M. O. D. E. L. 21 Lash Review

At six months old, I was adopted by the most wonderful parents a kid could have.  My immediate and extended family embraced me with open hearts and arms, and celebrated my arrival with a party.  My late Great Aunt asked if I would need sticky white rice to much on during the festivities.  XD  (It was an innocent inquiry; she truly had only the best intentions.)  The answer?  No...  but bless her heart!     

Although stereotypes can be awful (and in some instances, downright funny), there is often a ring of truth behind them.  For example, Asians aren't typically blessed in the lashes department.  Short, sparse, and nearly non-existent, making them presentable can be quite a chore.

[Model x-12.  Retails for $6.95.]

[Model: x-r4.  Retails for $6.95.]

For a night out on the town, false lashes are a must.  I usually purchase drug store falsies, but doubt I will any longer.  I have discovered a new love: M.O.D.E.L. 21 Lashes.  They are made of sterilized human hair (or hair-like fiber), and range from natural to dramatic.  They are unbelievable!

PROS:  These lashes are delicate and light as a feather, yet durable enough that you can re-use them.  I have never worn falsies as weightless or comfortable as these.  Shipping is lightning fast.  And, at under $10.00 for a box of ten pairs, you cannot beat the price.

CONS:  The lashes require trimming at the band, as they are a bit on the long side.  (Don't throw the excess lashes in the garbage!  The trimmed ends can be saved and placed on the outer end of your lashes for a natural, lengthened look.)

Overall, I am extremely pleased.  I plan on recycling these lashes until they fall apart!

What falsies do you use?



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Disclaimer: These products were sent to me by www.model21eyelashes.com , free of charge.  I am not affiliated with the organization, nor am I being paid to endorse their products.   My views are not influenced by anything other than my personal experience.   Please use these products at your own discretion.

Gift Card Haulin'

Sephora and Ulta employees have seen more of my mug lately than my adorable husband.  I refuse to rest until every last cent of my gift cards are spent!

Here are some of the items I purchased during my last trip to the mall:

[Essie Van D'Go Nail Polish]

My mission to find the perfect Summer polish has officially come to an end.  Essie Van D'Go is peachy, creamy, and neutral enough to wear with most of my wardrobe.  I love it!  It takes three coats to achieve the opacity and streak free finish I desire, but who cares?  This pretty polish is worth the extra elbow grease.

[Healthy Hoof Lacquer]

My former top coat, who shall remain nameless, used to make my brown eyes see red.  Every time I polished my nails, it always managed to make a streaky mess of my handiwork.  We Asians are born natural nail technicians, so I knew the repeated issue was of no fault of my own.  LOL!

My best friend purchased me a bottle of Healthy Hoof Lacquer because I am a centaur with dull hooves after I vented my top coat frustrations.  Once dried, this horse-friendly varnish produces a smooth and glossy looking finish.  I was hooked after one use.  The best part?  It's a mere $2.50.

[NARS Deep Throat]

It's a NARS blush.  Need I say more?

Nope.

[NARS Striptease Gloss & Revlon Peach Gloss]

Both of these glosses feel lightweight, are incredibly pigmented, and appear pretty and peachy in their tubes.  Sadly, each are going to be returned as they made my kisser look alabaster.  (Momma didn't raise no Ganguro Girl!)  There is absolutely nothing wrong with the products themselves; the shades just weren't suitable for my skin tone.

The hunt for the perfect peachy lip gloss continues...

[Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Zero]

I have never been one to line my waterline.  As a contact lenses wearer, I find products that close to my eyes irritating.  Hopefully this pencil will be the answer to my beauty-related prayers!

[Zebra Loofah]

How cute is this little guy?!  I have yet to use him because I thought it'd be gross to showcase a loofah post-use.  XD

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  The hubby and I plan to BBQ, relax, and maybe squeeze in a little shopping.  I can't wait!

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It's been a long time/I shouldn't have left you/Without a dope beat to step to.

I have been slackin' on my Beauty Blogger pimpin', and I apologize.  Yours truly had a negative reaction to a new medication, and spent about a week spooning our porcelain jacuzzi.  (I was the big spoon.)  I also broke out in sex-ay hives...  on my face.  Shame on me for not doing a HFOTD!  Ha!

As some of you already know, I recently turned twenty-eight years old.  My darling little sisters surprised me with two Sephora gift cards to celebrate my senior citizenship.  I immediately placed an order online, but unfortunately, ended up returning everything to the store.

I drug my adorable husband with me to return my "great-but-not-for-moi" products.  He sweetly agreed to allow me to peruse for as long as I desired -- without dragging his feet or staring longingly at the exit signs.  I am proud to announce he did just that!  (In his eyes, Sephora and Ulta are the devil.  LOL!)

