how is it the end of October already!?! and tomorrow is Halloween! Here’s what’s went down on the blog last week:

Project Pan: Lancôme Khol in love eye liner in chocolate Affair

I also compare a whole bunch of brown eye liners.

Nordstrom Toronto appeal department – first Impressions and Haul

It’s the start of a stunning (dangerous) thing!

Favourites Lately: Late 2016

Instead of monthly favourites, I gather up my appeal favourites for 3 months and gush over them. This is the third installment of my quarterly favourites for 2016.

Maison Jacynthe makeup Launch

Testing out new makeup from a Canadian natural appeal brand – just look in any way those pretty eye shadow colours.

MyLipAddiction.com appeal Podcast: I nearly Peed My Pants!

My first episode on Cat’s MLB appeal Podcast functioning as co-host – we share some freaky ghost stories. I’m such a scaredy cat…

Schtuff:

• We went to second City last night to see their newest show “Come What Mayhem“. My cheeks still hurt from laughing. We used to attend second City shows frequently – I don’t know why we stopped.  As part of the tradition, we always eat dinner at Gretzky’s beforehand (Wayne Gretzky’s bar) – their perogies are amazing!

• As part of the MUJI Canada opening of their newest location at Yorkdale shopping Centre, they gave out these outstanding individualized tote bags to some bloggers / YouTubers:

And it was filled with these goodies!

At first, I thought that bag of cotton candy was a pack of their facial cotton! I’ve sampled nearly everything already – the strawberry marshmallows with jelly inside are my favourite!
The funny thing is that while the SA went to fetch the tote bag from the office, I’d already gone to the checkout and gotten nearly all of the items included in the bag. So guess what, I’ll be including some extra goodies in my MUJI skincare giveaway!  …which leads me to:

• have you entered the MUJI Skincare giveaway yet? It ends tonight at midnight! I’ll be posting the winner tomorrow at 7pm (EST).

So, are you all ready for Halloween?

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PP12: Lancôme Khol in love eye liner in chocolate AffairIf you listened to the most recent MyLipAddition podcast, you would have heard me ranting about doing project Pan! 😛 I remain committed to this cause, but I have to admit, wearing the same makeup day in, day out, is really challenging when you have so lots of other options staring…
October 24, 2016In “Beauty”

My blogging HighlightsI’ve been procrastinating on finishing off this entry considering that it will be my closure post.  But, enough delay – it has to be done. This is going to be a rather self-indulgent post… initially I wasn’t planning on doing a post like this to conclude the blog, but your comments…
March 12, 2018In “Beauty”

Favourites Lately: Late 2016This year I made a decision to do quarterly favourites so I’ve had lists for early 2016 (covering January to March) and mid-year (covering April to June), and now I’m showing my third quarterly favourites to cover July to September: It’s mostly summer time products but a little bit of autumn is creeping in……
October 26, 2016In “Beauty”

Here’s a combined trash stash post for the last 2 months of 2017:

I forgot to take a group shot and was too lazy to take the items out of the bag for recycling.
I initially felt that my steam dwindled a bit toward the end of the year to finish up products but once I started to list them out, I found that I did finish quite a few items in the last 2 months.  I decided to do a big post instead of separating into 2 posts, so grab a cup of hot tea.

Skincare

Diadermine PH5 Hydratant Protecteur Soin de Jour – €4.10 for 50ml
I was sent this by Joyce and it is a wonderful daytime cream! I was at first worried it wouldn’t be hydrating enough for the cooler months but this worked so well. It wears perfectly under makeup and keeps dry patches at bay.  It’s that optimal balance of deep hydration while not turning my face into a grease ball.  My skin did not break out or react negatively to this cream at all.  There is a moderate perfume-y fragrance but it doesn’t linger. I also really like the compact tube – sanitary and good for travel.  I checked what the sunscreen ingredient is in this and it turns out to be a mineral sunscreen: titanium dioxide. There’s no indication of what SPF factor it is though. If you live in France or other countries that sells the brand Diadermine, please give this economical drugstore brand a try!
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

Kibio Ki-Crème – $37 for 50ml
I also managed to use up my nighttime cream in December.  This provides terrific hydration due to the shea butter content but it does leave a bit of a shiny look to the skin. I did attempt to use this during the day but it pills up under foundation. The whole Kibio line was discontinued, sadly.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: No (discontinued)

Shiseido Benefiance WrinkleResist24 Intensive Eye Contour cream – $70 for 15ml
As I mentioned in my recent HG post, if Shiseido ever discontinues this or reformulate it, there would be hell to pay!    I’m sure many thousands of other loyal customers would feel the same. This deeply hydrates my under eye area, doesn’t cause milia, and I feel, has helped with fine lines. Also, this little jar lasts me at least 9 months since so little is needed with each application. This product is the holiest of grails!
Stash worthiness: 10/10     Repurchase: Yes

Pure + simple Lactic Acid plus 10% – $60.45 for 50ml
I got this for half price during the Pure + simple skincare trade-in event last year. It’s a good AHA chemical exfoliant but it can sting the skin quite sharply – products don’t have to be uncomfortable to “show” that it’s working. I also think it’s overpriced for what it is. This product claims to not dehydrate the skin but I found it to be drying. I usually have to pair this with another serum, and only use it once a week.
Stash worthiness: 7/10     Repurchase: No

