REVIEW: CLINIQUE

LONG TIME NO SEE!

Alright, today I wanted to review a few times and I was about to make a YouTube video for this but I have horrendous lighting and quality at home so here it is:

1. Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion-- 3/5

Damn, this was disappointing. After countless 5 star reviews and even the famous Jenn Im had raved about it, I was so ecstatic to try. Guess what-- after applying it the first night before going to sleep, I woke up the next morning with a few red patches of itchiness. Was I allergic? I know I have sensitive skin but I highly doubt this was the problem. I didn't give up and I tried it once more. Didn't give me the same result but I can't say it was that moisturizing either. It's pretty much moisturizing only because you applied a moisturizing lotion not too long ago (meaning there wasn't much of a difference on your skin).

I really need to try this for a longer period of time and then have a better review on this though. I'm a bit skeptical on how this has so many great reviews but it's just not working to my expectation. 

It smells a bit unpleasant; yellow color; texture is a bit thicker than lotion (like a moisturizer rather than lotion); one pump is good for almost half your face. 

2. Clinique's Pore Refining Solutions Instant Perfector-- 1/5

What? So it says that you can use it before makeup application or after, over your makeup to make your makeup look smooth and minimize pore visibility. Tried it both ways and nada. Putting it before doesn't make much of a difference. Putting it after messes up my foundation and the placement of the product is noticeable.

Stiff cream texture; white color; comes in a tube.

3. Clinique's Pore Refining Solutions Correcting Serum-- 3/5

With this, I have a full bottle + a sample packet that came with my package. I have only tried the sample of this product and nothing really happened to my skin. Usually serums aren't going to change your appearance dramatically and might just be better for the long run.

I should have a NYX product review since I got a whole bunch recently.

xx jasmine

A fan of those who dedicate themselves to a side job...

I'm starting to meet a few people who make their own jewelry/clothing and it amazes me because they are still a full-time student or a working adult. 

& I'm just sitting here with my laptop 24/7.

Here's one:

https://www.facebook.com/spacrny

www.spacrny.com

What a Trooper

picture from Sephora.com

HELLO AGAIN! It's been a long time and I'm finally freed from busy work so I'll just do a few beauty product reviews.

Here we have the Kat Von D tattoo liner in Trooper (black), which is my recent purchase from Sephora. I mention this a lot to people but I have the most trouble dealing with putting makeup around my eyes. Due to my habituated eyes to contacts, my eyes aren't as sensitive anymore so now I CAN put eyeliner on my waterline. So let's say I completed Step 1. 

This next step is the hardest one for me. Not only do I have hooded eyelids, they're also uneven. One is definitely a hooded eyelid and the other just looks like a double eyelid. It's even worse on sleepy days when my double eyelid droops a little lower so looking at me face forward may give you the illusion that my eyes are not the same size.  With this being said, it brings me great hardship to put on eyeliner and put it on correctly. 

With pencil, the thickness of the charcoal is not as precise and a bit harder to fix the unevenness without smudging. 

With gel liner, the angled brush tip bothers me the most. When pressing down any brush, the bristles fan out-- well, take a guess what happens. 

With liquid eyeliner, the application might be the easiest, but with hooded eyelids, opening your eyes after applying can mess up what you just applied. The upper part of your double eyelid will rub against the lower part. Allowing it to dry prevents you from erasing a flaw.

OKAY, NOW THAT WE WENT THROUGH ALL THAT....

Let me say that this might be one of my favorites. The brush is really thin-- easy application, good for thin lines on double eyelids. Because each stroke is thin, it's easier to fix mistakes. 

Long-lasting?: 3/5 It does come off when you are wiping your tears away or rubbing your eyes. (I tested a few liners while at Sephora and this comes in #2 while Eyeko comes in at #1)

Easy to use?: 5/5

Like I said, thin brush = easy application.

Pigmentation?: 5/5

Pretty dark and you can overlap for a saturated black color.

Easy to wash off?: 5/5

Yeup, no fuss on this one.

Packaging?: 5/5

Pretty standard tube and size. I typically don't like the springy-ness of the cap but it's probably just a pet peeve of my own.

Would I repurchase? Yes.

xx jasmine

[Review] NYX Nail Polish- Royal Blue

Welcome back!

Here to rant a little about NYX's long-lasting nail polish in Royal Blue.

First, color in bottle looks really galaxy-like & I'm into that color. Secondly the consistency and quality of polish seemed to be pretty good. 

After one coat, it does a pretty good job if you don't streak it. Coloring is a little off from inside the bottle. The biggest problem I had from this was the chipping. I've never had nail polish that chipped so fast; plus, it weakened my nails, the top whites of my nails were separating from its layers and even after removing the polish from nails.

Sadly  I have to give this polish up.

xx jasmine

Random thought of appreciation.

Ever wondered how amazing it is to have fingers/toes? 

...

Of course not.

Most of us are born with them and the capabilities they allow us to do goes unnoticed. Without fingers, would you be able to carry multiple bags on one hand, scratch your head in a certain spot, or stroke your loved one's face the same way? Did I get you thinking of other ways your life would be different without fingers? If not, just think about it now. How would life be different without them? Where would your marriage ring go to? Maybe rings would have never been invented in the first place. Also goes for pianos. What is the point of having a keyboard for your computers, laptops, and phones?

