OPI Chapel of Love + wish it was Friday

Ok, so I painted my toes a few days ago with OPI's Chapel of Love, and boy are they pink! I'm not sure I like it on toes...what do you think?




(Thinking about it now, they don't look right with the white heels I know but the other pictures weren't good and I admit I'm lazy to take another picture, watermark them and reupload it.)


This is probably the boldest colour I've ever worn since I usually go for natural shades. Everytime I look at my feet I feel like they belong to a stranger, lol.

The polish is really pigmented! I got good colour opacity with just 2 coats, no top coat or anything. Even one coat would've been sufficient but I screwed up a little on one of them when waiting for them to dry, so I did a second coat.

Before changing to Chapel of Love, I had on I'm a Princess, You're Not on my toes, and they lasted amazingly long. Two coats, 3 weeks of wear, and they still looked almost freshly applied! No chips whatsover. I must note that polish lasts longer on my toes than fingers though. I used the same colour on my nails for another wedding, and they chipped within a day :S

***

On another note, I'm so glad its Friday tomorrow, though I wish it was already Friday night right now. I have this huge urge to go shopping...and for once I'm actually thinking about clothes shopping. In the last few months I just end up spending too much time at cosmetic counters/stores, because its easy to browse and there isn't the hassle of finding your size, or finding a change room. Also I got disillusioned with the money I used to spend on clothes because my work, lifestyle, and the weather here don't really allow me to wear nice clothing often.

Now though I feel more inspired to buy clothes again with so many bloggers posting their daily outfits, and also because of blogs like this one. That girl Melissa looks gorgeous in almost anything, plus I love her hair! Lets just hope I'll resist impulse buying and only get clothes that I'll wear more than once.

***

On a different subject - does anyone use iGoogle? I love it! Its my default homepage. I find it convenient how you can link everything on that page - Gmail, Google Reader, To-do lists, News updates, Word of the Day, etc. There are even mini games like Hangman that you can add :D

Among my favourite applications is the Water Tracker. It helps you keep track of how much water you drank per day, and calculates stats on how many days you successfully achieved your target amount of water. You can set it to give you a target 8-15 glasses per day. Water is extremely important for maintaining your skin and cleansing out your system so definitely check it out.




Another one is the Sticky Notes application. Very basic but it comes in handy whenever I want to cut and paste information, website addresses etc to access later. If you rename it, you can add more than one sticky note too.

Oh and I just discovered today, that they added more themes from major labels/designers like Gucci, Burberry, Anna Sui and Betsy Johnson. There's even one from Paul Frank now! I have mine set to BCBGMaxAzria. Its interesting how these skins can act as advertising channels now too.




P.S. I just had to say I'm really lemming the Harajuku Lovers fragrances, though mostly because of the bottles. I tested the scents out today and they seem rather basic, nothing complex that I would pay the price for if not for the cute bottle. Probably will get one but not sure which. I disliked 'Love' and 'Baby', but 'Music', 'Lil Angel', and 'G' still interest me.

Tip: Urban Decay Primer Potion

Something to keep in mind before cutting up your Urban Decay Primer Potion:

Ok this isn't really a tutorial, but I wanted to give a heads up on how to maximize the product in the Urban Decay Primer Potion tube without cutting it up so soon. There are tons of tutorials on cutting it up but frankly, cutting it up is a huge hassle for me and I'd rather procrastinate that part. I prefer to keep it as long as possible in the tube so that the product doesn't dry out.


1. Look at the top of the bottle neck. See that translucent plastic part I pointed out in the picture below? It acts like a "stopper" at the neck of the tube to scrape off excess product from the applicator, similar to how the neck of mascara tubes scrape off excess mascara from the brush when removed.


2. Use any thing that is sturdy but thin, such as a nail file and wedge it under that plastic piece to loosen it. Do whatever you need to do loosen the piece and pull it out.


3. Now when you reinsert the applicator stick you'll find you have more room in the tube to wiggle the stick, and thus pick up more product from the sides. The stick may be more messy, but I personally like how I can still keep using the product in its original packaging, thus preventing it from drying out.

