Monday, October 15, 2012

A Nail Tribute to Gerry Rafferty / Sherlock

Let's get something straight: trends aren't something I follow religiously. Rather, they are something I fall into accidentally, or haphazardly. "Hey look, the boho look is in...what a coincidence! Everything in my closet is new again!" True to my nature, I tend to wear whatever I want and say to hell with it being "in" or "out" or "last season". I think I still treat fashion like playing dress up: I'm playing a part. This is perhaps why I take things a bit literal. Should my level of taste drop any further, I might go, as Tim Gunn would put it, "costume". 

Second, I'm not the biggest fan of the color blue. I look fine in blue...it's just a hard one for me to pull off. I think it's a mental block. Something about blue reads too modern for me...I do blue in small doses. Vintage navy blue pea coats and anything else that makes me look like a bearded sailor with a pipe off the coast of Maine. So that I ended up with Nails Inc.'s shade of blue called Baker Street can only be attributed to impulse...and post-knee surgery pain killer usage.

I saw Essie-Button's post on a Baker Street dupe, and something inside of me snapped. I had to have Baker Street. I had long admired it for the name, but thought it frivolous (who, me?) of me to purchase it based on the name alone. Blue nails? I could never. But something about it drew me in and ignored the hype stemming from Beyonce's Blue Ivy Carter nail tribute last winter. Perhaps being fresh off a Sherlock Season 2 DVD marathon and humming Gerry Rafferty's Baker Street nonstop (which I sing each time they say "221B Baker Street") had something to do with it. And really, doesn't this hue remind you of the smoky blue cast to GR's Baker Street video? No? Just me? Because really, if I'm going to do a trend, allow me to find the way to make what's new old again. Gerry, Benedict...these nails are for you. Hit it, G, and RIP.




Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Mascara Purge / Empties

A theme I quite like reading on beauty blogs/seeing on YouTube channels is the "Empties" series. This entire series justifies my own idiosyncratic ways. For years, I've kept track of how much product I'm bringing into my home vs. how much I'm using and taking out. While this method is touted by many organizational gurus, rest uneasy knowing that I keep track of things used/going out merely as justification for bringing things in. Second, I also get satisfaction in scraping every last bit of product out of my pretty little jars and tubes. I feel immense guilt in throwing things with unmet potential away, so using every last drop of product is a small victory in my world. And finally, is there any greater homage to the materialistic western world than recording our trash? Seeing that this is an entire tag or series unto itself on the big bad web makes me breathe a small sigh of relief knowing that there are others out there like me. But on a practical note, if the word "practical" can ever be used to describe something about me,  I do enjoy the reviews that come along with the empties videos! I like to hear their thoughts on the product, how it played out for them, and if they'll be purchasing the product again in the future.

And also..."empties" videos are later followed up by "haul" videos!

I've got a stash of empties going, but I thought I would focus on the mascaras I threw away. I've been trying to be better about the 3-4 month rule for mascara. Knock on wood, I've only had one eye incident as a result of using spoiled makeup. I was in high school and didn't realize you had to throw mascara away. (yes.) I probably used the same mascara tube for about 2 years, no exaggeration. I was lucky to get away with merely irritated eyes and not a full-blown infection. I was happily chugging along on the same tube, thinking it would run out or dry up, not realizing how quickly mascara needs to be turned around. For the record, I've only ever had one tube of mascara dry up. Perhaps because I have so many going at one time? As I've mentioned before, I keep going back to the same brand of mascara I've used since I started using make up, so I've reigned in the multiple tubes habit from several to just a few.

(Just to blat on a little more, the mascara love of my life is Clinique Naturally Glossy. I'll sing it's praises at a later time, but I can't live without it.)

So, to demonstrate my road to mascara hoarding recovery, the following are my mascara "empties". Which are not empty, but are hitting the trash nonetheless as they are potential pink eye carriers having hit their 3-4 month mark. Accompanied by my thoughts on each, of course.


Clinique High Lengths Mascara
I received this in a gift with purchase. I was intrigued by the wand, which could best be described as a comb, so I was excited to try it out. Unfortunately, I was not impressed. The wand didn't do anything but clump my lashes together. The formula was so-so. It did the job of giving the tips of my lashes some color, but I didn't notice a dramatic increase in length. Perhaps this was because I had to triage my lashes to get them apart after using the "brush"? I am very hit or miss with Clinique mascaras, and this was a big miss for me! I'll stick to my aforementioned old faithful at the Clinique counter.

