Speculations and Predictions: Urban Decay Mystery Travel Bag

So if you have looked at the Urban Decay website today you will notice they have a Mystery Travel Bag for sale.

I've never seen this before from them but the first thought in my head was those Mystery Gift Bags that Sanrio sells to get rid of old merchandise.

If you've been keeping up with Urban Decay you might have noticed they have a few good things on sale because they are revamping the packaging of some items.  But I personally think that they would just sell the old stock and not try to goodie bag it out.

One interesting thing I found was when I put the mystery bag in my cart and from my cart click on the bag to the page, the tab description says Deluxe Sample Supercurl Curling Mascara by Urban Decay (Official Size).  The Early Exclusive Sample that is automatically added to the cart is a mystery as well but I don't think it's the Supercurl Mascara since that is already for sale on the site here.  Not to mention there is also TSA references on both the Mystery Bag page and the travel size Supercurl Mascara.  Most likely coincidence but still fun to speculate.

So what does this all mean?  All it really means is that I'm very tempted to order it (along with more All Nighter XL at $18 pop).  And that I have a sneaking suspicion that one of the items is a deluxe sample of Supercurl Mascara.  That would account for $10 of the over $45 value.

It also says that it's packed with favorites so I have to assume that Potion Primer will be included (travel or full sized I don't know).  They also say that there will be full sized products so that automatically makes me think there will be a full sized 24/7 pencil in Zero or their dual end pencil in Zero/Whiskey.

What else could be in there?  The only other thoughts I have left would be a travel size of the make up setting spray and a lip product (maybe a mini gloss).

So there you have my thoughts.

Supercurl Mascara mini

Full Sized liner

Primer Potion

Setting Spray

Lipgloss mini

Now should I wait for reveals to come in or should I bite the bullet and get one for myself?

Sigh the Sunday Blues are Worse After a Long Weekend: What I Bought for Black Friday! Plus How I'm Liking Liv's Lips!

Just a quick update with Givenchy's Liv's Lips.  I've been wearing this at home for a little while and I am really starting to like it.  At first I thought it looks a little too grey (almost dirty) but the more I wear it the more I like it.  It looks really good when you layer it over a bright pink lipstick.

Bare lips

With Liv's Lips. Sorry it's hard to catch the true color

 

So it's the end of the long holiday weekend and I made it!

We had our annual Thanksgiving dinner and things went wonderfully.  We had way too much food as usual but we had a lot of fun.  And the best part is that the television wasn't on at all.  It was mostly human interaction.  

The only thing is that after throwing a party I feel exhausted.  However, running around everywhere still didn't stop me from shopping on Black Friday.

The US Missha site is still having their 40% off sale.  Hopefully I can get my items by the end of the week to show you guys the goodies.

On Friday I went to downtown SF and there were a lot more people there this year than there was last year.  I walked around a little bit but I found the crowds discouraging and left after 30 minutes.

We then went to Colma where the stores opened early and the bags didn't cost us $0.10.  I got some Wallflower 2 packs at Bath and Body Works for $5 each and I went to Ulta and got the Tarte doorbuster kit for $20.03 after tax and after using my $3.50 off $10 purchase coupon.

I have to say if you can still get that kit then go for it.  It really is a great kit and I think I'm falling in love with Tarte blushes.  The blush included is Flush and the cream eyeshadow is Slate.  I found some creasing with the eyeshadow after 6 hours with no primer but it still held up really well.  The blush is super pigmented (use a light hand) and lasted all day.

I then went to Target and got some boring stuff.  I was looking for sweatpants since I originally didn't want to wear jeans to go out.  My only option was to wear 2 pairs of pj pants for warmth.  That was not a good idea.....

So I got sweatpants at Target for $6 each and also some boxers for the bf for $8.  I also finally got a basic belt for myself so that my Uniqlo denim doesn't constantly fall off my butt.

The next day I went to get my hair cut.  I was super excited since I don't do this too often and I knew I was going to chop my hair off for a short rooster-ish do.

Before hair- For reference my hair reached my waist. Forgive the pimple.

