Back to school!

I'm so sorry to have not posted for over 2 weeks! My program has been quite hectic since the start of September...I won't bore you with the details, but basically there have been events non stop that we are required to go to, and a massive amount of readings and assignments that started even before the first class. I shouldn't complain though, after all I better be getting my money's worth! :P

I also caught the flu/cold late last week though so it has limited whatever brain matter I have to use for school and little else :P Anyway I'm feeling better today, and its Friday, so I might as well catch up on the things I'd planned to post :)

First - some back to school basics. I planned this post about 2 weeks ago so it may be too late...but if you're looking to make a few new additions to your makeup collection these may be useful.

For a neutral day look:



L'oreal Extension Beauty Tubes
Recommended because this mascara is waterproof and smudgeproof, yet removes easily with water. Word of warning - it does weigh down lashes a bit. However it is still a decent dupe for Blinc with a cheaper price tag.

Maybelline Eye Studio Quad in Sunset Seduction
Great set of neutrals, especially if you just can't let go of summer colours yet :)

L'oreal HIP gel liner in Brown
Brown complements the neutrals, plus emphasizes eyes without the harshness of black. HIP liners are pretty comparable to MAC but more affordable.

Annabelle Zebra bronzer
The most natural bronzer you will find suited for even the palest skin tones. Does not look orange at all, rather it adds the sun-kissed glow you wished you could maintain from summer. Previously reviewed here.

Joe Fresh cream lipstick in Strawberry
Gorgeous colour with excellent pigmentation, and a temptingly low price tag of $6. Previously reviewed here.

Annabelle Volume Lip in Cherryoke
Fragrance-free, nonsticky semi-sheer gloss - perfect for non lipstick wearers. Previously reviewed here.

For a look focusing on the eyes:



Revlon Colorstay Felt Tip Liner
I would normally recommend Japanese pen style liners as they are the best, but for a student on a budget a local drugstore alternative is probably better. This liner stays all day without budging - good for taking a look from day to night.

Annabelle Grafix eyeshadow trio
Just the right colours for the classic smokey eye. You could also change it up by substituting another colour for the silver shade. Previously reviewed here.

Milani blush in Mai Tai
Okay this isn't really available in Canada, but in the US. The colour is just the right shade of rosey pink. Sorry Canadians but Joe Fresh does make pretty good blushes too for just $4 :)

Annabelle Volume Lip in Sweet Tweet
Fragrance-free, nonsticky sheer pale pink gloss. Previously reviewed here.


I also picked up a nude polish for school, since most of my polishes consisted of gaudy glitters and brightly coloured cremes.



I settled for L'oreal Sand Castle since it was the closest to my skin tone that I could find, that still looked opaque. What I really wanted was a mannequin hands look, but this still has a touch of pink in it that doesn't quite fit the bill.



With flash:



Its still a pretty colour nonetheless. I may have found a better colour in Zoya's Gretchen though - to be reviewed in the near future!


Finally, at least for now...I got a haircut. Now I know not everyone was a fan of this so yeah...even the bf's mom said bluntly to me that it was too short. But hair grows out anyway, and I do like how I don't have to bother with detangling hair after a shower or straightening it in the mornings.







For any interested, I went to Maya Salon again in Koreatown, but since my old stylist wasn't there I went with one of his friends, Masumi. I thought she did a great job - she listened to me and gave good feedback whenever I wasn't sure about something.

Anyway, I might colour my hair too once I get bored with it. I still have a box of Kao Prettia hair colour sitting on my dresser that I've been meaning to try since April :D

Vacation purchases, Part 4

MAC Cleanse Off Oil - Tranquil



I first spotted this at the Vancouver duty free counter and was wondering what the difference was compared with the regular clear bottle. I didn't get it then because of the liquids restriction on planes but picked it up later from a regular MAC store. Apparently this variation is only sold in Asia so I had to try it!


