BEAUTY REVIEW: L'Oreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liner in Carbon Black

SOURCE:  Drugstore.com

Here's another quick beauty review as I am just exhausted tonight and ready for bed.  I admit that one of my must-have makeup products is eyeliner.  I have rather small Asian eyes, so without eyeliner, my eyes look tiny.  On the same token, I have to be careful that I don't use too much eyeliner, so that my eyes appear even smaller.

Another problem I have with my eyes is smudging.  Whether it is eyeliner, mascara, or eye shadow, if it's not waterproof or fortified with a primer, the product will smudge and I end up looking like a raccoon by lunch time.  Thus, finding a really good eyeliner that stays put on my eyes is difficult for me.

I prefer lining my eyes with a felt tip liner because I feel like I have more control rather than with a liner brush.  Furthermore, my liner tends to smudge even more with a pencil liner and I don't have to keep sharpening the pencil.  I was really hard pressed to find a good felt tip liner when Maybelline discontinued the felt tip liner I used to use in "Slate."  That was the only grey drugstore felt tip liquid eyeliner I could find at the time.

I was almost ready to panic until I found the L'Oreal Lineur Intense Felt Tip Liner in Carbon Black.  My Maybelline liner at home was down to its last few applications.  I was getting desperate, so I bought it at full price and crossed my fingers that it would work out for me.

It did!  I honestly admit that this is my Holy Grail eyeliner.  It doesn't smudge (even my favorite discontinued Maybelline felt tip liner smudged a little) and it goes on smooth and pigmented.  The felt tip applicator enables me to create thick dramatic cat eyes or think lines to enhance my lashes.  It is long lasting and I rarely have to touch up my eyeliner during the day.  Seriously, this is it.  I am done searching for felt tip liquid eyeliners now that I have this Lineur Intense liner!

BEAUTY REVIEW: Jane Long-Wear Eye Shadow Kit in "Reef"

Jane Long-Wear Eye Shadow Quad in "Reef"

I am really behind schedule tonight in posting my blog entry, so I am going to try to post this as quick as possible without compromising content.  About a month ago, I was perusing through Nordstrom Rack when I happened to find a display of Jane Cosmetics.  I heard of the brand before on YouTube, but did not know where to find this line on the rock I live on.

I quickly rummaged through the display stand and gathered quite a bit of items to try--mostly eye shadows and a bronzer.  At $3.97 for each item, how could I go wrong?  I admit that I went a little nuts, but was unsure whether I would ever see this brand in the store again!

I tried all, but one of the eye shadow quads thus far.  My favorite eye shadow quad so far is the Long-Wear Eye Shadow Quad in "Reef."  The picture on the Jane website does not do this quad justice, so I snapped a picture of the quad with my new camera that I just got for my birthday!

This eye shadow states that it contains certified organic ingredients, including jojoba and almond extracts. It is a mineral shadow that applies smooth with a hint of sparkle for a pigmented satiny finish.  I apply my Urban Decay Eye Shadow Primer Potion (UDPP) and then use my NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Strawberry Milk as a base color.  I then apply the pink shade (lower right-hand corner) all over the lid, the matte pewter grey shade lightly on my crease (top right-hand corner), and the deep violet shade (lower left-hand corner) on my outer crease/eye area.  I blend these colors with a fluffy blending shadow brush and then apply the cream shade (top right-hand corner) on my brow bone and inner corner of my eyes for highlighting.

I find that using the NYX Jumbo Pencil helps bring out the pink shade and the UDPP helps prevent creasing.  Although the product description claims that this is a crease-proof formula, I haven't tested out that claim by applying without UDPP.  Regardless, this eye shadow applies smooth and last throughout the day.  You can use this as a wash of color for work or darken it up for the evening.  I like the pigmentation of the deep violet shade.

So far so good...let's hope that Nordstrom Rack will continue selling Jane Cosmetics!

RAMBLE: It's Hard Being a Girl...Sometimes

SOURCE:  Google

Isn't there a song called, "I Like Being a Girl?"  I admit it.  I do like being a girl.  There are certain things that women can get away with that men are not able to in quite the same manner.  On the contrary, the same can be said about men over women.  While this debate can go on and on, I also have to admit that sometimes being a woman is not all that it is cracked up to be.

