Awhile back I entered an online contest and I won this super cute wristlet from AbbaDabbaBags. Loves, loves, loves!! This is just my style and I'm already using it for a makeup bag.
Winning this wristlet has been a spot of good news in my otherwise drab life. Grad school continues to suck my soul from my very being and I haven't time to do anything other than thesis work. To cheer myself up, in the wee hours of the morn, I've been watching Doctor Who episodes online. I strongly urge all of you to watch Season 3, Episode 10 "Blink" - it's pretty easy to find online and you can also downlod it from itunes if you want to watch it on your iPod.
Lastly, have you all heard about www.mediaconverter.org? Basically, it lets you download and reformat anything you can find on the web. For instance, if you need to make a word doc into a pdf, this is perfect Or...say...you find a video of an awesome song on youtube, this not only formats it into a video for your iPod, but ALSO allows you to save just the sound as an mp3! I love it.
Wow - well, it really is becoming the most wonderful time of the year. Origins is having their Friends and Family Sale now through next Wednesday. Using this code FFNOV will get you 25% off (I know right!) your total purchase.
If you're wondering about what to get - Origins has fantastic skin care, my favorite being the clay mask. They also have the most amazing cheek stains (see my review here ) so yeah, get to shopping and stimulate our economy!
Bath and Body Works Friends and Family Sale Topic: Bath and Body Works Valid thru Nov 16th. Online ONLY.
Enter promo code: 20FRIENDS at checkout.
"Exclusively Online - Friends & Family: 20% off your purchase. No substitutions. Exclusions and/or purchase limitations may apply. Offer may not be combined with any other offers, coupons or discounts. Offer not redeemable for cash, gift certificates, gift cards, Egift cards or sale merchandise, nor is it valid toward previous purchases. Gift cards, Egift cards, gift certificates, gift wrap services and taxes are not applicable toward minimum purchase requirement." (bathandbodyworks.com)
A Makeup Reality TV Show Premiers Tonight!!
I am going to forgive the fact that it's sponsored by Max Factor and ready myself for an awesome tv show! I'm just happy that it's starting today since my latest love, True Blood, is nearing it's season's end.
This has been a remarkable week for me. In addition to participating in what some have called the election of the century, I'm being considered for a teaching position at a local junior college. For those who didn't follow my early youtube days, besides makeup, I love history and anthropology - I just live for it. A long while back I applied for a teaching position, but just recently heard from the dean about an opening. While I'm not quite sure what the end result will be, I will say that I enjoyed the interview and it lit the flame within me to push on towards my goal. My PhD is still many miles away yet, but now more than ever I know that I will get it (but first, I have to knock out this Masters by the Spring!)
And so, while I intended to keep this blog purely about makeup, this week has been something otherworldly for my country and for me personally. Tomorrow I'll continue on with the reviews, but today, I just wanted to share.
Well...actually I do have a quick makeup update: The Sephora Friend's and Family sale has started. Scroll down for the checkout code.
It's no secret that I hate potted lip products and only buy them if I expect spectacular results. I find no joy in digging my groddy hands into a pot after I've been shaking hands, climbing stairs and typing all day. And because I am a complete germaphobe I only use potted lippies when I'm at home and again just before I go to bed. Recently, however, I found one that I'd be willing to take outside the house:
Archipelago's Grapefruit Lip Butter is amazingly smooth on the lips and is what a clear, moisturizing lip product should be. Retailing at $14, the product is absolutely worth several times that. The first four ingredients are Macadamia Nut Oil, Beeswax, Grapeseed Oil and Grapefruit Oil - natural and all awesome. I highly recommend this and suggest that you also be on the lookout for their tubed Grapfruit Lip Gloss - it has more of a traditional gloss texture with the same divine smell.
Reader Request for MSFs and a Note to Australian Readers Topic: Mac
Reader Request: Comparison of Light Flush and Petticoat
Although they appear similar in the pan, Light Flush actually looks like your face has a light flush. Applying both lightly, using just my fingers Petticoat makes me look like a lady going out for a nice dinner wearing a nice blush. Light Flush on the other hand just looks like a natural flush - something you'd get from having a long laugh or a good bout of exercise. In summation, Light Flush is something you wear everday, Petticoat for special events. Here's a comparison photo, let me know if you need others swatched:
For my Australian readers and youtube subscribers, Nads is offering free hair removal pads on their website. Here's the link: http://www.nads.com.au/trynads
Starting today, Belk stores are hosting a Clinique Lip Craving Event. If you go in for a free consultation you will receive 3 FREE LIPSTICKS and a FREE two week supply of Take the Take Off Makeup Remover (for lids, lashes and lips)!
