NOTD - August 20, 2011

I've been curious about these nail polish strips from Sally Hansen since they were released. Although I was a bit skeptical at first, I will say so far, so good.

The color I bought was 270 Raise the Glass. It's a beautiful shimmery champagne color.

It got a little messy, but nothing that can't be cleaned.

The results...

Not bad for the first try, right?

Pros:

- don't have to wait for the product to dry

- easier to use than I thought it would be

Cons:

- smells like nail polish (something I didn't expect, but I probably should have known)

Do I see myself buying anymore of these polish strips in the future? I'm not so sure. It's definitely less of a hassle to put on than nail polish, but I guess we'll see.

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For those who have been keeping my family in your prayers and thoughts: Thank You. I really appreciate it. I lost my younger brother and although he is gone, he will never be forgotten. He was a loving son, brother, and friend. RIP, little brother.

Product Review: Lancome Genefique

I was gifted Lancome Genefique from my mother-in-law as a Valentine's Day gift. She did, however, give it to me a week or two before Valentine's Day, but it was a gift nonetheless. Ever since, I have been using it every night, so I've been using this product for over three months.

On the Sephora website, Genefique is described as "an antiaging complex that harnesses the power of genes to take skin back in time." In addition, you are supposed to see visibly younger skin within just seven days of usage.

Pros
- makes my skin feel nice and fresh
- easy to apply
- a little goes a long way

Cons
- my skin has gotten worse and I think this might be the cause
- broke out
- has not improved my skin whatsoever

The pros and cons do weigh even in numbers, but the cons obviously weigh heavily more if you consider the consequences.

Overall, I am very disappointed. I keep using it in hope that it will improve my skin, but it has done the opposite. I plan to stop using this and give it back to my mother-in-law since she loves it so much (although I will say I don't see a difference with her skin either). I've been in denial and it's time that I suck it up and face the truth.

Save your money!

Product Review: Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation is described as a "truly modern foundation that offers invisible, weightless coverage that looks like skin, not makeup." I wanted to pick a foundation that wouldn't be too much for the workplace and thought this was perfect since it provides an appearance of skin, but better. Who wouldn't want that?

Pros

• very light coverage, yet covers my redness
• looks very natural
• comes with a pump

Cons

• my skin was oily within two hours
• transfers
• very poor lasting power

I think this foundation is probably best for people with normal to dry skin. Why? I have oily skin and it made me look like a grease-ball within two hours. I have tried to use it alone and with different primers, but they all gave me the same results.

I would pick my MUFE Face & Body foundation over Bobbi Brown Skin foundation, any day. Reasons? Sure.

• It's cheaper - not by much, but still
• Same coverage/appearance
• Longer lasting power
• Remains dewy (not greasy) throughout the day

So if that wasn't obvious, I am very disappointed with this foundation. If you have oily skin, you are probably better off with MUFE F&B. I ended up exchanging BB Skin for the Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation which I am much more happier with.

This concludes the review. Thanks for stopping by! =)

Review: Clinique All About Eyes Rich

Last year, I received a sample of All About Eyes by Clinique and loved it. After finding out Sephora will no longer be selling the RareMinerals line, I decided to give Clinique All About Eyes Rich a try.

I don't know what I was thinking... I guess because of the word "rich," I assumed that it would be better than the original.

This is my normal eyelid shape:

This is All About Eyes Rich did to it:

I was terrified - and very self-conscious because I had to go to work like this!

Obviously, I cannot give a thorough review because of my allergic reaction, but I will say that it has a very next texture, absorbs quickly, and doesn't leave the eye area looking or feeling greasy.

Please let me know if you have any HG eye creams. I'm still searching for one.

Review: EOS Lip Balm - Lemon Drop SPF15

At the beginning of September, I finished my EOS lip balm in Lemon Drop. Out of all of the lip balms I've used, this one hits one out of the ball park! What I love most about this product is the fact that it doesn't dry out my lips even after it wears off -- which is the problem I've encountered with other lip balms.

PROS

- 100% natural

- It has SPF15

- It makes my lips feel smooth

- Very hydrating

- Nice texture

- Nice scent

NEUTRAL

- Packaging. It's unique, but I find it too bulky to put it in my pockets.

