If you can get past the bad-pun name (just wait for the two holo sparkles coming up; their names are even worse), this is a gorgeous purple shimmer.
Buffy the Violet Slayer
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Skincare Saturday: Philosophy Purity Made Simple Cleanser
Philosophy Purity Made Simple cleanser is one of the most popular cleansers, ever. I'd never really had any desire to try it, in large part because it's so expensive, but going on a 10-day trip to DC gave me an excuse to buy one of the little 3 oz. travel sizes. I tried it out the week before I left to make sure it wouldn't break me out or irritate me, and can happily report that it did not!
purity made simple
Friday, September 9, 2011
Fragrance Friday: Gucci Flora and Dior Miss Dior Cherie L'Eau Mini Reviews
For a link to the overview for this series, click here. Today's offerings are both florals, but not really very similar beyond that.
Gucci Flora
image from here
This fragrance came out in 2009 and has been pretty popular since then. I don't know when I got my sample vial, but it was awhile back. After spritzing it on for this review, I realized why I still have an almost-full vial: it smells horrible on me. Sickeningly sweet and overbearing, it's like a bad fragrance spray that people keep in their bathrooms to cut down on stinkiness (this is an observation made by my mother, and I wholeheartedly agree). I hated it so much that I tried to wash it off after half an hour, but was left with the pungent remnants on my arm for the rest of the evening, thanks to it being an eau de parfum. I can't say if it changed or mellowed any over time, since the soap and water undoubtedly messed with that, but I can say it didn't really change from the opening to the heart (unfortunately). Given its popularity, though, I think I'm in the minority here, so don't let my opinion stop you from giving it a sniff! Here's the fragrance pyramid should you wish to see it.
$60 for 1 oz, $85 for 1.6 oz, $100 for 2.5 oz, available from Sephora and Amazon
(cheaper from the latter)
Gucci Flora
image from here
This fragrance came out in 2009 and has been pretty popular since then. I don't know when I got my sample vial, but it was awhile back. After spritzing it on for this review, I realized why I still have an almost-full vial: it smells horrible on me. Sickeningly sweet and overbearing, it's like a bad fragrance spray that people keep in their bathrooms to cut down on stinkiness (this is an observation made by my mother, and I wholeheartedly agree). I hated it so much that I tried to wash it off after half an hour, but was left with the pungent remnants on my arm for the rest of the evening, thanks to it being an eau de parfum. I can't say if it changed or mellowed any over time, since the soap and water undoubtedly messed with that, but I can say it didn't really change from the opening to the heart (unfortunately). Given its popularity, though, I think I'm in the minority here, so don't let my opinion stop you from giving it a sniff! Here's the fragrance pyramid should you wish to see it.
$60 for 1 oz, $85 for 1.6 oz, $100 for 2.5 oz, available from Sephora and Amazon
(cheaper from the latter)
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Recommendation Thursday: Lip Stain
I'm always on the hunt for a good, long-lasting stain, though so far I've had little success at finding one that actually works. This is, again, a rather self-indulgent Recommendation Thursday, so if there's anything in particular you'd like to see featured, leave a comment below. See the original post for an explanation of RT and for further contact info!
There are several formulations for lip stains (which can often also double as cheek stains). One of the more common ones lately is the felt-tip pen variety, but they also come in balms, gels, liquids, and sticks. There are also many other lip products that can be used as lip stains––many dark lipsticks can be blotted and last as long as stains––but I'm not including those here. These are just products that are intended to be lip stains (and that's still a large pool of contenders!), and out of those, only ones that are very well reviewed. Without further ado, then, here are the best lip stains, according to popular opinion.
There are several formulations for lip stains (which can often also double as cheek stains). One of the more common ones lately is the felt-tip pen variety, but they also come in balms, gels, liquids, and sticks. There are also many other lip products that can be used as lip stains––many dark lipsticks can be blotted and last as long as stains––but I'm not including those here. These are just products that are intended to be lip stains (and that's still a large pool of contenders!), and out of those, only ones that are very well reviewed. Without further ado, then, here are the best lip stains, according to popular opinion.
Wet N Wild Comfort Zone Palette Review and Swatches
I'd seen swatches and read reviews of Wet N Wild's Comfort Zone 8-pan palette, and have been keeping an eye open for it around town. I finally spotted it at a Walmart superstore (that I went to just to check out the Hard Candy cosmetics at, because Walmart is evil and I always [seriously, always] go to Target instead––I think this was the 2nd time I've been to a Walmart in my life) and couldn't resist for $4.68...I wanted the greens for those very rare occasions when I want to play up the green in my eye and venture outside of neutrals, and the browns are lovely and I knew I would get a lot of use out of them. (Warning: This is really long, and very pic heavy, so if you have a slow connection, it may take awhile to load!)
