EOTN: Scrupulous Tangerine Wine

I got bored and started playing with makeup. LOL. This EOTN is sorta dramatic... ESPECIALLY the false lashes that I used. :P The top pair is made of synthetic hairs so they look really fake. BOO. I'd much prefer if they were made from real hair. Oh well. :P Also, I DON'T have any full face shots because I only did one eye, since I was just messing around. :P

It may be hard to see because of my massive falsies (LOL) but I have two wings on the outer corner. The top wing connects to my bottom lash line and is The She Space's Pigment in "No Scruples", the bottom (second) wing is my black gel liner, and it's connected to my normal liner, just winged out a little longer.

What I Used:
Simply Naturals Pigment in "Tangerine"
Simply Naturals Pigment in "Wine"
Taylor Made Minerals Pigment in "Kitty"
Urban Apothecary Pro Pigment in "Kitch Witch"
Cream Color from a "9 Color Kleancolor Palette"
The She Space's Pigment in "No Scruples"
Indelible Gel Liner in "Blackout"
Elegant Lashes in "M059" (top)
Elegant Lashes in "M015" (bottom)

And here's the breakdown of the look. Slightly altered and adapted to J.Rose's organizational layout.

Simply Naturals Swatches Part 4 & Silk Naturals Blush Samples Haul

Here's the last installment of swatches from my Simply Naturals Haul. These are the blues, which are SUPER pretty by the way. :) My personal faves have to be "Blueberry" and "Metallic", both are GORGEOUS colors.

I did these swatches a little different just for fun. The first two pictures of swatches are FOILED and the second pair of pictures are applied DRY over a base of Indelible Creme Eyeshadow. :)

There are some differences if you foil them or not. Some colors become more rich (i.e. "Blueberry" & "Dodger") and this is true with all pigments, regardless of company. Some pigments go on bolder or richer when foiled, some pigments look the same either way... so it's always wise to experiment with pigments and figure out which method gives you the look you're going for.

Swatches applied WET without a base
Taken in natural lighting WITHOUT flash

Swatches applied WET without a base
Taken WITH flash

These next two pictures of swatches were applied DRY over a base

Swatches applied DRY over Indelible Creme Eyeshadow
Taken in natural lighting WITHOUT flash

Swatches applied DRY over Indelible Creme Eyeshadow
Taken WITH flash

I also ordered a few blush samples to accompany my Fiber Optic Brush from Silk Naturals, so here are pictures and swatches of the blushes that I got. :)

Swatches applied DRY without a base
Taken in natural lighting WITHOUT flash

Swatches applied DRY without a base
Taken WITH flash

"Tart" is an AWESOME blush color. It's an electric hot pink and I'm seriously getting a full size of this color after I run out of my sample size. "Forbidden" is a pretty color for a night look. "Babydoll" is the sheerest of the three, and it's great for an everyday blush. It's actually really pretty, I honestly just wish that it was a little more pigmented. I would LOVE it if "Babydoll" were more pigmented, but since it's the sheerest of the three, I only LIKE it. LOL. :) I'm not sure if I'll be getting a full size of "Babydoll", but I am DEF getting a full size of "Tart". I don't have any blushes like it! :) "Tart" and "Forbidden" are more pigmented than the other Silk Naturals blushes I've tried, if any of you are wondering. :)

Review: Silk Naturals Fiber Optic Blush Brush

I received my Silk Naturals Fiber Optic Blush Brush on Tuesday and have been using it ever since. :) I thought this review might help out anyone who was/is interested in this brush.

SOURCE: Picture taken from SilkNaturals.com

Silk Naturals Fiber Optic Blush Brush

Price: $5.99
Where You Can Buy This Product At: silknaturals.com
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Me modeling my Silk Naturals Fiber Optic Blush Brush for you guys. ;)

NOTE: Look at how big the brush is in comparison to my cheek. I only say this because I don't want you guys to get the wrong impression. :)

I used my Silk Naturals Fiber Optic Blush Brush to apply my blush in this picture and the "Pigment Pusher" picture in my last entry.

General Info: I was interested in finding an inexpensive fiber optic brush, but my intention behind buying a fiber optic brush was to use it strickly for blush application. I have my Coastal Scents Black Handled Fiber Optic and it's okay, but it does get kinda annoying to use it for blush application because the head is pretty big and it's not as dense as I'd like it to be.

So after perusing the internet, I finally decided on Silk Naturals' Fiber Optic Blush Brush. It's made of a fuse of synthetic and animal hairs. The black hairs are animal hairs and the white part of the bristles are synthetic bristles.

I washed it the first day I got it, anxious to use it, and since the brush is fairly small it dried very fast. It was dry after a few hours of washing it. It did shed a little bit while washing it, but not as bad as Coastal Scents Ultimate Buffer Brush did when I washed it. Now that brush shed like CRAZY and it was a horrible mess, so this brush didn't shed NEARLY as bad. I'd say around 10 hairs came out, but this makes sense because the hairs that came out where black and with my experience with brushes, most animal hair brushes I've owned do shed. Animal hair brushes usually do have a break in period, usually by the second or third washing, it shouldn't be shedding anymore. There was no bleeding or smell that accompanied the brush while washing it.

The density/stiffness of the brush is decent. It's DEFINITELY more stiff than Coastal Scents Fiber Optic Brush so it's better at precise applications of blush, but it is not as stiff as Sephora's Fiber Optic Brush. I'd say the stiffness of this brush is somewhere in between Coastal Scents' Fiber Optic Brush and Sephora's Fiber Optic Brush, leaning a little bit more towards Sephora's FO Brush. I really like how it applied my blush, it DEFINITELY worked way better than my Coastal Scents Fiber Optic Brush.

This brush is small, and definitely the smallest fiber optic brush I've ever seen, BUT this gives you more control over how much area you apply your blush on and how much blush you want to apply. Plus this brush is made SPECIFICALLY for blush application, not foundation application or any other sort of tasks that would require a bigger head size. So if you're looking for a stippling brush for foundation, this ISN'T it. If you're looking for a stippling brush for blush or even concealing, you may like this brush.

PROS: Since this brush is small, it's easy to handle and control. It's the PERFECT size for blush application. I like the price tag of this brush, it works fairly well and it's priced very reasonably. It's fairly stiff/dense, I was afraid it was going to be TOO flimsy, but it wasn't. It's NOT as dense as Sephora's Fiber Optic Brush, but it's dense enough to get the job done, unlike Coastal Scents' Fiber Optic which is a soft/flimsy mess. The synthetic tips keep the brush from being HARSH on the skin, but the animal hairs on the bottom keep the brush fairly stiff, so it's a good combo.

CONS: It does shed a little bit and it has a break in period because of the animal hair bristles in the brush. But I remember reading that Sephora's Fiber Optic brush sheds alot, and I believe that the bristles of that brush are similar to the make up of this brushes bristles. The dark hairs are animal hairs and the white hairs are synthetic. It's a STIPPLING brush, so you may have some harsh lines after applying your blush. I honestly think that this has more to do with application technique instead of the brush itself. I think that if you're familiar with using a fiber optic brush, you won't have a hard time with harsh blush lines. But if you do have a problem with harsh blush lines, the problem can easily be fixed by lightly buffing over your blush with a Kabuki Brush.

You'll Like This Product If:
- You want precise application of blush
- You're on a budget
- You're looking for a Fiber Optic Brush whose head diameter ISN'T too big for blush application
- You want a small Fiber Optic Brush for travel or for spot concealing

You Won't Like This Product If:
- You already own Sephora's or MAC's Fiber Optic Brushes
- You want a Fiber Optic Brush with a decently large head diameter so that you can use it to apply foundation or any sort of powder products over LARGER areas of your face (i.e. all over face application)

Overall, I really do like this brush. :) It's a decent brush for a decent price. Like I said, don't expect it to be as big or as dense as Sephora's or MAC's Fiber Optic Brushes. It applies blush the way I want it to, and this is now my blush brush of choice. The reason I rated it a 4.5 instead of a 5 is because it's not as dense/stiff as Sephora's or MAC's fiber optic brushes, but it's still a good brush.

Would I repurchase the product? Yes I would! I actually plan on buying another one after this one dies out on me. I'm also planning on tossing my Coastal Scents Fiber Optic Brush in the trash. LOL.

Simply Naturals Swatches Part 3

Here are the swatches of the greens from my haul. :)

Taken Without Flash
Swatches were applied WET without a base

Taken With Flash
Swatches were applied WET without a base

"Viridan" and "Egypt" look similar in the flash picture, but they're not. It's easier to see their color difference in the picture taken without flash. :) "Egypt" is a little bit deeper than "Viridan" and it's a cool green (green with a touch of blue overtones) while "Viridan" is a little bit lighter and it's a warmer green (olive green).

Hope this helps. The last installment of swatches for this haul is next, and it's my blue group. :)

I just threw in this last picture as a joke. LOL. ;) Since all of you like to call me names like, "enabler" and what not. LOL. :P This is for you guys. ;) LOLOL.

BTW... my mom picked me up some of Covergirl's Lash Blast Mascara in "Very Black", the waterproof version... and I think I'm in love. LOL. Well, thus far. LOL. I'm actually wearing it in the picture of me up above. ;) I've only tried it today though, so I don't want to jump the gun and say it's my HG... but thus far, good stuff! ;)

Oh, and I'm wearing my Blusche Foundation in "Creme Brulee", which is just a TINY bit too light, but the coverage is good! I applied two thin layers dry, sprizted over it with water, and then applied a third DRY layer on top of that. FULL COVERAGE baby. ;) Haha.

Oh, and I got my Silk Naturals Fiber Optic Blush Brush in the mail today. It's so cute and small! Haha. Okay, I'll post more details and pictures about these things later! Just wanted to let you guys know that alot of stuff came in today! ;) LOL.