Elizabeth grant supreme Cell Vitality 3-in-1 Cleanser – $30 for 240ml
This was a Christmas gift from 2 years ago and I finally got around to using it. The scent of this product is probably my favourite thing about it – like a soft citrus with a hint of vanilla. It foams up nicely and is gentle on the skin.
Stash worthiness: 7/10     Repurchase: Maybe

Mandom barrier repair Concentrate Serum – $16 for 60g
This wonderful product is discontinued (of course!) but I managed to score one in April. I did a full review of it a while back.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: No (discontinued)

Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs, and Rosewater – $9 for 118ml
This is a cult favourite and it was good, but not mind-blowingly good. I didn’t find it as hydrating as other facial mists I’ve tried like MUJI High moisture Toner or Sukin Hydrating mist Toner.  Observation: I accidentally tasted this product (spraying with my mouth partly open, doh) and it tastes slightly sweet.   No, I didn’t drink this to use it up!
Stash worthiness: 7/10     Repurchase: Maybe

Lise Watier Magnifix Make-Up Fixative With White Tea – $26 for 115ml
This used to be my favourite makeup fixing spray until I found the Avon one. The smell of this is the biggest draw for me – I love tea scents! This glycerin-base spray doesn’t so much as sets my makeup as it gets rid of the powdery appearance on the skin. It does help to prolong the wear of my makeup slightly but not as well as other setting sprays on the market.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Yes

Tony Moly I’m real Purifying Seaweed Mask – $1.67 (12 for $20 deal)
Something in this mask caused my cheeks to turn quite pink and a spot of a hive appear on my forehead after I removed this. I read through the ingredients and nothing jumped out at me except for apple extract – maybe it had an exfoliating effect?
Stash worthiness: 5/10     Repurchase: No

Tony Moly I’m real Nutrition Avocado Mask – $1.67 (12 for $20 deal)
In general, the Tony Moly masks are too short for my face but the face openings align well. The serum of this one had a good slime factor so it adhered well to my skin. There’s a bit of tingle with this mask which I wasn’t expecting. My skin felt plump and hydrated after using this. I also love the scent of this – reminds me a bit of an artificial almond smell rather than avocado though. This is my favourite of the Tony Moly masks that I’ve tried so far.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Yes

Naisture sweet Honey Mask pack – $1.13
Got this from the pack of masks off miss A. The sheet was a medium thickness, and fit nicely on my face (tiny bit short on my forehead) and there was a good amount of serum. I especially liked the soft honey scent and how soothing it felt on my skin. The next morning my skin felt supple and hydrated – just as the mask promised.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Yes

The Creme shop Milk face Mask – $1.13
This smelled nice and that’s all I can really say about it. I’ve tried enough of these Creme shop masks to know that I’m not a fan of them – the material feels low-cost and I haven’t experienced any results with any of the masks.
Stash Worthiness: 6/10          Repurchase: No

Tony Moly I’m real brilliance Tomato Mask – $1.67 (12 for $20 deal)
I was afraid I wouldn’t love this one after buying 3 of them, blindly. This mask is probably the most raved about of all of the TM I’m real line… and I’m not really sure why. There’s nothing remarkable about it. I didn’t find my skin showed any benefits and I didn’t wake up with radiant skin in the morning. fear not, it doesn’t actually smell like tomatoes, more like soapy wilted salad.
Stash worthiness: 6/10     Repurchase: No

Tony Moly Pureness 100 Collagen Mask – $1.67 (12 for $20 deal)
The first noticeable thing about this mask is that it’s made of an unbleached material so it contains little speckles of dark particles (wood chips?) The fit was pretty good but the sheet itself is on the thicker side so it has a tendency to not stick completely to the skin. It contained a good amount of serum – there’s a soft floral scent to the serum which wasn’t offensive. My skin was smooth and plump in the morning.
Stash worthiness: 7/10     Repurchase: Maybe

Mediheal Platinum V-Life vital Mask x5 – $12.99 for a box of 10
I took a risk buying a box of 10 at Winners and ended up loving this mask. It’s a shame that it’s impossible to find them again.  In my last trash Stash, I vowed to finish up the box – I had 5 left and voila, I finished them all.  I reviewed this mask as part of my 30 Day masking Challenge.
Stash Worthiness: 9/10          Repurchase: Yes

Malibu Glitz Facial Mask in Pearl – $1.13
This is the fourth mask I’ve tried from this brand and while the others only scored 6/10, this one is better. Where the others irritated my eyes, this one didn’t. The material of this mask is really thin and the serum was soothing.
Stash worthiness: 7/10     Repurchase: Maybe

Etude House 0.2 therapy Air Mask Hyaluronic Acid – $1.30 each
This mask is my favourite sheet mask that I’ve tried – it checks all the boxes for me: fit, amount of serum, and noticeable results. The more masks I try, the more they reinforce for me how much I love this one!
Stash worthiness: 10/10     Repurchase: Yes

C.O. Bigelow Cinnamint supreme 2X Lip shine – $8 for 14g
This cinnamon flavour is too strong for my liking – I prefer the more mellow scent of Vanillamint. but the formula is stellar – see my rave review on all of the flavours here.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: No

