Beauty Haven

Cheap Leather Insoles

2012-01-14T18:46:00.000-05:00

Discovered these at Dollarama for $2 and they work!

I don't like to put up with discomfort in my shoes so I frequently turn to shoe inserts and this pair from Dollarama is a must-try. I've used them in flats that were a size too big, ankle boots that had no padding and a few pairs of high heels.

They are made of soft genuine leather on one side (my favourite part) and the other an anti-slip cushion of latex foam. They do not come with an adhesive side to stick to your shoes but they stay put. This is also good so you can use them in multiple pairs of shoes. Both sides of the insert are perforated so that there is air flow. In combination with the genuine leather sole, it prevents sweat and bacterial buildup.

They will provide moderate padding and unfortunately I don't think the foam will hold up against everyday wear like Foot Petals. I recommend them for occasional shoes instead - in shoes that you wear less than 3x per week. But at this price point I have put them in my daily flats with the intention of replacing them when they start to wear out.

Sizes available:

Women 5-6, 7-9, 10

Men; 7, 8-10, 11-12.

I wear size 6.5 to 7 shoes and buy the 5-6 sized inserts. These are so popular at Dollarama that the women inserts are often sold out. In desperation, I once bought the men's size 7 insert and cut it to fit my shoes which did the job.

Have you tried these? I have these inserts in 4 pairs of shoes already!

Need even more comfort for your shoes? Check out Foam Heel Cushions reviewed here.

Or Foot Petals? These are made of very high quality foam but unfortunately I can't find them in Canada anymore - SDM and Sears have both discontinued their stock. Please let me know if you've seen these in Canada!

Thanks for reading,

Babybubblz (Mira)

Happy 2012!

2012-01-04T23:04:00.001-05:00

I really enjoyed reading all your 2011 favourites and wanted to chime in with my own. I might have stepped away from blogging but my collection is still growing. My goal for 2012 is to keep in touch with you by doing monthly or seasonal favourites.

My favourites from 2011:

Face products

Colour:
Benefit's Coralista - I've hit pan and can see myself finishing this entire box.
Nars Sheer Glow in Deauville. I'm on my 3rd bottle!
MAC prolongwear concealer. Beautiful full coverage that lasts 8+ hours and doesn't cake.
e.l.f. golden bronzer - I've been using this as a contour-bronzer-setting powder.

Cleansers:
Philosophy PMS (night time)
Mary Kay velocity (daytime)
Kate Somerville exfoliKate

Moisturizers:
Mary Kay timewise moisturizer (warmer months)
5% benzoyl peroxide treatment
Mary Kay day solution (warmer months)
Olay Total Effects (colder months) - not shown because my sister with dry skin swiped mine
Mary Kay night time solution (serum)
Vitacreme B12 (colder months)

Eyes:
Urban Decay Naked palette
L'oreal linear intense
e.l.f. brow kit

Lips
Colour:
Revlon lip butters. These came out towards the end of the year but they received lots of wear the minute I got them at Rexall during a BOGO.
Clinique almost lipstick in black honey (not shown).

Moisture:
Aquafina lip balms - cheap enough for me to stash everywhere.
MAC naked honey skin salve - a rediscovered gem that I got at a MAC warehouse sale. It's great as an overnight treatment.

Nails:
Anything from the Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - the wide brush is my best friend and only one coat needed. Unfortunately these are not 'the big 3 free'.
Qtica 1/2 time polish drying accelerator - reviewed here.

Hair:

Klorane dry shampoo from SDM - no need to worry about white residue.

Photo:
The french rivieria in Nice, France. It was my first trip to Europe!

Thanks for reading,
Babybubblz (Mira)

Touchscreen gloves

2011-11-17T18:27:00.001-05:00

A must for those addicted to their smartphones!

I got mine last year from myGlovin when they had it on sale for $15, but this pair looks to be the exact same from TeamBuy for the same price. Deal ends Nov 18 midnight EST.

They won't keep your hands toasty warm but perfect for the addicted.

Mira (Babybubblz)

Indulging in Nars

2011-05-14T19:33:00.000-04:00

Just came back from a rainy day at the Shiseido/Nars warehouse sale in Richmond Hill. We arrived at 3:45pm expecting there to be no line, but there was a 20 minute line-up. The floor space for this year's sale was a bit bigger.

The Shiseido skincare lines available: The Skincare, White Lucent and Benefiance. Nothing from the Pureness line.

My sister and I came home with 3 items (talk about self control!):

L-R: Nars multiple in Maldives and Cadeques, Shiseido toner

We picked up the Nars multiples after a little push from my cousin, D. I just tried them at home and Cadaques is absolutely gorgeous. I applied it directly from the tube and it gives a dewy glow. It may look too glossy when you first swatch it, but it applies beautifully and looks very natural on the face. My review to come at a later date, but check out Temptalia's review for now.

The sale is still on if you want to check it out tomorrow:

Sunday May 15, 2011 9am - 3pm

303 Allstate Parkway
Markham Ontario
L3R 5P9

What did you pick up?

Babybubblz (Mira)

If The Colour Is Right

2011-05-03T01:14:00.001-04:00

My new over-the-shoulder purse courtesy of H&M. I always have a soft spot for things in this bloody orange colour. It's looks so luscious, warming and goes beautifully with a pair of dark blue jeans.

Do you like?

H&M jacket/scarf/bag. Fidelity jeans

I'm swooning over this Kristina Bag from Roots too. But that's an investment I'll have to think more about. Maybe one orange bag is enough?

Time to bring in more colour for my wardrobe. Do you have a favourite bold colour in yours?
Babybubblz (Mira)

Deals around town

2011-04-18T20:39:00.001-04:00

Trade Secrets is offering 25% off with this coupon. Time to try Qtica Half Time if you haven't already? That's what I'll be picking up. Offer ends May 31, 2011 in Canada.

In celebration of earth day, Kiehl's will be offering a $10 gift card when you bring in ANY empty cosmetic jar/bottle to their stores. It can be ANY brand and ANY size. Offer ends April 30, 2011 in Canada.

Official details available on their facebook page.

I don't know what I'll be picking up at Kiehl's, but I've read great things about their Midnight Recovery Concentrate and #1 lip balms.

Happy shopping,
Babybubblz (Mira)

Experience Nivea in Toronto

2011-03-31T00:55:00.002-04:00

Nivea is having a show room downtown on Queen St (south side) near Peter St - right next to the MAC pro store - until April 5th, 2011. They are celebrating 100 years - can't believe it's been around for so long.

Hop in to check out products:

....or rest your feet on this cute couch:

... for lots of freebies including some skin care samples, a recyclable tote and an April ELLE magazine. They are celebrating their 10th anniversary in this issue:

... get a quick 5 minute skin analysis with their high tech tools and fill out a skin care survey using this Samsung tablet:

According to their tests I had a good hydration level of 36, not sure what the scale was but >40 was 'great' hydration. I have minimal oil production which was surprising because my face was definitely shiny at the time! I also have 'good' skin elasticity and classified as normal/combination. Looks like my skincare routine is treating me alright, I'm hoping to share it with you guys soon =)

Check it out if you are nearby until April 5th!

Babybubblz (Mira)

Qtica Half Time, You 'Nailed' It

2011-03-24T18:08:00.004-04:00

How long does it take you to apply nail polish? It takes me ~2 hours, including a wait time of at least 1 hour to dry (I'm currently using Zoya Armor Top Coat). I also try to paint them before bedtime to give the polish more drying time. But even after all that waiting, there is a high chance that my polish will be ruined when it comes in contact with the harsh soaps I use during a regular work day in the lab. So the time is takes is sometimes hard to justify. I've seen many of you rave about Seche Vite Top Coat, but the chemical smell is wayyyy to strong for me and I'm also a little bummed that it contains toluene. Luckily I've discovered drying drops as an alternative!

It all started when ES introduced me to Qtica Half Time Polish Drying Accelerator. I was sceptical at first but Qtica is "big 3-free" meaning it does not contain toluene, DBP or formaldehyde which I prefer. I'm happy to report that I have found my holy grail nail product. I can apply nail polish in peace and will never be without some sort of drying drops.

What is it?
Qtica Half Time Polish Drying Accelerator is the original drying drop formula. Apply it after your top coat to prevent bubbles, streaks, smudges and dents. All layers of your polish will be rock hard and dry in 5-10 minutes.

Ingredients: Disioxane, dimethicone, jojoba seed oil, tocopherol.

How to use it?
Apply polish as usual: basecoat, colour, topcoat. Without needing to wait for topcoat to try, tilt nails downward and drip 1-2 drops starting at base of nail and let it spread naturally over nails. Do this over a towel/paper to catch drops or it could get messy. Let stand for 5-7 minutes (I usually wait 10).

Does it work?
YES! My nails are completely dry within 10 minutes. It is absolutely great. Of course if you deliberately try to ruin it by pressing really hard on the polish it will smudge, but it's dry enough so that you can work with your hands without a problem. And pressing on them with regular pressure won't leave a mark. I can't comment fairly on how long-lasting the formula since everything chips on me within 2 days because of work. But I can finally dress up my nails the same day I go out!

As for packaging, the dropper is very effective - it's long enough to reach the last drops in the bottle by tilting it.

I'm wearing Sally Hansen Dark Roses (courtesy of Rasilla, thank you!) to match yesterdays' cold weather in Toronto. We had a week of warm weather prior to today and then....SNOWSTORM for one day. This colour definitely feels very winter.

Where to buy?
US: $7.50 for 0.25oz [EDIT: or $22 for 1oz] online on the Qtica website. Qtica is made by Art of Beauty - the same company that makes Zoya nail polish.

Canada: Trade Secrets in stores $10.50 for 0.25oz OR $30.5 for 1oz. ~~That is extremely overpriced, but~~ The 1oz one is currently 50% off at the Markville mall location (Markham). Please let me know if you've seen this brand elsewhere, perhaps ~~Sally's beauty supply~~ or at Salons? Thanks in advance - my nails will be forever grateful!

It's a must-try if you can get your hands on it. It's quite amazing. ~~But beware of marked up prices in Canada, I wouldn't pay more than $15 for a bottle considering Qtica's $7.50 online price...~~ [EDIT: I initially thought they sold the 0.25oz for $30]

Pros: Polish completely dries in 10 minutes, "big 3-free," excellent dropper.

Cons: To date, it is expensive and difficult to find outside the US.

Rebuy? Yes.

I've used up all my Qtica drops so I'm trying OPI Drip Dry next:

Have you tried drying drops? What do you use to minimize drying time?
Babybubblz (Mira)

The things we do for MAC...

2011-03-12T23:39:00.010-05:00

...are sometimes crazy. Like waking up at 6:45am on a Saturday for the MAC Warehouse Sale of March 2011 with Rasilla. We arrived at 8:30am and the lineup was just forming outside the warehouse. It was a little chilly but we warmed up quickly when we started to shop around 9:30am.

For juicy details about the sale, how it works and what it is, please visit my previous post.

First room:
Eye shadows and pigments $12, palettes $20.
Mineralize eyeshadows BOGO (I think $10)
Brush sets: $30, with bag/pouch $35

I came home with Prepped for Glamour and Jardin Aires (my first pigment). As I unpacked them I realized that I already own Prepped for Glamour. Uh-oh, do I have too much makeup? Time to queue up the you-know-you're-a-makeup-junkie-when jokes

$4 bins - there was a big line up here, but Rasilla and I tagged team (one person shops while the other ones lines up). This section was a bit sad. It used to contain over 20 sample sized products to choose from, but I counted only 8 this time (MAC bronzer, Origins moisturizer, BB and MAC cleansing oil, EL high gloss, Clinique mascaras)

Second room:

Face products $15 - Petticoat MSF and By Candlelight MSF in stock!
Mac holiday lip/pigment sets, including Look in a Box: $30, $40
Skincare (Origins, Clinque, Estee Lauder just to name a few): $12, $15, $25, $30

Third room:
Lipsticks/gloss/liners: $10 - Shy Girl in stock!
Concealer, lip liners $9. NW20 and NW35 select cover-up in stock.
Various skincare and perfume.

In this room next to the "returns" section where you are allowed to rebag items, I found this brush set for $80. It was in an unexpected place so look for it! The brushes themselves almost didn't make it home with me because I DID NOT check the box before they bagged it for me. I didn't realize till I got home 1 hr later and had to make TWO round trips to the sale. More crazy things we do for MAC... so lesson learned: DOUBLE CHECK your items as they bag it for you. Make sure everything is there and check again before you pay for them.

Thank you D for bringing it to my attention =) I can never get enough skunk brushes - especially when you love liquid foundation. Grab it if you get a chance!

My full-sized MAC brush collection grew 4x with this purchase. Prior to today, the 194 concealer brush (bought 6 years ago) was the only full-sized brush I had. Am I a late bloomer or what? :P I'm excited to try THE 187. I've been a long time user of the 187SE and I love that one so much already.

$5 Charity bag:

Medium deep mineralize loose foundation, BLUE lip mix pigment (hmm I wonder if I will ever use this, any ideas?), Boy bait lipgloss, cosmetic sponge?

Free gift:

Haunting eyeshadow (Friday sale had a sharpener so we got lucky).

Hope I gave you guys an idea of what the sale was like this time around. Prices were higher than my last visit but I'm not complaining, I love my sales! Thank you so much to FunnyFace Beauty for tickets! Keep an eye out for her tweets in June for a chance to get YOUR OWN tickets to the next MAC warehouse sale.

Mira

Are you going on this hay ride?

2011-03-10T21:55:00.026-05:00

Just a heads up that there's a MAC warehouse sale coming up this weekend and it starts today (Friday). Are you planning to go? If you still want tickets - Rica from Icyswirls is giving away a ticket to the Sunday event now! Deadline is Saturday March 12 at 6pm.

Tickets are also available on Kijiji and Craigslists for $15-35 if you really really want to go, but I hope you find a free one from friends of friends. Remember to look for the EL seal to authenticate it.

I totally lucked out with tickets to the Saturday sale!

I got the tickets from Alicia from FunnyFace Beauty on twitter. Thanks to Sparkled Beauty and Rasilla for bringing it to my attention! The generosity of the blogging community always makes me smile. Keep an eye out for tweets from FunnyFace Beauty in June for the next MAC warehouse sale.

I'm trying to plan for the sale from my last visit and I'm guessing the newest collections they will have are from 6-9 months ago - so probably fall 2010 releases and prior. I want to go to this sale with you in mind too, so let me know if there are some items from those collections that I can keep a lookout for you?

I'll be watching for hauls and tweets from girls who were lucky enough to go on Friday. I'll also be doing an update after my visit so check back here on Saturday.

Mira

Sometimes getting NAKED is all the motivation you need...

2011-03-06T12:57:00.003-05:00

...to get back into blogging.

