Lipgloss Love Affair

Valentine's Day Beauty Blogger's Love Package Swap

2012-01-18T17:21:00.002-05:00

One of the neatest concepts I've been introduced to through the online make-up and beauty community is swapping. Makeupalley has a sort of Craigslist for makeup swapping. People can trade their lightly used or unwanted make-up for items that they do want or need. There are so many country-specific beauty products that are impossible to get in other countries and this is one of the best ways to get your hands on some of those items.

A step up from make-up swapping is a love package exchange. Cute little packages mailed to friends and other bloggers filled with beauty goodies and adorable decorations. I love getting love packages but I especially LOVE putting them together for friends.

I've actually searched around the internet to look for holiday swaps to participate in but for some reason they're extremely hard to find. I also constantly receive e-mails from readers asking if I would be interested in doing a swap. So I thought, why not organize my own??

Valentiene's Day is the perfect holiday for a love package swap so I figure now is the best time to try to put this all together. What do you guys think of an international Valentine's Day swap?

I've set up an interest form for those who would like to participate. I do ask that all participants be bloggers with active blogs as this swap will be based on the honor system and hopefully the blogger integrity will apply to this swap. Otherwise we'll get a whole bunch of random people just trying to get free stuff. For those non bloggers who really want to participate, please include another social media page you have such as Facebook or Twitter in the form. I will require that you ship your package first and provide a tracking number before your swap partner ships your package to you. (It should only be a day or two apart).

The form will be open for one week from now until January 25th. I will then e-mail all participants with their swapping partners. I ask that you have your packages ready to be shipped by February 4th as most international deliveries take a couple of weeks to deliver. It'd be nice if the recipient could receive their package by Valentine's Day but I know it can take some time so please just have it arrive before the month of February ends.

Also I haven't decided if the swap will be a direct exchange -- two people send packages to each other, or if it will be secret santa style -- everyone gets assigned someone to send the package to. So please put your preference in the form. Also please specify if you would like to participate in a $20 swap, $50 swap, or $100 swap. Obviously we can't all afford expensive exchanges and do keep in mind that shipping can get pretty high. But I think there should be a decent amount of value to make this swap worthwhile for everyone. The items don't have to be the EXACT value you choose but please keep it around your chosen price range and remember to make sure it's a package that you yourself would enjoy receiving.

Since this swap will be Valentine's Day themed, feel free to get creative with decorations! Because this is a beauty blog swap, the package should contain primarily beauty products but if you need ideas here are some items you can include:

Skin Care
Make-up
Hair accessories
Bath Products
Stationary
False Eye Lashes
Nail accessories
Candy
Fashion or Beauty magazines from your country
Hand-made crafts or jewelry

For some great ideas please check out these links from Eki's page. She seems to always get amazingly creative packages!

Also for those that are participating -- please spread the word so we can get a big variety or swappers and countries!

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Very Belated Bloggiversary Giveaway

2012-01-17T21:49:00.008-05:00

First of all I want to say thank you to you guys for the warm responses on my previous post. I seriously got a little teary eyed at all the thoughtful comments. Unfortunately things have gotten a little more rough for me this month but I'm still keeping my hopes up for a good year.

I know I've lacked motivation blog wise, but I definitely want to get back on track. And I figure, what better way than a giveaway? I actually planned a big giveaway for my one year blog anniversary which was back in November, but due to all the drama in my life, I was never able to get around to it.

My first blog post was November 16, 2010, and as corny as it sounds I have to say that day changed my life. As rough as my 2011 was, it was actually a wonderful blogging year. I met so many new people (the blog world has the most amazing community!), developed relationships with cosmetic brands and got to try tons of products, found an outlet for my product whoring passion, and even won a trip to Malaysia!

I want to be able to maintain the passion I've had for blogging throughout this year and the future, and hope to continue to interact with you all and meet new friends.

Thank you guys for everything!

Now enough sap and on to the giveaway. The following items are some of my favorite products for the year 2011. In typical Lipgloss Love Affair fashion, I like to offer a complete head to toe package so you''ll find everything from hair stuff to make-up to body wash! I've included links for each item so you can click to find more detailed information.

Too Faced Glamour Revolution Palette

The Balm Time balm Pomegranate Restorative Serum

DDF Sulfur Therapeutic Mask

Physician's Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush

My Beauty Diary Blooming of Beauty Japanese Hydrangea Mask

Baviphat Peach All-In-One Waterfall Cream

Shugar SoapWorks Peach Soap with Shea Butter

DHC Cleansing Oil

Tokidoki Pink Lametta Flat Iron

Bliss Eau De Toilette

The Body Shop Satsuma Shower Gel

Victoria's Secret Shimmer Lotion in "Whipped Cream & Winter Pear"

Moroccanoil Treatment

Sally Hansen Lacquer Shine for Lips in "Peony"

Dariya Hair Magic Sheet in Pink

Giveaway Rules:

All you need to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. The ONLY mandatory requirement is to be a Blogger or GFC Follower.

But if you want some extra entries there's plenty of ways for you to do so (just follow the instructions below).

Tweets and Facebook status updates about the giveaway are allowed once a day for more chances to get entries.

Please be sure to read all the instructions carefully as incomplete entries will be disqualified and Rafflecopter will not allow you to enter twice. You can find out further details in the form below! Thank you and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

2012-01-04T02:59:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year everyone!

I'm sorry for my long hiatus but I had a very rough end of the year. It sucks that I didn't get to do any holiday posts which I was really looking forward to but I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and New Year's.

I have to say -- I just can't be relieved enough that 2011 is over. Not to be a Debbie Downer but I can honestly say it was the WORST year of my life -- everything bad that could have possibly happened did. The first half of the year I went through a very tough time -- it was definitely a low point in my life. Then just as things were starting to get a little better mid year and I started a new job, I broke my foot and was out of commission for nearly two months.

Then my boyfriend of nearly 4 years started getting really sick -- he had everything from hypertension, an ulcer, diabetes, a brain aneurysm, and a tumor in his pancreas with a family history of pancreatic cancer. And a few weeks ago he was diagnosed with leukemia. It's the most devestating news I've gotten since I found out my mom had breast cancer. He is currently in Korea getting treatment and hopefully I can visit soon. But please keep him in your prayers!

And finally I ended the year with a bang -- literally. I went out for my friend's birthday/company party which consisted of an open bar. I pretty much never drink so I guess I didn't realize how low my alcohol tolerance had gotten and ended up getting pretty drunk. Combine that with a long flight of stairs and you get me waking up in the emergency room with my clothes torn off, stitches, a black eye, a neck brace, and blood all over my face.

I guess I got off lucky because I could've cracked my head open or broken my neck but luckily I got off with a bit of swelling to my face/eye area and 8 stitches near my eyebrow. But to top it off I lost track of my purse which also contained my wallet, cash, Iphone, and car keys which are really difficult/expensive to replace because they have to reprogram my whole car. A few days later I got an email notification from my iphone tracker that my phone was located in Vegas. Great -- someone took off with my purse to Vegas!

So yes, enough venting but all I can say is I truly hope it will be a better year, and most importantly, I pray that my boyfriend will get better.

As for my new year's resolutions, blogging wise, I really want to stay consistent with entries, get up to date with the product reviews I owe, and I should probably stop hoarding so many products!

So here's to 2012!

And I leave you with a picture of my lovely black eye and stitches while also sporting a Clinique Moisture surge refreshing eye mask for the swelling haha.

The Secret To Korean Celebrity Skin

2011-11-29T16:22:00.003-05:00

It's no secret that Korean celebrities have the most beautiful skin -- dare I say -- in the world? It's becoming even more apparent as "Korean Fever" or "The Hallyu Wave" are hitting the globe by storm! Korean concerts are selling out in every country and dramas are being aired all over Asia as well as Europe and the US, causing Korean pop stars and actresses to gain more recognition and drawing attention to their flawless skin. I can't help but be in awe every time I watch Korean dramas in high def and can barely see so much as a pore on 30-something Korean actresses.

Kim Tae Hee

Lee Min Jung

Park Min Young

Shin Minah

What about the pop stars who've been in training since elementary school? How can they maintain flawless skin as they go through adolecesnse and debut? It's not like companies can predict their future skin when they're still kids. So how on earth do they control breakouts even with hours of training and practicing, barely sleeping, and wearing tons of make-up?

Boa

Ham Eun Jung

HyunA

Yoona

Obviously there's lasers and botox involved, as well as genetics, but there must be some sort of skin regimen for maintenance, right? A quick google search will bring up several articles regarding the multi-step Korean skin care system -- some with 5 steps and others up to 18 steps. Many Korean cosmetics actually come in large gift sets containing 5-8 products. My mom uses a ridiculous $500 skin care system that actually has all the steps numbered. For instance, the cleanser is referred to as "Number 1" and a serum is "Number 7."

Here in the States, harsh exfoliation treatments such as microdermabrasion and chemical peels are popular. But in Korea, being gentle is key and tons of moisturizing is encouraged. Many women apply daily moisture masks and carry around facial spritzes to keep skin hydrated throughout the day. Cosmetics ads are everywhere and often endorsed by celebrities -- a commercial featuring an especially popular pop star has even caused certain products to sell out instantly. It's not uncommon for Korean women to spend $100-200 a month on skincare.

So here it is -- 11 steps to celebrity skin. Or at least make you feel like a celebrity. Or maybe just burn a hole in your wallet haha.