H&M Overnight Lip Rescue – $10 for 8ml
If scented or flavoured lip treatment isn’t for you, this is a wonderful alternative to the C.O. Bigelow supreme 2X Lip Shine. It has a thick formula that isn’t sticky and stays put through the night, and contains shea butter in the formula.  I should mention that both this and the C.O. Bigelow have a slanted applicator opening, which I find useful.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

Delon+ premium Cotton Rounds – approx $1.60 for 100 count
A staple in my skincare routine. I like how these are lint-free and have a meshy exfoliating side.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

MUJI cut Cotton White – $3.50 for a pack of 165 pcs
Detailed review here where I compare it to Shiseido’s crack cotton. It’s a dupe!
Stash worthiness: 10/10     Repurchase: Yes

The face shop Konjac cleaning Puff – $4
My favourite konjac sponge and still the best price. It’s got a soft squishy texture when wet that is super gentle on the skin. I use this in the mornings in the shower with a foaming face wash.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

Body Care

Nova Scotia Fisherman original lotion – $10.95 for 100ml
I hauled this here and intended to use this as hand cream but I found it too lightweight for that purpose. I used it up as body lotion but 100ml doesn’t last very long.  I used up this tube in about 2 weeks. It’s a non-greasy and hydrating lotion that has a light shea scent.  next time I need to get the larger size with the pump!
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Yes

Dormer 211 cream – $16 for 110ml
This is such a terrific no-frills moisturizer that I’ve bought on and off for years. I used to use this on my face but I found it to be a bit too thick so I ended up using it on my feet. I recommend this if you have super sensitive and dry skin. It’s fragrance-free and contains fairly basic ingredients like glycerin, hyaluronic acid but it does contain mineral oil and petrolatum which some people don’t care for.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Yes

Garnier Intensive 7 Days Soothing lotion with Honey
I was skeptical about the claim that this provided lasting hydration. Now, I don’t know about 7 days since I shower daily, but, it does provide hydration all day.  Often, my skin feels itchy and tight by nighttime with other lotions so I have to reapply in the evenings but not with this one.  The honey scent is lovely too – soft and comforting. Sadly, I just learned that this is discontinued. teach me to wait so long to use something!
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: No (can’t!)

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse (Multi-Purpose dry Oil) – $27 for 50ml
I love this stuff for my scalp during the cold, dry months. It’s not greasy at all but provides a terrific barrier to the winter air. but I use such a tiny amount each time that I was concerned my bottle would go rancid after having it for a few years so I decided to use this up on my body. It smells like a summer vacation so it has been terrific to counteract the nasty winter we’re having. I always opt for the smaller bottle since I take so long to finish it, plus, I don’t like that the larger bottle has a spray nozzle – this one just has a hole to pour out the oil.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

The expiry has rubbed off but I think Sept 2018.
LUSH Sleepy Body lotion – $9.95 for 90g
This is meant to bring a sense of calm as a nighttime routine but I used this up as my morning lotion!   normally lavender isn’t my favourite but the tonka adds a sweetness I like. This is a thicker consistency lotion so it does take some time for it to absorb into the skin. This small pot did not last me long – about 2 weeks only. contrary to popular belief, I don’t eat my body lotion, I just like to apply a liberal amount, sometimes twice daily.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Maybe

Kiehl’s Richly Hydrating Hand cream in Coriander – $20 for 75ml
I enjoy this hand cream mainly for its scent. The product itself can be slightly emollient so I can only use this at night. It’s expensive for what it is too. This tube lasted me about 3 months.
Stash worthiness: 8/10     Repurchase: Yes

The Body shop Wild rose Hand cream – $10 for 30ml
I haven’t tried TBS hand creams before and was worried it would be a greasy mess but this actually has a whipped / sorbet like texture and feels quite lightweight. When massaging into the skin though, it becomes quite thin and feels like dry oil but doesn’t absorb well into the skin. I didn’t feel my hands were well moisturized when I used this. I ended up using this on my feet at night. The rose scent was lovely though – soft and authentic.
Stash worthiness: 5/10     Repurchase: No

Bath & Body works Foaming Hand Soap in Sunshine & Lemons (LE) and Peach Bellini – $6.50 for 259ml
Lemon and peach scents are our go-to for both hand soaps and Wallflowers.  I guess we’re creatures of habit.
Stash worthiness: 9/10     Repurchase: Yes

Bath & Body works Wallflower in Vanilla Snowflake and hot Cocoa & cream Refills – $6.50 each
I don’t have the hot Cocoa one to show because the SO hated it so much that it was sealed in a bag and tossed after only a week of usage. He really dislikes sweet baked type of frag

You didn’t think I wouldn’t take advantage of my birthday as an excuse to get makeup, right? I’ve been busy the past couple of weeks:

I haven’t gone back to the Charlotte Tilbury counter considering that my last birthday, so I mean it’s an annual tradition?

First though, my friend gave me these:

• Body shop Italian summer Fig shower Gel
• Body shop limited edition Blueberry shower Gel
• flower appeal Nail’d It nail Lacquer in Cosmopolitan
It was so sweet of her to get me these – the blueberry shower gel smells amazing, and I never got a chance to try any of the Flower Beauty stuff. I heard they’re being pulled from Walmart in Canada now!

