Make-Up Monday: Missha Signature M Real Complete B.B. Cream

So I said I wasn't going to buy any more bb cream since I have plenty from my order back in May. And then I was in Dallas for A-Fest and had to hit up the H-mart for my fix of Asian groceries and the cosmetics store was open so I went in and the adorable sales lady totes sold me on this one. The one downside of the other four bb creams I have is that they still make me break out. My skin is just mean like that. So adorable sales lady, who takes one look at me after I ask for bb cream, navigates the giant display of them and picks out the best match for my skin thus far in about ten seconds assured me this was one of the best for sensitive skin. And $50 and two weeks of near daily use later I'm now writing this review.

I'm not normally much of a fan of the pump. It normally pumps too much/I can't get just a smidge out. This one I can actually vary how much I get out in a pump which is nice. The packaging is also pretty although not all super cute which is a slight let down. But maybe that just means it is a more grown up/better bb?

So here's my unmade up face. I'm not even wearing eyeshadow. Gasp-horror-shock I know. I is smarter to put on your eyeshadow before your bb though. Any shadow fall out sticks to this stuff like mad.

And here I am with the bb on. It knocks out the red in my face reaaaaal well. I'm wearing it a bit heavy here so it also pretty much knocks out my freckles and moles well too (though I like those so whatev). I've done lighter applications also (how thick I wear it varies every day since I'm normally in a hurry and just go with whatever coverage I get once it is even). I like that I can vary how heavy I want to wear it which I haven't had much luck with when using my other ones. You don't really want a heavy layer of make-up when it is 100+ and 90% humidity out. Though this one does pretty well when it comes to staying in place when you're sweating.

Overall I like it a lot, it does make me break out a little bit (like a couple blemishes on my forehead, one or two on my chin and one in the vague area of my nose on average) but it makes me break out the least of all of them, even though I wear it every day. Also if it has a scent I didn't notice. Like I've been putting this on my face for two weeks now so if it had even a light scent I'd have smelled it by now. Maybe it is the scents in others that make me break out?

And here's a comparison of all the ones I have so far. I can't even imagine how pale Missha #13 must be since #21 is almost too pale for me and I'm pretty pale.

Price: $50/45ml from Cosmetics World in Dallas (can be found online for about $30)
Package: 4/5
Easily able to control how much product you get out, the packaging is also sturdy. I just wish it was cuter.
Quality: 4.5/5
It is the only bb I have been able to do light AND heavy coverage with, the color is really great for me and it doesn't make me break out much. It would have a perfect score if it didn't make me break out at all but that would then be a miracle.
Value: 4/5
A bit pricey but it doesn't make me break out much. I'm willing to pay for that. Also since I got the larger one, even with daily wear I imagine it will last me at least a year of sole use.
Overall: 4.16/5
A bit pricey and the packaging is not super cute but otherwise my absolute fav so far.

How-To: Turning Pajama Pants Into Bloomers

I have more pairs of pajama pants than I really need. I only really need a pair of cotton ones for summer, jersey ones for travel/mildly cold and fluffy ones for cold nights. I have like seven pairs though. So in an effort to make space in my closet I'm turning some of them into bloomers. It is actually super simple, though there are three major ways to do it.

I'm doing the third to last one since I like my ruffles backed in the same fabric as the front.

First you'll need to cut off some of the leg. About halfway is about standard bloomer length on me but you can vary it easily. Just remember to add 3" to where you want it to fall so they don't end up too short!

Either iron or baste the rough edge down. Doing this will keep them from fraying. If you were doing the 4th illustration's style then this would be a french seam but since this will be sewn down we don't have to worry about that.

Next fold up the bottom of the leg, You can measure this out or eyeball it. These are bloomers so I just eyeballed it. You'll pin where you want the top row of stitching for the elastic's channel to be.

And remember to check that you've left enough fabric that it will cover the elastic and give you something to stitch down for the bottom row of stitching for the channel.

