review: shu uemura depsea hydrability moisturizing lip balm

ever since i was little, i've always had a problem with really dry lips. i try to drink plenty of water throughout the day, i've tried various lip balms and lip scrubs and nothing seemed to ever do the trick, until now...

Shu Uemera's Depsea Hydrability Moisturizing Lip Balm ($20 USD)

i've been using shu uemura's depsea hydrability moisturizing lip balm for the past month and i think i've finally found a product that works for me. the lip balm hydrates instantly and surprisingly lasts for a long time. it's a non-glossy and non-sticky lip balm, which works great for me since i don't like glosses that are extra shiny (and especially don't like glosses with sparkles in it) or getting hair stuck to my lip balm whenever the wind blows. this product is highly comparable to mac's lip conditioner, but i find it moisturizes and hydrates lips for a longer period of time.

the tube has a slanted tip and the lip balm is of a thick consistency, which allows for an easy application that glides on your lips with a matte finish. the fact that i don't have to touch the gloss in order to apply it is an extra bonus and much more hygienic.

i like to wear a thin layer of lip gloss on top to add some colour to my lips and i have found that since using this lip balm, the colour of my lip gloss tends to stay on longer than usual. 

i definitely recommend this product for people looking for an extra hydrating lip balm that is non-sticky, or as a base for underneath lip gloss. the only downside that i could think of is the price: $20 USD. it's a bit much for just a lip balm, since there are so many other lip balms out there and because most people tend to lose lip balms every few weeks. i'd suggest to try out mac's lip conditioner first, which is slightly less expensive ($14 USD) and if you're still craving for more moisture than give shu uemera's depsea hydrability moisturizing lip balm a try. 

recent purchase: chanel sunglasses 5188 714/3G

as mentioned in my previous post, i only get items that i truly love. a year ago, i was sunglasses shopping with a friend and really loved a pair of chanel sunglasses. however, since i already owned a pair and didn't need a new one, i didn't buy it. it turns out that every time i passed by the sunglasses department i searched for the same pair and tried them on every time, put them back on the shelf and walked away - that is until the item sold out and was no longer available. and so 2 days before going on vacation, i popped by the store again to see if there was anything similar to the pair that i found the year before and the lovely sales associate found almost the exact same pair! i tried on at least 10 other pairs of sunglasses just in case there was another pair that i would like, but i kept coming back to the original one - chanel sunglasses 5188 714/3G

what's going on in my head: my shopping strategy

as a general rule, i try not to do any impulse shopping. of course i don't always seems to follow my own advice, but 70% of the time i'm pretty good at sticking to my rule since i'm on a budget.

basically, if i don't love the item i won't get it. what's nice about online shopping is that i can save a few items in my shopping cart for a week and when/if i come back to it a few days later i can determine if i truly love it or not. i know i can do the same thing if i go to a store and go back a week afterwards, but i find there is usually more stock online and i will less likely be disappointed if the item i want is no longer in stock or impossible to find in the store again. 

it took me 2.5 years to finally purchase a pair or burberry rainboots and even when i was trying them on i was still hesitating whether i should get them or not. i finally bought them and now every time i wear them i'm as happy as i was the first time i wore them out. now i don't mind rainy or slushy days!

the next big item that i would like to buy is a louis vuitton shoulder bag. since i plan on using it for a long time, i'm looking for specific features such as lots of pockets for my cell phone, keys, ipod, etc., a zipper on top for weather reasons, large enough to fit a4 sized documents, it can't be too heavy and of course it must be classic enough to be used for a long period of time. a year ago i really wanted to get the verona mm and kept looking at reviews and photos on purseforum, but ended up changing my mind 4 months afterwards. so now i'm still searching for the perfect purse and waiting for the new louis vuitton spring collection to come out. maybe a year from now i'll finally get a new bag...

review: shellac nails in tropix

i'm a big fan of nail polish but with my busy lifestyle i end up ruining a perfect manicure the next day. that's why i was really excited to try CND's shellac nail polish. i've read good reviews about it online and so i decided to try it out right for my vacation in the caribbean (since i would't have any time or patience to fix any chipped nail polish while on vacation). unfortunately i was really rushed before my vacation and didn't have time to take a picture right after it was done. 

but here are the results 9 days after getting my shellac manicure:

Shellac Manicure in Tropix after 9 Days

as you can see, the colour is still in great condition. i noticed some small chips at the edges but they are hardly noticeable. i love the mirror finish, how my nails feel very strong and healthy and how it was quick to dry.

my experience at the spa was great as well. i originally wanted a french manicure since i knew that it was going to bug me that my nails are now noticeably growing out, but the lady who did my nails told me that she was uncomfortable doing a french with shellac. i was a little sad that i couldn't get a french but i was glad that she told me she was uncomfortable doing it, instead of screwing it up and getting me upset and wasting time.

all in all, i'm very pleased with my manicure and recommended it to a friend of mine who will be getting hers done soon too. the only thing bugging me now is that i have to go back to the spa to get the shellac colour removed. i'll post comments on this process soon. 

welcome

welcome to my blog of my life rants, discussions on fashion/style, beauty products and of a  recent grad living on a average salary. this blog will cover everything from beauty product reviews, recent purchases, personal style, fantastic finds to any other ideas that will come to mind. 

to fully understand where my ideas and thoughts are coming from i figured it would be a good idea to write a brief summary about my lifestyle and preferences. i live in montreal, work at an average office job, tend to go out to eat quite often, have a strange family (but who doesn't?), have amazing friends and a great boyfriend. i have a love for designer items and new trends but due to budget constraints, i mostly purchase classic items that will last for a longer period of time. i've worked in make-up and beauty products during my university years and so i'm a sucker for trying out new beauty products all the time.

please feel free to drop me a line. this is a work in progress and appreciate any comments or suggestions.