Wet N Wild Comfort Zone
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Journeying
I'm headed to DC tomorrow for 10 days with the boy (and a mini-trip up to New York to visit Z and L!), so posting will slow down a little, though I've got lots of posts scheduled. I'm planning on seeing some of the DC sights (Museum of Natural History and Gallery of Art, it's been too long!) but I should still have time to keep tabs on the blog, especially on the 4 hour bus ride to New York and back. I still have to finish semantic tagging on the Tuvan dictionary, too, so I've got several coffeeshops and dessert places with wifi on my map that I can go and hang out in––ostensibly so I can use the internet, but really, mostly so I can eat and drink deliciousness. I'll be back the 19th, and the next day is the first of 3 days of grad school orientation...methinks I'll be needing lots of naps! Then school starts, and I don't really know what will happen with the blog after that, though I'm currently planning on continuing to do posts, just less frequently.
So that's that! What do the next couple weeks hold for you? Do you have a favorite place to get coffee and/or cake? I love getting recommendations for food :-)
So that's that! What do the next couple weeks hold for you? Do you have a favorite place to get coffee and/or cake? I love getting recommendations for food :-)
Holika Holika Clearing Petit BB SPF 30 PA++ Cream Review and Swatches
BB Creams have been all the rage in Asia for the past decade or so, but are only now making inroads in the American and European markets. If you read other beauty blogs, I'm sure you've heard a lot about them, but in the off-chance you don't know what they are: BB creams, short for "beauty balm" or "blemish balm", are supposed to be an all-in-one face product, serving as moisturizer, foundation, concealer, sunscreen, and treatment (many have whitening ingredients, or anti-aging treatments, or, as the case with this one, anti-acne ingredients). Here are a couple of posts summarizing them from the Muse, who is an expert on Asian beauty and has been using BB creams for many years.
In the past few months, there have been several BB creams introduced in America, but they are all high-end (and therefore out of my price range) and tend to be closer to tinted moisturizers/primers than actual BB creams. I wanted to try a legitimate BB cream, especially one targeted towards acne and oily skin, so I turned to eBay. I'd read many positive reviews from other bloggers on Holika Holika brand of BB creams, and had heard from them of bello-girl, who sells a ton of Asian beauty, including many, many kinds of BB creams, from South Korea. I ordered the Clearing BB Cream, which has tea tree oil, from her at the beginning of August for $9.99 with free shipping. It took 2 and a half weeks to get here, on the early end of the 2 to 4 week window I'd been told to expect when I ordered, and she included a very nice note and free sample (I need to find that, hmmm). Overall, it was a very positive eBay experience, and I highly recommend buying from her if you're wanting to try a real BB Cream for cheap (not that $10 is particularly cheap to me, but compared to other BB creams, it's a fraction of the price).
In the past few months, there have been several BB creams introduced in America, but they are all high-end (and therefore out of my price range) and tend to be closer to tinted moisturizers/primers than actual BB creams. I wanted to try a legitimate BB cream, especially one targeted towards acne and oily skin, so I turned to eBay. I'd read many positive reviews from other bloggers on Holika Holika brand of BB creams, and had heard from them of bello-girl, who sells a ton of Asian beauty, including many, many kinds of BB creams, from South Korea. I ordered the Clearing BB Cream, which has tea tree oil, from her at the beginning of August for $9.99 with free shipping. It took 2 and a half weeks to get here, on the early end of the 2 to 4 week window I'd been told to expect when I ordered, and she included a very nice note and free sample (I need to find that, hmmm). Overall, it was a very positive eBay experience, and I highly recommend buying from her if you're wanting to try a real BB Cream for cheap (not that $10 is particularly cheap to me, but compared to other BB creams, it's a fraction of the price).
Holika Holika Clearing Petit BB SPF 30 PA++
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Tip Tuesday: DIY Beauty Solutions A-G
For a summary of Tip Tuesday, see here. For reviews of diy beauty I've personally used, see here (or click on the "diy" tag at the bottom of this post).
There are many appealing things about diy natural beauty. For one thing, you get to feel like a mad scientist, and who doesn't love that? (If you don't, go away, this post is not for you.) For another, you have control over exactly what you're putting on your skin, which means you can avoid ingredients you know irritate you, and don't have to worry about the negative effects from chemical additives. This does not mean, however, that diy beauty is without its hazards, so please, use caution!
So, here is the first half of the many ingredients you can use in your beauty concoctions (though there are even more that I'm not covering here!), as well as what problem areas they address, and the major concerns to keep in mind regarding side effects and the like. I hope this is helpful to you, and I welcome any diy suggestions of your own in the comments! H(oney) through Y(ogurt) will be posted next week.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Used as: Toner, hair treatment
Good for: Acne-prone and/or oily skin
Bad for: Sensitive skin
ACV, as it's known in the biz, is used as a toner to restore the pH balance of skin and help combat acne. I've never used it, but the intertubes say: it smells nasty, though the smell dissipates after application; you should mix it with water (start with a 1:8 ratio of ACV to water, then increase the amount over time); organic is generally gentler than conventional ACV; and tread with caution if you have sensitive skin. If you pour it through your hair, it helps get rid of residue and build-up from hair products, though unless you want to smell like a salad, you should probably shower and wash your hair afterwards.
