Going to the MAC Wonder Woman Party Today

I am heading straight to the MAC store after work to attend the MAC Wonder Woman Preview Party! I went there last week with a few friends and the lady let me take a looksie at the collection (but swatches will be available later tonight or tomorrow morning). I love Wonder Woman so it was exciting to hear about this collection, however to be honest- nothing in this collection really stands out for me other than the lipsticks and lipglasses, but even that I am sure is debatable.

The eyeshadow palettes, based on preliminary swatches and other observations from other bloggers were a bit disappointing to say the least, some citing hard to apply, being chalky, or nothing to really make you say "wow". And some of the colors I already have something similar and/or would never wear myself.

The colored mascaras are cool and reminds me of a phase in high school when I was into them, but there are tons of dupes for this, including the Hard Candy mascaras at Walmart for half the price.

The blush duos and MSF's are nice if you don't have any and I think the shades are nice on any skintone, but again it's not something we haven't seen before, and one of the blush duos reminds me of "Ripe Peach" which I already have, and the MSF I own, I rarely use. So I don't know if I will be nabbing any of these, but man I am a sucker for packaging! I just have to see these in person to really see if they do any justice.

The lipsticks and lipglasses I love, I notice I am an avid collector of lipsticks and lipglasses and usually end up picking two lippies from every collection, and this is no different! I actually do not own "Russian Red" and it's nice to have a red lippie that works well with my skintone, so I might nab this. And I have "Petals & Peacocks" lipstick which everyone is saying is close to "Spitfire", so I gotta see how they compare.  I would never really wear "Heroine" (the brownish bronze lipstick), and Marquise d' looks a little sheer for my taste so I might pass on these. But I am loving the lipglasses "Athena's Kiss" and "Emancipation", even though "Athena's Kiss" is similar to "Magnetique" lipglass.

And everything else like the pigments, glitter, brush bag, etc. are definitely items I don't see myself reaching for (I have TONS of pigments that are barely getting any love from me these days sadly enough), so I am gonna pass on these.

I can't wait to take a few pics and get some swatches for you ladies!

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Borghese Moisturizers for Dry Skin

I am becoming a huge fan of Borghese products, their moisturizers are amazing because they do a great job of keeping my dry skin from flaking and keep my skin supple and moisturized. Especially spending Christmas in Washington where it was freezing cold and at times, dry, my skin needed something that will quench its thirst. I love a good product for my skin, and because my skin is the most important to me, I don't mind paying a little more for great quality- something that works. I took these products with me to Washington, and it was a skin saver!

Equilibrio Equalizing Restorative ($44.50, 1.7 oz)- 4.5 out of 5 stars
What it is: A lightweight, oil-free moisturizer which restores the moisture balance of your skin while controlling shine. Non-comedogenic, Equilibrio normalizes skin, hydrating where necessary, leaving skin with a velvety, matte complexion.

Has witch hazel, rosemary, and white birch to capture excess oil and has Acqua di Vita complex to hydrate dry areas to leave skin balanced.


My experience with this product: I use this moisturizer before applying CuraForte Moisturizer Intensifier, in the morning and after I shower, and it keeps my skin smooth throughout the day without having to reapply and without feeling oily or greasy. Doesn't break me out at all and I love the pump bottle which makes it easy to apply, keeps it sanitary, and no product is wasted. I was using Korres Yogurt Moisturizer, which is around $30 a pop but it didn't last me long and found myself buying a new one every month or a few weeks, this one costs a little more but contains more product and so far is lasting me a long time (I already had it for 2 months now and still have a lot left in the bottle!)

CuraForte Moisture Intensifier ($66.50, 1.7 oz)- 5 out of 5 stars

What it is: A lightweight formula that intensifies and maximizes the skin's capacity to hold moisture by 200%. It softens and lifts dull surface cells allowing the benefits of moisturizers to penetrate easily and perform at their optimum. Surface fine lines and wrinkles decrease up to 70% within 11 days. Improves skin tone and clarity.

