Amazing brush, worth the hype? *Giveaway*

This blog is amazing. She has great reviews. And yes, she has great giveaways.

I'm pretty excited about this one. She's giving away the infamous foundation brush *drumroll* THE SIGMA F80 FLAT TOP KABUKI. Yes, that's right you heard it. If you've tried it, now's your chance. You'll be able to tell if it's worth all the hype.

Check of Stephanie's giveaway on her blog (In Her Makeup Bag) here.
Also don't forget to read her amazing posts!

Do any of you have a F80? Let me know how you feel.

Mascara Wishlist

Eyeko Magic
Almay One Coat Get Up and Grow Mascara
L’oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes
L’oreal Lash Boosting Mascara
L’oreal Lash Out Mascara
L'oreal Voluminous
L'oreal Volumious Million Lashes
L'oreal Naturale
Covergirl LashBlast
Revlon GrowLucious
Maybelline Falsies
Maybelline One by One
Rimmel London Lash Accelerator
Rimmel London Sexy Curves Waterproof
Fairydrops

NOTD Marine Life

Rimmel Marine Blue and Sinful Colors Nail Junkie

Project Use Up

The most popular makeup diet is the infamous Project 10 Pan. Many makeup lovers out there are always unable to stick to promise for several reasons. We say that we cheated because we have no other mascara, or simply we just can't help ourselves.

If something new came out in a permanent collection, why not wait. But if it's limited edition, we all understand that you have to get it. But first step back, think and figure out if you really need this. Figure out if you have a look alike shade.

For me, I cheated because of the amazing deal I received. I bought a NARS pressed powder for 15 whopping dollars. But now I'm unsure if I'm going to keep it. I think amazing limited edition deals should allowed. I've also been stocking up on blog sale items for cheap.

Because of all these reasons, I've came up with a new additional idea for Project Pan, to help reduce your makeup collection without having to sacrifice everything. Go for the limited edition items and deals. Before you do that, first think if you would buy it even if it wasn't on sale. If you say no, rethink buying it. If you run out of product, go pick up a new one. If you run out of ALL or at least two foundations and you only have one left, go get another one. But if you run out of say two lipstick and you still have twenty other lipsticks, that's cheating.

Treat yourself once in a while but if you start using the new items before you finish your Project Pan items then, the longer your stuck without buying makeup. Just think of it this way, when you reach the finish line go out on a little haul. But always think if you really need this.

Good luck and tell me your experiences.

Multipurpose Product I - White Eyeshadow

A staple in every girl's makeup bag should be a white eyeshadow. It could be any type of white, such as champagne, ivory or whatever shade it is.

The obvious use for a white eyeshadow is as a brow bone highlight or and inner corner highlight. But how about using the eyeshadow as a facial highlight. I was inspired about my The Body Shop Shimmer Waves. (Check out my review) But this product could be used as an eyeshadow and as a blush. I went through my makeup collection and found a white eyeshadow and tested it out as facial highlight. It gave me the same results as the Shimmer Waves.

The only thing I would warn you about is to make sure if matches your blush. If your wearing a gold-toned blush with gold shimmer than it would go better with a white eyeshadow with gold shimmer. The same goes with silver eyeshadow. But I think it would still look fine if you have silver toned eyeshadow with a gold toned blush.

BLEND! Yes. Please blend. I like applying my highlight with my finger. It blends it well and helps pick off the excess shimmer. My second option for applying highlight would be with a fluffy eyeshadow brush. It's flimsy so it won't pack on the product and be overly shimmery.

My White Eyeshadow

Sephora Collection Colorful Mono Eyeshadow

Shade: Aspen Summit 23

P.S. Mac Vanilla Pigment would also work. It would last forever also. I'm planning on picking that one up also.

What's your perfect highlight? Let me know. 

Multipurpose Product II - Matte Brown Eyeshadow

There are several uses for this product (especially for doing makeup of the go or just traveling light):

• Eyeshadow - Crease Shade
• Eyeliner
• Brow Filler

The eyeshadow would work as a great neutral eye look.

