Monthly Empties (November 2011)

I can not wait for December when school is over. I was traveling last week, so there was no post up. I still feel exhausted, but I really want to post this month’s empties.  

Things I finished during my trip.

product name   (from left to right)                      points out of 5      repurchase?
Neutrogena – Make-Up Remover towelettes                 4                             Y

Befine – Night Cream                                                   3                             N

Aquafina – Lip Balm                                                    4                             Y

NOTD : Sephora by OPI -- Fiercely Fabulous

Today’s NOTD is Fiercely Fabulous, a classic red.

two coats, natural light

I wore pink, nude polishes quite a lot and never thought I would be so into reds.  It is super pigmented and one coat is enough for a solid color. But I found it difficult to remove and it left red residue behind.

I am a little bit hesitated to wear it again, but I will definitely try something similar(of course after I’m done with project 10 pan).

Will you wear it?

Target Beauty Bag

I did an online survey a while back and then received this target beauty bag a week ago. It just came with several samples and a cute makeup bag. I love the makeup bag. The pattern is so pretty and it is actually quite roomy.

I am looking for the perfect shampoo and there happens to be 3 samples. I tried them all, and I liked John Frieda’s full repair quite a lot. The Tresemme one was average and I hated the Garnier one which made my hair quite dry.

I have not tested any skincare products yet, but I am so excited about the Pond’s towelettes.    

NOTD: Sephora by OPI – Just a Little Dangerous

Today’s NOTD is Just a Little Dangerous, another polish from Sephora by OPI. This dark purple is so far my favorite from the glimmer wonderland set. I did not think too high of it, but it’s definitely a pleasant surprise. 

two coats, natural light

I love purple in general, and this one is gorgeous. Two coats are sufficient for opacity. The shimmer is a touch lighter than the base which makes the polish even prettier.

Do you like it?

Tarte -- Lip Service Limited-Edition LipSurgence Collection: Review & Swatch

I have very good experience with Tarte’s products, blushes, mascaras and so on. When I saw this set on Sephora, I did not hesitate to pick it up. This amazing value set includes five exclusive shades and they are all full size.

There are two lip tints (perky, swank) and three lip lusters (glitzy, dazzled, flashy). First of all, they are super moisturizing and they remind me quite a lot of Dior’s addict lipsticks. Also, they twisted-up lip pencils, so there is no hassle to sharpen them.

Here are some swatches.

glitzy, perky, flashy, dazzled, swank

They are not meant to be the most pigmented pencils, but they are quite buildable. 
You can either get a wash of color or build up to the intensity you would like. My favorites are glitzy, dazzled and perky. Surprisingly, Swan and flashy have very good color payoff.

The only downside I can think of is they do not last incredibly long, so if you are looking for something that clings to your lips, skip these. But I would like to say their lasting power is pretty average as far as lip products go. 

Project 10 Pan Update #1

 I started my project 10 pan on October 23, 2011 and I made a little bit change to it. I decided to swap out Boots No 7’s lifting & firming foundation, and replace it with two samples. The main reason is that the foundation broke me out when I wore it consecutively for more than three days. Besides, it is too dark for me now.

skin 79's bb cream, hourglass's full spectrum mascara

I’ve finished two items so far and have not made too much progress on the rest, but I am still trying my best. 

1. MAC Lipstick in Marquis’D (luster)

It is a pinky nude shade with gold shimmers. I’m so glad that I can finally cross out this one off my list. I know it is not completely gone, but I am not going to dig it all out because it is really old and I’m so done with it. Don’t get me wrong. I like the shade, but I have so many other lip products I want to use.

2. Buxom Lash Mascara

This has been my favorite for a year and I think I will keep repurchasing it. It works magic for my Asian stubborn eyelashes. It gives everything I expect, volume, length and you name it. The only complain I have is that it is not water-proof, so I have to avoid it on rainy days. 

If you are interested in my original project pan post, click on the link below. Enjoy!

Project 10 Pan

November Birchbox

I really like the idea of birchbox that you get the chance to test products. And there is always some surprises to look forward to each month.  

However, I feel quite disappointed this month, and I don’t find anything interesting.

The cologne smells exactly like oranges, which is so fresh and juicy. It is the only one I really enjoy, but it is too tiny. 

 I think the nail polish, Noel by Zoya, is so much prettier in bottle than on nails. The shade is not really my cup of tea. Once I painted it on, I could not wait to remove it.

NOTD: Sephora by OPI – Sample Sale

Sample Sale is a very festive shade, and I think it is perfect for holiday season. It has a red base full with very fine shimmers. 

The shimmers are so fine that you can barely tell. It is perfectly opaque with two coats. I have worn this for three days consecutively which is quite a lot for me since I always repaint my nails every other day.

direct sunlight

Will you wear it?

Cleaning Out

It’s cleaning out time!!! I always go through my collection every two months or so and toss out old or loathed products.

I hate the blink mascara so much that I have only used it once or twice. Fortunately, it is only a sample.

One Coat Dial Up by Almay is average, nothing special in my experience. It is volumizing and lengthening, but it gives spider lashes, which is intolerable for me.

NARS - Danmari All About Cheeks Palette: Swatch & Review

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NOTD: Sephora by OPI – Dear Diary

Today’s NOTD is Dear Diary from Sephora by OPI, a milky baby pink cream shade.

3 coats, natural light

I like this color a lot, but the consistence is just awful. It is very streaky, and demands at least 3 coats for a solid color. As much as I love the shade, I still regret purchasing the full size bottle because at $9.5, I would expect much better quality.

Do you like it?

NOTD: Sephora by OPI – Already Famous

 Today’s NOTD is another Sephora by OPI nail polish, Already Famous, a copper champagne metallic.

3 coats, natural light

It has a clear gel base, but it goes on quite opaque. There is silver glitter in it, but not overpowering, and on my nails it shows more bronzed. The picture above is actually more true to color. Under direct sunlight, it is more like a gold foil.

direct sunlight

It applied smoothly and dried pretty fast even with three coats (I did use Sache Vite’s top coat).

Will you wear it?

MAC Hang Loose: Swatch & Review

I found this mineralize blush at CCO (Cosmetics Company Outlet) a while back. I am not sure which collection it is from, but it is right up my alley.

It comes with a baby pink blush and a light purple highlight.

Sephora --Deluxe Fragrance Sampler for Her: Review

Sephora has released fragrance samplers of this year, and there are two different versions. Since I was not interested in the collector’s edition (at $75), I picked up this set (at $50) instead.

If you haven’t known already, this set includes twelve deluxe fragrance samplers and an atomizer, and on top of that, it comes with a voucher redeemable for a full size bottle.  

NOTD: Sephora by OPI – I’m with Brad

Today’s NOTD is Sephora by OPI’s I’m with Brad, my most wanted one in Glimmer Wonderland Eighteen Piece Mini Nail Colour Set (click here for swatches). I’ve heard so much about it and it definitely deserves all the hype.

two coats, natural light

It is a black jelly base full of super fine red shimmer, which is stunning. It looks like red wine on nails, and if you look closer, the shimmer is just gorgeous especially under direct sunlight.

under direct sunlight

Two coats are sufficient for a solid color. It applies smoothly and dries fast as most Sephora by OPI nail polishes. I just love it so much. 

Do you like it?