Glossy Box Launches in the USA!

Hey everyone! I haven't updated on my medical condition because my appointment was pushed back to early June and honestly, I would prefer to not think about it anymore. I want to move forward! Thank you guys all again for your kind comments. I'm so sorry but I have decided to not reply to comments anymore because there were some pretty weird ones in there and it wouldn't be fair if I replied to some and not all (Yeah I know its not fair already because I already started replying beforehand but I didn't realize that my post would get such a large response!) If you guys have any questions, I always respond to e-mails! Thank you especially to those brave individuals who came out to share their stories. Currently, my eyes feel a whole lot better. I haven't worn glasses in months as to not strain my eye but the other day I decided to wear glasses and WHOA EVERYTHING WAS IN HD!! I was extremely happy (its been almost three months without contacts or makeup >:)  But I'm going to wait a little bit more before I start wearing contacts again. Which means no face/outfit photos but yay for regular photos!

Anyways onto the real business. About a month ago, GlossyBox contacted me to review their cosmetic subscription boxes. This service is already available in other countries but now they are launching in USA! I have never gotten one of those subscription services purely because I have an intense fear of having too many things which causes me to be extremely careful of what I purchase. So I didn't know what to expect! It's not really the spending money monthly part but mostly the WHAT DO I DO IF I GET SOMETHING I DONT LIKE?! DO I GIVE IT AWAY... DO I FORCE MYSELF TO USE IT? ITS TAKING UP TOO MUCH SPACE IN MY LIFE BRAGGHRRWEEW I'm just one of those people that likes a small wardrobe, cosmetic collection, and everything else!

So with no real experience with these types of services, I was extremely hesitant. When I got the box, I was astonished at the amount of effort spent on packaging alone. There was a custom printed shipping box with a custom printed Glossy Box. Inside there was, custom printed tissue paper, two large pamphlets on what is included and a cute "passport", an official letter, and of course the goods. I was surprised at the five large full sized products they sent me! Included is with Kryolan  High Gloss Brilliant Lip Shine, O.P.I. Kiss Me on My Tulips Nail Polish, Cargo EyeBronzer, Basq Cucumber Tea Eye Gel, C.O. Bigelow Lavender & Peppermint Shampoo,  and a sample size of Erno Laszlo Hollywood Collection.

I haven't used the products aside for the eye gel yet so I can't give my opinion on the product themselves. I do however enjoy the service that GlossyBox provides. I think this is a special launch box and that future boxes will include maybe one or two full sized products. Overall, the 21$ price tag is a bit steep for samples given the competition, definitely a steal for full size items. However, they do have a feature that lets you CUSTOMIZE YOUR BOX... well sort of. But you fill out one of those style profiles that will let their experts make a box tailored to your needs. Does this change my opinion on the service? Hell yeah. Because the only reason why I wouldn't subscribe is the fear of getting stuff I won't use. I mean I could get a bajillion sample sized products of random things I wouldn't want for five bucks cheaper or I can get small deluxe samples of things I'll actually use. Hats off to you GlossyBox.

Until Next Time,

Mint

Some Gifts & a Few Epic Videos!

Hey its been a while! Well to make up for it, heres two more videos! The first was a contest entry (haha) i never do this but this time I decided to just do it! If I don't win, at least I'll learn something from filming and it sounds fun anyways. So I kind of went ... really crazy on this and built a vanity set and dolly and everything. I was going to build a ringlight as well but time ran out. Maybe next video.

The other video is just a behind the scenes thing of me building the set and editing. No behind the scene filming though because its seriously just me and a camera HAHAHA! Also I've been mega lagging on blogs but here are some mixed photos! 

Thank you so much to Katie for the Coastal Scents Palette! Its pure love <3!, Anz for all the hardcore accessories :),  Shirley for the two Kate palettes + mascara! I wear the palettes everyday, Amy for the lashes + eyebon, & Khatsii for the lipgloss & card (totally saves my life during this dry weather time).

I also bought a few mascaras, One that I love and two that I had to return. I love the Covergirl Lashblast. Almost as much as my Maybelline Colossal Lash but not quite. Unfortunately, the Clinique mascaras I got were pure poop to be honest. It felt so heavy and gloppy. It could barely hold the curl at all. NO ME GUSTA! 

Also, I bought narcissus from NYX which I adore and I also bought a few lipsticks for an upcoming giveaway. I think I actually might do two giveaways this time, one for YT and one for blogger? I don't know! ARGH!!

