Monday, December 24, 2012

Make-Up Monday: Skinfood Brandy Mild Foam Face Wash

I don't have a problem, really, I just have a penchant for things that involve alcohol. Knowing that Skinfood has a line of peach sake stuff I figured I'd see what else they had that was adult beverage in theme.

There's a men's line with a brandy theme.

"I don't care that it's for men," I thought, "I like dude shampoo sometimes." And I ordered it and have used it for a week now.

I'm not sure what I was expecting but it doesn't really smell like brandy or anything, it smells pretty much like generic guy soap. The packaging is good, controls the product well and looks nice and it cleans just fine... I just... I guess I was hoping for more...

I works well enough, it smells fine and the packaging is cute enough. Just not sure I'm down for shelling out $15 for an okay product when I can pay $8 for a slightly better okay product (the Peach Tea Milk cleanser).

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Outfits of the Fortnight v.10

This is a biiiiit belated, I know. It basically is going to cover all of what I wore in November since NaNoWriMo kept me so busy and then we went into the busy season at work.

Scary Godmother

For work, since Hatofully Loli-Scarecrow wouldn't have been appropriate I did a subdued Scary Godmother lolita outfit. Bat wings~!
Hat: Handmade
Coffin Hair Bow: Handmade (bought at AFest Loli Swap)
Wings: Handmade
Blouse: Offbrand (F21)
Skirt: Offbrand (Old Navy)
Scarf, Ring, Best Witch Brooch and Ribbon Belts: Offbrand
Socks: Sockdreams (and if anyone with larger calves wants them I'd like to sell them since they're too loose on my scrawny gams)
Shoes: Offbrand

Goooold and black~
Not really all that special but good for work and comfortable so yeah.
Headband: Offbrand (Claire's and IT BROKE AND I CAN'T FIND ANOTHER. T^T)
Blouse: Offbrand (Izod)
Skirt: Offbrand (Old Navy)
Socks: AatP
Shoes: Offbrand

Voted!

I wanted to show my team colors at the polls (which btw podunk Texas had the most depressing candidates and on the ones where I really didn't like the options I wasn't even allowed to write in >:T) and be fab for the Election Day party I went to that night.
Jacket: Offbrand (F21)
OP: Offbrand (APT9)
Overskirt: Handmade
Leggings: Offbrand
Boots: Offbrand
Not Every Coord Can Be a Winner

Yeah, so there's going to be a running theme starting pretty much here of me being in too much of a hurry to properly add in accessories. With pigtails and SOMETHING in my hair it would have been much cuter.
Blouse: Offbrand
JSK: Offbrand (Converse)
Leggings: Offbrand
Shoes: Offbrand (Spirit)

Frillgiving 1
I happened to not have work the same day as the ATX loli Frillgiving so I donned some gay/frilly apparel and had myself an Austin day (Austin is 1.5/2 hours away so if I go to Austin then I'm going for the whole day). This is right before I left so my hair is perfectly curled and I'm wearing comfy shoes. My main goals before Frillgiving itself were to investigate the facilities at Circuit of the Americas (no campsites at the track BOO) and do some Asian grocery shopping (Those tiny honey marron pancakes are sooo good).
Headflower: Handmade (Fall Loli Craft Swap 2010)
Star clip: Handmade
Blouse: Offbrand (Target)
Vest: Offbrand (Walmart)
Cardigan: Offbrand (Anthropologie)
Skirt: Handmade
Shoes: Offbrand

Frillgiving 2
And here I am in my piratey/Judge Dredd boots. The heel is really tall so they aren't very walking friendly but they're just so cute! This is also after I got home as you can tell from my deflated curls. Very happy I figured out how to do poofy pigtails though (Go spin pins!). Headflower: Handmade (Fall Loli Craft Swap 2010)
Star clip: Handmade
Blouse: Offbrand (Target)
Vest: Offbrand (Walmart)
Cardigan: Offbrand (Anthropologie)
Skirt: Handmade
Shoes: Offbrand (Spirit)

Hime-ish?
My a-line petti is navy so it'd show under this rather thin JSK and I knew that it'd be kinda tight quarters at Faux-Thanksgiving. I was trying to both be lolita fancy while not being too insane since Faux-Thanksgiving is a meal between adult friends. It felt so beige but I was stumped on what to do since a black cocktail dress just felt so boring (and my nicer LBD makes me feel fat which is quite a feat). Star clip: Handmade
Fur: Vintage
JSK: Offbrand (Anthropologie)
Cardigan: Offbrand (Anthropologie)
Stockings (They've got guns printed on them! :D): Offbrand (Chinese ebay seller, thanks ATX lolis for showing me these!)
Shoes: Offbrand

Monday, December 17, 2012

Make-Up Monday: PixiGlow Straight on Til Morning Liner in 2nd Star

I have a thing for space themed things. So much so that I will drop $15 on an eyeliner because it is called 2nd Star. Also it is a dark green which I like. Love greens.

