My Endless Beauty Trunk

True Blood Tarte

2011-06-09T13:35:00.000-07:00

Did anyone see this month's issue of Cosmopolitan? Tarte is coming out with a 16 shadow palette with brush and liner cheekstain and lip luster in honors of the True Blood series. Cool beans.

MUD Summer Escape Workshop

2011-06-07T20:14:00.000-07:00

I had the good fortune to attend Make Up Designory's Summer Escape Workshop. They hold free workshops twice a month which is pretty cool. The workshops are said to run 4 hours but it was more like an hour of instruction, an hour of shopping and then an hour of playing with makeup. They are good for beginners and those shy with color. They'll definitely teach you a look. This workshop was focused just on eyes.

Arjun thinks my cheeks are tasty

The Summer Escape Eye look modeled by yours truly lol. Eye colors used are Dulce de leche for highlight, Sunset in inner corner of eye, Cajun spice on the lid and sienna on the crease and lashline. I also added some Urban Decay liner in Bourbon for some extra Ummph.

I'm wearing Mac My Paradise on cheeks and Chanel Ming lacquer on lips.

I also bought some eyeshadows in Spanish Gold and Pink Grapefruit and a lipgloss in Spicy.

Eve Pearl haul from Black Pearl Sale

2011-06-03T08:37:00.000-07:00

I think I mentioned before, how much I love Eve Pearl Eyeshadows. The texture is buttery smooth and the colors are vibrant. I couldn't resist taking advantage of her Black Pearl Sale to add to my collection. Eve Pearl was so sweet to send me two more palettes! She sent me Sapphire Eyes(Blues) and Velvet Eyes (Violets)Palettes. The rest I purchased myself as I do with everything on the site unless otherwise mentioned. I never use eyeshadow base when I do my swatches. I just take a finger and wipe them on my arm. So you can see the color payoff in the most basic of applications. I did something different with this post. I added some comparisons from some of my eyeshadow collection! Lots of fun. It's been a while since I played with my makeup so bare with me : D

Eve Pearl Velvet Eyes

Comparisons

MUFE 126, Nars Night Fairy (too sparkly but the base is the same), Stila Backstage Eye Palette in Flamingo is more hot pink, Laura Mercier Shy Violet Eye Quad has a red/brown base, Chanel Irreelle Duo in 20 Orient Eyes is deeper/redder. ( harder to find similarities in my stash to this one)

Eve Pearl Sapphire Eyes

Comparisons

Nars Himalayas (spot on), Mac Expensive Pink is more frosted/pinker, Clarins Nature Temptations palette 1, Brown is deeper and the Teal from the same palette is a bit more frosted/blue based, Mufe Diamond Green is more hunter green, Nars Night Flight base is too black the Eve Pearl is a Navy Blue)

Eve Pearl Emerald Eyes

Comparisons on the top Row from Left to Right

Smashbox Smoky Eyes Cream this one has a browner base, Laura Geller Baked Eye Dreams Sunset Horizon bronze is a little bit more frosted, Fresh Roman Holiday brown is a little bit deeper with red sparkles, Cargo Egypt light green is very frosted and with a silvery base, Mally Citychick Central Park smokey eye kit is deeper/blacker, Nars Night Flight (nah too dark), Mac Deep Truth more vibrant blue.
The Bottom Row is The Emerald Eyes Palette

Eve Pearl Palette

Comparisons

Chanel Beige from Les 4 Ombres 25 Variations ( this is my fav palette, dare I say the texture of Eve Pearl is similar to Chanel in this palette), Mac Coppering, Chanel Copper from 25 Variation palette is more orange, Bobbi Brown Expresso is deeper brown, Nars green from Belly Dance Duo , Bobbi Brown Cavier is a true black

Eve Pearl Sassy Cheeks in Medium

The two blush colors to the left are matte and the bronzer is sparkly. The bronzer is more of a coral blush for me, I am not too fond of orangey bronzers for my skintone (light/yellow based) I was wondering if I should have bought the Tan/Dark blush palette because these were very light. The good thing is that these are more user friendly it's hard to overdo your blush if you follow her skintone guidelines. I liked that these were more on the coral side, perfect for summer.

Coral Sensation!

2011-06-01T08:28:00.000-07:00

I have an itch for coral/orangey makeup lately.

I have behaved though. I bought the new blush from Mac in My Paradise and an older lipglass in Lychee Luxe. Goodness speaking of lychee have any of you had them? Those are one of my top summer fruits favorite..Mmm Juicy! My husband just brought me a bag from Chinatown. Gotta love NY!

Clarins lipstick in Papaya.

This one you can see the glossy shine!

The blurry pic is more true to color.

Here are swatches of the delicious coralness.

Below from Left to Right Clarins Lipstick in Papaya, Mac Lipglass in Lychee Luxe, Mac blush in My Paradise color side and then color plus gold overlay

The Clarins lipstick in Papaya is very glossy and has glitter in it. I like it. It's light and bright perfect for summer. Wears like a lipgloss though. I get about 2 hrs of wear time. It's slightly sticky. The mac lipglass is more of a pinky coral and is very frosted. I have been wearing the blush all week. I love it. I've been wearing it matte without the overlay to get more color. it's very versatile.

The Makeup Show NY 2011

2011-05-31T07:05:00.000-07:00

Gosh this is too embarrassing I started this post a more than a week ago lol. I hadn't had the time to upload pictures. .

I am so excited I got to go to the Makeup Show again this year. Albeit for too little time. I felt so alive and inspired. I got there at 9am and the line was loooong but moving. I ended up buying tickets at the door because I missed the online cut off date for $70 (ouch) It was still worth it. My favorite vendors were MUFE, Inglot, Anastasia, Eve Pearl, Smashbox, YSL, and Jane Iredale. I didn't go by Mac because it's always insanely full and I already have thier Pro card so I can pop by their flagship or pro stores anytime. I did sign up for a few pro memberships while I was there. Smashbox I had since 2009 and their membership doesn't expire or have fees and a 30% discount. Jane Iredale has the most generous discount at up to 70%. Anastasia at 30%, I also signed up for Kevyn Aucoin, Stila, Nars and Naimes though I still haven't heard back from them.

I hope Tarte joins the ranks of these wonderful vendors next year. Because I don't know about you, but their new Amazonian Clay line is HOOOOT. lol. Sigh...QVC you are too addictive.

Jane Iredale, I ended up buying their amazing base pressed powder because it's absolutely amazing. It's mineral based and feels like air/no tight/itchy face thank you! I am looking forward go experimenting with this brand in the future. They also have a liquid minerals that looks cool. I also have some of their 24kt pigments I will swatch for you.

This is Amazing Base Pure Pressed minerals in Warm Silk.

Very Strong Coverage

This is the Jane Iredale 25kt pigment from left to right in Rose, Lilac and Bronze.

These are like Mufe star powders the the glitter is grittier/golder.

Anastasia. I love how their products are focused on fixing aging concerns. Crapey eyelids lol. I give them a thumbs up for effectively hydrating the area. As you can see this week I have used their original palette a lot and I love it. I feel the area is definitely more hydrated. Though I need to be more militant about putting on eye cream. I'm not a spring chicken anymore lol.

Smashbox! I love their version of the neutral palette. I feel like everyone is coming out with neutrals this year. I'm sure you all saw the NYX nude on nude...they made no attempt to hide the similarities to Urban Decay Nude. I will order this one and do a comparison eventually. It's amazing but I actually don't own any NYX products even though I've heard wonders on the brand.

Anyway, I'll compare the smashbox softbox palette to the Too Faced Natural Eye and Urban Decay Nude.

Smashbox Softbox Palette

Below is a swatch of Too Faced Natural Eye

Below are swatches of the Urban Decay Nude

Arjun made an appearance. Can you see his little toe? lol. This is why I don't blog that much anymore.

Zpalette. I'm kicking myself in the bum for not getting more of these. I was worried since I have a million mac/mufe palettes I didn't really need this. But I was wrong. My goodness their magnet is powerful! Once you place these babies in they are as good as glued! I love it. I am anticipating that these will probably replace all my palettes.

Here is my little bundle of joy. He was enjoying kicking around my palettes He is turning 5 months next Tuesday : D

Shiseido

2011-05-30T19:51:00.000-07:00

There is a Shiseido store right across my job. However, I decided to go to the Macys a block away to get some new foundation ( I actually hit pan on the one I was using....amazing!) I remembered using Shiseido when I was in college and though I should give it a try again because lately I've been breaking out like mad (most likely stress related). Needless to say, I probably should have gone to the Shiseido store across my job because the SA at Macys was clueless :( I ended up buying the Stick foundation and the Powdery foundation ) The good thing is that I got the right shade. She kept trying to sell me I40 and then when I made her try O20 she said it was a better match (duh) lol. That is one thing I have to give credit to Shiseido, yellow based foundations, peach and pink! Options!

Stick Foundation: Most Shiseido products have SPF this one has SPF 18. I find it's really easy to blend. I use a sponge. It's medium to full coverage. Definitely for normal to dry skin. I also find that it is moist and toward the end of the day my makeup runs into the creases under my eyes and around my laugh lines (ewww) Also the color kinda migrates away from my oily tzone :( I love the dewy finish. This one will have to go into storage for fall/winter. I also noticed it has an orangey undertone, but it doesn't really show when it's blended in.

Above from Left to Right is The Stick Foundation in 020 and the Powdery Foundation in 020.

Powdery Foundation: I like it. It's SPF 16. It's sheer to medium coverage and matte. In the spring/summer I tend to have an oily Tzone so this is good at keeping me looking fresh, but even though the website says it is oil absorbing, I find it's not oil absorbing in any way. I usually need to blot mid day and toward the end of my workday. I use it with a brush. Also I find this doesn't break me out yay!

Black Pearl Sale

2011-05-30T15:08:00.000-07:00

40-55% OFF Full priced EVE PEARL products

(Saturday night) Sunday morning 12:01am (EST NYC Time) May 29th until

Tuesday night 11:59pm (EST NYC Time) May 31st

Enter Code BP52911

I love their eyeshadows so I bought the Emerald Eyes and the Ultimate Eyes Palette to add to my Eve Pearl Eyeshadow Collection and I bought their Sassy Cheeks Blush in Medium. At $18 per palette it's a steal!

I'm looking forward to swatching these goodies for you. Check my older posts if you are interested in seeing what the eyeshadow palettes look like. I also have swatches of their foundation and famous salmon concealer.

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T19:48:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day to all my fellow Mommy bloggers!

Sorry I've been MIA. I finally started working again full time monday and it was a very busy week plus this working mom thing is hard lol.

Hugs to all. Will update again soon :D

Tarte Amazonian Clay long wear blush in Glisten plus comparisons

2011-04-15T21:49:00.000-07:00

My new love! Tarte Amazonian Clay long-wear blush in Glisten!

Truly long wearing with a punch of pigment and a delicate shimmer. I want them all !

From Left to Right: Nars Orgasm , Chanel Tweed Corail, Wet n Wild Pearlescent Pink, Nars Deep Throat, Benefit Coralista, and Tarte Glisten.

Tarte Glisten is such a lovely color with just enough personality, it's a bit deeper more coral than Nars Orgasm. It has reddish microshimmer where as Nars has more golden and red microshimmer. Coralista is very frosty. The base color is very similar to the Wet n Wild Pearlescent pink minus the shimmer.

Covergirl Haul!

2011-04-15T21:09:00.000-07:00

Here are some new Covergirl finds that peaked my interest :D

Have you tried these Covergirl lip perfection lippies? I love the color range. I wish the cap were clear so that we could see the color better, I wouldn't say the colors are exactly a true match. Some have a sheen while others have frost but hard to tell from the swatches until you open them. The wear is great and the pigment is amazing. I do find these moisturizing as well. I absolutely love these. Wish they had more colors lol.

Covergirl natureluxe gloss balm in anemone and sandstone natureluxe liquid silk foundation in 310 flax and 320 aspen foundation swatched heavy on left side then blended on the right side.

I love the covergirl gloss balm they are lightly pigmented cherry scented. I am not a fan of sandstone the glitter is very gritty feels like I'm exfoliating and looks ashy. I wish they had better colors for their liquid silk foundations these are a bit too neutral/pink for me. Flax looks like on application but did end up oxidizing to a good match lol. The texture is very soft mouse like and very moist. It does take a while to set. I loved the smell, but I felt the foundation was a bit plastic feeling even though it was light. If you are oily this is not for you unless of course if you set it with oil absorbing powder.

Hello Dear Readers!

2011-04-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

I'm still alive in the blogging world even though I have been long MIA. The past year was crazy. I feel like everything went topsy turvy. As some of you might remember, just before my disappearance I had a few life changing events.

I left my job at Sephora and bid farewell to the cosmetic industry but not the beauty industry. I took a job at American Laser Center which I left shortly after. And now I know that I am keeping my fingers crossed for a new position that I am applying for. (please pray for me everyone) I'm itching to go back to work after a six month absence.

I got pregnant shortly after leaving Sephora. Yay! I left ALC when I was 8 months pregnant. And finally in January a day shy of 41 weeks my little bundle of joy was born. His name is Arjun Rohan, and he weighed 7lbs and 4oz. He is such a joy! Even though it's definitely hard work to be a mother it's all worth it!

So where does this put us! I have been doing a lot less beauty shopping because it's hard to get out of my home with baby and my mother in law lol. (it's like I have two kids) But I have been buying a few things here and there. I have a backlog of reviews that hopefully I'll get to putting up soon. The time off has definitely helped me mature and organize myself.

I had a few other hobbies that I didn't really talk much about such as cooking which I now feel confidant in. (I couldn't fry an egg a little more than three years ago :( , now I'm making elaborate South Asian meals lol) This time around when I make my official comeback lol, my blog will not be strictly swatches as it was before. I'm still a licensed esthetician and certified makeup artist so I'll have access to trade shows and more. (speaking of which there are a few coming right up soon!) I' ll try to write more about the beauty industry, life in general, and of course make up swatches.

Thank you all for sticking with me all this time during my absence.

Lakme!!!

2010-02-07T18:32:00.000-08:00

I love blog sales and swaps. Especially if it allows me to get my hands on hard to get items. lakme cosmetics is hard to come by in the states. Even though I live a hop and a skip form Jackson Heights and a easy bus/train ride from Oak Tree Road and Little India in Jersey. Not to mention all the other Indian stores in Manhattan, Flushing, Bellerose etc. You get my drift... Food is mainstream, grocery is easy, clothes is everywhere, but cosmetics ooo so hard. :( What gives? Aside from the kajals that is...and even that is becoming a challenge! Thank goodness for Jamilla from Makeupforprofessionalasianwomen.com. She had a little blogsale and was kind enough to bestow on me all her Lakme goodies. Yay! First off, I'd like to say that I've been lemming the Lakme peacock palette since before it was created lol! And last time I went to India I was shopping with my husband and nephew (my bargaining bodyguards) but they were getting antsy at all the makeup so I kept it to a minimum of 2 lippies, a blush, and a shadow liner. (I kept running away to the grocery stores buy kajal on the side!) So if any of you know where to get S. Asian makeup in NY/NJ tell me and I'll run there!