You could also wet an angle brush with water, fix +, eye drops, contact solution, and many other options. Then dip the brush and use it as a soft eyeliner on the upper lash line.

If you buy the right shade of brown than it would work great as a bow filler.

Just keep an eye out for the right brown shade

Suggestions:

Dark Brown - Revlon Matte Eyeshadow in Rich Sable

Head to your beauty store and find that perfect eyeshadow for multi uses. Good Luck!

Sterotype Beginner Mascara

Maybelline Great Lash
This is a no no. Many people have started out with this mascara. This was even my first mascara. The drugstore mascara quality has BOOM throughout the years. It's pointless to go for a high end mascara when you're first stating out with makeup. Go for something amazing like the Covergirl Lash Blast Fusion. This is my personal favorite as of right now. L'oreal Voluminous would also be a good choice. It's a pretty popular one (I haven't tried it personally yet).

*Buying two mascaras, one waterproof formula and one washable formula. This way you'll be able to figure out which formula you like best. It's also always great to have a waterproof formula in anyone's makeup collection.

What was your beginner mascara?

I cheated...

...on my Project 10 Pan. Yes, I cheated. I'm not sure if it really counts. I did pick up a mascara because I had a free rebate for it. I will not open it until it get rid of my other mascaras. I don't need to be wasting any more items. Or at least I try.

I picked up Physicians Formula Organic Wear Jumbo Lash Mascara in Ultra Black Organics. I was going to pick it up soon anyways because the rebate was going to expire soon. So might as well. It was on sale for $10.

I've also been buying makeup from blogs. It's a problem. It's so cheap. I couldn't pass it up.

There's also this store near my school that's closing and their Nars products are half off. Not sure if I'll keep what I bought (pressed powder).

Nail Polish does not count because I need to build up my spring/summer nail polish colors.

L'oreal Feel Naturale Light Softening One-Step Makeup Review

This is a discontinued product.*
My shade is Natural Beige.
This foundation is a cream to powder foundation.
It goes on so smooth. Blendablity is average. If I stipple it on, and wait a couple seconds, it might dry and be a little hard to blend. So I have to buff a Lot. But I don't mind that.
Let me just say this. This is a horrible foundation for dry skin. It shows all the dry patches on my skin. I have combination skin, so sometimes I have to apply moisturizer after.
It is a huge compact. Comes with a large mirror, which I adore.
For me this foundation last for a whole school day. I don't sweat. I don't use a primer. I only set this with a powder.
Packaging : 4 out of 5 (prefer a smaller compact)
Overall: 3.7 out of 5

Oh Concealer, why won't you go down?

Mini Vent to a Concealer

I am trying to figure out how much concealer I have left. I've been waiting for hours for it to go down so I could see exactly is left. I'm pretty anxious to see if I only have a small amount because I'm using it for project pan. I really want to get rid of this so badly. Why is it so difficult for concealer to gradually land to the bottom of the tube? Is it because of the consistency? Too thick, too long? That's my theory.

Clearing My Makeup Collection

• I refuse to use anything with parabens on my lips. I have tend to lip/eat my lip products...and I prefer not to eat synthetic preservatives. So my Rimmel lip glosses/lipsticks and Maybelline Lip glosses are being chucked.
• Itchy Eyes? The problem - Old mascara. I never reach the three month deadline for mascara. I always end up throwing it out at the 2nd month.
• Selling "back-ups" to friends/relatives.
• Reapplying makeup when needed to. Ex. as when my concealer starts caking, I remove it and reapply.
• Going powder happy. Since I switched pressed powder, it doesn't keep me oil free as much as I would like. 
• Finding another purpose for unused items. Ex. I have a white eyeshadow which could be used as a highlight.
• Resisting sales. What's better than buying expensive makeup for cheap? Well the answer is... YOU DON'T NEED IT.
• PROJECT 10 PAN!

Project 10 Pan!

