LashBlast vs. DiorShow: Mascara Showdown

I've mentioned before (here and here)that I love DiorShow mascara . I love the volumizing formula, the rosewater fragrance, the pretty tube, the giant brush. What I don't love is the exorbitant price. For $24 I could buy a one-way plane ticket to Boise, Idaho. Or a round of antibiotics. Or a ham.

MAC Fibre Riche is usually my favorite affordable alternative (it's about 10 bucks), but lately my trusty backup seemed flaky and unenthusiastic, which are two of my least favorite qualities in people and mascara. It was time to try something new.

On a recent trip to Walgreens, I noticed Covergirl LashBlast was on sale for 5 bucks, so I decided to try it out. Here's my review, in an awkward sentence fragment format:

Looks: like a sex toy. The tube is large. And orange. I will probably hide it when my grandma comes over.

Feels: great. My lashes stay soft and full throughout the day.

Smells: OK, I guess. A little chemical-y, sure, but for $20 less per tube than the lovely rosewater-scented DiorShow, I'm not going to complain.

Tastes: like chicken. JK, you guys, I didn't taste it (yet). But wouldn't that be upsetting if it actually tasted like chicken?

Goes on: thick. It's easy to overdo it, but just one coat adds a ton of volume and definition.

Here I am in one coat of LashBlast plus a shmidge of eyeliner:

Verdict: For 5 bucks, my lashes are happy and I'm happy and as soon as I hide the tube my grandma will be happy.

Now I'm off to buy a ham.

Awesome Affordable Etsy Find of the Week

Print, $12

I keep trying to think of something witty to say about this, but basically I just think it's adorable.

POLO SMART SHIRT

~ Brand : Polo
~ Color : Dark Blue
~ Size :
5 (1 -2 years) - Shoulder (9.5") Length (15") Available
7 (2 -3 years) - Shoulder (11") Length (16") SOLD
9 (3 -4 years) - Shoulder (11.5") Length (16.5") SOLD
11 (4 -5 years) - Shoulder (12") Length (18) Available
13 (5 -6 years) - Shoulder (12.5") Length (19") Available
~ Price : RM32 (price excluded postage)

NOW RM27

let's get together before we get much older

It's about time to bring some bright summery colors into my look. I found some cheap bottom lashes at a beauty supply store nearby my local grocery store to try out until I can afford some lovely dollywink lashes. These seem to work just fine and I might buy more. Also bought a bunch of eyelashes on ebay too, 40 pairs for $4, just to try out. I'll post it here with pictures and examples when I receive it. ^^ The picture above was taken with my cell phone, and the pictures below was taken with my digital camera, with flash. I found it interesting when I compared the two pictures, how different my skintone varied. I guess my true to color would be more from the digital camera even though I did use flash~ my friend Juvy said my skintone is a nice tan look. I'm learning to embrace it (the yellowness), but at times I envy the lighter skin filipinas (like the ones I see on Wowwowwee, a tv show showed on TFC - The Filipino Channel) or the gal models that I look up to in Jelly and other gyaru magazines. There's nothing much that can be done, yes - I tried the everfamous Likas papaya soap that claims to lighten your skin (or at least your armpits) and also used Lemon Eskinol on my face when I was younger. (The smell brings back memories.. LOL) But yes, I'm learning to embrace it like I said. Sometimes I really love my skintone, and other times, well... Although I'm a little afraid when I go back home to Hawaii for vacation that I'll tan even more than my already normal tan colored skin, and get as dark how I was when I used to live there. (I used to go to the beach every weekend with my boyfriend and brother). But anyway, enough of those trivial things.





I wasn't sure if anyone was curious but I decided to take pictures of the products I used for my summer look. I don't really use anything expensive. Just regular cheap drug store products (well, except my Mac studiofix foundation). I do use Mac brushes, and I really like name brand products - just can't afford it at the moment.