RETURNED ITEM #1:

[NARS Mekong Eye Shadow]

[NARS Mekong Swatch]

Oh, how I wanted to love this shadow.  I love NARS' products and had been dying to get my hands on this particular product for months.  In the pan and swatched, Mekong appears to be a rich dark chocolate shade, speckled with delicate gold flecks.  It's gorgeous.  However, once it has been blended onto the lid, the Godiva goodness and metallic sparkles morph into a flat black hue.  That's not necessarily a bad thing, however, I already own two matte black shadows.

RETURNED ITEM #2:

[Buxom Gloss in "Celeste"]

I am a HUGE Buxom Gloss fan.  Moisturizing, minty fresh, and emollient, they truly are my favorite glosses.  Sadly, "Celeste" was a miss for me as it wasn't as peachy as I had hoped it'd be.

What peach or pinky-coral gloss are you reaching for this Spring?

RETURNED ITEM #3:

[Sephora by OPI Polish in "How Cute Is That?".  The photograph does not capture the polish's true color.]

This pretty polish would have been a keeper had it been a tad less orange and shimmery.  The good news?  The varnish itself was easy to apply and didn't chip for days!

Anyway, I hope you're all doing well!  I look forward to catching up on all of my favorite blogs.  New posts are in the works, but in the meantime, check out this awesome giveaway:

SmootchKiss is generously giving away quite a bit of MAC goodies, among other things.  Check out her blog here!

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I like goooooold!

Benefit's Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow and Liner in 'Recess' is a pretty, shimmery gold base.  The packaging is super cute and, more importantly, it works extremely well!  At the end of the day, my shadow looks exactly as it did in the morning: smokey and crease-free.  Believe it or not, this is my first real eye shadow base.  I normally use Cover Girl's Aqua Smooth Foundation in 'Buff Beige' as a primer.  (For the record, it's fantastic to use with pressed shadows!)

Benefit's products are great, but can cause serious damage to one's bank account.  Fortunately, a little bit goes a long way.  Two light light swipes with my fingertip is all I need per eye.  I love pairing this base with deep brown and gold shadows.  It adds just a hint of shimmer on my lids and makes my gold toned shadows pop.  (I got a little carried away the other day and applied it all the way up to my brows.  I looked more glittery than the girls that shake their money makers for "college tuition"!  OMG...  I just had a visual of Elizabeth Berkley yelling, "I'M A DANCER!"  Bahahaha!)

[photo credit: www.ulta.com]

Here is a neutral, natural (well, natural for me) look I created the other day:

Products Used:

♥ Benefit Base (obviously)
♥ NYX Eye Shadow in Iced Mocha
♥ Coastal Scents 88 Matte Palette
♥ Almay Liquid Liner in Black
♥ Loreal Voluminous Mascara in Blackest Black & Korres Mascara

I hope you're all having a fantastic day!  Is anyone else suffering from "springing forward"?  I sure am!

Korres Review & Discount Code!

In two months, I will be twenty-eight years old.  I am wise enough to know that, in the grand scheme of life, I am young.  Our fridge is free of prune juice, the need for adult diapers is non-existent, and I make sure my indicator is off after I change lanes on the freeway.  Not once have I left a Bingo hall with my arms raised in victory; my fanny pack overflowing with my winnings, good luck Treasure Trolls, and colorful daubers.  (Everyone knows you must be at least eighty to win Bingo.)  However, I definitely don't feel and look as youthful as I did ten years ago.

When rising from the couch, I make a noise.  (You know what I'm talking about...  That strained noise your grandma makes when she's trying to get out of her seat.)  I consider HSN television.  ("Ooh, that sweater with the giant sequined poinsettias IS a must have!  Should I call in to speak with the host about it?")  And here's the kicker:  I have wrinkles.  The lines that used to spring up only when I squinted, smiled, smirked, frowned, and wrinkled my nose are now permanent parts of my face.  And, similar to a tree, you can tell how old I am simply by counting the rings around my neck.

If you've been following me for awhile, you already know how important skin care is to me.  It's one of my most blogged about topics.  I am beyond excited to review these products because I have seen first hand how wonderful they are! 

[L - R: Quercetin and Oak Night Age - Reversing Cream, Body Butter in Jasmine]

Quercetin and Oak Age - Reversing Night Cream

PROS:  This product should be named "The Fountain of Youth in a Jar".  Despite being luxuriously thick and creamy, it absorbs fairly quickly, leaving behind no greasy residue.  It makes my face and neck feel smooth, soft, and supple.  The best part?  Within just two days of use, my parched and flaking winter skin was completely healed.  My fine lines were visibly reduced and my complexion looked brighter.  Sounds unbelievable, right?  I went online to read reviews and found that many others had similar experiences.  This.  Stuff.  Works.
CONS:  Retails at $52.00.  However, a little - and I mean a little - goes a long way.  I plan on purchasing this again, again, and again!