CONS

- When I first opened it, the balm fell off! I pressed it into the base in hope I wouldn't have the same problem again -- it worked.

- It's easy for dust to get into the product even if it's closed. It doesn't get necessarily into the product, but where you open/close the lid. There's a little gap and it's seriously a dust magnet.

If you happen to run into these at the drugstore, I recommending getting Lemon Drop. It's the only one with SPF and the texture of it is much nicer than the other two.

So that's it for now. Thanks for stopping by. Ta-ta!

Review: Rock & Republic Contrived Pressed Blushes

Before we get started, I would like to apologize for my absence! My life is somewhat of a mess and that's pretty much all I can say. I've already made a ton of hauls after completing project 5 pan, but instead of trying to remember the stuff I bought in September (which is also my birthday month, btw!), I decided to start with a new slate. I'll be sure to keep you guys updated from now on -- which is after I receive my Sephora order!

Now that that's out of the way, let's get started with the review, shall we?

So these are the Rock & Republic Contrived Powder blushes. My husband surprised me with two while I was on project 5 pan and I decided to purchase more after I had completed my project. While these are $40 a pop, I got them for 50% off with a promotion code - plus it was only $0.99 for shipping [score!].

The packaging is very luxurious. It's a little heavier than an average blush and each blush contains 9 grams of product (which is almost 2x more than a NARS blush). However, I find the magnetic closure somewhat flimsy; it feels like a product I cannot throw in my purse because something can easily get into it.

These blushes are awesome! They are extremely pigmented, so you would have to use either a skunk blush or a very light hand. Plus, it takes very little effort to blend and layer the product onto the cheeks.

Out of all of the blushes, Spank & Bedroom are my top favorites. If you are familiar with MAC Rose Romance collection that came out last spring (link), Spank reminds me of what one of the beauty powders would look like if it was more pigmented. It gives such a youthful glow! Bedroom is a blush I find myself grabbing on an everyday reach since it goes with pretty much everything.

SWATCHES:

Pros:

• Packaging is very sleek with the exception of the magnet
• Very blendable
• Buildable
• Pigmented
• Not chalky
• There's a lot of product, so it will take a long time to hit pan
• Stays on all day

Cons:

• Magnetic closure is flimsy
• The packaging is somewhat bulky (although I have no problem with it... I know there are more people who will)

Although I can say that I love these blushes, I cannot justify paying $40 for a blush. I highly recommend them if you can get them for a good price (usually hautelook or Rock & Republic if the promotion code still works: rockcosmetics). For the amount of product you get, I understand the retail price... but I would rather pay $40 for a foundation than a blush.

Review: Juice Beauty Oil-Free Moisturizer

At the end of June, I was looking for a paraben-free moisturizer. I had just finished my Korres face moisturizer and although it was so good to me, I decided to move on since the jar was too insanitary; I needed a moisturizer with a pump. I was browsing around Sephora and stumbled on this product. Of course, I've heard nothing but great things from Juice Beauty, so I decided to give this item a try.

It's been a month and half since I've been using this moisturizer and so far, it's an ok product.

Pros:

1. It doesn't break me out.
2. It absorbs into the skin quickly.
3. A little goes a long way!
4. The scent is not overpowering.
5. It makes my skin looks good in the morning. -- I use this moisturizer at night.
6. It has a pump.

Cons:

1. It doesn't feel refreshing like it claims... In fact, I felt like my skin was burning at first. (You know the effect of Burt Bees lip balms on your lips? That minty refreshing feeling? Well this is supposed to do the same thing, but to your face.)
2. If you apply too much, it feels heavy on the skin.
3. It doesn't feel moisturizing enough for the winter time.

Overall, it's an o.k. moisturizer. It doesn't have a wow factor and it's obviously nothing special. While it does a good job moisturizing and keeping my skin balanced, it doesn't really do anything for my skin; I mean there are some benefits, but it doesn't compare to what other moisturizers have done for me.

Needless to say, I will not be repurchasing this moisturizer. Here's to another search for an HG moisturizer.

Thanks for stopping by. Ta-ta!

Review: Revlon Colorburst Lipsticks

These Revlon Colorburst lipsticks were released a few months ago and were hyped about all over the youtube and beauty blogging world. Although there are hundreds of reviews out there about these products, it was requested by a reader that I did a review on them.