Step 1 & 2 : Double Cleansing

1: Make-up removal
An absolute staple in Asian skin care -- if you haven't jumped on the cleansing oil bandwagon then you don't know what you're missing! These amazing "oils" literally melt away make-up and provide a wonderful massage for your face. Rinses off clean with water while leaving your face moist and supple.

Suggestions:
Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil
Amore Pacific Cleansing Oil
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

Laura Mercier Flawless Purifying Cleansing Oil

2: Cleanser
If you have tried Korean/Japanese/Asian cleansers, you know they are big on super luxurious foam. The tiniest blob quickly lathers up and removes any remaining trace of make-up.

Suggestions:
Shiseido Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam
Dior Purifying Foaming Cleanser
Kracie Naive Peach Cleansing Foam
The History of Whoo Gong Jinh Yang Foam Cleanser

3: Massage/Pack
This is a critical step which most of us in the US hardly ever practice. Koreans SWEAR by facial massage -- similar to what you might experience while getting a facial at a spa. Spending a few minutes massaging a cream or mask into your face increases circulation and stimulates the flow of oxygen. Any wet mask will work for this -- slowly massage into skin, let sit for alotted time, then rinse off.

Suggestions:
Laneige Strawberry Yogurt Massage Pack
Boscia Intensifying Moisture Pack
Dior Hydra Life Beauty Awakening Mask
Cellnique Intensive Soothing & Hydrating Masque

4: Exfoliation (1-2 times per week)
Going along with the "gentle is better" idea, instead of harsh scrubs, peeling gels or grommages are popular in Asia. These gels are massaged into the skin until dead skin cells form into balls and are gently buffed away.

Suggestions:
Cure Natural Aqua Gel
Etude Magic Bubble Peeling Mousse
Sana Salon De Porejo Peeling Gel
Missha Super Aqua Detoxifying Peeling Gel

5: Toner
You'll notice that Asian toners (also called refiners, softeners, and lotions) are thicker in consistency than those found in Europe or the U.S. They are almost gel-like and instead of using a cotton ball to wipe off your face, these toners are poured onto the fingers and patted onto the face -- this is to promote adding moisture rather than stripping skin of it.

Suggestions:
Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Balancing Softener

Sana Hadanomy Collagen Lotion
Kose Sekkisei Supreme Refining Lotion II
Laneige White Plus Renew Skin Refiner

6. Emulsion
Emulsion is a concentrated moisturizing gel that penetrates deeply into the skin, containing super hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid. These gels are essentially moisturizers that are just lighter in texture and are "emulsfied" or warmed up in between fingers, then patted into the skin.

Suggestions:
Holika Holika Bulgarian Rose Emulsion
Laneige White Plus Renew Emulsion
Sulwhasoo Basic Balancing Emulsion

Skinfood Tomato Whitening Emulsion
7: Essence

Choose an essence with the benefit of your choice -- many include whitening or brightening properties. A popular way to apply essence is in the form of sheet masks.

Suggestions:
Hadalabo Shirojyun Arbutin Whitening Essence
Kiehl's Ultimate White Intensive Whitening Essence
Laniege White Plus Renew Essence
Holika Holika Secret Source Hydro Essence

8: Serum

Following a essence, you'll want an anti-aging serum to keep the wrinkles away. Again you can choose what problems you want to target -- there are whitening serums, spot reducing serums, anti-oxident serums, and wrinkle serums. These serums are super concentrated and wildly expensive -- averaging $50-150 per tiny bottle.

Suggestions:
Amore Pacific Line Modifier Intensive Wrinkle Treatment
Cellnique Advanced Bio Renewal Serum
L'Occitane Immortelle Dvine Extract Ultimate Youth Serum
Lancome Genefique Youth Activating Cream Serum

9. Eye Serum
Another concentrated serum for the eye area to go under the eye cream. A bit of overkill if you ask me and another added expense. But hey -- if you're going all out! Eye serums will contain stronger doses of ingredients and will penetrate more deeply than creams.

Suggestions:
Clarins Advanced Extra-Firming Eye Contour Serum
Dior Anti-Fatigue Firming Eye Serum
Innisfree White Tone-up Eye Serum
Loreal Skin Genesis Eye Serum

10: Eye Cream

After your serum pat on an eye cream of your choice. A thick cream is preferred to moisturize the eye area and compliment the eye serum.

Suggestions:
Skin Food Salmon Brightening Eye Cream
Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream
Kabebo Sensai Silk Moisture Supply Eye Cream
Shiseido Benefiance Concentrated Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream

11: Moisturizer/Night Cream

Seal everything in with your favorite moisturizer!

Suggestions:

Bobby Brown Hydrating Intense Night Cream
Holika Holika Snow White Cream
SkinCeuticals Renew Overnight
Naruko Apple Seed & Tranexamic Acid Soothing Night Gelly

Whew! I know it sounds absolutely insane. I don't know if I could follow this regimen religiously, nor do I think product overload works. But at the same time, it doesn't necessarily seem to hurt? I guess prevention is key. As for the whole essence/emulsion/serum -- I think they are pretty much interchangeable and it doesn't matter which order you use them -- in fact I think using just one of these products should suffice.

Do any of you follow a skin regimen with this many products? What are some of your favorite items in the categories listed?

Best Black Friday + Cyber Monday Beauty Deals + Giveaway Winner

2011-11-24T18:23:00.029-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope everyone is busy stuffing their faces with turkey and spending time with family.

Wow somehow my blogging breaks always end up turning into a one month absence! I'm still here -- just a lot going on with work and life.

I know many of you have been patiently (or impatiently!) waiting for the winner of my Best of Japan Giveaway. Thank goodness for Rafflecopter I was able to get through the 4,862 entries fairly quickly! Yes you read that right -- this was my biggest giveaway yet!

So without further ado -- the winner is: #2604 Sharon H.

Congratulations Sharon (please check your e-mail) and thank you to everyone that entered! Thank you once again to Artie Style and Shoppingholics for sponsoring many of the wonderful products.

So my inbox has been getting bombarded with all these amazing Black Friday and Cyber Monday beauty deals. The last thing I need is more beauty "junk" but of course I'm a sucker for a good deal and will be taking full advantage of these sales. (All in the name of blogging, I like to tell myself!)

I've compiled a list of deals and coupon codes so you guys have a one-stop place to refer back to while shopping!

Store: Beauty Ticket
Website: www.beautyticket.com
Discount: 25% off entire purchase
Discount Code: CYBER25
Ends: unknown

Store: Bliss

Website: www.blissworld.com

Discount: 20% off Bliss products

Discount Code: THANKS20

Ends: Mon Dec 5

Store: Cherry Culture
Website: www.cherryculture.com
Discount: 20% off entire purchase
Discount Code: TGS20
Ends: Sun Nov 27

Store: CVS

Website: www.cvs.com

Discount: 25% off all beauty, haircare, and skincare products

Discount Code: no code needed

Ends: Sun Nov 27

Store: Elizabeth Arden

Website: www.elizabetharden.com

Discount: 25% off entire purchase

Discount Code: BF2

Ends: Mon Nov 28

Store: First Aid Beauty (FAB)

Website: www.firstaidbeauty.com

Discount: 25% off entire purchase

Discount Code: FABFF11

Ends: Mon Nov 28

Store: Inglot
Website: www.inglotusa.com
Discount: 15% off entire purchase
Discount Code: No code needed
Ends: Mon Nov 28

Store: Josie Maran
Website: www.josiemarancosmetics.com
Discount: 25% off entire purchase
Discount Code: GIVEBACK
Ends: Mon Nov 28

Store: Korres

Website: www.korresusa.com
Discount: 20% off entire purchase
Discount Code: FF2011
Ends: Sun Nov 27
 

Store: Smashbox
Website: www.smashbox.com
Discount: 20% off entire purchase
Discount Code: SBXFF11
Ends: Mon Nov 28

Store: Sephora

Website: www.sephora.com

Discount: 10 products at $10 each (limit 2)

Discount Code: no code needed

Ends: Fri Nov 25 ONLY

Store: Shu Uemura

Website: www.shuuemura.com

Discount: 20% off entire purchase

Discount Code: WISH2011

Ends: Tues Nov 29

Store: Tarte

Website: www.tartecosmetics.com/

Discount: free shipping, free gift, and up to $30 off your purchase

Discount Code: CYBER

Ends: Mon Nov 28 ONLY

Store: The Balm

Website: www.thebalm.com

Discount: 40% off entire purchase
Discount Code: BLACKFRIDAY
Ends: Fri Nov 25th

Store: The Body Shop

Website: www.thebodyshop.com

Discount: Any 3 items for $30

Discount Code: no code needed

Ends: Fri Nov 25th

Store: Urban Decay

Website: www.urbandecay.com

Discount: $20 off Book of Shadows Vol. 4 to first 1,000 people

Discount Code: BLACKFRIDAY11

Ends: Fri Nov 25th ONLY

Store: YSL

Website: www.yslbeautyus.com

Discount: 20% off entire purchase

Discount Code: CYBER

Ends: Sat Nov 26

One day only!!

This is not a Black Friday deal but I found this on Groupon. I've been obsessed with microdermabrasion lately and was researching home systems such as PMD and the Nu Brilliance. It was kind of cool but I was actually on the verge of purchasing it from SkincareRX during their friends and family sale but it showed up on Groupon the very next day for only $89 -- I bought two haha and there's already over 5000 sold! The PMD microderm system was featured on Dr Oz and I can't wait to try it out!

