March 29, 2012

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.


March 28, 2012

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...

          


March 26, 2012

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. :)

March 20, 2012

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! ^_^