Anyway this was my loot, Bridal sutra collection Enrih Matte 661 and 526 and the Peacock eye color quartet.

I got an enrich lipcolor from the Free Spirit collection in D417.

And because she is so awesome and knows how much I love Lakme she threw in the Purple Oasis eye color quartet.

This is my first time trying their shadows. And they are very pigmented and velvety soft. They do have a little bit of fallout if you apply too heavily. The Purple Oasis palette below is very frosty, so I'll need to use a light hand with these and mix it with darker matte shades.

The Peacock collection is as the name suggest a very bold combination, but it does allow for flexibility. I love the colors. The gold is very unique, it's an antique earthy gold. Peacock palette below

I've tried their lipsticks before, these all smell of strawberry. Below is 661, 526 and D417

526 is a bit too dark and brown for my coloring. But it would make a nice nude for someone of a darker completion. 661 is a pinky brown based nude which works well for me. These matte shades remind me of Revlon matte in that they feel very soft and creamy and are really pigmented. You'll need to make sure your lips are very moisturized and primed when wearing these or you'll see lines. My favorite is D417 it's a bright red orange color. It is not the shiniest lipstick but looks natural and light.

Some things I love

2010-02-07T17:30:00.000-08:00

I've been lusting after this palette for a while now. And I finally indulged. The YSL 5 color harmony for eyes in 3 Tawny.

It reminds me of my beloved Eve Pearl shadows in that it's velvety smooth a dream to apply, albeit with a lot more shimmer! That's ok. I like shimmer. The colors are really well coordinated and there are a number of looks you can do with the pallet from everyday to smokey eye. I love it. I also got the Bare Escentuals mini set for $18 with the Buxum lash mascara and the Eve Buxum lip gloss. They were sold out of this color in regular size and I love it. It's a nice neutral pink perfect for quick no fuss looks. The Buxum lash I already love for giving superb length and separation at a reasonable price.

Above is the YSL 5 color harmony eyeshadow in #3 Tawny followed by Eva Buxum lipgloss

Eve Pearl haul part II

2010-02-07T17:12:00.000-08:00

As many of you know. I loooove Eve Pearl products.

In particular, I love her eyeshadows. Those buttery smooth, ultra pigmented, all skin tone friendly gifts from the heavens. Yes they are that good! So I finally got my hands on Au' Natural and Pretty 'N Pink and I did some swatches for you! I also got the Eve pearl Priming Moisturizer. All I can say is that this is by far the lightest primer I have tried to date. It feels like nothing is on and works just as good as Smashbox in terms of slip and as good as Makeup Forever in terms of longevity. Best thing? I didn't break out from it, and my skin loooves to break out. Especially I was freaking out because of the mineral oil listed on the back but nope my skin is fine. It has some good for you ingredients like Vitamin E, Wheat proteins, and Aloe. Anyway, the only downside? These palettes are $40 and tiny. (yes I know they are super pigmented, but eek) The good thing is that she has deals every now and then so do sign up for her email list and you'll know when it happens!

Au'Natural

Pretty 'N Pink

It's soo cold! My hands were cracking, here's what I did!

2010-02-07T16:53:00.000-08:00

Goodness, after being cheated out of snow we are being hit by wind and cold. My apartment doesn't have adjustable heating so now I'm dry and crackly. Of course I went out on the hunt for some hand creams lol. I bought a package from Crabtree & Evelyn that brings three of their best sellers, La Source, Rosewater and Gardeners hand therapy. I got L'Occitane 20% shea hand cream in Frangipanier and rosebud but my mom swiped the rosebud lol. And I took out a neglected Victoria Secret soothing hand cream I had bought a while ago.

Lets start with the Crabtree & Evelyn ones

La Source smells clean like water and lily of the valley (my favorite flowers yes, I use their lilly of the valley soap and I adore the smell) It's made with macadamia nut oil, shea butter and seaweed extract. It feels medium thick but you feel a bit of lubrication (oil) but I wouldn't say greasy. All you need is a teeny tiny amount.

Rosewater is my favorite smelling one. I love the smell of roses too and this one is a nice light rose smell, this one smells better than the L'Ocittane rosebud which is way too strong and artificial smelling. It features shea butter, macadamia nut oil, rosewater and myrrh.

Gardeners rejuvenating hand therapy smells like fresh pine. This one has the same shea butter, macadamia nut oil plus antioxidants and peptides.

Overall these feel very old world luxurious. And as a set they were a great buy.

The l'Occitane 20% shea butter hand cream in Frangipanier smells lovely. Like baby powder and sweet flowers. It's a bit thicker than the Crabtree & Evelyn ones and definitely not greasy.

The Victoria Secret Soothing Hand Cream I bought a while ago but neglected it because it smells sort of chemically plus milk a weird combo i know. It features soy milk, oat extract, The cool thing is that it's Organic, hypoallergenic, free of parabens, sulfites, petrolatum, mineral oil and paraffin. It feels super light and is absorbed instantly. It does leave a lubricated feeling. This one is the most affordable at $8.

New Tarte Natural Lip Stain Swatches!

2010-01-27T13:24:00.001-08:00

I love these new lip stains. I can't say that enough.
I didn't get to swatch all of them:( I'm missing Moody from my swatches.

Update. It is now 7:30 and I still have the lipstain on since 2pm. Wow. Not one bit drying. The color I was wearing lust, looks a lot like amused now five hours later? weird. But still very bright on my lips!

Below from left to right is Amused, Lust, Enchanted, Joy and Charmed

They feel oh so smooth on the lips. Really hydrating. The colors are very vibrant. My coworker was wearing Amused for her 6 hours without reapply. It looked glossy and really pretty! I'm in love!

Amused

Charmed

Joy

Enchanted

Lust

Revlon Drugstore haul #2

2010-01-25T12:09:00.000-08:00

This is my second attempt at loving the new Revlon collection. I got the Revlon PhotoReady in Nude 004 and the color surge lipstick in Soft Rose. Again the color is a little off, too pink and a wee bit light. Sigh. I give up. It's a great formula none the less!

Here I am modeling the foundation and lipstick. Do you see those lashes? It's Korres Abyssina oil volumizing mascara. Not volumizing at all. but the length separation and curl are amazing whooo!

Illamasqua and Becca pretty!

2010-01-25T11:59:00.000-08:00

I got my hands on the Illamasqua cream foundation in CF140. It's a light shade with yellow undertones. Still a little light for me, very creamy needs to be set with a light powder. I had to prep and prime for this one to prevent it from looking cakey and use my mac duo fibre brush. It is nicely mattifying but I'm not sure an oily skin type will appreciate how heavy it feels. And Becca glossy lip tint in Flirtini. Cute name! It's a on sticky gloss, not much color there, but it does feature a nice little subtle shine

As visible above medium to full coverage.

Tarte Love

2010-01-20T10:01:00.000-08:00

I'm loving Tarte. This morning a found a lovely little surprise waiting in my mail box. The Tarte Femme Naturale Palette!

And boy is this baby wonderful! The colors are so soft and sweet (think pinks and beiges) yet there are some strong colors for smokey nights as well (charcoal, greens, golds) Everything is very earthy. There are three matte shades and the rest are all shimmer. I don't mind, I'm more of a shimmer girl.

Above From left to right is the top row of shadows

Above from left to right are the liner swatches and the bottom row of shadows

There is a good deal of fall out with this product so you need to be careful when applying (maybe a firm brush and pat it/roll it on). Plus it comes with a dual ended brush and dual ended eyeliner. Awesome! And the new packaging features a little sample of the lifted eye primer. It's crease resistant and very creamy. But it does feel a little thick and you do need to blend it in well.

Anyway, I really want to show you what I'm really excited about. Have any of you seen the new Tarte spring collection? Omg I want it! lol.

Disclaimer: ( All the pictures in the bottom belong to Sephora.com and Tarte.com I'm not trying to violate any copy write laws just sharing the awesomeness)

The Tarte flower child palette, I just love the packaging so cute!

Lash enhancing mascara and primer. The lash primer is something I'm really interested in. I own more than 20 mascaras (sick I know) but not one mascara primer...this one is going in the cart :)

New lip stains and cheek stain!

I think this is the main star of their new collection. I already love their cheek stains and I'm hearing really good thing about this new lip stain. Moisturizing and a lip stain in one, sounds too amazing! Plus I love the packaging. It will fit perfectly in my purse and be super easy to apply. The new cheek stain is such a pretty earthy rose color sounds like my cup of tea.

There is an antiaging cheek stain too. Looks very creamy!

Congratulations Giveaway Winner!

2010-01-18T07:42:00.001-08:00

Yay! Kinjal has won the blog giveaway. Thank you to all that followed. I'll look to post more giveaways in the future. Lots of fun :) Hugs to all and a great day!

Benefit Sugar Bomb!

2010-01-15T14:13:00.000-08:00

We are ready for spring with Benefits new Sugar Bomb blush. It's a light pink shade that can be used to give cheeks a nice healthy glow. Very natural looking! It does have a light fragrance to it.

I also swatched Tarte's Borba lipgloss in Inside Out. Very sheer, but slightly sticky.

Eve Pearl Foundation and Diva Palette

2010-01-15T14:05:00.000-08:00

I love Eve Pearl, her personality, her skill and passion for makeup! Her makeup is so versatile, it makes it easy for anybody to look flawless in minutes! I grabbed her HD foundation in light, it comes with a light and a dark shade for easy contouring/ concealing. The formula is so creamy and looks flawless on. I also grabbed the Diva eyeshadow palette for when I'm feeling sassy! Her products are a bit pricey and the palette is on the small side but... They blend like a dream and are super pigmented. All you have to do is dip the brush in no swishing it around or you'll end up with way too much pigment. That's insane! Very vibrant too, what you see is what you get. And the colors are so fun. These are all satiny. I'm very pleased with my purchase. I ordered two more palettes from her and I'll be posting my review as soon as I get them.

Cargo 50% off haul.

2010-01-15T13:35:00.001-08:00

Well, most of the good items are gone. A few loners here and there. This is a great collection that will be missed Specially those blushes! I got a few goodies to review and swatch :)

My favorite buy hands down is that runway pallet hello $25 awesome!! The blushes are fantastic. The eye shadows are fun. Everything goes on smooth and pigmented.

I already own Tahiti and Baja eyeshadow palette and I decided to add a neutral Bahama to the mix. Very sheer light and shimmer and fun warm colors.

Above from left to right is my favorite blush in mendocino, blu ray foundation in #20, blu ray bronzer, blu ray blushes #1 and #2

I already own the blu ray foundation. This is my I have 5 minutes to get ready foundation. Quick and easy and medium to full coverage. I have a lot of couperose (broken capillaries on my cheeks and nose) so I don't even have to wear concealer with this awesome. Now, like most powders it can be drying if you are dry skin already. I'm combination. Most people will ask my what I'm wearing when I wear this foundation because it looks so flawless on me and not drying or too obvious ( I'm combination oily Tzone) the texture is very silky smooth but it's a bit chalky if you don't get your correct color which is hard because their color range is very limited.

I'm happy with blu ray bronzer and blush #2. They are very light and wearable with less shimmer than the original blushes/bronzer. blu ray blush #1 is a bit too chalky for me.

Above from left to right is medium bronzer from the palette, the middle gray smokey eye shadows, blushes in big easy, rome and topeka

These blushes and bronzers are the main reason I snatched up that palette what a steal!

Above from left to right is Cargo plant love lipstick in sagarmatha, and the runway palette eye shadows

I'm not in love with the Cargo plant love lipstick. The shade works for me, but the formula is sooo dry. It reminds me of Nars but even dryer. The good thing is that it is long wearing. Does have a bit of an unpleasant odor. The palette eye shadows I love. They are so pigmented and such fun colors. They blend like a dream.

Sephora hauling time.

2010-01-15T12:26:00.000-08:00

I don't give much love to Sephora brand. When ever I go to Sephora there are so many interesting new things I never really pay attention to the brand even though I am a fan of their brushes, new satin eyeshadows and their powdered foundations. Their lip stuff is another story. I just have such an aversion to smells..specially sweet annoying smells.

Above is a picture of my haul

Above from left to right are swatches of old sephora lippies in 43, 39 and 33 followed by the ultra brilliance lipgloss in 33 and new lip attitude glamour glosses in 17. 18. 19 and 20.

Any-who, in the name of the sale I picked up a few of the old sephora lipsticks. These were all super shimmery and weirdly enough oily/melted gross. The colors were nice though. But again can't stand the smell. They also irritated my lips. I'm guessing because of the shimmer. So I went to see the new sephora lipsticks. And the formula is much improved. I picked 4 neutrals from the lip attitude glamour collection. It's such a silky formula with moderate pigmentation and highly moisturizing. All the colors are wearable and there are so many nice colors. The only con is that strong smell and taste. Now I'm not deliberately eating the lipstick but sometimes I lick my lip (I know bad drying habit) or something happens and there it is that nasty taste. And the strong smell is right under my nose :( What a pity because I do looooove the shades and feel of these lipsticks. I also got a lipgloss from the ultra brilliance collection in #33. This one irritates my lips and it does have the same smell and taste. Very glossy, shiny and non sticky though. I'm scared to try their new rouges the colors and pigments are so intense. Sigh, I"ll have to wait until they change that formula again.

G17

G20

G19

G18

Help Haiti!

2010-01-15T10:48:00.000-08:00

My Dad is so cute he calls me yesterday and tells me he texted 90999 to donate his ten dollars. It's so easy. I did it too. As many of you know Haiti was devastated by a huge Earthquake, and it hit it's capital Port Au Prince badly damaging the presidential palace and worse killing anywhere from 50 to 100k people. Please research and donate if you can to a reputable organization.

Visit the Salvation Army website you can send a check or do it online.
Visit the Red Cross and select the “Haiti Relief and Development” fund.
Text “HAITI” to 90999 to donate $10 to the Red Cross.
Text “YELE” to 501501 to donate $5 to Yele Haiti.

Lips and more!

2010-01-13T16:45:00.000-08:00

I went to Rite Aide to see some Revlon newness and of course I got sidetracked with some other brands. :)

Above I'm wearing the Revlon Photo ready foundation. As you can see it looks gorgeous on, it's just not my correct color match. It's way too light/pink for me. I'm probably the next shade down 004 Nude. But I love how it feels and looks. It is a bit too shimmery for my taste but for the price it's a great HG product! OMG the face looks smooth flawless and it looks like skin yet covers really well. It's so smooth going on and it's oil free. My skin felt like it could breathe and best of all no breakouts. I'm wearing the Cargo beach blush in Echo Beach and the Neutrogena moistureshine gloss in Berryfit, which looks a lot more red on. It's non sticky and so pigmented. Best of all no disgusting taste/smell. I'm loving it all. I just need to get my hands on that nude shade and do a photo with that. Lol my hair is a hot mess, I had just washed it and I'm air drying. I have on Morroccan oil cream leave in conditioner if you are curious. It really helps tame the frizz and define the curls otherwise I'd be a fuzz ball! The bottom part went through Japanese straightening. I did it twice and I promised my self to let myself live with the curls for a few years.