Aspirin
Used as: Mask, toner
Good for: Acne-prone, oily, and/or sensitive/red skin
Bad for: People who are allergic to aspirin
Aspirin, it is claimed, is a source of salicylic acid once it breaks down, though the Beauty Brains did a post about this and said the science isn't really there to back the claims up. I've tried mixing aspirin in with a yogurt mask, and saw a decrease in redness and swelling, but that could have been due to the other ingredients in the mask. To use, crush 4-6 uncoated aspirin tablets (uncoated can be hard to find, though health food-type stores often have them) and add a few drops of water to make a paste. As a mask, you can either spread it over your face like that and let it sit until it dries, or you can mix it with yogurt or honey. I prefer to do the latter, because the powder has a tendency to fall off as it dries, and mixing it with something else gets rid of that problem. Some people swear by it as a toner, though when I tried it as such, I got really annoyed with the little pieces of aspirin that stuck to my face. Do not use this if you have an allergy to aspirin (though I hope that would go without saying!).
There are many appealing things about diy natural beauty. For one thing, you get to feel like a mad scientist, and who doesn't love that? (If you don't, go away, this post is not for you.) For another, you have control over exactly what you're putting on your skin, which means you can avoid ingredients you know irritate you, and don't have to worry about the negative effects from chemical additives. This does not mean, however, that diy beauty is without its hazards, so please, use caution!
So, here is the first half of the many ingredients you can use in your beauty concoctions (though there are even more that I'm not covering here!), as well as what problem areas they address, and the major concerns to keep in mind regarding side effects and the like. I hope this is helpful to you, and I welcome any diy suggestions of your own in the comments! H(oney) through Y(ogurt) will be posted next week.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Used as: Toner, hair treatment
Good for: Acne-prone and/or oily skin
Bad for: Sensitive skin
ACV, as it's known in the biz, is used as a toner to restore the pH balance of skin and help combat acne. I've never used it, but the intertubes say: it smells nasty, though the smell dissipates after application; you should mix it with water (start with a 1:8 ratio of ACV to water, then increase the amount over time); organic is generally gentler than conventional ACV; and tread with caution if you have sensitive skin. If you pour it through your hair, it helps get rid of residue and build-up from hair products, though unless you want to smell like a salad, you should probably shower and wash your hair afterwards.
Aspirin
Used as: Mask, toner
Good for: Acne-prone, oily, and/or sensitive/red skin
Bad for: People who are allergic to aspirin
Aspirin, it is claimed, is a source of salicylic acid once it breaks down, though the Beauty Brains did a post about this and said the science isn't really there to back the claims up. I've tried mixing aspirin in with a yogurt mask, and saw a decrease in redness and swelling, but that could have been due to the other ingredients in the mask. To use, crush 4-6 uncoated aspirin tablets (uncoated can be hard to find, though health food-type stores often have them) and add a few drops of water to make a paste. As a mask, you can either spread it over your face like that and let it sit until it dries, or you can mix it with yogurt or honey. I prefer to do the latter, because the powder has a tendency to fall off as it dries, and mixing it with something else gets rid of that problem. Some people swear by it as a toner, though when I tried it as such, I got really annoyed with the little pieces of aspirin that stuck to my face. Do not use this if you have an allergy to aspirin (though I hope that would go without saying!).
Monday, September 5, 2011
E.L.F. Cream Eyeshadow in Dawn Review and Swatches
I went upstate last weekend to visit the family for Labor Day, and managed to convince my brother to stop at Kmart on the way up so I could pick up a few things. One such thing was this cream eyeshadow from E.L.F.'s studio line. I was drawn in by the neutral shimmery brown, and have been wanting to try a cream eyeshadow (the only other one I've ever used was not very successful), so plunked down the $3 for it. Following, my thoughts.
Dawn in window sunlight
L'Oreal EverPure Moisture Shampoo Review
I dye my hair every couple of months, because I have some grey clusters on my head that I'm not ready to succumb to (I'm only 22! I don't want to have a big skunk streak in my hair!). While I use a conditioner aimed at curly hair most of the time (when I'm not using my Aussie), I try to use shampoo designed for dyed hair in an effort to prevent fading. The one I've been using for the past few months is L'Oreal's EverPure Moisture shampoo, which is sulfate-free. I don't put much stock in the sulfate and paraben avoidance craze, because there hasn't been any research that shows a definitive link between them and cancer––the most anyone has said is that they may contribute to cancer, but that can be said about many things (microwaves, cell phones, sunlight, puppies, chocolate...okay, I may have made some of those up, but you know what I mean). I have re-bought this shampoo, but I think I'll try branching out when I run out, because it has some issues.
image from L'Oreal
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