Initial Review: Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Full Coverage Foundation

UPDATE:  I just can't shake how *dry* this looks on my skin. My SO asked if I wanted water because he's never seen me looking PARCHED before! You might have more success if you apply this with a beauty blender, but I just prefer something that looks great with finger-application. This one is going back to Sephora.

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Up to this point, I've mostly focused on light coverage foundations. This month, I will be doing a pretty important rotation in Southern California, so I need something matte, that doesn't require me to think about my face at all for 12-18 hour shifts. Normally, I'd say this is near impossible, but in the temperature-controlled environment of the hospital, I don't tend to get too oily or sweaty. 

I went to Sephora to swatch a few foundations, but the color match for this Tarte foundation was far superior to the others. "Light Sand" is exactly how it is described on the package - great for light, yellow-based skintones. I'd say this is good for MAC NC20-25.

Price: $38.00 for 1.7 fl oz

Click on the images below to zoom in on the ingredients:

  

Bag Review: Rebecca Minkoff Mini 5 Zip Crossbody

Hope everyone had a fun and restful holiday season!  Did you all get to take advantage of the Thanksgiving and Christmas shopping deals?

Rebecca Minkoff's bags are on-trend and fairly well-priced for the quality. The Mini 5-Zip is one of her most popular bags. I've used mine for about a year now, and feel that I can now adequately review it. Here are the bag statistics, according to the RM website and Shopbop.com:

Product details:
Retail: $195
9" wide x 1.5" deep x 6.5" tall
Adjustable chain strap can be worn cross-body (21" drop) or doubled (14" drop)
Custom light gold hardware
Leather: Cowhide.
Weight: 20oz / 0.56kg

The lining of the bag varies with the season. Unless otherwise stated, they are made in China. There is also some discussion about which lining colors correlate with which country of manufacture, but I didn't research this in detail. For a bag of this price point, I don't really care where it's made. All I can say is, the quality of my bag has been spot-on.



First and foremost, if you are looking at buying this bag, you probably don't like carrying your whole life with you when you go out. So here are the 5 things I take with me when I go anywhere, besides school and the hospital:
1. Phone
2. ID card + credit card +/- papers
3. Keys
4. Blotting powder
5. A lip product

Sponsored Review: Misikko HANA Air Premiere Hair Dryer

When John D. from Misikko.com contacted me about doing a review for a hairdryer, I was excited! I've only ever used 2 hairdryers in my life: 1) a cheapie mini dryer from who knows where and 2) Panasonic National foldable dryer.  Obviously, I wanted to know what I'm missing out on in the dryer world.  I was sent the HANAair Premiere dryer a couple weeks back, and feel that I'm now able to comment on it.

An unexpectedly big box.

Ta-da... lots of stuff! Including a really nice note from John, cases, a stuffed monkey, sanitizers, nail files, and Paul Mitchell shampoo and conditioner.

But anyway, the main event is the hairdryer.

The dryer itself is not that big...

Review: SEACRET Cuticle Oil + Body Lotion + NOTD

Hello! I recently caught up on all my lectures, so this is a good time to blog. : )  A couple of you were interested in SEACRET, having seen it in malls being promoted by pushy sales reps.  I certainly understand how this can dissuade people from trying their stuff, but I actually find it to be a solid brand.

SEACRET Cuticle Oil, Natural Body Lotion. The vile of oil is cute, but I would've preferred a wider base so it stands more stably.

The bottle is stiff, so you can't squeeze - just pour it out. There is a slight tendency to pour out more than you need, but the top is bottle-nosed so as to prevent spillage.

Really thin formula.

Review: Laura Mercier Smooth Creme Foundation

Are you sick of Laura Mercier, yet? ;)  I know some of you might be wondering why I'm reviewing a foundation that's clearly meant for the winter time. Well, for me, creams transition very well into summer because I just use LESS of it (ie - like a concealer), or dilute it with moisturizer.  Plus, my dry cheeks can always use the extra hydration, be it summer or winter.

Product: $50 for 1oz/30g glass jar.  Comes with a plastic inner lid and small spatula. The price is a bit steep, but you need so little product each time you use it.

