Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Tutorial: Making a sample lip pallette

So, today is a new day. Time for a new font color and font thingie! So, before I make my packaged delivery (new swapping), I decided to make a tutorial on a sample lip pallette. You can use this when sending an extra, for travel, if you're super OCD and like to order things, I dont know. Its good for that. XD
What you need:

  • A plastic knife. I used a stupid spoon b/c I didn't have one.
  • An empty shadow or quad or duo or whatever plastic thing. You know those MAC empty black containers you back to MAC for? I'm not talking about the pan thing. You'll see what I mean. I'm using an sample sized Estee Lauder quad.
  • Lipsticks of choice (I used Romantic Red, Airy Fairy, Mango Tango, and Violet Shine)
  • Rubbing alcohol to sanitize
  • Something to melt the lipsticks. I used my incandesent lamp. You can melt the lipsticks before hand in a little tin thing over the stove and pour it in. Whatever gets the job done.

Instructions

  • It goes without saying. SANITIZE. OR ELSE. Do you know how much bacteria is on this? Gross.
  • I already did three pan things. So, cut a little bit of the lipstick. I'm doing Romantic Red by Ulta. Put the slice in the empty eyeshadow pot place.
  • <-- See how there is no eyeshadow tin thing? It's just the plastic.
  • Melt it down. I held it under a lightbulb. If you do that, make sure to really keep it steady. All the other lipsticks will also melt down and you want a nice flat surface right? Okay! Moving forward. If you don't have enough to cover the plastic bottom, just slice off some more slivers and pop that in there.
  • Cool. If theres nasty residue on the sides (like I do), just wipe that off with a q-tip. The end result is on the right.
Yes, I know that the picture isn't right side up, but I'm not going to change it. Isn't it cute? I love it.

Words of Wisdom
  • Do yourself a favor, and don't use those eyeshadow things with the hole in the bottom. Examples are Milani or Revlon Matte. When you go to depot the shadow metal tin, you can find a hole (sometimes) on the bottom hidden usually by a label. DON'T USE THESE. I've learned the hard way.... Don't even ask.

<3>










Monday, April 27, 2009

Swapping "Haul"

Sooo... Today, I have finally recieved the three packages that I have been so anxiously waiting for. I will be reviewing and showing what I have aquired from this so called "haul". Beware, this will be a long post. Plenty of pictures to break up the wordss. So, I will be sorting this by who gave me what. K? okay! Let's begin with the Frosted Lilac eyeshadow from NYX and Romantic Red lipstick from Ulta. I traded a lipilicious lipgloss in Dipped Strawberries and a Sally hansen nail polish in Sand Lots.

The three packets on the bottom are sample eyedust things. One is actually a pale pink, the other is a salmon pink and the middle is the fuschia. There doesn't seem to be much in there but whatever. The Romantic red is AMAZING. I just love the color. I find it to be a good neutral red. I was thinking about going to MAC or Clinique to get a red, but this is good enough. NYX eyeshadows are actually not that bad for a d/s like brand. I'm calling it drugstore because its kinda cheap. Anywayy, they're soft but they show up ugly like on my camera. It looks BLUE. It's a lilac color with a frost finish (hence the name Frosted Lilac). So, the camera really gets the sheen from that. They are pigmented enough. It's definately more pigmented than a covergirl eyeshadow. About the level of HIP shadows for me. And those are pretty damn pigmented. Excuse the language
NEXTTTT with new colorrr. I swapped a body splash in Love Spell with samples of Pear Glace and Pure Seduction for a Mango Tango Lipstick from Loreal. I also got Lancome sample shadows in Petal and something else. I think that I got a sample perfume from FCUK from her, but I could be mistaken. I also got samples of the Thermasilk shampoo/conditioner.

