Clinique High Definition Lashes: Hot Lashes 4U!

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwsubdWQPUMgOjnqTP04jAx3qB1TE2f4mxqKKoRejz0RK65FAVrS4HBUTd9t90WAb_K4ioGQAfssA644sgErHLZBbJFOmt0oPOSLMlK1Nf1ZRpEdx2-QmM52Ug0wVIO6omM7jYBYp9ao/s1600-h/highdef.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225893130169484514" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwsubdWQPUMgOjnqTP04jAx3qB1TE2f4mxqKKoRejz0RK65FAVrS4HBUTd9t90WAb_K4ioGQAfssA644sgErHLZBbJFOmt0oPOSLMlK1Nf1ZRpEdx2-QmM52Ug0wVIO6omM7jYBYp9ao/s400/highdef.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt;" /></a><br />Before I used <a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/search/label/Mascaras">Cover Girl LashBlast</a>, there was a time that I struggled to find the "it" mascara. Usually found in my makeup stash were 3 to 4 tubes of mascaras that I used at the same time: one for length, one for curl, one of volume, and one for color! Yup, you got it right, it was obsessed with my lashes.<br /><br />One of them was the awesome Clinique High Definition Lashes mascara that I got from a gift with purchase package. This mascara is almost all I wanted and if I didn't find LashBlast, it would have been my "it" mascara until today. But don't worry, it's on my top 5 list of all-time favorite mascaras.<br /><br />What I got was a "try me" sample of the High Def mascara that's a bit bigger than my finger. Whoever named this mascara must have done that during the football season as the name reminds me of the HDTVs. Aren't everything in high def these days? And when we have high def TVs, we need high def mascaras to go with them. Matchy-matchy, sounds cool isn't it?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkU4QWnH2MqZwC_A79TD2tPsV6QZgFqW-BymYSEyuLQRsj9wjcRsKdR5Y8-JtAZeb4juSvI3wufx6t23aefd8GcsR-rSnpOgpsV9wuqSCbi20gKBhEu7dUClTn5wugNL6X9Skc8vTrNzs/s1600-h/face+043.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225894949924842082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkU4QWnH2MqZwC_A79TD2tPsV6QZgFqW-BymYSEyuLQRsj9wjcRsKdR5Y8-JtAZeb4juSvI3wufx6t23aefd8GcsR-rSnpOgpsV9wuqSCbi20gKBhEu7dUClTn5wugNL6X9Skc8vTrNzs/s400/face+043.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />As you all know me, my judging standard for mascaras are the 3B's: bigger, bolder, better. How does the High Def mascara stand based on my ground? Very close to perfection, let me break it down for you:<br /><br />1. Bigger: it does give me longer lashes and creates some volumes. My lashes felt glossier than usual. Also, the formula is gentle on my lashes which is rare in mascaras these days. They all feel like they strip the moisture right off your precious lashes.<br /><br />2. Bolder: not really, you're not going to have fantastic lush lashes from this mascara. Unlike LashBlast, it does not fan out your lashes or fatten them up. This High Def mascara just gives you lots of lengths, no curls, and not so much volumes.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNA_fKxLfS8wf8R0_Y9sYdf6d6Pj2Zg_3Txyl8o14qAmO1oWeAaUkxEc0WTOgJxkwAzDhH3YSiP0AjTYQxQicDsXTicIwFeZrzKVz7Hr96-RRIEFDjv4FDEKQeQ8232uils51Ye9BP3s/s1600-h/closed+eye.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225895296759882818" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPNA_fKxLfS8wf8R0_Y9sYdf6d6Pj2Zg_3Txyl8o14qAmO1oWeAaUkxEc0WTOgJxkwAzDhH3YSiP0AjTYQxQicDsXTicIwFeZrzKVz7Hr96-RRIEFDjv4FDEKQeQ8232uils51Ye9BP3s/s400/closed+eye.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>My nekkid lashes (before)<br />Taken with no flashes under incandescent light (hence the yellow hue!)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhCOQUV-NxCBNh9YP9wgu4pOBuSxL0-6dw4cvH81BLQXLh7tKYNnSZTFgri4j7arO2_os6F6iHLgcOGr9OeOjPFhnA-WupWSfxi_UnIQ-bXX0qqKVj9l5MNhvioAtvkfIry2yeNs-jo8/s1600-h/face+047.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225894958828106226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDhCOQUV-NxCBNh9YP9wgu4pOBuSxL0-6dw4cvH81BLQXLh7tKYNnSZTFgri4j7arO2_os6F6iHLgcOGr9OeOjPFhnA-WupWSfxi_UnIQ-bXX0qqKVj9l5MNhvioAtvkfIry2yeNs-jo8/s400/face+047.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>After 2 coats of Clinique High Def<br />Picture taken without flash in natural light<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">You see, in the 2nd picture the lashes look longer but they also start to clump. I did not curl my lashes just to test its curling power and this baby has none, giving me stick straight lashes.<br /><br />3. Better: I give props to the Clinique people for being innovative in their designs. The mascara wand is the best I've ever seen, and I've seen a lot of mascaras! It has 2 sides: a wand side and a comb side. You apply the first layer of mascara using the wand side and then flip over to the comb side to beef up your lashes. However, I found this instruction a bit obsurd as the comb really deposit more mascaras to the lashes and makes them clump up together. Therefore, I do everything in reverse direction: comb then brush and voila, less clumps!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBzfvmPsBRwWXSCqvj_NTM9kzSUZpQyuzpRbr8TpPkeWCx7Qany9CfOEmSPzxfHlNhBhPL-8N2zfKCkeqboSyjY_EcXyhA-a6TJdMcuGWwqADWxQpgx_PmlnzTiOhEFadjRoM3dI1PWc/s1600-h/face+049.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5225894954803631378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBzfvmPsBRwWXSCqvj_NTM9kzSUZpQyuzpRbr8TpPkeWCx7Qany9CfOEmSPzxfHlNhBhPL-8N2zfKCkeqboSyjY_EcXyhA-a6TJdMcuGWwqADWxQpgx_PmlnzTiOhEFadjRoM3dI1PWc/s400/face+049.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>The awesome brush: the brush side is on top, comb side is at the bottom.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Here's a quick recap on the pros and cons of the Clinique High Definition Lashes mascara:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pros:</span> this mascara is for you if you...<br /><ul><li>are looking for a lengthening mascara;</li><li>have sensitive eyes;</li><li>do not need a waterproof mascara;</li><li>want glossy lashes;</li><li>like the brush-comb wand applicating combo;</li><li>love Clinique!</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cons:</span> this mascara is not for you if you...<br /><ul><li>want a mascara that provides you bigger, bolder, and better lashes (remember 3B's!);</li><li>want some curling and volumizing action from your mascara, because this baby gives you none of them;</li><li>have $14 USD in your pocket: it ain't cheap people! One of this equals to 2 of the LashBlast, you do the math and I trust you to choose wisely;</li><li>have oily skin and/or live in humid places: the high def, although a good mascara, will smudge on you. And who wants <a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/wimbledon-and-how-not-to-melt-under-sun.html">racoon eyes</a>, right?</li></ul>I have to say I love this High Def mascara but it doesn't really live up to its name. It's more of "better than the norm" sort, not really HD yet. Once in a while when I want an easy-going look, I would grab this mascara. Other than that, I stick with my LashBlast.<br /><br />That's it for today folks! How are you doing so far? Just one more day until the weekend so hang in there ladies.<br /><br />Until next time,<br />Your Makeup Blogger<br /><br />P.S: some related posts in the past:<br /><br /><a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/cover-girl-lashblast-bambi-eyes-in.html">Cover Girl LashBlast: Bambi Eyes in a Flash</a>: come and read what I said about my "it" mascara.<br /><a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/wimbledon-and-how-not-to-melt-under-sun.html">How not to melt in the sun</a> with bonus picture of the very hot Roger Federer.</div></div></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkZNg2eYkoil_2lsXMxKNFuxk073jrIFvK8eeFJn1240xosUVnWTCMhNfRrKoloUKJi1pQhQcPswOuYiZnxXEXIHXtGqyVqhvgkxmwQBMQ0QWRAGyHfBvHvqPU2XA6ww506ztBhWv_zyU/s1600-h/face+043.jpg"><br /></a>

