Products I regret Buying 2009 Edition

Hello everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! and a great upcoming New Year.

Looking back in my make up collection I semiannually do a clean up of "reject" items I had purchased through the months and give away practically new items to anyone who wishes for them.

I am the kind of make up shopper that reads reviews, reads again, and then reads some more before finally picking up the items I *think* I want.

Here is my list for 2009 of things of which I thought were going to be great, and were just a flop. These are all just my personal opinion due to my experiences with the product.

In no particular :

L'occitane Shea Butter Lip Balm

I regret buying this because of the Shea butter this thing goes on so SHEER. I literally swipe the bottom of my lips 50 times then the top lip 50 more times to just "feel" the actual product. After all those swipes, it does not feel like I have a lot of stuff on, just feels like I finally got my balm on.

At first I was happy because the tube gives you a lot more than other brands o in terms of volume/product but I now can see why!

SK II Facial Treatment Essence

I regret buying this because it was DAMN expensive for not much result. At over $150 dollars retail you would expect the miracles it promises. I have heard you have to be patient...I have used this every night and some mornings since the beginning of October. I have yet to see any change. I am only 1/3 done with the bottle. Usually after a few weeks with no results on skin care I chuck things but I will DEF finish this up. Also when first applied can leave your skin feeling a little sticky-ish for like 2 minutes while absorbing.

MAC Blushes

I like MAC MSF 's , I think they are nice highlighter products from MAC but MAC blushes, I think we have ended our relationship. MAC blushes are less expensive than other brands but I believe it is cheaper in price due to quality. Though they do have very pretty colors to choose from you have to swirl and put layer upon layer upon layer of the product to get an effect on some of their shades. Especially from the sheer line. (Hence the name, I understand...)

When I buy a blush I like to just barely tap my brush and get so much product due to high quality pigmentation that I have to be careful not to over apply. This has never been a problem I have experienced with MAC Hasta La Vista !

Lancome Mascara Booster

CILS BOOSTER XL Super-Enhancing Mascara Base">

I have short stimpy lashes- I strive for long and luxurious. I had tried this mascara base from Lancome and was disappointed.

This thing clumps very easily and worse it is a heavy base, so after curling your lashes and applying this, they go straight down again due to the heavy weight. It does not matter if they make my eye lashes look slightly longer if they are shooting down on my eyes where there is no effect.

Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

A holy grail to some but this really ruined my skin at a pace that was lightening fast.

John Freida Frizz Ease Secret Weapon

I regret buying this because wherever placed on your head suddenly loses all volume, and it is as if you just applied a stiff cream into your hair. The sections become "hard" as if you just randomly taped a section of hair together, and outside the package the name claims Frizz Ease but I beg to differ. It became flat, hard, and still contained my frizz.

This is a finishing cream to be applied on dry hair.

Etude House Hand Cream

I regret buying this because it's GREASY. After you rub, rub and rub, you need a towel to help remove the residual residue. The scent is a bit overpowering. I bought this because I desperately needed a hand cream that day.

That's all I can think of for now.

Does anyone else have any definite purchasing regrets for 2009? Please tell me so I can steer clear!

To Everyone have a Happy New Year! 2010! Woot Woot !

Forever 21 Steal

Whoa, it's been a while. Hope everyone is having a great holiday season!

I am still amidst Xmas shopping which is the reason for this post.

Yesterday, I dropped into Forever 21 on a whim and picked up the following item.

I love studs. Price: $39.80

Forever 21 is not a store I go into often, just to browse whenever I have some time to kill.

Today I visited Topshop in search for some Christmas accessories to find:

Pretty much the same jacket!

Price $330! online it is this price but in the store I saw it on discount for $180

Do these not look incredibly similar!? You can't see it from the photos but they even have zippers on the same place on the sleeves.

Of course the top shop one was heavier and the material was softer but the price difference is insane. Even with the "discount"

My buy of the week!

Hope everyone has a great holiday!!

Sorry for lack of make up posts, the season is busy and I am trying not to buy any more make up until at least 2010!

Favorites of 2009

It's December!!! 2009 is almost over so I thought I would gather a list of some of my favorite items of the year.

Most of these items are the things I use everyday because they are my favorite, duh lol.

Some of the items listed are my HG list, but some are just 2009 entries.

A few categories are missing like eye cream, perfume, and hair styling products. It's because I either don't really use these products enough to develop a favorite, or every one I tried this year was a dud =P

Skin Care: Face

I am a skin care product junkie...I have like 25 cleansers in my bathroom ><>

Make Up Remover for the face: H20 face oasis

This year I gave up oil for water. Again, I still love my Shu Uemura cleanser but I just can't get over how well this cleans, and how the consistancy is like water!~

Exfoliator: Origins Modern Friction

Beautifully lathered beads with a lemony scent makes this so refreshing and leaves skin baby soft.

Moisturizer: Beauty Maker Awakening Gel

I only use this in the daytime on top of a normal cream moisturizer but I am convinced this is the product that turned my skin from combination to normal. I really believe this is what made the difference to make my skin balanced this year. So moisturizing, I bought a back up jar in Asia, it is love. A must try.

