Haul and FOTD - Wonder Woman!

I FINALLY got my hands on some stuff from the Wonder Woman collection!! It was finally released here on the 29th and I rushed over there!

By the time I got there, I'd say about 1/3 of the stock was sold out. They allowed people to reserve products before the release date, and that is where most of the stuff went.

I really wanted a mineral skin finish powder. I have always wanted to try one and waited until this collection because the MSFs are HUGE. I really wanted Golden Lariat, but that was sold out. I thought Pink Power might be a little too light for me, but I ended up really liking it and so I bought it :)

I also bought Might Aphrodite blush. Here's a quick picture of the two, I won't bore you too much because I'm sure you've all seen hundreds of pictures of this collection!

FOTD that I wore to meet a friend today

I actually really like how these two look on me! I was surprised at how pink the blush looks on me because I didn't really swatch it, and I was worried that it wouldn't show up on my skin. I like that it gives me just a hint of color and I just love the glow!

Face: 

Stila Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer- g

MAC MSF - Pink Power
MAC Blush - Mighty Aphrodite
Bobbi Brown Concealer Kit - Honey
Bobbi Brown Corrector - Dark Bisque

Eyes:
Maybelline Turbo Volum' Mascara (I kept my eyes really simple because I was heading the gym afterwards)

Lips:
NARS lipgloss - Orgasm

Well, that's my Wonder Woman haul! I actually went to the MAC at the Dubai Mall, which is one of the most popular ones. I'm pretty sure that I will find the rest of the collection if I go check the less popular branches.

Did any of you pick up these items? Anything else from the collection that you recommend?

DIY Salt Glow Scrub

With summer on the way, it's time to start paying attention to the largest organ of our body, the skin. Start polishing up now, ladies, so that you're prepared to bare all when the weather warms up and clothes start to shrink!

One of my favorite scrubs is the sugar scrub, which is basically a mixture of sugar, lemon, honey and olive oil. Unfortunately, we have been having a problem with ants so I am kind of banned from using it in the bathroom at the moment :( The salt glow scrub is just as good, though, and it will be my skin-smoothing alternative for now! :)

There are so many sites and blog posts about this scrub, it's so easy and so effective.

Anyway, here's how I make mine:

You will need:

I use an empty Cool Whip container to store my scrub because it's big and the lid is easy to remove and put back on. Plus, reduce, reuse, recycle! hehe

• Salt
• Olive oil - you can use any oil you like, eg coconut or grapeseed. I prefer to use olive oil because it's heavier and it's a nice, moisturizing treat for my skin.
• Essential oils - again, this is based on your preference. Here's a quick list of various essential oils and their properties. (Sorry, I forgot to bring my essential oil downstairs so it's not in these pictures) 
• A big container (I like to make as much scrub at one time as I can, because I sometimes get too lazy to make more! haha)

Directions:

Measure out about a cup and a half to two cups of salt and pour it into your container.

Start adding your oil.

 I like to add in a teaspoon of olive oil at a time and then mix it. This makes it easier to control the amount of oil you use and the consistency of the scrub.

Keep mixing until your scrub becomes grainy and clumps together. You can add more oil if you like, it totally depends on your personal preference. I don't like too much oil in my scrubs so this is the perfect consistency for me!

Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil or fragrance oil. If you're using pure essential oils, be careful not to use too much as these are highly concentrated. I chose to use bergamot because it's uplifiting, but not too stimulating, in case I want to use the scrub before bed! I used about 7 drops of oil.

How to use the scrub:
1. Shower and lather up as usual.

2. Rinse off. Try not to be soaking wet because the water will dissolve the salt - but you do want to keep a little bit of moisture or the scrub might be a little too harsh.

3. Apply the scrub to your body in circular motions. I like to work from my feet upwards, to help with circulation and also to help work toxins towards the lymph nodes. Focus on rougher areas, like knees, elbows and backs of thighs, and try to avoid scrubbing too harshly on areas with thinner skin, like your breasts and neck. (I wouldn't recommend using this on your face)

4. Rinse off all of the salt, but try to leave as much of the oil on your skin as possible. The oil will soften and moisturize your skin.

