The Economics of Beauty Blogging

Now, they all say time is money, and in that sense all beauty bloggers have spent a LOT of money already. But of course MONEY is also money!

I find it kind of funny how I became a beauty blogger since I don't even buy much makeup. I'm still using the same make-up drawer I used when I began blogging. Which means my stash has neither risen or fallen in size - just shifted in its contents.

The reason I'm writing this is because (my exam is tomorrow and I'm procrastinating) I feel guilty for pretending that I am financially secure. That's what student loans will do to you - blissful years of money raining down on you, giving you a false sense of stability. In the next four years, my total loan amount will exceed $250,000, excluding interest.

A Ramble-y Hello!

The thing about cosmetics is that it's kind of a personal experience, and most people don't talk about it. It's not something you readily bring up in a conversation. I'd love to have in-depth conversations about the merits and faults of various products or comment on the cosmetics industry or about beauty in general... but who with? Outside of the blogger world, I find that makeup only comes up in certain specific instances. Like when you see your girlfriend reaching into her bag for lip balm... then you can sooooorrrttt of squeeze in a comment or two about lip products, but even then, the conversation goes nowhere.

Whereas, for instance, food bloggers always have lots of people to chat with. When the foodie in a group of friends talks about a specific food, everyone can at least say whether or not they like it.  Not so for makeup! Our audience is much more narrow.

Of course, it depends on who your friends are. But I have only one friend with whom I can truly talk makeup with, but she's currently at the other end of the country! Yes, I can "talk" makeup online, but there's something very gratifying about having a face-to-face discussion.

Anyone feel the same way? 

Happy Holidays, everyone! I will get a camera soon, and do photo-posts again. It's not the same without visuals, right?

Official MIA Post!

Hello, everyone!


I'm so sorry I've been a bad blogger. Recently, I won Mel's giveaway, and felt compelled to post something - anything! This community has given me so much, and I feel a bit undeserving. :-/ Also, thank you Mel for being my 100th "follower"! :)  What a grand number for such an infrequent blogger, haha.

Now the reason for my MIA - I have exams every 2 weeks! There's no time for anything. Literally. I pack in about 6 hours of studying every day, excluding time spent in class. It's freakin' crazy up in harrr! I miss California. In Cali, I can walk on the street past midnight, and feel perfectly safe. I can wear the same clothing all year round, pretty much, and be fine due to the glorious weather. I can always find great food at fair prices. And everywhere, there's Asians! LOL~

I'm really enjoying D.C., though. I have met some really cool people! I'm surprised that I've found friends so early... it usually takes me a while to get to know others. I'm not anti-social.... but my social IQ is not as high as I would like. Tee hee.

WOW, look at how much I've rambled! Geez.  See you all in December! :D

xoxo,

~wiggle

Quick Review: TRESemme Dry Shampoo and Waterless Foam Shampoo

Can't show you my own photos, because I've already returned them.  Here's a random stock photo - the products I'm reviewing are the 2 on the right, namely:  TRESemme Fresh Start Waterless Foam Shampoo  for dry hair, and TRESemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo for oily hair.

(photo credit)

Bye bye California!!

HELLO! :)

(photo credit)

GOODBYE... :'(

(photo credit)

New Stuff, Part 3!

Wow, after 1 month, my LM foundation finally came! Won't list the seller here, because I wouldn't recommend her.  Especially since I know all you gals like to pay and receive ASAP! (Like me!) :D Anyway, I got a few more things!

Psssssst! 2nd day hair!!

I finished this bottle of instant shampoo, so here's a little review/demo. I didn't get to spray as much as I normally would for this demo b/c I ran out.  Hopefully you can still tell the difference in the photos!

Cost/Value:  I think this cost me ~$6 at Walgreens. It lasted for about 2 months, which comes to about ~30 uses total. Not too bad.

when you feel depressed... draw something

wooo hoooo... it's so nice to feel depressed!  in this post, i'm letting out my artistic side! it's gonna come out and dance dance dance!  here's a product of it's hard work:

i do have a small review coming up, so don't lose all hope!  i'm not losing my mind, i swear. at least not ALL of it~

New Stuff, Part 2! + Nic's New Store Giveway!

Gah, I'm still waiting for something in the mail! It's taking forever, so I'll just do Part 2 without it. I've already used all of the products below~

Something I want to change about myself...

This past weekend, I got together with a girlfriend I hadn't seen ages!  We strolled downtown, which was very busy because of an arts festival... saw a couple of half-naked dudes... I dunno why, but whenever there's a downtown event, someone always feels the need to take off their shirt... *shrug*


SO anyway, the one thing I want to change about myself:  I want to stop making so many facial expressions.  I noticed after spending a few hours chatting with my friend, my facial muscles were slightly sore, and my throat a little scratchy from trying to talk over the noise of the lounge we were at.

NARS Pleasures of Paris: 2 Looks!