Being an avid optimum points collector at Shoppers Drug Mart, I was at a downtown SDM Beauty Boutique trying to spend a $10 gift certificate last weekend. I caught a glimpse of the new Urban Decay counter:

I quickly checked for Naked eyeshadow palettes but like most places, they were sold out. Feeling lucky, I asked the SA to check in the stock cabinet. It turns out Urban Decay was promoting the Naked palette in Toronto last weekend. They were in town last friday at the Queen and Beverly SDM and last saturday at the Yorkdale Mall location. They were taking appointments with their makeup artists and exclusively selling those customers Naked palettes.

My makeup was done by the very talented and fellow blogger Sophia from RSVP Blogtique. She's a stylist, makeup artist, jewelry designer, blogger and vlogger all in one. She's also the nicest makeup artist I've ever met! She made every effort to accomodate my style and suggest new products I'd be comfortable with. Thank you Sophia!

Products used:

Face: Surreal skin cream to power foundation, Surreal skin mineral makeup in Illusion, Baked bronzer, Afterglow glide on cheek tint

Eyes: UDPP, Rehab 24/7 Glide-on shadow pencil, Gun metal and hot pants eyeshadow, Diamond dog startdust, Big Fatty Mascara in Waterproof,

Lips: Pocket Rocket lipgloss in Max, 24/7 glide-on lip pencil

Sophia's makeup tips:

1. If you have very oils lids like me and UD primer potion isn't keeping your eyeshadows crease-free for as long as you'd like, try layering 24/7 Glide-On Shadow pencil over UDPP to ensure that your eyeshadow stays put.

2. Use 24/7 Glide-On Lip Pencil underneath lipgloss for long lasting colour. Lipstick and lipgloss might fade but this lipliner will stay put all night.

3. If you have almond shaped eyes like mine, apply eyeshadow following your eye shape to keep it looking natural - try not to fake a crease by placing dark shadow only in the crease.

The highlight of the event was meeting and hearing about new releases from international and head makeup artist Eric Jimenez. He's so energetic and warm in person!

Eric told us to get ready for lots of special releases this year because Urban Decay is celebrating their 15th anniversary. This includes a Book of Shadows volume IV which will arrive by the end of the year.

After a gorgeous make over, I finally took this baby home with me:

Neutrals haven:

The whole Urban Decay team was very passionate and fun to hangout with. Thank you for a great event! And thanks to Rasilla for taking pictures!! I'm so happy we always randomly bump into each other haha.

Where can you get a Naked palette in Toronto?

They overstocked for the event so I saw at least 20 palettes still in stock at the Queen and Beverly St. SDM, exact address is 260 Queen Street West near the City TV building. Don't worry if you don't see any on display, just ask a sales associate and they will pull one out from their stocks. I discovered this when I bought another palette for my sister on Thursday March 3rd. I'm guessing the same happened for the Yorkdale Mall event so hurry on over to SDM at Queen and Beverly or Yorkdale Mall for your original Naked palette!

I've been using the palette everyday since I got it and just love it. I highly recommend it if you are neutrals gal like me.

Mira

Shiseido and Nars Warehouse Sale

2010-11-18T20:32:00.006-05:00

I was running low on my Mary Kay skin care items, and when I saw NaTGN's post last Saturday on her trip to the Shiseido and Nars warehouse sale in Toronto, I had to do more research about sale. Both are high end brands of great quality that rarely go on sale. Could these products really be on sale?! YES.

IMATS 2010 Toronto - Part Shop (2)

2010-11-10T10:42:00.006-05:00

Want to see IMATS 2010 Toronto events? Check out Part 1 here.

IMATS shopping was superfantabulous. This is easily my favourite shopping day of the year. I didn't hold back as much compared to last year and found myself relishing every item that came home with me.

Read more >>

IMATS 2010 Toronto - Part 1

2010-11-10T10:36:00.005-05:00

IMATS 2010 at the Toronto Congress Centre was a little out of the way, ~1hr away from downtown Toronto but I really enjoyed this years location. Look at the sophistication!

Ready for IMATS 2010?

2010-10-31T22:01:00.000-04:00

It's that time of year again in Toronto - International Makeup Artist Trade Show a.k.a. IMATS 2010!

You don't have to be a a makeup artist or a professional in the business, it's just a fun experience for all makeup junkies. There are demos by very talented artists, student competitions and some discounts on products. I wasn't planning to go this year - an attempt to save a little money - but that thought lasted only 10 seconds - I know I will regret it once you guys post your hauls =) So I hope to see you at THE makeup event of the year.

Where? Toronto Congress Centre in Mississauga. Free shuttle buses from Fairmount Hotel. Otherwise parking is free.

When? November 6 and 7, 2010.
I'm going on Sat, Nov 6. Many other bloggers from the Toronto Beauty Blogger Network will also be there.

Tickets? $35 for 1 day, $60 for both days.

Vendors:
  Alcone
  Ben Nye Makeup
  Cici Fashion Brush
  Complections Intrenational Academy of Make-up Artistry
  Crown Brush
  Distribution Dinair Airbrush Makeup
  Don's Hobby Shop & Theatrical Supplies
  Embryolisse
  Eve Pearl
  FACE atelier
  FuseFX
  Graftobian Make-up Company
  Hakuhodo USA
  Kett Cosmetics
  Kryolan Professional Make-up
  M.A.C.
  Make-Up Artist magazine
  Make Up For Ever
  Micabella
  Myrabelle Mascara Shield
  Naimie's Beauty Center
  Naked Cosmetics
  Nars Cosmetics
  Nigel Beauty Emporium
  Nurturing Force
  Nyx
  Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics
  Pari Beauty (a division of Makeup Artistry Stores Inc.)
  Royal & Langnickel Brush Mfg.
  Stila Cosmetics
  Temptu Pro
  Wink Makeup Studio & Academy
  Yaby Cosmetics

My wishlist so far:

Crown brushes - I've been using all my brushes from last year, but I need a few more of my favourites (fluffy blending and contour brush)
Beauty So Clean makeup sanitizer
Face Atelier foundation
MUFE - any suggestions? I was pretty disappointed with my haul from last year - eye seal, 1L pencil eyeliner, eyeshadow #308. Only the concealer palette made it into my regular makeup rotation.
NYX blushes

Are you going? What's on your wishlist?
Mira

Ps. Happy Halloween! I wish IMATS came before Halloween, there's so much inspiration to draw from there!

Taupe never goes out of style

2010-10-25T22:27:00.138-04:00

I've finally joined the taupe nail polish bandwagon.

It's about time considering Metro Chic by Sephora OPI came out TWO WHOLE YEARS ago. I'm always behind when it comes to nail polish. I don't wear them as often as I'd like and so I have to see the colour a zillion times before I think a colour is worth owning. It so happened that the zillionth time was when I saw my friend, E sporting that very colour. Beautiful and gorgeous as Metro Chic is, I got the dupe instead:
Rimmel's Steel Grey @SDM $6.99 CAD during a 20x points weekend =)

Why choose the dupe over Metro Chic? The brush:

The brush is wider, flatter and very forgiving compared to traditional brushes.

Application is quick and easy, esp when you need 2-3 coats to build to this colour. I'm wearing 3 below:

I'm definitely on the lookout for more polishes with this style of brush. Let me know if you have any recommendations. I've read that the new Sally Hansen polishes do?

As most of you know already, this grey with purple undertones is a very work friendly but dressy colour for the fall and winter months. It compliments many outfits of any colour. I highly recommend Steel Grey or Metro Chic for their versatility!

Mira

MAC Warehouse Sale September 10-12, 2010

2010-09-14T18:49:00.005-04:00

I've been dying to go to a MAC Warehouse Sale ever since I found out about it during blogging. I used to tell myself that it was good for my wallet that I couldn't attend but who can resist discount MAC makeup?? Thank you S for hooking me up with last minute tickets for the first time ever!! And thanks to a watercolour sky for attending the event with me =) We efficiently tagged team the event so that we could shop for ourselves, a few friends and our readers.

A quick rundown of the event:

When? September 10-12, 2010 from 9am - 5pm. The sale is held 4x a year in March, June, Sept and Dec.

Where? Markham Fairgrounds in the Greater Toronto Area a.k.a. middle of nowhere - it took me over an hour to get here from downtown Toronto.

What's on sale? MAC, Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, Clinque, Origins and a few other skincare and cosmetics brands. This sale is probably held to sell overstocked items and past limited edition products. At this event, I saw MAC's Style Black, Brunette Blonde Redhead, Liberty of London, A Rose Romance and Style Warrior collections. It is similar to the Cosmetic Company Outlet in the US.

How can I attend? Tickets are given to friends and family by employees of Estee Lauder companies to distribute for free. Tickets are also sold (not supposed to) on Craiglist or Kijiji for anywhere between $15-$35, but beware of fake tickets without a sticker seal.

[EDIT March 2011] I got tickets from FunnyFace Beauty. Keep an eye out for her tweets in June for a chance to get YOUR OWN tickets to the next MAC warehouse sale.

I had tickets for Sunday, the last day of the event and arrived 15 minutes before the doors opened at 9am. There was already a line inside the warehouse of ~200 people when I arrived. If I am lucky enough to go again in the future, I might go 30-45 minutes ahead of time for better selection.

Without further ado...here is my haul:

I hope this gives you an idea of the event. I enjoy reading your blogs about the sale too because it gave me an idea of what to expect and the type of selection. For example, in the past they had 2 lip products for $10. This time around it was 2 for $15, so I knew not to go too crazy in the lip section because they might have a better deal in the future.

Face products including blushes and mineral skin finish (MSF) $12:

Top: Blonde

Bottom: Redhead, By Candlelight (I've heard lots of great things about this one, I was so happy it was in stock!)

Eyeshadows $9

Top: Et tu, Bouquet? Creme de miel, Dreammaker

Bottom: Birds and berries, Prepped for glamour, Hypnotizing

Family silver mineralized eyeshadow - this was a free gift given to everyone at the end of sale. Not as good as March's Perfect Topping MSF free gift, but mineralized products are always beautiful to look at:

Mink brow set:

Eyeshadow quads $15 - I thought these palettes were the deal of the day. Great price and quality.
Photorealism 2010 release: Photorealism, Notoriety

Holiday 2009 Mystic cool eyes palette:

Lipgloss (2 for $15)
L-F: Perennial high style lipglass, Perfectly unordinary cream dazzleglass, Roman holiday dazzleglass

Lipsticks (2 for $15)
L-R: Intimidate (slimshine), Funshine (slimshine), A rose romance (lustre)

Skincare:
MAC moisturelush $20, BB cleansing oil and Origins cleansing oil $10

They also had $3 bins that contained travel sized cleansing oils (sold out when I got there), fake lashes, skincare samples, mini-mascaras, compact sponges and sponge-tip eyeshadow applicators. The selection was quite limited by the time we got here.

Overall the sale was very organized. There were 3 giant rooms in the warehouse filled with tester and stock counters. Shopping was easily done by writing down the numbers of products from the tester counter and lining up at a stock counter to receive your brand new in box items.

I feel so lucky to attend such a great event, I definitely need to share the love! I bought backups of most things to put together a giveaway to my gorgeous readers! Are there any items that you are lusting from here? Tell me ASAP!

Mira

Saving my heels with foam!

2010-09-07T17:53:00.003-04:00

Back to school anyone? I made the big decision to continue working for the big bucks instead of adding more X.Y.Z.'s to my name through school. But many of you are going back-to-school shopping so I joined in on the fun and and got some new flats from Aldo:

Grey is THE colour to wear for fall and pointy-toe shoes are back in style. I immediately feel in love with the work-friendly (lab = closed-toe shoes only) yet dressy look of these flats. But the moment I slipped them on and felt the hard leather backing, I wondered for the 100th time - are beautiful shoes ever comfortable? My friend, E always reminds me that there ARE and so I continue to believe. I have trouble finding them but I loved these so much that I'm going to cheat with heel cushions!

For $4.99CAD from Aldo these are a steal. Ironically a male sales associate sold me these - he took off his own shoes to show me that he uses the them too. Note to self: give more credit to guys who make the effort to look good.

Application: The foams are easy to attach. If you misaligned them the first time, depending on your shoe material, you might be able to peel and retry - I had no problems with this.

Wear: Very comfortable. No sweating. It is easier to slip my feet in and out of my shoes. The foam stays put high on the heel and does not slid down to the bottom.

Does the shoes fit tighter at the front? Yes, slightly. Hopefully the foam and leather will soften quickly so that it becomes looser.

I will give an update on how long they last. In the meantime, I highly recommend them.

Do you think beautiful shoes that are affordable can be comfortable? How about heels? How about stilettos?!
Mira

Vacances à Montréal

2010-08-15T21:45:00.002-04:00

Dear bloggers, how do you beautiful ladies have full time jobs and blog consistently?!

Work got a little overwhelming in the past month as you can see from my lack of posts. The stress and sleep deprivation is showing in my skin too. For breakouts, I'm trying to them under control with Vichy's anti-imperfection concentrate. It contains 4% salicylic acid (I love this ingredient) and targets localized breakouts.

So far I'm liking the product, but it deserves it's own review after I use it more consistently. I'll try to get it done before the school season starts so that some of you can make use of it.

So what's been going on with me OTHER than work? The bf and I planned a little getaway last weekend to Montreal and ate A LOT of food. It was the first road trip where I participated as a driver (*fist pump* for getting my full G drivers license recently).

Here's a mash of pictures from my 4 days trip. Bon appetite!

A food highlight: Schwartz smoked meat sandwich shop.

We ate here 3x in 3 days! I never thought smoked meat could be so moist and savory. Highly recommended!

Montreal’s famous poutine at La Banquise.
Guacamole over fries is a great combination. I suggest making your own version with McCain fries some time.

It's my 2nd time visiting Montreal and the city is really growing on me. It's a busy place but you don't feel the congestion that you get in Toronto. Montrealers really know how to enjoy their down time. We strolled through parks filled with picnic goers and leisure bikers everywhere.

Tools I traveled with:

Body and Soul brush set (my favourite brushes) filled with their blush and eyeshadow blending brush, some travel friendly MAC special edition brushes and a Quo liner brush.

The essentials:

Top: MUFE cream blush in nip slip, Maybelline eyestudio gel liner, ELF golden bronzer
Bottom: Nars sheer glow foundation, Mark kay lipgloss in pink diamonds, Maybelline colossal mascara, UDPP and Maybelline stylish smokes quad

I've been trying to decide between going back to school to become a healthcare professional or renew a contract at my current job. In other words - be a care-free student OR start being a responsible 'adult' (even though I'm way past 18) with only 2 weeks vacation. I'm leaning towards an 'adult' so that I can start saving some $$ but it's so tempting to be a student again - bring on the exams as long as there are 4 month summer vacations to look forward to! Did you ever have to make this decision too?

That's my update so far, shout out to M.A.C.nunu for getting on my case =P. She does gorgeous looks and is quite the cook!

So how's everyone spending the last few weeks of summer?
Mira

Wondergirls in Toronto

2010-07-13T22:30:00.004-04:00

Korean supergroup, the Wondergirls were in town last weekend at the Mod Theatre and I tagged along with my friend H to see them. We braced ourselves for the screaming teenage fanclub but were happy to be very close to stage due to the intimate setting of a stand-up concert at a small venue.