Lancôme Hypnôse Doll Lashes
The marketing campaign alone, I am all over that! They played the Twiggy-60s-baby doll dress card, and I fell hard. And that feathery-mod-Twiggy lash is hard to come by with just any old mascara--piling it on just gives you spider eyes. I think this did a great job of giving incredible length and wasn't too heavy on the volume. (I don't play well with heavy, volumizing mascaras.)
I am a bit annoyed by Lancôme's rose scent they put in EVERYTHING. (Does mascara need to be scented?) However, that it started to lose this scent was a good indicator that things were going south and it was time to retire the tube.
I love the wand of this mascara. It sits nicely in your hand, and I like the tapered brush. The product isn't clumpy on the brush, hence you get great definition.
I would purchase this mascara again, if only because I am a sucker for its mod campaign! I give it a big fat A.



Cover Girl NatureLux Mousse Mascara
I call this my Taylor Swift mascara, though I am not a fan of hers. Her mug is featured in the ads...I'm a sucker for "natural" mascaras, so I wanted to give this a whirl. You know what's most intriguing about it? The scent. It's made with "a touch of beeswax" and the scent is a reminder of that. It has a honey smell that makes me want to eat it. Probably the first mascara that has made me crave honey like Pooh Bear...maybe Christopher Robin can be Taylor Swift's next boy toy when she's done stealing my Hyannis Port dreams with a Kennedy.
Digressing. We're digressing.
All in all, this wasn't a bad mascara. I used it on weekends and days I wanted to be casual. This was a standard mascara, no drama, just did it's job and did it pretty well. I liked its newfangled rubber bristle wand. I give it a B+ overall. I probably wouldn't purchase it again simply because I already have a natural-lash favorite (should I tell you once again it's Clinique Naturally Glossy?) but should I crave its honeybee-poo smell again, I might be swayed into picking up a tube.
Just stop me if you catch me stirring the wand in my tea. That would warrant an intervention.

Maybelline Lash Stiletto
Sadly, the only stiletto I'll ever wear. Unless I become bionic. The best part about this mascara? It's grey! Do you know how rare grey mascaras are? It's actually called "soft black", but clearly that's grey, and it looks grey in the tube. You know how navy/dark blue can make your eyes pop in a weird way? Grey has the same effect. My coworker commented on how great my lashes looked with this mascara on.
The packaging was substantial for a drugstore brand, and the wand was pretty nice. Not clumpy, so that works in favor of length and definition!
I haven't heard a lot of great reviews about this in the blogosphere, but I have to say that I really can't fault this mascara. It's a lengthening mascara, and it does that very well. I wasn't crazy that they tried to replicate Lancôme's rose scent, and the formula is also a bit wet to work with, so it will take a few extra seconds of drying time, but I was overall impressed with this drugstore mascara. I might pick it up another time on a whim.

Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara
This is one of the few volumizing mascaras that my lashes can handle. This has to be one of the most jet black mascaras I've seen, and it has a really thick formula. The brush is spaced evenly enough so that clumping isn't an issue. I think the name is appropriate--this is a great mascara for when you want a jazzed up look. I was really impressed with this, and when I'm in need of a more dramatic mascara I will consider this one again. (As a note, in addition to my go-to mascara, I like to have another one on hand that adds more drama for more vampy looks. I've got a couple of those on hand already, so perhaps we'll meet again, Extreme Party Mascara.)

Estée Lauder Lash Primer Plus
I've used a lash primer before, so I wasn't expecting great things from this as lash primers usually create far too much volume than I need. I received a sample in a kit, so with low expectations and a half-assed application, I put it on one day while messing around at my vanity, half expecting to screw up and end up with the crack-whore chic look we all end up doing now and again when playing around with makeup on a Saturday morning. (It happens, don't deny it.) The results surprised me this time--it actually worked like a lash primer should, in my opinion. It gave length and definition and didn't cause the product to later flake off. As with most lash primers, the product is white. This actually did an excellent job of adding just the right amount of length and volume to my lashes. It has a nice brush that gives a clean application. I have a Lancôme lash primer sample in my drawer waiting for use, so I will probably give that one a try before I consider purchasing one. If I were to purchase one, I'd consider the Estée Lauder one, but nice as the product is, I'm not sure I really need a lash primer.

