My lil sunday project

Shopping

Little pre-finals xmas gifts to myself >.<

How sweet are these chique-sports (cupped) bras from Material Girl?

Toasty

Got myself a nice, little fireplace for the living room.

Uses ethanol.
3/4 of the cup lasts for about 1 h 15 minutes.

$40 at Stokes !

Soon... soon...

My spending abilities were cock-blocked for 2 weeks due to my credit card being cloned.
Not this Friday though! Hopefully I get one of these puppies in my posession.

Mwahahahahaaaaa

Badass iPhone case

My obssession with studs has gone too far. They're now on my iPhone 4.

And the best part is? The girl who makes these cases made me a silver studs case at my request! Her usual ones are in a brass gold, but I'm a silver studser :)

Check out her store if you're interested in iPhone stud cases.

 Margaux Bonnie

China Glaze - Bermuda Breakaway

Nice navy creme.

It is very hard to find un-shimmered dupes for navy blues.

Similar colors:

Esther Lauder - Blue Dahlia

Rimmel - Midnight Blue

Borghese -  Mezzanotte Blue

 

China Glaze - Bermuda Breakaway

Garnier Eye-Roller

I really don't understand why all the beauty gurus out there are obssessing over this product.

Been using it for 2 weeks now, under-eye area still the same.

Happy Booster Blush

A very nice blush from Physicians Formula.

"Infused with our Happy Boost Blend featuring Happy skin and Euphoryl, natural plant extracts, which have been shown to promote a feeling of happiness by mimicking the effect of endorphins."

Also: " The sweet scent of violet provides a feeling of joy each time you apply."

Really science? Really?

You're lucky it has a cute packaging -_-

China Glaze - Something Sweet

Yummy creme candy pink!

Similar colors:

Essie - Pop-Art Pink
OPI - Pandamonium
Color Club -  Tutu

China Glaze - Something Sweet

China Glaze - Thunderbird

A gorgeous fire-hydrant metallic red.

Similar colors:

Essie -Bold and Beautiful
OPI - I'm Not Really a Waitress 
Zoya - Blair

China Glaze - Thunderbird

China Glaze - Agent Lavender

My usual nail polish colors tend towards all sorts of reds (creams or metallics), dark blues (sapphire metallics) and dark purples (cream or metallics).

I recently decided to make a few purchase on head2toebeauty.com for some Essie and OPI dupes in China Glaze's nail lacquers. I'm trying out a lot more pastel cream colors, for the first time really. So far, so good.

First tester was Agent Lavender.

Similar colors: 

China Glaze - Light as Air

Essie - Lilacism

OPI - Rumple's Wiggin'

OPI - Done out in Deco

China Glaze - Agent Lavender

Agent Lavender has more of a blue tone, more on photo than in person, but still remains part of the lavender/lilac family above.

Gel Liners

Everyone pretty much has their own way of using gel liners (or gel pots to some). Although most use it as their regular eyeliner, I personally enjoy using them for my waterline. Now this isn't the proper use of gel liners, but most use it for this anyways, since it does work. Most that I have tried manage to stay on my waterline far longer than any waterproof eyeliner pencil. I had tried 3 different brands so far and only one takes the cake when it comes to water resistance: L'Oréal's HIP.

I tried Maybelline's eyestudio pot liner and absolutely regret the purchase. Although I'm sure their liner is easy and wonderful for regular eyeliner use, it didn't pass the waterline test. The product came off minutes after application.

 

The more shocking failure was Stila's smudge pots. Now this is rather disappointing, considering Stila cosmetics are awesome and are reputed for their smudge pots. Well, like Maybelline, as I'm sure they do wonders as regular eyeliner and even as an eyeshadow base, they too failed the waterline test. In fact, the smudge pots were a challenge to apply. The product basically brittle's instantly once it touches your waterline and ends up everywhere in your eyelashes. I felt instant irritation just by trying to get the product on, and not as an allergic reaction, but just from playing around my waterline too much with it. Although, I will admit, for whatever amount I had managed to apply, the product sticks on VERY well, but the application was too annoying to bare to attempt ever again :'(

L'Oréal's HIP color truth cream eyeliner kicks absolute waterline ass. The product is simple to apply and stays on for long periods. It's the only gel liner I am able to bare and swear by  (until I find better :3).

Shu Uemura Eyelash curler

I had purchased a while back what was apparently an award winning eyelash curler from Shu Uemura. Everybody curling their lashes in tutorials were pretty much using this one particular curler. So I figured, why not, I wanted to be cool too XD.

 So.. what exactly is so special about this curler? 

I mean, it does the job that every other eyelash curler does.

I need enlightenment on this curler's AWARD-WINNING SUPER ABILITIES because it doesn't come across as anything out of the ordinary.

Pro Longwear is Long

One product I feel has been overlooked by the make-up community is M.A.C's Pro Longwear Lipcolor.

