Huda's Beauty Blog 100 Follower "Your Choice" Giveaway!!

Huda from Huda's Beauty Blog has this awesome giveaway.  What's so awesome is that the winner gets to choose his/her own prizes (10 drugstore items and a MAC item).  It ends on July 15th and only open to US residents. Enter here.

Makeup Diary's 250 Follower Giveaway!

Makeup Diary is having a giveaway to celebrate her 250 followers.  The prizes are amazing!!!  She is so generous!!!  The giveaway is open internationally as well.

Let's take a look at the prizes:

Sigma F80 brush!  This brush has been on my wishlist for months.

ELF 100 Eyeshadow Palette

30 Pairs of BNIP Falsies

MAC Surf Baby Hibiscus Lipstick and Pinch O Peach Blush

30 assorted NYX glitters and pigments

(All images are property of Makeup Diary)

GOOD LUCK!!!

ELF Mineral Haul (Part 2)

So here's Part 2!!!!  Enjoy =)

Mineral Foundation SPF 15 in Light

I prefer liquid foundation over powder ones because I have combination skin with lots of dry patches.  I tried this over a bare face and it gave me a sheer coverage.  It may be good for some but I want to hide redness and blemishes on the skin.  I use this over my liquid foundation to set it which gives more coverage for me and reduces shine.

Mineral Booster in Sheer

I think this is the equivalent to the ELF HD powder but in skin color tone.  I read some reviews that the HD powder gives off a white chalky cast on the face.  I have it and I agree too so I have to take extra time to blend it out.  The Mineral Booster reduces that step.  It's pretty good.  The powder is soft and finely milled. I haven't used it a lot because I've been using the mineral foundation to set instead.

Mineral Blemish Kit in Clear

It comes with a small brush.  It's soft and can be used to put on eye shadow too.  I tried this once so I can't say if it works.  It's T.O.M. so my face has been acting up and I have other acne medications to use.  I'm going to try this more to give a better review.  Sorry >_<;;

I also got some products from the Essential line.

Natural Radiance Blusher in Coy

First of all, I HATE THE PACKAGING!!!  It's so hard to open and is so flimsy.  Yesterday I was trying to open it.  I got it opened after 5 times trying.  The lid came off and I made a dent in the middle.  Colorwise, it is a lovely color and I don't have any like this in my collection.  It is a light mauvey pink color.  The texture is soft, a little too soft.  There is fallout.  I have this blush in Glow which I swatched side by side with Coy.

Essential Lipstick in Nostalgic, Seductive, and Gypsy

I first saw these swatches on MsPrettyfulGirl's blog and I just have to have them, especially Gypsy.  These lipsticks are so soft and creamy and a dream to apply.  My favorite is Gypsy.  I don't really like Nostalgic. It looks to pale on me, I was hoping to be warmer tone.  It's so hard to find a nude lipstick where it doesn't make you look dead.  I always lightly dab on a pinkish lipstick or lip gloss to make it look less dead on me.  Seductive is okay.  I have too many lipstick that are similar to that shade.

Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Nude Pink, Hypershine Gloss in Sugar Plum and Bare

I LOVE luscious liquid lipsticks, especially in Nude Pink.  YOU HAVE TO GET THIS COLOR!!!!  The color is a salmon pink that looks perfect with smoky eyes.  It is perfect for summer.  Sugar Plum looks scary out of the tube but it is sheer.  On the website, the shade is misleading.  I was hoping for a grayish purple like on the website.  On the lips it is more brown.  It warms up my lips and looks nice in the fall.  I like Bare.  The color is a light peachy shade with gold shimmer.  On the lips, the peachy shade is gone but you are left with the beautiful gold shimmer.  The only thing I don't like is the packaging...

I always get a defect with my ELF order.  In my previous order, my Cherry Tart Luscious Liquid Lipstick was defected but ELF quickly sent me another one.  For this order, ELF sent me a new one so I'm happy.  I always depot the defected ones in sample containers.  Even though the applicators are broken, I can still use the lip color with lip wands instead.  

