ViVi August Summer Edition : NAIL POLISH COLLECTION

I've been reading ViVi magazine for quite a while now and I have to say the magazine is amazing! It's full of colors and very lively! Not to mention, the playful, cute and pretty ViVi models on every ad! The whole magazine is in Japanese, a language that I am not familiar with, but it still doesn't stop me from looking through every single page. And if I need help understanding something, I'll ask my sister. She reads and writes a basic Japanese. ^_~

So I bought this August issue from one of the stores in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles just because the beautiful Namie Amuro is on the cover. I love, love, love her! She looks amazing here.

ViVi August 2011

There are a lot of interesting pictures / articles inside this month's edition. Summer styles, hair, makeup, and nails!! This is my favorite page by the way, and of course I have to share it with you girls! ^_^

PS: This page is not mine. I had to find it online since I haven't hooked up a scanner to my iMAC yet. I need to find a compatible driver. ~_~

Anyways, when I saw this page, I realized that I don't have any Bohemian color at all. I have a lot of pinks, mints and nudes, but nothing in jewel tones or even yellow or green so if you have some suggestions on what to buy please let me know. I am crazy about nail polish lately. 

And since it is a hot, hot summer, I have changed my nail color from mint to nude. I've been wearing mint for quite sometimes now and it's about time to take a break from it. 

 My nude/pastel collection:

Not a lot, and the colors are almost similar so I am thinking of getting new ones especially a nude peachy color.  ^_^  Can't wait to hit the mall!

PS: Did you notice, my emoticons are different than usual? ; )  

Happy Friday everyone!

 

SOLIA FLAT IRON REVIEW. PS: I am loving my hair ;)

Hi Lovelies!

I am sure most of you have read about my shopping haul that I posted last week and how excited I was to get a great flat iron at a discounted price. For those who don't know what I am talking about, you can click HERE. :) 

So, yes, this one is it! I think it is far better than my Original CHI flat iron. Look what it does to my hair? :)

 

Straight, sleek and shiny!!! I love, love, love it! My hair is smooth, silky, shiny and straight to the max! It stays straight up to 3 days! Yes, I have tried it.

So why do I have an obsession with great looking hair that I am almost OCD about it?

Well, I have this love-hate relationship with my original hair...the hair that I was born with. I don't really like wavy/curly hair at all because it tends to get frizzy and messy. I don't mind cute spiral curls or romantic soft waves created with curling irons, but not the kind of curls you see in the picture below. My hair was a bit damp when I took this picture by the way, and seriously, I think the hair looks messy. FYI, all my sisters have great looking thick straight hair. My youngest sister, however, has an obsession with spiral curls that she has to get her hair digitally permed every year. She obviously likes to look like a doll. I don't blame her. It is super cute. Unlike her, I prefer straight hair and I will do whatever it takes to get my hair perfectly straight even if I have to spend tons of money on Japanese Rebonding/Straightening or Brazilian Blowout! Yep, I am obsessed. :) You can tell by reading this one particular post: My Flat Iron Collection.

My Opinion On Solia Flat Iron:

Well, let's see its specification first:

The Solia 1¼" flat iron features the Dynamic Alignment System to ensure perfect contact between your hair and the plates. It supplies even heat distribution for true silky straight hair. Its ceramic/tourmaline ion technology will generate gentle far-infrared heat and extra negative ions to create the perfectly frizz-free hair without heat damage. 

• Variable temperature settings, 170°F-400°F (actually up to 450°F)
• All hair lengths and textures
• 2-year warranty

 I love the ON/OFF switch as well the the variable temperature setting. The heat goes up to 450°F which  I think is perfect since my hair is thick and curly. It smooths out every frizz, and with one or two glides, the curl is gone! It takes about 15 minutes to do my whole hair.

So overall, I am very satisfied with this Solia flat iron. I love the quality and its performance, and of course I love the price too! :) I bought it on sale and I am very happy that I did not spend over a hundred dollar for a great flat iron. In my opinion, this is far better than my Original CHI that I bought for $155. Don't get me wrong, I really loved my CHI flat iron because that iron served me well. It lasted 7 years before it broke. Original CHI was among the first flat irons that entered US Market so I can't complaint about it. It's just the technology has gotten better so I am looking for something better. :)

So, where did I buy this Solia Tourmaline Ceramic Ion flat iron from?

