Another Mini-haul (or in other words: I shop too much!)

So I was at the mall earlier because Brit had said that Sephora was having some special Nars event, and they were doing mini makeovers, and if you bought two products, there was some kind of gift bag. However, Nars is expensive, and the gift bag was just a few deluxe samples, and they were all different. So we didn’t buy anything, but we got our makeup done, and the artist who did mine commented on my Ravenclaw necklace, and then I remembered she was the one who had also noticed my Gallifrey shirt a couple weeks ago, so we talked about Doctor Who for a while, which was pretty cool. =)

Anyways, then Brit and I walked around the mall a bit, and I found a couple of polishes at Icing, which I haven’t been to in a long time, and their polishes have gotten so much more interesting! I fell in love with about 10 different glitters, but I picked two (since it was a buy one get one 50% off deal). I got:

Radio Super Star, which, as you can see is blue mini glitter, pink hex, and big silver stars! So cute!

And I also got What Planet Are You On?, which is this gorgeous neon green full of glitter, which gives is a really cool quality and depth!

Here’s swatches of these two polishes. I think you can tell which is which:

Icing also has this glitter nail polish remover thing, which is a little tub I’m guessing is full of polish remover, and has a brush inside that is supposed to help scrub off glitter, but I decided I wasn’t allowed three things, though its a great idea if it would work…

Then, in The Body Shop, another place I haven’t shopped in a while, I picked up a couple things from the Chocomania line, which were on 2 for $10. I got the lip butter, which smells exactly like chocolate icing:

And a small (50ml) pot of the body butter, which smells exactly like the lip butter:

And here’s everything I purchased today all together:

Also, in the mail today, I finally got the stamper and scraper I ordered from eBay so I could use the stamping plate I won, what, a couple months ago?

It took a really long time… Also, I am currently pretty bad at this, here are my first attempts:

April Glymm Box!

Guess what I got today!

If you guessed my April Glymm box, you would be correct! It actually came two days before Canada Post’s prediction this week, though for some reason they didn’t leave it at my door like usual, so I had to wait an extra day and go pick it up. But anyways, let’s get right on to the box, shall we?

I’m not a big fan of the picture cards, but this month’s is very pretty. But it’s supposed to be April Showers, not flowers, please excuse me if that was meant to be a cute play on words, but to me it just sounds like they confused the line. …ANYWAYS… here’s the other side of the card:

As you can see, this box had four samples (depending how you count them) and a “Bonus.” I’ll show you the bonus first, because I am simply not impressed:

First thoughts after looking at the front: “Yeah, but how much do I have to spend?”

Technically, this is just a $100 to use on Nu Me products—or at least, on their hair extensions and styling tools—and you don’t need to spend anything to use it. However, what isn’t mentioned on this card, is that the feather hair extensions from last month DO NOT COUNT for this promotion, which made me sad, because my first thought was that I would be able to get a few different colours of extensions with this. Instead, the cheapest thing you can buy with this card is their Mini straightener, which is $115 (American, I think), and if you read the reviews, this is too small to be good for anything other than touch-ups. The next size up, the Petite straightener, is $125, and with the discount, plus shipping to Canada, this product will still cost you $40.

So, although this sounds like a great bonus on first glance, this is pretty much useless to me. However, go ahead and use the code if you are in need of a new straightener or some hair extensions… everyone got the same code. I know I won’t be using it.

And here’s the first look into my box:

You can’t see too much with that first sample on top, so we’ll start with that one:

Atelier Cologne Orange Sanguine Fragrance:

Full size: 30 ml for $60 or 200 ml for $165
Sample size: ?? It doesn’t say, but I’d estimate 1.5 ml
Approx. value: $2.12
(I took an average of the prices; it could be valued anywhere from max: $3.00-min: $1.24)

I’m not exactly impressed by this sample, since it is annoyingly packaged and small. I don’t like this packaging, since it is hard to open without getting all over your hands when you take the lid off. Also, this is a very small sample, and Glymm is supposed to be supplying us deluxe samples not the same samples you can get for free from makeup counters. So I’m a little disappointed that this isn’t a little larger.

However, I do like the product itself. With the fancy French name, I was expecting an expensive, flowery fragrance, however this smells very strongly of oranges, like when you peel an orange and the zest gets everywhere. And I really like that. I probably wouldn’t repurchase this, though.

