Tagged: 5 Beauty Crimes

I've been tagged to reveal my top 5 beauty crimes. Most of my habits are just because I'm lazy! I should really try to correct these habits. Please don't stop visiting my blog out of disgust. Here they are in no particular order:

1. I'm not very consistent about shaving my legs. Yeah, I know it's gross. I take showers at night and by that time, I'm usually just too tired to shave. I just want to quickly get in & out, and go to sleep. I don't how much else I can elaborate on this bad habit...haha.

2. I don't stick my skincare routine all the time. I don't always use my makeup removers and just hope my makeup comes off in the shower with my cleanser. I don't moisturize or use eye cream every day. I rarely tone. I don't always put on my sunblock. I just skip or don't do steps at all just because I'm lazy or pressed for time.

3. I don't floss everyday! And as a hopeful future dentist, that's just terrible and a bad example. It's just that if you're properly flossing, it takes a lot of time. It's not just like once up & down. You really have to make sure you go under the gum line and 'hug' your tooth with the floss. It'll take me at least 10 minutes. I mean, I do floss almost everyday just because I know what happens if you don't. However, the days I don't floss, I feel really guilty about it. Does this count as a beauty crime? I think so...

4. I touch and pick at my pimples. I can't help it. It's so bad of me! But when I see a pimple, I imagine it like pulsating on my face and I just have to pop it! I know it'll scar but even with that consequence on my mind, I pop it anyway. And if I happen to able to resist the temptation of popping it, I touch it constantly to see if it's getting smaller when I know it's not. I have no self control.

5. It's hard to believe, but I only have 1 eyeshadow brush. And when I apply shadow, I don't always use a brush cleaner between colors to prevent mixing. I just stroke the brush on a paper towel and move on to the next color. Sometimes, I don't even do that! Bad, huh?

I think my biggest fault in general is laziness! I don't put in time and effort that things need. If I wasn't so lazy, it'd fix some of these bad habits!

Kleancolor Kiss & Eye Palette Giveaway Winners

My second giveaway is over! Thanks to everyone who entered! The winners are ilurvemakeup and Her.Peachieness! Congratulations! You should see an email from me :)

I'm going to have 2 more giveaways and that'll be it for now. Just so you know, I don't have any sponsors or companies that send me free products to giveaway. I buy all the prizes out of my own pocket. I know they're not like the best and most expensive prizes, but that's all I can really afford. I need to figure out my finances and budget before I do more giveaways. I've already bought the items for next 2 giveaways so no worries about that!

Check back under my Free Cupcakes section for more giveaways!

Heatherette Trio 2 Look Redo

This is a redo and it's not that much better than the first attempt...I took pictures in the bathroom this time for the brighter lighting and I think the pics turned out better. I did this look right before I went out to dinner and it was already dark so I didn't have any natural lighting. Since the lighting was so bad in the previous entry, the pink eyeshadow in V.I.P. came out reddish in the pictures. I think this time it's more true to the actual color, except the purple still doesn't show up that well. I also tried to apply more shadow to get it to show up on camera and did my full face. I'm sorry that my forehead is cut out of the full face pic. I didn't realize it until after I took off my makeup and uploaded the pics to my comp. My eyes in the face pic look weird...And don't mind my messy hair, I let it air dry rather than blow dry :P

Face:

* MAC Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer in NC30
* Maybelline Mineral Power in Natural Ivory
* MAC Beauty Powder in Alpha Girl

Eyes:
* White shimmery pencil (base)
* MAC Heatherette Trio 2
* MAC pigment in Pink Pearl
* Stila Smudge Pot in Black (top liner)
* MAC Dual Edge pencil in Fab Orchid (bottom liner)
* N.Y.C. Highlighter pencil in Miss Sparkle (inner corner)
* Max Factor Lash Perfection waterproof mascara

Lips:
* MAC lipstick in Lollipop Loving

I'm not sure if I'm going to do a lot of these types of posts, since I'm not very good at it...

Drugstore Staples

Let's be honest, buying makeup is expensive! As much as I love high-end cosmetics, I'd still like to save a few bucks. So this entry is dedicated to my absolute favorite drugstore products (in no particular order). Many of my price quotes are from Walmart because they have the lowest prices. If you're buying in bulk, head to an actual drugstore because they usually have BOGO offers which makes the cost cheaper than Walmart.