This is a line of lip products where the lip color sticks to your lips for a LONG time.

It's a cream consistency which you coat only once and let dry for about 2-3 minutes. Afterwards, you coat it with a clear gloss to give it a moisturized look.

in the color Unchanging

These colors shouldn't fade through anything. They last even when eating and drinking.

I like how I don't need to rub my lips together every few minutes to make sure my lipcolor isn't drying off. The color pretty much stays put.

I do have to say though, after a while, I felt as if the product began to slowly brittle. Obviously these types of lip products last a good deal through the toughest events like eating and drinking, but eventually would need a tiny re-application. Meh, maybe my lips weren't properly exfoliated.


Note: If you are someone who compulsively changes lip colors throughout the day, you may not necessarily like this product: It's a bitch to take off. Using baby wipes or water doesn't get the job done, you want to use an oil-based make-up remover, which I'm not sure we all carry around in our cosmetic bags (except you crazy ones out there O_o!)

Cover Girl made a similar product called Cover Girl Outlast Double Lipshine Lipgloss. They both do the same job and last about the same amount of time. The only difference is the shades.
M.A.C's lipcolor (above) is the only shade I am (currently) able to stand. It's very close to M.A.C's Fabby Lustre lipstick. Cover Girl's colors are very misleading. One simple, dicrete shade appeared quite loud and darker when applied. Not very helpful and ended up being a waste of money.

What do you think?

LipstiX

These are, in my opinion, the perfect everyday shades.

I personally cannot wear matte colors, I feel they give my lips an enlarged, flat-colored and overly fake look (excluding bright reds... those are intended). Lustre, Frost and Pearl finish lipsticks are absolutely stunning when paired with lip gloss or mixed around among each other. They apply sheer to give a slight shine or sparkle and can also be built up to appear darker (to a certain degree of course). If they are too shimmery, you can easily dim them down with a cream lip gloss and you will have a perfect balance of both.

Here are the girls:

From Left to Right (and Top to Bottom): 

Frost - Fabby by M.A.C

Lustre - Politely Pink by M.A.C

Lustre - Plink! by M.A.C

Pearl - Luminous Pink by Revlon

The Plink! lipstick is a tad more coral in person than it is bright pink in the first photo.

Frost lipsticks by M.A.C are darker and more pigmented than Lustre shades, but no where near as dark and rich as matte lipsticks. They also carry a lot more shimmer and sparkle than other finishes.

Lustre lipsticks are very sheer and give a nice, smooth and moisture-rich look, also with a tad shimmer.

In the Revlon family, Pearl finishes are somewhat a cross between both.

They're all simple and perfect everyday shades and suit just about every shape of lip and shade of skin.

CHI vs. ghd

Time to retire the ol' Babyliss and make way for a Ghd or CHI straightener.

But which?!

What is it which makes each one so unique?

Everyone has a solid 50/50 opinion regarding both brands. They are extremely well known, have the best, or standard, ceramic plates that evenly spread heat and occasionally come in unique designs. The only variations I have seen for myself are the prices, which isn't going to affect my decision, considering I can find both for the same prices on eBay (in brand new condition, of course).

 

vs.

So what's the deal? WHICH BRAND DOES ONE PICK?!?!
/halp

Facial Cleansers

So why do people spend so much money on what's essentially soap in a bottle that washes away impurities from your face?

Cleansers cleanse... That's about it. 

If you have oily skin, your cleasner will wash away the oil. If you have dry skin, the oil-based cleanser you're using (and should be) will help moisten your dry skin's surface and make moisturizer absorption easier. Whatever non-washing properties are advertised on the product (such as added moisturizers or vitamins) are all gimmicks. It's 'soap' that gets washed away by water.... So how would these things even get inside your skin? They don't.

I've had my fair share of cleansers, from Clean & Clear as a teen, to Vichy, Ole Henriksen, Philosophy and even everyone's supposedly favorite: Cetaphil.

All great products, they all do the job, but they do the same job, and they're all priced quite differently. Buying a $30 cleanser which does the same job as a $9 cleanser isn't very economic. Heck, it's just not smart.

It's very hard to narrow down what product is right for you since every company will have at least 10 different types of cleansers, each for a different skin type. Holy shit, I just want to wash my face!

People will determine the type of cleanser consistency they need by the skin type they have. For example, consultants will advise you to reach for a foam consistent cleanser if you have combination/oily skin or a liquid-consistency AND oil-based cleanser for dry skin. Does the cleanser consistency even make a difference in the job or result? Don't know, and I haven't had anyone justify it to me...yet. I personally haven't seen much of a difference, asides that I prefer foams rather than liquids (because it's a personal preference in consistency, but they both did the same job).

Obviously buy what's right for you, but keep in mind that they're all doing the same job: Cleaning your face of impurities. Nothing more. In my opinion, use that extra money and invest in a good and age-appropriate facial moisturizer, that's the facial product that really counts.

