For the Love of Makeup

Blog Sale!

2014-09-17T22:11:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! I'm trying to clear out my makeup drawers and closet, so these are items that I've only used a couple times or are completely brand new.
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Items have now been added back as sets. Please be advised that if you want to break up a set the price will be slightly different as I bundled items to lower shipping costs.

To calculate the new price for breaking up a set/bundle: take the listed price, divide by the number of items in the set to get the price per item, then add $1 for each item in the set you are interested in.
       Example: The listed price for a 3 item set is $12.
                            If you want...
                                   1 item: $12/3 items = $4 per item + $1 extra for the item you want
                                               = NEW TOTAL for one item is $5
                                   2 items: $12/3 items = ($4 per item + $1 extra for the items you want) x 2
                                               = NEW TOTAL for two items is $10
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Prices listed are in USD and shipping with delivery confirmation is free only for buyers in the United States.

As of January 27th 2013, prices for international shipping have almost doubled so shipping for Canadian or UK orders is no longer included in the listed price. All international orders will now be invoiced a shipping cost that will be calculated on the USPS website based on the weight of your package and the country to which it will be shipped.

MAKEUP

All used makeup will be wiped down and/or sanitized before being sent out

Milani Lip Flash in "Photo Flash" (USED 3x)
$7

Revlon ColorStay Mineral Finishing Powders

Shades available:
Sunkiss (used)
Suntan Matte (used)

Brighten (came without sanitary sticker seal but unused by me; will wipe down before sending out)
$8 EACH

Milani eyeshadow palette in "Designer Browns"
(used, no applicator; I received this item with the top shade broken)
$8

Brand new L'Oreal HiP duo in "Enchantress"
$10

Brand new L'Oreal HiP duo in "Gilded"
$10

Brand new Maybelline quad in "Natural Smokes"
$10

Brand New Wet n Wild Shadows Set
Includes: "Mink," "Goddess" & "Cherub"
Also including: Mega Shimmer shadow in "Pink Orchid"
(All discontinued; "Mink" and "Cherub" are opened but unused. "Pink Orchid" has been used <5 times)
$10

Brand New Limited Edition Fall 2010 Fashion Week Maybelline Eyeshadow Trios Set
Includes: "Glamorous Grey" & "Charming Cobalt"
$12

Pink NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil Set
Includes: Oyster, Strawberry Milk and Yogurt (all used but never sharpened)
Oyster has a crack in the cap, but it's still functional
$12

Almay Eyeshadow Trio Set
Includes: Almay Smoky-I for Hazels (used) & Intense I-Color for Hazels (new)
$12

Brand New NB Cosmetics Mineral Eyeshadows Set
Includes: "Confident," "Wild" & "Elegant"
$12

CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipstick Set
"Penelope Pink" (from the Queen Collection)
"Fairytale"
(both used a couple times)
$12

MAC eyeshadow in "Woodwinked" (used less than 10x)
$12

MAC Angel Lipstick (used)
$12

Drugstore Lippies Set
Rimmel "Airy Fairy" lipstick (new)
Revlon "Nude Lustre" Super Lustrous Lipgloss (new and discontinued)
Rimmel "Pink Blush" lipstick (used <5 times)
$14

Brand New The Body Needs loose eyeshadow set
"Fired Plum"
"Tempting Taupe"
"Safari"
"Tauped Rose" (the packaging was slightly open when I received it so it spilled out)
For more/better pictures, please email me
$14

Maybelline EyeStudio Quads Set
"Spirited Seas" (includes applicator)
"Give Me Gold" (no applicator)
(both used a couple times)
$14

Brand New Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Illuminating Pebbles
Shades available: "Creamy Natural" (1) & "Translucent" (1)
$14 EACH

Stila Illuminating Finishing Powder in "Gold"
(discontinued; used; no box; there are a couple nail gouges)
$14

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Shadow Pencil in "Delinquent"
Used <5 times, has never been sharpened
(This is the version from the 24/7 Glide On Shadow Pencil Stash; 0.08oz vs the full sized 0.1oz)
$14

Tarte SmolderEyes Amazonian Clay Liner in "Violet"
Used <5 times, never sharpened
$15

Brand New Mario Badescu Shampoo & Conditioner Sample Set $16

Drugstore Eyeshadow Set $16
Includes: Milani "Teal the Truth" (used), Rimmel "Celestial Sapphire" (brand new, discontinued),
Maybelline "Turquoise Diamond" (used, limited edition) & ELF "Pebble" (brand new, unboxed)

Smashbox Eye Illusion Trio $16
(used; discontinued)

Rock & Republic Eyeshadow in "Jaded" $16
(discontinued; used twice; no box)

Urban Decay eyeshadow single in "Hot Pants" $16
(Used <5 times)

Misc Eyeshadow Singles Set $16
Includes: SMH "Afternoon Delight", SMH "1492" & Sephora "Aspen Summit"
(all used a couple times)

NYX Eyeshadow Set $16
"Bohemian Rhapsody" (some shades used, NO APPLICATOR)
"Lake Moss" Trio (used twice)

NYX eyeshadow SET $16
Includes: "White," "Beauty Queen," "Burgundy Pearl" & "Rocky Mountain"
(all used a couple times)

Brand New Benefit Little Bit of Bad Gal Lash mascaras (Set of 2) $16
(These are the mini versions, NOT FULL SIZED)

The Body Shop Eyeshadow Palette in 02 Golden Brown $18
(used twice)

Brand New Rock & Republic lipgloss in "Alpha Blonde" $18
(shimmery gold; discontinued)

Brand New Rock & Republic lipgloss in "Imposter" $18
(creme finish white peach; discontinued)

Stila Sun Bronzing Powder w/ SPF 15 in "Shade 01" $18
(used; no box; slight dip in the middle)

Brand New Bath & Body Works Mini Fragrance Set (15 mL each) $22
"Sweet Pea"
"Warm Vanilla Sugar"
"Japanese Cherry Blossom"
"Sensual Amber"
(Only for buyers in the contiguous United States. Not available to Alaskan, Hawaiian or international customers due to its liquid nature)

Urban Decay Sustainable Palette $22
(Used, DOES NOT come with the small brush or the mini Primer Potion. I had experimented with "Midnight Cowboy Rides Again," but it didn't really work out; all other shades have at least 90% product left)

Brand New L'Oreal/Project Runway Limited Edition Blushes Set $22
Includes: "Audacious Amazon," "Watchful Owl" & "Charming Cockatoo"

NAIL POLISH SETS

11/14/2012: Due to the hazardous nature of nail polishes, are not available to international customers. These nail polish sets are only available to customers in the contiguous United States. Sorry for the inconvenience.