Once that is sewn start pinning for the bottom stitches of the channel, you'll want to be putting the elastic in as you do this, making sure not to pin the elastic (it needs to be able to move).

Sew the covered end of the elastic down first then sew the row of stitching which is the bottom of the channel. About an inch before you finish the row, pull the elastic to the desired taughtness and hold in place while you trim it then pin it down at the end of the channel. Sew the end of the elastic down, then coax the last but of the channel in place over it and finish stitching it up.

Repeat on the other leg and you have ruffly bloomers! I added some organza ribbon to mine to jazz them up a tad.

Make-Up Monday: Morgana Cryptoria Lipstake Lip Liner in Dragon's Blood

So Morgana released a ton of new stuff. I think I've been most excited about the new lipstakes, I'm always kind of meh on buying lip liners but I need them for my reds. And now I can just toss one in my casket when I'm ordering from her. :D

I got the shade Dragon's Blood since I only really have problems with reds bleeding on me. Also this doubles as an eye liner. Mind=blown. I love how she brings us so many interesting colors. Iwamine Shuu make-up day here I come!

It is a pencil liner, of the same kind of weird black "wood" as the Pixie eyeliners though I've had better luck when it comes to sharpening this one. The liner itself kind of compresses when applying but otherwise applies just as easy as my Chanel Aqua Crayon (I'm going to be comparing this to that one since that one is perfection). I do wish it was an auto liner but can't have everything I guess. What matters is that it works without being a major pain (the only annoyance is having to sharpen it which isn't much of an annoyance at all).

I tested it with two lip products, Nyx's Chaos and Chanel's Lip Laquer in Dragon. And yep, this is a wear test. Cause the reason I use lip liner is to keep feathering at bay, so that is the make or break for liners (for me).

And here we are after about 10 hours, which includes meals and drinks and stuff. It feathered a bit but you don't notice unless you're looking. With the Chanel liner I get no feathering with this lipstick but it is darker so it changes the shade. I plan to keep using Dragon's Blood for this one.

And here we are with Dragon. Chanel's lip lacquers are such a freaking pain in the ass for me. I loooove the color but it is basically a sticky gloss that is super bright and gets all over. You HAVE to use liner and even my super awesome Chanel lip liner that normally keeps everything in place has trouble keeping this stuff from feathering. Here we are at the the beginning of the day.

And here we are after 10 hours. I forgot my tube of lacquer at home so I wasn't able to touch it up after dinner at all which made me sad though it did admirably well for no touch ups. There is feathering. But it is nowhere near as bad as without liner and not much worse than what my Chanel liner normally keeps at bay.

Price: $10 for a pencil
Package: 4/5
Very functional and also classy looking like pretty much all of her packaging. I'd love an automatic liner but I think that might be beyond indie make-up companies and it isn't a huge turn off.
Quality: 4/5
It isn't quite as awesome as the Chanel aqua crayon but it is also not $26 (and they don't even make the aqua crayon in rouge anymore T.T). It applies easy-peasy, sharpens easily and I like the bright color a lot.
Value: 5/5
$10 for a good lip liner is really not much at all. I'll definitely buy this again when I run out.
Overall: 4.3/5
I really like it and like I said again I'll def be buying this again when this one gets all used up.

Make-Up Monday: NYX Lipsticks

First and foremost I want to say: NYX lipsticks are stupid moisturizing. They are just shy of honestly being a gloss. This also means they cannot be kept in a purse on a hot day without it being a little hard to apply from the tube. I can't imagine what would happen if you left one in the sun.

Chaos is actually the whole reason I made the Cherry Culture order that netted me these to begin with. The only Chaos in my area was messed up and I really wanted the color. It is a bright red, like Vincent Valentine's cape and is named Chaos. My inner nerd needed to own it, especially since NYX lipsticks are so cheap. I'm not terribly in love with the color but it is fun to wear with a Cait Sith or Vincent Valentine themed outfit. I am so that dork. You HAVE to use lipliner with NYX reds, I use Chanel in Rouge, so the truest to the shade color on my lips is in the center.

