Guava & Pomegranate

On Black Friday, which sounds like quite a while ago now, I did a little bit of online shopping. So of course I had to go on Sephora. The selection in the sales section was a little disappointing, but I did get away with two things and a little mystery bag of samples. One was a lipgloss (which I'll be saving for something) and the other was this Korres Butter To Go Set. It was $15, which I thought was a pretty good deal for a full-size of the coveted Korres Lip Butter and a generous travel-size of their raved body butters.

This is such a great set to try out their products. I'd wanted their lip butters for such a long time, and at least I got my grubby hands on one! 

I've always loved Korres's minimalist packaging. So much kudos to their brand designer(s)! I'm such a fan! And I also love the fact that their products are really natural. Brand love aside, the set came with a Lip Butter in Pomegranate and a Body Butter in Guava. They both smelled delicious.

I'm a sucker for body butters. They (usually) have nice scents, and are of such a nice, thick consistency compared to regular old, runny lotions. I'd wanted to try the Korres Body Butters after hearing great things about them, but not as much as I wanted to try the lip butters. A lot of times guava scents are obnoxiously sweet, but for this Guava, the sweet was just right. The Body Butter sinks easily into the skin. There is no oily film, and it leaves my skin feeling nice and soft. Love! If there's a mango-scented version...SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY.

These lip butters have been raved about for a while. I remember going to Sephora at various different times to browse, ending up with a lip butter or two in my hands intending to purchase them, only to put them back down reasoning that I didn't need another lip balm. A slightly pricier one at that. However, now that I've tried it, I realize that I really should've gotten them sooner!

The lip butter is smooth, creamy, and moisturizing. Pomegranate gives my lips such a healthy hint of color and shine, which is perfect since my lips have been rather dry and pale lately. It leaves my lips feeling back to normal, smooth and soft, after wearing off. And on top of all of this, it smells great! So much love. I am definitely going back for other colors.

Have you tried these cult-favorite Korres lip butters? If so, what are your thoughts on them? Love them or just another lip balm? Regardless, I highly recommend this set to you if you've been wanting to try Korres butters for a long time like me! And it's a great stocking stuffer. ;)

November Birchbox

My November Birchbox has arrived! It arrived one day after it was shipped, which I was rather impressed about. This month's box was all about giving. Birchbox is supporting a non-profit called The Art of Elysium with this, and I found that pretty flippin' cool. The organization encourages actors, artists, designers, and musicians to volunteer their time and talent to children who are battling serious medical conditions.

Like I said, pretty flippin' cool.

And again I am enamored by the perfect packaging design this company has -- gah, the polka dots! The products definitely met the expectations I set after last month's box. Let's take a look at what I received for this box.

Oscar Blandi Pronto Texture & Volume Spray ($25): What a generous and cute sample! I've heard great things about this line, so I'm really excited to try it. Especially now that I am more fluent in my hair-prettying abilities.

One of the products I was most excited about after watching their sneak peak video was the Stila All Over Shimmer Liquid Luminizer ($20), and it is indeed very very pretty! There's such an opulent pinky-gold shimmer/glow to it.

Next is the Miracle Skin Transformer Vanish Instant Imperfection Corrector ($58): This is such a pleasant surprise! I'm always looking for good spot treatments, and this is a pretty decent-size sample so I'm definitely going to give this baby a go. 

Packaged with a cute postcard was Atelier Cologne's Rose Anonyme Cologne Absolue ($75-$195). It had such a fancy name, so I immediately thought that this would be a more mature scent. A quick sniff later and my assumption was confirmed; it's a little too strong for me.

Last, but certainly not least, was a little packet of a Potato Chip Chocopod from Chuao Chocolatier ($7.95)! Chocolate covered potato chips? Um, hell to the yeah!

I thought the postcard was too cute.

There was a little back story to the photograph and perfume:

"She turned the dial until the safe opened, revealing the diamond. She had stolen jewels before, but none compared with this one. She left a single rose and the scent of her perfume in its place for him to find. In a moment she'd be halfway around the world and he would be in pursuit. The chase began again..."

