices vary depending on location

POSITIVES:

- Affordable

- Pigmented

- Moisturizing

- No noticeable scent

- Comes in many shades

- Pretty packaging

NEGATIVES:

- Can be a little bit hard to open

MY THOUGHTS: I am obsessed with these. I'm kind of picky when it comes to lipsticks because I prefer ones that are affordable, moisturizing, unscented, and come in very wearable shades. Finding every single of these qualities in a drugstore lipstick can be a bit difficult. Some brands tend to carry a lot of frosty colors while others have a very waxy smell to them. When I heard all of the raves about these, I thought I would like them and I was not disappointed.

Considering how moisturizing they are, the color pay-off is actually really good. I don't detect a scent when I use it or have it on. Lasting power is similar to your average gloss which doesn't bother me since it is a "lip butter" after all, not a stain. $7 is not the cheapest drugstore price, but for the price of one MAC lipstick I can get 2 from Revlon. There are so many gorgeous shades to choose from so I'll definitely be getting more. It's kind of hard to locate them at the moment since they're only found on new product displays, but I hear that they will be everywhere by the new year. I hope so!

Creme Brulee

Pink Truffle

Candy Apple

Berry Smoothie

Fig Jam

Fig Jam (This one looks SUPER SUPER dark

brown in the tube but looks like a brownish-red color on the lips. It's very

sheer in this photo but it actually looks more opaque in person, I really like it.)

Haul: Revlon Lip Butters

2011-12-01T22:03:00.000-08:00

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters in Creme Brulee, Pink Truffle, & Candy Apple

I'm so excited about these! If you've been keeping up with beauty bloggers and youtube gurus, I'm sure you've heard about them. The color payoff is pretty good and they're so moisturizing. Love! I already want more of them. For now, they're only located in certain stores on new product displays. I found them at Target but more than half of the shades were already gone!

Creme Brulee, Pink Truffle, Candy Apple

Have you tried these yet? What are your favorites?

Haul: Target, Forever 21, CVS

2011-10-12T01:28:00.000-07:00

In the process of moving, I seem to have lost the charger for my camera! Luckily my phone takes some decent pictures with the help of photoshop.

Forever 21 jeans and sweater

Mossimo boots from Target

Sonia Kashuk eye makeup remover, Essie nail polish, CVS premium cotton rounds

Essie's "Eternal Optimist" - Neutral pinky-brown color

Korean Market Haul

2011-09-18T01:27:00.000-07:00

There are always things that I want to blog about but I can't seem to find the time. School's been keeping me busy since I seem to have quizzes and exams every single week. In addition to that, my family recently relocated and moving is super tiring! Packing and transferring everything you own is pretty tedious, but things are settling down. After shopping for things to keep my room organized, I suddenly realized that I was running out of a lot of beauty products. Thus, a trip to the korean market! Hopefully I can post some more detailed reviews soon.

- Dariya Hair Magic Sheets [$3.99]: Velcro "clips" that hold your hair in place without leaving any weird dents. I've been looking for these everywhere! A lot of beauty gurus seem to use them.

- Shiseido Tsubaki Damage Care Conditioner [$18]: Been hearing good things about this. The big bottles are expensive but refill packs are $12. Sounds good to me. You save money and plastic :)

- Kose Softymo White Cleansing Oil [$11.49]: My 2nd bottle. Awesome at removing face makeup. Most cleansing oils are at least $20 but you can find a lot of affordable alternatives from asian brands.

- Skin79 Mini BB Cream Set [$15]: I have been hearing so many awesome things about BB creams being the holy grail, so I hope it lives up to the hype!

HANAair Professional Hair Dryer from Misikko

2011-05-16T23:49:00.000-07:00

OVERALL RATING: 4.5/5
WHERE TO BUY: misikko.com
WOULD I REPURCHASE: Yes
PRICE: $194.99

Misikko.com is an online store that sells a wide variety of hair products including hair straighteners, hair dryers, curling irons, and styling products. They have a lot of good deals on popular brands that you’ve probably heard of, such as Babyliss, CHI, GHD, T3, and more. They also sell some cosmetics and skincare items as well. Their customer service is great and the owners are super friendly. They offer free shipping on orders over $50. And let me tell you, they sure do know how to package their orders with ribbons and flowers- so cute!

Today I’m going to be reviewing my hair dryer from Misikko which is the HANAair Professional Hair Dryer. For the past few years, I’ve been using an old hair dryer from the drugstore because I didn’t know that high end products could make such a difference. That is, until one day, I borrowed my sisters CHI hair straightener. I am now a total believer in good quality hair tools because they’re efficient and make a big difference in the quality of your hair.

The HANAair Professional Hair Dryer has a ceramic heater. You probably hear the word “ceramic” a lot when it comes to hair tools, but it basically allows for smoother hair, less frizz, and faster/more even heat up time. I’ve been using this dryer for a few weeks now, and the overall condition of my hair has improved. Instead of feeling poofy and frizzy after drying, it feels soft, smooth, and shiny. My sister recently asked me if I was doing anything different to my hair because it looked really nice.

It has 3 main controls by the handle. On the very left is the cool shot button which releases cold air to help set your hair style. On a lot of hair dryers, the cool shot button has to be held down which can get pretty annoying. What’s cool about this dryer is that the button actually stays in place. Push it once for cold air, push it again to release. The switch in the middle controls the speed which has 2 settings. Both speed options are pretty powerful and they dry my hair really fast. It used to take me at least 30 minutes to dry my hair but this has cut the time IN HALF. Speed setting II can get pretty loud, so I tend to avoid using that one if I need to be quiet. The switch on the right controls the heat which has 3 settings. It heats up really well and that contributes to the quick drying and styling.

The dryer as a whole feels really lightweight. I don’t ever remember my hands getting tired as I’m using it. It also has a 12 foot cord which is pretty long and convenient if you can’t always be right next to an outlet.

Included is a big drawstring bag for storage and travel. It also comes with a concentrator attachment for styling and a small size of the HANA Shine Shield Thermal Protectant. This serum is really nice because it helps make your hair smoother and shinier without weighing it down or making it feel sticky.

I think the only con would be that it is pretty expensive. It costs $194.99. However, a lot of high end hair dryers are around that price so if you’re willing to invest, I would definitely recommend the HANA. It even comes with a 2 year warranty.

Here's a photo of my hair right after drying it with the HANAair dryer and applying some of the shine shield. I didn't even have to straighten it with a flat iron which I usually do.

* Products were provided by Misikko for review.

Best Friend's Prom Makeup & Nails

2011-05-01T16:18:00.000-07:00

Meet Christine, one of my best friends! We pretty much grew up together. She's a pretty girl but she always refused to let me put makeup on her haha. That's why I was super excited when she told me that I could help her get ready for prom! I did her makeup and nails while our other friend did her hair.

I used china glaze innocence, china glaze love letters, & sinful colors snow me white

Such a piano player :) We thought it would make for nice pictures.

FACE:

- Bare Escentuals prime time

- ELF tone correcting concealer: Spice

- Revlon colorstay foundation: Natural Tan

- MAC prep + prime powder

- MAC blush: Blushbaby

- MAC mineralize skin finish: Light Flush

- Smashbox bronzer: Suntan Matte

- Urban Decay all nighter spray

EYES:

- Urban decay primer potion

- NYX eyeshadow palette: champagne & caviar

- Physician's Formula gel liner

- ELF waterproof mascara

- Ardell invisiband falsies: Babies

- NYX eyebrow cake powder: Dark Brown/Brown

LIPS:

- Chapstick

- ELF lip stain: Lucky Lady

- ELF super glossy lip shine: Goddess

Tutorial: Smokey Eyes for Prom

2011-04-27T22:09:00.000-07:00

My first picture tutorial! I'm going to be doing my friend's makeup for prom this weekend and I decided to practice on myself. I ended up taking pictures at every step for a little how-to. This took more work that I thought, haha. Hope you like! I think neutral smokey eyes are perfect for prom. They're dramatic enough to show up in photos and they'll match any color dress.

Some quick tips for prom..

- Avoid using products with high SPF since they can give your face a white cast in photos.

- Use a lip stain instead of lipstick- they're long lasting, so less touch ups are needed.

- Set your makeup with a makeup setting spray, like Urban Decay's all nighter.

- Have fun and take lots of pictures!

For tutorial purposes, I'll name the shadows in the palette that I used.

1. Light beige

2. Medium brown

3. Dark brown

4. Black

Apply eyeshadow primer (urban decay primer potion.)

Light beige all over the lid up to the brow bone.

Medium brown on lid.

Dark brown on outer half of lid.

Blend.

Black to the outer crease.

Blend blend blend!

Dark brown to the outer half of the lower lash line.

Light beige on the brow bone.

Light beige on the inner corners.

Black liner on the waterline (urban decay zero 24/7 liner)

Black liner on the upper lash line (mac blacktrack fluidline)

Apply concealer underneath eyes. Add mascara & falsies.

Eyes are done!

Just put on your foundation, blush, contour, lips, and ta-da!

Products used:

- Maybelline dream smooth mousse foundation

- Make Up For Ever concealer palette

- Maybelline dream matte powder

- Nars orgasm blush

- MAC emote blush

- Urban Decay primer potion

- NYX champagne & caviar eyeshadow palette

- Urban Decay zero 24/7 liner

- MAC blacktrack fluidline

- Wet N Wild mega length mascara

- Creme lashes

- MAC hug me lipstick

- MAC underage lipglass

My senior prom was 2 years ago :]

NYX Haul

2011-04-12T22:10:00.000-07:00

This week, nyx, maybelline, revlon, and almay are 40% off at Ulta! The sign at the store I went to said that brands couldn't be combined, so everything I got is from NYX and the total was only $20. I also got a new camera recently for my birthday (Canon powershot) so I hope the pictures are a little better! :)

10 Color Eyeshadow Palette in Champagne & Caviar

10 Color Eyeshadow Palette in Champagne & Caviar (Top row)

10 Color Eyeshadow Palette in Champagne & Caviar (bottom row)

Eyebrow cake powder in Dark brown/Brown

Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Smokey Look

Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Smokey Look; Top of the cap has a cute little bow

Mega Shine Lip Gloss in Smokey Look; Slanted applicator

Soft matte lip cream in Stockholm

Soft matte lip cream in Stockholm; Standard doe foot applicator

Lip liner pencil in Natural

(Left to right) Natural, Stockholm, Smokey Look

Left: Natural, Stockholm; Right: Natural, Stockholm and Smokey Look

Sigma Brush Haul

2011-04-02T21:49:00.000-07:00

I got some lovely makeup brushes from my boyfriend on my birthday! Yay! These are my first sigma brushes.

Large angled contour F40

Small duo fibre F55

Tapered blending E40

Blending E25

In other news, I desperately need a haircut.

Forever21.com Haul

2011-03-23T18:46:00.000-07:00

(Top Row)

- Dressy affair earring set $4.80

- Coral Simple Sleeveless Dress $13.50

- Taupe Bubble Hem Dress $11.50

(Bottom Row)

- Watercolor Ruffled Top $15.80

- Fab Prep Striped Top $10.50

- White Knit Button Up Top $9.50

I linked the items that are still available on the website. I haven't gone clothes shopping in a while, but I had some gift cards & the whole Japan donation thing was awesome :]

Forever21 Accessory Haul + New Hair Care

2011-03-21T22:33:00.000-07:00

I stopped by Forever21 just to look around and I ended up buying a few accessories since they were so cheap.

Braided skinny belts $2.50 each

Bow stud earrings $1.50

Feather necklace $2.80

Aaand, for the longest time, I had so many shampoos and conditioners under my bathroom sink that were half full. (I can't be the only one right?? Haha.) I'm almost done trying to finish them off and finally decided it was time to try something new. I heard EverPure is good so I'm excited to try it.

