April 2012 Julep Box

My April 2012 Julep Box has arrived!  This time it arrived with Easter theme with chocolate eggs!!! So cute!

If you are unfamiliar with the Julep Box, please see my initial post ---->here<---- It's still not too late to get your Julep box for a Penny! One Cent!!!!

It came with Best Pedi Creme ever, which is a pedi creme with exfoliants, 2 nail polishes and a pedicure foam...

I'm usually a classic with a twist, but this time I wasn't in love with the colors, so I switched it to Boho Glam and I got these two colors.  Molly- beautiful cherry red and Alyson- almond nude.

I'll be doing my nails tonight, so I'll be swatching it on my nails soon!

Review: Shiseido Perfect Refining Foundation and Perfect Foundation Brush

Recently I purchased the Shiseido's newest foundation, Perfect Refining Foundation along with their Perfect Foundation Brush.  I've been searching for the perfect liquid foundation for forever and I always found myself just going back to the BareMineral's Foundation. So in the winter the BareMinerals is a little too try for me so I've been using BB Creams on a daily basis and foundation from Faceshop when I go out at night...
Before I purchased the Shiseido's foundation, I bought Chanel's Vita Lumiere Aqua cuz I heard so many great things.  But it was still drying up my cheeks throughout the day and it wasn't as glowy as I thought it would be.

So here's my review on Shiseido Perfect Refining Foundation- $38.
It comes in a small 1 fluid ounce bottle for $38.  It looks smaller than others, but 1 fluid ounce is about some other foundations pack.And a little goes a looooooong way!!!! Seriously little tiny drop can cover half of your face.

- it has medium buildable coverage
- super easy to blend with fingers
- semi-mat ( so no powder is needed except maybe t-zone)
- non-drying
- lasts all day
- comes wide variety of shades in natural, pink, yellow undertone.  I bought natural I00 very light ivory.
- looks very natural

Bottom line: It's now my favorite non-glowy liquid foundation! (still in search for that perfect glowy foundation) I think my favorite part is that I can wear it all day without having to worry about whether my foundation is moving around all over my face or drying it out.  I really hate it when I look like I have dry patches or cracks.  And I hate touching up while I'm at work! lol

Now on to the Perfect Foundation Brush- $30

I'm assuming since this brush has the "perfect" in it, so it must have been released along with the Perfect Refining Foundation.

- soft tight packed bristles with short handle for precision
- can be used with liquid, cream, and powder formulas
- angled for contouring your face
- not quite sure what it's made of

But this really is the best foundation brush I have ever used in my life.  I think I love the brush more than the foundation itself (if I had to choose).  It has soft tight packed bristles that can pack that foundation in every pore of your face!  I dot the foundation on my face first and I take the brush and stipple (stamping motion) and blend it out.  It does not leave any traces of streak on your face like some of the other foundation brushes do.  I'm sooooo in love with this brush!  I've also used this with concealers and it applies everything flawlessly!  Looooooooove!

Here's my before and after pictures of the foundations for your reference.....  I've been suffering from hormonal acne which I cannot control with products I use.  Acne disappear and re-appear every month.  And now it's created some scarring which now I have to cover along with my freckles.... :(  This foundation seemed to do a great job of covering with one sheer cover.

In the 3rd and the 4th picture you can see the difference.  Do you see how it even covered up my veins?

And here's how it looks all together. :)  It's semi-matte, but I think it still gives a natural glow. :)
I'll definitely re-purchase again.

Smashbox Shades of Fame Palette Launch Party

I was lucky enough to be invited to Sephora's sponsored party at Smashbox Studios for their Shades of Fame Palette Launch Party.  The Shades of Fame Palette will be released sometime in April from what they tell me.  But I just saw that it's on sale at Sephora.com.  So maybe it was released? lol (no clue)

At this event it included a photo ready makeover by Smashbox and Sephora Professional Makeup Artists and a Professional headshot photo session with world renowned photographer Davis Factor (grandson of Max Factor- Cosmetic Mogul).  Also there was a DJ bumping music, food, open bar, goodie bag and a chance to purchase the unreleased palette before anyone else. :)  It was quite a party.  It was cool to actually visit Smashbox Studios where the magic happens.  Smashbox is one of my favorite makeup brands.  So it was pretty awesome.  Here are some pictures!

My friend and I waiting to get our makeup done!

My friend getting her makeup done....

Playing around...  ^_^

 

Open Bar!