ELF Nude Set $8

"Light Pink" (swatched once)

"Champagne" (swatched once)

Claire's Mood Changing Nail Polish Set $8
"Wild/Calm" (used once)
"Confident/Peaceful" (used once)

ELF Nail Polishes $8 for the remaining three polishes in bold print as a set
"Lilac"
"Fuchsia"
"Purple Pleaser"
(All swatched once)

KleanColor Glitter Set $10
Large blue glitter, small silver glitter, small blue glitter
(Each used once)

Drugstore Set $15
Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in "Runway Red-y"
Revlon Top Speed in "Peachy"
Rimmel Lasting Finish Pro in "Marine Blue"
(All swatched once)

Models Own Nail Polish Set $30
"Golden Green Beetlejuice"
"Purple Blue Beetlejuice"
"Aqua Violet Beetlejuice"
(all used once)

MAC Nail Polish Set $30
"Abstract" (used once, discontinued)
"Bubbly Beige" (used <5 times, discontinued)

BRUSHES

All brushes will be cleaned and dried before shipping.

ELF Powder Brush Set $8
Includes:
Flat Top Powder Brush
Complexion Brush
(both USED)

Sephora Flat Eyeliner Brush (USED; discontinued) $10

POSH Powder Brush (USED) $10

Bare Escentuals Max Coverage Concealer brush (USED) $12

Bare Escentuals Flawless Face brush (USED) $15

Bare Escentuals Full Flawless Face brush (used) $18

JEWELRY

BNWT Forever21 Hematite Curb Chain necklace $10

Gold Bamboo Earrings (some slight discoloration/tarnishing)
Received from someone used but never worn by me
For better pictures please email
$10

Brand new JewelMint Cityscape Bracelet $12

Brand New Without Tags Aldo Necklace $12

Silver earrings set $14
Includes: Silver filigree teardrops & Large acrylic statement earrings

Brand New Glint & Gleam Overlapping Rhinestone Bangle
(There is a small spot where the plating has rubbed off because the part that overlaps scrapes against the bottom part, pictured below)
$15

Overlapping Rhinestone Bangle - side view & opened slightly

Overlapping Rhinestone Bangle - where the plating has scratched off

Brand New BaubleBar Gold Cage Earrings
(not available for purchase on the website)
$15

Brand New JewelMint Diving Belle Earrings
(FYI: these are a bit on the heavier side. Lobe Wonders help with the weight)

$15 WITHOUT the JewelMint gift box (will be shipped in pouch)

Add $2 if you would like a box

Brand New JewelMint "Chopped" Calypso Set
(this was originally one necklace that I turned into the pendant and a pair of earrings)

$15 WITHOUT the JewelMint gift box (will be shipped in pouch)

Add $2 if you would like a box

Brand New Glint & Gleam Gold Braided Belt Bracelet
(box NOT included)
$15

Trifari Gold Knot earrings (STAMPED)
Received from someone used, never worn by me
For better pictures, please email
$18

Brand New JewelMint Helen Cuff $20
2.25 inch diameter, 1 inch wide opening

Brand new JewelMint Bombay Paris Bracelet $20

Brand new Jewelmint Bombshell Bracelet $20
The original bracelet was too long for me, so I removed one link
Removed pieces will be included in packaging

Brand new Jewelmint Mademoiselle Earrings $20
One of the earrings is slightly bent (see above picture)

BaubleBar Primrose Earrings $20
Currently not available on the BaubleBar website

Brand new gold and hematite fringe necklace $25

HANDBAGS

If you would like more pictures or measurements of a purse, please email me.

Cream/off white leather Michael Kors slouchy hobo purse (USED)
Interior is tan with beige logos
4 slip pockets
1 zippered pocket
Keychain clip
Small orange mark on the handle (see picture below)
Slight patina on the underside of the handle (see picture below)
$159

Coach Signature Tote (dark brown/medium brown/light tan)

Gently used, excellent condition

2 slip pockets

1 zippered pocket

1 D ring for clipping keys, etc.

$159

MISCELLANEOUS

Brand New MAC Tartan Tale Lip Bag $15

Mossimo (Target brand) Pearce Pumps in black, size 9
3.25 inch heel, leather upper
(never worn out, only tried on)
$22

Juicy Couture Zip Around Wallet (USED)
(as with lots of JC products - this was originally black velour/velvet but has now faded to a dark brown/black; comes with JC box)

$25

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Just a reminder, all prices do include shipping and delivery confirmation for US customers only. All other buyers will be invoiced a shipping cost along with the cost of their items.

More pictures available upon request, just send an email to lmchang2550@gmail.com. These pictures are as close to true color as I could manage, but please be sure of the color/nature of the product through independent research before purchasing.

Prices are non-negotiable. No returns or exchanges accepted. No refunds will be given.

As of August 1st I am opening my blog sale up to international buyers, but I am not responsible for any customs fees that may be incurred by your purchase so please do not try to negotiate the listed prices to accommodate those fees.