The three lipsticks are: Rasperry Glace, Sugared Maple and Pink Chocolate.
The event lasts only as long as your store has the minisets in stock, so call before going out.
Billed as tinted lip balms, Stila lip pots continue to be a source of disappointment for me. I find this product to be extremely drying, the complete opposite of what a balm is meant to do. As for the color, what is lovely in the pot, is not nearly as lovely on the face. I do expect to see some color from tinted lip balms, but even after several applications of fraise, I look more oily than rosy. On the plus side, the container is lovely (the reason I got it actually) and the product does not have an overwhelming scent.
Stila is in the very poor business of discrediting their own line in terms of product (talking palettes?!?!) and discounters. While you could pay $17 for this at Stila.com, you could also pay $15 for FIVE pots at Stila endorsed reseller beautycrunch.com. Even more silly? Stila allows their items to be resold at another major discounter, TJMaxx/Marshalls where you can pick up individual pots there for $3 - which is still too much for this item in my opinion.
Right now the only thing I do know is that I love the pot and I'm quite torn between using it up (which out to be pretty quick since I have to reapply it every 35 seconds) or just digging it out and saving myself from a bit of misery.
Yes, Sunday is usually my day off from blogging, but I wanted to explain my absence yesterday. I left the house first thing in the morning, before the sun was up, to go volunteer for my presidential candidate and I spent most of the day preparing, attending and helping manage a presidential rally. I must say that I had a blast and it was wonderful to see so many people showing love for who and what they believe in. A couple of tips:
What to wear for a political rally - If you're working, dress in either blue or red (depending on your candidate) or business attire and a comfortable skirt or pant. If you're attending only to show your support, wear something with the candidate's name, cause, logo or image. In either case, make sure you have pockets so you're not burdened down with a purse. You'll need a gloss, a couple of blot sheets, identification and some cash for the MANY vendors out.
Political makeup: Use the KISS method when attending political functions: Keep It Simple Stupid. This is not the time to go over the top. You'll stand out and instead of being cutting edge, you'll come off as a nutjob when the cameras pan over the crowd. Besides, you never know, you may be pulled out for an interview or photo op!
Yesterday I wore my Lancome Color Focus Quad in a look I did back on my September 6th post. Click the picture to see the full post.
I also wore Hard Candy's Girlie Blush and Laura Mercier's Ambre Rose to complete the look.
Now do your part! If you don't know who to vote for, check out the candidates' websites for more info. If you do know, go volunteer at the local office.
This morning, Sephora emailed out a bunch of codes for discounts and $$ off so be sure to check whichever email you used when you signed up.
Also, a quick note that the Prescriptives Friends and Family sale (25% off) will be over today. The code is on their website and they also offer free shipping.
Review: Besame Eyeshadow in Alluring Brown Topic: Besame
Besame is one of those old school makeup companies that produces a solid product year after year. A bit expensive, Besame eyeshadows normally run $20-22 but are well worth the price. The eyeshadows are very highly pigmented, so one light dip of your brush is all you need to provide a full eye of color. There's no need to pile it on and you really don't need a base to get the full effect.
Alluring Brown, in particular, is a color that has worked for every skin tone I've tried it on. It's a sparkling sepia that brings color to the eyes but is also very natural. The shimmer in this product is an industry oddity - it rests on the lid without seeping into any fine lines on the lids.
A final note, the compact you see is actually the standard Besame pillbox used for their eyeshadows and blushes. When the product is finally used it (nearly impossible because a little goes a loooong way) you simply pop out the pan and you're left with a beautiful gold and red Art Deco/1920s style box to carry pills or breath refreshers in!
Besame products can be found in certain California boutiques and online at www.besamecosmetics.com
Valid thru Nov 16th. Online ONLY. 
me. I find this product to be extremely drying, the complete opposite of what a balm is meant to do. As for the color, what is lovely in the pot, is not nearly as lovely on the face. I do expect to see some color from tinted lip balms, but even after several applications of fraise, I look more oily than rosy. On the plus side, the container is lovely (the reason I got it actually) and the product does not have an overwhelming scent. 
hadows normally run $20-22 but are well worth the price. The eyeshadows are very highly pigmented, so one light dip of your brush is all you need to provide a full eye of color. There's no need to pile it on and you really don't need a base to get the full effect. 