Missha lashes




Daiso - various fake lashes




Biore UV base:




Johnson & Johnson compact powder with UVA/UVB protectors:




Lucido-L styling pots:




Drugstore odds and ends from Watsons:



I like black Biore strips. They are so much more satisfying to look at post-strip, since the nose clogs are way more visible :D


Random eye tape & q-tips:




Hada Labo Whitening range - lotion & serum



I actually wanted to try their famous Super Hyaluronic lotion (I think thats what its called...) but since I need something to treat old scars I decided to go with this instead. Besides the moisturizing one is probably more easily available online than the whitening range.


Purse/clutch from Topshop:





I really like the distressed pattern, and of course the florals for spring.


Handy little purse hook from Muji




Thats most of what I got really that I can remember :D Anyway if you do want a review on something specific feel free to let me know.

Got my hair cut!

Yes again :)

I can't stand long hair for the time being, and I had been talking about going shorter for what, the past 2 years, so it was about time. Even this isn't that short now that I look at it again. Perhaps one day I will have the courage to get a pixie? That has been my dream hair since 1995 :D

It is basically a bob that gets shorter at the back, with bangs. It may look the same length as before from the front, but the back is definitely shorter!






The shape is better seen from the side.





Hair photo credits to Rasilla :D


Here's me with my talented stylist, Toshi! He's the one I've been mentioning in my last few 'new hair!' posts.



No, I don't usually take pictures with people that cut my hair :D However I just found out that day that he is leaving Canada in a few weeks to move back to Japan...so sad! I hope the other stylists at the same place will be as good.

Hana Professional Flat Iron

I was requested to try and review the Hana Professional Flat Iron by Misikko. I received the pink one, which is quite a girly colour :)

Hana Elite Flat Iron 1" Pink







- Comes in a 1" and 1.5" size as well.
- Ceramic plates
- Tourmaline infused into the heating elements for maximum thermal protection
- Temperature adjustable from 140 F to 450 F
- Indicator light blinks when temperature is reached
- Runs on 120 V
- Tangle-free cord

At first I tried to be conservative and use the iron at a lower temperature around 200 F, however it was hard to get good results with just one pass. The next time, in the pic below I set it to 300 F and it straightened quite well!

I googled for the ideal temperature to straighten hair and it sounds like the best results for normal hair is around 300-380 F anyway, so I guess thats why the first time didn't work out.

Here are some before and after pictures:

Before:


After:


Here are my pros and cons:

Pros:
- heats up fairly quickly
- temperature adjustable from 140 F to 450 F
- cute all-pink option

Cons:
- single voltage only (120V)
- pink colour could be better (I'd prefer a hot pink or pale feminine pink)

Overall I think this is a great flat iron to have if you want a professional flat iron without spending big bucks for GHD. It straightens just as well, and comes in a cute pink colour as well as black. Currently Misikko also offers a free iron mat and storage pouch with your purchase, as well as a 2 year extended warranty.


I also tried a sample of the Hana Shine Serum:



The serum is a clear liquid with a thin silicone texture. It smells good but be careful not to use too much as the scent would overpower any perfume you might be wearing. It smoothed the ends of my hair nicely and is supposed to protect hair from styling damage.

Misikko offers various other hair straighteners as well. They have Chi flat irons for sale, as well as FHI flat irons, To find out their best flat iron you can check out the list here.

I'll be posting a US & Canada giveaway for this flat iron soon so stay tuned if you're interested! :)

Happy Lunar New Year!

Hope you had a great new year with lots of red packets, if you celebrate it! I had a 3 day weekend which was nice, but somehow didn't get much done.

I apologize for being away from the blog for so long. I've been focusing on grad school applications so I basically spent the last few weeks studying for the tests or lurking around blogs via Google Reader.

Saturday (just before New Year) I finally managed to get my hair cut. I kinda didn't have a clear idea of what I wanted so the end result wasn't quite to my liking. The length was what I wanted but I think next time I would ask for the back to be shorter relative to the sides.



Used Too Faced Smurfette lip gloss and Bourjois Ambre d'Or blush that day.





