September 19, 2012

Review: Urban Decay All Nighter Spray

Do you want your makeup to look fresh and stay on all day?
Then this is the product for you.  It's a spray made by Skindinavia (original makers) and they partnered with Urban Decay to bring you these sprays for your face.  Just think of it as "hairspray" for your face.  Before I get into the review, Urban Decay is currently having a sale on the XL (6.0 oz size) for $18 (regular $32).  Sephora and normally sell the 4.0 oz size for $28! Go check out the sale! They also have lipsticks for $3 and eyeshadows for $6 and some palettes!  Also if you sign up for Urban Decay's e-mail, you also get 10% off!


In an exclusive partnership with SKINDINÄVIA, we developed this groundbreaking, hypoallergenic setting spray that keeps your makeup on for 16 unbelievable hours. Legendary enough that it’s already inspired imitations, All Nighter boasts a patent pending Temperature Control Technology that makes this weightless mist so powerful and sets it far above the competition. Your makeup won’t melt when it's warm and humid or become dehydrated when it’s cold and windy. Yes, it actually lowers the temperature of your makeup to hold foundation, eyeshadow, blush and concealer in place. The sprayer, unlike others on the market, delivers a micro-fine mist that distributes product evenly over the skin.

To use: Simply apply your makeup as usual, then mist All Nighter on in an “X” and “T” formation (making sure to shake the bottle before each use). The mist really is so fine, you’ll hardly feel it!
IMPORTANT:  MAKE SURE YOU SHAKE THE BOTTLE BEFORE YOU USE!!!!

Yes! I use the All Nighter Spray everyday! Eventhough it says All Nighter, it sounds like you could only use it for clubbing scenes, but it works great everyday. It also gets rid of the powdery face syndrome, if you feel like you powdered your face too much, making it look unnatural.

It keeps my eyeshadow, foundation intact. I do feel that it works great at night and when you are dancing and sweating. It keeps your make up on like you didn't sweat. I heard that they tested this through different heat, and lady ran miles in the heat and her makeup was still on!

Two thumbs way up!!! I highly recommend this. It has become staple item in my everyday makeup routine. Definitely a holy grail item. I'm stocking up while it's on sale. Can't live without it!

After I'm done applying all my makeup, I shake up this bad boy and spray about 4 to 6 times. It mists very lightly. It has a slight scent, but hardly noticeable. Eventhough All Nighter is for Combo Skin, I think this will work fine on Dry or Oily Skin as well.

September 17, 2012

About Natural Candles

Non-beauty post!
Did you know there are differences between all natural candles and regular good 'ol fashioned wax candles?
I didn't know...
As you can see all natural candles burn much more evenly.  I got this Scensational Natural Soy Candle from Marshalls for $10, which is about the same price of any other candles.


This one is a regular wax candle.  Do you see how it burns only around the wick?  I hated this because I always felt like it just wastes the candles around it and sometimes the wicks are harder to light.  I even tried moving the candle around so the hot wax can melt around it, but that didn't work... lol


Side by side comparison after.



Since it's the same price, why not go for the Natural Candles right?  Some of the higher end candles can get really expensive, so don't forget to check out your local Marshall's, TJ Maxx, and Ross!

September 13, 2012

Is Baby Oil Safe & Chaper Solution to Eye Makeup Remover?

A friend of mine suggested that baby oil is the cheaper way to remove eye makeup.  Hmmm... why didn't I think of that?  It's safe for babies, it's made of mineral oils (which I believe is non-comedogenic), so it shouldn't clog pores... so got me thinking, but decided I was going to research before I slather that all over my eyes....



To cut to the chase, the answer is NO.  Baby oil is made to moisturize and retain moisture on your skin.  It may do a great job of releasing your heavy eye makeup, but it may not be safe to use on your eyes or it may leave residue that can continue to enter your eyes every time you blink. 