My already "fixed up" tube - sorta messy but I can reach more product and scrape the sides more easily.




It won't clean out the tube completely, so if you wish you can still cut it up once you have difficulty getting product out again.

Note that this isn't my idea, I'm sure some have already heard of this as well. I came across this tip on a comment left by Minerva on an ABB post ages ago.

Look: Blue, Pink, & Silver

I was trying to dupe this look that Rae raved about, but forgot that I didn't have my MAC Electra eyeshadow (my HG silver shadow) with me, so I had to make do with a tamer silver colour (NYX Frosted Flakes).

The result is less silvery and without that nice sheen found in Karen's look, however I guess this makes it more wearable for days when I want things to be more toned down.









What I used:

-Urban Decay Primer Potion as base (not pictured)
-Maybelline Sapphire Ice quad:

• dark blue shade on outer corner,
• lightest silvery blue colour on inner corner,
• white shade under browbone

-NYX Frosted Flakes on centre and inner corner of eyelid over the light silvery blue shade
-MAC Passionate eyeshadow in crease, overlapping the dark navy blue colour slightly so that the pink blends out the blue a little.

-MAC Brun eyeshadow to line top lid slightly and to fill brows
-Almay mascara in Amethyst





This is only the 3rd or 4th time I've used the Maybelline quad, mostly because the silvery blue colours don't suit my skintone. Its actually quite pigmented, although I do always use UDPP underneath so that probably helps. Their quads have definitely improved in the past years ... my first quad from them had no pigment whatsover, but this was much better.

DHC: Cleansing Oil and Washing Powder

I've been using these two products regularly since mid-March, and have been meaning to review them for a while.


DHC Cleansing Oil:
The cleansing oil is a yellowish colour with a thick consistency similar to olive oil. It has a strong scent of olive oil too.




The thick feel of the oil makes it a pleasure to massage into the skin. Afterwards I use a little bit of warm water to massage with the oil to emulsify the dirt, before splashing off the remaining oil with lots of lukewarm water. I find it leaves my skin with just the right feel - no tight / dry feeling on the skin. If I had a lot of product before or if its been a very humid / grimy day, I follow up with the washing powder.

The product comes in a pump bottle with a cap on top. The cap helps protect the pump from being pushed so you have no fear of product accidentally leaking out during travel. I got the smaller size, which is 70mL which passes the airline liquids rule of max 100mL per bottle.


DHC Washing Powder:
The washing powder is a fine white powder. You pour out about 1/2 tsp into your palm, add a little bit of water and rub to foam up the product. Btw the picture shows too much product - I just poured some out to take the picture but this is definitely over 1/2 tsp :D




The bottle cap is a blue flip top, with a small hole so that its easy to measure out the tiny amount you'll need.




I tend to use this as a morning cleanser, and then at night only if I didn't wear makeup that day, or after using cleansing oil to remove foundation first. So far I find it can be a little drying if I use too much (over 1/2 tsp). Otherwise it does its job , a small amount is really all you need.

What I like best is how convenient the powder format is for travel. No need to worry about the bottle leaking. You also don't have to factor this into the liquids restriction on flights!

The main reason I took so long to review these two products because I couldn't see a dramatic difference in my skin. These products did not improve my skin dramatically, but they did not affect it badly either. During the last few months, my skin has been alright - no purging from using these products, but no massive breakouts or other problems either.


Overall:
For the cleansing oil, the aroma and consistency may appeal to some but not others. I personally liked this because the scent makes it seem more natural, and the thickness of the oil feels nice.

However if you'd rather have a more odourless and thinner product, check out MAC's cleansing oil. MAC's product is also made of olive oil, but it is clear and has much a thinner consistency. It also cleanses just as well as the DHC product and has a milder scent. However MAC comes in only a 200 mL size, while DHC at least also offers a small bottle which is more travel friendly.

Price: 3/5 (US$11/ 70 mL, US$24/200 mL)
Packaging: 5/5
Effectiveness: 4/5
Repurchase: Yes

For the washing powder, I like how the dry format makes it convenient for travel. In my opinion it'd work best for normal/combo skins.