FOLICA.com. I bought it for $79.99 from its original price, and if you are planning to buy any brand of flat iron or even a curling iron from FOLICA.com, they have this code for an additional $10 off. So use it! :) They also give you free shipping and handling on any order above $50. This SOLIA was my first purchase from FOLICA.com and I had no complaint on the shipping and customer service. The shipping was super fast and the customer service was excellent. For instance, I sent them an email asking for an additional discount because I didn't know about their additional discount code and they had no problem with it! They credited my account. :) So yes, I will shop for more in the future if they keep on making their customers happy.

That's all for today. Happy Thursday everyone!

Blog Awards !

Hi Everyone!

I just changed my blog design and layout! Yay!! Lots of pink :) I might want to do some other changes as well but one thing at a time I guess... I also have missed a lot of blog posts during the process so I am going to make up for it! I need a bit of time to catch up, but for now, I am going to start with this Blog Award post since I received some blog awards from fellow bloggers last week (while I was busy), and I would like to thank them for that by doing this special post! :)

 First award came from: Arianne Cruz, and Jessica.

This is truly my first One Lovely Blog Award! Thank you ladies. 

 

Second award (They came together!) came from Sammi.

Thank you for this Inspiration Award!

Rules: which I am gonna do since it's quite fun!

• Name your favourite color: Teal is my color. Then purple.
• Name your favourite song: Dont have any =P I listen to all top 40. LOL.
• Name your favourite dessert: Tropical fruits. I am an island girl, bring anything tropical!
• What is pissing you off?: Not at the moment.
• When you’re upset, you?: Stay quiet and not talking.
• Your favourite pet: Cats and dogs! BUT they have to be long haired, fluffy and small!
• Black or White?: Dress? LBD. Electronic? WHITE hahah I am an Apple fan!
• Your biggest fear is…: Not having money.. =/ Yeah everyone is scared of that!
• Your best feature is…: My legs! I have long legs and I'm quite tall.
• Everyday attitude:  Peaceeeeee with a V sign ;)
• What is perfection?: By rechecking the stuff again and again. I am a bit OCD.
• Guilty pleasure: Pinkberry. OMG that stuff is yummy!

 Third Award came from Sammi again! :)

Thanks so much ladies for the awards and support. Now I am tagging everyone who follows and read my blog. Seriously, it's hard to tag 7 people when I think you guys deserves it since you all do have some cool blogs!! :) Well yeah, that's all for now. Happy Blogging!!!


PS: Do I need to add some more stuff on my blog ?? I am thinking to add on more design! Hahah!

This Week Purchase :)

Happy Friday to All!

Just a quick post today because I want to share my internet shopping haul with you guys.

So this week, I received these two interesting items in the mail and I am super excited to start using them! :)

Solia Flat Iron

I bought this flat iron from Folica.com last Monday and it arrived in the mail today! The shipping was quite fast! This Solia Tourmaline Ceramic Flat Iron is one of the Top 10 Flat Irons listed on the website and it is based on thousands of consumer reviews, the latest technologies and years of testing.

By the way, FOLICA is having sales right now and it will end tonight at midnight. I bought mine for less than the original price. Of course I got it on sale (still on sale as of now!), and plus I used a discount code for an additional $25 off. :) I was so happy. So hurry up and check them out if you are looking for a new flat iron!  

Here is the link to see the top 10 Flat Irons: FOLICA. If you are buying one, just don't forget to apply the code listed on the website for an additional $25 off.

Sigma F50 Duo Fibre Brush

I have heard a lot of raves about this one particular brush. I have never used a stipple brush before to apply my foundation and with all the great reviews Sigma received, I can't help myself but to order one. JUST ONE. I haven't used or bought any brush from Sigma before so this was my first purchase. If I like it, I'll be buying some other stuff. I am not sure if I could compare this to MAC 187 Duo Fibre brush since MAC is an extremely well established brand and well known for their qualities. Besides, I have yet to try MAC 187 before I could even say anything. There is also a big difference in price. Sigma F50 Duo Fibre is only $16 to compare to MAC 187 that cost $42 per piece. Big difference. But then again, at the end it is all about quality. I have yet to use this Sigma brush before I could rave or rant about it. But hey, if you are on a budget and looking for makeup brushes, you know where to go!

