How To Wash a Beauty Blender (Budget Friendly)

I recently bought a beauty blender, and I was shocked how much a Beauty Blender cleanser costs! 

I knew I had to share this cleanser that I got in Japan. 

I used to use to to wash my makeup brushes, but I love this stuff so much that I ration it. Now, I only use it for beauty blenders.

  

This sponge cleaner is 1 yen (about $1.50) at Daiso in Japan. 

I buy it now on ebay for $8 includes shipping.

It is more than double the price of what is sold in Japan, but it's still cheaper $17.95 that Beauty Blender sells for. 

Anyways let me you show the proof! 

This is my nasty beauty blender.

Daiso sponge cleanser is a clear liquid. I just pour it straight onto the sponge. 

And I just run it through water and squeeze it a few times till the sponge is clean. 

And.... 

TA-DAH!! 

A squeaky clean beauty blender!

Ulta/Target Haul

I seriously need to stop buying stuff. 

Project Pan, anyone? 

maybe, a no buy month? 

Tarte Clean Slate Flawless Primer, Vichy Proeven Mineral BB Cream, No. 7 Lip Pencil in Nude, Stila Convertible Color in Camelia

The Target and Ulta near me is basically next to each other. 

I only got one thing. Lisa Eldridge's beloved No.7 Nude Lip Pencil. She uses the lip pencil in every other video. I had to get it. It's been out of stock for MONTHS. I finally saw it today, and there was only 2 left. I wanted to get BOTH, but thankfully, I controlled myself.

Ulta is having a crazy GWP (gift with purchase) !! 

I was so excited that I bought more than I wanted AND I bought the wrong color.

I am such a nut. 

I wanted Stila convertible color in Peony instead I got Camelia. 

I was going to keep the Camelia, if it got good reviews. It did, but all the reviewers who loved it had darker skin tones (NC 30-42) compared to mine (NC 20-25). I really want to try it before I return it, but Ulta near me has HORRIBLE service. The assistant manager basically chastised me for returning a used product. 

Maybe I should try it and return it when I move back to home (Los Angeles)? What do you think? 

I also got Tarte Clean Slate Flawless Primer. I ran out of my primer. Since summer is coming up, I might as well take advantage of this GWP. This week, if you purchase any Tarte product, you get a free sample of Camera, Lights and Lashes mascara and their eyeshadow primer. 

Vichy Proeven Mineral BB cream = the grayest bb cream ever. I like the consistency though. We'll See what happens.. 

Have you tried any of these products? Are any of them good? 

Old Vs. New Version of Kiss Me Heroine Mascara

I love Japanese Mascara, and Heroine Kiss Me Mascara is my HG.

I think Heroine Kiss Me vamped their mascara around the time I was in Japan. I remember seeing the new packaging when I went to their drugstores. (Japan's drugstores? SWOON) 

The biggest difference with the new version is the wand. The old version has an hourglass shape wand. The bulb shape on top of the mascara was handy to get into the hard to reach lashes. 

The new version has a cone shape wand similar to Maybelline Great Lash-Lots of Lashes mascara. The odd shape took some time getting use to. But it turned out to be okay. 

I've been using the new mascara for 3 months now. I have to say there's not much of a difference when it comes to formula. Both mascaras has a drier consistency that lovingly holds my curl and is super waterproof. When I mean waterproof. There is NOTHING that take it off, other than their own Kiss Me Waterproof Mascara remover. I will review that in a later post. 

If I had to pinpoint some differences with both these mascara, the new version may be more voluminous, but when I say that it's is the slightest difference. I found that the new version clumps easier than the old version. When I was using the older version, I just swiped and go. With the new version, I had to take my time and use a lash comb and separate each lash. 

The older version is definitely better in my eyes, and I'm sad to see it disappear. I hope to see it in some Asian markets, so I can stock up! 

Courtesy of stylehasnosize.com

Spring Desires

Nars blush Albatross, Stila Convertible Color in Peony, Eyeko Skinny Eyeliner, Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Eyeshadow, Nuxe Reve De Miel, Nars Satin Lip Pencil in Floralis 

Physicians Formula Bronze Booster Glow-Boosting Airbrushing Bronzing Veil Deluxe Edition Review

Isn't she so pretty? 

I got this in a sale at Rite Aid. You can see it in my Rite Aid Haul. Click here.

 I love how it looks. 

The pattern starts to fade the minute you use it. A big bummer. I wish it lasted a bit longer.

I have the Nars Laguna Bronzer, and I have been gravitating to this than Nars Laguna. I think it's because the winter months has made my skin lighter, and this is perfect for lighter skin. The finish is really similar to Nars Laguna. It has a shimmer/sheen like Laguna, but you can't see it when you apply it. Compared to Nars Laguna, it's lighter and more orange. I was worried at first, but when I applied it on myself, the orange isn't noticeable. It gave me a nice sheen/glow. 