After hair left side

After hair right side

After hair front view

I really like it but I still need time to play with it.  Some of my friends like it and one of my friends said I looked like kd lang.  I do admit with a more boyish cut I feel compelled to wear more make-up to fem it up.  But I do love how spunky it feels.

Also...... remember when I told you guys about Armani stuff for sale at the outlet store?  Well, I didn't really find out any info on Black Friday deals for the outlets so I decided to chance fate and go today.  I figure if it was meant to be then it was meant to be.  So I go back to Milpitas and go in with an open mind.

After going there tonight I really want to go to Gilroy tomorrow to see what they have.  It's a sickness I know.

So in case you don't know and you live near a Lancome Outlet they are having 25% off the entire store until Monday (11/26/12) I believe, so there may still be time.  On Friday it was 35% off so I could have saved a little more but I still saved a good amount.

A little discounted make-up does the soul good.

So what did I get?  Remember the Armani Eyes to Kill in Madre Perla? Well, it was at the 50% off table so of course at that price I had to get it.  But better yet, there was also that additional 25% off.  So I got it for a little over $10!  From $32 retail to $10, this is why I go to outlets.

They also had the Armani Blushing Fabric and the YSL Voile de Blush on the 50% off table.  As well as nail polishes (like the one I bought last week..... grrrr....), Lancome eyeshadows, eye palettes, Star Bronzer and that Kate Winslet foundation powder.

The other item I got was a Lancome Oscillation Power Foundation.  It was 65% off with an extra 25% off which brought the price down to $10.69.  On the 65% off counter they also had some Lancome eyeshadows and Kiehl's fragance roller balls.

The foundation is a pretty good match (I got Beige 10 and I'm about a MAC NC 20-25, Armani 4.5, Dior Airflash 20, Burberry Trench 4).  The best thing to do is bring a powder foundation compact that you normally use with you so you can swatch it against the testers.  It's helps a lot considering that all sales are final.

So there it all is.  My weekend in a large nutshell.  Hope everyone had a great weekend and that we all have the strength not to call in sick for work tomorrow morning.

Live Happy!

 

Grocery Outlet Sighting : Revlon Nail Strips!

So Thanksgiving is going to be at our place this year so of course my hostess with the mostess plan involves making every dollar stretch.  Well, to my luck I live near plenty of places that can help me with that.

Seriously I can't even shop at regular grocery stores without feeling cheated.

So I go into Grocery Outlet to day to stock up on Thanksgiving munchies.  I pass by the cosmetics aisle (as I always do for cheap make up) and I find Revlon Nail Art strips.  These are available at your local drug store for about $10 but at Grocery Outlet they were $2.99!

So I had to break budget and get a few.

If you are wondering, these apply just like the Sally Hansen ones.  I hear that some people have issues with them chipping and noticed that they are talking about the glitter ones.  In my experience, glitter polishes always either chip on me with the quickness or are impossible to get off.

I just applied Wild One and I love it!  It's super sparkly and look really festive on my short nails.

 

If you can find these then I suggest you buy them.  You never know how fast stock will go at these places.

Now if you'll excuse me I have cakes to bake and a condo to clean...... sigh!  

Review! Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin Lipstick in Lively Black aka Liv's Lips

Can I get a yay weekend?

Yaaaaayyyyy weekendddd!

Work was a big booty pain this week but only 3 more work days until Thanksgiving!  I'm so not going to be productive next week.

So for you today I have a Givenchy (pronounced ji-VON-shee I think) lipstick.

For a long time now Liv Tyler has been the face of the brand and I really can't imagine another face for them.  It's like how I still think Isabella Rossellini for Lancome and Elizabeth Hurley for Estee Lauder.

To me Liv Tyler and the brand are one in the same.  So it's fitting for me that she gets to give some creative input with the collections.

Liv's Lips is a sheer black lipcolor that turns a sheer berry shade on the lips.  The color depends on the person.  The effect is very much like Dior Lip Glow and less like O-gloss from Smashbox.

Is this just glorified mood lipstick?  Perhaps.  But I loved Dior Lip Glow and I really like this one too.  I find the stain in Liv's Lips to not be as intense as Lip Glow, but it lingers around a little longer.  Dior Lip Glow feel more emollient and more like a treat. Once the actual lipstick wears away a berry pink stain remains and fades evenly.