I am quite happy with the Mango Tango. It's pretty pigmented. It is actually a color juice stick by Loreal. It's supposed to be a cross between a gloss and a lipstick. I like it a lot. The pigmentation is nice and it's a rosy color. I was afraid that it would be too warm, but it has enough brown, but not a lot. It's definately smooth and creamy, but not sticky like a lipgloss. It leaves serious "cup stains" which is my word for when your lipstick leaves a mark on the rim of the cup. I'm going to have to find a way to combat that. Noone likes a lipstick stain like that. Anyway, that's not even the point. I would buy this on my own, except for the fact that this is 10 dollars. I don't believe that I would pay 10$ for a drugstore lipstick. I'd rather take that money and save for a MAC or Clinique lipstick. I'm glad that I got this in a swap. Lancome is a pale pink and purple. Pink is not even visible. Whatever.
Lastly, 3 bare minerals empty sample jars for 2 styli-style pencils. No extras, but who cares. I'm not picky about that. I'm happy for them so I can melt my lipsticks down. I want to do that with my NYC violet shine because the packaging sucks. I should do a tutorial about turning empty eyeshadow into travel kits for lipsticks. I'll do that LATER after exams and after I have enough lipsticks to make a worthy pallete.

Blahblah. That was pretty boringgg.
Well, it was fun talking to you ladies <3>








Friday, April 24, 2009

Drugstore Lipstick: Violet Shine


Hello hello ladies, how are you today? So, I decided on a whim to pick up a NYC lipstick. The one that I got was Ultra Moist Lipwear. It comes with a round cap and it doesn't twist all the way down. Like you can see the tip and thats annoying. But more on that later. I'm actually quite impressed with the color. It is NOT the strange violet you see on the website. It's more of a berry pink color.

The color is definately my color. It's basically, my lips plus some berries. I love it. The smell is definately a plus. I'd classify it as a fruit ish smell, but you can't smell it unless you shove the thing into your nostril, which is not something I'd recommend doing. After Rimmel's lipstick, this is much better.
I don't believe that it's very moisturizing at all. I feel like it sinks into your lips, but still manages to get that lipstick bit onto a glass cup. But besides that, I'd call it almost transfer proof, if that even makes any sense. My lips feel dry, instead of moistureized. I'd recommend using a chapstick on top or underneath. Have I mentioned that this is only 99 cents? Much better.
What I really hate is the fact that the lipstick doesn't twist all the way down. A little tip is present. It's good that you can see it, but it's really easy to smush the tip when you're in a hurry and you close the tube badly. Like it's so easy to just take the cap and slice the tip in half. This will have to be melted down... after I get a lipbrush.
Also, i hate how the top is jiggly. Like it can fall off at any minute. Again, I recommend melting it down into a better and more secure jar. You'll save your belongings and lipstick that way.
I'm not too crazy about the non-moisturizing ness but I'll deal with it.
In the end, I definately recommend this, which is surprising because I've tried this brand before. The eyeliner, mascara, eyeshadow kinda sucked. I hated them. The only reason why I picked this up is because on Makeupalley, people seem to like this.... I dont' know. It's so much better than Rimmel with it's play-doh-ey smell. Save your 5.50 and get 5 of these instead.
Toodles <3







Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Makeup coupon Codes!

I subscribe to everything. Like literally everything, which is only good usually if you shop online. Well.... I don't. I also hate to see deals go to waste, so here are some of those codes that are perhaps useful to you.
MAC:
Free shipping with any purchase now to the 27th (next monday)- use code ROSE
Btw, the lady's eyebrows on the rose romance ad are beautiful. I love sleek and skinny eyebrows
Estee Lauder:
2 free "eyeopeners" aka mascara and eyecream plus free standard shipping with any 50$ purchase- Use EYEPAIR
I don't know how long this lasts, so hurry!
Bloomingdales:
20% off for almost all regular and sale price purchases for fashion, kids and home-Use SPRINGFF. This lasts until Sunday, April 26th
Clinique:
With any purchase, FREE standard shipping and a Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief. This ends Thursday, April 23rd. Use -BRONZER.
Mark by Avon:
With any 20$ purchase, get free shipping. Use- MFS20
Bath and Body Works:
With any 65$ purchase, get free shipping. Use- FREESHIP65
Well, thats all for now. Happy shopping!
<3>


Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Rimmel Airy Fairy

Before we get started, I would like to say the URBAN DECAY PRIMER POTION now has a BENT wand.
I think that i would like to try this out for myself =]. I currently am using Lumene eyebase (discontinued in the USA). I'm not too happy with it, but whatever.
Rimmel Airy fairyyy.... I'm sold on the color. Everyone seems to like birthday suit, but I don't like the colors. I saw swatches, and they looked too orange for me. This is a nice mauvy pink color. It goes on super sheer. What it claims:
Locks colour to lips for up to 8 hours wear. 50% more colour. Soft, smooth, comfortable formula.

