Jill Stuart haul and site review

Hi Beauties -

HAPPY **belated** CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR!

Happy year of the Rabbit - wishing you all luck and fortune in 2011! :)

Just thought I would quickly share my Jill Stuart Haul & thoughts on my purchase with Gooddealer.com (review of site and my experience posted below) plus a few bonus teaser swatches!

First the goodies! I received 2 pretty pink bags with the order and a plethora of samples (Lunasol modeling water?, Jill Stuart Cleansing oil and Paul & Joe foundation samples)

Love the attention to detail - the Jill Stuart logo on the ribbon - simple and classy!

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♥ -Below are my purchases- ♥

Jelly Eye Color N in 07, Jewel Flash
*Also purchased in Vintage Decor*
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Pink eyelash curler adorned with a rhinestone charm
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Fruit Lip Balm in Tint 01
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Softening Fluid
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Jill Stuart Mix Blush compact in Milky Strawberry
*Spring 2011 collection*
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Jill Stuart Blush Blossom in Little Anemone
*Spring 2011 collection*
♥

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Little pink crystal on the included retractable goat-hair brush
*Comes with all compact blushes*



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I gave the Blush Blossom Duo in Little Anemone a try - and was subsequently blown away!

Apologies for the mega blurry picture, but I thought it turned out kind of neat - you can really see the pop of color on the cheeks!

I used the lighter color as a highlighter and the darker color on the apples of my cheeks



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Although the blush didn't swatch well, it has decent pigmentation, is finely milled, and has a soft shimmer (no glitter) once applied resulting in a look that is lovely and natural when dusted on the cheeks!

The good part: I love every single purchase! The bad part: everything seems too pretty to use. I know it's utterly ridiculous, but I am having a hard time dipping my brushes into anything at all because everything looks so perfect and pristine. *sigh* I'll get over it and I promise I will get around to reviewing and swatching products soon! :)

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...About Gooddealer.com...

I thought I would share my personal experience with this site so just FYI if you intend on using Gooddealer for your Jill Stuart Cosmetics purchases!

Price

I found the prices for Jill Stuart cosmetics are cheaper in Hong Kong vs Japan and the exchange rate is a bit better in terms of USD/HKD vs the USD/Yen. Gooddealer.com was one of the options that I found (see my previous JS post for a larger list of internet options) They should ship to most countries though you might want to send an e-mail if you are unsure about their shipping policy or have questions about customs/duties.

The site -at first glance- looks incredibly shady and the website design could be a bit more user-friendly (they have a tutorial on how to shop the site!) - that being said, I found this site to have the largest selection of products as well as decent pricing*.

*BUT don't be entirely fooled by the too-good-to-be-true pricing - the shipping AND handling fees (yes, they charge you for shipping separate from handling) really add up - they calculate pricing based on weight so the more you buy, the higher the cost. (so much for incentive to buy more, I was trimming down my cart to keep at a reasonable weight!)

Postal fees per weight here

Delivery time/packaging

Overview of their mailing & tracking

I placed my order on January 9th and received my package around January 28th so expect a bit of a wait if you end up ordering.

It came wrapped in green postal wrap (no box) and was securely suspended in what seemed like 10 billion layers of bubble wrap.

Pros

♥ Accepts major credit cards and paypal
♥ Large variety of products
♥ Decent pricing* (see cons for caveat)
♥ Quick access to the latest releases/collections
♥ Securely wrapped - product fully intact
♥ A few product sample 'freebies' & JS bag

Cons

X Package takes awhile to ship
X Website is difficult to navigate
X High Shipping AND handling fees
X No easy way to check tracking of order
X No guarantee that items will actually be in stock (one of my items was canceled after placing the order)
X Long wait time

Would I buy from the site again? Maybe. Still checking out different sites/options. If anyone knows of a good alternative, please share :)

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BTW Ice apocalypse 2011 here in North Texas needs to end! I think this past week has turned me into a workaholic (60 hour work week!) and I am itching to get back to normality.

Review: Skinfood Aloe Sun BB Cream

My dear lovelies!

As promised, an update & review on my new favorite Summer going-out staple!

For some reason, I feel like I'm always the last person to jump on the bandwagon...Double Rainbow, Keyboard cat, NYX cosmetics...and now, BB cream!

BB creams are quite popular in Korea and are meant to be the all-in-one makeup miracle product, many promising to be a base/primer, cover-up, foundation all-in-one with added benefits like anti-aging, hydration, UV protection etc. My last foray into BBcreams (Missha Perfect Cover) left me with cystic acne so I was a bit hesitant to jump back into things...

