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Oily skin?

November 11, 2008

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Here are some things I recommended for FB! I picked out the top two choices, that I could find – feel free to leave names of products in comments for her to try!

Moisturisers:
Mario Badescu control moisturiser (fill out their questionnaire on their site and they’ll send samples)
DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturising Dew – I can’t vouch for this, but it’s supposedly pretty good!

Oil-control (if you’ve got crazy oily skin, these are a better bet than the moisturisers! If they don’t work, the next step would be switching to a cleanser for oily skin, adding in an astringent toner, using an oil-free moisturiser, and then an oil-free treatment x.x)
Dr. Brandt Pores No More – though a little pricey, this sounds absolutely ah-mazing.
Dermadoctor Tease Zone is a love it/hate it from the sounds of it… but those that love it really love it!

Tags: /Base, Moisturizers, Other, Want help? You got it.

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Do you remember?

November 11, 2008

Rae Chen

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I remember – and no, I’m not going to recite the Flanders poem (we had to memorize and recite that every year in elementary and it drove me insane) because I honestly think that, though the poem is lovely, people should be able to remember without a poem.

So remember with me that people died for our freedom – people who had families back home, people who were loved and cherished. A mother’s only son and a wife’s only hope. Take a minute from your day to issue a silent thank you to all those men and women that never came home.

I would never be brave enough to do that, and I want to personally say thank you to all the dead soldiers, to all the veterans, and to all the people who lost people. Thank you… and I’m sorry.

Let’s hope we can do something worthwhile before our time’s up, ladies and gentlemen, because if we just waste our lives, what good were their deaths?

Tags: /Current affairs

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The "cool" solution

November 10, 2008

Rae Chen

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Rhoto V Cool eyedrops were a write-off from the start. You can’t buy them in Canada, and they cost about double the regular price for eydrops.

But, I’m me, so I went and found them in a US Safeway. After reading a rave review, I decided these were for me – my eyes get crazy red when they’re dry and I’m tired, and I’m sick of making small children scream! (Just kidding. Sorta.)

But then we encountered a problem – the drops burn like hell! You know how it feels when you get shampoo in your eyes? Times that by five and add some random stabbing.

So, not one to give up easily (the packaging is so cute!), I tried again. Washing my hands thoroughly I put a drop on my index finger on my left hand and touched my right middle finger to it lightly, getting about 1/3 of a drop on the finger pad. I touched the rounded drop to my eye and – magic!

I wish these drops were smaller, because in small amounts they are wonderful! Cooling in a refreshing way, and they really do their job taking out redness.

All in all, I think the concept is great but the execution is bad – they should put less cooling stuff in these. But, if your eyes are less sensitive than mine, go ahead and try them! (note: they do read not for children and such, and it is stated even more so than on regular eyedrops. Normal anti-reddness are like, “not for children under six” or something, and these list “for adults only”. Do not use these if you’re young!)

Before: (This was a particularly bad day, and I’m sorry for making you see this! Enlarge it and you’ll really see what they look like, when the photo isn’t squashed – eew.)After: The results speak for themselves! Amazing!

Tags: /Other

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Concealer hunting with FB

November 9, 2008

Rae Chen

4 Comments

I came up with the following list for FB. The background information? We’re up in Canada, she’s a MUFE lift concealer shade 3 (but it’s a little too yellow.) Looking for a little more coverage, though, she came to yours truly…

…and I came up with this list! It’s copied right out of the email, so it might make a little less sense to you guys ^^ She wanted a solid, but there are a few liquids in there, too – they’re small enough to take on the plane, and have great coverage!