Makeup Forever Smoky Lash Mascara
I'm throwing this one in as an added bonus, as I have already returned it to Sephora, so it will not be in the photograph. Can I just throw in that I so appreciate Sephora's generous return policy? It's ingenuous on their part, really. I'm more apt to purchase things from them when I know I can take it back, no questions asked. (Plus, I tend to do my homework and really give things a go with their testers. I try not to abuse their policy by trying new stock and returning!) This policy is why I was willing to give a Clarisonic brush a go, figuring that if it didn't work out, I could return it. I ended up LOVING it, so they got a big-ticket purchase from me! (And I think I'm giving one away to a family member at Christmas, so bonus!)
Right, our topic today is mascara...
Intrigued by its title (why, it MUST help you achieve a smoky eye!) and backed by a recommendation from a tutorial by the wonderful Pixiwoo girls on Youtube, I splurged on an unnecessary tube of this mascara for my birthday.
Mistake.
This was entirely too much volume for me. I hated the brush. How to describe the brush? It was like running my lashes through the underbrush of the forest. The brush was incredibly dense and a bit clumpy for my tastes. I felt like I was dragging my lashes through it, rather than gliding them through as usual. And for as much volumizing as it did, I felt like it gave me no length whatsoever, despite its claims to do so. As for the "intense pigment" it also claims to give, I felt there was none of that to speak of. (I bought this in brown.)
I am a fan of the MUFE brand, but this just did not do it for me. I think it was more mascara than I could handle. I know plenty of people like this mascara, but it didn't work out for me...so more for you all!

To the trash with you all!
What's your favorite mascara? How well do you abide by the 3-4 month rule? Got pinkeye?

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Some thoughts on the September issue of Vogue...

I'm sort of on a no-buy for magazines this year, since I hoard them. I'm subscribed to a small handful, and mostly because I got the subscriptions for free. My 2012 resolution was to purchase them on my iPad to avoid clutter, but with my own print subscriptions and my coworker supplying me with her back issues (without even knowing about my no-buy!) I haven't purchased many iPad issues.

Today I broke down and bought the new issue of Vogue. I can't resist the September issue. Here are my off-the-cuff thoughts:

1. When I went to pick it up off the rack, I kept trying to thumb around to grab only one copy. Come to find out, I was picking up the last one on the stand, and it's MASSIVE. 916 pages worth to be exact. In addition to being the September issue, it's the 120th anniversary issue. This puppy's solid. I was going to wait and save reading it for my upcoming flight, but it seriously feels like it weighs 3 pounds. I wonder if 916 pages is their record?

2. Ads. Lots of them. My husband complains when he thumbs through my magazines, pointing out that I'm basically paying for ads. He fails to realize that's half the appeal, especially where the September issue is concerned. I have yet to locate the table of contents.

3. It's midnight (on the dot as I type), and I have to put it down for my own safety or I'll never get to bed.

4. Article on Chelsea Clinton. Fascinating, and about time. I love reading about anyone who has gravitated near the epicenter of power. I have no desire to be the sole bearer of power thus I find myself most fascinated by the people who surround those with it...

And finally...
5. This...is what my dreams are made of. And Florence Welch is super hot.