Simply Naturals Swatches Part 2

These swatches consist of all the purples I got in my Simply Naturals Haul. :)

Swatches applied WET
Taken in natural lighting without Flash

Swatches applied WET
Taken with Flash

Simply Naturals Swatches Part 1

Here's the first installment of swatches from Simply Naturals. This is LOVE I tell you. *Lovingly glances over at pigments*

Swatches applied WET without a base
Taken without Flash

Swatches applied WET without a base
Taken WITH Flash

The pigments that I swatched are mostly matte, which is what I was missing from my collection. ;) But not anymore! Anyway, they're GORGEOUS. BUT, I feel the need to note that MATTE pigments are harder to work with than shimmery, satin, and/or glittery pigments. So pigments that have some sort of sheen or some shimmer to them (i.e. The She Space's Pigments) are EASIER to blend and foil than matte pigments. I find this true about ANY matte pigments I've owned, regardless of brand. Matte pigments are a tiny bit harder to work with, just to give you guys a heads up.

For example, the fluorescents were harder to swatch than the bottom two pigments ("Razzmatazz" and "Wine"). "Razzmatazz" has a SLIGHT sheen to it and "Wine" doesn't have a sheen, it's matte, but this one was easy to swatch versus the fluorescents, not sure why, but that was the case.

Oh and the fluorescents are exactly that, fluorescent... so if you walk under a blacklight while wearing these piggies, they WILL glow. I think that's kinda cool. ;) Haha. :D

TIP: For anyone having a hard time applying matte pigments, the trick is to foil it, and right after dab another layer of minerals on top of it DRY. This is what I did with the top three fluorescent pigments and it worked like a charm. ;) I also do this with shimmery colors if they don't foil on as pigmented as I like. I'll add a second dry layer on top, this also helps with staying power, if you're wondering.

Anyway, I wore Simply Naturals pigment in "Blueberry" out last night. It's a GORGEOUS color! It's matte as well and it's a deep blue color that is just wow. Gezebel, this color IS gorgeous! I did apply "Blueberry" foiled and then applied a dry layer of pigment on top of it.

RE.EDiT:
I decided to add swatches of the three free samples she gave me in my order. I just swiped my finger inside the bag once for he sample swatches. This is dry and this swatch is taken with flash.

Simply Naturals Haul!

I got my Simply Naturals Haul in today! Woo! Thus far, everything looks good. :)

The turn around time for this site is very fast but KEEP IN MIND this company repackages and sells these pigments from a wholesaler, which is why the turn around time is fast. The smaller companies that actually MAKE their own shades and what not take longer to process because they actually hand make each of their colors, they don't re-sell premade shades. I just wanted to point this out because I think sometimes people don't acknowledge this about some companies. I understand that some small companies do have UNREASONABLE waiting periods, but do your research and reading before purchasing so that you know what to expect. :)

NOTE: the online store is called "Simply Naturals" but they also have an eBay store called "Green-Mnt-Exotics" which has better shipping prices and CUSTOMIZABLE packages available at discount. :) I personally prefer to purchase from them via eBay instead of the website.

Anyway, I'm very happy with this purchase because it was totally worth it. :P Hehe.

One thing that I did like about this company is that they shrink wrapped each jar individually of each other. So now I know that when I order from this company, I don't have to worry about jars flying open in the mail. Big thumbs up for shipping preparation.

No swatches yet. :) I will start posting swatches of these piggies next week. It will be done in increments according to color family. It will probably be done in the same order as shown in these pictures. I like how the pigment finishes vary in this haul. Some are satin (low sheen), some are metallic, some are matte, some are shimmery, etc. There's a good amount of diversity in this haul, then again... I DID get the 20 pigments pack. LOL.

I think I'll have to do these swatches in installments, just like my She Space ones. LOL. That reminds me, I have to finish those swatches up. LOL. I only really have a few light/neutral shades left to swatch from The She Space, but I'll get up that last installment of She Space Swatches next week as well. ;) Well, I'm off to enjoy my memorial day weekend! Have a great one you guys! :D

Camellia Rose Skincare NOW OPEN!

For those of you who have been asking, I just wanted to give you guys a heads up that Camellia Rose Skincare is now open. :) She only has her best selling items up at the moment, but will begin to add in other items along the way.

If you're wondering, Jen's a real doll to work with and she formulates some great products. Many of you are probably familiar with her primer (Vanessa reviewed it on her blog) and I personally love her face bars (i.e. Rose Clay Goats Milk Shea Bar & Honey Green Tea Shea Bar). So if you're interested, the link is up above! :D

Electric Cosmetics SALE! :)

Click on the banner/poster to enlarge and read the details of the sale!

MAC Pigment Samples AND MORE: Another Online Store!

I couldn't keep you guys waiting and the owner gave me the okay to post about it, so here's the post! :D Oh, and there IS a special for my readers. It's down below somewhere. ;)

So everyone really liked the post I posted about a few days ago that involved an online store that sells MAC Pigment samples, and some were questioning the reliability of it's authenticity, which I think is reasonable because the internet can be a scary place to shop when it comes to brand names. I also didn't really like their shipping prices because they were kinda high, in my honest opinion. Anyway, on to a store that I CAN vouch for. :D

But first, pictures. LOL. Details and everything will follow the pictures.

The lovely note from Emilee.

Pictures of the Products I received! :) I'm very happy with them by the way! ;)

Swatches for you guys! You know I CANNOT do a post without swatches! LOL.

Taken with Flash

All of these swatch pictures are taken WITH FLASH.
Swatches applied wet using Homemade Mixing Medium without a base.





All of THESE swatch pictures are taken in NATURAL LIGHTING without flash.
Swatches applied wet using Homemade Mixing Medium without a base.

Store Details:
So I've found you all another shop that I KNOW is reliable, in terms of authenticity, and it's run by one of our fellow beauty bloggers! Also, the shipping is more reasonable compared to The Body Needs'. Emilee @ Girl Meets Makeup has her own MAC samples shop! Now, there's a reason I say MAC samples shop and NOT MAC pigment samples shop. The awesome thing about her store is that she doesn't ONLY sell MAC pigment samples, but also samples of other MAC products. She sells samples of some of MAC's Paint Pots, their PRO Water Based Mixing Medium, Strobe Cream, Strobe Liquid, Prep N' Prime, and she's even selling samples of Smashbox's Photo Finish Primer! She even has a section where she's selling full size products like MAC Fafi's Strawbaby lipstick, a brand new 185 Buffer Brush, and a few other things worth taking a peek at. That's not all... she offers pressed MAC pigments too! For those of you who can't stand dealing with loose powders, she's made it all that more convenient for you! *looks for lurve* The palette that she sells comes with 5 pressed pigments of your choice and the pans are square shaped, but they're made specificially for the palette that comes with it. :) But if you have a MAC or ELF palette, she also sells individual pressed piggies for those! :)

I honestly like the fact that she sells samples of MAC pigments AND other popular MAC items. It's kinda neat for me because I've honestly been contemplating getting a paint pot, but I wasn't ready to commit to a full size without knowing if it works well for me as an eyeshadow base or not, so it's nice that she offers samples of paint pots, it works out perfectly, well... for me at least! LOL. :D I'm kidding, plus I'm sure there are others who are in the same boat as me (maybe not. LOL.)

Online Store Link:
Here is the link to her online store: GirlMeetsMakeup MAC Samples Store. I personally find her online store more aesthetically pleasing and organized than The Body Needs'. Also, she has better pictures, swatches, and product descriptions. I can actually VOUCH that her piggies and everything else in the store are indeed legit and ARE DEFINITELY AUTHENTIC MAC items. I definitely think her store is worth checking out. :)

Details About the *SPECIAL* Offer for My Readers:
Emilee was awesome/sweet enough to offer my readers a special! :) I know, I take care of you guys... right? Hahaha. I'm kidding. But honestly, she was sweet enough to offer a special for my readers. ;) Ha. So the special offer is for every FIVE pigment samples that you order you will get a *FREE* upgrade to a 1/2 teaspoon sample instead of a 1/4 teaspoon sample, on ONE of the pigments you ordered, your choice of course. You will ALSO get a discount code in your package that will give you ANOTHER discount on your next purchase. So what do you have to do to redeem this offer? Simply write "Memoirs of a Shopping Addict" in the notes section, when checking out. DO NOT use the google checkout button because that checkout method does not allow you to input any notes/messages. Use the checkout button that says "Alternative Checkout" this will also allow you to pay via money order, paypal, or google checkout while still allowing you to enter "Memoirs of a Shopping Addict" in the notes section. You MUST write "Memoirs of a Shopping Addict" to receive the special, if you don't input "Memoirs of a Shopping Addict" anywhere in your order you will NOT receive the special. Also, you need to specify which pigment you want to upgrade to a 1/2 teaspoon, otherwise it will be upgraded upon random selection. Also, don't try to enter it as a coupon code, because it's not a coupon code. :)

Emilee is a really great person and she's definitely the person I'll be ordering my MAC piggie samples from, from here on out! :) She's a real pleasure to talk to, and she's easy to communicate with, and that's ALWAYS important when buying from someone. So check her store out already! :D Also, if I could personally recommend something, I would DEF recommend taking a look at her pressed piggies. They're really convenient. I'm going to be ordering a palette from her, once I'm off of my no buy. LOL!

I've got some MAC pigment samples. :)

Yup, you heard me right. I just got them in the mail today thanks to a sweetie pie who will remained unnamed, FOR NOW.

Oh, and if you're wondering, I DIDN'T get them from The Body Needs website.

