Pinkbox Makeup

Gold & Silver Nails

2012-01-23T16:55:00.000-07:00

I miss the holidays already...

So i decided to give my nails a slight festive hint to them by using some silver and gold glitter polishes.

I still wanted to keep my nails simple and clean, so i started off with a light pink base (Forever 21 love & beauty). I then lined the tips of my nails with half silver and half gold (U&A polishes) The gold gave a more warm tone to the overall effect and although it may not be really obvious, i liked the ending result.

Using my favorite Tokyomilk candles to showcase my nails

what do you think? :)

Sephora Birthday Gift

2012-01-16T23:21:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday to... Me !

I recently stopped by Sephora to pick up my birthday gift and was so amazed to find out what this year's birthday gift was! Last year, i had gotten the philosophy birthday body wash and although it was nice to use once in awhile, i wouldnt say that it got me all too excited..

However, just wait until you hear what this year has to offer...

A Fresh Sugar Kisses Mini Lip Duo!!

I have actually been wanting to purchase the original fresh sugar lip treatment for a long time now. However, i never could really justify the price and always left empty handed. Imagine my surprise when i found that i was the owner of TWO of these! One is the normal lip treatment whereas the other is slightly tinted with a rose color. Note, these are mini sizes and only have 2.2g in each. I think they are absolutely adorable!

After trying these out, i can happily say that i am in love and will 100% re-purchase when i run out. These smell heavenly! like fresh lemon pie.. and are so smooth on the lips you wont believe it! The Sugar Rose (tinted lip treatment) has a very subtle tint, one that's not very noticeable at all. However, if you are looking for even just a slight bit of color on your lips to warm your face, this would be nice to have.

Overall, i am very happy this year with my birthday gift. Thanks so much Sephora :) You sure know how to make a girl smile!

Winner Announced

2012-01-14T22:34:00.007-07:00

Congrats to.....

Lucky Number 11 ! Lets see who that is!

Congrats kathlynn !! You have won my holiday series giveaway # 1 !! :) I will be e-mailing you shortly so keep an eye out for that!

Thanks to all who entered this giveaway. if you didn't win, don't worry! There is another giveaway going on :) Click here to go to the giveaway post for more details! Good Luck :)

Best of 2011 - Face

2012-01-13T23:33:00.007-07:00

and the award goes to...

Moisturizers & Base Products

1. Origins VitaZing SPF 15

After using this for a month or so, i found that my skin was much smoother and more even. I love the color changing magic, and i love the fact that it helps even out my skin without clogging any pores. Now, i only use this face product in the mornings, completely skipping foundation!

2. Clinique Moisture Surge - Extended Thirst Relief

For those needing an extra hydrating boost in the winter, this is the product you need! Not to be used as just a moisturizer, but as a final step to your skincare regime, this product helps protect and seal in your moisture keeping it safe from the pollutants and rough winds. This seriously makes my skin baby soft and keeps it nice and fresh during the winter season.

3. Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse

This is my HG skin primer. Using this under any foundation is bound to make it last forever and ever. This primer is very unique in that it comes in a mousse form just like your hair mousse would! THe result is a very light coat that gets absorbed very quickly. Plus, the one i have is also tinted so it also helps even out your skin tone.

Foundations:

1. Make Up For Ever Face & Body Foundation

For days & nights out when i want a little extra coverage, i go to my trusty MUFE foundation. This one is very light and a tad liquidy giving a nice refreshing hydrating feeling. Although this may be only light-medium coverage, i love how this feels and it definitely lasts all night long!

2. MAC MSF Natural

This is the perfect finish in that it helps even out my skin while absorbing all theexcess oils and keeping my skin nice and matte. I use a light dusting of this daily after my Origins VitaZing to give a little more coverage.

Blushes & Bronzers & Highlighters

1. L'oreal True Match in Innocent Flush

This is my favourite matte blush. Its hard to find a really good matte drugstore blush, but this is it guys! Super pigmented and super blendable, i really cant say anything bad about this blush! the texture is so soft and just a light tap of a brush picks up enough product because you only need so little to create such a gorgeous flush.

2. Hard Candy's Blush in Honeymoon

wearing Hard Candy honeymoon and living doll

This might be more of a highlighter to most but for some it can pass as a blush. I like to use this on the tops of my cheekbones because it gives the most gorgeous soft glow.