Albeit a little cheesy, I'll leave you on that note. I'm very pleased with this month's Birchbox and I really look forward to December's. Do you subscribe to the any of these sample box programs? What are your opinions of them? Let me know what you think! ;)

MAC Je Joue

As promised, here are my thoughts on some recent acquisitions from the CCO. But before we get to the reviews, I'd love for you to watch this fun little stop motion clip I made with the products. Indeed, I play with my makeup more than I should.

Did you like it? I hope it wasn't too choppy because I was holding my camera between my knees (since I lack a tripod). Anyway, onto the actual reviews! I felt like being more creative with my product shots by the way, so don't mind me. :P

In order of appearance, first up is the MAC Fluidline in Rich Ground. This was the first product that caught my eye on the shelves of the CCO. The color was just beautiful. It screamed 'fall' to me, reminding me of cinnamon and honey roasted pecans. I swatched the tester gently and immediately asked the lady for a new one.

I finally understand what the hype around Fluidline is all about! It applies so so so smoothly, like fluid. The color is pigmented and stays put for hours without smudging. It's amazing! It has the loveliest subtle shimmer running through; it's totally not a boring brown eyeliner! I can tell I'll be using this very often this season in lieu of black liner. Here's a swatch of the Rich Ground in all its glorious beauty.

All the pretties, yes?

Next up is the MAC Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Supreme Style. I remember when these first came out, people ran out to get them. Everyone was raving about how this was the perfect hybrid of gloss and lipstick. And that really appealed to me because my favorite type of lipstick is this hybrid. I never really got to getting these MAC ones, so when I saw this on the lip display, I had to snag one.

Supreme Style isn't very unique or out-there, it's basically a pale peachy pink with a pretty gold sheen. I chose a more neutral shade because I wanted to get more wear out of it. The texture and feel to this is reminiscent of the Revlon lip butters. It glides right on and feels lightweight and moisturizing. The lipstick has the signature MAC vanilla scent, which I actually quite enjoy. I wouldn't say that this product is as super amazing and revolutionary as it was raved to be, but it is nice to have. I really like the sleek glossy, black packaging for this, though, as opposed to the regular MAC lipsticks.

That sheen is really pretty though, I must say.

Lastly, I have the MAC Sheertone Blush in Loverush. It's a matte deep reddish plum, and I would say this is the quintessential fall blush color. It gives you a natural, flushed color, kind of like how your cheeks get really red when you're out in the cold.

The powder is so unbelievably smooth, and applies really well. The color is pretty pigmented though, so I would use a light hand in order to not look like I'm all bruised up. I think this color definitely suits a lot of skintones, and I read up that it's the perfect blush for dark-skinned ladies. Now, I'm not necessarily dark-skinned, but blush usually never shows up well on my skin, but this does! Praise tha lawd, this does!

I applied it rather heavily and messily here, but you get the gist, right? Perfectly flushed cheeks.

I have to say, I'm very pleased with these purchases. MAC re-promotes their colors a lot, so I wouldn't worry too much about these not being readily available. Be sure to check out a CCO if you must! I hope you're all having a great week. What products have you acquired recently?

First Birchbox!

So I finally jumped on the Birchbox bandwagon...! About time, Maggie. *throws confetti into air*

I signed up in early September and was in queue until two weeks ago. I didn't realize it got so popular! But I can see why now because I got a pretty warm welcome with my box this month. There was a collab option with goop for October's Birchbox, so I chose that one instead. It sounded pretty interesting, so why not? :D

 

I was totally blown away by the simple Birchbox packaging design: plain brown paper box with a hot pink logo that pops out effortlessly. No excessive colors, frills, etc. I don't know, it's just minimalist designs like this that make me swoooon. The goop tissue paper was also too cute. But enough about my packaging love, let's get to what was actually in my Birchbox (or um, goopbox heh).