Frosting For The Cause: Green Tea Strawberry Shortcake

2011-10-25T15:28:00.000-04:00

Hey guys! Today I'm taking a break from beauty blogging to write a guest post for a wonderful cause. Frosting For The Cause was created by the lovely Paula -- her mission was to bring together 365 bloggers and bakers -- one for each day of the year. Each blogger pledges to donate $25 to the cancer society, as well as share a favorite dessert recipe and take her baked goods to the local hospital or women's hospice.

In addition, we will share a personal story of how cancer touched our lives. In my case, my story is about my mother, who is a breast cancer survivor. I also want to dedicate this post to someone who is very close to me who recently found a tumor in his pancreas. This person has a family history of pancreatic cancer, and while he wishes to remain anonymous, please keep him in your prayers.

We as bloggers have a wide-reaching audience, and while I love my daily dose of lip gloss and mascara, I think it's important to use our influence to also raise awareness for important causes.

So please check out my post here and don't forget to enjoy my recipe for green tea strawberry shortcake!

So please take a minute to check out my post here, support your local cause, and heck, maybe even join Frosting For the Cause!

Pumpkin Party!

2011-10-24T18:49:00.003-04:00

Over the weekend my friend Esther invited me over for dinner and a "pumpkin party." Esther and her boyfriend, Aldus, get very festive for holidays and Halloween is no exception. They had lots of pumpkins along with all kinds of stencils and carving tools. Aldus even bought us all these crazy inflatable masks so we could get into theme.

Our finished product!

For dinner, Aldus, the gourmet chef, prepared lobster bisque and lobster rolls. I also tried Russian caviar for the first time. Unfortunately I wasn't quite too fond of the fishiness -- and I don't know about the fact that it's $150 a tablespoon! I can just barely stomach salmon roe on my sushi rolls as it is lol.

Haha I know this was a total cheater post. I have so many entries backlogged that I need to get out. But I have a very important post coming up tomorrow for Frosting For the Cause! Please be sure to check it out!

Obsessed With Strawberry Skincare

2011-10-15T19:11:00.001-04:00

As of late I've been so preoccupied with catching up on reviews and giveaways that I haven't done a skin care routine or favorites post in ages! So I want to talk about a couple of products I've been really loving lately. And they all just happen to be strawberry based products!

The first (and my absolute favorite) is the Baviphat Toxifying Masque. Yes you read that right -- TOXIFYING (it says it in Korean on the label). Haha good ol Koreans and their sometimes retarded English. I'm sure they meant de-toxifying (or at least I really hope so!).

I was pleasantly suprised with this product. I bought it because I thought the packaging was cute but I never expected the deliciously awesome mask inside! It's a soft creamy, almost mousse-y texture and the scent is OMG good. Now the Asian version of a strawberry smell is completely different from the American version. If you've ever had Asian strawberry ice cream or candy you know exactly what I mean. It has a more tart, fresh, and well, ASIAN scent -- unlike the cheap, fake, American version. Think Pinkberry yogurt mixed with fresh strawberries!

The interesting thing about this masque is that it stays soft upon application. You would think it would dry up like a typical mud or clay mask but nope -- it stays wet and can be a bit of a mess to take off. Think of it as a thick thick creamy moisturiser -- and I guess I shouldn't be too surprised since most Asian masks are wet masks. Anyways love love love this stuff -- I definitely want to try the entire Baviphat fruit line now!

Next is the TimeBalm Skincare Strawberry Nourishing Facial Serum. This serum contains alpha hydroxy acids to help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and is infused with strawberry extract. Unfortunately, this serum DOES have the cheap smelling strawberry scent. But the serum itself is wonderful. It's not too sticky and sinks nicely into the skin. I use it nightly under a moisturizer for a nice little skin care boost!

Finally -- I'm sure you've all heard of or tried this mask before -- the My Beauty Diary Strawberry Yogurt Mask. My Beauty Diary masks are cult favorites and with good reason. They're so affordable and work great! They offer tons of "flavors" and I've tried a majority of them but the one I always go back to is the Strawberry Yogurt Mask. It soothes and comforts my skin and leaves it feeling super duper soft.

For some reason, despite being a Taiwanese brand, this mask also sadly has the "cheap" strawberry smell but I love it nonetheless. I definitely recommend the Strawberry Yogurt mask to those that are interested in trying My Beauty Diary for the first time because I think it's universally loved by "mask enthusiasts".

Spa Week + Alchemilla Exfoliating Face Wash Cream Review + Giveaway

2011-10-13T17:19:00.002-04:00

For those of you who haven't taken advantage yet, there's still 4 days left of Spa Week! Spa Week is a biannual event where tons of spas offer $50 facials, massages, mani/pedis, scrubs, laser hair removal, etc. Just go to spaweek.com, enter your city, and see what's available in your area! You can read my previous review of my Spa Week in Vegas here.

So today I am reviewing a great cruelty free exfoliating face wash cream by Alchemilla.

The exfoliating face wash cream is one of their best sellers. It quickly de-flakes and removes dead skin cells without harsh gritty particles so it's perfect for sensitive skin. All Alchemilla products are natural, organic, and hand made using the highest quality plant ingredients.

I would definitely put this in the scrub category -- it's not really a face wash as it doesn't lather or remove make-up too well. It works great if you pre-cleanse with a make-up remover or cleansing oil. It comes in a 45g recyclable tube that reminds me of a tube of retin-a or toothpaste. The tube comes sealed and you must use the lid to puncture a hole in it -- so it's nice and sanitary -- probably to seal in the organic goods!

The smell is very earthy and fresh. The cream contains tiny spheres of natural jojoba and feels super gentle as you massage your face. It leaves the skin nice and soft and is a great scrub to use every other day. Skincare that's great for your skin and the environment? Can't beat that!

Check out all of Alchemilla's natural skincare products at: http://www.myalchemilla.com/

And it's giveaway time! Alchemilla is offering a tube of it's awesome exfoliating face cream wash to one of my readers. Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter! (Sorry open to U.S. residents only.)

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

The Most Popular Beauty Products In Japan + HUGE Giveaway!

2011-10-05T04:14:00.002-04:00

I'm super excited about this month's big giveaway! I had planned to do this giveaway during the month of September but there was an issue with one of my packages going missing -- even though the "delivery confirmation" stated that it had been delivered. I'm guessing someone stole the package off my doorstep? But the sponsor, Artie Style, generously resent the items. Thank you so much!!!

I really had to rack my brain to think of something that would top a Hello Kitty giveaway! I'm sure every one's heard of Pop Sister magazine, which is one of the most popular fashion and beauty magazines in Japan with an emphasis on "gyaru style". For their September issue they had a wonderful list of the best/most popular/most repurchased beauty items amongst Japanese girls.

So for this giveaway, I chose an item from each category and put together a "Big Best of Japan" beauty giveaway! I tried to pick the first ranked item from each category but in some cases I felt the second or third places were more coveted items so I went with those. The only categories I didn't include were the electric skincare device due to size/weight issues and the foundation because it's impossible to purchase a foundation that is a universal shade.

Due to the difficulty of obtaining many of these products, I enlisted the help of two generous sponsors -- Artie Style, and Shoppingholics.

Artie Style is a U.S. based online cosmetics store that offers tons of popular Japanese skin care products and make-up. They even have an awesome candy selection -- and the customer service is absolutely fantastic! Artie Style offers a $2.99 flat rate shipping or free shipping on orders over $50 within the US. You can check out my previous review and giveaway sponsored by Artie here.

Shoppingholics is an adorable circle lens store based in Malaysia. Not only do they offer one of the best selections of circle lenses, they also carry the most popular Asian cosmetics brands. And did I mention they provide the cutest packaging ever! You can check out my previous lens review, the cute packaging, and more store info here.

So here are Pop Sister's top ranked beauty products in Japan. You can click on the links for more info about each item or to find where they are available for purchase. And below each category I've included which prize I've chosen!

Top Facial Cleansers

1. Biore marshmallow whip

2. Biore facial foam

3. Lush Kindness of Angel

Prize: Biore Marshmallow Whip Cleanser

Top Face toners/lotions

1. Rohto Hadalabo Japan Goku Jyun Hyaluronic emulsion and lotion

2. Sana Nameraka Soy Bean milk lotion and whitening milk moisture toner

3. Orbis Aqua face lotion and moisture

Prize: Rohto Hadalabo Japan Goku Jyun Hyaluronic lotion

Top Facial Masks

1. Pure smile essence mask

2. Missha pure source sheet mask

3. Skinfood black sugar mask

Prize: Skinfood Black Sugar Mask

Top Body Creams

1. The Body Shop pink grapefruit body butter

2. Nivea Happy time body milk

3. Johnson's Body Care Dreamy Skin

Prize: The Body Shop pink grapefruit body butter

Top Shampoos & Conditioners

1. LUX super rich shine shampoo and conditioner

2. Pantene extra damage care shampoo and conditioner
3. Shiseido Tsubaki shining shampoo and conditioner

Prize: Shiseido Tsubaki shining shampoo and conditioner

Top Electric Skincare Devices

1. Panasonic steamer NANO care EH-SA60

2. Panasonic hair drier NANO care EH-NA93

3. Estenad skincare

Top Foundations

1. RMK liquid fondation

2. KATE mineral liquid foundation

2. Coffret D'or silky fit powder

Top False Lashes

1. Dolly Wink in no.1

2. Diamond lash in fairy

3. Daiso lashes

Prize: Dollywink Lashes in No. 1

Top Eyeshadows

1. KATE Gradical eyes BR-1

2.Dolly Wink eyeshadow in no.1

3. Majolica Majorca BR355

Prize: Dolly Wink Eyeshadow in No. 1

Top Blushers

1. Canmake cream cheek in no.08

2. Candy Doll cheek color in strawberry pink
3. Mac Blush

Prize: Candy Doll cheek color in strawberry pink

Top Mascaras

1. Maybelline Magnum Volume Express

2. Majolica Majorca lash expander frame plus

3. Dolly Wink volume mascara

Prize: Majolica Majorca lash expander frame plus

Top Eyeliners

1. Love.liner brown liquid eyeliner
2. Dolly wink liquid eyeliner

3. Maybelline Eye studio creamy gel liner

Prize: Dolly wink liquid eyeliner

Top Lipsticks

1. MAC lipstick in siss

2. Candy Doll lipstick in ramune pink

3. Maybelline water shiny milky RD606

Prize: Mac Lipstick in "Siss"