3. Annabelle's Zebra Bronzing Powder

I love this bronzer because it is really subtle but does its job well. It has some fine glitter which is very flattering on the skin. I love using this to contour my cheekbones as well as my temples because it gives a very natural and soft edge.

---------------------------------

and that's it for face products! Let me know if you have tried out some of these products before and what you think! Of if you know of any better ones because im always up for trying something new! :D Have a good day everyone!

P.S. i fixed the link to the form for giveaway #2. the form should also appear on the post now. Sorry for any inconvenience this causes!

Holiday Series Giveaway #2

2012-01-11T23:33:00.007-07:00

Its time for Giveaway number two!

- ends Wednesday, Jan 25, 2012 -

note: entries for Giveaway #1 are currently being counted and verified. a winner will be chosen and contacted shortly. thanks for entering!

One Lucky Winner will receive the following items!

1. Marcelle Lux Eye Dust in Mermaid

2. Marcelle Lux Eye Dust in High Voltage

3. Marcelle Lux Eye Dust in Supersonic

4. Annabelle Smoothie Eyeshadow Pencil in Grapefull

5. Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner in Emerald

To Enter: MANDATORY
1. You MUST be a follower on Google Friend Connect - 1 Entry
2. Fill out the form below to be entered to win! Click here if you cannot see the form below.

Additional Entries:
1. Follow me on twitter & tweet this giveaway! Please include link & @PinkboxMakeup so i can keep track - 1 entry
2. "Like" Pinkbox Makeup on facebook! - 1 entry
3. Make a blog post or post about this giveaway on your sidebar! - 1 entry

Good luck everyone!!

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Please Note: Some of the above items were provided to Pinkbox Makeup for review purposes. However, any comments, thoughts or opinions are my own honest opinion and are based on my personal experiences only.

10% Off Sigma Products!

2012-01-01T23:31:00.002-07:00

All through January!

Hope you all lovely people had a wonderful and happy new years! To welcome 2012, why not treat yourself to some gorgeous Sigma Products!

Use code 0112XJML to get 10% off your entire purchase!

I myself am a huge fan of their brushes, in particular, their SIgmax HD Brushes. They are amazingly soft and dense so that the bristles absorb very little foundation. My all time favourite brushes that i use daily, are the F80 flat top kabuki and the travel version Miss Taylor Kabuki.

But aside from those.. i would really like to get my hands on one of their new Mr Bunny travel sets!

arent they pretty?!

and so convenient too!

That will most likely be my next purchase from Sigma :) although to be honest.. i really wish i could afford their Extravaganza 29 brushes in 18K gold... but can any normal fresh new graduate really afford this?? really?? ahh, a girl can only dream! :)

just look at those pretty brushes!

all you ever need!

and to top it off, a deluxe case that is flippable and can hold ALL THE BRUSHES?

i totally wish they sold the brush case separately cause that would make my life much easier! haha anyone else with me? ahh well.. if anyone's looking to buy that set, at least it'll be $50 off! haha :)

Anyways, i hope everyone has a wonderful 2012! Lets make this year even better than the last :) I wish you all the best!

Please note: The above post was not sponsored by Sigma Beauty. Just wanted to let you guys in on a good deal to celebrate the new years! :D

Pinkbox Makeup's Holiday Series Giveaway # 1

2011-12-27T18:28:00.002-07:00

Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year!

Hello my lovely lovely readers & followers! *wave* I know its been a while since you've heard from me.. but i wont bore you with my busy life. I hope you all had a wonderful christmas with your dear ones and that you will have the most wonderful new years party as well :)

My of my main new years resolution is to stop procastinating and start blogging more! So you will definitely see me coming back and blogging for sure :) I hope you havent forgotten about me just yet! ;) Now, lets just jump right back into the game and kick off this wonderful new year with a series of Holiday Giveaways!

I've been saving quite a lot of goodies here and there for this giveaway! So somewhere out there, several of you (yes, maybe YOU!) will get a surprise present to start off their new year! :D So starting from today, i will be hosting BI-WEEKLY giveaways! meaning there will be a winner every two weeks! And this will continue until i run out of stuff to giveaway :p

Meanwhile, in between the giveaway and announcement posts, i will go back to blogging about the makeup world and provide you all with those swatches and reviews i know you're dying to see! ;)

Holiday Giveaway Number One
- ends on Tuesday, Jan 10, 2012 -

One Lucky Winner will receive the following items!