How should I put this delicately without overindulging in too much graphic detail?  Monthly visitor?  The curse?  Aunt Flo coming into town?  Whatever women call it, I am suffering through my "monthly" and am not a very happy camper.

Some women are lucky.  They experience very little discomfort or changes at all.  Hmph!  There are some women who really suffer every month and miss days of work.  Fortunately, I lie somewhere in the middle.  I don't get off scott free, but I don't do serious time either.  Between the menstrual cramps, bloating, and fatigue, I am also experiencing some mean indigestion right now.  I think that's the additional symptom that is causing me the most misery right now.

I've always had a delicate stomach ever since I was a kid.  Only recently (within the past couple of years) did I finally go ahead and get it diagnosed.  My hypochondria was acting up and I needed to get some real answers from a doctor rather than self-diagnosis off of the Internet.  After a really disgusting test involving drinking goopy barium, my doctor diagnosed me with a hiatal hernia, which was causing acid reflux and discomfort.  Stress, spicy foods, orange juice, and lying down four hours after I eat are to be avoided.  Simple to prescribe, just not as simple to follow.

Well, tonight I have a double whammy.  I still like being a girl, but there are just some things or combination of things that I could do without.

SHOPPING THERAPY: Drugstore Haul

SOURCE:  Microsoft Office

I spent a good chunk of my Sunday today in front of the boob tube.  This is a good thing since I really needed a day where I could sleep in and do nothing much of anything.  However, my day off resulted in some consequences today, like I failed to balance my checkbook, sort through my closet, and organize my dresser drawers.  It also meant that I delayed completing my must-do errands until much later this evening.

After completing my errands tonight, I stopped off at Longs Drugstore.  The only reason why I entered the store was to check out some of the Tiger brand thermos bottles on sale.  None of the cosmetic brands were on sale this week; probably because the store wants to concentrate on Christmas gifts, items, and decorations.  I really should had known better than to peruse the cosmetic aisles if nothing was on sale.  I really don't know what came over me, but before I knew it, I was picking up a bunch of items that I really wanted to try...TRY NOW.

So, here's the damage I sustained from my trip to the drugstore:

• L'Oreal Paris Youth Code Serum Intense Daily Treatment:  Various YouTube beauty gurus rave about this product, so I am really interested in giving it a whirl.  This serum is supposed to reduce signs of stress, fatigue, and aging.  Damage sustained = $24.99
• L'Oreal Colour Riche Lipstick in Fairest Nude:  Again, various YouTube beauty gurus rave about this lipstick and being that my favorite lipstick brand is L'Oreal, I've been wanting to try this shade for the longest time.  However, Fairest Nude is a popular color and always out when L'Oreal cosmetics are on sale.  Damage sustained = $8.95
• L'Oreal Paris Voluminous False Fiber Lashes in Blackest Black:  This is a new product that contains a sculpting fiber formula that adheres to lashes for a volumized, sculpted lash effect for lashes to appear fuller, longer, sculpted, and curled.  Damage sustained = $8.95
• Garnier Nutritioniste Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller:  This formula is applied to the eye area to decongest puffiness and diminish dark circles.  The serum contains caffeine to combat puffiness and pro-vitamin B5 to refresh and hydrate the delicate eye area.  Damage sustained = $13.99
• Goody Ouchless Headband:  This is the only product I bought that was on sale.  This is a wide hairband with soft flexible tips to avoid pressure points and provide all day comfort.  Damage sustained = $3.14

I plan to do Beauty Reviews for each of these items in the near future.  Total damage sustained tonight?  $62.85, including tax.  Yikes!  By the way, I checked out the Tiger brand thermos bottles and ended up not buying any of them.  Again, I should've known better than to visit the cosmetic aisles.  What a costly visit.

RAMBLE: End of Another Season

UH vs. BYU at Aloha Stadium - Dec. 3, 2011

Today was the last game of the 2011 regular season for the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warrior Football team.  This game had a lot riding on it.  First, it was a long overdue replay of an old rivalry match up between UH and the Cougars of Brigham Young University.  And second, a win for the Warriors would mean an automatic bid to the Hawaii Bowl.

