CHANEL Shine Lipstick... BOY!

See? I told you more CHANEL products will be on my blog haha. I know you're probably thinking it's just too pricey and that I'm crazy for getting hooked on this high high end brand. Well... please don't doubt me just yet. CHANEL's products really justify their price because of the quality. I know you can always find dupes for colors and quality for mascaras, eyeshadows, etc. but with CHANEL's products you can't simply find dupes. I think people that have gone through all brands high and low will understand the happiness of finally finding something you don't have to continue searching for. Even though I love my mascara, brushes, powders, and blushes I am always in the hunt for better products.


CHANEL have slapped a "STOP" sign on my forehead. I've tried their lipsticks, glosses, powders, foundation, etc. and they all are top on my holy grail list. I think you'll just have to try it for yourself. Why not spend more on one really really good product that is non replaceable instead of buying so much different brands of one product. You'll be saving money in the long run especially the quality will pay off.

Ok now that I have justify my obsession for CHANEL haha... let's go on with CHANEL's new lipstick formula SHINE. SHINE will be release in April of 2011, but the color BOY was released for a weekend up until Valentines Day. It's just a tease for us and to make people like me curious. Well, curious enough to buy it because it is NEW and limited until April.

Right: Heavily swatched Left: One swipe

As you can tell, I've used quite a bit... hopefully it will last me until April ;)

The color is very sheer pink with shimmer. The undertone is warmer and not pasty. I usually do not like shimmer, but CHANEL's way of incorporating the finely milled shimmer makes it very forgiving on the lips in all condition. The shimmer actually makes the lips look more plump as well as shiny (hint the formula's name). The texture is extremely moisturizing and not so creamy. Lighter than a lipgloss, I must add.  It's sheer but gives enough moisture with one sweep across the lips. I actually use it as my tinted lip conditioner. I can now leave my Chapstick/lip balm at home. My favorite part about this lipstick is that it is fool proof for application. I can reach into my purse get it out and apply without a mirror or standing still.



There is a CHANEL rose scent to the lipstick and I think it's lovely. I'd pick rose over vanilla smell like MAC's lipsticks any day! Wish the lipstick came in a bigger tube but the .2 oz difference compare to the regular CHANEL lipstick isn't that big of a difference. The price is the same for SHINE and other CHANEL lipsticks such as Rouge Coco and Rouge Allure. I just feel this way because the moisturizing texture this lipstick gives make you apply more and waste more product.

Taken with direct sunlight for true texture and shimmers

 Taken in shadows to see color in no direct sunlight

This is the color indoors. 

Seems to be more darker and this is how it will look on your lips.

If you've missed this, I'm sorry. But my teaser should make you more excited for April. I will try my best to swatch as many as I can when the complete SHINE line comes out.

If you've tried this formula tell me how you like it or dislike it.

Have a great weekend!!

CHANEL Black Pearl... my precious!

I have found a new respect for CHANEL in all aspects. You will be able to see it later on in my blog and videos, but for starters let me just say OH MY to their polish quality. I am a licensed manicurist and have been working for about 7 years now. I love high quality polishes and some of my favorites are OPI, Essie, China Glaze, ORLY, and now on the top of my list is CHANEL.

    I actually got this polish for Valentines Day from my love and he knew I would never spend that much on nail polish because one, I get it for cheaper with my license, and two, I have too much beauty junk to add on a high maintenance "necessity".

   Black Pearl is from the new 2011 Spring Collection from CHANEL. I know you're probably thinking this color is too dark for Spring because when Spring comes to mind we think of lavender, pink, coral, yellow, and other pastels. But I cannot argue with Chanel. This color is daring yet classy. We have to trust CHANEL because they did bring Black as Chic (Black Satin) and Taupe as Fresh (Particuliere). This just works! It ties in with their Spring Collection so well! The color isn't that dark on your fingers due to the pearl effect and I must add, it is just like the name... it's a BLACK PEARL...well 10 pearls on your hands. I usually do not like frosty colors and lean more towards the cream finishes, but this color is just unexplainable. The pearl effect is demonstrated through strands of green sparkle and silver twinkles hehe. In some light it is blue, others it is green and far away it looks like a dark steel color. I think it will be great on any skin tone.