Clinique High Definition Lashes: Hot Lashes 4U!

Before I used Cover Girl LashBlast , there was a time that I struggled to find the "it" mascara. Usually found in my makeup stash ...

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Frugal Beauty Tips of the Day

With our current economy situation and gas prices, everybody's concern is "gas vs. food". Since gas is more than $4 in my area and around $5 in others, it takes out a big chunk of cash from everybody's monthly budget which leaves less allowance for entertainment and beauty products. As I am a graduate student, my monthly income is below the poverty level. Being a makeup addict doesn't help my wallet at all. Today, I'm going to disclose my tips to maintain my beauty budget without breaking the bank. These tips may cost you less than $5 and two of them actually costs you nothing!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip #1:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Shop at discount stores</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.dollartree.com">The Dollar Tree</a> is my favorite "hunting place" as everything is a dollar. I really feel like a hunter-gatherer when I go there. The one near my place has a long aisle of makeup products, ranging from Cover Girl to Maybelline to LA Colors and even Physician's Formula. I sometimes found some nice lip glosses, lipsticks, eye shadows that are still in wraps. Those products are sold at full retail prices at the drugstore but only priced for one dollar at Dollar Tree. At first, I thought there was something wrong with them but after spending a dollar on a lipstick and didn't die from lead poisoning, I came back for more.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.biglots.com">Big Lots </a>also has a stock of makeup, beauty, bath and body, and even skincare products. One time I got a conditioner from Nature's Gate for $1.50 USD. The brand decided to change their packaging and offloaded the products in old containers to Big Lots. The same bottle would have cost me an arm and a leg at my local health food store.<br /><br />My advice if you decide to hunt for goods at these places, you need to be really selective. After all, these are the products you are going to use on your body and probably ingest some of them as well (lipsticks and glosses). Therefore, you don't want to buy from brands that you're not familiar with. Also, if the consistency of the products does not look right, it does not worth your pretty dollar.<br /><br />I've heard some stories of people got MAC shadesticks from the dollar store. I've been searching for that elusive shadestick from my local Dollar Tree as well!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip #2:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Don't forget your Vaseline</span><br /><br />Our favorite glam girl Tyra Banks, the creator of America's Next Top Model and The Tyra Banks Show, uses Vaseline y'all! If Tyra, the one who has everything, uses Vaseline and looks gorgeous, why shouldn't we?<br /><br /><object height="349" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jOR4qekHWlA&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jOR4qekHWlA&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xcc2550&color2=0xe87a9f&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="349"></embed></object><br /><br />Unlike what people thought, Vaseline is not clogging your pores. Also, it is a very versatile and many makeup artists use it. Let me point out some possible use of Vaseline to y'all:<br /><ul><li>As a moisturizer: Tyra uses it as her eye cream, I use it as my lip balm, and my roommate uses it as her foot cream. It works wonder on chapped lips, cracked heals, dry cuticles,...</li><li>As a natural eyeshadow: it gives a glaze when applied on your eyes. So when you're crunch on time, just swap some Vaseline on your eyes and off you go;</li><li>As a base for lip gloss: you can mix some of your favorite mineral blush colors to a pot of Vaseline and voila, your custom-made, one of a kind lip gloss. Mix some avocado oil or olive oil for extra shine if you want.</li></ul>And if you purchase a jar of Vaseline at your local dollar store, it only costs you a dollar and lasts a very long time!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip #3:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Look for sales and deals</span><br /><br />I love sales and try to squeeze as much out of them as possible. Most if not all of the stuff I have come from sales. Since I'm living with limited income, I need to stretch my money very very much. And I do get satisfaction out of getting things for much cheaper than the regularly marked prices. For makeup, the local drugstores are great as they always have "buy one get one" sales. Target has sales on Olay skincare products almost every week. It also has 30-75% off in some items that are in the sales area. Walmart has gift with purchase items so you get 2 items for the price of one.<br /><br />Also, don't forget your coupons in the Sunday magazines. Once I got a mascara from Max Factor for $3 after using my coupon and store discount. The cashier scanned the mascara 3 times to make sure the total was correct. That's what I called "shop victoriously" ladies.<br /><br />For online deals, I always look for free shipping because it's annoying to wait for the box to come while you pay for it to ship. If free shipping comes with a restriction, I would consider if it's worth it to place an order. Remember: always take shipping into consideration.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip #4:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Get free samples</span><br /><br />Most department stores and drugstores have free items for customers to try. Drugstores always leave them out and you're free to take one (d0n't be greedy, think of the people that comes after you!) However, you have to ask for samples at the department stores. I always ask for perfume samples to try. One time I asked for a skin care sample from Clinique. And I asked for samples at MAC all the time (when I make a purchase, of course!). With a right look and a right smile, those samples will be yours.<br /><br />I always be nice to those sales associates when I ask for samples. My line is, <span style="font-style: italic;">"Excuse me, I like this perfume/skin care product/color so much but can I please have a sample to try just to see if it's suitable. If it works, I promise I'll come back to get it!"</span><br /><br />If they have samples in stock, they should give you some. If not, they would tell you they do not have. Just be nice to them either way since SA's make money out of sales commissions.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tip #5:</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Use what you have</span><br /><br />Almost everyday I have an urge to buy something new. It's like a disease y'all and as much as I'd like my money to stay in my pocket, sometimes the force is just too strong. So every two weeks or so, I do a product inventory check. I just simply pull everything I have out, touch them, pet them, check them, classify them based on colors, texture, brand and then put them back. Usually, at the end of this ritual, I come to my realization that I have a wad load of makeup and skincare products to use! So why the heck I need to bring more of them home?! And by doing so, I realize my color purchase pattern, that I prefer one group of colors more than another and I simply have so many neutrals now that I don't need to buy any of them anymore!<br /><br />Believe me, since I started doing this, my wallet has been happier and I have been a saner makeup addict. Now I know I need more greens and some purples so on my next purchases I'll concentrate more on them. In a weird sense, doing a product inventory also keeps me grounded and makes me feel proud of myself.<br /><br />That's it ladies, these are my 5 tips to help you from overspending your precious cash. Who knows when gas will go down ever again. And who knows if gas price will ever go down at all! Until then, it's good to keep your money tight.<br /><br />Stay pretty y'all and if you have any tips, please feel free to share.<br /><br />Love,<br />Your Frugal Makeup Blogger<br /><br />P.S: thank you Stephie for adding me to your blog roll! Her blog probably was the first makeup blog I read and she is so nice and talented. If you go to <a href="http://stephienese.blogspot.com/">her blog</a>, please tell her Dao from mymakeupblog says hi!