MUFE’s Full Coverage Concealer; I’m guessing you’d be a 4 or 8, but the swatches on Sephora’s site aren’t great! It’s a little more expensive, but that’s because it’s got amazing coverage. This one IS a liquid, though! But I’m suggesting it anyways because the tube isn’t all that large (0.05 oz) and the coverage is amazing.
Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in shade 1 or possibly 2. I can’t vouch for the coverage of this one, though, because my Sephora doesn’t carry it! I do know people that love it, though – her concealer duo practically has a cult following, but mixing shades doesn’t sound like it would be your thing :P
TheBalm Time Balm concealer. I just bought this one in lighter than light and I love it – unfortunately, it’s more expensive in Canada than the US (which makes me so angry!) but It’s worth it. (it’s like, $17 in the US! And $25 up here!) Great coverage, pot form, comes with a sponge if you need it. (I took mine out – sponges get dirty and I don’t like how they apply. I use a flat-ish eyeshadow brush to apply this and it works amazingly!) I would guess light for undereye, light/medium might work too…
Lancome Effacernes. Another tube one, but it’s made for undereye and is waterproof. The coverage is crazy with this one and it’ll definitely wear through the day. I’m guessing Light Buff or Beige III.
LORAC Double Feature has a liquid and a solid end. The liquid should be small enough, though, not to give you trouble when you’re flying! DF 2 would be you, I believe. It’s great because you can slick on some liquid in an instant every morning on your way out the door, but you can also choose the solid end if you’ve got a blemish to cover up. They also make just a pot of concealer, but it’s not nearly as good as this duo – the staying power isn’t comparable at all, and some people find it settles into lines.
Finally, your best bet: Urban Decay 24/7 Concealer Pencil. If DEA suits your skintone… BUY! BUY! BUY! I tried CIA and it didn’t work with my skintone, but my god, the formula is amazing! It gives heavy coverage, doesn’t settle into lines, doesn’t tug at skin, is on the cheaper end and comes in a convenient pencil form! It’s amazing for blemishes or undereye areas. (I love this formula so much – I was so disappointed that CIA didn’t work with my skintone, and I’ve been raving about the formula ever since!)

Hope that could help a few more people! I love doing this kind of stuff, so the offer is extended to all of you as well – if you ever need a “product researcher”, I’m your girl! This is the work that I love doing, and as long as I’m not swamped in work I would love to do it for any of you as well!

Tags: /Base, Lancome, Make Up For Ever / MUFE, Want help? You got it.

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Well that’s awkward.

November 8, 2008

Rae Chen

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Not because I’m strong, or tall, or fabulous… but because I apparently have no morals (HEY! If the kid attacks me first, I totally get to swing him or her at another kid’s face! It’s fair game!)

Created by OnePlusYou

Anyhow, I wouldn’t make a very good human shield, either. Too small, wimpy, and lame.
24%

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And these results? They make my happy face light up! (heh. NOT.) Well, at least I’m worth that much.
$6965.00

Created by OnePlusYou

I have two last words for you: run, bitches.
43%

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Tags: /Uncategorized

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Addicts, anyone?

November 7, 2008

Rae Chen

11 Comments

I love me some MU just as much as the next junkie – however, some girls are completely unreasonable in their MAC obsessions! I think it’s great to find a brand you love and are loyal to, but $100 for a LE item (I’m not joking – after the first Petticoat release, they were selling for this much on Ebay!) is ridiculous! Think about what $100 could do aside from buy a blusher – a hundred bags of chips, 2000 five-cent candies, about six scarves, a pair of jeans or two, a winter coat (or maybe just half a winter coat, depending), ten low-end blushers, a set of (nice) brushes…

So anyhow, this Friday’s question is: What brands are you unreasonably addicted to? Yes, all you MAC junkies, I’m looking at you. And also all you Korean-beauty-brand junkies.

On the contrary there is this question: What is your opinion of crazy-ass makeup lovers? This one’s for all you non-MU girls out there!! I’d love to know what you think of us, and prove you wrong. Because, honestly, we’re more than pretty made-up faces. I’ve met a ton of girls that are makeup-obsessed who also happen to be unbelievably kind and cleaver (However, I’ve also met a lot of makeup-obsessed girls that are pretty bitches, unfortunately)

Speak!

Tags: /YOU

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Be gone with you, shiny T-zone!

November 6, 2008

Rae Chen

10 Comments

I got a sample of MAC’s Oil Control Lotion for my sister, only to find that it is not paraben-free :( She’s developed a pretty bad allergy to them recently, so we’re trying to find a paraben-oil-and-sunscreen-free moisturiser for her!

