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Saturday, August 30, 2014

August Empties

Long time no post, I know.  Health reasons and school reasons and life reasons kept me from posting, but I'm back and here with an empties post for the last couple of months.  So: onward to the post!

I don't know if I'm just a mutant compared to the rest of the blogging world, but I just do not go through product as fast as the rest of y'all.  Maybe it's because I have a billionty of everything and use a little from all of it, but for some reason it takes a lot for me to go through a whole product.  I also just suck at using samples or foilies, but oh well.  Add to that my tendency to forget to keep my empties, and you have a lame looking empties post.  But I'm going to try.  Just like blogging, man.

Here's what I went through in the last couple of months:



See what I mean?  I just suck compared to those people who use like, four things of face wash and eight bottles of shampoo a month.  I just can't do it!  And this was for probably July and August.  Whups.




1) Etude House: AC Clinic Daily Acne Foam Cleanser (9.90 USD @ BeatuynetKorea.com)

So this is basically my HG face cleanser.  This is probably my third or fourth bottle of it, and it's just the best if you've got oily and/or acne prone skin.  It's a thick cream that builds to a light foam.  It smells clean, not overly medicinal, which is so important if you're using a lot of acne products.  Why do all of them smell like feet?  It works great in a Clarisonic, on a Foreo Luna, or even with a sponge.  

Rating: A+++, will buy it again, already did buy it again.  I'm halfway through my next bottle.

2) Boscia: Konjac Cleansing Sponge with Bamboo Charcoal (15.00 USD @Sephora)

This is going to make me sound like a skincare blasphemer, but I'm not really the biggest Clarisonic fan.  For what it does, it's great, sure.  But it's not the be all end all product to help my skin.  I used it religiously for a year, and I didn't see any market improvement versus not using it.  I don't know if I'm a mutant or something, but finding the right cleanser did way more for my skin than the Clarisonic itself.  Now that I do have the right cleanser, the Clarisonic seems like overkill for my face.  That, and the waste.  Augh, the waste!  I'm such a hippie, throwing out a brush every month hurts my heart.

So I got the konjac sponge, and it's been working out really well.  It's super gentle in terms of exfoliation, and it's not too drying in combination with my cleanser.  That, and it's biodegradable.  Fuck yeah!  I'm not too keen on the price, but fortunately there's lots of konjac sponges out on the market that aren't attached to the Boscia label and are much cheaper.  

Rating: A+ for product, but C- for price.  I've bought a similar product from another manufacturer already.



3) Josie Maran: Whipped Argan Oil Intensive Hand Cream in Vanilla Apricot (2.37 ounces for 22.00 USD @ Sephora)

This lotion is really nice.  It's whipped and creamy, just like you'd expect from the name, and it's hella hydrating like you'd expect from the Josie Maran brand.  Argan oil is something I love and have long sung its hydrating praises.  It works great, but honestly?  For the price, I'd expect it to work so well that angels came to give it to me every time I opened the bottle.  I'd expect it to clean my flat as I slathered it on my legs.  

Rating: A for product, but F for pricing.  I'm not rich, and even if I was, I'd be buying property or investing my wealth as opposed to spending 22.00 USD for 2.37 ounces of product.  Sorry, not sorry.

4) Etude House: Mini Jam Jam Hand Lotioin in #3 Steam Milk (I paid 5.99 USD for it @ RoseRoseShop about six months ago.  They're sold out of this scent now, but what they do have they're selling for about 3.15 USD right now.)

 This is hand lotion.  It's not too watery or too thick.  It didn't smell particularly like steamed milk, but it didn't stink either.  It just kind of smelled like off brand drugstore hand lotion.  It also made no marked difference in the hydration of my hands.  It's weird, it was like the idea of hand lotion more than actual hand lotion.  But the packaging was adorable?

Rating: C.  I'm not going to repurchase this, even though it was adorable, because it just didn't really do anything.




5) Josie Maran: Argan Oil Hair Serum - Model Citizen: Ian Somerhalder Foundation (2 ounces for 30.00 USD @Sephora)

My love of Josie Maran's Argan Oil Hair Seurm is known.  It's amazing, I've written its praises before, and probably will again.  (But if you want it, here's my post about how amazing this product is.) 