Frugal Beauty Tips of the Day

With our current economy situation and gas prices, everybody's concern is "gas vs. food". Since gas is more than $4 in my area...

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Shocking News: MAC increased eyeshadow price!

Lately I haven't purchased anything from MAC because I am a good girl y'all. So I have no clue if anything has changed at all. Recently I kept seeing other beauty bloggers posting the price of MAC eyeshadows as $14.50 USD a piece and I'm wondering what's going on.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.maccosmetics.com/templates/products/sp.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY15103&PRODUCT_ID=PROD1503">My click</a> to MAC website confirmed that the eyeshadow price indeed has increased by 50 cents! Outrageous! Now we all have to pay more for our vanity! This is insane!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlO33LOAfhhy-hHgd9vXrvd1wrvaEQ8H6JOeuCG7JNjUMGIkiElvSIocKPsFWMLqaiNq74Aw7qeS9_y-WfJoTCVyX09yB_zRL0bbCNy_wrh9LjThpUYI17Beqho6YPiR3p-FrpIthk4o/s1600-h/MAC.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223734159771276706" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLlO33LOAfhhy-hHgd9vXrvd1wrvaEQ8H6JOeuCG7JNjUMGIkiElvSIocKPsFWMLqaiNq74Aw7qeS9_y-WfJoTCVyX09yB_zRL0bbCNy_wrh9LjThpUYI17Beqho6YPiR3p-FrpIthk4o/s400/MAC.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />There may be some explanations to this price increase:<br /><ol><li>The Canadian dollar vs. the U.S Dollar: Uncle Same hasn't been doing so well and now 1 USD is less than 1 CAD. MAC, as well all know, is a Canadian company. Therefore, the price increase may be the result of the currency exchange rate.</li><li>Gas price: I'm not going to put my environmental policy knowledge out here and write another paragraph. We all can blame <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_W._Bush">Uncle W. </a>on this.</li></ol>Since 2006, MAC has increased their eyeshadow price by $1.50 USD! I wish <a href="http://mymakeupblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/ancient-news.html">these days</a> has come back again! So the next time MAC offers another Friends and Family sale, let's stock-pile their eyeshadows, shall we?<br /><br />In the mean time, let's not rely too much on MAC. When the world is discovering alternative fuels, us beauty and makeup addicts need to inform others on alternative makeup sources.<br /><br />Take care ladies and let's all pray for a better day!<br />Your Makeup Blogger<br /><br />P.S: When you shop at <a href="www.maccosmetics.com">MACcosmetics.com</a>, please enter offer code NEWVIEW at checkout for free shipping. Offer is good until 7/26/08.

Shocking News: MAC increased eyeshadow price!

Lately I haven't purchased anything from MAC because I am a good girl y'all. So I have no clue if anything has changed at all. Recen...

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MAC Paint Pots: My Pride and Joy

