Objective: T3 Pro

So, Darren and I got into a fight, but everything is ok now. We are happy and bubbly again! Anyway, I'm currently trying to save for next relatively major purchase: the T3 Pro Flat Iron. I think I have something around $50 on my gift card from Christmas, so I essentially need about $70 or $80 more dollars. I bought a pair of jeans today that I think I'm going to return..which was like $20. Sooo I'm getting there. I can't wait. I learned how to curl my hair with a flat iron on YouTube and it's a lot better than using a traditional curling iron, in my opinion. I feel that I get more bounce out of hair...the spirals stay longer and I don't just end up with wavy hair at the end of the day. Plus, I can use it for general straightening, which is always good. I don't expect to really aim for getting a professional curling iron anytime soon...definitely a professional blow dryer in the future though. But those are also like, $120 a pop...which, in all essence, isn't terribly expensive. It's just not a critical expense when the dryer I have keeps me quite content. My current flat iron, on the other hand, is murdering my ends. When I'm in church, I pay more attention to my split ends than anything else.

Anyway, I got my stuff in the mail, which I'd like to review.

First, I got my Coastal Scents 88 eye shadow palette, which I like a lot. The colors are nice...very pigmented and the shade variety is great. The only thing I could say that's not what I expected is the size of the actual shadows...it seems you'd run out fairly quickly if you used it all the time. But, that's ok. It was inexpensive (about $18 or $19 for the actual palette and shipping on top of that). I definitely like it, but I wouldn't re-purchase right away...it would be a "I wanna spoil a little bit" kind of thing. But that's just me...I don't have a great need for 88 shades, either. A professional make up artist would probably go though a palette every couple weeks. But it's nice having all those colors. I'd rate the product overall an 8/10.

The other stuff I got was from ELF. I ordered a bunch of stuff cause I got a free $10 coupon. Let's see...I got the eye shadow primer, the curly lashes tool (the pink one, not the black one), a bunch of brushes, a mineral lipstick (in natural nymph), an eyebrow pencil, and a lengthening/volumizing mascara in brown. So far, I like the primer a lot. I haven't used the lash curler yet but I'll let you know. the brushes are very decent (especially for $1/piece). The lipstick is good, but the shade is a very light nude and it looks a bit awkward...I think I'd have to have very dark eye make up on to pull it off. The eyebrow pencil is cool because it comes with a highlight for the brow bone and a sharpener. As far as the mascara goes....it's my least favorite. It doesn't really do anything for me. O well. The brushes alone are worth it.

Oh and btw I totally want these shoes from Forever21 but I can't find them in a store... :(



Anyhow, I'm getting tired now. I'm gonna go night night. TTYL


M

Junkie!

January 10, 2010

So last week I found out that the Origins Get Down deep-pore clay cleanser was discontinued...BUT I can still order it online from Macy's, so that's good. I also tried using the St Ives Apricot scrub that's medicated for acne last week and it broke me out...maybe it was a hormone thing? I dunno but I'm gonna give it one more shot to see if it messes with me again. I really want to like that scrub!

Anyway, I've been trying to be more financially responsible cause last Christmas really kinda emptied me out and I'm gonna try putting myself on this plan. I'm going to try either pacing my spending and/or rewarding myself for accomplishments. For instance, if I really want something, I have to wait until my next pay day or buy it OR I have to wait until, for example, I finish the week's homework assignments for school. I think this will be good. I've been making lists of things I wanna buy and after spending a lot of time watching make up gurus on youtube, all of these items are either clothes, skin care, or make up.

Here are some items I want right now:

Clarisonic
Urban Decay's Alice in Wonderland book of shadows.
Denim leggings/jeans
Lush massage bars
Another Origins Get Down cleanser
Lux Naturals soaps!! (I want this one really bad right now)
Viktor & Rolf's Flowerbomb Extreme
MAC eye shadow in carbon
A deep green scarf that I saw at Target
A more comfortable pair of black peep-toe heels
Nail Polishes
Containers for all my make up and stuff.

So yeah, I'm turning into a make up junkie.
Lord help us all.

Good night!

M

Skin Care products

So here is list of some of the skin care products that I use. My skin in quite oily and I'm not a huge fan of looking like a grease ball all the time, so most of my stuff is gonna be geared towards oil control and acne. I always get breakouts on my chin and cheeks.

For a cleanser, I've been using the Clinique Acne Solutions bar of soap thingy. I think they have a cleanser in the Acne Solutions line that's liquid, but I like the bar. I just lather it up, massage it into my face, and rinse off. It even comes with a little soap dish thing complete with a lid. I think it runs for about $13.50, which is really pricey for a bar of soap, which is why I haven't bought a new one. I don't think I will either. I think there are some good drugstore brands, such as Puropse, that I want to try. Although, I have heard that the liquid facial cleanser from Purpose of better than the bar of soap because it's less drying. We'll see. I've already purchased the bar and it's sitting in my shower. But yeah, the Clinique cleanser was all right, but I still had some pimples. It definitely helped the large, nasty deep-in-the-skin pimples, but my face wasn't completely clear.

Now, for a toner, I've also been using the Clinique Acne Solutions product twice a day after cleansing with a cotton ball. Once again, it's ok, but I don't think I'll be repurchasing it. I think I'll shoot for a drugstore brand next, but I need to do some research because I don't want one that's got alcohol in it.

As for moisturizer, I've kinda been weening off the Clinique Acne Solutions and using the stuff from Boots (which I got a Target for like, $5) and it's called Expert Shine Control lotion. I like it. I apply it after the toner. I think it's helped to reduce little bit of shine overall on my face, but I'm definitely not matte. It hasn't seemed to break me out so that's a plus, but then again, my skin isn't terribly sensitive or anything.

About once a week I like to use a mask. It's by Origins and it's called Get Down. It's pore-cleansing clay mask that works really well. I can also be used as a cleanser. My skin always seems just a little bit clearer after every use. I like to leave it on for about 5 minutes. I haven't purchased it in a really long time but I know it's available online. I know it runs for less than $20. It also has little thingies in it that help exfoliate the skin.

About once or twice a day I'll also use oil blotting sheets. I've found that they are the cheapest when you get them from E.L.F. They are very similar to the Boscia green tea blotting linens, which I also like. I use these all over my face but mostly concentrate on my nose and forehead.

At the end of the day I like to use Neutrogena's Oil-free eye make up remover. I've tried the generic Target brand and it's not as good.

That's about it. I'm still trying to find what works best for me. I really want to try Proactiv. I've heard a lot of good things about it and some bad things as well. It seems to be a "hit or miss" kind of product, so I'd like to give it a shot. I've also heard some great reviews about the Clarisonic, which I totally want, but really don't want to dish out the money for. But yeah, that's all. Ttyl.

M