I don't really follow their music - I know only a handful of songs - but I was really excited to see THE Korean Superstars in person. They were so beautiful in person. Their makeup was fabulous and despite seeing their bodies glistening in sweat neck down, their faces were perfect. And I mean PERFECT. That makeup was glued to their face. I wonder products did the trick. Here are some photos and outfit changes during the 2hr concert:

I'm loving the stud theme

They performed covers for A LOT of songs, including

Black Eye Peas, Pussycat Dolls, Lady Gaga and Beyonce

Were they preemtively celebrating Spain to win the world cup as Octopus Paul predicted?

Everyone looks so angelic and adorable, esp Sohee (left):

Yenny (playing the piano) has a beautiful soul-filled voice:

I wasn't digging this outfit change - very drab

Encore performance of....Nobody nobody....

....but you!

Saying their final farewells to Toronto as best they can in English
I wish they wore more outfits like this.

They promised to come to Toronto's Roger Center one day to perform.

If they make it, that'll be quite a jump for them in North America.

"Tell me, tell me" are you a fan?
Mira

Thank you H for buying tix and F for awesome photos.

G20 protest and a Review: EOS lip balm

2010-06-27T13:27:00.007-04:00

It's about time for an update from Toronto and an update I definitely have. I am blogging in the midst of violent protests against the G20 summit happening this weekend at the Toronto Metro Convention Centre. The G20 summit is an event where the top 20 countries in the world debate about global financial issues. Great for the world, but absolutely horrible for the hosting city of Toronto. Downtown Toronto has been flooded with police since Thurdays when $1 billion dollars worth of high security set up around the Convention Centre.

There have been non-stop closures of the places I usually go: the Eaton Centre underwent evacuation, stores on Yonge and Queen street has been severely damaged, police cars have been set on fire at major intersections and over 500+ arrests have been made. For more live updates, I've been checking theStar's live blog. It is absolutely surreal to hear and see so many violent acts in places I recognize. How has the G20 affected you? As a local resident I am beyond frustrated and can only hope that the protests end soon.

But I guess that staying indoors isn't so bad, I finally have time to sit down and write a review for the EOS lip balm that I've had for a year!

What is it? A 100% natural lip balm that smells deliciously sweet (I have it in Summer Fruit), does not feel waxy and claims to give long lasting moisture. It lacks SPF so it's best for indoor use.

EDIT: You can find at ~~SDM~~ RW&Co clothing store in Canada (thanks to a watercoloursky for the info!).

Packaging: Check out the this innovative and adorable lip balm.

The cool: It's fun, unique and makes application a breeze! You can cover both your upper and lower lips in a few back and forth swipes.

The not-so-cool: It's bulky and not convenient to carry around. I usually store lip balms in my pencil case at work or in a small compartment in my purse, but it fits in neither. I've resorted to using it at home during the night time. Unfortunate for the lip balm because I would have liked to show off this cute thang during the daytime.

Does it moisturize? No, it wears off too quickly (~15mins) to have a moisturizing effect and it doesn't change after 1 or 10 applications per day. My lips usually love the intense hydration from shea butter, but as the 6th ingredient on this list, it is not enough to pack on the moisture - even in the summer time.

During the winter, I stopped using this balm altogether because it did not protect my lips from the windy and cold weather.

What lies beneath: is the first thing I wondered about this product before I opened it. Is there balm in the bottom half? How would I use what's down there? Here's what it looks like when it's almost finished:

So it turns out, the packaging is only half filled. The balm fills to ~3mm below the rim of the plastic holder and starts to scrape against yours lips during application. I've started to use my fingers to pick up and apply the remaining product. I will throw it out once I hit that painful looking spoke-shaped thing though!

Pros: Sweet scent, unique packaging and fast to apply.
Cons: Bulky and inconvenient to carry in your pocket, not moisturizing.
Rebuy? No, the cool packaging is not worth it. Don't fall for it!

Thanks for reading,
Mira

Face Of The Day

2010-05-28T19:50:00.004-04:00

How are you all doing? It's been awhile. I'm happy to announce that my internship has turned into a temporary job! Some extra cash during this BEAUTIFUL sunny weather (25C+) makes me want to spend every lunch and evening on a patio. Do you have a favourite patio spot in Toronto?

For those in Canada, I hope you had a great long weekend. I didn't see the Victoria Day fireworks but I spent mine eating dim sum, shooting hoops outdoors, on a patio on Baldwin Street (I highly recommended this street for patio lovers - they have so many patio restaurant choices) and playing Cranium late into the night.

I'd like to show you my go-to FOTD. I'm usually a neutrals gal when it comes to eye makeup and I love dewy skin with a hint of blush. It's nothing too exciting but perhaps you are still looking for your makeup staples? If so, read on for some suggestions.

Foundation - Nars sheer glow

Concealer - MAC Studio concealer

Blush - Benefit coralista (peach pink)

Contouring - NYX taupe

Mac eyeshadows:

Shroom (a beige-pink shimmer) on the inner lid

Coquette (a matte light brown) on the outer lid and crease

All put together:

I'm also wearing Mac Angel lipstick and L'oreal Voluminous mascara. This look takes about 5 minutes to do and it's a staple look for me.

I wanted to give blu3, rasilla and sparkled beauty a shout out - I had a blast hanging out and I'm so glad we made it to bubble tea =D

Have a great weekend!

Mira

Estee Lauder Makeover and Paula Begoun in Toronto

2010-05-05T20:00:00.006-04:00

Like most bloggers who are busy planning their summers, a new chapter in my life is also opening. My younger sister is home from Montreal which means plenty of shopping trips! One of which led to this Sephora purchase during their 15% off Beauty Insider sale:

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation (I'm loving it so far)

Shiseido Sun Protection Eye Cream

I'm also starting a new internship at a very interesting research lab. It's not paid...so future shopping trips will most likely be window shopping ones. Lastly (and most exciting for me), I am finally reunited with my bf after doing the long distance thing for many many years. It was tough but we finally made it...any of you in long distance relationships too? These changes make each day exhausting, but it definitely feels good to be busy. I'm holding my breath though...it will be overwhelming before I know it.

Last weekend, I went to the Estee Lauder networking event that I previously posted about. Overall the 30 minute makeover was fun. I learned about Estee Lauder skincare but the makeup artist did not promote the new Bronze Goddess collection until I asked her about it. Their professional photography crew also had trouble capturing good results. This photo is a horrible angle for me =P but here it is anyway!

Face: Double wear light foundation in 1.0, plum nuance blush
Eyes: Rose confetti and smokey shadows, black plum eyeliner
Mascara: Double Wear in black
Brows: Soft black
Lips: Double wear lipliner in rose, Wild orchid lipgloss (Bronze Goddess)

What do you guys think? I was joking that they should have included a hair stylist for the event because my hair was all over the place! I won't be using this picture on my networking sites but I learned that I can pull off plum eyeliner without looking like I have bruised eyes! I loved my friend, J's makeover much more. They tried out the liquid eyeshadows on her and they are gorgeous! I will have to check out this product again.

Picture credit: Estee Lauder website.

Here's another beauty event happening in Toronto:

Paula Begoun, the self proclaimed cosmetic cop is coming to Indigo in Toronto. See her in person at Yorkdale Mall at 6:30pm on Thurs May 6, 2010. Early followers will know I'm a big fan of her beauty advice. I have yet to try her skincare line because I prefer to sample products in person before ordering them online. But I hope she brings some to this event.

Thanks for reading,
Mira

Toronto: Spring Beauty Events

2010-04-15T18:34:00.008-04:00

Two posts in one day, this is a Beauty Haven first! That's because I'm excited to share with you some beauty events that are happening in Toronto.

1. Make Up For Ever HD Blush Event:

I missed the Eaton Center Sephora event on April 7, but the Bloor/Bay Sephora is taking appointments for makeovers and a chance to try out their new blush on Friday April 16th - that's tomorrow! Thanks E!

Read more >>

Review: Biore Skinpreservation "See the Future" Fortifying Eye Cream

2010-04-15T16:51:00.005-04:00

Compared to Biore's Skinpreservation dual fusion day moisturizer which I love, this "see the future" fortifying eye cream is not a drugstore gem. It was my first eye cream (hello mid-20's!) and I finally finished it after 4 months of use.

What is it?

I forgot to check the product in stores and ended up with a mislabeled tube. Biore needs to hire some new QA staff!

Read more >>

Toronto: Oneofakind Spring Show

2010-04-05T18:00:00.007-04:00

I went to the oneofakind spring show on Sunday. If you love unique arts and crafts, jewelry and fashion this is the event to attend! It's a great place to find gifts too.

Boscia vs. ELF blotting sheets

2010-04-01T23:38:00.005-04:00

Do these blotting sheets look similar to you?

Review: Naris UP Eggshell Charcoal Peel-Off Mask

2010-03-27T14:45:00.008-04:00

What is it? Naris UP eggshell and charcoal peel off mask is made in Japan. It is a 2 step peel-off mask designed to remove blackheads, whiteheads, dirt and oil from the T-zone (nose, chin and forehead).

Step 1: A pre-essence that contains egg shell protein to soften the keratin and loosen clogged pores. This is applied prior to the mask to minimize skin irritation.

Step 2: A point-pack mask that that contains a) eggshell - the calcium in it has been shown to moisturize and reverse signs of aging, b) activated carbon from charcoal which adheres well to oil and dirt in the pores.

Peeling nails?

2010-03-22T20:53:00.003-04:00

Calling out to nail gurus I need your help! How do you stop your nails from peeling?

Mine started when I first applied Zoya's Luna - it's a gorgeous polish that I will continue to use, but the glitter formula tended to lift from my nails in giant chunks. Once that started, I had to peel the whole thing off...which I now know is a big nono. And since using Luna, the harsh hospital soaps that I use at work has been drying out my nails and causing them to continually peel.

I've tried buffing the top layers, applying base coat to seal the peeling layers and applying avocado oil but there has been no difference after a month.

I'm currently trying Sally Hansen's Age Correct Strength:

It's suppose to:

We'll see if I can get any results in 5 days...but any other recommendations in the meantime or if this doesn't work out? Thanks in advance!!
Mira

Tag: 8 most worn things

2010-03-18T17:44:00.003-04:00

Thank you LilliChantilly for tagging me from awhile back. I had fun going over my favourites with this one.

Most worn lipgloss/lipstick:

Mark Kay lipgloss in Pink Diamond. It's on the sheer side but just enough pigement to lighten my lips to a milky pink.

I'm more of a gloss girl, but on occasion I will reach for Mac Twig lipstick.

Toronto: H & M sale

2010-03-12T17:47:00.004-05:00

TGIF!

Time to gear up for spring with some new pieces at H & M!

Get $15 off all blazers and jackets.

Considering H & M's low prices to begin with, I think this is a great deal. I went to the Eaton Centre location yesterday night and saw a big variety of sizes left. I picked up a cropped leather jacket (going to see if I can pull off the rock and roll look) and a spring jacket. I forgot to check out this gorgeous cropped jacket that Daria is wearing above though...hope you can find it!

Happy shopping,
Mira

Review: Eucerine Every Protection SPF30

2010-03-11T12:29:00.005-05:00

After loving Biore's Skin Preservation day moisturizer, I knew the next product would have a tough act to follow. But it didn't matter for Eucerine because it easily ranks at the bottom of my daily moisturizer list.

What is it?

Korean Sauna in Toronto

2010-03-08T00:41:00.025-05:00

Have you guys heard of a Korean Sauna before?

"Don't be thrown-off by your local sauna in your gym - Korean sauna is not your ordinary sauna room. Once you enter, you have access to the facility for 24 hours!"

This is from Seoul Zimzilbang in the Greater Toronto Area where I learned a lot about it. I was not familiar with the concept in Korean culture (no Kdramas for me yet) so I was reluctant to go. But it turned out to be a fun experience.

I went with friends who are big fans of Korean culture - A and H, you guys made this trip very memorable ;) Upon entering the sauna they immediately noticed it was very authentic (I love Toronto's multiculturalism!). The decor is very basic and for an entrance fee of $15-20 you get access to a large common area and 6 sauna rooms in total. They are set at 4C, 40C, 70C and 100C - YES 100C! Everything in that room, including the floor mats and benches felt like it was burning me alive. But after a few visits (I made 3 during my stay), you will adjust comfortably and hopefully enjoy the deep relaxation it induces.

Besides going to the sauna rooms, there are a few things to do in the common area. You can visit the small convenience store filled with Asian snacks in case you get hungry. I bought a baked egg - very similar to Chinese tea eggs - and Yakult yogurt drink. You can bring your laptop for free wi-fi, watch Korean TV/dramas on the big flat screens, read Asian magazines or do yoga with the mats provided. But mostly, you can just relax and chill with your friends. For more information, visit the How It Works section.

I put on a sheet mask that I bought at the sauna. But it wasn't very good:

It was supposed to last 20-30 mins but it started to dry out after 10 and kept falling off my face. I saw 2 other guys with sheet masks too - that was a first! I don't recommend doing masks while there because it felt like I was sweating everything out.

Here I am with my freshly applied sheet mask in the change room:

If you are interested in going, here are some important tips:

You are expected to wear the provided T-shirt and shorts without your undergarments because you will be sweating in the sauna. I felt uncomfortable at first so I kept mine on...but I changed out of them half way through because it was definitely unpleasant. If you are uncomfortable without undergarments just bring extras to change into after.

You will probably see naked people and be seen naked in the changing rooms:
This place is traditional. Most are comfortable with this because using public bathhouses is common in Korea. *EDIT: You can change in the bathrooms and shower privately by drawing a curtain. Just that it's a little hard to get to these places when they provide you with only 2 small hand towels for showering!*

It cannot cover both areas so definitely bring an extra big towel.

Bring slippers for the change rooms. Your shoes are locked away when you enter the facility so there are chances to catch unwanted foot diseases.

Bring a friend. It's nice to relax alone, but it's a great atmosphere for socializing.

Don't try the massage/scrubs unless you understand some Korean. The masseuses don't speak English so it will be difficult to communicate.

After 3 hrs at Seoul Zimzilbang, I was completely relaxed. I went after an intense workout and felt my muscle aches melt away the next day. Compared to a Western sauna, the rooms are big enough to lie down in and they come in different temperatures. If you already have access to a gym sauna (I don't) then you can easily skip out here. It is a little pricey but the entrance fee grants you an unlimited length of stay. I will be visiting again after intense workouts (not often) and recommend it to anyone who needs to de-stress. They offer gift certificates so this can be a unique gift idea (esp for the parents?).

Have you had any cool beauty experiences lately?

