Smashbox emulsion lip exfoliant review

Price: $18 from Smashbox, $9.99 from this ebay seller

What they say: Got cracked, dry lips? EMULSION is the perfect solution for you! This sugar-based, peppermint-infused lip exfoliant is packed with vitamins and soothing conditioners to smooth and soften lips. Poppy seeds and sugar granules gently exfoliate while cocoa and shea butter, grape seed extract and jojoba deeply nourish. Lips instantly feel soft and kissable!

What to do: Apply to clean lips and rub with finger until desired smoothness is achieved, then wipe clean with a tissue. Leave on for 5-10 minutes for extra conditioning. Follow with LIP TREATMENT SPF 15 to protect and heal lips throughout the day.

Ingredients: castor oil, sucrose, soybean oil, beeswax, theobroma cacao seed butter, dimethicone, aloe barbadensis leaf extract, shea butter fruit, jojoba esters, poppy seed, mango seed butter, sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, tocopheryl acetate, retinyl palmitate, peppermint oil, sesame seed oil, avocado butter, spent grain wax, argania spinosa kernel oil, shea butter extract, tetradibutyl pentaerithrityl hydroxyhydocinnamate, phenoxyethanol, propylparaben

The good stuff:

• Lots of good-for-you ingredients
• Smells nice/tastes nice & minty
• Great texture for scrubbing off dead skin
• Exfoliates lips and preps for lip products
• Moisturizes and softens

The low-down:

• Expensive
• Doesn't seem to work right away

My take: I was glad to find this for half price on ebay since it's so pricy from Smashbox. Overall, I really like this lip scrub since I was looking for a good one. Since Fuz reccommended it in one of her posts, I decided to get it, since it was the least expensive thing she suggested xD The texture is grainy and mushy. It smells like sugar and peppermint (tastes the same). You rub it into your lips so it'll exfoliate off the dead skin, then you can either rub it off with a tissue or leave it on for 10-15 minutes then remove. I do the latter for more nourishing effects. I find that it doesn't work right away at making your lips feel smooth and soft... I've been using it for about a week and it took awhile to be able to see/feel the positive effects; not that this is a bad thing. All in all, I really like this lip exfoliant~

NOTE - don't keep this in direct sunlight/heat! This is practically impossible for me since it's been very hot and humid lately... what can I say, it's Hawaii :P So basically a lot of the sugar granules in mine melted :( Ohh and I'd like to put in a good word for the ebay seller I got this from because the one she sent me had a dented cap and I told her about it and she quickly sent me a new replacement hassle free! A+++ ebay seller right there (:

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I ♥ Kym :D, clothes/hauls, and GRIPES :(

Four packages came in for me today: my F21 order, my Papaya order, my replacement Smashbox emulsion lip exfoliant (will explain later) ANDDDD! My long awaited package from KYM!!! :DDDD I was so glad to see it since I thought it was lost in the mail ;A;

Here's the awesome t-shirt she made for me... and for all the other cool kids out there whose names are spelled with a Y :D And she also made me the most awesomest penguin card EVER ^____^ You def. should come visit us, Kym!! THANK YOU SO MUCH ♥ ♥ ♥ Oh and I love Hi-Chew!! Yum yum :3 Check out Kym's custom shirts at HERROHACHI~ She has a spiffy collection of shirts and also does custom orders, so be sure to drop on by.

Isn't it so cute?!?!?!






















And now, here is the part of this blog post where I will talk about my latest GRIPES that I've had with my recent clothing hauls.

THis semi-rant may or may not interest you, so you don't have to read it :P

These are the tops I ordered from Papayaclothing.com. I bought one Papaya tubetop from Everblue on Oahu and I really LOVED it. So I decided to buy more tops from that brand since I liked the style and quality. So I chose these 3. I think I've been buying clothes long enough to know that my size is small and only occasionally medium and rarely ever extra small anymore. But these tops are so awkwardly sized that I was really disappointed. They are all size small and looked absolutely great on the website and they are just the styles I like.

However, when I got them in and tried them on, it was a whole different story. They DO fit, just not comfortably :/ I pretty much conclude that THESE shirts, atleast, have been made for girls who:

1. Have NO "chest area",
2. Have extremely tiny ribcages, and
3. Have very wide hips.

I drew arrows so you can see what I'm talking about.






















