Update on makeup posts

I really should stop these update posts because they don't update you on much. I know I've stated this before but makeup and beauty is probably going to take a back step especially in the financial department. My family is planning to go to Maui for my parent's big 30 anniversary and saving for a vacation is a better cause than spending on makeup. I admit that I have one last Sephora purchase coming, but after that this blog is going to turn into a jack of all trades kind of a blog. Sephora usually gets me with those damn VIB gifts. I regret missing out on the full roller ball size of D&G light blue and their deluxe size of Guerlain lipstick but it's ok. Suck your tears up and make do with what you've got. SOBBING IN THE CORNER WONT BRING BACK THOSE DEALS! I know I've tried.

These days I've got a mind to bake away my makeup woes so although I'm known as the evil queen of snow white for the kitchen in my house, it is not going to stop me from baking and force feeding whomever crosses my path. Muwhahaha. I'm going to attempt the dangerously difficult macrons so if I have pictures it'll mean that it wen't bad. Otherwise my family won't leave a crumb left.

Stridex Maximum Strength

As I have previously mentioned before, I have horrible acne. It's not only on my face but also on my back. If anyone has experienced Bacne as well, well let me just hold your hand and say a prayer for you as well. Something that I've found that really helps is the Stridex pads that you can get at your drugstore. It's not horrible expensive and there is a coupon for $1 off inside.

This stuff works miracles for my acne on my back. I don't use this for my face because it irritates my face but it's perfect for my back and after a week of usage, my acne fades away nicely. I still have scars to deal with but even the most inflamed pimples die down after using this product. It comes in a screw top jar which keep the pads moist for months without drying out. I've had my latest one for about six months and it is still wet. I use this on and off and not daily so it lasts a while and totally HG worthy. I usually cheat and look for greener pastures with other HG products but I've been using this for 3 years and never have I strayed. It comes in different types so pick one that's right for you. This is a definite repurchase.

Non Makeup Blog Post

I was cleaning out my desk and other things when I noticed that my wallet was looking a bit raggedy. I don't know if anyone does this but I always have extra wallets lying around due to Christmas and birthday gifts. So I was emptying my wallet out and believe it or not, I started getting sentimental. Cleaning out the junk and removing cards and things in there that you for got existed made a great trip through memory lane. I know this post is going to be a bit wth-ish but I just felt like putting it up.

My trusty old wallet that I've had for over five years. I got it as a gift from my sister at the Sanrio store in Times Square. That store is way overpriced and usually just a browsing stop when I have free time near that area.

Doesn't the kitty look so dirty? It started out life as a beige canvas wallet but now it's almost a khaki color now. Poor wallet. This wallet was a beast with pockets left and right, with a length from the tip of my hand to the middle of my forearm and it had a real heft to it that was useful for beating up would be muggers. I could never loose this in my purse but its size made light traveling a hassle.
Bye Hello Kitty and hello to my new basic black wallet. It's a bit thick but a bit more portable than my last one and I'm not too worried about getting it dirty. Honestly, it's a bit boring but I have to be an adult someday. I can't keep carrying around Hello Kitty forever.

I'm also a bit of a pack rat and managed to find my first ever grown up wallet that I got when my dad came home from visiting Korea. I think I just started high school and this wallet was so grownup, bright and pretty. It's still in decent condition and made me tear up a bit when I saw it again and it has got me feeling melancholy as I write this.

If I'm this emotional now, wait till I hit menopause. Geez I think I need a stiff drink now.

Estee Lauder Lipstick in Orange Poppy

I've been trying to venture into brighter lipsticks, but so far, it has been a total failure. i haven't ventured out much and stayed within the pink family. I know my limitations when it comes to color and since I have darker colored lips, I just tend to wear lipstick that look like my natural color or a few shades deviating from it. For some reason I just picked up this shade called Orange Poppy from Estee Lauder, for about $20 and I love it.

BAM! The color can be ultra bright or you can tone it down by just applying it in a dabbing motion or blotting. It is a fun bright orange-ish coral lipstick that instantly brightens up my complexion. It is so smooth and moisturizing and lasts fairly well. It has an odd smell and taste but it fades after a bit.

It looks a bit red from the swatch, but it has no hint of red, and it is naturally a bit glossy, so no lipgloss required. Not going to lie to you and tell you that it looks good on anyone because my sister has a shade darker complexion, me being nc20 and her being nc25, with light pink lips and this looked horrible on her. It was too loud and made her look a bit over the top and not in a good way. I'm sure that there is a drugstore dupe somewhere and I'm going to eagerly be searching for it. When I do find it, I'll probably shout it from the rooftops, so make sure you climb your roofs once in a while to see if you can hear my squeal of joy.