My experience: I use this after I apply my Borghese Equalizing Moisturizer, and it keeps my skin more supple, and I noticed that my skin feels more moisturized, lasting all day without any re-application. The best part about their skin products is that they don't feel greasy, or oily, they literally sink into your skin and not just keep it moisturized, but my skin feels more even and soft, so not only does it help dry skin- it also improves your skin. The only gripe I have is that it is a bit pricey, but it does last a long time, and if you are like me where you find yourself always looking for a new moisturizer or repurchasing your go-to one, it might be a savings in the end.

Dolce Notte Re-Energizing Night Cream ($53.50, 1.85 oz)- 5 out of 5 stars
What it is: While you sleep, return Normal-Dry or Very Dry skin to a comfortable, balanced and healthy state. This rich nighttime treatment encourages cell turnover, sweeping away dullness and impurities while revealing radiant skin. Non pore-clogging, good for sensitive skin. Also contains the acqua di vita complex to sweep away dullness.

My experience: Out of the 4 products, this one is my FAVORITE. I am a fan for moisturizers that you can apply at night, and does the work while you sleep. I love putting this before bedtime or after a shower and letting it just seep into my skin. I wake up with baby soft skin making makeup application so easy and everything just goes on smooth. It literally leaves you skin feeling and looking flawless. And smells amazing! And this too is lasting me a long time, it has definitely changed my skin for the better. I used to have patches of dry skin and this totally helped!

Fango Ristorativo Restorative Hydrating Mud for Face & Body ($33.50, 7 oz.)- 4 out of 5 stars
What it is: A multi-purpose mask that helps nourish and replenish skin with vital marine nutrients and Borghese’s signature Acqua di Vita® Complex. It helps protect against environmental damage while soothing stressed or dehydrated skin with a cooling sensation. Reduces redness as well as inflammation and irritation of the skin. Concentrated minerals and micronutrients replenish and re-mineralize dull, depleted skin. Softens, smoothes and enhances elasticity of the skin for a younger, healthier, more luminous complexion.

*This also comes in a tub form, so I am really happy it's now available in a tube- and at HALF the cost!

My experience: I love masks, but to be honest I rarely reach for them. But because this is in a tube and total time is 5 minutes, it makes it super easy to use. The cream is white straight from the tube, but turns a light blue when you apply it on your face as it has little micro beads. It has kaolin to help clean and purify and fights against inflammation of the skin. I just apply, leave on for 5 minute and rinse off. It was a nice feeling on my skin because I am used to masks being so drying to take out any excess oil, but this was nice because after rinsing, you can feel your skin is more refreshed.

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Product Review: Dentisse Mouthwash

Product: 3 out of 5
Taste: 4 out of 5
Packaging: 2 out of 5
Overall: 3 out of 5
Available on: www.dentisse.com, $14.99 (they also have a toothpaste and a lip balm)

I was sent this product to try out, after I was interested in trying new mouthwashes on the market; and it's described as: Dentisse Natural Solution is an alcohol-free oral rinse (mouthwash), which contains Aloe Vera, Xylitol and a blend of natural oils that attack bacteria that form plaque and cause odor without the burning and drying effects of alcohol, moisturizing the mouth and contains baking soda to neutralize acids.

What they say:
Brush and rinse with Dentisse for just two weeks, and you’ll have...

• noticeably shinier, whiter teeth
• long-lasting fresh breath
• less plaque and tartar buildup
• a smoother, cleaner "mouth feel"
• a more-radiant smile

First impression: The bottle itself was different from other mouthwashes I have encountered as I thought it resembled a shampoo bottle, lol.  When I read it had Xylitol, I was a bit confused as it is a natural sweetener often found in gum and wondered if that was counter-productive, but to my surprise Xylitol actually has a lot of health benefits and has been clinically proven to provide oral health benefits, which you can read more about here. And our bodies already produce it! (Learn something new everyday!)

