DO WANT makeup

It’s time for more evidence of my rampant product-whore-ism.

I’ve been coveting this for so, so long:

Urban Decay 24/7 Super Stash

This is a set of Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils. You get a rainbow of a range with faves like Zero (black), Graffiti (sparkly medium green), Ransom (bright purple), Rockstar (dark purple), and Stash (olive), plus colours that are exclusive to the set: Corrupt (sparkly brown), Binge (navy), Oil Slick (black with sparkle), and Eldorado (coppery gold—LOVE LOVE THIS COLOUR).

I’m generally not into sets/value packages because there are usually a few colours in the set that I don’t like or wouldn’t wear, thus making it less of a value. In this case, I like all of the colours and love a lot of them. I’ve swatched most/all of the pencils at Sephora and love their bright pigmentation and long wear. The only thing missing from this set is Flipside, a ridiculously bright teal blue that I adore deeply.

The pencils are a mini-sized 0.02 oz of the original pencils, which are double the size at 0.04 oz. Does this make it any less of a deal? No. A full-size pencil is $17 USD, so a half-size would be $8.50. The Super Stash is $36 USD, divided by 9 pencils works out to $4 a pencil! Totally sweet.

THIS JUST IN: Urban Decay is now offering Eldorado as a full-size pencil, so it is no longer exclusive to the Super Stash. Wantwantwant.

Which of the Urban Decay 24/7 Super Stash colours do you love? What’s on your wishlist this week?

Urban Decay: $36 USD (does not ship to Canada)

Sephora is no longer carrying this, but the single full-size pencils are available for $21 CAD

This post has been in my drafts for a very, very long time. Why? Quince and Pomegranate are very similar in colour, though Pomegranate is more coral and Quince is cooler-toned. I have seriously taken like four or five sets of full-face photos of me wearing either Pomegranate or Quince, because I had a hard time telling which one I was wearing (I kept forgetting because I regularly wear both to school) if it wasn’t close up. I take pictures in both artificial and natural light so that also makes it tricky to tell between the two.

I’m reviewing the Pomegranate, Quince, and Jasmine lip butters from the Lip Saver Roll (amazing value btw, $21.50 CAD for a roll vs. $13 each!) It looks like they rotate the contents of the roll, since the current Lip Saver Roll on Sephora has Guava, Pomegranate, and Mango. For those that are concerned about this sort of thing (my feelings about this are a whole other post), Sephora has marked this product as paraben-free, sulfate-free (irrelevant, its purpose is not to clean), petro-chemical-free, and GMO-free (Genetically Modified Organism). Guava, Wild Rose, Quince, and Pomegranate are free of synthetic fragrance; Wild Rose, Quince, and Pomegranate are free of synthetic dyes.

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Rimmel’s Eyeful Eye Glistener is a creamy eyeshadow pencil that comes in five colours: 100 Girls Only (pink), 200 Straight Laced (deep purple), 400 Talk To Me (bright blue), 500 Stand Out (electric green), 700 Flaunt (neon orange). 

I think this product is relatively new—at least in my neck of the woods it is. It magically appeared on a Shoppers shelf one night a couple months ago and after one swatch, I fell in love with Straight Laced. I loved the colour, a deep purple that immediately reminded me of MAC Trax. I loved the creamy consistency and application. I loved the ease with which it blended. But, dutiful Asian that I am, I decided to wait for it go on sale.

Then a few weeks later, Shoppers had a sale and it came home with me.

I had a hard time photographing this eyeshadow pencil because of the packaging, which has a sort of pearly, iridescent finish.

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Some background info on my skin: it’s normal/dry; I get dry/flaky patches generally on my nose, my forehead, and under my eyes. My skin is pretty clear with a pimple or two a month, so my main concerns are those dry patches and dull skin.

So when I read this description on The Body Shop’s website about their Round Facial Brush:

Get a more radiant complexion with a soft-bristle face brush that gently loosens dead skin cells and impurities while stimulating circulation

I’m totally in.

The Body Shop sells their brush for $3 CAD, but when I went to go pick it up, they were also having a 25% off sale on facial accessories, so I got it for $2.25 (hey, I’m always looking to save!)

The Body Shop Round Facial Brush (with cap) with a quarter for size comparison. The brush is a little more than an inch in diameter.