The first thing I saw was this very generously sized (2.2 fl. oz.) sample of Kiehl's Orange Flower & Lychee Skin-Softening Body Cleanser ($24). The card said, "The brand's new foaming gel has a mood-boosting fruity-floral scent that lingers on skin post shower." I've never tried Kiehl's products before (though I've wanted to for such a long time), so I'm really excited about this one. It smells pretty yummy!

Next was a LUNA Fiber bar in the flavor Chocolate Raspberry ($14.95 for 15). I've actually never tried a LUNA bar before either, and this sounds delicious. I always see my friends with them, so now I will have one too. Saving this for tomorrow so I can snack on it (secretly) during class!

The next thing I found was a full size Essie nail polish ($8) in Power Clutch. I gasped when I unwrapped this! It's a lovely steel gray with a cream finish -- perfect for fall. It's a great addition to my slowly-growing nail polish collection, which is now at a healthy population of FOUR! It's like raising an ant farm. :')

Then, this oddly-shaped sample caught my eye. It's the Joanna Vargas Daily Serum. My eyes bulged out when I saw the full-size price: $85!!! I've never used a serum before, and I'm not sure if I'll use this so I might give it to my mom. Though my dull, tired face might need some of that "brightening effect" the serum provides.

Lastly is the Naked Princess Naked Shine Luscious Lip Gloss in Barely Coral ($26). This sample is so cute and tiny! It's the size of a perfume sample. I swatched this today and the color was really pretty. It's cruelty free (yay!) and free of parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. The label also says that it plumps lips. I'm excited to try this, even though it might die after two uses.

All in all, I really enjoyed my first Birchbox! I can't wait to try the products, and I really look forward to seeing what's in next month's box. There's just something about this whole surprise-in-a-box concept that really wins me over. I hope your week has been going swell! :)

Magnetic Magic

What is this!? A rare nail polish post from Maggie? 

Blasphemy!

Enter: 17 Magnetized Nail Polish in Grey. I received this from Jian a while back, but me not being a nail polish person, never got to trying it until today. I mean, the only thing I ever do to my nails is cut them. (Alas, I am too lazy.) I guess I was feeling a little curious today. Sorry about the sloppy application by the way, I literally have not painted my nails in years.

This specific brand is from the UK (I'm assuming), but these magnetic nail polishes have been popping up in drugstores over here already (I know Sally Hansen has some). The cap comes off and there is a magnet on top. There's also this very helpful little thing-a-ma-bobber jutting out of the cap for you to lay on your finger, which keeps the correct distance between the magnet and your nails. I was pretty doubtful about whether this measly-looking magnet would work...but boy, was I proven wrong.

The nails seem to be reaching for their lovely faucet counterpart.

The color of the nail polish itself is a nice steel gray with a fabulous metallic finish. It applied very smoothly and was opaque in 2 coats. I do quite like it on its own. It's a nice dark color, which is probably not the most fitting to wear while it's still summer but I digress.

Left: 2 coats un-magnetized, Right: 2 coats magnetized.

When magnetized, that distinct tiger bead-like pattern appears...like magic! I was so amazed at every single nail when I lifted up the magnetic cap. It turned into more of a black with gray currents rather than the original gray with black currents. 

Two things though: 1) you have to do one nail at a time, or else the nail polish will dry up before you get to magnetizing it, and 2) "hover" the magnet stationarily. I figured these out too late, hence my entire left hand.

Yeah, that wasn't on purpose. 

But yes, I will be wearing my nails like that. Have you tried magnetized nail polish yet?

Smoldering Lattes: an Infallible Concoction

I recently acquired two L'Oreal Infallibles to add to my collection. I adored the UK-exclusive Sahara Treasure Infallible I received from Jian, so it was about time I got a few more. I got Iced Latte, which I had been lemming for the longest time, and a new summer shade, Smoldering Plum.

The L'Oreal Infallible eyeshadows have been making the rounds on blogs all over the world. Even though it's been months since its first release, new collections have kept the hype going. It's kind of amazing that a drugstore item could cause so much buzz and still maintain it. 

