Clearly Beautiful

My Current Skincare Routine

2010-09-15T11:02:00.000-07:00

I've been in dermatological heaven for the last few months. As previously mentioned, I've been taking prescription antibiotics for my acne, and it has really cleared up my breakouts. I still tend to get the occasional pimple, but its such a rare occasion that it's okay. Here's my topical routine for maintaining clear skin. The principles are simple: remove all traces of makeup and dirt, and follow up with a cleanser and/or exfoliator that encourages cell turnover. Cell turnover not only helps fade acne scarring, but can also prevent and fight fine lines and wrinkles, so this routine should work for a wide variety of skin types.

1. If I am using liquid foundation, I first take every thing off with MAC Cleanse Off oil. I skip this step if I'm using powder foundation because by the end of the day, the poor thing has worn off by itself.

2. I remove all my eye makeup with the wonderful Boots Botanics Soothing Makeup Remover. It has icelandic moss (yay for exotic ingredients!). This is so effective that I simply have to hold a dampened cotton square over my eyes and it melts all my waterproof makeup.

3. To cleanse, I use Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. Although this is technically an exfoliator, the rice particles are so fine that you can use it every day and not worry about over-exfoliation. It's pricey ($50) so I'm glad I won it in a giveaway, but I'm so in love with it that I may repurchase...may...**wrings hands**

4. After cleansing, I tone with Olay Refreshing Toner with witch hazel. This drugstore gem lives up to its name--its so refreshing! And it takes off every trace of remaining dirt and makeup. I also love that for a small price, you get a LOT of toner.

5. Finally, I spread a small amount of tretinoin gel on my cheeks. Tretinoin is a prescription gel for fading post-acne spots. I love this stuff--it has really diminished some of my most stubborn hyperpigmentation marks.

And that's it. Although it looks like a lot of products, my skin has always been troublesome, and I find that a regular skincare routine combined with a bit of Western medicine has led to the best skin I've had since my pre-teens.

What is your current skincare routine? Any product recommendations pour moi?

PS. I purchased all of these products with my own moolah. The only thing I didn't buy was the Dermalogica exfoliator, which I won in a giveaway.

August Favorites and 1 Regret

2010-09-08T10:07:00.000-07:00

August was a month of makeup minimalism for me. I have decided to henceforth channel my inner Padma Lakshmi by focusing on flawless, glowing skin and favoring fresh blush and lip colors instead of over-done eyes. It's just what works for my skintone and sense of style. On to the current obsessions:

First up is YSL Rouge Volupte in #23:

After wringing my hands many times over the sticker price ($34!), I finally bought this lipstick thanks to my husband, who loved how it looked on me and talked me into it. And although I'm a proud frugalista, I have to admit that this lipstick covers so many bases that it's well worth the price and hype. It's full of moisture, yet it dries to a matte finish so it is smooch-friendly. The pigmentation is so great that a few dabs on my lips gives me a my-lips-but-better look. A few more dabs and we're in a peppy bright mode. The packaging is of course heavenly and has finally taught me that packaging. does. matter.

In keeping with my minimal makeup look, I've been loving Benefit's Georgia beauty powder. I love using this as a blush substitute because instead of making my cheeks pink, it just lightens up that area by a few shades. That looks like a genuine radiant glow because I've noticed that after a solid workout, my cheeks are lighter, not necessarily pinker. I love this stuff. Tan ladies, seek this out.

This month I finally figured out how to conceal my undereye circles! I put a small amount of Smashbox photofinish foundation primer on my undereye area, and then blend thin layers of MAC select cover up on top. The primer prevents the concealer from settling into my fine lines. I set the whole thing with a loose translucent powder or MAC Studio Fix powder foundation. The look stays put without settling into fine lines.

As for my regret, I completely regret buying Rimmel's Gentle eye makeup remover. It's like having a Smart Car when you want a Rover. Ugh. This stuff did take off my eyeshadows with ease, but throw ANY waterproof formulations at it, and it quakes in its pants and runs home to its momma. I have been tugging and pulling at my eyelashes trying to get off my mascara, and it just does not budge it. "Gentle" would be the understatement of the year for this mascara. Stay away. My top recommendation for an eye makeup remover is, and will always be, Boots Eye-Makeup Remover with Icelandic Moss.

Sorry this was an uber long post, but I thought I'd come back with a bang. That, and I didn't want to have a backlog of 10 products I need to write about, so I thought I'd get them all out of the way so I can let new ideas take the stage soon. Thanks for reading chicas.

Aaand, I'm back

2010-09-06T17:55:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, a thousand apologies for my absence from the blogosphere. I MISSED YOU GUYS SO MUCH! I have missed blogging, and I've missed the community. I've of course been a silent viewer of all your blogs, so the hype of MAC Face & Body and UD Naked has not eluded me. No worries there, I want them very badly. But now onto an explanation.

At first, I had to slow down because my computer died on me. After that, I had my in-laws stay with me for the summer, which was lovely because they are so easy-going, but that meant that I chose to spend my evenings and weekends with them rather than blogging. But neither of those excuses really can stop me from blogging if I'm REALLY passionate about saying something. To be honest, at the core of my writer's block was a fundamental shift in my attitude towards make-up. I don't want to get too deep and serious about this, because its only makeup, but honestly, I am just not a makeup collector. I will never be like those YouTube gurus with walk-in closets filled with MAC pigments. I'm more like a makeup curator. I believe that a small but carefully edited collection of products is far more valuable and enjoyable than owning every NYX Jumbo Pencil under the sun. So this summer, I parted with a huge amount of makeup, most of which I shared with my sister and friends but some of which went into Mr. Garbage. I was so happy to give away these items because they were just not working on me or I didn't use them, so it was nice to spread the love. If I show you guys my makeup collection now, you'll probably all laugh (it all fits into regular traincase with room to spare). But I'm happy because having a small collection with no duplicates means that I finish up products while they are fresh, and I can guiltlessly buy new products to replace them if they are not HG material. Case in point: I've hit pan on my Studio Fix Powder Foundation and my Colorstay is about to run out as well. I will probably repurchase the SF, but Colorstay may be replaced with something new, like Face & Body now that my skin has cleared up (separate post on that to come soon!).

Anyway, I have finally gotten around to taking pictures of some wonderful July/August favorites, so stay tuned for that post, which will be coming out very soon. Thanks for sticking with me guys. :-)

Would you rather?

2010-07-20T11:25:00.000-07:00

Hello lovely people! I'm super busy this week, but I decided to indulge in a momentary lapse of work ethic to squeeze out this fun tag:

1.Would you rather go out with messy hair and nice make-up or Nice hair and no make-up? Definitely nice hair and no makeup for me. I do love both, but lemme tell ya, a greasy ponytail looks like crap on me. If I have freshly washed hair framing my face, I am comfortable slapping on a bit of chapstick and rolling out.

2.Would you rather shave your eyebrows or have your eyelashes fall out?

I would much rather have my lashes fall out any day. False lashes can be made to look natural and beautiful, but rare is the person who can draw on eyebrows and have it look classy!

3.Would you rather be forced to shop at only MAC or Sephora for the rest of your life?

This is a really really tough one. For the last few months, I've been eyeing a lot of brands from Sephora such as MUFE, Bobbi Brown, YSL, and Dior. So as of this point in time, I would rather only shop at Sephora. However, deep down, I know that MAC is special; as Laura (Lollipop26) put it, the thrill of a MAC haul is truly irreplaceable.

4.Would you rather wear lipgloss/lipliner look or 80's perm?
Well, I actually had an 80s perm in the 4th grade. I love the idea of curly hair, and so I say why not! After all, an 80s perm is just a perm, and I can style it anyway I please!

5.Would you rather leave the house with an obvious foundation line or overdone blush?
Put me down for overdone blush, because it wears off over the course of the day (more like 1 hour for me!). But a foundation line? That's just bad makeup skillz.

6.Would you rather wear MC Hammer pants or biker shorts in public?
Um...I'd rather stay home when faced with those two choices. But fine, if I had to choose one, I'll choose biker shorts because I can get on a bike and make it look like I'm normal!

7.Would you rather have a bad orange-y spray tan or really weird tan lines that can't be covered? Weird tan lines would be fine, because its circumstantial. Bad orange-y spray tan is just an obvious goof up. I think in general, I'd rather have beauty errors due to circumstances, not bad technical skills!

8.Would you rather have a bad haircut or bad hair color?
Bad hair color, because it can be fixed straight away. A bad haircut spoils my mood for months!

9.Would you rather have youtube or twitter taken away forever?
Twitter (I never use it as much as I should really).

10. Would you rather give up using makeup brushes or mascara?
I'd be very sad if I had to face such a decision. But...I'll let the brushes go, because there are ways to use sponges and fingers to apply makeup. There's no alternative to mascara.

Alright people, its your turn now. What would you rather do?

An acquired taste

2010-07-13T12:03:00.000-07:00

Three months ago, my friend gave me a certain cult product that she absolutely hated. According to her, this blush simply did not show up on her skin (which is about an NC15 I'd wager).

It was NARS Orgasm. Now even if someone gives me a product that they personally don't like, I love receiving it because A) it might work on me, and B) I may have a great time reviewing a dud for you guys.

As you can see, she had hit pan on the blush, not because of utter devotion to the product, but because it took a tremendous amounts of swipes to see any color on her cheeks:

After using this product for 1 month, I completely agreed with her. It sucked. I started visualizing blog posts titled "Are you faking Orgasm?". But over time, although it was nothing more than a subtle sheer shimmer, my hand kept reaching for the big O. Was it because of its reputation? Was I just giddy that I was wearing NARS Orgasm? (ok yes a little). Or, was I truly enjoying this peachy pink shimmery blush?

In the second month, I began to admire the versatility of this blush. It paired just as well with smokey eyes as it did with a boring all-over-the-lid-out-the-door eyes.

But my respect turned into love in the last 3-4 days. This weekend, while visiting my sister in London, I regularly did my mom and sister's makeup. The two women's complexions range between NC30 - NC45. Orgasm looked amazing on both of them even though they have vast differences in skin tones and age.

I have to hand it to NARS. They have hit upon a blush whose shade and texture truly works across all ages, colors and makeup looks. Well done Orgasm. It took me a while to get it, but I finally got it. And it was goood. ;)

I'm off to London and Redecoration

2010-07-07T07:51:00.000-07:00

In less than 12 hours I'll be aboard a flight to London to celebrate my sister's graduation. While looking through pictures of my last trip to London (2006), I cringed and realized I have learned many deep life lessons:

1. Don't dress like a dork.

2. Don't get excited about touristy things like red telephone booths.

3. Buy a better hand bag.

4. A crappy ponytail is not to be worn anywhere outside of a shower stall.

5. If you have no sense of fashion or interior design, find a friend who does. Then go shopping with her.

That is exactly what I did last week. My fabulous sister-in-law visited us and redecorated our living room in...get this...1 day flat. She makes decisions lightning fast and can spot fabulosity on a budget. Check this out:

This is a wall right outside our kitchen and facing the dining table. We can use it as an extra buffet table or to showcase our keepsakes. Pieces are from from IKEA, Pier 1 and TJ Maxx. One awesome tip I picked up from her is to find accessories at furniture showrooms!

This is the wall facing opposite the first picture. She made use of a lot of accessories we already had, such as the console table and all the accessories on the table. The wall piece is from Pier 1.

This dining table is between the walls shown on the first two pictures. The mirror is from TJ Maxx.

This is our main living area. We already had the furniture and most of the accessories in the built-in bookcases. Most of these items were simply rearranged. These accessories are from our travels, Pier 1, Ten Thousand Villages, and India.

We added a tall vase from Pier 1 in the corner, and placed some fillers in there.

I feel like I'm all of a sudden in the lobby of the W Hotel. I also clearly understood what style of decoration I really truly love. I always thought I was a fan contemporary, but what I really love is modern ethnic. I love pieces that have modern shapes, but the color palette, texture or print is warm and ethnic. Thanks for making our place so chic Fal! You need to go pro!

Body Shop Roseflower Blush in Fuscia

2010-07-05T09:23:00.000-07:00

I never go into Body Shop. It's not that I don't like it; it's just that I am totally unfamiliar with their products. Furthermore, since they are a standalone store, the chances are low for me to just explore their counter like I would if I was in Sephora or a department store. Thanks to a giveaway I won a few months ago from Emily's blog, Body Shop now has an admirer in me.

Meet the Body Shop Roseflower Blush in Fuscia:

In the pan, it is a lovely true rose color, and who can resist that beautiful rose imprint?

On the skin, it gives a flattering flush of color that lifts my whole complexion. I am confident that this color would work on everything from porcelain skin to tanned beauties.

My camera didn't capture this, but the blush has loose gold bits in it. At first I was sure that this would result in a glittery mess on my cheeks but instead, it creates a perfect sheen on top of the blush. Its like I'm using a blush and a highlighter in one step.

One negative of this blush is the amount of fall out you see when you swipe the brush across the pan. Seems like you are wasting a bunch of product, because its like swirl, swirl, get tons of product on the brush, tap tap, 50% of product ends up on sink/towel. But that aside, this blush is gorgeous, works in all 4 seasons, and is now my gateway drug into the wonderful world of Body Shop.

Do you guys have any Body Shop favorites?

My Summer Foundation Routine

2010-07-01T04:32:00.000-07:00

It is burning up in here folks! I don't know about your neck of the woods, but mine are positively steaming. So in hot weather like this, I am completely unmotivated to go through a whole foundation face routine unless someone is actually looking at me besides my poor little lab rats (I'm a nerdy neuroscientist FYI). So these days, I have a very simple face routine:

1) Apply MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation
2) Repeat as necessary throughout the day.

MAC Studio Fix Powder gives medium to heavy coverage, depending on how much you build on the product. On super hot days, you can even use a small amount as a blotting powder.

If MAC SF Powder was a man, he'd be steadily dating the Coastal Scents Large Synthetic Buffer Brush. Heck, he'd have proposed by now. I've been using this pair for a while now and I'm completely happy with how quickly this big soft teddy bear of a brush covers my face and lets me get out of my hot-as-heck bathroom that much faster!

Awww look, they are cuddling!! (Why do I anthropomorphize my makeup?)

I love the big flat shape of this brush. Plus, because it is uber soft, I can stipple away to glory with no "ouch that pricks!"

So on weekdays, I heartily recommend MAC SF Powder Foundation paired with a soft stippling brush. Carry the compact with you because this makeup does not like to stay for more than 3-4 hours.

On weekends, when I'm hanging out with homo sapiens as opposed to rodents, I go with Revlon Colorstay (applied with a sponge...sparingly!), topped off with Coastal Scents mineral veil. That puppy does not budge.

What is your summer foundation routine? I heart product recommendations. :-)

My Guest Blog on KvD's Ludwig Palette

2010-06-24T10:53:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, this just a quick post to tell you about my guest post about one of my all-time favorite makeup posessions: the Kat von D True Romance palette in Ludwig. I love this eyeshadow palette for both professional and sultry looks, so it was high time to compose an Ode to Maestro Ludwig. Please go check out the post at Karen's intimidatingly amazing blog, Makeup and Beauty Blog, and thanks. :-)

PS. Last week I finally hit 300 followers, and I am absolutely over the moon. A giveaway is coming up very soon on this blog, so keep your peepers peeled. :-)

Haul from SkincareRx Giveaway

2010-06-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

I recently won a The SkincareRx giveaway from Sarah Bella's blog. I love Sarah's blog and YT videos, because she's down to earth, reviews products of all price ranges, and she's drop dead gorgeous!

Anyhoo, I was extremely stoked to redeem my $100 gift card from SkincareRx, and here are the things I picked up:

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant. This is basically an exfoliating powder that you mix with a bit of water, and it contains rice-based enzymes and salicylic acid that buff away dead skin cells and encourage cell turnover (buh bye acne scars!). Lollipop26 raved about this a while ago, but the $50 tag kept preventing me from purchasing. Upon receiving this, I was happy to see that SkincareRx threw in a travel size cleanser and moisturizer with the exfoliator. It's wierd, but I have not yet used this because I am too happy to own it!

Next, I got the Murad acne complex kit ($36). Although my acne has diminished because of my antibiotic treatment (click here for the related post), my doc told me to continue with my normal topical skincare. That's good advice, because I still do get the occasional few pimples. Rest assured a full review will be coming up of this treatment!

Last but not least, I got a La Roche-Posay hand treatment ($14). Since most people often overlook hands, they can be dead giveaways of a person's age. Besides caring for your face and neck, I always think that hands need a little TLC too!

Overall, I really loved ordering from SkincareRx. The website is set up for novices and skincare addicts alike. There's also a great $29 sample kit that lets you try out a bunch of high-end skincare products without taking a big risk. Also, my package came like 2 days after ordering, which inevitably led to squeals of delight. Thanks Sarah, and thanks SkincareRx. This giveaway was da bomb.

Storing Your Bling While Traveling

2010-06-17T08:01:00.000-07:00

Now that summer is here, I'm looking forward to a really exciting mini break in July. I'm visiting my sister in London (yaaaaaaaaaaaay) to attend her graduation ceremony for her MBA (congrats hun!). Since I'm obsessed with jewelry almost as much as makeup and skincare, I wanted to show you guys how I plan to pack my essential jewelry during my travels to London, Kent and the white cliffs of Dover.

Meet the Mele Makayla Faux Leather Croco Jewelry Case ($30, available here):

I just love how this case is compact, protects all the contents inside, and would look appropriate for all ages. I actually selected it because it reminded me of Meryl Streep's Hermes luggage set in the Devil Wears Prada, when she's stuck in Florida during a hurricane ("Please...it's just--I don't know--drizzling!")

Upon opening the jewelry case, I was floored at how much can be fit into such a compact space. Perfect for those who take tons of pieces "just in case". The far left compartment houses 3 pairs of dangly earrings, and the insert can come off if you want to keep larger pieces in there. The middle section holds rings (several in fact. Oh if only I had enough to fill it up!). The far right compartment is perfect for studs.

The lid of the case opens up to reveal a hidden section for delicate necklaces. The little pocket can also hold safety pins and extra earring backs.

This jewelry case can be chosen among hundreds of other pieces at Every Jewelry Box. The website also features some gorgeous jewelry armoire that I swear will one day grace my bedroom. This website is one of over 200 CSN stores. My favorite one is All Modern, and some of my favorite pieces from that website have been drooled over in a previous post.

Review/Giveaway Opportunity: If you are a blogger in USA or Canada, and would like to do a review or host a giveaway by CSN stores, please contact Ashley Chambers at CSNPromoTeam@csnstores.com! Just mention that you read my blog post, and would like to be considered for a review/giveaway opportunity!

FTC Disclosure: The jewelry case was provided by CSN Stores for review purposes. The jewelry in the case is my own. I am not being compensated for this review, and this is my honest opinion.

I went naked! and other updates

2010-06-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

Before I explain the meaning behind my sensationalist title, I wanted to update you guys about my blogging. The last few weeks have been hectic as heck! First, I have had my in-laws staying with me, which makes my nights go by in a stupor of good food. Second, my computer died on me, and I'm still in the process of finding a new one. Third, my blog template and my comments decided to crash on me, so I wanted to fix both before I put up a new post. I hope you guys like this new template. I love Blogger's new design feature! I can see myself changing this up once every season.