I am not responsible for knowing what kind of products can be mailed to your country, so please know what your country's rules and regulations are when it comes to receiving opened makeup or anything of that nature. Anything that is seized by customs and not delivered due to these regulations is not my responsibility, and a refund will not be given.

Once packages have been received and accepted by USPS they are no longer my responsibility.
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If you're interested in anything, please send me an email at lmchang2550@gmail.com with the subject line "BLOG SALE" so it catches my attention.

Please also include the following information:

Your name
The item(s) you are interested in
Whether you are a US or international customer
Whether the email address you messaged me with is the same as your PayPal email so I can send you an invoice for the items

I check my email several times throughout the day and will reply to most inquiries within 24 hours. Prices are non-negotiable. Invoices will be sent once serious confirmation of a purchase is obtained and payment is due within 3 days of the invoice being sent.
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Everything will be sold on a first come, first serve basis and this blog will be updated as items are sold. New items may be added later.

The ABCs

2011-06-01T22:01:00.000-07:00

Ok! So I never update this thing! I'm usually on LUUUX so if you'd like to read my posts there, that's where you can find me. x.x Anyways, I actually am posting a tag that the lovely Huda just did. Check her out for the answers to her tag as well as her other posts. She is amazing :)

http://lebanesebeauty21.blogspot.com/

A. Age: 23

B. Bed Size: Twin. Super tiny...

C. Chore you hate: I only really wash the dishes, and I don't really hate it. It's just annoying. I actually hate doing my laundry. x.x

D. Day: Friday! Pretty obvious why

E. Essential start to your day: During the school year: coffee. During the rest of the year: food.

F. Favorite Colour: Purple. It's just a girlie color and there are so many shades to choose from.

G. Gold or Silver: For the longest time I actually only wore silver jewelry, and then very recently I started buying a lot of gold jewelry. My watch and the Figaro bracelet on my wrist that never comes off are silver toned though.

H. Height: 5'4". Not too short, but not too tall. I'm taller than my mom and younger sister, so that's good enough.

I. Instruments: Used to play the violin and piano, but don't ask me to play anything because I don't remember how to play.

J. Job Title: Unemployed! Just recently graduated college and am biding my time until grad school (hopefully)

K. Kids: None yet, but I want two or three.

L. Live: California!

M. Mom's Name: Helen

N. Nicknames: Surprisingly I don't have one. My sister calls me "Sissy," and my boyfriend has the typical pet names for me, but I don't have a nickname derived from my given name. So lame...

O. Overnight hospital stays: Yes. Two? One I know for sure - I was 13 and had some major surgery and was in the hospital for a week.

P. Pet peeve: Like Huda, I have too many to name! 1) Slow drivers in the fast lane 2) Pedestrians who jump out in front of my car 3) People who walk through doors and then stop moving 4) Leaving a bite/piece of something and putting it back on the table/in the fridge/freezer

Q. Quote from a movie: I can't think of anything right now x.x

R. Right or Left Handed: Right handed. I wish was ambidextrous. Seems like a cool trait to have.

S. Siblings: I'm the eldest of two. Got a younger sister who annoys me to death but I love her. >.<

T. Time you wake up: Depends on when class starts. After classes, I don't wake up until noon.

U. Underwear: Cotton hipsters from PINK by Victoria's Secret

V. Vegetables you dislike: Spinach, brussel sprouts, lots actually...

W. What makes you run late: Putting makeup on in the morning (ironic isn't it?)

X. X-Rays you've had: More than enough. >.<

Y. Yummy food I make: I really like baking! Soooo...black bottom cupcakes! Yum!

Z. Zoo: Umm...haven't been in a really long time. The last time was in Washington DC to see the new baby panda Tai Shan. :)

I tag all of you who read this! Leave a comment below so I can read your answers. :D

Wet n Wild Trio - "Walking on Eggshells"

2011-02-19T02:18:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! This is the trio in "Walking On Eggshells" and it's probably my favorite of the ones I've bought. These regularly retail for $2.99 which is a great deal, but they are frequently on sale at drugstores like Walgreens and Rite Aid for BOGO 50% off or even 50%! Getting this for $1.50 just sweetens the deal on an already awesome eyeshadow trio.

Like all of the recent Wet n Wild eyeshadows, these trios have pigmented and smooth shadows which are also soft and easily blended. They also last all day with no creasing if a primer is worn underneath. (I always wear a primer with my eyeshadows so I can't tell you if it fades or creases without one.)

The lid shade is a light shimmery peachy-pink, the crease is a dark shimmery brown with gold tones, and the browbone shade is a shimmery cream shade. As you can tell from the swatches these are pretty pigmented, and the shades are great for an everyday neutral eye.

These palettes are great for travel and they come with two little brushes: a fluffy angled brush and a sponge tip applicator. Neither of these get any use, but it's something nice to have just in case.

My only complaint is that the shades are ALL shimmery. It would have been nice if the crease shade was at least a matte or satin finish.

This is a great trio to have if you're just starting out with makeup, or are looking for new shades to add to your collection. I'm sort of a neutral nut so I like to collect neutral palettes. At $2.99 these will definitely not break the bank, and you're able to get them on sale it's an even better deal!
If any of you are interested, the lid and crease shade from this trio are also featured in the new "Comfort Zone" 8 pan palette which was newly released by Wet n Wild and is slowly trickling their way into Walgreens and Walmart stores. The only shade that doesn't have an exact duplicate is the browbone shade, but even the brow shade in "Comfort Zone" is a close enough match that you may be able to justify having just one or the other and not both. The "Comfort Zone" palette retails for $4.99.

Hope you found this helpful!

All images and content are my own. Products bought with my own money.

Nail Look: Sonia Kashuk "Taunting Teal" & "Nubar 2010"

2011-02-19T02:10:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! I haven't done a nail look in a while, so I thought I would post this up. The lovely Mica G (from Luuux) posted a long time ago a look with a polish by Sally Hansen called "Hidden Treasure." Unfortunately that was limited edition and is unavailable now, but is sold very marked up on eBay. However, she came to the rescue and provided info on a dupe, Nubar's "Nubar 2010."