Sinful Colors: Soul Mate

2011-03-15T16:38:00.000-07:00

Another spring color :) This is 2 coats. Soul mate is really creamy and opaque.

LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub

2011-03-14T21:56:00.000-07:00

OVERALL RATING: 4/5

WHERE TO BUY: LUSH stores & counters, lush.com

WOULD I REPURCHASE: Yes

PRICE: $8.95

POSITIVES:

- Makes lips soft and smooth.

- Tastes yummy.

- Quick and easy to use.

NEGATIVES:

- Sort of pricey

MY THOUGHTS: I was really interested when LUSH came out with lip scrubs, but I wasn't sure if it was worth it. I thought that for $9 I could just keep using my toothbrush. But one day, while visiting a LUSH counter, a friendly employee convinced me to try it. SOLD. My only problem was figuring out which flavor I wanted.

You take a small amount and rub it onto your lips. Once you're done, you just lick it off! No need to wash or wipe it away. Bubblegum tastes super yummy, just like candy. If sweet isn't your thing, it comes in other flavors like mint julip and sweet lips. It's basically a lip exfoliator, making them feel softer and smoother. For me, it works faster than a toothbrush and it's convenient to have. $9 might seem like a lot for a lip scrub, but it does last a long time since you only need a small amount.

Wet N Wild Mega Length Waterproof Mascara

2011-03-12T11:20:00.000-08:00

OVERALL RATING: 5/5

WHERE TO BUY: Drugstores (I got mine from Walgreens)

WOULD I REPURCHASE: Yes

PRICE: $2.99

POSITIVES:

- Holds a curl.

- Lengthens & defines lashes.

- Doesn't get clumpy.

- Waterproof.

- Cheap.

NEGATIVES:

- None that I can think of.

MY THOUGHTS: To be honest, I wasn't expecting too much from this. Being a broke college student, I needed a new mascara that was nice and cheap. I found this at Walgreens for $2.99 and figured it could hold me over until I could get a newer one. I actually ended up really liking it! Not only does this hold a curl, but it lengthens nicely without any clumps, even through a second coat. With most mascaras, I can't use multiple coats because my thin lashes get lost in a sea of clumps. It seems like wet n wild's products are getting better and better.

Brush without mascara.

Brush with mascara.

Bare, uncurled lashes.

Bare, curled lashes.

1 coat.

2 coats.

Lower view - no clumps!

Sinful Colors: Mint Apple

2011-03-11T22:04:00.000-08:00

Finally jumped on the minty-green polish bandwagon. This is 2 coats. Loveee it! Especially since it only costs $1.99. As you can see, it has tiny shimmers too. Sinful colors might be my favorite drugstore polishes. They have such a wide range of colors at cheap prices.

Revlon Colorsilk: Light Ash Brown

2011-02-15T19:37:00.000-08:00

OVERALL RATING: 4/5

WHERE TO BUY: Drugstores (CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, etc)

WOULD I REPURCHASE: Yes

PRICE: Around $3-$5

POSITIVES:

- Cheap

- Easy to find

- Easy to use

- Did lighten my hair

- Doesn't smell too bad

- Conditioner makes hair super soft

NEGATIVES:

- Can be a little damaging

MY THOUGHTS: Up until recently, I've never dyed my hair. Naturally, it's an extremely dark dark brown color but I felt like making it a little bit lighter. Revlon colorsilk had good reviews on makeupalley and only cost around $3 or $4 in most stores. It was easy to use and I'm pretty pleased with the results.

Since my hair is so dark, I used light ash brown to achieve a dark brown color. If you have dark hair and you're looking for a drastic change, box dye by itself might not be enough. This was good for the subtle change that I was looking for. My roots ended up a little lighter than the rest of my hair though.

After dying my hair, I didn't notice too much damage but it does feel a little bit dryer. The conditioner it comes with is AMAZING by the way. It made my hair feel incredibly soft and if they sold it on its own, I would buy it in a heartbeat.

Comes with 2 gloves, conditioner, developer, & colorant

Before: My natural hair color was really dark brown, almost black.

After: Still pretty dark, but definitely a little lighter.

It really only looks this brown in really bright lighting.

Elf Haul: Photos & Quick Impressions

2011-02-11T20:39:00.000-08:00

I found a Target that carries ELF, yay! Just got some basic items. I still want to try some stuff from their studio line though. Here are my first impressions for some of the items that only cost $1.

- Travel Mirror: Flimsy. The hinge is kind of loose and it comes apart easily, but I'm still keeping it in my bag since the mirror is functional. It has a regular & magnified side.

- Concealer Brush: Broke right away. The ferrule came off before I even used it for the first time.

- Shimmering facial whip in Lilac Petal: Works as a liquid highlighter for the cheeks. As you can see, a little bit goes a long way so you only need tiny dots of it for the face. It has a lot of shimmer though, so probably better for night time use. Don't want too much sparkle in the sunlight.

- Shine Eraser: Absorbs oil pretty well and comes with 50 sheets for a dollar. I like, I like.

- Wet gloss lash & brow clear mascara: I think this holds my eyebrows in place better than the ardell brow gel that I was using before. Using the mascara side as an eyelash primer helps keep my mascara from smudging throughout the day too.

Epielle Facial Essence Mask: Green Tea & Aloe

2011-01-28T16:53:00.000-08:00

OVERALL RATING: 4/5

WHERE TO BUY: Asian markets

WOULD I REPURCHASE: Yes

PRICE: $1.00

POSITIVES:

- Easy to apply and remove

- Moisturizing and soothing

- No irritation or breakouts

- Affordable

NEGATIVES:

- Only good for 1 use

- Could be hard to find

MY THOUGHTS: This is my first time ever using a sheet mask! I like how it was so easy to put on. You simply place the sheet onto your face, leave it on for 20-30 minutes, and remove it when you're done. No messy creams to spread onto your face or wipe off.

This one is green tea & aloe, which claims to detoxify and soothe. After using it, my skin felt calm and moisturized. Nothing too dramatic, but great for a pick me up when your face is feeling tired or dry. My skin is really acne-prone, but I didn't experience any breakouts or irritation which is always a plus.

As far as price goes, it could go either way. $1 is cheap but it's only good for 1 use. This doesn't seem like a big brand, so it might be hard to find. I got mine from a korean market called Greenland.

What it looks like when you first take it out of the packet.

I know, it looks silly :)

Asian Skincare Haul

2011-01-15T12:26:00.001-08:00

I've heard so many good things about Laneige, so I practically ran to it when I saw it being sold at an Hmart. This whole set was $45 which is a really good deal since one full sized product is around $30. It comes with a power essential refiner and balancing emulsion, plus small sizes of refiner, emulsion, cream, essence, and eye gel. My sister also has the water sleeping pack which is amazinggg. I was sharing with her but now I'm gonna have to get my own, haha.

I also really wanted to try sheet masks because they seem really gentle. I got ampoule, green tea & aloe, collagen & vitamin e, strawberry milk, and eye collagen.

So far so good with everything. These products are keeping my skin moisturized without any breakouts or irritation.

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation

2010-08-27T17:50:00.000-07:00

REVLON PHOTOREADY FOUNDATION

OVERALL RATING: 3.5/5

WHERE TO BUY: Drugstores

WOULD I REPURCHASE: No

PRICE: Around $13.99 (Price varies)

POSITIVES:

- Medium, buildable coverage

- Has pump-bottle packaging

- Affordable and easy to find
- Has SPF 20 for sun protection

NEGATIVES:

- Sparkly

- SPF doesn't make it very photo-friendly

MY THOUGHTS:

This foundation got a lot of hype when it first came out. With a name like "photo ready," it almost seemed like a drugstore dupe for the popular, but expensive, Make Up For Ever HD Foundation.

The packaging... awesome. The pump bottle makes retrieval quick, clean, and sanitary. If only more drugstore foundations came with this kind of bottle.

The foundation itself feels light and blends easily. The coverage is medium, but it's pretty buildable. Adding more doesn't make your face look thick or cakey. So far, so good. But here's the part that kills me..

THE SPARKLES. Oh so many sparkles. Small pieces of them, all over my face. I normally stay away from shimmer because it tends to accentuate my acne scars. If you look closely in the above photo, you'll be able to see the little glitters. Someone uploaded a sparkling picture of Edward Cullen on the makeupalley review page for this. Although it's an exaggeration, it did make me laugh.

The SPF 20 is a good thing and a bad thing. Sun protection is always good for your skin. However, this is called PHOTO ready. You'd think that would mean that it's good for pictures. SPF is known to make your face look lighter in flash photography, so this photo ready foundation is probably not the best for photos. Sounds weird, I know.

Overall, it's a nice foundation, just not for me. It might work better for people without any major skin issues. If you don't mind sparkles.. I say give it a chance :)

Blended into my hand.

Closed $25 Gift Card Giveaway for Apothica.com!

2010-08-02T21:57:00.000-07:00

Today is a special day for my blog because I'm hosting my first ever giveaway! This is a thank you to all of my followers and I would really appreciate it if you entered. You have nothing to lose! :)

Many of you may know of SkinCareRx, which is an online retailer that sells a wide variety of clinical skincare products from brands like Clarisonic, Obagi, Dermalogica, and more. Recently, they have joined forces with a sister site called Apothica.com to carry all of your favorite cosmetics.

Too Faced is one of the brands available on Apothica, and they carry some of my favorite products. I use the chocolate soleil bronzer almost everyday and it's amazing for a natural, sun-kissed glow without shimmer. Their retractable kabuki is also one of the softest brushes I've ever felt and I always carry it in my purse for on-the-go touch ups. Apothica carries many other brands you may be familiar with, including Smashbox, Cargo, Stila, and more.

Apothica is offering my followers the chance to win a $25 gift card that can be used at skincarerx.com, apothica.com, or skinbotanica.com. All three websites place your items in one cart, making it easy to purchase both your essential skincare items and your favorite cosmetics.

______________________________________

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this blog post with a list of the following things you have done:

1) Provide your email address and tell me that you'd like to be entered. (Worth 1 entry)

2) Become a fan of SkinCareRx on FaceBook. (Worth 1 entry)

3) Follow SkinCareRx on Twitter. (Worth 1 entry)

4) Subscribe to SkinCareRx's newsletter at the bottom of their website (Worth 2 entries)

5) Write a blog post about this giveaway and a specific makeup brand available on Apothica - Minimum 100 words with the word "cosmetic" linking to http://makeup.apothica.com (Worth 3 entries)

The winner will be chosen by random. This contest will end on August 21.

Pure Ice: Taupe Drawer

2010-07-28T23:56:00.000-07:00

Pure Ice nail polishes are only $2 at Walmart. Taupe Drawer is the only color I've tried so far though.

MUFE Concealer Palette

2010-07-27T21:52:00.000-07:00

MAKE UP FOR EVER 5 CAMOUFLAGE CREAM PALETTE

OVERALL RATING: 3/5

WHERE TO BUY: Sephora stores, Sephora.com

WOULD I REPURCHASE?: Probably not.

PRICE: $36.00

POSITIVES:

- Offers good coverage

- Long wearing

- A little bit goes a long way

NEGATIVES:
- Expensive

- Not enough shades for medium skintones

- Accentuates dryness

- Can look cakey

MY THOUGHTS: I purchased this palette because I thought it would be a good value. Even though it was $36, it evened out to around $7.20 per concealer.

I guess I'll start with the negatives first. I have a warm, medium skintone (NC30) and I had trouble finding a suitable palette. I heard that palette 3 would have worked well for me, but for some reason, they don't sell it anymore. It wasn't at the store and they never have it online. The only available palettes are numbers 1,2, and 4. Strange. Palette 2 was too cool toned and palette 4 was way too dark. I really wanted to try it so palette number 1 went home with me.

