Clinique Lash Primer & Shiseido Lift. Mascara

Finally getting around to reviewing the Clinique Lash Primer ($13, Sephora) and the Shiseido Lifting Mascara ($23, Sephora) I got when Sephora had their F&F sale.  Sorry for any lag, it's been a hectic week! Anyway, I really love both products, so I am pretty happy with my purchase, in case you are wondering about the Shiseido Mascara Base (primer), CLICK HERE as I did a review on it awhile ago.

 

Product: 4/5

Packaging: 4/5

Quality: 5/5

Overall: 4/5

Price: $13

What it does:

This lash-conditioning undercoat contains a unique polymer combination that holds mascara to lashes for a longer, fuller look with extended wear. The moisturizing formula also helps to condition and mend dry lashes.

PROS:

- It's actually a pretty good primer, helps prepare my lashes before I apply mascara by separating and lengthening my lashes.

- It's only $13, which is pretty affordable considering there are many other name brands that cost a lot more.

- No weird, funky smell

- Definitely not drying, doesn't flake or cause my mascara to flake.

- Tube is skinny so it's easy to hold in the hands

CONS:

- The brush is a tad bit too wide, it's not horrible, but I wish it was just a little bit skinnier so that it's easier to apply to the hard to reach lashes (like the inner lashes).

Overall: I really liked this primer, it didn't dry out my lashes and my mascara held onto this primer really well for all-day wear. I also liked that it was $13, which like I said is a lot more affordable than some of the other mascara primers I have tried in the past, AND it's worth it! I would definitely re-purchase.

Product: 4/5

Packaging: 5/5

Quality: 4/5

Overall: 4/5

Shade: Black

Price: $23

What they say:

Lashes lift to new heights! Provides lash-by-lash definition, maximum curl, and volume with a feather-light finish. Air Volume Powder delivers strong, long, and feather-light curls. Waterproof, oil-proof, and sweat-proof. Can be easily applied in layers.

PROS: 
- The wand is nice and thin for easier application, which allows me to get into the hard to reach places and really create more of a lift and curl effect.
- With a mascara primer, it gave a really nice lift and a slight curl that lasted all day, even without the use of an eyelash curler.
- Didn't flake at all or rub off
- Seemed like it added a little more volume and thickness to my lashes.

CONS:
- I hate the smell, it smells like deodorant which is just weird for a mascara to have that kind of scent LOL
- By itself (no primer), it doesn't seem to have that much of a lifting effect and I notice it can get sorta clumpy without a primer, even with just a couple of layers.
- $23 seems pricey for a mascara period. Especially since it's recommended to replace it every 3 months, but since I had a Sephora gift card I thought id give it a shot.
- Lashes feel stiff and sorta brittle with this mascara if you do not use a primer, with a primer it's fine.

Overall: This mascara was nice, I liked it along with my Clinique Lash Primer, however as a stand alone mascara I don't like it too much because it made my lashes feel really brittle and somewhat stiff. I personally didn't notice an amazing lift or a slight curl of my lashes with just the mascara by itself, however with a primer it looked really nice! I didn't like the deodorant smell of the mascara, thought that was a little weird because I kept associating it with something I need to be putting under my arms haha. The price I thought was steep, but normal for Sephora, and it's Shiseido and mostly all name brand mascaras are in this price range which was fine, overall I would buy it again.

*Did not use an eyelash curler for any of the pics below for the sake of an accurate review

 

 

readmore »»

SoFreshOralCare.com- Oral Hygiene

Health and beauty doesn't just stop at cosmetics and skin care products; part of being healthy and beautiful is practicing good oral hygiene for fresher breath and a great smile. I was contacted at the perfect time by Wayne from sofreshoralcare.com to review a couple of their products: their flossing toothbrush and their tongue cleaner because I was already shopping around for a few dental products to help keep my teeth and tongue in tip top shape considering I have a sweet tooth!

The fiance also took it out for a test drive and was really excited to use the tongue cleaner, he was a bit disappointed at first because he was expecting the ones with the tiny bristles/brush on it (only because he saw a commercial on one literally minutes before I showed him), but after using this one, he was pretty happy to say the least. He said it did the job and now uses it every night.

I am gonna break my review into sections, focusing on each product so it's easier to follow, you can also find more information and a video on how to effectively use the tongue cleaner on their website or on their FAQ section HERE. **WARNING** there are some tongue pics below, LOL.

Disclaimer: All product reviews and honest opinions on this site are solely that of my own and I am not endorsed, affiliated, or paid for this review unless otherwise specified. 

Nailpolish is Santee in "Flower Pink"

TONGUE CLEANER (Overall rating: 8/10):
*Replace every 3 months

Our tongues are just a breeding ground for bacteria and decaying food debris, which is the cause for bad breath, hence the need for a tongue cleaner!

