Makeup Brush Drying rack and Brush Cleaning Glove under $10

Ok, So the only reason I decided to write this blog entry is because of all the reviews and YouTube videos I seen of all kinds of makeup brush drying racks.. tree? and especially the latest Sigma oven mitts.. um.. I mean.. their brush cleaning glove

The prices for those brush drying racks I have seen are minimum $30? I believe.. and the crazy brush cleaning glove from Sigma is freagin $40!!!!!!

 This is what I have been doing to dry my brushes since high school... so I have been using this method for yeeaaarrrrrssssss (yes I'm old)

All you need is cloth hangers and some rubber bands

lol look at my cute air plane shaped ones... (these shaped rubber bands were really in a few years ago among elementary students.. so I took these from my little brother after he lost interest)

You can tie one brush at a time or two like I did.. I am really lazy so I generally tie 2-3 together.. meh~~~

and you just hang them in your bathroom... door knob... closet... side of your table?? just anywhere you like.
Because the whole point of those brush drying rack is so they dry bristles down and the water doesn't get into the wooden barrel part and loosen up the glue, and eventually your brushes falls apart =C

So after looking at all the talks about this crazy over priced Sigma brush cleaning glove (heck I'm just going to call it oven mitts) I mean I do understand where they are coming from and the oven mitt actually reminds me of the Sephora silicone facial cleansing pad which I have been using for almost 2 years.

This is Sigma's oven mitt 

 and this is Sephora's silicone facial cleansing pad .. and it is $7 (But honestly you can get them for a dollar on ebay)

I tried washing my brushes with this and it foamed up well and I actually used less products comparing to just hand+soap+water. I think the whole point is just to create friction so it creates a nice lather

I guess you can call this post a "DIY" post. This is just my thoughts on these new brush cleaning/drying trends I see.

I personally think they are a waste of money and I don't think you need them annnnddd not to mention they are CRAZY OVERPRICED!!! I rather save the money and splurge it on good skincare products

Hope this post saves you some money heehee

~Mishie~

Topbox February 2013

I was super excited to get this month's box because it is suppose to be a Prive Box as well

aaaannnnddd the one I got was  Benefit's Prive Box! YAY!!!!


I love the whole Chinese new year packaging!!

Topbox January 2013

While I was at work today.. I got email notification of my January Topbox delivery.. I was super excited and couldn't wait to go home and open it up.

I got a Clinique beauty box!

Review: Lioele Dollish Veil Vita BB Cream [Purple]

I got 2 samples of this BB cream from Cosmetic Love from my last purchase.  The only reason why I started using this was because my sample bucket was getting full and I was trying to use up all the samples I got.

Without reading up anything about this BB cream I took the little sample packet to use one morning and I was kind of surprised when I squeezed out the BB cream. Because it was not the normal beige/skin colour I was expecting. Instead, it was a pale almost white colour. A bit confused, I went and re-read the package, it says Blemish Balm, Vitamin care, Makeup Base. So I thought it was just a primer. However, after putting it on my face, my complexion brightened up instantly  and my fading acne marks were pretty much concealed. I could even get away with just setting powder and I'm good to go!

I was so impressed with this product that I used it the next day and the day after that. I actually got 5 uses out of the little sample pack. I decided to open up my last packet today and write a review about it.

The shade I got was #1 Gorgeous Purple  (they have 2 shades in total, gorgeous purple and natural green)

you can find the product Here, cosmetic love sells it for $18.68, but if you don't want to get the full size, you can also buy the samples first to try, it is around $3.25 for 3.

The sample pack looks like this:

Mini Sephora Christmas Haul + Stila Snow Angel Color Palette Swatches

I purchased these items on Sephora's website mid December.. but they didn't come in until around Christmas time, and because I was away in Disneyland for Christmas.. I did not get them until I got back

Now I finally have time to take pictures and do swatches =D

so here are the 3 things I got :
 1. Sephora by OPI: Good Tidings We Bling
 2. Bliss Ingrown Eliminating Pads
 3. Stila's 2012 Holiday Collection: Snow Angel Color Palette

    

I didn't do a swatch of the Nail polish but I did swatch all the colours in the palette

The Palette has 12 Cheek Colours and 18 eyeshadows, it also includes Stila's stay all day waterproof volumizing mascara plus a little booklet with instructions for 6 looks

CNP Laboratory 2 Steps Facial Mask

Hey guys, its been so long since I've posted anything. I've been so busy with work, since you know, its the holidays. Been putting many hours in for my part time job. I desperately needed the money to pay my bills and buy gifts for people, lol.