These concealers can look a bit cakey because of how thick they are. They don't work very well for covering blemishes or acne scars since they accentuate dryness. Therefore, I don't really use the green shade very often. I can't use the first 2 shades either because they're too light for me.

Now onto the positives. These concealers (the 3rd and 4th shade) work really well around the eyes, as long as I make sure to moisturize with an eye cream first. A little bit of product goes a long way. I only need a small dab to cover up the discolorations around my eye area. They make me look more refreshed and awake. Lasting power is good too. They seem to stay on throughout the day and I don't need to touch up very much.

Overall, I'll continue to use the 2 shades that work for my skin tone but I don't think I'll repurchase. This might work better for those with oily skin who can find a good color match.

swatched heavily

left - without concealer ; right - with concealer

Update, Outfit of the Day, & Dove

2010-07-21T16:56:00.000-07:00

Hello lovelies! Long time no blog. I'm really sorry that I've been MIA for a while. I was actually on vacation for over a month. I know, what kind of "vacation" is that long? It was actually time spent with family. One of my sisters had a baby a few months ago, so I got to meet my nephew for the first time! Got to babysit him, play with my niece, hang out with old friends, and bond with my sisters. Now that I'm back home, my schedule isn't all that busy until school starts up again. Hopefully I can get back on the whole blogging thing and post more often.

Here's a quick outfit of the day. Belt is from Forever 21. Dress is actually from Walmart! I think it's from the brand OP. I honestly checked it out because the models for OP include Cory Monteith and Dianne Agron. AKA Finn and Quinn.. I'm a GLEEK! Haha.

Speaking of Glee, I won some Dove coupons from the Glee For All Giveaway that was going on a few months ago. Any suggestions for what products I should try? :)

LUSH Catastrophe Cosmetic

2010-05-31T02:38:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of updates! The last few weeks of school can get pretty busy, finishing assignments and studying for final exams. I'll be going on vacation soon, so I won't be able to update very much. I really wanted to post something new though, so here's a LUSH review! Hope you're not getting sick of them yet :)

OVERALL RATING: 4/5
WHERE TO BUY: lush.com, lush stores/counters
WOULD I REPURCHASE?: Yes

MY THOUGHTS: This is a soothing mask which is great for sensitive skin. To me, it smells like a mixture of yogurt, blueberries, and clay. There are also little chunks of what looks like blueberries mixed in. Like other fresh face masks, you have to keep it stored in the fridge.

The consistency is thick but creamy and spreads onto my face easily. I leave it on for around 10 minutes. Once the mask is dried, it starts to crumble off whenever I move my face. I wiggle my nose or raise my eyebrows and there's a bit of powdery fallout. It's kind of messy, so I have to make sure I run back to the sink as soon as the mask has dried. However, the end result is soft, clean, and calm skin. It doesn't make me break out either, so I would definitely buy this again.

POSITIVES:
- Spreads onto my face easily
- Makes my skin feel smooth, clean, and calm
- Doesn't irritate my skin

- Doesn't make me breakout
- Affordable
- Fresh

NEGATIVES:
- Only has a shelf life of 3 weeks
- Must be stored in the fridge

- A little bit messy once it dries

UPDATED Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips

2010-05-09T16:24:00.000-07:00

OVERALL RATING: 4/5
WHERE TO BUY: Most drugstores (Walmart, CVS, etc)
WOULD I REPURCHASE?: Yes

MY THOUGHTS: This is my first time using pore strips. I purchased these because everyone and their mom seems to use them. I followed the instructions on the box for application; I wet my nose, placed the strip on, and peeled it off after 15 minutes. It stuck on to my nose really well. Removal was a little bit painful, but tolerable, sort of like taking a band-aid off your skin. Inspection of the strip showed that some blackheads and whiteheads were removed, but not everything.

UPDATE [May 09, 2010]: I don't think I did anything differently but these worked a lot better the second time I used them. They removed a lot of whiteheads so I'm bumping up the rating from a 3 to a 4. I'm also adding new pictures :)

Each pore strip comes in its own individual packet.

Here's what a brand new pore strip looks like.

On my nose.

First pore strip I used. Removed some blackheads.

Second pore strip I used. Removed a lot of whiteheads!

MAC Viva Glam Cyndi & Laugh A Lot

2010-04-15T20:51:00.001-07:00

I got a lovely package from MAC this week.. a birthday gift from my other sister. Thank you Ate Lisa, Kuya Bobby, and baby Gabriel! :) They sent me lipsticks that were on my blog's wish list, so here are some swatches.

Viva Glam Cyndi

swatched lightly on the left, heavily on the right

coral-red. i heard this suits a lot of skintones.

Laugh A Lot

swatched lightly on the left, heavily on the right

this is like like my natural lip color, but a tad darker.
i can definitely see myself wearing this on a daily basis.

Lush Haul

2010-04-15T01:13:00.001-07:00

Here's a collective LUSH haul using a gift card that my sister got me for my birthday. Thank you Ate Anna <3 Everything here was purchased within two visits. The employees at the store are starting to recognize me, haha.

- Baby Face makeup remover
- Shampoo bar tin
- Ma Bar bubble bar
- Cupcake fresh face mask
- Fresh Farmacy cleanser
- Buffy body butter bar

Baby Face and Ma Bar were used already but I wanted to include them in the group photo. I got a lot of these things based on good reviews. Oh the influence of the online beauty community..

Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Gel CreamLiner

2010-04-12T23:12:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago, I saw a blog post by vintageortacky about new gel liners from Physician's Formula. Gel eyeliners are my absolute favorite and 3 shades for $11 seemed almost too good to be true. I was excited when I found them at CVS! This isn't really a review, just my initial thoughts and swatches.

The 3 gel liners snap together. The kits come packaged according to eye color; I purchased the one for brown eyes.

You can see my fingerprints all over the packaging.. I can deal with that though.

It comes with a brush that's actually not half bad. I prefer to use angled brushes though.

Dark brown.

Purple.

Black.. once you dip the brush into this one, it actually has tiny purple glitters!

After applying these, I rubbed my hand over my arm for a few seconds to test out the staying power. They did not budge. At all. These are definitely worth checking out.

Outfit of the Day + Webcam Pictures

2010-04-11T15:37:00.000-07:00

For once, I finished getting ready before my parents! We went to a friends house yesterday for a filipino party; the kind where dads sing karaoke and moms gossip. Since I had some extra time, I took pictures on my webcam. I thought I should post them here since my face has been MIA from my blog.

I haven't worn eyeshadow in a really long time since I'm lazy to put it on for school. My skills are pretty rusty so I just did some neutral browns using the 88 palette - nothing too exciting or close up worthy. Didn't wanna scare any parents. My mom compliments my smokey eyes by telling me I look like a vampire, ha.

I also took a picture of my outfit. Jeans, tank, and vest are all from Forever 21.

O_O

cheesy

chipped nail polish ;(

Lux Naturals Haul

2010-04-04T17:29:00.000-07:00

My Lux Naturals goodies came today! I love finally getting packages in the mail because I'm kind of impatient when it comes to ordering online. You might remember that this company sent me some of their products to review a few months ago. Everything here was purchased with my own money.

http://www.luxnaturals.com

Soo much bubble wrap and packing peanuts.
You obviously don't need to worry about anything breaking on the way ;)

Moonlight Pomegranate soap - this is a repurchase because it smells amazing. I didn't get to use all of the first bar because my mom took it. It was my favorite but I let her keep it anyway. I previously described this as smelling like candy, but I realized today what it really reminds me of.. do you remember fruit stripe gum? It had a zebra on the front and came with temporary tattoos..

Blackberry Sage soap - this is a new one for me. It's kind of difficult to describe. It's like a deep berry scent. Strong, but not overwhelmingly sweet or fruity.

My package came with 2 free samples of soap. These are small pieces of Sandalwood Amber (left) and White Tea & Ginger (right).

I'm not too fond of Sandalwood Amber. It smells woodsy and musky. Kind of manly, so maybe my boyfriend will like it. I do really like White Tea and Ginger. It's a light, clean smell; the kind of thing you'd reach for when you want a nice scent without a lot of fuss.

Moonlight Pomegranate shea body butter - This is nice, although the soap smells a little better in my opinion. The consistency is different from the last shea butter I got. It's more like a thick mousse. It's still really moisturizing though and a little bit goes a long way.

At first I thought I was just imagining but the size of the jar has definitely gotten smaller. The new one is on the left and the older one is on the right.

Make Up For Ever Microfinish Blush: #14 Star Struck

2010-03-28T19:42:00.000-07:00

This was kind of an impulse buy. I've seen some really good reviews for it but I wasn't really planning on getting it anytime soon. I stopped by Sephora and ended up getting it because it was so pretty and I had some birthday money on me.

So far, I really like the actual product but I'm thinking of exchanging it for another color. When swatched on my hand, it showed up as a bright pinky-coral. On my cheeks, it sheers out a bit. It shows up as a pretty, natural looking peach; the kind of thing you'd wear when you don't want it to look like you're obviously wearing blush. I usually don't return or exchange products, but for $27, I feel like I should get something more showy. I took some pictures of myself and the blush didn't really show up on my cheeks at all.

blended out / swatched

This was taken on the underside of my arm that's lighter than my face which is NC30. I think this color would show up better on lighter skintones. It's really beautiful so I wanted to share the swatch anyway.

Is it dorky that the first thing I do when I get new products is take photos and swatches? Haha.

Tresemme Dry Shampoo

2010-03-27T01:50:00.000-07:00

Tresemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo

OVERALL RATING: 2/5
WHERE TO BUY: Most drugstores (Walmart, CVS, etc)
WOULD I REPURCHASE?: No

MY THOUGHTS: I had really high hopes for this product. I thought finally, a dry shampoo from a drugstore brand that's cheap and easy to find! I'm usually a big fan of tresemme; I really like their shampoos and styling products. However, I was really disappointed with this one.

I ran out of my Batiste dry shampoo (click here for that review) and needed a quick fix for my oily bangs. Saw this at Walmart, bought it, and used it right before going out to dinner. I applied this to my hair, following the instructions on the back of the can. First off, the application is kind of messy. I thought it was safe to apply this in the bathroom with my boyfriend and his little sister present. The spray filled up the room as I applied it to my hair and they were coughing while fanning the air. Kind of like those messy aerosol hairspray cans. The smell wasn't too bad though. After all was said and done, I examined the finished product. My bangs were slightly less shiny, but felt flat, oily, and sticky. There was absolutely no volume or movement to my hair. It almost felt like I had just applied hairspray to them. Had to go to dinner with stiff greasy bangs :(

POSITIVES:
- Affordable
- Easy to find
- Doesn't smell too strong
- Took away some shine

NEGATIVES:
- Hair still feels oily
- Gave no volume; left my hair feeling flat.
- Sticky
- Messy spray

BEFORE

AFTER

Milani Eyeshadow Quads

2010-03-20T15:09:00.000-07:00

Milani is my favorite drugstore makeup brand. They were the first eyeshadows I had ever purchased because I heard the quality was comparable to higher end brands. Until now, I still think their products are comparable to brands like MAC. Their quads are an awesome value and I always recommend them to people who are looking for nice, affordable shadows.

Swatches were taken without a base underneath.

Copper Fiesta

Copper Fiesta

Dominos

Dominos

Dream Baby

Dream Baby

Touch of Brown

Touch of Brown

Earthly Delights

Earthly Delights

Blooming Fields

Blooming Fields

LUSH Love Lettuce

2010-02-27T19:37:00.000-08:00

Sorry for so many LUSH posts! They don't exactly have the longest shelf life and I want to review them while they're still fresh in my mind :)

OVERALL RATING: 4.5/5
WHERE TO BUY: lush.com, lush stores/counters
WOULD I REPURCHASE?: Yes

MY THOUGHTS: I got this as a freebie when buying some other products, so I wasn't expecting too much from it. It smells like a combination of lavender and vegetables. It sounds weird but it's not too offensive. You have to keep it stored in the fridge since it's as fresh as food. It's kind of a hassle to have to run down to the kitchen when I need it, but the coldness feels really soothing. It's spreads onto my face easily and has little scrubby bits that exfoliate as you rinse it off.