PROS: Did a good job of cleaning my tongue and it's easy to clean, I also liked how I can physically see the bacteria and the food debris being scraped off and I noticed a big difference before and after. The tongue cleaner felt like it was made out of cheap plastic and that it would easily break but it's really sturdy and according to their website, it's made out of FDA-grade plastic. I like how they also have the tongue cleaner (and the flossing toothbrush) in travel versions. Also comes in a variety of colors.

CONS: When you are scraping down (from the back of your tongue to the tip of your tongue with the edge) it does remove a lot of the bacteria, however it's also removing a lot of your saliva so you end up drooling and it can get gross and messy, however this is the case for pretty much ALL brush cleaners out on the market. I also wish it had a carrying case of some sort for the travel brush cleaner to prevent it from getting dirty or harboring bacteria.

Also, if you have a sensitive gag reflex, I suggest starting slow and just sticking your tongue out and placing the cleaner at the back of your tongue without aggravating the reflex, and little by little each time place it further back.

 

 

___________________________________________________________________

 FLOSSING TOOTHBRUSH (Overall: 9/10):

From their website: 

What are the toothbrush bristles made of?

The SoFresh® Flossing Toothbrush’s bristles are made of a plastic material called PolyButylene Terephthalate (PBT), which typically lasts longer than normal nylon bristles found in most toothbrushes because they do not absorb as much water.

Does this replace regular flossing? No, it simply just enhances your routine.

PROS: The numerous tiny, thin bristles really do help get into super hard to reach areas, and if you have sensitive gums (like me), this is a great toothbrush as it gets in between the small areas of the gumline and in between teeth for effective cleaning. The bristles are soft (they only have soft so it's less abrasive on the gums and tooth enamel), so it's really gentle for anyone to use. Comes in a variety of colors.

CONS: The actual brush head is a bit bigger than a standard toothbrush (feels taller and wider), so for those of you that may have a really small jaw/mouth, you may find this tooth brush to be too much brush for you, but it does not feel uncomfortable at all, you can just tell the difference between your old tooth brush and this one.

 

___________________________________________________________________

 

 

TRAVEL FLOSSING TOOTHBRUSH (Overall: 9/10):

It's the flossing toothbrush above, but in travel form. I love anything travel-sized, as you can tell from a few posts ago from what's in my makeup bag, I am usually a gal on the go and like to be prepared; and a travel toothbrush is always something handy and nifty to have.  More so if it's the flossing toothbrush! Gives you a much cleaner feeling and easy to tote around.

Overall: I was glad I had an opportunity to test out these products simply because there's so many products out there to help you take care of your oral health, but it's always hard to find something that actually works, and at a great price. They sell 1-5 units starting at $3.50!

Other things to know: They DO ship internationally, they sell combo packs, and they ship from California. For more info, check out their website.

readmore »»

Found our wedding venue!

Finally, after months and months of looking at venues from Orange County to Ventura County, we finally fell in love with the Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo, CA! The fiance and I took a tour with the wedding coordinator Briane, and it was just gorgeous! Even just the drive up to the venue was scenic, and it was everything we were looking for. We love the old spanish mission type feel, which is why we LOVE Santa Barbara (and where he proposed!), so this venue totally fit the bill. As soon as we parked, Jon said to me "Babe, this is it. I don't wanna look anywhere else, I just know this is the place". And I felt it too, I was so giddy walking in because I knew we would not be disappointed and I was right! And they are allowing me to create my own dessert/candy station! Since we will be spending most of 2011 to save up since we are paying for most of the wedding ourselves (and now that my car is newly paid off whew!), the big day will most likely be early 2012 so plenty of time to plan and just take my time with it. Takes the stress off a bit.

Here are some pics I took today (first three), as well as other pics I found online from other photographers that covered past weddings at this venue. Totally love the lighting and decor!

 

 

 Where guests would come in to sign the guestbook, then be directed to the reception area (will be decorated of course):

 

 

Pic of me and one of my bridesmaids Zari (middle) and her sister Jazzy at dinner, could you believe they are half Filipino and Mexican?!

readmore »»

Please vote for Meli!

One of my blog readers is entering a contest for Sunglass Hut to become their Full-Time Fabulous fashion blogger.  In order to enter, she submitted a one minute video as to why she deserves the position.  Now she needs to get AS MANY VOTES POSSIBLE until November 17th.

I have been asked to share her video and to get all you guys to vote!  On top of this, she is throwing a blog giveaway (you can read about it here:  http://stylebymeliblog.com/2010/11/01/my-first-blog-giveaway-takes-a-minute-to-enter-and-theres-a-little-something-for-everyone/) and all you have to do to enter her giveaway is vote for her video!  

