notd: nicole by opi pretty in plum (selena gomez)

hi guys! today we've got a selena gomez collection polish from nicole by opi in pretty in plum. i bought this polish waayyyy back and realized that i never ever swatched it on the nails... so here's the photo. this is probably still available online, definitely not in stores. ~Lin-chan ^.~

1 coat cnd stickey basecoat, 2 coats pretty in plum, 2 coats prolinc diamond dry topcoat.

march 2014 ipsy bag

hi guys! my march IPSY BAG* has arrived! (theme: destination beauty). and it's actually mid-month this time! woohoo! ~Lin-chan ^.~

ps, i'm still working on that eyeliner comparison post. i haven't had time to write it up and i feel like i need another round of testing.

here's my impressions:

1. bare minerals marvelous moxie lipstick in get ready (.05oz--mini, ret. $18 for .12oz [$7.50]) -- i'm kinda glad i got this lipstick instead of the moxie gloss in rebel..because i already have and love the gloss and this gives me a way to try other bm products. (i swatched the rebel gloss below too) i like the way this lipstick feels, but i'm not too keen on how the color looks on me. my lips are fairly pigmented by themselves, so it's like a bright pink-berry on me. i typically prefer to stick to lippies close to my natural lip color or ones that are relatively sheer.
• likelihood to repurchase: not this shade, but probably others
• probably will pass off to a friend
2. be a bombshell shadow quad in bora bora (4.8g--full size, ret. $16) -- if i had a choice, i probably would have picked the madrid set, but this one is so pretteh omg. these were fairly pigmented when i went to swatch them all. and actually, they didn't totally want to remove with a simple cleansing wipe! so they're probably going to stay put pretty well! the names of the shadows are written on the box, not the back of the compact, but they are: (top) starlet, bora bora, (bottom) rock bottom, risky business.
• likelihood to repurchase: maybe (i have so many shadows already)
3. nicole by opi roughles polish in on what grounds? (.5oz--full size, ret. $8) -- i love how they sent my favorite color. i'm still iffy about all these textured polishes..they're kinda meh to me.
• likelihood to repurchase: not this collection, but other polishes probably
4. pacifica body butter in indian coconut nectar (2.5oz--ret. $18  for 8oz [$5.63]) -- i can smell this through the seal. it's really nice but i don't know that i'd necessarily want to wear this. it's a sweetened coconut, sorta floral but not totally scent.
• likelihood to repurchase: maybe others
• probably will pass off to a friend
5. white ipsy bag with multicolored designs -- this bag is kinda meh. i'm not totally sure how they think this pattern has something to do with traveling, but ok. kudos for teaming up with an artist in making it though.
6. card with company info/discount codes
1. bareminerals.com: [unique code]
2. beabombshellcosmetics.com: 40% off purchase & free fuschia lip crayon, code: ipsy40 (exp. 4/15/14)
3. pacificabeauty.com: 20% off purchase, code: ipsygirl (exp. 4/15/14)
4. nyxcosmetics.com: 25% off butter lip balm, code: ipsybb (exp. 4/15/14)
5. chella.com: 25% off purchase, code: eyeliner (exp. 4/15/14)
6. dermstore.com: 15% off klorane purchase, code: ipsy (4/30/14)
7. pixibeauty.com: 25% off purchase & free ship after $50, code: flawlesspixi (exp. 4/15/14)
8. misshaus.com: free gift with purchase, code: ipsy (exp. 4/15/14)
9. vitaliberata.com/ipsy: buy pHenomenal 2-3 week tan lotion & get 3 free gifts & free shipping, code: ipsy (4/30/14)

approximate product value: ~$37.13

rebel, get ready, bora bora quad: starlet, bora bora, rock bottom, risky business (swatched over ud original primer potion)