Lucia Soap No. 6 (Wild Ginger & Fresh Fig):

Full size: 8 soaps for $17.50
Sample size: 1 soap
Approx. value: $2.19

I’m not a big bar soap user, I prefer liquids, however, this smells really nice. I’ll probably take a long time to use this, though, since most of my showering happens at the gym, and it would be hard to pack a bar of soap there and back. I am very sure I wouldn’t repurchase this, though, since it’s very pricey for soap. I think the most expensive soap I’d ever buy would be a shower gel from the Body Shop.

Free Your Mane Sulfate-free Hydrating Shampoo & Daily Detangling Conditioner:

Full size: 300 ml for $16.00 (each, so $32 total)
Sample size: 7.4 ml each
Approx. value: ~$0.39 each (or $.079 total)

I haven’t used these yet, so I can’t tell you if I like them, and because of the stupid packaging, I can’t even open them up and tell you if they smell any good. You might be sensing another rant about bad packaging, and if so, you’re right. I know I’m not the only one, and I’m sure I’ve said this before, but I HATE THIS PACKAGING!! Why is it so hard to give us good sized samples? These packets cannot be closed, and there is no more than two uses in each packet. That is not enough to really try out a product, and if you want me to spend $16 a bottle on your shampoo, you better give me more to work with! I’ve gotten the same sized samples for free in the mail and in magazines, and since I’m paying for deluxe samples (I feel like I’m repeating myself), I expect to get them. Since this is worth less than a dollar for both samples, I’m sure it wouldn’t cost Glymm or the company much more to give us proper sized samples IN BOTTLES!

Sigh. That said, I’m also disappointed because this sample sounds promising, and I want to like it, but I’m sure, again, that I won’t be repurchasing, because this simply isn’t enough to get a feel for such an expensive product.

Mai Couture Social Gloss in G’Vinity:

Full size: 5 ml for $28.00
Sample size: full size; 5ml
Approx. value: $28.00

Finally, we come to what it pretty much my favourite thing in this box. This gloss looks a little scary in the tube, with its odd tan colour, but it goes on almost clear, and ends up looking basically like a shiny, glittery top coat for your lips! Also, it smells like chocolate cherries! Yum!

I really like this, and that its full size, but I probably would never purchase this, because it is very small, especially for the price! While it is a nice gloss, there are plenty of good glosses that won’t set you back thirty bucks.

One odd thing I noticed is that the prices on the card are not necessarily the same as the prices of these products if you want to buy them from the Glymm shop, which seems a little silly. For example, the shampoo and conditioner are $19.99 from Glymm…

Approx. Overall value of this month’s box: $33.10

Anyways, overall, I suppose I’m satisfied, but not actually impressed with this month’s box. However, if you have a use for the $100 gift card, I could see you being much more impressed with this month. I’m glad I got a full sized product, and that everything I received I can use quite happily, unlike some products, which I use just because I feel like I have to, since I technically paid for them. If you think about it, though, the lip gloss alone pays for this month almost three times. So, once again, I’ll be continuing my subscription at least one more month.

Did you get a Glymm box this month? Let me know what you thought, or if you want to share your experiences with any of the other monthly box programs, that’s great too.

Thanks for reading, have a great day =)

Mylo Xyloto Cover Art Inspired Nails (Coldplay)

Hello again!

Today I wanted to show you my Coldplay inspired nails, in honour of their concert, which I’m going to, tomorrow night! I went to last night! (It was sooooo awesome!!!)

First, though, in case you aren’t familiar with Coldplay, and haven’t seen the gorgeous cover art for their most recent album, here it is:

Cover art taken from this page.

I’m not nearly a good enough artist to try to do colourful graffiti on my nails, but I thought a great way to get the feel of this art would be splatter art! (It also gave me a great reason to finally try out this technique) First, I started out with my usual base of Nail Envy, and then two coats of Sephora by OPI’s A-ha Moment, which is just a simple white:

Next, I painted on a thin coat of Sephora by OPI’s Spark-tacular Topcoat:

Then, I used my very classy plastic straw to layer splatters of Fascino in 26 (the blue), OPI in Did it on ‘Em, and Julep in Cameron:

Finally, I topped it all off with a coat of Seche Vite, and, of course, cleaned up the mess I made of my fingers and cuticles. Here’s the completed look:

I was going to post you all a picture of the top of the Glymm box outer box that I used to catch the splatter that didn’t hit my nail, since it looks like a rainbow exploded on it, but I noticed that I did it on the side with my address, so I kinda can’t show you without letting you all know where I live =( …

The splattering technique is a little difficult (and very messy) until you figure out how far away and how hard to blow into the straw, and I found it practically impossible to aim the polish in any direction. In fact, I had a few attempts that didn’t even hit my nail! But I really like the outcome, and it’s pretty fun to do!