I also got samples of MAC's Water Based Mixing Medium, MAC's Rubenesque Paint Pot, and a Pressed Pigment in "Teal". Yes, this store doesn't ONLY offer MAC pigment samples for sale but also samples of a number of other MAC products (i.e. Water Based Mixing Medium, Paint Pots, Primers, Pressed Pigment Palettes, etc.) Where you ask? Well, you'll have to wait. LOL. It is an online store, and I WILL be posting a post with swatches, reviews, a store link, and that post WILL include a special offered especially to my readers for this specific online store. ;) You know I take care of you guys. LOL. I'm kidding. Actually it was the lovely owner who took care of you guys. I still have to play around with my new goodies and what not, but expect the details about the store and everything else sometime next week. Oh the anticipation... it's killing you, ain't it? LOL. Kidding.

MORE *NEW* Mineral Pigment Finds. Oh dear...

This is WHY I should be banned from the internet. LOL. I've found TWO, not ONE, but TWO new mineral pigment sites. :( *sigh* This can't be good for my bank account. LOL. And I was doing so well! *balls up in a corner and cries*

Anyway, for those of you who are interested in checking them out, here are the sites.

The first one is Simply Naturals. I was perusing the site and wow... they seriously have some really pretty piggies, and their prices are some of the CHEAPEST ones I've seen. Their pigments cost a whopping $1.89 per FULL SIZE jar. Their full size jars are 5 gram jars filled to the rim WITHOUT a sifter jar, just like Taylor Made Minerals or Fyrinnae's full sizes. What the?! I know, I couldn't believe it at first either. LOL. What I also like, is that they have collections, and you can buy the collections in sets, which saves you money because you get a discount if you buy the collection! AWESOMEEEE! ALSO they have an ebay store and you save even MORE money on there! They offer specials where you can buy a 7 PK of full size pigments YOUR CHOICE for a total of around $15.25. Now you seriously can't beat that. LOL. They also offer OVER 100 different colors with different finishes. I absolutely love the fact that they offer mattes and shimmers because it's sorta hard to find matte mineral pigments. LOL. I found out about this site through whiterz vox and they ARE pigmented because she's done some awesome looks using some piggies from Simply Naturals! I already bought their 20 PK Full Size set off of ebay for a mere $36.65. Woo hoo! $36.65 for 20 FULL SIZE jars, filled to the brim... AND, that total already includes shipping. So if you do your math right, you'll figure that I ONLY paid $1.83 per jar, if I count the shipping as part of the price of the jars. Awesome. :D If you're curious, here are the colors I ordered:

1.Azure
2.Violet
3.Flamingo
4.Teal
5.Blackberry
6.Blueberry
7.Razzmatazz
8.Viridan
9.Dodger
10.Cayman
11.Palatinate
12.Metallic
13.Aqua
14.Plum Shimmer
15.Wine
16.Blast
17.Egypt
18.Fern
19.Caribbean
20.Tangerine

The second site is Simply-Minerals, I found this site by mistake while google searching Simply Naturals. Oy! Anyway, their pigments cost $3.99 a jar for their matte and shimmer pigments, and $4.99 a jar for their fluorescent pigments. :) Their full size jars are 10 gram jars, BUT they do have sifters... but still, that's definitely not bad. :D Another plus, they offer FREE first class shipping on all orders within the continental US... and this is PERMANENT, NOT a special! So if you think about it, they offer a good deal too! I'm lemming a couple of their fluorescent pigments and a few of their mattes! :) They don't have as huge of a selection as the Simply Naturals, but they still have some really pretty pigments and a decent selection.

And this, my dears, is how I get myself in trouble. *Scurries off to sweet talk my honey* "But the colors are so pretty babe!? Don't you like this one?! Don't you think it'd look good on me?! Okay, okay... I'll pay for this order and you pay for the other order, that way we're not spending that much." *bats eyelashes*

Okay, so I'm totally kidding. LOL. I think I'll just hold off on buying anything from the second site for a little bit... since I've already got 20 full size jars of pigments coming in. LOL. BUT I am buying some piggies from the second site, just not any time soon. :P

RE.EDiT:
I just got notice from Simply Naturals telling me that they have my order ready for shipment and are shipping it out tomorrow! Woo! What a fast turn around time. I'm already impressed by that. :P Oh and guess what you guys, I've decided to go on an official NO BUY as far a piggies go. The remaining piggie hauls will have to wait. The only exceptions for my no buy are refill purchases (i.e. refill foundation, skin care, etc.) but no NEW purchases. :) I think I'm fine as far as refill purchases go. I might just need to buy a foundation refill, but that's it. :)

Review: Skin MD Natural Shielding Lotion

I received this as a product to review. Now, usually I'm very hesitant to try new products out on my skin because I'm afraid of breaking out, but after reading some of the articles on the website about how the lotion works and seeing some amazing before and after pictures, I figured it was worth a shot. At first, I didn't expect much from this product because, I'm always a skeptic until proven wrong.

Skin MD Natural™ Shielding Lotion

Price Range: $18.00 on the website, prices vary at various store locations. Stores have special pricings.
Where You Can Buy This Product At: You can buy this product directly from the website or locate a store near you that sells it.
Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5

SOURCE: Product description taken from Skin Md Natural website.

There are thousands of skin irritants in our modern environment that didn't exist only 50 years ago. These irritants can strip the protective barrier off your skin causing dry skin, eczema and other skin problems. These changes in our environment have brought about the need for a new type of dry skin care solution – a shielding lotion.

Shampoos, antibacterial soaps, cosmetics, fragrances, colorants and other irritants bombard and penetrate the skin. These harsh chemicals and irritants can break down the skin's natural protective ability. Some strip away moisture, while others lodge in the pores where they cause irritation and other negative reactions.

Unfortunately, traditional lotions have one basic goal - to simply make up for the moisture that our bodies are losing by adding an external source of moisture. Many common household products and even soaps are absorbed directly into your skin, causing skin disorders or just plain dry cracked skin. Also, when participating in other activities from gardening to painting, furniture restoration to fishing, or exposure to harsh weather, you are further drying and irritating your skin.

And other everyday activities from gardening to painting, furniture restoration to fishing, or harsh weather, exposes your skin to further drying and irritation. According to Dr. Helton, shielding lotions help prevent damage to the skin by bonding with and protecting the skin. "They not only add moisture, but also help stop the loss of your natural moisture."

Skin needs help to keep out these moisture-robbing irritants. A fundamental difference between Shielding Lotions and traditional lotions is that a Shielding Lotion enhances the skin's own natural protective abilities by turning the outer layer of skin into what could be described as a hydrating invisible shield. This makes Shielding Lotions many times more effective than mere "protective lotions and moisturizing creams".

No animal products or testing
Fragrance and colorant free
Dermatology tested
Non-comedogenic
Hypoallergenic
Paraben free

Directions: Apply small amount, initially every 2-8 hours until moisture level improves, then just once every 12-24 hours.

Ingredients: Deionized water (Aqua), Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract (Aloe Vera), Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Methyl Gluceth-20, Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E), Arnica Montana Flower Extract (Arnica), Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract (Comfrey), Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Extract (Chamomile), Achillea Millefolium Extract (Yarrow), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, 1,2 Hexanediol, Caprylyl Glycol, Butylene Glycol, Aminomethyl Propanol, Phenoxyethanol

To read up on HOW this shielding lotion works, go to the page on their website that is titled How It Works.

Texture: The texture of this lotion is somewhere in between a gel and lotion, and it is really lightweight. This lotion actually absorbs fairly fast and DOES NOT leave a greasy or oily feeling! I really like the texture of this lotion because it's not too thick, yet not too watery.

Results: After using this as my exclusive moisturizer for the past couple of weeks, I've come to the conclusion that I REALLY like this as a facial moisturizer. You can use this lotion NOT ONLY on your face, but also on your feet, hands, and basically all over your body. I chose to use it on my face because I was breaking out, and seeing how it's helped eleviate other people's psoriasis and eczema problems, I thought maybe it would help out with my breakouts. It actually DID! I have combo/oily skin, and this product didn't cause me to break out and even helped clear me up quite a bit! Also, it's moisturizing enough for my skin and it got RID of my flakey skin! :) I still get a tiny pimple here and there but it's better than the pimple fest I had going on, on my forehead previous to using this lotion. Plus, I think my one miniscule pimple is the result of me not following my skin care routine faithfully. LOL.

PROS: This lotion is lightweight and easily absorbs. It forms a protective barrier that keeps moisture in and irritants out. It does what it actually claims to do! Also, it's paraben free. It's NOT chemical free for those of you who prefer ALL natural skin care products but it is paraben free, and that puts me at ease. It leaves your skin with a smooth surface after application, similar to a primer, but without the masky feeling to it! Works great under make-up. It also doesn't have an unpleasant scent to it, and that's always a good thing.

CONS: The ONLY con that I do have about this is the price/size ratio. On the website it costs $18.00 for a 4 oz. bottle. This will last you a good while maybe about 2 months with daily use because you don't need to use much, but I still think the price could be lowered a little. That's the reason I rated this a 4.5 instead of a 5. I have some stores in my area that carry this lotion, but I haven't checked out how much it costs there yet. Hopefully it's a more reasonable price. BUT this is cheaper than some of the more expensive name brand Moisturizers out there like Philosophy (4 oz. $60.00), Clinique (1.7 oz $16.00), etc. Not to mention, you get more product from Skin MD Naturals Shielding Lotion (4 oz $18.00) for cheaper in comparison to the name brands. But this is definitely more expensive than most if not all drugstore brand moisturizers/lotions.

You'll Like This If:
- You have problematic skin like eczema, psoriasis, or even acne
- You need a lightweight moisturizer that actually PROTECTS your skin from irritants
- You want a lotion that is Paraben Free
- You want a light weight moisturizer that doesn't leave an oily/greasy feeling
- You want an alternative to a Brand Name Moisturizer that's more expensive

You Won't Like This If:
- You can't convince yourself to spend $18.00 on a lotion
- You've already found your HG Facial/Body Lotion

I can't honestly think of any drawbacks on this product besides the price tag. But I think I will continue purchasing this lotion to use as my facial moisturizer in the morning. I truly love how it's worked for me, so I actually am willing to pay $18.00 for this. I know, surprising, right? Ha. So YES, I WILL be buying a full size of this product once I run out. I plan on using this in conjunction with my Pearl Face Cream, since I will only be using the Pearl Face Cream at night, this one will be my day time moisturizer.