For drugstore, it's expensive. I saw it was $16 at Rite Aid. WHOAH for drugstore? Definitely get it on sale. Sometimes, they have a coupon on on the box that you can use at checkout. I had it on my box and I saved $3. 

L'Oreal Paris Feria Wild Ombre Hair Color for black hair

I been wanting to do this for a while! It took me 2 tries. I have Asian black hair, which I now know takes forever to dye. Initially, I used the one for darkest hair. It did almost nothing, and I let it sit for an hour! The lightest it turned was really dark brown. My friends didn't even know that I dyed my hair!

I was really disappointed. I wasn't going to try again but all I saw so many instagram, twitter and blog posts with people who had so much success! I was determined. So, I went back go Walmart and got the the lightest shade: the one for blonde hair, and it worked!!!

If you have hair similar to mine, I suggest getting the lightest color. It took less than 30 minutes for it to turn a lighter color. But be careful! You have to really watch your hair; it turns color fast!

Update: Do not apply the color linearly. Try applying in a zig zag pattern. By applying it in a staggered way makes the ombre effect more natural. There are parts of my hair where you can see a line of my natural hair and my colored hair. (Thankfully it's under my hair).

Watch out for baby hair. It dyes a lot faster than your normal hair. This may sound obvious, but I thought I say it just in case. When I did this, I pulled back my hair into a ponytail and sectioned it. (Don't worry, I have a point to this.) I started applying from the back to the front. Well, most of my hair in the back is thinner than the rest. When I was waiting for it to dye, the back of my hair was lighter before the rest of my hair. 

Okay, that's all I got. If you try to do this, I hope it goes well for you! I'm really happy the result! What suggestions do you have someone dying their hair for the first time?

FOTD: Trying to Look Normal When You're Sick Natural Makeup

I don't feel well today, but I'm still feel well enough to put on makeup! muahahah! 

Am I the only one that thinks putting on makeup wakes me up? To me, putting on makeup is like having a 2nd cup of coffee.  It's glorious.  

I'm going to work/school today, so I don't do anything crazy. Actually, I never do anything crazy. I just like clear skin with some flirty lashes. 

I was excited to put on makeup today, because I get to use my beauty blender for the first time! (heaven's singing) 

ANYWAYS... 

Face: Revlon Color Stay Whipped in Nude, Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Tinted Balm, Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Dark-Circle Roller (Dude, this stuff never runs out!), Origins Plantscription Concealer in Light/Medium and Laura Mercier Shimmer Block in Peach Mosaic. 

Eyes: Prescriptions Eyebrow Pencil, Milani Liquif'eye in Brown, Kiss Me Heroine Mascara Volume and  CoverGirl Nature Luxe in Blackest Black

Lips: Too Face Lip Insurance and Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Precious

Tools: BeautyBlender and my chubby fingers. 

TA-DAHHHH! 

Please excuse the hair and the bags under my eyes.

  

Sephora Birthday Haul

I was planning on doing a FOTD, but my Sephora box came! I couldn't wait to show you! 

Fresh Sugar Mini Lip Duo: This was my free birthday gift some Sephora. I love lip balms and hoard them all the time. Hi, My name is Mary and I am a lip balm hoarder. 

Beauty Blender: I need to know what the hype is all about! ( I'm surprised how small the box is!) 

Too Faced Lip Insurance: My cousin swears by this. I hope this makes my lips lasts longer

Laura Mercier Shimmer Block in Peach Mosaic: My big splurge! I hope it brings the most prettiest glow for the following spring and summer. 

Have you tried any of these? Good, bad or ugly? 

February Favorites 2013

February is gone already! I can't believe it's March. I have a lot of Big plans in March, and it's already here! I am not ready! I still have so much to do! 

It's not really a makeup month this month. It was more like a makeup buying month. Because February is the month of my birthday, I couldn't help and treat myself to more makeup. 

Let's start! 

Origins Plantscriptions Concealer: This needs a proper review. It's  good. I bought this because I can't get my hands on Collections concealer that's only sold in the UK. :( But, a lot of bloggers say this is very similar to Collections. It covers all my imperfections without looking cakey, which concealers generally do. I like the wand application because it makes it easy to swipe on. It stays on really well even without powder. A major plus with my oily skin. 

Bourjois Healthy Mix: Even though I hate the packaging, especially right now... I still love this product. That's what matters right? It covers my imperfections enough that my skin still looks like skin, and it lasts through 6-8 hour days. 

Nars Honolulu Honey: My favorite nude. It's pigmented peach lipstick that looks pretty with ANYTHING. 

That's it. Hopefully I'll have more favorites next month!