Sunday for Chinese New Year we had hotpot at home. I decided to wear gold themed eyeshadow in line with the occasion:







All colours were from the Maybelline Amber Adventure quad, one of my first ever quads when I started getting into makeup. Haven't used it in ages so it was nice to find it again in my stash. The bottom lashline (very faint, I know) had a little bit of gold liner on the outer 1/2 (MAC Brassy Fluidline).

Anyway next weekend is the beauty blogger meetup in Toronto hosted by the lovely Farah, and I'm super excited for it! Hope your week goes well :)

cool heat

Thanks for all the lovely comments on my haircut! Actually I didn't change my haircolour at all so its probably just the lighting that might make it seem brownish.

Maya Hair Salon is located in Koreatown, halfway between the Bathurst and Christie subway stations. Here's their contact info:

635 Bloor St W, Toronto
416-588-1480

They do get very crowded on weekends, so be sure to make an appointment! Also they only open Sat not Sun. Even with an appointment once it hits afternoon they tend to fall behind in their schedule, so try to make your appointment in the morning. The name of the stylist I had was Toshi.

There's also an Amore store selling Laneige products that you'll pass if you walk from Christie station to the salon (or the other way around).

***

Anyway enough of hair, back to makeup :P Here's a look I did a long, long time ago, during the summer months.




Eyeshadow was from the Best of Becca Palette, and bottom blue was from Guerlain Terracotta Kohl in Lagoon Bleu (LE colour).



Mascara used was Guerlain le 2 in Bleu Cerise (an LE colour). I know I've said it before but Guerlain mascara is quite possibly the best I've used in a while. It volumizes AND lengthens, and I like how you get two brushes, a regular size for lashes and a mini brush for lower lashes or just for extra definition. If you were to get the Guerlain le2 mascara though don't get a waterproof version unless you are prepared to spend some time removing it with even the best makeup removers. Lancome Bi-Facil is supposed to be the best waterproof makeup remover there is, but on this mascara it still takes a while to get everything off! Usually I'll think its all off but then wake up the next morning with blue under my eyes...lol

Anyway don't forgot that my giveaway for Canadians ends tomorrow night! Sorry to Quebecers and international readers who were unable to enter....but my 2nd blog anniversary is coming up in 2 weeks and there will be some prizes from me personally up for grabs :)

Atlantis

Sorry for neglecting the blog for a bit...I snuck away on vacation for a few days last week :) Did quite a bit of wallet damage due to the favourable exchange rate, so I really should put myself on a shopping ban for the rest of the year.

Here are some questions from my last post:

this colour looks very different from the tube, to your swatches to your lips. did your natural lip colour alter it ?

Since the colour is rather sheer yes the shade you get with just one layer will be different. But if you layer it a few times the colour you get will be more like the lip swatch picture. The picture of it in the tube is brighter than in real life due to my camera acting strange. (My camera seems to warp the colour of lipsticks in tube form and make them redder than they really are)

and its just the lipstick? no lipbalm or gloss?

Yep just lipstick :) I actually forgot to bring my lipbalm on vacation but didn't want to buy another lipbalm since I have about 6 lying around the place. So I just used this product for lipbalm and it worked beautifully. Just had to be more careful about application since this particular colour is quite bright.


At Alienman's request here are pictures of China Glaze Atlantis that I picked up from Sally's Beauty Supply with their get $3 off 2 glitter/chrome polishes:



To get this colour / glitter intensity was 2 coats, would be even better with 3. I also used Seche Vite top coat to cut down on drying time.



I don't know what it is with me and glitter polishes, but with me they don't last - Atlantis chipped on me after 2 days, same with my Canmake glitter polish.



Within a few days almost half the polish was gone on some fingers :/ Now it could just be me abusing my nails since I was travelling, so I'll give it another chance. Or maybe Seche Vite doesn't go well with glitter polish because it doesn't really give them a chance to dry?


Also Alienman requested pics of my new haircut. I got my hair cut about a week ago at Maya Hair Salon again. The stylist this time was pretty good. If anyone in Toronto feels like trying the place ask for Toshi. Cost me only $25 for wash, cut, and blow dry. Gotta love Koreatown for cheap haircuts :)



Similar to before, just styled nicer by him with more layers so it doesn't look as heavy.