Products Used:
1) Makeup case - (ok that doesn't really count)
2) N.Y.C. Cheek Glow Powder Blush 651A Riverside Rose
3. Ring (not a product - but accessory from pinkyanela)
4. NYX Eye pencil to line my upper waterline
5. Revlon Color Stay Liquid Eye Pen (not really my favorite but I was running out of my Wet & Wild eyeliner)
6. Wet n Wild h20 Proof Eyeliner 881 - my favorite eyeliner ever. It stays put even when I line my waterline and it doesn't sting either.
7. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk (I use this for my eyeshadow base because I ran out of UDPP - Urban Decay Primer Potion)
8. Ardell LashGrip Eyelash ADHESIVE (not my favorite, I used to buy this other brand when I was in Hawaii but I can't remember the name of it)
9. H&M nail polish - Enchantress Emma - I was looking for this shade for forever!! I love this color, going to deco some fake nails with this color soon
10. Eyelash curler - used before I put my fake eyelashes on - got this at Daiso for only $1.50
11. The Maximum Max Clear Lip gloss
12. Revlon 002 Pink Pout Lipstick - my favorite color lipstick - I really love it
13. Covergirl eyebrow pencil in brown (I can't even read what color is on the pencil anymore - it's so faded)
14. Mac Studio Fix Foundation NC40 (my favorite foundation - I tried to go back to Drugstore brands, but I hated them - I want to branch out but so far, I didn't have any problems with this foundation)
15. The cheap lashes I got from the beauty supply store. NOt sure of the brand name, Sassi? Sossi? Ok, never mind it's Sassi. There was this other pair of lashes that I really loved that I actually bought from the dollar store called Paji but I couldn't find it after that) So I found one that ressembled to it.
16. Bottom lashes - the first time I've seen one in the store so I couldn't pass it up. I really like how it looks when I tried it (Although I'm really loving the new Fairylash brand by Sakurina - putting that on my wishlist)
17. 88 Eyeshadow Palette from Coastal Scents (yeah i know ~ it's messy)




Now that summer is here and I'm not taking summer school, I have a lot of free time to catch up on my reading. I stumbled upon this wonderful book while browsing the travel journals at Barnes and Noble at the mall by Powell Bart Station. I've had an increasing interest in reading travel memoirs or anything that has to do with Europe particularly Paris, France mainly influenced by all the old hollywood movies I been watching, as well as the Coco Chanel biography I just finished reading. But anyway, I wanted to buy it that time at Barnes and Noble, but didn't - but while browsing the books at Goodwill, I found the book again - it was calling out to me, wanting to be read! So at $2, of course I had to pick it up. Basically it's about this Australian lady journalist who suddenly decides to make the move to Paris, with a french man she hardly knows and decides to live her life there. The book talks about her experiences and the Parisian & French way of life and the obstacles and experiences she goes through - just wow, oh wow. It's a foreigner's insight of living in Paris, France. There was one chapter that totally intrigued and inspired me, where this Australian lady wants to go out in her jogging pants (warm up pants) to the bakery, and her boyfriend says that her attire is not nice for the baker! She can't believe that he is serious...She doesn't understand why. So to quote what I read on...
"...Frederic's reaction to warmup pants is a concept that to me is totally foreign: looking scruffy is selfish. Not only do you look like a slob but you let down the whole city. "
"In France, vanity is not a vice. Rigorous self-maintenance is imbued from birth-it's a mark of self-pride."
"The loaded pharse 'se mettre en valeur' is used all the time. It means to 'make the most of yourself.' This is not something the French do when they fell like it: they do it every day. Sloppiness in appearance is considered a fatal disease. Once it takes hold, you're on an irreversible downhill slide. You've committed the unforgiveable. You've let yourself go."
"He can't help it, you see. the thing is, the french are highly sensitive to aesthetics."

Reflecting on this chapter that I read, I immediately felt intrigued and inspired. The french's way of thinking on appearance is not selfish or false conceit, it's a sense of pride in one's self. I felt that I could use that phrase, "Se mettre en valeur" and apply it to my life. I have to admit, I have been a little "lazy" as of late, and this certainly opened up my eyes. It made me realize, to put it bluntly, take damn better care of myself. Stop just lazing about in my boyfriend's clothes (haha), and be girly ! Damnit, get my gyaru groove back into full swing! LOL It's also funny as I read this book, I noticed that the previous owner before me, underlined a lot of lines in the book including the ones I've just quoted. It was funny to see someone you don't know think similarly as you. But this phrase, "se mettre en valeur" could not only apply to the physical appearance, but of course everything else in your life - I have a lot of new goals now. Fresh goals - try to make most of my free time reading books, drawing and sketching in my sketchbook everyday, brainstorming and writing down new design ideas, get back into photography & crafting more. Overall, just taking advantage of all the creativity I have flowing abundantly in me.