Now for the sensationalist title. Yes, I did go naked to work today! Naked on my face that is. For the first time in a very long time, I didn't put on a single makeup product on my face for work. That's because for the last 4 weeks, I have been acne-free. A month ago, I began taking the prescription antibiotic, minocycline, for my acne. I take a 100 mg capsule 2x a day, on a fairly empty stomach with plenty of water.

Within a week or so, my pimples vanished before my eyes, and they have stayed away for 4 weeks now. I had like 2 pimples on the week of my period, but that's pretty much it. I have experienced the sheer pleasure of not having to have a massive skincare regimen. I just take off my makeup every evening, and wash my face with a drugstore face wash, and that's it. I will still put on some kind of treatment at night, but it's literally to use up my vast artillery of skincare products! I wish I had done this sooner. After years of frustration, failed treatments, and scarring--both emotional and physical--antibiotics finally did the trick.

I have a follow-up appointment next week with my doc. Only time will tell if this treatment will rid me of acne forever, but for now, I am supremely happy. As for the side effects, minocycline can cause dizziness, nausea, and in rare cases, a bluish pigmentation on the limbs or face, which goes away once you get off the pill. But so far, I haven't had a single side effect.

I am not about to give medical advice to you guys. But I have tried a vast array of drugstore acne treatments, health routines, and ayurvedic remedies. Some worked well for a short amount of time, others worked 50% of the time, and still others didn't work at all. But minocycline has worked thoroughly for the whole month, because it actually kills acne causing bacteria, p acnes. If you suffer from acne, definitely talk to a physician about it. There are some things that drugstores simply cannot solve.

My Favorite Products Under $10

2010-06-10T09:17:00.000-07:00

Today I wanted to share with you some products I've loved for a while, all of which are well under $10 and are readily available at drugstores or Target.

First up are lip products. I love my Maybelline Sensational lipstick in Warm Me Up (hand swatch is the top one). It's a cool toned rose color that looks good on its own, or even better, combined with brown lipstick like MAC Chintz on Chintz (full review here)

Next is the NYX lipgloss in Ice Princess (full review here). This is a sheer pink color with tiny sparkles. A bit ho hum to be fair, but a staple nevertheless.

This summer, I am taking sun protection very seriously, which means I am going through a LOT of product. This is why I love Coppertone oil-free sunscreen lotion for Faces in SPF 30, because A) it is a bargain, B) it sinks into the skin quickly and C) its completely invisible under makeup. I even slather this on my neck and on the hubby's face. Seriously, in the summer, sunscreen is as important as water. So don't buy Evian when you could buy a Brita filter and chug with no guilt. ;-)

Next is Boots Botanics Soothing Eye Makeup Remover with Iceland Moss. This is SUCH an effective eye makeup remover. I just take a small amount on a square cotton pad and hold it against my eyelids and lashes. My mascara melts off with nary a pull nor tug. Very very good for someone who is starting to notice fine lines (eeeeek!)

If you've read this blog long enough, you know I can't stop singing the praises of Maybelline Colossal Volum' mascara. It's FIERCE. One coat is great for work, and 3 coats would be accepted by...well...Prince Poppycock (look it up, its worth it).

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Revlon Colorstay in this list. Although its $12.99, and not technically under $10, a BOGO deal from Revlon can make this a bargain. This has been my go-to foundation for the summer because it does. not. budge. I apply it sparingly with a damp sponge, then set it with a mineral veil by Coastal Scents. And bam. I am matte and polished ad infinitum.

Last but not least is my little unsung hero: a Target brand eyelash curler. I have used this constantly for 1 year, and it still works, hasn't broken on me, and curls my lashes very well. With a bit of waterproof mascara, my lashes stay curled all day long. Lovely.

That's it for my favorite products under $10. A big thanks to Sarah from YouTube's Sardun1 and Bella Makeup for inspiring me to do this post.

MAC Cleanse Off and Update

2010-06-08T09:22:00.000-07:00

Finding the perfect makeup remover is like finding the perfect man. All of a sudden, there is no more gossip. When you finally meet the right one (makeup remover or man), you don't have much to bitch about with your friends. MAC Cleanse Off oil--just as I had predicted--melts away all my face makeup with no residue, no irritation, and no rubbing. I have not broken out because of this product either.

Although its an oil, once you splash water on your face, the oil becomes milky and washes right off. My face is left feeling soft, but not at all greasy. It also has a pleasing smell that I can only describe as swiss orange-flavored chocolates. Sorry for the horrid yellow picture, but I can only find time to take pictures at night lately.

So in sum, MAC Cleanse Off, at least, is the makeup remover of my dreams. On lazy days, I just use this one product and call it a night. But on most days, I follow this up with an eye makeup remover, and then a salicylic acid, oil-free cleanser. At $22, I'm still wondering if its worth repurchasing. I may experiment with the Boots Cleansing Milk first. But I will never go back to makeup wipes, that is fo sho.

As for my little update, you may or may not have noticed that I'm blogging a little less often lately. You see, my computer has decided to leave this world, may it rest in peace. So until I buy a new computer, I'm borrowing one from the hubby for short periods of time and bringing you posts once a week.

Hope you guys are having a wonderful Tuesday!

Out-the-Door Hair

2010-06-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

On most days, I spend way too much time playing with makeup and fretting over which earrings would complement my outfit. By the time I am done and already late for wherever I have to be, my hair is still in a sad state, AKA frizzy bun held in place with a hideous red cloth scrunchie. On these days, I need a quick hair fix. So with just a few tools, I achieve the pulled-together look below:

Once the hideous scrunchie is off, I reach for a flat iron, and my thermal round hair brush (avilable at ULTA, and on the Brushlab website).

I roughly divide my hair into 2 sections: upper and lower. The upper section is tied off with a scrunchie while I work on the lower section, and then I reverse. I use the round brush to detangle sections of hair (about 1" each). I really love how this brush, which has natural boar bristles, pulls each section of hair very taut and straight, so that each strand of hair is ready to receive some flat iron love. I also love holding the textured rubber grip, which prevents slippage (I've had the traumatic experience of detangling my hair, only to have the handle separate from the brush head, and the handle went flinging across the room projectile-style. Fortunately, nobody was decapitated).

In about 5 minutes, I have pin straight, frizz-free hair (plus, I dont have to put any product into my hair to get this look). I tie back a 3" section with a couple of pins, and voila, I'm out the door!

FTC Disclaimer: The round hair brush was provided by Brushlab. I am not affiliated with this company, I'm not being paid to do this review, and this is my honest opinion.

Tuesday Poll

2010-06-01T08:49:00.000-07:00

Dear Friend, I like to start my letters to you as if we are already in the middle of a conversation. I pretend as if we are the oldest and dearest of friends, as opposed to what we really are--strangers brought together by a fierce love for makeup and all things pretty. Let's start off this post-Memorial Day Tuesday with a poll by Makeup and Beauty Blog, one of my favorite reads.

1. Mood:

Strangely enough, I feel alert and motivated to have a productive day. Very wierd for a Tuesday, lemme tell ya.

2. What do you do for a living?
Hah, I wouldn't call my income a "living" but I am currently a graduate student pursuing a PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience. Very exciting stuff, but it's been the the biggest challenge of my life.

3. Who’s in your posse?

I have always been the kind of person who only has a handful of friends, but they are all very very close to me. I wouldn't have it any other way.

4. What projects are you currently working on?

I am working on having more greenery at home. I just bought 2 birdfeeders, one for my balcony and one for my front entrance. Also bought a few plants, and plan to buy some more!

5. If one were to open your bedroom closet, what would they find?

Mostly casual outdoorsy clothing from REI and Eddie Bauer. I love the blend of form and function. I also have some nice hand me downs from my fashionable sister, and some Indian tops.

6. Where do you find inspiration?

From visually striking movies like Kill Bill, the Devil Wears Prada or Pride and Prejudice. I am also inspired by bloggers like you, and magazines like Martha Stewart Living and Real Simple.

7. When you aren’t working, how do you like to unwind?
On any given Friday, I love to go to Borders after a nice dinner and close the store. I read everything from interior decoration magazines, to Carmindy's latest book on makeup.

8. Where are you right now?

In my office.

9. Outfit:

Dark 7 jeans, shirt from Eastern Mountain Sports, and ballet flats from Ann Taylor.

10. Your weekly goals:

Get some blogging done, and learn some new Indian recipes.

Here are the questions if you'd like to do this poll on your own blog, or leave them in the comments below:

1. Mood:
2. What do you do for a living?
3. Who’s in your posse?
4. What projects are you currently working on?
5. If one were to open your bedroom closet, what would they find?
6. Where do you find inspiration?
7. When you aren’t working, how do you like to unwind?
8. Where are you right now?
9. Outfit:
10. Your weekly goals:

I'm calling it! (project 10 pan, that is)

2010-05-26T08:46:00.000-07:00

Whew. After just about 1 month, I've completely used up 10 products. I am reluctant to pat myself on the back though, since they were mostly bathroom products, which are easy to use up.

e.l.f. professional shine eraser: for $1, these are a great value for blotting sheets, and a total essential for the summer. I'm kicking myself for having purchased only one, so I suggest next time you place an e.l.f order, stock up!

C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint: I love this lip gloss because it is tasty, smells fresh and minty, and imparts a high gloss tint on the lips. However, it can be very sticky!

Mario Badescu hyalauronic eye cream: I enjoyed using this scent-free eye cream and would suggest it to anyone with wrinkles around their eyes. However, I need something that targets dark under eye circles.

Coastal Scents Lip Smacks: I have this in Marilyn a Go Go. Terribly sticky, and overly shiny, I would not recommend this to anyone.

Target's Up and Up Eye makeup remover: Although it swiped away every trace of waterproof mascara, it always left a circle of dryness around my eyes unless I moisturized immediately. I've since moved on to Boots Botanical Soothing Eye Makeup Remover, which works just as well but doesn't yield raccoon eyes. (review here)

Cellnique Skin Purifying Cleanser: This is a cleanser and exfoliator in one, and was initially part of a regimen that really worked for my acne-prone skin. However, over time, the effectiveness diminished, which always happens to me with topical treatments. (full review here)

Olay Regenerist daily wipes: I am glad to see the back of this product (full review here). Although it felt refreshing and left no residue, the wipes were way too scratchy. I've since moved on to MAC Cleanse Off.

Lush Dark Angels: This is a wonderful charcoal-based scrub. I really really loved using it because it had an earthy smell and left me feeling squeaky clean. However, it is messy, so I always used it in the shower. The other downside is that it tends to expire quickly. (review here)

Biore blemish fighting ice cleanser: I have bought this salicylic acid cleanser time and time again. I literally did not repurchase because I was sick of seeing it in my cabinet for so long! But I wholeheartedly recommend it for combo-oily and acne-prone skin types. (see previous review here)

Shu Uemura Face Architect and Base Control: Although I do love these products, they are far too pricey to repurchase. I haven't fully used up either of these, but now I can't since my skin has become tanner.Great products though (full review here).

Armani Diamonds perfume: This scent was sophistication in a bottle. I imagine Charlotte York would smell something like this.

Merle Norman Super Lube: I have finally hit pan on this tub of lip salve after about 10 years. It's gonna take several more months to truly finish it up, but I think 10 years lands it as an honorable mention!

In total, I finished 13 products. Since most of them were bathroom products, I have to say this was not a very successful P10P. Oddly enough, I'm not itching to haul again. This project made me realize that although I have a nice makeup collection, I am sorely lacking in the clothing department, so I think for now, I will continue to build up my wardrobe rather than makeup. :-)

My bedroom makeover wishlist

2010-05-21T08:31:00.000-07:00

I've been toying with the idea of scouring the net for my bedroom makeover, which I talked about in a previous post. With online shopping, there are no lines, pushy sales assistants, or crowded parking lots. Besides, any endeavor that does not require the shedding of fuzzy socks and sweatpants for civilized clothing is a tempting offer. But most importantly, I think online shopping exposes you to one-of-a-kind items, or at least items that are very unlikely to be replicated by anyone you know. Here are a few things that recently caught my eye:

Mmm, what a sofa to curl up and read on. One can dream right?

Or perhaps some Japanese-inspired bedding:

I'd love for this beauty to grace the top of my dresser:

And now over to you. Do you have favorite websites that have designer or hand-made items? They can be any kinda websites, from furniture, to jewelry, I'm just looking for ideas!

Spring Favorites

2010-05-19T08:40:00.000-07:00

Seeing how we are more than halfway through May, I thought might as well give you the run down of products I've been loving throughout April and May. I've been digging bright lips, neutral eyes, and glowy skin this spring.

1. Urban Decay Pocket Rocket in Timothy: Tim and I were not seeing eye to eye at first because he smelled way too much like creme brulee. But now that summer is here and coral is everywhere, I gotta say that Timothy is filling the position quite nicely, so I am putting up with the smell. I like this gloss because its bright, with no glitter, and a pure coral. It's opaque enough that I don't need any lipstick underneath.

Below, heavy swatch (left), and blended out (right):

2. MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation: I've come back to this like you come back to that sweet guy friend who always stood by you when your heart was broken by other meanies. Yes, I still love the look of liquid foundation, but this is a must-have in my collection because it never breaks me out, and is quick and easy.

3. Origins Underwear for the eyes: I've used this almost every single day as a base, or on its own. I hate the tube it came in though, so I have pressed it into a Mario Badescu sample pot.

4. Coastal Scents M09 Hot Pot: this is a perfect matte cream colored e/s that I have been using for my browbone and inner corner. It highlights, and yet does not draw attention to itself. (see full review of all my Hot Pots here)

Above: heavy swatch on left, blended out on right.

5. Cellnique Advanced Biorenewal Masque: For those of us dealing with acne or scarring, this is instant gratification in a jar. I love it. Check out my review here.

Ahhh with May coming to a close, summer is finally here. Cant wait to sport the dresses, the sandals, and the bronzed decolletage (I love that word).

PS. The Cellnique mask and Hot Pots were provided by the manufacturers. All other products are bought by myself (except the Origins base, which I got from a friend).

Monday Moods

2010-05-17T10:28:00.000-07:00

Mmm, what a yummy weekend I had. I attended a lovely wedding in the White Mountains of New Hampshire! I also recently picked up Boots Botanicals Soothing Eye Makeup Remover and MAC Cleanse Off, so pampering myself is happening quite often lately.

I'm loving both the Cleanse Off and the Boots makeup removers, but a full review on both products will be coming up a little later. And now onto my Monday Moods:

1. Mood: Wistfully wishing I could blog full-time.

2. Hair: Flat ironed and clipped back into a half-up half-down style.

3. What are your plans this summer?
To finish up my dissertation so I can graduate next May (which means little to no summer days off, boo). I also plan to makeover my bedroom. Luckily, my sister in law, who is something of a prodigy in decorating, is coming over to help me. How about something divine like this? It's modern, and yet reminds me of Indian color palettes...

[image from HGTV]

4. What’s the last thing you’ve eaten?
Dunkin Donuts hashbrowns. I'm a health nut aren't I.

5. Eyes/lips/cheeks:

Eyes:

- Kat von D Ludwig palette for a shimmery bronze look
- The usual essentials: UDPP, Fluidline Blacktrak, Zero, and Maybelline Colossal Volum' mascara

Lips:
- Ever so Rich Cremesheen Glass

Cheeks
- Faces cream blush
- MAC strobe liquid as highlighter

6. What’s one of the best things that’s ever happened to you?
Meeting the man of my dreams. I know that's cheesy, but it's true!

7. What’s a quality you like about yourself?
I don't stress out and worry about things. Whatever happens, I can brush it off, think of a solution, and start to overcome it. I think problems become problems partly because your mind tends to exaggerate the size of the problem.

8. Something you’re looking forward to this week:
Going to visit my folks in Florida. I think I'll treat my tootsies to a pedicure whilst I'm there. :)

9. Outfit:

White cable knit sweater (Old Navy)
Rock and Republic jeans

10. Weekly goals: Get a few important posts out (i.e. a VERY belated April favorites!)

Feel free to pick up this Monday Moods post for your own blog. I totally did not invent these questions; just forgetting where I got them from!

Coastal Scents HD foundation review

2010-05-14T10:37:00.000-07:00

I've been trying out the Coastal Scents Undercover HD Foundation ($16.95) for awhile now and thought I'd share my thoughts.

image from here

Paraphrased from the Coastal Scents website, this foundation is perfect for creating a soft focus, and a flawless natural finish. UnderCover HD is not oil or water based and it is non comedogenic. HD foundations use silicones, which creates a protective shield on the skin, allowing it to breathe and retain it's natural moisture.

I picked 4 samples so I could get an exact shade match. I am NC42-NC45 in MAC, so I selected shades 6, 7, 8 and 9. Since each 3 gram sample is only $.49 each, its well worth it to pick up several shades.

As soon as I placed the foundation on my hand, I noticed that the consistency of the foundation was thin. It's thinner than my Shu Uemura Face Architect, and much thinner than Revlon Colorstay.

I thought there would be no coverage given the thin texture, but here, you can see that my hand has that "soft focus and flawless finish" when blended out with my fingers.

Let's cut to the chase...

After a bit of trial and error with getting the right application technique, I have concluded that this is an awesome foundation. At $16.95, it is a total bargain HD foundation, compared to MUFE HD Foundation, which is $40. Also, it hasn't broken me out, and I love how the thin consistency makes me forget that I'm wearing anything on my face. The finish is a sheen (neither matte nor dewy), which makes my skin look flat out gorgeous. I set the foundation with a light swipe of Studio Fix Powder.

Technique is everything with this foundation. Brushes made this foundation look cakey, and fingers made it look like a tinted moisturizer. Believe me, a week ago, this puppy was gonna get a terrible review! But that was, until I tried applying this with a damp sponge. I've been using a damp non-latex sponge (like $1.99 from Target for a whole bunch), and it gives the most breath-taking finish.

The dreaded Buts:

1. This foundation is not full coverage. If you have any imperfections to cover up, you'll need a concealer. I mean, that's fair enough. After all, this is a foundation, not a concealer.

2. I would not use this on days when my skin was miserably flaky and dry. Because this foundation is so light weight, it actually accentuates flaky dry skin. So if you're going through a huge acne treatment and its Flake City (haha lovely mental image), then stay away. But a few minor dry patches should be no big deal. In fact, applying the foundation with a damp sponge will moisturize away minor patchiness.

Final Thoughts: Pros are shade selection, price, staying power, finish, and non-comedogenic. Cons are: not full coverage, tricky application technique, and does not work on dry skin.

PS. I am currently a mix of shades ST 07 and ST 09.

PPS. Foundation samples were provided courtesy of a voucher from Coastal Scents. I was not even asked to review these products. This is my honest opinion, and I am unaffiliated with Coastal Scents.