1. Marcelle Lux Eye Dust in Fantasia

2. Marcelle Lux Eye Dust in Bronze Millionaire

3. Marcelle Lux Eye Dust in Go-Violet

4. Annabelle Smoothie Eyeshadow Pencil in Absinthe-Minded

5. Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner in Effervescent

To Enter: MANDATORY
1. You MUST be a follower on Google Friend Connect - 1 Entry
2. Fill out the form below to be entered to win! Click here if you cannot see the form below.

Additional Entries:

1. Follow me on twitter & tweet this giveaway! Please include link & @PinkboxMakeup so i can keep track - 1 entry

2. "LIke" Pinkbox Makeup on facebook! - 1 entry

3. Make a blog post or post about this giveaway on your sidebar! - 1 entry

Good luck everyone and have a wonderful new years party!

Late night fix - Marcelle's Soothing Cleansing Water

2011-11-24T21:38:00.003-07:00

Raise your hand if you're guilty!

I know I'm not the only who comes home from late nights and just literally pass out on my bed. Face full of makeup? Unfortunately, sometimes, yes :(

I know most of us do the best we can, when it comes to situations like this. We keep towelettes, makeup remover pads etc by our beds so that we can get as much makeup off as we can. But I dont know about you girls, when the next morning comes around, i almost always find one or two red bumps on my face...

And that is when I wish that this product came into my life earlier. Let me introduce, (my almost finished bottle) Marcelle Essentials, Purity Soothing Cleansing Water.

Now there's no need for me to take a billion pictures of the product, but let me tell you, this product is deceiving.

As Marcelle themselves said on their blog,

It’s an eye make-up remover, facial cleanser and tonifying lotion. All in one.

- click here to go to Marcelle's blog post to see this product in action! -

It might look like water, but this is what helps keep my skin clean and clear! And no, I don't only use it on those late nights out.. I have worked this into my nighttime routine after cleansing my face. And wow, some days when I felt like I have cleansed my little heart out, one swipe of this on a cotton pad makes me embarrassed. Plus, this doesnt dry out my skin at all! No tingly tight feeling <3

Oh, and did I tell you the best part? It takes off WATERPROOF MAKEUP! yeah that's right, it might not remove it as well as the oil-based makeup removers.. But hey! Since when do we expect that from a toning lotion?

Overall, I would most definitely recommend giving this a try! Whether you need it for late nights or just want something extra to fully cleanse your face :) I know I'll be the first to go out and get me another bottle once this one is almost done!

New take on French Manicure

2011-11-15T00:07:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone!

So lately I've been seeing alot of bloggers and YouTubers doing a new take on the old French manicure! And while I had some extra time on my hands today, I decided to add some tips to my already painted nails!

I used OPI's black to the future along with jacob's pret-a-porter to create this look!

I love how the OPI shade is not a black black because I find it just too dark for my liking. Rather, it is a gorgeous deep purple with small red shimmers! From far it look dark like black, but up close it is gorgeous!! Enjoy :)

Jacob's Nail Polish

2011-11-12T15:50:00.003-07:00

Oh my goodness.. I can't believe it's been so long since I updated! Time flies when you are busy! Sorry everyone!

Today I want to show you a new nail polish I picked up from Jacob! They have a new line of polishes and the colors were really pretty! While I was shopping for some work clothes, I saw this on the counter and just had to pick it up!!

Here is jacob's pret-a-porter :) I just love the color!

one coat.. a bit sheer


two coats

I have yet to test out the wear time on these polishes, but so far i am really liking them! They apply easily (although 2 coats is a must!) and have a very pretty glossy shine to them :) i may be stopping by Jacob's again sometime soon to take a look at the other shades! <3

Im Really Sorry For Being MIA!

