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    Worth the Hype?

    That was the last post in the Worth the Hype? series. (click on the link to see them all) I hope you liked!

    Now, I would like to say that I wrote those posts because I enjoyed it. And it would be true, because I did. But why did I start? I mean, I didn’t begin as a beauty blogger, I began as a personal blogger. I still am, I just…don’t want to think too much about my life right now.

    Though, I’m starting to think that maybe I should. So, I’m off to go write that, and I’ll post it tomorrow.

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    Worth the Hype? Vaseline

    Yes! Vaseline is your cure-all beauty product, it is your holy grail! Good ‘ol pure petroleum jelly has been around for years, and for good reason. This has fulfilled every promise 8-hour has made and has come short upon, and more.

    But what can you do with this super-cheap holy grail? (Which can be even cheaper, by buying a drugstore brand, which is literally the same! …er, just don’t buy scented. Remember, some of the come smelling like baby powder!)

    • Make lipgloss. Like, actually. I have a tutorial (my first!) in the works, but I have to get my act together.
    • Use it, pure, as a nice, shiny, clear gloss. Moisturising as hell, and super-cheap, not to mention non-sticky!
    • Put it on cuts to help heal them.
    • Slather it onto dry elbows and knees to plump ’em full of moisture.
    • Rub into hands, cuticles, and feet – put on cotton socks/gloves, go to sleep, and wake up soft as a baby!
    • Use as a clear mascara or brow gel.
    • Gloss eyelids – not recommended, gets pretty gross pretty fast.
    • Smooth on a thin layer to give sheen to cheekbones, accentuating them…
    • …or to give a gloss on your shin bone, making calves look more toned and supermodel-like!
    • Put on pre-home-dye-job to help form a barrier between your skin and the dye, keeping you clean and making it easy to wipe off the messy dye.
    • Use as a cuticle balm.
    • Heap on your lips to moisturise them
    • Feed super-dry skin. It’s said that it won’t clog pores, to which I cannot support or rebut, but it does feel gross!
    • Remove makeup

    Wow! I think I’m done – anyhow, what my point is, is that it’s great. Please do share any other Vaseline tips in the comments!

    The verdict: A resounding “Worth the hype”!

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    Worth the Hype? 8-hour

    Elizabeth Arden‘s Eight Hour Cream is often called the “cure-all”, and is advertised as so.

    However, I hate it. I mean, sure, it packs a punch. But it also packs a pungent odour! It’s not the type of smell to fade, either – it’ll hang around for as long as it moisturises, I promise you that! It is a hardcore moisturiser, but with the department store prices and the aformentioned smell? Not for me!

    A great alternative to this would be Vaseline – but hey, we’ll get into that later.

    The verdict: Not worth the hype.

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    Worth the Hype? Great Lash

    The verdict for Maybelline‘s Great Lash can be reached this simply: no. Just, no.

    I know that’s not a “worth the hype” or “not worth the hype”, but… I’m not going to try it. Why not? Because so many people have a love/hate relationship with it. Because it’s everywhere, like an infestation. Because it’s so ugly! (Cold, hard truth: I’m shallow! lol. But really – I’d like my mascara to look acceptable in my pristinely clean cosmetic drawer and cabinet, not stick out like a sore black thumb.)

    If you’d like to hash it out in comments, supporting or hating on it, go ahead – I’m eager to hear what you all think about this cult mascara!

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    Worth the Hype? Blue Satin

    Chanel‘s Blue Satin. All you have to do is see it once to fall in love with it.

    (All Laquered Up has photos here.)

    The verdict: There is none.
    Why not? I think it has something to do with the unmistakable allure of this polish; the fact that I can’t see it without completely melting. This is gorgeous polish, people. It doesn’t get any better than this.

    So why can’t I say it’s worth the hype? Uh…the price tag. Have you noticed it? I have. It’s obscene. I mean, it’s affordable, I suppose, but if you can buy a normal blue for under $10, and you basically cannot find this…

    I’m waiting on a great knockoff.

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    Worth the Hype? La Mer

    Crème de la Mer. Haven’t tried it, don’t want to. I don’t care if it’s a miracle, it’s way over-priced and over-hyped! I mean, I’d much rather buy a $20 Olay cream and save the 100-odd dollars – spend it on a new dress, a pair of heels, a nice meal out… After all, you’ll end up with *almost* the same results.

    Sure, La Mer might be better, but only minimally. Or hey, you could even save up for a while and just get botox – those are the results that are sought after, yes? Yah.

    The verdict: Not worth the hype.

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    Ads that lack FLARE (super-long photo-heavy post, sorry!)