And now for the birthday haulage. I had some gift cards that I used toward these. first up, from Holt Renfrew, the Charlotte Tilbury loot:

• luxury palette in The Sophisticate
• Bronzer Brush
• Powder & Sculpt Brush
• Eye Blender Brush
I’ve been wanting to get an eye shadow quad from CT considering that last year but held off until now. I know the Dolce Vita palette is popular but the one shimmery shade was too chunky for my taste. this one is an all matte palette – ecstatic to try it!  And I wanted to get some of her brushes considering that I read raves on them, especially the Powder & Sculpt one. I’m planning on phasing out some of my lower quality brushes that I don’t use much anymore.

Next up, I went to Sephora to collect my birthday gift:

• Sephora birthday gift Marc Jacobs (Highliner Gel Eye Crayon eyeliner in Blacquer and Le Marc Lip Crème Lipstick in Kiss Kiss Bang Bang)
• make up For ever Aqua XL Eye Pencil waterproof eyeliner in S-50 Satiny Taupe
• Marc Jacobs The Bronze – Bronzer brush No. 12
The Marc Jacobs birthday gifts are really nice! I’ll be giving the eyeliner to a friend considering that I don’t wear black eye liners. I made a decision to give the new MUFE eye liner one a try considering that I purged a bunch of my liners. I am currently using the old MUFE Aqua liner in 24L Light Taupe which I love for my lower lash line. In the new range, the closest taupe shade is this one but it has shimmer so I’ll see. and the Marc Jacobs brush was a moment of weakness – I’ve had this brush on my wishlist for ages and I made a decision I wanted a large fluffy bronzer brush for the summer!

At Hudson’s Bay, I hit up the Shu Uemura counter:

• Eye Primer
• point Cealer (concealer)
• drawing Pencil (eye liner) in M Dark Brown 83
• hard formula brow pencil in seal brown 02
• Blushing beige Eye shadow Palette
The eye primer was somewhat of a need considering that my current one from Prestige is separating in the tube (and now I remember I got an eye primer from Japan, doh) – it was just launching when I went to the counter. I don’t know what possessed me to get yet another concealer. On the day I checked out the counter, I was wearing the too faced concealer.  It was after work and I saw in the mirror at the counter just how much it had faded. Honestly, I generally went to the counter for the brow pencil and the eyeliner… but I positively lost my mind over this eye shadow palette:

It’s limited edition and it is glorious!

Those were the splurges, then I got random stuff from various places:

• Burt’s Bees lipsticks in Sunset cruise 523 and Lily Lake 530
I’ve been wanting to try these for ages! I was so ecstatic to see them on sale.

• CoverGirl TruNaked Eye shadow Palettes in Nudes and Goldens
• CoverGirl TruBlend blush in medium Rose
I showed the palettes on IG when they went on sale for $9.99 – how could I possibly pass them up? You know I love the Roses version and vowed to get the other 2 colours… what better time than for my birthday? and I’ve read good reviews online about the blush and it looks like a more affordable alternative to MAC Mineralize Blushes.

• e.l.f. Cosmetics blush Palettes in Light and Dark
I’ve been living under a rock and did not know that Old Navy now carries e.l.f. Cosmetics in their stores? I’ve wanted these considering that I first saw them on IG. and the only place I know these are sold is online – really pleased to have gotten both palettes!

And then, after I heard that flower appeal was on clearance from Walmart, I stopped in to have a look. nearly everything was gone but I identified this neat blush:

• Flower appeal transforming Touch Powder-to-Crème blush in Tickled Pink
Powder to crème blush? I’ve never heard of that! It has really good reviews online so I’m hoping I”ll like it too.

And… the rest are nail polishes!

• Smith & Cult nail polish in Gay Ponies dancing in the Snow
• Teeez Chain of stones nail Lacquer in fantastic Amethyst
Oh Em Gee, the Smith & Cult nail polish! I finally got my hands on it! The shade name slays me every time. The Teeez one was only a matter of time considering that I really took pleasure in the Melted Copper one… I had to get this colour before it disappeared when they launch their new seasonal collection.

• Revlon 934 Untamed
• Revlon 150 Desirable
• Revlon 165 Romantique
• Maybelline color show better in Buff 031
The Revlons were 50% off and I couldn’t refuse! ever considering that I tried the few that I had hauled online, I’ve been wanting to get a lot more Revlons. The Maybelline was on clearance for $2 and this sought to be a possible mannequin hand type of shade.

• Essie Gel Couture in Pinned up and top coat
I’ve been itching to get my hands on these. They retail for $14.99 each here and when I saw them on sale for $10.99, I jumped on them. I’m currently test wearing them for 2 weeks to see how to fare. stay tuned!

I actually went to my much-loved downtown appeal supply store first to find the Essie Gel Coutures but they weren’t available there yet. But, they had regular Essies for $2.99 in the clearance bin so I went to town!

• Essies Macks
• Essies shall We Chalet
• Essies Haute Tub

• Essies Exotic Liras
• Essies Delhi Dance
• Essies miss fancy Pants
• Essies Apres-Chic

• Sinful colors Sinful shine Karamel
• Sinful colors Sinful shine Slay Grey
• Sinful colors Sinful shine Prosecco
• Mineral fusion nail polish in Nickle & Dime
The first 2 Sinful colors are from the “King Kylie” (Jenner) collection. but the most exciting of all is Prosecco. I’ve had this shade on my wish list considering that learning about it as part of a limited edition release in 2014. and I found it at a side walk sale for $2! The Mineral fusion is a brand that I saw pointed out ages ago on chic & polished (ahem, update your blog, girl) and when I identified it on sale at whole Foods while getting coffee, I grabbed one.