Quoted from http://www.dcareaeyecare.com/ (looks to be an optometrist website).  To see the entire post, go here:

If you wear heavier eye makeup, you may need to use a make up removal product. Do not use baby oil or Vaseline. "Light" makeup removal products are better. The key is that AFTER you have used the makeup removal product, wash your face and gently "shampoo" your eyelids with a mild, non-creamy facial soap or cleanser. And, in the morning, wash your face and eyelids again.
I think if you want a safer, cheaper way to remove eye makeup, you can try Baby Shampoo.  According to Dr. Oz:  See the entire post here:

Baby Shampoo for Easy Makeup Removal
There’s no excuse for going to bed with your makeup on. If other makeup removers irritate your  skin or are too expensive, baby shampoo is a good alternative. It contains lauric acid, derived from coconut oil, which is non-toxic, making it safe for eye-makeup removal. Simply pour some baby shampoo onto a cotton ball, tissue or wash towel and wipe away your makeup for a clear complexion.
Personally, I have sensitive eyes, not overly, but enough that my eyes will water up from time to time.  And it was due to the eye makeup remover.  Everytime I try to start fresh from day to night time makeup, I remove all my makeup and my eyes start to water up!  My solution to that was, cleansing waters. I use the Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water.  This only happens, when I try to put on full on makeup twice in one day.  For my daily routine, I always use Clinique Take the Day off Makeup Remover, which is really great at taking off waterproof makeup.  I've tried many of others, but this is my holy grail eye makeup remover!

I researched this quite a bit, to make sure it's safe for me to use, and I've seen "Yes, it's safe and great!", to "No, it's not safe".  I say, when it's not intended for that use, especially your eyes and your face, it's not worth the risk.  Like I wouldn't put body lotion on my face, just because it's lotion.  They are just made differently to suit different needs....

Sometimes it's great to find cheaper alternative to expensive cosmetic/ skincare items.  But I think when it comes to your eyes, it's better to be safe than sorry.  So I'd have to say NO! DO NOT USE BABY OIL! If you are someone who have been using them and are completely fine with it, just becareful and try not to get it to close to your eyes, and make sure you completely cleanse around your eyes with your face wash.  But if you really do want cheaper alternative to eye makeup remover, go with Dr. Oz's recommendation and try Baby Shampoo.

I also hear, Neutrogena's Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover is really good.  Haven't tried it yet... And this is only $8!



Let me know if you tried using baby oil method and your experiences...

September 11, 2012

Best Gel Eyeliner Brush Ever! Smashbox #21 Arched Brush

I'm not even gonna tell you that this a review.  This is a straight up recommendation.
I was never satisfied with the brushes I've tried for my gel eyeliners.  So when you are never satisfied, you keep on searching and trying out different ones.  I have tried probably 9 or 10 different brushes.  I still own them and use them.  I have thin, flat, pointy, all sorts of eyeliner brushes from bobbi brown, napoleon perdis, sigma, MAC, maybelline, etc.....  Heck I even tried lip and concealer brushes as eyeliner brushes.  None of them seem to make dark consistent lines that are precise.
Until..... I met Smashbox #21 Arched Eyeliner Brush ($20).


I believe this is a vegan friendly synthetic brush (if it's important to you)... it has the same head as the Smashbox #8 Brush, but has the bend.  The bend makes it a lot easier to get into the inner corners of your eyes without having to covering your view with your own hand.  The tip picks up the right amount of gel liner and you can rim your waterline with precision.

Here are some comparisons of the brushes I had in my makeup bag.  You can see that the Smashbox brush is much thinner than the other two.


Here are some lines I created with the three brushes above.  Sorry the order goes in reverse. (ooops @.@)
First one is from the Myglam Concealer Brush, the second, Sigma E05 Eyeliner Brush, and the last three are lines I created with Smashbox #21 Brush with just one dip into the gel liner.  You can see that they come out a lot darker and precise than the other two while being able to create different types of lines.


This brush is definitely getting Holy Grail Status!!! I looked at my eyes (especially my lower waterline) and I was so satisfied with the precise perfect clean lines it created.  Only thing I will mention about the Smashbox brushes is that after awhile, it needs to be replaced... (probably faster than some of my oldest brushes)  It maybe the synthetic brush factor, but I can see this happening with this brush as well.  Probably not within a year, but even so, the size and everything else is so perfect that I'd repurchase this brush. :)


MILOBERRY APPROVED!!!
You can get yours at, Sephora, Smashbox.com, Nordstrom, and Ulta.