Body Butter in Jasmine

PROS:  This product makes your skin feel buttery smooth, soft, and silky.  It has a creamy, dreamy consistency, yet it absorbs very quickly.  I especially like how soothing it feels when applied to my hands, which are chronically dry from excessive washing.  The scent is pleasant.  I detect really sweet, floral notes.  My adorable Hubby and Mom said they thought the butter smelled more like candy than jasmine flowers.  Either way, it's nice.  I would love to have a bottle of this on hand at all times.
CONS:  Retails at $29.00.  However, as with the night cream, a little bit goes a long way. 

[L - R: Provitamin B5 and Rice Bran Mascara, Quercetin & Oak Antiageing Face Primer, Lip Butter in Jasmine]

Provitamin B5 and Rice Bran Mascara

PROS:  This mascara separates my lashes unlike any other I have used.  There is absolutely no clumping - just lengthening.  If you prefer really natural looking lashes, this is a great product to try.  Bonus:  The tip is shaped in such a way that you can get to those hard to reach lashes.
CONS:  The formula is on the dry side, flakes a bit upon application, and is a bit difficult to remove.

Quercetin & Oak Antiageing Face Primer

PROS:  The tiniest bit goes a loooong way.  (I have accidentally squeezed out too much on a few occasions.  Whoops!)  While it doesn't make fine lines or wrinkles disappear completely, it definitely makes them less visible.  I applied it over my moisturizer daily and allowed it to fully absorb before applying my make-up.  My bronzer and blush applied smoothly and evenly and lasted all day.
CONS:  This product would benefit more mature skin best; anyone in their mid-twenties and younger probably wouldn't gain anything from it. 

Lip Butter in Jasmine

PROS:  This product smells heavenly.  I detect notes of caramel and freshly spun cotton candy.  I seriously open the jar whenever I'm in the bathroom just to inhale its delicious scent.  When applied, it makes your lips feel smooth, but not slippery.
CONS:  It must be applied with your finger or a brush.  (Oh well.  This product smells too good for me to care.  ;))

Korres' products are all natural; they do not infuse their goods with pollutants such as mineral oil, synthetics, or silicones.  I have sensitive and acne-prone skin, so this is extremely important to me.  None of the products I tested caused irritation or blemishes.  The packaging is eco-friendly, durable, pretty, and sophisticated.  Anything from their collection would look gorgeous on a vanity or bathroom counter top.  Korres has truly impressed me beyond belief and turned me into a fan for life!

♥ DISCOUNT CODE ♥

Korres is kindly offering my readers a one time discount of 30% off any order of $25.00 or more.  Enter in the code "KATIE" when checking out.  This offer is valid until April 15, 2010.
www.korres.com

Disclaimer: The products were sent to me by Korres to review, free of charge.  I am not affiliated with the organization, nor am I being paid to endorse their products.  My views are not influenced by anything other than my personal experience.  Please use these products at your own discretion.

Move over, Kleenex! Ski masks are where it's at!

Just the other day, I was hovering over our bathroom counter, smoking out my left eye with one of my favorite loose shadows.  I had a tissue protecting my cheek and was carefully patting it on, layer by layer.  When I finally stepped away from the mirror to examine my handiwork, I saw that my lid was shimmery and grey -- and so was the bridge of my nose and forehead.  I looked like a hot mess.  Screw tissues...  I need to start wearing ski masks to protect the rest of my face!  

If I'm going to look creepy, I want to at least have a cute purple mask like this:

[photo credit: http://iliketoridemybicycle.files.wordpress.com]

I have viewed countless videos on applying loose shadow, yet more often than not, I end up making a mess of myself.  I stumbled across this video this morning and found it quite interesting...

Have any of you tried this trick?

P. S.  Don't forget to enter to win my Honeycat Cosmetics giveaway!

Dominique est trop doux, aye!

When I announced that I was hosting a 100 Follower Giveaway, one of my awesome followers, Dominique, contacted me via e-mail.  She wrote that she enjoyed reading my blog and wanted to send me a small gift to celebrate my Blogger milestone.  I was so surprised and touched.  Her e-mail truly made my day!

[Dom - If this is what you consider a small gift, I can only imagine what your large gifts are like!  LOL!]