1. Max Factor Lash Perfection Waterproof Mascara, $6.99 at Walmart.

It lengthens. It curls and holds a curl. It's volumizing. It does it all! I have really stubborn lashes that point straight down and this is the best mascara I've used. I only use waterproof formulas because I need that extra wax to hold my curl. I've tried BeneFit Bad Gal, Imju fiberwig, Fresh Supernova, Maybelline Great Lash, Maybelline Define-a-Lash, Cover Girl Lash Blast, and so on in regular and waterproof. However, none of them compare to this Max Factor mascara. And the reason I'm so fond of this mascara is because it gives me the same results as DiorShow in waterproof. DiorShow is an excellent mascara and lives up to hype everyone says about it. But at $24 a tube, that's just out of my budget! For a fraction of the cost, I get fantastic results with Max Factor. Note: I've never seen Max Factor anywhere else besides Walmart and Ulta. I don't think CVS, Walgreens, or Target carries it.

2. Nivea Creme, 13.5 oz. tub $7.99 at Walmart.

I use this as my night time moisturizer. It's a bit thick, but it works wonders. I used to get dry patches all the time, but not anymore! I don't think it's oil-free, so if you have acne prone skin, you might stray away. I haven't broken out from it since I started using it a few months ago. The reason I started using this is because of Creme de la Mer. For those who don't know, Creme de la Mer is an extremely expensive department store moisturizer, eye cream, and lotion in one product. The myth is that Nivea and CDM have the exact same main ingredients except one. That one ingredient is what actually makes CDM, CDM. I think it's some kind of seaweed or algae. I've read on several forums that after trying or switching to Nivea, people stopped breaking out. They believe that the seaweed/algae is what made them breakout since the rest of the ingredients are the same. They also say the two share the same texture, scent, thickness, etc. Basically, if they did a blind test, they wouldn't be able to tell which is which. I've never tried CDM and at $125 per 1 oz. jar, I never will! This is definitely the best beauty dupe and bargain!

3. Aquafina Hydrating Facial Spray 6 fl oz. $3.99 at Walmart.

Yes, Aquafina like the bottled water has a skincare line. This is only available at Walmart and Duane Reade. I think this is a pretty good alternative to MAC Fix+, Evian Mineral Spray, and shu uemura Facial Mists. It's water enriched with aloe, jojoba oil, and vitamins. It's not made from their bottled water which is just tap by the way, as is Dasani. I use this in the same way I'd use Fix+. I use it to apply my mineral foundation wet and foil any eyeshadows. I also use it to set my makeup or as a refresher. I know some people think to just use water from the faucet, but tap water is harsh. People think their face wash dries out their skin and it may, but it also depends on the water you use too. I'm pretty sure if you washed your face with Evian, you'd see a difference. The thing I really like about this spray, is the sprayer itself. Although Fix+ has a the cooler looking bottle, you can't control the amount you spray. It's just like one predetermined amount per spray and it's not continuous. Aquafina let's me control the amount depending on how much pressure I put on the dispenser and it can be continuous. I want to try their toner too.

4. Milani Mineral Blush in Luminous, $5.49 at CVS.

The original formula has actually been discontinued, but they brought it back in mineral form. I know you've heard it before, but it really is a pretty darn good dupe of NARS Orgasm! It's practically identical in color. I love the golden shimmer in it. It's so subtle and really gives you that 'glow.' It seems like a universal flattering shade. I'm also loving the fact that it's mineral now. It really can't get any better. At $5.49 compared to $26, it's a steal! I can't find a pic online, but I'll edit this post with a picture later. I'm writing this in bed...hehe

5. Generic Uncoated Aspirin, $1-$5 at any drugstore.

Uncoated aspirin? What? Yes! I use it for an aspirin mask! I sprinkle 4 aspirin tablets with water just so they break up and become grainy. I add a little honey to make a paste and spread it all over my face. I let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes and wash it off. It helps with acne but I primarily use it as an exfoliator! Ohhh, how it makes your skin glow! It will feel soft and smooth. It reduces black & white heads and the size of your pores! I've definitely noticed a significant difference in my skin with the mask. I do it 1 to 2 times a week. If you are prone to acne, try it! I also use it as spot treatment for acne because it contains salicylic acid. Most over-the-counter acne treatments contain salicylic acid.

