Disgustingly Massive Quebecois Haul

Since S.O.P.A. and P.I.P.A. have been dropped and are currently being replaced by another act against online piracy, I am allowing myself to once again blog about and purchase from some of the companies that originally supported S.O.P.A.  That is, until I find that the new act is another badly written piece of legislation and are supported by the same companies.

With that said, a whole lot has happened since mid-December.  I was originally only going to spend 3 weeks in Quebec to celebrate the holidays with my boyfriend and his family, but I got the stomach flu a few days before my departure date, and prolonged my stay by another week.  When I got back, I got the stomach flu again, and found out that my body is producing some 'abnormal cells.'  You know what that means, right?  If you do, don't post it.

Oh well, who cares.  It's time to show the world how twisted and sick I am for accumulating so much makeup during this short month.  A lot of these products were gifted to me or purchased for me but nonetheless....I have no freaking room to put this stuff back home.  It's just sitting in bags right now.

Some cheap jewelry pieces.

My prize from BeautyCrazed's contest a while ago.
Gosh Urban Jungle Winter 2011 Collection.

A bunch of cheap stuff I picked up and Mr. S paid for
from Shopper's Drugmart on Boxing Day.

Winter Brushset I got on clearance and a small concealer brush
I plan to use for eyeliner.  Also from Mr. S.

2 MAC prolong eyeshadows and l/s in Syrup.  From Mr. S's mommy.

Marcelle lippies, Marcelle palette from Winter 2011 collection,  Rimmel liquid liner,
L'oreal Infallible eyeshadows, Gosh e/s quad, Maybelline gel liner,
and Lise Watier lip duo from Winter 2011 collection.

Clearance PUPA eyeshadows, Personelle singles, Personelle palettes
from a friend of Mr. S.

It doesn't look like that much in the pictures but it sure was a pain in the buttocks to bring back to the other side of North America.  I'll do my best to get reviews and swatches off, but I'm back to school and work now and I'm doing battle with lighting so we'll see how it goes.

Makeup/Beauty Companies that Support S.O.P.A (Help me spread awareness!)

There is something big going on right now in the United States, that could ultimately affect the rest of the world.  In a nutshell, S.O.P.A. and P.I.P.A. are pieces of legislation that will be voted on January 24.  They are both proposing to change the way we view and find information online by placing blockades and censors on the internet.  Presently, big sites like Wikipedia and xsparkage are shutting down to raise awareness of this act.

As a beauty blogger, I am appalled that there are makeup companies that are supporting these acts.  I got this information from Klaire of Klaire de Lys, one of the bloggers and youtubers I respect the most on the web.  Some of the companies supporting these acts include:

1. Estee Lauder (and probably all the other companies EL owns including MAC, Clinique, etc.)

2. L'oreal

3. Revlon

4. Juicy Couture

5. Lacoste

Others you may be interested in: Lucky Brand Jeans, American Apparel, Oakley, Ralph Lauren, Reebok, Rite Aid, Sony, Disney, Tiffany & Co., Toshiba, Walmart, Zumba Fitness, and Adidas.  View the complete list here.

Crazy, isn't it?  As Klaire put it, these companies are essentially declaring war on bloggers, vloggers, and everyday consumers that purchase and help promote their products.

Here are some things you can do about it:

1. Unfollow these companies on Facebook and Twitter and tell them why you're doing so.

2. Write a blog post about this to help spread awareness.

3. Boycott these brands by not only not purchasing their products, but also not blogging about them (except to shame them).

4. Sign the petition to help stop these acts from going through.

It's going to hurt to not buy products from a lot of these companies, but it's for the sake of free speech!

Review: Curacao Palette (LE)

So I found these pictures in my folder, cropped, labeled, and ready to go.  I have no idea why I did not post about these earlier, but you may kick me.

This palette is no longer available on the Sleek website, but you may still find quite a few of these on ebay.  I purchased mine for approximately $12 USD not including shipping.

Pictures were taking outside in broad daylight and apparently it was too bright because the colors look a bit washed out.  As usual, swatches are done on bare skin with one swipe of the finger.  Do enlarge the pictures. You'll like it :)

Again, the swatches are a bit washed out in the pictures because I imagine it was too damn bright outside when I took the pictures.

Tequila Sunrise, Martini, Blue Lagoon, and Purple Haze are the most pigmented of the bunch.  The rest of the eyeshadows have very good pigmentation, just not as good.

Sleek eyeshadows (the palettes at least) tend to be very powdery and a bit soft.  Sticking my fingers into the eyeshadows for swatches seems to have deformed them a bit but they're still lovely.

Here are a few looks I've done using this palette:
-MicaBella Ad Inspired
-Curacao Madness
-Girly Girl
-A Forest Within the Carribean

I've actually neglected this palette for quite a while.  I think it's time to do a Project 7 Day Palette with this baby...once I upload swatches and reviews of all the crap I bought in Quebec.  I've been here for a month and I'll be heading home tomorrow.  More on that in another post to come.

