10/26/2018

15 days left in the What's In The Box? Giveaway!

A reminder that there are 15 days left in the"What's in the box?" giveaway!

Answer the seven deadly questions below: you can either answer in the comments, on your blog, or instagram (please include links in the comments if you post on your blog or instagram).

1. Gluttony: Which beauty product(s) do you have the most of in your collection?

2. Sloth: Which makeup (or skincare) step are you the laziest at applying/doing?

3. Greed: If you could own everything from one brand, which brand would that be?

4. Pride: What item (s) in your collection are you the most proud to own?

5. Lust: What beauty product(s)/collection release are you lusting for?

6. Envy: What beauty product(s), that are no longer available, do you wish you owned?

7. Wrath: What beauty/skincare product(s) do you dislike.

Here's how is works:

You get one entry if you're subscribed to the blog via "the enablers." Long-time enablers get two entries.

Two entries if you're subscribed to, both, the blog and Instagram.

Three entries if you blog, tweet, and/or Instagram the giveaway (please include links or tag me).

Four entries for every additional blog post, tweet, or Instagram feature of the giveaway before the giveaway ends (again, please link the post in the comments, thank you!).

What you win:

Seven ADDICTION eye shadows of your choice...plus, some surprise extras.

What's in the box giveaway ends on November 9th (1+1=2 and 2-9=7, get it!), at 11:59p.m. (GMT+9).

This giveaway is open internationally.

If you have any questions, feel free to email or message me in the comments.

I look forward to reading your answers.

10/25/2018

I'm Here for the Boo's...China Glaze Maliboo-boo

I'm enamored with the white lettering on the bottles in this collection.

Today, I present to you "Maliboo-boo," the first of six polishes from China Glaze's Paint it Black 2018 Halloween Collection.

As a personal preference, I wish they would've gone with something like "Mali-boo!" I find that extra "boo" annoying; it takes me out of the whole Halloween theme, and into Yogi Bear.

Photographed using flash because it was extremely difficult to capture the holographic effect otherwise.

Maliboo-boo is a black linear holographic. Of all the nail polish finishes, linear holo's are probably the least represented in my collection.

The formula is great, and completely opaque in two coats. Nonetheless, the finish is somewhat dull. Therefore, a good topcoat is needed to maximize the holo's prismatic effect.

With that said, Maliboo-boo isn't an extraordinarily unique shade, but it's still beautiful all the same. I found myself enjoyed it more than expected.

10/24/2018

Through Sun Showers...Bath & Body Works' Summer Rain & Linen Shower Gel

Well, I started off the month of October being sick. Then, that sickness turned into a pneumonia (a first for me!). My body bounced back in time for my friends' visit. Now, my friends are back home, and I'm sick again. I feel as if my immune system is in a permanent cycle of "wash, rinse and repeat."

I'm so behind on blog posts. I've photographed, and swatched about 25% of my Autumn posts. I really need to kick my own ass, and get them done!

Bath & Body Works'
Summer Rain & Linen was September's shower gel, and its notes are: Lakeside Breeze (whatever that is), Sheer Linen, Summer Apple, and Key Lime.

Another lovely warm-weather, long-gone, limited edition scent I enjoyed, and would most-likely repurchase.

10/21/2018

Blister in the Sun...O.P.I Sun, Sea and Sand in My Pants

What the heck is going on with the weather? Just when I thought Autumn was making its appropriate entrance this season (usually, the weather begins to cool down towards the end of October), it's hot again!

Oh well, at least I get to squeeze one more wear of O.P.I's Sun, Sea and Sand in My Pants. A bright (yet muted), warm, egg-yolk yellow that works nicely during summer, and fall.

I google searched Lisbon Yellow to see what the inspiration for the shade was. And, this is what I got. Apparently, these vintage yellow trams are a tourist attraction in their own right.

As pretty as the color is, I must say the formula of Sun, Sea and Sand in My Pants isn't very good. I had to apply four coats to correct all the streaks, and unevenness.

I'm torn with this one; I like the shade, but the application was the absolution pits! So much so that I'm debating if I should keep it in my collection. What do you think?

10/08/2018

A New Set of Empress's Clothes

My first introduction to Juvia's Place was an email sales notification from hautelook.com last year.

To date, I own all of their eye shadow and blush palettes, and last august when the brand was offering 40% site wide, I added the liquid lipsticks to the mix. In all honesty, I had low exceptions with how these liquid lipsticks would perform. But, surprisingly, they're good.

I also own 3 of Juvia's single liquid lipsticks. However, this post will focus on the Empress Liquid Lipstick Duo sets.

The duos come with a matte, and metallic liquid lipstick, and both formulas have a buttercream scent. I've searched, and searched, and searched, but I can't find the photo of the applicator, but it's a doe-foot.

From left to right: Candace, Ditu, Yoko.

Candace: both, the matte and metallic, are a milk chocolate brown.

Ditu: both, the matte and metallic, are a muted terracotta orange.

Yoko: the matte is a dark, espresso brown. And the metallic is a deep, bronzed chocolate.

From left to right: Taytu, Madame, Moro.

Taytu: the matte is a dark brownish, cranberry-red. And the metallic is a deep, muted reddened plum.

Madame: both, the matte and metallic, are a violet purple.

Moro: both, the matte and metallic, are a deep, royal purple.

Of all the shades, Taytu needed two coats to correct its patchiness, and Moro was the only one that looked, and felt, the most drying.

Overall, the formula is pigmented, comfortable on the lips, and as long as you don't eat anything too oily or complicated, they'll stay transfer-proof (but not smudge-proof) and wear well throughout the day.

The Empress Liquid lipstick duos retail for $18.00. However, Juvia's Place usually offers some form of a discount on their website, so you may be able to get them at a lesser rate.

10/01/2018

Game Over! China Glaze All Sun & Games Nail Lacquer

I was looking at the basket were I keep all my new seasonal nail polishes, and it's time to swap out last season's polishes for this fall's new acquisitions. And, what did I find at the bottom of the basket? China Glaze's All Sun & Games.

I want to do posts on all the shades I love for Autumn. But, before I do, I need to get this polish out of the way, and my life. The sole purpose of me writing about All Sun & Games is to have written documentation of my dislike for it, just in case my memory gets hazy with time.

All Sun & Games is a bright sherbet orange, with gold shimmer, and a matte finish. First, let's talk about the shade. Try as I might, I've come to the conclusion that these shades of orange do not look good against my skin tone.

The application was terrible. Each layer was plagued with uneven bald spots, and took a total of 4 or 5 coats (I lost count) to correct.

Generally, I dislike matte polishes; their chalky texture and finish makes my skin crawl. However, matte finishes have improved over the years, and I find myself enjoying them more and more...but not this one.

In conclusion, All Sun & Games is one polish that will not be going into the nail polish cabinets. I have thought about giving it to a friend. However, I would like to maintain that friendship, and will be disposing of this polish in the trash bin.

10/01/2018

I'm Liming...Bath & Body Works Coconut Lime Verbena Shower Gel

I got my first cold for the season, and it's put me on my arse. I have a massive headache, sore throat, and feel achy down to my bones.

Anyhow, how are you doing? I've been working on clearing out my body wash drawer. I got down to 10 bottles, but then sabotaged myself by purchasing three Bath & Body Works Shower Gels from this year's Fall series.

This post is a month late (notice a pattern here?), but for Bath & Body works "scent documenting" purposes, here we go. August's shower gel was Coconut Lime Verbena. The blend of zest lime, verbena, and coconut was a refreshing scent combination for Summer. If it wasn't discontinued, I would repurchase this shower gel.