Goodie bags from Sephora!  It included $10 gift card to Sephora, Smashbox Eyelid Primer and Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara! ^_^

Smashbox Summer Collection- Shades of Fame Palette we got to purchase before the launch... review on this coming up soon! Beautiful

Others getting their photoshoot done with Davis Factor

And our photoshoot photos... (I wasn't very happy with how my pictures turned out... but just to show you... lol) even the wind in my hair didn't help... how sad...

And a picture with my makeup artist...

          



Ovation Cell Therapy 10% Off Code

Here's a Ovation Cell Therapy 10% Off Discount Promotional Code.  Expires April 6, 2012
Enter: DISCOUNT10
Enjoy!
If you'd like to check out my review on Ovation, please click here for my full review (of older formula).
BTW, the new formula does the samething except that it's now paraben free. :)

How to Make (구운계란) Roasted Egg Korean Spa Style

I was at a Korean Spa in Koreatown - WiSpa this weekend... And as usual I had (구운계란) Roasted Egg, which is like a MUST when you are at a Korean Spa (Jjim jil bang).  Traditionally, the eggs are Roasted in the oven for days.  They come out nice and toasty turning roasty brown, and chewy with a bit of flavor.  I thought, why can't I make this at home?  I crave it when watching Korean dramas or just want this egg, and it's so hard to go to the jjim jil bang just to go eat this....

So I looked it up on how to make this, and I put a little bit of my own twist.  I tried it twice and it came out fantastic!  No egg farting smell, easy to peel, and no need to use salt when eating!  So I'll tell you how to make this!

What you need:
1. Rice Cooker
2. Eggs
3. Salt (Sea Salt is better)
4. Sink and Water

I'll put the steps with pictures first and put simple step by step below.
1. Leave your eggs out in room temperature (out of the fridge) for 2-4 hours.  This is to prevent the eggs from cracking.
2. Wash your eggs thoroughly. Use toothbrush, or sponge.
3. Place eggs in your rice cooker.  Do not stack the eggs on top of each other.  It should only be one layer of the eggs.
4. Fill it with water so it covers half of your eggs.

5. Add Salt.  I'd say about a tablespoon.

6. Cook your eggs in "white rice cooking" setting.
7. After your eggs are cooked for the first time, turn your eggs over to the other side, and add water so water is quarter way to your eggs.  So half the amount of water from the first time. (two of my eggs cracked, cuz I didn't leave it outside long enough)

8. Cook your eggs again in "white rice cooking" setting.
9. You can leave your eggs in the rice cooker until you are ready to eat.
10. DONE! YOU JUST NEED TO ENJOY!!!! 

Instructions without pictures:
1. Leave your eggs out in room temperature (out of the fridge) for 2-4 hours.  This is to prevent the eggs from cracking.
2. Wash your eggs thoroughly. Use toothbrush, or sponge.
3. Place eggs in your rice cooker.  Do not stack the eggs on top of each other.  It should only be one layer of the eggs.
4. Fill it with water so it covers half of your eggs.
5. Add Salt.  I'd say about a table spoon.
6. Cook your eggs in "white rice cooking" setting.
7. After your eggs are cooked for the first time, turn your eggs over to the other side, and add water so water is quarter way to your eggs.  So half the amount of water from the first time.
8. Cook your eggs again in "white rice cooking" setting.
9. You can leave your eggs in the rice cooker until you are ready to eat.

Not only is this an easy way to cook your eggs, it doesn't have the funky smell, yolk is more moist, it's already lightly salted so no need to salt it again, it peels easily, and no sliminess! And you don't have to wait to go to the jjim jil bang to have this. :)
I also tried leaving the egg for longer than a day in the "keep warm" setting and that tasted yummy too!
And according to wikipedia, the black spots that form outside the egg while slow cooking is the cholesterol leaching out making this type of egg cholesterol free.  I'm not sure if this applies cooking in the rice cooker.

Let me know how yours turn out! ^_^

NOTD: How to - Black and White Polk a Dot Nails

Looking at my nails make me think it's gonna be a crazy Monday! Doesn't it look a little crazy? But I love it!

My left hand....

My right hand....

To achieve this look:

First you need the following tools.  Dotting tool (if you don't have one, use toothpick, pencil or a pen), little piece of paper, plastic tray, anything you can put your nail polish on. Black and White Nail Polish, or whatever color you want to use. And most important, grab your Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat!