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november hauls

  

hi guys! here's my monthly hauls post. a lot of these purchases were made while xmas gift shopping. so yeah. anywho, here's what i got! ~Lin-chan ^.~

artestile buttercup kit & studded bag--giveaway win from thefabzilla

 
swatches: complex, demure, strawberry milk, milk, black bean

1. bbw: 2 for $22 candles! fresh balsam & lemon mint leaf, forever midnight perfume
2. cvs: revlon lippies in complex & demure

 

left: giovanna, 2nd: kotori

1. zoya: for halloween, they were having free shipping and a free polish, so i got giovanna and kotori.
• kotori is more of a sheer, dark-based polish with blue shimmer particles
• giovanna is a gorgeous metallic emerald
2. cvs: nyc smooth skin pressed powder
3. target: nyc smooth skin loose poweder, nyx jumbo eye pencil trio (strawberry milk, milk, black bean)
• i've decided to give milk a second try. i didn't like it the first time i bought it, but maybe now that i've become better at makeup application, we'll give it another shot.
4. amazon: used ebates* credits & opinion outpost* points to get a sigma F80 & joby gorillapod original
• if you buy sigma products through amazon, make sure the seller is authorized and listed on the sigma website
• gorillapods are a type of camera tripod with ball-jointed legs so that you can position them onto any surface, gripped or wrapped around different surfaces like rocky terrains or railings.

 
fishwife, pretty in plum, bluecoat, bluecoat & leccy

1. beauty.com: had a couple drugstore.com dollars to spend, and i saved up some opinion outpost* points, so i got butter london holiday ice lacquer and overcoat duo (bluecoat & leccy), nicole by opi selena gomez pretty in plum, elf studio powder brush (the flat-topped one), and a travel-size of psssst! dry shampoo. i've suddenly gotten an interest in trying dry shampoo out and i needed a little bit more to get to the $35 free shipping anyway.
2. beauty.com part 2: (20% off friends and family sale) butter london fishwife, pair of sea bands to try when i get nausea from migraines (ytmmbi: frmheadtotoe)

• sephora vib sale: clinique clarifying lotion 3 & dramatically different moisturizing gel, benefit rockateur blush, becca the one perfecting brush, dior creme de rose lip balm, benefit gimme brow in medium/deep, l'occitane hand cream in cherry blossom; tote bag, urban decay 500 point gift
• not impressed by the creme de rose..so it got returned. it chapped me and i didn't realize that it literally is rose scented...(more like i didn't totally read the description....)
• i think i'm going to leave rockateur in it's box; i deboxed all my other benefit blushes but i really like the packaging on this one
• code-samples with other sephora xmas-gift purchases: too faced better than sex mascara, benefit creaseless cream shadow in no pressure!, sephora merry crazy sample blitz in holly jolly nourishment

brownie, petal, inspired, rockateur, gimme brow, no pressure!, mushroom (swatched over ud antiaging primer)

1. tarte's website was having a free full-size glamazonian clay lipstick of my choice (inspired) with a holiday item purchase. so, score i got a free lipstick by buying an xmas present, and they sent me some bag tags
• note: that is the lipstick fully dispensed. like for real. whattttttttt? so tiny!
2. ulta 20% off sale: opi nail envy (original), essence nail art dry drops, nyx butter balm in brownie, the body shop olive body butter mini from the 6pc set (not pictured: 2x earth therapeutics soothing beaded gel eye masks--great for migraines when frozen!)

 

michaels: they have these cute ornament kits for $1-5 for kids and i really liked this one...for me! but he came out a little funny. cute, but funny. haha.