PROS:
- Nice minty taste. I was scared of the taste before trying it because I thought the baking soda in it would make it taste and feel chalky but not at all! It tasted and smelled like a regular minty fresh mouthwash you may already be accustomed to, but has a more herbal taste to it, and no intense burning sensation.
- Didn't dry out my mouth, made it feel moisturized.
- Has a lot of product to last awhile.
- Cap screws on pretty tight and no leakage as of yet, even during the move! Which is a plus, I hate crappy caps that waste so much product.
- My teeth were noticeably a smidge whiter after 2 weeks of use and mouth felt cleaner.
- They ship outside of the US.

CONS:
- No measuring mouth cup/cap common in many mouthwashes found at your local drugstore, and I like the convenience of having one as it makes things so much easier and sanitary by avoiding having to sip straight from the bottle or trying to pour it in its cap that's not meant for that. I also like knowing I am using the recommended amount, rather than eyeballing the amount myself, which can either be not enough product to fully utilize it to its true potential, or using too much product, therefore wasting it.
- I am not a fan of the package design. Like I mentioned it looks too much like a shampoo bottle and fear that there is someone out there that's probably gonna mix up the two one day LOL. 
- $14.99 is a bit steep for a mouthwash (personally), but it's like hair products, you just pick and choose your battles and some people are willing to pay more for better quality products that work well for them.
- Only available currently on their website, www.dentisse.com and not in any stores at the moment.

Overall: 
It was nice to try it out given my small hesitation initially because it was so different from mouthwashes I was used to seeing in stores (which is a good thing, because you never judge a book by its cover!), but it definitely grabbed by curiosity and I liked the easy-going taste, and the fact it didn't have a crazy burning sensation. I wish products like these were available in brick and mortar stores so that more people have easier access to them. But if you are all for more natural products and trying new things, especially when it comes to oral health, it's something worth trying.

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Finally settled in....

Ugh, I hate moving. Even though we decided last minute to stay in the city we currently live in, it was annoying to pack and unpack and disassembling all the big furniture and having to put it back together. But I am just so happy it's all done! As much as I desperately wanted to move closer to work, we found nothing we really liked in any of the nearby cities (and that didn't cost an arm and a leg- damn you Los Angeles) and decided to stay here since we love where we live now. Commute still sucks but I must say, I look forward to going home, where it feels like home. And I love our spacious kitchen that has an island! Comes in handy when we are cooking. We still have some more unpacking to do....but all the essentials are in, and we have internet! So I will be adding more posts soon!

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Review: Yuko Repair Through Spray for Hair

Product: 4 out of 5

Packaging: 5 out of 5

Quality: 3.5 out of 5

Overall: 4 out of 5

Price: $24 for 6.8 fl. oz, available on Yuko-USA, Amazon

Happy Monday dolls! This will probably be my only post this week since I am moving and don't know when I will be getting my internet and cable setup, but have no fear, if all goes well I should be back in business next week *crosses fingers*. I love Japanese skin and haircare products, they are just so gentle and always seem to work well with me. I was in search for a new leave-in conditioner since my long hair can get unruly and dry, I like something that can keep my hair shiny and moisturized without weighing it down or making it feel like I have product in my hair; and was happy to try Yuko Repair Through Spray.  They also have shampoos and hair treatments on their online shop.

What it is: Leave-in conditioner which contains various kinds of amino-acid that protect hair from blow-dryer or ironing. 

What they say: Diminish damage from heat by excluding alcohol as ingredients. Moisture and moisten agencies penetrate into hair, protection agency covers cuticle with softness and anti-static. Leaves essential moissture in hair, protects from heat from blow-dryer or home care iron. Deeply revitalizes, detangles, and smooths the hair before styling prevents split ends and breakage. Makes the hair shiny, moist and light silky. 

Usage: Spray onto wet/damp hair before blowdrying.

PROS:

- No weird or funky smell like other products (Ojon works wonders but not a fan of the smell), so I like that this has a very light scent.

- Detangler is a bonus! Ladies with long hair know what I am talking about, but this definitely helped combing my hair after a shower a lot easier (and painless!)

- I felt my hair wasn't as dry, felt more soft to the touch, and gave a nice sheen. 

- Pretty large bottle to last awhile.

CONS:

- Kind of pricey for a leave-in conditioner, although I have not used it long enough to see how long-term results are (to see if it may be worth it).
- Must purchase online rather than an actual store, some salons carry certain products according to their site/store locator, but not too many options available.