Olay Regenerist Makeup Wipes: A review

2010-05-12T07:16:00.000-07:00

I've been using the Olay Regenerist Micro-exfoliating Wet Cleansing Cloths ($5.99 at Target) for almost 20 days now and thought I'd share. First, I have to say that the Olay Regenerist line is a great drugstore line. If you haven't tried the Olay Regenerist Thermal Mini-Peel, drop what you are doing and run out and get it now! It's the most amazing scrub because it heats up as you exfoliate, the smell is lovely, and it leaves my skin feeling sparkly clean and bright. But onto the wipes now. I wish I could rave about them to no end, but it has its cons.

The first thing that irks me a bit is that Olay hasn't created a box for these wipes, like Neutrogena has. So this sits sideways in my bathroom cabinet and takes up a lot of space. Also, after flipping open the little sticker-lid for many days, mine came off, and now its just kind of stuck on. Lame packaging Olay!

On the plus side, this has a refreshing, clean scent. Also, it does take off all of my face makeup, and leaves my skin feeling clean. I had just tried the Neutrogena wipes before these, and let me tell ya, those wipes leave me with this icky filmy feeling on my face. These don't! So conceivably, I could just go to sleep after wiping away the makeup with these. But I never ever recommend doing that.

Now on to the cons. First off, this is supposed to be an "exfoliating" wipe. All that means is that the wipe is scratchy as heck. Neutrogena wipes were super soft, and these are super NOT.

Second, the package says that this wipe removes all makeup, even waterproof mascara. NOT true, guys. Sure, it takes off a little bit of eye makeup, but not all of it. As you can see below, the used cloth shows a bunch of foundation and a bit of eyeshadow, liner and mascara on the left side:

However, look at how much more eye makeup has come off with a regular eye makeup remover after I had used the wipe:

I think I just don't feel clean enough with makeup wipes. I'm probably going to go for a cleansing oil next because it just seems to be more effective and thorough. Makeup wipes are simple and quick, but I don't think they are thorough enough. As someone who is prone to acne, I'd rather spend a few extra minutes ensuring that I have a clean face than going to bed a little earlier.

Putting Hot Pots into a MAC Palette

2010-05-10T08:29:00.000-07:00

This is a super simple DIY tutorial for putting Coastal Scents Hot Pots into a MAC eyeshadow palette (see review and swatches here). The reason why Hot Pots don't automatically go into a MAC palette is because of a switcharoo in magnatizing techniques. The Coastal Scents palette is magnetized, and the pans are simply metallic. MAC is the other way around. The pallete is metallic, and the pans are magnetic. So you gotta game the system, but it is very simple.

First, gather all your Hot Pots, and place them on a paper towel.

Next, buy some small magnets that have an adhesive backing. I found these square ProMAG magnets at my local Michael's for around $3. Also, have a scissor handy.

Take one magnet and one Hot Pot (this one is S09).

Cut the square in such a way so that you cover most of the backside of the Hot Pot except the part that shows the name of the hot pot. I made 2 cuts and stuck them on so that the name peeped through. Peel away the sticker backing and stick onto the pan's back, as shown below. Crafty, eh?

Use the paper backing as a template for cutting the rest of your magnets. I suggest going one by one instead of cutting all magnets at once. Place the stickers onto the Hot Pots and place them into the MAC palette. The pans will fit perfectly and the magnets should hold the pans securely in place, even if you turn the palette upside down.

Et voila! You have a head start on filling up a 15 pan MAC palette!

Because I'm a bit of a neutral queen, I don't like to buy tons of eye shadows. For that reason alone, I couldn't justify starting a 15 pan MAC palette when I would probably only use 5-6 eyeshadows from MAC. But every now and then I do get a lemming for gorgeous shades that only MAC can come up with such as Black Tied, and Smoke & Diamonds. This is a great compromise for me because I can create a palette that is half CS and half MAC. I already love the matte white (top left) as a perfect brow highlight. As for the MAC eyeshadows, I'm delighted that now I only have to pay $11 for the pan rather than $14.50 for the packaged ones. A haul may be coming up sometime this summer!

Note: Hot Pots were provided courtesy of Coastal Scents. The MAC palette and craft supplies were purchased by myself.

Coastal Scents Hot Pots Swatches and Review

2010-05-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

As mentioned in my recent haul post, I recently got some Coastal Scents hot pots. If you're not aware of what these are, they are basically single-pan eye shadows. Except for one matte shade, all other shades that I selected were shimmery. Here is how they look in the pan:

Below are swatches of these colors, with Origins Underwear for the Eyes as a base. I strongly recommend using a base for these shadows--whether it be UDPP, paint pots or whatever floats your boat. I actually selected these shades based on some really helpful videos by Enkore on YouTube, where he said these shades are dupes for some MAC eyeshadows. I don't have any MAC e/s right now, so I can't verify whether that is true. However, below, you'll see the color shade by Coastal Scents, and in parenthesis, the MAC e/s that it is a dupe for.

Top row, left to right: M09 (Vanilla), S09 (Paradisco); S35 (Satin Taupe); S13 (Trax)

Bottom Row: S01 (Juxt or Lusterleaf); S26 (Electra); S36 (Amber Lights)

So far, I am loving these hot pots. Compared to Coastal Scents e/s palettes, these are of higher quality, and have no fall-out issues. However, I feel that the shimmer is a bit overboard one some of the lighter colors, such as S09 (Paradisco), S01 (Lusterleaf) and S26 (Electra). When I apply these 3 shades to my lids, they just look silvery.

The shades I am loving are, predictably, the neutral ones. I recommend M09 (Vanilla) as a great matte highlight for the browbone. S35 (Satin Taupe) looks gorgeous as a crease color or all over the lid as a soft daytime brown. S36 (Amber lights) is best applied to the center of the lid as a bronzey pop of color.

Which of these hot pots do you guys like? Are they really dupes for MAC? Would you be interested in seeing a tutorial using only these colors? Do leave me some feedback in the comments below. :)

Disclaimer: The Hot Pots were provided courtesy of Coastal Scents. The MAC palette and craft supplies were bought by me.

In and Outs

2010-05-06T11:19:00.000-07:00

Although I love to blog about makeup reviews and such, part of the reason I blog is because I am able to use my audience as a virtual confession booth. So I think once a week I'll put up a ramble of some kind. In and out this week, Monday moods, next week, etc. After all, a girl's gotta vent!

In:

1) MAC Merrily. What an amazing blush. I never want to be without this guy. In the pan, it literally looks like a ketchup red. But on my face, I just look like the most natural blush on my tan skin (NC45). Olive and tan skinned ladies should definitely try this out. Note to the fair: stay away.

2) I just received a lovely package in the mail full of treats I won in Emily's giveaway. I feel so lucky, and her giveaway was so generous. All the products were all in such good taste, and a lot of the brands were new for me. I'll do a post on the products with swatches soon. Thanks Em!

3) I just booked a flight ticket to go see my parents! I'm so supremely happy because I haven't seen them since my Thanksgiving vacation. I'm looking forward to the Florida sun, my mom's never-empty pantry, and my dad's doting.

Out:

1) Project 10 Pan. Ok...HOW do you guys finish things like lipstick and blush in a reasonable amount of time? I need strategies people. I am intent on finishing up my Nars Orgasm, which I have hit pan on, but try as I might, I can't use it everyday because MAC Merrily comes in to steal the show. Seriously, throw me a lifeline. Is there some way to accelerate this? I have needs. Specifically, a need for YSL rouge volupte. One innocent swatch at Sephora and I became a little slave to it. I am also drooling over the summer collection by MAC, so...yeah...someone might be falling off the wagon pretty soon...

2) My nails...I haven't bothered to paint my nails in literally 3 weeks. They are shapeless, full of ridges, and overall making me feel crappy. I am thinking about getting gel nails so that I have perfectly shaped, non-chipping nails for 3-4 weeks if I'm careful. What do you guys think?

3) Urban Decay Midnight Cowboy lipstick. I would only wear this lipstick at midnight so that no one can see my lips. I am really not loving this grit-infested excuse for a nude lipstick. This was laughably included in the Urban Decay Hall of Fame set, alongside far more amazing products like UDPP and Zero. Who I ask, who, would look good in a nude lip with silver grits that make you look like you died at a disco?

That's it for my ins and outs for this week. I found this post very therapeutic, so I think more personal-ish posts will be coming in the future.

Free samples of Cellnique!

2010-05-05T13:34:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, a lot of you commented on my post about my Cellnique skincare routine that the products looked really great but a bit pricey. So Cellnique is offering free samples of the Skin Action Gel Plus to the first 50 readers of this post!!

All you have to do is email your full name and your mailing/shipping address or your blog's URL (if any) to fbfreesample@cellnique.com with the subject "clearlybeautiful.blogspot.com".

If you are a reader who has your own blog, definitely think about writing to them, because you may have a chance to do a product review yourself!

This offer ends 1 week from today (May 12th), so hurry!

According to Cellnique's website, here's a bit on the Skin Action Gel Plus:

Description

: proven AHAs plus BHA formulation in reducing inflamed acne lessons and lightening acne marks. The infusion of Tea Tree Oil, Camphor, Eucalyptus Oils and vitamin C accelerates the healing process, thus preventing the formation of scaring.

Benefits
•	Controls and prevents further breakout
•	Reduces inflamed acne lesions
•	Lightens acne scars or marks
•	Anti-bacterial, antiseptic, antioxidant

FTC Disclaimer: this offer is sponsored by Cellnique. I am not being compensated for sharing this offer on my blog.

And the winner is...

2010-05-05T06:14:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, thanks for being patient while I chose the winner for the Hana Professional Flat Iron giveaway. Thank you all so much for entering, I had a blast reviewing this product and hosting the giveaway. Enough blabber though. As chosen by Random.org, the winner of the Hana Flat Iron is...

Siam! Congratulations girl!

I've already been in touch with Siam and will have Misikko send out the gift to her right away.

For those who entered but didn't win, don't lose heart! I hope one of these days I can do a personal giveaway, which will most definitely be open to everyone, and the rules will probably be super simple. Thank you all once again for entering, reading and commenting.

Coastal Scents Haul

2010-05-03T20:10:00.000-07:00

I hauled a few items from Coastal Scents last month and thought I'd share my purchases with you. Although I am currently on Project 10 Pan (which is going excruciatingly slowly; I don't know how you people do this!!), this was a haul that was sponsored by the lovely people at Coastal Scents, so that didn't interfere with my no-buy rule. Thanks Coastal Scents for helping me game the P10P! Before I get on with this haul, I just wanted to say kudos to CS. They simply allowed me to purchase up to $75 worth of items from their website for my blog. They did not make it mandatory for me to review any of these products, much less sing their praises. So I feel really happy that they have not put any pressure on this little blogger. What you'll see in the coming weeks will be, as always, ruthlessly honest reviews.

Onto the haul:

I picked up 5 eye brushes, below:

Left to right: black large pointed crease ($3.95), Italian badger doefoot stippler ($3.89), Blending brush ($2.99), Chisel fluff large shadow brush ($2.75), chisel detail mini brush ($1.99)

Next, I got some face brushes for applying foundation, setting powder, and concealer:

Left to right: synthetic buffer brush large ($13.95); Italian badger kabuki brush ($8.45); oval camouflage brush ($3.49)

I wanted to try the individual Hot Pots, which fit right into MAC palettes and several have been suggested to be MAC dupes (how could I pass up?!). I will soon post a DIY tutorial in how to put these pans into a MAC palette, and swatches will be included. Till then, enjoy the colors in the pan.

Lastly, I wanted to try the Undercover foundations. Since I was ordering online, I picked up 4 sample sizes with 4 different shades ($.49 each)

I also went for a sample of the Veil effect mineral powder in Medium ($2.00 for a sample)

Because I had ordered just over $75 worth of stuff, I got free ground shipping on these products. The package came 3 days later on my front door, and everything was packaged well (I think only 1 hot pot was a little chipped at the edge). I've ordered about 3 times from Coastal Scents before with my own money, and have always been satisfied with how speedy their delivery is.

Over the next few weeks, I'll review these items in digestable installments. Initial thoughts are that some products are truly fabulous bargains, while other products remind me of the old adage: you get what you pay for. Stay tuned while I compose a series of "hits and misses" posts for you guys. :-)

Now over to you: have you tried any of these products? What did you think of them? Are there any other Coastal Scents products you love? Please share in the comments below!

FTC disclosure: Coastal Scents sponsored the purchase of all items shown. I am not affiliated with Coastal Scents and wasn't compensated for reviewing these products.

Flax Oil for Healthy Skin

2010-04-29T13:58:00.000-07:00

No matter how many topical treatments we use, great skin starts from the inside. In the last month or so, I have been taking 2 tablespoons of Flaxeed Oil everyday, and it has helped my skin in many ways.

I have been using Organic Flax Oil by Nature's Bounty (BOGO-Free deal at Walgreens!). When buying flax oil, buy cold-pressed, organic, and a bottle that is opaque, not see-through.

Even my husband has noticed that I am looking like I have a brighter complexion. Being an Indian, I tend to have an "ashy" undertone, so this has helped me look a little lighter and brighter.

Besides my vain reasons for looking bright and pretty, flax oil is incredibly good for your health.

Flax contains omega 3 fatty acids which are important for many things:

1. Flax oil can improve acne, psoriasis, rosacea and eczema. It's moisturizing properties can also improve the look of fine lines. You can also apply it topically to dry patches. It is known to be an anti-inflammatory and aids in wound healing (hence why its great for the acne-prone).

2. Flax oil may protect against UV light damage, which can ultimately help prevent skin cancer.

3. Flax oil also aids in digestion. I've always noticed that I break out big time if I am constipated, so staying regular is my #1 priority for acne-free skin, and overall wellbeing.

4. Last but not least, flax oil can prevent cardiovascular problems because it can sort of dissolve the sticky fat lining your arteries. It also thins the sebum in your pores, and can prevent blemishes.

All in all, flax oil combats everything from cardiovascular disease, skin cancer, and even acne. I hope you guys think about trying this out. But as always with dietary supplements, please talk to your doctor before doing so!

The Cellnique acne and scar treatment

2010-04-26T10:45:00.000-07:00

6 WEEK UPDATE: I've noticed that the zits are making a comeback in a big way. I'm not surprised really. My skin responds very well to any strong acne treatment for a month, but after that, it usually grows a tolerance to the products. My acne scars are still fading away though, so that's good. For now, I'm gonna have to try a new regimen, and then come back to this one later down the road, just to keep my skin on its toes.

For the last month, I have been using an acne treatment by Cellnique. Cellnique provides skin solutions for everything from acne to anti-aging. My wishlist is to combat and prevent break outs once and for all, and to fade my acne scars.

I was sent: 1) the Skin Purifying Cleanser (far left), 2) the Skin Action Gel Plus (middle), and 3) the Advanced Bio Renewal Masque (far right).

All three products are luxuriously packaged, which encourages me to stick to my routine.

Overall, I must say that this has been an extremely effective skin care treatment. My acne has subsided tremendously; I'm usually completely acne-free, and at the most, I'll get 1 little zit on each cheek. My forehead has been clear for the whole month! As for acne scars, they are noticeably lighter, and the really old ones have faded completely. My entire face is also looking a shade lighter, brighter and more radiant.

Here is my regimen:

Step 1: Every morning and night, I cleanse my face with the Skin Purifying Cleanser. This smells like eucalyptus or tea tree oil, which I think is invigorating. It also has exfoliating particles in it, so that means I'm cleansing and exfoliating at the same time!

Step 2: After drying my face, I apply a bit of the Skin Action Gel Plus on my face. I concentrate the product on my problem zones. The serum stings and makes my skin feel tingly/warm. The stinging harsher on active or open blemishes. Honestly, I don't mind this, because this baby works. It smells quite strongly of camphor.

3. The mask is to be used once a week to deep clean and brighten your skin. I actually use this 2-3x a week. It smells almost like a tropical drink (I think the smell is way too strong, but it goes away after a while). Just like the serum, this mask stings a lot on open breakouts. However, I put up with that because it really brings deep cystic acne up to the surface, where the serum can do its job. This mask has also faded my acne scars, and I love how I instantly look bright when I wash this mask off!

I hope you guys found my skincare regimen helpful. Although these products are pricey ($120 for all three products mentioned here), you can get 3 free samples sent to you. I also like that Cellnique caters to all skin issues, from acne to anti-aging.

FTC Disclaimer: These products were sent to me for review consideration. I was not paid to review these products. This is my honest opinion.

Foundation for Dry, Flaky Skin?

2010-04-21T19:52:00.000-07:00

Remember that part in Miss Congeniality when Sandra Bullock gets ready to do her makeup, and she goes "Ok...now which one of these is the lipsticks?" All of a sudden, her friends swarm around her and help her out. The beauty blogging world reminds me of that!!

I just had a reader ask me a beauty question, and rather than just replying to her alone, I thought I'd open up the question to you guys so you can weigh in too!

Le Question: Can you suggest a foundation that is super easy to apply, gives light-medium coverage for daily wear, and is for combination skin (oily nose, but dry everywhere else)? I suck at liquid and I have a compact, but it looks funny and gives me flaky dry skin.

My answer:

1. Using a gentle exfoliator everyday to buff away dead skin cells. I like Olay Regenerist Daily Thermal Peel, Mario Badescu Strawberry Scrub, and Lush Dark Angels.

2. Use a rich moisturizer before applying makeup. I suggest Cetaphil (in the jar) or MAC Moisturelush. You can also try La Mer if you have won the lotto. ;)

3. One of the best foundations I have used is Shu Uemura Face Architect. MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation is also great because powders don't accentuate flakes as much. For both products, a dense, flat top mineral brush works brilliantly.

4. In the winter, I used to get dry patches even after the foundation was on. What I did was apply a spot of eye cream on the dry spots and they'd go away (I used Mario Badescu's Hyalauronic eye cream). Because eye cream is heavier than face cream, it really helps combat flakes.

Now over to you guys. Please help this reader out, and along the way, give me a few new wishlist items! :)

Making the most of cabinet space

2010-04-21T08:28:00.000-07:00

Unless you're lucky enough to get custom-built cabinets in your bathroom, chances are that storage space in your bathroom is as precious of a real estate as a penthouse on 5th Avenue.

Here's how I have been maximizing my storage space:

I bought these square storage boxes at a Dollar Store, and they were 3 for $1.

In the 1st box (far left), I did a variation on the Sephora-inspired brush holder. I filled up the box with flower filler (available at Michael's) and stuck in things that are tiny and need to stand upright like my toothbrush, tweezers, lip brush and more.

The middle container is half filled with Q-tips and cotton balls.

The last container has my hair ties, clips and claws.

These keep my cabinet looking neat with no effort on my part. I hope this helps those of you who have caught the spring cleaning bug like I have!

Spring Cleaning Part 1: Storing your winter purse

2010-04-19T08:03:00.000-07:00

Now that spring is upon us, I love jumping on the national bandwagon of cleaning, organizing, and storing. So I thought I'd do a little series on how to get your act together! Here's tip 1:

Got a dark purse that is gonna be totally out of place on a sunny beach in Nantucket? Worse yet, is said purse is a slouchy bag? Well then, stashing it at the back of the closet will only make it lose its lovely shape. It'll have no hope of surviving till the next fall! Here's how to take care of your investment:

Gather your purse, and all your scarves, hats and mittens:

One by one, stuff as many scarves and mittens into the purse until it is full:

I really love stuffing gloves into my purse because they won't get lost that way!

