Why Must You Take Them Away From ME?

WHY WHY WHY???

As you guys all know, I'm definitely a NOOB when it comes to make up so I have never had to deal with a situation like this before... but...

The drugstore is taking some of my most beloved products away and I'm like: "WHAT? WHY?? WWWHHHYYY???"

So before I get to that, I just want to do a post of other discontinued products that I dearly loved but was taken away from me before I could say goodbye.

1) Jane Blushing Cheeks Blushes



- My favorite of the three is the middle one which is Blushing Petal. I absolutely love the texture and pigmentation and I think it is so hard to find a matte, natural, everyday pink like this one in the drugstore. It blends easily and it just gives me the best look. As far as the other two, I love them both too and they are both oh so pigmented!! I like the packaging... okay so I pretty love them alright! So when Jane stopped showing up at my Walgreens, that was when I realized my favorite drugstore is gone!

2) Milani's Singles


- Okay Milani, when people are comparing your shadows to MAC, you probably shouldn't stop selling them at drugstores! I know you can still get these on Cherryculture.com but I don't like to online shop (due to shipping)... so that's that. I only have Java Bean and I really like it - so pigmented, easy to blend, gorgeous color. Serioulsy... bad move. Right now, I look at their other singles and I think... okay, that is way too glittery... why would I buy that?

3) L'Oreal's Juice Sticks


- Okay, the name "Juice Stick" isn't the best name... I'll leave you all to your imagination. BUT I LOVE LOVE LOVE mine in Chai Love You. It's probably one of my favorite item - it's like a hybrid of a lipstick and lipgloss. I absolutely LOVE it and I have a feeling it will be all gone soon. Pigmented, great smell, and moisturizing... And I hear that Personali-Tea is also a great one as well. What the heck! I also really like the packaging. The silver reflective part allows me to use it as a mirror to reapply my lip color.

Now... here are the two items that I'm most sad about.... and the reasons why I decided to make this post.

4) Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipsticks


- First of all, I wouldn't say that this lipstick comes in any amazing packaging - but I like that it's red - very signature looking. My favorite part about this little lovely thing is that, even it doesn't say so, this is what I would consider a TINTED LIP BALM to be. This lipstick has two active ingredients: one for chapped lips and the other for sunscreen on the lips. That is exactly what I want in ANY lip product: protection and moisture. The best part about it is that it is soooo pigmented - way more than any tinted lip balm can ever deliver. It has a cute watermelon scent and it comes in various color selections and finishes. I'm so shocked that Maybelline would discontinued such a great product like this one... Now I have two and that is why I didn't pick up anymore when they were on sale but if I'd known that these were gone completely, I'd stock up on them all (sometimes products go on sale but the don't get discontinued... well, with this one I should've known... I was in denial).

5) Maybelline's Dream Mousse Concealer



- This concealer is probably my current favorite concealer! The texture is just fantastic! What the HECK Maybelline?!? Probably the easiest to apply and strong pigmentation. I've written, read, and watched raved reviews for this item... I just feel sad for those that didn't get a chance to use this... that's all.

What discontinued items do you wish to come back? Let me know!

Sorry I've been away for a bit - I am trying to come back and reconnect with you all. The last two weeks have been hell and exams after exams. Wasn't the best day yesterday but I went out w/ my friends and we all had a blast - I feel a bit more relaxed now.

Thanks for reading!

Drugstore Look-a-Likes

When I look at some of the products I have purchased/swapped over the years, I have to say that, when it comes to eye shadows, I'm in love with 2 types of colors: bronze and taupe!! What I love love about these shades is that I can just swipe the color on my lid, liner, mascara, and I'M DONE!!!! No fussing about outer corner or crease shades or blending.

So I decided to pull out my collection and swatch them to see how similar the colors are. Have I been wasting my money on the same exact shades?!?! Or are there slight differences to them that I can detect.

Bronze:


1) ELF's Butternut quad
2) Revlon's Coffee Bean quad
3) Cover Girl's single in Swiss Chocolate


My favorite to wear is the Revlon one because it is so soft and easy to apply! I feel like I always get compliments when I wear this. I recently got CG Swiss Chocolate from a swap and already really enjoy it! It is also really soft and pigmented! I love it. Now, the ELF one is not as soft but still just as pigmented and it is one of my oldest shadows. All three are extremely easy to blend and looks great in the crease as well as all over the lid!

Taupe:



1) Maybelline single in Beach Blush
2) Cover Girl's single in Tapestry Taupe
3) Wet n Wild trio in Silent Treatment
4) L'Oreal's HiP in Sassy
5) Wet n Wild trio in Mojave Mauves


Let's see, I would say that the best texture and pigmentation would be the Wet N' Wild shadows and the L'Oreal HiP. The cool thing about L'Oreal's shadow is that it is a good dupe for MAC's Satin Taupe. However, I find it a bit dark for everyday wear. Sometimes, it is easy for me to go smokey with this if I'm not careful. However, the WnW ones are amazing! I swear, Mojave Mauves is one of my favorite trios ever and that taupe shadow is probably most worn. Of course, CG's shadow is quite popular and it is a really cool taupe because it is more silvery taupe. Very cool! I don't like the texture that much - it can cause a lot of fallout as well. WnW's Silent Treatment is also a silvery taupe. Finally, the Maybelline single is really cool - texture isn't as good as I would've hoped - but I still love the color and it really brings out the brown of my eyes. Very interesting indeed! These are really fun to have - taupes are a lot prettier than regular brown, IMO. These are extremely easy to wear! One swipe on the lids and I'm done w/ my eye shadow look.