To show the layers:



Yeah now I just need to learn how to blow dry my hair like that again. Bf commented my hair doesn't look as nice as when I first came back from the salon >.<

Phytojoba shampoo & hair mask

Finally writing a review of this after putting it off for many months :D

Phyto's Phytojoba range is supposedly targeted towards dry hair. Since my hair was feeling quite dry with 'sticky' ends that tangled constantly, I decided to give them a try even though they cost a lot more than I would normally pay for haircare.

The shampoo comes in a cool metal bottle, while the conditioner comes in a huge plastic jar.




Phytojoba shampoo

The smell of the shampoo is quite pleasant, like coconut with a hint of marshmallow. One thing I hated about the shampoo bottle design is the opening. It is basically an open neck bottle, while the shampoo itself is much more fluid than other normal shampoos. Everytime I wanted to dispense some onto my hand, no matter how careful I was, I always ended up pouring a bit too much or too little.

As for how the shampoo worked, it foamed easily which I like, most shampoos that promise not to strip hair of moisture usually don't foam well (eg. Burt's Bees). I found that my hair definitely felt less stripped or rough once the shampoo was rinsed off. Usually my hair would feel a bit tangly and not smooth after shampoo before conditioner but this one felt gentle on the hair.

However I still did not like the shampoo, because I noticed it didn't seem to clean my roots enough. After each wash I noticed my hair still looked a bit clumpy at the roots as if there was still oil around the root and scalp area. I think this problem could perhaps be solved if you rub your scalp vigorously enough to remove the oil, but since my hair is quite fine and thin I prefer to avoid touching and tugging at the scalp at all.

Since this was already in winter, when my hair doesn't even get that oily I know this won't even do in summer. Thus I won't be repurchasing this.

Ingredients:




Phytojoba hair mask

The tub that the hair mask comes in is quite convenient for scooping out whatever amount you need. It has a light citrusy scent, completely different from the shampoo.

The mask is quite thick so a small grape size amount was sufficient for my long hair (and less if you have shorter hair). I used it as a conditioner since my ends are always tangled and dry, and its been working wonderfully. It is quite expensive but since the container is so large and easy to ration the quantity you want, it lasts for a good while. I started using mine December last year and I still have about 1/6 left (and I do wash my hair 5 to 7 days a week).

Currently I am testing the Phytocyane shampoo for thinning / fine hair and the Phytojoba mask still works quite well with it.

Ingredients:




Overall, I would definitely recommend the Phytojoba hair mask for dry ends. As for the shampoo, I would say to only try it if you have really dry scalp and roots, otherwise it would only look like you hadn't washed your hair at all :P

P.S. Rasilla asked where I got this from - I purchased them from Sephora. There are other online sites that sell these but I figured with Sephora there was their return policy to fall back on if I didn't like it.

By the way Asos.com seems to have added more things to their sale (or maybe I missed them the first time). The Paul & Joe lipstick kit (with the kitty pouch) is on sale, and some of their Summer collection items as well. Go here.

Too Faced also has their Lockdown cream shadow in Prisoner of Love for half price & some glitter liners.

Mini Q&A and Burts Bees review

Mini Q&A:

Fiona wanted to know how much shipping for Everyday Minerals costs to Canada - it cost me $5 for the sample kit. The last time I ordered, I got stuff worth $30+ so it cost me about $8 then. You can get an estimate by checking out, as long as you don't click on the Confirm Payment button just yet :)

Also, Anonymous wanted to know how much I got my NYX pigments for. I got mine for $5.99 at PharmaPlus / Rexall. Kind of expensive, but those are the only stores that sell NYX in Canada :( But its a LOT cheaper if you order them off Ebay or CherryCulture.com.

***

Ok, I've decided to finally do the review on the Burt's Bees shampoo even though I feel like I don't have much to say about it :S I was thinking it'd be a lot more useful if I had gotten the matching conditioner, but it wasn't in stock at the drugstores I went to.