I ordered this from eBay for $7.70 with FREE shipping. I don't know the retail price for this nail polish but compared to $20 for "Hidden Treasure," it was definitely a good price.

A lot of looks I've seen with this polish or "Hidden Treasure" have been over a dark base, and I don't own many that I thought would look good with this polish.

The base polish I used was Sonia Kashuk's "Taunting Teal," which you can buy for $4.99 at Target. It is a beautiful dark and dusty peacock blue with a cream finish that would look good on its own. (I don't normally paint my nails when they are this short just because I don't think it looks good on me.)

I layered "Nubar 2010" on top of this and it looks beautiful! Some fingers I used two coats if there wasn't even glittery bits. It also dries very quickly which is a plus.

Capturing the beautiful of this polish was sort of hard because the shimmers change depending on how the light is hitting them, which is why there are so many pictures above. I just put in on my ring finger to see how it would turn out, but it was so pretty that I put it on all my nails.

The shade definitely reminds me of finding treasure at the bottom of the ocean, and the way the light changes because of the depth of the water. Definitely a nail polish worth adding to your collection!

Thanks for reading!

All images and content are mine.

Favorite Concealer: MAC Studio Finish with SPF 35

2011-02-19T01:59:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! I know I've been neglecting my blog and have really only been posting on Luuux since my readership there is really much larger than this blog. So these next upcoming posts will actually be a month or two old, since they have already been up on Luuux for a while.

Today I wanted to share with you my favorite concealer of all time! It's the MAC Studio Finish concealer with SPF 35, which comes in a myriad of shades and each pot is $16.50 for 7g of product.

What I love about MAC is that almost every foundation shade has a corresponding concealer shade. A lot of other brands, from drugstore to high end usually only have a couple concealer shades to cover all of their foundations shades and sometimes it's hard to get them to match, but with MAC, there is usually a concealer shade for all of the most common foundation shades so you won't have any color difference.

From the MAC website:
¤ "A lightweight, creamy, discreetly opaque concealer. Provides a smooth, long-wearing invisible coverage for all skin blemishes. Water-resistant, fragrance-free and non-acnegenic. This emollient-based, lightweight concealer is so concentrated that a tiny amount can provide opaque coverage of the skin's imperfections and discolourations. It effectively covers dark circles, blemishes, moles, tattoos and birthmarks. Enriched with antioxidants (derivatives of Vitamin A and Vitamin E), it also contains Silica to help adsorb the skin's oils. Concealer has an SPF of 35 and is available in a wide range of colours. It can be applied with a medium to firm fiber brush (try the 242 Brush), a latex sponge, or the fingertips."

I absolutely love this concealer, so much that I have it in three shades to cover up my imperfections throughout the year. The NC range is for those with yellow undertones and NC20 is the second lightest shade in the range.

It provides full coverage and goes on very smoothly with a concealer brush. This literally will cover up pretty much anything! I have lots of hyperpigmentation and redness from acne and this covers them up so I can face the day with confidence.

I cover up my blemishes with this and then set it with my MAC blot powder. If you set it with the powder it will definitely last all day, so no need for touch ups. The finish looks very natural but it can get a bit cakey if you try and pile it on.

Like most concealers, it doesn't look good over dry and/or flaky skin. It will just accentuate the dryness and make it more obvious you're wearing makeup. This really looks best over smooth surfaces, like older scars and hyperpigmentation, and not flaky scabs or anything like that.

This concealer is definitely great for those who need to cover up dark marks and imperfections, and it will last you forever. I've had these pots for a while and I'm not close to hitting pan or finishing them yet.

Hope you found this helpful!

All images and content are my own, except for the MAC description of the concealer.

New Makeup Storage/Organization

2011-01-01T15:04:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Just wanted to share with you my new storage/organization scheme. Originally ALL of my makeup was stuffed into a 3-drawer organizer that was large enough to hold a regular sheet of paper.

This is a 6-drawer cart from Office Depot and it costs $24.99. It also comes with four wheels, but I haven't put those on yet. The dimensions of the cart are:
◊ Height: 26.44 inches
◊ Width: 12.06 inches
◊ Depth: 14.25 inches

So the drawers are a bit larger than my old organizer and there's twice as many drawers! The organizer is pretty sturdy but the drawers do not slide all the way out. About two inches stays inside the cart, so there is potential for products to go into the back and then be forgotten about...

The top of the cart is actually really sturdy, the top of my original organizer was very flimsy and buckled under my fragrances and hair products. This organizer actually has sections on the top that was probably meant to hold office supplies like paper clips and pens, but I use it to hold my witch hazel, rubbing alcohol, brush cleaners and there's even a spot that I use to put my cameras!

The first drawer is lip products, the front part is frequently used lip products and the basket in the back holds the less used products. (Since I've taken these pictures I've actually switched this drawer with the eyeshadow drawer since I apply my eye makeup first.)

The second drawer is my blushes and bronzers. I actually now have a place for my Hello Kitty blush palette, and all my Rock and Republic blushes are hiding underneath. There's a basket in the back for other blushes like my Wet n Wild ones.

The third drawer holds single eyeshadows and small palettes

The fourth drawer holds my large palettes, like my StarsMakeupHaven palettes, UD's Naked and Alice in Wonderland BoS

The fifth drawer holds just my face primers, blot powder and BB cream, as well as fragrance samples

The last drawer doesn't really have anything in them. I just put some of my nail polishes that were lying around in there.

Staples actually sells a 10-drawer version for $60, which maybe be really good for those of you who have larger collections!

Hope you found this helpful!

All images and content are my own.

CVS Clearance Haul aka Last Haul of 2010!

2011-01-01T14:48:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a bunch of fun last night :) Myself, I didn't go partying or whatever but I did spend the day with my boyfriend, and he took me to CVS for their clearance sale!