A little tag was attached to the knob which pretty much repeats the website description, explaining that the stimulation of circulation and exfoliation can improve skin tone and texture. It suggests using it with (The Body Shop) facial washes/cleansers.

While at Metrotown, I decided to also check out the Face Complexion Brush offered by Sephora for $7 CAD. Instead of a knob at the top of the brush like the one from The Body Shop, Sephora’s has a red plastic handle like a toothbrush with a round head. I have to say that the Sephora brush is noticeably softer but this does not necessarily mean it is better. I am unsure if the Sephora brush sacrifices exfoliation ability for softness or if it is softer but is as good at scrubbing off dead skin cells (in which case, it would be better). The brush feels fine on my forehead and chin but is slightly uncomfortably abrasive on the cheeks. I would probably recommend the Sephora brush for those with more sensitive skin that needs gentler treatment.

Both brushes also come with a cap sort of thing to cover the bristles, keeping them clean and in shape during travel. Both stores have brushes out of the plastic wrapping, so I would encourage you to visit both and try them on the back of your hand to see which you prefer. However, I have found that the bristles, or at least the underside of the base holding them, are still damp long after I’ve used it and put it back in the cap. I don’t know if that’s good for the life of the brush or not, but it kind of bugs me.

How I use it: at night, after/during cleansing. That is personal preference because I’m generally brain-dead lazy in a hurry in the morning. I brush it over my skin in small circles in a generally upward direction from my chin, over my cheeks, and up to my forehead. I do not use this near my undereye area as the skin this is an extremely delicate area of your face.

I haven’t made a decision on whether or not it actually boosts circulation (and therefore improves complexion), so that will have to come later in a part 2. However it does exfoliate, and my face looks and feels squeaky clean after use.

I would not consider this some manual version of a Clarisonic or something, in terms of cleansing ability. Although it is recommended to be used with a facial cleanser, do not be disappointed, mad, or otherwise butthurt because it sucks at removing your makeup. It removes dead skin cells, and I do not have any expectations of it cleansing off makeup, dirt, or oil any more than an exfoliating scrub.

Stay tuned for updates on this facial brush!

The Body Shop: $3 CAD

Everyone and their moms know about this cult favourite…

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

It’s described as “perfectly measured and finely balanced” and many have commented on the perfect, long-lasting curl they get from using it. I have wimpy, straight lashes that hate to be curled, so I’m eager to try it out and see if the magic is there (not so eager about the $22 CAD price tag though).

I’ve heard that it’s advised to throw out the entire thing after six months because it’s no longer perfectly balanced, but I personally think this is mostly just smart marketing.

Sephora also carries a 24K gold-plated version for a little bit more, but I’ll stick to the ordinary, non-plated one, thanks. I’d prefer to save the couple bucks, and I like the silver-toned look anyway.

Have you tried the Shu Uemura eyelash curler? What’s on your wishlist this week?

I think it’s a (minor) improvement from #1, which was actually pretty terrible. If I look exhausted in this one, it’s because I am. I’ve had maybe 10 hours of sleep over the last 3 days D:

• Neutrogena Intensified Day Moisture SPF 15
• Physicians Formula Multi-Colored Face Powder in Highlighter (all over)
• Marcelle Velvety Powder Blush in Just Blush

• Rimmel Recover concealer in 200 Soft Beige (lid)
• MAC eyeshadow in All That Glitters (shimmery light brown; lid & lower lash line)
• Urban Decay eyeshadow in Fishnet (bright fuchsia/magenta; crease & outer corner)
• Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Bronzer in Waikiki Strip (topmost peachy-pink strip; inner corner)
• Rimmel Lycra Lash mascara
• Rimmel Style & Shine clear mascara (brows)

• Korres Lip Butter in Quince

This is my favourite way to have a bright pop of colour on my eye but still have a very wearable, everyday sort of look—also awesome with UD Honey (gold). Fishnet is much much brighter in person; the photos are a bit washed out, sadly.

1. Crystal S is holding a reader appreciation giveaway in celebration of reaching over 200 readers! She is giving away sweet Urban Decay swag and you have until March 25 to get up to 3 entries for the giveaway. Check it out here!