   As you can see the "Black" in the color is slightly in the background of the polish and enhances the pearl blue/green, which does not make the color dark. Just like a black base is applied under eyeshadows to make the color more amplified as well as give it dimension.  I tried my best to take as many pictures in different lighting and positions possible so that you can see the many dimension of the color.

With complete and direct sunlight the color cannot be describe as black. 

The pearl is very visible and not at all "silver".

This is indoors with natural light hitting some areas. 

This shows the true color you will see through out the day.

 Also, you can really see the strands of shimmer.

I hope I did and didn't convert you to become a CHANEL lover hehe. 

Jennifer

Gaga for New Gaga's MAC Viva Glam VII ?

One of my favorite thing about MAC is their Viva Glam idea. My next favorite would be the "Back to MAC" of course ;D. Viva Glam lipsticks and glosses are for a good cause. The full price of 14.50 USD is all donated. MAC does not profit at all. M·A·C will donate every cent of the selling price of Viva Glam Lipstick and Lipglass to the M·A·C AIDS Fund to support men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS. This way you can beautify yourself as well as donate to a good cause. Actually because of the purpose of this line, I make more uneccessary purchases because I can justify my expenses!

After falling in love with Cyndi's Viva Glam lipstick, which was launched the same time as the GAGA lipstick, I couldn't help but be excited when the news of a new GAGA lipstick was leaked. I personally did not like the GAGA lipstick, but on others I loved it! I'm not into pastey colors because I am on the tanner side and do have pigmented lips.

 Shortly after the lipsticks was goo goo gaa gaa by almost everyone, MAC launched the lipglosses and again I was very skeptical because I felt like it wasn't my cup of tea. I'm not really into glosses at the time, but Karla Sugar had a LIP OF THE DAY and surprisingly it was gorgeous. I converted and bought two! haha See what blogs can do to you AND me?


  Ok so here for the new GAGA Viva Glam VII... Gloss and lipstick is both released at the same time. Tomorrow the new GAGA will be in MAC stores and counters, but online Nordstrom already have it up.

 The color is too beige and creamy. I think it is going to be like the original GAGA Viva Glam just not pink. The finish is amplified, so I think it will cover pigmented lips well. The only other way I think this color would look good is if you use it to mute your lips and apply a color you wish shows up on your lips like it does in the package. BUT I hope I'll like it... because it is for a GOOD CAUSE ;D


IF you decide to get it or happen to stop by the counters and try it out, please let me know how you like it! I won't be rushing out to have a look, but I will come back with my input after my weekly run to Nordstrom.


Have a great day!

First Impression: POND'S FLAWLESS WHITE

I know it's late and it really isn't my style to write up a review while trying to keep my eyes open, but I am so excited for my new POND'S FLAWLESS WHITE that I had to just write a little about it. It just came in the mail today from YesStyle. 

    What is POND'S FLAWLESS WHITE? It's a product line that is not available in the USA due to customer demands, I believe. It's a custom/tradition that many asian woman love and believe white or lighter skin is beautiful. Kind of the opposite here because people pay tanning salons just to get darker. I think it started with the belief that if you are darker (in Asia), then you are a lower class person or at least from a chain of lower class relatives. Because the darker you are the more time you spend outside, and among the many reason of being outside a lot is working out on the fields. Unlike here in the USA, a good tan means you have time to actually go on a vacation and enjoy some sunlight. 