These are drugstore staples for me! Tell me about your favorite drugstore products!

Image Credits: Drugstore.com, Walgreens.com, Nivea.com, AquafinaSkincare.com

Introducing Bagel

I'd like you guys to meet the official mascot of my blog --my dog, Bagel!

He's a Pomeranian and almost 5 years old! He's not a "teacup" (which don't really exist because 'teacups' are not recognized by any major kennel club in the world), but he is small sized for his breed. He's 5lbs on a normal day and 6lbs on a fat day, haha! Alot of people think he's still a puppy because he's so small. My boyfriend got him for me when I first started college (we've been together for 5 years ^^ ). Bagel was so tiny when I got him, he fit in my sweatshirt pocket! He was barely 1lb! We named him Bagel because his coat is like the color of a bagel.

He does some tricks including paw, sit, beg, down, and his most famous trick, a high-five! He doesn't like it when you touch his tail or try to hold his paws. His favorite treats are Pupperoni and Nathan's Hot Dogs (they have a doggie treat thing). For some reason, he loves human food carbs like mashed potatoes, french fries, bread, and mac & cheese! His hobbies include sleeping, eating, running in circles, and chewing on his paws. He likes to cuddle, but is still an alpha dog. He bullies other dogs around!

I tried to get him to sit up for pictures, but he was too lazy! He just laid there like "I'll open my eyes, but I'm not moving woman!" He's so cute! I love him more than my next breath!

So when I blog about things outside of cosmetics, I label it small talk. Hehe :) Hope you enjoyed this non-makeup entry!

More MAC Heatherette Swatches

So after purchasing my Heatherette items, I decided I wanted a few more things. As mentioned in my previous entry, I bought 2 more pencils, the Pink Pearl pigment, and a Lollipop Loving backup (which I already swatched).

Here are the swatches for the fabulous Dual Edge Pencils! I got Black Funk/Pop Blue and Fab Orchid/Dash Lily. I really like the matte end of the pencils. They're just so creamy! Again, I'm disappointed the glitter end is not waterline safe. I probably could have used them to line the bottom, but I think Pop Blue is bit too bright for me on top. I don't see myself using it much. As for Dash Lily, I swatched my Iris Accents Softsparkle Pencil and they're almost identical! The swatch doesn't really show it, but it's just as sparkley as Dash Lily. I think Iris Accents is a tad darker, but hardly!

I also got Pigment in Pink Pearl. At first I didn't like it because I thought it was too chromy. As long as I control the amount, I think it's very pretty. If I apply too much, the chrome reflection is a bit much for me. The chrome reflect is like lavender shade, but straight on it's a very pretty baby pink color.

I thought I'd mention something I noticed today about my MAC collection. Everything is limited edition or discontinued! I have a very small MAC collection, which you'll see in an upcoming entry about my entire makeup collection. My blog probably makes it seem like I'm a MAC addict, but I'm actually a new MAC addict. Up until early February, I didn't own anything from MAC except a pressed powder (that's not my color and never used once!) and my Iris Accents Softsparkle pencil that I got through a swap on MakeupAlley.com. To start my collection, I got things from CCO. All that stuff was from past limited edition collections and discontinued shadows. Then I got Fafi, Strobe, Beauty Powders, and Heatherette. I have nothing from their like permanent, original collection. You'll see soon that I use a lot of drugstore makeup too. I'm pretty frugal, but MAC is my weak spot.

Anyway, tonight is my MAC store's Heatherette party! Hopefully I'll have some cool pictures to show you guys! My MA mentioned she's painting a guy's body for the party, probably reflecting the paint by numbers theme. It's my first MAC party ever! :)

Review: brushlab Rx Blush Brush

I found this random brush at Big Lots. They had a huge section of items from Rite Aid for 50% off. I came to get some plastic drawers to store some of my makeup. I just saw it as I was browsing around.

It's made by brushlab Rx. Their slogan is "the healthy brush." It's made from "natural bristles to help protect your skin." On the back it reads, "The Healthy Brush is treated with a patented anti-microbial formula which helps prevent harmful bacterial and fungal growth."