That' all for now. Reviews to follow.

Have a great awesome Friday night everyone!

X.O.X.O

My New Hair Color: Light Ash Brown by using Light Ash Blonde!

I just colored my hair last Saturday and so far I am loving it! It's vibrant and the color is perfect for summer. :)

Here is the picture, taken today with my iPhone and with no flash.  :)

 I have a natural jet black hair and it is hard to go lighter without using a bleach. I really didn't wanna go to that extreme. It might work for other girls but I don't think my hair (or scalp) could handle it. So I opted for 9% / 30 Volume Cream Developer instead to lift the color. For a hair dye, I chose blonde instead of brown because blonde color on black hair equals to brown! :) Brown dye on dark hair hmmm won't come out as good I am afraid. And since I wanted to go lighter, I went for a light ash blonde hair dye. Ash neutralizes the gold tone and helps reducing the brassiness in dark hair.  If I were to use golden blonde hair dye, I'd be walking around with an orange/ginger hair! So by using Light Ash Blonde, I achieved what I wanted: a Light Ash Brown hair. :)

  

What I used?

Professional Hair Products:

Ion Sensitive Scalp 30 Volume Cream Developer 8 OZ from Sally's Beauty. Cost: $2.99

Satin Light Ash Blonde 2 oz Hair Dye from another beauty store. Cost $8.99 and I needed 2 tubes since my hair is thick and long. 

I am not a professional hair colorist, but after doing it for so long, I just know what to do. I've been using drugstore hair colors most of the time and pro products occasionally. It is all depends on the color I want to achieve. Personally, I think professional hair colors are better than the hair colors sold at the drug stores. I don't mean they are bad, but they are not the same like the professional products. They are meant for consumers and they have low percentage/volume of cream developer so we won't mess up our hair/scalp. If I want to have messy free and fast hair coloring experience, I'd use drugstore hair colors for sure because with professional hair colors, I need to use a bowl, tinting brushes, hair clips, foils, cream remover and ear covers. That's what I did and it's a lot of work. No wonder hair salons charge $150 and up (where I am at) for hair coloring service.

That's all I want to share for today. :)

X.O.X.O

How I Clean My Makeup Brushes.

What is the best way to clean your makeup brushes? 

Well, in the past, I used MAC Brush Cleanser to clean all my makeup brushes, and you know at the end it got super expensive. One bottle costs me $12 and I have a lot of brushes. Imagine spending money on 2 bottles a month! I'd rather spend that amount of money on eyeshadows and lipsticks. :) Besides, the bottle is rather small. So then I started using baby shampoo and I didn't like it at all. I thought it was a waste! Finally after months using baby shampoo, I figured out the most efficient and cheaper alternative to clean these dirty makeup brushes.

My Method of Cleaning Dirty Brushes:  

The Ivory Soap Way

As you can see in the picture above, I just swirl the dirty brush on the wet soap. I let the soap lathers and swirl, swirl, swirl! I will keep on doing this until the makeup stain on/inside the brush disappears. Rinse the brush thoroughly, remove excess water with a clean paper towel, spray with a bit of alcohol and voila! The brush is now clean and disinfect. Just dry the brushes overnight and the next day, they are ready to be used again. Just so you guys know, I have been using this method for almost 3 years. So far so good. I don't see any difference between using an expensive cleanser and Ivory soap. Ivory soap is very gentle and it doesn't ruin my brushes at all. It cost only $1.80 and lasts for months!

Well, that's my method, so what's yours? Please share!

X.O.X.O

 

MAC Fluidline Gel Liner vs. Sephora Waterproof Smokey Cream Liner.

I love wearing eyeliner, and I have been wearing it since my early teenage years. Most of my eyeliners are pencils but, I prefer to use a gel liner when I want that dramatic intense look.