Babybubblz

Review: Dove Beauty Bars

2010-03-04T22:08:00.020-05:00

Hey gals, sorry I've been MIA for most of February. With the Winter Olympics and K in town I couldn't sit myself down to concentrate! But it looks the writers at Macleans couldn't write about it enough. Here are the covers of the last 4 issues:

Did you watch the exciting Canada vs. USA Mens Hockey game last weekend?? Go Crosby! I fell head over heels watching him score the winning over time goal and after looking him up. But that ship sailed the same time the Olympics ended. It's amazing Canada won 14 golds - the most ANY country has EVER earned in a single Winter Olympic Games. Go Canada Go!

Alright enough about sports, back to skin care!

I was offered some Beauty Bars to try out by a Dove representative.

Check out the review below:
Read more >>

NOTD: Zoya Paris

2010-02-11T15:51:00.005-05:00

In the spirit to celebrate Valentine's day and Chinese New Years (both on Feb 14) I painted my nails red, but in a dark and sophisticated way. I present to you 2 coats of Paris from Zoya, a deep burgundy red cream:

Week in Vancouver and Seattle

2010-02-06T14:49:00.004-05:00

Two weekends ago, I went to Vancouver for the most beautiful wedding! The bride is so amazing at all sorts of DIY projects - she even planned a 60 guest list wedding all by herself. T, your elegant dress was gorgeous, makeup and hair so beautiful! You were stunningly breathtaking. Congratulations again T! I am so happy that I flew in to celebrate your special day, I had such a great time.

Read more >>

NOTD: Zoya Luna

2010-01-29T17:30:00.010-05:00

Happy Friday!

I'm in an extra celebratory mood because of this gorgeous Zoya polish in Luna.
Three coats of it made me dance!

Fashion at the Museum

2010-01-25T15:43:00.005-05:00

On my plane ride back to Toronto, I was looking through some past photos and came upon my visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (or The MET) in NYC last summer. I attended a special exhibit called "The Model as Muse: Embodying fashion"

Focused on iconic models of the twentieth century and their roles in projecting, and sometimes inspiring, the fashion of their respective eras. The exhibition, organized by historical period from 1947 to 1997, will feature haute couture and ready-to-wear masterworks accompanied by fashion photography and video footage of models who epitomized their epochs.

Read more >>

Cargo 50% off sale at Sephora

2010-01-20T19:18:00.008-05:00

Sephora is clearing out their online and in-store Cargo inventory at 50% off! Cargo is a Canadian cosmetics brand and in addition to its' regular line, they feature two other collections:

1. PlantLove - natural and eco-friendly. Their hippie packaging is very cute.
2. Blu-ray - makeup suitable for high-definition filming and photography.

The online selection at Sephora is limited, but keep checking because I've seen some items quickly restock and run out. All listed prices on the website are the 50% sale price. I hear the Toronto Eaton Centre does not have much inventory left so I recommend checking other Toronto locations. EDIT: shexilicious informed me that Scarborough Town Centre is also out of stock.

If you have no idea what to check out, try their beautiful blushes and bronzers, especially 'The Big Easy' (a pinkish coral blush) and 'Sunset Beach' (multitasking bronzer and blush). You also can't go wrong with a blu-ray product.

I was lucky to be in Seattle and found a few good items.

Read more >>

Review: Biore Skinpreservation Dual Fusion Moisturizer + spf30

2010-01-13T13:29:00.061-05:00

"Do you have skin that's too old for acne but too young for wrinkles? If your skin is showing dry patches, uneven tone and texture, you have in between skin. Biore's Skin Preservation products optimize your skin for today while preserving it for the future."

Hands up "in between" skin types! I think many of can relate to this category? The moment this line went on sale at my local drugstore, I eagerly hauled their day moisturizer and eye cream. Let's see how their day moisturizer performed.

Review: CG Lash Blast Length

2010-01-07T15:49:00.009-05:00

This is a little late but....Happy 2010! I'm still reading your blogs and it sounds like everyone had a great holiday. I spent Christmas Day in the kitchen taking orders from my younger sister - yes younger...but I listen because she is a great cook. Together we prepared Christmas Dinner for 7 people. We are super proud of our homemade chicken pot pie:

Recipe here.

New Year's Eve was especially exciting because a group of us went to Niagara, Ontario. It was my first time going to the casino and I even scored a tiny win at the slots with a friend! That thrill was a dangerous one, I better not go back anytime soon... :P

My first post of 2010 is dedicated to Covergirl's lastblast length mascara:

Gorgeous Blogger Award

2009-12-17T16:43:00.008-05:00

Sandhi of Beauty Babble nominated me for this award a while back:

I have to:
1. Thank the person who nominated me for this award (Thanks so much Sandhi! I had a lot of fun reading yours!)
2. Tell us 7 interesting things about yourself
3. Nominate 7 Bloggers

7 interesting things about me:

Read more >>

Sephora Haul

2009-12-16T15:16:00.002-05:00

New layout for the holiday season and the new year!

Christmas is fast approaching but I'm not in the holiday spirit yet. Are you? The tree is decorated and my Christmas play list is on - Last Christmas by Taylor Swift is on replay - but maybe it's the lack of snow in Toronto? I'm also starting Christmas shopping really late and I'm overwhelmed! I hate when that happens! But I hope all the warm Christmas feelings kick in soon.

During Sephora's VIB 20% and $15 off $35 purchase, I was drawn to all the holiday sets from different brands but the following items peaked my interest more.

Read more >>

Review: Murad AHA/BHA exfoliating cleanser

2009-12-01T20:01:00.014-05:00

In the past when I first wrote about exfoliating from Paula Begoun. I believed that chemical exfoliation was better than physical exfoliation because it is more gentle. It is and my skin dramatically improved from daily exfoliation with 2% salicylic acid + weekly Hope in a Jar's lactic acid (more even tone, smoother, less big breakouts) but I started getting lots of small whitehead breakouts. I was puzzled... and kept trying to blame it on other products. But I finally got to the bottom of it after 6 months.

If your skin is doing great with chemical exfoliators, that's awesome and I'm jealous! But for those who are not seeing results from them, try my tip below.

Chemical exfoliation loosens dead skin cells but they need to be physically sloughed off - rinsing with water might not be enough. If the loosened cells are not removed, you might get clogged pores and set yourself up for breakouts. To prevent this, combining a chemical exfoliator with a physical one (for the next cleansing) will loosen and remove dead skin cells thoroughly.

So how well does Murad's AHA/BHA exfoliating cleanser work?

Zoya Green Friday Deal

2009-11-26T15:46:00.004-05:00

Do you love green nail polish? If so, here's a great deal to try some Zoya Greens! Applicable to orders shipped to the US only.

Toronto IMATS 2009

2009-11-23T00:57:00.022-05:00

The event was great! I went for one day on Saturday and the highlights included 40% (mostly) off MUFE products, $2-8 Crown brushes and spending the day with the best company =) I shared this experience with my mom and some fellow beauty bloggers Halifax, Blu3 and Rasilla. I had a wonderful time chatting and shopping with everyone!

Read more >>

Confirmed for IMATS!

2009-11-17T21:37:00.009-05:00

I finally bought my tickets for the International Makeup Artists Trade Show in Toronto this weekend! EDIT: I'll be attending on Sat only.

Toners, Moisturizers and Serums, Oh My!

2009-11-08T21:23:00.008-05:00

My friend Cam, asked me an interesting skin care question:

How many layers of cosmetics do you put on?

She informed me that according to a Standford study, the average women puts on 12 layers!

Read more >>

Toronto Vichy Event

2009-11-03T16:18:00.005-05:00

I swung by the Eaton Centre yesterday and saw a Vichy stand on the 2nd floor outside Aritiza:

For those new to the brand, Vichy is a French company (under L'oreal) that uses thermal spring water to treat and hydrate the skin. Due to the gentle nature of this water, they are very popular among those with sensitive skin.

Read more >>

Halloween is over, but Zoya Mattes keep me in the spirit

2009-11-02T14:37:00.012-05:00

I hope everyone had a fun and safe Halloween! I'm back in the T dot and I sure did at the Church Street Block Party. It was my first time attending one of Toronto's largest outdoor Halloween event and I will never forgot the things I saw, and heard.

There were a lot of great costumes this year - an H1N1 duo, gingerbread man from Shrek, and a lot of cross dressing school girls and a 6'5" Silk Spectre (girl from Watchmen with the black latex suit). Whether or not you dress up in costume, it's a great event to check out for future Halloweens to come. This year my group of friends decided to do gender reversals, so the guys dressed up as girls and vice versa. It turned out pretty hilarious.

To prep for Halloween, I got to try some Zoya Mattes from their Fall and Winter MatteVelvet collections. I helped E order some nail polish from Zoya and I LOVE her colour choices. The frosted bottles scream sexy and Halloween!

L-R: Dovima, Savita, Harlow, Veruschka, Oredana

L-R: Lulu, Isla, Maya

I tried on Harlow, a matte violet/magenta with silver shimmer:

Application was quite tricky because matte formulas dry extremely fast. They will start to dry before you finish working on the same finger. The key is to start with a lot of polish on your brush - at least 2x the amount you would normal leave on the brush. The great thing about this is that you do not need to wait for them to dry. I resumed normal activity within 5-10 minutes - these are great for beautiful nails in a flash!

Zoya also recommends using mattes without a base or a topcoat. But side-by-side comparisons like the one here show that a base coat will prolong the wear of matte formulas. Using Zoya's Get Even Ridge Filling Basecoat and one layer of polish, I got decent results. After 1 day of wear, the polish is still holding well:

Chipping starts after 2 days of wear (most reviews are the same):

After 6 days of wear and chipping, I finally removed this polish without a problem.

E put on Lulu for something more work appropriate. Zoya Get Even Ridge Filling base coat + 3 layers of Lulu. It is a sheer pale peach sorbet cream. In person, the final result is a lot more opaque.

For Halloween, E quickly vamped it up on the weekend and tried Dovima, a matte black with silver shimmer.

After trying on MatteVelvet, I have to say LOVE. I might have to make my own order soon or check out a matte top coat. If you are not a fan of the Zoya colours, you can always opt for a matte top coat, like this one from essie:

It can turn any nail polish in your current stash into a matte finish. Some swatches from Scrangie here and other brands from All Laquered Up here.

Are you feeling Matte nail polishes this winter? How was your Halloween?

Thanks for reading,
Babybubblz

Birthday Love

2009-10-26T16:25:00.007-04:00

It was my birthday awhile back and it was definitely memorable thanks to everyone =)

K was very romantic got some chrysanthemums and a vanilla cake from Pike Place market. ~~We can't identify the flowers, does anyone know what type they are??~~

He also read my mind (maybe this blog?) and got me a new Canon SD1200! Time for higher quality pictures and FOTDs (face of the days). I can finally upload pictures without a USB cable! Blogging is going to be so much faster.

Love from E in Korea! Thank you for the samples =) I'm so excited to try the Skin Food mask and Dr. Eslee foaming cleanser.

Love from N in Hong Kong! Sooo many snacks.

My favourites were the Muji marshmellows and their Honey-Lemon hard candy (everyone HAS to try the latter). She also hand-made me a cellphone strap. I love that it matches my white phone. It's actually my very first cell phone charm.

Love from parents in HK! My request for sheets masks and BB cream. Lots to share with my sister and friends. Have you tried any of these products?

Love from J in Seattle:

This lip balm and exfoliator has been on my wishlist for awhile and I am so happy to receive it! It's going to be great for touch ups in the cold season.

Thank you everyone so much! I'm so very touched!
Mira

Favorite lip balm

2009-10-21T00:20:00.002-04:00

Cold weather is approaching and my lips are needing all the moisture they can get. My favorite lipbalm at the moment is CO Bigelow Lemon Lip Balm from Bath and Body Works.

From their website :

"Formulated with a high concentration of lemon oil and extract (3.5%), this addictive Lemon Lip Balm is packed with vitamins and minerals, providing a major dose of vitamin C. 100% natural lemon flavor provides a tangy burst, while ultra-moisturizing shea butter (1%) nourishes and conditions lips. The creamy formula glides on smooth, leaving lips feeling soft and moisturized."

I completely agree that it is ultra-moisturizing. My lips are smoother and they require less exfoliating. I used to exfoliate them at least once a week, but I can go 1.5-2 weeks now. It will not cure dry or peeling lips in an instant - exfoliating remedies that, but it is great for maintaining smooth lips. The sweet lemon taste is also delicious.

Unfortunately it has no SPF, so save it for the indoors. They do have a version with some SPF for outdoor use, but it's a no shine formula.

This no-shine formula, black packaging and peppermint flavor suggests that it is marketed towards men - I hope you try this guys!

Another drawback is the packaging. Shea butter is a great moisturizng ingredient but they make lipbalms very creamy and soft, read: easily smushed. The texture is similar to Softlips and both have that melt-on-your lips feeling. But unlike Softlips which is packed in a thin tube, C.O. Bigelow's is the size of a Chapstick and there is a gap between the lipbalm and container:

This causes the container to constantly chaffe against the lipbalm as you twist it up and down to use. The creamy product gets on the sides of the tubes and the entire stick shifts around in the container and...it just gets messy. So you might have to be careful when applying.

Pros: Moisturizing, great lemon taste, lemon scent, moderately priced, for indoors.
Cons: Packaging.
Rebuy? Yes. It's in every BBW store in Seattle, but I haven't seen this version in Toronto. Toronto only carries the lip cream version (for now) which I haven't tried.

On my last visit to BBW, they had their holiday lip gloss collection:

L-R: Triple hot chocolate, warm spiced cider, hot buttered rum and vanilla cream eggnog lip gloss. I don't own any BBW lip glosses yet, but from the testers, these deliver high shine and smell amazing! Have you tried?

Babybubblz

Awesome girl tag

2009-10-12T17:13:00.006-04:00

Thank you Natalie for my first tag! Really appreciate it =) She has a great blog, especially for those situated in Canada so be sure check it out.

In this tag, I have to share 10 facts about me.

1. I grew up in Toronto, lived in Vancouver for uni and now shuffle between Seattle (WA) and Toronto. Being in Seattle is really nice, the West coast is always beautiful but it's a small city compared to the Canadian cities I have lived in.

The Space needle from Volunteer Park in Capitol Hill, I went there this weekend.

2. My first makeup purchase was a powder foundation from Clinique (discountinued product) that I got for grade 12 prom. Looking back at the photos, I definitely should have purchased blush and mascara too, I was a pale ghost!

3. I am using the first digital camera I bought in 2003 for blogging:

Sony Cyber-shot 4.1 MP and the model number is rubbed out. It runs on AA batteries and the screen is tiny. I definitely need an upgrade...but there are so many models to choose from.

4. Skin care is more my passion than makeup, but I tend to buy more makeup.

5. When I was a teenager, I did not know how to take care of my skin. I wish beauty blogs were popular then. Instead I used whatever my Mom was using. In one case it was Shiseido's Benefiance which is an anti-aging line made for maturing skin. Needless to say...my skin went super oily and I broke out a lot. I bet that confused the heck out of my skin.

6. I am finished with university, but my future is really uncertain. It's scary not knowing what you want to do, but I'm slowly researching and trying to figure it all out.