Top Lipglosses

1. Candy Doll lipgloss in macaroon pink

2. Majolica majorca honey plump gloss in NEO PK144

3. Melliesh lipgloss in 06 candy pink

Prize: Candy Doll lipgloss in macaroon pink

Biore Marshmallow Whip Cleanser
Rohto Hadalabo Japan Goku Jyun Hyaluronic lotion
Skinfood Black Sugar Mask
The Body Shop pink grapefruit body butter
Shiseido Tsubaki shining shampoo and conditioner
Dollywink Lashes in No. 1
Dolly Wink Eyeshadow in No. 1
Candy Doll cheek color in strawberry pink
Majolica Majorca lash expander frame plus
Dolly Wink Black Liquid Eyeliner
Mac Lipstick in "Siss"
Candy Doll lipgloss in macaroon pink

Giveaway Rules:

On to the giveaway! All you need to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. The ONLY mandatory requirement is to be a Blogger or GFC Follower.

But if you want some extra entries there's plenty of ways for you to do so (just follow the instructions below).

Also this time around I will be allowing tweets and Facebook statuses once per day until the giveaway ends since Rafflecopter has a way to monitor this.

Neo Princess Eyes Circle Lens Review

2011-10-03T21:25:00.004-04:00

Today I have another lens review sponsored by the lovely Patty of Koreabigeyes.com. You can see my previous review on their store/lenses here. Again, they have super fast shipping -- one week from Taiwan and wonderful customer service.

This time around Patty sent me the Neo Princess Eyes Cosmo Camel Brown lenses. These lenses are super natural and really close to my natural eye color so it didn't make a huge impact on me. They are 14.2 mm in diameter and don't have the thick ring so don't expect any "dolly eye" effect. But I definitely recommend these for those of you who want a softer effect and a pretty hazel-y color.

I was being impatient and didn't soak them in solution for the recommended 8 hours and I definitely felt it -- after about just 10 minutes of wear I could feel my eyes getting dry and irritated -- so PLEASE remember to soak all your contacts for 8 hours prior to use!

The Neo Princess Eyes Lenses come in Pearl Gray, Camel Brown, Mint Green, Chocolate Brown, Aqua, Honey, Sky Blue, and Purple Violet. They retail for $23.00 at KoreaBigEyes.com

Products Used:

Face:
FX Brite Prep Foundation Primer
Stila Sheer Color Tinted Moisturizer in "Tone"

Eyes:
Benefit Lemon-aid
BH Comsetics 88 Color Cool Matte Palette
Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes in Silver

Cheeks:
Anastasia Illimun8 Bronzer

Lips:
MAC Lipstick in "Lovelorn"

Lashes:
$1 lashes from Ebay

Hair:
$12 wig from ebay. Yes it's a wig haha -- I was thinking of getting bangs and wanted to try out the look first. The wig actually looks pretty horrendous and fake in person but I guess it's passable in pics.

Amazing Laser Hair Removal + BH Cosmetics Giveaway Winner

2011-10-02T18:24:00.001-04:00

A friend of mine recently went to her first session of Brazilian Bikini Laser Hair Removal. She described it as feeling "like somebody rubbed Bengay all over my kooch, sat me in a frying pan, and lit me on fire." And this is all while using a prescription numbing cream.

Believe me that totally made me want to cancel my own appointment for my underarms (at a different spa) and run. Far far away and never look back. But fortunately I didn't. A couple of months ago I found an amazing deal on one of those daily deal sites -- 7 sessions of laser hair removal for $100 at Denude Med Spa in Annandale, VA! I check these websites religiously and this was by far the cheapest price I'd ever seen.

I was definitely skeptical so I did a lot of Googling and Yelping -- checking out the medspa, the staff, the machine they used, and reviews. Unfortunately Yelp wasn't much help as they had no reviews, but I did see positive reviews on the machine, the LightaSheer Duet. It was stated as being the "fastest" laser -- virtually pain free and no numbing cream required. It just sounded way too good to be true but I figured, heck it's only $100, right? (I tend to be quite a risk taker in the deal searching field and find myself a guinea pig all too often.)

So I went in for my initial consultation, where do they do a spot test. Nahid, the aestetictian was super sweet, answered all my questions, and me me feel totally comfortable. She explained that each session removes about 10% of hair and after completing 5-7 sessions there is a 70-90% decrease in hair. She did a quick 2 second laser on my underarm, which just felt like a mild suction, and that was it. I hardly felt anythng! They do this spot test so you can see if there's any strange reaction to your skin before doing the whole area.

Two days later I went in for the actual "procedure." It literally took a minute or two for each underarm. There was a slight pressure but literally no pain whatsoever. My underarm was red for a day or two but no real discomfort.

Now for the "amazing" part. My hair grew back a few days later but after shaving again, it completely stopped growing! It's been 3 weeks now and not a single hair has grown back. At first I was a bit freaked out because it usually takes 2-3 sessions before you notice a difference and even then it's just a slight thinning or decrease of the hair. But for me -- NOTHING after one session! I've never heard of this happening to others who've gotten laser hair removal but my friends are telling me I should be happy about it instead of worried.

Haha so I wasn't going to write a review until I completed a few sessions but heck, if it's already working, mind as well let people know now.

So I absolutely highly recommend the LightSheer Duet (and Denude Med Spa for those in the DC area). It's completely pain free, no numbing cream required, and my hair stopped growing after one treatment! Obviously this is not a normal reaction and I will still be completing my remaining sessions and updating you guys. Also my Brazilian bikini friend also bought a package at Denude for her upper arms so I'll let you know how she reacts to the LightSheer as well.

What laser hair removal machines have you guys used? Anyone else have experience with the LightSheer Duet?

So how did you guys like the Rafflecopter form for the giveaway? I actually didn't get to take full advantage of it because I also put up the giveaway in a previous post requiring comments for entry so I had to combine the two in Excel. But so far it has made my life a lot easier!

So without further ado, the winner of the BH Cosmetics 88 Palette Giveaway is #221: Stella P!

Congratulations Stella! I've sent you an e-mail so please respond with your mailing address so I can forward your information to BH Cosmetics!

Prefense Alcohol-Free Foaming Hand Sanitizer Review + Giveaway

2011-09-26T10:00:00.011-04:00

One of my must-have beauty products may come off as a little odd, but it's definitely an important part of my regimen -- I'm talking about hand sanitizer! Why and how could this possibly be a beauty necessity? Well think about how many products you apply on your face with your hands -- cleansers, masks, serums, moisturizers, foundations. And think about all the other dirty things you touch throughout the day -- food, cellphones, computers, money -- the list goes on. And finally do you ever wonder if that little bar of soap doesn't quite get it all off -- and the germs somehow end up on your face?

Call me overly cautious but what do you expect from someone who's been living the last few years of her life in nightclubs and casinos? I absolutely carry a little bottle of hand sanitizer around in my purse at all times and keep a huge pump by my bathroom sink. Before I apply anything to my face I use the hand sanitizer, and then follow with soap to get a thorough clean.

But the alcohol in the hand sanitizer has definitely done a number on my hands. It's so drying and harsh, but it's the price I pay to save face. Well now I don't have to sacrifice either! The lovely people at Prefense have created an alcohol free hand sanitizer so I can remain germ-free to my heart's content.

Prefense's hand sanitizer is made of all-natural ingredients, is non toxic, and safe for kids. It won't even hurt of you swallow it -- although I wouldn't do it just for kicks. It's also silica based so it actually smooths and softens your hands rather than drying them out. And apparently "one spray lasts all day" -- protecting you for 24 hours or 10 hand washings.

So Prefense sent me a bottle to try out and I have to admit I'm quite impressed. Each spray (it's more of a pump) generates a perfectly sized blob of foam that gives off the tiniest hint of a citrus scent. After rubbing between my hands, my skin feels soft and silky and it doesn't have the slightest bit of residue or stickiness that most of the alcohol based sanitizers seem to leave behind. I can't speak for the 24 hours of protection as it feels so good I find myself applying the stuff several times throughout the day. You can check out their products on Prefense.com.

Now while Prefense sent me the 1.5 oz size bottle, for my readers they will be giving away the huge 8 oz bottle -- enough for 640 applications! The only requirement for this giveaway is to leave a comment below telling me one product you apply on your face with your hands on a daily basis.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.
Sponsored by Tomoson.com

Mask Hoarding + Sigma Giveaway Winners

2011-09-23T00:00:00.005-04:00

It's an ongoing joke between my friends that I constantly compare my life's situations to TV shows. "My face looks like that time in Sex & The City when Samantha got a chemical peel . . . This is like the time on LOST when John Locke fell out of his van. "

Most recently I feel like Lily Van der Woodsen/Bass/Humphrey on Gossip Girl when she had to go on house arrest and ended up going crazy shopping online. What other way to get your shopping fix when you're stuck in the house all day? I have to admit I went completely overboard on Sephora, Ebay, Frederick's, Sasa, and Nieman Marcus. Tons of clothing, shoes, accessories and of course beauty products. I know the mailman absolutely hates me because I've had at LEAST two packages arrive every day for the past 2 weeks.

