Inner Beauty Friday - Book Club!

Hello!

I can't believe I haven't posted in the last few days ... The holidays caught up with me!  But I'm glad to be back for Book Club Friday!  Once again I am linking up with Heather at Blonde...Undercover Blonde.

This week I read Water Cooler Diaries: Women across America Share Their Day at Work

by Joni B. Cole & B.K. Rakhra.

 

The Synopsis from Goodreads.com - "What’s it really like to own the company...work from home...occupy cubicle-land? On March 27, 2007, over 500 women kept a diary of their workday-including drama and laugh-out-loud moments-for Water Cooler Diaries. Featuring 35 full-day accounts and hundreds of highlights, you’ll go behind the scenes with a hot new fashion designer, a McDonald’s manager, a trauma surgeon, a mechanic, a life coach, a boxing promoter. More well-known contributors include actress Angie Everhart, celebrity chef Sara Moulton, race-car driver Sara Fisher, and "Go Fug Yourself” blogger Heather Cocks, all inviting us to work a day in their shoes."

 

My thoughts: I wish I had read this book when it first came out in 2008, as it's a little dated, but it was still really interesting to read about so many different occupations and lives.  My only complaint is (Of course) all the jobs were either really prestigious or wild, with just a couple of "normal" jobs thrown in.  I want to hear more about the masses and not the 1%.

 

 

Jasmine

And to all a Good Night!

Hope you all are enjoying your families and friends wherever you are! 

 

Jasmine

Sunday Social

Hello!
 
It's Sunday, and I am going to link up with Neely @ A Complete Waste of Makeup for Sunday Social!

 
 Here are this week's Questions:

What is your favorite ice cream flavor?
Oberweis Chocolate Peanut Butter (It's chocolate ice cream with thick swirls of creamy peanut butter)

What is your favorite smell?
The lingering scent of cologne in a mans sweater - so when your close you smell it :)

What is your favorite TV commercial? (Past or Present)
The Chrysler commercial for the 200 - I thought it was really well done

What is your favorite day of the week?
Which ever day I have off!  My schedule is really random and I don't have a "weekend".

What is your favorite way to waste time?
The Internet, in all it's Candy Crush playing, pinteresting, blog reading, you tubing glory.

What is your favorite article of clothing?
A really soft Banana Republic T-shirt that I wear with some leggings when I'm chillin at home.

That's all for now!  Hope you have a wonderful Holiday!

Jasmine

I have been awarded the Versitile Blogger Award!

Hello!!

The lovely Martha from Quick, Cheap & Pretty has nominated me for the Versitile Blogger Award!  Thank you so much Martha!! 

As always with great honor comes great responsibility - and I have a few tasks to complete:

 

--Thank the Blogger which awarded you

--Share 7 random facts about yourself
--Nominate 7 fellow bloggers
--Let the nominated bloggers know that they have been awarded
--Add the Versatile Blogger badge to your blog

So withought further ado... thank you again Martha!  Please stop by her blog, it's well written, always has GREAT pictures and fun info.

Now 7 random facts about me:
1) I have been able to read since I was 4, and 30 years later I still read everyday.
2) I love Ginger Snap cookies, like the cheaper the better (Dollar store kind - yummo)
3) I love 80's TV drama's like Dallas, Dynasty and Knot's Landing
4) I have two cats Tank and Earl and they are my babies

5) I'm originally from Minnesota and I love cold weather, snow and gray days (odd I know)  but I think my Norwegian genetics are pushing through :)
6) In addition to make-up as a hobby, I quilt, knit, cross-stich, and make cards.
7) I think I'd really like to live in the UK.

Ok now onto the bloggers that I would like to nominate:

#1 - Nat from gl0ssy:  She writes about beauty products and life and has some of the best shopping skillz I have ever seen.

#2 - Lori Ann from Bat an Eyelash; Great beauty product reviews, and one of the few beautifully pale bloggers over 30 I know!

#3 - Christine from Little Red Bow: Wonderful high and low beauty product reviews and fashion advice

#4 - Tales of Knit and Nails:  Some of the most lovely and creative nailart designs I've seen and some of them I think I could actually do!

#5 - Beauty Reductionnista:  Follow her journey to reduce the amount of beauty products she has and enjoy great reviews along the way!

#6 - Beauty Redefined by Pang;  All sorts of beauty products both high and low and wonderful pictures of her wearing them - she can rock any lipcolor!