That being said, after carefully researching a few more varieties, I decided that I would give Skin Food a try. Skin Food is a skincare line available on sites such as Sasa.com - they don't carry this particular bb cream anymore, but Amazon.com currently sells it for around $19.95.

REVIEW

Skin Food Aloe Sun BB Cream (SPF 20 PA+)

On Packaging: Food Therapy - Special food for the skin to eat. Contains lots of nutritive and energetic ingredients such as fresh plants, fruits etc. to maintain our bodies healthy and lively.

Rich with aloe, which possesses excellent hydrating properties and soothing effect, this multi-functional skin care product (UV protecter and blemish correcter) provides moisture and nutrition to your skin while providing protection from UV rays.

The tube is a nice decent size - the size of a medium-sized tube of sunscreen (50g)

The dispensing nozzle allows for hygenic application

As true for most BB Creams, the color selection is extremely limited. This BB Cream comes in either #1 (fair) or #2 (medium). In the Summer time, I tend to get a bit darker but really, I would be a #2 regardless.

I used a foundation brush to sweep the BB cream over my face. The product applies smoothly but requires a little blending. It smells FANTASTIC though - very fresh and clean. If you like Bath & Bodyworks Cucumber melon, you will like the smell of this BB cream. Although this BB Cream has built in sunscreen (SPF 20), I still use my regular sunscreen (Olay SPF 25) all over beforehand. The results with and without flash - I love the overall slightly dewy finish!

Wearing: NYC brow pencil on brows, MAC Blacktrack fluidliner, Darkness KMA 7 false lashes, Maybelline Eye Quad in Taupe Temptress in corners of eyes, Maybelline Moisture Extreme Lipstick in Peach Colada on lips, Skin Food Aloe Sun BB Cream on face

I did not see any of the greyish undertone of #2 that some reviews had mentioned.

Look of the day (LOTD) from this past weekend! Abercrombie stretchy tube dress & Jessica Simpson heart chain necklace. :)

Overall

Pros

♥ Pleasant fresh & clean smell which fades over time

♥ Beautfiul, dewy finish

♥ SPF 20

♥ Not drying

♥ Moderate oil control (my face was just slightly oily by the end of a day being exposed to 90 degree plus Texas heat!)

♥ Coverage is medium - hid most of the redness in my cheeks

♥ Long lasting

♥ Smooth, even, application

♥ Does not feel heavy on the skin

♥ Did NOT break me out...so far. (Will update if anything changes)

Cons

♥ Extremely limited colors

♥ May be hard to find (Sasa.com no longer stocks), online availability

♥ May need to use spot coverage for larger blemishes

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ (5/5)

My beautiful friend, fellow blogger, co-worker, and Pharmgirl extraordinaire Liz suggested that I include whether or not products are tested on animals for future reviews. This is a great idea! I am happy to report that my previous review and one of my favorite new cosmetics lines, NYX, does NOT test on animals. I am not quite sure about this current BB cream since it was produced in a foreign country (Korea) but if I do find out, I will surely update!

Here's a little sneak peek into what is coming up next!

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

Review: Missha Perfect Cover BB cream +

Hello beauties!

It has been such a busy past few weeks. I feel oddly guilty that I haven't been able to keep up with a lot of my favorite blogs let alone maintain my own! :(

It's about time for a review! (first one in May!)

Missha Perfect Cover BB cream in no. 23! (the darker shade)

One of my co-workers was kind enough to supply me with a sample of what is apparently one of Korea's top BB creams!

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This is what it claims to do (from amazon.com website)

Wrinkle care + UV PRoof(SPF 42 PA+++) + Moisturing + Make up base + Foundation

It provides excellently concealing any types of pigmentation or discoloration area on face including acne, couperose, vitiligo, age spots, sun spots and dark circles.

· For all skin type even for acne skin type
· It can be used as a makeup base or foundation.
· Containing substances for Soothing the skin (Na-complex)

MISSHA M BB Cream Contains natural ingredients that do not damage or irritate the skin. With Continuous use, your sensitive skin will be calm, protected from redness and keep its health.

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My Sample

Here is a closer pic of the product itself

This bb cream comes in 2 shades: no. 21 (light beige) and no. 23 (natural beige). No. 21 is for the lighter skin gals and apparently has yellow undertones. No. 23 is for darker skinned gals (and by dark, I mean a slight tan!) and has pinker undertones. Unfortunately, none of these truly 'fits' me as I have darker skin and yellow undertones.