Iced Latte is one of the original shades and has been raved about constantly. The first time I laid eyes on Iced Latte, which was months ago, I knew I had to get it. Although I'm not sure why there was such a delay between my first encounter with it and my actual purchase of it. Laziness, I guess? 

Iced Latte is the perfect champagne color. It has a beautiful pearly finish, and it is amazingly opaque. It applies super smooth, and I imagine it would look fabulous as an inner tearduct highlight. It's just as I anticipated, maybe even more, and I can already tell that it will become a staple in my collection. 

I was just going to leave with Iced Latte, but then this other one caught my eye: Smoldering Plum. Skewed by the horrid store lighting, it didn't look very impressive. It looked like a burnt sienna color, but something still made me look. Though I was wary of why none of them were sealed (are they ever sealed?), I decided to unscrew the cap to get a better look, and thus revealed the most beautiful plum I'd ever seen. In my mind, the whole scene was just this giant euphoria of my hair being blown back and the eyeshadow illuminating in my hands. Yes, it was that amazing.

Smoldering Plum is a gorgeous plum shade with an understated coppery pink iridescence running through it. It's really hard to explain and photograph this eyeshadow, but you'll have to take my word on it that it's really something. If those velvet royal purple robes that kings and queens wore back in the day were turned into an eyeshadow, Smoldering Plum would be just that. The color itself, the consistency, and the pigmentation are fit for a queen. I can just picture how gorgeous and "smoldering" this shade would be for a smokey eye.

Swatches in natural lighting, no flash: Iced Latte (left), Smoldering Plum (right).

The swatches above are all from just one swipe of each eyeshadow. The quality of these eyeshadows is really superb. Iced Latte is so beautifully pearlescent and Smoldering Plum is just so deep and regal. I couldn't quite capture the iridescence in Smoldering Plum, but it really is there. If I had been in actual sunlight, the swatches would have definitely shown better on my camera (alas!). But I will definitely show this off in a look soon enough!

Next on my Infallibles list: Liquid Diamond, another unique shade that came out with their summer collection. It's this really complex silver that flashes lavender/lilac in some lights, pale blue in some, and just plain silver in others. I'm not sure if I'm explaining it right but I think...I think I need it. So tell me, have you fallen to the Infallibles craze yet?

Peep my Heart

Witty title, yes? Yes.

These sunglasses had been on my wishlist for years. They're absolutely adorable, quirky, and fun. I had tried them on in store every time I went and always liked what I saw. It suited my face shape rather nicely. However, I never built up enough courage to buy them. Can you guess what they are?

I'm sure it's obvious now, but I got heart-shaped sunglasses! I love love looove them so much. I'm so ready for the summer. They just scream the beach. I can't wait to grow my hair even longer so I can rock these with a cool braid (been dying to try fishtail). 

Excuse the duck face hahaha, I thought these glasses should deserve a silly picture. 

My portion of the city had a massive blackout last night. It looked like a zombie apocalypse outside. My parents weren't home yet, so I packed my backpack with my schoolwork and laptop, a bottle of water, and two bananas and went out to look for some place (namely Starbucks or Panera) to do my homework. However, midway through, my mom got home and I was called back. It was a rather fun experience -- pretty exciting compared to my boring, mundane everyday life. The blackout went on until the middle of the night, so I didn't get my work done (and namely my ESSAY). Just going to talk to my teacher today. I mean, 25% of the school lives in my area and we were all without any electricity!

Anyway, aside from my blackout-zombie-apocalypse story, Happy Hump Day! :)

Fierce like a Flamenco Dancer

...is what I think I am when I wear this lipstick: NARS's accurately-named lipstick in Flamenco.

As you may have spotted in my last post, I received some Sephora goodies in the mail, and one of them was this lipstick. It's my first ever red lipstick. I have a red lipstain, but I never owned an actual red lipstick. Red lipstick just oozes maturity to you, right? Well at last, I have gone through this rite of passage successfully, and I finally feel a little grown up.