The only difference between the standard hair serum and the Model Citizen imprint is that once a year, Josie Maran's company picks a non-profit organization and partners with them to release versions of the Josie Maran products that will benefit the NPO.  It's a great idea.  The differences in the Model Citizen product is that there's usually a different scent.  This is last year's Model Citizen product, and it benefited the Ian Somerhalder Foundation.  They in turn help out a lot of animals and try to raise awareness and activism for various green earth charities.  I've donated them money before, so getting this for my anual bottle of hair serum was a no-brainer.

The scent was a little different, kind of a honey and chamomile thing, and it allegedly had some "luminizing essence" which ended up just being glittery stuff that stayed in the bottom of the bottle.  It didn't make a difference in my end use, so whatever.

Rating:  A++++, as always.  I go through about a two ounce bottle of this stuff per year, and I immediately repurchase.  This is my HG hair product, and I will literally weep if it goes away.

6) Yu-Be: Moisturizing Skin Cream (1.25 ounces for 16.00 USD @ Sephora)

I got a deluxe sample of this stuff with a purchase I made at Sephora a while ago, and recently I'd noticed that my elbows were really hurting me with how dry they were.  Clearly, my standard lotion wasn't working, and it was time to bring out some big guns.

This stuff smells like Tylenol taste if you let them melt on your tongue: painful and awful.  My roommate actually had to leave the room after I put this on, because the smell made her gag.  For all that stink, I'd hoped it would have a corresponding medicinal effect on my skin.  It didn't.  It moisturized well enough, but I have Eucerin balm that does a better job with minimal scent.  Screw this stuff.

Rating:  F for smelling like a funeral home.  I will pay you to not put this on around me.

7) The Face Shop: Rice Water Bright Cleansing Foam (6.83 USD at Korea Depart)

This is a foilie I got from a f2plus1 purchase I made a while ago.  I thought I'd try it as I love The Face Shop's Rice Water Bright Cleansing Oil and use that on the daily.  It was a cream that goes to a foam, as can be expected.  It smells the same as the cleansing oil - kind of an old lady floral perfume smell that fades quickly as it's applied.  I can't say how well the product works as I only got one use out of it, but it foamed well and played nice with my konjac sponge.

Rating: Ehn.  C, based on what I know from one use.  I probably won't buy this.  Too many cleansers to try already.



8) Jurlique: Lavender Hand Cream (40 ml for 25.00 @Jurlique's web site)

I didn't purchase this for myself; this is something my mother gave me when I last saw her.  Whenever I see my mom, whatever beauty purchases she made for herself that she's not feeling?  I inherit.  This was one of those.  She realized belatedly she had more hand cream than anyone needed and snuck it into my purse.  I always have a tube or three of hand cream in my purse, if only because when I'm a job, I turn into a compulsive hand washer.  I don't want to get sick.  

This hand cream was thicker than I'd expected, and really creamy.  It felt luxurious, almost.  Absorption was a lot faster than I expected it to be for how thick it was, and it smelled soothingly lavender-y.  Think less old lady and more field in Provence.  Unfortunately, this is one of those little luxuries that my mother can afford, and I just can't.

Rating: A for the product itself, but C when you take into account the price tag.  I'd love this as a gift, and might rebuy it as a little luxury, but not as my daily go-to purse lotion.

9)  Tokyomilk Dark: Tainted Love No. 62 Handcreme (.75 ounces for 8.00 USD @ Sephora)

I got this because I was looking for new fragrances.  (Let's be honest, I'm always looking for new fragrances.)  I'd heard good things about Tokyomilk and got this sample sized hand cream and a bottle of the perfume.  The perfume was nice, but faded super fast and I ended up giving it to my sister.  The lotion went into my purse and got used.

It smelled all right - really teenage girl on a vanilla binge at Bath and Body Works with just a hint of hippie wearing too much sandalwood to make it more "adult".  But even if I'd been in love with the scent, it faded too fast to really get worked up about.

Rating: D.  It smelled nice enough but faded so fast I may as well have been borrowing the scent instead of buying it.  Tokyomilk Dark, in my experience, does that, and it's enough for me to have written off the brand.  No repurchasing.

Disclaimer: All products were purchased by me.  No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.  I am not affiliated with any retailers mentioned here.

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Whatever I Want Wednesdays - Lioele L’cret Miracle Lipstick

 I am an Asian skincare and makeup nut.  For some reason, it just seems better than our stuff over here, at least the drugstore brands.  For what it's worth, my skin reacts better to it, so I spend most of my beauty dollars on various websites and then wait a month or so for my loot to arrive.