    POND'S FLAWLESS WHITE is actually mostly compared to Shishedo's WHITE LUCENT. I cannot say how the Shishedo one is because I have not tried it, but my friend Ha has and said it took forever for her to see results and that it cost too much for her to keep up with so she gave up after one buy. Therefore, I cannot say if you were to continue to use it that it could give permanent result ( I doubt it), but it hard to spit up hundreds to have even skin tone. Oh! That leads me to the question you're probably asking and thinking of... why would we ( those who do not live in ASIA or want to be "white") want this product? 

    I personally decided to buy this because I have easily scar acnes or in other words my acnes leaves dark spots after it has attacked my face. I'm not dark so it doesn't blend in and I'm not fortunate to not be light enough for it to turn into red/pink scars. I've been using Lancome's Genifique Youth Concentrate for about 3 months now and love that it has even out my skin tone and even out my texture, but I don't think it has properties to fade scars and even out my slightly darker forehead and chin to the rest of my face. On top of that I have freckles and even though I have discover SPF 55++ it can only protect me from now on and cannot reverse the damage the sun has done. 

   I purchased POND'S FLAWLESS WHITE deep cleanser and nightcream. The reason why I did not purchase anything else from the line is because the other products are used daily through out the day. Products like these that acts like a bleach to the skin is extremely sensitive to the sun. I do not want to risk the chance of thinning my skin or create skin damage during the day. My scars have been barable for this long already so the speed isn't my concern. I'm only going to use the cleanser at night and then use the nightcream under my moisturizer. 

FIRST IMPRESSION:
- CLEANSER

     The smell is extremely nice and I know a lot of people prefer no fragrance in their skincare because it makes them believe that the product is purely medicinal and miracle work, but honestly I cannot put anything on my face ( because it is near my nose of course) that stinks. This pleasant smell of roses and other flowers make it more fun to put on as well as makes me feel "pretty" if that makes sense. There are little finely milled pink sand like particles in the cleanser that dissolves once you lather it onto the face. A little goes a long way and the texture is very creamy. The "foam" that is mentioned on the package is more like a soap with little water type of foam and not a foam from a foam nozzle. After rinsing the product off, my face feels squeaky clean... and by that I mean it actually made squeaky noises. I don't think that is a bad or good thing because that might mean there is a high amount of pH causing the product to be basic. The more basic a product is the more "soapy" the product's substances resembles. 

- NIGHTCREAM

The smell again is extremely nice and I just can't get enough of it. Very clean, classy, and not delicious but more like a bouquet of flowers. Even though you cannot see the shimmer in the pot it is very visible on the face... and let just me add THANK GOODNESS it is a nightcream. I hope this shimmer comes off once I wash my face tomorrow morning. I do not want to go out looking like a disco ball. The texture is creamy, but after it is spread, it becomes more like a very velvety powder. The feeling is luxurious and kind of mattifying. I think maybe if it is similar to the regular daily lotion/cream, then it might help those with oily skin. If it was daytime I would have to say this is enough moisture, but for nighttime I prefer to lather on a lot a lot of moisturizer, so I did put my POND's Dry Cream on afterward. 

Why I wasn't afraid to use this product?
- I have been in love with many of POND'S products such as Dry Cream, Cooling Cream, and Makeup Remover.
Try it out once you get a chance because these are available at your nearest drugstore such as Wal-Mart.

That was my first impression and if you're curious for more please stay tune and I will do a complete review with before and after pictures of the results in about two weeks.

GOODNIGHT Beauties!

Jen ;D

In LUCK! Bargain Shopping with Jen

Hellos!

I uploaded two videos today... my first official segment Bargain Shopping with Jennifer AND the requested Wonder Woman Haul. So, if you didn't want to read about it on my last post... you can simply be entertained by the video.