Et voila! Your scarves, hats and gloves are safely tucked away, and your purse retains its lovely shape until the next October!

You can also take this a step further and insert a piece of cardboard at the very bottom of the bag. You can also throw in a small cedar ball in there to keep moths away.

Now was that easy or what? Best of all, this quick tip has relieved me of a purse. I guess I now have to go purse shopping! ;-)

Giveaway reminder!

2010-04-17T06:29:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone, happy Saturday! I just wanted to remind my readers in the USA and Canada to enter my giveaway! You have a chance to win a Hana Professional Flat Iron, so hurry on over before the giveaway ends!

To enter, click here for the original post.

Hurry, ends April 30th!

To my international readers, sorry I cannot extend this giveaway to you guys! I will one day host my own personally-funded giveaway and keep it open for all. :)

5 Reviews in 1: Urban Decay Hall of Fame

2010-04-16T07:11:00.000-07:00

I recently won the Urban Decay Hall of Fame from CrystalS's generous giveaway and thought I'd share the contents with you. Thanks Crystal!

Besides UDPP, I've never really tried any other Urban Decay products, mainly due to sticker shock. So I was glad that UD came out with the Hall of Fame set, which features 5 of their best-selling products:

The set includes:
- Primer Potion (60% bigger than the normal size!)
Travel size versions of:
- Midnight Cowboy lipstick
- Timothy Pocket Rocket
- 24/7 liner in Zero
- Skyscraper mascara

Obviously, I'm super happy at having a backup of my UDPP, which I think is a must-have for any makeup collector. Here are my thoughts on the rest of the products:

Zero: I see what the hype is all about. This baby is blacker than a black hole and instantly gives so much drama to the eyes. Compared to MAC Engraved or Prestige liners, Zero is so much creamier, smudgier (in a sultry way), and has great staying power. I just set it with a matte black e/s and I'm good to go.

This just gives you those far away, enigmatic eyes!

Skyscraper Mascara: I first of all adore the rubbery-embossed packaging. But the hype ends there. It delivers the same kind of length and volume as my Maybelline Colossal. And this is not a waterproof version, so smudging does happen towards the end of the day. The wand is quite similar to lengthening mascaras like Define-A-Lash:

Midnight Cowboy: I think the nude shade of this product is gorgeous. However, I find that the glitter in it is a bit chunky and gives the lipstick a gritty texture. I'll probably take this lipstick to the MAC counter and look for a creamy, non-glittery dupe for this!

Timothy Pocket Rocket: If Timothy was a real guy, he'd be one of those obnoxious ones at the club that drenches himself in something hideous like The Axe Effect. Although this lip gloss is a cute ripe peach color, and goes on creamy and not sticky, I hate the strong creme brulee scent. It's the only downside of this product though, so if you don't mind the scent, knock yourself out (literally).

Below are swatches of Zero (top), Timothy (middle) and the super-nude Cowboy (bottom):

After trying out all these products, I know I'll be racing to Sephora to buy Zero in full size. Although Midnight Cowboy is a gorgeous nude color, I'll probably buy a non-glittery dupe for it (any suggestions??) All in all, this was a terrific gift to receive, so thanks again Crystal!

My first Project 10 Pan!

2010-04-12T13:09:00.000-07:00

Yup. I'm launching my first Project 10 Pan! Although my collection is small compared to most makeup collectors, I really want to do this project as a way to use up the products in my collection that are so-so, or products that are nearing their expiration dates. Once I use these up, I'd love to try out some high-end products, so I figure using up 10 products justifies the splurge. There are actually 12 items, but I've counted the smaller items as 1 collective item just to be fair. Click on picture to enlarge:

Roughly clockwise and then center:

e.l.f. blotting sheets
Egyptian magic (sample)
Origins Underwear for the Eyes in Beige
Mario Badescu Hyalauronic eye cream
Maybelline Dream Mousse blush
C.O. Bigelow lip tint
Coastal Scents Monroe A Go Go lip gloss
Lush Dark Angels
Merle Norman Super Lube
Shu Uemura Face Architect
Shu Uemura Base Control
Revlon Colorstay foundation

I am allowing myself 2 reasons to break P10P. First, If I run out of my Shu Uemura foundation and can't use my much darker Colorstay, then I will buy a new foundation (nothing else though!). Second, if my lip balms get used up before all other products, I'll let myself buy a new lip balm (again, no other items can be purchased).

I'll keep updating you guys as I go through this project with exit interviews. Feel free to do this project with me and keep me updated with your progress too! I can't wait to use up these products because afterwards, I plan to create my first MAC e/s palette, explore Bobbi Brown concealers, Essie nailpolishes, and some drugstore gems that need exploring.

**A few of my readers are not aware of our little makeup culture lingo. So just to clarify, Project 10 Pan is the Lent of the makeup world. You commit to using up 10 makeup/skincare products of your choice. It is called "Pan" because when you get to the end of something like a blush, you see the steel pan underneath. Anyway, until all 10 items are used up, you cannot purchase new makeup items. It's a good way to impose a spending ban on yourself, free up space in your makeup kit, and truly use up and experience the products you've paid for in the first place!

OPI Sand in My (Business) Suit

2010-04-11T06:50:00.000-07:00

Got a boring suits-and-pantyhose job? Boy have I got a nail polish for you! I've found THE color I can wear to nerdy scientific conferences and not feel like a glamazon (anyone wearing more than chapstick is a glamazon at such events). It is OPI Sand In My Suit, an ivory-beige color. Although this color makes me yawn, I think it's a good purchase because I'll get a lot of use out of it when I go to professional events.

Do you have any nail polishes that are exclusively great for professional events? Besides a french manicure of course.

A depotting rampage!

2010-04-09T04:43:00.000-07:00

I recently got 2 lovely products from a friend. They are Origins Underwear for the Eyes. The two colors are shimmery beige and a shimmery gray and are basically shade sticks:

Lovely, neutral and wearable, but the container they came in was rubbish and the sticks were actually falling out of them! So a simple depotting was in order! Here's the How-To:

Grab 2 sample size jars, a bit of 70% isopropyl alcohol, a piece of tissue paper, and a dime:

Make sure the sample size pots are clean and dry. Wet the tissue in a bit of water, wring out, and place the dime inside it so that you create a little stamp.

Next break the shade sticks so they side inside the jars. I used the shade stick containers to initially press the sticks into the jar. Since they have a clay-like consistency, it was very easy to press them down so that there were no air bubbles (left)!

Put a few drops of alcohol on the shade stick and cover the whole surface. Use the dime in the tissue paper to gently but evenly press the shade sticks into the jars. You will actually end up with a very pretty rosette design on the colors!

That's all! Because this was super easy, I also applied the technique to a Coastal Scents contouring palette. I only use the blushers, and not the rest of the colors.

Because these pans are glued in tightly, removing the 2 pans of blushes was not possible. So, I just grabbed two more sample size jars. I scraped out the blushes with a scissor, and filled them inside the jars. I pressed in the blushes with my fingers and the plastic end of the scissor. Then, alcohol drops were placed on the blushes, I used the tissue-and coin method to press them in evenly. This time I used a quarter since the jars were bigger. Here's the final result:

I put stickers on the lids of the sample jars with a light pink heart and one dark pink heart. That corresponded to the light and dark pink blushes. This way I could tell what I was grabbing for. :)

I loved doing these projects. They were both super easy and saved me some space in my Caboodle!

March Favorites

2010-04-07T04:06:00.000-07:00

It's been a wonderful month of new purchases and rediscovering gems I already had. Here are the products I've loved all month long:

Maybelline Dream Mousse Bronzer: I have been LOVING this as an all over lid color for my eyes! It's a perfect shimmering bronze and the mousse consistency is a dream to blend. I think the mousse line needs to launch eyeshadows too! Click here for my full post on it.

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Ever So Rich: This is my go-to gloss for a swipe of sheer baby pink. It complements any lip color you have underneath. No really. Any. Repurchase is very likely. Here's how it looks over a bronze lip.

Maybelline Color Sensational in Warm me up: a perfect dusty rose color. Not sure why this is categorized in the brown section of the lipsticks, but who cares. It's an amazing color. Pair this with Ever So Rich, and you'll have Victoria Secret lips! Here is the full post on it!

Shu Uemura Face Architect: What I love about this foundation is how easily it goes on, blends, and stays put. It also doesn't break me out. What I still don't like is that it is pricey as heck, therefore repurchase is unlikely. Anyway here's the full review.

Prime Time Foundation Primer: This was a pretty affordable primer I purchased from Sephora a year ago. It stayed dormant in my drawers because a lot of makeup gurus skip primers, but I recently tried it again and fell in love. I only use it on my T-zone, which is never prone to acne. It controls oil very well, and a little goes a long way!

Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express Turbo Mascara in Blackest Black: Repurchase is 100% guaranteed, and this is a Holy Grail for me. Enough said. :)

My DIY 188 brush: My Coastal Scents stippler brush has made a comeback into my life as a MAC 188 dupe! A simple rubberband reunited me with this little gem. Here's my full post on it. I love applying blush with this brush. It's small and precise enough to fit right on my cheek bones, but blending very highly pigmented blushes can be an issue, so be careful how much you pick up in the first place.

That does it for March. Now that it's April I'm roaming out and about in skirts and light jackets! Spring is here! I now leave you with my current mood:

I'M A MAXXINISTA!!

2010-04-06T05:14:00.000-07:00

My love for a great bargain has reaped a seriously cool harvest. I recently talked about how TJ Maxx had an amazing line of bath and body products with spa brands like Ahava and H20 at heavenly prices like $3.99 (I'm still enjoying ginger-citron showers everyday).

Well, news of my little loot actually made it back to TJ Maxx, and they have put up my blog post on their brand website! I'm positively "chuffed" as my English readers love to say! Here are the screenshots: By the by, is it classy to frame screen shots? No? Ok. Wallet-sized photos then.

Now that spring is upon us, take a cue from the daffodils and snag yourself a designer spring bag minus the designer price. For me, I can't wait till the weekend for a haul fit for a Maxxinista.

Lip Combo I'm Loving Lately

2010-04-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

I have been religiously using this lip combo all month and thought it was time to share. It is Maybelline ColorSensational in Warm Me Up, paired with Ever So Rich Cremesheen Glass on top:

Out of the 3 pictures, I think the lowest one does the most justice to this color. I'm really happy with this lipstick, its a wonderful dusty rose that looks even brighter with Ever So Rich on top of it. It just brightens up my entire face! One of the best makeup tips I ever heard was from the amazing Carmindy, who says don't worry about covering up your imerfections. Instead, bring out your best features. I couldn't agree more. Although I do lightly cover up my flaws, I spend more time playing up my eyes and lips, which are my good features. It's like a psychological concealor because no one notices imperfections when your strengths are radiating!

Two Hairstyles, One Tool and GIVEAWAY!

2010-04-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

There are 2 reasons to justify splurging on a product: it gets great reviews and it serves more than one purpose. I can wholeheartedly say that this product satisfies both requirements. Ever since I started using the Hana Professional Ceramic Flat Iron by Misikko (a website featuring many professional straighteners), I've discarded my bulky hot rollers and old flat iron. This is one sleek tool that straightens and curls equally well.

Take a look at the exquisite packaging this comes in:

The pink pouch is chic and is small enough to stow into a carry-on bag. The pink pouch comes in a beautiful tin box, which would make this a great gift too. For every-day storage, you can use the black pouch. The rubber mat is meant to hold the hot flat iron while in use, but I don't think it's necessary because they've done a good job at insulating the iron in such a way that it doesn't harm surfaces. The iron itself is compact, and the temperature dials and on-off switches are neatly tucked inside the flat iron. The manual also tells you what temperature to choose depending on the condition of your hair. Cool.

Compared to my old flat iron, the Hana Professional is so much more compact, travel-friendly and just plain stylish. I feel like I'm channeling Elle Woods with this thing.

In the picture below, you can see my normal hair on the left, my straightened hair in the middle, and my curled hair on the right. I straightened my hair in no time, and the Shine Shield serum made my hair look commercial-ready. After looking up a quick YouTube tutorial on how to curl my hair using a flat iron, I got perfect beach-tousled wavy locks.

This is seriously the best flat iron I've ever tried. It not only does a great job at 2 hairstyles without damaging my hair, but it is also super sleek and chic. Misikko also carries Chi straighteners and Corioliss flat irons, which have received rave reviews elsewhere. I'm so happy that I can now sport straight hair and be ready for the must-have summer hair style--messy waves.

AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY

Don't just take my word for it. Try this puppy out for yourself! Here how you can win your own Hana Professional Ceramic Flat Iron! This giveaway is open only to readers in the USA and Canada. Sorry international readers--not my rules, but I'll hold another giveaway in the future for everyone!

1. Be a subscriber on my blog.

2. Blog or Tweet about this giveaway on your blog or Twitter page (leave me a link to your page in the comments)

3. Follow Misikko on Twitter

For 3 extra entries, join Misikko's newsletter.

Please state all the things you've done in the comments box. And please give me your e-mail address so I can contact you if you've won!

The giveaway ends April 30th at 5 PM, and a winner will be chosen randomly. Thank you SO much for entering and best of luck!

FTC Disclaimer: I was sent this product to review. I am not being compensated for this review, and this is my honest opinion.

Look at what I have to put up with!

2010-03-31T04:09:00.000-07:00

As mentioned earlier, I wanted to show you the hubby's eyelashes. What's a girl to do? He has lashes that a camel would envy!! Sorry about the photo being a bit blown out, but you get the idea--they are uber massive (especially the ones at the edges, can you imagine if they were curled?!). All I can say is that my progeny better inherit his lash genes and not mine! How about you? Do you know people who are naturally-gifted with beautiful features? My friend and sister-in-law both have gorgeous high cheekbones and my sister has a beautiful complexion and gorgeous hair. Hmm, this may be the start of a new series. I'll call it: "It's not Maybelline. He/she really is born with it!"

How I blow dry my hair (Requested)

2010-03-30T07:37:00.000-07:00

The sister recently asked how I blow-dry my hair. My philosophy on hair is"keep it simple, stupid". Hair frames my face, so it should be fresh and bouncy, that's all. You will never find me messing about with extensions or colors. I am quite content with a well-layered style that is blow dried, flat ironed or softly curled. Here are my tools:

Tresemee Heat Tamer Spray, a Conair paddle brush, a Brushlab ceramic brush (available at ULTA), and a Conair hair dryer. I love all of these products and recommend them all. I should mention a great blowdry actually begins with using a great shampoo and conditioner. I highly recommend Organix Shampoos and Conditioners.

Easy peesy blow drying:

Towel-dry hair
Spritz Tresemee heat tamer into hair (3-5 sprays should do it).
Detangle hair with the Conair paddle brush
Turn the blowdryer to high, and blowdry your hair until it is about 80% dry. Keep flipping your hair up and down and use your hands to feel for wetter spots at the roots and direct heat to it.
Once hair is 80% dry, use the Brushlab brush to grab large chunks of hair. Any large barreled, ceramic brush with vents should do the trick.
Grab a chunk of hair, direct heat to the roots, and move the brush and hair dryer downwards (see stock picture below). Repeat till all the hair sections are dry and straight.
Spray any fly-aways with hair spray. If you have static in your hair, rub a bit of lotion between your hands and run your hands through your hair.

What are your must-have hair products?

FTC disclaimer: All of the products except the Brushlab brush was bought with my own money. As always, this is my honest opinion.

Colossal? I'll Say!

2010-03-28T04:43:00.000-07:00

Woohoo for good calls! I picked up Maybelline Colossal Volume Express mascara (really Maybelline? Any more adjectives you wanna cram in there?) recently, and have been loving using it thus far. The wand is thick, the bristles and soft and grab all the tiny lashes, and generously, but un-clumpingly lay down a lovely coat of blackest-black on each lash. I adore the effect of this mascara because I can happily pull it off day and night. My gateway drug into falsies can wait a few more months thanks to this badboy (I've taken to calling makeup things like puppy, bad boy, and baby. hmm....this could be diagnosable...)

Remind me one of these days to take a picture of the husband's eyelashes. They are pheeeenomenal, you have to see them. He gives me lash envy.

Back to the mascara. It's wonderful in every sense of the word, and a repurchase is very likely. It does not clump, yet adds volume, definition, and length. It stays on all day, does not smudge, and holds a curl without making my lashes feel brittle (I'm looking at you, L'Oreal Volume Shocking!). Maybe it IS Maybelline (sorry couldn't resist).

What is your favorite mascara to date? (Note that I said "to date" because I think its a fact universally accepted that a quest for the holy grail mascara is a never-ending one.)

How I do a Manicure (Requested)

2010-03-26T04:01:00.000-07:00

My sister has asked me to demonstrate how I do manicures. Although I'm no expert at this, I'm good enough so that with the right tools, I get good results.

Hardware: nail cutter, Q-tip, orange stick & cotton balls.

Essential Fluids: 1) A base coat of your choice (the one shown here is Sally Hansen Miracle Cure. There's nothing miraculous about it. I bought it to stop my nails from peeling, but it spectacularly failed in that area. So I just use it as a ridge filler, which it is good for). 2) An OPI nail polish. I love OPI because its creamy consistency is forgiving, the brush is wide, and the shade selection is unrivaled. 3) Seche Vite top coat. This is a must-have! 4) A nail polish remover.

Easy peesy manicure:

Remove existing nail polish. Make sure there is no lotion on your nails. They need to be bone dry.
Cut your nails straight across with the nail cutter so they are square shaped. Carefully, cut a bit off the corners so that they are blunt.
Push back your cuticles
Apply Base Coat. Wait till dry. (watch YouTube videos to pass the time)
Apply 1 coat of polish. Wait till dry. OPI dries pretty fast, so yet another reason to buy it! Use the orange stick to remove any nailpolish that spills over. No worries, we'll get the rest out later.
Apply 2nd coat. Wait till dry.
Apply top coat. Wait till dry. Seche Vite (if you know French) really really lives up to its name!
If possible, wait 1/2 hour to thoroughly dry the nails before doing the next step.
Dip a Q-tip in nailpolish remover and carefully flatten the tip between your fingers. Slide the Q-tip over any polish that got onto your skin. The key is to have a very wet Q-tip, so you're not really rubbing it on your skin (which can lead to fibers coming loose), but just pressing the tip on your skin so the acetons flows out and gently dissolves the nailpolish on your skin without disrupting your nails.

Here's my final result. The color is OPI Italian Affair:

Hope you guys enjoyed this post. To help the sister out, feel free to chime in with your favorite manicure tips!

Move over, Lush. Hellooo, TJMaxx!

2010-03-24T05:09:00.000-07:00

That's right. Lush, in my eyes, just got 0wned. That's because I just discovered TJ Maxx's best kept secret: their bath and body aisle. This hidden gem has a gorgeous selection of hand soaps, bar soaps, shower gels, bubble baths, and even body scrubs. Best of all, most of the products are from spa companies like Ahava, H20 and adorable English companies (I'm a closet Anglophile...a bit ironic for an Indian...but I digress). Here's my little loot:

I got 3 shower gels and a hand soap: H20 ginger-citron, Lavare Fig Hand Soap, H20 spa cooling mint, & AHAVA tranquil wash.

