saifai: (TH - Secret Look Twins (unknown))


Isn't this the coolest look? Wishing very much to recreate this.

Found on Pinterest here.

saifai: (TH - Secret Look Twins (unknown))
This makeup artist I found on Youtube does some awesome special effects makeup. She makes them look so easy!

Unzipped_Zipper_Face_Makeup_1

Zipper Face Mask

She's also got a Snow Queen, zombie, bullet hole, scars, and an awesome screw through a finger.

saifai: (TH - Secret Look Twins (unknown))

I wrote my initial review of the Covergirl + Olay Tone Rehab 2 in 1 foundation and powder on the Buzz Agent website here (and my before and after photo is there).

 

 

They claim it'll improve your skin texture in 3 weeks. I wasn't sure how well it work for me because I'm fairly sensitive to Olay products, so it could very well make it worse.

 

Texture
Short story is it works great. My 69 year old mother and I both tested it because our skin texture is so different. Her skin is dry and heavily lined. Mine is combination with pretty good lines around my eyes, and occasional acne flare-ups (not to mention my eczema).

 

Coverage
For both of us the foundation had great medium coverage. I tried it both with and without primer, and it blended well either way. I prefer blending with a damp sponge, Mom with a brush. It didn't settle in any lines, and didn't look (or feel) too heavy.

 

Lasting Power
The foundation didn't oil up too bad in the t-zone if I used an oil reducing moisturizer. Mom had zero problems. It lasts several hours, even on super hot days. I didn't have any transfer issues on my clothes once it was set. Bonus? It doesn't oxidize on me.

 

Powder
The powder was a bit different. It is actually quite heavy. To set your makeup with it you need to be very delicate. I actually used it as a light foundation most of the time. It stays on pretty well though without building up too much when reapplied.

 

Overall
I love it and will repurchase. My skin actually was a bit smoother, and cleared up of eczema. I got so many compliments on my complexion. That in itself is worth it yo me. Try it if you've got combination to dry skin, especially if age is becoming an issue.

saifai: (TH Bill Makeup (unknown))
This is the last of the products I'm reviewing from the ones I got a chance over Christmas from the Influenster VoxBox program. This time it was a lipgloss.

WHAT THEY SAY:
NYC New York Color Liquid Lipshine



Straight from the city that never sleeps, NYC New York Color offers products with uptown style at down-to-earth prices, from $.99 - $4.99. The energy, style and color of New York City shines through the wide range of shades, textures and innovative products. NYC always delivers the most on-trend products & shades hot off the runway!

A beauty-editor favorite is Liquid Lipshine ($2.49). It has pure pigments that created a 3-D gloss effect. Vitamin E provides shine and a moisturizing feel. The formula is non-sticky, super shiny & soft. Available in 10 on-trend shades from neutral nudes, to berries & fuchsias. Start shopping for NYC at these stores nearest you: Walmart, Target, Rite Aid, CVS, Family Dollar, Duane Reade, Kmart, HEB, and others. Visit newyorkcolor.com to check out all shades and fun products from New York Color!


WHAT I SAY:
Packing: 5/5
- Sturdy, not at all cheap looking. A bit classy.

Texture: 5/5
- Smooth. Not at all sticky. Went on nicely.

Scent: 5/5
- Odd to comment on this, but it was very nice. Sweet.

Color: 5/5
- Sheer, peachy nude with a very slight shimmer. Loving it. (Nude York City)

Overall: 5/5
- For a lip gloss, this stayed on surprisingly well. I had a nude color that was just what I was looking for to wear either with smoky eyes, or over the top of bold lipstick. It wasn't sticky at all. The product itself held up under various temperature conditions without changing texture, which is also a plus for me. My lips stayed moisturized, which is good as so often these types of glosses dry out my lips something awful. It's another cost effective brand, but at the same time far out performs some of the higher end glosses I have (I love my glosses but they can drive me nuts sometimes).
saifai: (TH Bill Makeup (unknown))
Here's another of the products I got a chance over Christmas to test out a few products through the Influenster VoxBox program. I'm fairly particular about what I put on my skin since it's so sensitive, so this mask rather surprised me.