Overall: It seemed to do a good job at keeping the ends of my hair moisturized, since having long hair tends to dry my ends. My hair felt nice and soft after a few sprays, and it was easy to comb and style since it's also a detangler. But $24 may be pricey for a leave-in conditioner for some (including myself), I currently don't spend that much on hair products in general, but then again it's because I don't spend a lot of time on my hair in terms of curling, straightening, etc. So for those that care more for their hair than I do with mine, it's definitely worth checking out.

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Review: Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Strips

L to R: Frock Star, Bling It On, Wild Child, and Laced Up

Product: 4.5 out of 5

Packaging: 5 out of 5

Quality: 5 out of 5

Overall: 5 out of 5

Price: $8.99 each

Shade I am wearing in pics below is: "Bling It On"

Available at most drugstores

I went to Target last week and came across these Sally Hansen Salon Effects Nail Strips which claim to last up to 10 days, since I am challenged when it comes to putting on nailpolish on my right hand and have no patience for waiting for it to dry, I thought these would be perfect to try out. They are pretty new to the market, they aren't even on the Sally Hansen website yet and they were hard to find (not all Target stores had them or drugstores for that matter). But I think they should be rolling out to more places in due time within the next couple of months if not sooner.

Each box comes with 16 nail strips (extras in case you make a mistake) and of course different sizes so you can find ones that fit your nail bed, a cuticle pusher, detailed instructions, and a nail file. I recommend that you have warm hands or fingertips when you apply these so that when you smooth out the nail strip it sorts seals it onto your natural nail and helps it adhere.

PROS:

-I noticed they have remarkable staying power when used with a top coat. I used Seche Vite top coat to help seal and make it last longer and didn't experience any chipping so far and have had it for about 6 days now; and usually with regular polish I do on Day 2 or 3. Without a top coat it's more prone to peeling or getting etches quicker.

- They have a variety of cool designs and colors, from lace, zebra, high-impact glitter, neon, matte, shimmer, etc. to choose from.

- They are $8.99 each which is relatively cheaper than a manicure you get at a salon.

- Super easy to apply and remove, and very natural looking. It only took me 10 minutes or less to do both hands, and you can remove it with regular nail polish remover.

- Great if you are pressed for time and need to do a quick manicure, no need to wait for them to dry!

CONS:

- Not all of the nail strips will fit all nail beds, but it's not too noticeable, just gotta find the one that fits you the best.

Overall: I love, love, love these! I honestly wanna just get these from now on as oppose to regular nail polish because they are just so easy to do lol! I like that I don't have to wait for these to dry, and that they last a long time. They also come in many fun designs as well as more normal nail polish shades and finishes. I had people even say "I love your nailpolish color what brand/shade is it?" and they are shocked when I say they are nail polish strips, because they look that natural.

The shade "Bling It On" was hard to capture its true color, it's a really pretty medium bright rose pink in person, not as dark as it is in some of the pictures.

Used a different camera, but color is closer to the pic above, and is still as vibrant as Day 1:

Minimal chipping on index fingernail near cuticle, but still in tact for the most part

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Bornprettystore.com

Happy New Year ladies! Sorry i've been slacking this week in posting, everyone's back from vacation so i've been busy catching up at work and because the fiance and I are moving next week (even though I feel like we just moved into our place!), but I am moving to be closer to work since the commute now sorta stinks. So I am sad leaving the home we had so many memories in, but looking forward to making new ones at our new place; which is going to cut my commute from an hour to less than 30 minutes! But I hope you all had a wonderful holiday with loved ones, and toast to the New Year! May 2011 bring lots of luck, happiness, good health, and of course more money wouldn't hurt either! LOL.

Product: 4 out of 5

Packaging: 5 out of 5

Quality: 5 out of 5

Anyway, I had an opportunity to try out a couple of 16 shimmer eyeshadow palettes from www.bornprettystore.com, as well as their sponge bun maker. When I first saw these palettes I was amazed at how colorful they are, and when I swatched them on my hand, they were so pigmented! I've seen random palettes from places that look bright and pigmented, but are far from it when you swatch them, and definitely not the case with these. I wish these palettes came in all neutral colors as well for everyday wear, or even a matte version to switch things up. They also come with sponge-tip applicators.