If you haven't gotten yourself to CVS you need to ASAP to see if any of your favorite shades are being discontinued! I'm actually really surprised about some of the products they are ending, many of them to make way for new products and shades.

A couple of Maybelline ColorSensational lipsticks were 50% so they were $4.49 and I saved $4.50! The shades I got were:
◊ "Pink Please" (2): This is one of my favorite everyday lipsticks and I'm sad it's on clearance! It's supposedly a dupe for MAC's "Way to Love" so if you were hesitating to buy this, run out now!

◊ Park Ave Peach: A cream finish peach shade
◊ Pink Petal: It looks sort of like a pink version of "Warm Me Up" which is my other favorite everyday shade.

NOTE: Definitely check the smell of these lipsticks! I've been saying this in every review I've made of these lipsticks but sometimes even I forget. I didn't check yesterday and "Pink Petal" is one of those bad tubes. Unfortunately I didn't realize that until it went on my lips. The texture was very hard, it sort of burned on my lips and the smell was awful. My sister can't smell the Play-Doh I smell but she literally balked when she smelled this rotten tube. So don't forget to check the smell!

A bunch of the Revlon products were on sale so I picked up a few of those too:
◊ ColorBurst Lipstick in Lilac: I actually bought this a couple weeks ago from Target for about $5 and this shade and a couple others were on clearance for 75%! That brought the price down to $2.25! So this is a backup.

◊ ColorBurst Lipstick in "Coral:" I saw this shade in another Luuuxer's post and it looked really pretty. In person it's a very bold red-orange that I might have to tone down with some gloss.

◊ Super Lustrous Lipgloss in "Lilac Pastelle:" I had been wanting to pick this up for a while and was going to buy these at Target, but they were also on clearance for 75% off so it's good that I waited. I picked up two on the off chance I will like this and need a backup. The sale price of these was also $2.25!

◊ Super Lustrous Lipgloss in "Pink Afterglow:" Wasn't originally on my wishlist, but since it was on clearance I figured why not?

◊ Super Lustrous Lipgloss in "Nude Lustre": One of my favorite everyday glosses - it's a neutral rosy brown. This was also a backup.

In the end I was able to get all of these products for about $30 and saved about $60!

Thanks for reading, hope you found this helpful in deciding what to purchase! Happy New Year again!

All images and content are my own.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T14:35:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone! I just wanted to wish you a Happy New Year! 2010 seemed to go by really fast and it wasn't exactly the greatest year so I'm sort of happy it's over. For 2011 I hope to do well in all my endeavors and hopefully keep up with this blog better!

I wish you lots of love, happiness and success in this new year!

Nail Polish Haul from 12.17.2010

2010-12-19T16:58:00.000-08:00

Ok...maybe I went a little crazy, but it was right after finals so a little pick me up/congrats on finishing another semester-treat was in order.

The first nail polish I picked up was Revlon's "Perplex," and it is this the first Revlon polish in my collection. It is a pretty purple with subtle shimmer and a grey sort of undertone. I saw this color in the stores but passed on it until Mica G did a post on it and showed it on her nails. It's definitely difficult to catch the uniquenes of this polish on camera as it is unlike Sephora by OPI's "Metro Chic" or anything along that vein. I've seen this at drugstores like CVS or Rite Aid for about $5, but I was able to get this on sale for $3 something.

I'm probably THE last person on the planet to find out that Orly did dupes for 2/3 nail polishes that came out in the MAC Venomous Villians collection. Luckily my local Ulta still had full stock of these hiding on a bottom shelf somewhere (I actually almost left thinking they were gone). These are $10 each, so $3 more than a regular Orly polish, but Ulta was having buy 2 get 1 free so I also picked up Luxe.

"Galaxy Girl" is the dupe for MAC VV's "Formidable," and is a dark purple base with teal shimmer that flashes red from some angles. The duochromes of this and "Space Cadet" were very hard to capture, but if you Google pictures of it, some of the more veteran nail polish photographers can give you a better idea of how these look.

"Space Cadet" is the dupe for "Mean & Green," and is a green-based polish with lavender and all sorts of crazy duochrome.

For both of these polishes I used three coats and it was still streaky and not as opaque as I would like. I've only used one other Orly polish and three coats was definitely enough because that formula wasn't streaky at all.

The free Orly polish I picked was "Luxe" because I felt it was a very appropriate holiday color. It is a soft muted gold with a metallic-looking finish. I didn't do a swatch for that one, but probably will eventually.

The very last polish I picked up was "The Show Must Go On!" from OPI's Burlesque collection, and only because it reminded me of MAC VV's "Bad Fairy." It wasn't until I got home and looked it up online that it's not an exact dupe, and the duochrome is not as obvious in the OPI polish. "TSMGO" has a magenta base with yellow gold and copper duochrome that was even more difficult to capture than the Orly polishes. It is more apparent in natural lighting or shaded artificial lighting than it is under full on artificial light. It's definitely very pretty and this will probably be what I'll wearing during the holidays for that festive touch. This was $8.50 at Ulta.

For the Ulta haul the cost would have been a lot more if it hadn't been for the buy 2 get 1 free and the 20% off coupon I had. The total came to $25 so it was about $6.25 per polish. The entire nail polish haul came to less than $30.

Hope you found this helpful!

What is your signature piece/look?

2010-11-24T00:12:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! This is just a quick post because I'm curious about what is your signature piece/look? It's always fun to see what people like. :)

I think if you were ask someone who knows me well enough what is something that I always wear, they would probably say my sterling silver figaro bracelet. For some reason, several years ago, I was obsessed with having a figaro bracelet and looked high and low for something that was the right width and length for my small wrists.

This bracelet was about $15 at Piercing Pagoda or one of those jewelry kiosks at the mall and it was the perfect fit. The scale of it was also perfect for my wrists - it was simple and didn't overpower me. I put it on that day and it hasn't come off ever since except for the occasional cleaning.