What do you think? Leave me your comments!

Sunday Shopping Haul!

Hello everyone!  I’m finally done with this semester, after yesterday containing two very long exams, which kept me on campus until 10 pm. So I’m free once again to waste time in whatever fashion I want =). Unfortunately, my plan today sort of depended on my house being empty, but for some reason my dad is home, and I have to wait for him to be done in our pathetically small kitchen so I can go make lunch… sigh. Anyways, while I’m waiting, I thought I’d write up this post for you guys.

As usual, on Sunday I went shopping with my best friend, but this time, I had a list of things I wanted or needed to get, and I actually have a decent looking haul post to show you, though I’ll admit its not all makeup. Here’s what I got (sorry for the lower quality picture, I took it with my phone at her house, since I didn’t have my camera):

As you can probably see, I got:

1. UK Cosmopolitan from Chapters ($6.33 in Canada, with iRewards discount).
   I prefer the British one to the American one, mainly because the American one feels a little bit like porn for women, however, I do have to admit that this issue of UK Cosmo has nearly-naked pictures of Princes Harry and William… heh.
2. Three tubes of Zellers imitation Pringles (3 for $3), because they are cheap, not much different, and because I have a little bit of a problem =P
3. Garnier BB Cream in Light/Medium from Shoppers (~$23 after tax).
   I’ve worn this twice since I bought it, and I have to say I’m pretty impressed so far. The first day it was hard to judge how well it stayed and what it did for my skin, because I set it all over with my Sephora mineral powder, and also was wearing blush. But yesterday I wore just the cream and some mascara, and I have to say I really love how it looks and stays. I find I really don’t need powder, because I don’t get very shiny with this, and it lasts really well. However, if you are looking for something with good coverage, this is not the product for you. I’m lucky to have relatively clear skin, so I just need a little help with evening my skin tone, but this won’t cover much. Still, its a great product if you just need a little help!
4. A perfume sample from Sephora, because Brit bought something, even though I didn’t
5. A neon green sunglasses case from Urban Planet ($5).
   I needed this because I never bring my sunglasses anywhere, because I hate throwing them in my bag to get scratched or broken, and I don’t like having to wear them on top of my head. This way, I know they’ll be safe even if they aren’t on my face!
6. Jet Puffed marshmallows from Zellers ($1.50), really just because I haven’t had marshmallows in ages.
7. An apple daffodil mini lotion from Bath and Body Works ($1).
   This was an impulse buy; I was at the counter buying the sanitizers, and they were there for only a dollar, and this one smelled so good!
8. Three hand sanitizers from Bath and Body Works: Warm Vanilla Sugar, Wildberry Hibiscus, and Cilantro Peach (3 for $5).
   Why? Basically because I’m addicted. I don’t need more, I still have most of the 8 I got with that free coupon ages ago, but these smell amazing. The Wildberry one smells like grape Kool-Aid, and the Cilantro Peach smells surprisingly wonderful!
9. And finally, Maybelline Turbo Volume Express Waterproof mascara in Very Black from Zellers (~$7.20).
   I needed a new mascara, because my L’Oreal was running out. I didn’t repurchase that one, because, even though I like the formula, I really don’t like the rubber brushes, so I thought I would try something new. This, thankfully, has a nice, dense, bristle brush, and I’m absolutely loving it!

I also got a sandwich, salads, and Coke at the little sandwich place in the food court at Metrotown (the mall we were at):

And, there was an English bulldog puppy in the pet store. I couldn’t get a good picture of her, but she was so adorable, with her little speckled belly and bulldog-y-ness… Bulldogs are my favourite dogs, by the way, and it took all of my willpower not to leave the mall with a brand new puppy!