That's why I can't 100% remember where I bought my three Lioele L'cret Miracle Lipsticks from.  I just know I love them.  (I suspect it was from f2plus1 where they're currently retailing for 6.68 USD each.)

So, what's the miracle?  They change color.  I know, how cute is that?  It's not really a friggin' miracle, but I just like how excited they are about it.



I got colors 01 (Sexy Red), 02 (Elegant Purple), and 05 (Fresh Orange).





01 goes from a DEAR GOD BRIGHT to a more muted pinky-red.  This one just isn't my color, but it also was scented really ... florally.  Dear god, it smells like perfume that grandmas wear only it's on your mouth so it feels like you're tasting it.  Pass.





02, Elegant Purple, is far more my speed.  The bullet is EEE PURPLE, but it ends up being a gentle, more sheer pink on the mouth.  The fragrance is a bit more mellow and tolerable on this one, which means I wear the shit out of it constantly.



05, Fresh Orange, is a "this is never gonna work" orange in the tube, but it's a really wearable peachy color on the mouth.  The fragrance on this one is allegedly orange, but I can't smell it at all.

It has a more balmy texture than most American lipsticks which is something I absolutely love.  And if you're worried about how long that would last - those swatches were on my arm, and even after rubbing at my arm with a makeup removal wipe, the colors were noticeable the next day after I woke up.  

What kind of lipsticks are your miracle?  Do you enjoy hyperbole?  Let me know in the comments!

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me.  No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.  I am not affiliated with any retailers mentioned here.

Monday, March 24, 2014

Nail MADNESS Mondays - Julep "Angela"

I think I accrue Julep nail polishes the way some people save for retirement: slowly, until one day you look around and think "hot damn, that's a lotta stuff!".  Only in my case, it's not entirely as useful as a 401k, but hey, it's shiny?

... I just depressed myself with a metaphor.  MOVING ON.

This is Julep's "Angela", which I recently got in one of their surprise packs.  (The surprise pack was about 30.00 USD, and I got a bunch of stuff in it so I think this ended up being about 5.00 USD all told.)  It's a really pretty sort of peacocky blue that has greens in it when you move it around.  It's not fully holographic, but it's got microglitter out the wazoo.






There's only two layers on the swatch, no topcoat, indoor lighting.  This is absolutely something that I'll wear when I get around to it because dear god I have too much nail polish.

Do you subscribe to the Julep Maven program?  Do you trip over your polish horde sometimes?  Tell me stuff!

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me.  No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.  I am not affiliated with any retailers mentioned here.

Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Whatever I Want Wednesdays - Spring Smells

So, even though it's about twenty degrees outside as I type this (poor Chicago grass!), it's technically almost Spring.  And that means the annual change from my Winter perfumes to my Spring ones.  I have two that are my old faithfuls, but one that I got for Christmas that I'm loving lately.


from tocca.com

According to Tocca's website, this perfume is:

  • Top Notes: Italian Bergamot, Grapefruit Leaves, Green Pear, Apple
  • Middle Notes: Ivory Gardenia, Crushed Violet Petals, Jasmine, Tuberose, Blue Iris
  • Bottom Notes: Blonde Wood, White Musk
For me, it just literally smells like Spring.  I get the grapefruit and then all of the middle floral notes.  It smells like growing things and makes me feel feminine and pretty, yet also somehow very young.  I'm on my third bottle of this.  (eau de parfum, 1.7 oz, 68.00 USD)

from ateliercologne.com
This says it's cologne, but it's absolutely unisex, I promise you.  According to Atelier:
  • Top Notes: blood orange from Italy, bitter orange from Spain, red mandarin from Italy
  • Heart Notes: jasmine from Egypt, geranium from South Africa, black pepper from Madagascar
  • Base Notes: tonka bean from Brazil, sandalwood from Indonesia, cedarwood from Texas
I'm sure all of that is in there.  What do I get?  At first, blood and bitter oranges, and then as it wears, I get more of the jasmine and geranium.  It reminds me of being clean and of growing things.  However, it should be noted - the only reason I have a bottle of this is because my family got it for me.  It's way too rich for my blood, usually.  (100ml, 105.00 USD)


from fragrantica.com

The newest perfume I dig for spring is hella embarrassing.  It's Minajesty, Nicki Minaj's perfume.  I don't know about the bottle (it's terrifying) but the perfume is floral and fruity and vanilla-y all at the same time, don't ask me how.  I just like it, and tend to wear it around the house or to bed.  (eau de parfum, 1.7oz, 49.50)

Am I crazy for changing with the seasons?  Do you do it?  What fragrance do you wear?