5. Try not to rub yourself up against everyone because you want them to feel how soft your skin is! Yes, I have done this before. *hangs head in shame*

I recommend using this scrub before you shave your legs. You don't want to get any salt into any tiny post-shave nicks! Plus, the scrub will help get rid of any tiny ingrown hairs and leave you with an even closer shave (ie smoother legs!)

Note: Please don't use this scrub on any red, irritated areas (eg eczema, dermatitis or sunburn) or broken skin. The salt will sting! If your skin is a little sensitive, make sure you add extra oil to the scrub so it isn't as harsh.

I hope you guys enjoyed my tutorial and let me know if any of you try it out! :)

Check Out My New Name Tag! :)

Hey you guys,

I just wanted to write a quick shout-out post to Hannah from which way to wonderland? . She (very sweetly) made this super cute name tag for me!

Go and check out Hannah's blog right away, and if you're nice enough she might be able to make one for you, too! :)

Thanks again, Hannah! I love it!! :)

Bath and Body Works Haul

I was a little upset this week because I found out the UAE release of MAC's Wonder Woman collection has been pushed back to the 29th :( It was supposed to be released on the 22nd and I was all excited and saved up all my money...then I called them in the morning and they were like 'oh, sorry, it's been moved to the 29th'. GARGH!!

Anyway...I went to the mall to cheer myself up and ended up at Bath and Body Works. I've never been to the one at the Dubai Mall so I thought I'd pop in and have a look. I ended up spending a lot more than I should have. But oh well. It happens, right?

Bali Mango shower gel and body lotion, Fiji Passionfruit body lotion

These grabbed me right away. I wanted something sort of fruity and energizing and these smell GORGEOUS. I have been using the shower gel this week, and my bathroom smells like a giant fruity cocktail for like an hour afterwards!

The body lotions weren't as impressive. The scent doesn't linger as long as I expected it to. The lotion has a thicker texture, but it works better at softening, rather than moisturizing. I applied it right before bed and my skin felt really soft in the morning, but not as moisturized as I thought it would, if that makes sense! :)

Another thing I don't like about the lotions is the price. They are 45 dirhams for 8 ounces. You can find triple the amount for half the price at the supermarket. I'm not a big fan of fancy body lotions because you use  so much of it every day. If I were to use one of these bottles every day (or twice a day as is sometimes the case) I would probably run out in 2-3 weeks. For that reason, I think the shower gel is a better deal.

Travel size Black Amethyst lotion, Cherry Blossom lotion, Cherry Blossom body spray

I bought these because they are perfect to keep in my purse. I just absolutely ADORE Bath and Body Work's Cherry Blossom scent. It has such a gorgeous, clean smell - but also quite feminine at the same time. The body spray is just perfect for the summer, not to empowering and with just enough scent to make you feel refreshed. It kind of smells like you just got out of the shower.

This is my first time trying out Black Amethyst. When it comes to perfumes, I tend to prefer heavier, spicier, more exotic scents. Black Amethyst has base notes of Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Vanilla and musk, which explains why I was so drawn to it. 

The lotion actually has a very light scent. I think this would be great if you are going out at night and want just a little extra vavavoom. 

Pocket-bac miniature antibacterial hand gel: Cucumber Melon, Sweet Pea and I Love Bling

I bought these for me and my mom and sister. We are kind of handsanitzer-obsessed. The I Love Bling one is for my sister because, like most Dubai girls, she really does love her bling!! I took the Sweet Pea one and my mom took the Cucumber Melon one. They actually smell really nice! I like the size because I can take it to the gym. I only take a teeny tiny bag to my yoga and pilates classes, big enough to fit my inhaler, my phone and car keys. And now I can take my teeny tiny hand sanitizer, too! :)

Ooh, I spy a kitty paw!! Bowie loves hauls too! haha

I actually really needed a new bath puff. That's the main reason I chose to go into B&BW. Their bath puffs are great and they come in so many different colors. The one that came with the Bali Mango gel was white, but I hunted until I found a pink one! 

Well, that's it! Three more days until I can get my hands on the Wonder Woman MSF!!! Woooop! :)

Hope you guys are having an awesome weekend!