Total cost? $20. And get this: the other day I actually saw the AHAVA mineral wash at ULTA, and it alone costed $20. I think I did good, guv'ner.

Now, obviously these products are neither handmade nor uber-crunchy like Lush. Lush still has a special place in my heart (one can't easily forget the ecstasy of Flying Fox). However, these puppies do have cute packaging, lovely new scents for me to play with, and have a spa appeal. To me, they are fulfilling at least that part of the whole Lush experience.

The other upside is that Lush's products are not always amazing (I'm glaring at you, Sea Vegetable!). The same is probably going to be true at TJ Maxx, but now I won't regret it one bit, because each item is around $3-5. I already have plans to buy some lovely hand soaps for my guest bathroom so my guests feel all pampered and stuff with spa bath products.

Are you a TJ Maxx (Marshalls/Home Goods/Ross) fan? What do you love to buy from there?

Old Makeup, New Life: Part 3

2010-03-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

This is my third mini-series post on using your makeup for a new purpose. This time up is a product I actually love for its intentional purpose and its new purpose: my MAC Hello Kitty Popster lip conditioner. This puppy is the most adorably-packaged lip balm in my collection. Ergo, it does get plenty of use. But lately, I've also been using it as a base for my blush! The sticky texture and subtle pink tint give my powder blush a great surface to stick to, and therefore it can last longer. It also gives my cheeks a natural sheen.

Though I do still have an itch to go buy a proper gel or cream blush, I am happy to make this work for the time being. You can use any lip tint for this purpose, even a dab of Vaseline should do the trick. I actually got this idea from a Korres Lip Balm display at ULTA. The sign said try using the lip butter as a nice flush of cheek color.

What are your favorite ways to make blushers last longer?

Old Makeup, New Life: Part 2

2010-03-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

Welcome to another post on my series on giving your unloved makeup a second chance by "retraining" it for a new job (hehehe Recession-speak happening on a makeup blog!). Up this time is my e.l.f bronzer ($1). Aaah I bought this at my very very beginning of makeup collection. This product really sucked as a bronzer, because its just copper-shimmer with very little pigmentation and zero staying power. However, I love using this to mattify and bronze up my super pink lipsticks. Do you have a lipstick that is too cool toned, washes you out, or is just too pink to pull off? Whip out this bad boy, and take a look at the transform!

Here I'm showing my To Swoon For lipstick by MAC. The hand swatch shows To Swoon For at the top (too cool-toned for my skin!). The bottom swatch shows the same lipstick, but this time with the bronzer dabbed over it! A huge improvement I'd say! I never like a totally matte lip though, so I have put Ever So Rich Cremesheen Glass on top of it (as seen on the lips). I love Ever So Rich by the way. It's a very sheer baby pink gloss, and is perfect when you want a bit of shine but no color to compete with your lipstick. This was a great gift from a dear friend. :-)

Have you tried face products on lips to get a different effect? If so, please share below!

Old Makeup, New Life: Part 1

2010-03-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

I'm starting a mini-series on makeup that is unloved for whatever reason, and thinking creatively to give it a new purpose. A second chance at life, if you will. My first pick is my Maybelline Dream Mousse Bronzer. Although this product totally sucked as a bronzer, it is an incredibly wearable eyeshadow! Take a look:

I love using this brown shimmery color all over my lid, put on a bit of Fluidline, mascara, and I'm all set for everyday makeup! I use a Coastal Scents blending fluff to apply it. Best of all, its totally buildable, and you can always intensify this look color by using a dark crease color, or a foiling effect for night. I've made quite a dent in this baby since I found it to be such an appealing day-time color. I'm actually loving it so much that I might repurchase once its out. :-)

What makeup products have you given new purpose to?

Up and Up Eye Makeup Remover

2010-03-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

After playing around with my DIY eye makeup removers (coconut oil, or olive oil mixed with water), I was ready to go back to a store-bought one. I don't know if I was doing something wrong, but these oils just didn't remove my waterproof mascara unless I rubbed really hard. Fail. So onto the buy:

Target's Up and Up eye makeup remover:

I think this is a great buy. You get a lot of product for a very low price, and above all, it works very well. I just dab some onto a cotton swab and hold it over my eyes for 10 sec, and without any rubbing, the mascara and everything else comes away. I repeat on the other eye, and then use a the back of the cotton swab to remove any traces.

Quick tip: don't throw away the cotton swab right away. Sometimes after cleansing the rest of your face, additional eye makeup may come off and settle around your lower lids. A quick swipe with the original cotton swab removes this residue.

The only con I've noticed is that this dries out my eye area if I don't apply a night eye cream to my eye area immediately after. Not a big deal because I use a night cream anyway, but make sure you do this too! If the drying factor sounds like its a big minus for you, I recommend the Mary Kay eye makeup remover. It worked quite brilliantly for me a while ago, but Up and Up is easier to find and cheaper.

Overall, this gets a solid 4.5/5. Three cheers for drugstore finds!

Shu Uemura Face Architect and Base Control

2010-03-10T10:34:00.000-08:00

I've used Shu Uemura's Face Architect and Base Control for about a year now, and I haven't seen many reviews of it. Not sure why, because I have nothing but praises to sing for it.

This is an amazing medium coverage foundation that gives you that next-to-skin look. The packaging is a frosty glass bottle with a pump (yay!), and I find that one pump of product covers my whole face. I use a dense flat-top mineral brush to apply, and set it with rosewater spray. This foundation has a pleasant fragrance and the texture is light but its not watery at all. A perfect middle ground.

Whenever I wear this foundation, I can easily skip concealer. And believe me, I have dark circles, blemishes, acne scars to deal with! Although it covers my imperfections, I never feel like I have a heavy layer of foundation on. Face Architect has a matte finish with teeny tiny shiny bits in it that give you an overall sheen. Surprisingly, although this foundation has shiny bits in it, it can be worn in broad daylight. I've worn it all day to a tennis tournament before, and I looked great and not at all overly done up.

As for the Base Control, it is a liquid bronzer that I mix with the Face Architect (1 pump is enough!). The Base Control makes the foundation look warmer, and not "ashy". What bothers me, however, is that I have to buy 2 products to achieve the look of one. But oh well. The end result is the much coveted no-foundation-foundation look.

The only downside to these two products is the hefty sticker price. I paid $42 for Face Architect and $24 for the Base Control. Ouch. As a makeup beginner, I never reached for this foundation except on special occasions (that's why it lasted me for a year!). But if you think about it, it's worth splurging on a foundation that looks great, stays on all day, and doesn't break you out. What do you think?

PS. The foundation shade I'm wearing is #934. The Base Control shade is called Bronze.

How to make a MAC 188 brush

2010-03-08T07:47:00.000-08:00

This DIY was so simple to do that I simply had to share it with my bargain-loving readers. Compared to the MAC 187 duo fiber face brush, the MAC 188 has a smaller diameter, and is great for blush since it's small enough to precisely apply it on the apples of your cheeks. Before I shelled out $34 for one, I had to see if it was worth buying, or if I could make do with what I have. The two duo fiber brushes I have are from Coastal Scents and can be found here and here. Of the two, I find the silver duo brush to be of higher quality.

Materials needed: a duo fiber brush of your choice and a small rubber band:

Place the rubber band like so around the back end of the brush, and gently push it forward.

Stop pushing it forward about 1/3 way up the bristles. This location resembles the diameter of the MAC 188. It ain't that pretty to look at, but who cares? I can use that money for a certain ombre blush I've been lemming instead!

Now for the review: the smaller diameter of this brush is absolutely ideal for precise placement of blush and for those with smaller cheekbones. This brush is also ideal if you use multiple blushes at different points of your face. However, since this brush is extremely soft, you will have to build up color with multiple layers, especially when working with mineralized blushes. This brush would also work perfectly with highly-pigmented cream blushes.

Please note: If you take off the rubber band, you will see a dent in the brush similar to when you have a dent in your hair from a scrunchie. So make sure you are okay with that before you proceed! I have 2 stippler brushes, so I keep one in its original condition, and the second one has this rubber band on it at all times.

I hope this DIY inspires you to turn your spare stipplers into a MAC 188 dupe. After I started using dense flat-top brushes for applying foundations, my poor duo fiber stippler brushes fell by the wayside, so I'm very happy that they've been given a new purpose. :)

It's my birthday and I'll haul if I want to

2010-03-05T06:32:00.000-08:00

As any self-respecting makeup junkie would do, I treated myself to a birthday makeup and nailpolish haul last week. I went to my local drugstore and then to ULTA, and all in all, I think I did good because I got everything for around $50. Here are my new toys:

Left to right:

Maybelline Sensational Lipstick in Warm Me Up

Maybelline Sensational in Pinkalicious

Seche Vite

OPI Sand in my Suit

OPI Italian Affair

Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express Hydrofuge (Classic Black)

MAC Cremesheen Glass in Ever So Rich (this was a gift from a dear friend and makeup enabler)

Pencils, from front to back

Prestige Waterproof Eyeliner in Surf

NYX Lipliner in Soft Brown

Prestige Eyeliner in Smokey Green

I got the Maybelline products at buy 2 get 1 free from Ulta, and the OPI nailpolishes were discounted to $6.25 each.

L to R (on both pictures): Pinkalicious; Warm Me Up

Top to bottom: NYX Soft Brown, Prestige Smokey Brown, Prestige Surf

Without Flash:

With Flash:

I'm loving this haul so far. I find a restrained haul lets me enjoy each product to the fullest. I'll do full reviews in the upcoming days, but I'll give you a sneak peek now: I already know that Prestige Surf, Colossal, and the Maybelline lippies are all going into March faves. I'm also getting a soft corner for Sand in my Suit. But shhh, full reviews will follow once the honeymoon period is over and I've tested them thoroughly.

PS. I've just installed a third party commenting system called Disqus which allows comment threading and more. Please do me a favor by commenting on this post (even if its just a "hello") so that I can test whether it's working well. Thanks!

Tag: 40 Beauty Questions

2010-02-23T12:43:00.000-08:00

I love tags; they are probably my favorite type of thing to read on the blogosphere. It makes me feel like we're all sitting on the floor in a kumbaya circle and gabbing. Without further ado:

SKINCARE

-How many times do you wash your face daily?

Twice

-What skin type do you have? (dry,oily,combo)

Oily...I think....

-What is your current facial wash?

Biore Ice Fighting Blemish Cleanser (total HG)

-Do you exfoliate?

Yup, about 3x a week

-What brand do you use?

Lush Dark Angels

-What moisturizer do you use?

SkinMD, Johnson and Johnson, or Biore's Dual Fusion

-Do you have freckles?

Nope.

-Do you use eye cream?

Sometimes I use Mario Badescu Hyalauronic eye cream.

-Do you or did you have acne prone skin?

Ohh yes. Look at the number of Acne-related posts I have under "Categories".

-Did you ever have to use Pro-activ?

Yes, but I didn't stick to it, so I didn't see improvements. I'm going to repurchase when I've hit pan on my current skincare routine.

MAKE-UP

-What foundation do you use?

MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation, Revlon Colorstay, or Shu Uemura Face Architect

-How about concealer?

MAC Select cover up

-Do you know your undertone color?

Warm

-What do you think of fake eyelashes?

Only used them on my wedding day, but I'm open to trying them again!

-Did you know that you are suppose to change your mascara every 3 months?

Yes, but I suspect its a marketing gimmick because my mascaras are fine for 6 months.

-What brand of mascara do you use?

Maybelline and L'Oreal

-Sephora or MAC?

MAC. Always.

-Do you have a MAC Pro-card?

Nope.

-What makeup tools do you use in make up application?

Flat-top mineral foundation brush, eyeliner brush, Maxine's Mop shader, stippler for blush, lip brush for lip balm.

-Do you use make-up base/primer for the eyes?

Yes, UDPP.

-For the face?

Nope.

-What is your favorite eyeshadow (color or shade)?

I love pale pinks, greens, grays, silvers, and shimmery neutrals.

-Do you use pencil or liquid eyeliner?

Engraved for waterline, Fluidline Blacktrack for lid.

-How often do you poke your eyes with an eyeliner pencil?

Only when I haven't sharpened in a while!

-What do you think of pigment eyeshadows?

I'd like to buy one and see if I actually use it.

-Do you use mineral makeup?

I did use Mary Kay before, and loved it for a while, but it tended to oxidize.

-What is your favorite lipstick?

MAC To Swoon For (LE).

-How about lipgloss?

NYX Ice Princess

-What is your favorite blush to use?

MAC Intenso

-Do you buy your makeup on ebay?

No.

-Do you like drugstore makeup?

Yes.

-Do you go to CCO's? (cosmetic company outlets)

HECK YES.

-Did you ever consider taking make-up classes?

Yes, I'm thinking this summer.

-Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?

Just eye makeup. Rest of me is fine.

-Name a makeup crime that you hate?

Messy liquid eyeliner and lipstick on teeth!

-Do you like colorful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones?

Neutrals for eye makeup, but bright pinks for blush and lips.

-Which celebrity always has great make up?

J Lo back in the day. I could never tell what she was wearing. She's just glowed like a Greek goddess. Oh and Aishwarya Rai of course.

-If you could leave the house using just ONE make up item,what would you use?

Foundation. Gotta cover up those imperfections! I can always lick my lips.

-Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on?

Yes. I have to do it when I go camping, which is quite often.

-Do you think you look good even without any makeup on?

Yes, but only if I have just blow dried my hair.

-In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?

MAC. A lot of product and quality for the price.

-What do you think of Makeup??

Makeup is for enhancing the good and downplaying the bad. A neutral, "naked" face is the best, but I also adore pops of color through colorful eyeliners, bold lip colors, or a lovely blush.

I tag all my readers to do this post. :)

Tag: Things that make me go mmm....

2010-02-22T05:29:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Khymm, I'm doing this lovely little tag on things I love to do.

1. Hauls: Nothing puts a bigger smile on my face than a haul. Whether its a budget-friendly one or a wallet buster. I am happy for days on my haul-high as I call it.

2. Guilty Naps: what is sweeter than a 45 min nap you've snuck in at 6 PM? Yes, it'll throw off your sleep cycle, but its ohh so good.

3. The Office: This silly little American TV show puts a huge smile on my face. Jim is so cute, Dwight is hilarious, and Pam could be my BFF.

4. Comments: I seriously love comments from my readers. I get so excited when I see a new one.

5. YouTube videos: I can spend untold hours on YouTube drooling over hauls I can't afford, looks I can't pull off, and much more. It's escapism at its finest.

6. My husband: Yes, I know its cheesy. But we've been married for just over 7 months, and I am one happy little clam. (LOL I just realized reader comments and hauls rank higher than my husband)

7. Purses: I'm a bit of a purse fanatic. I don't have a huge collection, but I'm pretty happy with what I have. I tend to buy affordable, trendy pieces that I can guiltlessly throw away after a season so they're in good condition just long enough to sport a trend and not break the bank.

8. Clear Skin: I feel like Ms. Freaking Universe when I have a clear face. Gives me a big confidence boost to say the least.

9. Real jewelry: Maybe I'm getting older, but I've grown out of costume jewelry, and have set my sights on the real thing. I am partial towards gold and diamonds, and love getting jewelry custom-made in India.

10. My sis, mom and dad: My family is a comedy circus. Each one of us has our own brand of comedy, and when you put us all together, there isn't a dull moment. They rock my world.

I tag the first 10 people who comment to do this tag!

Veganism: The Exit Interview

2010-02-19T07:51:00.000-08:00

As of February 12th, I had completed being a vegan for 43 days. Staying on this wagon was harder than staying on a bull at a Texas rodeo. But it taught me a lot. The benefits I experienced were amazing and unforseen. Within a day of being a vegan, I realized that vegan meals recharge your spirit, but never make you feel lazy. You know how after a big meal you have a "food baby" and want to laze around? That feeling was gone!

The second effect was the boost of self-respect. Since this was such a tough thing for a carnivore like me, I felt like Uma Thurman in Kill Bill. And why wouldn't I? I was being a vegan in a very carnivorous country. Last but best, I looked slimmer. Though I only lost about 5 lbs, I lost my love handles and even fit into a pair of Seven jeans I had given up on.

As I neared the end of being a vegan, I did think about continuing. Ultimately though, I decided against it. For one, most prepared foods in America, like even a can of beans, contain at least a trace amount of dairy or animal products. To get around this, I shopped at my local Indian store and cooked vegan dishes on Sundays, and made these meals last all week. It was time consuming, but I could keep my promise and not go broke at Whole Foods.

Another downside of veganism was that I my restaurant options were severely limited to pretty much South Indian or Thai. If I was in an American restaurant, it was pretty much a chopped salad with some bread. I realized that I was neither full nor getting enough nutrition. It made more sense to me to pick a healthy, albeit non-veg option like a grilled fish, than an unhealthy option like a light salad and too much bread.

The thing that really put the nail in the coffin was my social life. Since none of my friends are vegan, if I went to their house for dinner parties, it was a struggle for them to accomodate my diet. Even then, they'd innocently spread a bit of butter on my bread or put a bit of sour cream in my soup. On those occasions, I was not about to be a d-bag and tell them to re-prepare me my meal.

Overall, veganism helped me lose weight, gain self-control, and more. But I don't think its a realistic practice for life. So for now, I'm living a life of moderation. On weeknights, I am still mostly vegetarian. But on weekends, I enjoy whatever strikes my fancy, and tend to mostly choose healther proteins like fish.

Lush Godiva Shampoo Bar

2010-02-18T05:33:00.000-08:00

I've been trying out Lush's Godiva Shampoo Bar for a month now, and have firmly decided that it's not good for anything more than a good long whiff, a bit of novelty, and fun in the shower. On the plus side, it has a heavenly jasmine scent, lathers up well, and has that novelty factor of rubbing a bar on your head. However, it's leaving my hair looking dull and causing quite a bit of breakage.

The first time I used this bar, I omitted conditioner because I read elsewhere that this was a shampoo + conditioner. Not true. Leads to major tangles if you do that. So after that, I've been using Herbal Essences conditioner after Godiva. Although this reduced tangles, my hair was still looking dull and lifeless.

I'm lucky enough to have long, dark, voluminous hair that looks great with just a blow dry and no styling products. My drugstore gem, Organix Shampoos and Conditioners, give me shine, bounce, and no breakage. But in spite of good hair genes, Godiva actually managed to make my hair look dull and caused a lot of breakage. Sorry Lush, but I'll be sticking to my Organix henceforth.

Moment of self-doubt: it is possible that I need to experiment with using a different conditioner, because Herbal Essences is pretty low-end. Who knows, maybe with a better quality conditioner, this will make my hair look shiny and pretty. Will let you know if that happens.

The bottom line: this is not a must-have Lush item. However, if you are a Lush junkie, and want to try a shampoo bar for the novelty, go ahead. The scent is divine, the bar has adorable little jasmine flowers embedded into it, and it does lather up nicely. So your shower experience will be fun. But in the end, it may not give your hair the shine and bounce you can just as easily get from a nice drugstore product.