7. I'm currently watching the BBC planet earth documentary series and I recommend it everyone! Their footage is amazing.

8. To keep fit, I go to turbo kick boxing every week at my gym and I'm loving it! It's a high energy workout that I highly recommend.

9. In case you are wondering why my nickname is Babybubblz, it was a combination of things. I remember Bubbles was my first choice, but that was obviously too popular. After a few tries for another cutesy nickname, I ended up with Babybubblz. I've had it for a long time, even back in the day when asianavenue.com was popular (some of you might be too young :P)

10. My real name is Mira

Do these 10 things still qualify me to be an "awesome girl?" =)

In the second part of this tag, I need to tag 10 blogs:

rasilla from in a nutshell
popcorn loves makeup
Lilli Chantilly
Beauty Bible
lindah
Shop N' Chomp
Chenni
Linda from Bambi Student Odyssey
Chelle from Maquillage Lover
Jess from Ohh...pretty!

But 10 isn't enough, I also tag this award to all of you! If you don't have a blog, feel free to do it in the comments, I'd love to read it.

Thanks for reading,
Babybubblz

Review: Philosophy Purity Made Simple + HK love

2009-10-09T19:58:00.002-04:00

What does Philosophy's Purity Made Simple cleanser claim?

"One-step daily facial cleanser that removes makeup, cleanses, tones and lightly hydrates the skin. This facial cleanser rapidly dissolves dirt, oil and makeup to deep clean pores while maintaining the skin's proper moisture levels. It is gentle enough for the eye area and even for the most sensitive skin."

It won the "Best of Sephora" Award in 2008 so I had to see what the hype was all about. I went to my local Sephora for 2 sample containers:

It is an opaque, yellow liquid that does not foam when mixed with water. It has a strong woody scent which took me awhile to get used to - be sure to smell it before purchasing. After cleansing, there is no residue and it leaves your skin clean and comfortable.

Results:
I sampled this cleanser for 5 days and I am very impressed with its ability to remove makeup. My Elizabeth Arden toner picked up no residue on my face and only very little around the eye area. Ladies, if you want a makeup remover and cleanser in one, this is a great choice.

This cleanser is known to be gentle for sensitive skin and I agree - it does not irritate my sensitive or dry cheeks. But it is not very gentle around the eye area because the strong fragrance stung my eyes! You have to keep your eyes tightly closed while cleansing and it is my only complaint. Because of this, I do not rub the eye area as I normally would with cleansing oil. As a result traces of makeup remain on the outer corners of my eyes and under my bottom lashes. But nothing a quick swipe with a Q-tip can't move. Considering this product eliminates the need to double cleanse (cleansing oil + cleanser) or makeup remover + cleanser, I don't mind this small step.

One look at the ingredient list and it's easy to see why this cleanser is great at removing makeup including waterproof eyeliner (did not test on waterproof mascara); it contains many oils. Rinse well and follow up with a toner or softener to prevent them from clogging your pores.

Ingredients:
Water, Disodium Lauroamphodiacetate, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Coco-Glucoside, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Oil, Geranium Maculatum Oil, Guaiacum Officinale, Cymbopogon Martini Oil, Rosa Damascena Extract, Amyris Balsamifera Bark Oil, Santalum Album (Sandalwood) Oil, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Oil, Cinnamomum Cassia Leaf Oil, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Piper Nigrum (Black Pepper) Seed Extract, Sodium Trideceth Sulfate, Hexylene Glycol, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Alcohol, Polysorbate 20, Glycerin, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Yellow No.5.

Many natural ingredients are also listed. So those that are sensitive to them, be sure to sample first. I'm not sure how I will react to this cleanser with prolonged use because they tend to break me out. But I am willing to try for lazy makeup removal days. This is probably much better than tugging my skin with cleansing wipes which can cause wrinkles. I need to slowly wean myself off those...

Pros: Effective makeup remover and cleanser in one, does not irritate my dry and sensitive cheeks
Cons: Strong fragrance, oils may clog pores, natural ingredients may not be suitable for sensitive skin.
Rebuy? Yes, I'll be picking up a full-sized bottle soon. It comes in 4 different sizes, $10-40USD.

I usually don't buy non-drugstore cleansers because any expensive or effective ingredients in them are rinsed away instead of being absorbed into your skin. But I will splurge on this one because it might replace 2 products in my cleansing routine. If there are any alternatives (esp drugstore brands) that do the same, please leave a comment!

Now for some goodies from HK. My friend Wendy recently visited there and brought me some love!

An oversized tote bag. She read my mind...I love Asian style bags!

Big enough to for toting around anything.The cherry pattern is so cute. I have been using it everyday, thanks again Wendy! She also brought me a Chinese magazine to learn more about Asian beauty products:

A great spread on 50 F/W must have products (click to enlarge):

I don't recognize half of the brands, but I'm learning. Are any of them on your wishlist? I'm lemming for No. 17 shu uemura red juvenus eye treatment.

Have a great weekend,

Babybubblz

BrickCon

2009-10-05T19:57:00.012-04:00

Today's post is non-beauty related. Instead I will tell you about my weekend at BrickCon aka a Lego convention. Growing up I never played with Lego so I had no idea what to expect when my Lego enthusiastic friends asked me to come along. To my surprise, the event was really fun.

This convention is a place where participants from all over the world (that's what I heard) pay to display their elaborate creations. At the end of the event, fans vote for their favorites and there are many prizes to be won. I didn't think to bring a camera - I'm sad that I didn't, but I want to share with you my phone pictures anyway.

Here are some kids in action. I was watching them piece together their display and I was blown away by their creativity and attention to detail. I need to buy my future kids some Lego to foster this creativity!

Japanese garden theme:

New Hair

2009-09-30T19:29:00.011-04:00

When I heard that Seven - one of Seattle's most upscale salon - needed hair models for students enrolled in their advanced stylist training program, I quickly made an appointment. Most people would not entrust their hair to students but I was way overdue for a trim and it was FREE.

The catch?

It took a LONG time. My appointment for foiling (highlights), a layered cut, wash and dry took 3.5 hours. Under a licensed professional, it would be 2-3 hrs max. As students in training, they work more carefully (slower) and spend a lot of time consulting with their teachers. So I just had to sit tight while they had their one-on-one discussions. But at the same time, this put me ease - my hair was in safe hands.

The final cut is not very dramatic to most of you, but I colored my hair for the first time! The brown highlights are a major change for me. I'm loving the dimension it adds. It was very well done and I would recommend their students to anyone.

Each student in their training program requires 6 hair models per week, so there are plenty of opportunities if you are in the Seattle area. Sign up through through their website or check out a local hair academy in your area.

If you want a hair cut from a licensed advanced hair stylist from Seven instead, you will be paying for an experience and not just a haircut. To tempt you, they have a live DJ and their own Barista. Super fancy.

As for taking care of the new highlights, my hair stylist (her name was Pepper - so cute!) recommended switching to a sulfate-free shampoo like L'oreal's new EverPure line:

When asked if professional products will do a better job, she said it depends and noted that drugstore brands are definitely catching up in technology. This is great news for my wallet and hair! We'll see how everything grows out.

Have you had any major hair changes lately?

A reader asked how my Dariya fringe holder works so here's my quick explanation - the holder is filled with plastic wire loops that will grab and hook onto your hair. Here are some close-up shots for you to examine (click to enlarge).

When combed through the hair, it looks something like this:

Thanks for reading,
Babybubblz

It's time to throw out your mascara when...

2009-09-29T00:32:00.006-04:00

the wand breaks. Has this ever happened to you?

That or when it starts to smell funny (usually 3 months). Luckily, this mascara was nearing it's 3 month mark anyway. I was literally preparing a photo of the wand for this review when it happened. Nothing can fetch the brush out, so just take my word that it's your typical mascara brush with bristles and a tapered tip.

What does Josie Maran's mascara promise?
The paraben and fragrance free formula contains organic ingredients lik Jojoba oil, Argan oil and Beeswax to condition and strengthen as it lengthens and defines. No clumps, smears or flakes, just lush, luxurious lashes.

It's made with love and is recyclable. Impressive.

Ingredients (click to enlarge):

Results:

My eyelash curler failed me here...but you can still see the difference with 2 coats of mascara.

The natural formula is clump and flake-free until one month after opening. After 2.5 months, it is very dry and difficult to apply. When the formula was still fresh, it kept my lashes light, soft and curled for 6 hours. But it did not lengthen as promised. Instead it added some volume and definition, but the results are not worth the high price tag ($22US).

In cool weather, this non-waterproof mascara stays on the lashes but on hot days (25C or higher) it smudges. The smell of a newly open tube also had the unpleasant scent of an 3 month old one. Apparently that is the smell of actual mascara without any added fragrances.

Overall, this mascara was a little disappointing. Thinking back, this was an impulse buy at Sephora in NYC. I was attracted to Josie Maran's shiny copper packaging and natural products at the time.

Pros: Paraben-free, keeps lashes light, soft and curled for 6 hrs, non-irritating, recyclable packaging.
Cons: Poor packaging (wand broke)! Not waterproof, smudges in hot weather, does not lengthen lashes, adds little volume, scent.
Rebuy? No

I hope everyone had a great weekend. For me, I went to see the broadway musical, Wicked at Paramount.

I went in with high expectations due to rumors but it turned out...not too "wicked". The story and costumes were great but it lacked a memorable score. It's not a must see like Mamma Mia or The Lion King.

The bf and I also went driving around in Mercer Island, which is 10 minutes away from downtown Seattle. While exploring, we came across a cute little park called Groveland by Lake Washington.

It was a beautiful day: people were fishing, suntanning and kids were wading IN the lake. We also saw people walking their horses. I have never seen this combination of activities so close to city center before. It felt like I was much farther than 10 minutes away. I hope to come back for a fall picnic one day.

How was your weekend?

Babybubblz

Review and How to: MAC cleanse off oil

2009-09-24T18:26:00.007-04:00

Cleansing oils are the first step in many Asian skin care routines. Instead of using cotton pads and makeup remover, cleansing oils are the popular choice of makeup removal. They work by dissolving oils from your sunscreen and makeup. Even if you use oil-free makeup like oil-free foundation or tinted moisturizer, those products will eventually mix with the natural oils produced by your face and allow cleansing oils to remove them. Asian brands of cleansing are not readily available to me so MAC cleansing oil is the first one I am experimenting with.

What is it?

MAC website writes: An industry-strength oil-based makeup remover that's gentle on the skin. Botanically formulated with oils of olive fruit, evening primrose and jojoba seed and absolutely 100 percent mineral-oil free. Massages onto the skin to loosen all makeup, including waterproof mascara. Emulsifies into a lotion-type liquid with water: rinses off easily, no tissues required - and no residue! Protects with vitamin E. Skin softening and conditioning. Good for all skin types.

Price: $22US, $25CAD

How well does it work?

I have been using this for the past 2 months and I am loving it! Cleansing oils will always be a staple in my skin care routine now! Whether you wear sunscreen alone, tinted moisturizer or light to heavy amounts of makeup, it amazingly removes all of it without tugging at your skin with cotton pads. I have not tested it on waterproof mascara, but it removes waterproof eyeliners easily. It rinses off without drying your skin and does not leave a residue.

On days that I wear heavy eye makeup, this will leave traces of makeup on my bottom lash line and outer corners of the eye. But I don't let the oil get too close to my eyes so it's probably my fault. I follow up with a Q-tip lightly coated with face cream (less tugging on the delicate eye area) to remove the makeup in that area instead.

There are so many oils in this product, will it cause breakouts?

The downside to using cleansing oils is that if you do not remove them completely, the remaining oil can contribute to breakouts. I have read and heard that people do breakout from this product but this can be minimized by

- taking the time to fully emulsify the product with small amounts of water before rinsing it off completely (described in the How To section below).
- follow up with your normal cleanser to remove any last traces of the cleansing oil.

How to use cleansing oils:

1. Start with dry hands AND face.

I forget this step half the time! But make sure you do to ensure the best makeup removal because the oil will emulsify with the water on your hands and remove oils from them instead of your face. Here I am with lots of makeup (trying to recreate the shu uemura makeover):

2. Collect 2-3 pumps of oil in your hands:

Spread and gently massage oil all over face for about 1 min. Don't forget your lips too. If it feels like you are tugging on your skin, add more oil. It should allow your fingers to glide smoothly over your face. Your makeup should be smeared and you will look something like this...

The cleansing oil is gentle enough for you to open your eyes.

3. Add a tiny splash of water to your hands and gently rub them over the face to create an emulsion for about 30 secs. I like to tap my wet hands over my face to create more white foam. Add more water slowly to create a foamy emulsion. This part can get messy quickly if you add too much water, so add more water gradually. It should look like you used a foamy cleanser:

4. Rinse face with warm water and most of your makeup should be removed.

All clean!

5. Proceed with normal face wash - I forget to do this half the time too. But doing so will minimize breakouts by removing all traces of the cleansing oil.

For those new to cleansing oil, it takes a while to get the routine pat down - especially starting with dry face and hands, and following up with your regular cleanser. But I feel more confident that everything is removed compared with the traditional method of makeup removal (remover + cotton pads).

Everyone needs to try cleansing oils at least once! Ask for a sample to take home the next time you are at a MAC counter.

Pros: Removes makeup and sunscreen without cotton pads, moderate price, lemon scent, thin and runny texture is easy to spread, does not leave a residue, not drying.
Cons: Can be messy, required to wash your face after use (but all cleansing oils require this).
Rebuy? Yes, but I'm going to explore cheaper alternatives.

I've heard that olive oil + cotton pads can be used to remove makeup but I just can't bring myself to try! The thick texture looks like it would clog my pores! But maybe you have tried it? I need definitely need some convincing.

Babybubblz

Sephora freebies for Canadians

2009-09-24T14:23:00.002-04:00

It didn't work for me in the US, but I think it will for Canadian readers (I'm part of the Canadian Sephora emailing list).

shu uemura makeover

2009-09-18T21:07:00.012-04:00

I dropped by the new shu uemura counter at Nordstrom and had no intention of sitting down for a makeover but I was very curious to try the beautiful products inside their chic clear packaging.

The makeup artist (MA) at the counter saw that I was eyeing a few matte eyeshadows and quickly offered a makeover using those products. I've amassed quite a few eyeshadows lately but I am missing neutral, everyday colors to wear.

I requested a neutral, everyday look:

Face chart

Liquid foundation: Smoothing fluid #774
Powder: Face matte powder 7yr light
Eyes: P* brown 7a** cream eyeshadow as base
         M brown 872 (crease)
         M beige 802 (lid)
         M beige 800 (highlight)
         Painting liner in black
Cheeks: M pink 31
Lips: 938 lipstick

*shu uemura uses a single letter at the front to describe the finish (M for matte, P for pearl)
**a numbering system is used to label their colors

I loved this cute rose pink blush.

The eyeshadows were beautifully blended. Who knew matte finishes could add so much dimension to the eyes! I liked it a lot.