   Bargain Shopping with Jen is an idea I had after getting a lot of interest from my GoodWill Haul. People were asking me what other places do I go to and how did they not know of these places. Well I guess it's just that I've been doing this my whole life! SHOPPING, but once I started to pay for expenses on my own (detached from the HUMAN ATM... aka my parents) I had to be smarter on what I am spending on. It started after I discovered ROSS! Always heard from people that only "poor" people or those who cannot afford department store shops at ROSS. WRONG!!! Ross is actually for people who are smart enough to know about stores like these and not depend on department stores to reassure them of their fashion taste. Just because the mannequin wears it doesn't mean it's stylish or fashion forward. Style is used to describe or characterize who you are. Are you a mannequin? BTW, the mannequin did not have a choice I the clothes it is wearing... YOU DO! I know so many people who don't show at other stores other than stores that are inside malls. Don't get me wrong, I do believe in "you get what you pay for", but if you CAN get it for cheaper why not? I feel like if I pay for something FULL price then I'm just dumb. Some slip ups that are worth it is ok, such as high quality purses lol.

  Stores like TJMAXX and Marshalls have great stuff because it's a "Hand- me- down" store, meaning what every that has to go or overstocked from department stores gets hand down to these discounted stores. Just keep in mind of the brands that you like and I KNOW you can find it there. Also, you just have to trust your style and taste as well as know how to mix match between low end and high end. Make it your own.

In the video, I mentioned Buffalo Exchange, which is a thrift store that is based on a trading system. Meaning... you can bring in your things that you no longer want or need and they will give you either credit to the store or cash. You can also shop there for other peoples' clothes. Don't think this is gross because you'll actually find vintage things and classics. "One's trash can be another's treasure". Clothes and accessories are pieces of art that need to be recycled. You can just throw away art! To make it more simple think of Buffalo Exchange like a Half Price Books store.

   I hope I've help you with your findings and good luck! Remember to stay tune for more Bargain Shopping with JENNIFER

Love Jen

Only Wonder Woman Can!

Hello!

I feel so bad for not being able to update my blog, but honestly I haven't bought anything that I could swatch. Like you've seen on my channel my hauls are mostly foundations, concealers, powders, etc. It's kind of hard to swatch those and to be really blunt, "I'm LAZY." But only Wonder Woman can make me get off my booty and start my blog again.

I've been cheating a  lot by subscribing to as many blogs out there as I could because reading them was so much better than writing on my own haha. It's just because I find other people's blogs such as; KarlaSugar, Temptalia, Of Face and Fingers, Look Book, Beauty Anonymous, etc. to have so many helpful and interesting things to read on. But I never thought MY stuff could be interesting to someone else. Sorry for doubting myself ! I was just having one of those moments. I will now try my hardest to continue with this blog and try to help out my channel viewers as well as those who cannot watch YouTube due to work, school, or possibly stay at home moms who's only free moments are when the children are asleep and cannot listen to youtubers. Here's a blog to keep you entertain.

Enough of my excuses and my rambling of how I decided to be motived and persistant. Let's get it started with MAC's new line WONDER WOMAN! I actually found out that MAC was going to have a Wonder Woman Collection the day I got the honor to guest swatch with KarlaSugar.net ( Click here to see our swatches: MAC Peacocky w/ Karla Sugar) " MY ARM GOT FAMOUS". haha. Well anyways, we saw promotion boards and decorations for the collection in a box on the ground. Ok, we were not that desperate to actually open the box, it was already open so we peeked! So excited we couldn't waited for the preview date.

The preview date came around and for once in a LONG time it snowed/iced here where I live and the day was canceled. Then after postponing the day, MAC surprised everyone and launched the collection ONLINE super weird time! Like 7pm Central time or something like that. So Karla and I decided to call a rain check and I just ordered what we wanted online, which I would get the products faster than going to the preview and purchasing it through the pre-sale.

OK! SO what did I get?? I got the three most NORMAL out of the collection... what does that mean exactly? I purchased what I thought would be the first items to be sold out as well as the ones I think would be most flattering on ANY skin tone. Keep in mind before you see the prices and freak out, most product in the line is SUPER-SIZED! I guess Wonder Woman needs wonderfully large amount of products to last her while saving the day. SWATCHES are at the end!