Anyway, I'll finally be going home in a little more than 2 weeks! I'm so excited!! Excited to see my BFF, my poo (Yeah, we call each other "poo", it's our nickname for each other)and have lots of creative photoshoots and adventures with her. I'm a little sad that my other BFF, Lani, will already have left Hawaii to move to another state (sadly, not California). She will be leaving 3 days before I arrive. :( So sad...

But oh well, "se mettre en valeur.."

P.S. Check out the new gal issue Eleanorzine!! This issue is smokin' hot, with an interview of Mistu (universal-doll.com) inside and other great gals and lots of other cool stuff. Don't miss it!

let's get together before we get much older

It's about time to bring some bright summery colors into my look. I found some cheap bottom lashes at a beauty supply store nearby my local grocery store to try out until I can afford some lovely dollywink lashes. These seem to work just fine and I might buy more. Also bought a bunch of eyelashes on ebay too, 40 pairs for $4, just to try out. I'll post it here with pictures and examples when I receive it. ^^ The picture above was taken with my cell phone, and the pictures below was taken with my digital camera, with flash. I found it interesting when I compared the two pictures, how different my skintone varied. I guess my true to color would be more from the digital camera even though I did use flash~ my friend Juvy said my skintone is a nice tan look. I'm learning to embrace it (the yellowness), but at times I envy the lighter skin filipinas (like the ones I see on Wowwowwee, a tv show showed on TFC - The Filipino Channel) or the gal models that I look up to in Jelly and other gyaru magazines. There's nothing much that can be done, yes - I tried the everfamous Likas papaya soap that claims to lighten your skin (or at least your armpits) and also used Lemon Eskinol on my face when I was younger. (The smell brings back memories.. LOL) But yes, I'm learning to embrace it like I said. Sometimes I really love my skintone, and other times, well... Although I'm a little afraid when I go back home to Hawaii for vacation that I'll tan even more than my already normal tan colored skin, and get as dark how I was when I used to live there. (I used to go to the beach every weekend with my boyfriend and brother). But anyway, enough of those trivial things.





I wasn't sure if anyone was curious but I decided to take pictures of the products I used for my summer look. I don't really use anything expensive. Just regular cheap drug store products (well, except my Mac studiofix foundation). I do use Mac brushes, and I really like name brand products - just can't afford it at the moment.



Products Used:
1) Makeup case - (ok that doesn't really count)
2) N.Y.C. Cheek Glow Powder Blush 651A Riverside Rose
3. Ring (not a product - but accessory from pinkyanela)
4. NYX Eye pencil to line my upper waterline
5. Revlon Color Stay Liquid Eye Pen (not really my favorite but I was running out of my Wet & Wild eyeliner)
6. Wet n Wild h20 Proof Eyeliner 881 - my favorite eyeliner ever. It stays put even when I line my waterline and it doesn't sting either.
7. NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk (I use this for my eyeshadow base because I ran out of UDPP - Urban Decay Primer Potion)
8. Ardell LashGrip Eyelash ADHESIVE (not my favorite, I used to buy this other brand when I was in Hawaii but I can't remember the name of it)
9. H&M nail polish - Enchantress Emma - I was looking for this shade for forever!! I love this color, going to deco some fake nails with this color soon
10. Eyelash curler - used before I put my fake eyelashes on - got this at Daiso for only $1.50
11. The Maximum Max Clear Lip gloss
12. Revlon 002 Pink Pout Lipstick - my favorite color lipstick - I really love it
13. Covergirl eyebrow pencil in brown (I can't even read what color is on the pencil anymore - it's so faded)
14. Mac Studio Fix Foundation NC40 (my favorite foundation - I tried to go back to Drugstore brands, but I hated them - I want to branch out but so far, I didn't have any problems with this foundation)
15. The cheap lashes I got from the beauty supply store. NOt sure of the brand name, Sassi? Sossi? Ok, never mind it's Sassi. There was this other pair of lashes that I really loved that I actually bought from the dollar store called Paji but I couldn't find it after that) So I found one that ressembled to it.
16. Bottom lashes - the first time I've seen one in the store so I couldn't pass it up. I really like how it looks when I tried it (Although I'm really loving the new Fairylash brand by Sakurina - putting that on my wishlist)
17. 88 Eyeshadow Palette from Coastal Scents (yeah i know ~ it's messy)