My skin is left feeling clean, calm, and smooth. The face masks that I've used before made me break out in a pimple or two the next day. I always just figured it was my skin purging itself of impurities. Love lettuce didn't make me break out at all which is awesome. It expires within 3 weeks which is kind of a downer; but that's the price you have to pay for fresh and natural, right?

POSITIVES:
- Applies easily
- Makes my skin feel clean and smooth
- Doesn't irritate my face or make me break out
- Affordable
- Fresh

NEGATIVES:
- Only has a shelf life of 3 weeks
- Must be stored in the fridge

Silly picture! -_O

20% Off Skin MD Natural

2010-02-26T15:14:00.000-08:00

You might remember that a few weeks ago, I posted a review for the Skin MD Natural shielding lotion. (Click here for the review) The only con that I listed was that the product was a bit expensive. Well the company is now offering my followers a discount! Who doesn't love coupon codes?

Just enter the code MM10 during checkout at skinmdnatural.com for 20% off. (Code is valid for 30 days) Enjoy!

LUSH Creamy Candy Bubble Bar

2010-02-12T15:15:00.000-08:00

OVERALL RATING: 4/5
WHERE TO BUY: lush.com, lush stores/counters
WOULD I REPURCHASE?: Yes
PRICE: $6.65

MY THOUGHTS: This bubble bar smells amazing. It's sweet like cotton candy and bubblegum. The bar itself is kind of small. I used half of it for one bath and it made tons of big, fluffy bubbles. At first, it made the water a milky light-pink color. Unfortunately, the color disappeared really quickly. It was gone less than 5 minutes in. Although the scent doesn't linger on my skin, it does linger in the bathroom. My bathroom still smelled strongly of creamy candy the next day which was a nice surprise. Overall, the scent and bubbles are enough to make me repurchase.

POSITIVES:
- Smells good
- Made tons of bubbles
- Scent lingers in the bathroom

NEGATIVES:
- Scent doesn't really linger on my skin
- Color disappears quickly

LUSH Comforter Bubble Bar

2010-02-06T01:08:00.000-08:00

OVERALL RATING: 5/5
WHERE TO BUY: lush.com, lush stores/counters
WOULD I REPURCHASE?: Yes
PRICE: $8.75

MY THOUGHTS: This is my first time using a bubble bar from LUSH. I crumbled a piece into the running water as soon as I started filling the bath. It has a yummy berry scent which smells fruity and sweet. It turns the water a cute pink color. The scent doesn't linger very long afterwards on my skin, but it does linger in the bathroom. I don't take baths very often but this made it fun. I like it! Although this is one of the more pricier bubble bars, it's also one of the biggest. The website says that 1 bar is good for two baths; I only used 1/4 of the bar and it made tons of bubbles! At around $9, you can get at least 4 baths out of it.

POSITIVES:
- Smells yummy
- Made tons of bubbles
- Turns the water pink
- Good value
- Scent lingers in the bathroom afterwards

NEGATIVES:
- Scent doesn't really linger on my skin

Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion

2010-02-04T20:01:00.000-08:00

OVERALL RATING: 4/5
WOULD I PURCHASE: Maybe
WHERE TO BUY: http://www.skinmdnatural.com & some drugstores (their website has a store locator)

PRODUCT CLAIMS: Skin MD Natural is a shielding lotion, a very special type of lotion helping the skin restore its integrity, enhance its protective functions so that the skin is able to heal naturally and regain its youthful appearance. Skin MD Natural works by bonding with cells of the skin's outermost layer to form what works as an invisible shield. This layer of protection prevents environmental irritants and pollutants from penetrating the skin, while sealing in the skin's own natural oils and moisture, helping resolve the dry skin condition.

MY THOUGHTS: This lotion moisturizes really well, feels light, doesn't smell, and sinks in quickly. It's made with natural ingredients which makes it ideal for people with sensitive skin. This lotion also claims to help people with problems like eczema. I don't have any particular skin conditions, so I can't say whether or not it helps based on my experience.

The only con is the price. The bottle is small compared to other lotions like Aveeno or Nivea and costs 3 times as much. This is fine if you use it for your face or your hands, but a bit too pricey as a body lotion. If your skin can't tolerate regular lotions, then I think this is worth a try.

My favorites ways to use this:

- I applied this to my face before putting on my makeup and my skin felt so smooth. I felt like I didn't need a primer anymore. I've also mixed this with my foundation to make a tinted moisturizer.

- I absolutely hate the feeling of a greasy lotion inbetween my fingers. It's kind of one of my pet peeves. This stuff feels light and sinks in quickly, so I can use it on my hands without a problem.

POSITIVES:
- Moisturizes well.
- Makes my skin feel super smooth.
- Feels light, not greasy at all.
- Sinks in quickly.
- Made with natural ingredients.
- Gentle enough for sensitive skin.
- Doesn't have a strong smell.

NEGATIVES:
- Expensive. Price is a big factor for me. One bottle is only 4 oz and costs $18.

DISCLAIMER: Product provided by Skin MD Naturals for review.

Dreams About Makeup, Formspring

2010-02-03T20:52:00.000-08:00

Have you ever actually had a dream about makeup? Just this week I dreamt that my MAC 187 broke. It just fell apart. The bristles fell out and the ferrule was torn off. I guess I would classify that as a nightmare, haha.

.....................................................................

Also, it seems like everyone is using formspring now-a-days. It might come in handy since I do get questions every once in a while. It can be about makeup or anything random. I'll answer as long as it isn't crazy personal. I'm not gonna tell you guys my address or anything, haha. You can put your name or remain anonymous.

FORMSPRING

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.formspring.me/maybeth"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;http://www.formspring.me/maybeth&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

Foundation Routine

2010-01-31T16:34:00.000-08:00

Here's a new video I uploaded, showing my foundation routine. A while ago, I was put on a medication that made me break out like CRAZY. The acne is gone now, but I have a lot of redness and scarring. It can be a pain to cover up, but these products seem to work pretty well for me. Hope this helps!

* CLICK HERE FOR FOUNDATION ROUTINE VIDEO *

i always take silly pictures but never post them :b

My First LUSH Haul

2010-01-29T14:32:00.000-08:00

My good experience with the Lux Naturals soaps made me a believer of natural hand-made products. So my boyfriend and I headed over to the LUSH store to check out their unique products like bath bombs and bubble bars. Once we walked in, I was so overwhelmed! I wanted to buy everything. The employees were also really nice and helpful.

- Angels On Bare Skin cleanser $4.70
- Butterball bath bomb $4.95
- Rock Chick gift set: Rock Star soap & Creamy Candy bubble bar $11.95
- Love Lettuce mask (not sure how much this costs, mine was a freebie)

What are your favorites from Lush that you would recommend? If everything goes well, I might go back to try more stuff. Everything smells so nice.

Lux Naturals Review Video

2010-01-18T20:27:00.000-08:00

I just finished uploading a new video on YouTube where I review products from Lux Naturals. I'd really appreciate if you checked it out, if you want to of course :)

* CLICK HERE FOR LUX NATURALS REVIEW VIDEO *

Lux Naturals Shea Body Butter

2010-01-15T20:27:00.000-08:00

OVERALL RATING: 4.5/5
WOULD I REPURCHASE?: Yes
WHERE TO PURCHASE: http://www.luxnaturals.com

REVIEW: The product comes in a jar with a screw top lid. The shea butter itself is very thick. It starts melting once it comes into contact with my skin. At first, it feels slightly oily, but it sinks in quickly after you rub it in. My skin is usually dry and sometimes itchy, and this shea butter doesn't irritate at all. It leaves my skin feeling moisturized, soft, and smooth. You only need a tiny tiny amount because a little bit goes a long way. The jar should last me a long time. I've been using it for the past 3 weeks and I've barely made a dent. At $16.00, you recieve 4.2 ounces of product. I love how nice this feels on my skin.

I was hoping this particular scent would have a stronger vanilla smell, but I definitely think it leans more towards lavender. I'm not really fond of it. However, I don't think this is too much of a con since the shea butters come in many different scents. I'd definitely purchase this product, probably in a different scent.

POSITIVES:
- Moisturizes well
- Sinks in quickly
- Leaves skin feeling soft and smooth
- Affordable considering a little goes a long way
- Made with natural ingredients
- Comes in many scents

NEGATIVES:
- Feels a little oily at first
- Jar isn't good for travel

NOTE: These pictures were taken when I first received the product.

really thick in the jar

it starts melting on contact with my skin

... into a sort of oil. pretty neat!

DISCLAIMER: Product provided by Lux Naturals for review.

FOTD: Bright Purples & Blues with Urban Decay

2010-01-12T22:03:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I've been posting a lot of swatches and reviews lately, so I thought it was time to play with some shadow and post an FOTD. I wanted to do something fun and bright. Hope you like!

cross eyed much? i was staring too hard at the camera, haha

FACE:
- Clinique Pore Minimizer
- MAC Studio Finish Concealer
- Revlon Colorstay Foundation
- MAC Prep + Prime Powder
- MAC Blush in Emote (contour) and Blushbaby
- Hard Candy Blush in Honeymoon (highlight)

EYES:
- Urban Decay Primer Potion
- Urban Decay eyeshadows (from Deluxe and Show Pony palettes): Fishnet, Scratch, Painkiller, Flash
- Urban Decay 24/Liner in Zero and 1999
- L'Oreal HIP Color Chrome Liner in Blue Spark
- MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
- Covergirl Lash Exact Mascara

LIPS:
- MAC Lipstick in Hug Me
- MAC Lipglass in Underage

Urban Decay Show Pony Shadow Box

2010-01-10T16:47:00.000-08:00

URBAN DECAY: SHOW PONY SHADOW BOX

OVERALL RATING: 5/5
WOULD I REPURCHASE?: Yes
WHERE TO PURCHASE: sephora, urbandecay.com, and wherever else urban decay is sold

REVIEW: This was a lovely christmas present from my sister and brother-in-law. The palette has a unique design by an artist named Kime Buzzelli. The inside of the palette contains a mirror and 6 different shadows: Snatch, Mildew, Flash, Painkiller, Smog, and Toasted.

Snatch has large chunks of glitter. Mildew, Flash, and Painkiller are gorgeous bold colors. Smog and Toasted are nice neutrals. The shadows are really pigmented and glide on smoothly.

The set also comes with a mini 24/7 liner in Zero (one of my favorite black pencil liners) and a mini primer potion (which i always use when i wear shadow.) The cost is $30, which is a great deal for everything you get.

POSITIVES:
- Pigmented: the color pay off is great.
- Smooth application.
- Easy to blend.
- Nice variety of neutral and bold colors.
- Cool packaging.
- Good deal

NEGATIVES:
- None

mirror inside

6 shadows and a space for the liner

mini primer potion

it now comes with a slanted applicator

24/7 liner in zero. this stuff stays on forever.

(left to right) Zero, Snatch, Mildew, Flash, Painkiller, Smog, and Toasted
*click thumbnails for larger view*

Lux Naturals Soaps

2010-01-09T16:22:00.000-08:00

OVERALL RATING: 5/5
WOULD I REPURCHASE?: Yes
WHERE TO PURCHASE: http://www.luxnaturals.com

REVIEW: I have dry skin, so I usually stick to body wash. I like the squeaky-clean feel of bar soaps, but they really dry out my skin. A few weeks ago, I received some products to try out from a company called LUX NATURALS. I was very interested in their brand because this is my first experience with natural, hand-made products.

I really love these soaps. For $6.50, you get 4.5 ounces of soap - more affordable than other brands like Lush.They're handmade with natural ingredients that are gentle on my skin. They lather well and make my skin feel squeaky clean without the dryness.