2011-10-20T22:50:00.001-06:00

I hate to leave you all hanging...

but to be honest, life has been crazily busy atm and as sad and guilty i feel about this, i really havent had the time to sit down, swatch and review products.. and trust me, theres a ton that i really want to share with you all because they are amazing products!

for those interested in knowing why i have slowly stopped posting as often as i'd like (*eek! sorry. i know its horrible) i actually recently got a new job! Its an accounting office job so while 99% of you may think that is super boring, i actually fall in the crazy 1% who enjoys it more than i should lol :) *nerd face*

haha but to be honest, im not enjoying it JUST because im the biggest. nerd. ever. surprising? haha no, its really because:

a) i have just started my new job so everything is still really new and amazing

b) i am meeting all kinds of lovely amazing people

c) i can kinda sorta play "dress-up" every morning as i absolutely ADORE business casual outfits <3

d) i now have a paycheck which equals more shopping for more outfits & makeup <3

e) my office is right across from a mall. so yup! thats right, my paycheck's gone before i get it! ;)

lol so all in all, life's been good! but on top of a full time job, im also taking an online course. which really makes things difficult! i originally took the course so i wouldnt be sitting around (this was BEFORE i got the job).. and now im going crazy trying to make days last longer so i have enough time to fit everything in! haha

anyways, sorry to bore you all with all thats happening! I promise once i get some free time, i will swatch everything like crazy and sneak in posts here and there! Please bear with me for a bit! But until then, i hope you all are having a wonderful fall :) xoxo!

Im So Glad We Met Again, Volume Lip

2011-10-09T13:38:00.002-06:00

Seriously, SO glad!

The first time around when i tested out Annabelle's Volume Lip Lipglosses, I liked them, but I wasnt in love. This time around, I was sent one (in the shade tangerina) and seconds later, i was frantically digging through my collection for all my other ones! How they were not part of my daily routine i do not know. I think it comes down to the fact that back then, i really did not wear lipgloss often.. shame on me i know :(

but anyways, the past is the past and i am ready to re-review these gorgeous lipglosses for you all! In total, including all the others in my collection, i now have six and have found a permanent spot for several in my purse. Lets take a look at some pictures :)

here are the previous swatches from my collection

cherryoke, metro mango, vivid volume, sweet tweets, iced sugar

and here is the swatch of my new addition :) meet tangerina

I still hold on my previous review with the flaws i stated. Firstly, these tubes are a bit tough to apply since they a tad too sturdy, secondly the name of the product is printed on a sticker which MUST be removed prior to using the product, and finally, there is a lack of pigmentation when comparing hand swatches to actual lip application.

tangerina when applied

However, getting those flaws out of the way, let me then tell you why i am SO glad to find these again. Firstly, even though the colors are sheer, these add a gorgeous tint to your lips. They give you just a touch of color that instantly brightens up your face and that is exactly what i need. especially now that i'm out of school and entering the work area, i dont want anything too "in-your-face" if you know what i mean :p

Secondly, the formula is amazing! Just a little dot and even if you have dry, cracked lips.. your lips will feel insanely smooth! Very moisturizing and not sticky at all (unless you decide to layer lots! and even then, its not even that sticky!) Not only that, but i find that it also helps plump up your lips without that burning feeling which is a nice addition :)

So overall, Im definitely enjoying these again :) Have you guys tried this before? Let me know what you think!

Please Note: The products mentioned above were sent to Pinkbox Makeup for review consideration. No monetary compensation was received and as always, all opinions and thoughts are my own honest personal views and based on my own experiences with the product itself.

Im Loving Fall Colors!

2011-09-27T00:31:00.000-06:00

My Favorite Season !

Fall is definitely my all time favorite season mainly because of the gorgeous colors! I love all the forest greens, navy blues, mustard yellows, rusty browns and brick reds! <3 and plus, in fall, the weather is a bit cooler so you can layer your clothing and accessorize with scarfs and boots! :D Since we're kind of still in-between summer & fall, heres a fall inspired outfit :)

Outfit details:

tank top - costa blanca

waist skirt - forever 21

wrap belt - h&m

thin cardigan - forever 21

shoes - winners

whats your favorite season?

These Annabelle Smudge Paints are Amaazing!

2011-09-20T22:18:00.000-06:00

Multi-Functional, Practical and Long Lasting!