Jealous, are we?

2010-02-17T09:02:00.000-08:00

SamMakeup recently wrote this article, called "Is Blogging the new media?" I'll spare you the trite summary because this article has made its rounds on the blogosphere already. I encourage everyone to read this article and give Sam your two cents. We're a thriving community of outspoken consumers and we deserve to be taken seriously.

Beauty blogging is worth its weight in gold precisely because it IS written by amateurs. I value an amateur's opinion much more than a glossy review in a magazine because the amateur is probably applying a makeup or skincare product in much the same way as I am. In fact, magazine reviews often just show beautiful images of products with a small caption. You rarely read about how best to apply a product, what it smells like, or what is an affordable dupe. I also trust bloggers because most of our products are paid for out of pocket, and it is not usually our day job. Therefore, the review is more likely to be honest and fair. When an amateur dislikes a product, they are happy to warn their readers about it. But when was the last time you read a magazine article on a product that was rubbish, or clothes that lost colors after one wash? Why doesn't Glamour run a write-up on "Products you should stay away from?" We trust bloggers because we do good and bad reviews, and sometimes even have changes of heart. It's authentic, fair, and much more in-depth than any "clinical trial" I've read about in the glossies.

It is possible that the author came in contact with some bad apples at IMATS. Indeed, there are gurus out there with huge followings and I always scratch my head why because they completely lack authenticity. As a wary consumer, I rarely take just one person's word for how good or bad a product is. I make up my mind only after reading multiple reviews on the same product. I also consider whether the blogger has a similar skin-type as me, which would obviously affect whether I too would have the same experience.

As someone who has learned everything about makeup through YouTube and the blogging community, I can honestly say that I have almost never bought a reviewed and raved product without loving it equally myself. Thanks to the beauty community, I've discovered affordable gems and must-have splurges alike. Most beauty bloggers are honest, and our collective reviews save us all the time and money of experimenting with rubbish products. Until the professionals start talking about products they don't like, and do more in-depth reviews of a single product, I'll be sticking to bloggers to help me make my next haul wishlist, thank you.

Make it Work: L'Oreal Volume Shocking Mascara

2010-02-16T10:11:00.000-08:00

I recently bought L'Oreal's Volume Shocking Mascara not only because I wanted something more dramatic than Define-A-Lash, but also because it was deeply discounted from $15.99 to $2.99.

I find the packaging lovely and high-end. The blue side is the base coat and the black side is a comb for the mascara. I accidentally picked up Black Brown instead of Blackest Black, but no biggie since my lashes are already black.

The base coat wand has soft and fine bristles which get right into your lashes. The mascara wand is a comb and this design forces you to use a light touch with the mascara.

Here are my lashes with no mascara:

And here they are with Volume Shocking:

On the plus side, this mascara gives a huge amount of length and a decent dose of volume. However, there's a learning curve involved to apply it correctly. When I first applied this, I did 1 coat of base followed immediately with 2 coats of mascara. That led to a hideous spidery mess. The correct way to apply this is to use 1 coat of base, wait about 10 seconds, and then apply 1 thin coat of mascara. That's all you need. Comb away spidery-ness if needed. Even with all the care in the world, most days my look brittle and a bit spidery. However, at a normal viewer's distance, my lashes do look dramatically long, almost like falsies. Another downer is that its too much trouble to put this on my lower lashes, so I'm using Define-A-Lash for that.

This post is aptly named "Make it work" because that's what Volume Shocking demands of you. You can use this drugstore mascara to achieve epic length and decent volume, but it takes care and time to apply.

Bottom line: I will use it up, but would not purchase, and would recommend you to go with it only if you to find it for a sweet deal.

Nine steps to romance

2010-02-12T08:50:00.000-08:00

When I implemented a few Feng Shui practices to invite romance into my life 3 years ago, I met my now-husband within a month. Feng Shui is always easy and almost free, since you just need to re-arrange, add, or remove things you already own. In light of Valentine's Day, I'd like to share these tips with you. Whether you're single and looking for love, or you're in a relationship and want it to blossom even more, these tips apply to everyone.

1. Clear the clutter in your home, especially bedroom. A clutter-free home invites new and exciting adventures into your life, including a new love.

2. In keeping with #1, discard all items that remind you of past relationships. Holding on to the past prevents you from meeting someone new, or from making the most of your current relationship. The act of discarding mementos of old flames is the single most effective move in my opinion.

3. Add elements of red or pink to your bedroom, and decorate in multiples of 2. For example, have 2 flowers, 4 pillows, etc. No need to go painting the whole room red b/c that's actually too stimulating.

4. Avoid pictures of relatives in your bedroom. This is not a room to think of grandma!

5. Avoid electronics in the bedroom (I can feel everyone frowning at me!). I too am guilty of Internet surfing in bed, but it's really a no-no. Electronics prevent a restful sleep and take away focus from your partner.

6. Do not store stuff under your bed; it leads to restless nights and is "emotional baggage". I don't care if you live in a small apartment in NYC! Don't do this!

7. Don't keep one side of your bed up against a wall. This means there is only one way to exit the bed, and that deters a second person from entering your life.

8. Plants, music, and crystals are all positive elements to have in your room (hmm, crystal chandeliers anyone?) Fake plants are fine as long as they are dust-free.

9. Above all, have a positive attitude. If you're looking for love, don't be frustrated and cynical. If you're in a relationship, be cheerful, supportive, and always talk through problems without bringing up the past. A positive attitude is what enables all the previous tips to do their magic.

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! My Valentine is not only my husband, but my sister, my parents and all of you wonderful readers. Ok mushyness is now over. ;)

Drugstore Haul: L'Oreal mascara and NYX

2010-02-08T10:01:00.000-08:00

Last week I wandered into a non-chain beauty store after work and went on a fairly impulsive haul. This place had insane sales, and it stocked NYX. Since the only place near my house is no-sales-no-variety Target, I was pretty stoked. This store also stocked oodles of Essie and OPI, and they were discounted to like $5.99! Considering that, I think I behaved by only buying these 4 things:

Top to bottom: L'Oreal's Volume Shocking mascara (snagged for $2.99, with original price of $15.99!); 2 NYX jumbo eye pencils in Yogurt and Milk. So far, I love Milk. Its a nice matte base for light eyeshadows and also makes a great highlighter for the browbone and inner corner. Lastly, I got an NYX Goddess of the Night lipgloss in a bronzey-coppery color. I'm already in love with my Ice Princess, which is a sheer pink.

Here are swatches of all 3 NYX products:

L-R: Goddess of the Night lipgloss (sorry forgot name!), Milk, Yogurt

Reviews and possibly EOTDs soon to follow using these products!

Coconut Oil as an Eye Makeup Remover?

2010-02-06T14:08:00.000-08:00

"Well, your wife has done it again." I bragged to my husband. I'd found a way to use the coconut oil I had lying around the house to effectively remove my eye makeup (saving money = victory dance).

I use coconut oil as a weekly treatment for my hair. Since I had recently run out of eye makeup remover, I got to thinking: if coconut oil can condition hair, keep it thick, soft, and dark, and remove excess sebum...that sounds like a great recipe for eyelashes too!

I tested my theory using Dabur Vatika Enriched coconut oil ($2.99 from the Indian store!). Besides coconut oil, it also contains herbs to further nourish your hair. For example, it contains soya extract to promote hair growth, brahmi for shine, henna for volume, lemon for removing dead skin cells, and rosemary for softening. Not to mention the smell is divine. Not bad for $2.99 right?

Here's my eye with tons of eye makeup (I used stubborn products like Fluidline, Powerpoint, UDPP, NYX JEPs and waterproof mascara. The e/s is from the Kat Von D Ludwig palette):

And here it is after using coconut oil (Woohoo! Not only was it clean, but my lids felt baby soft!):

Since coconut oil is solid at room temp and hence hard to squeeze out of a bottle, I depotted it into an empty Lush jar. This way I could easily dip my cotton balls into it and the top layer of the coconut oil was liquid:

I for one am done buying expensive makeup removers. Coconut oil removes everything quickly and thoroughly and leaves my eyelashes and lids feeling baby soft. I have a feeling we will be very happy forever.

Review: MAC Intenso

2010-02-03T14:19:00.000-08:00

I'm no longer a MAC mineralized virgin! I recently bought MAC Intenso from CCO and have been trying it out for a few weeks now. It looked so irresistable on the shelves and once I swatched it, I knew it was coming home with me (the normal CCO discount of $5 didn't hurt either). I'd describe Intenso as a peachy/rose with a lot of gold running through it.

This blush is quite different from anything else in my collection. I have matte blushes from Coastal Scents, and Dream Mousse blushes by Maybelline. With those, I just need a light touch to get the color payoff I need, and I usually use a stippling brush for them. However, with this, a light hand will only give you gold specks on your cheeks. So I build several layers with a contouring brush before getting the payoff I want, and then this is the final result:

Applying this blush is almost fool-proof. You can't apply too much (though you can apply too little), and no matter what brush you use (contouring or stippler), you'll never get a streak of color; it'll always look diffuse and airbrushed.

Having said that, there IS quite a bit of gold on this. It can work in the daytime, but I'd stay away from it if I was wearing very heavy eye makeup. I'd say this looks utterly stunning with neutral defined eyes and peachy, dewy lips. Its just the right flush for a youthful, natural look.

My first EOTD feat. Sleek Graphite!

2010-02-01T07:17:00.000-08:00

After writing up my previous post called "Can Sleek Graphite work for tan skin?", a lot of you guys requested for me to do a look using this palette. Without further ado, here's what I came up with for my first EOTD:

#1 used all over lid and just below the lower lashline

#2 used on outer corner to create the V

#3 used to set my pencil liner on waterline using the sponge tip applicator

The basics:

Base: Urban Decay Primer Potion

Waterline: MAC Powerpoint Engraved

Gel Liner: MAC Fluidline in Blacktrak

On browbone: a random Coastal Scents nude matte blush

Mascara: Maybelline Define-A-Lash Lengthen

I hope you guys liked my very first EOTD. I don't consider myself an expert with eye makeup, but blogging about it is going to make me practice more!

I need your opinion!

2010-01-29T12:23:00.000-08:00

Yours truly is turning another year older in less than a month. But before I get into the post, how amazing is this Hello Kitty cake?!?!

Anyway, heavy hints have been dropped to the hubs that I'd, of course, love to have a mad makeup spree. Aah gone are the days when a little Borders gift card would suffice. So to to make the most of this, I have a general idea of what I want, but I want you, my awesome readers, to advise me on what exactly I should purchase. Here's what I'm thinking:

1. What drugstore mascara should I buy? I am eyeing Maybelline Full n Soft or L'Oreal Voluminous. Any other holy grails I'm unaware of?
2. I'm loving MAC's All Ages All Races, All Sexes Collection thanks to JulieG's video! What items do you love from this collection?
3. I need more OPI and China Glaze in my life. What would you suggest that is pink/nude?
4. I'm tempted to haul from NYX's $1 sale, but after checking on both the NYX and Cherry Culture websites, I can't find the sale anywhere. Can someone please send silly me a link to it?

On a side note, I'm really really happy to have reached 187 subscribers. My goal is to hit 200 and then hold a giveaway! You guys are the best; I find myself thinking of my giveaway everytime I'm wandering around the mall, CCO or drugstore. I hope I can hit that goal soon and thank you all properly! Happy weekend everyone!

LUSH Whoosh!

2010-01-27T08:36:00.000-08:00

I've been using LUSH Whoosh! shower jelly for two months now and thought I'd give it my 2 cents.

Price: At $5.75 this is one of the cheaper Lush indulgences you can get. Also, the amount of product I got has lasted me for about 8 weeks now.

Scent: According to the website, it is lemon, lime and grapefruit. But I'd describe it as a unisex fresh waterfall scent with hints of anise. It's a departure from the usual girly scents of Lush, which some of you may welcome. However, since even drugstore shower gels have fresh scents, I wonder whether its worth buying this when you can get the same experience elsewhere.

Texture/Effect: Okay, to me, squishing my hands into a tub of ooey gooey jelly is the best part of this shower jelly. The lather is also superb as it envelopes one in suds! I suggest that instead of grabbing a chunk and putting it on like a bar soap, which would waste product, try putting a dollop of Whoosh on a loofah. You will get more lather for less product.

Would I repurchase? Yes and no. I'd repurchase a shower jelly for the fun and the price. But I wouldn't repurchase Whoosh itself because the scent is no big deal. I'm gonna see what other jellies are out there and try them out instead.

Mmm, product packaging...

2010-01-26T05:04:00.000-08:00

I was wandering in CCO a couple of weeks ago and was so happy to run into a MAC Hello Kitty item! It's a tinted lip conditioner with SPF 15 in Popster. The name, packaging and cheerful color had me at Hello! I'm not someone who runs out to buy stuff from every MAC launch, but this is probably one of the collections I wish I had a few more items of (that and Style Warrior).

Although the color looks scary bright, I put it on and loved how it blended out to be a very pleasant pink flush on the lips. The left swatch is unblended, and right is blended. I like how it goes from baby pink to dusty rose.

This little luxury is tucked into my makeup clutch and goes everywhere with me. I love taking it out and putting it on at random times of the day as a little pick me up. But all indulgence aside, it's not very conditioning on my lips. It's a waxy, almost matte effect. Don't expect dewy wet lips (now this is actually a good thing if your significant other does not like sticky kisses). I was expecting Vaseline with a tint, in a cute package. Not the case. If you have super dry lips, get a different lip balm. This product gets props mainly for the pleasant color and Prozac packaging (Prozac because its so cute that it literally enhances my mood).

Can Sleek Graphite work for tan skin?

2010-01-25T11:29:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, sorry I haven't blogged over the weekend, I feel like a humongous slacker. But in my little defense, juggling grad school and married life is really really hard. Ok let's get to the pretty colors. I won Georgie's giveaway for a Sleek Graphite palette and have been playing with the colors for a month or so now. Upon doing a quick web search, I noticed there are a lot of swatches available on many blogs, but mainly against fair skin. I want to show you guys how they look on tan skin:

All the colors in this palette are quite shimmery and a bit loose, so I'd recommend tapping them on your lid with a firm Maxine's Mop to prevent fall out. You can also try dampening the brush with some water first. Also, be sure to apply foundation, etc. afterwards, not before. These colors are quite dark, pigmented and shimmery! I always have to reach for some kind of makeup remover to edit the fallout.

Top row: The 1st color would be a great inner corner highlight. The 2nd one is a a great brow highlight.

Bottom row: Sorry this pic is dark; I wasn't able to capture the nuanced differences between these shades. Smokey eye lovers will have lots of grays to choose from. I love the 4th one from the left. It's a navy blue shimmery color I use all over the lid, and it even works for daytime.

Since my skin around my eyes is tan, I tend to stick to nude/bright colors. But when I am lemming to wear the a dark e/s, I start with UDPP all over the eye area to lighten my lid color by 2 shades. I then apply a sheer wash of dark e/s on the lid area and finish with a nice, bright brow highlighter. I don't put dark e/s on the lower lashline as that can make me look tired. For me, the key is to apply a sheer wash of dark color to just the lid area, and surround that dark color with bright colors. That way the dark color stands out, and is not mistaken for a very sleepy girl!

My Favorites Tag

2010-01-22T12:25:00.000-08:00

I read a post by ..that's peachy on this tag today, so since she's tagged everyone here's my lazy Friday post:

Colour - white. I know that's not technically a color, but its my favorite.

Animal - bunnies!!

Band - I haven't cared about bands since high school, but Coldplay is pretty awesome.
Singer - Shreya Ghoshal
Song - "Someone exactly like you" by Van Morrison. (1st song at my wedding!)

Film- Currently its Running with Scissors
Food - Sushi
Drink - G&Ts baby
Restaurant - Barcelona (best steak and gaucho sausages EVER)
Shop - REI
Website - You Suck at Craigslist
Magazine - Martha Stewart Living (damn you, epitome of perfection!)
Sport - College Football (American)
Team - Florida Gators (Gooo Gators!)
TV Program - The Office (mmmm, Jim...)

Place - Florida, USA. It's home sweet home
Season - Summer.
Beauty Product - MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation (I should really compose an ode for it)
Hair Product - Organix shampoos and conditioners
Make Up brand - MAAAAAAAAAAAAC (again...ode...)

Perfume -Chanel Allure

I tag all my followers to do it (especially if you're feeling lazy and don't want to do a picture-filled in-depth product review today). Happy Friday everyone!

Pure Ceramic Hair Brush Review

2010-01-21T11:42:00.000-08:00

If I am having a bad hair day, no amount of makeup can correct how crappy I feel. Great hair can overcome a no-makeup face, but not the other way around. So I was really happy to try out the new Brushlab Pure Ceramic hair brush to see what it could do for my hair and blowdrying routine. This brush is available through the Brushlab website and is stocked at ULTA stores. First impression: its purrrty.

First, I really really love the sleek look of this brush. Props for the spectacular design, Brushlab! Second, the handle does double duty as a rat-tail to part your hair. Very handy for me because I blowdry my hair in sections. Third, the spot for holding this brush is quite close to the barrel, which gives you lots of control over the brush. And finally, since the bristles don't scratch your scalp, so you can manhandle your hair all you want. To use, I first detangle my hair with a wide paddle brush, and then use this brush for blowdrying and styling.

One con of this brush is that it can be a bit hard to move my hair around with such a narrow brush because I have very a thick and long mane. I think if you have thin or short hair (down to shoulders), this should not be an issue. Another thing is that I didn't really gain much from the whole ceramic-infused factor. This brush didn't really lower my blowdrying time or lead to much straighter hair. All in all, the final effect was the same as using other barrel brushes from Brushlove. However, if you don't own a barrel hair brush, consider this one because its bristles are really gentle on the scalp and its so sleek and gorgeous.

FTC disclaimer: This brush was sent to me to review. I was not paid for it and this is my honest opinion.

In and Out #3

2010-01-19T13:09:00.000-08:00

I feel un-makeup-y today. There's something about January that puts me in a contemplative mood and takes me away from the comfortable materialistic thoughts of my usual life. So let me just scratch the surface of these thoughts with an in and out post.

In:

Getting to know my country's history. As an Indian raised almost entirely in the USA, my knowledge of my origins is abysmally embarrassing. I don't know the Guptas from the Moryas (does anyone?!). So I'm lately reading tomes on my country's cultural roots. In a nutshell, there were a lotta invaders.

Getting to know my local library! How come no one goes to local libraries anymore? They've become so pimped out these days! If everyone went, places like Barnes & Nobles and NetFlix would run for cover. I just checked out a DVD of The American President. Next DVDs on the list are Marie Antoinette and Running With Scissors.

Rosewater: I have filled a travel-size spray bottle (from Target) with rosewater, and use it to spritz my super-dry face throughout the day. Take that Fix+!
(ok I still want you cuz I'm a MAC slave, but I will play hard-to-get darn it!)