If you're interested in sampling this lotion out, go to their Order Page and scroll down to the bottom of the screen. You can order two sample packets for free, but you do have to pay a small $2.00 postage fee.

List of Recent Purchases

I've recently bought a few things, and thought it'd be useful to share what content to expect in future posts. :) Oh, and I apologize for the lack of EOTD's/EOTN's and/or FOTD's/FOTN's... it's been VERY hot here lately and I don't really like wearing much make-up when it's hot. :P It's starting to wind down a bit, for now at least, so hopefully I'll do one soon. :) Anyway, on to the hauls. :D

Haul #1
Silk Naturals Haul:
I SERIOUSLY had to hold back on this one, or I would have added so many things into my cart. LOL. I resisted ALL of their new lippies, which was actually really tough for me because I LOVE their lippies! I actually did a good job at restraining though, I only bought:

• Sample of "Tart" Blush (dupe for Bobbi Brown Pink Raspberry)
• Sample of "Forbidden" Blush (dupe for NARS Outlaw)
• Sample of "Babydoll" (dupe of MACs Dollymix)
• Fiber Optic Blush Brush

Don't ask me if these are accurate dupes because I don't own any of the originals... which is why I got the dupes. LOL. But even if they're not accurate dupes, they look like really pretty blush shades either way. I was curious about their Fiber Optic Brush and figured since it was only $5.99, it was worth a shot! :P Here's a comparative pic of EDM's discontinued Fiber Optic brush beside Silk Naturals New Fiber Optic Blush Brush.

SOURCE: Picture of the brushes was taken from JenW's Vox Blog.

Hmm... if you ask me, EDM's discontinued FO brush looks like Coastal Scent's discountinued black handled FO. So appearance wise just based on the pictures, SN's FO Blush Brush looks significantly smaller, denser, and stiffer than EDM's... which is GOOD. I want that in a brush so that I can stipple my blush on my cheeks more precisely. If not, it'll be just like having the Coastal Scent FO Brush all over again. LOL. Hopefully it works better than my black handled Coastal Scent FO Brush, it certainly looks DIFFERENT in the pictures. I heard there's a break in period for this brush, so let's hope it's not too bad. *crosses fingers*

Haul #2
Blusche Minerals Haul:
This haul was PURELY for foundie testing purposes, therefore this haul consists of ONLY foundie SAMPLES. They just released their new full coverage formula, which is available with our without kaolin clay. I ordered both formulas to see which one I prefer better. Anyway, here are the foundie colors I ordered.

• English Toffee (without kaolin clay)
  
• Colombian (owner recommended this one for me based off of pictures) (without kaolin clay)
  
• Brazilian (owner recommended this one for me based off of pictures) (without kaolin clay)
  
• Butter Caramel (without kaolin clay)
  
• Irish Creme (without kaolin clay)
  
• Creme Brulee (without kaolin clay)
  
• Cafe Mocha (with kaolin clay)
  
• House Blend (with kaolin clay)
• Mocha Java (with kaolin clay)
  

SOURCE: Pictures of Foundies Taken from Blusche Minerals Online Store.

It wasn't a bad deal either. It's only $1.75 per set of 3 baggie samples. :) So I got colors in three undertone families (Warm, Neutral, and Beige) and three different shade levels (Light, Medium, and Medium Tan).I usually do this when testing foundies, because I like to play it safe. EVERY mineral make-up company has their own definition/depiction of what's warm... so even though i'm a warm undertone in one brand, I may be a golden undertone in another, and I've found this to be true before. Another thing I like about their company is that they sell full size foundation refill baggies, just like Buff'd. It's NOT free shipping like Buff'd, but it's cheaper shipping, only $3.50 for baggie purchases, full size and samples. So we'll see if this brand of MMU gives my Buff'd foundation a run for it's money or not.

Haul #3
TEENY TINY Shu Uemera Haul:
I don't even know if this is considered an official "haul". LOL. Anyway, here's what I got:

• Fashion Applicators (50 count)
• FREE Shu Uemera Mini Curler with promo code
• FREE Sample of Shu Uemera Deepsea Moisture Replenishing Lotion

I just bought the Fashion Applicators for the free mini eyelash curler. LOL. :P Otherwise, I wouldn't have bought the applicators.

That's itttt! :) See, I didn't do too bad. All in all I spent about $25.00 -$26.00 for EVERYTHING so not bad, not bad at all. :P Heh. :)

I Finally Got My Hands on Some Pearl Cream! :)

After reading Anne's (Yummiebitez) review on the Ly-na Pearl Cream, I vowed I'd try it out after clearing up my pimples, seeing as I was breaking out at the time. The main reason I wanted to try it is because Anne claims it helped fade old acne scars! I have a good amount of acne scars on my forehead (my main breakout zone) so I figured it'd definitely be worth a shot. I remember my Lola (Grandma) buying a face cream similar to the Ly-na one and bringing it back from the Phillipines, but I was young then (around 9 or 10) so I never bothered trying it. Plus I've heard about some of the whitening lotions that some of the Filipinas use in order to lighten their skin. I don't really want to lighten my skin because I'm content with my coloring, I just want to fade acne scars, so let's hope my face doesn't look ghastly compared to my chest/neck. LOL.

Anyway, my boyfriend lives pretty close to The Seafood City in West Covina, so I asked him to pick up the cream for me before he came over today. He was able to find the cream at the counter in Seafood City where they keep baby lotion and other beauty/health care items. If you don't have a Seafood City or any Asian Markets/Grocery Stores close to you, you can simply search it on google and find online stores that sell it. But it is cheaper to buy it from a store than online. Online I think it runs about $3.00 - $5.00... and that's without shipping. Also, since this is a "whitening cream", I would suggest that you DON'T use it during the day because it can sensitize your skin to sunlight, thus causing hyperpigmentation, skin damage, etc.

Here's a picture of the box. I believe Ly-na has TWO different kinds of face creams, this one, which comes in a peachy yellow colored box, and another one called "Ly-Na Nourish Face Cream" which comes in a green/teal box. The ingredients list between the two ARE signifcantly different, so I'm not sure if the "Nourish Face Cream" works as well at fading hyperpigmentation.

Another thing that Anne pointed out and I agree with is that the packaging is cheap. It's made out of flimsy thin plastic, and I think if you dropped it, it just might break.

Like Anne said, the instructions are pretty funny. It's corny and written in poor english. LOL. Also, it DOES smell like old lady... LOL. But so did the face cream that my Lola brought back from the Phillipines. :P Heh.


Yay! I really like THIS part. LOL. So even if it doesn't work for me... I don't have to feel bad about it. LOL.

I will begin using this as my night cream tonight! :) Here's to hoping I don't react to, it fades my pimples, and improves my skin's appearance, at least somewhat. LOL. :D I will do a review but ONLY if you guys want me too. I'm not sure if you guys would want one since Anne already did one. :) If not, I will just let you guys know if I see any progress or not. :D

She Space Swatches Part 4

Here's the FOURTH installment of my She Space Sample Swatches. :) I have ONE installment of swatches left to do and one comparison for Arashi. I'll be comparing "Can't Hide From Karma" to "No Scruples" because she asked whether they were the same or not. :)

Swatches applied WET without a base
Taken in natural lighting without flash

Swatches applied WET without a base
Taken WITH flash

Differences: "Rockin Egyptian" is a soft muted golden/yellow vs. "Killer Bees" which is more of a champagne color.

"Broken Rules" is a berry pink with a slight gold flash vs. "Love Letter Lies" which is more of a soft lilac color vs. "Choir of Angels" which is a peachy bronze color.

Tag I'm It: Fave Lipstick & My Beauty Secrets

So Vannie has tagged me to share my favorite lipstick shade and my beauty secrets! :) I noticed that my answers for tag games aren't really interesting... LOL. I'm pretty low maintenance as far as make-up goes... surprisingly. LOL. :P

I don't really have a favorite lipcolor, believe it or not, but if I had to pick only ONE lipstick for the rest of my life, it'd probably be one of my neutral/nude shades because they go with any eye look and my favorite part of my make-up is my eyes. :) So that way, I'd still have room to play with colors as far as eye make-up, and wouldn't have to worry about it clashing. LOL. So I guess NYX's Circe would be it. :)

My Foundation: I alternate between mineral brands. The two brands that I noticed I use the most are Mineral Boutique's Foundation in their Cover It Formula (W5) and Buff'd Foundation in "Almond". Although I'm getting samples of Dreamworld Minerals and Blusche's Full Coverage foundies in... so we'll see. I will review those later.
My Mascara: I don't have an HG for this yet, but currently I've been using L'Oreal's Clean Definition Telescopic Mascara.
My Blush: Silk Naturals Blush in "Climax"
My Day Cream: Either Camellia Rose's Nourishing Cream or Skin MD's Shielding Lotion (review of this product coming up soon!)
My Lipstick: Any of the Silk Naturals lipsticks or NYX's. If I had to pick one from each brand, I'd pick NYX's Black Label Lipstick in "Plum" and Silk Naturals Lipstick in "Vivacious"
My Beauty Product Brand: Ha! This is a trick question! I don't believe in using only ONE brand of anything! LOL. I'm an equal oppurtunist! :)
My Essential Beauty Product: Rosebud's Strawberry Lip Salve
My Favorite Makeup Product: Pigments! Duh. Everyone knows this by now. LOL.
My Perfume: I'm not really into perfume.
My Nails: As long as they're clean, I'm good.
My Feet: Again, as long as they're clean, I'm good. Oh, and DEFINITELY have to be painted.
My Hands: I don't have dry hands, and if I do, I use whatever lotions lying around. LOL.
Three Products to bring on a deserted island: Mineral Foundation, an Eyelash Curler, and Rosebud's Strawberry Lip Salve.
Woman I Admire for their Beauty: N/A
Woman with the Best Sense of Style: N/A
My Ultimate Dream: finish school up already, and live the American dream (a good career, family, house, you know the deal.) Ha. :)
My Favorite Fashion Publication: N/A

See, I don't really have any beauty secrets. LOL. :P I tag anyone who wants to do this. :P

She Space Sample Swatches Part 3

Here's the third installment of swatches for you guys! :) I'm thinking that I still have 2-3 more installments to do with my remaining samples. :D

Swatches applied wet without a base
Taken in natural lighting without Flash

Swatches applied wet without a base
Taken WITH Flash

Personally, I really like "No Scruples" (an awesome AWESOME purple, I'M TOTALLY getting a full size of this one!), "Tear Jerk" (a gorgeous deep blue), "Hot for Chocolate" (a gorgeous chocolate with a hint of raspberry), and "Fall from Grace" (soft rosey color).