Revlon Photo Ready in 003 Shell, Revlon 065 Rosy Nude, Revlon 131 Ginger Rose, Maybelline colorsensational gloss in 255 Touch of toffee, Neutrogena moisture shine gloss in 400 berry fit, Covergirl shine blast in 835 aglow, Cargo beach blush in Echo Beach.

I'm going to include lip swatches for the lippies just because I feel that gives a better view of the pigmentation and wear of the lippies. I do apologize for my lips before hand so please don't leave mean comments I know they need liner, exfoliation, some concealer and a wax. :P

The Covergirl shineblast does have a slight sweet scent. It's very moisturizing and long lasting. I'm loving the new applicator. It's so easy to apply! It is lovely that it's so shiny and non sticky, but there is no color payoff. Plus it's such a tiny amount of gloss. I've used it twice and already the package is down 1/3 rd of the way. eek. So for me it's not worth the price.

I'm loving the new Revlon color surge lippie. I probably could have chosen a better color it's hard to pick with no testers. the cap is an ok representation. I picked Rosy Nude. A nice everyday color. The color payoff is great. It goes on so smooth and doesn't dry the lips or fade good lasts pretty long too. No smell/taste. I'm so loving this. I'll be sure to try more colors soon.

The Maybelline touch of toffee was not my favorite color. But I was on the hunt for a nice nude lipgloss. This was a winner in that sense. No strong smell. Relatively non sticky. Pretty good color payoff but it does streak a little when you apply a lot of gloss.

50 Reader Giveaway!

2010-01-13T16:27:00.001-08:00

Yay! It's finally here. So I went off and picked some of my favorite products like Fekkai Glossing Cream it leaves the hair so soft and shiny, Revlon creme lippies in 637 blushing nude and 131 ginger rose great neutrals, Maybelline color sensational gloss in 015 born with it. I also grabbed some goodies from Cargo lipgloss in Big Sur and Blush in Mendocino I love these! So sad they are leaving Sephora. I also got a new lipgloss by Neutragena in Moistershine Gloss in 110 Fruity Pink and a new one by Covergirl shine blast in 810 aglow. I'm also adding a Cargo palette in Bermuda ( this is the product I actually went to the store to return because I bought it from Sephora.com and thought it looked like it had been swatched box is scratched too, both the manager and the cashier told me it looked new. Maybe it's my eyes? Anyway, I'll include it since I do own one and I love the colors) and a Kat Von Dee palette is what I got as a replacement in Ludwig great neutrals! I stuck to neutrals so I hope this is something that fits most skin colors and types :)

To enter just leave a comment below saying what you would like to see more of. Don't forget your email so I can notify the winner. I'll chose one winner at random! Thank you all! I'll close this giveaway Sunday Midnight. I'll notify the winner Monday. And I'll mail it out as soon as I get your address!

Hello there!

2010-01-12T18:49:00.000-08:00

To all my lovely bloggers. I can't believe there are over 50 of you. I'm so happy! I'm feeling in a particular loving mood and to celebrate I'll be hosting a little giveaway tomorrow. Also, I have a few posts I need to put up. I've been caught up preparing for my new job so I haven't had much time to blog. But I'm cooking up new ideas and will be back full force soon. Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to peek at my blog!

Looking for naturals

2009-12-19T19:19:00.000-08:00

So I recently acquired Boscia's sheer tinted moisturizer spf 15 in medium and Too faced Lashlight , Yay. The Lash light is a fun mascara. It has a little led light and mirror so you can see where you are applying it. Very good at defining the lashes but not for vaboom eyelashes. Will smear a bit by the end of the day :(

Boscia tinted moisturizer I hated :( eww. It feels sticky and has poor coverage. I tried layering it to build coverage. Huge mistake, it beaded up on me. And I was so looking forward to it waaa! Worse of all I got Medium which they suggested for me.It matched when I first put it on and then...bam.. it turned dark. It's deceptively light and then turns on you, so now I have a line of demarcation and look kinda orangey. eww. I hate when my face looks completely different from my body.

From top to bottom Wet n Wild Natural wear lip shimmer in 106, 107, 106 and Boscia Tinted moisturizer in medium.

I was in the natural mood so I went to CVS and purchased three wet n wild natural wear lip shimmers. Two ( 100 and 107) I hated...way to shimmery/frosty. Looks so cheap on. ( yes I know it was $2, but still). The 106 color looked decent on me, a little too pink for my taste maybe for the summer? It's shiny, moisturizing and has a hint of mint to it but doesn't burn.

My little holiday decorations.

2009-12-18T16:38:00.000-08:00

I finally put up our christmas tree yesterday and decorated it. I used purple, hot pink, and green as well as a little bit of gold. The end result was very fun :)

Tarte Royal Haul !

2009-12-17T11:51:00.000-08:00

I am loving Tarte's glosses! And the new Crown Jewel set has something for everyone. The texture is non sticky and you get medium to sheer coverage, lots of shine and best of all it's natural.

The three little boxes are broken down into these sets:

Glittering Green Goddess set has nude colors with a little sheen

Dazzling Divas is very sheer and glittery, with the exception of the hot pink gloss.

Twinkling Trendsetter is my favorite of the sets with medium pigmentation and sheen

Above from left to right is Dazzling Diva and Twinkling Trendsetter . I'm wearing one from the twinkling trendsetter. So pretty!

Above from left to right is the Glittering Green Goddess followed by double ended lipgloss in paul and holly and then my 24/7 lipsheer in Wednesday.

These glosses won't dry out your lips too which is a huge plus in my book. These are super affordable and make great stocking stuffers! I love Tarte subscribe to their mailer. You'll love all the discounts and goodies they send out. :)

TPG haul

2009-12-13T19:10:00.000-08:00

So I ended up going to the TPG pop up shop and it was nice. I meet my airbrush instructor David Klasfield of OCC cosmetics. He's such a sweet heart. And a whole bunch of artists were there just selling their goods. I ended up not getting anything from Eve Pearl. But I did go crazy with the Korres. I love Korres and their all natural goodness. I got a bunch of liners and lipglosses.

Below I have Korres eyeliners in 6 gray and 8 blue. Korres Lip liners in 1 Neutral light, 3 brown orange, and 4 red.

This is the close up of the lipglosses by Korres cherry oil lip glosses in 32 beige pink, 25 natural purple, 52 red, 23 light purple, 27 plum then the Korres lip butters in jasmine and plum. And last but not least Stila 24kt lip gloss in merlot.

Below from top to bottom are swatches of the urban decay eyeshadows in Blaze and Stray Dog

The new Coat dilemma

2009-12-11T17:50:00.000-08:00

Well it's officially serious cold weather here in NY and I need me a coat! But the trouble is I can't seem to pick. I need it to be good for everyday, warm yet cute :(

So I'm turning to all my lovely followers for some advice. Help me choose!

This cute little number in red:

This elegant little number in black:

This fun little number in black:

This warm little number in Black.

In case you are wondering, this is what I currently own:

I wear the black one most. I just love it. It's so me lol.

I also own a wool trench some spring jackets and two hideous puffers but I won't torture you with that.

Anyway, if you can please comment and let me know what you think I should get I would greatly appreciate it :)

Mini drug store haul.

2009-12-10T17:17:00.000-08:00

I needed to get some polish remover and deodorant but alas, I was tempted. Wet and wild had a new silk finish blush color out called Berry shimmer and while I was at it I also grabbed Heather Silk and Mellow Wine. I also found something new, Carlo Di Roma from Spain? Never heard of it, but their website looks cool and they have a lot of fun colors too. But they had really pretty glosses and liners. I picked a Vicious Lip Gloss in #15. Such a pretty girly pink( that is until you try it on. ::shivers:: The good thing is that it did dry down to a sheer color but still uneven) All this at my local Duane Reade. Awesome no?

I'm including some lip swatches for your enjoyment. See the pictures are pretty forgiving. And it kinda looks ok when it dries down, but it's so uneven :( Sorry I didn't do much with makeup today :)

Anyway. Everything was bought on a whim...and it shows. Everything was fairly disappointing. The lipgloss....looks much better in the picture than it does in real life. It's really pigmented, but goes on uneven and dries kind of matte which is good and bad. it's non sticky if that helps. Reminds me a little of nars sans the stickiness. Oh and the smell. It's horrendous. Like stale makeup and old lady perfume. Yuck. Oh my lips hurt :(. lol The blushes They all seem to look alike when applied to the skin.

Above from left to right, WetnWild Berry shimmer, Mellow Wine and Heather silk, followed by Carlo Di Roma lipgloss in #15

Berry shimmer was too pigmented, if sheered could make a nice dupe for Nars orgasm....maybe. Mellow wine was the one I thought would be my favorite but it doesn't apply evenly it reminds me of a sheer version of Lakme Berry Crush . and Heather silk just looks too pink and common. At least I got to experiment. :) And I saw some interesting things I might pick up for my next drugstore trip. Like the L'oreal teloscopic explosion mascara. Has anyone tried that? I have the Givenchy one so hopefully I'll get around to doing a comparison review :)

TPG pop up shop!

2009-12-10T17:14:00.000-08:00

I missed the first one because of work. But this time I got my lovely co worker to switch her hours with me so that I can go. The only thing that really excites me is the fact that there will be Eve Pearl goodies there. I love her makeup! Anyway, I felt the need to share because the offers seem amazing. So I copied and pasted from my email here goes, I hope it benefits some of you :)

ONE DAY ONLY - SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13

INCLUDING NEW PRODUCT ADDITIONS!

Embryolisse!
Ramy Beauty!
Alison Raffaele!
Korres Natural Products!
Jao!
Pencil Me In!

PLUS PRODUCTS FROM....

Stila!
Three Custom Color!
Eve Pearl Beauty!
Shiny Mama!
Shadow Shields!
Armour Beauty!
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics!
TPG Clear Soft Packs!
Face Chart Packs
9x9 product packs!

*Prices start at $5 per piece, most products no more than $10 per piece!
*Please note that advance listing of specific products at TPG Pop-Up Shop is not available. Only select merchandise available from the above listed brands.

We had such a great turnout at the TPG Pop-Up Shop last weekend that we are doing it again this week! That's right - if you missed the event last week - you have one more chance for great deals at $5 and $10 for nearly all makeup at the shop!

This special one-day only event is open to pros and makeup lovers of all kinds!

Plus get a free gift with any $20 purchase - while supplies last!

Sunday, December 13
Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Studio
121 West 27th Street (btwn 6th-7th)
Suite 1200 (12th Floor)
Just a few blocks from Penn Station and every subway line!
Event hours are 1:00PM - 6:00PM

Lakme and Revlon from Delhi

2009-12-08T19:56:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry I haven't been posting much. I haven't been shopping much since I got back. I've been taking a few classes which have dried up my makeup funds, that and I'm trying to make some space in my home to find my makeup stash from the hubby. I didn't get to shop much for makeup while in India and Nepal. ( Hubby was angry at the amount of Saris and bangles I acquired so I decided not to test him) I'll do a post on a later date with all my Saris, Lenghas, Churidaars and bangles later this week :) Here is what I did get:

Lakme is an amazing brand. The colors are so strong yet classic. And I love them, makes me feel all bollywood. whoohoo!

Lakme Bridal Sutra Blus in Rose Crush, Lakme Glide on Eye Color in plum, Revlon eyeliner in Black Lakme Enrich lipcolor in 157 Bamboo pink, and 152 in Raspberry crush (colors are much prettier, but my camera sucks. I am still keeping my fingers crossed for a new one for christmas.

Secret Santa Time!!!

2009-11-18T09:43:00.000-08:00

I'm too excited! I'll be participating my my first blog secret santa. The lovely Lauren from Paris Boutique http://jadoreparisboutique.blogspot.com/2009/11/secret-santa-entry-form.html

will be hosting it along with her friends Boo Jenkins from http://hottrampiloveyouso.blogspot.com/ and Niki from http://niki-makeuprehab.blogspot.com/. It's such a great idea. And best of all it's international so you'll get to make lots of friends. Take a look at the original post. It's easy to join just fill out the entry form (located on Paris Boutique blog) and send a picture of yourself holding a sign to your blog address and send it to parisboutique@hotmail.co.uk.

It's just that simple. So please join and lets all get in that holiday spirit.

I'm back!!!

2009-11-18T08:04:00.000-08:00

Beautiful temple in Delhi, Akshardam It's huge. But it's security is insanely tight, no pictures allowed!! We are in a little lake with my husband and we borrowed a nephew lol. He had so much energy and was helping us pedal.

My sister in law in front of India gate in Delhi, and a beautiful hotel in Narangakot nepal

The cutest little puppy ever!

My nephew's pet sweety, Some lovely fields in Baktapur

Lak Bhati puja in our home, Momos (nepali dumplings)

I'm trying to swing on the ping and my sister in law, preparing our local chicken for dinner

This is the famous SwayamBhuNath (huge buddist temple in Nepal) They have the cutest monkeys too.

Beautiful temples, me in a salwar kameez

Me in the balcony with my mother in law's garden, and me again with a baby buffalo

Some images from the road. That car fell and was pulled up caused a huge traffic jam

Goats wandering the mountain side with their master. Here is one trying to take a little snack.

Above is a picture of a khasi (neutred goat) being prepared for dinner. My sister in law's land

He's making our chow chow (noodles) and some opportunistic goats.

Some fruitwala (vendor) and my mother in law and niece planting some veggies outside

Here I am. It's been a long time. Here are some fun pictures from my trip :P

Out of the Country

2009-10-04T04:28:00.000-07:00

Sorry I didn't let you guys know before. I kinda left a little rushed. I still can't believe I'm in Nepal. I'll be here until November. Sorry again. But I will have lots of pictures and stories to tell when I come back. Lots of hugs and love!

The New Victoria Secret Makeup Haul

2009-09-11T09:29:00.000-07:00

Umm...this looks a little scary, but I hauled it over three different occasions. lol not that that justifies the insanity, but anyway. Hope this helps some one trying to decide on what to order.

My favs so far are the new glosses and the sheer gloss sticks. Great pigmentation and it's very non sticky. My least favorites are the lip liners. Eww they go on so dry :( The eyeshadow quad wasn't too impressive either, One color was flaky, One was pretty much invisible. The other two were pretty so I ended up buying the quad anyway.