There are so many different scents to choose from, and the bars look adorable with their bright colors and designs. The scents are very accurate. What you see on the label is really what you smell.

The only negative is that they dissolve a bit quickly when exposed to shower water. However, this can be avoided as long as you store the soaps in a dry place when not in use. Instead of using the whole bar in the shower, I cut off a piece in order to make them last longer. I would definitely recommend these.

POSITIVES:
- Amazing scents
- Cute colors/designs
- Affordable
- Produces a rich lather
- Not drying to the skin
- Handmade, animal friendly, vegetarian, eco friendly, and petroleum free

NEGATIVES:
- Soap dissolves quickly if you leave it exposed to the shower water

Moonlight Pomegranate - my favorite so far

Red Delicious Apple - looks & smells like a real, crisp apple!

Cinnamon Bun - yummy and warm

Vanilla Lavender - nice, soft smell

$3 soap saver

a small piece of soap (this is cinnamon bun)

they produce a nice lather

they also lather well with a shower pouf

DISCLAIMER: Products provided by Lux Naturals for review.

Sephora Super Shimmer Lip Gloss

2009-12-13T18:25:00.000-08:00

This is a product that no one can resist because it's FREE. This is the birthday gift that Sephora has been giving out recently to beauty insiders. It's free to sign up with Sephora's Beauty Insider program. You earn points with every purchase to get free samples and a free birthday gift like this one! My birthday was actually in March. I didn't go to Sephora at the time, so I got an email from them with a coupon that let me redeem my gift last month. The gifts change though, so it won't always be lipglosses.

POSITIVES:
- FREE. You can't get anymore affordable than that.
- Small squeeze tubes are easy to carry around.
- Has a sweet smell, almost like candy.
- Moisturizing and shiny.

CONS:
- Not very pigmented. The darkest shade does give lips a hint of color, but not what you see in the tube.

precious pink, rosy glow, bronzed beauty

precious pink

rosy glow

bronzed beauty

precious pink, rosy glow, bronzed beauty

AMI Clubwear Boots

2009-12-09T18:20:00.000-08:00

AMICLUBWEAR: http://www.amiclubwear.com
30% OFF COUPON CODE: TWILIGHT30

* CLICK HERE FOR MY HAUL VIDEO *

BLACK SUEDE BOOTS

GREY SUEDE BOOTS

BROWN SUEDE BUCKLE BOOTS

China Glaze Wild Mink + Konad

2009-11-29T16:02:00.001-08:00

China Glaze in "Wild Mink." I know I've posted this before, but I think this is a better picture. This is probably my favorite nail polish. It's the one I use the most. I reach for this so much because application is so easy.

I was playing around with the Konad nail art kit. I used white for the design and added a shimmery pink top coat. The pinky nail design smeared! I'm still trying to get the hang of it, but it's really cool.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T16:50:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I hope everyone has a fun and safe holiday. Eat lots of yummy food! & Instead of thinking about the things you want, take the time to appreciate what you already have.

I'm most thankful for the people in my life. They're much more valuable to me than material possessions and I would be nowhere without them. My family, my boyfriend, my best friends.

I'm also thankful for my followers! Especially those who leave comments. Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.

Batiste Original Dry Shampoo

2009-11-19T23:29:00.000-08:00

BATISTE DRY SHAMPOO:

Batiste Original Dry Shampoo, with a refreshing fragrance, revitalizes greasy, dull and lifeless hair between washes. Instantly leaves your hair feeling clean, full of body, and smelling beautiful. Quick and convenient to use wherever you are.

Overall Rating: 5/5
Price: Around $6 at Sally Beauty Supply

This stuff is a life saver. It really soaks up the oil in my hair, leaving it feeling clean and refreshed. It saves me so much time in the morning. My hair (especially my bangs) gets greasy pretty quickly and I don't have to shampoo & straighten my hair every single day anymore. It has a sort of powdery scent, which isn't bad compared to other dry shampoos. Honestly, the expensive ones I've tried have such STRONG smells that I don't like at all. It's also much more affordable than other dry shampoos, and the bottle lasts me for almost a month. I like how it's in a spray can so I can carry it in my bag and use it if my hair starts getting oily throughout the day.

HOW I USE IT:

start off with shiny, but oily hair!

i brush my hair back a little bit first

spray the dry shampoo onto your hair

lift up strands of hair and spray into the roots

massage it in until the white color is gone

brush your hair again

BEFORE & AFTER PICTURES!
(click thumbnails for full size)

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

YAY CLEAN, NON-GREASY HAIR!

FOTD: Tiger Lily Eyes for Halloween

2009-11-01T15:00:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone had a good Halloween! I didn't buy a costume, so I just wore green and purple to match my eye makeup.

My Look:

Products Used:
- MAC Studio Finish Concealer
- Revlon Colorstay Foundation
- MAC Prep + Prime Powder
- Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Bronzer
- Hard Candy Blush in Honeymoon

- Urban Decay Primer Potion
- 88 Eyeshadow Palette
- Milani Eyetech Liquid Liner in Black
- MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack
- Maybelline Pulse Perfection Mascara
- Creme Lashes #13

- Rimmel Lipstick in Airy Fairy

Inspiration: (an old halloween face chart from mac)

Show all

Outfit of the Day?

2009-10-27T20:18:00.000-07:00

I've been following a website called Chictopia for a while now. It's basically a website where people post pictures of their outfits. If you're interested in fashion I'd definitely check it out. It's really fun seeing what other people put together. I decided to make my own account. Maybe I'll start posting when I can take better pictures, haha.

http://www.chictopia.com/mabeth

Here's my outfit today though. Until now, the weather's been pretty warm staying in the 70's. Today was the first day of the season that the temperature was in the low 50's.

- white sweater (forever 21)
- green plaid jacket (forever 21)
- denim jeans (forever 21)
- white scarf (forever 21)
- black boots (union bay)

I guess it's obvious I love shopping at Forever 21 ><

99 Cents L'Oreal HIP

2009-10-21T16:45:00.001-07:00

Once in a while, I find something good from the 99 cent only store that's usually sold at drugstores. I wasn't expecting to see anything interesting today since I haven't in a while... but there were a couple of L'Oreal HIP items! 7 items for $7.

Color Rich Cream Crayon - Unmistakable

Color Chrome Eyeliners - Green Flash (left) , Blue Spark (right)

(left to right) Unmistakable, Blue Spark, Green Flash

Jelly Balm - Savory

Jelly Balm - Luscious

Luscious (left), Savory (right)

Cream Shadow Paints - Nervy (top), Secretive (bottom)

Secretive (left) Nervy (right)

Hard Candy, Sallys Update

2009-10-15T11:35:00.000-07:00

You might have heard that Hard Candy has been revamped and is now being sold for drugstore prices at Walmart. I was excited to see the beautiful new display!

Blush Crush Baked Blush in HONEYMOON: This looks gorgeous in the pan. A soft light pink with some tiny purple veining. I was expecting this to be similar to MAC's mineralize blushes, but this is much more similar to the mineralize skin finishes. There isn't much color payoff, but it gives a beautiful shimmer that's great for highlighting.

Kal-eye-descope Baked Eyeshadow Duo in ROCK N ROLL: Another gorgeous looking product. Very smooth and shimmery.

Balm Girls Moisturizing Lip Balm in JULIE: I'm not too sure if I like this one. With the word "tinted" I thought it would add some color to my lips, but it's extremely sheer. It almost looks like clear lipgloss on my lips. It also has that weird plastic/play-dough/crayon type smell. On the plus side, it's really moisturizing and glossy with a unique packaging.

Curl Up & Dye lash curling mascara in INK: I'm really disappointed in this one. I got sucked into buying it because of its promise to curl. I have stick straight lashes and I need a mascara that can hold a curl. This did the opposite. After using my lash curler and applying this, my lashes drooped down. The mascara felt very heavy and wet.

Overall, it seems like a nice brand. I'll probably be avoiding their mascaras, but I'm willing to try more Hard Candy products.

____________________________________________

On my previous post, I talked about my bad experience at Sallys. I wrote an email to their customer service explaining the incident. The company called me, but I wasn't able to answer because I was in school. They left a voicemail, apologizing for my experience. They also said that they would forward the incident to the district manager here and investigate the store or something.

RANT: Horrible Experience at Sallys

2009-10-06T21:14:00.000-07:00

Something happened today that made me really angry.

My boyfriend and I were going to Target, and I saw a Sally Beauty Supply that I had never been to before. I usually go to a different Sallys. I told him that I wanted to go in and look around, so we did. I'm the kind of person who can probably walk around a beauty store like Sallys or Sephora for hours. I never get tired of checking out the products. I'm also a very indecisive person, so I spend a lot of time thinking about whether I should buy things or not.

The woman working there asked me three times if I needed any help. Each time I said to her, "No thank you, I'm not looking for anything in particular. Just browsing." We were in the store for around 10-15 minutes when she comes up to me and says, "Look, if you don't need my help with anything I'm gonna have to ask you to leave. You've been walking around the store for a while, and it's suspicious of burglary."

At first I thought she was joking, but she wasn't. I couldn't believe that she was accusing my boyfriend and I of looking like thieves. I didn't do anything wrong or weird while walking around. I was just looking at the products like I usually do in any other store. Just because I wasn't in and out of the store in a minute makes me look like a thief? Not needing her assistance means I have intentions of stealing? I was SO angry. I put the product I was holding back on the shelf and told my boyfriend that we were leaving. I was planning on buying something, but I definitely changed my mind. I wasn't about the give that store my money.

Now that I think about it, I should have said something to her. I should have told her how rude she was. That it was wrong for her to accuse us of looking like thieves when we didn't do anything wrong. But at the time, I was so angry and shocked that all I wanted to do was leave and not deal with her. I have NEVER been accused of looking suspicious. I was so upset that I started crying afterwards in the car.

This happened at the Sally Beauty Supply on Maryland Parkway in Las Vegas. I definitely won't be going back there and I wouldn't recommend anyone else go either :(

Milani Haul & Swatches

2009-09-25T20:23:00.000-07:00

Milani is my favorite drugstore brand of makeup. CVS had their products at buy 1 get 1 50% off this week, so I couldn't resist picking up a few things! I got the Touch of Brown eyeshadow quad, Sunset City sunset duo, Enchantment nail polish, and Fairy Tale nail polish.

I thought the blush bronzer duo looked similar to Nars Laguna/Orgasm duo, so I took some comparison swatches. I also compared them to Milani's old luminous blush, which is often said to be an Orgasm dupe. The Sunset City blush is more golden than the Orgasm blush. But as you can see in the photos, they're still pretty similar.

The polishes are from a limited edition collection called, "Black Magic." It includes nail polishes that are all dark but have different colored glitters. I'm not a big fan of plain black nail polish, so I love the hint of glittery color in these. I'm thinking of picking up the other colors sometime!

eyeshadow quad: 01 touch of brown

top left, top right, bottom left, bottom right shades

sunset duo: 01 sunset city

bronzer & blush combined, bronzer only, blush only

nars laguna/orgasm on the left, milani sunset city on the right

nars orgasm, milani sunset city blush, milani luminous

nailpolishes in fairy tale, enchantment

close up of enchantment

close up of fairy tale

i'm wearing fairy tale right now. it's so pretty!
sorry about the sloppy application, i was excited to try it.
*click thumbnail for larger view*

I also put a new layout on my blog since I felt like the default ones weren't spacious enough. I like it, what do you guys think? I used to make layouts for xanga, myspace, etc but I was too lazy to make one for blogger. So, I found this lovely layout at http://designs.bloggerbuster.com.

NOTD: Orange Blossom

2009-09-19T15:32:00.001-07:00

Love My Nails - Orange Blossom

A bright peachy-pink shade with golden shimmer. It leans more towards peach, almost like a light coral. Really pretty color.