Price: 5/5 (cheap at US$8.50/bottle)
Packaging: 5/5
Effectiveness: 3/5
Repurchase: Yes

o.b.

A while ago, I was contacted to review some samples of o.b. tampons. These are not your usual tampons that come with a plastic applicator. They're as basic as you can get - just the cotton part and string.

I received the samples to try a while now, but didn't have many *ahem* opportunities to test them out, haha After all it comes only once a month...lol...and I feel bad if I post a review of something I've tried only once.

First thing I noticed is how conveniently small they are. The size is smaller than a MAC lipstick or a tube of lipbalm. Definitely very discreet to slip into your pocket or purse. They are also sold in two formats: in bulk, or packed in sets of 3 in a nondescript plastic case that can be tucked into your purse. These are the cases I got - aren't they cute?




The case itself is quite compact:




And the product even smaller:




The main difference between o.b. and other brands is the fact that o.b. doesn't use applicators. That can be both a good and bad thing. Good because it reduces the waste generated by applicators. The idea behind it is that eliminating the applicator helps reduce waste. After all plastic and even cardboard, when tossed into a landfill still takes up space. According to the company, these tampons have 58% less waste than regular tampons.

It also helps reduce the size of the product, making it extremely convenient to carry around (and hide, lol). Thats one thing that used to always bother me with pads back in school - I always worried that someone will see me sneak one from my bag into my pocket :D These are less than half the size of regular tampons so no trouble there.

My main complaint would be that the lack of an applicator makes it tricky to use for beginners. If I had never used a tampon before, I wouldn't have a clue how to use this. If you already use tampons though then these will be a breeze.

Having to use your fingers means you better wash your hands well before using this! Though you really should be washing your hands no matter what you're using...lol.

You might wonder if it works just as well as other brands since its so tiny. Well I found it does it just as well as other brands. I know tampons don't suit some people especially if they have heavier flow. However when I tried them, they worked just as well as as the other brand I normally use (Playtex).

Overall, I think if you already know how to use tampons, these will do the job just as effectively AND reduce waste at the same time :) And if you are interested in trying these for free, there are free samples being offered on their website for Canadians and US residents.

FOTD: Violet Blue

Something I haven't done in a while: a FOTD! This one's a FOToD though - from who knows when :)





I can't ever seem to get these Ardell Pixies on properly. The positioning always differs on one eye - see how the right eye lashes are angled upward more below? Do you have that problem?




Full face:




What I used:

Eyes
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Shiseido Hydro-powder eyeshadow in Violet Visions all over mobile lid
ELF Wisteria eyeshadow on inner corner
MAC Cornflower pigment on outer corners
ELF Truly Pink eyeshadow in crease to blend
ELF Pink Ice eyeshadow to highlight
Bonnebelle black brown pencil to line upper lid
Ardell Invisiband Pixies

Lips
Shiseido Maquillage Climax Rouge lipstick in PK730
Guerlain lipgloss in Fraises au Croquer

Face
Everyday Minerals Semi-Matte foundation in Light Olive
Everyday Minerals blush in Best Friends





In other news, I failed a road test today. Not too happy about having to re-do it, re-pay the test fees, re-pay the car fees, and waste another "vacation" day to re-take it. Its such a waste of time and money, which bothers me more than the fact that I failed. I guess the worst feeling though, is knowing that I could've passed if I hadn't been nervous about it.

It seems my addiction to makeup / cosmetics is becoming more moderate. I stopped by the mall after the test to see if retail therapy would make me feel better. Surprisingly I didn't buy anything, even though my wishlist is already quite long. All I did was pick up some samples from Sephora. I got the SA to make me samples of the MUFE HD primers as I'm currently on a primer hunt. I've tried 3 primers already but I want to try as much as possible of other products before settling on one to buy.

Speaking of samples, while I was at the MAC freestanding store, I asked the MA for a sample of Antique Green pigment and she said they no longer give out pigment samples :S I don't know if its like that at all stores and counters yet but I hope not.

