Review: Gatsby Oil Clear Sheet...Let's blot those oil away~

If you have oily or combination skin, you definitely want to look into blotting paper/sheets.  Of all the ones I've tried, I have to say Gatsby makes the BEST ones out there.  Their classic oil absorbing blotting sheets (official name: Oil Clear Sheet) are amazing, effective and heavy duty.  Yes you heard me.  Heavy duty!  

What Gatsby website says...

Unique film with advanced micro holes for powerful absorption of facial oil. Matte and cleans skin without stickiness Micro holes on surface of the film adsorbs sebum and user can actually feel the effect.  Soft touch, tear resistant and palm size (9cmx6cm) soft film. 70 sheets per pack. What I like about them... Soft to the touch do NOT break when using...you can TuG and PuLL on it.   Quickly absorbs oil like no other You can clearly see the oil which turns the film transparent Remove oil without drying your face Available in Asia or online.  Made in Japan.  Costs about Cdn $3 in Taiwan and on eBay.  North America stores (Pacific Mall) sell them for Cdn$6.  I usually use one in the afternoon.  My face feels clean and refresh after. Photo of a (kind of beat up) single pack Inside cover shows how you can easily remove a single blotting sheet with the adhesive tape.  I just finished the last sheet so the container is empty.  ^__^  Gatsby In Action... Here is a pretty gruesome photo showing how effective this blotting paper is. Warning: view at your own discretion.  It's kind of GROSS....ha

NOTD - Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Black Out

This week Rexall has Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear and Hard as Nail on sale for $1.99.  So I bought the black one from the Xtreme Wear collection.  It was thinner than the blue one that I have (used in the fimo art deco post) and went on a lot easily.  I love the thin consistency. Two coats were sufficient to cover the nail completely. 

The dark nail polish kind of made my fingers look even shorter than they already are...haha~

I'm planning to wear this nail polish when I want a punk or rock and roll feel.  ^___^  I always find those cute gothic fashion so adorable, however, still trying to acquire a full gothic outfit at the moment.

Polymer Clay Nail Arts

Lately, it seems like these clay nail art decoration has become more and more popular.  After my initial encounter where I decided to order some, I've started to notice fellow makeup lovers mentioning these on their blogs.  This weekend, I finally had some time and tools to play around with these yummy looking clay sticks.

I got 10 different designs of fruit slices.  They come in a 5cm stick so I had to slice these up thinly myself.  It took some practice and I did create some failures along the way.  However I totally enjoy the process and final look.

"Yeah~ we are the failures", says these half slices....

To add some spice, I psedo-randomly placed a few slices on some fingernails.  I think having the same design on every single nail will be slightly boring and not so pretty.  I have tried two methods to put these on.  1) place slices on top coat then seal again with another top coat layer.  2) Use nail glue and as an option, seal with top coat. 

Check out below for my yummy fruity nails. 

I still can't decide which method works best as I had fall out within a day or two.  These "incidents" occurred when I washed my hair, went to a Jack & Jill party, violently (haha) flipping through some stuffs in a drawer and mysteriously throughout the days.  I was really keen on maintaining these so I kept on applying new slices back.  For their short lifespan, they received lots of love and fulfilled their duties well.  

After more practice, I will do a more detailed post on these cute little nail deco.

Mini Haul at Zellers

I dropped by Zellers this afternoon and found a few goodies on sale.  A lot of houseware, clothing and hair styling products were on sale there.  Many clearance items are further reduced by 30-50% so the deals are awesome.

The Tide BraBaby, which is a little container for washing padded bra without deforming the bras.  You can also use it in the dryer directly to prevent other clothes from crushing it.  I actually purchased the exact same one a year or two ago and have been using it ever since.  This is a must for every woman.  It's marked down to Cdn $8 (from ~$12) but is further reduced to $4.8. 

Next, I got a really complicate looking Conair brush.  Look at the bristles.  Doesn't it look high tech?  It belongs to the Infiniti line with Tourmaline-ionic ceramic technology.  According to the package, it releases ions to reduce static electricity and leaves hair frizz-free, shiny and silky smooth.  Hmmm....we'll see about that.  It's marked down from $18.99 to $14.99 but when I scanned it, the price of $4.49 came to the screen!  There is the signal that says "bring me home". 

