The Face Shop - in Hawaii!!!

I haven't really finished my Christmas shopping so I had decided earlier this week that Sunday would be the day. I did complete some of it, but I still have a few more presents to look for. I work all week so I guess I will be one of those late night crazy people fighting for parking at the mall!

As we were driving through town today, I glanced out the window at one of the strip malls and saw a sign that said "The Face Shop". I thought I was seeing things! If you don't know what The Face Shop is, its a Korean cosmetic company that originated in 1962 manufacturing cosmetics, that turned into a retail business in 2003.  They believe is in melding nature with beauty which is epitomized via naturalism, health and purity as a lifestyle (www.thefaceshopen.com).  Some of the things that I saw were: all sorts of cosmetics, bb creams, facial cleansing products, face masks, eyelashes, some brushes and other accessories. The funny thing is I was just briefly browsing their website the other day looking at bb creams. I think I was MOST excited about seeing bb creams in person since I am sort of interested in them.

This is the first time I've been IN a Face Shop store, so I just purchased a few things including:

• Herb Day Cleansing Wipes (70 sheets - $8)
• Lovely Me: Ex Makeup Base (In purple and in green, $5 each)
• Eyelashes ($3 each)

One of the employees threw in samples of bb creams, serums, tonerss and a mask. I am excited to try out the tiny samples of bb creams to see what they are like.  I normally like medium coverage for my foundation, so I was thinking that bb creams may not be for me, until I am really confident about the condition of my skin.  My skin is not really bad per se, but I'm thinking my dark circles will not be concealed well with lighter weight face products.

Enough talk, here are a few pictures.  I'm sorry about the quality - I took them in my room when the sun was already going down and without any additional lighting :)

The sale girls told me that the face bases were for the younger girls and she pointed me to some of their Phytogenic Infinite Makeup Base - which was $21 or so. I ignored her suggestion (politely )and purchased some of the $5 base to test out the brand.

Have you tried The Face Shop? What do you like or don't like? What do you think about bb creams and which ones have you tried?

December 2011 Birchbox

At the end of last month I subscribed to Birchbox and I was so excited waiting in anticipation to find out what I would receive. I got the box today and was sooo disappointed! Unfortunately, I cancelled my subscription because based on others reviews on YT re: Birchbox, it probably wouldn't be worth the $10/month.  I made a short video and am currently trying to upload it. I think when Glambox has boxes available, I will subscribe to that instead.

3 Custom Color Specialists

A lot of people shopped online on Cyber Monday to get great deals on electronics.  Instead I found some great deals on cosmetics for brands that I normally would not try! I really wanted to shop the Eve Pearl 40-55% off deals, but their shipping to Hawaii was outrageous!! I decided to pass (*sob*) on their concealers and correctors (*double sob*).

What I did happen to stumble across was 3 Custom Color Specialists 30% off sale! I had somehow come across them prior to Cyber Monday, but wasn't ready to shell out the regular prices for their products without really knowing how their products worked and applied.

3CCS actually can custom make a shade for you or even recreate a favorite discontinued shade for your eyes, lips, cheeks or face! The best way is to send them a sample of what you are hoping for them to recreate and they work off of that.  I haven't personally done this, but isn't that so awesome??

Lets get down to what I purchased. I bought the Professional Concealer Palette which normally is $58 and their concealer/foundation in shade 4 which normally is $22.50.

 To find out which shade would best suit my skin, I emailed them a picture of myself, along with the shade of MAC foundation that I normally wear (NC25) and asked which shade of their concealer/foundation. Chad (one of the owners) emailed me back the same day with the information - which I thought was really great customer service.

All of their concealers are also foundations.  They are full coverage, but can be made into a more sheer coverage.  The concealer palette has 10 shades and includes a little concealer brush and a spatula.  The actual full sized concealer foundation is very small compared to my MAC foundations. My MAC foundations normally have 1 oz of product, where this has 3g or .10 oz.   I haven't tested out the shade yet, but it does look close to my skin tone. I will let you all know the results as soon as I test it out!  I am so excited to use this concealer palette for my professional kit.  3CCS also offers a 30% discount for industry professionals!

Have any of you tried 3CCS?

I have a ton to blog about, need to get on it!

I have a ton of new products that I want need to share with you all, but need to actually make blogging a part of my routine. I should probably use the time after my cute cupcake falls asleep, while I am still wide awake having my "me" time before bed.  I work full time as well as being a full time single mom, so usually I am just very tired! I love to keep up with all the blogs that I am subscribed too, and recently got back into watching some youtube videos for inspiration.

Some of the new products that I have include Nars, Milani, UD, Too Faced, Mac, Yaby, and Smashbox to name a few. I have brushes, blushes, eyeshadows, palettes and more!

Oh~! I forgot to mention that I took a makeup course and got certified in makeup! I am currently in the process of building my professional kit so that I can start working on my portfolio. I bought some Yaby palettes for my kit and just need to wait for them to come in.  Yaby (www.yabycosmetics.com) was having an awesome sale that ends on 12/4 for about 35% off. You can also buy some of their products at Camera Ready Cosmetics (www.camerareadycosmetics.com) for a discounted price- some of their products are 50% off right now! I REALLY need to place an order asap for their foundation palettes which I have read are full coverage cream foundations, but can be made more sheer. I am soooo excited!!

 I will try to upload some pictures as soon as possible... It is 3am here in Hawaii, so I am OFF to bed :)

xoxo talk to you all soon!

I'm alive!

So I haven't posted here in a while, but I am still checking up on everyones blogs... so I'm not totally gone! In the past year I really haven't been purchasing any makeup, except for the necessities like foundation, powder, etc.  

I recently went to Sephora last week and bought a Tarte palette, and hated it! It wasn't really pigmented and it was really powdery. I was so disappointed that I had spent $44 on a palette that I wouldn't be using.  

Today I went to Sephora to return it, since their policy is if you are not "completely satisfied", you can return your items.  

I left with the Naked Palette by Urban Decay (I know.... finally!!), Nars lipstick in "Cruising", Kat Von D Palette in Beethoven and Buxom Diamond Lips in Celeste.

This is just a short post to say hi to everyone and show you a quick pic of what I purchased. I hope to be back soon! <3

Happy New Years

Happy New Years everyone!

To a wonderful year filled with happiness, hope, joy and love!

xoxo,
Caitlin