Doll is a medium dusty pink and a very good everyday color. And with a cute name like doll it is great for lolitas. :D

Electra is incredibly like Chaos except where one is a warm toned bright red the other is a cool. I like this one a little better than Chaos in terms of color but Chaos still wins in the name department.

Hestia is a daaaark red. It looks brown in the website swatches but Hestia is probably my fav goddess ever so I had to get a tube, ya know? Then it turns out to be this amazing color that replaces that Loganberry Body Shop lipstick I've been trying to replace for 8 years. Heck yes. If I ever see more tubes of this I'll be buying in bulk. I never want to run out. Ever. I never fall in love with a shade with such an awesome name.

Medusa is a metallic grape purple. I thought it'd be a darker purple. This one is okay if you don't have one like it in your collection but otherwise very skipable.

Meteor is a sheer and also the only Black Label and not a Round here. It look like a stick of gold in the tube but applies as a shimmery gold layer which makes lips orangey. I like it. And no I totally didn't just buy this because of Meteor from FF7. Nope. Not at all.

Orpheus is a lavender pewter which looks pretty lavender in the tube but goes on very much pewter. It also likes to streak a bit but not too bad.

Make-Up Monday: Urban Decay All Nighter Long-Lasting Make Up Setting Spray

After the failure that was De-Slick I was a little hesitant to even give this a chance. But hey, I already had it so why not. For beauty science.

Price: $12/15ml, $29/118ml and $34/77ml
Package: 4/5
Good fine mist, easy to mist and a nice sturdy bottle. Still not the prettiest but that is something that can be overlooked.
Quality:
Value:
Overall:

Make-Up Monday: Boots Expert Sensitive Hydrating Eye Cream and Light Moisturizing Lotion

I was using the Neutrogena sensitive face lotion but then it started making me break out. My face likes change and excitement I guess. *sigh* But! I've found something better anyways (and added an eye cream since the skin around my eyes was drying out).

The narrow end of the eye cream is nice but since you need so little I always end up getting too much. The giant maw of the lotion sucks. I can never pour only enough for just my face, I always end up moisturizing my neck too since I have so much left on my hands.

Both of these are a very light and almost watery formula but are great at moisturizing. If I don't rub the eye cream in enough then my eyes itch a smidge but nothing much at all. Neither makes me break out either which is great!

Price: $7.50/.67oz for the eye cream and $6.50/6.7oz for the lotion
Packaging: 3/5
It looks alright on my counter but both have an issue with giving me too much product, and for the lotion it is a huge issue.
Quality: 5/5
It feels nice to apply and is in the running for most kind to my skin as well, challenging that Chanel I tried a while back!
Value: 4/5
The eye cream will probably last me about three to four months and the lotion four to six. For the price that isn't bad at all.
Overall: 4/5

Outfits of the Fortnight v.7 A-Fest Edition!

I only took pics of my outfits that I wore to A-fest, the others I wore during the week I forgot to get pics of.

Corvettes!

Corvette JSK for the ice rink meet and the swap.

Headbow: Handmade

Blouse: Converse

JSK: Handmade

Socks: Putumayo

Shoes: Offbrand

Dantina~!

I've been binging on Devil May Cry so hard lately. I really wanted to do something DMC for Afest but knew I didn't have the time for a full from scratch costume. But looking in my closet I saw I had the makings of some fun loli stylings!

Headbow: Claires

Blouse: Offbrand

Vest: Offbrand

Bolero: Offbrand

JSK: BtSSB

Gloves: Offbrand

Boots: Offbrand

Suitcase, Gun and buttons: Handmade

Yuna~!

Okay, so not loli but I love this outfit to bits. So comfy and pretty. It is all handmade (except the wig and boots).