Now that summer is here and I'm not taking summer school, I have a lot of free time to catch up on my reading. I stumbled upon this wonderful book while browsing the travel journals at Barnes and Noble at the mall by Powell Bart Station. I've had an increasing interest in reading travel memoirs or anything that has to do with Europe particularly Paris, France mainly influenced by all the old hollywood movies I been watching, as well as the Coco Chanel biography I just finished reading. But anyway, I wanted to buy it that time at Barnes and Noble, but didn't - but while browsing the books at Goodwill, I found the book again - it was calling out to me, wanting to be read! So at $2, of course I had to pick it up. Basically it's about this Australian lady journalist who suddenly decides to make the move to Paris, with a french man she hardly knows and decides to live her life there. The book talks about her experiences and the Parisian & French way of life and the obstacles and experiences she goes through - just wow, oh wow. It's a foreigner's insight of living in Paris, France. There was one chapter that totally intrigued and inspired me, where this Australian lady wants to go out in her jogging pants (warm up pants) to the bakery, and her boyfriend says that her attire is not nice for the baker! She can't believe that he is serious...She doesn't understand why. So to quote what I read on...
"...Frederic's reaction to warmup pants is a concept that to me is totally foreign: looking scruffy is selfish. Not only do you look like a slob but you let down the whole city. "
"In France, vanity is not a vice. Rigorous self-maintenance is imbued from birth-it's a mark of self-pride."
"The loaded pharse 'se mettre en valeur' is used all the time. It means to 'make the most of yourself.' This is not something the French do when they fell like it: they do it every day. Sloppiness in appearance is considered a fatal disease. Once it takes hold, you're on an irreversible downhill slide. You've committed the unforgiveable. You've let yourself go."
"He can't help it, you see. the thing is, the french are highly sensitive to aesthetics."

Reflecting on this chapter that I read, I immediately felt intrigued and inspired. The french's way of thinking on appearance is not selfish or false conceit, it's a sense of pride in one's self. I felt that I could use that phrase, "Se mettre en valeur" and apply it to my life. I have to admit, I have been a little "lazy" as of late, and this certainly opened up my eyes. It made me realize, to put it bluntly, take damn better care of myself. Stop just lazing about in my boyfriend's clothes (haha), and be girly ! Damnit, get my gyaru groove back into full swing! LOL It's also funny as I read this book, I noticed that the previous owner before me, underlined a lot of lines in the book including the ones I've just quoted. It was funny to see someone you don't know think similarly as you. But this phrase, "se mettre en valeur" could not only apply to the physical appearance, but of course everything else in your life - I have a lot of new goals now. Fresh goals - try to make most of my free time reading books, drawing and sketching in my sketchbook everyday, brainstorming and writing down new design ideas, get back into photography & crafting more. Overall, just taking advantage of all the creativity I have flowing abundantly in me.

Anyway, I'll finally be going home in a little more than 2 weeks! I'm so excited!! Excited to see my BFF, my poo (Yeah, we call each other "poo", it's our nickname for each other)and have lots of creative photoshoots and adventures with her. I'm a little sad that my other BFF, Lani, will already have left Hawaii to move to another state (sadly, not California). She will be leaving 3 days before I arrive. :( So sad...

But oh well, "se mettre en valeur.."

P.S. Check out the new gal issue Eleanorzine!! This issue is smokin' hot, with an interview of Mistu (universal-doll.com) inside and other great gals and lots of other cool stuff. Don't miss it!

Guest Post: The Sisyphean Struggle Against Bro Shorts

Last week at a science fair party my dear friend Henry started telling me about his long and tragic quest to find a non-douchey pair of shorts. I stopped him mid-sentence and said, "Henry, who knows how many men are facing the same challenges in silence and isolation? You need to blog about this." He was about to embark on a road trip to the Grand Canyon, so he agreed to file a guest post from the road, Jack Kerouac-style. This is his story.