Speaking of sidewalk sales… I “stumbled” across another side walk sale with SpaRitual and OPI polishes for $3 again!  What am I meant to do? walk away?  I got SpaRituals in:

• Improvisation
• Intuition
• Imagination
All 3 are from the Illuminate collection which have sensational blue / fuchsia shimmer flecks suspended in sheer jelly bases. Hmmmmg!

• OPI My twin Mimmy (Hello Kitty collection)
• OPI mystery colour – ugh I nearly didn’t pick this up because it was unlabeled but it’s so pretty for summer. and only $3!

Geez, that’s another boatload of nail polishes! I vow I’m going to stop getting nail polishes for a while. At least until October! and um, I’m not counting any of my birthday haulage toward my Low-Buy, so there. I’m back on the No-Buy till October now. have you tried any of the items I got?

PS. I didn’t get to the MAC store on the weekend to do my Back to MAC – it’ll likely be next week!  Thanks for all your input. I’ll be sure to post what I do end up with.

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My December 2016 GoalsHappy December!  Now that I’m done project Pan, I have to be sincere with you – I’ve been feeling a little stressed and lot guilty about the pile of makeup that have been waiting to be photographed, tested, and reviewed. ever considering that the floodgates opened this year for makeup buying, I’ve…
December 1, 2016In “Beauty”

Surratt Artistique Cheek brush – review and ComparisonI pointed out in my holy Grail appeal products post that I haven’t done lots of brush reviews so it’s time to remedy that. After quite a delayed gratification (I first spied this brush in may of 2016, when polished and inspired pertained to Toronto for a visit and we pawed at…
February 20, 2018In “Beauty”

Nordstrom Toronto appeal department – first Impressions and HaulFinally, Nordstrom is open in Toronto! I was away on holiday when it officially opened but as soon as I had the chance, I went over to check out the Toronto Eaton Centre store, mostly for their appeal department! And, I also gotten a couple of items. 😉 It’s been…
October 25, 2016In “Beauty”

My blog turns two today!

I really hope it doesn’t go through a phase of awful twos…

I just discovered that WordPress didn’t release an annual report with stats like they did last year – ah well, it’s probably just as well because I’m trying to get away from all the numbers. It just breeds comparisons – we’re all here to blog and oogle at makeup, amirite?

But, I would like to list the messages that were the most popular on the blog that were posted in 2016:

MAC finally totally free Lipstick

Essie Gel Couture Pinned Up & top Coat

Japanese makeup Haul!

I purchased a few things off AliExpress

MAC Masterclass Oval 6 Brush

If you asked me to guess which were my many popular messages without taking a look at the stats, I would maybe guess 2 of these correctly!  It’s so fascinating to me what messages turn out to be the most popular – there’s no science behind this, that’s for sure! My blog grew by much more than 3x in page views from last year, which amazed me – I thought it would be 2x because it was the 2nd year. A big portion of my site hits were from strangers finding my blog through searches – pretty neat.

And here are some highlights relating to the blog from 2016:

• Improved my photography (got a new video camera and added lighting) – they’re subtle differences but just taking a look at my trash stash messages from January vs December, it’s noticeable. Here’s January 2016:

Dang, I used up a lot in January!
And here’s December 2016:

It’s brighter and the image is much more crisp.

• got my own domain / upgraded to Premium: besides not having the “wordpress.com” after “stashmatters” there weren’t that numerous enhancements in the switch. I got to choose my own font. and got much more storage space.

• Engaged brands: most notably I was approached my MUJI to attend a few of their open houses. They’re such a great brand and amazing to work with!

I did a total of 3 brand engagements last year and that was a great start for me.

• expand topics: I posted a few messages on my travels, which were well-received.

• much more active on social media activities: I made a concerted effort to post on Instagram regularly. And, I think I’ve finally gotten the hang of Twitter from all the Twitter parties!  Which brings me to…

• charm Podcast: I became Robin to Cat’s Batman over at the MyLipAddiction charm Podcast! I’m really digging the tights and cape. cat said it was mandatory attire.

• met much more bloggers! this was unplanned but a good side effect to being much more “out there” this year.

When I review my goals from last year, I actually achieved everything I set out to do!

And because I’m goal oriented, here are much more things I’d like to accomplish in 2017 on the blog:

• organize header / menu: I’ve been putting off doing this because I can’t decide the categories that ought to go up there. I might revamp the blog layout – might – but I don’t want to pay too much for a theme.

• Do a bunch of Megaposts. I did one in 2015 (Illamasqua nail Varnish Megapost) and have been implying to do more.

Top of the list: Essie polish collection (and other brands), eye shadow collection by brand (or colour family?), blush swatches, brand focus… these take time and I’m going to put much more effort into them.

• work that Pinterest. I’m going to retroactively pin all my photos on Pinterest. have you discovered when you do an image search, the majority of the results are from Pinterest? It makes sense to get exposure there.

• attend a charm Event. Maybe? I am still uncertain about this! I like being behind-the-scenes / low essential but these events seem like fun. and they often serve food. and typically it’s breakfast. You know I’m a sucker for breakfast foods.

