Makeup 101 – Sephora’s Classic Blockbuster

The goodness that is Sephora’s, Classic Blockbuster, is a hit in my book. One of the best makeup purchase I’ve made in a long while. A Definite must have for those who are beginning to experiment with eyeshadows, and a great must have for any makeup lover. It has the popular coloures that allow you to have endless combinations of looks. It also has lip coloures, a variety of shades for blush, and etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

What it is:
The original Blockbuster is back! A triple-tiered palette for eyes, face, and lips, plus all the tools you need to put together endless looks.

What else you need to know:
Who says you can’t have it all? This sleek, mirrored, palette is loaded with 64 eyeshadows, 32 lip colors, seven cheek colors, one translucent shimmer powder, four double-ended shadow applicators, two blush brushes, and two lip brushes.

It’s pretty cheap for what you can get out of it. It’s even cheaper than drug store makeup. A Quad of eyeshadow in the drug store could be in the $9 – $15 range… and that’s only for 4 coloures. The Classic Blockbuster only sells at $48 and it has a lot to offer (read the red lines above) . The quality is superb… it’s Sephora!

So before you start getting on the makeup vibe and order a butt load of expensive stuff from MAC Cosmetics, check out this Classic Blockbuster first. It’s a definite must have for makeup lovers. Hurry, it’s here only for a limited time.

I am officially a Sephora Addict. LOVE IT!

Hello Spring Season!!!

What an unbelievable day! Sorry I haven’t blogged in a while, I’ve been out enjoying the weather and I’ve also been busy at work and etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.

Nonetheless, today is the FIRST DAY OF SPRING! It’s time to sing Glory, Glory, Hallelujah and update our lives with new pheremones!

That’s right, love is in the air and you better smell damn good! It’s time to toss out your last two years supply of Victoria Secret’s, Love Spell and move up that ladder of fragrance.

My Top Three purfumes I’ve come across this season that I absolutely endlessly love:

       

From left to right:
Carrolina Herrera - 212 Splash
Salvatore Ferragamo – Incanto Heaven
Calvin Klein – CK One Summer 2007

Even if you don’t like my top three, it’s about time to go out there and update your fragrance library! It’s Spring ladies and gentlemen… it’s time for new beginnings!

* Purfume/Cologne too expensive? EBAY IT!!! www.ebay.com – way cheaper *

Lust vs. Must – Valentino Handbag

Seldom do I find myself head over heels in love with Angelina Jolie’s fashion (although she’s awesome). But the white bag that is Valentino she was sporting last year is… Love at First Sight. The retail price for the genuine Valentino Histoire bag is marked in the $1.8k dollars. I found a replica for $269 (pictured below). And even the $269 is still obscene to pay for a replica. But I found a similar bag that has the colouring and the braided goodness. The picture at the right below is marked on sale at metrostyle.com for $25. Now that’s what I call a bargain and it does look expensive.

(Above) Lust – Valentino $1,800

(left) Replica – $270 — (right) MUST – $25

Custom Made Lotions

You can be your own chemist and create a line of lotions especially fashioned for your fabulous self.

I’ve made a couple of lotion with my signature scents – custom scents that you can not buy in the market. I’ve received many compliments. Secret? I custom make some of my lotions. All you need are the following: unscented lotion of your choice, fragrance oil of your choice, and an empty travel bottle (or container).

 

Basically mix the lotion and the oil until you reach your desired strength of scent – mix well – and then put it inside a travel bottle or container. What’s great about this is that you can mix the oils to customize new scents. For example: Rasberry-Vanilla, Mango-Coconut, Apple-Cinnamon, Chocolate-Strawberry, and etc. The combinations are endless.

Places to Purchase Scented Oils:
1. Bath & Body Works
2. The Body Shop
3. Yankee Candle
4. Hallmark

Big Bags

I am an absolute fan of big, fancy, bags. I admire Vanessa Hudgens’s fierce collection of bags. Many of us cant afford such bags in the form of Balenciaga, Miu Miu, Valentino, and etcetera designer sexiness. But it’s not a shame to strut around designer replicas or cheap bags either.