Ingredients: Aqua (Water), Hydrogenated Didecene, Polydecene, Glycerin, Hexyl Laurate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1 Dimethicone, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Boron Nitride, C12-15 Alkyl Benzoate, Methicone, Argania Spinosa Oil (Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil), Phenoxyethanol, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Ribes Nigrum (Blackcurrant) Seed Oil, Trihydroxystearin, Tropolone, Tribehenin,  Cetyldimethicone/Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Dehydroacetate, Disodium Edta, Sodium PCA, Linoleic Acid, Ceramide 2, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, PEG-10 Rapeseed Sterol, Polyquaternium-51, Linolenic Acid, Trehalose, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide.  May Contain: CI 77492(Iron Oxide), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77491 (Iron Oxide), CI 77499 (Iron Oxide).

Shades: 3.5/5  For anyone NC15-20, Warm Ivory would work. It's a bit on the neutral side, but it's OK because I don't use it all over my face. It'll look dark on your hand initially, but after you spread it out, it becomes lighter (similar to how some BB creams work). The next shade up, Sunny Beige, is more yellow but too dark for me. For anyone paler, there's the lightest shade called Blush Ivory, which a bit pinker.

Review + Comparison: Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

After trying both Lancome Teint Miracle and Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation, I have decided that liquid foundation is just not for me. Liquids tend to settle into the skin, and give a more "done-up" look. I also find that they are not hydrating enough for my dry cheeks. So I've finally returned to my ever faithful brand - Laura Mercier!

First, I will review Laura Mercier's Oil-Free TM. Then, I will compare it to the regular TM.

Review: Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15

UPDATE:  Well, in the end, this foundation went back. I still think it's a good foundation - great coverage, lasting power, shade match... but the 3/5 I gave for the Finish category is the killer. It just doesn't look natural on me, and settles into dry areas even if you have a good hydration regimen. Good luck everyone ~  :)

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Just a few thoughts on BB's Skin Foundation. I'm using my roommate's camera to do this post (thanks, Jess!). 

Product: $45 for 1 oz glass bottle with pump. Travels OK, but leaks out a tiny tiny bit at the nozzle.

Shades: 5/5.  Fantastic yellow-based range. Warm Ivory is a very good match - I'm currently NC20. I've lightened since moving to the east coast (but I miss California sun!). 

Here we go! The background is a scarf, by the way. :P

This much will cover your entire face. I just use my fingers for application.

Lunasol Layer Bloom Eyes - 02 White Gradation

DISCLAIMER: I wrote this post on April of LAST YEAR, and I'm only NOW getting around to posting it. I know, I'm baaad.

Please forgive any childish language.
Please forgive my eyebrows... what the heck was I doing a year ago?!
Please forgive poor lighting conditions.

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I'm impressed with my first Lunasol palette. Really really glad that I jumped aboard the Lunasol bandwagon, because it's definitely worth it.

 Doesn't look like much in the pan, but it's very pretty swatched, and even more unique on the lids!

You can't tell from the swatch, but the sparkly white shade is actually a fantastic base. It sticks to the lid very well, and is quite pigmented and evens out my lid! No fall-outs.

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)

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.

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.

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...

Review: Revlon Runway Nails + Giveaway: Shop N' Chomp

At long last, I am doing my review for Revlon's Runway Nails Collection! I'm sure 99% of the blogger community has read more than a review or two on this product already, so I will be more brief with regards to application and overall usage.


First, a little background: my nails are very tiny, and I tend to keep them short. After over a decade of piano-playing, I just feel strange with long nails. I've only been to the manicurist twice in my lifetime. Both were pleasant experiences, but I just don't have a strong desire to perfect my nails and cuticles. Also, I have never used artificial nails before.


So, on to the review! By the way, the packets I received were all medium-length. The one I have on in the photos is the left-most design show above. It's called "Stella."

My New Things: Jill Stuart Eyeshadow Palette!

Wowee, it's been over a month since I last posted! How are you all? I've been readjusting to a new schedule, and I haven't had much time to do makeup. But last week, I happened to see Lotus Palace/Kathi's blog sale, and I bought something!

I got my package from Kathi this evening. Even though these photos are terribly drab with indoor lighting, I just couldn't wait for the daytime to show you. The packaging is so cute, just like her blog. She even has a blog business card! ;-)

Included in the package was a pink Miffy pen - it's already in my backpack he he.  And here is the cute tape with the yellow ducky! I have no use for tape, but I don't have the heart to throw it away.

Pretty nude-pink box with swirly decorations. I wonder how Kathi kept it in such good shape - I know my boxes are usually dented all over.  I haven't figured out where to store product packaging. Well, what's inside?