I compared Liv's Lips (left) to YSL Glazed Blackcurrent (right).  Both give a similar initial feel with a light berry tint to the lips.  But the pink stain in Liv's Lips allows the color to develop into something more complex and in turn is brighter than Glazed Blackcurrent.

I'm not too fond of the cap though.  I really wish that the seal was tighter because there have been a couple occasions when the lipstick came loose from the attached cap and I had a topless lipstick in my purse.

Am I glad I got it?  Yes and no.  While I enjoy this color and will wear it often, I really think for the price it's a bit expensive for a sheer lip tint with staining properties.

Will I buy again?  Probably not.  Unless it goes on sale and costs less than $15 I don't think I will get this again.  Not trying to be harsh but for me personally this product doesn't justify the $30 price tag.  But I do like it a lot more than YSL Glazed Blackcurrent. 

Review Time! Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss in Icon

First and foremost I have to say that the name for this product is ridiculously convoluted.....

But the product is straight up gold!

My first thoughts of this gloss when I saw it in store was that it was super saturated with pigment and left a gorgeous shine.  Icon is described as a deep ruby red and I would have to agree. For me it's just light enough not to be considered goth but it borderlines vampy well enough.

As a person with a fair amount of red lipsticks in her collection I decided to get my closest colors and do a comparison.

Icon is swatched on the top

The other reds are as follows: MAC-Strut Your Stuff, MAC-Totally Fab, Elizabeth Arden-Golden Red, L'oreal-Target Red, Giorgio Armani-400, L'oreal-Ravishing Red, MAC-Port Red, MAC-Dubonnet and MAC-"Red" She Said.

Now color-wise I really would have to say that the closest is Armani 400 and I can imagine this gloss looking gorgeous layered on top of it.  But for those looking for a cheaper alternative I think L'oreal Ravishing Red mixed with a little burgundy liner and topped with a high-shine gloss could yield similar results.

Am I glad I got it?  Yes!

Will I buy it again?  Maybe.  

 I have actually only used up an entire tube of gloss twice.  The first time was with the NYC gloss that was clear with white holographic/iridescent glitter in it.  I can't tell you how much glitter I ingested in my youth because of all the glittery lipglosses I had.

The second time was with MAC Deelight.  I wore that gloss until I took the wand scraper off and started digging in the tube.  I'm very close to finishing my Viva Glam 6 gloss but stopped wearing it when summer coral colors came around.

Should you buy it?  That all depends on you.  

It's a great red that looks classic yet updated.  It's a bold lip indeed but not too bright and not too dark where people will think you have a lot of inner angst.  If you like Armani 400 then you will like this color as well.

  

  

Sephora Friends and Family Haul!!!

I'm sure there are a lot of these around now but I thought I would play show and tell as well.

 

These items I'm showing is everything that I am going to keep.  I also bought multiples of a few of them (mainly nail polish remover) so there is more.  This is just representative of the items I got.

 

Out of everything I think the only thing I'm going to return is the Sarah McNamara Miracle Skin Transformer kit.  I tried this BB cream on in store and loved it.  The only thing is that I'm super sensitive to most chemical sunscreens.  This is no exception, but I really did love how the BB cream performed otherwise.

 

Also I want to say that even though the 20% off is over, there are some great sale items to be had still.  If you have a Sephora inside a JCPenney nearby then check that out.  They don't have as much stock as a free standing Sephora store but the discounts are better in my experience.

 

So then.... on to my loot!

 

 

Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lip Gloss in Icon -$28

 Givenchy Rouge Interdit Satin LIpstick in Lively Black (also called Liv's Lips) -$30

Sephora Creamy Body Wash Caps -$0.80

Tokidoki Nail Art Stickers -$2

Tokidoki Nail Confetti and Nail Art Stickers -$4

Sephora Collection Express Nail Polish Remover -$1

Hello Kitty Head of the Class Compact Mirror -$1

Kat Von D Mini Eyeshadow Palette in Little Saint -$5

Tokidoki Scent Stick Trio -$1

Tanda Zap -$10

Tarte Fantastic Foursome Set -$35

Sephora+Pantone Universe Tangerine Tango Faux Lash Set -$9

 

That was all for me.  My friend also got Sultra Hair Extensions for $1 each and the Sadick Dermatology Group 30 Day trial kit for $10.

