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Crazy Canadian shipping rates

January 21, 2009

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Canadians, as you may have noticed by now, pay a shitload for shipping.

A lot of people don’t use the postal system anymore because, well, why would you, with email? But for myself and a lot of other swappers, even people like my parents who run a small buisness, postage rates have a pretty big effect on our lives. If someone wants a couple books shipped to Singapore, for instance, it’s easily going to ring up an $80 bill. Ka-thump. One more customer lost.

Anyhow, Maclean’s (yes, I read Maclean’s, because I’m an old person like that) has a great (short!) article on shipping prices. Click to enlarge! I made them small enough that they won’t crash your computer opening them (about 800 pixels across instead of the 2500-ish that they originally scan to) but large enough that you can still read them. Canada Post raised shipping prices Jan 12th, and will raise them even more Feb 23.

Maclean’s, I’m sorry for “borrowing” your article, but a lot of Americans (and for that matter, a lot of Canadians!) don’t get Macleans… but I still think they should read this article! It’s because I love you. Now, Cathy Gulli, please don’t eat me alive for borrowing this!!
For reference’s sake (according to Canada Post Online) –

It now costs $0.54 to mail a letter within Canada.
To mail a letter to the US, it’s $0.98
A parcel that’s 18 x 14cm (a lot of envelopes are about that size), 0.5kg (which falls in the cheapest weight class), and 0.5cm thick, it will be $9.71 within Canada, according to their rate calculator.
To the States, that’ll be $7.00

Little fuckers.

Tags: /Current affairs

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A nifty idea

January 21, 2009

Rae Chen

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These plastic peel-back fragrance testers are on the rise in magazines and the sort – I think it’s kinda cool. Much less obstructive than the regular thick-walled, folded-over stuff pages, easier to peel open, and shut again.Kudos to Juicy Couture (and Mark., which does these as well if I remember correctly)! I like the concept.

Speaking of cool new fragrance samplers, Neutrogena is capitalizing on the old idea of scratch and sniff.
What’s new about this? Well, it actually smells like the product – deliciously grapefruit-y! It’s lovely because there isn’t any awkward peeling back, and come on… who doesn’t love scratch ‘n sniff?!

Tags: /Uncategorized

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How do you prefer your swatches?

January 19, 2009

Rae Chen

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Revlon Super Lustrous gloss in Nude Lustre is much too warm for me.

Orange-toned, this gloss’ main downfall is its colour – the problem is not in the formula (glossy, fairly pigmented, and decent-smelling, though nothing fabulous) but the shade.

I’ll give you a full review when I have a chance to try this in a different colour and wear it around for the day, because I think these glosses could be great. This one, however, is way too orange for me! Maybe a warm-toned beauty could pull it off, but not me. I just looked awkward and jaundiced.

Orange like you’ve been eating too many carrots

If your blood is this colour, call your local poison center immediately.

When I wiped it off, this is what I saw (eew).

But alas! This is not the focus of the post. How would you like your swatches from now on?

1. The way they usually are – swatched on the arm, on the lips, and with a product photo (like above)

2. Holding the product with an inside swatch, (below) plus a lip swatch

3. Holding the product to the side with a swatch on the back/side of my hand (below), plus a lip swatch
It’s your choice! If I find I hate it, I might not listen to your choice… but whatever! I think I like the product photo separately, but sorting photos and keeping track of which swatch is for what item is a lot easier if they’re in the same frame.

And hey, if you have any other suggestions, go ahead and suggest away!

Tags: /Lips, Product Photos, Product Review, Product Swatches

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Lippie hunting with FB

January 18, 2009

Rae Chen

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(We did concealer hunting a while back)

Happy Sunday, folks!! Here’s the background that you need: FB is a MUFE lift concealer shade #3, which I believe is about a MAC NC40, according to a board search! She’s looking for a low-pigment gloss with a little glitter, because we all need our girly moments!

First, let’s go over the sheer lipsticks – these are great because some people find them easier to work with and wear than gloss. Especially if you’re getting older (which I’m not saying you are, hon!) or you’re going to a more serious buisness environment, they can make your lips nice and soft-looking without trying too hard.