Liebster Blog Award

The oh-so-sweet and lovely Miss LV just gave me a Liebster Blog Award!

So cute!!  

If there is a blog with 300 followers or less, this award is designed to bring those bloggers the recognition they deserve.

The idea with this award is that if it is awarded to you, you should link back to the person who gave it to you and then choose 3 blogs that they follow to award the Liebster Blog Award to.

So here is a link to Miss LV's blog. Definitely check it out if you aren't already a follower! She's such a genuinely nice person and does great reviews. Plus, she has the most adorable little cat named Bambi! hahah Crazy Cat Ladies unite!!! :)

The three blogs I've chosen to pass the award to are:

Blank Canvas

This blog is actually run by a friend of mine. She's recently been bitten by the beauty bug and I really wish she'd blog more often because she's such a great writer. So everyone go follow her so we can all intimidate her into blogging more. Hahaha, Love you Aisha!

Botoxey

This blog is one that I really like. Nora, who runs it, is just a delight. She's super sweet and I love how her blog combines art and music with beauty and fashion. It definitely proves that there's more to us beauty girls than just "looking pretty"!!

Beauty Meets Kawaii

A super cute blog run by Melanie, a beauty therapist in Australia. Melanie's blog is unique because she combines ultra-girliness with the actual theoretical side of beauty. She has the best tips and is always coming up with creative crafts that make me feel slightly inadequate! hahahah kidding...sort of :)

Ugh. That was so hard!! There are so many blogs that I just love, but I could only choose three. So I've decided that I'm going to jump on board with the whole 'blog love' thing and make a weekly post about some of my favorite blogs. 

Thanks again Miss LV!! :)

Giveaway Winner!

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to announce the winner of my Birthday/100 Followers Giveaway. Thank you so much to everyone who entered! I'm going to have to have another one of these really shortly because I really want to give more of you guys a chance to win :)

But for now...the winner of this one is (according to random.org) is entry #4...

Gabrielle!!!!

Congratulations Gabrielle, I'm going to get in touch with you right away :)

Thanks again to everyone who entered!! I'm going to put together another giveaway as soon as I can. I'm thinking I might give the next one a summer theme :)

FOTN - Girl About Town

Last night was my friend's Norooz party. Norooz is the Persian new year and it's always very fun and festive. I decided to go with a bright lip and what prettier bold lipstick than Girl About Town?

Face: 

Sephora Smoothing Primer

Mac Mineralize Satinfinish, NC 42

Bobbi Brown Corrector, Dark Bisque

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit, Honey (I think I may have overdone it with the powder though!)

NYX Blush, Terracotta 

Eyes:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Stila Smokey Eye Kit

MAC Fluidline, Blacktrack

Maybelline Falsies Mascara

Sephora Matte Dark Brown Eyeshadow (brows)

Lips:

MAC Girl About Town

YSL Golden Gloss (can't remember the exact shade number)

I actually ended up taking off the lipstick. I took it off because I didn't want to smudge it while I was driving, and then I just forgot to reapply it. So, this only half counts as a Face of the Night! :)

PS. Thanks to everyone who entered my giveaway!! I will add everything up and post the winner ASAP!! :)

Weekend Soundtrack

Just some stuff I've had on repeat this weekend :)

TV on the Radio - Wolf Like Me

We actually got to see Kype Malone and Tunde Adebimpe  from TV on the Radio at last year's WOMAD festival in Abu Dhabi. They performed with the legendary Tinariwen from Mali and Mehdi Haddab from Algeria. It was just absolutely beautiful. The stage was put up along the creek so we were standing barefoot in the sand, at night with a giant moon over us. That, coupled with the beautiful vocals and hypnotic beats from the drums made it all seem pretty magical. We were all just totally moved and in complete awe. I can't wait to see what the line up for this year's WOMAD festival is!! It's always nice to get out of the city (Abu Dhabi is our capital, but it's about an hour and a half away and almost seems like another country!)