1. Apply base coat: I used Seche Vite Base Coat.
2. I painted black first by using Rimmel Last Finishing Pro in Black. I randomly painted by leaving two fingers for the White on each hand.
3. I painted Seche Vite Top Coat on the Black Nails.  So it can fully dry before I put my polk a dots.
4. I painted the remaining fingers with the White Nail Polish and Seche Vite Top Coat.
5. I poured some White Nail Polish on a plastic tray.  (I used my eyelash box lid)
6. Take your dotting tool, whatever you have chosen, dip slightly and apply gently on your nails.  With one slight dip, you should be able to dot twice or three times.
7. Repeat process with Black Nail Polish for your White Nails. 
8. Another layer of your Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat and you are set!

Try alternating your nail colors or have fun with different colors!  It's really making my nails pop and totally lovin it! ♥

Julep Box for a PENNY!!! Yes a PENNY!

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I found out about this great deal on Julep Nail Polishes.  Just like a lot of the website out there like Jewelmint, Shoedazzle, etc... you take a personal test, and Julep will recommend the colors you might like or may suit you.  You may have seen it on Magazines like Instyle, Allure, Vogue...

Membership is $19.99, you can cancel at anytime or skip the month, or purchase anything else that was not recommended to you.  How awesome is that?!?!  And every nail polish you buy, they donate to organizations that support Women through "Powered by Girlfriends" Program.  Also, you are receiving retail value of $40.00 for $19.99.

THE BEST PART.... DRUM ROLL PLEASE.... I was able to get my first box for a PENNY!!! And that's including shipping!

Please use my referral link here---> Julep and take the test, enter e-mail and create log-in.
When you check out, it'll say $19.99.  In the promotional code, enter: COLOR2012.  Check the state you are shipping to, pick MAVEN ONLY for shipping, and it should come out to a $0.01 Penny. (it may differ for tax reasons if you are shipping to Washington)

First I'll let you see what I received....  I ordered on Monday afternoon, and I received this Thursday.  They are shipped from Washington.

I received two nail polishes that fit my style... of course there was a pink nail polish!!! Pink one is called Jennifer and the Purple glitter is called Brooke.  Gorgeous!  I haven't tried it on my nails yet, but I'll swatch it on my nails soon!  The packaging is so pretty.  Looks like lipgloss... so chic!

This is what it looks like on white paper.  The purple one is super duper shiny!

And a full size Glycolic Hand Scrub

I may keep my membership for another month.  Even if I pay $19.99 for the next month, I'm still getting $80 worth of stuff for only $20.00.

Try it out and let me know what you think!

It's almost the weekend~~~~ woo hoooo~~~~

xoxo

Miloberry~ ♥

First Jewelmint Purchase

Purchased my first Jewelmint piece!

If you don't know what Jewelmint is it's a jewelry service that picks and recommends jewelry for you on a monthly basis.  The pieces are designed by actress, Kate Bosworth and her stylist.
You pay $29.99 if you decide to get what they recommend you (depending on your style) or you can decide to skip that month and you won't be charged.

It came in this cute little box and ribbon and it felt like I was receiving a gift!  What a great feeling!

For my first purchase, I was able to get 50% off, so purchased this set for $16.23 with UPS shipping.
When I saw this, I had to get it.  It's called "Here to Eternity" Set.  Three tiered gold/ rose gold necklace with matching heart earrings. 

I absolutely love it!

If you'd like to check out Jewelmint and 50% off first purchase, use this link.  Jewelmint Link and enter RAE50 for Discount Code.

Happy Shopping! ♥

Hello Kitty Haul!!!!!

I went Hello Kitty Crazy!
I was introduced to this website in China (don't worry it's legit) called Sungwin.  The layout of the website resembles Amazon.com. lol
Anyhow, things are dirt cheap, and they carry tons of Hello Kitty items!
This is what I got for less than $20. No tax, and Free Shipping.
Two Hello Kitty Glasses ($4 each)
Hello Kitty iPhone Retractable USB ($3.62)
Two Hello Kitty Watches ($3.66 each)

I actually ordered black ones, but they accidentally sent me the blue ones.  Black ones are on their way.  They responded very quickly!

And here is a Hello Kitty iPhone case I got awhile back on eBay ($9.99).  So cute and sturdy too!

 

I got some Hello Kitty eyelashes ($3.99 for two pairs) awhile back too. Hello Kitty makes everything!!!!! 

I already used one.... ^_^  It has nice thin clear band and longer lashes in the middle with shorter ones on the outter corners making it look very natural and dolly.

And this is what it looks like.... very natural....