So what is your signature piece/look? Is it a piece of jewelry? An eyeshadow look? A hair style? I'd love to know in the comments below. :)

Smashbox Anti-Shine/Anti-Brilliance

2010-11-24T00:09:00.000-08:00

This has got to be some kind of magic...this face primer actually helps my oily complexion! I say help and not cure because that would just be asking for miracles from a beauty product.

I have super oily skin. It can get so bad to the point that I'm blotting my face every two hours, and if I don't blot then my face looks like a greasy mess.

There are plenty of face primers on the market, and I've tried other primers such as the famous, and usually well-liked, Smashbox Photofinish primer. The texture was very smooth and soft and it left my skin feeling the same, but it didn't help with the oilies. There are also some drugstore brand primers, but those weren't contenders either.

The search for a primer seemed hopeless, until I read on www.temptalia.com that Urban Decay had come out with a new face primer, Deslick in a Tube, which was supposed to be a gel version of their Deslick powder. It seemed like a good product to try since this primer was formulated without the traditional silicone - it's main mattifying ingredient is Magnesium Aluminum Silicate. I was all on board until Temptalia mentioned another product - Smashbox's Anti-Shine, which gave more product for a $1 less and was already in stores. No waiting involved.

So I went to Sephora, asked for a sample and went home and tried it. For goodness sake's it was amazing. I generally only apply it to areas that get oily: forehead, nose, cheeks, upper lip and chin, so this product isn't all over my face and jawline. (It covers a good portion of my face though!) It doesn't completely stop the oil from coming through but a little bit of oil is all right and it gives my skin a dewy look.

The texture of the product is a bit dry but it blends out well enough if you work with small amounts. I tried using a large amount of product and it dried too quickly and made my foundation look cakey. It can also make your face feel very tight if you apply too much, so just a word of warning. Also, if you don't blend it out well enough you can see where it has been applied. Another thing that can happen is the product will pill on your face if you rub it too much. It sounds like there are a lot of cons or aspects you have to watch out for, but I definitely think it's worth not having to blot every couple of hours.

I'd recommend this primer if you are in the market for one and silicone-based ones don't seem to be working for you.

Pros: keeps most oil at bay, helps my foundation stay in place, also helps keep my cheek color product in place (which is a big help since my blush is always disappearing)

Cons: need to work quickly and in small amounts, can feel tight if too much is applied and/or make foundation look cakey

It's available at Sephora and the Smashbox website for $27 and comes in one color: neutral.

Image from: http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21jjiIR9Q4L._AA300_.jpg

I've Hit Pan! Now what?

2010-11-24T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone, this is just a quick post celebrating the fact that I've FINALLY HIT PAN ON SOMETHING! This is my MAC Blot Powder in Medium Dark which I use everyday to set my foundation.

I've only started getting into makeup within the last year so the collection is still growing, and anything that makes it to this point has to be something special. Unlike my numerous eyeshadows, blushes and lipsticks, I only use one blot powder and it gets used more or less everyday and it's not really surprising that it's the first to hit pan. (Since this photo has been taken more pan has been revealed)

I really love this stuff because it doesn't shift the color of my foundation and it really helps it stick. My skin is also really oily, and while this doesn't completely stop the oily complexion, it's good for the first few hours and touch-ups clean me up without making my makeup look cakey. Unfortunately, things now are different from when I first bought this powder and $22 is still a lot of money to throw down on a face powder. Are there any cheaper powders that you like and would recommend? Thanks!

Hello Zombie!

2010-11-23T23:58:00.000-08:00

Aren't these just the cutest things?! These are a couple of the zombie Hello Kitty pins available at Hot Topic for $2.99 for the Halloween season.

They also have more zombie Hello Kitty products including handbags, T-shirts and hair accessories. I got these because my boyfriend is obsessed with zombies and I with HK so it was a match made in heaven. :)

China Glaze's Heaven

2010-11-23T23:57:00.000-08:00

Heaven is a sheer shimmery nude champagne color that looks very natural on the nails. In one coat it gives a nice "faux" French manicure and in two coats its a bit more opaque but the natural nail still peeks through.

It's a great color to wear if you want to wear a nail polish that's something other than clear, but you don't want to wear an actual shade. It's Your Nails But Better. :)

I bought mine for $4.49 at Sallys Beauty with their membership card that costs $5/year. If you aren't a member then the price is $5.99. China Glaze is also available at Ulta.

Loma Pearatin Hair Serum

2010-11-23T23:54:00.000-08:00

I have hair that is oily at the roots and dry at the tips. It can get pretty dry there and eventually my hair feels very rough and crackles when touched. I have used conditioner but it doesn't give me the results that Loma Pearatin's Fortifying Repairative Serum does.

This is only sold at authorized salons but they can also be found at places like Beauty Outlet, which is found at some Chelsea Premium Outlets. If you live in Northern California, the Gilroy, Napa and Vacaville outlets all have the Beauty Outlet.

I just put about two quarters worth in my palms and work it through the ends of my DRY hair before leaving the house. I've used it when my hair is wet, but I really want my hair to soak up the product so I apply when it's dry. If more is needed, then put in a bit more. It will look like your hair is wet and oily for a couple hours but it will eventually dry out and your hair will be left silky and soft. The results usually last me a couple days before I have to reapply.

I don't remember the exact price for this product, but I do know it's a bit pricey and you could use a lot depending on much hair you have or how thick it is, but I like the results and it's better than leave-in conditioner.

Image from: http://www.williamcollierdesign.com/store/prodpics/lg_CIMG0218.JPG

Life Savers: Dr. Scholl's Fast Flats

2010-11-23T23:52:00.000-08:00

There seems to be a trend that the cuter the shoe is, the more it will kill your feet. I've experienced this plenty of times: there are tons of cute high-heeled shoes sitting in my closet that only come out on special occasions or very short outings because, to put it plainly, they are a pain to wear.