Out

Not knowing which drugstore mascara to buy: Maybe you guys can turn this Out into an In by telling me. I just finished my tube of Define-A-Lash lengthening formula. What should be next? I want volume AND length and I want it to be drugstore!

Chippy tips: Let me explain. The tips of my nails always chip off their nail color in 1 day after I've applied them with great love and care. WTF am I doing wrong? (before you ask, I do use a topcoat)

That's enough moaning for a day. I'll get off the soapbox now. Just had itchy fingers and wanted to rant to you guys. Sorry, no useful information this time. I guess this was a "Juicystar07 vlog" style post. ;)

Going Vegan: 18 days in

2010-01-18T10:50:00.000-08:00

It's been several days since my last update on being vegan, so I thought I'd rave and complain about it once again to you all. Honestly, this diet has some major pros and some major cons. On the plus side, I'm fitting into my super skinny jeans again! You know that pair that you have in the back of your closet, that you fear and loathe because you just can't get into it no matter how much you suck it all in? Well, I have two Sevens that fit that description, and as of yesterday, I can comfortably fit into both! I haven't weighed myself yet because I want to only weigh myself once--after this is all said and done, on Feb. 12th. But regardless, I can feel that I've lost some weight, and that is super exciting 18 days in!

I think one of the main reasons I've lost weight is because veganism has practically made me eliminate desserts and junk food from my diet. It seems as though every kind of dessert and snack out there has some kind of dairy product, from cheese, to cream or milk. I'm pretty much eating 3 meals a day and nothing in between.

Now for the downside. My dinners are usually quite filling and satisfying because I make vegan Indian meals, which consist of rotis, vegetables, a small salad, and a bit of chutney. But honestly, my breakfast and lunch are just not that nutritious and wholesome. For breakfast, I have 2 packets of oatmeal with soymilk and black coffee. Not filling or super-nutritious. And for lunch, if I don't have any leftover Indian food to take to work, I'm stuck with buying a vegan burrito with chips and salsa. So I'm basically eating very little for breakfast, and a ton of carbs for lunch. Not good.

The other downside is that veganism requires a lot of preparation. There's no busy-night excuse. I once had a busy night where I didn't have time to prepare any dinner, and I was left with making myself a small strawberry-banana-soymilk smoothie for dinner. I guess it wasn't enough because I ended up with a hunger headache. :(

I definitely think I have the stamina to keep my vegan diet going until Feb. 12th, but after that, I'd like to re-incorporate foods that I think are beneficial, but in small quantities. The main things I want to incorporate are cheese, yogurt, and fish. I'm still on the fence about whether I want to be a pescetarian going forward, or just have no "labels", and be a disciplined eater. Thoughts anyone? Or tips on how to be a vegan and still get wholesome, nutritonal meals?

And the Winner is...

2010-01-18T06:58:00.000-08:00

First of all, I want to say thank you to everyone who entered my giveaway for the SkinMD lotion. An especially big cyber hug for those of you who posted about my giveaway on your blogs. It was totally optional, and I really appreciate you taking the trouble to do that. Of course, this giveaway wouldn't have been possible without SkinMD's sponsorship, so a big thanks to them too! Without further ado, the randomly chosen winner of a full-size SkinMD Natural Shielding Lotion is....

Linda Phuong Tran from the YELLOWJELLYBABY blog!

Congratulations sweetie! I love your blog and thanks for commenting on my silly posts, I appreciate it very much. :-)

If you didn't win, please don't lose heart. I am planning to hold a giveaway of my own once I hit a certain number of followers! Thanks for entering everyone!

xoxo

LUSH Flying Fox!

2010-01-15T08:19:00.000-08:00

Say hello to my new best friend: LUSH Flying Fox. **Sigh...must calm down and gather thoughts. Readers can't see facial expressions of pure pleasure.**

Okay, I know this beautiful shower gel has already gotten quite a bit of praise, but I must chime in loud and clear. BUY THIS SHOWER GEL NOW! Yes, its the most expensive shower gel I've ever purchased, but my entire bathroom, and sometimes even bedroom, smell like it, and when I shower, I can't help but ooh and aah the whole time. I think the reason why I love jasmine so much is that it's a very popular flower in India (called mogra), and the scent takes me back to my grandmother's gardens, and all those lovely strung jasmines you can buy in the street to put in your hair.

Flying Fox smells like I'm being showered with baskets of jasmine flowers. There are like 5 types of jasmine essential oils in it, which explains the price tag since jasmine flowers are pretty small, and EOs are pricey little buggers. It also contains honey, but I can't pick up on that (my sense of smell sucks though). I dare anyone who tries this out to not groan with pleasure when they first use it (warning: groaning might lead to raised eyebrows from hubbies/roommates). Seriously, if LUSH opened an entire line of this scent, I would buy it ALL. I am already planning to buy this for a few family members and girlfriends when their birthdays roll around.

EVEN when I'm raving this much, my training in science compels me to point out a few BUTs.

There isn't a huge amount of lather. Sure, I might just fix that by using twice the amount of shower gel, but at that price tag, I don't want to use up this little guy too quickly.
It's not amazingly moisturizing. I definitely need to follow up FF with body lotion.
The scent doesn't strongly linger on your skin (shower jellies like Whoosh have stayed on my skin for hours on end). The scent does linger in my bathroom and bedroom for days, but not my skin. Booo.

But all in all, for the scent, I will be buying/begging for this treat again, and even sending it to my loved ones. I wish they'd come out with a perfume so I could dab it on my wrists all day too. :)

Mario Badescu Healing and Soothing Mask

2010-01-13T09:06:00.000-08:00

Ever go on a mad witch hunt to exterminate every pimple on your face, only to win the battle and realize you're now looking at dry, battle-worn skin? Yeah. That would be me. When I break out, I launch crusades against my zits by throwing at them every harsh chemical in my bathroom cabinet. I pick, prod, mask, and scrub until they're all gone. Enter Mario Badescu's Healing and Soothing Mask. This was sent to me as free sample back in December. Here's the sample and a swatch of the mask:

The description on MB's website reads: Speeds healing of acne-erupted skin, Soothes redness and irritation, and Balances out drying acne products.

Honestly, I am not sure about how to review this product. I've had it since early December and have only used it 2 times. On the plus side, the mask has a smooth texture, and it doesn't dry on your skin and give you that "I can't move my face" feeling. However, the smell is disgusting to me because its like vanilla and cardamom mixed together. I can imagine other girls liking this because I know Lush's fruity/feminine soaps are a big hit but I personally think they are overpoweringly girly. I'm more drawn to herbal, citrusy, clean scents.

The weird scent aside, I do want to use this mask more because it does make my skin feel balanced (i.e., no more oily and dry patches). Overall, I have to say its a nice mask because it's quite a unique product in my collection. Not sure if I'd purchase the full size though, because man, that scent is pissing me off. However, if you like vanilla and girly scents, feel free to get the sample from MB!

Do you guys have any balancing masks that you really like? If I found a nice one in the drugstore (or Lush hehehe), I'd be so joyous. Most of my masks are super drying (ie aspirin, clay, etc.)

Review and Giveaway (!!!) of Skin MD Natural's Shielding Lotion

2010-01-09T15:00:00.000-08:00

Be sure to read through the entire post to know how to enter a giveaway to win a full-size bottle of Skin MD's Shielding Lotion! Now for the review:

I'll get right to it: I've found an amazing moisturizer in Skin MD Natural's Shielding Lotion:

I have been looking for a moisturizer for a long time that is deeply moisturizing and yet doesn't make me feel like I have Vaseline smeared all over my face. I've tried Burt's Bees day cream before, and although it worked well for me at first, it soon landed on my regrets list after breaking me out and the formula getting shady. On the other end of the spectrum was Biore's Dual Fusion moisturizer, whose light formula was nice to put on, but too light to really moisturize my skin.

Enter Skin MD's Shielding Lotion. This moisturizer works by forming "a protective barrier on the skin [that] keeps out irritants and chemicals. It also allows the natural oils and moisture to remain in the skin so it can heal better. It is a big advantage that shielding lotions are light and go on without a greasy mess," Dr. Brian Zogg, dermatologist (quote from Skin MD's website).

What I love about it

1. Formula: ohh man, this stuff is so lightweight that it goes on like silk and absorbs quickly. As I put it on, it feels cool and refreshing. The first time I used it, I was so happy with the sensation that I ran out of the bathroom and put it on the hubby's face too!

2. No Scent: Nose snobs, take note. I cannot pick up on any scent on this lotion, which tells me it doesn't contain anything it doesn't really need to moisturize your skin. Props for parsimony!

3. It works! I wouldn't be raving about this lotion if it didn't work so beautifully. My favorite time to put this on is at night after I've done my skincare routine. The shielding lotion allows my acne treatment to be much more effective because it's acting like a bodyguard against new toxins entering my skin. The SkinMD brochure also recommends that if you use anti-wrinkle treatments at night, try putting on this lotion at the end to help the treatment work better.

Not just for the face: This lotion can be applied anywhere on the body as well. I tend to dab it on my hands, which are perpetually dry due to the weather. My hands literally look younger when I put this on. (BTW, a lotta women take really great care of their face so you can't tell their age, but they totally neglect their hands! Hands are a total giveaway of your age! Take care of them!!!)

The But: The one drawback of this lotion is that it doesn't contain SPF. Happily, Skin MD does carry an SPF formula on their website. I plan to get the Shielding Lotion for night use, and the SPF formula for day use.

Overall, I give this lotion an A+. I will definitely be repurchasing it and am so happy I was introduced to it!

The GIVEAWAY!

Hey, everyone's skin is different, so don't just take my word for it. The folks at Skin MD are letting me hold a giveaway contest where one lucky winner will get a full size bottle of their Shielding Lotion! Here's what you need to do to enter:

1. Comment below saying "enter me"
2. Be a follower
3. For an extra entry, spread the word by providing a link to this post on your blog. That's all!

The contest will close on Sunday, January 17th. Hope you all enter and best of luck!!

FTC Disclaimer: The Shielding Lotion was sent to me courtesy of Skin MD. I was not paid to review this product, and this post reflects my honest opinion.

My Updated Skincare Routine

2010-01-08T16:41:00.000-08:00

I've been using this skincare routine for a few months now and it has been working pretty well for me. This routine is gentle enough for normal acne-free skin, and yet strong enough to treat acne:

1. Remove makeup: I use Clean & Clear's Makeup Dissolving Foaming Cleanser. It gets off all of my face makeup, and most of my eye-makeup. See my full review of this product here.

2. Cleanse: On most days, I use Biore's Ice Fighting Blemish Cleanser, which contains 2% salicylic acid (I reviewed it in my 2009's best skincare products post.

2.5. Exfoliate: About 3x a week, I substitute the Biore for my LUSH Dark Angels. Exfoliating with a charcoal-based product has revolutionized my skin by making it softer, brighter, and almost entirely acne-free. I've posted about it here.

3. Tone (when I'm not being lazy): I like to use Olay's Refreshing Toner with witch hazel (which is not only great smelling, but also a total bargain for around $4!)

4. Treat/Prevet acne: I apply LUSH Grease Lightning to my cheeks, where I tend to break out the most. See my review on it here.

5. Moisturize: Skin MD's Shielding Lotion is the perfect night-time moisturizer in my opinion. It goes on light, gets absorbed immediately into the skin, has no scent, and I wake up with a supple, smooth face every morning. I'll be posting a full review on that very soon.

I do all these steps at night, but in the morning, I use just the Biore cleanser, and then jump to moisturizing. Overall, I think this routine has been very effective for me. I think the only product I'm not completely satisfied with is the C&C makeup remover, so I will be trying something else once this runs out. All of the other products are amazing and staples in my collection!

FTC Disclaimer: Skin MD's Shielding Lotion was sent to me to review. I was not paid to review it and this is my honest opinion. All of the other products mentioned were bought with my own moolah.

Going Vegan: Six Days In

2010-01-06T10:27:00.000-08:00

       Although I've been a proud omnivore for much of my life, I'm going vegan for six weeks. I started on Jan 1st and will officially end on Feb. 12th. Before I launch into my reasons for doing this, please know that I'm not trying to preach the virtues of going vegan or trying to convert anyone. It's just a journey and a challenge that I want to share with you guys, that's all. :)

            For the last four years, I've observed some kind of a change in my diet from New Year's Day until mid-February. Consider it my own version of Lent. In the past, I have given up things like meat, alcohol, or caffeine. This year, I'm giving up both meat or dairy products. I really like to do this because it starts off the new year with giving up something I really really enjoy, so each time I make the right choice, I feel a little more disciplined and responsible. To me, the smug feeling of superiority is well worth it. Also, once I'm done, I don't jump head-long into my old ways; I just re-incorporate the foods back into my diet, but in smaller portions. So it really helps me form a long-term habit fast.

         I decided to go vegan instead of vegetarian for two main reasons. First of all, I make plenty of vegetarian fare at home, so being a vegetarian wouldn't require a big change. But cutting out butter, cheese, yogurt and milk is a big effing change that'll give me the teeth-gritting challenge I love. Second, I mainly get acne on my cheeks, and I've read that cutting dairy from your diet can improve this (see my post on that topic here).

I also chose to go vegan because I recently watched Food, Inc., a documentary about how meat and vegetables are produced in the USA today. Even once I'm done with this period of veganism and get back to normal, I'll be sourcing my meat and dairy from local farmers, where I can get to see exactly how these animals are raised. This is one seriously eye-opening movie.

I've only been off meat and dairy for 6 days now, but let me tell ya, I'm already seeing some interesting changes in my body:

1. After a vegan meal, no matter how much food I ate, I don't feel lethargic. I just feel full and revitalized and ready to face the next several hours of the day. Not true with meat and dairy foods! This is such an exciting effect, and I felt it from day 1. Loving the boost of energy!

2. My skin is feeling better. Yes I still have a couple of break outs here and there, but there hasn't been any new acne. It could be the winter, or my skincare routine, but I do believe cutting the dairy has been good for me.

3. I feel "lighter". I don't mean this in terms of weight, beause I haven't weighed myself. But I'm perceiving myself more positively because I'm so disciplined about my food choices. My self-image is no longer "ugh I look so fat". Due to the simple fact that I'm in charge of my diet, I'm happy with how I look in the mirror. Yes, there can be vast improvements, but I know I'm proactively working towards them, and that makes all the difference in my outlook.

So far so good! I'll keep updating you guys on how this goes. Thanks for reading as always.

xoxo,
Ashwini

Removing the Day: St. Ives vs. Clean and Clear

2010-01-05T09:44:00.000-08:00

When it comes to removing makeup, I'm looking for four simple things: 1) make it fast, 2) don't break me out, 3) make it thorough and 4) make it affordable. So in the last 6 months, I went through 2 drugstore makeup removers: Clean & Clear Makeup Dissolving Foaming Cleanser and St. Ives Fresh Skin Olive Cleanser. Here's how they compare:

Make it fast: Both Clean & Clear and St. Ives effectively remove powder foundations and mineral makeup in a jiffy. For liquid foundations (even Revlon Colorstay), Clean & Clear is much more effective. St. Ives makes it messy and requires a couple of rounds.

Don't break me out: Neither product has caused breakouts on my skin. So if you have problem skin, either one should be fine.

Make it thorough: Clean & Clear claims to remove ALL makeup, EVEN WATER-PROOF MASCARA. Not exactly true in my opinion. Afer several pumps of this product, you can at the most remove 100% of face makeup, and about 90% of mascara. But you will end up with little flakes of mascara clinging to your lashes and below your lids. St. Ives doesn't claim to remove mascara, and I appreciate the honesty. St. Ives can only tackle face makeup, not eye makeup (forget mascara, it can't even take on gel liners and eye bases). You absolutely need a separate eye makeup remover for it.

Make it affordable: Clean & Clear is around $11.99 at Target (6 oz). St. Ives is around $4.99 at CVS (6.5 oz). St. Ives wins this round.

Final thoughts: St. Ives can easily remove daily makeup like minerals and powder foundations. It's a bigger pain to tackle liquid foundations and it's impossible for eye makeup. Clean and Clear is a bit more effective because it does remove most of your eye makeup and liquid foundation is not a problem. However, I do resent that it states on the bottle that it can remove water-proof mascara, but that's just not the case.

Once I run out of Clean and Clear, I will either 1) repurchase it and also get a dedicated eye makeup remover, or 2) invest in something like MAC wipes, or MAC Cleanse Off Oil.

Thanks for reading, and if you have any holy grail products for removing makeup, please put them in the comments below!

Update and Blog Awards

2010-01-05T09:11:00.000-08:00

Its nippy outside but I'm all warm and fuzzy inside. I just got a "You're a Doll" award from Henessy, and a One Lovely Blog Award from Gaby! Thanks girls, I'm over the moon! Be sure to check out Henessy and Gaby's blogs. I loved Henessy's New Year's Resolutions and Gaby's ongoing Project Pan them all!

Sorry for my lack of posts lately. My New Year's weekend was packed full of fun because I spent New Year's Eve at a friend's place, then spent the weekend in NYC where I watched the Lion King and shopped till I dropped. Now that I'm back, here's a glimpse of the posts you can expect in the upcoming weeks:

Comparing makeup removers (drugstore mostly)
My NYC haul: Lush, H&M, Banana Republic
Observing a vegan diet--why I'm doing it, how it's affecting my skin, and a few surprises
My search for a great moisturizer may have ended (shh not telling!)
Review of Lush Whoosh Shower Jelly
Reviews Mario Badescu samples
Review of MAC Moisturelush

Now onto the beautiful bloggers I nominate for both of these awards!

http://getgawjus.blogspot.com/

http://tinyladylife.blogspot.com/

http://xsheslikeastar.blogspot.com/

http://magnolianotes.blogspot.com/

http://blushfully.blogspot.com/

http://visualaspect87.blogspot.com/

http://bubblegarm.blogspot.com/

http://oxfordjasmine.blogspot.com/

http://thebeautyedit.blogspot.com/

http://www.beautyjunkielondon.com/

In and Out #2

2009-12-29T10:28:00.000-08:00

You know you're addicted to blogging when you start thinking in blog terminology. Now whenever I like or dislike something, I instantly add it to my future in and out post.

In

Avatar: I watched this movie on Christmas day at a 10:30 PM. And believe you me, my eyes were wide open all the way till 1:30 when it ended (its 2 hrs 40 min). Avatar completely lives up to its hype. I really feel like a new ceiling has been broken in movie making. There was no discernible line between animation and traditional filming. The filmmaker's imagination, the technical breakthroughs, the morals of the story, the pure beauty of the world, it was all awesome. MAKE SURE you watch it in 3-D!

The Kid Who Climbed Everest: if you love watching Bear Grylls (from the show Man vs. Wild) you'll love this book. It chronicles Bear's journey to reach the summit of Mount Everest. Never before have I read a book about a 22 year old who earned the wisdom of an 80 year old monk. Climbing this mountain did this to Bear. You must read it; it makes my new year's resolutions look like child's play compared to the discipline he has.