Since I'm having a horrible time with my skin, I have no swatches on my lips. There just happens to be a huge underneath the skin pimple residing on my chin.

PS. Since the heat has been brutal here in the east coast, make sure to drink a lot of water and put on your SPF especially for your lips.

Dior's Capture Totale UV Protect SPF 35

I don't have a big variety of high end products because I decided that I don't really need it in my twenties and will start splurging when I really do need it later in life. My sister doesn't believe in that philosophy and she just wants what's good for her now. So I love raiding through her stuff and trying out new things. One product is Dior's Capture Totale UV Protect SPF 35. I can't review this properly because I've used it only a handful of times but I am totally lemming this beauty.

My usual sunblock is the Missha waterproof sunblock but like all the ones I've tried, it's thick, a bit greasy and makes my skin feel a bit heavy. But this product was light and felt like I had nothing on my skin. While it had a pearly sheen, but when applied, the sheen went away and it just looked great. My face wasn't five shades lighter as well. The only two caveats I would think are the price and the fact that it doesn't specify UVA an UVB protection. Other than that, I as seriously considering buying this and saying that it's an investment for my future skincare.

Rimmel's Santa Rose...and a personal rant

Before you start reading this massive non related rant, just decide whether to skip a paragraph or two down or sit there and laugh about my predicament. Have you decided? Ok, just to let you know, I can never say no to almost anyone especially if they are family. I don't like children but have gotten stuck with watching my three cousins ages ranging from 8 to 2 many a times because of this trait. I also hate camping because last time we went, we got stuck on a campground with no available water or electricity and the bathroom was a good hike away. Now, I'm a city girl but that was a minor inconvenience to the circumstances of this trip. I had to go with the previously mentioned children, two people who had pink eye, and a relative I despise.

Now you might say tough titties and suck it up, but no. I ended up getting food poisoning and puking up my guts in a public campground toilet and being the youngest responsible adult there also made me an official babysitter. My sister ended up contracting pink eye, and the rest of the week ended up with me doing everything I can to avoid the infection. Just the memories bring out the rage but guess what it is happening again. This fourth of July, I have to go camping again with the same people with minor subtle differences. This time I will be minus the one relative I hate replaced by two relatives I mildly dislike and I will no longer be the youngest responsible adult there. Being wusses must run in the family because none of us has the balls to tell our relatives that we don't want to go. UNSPEAKABLE RAGE!!

The Rimmel blushes were bought a year apart with the smaller one of .14g first then the .15g later. Both are shimmery soft and sheer and are named Santa Rose.

Now when I bought the bigger one, then realized that I had the same shade at home, I was not happy. I swore that i didn't have a color like this, but I guess i was wrong... not really. Now my camera and lighting skills may throw you off, but these blushes look similar but when swatched, they look a bit different.

You may be able to see a bit of a difference, but not really noticeable until you have it in front of you.

The swatch on the left is from the bigger one while the left is from the smaller one. The bigger seems to be a lighter peachy shade while the other one tended to run a bit darker a bit redder. I confirmed my thoughts with my former pink-eyed sister and she agreed with me. I don't know if the color changed within a year, or maybe the blush was reformulated, but something definitely changed. Overall, this blush is subtle and sheer, so it's nice for a natural look and I would purchase it again.

Back from Maine

So I've returned from the binge lobster vacation so I'm trying to slowly slide myself into blogging again. I already have a beauty post I'd like to do but haven't got the energy for it. I've mentioned before that I wanted to get healthier and lose some weight in the process, but so far it has been unsuccessful. That's why I decided to join a gym. However, things aren't looking so good. The first day was fine, but yesterday I took a kickboxing class and I woke up in the middle of the night to a bloody nose. Now I can't solely blame the extra exercise since I haven't been sleeping well lately but waking up with the taste of blood in my mouth was highly unsettling. Now i'm sore all over and my gym buddies insist on going not only three but FOUR times a week. Psychos.

My gym is located near Martha's bakery and a ton of food joints so I have to exercise some self control as well. I was totally craving a crepe after class but got shut down. Instead we went for sushi which left we content and full but still craving crepes, even the day after. NYC has been extra hot and my bear of a body isn't handling it well, so I'm extra lethargic and won't really be popping out the posts. Next post is about an oddity of a blush from Rimmel.