From left to right are the Victoria secret sheer gloss sticks in shy, exposed and only you. Perfect lipstick in Scrumptious, and Dusk, lip liner in Ginger Spice and Nude

Lip Lacquer in Strip and True, Lip Gloss in Intimate, Yearning, Blush and Wet.

Victoria Secret Quad in Sultry, Lustre eyeshadow in Champagne and Beloved.

Eyes Lips FAce studio haul

2009-09-11T09:22:00.000-07:00

I love how affordable this brand is. And guess what, their products are great. I'm loving their studio collection blushes ! The studio collection packaging reminds me of Nars, The shadows can be pigmented, but they are not as highly pressed as Nars and can be flaky when picking up product so do flick off that brush. The translucent powder has a pinky undertone and is very light.

From left to right is the ELF translucent mattifying powder, Elf Blushes in Candid Coral, Tickled Pink, and Blushing Rose

Tarte Friends and Family Haul !

2009-09-11T09:10:00.000-07:00

I love Tarte, I love how they combine their naturally derived 5 antioxidant complex in all their products. I also love how light their products are and how effortlessly gorgeous they make me feel. So here is my latest haul. The Circle Defense is salmon color and lightweight, But it does help to brighten the eye area. I am loving their primer, Not so much for their priming ability but because it does firm the lid, I'm going to use it as a night treatment haha! And as most of you know by now I have an obsession with lip wear, so I'll probably be collecting more of their 24/7s lip sheers soon. They gave me a free sugar daddy glistening powder cool no?

Below from left to right is 24/7 lip sheers in Saturday and Tuesday, Lifted natural eye primer with Firmitol, provocateur pressed mineral powder in light with spf 8, circle defense under eye concealer in light.

Clinique Buttershine Lipsticks

2009-09-11T09:02:00.000-07:00

I am definitely not a Clinique lover, But I do have some respect for the lipwear and their new halo like Super Balanced Powder Foundation ( did you see all those colors and the silky texture? ) Anyway, I do love Clinique Buttershines, they remind me a little bit of Dior but for way less. I bought four of them and they gave me a goodie bag yay!

From left to right is Delovely, Pink Toffee, Brandy Apple, Baby Baby, ( from the free stuff) long last lipstick in Blushing Nude, Tenderheart long last glosswear, and Rosy Blush cream stick blush.

Benefit Lippie haulage

2009-09-11T08:57:00.000-07:00

I love benefit lipsticks. They are so moisturizing with a great selection of natural colors for great everyday wear. Only con is that they are not long lasting. :(

Here is my latest haul

From Bottom to top is Finders keepers, Candy Store, Liar Lips, Label Lover, Fame Game

My latest Mac Haul.

2009-09-11T08:40:00.000-07:00

Well this is actually the post for three separate hauls, but like I said I'm really behind on posts :(

Some from the Make up Arts collection, some from the Creative Craft collection and some just for fun :)

Hold that pose, Madly Creative, Made with love, Fabby, Fresh Moroccan and Angel.

Mineralize Skin finish natural in medium, Mac Notoriety quad

Mac Natural flare mineralize eyeshadow quad ( OMG I Loooove the pigmentation in these)

Goodies from Sephora!

2009-09-11T07:59:00.000-07:00

Oof. I'm so backed up in posts it's not even funny. Not having a camera sucks badly. I'm borrowing my husbands camera so I can put up some posts.

Here is my latest Sephora haul.

I bought the new Stila Barbie palette and I'm so happy. It's an insane deal at $28. Yes the pans are the same size as the full color pans but it doesn't matter for me since I rarely hit pan in my shadows. (seriously...) Anyway.

I also passed by the Urban Decay section and fell in love. My goodness they were working hard making a lovely collection. I only bought the surreal skin cream to powder foundation in nirvana ( I'm going to say my conbination skin didn't like it to much. By the end of the day my oil nose seems to wash it out and I'm left with weird gaps by the side of my nose. but overall I liked the texture and the light to medium coverage it offers) and the naked lipstick ( :( I hate the smell but love the color) and the Ink for eyes cream liner in zero. ( I love this liner a lot especially since it comes with it's own little brush inside). But I'm sure I'll be getting their primer for face, lips and eyes set soon (only $65 ah~mazing) as well as the wallflower lip liner and confesson lipstick. Sigh..but I'm also lemming the book of shadows II and the superstash of liners and the apocalyptic nail kit so those might win out first. But either way you'll know :)

Above from top to bottom is Lorac Front of the line Pro Liner in black, Urban Decay Naked lipstick and Nars Fast ride lipstick.

Above from Left to Right is Nars Duo in Silk Road, Nars Single in Mekong, and the Urban Decay Ink for eyes in Zero.

Anyway, I got some goodies from Nars as well. I bought their lipstick in fast ride, their eyeshadow duo in silk road and their eyeshadow single in Mekong. I got a great Lorac liner, it's waterproof and amazing. It's called front of the line pro they sell it in black and brown. It gives a sharp intense non budging line and it's easy to go thin or thick.I also got a set of travel brushes from Sephora. $32 these brushes are so soft and they work really well. I'm so in love :)

I haven't abandoned you

2009-08-03T20:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry I've been away so long. It's been crazy lately. I have lots of posts to put up and lots of hauls. I was on vacation in South Carolina and I'm back. Only bad thing is that while I was there my camera died. It got wet during a bad rainstorm at the beach. Yes...my vacation was interesting. So as soon as I can get that fixed or get a replacement I will start posting again.

Tarte and Laura Mercier newness!

2009-07-13T12:54:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone. Sorry for taking so long to post. I've been a little busy. I'll be going out of the country in September and I have an upcoming vacation at the end of this month so I all but pulled out my hair. Anyway, I still love you guys so here is my newest indulgences. I like the new Tarte Femme Fatale eyeshadow palette their packaging is sexy and their colors are much better than their past selections plus the little eye charts are helpful. I still find their eyeshadows a little flaky, but heck they are pretty darn good for a natural brand . I also got the new Laura Mercier oil free kit. It's rare to find an oil free kit. So this one gets a thumbs up in my book. :) And just for fun I'm adding a swatch of my new liner from Korres s6. I love the color. I just love blue at this moment :)

Wow doesn't that palette look awesome? look how fun the colors are. And I'm loving the look guide.

Above are swatches from Korres blue liner in s6, the blue side of the duo liner in the tarte palette followed by the green side. Then the top row.

Above is the laura mercier oil free tinted moisturizer in nude, followed by the concealer pot in #2, with the dry side then the creamy side that is followed by Tarte's 2nd row of eyeshadows in the femme fatale palette.

My latest haul.

2009-06-29T17:34:00.000-07:00

I got some random goodies.

I was on the hunt for a new powder. I'm combination skin and lately, my nose and cheeks are getting super oily so I need something that stays on and looks light weight ( I want to look naked I tell you !) I have a lot of redness in my skin so I just want to cover that. I got the High Definition powder from Cargo in #20. It's perfect, blends like a dream and is super sheer.I also bought Mac Viva Glam lipstick in VI, Benefit silky finish lipstick in swoonderful. And a lovely huge bar of soap from Fresh in Sugar. This stuff is heavy duty will last for ever with it's triple milled formula. :)

Above Cargo HD powder in #20, Viva Glam VI, and Benefit lipstick in swonderful

My MAC Euristocrats II haul ;)

2009-06-26T17:59:00.000-07:00

Above is my latest haul from MAC. I got a little carried away. Especially since my favorite MA Sharonda was there. I love her she's super sweet and patient. And she showed me her Mac book with all the new looks and upcoming collections. Let me say there will be a lot of black and deep reds. Some glitter coming up and over all lots of color.

Above is MAC eyeshadow in contrast and blackberry

Above from top to bottom is MAC lipstick in sunsational, mac eversun powder blush, lipglass in buzz all from the Naked Honey collection, Then from the Euristocrats II collection I have MAC lipstick in naked paris,costa chic, saint germain, patisserie, and cockney

Above I have More Euristocrats II collection the MAC dazzleglasses in date night, via veneto, rue d'roue, and lip pencil in magenta

Things just magically appear in my overflowing beauty trunk

2009-06-26T17:56:00.000-07:00

I recently acquired some goodies for me to review. Lots of fun mascaras. The traditional Imuju fiberwig is great. A little clumpy but still gives length like no other. The new tiny sniper I hate. Super clumpy and the brush sucks! I also acquired some goodies from bare minerals. I already own the spf 30 in light and I'm super happy to get a new one because I love this stuff I use it everyday religiously. I haven't broken out yet and I break out really easy. And the coverage is really light which I love. unlike the original bare minerals I don't feel dry or overly made up. The 100% natural mineral gloss I love. The color is fun and very summery. Plus I love the texture and smell of bare minerals glosses! I also got the urban decay pocket rocket in Erik, lovely color very sheer. Doesn't smell to great. And the packaging....well let's not even go there :( The too faced mascara I've been dying to try. This one gives good volume and length. The fun part is that it's like the Blink Kiss Me mascara it comes off in little tubes!

Above is the Urban Decay Eric Pocket Rocket lipgloss and Bare Minerals Chiffon 100% lipgloss

On the hunt for some good drugstore makeup!

2009-06-26T17:55:00.000-07:00

The economy sucks and that's no joke. So I'm always on the hunt for some good drug store steals. Which usually fails...mainly because they never have testers but sometimes I find goodies like the L'Oreal true match super blendable compact and the Revlon Colorstay lipcolor.

Above from Bottom to top I have L'Oreal true match super blendable compact makeup in w2 light ivory, maybelline colorsensational in 205 nearly there and 615 summer sunset, Revlon colorstay lipcolor 370 cozy coral

Hyperpigmentation, your skin's worst enemy!

2009-06-24T18:09:00.000-07:00

Hyperpigmentation is caused by many things; sun damage, acne, menopause, pregnancy,trauma, age, products, peels, etc. The bad thing is once you have it, it's a pain to remove it!

The epidermis (skin) contains cells that are called melonocytes. These cells form the pigment called melanin which are one of the pigments that give color to your skin, hair and eyes. When these cells are damaged or over stimulated they will send out more melanin than usual causing hyperpigmentation.

Treatments:

Best treatment is to avoid sun exposure and wear serious SPF when heading outdoors, you don't want to aggravate and accelerate the damage that is already present ?

Hydroquinone works by blocking melanin production and is available in various percentages, up to 2%(DDF, Obagi,and Murad) over the counter and up to 4% through prescription( lustra, claripel, and triluma).

possible side effects include redness, burning. In percentages from 6-10% it can cause skin caner and ochronosis (permanent darkening of the skin) with prolonged use or when one does not use sun protection. Products that use resorcinol in combination with hydroquinone can cause ochronosis in darker skin types.

My picks: DDF Fade Gel 4, Murad Age spot and pigment lightening gel.

Retinol and it's derivatives (vitamin A)

This powerful exfoliant will even help wrinkles by plumping the skin and promoting collagen production. Another plus is that it's a great antioxidant. Prescription Retin-A, Differin, and Tazorac.

Side effects include redness, burning.

My picks: Philosophy Save Me and Help Me, Dermadoctor poetry in lotion

Glycolic Acid is another exfoliant that can be gentle or harsh depending on it's percentage. Up to 20% over the counter and up to 70% in a doctor's office (ouch) The cool thing about glycolic acid is that it is found in lotions, pads, toners, everything !

Mendelic Acid derived from almonds is super mild and is also antibacterial which is great if you get hyperpigmentation from acne because it'll keep the acne at bay. Some good choices are MaMa lotion :)

Vitamin C this exfoliant is very gentle. Also stimulates the production of collagen. best one is Magnesium L Ascorbyl 2 phosphate (MAP) which is very stable, lightens and is also a great antioxidant. My picks: L'occitane Immortelle Brightening Renewing Serum.

Kojic Acid is naturally derived from mushrooms (originally in Japan) It works like hydroquinone by blocking melanin production. Another great feature of Kojic acid is that it's a great ROC scavenger (super antioxidant). One down side is that it has a higher tendency to cause contact dermatitis and toxicity. Maximum concentration allowed is 2% and best when combined with glycolic acid. My picks DDF intensive holistic lightener, SkinCeuticals Phyto +, Philosophy pigment of your immagination.

Arbutin is plant derived (bearberry) and inhibits tyrosinase which inhibits the process through which melanin is produced. This one is the least effective on it's own but is non toxic and non irritating. My pics include Shiseido Whitening line.

Mulberry Extract another naturally derived product that inhibits tyrosinase. This one causes the least irritation.

Fresh Appleseed Brightening Essence a potent mix of Vitamin C and mulberry extract. Ole Hendrickson Enlighten me pigment lightening serum.

Licorice extract (glabridin) is the least toxic to melanocytes. Best for melasma because it inhibits tyrosinase and inflammation. My pics: Dermadoctor Immaculate Correction.

Azelaic Acid inhibits tyrosinase and therefore can be used to treat hyperpigmentation. Best when combined with glycolic acid. Tends to cause more sensitivity than hydroquinone.

Laser

Laser treatments needs to be done by a qualified doctor only otherwise the risks outweighs it's success. The most sucessful laser treatments are with Fraxel lasers which uses a series of tiny closely spaced laser beams resulting in least irritation and redness.

Preventative ingredients:

Soy which is said to help inhibit the protein that activates the melanocytes so they don't produce as much melanin. Most importantly it helps strengthen the skin.

Niacinamide or vitamin b3 helps to stop the transfer of the melanosome (melanin color) from the melanocytes to the cells of the epidermis and produces even skin tone and reduces lines/wrinkles by stimulating collagen. Try Nia24 line

Alpha Hydroxy Acids- light peels will exfoliate the skin and remove a lot of the discoloration, any remaining discoloration will be easier to treat. Best ones, Glycolic, Mandelic. Try MD skincare they have exfoliating pads that mix glycolic, salicylic and lactic.

In the end, you should be careful not to bleach your skin too much. Once the pigmentation is significantly reduced or removed you should stop the treatment. Abusing these skin lighteners can strip your skin leaving it vulnerable to environmental damage since melanin is your natural skin defense against UV damage. Which in turn and make the skin fragile.

More Bobbi brown lippies!

2009-06-24T17:52:00.003-07:00

Lol. Can you tell I have an obsession with Bobbi Brown lip colors? Well I'm bringing you some more swatches from my latest Bloomingdales haul :) (sadly only place close to me to get me some bobbi brown :( waaa!)