To Vote:

1-  Click on this video link:  http://www.fulltimefabulous.com/video/view.aspx?vid=tWHIPY1tom4

2-  On the right side, you will see an area to submit your name and e-mail.

3-  Once you have voted, check your email for a confirmation e-mail that will include a link to click on to confirm the vote.

4-  Please FORWARD your confirmation link to:  meli@stylebymeli.com.  Include your name, e-mail, location, and mention my blog so she knows how you found it.  She will respond to you with your entry number for her blog giveaway.

Thank you all for taking the time out of your busy day to vote for her!  She is excited to become Sunglass Hut’s Full-time Fabulous Fashion Blogger!  How exciting!

Wishing you luck Meli!

readmore »»

Sephora Haul

I love getting packages, I swear it's like a mini Christmas for me except I know what's in the box, LOL. The fiance thinks whenever there's a package it's a gift from me to him, yeah right buddy! Haha. This is gonna be a short post just because it's already minight and I gotta get some sleep, but I bought a few things when Sephora had their Friends & Family sale and can't wait to do a review on them! Don't worry I will elaborate on each item soon, I just want a chance to test them out a bit so I can do a review, so there will be more pics and info to come! Hope you ladies are having a happy hump day!

- Clinique Lash Builder

- Shiseido Lasting Lifting Mascara

- Sephora Makeup Brush Shampoo

- Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Daily Face Peel

readmore »»

What's in your makeup bag?

What are your basic essentials in your makeup bag?

I love doing the "What's in your makeup bag?" segments, it's always interesting to see the progressive change of your "must haves" and their transition to other items or brands. Some of my friends already know I am a pretty organized person and have this insatiable need to have basic essentials on me at all times because I fear a moment where I actually am in need of something (like a toothbrush) and it'll bother me not to have them in my possession. But it always works out when my friends are in need of something because I always have it handy!

So I thought id post what's in my makeup bag, what I call my mini "survival kit" in my purse. How did I figure out what I would need? I simply asked myself if I were to not have the comfort of my home and all my things, and had to go somewhere on a whim after work, what would I need to get by to 'spruce' myself up in a jam?

I corresponded each item with a number in the pic below and listed a description for each item/number below to see what is what and why it's essential in my bag. I am also a gal on the go, so in additional to my makeup bag, I have a travel kit that just has toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, q-tips, makeup remover, Cortisone (my skin is sensitive and is always itchy), and a mini tinted moisturizer which believe it or not has come to the rescue numerous times when I am crashing at my girlfriend's house.

 [CLICK TO ENLARGE]

 

What's in my makeup bag (forgot to add my blush in this kit "Warm Soul"):

1.) My Harajuku girls organizer makeup bag from Sephora
2.) My Carmex lip balm and my Visine eye drops since I can't live without chapstick and eye drops because my eyes get irritated so easily from dust and allergies.
3.) UD eyeliners in "Rockstar" and "Bourbon"- I wanted two eyeliners that can go with pretty much any look, "Rockstar" is a nice deep dark purple with a hint of shimmer which is great for smokey looks, and "Bourbon" is a nice balance for neutral looks since it's a nice soft brown with shimmer. MAC lip liner in "Oak" is a nice soft natural brown which is a nice addition to my makeup bag to perfect the pout. MAC technakohl eyeliner in "Graphblack", sometimes I will use this over the Fluidline or liquid eyeliners because it's fast, easy, and less messy.
4.) Sonia Kushuk dual sharpener
5.) MAC Lipglasses in "Splashing" and "Molto-Bene"- Figured it was nice to have a pink lipglass and a neutral brown lipglass to complement most looks. Clinique mini mascara in Black and MAC Liquid Eyeliner in "Boot Black".
6.) MAC quad e/s palette: Bisque, Orb, Satin Taupe, and Motif. Just simple basic eyeshadows I always use on a daily basis. I added Satin Taupe because it's a nice brown color and I can definitely turn it into a smokey eye for an evening look.
7.) MAC Sheer Pressed Powder in NC35- I love this powder to softly get rid of shinyness and since it's a sheer powder it has the perfect amount of color for touch-ups without looking overdone and freshens up a look, as oppose to the blot powders that have no color.
8.) Sonia Kushuk Retractable Blush Brush- Great for applying blush or mineral foundation. MAC Studio Stick Foundation in NC30, I actually just recently added this to my makeup bag because at times I like to alternate and maybe use this on days when I don't really want to do a full face but just dabs of this and spread with a sponge and you're gold!
9.) Revlon Lash Adhesive- Because you never know when you're gonna need to touch up the glue on your falsies after a long night of dancing, or if you're gf needs some glue. MAC makeup remover tips for cleaning up eyeliner or eyeshadow in hard to reach places.
10.) Boscia oil blotting sheets from Sephora to combat shinyness and oil.