So what are my overall thoughts on this palette?  Sleek didn't disappoint.  This is a fantastic palette for its price because it is a lovely collection of bright, pigmented colors.  The packaging is sleek and compact, and there is a huge mirror inside the case, but just the eyeshadows themselves are enough to make me happy.  If you don't live in the UK, they are a bit of a hassle to get your hands on, but it's worth it!

Questions?  Comments?  Ridiculous color combination requests for a look?  Let me know!

Swatches: Inglot Part III

Another gift from another friend.  I put this palette together myself while I was with my friend Tony in Vegas.  When I went to pay for the palette, he stuck my wallet in his pants and paid for it.  Talk about guerilla tactics.

Pictures are taken in natural day light.

As always, swatches are on bare skin and with one swipe of the finger.

-395P: A shimmery light beige.  Perfect lid color for day looks or inner corner highlight for more dramatic looks.  Also makes a great cheek highlight.

-422P: Shimmery medium brown.

-DS 459:  A color I can't quite decipher.  It's a bit like a cross between a deep brown and eggplant.

-DS 500: A shimmery deep grey brown.

-AMC Shine 47: A metallic, almost frosty, slate grey with some blue hues.

This is definitely one of my go to palettes for creating my neutral smoky looks.  It's not complete but I tend to dip into this palette quite a bit.

If you've got your hands on some Inglot eyeshadows, do let me know what your favorite neutral colors are.  I really want to expand on my collection (eventually!).

FOTD: After Hours

A lot has happened since my last post.  I became very ill and battled that for a few days.  Then I practically decided to elope with my boyfriend by deciding to stay in Quebec for another week.  Imagine explaining that to some very overprotective Asian parents who live 3,000 miles away.

Anyways, before all that, Mr. Sugarbumpkin brought me to a night club called Stereo in Montreal.  Not your typical mainstream nightclub, as the music is more techno and lacks lyrics most of the time.  Also, people tend to go there high.  It was an interesting and very chill experience, but I don't think I would go back.  And for the record, I was completely sober and clean.

As I've been keeping my looks fairly simple, I decided to throw some color.  First thing I thought of was Sugarpill, of course.  I apologize for the craptastic pictures.  I was in a hurry before leaving and I was exhausted when I returned the next morning.

Face:
-Smashbox Foundation in Light 3
-Gosh Cover Me Up Makeup Mousse in Almond (similar to Chanel's Tan de Soliel)
-Laura Mercier Setting Powder
-NYC Matte Bronzer in Sunny
-Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Amused

Eyes:
-UDPP
-UD 24/7 Liner in Flipside and Elderado
-Milani Liquifeye Eyeliner in Black
-Sugarpill loose eyeshadows in Goldilux, Starling, Tipsy, Stella
-UD Naked Palette: Virgin

Lips:
-Buxom lipgloss

Not your typical clubbing makeup but it was fun! What do you folks usually wear to the club?

Top 10 Beauty Award!

Alice of Alice in Makeup Land tagged me in the top 10 beauty award! Thank you, my dear :)

This award is based on listing one's top 10 beauty products, and of course tagging other bloggers to do the same.

Here are the rules:

1.  Thank the person who tagged you and link their blog within the post.

2. Put the award logo in your blog.

3. List your top 10 products in cosmetics/beauty/health.

4. Choose 5 bloggers to do the same.

And my top 10 are....

1. Hand and body cream:  Hands down, the Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion with Oatmeal is my absolute favorite.  I have been using this product since high school.

2. Foundation: Foundations are one of those things I don't experiment too much with.  But the one I currently use and like the most is the Smashbox Healthy FX Foundation.

3. Mascara: L'oreal Waterproof Carbon Black Mascara.  Great length, great volume, great price, and waterproof.  I haven't seen this one in stores lately and I'm a bit worried that it has been discontinued. 

4. Makeup Remover:  Target Up and Up makeup remover.  Costs less than $5 for 5.5 fluid oz and it works wonders.

5. Makeup Primer:  I'm using UDPP right now but I think Too Faced Shadow Insurance is my favorite eyeshadow primer.  Cover FX foundation primer is my favorite but boy is it pricey.

6. Nail Polish Brand: This one is difficult.  I love the color range Zoya has to offer but Essie has the best formula.  I just might have to give this one to Essie.

7. Top Coat: I don't have the luxury of doing my nails often so I'm still using the first top coat I ever purchased, which is Revlon's Base and Top Coat.

8. Body Wash: Aveeno Skin Relief Body Wash.  I love the soft vanilla smell in this product, and how it is still soothing for my sensitive skin.

9. Perfume: Oh this one is difficult.  When I want something light and fruity, I go for Aeropostale's Pour Filles.  When I want a richer more sophisticated scent, I go for L by Gwen Stefani.

10. Lip Balm: Vaseline Lip Therapy with Rose and Almond Oil.  Love the scent, love how moisturizing it is, and love the slight tint it gives to my lips.

Well, that's all for my top 10!

