Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Eminence Organic Skin Care Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant







The  rice based exfoliant is safe for all skin types and can be used daily. The exfoliant is packed with good for you ingredients such as strawberry extracts, salicylic acid, ascorbic acid, vitamins, lactic acid, rice, chickpea flour, thermal mud, oats, Coenzyme Q10, and Alpha Lipoic Acid. The scrub promises to exfoliates and removes impurities to brighten skin and shrink pores. The powder scrub is very easy to use. I like how you can make the scrub dry or more liquidy by adding water. I usually like my scrubs a bit drier although, I do have sensitive skin and does make my skin a bit raw but I feel like I get a more thorough clean. My skin does feel a bit tight after using the scrub but when I followed up with lotion my skin felt soft, smooth and dewy.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Stila Artful Eye Collector's Edition Volume 3





















I bought this during the Black Friday deal with Sephora for around $10. The 5 eyeshadow are bold and highly pigmented.  They went on smooth [except the blue one is a bit gritty] and very easy to blend. Only bad thing is the color doesn't stay put for long. They wear out after a couple of hours even with a primer.

Monday, April 28, 2014

Crazy Rumor Bee My Honey Lip Balm














The 100% all natural, cruelty free and vegan friendly is sweet scented like honey. The shea butter packed lip balm is moisturizing and left my lips soft and smooth. The lip balm is highly addictive as it left my lip with a sweet taste. I actually preferred it a lot more than Burt’s Bees Honey lip balm.

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Julep Nail Polish - Felicia



















Just in time for spring, I decided to crack open one of my recent Julep purchases. The bright mint green is sprinkled with black glitter. It reminds me a bit of speckled eggs or those robin egg type of candy. Oh no, I am craving some candy again!

The nail polish did pretty fast and had a nice shiny sheen. It does have a bit of a raised surface but if you put on a top coat, it makes the surface smooth.  I got 3 to 4 days before my nails start chipping even without a top coat. I hope they come out with more special effect nail polishes soon :)

Saturday, April 26, 2014

Allure September 2013



Editors’ Favorites
Giorgio Armani Rouge Ecstasy in Scarlatto
Benefit Gimmer Brow in Medium/Deep
Orly Matte FX Lacquer
Lancome DreamTone Corrector
Toni & Guy Shine Gloss Serum
Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow in bonne Etolle
L’Oreal Paris Colour Riche Eyeliner in Violet and Cobalt

Personalize Your Perfume
The Basics
1. Skin is not the place to experiment -  to be certain a scent combination works, test it on fine blotting paper - or even a tissue. The thin material absorbs fragrance similar to the way skin does, giving you an accurate idea of how it will smell once you dab it on
2. Sniff out olfactory bullies - spray two scents in your bathroom and walk away for a few minutes. If you can detect only one when you return, that perfume is most likely going to dominate on your skin, too.
3. Don’t decant several fragrances into one bottle  - instead, wear different scents on separate body parts. Instead, wear different scents on separate body parts. Confine heavier ones to pulse points [the base of the neck, crooks of arms, backs of the knees, and wrists] where body temperature is higher. Body heat diffuses and distributes fragrance more evenly.  Place lighter scents in prominent points, such as the tops of your shoulders.
4. Start strong - dip cotton swabs in the scents you’re combining, and apply the strongest one to skin first, giving it a chance to air. Finish with the lightest.
5. Combine different concentrations - apply a single drop of eau de parfum on your wrists or inner elbows. Spritz lighter eau de toilettes into the air and walk through.
6. Layer by lathering - pick a fragrance you love, then find bath products with a matching scent. Start with a body wash, apply moisturizer, and finish with perfume.

Tricks of the Trade
1. Give a sweet or ultra feminine scent more edge by layering  a fresh, clean men’s cologne like CK one on top.
2. Try transitioning your scent  from day to night. If you start out wearing an airy floral, like freesia, spritz on heady gardenia or tuberose to give it more depth and staying power. Warm, fleshy notes, such as amber and musk, also intensify lighter daytime fragrances.
3. Powerful raw materials, such as oud, and gourmand notes, like vanilla, are the most difficult to layer because they instantly overwhelm other scents.
4. Rose is one of the most versatiles, identifiable notes around. It adds decadence and a hint of romance to any scent, but for a real impact, use it to transform a familiar or iconic fragrance.
5. Found a combination you love? Dab pure almond oil on your skin, then layer those fragrances on top of it. The concentrated base helps it last longer.
6. You can turn up the sex appeal of any fragrance by blending it with vetiver, a woodsy - scented oil distilled from grass.

Dry Shampoo Surprises-
Dry shampoo sops up oil and preserves blowouts, but that’s just the beginning. Here, three uses you might not have considered .
1. Get a grip - coat bobby pins before slipping them into the hair. It gives them a rough, matte texture so they won’t budge.
2. Fake lift - spray it on roots and mist the rest of the hair with salt spray for amazing, tease-free volume
3. Add bulk - tousle dry shampoo through midlengths or on a ponytail to create fullness

Mastering Nail Sticker
1. Prep and clean nails just as you would for a manicure with regular nail polish
2. Pick or snip a sticker to fit every nail. Pick a sticker that’s larger than your nail. Before applying, cut away the excess from the sides using nail scissors and make the rounded end straighter or more curved depending on the shape of your nail. If you don’t have to trim, err on the small side, since a too-wide sticker will bunch.
3. Don’t skip basecoat - it helps nail stickers adhere. Press them on before the base coat completely dries and it acts a glue
4. Warm the stickers slightly by rubbing it between your fingers to make it more flexible
5. Anchor the round edges at the base of the cuticle. holding the tip, stretch it over the entire nail. Seal down the middle and perimeter with your fingers, and flatten any wrinkles or bubbles with an orange stick.
6. To remove the excess length, gently skim a nail file - downward only - over the tip of the nail. Sawing from side to side can tear the wrap.
7. Use a top coat - it locks in shine, keeps the edge from peeling, and generally from a quickie mani look a whole lot more ground.