Yes, another one. :P

The 'I love your blog' tag...courtesy of Angie, Chi, and NicNic :D

I Love Your Blog Rules:

1. Pass this award on to 7 people.

2. Answer the following questions using only one word. Riiiiight....we'll see.


1. Where is your cell phone? In my purse.

2. Where is your significant other? With his PS3...:/

3. Your hair color? Natural brownish-black.

4. Your mother? wears glasses

5. Your father? is balding :P lol...hope he doesn't ever hear this!

6. Your favorite thing? lying in bed/on couch watching movies

7. Your dream last night? Something stressful about deadlines and decisions... ooh, I also remember something about Stila in it. Weird.

8. Your dream/goal? Be my own boss and not take crap from others...some travelling and lots of spare cash wouldn't hurt...

9. The room you're in? Den

10. Your hobby? Shopping / makeup / movies / reading

11. Your fear? Mediocrity

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? A lot closer to my goal than I am now!

13. Where were you last night? Couch, watching Michael Clayton.

14. What you're not? Tall :(

15. One of your wish-list items? a new purse, don't know what though.

16. Where you grew up? Secret :P

17. The last thing you did? Cooked then washed dishes

18. What are you wearing? Fcuk tee and shorts

19. Your TV? None. Can't stand commercials! Wouldn't mind having it on in the background though.

20. Your pet? Does a stuffed panda count? LOL. I would love a cat or dog.

21. Your computer? Dell laptop

22. Your mood? Good but irritated that its bedtime now.

23. Missing someone? Yes my best friend from university :(

24. Your car? None.

25. Something you're not wearing? Socks. Could've been more risque if I did this questionnaire yesterday ;)

26. Favorite store? Hard to pick 1...they have their ups and downs. Probably MAC (haha), Sephora, Williams Sonoma (where I can dream what I'd buy if I had a house :P), outlet stores.

27. Your summer? Was too short.

28. Love someone? Yes :)

29. Your favorite color? Its a tie between blue and purple right now.

30. When is the last time you laughed? Sometime today...but if you mean a really good laugh at something funny, that'd be two days ago :D

31. Last time you cried? Last week

32. Are you a bitch? No but I wish I could be sometimes.

33. Favorite Position? Not this one :P

34. Favorite Past Time? Shooting the breeze with a good friend or two.

35. Are you a hater or a lover? Lover except in my cynical moments

37. Are you genuine or fake? A bit of both.

38. Any Vices? None.

39. Pro Life or Wire Hanger? More of a pro-lifer + pro-choice depending on situation.

40. McCAIN or OBAMA? Obama, though I would've loved to see Clinton in the race.

41. Pro Plastic or Natural? Natural. But if you come up with a risk free, non invasive procedure to make me taller I'd probably go for it.

42. Dream Job? Where I get to be my own boss and do something I enjoy :)

43. Were the last 11 questions PINK added on fun? Probably.



The 7 unlucky/lucky(?) tagged :D

1. Chiara
2. Alice
3. Faux Fashionista
4. Jiejie
5. Grayburn
6. Aradani
7. Psychoexgirlfriend

'Red She Said' info on Specktra [UPDATED2]

*UPDATE*

Larger pictures now available here, courtesy of Risser from Specktra.

I am so getting that face brush set for sure! I know the quality of the eye sets aren't that great but the face set is alright (from past experience).

UPDATE2

Swatches of the Cool Eyes palette and Smoky Eyes palette from Snowkei.

***

Finally, Specktra has some product images of this year's Holiday collection sets from MAC :)

I'm not sure I dig the palette packaging, but I like the look of the red handled brush sets and the pigment sets!

Are you excited about it? Which products are you looking forward to?

Lavshuca Summer Palette

I just realised I posted the Lavshuca palette in my eBay haul post, but I actually got it from Ichibankao instead. I keep thinking it came from eBay because I was deciding between getting it from them, or from an eBay seller.

Anyway, this was the first time I had ordered off that site, and I'm satisfied with the service. The lady informs you when they receive your order, and also when the order is shipped. Processing time is fast as well. However I do wish it came via registered mail, after all their prices are higher than other places like Adam Beauty which have a flat $2 fee for shipping via registered mail. The packaging method is the same - bubblewrapped in a regular envelope.