What I say: I'm really skeptical when anything claims stuff like 16 hr wear! Last though breakfast, lunch, dinner whatever! Especially lipsticks and drugstore stuff. Aka Covergirl's long lasting lip color thing. No. just no. i mean the outlast lipstains lasted for 1 hr, the eyeliners sucked. So yeah.... I mean 8 hrs is okay for a drugstore claim. Its not outrageous (think maybelline 9x volume?! I don't believe it). It lasts for 4 hours, with 2 meals in between. That's not that bad actually. But, its not transfer proof at all. It comes off on my lipgloss.

50% more color? I wouldn't know. I dont own the old ones. It is soft, smooth and comfortable... except for the smell. THE SMELL IS DISGUSTING. Like good thing that its not long lasting at all. It's a mix between playdoh, vanilla frosting and some fake fruit stuff that you find on old people. Isn't that gross? You need a lipgloss to cover that up. wow. But it goes away after a while, it has redeemed itself. not really. ==
Swatch/ color:
In all, I'm mildly impressed by the quality. You expect these drugstore stuff to be horrible. It's only 5.50 (as compared to something like 14.50 at MAC or Clinique). I'm not EAGER to try all the other colors, but if I see something I like, i'll try it.
Toodles <3

Friday, April 17, 2009

Swap Results

Sooo... I have finally completed my swap with xxoomdj. She's such a nice girl and I had such a good time. I'm also so happy with all the samples I got. I felt kind of bad because all I sent was a couple of perfume samples, but I got samples of Estee Lauder shadow (quad), Lancome shadow duos, a styli-style pencil in brown (flat liner) and an Sally Hansen khol thing.
I refuse to use the khol thing and the flat liner because they are super old. Love the shadows, but the Estee Lauder quad was a real bitch to depot. Yes, I'm obsessed with depotting shadows into my CD case magnetic palette (Learned from Enkore on youtube. LOVE!) Lancome was so easy because on the back, theres those holes to push the shadows out. But the tin has little ridges on the bottom so its a real pain to get the glue off. Oh and how hard is it to depot those shadows from the Estee Lauder Quad? I had to pick out the shadows, then REPRESS them. I was nicking all the shadows like crazy. Wow.
Pictures of the Extras: BTW. I traded for a Revlon nail polish, Iced Mocha





Sunday, April 12, 2009

Swapping!

Soo.. Yesterday, I just sent out two packages to swap with 2 members of makeupalley.com. yay! This is my first swap ever on there, and I'm super excited!
Happy Easter Everyone!

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Revlon Matte Shadow- Rich Sable

Okay, I actually bought this a while back, but I haven't had time to really experiment with it and test it out. Also, I will be doing a small review on the color Venetian Blue, but not in depth because its my sisters, not mine. Okay, lets begin with Rich Sable, number 009 (I think) This is a rich dark brown. I don't see any reddish undertones at all. It's pretty neutral.


Isn't great? I really like it. The left is with no base and the right is with base. I was actually surprised at the level of pigmentation, especially since it is a d/s brand. C'mom, its Revlon, not Urban Decay.


It claims to be: Suede-like powder eye shadow glides over lids, providing high impact color and a soft matte finish.


Yes, its pretty soft. I actually like this thing. It's not chalky like Maybelline expert eyeshadow duos. Those just sucked. Oh and those stripes I was talking about... they aren't stripes. They're ridges. The eyeshadow isn't flat like most shadows. It has a mountain-like structure on the top. You know those paper fans that kids make to keep cool? Well put that on a table and thats what a Revlon shadow looks like. It's mildly irritating, but I'll get over it.


Now, Venetian Blue in 006? Wow, this shade is really nice. It looks like a dupe for MACs electric eel. I wouldn't know because I don't own electric eel, but I've heard from people on youtube. haha.


Wow, my camera sucks, but what can I do? Anyway, its pretty obvious that the one on the right is the eyeshadow with base. Isn't it so pigmented? It's incredible. I'm actually impressed, and I'm impressed by nothing. Seriously. I'm totally jealous of my sister and I must get one for myself.