It is a pretty good liner, it applies fairly easily though not as easily as my favorite Morbid ones but it is super hard to rub off. If I rubbed my eye right now I'd mess up my shadow but the liner would be like 'whatev'.
Here is a swatch of it, it is on the right and Ulta automatic liner in Olive is to the left. Also sharpening this thing is a royal pain. The black fake wood looks pretty but is a punk to sharpen.
And here's a look where I've used it. Pretty simple. Should I ever use all of this I'm not sure if I'd buy it again. It is a little pricey for what it is, even with a coupon (which I so had).

Price: $15/.04oz
Packaging: 4/5
The packaging is super cute and totally durable but a pain to sharpen, which means a full freaking point off since that makes it a bear to use.
Quality: 4/5
Sure it lasts and the color is gorgeous (Olive! With gold sparkles!) but it is a little annoying applying it and washing it off at night requires a makeup towelette or remover.
Value: 3/5
It is mighty expensive for a liner. If you want an olive liner (though minus the sparkles) that also is an automatic and costs way less I'd say get the Ulta one.
Overall: 3.66/5

Monday, December 10, 2012

Make-Up Monday: Gucci Westman for Revlon lip gloss in Crystal Waters

I had no intentions on getting this gloss or any Revlon gloss really. I'm not normally a fan of too many glosses so I don't even bother. But I saw this at the grocery store and it was practically glowing blue. And then I saw a $2 off coupon taped to it and figured why the heck not.
It is a generously sized gloss and the packaging is very grown up but still shows off the main player, the lovely, almost glowing gloss.
The applicator is basically a spatula like one that also happens to be fuzzy. It works and that is all I care about.
Sadly the ethereal bluish glow in the tube does not happen on the lips. But it makes them shiny and has a subtle sparkle so it isn't a total wash. It also smells divine, like vanilla cake without frosting. I'm used to glosses with frosting like scents so this was a nice departure from that. It also moisturizes my lips and fades nicely since it is colorless. Even without the blue glow I really like it (hence why it lives in my purse).
Price: $7.50 for .2oz
Packaging: 5/5
It is pretty and sophisticated and the applicator works very well.
Quality: 5/5
It is moisturizing the scent isn't sickly sweet and the subtle sparkle makes it my favorite go to for just something to moisturize my lips without having to worry about color.
Value: 5/5
You don't need much to do you so the amount in the tube isn't bad at all and it is such a nice product that for $7.50 that is quite a deal. And Revlon coupons aren't hard to come by so it'd be easy for this to only be $4-$5.50.
Overall: 5/5

Monday, December 3, 2012

Make-Up Monday: Mabelline Volum'Express The Falsies Flared Mascara

I thought I'd posted a review of the original formulation for The Falsies mascara because I love it. Like feircely. The only reason I even grabbed the tube of the new flared variety was because it was marked down to $2.65 and that's a great price. Luckily the flared variety doesn't seem very different... like at all.

It applies easily, don't do that side to side motion though or else your lashes will clump together. It seems to work best when you just go straight from the roots of the lashes to the ends with a light touch and a couple goes.

So here are my natural lashes.

And here I am all dolled up. As you can see both volume and length and a good lack of clumps. I love this stuff. Also they package juuuust about the perfect amount. By the time I'm running out is about when I should be replacing it anyways. I don't feel wasteful OR like I'm buying mascara all the time.

Price: $7/.31oz (about 3-6 months worth)
Packaging: 5/5
The wand applicator works perfectly and the purple and silver packaging is very pretty. The normal variety is purple with teal in place of the silver and just as gorgeous.
Quality: 5/5
It applies perfectly, it lasts all day without flaking or any of that business and it washes off pretty easy too. It also does both volume and length. It. Is. Perfect.
Value: 5/5
Perfect performance, pretty packaging and it is under $10? How could it be better? Well keep an eye out for Maybelline coupons and it can easily just be a fiver. Yes.
Overall: 5/5