2. I will soon be changing the banner for “the verdict” in my reviews to “the summary”. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and a summary is a more accurate description of what I do at the end of my reviews: sum up what I’ve said in the post through pros & cons, and then give a general recommendation rather than any sort of score or grade.

3. I am now hip and with it. For reasons that I won’t get into, I’ve been holding off on/expressing zero interest in getting a twitter account despite peer pressure from David and Jenelle. Finally decided to get it for the purposes of spreading the word about this blog and to connect with readers and other beauty bloggers. Cool kids only: http://www.twitter.com/dowantmakeup

I picked up this quickie survey from Rae at theNotice. Feel free to fill out your own and post it (don’t forget to tag me, I need readers!)

Three names I go by:
1. Angela
2. Angelie
3. Serika

Three jobs I have had:
1. server
2. sales associate in clothing retail
3. inbound call center agent

Three Two places I have lived:
1. Vancouver, British Columbia
2. Edmonton, Alberta (for like, 2 months ~_~)

Three favourite drinks:
1. golden mandarin bubble tea
2. iced coffee
3. Miami Ice (iced tea + mango puree + mint)

Three TV shows I watch:
1. Bones
2. Good Eats
3. Project Runway (Tim Gunn <3 <3)

Three places I have been: replacing with Three Books I Love because I never travel anywhere :(
1. Animal Farm
2. Bad Monkeys
3. I Am America (And So Can You!)

Three places I would like to visit:
1. Tokyo
2. New York City
3. Italy

Three people who text (or bbm) me regularly:
1. David
2. Jenelle
3. Andy

Three favorite old TV shows:
1. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
2. Aladdin (Disney cartoon series)
3. Xena/Hercules
4. Lois & Clark
5. Hercules (Disney cartoon series)

Three favorite dishes:
1. spicy tuna rolls
2. risotto
3. veal and beef sausage with bruschetta

Three makeup/beauty products I cannot live without:
1. blushblushblush
2. mascara
3. lip gloss/tinted lip butter/anything to put some colour on my lips and make me look like I’m one of the living

Three things I’m looking forward to:
1. going on interviews for co-op positions, then hopefully getting a placement and starting work in the fall!
2. starting to sew again
3. four-year anniversary with Andy (May)/his birthday (April)

Have you heard about Too Faced’s newest product, Mood Swing? The website says that the lip gloss changes shades depending on your emotions. Now you know what I mean about a mood ring for your lips!

Sly marketers are saying the gloss (in four shades, $18.50 USD) works according to a woman’s body chemistry and switches colours when the wearer is aroused (insert nudge/wink).

However, I’m a little skeptical. When I was 7 or 8, I found a mood ring. It was too big for me but I wore it and played with it all the time. It was always blue :( I figured out pretty quick that if I pressed on it, it could change to green or brown or yellow depending on how hard I pressed (i.e. how much body heat I applied). Much like my mood ring (which I lost somewhere along the way), it probably changes colour according to your body heat. When you’re nervous or angry or feeling frisky, your body temperature rises and changes the colour. That’s what I figure, anyway. This article from the Toronto Sun has more information and pretty much echoes what I was thinking about the heat activation.

I think it’d make for a fun novelty buy, but don’t count on it to send your boyfriend any hints :P

What do you think? Would you buy it for the novelty?

If you aren’t in the know, tokidoki is a line of apparel and handbags featuring adorable characters from “collections” such as Moofia (cow/dairy-themed) and Cactus Friends. The handbags are super colourful and rather pricy too, but they have a very loyal following, I think. The handbags might look kind of busy at first because the tokidoki characters are all over the place, but the cuteness grows on you, honest.

I was super excited about the tokidoki cosmetics collection coming out in Sephora, and kept checking the website to see when it would appear on the front page or the Just Arrived page. No luck. Then I saw that Muse had picked up a Fantastico Lip Ink and reviewed it! I found tokidoki on the brand drop-down list and it is indeed available for sale.

I suppose Sephora has been too busy promoting Tarina Tarantino to give a heads up that it’s now available? /huffs

Anyway after going through the product list, here’s what I’m getting googly-eyed for (click the name to open a new window and see the product page on Sephora)

Luminosa Powder ($29 CAD) is a “sheer highlighting powder”. It only comes in Kabuki (pretty pink), and could probably also be used as a blush for the fairer-skinned. For me I would definitely be using it for highlighting or all over the face for pretty colour.