One of my most consistent purchases has been sheet masks. I am absolutely OBSESSED. Ever since I figured out a way to reuse them, I've been applying them EVERY SINGLE night and I can't rave enough about how much difference it has made on my skin. My face is so much more moisturized and far less prone to break outs. And if I miss one day I can totally notice.

Of course there's tons and tons of different brands and masks and I seriously want to try them all. I'm pretty sure I have enough to use every day for the next two years but I can't stop myself! I've been raving about the daily use of sheet masks to all my friends and sending them gift boxes. Please let me know if you are interested in an individual review on a specific brand!

And finally I have the winners to my Sigma Double Prize Giveaway!

The Cleansing & Polishing Tool goes to: #116 Ela.

After drawing the first winner I then removed her 3 entries and redrew from the remaining entrants. And the F45 Buffer Brush goes to: #868 Ana Melo. Ana you did not leave your full e-mail address so please contact me within 2 days to claim your prize.

Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone who entered!

A New Way For Bloggers To Run Giveaways + BH Cosmetics Giveaway Update

2011-09-21T04:12:00.001-04:00

Wow so much for keeping up with blogging! Even that turns out to be difficult with my stupid broken foot! Crutches make it hard to even get around the house -- it's a pain to mess with my lightbox, lug my camera around, and set up props or products for pics -- thus making me too lazy to take pictures for my posts. I mean I could blog all day if it was just the writing part but who wants to see posts without pics??

It's officially been two weeks in my cast and I've done pretty much nothing except read and watch tv. My brain has turned to mush from watching all four seasons of Gossip Girl. I have to say, I don't think Blake Lively is very photogenic because I always thought she looked average and was surprised the model-loving Leo would date her.

That is until I saw her in the Green Lantern, which then in turn prompted me to finally watch Gossip Girl. She looks gorgeous on TV! The paparazzi pics really don't do her any justice. And normally I wouldn't watch a show like Gossip Girl but I'm seriously in LOVE with the fashion -- it's like Sex & The City but younger -- absolute fashion porn! I can't believe it took me so long to catch on!

So once again I've gotten TOTALLY behind on blogging -- I have tons of giveaways, lens reviews, and product reviews pending and also I know everyone's been waiting on the giveaway winners. I actually have my Sigma Giveaway winners ready but will be announcing them in tomorrow's post. Why do I feel as if I always lag on announcing giveaway winners haha? Maybe because it takes AGES to organize spreadsheets and check the thousands of entries. Which is why I was really excited to discover Rafflecopter!

Rafflecopter is an AWESOME new way for bloggers to run their giveaways efficiently. Basically you can enter all the giveaway requirements, say how many entries each requirement is worth, and include a clickable link. It saves so much time because it simplifies the entry to the readers -- they don't have to count or figure out how many points they have and they can simply click a link to follow you on Twitter or Facebook.

It also protects the privacy of the entrant so they don't have to leave their e-mail in a comment which can lead to spam, allows you to export the entries to an Excel spreadsheet, and my FAVORITE part -- it pretty much auto checks all entries for you AND detects any duplicate entries. With this I can finally announce winners the next day! Rafflecopter is still in beta so it definitely has some kinks they need to work out. It's also currently invite only but if you sign up for the waitlist, they usually send out an invite code within a few days. Sign up here.

So I'm giving it a little test run today. I spoke with BH Cosmetics and they have agreed to give me an extension on my 88 Color Cool Matte Palette Giveaway. I've already entered all the previous entrants into a form and the new entrants can try out my Rafflecopter form. It will only run for 3 days from today until Friday at midnight EST. I've had to change around the point system a bit but not to worry -- for those of you who already entered I added the correct number of points to match the new rules. Please do not re-enter as Rafflecopter will find you haha!

The Cabbage Soup Diet -- IMPROVED!

2011-09-10T21:35:00.003-04:00

I'll be the first to admit I'm the biggest sucker for fad diets. Now before all the health buffs go all crazy on me let me explain why. YES I understand that it's not the best or healthiest way to lose weight while diet and exercise are. But sometimes we're just stuck in the pattern of life and it gets tough to break our daily habits. A Starbucks muffin and latte in the morning, Chipotle for lunch, a vending machine candy bar or chips for a snack, happy hour with coworkers -- the calories just pack on and we stop having control over it. Sometimes it takes something drastic to get back on track.

So how can a fad diet possibly be good? First of all, to follow a seven day diet really disciplines you. You have to grocery shop, plan out and prepare your meals ahead of time, and be restricted to certain foods. This is a real shocker but for some people, like myself, any leeway and we just fall back into the pattern. And at the end of it all, you really do lose weight. Water weight or not, those 5-10 pounds will really motivate you to hit the gym and start eating healthy even after the diet is over.

I've mentioned before that I've completed the Master Cleanse/Lemon Aid Diet -- and I can honestly say I absolutely DO NOT recommend it. Not only are you starving yourself, it requires two daily laxatives of salt water (which usually make you throw up) and the ingredients are SUPER expensive -- one bottle of grade b maple syrup alone costs $30 and it barely lasts you two days. I feel like the Master Cleanse is a combination of anorexia and bulimia rolled into one -- and although I've completed it twice, I never really felt the need to talk about it here because it's just so wrong for your body.

I do, however, highly recommend the Cabbage Soup Diet! I've done different variations of it -- the GM Diet, which is the same diet without the soup (pretty much just eating unlimited fruits and vegetables), the original cabbage soup diet, and most recently the improved version which I feel is healthier and easier to complete. The GM diet is just too hard because you don't have the soup which really fills you up, and buying enough fruits to satisfy your appetite can get super expensive. The original cabbage soup diet is actually pretty healthy -- I mean it's really no different then the raw foods diet which so many celebrities do. I don't know why it's gets so much crap because all it is is vegetable soup (which I think is delicious -- tastes like French onion soup), fruits and veggies, and occasional protein and milk.

The biggest issue that nutritionists have with the cabbage soup diet is the lack of nutrients and protein. So I recently completed a week of the IMPROVED cabbage soup diet. There are many websites with information on it but I kind of tweaked it and made it my own. First of all, I drank a protein shake and took a multi-vitamin each day along with the diet to cover the protein/nutrient issues. I also occasionally added protein to my soup in the form of shirataki (tofu noodles), a can of crab (tastes like Maryland crab soup!), or lentils/beans. It really helped to make the soup taste less tedious and I actually looked forward to my soup!

I also made sure to stay away from boring apples and oranges and eat my favorite and more "gourmet" fruits -- white nectarines, mangoes, Asian pears, and white cherries are all so delicious and I could eat them all day (I mean I literally did haha!) For veggie days, try to think of creative dishes that you might find at a restaurant. I made zucchini and tomato kabobs on the bbq. Dieting is actually very psychological and if you can trick your mind into thinking you are eating really delicious/gourmet meals then you won't be craving other stuff.

Even though adding protein probably decreases the amount of weight you'll lose, you'll find yourself far less grumpy, more easily full, and more importantly, you can actually complete the 7 days! You also have enough energy to workout. I lost 5 pounds in 7 days and the best part was after the diet, I didn't have huge cravings for anything and my appetite definitely shrunk. Before the diet I was eating McDonald's, Taco Bell, and Chipotle every day, and now I just want to eat healthy. I think the improved cabbage soup diet could actually be a lifestyle diet -- in fact I took a few days off, and am currently on it again!

BH Cosmetics 88 Color Cool Matte Palette Review + Giveaway

2011-09-09T17:38:00.008-04:00

Whoo hoo -- blogging 2 days in a row lol. Thank you so much for the kind words and advice on my previous post -- it was also very cool to find that some of you live in DC as well! Maybe we could all plan a blogger meet up some day!

So I received an 88 Color Cool Matte Palette to review from BH Cosmetics last week. Amazingly this was my first 88 palette! Although I've been hearing about BH Cosmetics and Coastal Scents for years, I was always reluctant to purchase one because it reminded me of those cheap palettes I used to play around with as a child -- you know the ones with tons of colors that they always sold at discount and dollar stores?

Well I should've taken the dive much sooner! I mean just for the loads of colors you get for such a great price (it's currently on sale for only $13.96!), it's beyond worth it! And the the variety is awesome for those of you who like following Youtube tutorials and don't ever seem to have the EXACT colors the guru is using.

The colors in this matte palette are exactly that -- matte -- so no sparkles of any sort. You'll find rich, velvety blues, pinks, greens, and even neutrals of every shade! The matte palette is perfect if you want crisp, clean, and bright colors. I will definitely be revisiting some of those Youtube videos with brighter looks that I was never able to do.

While I didn't swatch all 88 colors, I picked a few of my favorite shades. These were swiped twice with the included sponge tip applicator and no primer was used:

BH Cosmetics is having an insane sale right now that ends Sept. 14 with tons of products for 20% off and their most popular palettes for 30% off! Check out the sale here.

The Giveaway
BH Cosmetics is sponsoring one 88 Color Cool Matte Palette for one of my readers!

