Armani Eyes to Kill Mascara $28 Review

I can't remember where I got ahold of a sample of this stuff...I think it was a freebie from some other beauty purchase but regardless I loved it so much I had to get the full-sized mascara too!


The website description from Armani - "Dress the eye with powerful, plush, voluminous lashes. Fine, fluid Microfil technology creates intensely captivating lash texture. Micro-waxes combined with a fineness agent allow for smooth and easy application, revealing weightless volume and length."


There are several colors to choose from but I purchased the basic black. They named it #1 Steel Black. Which I thought was fitting because the mascara case feels like cool steel too. I think it's probably made from some type of heavy grade aluminum.


Here's a shot of the brush. The bristles on the brush are arranged in a spiral pattern and they're equal length all the way through except at the tip.


Look! It's a mommy and baby! Here's a shot of the sample and full-size mascaras side by side and a comparison of the brushes. I was impressed that the sample-size brush is the same size and quality as the full-size brush. The only noticeable difference besides the size was that the case of the sample is plastic while the case of the full-size is aluminum.



The Verdict: A-
My eyes are very sensitive and they get irritated or dried out very easily. I feel absolutely no discomfort with this mascara! It's weightless, doesn't flake or clump and defines my lashes all the way to the tip! What I really love is the fact that it dries very quickly. When I blink, I don't get that "gummy" feeling of my top lashes sticking to my bottom lashes.

If only this mascara would give my lashes some curl, I could die a happy woman. But unfortunately this mascara kinda undos my curl and my lashes are super duper straight naturally. It doesn't bother me much as I just go crazy with the eyelash curler to counter the mascara's straightening effect.

Despite that, I still really love this mascara because it's so comfortable I really don't even notice it's on - and this girl's all about comfort!

NARS Bridal Palette $65 Review

I know this NARS Bridal Palette (aka Makeup Artist Palette 9945) has been out there forever but I kinda forgot about it and then re-discovered it a couple of weeks ago.

At the end of next week I'm heading to sunny Malibu to celebrate the wedding of a good friend and I wanted a simple all-in-one makeup kit. I found this to be practical for travel since I won't have to fiddle around with a bunch of little tubes of lipstick or separate little eye and cheek compacts. O and did I mention the HUGE mirror on this baby? It's gonna make on-the-go touch-ups easy peasy!

I love that this palette includes 9 of the best-selling NARS shades in neutral colors that would flatter any skin tone....but especially mine :) Below are some close-up pics of the compact.

Eye Quad

Neutral but versatile shades for the eyes that can go with any outfit or occasion. I could keep my eyes simple or do a smoky eye by adding some eyeliner and mascara.

Cheeks

I love Orgasm! It's always my go-to blush so having it in the compact just makes packing simpler for me. Albatross is a highlighting shade and complements Orgasm really well. I'm not real big on highlighters but I'm liking how the 2 shades pair up.

Lip Quad

Again neutral colors but I found them to be very hydrating and easy to apply with a lip brush.

The Verdict: B+
I don't really have any complaints about the NARS Bridal Palette. I know some may say the shades aren't colorful enough but I knew what I was getting myself into and I'm a happy camper. But I do have 1 complaint...

Shipping Experience
I ordered this directly from NARS as it's no longer available anywhere else. It was shipped super fast (under 3 days) but the packing quality was disappointing. I have this thing where I gently shake packages to see how "secure" they are. This was NOT secure at all - I could hear and feel the THUD-THUD as the compact rolled around and landed on the opposite side of the box. When I opened the box the palette was wrapped in some tissue paper but there was no cushioning to fill-in the empty space! I braced myself for the worst. I crossed my fingers and opened the cover of the palette hoping I wouldn't fine the mirror or any of the quads cracked. Well, I got myself worked up over nothing. Everything was fine and in one piece. A little dusty, but fine.


See? Everyone's alright :)

Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Eye Treatment $50

Woot! Woot! The Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Eye Treatment just won the CEW 2009 Award for Best Eye Treament! It really is a great product and I've been using it for about 6 months.


Like all other products in the White Lucent line, this eye treatment is formulated to address dark circles by boosting microcirculation and reducing melanin.