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

In a Flash

My lone reader has already given me props for this, but I have put a STOP to the madness in my life that is flash saling. I have unsubscribed from daily emails from 2 of the 3 sites that I frequented. (applause) It was time to move on and lower my chances of impulse purchases. Let's pretend this is money saved for a UK excursion! (When in reality, I keep attempting to go on a make-up no buy, and I just CAN'T do it. Something had to give!)
My morning routine consisted of trolling those 3 sites before work to see if anything caught my eye. While I generally exercised great restraint and responsibility, I don't think that I need to start my day off by tempting myself! I have purchased a great deal of wonderful things that I love from flash sales. But (and please don't tell my husband this), I recognize that these things weren't much of a deal if I wasn't searching to buy the items in the first place. 2011 was the year of the costume jewelry and I consumed a LOT. Was I in the market for most of those pieces? 99% of the time, no. So while they were marked down, my common sense tells me I wasn't scoring a deal. (Though hey, better than paying full price! I did get a great pair of Kate Spade earrings I'd been eyeing already at a marked down price.)
One thing that made it easier for me to unsubscribe was Gilt's ever-deteriorating return policy. I have noticed that since last Black Friday (when I scored a few great Nicole Miller costume pieces) they have ceased taking returns or exchanges on costume jewelry. Like any smart consumer, I hesitate when there is not a return or exchange policy. I took a risk on a beautiful druzy cuff this summer and got BURNED because it doesn't fit the way I would like it to. Last summer when they still offered returns and exchanges on jewelry, I was lucky enough to get a refund on the House of Harlow 1960 pieces I had treated myself to for my birthday. The earrings were like anvils in my ears and the cuff (when will I learn?) also did not fit. A lack of a proper return/exchange policy is off-putting to me. I liked Gilt because their sales were on high quality brands/items. They were a true lifestyle site featuring merchandise beyond clothing and accessories. Their blog and articles are enticing! They know how to sell an EXPERIENCE. Their recent all-things-British sale about knocked me on my keister, set up to show you the perfect day or night in London while wearing their beautiful Brit-inspired merchandise. (High tea at Claridges! Wear these Burberry boots! Eat at the Grazing Goat! Buy this bag, you Anglophile sucker!)
MyHabit was the first flash sale I ever signed up for. What I appreciate most about them is that they ship items for free--and fast! They also accept refunds/exchanges more often than not. I found their brand rotation to be a bit repetitive. While high quality, I feel like I'm looking at the same modern/hipster clothing every week. If you know me, you know I love bags, and their bag selection bored me to tears. I think the only purse I ever purchased there was by London Fog. If I see one more slouchy leather cross body in a muted tone, it will be too soon. I have a love/hate relationship with their photography. For one thing, I hate the shadowed mannequin or model they would use to feature their jewelry. Though its purpose was to put the focus on the piece, I found it distracting and difficult to envision wearing the piece. They have incredible detail and zoom on their items, but I'm bored to death with that white background. I think my complaints about the photography are just a matter of taste, and perhaps I'm lacking, but I did appreciate the quality of their photography. It's not hard to say goodbye because I'm a bit bored with the selection. And if you will allow me to once more, I'd like to RAGE against the slouchy leather cross body in muted tones! BARF. A friend of mine once pointed out that I like very classic bags, especially where shape is concerned. While I've been able to branch out since she pointed it out, I am still rather baffled by these shapeless, slouchy designs.
Finally, Hautelook. I was never blown over by Hautelook, but I got some great basics there in addition to some fun stuff. Their prices are very competitive. Generally not as high end as the other two are, and shipping took forever. Hautelook is the last one I'm holding onto my daily email service for. I am KICKING myself for not buying a couple of purses I've been pining for, and I'm hoping that they resurface.
With that, I give you my gallery of flash sale regret. Pieces I regret showing restraint and not purchasing!
This is the bag I'm holding out for on Hautelook. It's been on twice! Next time, not resisting. 

SKOVA Michaela Moryskova Phoenix



Isabella Fiore Irving St. Kayla Clutch

Source: myhabit.com via Lindsie on Pinterest


Isabella Fiore Portobello Market Ella Flat Tote

Source: myhabit.com via Lindsie on Pinterest


BURNED by this cuff.

Source: gilt.com via Lindsie on Pinterest

Monday, July 9, 2012

thenewno2: Another John Doe



This is my new find of the day: thenewno2. George Harrison's son, Dhani, is part of this band. At this very moment I've listened to about 30 seconds and I already know I've stumbled upon a new love. (Sometimes, you just know.)
When you're a person like me who loves all things from the past, it's difficult to find new loves. It's difficult to get off the hamster wheel of vintage and embrace the present. Perhaps, as his voice is eerily like his father's, this is somewhat of a band-aid to that situation as it stirs the same emotions inside of me. But it feels slightly victorious that I've found something modern to love.
This victorious feeling is not exclusive to my musical tastes. Anytime I find myself in love with something remotely contemporary or modern that fits into my lifestyle, it's a little win. A bit unsteady, to be sure, and it takes a great deal of work to fit said items into my lifestyle or wardrobe, but it's a little win nonetheless.
Perhaps it is a band-aid-a reincarnated version of something that's seen a previous lifetime. My car is new, but it has vintage appeal. My clothes, when new, are often vintage-inspired or clearly evoke another era. Dhani, suffice it to say, pretty much just sounds like George. Perhaps I just love the fact that it sounds like George is alive again and writing new tunes. But I'm going to consider this a little victory in the battle to live in the moment.