WHAT THEY SAY:
Montagne Jeunesse Fruit Smoothie Mask



Fun, pampering beauty treats

Whether you enjoy looking after your skin, being pampered, or indulging in some me-time, be it alone or with friends, you will absolutely enjoy one of these ‘Life Little Pleasures’… With a huge array to choose from, our face masques are packed with the most delicious natural ingredients and are bursting with luscious fragrances. Suitable for all different skin types, there is one to suit every mood and everybody!

Montagne Jeunesse beauty treats are free of parabens, vegetarian approved and never tested on animals. So treat yourself today to a masque that will hydrate, nourish and leave your skin cleansed, smooth and glowing. Available at ULTA Beauty, Walgreen’s, Claire’s, Walmart, Kroger, CVS Pharmacies and other retailers across the US, these masques are available in a variety of succulent flavours, including:

Cucumber Peel Off
Passion Peel Off
Dead Sea Mud
Fruit Smoothie
Strawberry Souffle
Chocolate Mud
And many more!


WHAT I SAY:
Packing: 5/5
- Super cute and colorful. It's eye-catching, and something I'd likely head for and pick up as I'm passing it in the store.

Texture: 5/5
- It was rather smooth actually. White, and creamy, A bit on the thick side, but it's a mud mask so that's to be expected. Not too sticky though, which for me can be a bit off-putting.

Scent: 5/5
- Smelled really nice. It's a thing. My regular brand, though I dearly love how it treats my skin, smells rather chalky. I hate it. This one though was very pleasant.

Overall: 5/5
- I had to compare this one to my regular ProActiv brand, and I was actually surprised. It left my skin smooth and glowing. It didn't bother my skin at all, which is always a plus for me. For the price, I'm more willing to use this one regularly. A bit more cost effective for me right now. It dried quickly and turned a brilliant white, which was a bit funny. Still that white color was very useful to know when you're done and ready for rinsing. My skin didn't feel too dry or tight with the mask on. It did take a bit to make sure I got it all off, but I actually used a beauty brush to scrub it a bit (which turned out to be a very messy, but effective method). A washcloth would work about the same.

I personally like using a mask once a week or so to help clear my skin after putting makeup on all week, but for the price this one is a great one to go for. The results make it more than worth it too. Might give it a try it if you see it in the stores.
saifai: (TH Bill Makeup (unknown))
I got a chance over Christmas to test out a few products through the Influenster VoxBox program. I rather loved a few of them and figured I'd feature a few and share my thoughts. First was the press-on nails. Not usually my thing, but they had the cutest nails designs.

WHAT THEY SAY:
imPRESS Press-On Manicure



This changes everything!

Introducing imPress Press-On Manicure by Broadway Nails, the revolutionary way to apply polish! Featuring advanced nail technology, you can get a salon-perfect manicure in seconds – simply peel off, press on, and you're done. There's no drying, a killer shine and a manicure that lasts up to a week! And, imPress is so easy to remove, you can change it up to match your mood as often as you want. Check out all 36 colors and patterns, including trendy brights, classic darks and animal prints. With imPress, your nails will always be your best accessory.

imPress Manicure retails for $5.99 for colors and $7.99 for patterns, and is available at CVS, Rite Aid, Duane Reade, KMart, Walgreens, Walmart and more. For a full list of online and in-store retailers, visit imPressManicure.com, where you can download an exclusive coupon and virtually try on all the colors and patterns!


WHAT I SAY:
(I took pictures but haven't uploaded them yet, so hang in for that)
Packing: 5/5
- Very clever packaging putting the nails in something resembling a nail polish bottle. Easy to store the unused nails in the close-able package.

Nail Design: 5/5
- Cute and spunky. I wore them with a black and white floral dressy outfit.

Ease of Application: 4/5
- They went on very easy on the first hand. By the second though, I found it a bit awkward to pull the protective tab off the back of the nails.

Fit of Nail: 4/5
- They had nails that fit rather well. I had trouble with fitting one to my middle finger as they curved a bit too much inside for my flat nails and wouldn't adhere as tight as I would have liked.

Longetivity: 3/5
- For the most part they stayed on well, though not as long as promised. I lost one nail on the third day. The finish on the nails wore on the tips by the end of the first. I suspect if you apply a coat of clear top coat and be careful with them, they'll last much longer.