I got Pink Power a mineralized- skinfinish. It's super huge... we will be able to see a picture of the comparison to a regular skinfinish down below. The difference is that the WW is 20 g/ .7 oz ( $35) and the regular SF is usually 10g/ .35oz ($28). So you're probably thinking... WOW! That is twice the product for just 7 dollars more! Yea... but also no because when you purchase a SF you're using it as one product. The Pink Power from WW is actually a trio... I've tried it as a blend and it just looks funny. There are three colors... A pink sheer frost that can act as a blush on fair to medium skin or a highlighter for darker skin. Then there is a larger portion of bronzer which would show up all the way up to NC42-5. And lastly, there is a portion the same size as the pink and it is a vanilla ( reminds of NYLON eyeshadow from MAC) sheer highlighter.

The regular size clearly is smaller than WW's SF in Pink Power

Is a must have? No... unless you are a bronzer, highlighter junkie and want to collect them all. Also, I think it will be an inconvenience later because you might use one of the section more and then later the level of the product will interfere with your application. How weird would it be if you were to have brownish highlighter?? The size and amount of product is a plus, but in the long run maybe a pass. I think if you love Wonder Woman or the packaging AND you love a versatile product then GO FOR IT! Another point I would like to make is that could enable you to buy or not would be the fact that since the packaging is so HUGE, why did MAC not put a mirror in it? This is a good product to bring along since it's essential for touch ups and the fact that it is as big as your face... why not put a mirror for better usage?

Taken with flash for a true color capture!

Not a bronzer highlighter kind of person? I got the BLUSH also ! (Ah... I thought I had enough after my R&R haul, but NOPE) I got the Mighty Aphrodite (Satin/Frost) Powder Blush. Again, instead of getting the regular Powder Blush for $19.50 (6g/ .21oz) you'll be spending $24.00 (11g/.38oz), which is almost double the product. Like the MSF there are sections and for the blush the frost section is larger with a peachy light pink with fine gold shimmer. The smaller section is a warm rosey color. When used together it creates a perfect pinch on the cheek color. It goes on like coral yet pink on me. I love the color because it gives your face a tan glow and warmth. AH like SUNKISSED! The shimmer is very forgiving because it only shows in the sunlight as glisten. I am in love with this blush. At first I was like, eh not that special, BUT on... that's another story. You'll have to try it out yourself to trust my words. 

Taken without flash 

Comparing the size! Man love it when the product is a YES AND the quanity DOUBLES!

    Here's the packaging for the last product I bought from MAC's WW Collection. LIPSTICK! 

 This is the sleeve for the box and the box is red.

Inside is the famous Wonder Woman STARS.

  I purchased the WW Lipstick in Marquise D' (Lustre) for $15.50. Why the extra $1.50?? Nope, you do not get more product... I guess it's for the different packaging. 

 My BF said it reminds him of a bullet... I never would have thought of that, but I guess it's appropriate.

   The color is a sheer warm pink ( not so much a baby pink but has a little mauve). There is a warm shimmer to the color but does not show up on the lips. I have pigmented lips and it shows up a little lighter than HUG ME ( by MAC also a lustre finish). It is a natural/neutral color, great paired with a smoke eye, but unfortunately I feel like the color doesn't stay on well. If you were to blot your lips or accidentally touch it then the color is completely off in that area and you have a space on your lip without color. I guess this would be good for those who want a "nude" lipcolor that is warm and has a mauve/pink tone to it so that they do not look like a white corpse. I would only purchase this if I felt like the packaging is cute and I wanted a neutral color. The others from this collection is kind of loud for me. 

Non-direct Sunlight BUT true to color.