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I'm trying out Bloglovin as an alternative to the Gmail reader.

Also, I have a lot of posts written. I just have no corresponding photos. I refuse to not have nice photos--that's what I love about blogs. I'm buying an SD card reader to night to see if it helps my motivation. There is something so demotivating about needing to get out the camera and its corresponding cords and deal with turning it on and uploading things...

So, where I used to fail in not writing things down, I am now failing in photography. Victory will be mine.

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Spending Reality Check

Just some mid-afternoon thoughts as I snack on my lunch. I think my spending resolutions need a little update. I've had a couple of impulse purchased in the past couple of days. Time for some Notes to Self!

Flash Sales
I got into flash sales last year and it became a bit of a habit where jewelry is concerned. Because I learned how to make jewelry soon after, I resolved at the beginning of the year to stop spending regularly at flash sales...and I stuck to it! Today, I gave into a little impulse on Gilt and noticed I haven't bought anything there in 6 months. (Winning.) I have purchased a few things on other sale sites (Hautelook and MyHabit), but the cutback has been dramatic. I think I need to stop perusing the jewelry altogether. This is how I ended up with a pair of earrings today...I especially should not peruse the jewelry sections when they are labeled "bohemian".

Note to Self: this is a come to Nancy Reagan moment. I will not peruse the jewelry on flash sales. I will use flash sales only when I am interested in a specific brand. As you noted in January, your purchases of fashion jewelry are being curbed in light of the fact that you can now make your own (and use your Pinterest board for inspiration) as well as the fact that you have enough to Shop Your Stash each morning. Also, wear earrings more. You know you can't justify more when you so rarely wear them! You know you are already "bohemian" and you don't need another pair of earrings to prove it.

Cosmetics
Oh, woe, this is so hard. I need every color under the sun, especially where neutral eye shadows are concerned. I have also recently discovered that I can, in fact, wear color on my lips without looking like a clown. Last year's resolutions were to not purchase any new mascaras, as well as stick to only a few formulas of base (foundation, powder, concealer). The base resolution has been maintained. The mascaras, I have binged. Why, why when I go back to the same mascara I've loved since '96? A few formulas is fine...but my unofficial quest to try every mascara under the sun is unnecessary. And the justification that I can have whatever colors I want in light of the fact that I stick to basics elsewhere? I think that's a bit out of control. I can't give up color totally...but I can devise a plan. And nail polish? I wear it less than earrings. I thought that purchasing a few "wild" colors, as opposed to the neutrals that are my staple, would be liberating. Suddenly I think trend colors called "taxi cab" are a good idea. When do my nails need to be bright yellow? You're a sucker for the colors of the "season", old girl. And remember that Chanel polish you just had to have last spring? Disaster. In the drawer it sits.

Note to self: The jig is up on mascara. Stop it, stop it, stop it. Keep a few (and you know that a few means 3) and that's it. What more do you need than a day mascara and an evening mascara? Nail polish? Forget about it. You will be shopping your stash for nails until further notice. Keep up the good work on base. I know color is hard, and your birthday is coming up, so let's focus on those items you've wanted for a long time to celebrate your birthday. Let's take color in baby steps...one month at a time...and good finds at the drugstore recently, but you and I both know you've discovered all you can there for the time being. Let's give it a rest for the sake of your patience. Post on what you've already bought, start shopping your stash, and make your birthday list.

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Get the Accidental Look: Robert Palmer Back Up Dancer

This morning I reached for a red lipstick to wear, inspired by my evening's agenda: viewing the movie Snow White and the Huntsman. (Which was fantastic, and I am pleased that K-Stew didn't ruin it for me.) Though inspired by the fairy tale, what I ended up with looks a little more Robert Palmer/Addicted to Love dancer. When I picked up blogging again, I vowed to take better photos as that is the biggest challenge to it all-taking great pictures AND uploading them. We won't talk about my few thousand India vacation photos that have been living on my SD card since March...tonight, too lazy to get out our amazing camera, I took a quick snap with Photo Booth on my Mac. As usual, it cast way too much light on me, further driving home the point that my look is straight up Addicted to Love. Yes, Photo Booth isn't going to cut it in the future, but the fact that the camera agreed with me on the Robert Palmer bit was worth posting.
Not that my fancy photography is showing things true to color, but I used Make Up Forever's Aqua Lip Liner in Red 8C and Revlon's Cherries in the Snow.
My latest favorite blog is Cami Loves Kiwi (and Dinosaurs). At some point I'd like to talk more in depth about my most favorite blogs, as I get so much inspiration from them. I am such a groupie for Cami. Long story short, Cami always rocks a red lip and mentioned how she walks taller and has a strut when she wears a red lip, and that she hears a theme song in her head while she struts. I'm disabled, so I don't really strut. At least, I don't strut the way I would like. However, I now understand the theme song bit. When I wear a red lip, in my head I shall be-bop behind Mr. Palmer. Preferably with a less harsh eyebrow and cheek combo like the original dancers...