Sure they feel fine for the first hour or two, but then the inevitable occurs - your feet get sweaty or swollen, then they start sliding around inside the shoe jamming your toes up against the toe box. If you have flatter feet like I do, then you might experience your non-existent arches aching from being at an unusual angle for prolonged periods of time.

There's an entire medley of things that can go wrong when you wear cute, but killer, shoes out, among them: blisters (closed or open), corns, bunions, red burns from ill-fitting straps, etc. etc. The list goes on and on...

But we don't have to let ourselves get to that point anymore! Thanks to Dr. Scholl's Fast Flats! These cute black flats come in a small gold clutch that can easily be tucked into your purse or a large coat pocket. Once your feet start barking you can just pull these babies out, slap them on and walk around like you were supposed to: flat.

These are great for regular outings with girlfriends, family or your significant other, and they are also great for weddings and other kinds of events that call for more than just a cute ballet flat. On my latest occasion, after I returned to the car with my boyfriend, I simply removed my shoes and slipped these on, leaving those cute heels in the car.

Since they are black with small little bows on the front they go with practically anything, so there really is no wrong occasion to wear these. The only bad part about them is that the soles are very very thin. I understand that it's because they need to be folded to fit in the clutch, but I can feel everything in these flats! Everything from cold restroom floors to bumpy asphalt. You will definitely feel any inconsistencies in the ground like pebbles, but I think the trade-off is definitely worth it.

These retail for about $9.99 at Target and Walmart to $13 at local drugstores.

Image from: http://images.bizrate.com/resize?sq=450&uid=2065114246

Goopy nail polish? Try this!

2010-11-23T23:48:00.000-08:00

I think I definitely have a problem...

Sitting in my closet is a small handled plastic thing that has to hold my collection of nail polishes.
It's filled to the brim and is pretty heavy. There's so many polishes in various colors and finishes and no way on earth is there a way I can wear all of them all the time. My mom is always complaining that I do my nails too often, but even then, I haven't made any significant dents into any of my polishes.

As the color of the week/month lacquers my nails, what do the others in the closet do? They sit, separate and get goopy, so that the next time it's chosen it has become a thick mess that goes on messily and forces me to choose a color that's a bit more "fresh."

I'm sure you've all heard the trick of putting nail polish remover, which is acetone, into the bottle to help restore it to its original consistency. I've done this before and a few of my polishes have turned a bit darker or have started to separate when sitting for a while. (My poor "For Audrey")
It was definitely a problem until I found Beauty Secret's Nail Polish Thinner ($4 for 4 oz. at Sally Beauty Supply). This has saved the lives of countless nail polishes and there is still TONS of product in the bottle. Depending on the goopiness of the polish, I drop in several drops of this magic liquid, shake up the polish and PRESTO! Good as new. :)

If any of you are curious about the ingredients in the thinner vs. nail polish remover...
Beauty Secrets Thinner: Butyl Acetate, Ethyl Acetate, Heptane
Rite Aid Nail Polish Remover: Acetone, Water, Propylene Carbonate, Dimethyl Glutarate, Dimethyl Succinate, Dimethyl Adipate, Glycerin, Gelatin, Fragrance, Denatonium Benzoate, D&C Yellow #11

Hope you guys found this helpful!

Image is a screen cap taken by me (from the Sally Beauty website) and edited with MS Paint

I broke my lash glue! ._.'

2010-11-23T23:44:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone. This is just a quick post about something that happened today.
I'm a complete noob when it comes to applying false eyelashes, so I figure it'll be better with practice. I don't practice with any expensive lashes, just some that I picked up from my local Dollar Tree. Can't go wrong practicing with cheapy lashes. :)

I've heard that the Duo lash glue in Dark Tone was particularly good, and since it dries dark instead of white/clear, I wouldn't have to worry about reapplying eyeliner if I use too much. The product is about $6 and I was only able to find the dark tone at my local Sally Beauty Supply. My local drugstores and Targets only carry the white/clear version.

Perhaps it was a sign when I noticed that the area where the tip and the tube meet was beginning to crack, but I didn't think anything of it. Maybe there was a nice protective plastic sheet inside to protect from numerous openings and squeezings. Well, today I found out. When I opened the tube I heard a crack and the top snapped clean off and was stuck inside the cap!

The damage was already done to my product though because the top portion had already dried into a solid rubbery mess. I was going to throw the entire thing away but thought I'd try to salvage it by putting the remaining glue from the bottom into a contact lens case that twists shut. I have no clue whether this will work or not.

Has this happened to any of you? Any suggestions on how I can prevent this from happening again? Thanks in advance. :)

Stila's Stay All Day Waterproof Eyeliner

2010-11-23T23:37:00.000-08:00

My eyelids are probably one of the most frustrating things to work with as far as makeup. They are oily like French fries and no liner or technique has ever worked for me.

There was a multitude of drugstore pencil eyeliners that couldn't stand up to my greasy lids, so I attempted to try something high end and different formulas. I've tried Mac's Blacktrack fluidline which resulted in me looking like I had attempted the smoky look when I hadn't. Even setting it with powder didn't stop the migration. Urban Decay makes some infamous eyeliners...Perhaps you've heard of them, the 24/7 glide on pencils? Yeah, those didn't work for me either. No amount of eye priming, "waterproof"-ing or setting with eye shadow would make any liner stick to my lids. Once I even tried fluidline set with powder set with 24/7 and set with powder again, and that didn't work either. Maybe that was doomed from the start. <(_-_)> I was all ready to give up on ever lining my eyes, until one day I came across this product.

My mom has oily lids too so she is always on the hunt for a budge-proof liner. We passed by a Stila counter and saw they had two new eyeliners out: the Smudge Stick Waterproof eyeliner ($20) and the Stay All Day (also $20). Mom picked up the smudge stick for herself and the stay all day for my sister, who likes liquid eyeliners and doesn't seem to have an eyeliner migration issue. (curse her...)