[food for thought] (:

xx jasmine

tl;dr

Wow, it's been a while that I forgot when my last post was. It's difficult keeping with all forms of social media (over 9 of them!) and I just can't keep updating everything. Busy with our school and work. I'll see if I can update any more. This was my lesser version of making Youtube videos, which is why I started this, but Youtube is a lot more useful in what I want to emphasize and rather taking pictures to post, I can just show it to you all through the video. But quite frankly I don't know how to edit videos and would probably not edit them out of convenience. Heh heh.

Upcoming ideas!

Here are a list of items that I want to test out or do soon: 

• Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer/Foundation
• Acuvue Color Contacts 
• OR any circle lenses (although it's really bad to wear circle lenses...)
• Stila Liquid Eye Liner
• Make Up For Ever HD Foundation
• Clarisonic (but it's pretty darn pricey for something I want to try)
• Pastel hair

Now to elaborate on the pastel hair, I want to dye my hair a pastel shade of lavender. This will be difficult to do since I am not an avid hair-coloring expert, especially for colors that are uncommon. I have seen the regular, somewhat electric purple color around but I don't want to dye it that shade of purple only to hope that it fades to a lighter purple. And even so it might not be the lavender that I want. Looking at the dyes online, it seems that they have the punky, electric purple that I mentioned moreso than lavender. I'm hesitating on going to a salon to do the coloring because 1) it is going to cost me more than I can bargain for and 2) they don't guarantee that they can  get it the shade I want anyway so might as well do it myself.

I am in dire need of skin care products. My acne breakouts are RIDICULOUS. They constantly grow left and right and all over my face. I can religiously cleanse my face with a cleanser and a scrub, then moisturize it right after--and this being my nighttime routine-- I will wake up with better skin but still have at least 3 pimples that weren't "ripe" the night before. Then throughout the day it gets progressively worse. Until last year, I never had such bad breakouts. I once had a month of breaking out but that was easily solved when I realized it was from reusing a press powder sponge for over a month so I threw it away. No matter what I do, I can't stop these breakouts. I can blame it on my diet but even when I'm eating regularly and healthier foods, it never got any better. HELP.

Hope all is well, everyone.

xx jasmine

i HATE drinking water.

i HATE drinking water. 

the only time i'll drink it is if it's flavored or it's cold water in the hot summer. i know it's bad and my excuse is that when you eat other foods and drinks, you're still getting "water".

but after noticing ever since a year ago, i get nonstop breakouts. i can wash my face every day cleanly and apply moisturizer right after, but it won't do much. the only time the moisturizer works is right before i go to bed and i'll wake up with healed skin. but once i start my day, the breakout occurs.

i see that breakouts are internally-caused. stress + water deprived possibly.

so how should i get stubborn-self to drink water? i'll probably make tea...

xx jasmine

Purple lips... literally

Testing out Wet n' Wild's lipstick

Wanted a darker lip and looked up the reviews for this color. Not bad.
(916D Ravin' Raisin)

How it looks out of the package. On the lips it's like a brighter hue due to your natural lip color. Pretty smooth application.

-sorry for the sideways pictures! couldn't rotate them-

xx jasmine

blood on my fingers

Essie's "Wicked"

First coat before it darkens to almost black with faint red outline.

Dark wine color that suits those who love dark nails. I love dark nails but not too fond of red-related nail polishes. Compared to the Chinchilly one, this one chips quite easily.

xx jasmine

It's Chilly Outside

GOOD SATURDAY MORNING, EVERYONE!

Just quickly sharing a nail polish review.

Essie's Chinchilly

Expectation: To be a lavender shade
Reality: Dark lavender with a gray undertone

1st coat

As most Essie nail polishes are, it was not that opaque but gives your nails a shiny pearlescent sheen.

2nd coat

Yessss! Good opaque-ness achieved! The results were actually quite smooth and although I had to familiarize myself with the color, I somewhat like it. 

Judgment: It's been a week since I've had them painted and no chipping at all; just gradual nail growing and showers that have faded the tips off only. I didn't put any top coat over my nails. 5/5

xx jasmine

How do you wash a chunky knit sweater?

I just want to make something informative about washing chunky knit sweaters. You may ignore what the cleaning label says about hand washing an item and stuff it in a delicates mesh bag before dumping it into the washer but think twice.

What kind of washer do you use? 

A top-loader with the middle spiral may actually be very violent to your clothes. A top-loader once decided to prey on my friend's brand new sweater (which happened to be a little $$ and was an anniversary gift) and the entire right sleeve was torn up. Parts of the sweater knitting also hardened, like the feeling of dried glue. 

If you have a side-loader or the ones that you pull open like a door, it may be okay to have it washed in a delicates bag but make sure you're not washing it with other clothes that have sharper edges ie. zippers and studs.

Better safe than sorry.

It may just be better to hand wash. All you need is a shallow bucket and some detergent. Don't be lazy with this if you don't want your sweater ruined! Some times things don't have an easy way out and you will just have to take the longer route. At least you'll know good end results will be guaranteed rather than risking it in a machine's mouth.

xx jasmine

HAPPY NEW YEAR & WELCOME 2014!

Started 2014 with good friends, good vibes in the happiest place on Earth, doing something I would have never been able to do before. 

Best wishes to all & goodnight! (:

xx jasmine