Black Friday Splurge on the Pour La Victoire Jules Satchel

Hi ladies! I hadn't planned to go Black Friday shopping this year because every year when I actually go, I don't really find anything. And what better than to sleep in after a massive feast?! :)

However, late in the evening my mom wanted to go out and walk off our dinner so we stopped by a TJ Maxx in Pasadena and I found a gorgeous bag that I couldn't leave behind!

I have been looking for a rectangle-ish bag for the longest time! This one was neither too small nor too big, and the rich leather is gorgeous.

I love the structured look of this bag. It's really clean, and sophisticated looking. The hardware is distinctly feminine but not overbearingly so. Subtle. 

Both sides of the bag has a magnetic flap that covers the zippers. I thought that bit was too awesome! I love the flap and i love how it conceals the zipper...gives an illusion of added security? ;)

The inside: there is a zipper in the center, a dust bag for the satchel, and an interior zip. Holds a small wallet, phone, keys and other essentials. I never carry too much with me so this holds perfectly as a casual bag for work and play. 

The bag also has metal "legs" that it sits on! So it can sit pretty as well!

The best part? It was only $149.99! With taxes, it came out to $160-ish. It's not too bad considering this bag was a lot more and the structure and leather is so well made. I actually think this bag is so versatile, and with care it will last really long.

What I love most about it is the fact that it looks really casual and undeniably feminine in a well structured and very "user friendly" type of build.

I've never heard of this designer/brand before. Have you?

In another post, I will show you guys the rest of my goodies. I got some other knick-knacks that I haven't photographed yet. I was just totally ecstatic with this bag!

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I was stuffed to the brim with turkey, sushi, cake and wine. 

Did YOU score any goodies today?! :)

November Purchases!

Hi guys! Happy Monday! 

Thanksgiving is just right around the corner and despite my urge to shop, shop and SHOP, I actually managed to not buy anything makeup related... except for OCC Lip Tars which, in my opinion, $20.00 for a set of 4 mini's is quite good. Plus, I wanted Black Dahlia for the LONNNNGEST time! But other than that, nothing else glam related ;)

I mostly bought things for my home. My parents are coming up to visit me this week so I figured i'd better have nicer things around. I ended up buying a coffee table, some new satin bedsheets, little storage bins, baskets... things to make my home tidier and neater looking.

I went thrift shopping and got a bunch of makeup/perfume/jewelry trays. They were all around $1.99 each and I got a few. I haven't put them to use yet but I'll try and see what can come around of it. I've seen gorgeous displays of watches, perfumes, jewelry. Trays really add that minimalistic touch!

Review: Rainshadow Labs LBBC Organic Smoothie Creme

'ello all!

Sorry about my abrupt hiatus. I am back now and i hope you're all well. I can't believe this year is nearing its end. Where has all the time gone?! The holidays are coming up, which means a lot of socially awkward conversations and small talk and utter uncomfortableness, although, it can be fun after a drink or four. Right? For me, awkwardness is not actually in the workplace but my extended family - relatives and the like. It's always this time of the year when Chinese people get together and feast on anything fatty and the older folk will ask about nosy things like marriage, boyfriends, children, comparing jobs with their children who are the same age as me... GAH. Note to self: get wasted.

Anyway, on a sweeter note, I've been trying out a new hand creme. The lovely people at Rainshadow Labs sent me one of their lotions called the Organic Smoothie Creme to use and so far I am very much loving it! The ingredients are so great - lots of natural oils from fruits and nuts and various kinds of organic herbs.

This 2oz sample packs a lot of nutrients. I'm actually very impressed with the smooth texture and how fast this cream absorbs into the skin. Since I am in the office and always typing or doing something involving my hands, it is really great when a lotion is fast drying and nourishing and actually feels nice without the slick oily substance.

You can sort of see the texture here - it's not thick or heavy in any way. It's very lightly scented and smells really clean. I actually really like the scent - it reminds me of something that H20 would have - just a very clean and minimal scent.

My hands feel really soft and smooth - sort of like when you first wake up in the morning and you're just like a jello all over but your hands are exceptionally soft :) It really mimics all that, and I think it's partially due to the aloe vera.

I really highly recommend this cream if you're in the market for something lightweight and full of good ingredients. I'd highly compare this cream to my H20 seaweed cream, which is my HG hand cream that I cannot live without! 