Oh, and this is what it looks like when me and Brittany start playing with makeup, apparently:

Let me know if you’ve picked up anything you’ve been wanting to try for a while, or what you think of this, or any other BB Cream. Or comment on whatever, I love to hear from you! Thanks for reading!

Contest Alert: 5 more days to enter!

The Crow and the Powderpuff blog is having a pretty awesome giveaway, with a bunch of eye pigments and an eye primer. There’s only five days left to enter, so be sure to check it out!

Also, just to let you know, I shouldn’t be posting until after this upcoming Tuesday, because of the insane amount of studying I have to finish for my exams, both of which are on Tuesday >_<…

Thanks for reading! <3

Fashion Pet Peeves #1 (and intro)

As I mentioned briefly in one of my earlier posts, I want to do a little series of posts about fashion trends and products that I can’t stand. I know this is supposed to be a makeup blog, but I think if you call it a beauty blog instead, the fashion fits in just fine! I have a fairly long list waiting in the back of this semester’s notebook of ideas for posts for this series. I think I’ll try to post one a week. I hope you enjoy these, feel free to disagree, and let me know what you think in the comments!

I though I would start with one of my oldest and strongest hates. Thus, this week’s topic is…

Ugg Boots:

This probably isn’t a huge surprise if you follow any fashion blogs at all, but at the same time, this seems to be an excessively controversial stance, since so many girls still wear them or some kind of cheaper imitation, including my younger sister. I care a little less about the cheaper ones, but they are still just as ugly and only acceptable if it’s really cold out and you aren’t in a skirt or tucking baggy pants into them. Or if you don’t plan to leave the house.

Example of baggy pants in Uggs

My big annoyance is the expensive ones (regular, name-brand Uggs cost at least $200), or any imitation costing more than $20. These do not look good and should never be worn as fashion. There are lots of good quality, attractive boots out there, there is no excuse for Uggs as fashion. They really aren’t even practical!

I don’t understand why so many girls wear them in the rain, either! You can see that the water has soaked in and I can’t imagine how squishy and uncomfortable that makes these atrocious boots!

Wet Uggs…

Honestly, I’m going to link you to my favourite fashion blogger, also a teacher at VCAD for fashion here in Vancouver. She has brilliant rants about Uggs:

• Loathe: War of the Ugglies
• Loathe: Stolen Uggs

I also hate when people wear these with skirts or shorts; this looks bad, and besides, if you’re cold, you should put on some bloody pants or tights or something!

Another thing, Uggs on GUYS?!

Why, God, why?

I don’t know why this fashion disaster has been spreading to men, mainly asian men, but I’ve seen it on white guys too… This is not okay. These boots look just as bad, if not worse, on you! Stop. Please just stop.

Oh, and one more thing, which I actually have on my list for a post of it’s own:

*Shudder*

Anyways, that’s my rant for the week. I currently have a list of pet peeves waiting, so I might make these posts a weekly thing. Please let me know if you are interested in reading more of them! Also, please let me know what you think, and whether you agree or disagree with my hatred of Ugg boots and all of their various imitations.

Thanks for reading! <3

(All pictures were found at random on Google Images)

Two Tags “40 Beauty Questions” and “Hunger Games”

So, I found both of these tags on GretalRabbit Writes, and I’m posting them together, because technically the Hunger Games one isn’t relevant to my blog, but I love surveys and wanted to do it anyways!

40 Beauty Questions:

1) How many times do you wash your face daily?
Once at night if I remember… I’m really bad…

2) What skin type do you have?
Combination; usually greasy chin and forehead and dry cheeks and nose.

3) What is your current facial wash?
Sephora Supreme Cleansing Foam. Or the Ole Henriksen Turth to Go face wipes if I’m lazy…

4) Do you exfoliate?
Sometimes. Usually just with a little sample product from a Glymm box, or I’ll count lightly scrubbing my face with a washcloth. Though I also like to use my mom’s St. Ives apricot face scrub sometimes.

5) What moisturiser do you use?
Aside from testing out various samples, my usual is the Sephora Instant Moisturizer.

6) Do you have freckles?
Nope!

7) Do you use an eye cream?
Not usually, again, I just try out samples.

8) Do you or did you have acne prone skin?
I do. My chin especially is bad.