Waterproof Eyeliner Pen in Purple

I love this color.  I have several eyeliners in this color but I love my purples.  I owned the Plum one a long time ago and that one looked too dark on my lids.   But Purple is brighter and looks nice on brown eyes.  I have the Teal one swatched side by side.  These two are the newest shades.  I am impressed.  These add an extra oomph to your eyes.  

Eyebrow Stencil

The quality is ehh.. It felt so fragile.  But it's only $1 so I didn't expect much.  I bought this because I was going to use it with the Studio Eyebrow Kit in Medium that I also ordered but... it was out of stock!  I emailed ELF about this and the Bare lipgloss.  They sent me a replacement for Bare but the eyebrow kit was out of stock again.  I emailed them again and the order is currently pending.  I rather have ELF just refund back the $3 than keep on giving me false hope.  But the customer service was great as usually.  Response to my emails and shipping was quick.  

Do you do this?

I do this ALL THE TIME!

Yves Rocher Haul

Yves Rocher is a company that sells skin care and cosmetics.  It is similar to Avon where it has lots of deals going on and they are very generous on samples.  The customer service is excellent and shipping is prompt.  I ordered last weekend and the package came today. 

Products:

Jardin des Nymphes Eau de Toilette. $25-->$12.50

Jardin des Nymphes Hair and Body Shampoo. $4-->$2

Inositol Vegetal Moisturizer Day Lotion- FREE

Travel Sized Iris Noir Body Lotion- FREE

Trial Sized Micellar Cleansing Water- FREE

Travel Sized Ovale Lifting Defining Face and Neck Lotion- FREE

Riche Creme Regenerating Day Cream- FREE

Naturelle EDT sample- FREE

Flower Party EDT Sample- FREE

The EDT is 2.5 fl oz.  I love the bottle.  It reminds me of Estee Lauder Beyond Paradise with the color scheme.  It has a mix of floral and aquatic note, which I like.  It is not strong at all.  I don't like perfumes that are musky and strong smelling that gives me a migraine.

Publish Post

I received the Inositol Vegetal Moisturizer Day Lotion as a gift.  Yves Rocher has nice promotions and they usually gives out free full-sized products, several trial-sized products or accessories (bags, jewelry, blankets) for free if you place a order.  I love this packaging.  It is reusable and you can buy a refill for a few dollars cheaper than the new one.  It is easy to take out and put back in.  

If I order within 10 days, I can receive 5 plastic microwavable bowls as a gift or 3 travel-sized products.  I opted for the travel-sized products because I have too many bowls around the house.  The products were the same from an order I placed 3 months ago.  The body lotion was too strong for my liking.  The cleansing water is excellent.  It's gentle on my skin and can be used on your eyes, lips, and face.  I gave the face and neck lotion to my mom so I haven't tried it yet.

I am happy with the perfume samples.  I already have the perfumes at home but it's nice for sample sized versions of them.  I might do a post of my perfume collection in the future.  

Have you tried Yves Rocher?  Do you like the products?

FOTD- Beachy with a touch of Mysterious

(heehehe my hair is uncontrollable ^__^) 

I was bored/being unproductive today so I decide to play with my new ELF mineral eye shadows.  Of course the first one I reached for was Beachy =)  I decide to do a blue smoky eye.

Products used:

Eyes: WetnWild Color Icon palette in Greed (the ones used are outlined)

Physician's Formula Gel Liner for Brown Eyes (the black one)

ELF Mineral eye shadows in Beachy, Mysterious, and Socialite

NYX eye pencil in Milk (not pictured, sorry!)

Estee Lauder Double Wear mascara

Lips: Revlon lip stick in Soft Nude

ELF Luscious Lipstick in Nude Pink

On cheeks: Physician's Formula Mineral Wear blush in Blushing Glow (not pictured, sorry!)

Face: Revlon Photoready in Nude

Maybelline Fit Me powder in 120

Hard Candy Glamoflauge in Light

(I forgot to take pictures of all my face products!  Typical me!)

I only took a picture of my right eye because my left eye is being weird.  