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me.  No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.  I am not affiliated with any retailers mentioned here.




Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Nail MADNESS Mondays - Chanel "Paparazzi"

Chanel nail polishes are kind of hit or miss for me.  I confess, I own Peridot, Black Pearl, and Graphite.  When Vamp came out?  I was first in line even though I was only sixteen.  When Metallic Vamp came out (which I wish they'd bring back FFS), I got two bottles of it and two lipsticks.  Because backups are important.

But those are their "offbeat" colors.  Most of Chanel's colors are kinda boring, IMHO, which is why when my mother gifted me a Chanel polish I hadn't been coveting, I was sort of ambivalent.  My instincts were dead on.


You'd think with a name like Paparazzi it would be more interesting, no?  But nope, it's a dusky rose with some microglitter in it.  Ho hum.



Nothing super interesting to see here.  I expect this will be one of the few Chanels I bust out for nail art.  Don't get me wrong, it's awesome to get expensive nail polish as a gift.  But on the other hand, Chanel needs to release another "must have" polish for this tightwad to fork out her own money.  (I don't know exactly how much Mom spent on this, but Chanel on their own website sell this color for 27.00 USD a bottle.)

What about you guys?  Do you spend money on "high end" polish, or are you strictly a drugstore fan?

Disclaimer: This product was gifted to me.  No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.  I am not affiliated with this company.

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Curiosities: Skin Food Oatmeal Hand Mask

I'm horrible at keeping up with this blog, and I'm so sorry.  Being unemployed, moving to another state, job hunting, stints in the hospital - my life's been a friggin' mess.  But I'm shooting to update this three times a week with things that aren't all beauty related, and a lot of reviews of old stuff that I haven't used yet.  (I have about 500 nail polishes and I swear I've only used like, fifty.)

So!  Here's something I tried ages ago, took photos for, and never got around to writing up.  Asian beauty bloggers and fans alike are pretty familiar with sheet masks for our face, but when I saw one for my hands, I did a quick double take before purchasing it as an oddity.








They're basically just like the gloves you get when you do at home hair color, except they have the papery sheet mask material inside coated with essence.  They didn't smell too bad, just a clean sort of oaty smell that I didn't mind at all.  Skin Food recommends rubbing your hands together to massage the essence in, which I did.  Did I do it for the whole fifteen minutes they recommended?  Hell no, I've got things to do.

Did they work?  Eh.  Yeah, my hands were softer after I used these.  Were they softer than if I'd just used lotion?  Not really.  And therein lies the problem.  If these had made my hands amazing and if I'd not been able to live without them, sure.  I'd recommend them.  If you really want to try them out, feel free to grab them on a lark.  But I wouldn't get these if you have really painfully dry hands.  Just snag some Eucerin.

I think I got these from RoseRose Shop for around 2.00 USD, but I honestly don't remember.

Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me.  No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.  I am not affiliated with this seller.

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Skin Care Saturdays: Etude House AC Clinic Intense Mask Sheet

My skin, as I get older, tends to behave itself more.  This is a blessing.  But when my skin doesn't behave, I get these super painful cystic pimples that are the size of a mountain - but all under the skin for about a week.  Then they explode into outer mountains that are made of pus and gross and make me feel like I should run up into a church steeple and ring bells.

This, obviously, is undesirable.

One of the things that helps quite a bit is putting on one of these Etude House sheet masks when I feel one of these pimples coming on.





They're sized pretty generously for sheet masks, as you can see.  Standard packaging too.  One thing I always notice right away is that these are hella saturated.  There's lquid all the heck over, and a lot in the package too.  I'll take that over not enough liquid, but jeezy creezy, it seems like a waste having so much left in the package.

Also: this smells terrible.  It works, but dear god, at what cost?


I can only recommend this to people who have awful, painful pimples like me.  If they're sort of annoying, don't bother - get something that doesn't smell like a tea tree is exploding in your nose.  But if they hurt, if they make you want to rip your face off, go for it.  Just don't say I didn't warn you.

I got these from KoreaDepart for 10.00 for five of them USD, so about two bucks each before shipping.  If you only want one or so at a time, pretty much any korean reseller should have these.  



Disclaimer: This product was purchased by me.  No compensation was received. All opinions are my own.  I am not affiliated with this seller.