The bust area is really too tight to be very comfortable for anyone over an A cup. The top torso area is also rather tight and snug and doesn't stretch very well. And the bottom torso area is actually pretty wide and stretchy; seems like it could be a medium size :S Pretty much the only part of these tops that fit me comfortably is the waist, which is just the right fit, stretches just enough but is snug enough and doesn't prevent me from breathing. So overall, I was pretty disappointed. Again, these tops DO fit me and would fit a small/XS, but the dimensions aren't exactly on-point so it isn't the most comfy fit :(

Anyways, my order from F21 was mainly for their pants. I liked their Petite skinny jean so I ordered another pair except a 26 instead of 27 and they fit a lot better but a little snug at the waist... good motivation since I want to start losing weight anyway xP I also got their Alicia skinny jean in 26 but it feels more like a 27... it's longer and a bit baggier than the petite skinny jeans but still fits well. I was satisified with these.

L-R: Petite skinny jean, Alicia skinny jean. Those are pretty much my fav shoes (Nine West) that I never ever wear :P Yes, the are unbuckled lol.


















Anyways, for the rest of my F21 haul, it was 2 of their fab convertible bras and a nailpolish (will review later). So as for the bras, you'll know in one of my recent posts that the first one I got was way too small for me (I usually go from 34B-32C) so I returned it and tried again. I got one white 32C and one black 36B.

Now here is the confusing part. I really wanted the white bra and I figured one cup size up; can't go wrong. Right? Wrong. Turns out, the black 36B is BIGGER than the white 32C. WTH??? The 32C doesn't feel very much more comfortable than the 34B I first tried... uh? Is there a difference between the white and black sizes or something? :/ KC said that F21's sizes run a little small... and this is definitely one of those experiences for me :( Both are still more snug than I'd like, but I'm too exasperated to return and try again, since now the only black ones that are left are too small and I've tried 2/3 of the white sizes and don't want to have to return another one. UGH!

What are some of your wardrobe shopping faux-paus?

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Onion, cheese, and bacon topping

Okay, so the results of my poll have been showing that FOTDs and recipes are in the lead! Muffin is sad :( Haha~ So today, I figured I'd share a recipe I made up myself because I was hungry and only had so many ingredients :P This is for onion lovers like me :D

Onion, cheese, and bacon toppping (or dip)

*Use whatever amounts you want!!!

What you need
- Finely chopped onion
- Grated cheese of your choice
- Mayonaisse
- Bacon bits! (salad topping kind or real crumbled bacon)
- Salt and pepper to taste

What to do:
- Just mix all the above ingredients together!
- Put a little bit on top of crackers (I used Ritz)
- Pop in the toaster until warm.
- EAT!

I notice that the bacon bits soften after you toast them, so you can sprinkle some on top AFTER you take them out of the toaster for more bacon-y, crunchy goodness :3 You can also use this as a veggie dip, I would just use a little extra mayo.

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ELF haul product reviews [updated]

This is what I got this time around:

Studio Kabuki Brush






















Price: $3.00

What they say: This new anti bacterial, synthetic haired Taklon brush is softer and more absorbent and can be used with wet or dry products. Be a professional makeup artist and create a flawless look with this e.l.f. studio brush! Our handy and easy to use Kabuki Brushes provide a light to full coverage on your face or body to ensure a flawless finish. The compact brush is perfectly sized to allow for precise and controlled application of bronzer, powder, or a highlighter on your skin.

The good stuff:

• Inexpensive
• Cute design
• Dense brush head
• Bristles are soft to the touch
• Picks up product well
• Creates a nice flawless finish
• Mine had no shedding/smell

The low-down:

• The bristles are not too soft on the face

My take: Overall, I really like this brush. I daresay it does create somewhat of an "airbrushed" finish :P While the bristles are extremely soft on the hand, I find that they aren't that soft on the face. However, the brush head is dense enough to easily pick up and apply powder. I really like the design since I've been wanting MUFE's Kabuki brush... and this one just caught my eye. Although it's nowhere near as good as a higher-end brand, it does the job.

I also got their Powder brush for my Mom. The brushes I got this time around had that chemical smell but no noticeable shedding so far. This brush has soft bristles but is firm enough, however, the brush head was all mushed out of shape :( I haven't used this brush yet but all I've heard about it is good reviews~

Nourishing Cuticle pen

Price: $1.00

What they say: Relieves dry nails and flakey cuticles. The unique pen delivery system moisturizes cuticles effectively and the quick dry formula allows for a no mess application. Fortified with Vitamins E, A, C, Pro-Vitamin B5 and Aloe, this fast-acting complex deeply hydrates, nourishes and seals in moisture. The key ingredients Avocado and Almond Oils help to condition nails and cuticles for improved appearance. The result is softer, easy to manage cuticles and healthy hydrated nails.