Let's pretend this was the reason I bought it on my birthday a few weeks back (I really was just on the hunt for something NARS).

Matches the book, huh? Writing my research paper on Roald Dahl.

What I like most about this lipstick is that it's sheer, which makes it extremely versatile. I can wear it lightly as if there's just a stain on my lips or I can build it up to an intense, magnificent red. And when I do build it up, it's seriously gorgeous. Refer to the picture below!

Left is one swipe and the right is a couple layers. See how natural AND fierce this lipstick can be? This particular shade of red also brightens up my face so much. It instantly gives my face a much-needed lift.

This is definitely a fantastic beginner red lipstick and consequently, a great investment. The texture is buttery smooth, the color is versatile and build-able, and it fades in such a nice way. Basically, I'm in love with this lipstick. It's awesome.

On a side note, sorry for the absence this week. It's been super stressful with all my term finals and I also took the SATs (remember those?) yesterday. It was actually not that bad, or at least that was what I felt during and after the test. I usually need to freak out or something but I stayed surprisingly calm. I really really hope I did okay. *cross my fingers* Also, (if you follow me on Twitter, you'll know but...) I got my top braces off last Saturday. Can you see them pearly whites in my lip swatch?

Back to regular posting this week hopefully! Have a great week ahead!

Tooting this Frutti Lip Balm

Revlon's Tutti Frutti Colorburst Lip Butter.

Yum?

First off, for some reason, I really really really like the color of the cap -- I really don't know why I like the color this much. I also like how it's matte. I love matte-textured things. And of course, the quilting. Basically, I really like the packaging of this. Props to the Revlon design team, yo.

I went into CVS a couple weeks back to get some Revlon Lip Butters. I had heard all the raves about these, so I thought I should give them a try. The display had quite a plethora of shades, but none of them really caught my attention...except Tutti Frutti. It was a nice, bright orange amongst a sea of pinks. I already had too many pink lipsticks, so I decided to settle with this.

Aside from the packaging, I have to say that I don't really think this product is as amazing and life-changing as it was raved to be. Indeed it is smooth and relatively moisturizing, but really, a lot of lipsticks offer that. Essentially, this "lip butter" is like another lipstick to me. I might just be a little put-off by the hype of this product, maybe I'll love it with a couple more uses, but at the moment...I'm not really feeling it that much. I like it, but I don't love it enough to tell everyone to "go out and get them right now before they're gone!"

It is indeed, quite orange. But somehow, it kind of works on my complexion? Hmmm, perhaps I should have gotten a more wearable color...

Dis Blush be Bouncin' around

As I was walking home from school, I went into CVS to grab a little something to snack on. However, I happened upon this display of the new Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blushes. The font for 'Bouncy' was so ridiculously cute and bubbly (I'm a sucker for typography), it drew me in instantly. There were only a couple colors left, so I picked up one of the darker shades, Plum Wine. I didn't own a dark blush, so I thought, why not?

I had heard many things about the interesting texture and well, "bounce." It is indeed really different from anything I've tried before; it reminded me of a thicker version of Jello. It's like the perfect hybrid of a mousse/cream blush and a powder blush -- right in the middle of the two. It says it dries to a powder finish, but I feel like it still retains some of the moisture.

Plum Wine was moderately pigmented, but I'm sure it's much more pigmented than the other colors in the range. (I heard the lighter ones were a bit sheer.) It's certainly not as dark as it looks in the pan. I would describe the color as a berry-like stain, almost as if you rubbed strawberries on your cheeks --which I very much like! It also has a really nice, subtle sheen.

So far, I'm really intrigued by this blush, but I don't think I'll be purchasing other colors from the line. The colors are all too typical, though Orchid Hush and Coffee Cake do look a little bit more interesting. If you want to try this blush, I'd suggest getting a darker shade (due to its overall sheer pigmentation) unless you're really pale!

Have you tried these yet? Do tell me what you think about them! :)