"Little Miss Bliss" and "Necessary Morality" look somewhat similar but there is a difference. "Necessary Morality" has more of a cinnamony tinge to it, while "Little Miss Bliss" has more of a yellow/orange bronze tint to it. :) For some reason, I find myself liking "Necessary Morality" a tad more.

Review: L'Oreal Clean Definition Telescopic Mascara

This review was done per request of Ichigo Bunnie. I hope this helps.

Product Description and Image Source: Drugstore.com

L'Oreal Clean Definition Telescopic Mascara

Package Details

---

Clump-Free Perfectly-Defined Lashes Patented No Clump Brush Cleanly Defines Lashes L'Oreal introduces New Telescopic™ Clean Definition Mascara, for clump-free, perfectly-defined longer lashes. Ophthalmologist and allergy tested Removes easily with soap and water Suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers Fragrance-Free How it Works The patented No Clump Brush lengthens lashes up to 50% Made in USA

Directions

Place brush at base of lashes and gently sweep up to tip.

Ingredients

---

Water (Aqua), Paraffin, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Acacia Senegal, Stearic Acid, Cera Carnauba (Carnauba Wax), Palmitic Acid, Triethanolamine, PTFE, Talc, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PEG 40 Stearate, Aminomethyl Propanediol, Panthenol, Methylparaben, Rayon, Sodium Polymethacrylate, Synthetic Beeswax, Propylparaben, Simethicone, Hydroxypropyl Chitosan, BHT, 2 Oleamido 1, 3 Octadecanediol, Polyquaternium 10, Acrylates/VP Copolymer, May Contain (+/-): CI 77492, CI 77499, CI 77491 (Iron Oxides), Mica, CI 75470 (Carmine), CI 77007 (Ultramarines), CI 77288 (Chromium Oxide Greens), CI 77289 (Chromium Hydroxide Green), CI 77891 (Titanium Dioxide), CI 77510 (Ferric Ferrocyanide)

Here are comparative pictures of my lashes first without any mascara, then with one coat, then two, and then three.

L'Oreal Clean Definition Telescopic Mascara

Price Range: $7.99 - $9.99
Where You Can Buy This Product At: Target, Walmart, and usually any drugstore
Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

PROS: I really do like the design and size of the brush. The brush definitely helps separate lashes better than say, L'Oreal's Voluminous' brush. Also, the brush isn't too big of a size and actually a relatively good size for my eyes. This mascara DOES lengthen, significantly. I don't know if I would say it lengthens my lashes by 50% like it claims, but it definitely does lengthen them some. Something that I've always liked about L'Oreal mascara's is the fact that they offer the color "Blackest Black" because I like my lashes BLACK. Some other lines that I've tried that simply offer "Black", don't meet up to L'Oreal's color choice in "Blackest Black"

CONS: I don't recall seeing a waterproof version of this, though I could be wrong. I don't like this because my lashes are straighter than straight, and the only way my lashes will hold a curl are if I use waterproof formulas. Also, It doesn't get NEARLY as clumpy as Voluminous does, but it starts to get a little clumpy at the ends of my lashes after two coats, and even clumpier looking after three coats. However, this can easily be fixed by running an eyelash brush or clean spoolie through your lashes. It isn't hard to fix the clumping problem with this mascara because the clumping isn't nearly as bad as other mascaras I've used. And although this does lengthen, it doesn't volumize as much as I'd like.

You'll like this product if:
- You already have decently dense lashes and are just looking for some extra lengthening
- You have a problem with mascara clumping
- You want an everyday mascara that adds some subtle definition and length

You won't like this product if:
- You want a mascara that volumizes AND lengthens
- You want a mascara that gives your lashes the appearance of falsies
- You prefer Waterproof Mascara
- You have lashes that won't hold a curl

Would I Repurchase This? Possibly, in the WATERPROOF version. I'd have to think about it long and hard though, but there is a possibility of me purchasing the waterproof version of this if they ever make one. If not, then no, I wouldn't repurchase it.

RE.EDiT:
Speaking of lashes, if you like false lashes and are interested in a deal, Madame Madeline is offering 8% off on any purchase.

The coupon codes is: LUCKY8
Expiration Date: 6/15/08

Urban Apothecary Pro Pigments and Rock Star Lipgloss and an FOTD using these items

I just received a package from Cheri (the owner of Urban Apothecary) and I thought I'd share what she sent me. :) She decided to send me some more of her Pro Pigments and some of her Rock Star Lipglosses.

I ALSO found the SALE PAGE on the Urban Apothecary website and there are some pretty good deals on there! If you're interested, here's the link to their "On Sale" page. :) Some things on the Sale Page that look interesting are their $5.00 lipsticks, $5.00 powders/pressed foundations, and their $6.00 sheer lipstick.

Pictures of the Pro Pigments in the Jars.
Taken in Natural Lighting without Flash

Swatches applied DRY without a base
Taken in Natural Lighting WITHOUT flash

Swatches Applied DRY without a base
Taken WITH flash

I really like "Tantrum" and "A-List". What I like about Urban Apothecary's Pro Pigments is that they come in 10 gram jars versus the usual 5 gram jars, and they can be applied dry. For these swatches I dipped my finger tip into the jar top once and then swiped it on my forearm. I did this dry and without a base and you can see that the pigments still come out fairly pigmented. They're even more pigmented when applied wet and/or with a base. The best part, they're only $6.00 a jar. :D

A picture of all of the Rock Star Lipglosses she sent me. :)

These are not your average lipglosses. Urban Apothecary's Rock Star Glimmer and Glosses are something different. One end is lipgloss and the other end is Pigment. The pigment is eyes, lips, and cheeks friendly. So these are sort of interesting because you can apply the lipgloss by itself for a subtle look and then the pigment on top for a bolder look! I was actually really impressed with these. They're not drying and that's always a plus for me because i have super dry lips. They're the perfect size for your purse and you can easily go from a day look to a night look with just this. The texture of the lipgloss is a little sticky, definitely stickier than NYX Megashine Lipglosses, but I find that this is somewhat better because these lipglosses feel like they have better lasting power than NYX's. They're not ridiculously sticky to the point where your lips are sticking together, but they're stickier than NYX's lipglosses just for comparative purposes. One con that I do see with these is that when opening or closing the pigments it can get messy. We all know that pigments can be messy, but when you open or close it a puff of pigment comes out. But once it's closed the pigment doesn't leak out at all, so it is secure once closed. Another thing I like is that this is great for when you're in a rush, since you already have a coordinating pigment (for your eyes) and lipgloss (for your lips). They're on sale right now for $10.00 on the website, on the "On Sale" page that I mentioned in the beginning of this post. Anyway, here are swatches.

Lips with ONLY the lipgloss on

Lips with the lipgloss AND pigment on
This is a GORGEOUS color by the way! Probably my FAVORITE one from the batch.

Lips with ONLY the lipgloss on

Lips with the lipgloss AND pigment on

Lips with ONLY the lipgloss on

Lips with the lipgloss AND pigment on.

Lips with ONLY the lipgloss on

Lips with the lipgloss AND pigment on.

Lips with the lipgloss on

Lips with the lipgloss AND pigment on.

I didn't apply these lipglosses or pigments precisely. I just swiped them on for swatch purposes. LOL. :P So sorry if they look kind of sloppily applied, they were. LOL. Other than that, I hope these swatches help!

Oh, and just a heads up. If you haven't taken advantage of the special for my readers yet and are contemplating it, click on the banner in the top right corner of my page. :) You get $5.00 off of your first order of $20.00 or more. Her pro pigments are $6.00 and the Rock Star Lipglosses are on sale right now for $10.00 a tube. :)

So here's the look I did using all three pro pigments and the Rock Star Glimmer and Gloss in "Topaz".

What I Used
Face:
EDM Intensive Foundation in "Buttered Tan"
EDM Concealer in "Sunlight"
EDM Concealer in "Intensive Light"

Cheeks:
E.L.F. Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in "Sunkissed"

Lips:
Urban Apothecary Rock Star Glimmer and Gloss in "Topaz"

Eyes:
Urban Apothecary Pro Pigment in "A-List"
Urban Apothecary Pro Pigment in "Tantrum"
Urban Apothecary Pro Pigment in "Bittersweet"
NYX Single Eyeshadow in "Black"
Champagne color from Amuse Sweetheart Palette
Clean Definition Telescopic Mascara in "Blackest Black"
Indelible Gel Liner in "Blackout"

And for the hey of it, I did a visual breakdown (a very crude one at that, LOL.) of the eye portion of my make-up. I know it's sloppy, but it's just to give you guys a small idea of where the colors were layered and what not, instead of me writing it out behind the products I used. Let me know if you guys find this helpful or not. Anyway, here's the breakdown. :)

Shu Uemura Mini Eyelash Curler for $5.44!!!