Application was okay, but not as nice as the Raspberry color I wore last week. This one felt kind of thin so it took 3 coats to make it look nice and opaque. Not bad for $1 though. I found this brand at Walmart.

Review: C&C Eye Makeup Remover + EOTD

2009-09-04T13:20:00.000-07:00

Clean & Clear Soothing Eye Makeup Remover [Oil-Free]
requested by Miss Josie. hope it helps!

Overall Rating: 9/10
Would I Repurchase: Yes

POSITIVES:
- Affordable: prices vary depending on where you buy it, usually around $6
- Easy to find: most drugstores/grocery stores that sell clean & clear have it
- Doesn't irritate my eyes, even when I'm wearing contacts
- Doesn't leave an oily residue or dry skin
- Removes eye makeup quickly and easily

NEGATIVES:
- Some people might prefer a smaller opening.
- I got too much in my eye while I was wearing my contacts & my vision got a bit blurry for a minute. No pain or irritation, just blurriness.

Overall: I'm very pleased with this product. It removes my makeup quickly and easily without any irritation. At first I was hesitant to buy it because I'm loyal to the Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover. This one works just as well and is cheaper by around $2.

information on the back of the bottle

list of ingredients

it says it's oil free, but it has 2 parts..

shake it up before using it.

the opening of the bottle

apply some to a cotton pad

before: udpp, cork, mulch, typographic, & shroom e/s,
maybelline pulse perfection mascara, prestige black waterproof eyeliner

after: makeup is all gone!

the cotton pad with makeup. looks gross, haha.

q-tip that took off my waterproof mascara

Collective Haul

2009-09-03T20:17:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! Sorry I haven't been blogging very much lately. I started college last week, so I've been a bit busy.

I decided to try some nails polishes from "Love My Nails" because they're only $1 each. I really like them so far. I would buy some more colors. I found them at Walmart.

(L-R) Raspberry, Orange Blossom, True Lilac, Star Bright

Star Bright. Looked nice in the bottle but doesn't apply well.

This is the one I'm wearing now, Raspberry. I loveee this.
It's a dark red, but in certain lighting it looks slightly pink.

Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Deeeeep.

Clean & Clear Soothing Eye Makeup Remover.

Caress Evenly Gorgeous Body Wash.

Olay Regenerist Microdermabrasion & Peel Kit.

Batiste Original Dry Shampoo

Necklace from Forever 21. Looks cute with solid tops. $6

Small heart says "And now these three remain:
faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."

Black Sandals by Dexter from Payless. $20

Brown gladiator sandals by American Eagle.
Payless was having a BOGO 1/2 off sale. This was
on sale for $14, so it came out to around $7. This is about
as crazy as I'd get when it comes to gladiators.

If you'd like me to do a review on any of these products, feel free to ask :)

My boyfriend and I took some pictures at school during our break with my webcam. It's pretty obvious I haven't been getting much sleep. I look so tired! Look at those eye bags haha.

Update & Haul

2009-08-02T18:01:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely bloggers! I feel like I haven't updated in forever.

I went back home for a few days to New Jersey. I'm a jersey girl! :) I lived there for almost 16 years, so I grew up there. I don't live there anymore, but my sisters still do so I have to go back every few months to see them.

my niece is adorable!

my bff. isn't she pretty? :D

We also took a road trip to Boston for a few days. Boston has soo much seafood!

"BOSTON CHOWDA"

this was for my parents O_O

shrimps & scallops. i thought they'd be bigger :\

super duck tours!

the bus drives on land AND water! pretty awesome.

Then I went back homeeee. My boyfriend and I went to play blacklight indoor mini golf. It was pretty cool! Fun fun.

i look so pro in my polo, haha. just kidding.

I went to the "Fantastic Indoor Swap Meet" here in Vegas because my mom needed bamboo or something.

There was this one booth selling fake MAC! Be careful where you buy your high end makeup because there are a lot of fakes out there.

Anyway, another booth at the swap meet had a bunch of beauty stuff for $1. Mostly dollar store makeup and brands like LA Colors. I did find a few cool things though. Artdeco nail art polishes. I see people use these in nail tutorials. They were $1 each.

red glitter, rose, and baby pink

The booth was also selling a bunch of lashes. They only had 2 different types of Red Cherry lashes. The other pair was HUGE, so I just got these bottom lashes. They had a lot of lashes from a brand called "Creme." Never heard of it, so I just got one. They were $1 each also.

creme #13 lashes, red cherry #33 lashes

As I was leaving, I saw another booth selling a larger variety of Red Cherry lashes at 3 for $5. Under $2 each is still cheap! I didn't have time to look at them because my parents wanted to leave already. Maybe I'll go back one day and get some more if I like it. I always hear rave reviews about them.

Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin

2009-07-14T15:30:00.000-07:00

In my last haul, I showed the book "Making Faces" by Kevyn Aucoin. My-My asked me to picture some pages, so here they are! Hope they give you a better idea of what the book is like. You can find it in stores like Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc. It costs $21.99. You can look through the book at the book store before buying it to see if you really want it or not.

Click on the pictures for a larger view.
Sorry they're not that clear, my camera wasn't cooperating.

picture shows where to contour & highlight

shows lip shapes & lip product application

before & after pictures with instructions

instructions on how to get certain looks

Maybelline Pulse Perfection Mascara

2009-07-06T18:35:00.000-07:00

Maybelline Pulse Perfection Waterproof Mascara

Official Website Information:

It’s our first vibrating mascara. Transforms your lashes to perfection.

Patent-pending elastomer brush vibrates 7,000 times per stroke
Provides clump-free definition, intense color, and shine
Waterproof; also available in washable formula
Builds lash volume, length, and adds curl
Buildable formula
Ideal for All Skin Types
Contact lens safe

Overall Rating: 5/5
Would I Repurchase: Yes

POSITIVES:
- Nice, sleek packaging
- Applies dark and black
- Adds a lot of length and volume
- Holds a curl and doesn't make my lashes droop down
- No clumping, even with more than 1 coat
- Waterproof, so it stays on all day
- More affordable than other vibrating mascaras (ie: Lancome, Estee Lauder)

NEGATIVES:
- You have to keep your finger pressed down on the button for it to vibrate

OVERALL:
I was pleasantly surprised with this mascara. I wasn't sure if the whole "vibrating mascara" would actually work well and I wasn't willing to spend so much on the ones from Lancome and Estee Lauder. I'm more of a drugstore mascara girl since you have to toss them every 3 months anyway. I don't really have any major complaints. This mascara is one of my new favorites. It adds really nice length and volume. Most importantly, it holds a curl which is important for my stick straight lashes. I think the vibrating does make a little bit of a difference. I feel like the bristles grip my lashes better. I'd definitely recommend this mascara. The shade I'm using is "Very Black"

close up of the button on the handle

close up of the wand

my bare, uncurled lashes

after curling & adding mascara

Haul

2009-07-03T23:31:00.001-07:00

Haul time! AKA happy time for beauty addicts.

Last month my family got Wii Fit. I played almost everyday for a month, which is a MIRACLE because I usually hate exercising and NEVER do it. Raymond said he was proud of me, and he surprised me with a book... MAKING FACES by Kevyn Aucoin! I'm so excited to have it!

I wanted to return that Shiseido cleanser I bought. It wasn't a bad product, but it just wasn't right for my skin and I paid $21 for it. So I went to Sephora to exchange it for the Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder. I've been looking for a nice matte bronzer that would add a glow without containing any particles of shimmer or glitter and this one is PERFECT. It smells like chocolate too!

I wasn't planning on going to MAC but Raymond's mom wanted a new lipstick, so we stopped by the MAC store to pick something out for her. We ended up getting "Modesty," a nice medium pink shade. Hopefully she likes it, I've heard good things about it. I got "Hug Me," which I heard is a great natural looking nude lip. The second I put it on, I fell in love with the color. It's so pretty. It's like MLBB. (my lips but better!) I can see myself wearing it everyday.

Hope everyone had a good day! Mine was great. Not because of my haul but because I got to spend time with Raymond. My parents are pretty strict so we only hang out once a week. Sometimes twice if I'm lucky, ha. It's better than nothing :)

Long Time No FOTD!

2009-07-01T13:43:00.000-07:00

Long time no look, huh? Temptalia posted a look today using Make Up For Ever. I LOVED the colors she used and got inspired to play with some makeup. I haven't worn eyeshadow in weeks, so I'm a little rusty.

My skin's been acting up like crazy. I've been going to the doctor but nothing is working yet. So I did some retouching on the full face photos. I usually edit all of my pictures on photoshop to adjust the lighting, contrast, clearness, etc. I never alter the actual makeup, just zap away those pesky pimples :(

FACE:
- Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion
- MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC30
- MAC Studio Finish Concealer NC30
- MAC Emote Blush
- MAC Blushbaby Blush

EYES:
- Urban Decay Primer Potion
- Urban Decay Eyeshadow: Honey
- MAC Eyeshadows: Playful, Cranberry, Fertile, Shroom
- Milani Eyeshadow Quad: Copper Fiesta
- MAC Blacktrack Fluidline
- Maybelline Pulse Perfection Mascara
- Urban Decay 24/7 Liner: Zero

LIPS:
- MAC Bare Slimshine

MAC F&F Haul

2009-06-24T13:55:00.000-07:00

Today I woke up to find a beautiful black box for me in the mail! This is the first time I've ordered from MAC online, just because of the sale. I usually have no reason to order online. Where I live, there are a few counters, a freestanding store, a pro store, and a CCO.

blurred out my address

wow everything is black. that's so.. mac.

my little haul. it's only 4 things, but the total was already $70 :\

- 217 brush
- 109 brush
- prep + prime transparent finishing powder (in real life, the lid doesn't look glittery. weird.)
- shroom eyeshadow pan

Anyone have any input about these items?
Let me know what you got from the sale! :D

Maybelline Pulse Perfection

2009-06-20T00:39:00.000-07:00

Here are my lashes with Maybelline's Pulse Perfection Mascara in Waterproof.

IT HOLDS A CURL FOR MY STICK STRAIGHT LASHES.

Will write a review for it sometime this week!

Sephora & MAC Haul

2009-06-19T17:23:00.001-07:00

I ran out of my cleanser and wanted to try something new. I've never used anything from Shiseido before, so I picked up the Pureness Foaming Cleansing Fluid. Has anyone had good experiences with Shiseido skincare?

I was using Cetaphil moisturizing lotion on my face but wasn't liking how it made me feel oily within an hour. So I also got a small tube of Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion to try out.

When I opened my bag I found a sample of the Fresh Sugar Acai Body Scrub. I didn't ask for any samples, so that was a pleasant surprise.

When I got my 187 a little while back, the handle felt a tiny bit loose. I didn't think it was that big of a deal because it wasn't too noticeable. The more I used the brush, the looser the handle was getting. It got to the point where the ferrule was moving a bit when I wiggled the handle. This brush was almost $50, so I didn't want to take any chances of it completely breaking. It's been less than 30 days since purchase, so I went to the MAC store with the receipt. I didn't have any problems exchanging it. This new one is nice and firm, yay!

MAC: SUMO BIG SAVINGS

2009-06-16T14:29:00.000-07:00

MAC COSMETICS

25% OFF ONLINE PURCHASES

For 3 days only: June 16-18

Offer Code: SUMO

Bronzer Swatches

2009-06-11T16:08:00.000-07:00

Now that summer is here, bronzers are really popular to give you that sunkissed look. I've been wearing reaching for my bronzers a lot lately, so I figured I'd post swatches of the ones I have. These bronzers are really nice and I'd recommend them all depending on your taste. If you'd like me to do a review on any of them, feel free to ask.

(the first one should be mac bronzer in "bronze," not "bronzed." typo!)