So, what do you guys think? What color do you guys tend to buy?

I also just realize I have a lot of matte dark brown shades too... but I guess I can save that for another time. ALso - the swatches show how dry my skin was... GROSS!

♥ ♥ ♥

I went to see No Strings Attached with a friend yesterday...




and I thought it was cute -- but really cheesy!!! Ha ha but I think it's kinda good timing for this movie since Valentines day is right around the corner. It's good for couples and singles to go and watch :)

I think Natalie Portman is freaking awesome and she is a great actress. However, I hope she does more amazing films.

BTW - Natalie Portman and Alicia Keys are two women I really want to be like. Their make up and clothing styles aside, they are both extremely talented and really smart and just fantastic at what they do! They live life under pressure and fame but doesn't succumb to all that crap. Very admirable indeed.

My Hair + My FOTD

So I think it was Kalmo that mentioned how my hair is getting a lot longer now -- and she is COMPLETELY RIGHT!

My hair is getting really long but for once, I don't really care much for cutting it!

Weird huh? It's usually around this time of year that I'm begging my mother to let me cut my hair. Why do I still ask for permission? Because you know how Asian mothers can nag you about stuff (and this might just go for all mothers - not just Asian ones).

She'll start out nice:
"Oh but you're hair is so pretty - don't cut it"

Then she'll turn mean:
"You'd look ugly with short hair"
"You're face shape would not look good with short hair..."

But this year, I think I'll wait til after Christmas to cut it. I don't know why, I just really enjoying the long hair.







My favorite shampoo/conditioner combo right now (and I've been using this for a year... maybe longer):



Now I just want to master the curling iron to make my hair look like:



Oh, one could only wish!!

Finally, I just wanted to show you guys my FOTD for that day:





Lid: CoverGirl's Tapestry Taupe on lid
L'Oreal's HiP duo in Sassy - the taupe color on the crease

Cheeks: CoverGirl's Cheeker in Pretty Peach

Lips: Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Life's A Peach

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You know what I haven't done in FOREVER????

Is a REVIEW!

Yes, I will get to that as soon as I can... just need to think of something to review!

Eyeshadow Collection - The Motherload

So about a year and a half ago, when I just got into make up, I only had a few shadows here and there. My love for eye shadows really increased when I finally purchased an eye primer - UDPP. The problem with me and eye shadows have always been the creasing so UDPP really helped my shadows stay all day and stop looking horrible.

But the biggest problem with me and shadows is still blending and working with the colors. That is still something I must keep practicing! However, you can't practice much if you don't have a lot of eye shadows to play with. This is pretty much my collection... I have quite a lot. I wouldn't say as much as some of you out there, but definitely more than my friends combine!! Luckily, I'm a cheapie and so these are all fairly inexpensive items.

Without further ado:



Notice how there is almost two of everything???

I think I will start with the left top corner...
ROW 1:
- I have 2 sample MAC pigments: Vanilla and another brown color... never knew the name.
- Victoria's Secret baked shadow in Expresso Lane
- Wet n Wild's Trio in Mojave Mauves
- Two Smashbox shadows: Photo shoot and Test Shoot
- Maybelline single in Beach Blush

ROW 2:
- Lancome quad that my mom gave me.
- 2 Cover Girl singles in Tapestry Taupe and Brown Smolder
- 1 Cover Girl quad in Tropical Fusion (my first palette EVER)
- Milani's single in Java Bean - if only I could find more of them in the store!
- MAC's single in Sketch.

ROW 3:
- Jane's single in Midnight
- 2 Maybelline quads in Neutral Smokes and Chai Latte
- 2 ELF quads in Drama and Butternut
- 2 Revlon quads in Nude Element and Coffee Bean

ROW 4:
- 4 NYX singles in Taupe, Champagne, Root Beer, and Iced Mocha (lots of drinks here... except for Taupe though)
- 2 L'Oreal HiP duos in Sculpted and Sassy

Then, I have the cream shadows and eye primers and what-nots!

From L-R
- MAC's paint pot in Rubenesque
- Urban Decay Primer Potion
- ELF's Mineral Eye Primer and the $1 one
- 2 Revlon's Illuminance Cream Shadows in Pink Petals and Coastal Blues
- HiP's Cream Shadow Paint in Nervy

But if I had to recommend a few, I would definitely narrow down to these four:



1) Chai Latte is so easy to use. The texture is nice and smooth and you can wear this for an everyday look or a really nice glamorous look (because of that pretty metallic coppery shade). I'd say pick this up if you have been debating about it. It's totally worth it!