Yes ladies, you heard me RIGHT. You can get a Shu Uemura Mini Eyelash Curler for ONLY $5.00!

Many, MANY THANKS to Kimmei over at Makeup Fairytale. She left me a comment telling me about this offer and I'll admit, at first I just thought it was some spammer or something (LOL!) but I figured if I purchase the minimum $5.00 like she said, I would have only lost $5.00... if it were a scam. LOL. BUT IT'S NOT! I repeat, IT'S NOT A SCAM, THIS IS LEGIT. It won't show up in your cart till AFTER you place your order but it WORKS! Your final receipt after placing your order shows the mini eyelash curler in your cart! So now, I'm getting a Shu Uemura Mini Eyelash Curler for $5.44! Now you can't beat that with a bat. LOL. :P

So here are the details about this special. This information is taken directly from Kimmei's beauty blog.

This is an amazing deal! It works for me, I just tried it, can't wait to get this baby in the mail!
for those of you who have never used a shu uemura eyelash curler, it's amazing! it doesn't hurt the eye and curls your lashes without leaving an L shape. I love mine! I want the mini curler to get those hard to curl ends. :)

You have to order 5 dollars or more. their cheapest items are their sponge/applicator(s).
www.shuuemura.com
promo code: shubabes

With any purchase, you will receive :Shu Uemura Mini Lash Curler ($17)Free Shipping Free SampleThe mini lash curler doesn't appear until after you submit your order.
From 5/15-5/21 while supplies last.

Source: makeupfairytale.blogspot.com

It worked for me TOO and I PROMISE that it's legit! I just saw that it says, "while supplies last" so jump on it now ladies! This is just so convenient for me because I've been saying that I needed a mini eyelash curler and now I got one... and it's a SHU UEMURA one... and it only cost me $5.44! Geezus. I love beauty blogs. *satisfied grin*

By the way, all I ordered were the "Fashion Applicators" ($5.00) since the minimum purchase was $5.00. The shipping was FREE so I didn't pay any shipping and the tax was only $0.44 cents. So my total was $5.44... and I got cotton tip applicators and a mini eyelash curler. Whew! What a deal! I'm so giddy right now... it's not even funny. LOL. Well, maybe it is funny to you guys. LOL.

Electric Cosmetics EOTN: Alluring Rouge

Stephanie T asked that I do an EOTN using two of Electric Cosmetics' pigments, "Malignity Rouge" and "Allure". :) So here it is! I hope this helps Stephanie T. :) Thanks for the combo idea, I really liked it! :) Also, I LURVE "Malignity Rouge." It's a GORGEOUS color! Recommend, recommend! LOL. :)

I put the sparkly highlight on after I had already finished the rest of my eye makeup. Big no, no. LOL. But I thought it would look better with a sparkly highlight versus a matte one so I added it in last minute.

These first three pics were taken without flash.

These last two were taken with flash.

What I Used:
Electric Cosmetics Pigment in "Malignity Rouge" (foiled on outer portion of upper eye, dry lined on lower lash line)
Electrics Cosmetics Pigment in "Allure" (foiled on inner portion of upper eye)
Amuse Sweetheart Palette (I only used the white sparkly eyeshadow as a highlight under my brow)
Indelible Gel Liner in "Blackout" (on upper lash line and waterline)
Clean Definition Telescopic Mascara in "Blackest Black"

I've figured out how to take good pictures without flash, during the night time! LOL. At least I thought they were pretty good. What do you guys think? Yay or nay? I will do both flash and no flash pics with all my looks from now on, so you can see the difference in different lightings. Hehe. :)

For those of you who did use me as a Referrer for the Electric Cosmetics Referral Form

First I wanted to say thanks to everyone who decided to use me as the referrer for the Electric Cosmetics Referral Form. :) I got a $60.00 gift certificate thanks to you guys! :D So I really appreciate it! I'll probably save it until she releases her new colors and in turn you guys will of course get swatches and pictures. Plus those of you who used me as a referrer will get $3.00 off of your next order, so woo hoo for all of us. :) Heh.

I was suppose to receive an $80.00 gift certificate but I think that two people filled out the Referral Form without making a purchase. This Referral Program only works if you place your order first and then fill out the Referral Form. I just wanted to throw this out there because I'm not sure which two people's forms were rejected, but I just wanted to give whomever they were a heads up so that they know that their $3.00 discount didn't fall through. Whomever you ladies are, if and when you do place your first order, you can simply fill out the referral form AFTER placing your purchase and then you will get your discount for your SECOND order. I just wanted to let you ladies know because I think some people misunderstood how the Referral Program works. Sorry if I didn't describe the policy of the Referral Program all that well. Also, thank you for your efforts! :) I'm still grateful that you used me as a referrer.

Also, for those of you who are holding off till next week, next month, or whenever your make-up allowance comes in (hehe) I've placed a module on the right side of my page with the link to the Referral page, Details about the Program, and my Referrer information should you WANT to use me as a referrer. You DON'T have to, but if you would like to receive the $3.00 discount, I thought I'd keep it up there for you guys, so it's readily accessible. :)

Thanks again ladies, all of you! I really appreciate it! :D You guys are awesome, thanks for giving me free make-up. ;) Also, if you are a beauty blogger, you can also refer your readers and receive free gift certificates!

Just FYI, I'm thinking of getting her Beauty Canvas Cream Primer just to see how it works as a base with the piggies and I will do a review on it for you guys to let you know how it holds up to my HG eyeshadow base as of the moment! :) Again, thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! I REALLY appreciate you guys taking the time to use me as a referrer.

OH and Dez told me that she's planning on having a SALE to celebrate the release of a few new piggie shades THIS FRIDAY! Woo! Just giving you guys a heads up! :)

She Space Sample Swatches Part 2

Here's the second installment of my She Space Sample Swatches! :) These swatches fall mainly into the green and blue family. :)

Swatches applied WET without a base
Picture taken without flash in natural lighting

Swatches applied WET without a base
Picture taken WITH flash

oOo. I like greens. :)

I was interviewed by Toma from "Makeup Masala"

Toma from Makeup Masala has been conducting interviews with a number of beauty bloggers. She was kind enough to ask me for an interview and I thought it would be fun, so I said yes. :) If you're interested in reading the interview feel free to head over to her beauty blog. :)

Thanks again Toma, and that was such a sweet/nice spiel you wrote about me. :D

Book Review: Asian Faces By: Taylor Chang-Babaisan

I was intrigued by this book because of the fact that it was tailored towards Asian women, like myself. After reading it, I'd have to say it is an interesting book and it indeed addresses some of the issues that most Asian women face in terms of makeup.

This book is divided up into 6 sections or chapters. The first chapter is titled "Beauty School" and it's filled with helpful information for people who may find some makeup basics confusing. It covers things like makeup brushes, makeup instruments, and all different types of make-up. In the make-up brushes section, it shows pictures of the different type of make-up brushes that are available, and goes on to explain what each brush is used for. It breaks down make-up into different categories and explains what type of texture or finish a certain kind of make-up will give. For example it will have a small description for cream-to-powder shadows, then it goes on to describe how cream-to-powder shadows are easy to blend while in their cream state, and dry to a powdery finish. It also gives little tips by these descriptions, like by the cream-to-powder description, it says that this type of eyeshadow is great for people with oily lids, and that applying eyeshadow on top of this will prolong lasting power. There is also a basic way that she shows of applying eyeshadow. She calls her technique layering and goes into detail about it in this chapter. There are 4 layers with pictures and descriptions showing you where to apply these layers and which type of colors are most flattering on these layers. This chapter is a basic breakdown of helpful beauty tips and covers a little bit of everything, from how to properly wash your face to contouring your entire face.

The 5 other chapters in the books are basically filled with looks and step-by-steps on how to recreate these looks. In each look's step-by-step it shows you pictures of the products used for this look. This book doesn't state any specific brands when doing the step-by-steps which some will either like or dislike. Instead the writer says things like, "Apply a light taupe eyeshadow to layer 1". I personally prefer this, because that way it doesn't seem like the author is trying to sell me a product or pressure me into thinking that I need that exact brand to recreate the look. In my opinion, this gives the reader freedom to use whatever they seem fit, and even change it up a bit to make it their own.

The looks in this book are a mix of dramatic to subtle. I want to say that most of it is more toned down and subtle. Maybe about 60%-65% of it is more subtle looks. The chapter "Day Faces" is full of subtle looks that are very natural looking while still adding a teensy bit of color to brighten up your face a little bit. The two chapters that were probably my favorite were "Night Faces" and "Decades". "Night Faces" has just that, the more defined makeup that you'd probably wear out to a club or to special events. "Decades" has a look for every decade starting from the 1900's to the 1980's. I found this section fun because I really like some of the old school glam makeup and she does feature this in her book. I also really like the the 1960's look that she did, where false eyelashses and black and white eyeliner reigned supreme. The "Cities" chapter is one of the shortest chapters in the book and the looks are more on the subtle side. This would be okay, but I find that the pictures in this chapter are too far for you to really see the details of the looks all that well. The last chapter is called "Costume" and it features four costume looks. It features the looks titled: "Modern Kabuki", "Dark Victorian", "Ganguro", and "Geisha". The looks were interesting, but not something that you wouldn't be able to come up with on your own.

Overall, the book is decent. I think this book would be GREAT for people who are new to make-up and would like a simple crash course on make-up! This book is really informative in the sense that it gives you a sense of direction. If you're experienced with make-up, you might find a few helpful tips in this book and some of the looks may inspire you to recreate or even create your own look based off of one of the looks. Personally, I found out a few helpful tips and did learn a few new things from the book, but nothing major or huge. I would recommend this to people new to make-up because this book can be very helpful for you, but for people who are experienced with make-up or already have a well rounded idea of what does what and what to do with what, you may not find the book so entertaining. Some of the looks may inspire you, but I don't think anything will wow you about the book.