Anyways, while I was shopping for gifts at my "favourite" mall, Pacific Mall, last Thursday, I bought some necessities for myself as well, of course lol.  The one I wanted to share with everyone the most was this Korean brand of facial masks and skincare products, called, CNP Laboratory.

Topbox December 2012

My Topbox came in really late this time.. it got shipped on Dec.13th, but I only got it in the mail today. I saw some blog post of this month's Topbox and I was a little bit disappointed of the products this month, considering the price increase.

But the box I got was okay. but i was expecting more festive products considering its Christmas time

First off, I do like the packaging though I remember choosing the eco friendly packaging. Topbox has been shipping me the normal packaging one for the past 2 months and I am pretty sure I always choose the eco friendly ones.. o well.. the packaging is the only festive part of Topbox for the Christmas month.

Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium C Styler Review

Back in October , my old pink Solia flat iron broke on me and I was searching for a new one when I came across this flat iron, you can read about the blog post HERE Where I wrote about what it claims and the site I got it from.

I actually got this flat iron back on November 5th... but kept on forgetting to write anything about it.

In my previous entry before I mentioned how the site was giving 5 free goodies with purchase over $100

so here is what I got (Thank god I took unboxing pictures)

I ONLY bought the Babyliss iron.. everything else was free =D
I purchased it from flatironexperts and the goodies were

(1) KQC X-Heat Mini Travel Iron 
(1) KQC Thermal Shine Spray
(1) Macadamia Deep Repair Mask 15ml 
(1) Silkline Sassy Girl Nail File 
(1) Sassy Girl Tweezer 

Sephora Haul!

I received an email from Sephora last time telling me that I have $20 to spend in the store since I am a VIB.

At first I didn't think I was going to use it because i am on a tight spending budget since I have to pay for my CSC (around $500 something) exam and I also wanted to buy xbox+kinect (almost $400)

but then I just had to find this perfume sample I got last time and sniff it. I instantly fell in love!

It was the Dolce & Gabbana light blue. I usually do not use any perfume, but as soon as I smelled it I was like THIS IS MY SCENT!!  (i'm pretty sure a million other people uses it as well but at least non of my friends or family members use this perfume)

So I went to the Sephora in Yorkdale and asked if they had any in the gift set form (since its cheaper), but they said they ran out because its a really popular perfume, but the lady was nice enough and offered to make some calls to other Sephora to check the availability.

Finally she told me Fairview had only ONE set left and they are going to hold it for my for 48hrs

So on Monday.. I finally and picked it up!!

I love the Sky/Cloud velvet lid. Very clean and simple. The scent is very refreshing, It's light and has a citrusy  smell and it lasts a long time. I can still smell it through out the day.

My NuMe Curl Jam Came In!!

So about a week and a half ago I ordered a set on NuMe called the Curl Jam and it finally came in a few days ago!

Review: Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara (Waterproof)

I have been using this Mascara everyday for the past week to test it out. I was at my local Shoppers Drugmart the other day and saw this mascara. I bought it without reading any reviews. I basically bought it based on what it claimed on the packaging.

What it claims:

-   Maybelline's first Gel-Mousse formula: Contains 40% less hard waxes for massive yet supple lashes, never stiff, never brittle.

-   Patented Flexor Brush gently coats every lash with supple volume

-   Ophthalmologist tested, Contact lens safe.


I bought the waterproof one and went for the more natural Brownish Black colour.

November 2012 Topbox

Finally got my November Topbox... I was actually supposed to get it yesterday, the 15th, but I missed the mailman. I had to go to the post office and pick it up.

so here it is!

NOTD post!!

My first time trying the whole 3D gemstone look on my nails. Doesn't look too bad..

Anyone has good cuticle cream/oil to recommend me???  I don't know what to do with this dry cuticle problem! its so ugly =(

~End of my quick nail related post~

~Mishie~

Review: Tony Moly Clean Dew Broccoli Sprout Cleansing Cream

I have been using this cleansing cream everyday for the past week to take off my makeup and I must say, I am very impressed!!

I was finishing up my Naruko Cleansing oil, and decided to get this one while I was shopping on cosmetic love for a pressed powder.

Here is the link to the product >>Click<<  it is $13.29 USD on cosmetic-love's site and I bought it without doing any research or reading any review. I admit, I bought it just because of the packaging!

 Isn't the packaging adorable???  and it contains 200ml of product

 

This is how the cream looks like. It has small green beads inside (Vitamin E capsules).

Sneak Peak November Topbox + Limited Edition Men's holiday Topbox

Topbox just shipped out my November Topbox yesterday, and today they sent me an email giving me a sneak peak of one of the product I will be getting in my box this month


so here is the email!!

