Gosh Let's Twist Eyeliner: Hot Flamingo

I usually dislike twist up pencils, but this color was too awesome! I bought it so long ago, I remember it was one of my last minute purchases (I didnt know they sell this brand here now) so I packed and forgot about it. In fact, it was still in the shopping bag along with a bunch of other products I'll be using and reviewing before I try to work on anything else.

It really reminds me of Urban Decay's Fishnet eyeshadow- I don't have it anymore, although now I wish I did...maybe this is a little less purple??

It's a waterproof eyeliner, and it really is. I didn't have any problems with it, but for me it's only useable on my upper lash line.

Too Faced Retractable Kabuki Brush

I was looking for some new face brushes- keeping in mind that all of mine (except for foundation ones) make me want to gag, I did not want to get more natural ones. I was skeptical about synthetic brushes especially of this size, but I really wish I would have bought a brush like this sooner. I have used it for pressed and mostly, loose powder and have absolutely no issues with it picking up. I don't know that it's a hard rule that synthetics are better for creams; I think it depends on the type of brush, the density, quality of fibers, etc. I have some natural brushes that don't pick powder as well as this one, for sure. I like (love) the softness of this brush but I also noticed that just because its synthetic doesn't mean it's free of scent. This one does smell like a teddy bear, whether that's great or not, well...that's probably an individual preference. It doesn't bother me to a real extent, but I think my best option is to um...quit sniffing brushes lol!

The density of this brush is awesome, it dispenses the right amount of product although I do sometimes have to tap excess off. I wish it had a feature like Hakuhodo's slide face brush, where I could click it closed partway, because if you use just the top part, you get a more intense application- but it's hard to pinch in place while using it!

I like being able to use this as a travel brush, but the metal is a bit thin so I'm not sure how it will hold up over time. I've had mine for a few months (is it just me or did September get here really fast?!) and I haven't had any fibers fall out or come loose whatsoever. However, it does feel fluffier now than when I first got it. It also washes and dries very well. I would like to try more Too Faced brushes in the future; I think this one is great.

Havana Lip Swatches and a Lip Brush

These are very quick lip swatches while I had decent lighting, plus one from who knows what a.m. cause I'm having some bad insomnia lately.... and I'm still trying to work on how to deal with pictures on my iPad so please bear with me!

I am actually not 100% sure of the names of the corresponding shades either, so I'm posting the palette itself again. I did these in clockwise order, starting from the top left. If I am reading it correctly these should be: Rum, Cookie, Creme Brûlée, and Frappucino. The bottom left (Creme Brûlée?) was the darkest and longest lasting, the lightest one is the slipperiest and shows lip lines, but I mixed it with the two other drier ones from the palette and it turned out nicer.

And here is the lip brush:  

It's a very inexpensive Missha lip brush, but I really like it, the fibres are smooth and easy to clean.  It is a two piece push type, the brush pushes out with the cap.  Ok, basic, but I like it, it's very convenient, and it stays really clean!  

Exclusive Brush Sets and Etc.

Look at these stunning brush sets from Hakuhodo! These are only in Japan, not on their US site. I have bought a few more Hakuhodo brushes in the past, but really I wont be buying any more, so just looking for me is fine. Something about their lack of transparency when I asked some questions really bothers me. And personally, my son isn't a baby anymore and I just don't want to spend a lot of money on unnecessary luxuries. When I look back at all the things I've purchased in the last three years, I swear these brushes are probably the only things nagging me. I've found some pretty great brushes in the past couple of months that I'll try to share soon. But even I have to admit, these are beautiful!

Sleek Havana Lip Palette

I love this lip palette, but its way too dark for me. The pigmentation is so saturated that the only way I can wear any of the shades is as a stain. None of these are matte like the Mardi Gras palette I tried, and I prefer these textures. I really think to wear them as-is, they would be awesome on someone with a much deeper complexion than me. I knew that before I purchased it, but I think these shades are more unique than any of their other palettes. Definitely recommend!!

Two Nice Lip Pencils

Since yesterday I posted about two not so good pencils, today I'm showing two of my favorites.

When I first got Rimmel Apocalips, I had to get some lipliners. These are my two favorites- Bourjois #18 'Frambois exquise' and Rimmel #004 Indian Pink. The textures are about the same- not too dry nor creamy, so they are very long lasting. Besides a red one, these are the only lip pencils I have and I really find them great. I use the Bourjois more often just because it matches more shades I wear. Left is Bourjois, Right is Rimmel:

Two Essence Pencils

I think negative reviews are as helpful as positive ones. These pencils are horrible!! Dry, hard, just bad. The Kajal pencil is called "All I Want" and I really love the color, but the texture makes it useless. The brow pencil, eyebrow designer in light brown, was a bit softer but I swear it has glitter in it. Sorry but I don't want glitter in my brows!!