Overall Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Tutorials: 4 stars out of 5
Pictures: 3.5 stars out of 5
Informational Content: 3.5 stars out of 5

RE:EDiT:
I decided on NOT buying the MAC Pigment samples... for now at least. I might buy some later on when I have more cash flow, but not right now. I have a feeling that something's going to come up and I won't be able to resist. LOL. :) So I'll save my money for something that I ABSOLUTELY MUST have. :P Thank you everyone for your opinions though! :D I appreciate all of your guys' feedback.

She Space Sample Swatches Part 1

As promised, here is the first installment of swatches from my huge She Space Samples Haul. :) I hope this helps. :D

Swatches Applied WET with Homemade Mixing Medium and NO base
Taken in Natural Lighting WITHOUT Flash

Swatches Applied WET with Homemade Mixing Medium and NO base
Taken with Flash

Swatches Applied WET with Homemade Mixing Medium and NO base
Taken in Natural Lighting WITHOUT Flash

Swatches Applied WET with Homemade Mixing Medium and NO base
Taken with Flash

Hope this helps! 10 down... 27 more left to go. LOL! :)

Poppin' My MAC Cherry

Should I do it? LOL.

I guess in a way I'm not because I don't plan on walking into a MAC store and buying something directly from the store, BUT I am thinking about buying some MAC Pigment Samples from a website. :)

Thanks to Neeyuh, I've considered buying MAC pigments from The Body Needs. Her latest post talked about her haul from them and after perusing through the site (something I'm notoriously good at... unfortunately for me. LOL.) I figured it'd be worth a try. LOL. :P I've never bought anything from MAC because personally, I can't get down with their prices. Keep in mind, I am a college student on a budget so if I'm going to spend my money, I try to spend it wisely. Plus, their pigments are too big for me... there's no way I'd end up using a whole jar of their pigments so there was no way I was able to convince myself to buy one of their regular pigments.

Anywho, they offer MAC pigment samples in 5 gram jars and it contains 1/4 teaspoon of product in each. The price per jar is $1.59 which I think is fair considering that Pure Luxe's pigment samples cost $1.00 BUT contain 1/8 teaspoon of product... which is half of 1/4 if you do your math right. LOL.

If I do order from them, I plan on sampling their pot lip balms which can be found here. I'm always interested in anything that will remedy my chapped lips. I've been using my Rosebud Strawberry Lip Salve from Sephora... but it is $7.00 a tin and although I DO think it's worth it because of how much you get and how well it works, if I can find a cheaper alternative, why not? LOL. So I'm open to trying out their lipbalm. Hopefully it can measure up to my Rosebud Lip Salve.

So here's my dilemma. I have my shopping cart filled and my total with shipping and everything will round out to about $20.00. Should I press checkout? I just spent $30.00 on my last haul from Electric Cosmetics and like I said, I won't make a purchase unless I can justify it. But when I think about it... I have LOTS of pigments. But I don't THINK I have colors similar to the ones I'm planning on buying AND I don't own any MAC pigments... so what should I do? Mind you, the reason I'm able to haul so much is because sometimes my bubs will be nice and pay for some of my hauls. Unfortunately he can't pay for this one because his money is going towards our cruise. LOL. Anyway, I KNOW that I don't NEED more make-up... but there's never such a thing as having TOO much make-up. LOL.

So should I bite the bullet and buy the MAC pigment samples and their lipbalm... or save my money for a future haul that I find simply irresistible. What would you do?

Geezus... how bad is it when you're asking other people about whether you should buy more make-up or not. LOL! Help me out ladies and your HONEST opinions are welcome. LOL.

Electric Cosmetics Haul

My Electric Cosmetics Haul came in today. :) Woo! Here are pictures, as always. :D

A picture of my whole haul. :)

Pictures of the full size jars I ordered. These colors look better ON than in the jar.

Swatches of the samples I received. :)
Applied wet with homemade mixing medium, without a base
Taken in natural lighting without flash
Sorry about the blurryness of the pic. LOL.

Swatches of my samples
Applied wet with homemade mixing medium, without a base
Taken with Flash

Swatches of my Full Size Pigments
Applied wet with homemade mixing medium, without a base
Taken without Flash

Swatches of my Full Size Pigments
Applied wet with homemade mixing medium, without a base
Taken with Flash

Texture wise, the matte colors remind me of Taylor Made Mineral's mattes. The shimmers remind me of The She Space's. The pigmentation of the pigments when foiled are very vibrant, reminiscent to Taylor Made Minerals and The She Space's pigments.

I don't think I'll be getting "Emote" or "Eminent Sparxx" because I have colors from The She Space that look very similar to these colors... which is why I chose to get sample sizes of these specific colors instead of full sizes. LOL. :) I think I will be getting "Heavens Paradise" and "Essence" because I really like how these look. :P I pretty much am crazy about all of the full sizes that I ordered. They're simply GORGEOUS. To be honest, my swatch pictures didn't do the actual swatches justice. In real life, they're SUPER PIGMENTED and look much better. The pictures did wash out the colors a bit.

Overall, I can't wait to play with these. They're really pretty. To be honest, I like all of the colors, EXCEPT for "Dream". That's the only one that I didn't really like, but I really love all of the other colors. :) Hopefully I can do a look using these pigments soon. :)

RE:EDiT:
I just wanted to say thanks to those of you who used me as a referral and filled out the Referral Form. :) I really appreciate it, and HEY you get $3.00 off of your next order, so we're all happy campers. ;)

If you haven't ordered yet and are planning on ordering and want to receive a $3.00 discount on your second order and in turn give me a $10.00 gift certificate for referring you, fill out the referral form AFTER placing your first order and feel free to use me as a reference. Here's the Referral Form and my Referral info is as follows.
Name: Christiana Luna
e-mail: christianadivine@gmail.com

Thanks again. :)

Oh, and ONE more thing. Dez (the owner of Electric Cosmetics) just told me that she will be having a SALE on Friday because she's going to be releasing a few new shades! Woo! Exciting. :) Just giving you guys a heads up.

HUGE She Space Samples Haul

So I wanted to order some samples from The She Space and I figured, since samples are only $0.50 each, I'd order ALL of the colors that looked appealing to me. So I did. :) Care to see how many samples I ordered?

NOTE: ALL pictures will be enlargeable by clicking on them from here on out. Enjoy!

As if I didn't have enough pigments OR pigment samples as it is. LOL.

Heather was kind enough to throw in free upgrades of two of the sample sizes I ordered. So here are the two full sizes she sent me. Thanks again Heather, you're always such a doll! :)

Taken without Flash in Natural Lighting


Taken with Flash

oOo... pretty no? :)

I also got some samples of her matte pigments from her Custom Pigment Bar and they look gorgeous in the baggie. Believe it or not, I prefer matte pigments. Hehe. :) Anywho, I didn't do any swatches because:
1.) I have tons, and I mean TONS of samples so it would be EXTREMELY tedious to do swatches of all of them in ONE post. LOL.
2.) There's no good natural lighting here because it's overcast today, so I can't really take good swatch pictures in natural lighting.

But I will do swatches in order by color groups, and I will do them in sections. :) I can't possibly do swatches of everything in one go. LOL. Well, I could... but that would take me forever. LOL. :)
So watch out for swatches! :) I will do the matte pigments I received from the Custom Pigment Bar first, because they're just so pretty!

Anyway, you should be expecting a total of 37 swatches. *Whew* I'm already tired just thinking about it. LOL. Kidding.

Under Construction

So I've decided to remodel my site a bit, so please bare with me as I get everything situated. :) I haven't finished editing everything and some of my widgets/modules were deleted in the process so I'm slowly trying to get everything up again. :) Please bare with me the next couple of hours while I try and get everything organized. Hope you guys like the new layout!

RE.EDiT:
I'm done fixing up my page! Hope you guys like it! :D It's best viewed using Mozilla Firefox, it's still viewable in Internet Explorer... it just doesn't look as good. LOL. :)

FOTD Charts

I'm kind of excited because I've just downloaded and printed out some FOTD charts from Lili's MMU Blog. She's made these nifty FOTD charts that I personally think are really cool and useful for beauty bloggers like myself. :) Here's a picture of how it looks.

NOTE: Photo can be enlarged by clicking on it.

I like the fact that there's areas to fill in what products you used for what and a side portion for notes. I also like that there's illustrations of eye close-ups both open and closed and a face illustration as well. I haven't filled a page out yet, but I will soon and I will post a picture of it, to show you guys how it looks. :)

If you're interested in downloading and printing out your own FOTD charts, please visit Lili's blog and leave her a comment letting her know. I say this just to be courteous is all, seeing how she's the one who made these charts and was kind enough to share them.

Here's the link to her blog entry about these charts: Lili's FOTD Charts

Have fun ladies!

*NEW* Polls about picture sizes!

I've added two new polls along the right side of my page and would appreciate your input. The two polls are about picture sizes on my blog. Someone e-mailed me requesting that I make my full face photos clickable to significantly larger sizes and I thought I'd ask everyone what they thought just so I know what the majority of you prefer. An example of the click to enlarge format is the full face shots in my previous FOTD titled "Rusted Bronze". The normal sized picture format is the format that I used for the eye close-ups in that same FOTD. Which ever format has the most votes by the time the poll closes will be the format that I will use from here on out.

Also there are TWO polls, one in regards to full face shots and the other in regards to eye close-ups. I did this because some of you might like the normal unclickable eye close-up pictures, but the signifcantly larger clickable pictures for full face shots. If this is the case, vote for it in that way. :) The polls are both individual of each other so if the poll about full face shots wins with the clickable larger format and the eye close-up wins with the normal size format, I will use that format. :) So if you have a personal preference about how I post my FOTD pictures on here, feel free to vote. Also, feel free to leave any additional input or feedback regarding either or both of the polls in a comment under this entry. Thanks again. :)

RE.EDiT
I lost all of my poll data because I got a new layout. Since this is so, I decided to go with which ever votes were in the lead before the poll data was erased. So from here on out I will be formatting BOTH full face pictures and eye close-up pictures to be clickable and enlargeable. Thank you to everyone who voted!