Gel and pencils eyeliners are so different so for someone who loves eyeliners, she has to try everything there is in the market. I have MAC Fluidline (which of course every girl I know has it), and Sephora gel liner that I bought not too long ago and quite frankly I don't see any difference at all. I have been using MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack for years and I just want to give another brand a shot you know. I thought this Sephora brand would be a great replacement.Of course it's cheaper too.

And just so you know, I went from Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Black Ink ($21) to MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack ($15) to Sephora Waterproof Smokey Cream Liner in Must Have ($10). Am I downgrading? Not really. I just love trying different brands. At the end of the day, if I liked something, I'd keep it! Just like a relationship. :)

 MAC Fluidline Blacktrack (left) and Sephora Must Have (right)

                                        What I look for in a gel liner:                                   

• Silky/Soft Finish
• Water Resistant 
• Long Wearing
• Does not smear
• Smudge-Proof 
• Matte Black 
• Intense Color
• Not overpriced! And not cheap either!

Based on my experience, MAC Fluidline and Sephora Waterproof Smokey Cream Liner (wow long name!) are about the same except the "smudge-proof" part. MAC IS smudge-proof while Sephora is not. With $5 more, you can get that with MAC. However, Sephora gel liner is so long wearing that it stays on my eyelid from 8 a.m until 12 midnight. I am happy with both even though Sephora is NOT smudge-proof. But hey, as long as I don't rub my eyes with my fingers, that eyeliner will still be there until I remove it. But if you are the type that rub your eyes constantly or want some kind of assurance, I suggest you get MAC Fluidline. :)

Well, this is me wearing Sephora Cream Liner in Must Have. I took this picture for my InstaGram album about 2 days ago? I didn't wear anything else except Sephora Must Have.

PS:- If you have an InstaGram app., add me up! :) User Name: msRinz

So MAC Fluidline or Sephora Cream Liner? 

Well, the choice is yours darling! 

I don't really care as long as it stays!

X.O.X.O

I Love Mint Color Nail Polish!! My NOTD

I've been wearing only mint color nail polish lately. :) I think the shade is so pretty and perfect for summer. Last week alone I bought 5 different brands that have mint in their collections. Why? Because every brand is different. Not all mint colors are the same. Some are dark, some are pastel, and some are soft. Well, I am super happy. I can't wait to try the second bottle.

And as for this one, I am wearing :

Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear Xtreme Strength + Shine

in Mint Sorbet.

Price:
$2.89. Cheap! I bought it from CVS.

Do I like it?:
Yes, a lot. My nails are stronger and harder than usual which is a plus. I can easily open a can of soda with my nail! I love the formula a lot and now I am planning to get some other colors like The Real Teal and Lacey Lilac. You can see the whole collection here.

Are you guys wearing mint too??

X.O.X.O

Rinz

LOTD with New Favorite Lipstick and Lipgloss : MAC SNOB and VIVA GLAM GAGA 2

Happy Sunday!

I am just letting you guys know that I am loving these 2 lip products at the moment!

MAC lipstick: SNOB and MAC lipglass: VIVA GLAM GAGA 2

So here are the swatches:

MAC Lipstick: SNOB

MAC Lipglass: VIVA GLAM GAGA 2

So far, I really love these 2 colors and I have been wearing them a lot lately. I love SNOB because the mauve color is so bright!:) The more color you add, the intense it gets. I think it's perfect for summer night when you are out on a date. I also bought myself the latest Viva Glam lipglass, the Viva Glam Gaga 2, which is a light sandy neutral color if I want to have nude or natural lips. I normally wear this during the day with almost no eye makeup on, or at night with smokey bold eye look. I remember the last lipglass I bought from Viva Glam collection was the VIVA Glam V and that was back in 2005! The color was very pretty and at that time MAC had Pamela Anderson as their MAC AIDS Fund spokesperson. Hmmm, I wonder if MAC still sell it. Well, maybe not since it's been years! They only have lipsticks now, except for this Gaga 2 lipsglass. Anyway, I love this lipglass color, and hopefully it doesn't get discontinued.