When my package arrived, I excitedly tore it apart like a two year old.  My jaw dropped.  I could tell she had put a lot of thought into everything she picked out for me.  For example, I have complained in the past about my hands being extremely dry, so she included gloves that I could wear to bed with lotion.  How sweet is that?

MAKE-UP SWATCHES
[products pictured on the right in the photo above]

  [L - R: Gosh Extreme Art Eye Liner, Ooh la la gloss! in Orange Sorbet, & Annabelle Blush]

The Gosh liner Dominique sent is the bomb.com!  It is an extremely opaque, black color.  She wrote that the product works like a tattoo, and I can vouch for that!  After taking the swatch photo, I had to scrub in like a surgeon to remove it completely.  LOL!  Maybe I should use the liner to draw a few tear drops on my face.  Or, how about "Thug Life" on my abs?  Ha!

[photo courtesy of: www.ragingtattoodesigns.com]

Here are the other product details:  The lip gloss smells like orangey sorbety goodness.  (Mmm...  Sorbet...)  It's very smooth and emollient.  The blush is a very pretty shade!  I do not own a blush in this color, so I am very excited to try it out!

Dominique, thank you again for your wonderful letter and goodies!

Bises!

Glamour Doll Eyes Review & Special Offer

As some of you already know, I ran a 5K with my best friend, Sarah.  The morning of the event, I teased and curled my hair.  My face was fully done up in my signature smokey eye and nude lip look.  So what if the other runners thought I was a drag queen?  This Korean version of RuPaul was going to cross that finish line in style!

Vee, the creator of Glamour Doll Eyes, was kind enough to send me six eye shadows to try out.  (She is awesome, by the way!)  I was thrilled!  Clearly, smokey eyes aren't something I reserve for special occasions; they are part of my every day routine.  High quality shadows are a must for me, since I wear so much of it.

Below are photos of what I received.  I encourage you to click on the photographs to enlarge them.  You have got to see these shadows up close to truly appreciate them!

[The packaging is so fun!]

 

[top to bottom: Chocolate, Stellar, Slumber Party]

  

[top to bottom: Just Dance, Dusk, Aqua Foil]

 

[L - R: Dusk, Just Dance, Stellar, Slumber Party, Aqua Foil, Chocolate  These were applied with no base.]

As you can see, these shadows are nicely pigmented and come in a variety of colors.  My favorite is "Just Dance".  It is the sparkliest shade I have ever seen.

For all you Twilight fanpires, Glamour Doll Eyes even offers a line called "Twi-Shadows".  How fun is that?  Another bonus?  They do not test on animals.  (Sit down and simmer down, PETA.)

 I really don't have any complaints about these shadows other than they are a bit messy to use and store.  Obviously, that is an issue that plagues all loose shadows; there's not much you can do about it.  I typically don't like loose shadows or pigments, but I love these!

DISCOUNT INFORMATION

Vee was kind enough to offer my readers 10% off any orders of $20.00 or more.  Please note the discount does not apply towards collections, Goody Balms, or discontinued products.  Use the code  "katiegene" at checkout.  This offer expires May 31, 2010.

Click here to be directed to the Glamour Doll Eyes website!

P. S.  I finally got my laptop charger in the mail!  Whoo hoo!  I will be doing a Glamour Doll Eyes FOTD some time the future.  :)

Disclaimer: The eye shadows were sent to me by Glamour Doll Eyes to review, free of charge.  I am not affiliated with the organization, nor am I being paid to endorse their product.  My views are not influenced by anything other than my personal experience.  Please use these products at your own discretion.

NYX Eyeshadow and Base

I wear a smokey eye every day, regardless of what I'm doing.  My best friend and I ran a 5K last year, and I showed up to the event with a fully done up face.  (Minus falsies, of course!  LOL!)  Some think it's a bit much, but I have fun with it!

I really like NYX products.  I only own a handful of eyeshadows from them, but I plan to get more.  As many of you already know, NYX's shadows are, for the most part, smooth, easy to blend, and pigmented.  The only shadow out of this lot that gives me any grief is Frosted Ocean.  I've never experienced such horrible fallout in my life!  That said, it's a very pretty color - regardless of where it lands on my face.  Ha!

[L-R] Black, Frosted Ocean, Iced Mocha, Purple, & Cherry

Swatches with flash.

Swatches in natural light.  No flash.

I used NYX's Eyeshadow Base in Skin Tone underneath all of the swatches shown above.  I'm still on the fence about this product.  Once blended in, it's just a bit lighter than my skin tone.  It definitely brings out the true color of my shadows, but even when applied lightly, it creases.  I don't have super oily lids...  Has anyone else experienced this?

Have a great weekend, everyone!