The Verdict: B+
I really like the creamy but light texture of the product and it does not irritate my eye area one bit. The product is dispensed from a pump and just 1 pump is enough for both my eyes. You can apply both morning and night, but I only apply this at night. In the morning my eyes look energized and awake! I don't get that zombie look from sleep deprivation.

The one complaint I have is the bottle itself. Since it's opaque, I can't tell how much is still left and also the pump sometimes dispenses the product unevenly if there's an air bubble in the tube.

Jouer Cosmetics Yummy Eye Candy

This cosmetic line is relatively new and was started in 2004 by Christina Zilber. I have no idea who she is but the Jouer website touts her fabulous lifestyle jetsetting between Paris, New York and Beverly Hills.

I first saw some of their products in a magazine a few months ago. The "gimmick" for this line is that all the products snap together - kinda like beauty Legos. At first I didn't think much of it, but as you know exposure is what gets the consumer familiar/comfortable with the product. After that first sighting, I've been seeing the same brand pop up in other magazines and on websites so I thought I'd take a peek at the website. I have to say I'm quite intrigued. I love that you can virtually try out the products online and see how the colors will look on 4 different models with different skin shades. I think all the product colors are really beautiful. It's just too bad Jouer is not yet widely available. They're only carried at the Henri Bendel on Fifth Avenue in NYC and online.

The picture above is the 2009 Eye Candy Collection $45. How cute is it that they show these in paper liners just like chocolate truffles? Click on the pic to see the yummy colors in more detail.

Ulta Sale Haul

Lookie all the stuff I got from Ulta for less than $6 each! Yippee! All items were on sale for 50% off or more!

Garden Botanika Vitamin E Stick $6 (originally $13)

I intentionally stopped by Ulta just to pick this guy up cause I was just about to run out. I got there and was devastated. The area where they usually keep the Garden Botanika line was in a complete disarray. Testers were used up, smudged or missing and the shelves were full of empty space with damaged product boxes scattered randomly. I felt this uncomfortable feeling creep up as I saw a sign that read "All Garden Botanika 50% off (while supplies last)". I desperately searched for my little Vitamin E lippy and finally spied the last 2 at the back of a bottom shelf. Of course I quickly snatched them up Golem-like and chanted devilishly (in my head), "My precious!"

I hate to see Ulta stop carrying this line because that means I'll have to resort to ordering them online or finding a replacement product. Not a huge issue but definitely an inconvenience. I really love this product and highly recommend it! I know Estee Lauder also makes a Vitamin E stick that is the exact same. I actually started using Estee's vitamin E stick first until I spied Garden Botanika's version at Ulta a year ago. It's cheaper and I like the packaging so much better. Estee's packaging looks like granny lipstick - You all know what I mean. Garden Botanika's packaging is so cute and green and delivers the same moisture kick I need.

The Verdict: Garden Botanika Vitamin E Stick

I just love vitamin E sticks because they glide on smoothly and the moisturizing effects last for hours. They have no taste, smell or color and they don't have any cooling ingredients added to them. I use these in place of chapstick or lip balm all the time. They give my lips a natural sheen and bring out the natural pigment. I always get compliments when I wear this and people always think I'm wearing lip color. Run, don't walk to your nearest Ulta to stock up before it's too late! I know I have a few Ulta's near me that I need to raid so that I can sleep at night.

Sugar Cosmetics: Lip Gloss and Eye Shadow


I've never tried anything from Sugar Cosmetics but they had fun "try me" products in the sale bin and I thought why not? Apparently Sugar Cosmetics has gone under already - I tried going to their website but it just doesn't exist anymore. I picked up two Sugar Shellac Lip Glosses in Watercolor $4 each (originally $17) and Sugar Cream Eyeshadow Color Sticks in Blue, Pink and Purple $4 each (originally $17).

Below are a couple of swatches that I did of the Sugar products (with and without flash). At the top is a smear of the Lipgloss by itself and blended. Directly below are the color sticks blended and the very bottom are the color sticks applied without blending.