Travel Kit (flower pouch I got as free gift from Sephora)

readmore »»

Review: Geo Tricolored Contacts in Brown

Hola mi amigas! Hope you all had a great weekend! I was busy looking at a few venues with my grandparents this weekend (since my parents are in WA.), it was fun hanging out with them since my grandparents are just too cute. Anyway, I recently bought Geo Tri Colored Contact lenses in Brown from dbeautyshop.com, and thought id do a quick video and a post on them so you can see how they look.

They are pretty comfortable to wear, they recommend that you do not wear it longer than 8 hours, so just keep that in mind. These particular colored contacts were $19.90 on their website and shipping was relatively fast (ships from Malaysia I believe), and their shipping was only $5. I ordered it October 22, and received it a few days after Halloween, so not too shabby. Each lens was in a tightly sealed glass vial and came with a contact lens case. I got them with 0.00 power (no power), and they come in a variety of other colors such as grey, violet, blue, and green.

I also did a quick video wearing them just so you can kinda get a feel of how they look like in person, although I have a ton of bright lights in my room so it may look lighter in the video, but they look very natural in person, as you can see from the pic below where I have one contact in and the other is my natural eye, they aren't too fake looking, so if you are looking for something soft and natural these are a nice pick. They are 'tri-color' meaning they have various shades of brown sorta meshed together to complement your natural brown eye color, rather than one simple shade like other colored contacts. (Think gradient effect!)

BTW, I give props to those of you that do YouTube videos, so much time is needed to do these videos and uploading/editing, etc. takes major guts too lol. I feel like such a dork when I do videos, I hate the way I sound, so different from what I hear in my head, haha. But sometimes it's better to convey certain things via video than just pics no? Anyway, enjoy! Time to have some Korean BBQ with my bestie and my fiance!

What I got in the mail:

 

 

 Colored contact in one eye, natural eye color on the other:

readmore »»

Urban Decay Naked Palette & FOTD

I know, this gorgeous palette has been out for how many months now and I am barely getting around to posting about it...but because you ladies are awesome, have been so supportive and understanding, I made y'all red velvet cupcakes! I love baking (more than cooking! but the fiance is opposite, he loves to cook, so it works out LOL). And since I am a sucker for sweets and cupcakes, I made a batch of jumbo red velvet cupcakes with cream cheese frosting, and man oh man do I love cream cheese frosting! :)

Anyway, I got the Naked Palette from Urban Decay months ago when they first came out and let me tell you- this palette is gorgeous. I totally love neutral browns esp. eyeshadows with a little shimmer, it's the perfect color for Fall!

Honestly, if you are debating to get this or the neutral palette from MAC's Tartan Tale Holiday Collection, I would highly recommend you get this one!

Why? Well let's break it down, the Urban Decay palette is $44 at Sephora and Urbandecay.com, AND you get 12 good-sized, well-pigmented eyeshadows- that's LESS than $4 per eyeshadow! Not only do you get the eyeshadows, you get a double-sided pencil of their infamous eyeliners, in "Zero" and "Whiskey", and a small size of their eyeshadow Primer Potion. With the MAC holiday palettes, they are $38 for only 6 eyeshadows, and half the time, you end up only like 2 out of the 6 colors (at least I know that's the case for me haha). And overall, I just love ALL the colors in this palette, they are just so pigmented and there's a variety of shades from light to dark (even a black and a soft gray color) to achieve neutral or dark smokey looks.

[click on pics to enlarge]

 

 

Swatches done dry, with finger, in one swipe:

And here is a simple neutral look I did using the UD Naked Palette (as well as the MAC Pro Longwear Concealer and Foundation which I will do a review and post on soon):

 What I used:

[Face]

- MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC20

- MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC30

- MAC Pro Longwear Foundation in NC35

- MAC Sheer Pressed Powder in NC35 as a finish/setting powder

[Cheeks]

- MAC "The Soft Meow" Mineralize Blush

- MAC "Emote" blush for contouring 

[Eyes]

- Mixture of "Naked" and a little "Sin" e/s on the lower lid

- Mix of "Buck" and "Smog" on the outer-v and crease

- A little bit of "Hustle" on the outer-v

- MAC e/s in "Bisque" and "Orb" as highlight

- MAC Fluidline in "Blacktrack"

- L'Oreal Telescopic Mascara in very black

- UD eyeliner in "Rockstar" on lower lashline

[Lips]

- MAC lustre lipstick in "Lazy Day"

readmore »»