Hypothetically speaking, if I could choose to bring one eye color on an island, I would choose to take Bare Study paint pot with me. As you know how excited I am when it comes to MAC, my utmost favorite product is no other than the paint pots. Introduced to the market in August 2007 via the "Painterly" collection, paint pots have quickly become the favorite items of many MAC fanatics. These pots are creamy eyeshadows that does not crease, fade, budge, cake, or smear! Also, paint pots are superior to shadesticks and paints as they are easy to apply and highly blendable.<br /><br />After hearing a lot of praises about these paint pots, I bought my first one, Painterly, at the end of last year. Then when Fafi collection came, I bought Cash Flow and Perky. I was very lucky to get Bare Study as well since this color has become a cult favorite and gets sold out pretty fast online and offline.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBpZD4FlIaYrKQBJ8UZphYK58PK2fMRcuwetaS9-PJc6jlRJVsASsFiLiMIVbTBvQuGVhtKmDHqc0YxM6BiHQDM1cP17rDE9aPkLmuhj5SJbcnk70BnmoxOy6iK4nYBbGcL63GIg-MjM/s1600-h/MAC+eyes+011.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223704330243056802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivBpZD4FlIaYrKQBJ8UZphYK58PK2fMRcuwetaS9-PJc6jlRJVsASsFiLiMIVbTBvQuGVhtKmDHqc0YxM6BiHQDM1cP17rDE9aPkLmuhj5SJbcnk70BnmoxOy6iK4nYBbGcL63GIg-MjM/s400/MAC+eyes+011.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>The best way to store paint pots is to put them upside down<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqM-Be5wpLTKAGvmBp8k6MSWKQZL2GA3HQ7YBUwswBn8PvIbJgtrAjrhcPVF6sLOVeA_Au6l9tRoQwFFSD-qgtA0pXoUAI-8nVSycySuTYEyl1ko9HeWDnLM62rvLgE25TTCevZgrDy8/s1600-h/MAC+eyes+012.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223704340411430258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMqM-Be5wpLTKAGvmBp8k6MSWKQZL2GA3HQ7YBUwswBn8PvIbJgtrAjrhcPVF6sLOVeA_Au6l9tRoQwFFSD-qgtA0pXoUAI-8nVSycySuTYEyl1ko9HeWDnLM62rvLgE25TTCevZgrDy8/s400/MAC+eyes+012.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>How they look in the pot. Pretty, right?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Each paint pot took $16.50 USD out of my pocket. As gorgeous as they are, their prices aren't cheap. However, these babies sure will last me a long time. After intensive use, they barely make a dent as you can see above. These colors are good to use as eyeshadows. However, they are perfect bases to intensify your eyeshadows. When coupling with a different paint pot, your eyeshadows do change a little bit. For example, browns and neutrals with flecks of gold/yellow will show more gold/yellow when applied on top of Cash Flow.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIa2eKXXA-EnQ_21pjcC_CBVYcMObCH1847mqPa0GikwIqdF03kDVrfwJehk4guscyIMfKq2cJPXNUUo19fOR9WXQymxayApQ55h4LMv4RXZ82K8uSl_SPUbkJO2EPCF_tdqogsM0Hfo8/s1600-h/MAC+eyes+019.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223706843074868610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIa2eKXXA-EnQ_21pjcC_CBVYcMObCH1847mqPa0GikwIqdF03kDVrfwJehk4guscyIMfKq2cJPXNUUo19fOR9WXQymxayApQ55h4LMv4RXZ82K8uSl_SPUbkJO2EPCF_tdqogsM0Hfo8/s400/MAC+eyes+019.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>A swatch of all the paint pots I have. A very little amount was used per swatch.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As pretty as they are, paint pots are still expensive in my book. So I set foot to find a cheaper alternative in the drugstore and ding ding ding, there it was in full glory and 50% off...Maybelline NY Dream Mousse shadow!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpFefYc2mxEvhVd3I76fqxJwj4lGeM-Izg9_8JT-ZNMCkdueGp3GTP4v-h6rrBWrsBCOfkJRhySvTi_qgARLmzzkfockzuscQK15Tac3JyM9e2tGoJpY_FAArvmKwQQ71sHNe8rVgS4M/s1600-h/MAC+eyes+014.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223704343265763410" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpFefYc2mxEvhVd3I76fqxJwj4lGeM-Izg9_8JT-ZNMCkdueGp3GTP4v-h6rrBWrsBCOfkJRhySvTi_qgARLmzzkfockzuscQK15Tac3JyM9e2tGoJpY_FAArvmKwQQ71sHNe8rVgS4M/s400/MAC+eyes+014.