Technique used to create this eye look:

1. Apply a taupe cream shadow as base all over lid (this held my eyeshadows 8+ hrs without creasing)
2. Apply a beige shadow all over the lid, concentrating it on the inner half of the lid.
3. Apply a dark brown matte shadow in the crease (outer lid) in the shape of a sideways "V".
4. Highlight the brown bone (right beneath the brows) and inner corner of the eyes with an off-white beige shadow
5. Line the eyes with a gel liner using small, thin strokes. Create a small upward wing at the end.

Prior to any makeup application, the MA introduced me to the new skincare line red:juvenus.

It targets the first sign of aging, but is suitable for any age groups. The star ingredients in the line come from 3 fruits: amalaki, pomegranate and tomatoes.

Every item smelled and felt heavenly on my face. This new line is priced between $30-65US. Not too bad, but I was nervous about purchasing new skincare with natural ingredients (there are a lot of extracts in the ingredient list on the website) so I took home some samples to test everything a bit more.

I felt pretty guilty about not making a purchase after she spent 45 minutes with me, but there was no pressure at all. Instead she sent me home with some cleansing oil to try and asked me to wear the makeup for a day, see how I feel and come back if I like it. Wow, Nordstrom offers great customer service. I'm so excited to try THE original cleansing oil.

What shu uemera products have you tried and liked? Excluding their eyelash curler :P

Have you encountered any exceptional customer service at beauty counters? I used to love MAC counters, but their CS is not very consistent - I've experienced great but also very bad service from them. I'm going to highly recommend shu uemura after this makeover. Go grab yourself some samples!

Hope to share my experience with the samples soon,
Babybubblz

Shopping in Vancouver

2009-09-10T17:24:00.016-04:00

Warning...picture heavy post, but I'm back! I'm also trying a few new things, please take my quick survey on the right side bar =)

My one week trip to Vancouver was packed with fun. Thank you everyone for coming out to see me! I had a great time trying Raspberry Frambozën (raspberry flavoured beer) at Steamworks, eating and shopping at the Richmond night market, getting makeovers at Aveda, visiting the PNE amusement park, hiking at Grouse, doing yoga at Semperviva on Granville Island, being 'forced' to watch suspense movies like The Others (I have to admit, it was pretty good but I was not able to sleep peacefully for days), consuming litres of bubble tea and playing Cranium. I hope to see everyone again soon.

My first stop in Vancouver was at the Chinese grocery store TNT which sells My Beauty Diary Masks. These masks are made in Taiwan and are very popular in Asia. They come in many assortments, each targeting a different skin condition (hydrating, minimize pores, brightening, whitening and etc). I hope to discuss all the types available after I try them some out.

At TNT they sell for $4 CAD for a box of 2 pre-soaked masks or $15 CAD for a box of 10.

I picked up 2 small boxes to try: Aloe (hydrating) and Black Pearl (brighten & whiten)

At the Richmond night market I found these DARIYA Maegami fringe holder hair accessories. They are great for keeping your hair out of your face when prepping for makeup or studying. They are better than bobby pins because they don't leave a mark in your hair. But...they aren't very discreet so bobby pins are still needed in public. This fringe holder resembles one side of a velcro where the little hooks gently hook onto your hair.

They can be found at Richmond night market in the stall on the business card above or online at imomoko. I have been using mine everyday and I love it. Everyone with bangs needs one of these!

I also went to The Face Shop at Metrotown looking for Korean BB creams, but many of them were >$50 so I need to do my research first... For those new to the store, it is Korean based and they stock many natural beauty products.

Next up, Joe Fresh Cosmetics at the Canadian Superstore (similar to Walmart in the US). I was pleasantly surprised by their makeup stand. They have a moderate selection and the price range of their entire makeup line (excluding beauty tools) is between $4-8, which is a great deal! A lot of other drugstore makeup is inching higher in price these days.

Colour cosmetics:
Eyeshadows (not very pigmented) and base (face) makeup:

Beauty tools:
Cute makeup sponge. Each flower has 8 wedge sponges.

If you are fair or have a golden undertone, you can skip their concealers and foundation. All of them had a heavy pink undertone.

They even had testers! Not every colour was available for testing, but each type of product was there to sample.

Most drugstore makeup do not have testers, so I was happily swatching =)

My purchase and a small review from my 2 weeks with them:

1. 'Clear' mascara and brow gel $6

As mascara, the formula is very heavy - it weighs down the lashes immediately after application. Luckily you can recurl and it will hold the entire day. But clear mascara will not add any volume or length to your lashes. Instead it should make them glossy and more defined (before & after comparisons below). Unfortunately this mascara does it poorly.

For brows (the main reason I purchased) - it grooms them for 30 seconds, tops. Any hold is lost after that. The wand also deposited way too much product. You definitely need to wipe off all the excess from your brow ends.

This product was definitely a miss. So much work but very little results. I would not repurchase.

2. Tinted lip balm in 'nude' $6

Despite the sleek silver packaging on the outside, inside was a very cheap gray container that I disliked. This peach scent lip balm feels moisturizing and very slippery on the lips. It is sheer and adds more shine than your average lipbalm. If you have chapped or very dry lips, beware that this will settle between find lines.

The amount of colour added is very subtle and the moisturizing properties aren't amazing. So unless you like peach scents or lip balms with a glossy finish, I would skip this. I'm a fan of both so I might repurchase a darker colour in the future.

Other colours available:

3. Lip gloss in 'sheer pink' $8

This is my favourite purchase and one that I would repurchase again. I love the packing - it's a little bulky but it feels expensive and sleek!

It has a brush applicator which allows for precise application. It is not sticky and has a light vanilla scent. I like that it makes my lips look very healthy and glossy. When swatched(above), it looked very opaque, but once applied it is very sheer. Perfect for those who want to layer over lipsticks or add lots of shine. I would repurchase in some darker colours.

Other products that caught my eye include their lipsticks ($8) and lipstains ($6). The lipsticks were very creamy and pigmented when swatched on my hand. I wasn't feeling any of the colours at the moment...so I will wait on these. The lipstains were also very pigmented, but I had so much trouble removing them off my hand...it took a LOT of makeup remover to remove. If you have one, what do you use to remove them?

The cheeks tints for $4 also looked really good.

These are great to keep in the bag for a quick touch-up or immediately waking up the face. I would have purchased one but I have a very similar item from e.l.f already.

At Sephora in Pacific Centre I saw a new brand called girlactik beauty, which is only available in Canadian Sephora stores. Isn't it amazing when Canada gets exclusive items? I didn't have time to fully check out this brand but it sounds futuristic, haha.

Matte nail polishes were also all the rage this summer! I found many salons featuring OPI's matte collection that came out in July 2009. Swatches available here and from Scrangie.

Congrats, you made it to the end of my shopping trip in Vancouver!! Share with me any thoughts you have =)

Thank you everyone for their support and comments. I really appreciate each and every one. I have also read your requests - posts about eye primers, how to wear boyfriend jackets and a MAC cleanse off oil review coming up!

Babybubblz

Zoya pinks!

2009-08-27T17:46:00.014-04:00

My shipment from Zoya came in and I chose to wear Madison this week (2 coats). Even for such a light color, it took me 3 tries to get them smooth and streak-free. I admire those of you who can do your nails in one try.

The whole order:

I'm loving the French Manicure colours. All of them go on clear until the 3rd coat of polish. Sari and Madison are essentially the same colour, only Madison is more opaque. If I had saw them in person, I would have only picked either one. But the girlie girl in me lives for these very feminine (yet sophisticated) pink polishes!

How about you? What colour nail polish do you fall for?

Some more nail news: MAC just launched a new collection called Nail Trend F/W 09 in collaboration with Jin Soon, a nail guru in NYC. Learn more about Jin Soon on her own website or on Temptalia in an interview. See any interesting colours? I'm passing on this collection but they have a pretty cool promo picture:

Picture credit: Temptalia

I'm preparing for a trip to Vancouver next week to visit my college friends but I hope to blog while there. I'm so excited to see my gorgeous friends and BC again. Beauty products wise... I hope to check out the new joe fresh line at Superstore. Their packaging looks quite sleek.

I wonder if there are any hidden gems in this inexpensive makeup line. Have you seen or tried joe fresh makeup?

Babybubblz

Boyfriend jackets?

2009-08-23T18:16:00.016-04:00

I was browsing at Express in Bellevue Square (mall) for some fall pieces and jeans. The clothing styles and price are a mix between Dynamite and Jacob in Canada. Unfortunately both are not found in Seattle so I was happy to find Express. They had some pretty boyfriend jackets that I was interested in:

Boyfriend jacket:

Boyfriend jacket with studded lapel:

I loved the studded one so I tried it on:

Boyfriend jackets have been IN for a long time but like all jackets, it can be hard to find one that fits well. It isn't noticeable in this picture, but a full length picture would show that I look much shorter average height (5'4"). I just disappear in these jackets! My idea of THE perfect boyfriend jacket would have a permanent scrunched up 3/4 sleeve that hits just below the elbow and fitted when buttoned. But here's the question I have for you, how long should a boyfriend jacket be? Where on the leg should the bottom of the jacket hit so that it compliments any frame? Just below the waist? The hip? Below the hip? Does it change if you pair them with leggings or jeans?

I was very tempted to get this jacket but it looked too long (unless you guys tell me otherwise), so I hunted down a pair of jeans. Express offers jeans in short sizes! If you are a fan of American Eagle short sizes, you will like what Express has to offer. They are priced the same too ($50 a pair but you can often get them buy 1 get 1 50%). Here I present you Zelda in raw distress:

And on me....
The skinny style is sorta lost on me...but am I bringing on the distress in these jeans?? The captured color is off but it's actually a dark wash jean like on the model.

The label says I have to wash before I wear them but washing jeans is such a scary feat. You never know how those jeans that took forever to find will fit after they dry. I'm *crossing my fingers* so that they don't shrink or stretch after a machine wash in cold water on the second most gently cycle.

What do you guys think of boyfriend jackets? Do you own one? Which store has the best selection? Want one too?

Thanks for reading,
Babybubblz

Around Seattle and Drugstore haul

2009-08-22T01:52:00.016-04:00

It's been a bad week for sickly me =( I caught a cold and stayed in for most of the week. But I tried to get some fresh air. Here are some highlights from my week.

I went to Rite Aid because they had a great back to school sale:

From here it looks like it's all free! But the fine print read: Buy 1 get 1 Free Revlon and L'oreal eye products - still a great deal. We hardly ever get these in Toronto. I picked up some mascara and eyeshadows:

I'm still finishing up the e.l.f. (not very good) and Josie Maran mascara but I can't wait to try these. I might go back to Rite Aid because it's such a good deal. Do you have any L'oreal or Relvon recommendations for me?

On the weekend, the bf had a company picnic in Snoqualmie (40 mins away from Seattle) which was pretty fun. I played golf and horseshoes for the first time...both were quite difficult but I enjoyed it against the Snoqualmie mountain view:

For their special event, they had some Extreme Motorbikers. I was lucky enough to get a picture of them in mid-air doing an amazing stunt! Watching extreme sports in person was very intense and scary. My heart skipped a beat on each and every jump.

On another sunny day, I went reading outside and saw this pretty rainbow in the International District. Little things like this always brighten up my day.

So that concludes my random week, I wonder if anything exciting is going to happen this weekend. I might go to a Seattle night market and hit the gym for pilates.

How are you spending the weekend?

Babybubblz

ELF brow swatches

2009-08-14T14:45:00.007-04:00

This is for a reader who wanted to know more about the brow colours in the eyebrow kit and mini collection.

The gel side of the ELF dark eyebrow kit is great for Asian eyebrows.

Flash:

Natural light:

Browns from the ELF Mini collection:

Flash:

Natural light:The original brow powder is #3, but it is too light for Asians. I think your best bet is a combination of the charcoal (#1) and any of the browns above. Despite the tiny bit of shimmer from the charcoal shadow, it still looks natural on my brows.

Let me know if you want any more swatches =)

There is also a slight change in the original ELF deal. Some people are now reporting that the free shipping only applies if your order is $75 after the discount. Otherwise, it is $7 in the US and $7+8 to Canada.

Happy Friday,
Babybubblz

75% off E.L.F. Studio Line

2009-08-13T08:02:00.012-04:00

Enter coupon code WWYB75S when you checkout to receive 75% off their Studio Line at eyeslipsface.com! Learn more about this company in my previous post.

If your order is $75 or over, you qualify for free shipping in both the US and Canada. But Canadians will still be charged an $8 customs fee.

With 75% off, this means their $3 makeup line is reduced to $0.75! Ordering $75 worth of products might seem like a lot, but with reduced shipping AND 75% off, you can get A LOT of products for around $18-24 (depending on where you ship the products). There was no expiry date for this coupon code, so jump on this offer quickly.

EDIT: Some people are now reporting that free shipping only applies if your total is $75 after the discount. Otherwise, shipping is $7 for the US and $7+8 for Canadians.

I've seen this deal once in the past year and accumulated quite a few products from it so here are some quick reviews which may help you decide what to get.

Great Products:

1. Lip liner & blending brush - apply this under lipsticks to prolong their wear. Or wear it alone for some instant color. The brush is used to make the lipliner appear more natural. This product is great for toting around in my bag.

2. Eyebrow lifter & filler - lifter is great as a highlight. Highlighing the area under your brow bone is just as important as concealing my undereye circles. Both techniques will make it look like you slept like a baby for 8+ hrs. Highlighting with your concealer works too. The filler in dark was a good match for dark eyebrows.

3. Powder brush - this is my favorite ELF studio item. It is a very functional synthetic flat-top powder/blush brush with super soft hair. At the normal price of $3, it is a great deal, but with this discount, its only $0.75! This is a must-buy if you don't have a similar brush already. I placed an order for an extra one because I reach for it so often.

4. Contour brush (for the eyes) - very helpful for depositing dark eyeshadow into the crease to make the eyes look bigger.

5. Angled foundation brush - works well for applying liquid foundation around the contours of the face.

6. Eyelash and brow wand: This product is in the $1 line. It is great for grooming eyebrows and separating your eyelashes after mascara. I'm ordering a backup as well.

7. Shine Eraser: 50 blotting sheets for $1. They are thin, but very convenient. I like to put one in every bag I own.

Decent products:

8. Blush & Bronzer compact - blush is very shimmery so I only like it for the evening. The bronzer was muddy on my skin tone but it should suit medium skin tones. I probably like the idea and packaging more than the product....but it's 75 cents.

9. Eyebrow kit - good for those with light brown eyebrows only. I ordered the darkest color for my black eyebrows, the gels side was good but the powdered side was way too light.

10. Lip definer & shaper - it gives a natural finish and does the job but I like the lip liner + brush more.

11. 10 Pc Studio Brush Collection - this is great deal for a starter kit. The best brushes are the contour, angled foundation brush and powder brush. But if you are interested in this set for the eye makeup brushes, skip them because real hair is better for working with powder shadows. But of course, it doesn't hurt to get 3 great brushes and 7 mediocre brushes all for $3.75 after the discount.