Overall: 4/5
- They're quick and easy to apply. I love the super shiny finish that's worlds apart from the nails of the past that my Grandmother favored. The fit was a bit off on a couple nails, showing the barest edge on the sides, but wasn't enough to be noticeable except under very close inspection. Only one nail pried loose by the third day (the one that never did fit quite right), but I felt I had to be a bit extra careful not to use my newly manicured hands to do any sort of prying or scraping (so don't go working in the garden with them!).

Despite that, they held on rather well. I never had luck with fake nails in the past. I would always have one or two come off before even one day was out. The active lifestyle nail length worked wonderfully for me in this case. I think if they were any longer I just might have had one come off, as I'm notoriously hard on my nails. The finish held up fairly well for the promised full week (far longer than they would with traditional painted nails), though I did have the tips wearing of their painted finish very slightly by the end of the second day. I'm not sure I'd use these every day, but if you're short on time and want some pretty nails fast then these are a great solution.

Some of the finishes on the nails are pretty cool and would be hard to achieve anywhere but a nail salon, so that's another in the plus column for selecting this particular brand. As a side note, I've got dry brittle nails and had worried about making my nails worse. Didn't happen though, even when I was prying the nails off. Even if you try them only once, they're totally worthy it.
saifai: (Wall-e Rubiks Cube (sporkyadrasteia))
  • Been feeling under the weather the past two days. Though my dizzy spells have never abated the migraines have been off and on. Yesterday I had severe migraines pretty much all day. Today it was being sick to my stomach.
  • Getting more comfortable in my paranormal investigation group. It's rather hard for me to come out of my shell. I'm trying to make a point of socializing more, and not isolating myself so much. I know I'm never going to come out of my depression if I don't take steps to protect myself. So, out of the hobbit hole I come.
  • Been watching a few films on Netflix during the day while I'm working. One in particular just tickled me. I wasn't all that impressed with the quality of the film, as I thought the plot very... incomplete. However, it was a treasure to see wee little baby-faced Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, and Cary Elwes. A film from way back in 1984 titled "Another Country". Best bit of it is that it takes place at an all boys school, in England, and Rupert's boyfriend is Cary. *squee*
  • Colored my hair a different shade than usual. Went with medium reddish brown, which on my already dark hair turns out more like a black henna color. It's black, but with a red tint. Of course, my grey hairs turned out a reddish brown, so it's got an odd highlighting to it. Not sure I like it, but it's good for now.

    That's it for now. Time to rest a bit and see if that doesn't make me feel a bit better.

    Hope everyone else's day/week/month/year have been going well.
  • saifai: (Wall-e Rubiks Cube (sporkyadrasteia))
  • Been feeling under the weather the past two days. Though my dizzy spells have never abated the migraines have been off and on. Yesterday I had severe migraines pretty much all day. Today it was being sick to my stomach.
  • Getting more comfortable in my paranormal investigation group. It's rather hard for me to come out of my shell. I'm trying to make a point of socializing more, and not isolating myself so much. I know I'm never going to come out of my depression if I don't take steps to protect myself. So, out of the hobbit hole I come.
  • Been watching a few films on Netflix during the day while I'm working. One in particular just tickled me. I wasn't all that impressed with the quality of the film, as I thought the plot very... incomplete. However, it was a treasure to see wee little baby-faced Colin Firth, Rupert Everett, and Cary Elwes. A film from way back in 1984 titled "Another Country". Best bit of it is that it takes place at an all boys school, in England, and Rupert's boyfriend is Cary. *squee*
  • Colored my hair a different shade than usual. Went with medium reddish brown, which on my already dark hair turns out more like a black henna color. It's black, but with a red tint. Of course, my grey hairs turned out a reddish brown, so it's got an odd highlighting to it. Not sure I like it, but it's good for now.

    That's it for now. Time to rest a bit and see if that doesn't make me feel a bit better.

    Hope everyone else's day/week/month/year have been going well.
  • saifai: (TH Bill Makeup (unknown))
    Makeup has been somewhat of a hobby for me these days. Not sure what the sudden interest is coming from, but there it is.

    Part of it started when I'd wanted to make some of my own products, lotions and soaps just to start. I'd toyed with the idea of making my own mineral makeup too.

    New Supplier
    I had a wholesale supplier I'd been buying my ingredients from, but they'd recently changed the direction of their business. Left me without a supplier so I went on the hunt.