So I don't even have that many products, but I do have at least two of something (maybe not eyeliner). I need to get rid of a lot of stuff. That's why project 10 pan was created. I have two makeup bags worth of random stuff that I don't even use that much. That's why I'm going to work all of my project 10 pan items into my everyday routine. Hopefully, maybe I'll finish some items that aren't on my list. Some items will be finished but the items, in actually "pans" might not be. I'm hoping to reach pan on several items but some items will be used up, not all.


Rules:

• I'm allowed to buy something when I run out of everything in each category (most likely going to be mascara).
• Beauty Tools allowed.
• Facial Care Products allowed.
• Nail Polish allowed.
• Free Products, OBVIOUSLY ALLOWED!
• Amazing NATURAL makeup sets allowed. 

1. L'oreal Feel Naturale One Step Light Softening Makeup
I've been using this for about two months. And I've only made a small dent. I use this every weekday but I guess it's like a never ending product.

2. Maybelline Mineral Powder Concealer
I like to believe that I've used about half of the tube.

3. Physicians Formula Healthy Wear Powder
I'm planning on only reaching pan on this product, not using it up. Don't worry, I would reach pan in a large area. And hopefully I could use most of it before it's expiration date, March 2012.

4. Physicians Formula Healthy Wear Light Bronzer
I use this about once a day. This also has an expiration date, March 2012. I plan on giving up on this product when I reach pan on this.

5. Clinique High Impact Mascara.
I have two samples of this but I'll only count them as one. This might be the one product that I don't want to use up. If this does not dry out or run out before 3 months are up, this will be thrown out. I hate putting bacteria infected stuff near my eye. So the two tube would at the most last me about 6 months.

6. The Body Shop Blush
I have two "back-ups" of this, so i need to get rid at least one. I plan on only reaching "pan" on this item.

7. Burt's Bees Lip Balm
I tell myself that I have about half of this left. I love this lip balm but I have too much! This was the lip balmclosest to being down, that's why I chose this.

 8. Oil Blotting Sheets
I think I have about 15 left. So 15 days? This is probably a give away but I feel like I need something to persuade me to keep on going and continue this project pan. And I do need to get rid of this. I've had this for over a year. And it's just been sitting in my makeup collection collecting dust.

9. Tresemme Refreshing Mist
I spritz my hair with this everyday. I would say I have about 90% of this left.

10. Clinique Dramatically Different Lotion
I picked up the wrong formation! I was suppose to get the GEL. Oh well. I have about 85% of this left. I've been using it twice a day.

The Body Shop Shimmer Waves in Peach

Wow. This is shimmery. It's perfect for a highlight though. As spring approaches, and the sun comes out it's nice to have a dewy effect. Going overboard is a no no. But wow do I love this.

I love looking matte expect for where the "sun hits", which is the cheekbone/eyebrow area.

Where do I highlight, you might ask? Well I highlight my brow bone, on top of my brow and of course the obvious place, the cheekbone.

All the colors seem pretty similar. Choose from the peach, pink or champagne... it's all the same payoff. It comes off just silver glitter.

This retails for about $20 but it is no longer available.The Body Shop does have this in different shades, and I bet they would be worth checking out. Physicians Formula and other brands make something similar, for a cheaper alternative. But will it have the same payoff? I'm not sure.

I wanna try the darker shades as a topper for my bronzer, in the summer. Maybe it'll made a nice peach, silver bronzer. Sounds nice, doesn't it?

Tell me if you've tried any type of shimmer waves/stripes/or any other type of similar product.