These new Annabelle Smudge Paints mean serious business! When i first saw these at my local drugstores, i CRAVED to get my hands on them. but back then, i had put myself on a spending ban and sadly had to leave empty handed. So when i saw that the lovely Isabel had sent me not one, but FOUR of these lovely lovely things, i was beyond excited!

Now if you dont understand why i was so obsessed about getting my hands on these, let me show you some pictures and explain some details..

Firstly, the packaging is very unique in that not only does it come in a sturdy pot like normal gel liners do, but there is a built-in brush applicator hidden right inside the top! you just pull it out, flip it around, re-attach it and there you go.. no need to carry an extra liner brush which makes this PERFECT for travel purposes!

Oh, but thats not all.. you can use this gel liner as per usual in the daytime, but if you want to amp it up for the night, you can double this up and use it as a cream shadow! The formula is very smooth, applies easily and best of all, blends beautifully! Plus, the built-in brush applicator allows for both thin and thick lines, whichever you prefer!

Muddy/ Sludge / Plummed / Tar

Muddy / Sludge / Plummed / Tar

Muddy / Sludge

Plummed / Tar

So when it comes time to go on vacation, this product is definitely one you need to bring along! which is exactly what i did when i went to vegas <3

Now of course, being the critical blogger, i'll let in you on some minor flaws.

Firstly, if you're the type that wants to get the most out of your money, these smudge paints run a tad smaller than the usual gel liner (2g here compared to Maybelline's 3g) and cost around $11 CAD. Secondly, i dont recommend using this on your waterline. Because its meant to smudged (hence the name) and its creamy consistency, this doesnt sit well on the waterline. so if you're looking in particular for a product just for the waterline, you might want to skip this.

other than that though, i am really really loving this product. and seriously, how can you not! its multi-taskable, practical, comes in gorgeous colors and is a beauty to apply. have i convinced you yet? haha but seriously, i lovee this! <3

A Little Bit of Lace

2011-09-13T00:43:00.000-06:00

Goodbye Summer!

I am back from Vegas and i am so sorry it took me so long to get back to posting haha i needed a long recovery period from all the nights of drinking and lack of sleep! But im back now and ready to start working on reviews and swatches again! especially for all those Marcelle/Anabelle goodies i receive! *yay* hehe but for now, heres another quick outfit of the day.. just something easy but still polished :)

outfit details:

lace tank top - winners

wrap belt - h&m

black blazer - hong kong

denim shorts - bluenotes

and i'll throw in a face of the day too.. not wearing too much and im still looking pretty dead from the vegas trip haha so please excuse my "i-need-more-sleep" look :)

i will post up some random pictures from my trip soon so you can all see what i wore and how i did my makeup (kind of) lol it was a lot of fun mainly because i could really experiment with bolder eye looks, ones i would never be able to pull off normally! until then, have a wonderful week! <3

Marcelle Surprise Package!!

2011-09-02T06:13:00.002-06:00

What a wonderful surprise!

I had been in contact with the lovely Isabel from Marcelle a while back and to my surprise, I came home today to a HUGE package! It turns out Isabel had kindly sent me a whole bunch of goodies to test out! and when i say a whole bunch... i mean it! I was speechless when i opened up the package and saw the amount of products inside!

A special note and HUGE thanks to lovely wonderful Isabel! Your package really brightened up my ~~day~~ life and i cant thank you enough! I am a huge fan of Marcelle/Anabelle products and this was really just lovely!!

As i will be spending my long weekend in VEGAS with some girlfriends (in fact, i will be boarding the plane very soon!! :D) I will be reviewing and swatching these products after i get back.. but for now, here's a sneak peek!

once again, a huge thanks to Isabel and the lovely team at Marcelle/Anabelle! I LOVE you guys! <3 please support them by following them on twitter and facebook! have a wonderful long weekend everyone!

Coral Summer Outfit & FOTD

2011-08-26T00:30:00.000-06:00

Oh how i love summer!

Why? because summer means bright pretty colors like coral! and i LOVE a gorgeous coral matched with beige and gold! :D

Outfit:

Coral Button-up Blouse - HK

Coral Tank Top - Forever 21

Beige High-waisted Shorts - H&M

Gold Key Necklace - Forever 21

and then my FOTD :) I just settled for something simple with a soft coral lip to match :)

Hope you all are having a wonderful summer!