I'm also looking for a bronzer that's glowy, but has absolutely no particles of glitter/shimmer. I was looking at the Smashbox one, but it's kind of pricey. I was thinking of getting a mineralize skinfinish natural in a darker shade. Has anyone tried that? Any recs?

Studio Tools Dual-Fiber Brush

2009-06-05T13:41:00.001-07:00

Yesterday I was with Raymond and we were passing a Target. He asked if I wanted to go and I said no, but we went anyway. We got to the makeup section and saw the Sonia Kashuk highlighting brush, a dupe for the mac 187. I was SO excited when I saw it, because the Target by my house NEVER has it. I have the 187 and I love it, but was looking for an alternative to use for blushes and bronzers. I grabbed the Sonia Kashuk one but then I saw a similar one from the brand "Studio Tools." I remember seeing a few great reviews for this new brush on makeupalley. I chose to get this one since it was only $7 compared to the $13 sonia kashuk one. Almost half the price! Raymond said, "Aren't you glad we went to Target now?" Yes.

REVIEW: Studio Tools Dual-Fiber Brush

Rating: 4/5
Would I repurchase: Yes

- Only shed a few bristles when I first washed it with baby shampoo.
- A little bit smaller than the 187, but not by much.
- Really soft, doesn't feel scratchy at all on your skin. Not quite as soft as the 187 though.
- Very dense. More firm than the 187, so it applies products a bit more heavily.
- The bottom of the handle is flat, so it stands up on flat surfaces.

Is it a good brush? Yes.
Is it better than the 187? No.
Is it worth the $7? YES.

I think the MAC 187 is better, but it's $42. The Studio Tools one is only $6.99. Some people even found it for $1.99. For the price, it's a really good brush. If you come across it, I'd suggest checking it out. I would repurchase :)

Allure Winner's Circle: Reader's Choice

2009-06-05T13:01:00.000-07:00

I was looking through the June 2009 issue of Allure magazine when I came across the reader's choice winners and thought I would share what they are.

ALLURE: READER'S CHOICE AWARD WINNERS

MAKEUP

LIPSTICK
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Love That Red

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: MAC Frost Lipstick in "O"

LIP GLOSS
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: L'Oreal Paris Infallible Never Fail Lipgloss in Sangria

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: MAC Lipglass in Oh Baby

BLUSH
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Cover Girl Cheekers Blush in Brick Rose

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Nars Blush in Orgasm

EYESHADOW
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: L'Oreal Paris HIP Metallic Shadow Duo in Platinum

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: MAC Eye Shadow in Shroom

EYELINER
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner in Black

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: MAC Fluidline Eye-Liner Gel in Blacktrack

MASCARA
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Maybelline New York Great Lash Mascara in Very Black

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Dior DiorShow Mascara in Black

CONCEALER
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Maybelline New York Cover Stick Concealer

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Bare Escentuals Multi-Tasking Minerals concealer

FOUNDATION
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: L'Oreal Paris True Match Super-Blendable Makeup

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Bare Escentuals BareMinerals SPF15 Foundation

SKIN

FACIAL CLEANSER
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Neutrogena Wave Power-Cleanser

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Philosophy Purity Made Simple

FACIAL SCRUB
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: St. Ives Invigorating Apricot Scrub

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream

FACIAL MOISTURIZER
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion

ANTI-AGING PRODUCT
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Olay Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: AVON Anew Clinical Eye Lift

EYE CREAM
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Olay Regenerist Eye Lifting Serum

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Clinique All About Eyes cream

HAIR

SHAMPOO
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Pantene Pro-V Moisture Renewal Shampoo

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Redken All Soft Shampoo

CONDITIONER
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Pantene Pro-V Moisture Renewal Conditioner

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Redken All Soft Shampoo

VOLUMIZER
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: John Freida Collection Luxurious Volume Lavish Lift Root Booster

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Aveda Volumizing Tonic, Bumble and Bumble Thickening Spray

DEFRIZZER
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: John Frieda Collection Frizz-Ease Hair Serum Original Formula

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Fekkai Glossing Cream

HOME HAIR COLOR
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: L'Oreal Paris Feria Multi-Faceted Shimmering Haircolour

BODY

BODY SCRUB
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Neutrogena Body Clear Body Scrub

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Bath & Body Works True Blue Spa There's the Rub Body Scrub

BODY LOTION
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Bath & Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom Body Lotion

SELF-TANNER
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Jergens Natural Glow Revitalizing Daily Moisturizer

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Clarins Liquid Bronze Self Tanning

PALE NAIL POLISH
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Plus Nourishing Nail Color in Honor

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: OPI Nail Lacquer in Bubble Bath, Essie Nail Polish in Mademoiselle

BRIGHT NAIL POLISH
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear in Fuschia Power

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: OPI Nail Lacquer in That's Hot! Pink

CLASSIC FRAGRANCE
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: Love's Baby Soft

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Chanel No. 5

NEW FRAGRANCE
DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy, Gwen Stefani Harajuku Lovers Fragrances

MEN'S FRAGRANCE
DRUGSTORES, DISCOUNT STORES: AXE Deodorant Bodyspray in Instinct

DEPARTMENT STORES, SPECIALITY STORES, SPAS, SALONS: Giogio Armani Acqua di Gio Pour Homme

POPULAR SCIENCE
... When we asked out readers to submit their favorite breakthroughs of 2008, you selected similarly groundbreaking innovations (but stayed within the law).

MAKEUP: Jane Iredale Dream Tint SPF 15

SKIN: Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefuit Facial Cleanser and Foaming Scrub

NAILS: Sally Hansen Color Quick Fast Dry Nail Color Pens

BODY: Bioelements Vitalization Rich Intensity Body Creme

HAIR: Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths Shampoo and Conditioner

MAC Brush Haul

2009-05-26T15:58:00.001-07:00

Don't you hate it when something is so expensive that you try to tell yourself, "It's not worth it," but you know it is? That's how I feel about MAC brushes. So pricey.. yet so nice.

I went to the CCO the other day and saw that they had the 181, mini kabuki, for only $21.00. Good deal, so I got it. I used to want the 182, which is the larger version, but I don't think I'll be needing it anytime soon. After I washed the 181, the bristles kind of expanded and it seems like a pretty good size for my face. Or maybe I just have a small face, haha.

The 187 seems to be the most popular, raved about, HG brush.. and I got it as a present from my bf! I'm so happy. He knows I've been wanting this brush for the longest time but I was never willing to spend that much on it yet. He went to MAC all by himself and got it for me. That's sweet of him, I'm really grateful :)

NYX Ultra Pearl Mania Swatches

2009-05-25T16:08:00.000-07:00

I think I got these last year. I wasn't blogging at the time, so I will share the swatches now. These are the "ultra pearl mania" loose eyeshadows. When I got them, they were $1.00 each. I think they raised the price by 50 cents, so each one is now $1.50 on cherryculture.com. For a dollar, they're a really good deal. Very pigmented and shimmery. If you like matte shadows, these probably aren't for you. Only bad part is the packaging. The opening of the jar is so narrow, you can't dip your shadow brush in. So it's a good idea to transfer them into another container if you plan on using them often.

*click on thumbnails for a bigger view*

Nails: China Glaze Fifth Avenue

2009-05-21T15:51:00.001-07:00

China Glaze polish in "Fifth Avenue"

I was rushing the day I put this on, so I only put one coat and it's really opaque. It's a pink-brown shade, good if you want something girly yet muted. It looks more brown than this in real life.

This is when the self timer on my camera comes in handy, haha. I thought it came out cute.

Award Tag, Prom

2009-05-17T18:25:00.000-07:00

Terms & Conditions For the Award Recipient

1. Paste the Award Logo in your blog.
2. Give out the award to 10 Blogs that you feels the most inspired and most friendly.
3. Make sure u back linked the recipients' blogs to your blog.
4. Inform the recipients about the award by leaving them comments on their blog
5. Give some love to the person who gave you this award.

Yay! Thanks so much to Yinmei for tagging me!

I think all of these people are on blogspot, so I will list their usernames! They probably don't even know who I am, haha. But these are some of my favorite beauty blogs to read. I follow a lot of blogs and love them all, so it was hard to narrow it down.

1) nessasarymakeup
2) christianadivine
3) fafinettex3
4) sher0xx
5) beauty is androgynous
6) makemeup88
7) vietxpinay
8) iamgrape1119
9) tinamarieonline
10) veraology

PROM

My prom was a few weeks ago, but I figured I would share a few pictures anyway :)

we always take car pictures, haha.

:P

Grey's Anatomy Season 5 Finale,,

2009-05-15T17:06:00.000-07:00

Anyone a big fan of Grey's Anatomy? That finale episode.. shocking. I think that's the best word to describe it. I was crying like a BABY. The whole Izzie thing is so sad, but it was expected. On the other hand, George.. no. I wasn't expecting that at all. The 007 scene when Meredith realizes who the john doe was.. that's when the tears really started flowing. I hope that both of them don't die. I hate season finale cliffhangers. Way to leave the fans hanging. We won't find out what happens until fall :(

"Did you say it? 'I love you. I don't ever want to live without you. You changed my life.' Did you say it? Make a plan. Set a goal. Work toward it, but every now and then, look around. Drink it in; cause this is it. It might all be gone tomorrow."

NYX Round Lipsticks & Lipgloss Haul/Swatches

2009-05-14T16:32:00.000-07:00

My NYX haul from cherryculture.com is finally here! Yay! I'm so impatient when it comes to waiting for things in the mail. Everything was 50% off, so definitely a good deal.

NYX Round Lipstick: B52, Fig, Mars, Tea Rose, Thalia
NYX Round Lipgloss: Mauve, Sorbet

* click pictures for full size *

LIP SWATCHES

Nails: China Glaze Shower Together

2009-05-13T15:25:00.000-07:00

Today I'm wearing China Glaze nail polish in "shower together." It's a really deep yet bright blue shade. A dramatic polish, but really pretty.

Sorry my nails are so funny looking. I used to have a bad habit of biting my nails. I don't do it anymore but they still grow out weird.

50% Off NYX Cosmetics

2009-05-05T20:03:00.001-07:00

50% off of NYX Cosmetics from May 1-15 with coupon code "NYX50"

This works on cherryculture.com or nyxcosmetics.com.

If you haven't tried anything from NYX yet, this is a good opportunity. Their products are affordable and really good quality. Especially their eye and lip products.

This week and next week are AP testing. What's a better way to relieve stress than by shopping? Especially MAKEUP SHOPPING! Haha, no worries, I didn't go crazy. I just ordered a few round lipsticks and glosses since I always hear good things about them. The glosses came out to $1 each and the lipsticks were $1.75.

Review: Maybelline XXL Curl Power Mascara

2009-04-24T15:49:00.000-07:00

MAYBELLINE XXL CURL POWER MASCARA
Product information from the official website:

This mascara dramatically curls and extends lashes 45° from root to tip. Patented formula gives lashes 12 hours of hold.

No clumps
Exclusive PowerCurve brush
Ophthalmologist tested and safe for contact lens wearers
Washable

Overall Rating: 1/5
Would I Repurchase?: No

POSITIVES:
- Can be found at drugstores, readily available
- Adds volume
- Color payoff is good, goes on very black

NEGATIVES:
- Feels heavy and weighs lashes down
- Doesn't hold a curl
- Slightly clumpy
- Huge curvy brush makes it difficult to neatly coat inner lashes
- Not a lot of product

OVERALL:
The idea is good. It comes with a white primer that you apply first. The primer has tiny little fibers that grab onto your lashes. Then, you apply the actual mascara.

I was very disappointed with this product. It drew me in because of everything it promised. However, it didn't deliver length or curl like it claimed. It made my lashes look clumpy and droopy. Oh well, at least I got it when Maybelline products were buy one get one free.

double ended tube

primer side

mascara side

APPLICATION:

bare lashes that stick straight down

curled with my shiseido eyelash curler

applied the primer side

applied the mascara [lashes fell]

after curling again

from a lower view.