Until Next Time,
Mint

The Stand In Make-Up Artist

 

I've been such a great blogger, trying to blog frantically these days to make up for the lack of entries and the upcoming review entries (I try not to have too many review entries every month to balance things out)... For Christmas, my beloved boyfriend helped me sell ALL my computer parts (goodbye gaming desktop!) and paid for the difference to buy me a MacBook Air -- I'm quite the newly evolved apple fangirl. Now I feel très chic sipping my corporate-chain coffee while blogging on my shiny new laptop outside my house. This gives me so much more incentive to write (plus its unforgiveably romantic sitting at a coffeeshop with my boyfriend till dark then holding hands and walking home. Especially with all the Christmas lights).

So before break, there was an bi-annual fashion show at my school. One of my lovely friends, Ariel had her line in the show but her make-up artist cancelled on her the day of! She called me up to help with the make-up and photography and I, being the great friend I am, gladly accepted in exchange for some home baked cookies.  Here are some backstage and finished photos :) 

Until Next Time,
Mint

Revlon Colorstay, Wetwild Palette, Maybelline Colossal Volume Express

So a few days ago, I had to restock on some essentials. My old mascara (beloved Kate Volume) was bought a year ago (gross. how unsanitary) & its time for it to retire! My foundation has also been overused so I cleaned out my make-up thoroughly, went on my way to CVS, & bought Revlon's Colorstay in Buff (I actually bought the oily skin formula & had to return it for the dry skin one), Wet & Wild Palette in Vanity, & Maybelline Colossal Volume Express Mascara.

First up, Maybelline's Colossal Volume Express didn't really wow me as much as I hoped. Its certainly a great mascara but it doesn't make my lashes thick enough. Yes on length no on volume. Also, I'm a fan of the curvy brushes and this brush makes me smear if I'm not careful. Its waterproof so it takes a LOT to really take this mascara off (more than my other waterproof mascaras). As a disclaimer, you need to work really fast with this mascara as its hard to layer after it dries. Minimal clump though (not that I care. I actually think some clumps on the lower lash are cute.)

As for the Wet & Wild palette. Its AMAZING!! I needed a small palette after brutally killing my majorca majolica one. I really really love this palette as it has three true mattes & three shimmers. I use the matte side way more often but its seriously a great deal. I opted for Vanity because it was all neutrals (my everyday colors) Only downside is theres no mirror but I can't complain, Wet & Wild.

The Revlon Colorstay foundation really lives up to its hype. However, I noticed that the formula for dry skin is a bit darker than the formula for oily skin. Not really a big problem but something to take into consideration. The only thing I think it can improve is the packaging with a pump. It makes my skin look completely flawless and for 13 dollars, you can't beat the price. For people who are afraid of streaking, you can always mix a bit of moisturizer with this for your everyday look. I have noticed I'm getting a bit of minor blemishes but its too soon to tell if its a direct cause of the foundation or if I'm just breaking out from other things (not getting enough sleep, hormonal imbalance, etc.)

Until Next Time,

Mint.

P.s. My hair is brown now! Pics for next post :) :)

EOS Candy Eye Circle Lens & Revlon's Soft Nude Review

Long time since I wrote a review about anything.. Well mostly because I've been having so many new ideas for filming. I shop a lot so I try to test out my products for at least two-three weeks before I write a review on it.

OKAY I HAVE TO SAY THIS BEFORE MY REVIEW... IS IT JUST ME OR DO CAMERA PHONE IMAGES MAKE YOU LOOK 1000X BETTER LOOKING? Or even point and shoot cameras. I've been testing lighting on camera and on my beauty dish.... It is extremely hard to light my face without making me look doughtastic (flattened features, etc.) I think I look so much more "realistic" on camera and in cell phone photos. IDK if its only me or do other people notice this too? Anyways, onto the reviews...

I got this because Canmake's melty nude lipstick wasn't cutting it for me anymore. Under certain light conditions it looks more pale pink nude than a true nude. I was looking for a cheap alternative when I stumbled upon this! It was buy one get one half off at Walgreens and I needed a new Revlon liquid eyeliner (I highly recommend it. That shit stays on your skin forever) so I picked this up along the way.

Here is a swatch of it on my skin. This is a really bad nude for pale skin tones. Its way too orangey and not pigmented enough. I had to pack that shit on for it to show up on my skin. And I say shit because, it is... shit. Its a really bad nude. I'm sure for darker skin tones, this might be a bit better but that horrid orange undertone.... Overall I would give it a 2 out of 5 stars. One star for being half off and another one for having nice packaging.

After I got this I immediately went on ELF's website and bought three natural nymphs. It is still the best and cheapest nude I've ever used.