Let's talk about packaging: The frontside and the backside of the lipsticks have a quilted pattern while the sides of the lipsticks have a matte-like finish to them. I can honestly say that I love it - it's cute, chic, and different!

The lipsticks have "REVLON" embossed onto them. They remind me of the Chanel lipsticks:

(In case you're wondering, this is a Rouge Allure Lipstick - 187 Genial)

As you can see, the lipstick is very true to color with the top [on the cap of the lipstick]. However, these lipsticks are not opaque (unless you don't mind building them), so they will not look that way on the lips.

Swatches:

Swatches on the lips:

PROS:

1. They're creamy.
2. Buildable.
3. Packaging is nice.
4. Easy to apply evenly.
5. It's not too glossy.
6. Great range of color selections.

CONS:

1. They can be drying to the lips. Just make sure your lips are moisturized and it should be fine.
2. Melts very easily.
3. The shape of the lipstick itself can be kind of a downfall if it's not something you're used to (it has a more pointed tip).

In terms of wear, it lasts like any other lipsticks would on me: 2-3 hours. It's not a big deal to me since I'm always either talking or chewing on something.

Would I repurchase? Yes, but only if I can get a BOGO deal. Otherwise, I don't think it's worth it since a MAC lipstick is only a few more dollars.

Thanks for stopping by. Ciao!

Review: Maybelline New York Ultra Liner (Waterproof)

If you are just starting out with eyeliner, I recommend using a liquid kind. It's not only the easiest way to line your upper-lashline, but it doesn't tug onto your skin... so you wouldn't have to worry about your delicate eye area.

This is the Waterproof Ultra Liner From Maybelline New York. It promises a thin brush for precise application and an all-day wear with no skipping or smearing.

First off, the brush is thin and easy to work with; it takes little effort to make a thin perfect line. I wish I had other compliments to give this product, but I honestly cannot do that. Within a few hours of wear, the liner would flake off my upper-lashline. If you have worked with dark eyeshadows and you have experienced fallout, that is the exact look it gave me (on my cheeks). In addition, you can literally peel it off as if you applied a thin black sticker onto your eyelids... Luckily, I was home when that happened... I don't know what I would have done if I was in public!

Pros:

- Thin brush (thin lines, but you can always make them thicker)

- Easy application

- Super black

Cons:

- It flakes off

Although I have listed more pros than cons, I consider the one con the most important of all. I highly doubt anyone would want to use a product that flakes off in the middle of the day...

Would I repurchase this? No.

Do I recommend a different product? Yes. L'Oreal Paris Lineur Intense!

Thanks for stopping by. Ciao!

Review: Korres Yogurt Cream

During the winter time, my skin especially the cheek and mouth area gets very dry and chapped. Not even makeup can hide that catastrophe — unless you want to emphasize your problem areas by putting powder/concealer/foundation on top of it! After doing some research online, I decided to purchase the Yoghurt Regimen Kit ($45) from Sephora which included generous samples of a face wash and an eye cream and full sizes of this moisturizer and mask. This is an extremely good deal since the Yogurt Cream moisturizer costs $32 alone. Anyway, my skin is naturally oily, but it was dehydrated because of the winter season. The description of the kit seemed very promising since I was going through said problems. I had nothing to lose… My skin was already suffering, right?

So I went ahead and bought the kit. And all I have to say is the Yogurt Cream moisturizer saved my skin during the winter time. After a few days, it magically healed my skin. I no longer had dry patches around my cheeks and I no longer had that flakey skin on my outer lip area. Life was good at this point.

Pros:


1. Goodbye dry and flakey skin
2. It absorbs quickly
3. No breakouts
4. Doesn't clog pores
5. Scent is not overpowering
6. Controls oil nicely
7. It changed my skin!

Cons:


1. The packaging. I wish it came in a pump instead of a jar simply because I feel like it invites too much bacteria whenever I open the jar. Don’t get me wrong, my hands are clean before I touch the product, but it being exposed to air whenever opened says enough to me. Maybe I’m just paranoid…

This is definitely my HG moisturizer for the winter season… It has done wonders no other moisturizers have done for my skin. I wake up seeing clear and glowey skin! I mean it – my face glows!

Overall, if you have oily/combination skin that’s feeling dehydrated, definitely give this product a try!