Thanks for all the positive feedback on my last FOTD! :D Maybe it's the way I crop my photos, but in real life, I'm not cute. Anyone having a get-together? I'm not coming. :) Thanks gals~

This bear was a gift from the fiance for my b-day last year.  He sits next to my makeup hehe ~ :)

The NARS palettes usually contain 1 color that I wouldn't use, but all the colors in 9951 Pleasures of Paris (or Doucers de Paris) are great, go-to shades for me~

New Stuff, Part 1!

Just wanted to share some of my new things! I'm still waiting on a few items, so I'll do a Part 2 later on~ I only meant to get an eye cream, haha! I'll just excuse myself and say it's to reward myself for surviving a stressful month... ;P

By the way, I got some of this from eBay! In Part 2, I'll list the sellers I bought from.

Shiseido Sun Protection Eye Cream SPF32 PA+++
Shiseido Concentrated Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream
Walgreens Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen SPF55
Burt's Bees Intensive Repairing Serum
NARS Pleasures of Paris Palette
Lunasol 02 White Gradation

Quick Demo! Vita-Mix 5200!

The fiance's parents bought us a Vita-Mix juicer a couple weeks ago - it's so nifty! Gals who are getting married - I highly recommend you put this on your gift registry thing!! 

So here's a quick demo! What I used - blueberries, blackberries, kiwi, yogurt, kefir and soymilk. This is the juicer, in all it's glory:

Simple Look! Lavshuca Eye Color Select BR-1 Palette~

Hi hi! Just wanted to do a quickie look of the day. :)

Love the peachy-nude, shimmery effect this palette gives. :) Sorry, I didn't take photos of all the stuff I used. Nothing too exciting though, haha~

On the face: Shiseido Brightening Veil, Shiseido blush duo

On the eyes: Lavshuca Eye Color Select BR-1

On the lips: Dior Addict High Shine #352 Champagne Blush

Recent Hitting Pans: Product Adieus!

I don't consider myself a make-up "collector" since I don't really let things accumulate. (An exception is made for eyeshadow though, he he.) Here are some products I've pretty much finished. I'm not going to mention things like lip balm or nail creams, because they're in the trash right now.

So, I'll state how long it took me to finish the items, and some final thoughts as they transition out of my daily routine! The product photos aren't pretty - I didn't clean the items beforehand, sorry. :P

By the way, I'd just like to share the following video with you - it's just food for thought. At the very least, it has cute animation! It's ~20 minutes, so watch it if you have some time to spare. I'd love to know what you think about it! :)

Review: A few things from MAC Cosmetics!

I'm not generally excited about MAC products, what with their 50209842903 collections per season. Their packaging is so basic it's painful - a black, light-weight plastic. I think some drugstore makeup lines have more exciting designs, honestly. Well anyway, it's the inside that counts... right?

One thing I do really admire about MAC is their loyal fan base. I don't know of any other brand that literally has a whole sub-culture associated with it! It's like a cult! ;)

Despite my ho-hum attitude towards MAC, I have managed to accumulate a few of their basic items, which I will briefly review today. I only own 5 things, so this shouldn't take long, LOL.

Review: Christian Dior 5-Color Iridescent Eyeshadow - 909 Pink May

I'm reviewing things out of season, yet again! This was an Asia-exclusive quint that was part of the Spring 2008 Flower Blossom collection.

This is my first foray into Dior eyeshadows, and I have to say, I'm hooked! The colors in this palette are totally me. Courtesy of Jojoba's reviews on Dior quints, I'm also lemming the Summer Star and Golds quints, but I'm never going to find them, of course haha.

"But hey! There are similar quints out there!" Don't care. "But there are dupes of the shades in those quints everywhere in other lines!" No thanks. Sometimes, you just want the "real thing" if ya know what I mean. ;-P

Anyway, on to Pink May - my love.

My Favorite Purple Eyeshadow: Jane Eye Zing in Perfection

Yep!! You read it right - my HG purple eyeshadow (for now! xD). Many of you might be thinking, Whoa, is she nuts?? How can someone have a favorite purple, when there are so many crazy gorgeous purples on this planet?? 

Notice that I said "MY" favorite, which means it likely won't be your favorite. But I thought I'd write about it anyway, both to pay tribute to the Jane Cosmetics brand (which has sadly filed for bankruptcy and is being discontinued), and also just to have fun gushing over this one particular eyeshadow, he he.

(Really, this is not a in-depth 360 review! It's just a collection spotlight.)

Review: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer SPF20 - Nude

I hit pan on all 2 or 3 of my foundations, so I went to Sephora to find my next love. I tried all the popular ones - MUFE, Diorskin, Hourglass, Nars Sheer Glow, Perricone MD, Josie Maran... etc. I must have tried every foundation there was in the store - to all of them, I have only one thing to say - HELLO DRY FLAKES! Now, the Diorskin foundation was quite good, but the finish was too matte and somewhat powdery, and I'm a dewy kind of girl. I did like their hydrating concealer, however.