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Bare Study vs. Ivory Illusion<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">At full price, each dream mousse shadow costs around $6 USD. That day at CVS, yours truly paid 3 bucks for Ivory Illusion as I thought it would be a good dupe of Bare Study.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfW-5ytlNV0S88_uVoxM6bsA92OPK4N9wfGI_cY5soZYa9LoYWDUNH8-kRtpPlyueFSGKDxSQsfRZh9irxc5g4zMb2OIrNRN_39yKlPUwBcZNlbLIRnPIJv1rNZlTjp3I1uaH0xW0oslo/s1600-h/MAC+eyes+015.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223704349475198386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfW-5ytlNV0S88_uVoxM6bsA92OPK4N9wfGI_cY5soZYa9LoYWDUNH8-kRtpPlyueFSGKDxSQsfRZh9irxc5g4zMb2OIrNRN_39yKlPUwBcZNlbLIRnPIJv1rNZlTjp3I1uaH0xW0oslo/s400/MAC+eyes+015.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Two contenders in their own territories<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Texture-wise, Bare Study is a cream while Ivory Illusion (not "True Illusion" as the caption indicated!) is a mousse. Therefore, it is much softer and you need to use more. Also, Bare Study weights 5 grams will the other one only weights 3 grams. So they actually cost the same as you get more use out of the paint pot than the mousse shadow. Ivory Illusion is more sparkling than Bare Study as well. If you like sparkling base, this one is for you.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqbdwhBmNlvJWPbMS-w8WMeGfj_n8j5YUOAPqTN0ZHUu5Hjj7L0ZAOnbHPpF-SWo31IawbQ2eWzXtUi-ezdl8NjmYP5ADxIo3SBio556ojj5NVUWbnP_tYGUoOGziGNBPcCgQd9MgXe8/s1600-h/MAC+eyes+020.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223706846377659890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqbdwhBmNlvJWPbMS-w8WMeGfj_n8j5YUOAPqTN0ZHUu5Hjj7L0ZAOnbHPpF-SWo31IawbQ2eWzXtUi-ezdl8NjmYP5ADxIo3SBio556ojj5NVUWbnP_tYGUoOGziGNBPcCgQd9MgXe8/s400/MAC+eyes+020.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>The swatch: now I know why I kept on typing "True Illusion"<br />The color totally disappeared on my arm! And I used a chunk of it!!!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">So how does the poor guy hold up? Pretty well, I need to say. One day, like a mad scientist, I applied Bare Study on one eye and Ivory Illusion on another then proceeded on my eyeshadow application routine. I spent about 3-4 hours shopping in the Florida heat and humidity. When I came back, the side that had Bare Study was the same while the other side that had Ivory Illusion smudged a tiny bit. So for my $3 spent, I was quite happy.<br /><br />My ratings: A+ for the paint pots, B+ for the mousse shadow. The mousse could have been rated higher if I did not have to use a lot and it held up my eye colors better. For the price, I'm quite happy.<br /><br />Maybelline NY has about 6 colors for these mousse and it does look like they are closing it down. I kept seeing the "Last chance item" at the drugstores and Walmart. So when it hits dollar stores, we all know what to do, right?<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZf_ld6kRSbora3ZKPgWSi2BIkM4RdFLOkCLw-hbQJ2pVQYEiMixkK-SBb5JJcvkBCI5Vri-SzUj4WDTpr2Kow8lx_oQYtQqyFUmm4fc7okIHYK1KGIWFQ0zVUhEwDQR1ZoMDwyCIkV7I/s1600-h/MAC+eyes+016.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223706838601281538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZf_ld6kRSbora3ZKPgWSi2BIkM4RdFLOkCLw-hbQJ2pVQYEiMixkK-SBb5JJcvkBCI5Vri-SzUj4WDTpr2Kow8lx_oQYtQqyFUmm4fc7okIHYK1KGIWFQ0zVUhEwDQR1ZoMDwyCIkV7I/s400/MAC+eyes+016.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Bonus picture for y'all<br />I love that Maybelline put the color on the cap. MAC just uses their black lid and forces me to invert the pot to find the color!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">That's it for today. I love paint pots and they're in my top 5 right now. But for the price I paid for True Illusions, I think it holds up pretty well. So there we have a splurge and a steal. I hope you enjoy this entry and please give me some comments. You know I like them!<br /><br />Have fun!<br />Your Makeup Blogger</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