Readers of Daddy Likey may not know it, but millions of men every year are burdened with the task of properly ventilating their legs. Sure, toughing it out and wearing pants during the summer months is an option, but when the raging inferno of an out-of-control barbecue backdrafts into an already sweltering August heat, the practicality of pants goes up in smoke. Which leaves us with the unenviable task of picking out shorts - and if you’re a man of discerning taste, that means shorts that don’t make you look like a bro.

Bros, for the unfamiliar, are so common you probably don’t even realize what a distinct group they are. But it is their numbers that have forced clothing manufacturers to cater to the poor tastes of every Chad, Kyle and Tre in the ultimate frisbee league. Though their interests may range from Jagermeister to hemp, and hackey sack to Playstation, their commitment to baggy, canvas shorts with non-standard pocket configurations is their common banner. So in a stand against this tyranny of the majority, I attempted to find shorts that broke free of the bro mold. The following three trials were taken on a road trip through the Southwest with my future in-laws and rated on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being maximum bro-ness.

Exhibit A

A descriptor: A pair of cargo shorts from REI, except they weren’t real cargo shorts. Yeah they had the pockets on the sides, and zippers in places that weren’t my crotch, but they were made out of a blend of nylon, polyester and some other fibrous abomination devised by man, rather than a just and all-knowing God. They do, however, appear to be spill resistant. Regular fit. Knee length. Are they bro-ish? Well sure, but more the kind of bros that drink wheatgrass cleansing smoothies and are really into parkour.

Performance: These held up surprisingly well. Granted, I didn’t put them through the rigors that millions of dollars worth of textile science at REI-HQ designed them for, but they did repel crumbs from most of the salted-snacks consumed. And the toothpaste I accidentally smeared into the pocket will come right out in the wash. Extra points given for their innovative material, which on long car trips went a long way toward mitigating ass-sweat.

Bro-factor: 8.1

Exhibit B

A descriptor: Do you know how hard it is to find a pair of loose-fitting, khaki knee-length shorts if you’re a semi-professional man between the ages of 25-30? Because I sure as hell didn’t. I am in the uncanny valley of casual men’s summer wear. I’m not quite ready to take the plunge into pleated, cuffed old man shorts, but I also want to differentiate myself from the neighbor kids who keep me up at night with their goddamn skateboarding. Out of options at the big box retail operations, I made a defeated trek to the Vans store in the Lloyd Center Mall in search of some tan Dickies. Result was plain khaki Red Hat (some Dickies equivalent) shorts that sit right below the kneecap. No extra pockets. No awful screen printed designs.

Performance: These get an “incomplete” for the trip. Yeah they fit really well when I tried them on in the store, but after three days of driving for 8 hours per day and eating In-n-Out burger, not so much. Canvas work shorts just don’t have the ‘give’ that an indulgent life on the road requires. Not what I would expect from a company tasked with outfitting countless Warped Tour performers lo these many years.

Bro-factor: 8.9

Exhibit C

A descriptor: Fuck it. These are used, camo-print, button-fly cargo shorts purchased from Buffalo Exchange for $12. Their pockets can hold 6 cans of Milwaukee’s Best Ice (“Beast”). We’re through the looking glass, people.

Performance: Wow these are comfortable! When combined with a pair of flip-flop sandals and a baseball shirt, these may, in fact, be the most comfortable things I’ve ever worn. I can keep everything in these pockets too. Digital camera, wallet, keys, phone, other shorts, whatever. There’s also psychological comfort in just giving in and embracing the bro shorts. I now have a new appreciation for people in muumuus or the crazy guy on my way to work who wears a down comforter as a cape (I call him The King). They’re doing what feels good, society be damned.

Bro-factor: vast and immeasurable

glitter

So on a whim, I finally decided to finish up fixing up my desk area once again. Please enjoy as I give you a little tour. Oh also, I'm in transition mode as far as fixing up my blog. Trying to find a new look that I'm satisfied with. So I hope you guys don't mind me being experimental with this until I figure it out.