UPDATE: Originally this was a one day giveaway due to the company's deadline but I contacted BH Cosmetics and they have agreed to let me extend the giveaway. Those who entered via comment below have already been entered into a spreadsheet and updated points given per entry. Please DO NOT fill out the form. For new entrants -- please fill out the form below to enter:

Why I've been MIA + Hello Kitty Giveaway Winner

2011-09-08T21:23:00.002-04:00

Talk about a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad week!!!

So I recently moved back to Washington, DC and was going to spend a few months bartending at a new nightclub in the city. The grand opening is not until next week so we were just open for our preview parties -- aka practice runs. I was pretty much busy training and working every single night which is why I haven't had any time to update my blog.

On the SECOND day of work I broke my foot. At first I didn't realize it was a fracture, and since it didn't hurt much, I wrapped it in an ace bandage and continued to work on it for a week. It was ridiculously swollen -- first, a baseball size lump appeared on my foot, and then the rest of it swelled to the point of me having kankles, bruised toes, and not being able to put on any shoes except for my Uggs.

Finally, at the urging of my friends and family I went to see a doctor. I was super irritated because the receptionist failed to tell me that they only did x-rays on Saturdays before I went in and the doctor barely glanced at my foot before saying I would need to go see an orthopedic surgeon.

So I went to go get x rays at a radiology center and called the doctor a few hours later to get my results but turns out his fax was machine was broken and they told me to call back the next day.

Frustrated and impatient, I posted my x rays on Facebook to see if anybody could read them and tell me something and I got all kinds of contradicting feedback! At first I got my hopes up because I was told by two doctors that it wasn't broken, but later a radiologist and orthopedist confirmed that I had a 5th metatarsal fracture, but that I could probably get away with wearing an air cast or boot, which allows you to still walk around.

The next day I went to a podiatrist who looked at the x rays and told me my foot was indeed broken, and due to me working on it for a week, the fracture had expanded and I was almost at the point of needing surgery. He ended up putting me in a HARD CAST (no boot!) and now I can't go to work, drive, or walk for SIX WEEKS. So so so so so frustrated! To top it off my first doctor never even bothered to call back with my results -- I want a refund!

It's only been one day in my cast and I already have cabin fever. I feel like John Locke from Lost -- it's ridiculous how I can't even do the simplest things like walk up the stairs! And today I did the most ridiculous thing -- I was bored and decided to work out. I was sitting in a rolling chair (my makeshift wheel chair) and lifting free weights. I leaned over too far and somehow the chair toppled over and I fell on the ground -- and one weight fell on each hand. Now my fingers are blue to match my toes. *Sigh* I don't know how I'm going to make it through 6 more weeks.

Well I guess the good thing is I'll have plenty of time to blog haha. I definitely have a ton of stuff to catch up on and plenty of reviews and giveaways!

And now for the much anticipated winner to my Super Duper Hello Kitty Giveaway -- thank you SO much for being patient!

There were 1071 individual entries and 4,399 total entries including the bonus points -- craziness!

And the winner is .........

#2111 Meghan L!!!

Congratulations Meghan -- I sent you an e-mail so please respond with your mailing address!

Now I just have to find someone to take this to the post office for me haha! Due to the success of this giveaway I will be doing another Hello Kitty giveaway in the future. But stay tuned for my Sept giveaway -- it's gonna be a good one! And get ready for tons of updates because for one month I'll have nothing better to do lol!

Pink Contacts + Giveaway Winners

2011-08-27T21:39:00.003-04:00

Pink contacts? Yup, when I first heard of them, my initial reaction was also -- wtf how freaky! They became popular in Korea a couple years ago and since then I have seen many beauty bloggers and Youtubers wearing them. In person it just brightens the eyes a little -- and looks mostly light brown or hazel unless you really closely examine the eyes haha.

Since Shoppingholics offered to sponsor me a pair of lenses, I figured I'd might as well give them a try. After all I'm here to experiment so you don't have to, right? The site is really awesome because not only do they have a huge selection of lenses, they also offer some of the most popular Asian cosmetics such as Dollywink, Candy Doll, Missha, My Beauty Diary, and more!

Shoppingholics is based in Malaysia and delivery took three weeks. They provide you with a tracking number which is definitely useful when you're excitedly waiting for a package. When it finally arrived, I was pleasantly surprised -- they have BY FAR the best packaging out of any of the contact lens companies I have dealt with!

I mean how adorable is this -- personal card and all! And they even included a Dariya Hair Magic Sheet which I've been meaning to purchase anyways! (For those of you not familiar with the fringe holders, it's a piece of velcro that you can slide over your bangs or fringe and it magically holds it back!)

They sent me the Adult Pink Circle Lens. It does look quite pink in the bottle but once I put them on, they just have a mostly light brown effect. The pictures make them look extra bright! They were quite comfortable -- I wore them out to lunch and didn't feel a thing. I think the purpose of these crazy colored lenses are to give your eyes the effect of wearing bright make-up. I'm not wearing any shadows in the pictures -- just eyeliner, but it still gave me a "colorful" effect.

Although I wouldn't wear these to my day job or a first date, I think they would be fun for a night out and I'm definitely open to trying out other pink lenses!

The Adult Pink Circle Lens is currently on promotion for $21.90 at Shoppingholics.com

Giveaway Winners
I know I've been promising to announce my giveaway winners for days! Sorry it just takes a ridiculously long time to go through the thousands of entries. My cousin actually reminded me of a simple Excel formula to tally up the entries but I still had to check links and make sure there were no cheaters (which there always is!).

I am announcing two winners today -- the Sigma Travel Kit Giveaway winner and the Shabby Apple Jewelry Giveaway Winner.

The Sigma Travel Kit Giveaway had 477 individual entries and 1850 entries including the bonuses.

And the winner is #708: Seri!

The Shabby Apple Giveaway 42 individual entries and 85 total entries.
The winner is #41: Leslie!

Congratulations to the winners! I've sent you an e-mail so please respond with your mailing addresses and your choice for the prizes within 48 hours or I will redraw.

Thank you to everyone for entering and don't forget you still have time to enter my Hello Kitty Giveaway and Sigma Double Prize Giveaway!

Get Glittering Eyes!

2011-08-21T14:42:00.004-04:00

Holy crap Luuux is SO addicting. And not necessarily in a good way lol. I can't believe how many hours I've wasted on that site analyzing how the point system works and trying to cram in crap posts before the day ends. It totally makes you neglect your REAL blog.

So after a few more days on it I'm beginning to wonder if it's even worth my time haha. I think it'll be easier for me to just set aside $10 a day instead of spending several hours trying to make 500 points.

Anyways it's time for another lens review! Today I am reviewing the EOS Max Pure Brown Lens and the Dueba Kira Kira Grey Lens which were kindly sponsored by Lens Village. Both pairs are TRUE circle lens in that they have the black ring around them and offer a generous enlarging effect -- they are some of my favorites so far!

First of all I want to say Lens Village has been one of my best experiences with a lens store. They respond to e-mails quickly, have some of the best prices on the internet, and delivery took under two weeks -- about 11 days from Malaysia. Also, they have 100% authentic lenses and everything on their site is in stock. Those of you who have ordered from other sites may have dealt with delays due to low stock or the site only taking pre-orders.

So in spite of sounding gimmicky I highly recommend Lensvillage.com for your circle lens purchases! They have also provided a coupon code for my readers. Use "10LLA" for 10% off your entire order (of their already great prices!) I'm so serious -- you can get almost any pair for about $20. And please check out their facebook HERE.

On to the review!

The EOS Max Pure Brown Lenses are 14mm in diameter and actually pretty close to my natural eye color. I couldn't quite capture the effect in the pictures but these lenses made my eyes look HUGE and gave a definite dolly-eye effect. And they were SO comfortable. I popped them in and went out to the club and forgot all about them! Usually the club air seriously dries my eyes out but I was good all night.

I think these are the perfect starter lenses for those who are new to circle lenses and want a nice enlargement but still want their eyes to look natural. They are offered in prescriptions -0.00 to -10.0 and Lens Village sells them for $23.00. Check it out here.

Okay so these next lenses are TOTALLY underrated! I have yet to read a blog review on the Dueba Kirakira line -- and most stores don't even sell them! I really don't understand why because these are my absolute FAVORITE lenses so far. When I was browsing the store, the picture REALLY caught my eye. They just looked so sparkly and pretty on the model and it was the only pair I've ever actually been EXCITED to try.

Okay so it looks completely different on me compared to the model, but I still really liked the effect. It's hard to see in the pictures but it totally gives off that anime watery eye effect like your eyes are welled up with tears. Kira kira actually means "glittering" so I guess that's the effect they were going for haha. They were extremely comfortable as well. They are 16mm, but surprsingly didn't look too huge and fake. I almost think the Max Pure lens made my eyes bigger?? I will DEFINITELY be getting more lenses from this collection as they come in blue, brown, green, grey, pink, and violet.

These are only $19.50 and go up to a -10.0 prescription -- you can find them HERE. (Other sites sell these for $25-30!)

Products Used:

Primer: MAC Skin Base Visage
BB Cream: Skin79 The Prestige BB Cream
Powder: MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
Bronzer: Sugar Sweet Cheeks in "Gingerbread" (just on cheeks)
Eye primer: Too Faced Shadow Insurance
Eye Shadow: Yium (Korean) Blue Eyeshadow Trio & Revlon "Soft On The Eyes" Mineral Eyeshadow
Eye Liner: Tokidoki Perfetto Eyeliner in "Sabochan"
Mascara: Lancome Hynose Custom Volume Mascara
Lashes: Korean Lashes
Lipgloss: Urban Decay XXX Shine in "Disco Enferno" -- yes it's blue!