Here is me sans bb cream (bare skin!!!) - don't be afraid! You can see there is some rudiness/redness in my cheeks. For reference, my skin is combination -- dry in the winter and oily in the Summer! :( I am also acne-prone though after taking much better care of my skin, breakouts are much less frequent.

BEFORE

*~*~*~*~*~*

AFTER (bathroom lighting)

AFTER (with flash)
**wearing my brand spankin' new sexy GSP snowflake necklace ;)**


As you can see, my face looks okay in regular lighting...but with flash? Waaaaaay too light! *sigh* Since a lot of these BB creams are formulated for girls with fair, moon-kissed complexions, I have to really search to find my perfect bb cream if such a thing exists!

It covers decently, has a pleasant, non-irritating smell, and lasts ALL DAY without budging...but it felt kind of 'heavy' on the skin in my opinion. I dislike wearing liquid foundation so it might be more comfortable on girls that are used to wearing cream or liquid based makeup. (I prefer powder if possible) I don't mind wearing a sunscreen so maybe my perfect match would be something that wears more like a sunscreen than a foundation if that is even possible?

The worst part about this bb cream - a few days after wearing it (despite washing thoroughly aftewards) I broke out!!! Not just little tiny bumps - 2 horrible huge cystic pimples after a few months of being virtually pimple free!!! T_T

Overall

Pros
♥ Affordable (sells for $11 for 30ml on Amazon.com)
♥ Plenty of SPF 42+
♥ Covers relatively well
♥ Faint but pleasant smell
♥ Claims to have anti-aging properties
♥ Not drying and oil control
♥ Lasts all day

Cons
♥ Extremely limited colors
♥ Feels heavy on the skin
♥ Caused a break out after ONE use!


Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ (2/5)

I would have given 3 hearts if it didn't break me out afterwards...kind of a deal breaker for me. :( This might work for fairer skinned ladies or people who are not acne-prone!

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On a happier, non-pimply note, I was able to feed my innards something happy this weekend (and I like to think, healthy too) at my favorite local Yogurtland!

Pinkberry wannabes have spread all over the US, thank goodness! Only 30 cents an ounce at this location!



The best type of places are self-serve and weight based so you can DIY your perfect froyo!



I'm apparently not very good at squeezing out the yogurt into the bowls...My bf laughed at me :(



It didn't matter though, every bite was so delicious!!!
In this bowl: Yogurt - Taro/green tea mix, fresh strawberry, tart Lychee, peach & mango.
Toppings -I ♥MOCHI, so tons of it plus pineapple & gummi bears



Plus they care about the environment! ^_^



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Hello to new lovelies Hardcore makeup junkie, Colourful world, StarryXuan, Dana, Lovesweetcrystal, Suzie, Xagnes, Kaitlyn, & natalka! ♥

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Next up: Review of Coastal Scents 88 makeup palette, lashes, & Glam Sparkle Pop!!!

♥ Good night, hope you all had a fantastic weekend
& Happy Mother's Day to all the sexy mamas out there ;)! ♥

NorthPark Mall hauls, Shiseido, tokidoki, gelato +

*Very Pic Heavy Post!*

♥ *~Happy Friday!~* ♥

To celebrate a day off after and in anticipation of a busy work week, Darren and I spent some quality time together -- at the mall. :) It was actually a joint trip since we were also on the hunt for a pair of good frames for his much needed eyewear update...(unsuccessful T_T)

NorthPark is a higher-end mall in Dallas. Lots of new shops opened up in the past few years to attract a younger crowd so basically it has something for everybody now!

~ Food court has a nice airy feel ~

♥ I don't understand why they have CACTUS Gardens everywhere. Seems so dangerous!!! Darren thinks they are real. :( ♥




♥ I actually like this cactus - pretty & pink! ♥



♥ GELATO!!! ♥

♥ I like Fruity flavors more than milky flavors ♥

♥ Flavors: Papaya (Creamy & Smooth), Pineapple (Refreshing & Tart), Orange Grand Marnier (YUM) ♥

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Onto MAJOR HAULAGE

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Shiseido

I started off my journey at the Shiseido counter at Macy's they were advertising for their bi-annual gift with purchase (GWP)! With the purchase of 2 items (one being a skin care treatment product) you get a free bag with 5 additional skincare samples tailored to your specific skin type!