Harlem - Tila and I

This is a band that I've just recently discovered, but I can't stop lisetning to them! They're really fun, but at the same time, I can listen to them at any time. I don't like it when you have to be in a certain mood to listen to a band. This is an acoustic version of their song Tila and I and it's really nice and chilled, but not too chilled! :)

Benoit Pioulard - Sous la Plage

A friend of mine (who is incredibly into his music) recommended this guy to me. I am a sucker for 'beach music'. I just love the sunshine and the beach and I love anything that makes me feel like I'm on the beach. This song makes me feel like I'm sitting on a warm sunny beach, under a giant umbrella with an ice cold cocktail in my hands. It's just so chilled out, it's like a nice nap in the sunshine :) haha yeah, I need to work on my "wording"!

What songs or bands have you guys been loving at the moment?

FOTN - See Sheer

I went to dinner tonight and thought I'd take the opportunity to wear my new MAC lipstick, See Sheer. I also wanted to show you guys what the Illamasqua Bronzing Duo looks like on my skin.
 I took a couple of pictures, but this is the best I could do so please bare with me haha Also, my hair is a MESS! I wanted to loosen up the curls with my curling iron, but didn't have enough time so I just scrunched in some curling spray and pulled it to the sides. Luckily, it wasn't very humid tonight!

Sorry for the awkward angle, I was trying to get the sides of my face so you could see the bronzer!

Face: Sephora face primer
          Mac Mineralize Skinfinish foundation, NC42
          Bobbi Brown Corrector, Dark Bisque
           Illamasqua Bronzing Duo, Glint/Writhe

Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion
         Victoria's Secret Sultry Nudes Palette (new and will be reviewed and swatched this week :) )
         Sabaya liquid eyeliner
          Maybelline Falsies Mascara
          Daiso Eyebrow Pencil, dark brown

Lips:   Mac See Sheer lipstick

I really like See Sheer, I thought it would be more coraly, but it actually brings out the pink in my lips. The Illamsaqua Duo is going to be a firm favorite, too, because I just love the glow it gives my cheeks. This is the first time I used to VS palette and I think I need to use it a couple more times and get the hang of it. I'm not totally loving it on me right now.

I'm going to try and take more FOTD/FOTN pictures. Not just to share with you guys, but I think they are a great way to document looks for later on.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend!!

PS. Three more days to enter my giveaway!!

Review: Maybelline Turbo Volum' Express Mascara

Maybelline The Turbo Volum' Express, waterproof

I bought this when i realized that I didn't have any waterproof mascara. That is a definite must have as the weather gets warmer (and stickier). The sales assistant told me that this is Maybelline's new mascara, so I decided to try it. Although, I'm not 100% whether it's new or not. 

The mascara wand. 

Maybelline Says:

• Turbo-boost formula and Anti-Clump Brush quickly thicken lashes for up to 7X more volume 

• Contact lens safe, ophthalmologist-tested

• Waterproof

I say:

The mascara applies nicely, and doesn't clump. It holds a curl and it definitely is water proof. I wore it to an aqua aerobics class and it didn't smudge at all. 

The only downside? It really doesn't give "up to 7x more volume". More like up to 0.50% more volume. Here's a before and after:

left: Before,   Right: After (after curling and applying about 5-6 coats)

 I think this mascara gives a nice natural look to the lashes. But it doesn't give the kind of volume that I was expecting. It's kind of "meh" compared to Maybelline's Falsies, which give such wonderful volume. I think it would be great if you want a waterproof mascara that gives you a more natural look, like if you're going to the pool or the beach. It's not great if you want a dramatic look for a night out.

Have any of you tried this mascara? Did you have better results than I did?

Cargo Lumieres Giveaway Prize!

Last month, I entered Shahada from Adventure In Makeup's Cargo Lumieres Giveaway. The prize included the beautiful Cargo Lumieres du Monde Palette, that was released over the holiday season last year, and a gorgeous Bourjois Effet Smoky pencil in Deep Green.  I was super excited because it was the first giveaway I have ever won, and it was such a great prize!

The package arrived the day after my birthday, so it was like an extra birthday present! It got here so much quicker than I was expecting, so I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it on the table. Shahada must have sent it immediately, which was so sweet of her.