2) Coffee Bean is a perfect quad if you work in an office and you have to wear the most natural look ever. The colors are pretty and pigmented. You have a lot of good options with this quad. I definitely struggle between which one I like more - Chai Latte or Coffee Bean... but I think I'm going with Chai Latte... for now. Funny because I'm drinking more Chai Lattes lately than coffee too.

3) Wet and Wild Mojave Mauve is like my vacation trio. I take this with me on my vacation and I will NEVER EVER be disappointed with it. I always bring several eye shadows but this always work on me... it is so pigmented - easy to blend. And it isn't your typical boring neutrals. This has a gorgeous taupe, a nice maroon, and most of all, that lovely lightest shade... it's like a creamy lilac. I don't know, I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE it. I recommend this to everyone and their mothers.

4) Butternut from ELF is something I recommend to people who are just starting out. At $1, this quad will help you learn what your style is and you can practice and practice with it until you get better. I don't like the idea of going out and getting something expensive if you don't even know what you are doing. Besides that, I enjoy the colors! That dark brown and the lightest shade are my favorites. Together they can make some nice smokey eyes!


As for colors, I really enjoy these two quads. The CG's Tropic Fusion was my first shadow palette ever... which isn't a good thing for beginners... ha ha. But I love using the colors (mostly the blue and green) to line my eyes. It makes the look more interesting. And the HiP's duo in Sculpted has the prettiest pink color and pretty purple. It can change the typical look into something more fun and girly!

I hope you enjoy this post. Please let me know what your favorite/recommendation is! I am always up for trying something new.

Be Mine ;P

So Valentine's day is coming and I was inspired to play with some "girly" romantic colors!


If these two don't scream Valentine, I don't know what does!! They are L'Oreal's HiP Duo in Sculpted and Revlon's Illuminance Creme Shadow in Pink Petals.

** I like Pink Petals so much more than my other Revlon Creme Shadow in Coastal Blues. Mostly because I can use some of these pinks for cheek highlight! If you've never tried this... and if you have this... you should! Especially the 2nd shade from the left. Gorgeous peachy pink w/ gold flecks in it! Very very pretty.





I think this look would be a bit better if the pink color in the duo isn't so neutral... like if it was obvious bubble gum pink. But overall, I think this looks a lot fun :D

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On the lips, I am wearing Rosy Glow by Maybelline Extreme Moisture Lipstick.

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Thanks for reading :D Please comment!! And have a nice nice day.

Sassy Lady!

No, my titles never make any sense...

BUT: this post is a review for the L'Oreal HiP duo Sassy and Sculpted. I've heard about them so much that I decided to get both. The best part was: I swapped for them! Yay. So I didn't really have to pay for much. Can you guys believe this and my Chai Love You lipstick is all that I own from L'Oreal? I guess it doesn't appeal to me as much.

Okay, so let's get to it:



Swatches for Sassy:



PROS:
- BEAUTIFUL texture!! So soft!!!!!
- Amazing to blend.
- The taupe color is amazing: Satin Taupe dupe!! W00t.
- Decent staying power

CONS:
- The darker bluer color looks beautiful in the pan... but not swatched or on the eye
- The colors together can be so MUDDY! The blue color will eventually just turn into the taupe color. I hated that.
- If you want a better pigmentation then use a cream shadow underneath. As you can see from the swatches, the top has cream shadows underneath. This step is important especially if you want that blue color to stand out. I think using like a white or lighter shadow will help.

Overall - I think it's worth it just for that taupe color. Honestly, that color is LOVE!!!!! And the texture is amazing! AMAZING :D I wore that taupe color all over my lids for New Years and for a party I went to on Monday night... (yeah, partying on Monday night! crazy college kids, let me tell you! Ha ha... just joking).

Swatches for Sculpted:



PROS:
- NICE pigmentation. You don't really need a cream shadow base (orimer base is needed though... for any shadows really)
- Very soft and nice texture (although not as nice as the Sassy duo)
- The pink color is nice as a lid color because it is wearable. Not BRIGHT pink... ya know.

CONS:
- The purple on the eyes leave very little purple. It looks very much like a dark, sorta almost just black color. Pretty red shimmers though.
- The darker purple also looks like a BRUISE color... so... becareful with that one. Use precise control!

Overall: I really like the pink but I didn't fall in love w/ the colors like I did w/ that taupe color from Sassy. However, I think this is pretty nice and the colors work together well. Cute colors for Valentines Day :)

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I hope everyone is having a good day. Mine's not bad so far. First day of school did not SUCK... whoo hoo! It was actually pretty good :D Very odd, indeed.

BY THE WAY: I finally saw The Proposal and I really like it! I like because the story was cute. It was overly romancy and also Ryan Renolds is certainly a MAJOR eye candy. LOVE HIM! AND - Love Sandra Bullock. OMG, she made me laugh just as she did in Miss Congeniality. If you are a chick-flick kinda gal... I recommend it... the kiss at the end was very sweet... UNLIKE the kiss in "He's Just Not That Into You". Justin Long needs to learn how to on-screen kiss better!

I am at work so I am still able to write. Thanks for reading! Hope you guys stay tuned for more!