• continue to expand topics. I discussed that I’d post much more about fashion and crafts last year but I didn’t do much of those. I’ve got a few knitting products on the go best now, and I plan to post about them.

This blog is a fun hobby for me, but interacting with all of you have made it much much more than just some online place for me to post about makeup. I still can’t believe that real, off-line friendships have formed through blogging about eye shadows and facial oils – it’s a bit crazy to ponder, isn’t it! So thank you, thank YOU, for reading and commenting. It’s been just “tremendous”. XD

Here are my social media if you haven’t connected with me yet:

You’ll want to keep your eyes peeled here since I’m one of those people who like to express thanks through giving stuff away – it’s just how I am, ok? I’m just waiting for a Sephora order.  *shakes fist at slow delivery*

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Get to know me Tag, charm blogger editionI was labelled by the beautiful Ryane Zamora charm to do this. little did she know that I secretly was going to do this label even if no one labelled me (but now I look like I have friends, and I’m cool. Yeah.)  I’ve seen this label called “Get to…
April 21, 2015In “Beauty”

My One Year Blogiversary!It’s my blog’s first birthday today! I’m the happy mama of a one year old. 😛 I thought it’d be fun to do a highlights of the year in review: [I started compiling this list before I saw that WordPress released a 2015 year in review report for each blog -…
January 10, 2016In “General”

Real Neat blog AwardI was triple nominated recently for the real Neat blog Award! 😀 The Rules! 1) put the award logo on your blog. 2) answer 7 questions asked by the person who nominated you. 3) thank the person who nominated you, linking to their blog. 4) Nominate any number of bloggers…
April 25, 2015In “Beauty”

As I online as well as breathe! There’s now nail polish created purposefully to be peeled off in two-to-four days.

It’s by a brand called BBx Elsa. Their quick-dry Peelable nail polishes deal with those who like to switch up their color often.

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The polish consists of 60% water as well as is deliberately created to be peeled off like a sticker. After you paint, you wait two-to-three minutes, then you’re done.

If you want, you can likewise layer on a top coat, as well as yes, the polish is meant to still stay peelable, even with a remove coat on top. There are two sets to select from with three shades in each set; you can get them on the internet for $42 each.

I like to paint my nails on the weekend as well as keeps the exact same color on for a week, so this idea absolutely blows my mind. I’m sooooo not the target market, LOL!

I do like the truth that the polish dries so quickly, however I can’t see myself reapplying a mani several times throughout the week, even if it takes less than five minutes total.

I assumption this might be revolutionary, though, if you’re the type of person who gets antsy seeing the exact same shade on your nails! I have a buddy who switches her nail polish often, as well as so I can see it attractive to those who aren’t keen on committing to the exact same shade.

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What do you believe about peelable nail polish? Do you believe it’s something that may catch on? as well as does it hold any type of “ap-peel” (girl, you understand I had to go there) for you?

Your friendly community appeal addict,

Karen

I thought instead of going full steam ahead to review all of my backlogged appeal products, I’d take a step back and talk about how I review appeal products.  It’s something people don’t really dissect or supply a guide when you start a appeal blog.

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Everyone has their own method and here’s how I technique examining appeal products.

My review process:

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1) acquire new appeal item
2) let it sit in my stash for minimum of 6 months*
3) Take photos
4) test out product
5) Take notes (mental or actual notes – normally I start a draft blog post and add notes as I go)
6) research information on product – sources can be from: official product page, product packaging, online reviews

* This step is optional XD

At this moment I’d like to expand on #4: test out product. It seems so simple, right? just slap it on my face! I am not about to employ the scientific method on appeal products, but I do like to have some rigor around the trial period on the product:

For skincare and foundation, I typically like to use the product for a minimum of 2 weeks, preferably for a month. My skin changes throughout the monthly cycle so I want to see how the product will do through various skin conditions.

For colour products like eye shadows, blushes, lipsticks, nail polishes – I like to try out for at least a week or two, to get a solid feel for how they perform. I might test out different primers under eye shadows, or wear blushes over different foundations to see how they interact with different products.

Some products though, like mascaras, I can tell how they will do after a couple of uses. Although, often mascaras do do differently after it has been allowed to dry out a bit, so I do tend to wait for a couple of weeks after opening the tube before I give the final verdict.

Given the above timelines to thoroughly test out products, this is the reason why you won’t see me supply a review too swiftly after I get a new product. Also, my skin is sensitive so I do not like to introduce a lot more than one new skincare / base makeup product at a time so I can pinpoint any potential issues clearly.

Writing the review:

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The a lot of crucial thing I keep in mind is: what would my readers want to know about this product? and the easiest way to make sure I capture all of their questions is to answer the classic: five Ws: What, Who, When, Where, Why… and often How. Let’s see how these apply:

What:
• What is the official name of the product?
• What shade (along with the shade # if applicable) is being shown? encourage how lots of shades are in the range.
• What are the ingredients?
• What is the packaging like?

Who:
• who makes this?
• who is this product targeted to? Skin type, age group, etc.

When:
• When was this product released? Is this a new product launch? Is it part of a limited edition collection?
• When did it come into my life? ie how long have I been using this?
• When do I use this? In the case of skincare – is it a daytime or nighttime product?

Where:
• Where did I get this? Where can others outside of my country get this? supply the store name or online url.
• Where was this made? You all know it’s a minor obsession of mine. 