Here are some pictures and swatches :)

Swatches of the eyeshadows. They are so lovely, these are just light swatches. The texture is beautiful as well and they are super easy to blend.

Swatches of the blush, bronzer and swirled together. I wore them together at my birthday part and they just gave my skin such a gorgeous glow.

The eyeliner, such a pretty shimmery, deep emerald color. It is super pigmented and so easy to smoke out, it even comes with a little brush on the end to help blend. I'm not a fan of color on my eyes, but this actually inspired me to wear a green smokey eye the other night!

Thanks again, Shahada! I'm totally in love with everything :)

You guys really need to check out Shahada's blog. She's a professional makeup artist and it's always so inspiring to see her looks. She is also incredibly generous and pretty much always running an awesome giveaway!

Happy Birthday Bowie!

My cat Bowie turned 3 yesterday! :) I thought I'd take this opportunity to let out my not-so-inner crazy cat lady!

My handsome kitty!  He was originally called "Fluffy", but doesn't he just look like a "Bowie"? :)

Bowie is my Turkish cat. I'm not 100% sure whether he is a Turkish Angora or a Turkish Van, but I'm leaning towards Van because he looks more like one of them and he has the same personality traits that they are known for. He's just the sweetest, most affectionate cat I've ever seen. He really does think he is a dog. He loves to chase around balls and will even fetch sometimes, sits on my lap when I'm sitting down, loves company and he is very talkative! He yells at me sometimes when I come home late at night. He's also a bit of a mama's boy, he likes to follow me around the house and starts to whine when he can't find me.

Bowie's Story:

Bowie is a "rescue cat". A girl I know found him one day when she was driving to work. There was a car stopped on the side of the road, and the driver was placing a basket on the ground. She saw a cat jump out of the basket and realized that the driver was abandoning it. She got out of her car, picked up the poor petrified cat and started yelling at the driver. She said that she had never seen a cat so scared and that Bowie was trying to get back into the car and had no idea what was going on. 

As she was leaving, the driver came after her and gave her all of Bowie's documents, including his vaccination card and microchip certification. He was just six months old. 

One of the first pictures I took of him. He was so small back then!! He is definitely a big cat now!

She asked me if I wanted the cat, and I wasn't sure at the time because I was just leaving my job and was going on vacation soon. I kind of wanted a pet though, so I agreed to meet the cat. I went to meet them at the vet (she wanted to give him a check up) and it was pretty much love at first sight! Even the vet was confused as to why someone wouldn't want him. She said that he was a pure breed (we thought he was a chinchilla at the time), and obviously someone had spent a lot of money on him. He's also so obedient and good natured, it just didn't make sense. She said that if my friend hadn't found him, he probably would have died. 

Hiding under my dresser

I took him home that night. He was whining in his basket so I popped it open a bit and he climbed onto my lap and just sat there and purred (I have never done that since that time as I realize how dangerous that is!) I brought him home and it took him a few days to get used to things, but he was soon walking around the house like he owned it!

Trying to take a nap, after a presumably long day!

Anyway, that's how I came to be a Cat Mama. Bowie is the first cat I've ever had. I was very much a dog person. Luckily, I have a cat who thinks he is a dog! Whenever I get home from vacation, he can hear my voice from downstairs and starts meowing like crazy! We're a perfect match because I've finally found something as emotionally needy as I am! :)

Anyway this is a long post so I'm going to end it and just put up some pictures of the birthday boy :)

Snuggle Bug

Doing his best superman impression. Check out how long he is!

Is she STILL taking pictures of me? *face palm*

Stuffing himself onto one of his Christmas presents.

Practicing yoga on the bed

Just waking up from his evening nap

Rolling around on top of his scratching post

Birthday Beauty Haul

Just want to share some stuff I bought myself this week. I'm sorry that the swatches aren't very good, I took the pictures at night, but I'll try and post up individual reviews of most of the stuff :)

My first Illamasqua product! Illamasqua bronzing duo in Glint & Writhe - I took this the other night and forgot to take some swatches, but this duo is gorgeous and I will review it very shortly.

Essie Good to Go! Quick Dry Topcoat. I ran out of my usual Sally Hansen top coat so I thought I'd give this one a shot.