 

As for reviews..... well I fully intend to do a review on Icon and Liv's Lips so look out for that.  I might do a review for the Tarte blush and false lashes but that will take some time for me to try the stuff out.

 

Also, since I haven't done a confection in a while I have two for you today!

 

Last week I made my famous Mint Chocolate Cupcakes.  I brought some to my old workplace along with some chocolate ones.  With the leftover batter I made me a few batches of mini cupcakes.

 

 

Also an old co-worker and baking aficionado made some shortbread-ish sandwich cookies.  They were heavenly.

 

So there you have it!  Have a happy Wednesday and live happy!

Sephora Friends and Family + I Have an Extra Code

Yeah I should be working right now but nope I'm gonna blog.

So in case you were wondering Sephora's Friends and Family sale is going on right now!  This is for all Sephora VIB members.  If you're not a VIB member then you can still piggyback on the fun for today if you have a friend who happens to be a VIB.

As for me I have no friend I want to email my code to so if you're wanting to save 20% today leave your email in the comments section.  I only have one to give so first post gets it.  It's only valid online and in the US.

Other than that it's a great way to stock up on stuff.  Sephora.com now carries Koh Gen Do, SK-II and Sunday Riley among other top tier brands.

Also while supplies last you get a Sephora tote bag with purchase.

Other than that I really have nothing to left to say.....

Just remember the sale starts when the store opens not like last time when it started at 6pm and there was a giant line around the store just to get in.

Have fun and live happy!

So I Go to the Doctor and.......

So I went to an allergist on Friday in hopes of finding out what to do about my skin condition.  For about 6 months now my skin has been super itchy.  When I scratch it, welts form and it happens all over my body.  I've been controlling this with a Zyrtec every other day but didn't like the thought of being medicated if I didn't have to.

Some of you might already know what I have since I was told it was common.  My condition is called dermographia.  Apparantly it has no known cause or cure and is treated with antihistamine (so basically what I've been doing).

While it's considered beign, it's awfully troublesome and I get really self conscience.  It'a a good thing my friends know I suffer from pretty bad allergies at times but it still makes me feel vulnerable.

Oh well, enough whining.  The doctor says that it can resolve itself just as suddenly as it appeared.  Hopefully I won't have to deal with this too much longer. 

In any case, how many people can play tic-tac-toe on themselves?

Have a great weekend and stay happy!

Review: Revlon Ruby Ribbon and Briliant Bordeaux

So CVS is having a promo where if you buy 2 Revlon beauty items or tools you get $7 back in Extra Care bucks.  I got 2 polishes from their Just Add Sparkle collection for Holiday 2012.

Brilliant Bordeaux on the top and Facets of Fuchsia on the bottom.  So hard to photograph these.

Brilliant Bordeaux is a sheer black base with magenta and holo silver bar glitter with tiny black glitter.  When I saw the color I immediately thought of Facets of Fushcia.  The color is pretty much similar but there's so much more going on in Brilliant Bordeaux..... almost too much.  On the nail it's a very pretty color and spreads easily.  I would recommend layering this over a lighter color (like grey) to see the black glitter in this.  I layered this over my current mani which is a dark (almost black color) similar to Revlon Lunar, which is pretty much a black.

Ruby Ribbon is a clear base with very fine bright orange-red glitter.  This also has larger bar glitter in fuchsia and holo bar glitter.

 

This is really bright and sparkles like crazy.  The two different glitters make this look almost duochrome.  Application was not as nice and can be patchy but it's totally worth it.  Once you apply two coats it's pretty much opaque.

Giveaway News!

So in my last post I mentioned a tiny giveaway for a Nivea Olive Oil and Lemon lip balm.  I set the giveaway to end on Friday but so far no entries.  To enter one must follow my blog and comment on the post.  For those already subscribed, all they would need to do is comment on the post.

Just wanted to mention it again just in case.

Other than that, I hope your Halloween was fun.