Decorating my house: Let's just say if this blog were about interior design, I'd have many hauls up this week! I recently bought a bookcase from IKEA so I can turn my basement into a library. I organized my books by color, which I highly recommend because it looks chic and scholarly at the same time! I also placed square wicker storage boxes into some of the cubbies to store DVDs. I also picked up this a gorgeous vase from Crate and Barrel. I love how the light catches it, and it looks good on every surface! I want like 3 of them!

Out

Gaining holiday weight: Honestly, I don't even want to jump on the scale. The mirror and my ill-fitting jeans are proof enough that I need to stop eating crap food. Which is why I'm going vegan for the next month. I hope to detox my body of all the crap I've been putting into it. After about a month, I'm going to regroup and probably stop being vegan, but continue to be a very disciplined eater. I don't want to put a label on myself, just want to start eating fresh, smaller portions, filled with food that is in-season and preferably local.

Being glued to the tube: Just because its cold outside, I've been lazily lounging on my sofa for way too long. My hubby and I are considering cutting off cable so that when we turn on the TV, we will have to select something to watch (like a movie), and once its over, we turn it off. No more mindless watching of people with messy homes!

Waking up late: When I wake up late, it feels like my whole day is already wasted. I want to start waking up at 7 AM every day. Which brings me to my 3 resolutions this year:

1. Watch what you eat and exercise. No need to go crazy and get a six pack in 3 months. This resolution is meant to build a lifestyle of activity and health that will be a good foundation for when I start a family. I'm aiming for a mostly vegetarian, seasonal diet, and working out at least 3x a week.
2. Stop watching so much TV.
3. Wake up at 7 AM. Even if I have nothing to wake up for, just wake up. Its the right thing to do!

I'd love to know your ins and outs, so please feel free to put 'em in the comments, or blog about them and let me know!

2009's Best Face Forward

2009-12-28T09:11:00.000-08:00

As you all know I believe that beauty starts with clear skin (hence my blog's name, Clearly Beautiful. Get it get it? ok moving on...). Ever since my first pimple at the age of 13, I've been devoted to trying out everything the skincare industry can throw at me with the promise of acne-free skin. Now that I'm in my mid-20s, I'm not only concerned with combating adult acne, but also preventing visible signs of aging. So for 2009, these were the products that delivered on their promises. Although I still suffer from breakouts, several problem zones of my face have been completely acne-free for a while (like my forehead and temples). So although the battle is only half-won, here are the VIPs of the year:

Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser: the active ingredient here is salicylic acid. This face wash is to be used after you've removed your makeup. I love how it has a non-foamy consistency, a refreshing cucumber smell, and a cool tingling sensation as you massage it in.

Olay Regenerist daily thermal mini-peel: the powerful combination of glycolic acid, thermal action, and microscrubbers combats both acne and dull skin (which contributes to an aged appearance). I adore anything containing glycolic acid, because I really see results overnight. Love this peel.

Lush Dark Angels: Honestly, please go buy this. Yes, charcoal-based products are a pain in the a** because they make a huge mess in your sink, but your skin will thank you for the effort. I love using this on particularly oily, icky skin days. The charcoal, rhassoul mud and black sugar make for a super duper exfoliator. I feel like I've had a microderm abrasion Lush-style.

Lush Grease Lightning: I gave my benzoyl peroxide the pink slip once I started using this serum every night. It prevents new break outs and quickly dries out blemishes. Best of all, it does not dry out my face like benzoyl peroxide did. And the tea tree scent is wonderful.

Aspirin: If you have nothing else in your arsenal for acne, keep a bottle of uncoated aspirin tablets around. Whenever I get a breakout, I mix 2 dissolved aspirin tablets with a cream cleanser and spread it on my face. After 30 min, I wash off, and presto, my blemish is zapped in no time. I call this my bazooka because it definitely works, but dries me out.

Mario Badescu Strawberry Face Scrub: Ok ok, I know I have used only a sample of this stuff, and only for 1 month. But I'm so impressed with it that it's made it on this list. This scrub not only exfoliates away dead skin cells, but brightens my complexion so I look a couple shades lighter. I absolutely love the texture and luxurious experience it delivers.

So there you have it, my favorite skincare goodies for 2009. These items will definitely be permanent pieces in my vanity. However, you may notice that I haven't raved about any moisturizers or makeup removers here, because nothing I've tried has blown me away enough to give it this recognition. Hopefully I will soon hit upon some gems.

If you have any suggestions for great moisturizers and makeup removers, please let me know!

And the Oscar goes to...

2009-12-27T15:15:00.000-08:00

As 2009 winds down I find myself looking back and thinking of all the holy grails I've discovered this year. The quest for amazing makeup is not something I want to end--I always want a product to out-preform my current favorite. And I test that limit every month when I buy a new product simply for the novelty and adventure of testing a new toy. But these products have stood up to my fickle shopping ways. Even if I did buy something new, I make sure these products are in my collection at all times as veterans of their industry.

Oscar for best liquid foundation goes to Revlon Colorstay Foundation. Medium-full coverage, a low drugstore price, immense lasting power, and a wide color selection make this a winner. However, it does break me out if I use it on a daily basis and makeup removal is a b****!

The Oscar for the best powder foundation goes to MAC Studio Fix. As with Revlon, this gives medium-full coverage, is priced well since it lasts a VERY long time, and MAC is renowned for its color selection. This trumps Revlon Colorstay because it does not cause acne breakouts on me. However, the coverage is not as long-lasting, so I use it for work, not play.

The Oscar for best lipsticks goes to MAC. I love how moisturizing these puppies are, and the color selection is almost infinite. My favorites are To Swoon For and Chintz on Chintz.

The Oscar for best lipgloss goes to NYX. This gloss is priced reasonably, gives sheer or heavy coverage, depending on which shade you choose, and is in the sweet spot between sticky/long lasting, and non-sticky/short-lived.

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack takes the Oscar for best eye-liner: This liner is the perfect black, is priced well because it will last for eons, and applies like a dream, no matter how clumsy you are. Just use an angled liner brush, and you'll be lining like a pro in no time.

The Oscar for the best mascara goes to Maybelline Define-a-Lash. Do not be fooled by its humble drugstore status. This is one amazing mascara. The waterproof lengthening formula does EXACTLY what it promises: it separates, defines, lenghtens, and stays put until you've generously swiped it with eye makeup remover.

Kat von D in Ludwig wins the best eye-shadow pallete Oscar. Ok ok, I haven't tried EVERY eyeshadow pallete in the world, and certainly not MAC, but I have to say that for the price, this pallete will provide you with several looks, from neutral to bolder smoky looks. It all depends on which shades you use, and how you apply them. It's an amazing pallete that I reach all too often.

Last but not least, the ole' faithful Oscar goes to Urban Decay Primer Potion. This Oscar is simply for a product that I've forgotten how to live without. I love using it even by itself to mattify and brighten my eyelids. And when I use it as a base, its not sticky, just perfect for applying e/s and having it stay on ad infinitum.

So there you have it folks. My top makeup picks for 2009. I hope 2010 exposes me to many more products because I have a humble, yet burgeoning makeup collection. I hope 2010 brings me more MAC faves and drugstore finds, but also opens me up to other brands. Thanks for reading!

Quick lil' NOTD: OPI Done out in Deco

2009-12-24T08:36:00.000-08:00

Although this lovely lilac shade is more appropriate for spring when the tulips are amongst us, I just love seeing it on my nails on these cold days.

Here it is. With a top coat, OPI nailpolishes last forever and ever. I'm so impressed!

BTW, I've been loving Sally Hansen's Miracle Cure for severe problem nails:

This product can be applied alone to treat flaky nails, but also does triple duty as a fantastic base coat, ridge filler and top coat. For $7.99, this is a terrific multi-tasking product. I HIGHLY recommend it.

Hope you all are having a lovely Christmas Eve, and have a Merry Christmas (or a Festivus for the Rest of Us!)

PS. I am making a 2010 wishlist as I type this (I wanna try new brands like Purity). As for my next post, I will do an Oscars for Cosmetics post, where I talk about my favorite products in 2009.

Muah, Happy Holidays everyone!

I love you NYX Ice Princess!

2009-12-22T10:11:00.000-08:00

Ice Princesss was my debut entrance into the wonderful world of NYX. And what a smashing entrance. I have to say NYX has blown me away with their quality, price and packaging. A+ in all three. On to les swatches!

Ice Princess is a sheer pink shade that can be worn alone, or layered over any shade of lipstick. I wanted to show you guys a picture of my lips with Ice Princess, but it looks quite sheer and since everyone's lips are differently pigmented, I thought this would be more helpful

My favorite way to wear Ice Princess is to apply it over 2 MAC lipsticks: To Swoon For and Chintz on Chintz. Here are all three shades:

Top to bottom: MAC To Swoon For, MAC Chintz on Chintz, NYX Ice Princess

As for texture, I find this to be not too sticky, and not too light--just right. It does require re-application throughout the day, but that's just the nature of the beast when it comes to lipglosses (unless you are using UBER sticky Dazzleglass, which I don't care for because my hair keeps sticking to it!).

When it's time for my next haul, I will be bee-lining to Ulta for many more NYX products, especially lipglosses and JEPs!

Super Mario Badescu Strawberry Face Scrub

2009-12-21T10:43:00.000-08:00

I know this has been all over the blogosphere already, but for those who don't know, if you go to Mario Badescu's website and fill out a questionnaire about your skin, they will suggest products for you and ship you free samples. This review is about my FAVORITE sample out of the lot, the Strawberry Face Scrub:

Here's what it looks like:

The claim: Made with real Strawberry seeds that gently buff away flaky skin while natural AHA’s break down dulling build-up to unclog pores and prevent blackheads. It improves skin's overall texture by revealing healthy, glowing skin. ($15.00 for 4 oz.)

With no hesitation, I can say that this has landed on my wish-list and I will not rest until I buy a full size. Before I run away with my feelings, here's the rational breakdown:

1. Price: I wouldn't mind paying $15 for a product I will use 2-3 times a week, and one that instantly makes me feel better.

2. Texture: I adore the texture of this scrub. It's quite creamy and has a pearlescent sheen to it. The real strawberry seeds make for the perfect exfoliants--they're not as harsh as sugar or apricot scrubs, and yet you can feel them getting the job done.

3. The wow effect: Strawberry has a natural bleaching effect on the skin. In fact, I've read that mashing up fresh strawberries and brushing your teeth with them can lead to a whiter smile! So when I use this, I scrub my face for at least a minute. The texture is so luxurious that I just keep scrubbing away! When I wash it off, my complexion is instantly brighter and more radiant. AND, it doesn't dry out my skin one bit. This scrub doesn't rip the oil outta your pores. It just polishes your complexion so its perfectly bright and clean.

4. The one but: The one thing I'd change about this product is the scent. It's that fake strawberry scent you smell on candy. It's nothing like a real strawberry. I am getting used to it though, and frankly, I totally forgive Mario Badescu for this one problem because I love the texture and brightening effect of this scrub so very much. But yea, if you're super picky about scents, then be duly warned.

Of all the samples I got from MB, this is by far my very favorite product. I really really want the full size and think its worth it. I've been using this scrub whenever I need a pick me up. It just works wonders. The exfoliation feels so luxurious, and then when I see my brighter complexion in the mirror, it just reinforces to me that I want this on my shelf permanently. :)

Mixed Feelings for Lush Sea Vegetable

2009-12-19T16:27:00.000-08:00

The Claim: This sea green soap is beloved by girls and boys alike. The reassuring scent of lavender and lime banish the blues and get you squeaky clean. For an exfoliating polish, flip the soap around and rub in the scrubby sea salt and seaweed top. Plant it in your shower and the man who doesn't know he should exfoliate will be scrubbing that dead skin off in no time. This soap makes you feel as though you've taken a dip in the ocean; you'll emerge fresh as the sea breeze.

Price: $7.80

Right off the bat, I'll say this is pretty expensive for a bar soap. But even that is permissible if the soap is outstanding. Unfortunately, this is one Lush product that is firmly in the "Meh" category for me. Why you ask? Here's why:

1. After a mere 5 days of use, the size of the soap has visibly shrunk more than your average bar soap. It was the same size as the picture above when I bought it, and look how much smaller it is now. I guess it irks me because this soap is quite pricey, and yet it shrinks faster than drugstore bar soaps!

2. Not much lather: if you use the bar without a loofah, the lather is negligible. If you use it with a loofah, there is lather, but but even then, you dont feel like you're luxuriously (or should I say, Lushly) enveloped in lathery goodness.

3. The seaweed side is a unique exfoliating experience, because it feels like you're washing up with a wet terry cloth. However, the bits of sea weed tend to fall out with each showering session, and its kind of gross to see your tub sprayed with random bits of brown sea weed. Not a huge negative, but I've used better exfoliating bar soaps in hotels that provided rolled-oats soaps.

4. The scent is nothing to write home about. It's a unisex smell that reminds me of an ocean spray or even an Old Spice deodorant stick. Its not the typical feminine scents that Lush is so famous for. I don't mind the scent, but I am not really loving it either.

All in all, I'm disappointed in this soap because it was from Lush. I expected so much out of it because of the brand and hype. But at the end of the day, it's just a normal glycerin soap that melts fast and has a run-of-the-mill scent. Not something I'd spent nearly $8 on again. Maybe if Lush dropped the prices, I'd purchase more bar soaps from them, but for now, I'm gonna stick to their skin care products, and try out their shower gels.

What are your Lush favorites and disappointments?

Where have I been?

2009-12-19T16:05:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, sorry I've been MIA for the last few days. I just about had time to put up a couple of posts on my nails and the giveaway posts. Work has been crazy to the point that I basically went in, started working and before I knew it, the day had ended and I didn't even have time to take lunch, let alone check my email! Also my hubby completed his last class for his Masters in Computer Science degree this week, and yours truly was helping him write his final paper in a classic panic-procrastination mode. ;)

Anyway, I'm back and ready for more posts. I still have to write reviews on all of the products from my Thanksgiving haul, so be on the look out for that.

Hope you all are having a lovely holiday season. Here in the northeast of USA, we have been hit with a winter storm on one of the busiest Christmas shopping weekends (I imagine a lot of Santa Clauses are going to be unhappy). I'm enjoying my time at home blogging and enjoying my new tree. Here it is:

Will be back soon with more product reviews! Wow I missed blogging a lot. ;)

OPI Barefoot in Barcelona Review

2009-12-15T07:20:00.000-08:00

OPI's Barefoot in Barcelona: oh how I love thee.

I think this is a stunning nude pink color that works wonders on my skin. I just feel very grown up and sophisticated when I look down at my nails. It works just as well with my tweed blazer as it does with my party outfits.

In spite of multiple attempts, I wasn't able to take a picture that did the color justice. But trust me, its a gorgeous creamy, brownish rosy pink. It complements my skin tone like nothing else. I also would say that if you're clumsy at applying nail color like I am, think about picking this up. Cuticle spillovers will be very hard to notice, and the formula is so impressive that one coat is enough, and you can swipe over and over the same area without getting streaks. Finally, because it's such a lovely neutral, I'd wear this in all seasons.

I've so far only bought 3 OPI nailcolors. I'd love to buy more because their brush and formula are by far superior to anything else I've tried. I guess I just never got around to trying them because of sticker shock, but considering its only a couple more dollars and I love them to the point of probably hitting pan on all, it's well worth it. So now that I've jumped on the OPI bandwagon, what shades would you recommend for me to try out next?

Bling Bling Storage

2009-12-12T06:58:00.000-08:00

Hey girls, I was in a Clean House NOW mode this Sunday and decided to organize my jewelry, hair and nails stuff. Here it is:

My everyday jewelry is kept on top of my chest of drawers in a jewelry box. I picked it up for $10 at a garage sale! Yaaay! The mirror was sent to me courtesy of Brushlove.com.

I've used the plastic drawer insert that keeps your cutlery in good order to house my chunky and long necklaces, bracelets, and watches. Cute no?

I've used a box for bead organization to house my smaller delicate pieces, along with some safety pins.You can find this box at any crafts store in the beading section. I love that there is room to spare. I can buy more! Next to the box is my glasses case.

My nailpolishes are stored in what used to be a jewelry box from India. Sorry I'm not showing my nailpolishes, but its not an impressive collection at all (working on it!)

Next to the nail polish box, I've kept an open basket full of manicure-pedicure tools. Next to that are my hair tools (blowdryer, flat iron & hot rollers)

All my stuff fits into 3 drawers and so I have like 3 more for other stuff (like my poor hubby's clothes lol).

Do you have any suggestions on how to improve my storage?

Clearly Beautiful

My Current Skincare Routine

August Favorites and 1 Regret

Aaand, I'm back

Would you rather?

An acquired taste

I'm off to London and Redecoration

Body Shop Roseflower Blush in Fuscia

My Summer Foundation Routine

My Guest Blog on KvD's Ludwig Palette

Haul from SkincareRx Giveaway

Storing Your Bling While Traveling

I went naked! and other updates

My Favorite Products Under $10

MAC Cleanse Off and Update

Out-the-Door Hair

Tuesday Poll

I'm calling it! (project 10 pan, that is)

My bedroom makeover wishlist

Spring Favorites

Monday Moods

Coastal Scents HD foundation review

Olay Regenerist Makeup Wipes: A review

Putting Hot Pots into a MAC Palette

Coastal Scents Hot Pots Swatches and Review

In and Outs

Free samples of Cellnique!

Description

Benefits

And the winner is...

Coastal Scents Haul

Flax Oil for Healthy Skin

The Cellnique acne and scar treatment

Foundation for Dry, Flaky Skin?

Making the most of cabinet space

Spring Cleaning Part 1: Storing your winter purse

Giveaway reminder!

5 Reviews in 1: Urban Decay Hall of Fame

My first Project 10 Pan!

OPI Sand in My (Business) Suit

A depotting rampage!

March Favorites

I'M A MAXXINISTA!!

Lip Combo I'm Loving Lately

Two Hairstyles, One Tool and GIVEAWAY!

Look at what I have to put up with!

How I blow dry my hair (Requested)

Colossal? I'll Say!

How I do a Manicure (Requested)

Move over, Lush. Hellooo, TJMaxx!

Old Makeup, New Life: Part 3

Old Makeup, New Life: Part 2

Old Makeup, New Life: Part 1

Up and Up Eye Makeup Remover

Shu Uemura Face Architect and Base Control

How to make a MAC 188 brush

It's my birthday and I'll haul if I want to

Tag: 40 Beauty Questions

Tag: Things that make me go mmm....

Veganism: The Exit Interview

Lush Godiva Shampoo Bar

Jealous, are we?

Make it Work: L'Oreal Volume Shocking Mascara

Nine steps to romance

Drugstore Haul: L'Oreal mascara and NYX

Coconut Oil as an Eye Makeup Remover?

Review: MAC Intenso

My first EOTD feat. Sleek Graphite!

I need your opinion!

LUSH Whoosh!

Mmm, product packaging...

Can Sleek Graphite work for tan skin?

My Favorites Tag

Pure Ceramic Hair Brush Review

In and Out #3

Going Vegan: 18 days in

And the Winner is...

LUSH Flying Fox!

Mario Badescu Healing and Soothing Mask

Review and Giveaway (!!!) of Skin MD Natural's Shielding Lotion