Tarina Tarantino

While I was shopping online at Sephora, I needed something to get me over to the free shipping mark. I try to always get free shipping especially since it cost almost $7 for shipping and these eye shadows were $5 each, I think I made out like a bandit. These are my first Tarina Tarantino products because I could never get into them. The products didn't seem that special and while the packaging looks good, the price was a bit too steep for me. However these seemed like a good buy compared to the other things at Sephora.

This is the Bibarucci Eye Dream Hypershadow (Yellow) and the Electric Butterfly Dream Hypershadow (Orange). 2.9g of product in a plastic case with a sticker attached to it along with a pouch for $5.

These are nicely sized eyeshadows and it has a tiny mirror inside the case. At first I thought the pictures were imprinted onto the case, but it's a sticker attached to the middle (*edit* was told that it wasn't a sticker from a reader and I was wrong, this looks like a sticker but is not. Thank you anonymous commenter!). I think the packaging looks so pretty and almost childish but fun. The packaging isn't flimsy and has a bit of a solid feel to it so that I don't have to worry about it falling apart.

Don't you hate it when you open a product and you nails slip and nick the product? Well the clasp here is easy to open and I don't think that there is a risk of nicking your eyeshadow because the product isn't located near the clasp. The product itself is nice and smooth and although both has gold shimmer in it, but it's not that apparent when applied. Both eyeshadows are tightly packed and not crumbly.

There is little fallout and easy to apple. Honestly, the Bibarucci Eye Dream Hypershadow is a bit sheer and not extremely pigmented. It's a light golden brown that's good for a subtle wash of color on the lid. On the other hand, the Electric Butterfly Dream Hypershadow is crazy pigmented and a dream to look at. It's a bold sun kissed golden orange that needs to be applied carefully, otherwise it can look like a mess.
Both are easy to blend, lasts a good while and makes me want to look at the other shadows from this range.

Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder

This is a review for the Philosophy Turbo Booster C Powder that retails for $35 at Sephora online. I've mentioned my acne marked skin before and while I'm not phantom of the opera-ing around; hissing every time someone dares to glance my way, I do have acne marked skin. Time is the keyword here when dealing with scarring, but I'm naturally impatient. I saw some reviews abut this skin brightening product and something about hyper pigmentation on Makeup alley and went for it.

It comes in a glass container along with a little scooper and the directions tell you to use a scoop of this in the morning along with your moisturizer.
First off, this product can be messy. Since it comes in a white powder form, people with unsteady or clumsy hands should exercise caution with this product. I had a hell of a time trying to get a shot of this scooped up because the powder doesn't give a rats ass about trying to keep things neat. If I tried using this in around others, I would get a lot of stank side eyes asking me about my white powdered substance. The glass container bothers the crap out of me because it makes the nails on chalkboard every time I try to get the amount of product I want. Damn chills even thinking about it. I might be a bit picker than usual about this, but for me, these things really stood out.

I take a scoopful as shown in the picture and ...

mix it in with my moisturizer. For some reason, they tell you to use this in the morning instead of night time, so I make sure to use a lot of sunblock.

The product just dissolves into my moisturizer and leaves no residue on the skin. I've used this fairly religiously, maybe every other day sometimes, for two to three weeks and I see no big difference. My skin may be a bit brighter but it's nothing noticeable and noteworthy. I still have visible acne scarring and I've seen better brightening results with lemon juice. I'll probably use this up, but would I repurchase? No. I'll keep trying and if there is a big change, I'll let you know.

By the way, did anyone else get the hat box from Sephora?

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.