#7 - Small Budget Beauty: She finds seriously good products at low prices!

And now I'm off to let them know I nominated them!

Thank you again Martha!

Jasmine

e.l.f Studio LIne hual (part 2)

Hello:

Today I have the second part of my e.l.f  Studio haul.  This time I wanted show the actual cosmetics I got.  Here's the whole lot below:

One thing I was really excited for was the e.l.f. Studio SPF 45 Sunscreen UVA/UVB Protection Powder:

"A portable loose powder sunscreen that can be worn alone or over any makeup for key sun protection. Shields against harmful UVA/UVB rays to prevent premature skin aging and sun damage. The soft translucent powder is infused with healthy ingredients such as Aloe Vera Extract, Grape Seed Extract and Vitamins A,C & E to help nourish and soothe the skin." - from the e.l.f. website

 

 

As you can see from the picture above I wouldn't say it is "portable" as they describe.   I wouldn't throw this in my purse, I don't think I ever "carry" loose powder.  But, that aside, it is SPF 45, it's translucent, and so I am happy to apply at home!

 

I also got the e.l.f. Studio High Definition Undereye Setting Powder:

"This light-diffusing powder camouflages fine lines, dark circles and imperfections, perfect for on camera or everyday wear. The silky powder adds a velvety finish ideal for wearing alone or setting in cream concealer. The Vitamin C & K infused formula helps to restore and strengthen skin for a revitalized appearance." - from the e.l.f. website

 

 

Although it appears white in the container it goes on "clear", it does have some very fine iridescent sparkles in it as well.

 

I also got the e.l.f. Studio Cream Eyeshadow (I got 2 of the eight shades available):

"Line, shade and contour your eyes with this ultra pigmented and creaseless cream shadow. Easy to blend for layering and building color. The silky smooth and smudge-proof formula provides long lasting color for a beautiful look all day."

 

 

I got Natural Glow (left) and Candlelight (right), I did one thin layer for the picture and it came out sparkle heavy.  These remind me of the texture of the Maybelline Color Tattoo shadows.

 

I also wanted to try the e.l.f. Studio Lip Definer & Shaper:

"Enhance your lips by creating a fuller more defined lip easily! One side highlights lips to create a beautiful youthful glow, while the other side defines lips for a perfect pouty look." - from the e.l.f. website

 

 

I really like the define color - when smudged down it it creates a very nice "my lips but better color". I'm honestly not sure how to use the "shape" definer part of the pencil.  I used it to highlight the cupids bow,and it was ok...

 

 And last but not least the HD blush in Encore:

 

"Rich and creamy HD Blush naturally sculpts and highlights the cheekbones for a soft-focus effect that is great for everyday use. The Vitamin E enriched formula conditions and hydrates the skin for a healthy, radiant glow. Velvety soft, lightweight and highly pigmented color creates a long-lasting result for all day wear."  - from the e.l.f. website

 

IT IS VERY HIGHLY PIGMENTED - You only need a dot of product - as you can see I put three dots below and then I had to buff the he!! out off it and put a bunch more foundation on so I wouldn't look like a clown.  But it does last and last and it is a pretty color.  I do want more already :)

 

 

So that's it, the only thing I didn't show was the eye primer, because well it just looks like eye primer.

 

Hope you all are almost ready for the holidays and have lots of cookies in your future :)

 

Jasmine



 

Inner Beauty Friday - Book Club!

Hello!

It is Friday and the Mayan doomsday is upon us.  But if you still need something to read while you wait for the world to end,  I am once again linking up with Blonde...Undercover Blonde for Book Club!

This week I read a little non-fiction that is near and dear to me - Dreamland: Adventures in the Strange Science of Sleep by David K. Randall.

The synopsis from Goodreads.com : "In Dreamland, Randall explores the research that is investigating those dark hours that make up nearly a third of our lives. Taking readers from military battlefields to children 's bedrooms, Dreamland shows that sleep isn't as simple as it seems. Why did the results of one sleep study change the bookmakers odds for certain Monday Night Football games? Do women sleep differently than men? And if you happen to kill someone while you are sleepwalking, does that count as murder?"