It first caught my attention because the packaging. It has this cute colored plastic handle. Then I read, "pure and soft anti-microbial bristles." I was thinking that's kind of interesting. A brush that has anti-microbial properties, I've never heard of such a thing! For only $3, I couldn't pass up the deal.

So, the brush isn't that soft. It's not exactly rough either. It could be softer, but it's not terrible. I use a Posh blush brush and it's definitely not as soft as that. Soft is a relative term as what I think is soft, might not be soft to you and vice versa. The quality of the bristles is decent, but the brush has shed a few of them out.

It picks up and distributes the blush well. The diameter of the bristles is a good size. It can swipe the entirety of my apple cheek. It also does a good job of blending too. As for testing the anti-microbial properties, I'm not sure. I guess I'll just trust that it is anti-microbial, but I'm still going to wash the brush regularly anyway.

The packaging is super cute! It has a bright lime green handle. It's made of plastic, so it's lightweight. I also like the fact the handle is kind of long. I don't like short handles or travel size brushes because the handle is shorter. I just find the application of makeup easier with a longer handle. They had a few other brushes and they each come with a different colored handle. I didn't want to buy any of the others without trying one first.

Overall, for $3, I think it's a pretty good brush. Even for $6, it's not bad. I think the biggest con is the not so soft bristles. Again, it's not rough, but I'd like it to be softer. I might get their blending brush as well. I mean, it's a good bargain. Like I said, I found it at Big Lots from their Rite Aid section. I don't know why they had that section, but your best bet is to try your local Rite Aid (or Eckerds, same company, new name).

Product: 4/5
Packaging: 5/5
Cost: 5/5
Overall: 4/5

Review: MAC Heatherette

Heatherette is a good collection, but I had a feeling I'd like Fafi better. And I do. However, Heatherette is still worth getting for the packaging alone! Heatherette definitely wins the packaging battle versus Fafi. Its' bright hot pink with imprinted (no stickers!) glitter disco ball is absolutely gorgeous! The packaging is outstanding.

I bought 2 of the 4 lipsticks --Lollipop Loving and Melrose Mood. My favorite of the two is Lollipop Loving. It's a gorgeous peachy coral with a little gold shimmer. It's not packed with color, but it's high in shine. Melrose Mood is a bright matte baby pink shade. It is very pigmented. It's a bit "mod" looking, but I guess with the right makeup and outfit, I could rock it. Fleshpot is just too nude looking and my least favorite. Hollywood Nights is too loud for my taste, but still very pretty.

I purchased both Beauty Powders. Alpha Girl is a sweet, soft pink with a the littlest bit of gold. It's not extremely pigmented, but it gives you a nice, flushing glow. Smooth Harmony is matte caramel brown shade. It's decently pigmented and it's very versatile. You could use it as a bronzer, for contouring, or as an all-over color. It gives you a sun-kissed look.

The eyeshadow Trios come in the prettiest packaging. They come in a hot pink aluminum case with the signature holographic disco ball. Trio 1 has some random colors, in my opinion. Hoppin' is an extremely light peach toned pink, that's not very pigmented. Mood Ring is a pastel jungle green (like the crayon color). It's beautiful but I see myself having a hard time using it. Cloudburst is an off-black shade with flecks of glitter that match Mood Ring. I think it would be great as an eyeliner. I can see potential in Trio 1, like a nice smokey eye. I think I just have to play around with the colors more.

Trio 2 is the more usable or practical of the two. The colors are very pretty, but I already have pinks and purples. Baby Petal is a light, pale pink. It's probably best as a highlighter. V.I.P. is bright pink, similar to the Heatherette packaging color. It has flecks of silver shimmer. Cassette is a shimmery, deep royal purple shade. This trio has the colors to do a nice day and night look. Of the two Trios, I like this one better. I'm currently using this trio to create look for you guys!

All the Dual Egde Pencils are stunning. They have an incredible smooth, creamy texture. They just glide right on. One end is matte and the other end is glittery. Nighthawk is dark chocolate brown. I'm loving it because I had been looking for a brown eyeliner and it's perfect. I don't like black eyeliner in the day because it's a bit obvious. Brown is more natural and softer looking for the day. Front Row is the glittery side. It's a nice champagne gold color. The glitter side is not safe for your waterline, so careful!