12. Mini makeup collection - can't go wrong with getting ALL these items for $3.75. It's a small kit, but I like to use the taupe, black, charcoal, beige eyeshadows and lip palette.

Skip the following:

13. Concealer pencil & brush - I got this in light which was a perfect match for NC20 skin tones, but it has wears off very quickly and blending is a pain - it just comes right off as you try to blend it.

14. Eye primer and liner sealer - I don't own this, but there are many negative reviews.

15. Eyebrow treat & tame - the colored ('tame') side does not groom eyebrows in place. The brush is also poor at depositing color onto the eyebrows (it keeps combing all the color out). I wanted to use the 'treat' side as an eyebrow gel to keep them in place but it will not hold at all.

16. Lengthening & Volumizing Mascara - the small brush is easy to work with. It slightly lengthened and added volume, BUT after an hour of wear, the forumla smudges all around the eye area. I've tried this many times, but I always end up with racoon eyes - not reliable at all!

They have a lot of new studio line products since the last time I ordered so I'm going to place a big order. For the price, I'm find it hard to resist...are there any product that catch your eye?

Let me know if you have any questions about the products,
Babybubblz

Slow Mondays and MAC Makeup remover

2009-08-10T16:10:00.013-04:00

How was everybody's weekend?

I attended an engagement party (bf's coworker) and had a wonderful time. The couple had a gorgeous house along the coast in West Seattle - all the rooms had floor to ceiling windows and every single window was facing the ocean. It reminded me of those Hollywood homes you see in movies. I was in awe the entire day. On Sunday, I went to pilates and watched the movie Gran Torino. It was a touching movie, but not a must-see.

It's currently a really slow Monday for me...everything is taking me forever to get done. But what better way to get started than lemming over beauty products, especially when they are in a pink bottle:

Here's a quick review of MAC's Gently Off Eye and Lips Makeup Remover $18US/$21.50CAD

I bought this at the same time as MAC's Engraved powderpoint waterproof eyeliner. Seeing as it was my first time buying waterproof makeup, I wanted a reliable makeup remover as well. It contains rose water and cucumber extract to sooth the eye area and does not require you to rinse after using (great for me!).

Ingredient list:

This dual-phase makeup remover is very gentle, I have occasionally jabbed or got some in my eye but survived without any stinging sensation. It does not leave an oily residue, which is great because you can remove makeup in the middle of the day without feeling the need to wash your face right away. It will remove all of your face makeup with a saturated cotton pad and leave your skin soft and slippery, but not oily.

To use, I saturate a cotton pad and try to leave it on my eyes for 30 seconds. Sometimes I press too hard and my eyes get blurry, but it removes almost all my eye makeup (mascara, waterproof liner, shadow, primer, concealer) in the first swipe. I then soak a Q-tip to get the stubborn bits off - everything on my lower lashline and some mascara. Unfortunately I don't use waterproof mascara - it's too heavy for my wimpy Asian lashes, so I was unable to test how well it works for that.

The makeup remover is made especially for the eye and lip area, so don't forget to give your lips a quick swipe if you wore lipstick/gloss that day. Even though most of the colour appears to be gone from your lips, there's actually a lot of colour left. I suspect residue from lip products have been drying my lips out...so remember to remove those lip products.

Pros: Gentle, not oily, removes makeup well including waterproof eyeliner, spill-proof cap (think tylenol/advil caps where you have to press down )
Cons: Expensive.
Rebuy? No, my budget is forcing me to try some drugstore makeup removers first but it's a good makeup remover.

I'm on the lookout for a new makeup remover, do you have any suggestions for me? I'm still experimenting with the MAC Cleanse Off Oil I purchased a few weeks ago, so I'd like to have a back up remover on hand for now.

Oh and you know how I love cleansing cloths? I purchased these baby wipes to try:

Don't buy these!! They may be soft enough for a baby's bottom but they are too dry and rough for the face. I have tried it 3 times and it just burns and stings my face. I've read that baby wipes are a great alternative to makeup wipes, but I'm skeptical now...have you tried using baby wipes to remove makeup? If so, what brand?

Have a great week,
Babybubblz

YSL Touche Eclat tip and Zoya

2009-08-05T18:14:00.020-04:00

For those who use YSL Touch Eclat, the famous eye brightener, I have a little tip to share from KarlaSugar on The Next Best Thing to Going Shopping Yourself (TNBTGSY ) - I love her blog title.

Was I the only one who thought that eye brightener = concealer? Apparently there is a difference, and it's in the location you use the products. To get the most out of Touche Eclat (because it's expensive!), you should use it only on the outer half of your under eye area instead of completely covering your under eye circles. Save the inner half for a concealer. This will bring more dimension to the undereye area and make you look more awake. If Touche Eclat wasn't working wonders quite like you expected, give this tip a try.

Touche under eye circles!

I was shopping for some new Zoya nail polish online - I put in an order for baby pink Madison, nude Jane, mauve pink Sari - and found these swatches for their Fall Matte Velvet collection. OMG, they are really really matte. Although very unique - I think I prefer a glossy finish. Would you give these matte colours a try?

Babybubblz

My first EOTD: NYX greens

2009-08-04T07:28:00.000-04:00

Thank you everyone for their comments! They are a lot of fun to read. I'm also going to take your advice and keep my pink sequin dress from H&M. You guys have convinced me completely; the color is very summery and young - my wardrobe is in desperate need of these adjectives. There will be more chances to shop for grey pieces in the upcoming season.

So the hot weather didn't stay for the weekend... it was good and bad. Good in that it was much more comfortable but bad because I didn't get to visit any beaches. Instead I dropped by the gym to do some yoga and went out for Japanese food at Shiro's, a famous sushi bar in Seattle (reviews on Yelp here).

This place was quite expensive - $4 per piece of sushi - but everything was exceptionally fresh. I went with some adventurous friends and tried sea urchin for the first time.

The sweet and creamy flavor of it was amazing! But then I found out that it was sea urchin gonads...um...that's ok, it was a once in a blue moon treat. Have you tried it before?

Here's my first eye of the day (EOTD) for my night out to Shiro's. I was going for a subtle mermaid green look.

I used the following:

Brushes starting from the top
- Body & Soul sable hair eyeshadow brush
- Body & Soul squirrel shadow brush
- Quo liner/brow brush
- e.l.f. studio mascara
- Shiseido eyelash curler (not shown)
- NYX Mermaid Green and White Pearl eyeshadows

I love this green eyeshadow. But when paired with the silver, it suddenly shouts winter. What do you guys think? What other colours would make it a better daytime summer look? I thought about adding some yellow, but is there a shade that won't make me look like a bird?

Since everyone is always helping me, I'd love to do the same for you. Please let me know if there are any beauty related topics or products that you are interested in reading about. This blog was made for you too!

Have a great week,
Babybubblz

A new commitment

2009-07-30T18:45:00.013-04:00

I joined a gym!

This all began when a few of my friends wanted to start circuit training, which is a combination of cardio and resistance training. It targets fat loss, muscle building and heart-lung fitness. Doesn't it sound like THE all-in-one workout? It sure does to me!

1 circuit in our workout included:

0.35 mile run
10 pushups
12 burpies
120 steps
10 sit-ups
7 chin-ups
7 dips

Our goal was 3 x circuit in 23 minutes. I haven't reached it yet, but my friends are definitely going to achieve it soon. If they complete this level, the next one involves increased reps within each circuit AND less time to complete 3 sets.

We found this workout quite fun. I felt like I was back in grade school completing a race. Give it a try and see how fast you can complete it. My first attempt was 30+ minutes. If you can't do some of the exercises, try substituting your own. For example, we replaced dips and chin ups with tricep dips and sit-down versions of chinups instead.

Now that I'm on the West Coast, I'm not as motivated to continue the circuit without company. But as with any workout, it's important to do a variety of things. Doing the same routine over and over again can put too much strain on certain parts of the body. So I'm going to change it up and keep fit with my friends back home by joining a gym. I did a 7 day free trial at 24 hour fitness and signed up for a simple month-to-month membership where I hope to go 3x a week.

The gym has a lot of classes including kick boxing, hatha yoga (the stretching kind), step class, pilates and hiphop - I'm counting on them to keep me motivated. Today I got a mat just for yoga and pilates. Here's Topsy the triceratops with my new yoga mat:

I got Topsy from Daiso for $2 in Vancouver. So cute!

I'm counting on him to protect my makeup stash if anyone attempts to break in!

Are you exercising lately? If not, I encourage you to start circuit training or suggest a routine we can do together!

Babybubblz

Getting ready for the sun with Neutrogena

2009-07-28T17:33:00.016-04:00

I'm back on the West Coast in Seattle and it's burning HOT - we're forecasting 35C+ weather for this entire week. I usually love this kind of hot weather in Toronto during the summer (for visits to the beach), but Seattle is usually very temperate so the city has very little air conditioning. This crazy weather is making it so hard to step outside...

Today I'm trying to stay cool with Ben & Jerry mint chocolate cookie ice cream, homemade smoothies and spraying myself silly with chilled MAC Fix+ (the fridge is now it's permanent storage spot). But once the weekend hits, I'm ready to head outdoors. This called for a trip to the drugstore for some sun protection. Well, that and Neutrogena had a 30% off sale :P

Sunscreen for the body:

This is my second tube. My sister introduced me to this sunscreen and I'm liking it too.

Daily sunscreen for the face (1st time purchase):

For reapplication of sunscreen on the face during the day (1st time purchase):

I love my Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Power Cream Wash, but I don't think I can call myself a beauty blogger without trying this classic Cetaphil cleanser for all skin types. I got the biggest bottle, 475mL for $10 US - what a deal! It's going to last a looong time.

I also picked up this long shirt-dress from H&M for $20 US.

I wanted it in gray but this was the only color available. What do you think? Should I keep it? I have to admit it's a little shapeless and the color is quite bold, but the sequins are very cute and perhaps it'll look perfect with black leggings? Hmm, how else to wear it...I need your help!

I still can't believe this crazy weather, how do you stay cool on a hot summer day?
Babybubblz

Chinese Magazines and BB creams

2009-07-24T16:29:00.018-04:00

I went by my local Asian bookstore in Seattle and found a nice surprise - discounted beauty magazines! Old issues only. Okay call me silly, but I can't read Chinese, Japanese or Korean so it usually isn't worth it to get them at full price. Getting your hands on the products IN the magazines is also quite difficult. But at $2/issue, this bookstore will give me my introduction to Asian beauty brands.

I picked up the BEAUTY Dec 2008 issue - it's quite old but winter makeup is a favourite for me. I also got the coco May 2009 issue - I think it's a Taiwanese Magazine? Do any of you read these? Let me know what other popular Asian magazines I should be picking up =)

Here are some scans. I'm kicking myself for quitting Chinese lessons right now...

Maybelline has skincare in Asia?? (Bottom right in pic below)

The next 2 are from BEAUTY:

Have you heard of the brand Dr. Wu before? They had a lot of ads like this one:

My cousin from HK works for their counter and left me some samples during her visit here. Their arrival is great timing.

There's also a spread about BB creams. I want to try the L'egere one (bottom right):

For those new to BB creams:

BB cream is short for Blemish Balm Cream and you can think of them as a tinted moisturizer with lots of extra skin care ingredients. They were first developed in Korea for patients recovering from surgery and apparently these were the only products they could safely use. BB creams have now expanded into the mainstream Asian beauty market.

Depending on the brand they can contain ingredients that:
- whiten
- even complexion
- fade acne scars
- UV protect (contains sunscreen)
- combat signs of aging

Sound like a miracle doesn't it? I don't know how effective it is but I really like the coverage!

My friend generously gave me this SKIN79 BB cream to try:

It comes in a scary dark grey beige colour but it amazingly matches my skin tone once applied. A downside of BB creams is that they only come in only 1 or 2 shades. But they should contain some sort of skin matching ingredient that will adjust to many (read: Asian) skin tones.

Skin79 applied on the left and nothing on the right:

It conceals my undereye circles, freckles, redness and evens out my skin tone. It also brightens - the left side is showing a healthy glow compared to my dull right side.

If you are looking for light to medium coverage that will even out your complexion, this is a great product to try. It is very easy to work with and there's no need to colour match. I can't wait to try out more BB creams!

Speaking of Korean things, I just watched the Wondergirls "Nobody" US debut. It's so catchy..."nobody nobody but you" I hope they find success in North America!

Do you use any Asian beauty products? If not, would you try them if you had the chance?

TGIF!
Have a great weekend,
Babybubblz

Sign up for MUFE Makover

2009-07-17T18:26:00.010-04:00

I highly recommend these makeover events at Sephora. I had a great experience during their Dior event.

Call to book for a free Make Up For Ever consultation and score some freebies at Sephora today or tomorrow!

If you are new to this brand, here are some popular products to ask about and try:

HD Invisible Cover Foundation

HD Microfinish Powder

Aqua Eyes Eyeliner

Check out the Sephora website for more.

H2O Face Oasis Review: More H2O please

2009-07-17T13:51:00.002-04:00

With such a brilliant blue, H2O Face Oasis looks like a piece of the ocean you can take home.

Reminds me of my visit to Hawaii =)

I have been eyeing this product since college but only recently took the plunge because of my new love for gel moisturizers and after a SMALL recommendation from this book:

I came across the New Science of Perfect Skin at the same time I was reading about Paula Beguon, the cosmetic cop. It was an informative read and very simple to understand. Give it a try the next time you are in a bookstore.

There was a lot of information. But here are two tips from the author Dr. Yarosh that really stuck with me:

1. The advertised ingredient of a product should be in the top 1/3 on the ingredient list.

This has been super helpful in helping me determine if expensive products are actually a good buy. I've noticed that drugstore items (ie. Life Brand at Shopper Drug Mart) will put the advertised ingredient much lower on the list compared to a competing brand name.

2. The products you apply after exfoliating is just as important as the act of exfoliating frequently.

I'm all about exfoliating at the moment, so this was major news for me! Since a new layer of skin is being exposed postexfoliation, Dr. Yarosh recommends that we should give it plenty of antioxidants. Especially vitamins A, C and E so it can protect itself from environmental damage. Using products with all three vitamins will allow you to reap in multitudes more benefits from exfoliating then using products with only one or two.

Recommended postexfoliation antioxidant creams:

But every product listed above is super expensive. I think his recommendation on products with the vit A, C & E team are just as good:

I saw this list and bolted to get H2O Face Oasis right away. I was lucky enough to score a little GWP which included samples of Eye Oasis, Night Oasis for the Face and Eyes, and some for the body:

Face Oasis Description:

I decided to use it as a day (under sunscreen) and night moisturizer (the jar will last about a month if used this often) since it appeared to have many benefits for the skin. At first I loved how easy it was to spread the lightweight formula. Applying it was also very refreshing. But after 3 weeks, my skin was drying up - the dry patches on my cheeks were getting bigger and it showed through my MAC moistureblend cream foundation. It also poorly prepped the skin for any makeup. With a gel formula I expected to absorb very quickly, but it took >2 minutes for it to sink in - not recommend for morning use if you are in a rush. H2O for the eyes was also not moisturizing enough - when applying concealer on top, it constantly made my eye area look cakey no matter how little I put on.