Review: Revlon Makeup Eraser pen

According to Revlon...
For touch ups on the go or during make-up application, our Make Up Eraser Pen quickly removes smudges, smears and mistakes without disturbing the rest of your make-up. Greaseless formula easily lifts away even long-wearing and waterproof make-up, without irritation.

Remove smudges and mistakes without disturbing the rest of your make-up. Easily lifts away even long-wearing and waterproof make-up.  

Showing the grey pen tip...

From my point of view...
I've used this eraser pen during makeup application to remove e/s mistakes and smudges from mascara.  It worked fabulously.  In the photos below, I've tested the pen on some eyeliners, mascara and eyeshadows.  I think only the Maybelline Studio gel liner is waterproof.  The pen had no trouble removing the makeup except the Covergirl LineExact liquid liner, which is surprising.  It took some good rubbing to get rid of a thin line.  However with proper usage, it can remove pretty everything and leaves you a clean canvas!

The pen tip is fairly hard and work by wetting the "problematic" area of your skin and lifting the makeup onto the pen as you glide over.  There is a limit to how much makeup you can transfer onto the tip.  It can end up pushing the excess makeup across your skin.  

Before 

After

Tips

• After erasing over the mistakes, pad the area dry with tissue or a cotton pad.  Then reapply makeup. 
• Cleans eraser tip by wiping with a cotton pad.  Stay away from tissue if you can, it leaves lints on the tip.
• For erasing bigger area of skin, clean eraser tip a few times in between.

Pros

• Easily wipe away mistakes.  No more Q-tips.  
• Precise. 
• Very travel friendly
• Cheap.  Avaialble in drugstores.  
• Good for smudge-proof eyeliners including UD 24/7 eyeliner and Maybelline studio gel liner.

Con

• May need a few strokes to remove makeup, which is perfectly fine in my opinion.

Score: 5 out of 5

Overall: Great product to precisely erase mistakes while you apply makeup OR to remove any possible smudges/creases afterwards.  Everyone should have this in their makeup bag.

Finally got my Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black

I have been thinking about getting a gel eyeliner for sometimes.  Was pondering about MAC fluidline, and Physicians Formula gel eyeliner (btw, only available in USA) then I spotted the Maybelline gel eyeliner.  When I found out Rexall had a 40% sale on the Maybelline New York line, I finally decided on the Maybelline liner.  So here are some pictures of the liner.

The nice Rexall cashier saw what I purchased and told me that this is her favorite eyeliner.  haha....it makes me want to try this more. 

I lost the little protective cap pretty much right away. >_<

Lid off~ Asian version of this liner seems to have a metal lid.

This is the silly me posing the eyeliner with my new cute hair clip.

Ingredient list:

Instruction on the package:

Here is a photo of the swatch.  I did a thick stroke and a very thin stroke on my arm.  A more detailed review will be coming up shortly.

A Bunny's Ride in a Super Cute Pet Carrier

Here is a recent picture of Muffin, my adoarable dwarf bunny, posing beside her travel cage.  So this post is about her...and her Juicy Couture bag.  Ta Da~ 

I bought this awesome cute Juicy Couture replica pet carrier last year.  Ever since I saw pictures of the real thing, I just really want one for my adorable princess Muffin.  I've only started using this for about a month.   As opposed to the small wire pet cage that I used previously for travelling (see pics above), I think Muffin is more comfortable in this velvet bag.  At least she doesn't slide around during the car ride and she just quietly sit in the bag.  I placed the bag in the passenger seat with the top slightly open so she would get A/C shooting towards the bag.

I tried to carry her to a store once in the bag and found it a bit difficult.  Muffin moved a little during the short shopping trip.  Even though she's ONLY 1.3kg, after awhile, the pet carrier started weighing down on my arm.  However, I feel so proud taking her with me to the stores!  I like how the bag is so similar to typical Juicy Couture bowlers.  Very pretty....even for a replica.

A few more photos of the carriers....

The inside of the carrier looks quite cozy. Thanks to mom for making the brown cushion on the bottom.