Next up, I bought new circles because I needed a new brown. I opted for these EOS Candy Series lens because I thought it would make me look dolly. I think dolly is an understatement. These make me look like I'm straight up on drugs. I enjoy the effect quite a lot since I think I look rather dashing being a drugged up possessed vampire-esque being. These are actually my new favorite lens. Even my boyfriend was all "damn you look amazing!" ... but I think that's because he secretly enjoys the drugged up possessed vampire niche. 

Also, I'm doing way more natural lashes/shadows now. I'm wearing Diamond Lash's fairy eye which I have been bashing for around a year now and I have to say, not bad with layers of mascara.

Here is a photo of me my badass contacts on and that horrid Revlon lipstick. Comfort wise, they are actually quite drying. I mean I don't mind since I've worn circles for like 16 hours at a time without eye drops (LOL IM GONNA BE BLIND SOON) but for most normal people, definitely expect a bit of discomfort. This was my first time wearing them and I could feel them sticking to my eye after 6-8 hours. You aren't supposed to wear them for that long anyways so myeh.

Until Next Time,

Mint

Giant Food Adventure + Matte Make-up + Outfit

 

Hi there! I decided since I've eaten such good food in the past few days that from now on, I would mention where I would go to eat and the pricing of food (for the most part. I forget the price sometimes). Now as I live in San Francisco, food here is a bit more expensive than other places but I realized that some of my readers are from the Bay Area and maybe they would like to know where I go :)

A few days ago, one of my acquaintances in L.A. (Stephanie Butaya) came to visit San Francisco. I have probably bumped into her two-three times so I decided to ask her to hang out with me and get to know her better.

I treated her out to some fusion Burmese food and tart. Then my boyfriend treated us all out to some dessert!  We didn't get any good photos together so no photos from that day [boo!]

The place is called Burma Superstar. Its actually so popular that we went to their other restaurant across the street (B-STAR) ... that serves the exact same food!

My cocktail. It was made from blood oranges! Delicious! Stephanie didn't get anything cuz shes not of age yet haha.

 Tea leaf salad. The lady told me that the owner actually gets the tea leaves from Burma. This salad is one of the popular entrees and I can tell why.

Ceviche. I LOVE CEVICHE!! This one had pepper crusted tuna tataki with avocado, wakame, and spices. Highlight of my meal!

Chicken & shrimp biryani. Its baked with chicken, shrimp, peas, toasted almonds, egg, cilantro, basmati rice. I'm not too big of a fan of its flavor. Its slightly smokey sweet and nothing to write home about. (it must be because I really despise sweet salty foods haha)

We also got some french fries (not pictured because there's nothing special about a bunch of fries). Total of our meal was around 45, 55 with tip [Aaron's 20% tipping has rubbed off on me. I tip 20% everywhere now!] and TOTALLY WORTH IT! three appetizers, an entree, and a cocktail for that price? Unbeatable! I totally recommend this restaurant to every one in the bay area.

Afterwards we went discount shopping and such and I decided to buy a tart for my boyfriend and one for us to share as well. Stephanie got me a glitter NYX palette that I've been dying to try out because she felt bad about me paying 8D!! I've been dying to try that palette for forever! (I think every one and their mom knows which palette I'm talking about)

 

Schuberts Tart. Total? 7.50 for two! These are seriously the best tarts I've eaten in my life!

As if that wasn't enough food, we went to 100% Sweet Cafe to get some more. I think the total was 20 dollars but I'm not sure because Aaron paid.

Kumquat & milk pudding! One of the best things there

Milk Tea pudding. Really good!

We also got chicken wings & more fries, & two specialty drinks. twenty dollars was super cheap for the amount of snacks we ordered. 

Today I decided to eat a chicken burger. The place is called Bill's Place. My burger was 10 dollars + 2 dollars to substitute the fries for curly fries. I think this burger is pretty good but I wouldn't call it a ten dollar burger. Maybe a seven dollar burger but definitely not ten dollars. I've tried a bunch of their burgers before and they are definitely a hit or miss.

 

Look how bit it is once I stack it up. Its a really vintagey burger joint with lots of things to look at. Cute place to bring someone on a first date HAHA! Aaron really recommends the Letterman Burger (it comes with alfalfa sprouts and avocado).

I decided to try some matte make-up again. I was actually inspired to do some "natural make-up" but if you guys know me well, that never works out.

  

The results. I wore smaller diameter circles (regular nudy blues have 14.0) so it would appear more "natural" but I don't think I was successful at that. I do love the effect a lot though!

Outfit for today. Very casual top that I got at a secondhand store a while back. I love the cut of it! Its actually a brand from Urban Outfitters that was selling for 15 dollars at the store!

Here is a photo of the back. I had to pin the straps up because it was too big for me! Its meant for layering.

Until Next Time,

Mint