About Me

1. I am Asian.
2. No one has flawless skin. I have light skin, maybe even fair colored skin. I hate admitting that I have fair skin, I like to think of myself having light skin. I have a warm undertone, of course because of my race. I do suffer from redness, not rosacea. 
3. I have mono lid. Because of this, I very rarely wear eye makeup. Many people think I should be afraid to wear eyeshadow or eyeliner, but I am. Its difficult for me to experience with. Many people don’t have mono lid but unfortunately I do. Don’t get me wrong, I love my eyes.
4. I prefer lengthing mascaras. Asian people tend to have short lashes. I think I’m in between; I don’t have super short lashes (like my dad) but I don’t have amazing BAM lashes. I prefer the waterproof kind, over the washable kind. I guess I have “oily eyelids”. Mascaras tend to smudge on me and give what I call, extra BAGggage. Waterproof mascaras just tend to smudge less on me.
5. Everyone has lazy days, like those days where we don’t want to put on makeup. Some days all I need is concealer, powder and just a quick swipe of mascara.
6. I can wear more makeup than the average teenager.
7. I prefer lipgloss over lipstick.
8. I am a paraben-free girl. Makeup contained parabens aren’t my biggest concern, but I do prefer it. I do try to watch out for parabens in my skin care, ex. moisturizers. 
9. Things have to be symmetrical for me.
10. I am mostly a drugstore beauty girl.
11. I prefer pink blushes because that’s my nature blush color. I must seem ridiculous wearing a blush color that matches the color of my cheeks.
12. Call me a lip balm freak.
13. I’m always looking for bargains, things can seem overpriced in my eyes. But somethings it’s worth it. Or sometimes we just need to slurge.
14. I HATE GERMS! I mean who doesn’t, it all depends on how much someone cares. I throw beauty products out when it’s time to trash them. There are dates that should be followed but you’re skin will when the time is right. Old beauty products can mess with you’re skin, as well as mine. I ADORE MY SKIN. Replacing a simple product is just a small price to day to keeping your skin healthy.
15. Beauty shouldn’t be for someone else. It should be for yourself. Experience! Makeup is a way for someone to become creative without being artistic. Makeup can enhance someone’s beauty, I know it does for me. It can also help boast yourself esteem. Use cosmetics in whatever way that makes you feel comfortable.

Maybelline Great Lash in Royal Blue

Maybelline Great Lash use to be an overly hyped product, back in the day when drugstore mascaras weren’t as great as they are now. Now, it’s an average, nothing to rave abut product. This mascara can clump, so two coats is a no no. This adds a subtle pop of blue. If you have dark lashes, the blue won’t be as vibrant as it is on the wand. Adding a lash primer, one that whites out your lashes will bring out the blue.
I purchased this product because of the color. Blue mascara is in, well at least I think so. I mostly only purchase drugstore mascara. And sadly, this is the only blue mascara at the drugstore, at least to my knowledge.
Too bad for me that non waterproof mascaras flakes and leaves with raccoon eyes. But I would definitely repurchase it if I didn’t have a problem with non waterproof mascara and only because it’s the only blue mascara available at the drugstore.
I watched MAKEUPBYTIFFANYD talk and about tricks for wearing blue mascara. She advised to wear blue mascara on the bottom lashes. I love this method, it’s a safer, more natural way look. Of course, blue mascara can be worn on the top lashes too. Don’t be afraid!
What blue mascaras do you like? Have you found one at the drugstore? How do you wear your blue mascara? Any tips or tricks? Please do tell.

Nivea A Kiss of Milk and Honey

Nivea, you can kiss me any day! Not all drugstore lip balms does wonders for me. I’ve finally found one that I love and was worth the $4. This lip balm does what it’s suppose to do and leaves me overly satisfied with the smooth texture.
When I apply lip balm, it feels great with it on. But after it disappears, my lips become super duper dry, even worse than before. I’ve learned that you should only apply lip balm twice a day, or it’ll stop working. I use to apply lip balm over and over again, because I didn’t have the moisture I desired.
I love the feeling when it’s first applied. Some girls love the glossy feeling from lip gloss. Well, I love the waxy feeling of lip balm! That’s why I probably apply five coats. But two coats of Milk and Honey is more than enough.