Front compartment of the carrier.  Very convenient for storing harness and treats. 

Muffin: How do I look in my stylish carrier?

Would you ever take your pet in these purse-like carrier?  I think it's actually quite good if your pet is travelling with you.  It prevents owners from leaving their pets in the car during sunny hot days.

Another SkinRx.com giveaway from a watercolour sky

Win a $75 SkincareRx.com giftcard from a watercolour sky. This giveaway is being sponsored by SkincareRx.com.  Skincare Rx specializes in various skincare and beauty products including the renowned sunscreen line La Roche Posay Anthelios.  This site also carries tons of well known brands like Clarisonic, DuWop, Stila and Too Faced.  I like how there are tons of makeup and skincare lines available on this site. 

You don't want to miss out on this $75 Skincare Rx gift card giveaway!  This gift certificate will be valid at SkinCareRx.com, Apothica.com, and SkinBotanica.com.  Just go to a watercolor sky's blog and enter this cool contest!

Opens internationally.  Contest ends on July 14, 2010. 

Review: Burt's Bees Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey body lotion

According to Burt's Bees....

This naturally mourishing lightweight lotion feeds your skin with milk to soften, and honey, a natural humectant, to deeply moisturize.  It's enriched with vitamin E to soothe and emollient coconut oil and beeswax to retain skin's moisture.  Long-lasting, nourishing moisture for naturally soft, smooth, and healthy skin.  It is 98.3% Natural and paraben free. 

Ingredients: water, sunflower seed oil, glycerin, coconut oil, stearic acid, beeswax, fragrance, non-fat dry milk, honey, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, sweet orange peel wax, rosemary leaf extract, tocopherol, beta-carotene, xanthan gum, sucrose stearate, glucose, sodium borate, soybean oil, canola oil, vegetable oil, lactoperoxidase, glucose oxidase, benzyl benzoate, limonene, linalool, coumarin, butylphenyl methylpropiona. 

What I found...

The product I reviewed is actually the sample version found in their travel pack.  

To be honest, I was disgusted by the smell of this lotion.  The color of this lotion is a light beige color, which reminds me of foundation or tinted moisturizer.  However, the color disappeared once it was rubbed onto the skins. 
 
Pros

• Moisturizing effect is not bad. 
• Absorption is fast.

Cons

• Weird fragrance smell is way too strong for me.  It smells a bit like coconut mixed with some chemicals.  Actually I HATE IT~
• Watery when you first applied for about 20-30 second.  The lotion then gets abosrbed, leaving a slight oily feeling.
• Doesn't give your skin a smooth feeling.  I'm sorry, but when I touched my hands, there is a strong resistent feeling that prevents my hand from gliding across.  About 2 hours after the application, the resistent feeling was gone and my hands DID become soft and smooth to the touch.
• A bit pricey.  Full size Cdn $15 for 8oz (236mL).

Score: 2 out of 5

Overall: To me, the smell of this lotion outweighs any benefit it offers.  I tried using this lotion a few times but still can't bring myself to like it.  I wouldn't buy this again nor recommend people to buy the full size product without testing this first.  Sorry Burt's Bees, this lotion is just not for me.

Blogger Giveaway: My Makeup Blog's Second Birthday

One of the first few makeup blogs that I started stalking is My Makeup Blog.  It just turned 2 years old last week and Dao is having a giveaway to celebrate it. She has 3 amazing prize packages of beauty products to give away to her readers. 

It's opened to all interational readers. You just have to either be a followr or email subscriber! Ends 12pm EST or GMT +5, July 25th, 2010.

Happy anniversary, Dao! 

Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Nail Polish

Occassionally, I would apply some funky nail color to spice up my day.  Below is the new nail polish me and my sister got yesterday.  It's a bright green color from Sally Hansen's Insta-Dri line.   It goes on smoothly and slightly thick, giving a nice opaque coating....when I appled using my right hand.  However, it did dry a tiny bit too fast for my left hand application.  But overall, both hands turned out well.  I think the color went on a little darker. I'm pretty pleased/fansinated with the drying time though. 

with flash...

without flash...