'The Impossible'

Ok so nobody judge me cause I'm what, a year behind.... This is my first Liquid Sand polish!

I'm wearing it today but still not sure if I like it or not... More towards the 'not' side but maybe it will grow on me. It's a bit different than I expected.

Mine has tons of little stars in it, but I don't fish them out cause they're really annoying to me on my nail.

Sonia Kashuk XL Eyeliner Brush

I put off trying this 'mad huge' eyeliner brush for over a month. Intimidating. I knew it was big but I didn't quite know how to use it.... And still don't. I can never get both eyes even, or just one eye halfway decent (ugly examples below!). I can put it on my eye just fine, it's incredibly silky synthetic material that I'm not afraid to get scratched with. But my eyelid isn't exactly the same size as the brush, so even when I try to place it as evenly as I can, I still end up not being able to cover either the inner or outer corners. I need more practice for sure, but the brush itself is great! The only issue I have with it is I can't clean it 100% like new, and I've tried everything- oils, makeup remover, shampoo, brush cleaner- it's just a little stained.

Has anyone tried this type of brush? What's the trick?!?

Skinfood Purchases

Yay I love this sugar scrub...it smells soooo lemony though, like lemon Pledge. It's light but it foams thick and creamy. It also works great with the Clarisonic; it has really fine granules. The brow brush has shorter bristles than others, and the polish is such a pretty shade!

Revlon PhotoReady Compact Foundation Swatches

I decided to experiment with cream contouring, but I had a hard time finding cream foundation- in any brand.  The only one Sephora had was Benefit, and I'm not ready to invest that much for a 'trial'.  I'm just posting the swatches and a mini-review since I've only worn it twice so far.

I think the packaging is weird, the plastic case is really cheap and flimsy, and it has this mesh thing called a "liquifying screen". I didn't care for that, so I took it off which is really easy to do with a metal nail file. I ended up putting it back on though- it keeps it from getting dust, stray brush hairs, etc. I was hoping that under the mesh I would find the texture harder, but it's really, really soft and creamy. It's really nice but I thought a harder texture might be easier to work with. It does take a minute to blend and even it out, make sure it's not streaky.

I got 050 Ivory, 100 Vanilla, and 300 Cool Beige. My arm is a bit lighter than my face, so I think Vanilla is a great match for me. I really love Cool Beige, it's exactly what I wanted and it is dark beige, not orange.

I think it's about medium coverage, but I found it really clung to some dry patches I didn't realize I had.

Note: top photo natural, bottom with cameras 'beauty fix' just so I could see how the different lighting looks.  And yes I did fix (meaning remove half!) my brows before I went out- no, I'm not normally angry haha :)

Nail Mail: MoYou Suki Plates

So I'm gradually getting my MoYou plates. I really Iove these!

Burberry Eyeshadows: Trench, Antique Rose

I haven't been to Bloomingdales in such a long time- they really have everything! And the lady at the Burberry counter was just so nice, I think I'll remember that.

I got these eyeshadows in Trench and Antique Rose. I was in between Mulberry and Rosewood for what seemed like twenty minutes, but in the end I decided against Mulberry, it was just too dark for me to justify the splurge.  It's a lot of product in these, so I wanted to get something I know I'd use.  I was all set on Rosewood until I saw Antique Rose, which I think suits me well. I could really do without Trench, it's not that it's bad but I prefer a frostier or more pinkish tone for a highlighter.  It's so close to my own skin tone, I don't see the point.

The texture is just amazing- so buttery soft and silky. They both have a satiny finish. I don't know why my swatch of Antique Rose turned out so brown, it really is more mauve on my eye with a primer.

Antique Rose- with primer

The fingerprint magnet packaging kinda bothers me though! 

An Awesome Brush: Inglot 8OHP

First of all, I didn't know if the O was a zero or an O. On the handle it really looks like an O to me, wide, but on the package (and the receipt) it looked like a zero. Upon further investigation, Inglot confirms it is an O, which stands for ox. It's made from ox hair and (I think) horse/pony, cause they didn't elaborate on that.

This same brush comes in all synthetic form as well. I don't think I've tried any of their synthetic brushes.... Yet!

It may seem like just a pencil brush, but it is a bit larger, and I find it really versatile.  It's perfect for outer v, crease definition, even cut crease, softening eyeliner, it's just a really great brush to have.  I've had mine for a while and it's never shed or bled either.  It isn't the softest, but it isn't scratchy and without the courseness I doubt it would be as functional.  I have softer eye brushes but they tend to do better at blending.  I think three shadow brushes are essential and sufficient- one for lid color, one for blending, and this one.