I first used Milk as a base on my eyelid so the mineral eyeshadows can adhere to my eye better and be more pigmented.  I then used Mysterious all over my lid.  Then I used Beachy starting on the outer 1/4 of my lid and blended it inwards to 3/4 of the way with a fluffy blending brush.  I layered Beachy until it's to my desired pigmentation.  I use the black in the Greed palette in my crease and blended it outwards.  The matte cream shade in the palette is used on my brow bone and blended it down.  I then used Socialite on my lower lid.  Then I used the matte black in Greed to line the waterline.  Next Milk was used on the inner corners of my eye as a highlight.  I lined my top lid with the Physician's Formula gel liner.  Finally I curled and applied mascara.  Whewwww!!!

 For my lips, I put on Revlon Soft Nude the I layered ELF Nude Pink on top of it for shine.  (Nude Pink is a prettyyyyyyyy color! Be on the look out for it in my ELF Haul Part 2)

ELF Mineral Haul (Part 1)

I decided to separate my ELF Haul into two parts or else this post is going to turn into an essay.  First up are the mineral eyeshadows and eye brightener!
I love these!  They are so soft and pigmented.  Most of them are shimmery and a few are matte.  At first, it is hard to use them since they are pigments and are not pressed.  I prefer pressed eye shadows but I'm getting used to these.
Each shadow comes in a 0.03 oz pot with a sticker on the sifter.  I recommend not taking the entire sticker off but instead just pop a few of the holes.  I store them upside down because the name of the shadow is on the bottom.

Angelic- white shimmer

Glamorous- burgundy purplish color with shimmer

Earthy- olive tone with golden yellow shimmer

Beachy- royal blue shimmer (so pretty- blue is my favorite color if you can't tell from my user id)

Girly- pale purpley pink with shimmer

Mysterious- matte periwinkle blue with a fine overlay of shimmer (it's weird that ELF decided to put some shimmer in a matte shade)

Enchanting- matte brown with a fine overlay of shimmer

Golden- gold tone with shimmer

Temptress- matte pinkish brown

Buff (Eye Brightener)- matte yellowish nude color)

I love all of them but I just can't stop looking at Beachy.  These pigments were swatched on dry skin.  But they can be used wet to increase intensity.  

What is your favorite color?  

Drugstore Findings!

Out of all the drugstores, my favorite has to be Rite Aid.  I love the wellness program.  Because of it, I have gotten household necessities such as toilet paper, toothpaste, and shampoo for cheap.  This week, Colgate toothpaste is on sale for $2.99 with $2.99 in UP rewards so it's practically free.  I also found a lot of new products such as the NYC Bronze Bliss collection, LA Colors Color Craze nail polish and Revlon DNA Age Defying foundation.

I fell in love with the NYC products.  I picked up one of the twist-up sticks in Gold Radiance and two lip stains in Tropic Tan and Coral Reef.  Here are some swatches =)

Creme Stick in Gold Radiance

Isn't this lovely????  Look at the gold shimmer!!!  It gives me a beautiful highlight and it's so creamy and soft.  I'm in love <3

Smooch Proof 16Hr Lip Stain in Tropic Tan (left) and Coral Reef (middle)

These colors are totally wearable and beautiful.  I love NYC lip stains the most out of Cover Girl and Revlon.  I have Forever Fuchsia (right) awhile ago.  I also worn these on my lips and the colors turned out to be a little darker on my lips.  On my lips, Tropic Tan turned into a brighter pink and Coral Reef turned into a mauvey pink.

I am happy with my purchase.  I have to post my ELF haul soon but I have been feeling so unproductive lately.  sigh...it's a typical life of an unemployed recent college graduate.

ELF Haul coming soon!

I just submitted my ELF order!!!!  I recently purchased a Groupon for $35 worth of ELF Mineral cosmetics for only $15!  I'm super excited!  Ever since my last year of college and thesis, my skin has been acting out.  I love the mineral eye shadows but I only have a few, so I got more to build my collection.  I also got of the luscious lipsticks (<3) and lipstick from the essentials line.

Stay tuned for more! =)

Vacation Break!!!

Tomorrow I'm going to California!  I've traveled to Europe and  Asia (I don't remember the experience because I was still a baby) before but I've never ventured to the west coast.  After graduation, I want to take a little vacation.  It's kind of like a little reward to myself after 5 years of architecture school.  And I'm going to see the JYJ concert!!!  I'm so excited.  I have been a fan for 5 years when the group (which now consists of 3 members) were a group of 5.  I still support them.  ALWAYS KEEP THE FAITH!