Above from left to right are Bobbi Brown Metallic lipcolor in Gilded rose, lipcolor in heather mauve, and Creamy lipcolor in baby as well as Laura Mercier creamy lipcolor in italian summer and foundation powder in #3 which had a strong smell and felt chalky :(

Stila Charmed $10

2009-06-24T17:44:00.000-07:00

Whoa. I got a tiny $10 haul. Lol. I love the new Stila charmed palette. Mostly because of the cute bindis, but the colors were nice and the pigment is great. My fav is the dark purple and the teal. The palette it self is packaged in an ugly cheap cardboard so I didn't mind only paying $10. I also got the Fresh mascara duo for $10. Awesome. I love these mascaras. The supernova is my fav of the two. It does give good volume for everyday, not spectacular though. But it's nice to have in the purse. Plus, the mascara is good for your lashes, it features meadowfoam and linden extracts as well as vitamin b5. The firebird is more for length. You'll definitely want to layer these two together and give it a few coats.

New goodies from Dior and Bobbi Brown Nude fall collection 2009

2009-06-16T18:20:00.001-07:00

My recent haul from Dior and Bobby brown :)

I love when I have a good SA. And this is what I have with Isidora from Bloomingdales in 59th and Lexington in NY. She is super sweet and patient. She doesn't mind showing you what's new and what she's passionate about and never ever ever gives attitude. And so every time I see her I drop at least $200. lol. But I'm not complaining with her I feel I will be going back often and I don't mind the crazy money spent. So if you are in the area please stop by and give her love. She's great. Now my other experience today at the Bobbi Brown counter...tisk tisk tisk. So within two months I've been to the Bobbi Brown counter three times. And I've dropped at least $150 each time because I found two SAs that were really nice. But today I went back and I got approached by a girl who was totally rude. She looked like she was South Asian and I hadn't seen her before. I was really annoyed because she was rude all through the end and I got a big haul too. I left feeling like I have broken her testers. ( all I did was ask about the new collection and tell her that my last SA had recommended the creamy lip color and I liked them and I wanted a new lip wardrobe with those textures) The beast didn't even have to do any convincing I had to tell her what I wanted and I would have bought more but her attitude was disgusting. I hate needing to buy stuff because sometimes I just want to walk away and order online but since I was already there I got the stuff anyway. Plus I was itching for the new fall line. I'm starting to feel like I should blacklist Bloomingdales again. :( Anyway, sorry for the rant. I know the economy sucks, but I just feel as an SA myself. If a client isn't giving you attitude, stealing, breaking stuff, asking for mad samples there is no reason for this treatment. SAs should appreciate that people want to buy and not try to push them away.

Above are swatches from Bobbi Brown creamy lip color in blue raspberry,soft blush, twilight, rose bud, and long wear gel eyeliner in graphite

Above are swatches from the Bobbi Brown Nude Eye palette which contains Navajo/Pebble, Chino/Beige Linen Wash and Maple Sugar/Caviar duos

Above are swatches of my Dior haul I got the Dior addict ultra gloss reflect in 457 in pink liberty and 757 red stocking, the diorskin forever compact foundation in linen 021, followed by the new designer eye palette in amber design. I was kinda disappointed in the palette, it's really beautiful in terms of packaging, but the colors are not all they could be, two of them don't really show and the others are so so. I didn't get any of the others because I already own so many things like them. But this is definitely versatile, just not the best they have.

Benefit Haulage

2009-06-16T17:30:00.001-07:00

Above are two swatches from my latest lipstick acquisition. The colors are skinny dip and on the sly.

I got my paws on one of benefit's new fragrances.I got the Laugh with me Lee lee which is a woody floral. The notes are citrus, jasmine and lily. It's light and fun. Perfect for summer.

The have two other scents called My place or yours Gina a woody oriental with notes of pink pepper, wild raspberry and patchouli and Something about Sofia an oriental floral with mango and vanilla.

The Body Butter from Lavanila in vanilla grapefruit smells so yummy. It's somewhat citrus somewhat sweet and oh so rich.

Face Atelier, perfect for light summer makeup.

2009-06-11T11:41:00.000-07:00

Face Atelier was founded by Debbie Bondar, she strives to make all women achieve flawless stress free beauty with her high performance easy to use makeup line. The Ultra Foundation is the star of her line. It is super light weight and easy to blend and apply. It's a dream come true. The coverage is medium to full coverage. And it looks almost airbrushed . It's silicone based. So you don't have to worry about creasing or that cakey look. Best of all it's oil free yet hydrating. They have ten lovely shades plus they have two color correctors in zero minus and zero plus so you know you'll find the perfect match. Still scared to try? Well you can order samples like I did for $1 each, and they are generous too! I know I'll be ordering my full size real quick :)

Here is what I tried: #2 ivory, #3 wheat, #4 sand, #5 sepia and #7 tan in that order from left to right.

I also tried the dual camouflage in medium. They don't have many shades, but finish is lovely. Plus they add a warm and cool color so you can mix to your heart's content. And last but not least the powder face powders in translucent and light. I love the feel and the finish of this powder. It disappears as soon as you apply it. It reminds of Becca's finishing powder but without the shimmer/sheen.

Above is the medium camouflage in warm and cool, then the translucent powder and light powder heavily swatched.

My Beauty Fix is here!

2009-06-08T14:33:00.000-07:00

I love sample boxes a great way to try new products without commitment, speaking of which sephora has their new best of Sephora sets featuring mascaras in regular and waterproof (remember the lash stash? well it's back and better than ever) plus they come color coated so you know which set you get. I want to collect all they also have featuring; face moisturizers, body moisturizers, high performance beauty (this one has bliss oxygenating eye mask in it). perfumes and lipsticks all from Vivabox. The prices range from $36 to $40. I love it. Most sephoras has this stash away it hasn't launched on the site yet, my local sephora had it in the cashiers area . But today we are going to talk about Beauty fix, the membership program that promises to let you sample top rated professional and spa grade products.

In my beautyfix was included a lovely black case, a 7 day kit of raspberry jasmine flavored glowelle powder drink with a little case, a deluxe sample of 3 labs m cream which features the rare Swiss apple called uttweiler spatlauber Swiss apple. These tart bitter little buggers provide us with stems cells that help skin look younger less wrinkled. Stem cells from apples, sounds crazy and this cream is mad expensive. I'll donate it to my mother and see if she gives me a review. I received a full size global goddess eyeshadow in makabari which is full of antioxidants from tea.

Above is a swatch from the eyeshadow.

I got a full size Jonathan finish control high shine hairspray it's 100% vegan with good for you ingredients like soy, sweet almond and rice proteins as well as extracts from pomegranates and white tea. The bella bronze tan enhancer which features tomato lycopene and red wine polyphenols , kerstin florian spa face aromatherapy neroli scented water which can be used as a hydrating oxygenating skin freshener. The lisa hoffman night and day vitamin a and c serum and an exuviance rejuvenating treatment masque with a blend of mandelic and gluconolactone two potent high functioning acids to plump skin, gently exfoliate to provide luminosity and more refined pores. As an added bonus it's also full of Vitamins A, C, E and Pro Vitamin B complex)Best of all this goody is a peel off gel masque Awesome no?

The glowelle beauty drink is full of natural ingredients, no artificial preservatives, sweeteners or colors, and chock full of antioxidants( like Vitamins A, C, E , Goji berry, Green and white tea), vitamins and fruit extracts ( like pomegranate, lycopene from tomatoes, Grape seed). It guarantees to give you brighter smoother skin in a month's time :)

More hair care

2009-06-07T18:43:00.001-07:00

Many of you know about my love for Phyto so here I am in all my glory. I'm using the Phytospecific revitalizing oil treatment. It worked wonders on my uber dry hair. I also used the intense nutrition shampoo and the leave in conditioner integral hair care which gives bounce and softens it's frizz.

Above is the warm bronze mineral powder bronzer from laura mercier.

Max Factor and Smashbox.

2009-06-05T16:20:00.000-07:00

I heard the sad news that Max Factor cosmetics will be leaving the US by 2010. Sad news that many makeup companies are going under. So I decided to give their line some love by trying their new Vivid Impact Lip color. It was pretty pricey, and there weren't many shades left so I opted for a neutral one.

Smashbox is owned by Dean and Davis Factor which are grandsons to the legendary Max Factor, The Max Factor company is not owned by the Factor family. So it is fitting that I add them here. They are world famous for their primers, O glow and gloss and their eye shadows. The eye shadows are my favorites super pigmented with a lovely satiny glide.

Becca packaging too sexy to resist!

2009-06-05T16:16:00.000-07:00

I recently bought another Becca Concealer this time in Toffee, this color will go nicely with some of my South Asian clients. I also got the fine loose finishing powder in Sesame for me. It disappears on the skin leaving a nice glow. (it has a slight sheen to it) this powder unlike some out there is moisturizing. A sheer moisturizing powder? Yup Becca has it!

My little Bloomies Lippie haul

2009-06-05T15:47:00.000-07:00

I have been avoiding Bloomingdales because of the seriously bad customer service. I'm excited my YSL girl recognized me and she was pretty nice this time around I was tempted to get the new lip palette from Tresor D'Afrique and it does not disappoint. You can make so many combinations from these hot colors. They are also moisturizing and slightly sheer.

The color on the right is one I made mixing the orange, light pink and shiny light pink color. Cool no?

I also stopped by Bobbi Brown because my last girlie was sweet and I got a new nice girl. So I'm giving Bloomingdales another try. The guy at the MAC counter was rushing me so I didn't get much there and the other guy was rude (this is why I get my MAC at Bendels) Anyway, this is a classic example of how customer service affects a clients purchase. Good=more than I was expecting to spend Poor= I get out of there fast and buy only what I came to get.

From top to bottom is a brave new bronze, Brave and Spirit Satin lipsticks from Mac.

lol Anywho, in my last post I raved about the staying power and natural gorgeous color range of Bobbi Brown lip color lipsticks. But the down side is that they are drying and have a terrible smell. So she gave me a creamy lip color lipstick, while these are sheerer and have a bit of shimmer to them they feel really good on the lips and do last, just not like the lip color. I also hauled some pretty liners to go with my new lips.

From top to bottom is Bobbi Brown lip color in blush, creamy lip color in bronzed pink, lip liner in cocoa and lipliner in blush.

Self Tanning Craze!

2009-05-27T17:33:00.000-07:00

So...I'm pretty pale. One of the palest latinas in my family. I'm not really into bronzing or tanning so I'm always stumped when customers ask me what I recommend. So I went on a little self tanning spree to see what I find out. Here are my results after seven hours:

Above from Top to bottom is a swatch of Dior iris, lancome flash bronzer oil free face, lancome flash bronzer legs, lancome flash bronzer mousse.

From left to right is mystic tan spray, clarins self tanning emulsion, clarins self tanning gel, clarins delicious self tanning cream

Above from top to bottom is bliss a tan for all seasons, dior natural face, dior natural glow body, dior shimmer glow body

from left to right is clarins self tanning gel, clarins delicious self tanning cream, fusion light spray and fusion medium spray.

Mystic Tan sunless face and body spray

Spray type, hard to spray evenly even at a distance it likes to run and concentrate :(. Not supposed to rub after using but best results occur when you rub it in or use a moisturizer over it which will lift some color but at least it will be even. I do find this slightly drying as well. Light smell. Super deep color, not orangey at all.

Sevin Nyne

Really nice smell. Comes out in a lovely fine mist, but it can squirt if you don't give it a break. You see color right away. Slightly orange but more brown base. Does not last very long.

Clarins

Self tanning instant gel

Very light natural color, really bad heavy smell. Leaves the skin nice and silky.

Self tanning instant milk

Light natural color, a bit oily. Heavy smell. Skin is left moisturized.

Delicious self tanning cream

Looks scary in the jar. Does not turn out as glittery on the skin. Very nice natural color. Less smelly than the others.

Dior

Dior bronze self tanner natural glow face

Super light weight. Absorbs instantly. No bad smell

Dior bronze self tanner shimmer glow body

Super light tan with a slight shimmer. Very natural looking. No bad smell

Dior bronze self tanner natural glow body

Wow nice deep natural looking color. Works on all skin types. silky and absorbs instantly. No bad smell.

Lancome

Flash bronzer instant color self tanning leg gel

Light color and smell. Feels very moisturizing.

Flash bronzer medium color oil free tinted self tanning lotion for face

Smells great. Gel like consistency. Nice deep color. Moisturizing and long wearing.

Bliss

A tan for all seasons

Does not spray evenly and looks purply. No orangey color. Dries fast with no transfer. Medium tan odor. Slight smell.

Fusion Beauty

Bobbi Brown haul!

2009-05-26T17:53:00.000-07:00

I was on the hunt for a fun summer lip look and look what I found :) A perfect bright fun look! I absolutely love the Vitamin Enriched face base. It's oil free extremely hydrating with shea butter vitamins A,C and E. It hasn't broken me out and my makeup wears extremely well over it. The sheer pressed powder is perfect for on the go during these upcoming hot summer days. The foundation touch up sticks can double as foundation and a concealer cool no? I love the awesome range of shades. My favorite of all is the lip color in soft rose, it's not too loud and is extremely long wearing. It has a bit of a smell, but I can live with it. I'll be investing in a few of these I can feel it.

Above from Left to right I have the Sheer pressed powder in soft sand, the foundation stick in warm sand, lipcolor in soft rose and sheer lipgloss in popsicle.

Shisheido Love !

2009-05-26T17:33:00.001-07:00

So I was walking along on the hunt for a nice nude lip ideas and I spot some great lipglosses by Shiseido. The lip sticks are a little warm, the pale ones wash me out too much. Overall I love the glosses they are really fun and wearable.

From left to right Shiseido perfect rouge in 310 Dune. Automatic lip crayon in L2, The makeup lipgloss in G26 peach melba, G1 champagne sparkle, g25 cinnamon shimmer.

Some random goodies.

2009-05-26T17:04:00.001-07:00

Boy oh boy! I love Dior Addict ultra gloss reflect in 657 rose satin . Super shiny with no stickiness. Did you see the beauty insider only lip polishes at Sephora? Why are they jacking up the price? The economy is too slow for this nonsense. Grrr! The iconic mascara I have bought before. I still like it. It gives superior length with no flakiness. It's hard to remove but for that I got my trusty fresh soy face cleanser. I love that stuff, it softens your skin and removes every bit of dirt. Not to mention all the benefits it has such as great for removing eye makeup yet gentle for the eyes. Soy amino acid, Soy extracts and antioxidants which smooth the skin and promote it's youthful appearance.

I'm currently loving Korres deep color mascara. It features vitamin B5 (panthenol) to condition lashes and rice bran to give volume. It really does lengthen. Reminds me of the Dior iconic in that it gives a glossy finish. You can see I love mascaras. The MUFE aqua smoky lash is excellent too, it won't flake, wears all day and gives great volume and length.

Victoria Secret Makeup 75% off!!