So the main thing I wanted to do was cover my awful shelf with all the junk that was on it. I found the clutter to be too nauseating to look at so I decided to just block that area with one solid color. My black jersey knit queen size mattress cover that I didn't use was perfect for this as it grabbed the shelf easily. I piled all my stuffed toys and japanese drink packaging at the top to add some splash of color. Along with it is my bulletin board with random character business cards and postcards I got at the comic con I went to in San Francisco.


So I was unsuccessful in selling some of my donut charms so I decided to just keep it. I didn't want to hide my delicious food charms which I want to build a huge collection on, so I just left it on my printer slash scanner. Not very practical for easy use, but I don't really use the scanner bed anyway. I just love food charms!!! I want more (so much for trying to simplify and cut down on cute stuff, hmmm?)


Got this tiny wall shelf from Target for only $4. From left to right: 1) An empty japanese wine bottle with fake pink roses and pink & black lace garters wrapped around the top. I wanted to showcase the beautiful label wrapped around it. It's beautiful. (I'm a sucker for cute packaging) 2)My beautiful deco charmmy kitty mirror I received from as a gift from pinkyanela.etsy.com. 3)An ice cream cone which actually is a bubble wand with bubble solution inside. 4)My hello kitty deco ring (which I purchased from Pinkyanela. Below this is a framed photo collage of my FEEL ENJOY BFF - Juvy and Lani (back when I was still in Hawaii)




Close up of the rose and artist print I bought from the comic con. I forgot the artist name, I'll put it here once I remember.


I already explained the pic on the left, but the right shows my pink and black striped Ed and Hardy coasters (not a fan of Ed Hardy, but I really liked these coaster designs) with some white votive candles on top.




Left photo: Some framed photos and prints. My classmate gave me the print on the top right :D Right photo: mosaic vase where I put my loose change.


This deco mirror is too cute to use!!!



Just random old photos of my Diamond gals and I. I know, I know. I really need new pictures ~ im guilty of not stepping up my gal style... on another note, I miss my gals! Seriously . . .

glitter

So on a whim, I finally decided to finish up fixing up my desk area once again. Please enjoy as I give you a little tour. Oh also, I'm in transition mode as far as fixing up my blog. Trying to find a new look that I'm satisfied with. So I hope you guys don't mind me being experimental with this until I figure it out.


So the main thing I wanted to do was cover my awful shelf with all the junk that was on it. I found the clutter to be too nauseating to look at so I decided to just block that area with one solid color. My black jersey knit queen size mattress cover that I didn't use was perfect for this as it grabbed the shelf easily. I piled all my stuffed toys and japanese drink packaging at the top to add some splash of color. Along with it is my bulletin board with random character business cards and postcards I got at the comic con I went to in San Francisco.


So I was unsuccessful in selling some of my donut charms so I decided to just keep it. I didn't want to hide my delicious food charms which I want to build a huge collection on, so I just left it on my printer slash scanner. Not very practical for easy use, but I don't really use the scanner bed anyway. I just love food charms!!! I want more (so much for trying to simplify and cut down on cute stuff, hmmm?)


Got this tiny wall shelf from Target for only $4. From left to right: 1) An empty japanese wine bottle with fake pink roses and pink & black lace garters wrapped around the top. I wanted to showcase the beautiful label wrapped around it. It's beautiful. (I'm a sucker for cute packaging) 2)My beautiful deco charmmy kitty mirror I received from as a gift from pinkyanela.etsy.com. 3)An ice cream cone which actually is a bubble wand with bubble solution inside. 4)My hello kitty deco ring (which I purchased from Pinkyanela. Below this is a framed photo collage of my FEEL ENJOY BFF - Juvy and Lani (back when I was still in Hawaii)




Close up of the rose and artist print I bought from the comic con. I forgot the artist name, I'll put it here once I remember.


I already explained the pic on the left, but the right shows my pink and black striped Ed and Hardy coasters (not a fan of Ed Hardy, but I really liked these coaster designs) with some white votive candles on top.




Left photo: Some framed photos and prints. My classmate gave me the print on the top right :D Right photo: mosaic vase where I put my loose change.


This deco mirror is too cute to use!!!



Just random old photos of my Diamond gals and I. I know, I know. I really need new pictures ~ im guilty of not stepping up my gal style... on another note, I miss my gals! Seriously . . .