Tuesday, June 5, 2012

CVS Beauty Clearance Sale: A Rant/Why I Love High End Make Up

This lengthy piece is a two-parter!
My Love for High End Make Up
I am, in general, not the biggest fan of drugstore cosmetics. There are exceptions to this rule, but overall I tend to get my wares from department stores or specialty stores like Sephora. For the purposes of this blog, I'd like to formally state that I am a bigger fan of high end cosmetics, and my tastes run on what is probably defined as the low to mid range of high end cosmetics. (Clinique, Laura Mercier, and Bobbi Brown being the big 3.)
Since I first started using make up in high school, my capsule collection has always centered around high end/department store make up. While I had some drugstore cheap thrills, as that was what I could afford to experiment with, my old faithfuls tended to come from high end brands. This was for many reasons:
1. I could try things before I bought them. Even though they came with a higher price tag, I knew what I was getting. This was especially important in terms of foundation.
2. Department stores tend to have better return policies. There are drugstores that let you try and return and I remember how revolutionary it was when Rite Aide first implemented this policy in the 90s. But that still puts the onus on me, the consumer, to do the shade-matching.
3. I know that higher price tags do not always guarantee quality, nor does it guarantee it will work with your own chemistry, but for certain items like foundation I have found that you get what you pay for. At least, this has been my experience. (Hair care is another story for another day...my hair is a cheap, slutty date.)
I began reading beauty blogs about 4 years ago and now reading blogs and watching YouTube for beauty advice is as habitual for me as picking up an Allure magazine. It's wonderful to see the reviews of real consumers and airbrush-free swatches in normal lighting conditions. Since turning to the internet for beauty tips I have taken the advice of some of my favorite gurus on some great drugstore products and had great outcomes. I tend to buy colors for eyes and lips en masse, as opposed to bases and powders which I have one or two favorites that I stick to, but my online gurus have turned me on to products like Revlon lip butters. And now, since I have my own "real job" and make my own monies, I feel a little less guilty if I buy a product that isn't returnable and that didn't work out. (99 cent Wet and Wild lip pencil, I rue the day. I'm sorry, friend that recommended it to me, but I look like Kim Mathers wearing that pencil no matter what I do!)