2009-05-26T14:52:00.000-07:00

Whoa. I was never one for Victoria Secret makeup but at 75% off who could resist? Lippies for $3, Eye shadows for $3 palettes for $4 and $5. Awesome deal! Elbowed my way into the bin and this is what I got:

What a mega haul no? Can you believe I paid $84 with tax for all this stuff? Darn and I had a $10 off card at home too. that would have been $74. Ah~mazing! The shine serum was the most expensive thing I bought for $13. I just love the way it makes my hair smell. So sexy! :Sigh: I only wish they would come up with a new one without the dimethicone and the serious alcohol.

lippies from left to right;

G, Kiss Me, Sweet Nothing, Love Bite, Exhibitionist, V.I.P., Satin Sheets, Stiletto, Melt, Sweet Release, Don't Stop.

Kiss Me is an example of their glittery lipsticks

Satin Sheet is an example of their shimmer lipsticks

Don't Stop is an example of their opaque cream lipsticks

Exhibitionist is an example of their glaze lipsticks

Top to bottom; Between the sheets and Lights Out silky eye shadows and Knowing palette

All Night and Front Row mosaic eyeshadow palettes.

M35 Flawless Cream Makeup w/ spf 30, Exclusive mosaic eye shadow palette and Afterglow mosaic blush. I know that's not my color. I actually bought it for my mommy. I think her skin will react well with this product.

My experience at Phyto Universe

2009-05-24T21:16:00.002-07:00

Lol. Look at my cheeks. I just want to pinch them :P Anyway, as you can see I have so much body and shine. My hair looks healthy and strong! I am in love.

My friend modeling by the front entrance. She also did the Phyto Relaxer but in index 2. hair hair had a lot of damage prior to the treatment and look at it now. So healthy! Look at the beautiful living wall.

So I was lucky enough to be selected as a model for hair retexturizing at Phyto Universe. March of last year I had my hair permanently straightened though thermal reconditioning (Japanese straightener). I did it two years prior to that and had some good results (but the ends of my hair that had been colored feel off (it only works on virgin hair sorry folks) My hair looks unnaturally straight dead even. ( I liked it that way) but my husband and some coworkers didn't agree it had no body/life. It took about two months of hair growth for my hair to finally regain some body. After the third month my hair had so much damage I had to chop it off to shoulder length. I used to have my hair up to my booty. It was sad to part with it. but I liked the change anyway. Now I had about six inches of new growth and I was miserable. My hair is curly/wavy with a fuzzball of frizz. There seems to be nothing that will help tame that mess. I used No Frizz, Aveda, Fekkai drug store brands, pro brands and nothing. so I was anxious to have it relaxed especially when I heard Phyto uses a natural soy and egg based relaxer. The experience was very relaxing. The atmosphere at phytouniverse is Divine. The place is like a tropical oasis from their cabin like rooms to their living wall of diverse plants. The music was soothing, the staff were loving. The only thing I didn't like were their European style white basins they were a little uncomfortable. Back to the relaxer, you can get it online, in salons and at sephoras. It doesn't have a very strong smell and I noticed my hair was stronger and shinier than after most relaxers. I used Index 1 for delicate/ thin hair. If you do use it at home you'll need a little patience, it takes a bit longer to work than other relaxers. It's really easy to use though, everything you need from the pretreatment, treatment and post treatment is in the box with detailed instructions.

At home care recommendations . Phytophanere- these pills work wonders for your hair to grow healthy, strong and fast. Also helps with the skin and nails. Phytospecific Integral Hair Care, this stuff is super light weights and helps soften frizz, detangles and keeps hair hydrated and nourished.

Concealers Galore!

2009-05-22T20:15:00.000-07:00

I can never have enough concealers. I'm always looking for the newest next best thing. So I hauled some concealers from Becca which are dual formulas with lots and lots of color choices, medium coverage and full coverage. The balm concealers which are super creamy, lightweight with really good ingredients like vitamins A,C and E. And the Eve Pearl concealer palette which is the creamiest of the bunch.

Above from left to right it the Eve Pearl palette, The Balm concealer in mid medium followed by light medium, Becca concealer in brioche followed by Becca concealor in tahini

I was tagged!

2009-05-21T19:35:00.000-07:00

TAG: Getting to Know Me, Getting to Know You
What made you choose your blog name?

I named my blog "My Endless Beauty Trunk" because I'm eclectic. There is always something interesting in beauty no matter where it's from or what it does. Also working in the beauty industry I tend to collect more than I want to lol.

What's your actual name?
Crisania. There aren't many of us out there.

Do you have any nicknames?
Crissy, Crisol. (call me that and I'll beat you 0:) ) Others I don't need to add here. :)

Apart from the obvious make up / beauty hobby, what other hobbies do you have?
I used to collect Barbies, Coins and books on Hinduism. Weird I know. Since I got married I have no room for them so I settled on makeup. I can draw/paint. I'm actually working on a piece for my husband on Radha Krishna. I'm into music, I like Hindi, Turkish, Italian and Spanish. I don't understand Turkish. Don't ask me how that came about...

What do you do?
What don't I do? I've had many odd end jobs. Right now I'm a licensed esthetician. Fortunately I work in a beauty store :) I have a bachelor in science for physical anthropology (similar to forensics). I used to work at Urologist's office before I took the leap into the beauty industry :)

What would you like to do?
I want to be a freelance makeup artist, and own my own spa. :)

Tell us something embarrassing, but that you love doing?

I have six left feet. But I try to dance anyway. I've taken a few dance classes in my day that have all ended catastrophically. lol
Tell us a little something that we don't already know about you.
I love India...anything about India. I should have been an Indologist.

What achievement are you most proud of?
Going to college.

What do you most like about yourself?
I'm very laid back.

What would you change about yourself if you could?
I could lose some extra baggage.

If you could have anything in the world (that doesn't cost any money), what would you want?
Better memory..I'm aging already!

Tweezerman's new eyelash curler

2009-05-17T08:16:00.001-07:00

I recently acquired a new eyelash curler. And I'm in love. The shape is not as wide as the shu uemura so the eye fits in nicely. Also I find it has a very sturdy design. Plus it comes with 4 of the plastic refills. Awesome! Super value deal.

Some recent goodies from Duwop and Benefit.

2009-05-14T20:10:00.001-07:00

Above is the Duwop eyeshadow trio in crush molten metallic trio , I love the pigment it's very rich with a lovely satiny texture. The Duwop prime venom comes on matte and is like most lip plumpers tingly. I don't really see a plumping effect but it does keep lipstick on longer. I got a little gift bag from Benefit and inside was featured all these goodies. The bag itself is really nice too, It has compartments for the brushes and everything. The California Kissin lipgloss has a nice non sticky texture but I don't really believe it makes the teeth appear brighter. I do like the tiny blue glitter makes me feel like a girly princess he he.

I love the Bathina shower cap from benefit. It looks adorable and it really helps keep the water out. The Rush Hour mini makeover lip/cheek color is really nice and natural. I love multipurpose items. The color is really wearable too. The badgal blue mascara is a subtle blue that helps brighten the eyes. It does volumize but it's a bit clumpy for my taste.

Yves Saint Laurant

2009-05-11T16:19:00.000-07:00

Yay! I've been lemming this lippie for a while now. So I finally bought it. whoohoo. The Rouge Volupte lipstick in #2 sensual silk and it is like nothing I've own. It is so silky and pigmented. At $34 it's not cheap either. But it's worth it, everything from the packaging to the texture and wear of this lippie is perfect. The ombres 5 lumieres, five color harmony in#6 garden of eden has great packaging and I'm in love with the darkest green, but I'm not crazy about the palette as a whole. I also got the Dior addict lip glow which enhances the lips and has spf 10. I love it, feels so nice and smooth on the lips. It's a hint of color, kind of like the ogloss from smashbox. Over priced but nice to have anyway.

My new Clarisonic

2009-05-06T19:17:00.000-07:00

I love this brush. I always wanted one and I finally ordered it. I got the Clarisonic Pro which features 4 speeds unlike the original which only has 2 and the new spot therapy one which has 3. The pro setting is super aggressive and is great for body work. It also came with the three trial cleansers. One refreshing gel cleanser with willowbark, coQ10 and bearberry for oilier skin types. Gentle hydro cleanser with aloe cucumber and green tea for sensitive types, and the nourishing care cleanser with green tea, shea butter and vitamin b5.

The best thing about using the clarisonic is that it really cuts down on cleansing time. Like the sonic toothbrushes it works through vibrasions, but at the higher speeds I noticed the brushed moved a bit too. It really gets deep in those grooves. I loved it, I notice results right away. My skin feels smoother kind of like after a scrub but it's super gentle. I have the sensitive brush head which it came with. I tend to be sensitive so I might try the one for delicate skin and see how that works. I highly recommend it . The original retails for 195, the spot therapy one for 225 and the pro is only available through professionals.

Fresh Brown Sugar Body Cream and other newness

2009-05-02T17:08:00.000-07:00

Oh I love Fresh....I love their Sugar collection. Specifically their Brown Sugar Body Polish and now I can have the scent with me all the time with this lovely body cream! Best of all it's only $35 run to your nearest Fresh Sephora and grab it while it's there. It's a rich cream and really scented. Also has the benefits of vitamins C and E and oils like apricot kernel, sweet almond and jojoba. Even Shea butter.

Another great find from Fresh is the duo mascara. It's $10 baby and features the Firebird and the supernova. They are great for layering. Not only will these give your Dior worthy vaboom but they are so good for your lashes! Features vitamin B5 (panthenol) which conditions and keeps your lashes healthy

Boscia one of my favorite natural brands came out with a new skin perfecting primer. It really helps reduce the size of the pores due to dimethicone and peppermint. Yet this is lightweight and dries to a matte finish.

Dr. Brandt Pores no more Vacuum Cleaner. Ever get fed up looking for a mask to get rid of them blackheads? Well this stuff is like Biore strips minus the strips lol. It just really gets deep down and removes all that gunk. Every time you use it you will just see your skin clear even more. This has a potent blend of salicylic and glycolic acids to really exfoliate.

Make Up For Ever UV Prime SPF 50/PA+++ Wow...simply wow. This stuff is phenomenal. Like their HD powder I'm sure it will be a revolution. It's super lightweight and it primes the skin leaving it soft and smooth. You will notice fewer fine lines and best of all it has an extremely high spf but does not feel oily at all. Best of all only $30.

Smashbox reflexion high shine lipgloss. It's like photo finish for your lips lol. It has vitamin A and hyaluronic acid for ultimate softness and hydration. It is not sticky at all and gives lips a plumping pearl like glow.

Shisheido

2009-05-01T12:56:00.000-07:00

Above is 109 spiced cream on the top and 701 serenity on the bottom.

The sun is coming out to it's maximum potential and we all know that translates to sun damage! One of my favorite lines for sun care is shisheido. Recently I acquired the sun protection eye cream 32 PA++ which leaves the eye area very soft and hydrated. It's not greasy or heavy either. I also bought the Ultimate Sun protection sun lotion spf 55 PA++ this is a very light weight sunscreen. It's not greasy and it leaves the skin very soft. And Shisheido perfect Rouge lipsticks in Rs701 serenity and Be109 spiced cream. These colors are so nice and springy!

Aging, AGEs and Glycation

2009-04-28T16:17:00.000-07:00

What is Advanced Glycation End Products and how does it affect the Aging process? (humm, this is a little heavy on the science. I'm a bit excited writing this..whooohoo)

Glycation is what happens when a sugar molecule (fructose, lactose, glucose) bonds with a protein or lipid without the normal help of enzymes. This dangerous bonding causes impairment of molecules within the body.

It can occur inside the body (endogenous) or outside (exogenous).

Exogenous glycation is provided by the foods we eat like baked goods or fried foods and even sodas. (particularly the brown pigments in these foods which are a result of melting sugar and proteins in high temperatures) So avoid foods that are baked, broiled, fried or roasted and opt for steamed or boiled foods. Most importantly if you have a high sugar intake you will age faster (you will start to see serious aging starting in your late thirties and are setting yourself up for serious health complications as well.

Endogenous glycation occurs in the bloodstream. When we eat sugars get broken down into simple sugars like fructose and glucose which float in the blood stream and are used to fuel cell functions and energy.

Studies show that AGEs can lead to Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease, among others.

Another downside to AGEs is that they are resistant to proteinases ( are hard to degrade by the body's normal processes) and result in ROS better known as reactive oxygen species or free radicals (really nasty stuff we don't want in our body) these cause the cross linking of collagen and elastin which in turn causes our skin to wrinkle faster by preventing our skin's repair mechanism.

But what is it to us in the beauty world? AGEs attack our collagen by forming covalent( really strong) bonds. Leading to brittle dry collagen/elastin which in turn leads to loss of elasticity (sagging and wrinkles), thin skin and inflammation.

Moral of the story. Don't get to carried away and limit all your sugar, sugar is important just not in excess. Also, It is important to be concerned with eating healthy at any age and watch your sugar intake ( I speak mainly to myself because I have a serious chocolate addiction, but also to whoever this may help)

Now to the nitty gritty. How the heck do you repair all this damage?

You can start with diet. Foods high in Protein and fats as well as processed refined foods carry a lot of AGES. Supplements like aminoguanidine and carnosine.

Topically you can try Dermalogica's Age Smart Multivitamin Power Concentrate. It's chockful of Vitamin A, C, E or their MAP-15 regenerator which has Vitamin C, White tea and hyaluronic acid. Skin Ceuticals Retinol .05% is a good lose dose vitamin A (great for sensitive skins) which can help rebuild collagen. Also Skin Ceuticals Phloretin CF which uses Vitamin C and Phloretin. Dr. Brandt lineless antiglycation serum which has a heavy blend of white and green tea as well as grapeseed extracts.

Experimenting with tubes!

2009-04-27T20:45:00.000-07:00

I recently aquired Blinc Kiss Me Mascara. I'm excited, long lashes that are coated in tubes that don't flake transfer or smudge but is removed by warm water? I'm sold.

I also grabbed the big size of Juice Beauty Blemish Solution. This stuff is uber mild but works! The only down side is that it's also very sticky. I recommend this as a night treatment. Let it dry before hitting the bed.

MoroccanOil, silky soft hair await you!

2009-04-27T20:29:00.000-07:00

I have the moodiest hair. But I can't really blame it. It's been through a lot. I rarely comb it and I wash it 3 times a week. Eek. It's always stuck in a lame pony tail :( That is when it's not fresh from the salon. And I rarely go to the salon. I've had my hair Japanese straightened (thermal reconditioning) twice. The second time around I went to a dingy place and ended up having to chop my below the booty hair to shoulder length...my husband was far from happy. And sometime in May I'm supposed to have my hair relaxed with the Phyto Relaxer. Poor hair.

Naturally my hair is wavy/curly and ultra frizzy. Let's just say there is so much frizz you can barely see the curls. And now that my Japanese straightening is growing out my hair really gets knotty in the back there for I try not to comb it. When I do wash it (ie comb it) I lose hair by the chunks.