FOTD: Rusted Bronze

What I Used
Face:
Mineral Boutique Cover It Foundation in "W5"
Everyday Minerals Concealer in "Intensive Light"
Everyday Minerals Concealer in "Sunlight"

Cheeks:
The She Space Blush in "Beyond Wind"

Lips:
NYX Round Lipstick in "Circe"
NYX Lipliner in "Mauve"
NYX Lipgloss in "Natural"

Eyes:
NYX Single Eyeshadow in "Rust" (all over lid and on lower lash line)
NYX Single Eyeshadow in "Deep Bronze" (on outer half of upper lid)
Milani Single Eyeshadow in "Almondine" (highlight under brow)
NYX Single Eyeshadow in "Black" (on outer half of lower lash line)
Indelible Gel Liner in "Blackout" (on upper lash line)
Clean Definition Telescopic Mascara in "Blackest Black" (on bottom and top lashes)

Rust is such a pretty color, it's probably one of my new fave eyeshadow shades from NYX. I also really like "Circe" as a nude lipstick. :) It goes better with my skintone and shade than "Rea". :)

Electric Cosmetics: Review and Useful Information *MUST READ*

I know you guys are probably sick of all of the mineral companies I mention, but I found one that I thought was definitely worthy of mentioning. :)

I placed an order with a mineral company called Electric Cosmetics yesterday afternoon. This company has a very edgy and bold feel to them, and they offer pigments that match their theme perfectly. But fear not neutral lovers, they do have neutral colors for those of you who still shy away from the brighter and bolder shades. Here is a brief description taken from their website front page:

This company is influenced by rock, glamour, beauty and passion for creativity. We
specialize in formulating outrageous bright and bold shades that stick to your lids with no
creasing. Of course we do not limit ourselves to just bold neon colors, we also carry specially
formulated neutral shades, to perform that natural beauty look.

You all know that I love to support women owned companies, but what's even more-so impressive about this particular site is that the owner is around my age. I believe she's in her late teens or early 20's. I can definitely support a young woman entrepreneur, can't you?

Aside from the normal sparkly/shimmery pigments, they offer mattes as well. It cost $5.00 for a 5 gram jar of pigment and $1.50 for 1/4 teaspoon baggy sample of pigment. Most of the colors have swatches and pictures of people wearing their pigments, so it gives you a good idea of how the pigment looks. This system is similar to Taylor Made Minerals', for those of you who are familiar with it.

Another nifty thing about their company is that you get a FREE pigment sample with every full size jar you order. So if you order two full size pigments, you get two FREE pigment samples of your choice! I've never seen a company that offers FREE samples with their full size pigment orders, and if they do offer it, they usually won't let you pick which colors you want.

ONE MORE cool thing about their site is that they will MAKE YOU a custom color if you want! :) If you have a certain color that you'd LOVE to own but can't find it anywhere, you can request a custom color!!! All you have to do is fill out their Custom Color Form and they'll contact you from there. The custom colors do cost $7.00 a jar, but it is a CUSTOM color so that makes sense. :) Also, if you're dissatisfied with your custom color, she will refund you! This is her only exception for refunds, her custom colors, but there are no refunds on anything else she sells.

Another thing that I do like about this company is that their shipping is reasonable as well. I ordered 6 full size pigments and 6 sample baggies of pigments and the shipping was only $3.00. Very reasonable, seeing as most companies will charge anywhere from $5.00 - $8.00 for shipping alone.

Their customer service is also top notch. I've emailed them a couple of times asking questions and their responses have always been prompt, polite, and thorough. :) Also, since one of the pigments I ordered were out of stock, they e-mailed me, asking me to pick two extra colors for them to send out, free of charge. On top of that, they'll be sending me the original color that I ordered free of charge once it's back in stock. Now if that isn't grade A customer service, I don't know what is.

How to Receive a DISCOUNT on YOUR NEXT (SECOND) order from them!
If you would like to be nice and fill out their referral form, I'd appreciate it. It benefits BOTH of us. You have to place your order FIRST and THEN fill out the referral form right after making your purchase. I'll get a $10.00 gift certificate from them for referring you and YOU get $3.00 off of your next purchase. :) If you're feeling nice (haha) and are planning on ordering from them, here's the link to their Referral Form. The e-mail address you'll want to use for MY portion of the referral form is: christianadivine@gmail.com. The name you'll want to fill in for the referrer name is: Christiana Luna. Thanks again if you choose to do this! :) I appreciate it.

Anyway, that is all. I will show swatches, pictures, and the usual when I get my order in! Woo hoo! I'm so excited!

P.S. If you're curious as to what I ordered, here's what I'm getting in:

Full Sizes:

• Love Stone
• Cobalt
• Tonic
• Verdigris Glow
• XXOO
• Sassy Vixen (backordered and I will receive later when it's back in stock)
  

Samples:

• Emote
• Essence
• Dream
• Eminent Sparxx
• Heavens Paradise
• Allure
• Red Fang

I don't post anything on here besides make-up...

because I have another blog for regular ramblings. Haha. Yes, you heard that right. I made this blog SPECIFICALLY for beauty blogging, and I do have ANOTHER blog where I just blog about... well, whatever tickles my fancy. Ha. My personal blog is my xanga blog... which I've had for about 5 years now... so 5 years of my life are on that thing! :P It's interesting to look back at the older entries and reflect. Even my old pieces are on there, I use to write poems. I've lost my touch so I wouldn't dare dabble in that area anymore. LOL. Plus I was such an emo kid back in the day... gotta love that teenage angst. LOL.

I'm sorry most of you can't really "see" my personality shine through in this blog or even see that I have meaningful thoughts, intellectual findings, or any of that other stuff... but it's that I just prefer to keep all that personal stuff more low key. I like to keep it professional on this blog. :) If you're interested in my personal blog, feel free to e-mail me letting me know and I'll give you the link. :) I don't want to post it up here for all the world to see. Haha. :) Till my next entry...

My boyfriend and I's 4 year anniversary is coming up...

this year on July 19th. :)

NOTE: you can click on the pictures to enlarge them. :)

On our one year anniversary he hand drew me a picture and had it professionally framed. He also took me out to dinner at Santa Monica pier where I was sang to during dinner, which was then followed by games, rides, and a water fight. :)

For our two year anniversary he got me a promise ring and I got him his.

His ring was engraved on the inside of the band and it said, "bri and tia 07/19/04". My ring has three diamonds in it and it "supposedly" represents how many years will pass before he replaces the ring with an engagement ring. I'm not counting on it though, because I've had the ring for what will be 2 years by now. LOL. :P By the way both of the rings are white gold, not silver. LOL. :P He also made me a mini video compilation of our pictures together over the years... which I will not post here because I look groddy in some of those pictures. LOL.

I was having family drama during our three year, so we didn't do anything huge cause I had school and I was just completely stressed out and not feeling up to anything. We had dinner at The Rainforest Cafe in Downtown Disney. :) It was simple but sweet. :D We have a picture from there that we bought from them where we were holding stuffed animals by the waterfall, but I don't have it scanned. LOL.

Our four year is coming up... and he told me (actually I found out and then he told me. LOL.) what we were doing for our four year. We're going on a cruise! My bf already purchased the cruise package and made the first payment of $300.00. Our cruise will cost him about $1000.00 total, and that's not including whatever else we'll be spending while on the cruise. :P

The cruise is a 4 night cruise and we'll be departing on July 14th at 5:30 p.m. and returning to LA on July 18th at 8:00 a.m. :)

Mr lover got us the Baja Mexico package so we'll be departing at 5:30 p.m. on day one. On day two we'll be arriving at Catalina Island at 8:00 a.m. and departing from Catalina Island at 5:00 p.m. On day three we arrive in Ensenada, Mexico at 9:00 a.m. and depart that night at 10:00 p.m. Day four is called "Fun Day At Sea" which Bri tells me is just the day where we're at sea the whole day. :) Day 5 we arrive back in LA at 8:00 a.m.

So I'm excited! I've NEVER been on a cruise before and geezus it's been forever since I've been on an actual vacation. :) Woo! He was suppose to take me on a cruise as my graduation present, but he said he'll just take me on a longer/nicer cruise for my graduation present. LOL. :)

Aww... I can honestly say my honey is really good to me. :) He takes care of me and he likes to spoil me sometimes. Sometimes I'll ask him, "Baby, why do you spoil me?" and he'll say, "Because you're worth it." Hehehe. Okay, sorry about the mushyness... moving on...

I'm only sad that our trip is still a whiles away. The anticipation is keeling me! o_0

EOTD: Yellow, Green, and Teal

Just a little EOTD I came up with by playing with colors. I was trying to do something different than this... but you know that when you play with makeup... you sometimes end up with a different outcome. Haha. :) Anywho, hope you guys like it. :D

What I Used:
Kleancolor 9 Color Palette (not sure which one) Yellow (on inner corner of upper lid and as highlight under brow)
Milani Single Eyeshadow in "Clover" (on outer corner of upper lid)
Kleancolor 9 Color Palette Lime Green (applied on top of "Clover" on outer corner of upper lid)
Milani Single Eyeshadow in "Atlantis" (in crease, but I blended the green and yellow over it. this therefore changed the color. Atlantis is a BRIGHT/VIVID electric baby blue)
Clean Definition Telescopic Mascara in "Blackest Black" (on top and bottom lashes)

For the reader who requested a soft pastel green look, this would work great! :) But you should substitute Milani's Atlantis with a more subtle color, if you don't want it this bright. Something like a toned down medium green or teal. :)