Trucco Duo Lip Liner Swatches

2011-08-23T00:37:00.000-06:00

Here's some lip swatches!

Remember the Trucco Duo liner I received in last month's LuxeBox? Well, I thought i'd show you guys what it looked like when actually applied on :) I dont wear lip liner often, especially colors like these, but i kind of really like how it turned out. I now have a new LOVE with purple lip colors! <3

and here are the lip swatches! first up, the brown shade

(note: these are just the lip liner applied lightly all over the lip)

and then the purple shade.. the one that i am absolutely IN LOVE with :) its a bit over the top, but if applied sheerer, this is so gorgeous and definitely wearable :)

The purple seems a bit dark and a tad "gothic" but i really love the shade! When applied on top of my pink lips, it bordered magenta and was just lovely! Im really really glad i received this lip liner duo in my Luxebox, because without it, i wouldnt fall in love with this lovely purple lip color! what do you guys think?

Bourjois Ombre Stretch

2011-08-20T11:53:00.000-06:00

A Shimmery Peachy Pink

Hi everyone! I'm finally going to start going through all the products i bought in hong kong! I've reviewed some already, but trust me, theres a TON more to be reviewed! So today, lets take a look at Bourjois Ombre Stretch. The shade i purchased was 06 Rose.

Slim Packaging

mirror and small brush included

close up of product

I quite like the packaging! Its slim and compact and surprisingly includes both a mirror and a brush! It is very sturdy and there definitely wont be any accidents of this opening up in your makeup bag :) lets take a look at the swatches!

The color is gorgeous! Its a shimmery peachy pink, one that is very subtle, but also one with a gorgeous sheen. I have been using this as a wash of color on my lids and it helps brighten up my eyes :) I also like using this sometimes along my crease because its slightly darker than my skintone so it adds a tiny bit of definition to my eyes :)

First the goooood :)

The product itself is very smooth and easy to apply.
You dont need to pile on a lot in order for the color to show.
No creasing occurs and fading is minimal
There are no crazy chunks of glitter (no fall out!), but instead, there is a overall pretty sheen.
The packaging is slim and compact, and matches the color of the shadow

then the not so good..

Bourjois is not a readily available brand
For a drugstore brand, this can get a bit pricey costing around $12-15 CAD
The color can be a bit sheer, but you can definitely build up

Overall, I am still really happy i purchased this :) The shade is beautiful and since i dont wear many dark/bright colors on my lids, i like the subtlety of this shade to add some dimension to my eyes :) What do you guys think? Have you tried this before? Let me know! :)

I Finally Gave In - MAC BlackTrack

2011-08-08T07:23:00.000-06:00

and i am LOVING it!

We all know about MAC's fluidlines.. especially their famous blacktrack! Its pretty well known and i dont know why i never purchased this earlier! I guess i was always thinking that i could get away with a drugstore liner and so i never really wanted to shell out extra money for a MAC liner. But i finally gave in after my maybelline liner dried out :( and i am very happy to say, i LOVE my new blacktrack!


some quick swatches.. this is very creamy, very smooth and very easy to apply!

i like to use my coastal scents bent liner to apply this :) it makes it super easy!

and a swatch on the eyes :)

first the gooood!

i LOVE the texture of this liner! it is very creamy and smooth and applies so easily! I also love the packaging :) as with other MAC products, it is housed in a sturdy glass packaging. The lid screws on tight helping to extend the lifetime of this product. As well, i really like how black this liner is even after application! I've had plenty of experiences with liners that say they are black but in reality, are actually more of a dark grey once applied.. so this was nice :) and last but not least, the lasting power did not disappoint :) after wearing it for a full day out in the sun, the liner was still there and still black with only minimal smudging :) and yes, im talking even on the waterline! <3

then the not so good...

hmm well one thing i found about this liner (and also with a lot of other liners) is that if you're in a rush and want to apply two layers, you might end up smudging off the first layer.. so i would have to say that one downside to this product would be that you do have to give it a good 5-10 seconds to really set before you want to re-apply another layer. (which if you really think about it, is not that bad because you can alternate between your eyes)

overall though, i am in love! This is definitely my new HG eyeliner and if you havent tested this out already, what are you waiting for! dont be silly like me and just resist it because of its price. (in fact, its actually not that much pricier than a drugstore liner! and you get a TON of product that will last you years :)) :D

I'm Loving July's LuxeBox !