Mighty Aphodrite Powder Blush, Marquise D' (Lipstick), Pink Power MSF

 Direct Sunlight to Ensure True Shimmers/ Texture

Taken in shadow for true indoor colors ( intensely swatched)

Well, aren't you glad I didn't buy ALL the products from this collection? This post would go on til tomorrow! I hope that my swatches and review on the products that I purchased from the MAC Wonder Woman Collection was helpful for you to make your decision or save you a trip to the counters.

If you have any questions please feel free to email me or TWEET me EmJustLikeYou.

Til we meet next time, take care and stay beautiful!

Jen :D

Blog Special: Lancôme Beauty Set Review

Ok, so I didn't do a video on the Lancome Beauty Box for the reason being I did not have the box in my posession. I was very excited for Lancome's holiday gift sets and especially for the Beauty Box. The difference between their regular gift sets and the Beauty Box is that you actually have to purchase the box, but for a cheaper price. For any purchases at all, it doesn't matter the price, you can purchase the Beauty Box for $49.50.

Why pay for a gift set? Well, every product is actually full size. I believe Lancome calls it deluxe. It is a good deal if you think about it... one Color Design Eyeshadow Quad is already $40 or more and then you're getting the Bi-Facil (my fav) makeup remover, 3 lipstick, Kohl eyeliner, 2 brushes, 2 juicy tubes, and a blush duo. The only down side to that is if you do not like anything in the box except for one item. That is actually my own experience. I only liked the bag itself and the Bi-Facil. Overall, I would have to say that it isn't a good deal if you are forcing yourself to buy it just because of the retail price on the package or the fact that it's a bigger set then a usual Lancome gift set. :) You get to pick from two collection, Glamour or Party Pink. Glamour is a neutral ( how ironic) that consist of warm browns, coral, etc. Of course I stayed on the safer side and got the Glamour collection.

Lipstick... well you get three. All are full size but the packaging of them are still tester style. If you like sheen lipsticks then they are great! I do not like sheen because it is a colorless frost on my lips. Especially with my crevices it only enhances it. The only color I like is... Sugar Maple because the darkness of the color blends away the sheen look. I would have to say PASS!

Eyeshadow Quad... Seems like the perfect neutrals. Has dark matte brown, pink-goal, matte vanilla, and a matte white. I used the eyeshadow with Lancome's Primer Ombre Perfecteur and the colors did not show up very well. It kind of reminds me of L'Oreal's quality and it doesn't surprise me because they are from the same company. I have never had really good pigmentation from Lancome's eyeshadows and with this quad it was to the extreme. It was my experience but maybe if you used it with Urban Decay's Primer Potion it would be better. Overall I did not like it.

The two brushes are a face brush and the other is a eyeshadow brush. Both are died red for a holiday look and I absolutely love the idea. Unfortunately they shed and the quality was bad. No product could be picked up by the brushes sufficiently. The brushes were not dense enough. Lancome really disappointed me this time. Usually their brushes and gifts are great.

The blush duo that came with the Glamour collection was coral and very gold shimmery. I will have to say there was more gold. The blush seemed more like a highlighter and the cream highlighter was much darker then the blush. VERY ODD! I wanted to like it because I love blush but the pigmentation as well as mill was poor.

The bag itself was ok... I have seen better quality from Lancome the previous years. This one is cute base on the contrast of the red lining and the black, but it is fabric and it will get dirty with makeup as well as not last long. Inside there are not many compartments. There are only 2 and that is simply not enough!

The only thing I liked from my Beauty Box was the Kohl liner and the Bi-Facil eye makeup remover. I have always used these two products from Lancome and the quality was the same in the box.

Overall I will have to say the quality seemed to be different and was not worth it. I rather pick and chose the right colors and items for myself from Lancome instead of following the high of gift sets. The reason why I do not have the box anymore is because I had to return it. I felt guilty for having makeup I did not like. I have a large enough collection and do not need to add more of products I do not truly love.

I hope that your experience with this year's Beauty Box is better and this is strictly my own opinion. But I also hope that my review helped you make your decision on purchasing it for as a gift.

And til next time!
Jen