I love the Jardin Aires Pigment! It's a very shimmery gilded peach. It's my favorite product from the entire Heatherette Collection. You could use it to spice up some matte blush or use it an all-over highlighter. You could do so much with it as an eyeshadow. It would really bolden up a neutral look. I just love the versatility of it.

Overall, I really like Heatherette. I wish the Trios had different color spectrums. The Beauty Powders are nice. I think the pigments and the pencils are the stars of Heatherette. I would definitely recommend the pencils, especially because I think it's the first time MAC's had dual sided pencils. Again, the packaging is beautiful and the Heatherette concept is very cute with the paint by numbers. I like Fafi better, but Heatherette is still worth having.

Happy Easter!

I wish everyone a Happy Easter! Even if you don't celebrate the holiday, I wish you a happy day! I'll probably go to mass and eat lots of marshmallow peeps & white chocolate bunnies! Whatever your tradition or no tradition, just enjoy life and have a wonderful day!

I just started blogging and I've only received positive feedback! Thanks so much to everyone who is visiting! I greatly appreciate it! I hope you continue to visit back. Please feel free to email me about anything and everything. I'd really like to get to know you all :)

Also, I've been meaning to post my swatches and thoughts on Heatherette. I'll get that up tomorrow. I meant to do it the day I got it, but I haven't had time, so my apologies. I'm also working on a look using Heatherette, so I'll try to get that up ASAP too.

Again, thank you oh-so-much for visiting and have a wonderful tomorrow!

Kleancolor Kiss & Eye Palette Giveaway

I told you I would do another giveaway soon! This time, I will be giving away 2 Kleancolor Kiss & Eye Palettes as seen on CherryCulture.com!

Because I have two palettes, I will have 2 winners!! One will receive the palette in "Techno" and other winner will receive it in "Pixi."

To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment with your email address in this post telling me your favorite color! Mine's green! Comments should be left by Saturday, March 29 at 11:59 PM EST. Only one comment/entry per person. Multiple comments will not increase your chance of winning. Two winners will be chosen at random. You must have a valid email address to enter, so that I can contact you if you're chosen. I will announce the winner on Sunday, March 30th.

Good luck!!

Image Credits: CherryCulture.com

Haul: MAC Heatherette

I believe my MAC is the only freestanding store in the city. There are tons of counters, but only one freestanding store. I was the very first one to try all the testers and purchase Heatherette! Woo! I also picked up a few other things from MAC too.

From Heatherette:
* L/S in Melrose Mood, Lollipop Loving
* Eyeshadow Trio 1
* Eyeshadow Trio 2
* Pigment in Jardin Aires
* Beauty Powder in Smooth Harmony, Alpha Girl
* Dual Pencil in Nighthawk/Front Row

Other items:
* Fix+
* Pigment in Your Ladyship (Antiquitease Collection)
* Beauty Powder Blush in True Romantic
* Fafi L/S in Utterly Frivolous

Posh Brush Giveaway Winner

My first giveaway is over! Thanks to everyone who entered. I know there wasn't many of you so I wish I could give each of you a brush, but unfortunately I only have one. I will have another giveaway soon, so just keep checking back under my Free Cupcakes section.

The winner is RenRen from Makeup By RenRen! So congratulations! She does such a great job on her blog along with her videos. She very much deserves this!

Again, I'll have another giveaway soon. Check back!

Review: MAC Strobe & Beauty Powder Blush

I was finally able to pick up a few items from the newest MAC collections, Strobe and Beauty Powder Blush.

Tinted Lip Conditioner Sticks
I got 2 in Strobe Kiss and Strobeblossom. Here's my first impression: I don't even think they're really tinted! I see the different color sticks, yet I see no color payoff. Yes, I'm aware they're only tinted but I don't even see tint. Not even slightly or little. I see shine, like I put on some balm or chapstick, but no color. I'm a bit disappointed, especially because the colors look gorgeous before applying.