2011-08-02T12:53:00.000-06:00

Another monthly box of samples!

I really enjoyed this month's luxebox! Take a look at what i got! :D

i LOVE essie polishes! Although i really did want the pink polish shown in the description above, i was pretty happy with the purple as well because my nail polish collection lacks a deep purple :)

quick swatch! this is a gorgeous deep eggplant purple :) lovely! although it does stain a bit...

next up, this hair oil treatment is my FAV from this month's luxebox! it smells heavenly and really does help my hair look a lot healthier and smoother! <3 definitely planning on purchasing a full sized bottle when im done with this! <3

sample drop of the hair oil treatment

next is a perfume sample from stella :)

super pretty :) although im happy with my current fragrance, i am actually really liking this as well! i may not be able to control myself and go out and purchase this because it smells so good!

last but not least, this lip duo pencil was very surprisingly good!

i've never tried any of trucco's products, but this makes me want to!

quick swatches.. these were very creamy and applied so easily! i love the fact that the pencil was a duo and that you get a fun bright color as well as a more natural shade :) <3

and thats it for this month's luxebox! I really enjoyed all the samples and i cant wait to get next month's box! i swear, these boxes are getting better and better each month and it just brightens my day when i receive my next luxebox in the mail :D Hope you all are having a wonderful summer! I am LOVING every moment of it :)

OPI Caught With My Khakis Down

2011-07-29T11:56:00.000-06:00

Khaki is my new favorite green!

I picked this up recently at Sephora and after putting it on my nails, i instantly fell in love with the color! <3 The shade i got is called "Caught with my khakis down" :)

As always, OPI's formulas are amazing. They apply smoothly and have a gorgeous shine to it! One coat of this shade was already opaque enough but i have a tendency to always put on two coats. Top this off with a top coat and I think its safe to say that this isnt going anywhere for at least a week or two! :D I also have a feeling that when it comes time to take this off.. i will just r-paint my nails with the same color haha! :)

so tell me, what nail colors are you obsessing over lately??

Smooth Silky Skin with Reviva Labs Makeup Primer

2011-07-20T11:13:00.001-06:00

I love that smooooth silky touch

First off, im so sorry i havent posted in awhile! My camera's memory card wasnt working and i freaked out because i had taken so many product pictures and swatches on it prior to that.. luckily, my dad somehow fixed it and now i finally have pictures to put into my post!

I was ~~recently~~ (okay i lie.. im really behind in doing these reviews! opps!) sent some products from the lovely people at Reviva Labs to review (and giveaway! - that will come later :)) The two products i received were their Makeup Primer and their Light Skin Peel. Today, we will focus on the primer :)

Now we all know primers all seem to be very similar, they all give us smooth silky skin, help make foundation application easier, make foundation last longer etc etc.. so what makes this one so different you ask?

well first, lets take a look at the product itself :)

yup thats right! men too :D

ohh how i LOVE products with expiration dates printed CLEARLY for me to see!

packaged in a sturdy glass-like bottle, this primer comes with a super easy to use pump function. (did i ever mention how much i love products with pumps? i just loveee the control you get!) the product itself is a tad on a liquid-y side.. something different from the usual thick primers we use.

here you can see the product is not a thick gel like substance, in fact, its quite liquid-y!

very smooth consistency

after.. all moisturizer and ready to "apply makeup!"

first the goooooood :)

this primer makes my face suuuuuper silky smooth! I love the texture of this primer because it is not a thick gel-like product, rather, it is quite liquid-y making it smooth on easier and also feel less like you applied lard all over your face (eww!). plus, you know how sometimes when you apply foundation too quick after moisturizer/primer and you end up with that gunky stuff balling up on your face? well, it wont happen with this primer! :)

and of course, the usual "extends the staying power of your foundation", "increases the coverage of your foundation" & "boosts the pigmentation of your products" all come into play! :D

and then, the bad...

hmmm.. bringing out the critical side of me, i would have to say that this primer can seem to be a bit oilier than other primers.. most likely because of the consistency. Also, it does take a tad longer than other primers to absorb into your skin. however, once it does though, it really does create a very nice base for your makeup :) but we already went through that lol.

the other point i'd like to make would probably be that it is not as affordable as we'd all like. retailing for $19.50 and only available online (from what i know), makes it slightly difficult for everyone to try and use this product.

overall

but other than that, i quite like this primer! i have been using it daily since i got it and even though its an extra step to my makeup routine, i really do have to say it does make a difference :) so for all those who arent using a makeup primer atm, seriously, give it a try! you'll notice a difference for sure :)

Physicians Formula Eye Booster - I want long lashes!