MAC Paint Pots: My Pride and Joy

Hypothetically speaking, if I could choose to bring one eye color on an island, I would choose to take Bare Study paint pot with me. As you ...

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MAC Solar Bits: an intriguing experience

In June 2008, our most beloved Canadian cosmetic company MAC did it again by releasing 3 LEs in one day: Neo Sci-fi, Solar Field, and Future Earth. While I got nada from Neo Sci-fi and Future Earth, I hauled two solar bits from the Solar Field collection home. I guess this is no longer hot and heavy news for all of you out there as these 3 LEs has been on sale for more than a month now and all the solar bits have been sold out online. To me, I love these solar bits to bits (pun intended) as they are very interesting and unique materials.<br /><br />The two solar bits I got are Black Ore and Bronzescape. While many other bloggers out there do not enjoy the solar bits (EnKore included), I beg to differ. To me, these little guys are pigments on steroid and worth every single pretty cents I paid. I think MAC creative department really outdid themselves when created these solar bits because they really blow pigments out of the water. You can lightly brush them for a light and sheer shimmering effect or crush them for intense sparkles. Either way, they are way more pigmented than them pigments and cost the same.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACSvcQsv2Fz2_Gy5tX_oy8z_gWvrjApBqkr34REMQ5yEz3rcPFSYExoekkLJyZ772UThCByIz_Ym8wfpsr2t-3b2_KPJm7gUjCg3pSLKPGR_Pyma6TLzS3bwNDXN44Oj1dF_Q5QN-ybs/s1600-h/MAC+eyes+002.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223694269452245458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiACSvcQsv2Fz2_Gy5tX_oy8z_gWvrjApBqkr34REMQ5yEz3rcPFSYExoekkLJyZ772UThCByIz_Ym8wfpsr2t-3b2_KPJm7gUjCg3pSLKPGR_Pyma6TLzS3bwNDXN44Oj1dF_Q5QN-ybs/s400/MAC+eyes+002.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Here's how the jar looks.<br />I always peel off the stickers on the box and stick them on similar items.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwsbnb-GvuSSafMN5cl1CnxOPKW-r6kiiHEyDGTD5f_JZH0PSSC_EFhBChrEkKz-wTWu5Ccz_7NXp1htbD1Vwomtu8-lBMiBlVOMx4Sjk92DSfcKX9CdG7QRjVrKpTxqkBbbCJKsZ9Hg/s1600-h/MAC+eyes+004.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223694277140060546" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwsbnb-GvuSSafMN5cl1CnxOPKW-r6kiiHEyDGTD5f_JZH0PSSC_EFhBChrEkKz-wTWu5Ccz_7NXp1htbD1Vwomtu8-lBMiBlVOMx4Sjk92DSfcKX9CdG7QRjVrKpTxqkBbbCJKsZ9Hg/s400/MAC+eyes+004.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Interesting texture: very chunky and sparkly<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeX_Ohq-UmcuYsvC_QsdA8IHvN-mdk-YZnKt7NQ6-Hfyl3baDQSbZ-h_iV22avIM7b6CdByDMU1h4-AP_xrLVmZhEKo1CUI8sBjwCXNSZP560Z_XxiXCaT3wIAE4URYsZBnwoyhXWCcNE/s1600-h/MAC+eyes+006.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223694273978816722" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeX_Ohq-UmcuYsvC_QsdA8IHvN-mdk-YZnKt7NQ6-Hfyl3baDQSbZ-h_iV22avIM7b6CdByDMU1h4-AP_xrLVmZhEKo1CUI8sBjwCXNSZP560Z_XxiXCaT3wIAE4URYsZBnwoyhXWCcNE/s400/MAC+eyes+006.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Swatch under natural light<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6n_z1xEvoyLTaKd_wcj_4pEpUH8TJjpNaVRrgWYVofb423Y50CJCdl8JvLfiHUZq-RYF7XvjxVSjb13MQOLKYjJqoOMtbVpoVyd4xQIdFzsL8y2ia1VrJPoT9PnaLgH2sMy7HsAo1fw/s1600-h/MAC+eyes+008.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223694280854275602" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY6n_z1xEvoyLTaKd_wcj_4pEpUH8TJjpNaVRrgWYVofb423Y50CJCdl8JvLfiHUZq-RYF7XvjxVSjb13MQOLKYjJqoOMtbVpoVyd4xQIdFzsL8y2ia1VrJPoT9PnaLgH2sMy7HsAo1fw/s400/MAC+eyes+008.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Swatch under neon light: they spark like mad<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The only downside of the solar bits is they fall down like crazy! Unlike MAC pigments, these guys do not have strong adhesive power so you really need a base to hold it. The MUA I talked to recommended shadesticks, MAC prep and prime, and was excited when I told her I use paint pots.<br /><br />On my birthday, I decided to use Bronzescape as it is so gorgeous. I always incline more towards Bronzescape than Black Ore. The former one is a clear bronze color with golden brown pigment while the later one is black with gold pigments, hence more suitable for smokey eyes look.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3OCnik_ysPRQ7ynmxWfeRJCH-x4opKbJvSjsxxIIfL8n2rzKr8cUn7dAoGeQgDf_xMLW64x8v0v-t4gz7t5uzkJCLJn7Sn4qhJMc8g_etnR6pF-vp_OecCM-xwZiEOeBjm1aCxPAqAk/s1600-h/fotd2.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223697331281679938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3OCnik_ysPRQ7ynmxWfeRJCH-x4opKbJvSjsxxIIfL8n2rzKr8cUn7dAoGeQgDf_xMLW64x8v0v-t4gz7t5uzkJCLJn7Sn4qhJMc8g_etnR6pF-vp_OecCM-xwZiEOeBjm1aCxPAqAk/s400/fotd2.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br />What I used: it's been a while so it may not be accurate<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Eyes:</span><br /><ul><li>MAC Bronzescape solar bits on the lid with #239 brush: I only use a very tiny amount and use it as a wash instead of an intense eye color;</li><li>Milani Sun Goddess as a contouring color with Sonia Kashuk blending brush: this color is similar to MAC Amber Lights for those who are wondering;</li><li>Milani Java Bean(s ?) near the lash line with #219 brush;</li><li>MAC Warming Trend (from Cool Heat collection) as a highlighter;</li><li>MAC paint pot in Bare Study as a base.</li><li>MAC Teddy eye kohl</li><li>Cover Girl LashBlast mascara</li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJvqHjFMjm8MtrnUjbIRzaRph7bd7qwQcNGXLrhJOwjKWN9ehdsQs_5vHPVvp8VkZ5LuFoB0okd1psEUrqo5xmmtxRRQpMMYR01mLEP9r1OZtVATlakwtDK25kLiCNoqdOROYjWsTLyo/s1600-h/fotd1+046.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223697320683844610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBJvqHjFMjm8MtrnUjbIRzaRph7bd7qwQcNGXLrhJOwjKWN9ehdsQs_5vHPVvp8VkZ5LuFoB0okd1psEUrqo5xmmtxRRQpMMYR01mLEP9r1OZtVATlakwtDK25kLiCNoqdOROYjWsTLyo/s400/fotd1+046.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a></div>Here's how it looks<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBlAQhheUKJns788W8W5URcnIbH2379fhGzIlSRgwkyagz_OLN0KaAknk5WLRK9BeinsKtx6Q37woo3Eu4rU9vHTU8Z2oR7GRhfQzhNgY8_4ffKhTubGPeLVG15u_3BcEOs_wNzZpjRM/s1600-h/fotd1+046+schematic.JPG"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5223697325470127634" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtBlAQhheUKJns788W8W5URcnIbH2379fhGzIlSRgwkyagz_OLN0KaAknk5WLRK9BeinsKtx6Q37woo3Eu4rU9vHTU8Z2oR7GRhfQzhNgY8_4ffKhTubGPeLVG15u_3BcEOs_wNzZpjRM/s400/fotd1+046+schematic.JPG" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>A quick schematic for those who are interested<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. Face, etc:</span><br /><ul><li>Silk Naturals foundation,</li><li>Shu Uemura blush in P Brown 76,</li><li>Everyday Minerals silk dust as a finishing powder,</li><li>Everyday Minerals summer silk dust as a contouring color.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Lips:</span><br /><ul><li>MAC Viva glam V lipstick,</li><li>MAC Sock Hop lip glass (from Heatherette collection).</li></ul></div></div>I truly like these solar bits and use them sparingly because who knows when these guys will come back. And they are so concentrated that a fleck goes a long way. I tried to apply Black Ore wet once and it looked glamorous. Also, wet application solves the flecking problem but the texture does change. I hope the schematic helps. I'm not a schema-wiz like Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog but I'm trying.<br /><br />Happy Monday ladies! I wish you a productive week ahead!<br />Your Makeup Blogger