Strobe Kiss is peachy pink shade, while Strobeblossom is bright pink. Despite the lack of color, they apply smooth and your lips definitely feel moisturized. I also like the fact they have SPF 15. And is it just me or do they have a vanilla-ish cookie scent? Regardless, I like the scent and I think they are great for everyday protection or as a base to some lipstick or gloss. Overall, I really like the product. The only downside for me is the price tag. At $14.50 a stick, I can name a handful of drugstore products that could do the same for less than half the price.

Beauty Powder Blushes
They come in 8 different shades. I bought Joyous and Shy Beauty. They're all beautiful, but I personally don't look good with plum, mauvey blushes so I avoided those. But, I highly recommend that you buy these in store and not online. I don't trust the swatches from the website. They give the impression they're all purple toned, when in reality they're not at all.

Joyous is a bright more pink than peach shade with a hint of gold pearl. It's pretty similar to the Fafi blush in Hipness shade. But I would say the Hipness is more peach than pink, with no pearl. Shy Beauty is a flesh-tone pink with a hint of gold pearl. This shade reminds me of another Fafi product --the Iridescent Pressed Powder in Sassed-up. Shy Beauty is an intense version of Sassed-up without the chunky flecks of glitter. The Beauty Powder Blushes have a very silky, velvety, fine texture. They go on super smooth and the color payoff is fantastic. A little will giving you that nice flushing glowing. I am definitely going to get backups, because I adore these blushes. I was in a slight rush, so I only picked up those two and didn't thoroughly check out all the shades. I'm thinking I might also get True Romantic and Eversun.

Posh Brush Giveaway

I recently started blogging, but to get things exciting and going, I'm going to hold a giveaway.

So what's the prize? One winner will receive a Posh Kabuki Brush with a Leatherette Case valued at $35 from PoshBrushes.com!! Is that not exciting or what?!?

To enter, all you need to do is leave a comment with your email address in this post telling me what product you would use with this fabulous brush! Comments should be left by Wednesday, March 19 at 11:59 PM EST. Only one comment/entry per person. Multiple comments will not increase your chance of winning. One winner will be chosen at random. You must have a valid email address to enter, so that I can contact you if you're chosen. I will announce the winner on Thursday, March 20th.

Don't be sad if you don't win this time! I'm going to hold periodic giveaways so other readers can win too! To see what and when I'm giving away, look under my Free Cupcakes section!

Good luck!!

Image Credits: PoshBrushes.com

Trends: Spring 2008

Spring is just around the corner, so it's time to change up your beauty routines. With a new season, comes new trends in fashion and that includes what we wear on our face! Spring 2008 is full of cool and refreshing colors. The runway's glimpse of warm weather fashion reveal that the trend this season is about being au natural.

Face
Pale, light, dewy, glowing. How to get it? Exfoliate and moisturize! You need to slough away dead skin cells to reveal healthy new skin and moisturize to get that natural glow. Use a moisturizer with SPF. Don't pack on the foundation and powder! The trend is to be fresh and natural so just lightly touch up any redness and your t-zone for shine control. And instead of foundation/powder, you could use a tinted moisturizer. Conceal any blemishes and dark circles as you normally would. Also, invest in a facial spray. You can use it to set your makeup or as a cool refresher throughout the day. It will really give you that dewy look.

Cheeks
Blushing peach! Peach is in, so put away your pinks and bronzers. It's all about peach, apricot, and coral colors. Their warm tones will bring out the natural glow in your skin. It will give you that healthy skin look. It's not overly subtly or overly bright, it's just that nice warm, inviting tone. You don't want to look washed out, so peach is the perfect balance.

Lips
Pink is out for cheeks, but definitely in for lips! Keeping with the natural theme, you need pink or pale lips. Having a hard time getting the color to show? Use a some concealer or foundation as base first, then go over it with your lipgloss and/or lipstick. I recommend using a pigmented lipstick and then going over it with a sheer gloss to give it that shine!

Eyes
Navy blue is the new black! Make your eyes pop with a deep or navy blue eyeliner. Shadow shades? More blue and a touch of purple. Play up your eyes with cool tones like baby blue, lilac, and lavender. Avoid dark colors like black, gray, and brown. But don't limit yourself to just blues & purples. Anything pastel, light, and soft is great for the spring. Colors like golden yellow, pink, and kiwi green are perfect.