Ingredients: Organic Herbal Infusion, Organic Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera), Isopropyl Palmitate (Palm Oil), Kosher Vegetable Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Glyceryl Stearate, Organic Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower Oil), Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond Oil), Cetearyl Alcohol, Cucurbita Pepo (Pumpkin Seed Oil), Carica Papaya (Papaya Enzyme), Organic Passiflora Incarnata (Passionflower), Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Triticum Vulgare (Wheat Germ Oil), Persea Gratissima (Avocado Oil), Macadamia Ternifolia Seed Oil (Macadamia Nut Oil), Organic Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower Oil), Aleurites Molaccana Seed (Kukui Nut Oil), Organic Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba Oil), Panthenol (Vitamin B5), Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexyl Glycerin, Ceteareth-20, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, p-Hydroxy Benzoic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Wildcrafted Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea), Citric Acid**updated January 31st, 2012

You can check out the Organic Smoothie Cream here! And the rest of their stock here. 

I think these make really great gifts for the holidays because the ingredients are high quality, and it's quite inexpensive so you can totally splurge!

Disclaimer: A 2oz sample was sent to me by Rainshadow Labs for consideration.

Review: Missha M Signature Radiance Foundation and Concealer

Happy Thursday, beautes! I hope you're all having a good week so far. Mine has been unseasonably busy, but I think of all the holiday cheer coming our way and I feel like I should be working 100x harder o_o 

I have yet again another foundation review.  This time I'm reviewing a set - foundation and concealer from Missha - a Korean brand very much known for their range of bb creams. 

First of all, I must say that the packaging is absolutely gorgeous! Both the foundation and concealer jar is made of glass so it's quite heavy and carries that bit of luxury you'd expect from high end cosmetics. The signature gold cap is so pretty and it reflects the image of what I really like from a makeup brand - elegance and sophistication. 

Missha Signature Radiance Foundation in Shade #21

The texture of this foundation is very creamy, but on the drier side. It feels thick-ish, compared to sheer foundations so I'd say this one has medium coverage with room for heavy coverage. 

It has a semi-matte finish that dries quickly. You can already see it drying out around the edges where I massaged it in. 

This foundation is also heavily scented. It has a very floral/musky smell that's pleasant but can be overwhelming. Honestly, it doesn't bother me too much but I'd much rather prefer something lighter like Bourjois. 

My experience with the foundation has been good. I think the coverage is suitable for nights out when you want something heavier. Your skin needs to be at its maximum hydration levels otherwise it might appear too dry or powdery or it might accentuate dry patches on your face. I always moisturize with something underneath just in case my skin dries out throughout the day because of office AC. 

It appears very yellow-ish. It's a heavily pigmented foundation so it's definitely much denser even in color. I found it to have a very strong yellow undertone, sometimes too much because my skin tone is neutral-ish. 

I think the coverage appears kinda heavy-ish. When I look at myself in a mirror, I can tell that I'm wearing foundation. It's not something I always go for because sheer foundations are my favorite but this one covers better and gives a really polished look. Probably best for corporate photos or photoshoots in general, hah. 

Lasting power is very long. It's made to withstand the cold and heat! Holds up for hours. 

And now...the concealer!

Like its foundation counterpart, this concealer is also very heavy duty. I actually really like this a lot. It has a very nice neutral base, and the coverage is fantastic. Perks up even the most tired of faces ;)

For example:

My bare face with just a tad of concealer being applied. Right side has concealer on already. The difference it makes is pretty incredible and i love how you only need so little!

Texture is on the dry side but opaqueness is top dollar here. It's very heavy duty! 

There is also a very strong scent (same as the foundation). You really have to pat this concealer on well, otherwise you'll see very uneven blotches. Since it's so opaque, the best is to start off by using as little as possible and building up. With my more water based concealers, I just put on a ton and blend but you have to beware with this one.

Overall, I would recommend this foundation for long nights out. It has incredible lasting power, both the foundation and concealer. This is not something I'd wear on a daily basis but on occasion, it's very nice. The packaging is lovely and the effectiveness of these two products work together seamlessly. 

Here's the rest of the products i used to complete the look :)

My Jill Stuart blush! :) I won this in a giveaway, I think. Gorgeous shades of coral and pink.

One of my FAVORITE lip products - OCC Lip Tars! The one I used is called "Vintage".