Ebags.com have decent bags at affordable $$$. Below is a bag by Big Buddha and it comes in three coloures: black, gold, and white. It’s comparable to Balenciaga bags that cost over $1k but the one below is in the $80 region. Check out ebags.com for more designs.

Other places to buy inexpensive, good looking bags:

+ TJ Maxx 
+ Marshalls
+ Dillards
+ Target
+ Metrostyle.com
+ Newport-News.com
+ Ebags.com

I’m sure there are more but those are a few that I can think of at this moment. If there’s another place online to buy great bags, please comment and leave me the website! Very much appreciated.

For the LOVE of NINE WEST !

I gotta hand it to Nine West. They have fabulous taste in footwear and I am in LOVE! I own a couple (not picture) and their shoes fit me like Cinderella’s glass slippers. Not only do they have footwear, but Nine West has an apparel line as well and it’s brilliant! I have not found jeans as nice as Nine West’s - and the great thing about it is that it’s affordable – check out the sales.

To take further advantage of the Nine West brand shoes, accessories, apparel, etc bargain, visit your local TJ Maxx, or Marshalls.

Arkhipova Spring Trends

It’s the day to Spring Forward to set the clocks one hour ahead. With this we must also get our closets ready for the Spring Season. Get rid of the clothes that do not fit you and the clothes you haven’t used for 3 months. Send them off to Goodwill and free up your closet for your Spring Wear. Other winter clothes can be stored away.

Fashion Secret 01: Seasonal trends should be bought at a decent price. There’s no need to purchase expensive seasonal trends at big boku bucks $$$.

Tim Gunn’s Top 10 Fashion Essentials are the all-season classic clothes to splurge on:

1. Basic Black Dress
2. Trench Coat
3. Classic Dress Pants
4. Skirt
5. Blazer
6. Classic White Shirt
7. Day Dress
8. Cashmere Sweater
9. Jeans
10. Sweatsuit Alternative
11. Bonus: One Indulgent Trendy Item Under $20

Once you have the Top Ten Fashion Essentials, then your other fashion purchases should be of decent price.

This Spring 2008 – I’m specifically attracted to Green Dresses, or anything green for that matter. But another secret is:

Fashion Secret 02: finding something that absolutely complements you. Whether it would be color, fit, or something that gives you an ego boost. There’s nothing like strutting around and knowing you look and feel fabulous. Confidence speaks louder than words.

Fashion Secret 03: There are some seasonal clothes, accessories, makeup, technology or anything for that matter that I will splurge on. The decision to Splurge on something is based on how many times I will use it per dollar amount. For instance, it’s Love At First Sight with a Coach Bag but it’s too dang expensive. If I definitely must have it, I take the dollar amount and divide it by the approximate number of uses. If it’s less than $5.00 or less than $1.00 per use, then you best believe I’d be taking it home!

Shopaholic Formula:

$ Retail Price / Number of Uses = $ Amount per use

Example: Coach Wallet = $110.00

$110.00 retail price / 365 days in a year = $0.30 per day

// Seriously, how many times does one use their wallet per day? Per use it’s a lot cheaper                

But yes, Spring season is here.

Makeup Reviews

After an extraordinary stressful day at work, I waltz in the local Von Maur for some Retail Therapy and exercise (walking the mall for hours is a form of exercise). Needless to say, I spent more than an hour at the Laura Mercier counter checking out her makeup line. I ended up purchasing LM’s Lip Stain in Sugar Violet and LM’s Oil-Free Foundation Primer. I haven’t found a primer better than hers so I’m sticking with it. Reviews on LM’s Lip Stains. It’s long wear so a few minutes after application it tends to get a little dry (which is normal for long wear makeup), but it goes well with LM’s Lip Plumpers. Her Lip Plumpers are comparable to MAC’s Lip Glass collection. Personally I prefer LM’s Lip Plumpers though they are limited in coloures (my favorite shade is the Persimmon). But LM’s Lip Plumpers smell good, they’re not as thick as MAC’s Lip Glass, and they make your lips feel like a million bucks! They have a slight tingle but not as strong as medicated lip gloss’. Some good news. I have no idea how the heck I missed this but next to the Laura Mercier makeup counter is Chanel Cosmetics!! I have never owned any Chanel makeup so hopefully I’ll dabble into its goodness soon. Another good news, I found a Merle Norman Cosmetics Studio in the area. I strolled in one day and I spent hours browsing. Needless to say… I got another free makeover. The store has great products and free facials. The company believes that one has to see and try on the products before purchasing anything to increase customer satisfaction. So they’re not going to sell online. Oh well. But they’re right. Good thing that the nearest MAC or Shiseido is an hour away otherwise I’d go broke. Another good news… RETAIL THERAPY WORKED FOR ME!!! Stress Free and Loving IT!!! More reviews next time.