9) Did you ever have to use Proactiv?
Nope. Never tried it

10) What foundation do you use?
When I use foundation, I have my Lancôme Colour Ideal foundation. However, I’m also quickly falling in love with the M.Asam Magic Fini from this last Glymm box. It blends really beautifully and stays on all day!

11) How about concealer?
I don’t like using concealers on zits, and I have nothing else to use them for, so the only one I have is the Clinique Acne Solutions clearing concealer.

12) Do you know your undertone colour?
I think I must be warm toned.. I’m very pink

13) What do you think of false eyelashes?
I love them, but they are so hard to put on, I think.

14) Did you know that you are supposed to change your mascara every 3 months?
Yeah, I know… I don’t bother with that, I just use my mascara until its done, but I do know that fact. I’ve also read that that isn’t important and as long as it doesn’t smell funky its fine to use!

15) What brand of mascara do you use?
I'm currently using 17 Va Va Voom mascara- I can't decide yet if I'll repurchase or pick out a new mascara; I love this one but I don't know if there's anything better out there :p

16) Sephora or MAC?
SEPHORA!!

17) Do you have a MAC Pro Card?
No, I don’t like MAC and only own one liquid liner from there.

18) What makeup tools do you use in makeup application?
Fingers mostly, but I have a few regular ELF shadow brushes, an ELF Mineral Blending Brush that I use for blush, and my ELF Studio Complexion Brush for powder. I also have eyelash curlers, and the shadow brush out of the Naked Palette.

19) Do you use an eye primer?
Yeah, when I want or need to make sure my shadow stays on all night. I have the ELF mineral one, which I rarely ever use, and the mini Urban Decay Primer Potion which I love.

20) Do you use a face primer?
No, I’ve never used one.

21) What's your favourite eyeshadow?
That’s pretty tough, but I guess for a good, everyday colour, I really like the Urban Decay Sin.

22) Liquid or pencil eyeliner?
Pencil, by far! I couldn’t live without my UD 24/7 Zero pencil!

23) How often do you poke yourself in the eye with eyeliner?
Pretty much never, actually. I have a bit of a phobia about stuff in my eye, so I’m pretty good.

24) What do you think of mineral pigments?
I’ve never tried them.

25) Do you use mineral makeup?
Yeah, I mean, I don’t search it out, but my powders usually end up being mineral, like my current: Sephora Mineral Foundation Compact.

26) What is your favourite lipstick?
I’m not a big lipstick person, so this is a little difficult. If we pretend I own it: NARS Roman Holiday… but I don’t think I could ever bring myself to spend $29 on lippy.

27) How about lip gloss?
Again, not really my thing. If we pretend lip balm is gloss, the I guess the Fresh non-tinted one?

29) Do you buy your makeup on eBay?
No, that scares me a little

30) Do you like drugstore makeup?
Yeah, its alright. I prefer to purchase my lipsticks, glosses, and mascaras from the drugstore, at any rate. Mascaras because all brands seem too similar, and lip stuff because it always comes off so fast!

31) Do you go to CCO’s (Cosmetic Company Outlets)?
I don’t even know what that is!

32) Did you ever consider taking makeup classes?
No, I have too much fun playing with it myself!

33) Are you clumsy in putting on makeup?
Not really… maybe with liquid liner, but I’m usually pretty good.

34) What's your make up pet peeve?
-Lining the bottom lashes but not the waterline
-wearing the wrong colour foundation
-not blending foundation
-blush as a block
-any other lacking of blending…

35) Do you like colourful shades of makeup (lipstick,eyeshadow) or neutral ones?
Both! Natural is easier for day to day, but its so much fun to play with colours!

36) Which celebrity always has great makeup?
I don’t know really. Olivia Wilde, not that she wears a ton, but she always looks fantastic. Also, maybe Blake Lively? Probably Anne Hathaway… I honestly don’t pay that much attention to makeup on celebrities.

37) If you could leave the house using just ONE makeup item, what would you use?
Mascara! Its a must with my blonde lashes…

38) Could you ever leave the house without any makeup on? Do you think you look good even without makeup on?
No, I don’t leave without at least mascara. Preferably more if I’m doing anything besides class and the gym.

39) In your opinion, what is the BEST makeup line?
I have to pick Urban Decay. I own so much UD, and I want even more!