I cannot wait to try out the other colors actually. I want Aubergine (dk. purple), Riviera Blue (Navy), Venetian Blue, and Tempting Teal




Tuesday, April 7, 2009

New nail polish!

Helloo. So, today I went out and bought a Milani nail polish in Winter Wine, Rich Sable eyeshadow (from the Revlon Matte collection) and Wholesome Earth from the Sally Hansen maximum growth plus Nourishing nail color.
First, the Milani and Wholesome Earth swatches


Yes haha. The swatches (above) were made on an SAT word flash card. I'm such a nerd like that. Anyway, the one to the right would be Wholesome Earth while the one to the left is Milani's Winter Wine. Let's start with Winter Wine.

I LOVE THIS COLOR. On the website, it says that it is a fuschia color, but I find it more of a berry/fuschia color. It's kind of comparable to Covergirl's lipstain in Plum Pout. Whatever. I just really like how well it looks. In darker places, it looks berry-ish but in full sunlight, it really looks fuschia. Nice. It works well without a base/top coat, but I do so anyway because I dont like my nails to turn yellow-ey or become stained. Doesn't chip too much (unlike Orly top coat coughcough worst thing EVER)

Wholesome Earth is NOT like what you see on the website. It's not this strange almost black color. Its more of a purple brown. It's the swatch on the right of the index card. It supposedly has vitamins A,C,E and soy protein. It says so on the little teardrop sticker on the cap/brush thing. I'm not sure if it really helps to nourish my nails... I can't really tell but whatever.

Ingrediants:Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol/Trimellitic Anhydride Copolymer, Nitrocellulose, Triphenyl Phosphate, Trimethyl Pentanyl Diisobutyrate, Stearalkonium Bentonite, Ethyl Tosylamide, Diacetone Alcohol, Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate, Tosylamide/Epoxy Resin, Stearalkonium Hectorite, Etocrylene, Benzophenone-1, Citric Acid, Retinyl Palmitate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Calcium Pantothenate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Dimethicone. May Also Contain: Calcium Sodium Borosilicate, Silica, Polyethylene Terephthalate. May Contain: Titanium Dioxide, Red 6 Lake, Red 7 Lake, Red 30 Lake, Red 34 Lake, Yellow 5 Lake, Bismuth Oxychloride, Guanine, Iron Oxides, Ferric Ferrocyanide, Mica, Violet 2, Aluminum Powder.

Whew, thats a lot of ingredients, but what do you expect? Nail polish isn't exactly filled with natural ingredients.

What I really love about this color is that you can layer it on for more intensity. What I don't like about this is that it goes on kinda streaky ish. Like it doesn't settle onto the nail too well or something. You know when you put on nail polish and it settles/evens out on its own? Yeah, well this doesn't do that. So.. you definately need a second coat on that. It doesn't really take away from the color, but it's definately kind of annoying.

I still need to try the Revlon Matte... so yeah. I'm actually really interested in the line pattern on the shadow. It's wierd, but w/e

Toodles <3

Friday, April 3, 2009

Random Ranting

Today officially marks the beginning of SPRING BREAK! OMG YAYY! Well, I still need to do work (as always) but its a good time to procrastinate a bit and maybe get some more clothing/makeup and get more songs off Itunes.
Like Lady Gaga. I love her. seriously.
I'm in love with her song Disco Heaven. It's one of the songs that I will love forever so far, along with Armaggeddon- Alkaline Trio, Morseton- Heiko&Maiko, and What you waiting for?- Gwen Stefani.Yes, three of these songs are house music ish songs. Haha.
However, I do hate Miley Cyrus. I just don't like the songs. Sorry to all you Miley Cyrus fans out there.
You know what I really hate though? How CVS's prices are a tad bit higher than other places. It's really annoying. Its not like I live near anywhere else (walking distance wise). I mean yes, its like a dollar more expensive or like 40 cents whatever, but after a while, things add up. And the extrabucks or whatever isn't too great. Yes, it's nice to get money back, but its like every 50$ you spend you get 1$ back. But sometimes theres the buy 20$ of loreal and get 5$ back... which is okay. Haha.
you know, i wish that I lived near a walgreens. I want to pick up some ecotools, try those Wet and wild eye pot things, and yeah. CVS doenst have those things.
speaking of eyeshadows, HATE maybelline/covergirl ones. I like the Loreal ones aiightish. I like how they are pigmented, but sometimes, not true to color. I believe that I have three duos in Gunmetal (olive/ supposedly emerald green), Spirited (bright blue and dk navy), and Gilded (True gold and a gross brown/grey/black thingie). got 7.99, its okay. I believe they are a dollar cheaper other places? someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Maybelline and covergirl stuff arent THAT great. I dont know. But I do like Covergirls' professional mascara. Its in the purple tube. Its decent.
Now, I must go back to working on my Chem lab. <3>