Lavshuca Summer Gradually compact in 02 Windy Aqua Beach:

(why they made the name so long I have no idea :S)




I've been lemming this mostly because the case looks sleek and pretty :)




The size of this is tinier than what you might think from pictures! The size of the case is about the same as this summer's Stila Kitten palette. However Lavshuca palette contains less product since it needs to make room for two sponge applicators. You can see each shadow is smaller than a MAC or NYX single eyeshadow.




The eyeshadows as you can see are packed separately so you can place them in the palette yourself. They come with glue already on the back. My original idea was to get rid of that glue, and put magnets instead so I could reuse the metal palette for other shadows.

Unfortunately the palette isn't magnetic - it feels like a light aluminium alloy...or something. I haven't decided what to do, since I don't want those palettes stuck in forever. Perhaps I'll stick a magnet strip at the bottom of the pan to make it magnetic anyway. We'll see.


Anyway, the colours are shimmery and vary in terms of pigmentation.

A: Silver, very glittery, hardly shows up.
B: Pale cool green, fine shimmer, sheer
C: Beige, fine shimmer, sheer
D: Medium blue with a green undertone, fine shimmer, moderately pigmented
E: Dark blue with multicoloured shimmers, moderately pigmented
F: Tan (brown) shade, satin finish (not shimmery), hardly shows up






A guide is provided on the back of the box to give you an idea which shade to wear where. It also shows a diagram which explains most of it without you having to read it.



I'm too lazy to try and decipher the Japanese text right now, so I can't tell you where A and B go. However I found A works best if applied on top of the other colours, in the centre to create a glittery look if so desired. B works well as an eye brightener in the inner corners of the eyes. [Edited the last paragraph: I typed A and C earlier by accident but meant to refer to A and B]


I did try following the diagram but I don't like the result. Most of the time, blending shadows horizontally doesn't look right on me.




I prefer using them vertically. Note these two, and the above are washed out by flash. I don't know why my skin looks red like a lobster here :(






Some pictures sans flash with other settings. Its still hard to capture the shimmer and colour payoff though.

Freebies

Some freebies you should know about:

1. Bare Escentuals:

You may have already heard about this from Rae and Jewels, but Sephora has free mini samples of BE foundation that comes with a tiny kabuki brush. They don't have a variety of shades though - mine had only Fairly Light left. The jar contains slightly less than 1 tbsp of product. See pic below if you're curious how small the jar and kabuki is - the brush is super tiny!

2. Laura Mercier:

Holt Renfrew has samples of their new Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer to give out - no purchase required. However, they only had the Bare Radiance shade when I went last weekend. Funny thing is, the MA didn't seem too thrilled about using it by itself, she actually told me to mix it with foundation or moisturizer. According to her, the product would be too shimmery on its own. I haven't tried mine yet though. Sample contains 14.7 mL of product.

3. La Mer:

Received another email from Holt Renfrew today saying they have free samples of the new Hydrating Infusion (sounds like a moisture serum to me). They also may have samples of other products - thanks to Angie I went to the counter and asked for a sample of Gel de la Mer last week :) Its tiny (only 3.5g) but the jar is cute :D





Size comparison with MAC lipstick and full size BE container:

10% off at Mukomuko Store

FYI,

Mukomuko is having a 10% discount on any 1 item in the store.

Just enter the code 'Blu3' under the 'Additional Comments' when filling up an order form.

Happy shopping, and let me know what you get :D

Haul + OPI

Finally some pictures of my eBay haul:



1. OPI nailpolishes

2. MAC Softwash Grey pigment

3. Lavshuca Summer Gradually compact in 02 Aqua Windy Beach

4. Clarins Toning lotion with Chamomile (pro size)


You've already seen the swatch of Softwash Grey here, and toner is just toner :P, so I'll talk about just the OPI polishes for now and the Lavshuca palette later.