Clinique makes Butter Shine lipstick, a glossy and scent free lipstick that feels (honestly!) like butter. These ones don’t have shimmer but there are a ton of YLBB (your lips, but better) shades. For FB I’d recommend something like “Berry Blush”, something that’ll be similar to her lip colour but shiny! The great thing about Clinique is it’s so easy to find, and you can pop into any Sephora or department store to try on shades before buying. $14/0.14oz (all prices will be USD in this post – it’s easier!)
Laura Mercier is carried in US Sephoras, but not Canadian ones. So for all you Americans: I hear their Stickgloss is great! Karlasugar has some great swatches here, and I’d recommend Purple Haze, Black Orchid, Rosewater, and maybe Courtisane to FB. It’s hard to tell in the picture, but I’ve heard some are actually quite shimmery in real life! $20/0.12oz
If you want SPF, Laura also makes Lip Kisses, which have SPF15. As you can tell from the swatches, they all have a bit of shimmer. $20/0.08oz
My love for MAC lustre lipstick isn’t a big secret, so I have to suggest them! Sheer, vanilla-scented, easy to find and try on, and moisturizing, she could wear any of these shades. The easiest for her would be Syrup, Lovelorn, and Marquise D’ (though this is limited edition with the Blonde Brunette Redhead collection) because they’re all rose/berry lipsticks that won’t “fight” with her natural colour or look too made-up. $14/0.1oz
But because I know FB, I’d think she might go with their Viva Glam V or VI, lustre lippies for a great cause.

Wow, I really need to stop going overboard x.x

No I don’t. Nevermind; pretend I didn’t say anything! Here are the lipglosses. Non-sticky, low-pigment, and shimmery in a non-disco-ball kind of way! It’s harder to find a great lip gloss, because they do have a tendency to be sticky. It’s like a trade-off: you can have a smooth gloss or you can have good staying power, it’s your choice.

First, the low-pigment ones that you could basically pick any colour of.

Philosophy glosses are always fun – with scents like “Melon Daquiri”, “Cafe au Lait” and “Begin Again Tangerine”, how could you go wrong? They’re very low-pigment and won’t deliver anything but shine, shimmer, and scent. $12/0.05oz
Kat Von D has a great Lightning Lip Gloss set. These glosses are very shimmery with very little pigment, and are regularly $18, but this set contains five mini glosses. Because they’re so low-pigment, anyone can wear any shade in moderation, which is (well, it can be) great! $26/5×0.11oz or $5.20/0.11oz

Finally, the more pigmented but still pretty sheer ones that might need a mirror, but you don’t need lipliner or anything crazy like that for.

TheBalm has two great (or so I read) lip gloss formulas – a plumping one and one with SPF17. For a Plump Your Pucker gloss, I’d recommend Pink My Lemonade or Strawberry My Shortcake for FB, sheer shimmery pinks. $14/0.25oz
The other formula is their BalmShelter SPF17. These wear off a little quicker than some glosses, but are non-sticky to make up for that. I think Daddy’s Girl, Dream Girl, or Girl Next Door would suit FB. $18/0.19oz
Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips will plump a bit and add some colour. Candi looks like a great berry, and Dolly is a nice colour that’s a little more brown/nude. $18/0.15oz
ck Calvin Klein is a new up-and-coming line that’s actually lived up to a lot of the hype. Their Delicioius Light Glistening glosses may not be packaged as nicely as their Delicious Pout ones, but the formula’s better! Rapture and Mirage would be my picks for an everyday colour. $16/0.22oz

Whew, that was fun! It took forever, but I had to do it eventually anyways – I created a gloss list for myself… and then lost it x.x Now you (and I) have somewhere to start the hunt. I know it seems like too many to narrow down, but once you decide if you want a stick gloss, low-pigment gloss, or high-pigment gloss, there are really only three or four to check out.

Now. Let me study. And for you? Go be useful!

Tags: /Lips, Want help? You got it.

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Pretty Boys

January 16, 2009

Rae Chen

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Tim Daly (Pete on Private Practice) is FIFTY FRICKING TWO.This is SO UNFAIR. It’s so unfair that I’m speaking in the hated CAPS LOCK.

Anyhow, three more pretty boys to make your Friday bearable… (okay, fine. I fell in love with the character, not the people. But whatever.)

Jensen Ackles (Dean, Supernatural)
Simon Baker (Patrick Jane, The Mentalist)
John Barrowman (Captain Jack, Torchwood)

So, have any to add to the list?

Tags: /YOU

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Flash before your eyes

January 15, 2009

Rae Chen

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I’m waiting at the bus stop in front of my school, which falls in the middle of a long, straight stretch of road. The road curves before going straight, so you see cars coming ’round the bend, and then it’s smooth, straight sailing from there.

An old red car rounds the curve – it’s going straight, but then around the bus stop it begins to swerve.

I’ve always been worried I’ll be hit by a car, so I start planning in my head: who can I use as a human shield against a car? How fast can I get behind that bench? Who here could maybe stop the bleeding?

It’s maybe thirty, forty metres from the bus stop. The car swerves and runs up onto the wide sidewalk. Someone gets out – it’s too far away for me to tell exactly how old, but he is definitely a Caucasian male. Maybe twenty, thirty? He walks to the back of his car and opens the trunk.

Wait, what the hell?

He pulls out a large duffle bag, slams the car, and begins jogging towards us, the empty car still running and on the sidewalk.