As a long time season ticket holder, I was looking forward to this game.  I remember as a kid the famous rivalry between BYU and UH under the old Western Athletic Conference composition in the 80s.  BYU was notorious for coming into town and beating us time and time again until one night in 1989, the Bows FINALLY beat BYU to the a sell out crowd.  I was there with my dad and remember the stands swaying from the record crowd jumping up and down in celebration.

Then, in the early to mid-90s, the composition of the Western Athletic Conference changed.  Many of the teams in the original WAC left the conference to form the Mountain West Conference.  UH was not one of the teams asked to join the new conference and instead the University stayed with the WAC and navigated through numerous changes in team composition.  I remember going to SMU and Tulane games.

Die hard UH football fans remember those good old days when the BYU game was the ticket in town to get and traffic into the stadium bled out of every entrance of the stadium parking lot.  Thus, tonight's game was one of nostalgia and was long overdue.

We knew that the Cougars were favored to win, but with a guaranteed pick to play in the Hawaii Bowl, it may be enough to inspire the team and push them to victory.  Sadly, despite a strong opening first quarter,  we were not able to pull it off.  Final score was BYU 41 - UH 20.

Thus, the football season is over.  Next season UH will be joining the Mountain West Conference just as BYU has left the conference.  It is uncertain when another match up between these two traditional rivals will occur again.  Thus, I am glad I attended to witness this event and take a trip down memory lane.  On to UH Men's Basketball!  Let's Go Bows!

BEAUTY REVIEW: Herbal Essences Body Envy Hairspray

SOURCE:  Drugstore.com

Yikes, I am behind the 8-ball yet AGAIN!  Here's a quick review on the Herbal Essences Body Envy Volumizing Hairspray.  When I bought this hairspray, it was an alternative purchase to my regular Suave hairspray standby.  Yes, I am kind of no-frills when it comes to caring for my hair.

Anyway, I was out of hairspray and for some odd reason my neighborhood drugstore was out of my favorite.  The Herbal Essences hairstyling products were on sale at the time, so I bought one to try.  I figured, "Hey, hairspray is hairspray, right?"  Besides, I watched numerous YouTube beauty gurus use this line of hair care products, so I figured it couldn't be all that bad.

The picture of the can is a little different from the can I own.  And yes, I prefer aerosol hairspray as opposed to pump.  I think the coverage and hold is better with an aerosol spray.  Despite the different can design, everything else appears to be the same.

I chose the volumizing spray as opposed to the other choices ("Set Me Up" and "Tousle Me Softly") because I was originally going to use this spray for teasing my hair.  In the end, I found this perfect for securing fly aways and setting my hair in place all day.  The only draw back with this product is that it is quite sticky upon application and leaves a stiff finish.  It is a great maximum hold spray, but be prepared for some crunchy curls.  A good shampoo will do the trick though to get the product out of your hair at the end of the day.  I like that the Sunset Citrus scent is fruity and fresh.

However, I will be running out of product pretty soon, and I admit that I will be going back to my good 'ol standby.  Some habits die hard...

RAMBLE: Going Retro...

SOURCE:  The Vermont Country Store

It's the first day of December and I am already running behind the 8-ball on my "Blog-cember" initiative!  This post will have to be fast if I am to make it before midnight!

Tonight I was looking through my pile of holiday catalogs and came across a catalog I never seen before.  At first I was going to toss The Vermont Country Store catalog as it appeared to offer only a election of smoked meats and flannel robes, but I decided to take a closer look anyway.

Thank goodness I did because I found a whole bunch of retro items that I haven't seen in years!  This pink old fashioned dial telephone is the exact replica of my grandma's old phone that she used to keep in one of the bedrooms of her house.  My grandma loved the color pink, so it was clearly the right choice for her to get a pink telephone to match her style and tastes.

For $59.95 plus shipping and handling, you can be an owner of the "Princess Phone," which is an authentic 1959 replica.  Can't you just imagine Gidget lying on her bed talking to Moon Doggy?  What a great gift for someone who is into retro pieces!