1. OPI I'm a Princess, You're Not!



- pale pearl colour with a faint pink tone that shows up better on the nails
- contains microfine shimmer that shows up better in direct sunlight
- sheer but not streaky
- comes with ProWide brush (which people seem to love or hate, I don't mind)


2. OPI Who needs a Prince?



- light iridescent pink
- sheer AND a bit streaky
- ProWide brush


3. Princesses Rule!



- princessy pink
- semi-opaque, with lots of shimmer
- ProWide brush


4. OPI Chapel of Love



- Bright pink, more on the neutral to warm side (i.e. not a cool pink)
- Reminds me of the new neon pink colours but this pink isn't quite as bright.
- Plain (as in no shimmers)
- Mostly opaque - about 1-2 coats will achieve the colour in the bottle
- regular brush


5. OPI Russian Navy




- Dark navy blue
- Looks indigo-ish in different lighting as well
- Some microfine glitters
- Excellent colour payoff - about 1-2 coats will achieve the colour in the bottle
- ProWide brush


Some swatches on paper:






On nails: (please excuse the crappy cuticles...)

With 1 coat




With an extra coat on the first two left sheer colours - a bit more opaque but still sheer.

Review: Mukomuko Store

I haven't felt the usual urge to shop in malls these days. Its mostly because no matter which mall it is, most of them carry the same chain stores, each with similarly bland pieces. Think American Eagle vs Aeropostale, Suzy Shier vs Smart Set, Urban Outfitters vs Urban Planet and you get the idea. I think thats why I enjoy browsing stores in downtown Toronto Queen Street more, the selections there are from less mainstream (but more expensive imo) brands.

There is definitely a whole lot more variety though if you look online. I've noticed Ling's store, Mukomuko for a while now since coming across her personal blog. Recently, she asked me if I would be interested in reviewing her store and I said yes :)

She releases new collections regularly, and always with unique and functional pieces. Take this faux layered piece for example. I'm actually the type that is too lazy to think about layering pieces. I dislike buying say 1 vest, and having to think about what shirt to wear under it. So items like this 3 piece vest-shirt-inner-layer combo is a godsend for me :)




It looks super comfortable to lounge around in as well, which is always something I consider before buying.


I think I love the dresses the most, especially this black and white piece. Its a great alternative to the little black dress, which while classic, feels boring for me.

With this, I like how the sleeves are puffed, giving it a demure yet still girly look. The ribbon around the waist helps define the waist and give it shape. Its definitely something I could wear to a company event, or even a meet-the-parents dinner lol :P




Also, almost black and white dresses I see in stores are strapless or with thin spaghetti straps. I usually get chilly in airconditioned places so I always have to hunt for a separate matching shrug or scarf. But the sleeves on this one will keep my shoulders warm :)

If you are lucky enough to enjoy warmer weather all year around (unlike us poor Canadians lol), definitely check out the floral dress from the latest collection. The flowers and pale teal background make me wish I was vacationing in the Carribean...



There are also numerous layering pieces available, which I find useful because they don't look like the usual bland tank tops I find in regular stores. Instead these pieces have details that make them special, such as:

this ruffled top:





ultra-feminine layering dress:






All in all, I'd say my favourite parts about her store are the dresses, the faux layered combo pieces, and the layering pieces.

The sizes differ depending on the piece you want. Measurements of each piece are provided below the description, so just be sure to have a tape measure handy. As for the prices, I think they are quite reasonable, definitely on par or even cheaper than prices here in North America.

From my experience in dealing with Ling, I've been very satisfied thus far. She responds to questions very quickly. I had questions about the size and material of an item, and each time I emailed her, I received answers within 24 hours.

I can tell she definitely cares about customer satisfaction as well. I was asking her about the added shipping cost of the blue and white floral dress in one of her previous collections, and she also helpfully pointed out that the background of the dress was cream (even though my monitor settings made it look white-ish), just to make sure I would still be okay with it :)

As for payment methods, Mukomuko uses Paypal so any payment is secure. She provides a detailed email with the breakdown as well so that you know exactly how the charges are applied even with the exchange rate.

If you are interested in other reviews of Mukomuko, definitely check out Fuz's and Fei's reviews. I'll also post more once I receive my order :)