What to do: Remove cap. Brush onto cuticles and bare nails as often as needed.

Ingredients: Isododecane, sweet almond oil, grape seed oil, avocado oil, tocopherol, ascorbyl, panthenol, aloe vera oil.

The good stuff:

• Inexpensive
• Sleek design
• Portable
• Moisturizing & effective

The low-down:

• Can get a little messy if you use too much

My take: I'm really satisfied with this! It really does seem to nourish and moisturize my dry cuticles and keep them that way for awhile. I use this often. If you apply too much though, it does tend to get a little oily. Other than that, no complaints!!

Mineral Eyeshadow primer

Price: $3.00

What they say: This gentle and completely sheer Eyeshadow Primer has key vitamins A, C and E to help prevent aging and moisturizes the skin. The formula glides on easily and disappears instantly to create longer-lasting, crease-proof eyeshadow. The Mineral Eyeshadow Primer is designed to be used with your favorite mineral eyeshadow to provide ultimate staying power for beautiful and vibrant color that lasts. 100% mineral based with no parabens, no preservatives and no chemical dyes.

What to do: Apply a small amount to the eyelid and blend in. Use as a base prior to applying eyeshadow.

Ingredients: Isododecane, Cylopentasiloxane, Octyl Palmitate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Dimethicone, Polyglyceryl-4 Isostearate, Triacontanyl PVP, Propylene Carbonate, Titanium Dioxide, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Bismuth Oxychloride (CI 77163).

The good stuff:

• Inexpensive
• Glides on smoothly
• Creates a good base for eyeshadow
• Increases staying powder and crease resistance
• Moisturizes eye area
• A little goes a long way

The low-down:

• Consistency/texture is a little thin
• If you put too much, it gets messy
• Smells a little funny

My take: This is of course, not as good as UDPP but I'd have to say that I like it. The texture is smooth and easily blended in, albeit a little thin... so don't use too much or you'll end up just rubbing it around and making it look messy. I only need a little bit to cover my entire eye area. Since it's thinner than UDPP, it dries slower, which is good because it gives you time to rub it in, but is not so good because you have to wait longer for it to dry. It does increase the color payoff of eyeshadows as well as staying power and resistance to creasing, but again, it is not as good as UDPP. It also smells a bit funny but not horrible. Overall I pretty much like this primer; it performs as well as I'd expected it to. Idk about how "natural" the ingredients are though...

Nail polish remover pads






















Price: $1.00

What they say: These convenient pads quickly and easily remove nail polish without the mess associated with bottled remover. Citrus scent and gentle formula leave nails fresh and soft.

Ingredients: What really made me laugh about this product was the ingredient list. On the back of the packaging, "Foamy agent" is listed as the first ingredient, then alcohol, perfume, and water. Online, the ingredients are credited as: Ethyl Acetate, Butyl Acetate, Hexyl Alcohol, Isopropyl Alcohol. Ehhh?

The good stuff:

• Inexpensive
• Effectively removes nailpolish
• I guess it does somewhat smell like citrus
• Great idea/packaging
• Portable

The low-down:

• Gets messy and sticky after awhile
• Takes some rubbing to get certain nail polish off

My take: This is such a great idea and I find it very useful. It takes usually only 1 pad to remove my nail polish. It easily removes ELF nail polish but China Glaze / OPI nail polish takes some scrubbing to remove, which causes fingers to get all sticky and messy after awhile of rubbing. This isn't a bad thing though, just wash you hands after. I like the packaging and size is just right to tote around or store in a small space.

Blending wedges

Price: $3.00

What they say: Soft, but sturdy wedges perfectly apply and blend foundation for a smooth, flawless look. Convenient portable case is perfect for cosmetic bag storage.

The good stuff:

• They're pink! So cute :D
• Soft but firm
• Inexpensive
• 8 wedges included, package can be used for storage

The low-down:

• They STINK like HELL!!!

My take: [full review coming soon!]