Maybelline Turbo Volum' Mascara, NYX eyeshadow - Antique, NYX Mosaic Powder - Truth, NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil - Slate

Swatches: Antique, Slate, Truth

I am really getting into gold and bronze shades right now. Antique is a beautiful gold eyeshadow that isn't too gaudy or bright. Truth is a beautiful bronzey-gold shade that will be so pretty on summer cheeks! I chose Slate because I wanted a softer base for my smokey eyes. Bug from Bug's Beauty Blog recommended I try Blackground paintpot by MAC, but it's a bit out of my budget for now, so I thought I'd try this instead :)

Pink sunglasses and ring - Forever 21

I saw these sunglasses at Forever 21 a couple of weeks ago and thought they were so cute. I totally regretted not buying them and had to hunt them down! I went to three different Forever 21s and finally found them! Plus, they were on sale! I was so pleased that I bought two, one for me and one for my giveaway! I just think they are so cute and would be great for a little color on the beach or for festival season!

Enter the giveaway here :)

Well that's some of what I bought. I also bought lots of summer dresses (that I can't fit into right now! haha) and a pretty floral weekender bag for the gym. I'm trying not to spend too much money, I need to save up for summer vacation!! (I'll be in the UK for a bit this summer, if any of you guys wanna meet up!)

Birthday Cakes and a Slightly Depressing Birthday Story

I have had such a great birthday week. I had four birthday dinners, and four birthday cakes! haha it was really fun, but it means that I'll have to work out super hard this week to make up for it!

While I enjoyed all of them, one of them was a little upsetting. My friends planned a surprise night out for me last weekend. It was so sweet of them! We went to a lovely restaurant called The Med at The Media One Hotel over here. The place was gorgeous, and the food was amazing!! but then....

I went up to the dessert area and everything looked gorgeous! So I asked one of the waiters what he recommended...and he said "for you, the fruit salad". I was like 'WHAT?' Actually, I was just in shock for a bit.

My friend was with me and we were both quiet and then my friend asked "what do you mean..fruit salad?" and he goes "well...because she's fat. She should have the fruit salad or the sorbet because it's mainly water". And then he went on to explain how they add so much butter and sugar into the cakes that I shouldn't have any because of my weight!

Now, when he said this he didn't sound like he was being purposely mean or saying it to shame me or make me feel bad. I think he may have been from India or Sri Lanka, and living somewhere like Dubai, you (quickly) learn that some cultures don't have the same way of thinking as yours. Something might be inappropriate in one culture, but completely normal in another or vice versa. However it was still hurtful to me, and it wasn't something I wanted to hear at my birthday party!!

I didn't want to make a big fuss out of it because I was afraid that if we complained, he would get into a lot of trouble or maybe even lose his job. But then I thought about it and I thought maybe we should mention something so that he is aware, in case the next person he says that to throws a fit or something.

Anyway, my friend went to speak to the executive sous chef and he was very sweet and apologetic. He came over and they gave us all ice cream and a cheese cake. I explained that I didn't want to make a big fuss, but it was obvious that the waiter was just unaware of how delicate these situations can be. I just wanted to make sure that the waiter knew it could be upsetting so he could just be a little more careful next time.

I didn't let it ruin my night though! I think I would have been more upset if this had happened a few months ago. But since I am working out now and taking care of myself, I didn't let it really get to me. I've already worked my way down from a UK 16 to a UK 14 so I know that I am doing good things for myself.

Anyway! On a happier note here are some pictures of the birthday cake I had this week!! :)

A very dark picture of my birthday cupcake! :)

Our extra "birthday apology" cheese cake (which was actually really good, but we were all so stuffed by then that we didn't really eat much of it!)

The final birthday cake! An icecream cake that my lovely friends Zaina and Niz surprised me with at dinner on Sunday!! Zaina had them write happy 17th birthday, because I made a joke about 30 being the new 20, and how that means I'm actually 17!! 