MAC Solar Bits: an intriguing experience

In June 2008, our most beloved Canadian cosmetic company MAC did it again by releasing 3 LEs in one day: Neo Sci-fi, Solar Field, and Future...

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7 Days and 7 Nights of Mineral Makeup: Urban Apothecary

Happy Sunday! I hope your weekend is going fine so far. For me, I am having a blast writing about some of my favorite MMU companies. Today is our last entry in this series and I'm having a bittersweet moment right now.<br /><br />Anyways, let's go back to <a href="http://www.urbanapothecary.com/">Urban Apothecary</a>, shall we? Founded in 1990 by Cheri Tracy, Urban Apothecary is a makeup company specialized in natural, botanical, and mineral makeup and skin care. It is not solely a MMU company but the <a href="http://www.urbanapothecary.com/Makeup/u_propigment.htm">Colorliscious Pro Pigments</a> has become a favorite of MMU users. Recently, I decided to try some of their pro pigments and I was happy about their quality and here are the pros and cons:<br /><br />Pros:<br /><ul><li>Finely milled MMU with pigmented colors: the texture of these eyeshadows are similar to those from Aromaleigh and their stuff are really finely milled (micro-milling). The color payoff, on the other hand, is a lot better than Aromaleigh's eyeshadows;</li><li>Interesting color formulas: some of the colors I have are duochrome and frost which change color according to the lightning</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxnBpoZKDJH-Lm_nI7jydrfEU9aJY4Dop6-tOokBVIoZL-J_1XDg8enYZxNt4DNHbLEEfrAl3wr8JHZVJcnH4y8A4TEyhfIM1wNQTbm7cA6TmejG6rvEaOP84M8wuIdb96nSicrtTZDE/s1600-h/MAC+vixen+034.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222958215796961266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigxnBpoZKDJH-Lm_nI7jydrfEU9aJY4Dop6-tOokBVIoZL-J_1XDg8enYZxNt4DNHbLEEfrAl3wr8JHZVJcnH4y8A4TEyhfIM1wNQTbm7cA6TmejG6rvEaOP84M8wuIdb96nSicrtTZDE/s400/MAC+vixen+034.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Of the four colors, Something Wicked and Sugar Plum have duochrome quality.<br />Glow-lita has shimmering quality while Kitch Witch is a bit frosty.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2H3_p-dOdWIR33Z5b0FOCazklIV1utJmzBpZanzMc4ZCO0I8SpVLUbYsPEFaXShtvO_SbVRpkbc2xhBCBm-ZyVdlA00RKTljx4SKcFZdUNLvpP9UxbeCN1v2u6E7lKfK_tEcMIVdpjao/s1600-h/MAC+vixen+036.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222958220011490434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2H3_p-dOdWIR33Z5b0FOCazklIV1utJmzBpZanzMc4ZCO0I8SpVLUbYsPEFaXShtvO_SbVRpkbc2xhBCBm-ZyVdlA00RKTljx4SKcFZdUNLvpP9UxbeCN1v2u6E7lKfK_tEcMIVdpjao/s400/MAC+vixen+036.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Same colors in different lightning.<br />Glow-lita is my favorite of the bunch</div><ul><li>Products sold by weight, not volume: each jar is packed with 5 grams of pigments which will last you for a very long time</li></ul><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbAeT48dT1fG4HNxXMYcOpeAbyocMYL98254Z_eIW-3h0KFL7pzW33mzEqg6qOsBcXLrwOXeq0t3DFqzA2GwOG7-iBIyIhiLvqHq3kKzbSwLY4MdiUcp0IEHhFjG457DBwSk30T20B5g/s1600-h/MAC+vixen+039.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222958213776316498" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbAeT48dT1fG4HNxXMYcOpeAbyocMYL98254Z_eIW-3h0KFL7pzW33mzEqg6qOsBcXLrwOXeq0t3DFqzA2GwOG7-iBIyIhiLvqHq3kKzbSwLY4MdiUcp0IEHhFjG457DBwSk30T20B5g/s400/MAC+vixen+039.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a> Top row: Something Wicked, Kitch Witch, and a quarter for sizing purpose<br />Bottom row: Glow-lita and Sugar Plum<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>Fast processing and shipping time: I received my order in less than a week;</li><li>Very good customer service: I emailed Urban Apothecary and got replied immediately. Kim Szlak, the site manager, is enthusiastic and willing to answer any of my questions.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cons:</span><br /><ul><li>Pigments contain bismuth oxychloride: I did not notice any itches when I applied on my eyes. However, when applied on my lips, immediately I felt it. While I applied on my arm for the swatch, the itchiness feeling is there too. The reason I did not feel anything on my eyes as I always use MAC paint pots as my eyeshadow primer all the time. They probably shield my skin from the bismuth compound. Yay for paint pots!</li><li>Shipping rate is expensive: UA probably has the most expensive shipping rate of all the companies I've ordered probably because their products are big in sizes.</li></ul><span style="font-style: italic;">My rating:</span> B+, would be A or A+ if bismuth oxychloride is excluded.<br /><br />Urban Apothecary also has other traditional makeup and skin care items. Their top 3 products are Mineral Sheer Tint which I want to try, Indelible Gel Eyeliner, and Mineral Sheer Lipstick with SPF 15. This company although relatively unknown to the mass, has quite a crowd devoted followers. Soon they will launch a website just for Pro Pigments and will have more colors and swatches. A joke about this company is: "Urban Apothecary is an urban company without the decay". Get it, Urban Decay?<br /><span style="font-family: Geneva, Arial, sans-serif;"></span></div></div><br />=============<br /><br /><span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">Series Closing Remark:</span><br /><br />Ok, I start to sound like I'm in a scientific meeting, "closing remark"! But seriously, these are the last few points I want to make before we close down this series:<br /><ol><li>Do your own research when it comes to makeup: as many companies these days claim their products are "pure", "natural", and "organic", the ingredients may indicate otherwise. Natural doesn't mean risk-free and bismuth oxychloride is a good example.</li><li>Know yourself and your allergies: if you are allergic to some certain ingredients, even if the product claims it's good for you, <span style="font-style: italic;">stay away from it!</span> Don't expose yourself to such compounds in the name of vanity.</li><li>Take shipping and handling cost into consideration: if a product is cheap but the shipping cost is high, you may find the same thing at another website with cheaper shipping cost. Think about the order in total amount, not just the pre-shipping cost.</li><li>Take advantage of discount coupons and special offers: an extra google search may save you 5, 10, 15% or shipping cost. That's money saved for other things in life y'all! So why don't you google already?!</li></ol>That's it, the end of your first edition of "7 days and 7 Nights". I hope you get something out of this series. Another series in the future, I don't know. Until we see the needs of another one, there are plenty of other products for me to review so this blog hopefully will not be something boring.<br /><br />If you have any questions about MMU, please let me know. If there are a lot of them, I may address them all in an entry.<br /><br />Have a restful Sunday and a wonderful week ahead,<br />Your Makeup Blogger

7 Days and 7 Nights of Mineral Makeup: Urban Apothecary

Happy Sunday! I hope your weekend is going fine so far. For me, I am having a blast writing about some of my favorite MMU companies. Today i...

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7 Days and 7 Nights of Mineral Makeup: The She Space