    So, so glad I did. Found a new place, Essential Wholesale that had lots more to choose from. If there's an ingredient to use, these people have got it. They've also got a far wider range of bases to choose from. Some of their essential oil mixes take a lot of the work out of figuring which ones to use.

    Mineral Makeup
    Bonus? They've got makeup bases (including a newly offered colorless foundation). They do everything, except for mascara (though I suspect the ingredients are there). I'm finding though that these are the sort of folks that some makeup companies will come to in order to get their own supplies.

    Repackaging Wholesale
    There's been a bit of a kerfuffle in the makeup industry recently over repackaged products. Not an entirely unique concept. I think they call it private label repackaging. Companies like Lime Crime will claim to make their own products, when actually they're likely just buying wholesale from places like TKB and repackaging it.

    Costs
    The huge problem with that is the ginormous markup. A 10g pot of eyeshadow costs maybe $12 from Lime Crime. You can get it wholesale from TKB (though under a different name) for $1.50 an ounce. Per ounce, the cost of repackaged products from companies like Lime Crime comes up to a bit higher than more top of the line cosmetics MAC.

    As I said, repackaging isn't an entirely new concept. But if I can get it cheaper straight from the source, I'm all for it.
    saifai: (TH Bill Makeup (unknown))
    Makeup has been somewhat of a hobby for me these days. Not sure what the sudden interest is coming from, but there it is.

    Part of it started when I'd wanted to make some of my own products, lotions and soaps just to start. I'd toyed with the idea of making my own mineral makeup too.

    New Supplier
    I had a wholesale supplier I'd been buying my ingredients from, but they'd recently changed the direction of their business. Left me without a supplier so I went on the hunt.

    So, so glad I did. Found a new place, Essential Wholesale that had lots more to choose from. If there's an ingredient to use, these people have got it. They've also got a far wider range of bases to choose from. Some of their essential oil mixes take a lot of the work out of figuring which ones to use.

    Mineral Makeup
    Bonus? They've got makeup bases (including a newly offered colorless foundation). They do everything, except for mascara (though I suspect the ingredients are there). I'm finding though that these are the sort of folks that some makeup companies will come to in order to get their own supplies.

    Repackaging Wholesale
    There's been a bit of a kerfuffle in the makeup industry recently over repackaged products. Not an entirely unique concept. I think they call it private label repackaging. Companies like Lime Crime will claim to make their own products, when actually they're likely just buying wholesale from places like TKB and repackaging it.

    Costs
    The huge problem with that is the ginormous markup. A 10g pot of eyeshadow costs maybe $12 from Lime Crime. You can get it wholesale from TKB (though under a different name) for $1.50 an ounce. Per ounce, the cost of repackaged products from companies like Lime Crime comes up to a bit higher than more top of the line cosmetics MAC.

    As I said, repackaging isn't an entirely new concept. But if I can get it cheaper straight from the source, I'm all for it.
    saifai: (Beaker - meep (Saifai))
    I've been dabbling in making products of my own for years now. Partly because of my allergies I find it hard to come by products that do their job without making me break out in a rash.

    My recent problems have been plaguing me since winter set in, and my lips are horribly chapped. I've been playing around with mixtures and came up with one that seems to be working so far. Thought I might share it with you.

    The process... )

    So far so good. Not sure yet if it'll help keep my lips soft with long term use, so we shall see.

    Next up I'm toying with the idea of using hydrosol from Owyhee (A. ludoviciana) in a lotion to help with my eczema. Supposed to be a lovely anti-inflammatory.
    saifai: (Beaker - meep (Saifai))
    I've been dabbling in making products of my own for years now. Partly because of my allergies I find it hard to come by products that do their job without making me break out in a rash.

    My recent problems have been plaguing me since winter set in, and my lips are horribly chapped. I've been playing around with mixtures and came up with one that seems to be working so far. Thought I might share it with you.

    The process... )

    So far so good. Not sure yet if it'll help keep my lips soft with long term use, so we shall see.