Makeup remover cleansing cloths

Price: $3.00

What they say: Gently and easily cleans skin to remove all traces of makeup and dirt, even waterproof mascara. Great for on-the-go travel. Gentle cloths are soft and soothing for even the most sensitive skin. Infused with Aloe Vera Extract for deep hydration and moisture. 20 Pre-moistened cloths included. Dimensions - Package: 6.5"L x 4.5"W x 1"H, Cloth: 7.25"L x 6.75"W

What to do: Gently wipe face with the cloth to remove dirt and makeup. Rinse off with warm water and towel dry. Dispose of the cloth in trash receptacle (do not flush). After removing cloth, reseal and close lid.

Ingredients: Water, Dimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Trigylceride, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Glyceryl Sterate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Propylene Glycol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Tocopherol, Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis Leaf) Extract, Benzyl Alcohol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

The good stuff:

• Great packaging
• Wipes are damp but not saturated with product
• Removes most makeup
• Inexpensive

The low-down:

• Alcohol scent
• Stings my eyes
• Didn't completely remove all makeup
• Left an oily feeling film on my face

My take: Totally disappointed in these. Will not buy again. Although the packaging is awesome, the product needs some work. It does remove makeup, but not totally effectively. You get what you pay for. There is an alcohol scent and the makeup remover also stung my eyes just by putting the cloth near my eye area. Took lots of scrubbing to get my eye makeup mostly off and in the end, I had an oily film feeling on my face, comparable to that of the Clean and Clear wipes I reviewed awhile back. This product is a no-go for me.

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Wordless Wednesday

THEN:

NOW:














Here's THE STORY incase you have no idea what I'm talking about :P

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Skinfood Lime Secret Glow pact #3 review

I received this awhile ago, and I've been using it for about a week. I'd have to say it's not what I expected; but I am not disappointed nor totally won-over with this foundation.























Price: $13.19 with free shipping (from this ebay seller)

Product description: A compact powder with Lime extracts to protect the skin. Subtle reflecting pigments add elasticity and glow to the skin.

Directions: Create different effects by using different sides of the enclosed sponge. Use the flocked side for a porcelain glow and the latex side for a moist glow.

The good stuff:

• Compact is convenient for on the go
• Gives skin a nice dewy glow
• Smells nice I guess
• Sheer, natural coverage

The low-down:

• Only 3 shades to choose from
• Some people might not like the smell
• The compact is kind of bulky but there doesn't seem like much product
• Lots of shimmer if you apply too much
• Expensive, only available online

My take: Well, I like and I don't like this foundation. I like that the coverage is sheer and natural HOWEVER if you want more coverage and you continue applying layers, you'll end up looking like a disco ball! The same nice subtle highlight that gives you a fresh dewy look when applied lightly will end up making you light up like crazy with shimmer if you're in search of heavier coverage. The more layers you put on, the more shimmery it gets. So this is more for people who either want a super sparkly look or can go with a super sheer natural dewy look.

There are only 3 shades (I got #3 Natural glow) and the first 2 are super light and pale looking so I chose #3. It looked like it would be my skin tone but when I got it, I was worried! The powder has this pinky/peachy tone to it O_o however when I applied it, it matched my skin tone very well. I only use a little bit becaue I don't need much coverage and it gives the sweetest, freshest, dewiest look EVER. So if you're into supple healthy skin, this is for you~

Also, I like that the compact has a plastic separator for the sponge so it doesn't come into contact with the powder. I actually like using this sponge, as the directions say you can use the different sides of the sponge to create different finishes. The flocked side is like a regular sponge... Idk what "porcelain" glow means but it gives a more powdered look than the latex side, which pretty much does give a "moist" and dewy look to the skin. I prefer that side. I haven't tried to apply this with a brush yet... will soon.

The compact itself is half cardboard/paperish and half plastic. It's nice looking I suppose, but kind of bulky. Also, when you open it up, it seems like there should be a lot more product in there for the size of the compact. However, pressed powders do tend to last me a long time so this is not a problem for me. It has a fresh lime scent which may bother some people though. The only other 2 let downs are the price and availablitity.

The camera kind of picked it up real crazy-like; the shimmer isn't THAT intense, but you get the idea.