I tried out both, but didn't like the smudge stick. It was very soft and applied smoothly, which was great, but the end of it was so fat there was no way I would ever get a nice thin line along my lash line. I don't think that lasted of my lids either but it works for my mom, so kudos for her.
Then there was Stay All Day...and the rest was history. The tip is very fine and a bit long. I thought it was unwieldy at first, but it just takes some getting used to. I wasn't used to using a liquid pen either and every little nick of the pen resulted in strange markings all over my lashline. The color is a rich and true black, and it dries quickly and with a bit of a glossy finish. I applied it today with no eye primer and it lasted from 9am when I put on my makeup to 4pm when I took it off with just a little smudging on my right eye. Maybe that would disqualify it from being an HG product for a bunch of people, but that's pretty impressive for me.

Overall, I really love this product and will continue to buy it as long as they make it. If you have oily lids and are looking for a good eyeliner, give this one a try. :)

Image is a screen cap taken by me (from the Sephora website) and edited using MS Paint

Nail Look: Turquoise French Tip w/ Gold Glitter

2010-11-23T23:34:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! This is just a post about a nail look I did a while back during the peak of summer. It's a version of a French manicure using a turquoise nail polish instead of white, topped with a gold glitter top coat.

The turquoise nail polish I used was NYC's in a New York Color Minute Quick Dry nail polish in East Village 206B ($1-2 at drugstores). The brush is the flat kind, instead of the traditional round brush. I like this better because it covers more of the nail more evenly. The formula is very thin and applies sheerly, but this means it does dry quickly. For this look I applied about two or three coats to each tip.

The glittery top coat is Sephora by OPI's Only Gold for Me top coat ($9 at Sephora and sephora.com). I thought it was initially very goopy and the glitter didn't apply very evenly - I would always get the glitter bits on certain parts of my nail instead of nicely distributed. I diluted it with nail polish thinner and it does seem to help. There was probably about two coats of this polish just to get a nice even application.

At this point I have about 4 or 5 coats of nail polish on my claws, but I go a step further and put a clear top coat on top of the glitter coat. The reason for this is I've experience the glitter partially flaking and poking up, which scratches and snags anything from delicate fabrics to your boyfriend's face. -_____-' So, an extra top coat just in case.

Enjoy!

Product Hate: ELF's All Over Color Stick

2010-11-10T23:01:00.000-08:00

Hopefully you're actually reading this and haven't just looked at the title and passed by this post. Perhaps I shouldn't put my feelings about products in the title...Hmm...

Anyways, don't get me wrong, I love ELF products - they do some really great stuff. Their studio line is beyond amazing and they are churning out new stuff all the time. However, this product isn't from their studio line, it's from their infamous $1 line and while some of those products are really amazing, other products make you realize you sometimes get what you pay for.

I am not really a fan of cream blushes since I have oily skin and have heard horror stories of oily-skinned ladies like myself trying cream blushes and breaking out something fierce, then chucking that creamy culprit into the garbage to be picked up on the curbside by the man in the jumpsuit. (That was a really long sentence ._.). But there are also stories of women putting on cream blush under powder blush which helps it stay on longer, and I am all about getting my makeup to last. So $1 is not too much to sacrifice for an experiment, right?

I couldn't have been more wrong. This product is the antithesis of "cream blush." I know it says "All Over Color Stick," but this won't apply just anywhere. The shade I purchased is Golden Peach and it is very beautiful in the tube and in the swatch, but it is so so dry. Literally when I tried to apply this straight from the stick to my face I could see and feel the skin around my eyes being dragged down as this tried to deposit product. The obvious next step is to use my finger to warm up the product, and this helps...to get it on my finger. Once it's on there it doesn't really transfer well to my face and I'm left with a peachy-pink finger and some highlight on my face.

I'm sure this experience with a cream product is probably a fluke and I'll just have to try something a little more high-end, but I'm still disappointed in the quality. So a repurchase is definitely a no.

<3

Urban Decay Book of Shadows III (aka UD hearts NYC) is STILL available on Sephora.com

2010-11-10T22:41:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! This was actually the first post I had done on Luuux so it seems fitting that it's one of the first posts I make on my blog, too. The Urban Decay Book of Shadows III, also known as UD <3 NYC, is STILL available on Sephora.com. It was actually released a couple months ago and I expected this one to be sold out within hours of its release, but here we are, several weeks later and it is still available online and in store. Every Sephora store I have popped into still has this palette available. It's $54 with a couple palette exclusive/Sephora exclusive shades so if you're interested definitely check it out!

Now to let you in on a little secret...I had the palette....and returned it! I know...it is actually the first Urban Decay palette I returned because it simply didn't work for me. (Previously I returned the Ammo palette because I realized a bunch of the colors were duplicated in the Sustainable and Alice palettes, boo UD for recycling shades). The shadowws are beautiful and pigmented, but brights aren't really my thing so I returned this on the last day of the Sephora Friends & Family sale and bought new things with the money, which I will do a post on when it arrives this Friday. I must have had Limited Edition fever when I first saw it...

Anyways, if brights are your thing and this palette sounds like the one for you, it's definitely not too late to pick one up for yourselves!

<3

First Post!

2010-11-10T22:28:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! This is my first post and I'm very excited! I had thought about starting a blog for a long time to share with you my reviews on various makeup products and had started out on Luuux writing reviews and taking pictures. I really got the push from a fellow blogger Lamanie L (http://xxxbeautyredefinedxxx.blogspot.com/) and this is my foray into the real beauty blogging world.

Thanks for joining me on my journey as I navigate the blogging world. Stay tuned for upcoming reviews on products (which will probably be copies of my Luuux posts just to keep me busy) and some upcoming hauls. :)

<3