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fotd & notd! nicole be ama-zing and pros & confidence

hi all! here's to bringing you my first face of the day photo! ~Lin-chan ^.~

products used:

eyes

• too faced (original) shadow insurance
• wet n wild nude awakening palette (top half: both browbone shadows & eyelid shadows)
• urban decay 24/7 liner in zero
• eyeko skinny liquid eyeliner
• tarte multiplEYE lash primer
• urban decay supercurl mascara
• nyx brow shaper

lips

• fleur de bees lip balm (locally made!)
• smashbox o-gloss

face

• too faced primed and poreless pure
• covergirl outlast stay fabulous 3-in-1 foundation in 825 buff beige
• revlon photo ready concealer in light medium
• sephora mineral compact foundation (light/r 15)
• clinique fresh bloom all over color in posy
• philosophy amazing grace shimmering face powder
• urban decay de slick spray

brushes

• real techniques expert face brush (from the core collection)
• eco tools powder brush (from mineral brush set)
• posh angle brush
• avon blush brush
• crown brush pro blending fluff
• makeup academy e1 & e2

hair

• mystic divine nourishing oil treatment (into damp hair & let air dry)
• paul mitchell hot off the press (thermal protection spray)
• one n only 1-inch argan heat flat iron

may hauls! (updated)

    

hi all! here's what i've gotten this month. i wanted to get this up because i've included a bunch of coupon codes and sale info on here! (see hautelook section for coupons, mua is having buy 3 for 2!)

nume purple zebra curl jam set -- i actually ordered this toward the end of march, and it's been back ordered until now. they have a lot of coupons floating around for their products, a good number of the people i follow have their own affiliate codes for specific tools or just $110 (or so) toward your purchase. if you can't find an active nume code, the person in charge of their instagram will give them to you if you ask. also, now through 10/31, there is a 60% off a single item code: ipsy60. [note, they charge a butt load on shipping. i paid $12!]

• i was super surprised, included in my box were bottles of their moisturizing shampoo & conditioner and a matching thermal pouch. this pouch isn't exactly a pouch, but more like a mat that you can velcro in half. the inner side looks like that shiny space material that they use in the accordion-style car sun shades.
• included in the curl jam box was a 1-in fashonista flat iron (adjustable temperature), a glove--so you don't burn yourself, and the curling wand (adjustable temperature) with 19mm, 25mm and 32mm barrels.
• sooo excited to start using this!

berry, celebutante (over ud original eye primer), demolition, shiva

hautelook* beauty bag: mid april, they were selling their spring beauty bag, so i went ahead and got one despite a long internal struggle to decide.

i was actually kinda sad when i opened this package: of all the items, i really wanted to try this blush out. i contacted hautelook and it was great: they were able to give me a partial refund since they didn't have replacements. i think i might crush it up completely and put it into an empty sifter jar.

• ud pencil in demolition
• lorac eyeshadow in celebutante, 3D lashes mascara in black
• crown brush pro blending fluff -- seems similar to sigma e25, but not as soft
• nyx lipstick in shiva
• stila all over shimmer liquid luminizer packettes in pink, rose gold, and bronze
• laura geller mini blush-n-brighten in berry
• suki skincare exfoliate foaming cleanser
• la fresh beauty wipes
• jessica simpson vintage bloom sample
• coupons:
• laurageller.com: 15% off purchase: hlbbapr13 (exp. 4/1/14)
• loraccosmetics.com: 10% off purchase & free ground shipping: lovelorac (exp. 6/30/13)
• nyxcosmetics.com: 20% off on any extra creamy round lipsticks: lipcrush (exp. 6/1/13)
• smilesciences.com: $50 toward rx strength teeth whitening pen: hautelook (does not expire)
• sukiskincare.com: 10% off: hlbb413 (exp. 6/1/13)

 

BeautyTidbits giveaway: couture gel nails kit with after midnight, vip list, and supermodel. i will have to try these out sometime, i can't use them anytime soon because of a movie i'm an extra in wants us to look au naturale and they're not filming the scene until the first week of june filming in the last week of may. and i'd like to have more time to test the wear on them.