The lady at the counter, Yujin, was super sweet - unlike many other sales ladies, she WASN'T pushy and was attentive & super thorough. She even took out this crazy machine to test my "skin-type" -- which surprisingly was healthy and not super dehydrated as I had suspected it to be -- I just have some redness in my cheeks that has been present since I was young:

Here she is with the skin-scanner pretending to Kareoke lol!

After talking about skincare for awhile, she mentioned that she had worked for SK-II for a a few years, but has worked for Shiseido for more than 14 years - she really trusts their products as the line has been around since it was started by a Japanese Pharmacist in 1872! :D

Total haul: 2 items + Free Gift with Purchase

• White Lucent Brightening & Moisturizing gel (for nighttime use)
• My STAPLE - 34 Sun Compact Protection Foundation refill
  

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LUSH



I wanted the Strawberry Feels Forever massage bar, but decided against it last minute. I'm going to try to use up some of my regular lotions before trying out the solid type. Also, I was disappointed in being able to select things in person while inside of the store -- if you're ever trying to decide on products here based on smell, GOOD LUCK as the store is overwhelmingly saturated in one big scent! (they need more coffee beans)



Still went with the two other purchases, but was able to get one as a free sample!



Total haul: 1 item + Free Sample

• T for Toes - Dusting powder
  
• Free sample of Fresh Farmacy Cleanser
  

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Sephora

tokidoki

I remember tokidoki did a special collaboration with Smashbox awhile ago...didn't know they came back recently with a NEW LINE altogether until I heard a few other blogettes raving about it!

♥ Everything comes in a dizzying array of colors & of course, *adorable* packaging ♥

I especially ♥ the design of the lipglosses. Very unique, sturdy & CUTE. This one is called "Strawberry Latte" and smells of strawberry syrup.



The top of each lipgloss comes with a cute character topper suspended in liquid and showered in sparkly cutout confetti



The applicator wand is unconventional - a flexible silicone paddle-wand replaces the standard brush or sponge applicator



The packaging was so darn cute but all the gloss colors are designed to be sheer - since I'm not a gloss person to begin with, it can go on hold for awhile. :) I regret not at least testing it out, but I already was making a big enough dent in my wallet...

Instead, I opted for something I would use more often. The Tokidoki Luminosa Powder in "Kabuki" was calling my name! Kabuki is a pretty, buildable, subtle highlighter. It was very much an impulse buy and probably a product that is easily 'dupable' - but alas, it was on sale!


Anybody notice that the design in stores is slightly different than one featured on the website?

Sephora Brand

One thing I wasn't expecting to purchase was the Sephora Collection Color Play 5-in-1 palette - a large sign caught my eye in the front of the store and the display looked so pretty - the color selection was ginormous!

Image from http://www.honeymag.com

What got me though was the POP OUT PALETTE design...unlike the Coastal Scents 88 palette (which I own but would never dream of traveling with) - the individual 'sets' of shadows/blush/liner pop out of the case and fit snuggly in a travel-sized case with mirror:

I love the fact that each set of 10 eyeshadows, blush & 2 lippies has a "story"

- Dinner in Paris: Grays and blacks
-Coffee in New York: Browns
-Shopping in Milan: Purples and pinks
-Tango in Buenos Aires: Blues and greens
-Clubbing in Tokyo: Baby blues, pinks, and yellows

Novelty aside, when the MUA applied some of the shadows to my skin, the results were actually impressive! The trick to these shadows is using a good primer - we used Urban Decay Primer Potion! The shadows she applied were pigmented, buttery smooth, and all around gorgeous! I know people have complained about the quality of the Sephora palettes in the past - but I was thoroughly impressed with the eyeshadow quality! (The blushes are more sheer and kind of hit-or-miss)

Total haul: 4 items @ 15% off

• Urban Decay Primer Potion (I know it's 30% off F&F, but instant gratification + no shipping)
  
• Korres Lip Saver - 3 for the price of 2! (Guava, Mango, Pomegranate)
• Tokidoki Luminosa Powder in Kabuki
• Sephora Color Play 5-in-1
  

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I am officially putting a hold on any further self-indulgent purchases (on behalf of myself and my super selfless boyfriend) until May!!! XD

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More ♥ to Lisa Cristina & Wendycakes! ♥ ♥ ♥

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For some reason I am craving gummy bears. :P Have a great Friday! :)