Pros: Light texture and scent, easy to spread, refreshing feel.
Cons: A little sticky once applied, if you have normal/combination skin, it is not very moisturizing and not a sufficient base for makeup.

Time for me to check out the next item on the antioxidant list, maybe Olay Total Effects? But try H2O face Oasis if you have oily skin or looking for a light moisturizer.

I picked up a pair of jewel adorned gladiator sandals from Aldo:

Thanks to my friends for helping me pick out this pair =) I was about to go for some more sneakers with flowers on them or granny (read: comfy but plain) style sandals. These pinch a little at the front but at least they don't have any heel. And yes I got inserts for them, haha (Aldo ones).

Did you get any new pieces this summer? New shoes anyone?

Babybubblz

Review: Neutrogena Acne Stress Control Power Cream Wash

2009-07-13T16:16:00.014-04:00

This is one of my favourite cleansers that I always go back to.
I have purchased at least three tubes to date.

I have also made this a favourite among many friends and family members. We all love the fantastic cucumber scent that imparts a very refreshing feeling after cleansing. Since our skin types range from acne prone to dry, I highly recommend this cleanser for all skin types. It also has skin-soothers including green tea and cucumber which it claims is great for calming sensitive and inflamed skin. I caution those with very sensitive to not try this because it contains methanol which may give a stinging sensation. For this same reason, gently clean or avoid cleansing around the eye area.

For first time users of cream cleansers, you may find that it leaves a residue behind and conclude that it is difficult to wash off. I felt the same way with my first cream cleanser (Clean & Clear's), but within a week I got used to it. I love that it's able to remove oil without stripping your skin so it feels quite moisturizing. Unfortunately it removes makeup very poorly so pair it with a reliable makeup remover.

Drugstores often have it on sale for 20% off, so get your hands on it then. Also try their acne treatment if you haven't already, it's another great product from this line.

Pros: Inexpensive, not drying, refreshing, nice scent.
Cons: Does not remove makeup, contains methanol and some find it difficult to remove.

What is your favourite cleanser?

Babybubblz

Essentials for travelling + MAC goodies

2009-07-09T21:48:00.011-04:00

During long trips, there are two beauty products that I am more diligent with: sunscreen and those that pamper the legs.

For sunscreen I brought L'oreal's Ombrelle Sport SPF 30 Spray. It is waterproof, sweatproof and contains photostable Mexoryl for UVA protection, and titanium dioxide for UVB protection.

The first I noticed was boy does this have a lot of alcohol. After a few sprays, I had to step away for some fresh air. If you've tried Neutrogena's Fresh Cooling Mist, they are very similar.

But I don't recommend Neutrogena's because a ton of dead skin cells ball up when you try to rub in the sunscreen. Because there is so much alcohol, both bottles can be used up pretty quickly.

Despite their heavy alcohol content, sprays can be applied fast and evenly. Especially on big areas like your legs. I can both legs in 10 seconds! Sprays are good for hard to reach areas like your back - I didn't need it for my back but maybe some of you are spending a lot of time in a bikini? =) They are also great for midday reapplication of sunscreen. No need to stop and rub yourself down, just quickly spritz it all over discretely.

Pros: Fast, easy and even application, dries quickly.
Cons: Used up quickly, contains a lot of alcohol which may be irritating for the nose and sensitive skin - do NOT put this on sunburnt skin.
Rebuy? Yes, I really like the convenience of spray sunscreens. But I will alternate between lotion and spray to prevent my skin from drying out.

Secondly, it's really important to take care of our legs and feet! Here are 3 products that got me through 5 days of walking around NYC.

I start with a good pumice stone to rub off all the grim and dirt from walking in flip flops all day. A drugstore one from Relvon has lasted me for a few years, but I just replaced it with my Muji one.

I slather on Burt's Bee Coconut Foot Creme. This will soften your feet and hopefully prevent any developing calluses from all the walking.

Next I slather on Mint Bliss Energizing Lotion for Feet & Legs, $16 CAD for 88 ml, all over the legs.

I also put it over the Burt's Bees on my feet so that it traps the coconut oil in. At the same time, the peppermint induces a relaxing tingling sensation and leaves everything smelling minty fresh - just the scent to put you to bed. The next morning, my legs feel ready for another 12h+ trek in the city.

While we are on the topic of Burt's Bees products, I also brought a sample of their Peach & Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub to try.

I know I said that physical exfoliators are too abrasive, but since it was travel size I thought it'd be perfect for the trip. I also like the extra clean feeling from using scrubs when traveling in humid weather. After one use, I regret taking the sample in the first place! The grains are very sharp and prickly. It was almost painful to use. I don't recommend this product at all. Even though it left my skin soft, the pain ain't worth it! I'm using the rest on the toughest parts of my body...my feet again.

My purchase from from MAC's 25% off sale came in today, here's what I hauled:

Clockwise from the top

Cleanse off oil - I'm very rough to my skin when I use makeup remover + cotton pads so I thought this might be a good change.

Studio finish concealer in NW20 - great for concealing dark under eye circles and blemishes. But it's quite dry, so remember to moisturize before applying.

Tinted lip conditioner in Petting Pink - I love lipbalms and I'm loving pink at the moment.

Duo adhesive eyelash glue - I bought a whole bunch of fake eyelashes from ELF, so I invested in some good quality glue to practice with.

Lipstick in Angel - I'm so happy I finally got this! Time to start exfoliating the lips more diligently.

TGIF!
Babybubblz

Sephora in Vancouver

2009-07-07T17:49:00.019-04:00

It's about time Sephora! Become a Beauty Insider online for free and get an umbrella with the coupon below =)

I think this is such a funny gift, but it'll come in handy. You can always use another umbrella out on the West Coast. The Beauty Insider card allows you to collect points, each dollar = 1 point. After 100 and 500 points, you get deluxe samples of brand name products. Hello free -insert brand you love- samples!

My favorite samples are the mini tubes of mascaras, which usually last me 6 months. Since mascara goes bad after 6 months anyway, it's almost like I don't need to buy mascara. Hm..why am I still buying full tubes of mascara... >< I need to stop!

Enjoy shopping at Sephora in Vancouver,
Babybubblz

NYC - Beauty shopping

2009-07-05T22:59:00.007-04:00

Let's start from the high end:

It's the front entrance of Bergdorf Goodman on 5th avenue! Complete with iconic yellow cabs that fill NYC. Isn't it grand? But...that's all I saw of the high end department store. I was pretty much too intimidated to go in haha. So no Paul & Joe cosmetics for me...perhaps some day when I can really afford such luxuries, or marry a millionaire :P

Instead, I visited a more familiar store - Sephora in Times Square. I've been eyeing Josie Maran cosmetics because I wanted to give natural makeup a try. When I saw these bundled up for a deal, I picked some up. I wonder how these natural formulations will hold up?

Rose set:
Cream Blush in Sunrise (soft pink)
Lipgloss in Happiness (rose shimmer)
Lipstick in Precocious (berry rose shimmer)

Pressed Powder in Natural
Mascara Black

Next I ventured into Victoria Secret during their semi-annual sale. Score!

I fell for these heart-shaped tinted lip balms. Unfortunately they have a super sweet candy/cheery scent that I'm not too fond of. It's going to take a long time to finish these ones...

Drugstores were up next! I picked some old school Softlips, but 'exclusive edition style'. I don't think we have the tinted version in Canada yet.

After trying it out, I prefer the original one in vanilla. The tinted version adds a tiny bit of colour but it also makes your lips look a bit frosty. It comes in a candy/cherry scent (not as bad as the VS one), but I wish it was vanilla instead.

At Rite Aid, I finally saw Neutrogena makeup.

Check out these L'oreal matte HIP duo eyeshadows. So bold! We definitely don't have these in Canada yet.

Lastly, I went to Century 21 in the Financial District. This discount department store (think Winners) was packed on a Friday evening. I was preoccupied with their shoe selection:

I always see the brand Chinese Laundry below, in magazines.

Given more time, I would have found some beauty products to buy. Here's an idea of their markdowns.

Wow that was a long and picture heavy post, hope you enjoyed! Thanks for reading,
Babybubblz

NYC - Soho shopping

2009-07-01T13:45:00.000-04:00

I'm back from NYC and the trip was a blast. I didn't do as much shopping as I liked - as always. There really is too much to see there haha. So again, I spent more than half the trip sight seeing. I did however, visit the Soho neighborhood for the first time to shop.

The shopping highlights include:

Uni Qlo - Japanese clothing brand. It's like a hybrid of American Apparel (basics) and Gap (color palette) but much cheaper. I think they have a great selection for mens casual wear.

Here's the brand up close:

I picked up a few basics including these layered tanks for $10US each.

Topshop - a very popular British clothing chain. To me, this store is like a high end version of H&M. Kate Moss designs for this brand and there were definitely some very Kate Moss pieces - like the cropped jacket. Price wise, her designs were were in the $100-200 US range.

I loved the accessories section! But I always have a hard time picking out jewelery. It seems like such a big commitment because you need pieces that go with more than one outfit. Here are some huge statement pieces that caught my eye:

Do you catch a lion in the collage above?? It's a pair of earrings!

Overall Topshop was a really fun store to visit. I should have given in and bought a statement necklace!

Muji - a Japanese store that makes everything from household items to clothing to bags. I've been in LOVE with this store ever since my friend from HK got me a hobo bag and some pens from this store. I love their minimalistic designs. It reminds me of IKEA, but Muji takes everything to a completely different level! NYC is their only North American location so I was very happy to visit. It was my first time seeing their makeup tools:

Inexpensive blotting paper

I was very tempted to pick up 10+ items, but I stuck to those that I really needed: a pumice stone and a scalp massaging brush. Kinda random eh? But I looove head massages!

You hold it like so:

Use it on dry hair or in the shower to help lather your shampoo. It stimulates circulation in your scalp and should make your hair healthier. Highly recommended for those of you with long hair!

That completes my non makeup haul from NYC, I'll try to do the makeup one soon.

Happy Canada Day,
Babybubblz

NYC in a week

2009-06-15T18:01:00.010-04:00

Summer is here and I hope all of you are planning a small vacation or break for yourselves. For me, I'll be going on a small vacation to NYC for 4 days with my family. It is my 3rd trip there, but past visits have always focused on sight seeing. This time, I intend to devote most of it shopping! Perhaps more window shopping than shopping shopping...

Most things are outrageously overpriced at some of the malls I'm planning to visit, like Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, but it will be fun to see new brands and be inspired by them.

I'm especially excited for Bergdorf Goodman's counter for Paul & Joe cosmetics, a French line that is popular in Japan. Their packaging is very elegant and feminine. Just look at this beautiful bottle of primer:
They collaborated with Disney and released this adorable collection last spring. More pictures and reviews of these products can be seen with the Muse.

I have also seen many Paul & Joe products featured in Japanese magazines. Their primer and face powder were award winners in a Pinky magazine:

I can't wait to see the products in person. But for now, time to focus on trimming down my list of things to get with the MAC F&F sale.

If you have any suggestions on where to shop for unique low-mid end beauty products in NYC, please leave me a comment. Thanks in advance!

Stay healthy,
Babybubblz

Review: Korres Multivitamin Powder

2009-06-12T11:54:00.011-04:00

Korres is a skincare and makeup brand from Greece that is becoming very popular. Many people like Christine from Temptalia love their watermelon tinted moisturizer, silicone free primer and the Muse loves their ginger & vitamins foundation.

I liked this product BUT I had to return it because it broke me out. Ack...someone make my skin behave! Lollipop26 also reported in her video that she broke out from the Korres wild rose foundation which she also loved. Despite Korres' natural ingredient list, there must be some plant derived ingredients we are allergic to. I was looking forward to loving this product =( The powder was exactly what I needed, a setting powder that controlled oil.

It comes in 6 shades, I got the lightest in MVP1:

Enlarge for close up:

Underneath the powder compartment is a good quality sponge:

The powder performs exactly as the name describes:

Coverage: Very lightweight, sheer and natural. It acts more liked a translucent powder, so don't expect any coverage.

Texture: Velvety

Finish: Very matte. This was more matte than I expected - it left my face looking one dimensional - so I sprayed some Mac Fix+ to give my face a glow.

Scent: Powdery corn starch scent which I didn't mind.

Oil control: When used as a setting powder to finish my face makeup, it absorbed oil throughout the day - I didn't have to blot until 2 hrs later than I usually do. So this can double as a oil control product. It would been great for touch ups, but mind the bulky packaging which I wasn't too happy about:

Overall, this is a great setting and oil absorbing powder if you like a matte finish.

Have a great weekend,
Babybubblz

25% off MAC online

2009-06-11T14:00:00.006-04:00

MAC is having their Friends & Family event on June 16-18.
It will work for both US and Canadian MAC websites only.
Discount code is SUMO.

If you don't have any MAC favourites to stock up on, here are some limited edition collections they currently have. The packaging on all the products are to die for!

Naked Honey, an ode to honey, think bronze and golden shades

Style Warrior, a fierce and exotic collection

A Rose Romance, my favourite of the 3, I can smell roses already

Pictures from Temptalia.com

I'm making a small list of things to get. What's on your wish list?

Can't wait for the weekend,
Babybubblz

Review: Neutrogena's 3 in 1 Hydrating Acne Treatment

2009-06-08T16:38:00.020-04:00

Following up on my post about exfoliating, I highly recommend this product for every skin type as a daily BHA (beta hydroxy acid) exfoliator. It keeps your pores clean and prevents blackheads and blemishes. I bought this as a recommendation by Paula Begoun, the cosmetic cop (it's a Paula's pick).

Neutrogena's 3 in 1 Hydrating Acne Treatment, $9-13CAD

Description:

Ingredient list:

It has a thin, milky texture that is easy to spread. It reminds me of a serum and absorbs very fast. The cucumber scent is very refreshing.

I have been using this for a month and I am very happy with it. I use it 2x a day in my T-zone area and all over the face once a week. After letting it absorb for 1 minute, I apply my H20 oasis moisturizer over it. Combined with a clay mask (once every other week), my blackheads are much less noticeable and no pimples have appeared in the last 3 weeks - this has never happened to me. I used to breakout occasionally, especially when stressed. It is also very gently to use - I had no problems applying it to my usually red and sensitive cheeks.

It is my first time treating breakouts with salicylic acid and I can't believe I am jumping on this bandwagon so late. In the past, I relied on Clean and Clear's Persa-Gel with 5% benzoyl peroxide, but we all know that it is extremely drying. It is also effective only after you feel a pimple coming on. I like that the Neutrogena treatment works to prevent the pimple even before it emerges on the skin's surface. I'm stocking up on this product the next time it goes on sale!

Pros: Minimizes/prevents blackheads and blemishes with daily use, absorbs fast, gentle, inexpensive
Cons: Another product to add to my daily routine (but worth it!)

Thanks for reading,
Babybubblz