My thoughts:  As I said this book resonates with me as I have one of the rare sleep disorders described in the book (REM Behavioral Disorder - I act out my dreams and "sleep" with my eyes open when I'm not medicated).  So it's always nice to hear about others like you and how they treat it (same as me!).  But even if you sleep like a baby, I think anyone would find this book fascinating.  They have discovered so  much yet so little about sleep, we spend a third of our lives doing it, and remember very little.  And ohhh the things you don't realize your body wants to be able to sleep!  And all the crazy things that happen to yo if you don't sleep enough, yet can be cured once you "sleep it off".  Just fascinating.

Jasmine

Elf Studio Line Haul (part 1)

Hello!

So e.l.f. had their 12 days of Christmas sale recently and one of the days was 40% off of their Studio products.  I had wanted to try a few, and at e.l.f.'s crazy low prices I got all sorts of stuff for $26 plus shipping.  So if any of this stuff turns out to be good it was worth the investment I think :)

Today I'm going to review the tools and make-up accessories I got.  First, I picked up some brushes.  I really like small brushes because I have hooded eyelids, and I feel like I control the product better so I got two small "all purpose" eye brushes and a small stipple brush for concealer.

 The stipple brush is not as dense as my Real Techniques brushes, but it will get the job done better than using my fingers for sure. 

I also got brush shampoo - I have a "recipe" for a brush cleaner that I use for quick cleaning.  But I wanted to try their shampoo for deep cleaning. 

I also got the Makeup Lock & Seal: "Coat your eyeliner, shadow, lipsticks, blush, brow color and more for a sealed smudge-proof wear. The quick dry and easy to use formula keeps your makeup in place for hours. Say goodbye to makeup smudges and hello to makeup that stays put!" - from the e.l.f. website.  I thought this might be fun to try (it's normally $3, but with the sale it was $1.80!) I think it will either work well or be a mess :)

And the Makeup Mist & Set :  "The invigorating mist moisturizes and soothes the skin with key ingredients Aloe, Green Tea, Cucumber and Vitamins A, C & E. The lightweight, comfortable and alcohol free formula improves makeup wearability and prevents color from running or fading."   I have read good things about this on other blogs and wanted to give it a try!

So there's the non-color makeup part of the haul and I'll have the rest up soon.

Have you tried any of these and what did you think?

Jasmine

NOTD - L'Oreal So Chic!

Hello!
 
Today I tried L'Oreal's So Chic a nude/peach nail polish with (what look like iridescent sparkles in the bottle, but appear more as just plain silver on the nail. 

 

I thought this nude color would be a nice neutral I can decorate later :

Here is the color in daylight above and with a flash below it looks most like the daylight photo in real life:

I had to put on three coats to get it opaque.  I find this to be true with most L'Oreal polishes.  And it chips like crazy without a top coat.  Not my favorite color - but I'm going to try to work with it to make it better than just the blah color it is now.

Any suggestions?

Jasmine

 

Sunday Social

Hello:
This Sunday I am linking up once again with A Complete Waste of Makeup & ashleyscarnivalride.blogspot.com for the Sunday Social:

What is the wallpaper on your cell phone?

It's a picture of the lily pond at the Garfield Conservatory.

What do you keep beside your bed?
My cell phone, hairpins and hairbands, 3 kinds of lipbalm, whatever the current book is I'm reading, my eye cream and nightcream, and handcream, my glasses (when I'm not wearing them) & most likely a Diet Coke.

What is your least favorite chore?
Dusting ...arggg so tedious

If you could eliminate one thing from your daily routine, what would it be?
Trying to make my hair look presentable, I wish it would just behave.

What do you do to vent anger?
Yell (not at people just likea loud ARGGGGGG!) or go take nap and try to simmer down.

What is your favorite Holiday of the year and why?
Halloween, I love candy and costumes and Halloween parties and fall in general.

Inner Beauty Friday - Book Club!

Hello!

Once again it is Friday and I am linking up with Blonde...Undercover Blonde for Book Club. 

This week I read The Sandcastle Girls by Chris Bohjalian:

From Goodreads: This spellbinding tale travels between Aleppo, Syria, in 1915 and Bronxville, New York, in 2012—a sweeping historical love story steeped in the author’s Armenian heritage, making it his most personal novel to date.
When Elizabeth Endicott arrives in Syria, she has a diploma from Mount Holyoke College, a crash course in nursing, and only the most basic grasp of the Armenian language. The First World War is spreading across Europe, and she has volunteered on behalf of the Boston-based Friends of Armenia to deliver food and medical aid to refugees of the Armenian genocide. There, Elizabeth becomes friendly with Armen, a young Armenian engineer who has already lost his wife and infant daughter.