The Verdict: Sugar Shellac Lip Gloss

There is a built-in brush applicator and it goes on sheer and a bit sticky with tiny specs of glitter. It has a strong sugar cookie smell and somewhat sweet taste too. After a few minutes the smell dissipates and the stickiness goes away too. I really like this as it give my lips a deep pink/fuschia tint without looking too reflective. I'm glad I picked up two because I can see me carrying this around a LOT! Again some more pics of the gloss with and without flash below.

The Verdict: Sugar Cream Eyeshadow Color Sticks

These reminded me of the MAC Sugarsweet Shadesticks and I think maybe what compelled me to buy them. The only difference is they are very glittery when applied. They apply opaque but become sheer when blended. The blue shows up on me the most, followed by the purple and then the pink. The pink is actually the sheerest of the three and almost looks a bit peachey on my skin tone. Same is true of the purple, it looks kinda pinky-purple on me. You can wear these as bright or light as you'd like just depending on how much you blend. I really like these colors and I can't wait to play with them!

Essie Nail Color: Looking for Love #634 $0.99 (originally $7)

I also spied some sale nail polishes and grabbed this pale blue Essie one. I really love the pale blue color! I think this color is versatile for both summer and winter. In the past when I've purchase Essie nail colors, I find that they chip very easily. I hope they've improved their formula and these don't disappoint!

Spinlash $15

Look what I found! It's the Spinlash by Akasha! I dunno why but I just had an urge to try this out when I saw it at CVS. I think I saw this on some late night TV infomercial a couple of months ago and laughed at it - now I'm the sucker that fell for the gimmick. Hahaha!

My first impression was that this thing is monstrous and not exactly compact or portable (in relation to average sized mascara tubes). Still it intrigued me enough to give it a shot. It comes with the the ginormous wand that has the built-in mini-motor and a stand alone cap that contains Spinlash mascara. You can use this or your own mascara of preference.

**Update** ok I compared this with the Dior Mascaras I have and it's about half an inch longer but the barrel size is about the same. So not as hugemongous as I thought.

The brush spins very slowly, gently and there is only 1 speed. So no worries about poking your eye out on a turbo spin settling. You have an option of a spin direction so you can switch it up if you're spinning lashes on your left or right eye.

The Verdict
Not so sure that it's doing anything that a normal mascara brush wouldn't do. It's just that it's an automatic one. My lashes did not fluff out like the pictures after going through a spin and I didn't notice any additional ease when applying mascara. I did not use the mascara that came with the Spinlash because I didn't want to "dirty" the brush. I only used it to separate my lashes and then applied a separate mascara with a separate brush.

It's a fun novelty but I would not purchase this again. What really pissed me off is that you can't replace the battery to this once it's used up. You're required to throw this away and purchase a new one. It's even printed on the Spinlash to do this! I find it so aggravating! No mascara of mine is gona tell ME what do to!

Dior Duo Magique $28

Been searching for an honest eye makeup remover that is:
1. Non-Irritating
2. Non-Greasy
3. Actually removes mascara
I finally found it! This baby promises all that and actually delivers! Whoo hoo! Dior Duo Magique for president!

The Verdict
So what you gotta do is shake this baby up and then apply to a cotton pad and wipe away the makeup. You don't have to "rub" vigorously even for waterproof makeup. Unfortunately, you do have to do some rubbing and I did lose an eyelash once. I still love this stuff because of the 3 criteria listed above and plus I don't always want to use a cleansing oil. I shouldn't but I do run out with only mascara and no foundation on and on those days I just want to use an eye makeup remover only.

Diorshow Iconic Review $27

I was really intrigued by this mascara as it's gotten some pretty decent reviews. I really wanted to try this out because of the unique stubby brush. The more commonly seen bristle brush never felt like I was appying mascara. It felt more like I was dabbing on mascara cause the bristles are so long by time I think I'm near my lashes, I've poked my eye out. This mascara's not cheap so when I found this as a gift set at Sephora (for a limited time only) I decided to try it out.


The wand is slightly spiraled with short stubby, comb-like bristles. If you look closely at the picture you can see the bristles are actually plastic and have rounded tips so it doesn't prick if I accidently poke my eye.