2011-07-11T05:49:00.000-06:00

My lashes need a miracle!

Being asian, i have straight, short, thin lashes :( ... so im always interested in serums that boasts they can make my lashes longer and thicker! I've tested out the L'oreal lash serum in the past, and while i did love it because it made my lashes healthier and stronger, i have to admit i got lazy and forgot to apply it ~~once in a while~~ more often then i'd like.

So when i came across this physicians formula eye booster, i was super happy :D This is a 2 in 1 product in that it is both an eyeliner and a eye serum! Score! Now i dont have to worry about forgetting to apply my serum because well, i apply eyeliner on a daily basis! :D

note: if you'd like, they also have this product in a clear shade.. meaning just the serum

Some Product Pictures:

lets hope these results are achievable!

100% ! now THAT is persuasive lol

nice sleek packaging :)

fine pointed tip :) (NOT the flimsy ones!)


swatches showing different lines that can be created

First Impression:

Im really liking it so far! Of course, after using it only once or twice, i have yet to see any difference with my lashes lol BUT, the liner itself is very easy to use! and that is saying something considering liquid liners are not something i use often lol. It applies smoothly, the tip is fine pointed and the shade i got "ultra black", is definitely quite black :)

Even though i found that it had a good wear time (meaning it was still there when i got home at night PLUS there was very little, if any at all, smudging), this takes a bit of time to dry once you first apply it. That might be a given for some, but for others who are in a rush in the mornings, you'll have to be a bit more careful! But overall, that wait time is definitely worth it! because once its dried, it definitely stays on! :D

here are some eye swatches :)

before mascara


after a light coat of mascara lol

what did i tell you, i have crappy asian lashes :( lol so lets hope this product really works and helps them grow! *fingers crossed* haha anyways, i'll keep you guys updated! until next post, i hope you all have a wonderful week!

June LuxeBox - Laura Mercier Full Size Shadow!

2011-07-08T05:42:00.000-06:00

What a lovely surprise!

~~This~~ Last month's LuxeBox (man i'm having a hard time posting these on time! sorry!) gave me a surprise, a good one i should add! :D Not only were there the usual deluxe samples, but this time, i was "upgraded" to a full sized product! Read on to see what I got in my June LuxeBox!

all the samples plus the full sized laura mercier shadow :)

size comparison to my iphone 4

Normally, i wouldnt be overally excited to see these types of samples because i quite like my skincare routine (hey.. it works and i dont want to mess it up lol) and i dont normally use alot of hair products... BUT, this time around, im actually really liking the joico hair oil! my hairs been a tad dry lately and i've been getting alot of flyaways... so this has been wonderful :)

the foaming face wash isnt bad either! the texture is nice and smooth and actually does a pretty good job of removing all the makeup leaving my face feeling fresh :) plus, i love the little quote on the bottle: "what goes on your body, goes in your body"

ohh here comes today's main feature! a FULL SIZED laura mercier eye shadow! :D the one i received was in the shade sandstone and i absolutely love it :) its a suitable color for a large range of skintones and it is the perfect shade for me since i wear very little eyeshadow :)

sleek packaging with a mirror :)

and heres a swatch :) this is nice for a slight highlight, but i like to use it as an all over the lid shade. it really helps brighten up my eyes, something i definitely need with the amount of sleep i've been getting lately!

and last but not least, i also received two dermalogica samples, a shaving cream and a daily clean scrub. since these are targeted at our male counterparts, im planning to give them to my bf, brother or dad.. whoever wants it more hehe :)

Overall, another lovely luxebox from the lovely team at Loose Button! I am really enjoying these monthly boxes and i think its time i renew my subscription! Going to go for another 3 months (even though the price went up a tad, from $10 a month to $12) :D

have a great weekend!