    This month’s issue of Flare was my last – and I’m definitely NOT renewing! Let’s just say that I need a little more substance (just a little – one good article is all I need, seriously!) in a magazine (I mean, I’m getting a Teen Vogue subscription, and might renew my Chatelaine. Seriously!!!)

    (One quick comment here:)^^ It’s true. And sometimes, my sister, mom and I each take a section of the shopping list. Because I’m so damn organized, all I have to do is tear it in thirds! :P

    But anyhow, I just wanted to make a few points about the ads…

    Attacking the Models
    Take a look at these opposing pages. The left side is an article about a musician, I believe, and the right one a clothing ad.
    Wait, let me show you some close ups. Here’s the “model”: Holy hell! Is that a real, living person? The answer is yes. She is a model, and that is how skinny they are. You thought she should have been dead, didn’t you?
    And here’s the “mortal”.
    I have no idea who the hell she is, but I would still kill to be her. She’s just right; not overweight but not too skinny. And she has boobs, which I’m hoping are actually hers, or my accusations are unjust. The point is, she’s a gorgeous 34-year-old (see the right side of the picture), and women like her should be the models, not skinny anorexic bitches like the ad girl.

    The other support for my point is this lady:She’s pretty, tall, thin, and the ad is gorgeous. But take a look at her face. A close look.Giant under-eye bags. Sure, you might think I’m mean for saying it, but honey, I’ve got a few guesses on why she looks so haggard. They include drugs, which are semi-but-not-very likely, and bulimia – definitely likely. And ‘ya know, if she looks haggard because she was up crying because her dog died, and the makeup artist sucked, and she just stubbed her foot on a table, I’m very sorry – but I highly doubt that.

    Attacking the magazine
    First off, let it be stated that though I hate this following ad, I am not hating on Drew. I quite like her – nice, clean image. She’s the ‘funny girl’, which personally isn’t my thing, but I have a certain ammount of respect for a celebrity who is not a)on drugs; b)dealing with an eating disorder, lawsuit, or ugly breakup; or c)in rehab.
    However, WTF, Flare? The ad looked fine last month, so why is this month’s blue?!
    When I first saw it, I was like, “whoa! Strange ad! Pneumoniaface!” but then I was like, “wait, I recognize this…” :P

    Also, I’m hating on this tidbit (it counts as advertising. You know they paid for those product placement spots, somehow, sweetie.) Hide wrinkles?! What is she, eighteen? Maybe nineteen? Why would a magazine choose a shot of such a young, fresh, pretty model that very obviously does not have any “wrinkles” to hide?! And what’s so bad about wrinkles? Mom has wrinkles, and she doesn’t wear makeup to hide them! She doesn’t even moisturise with an anti-wrinkle cream! Hell, most days, she doesn’t even moisturise! I’d kill to be as gorgeous as my mother!
    (I really like the model, though. She’s pretty, and somehow looks very approachable.)

    Attacking the avertisers
    The easy lunge:
    Dear freya: you make ugly bras. I don’t care if it was made for a J cup. Those bras can be done right, you know. This is not right. Large boobs don’t mean you have to look like a dowdy seventy-year-old! (If they did, Pamela Anderson would be much, much smaller – lol!!) And the ad is tacky, dammit!

    Lastly is what I’m hating on most (unbelievable, with all my rage – I know!)
    Why? Let’s see: “You’re beautiful and smart…why pay more?” Gee, maybe I’m not beautiful and smart. The only other salespeople I know that immediately flatter you with loud compliments to try and get you to buy crap from them are street vendors in China. And hey, I have a good reason to pay more: to get a good product that will moisturise your lips and not melt off your face!
    Also, some colour wouldn’t ‘ve killed you, would it? Please? Some colour?

    Rant at me in comments. (Or rave, I’m open to love!) I know I have on moderation, but that is not to screen them, it’s just because I like to be pinged when the come in so I make sure to read them all!!

    Have a good weekend – I’m relying on this super-long post to tide us all over so I won’t have to post until Monday or Tuesday, ‘kay? You know I adore blogging, but I’ve got a packed week coming up that I have to prep for!!

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    FYI

    Sunday (that is the 27th) at Sears’ Edmonton locations before 2pm: (almost) all lingerie 1/2 price!! (And women’s and men’s underwear etc)

    I know, I know: it’s Sears! But they do carry nice bras (run-of-the-mill Triumph, Maidenform, and such.), and I need a new strapless before May 10th (my voice recital; strapless dress). I’m not one to pass up an opportunity to buy a $50 bra for $25!!

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