The Verdict
I do like how easy it is to apply mascara to my bottom lashes due to the short bristles. The mascara doesn't clump when it's applied and it's easily layered. I find that I need at least 2 layers to fill out my sparse lashes. Although this doesn't do anything to help curl my super straight asian lashes, the formula doesn't completely undo my shu-made curl either.

Although I love the natural "look" it gives my lashes, I won't re-purchase this because the mascara takes at least 30 min to dry. While it's drying each time I blink I get a gummy feeling when my top and bottom lashes touch. Also my eyes are sensitive and when this mascara does finally dry, it dries out my eyes too.

Gift Set


With the purchase of the full-size mascara you get a zippered carrying case and a sample size of Dior Addict High Shine in Catwalk Mauve #680.


The carrying case has a mirror on the inside and is very well made. The cover of the carrying case has a soft leather feel to it. The zipper is sewn very well and zips up seamlessy from the outside. The down side is that the mirror gives a funhouse reflection and the 2 bands in the case only fit the mascara and the sample size lipstick. I tried putting a NARS lipgloss and MAC lipglass in the band but the items were too small. The full size Dior lipsticks are too big for the band.

Freebies


I also got this envelope of samples from cosmedic lines that make products from natural ingredients. I haven't had a chance to try all these yet but I'm excited because I really like to try the all-natural lines out first to see if they smell alright and if they're effective.

Hello Kitty Haul

I'm not a HUGE Hello Kitty fan, but I am a Sanrio fan so when MAC came out with their Hello Kitty line they caught my attention. I have this bad habit of succumbing to mob mentality when it comes to shopping (must be my inner asian FOB). So I'm reading all about the haul that all the beauty bloggers and youtubers are getting and I'm starting to want to buy the whole collection! BUT I restrained myself and brought myself back to the real world and this is what I made out with.....

Too Dolly Eye Shadow Quad $38

I love the colors of this quad! I haven't begun to play with it yet but I know I'll get a LOT of use out of the sparkly black. I love that they printed the HK logo all over the box too! So different from MAC's usual black boxes. The MA actually applied the other quad (Lucky Tom) on me but I felt I would get more use out of the pinks and the black I mentioned before.

Pink Fish Tinted Lip Conditioner with SPF $14.50

This feels tingly after applying and it has that balmy scent to it. I'm thinking probably becuase of the SPF in it. Unfortunately, it doesn't show too well on my lips because they're naturally pigmented. Gives me more of a pinky nude look. I've seen it on others and it looks more opaque on them than it does on me.

Mimmy Lipglass $14

Ok I was conflicted and wanted ALL the sparkly lipglasses. But I ended up with this one because it goes on fairly sheer and I figured I could layer it on anything. It's a bit sticky but I don't mind it too much.

The Verdict
I'm happy with everything I purchased and I think I would be happy with any of the other products from this line. They have the quality you would expect from MAC but outside of the HK branding there isn't anything really must-have about this line. You can find the colors promoted elsewhere.I'm still tempted to go back and get the Lucky Tom quad and one of the white glitter liners Girl Groove. The MA had the white Girl Groove on and it looked so cool and reflects light blue. I also wanted one of the purple lipglasses but I'm holding off until the release of the Kitty Kouture dazzleglasses. They come with a HK chain detail and they're super sparkly!!

I also made off with a couple of other items that are not part of the HK Collection. I got to try them out and really liked them. I'll hold off on reviewing them now. I'll do a full review later on with pictures.
#33 MAC False Eyelashes $9
Blacktrack MAC Fluid Line $15
Sample of Prep+Prime

Stila Precious Pearl Eye Shadow Palette $40

The case for this eye palette is so pretty! I love anything mother-of-pearl so this case caught my eye immediately. It looks so elegant and chic. Anyways this eye shadow collection has real pearl mixed into it which is supposed to hydrate your skin and give a luminous glow.

The Verdict

I dunno how to verify the claims of it's awesome pearl power but this is a great set that has all the colors I need. The colors are very vibrant and opaque when applied. A little bit goes a long way. The colors stay on all day and do not rub off at all. You can still easily remove with any eye makeup remover. I'm tempted to pick up a second palette just to stash away.