I did see it at Whole Foods Market, but Whole Foods was charging a ridiculous price for the Burts Bees stuff :( The shampoos and their matching conditioners were $12.99, while the regular price at Shoppers is $9.99....a $3 markup??

So I ended up buying a different conditioner from Whole Foods to try - the Shea butter one. This is probably also overpriced at $14.99, but it was a Burts Bees product I haven't seen in any other stores, and I really needed a good rich silicone-free conditioner. This one doesn't come with a matching shampoo so I figured it should go well with any other BB shampoos.


Burt's Bees More Moisture Raspberry and Brazil Nut shampoo, & Shea Butter and Grapefruit Hair Repair conditioner:




Ingredients for More Moisture shampoo:



This is the second Burt's Bees shampoo I've used. Previously I tried their Colour Keeper shampoo. It smelled awesome and cleaned my hair fine, but didn't do much to prolong my haircolour despite the claims.

Since my hair isn't coloured anymore (except for the ends that are growing out anyway), I decided to try something else. I wanted to continue with Burts because I like the fact that its sulfate-free. I've heard that sulfates dry out your hair more and since I already have dry, fine hair, it needs all the help it can get.

The shampoo cleans my hair nicely. Lol I don't know what else to say - other than I like that it does what a shampoo should do minus the sulfates :)

Note that Burts Bees shampoos, because they are sulfate free, do not foam up as much as regular shampoos. So it might feel like you need to use a lot more product to clean your hair. However thats not really the case - you just have to get used to using the same amount but with less lather present.

Only thing that bothered me the first few times I used it is the scent. I was expecting a raspberry scent, which IS there, but its not quite the usual raspberry scent you get from lotions and stuff. I thought the scent smelt a bit 'fishy' at first lol :) So I read the label and they mention that the raspberry extract contains omega 3 fatty acids! I'm thinking that might be why.....Does anyone know if omega 3 fatty acids smell fishy even if they come from non-fish sources? Hmm....But anyway, the smell is fine after you get used to it. Just take a whiff at the store before you buy it to make sure that you will be ok with the scent :)


Ingredients for Hair Repair conditioner:




I love this conditioner. I have tried Burt's Bees Colour Keeper conditioner before, and that one sucked :( It didn't condition my hair enough and left it tangly. However this Hair Repair one is much richer, and smells awesome because of the grapefruit scent. It works best if you squeeze out the water in your hair as much as possible before putting the conditioner. I've used it a few times now and it leaves my hair smooth :) I do still use a bit of my usual Kiehl's hair serum oil to smooth the ends but I have a lot less trouble with brushing it due to this conditioning this product does :)

The reason I got this product was because I've read somewhere that you should use silicone free conditioners together with sulfate free shampoos. With regular drugstore shampoos, what they do is strip your hair clean with the sulfates, while the conditioners contain silicone to balance it out. But with a sulfate-free shampoo, using a silicone containing conditioner would add to product buildup and probably make my already fine hair flatter :P

Normally, with regular sulfate containing shampoos, I use Johnson & Johnson's Kids Detangling shampoo because my hair just gets tangled like crazy otherwise. But I hate that it weighs my hair down more and if I use too much, makes my hair feel greasy faster. I believe its because of the silicones in the product. None of these things happen with the Burts Bees, and from looking at the ingredient list, it seems silicone free :)


To summarize - Thumbs up for both products :) Just make sure you are ok with the scent of the More Moisture Raspberry shampoo.

Final note: I don't use any hair styling products like hairspray or mousse or serums at the moment other than the Kiehl's Silk Groom serum, which is oil based. So I'm not sure if it will clean hair effectively if you use a lot of those, since this isn't meant to be a clarifying shampoo. But it works well for a simple haircare routine like mine :)


P.S. To Canadians: Don't buy Burts Bees from Whole Foods - its overpriced. Even the online Canadian site (http://www.forever-natural.com/) is cheaper than Whole Foods. The shampoo is listed for $10.99, which is $1 more than Shoppers Drug Mart but $2 less than Whole Foods Market. Also, if you buy over $50 you can get free shipping!