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I’m sure I’m not the only one that has a huge craving for these gorgeous metallic pigments…

I’ve seen swatches of these and they are so, so pretty. There’s a champagney-bronze, copper, cool-toned yellow/gold, and a light yellow-green. MAC just had to make a stack with the colours that I’m a complete sucker for!

They are here for a limited time as part of the Spring Colour Forecast collection; I wish I could let myself snap it up for $38.50 CAD!

What’s on your wishlist this Wednesday?

Jack Black is a line of men’s skin care products, ranging from shaving cream to hair styling to my new favourite lip balm, Intense Therapy SPF 25.

No, not that Jack Black. (It’s okay, I thought so too.)

I’m reviewing the Natural Mint and Shea Butter version, but there is also Original, Lemon & Chamomile, and Vanilla & Lavender (coming soon: Acai Berry & Vanilla!). I really wanted the Lemon & Chamomile, but this one was the only one I could find at my local Sephora.

I’ve read tons of positive things about it, so being a lip product junkie, how could I resist?

Ingredients: Octinoxate (7.5%), Avobenzone (3.0%), Natural Mint Flavor (Aroma) Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Fruit, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Camellia Sinesis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Tocopherol (vitamin E)

Standard screw cap and slanted applicator. The thing that I noticed about this lip balm is that it requires more pressure (squeezing) to get the product out of the tube than say, a tube of lip gloss. All of my other lip balms come in stick or pot form, so I don’t know if this is normal for a tube balm, or if the Jack Black formulation is especially thick.

My lips are chronically dry, and since it is a product marketed toward men, I was expecting some no-frills moisturizing that wouldn’t make the irritation around my mouth angry. Did it fulfill these requirements? Yes. It does not feel thick or heavy and has only a very subtle shine. Most importantly, it moisturizes and softens.

Before: my lips looking sadly dehydrated

After: happy, slightly shiny lips

• very moisturizing and softening
• subtle shine; great for a natural look
• good SPF protection

• not a lot of product for the price ($7.50 CAD for 0.25 oz; for an idea of the size: if you own a Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush lip gloss, it is 0.46 oz)

• some people like the smell and tingling sensation of mint, but it is also a potential irritant (source)

I have heard that the Carmex tube balm is similar (and way cheaper), so expect a comparison review soonish.

Jack Black also gets bonus points for discussing parabens on their website and how they are pretty damn safe and work to preserve your stuff.

All in all, it’s a rather good product. Plus, if your boyfriend suffers from constant dry lip syndrome, you can pick up an extra for him (or share!) and he won’t be all embarrassed to be using it in public.

Sephora: $7.50 CAD

Check out the retailer locator at the Jack Black website to find other stores that carry Jack Black products.

GOSH is a cosmetics line from out of Denmark that is probably best known for the wide range of colours in their eye products. Their eyeliners are bright and smooth to apply, and I’ve heard that the Extreme Art Eyeliner can be used for nail art if you seal it with a top coat. The only reason why I haven’t bought more of their products is the price point, which is a little higher than my cheap, broke ass is willing to shell out regularly.

Today I’m reviewing Azure from the Effect Powder line. All Effect Powders are loose shadows with lots of iridescence (i.e. shimmer and sparkle). Azure is a pretty teal that seriously reminds me of a mermaid tail.

Yes, I put it on top of my Derivatives notes. Why? Cause I felt like it.

It comes in a nice and heavy glass jar with a black screw top with GOSH on the top in white letters. The base of the jar is slightly bigger than a quarter (which is part of the reason why I don’t own more Effect Powders, they’re 3 grams or 0.1 US oz for $13-14 CAD!)

There’s a cap that goes on top of the sifter (seen on the left) to keep it from becoming a huge mess every time you unscrew the top.

(above picture) Taken with flash, the left side is patted on with an eyeshadow brush. The right side was swiped on after wetting the brush slightly with a mixture of 3 parts water to 1 part glycerin and then dipping it in the powder (you can achieve the same gorgeous effect with just water, but it may not be as long-wearing).