Why:
• Why did I get this product? Does it fix a problem I’m experiencing?

How:
• how do I use this product? What tools and techniques are best suited for this item?
• how much did this cost?
• how was this product is made? This can be fascinating, especially in the case of special formulations or indie brands.

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Notes & Tips:

• If I attempt to answer all of the above questions, I do run the risk of information overload. I make decisions on what to focus on depending on the type of product. For instance, I’d likely not post the ingredient list of an eye shadow, but I would for skincare or foundations.

• A good technique to examining is to look at the product claims one by one, and then agree or disagree on whether the product delivered on its claims. This can help readers decide if the product is worthwhile based on a lot more objective measures.

• A review is a mixture of objective (facts) and subjective (opinion) parts – as a guide, I goal to have a 1:1 ratio of fact and opinion in my reviews. readers want to know in-depth information, but they’re also interested to know what my experiences were using the product, and if I liked it or not. and ultimately, if I would recommend to get the product.

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• Of course, a picture is worth a thousand words, so when words fail you, post photos of the product. I like to show the outer box (I have a pile of packaging in my stash, it’s quite sad actually ), the compact / bottle, actual shot of the product inside, swatches, etc.  Comparisons against other products can also verify helpful to show the differences in colour / finish / consistency.

• I like to consider all my senses: we rely heavily on our sense of sight, but there are other senses that contribute to the overall experience. What does the product smell like? Does it have a taste (especially for lip products!)  How does the product feel using my fingertips? Does the product sound like anything… (don’t laugh, I had a Stila palette that talked! XD )

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• A quick note about integrity. I like to supply the same beneficial information to others as what I’ve found online which have helped me make informed purchasing decisions. before I started blogging, I generally examined appeal products on MakeupAlley. There was no inherent benefit from examining products on a appeal forum – there were no complimentary products or web site page clicks – it was just for peer to peer sincere reviews.  I like to extend the same mindset on my blog: would I recommend this product to my friend?

Ratings:

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You know, I’ve never officially broken down what my “Stash Worthiness” ratings really mean. Here’s what the ratings out of 10 mean:

10:
Holy Grail!!! look no further. throw out what you have and go get this now!

8 – 9:
Outstanding! I fully endorse this product as long as your skin type, concerns, and expectations are similar to mine.

6 – 7:
It’s a respectable product. good but not great. kind of like one of those slackers in school with potential.

4 – 5:
This product didn’t work for me but maybe it could work for other people who have different skin type, worries or expectations than mine.

2 – 3:
I really try to find the good in some products. If the packaging is nice, or the product delivered on at least one of its lots of claims, I try to say something nice.

1:
The product did the opposite of what it claimed to do. Or it delivered on none of its claims at all.

0:
This product caused me physical and / or mental harm. Alert the authorities so this product can be pulled off the shelves (for the record, I’ve never rated anything a zero on the blog… yet.)

I don’t always give a numeric rating to every item I review, especially things that were gifts.

Unofficial appeal review Terminology:

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Here’s what I indicate when I use these words to describe appeal products in reviews:

Blendable: applicable to both powder and liquid products. The product diffuses easily using a tool (brush, sponge, fingers) over the skin surface

Buttery: this gets used colloquially – I use it to indicate a powder product feels like a cream product. It has a cushy feel and applies smoothly and evenly onto the skin.

Chalky: a dry and / or stiff powder product, and typically with low pigmentation.

Crease resistant: mostly with eye shadows – the ability of the product to not clear up into the folds of  eyelids due to oiliness.

Fallout / falldown: when powder eye shadows does not adhere well to the eyelids during application and migrates down to lower lid or cheeks – this can cause a mess during application especially with deeper shades. [Thanks to Thoughtful Pigeon for suggesting this one!]

Finely milled: powder product with particles that are very small – can be a pressed or loose powder – this makes the product a lot more blendable and look a lot more skin-like / natural.

Flaky: product comes off skin in little bits through the day – mostly applicable to mascara and gel / pen liners

Long wearing / long lasting: product lasts for a lot more than a regular working hours. This is subjective as I consider anything a lot more than 8 hours to be considered long wearing.

MLBB: stands for “My Lips but Better” which is not a universal shade, but rather a colour that enhance one’s own natural lip colour. Some people have a lot more pigmented lips while others have paler lip colour – an enhancement could indicate the same color but slightly darker, or lighter, or brighter. The indicating of MLBB is quite individual.

Oxidation: a change in the colour (usually deepening or turning orange) of a liquid / cream product (typically foundation and concealer) as it dries down, normally when mixed with skin surface oils and oxygen.

Patchy: product does not apply evenly onto skin, leaves bare exposed skin randomly.

Pigmentation: how much colour coverage a product supplies on the skin

Pills: product balls up on skin like eraser shavings – generally used to describe face moisturizers, primers or foundations

Powdery: a pressed powder product that kicks up dust when a brush is dipped into the pan; this is not necessarily an indication of product performance. Alternatively, it can also indicate a product looks obvious, doesn’t blend into the skin, and sits on top of the skin.

Tacky: a liquid, gel or cream product that leaves the surface sticky ie. if you press your lips together, they will have a tendency to stick together

Do you know how tough it is to write definitions to words without using the word in the definition! XD  Let me know if there are common review terms that you’d like me to add to the list.

I hope you found this helpful! What’s your process for examining appeal products?