Sunscreen: Dior Snow Sunscreen SPF 50 PA +++

I wear this everyday no exceptions! a tiny tube for $50 (kinda steep I know) but it lasts the whole year, my HG sunscreen

Essence: Clinique Turnaround Concentrate

My first "Clinique love" item. I have tried alot of things from this brand but this by far, FAR the best of what I have used. Applied both day and night. This is the fastest absorbing cream/essence I have every seen ( like 15 seconds!) and leaves my skin sooo soft, I just bought a new jar

Whitening Product: Paul and Joe Whitening Serum

Simply the best I have tried with the most visable results

Masks:

Clay: Lush's Mask of Magnaminty

After putting this on you will reveal the next layer of your skin under the grime of a weeks worth of pollution and whatever stuff is in the air for fresh, clean, beautiful skin. Skin is reborn every time.

Sheets: Silk Whitia

I have a few Silk Whitia Masks, my favorite so far has been the whitening and moisturizing masks. After application and peeling, reveal glowing skin. These make my face look paler and so clean. Did I mention super soft?? Radiance comes from these masks.

Eye Makeup Remover: Boots N0 7

I can only find this in Target. Afforadable and great. I am not buying Lancome, Neutrogena, or Estee Lauder again. This is the one for me~!

Great cheap find!

1 swipe and everything is clean. Does not leave a very oily residue behind, but some is present.

Skincare: Body

Deoterant: Secret Scent Expressions truth of Pear

Smells good!

Body Moisturizer: The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter

I have tried almost all of the Body Shops Body Butters and I always keep repruchasing coconut. I definetly recommend these for winter. Some people find it a lil oily but it should absorb within like 10 minutes if you lay it on thick

Hair and Body:

Body Soap: Nivea Touch of Bliss

The apricot scent is like a like St. Ives scent. Foams beautifully and leaves my skin moisturized

Shampoo + Conditioner: Shiseido Tsubaki

I have purchased this time after time. Leaves my hair soft, shiny, and healthy. Light beautiful scent.

Deep conditioner: Garnier Fortifying Deep Conditioner

I apply this once a week because my hair is dyed and I want to apply extra moisture. Put this in your hair, tie it into a bun and place it there for as long as you can. Like 10 minutes?

My hair is soooo silky and bouncy the next day after this. Adds natural volume the following day also.

Great drugstore find!

Make up: Base Make up

These are the items I use pretty much every single day, it really creates a flawless face.

Primer: Paul and Joe Primer

I love the scent of this, it goes on light and smooth, and absorbs so quick!

BB Cream: Hanskin Caviar Gold BB Cream

The first BB cream I ever had, even though I now own a few, Hanskin is still my favorite!

Powder: Chanel White Essential Powder

This is so finley milled I love it! Creates a matte finish, and I do not have to keep blotting. I also love the gorgeous packaging! Classic Chanel in white.

Bronzer: NARS Laguna

I use Bronzer for contouring, I have only used 1 other brand before NARS but this blends very nicley into the skin and blush

Concealer: Beauty Maker and Loreal

I have been using Loreal concealer since High School. I have 1 in almost all my bags. Just a good stand by. I just cant not seem to have it close by!

The Beauty Maker concealer is great. You can see in the picture the tube is pretty damn small but you only need the tiniest amount for your whole face. Like 1/8th a pea size. It is that pigmented. That dab can do under your eyes, around your nose, and chin.

Foundation: Lunasol Water Cream Foundation

I forgot to take a photo!!!!! ><>

Blotting Sheets: Boscia Blotting Linens in Green Tea

These are just a personal preference but I like how these feel. The Clean and Clear ones are kinda...plasticy feeling. These are like soft soft tissue paper

Make up: Eyes

The above are the items on how I set my eyes almost everyday for work. Super simple.

Eyeshadow palette: Esprique Precious C-1

Perfect for work. All the shades are great, and very usable. Just makes work eye make up easier when all the colors are flattering and safe. ( I work in an office, I need safe lol )

Mascara: FairyDrops

I love my Dior and my MM mascara but these make my natural lashes super long without any extra help from ....this little filaments in the MM mascara?

Very lengthening on your natural eyes. Not much volume but build able. I just seem to go for this the most.

Mascara Insurance: Clarins Double Fix

Life saver. I don't leave my desk much except for the restroom. When I enter the bathroom I don't want to see raccoon eyes. Most of my favorite mascara's are non waterproof so this provides the extra insurance I need to keep clean eyes.

Eyeliner: Make Up Forever Aqua Eyes in OL

Tried a few brands this year, this actually smudges for me on the outer corner of my eyes but this did better than urban decay and drugstore brands for me, so I keep buying this, I still love it.

Blush ( Yes this got it's own category)

I do the same base make up almost everyday, the same eyes almost everyday, but my cheeks? Lol They are always pink and I rotate my blushes because I love ALL my blushes, but I have gathered my favorites.

Benefits Dandelion: Perfect natural flush

Beauty Maker Love Pu Pu Cheek: Just an all around adorable pink, isn't the case also so cute???

Illamasqua Katie: Perfect for baby doll light milky cheeks. Wear curls and a dress and you are a doll for the day!

Jill Stuart in Lovely Tulip: All the pinks alone are gorgeous, all the pinks swirled are gorgeous, every pink in that palette is perfect perfect perfect

Shu Uemura M Pink 33 E: nice and light gives a glow that is baby pink and can look just a little better than natural when applied just right

Lips:

Lipstick: Dior Addict High Shine in 664

The perfect pink for me, natural, easy for work, and pretty!. Slight shimmers.

Lip Balm: RoseBud Salve

I have tried many many chap sticks and this is the only thing I can apply to my lips at night for full, supple, and soft lips in the AM.

There is my 2009 round up. Hope to hear everyone else's favorites!