I tag the following bloggers:

1. Silhouette Screams

2. Vulcan Butterfly

3. Bower of Blisse

4. EyeGraffiti

5. Beauty Redefined by Pang

6. And really, anyone else who wants to do this!

Swatches: Inglot Part II

It's that time again!  Here is another round of Inglot eyeshadow swatches.  My sister got this palette for me January 2010 on her last trip to Las Vegas.  She picked 4 colors within the same color family, which is pretty smart seeing as how my own scatter brain tends to pick colors from all over the place.

Swatches were done on bare skin with one swipe of the finger.  Pictures were taken in natural day light.

440P is a light, shimmery carnation pink.  It is definitely one of the least pigmented of the four.

D.S. 482 is a shimmery, deep blue purple.

AMC Shine 14 is a lovely blue based pink.

420 P is an interesting sort of metallic, purple-toned taupe.

I have to hand it to my sister, she had a pretty good eye for colors.  No bad eggs in this palette!

And if you're curious, I have done a FOTD featuring these colors here.

FOTD: Pacini

I actually did this look the day before I got my hair cut, so I've still got my old hair.  Since I have been staying with my boyfriend and his family, I've been keeping my makeup fairly simple and clean so they don't think I'm too crazy.  On this night, my boyfriend and I went out for some delicious Italian food (at a restaurant called Pacini, lol) with some of his friends.

Face:
-Smashbox Foundation in Light 3
-Gosh Cover Me Up Makeup Mousse in Almond (similar to Chanel's Tan de Soliel)
-Laura Mercier Setting Powder
-NYC Matte Bronzer in Sunny
-NARS Blush in Oasis

Eyes:
-UDPP
-Naked Palette: Virgin, Half Baked, Buck
-Inglot e/s in 428P
-Milani Liquifeye eyeliner in Black
-L'oreal Lineur Intense Liquid Liner
-L'oreal Extra Collagen Mascara

Lips:
-CoverGirl LipPerfection Lipstick in Romance

I haven't been posting too many looks lately because they all more or less look like this.  When I get back home, hopefully they'll be more interesting again.

New hair, newer hair, and FOTD

A few weeks ago, I had my friend bleach my hair for me.  Not all of it, mind you.  I originally only wanted peekaboos (two strands on my nape), but I didn't want to waste the bleach so I had all the hair in my nape area bleached.  This is the first time I've changed my hair color in any shape or form so it was a big step for me.  I absolutely loved the way it looked and I wish I had bleached more of my hair.  Unfortunately, it gets dry so quickly and I have to condition the crap out of it every single night to keep my hair smooth.  I also had difficulty capturing my hair so please excuse the myspace poses.

Besides being partially blonde, my hair was getting annoyingly long.  My boyfriend was due for a haircut so I tagged along with him and got my hair cut as well.  I have never got my hair cut at a salon before.  In the past, it was either my mom, me, or my teacher that has cut my hair.  I'm a bit of a cheapo when it comes to hair care but that is slowly changing as my cosmetology courses progress.  I cringed at the $33 + tips price tag that came the haircut, but at least my hair dresser had 25+ years of experience.  And of course, Mr. Sugarbumpkin insisted on paying for my haircut.

I asked my hair dresser for a trim and some more layers in my hair to the point where she thinks it would be the most flattering.  There are tons of short layers in my hair now, removing a lot of the bulk and making my hair seem overall more sleek and straight.  My hair was not flat ironed, which means that I'll have to work harder to get volume in my hair now.  She also put a bit of Moroccan oil in my hair, which I may invest in now because I love how silky it makes my hair feel and I'm sure it would give my bleached hair some relief.  I popped my contacts in before heading off to the salon so I could observe my hair dresser and the salon environment, and compare it to what I have learned in school.  I know, what a dork.  I'm still not completely sure if I like my hair as it is but I will give it a few days.  Funny thing is, very little of the overall length was removed, so I still have annoyingly long hair--just with a lot more layers and less bulk.

Andddd to of course, we must end this post with makeup!  Here is my look from today's adventures.

Eyes:

-L'oreal Color Infallible eyeshadow in Emerald Lane

-Milani Liquifeye eyeliner in Black

-L'oreal Lineur Intense Waterproof liquid liner 

-Stila Smudge Stick waterproof eyeliner in Silver Dollar

-L'oreal Extra Collagen Mascara

Face:

-Aveeno tinted moisturizer in medium

-Laura Mercier setting powder

-NYC Matte Bronzer in Sunny

-Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Amused

Lips:

-MAC Viva Glam V

Whew!  What a long post!  Thanks for stopping by!

NOTD: Partial Crackle

I never have the chance to do my nails anymore because I'm back to working in food service.  But I'm on vacation and I finally had a chance to do my nails a couple days ago.  Nothing too fancy but it's something :)

All I've got on is 2 coats of Revlon polish in Shrinking Violet, and OPI Black Crackle.  No matter what I do I can't seem to get rid of those damn bubbles in the nail polish.  Rawrrr.

When I get back from my vacation, I think I'll force myself to do my nails on my days off so I can learn to get better.  I really am a noobasaur when it comes to nails.  Any of you guys have some nail product/supply must-haves?  If so, please feel free to share!