There was another birthday cake when I had dinner with my family, but it had all of my siblings names on it so I'm not going to put up that picture :)

So that was my little birthday drama! I also got lots of wonderful presents and I bought myself some makeup, so I'll post a haul soon :) Hope everyone's having a wonderful day!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

Back 2 MAC

Last week, I bought my very first Pro-Palettes! yay!! hehe I was so inspired by everyone's depotting posts, that I decided to take the plunge. I opted for two of the quads because I thought they would be easier to carry around if I needed to.

My "smokey eye palette": Satin Taupe, Nylon, Black tied, Carbon. "Green & blue": Steamy, Green Smoke, Sumptuous Olive, Electric Eel.

I used this video for extra help:

I didn't use any magnetic strips because I honestly don't know where to find them here. I was a little worried that the magnets inside the palette weren't going to hold the pans strongly enough, so I didn't remove the excess glue from the back of the pan. Instead, I just put the pan in the palette when it was still warm and the glue was still a little tacky. I'm not 100% sure that's not going to come back and bite me in the butt! But we shall see! :)

The lipsticks I picked up - Jist and See Sheer

I originally wanted to get Vegas Volt, because I wanted a nice coral/orange shade for the summer. I tried it on and it didn't look that great on me, so I went for See Sheer. See Sheer is described as "grapefruit pink". It's a lustre finish and it's gorgeous and glossy. I think I'll wear it a lot this summer.

The second one I got is Jist. It wasn't my first choice. I didn't even notice it because I tend to stay away from colors like that. But the SA suggested I try it out and I really liked it! Jist is a frost finish and it's described as "tanned apricot". I think I prefer the lustre finishes because they are glossier. I definitely have to wear lip balm under Jist and make sure that my lips are properly exfoliated because it will bring out any flakiness or uneveness. I think Jist would be pretty with kohl rimmed eyes and bronzey cheeks. It would also work really well with a vacation tan.

Jist and See Sheer

Have you guys bought any new lipsticks? Do you have any suggestions for my next purchases?


Don't forget to enter my giveaway!

February Loves

I've decided to start a 'favorites of the month' post. I made one last summer, but I basically just threw everything into one post.

So here are some of my favorite products from February (can't believe it's already March! It seems like it was JUST Christmas!)

Ecotools Bamboo 6 piece eye brush set, Maybelline Falsies Volum express mascara

My sister bought the brush set for me when she was in the states and I LOVE THEM. I had read so many wonderful reviews about these brushes, that I was honestly expecting to be a little disappointed. I definitely wasn't! These brushes are super soft and pick up eye shadows wonderfully. They are earth-friendly and cheap, too! I can't wait to get my hands on more of them!

The Maybelline mascara also surprised me. I didn't like it at first, it was way too runny and smudged every where. But the second or third time I tried it, it worked really well. I've used this mascara the most. I just loved the results so much that I didn't want to try out other ones!

 Nutraderm Lotion

This was recommended to me by my dermatologist. I've been suffering from severely dry skin all winter, but when I reacted to that facial, my skin also began to majorly peel. This does have liquid paraffin, an ingredient I try to avoid, but I haven't experienced any breakouts yet. I also sometimes apply this as an eye cream and it has drastically reduced my fine lines due to dehydration.

NYX Rouge Cream Blush - Rose Petal, Sephora matte dark brown shadow

This is the blush that I have worn the most this month. It's so easy to wear and I can wear it on bare skin. I apply it to my cheeks with my fingers and then blend it out with my Sigma slanted kabuki brush. It gives me that 'I just got in from a run' kind of glow.

The Sephora eyeshadow is one that I picked up at the Okku event. It's the perfect color and texture to fill in my eye brows. I use it with my Mac 263 brush and it works really well. It's also a great shadow to use in my crease and it's very buildable. 

Those are my favorite products of February, 2011! What have you guys been loving?

PS. Just a really quick note, Musings of a Makeup Maniac just posted about companies and animal testing. I'm trying to be more conscious of issues like this. Here's a link to the blog post. Apparently Maybellline are not totally open about their animal testing, so I will not be repurchasing their products. Unfortunately, I JUST bought a new mascara from them! Anyway, it's a good post and she also has a link to Pixiwoos blog post on the subject from last year.

Don't forget to enter my giveaway!