 

 

My thoughts - This book was a very interesting look into Armenian history and the first World War.  It's kind of confusing because Chris Bohjalian narrates the book as a female writer; and he is Armenian and so is narrator and sometimes I wondered how much was fiction.  But overall it was an interesting and thought provoking book. 

 

Jasmine

Giveaway Winner!

Hello!

Today we have a winner from my giveaway - it's Coley S. ! ( I have sent you an email!)

Please email me at formosacandidusblog@gmail.com to claim your prizes!  In addition to the prizes from the original post :

 



 

 

Here are the "Mystery Prizes" you have also won! 

Congartulations and remember to contact me within 48 hours!

Jasmine

Sephora Pre-Christmas Mini Haul

Hello:

On Monday I got my Sephora Order. I had gotten a gift certificate and then Sephora had their VIB coupon for $15 off and free shipping (good only thru Dec 10th) so I HAD to pick some items up :)

First I got the Guerlain Precious Lights Radiance Essentials Set:

It has a full size of their Light Rejuvenating Illuminator "Precious Light Rejuvenating Illuminator hides all imperfections and brightens the complexion with a single click. Along with Gold Radiance Pigment to tone down the appearance of wrinkles, pores, and pigment irregularities, it also reflects light to create radiance. Meanwhile, a blend of myrrh oil, known for its regenerating properties and lifting and soothing peptides, creates smoother and softer skin."  It's much like YSL Touche Eclat, but I think a bit smoother.  A deluxe sample of their Light Diffusing Perfecting Primer (which is $70 for the regular size) and my favorite the Meteorites Pearls! 
The effect you get from the pearls is really hard to describe - I tried to photograph it but my vein-y hand doesn't help!

At first it looks sparkly but blended in (hand or right) it smooths and just makes the skin look light from within.  I'll have to a before and after face look to really show it.

I also got 2 items from Caudalie:

The Cleansing Water "A soap-free, three-in-one cleanser, makeup remover, and toner for face and eyes that's perfect for all skin types - even the most sensitive."  I use it like a toner, I really think you need to wash your face especially if you have the amount of product and sunscreen on that I usually wear, but this helps prep the face very well for serums or moisturizing at night.

The Lip Conditioner " This 99.5 percent-natural treatment provides a powerful blend of antioxidants and nutrients that protect, hydrate, repair, and soothe dry lips while lending antiaging benefits. It makes an excellent lipstick base."  So many good things in one!  I haven't tried it yet but I have high hopes!

I also had the code for a free Eyeko Skinny Mini eyeliner in black:

It's not as BLACK as I like my eyeliner to be but the precision is awesome and I can darken it with a black matte shadow (I like to use Lancome's It List).


I also had over 500 beauty insider points and I had been wanting the Porefessional so I got the Benefit "Swag Bag of Sexy":

It has Deluxe Samples of Benefits High Beam, Benetint, and of course the Pore-fessional.

And then I got a few samples:

A trial of Smashbox Primer - good for travel!

And two perfumes I need to try - Acoua di Gioia and Lady Gaga Fame.  I love perfume samples because A) I love, love perfume I have over 15 bottles right now... but... B) I need to wear it, to see how it will smell on me.  I am one of those people who likes all the perfumes no one else likes when they smell it from the bottle.  But once I have it on I always get compliments.  I like Florientals - and it seems like the market is moving towards lighter more fruity stuff (and I don't want to smell like Pear Glace) so I am always on the look out for a new scent. 

 

And that's it!  With my gift certificate and coupon it only cost me $3.83!  Yeah!

 

Are you looking for some pre-Christmas Swag - then enter my Giveaway Here!  (now with even more items including a philosophy lip and shower gel set and a day and night lip balm!)

 

Jasmine

 

 

MUA Cosmetics Haul & Swatches

Hello:

Earlier this year (I think it was right before thanksgiving) MUA had a 35% off sale plus free shipping (which was awesome because it's from the UK).  So I picked up a few products to try, Goodness knows I have way to much make-up but their Undressed palette is an UnbEliEvaBle dupe for the original Naked palette:

Naked Palette on Top / MUA Undressed palette bottom  image source

And the palette was only $6.42 (which with 35% off was only $4.17!)  So I got 2 other palettes and 2 blushes as well.