March’s Top Ten

It’s time for my March 2008 Top 10 Favorite Products.

	1. Professional Mini Heated Lash Curler People will wonder how you got your eye lashes to curl like no other!! This is a pretty neat gadget specially for those who have lashes that go straight out.
	2. Professional Contour Eyeshadow Brush #28 What’s great about this brush is that you can shadow the outer corner of your eyes by dabbing and contouring. It’s wonderful. It has a flat doe-foot feature that can also be used for stenciling shapes into your face or body. A definite must have! Too bad MAC Cosmetics does not have this type of brush. If anything, MAC PRO probably does.
	3. Laura Mercier’s Secret Concealer I went to get a makeover at the local Laura Mercier counter at the mall. One of the most amazing products from the Laura Mercier’s Secret line is her Secret Concealer. It comes in many shades so be sure to go to the counter, get a makeover or get advice on your shade. This secret concealer is specifically designed to remove the dark under your eyes! It’s simply amazing. Definite MUST HAVE!!
	4. Mini Clear Brush Set If you keep your brushes mixed inside your makeup bag, then this mini-clear-brush-set is another must have. Pursebuzz does a tutorial on Makeup Brush Tip that everyone should and must practice. Don’t let your brushes mix with your makeup compacs and etc. Let’s be more sanitized. (Retractible brushes are also good to own)
	5. ALMAY® Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover Liquid What a great product! You can find this in your local drug store. If you have contac lenses, then this is the eye makeup remover for you. What I love about it is that it’s not oily or greasy. I cant stand that greasy residue from other makeup removers. Even the removers that claim to be “oil-free” still has that oily after effect on your eyes and face. This one does not have any type of oil. It’s wonderful! Almay also has other great removers so check them out.
	6. ALMAY® liquid liner Allergy season is creeping up and for those affected by allergies will benefit from Almay’s no smudging, water resistant, 16-hour liquid liner. This product has a felt tip applicator but I use an angled brush to apply my eyeliner. Simply take your angled brush and dab it into the felt tip to acquire the liquid. This product is also found in local drug stores.
	7. Colorful Story Palette This $80 Value is a limited edition by Sephora and costs $30 for 16 x 0.029 oz. palette colors. The combination of colors are endless and inexpensive (compared to MAC). Seize the day and purchase Sephora’s Colorful Story Palette.
	8. CAMERA/CELL Phone Cases I own a Treo and it’s pretty bulky - other mobiles are bulky as well. I’ve googled my brains out to find a cell phone bag but you can substitue fashionable, hands free camera bags instead! So if you want to go shopping, take the bare minimum – cell phone, your ID (driver’s lisence), lip gloss, and credit card - all inside a cross body – hands free Camera/Cell phone case. Put your keys in your pocket. BRILLIANT!!! I LOVE hands free shopping! Destress your life!
	9. Gorillapod Do you want to take pictures and include yourself, but no one else is around to take the picture for you? The Gorillapod is the absolute answer!! This neat little device attaches to your digital camera and can latch on to different types of surfaces. My brother owns one and it was handy during our vacation to Seattle, Washington. We set this sucker on rocks, wires, garbage, and etc. Very handy and a very innovative invention. It rocks!
	10. Remington Tangle Tamer Makes detangling hair faster and easier. Just comb teeth turn gently to glide easily through wet or dry hair without painful pulling… vibrates. Cordless or cord operated. My mom found this device at the local Gordmans store. She purchased it for my dog who has nappy, hard to comb, hair. It worked its magic so I decided to buy it for myself. It’s made for little girls, but it’s pretty amazing! Detangles my wavy hair amazingly – without pain! Awesome, awesome gadget to have!