I'm going to the northern part, not the south where LA is located.  So no Disneyland or Hollywood for me.  Next time though =)  I'm very excited to visit San Francisco.  The city is on the top places to live if I ever want to move.  It's similar to NYC but from what I heard and see online, the atmosphere is more relaxed and friendly.

I love going on vacation because I like packing.  It's weird.  I like to research places to go, what to wear, the weather and attractions.  Maybe because I am now an unemployed college graduate with nothing better to do at home.  But I don't like travelling on airplanes.  I don't like to sit for 8 hours non-stop especially in the air!  I wish in the future, there is a faster way of traveling like a teleportation device.  Only in my dreams...

Happy Memorial Day.  Enjoy your weekend and take care =)

HUGE ELF HAUL!!!

My ELF package came yesterday.  I was so excited.  I completed the order on Wednesday afternoon and it was shipped later in the day.  I am so impatient waiting for packages to arrive so for this ELF order, I stalk the FedEx website to see where my package is.  So onto the goodies!!!

=)

The ones I love:

This color is GORGEOUS!!!  I used to have the midnight one (it's a dark blue) but it was too dark.  This would be so perfect for spring and summer.  This color was recently released.

I got the Day 2 Night quad because emilynoel83 raved about it.  I can see why.  I love all of the colors in this quad.  I received the Drama quad as a free gift (hurray for freebies).  I love all of the colors here.  These quads are pigmented and creamy.  LOVEEE!

The color is so pretty.  It is a pink sheer color with gold shimmers.  It looks very natural.  The only thing I don't like is the packaging.  It took me awhile to know how to open it and when I did, it felt a little flimsy.  

 I was so lucky because these new studio blushes came out just before I completed my order.  I love every single one of them.  I almost have a complete collection of the studio blushes.  Giddy Gold is a bronzey peach color with shimmer.  Twinkle Pink is a hot pink with glitter (hence the name "Twinkle Pink").

The cream eyeshadow in Eggplant is a bit deceiving.  I expected a purpley tone but it;s more of a muddy brown.  But I like the texture.

I like these colors.  I don't have a lot of matte eyeshadows so these are great.  My favorite is Muted Mauve.  it is a pale powdery pink color.  Baked Berry is like a muddy brown (color is similar to the Eggplant cream eyeshadow).

 I LOVE MY MINERAL EYESHADOWS!!!  Every shadow is so pigmented.  You only need a small dab.  And they look multi-dimensional.  In different lighting, the colors look different.  Outdoorsy is so deceiving.  It looks like a foresty green in the packaging.  But when swatched, it's a gorgeous dark green that looks black in some lighting.  My camera failed to capture the gorgeousness of Outdoorsy.  It is dark green with gold, olive and even bronze shimmers.  This is a complex shade to describe.  Smoldering is a silvery blue color and Flirty is a bright cool-toned purple.  It reminds me of WetnWild Kitten but much more pigmented. 

I like me some lip glosses!!!  I love these colors.  They smell so delicious.  But they are a little sticky.  

Borderline:

 Beauty Encyclopedia in Sparkle Eye Edition

 Includes: 12 eyeshadows, 2 cream eyeshadows, 1 eyeliner in Coffee, 1 dual sided sponge tip applicator

 swatches galore:

I like most of the eyeshadows especially the 4 colors on the second row and the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th color on the third row.  I HATED the 1st one on the third row.  I couldn't get a decent swatch because it was hard (literally).  I had to use my fingernail to scratch the surface.  And when I did get some color, it was crumbly.  =(

Don't like:

Look what happened to my Cherry Tart lip stick!!!  I twisted the applicator for the color to come up but the top broke off.  I couldn't get a proper swatch from it.  I wrote a email to ELF and hopefully they;ll get back to me.  

EDIT: Elf sent me a new Cherry tart lip stick.  This one is not damaged and I am loving it so far.  The color is red and is buildable.  It has a bit of a minty smell to it which I love.  For the damaged lipstick, I deposited it into a sample jar.  I don't want to waste a good product no matter how inexpensive it is.