PS.have you entered “Some of Stashy’s Favourite things Giveaway” yet? It ends tomorrow!

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Project focus 10: Guerlain lingerie De Peau BBAlert: I’m experiencing some technical difficulties today with my user ID. all of my comments on blogs are going into their spam comment boxes. I can only “like” a post but none of my comments are displaying. Please check in your comment spam folder to see if there might be…
January 25, 2016In “Beauty”

Grading skincare routines – part 2It was inevitable that after I posted the Grading my friends’ skincare routine entry that my other friends also wanted to have their routines reviewed.  I also had a reader asked me in the comments to review her skincare – which is very trusting of her! below are their self-reported…
May 11, 2015In “Beauty”

My December 2016 GoalsHappy December!  Now that I’m done project Pan, I have to be sincere with you – I’ve been feeling a little stressed and lot guilty about the pile of makeup that have been waiting to be photographed, tested, and reviewed. ever considering that the floodgates opened this year for makeup buying, I’ve…
December 1, 2016In “Beauty”

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. liquid blush or cream blush?

Cream blush, because it’s easier to control.

2. Mascara on the lower lashes: yes or no?

Most of the time, no, but when I do wear it, it’s usually the outer corner.

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3. someone who brings out the best in you?

The Coywolf.

4. Lipstick today?

Yes, please! I’m wearing Ilia Rococco.

5. how badly do your makeup brushes need cleaning?

You don’t even want to know, my friend. I really need to get in there and wash some brushes!

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6. sweet bell peppers or cucumbers?

Yellow bell peppers, please. I love the sweetness and the crunch! Plus, they’re so good with peanut butter.

7. walking or running?

Walking, all day, every day. I used to be a runner back in the day, but now my knees are like, “No, thanks, girl!”

8. Full-coverage foundation or face powder?

Face powder. A light dusting of MAC Mineralize Skinfinish natural is magic.

9. Something you’d like to accomplish during this last week of January?

I would love to make a big dent in my living room decluttering project by the end of the week.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

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P.S. here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. talk to ya soon.

1. liquid blush or cream blush?
2. Mascara on the lower lashes: yes or no?
3. someone who brings out the best in you?
4. Lipstick today?
5. how badly do your makeup brushes need cleaning?
6. sweet bell peppers or cucumbers?
7. walking or running?
8. Full-coverage foundation or face powder?
9. Something you’d like to accomplish during this last week of January?

P.P.S. happy Monday to you, friend. Please be sure to talk to yourself this week with gentle words and a sweet tone. You deserve kindness and courtesy.

February just flew by! as well as it’s the last day of the month which indicates it’s time to reveal the champion to my Hoarder stock giveaway.

Are you feeling lucky?

I made this! got it off this meme generator.
Ok, I’ll stop stalling.  as well as the champion is…

Congratulations Mrs Strawberry Blonde! You have won all these goodies:

• Lancôme Auda[City] in Paris Eyeshadow combination – $89
• NYX Avant Pop! shadow combination in Nouveau trendy – $19
• Becca Blushed with Light blush Trio combination – $43
• CoverGirl TruNaked Roses combination – $15
• Quo Mineral shadow combo in downtown brown – $20
• MAC 161 SE Duo Fibre deal with Glider clean – $50
• MAC 217SH Blending clean – $30
• Vasanti Eye necessary 4-piece clean set – $79
• Vasanti blush clean #7 – $29
• MAC Veluxe pro combination Refill Eye shadow pan in youngster – $8
• MAC Frost Eye shadow single in Satin Taupe – $19
• Annabelle single Eye shadows in Suedine as well as Aura – $6 each
• MAC Lipstick in Cosmo – $22
• Milani Baked blush in Corallina – $12
• Milani Illuminating deal with Powder in Beauty’s Touch – $16
• Marcelle Quad Bronzer in Sunkissed – $20
• H&M precision makeup Sponge – $6
• The deal with shop makeup Blender Sponge – $10
• C.O. Bigelow Vanillamint – $8
• Rebels Refinery Skull Lip Balm – $8
Approximate Value: $515

Please get in touch with me by means of email to supply your shipping details!

Thank you to everybody who went into the giveaway as well as told me about your much-loved products, as well as provided me suggestions on blogs to inspect out! 

Please assist me congratulate Mrs Strawberry Blonde!

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Stashy’s Hoarder stock Giveaway!*THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED* champion revealed here. It is generally agreed, I have a hoarding problem. As a parting gift, I’m letting go of a few of the products in my stash, in addition to some goodies I chosen up particularly for this giveaway.  These are all brand new, unused, full-sized…
February 5, 2018In “Beauty”

Stash Matters’ much-loved things Giveaway!Edit: This giveaway has ended!  Winners are revealed HERE. 🙂 considering that it was my Blogiversary yesterday, I made a decision to hold my very first ever giveaway! 😀 These products are a few of my much-loved things – you may have seen me mention these products on the blog or in comments throughout the year. Here’s a…
January 11, 2016In “Beauty”

Massive PurgeYou may recall that the main objective of this blog originally was to minimize my appeal stash. ^^’ I had a three-pronged plan: A) stop getting a lot more (No-Buy / Low-Buy) B) utilize up what I have (empties aka trash Stash) C) get rid of products that I no longer use…
January 18, 2018In “Beauty”