Thursday, April 2, 2009

Pain-Free eyebrow plucking MIRACLE

Let me be the first to admit it. I'm such a baby. I cannot tolerate any pain at all. It's slightly pathetic. When I was like 7 or 8, i would start SCREAMING and crying and throwing a tantrum at the doctor's office BEFORE the needle was even stuck into my arm. In other words, I'm a sissy.
Yet, I wanted to pluck my eyebrows (at age 16... not 7 haha). I tried once with my Trim tweezers (they're okay. I have to pick up the tweezermans at walgreens. I believe you can get them there. They're on the Walgreens website). Wow. It hurts. I mean I am an admitted pain baby, but this is ridiculous. It's like getting the flu shot on your eyebrows.
Well.. maybe its not that bad, but still. It hurt. Then, I found this cream/gel thing called ANBESOL! YAYY! It's supposed to be a pain relief thing. Let's pull up the website: http://www.anbesol.com/
Okay, no nvm. This description is really long. But in short, it's a numbing gel that takes away pain from cold sores etcetc. It sells for 7.99 at CVS for .33 oz. Right now, there this coupon for 1 dollar off. This works. Really well. Reallyreally well.
Okay, not THAT well, but it does take away the pain of eyebrow plucking. And don't expect for it to be like "OMG I CANNOT FEEL MY EYEBROWS! BOTOX LIKE!". No. You actually don't feel anything. You'll know that it's working when you go to pull on the hair, and it just slides out with minimal pain. Also, you can't just squish out this microscopic bit and expect it to be effective. No, you have to slop it on. Not that much, but enough.
Love this thing. Hate how its 7.99 for the tube, but what do you expect me to do? Scream my butt off everytime I pluck my eyebrows? No. I'll take that thank you.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Neutrogena Hand Cream FTW!

OMG I LOVE THIS HAND CREAM. This is the best thing ever. It's the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream. The picture is on the left (?)
Taken from thier website, www.neutrogena.com: The Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream provides prompt relief for even seriously dry, chapped hands. It's so concentrated that a small amount instantly leaves dry hands noticeably softer and smoother. And it's not just for hands. Use it on your elbows, knees, face and lips- anywhere your dry skin needs extra help.
Ingredients: Water Purified, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Dilauryl Thiodipropionate, Sodium Sulfate
That was from drugstore.com
This is avalible (is that how you spell that? o.0) in 2.0 oz and in the larger size body lotion. The hand cream is either unscented, or scented, and you can get this with the age shield thingie with 30 SPF. I have the fragrance-free one, with no SPF.
This retails for around 3.29 ish at walgreens to 4.79 (?) at CVS.
What I love about this product is that it works... and not for just a short amount of time. I'm such a lotion junkie. There are some horrible lotions that dry your skin out, but this keeps it moisturized foreverrr. It comes out like this clear gel. Kinda has the consistancy of hair gel, but not sticky-ish. Once you start rubbing this in your dry skin, it will turn white, but keep rubbing and it'll dissapear. Yes, there is this strange sticky sensation but it'll go away. I've learned to just ignore it.
Don't use too much. Then it'll be really hard to rub in. This is "super concentrated" remember? And it's super great for elbows. I like it alot.
4.79 can be a little steep for some because it is only a 2.0 oz. However, I find the price to be decent because it lasts for such a long time. I've had my original tube for like 6 months already. I use it daily and distribute it out to my friends also on a daily basis.
This is great. <3>