Shit. Shit, it’s the next highschool shoot-up. Who can I use as a human shield against a bullet? That guy looks tall. Oh, but he’s skinny… oh well, so am I. Where can I hide from here!?

Now, he takes a swift turn to his right.

Oh god, he’s going to kill the kids still writing their English midterms.

And I see the logo on the other side of his bag. It reads:

Domino’s Pizza.

&xx

Shut up, I know I’m a paranoid freak.

Tags: Stories/Uncategorized

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Here, let me lead you….

January 14, 2009

Rae Chen

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to a great thread :) I asked the ladies of mac_cosmetics for a hand picking a new moisturizer for dry skin (my HG Olay Complete is, unfortunately, no longer HG-worthy) and they have a ton of great tips!

Next on my list to try: jojoba oil, glycerine+water, Korres moisturizers, and TBS hemp!

Tags: /Link love

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Solid swimming pool

January 14, 2009

Rae Chen

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I finally pressed my Everyday Minerals Swimming Pool in something other than a sample jar!

Materials:
Empty compact (this one’s an old MAC Blot Powder one, cleaned thoroughly.)
What you’re pressing (EDM blusher and Fyrinnae Clear Mineral Finish, to lessen the pigmentation and make it easier to work with)
Cosmetic spatula or a small spoon etc (I used a skewer to mix, because it can get into corners, and doesn’t “scoop” product and hold it)
Mixing medium and/or alcohol (I used both Fyrinnae pressing solution and alcohol, in an equal ratio, for the perfect texture. More mixing medium = more solid finish to the pressed product, more alcohol = more dusty.)
1. Mix ingredients if there are different ones, to get an even powder.

2. Add solution, bit by bit, and mix in. Keep adding until it’s a mucky substance that is evenly wet, like a paste.
(see? I added the Mineral Finish to ensure my final product would be the same shade as the loose one, because when I tried it the first time I found that the finished product was a little more brown. And now they’re the exact same!)

3. Keep adding solution until pasty, then smooth down as best you can with the spatula.

4. Clean edges and let dry almost completely. (I was so tempted to leave it looking like this!)

5. Using a flat-bottomed object the same diameter on top of a piece of fabric or paper towel, press. I used the bottom of a small wine glass, and it fit perfectly!Tomorrow: relabelling that compact!

Tags: /Cheeks, DIY, Fyrinnae, Paraben-free, Tutorials

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Or maybe a whimper?

January 13, 2009

Rae Chen

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When I pressed my Swimming Pool with Fyrinnae’s pressing medium, it got a little more brown.

Evidence of this:The relevance of this post? None right now, but if you check back tomorrow, it’ll all make sense! Or you could just take this as your forewarning of the fact that sometimes colours darken a little when pressed (not enough to really make a difference, though)

Tags: /Cheeks, Fyrinnae, Other

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Coming back with a vengance.

January 12, 2009

Rae Chen

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Anyone interested in the everyday routine? I’ve taken, in this photograph, my “basic set” – when I’m tired and not doing anything fancy, this is pretty much all I use. Most days, now, though, I also use a brush to smudge my lower liner, and I’ll add a bit of subtle dark glitter. Vaseline over the lashes, a bit of highlight on my cheekbones, and come silica powder to set.

But as I said. The bare minimum.
On the left we start with the eyes – lash curler from Daiso ($1.50 and it’s the best one I found for our flat monolids. I went back and bought two more) and my L’Oreal Voluminous liner. Crimp quickly, and draw a very thin line on my lower lashline (not on the waterline!) Use my finger to smudge out the harshness and just have a bit of a “shadow” for depth.

In the middle; cheeks. The MAC compact contains EDM Swimming Pool, and I use my Quo brush to contour (it’s a great natural contour brush; not so much for blusher.) The Ecotools brush sweeps on some very-slightly-shimmery and perfect-toned Estee Lauder Blush All Day in Plum and we’re set.

Finally, the right – base. A bit of Boots No. 7 concealer under the eyes, blended in with my Quo All-Over-Shadow brush (it does a great job and picks up far less poduct than fingers), TimeBalm on the acne scars using a fine-tipped synthetic art brush. My adesign kabuki buffs some Intensive Fair over the bit of roseca I have on my left jawline, and the Quo all-over-shadow brush to brush some more Intensive Fair under my nose and to set my undereye and spot concealer.

There! Ten minutes, done. I usually do more than this, but as I said, if I’m in a hurry I can get away with this as a bare minimum! I usually do my base first, then my eyes, and finally my cheeks. These are some of my favourite products, obviously, so I reccomend giving them a try if you’ve been thinking about any of them!!

I’d love to hear about something that you *have* to use daily!!

Tags: /Base, Cheeks, Eyes, Other

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