How To Use Luuux.com

2011-08-18T14:19:00.002-04:00

This is a guide to potentially turning your idle work hours into a Louis Vuitton bag or Ipad lol.

So I've seen posts for Luuux.com floating around on the web over the past year but never really paid attention. Then recently I saw a Youtube video where HollyAnnAeree actually showed off her gorgeous new Louis Vuitton Tivoli GM Tote that she purchased with her Luuux dollars.

I signed up for the site just to check it out and do a test run. At first I was a little confused as to how it all worked so I did a bit of research -- and please correct me if any of the information I gathered is incorrect.

Luuux basically pays you "Luuux Dollars" or points for your activity within the community. It's supposed to be a blogging site, but I feel the website is much more interactive than a "real blog" and is more like Facebook. So all you "non-bloggers" could totally do this.

There are several ways to earn Luuux dollars. You can earn 7 dollars by writing a post. A post is generally supposed to be a "blog" post but I'd say from what I've seen the posts usually fall between a blog post and a Tumbler update or Facebook status. I've seen plenty of people just upload a picture and write a few short sentences -- and apparently either are perfectly fine.

Here's a generic Krispy Creme post I did to test it out: Krispy Creme Food Porn. For those of you Yelpers -- you can post food pics or write restaurant reviews in the "food" section! You can also do a quick review of your latest gadget in the tech section like the one I did here: My Nook Color Review.

The really awesome thing for people who already have blogs is that you can repost your blog content on the site and source yourself -- so you might be able to gain more traffic and readers to your original blog as well. It's also great for new bloggers because instead of waiting months for new followers you will already have an audience through the community!

You also receive one point for every person who likes your post or leaves a comment. So these posts have the potential to generate many more points for you.

Other ways to earn points are to "Like" somebody else's post (1 dollar), comment on a post (1 dollar), add "shoplinks" (which are basically ads that generate commission) to your post (1 dollar), share your post links on Facebook and Twitter (2 dollars), and have people join through your affiliate links. (PS. Sign up through mine here hehe.)

Now there ARE limits set to some of the points you can earn. You can only earn credit for 10 posts per day (so max 70 dollars), 50 comments per day (50 dollars), and 50 "likes" per day (50 dollars). So if you were diligent you could guarantee yourself 170 dollars per day. The amount of points you can earn from people clicking on your Facebook/Twitter link or from comments/likes on your post are unlimited so those are the big money makers!

I did a bit of math comparing the Luuux points required for an item to the actual retail price of the item and each Luuux dollar ends up being worth about 2 cents. Doesn't sound like much but think about how many times you've "liked" someone's status on Facebook or left a comment -- now imagine getting paid every single time -- it totally adds up. It's even better if all your friends sign up and you can have your own little community of people you know. Luuux allows people to follow you like on Twitter or become friends with you like Facebook.

I earned about 400 dollars on my first day so let's say I'll average about 300 dollars per day.

Here's how long it would take for me to earn these prizes:

Best of Bobbi Brown Collection

19,296 Luuux$ or $377.00

64 Days

2.14 Months

Christian Louboutin Décolleté 100 Jazz Pumps

33,242 Luuux$ or $650.00

110 days

3.7 months

Apple iPhone4 - 32 GB

53,280 Luuux$ or $1,042.00

178 Days

5.81 Months

Apple iPad 2 - 32 GB Wi-Fi

39,600 Luuux$ or $774.00

132 Days

4.4 months

Louis Vuitton Tivoli PM Bag

57,240 Luuux$ or $1,119.00

190.8 Days

6.36 months

Amazon Kindle DX Wireless Reading Device

19,080 Luuux$ or $373.00

63.6 Days

2.12 Months

Canon EOS Rebel T1i 15.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR Camera with 3-Inch LCD and EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens

42,188 Luuux$ or $825.00

141 Days

4.69 Months

Of course you can set your own goal of how many points you want to earn per day -- some people earn 50 and some earn 1000! Obviously even working a minimum wage job would "pay" more than this and you could just buy yourself these items, but it's definitely something you could do if you have spare time at work or home. It's also a great excuse to treat yourself to something that you would normally never purchase for yourself. And it sure beats taking surveys! Please let me know your thoughts or if you have any experience with Luuux!

Follow me or Friend me (or sign up!) here.

Just Friends

2011-08-16T13:45:00.007-04:00

The boundaries of guy-girl friendships seems to be a trending topic -- especially with movies such as "NO Strings Attached" and "Friends With Benefits" out. Today I want to take a break from beauty blogging and bring up a post I wrote 3 years ago when I had more of a "relationship blog." Kind of miss it! And please feel free to let me know your take on this topic!

Yesterday over lunch, P and I had a delightfully heated debate over the topic of guy-girl friendships. He had created an entire philosophy explaining why it was absolutely impossible for a guy and a girl to be “just friends” whereas I felt it was entirely possible.

In his theory, he stated that the only way for a guy and a girl to become close was if there was some sort of initial attraction – whether one-sided or not. He said NO guy would ever ask for a girl’s phone number or screen name, arrange a one-on-one "date" (movie, dinner), and make an effort to get to know her if he didn’t find some sort of appeal (and vice versa). And the only way a friendship can become “allegedly” platonic, is if one person sets the boundaries of the friendship, and the other person chooses to respect those boundaries. Basically someone agrees to accept the friendship because that’s all they can get haha.

In my perspective, the context of how two people meet can predetermine the status of their future interactions and relationships. If you don't meet in an "instant" dating scenerio -- at a club, at the gym, through a mutual friend -- or some other way in which you immediately size up their potential, it's harder to get into the groove and often just leads to friendship. But there’s definitely other ways of getting to know someone than “hollering” because in some situations, you are forced to get to know one another – perhaps you work together every day, you’re always over at your boyfriend’s house so you end up getting to know his roommate, you grew up with a family friend, or you look to your girlfriend’s best friend/sister/cousin for advice on your relationship since she knows her so well.

I mean yeah, you don’t HAVE to get to know them – but isn’t it kind of rude not to? And I don’t necessarily think that the gender of the person comes into account – a guy and a girl are easily interchangeable in these situations. Sometimes you accidentally get to know someone, find you have something in common, and develop a friendship. And why is it perfectly okay for a girl to call up a girl friend for lunch, but if she calls up a guy for lunch, it has to mean something???

Our greatest debate was over the topic of guys with girlfriends and girls with boyfriends. In my case, if a guy has a girlfriend, I’m more willing to accept his friendship because I know it’s safe. But maybe that’s the trick behind it? Maybe because both of your guards are down, you develop an intimate bond without realizing it.

P says that the only reason people in relationships look for friendships in the opposite sex, is to fill certain voids. It’s not necessarily looking to cheat, but perhaps there is a particular quality missing in a relationship. Maybe the girlfriend is too shy and safe and not willing to venture out – and he has a female friend that’s crazy and fun and a blast to go out with. Maybe he loves the fact his girlfriend is so outgoing, but feels he can’t relate to her on certain levels. Maybe the girlfriend doesn’t understand a crisis he’s going through. He says it’s so much harder to confide in other guys because of pride issues, so guys naturally look to girls to be compassionate about their problems.And when a girlfriend doesn’t understand, he turns to the next best thing -- a female friend.

So basically, everything comes down to “what if.” What if a guy has a female friend that’s always been there for him and he breaks up with his girlfriend? What if you accidentally get to know someone and realize later that there IS a physical attraction? What if the girl you always looked to as a “little sister” suddenly grows up before your eyes? What if one day you realize the guy you’ve always called on to help you with a flat tire or unclog your toilet is actually HOT?

Can a person really sit down, write out the names of all their friends of the opposite sex, and be absolutely certain, that if one day that person confessed their feelings, they would feel completely nothing? Because essentially, doesn’t a person look for similar qualities in both a friend and a significant other? Why on earth would someone be good enough to be your best friend, but not good enough to be your boyfriend? All the “safeties” that we create – "he has a girlfriend, he’s like my brother, he dated my friend, we grew up together, we’re TOO good of friends"– are they all just excuses made up in our heads to keep us within the boundaries?

Because I mean really, WHAT IF?

Sigma Double Prize Giveaway

2011-08-15T16:34:00.001-04:00

I've finally joined Twitter! Yes I realize how super late I am -- I always tend to hold off as long as possible before joining these things (Xanga, Myspace, Facebook, etc.) and then I finally cave and have to play catch up! I'm having some trouble with all the "Twitter terms" and should probably google a list or something lol -- what's with this whole number sign # thing?? Anyways you can find me at @LipglossKelly.

Thank you to everyone who entered my Sigma Travel Brush Kit Giveaway! I will tally up the entries and announce the winner shortly. In the meantime I have ANOTHER Sigma giveaway to announce! There will be two prizes:

1st Prize: Sigma Cleansing & Polishing Tool

Description

Say goodbye to dull and uneven skin! With the new Sigma Beauty Cleansing and Polishing Tool you can polish your skin to be perfectly smooth and flawless before and after your makeup application.

Facial Polishing

Add a small amount of your favorite facial cleaner directly to the brush head prior to application. Use the SOFT brush head to exfoliate dead skin cells and expose a fresh healthy layer of skin. Keep your entire exfoliation process under one minute. Once your skin is polished, proceed with the application of your favorite moisturizer and makeup. You will notice that the polishing process will help your moisturizer deeply penetrate your skin creating the perfect base for flawless makeup application!