These are without a base, pretty pigmented!

Product: 4 out of 5

Quality: 4 out of 5

Their sponge bun maker is so nifty and makes nice loose hairstyles in a jiff. My hair is long, thick, and heavy, so usually I can't rock hair 'do clips that make updo's or buns because my hair just weighs it down and my head ends up feeling bruised at the end of the day, but because these are made out of foam, they are pretty comfy to sport and makes it easy to do a messy bun or chignon in seconds. Although I had to use some bobby pins to pin a few pieces since it wouldn't hold all my hair together, it still came out great! It's great for those of you with shorter hair, or fine hair as it will hold up really well, for us ladies with long and thick hair, it takes a bit of work and you may need some pins to keep it in place, but you can still make nice hairstyles.

From their website:

A loose chignon I did for a wedding:

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UD Limited Edition Eyeliners-Get yours now!

They are back on the site ladies, hurry before they are sold out again! US Residents only, UD does not ship internationally unfortunately :(

www.urbandecay.com 

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Review: Korres Products

Flew back in from Washington late last night and thought I would do a quick review on a few Korres products. I love the Korres brand at Sephora; most of their products I have tried so far are so gentle on my sensitive skin and I am a fan of their Yogurt Face Cream and their bronzers. I was excited to try a few of their other products, their Milk Protein Wipes ($12), Blush #18 in Peach ($29), Anti-ageing Face Primer ($33), and their Autumn Look/Cool Collection eyeshadow palette ($35).

Overall: 5/5

(From the press release), these wipes are rich in essential amino acids and offer nourishing and moisturizing benefits; contains Aloe and pro-vitamin B5 to sooth the skin and reduce redness and irritation. Gently removing all traces of face and eye makeup.

My experience: The Milk Proteins cleansing and makeup removing wipes is for those with Normal to Dry skin which is great for me since my cheeks and nose are often dry. There are a lot of wipes in the pack and each wipe is softly quilted to provide gentle exfoliation and to ensure the removal of makeup. They have a soft scent and did a great job at removing my makeup at the end of the day. I brought these with me to Washington and it worked great, especially because it's so cold over there, I was trying not to wash my face too much to avoid drying it out, so these wipes were handy and will last you a long time. I like these better than the MAC wipes and they smell better in my opinion, however I do like the snap top on the MAC wipes, however these Korres wipes have a resealable seal that prevents the wipes from drying out.

Milk in general is great for its moisturizing and nourishing properties.

 Overall: 3.5/5

Natural Anti-Ageing Quercetin & Oak Primer ($33)- Instantly fills up wrinkles and provides a smooth skin surface for lasting makeup application. The Hyaluronic acid forms a protective shield on the skin providing immediate moisture and elasticity. Quercetin is derived from Oak Bark and has been proven to boost cell regeneration containing over 50 powerful natural antioxidants.

My experience: Like other Korres primers, this has the same scent (smells like lemon meringue pie to me), it goes on smooth and does create a nice smooth primed surface for makeup application, however I didn't notice it holding onto my makeup as well as I would have liked (as in most of the day or all day), but it does make your makeup look flawless when you first apply it (mineral powder and even liquid foundation). Since I do not have any wrinkles (yet!), it's hard to tell whether it does a great job of filling in lines and wrinkles, however it received great reviews on Sephora regarding this aspect. It's not an oily or slippery primer, it totally melts into your skin leaving it nicely moisturized and prevents makeup from "sliding off". It doesn't control oil, so don't expect it to, but it's definitely a decent primer to try out, and a little goes a long way.

 Overall: 5/5

Korres Zea Mays Powder Blush #18 Peach ($29)- Has luminous finish and velvety texture. Has zea mays (corn) particles for a nice effect. Available in 8 shades: 15 natural, 16 pink, 18 peach, 22 purple, 32 purple-brown, 44 orange, 45 coral, and 47 orange-brown.