The Face Shop Haul!

I went to Pacific Mall today, a shopping trip well needed and deserved, haha.

I actually went to the mall hoping to just browse around and purchase a few necessities, however, as I was about to leave, I discovered that they just opened The Face Shop and of course, being me, I had to go in and check the stuff out.

Actually ended up buying a few things lol. :)

So if anyone doesn't know, The Face Shop is a Korean cosmetics brand that I believe, is pretty famous in Korea. I've always heard about them, but never really had the chance to purchase anything from them, except for today! Which I am really happy about actually.

I've also noticed that there are quite a few Korean cosmetics stores opening in Pacific Mall, which is pretty good for me, I don't really have to order these products online now and can just pick them up at the mall AND without having to wait for them or pay for shipping!

Sorry about the qualities of some of the pictures, I was trying to find the right lighting. ^^;;

Stila's "Forever Your Curl" Mascara Review

I received this mascara as a sample in my Topbox a few months ago and I was excited to test it out, so when I had my day off the other day, I decided to use it and see how it is.

I seemed to misplace the mascara.. So I am using my Fav makeup Guru's picture to show you guys how the brush head looks like

Picture taken from itsliz89, you can read her review HERE

I love her makeup tutorials and reviews especially on  eye products, because we have really similar eye shapes.



What does the mascara claim to do?
Took from Sephora's site:

What it is:
A long-wearing mascara that curls lashes instantly and over time.

What it does:
This mascara features innovative lash-curl memory that continually curls lashes throughout the day and a proprietary curling resin that dries down and holds the curl of lashes for long-lasting results. A unique brush coats and extends each individual lash for eye-popping results. Its intense carbon black hue delivers a lush, dramatic lash line from base to tip.



As I mentioned before, the KEY things I look in a mascara is its ability to hold curl, and no smudging.
So lets take a look

this is my eye without any eye makeup/primer/liner..etc.

just curled my lashes with my Shu Uemura curler

And then after ONE coat of the mascara:

Sorry, my camera didn't focus, but you can still see that my lashes dropped back to straight 

And then.. after I would say about 5 hours in the house.. its a complete disaster!!! I was literally a panda...My mom was all asking me.. "why did you put on makeup when you are staying at home?!?!" 

It's SOOOOOO BADDDDD and I didn't even put the mascara on my lower lashes.. If I did.. it would be even worse... oh gosh...

ready for the picture??????????

Lioele, Tony Moly , Etude House, innisfree Mini Haul

My stuff from cosmetic love finally came!!! I just opened it and took pictures

I am super excited BUT!!! I got charged with duty ='( .... $16.03 of duty tax... well not really.. the receipt says duty: $1.94  HST: $4.14  and Handling costs: $9.95   grrrrrrrrrr!!!! damn you customs!!!!

This is actually my first time getting charged for stuff from cosmetic love and my mom is still going on about " oh, you buy too many things online and go calculate if it was worth it to pay 16 dollars of tax and blah blah blah"

and yup.. I am writing this blog with her yelling at me in the background

So here are the things I  purchased. I actually bought some samples too just to try it out and see if they are worth buying.  I bought the Tony Moly Tomatox and Red Appletox samples as well as the Lioele triple the solution BB cream.. they are about $3-4 USD for pack of 3. 

The full size products I bought are:

Tony Moly Broccoli Sprout Cleansing Cream

 Lioele Be my Skin Powder Pact (oil control type)

innisfree Jejubija anti-trouble BB cream

Etude House Drawing Eyebrown pencil in #05 (I think its gray)

Benefit's ''they're real'' mascara REVIEW

I received the generous sample size of the Mascara from Topbox last time and I was really excited to try it out because  I read a lot of good reviews about it. 

 So here is how it looks, the sample I got was 0.1oz. The full size is 0.3oz and it retails for $29 CND in Sephora.

And this is how the brush looks like, is is those rubber bristles which I love, and I really do love the brush head because the front of it has the spherical shape which reminds me of the Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes Mascara brush and it really helps to coat those little smaller lashes with mascara

 So here are the things the Mascara claims to do, and according to a lot of the reviews I read, it seems to hold true.













BUT it didn't really work for me

Only 100 Lise Watier Sample Boxes Left!

   Topbox sent me an e-mail saying that there are only 100 of these Lise Watier Sample boxes left.. so I wanted to share the coupon with anyone who came across this blog. If you live in Toronto, print this coupon out and go to any of the listed shoppers drugmart and get yours ASAP!!!!