Review: Maybelline Lash Stiletto

2009-04-20T17:31:00.001-07:00

MAYBELLINE LASH STILETTO ULTIMATE LENGTH MASCARA

Product information from the official website:

The only mascara that does for lashes what stilettos do for legs.

The Grip & Extend brush grasps each lash and coats from every angle
Elastic formula stretches lashes for provocative length
Pro-Vitamin B-5 formula conditions and smoothes for black-patent shine
Contact lens safe and Ophthalmologist tested

Overall Rating: 3/5
Would I Repurchase?: No

POSITIVES:

- Can be found at most drugstores or any location that sells Maybelline cosmetics. Finding it is easy and convenient.

- Price ranges, but for the most part, it's affordable. I got it at CVS for around $8.

- Cute packaging! The tube is shaped like the heel of a stiletto.

- The wand is a good size since it's not too big. The tip of the bristles is thinner, making it easy to coat those hard to reach lashes like the inner corners.

- Never looks clumpy. No need to fear spidery lashes.

- Lashes feel soft, not stiff or crunchy.

NEGATIVES:

- Doesn't lengthen as much as I expected it to.

- Weighs my lashes down.

- Doesn't hold a curl.

- Doesn't come in a waterproof formula yet.

- Has a noticable smell when you're applying it.

OVERALL:

Lash stiletto is a decent mascara, but it's just not for me. My lashes stick straight down, so I need a mascara that will lengthen and hold a curl. I saw a bit of lengthening, but it wiped out my lash curler's work. My lashes ended up looking better bare and curled.

However, if you're fortunate enough to have lashes that don't stick straight down and want a mascara that gives a bit of length, this product might work for you.

Stiletto Shaped Tube

Close up of the wand

Bare, nakey lashes! They stick straight down :(

Curled with my Shiseido curler, yay!

After I applied the mascara. The curl fell.

It looks a bit better when I curl again after applying the mascara. But that's not really recommended because your lashes can get ripped out of you're not careful.

A close up from a lower view. As you can see, it does lengthen.
But since the curl fell, this length isn't visible at all from a straight on view.

Max Factor

2009-04-19T21:34:00.000-07:00

So tell me why I was the only one who jumped up and down with excitement when I saw this star..

MAX FACTOR!

I know the "Factor" is hard to read, but it's there. Nobody really understood why I was excited. It's a makeup thing, ha. Read about him on WIKIPEDIA if you don't know :]

High-End Products In Other Places?

2009-04-17T19:16:00.001-07:00

I've always seen salon hair products at places like CVS and Walmart. Redken, Bedhead, Matrix, etc. However, I've heard that those products are sometimes not as good as it should be because it's diluted or something. Most of the time, the price is the same as salons or Ulta sells them. So I don't really bother buying them anyway.

But lately I've been seeing more high end cosmetics and skincare in new places. Weird, right? Just thought I would share.

Sorry the pictures are so blurry. I was trying to be discreet with my phone, ha. These pictures were actually taken a longgg time ago. I've also seen things like Bare Minerals kits at Target.

COSTCO:

Stila: Shape Up Your Face $9.97

Bobbi Brown Pink Shimmer Brick Set $31.99

Messy display for MAC shadows, haha.
Everytime women walked by, they would glance at the display. After passing
it, they would do a double take, realize it was MAC, and take a look.

MAC Matte2 Eyeshadow $11.49
(they had newly minted, hand written, poison pen, copper plate, mellow mauve)

TARGET:

Middle row has Origins, bottom row has Kiehls.

Clearance section.. do you see what I see?

Philosophy 3-in-1 in Sugar Cookie

CVS Haul

2009-04-14T16:43:00.000-07:00

For Lent, I gave up spending my money on makeup. Since buying was a no-no, I wasn't able to get a mascara for a while. The mascara I was using was like.. 5 months old. Yuck, haha. Now that Lent is over and I'm FREEEEE, I went to CVS. I've found a few mascaras that I like. But with so many mascaras out there, I wanted to try out some new ones. I picked up Lash Stiletto and XXL Curl Power since Maybelline was buy 1 get 1 free. When I got home I took off my makeup, curled my lashes, and tried out both mascaras. So far, I like the lash stiletto. I'm not liking the xxl curl power though. Maybe I'll take pictures one day and do a review.

XXL Curl Power, Lash Stiletto, Beeswax Lip Balm

Maybelline Lash Stiletto

Maybelline Lash Stiletto Brush

Maybelline XXL Curl Power

Maybelline XXL Curl Power Primer Brush

Maybelline XXL Curl Power Mascara Brush

Haul

2009-03-31T19:46:00.001-07:00

mac:
- blush palette
- blushbaby blush
- cleanse off oil

redken:
- outshine 01

The MAC stuff is from Raymond for my birthday! He also got me a pair of earrings that I can wear everyday. I usually wear cheap hoop earrings from forever 21 or something, but they always break. Now I have nice ones! Thank you Raymond!

Nails: China Glaze VIII

2009-03-28T16:28:00.000-07:00

China Glaze polish in the shade "VIII." It's a super dark purple color.

Only a tiny bit of chipping at the tips of my nails. This picture was taken a week after application. Not bad, right? $3.25 at Sally Beauty Supply with a sally's card.

Surprise Package!

2009-03-21T12:59:00.000-07:00

I came home from school yesterday and there was a really big package in the kitchen, addressed to me. I opened it and inside was a Coach box wrapped in yellow ribbon.. It's the large madison sabrina in black/brown. It's soo pretty! It's from my sisters for my birthday. My birthday isn't until this Wednesday, March 25.. the package came a little early, but it's okay. I was so surprised, I wasn't expecting it at all. It has that.. new purse smell. Haha. You know, leathery but in a good way. I already called my sisters and thanked them.

THANK YOU ATES, LOVE YOUUUU ALL! MISS YOU!

lol, the words on the card are cut off.

Products I'm Using

2009-03-21T12:00:00.000-07:00

Got this from Tao! Products I've been using. Feel free to steal and post on your blog too :)

HAIR
Shampoo: Herbal Essences Hydralicious Reconditioning Shampoo. Once a week, Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo for a squeaky clean.

Conditioner: Herbal Essences Hydralicious Reconditioning Conditioner

Styling products: Redken Smooth Down Heat Glide, Victoria's Secret Very Sexy Shine Mist, Sunsilk Daring Volume Spray-On Mousse, Tresemme Tres Two Extra Hold Hairspray

Hair mask: Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Fortifying Deep Conditioner

BODY
Shower gel: St. Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter

Body moisturiser: Aveeno Daily Moisturizer

Deodorant - Dove

FACE
Cleanser: Purpose Gentle Cleansing Wash

Toner: Dickinson's Witch Hazel

Eye makeup remover: Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover

Exfoliator: still looking for a new one..

Moisturizer: Olay Complete SPF-15 for Sensitive Skin

Mask: Queen Helene Mint Julep

Acne Treatment: Neutrogena Acne Stress Control 3-in-1 Hydrating Acne Treatment

MAKEUP

Primer: Smashbox Photo Finish Light

Foundation: MAC Studio Sculpt

Foundation brush: MAC 183

Concealer: MAC Studio Finish, MAC Select Cover Up

Powder: Clinique Blended Face Powder

Blusher: MAC Feeling or Springsheen

Bronzer: NARS Laguna

Highlighter: MAC MSFs

Eyeshadow base: Urban Decay Primer Potion

Eyeshadows: MAC Vanilla, Typographic ; NYX Black

Eyeliner: MAC Blacktrack Fluidline, MAC Technakohl in Photogravure

Eyelash curler: Shiseido

Eyelash base: none

Mascara: Maybelline Sky High Curves

Lipstick: none lately

Lipgloss: MAC lipglass in Mimmy [hello kitty], Electrolush

Nail colour: China Glaze

Valentines Day Inspired Looks

2009-02-15T17:15:00.000-08:00

Valentines day inspired looks! I know, I'm late, Valentines Day was yesterday. I tried to record one of these looks for a tutorial, but my camera's focus kept going crazy and it turned out too blurry. Sorry youtube people. But I at least took some pictures of the eyes to post here on my blog.

DRAMATIC BRIGHT PINKS & RED
- urban decay primer potion
- 88 eyeshadow palette
- mac blacktrack fluidline
- ardell falsies

SUBTLE LIGHT PINK & CRANBERRY
- urban decay primer potion
- mac fresco rose paint pot
- mac eyeshadows: expensive pink, cranberry, playful, typographic, vanilla
- mac blacktrack fluidline

VALENTINES DAY NAILS
- orly bonder
- china glaze: wild mink, red pearl
- sally hansen french manicure white
- sally hansen insta-dri

I'm not so great at nails, but I tried.

MABETH & MAKEUP

Review & Swatches: Revlon Colorstay Lip Butters

Haul: Revlon Lip Butters

Haul: Target, Forever 21, CVS

Korean Market Haul

HANAair Professional Hair Dryer from Misikko

Best Friend's Prom Makeup & Nails

Tutorial: Smokey Eyes for Prom

NYX Haul

Sigma Brush Haul

Forever21.com Haul

Forever21 Accessory Haul + New Hair Care

Sinful Colors: Soul Mate

LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub

Wet N Wild Mega Length Waterproof Mascara

Sinful Colors: Mint Apple

Revlon Colorsilk: Light Ash Brown

Elf Haul: Photos & Quick Impressions

Epielle Facial Essence Mask: Green Tea & Aloe

Asian Skincare Haul

Revlon Photo Ready Foundation

*Closed* $25 Gift Card Giveaway for Apothica.com!

Pure Ice: Taupe Drawer

MUFE Concealer Palette

Update, Outfit of the Day, & Dove

LUSH Catastrophe Cosmetic

*UPDATED* Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips

MAC Viva Glam Cyndi & Laugh A Lot

Lush Haul

Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Gel CreamLiner

Outfit of the Day + Webcam Pictures

Lux Naturals Haul

Make Up For Ever Microfinish Blush: #14 Star Struck

Tresemme Dry Shampoo

Milani Eyeshadow Quads

LUSH Love Lettuce

20% Off Skin MD Natural

LUSH Creamy Candy Bubble Bar

LUSH Comforter Bubble Bar

Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion

Dreams About Makeup, Formspring

Foundation Routine

My First LUSH Haul

Lux Naturals Review Video

Lux Naturals Shea Body Butter

FOTD: Bright Purples & Blues with Urban Decay

Urban Decay Show Pony Shadow Box

Lux Naturals Soaps

Sephora Super Shimmer Lip Gloss

AMI Clubwear Boots

China Glaze Wild Mink + Konad

Happy Thanksgiving!

Batiste Original Dry Shampoo

FOTD: Tiger Lily Eyes for Halloween

Outfit of the Day?

99 Cents L'Oreal HIP

Hard Candy, Sallys Update

RANT: Horrible Experience at Sallys

Milani Haul & Swatches

NOTD: Orange Blossom

Review: C&C Eye Makeup Remover + EOTD

Collective Haul

Update & Haul

Making Faces by Kevyn Aucoin

Maybelline Pulse Perfection Mascara

Haul

Long Time No FOTD!

MAC F&F Haul

Maybelline Pulse Perfection

Sephora & MAC Haul

MAC: SUMO BIG SAVINGS

Bronzer Swatches

Studio Tools Dual-Fiber Brush

Allure Winner's Circle: Reader's Choice

MAC Brush Haul

NYX Ultra Pearl Mania Swatches

Nails: China Glaze Fifth Avenue

Award Tag, Prom

Grey's Anatomy Season 5 Finale,,

NYX Round Lipsticks & Lipgloss Haul/Swatches

Closed $25 Gift Card Giveaway for Apothica.com!

UPDATED Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips