Review: Make Up For Ever HD High Definition Foundation

The sales associate who helped me suggested I use 120 after testing it on my skin and it seemed to blend well into my jawline so I bought it since it seemed like my skin needed a little more coverage when I wore my circle lens. I used it a couple of times and really liked the finish of it prior to applying MAC Studio Careblend Pressed Powder, but the shade ended up being way too light for my actual skin tone. Luckily, Sephora has the most awesome return policy and I got my money back with the intention of saving it to buy another shade, but not before asking for a sample (123) just in case it didn't match again!

Summer agenda #6 COMPLETED

Before

After

My friend and I were having a conversation about messed up eyebrows and all I remember was her saying, "Yah, but yours aren't TOO bad." I'm not sure if she was referring to the overall shape or what, but it started to get under my skin, so with much pain, I decided to regrow my eyebrows a couple of weeks ago. I felt so gross for not plucking or trimming them especially because I had been meeting with a special someone and didn't want them to see me like that >__< I finally went to get them waxed yesterday @ a small salon in Windward Mall and the whole time the beautician kept saying, "OH MY GAWT! OH MY GAWT! YOU OVAPLOCK! DON DO DAT!!" Man, was that embarrassing.

I was somewhat pleased with the results..still getting used to them just because my eyebrows are normally thinner. I trimmed them once I got home though since I couldn't stand seeing the random strands of thick and thin hair. I also changed the color from mahogany to dark taupe using my old UD Brow Box in Honey Pot & NYX AUTO eyebrow pencil in #EP07 Charcoal:

Finally!

..My circle lens came in! @__@ I opted for the standard shipping and waited the full 3.5 weeks! I'll definitely expedite if I ever make another purchase, but I think I'll be pretty good for awhile now!

EOS Max Pure Brown

EOS Max Pure Grey

REVIEWS GALORE!!

Sana Make Essence Concealer (Wrinkles):
I bought this @ Don Quijote thinking that it would be the cure-all for my fine lines problem since Origins Eye Doctor wasn't pulling through for me. It eliminates the super teeny tiny lines and the formula is so thin that it doesn't really conceal anything except that. Not to mention it takes awhile to dry and it becomes splotchy whether you use a brush or finger to apply. I tried to use it with the powder that came with the Bobby Brown Creamy Concealer Kit and then the actual concealer & powder, but it didn't make a difference. Well, if anything, the combination of the 2 concealers and powder made the area look like I had used white ash instead. BUT if you're looking for a lip concealer, then this works perfectly! @__@ I wouldn't dare lick my lips though since it already smells kind of funny.

Post from 04/04/2011 spree here!

• EVE Half Moon Clip-In Hair Extension in 4 (blackish brown): Even though the hair is synthetic (not too sure if it's all synthetic or a human hair mix?), it blends really well with my natural hair and doesn't feel heavy at all! I thought that the wavy curls would fall once I washed it, but they maintain really well. I'm thinking about straightening them so I can practice fish-tail braiding though. There's a label that says curling is ok as long as the heat isn't more than 370 something degrees, but I'm guessing that only applies to curling irons or heated curlers since the hair wouldn't run through the straightening iron technique like my natural hair would.
  
• Ardell Fashion Lashes 108 Black: Big disappointment. >__< They were more natural than I wanted them to be and I could hardly tell that they were lengthening.
  
• Bio-Oil: ..Still awaiting significant results, but at this rate, I'm thinking about buying Rodial Tummy Tuck.
• Revlon Extra Life No Chip Top Coat 950/Rimmel French Manicure PRO French Lingerie 130: I used about 3-4 coats of Rimmel and 1 coat of Revlon and it lasted for 7 days without chipping at the tips. Maybe next time I'll try to concentrate on sealing the tips?
• Origins Eye Doctor: As much as I wanted this to work, it hasn't helped one bit. No reduction in fine lines which is what I really needed ;__; Totally not worth the 30 something dollars, although I did need some kind of moisturizer for my eyes. If anything, I might just buy another tube of MAC Fast Response Eye Cream since that seemed to solve my problem for the past 2 years (I stopped using it because it didn't reduce puffiness around my eyes)!

 Pending review:

Make Up For Ever HD High Definition Foundation:
I thought that light coverage would be best in any and every situation until I went to Ginza and saw a boatload of pretty girls with flawless skin. I mean, obviously they were wearing a full face of makeup, but I felt like mines (Lancome Teint Miracle Bisque 4) was too sheer especially for special occasions. I still have yet to use it, but I'm quite excited since it's received a lot of good reviews ^__^

Spreeee!

• EVE Half Moon Clip-In Hair Extension in 4 (blackish brown): Wandered into Ala Bella to see if they had any hair extensions since they always have a window display filled with wigs. I've been saving for extensions ever since I was prego because I didn't like how short my hair was and I even planned on getting a "weave" until my hair stylist told me that they're a real pain! Anyways, I asked the salesperson @ Ala Bella for human hair and she pointed some out, but I guess she noticed what lifeless little hair I have, so she suggested the Half Moon series since it's volumizing and can curl really well (my main concern)! She let me test it and it looked a little too long for my preference, but she didn't have anything shorter..whatever though. I was really happy with the results and became ecstatic when she told me that it was going to be cheaper than I had thought! ^___^ Yaay!

• Ardell Fashion Lashes 108 Black: I was contemplating whether or not I should buy Dolly Wink lashes, but $20 for two pairs?? @__@ Maybe some other day? I've always had good results with Ardell and I'm only going to toss them after a couple of uses anyways. 108 doesn't flare out at the ends and are more for lengthening than volume (seems like volume + length falsies make my eyes smaller :<).
  
  
• Bio-Oil: Liquid miracle in a bottle? So many different uses, but we shall see how effective it is on stretch marks!! :/ Kinda smells like insect repellant.
  
  
• Revlon Extra Life No Chip Top Coat 950: Felt like painting my nails and needed a top coat, but didn't know which brand to choose, so I randomly selected this one.
  
  
• Rimmel French Manicure PRO French Lingerie 130: I've heard pretty good reviews about Rimmel nail polish, so I chose a baby pink tinged cream since I like neutral colors.
  
  
• Origins Eye Doctor: "Moisture care for skin around eyes" ~ Hopefully this will help decrease all of those fine lines, dark circles, and puffiness. It smells like tzatziki sauce because of the cucumber! ..Makes me hungry for gyros ;__;

The only lengthy piece of writing I've managed to do over spring break :/

 Starting off with one of the songs that's been on replay recently ^__^

Review from 03/14/2011 post:

• Too Faced Glamour Dust in Nude Beam: Somewhat disappointing since I was expecting it to reflect more light..contains more shimmer than glitter. Boop :<
  
  
• L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes in Black: Not bad, but not great. The first coat separates lashes really well, but the second coat kind of clumps them together and creates a blunt black stump at the tips. I've been using Lancome Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara in Black and it volumizes and lengthens the lashes, but it smudges a bit more than Voluminous Millions.
  
  
• Maybelline Lasting Drama (gel eyeliner) in Blackest Black: I was running out of MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack which I've been using for the past year and thought I'd switch to Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner until I saw how much it cost. ..And knowing how heavy my lines are, I'd probably use it up in no time. So I opted for an inexpensive gel liner to tide me over, thinking that it would just make do for the time being. But no -- I hate to admit it, but Lasting Drama is better than Fluidline and for half the cost too >___< I love the little brush that comes with it since it's way more precise than my MAC Brush #263! My only problem with it is that I have to line my lid a few more times to get that solid jet black line that I'm used to. Lasting Drama also doesn't leave that faint grey smudge on my upper lid and it still looks sharp and intense after 12 hours! Love, love, LOVE.

Reviews from 01/26/2011 post:

• Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit in Warm Ivory: What a disappointment :/ It took me the longest time to figure out how to apply the concealer without it emphasizing the wrinkles around my eyes and even then, I can still see some wrinkles that I never even knew I had before! I use an eyeshadow brush to apply the powder since it's nearly impossible to use the complimentary puff without making a mess. I kind of wish I had just spent the extra money on the Cle de Peau ;__; Now I'll be stuck with this for a year or more since I use very little at a time (only because it looks really gross when I use a somewhat "decent" amount).
  
  
• NARS Blush in Deep Throat: Was it wrong to have high expectations for this? Bottom line -- I think I could've easily bought a cheaper blush with the same results. -__- Another product that I'll be stuck with.

• Lancome Teint Miracle in Bisque 4W: I've used all kinds of different foundations from drugstore brands to designer brands, but this is definitely the best that I've tried so far. Sheer coverage + lightweight formula = perfection.

Spree & Reviews

 

Dentyne Pure Mint (Longs), Glare Unisex (car freshener; Don Quixote), Shiseido Tsubaki Shining Shampoo & Conditioner (Don Quixote), L'Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes in Black (Longs), Maybelline Lasting Drama (gel eyeliner; Don Quixote), MAC Studio Careblend/Pressed in Medium (MAC), Too Face Glamour Dust in Nude Beam (Sephora), MAC Eye Shadow refill in Shroom (MAC), MAC Brush #116 (MAC)

I'm not doing reviews on everything since I'm saving some products for those days when I'm feeling like I need a little pick me up first thing in the morning (there's nothing like looking forward to opening something brand new)!!

• Dentyne Pure Mint: BEST GUM EVER. And I don't even care for gum. Long-lasting flavor and it doesn't disintegrate into a tiny grain of rice.

• Glare Unisex: My car smells like beach mat, so pretty much any freshener would've been nice, but I opted for the one that reminded me of cologne rather than detergents.

• Shiseido Tsubaki Shining Shampoo & Conditioner: I've been milling through shampoos & conditioners for the past 6 years and I swear, I've never gotten better results especially after the first use! I know this may sound like an informercial, but my hair feels smoother and looks healthier! @__@ And the scent is intoxicating. I usually purchase volumizing sets, but I don't think I need it anymore since my hair is still really thick from my pregnancy. Bed Head Superstar Sulfate-Free Shampoo for Thick Massive Hair is good..if you want thick hair, not necessarily volume. Aveda Pure Abundance Volumizing smells absolutely horrible, but it thickens without making hair feel coarse (unlike Bed Head). Big Sexy Hair set, Paul Mitchell Extra Body Daily set, and Pantene Pro-V Fine Hair Solutions aren't that great. The best volumizing set that I've tried, so far, is Garnier Fructis Body Boost since it doesn't weigh my hair down. It worked exceptionally well when I would blow dry my hair with Bed Head Superstar Leave-In Conditioner.

• MAC Studio Careblend/Pressed in Medium: Not to sound like a prick, but the MAC at Ala Moana doesn't have the greatest customer service, so I didn't expect to be helped or treated nicely, but I was pleasantly surprised! I was kind of scared that I was going to look like a crazy vanilla cake monster, but the sales associate found a match and offered some helpful suggestions! Anyways, the pressed powder blends perfectly with my skin tone especially when combined with Brush #116!

Random makeup post

After getting my makeup done by many, MANY makeup artists for proms and disliking all of them, I figured that I would do it myself for the last one that I went to. I wanted something simple and easy since I only had a couple of hours to get ready (my then boyfriend was a year younger than me and I had just started my second semester of college). I opted out on the Slimshine and used an inexpensive pair of lashes instead and I absolutely loved the look!

I've been using the same eyeshadow combination ever since and ironically, I'm still using the same eyeshadows (it's been 2 years since I bought them and only now am I restocking on Shroom). I use MAC's Yogurt as a base, so that Shroom stands out more since it tends to melt away by the end of the day when used by itself. I'm definitely not a makeup guru, but I find that the combination helps me look less tired. Darker eye makeup tends to emphasize my dark circles and bags, but I would love to emulate Kim Kardashian's smokey eye look!

I've been looking for something to shake things up in my blah makeup collection and I found this:

Too Faced Glamour Dust in Nude Beam! A couple of years ago, MAC had a holiday campaign that included a set of 4 vials of glitter that I wanted ever so badly, but after sleeping on it, I figured it wasn't worth buying a whole set if I only wanted one of them. Since then, I've been on the look-out for eyeshadows that were slightly glittery, but nothing really appealed to me. Luckily, my patience has finally paid off! ^__^

Hopefully I'll be getting some retail therapy in this weekend! More importantly, I hope that Sephora will have it in stock!!

Nehru ; A ;

 

Co-worker Kelli and I have spotted some of our customers wearing OPI/Katy Perry Shatter nail polish so we're on the hunt for it, but nail salons seem to be sold out of it! Even though I'm not nail polish's biggest fan, I really wouldn't mind picking up a bottle of Teenage Dream (the current song that keeps replaying over and over in my head) and Black Shatter.

Better yet, I wouldn't mind some gel nails from Salon Cherie! I definitely want to treat myself to a manicure, massage, new wardrobe and haircut once I save up enough money! ^__^

Prom nails circa 2009

New year, new EVERYTHING

I took inventory of my makeup/skincare collection and restocked with the usual standbys and some new products!

Love, love, LOVE UD Eyeshadow Primer Potion (Original) & Brow Box (I switched from Honey Pot to Brown Sugar since I stopped dyeing my hair). I used to think that they were a bit expensive, but they've lasted me for a little more than a year even with daily usage! I'm always up for experimenting with new products that have a pretty good reputation so I bought Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit (Warm Ivory), Lancome Teint Miracle (Bisque 4W), and Nars Blush (Deep Throat). Haven't cracked open any of the boxes yet, but I'm really excited to try everything out!

 

 I used to think that Naris Cosmetics was strictly for old ladies since my grandma and mom used their products. ..Until a couple of years ago when I ran out of facial soap and my mom gave me a half-empty container of Bioqueen. My life (and face) took a turn for the better. I've used Clinique, Shiseido, and Noevir, but they didn't hydrate my skin very well especially during the winter season. The only downside to Naris Cosmetics products is that it's really one of those things where the more you pay, the better the results. I've tried samples of Rejuarna and Majesta and I can instantly see and feel a difference, but I don't think I could afford the whole line. :< One day though, one day..