And now, The Rant.
When I splurge on these cheap thrills, I tend to get them online at Soap.com or Ulta. I am big into online shopping because everything I want is at my fingertips. I usually don't have to worry that someone opened the package and stuck their dirty little fingers on it to test it. Usually, what I want is in stock.
I recently began reading the blog Nouveau Cheap. It's a great resource for drugstore cosmetics. Recently on this blog, there has been buzz about the CVS Beauty Clearance Sale, so I thought I would meander over to my local CVS and get a couple of items on my list. My trip just served to reaffirm why I hate shopping in drugstores when I'm on a mission.
First of all, clearly this is no fault of the aforementioned blog which alerted me to the sale. She's a real person just putting the word out. I love her blog! My CVS just happened to make my blood boil.
First, I went to pick up a L'Oreal Le Gloss I'd been eyeing since I saw it on HRH Collection. I located the shade I wanted (Baby Blossom). When I picked it up, I noticed that it was a shade lighter than the one that was still on the shelf. I confirmed that I had the correct shade in my hand and went to compare it to the shade that was still on the shelf. It was also Baby Blossom. As I held them in my hands, I noticed that while they were intended to be the same shade, they were not. One had clearly turned bad. Then I noticed that all 3 tubes remaining were sticky on the bottom, indicating that they had been opened. I opened the package to confirm this and noticed that the product had separated.
Disgusting.
Throwing these back on the shelf, I went to locate some Revlon lipsticks I had been eyeing up. They were completely out of stock of the shades I wanted (and have been for several months). This lack of stock went across several cosmetic brands for me. In addition, they were also out of stock of the particular variety of Venus razors I wanted. They had also run out of classic Noxema cold cream. I managed to snag the last Dove conditioner on the shelf and get the hell out of there. There is nothing more frustrating than apocalyptic shopping.
While I realize that I may have arrived late to the clearance party, I think the disgusting lip gloss was the topper to my evening. Could this have happened at Macy's? Certainly. But it hasn't yet. And consumers at these stores have testers to stick their dirty little mitts into, rather than the actual stock.
I understand that a clearance sale is done so that stock that needs to be moved will get sold. Judging by the amount of stock that was out, clearly it was a sale tactic that was working for them. But I think I found some items that should have gone out with the last clearance...or the trash.
Will I try again? Probably. I still want the items on my list, and I have some coupons burning a hole in my pocket. I understand that bad shopping experiences can happen anywhere. (Here's looking at the unhelpful MAC counter at my favorite Macy's!) In fact, earlier that day I had a streak of drugstore luck when I happened upon a Cover Girl blush I was looking for deeply discounted at Walgreen's. (Sigh. Yes, I was there for something else completely.) It was decently packaged and had not yet met its expiration date. CVS is also convenient to my house, for which I'm grateful. But, I'll be going with a harnessed qi and a reaffirmation that I'll be getting what I paid for.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Lash Tint

Last November I had my lashes tinted for the first time. I loved the results on my blonde lashes, but didn't get around to having it done again. I promised photos to my lone reader, but did not deliver. 

I went to have my brows done today by my usual esthetician, who happened to move to a new salon since the last time I saw her. In talking to her while doing my brows, I found out that she offers lash tints since moving to the new salon and immediately took her up on the service. (For anyone on the Peninsula/Bay Area, her name is Lana and she works out of DJ's Hair Design in Menlo Park. I can't remember how long I've been going to her...probably a year.) Lana used a blue-black/navy dye on my lashes in order to play off my green (whatever color they are) eyes. Once again, I am happy with the results. 

In my "after" pictures, I have zero make up on. All I've done is curl my lashes. I have always appreciated my eyelashes. They may be blonde and straight, but with a lash curler and some simple mascara I am able to make them amazing with little effort. I think a lash tint routine (the tint will last a month) will give my natural state an edge. My only concern is that it may edge out my Favorite Mascara of All Times (Clinique Naturally Glossy), and I can't imagine not using it as I have had a dependency on it since 1996. I'll have to play around to really see if the last tint does its job. From my understanding, lash tinters still turn to mascara for some drama! Thank the Lord, because I love me some mascara!


Before

After




Dancing a Jig That is Up

My secret pastime is reading beauty blogs and watching makeup tutorials on YouTube. I also have a secret love for make up (and handbags..and clothes...and shopping) that is not-so-secret really, as plenty of friends and family members come to me for product advice. In between this realization and the subsequent outcome which I shall explain within a few sentences, my sister texted me a pic from a store asking "Found this great Nine West bag...which color, yellow or pink?" Thus, I think I'm prolonging the inevitable by not becoming part of the blogging community that I so voraciously consume. Furthermore, countless times in recent days friends and coworkers have shared enough hair videos, clothing "pins" on Pinterest,  and shopping texts for me to realize that I'm not alone behind closed closet doors. I have been a closeted amateur make up arist and secret shopper, and everyone knew my orientation before I figured it out. Time to be real!
I've always watched YouTube and thought "I could never put my face out there like that!" I've always read product reviews, thinking about how much I had to say about my "secret" loves, and pictured some snarky (usually male) comment about how it's a frivolous waste of my time. But, for now, these comments are imaginary. And putting yourself out there on the internet does open yourself up for criticism...but I think those who find pleasure in criticizing the creative output of others are spending their time more frivolously than someone who tweets about a great deal they found at the mall.
So with that, my first virtual middle finger to my imaginary critics, I say to my one, lone reader an apology for being a pitiful blogger who toggles between blogging platforms and whose silence is self-imposed stifling. But I think I have it figured out, truly. You'll get over it, lone reader. And it's my blog...so I do what I want! I declare...to you, lone reader.
Onward.