review: bobbi brown eye corrector & creamy concealer kit

please see review after the jump

favourite serum: the body shop vitamin c skin boost

the body shop vitamin c serum skin boost $26 CAD*

first of all, it's less expensive than most serums ($26 CAD) and second, it actually works. 

review: giorgio armani maestro liquid eye liner

i've been using mac's gel fluidline in blacktrack for the last few years, however many of my friends swear by using liquid eyeliner and i decided to give it a try as well. i've tried some cheaper brands of liquid eyeliners in the past and never liked the application wand, therefore i started my search of liquid eyeliners for an easy to use pen-like application. i narrowed it down to 2 choices:
1. nars' eyeliner stylo ($30 CAN), and
2. giorgio armani's maestro liquid eye liner ($27 CAN, although i think the price increased after purchasing it)

the sales associate at the nars department told me that the eyeliner was both smudge proof and water proof and can only be removed with a good eye makeup remover. however, i tested both the nars' and giorgio armani eyeliner on my hand, let it dry and tried to smudge both products. the nars eye liner smudged much more than the giorgio armani eyeliner! after this test i washed my hand with soap and water and both eyeliners instantly disappeared off my hand. therefore neither of these products are waterproof, but the maestro liquid eye liner is more smudge proof than nar's eyeliner stylo. for this reason, i purchased the giorgio armani maestro liquid eye liner.

giorgio armani's maestro liquid eye liner

this eye liner goes on very smoothly and is very easy to use for liquid eyeliner beginners. it can be use to create very precise applications such as a flick at the edge of the eye. what's nice about this product is that the tip can be used to create very precise lines, and it can also be used at an angle for a larger thicker liner (which is what i do). 

the downsides of this product is that it's water based and therefore i find it to be quite runny and it bleeds into the inner corners of my eyes.  you really have to wait to let it dry before blinking. i strongly suggest to skip using eye cream when using this product. also, the packaging of the product recommends to store the eyeliner upside down and to make sure the cap is closed properly. i don't have problems storing it upside down (i put it in a cup with my makeup brushes) but i don't know if it's because i'm ultra clumsy or weak, but i have slight difficulties removing the cap without getting eyeliner on my hand. 

i'd only recommend this product for people who really want to use a liquid eyeliner for precise application. for long lasting wear, i'll be sticking to mac's fluidline, which hasn't failed yet (and i've been using the same bottle this entire time!). 

review: shellac nail polish removal

i finally got my shellac nail polish removed over the weekend, after having them on for a little over 3 weeks. i wanted to get them removed earlier, but the spa was completely booked during the times i was available.

the process was as follows:

1. my fingertips were placed in acetone for approximately 5 minutes. initially i was quite nervous about this process since i have a history of having eczema on my hands and was worried it would burn my skin. it turns out that it was pain free, but i can feel and see that the acetone was drying out my skin and nails
2. the nail polish began to 'melt' and was removed with wood cuticle pushers. the lady was literally pushing off the melted nail polishing and scratching off the stubborn polish that was sticking to my nails. regular nail polish was also used to help remove nail polish residuals.
3. i then thoroughly washed my hands with warm soapy water to remove the acetone from my hands and nails. 
4. my nails were then re-filed and shaped since they've grown quite a bit since i got my shellac nails done and cuticle oil was applied to the entire nail to hydrate the nail. 

after removal of shellac nail polish

the owner of the spa told me how it was safe to put on shellac nails right after getting them done, but the manicurist recommended to let the nails 'breathe' for a few days before getting shellac nails done since acetone is very harsh on the skin and nails. she also mentioned that many people are allergic to acetone and tend to have a runny nose due to the strong smell.

the results of the entire process was quick and pain free, but i do feel that my nails more dry from the acetone. i would recommend getting shellac nails done once a month at the most:  2 weeks of shellac, removal of shellac and then get regular manicures for 2 weeks (use acetone-free nail polish remover as well). now off to putting on more cuticle oil...

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. 

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.