So..... which VIVA Glam # do you like the most? I am sure everyone has at least one favorite! Do share!

X.O.X.O

Rinz

Google Reader on iPhone/iPad. Synchronize your blog list.

I have been frustrated a lot lately as I haven't been able to keep up with my fellow bloggers, especially those I follow since I am not always in front of a computer. I read and blog using my iMAC at home, and I wish I could do all that stuff with my iPhone you know since I am always on the go. If I am super busy, I will miss a lot of great posts and I don't want that to happen. A few weeks ago, I was browsing some apps on App Store as I was looking for something that would allow me to synchronize every blog I follow just like Google Reader, but I didn't see anything at all. But this morning, I checked the store again and this time I saw this App called Feeddler RSS Reader Pro. I read the description of the app and thought this could be it! Well, I bought it. They also have a trial version for free, but I got the Pro for $4.99. I thought it was the best $4.99 I've ever spent on an App. Ha! Ha! There's not much difference between the Free and the Pro. If you hate advertisements, and if you do a lot of keywords search in your RSS and get daily feed on that, or tweet about blog post, then I’d say you need a Pro version. :)

So here are some snapshots of the App: Feeddler RSS Reader. I highly recommend this App for those who read and blog a lot.

   I know I have 17 updates to do. LOL.

Pro Version Front Page/Main Menu. There's a SYNC button that allows you to sync this App with your Google Reader where you can choose to either sync all the blogs, or just the unread ones.

Plus, you also have the choice to sync all blog posts based on the updates. :)

This is the free version. You can't sync it. And if you click that Pro button on the right corner...

                                                                it will give you this.....

The list of the blogs I follow will be under "All Items" from the main menu. If I click that "All Items" button, I will see this (see picture below). The blue button means "unread" post. I can mark a blog post with a "star". :)  Isn't that neat?

If you click the title, you will see a blog post, but the post is not a complete one. Just a preview...

You can either click the "Full Text" button on the top right corner, and you will see this kind of post. Very basic. Or...

 

...you can click the "more>>" button (next to the blog title/topic) and that will take you to this one (see picture below), you know like the one you see on a regular computer.:) You will see a header and sidebars just like the picture below.

Then of course, you can post comment if you want to. If a blogger has a word verification system, then you will have to hit the "preview" button first instead of "Post Comment", or it won't let you post or captcha word wont show up at all. I tried by clicking "Publish Your Comment" right away and it didn't go through at all. I was stuck on that same page. LOL.
Please note: I tried again few hours later, this seems to work O.K. now.

Yeah, JC @makeupdiary and I were tweeting back and forth about this App this afternoon.  :) She said she liked it :)

Can you see that arrow button at the bottom (see above picture) ? If you click that button, you can post the topic to Twitter, Facebook, etc (see picture below). But this is only for the Pro or paid version.

Also with paid version, you can search anything you want within your RSS. You also have an option to subscribe to that topic as your daily feed. Those feeds will go to special folders based on the topics.

So yeah, I am excited about this this App. because I won't miss any blog post anymore. I can update my list easily, read and comment, where ever and when ever. Everything is at my finger tips. You guys should try this out if you haven't yet. There's a free version. Like I said, I was looking for one good app and I finally found it this morning. :) I think this App came out not too long ago since it had only 59 ratings when I downloaded it this morning.

Happy Blogging!!

X.O.X.O

Rinz



My June's Favorite Beauty Products.

I have been neglecting this kind of post for a while, and I would like to go back to this since I think it's somewhat exciting to learn about bloggers' favorite beauty products. Here is mine for the month of June:

It's not a lot of products, but I think these items are very important to me last month because I was using them a lot! Most of them are already half empty. So let's start.

Favorite Makeup Removers:

Makeup remover is one of the most important beauty products to have. A facial cleanser alone won't do a great job at thoroughly removing my makeup so I need a few extra steps before I use any facial cleanser. But hey, if your cleansers can remove all traces of foundation and eye makeup, by all means just use them. :) 

Pond's Makeup Remover  - Cream Cleanser

This product does a great job at removing my foundation or lipstick. I really like it. One small bottle cost around $6 at CVS. 