My experience: I am in love with this blush! It's such a pretty peachy pink color with a touch of shimmer, and the one thing I love about this blush is how soft and natural it is. At times I have a heavy hand and end up with a lot of color, but this is so light (so light it was hard to take a swatch as it looks like I had nothing on my hand) and allows you to build up to your desired color that you don't even need to worry so much about having a heavy hand. It really gives a nice natural glow to any complexion. It's kind of pricey for a blush but it gives off great color, lasts a long time, and has it's own mirrored compact. I used it in my holiday look here, but in person, it's amazing.

Overall: 2/5

Korres Autumn Look/Cool Collection Eyeshadow Palette ($35)- Features a wash of cold white, silver, purple and plum for the winter season. Long wearing, crease-resistant eyeshadows rich in hydrating primrose and antioxidant sunflower oils that care for the delicate eye area. (51 Silver/10 White/ 77 Plum/ 75 Purple)

My experience: I do like the packaging of this palette, how you can open each individual eyeshadow on its own in easy to open/close snap cases, but I was disappointed in the pigmentation of this particular shade (cool), I found the color payoff to be terrible on 3 out of the 4 eye shadows (only the dark purple was a pretty and a well-pigmented shade). Granted these are "winter-esque" shades so they need to be 'cooler', I was expecting the grey silver color to be well- more silver and a tad bit darker. Even the pretty lilac shade on the very right looks so pretty IN the palette but on the skin (at least on my light skin) it was drowning out and it was hard to see any color, even with an eyeshadow primer. They have other palette shades that have great pigmentation, but this particular shade just didn't work well with me. However, I do recommend it perhaps to those who may have darker skin as I think this may fare well and show up better on those with darker skin tones. It does last long and has great wearability, I just wish the shades stood out more in this particular palette.

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Merry Christmas from Washington!

Christmas tree at my parent's house!

Merry Christmas to all of you and your loved ones!

I am enjoying Washington, albeit the cold weather, it's nice to be spending it with my sisters and my parents. I rarely get to see them as much as I want to, so I am loving every minute! I flew in yesterday and got upgraded to first class, the lady was so nice she's like "Merry Christmas", one word- amazing! More leg room and meals, can't get any better than that, I definitely want to upgrade more often haha.

One of the reasons I love going up to see my family is because my mom loves the holidays as much as I do, and she goes all out when it comes to decorating the house and all my white Christmas memories from childhood come flooding back. When I am here, it's home- nice and cozy, and filled with love. I honestly feel like a kid when I am at home, especially because both my sisters are still very young, it's fun being silly with them (and drive our parents crazy!).

Megan loved the HK stuff I got her and the Style Savvy DS game she's been wanting. I got my other sis the Stila Makeup Box Player so she can hook up her ipod and listen to music while getting ready, and her BF a wallet and a giftcard. I also put in some makeup brushes and some makeup sponges in her box. I got my dad a Sony Bloggie camera that my baby sis said he wanted and some fleece pajamas for the cold weather in Washington. I got my mom a couple velour suits since she lives in them and this straightener/curling iron she wanted, as well a few beauty items. My baby sis got us a few things, she was so cute because with my sister's gift as a prank, she actually took two things my other sis bought for herself and wrapped it and gave it to her but my sis was going crazy looking for it! LOL. It was hilarious.

I got everything I wanted- spending time with my sisters (and of course cute gifts!). We are planning to do some after Christmas shopping since we also got giftcards haha. 

Here are some pics I took last night and this morning:

Christmas lights outside their house

 

Christmas Dinner

Best part of Christmas morning is my dad making us breakfast :)

 Megan wore a red peacoat too when they picked me up from the airport, aww twins haha

Megan loved her HK slippers!

Dad and his light-up Lakers hat my sister got him

Lauren opening her gift

Mom got me a warm puffy jacket, Megan got me a locket ring and an HK pouch

My other sister surprised that the gift my baby sis gave her was the same item she was missing in the house and looking for, hilarious!

Hello Kitty Silly Bands I got Megan, so cute!

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