Enter my latest Haul ~~~~~>

There has been much buzz about the wonders of MoroccanOil and I must say, It's all true! The first thing I did when I purchased my little set was to slather on the oil treatment on my dry, frizzy brittle hair. and it was greasy. At least at first then about half an hour later I go run a brush through it...and whoa! I could comb it! I ran my fingers through it and it was so soft and my frizz was tamed. Not to mention the shine my hair had, not the greasy kind of shine, but the healthy hair kind of lustre. I'm just too excited for this product. It's pricey but the results are worth it. Best of all this stuff is all based on Argan oil, that miraculous oil that repairs, hydrates and nourishes :) Aside from the Oil Treatment I got the Cream and the hair Mask. The mask I have yet to try, but the styling cream was great, it hydrated my hair and tamed the frizz. All the products have a nice light scent.

My Mac Rose Romance Haul.

2009-04-26T20:05:00.001-07:00

I've been itching for this collection for a while now. I don't know what's with me but lately I'm into soft pinks. So finally I got my hands on this and went crazy. I usually don't go for lustres but these colors are so sweet. My fav is a way to love, the see through colors are supposed to be like a stain, but they really don't have much staying power. They apply silky but they do really dry out the lips...love the color not really the product. I'm also loving the new cheek gel the color is soft and sheer and really lively. What an awesome color and I love how they put it in the little paint pot.

Look at that gorgeous nail color. This is my first Mac Nail laquer in love and friendship.

This is the only eyeshadow I bought. In Et Tu, Bouquet?

Above are the lip sticks in Way to love, A rose Romance, the tinted lipglass in Virgin Kiss, then the see thru lip colors in loving touch and tender tryst, followed by the gel blush in just a pinch and the rose all over beauty powder in summer rose. Don't you just love all those pinks? They are just too cute. :)

Smashbox Foundation!

2009-04-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

This is my latest Sephora mini haul.

Smashbox foundation! I must say. I adore how innovative they are in adding the shave off function to their powder. It really keeps the powder fresh and is less messier than using loose powder, but you still get the lovely light application. This powder does remind me a little of Philosophy's foundation, in that it's hydrating and yes, a bit shiny. Definitely a find for those dry skin types though.

Above is a picture of the foundation on my hand.

I also got Fredric Fekkai's Au Naturel dry shampoo. This one is definitely less finely milled than Klorane and does not smell as good as Oscar Blandi's dry shampoo. It actually doesn't really have a scent. It gives your hair lots of body but you only want to add a little because it can get out of hand and leave you looking white. I like to comb my hair through after using this which helps remove a bit of the excess. What's best about this product is that it's free of parabens, preservatives, and fragrance.

L'Occitane goodness

2009-04-23T09:51:00.000-07:00

I wandered into L'occitane looking for something new and I found wonders inside.

I love scrubs so I got their Gentle face buff and the velvet concentrate from the almond collection. It's a velvety soft moisturizer that leaves skin radiant, supple and protected.

Above is a picture of the gommage on my hand while it was drying. I love gommages they are dual enzyme and scrub and when it dries you just stretch the skin and roll it off. You can see on the right how bright my skin looked. Awesome.

Khiel's New Mascara and goodies.

2009-04-21T19:53:00.001-07:00

Above is a picture of my latest haul from Khiel's :)

Mineral mascara. Sounds good. Made with good for you ingredients like jojoba, aloe, and acacia. It thickens and lengthens nicely. But don't get this baby in your eyes. This thing made me tear like crazy! On the good note. I wore this to work and got no flaking, smudging and my lashes still look good :)

Above are pictures when I first applied the mascara

This picture is me after work about 8 hours later. Sorry I looked busted at work today. Our AC is down it was hot as heck in there :(

I got my greedy little hands on two lip balms. One tinted in Black Raspberry and one in Vanilla with SPF. They both taste yummy and are really hydrating but I found the Vanilla one a little greasy. The Black Raspberry was very sheer. Good thing about this product is that it's not sticky.

I also got Khiels Sodium PCA oil free moisturizer. It feels really light weight and wears well with cosmetics. This is proven non comedogenic so if you have acne run and get it. Your skin will be supple and happy!

Victoria Secret Pink and Global Goddess

2009-04-20T09:35:00.000-07:00

Victoria Secret is all about the Natural lately. Most of their products are carrying shea butter and natural derived ingredients. In my latest haul I bought the Victoria Secret pink hand cream. I like it so far, it has a pleasant scent and is not too greasy. I also aquired the pink tinted lip balm, it's super cute with a little heart in the center. But I'm not crazy about the scent or texture.

Above is the picture from the cap concealer, as you can see it's a bit too dark for me. Sorry about the flash.

The above picture is of the Global Goddess tinted moisturizer in #2 overall I found this formula a little greasy and thick.

Urban Decay Friends and Family Haul

2009-04-19T18:35:00.000-07:00

Urban Decay is world famous for it's unconventional names and their super long lasting and pigmented shadows. This is definitely the company for you if you are trendy or just someone who appreciates innovation. Pretty much all their line is awesome and foolproof.

My top picks for this company is of course their Eye Shadow Primer Potion, 24/7 glide on eyeliners, their Eye Shadows (super pigmented ) and their palettes (more bank for your buck)

I recently appreciated their 30% friends and family special and here is my haul:

The above picture is my new haul and next to it are swatches from the ammo palette. I also got roach individual eyeshadow which is the 3rd to the bottom ( the reddish brown) Great colors no?

Above are DEA 24/7 concealer which is creamy and blendable. ( I blended a little toward the right) And perversion liquid eyeliner.

Laura Mercier

2009-04-19T18:21:00.000-07:00

I love Laura Mercier cosmetics. Her tinted moisturizers go on superbly though they are not for the sensitive types. Her color ranges are natural and it helps that she came out the oil free version even if they are a bit heavier. Her loose powders let the skin breathe and never look cakey.

But today's blog is about her eye shadows. I own a lot of her eye shadows because I love the satiny feel and the blendability they offer. Her Bohemia collection is the sort of casual sexy that goes perfect with hot summer nights. The colors are bold without being too dramatic.

I also got two lip stain pots from the Gilded Garden collection. Even though these say stain they are not like your traditional stain, they have more wear than regular lip colors but by no means stay on all day. Either way the colors were too good to pass by and not to mention that these are limited editions.

Above are swatches from the palette followed by habiscus and english rose lip stains.

MAC Attack!

2009-04-15T20:07:00.000-07:00

MAC has been churning out the collections lately, Double Dazzle, Colour Ready and Viva Glam VI. I was hoping my local pro store had the Rose Romance collection out, but the punks didn't. So of course I head out with everything I don't need :(

Above are swatches from my new acquisition. Oh Baby, Viva Glam V, Revealing tinted lipglasses Baby Sparks, Bare Necessity, Date Night dazzleglasses, Viva Glam V and VI lipsticks and the penultimate liner. I don't know if I like this liner, I need more testing.

Above is a picture of MAC's prep and prime line filler in action. It looks almost airbrushed. This stuff is amazing.

Rant:

I am banning myself from Henri Bendels. Where I usually do my shopping. I have some Mac MUAs there that are very nice. They have gotten used to to me coming every month for my updates, but the service I had at Laura Mercier and Chanel ( the chanel counter was especially rude, then the girl had the audacity to change her attitude when I whipped out the $280 purchase. Hypocrite tisk tisk. ) made me put the store on my Do Not Shop List for bad customer service. I've had a bad experience with the Laura Mercier counter at Bloomingdales during one PA event . Also I had a bad experience with My Phia set order back in November so I put Bloomingdales on my Do Not Shop List. lol and if you are curious Bath and Body Works, The Body Shop, and Macy's are on my list too. I'm going to have to order my Mac or force myself down to the Pro store from now on. :( At least I still have Sephora and Nordstrom. Oh and I do shop online a lot. On the bright side I should be saving a lot more money. (which I need. I'm supposed to be going away to India/Nepal for two months. More on that later)

End of Rant.

Love for Chanel.

2009-04-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

I've been in love with Chanel cosmetics since I last discovered Teint innocence luminous foundation. Ooo so nice. I got Mystic eyes, Smoky Eyes, and the Variations palette which I later regretted. The smoky eyes is one from an old collection, but I love for night time looks. The Mystic eyes and Variations are too similar for me to appreciate them but they are good choices for every day day looks. And the Glossimer lip gloss in Iris which has a nice soft shimmer to it. (lately I'm into soft pinks) I also got a blush duo tweed effect in Coral Tweed. I am absolutely in love with this blush. It looks so natural and it gives my cheeks a sexy warm glow.

Above is the swatch from the Smoky eyes palette and the tweed coral blush as well as the Glossimer gloss in Iris.

The palette on the top is the Mystic Eyes and the one on the bottom is the Variations. The Mystic Eyes has more shimmer than the Variations but they are very similar.

Dr. Zein Obagi Skincare.

2009-04-15T15:40:00.000-07:00

Whoa...can you say luxury sunscreen? At $85 a pop this stuff is like silk stockings for your face. Oclipse Sunscreen spf 30 and primer is so silky smooth. In goes on as a tan colored cream that just melts into the skin leaving it protected, super soft, and best of all it's oil free. This product contains zinc oxide and titanium dioxide two natural non irritating sunscreens. Vitamin E to strenthen the skin and dimethicone which gives that wonderful glide for makeup. Peptides which strengthen the skin and keep it hydrated. And a unique ingredient this product contains is topical synthetic Melanin which serves as a sunscreen, helps fade pigmentation and it helps give us a healthy glow.

I also got a sample of Offects Exfoliating Polish. This little beauty contains Vitamins A,C,E and natural minerals from the dead sea. It is made with Magnesium Crystals which is what is used in the Doctors office during a microdermabrasion. Yet this product is so gentle even the most sensitive skin types can use it. Another benefit is the awesome smell so fresh and lovely. So for $75 you get a great at home microdermabrasion.

You can rest assured that these products will work. Dr. Obagi has been a board certified dermatologist for more than 20 years. His products are sold only in Doctor's offices and online. He has the highest standard of any skincare line offering prescription grade active ingredients and results for ordinary folks like us to enjoy.

Pictures from my mommy's vacation.

2009-04-14T09:00:00.001-07:00

As many of you know my camera was on vacation along with my mom. Here are some pictures from Dominican Republic's country side.

This picture is of my grandfather's land in his village.

Above is a picture of tabacco being dried.

Above is my great grandmother hanging clothes. lol and two ducks with bananas.

This is my fav pic my cousins and my god father tying tobacco. Lol she's on a cell phone.

A scene on the way to the river and the river bed.

Flower beds in the city

New Guerlain Terracotta Mineral Flawless Bronzing Powder AHH~mazing!

2009-04-13T21:04:00.000-07:00

Whooooa. This beauty is pricey. At $65 I'm expecting luxury! I absolutely love the littler shifter. It really helps to keep my bag from getting messy and from getting to much powder on my brush. The formula is very silky. It has vitamin E, Talc and Kaolin clay. You will find this sheer and buildable with a very slight sheen. I really adore this. It comes in three colors light, medium and dark. I got the light because I'm not really into bronzing but I figured it would be useful in contouring or for those days where I want more color.

Freshface Beauty, Korres and Make-Up For Ever

2009-04-11T11:33:00.000-07:00

My latest haul from Make-Up For Ever, Fresh and Korres:)

For those of you that do not know MUFE. It's a professional french editiorial quality makeup line similar to MAC. Created by Dany Sanz in 1984. The cool thing about this line is that everything they have is created for a specific need in the industry. All their products are of superior quality and long wearing. I highly recommend the High Definition foundation, Full coverage waterproof concealer as well as their eyeshadows.

Today I got the MUFE glossy full colour lipgloss in #5 violet. It looked like a scary color but it wears ready nicely. Kind of reminds me of Clinique black honey lipsticks. Their glosses are really shiny and moisturizing but do not wear long. I also bought the High Definition Primer in neutral to go with my foundation. I like that it feels silky soft and lightweight. The foundation wears really nicely over it. I felt that their foundation exaggerated my dry areas this eliminates that.

Fresh is a natural brand that combines high quality functional ingredients with luxurious textures and delicious smells. I got the supernova mascara which provides great length and volume all the while protecting your lashes and nourishing them with panthenol and meadowfoam oil.

On my hand is the Fresh Twilight luminizer...umm twilight...ummm ok anyway. This really gives a subtle glow. Great under makeup and as a highlighter. On the right picture on the top is Glossy Full Colour in #5 and Korres eyeshadow in 10s White which is very is very soft blendable. Great to brighten the eyes.

Camara is back from vacation here are some new goodies!

2009-04-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

I just got back from work. Very long and boring day. Not that many people in the store. As many of you know my husband is a chef . He works for individual clients and one was holding a Seder on Friday so he made Jewish Macaroons. They are so delicious I swiped some. Yum!!! Happy Holidays to everyone :)

I've been given a few new goodies to review.

My latest drugstore haul. The new Revlon color stay mousse foundation is very silky with pretty lightweight coverage. It's a little too pink in undertone and a little greasy for my taste. Rimmel Stay Matte foundation in 100 is very light weight but goes on a little cakey. The soft khol kajal eyeliners in royal blue and jet black are so so. They go on a little hard and hurt my lid, the color is not really intense but they did wear pretty long with no smudging on me. The special eyes precision eye liner was a little better. The color is black magic and it's a little more intense than the khol black and wears pretty long as well.

I love tarte. Their eyeshadows are awesome, their glosses are wearable and their oil free foundation and primer are the best. Not to mention all their products are chock full of that 5 fruit antioxidant blend and are all natural. In the above picture is natural beauty blush by Tarte, 24/7 lip sheers in reuse, reduce and recycle. Followed by Tarte rise and shine plumping lip stain in mauve, The last is Tarte's sunburst beaded bronzing lotion this one is great if you hate that oily feel on your skin and want something that will sink in fast. The beaded action is not hard to use at all.

I already talked about my excitement for Phyto in my previous post. I will be reviewing Phytojoba shampoo and mask and the Phytosylic Awesomeness! My hair is usually uber dry and brittle thanks to my experiments in japanese straightening. That and bad hair management of course. I usually wash it about three to two times a day (hey I get busy you know) and just call it a day. No blow drying, setting or flat ironing. Actually all of the hair drying aids I own I usually donate to my mommy. I just can't make the time to use it, that combined with me not really knowing how to use them. Through some effort I still own a blow dryer. I've had it for a years and used it about three times. Sad no? My new regime consists of phyto sylic (once a week no more than ten weeks consecutively) I try to use it every other week. I was suffering from some serious dandruff. I used No Frizz and the flakes got worse, that and my nape started to break out badly in clusters. My mom said it was because I was tying my hair back too tightly and it needed to be washed badly. Sigh. It itched, it flakes it was a hot mess. After my first encounter with phytosylic my dandruff had mostly cleared my scalp didn't itch and the irritation and breakout were reduced. It took a whole nother week to clear. This shampoo uses green tea and willow bark which are not only antibacterials they work wonders with breakouts and irritation. It also contains essential oils like cypress, coconut and caster which make it gentle and hydrating while helping control oily hair. Phytojoba shampoo is my favorite. It's a milky consistency and it smells divine. It's rich in jojoba and coconut oil as well as mallow and cornflower extracts. All these ingredients help to give a gentle cleanse and a lustrous soft finish. Plus the wood cellulose extract will keep it moisturized for longer so wave good bye to those brittle split ends. The Phytojoba mask is rich without being greasy. It really works wonders to strengthen the hair in about 15 minutes. If you want to try the line but are skeptical buy the little value kits from sephora they range from $12 to $25 and are an excellent value!