Happy Saturday and welcome to the penultimate entry of "7 Days and 7 Nights of Mineral Makeup"! I hope you're ready for this one because this entry may change your lives of save some money on your wallets.<br /><br />Enters <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.theshespace.com">The She Space</a>, a very unique MMU company that I've experienced. Heather, the owner of The She Space, offers her customers high quality, pigmented, and trendy colors with affordable price. I've heard about this company for a long time but did not get to experience their highly pigmented eyeshadows until recently. Unlike other companies, The She Space called their eyeshadows "powder pigments" which makes me think of MAC pigments.<br /><br />Like many other MMU companies, The She Space allows their customers to sample all the products except their lip junks with a very affordable price: $.50 USD per sample! On top of that, their samples are very generous.<br /><br />Here are the lists of pros and cons on The She Space eye pigments:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Pros:</span><br /><ul><li>Higly pigmented: almost made me forget about MAC, my favorite makeup company;</li><li>Has a variety of colors: last time I counted, they have about 150+ colors that covers all the color spectrum;</li><li>Has different formulas: matte, velvet (which I love), sparkles, twinkles,...</li><li>Offers affordable samples: for 50 cents per samples, you are allowed to try as many colors as your heart desires. On top of that, the samples are generous;</li><li>Has a custom pigment jar that allows you to create your own color renditions;</li><li>Packed in clear-lid jars: this is my pet peeves when it comes to MMU because I don't want to flip the jars to see the colors. Having clear lid jars allow me to identify the colors immediately.</li><li>Affordable shipping rates: shipping starts at $1.75 USD and you can spend up to $20 USD to be in that rate, that's 40 samples y'all!</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cons:</span><br /><ul><li>Packed in tiny containers: while most companies pack their eyeshadows in 5-gram jars (same size as MAC sample jars), The She Space sell their eyeshadows in 3 gram jars. These are the same jars that EM pack their samples.</li></ul><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyHYEttgMhZKHSYwELzIW_hyphenhyphent6q3HpXwEnu5xARLi2ewTa4ZDH0iqy4JJ8lDsDnY08MpemJTekG6FOglcaCvpmu0Zp5r0Foxu-Y3wVjtvuHoV6ibqfIp7XZN-QKWSGwp6aA73FyW5koY/s1600-h/MAC+vixen+041.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222948332520985986" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfyHYEttgMhZKHSYwELzIW_hyphenhyphent6q3HpXwEnu5xARLi2ewTa4ZDH0iqy4JJ8lDsDnY08MpemJTekG6FOglcaCvpmu0Zp5r0Foxu-Y3wVjtvuHoV6ibqfIp7XZN-QKWSGwp6aA73FyW5koY/s400/MAC+vixen+041.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a><br /><ul><li>Slow processing time: although the website stated a 10-day processing time, I got my order in 18 days!</li><li>Not-so-good customer service: I contacted Heather, the owner, twice regarding my order and never got a reply from her. Since there are so many MMU companies out there, consumers really have a lot of choices these days when it comes to makeup. I am quite put off by this company's customer service. If their products are not so good, I would never placed another order on their website.</li></ul><span style="font-weight: bold;">My ratings:</span> A+ for the pigments, C for customer service and processing time.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9HxM3UivOaatIb7ee3e_gwKFyMfZORDGnro4a9bNbr_dFaU-vTfWc2Dmttb56vz7M9uIdw1b3Gh5L1LRN3wfA4WVSCHoc_GFJGEPm4HRgbCrJFtdglPMxzfQ42jX6avvoh-KLknZodM/s1600-h/MAC+vixen+029.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222948318184163138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW9HxM3UivOaatIb7ee3e_gwKFyMfZORDGnro4a9bNbr_dFaU-vTfWc2Dmttb56vz7M9uIdw1b3Gh5L1LRN3wfA4WVSCHoc_GFJGEPm4HRgbCrJFtdglPMxzfQ42jX6avvoh-KLknZodM/s400/MAC+vixen+029.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>The colors that I ordered<br />Top row: Risky Rebel (custom color), Happy Birthday Chris, and Follow the Sun (sample)<br />Bottom row: Living in Color, Go to Shop, and a quarter (for size comparison)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDMfQttkVZEAweRuBf8dDoZjhz8gfMdx8zccn73IfseX5v5PoTh8GuCEGjXvC_zWLZMdd1H7tBOI_6gu_zfQps_Er9jmJhbv2kUHfncPvZfs2w2B47csuDR6NUQIhhZM2AqIn7NhpLyI/s1600-h/MAC+vixen+030.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222948322384518306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmDMfQttkVZEAweRuBf8dDoZjhz8gfMdx8zccn73IfseX5v5PoTh8GuCEGjXvC_zWLZMdd1H7tBOI_6gu_zfQps_Er9jmJhbv2kUHfncPvZfs2w2B47csuDR6NUQIhhZM2AqIn7NhpLyI/s400/MAC+vixen+030.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>The same colors with a pack of sample pigment in School Girl<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWDrCFBG1IBj5gVAtkmJGg1y6vJubD7mmBOf024e0keXOPB0Q5_1-ZCKO8vA5XYRYjf8bVuhYkgJv1YfCIkTijvahKXJrNZaUiejzqQbiEoohqtwknIbARMbNWJMMeCEVieFaqod49Gk/s1600-h/MAC+vixen+032.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222948327584610914" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQWDrCFBG1IBj5gVAtkmJGg1y6vJubD7mmBOf024e0keXOPB0Q5_1-ZCKO8vA5XYRYjf8bVuhYkgJv1YfCIkTijvahKXJrNZaUiejzqQbiEoohqtwknIbARMbNWJMMeCEVieFaqod49Gk/s400/MAC+vixen+032.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Swatch of the full-size colors, notice how velvety Go to Shop looks<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigH4CBUchzv68XHozTDxmbFb-uSx_ld2KpHMJF9lBU52160h1RMW4Pdb0WqzyzKQ7Um0yVuW8vMK1r6nyR2-MkitoqyNlXqmIkma4W6o0S5YGBBx0dnn2DH_Afz5qx5opgmMe5zdAcnCg/s1600-h/MAC+vixen+033.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5222948329317985234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigH4CBUchzv68XHozTDxmbFb-uSx_ld2KpHMJF9lBU52160h1RMW4Pdb0WqzyzKQ7Um0yVuW8vMK1r6nyR2-MkitoqyNlXqmIkma4W6o0S5YGBBx0dnn2DH_Afz5qx5opgmMe5zdAcnCg/s400/MAC+vixen+033.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center;" /></a>Swatch of the samples.<br />Bubble and Burn, Stolen Soul, and Spinter are 3 special colors made from black pigments and coated mica. Unless applied wet, you don't really see the difference.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">From the number of pictures this post has, you can clearly see how much I love these pigments. Only if the processing time and customer service are better that The She Space will become the top MMU company.<br /><br />Wee, one more entry and this series will come to an end. I'm glad I made it so far! Enjoy your Saturday and stay tuned for tomorrow.<br /><br />With Love,<br />Your Makeup Blogger<br /><br />P.S: "Happy Birthday Chris" and "Living in Color" are a duo that Heather dedicated to <a href="http://www.theshespace.com/colorsforacause.html">Chris</a>, a boy who has cystic fibrosis. With every purchase of the duo, $3 USD will be donated to the Cystic Fibrosis foundation. So if you decide to make a purchase from The She Space, please consider this duo.</div></div>

7 Days and 7 Nights of Mineral Makeup: The She Space

Happy Saturday and welcome to the penultimate entry of "7 Days and 7 Nights of Mineral Makeup"! I hope you're ready for this o...

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