Facial Cleansing

Remove excess makeup prior to cleansing with facial wipes containing makeup remover. Add a small amount of your favorite facial cleanser to the SOFT brush head and gently work it onto your skin using the Sigma Beauty Cleansing and Polishing Tool. Keep your cleansing process under one minute. Apply your favorite moisturizer and you're ready for your beauty sleep!

Body Exfoliation

The MEDIUM and FIRM brush heads are ideal for body exfoliation. Once your skin is exfoliated, proceed with the application of your favorite moisturizer or self-tanner. Even exfoliation is the secret to smooth and healthy looking skin and the perfect summer glow!

Important

Adjust this routine as needed. Once you get started, you can customize the intervals between exfoliations to fit your needs and your skin type. Moderation is key!

Features

Water resistant.

Requires 2 AA batteries (not included).

2nd Prize: F45 Buffer Brush

Description

Ideal to apply mineral foundation, loose or pressed powders. Also great to buff colors and obtain a soft, blended look. Natural bristles.

Both products were sponsored by Sigma to review as well as one extra of each item for giveaway purposes. I will be doing a post comparing the Cleansing & Polishing Tool with the Clarisonic later this week.

And on to the giveaway rules -- you probably have them all memorized by now haha!

The Rules

You must be a GFC or Blogger Follower

and fill out the entry form below (1 entry).

Extra Entries

"Like" Lipgloss Love Affair on Facebook by clicking here (1 extra entry)
Follow me via Networked Blogs by clicking here (1 extra entry)
Follow me via BlogLovin' by clicking here (1 extra entry)
Post about giveaway on Facebook Status (1 extra entry)
Follow me on Twitter by clicking here and tweet about this giveaway (1 extra entry)
Write a blog entry about this giveaway (2 extra entries)
Post giveaway on blog sidebar (2 extra entries)

10 total entries possible

This giveaway is international.

Ends September 15, 2011.

Good luck!

&lt;p&gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;lt&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;span class="goog-spellcheck-word" style="background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: yellow; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;lt&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/span&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&lt;/p&gt;

BonjourHK vs Sasa + Haul

2011-08-13T16:35:00.002-04:00

I only just recently heard about BonjourHK which is an Asian cosmetics store often compared to Sasa. When I first browsed the site, I was a bit skeptical because the prices were so cheap -- very close to retail prices in Asia -- and some even cheaper because so many items were on sale. Also the website itself is a little ghetto so I was afraid they were selling fake items and I might end up getting ripped off. But after doing some googling I found out Bonjour is actually a big (and legitimate) drugstore chain in Hong Kong.

Shipping:
Bonjour HK offers free shipping with any $100 purchase (as opposed to Sasa's $75 min), but I have to say their shipping is pretty darned fast! I received my package in 6 days! They also include a tracking number so you can check your order's progress. But I must mention that my package was divided into two shipments (they say due to shipping weight limits). The two packages were shipped one day apart and while my first package arrived in 6 days, the second somehow came 4 days later (so 10 days) -- but it still beats Sasa's 14 day shipping.

Website:
As for the websites, as I said, Bonjourhk.com is definitely on the ghetto side while Sasa is much more streamlined. Bonjour HK is somewhat hard to navigate and you'll definitely have to be patient to look through the site. The search box isn't even very reliable -- for example if you type in "Dollywink", nothing will come up but if you go to the "Koji" section it'll list the Dollywink products.

Products:
Both websites carry most of the popular Asian brands but I feel like BonjourHk has some of the trendy Korean and Japanese brands that Sasa does not carry such as Baviphat, Holika Holika, Majolica Majorca, and Melliesh. Of course Sasa also carries some brands that Bonjour does not, so in this case I guess it's a matter of preference and what brands you are looking for. Both websites seem to go out of stock quickly for the more popular products but I think Sasa does a pretty good job of restocking. They also offer to send you an e-mail when a product becomes available. Bonjour on the other hand, seems like they never restock and at least HALF their items are out of stock -- and as they do not offer e-mails the only thing you can do is keep checking back.

Another gripe with Bonjour is that they place an order limit on many items -- for example you can only order 2 My Beauty Diary masks of the same kind at a time. It SAYS it's the "stock limit" but I've placed multiple orders and the products are still available.

Prices:
BonjourHK definitely wins in the price department. It seems almost all their items are listed as a "special price" or on sale for an average of 10-50% off. You can find some great deals and even their regular prices often beat Sasa's sale prices. The only items I've seen that are cheaper at Sasa are the Dolly Wink lashes (but not the other Dolly Wink products!) Both websites are DEFINITELY much cheaper than going to a local Korean or Chinese market or store here in the States -- they usually mark up their prices 100%!

Overall I'm happy to have discovered BonjourHK and very satisfied with my experience. If anybody else was on the fence about it I can assure you it's legitimate. If you have the patience to look through the site you can save a lot of money -- I have yet to find a cheaper place to buy Asian products and I've already placed 4 orders lol!

Haul:

So here's BonjourHK Haul Number 1. For my first order I only bought random brands I've never really heard of because there were some great sales and I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to try some new stuff out! Please let me know if any of you have experience with any of these products!

Red Wine Polyphenols Anti-Oxidant Facial Mask

Pearl Powder Whitening Facial Mask

Okay so these masks didn't even list a brand name on the website or the receipt! Can anyone read this and tell me what it is? I only got them because they were on sale lol.

Hadalabo Japan Goku Jyun Hyaluronic lotion

Medi Angel Epidermal Growth Factor Serum
The Hadalabo toner, which is a subdivision of Rohto, (of lychee eye drops fame), won first place in the "best toner" category in Pop Sister's most repurchased items in Japan list.

The serum was a free sample with my order.

Nivea Sparkling Whitening Cleansing Foam

Nivea Sparkling Whitening Toner

I always hear great things about Nivea's skincare but we don't really have it here in the States other than the big tub of cream and a small assortment of face lotions. I thought it was very cool (and Asian!) of them to have a whitening line haha.

Love More Provence Lavender Night Time Whitening Mask

Snowy Green Tea, Seaweed, & Collagen Facial Essence Mask

I know Love More masks are endorsed by a couple of Asian celebrities and they were 50% off! The Snowy masks were also 50% off. Yay!

Forget-Me-Not Q10 Moisturizing Face Mask

Forget-Me-Not Vitamin C Regenerating Toner

Almost all the products for this brand were on super sale -- haven't heard much about it and I couldn't find any reviews but thought I'd give it a whirl anyways.

GEO Super Nudy Quarter Brown + Tri-Color World Grey Lens Review

2011-08-11T17:51:00.013-04:00

Thank you so much to everyone for your feedback on my previous entry! I will definitely be taking all the information into consideration for planning my trip!

I am so backed up with lens reviews -- I really need to catch up! At least it gives me an excuse to do my make-up haha. Today I will be reviewing the Geo Super Nudy Quarter Brown lenses and the Tri-color World Grey lenses which were both sponsored by Eyecandy Lens.

Eyecandy Lens is based in Hong Kong and delivery took 12 days to my home in the US. They do issue you a tracking number which is nice if you want to keep tabs on your package. The lenses each came with their own contact cases and arrived in cute little pouches. If you are interested in purchasing lenses from Eyecandy Lens you can use code: "LGLAffair" at checkout for a free surprise gift!

The GEO Super Nudy Quarter Brown lens is a light brown, almost hazel-ish lens that claim to give your eyes a nice sparkle. They were specially designed for Japanese fashion model, Hoshi Aya.

Although they are only 14mm in diameter, they surprisingly gave my eyes a nice little enlargement (probably due to the thick black outer ring) and a definite "dolly eye" effect. My eyes are a medium-light brown instead of the traditional dark brown Asian eyes so I normally don't wear brown contacts but these give me a pleasant pop of color -- kind of looks like a cat's eyes?

The Geo Super Nudy Quarter Brown lens comes in a plain non prescription all the way to a -10.0 prescription which is awesome for my -9.5 eyes. They are pretty comfortable but I do tend to feel them in my eyes when I blink. The lenses are currently on sale for $22.80 at Eyecandy Lens.

The second lenses are the GEO Tri-Color World Grey. As the name indicates, there are 3 colors blended into this lens and it has sort of a gradient effect. These are also 14mm but offer no enlarging effect. They brighten my medium brown eyes to a blueish grey and I find the overall effect similar to the NEO Lucky Clover Blue lens or even my regular ol Acuvue 2 colored grey lenses.

These are a bit more comfortable than the other pair and you could probably get away with wearing them all day (if you had to). The thing I like about blue and grey lenses as opposed to brown lenses is that they kind of give you a more "made up" look. These also come in a non prescription or prescriptions up to -10.0 and are currently on sale for $22.88 at Eyecandy Lens.

FOTD Products Used:

Primer: Bare Escentuals bareVitamins Prime Time
Foundation: Bare Escentuals bareMinerals SPF 15 Matte Foundation in "Medium"
Blush: Maybelline Mineral Powder in "True Peach II"
Eye primer: Benefit Lemonaid
Eye Shadow: SUGAR is a girl's best friend make-up palette in "white" and "Taupe"
Eye Liner: Loreal Felt Tip Liquid Eyeliner in "Carbon Black" (upper lids)
Eye Liner: NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in "Black Bean" (lower rims)
Mascara: Benefit "Bad Gal" Mascara
Lashes: Generic Ebay lashes from China haha
Lipgloss: Lorac Couture Shine in "Haute"