(above picture) No flash, natural light. It’s pretty sheer without foiling, and is not my preferred way to wear it. I like to use an angled brush and apply it as an eyeliner for an awesome pop of colour.

I have some fallout when I apply it (whether dry or foiled), but that seems to be expected of any loose shadow. I keep a fan brush handy and do my eye makeup first anyway.

As far as I know, GOSH is only available to Canadians through Shoppers Drug Mart and not at all in the US. Although the website makes mention of perfumes and face care products, the only extensions of the line I’ve seen are the body wash and shampoos and conditioners.

• gorgeous colour if foiled
• tons of shimmer for you sparkle whores
• cap to seal sifter holes and prevent spilling/waste

• price ($13 CAD for 3 grams) might be a turn off for some
• not very impressive without foiling

I highly recommend checking them out and giving them a swatch if you can bear the price point (otherwise you’re just torturing yourself). The Effect Powder line alone has 24 different shades, which I suppose is pretty rad for drugstore makeup. The only other drugstore makeup brand I can think of that has loose pigment powders would be Annabelle, which is undoubtedly cheaper but does not have as broad a colour range. Although I can’t compare it to MAC Pigments in terms of quality, you pay about $1 per gram less than MAC.

Shoppers Drug Mart: $13 CAD

So this is the start of Wishlist Wednesdays. The name is pretty self-explanatory, but basically I will try to post my beauty covets and cravings every Wednesday. Sometimes it’s something I would buy sometime in the future, and other times the price is a little too steep (but I would if I could~~) To kick it off:

Fresh Sugar Lychee eau de parfum

I’ve been slowly inching up to a citrus scent by recently buying Versace Bright Crystal. I do love the smell of citrus fruits, but I have yet to own a fragrance classified as a citrus; this one will definitely be the first.

Notes: grapefruit, Italian lemon, lime blossom, lychee, mango flower, freesia, sandalwood, tonka bean, amber

It smells so gorgeous and happy and pretty. I can’t really describe it better than that. The citrus notes really come out and make it smell bright and fresh. I’m not sure if I would have been able to pin it down as a lychee scent if it weren’t for the label, but there is definitely a hint of fruitiness to it. I could see myself wearing this clean, lightly-fruity scent all summer!

It’s available at Sephora in 1 oz ($40 CAD) or 3.4 oz ($81). American customers can also order directly from Fresh. There is also a rollerball ($22.50; only at Sephora, it seems), which I bought but subsequently returned because it just wasn’t the same (scent- and longevity-wise). This is an item I’m expecting to cross off my list soon, as I’m asking a friend to pick up the 3.4 oz for $65 USD during her US trip later this month—so excited!

P.S. I’ve seen the Fresh line at Holt Renfrew in Vancouver, but not the Sugar Lychee scent.

Do you have a fragrance on your wishlist too?

I volunteered at my university’s open house today, so I kept my makeup a bit toned down and stuck to neutral eyeshadows. The natural sunlight makes the picture look a bit washed out D: but on the advice of a friend, I decided not to alter it by adding more saturation for colour.

• Olay Complete moisturizer for sensitive skin
• Monistat Anti-Chafing Gel
• GOSH X-Ceptional Wear foundation in 14 Sand
• Marcelle Face Powder in Translucent
• Marcelle Cream Blusher in Raspberry
• Marcelle Velvety Powder Blush in Just Blush
• Physician’s Formula Multi-Colored Highlighter Powder Palette

• MAC eyeshadow in Gleam (rosy/peachy gold)
• Urban Decay eyeshadow in Underground (cool-toned medium brown)
• MAC Fluidline in Ostentatious (dark brown)
• Marcelle Waterproof Eyeliner in Espresso (dark brown with flecks of gold)
• Rimmel Lycra Lash mascara
• Rimmel Style & Shine mascara (clear mascara for eyebrows)

• Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate

I actually bought this for my mom, who is super hardworking when it comes to taking care of her family, but totally lazy when it comes to makeup and skin care. She never got around to using it, so I decided to give it a shot and post a review while I’m at it!

Life is Shoppers Drug Mart’s brand, so you will only find it there. There are a variety of facial mask packets, but the one I’m reviewing today is the Warming Mask with Orange Oil. Since it’s their in-store brand, it goes on sale pretty often.

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