• after midnight: metalic navy blue
• super model: metallic medium purple
• vip list: metallic hot pink

left side, right side; top to bottom (swatched over ud original eye primer)

ebay: wet n wild nude awakening eyeshadow palette

1. a lot of people online were comparing this palette to the naked1 palette, and i see where they're coming from. i'm not going to do a pan-by-pan swatch fest of what seems to be dupes because you guys can go look up other peoples' posts on your own. if you'd like to see my comparison review of the urban decay naked palette and makeup academy undressed palette, click here.
2. shade comparisons:

browbone: it comes off more matte, but very similar to undressed shade 1 eyelid: ud sidecar crease: ud buck definer: undressed shade 8

browbone: ud toasted           eyelid: ud hustle           crease: ud gunmetal           definer: ud creep

3. impressions: both crease shadows are super buttery, just from initial swatching the word "crease" is practically gone! otherwise, this palette is amazing! the shadows are super pigmented and i'm extremely impressed. this is my first wet n wild palette.

quick & messy swatches!! no topcoat. thumb: no polish, pointer: trade winds (3 coats);
2 coats: middle: turquoise paradise, ring: in the cab-ana, pinky: eternal oceans

swatches: sea mist palette (over ud original eye primer), color whispers: ravishing pink & nude shimmer

various locations:

1. maybelline color whispers in nude shimmer and ravishing pink. if i'm able to get it, i'd like to also get sienna sands. on my lips (and in the tube), ravishing pink looks extremely close to lust for blush (permanent color whisper). i don't totally feel like it's worth going out of your way to look for, since it's limited edition.
2. maybelline colorshow nail polish in turquoise paradise
3. covergirl nail polish in eternal oceans...this looks like purple, but whatever. names.. it might be my new lsu go-to purple!
4. revlon colorstay nail polish in trade winds -- was part of a package i bought, it's an interesting nude/flesh color on me, like doll nails or something.
5. revlon colorstay eyeshadow palette in sea mist
6. essie in the cab-ana

*edit*: target acquired. i found sienna sands and i crave coral.

ebates*!!! i got another reward payment! woohoo! so i spent it on more mua! last time, i missed out on the dusk til dawn palette and i wanted more of their brushes (2x F2, 3x F6, 2x E3, 1x F4). and now through 6/4, they've got buy 3 for 2 on everything on their site! check it out!

sally's: wet brush & color club winter affair set (polishes don't have name labels >.<).

• first impressions: i'm really loving this brush. my biggest complaint about the tangle teezer is that you don't have the range of motion that you do with a normal brush. you can hold this brush facing forward or back, using it at different angles and it's not awkward. whereas, the tangle teezer can only be used and held a few different ways due to the range of motion in your wrist.

ulta: got my rewards points in the mail! i got 2 to redeem on my current favorite: macadamia natural oil healing oil treatment, and they sent out an email about a two week's supply of healthy sexy hair soy renewal treatment (which i got in the april ipsy bag and have yet to try, but--hello--free!), and i needed face scrubby to keep at the in-laws'. this is my favorite face scrubber for days that i'm not feelin' it for the clarisonic.

kellogs family rewards/april special k promotion: starting in april, you could pick up specially marked special k products and redeem their box codes for a nicole nail polish trio (3 codes for just red, or 8 for the set). their names are challenge red-y, be ama-zing! (pink), and pros & confidence (blue). despite how these smell a lot worse than most other polishes i own, they're very opaque after one coat with only minor streaking. can't wait to try them on myself!

beauty.com: they were having a deal, spend $20, get a free .5oz too faced primed and poreless. uhh yes please! so, to get free shipping i also got another eos shaving cream in pomegranate raspberry (you can also find them at target). but i wanted to get this pouch because we frequently go back and forth from our parents' houses and i wanted to have something to keep my beautyblender in, not in contact with anything and able to breathe/air dry. the air.port is a mesh pouch with a magnetic clasp and little charms on the side. it also comes packaged with a strip of plastic inside to help the pouch keep it's shape, so you could save it for times when you're not using the pouch. [beautyblender sponge sold separately; there is a dry white one pictured inside the pouch.]

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