Avon Eye Makeup Remover - Lotion Cleanser

It removes the most stubborn waterproof eyeliner and mascara. I bought it for $0.99 during Avon catalog sales. I will keep on repurchasing since I love it a lot. 

Up and Up Eye Makeup Remover - Liquid Cleanser

It does a great job at removing regular eye makeup (non waterproof). I love that it is not a lotion, and it is oil free. I only use this when I have a light makeup on. I think it cost around $4.50 at Target.

Favorite Primer:

I love using primer sometimes in my makeup routine since it holds my makeup longer that usual which I think is perfect for summer time. So in June, I was using Laura Mercier primer a lot. This is a sample that I got from Sephora using my Beauty Insider Card. It is oil free and so far it works for me. No breakout or no zits.

Favorite Foundation:

Make Up For Ever Duo Mat Powder Foundation:

I like the fact that it is oil free and the sponge is stored at the bottom of the case and not on top of the powder. I use this for touch-up and also as my go to foundation when I am in a hurry. It doesn't give a full coverage but it is enough for a simple day out or for work.

Cargo Foundation:

It is oil free, light weight and gives a natural looking finish. I also like that the packaging of the product is portable and eco-friendly. 

Favorite Lip Products:

MAC Fast Play:

I love the rosy color, enough said. 

MAC Lip Gelee in Bubble Lounge:

Just some sparkly glossy lipgloss for a night out. :)

Favorite Body Lotion:

 

I love Lush Dream Cream body lotion since this is the only thing that cured the heat rash problem I had.

That's all for now. I hope to see some blog posts on June's favorite soon!

X.O.X.O

Rinz

Haul: Beauty Products

Happy Saturday ladies! I hope everyone is enjoying the long weekend. :)

Today, I am quite lazy. I would like to do some reviews, but I think I am going to start with this haul post first. I bought these few items yesterday and I can't wait to try them!

From left to right:

1) Freeman Facial Peel-Off Mask Cucumber. Clarifies and renews skin. Price: $3.99 at CVS.

I like the fact that it is made with natural, botanical ingredients. The last time I tried this brand was years ago. This brand is hard to find that's why when I saw this at the CVS, I wouldn't want to miss it. Grabbed and paid. I will try it today and will talk more about it later. :)

2) Lancôme GALATÉE CONFORT Comforting Milky Creme Cleanser. Price: $30.00 at Macys.

"Emolliently-rich and milky creme cleanser gently melts away makeup and impurities. The instantly comforting formula contains honey and sweet almond extracts to condition and leave skin feeling clean, silky-soft and soothed. Rinse or tissue off. Dermatologist-tested for safety."

I like the fact that it is a creme cleanser that can be used to wipe off my makeup. I normally use my facial wash and it doesn't do a good job at cleaning my face. I'll be trying this today.

3) Accents lashes by Ardell. Price: $4.09 at CVS.

It's summer and I don't need full on lashes. :) Accent is enough to enhance my eyes.

4) Sample of Lancome Renergie Lift Volumetry Night : Lifting and Reshaping Night Cream

I would like to know if this would help erasing a fine line on my forehead. I frown way too much! Ha!Ha!

5) Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipglass by MAC.  Price: $14.50 at Macy's.

I just have to have this! I 've been looking for nude lip gloss forever.  Review and swatch to follow. Please note I am NC 42 in MAC and have a natural red lips. Will see how this will look on me.

6) Powder FX Mineral Powder Foundation. Price: $35 at Sephora.

I need a quick fix every morning so I think this one is perfect. I haven't tried it yet. I will do a complete review later. I got mine in Deep Mocha, which I think is darker than my skin color, but since it is summer, I am fine with it.

7) Sinful Colors Professional in Mint Apple. Price: $2.99 at CVS.

I'll see how professional it is. It comes out sheer and not that opaque when I tested it, but I bought it anyways since I love mint color for summer. I'll do NOTD later. :)

I guess that's all for now. Off to visit your blog! Hope to see some haul posts. :)

X.O.X.O

Rinz