Anyhow, I figured it couldn’t hurt to try it! The sample is in the cutest little 5g jar; it’s a short fat cylinder (unlike most jars, there are no curved edges) and says MAC on the top. Hey, if they sold the jars, I would totally buy them! The sample is extremely full, which may be in part because of the great SAs at the West Edmonton Mall MAC (the one in The Bay, not the standalone)

I slicked some on my T-zone yesterday morning – my thoughts follow!

The lotion is very liquidy, but I don’t think it would be a problem in its normal packaging. I think this is great, because a little bit will spread out a lot, meaning you use less! Cost-effective and perfect for oily girls. It’s got a light scent which I don’t mind, but don’t like – however, this smell dissipated within about five minutes and by then time I got around to putting on fragrance (more on that later) it was gone.

I usually need some blotting tissue around noon, just in my t-zone (I’m not *very* oily, though – I can use the same piece of blotting tissue for a week, and you bet your toasted socks I do!) anyhow, by lunch, my face was still oil-free! Well, it was a touch more oily than it was in the morning, but just barely. There was a bit of oil in my t-zone by the time I got home around 4:30, but – get this – there was less oil than there usually is by lunch time! Yes, it cut my oiliness down by more than a half. (There I go again, deftly quantifying the unquantifiable!)

For all you Americans out there, definitely buy this one – $28 for 1.7 fl. oz! However, I don’t know if it makes sense for us Canadians – it’s great, but maybe not $36 worth of great. Geez, MAC! That’s almost 30% more expensive! I mean, I get that the Canadian dollar is worth less again, but it’s not like we make more money!!

Tags: /Moisturizers, Other, Product Review

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Presidency for Obama!!!! :D

November 4, 2008

Rae Chen

8 Comments

I cried. Did you cry?

Speak to me! I almost didn’t believe it the first time the little one told me (I was at her place when the results came out). And then I promptly ran around screaming and dancing.

Tags: /Current affairs

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Hobbies

November 4, 2008

Rae Chen

5 Comments

I really hope it’s okay with them… but I’m posting airbrushing that I’ve done for girls on MUT! Original photo on the left. (These ladies are all unfairly pretty! *pouts*)

So: open both images in other tabs, and use “ctrl + tab” to switch between them – it gives a before/after effect. Also, I couldn’t get them to fit double-column unless I made them too small to see well :P

SabrinaGermany

FilleDeVanille – took out the pipes, gave the picture a little more definition (esp around eyes, and some in the hair to make thos e gorgeous locks look healthier). I loved the coldness of it, though, so that stayed!

juxtapose – suffers from always-washed-out syndrome, lol!! We gave her a little more colour in her cheeks and lips, as well as defining her eyes. If you notice, I also burned the background so it didn’t look so dark and artificial!

Andi – I can’t find the original, but this is the original hair colour – I’ve just perfected the skin, lips, and eyes. She wanted brunette, so I threw that in as well on the right!

Also, I found this retouch from a while back. If I do say so myself… I did an amazing job with it!! Image from GettyImages, but I’ve gone and misplaced the link x.x I’m super-proud of this one, but to see why you really have to shift from the edited/not edited layers.

No idea how I did this one – unarched the brow, changed the eye colour, warmed up the complexion, evened out the eyes, and smoothed the skin. The model is so gorgeous to begin with it felt overwhelming! It looks like it could *almost* be a skincare ad, no? :P (yes, that is my over hyped confidence calling. It blames too much sleep (gasp!) and too much caffeine!)

These photos really need to be seen as before/afters with tab switching. I’m crazy proud of the last two, especially in comparison with everything above!

Tags: /Photoshop and photos

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Read me!

November 2, 2008

Rae Chen

2 Comments

I was going to give a specific link to a great Snark Scribe post but I couldn’t settle on just one.

So here is the link to her blog. I adore this woman; she’s a bloody genius! Snark’s posts are always well written, hilarious, and/or thought provoking.

You must go read about her experience as a bat, and her epic tales of a shitty Mr and Mrs Landlord ^^

WEREN’T YOU LISTENING?! I SAID GO! GO READ! :P

Tags: /Link love

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