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How-to: change color of imeem playlist

Does anyone use imeem? Hope this'll be useful ^_^

I've really been feelin' Olivia Broadfield lately; and I love mixpod players and all, but they just don't have a lot of the songs I want. So I've returned to imeem for the time being! Hehe. Anyways, the regular player style is super ugly colors and I wanted to find a way to change the colors. Luckily, I found a code to custom the colors :D

CREDIT: http://friendstertalk.com/t14173-Change-color-Imeem-playlist.html

The dimensions are for the mini-player I have now but you can change that if you want to. All you need to change is the "CHANGE IT TO YOUR ID PLAYLIST"

Looking at YOUR embed code, you'll find something like this:
param name="movie" value=http://media.imeem.com/pl/oeDMLlLCG6/autoShuffle=true/

The bold part is the player id that you replace in the code. You can change autoShuffle to "false" if you don't want it to shuffle and for autoplay, aus=false to aus=true for it to autoplay.

Lastly, change all the ffffff's to hex code colors of your choice. Easy peasy :D

<object height="200" width="200"><param name="movie" value="">CHANGE IT TO YOUR ID PLAYLIST/aus=false/"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="FlashVars" value="backColor=ffffff&primaryColor=ffffff&secondaryColor=ffffff&linkColor=ffffff "><embed src="http://media.imeem.com/pl/CHANGE IT TO YOUR ID PLAYLIST/aus=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="200" height="80" wmode="transparent" flashvars="backColor=ffffff&primaryColor=ffffff&secondaryColor=ffffff&linkColor=ffffff"></embed></object>

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Re-organization

I feel so productive lol. Majorly cleaned and re-organized my whole room, including my makeup station and closet (: So here's what it looks like now~ got a little organizer drawer to hold more of my things so they're not all over the place :D

Half my closet; added a rolling organizer drawer

The other half of my closet; threw in my hoodies & jeans, shoes, and finally found a use for my penguin mat xD

Also, got this idea from Mai which has been floating around the blogosphere...
What would you like to know about me?
You can ask anything you want :P... what my fav beauty products are, what it's like to live in Hawaii, what my shoe size is O_o hehe xD if I get enough questions, I'll do a collective post answering all of them (;

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Latest Haul

Yay it's been like Christmas for me lately xD A new package(s) seems to come in every day lol. Only thing is I had to pay for it >_<



















Anyways, my order from Shu Uemura came in (finally) and my haul from Cherry Culture. The Shu Uemura compact brush set is, well, extremely compact. Perfect for travel. I was a little shocked with how small it was, but the brush handles are just the right length for me. Will do a more detailed review soon, but for now, here's a little overview...

The blush/face brush is NOT soft at all. I was really disappointed in that. However, it is the perfect size and density for applying powder. The rest of the brushes are super tiny but VERY soft, silky, and firm. The case is sleek, compact, and has space for 2 more brushes! Great for travel.

I also cannot stress how much I LOVE Shu Uemura samples xD They give you this little tub of product that actually can last you a looong time. I'm still using the Phyto black lift anti wrinkle firming cream I got awhile ago and there is LOTS left. This time, I got their White Recovery EX+ cream... it's supposed to lighten and brighten the skin. Hopefully it'll work~ Will review later.

As for my CC haul, I got everything on sale + free shipping yay :D I got one double sided liner in black/beige (loving it!) and 2 round lipglosses in Natural and Whipped. Swatches coming soon!

Anyways, hope everyone is having a good weekend!!

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UO & Wet Seal haul

Pls bear with my cell phone cam pics xD

So 2 packages came in today yayyy (: I got my clothes orders! The first top is from Urban Outfitters and was on sale... it's very fitting since I'm practically, well, broke :P The next two tops are from Wet seal. The black tube top is similar to the orange one I posted about awhile ago that I looove, so I had to get one in black :P I also got another black scoop neck tee but the sleeves part is kind of tight so I might return it (or sell it :P)























These are also from Wet Seal and were on sale. The yellow stripes are looove. However, I found it kind of weird that the shirts I got are so LONG! I've never seen clothes this long before, makes me feel even more short :( Is it just because they assume everyone who buys is tall and skinny? But it's still wearable.

AND, as if that wasn't enough :P I bought more clothes (and slipppers) from Wet Seal again. So I'll be waiting for those to come in :D

I also got these flat slippers from Charlotte Russe.

I like them a lot :D Super cute and pretty comfy. The nailpolish I'm using is ELF polish in Moonlight... it's a silvery-white metallic color.

Also, my Etude House color me nude lip concealer came in from Korea!! This stuff basically erases my lips off my face... perfect for priming for longer lasting and more visible color since my lips are more on the pigmented side... now I don't need to try MAC lip erase anymore~

Will do a detailed review soon!!

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