Unfortunately as you can see above my Undressed palette came BROKEN:(  But I talked to customer service and hopefully a new one is on its way.

 First up the blushes - I got shade 2 and shade 4:

 

Shade 4 on the left is a peach tone and Shade 2 is a rose pink - they aren't super pigmented but that is ok because they show up really well on my fair skin, so I need just a bit.

I also got the Pretty Pastels Palette :

The colors are all shimmery but I think it's a good addition to my eyeshadow collection to blend into darker jewel tones.  I think you could make the colors more intense with a white cream eyeshadow underneath.

And finally the Artiste Collection:

2 blushes - a pink and a darker rose.  A bronzer that is way too dark for me and a highlighter that is a shimmery white.  Unfortunately the pas holding the blush/bronzer/shimmer are reaally small (Like an inch and half by an inch tall) so you need to use a a very small brush to apply product.  Fortunately, I just got a small stippling brush so it works out.  The eyeshadows are nicely pigmented and a good selection of colors to make different looks.  And for $6.29 it was a great deal!
 
Have you tried an MUA products?  They are running a 40% Off sale through tomorrow at 11am Central.  Here's the website - http://www.muastore.co.uk/


And be sure to enter my giveaway -  Here!

Jasmine

 

Ipsy Bag December!

Hello!

Today I received my Ipsy subscription - and it's another wonderful bag full of goodies!

The theme was "Haute Holidays":

The bag this month is a gunmetal silver came with products from NYX, Bombshell, Mai Couture, Mirabella and Urban Decay.

The NYX product is their Loose Pearl Shadow in Charcoal Pearl which is perfect for a smokey eye!

The Urban Decay product is their 24/7 pencil in Zero.

As you can see it is black but not as black as UD's Perversion and I was surprised how easily it rubbed away after I let it sit for a couple minutes.

The Mai Couture St. Barts Highlighting Papers are way too orange for me even when I blended it as much as I could - if I want to look like an Oompa Loompa no problem!

The Mirabella product is their face and eye primer, I am excited to try it and I like the slim tube.

The gloss by Bombshell is in the shade "Hot Mess" It looks very red in the swatch, but as you can see it is a light glossy red when on.  It will look great over red lipstick. 

Again I was very pleased with my Ipsy subscription! 

Jasmine

Freckles be Gone! Week 5

Hello!

This is my 5th week of using Dermactin-TS to help remove mt freckles and hyperpigmentation.  You can read my intital review of Dermactin-TS Here.  This is the first week I actually think I can see some results:

But also I wonder if it's the color temperature of the picture - I had to use the flash because it was very gray out.  Well I think I'm going move onto a new product next week, I picked up Topiclear Skin Lightening Cream at Sally's Beauty Supply.

I also am having a big giveaway - check it out Here!

Jasmine

Gifts for YOU! Giveaway

Hello:

It's that time of year when we try to selflessly shop for others while we see all the Beauty Sets and goodies getting snatched up, WELL I have been buying things all over to prepare for my GIANT GIFTS for YOU Giveaway!

I tried to get a little bit of everything that has been popular this year and this giveaway is open internationally!  It's only going to run for a short time so I can get you your goodies by the Holiday. 
And knowing me I probably will throw in some more stuff that I find this week - so prepare for mystery prizes :)  Enter below:

Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment on my blog - it has been a fun year (and learning curve for me) but I promise to keep at it and provide you with the best content I can.  Best of Luck!

Jasmine

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NOTD - Snowflakes

Hello!

Today I wanted to share a manicure with nail art I did - which for me is rare! I'm usually a pick a color, do lots of prep work, base coat, polish, top coat and done.  Here is what I used:

Love & Beauty Polish by Forever 21 in Navy, Kiss Nail art paint in white, Kiss Nail art paint in silver

 

I started with all my usual prep work - wash hands, use Orly Primetime, put on a coat of Orly Bonder & 2 Coats of polish in Love & Beauty Polish in Navy.

Then I googled how to draw simple snow snowflakes:

Image Source

 Then I grabbed a toothpick and the Kiss Nail art paint and went to work:

They turned out ok I think!  and it toned down the Navy polish which I wouldn't normally wear on it's own - It just looks garish on me.  So hopefully this will be the first of  many nail art designs...

How comfortable are you with nail art?  Or do you like a traditional manicure?

Jasmine