Future Purchases (always updated)

Wet N Wild Color Icon Blusher in Pearlescent Pink  (broke)

Wet N Wild Mega Last Lip Color in Rose Bud (not an everyday color, would wear for spring/fall)
Wet N Wild Mega Last Lip Color in Just Peachy (dislike, returning)
Hard Candy Glamoflauge Heavy Duty Concealer
Rimmel London Fix & Perfect Foundation Primer
Rimmel London Lasting Finish 25H Foundation
Maybelline Fit Me Pressed Powder (Horrible! it gave me an irritation)
Covergirl NatureLuxe Foundation
Covergirl Lash Blast Fusion
Covergirl NatureLuxe Gloss Balm in Sandstone
Revlon ColorBurst Lipglossin Peony
Almay Clear Complexion Pressed Powder
Almay Bright Eyes Liner/Highlighter Duo
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Compact Makeup
Neutrogena Healthy Skin Pressed Powder
Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm in Healthy Blush
Physicians Formula Powder Palette Multi-Colored Face Powder in Soft Green
Physicians Formula Mineral-Wear Correcting Primer
Physicians Formula Healthy Wear SPF 50 Tinted Moisturizer (happen to obtain 2 Light to Natural)
Physicians Formula Happy Booster Blush
Physicians Formula Powder Palette Mineral Glow Pearls Blush
Physicians Formula 100% Mineral FaceBrightener
Physicians Formula Mood Boosting Powder
Physicians Formula Healthy Wear Powder Foundation (Translucent Light)
Physicians Formula Healthy Wear Bronzer (Light, love it, can be a little orange)
Physicians Formula Happy Booster Bronzer
Physicians Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Day and Night Lash Boosting Serum
Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette
Bare Escentuals Matte Foundation
Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil
Bare Escentuals bare Minerals Multi-Tasking Face
Bare Escentuals bare Minerals 100% Natural Lipcolor
Clinique Redness Solutions Targeted Corrector]
Clinique Redness Solutions Makeup
Benefit Some Kind of Gorgeous
Dior DiorShow Black Out Mascara
EyeLipsFace Complexion Perfection
EyeLipsFace Contouring Blush and Bronzer Duo
EyeLipsFace Blush in Tickled Pink
EyeLipsFace Bronzers in Warm Bronzer
EyeLipsFace Bronzers in Golden Bronzer
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Blush in Flush

Is Vanity Really Worth it?

What is really in your makeup, skin care, hair care and even baby care? We know the chemicals are out there but do we really care? That’s the question we need to answer.

When you think about it, we use so many beauty products everyday. So we’re pumping chemicals after chemicals into our body. Is it really worth it, to look glamorous now and then have to deal with the consequences later?

We’re just being bought in huge industrial companies. They know everyone wants to look beautiful and everyone uses at least one products a day (ex. soap). They want people to buy it. Don’t we realize that they keep the ingredients a secret? Do you see the long, non-pronounceable words on the ingredient label? Isn’t that a sign that it’s full of uncountable chemicals. These words are there so we don’t know what is really in these items. These companies needs to know to stop putting these harmful ingredients into our everyday products. We need to show them that we will refuse to buy there products. Is it really that hard to replace these chemicals, that are killing many people for natural ingredients? These companies don’t care that people are dying as long as they make a little extra money. For them, our eyeshadow could take a few cents to make. But they end up selling it for over $30. Why is the eyeshadow so cheap to make? I’ll tell you. They pump full of cheap chemicals that give the consumers what they desire, long lasting, pigmented and a non creasing color. Will replacing them with natural ingredients make a huge dent in the company’s bank account?

Don’t get me wrong, I love my makeup. Even I know that the chemicals are there. I know my powder contains talc and my blush has synthetic dyes. But why do I keep neglecting it. It’s only because we are bought in by the companies and they synthetic products. Our pores absorbs the foundation, concealer, powder, bronzer, blush and basically everything we put on our skin. And without noticing it, we even end up eating our lip products. How does that chemical lip gloss taste? I think it tastes like cancer.
Did you finally find the right shade of blush to match your skin tone? I did, but I don’t want to give it up. I don’t want to throw out my $20 blush even though I know that I could be facing the consequences later. Am I being hypocritical? Or am I giving into the companies scams?

How do you feel?

Check out this link:  The Story of Cosmetics