Above from left to right is neutrogena mineral sheer concealer in light. The texture is very thick. It didn't really stay on long or cover much even with the powder. The next is the Cargo Blu-ray concealer. I like the creamy texture it's really good for the under eye, but not for very dark circles. The last is Smashbox's High definition concealer. I was pretty disappointed. I swatched one at Sephora and the color matched and the texture was Divine. So smooth and it glided on like the primer. So I ended up buying Light. I come home and it's this dark orangey greasy thing. eww. I guess I"m fair /light. I'll let you know how this wears as soon as I can get the right one.

Above is Jack Black's lip balm in lemon chamomile. I love this. It has spf15. Sephora cast members always rave about it. And for good reason It leaves your lips soft and moist and doesn't cost a lot. I also got the Amore Pacifica set for combination/oily it's super expensive for those deluxe trial sizes :( I love the feel and texture of the moisturizer and the peel is very mild plus it's an enzyme, which I'm into right at this moment as opposed to the regular scrubs. I'll update you on how I feel about the line in an up coming post. I also got L'occitane ultra rich eye balm. I felt in love with the light mousse like texture of this eye cream. OMG it's so soft and airy. It does go on thick so a little bit is the best policy. It's extremely moisturizing but does not do anything in terms of anti aging or anything like that. I recommend it as a night under eye moisturizer for anyone with really dry skin. Just they a little and tap it on. Use in the day with caution as it does not really absorb well (like most shea butter based products) and can make your concealer look weird.

Don't you just love my new Sephora makeup bag. It's from the Moroccan collection. I knew it would go on sale because most people don't go for those super bright colors. But I adore this orange/gold bag. I do not like the middle golden bag though I wish they would have all been mesh. But oh wells can't win them all I suppose. I keep one little bag of skincare, one bag of face products (like foundation, blush) and one for eye/lip stuff. And it has a little area for my brushes. Plus it's half off, that's $21.

Above is a picture of all the samples in my sun safety set. Nice!! I already know I like philosophy. The smell and the texture is much improved from it's original formula. It has that nice light fluffy texture like the L'occitane eye balm and smells a lot less than the regular. But it's a little on the greasy side. Shiseido is also awesome, leaves skin soft and smells great, plus it has a high SPF! Clarins UV plus has spf 40. It's very small a little on the pricy side but a little goes a long way plus it blends easily into the skin without leaving it greasy. I also love Peter Thomas Roth Sheer all day defense. It's so light weight plus it's full of vitamin C,A and E to help protect skin from free radicals and SPF 30. I also recommend the new Sephora palette. It's really pigmented with great summer/spring colors as well as classic ones.

Phyto!

2009-04-09T18:49:00.000-07:00

I love Phyto. I just didn't know that until recently. lol. Phyto is a botanical based French hair care line from Patrick Ales. Patrick Ales started off as a celebrity hairstylist. His original products Huile D'Ales, Phyto 7, Phytodeffrisant and Phytopolleine continue to be top sellers to this day.

My top picks:

Phytophanere these supplements are darn expensive. But hey aren't you worth it? You'll notice longer hair and nails that are healthy and strong.

Phytodefrisant is simply awesome. Very light weight texture that is absorbed instantly into the hair leaving it light and silky. It controls frizz and helps define curls. My hair is super frizzy so my secret is that I use this with a tiny bit of Phytospecific styling cream and my hair is left soft, hydrated and really controlled. Heck I recommend you get both.

Phyto 9 another great leave in treatment for dry hair. This one will strengthen your hair and leave it nice and soft.

Phytolisse this is what you need to buy if you want shine without the greasy look.

Phytosylic shampoo is an exfoliating shampoo recommended for itchy scalp, psoriasis and eczema. It gets rid of dandruff and build up on your hair leaving your hair shiny and light weight. The trick is to use this twice a month as your pre-shampoo. It makes your other shampoos work better because they easily penetrate the hair shaft. If you over use this beauty you will get drier hair. This product has willow bark (salicylic acid) which aids in exfoliation. Tea tree which is anti fungal and antibacterial. As well as castor and coconut oil which help keep hair healthy and shiny.

Phytodensium shampoo is an anti aging shampoo rich in omega fatty acids and minerals that will leave your hair strong and shiny.

Phytohum another great shampoo that will restore life into chemically process and color treated hair with the help of egg yolks and vitamin B5 (panthenol). A great plus is the awesome smell it has. :)

Phytojoba Mask is an awesome product. So versatile can be used as a conditioner or mask! It leaves hair silky smooth and shiny. It uses pure jojoba oil which is like the skin's natural sebum meaning it will be absorbed into the hair and it's good for you.

Phytospecific MultiRegenerating Cream Bath leaves dry brittle hair looking like silk. You'll wonder how you ever got along without it. It uses oils from Jojoba, sesame, castor as well as keratin to really reconstruct that hair from the inside out.

Phytobaume conditioner is what you need is you are looking for a hydrating light weight conditioner that detangles easily and smells great.

Very soon I will be having my hair permed with Phytospecific Phytorelaxer Index 1 at Phyto Universe at 715 Lexington Ave in Manhattan. I was lucky to be selected as a model :) The Phytorelaxer has awesome ratings so I'm uber excited. It's a little on the pricey side for something that uses mainly eggs and soy so I'll let you know how those results turn out with actual pictures of my luscious hair lol. .

Lets talk anti-oxidants and upcoming tradeshows!

2009-04-06T20:36:00.000-07:00

My camera is currently on vacation. lol. My mom went to visit family members in the Dominican Republic and I let her borrow it. She had that old film kind and I told her should could get better pictures and store lots of them. I gave her a crash course and she went happily on her way. She even took pictures of some roosters. he he.

I haven't hauled much this week I've been busy. Plus I'm saving my monies for the IBS show and the IECSC. For those of you that have never heard of these awesome events taking place at the Jacob Javits Convention Center April 26-28 you are missing a lot! IBS or International Beauty Show is open to trade only. It's mainly for people with cosmetology licenses or others with proof of profession. They are a bit pricey $75 for one day, $150 for two and $225 for three on site it raises $10 extra. There are classes for hair styling, makeup and much more. Lots of venders selling goodies at crazy discounted prices.

IECSC or International Esthetics, Cosmetics and Spa Conference is another trade event held at the same time and place as IBS and the best thing is that it's free tradeshow floor admission. Whoohoo.

The other upcoming show is The Make-Up Show in May 17 to 18 at the Metropolitan Pavillian and it's open to anyone in the Beauty Industry and even students (makeup, esthetics, cosmetology) It's an awesome event last year I registered for Mac Pro discount on site that's 40% off! (my secret to owning mad MAC) I don't know if they'll do it again but lets keep our fingers crossed! Also there were lots of venders selling at makeup artist prices, like MUFE and Stila who gave out their stuff at 40% off and MUD school etc!

Now a word on anti-oxidants. There seems to be a lot of confusion on which ones are the best ones and their function in skincare so here goes:

The main point of anti-oxidants in skin care is that they prevent your product formulation from going oxidizing and not working properly and that they help neutralize free radicals in your skin. Free Radicals are really unavoidable, they pop up from everything lol. What you eat, your environment and even normal body functions. Oxidation is very bad for your skin. Basically free radicals are mean little molecules that had an electron knocked out so they go around stealing it from your cells causing serious damage aka aging! The results are ugly wrinkles, pigmentation and loss of elasticity in the skin.

Vitamin A is fat soluable and helps to exfoliate the skin leaving the skin bright and toned. It is also a great antioxidant.

Vitamin C or Ascorbic Acid is water soluable found mostly in Citrus fruits. It helps to exfoliate the skin leading to a brighter more tone complexion and it is also a great antioxidant.

Vitamin E or Tocopherol is fat soluable and really helps to moisturize the skin and is again a great antioxidant that protects lipoproteins and the cellular membrane. It is found in nuts, wheat germ, and fish.

Green Tea a great antioxidant that is anticarsinogenic.

Grape seed extract rich in antioxidants help with UV damage

Acai is a great antioxidant and also contains lots of mineral silicon which improve collagen production.

Goji Berry is rich in vitamin C, E and B1, 2 and 6. It contains about 18 amino acids and lots of minerals like copper, calcium, iron and Zinc. Definitely a super fruit.

Acerola is rich in Vitamin C.

Blueberry is also full of Vitamins, Antioxidants and fatty acids.

Selenium is a mineral based antioxidant.

Coenzyme Q10 or ubiquinone is a great antioxidant that is helpful with wrinkles.

Alpha Lipoic Acid is also a fat and water soluble antioxidant .

Flavinoids are said to be anti inflammitory and even anticarcinogenic. This one is both fat and water soluable.

Dr. Perricone Skincare

2009-04-01T18:23:00.000-07:00

Dr. Nicolas Perricone. The handsome dermatologist who fixes up celebs and the rich can help you too! Dr. Perricone is world renowned for his inflammation theory on aging which dictates that external and internal factors ( environment, diet, smoking etc) can accelerate aging so he focuses on a 3 step regimen for combating aging. First he prescribes a diet rich in antioxidants and other nutritional supplements followed by cosmeceuticals. His skincare line is chockful of highly potent ingredients like DMAE, Alphalipoic Acid, Neuropepides and Vitamin C ester and lipids.

My favs!

Face finishing moisturizer

highlights include DMAE which helps with lines and wrinkles, Alpha Lipoic Acid a super antioxidant that serves as a cell communicator, and Vitamin C Ester which is an antioxidant and a mild exfoliate. This formula is super hydrating. Your skin will feel plump and firm and luminous.

Neuropeptide firming moisturizer

If you need that extra push This stuff is amazing. Features DMAE, Neuropeptides which will help activate cell renewal and phospholipids which help repair and restore the skin. This is a very luxurious lightweight formula.

Neuropeptide Eye contour

I was unfortunately allergic to the Advanced Eye treatment :( But this one I was able to use without a problem. Features DMAE, Neuropeptides and phospolipids like the moisturizer it is also very hydrating and lightweight. This is the wonder eye cream for dark circles lines and puffiness. Don't believe me try a sample and you'll be hooked.

Tinted moisturizer with spf 15

Features DMAE, Vitamin C ester and Alpha lipoic acid. It comes in three shades and is very sheer a little goes a long way. It's a little on the oily side so I say dry skin types would benefit most.

The new Mac!

2009-04-01T18:17:00.000-07:00

Yay. I finally got a new laptop. I'm loving my husband right now. lol. He felt pity and bought me a Mac. Maybe this one will not die on me. I really do hope so. Right now I'm loving it's speed. I only need to figure out how to really work it. (I was a hardcore pc user) Anyway. I'm sorry for leaving all of you hanging. I have so much to post about.

Updates and Bobbi Brown.

2009-03-25T13:18:00.000-07:00

My latest haul :)

Umm. I love Bobbi Brown. The new Skin foundation.....whoa. Just what I was looking for. It's lightweight. Moisturizing and buildable coverage. When you first apply it can come on sheer but it definitely covered my blochiness and some hyperpigmentation. Not to mention it has Spf 15. Way to go Bobbi Brown :) Above is the Bobbi Brown foundation doesn't it look natural?

The Estee Lauder Nutritious Vitamineral makeup with spf 10 is another story. It smells bad, it's cakey looking and drying :( so pull out your moisturizer. I think this one will do well once the summer months come in. The only plus is that it's mineral based and really affordable at 33.50. I would say it gives medium coverage.

Above is a picture of the Estee Lauder foundation.

Ole Henrickson Sheer Transformation which I blogged earlier about is still awesome. No breakouts so far. My skin is soft and brighter!I also want to update on my Korres Vitamin E primer. That thing is amazing. The key is to use very little or it will feel greasy. My makeup stays put after work. I work 8 hour shifts 1 hour lunch and plus the 2 hour commute and it's still yetgood. It leaves a nice hydrated silky feel. Very good for dry skin. I'm combination and I haven't broken out yet :)

above is the Fusion lip plumping pencil in flushed and the Urban Decay liner in Deviant.

The Fusion Lip Plumping Pencil in flushed I don't see any severe plumping. ( it does plump just not ah-mazing) The plus is like most of the fusion products it does not hurt, burn or sting like duwop and toofaced. It feels nice and stays put. Really natural color too. I also got the Urban Decay liner in Deviant and it is awesome. It has light shimmer and the blue is really vibrant perfect for the upcoming spring. :)

I went on another foundation hunt....

2009-03-19T20:31:00.000-07:00

Today I was off early from work and went to my favourite store to play with the new MAC collection. It didn't really tickle my fancy so I didn't rush to get it. I only ended up with one new eyeshadow from the collection and lots of other things I wasn't intending to buy. The second thing I wanted was to get my hands on a good foundation. So I've had a lot of recommendations from clients to try Chanel and I'm in loooove. The MA there was so nice. He really took his time, matched me nicely and listened to what I really wanted.

From top to bottom is Mac power point eyeliner in forever green, mac eyeshadow in Nocturnelle and Dear Cupcake, lipglosses in Beaux and Pink Lemonaid, Mac lipsticks in Cosmo, Ravishing and Bombshell

Only the Dear cupcake is from the Sugar Sweet collection. I feel like I have a lot of the items they had and the Lollipop loving lipstick I wanted they didn't have :(

Above is the Mally black eyeliner the Chanel lipgloss in 69 and 79 ( I looove that color) The Nars concealer duo Custard followed by ginger (awesome value) The Mac paint pot in soft ochre.

Above are my new foundations. The Mally powdered visible skin adjustable foundation in Light, the Chanel Powder foundation poudre universelle in Beige and the Chanel teint innocence naturally luminous foundations in Cameo.
Here is the Mally City Chick Eyeshadow pallette in Central Park

Then I headed to Victoria Secret for Fusion lip plumpers and the new Body Bare collection which they didn't have. Grr. But I ended up falling in love with their new natural body creams. Yum. So moisturizing and affordable. Definitely a plus. They don't smell as overwelming as their regular collection. I love the vanilla sandelwood, it's a stronger warmer scent. I don't know. I'm all into anything that reminds me of India...well everyone knows I love India. And I know I'm already prepared for all the India inspired Spring Collections like Stila and Guerlian. I can't wait!!!!

Above are swatches of the Pink lip butter from top to bottom is bare and ripe.