Year: 2013

Quickie: The Body Shop’s Absinthe Purifying Hand Cream

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Today, I’m quickly featuring a current bag staple of mine, the Absinthe Purifying Hand Cream by The Body Shop. I’d been eyeing it in Japan, but I couldn’t really bring myself to buy it for whatever reason. Because The Body Shop has been on sale for what seems like forever, I took the plunge and bought myself the hand cream. Product Description: “A pure sensation for hands. This ingenious everyday cream with absinthe extract moisturises hands and leaves them feeling soft and super-fresh. — Moisturizes — Leaves hands feeling fresh — Heady Fragrance notes of bergamot, petit grain and neroli” My favorite part about this is the smell. It’s a very crisp and clean smell—I don’t think it’s heady at all, though a lot of people have said that it’s masculine. I feel like it’s a very neutral smell, but that could just be me. I actually detect more of a verbena scent, which is what attracted me to it in the first place. It’s supposed to get rid of yucky smells on your hand. …

Link Love Vol. 9

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Are you cool/neutral/warm? by Sineady Cady of The Makeup Chair Summer Glow by Sabrina of The Beauty Look Book — a selection of ‘perfect bronzers’ and ‘natural illuminators’ for that warm summer glow. Lipstick Week by Shari of The Misty Mom — technically, this is just an introductory post, but check out her MAC army in the image. I’m excited! Lipstick Week: NARS Satin Lip Pencils by Liz of Project Vanity — an awesome first post by Liz! Lipstick Week Day 1: Orange Red by Claire of Aucuparia Brumalis Lipstick Week by Krysty of Vain Jane Writes Suqqu: Fall 2013 by Haru of Rouge Deluxe Makeup Tips: Prepping & Priming the Face by Natalie of Natzi’s Stash Summer Makeup: How do you overhaul your look? by Makeup Monster MAC All About Orange Lipstick Swatches by Jane of Life’s Entropy MAC Peach & Coral Lipstick Collection by Jane of Life’s Entropy Tellie’s Misadventures: Galaxy Eyes by Beauty by Tellie Tutorial with Luxury Summer Beauty Treats! by amodelrecommends

Quickie: too cool for school Marshmallow Puff

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Here’s one of the Beauty Blender dupes that have been released upon the world. Since I have no Beauty Blender myself, this isn’t necessarily a comparison post. I just wanted to share with you guys how this worked out for me. From what I can see in other people’s videos, though, these imitations don’t really “work” in the same way as Beauty Blenders do. From what I understand, wetting the Beauty Blender causes it to kind of expand. These don’t do that. They don’t seem to have the same kind of “bounciness” and softness as Beauty Blenders do either, so I don’t know how much that affects application and actual results. HOWEVER, these are pretty awesome at applying liquid application. Here’s an example of me using it with L’Oreal’s Lucent Magique Liquid Foundation: I think that’s kind of a decent job. No streaks or patchiness or anything like that. That’s a pretty good foundation job for something I got for $5. They are not that durable, though, the first one I got tore in the …

IDGI: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade

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I really don’t get it. The MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade has apparently been a cult favorite and everyone’s perpetual lemming (because it always sells out) since it was first released as part of a 2005 collection, aka the beginning of time. It’s since been repromoted only a handful of times, and most recently in MAC’S collaboration with Hayley Williams, who insisted that they include it in her collection since she loves it so much. (Speaking of which, I really want the eyeshadow from that collection, but none of the online sellers I frequent had it.) I bought it because the promotional pictures were pretty. And I guess I was having a weak day. I didn’t even know it was a “cult favorite” until after I started looking at reviews online. About 90% of those sang praises to this pretty little orb. I figured I was maybe using it wrong? Based on what I’ve read, I wasn’t. A dusting on the cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, the browbone, and the cupid’s bow. Maybe an …

Waterproof Makeup, Kind Of

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Summer is upon us here in the tropical areas of the world. I’m sorry if you are still stuck in a wintry climate (bah, you!) but I cannot pretend that I live in lovely Spring weather when I’m being attacked by prickly heat despite sitting in front of an electric fan at full breeze power. This is how hot it is in Manila: YOU CAN FRY AN EGG WITH THE SUN. Anyway, now that we have established that it’s Summer Lovin’ weather over in this part of the world, I thought I would put together a list of Waterproof-ish Makeup that is mostly melt-resistant. Sadly, I have not found a face base that can withstand the literal buckets of sweat we excrete this time of the year, but I have a few good things in here that can maybe make up for it. EYES. I think it’s pretty obvious that all of the eye products you use should be waterproof, period. Now, I know some of these selections are kind of hard to get a …

Make That Face Monday: Easy Smokey Eye with NARS Duo in Dogon

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Hello everyone! Today, I have a very quick review on a NARS eyeshadow duo called Dogon, and I figured I could make it a tutorial for a super easy smokey eye, too. I told you, I’d try! 😀 So, first of all, Dogon is supposedly a limited edition NARS duo from the Summer 2011 collection, but I still see it for sale everywhere, including the NARS website. It has a metallic taupe shade with an icy green sheen, and a charcoal black shade. I rather like this duo; I think I’m a sucker for duochromes and different-sheeny shades. The quality is OK; the taupe is really, really pretty, but the charcoal matte may apply patchily on the lid without a base (cream shadow or primer), or if you try to blend it out too much. Still, layering the shades over each other creates a lovely effect. Look at that pretty shimmery, sheeny green in the Venn Diagram intersection of both shades. This is a really pretty duo that I think you can make a lot …

Link Love Vol. 8

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Products not worth the hype by camiloveskiwi Best Cruelty-Free Sunscreens by Phyrra — an awesome list, if you’re thinking of cutting out non-CF brands from your skincare. Too bad none of them are available here! Addiction: Basquiat Ready-to-Wear Eyeshadow reviews by Belly of Wondegondigo — HUHU Intense jealousy! I LOVE Basquiat, he is my favorite of all time. I asked my sister’s friend, Steph, to get me some of these palettes before they were released, but I’m not sure if she was able to get any for me, since she’s busy with work. ANYWAY. These are pretty, pretty. I am in love. Reader Question: Should I get a peel or microdermabrasion? by Liz of Project Vanity Lipstick Week by Romila Marie of Run Barbie Run — yay! Lipstick Week by Wiji of Dandelion Whiskers — double yay! Rouge Bunny Rouge Orpheline Original Skin Blush review by Sunny of Mostly Sunny I don’t know what happened—I guess it was a slow week? In any case, have a happy rest of the weekend! I’ll be on the …