    Next up I'm toying with the idea of using hydrosol from Owyhee (A. ludoviciana) in a lotion to help with my eczema. Supposed to be a lovely anti-inflammatory.
    saifai: (Alien Aaah (Base by little_needle))
    “Creativity is piercing the mundane to find the marvelous.” ~ Bill Moyers

    Summer = New Job
    Summer is fast approaching.  That means that in two weeks or so (more like three actually) I'll be getting a week off before starting up the summer routes.

    It also means I'll be looking for a new job.

    I need something new.  Somebody where nobody knows my name (or that of my ex-husband).  I've been thinking of looking at the university here for something.  They get state benefits, and I'd also get discounted fees on my classes.

    Honestly, I'd settle for file clerk or office assistant if it meant higher pay (which is more than likely) and good benefits.

    Better fake bake?
    I've been getting a flurry of product samples lately.  I got a new one that I've been enjoying.  Dover Energy Glow Daily Moisturizer with Self-Tanners.  It's pretty cool actually.  I've used products before that say "it builds gradually," but you still get it coming in faster than it should.  They usually come with odd splotches and lines from where you've overlapped the application.

    Not so, says I, with this new one.  It really does go on like a moisturizer.  The tan builds very natural.  I don't have any odd splotches.  The color is very even, and it's not even orange so far.  And for $8 for a gihugic body lotion sized bottle?  Not bad at all.

    Voldemort can be fluffy too, ya' know... *hmph*
    Okay.  I caught myself reading something with Voldemort in it.  And he was kinda sorta the good guy.  And it's all [livejournal.com profile] fantomeq's fault.  This one is rather interesting.  I read it because I've got a fascination with Harry being a magical creature of some sort.  He's not really in this one, but darn close enough.  It skips right past the standard issue "Harry is abused then abandoned" part and gets right into the good stuff.  It starts out when he's adopted by his new family.  The thing about Voldemort in this one is that he really is OC, but they've got some darn good explanations as to how it happened that way.  It was... intriguing.
    Snake Boy by Random Dispatcher
    Summary:Harry was abandoned by the Dursleys at the tender age of four, and a magical serpent took him in and brought him up. He grows into a wild child that only understands parseltongue, wants to be a real snake and dislikes human beings in general. And when he decides that a certain Dark Lord should be his prospective mate, all Hell breaks out.
    saifai: (Alien Aaah (Base by little_needle))
    “Creativity is piercing the mundane to find the marvelous.” ~ Bill Moyers

    Summer = New Job
    Summer is fast approaching.  That means that in two weeks or so (more like three actually) I'll be getting a week off before starting up the summer routes.

    It also means I'll be looking for a new job.

    I need something new.  Somebody where nobody knows my name (or that of my ex-husband).  I've been thinking of looking at the university here for something.  They get state benefits, and I'd also get discounted fees on my classes.

    Honestly, I'd settle for file clerk or office assistant if it meant higher pay (which is more than likely) and good benefits.

    Better fake bake?
    I've been getting a flurry of product samples lately.  I got a new one that I've been enjoying.  Dover Energy Glow Daily Moisturizer with Self-Tanners.  It's pretty cool actually.  I've used products before that say "it builds gradually," but you still get it coming in faster than it should.  They usually come with odd splotches and lines from where you've overlapped the application.

    Not so, says I, with this new one.  It really does go on like a moisturizer.  The tan builds very natural.  I don't have any odd splotches.  The color is very even, and it's not even orange so far.  And for $8 for a gihugic body lotion sized bottle?  Not bad at all.

    Voldemort can be fluffy too, ya' know... *hmph*
    Okay.  I caught myself reading something with Voldemort in it.  And he was kinda sorta the good guy.  And it's all [livejournal.com profile] fantomeq's fault.  This one is rather interesting.  I read it because I've got a fascination with Harry being a magical creature of some sort.  He's not really in this one, but darn close enough.  It skips right past the standard issue "Harry is abused then abandoned" part and gets right into the good stuff.  It starts out when he's adopted by his new family.  The thing about Voldemort in this one is that he really is OC, but they've got some darn good explanations as to how it happened that way.  It was... intriguing.
    Snake Boy by Random Dispatcher
    Summary:Harry was abandoned by the Dursleys at the tender age of four, and a magical serpent took him in and brought him up. He grows into a wild child that only understands parseltongue, wants to be a real snake and dislikes human beings in general. And when he decides that a certain Dark Lord should be his prospective mate, all Hell breaks out.

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