40) What do you think of makeup?
I love it, can’t you tell? =)

---

Hunger Games Tag:

I WILL BE POSTING SPOILERS TO ALL THREE BOOKS

Now onto the questions:

1) What is your favourite book in The Hunger Games trilogy?
Hard to say. I have to love the first for starting it all, for laying the groundwork and explaining how this dystopian world functions. However, the second book, Catching Fire, just expands so much. You thought that the first was emotional, but in Catching Fire you dive even more deeply into the lives and emotions of the characters and really get to know them like you hadn’t before! Then there’s the final one, where it all gets worked out. It isn’t my favourite, because like Harry Potter was weird without Quidditch, the Hunger Games is a little lacking, to me, without a Hunger Games… but there is lots of action and emotion otherwise to keep someone occupied. I think my favourite is probably the second one, then. Because you’re right in the middle of everything.

2) How long would you last in the games?
Probably not very long. I’m not mean, and I have big issues with violence (its like I get phantom pains wherever a character gets injured in a movie, I just can’t see it without feeling it…). However, I also think that if threatened, I might get meaner. Plus, I wouldn’t be trying to hold back. But I wouldn’t be one of the people who hunts the others down. I’d be the one running and hiding.

3) What the strangest thing you thought would happen in the book, but didn't?
…I was scared Katniss would end up with Gale….
I thought maybe Peeta would be lost forever…
I thought maybe Katniss would take over for President Snow…
Lots really, but I didn’t think they’d bloody kill Prim… >_<

4) How were you introduced to The Hunger Games?
My sister. She was SO IN LOVE with these books. It sounded ok, but my best friend hadn’t loved them (wtf?!), but my sister insisted that I see the movie with her when it came out, and also that I would read the books before seeing the movie… so it was not really an option =P

5) What's your favourite moment in the books?
Hard to say, really… there’s so much pain and sadness… I loved that she killed Coin. I loved Peeta, but not at first. I liked finally finding out how Haymitch had won. I adored the prep team. And I loved when Katniss outsmarted them all and saved Peeta and herself!

6) Who is your favourite villain?
I don’t know… I don’t think I have one, particularly… the villains are honestly scary in this one… Do the other contestants count? Maybe Foxface, then, for being so clever.

7) Who is your favourite character?
Prim. Peeta. I have to admit I hated Katniss at first, but I grew to respect, if not love her. I can’t relate to her, since she’s so so different from me. Oh, and Finnick. And Beetee. And Rue…

8) What district would you live in?
I think I’d be good in District 3 (technology), possibly 8 (textiles).

9) What was the most emotional moment for you?
Oh god, this series had me crying pathetically, and it would have been worse if I’d read it only at home! When Katniss volunteered for Prim, when Rue died, when Gale almost said I love you but had to leave her after the reaping, when Peeta found out Katniss had been acting. When I though Gale was dead in Catching Fire for hunting. When Prim died. When the cat showed up and Katniss yelled and yelled until she realised it wasn’t leaving. When peeta was brainwashed and almost killed Katniss. so so so many times…

10) What item from home would you bring into the arena with you?
Probably the necklace my bf bought me, since it would be easy to carry and hard to lose.

11) What was the most evil plan in the books?
Definitely the rules of the Quarter Quell in book 2…

12) What are you looking forward to most in the films?
Everything. Just seeing it. Seeing how the movie makers envisioned it. The capitol. The clothes. The drama. Everything.

Bright Easter Nails

I couldn’t figure out what I wanted to do to my nails Saturday night, so I brought my nail wheels to my mom and got her to pick. She chose a crazy assortment of bright colours and told me to top it with my new glitter, the Spark-tacular top coat from Sephora by OPI. Here were my base colours:

Pink: OPI in “Strawberry Margarita”

Blue: JAC Extreme, but the colour doesn’t have a name…

Orange: Sephora by OPI in “Caliente Coral”

Green: OPI in “Did it on ‘Em”

Purple: Sally Hansen Diamond Strength in “Vixen”

And in this last picture, my blue is different, because I was running out of the other one and I accidently smudged that nail right off >_<. I replaced it with my Fascino #26:

I really like how they came out. I’m not much of a pastel person, so I think this was a much more me way of capturing the colourfulness that is Easter!

Did you do anything fun for Easter, be it on your nails or something you actually did? Let me know in the comments!