Now, you should only apply foundation on a properly moisturized face (and I do), but if a foundation can manage NOT to emphasize dry spots when you have them... all the better, no? That's what I found in Laura Mercier. Really, it was the only thing in my Sephora that did not accentuate my dry spots, and actually made my skin feel nicer, like a moisturizer would.

Review: Skincare Overview, Jojoba Oil, Kevin Beautymaker Aquamarine Stuff

Winter 2009-2010 is the first winter that has ever dried out my skin. Either the winters are getting worse, or my skin is aging... I think it's the latter, though! :( I was getting crazy flakes on my cheeks, and general tightness all over. This is why I have been using more hydrating and moisturizing products lately - and they have made a HUGE difference.

For all you gals out there that swear by a simple regimen - good for you! I used to only need cleanser and moisturizer too. But one day, you'll get to that age... and suddenly the basic cha cha won't cut it anymore, if ya know what I mean. ;)

So, I won't go into details about my basics - cleanser, toner or moisturizer. I think most of you have found what works for your skin type. If you have sensitive skin like mine, watch out for those pesky ingredients and you should be set. Also, you don't need to spend $$$$$$$$$$ on a good moisturizer - you can find less expensive, effective alternatives. (But there aren't as many choices for cheap, effective anti-aging skincare IMO.)

I will be focusing on the steps after toner, and before moisturizer. I'll call these the "serum steps". I'm currently using three things: 1) Kevin Beautymaker Aquamarine Hydrating Eye Serum, 2) Kevin Beautymaker Aquamarine Hydrating Serum, 3) Jojoba oil by Desert Essence.

For skincare, I don't really care about packaging, but here it is in a nutshell:
Beautymaker - 5/5 for the convenient pump
Dessert Essence Jojoba Oil - 2/5 since you can pour out too much. (Not shown below.)

Beautymaker's boxes are very thick and sturdy.

Very simple, plastic casing.

Pump dispensers. Excellent.

Collective Haul/Swap: Kevin Beautymaker, Coffret D'or, etc.

This is my first post in the Year of the Tiger! Woo! The following is my new skincare routine - lately my skin has been super-parched, so my 2-step routine has turned into a 6-step routine to combat the dehydration. Here are the products, from left to right:

Better Botanicals Chamomile Cleansing Milk

Better Botanicals Rose & Tulsi Toner

Kevin Beautymaker Aquamarine Hydrating Serum

Kevin Beautymaker Aguamarine Hydrating Eye Serum

a decant of Desert Essence Jojoba Oil

Better Botanicals Sandalwood Moisturizer

Detailed reviews on these products are upcoming. Just a quick note though - the Beautymaker stuff is ABSOLUTELY worth your money!! I'm so amazed at what they're doing for my skin. Sheesh.

Review: In GREAT detail - Esprique Precious Dress On Shiny Eyes

UPDATE: I just don't reach for these palettes often enough. The colors and textures aren't exactly suitable for me, compared to the others in my collection. I have since swapped these two palettes away. :)

I've been using my Esprique Precious palettes, C-3 and C-4, for about 5 months now, so I feel ready to share some detailed thoughts with you about their merits and faults. For more detailed photos, you can view my original haul here and my first EOTD here. I purchased these from AdamBeauty - they are still available there, if you're interested. The new Symphonic Fit eyes is also now available on the site.

My New Things: Coffret D'or 3D Lighting & Shiseido Integrate Accent Eyes + Swatches

This is my tiny belated birthday haul: Coffret D'or 3D Lighting Eyes in 04, and Integrate Accent Eyes in BR750. I purchased these from a seller on Ebay. You can email me if you want to know her username. :)

I think 3D Lighting is Coffret's first collection - it came out in Spring 2008, I believe. Accent Eyes is also an older Integrate line. Makeup collections always come out faster than I make decisions, so I probably won't be getting anything from the 2010 collections until 2012. LOL! I'm a slooowwwww consumer! It takes me forever to decide what I want, and only after seeing a billion swatches...

New Year's Greetings + Kevin老師 on Coffret D'or 2010

I hope everyone had a great New Years! We live pretty high up in San Francisco, so Mr. Fiance and I walked downhill a bit to view the fireworks. They were a little blocked by the buildings lining Embarcadero, but it was pretty cool nonetheless! (Especially considering how we avoided the traffic at the Warf haha!) The only annoying thing was, one lady near us shouted, "WHEEEEEEEEEEEE!" EVERY TIME the fireworks flew up in the air. Sooo much energy for a 60-year old!! xD

Did anyone else haul on New Year's Day? I DID! To be fair, I hadn't bought anything for Christmas or my birthday (during Thanksgiving), so I decided it was time to treat myself a little. :) I did not pick up anything from the current Coffret D'or collection, but of course watching 女人我最大 always gets you lemming. The following is a recent video showing Kevin老師 using the Coffret D'or Jewelicious Eyes palette in 04... Enjoy!