And regarding exfoliators... Well, just buy what works. Heck you can even make your own with sugar, honey and olive oil. It's inexpensive, natural and the most effective facial exfoliator.

Don't be fooled by the smart and cutesey packaging, just because a product is nicely presented, doesn't mean it's worth the price (You would be surprised how much more of your money goes into the presentation and packaging, rather than the actual product). DAMN YOU EVIL CORPORATIONS AND YOUR PRETTY BOTTLES!

And on a side note, someone explain to me why Cetaphil made their cleanser look and feel like jizz? It's just not right....

 

.... Oh please like you haven't thought it either -_-

Anti-Aging Serums and Creams - The Ultimate Prevention?

Girls seem to think that using anti-aging serums early on (in their 20s specifically) is the key trick to avoiding wrinkles when they get older.

Not true.

There IS such a thing as prevention, but learn how to prevent properly or rather, slow the process.

Using anti-aging serums, whether on a daily basis or a weekly treatment, can eventually grant your skin immunity from the effects as you grow older. You believe you're preventing now, perhaps, but later on, whether in your 30s, 40s or 50s, you're still going to see wrinkles. It's inevitable.

So don't blast your face with a ton of anti-aging products now, you'll just be wondering why they're not working on your skin later on. 

Do things gradually. 

Rather than using anti-aging serums, just ask your dermatologist or even any certified cosmetician which moisturizer is appropriate for you, based on your skin type and age group.

By regularly exfoliating your face and using a basic (preferably natural) moisturizer, you're helping your skin retain its youth and suppleness. Be gentle with your skin now. Don't feed it chemicals it doesn't need. Worry about that later on, but if you take things lightly now, you won't even have to ;D

Tips:

* After washing your face, rub on moisturizer. Let it set for about 3-5 minutes.

* If you plan to wear makeup, apply facial primer. It will act as a barrier between your makeup and your moisturizer.

* Use (unscented) baby wipes to remove all your makeup and wash your face thoroughly afterwards. Mist some rose water all over your face and let your skin soak up the moisture. It's refreshing and a wonderful way to give your skin some love :3

* Drink 7 bottles of water a day (500ml each). This will just help your entire body keep hydrated.

* Bi-weekly or monthly mashed avocado masks or cucumber slices are nice, natural treatments, but optional.

Personal Picks (my age and skin appropriate moisturizers):

  

 

Hope in a Jar by Philosophy

Dramatically different moisturinzing Lotion by Clinique

Aqua Sensation by Nivea

You will notice that these companies have even designed heavy-duty moisturizers for older skin, such as When Hope is Not Enough by Philosophy and Dramatically different moisturizing Gel (not Lotion) by Clinique.

 

So save yourself the extra money and keep it simple. Educate yourself on what is AGE appropriate for you. The type of girls that tend to over-use anti-aging serums early on tend to be the same ones that will seek out botox injections later on in life.

I don't think any of us here want to end up looking like Joan Rivers :\

Tea Baggin'

Ya, you were thinking it....

Everyone loves to cozy up to a nice cup of soothing tea during the cold season. So why not make it a little more creative...

 

  

 

:::More gadgets for tea lovers:::

That sharky is MINE

Big Sexy Hair vs Fat Hair

Back from a tiresomeeeee and longggg day at work and have the strange urge to talk about shampoos. Makes sense.

Well my last attempt at "volumizing" my hair through shampoos and conditioners was with Fat Hair products. Although I have spent more time testing the products, my thoughts on Fat Hair remain the same: It sucks.

Knowing about Big Sexy Hair's on-going popularity, I decided to give it a try. Got myself a 2L bottle on special for $11 CAD, rather than the regular retail price at $24+.

The shampoo didn't give my hair significant volume, but did give a small lift and more importantly, a change in my hair's texture.

When using volume shampoos, in general, you will notice overtime how your hair's texture will feel different, particularly when blow-drying.

I noticed, for both Big Sexy Hair AND Fat Hair, that while blow-drying, my hair has become more straw-like and difficult to brush through. The volume-enhancing ingredient in these products simply gives your hair a more coarse or straw-like texture, which then gives you the feeling of thicker hair.

Because this becomes so difficult to brush through, you will be ripping out and splitting more hairs.

I did notice a slight, but not significant change in my hair's volume, but it would be wrong to re-purchase this product at the risk of breaking off my hairs. A very unhealthy choice.

Although, If you are someone who doesn't mind breaking off hairs or simply wants to see the results of these types of shampoos for themselves, I would honestly recommend Big Sexy Hair, since I did see few results.

Unless there actually is a miracle, volume-enhancing shampoo (or conditioner) which exists and does not cause hair breakage, I have yet to hear about its existence >.>

Guess it's back to sprays :\