OPI Nail Lacquer in Save Me

Close-up detail

Is there anything that says New Year's better than shiny, bling-y, glitter? No, there isn't. So, I thought it was the perfect opportunity to bust out OPI's Save Me, from the Nicki Minaj collection (it says "Coming January 2012" on OPI's website, but this collection is already available at Trade Secrets locations). It has a clear base with silver shimmer, blue holographic bar glitter, and silver holographic bar glitter. The coolest effect is actually in the light, which reflects off the silver holographic bars to shine all the colours of the rainbow. It is so pretty. And so appropriate for New Year's! Because of the clear base, it does take a good three coats to get it opaque, but it is so worth it because it is so bling-y. Yes!

Hope you all have a fun and safe New Year's Eve. See you in 2012!

Friday Five

This week's Friday Five:

1. What business establishment's recent closing was the most disappointing for you? The Bulk Barn near my workplace closed a few months ago. It was literally a minute walking distance. Now where am I going to get all of my cheap snacks (spicy plantain chips, Ringolos, sourdough pretzels, berry gummy candy, yogurt-coated peanuts!)?! My co-workers and I are still incredibly sad about this.
2. At what place of business or service are you most likely to be the day's last customer out the door? Murale. I don't go there very often, but when I do, it's always on a weekday night because I like to do my shopping as late in the day as possible. I've totally been the last customer there on a few occasions.
3. What place of business or service seems to be closed at times inconvenient to you? Malls. The extra-long holiday hours during the few weeks before Christmas were actually really handy for me. (See #2.)
4. Where in the real world (not online) will you most likely spend your last 2011 money? At the gas station, most likely. I'm the designated driver tomorrow!
5. What business or service has been the biggest blessing to you because it is always open? Shoppers Drug Mart, gas stations, Tim Horton's, McDonald's, and Markham Station.

Nak Won

Shawn was craving Korean food tonight, so we went to Nak Won for dinner. We both got our usual, dolsot bibimbap. When you break that egg and the yolk spills out and you mix everything together — oh, man, it's so damn good, especially with hot sauce drizzled in there. And it's still steaming hot until the last bite... As much as I love the food, however, the service was mediocre at best; they're not particularly friendly there (not a smile in sight, which is apparently consistent with all of their restaurants), and tonight, I had to press the service button and raise my hand about three times just to get a waitress to our table (conclusion: their service button is completely redundant). It was, however, super-efficient after that (a pot of tea and assorted ban chan came out about a minute after we ordered, and then our food came out right after that). Ultimately, it's the food that will bring me back here, and at least it's bigger and looks cleaner than their other location.

On that note, does anyone have any dish recommendations at Korean restaurants? I don't go very often, but when I do, I only ever order two things: dolsot bibimbap or gamjatang (pork bone soup). Nothing wrong with them (I love them, I really do), but I'd love to try other dishes (preferably tried-and-true favourites).

Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic

I went to see Disney on Ice: 100 Years of Magic this afternoon. Some highlights:

Mickey Mouse

Donald Duck, Goofy, and Chip & Dale

Finding Nemo

Beauty and the Beast

It's a Small World (based on the ride)

The whole gang

Even though I did feel a little too old to appreciate it fully, it was cute and charming and enjoyable overall. Either way, the stupid brat sitting behind us that kept whining on and on and on made it much more annoying and harder to endure... On another note, Shawn and I went to see Cirque du Soleil's Quidam last night at the Ricoh Coliseum, and it was phenomenal. They don't allow cameras at all, so there is no photographic evidence, but I would say it was better than Totem as a whole (though not quite as magical because it was an arena show rather than a Grand Chapiteau show). Quidam was way, way, way creepier, though, like if I watched it as a kid, I would have nightmares for weeks to come. But still really fun and entertaining with amazing, jaw-dropping acts. I can't wait until next year's show!

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Favourite beige eyeshadow? MAC All That Glitters, MAC This & That Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo, NARS Alhambra Eyeshadow Duo, and Urban Decay Sidecar.
2. Favourite plum blush? Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Blushing Bride.
3. Favourite coral lip colour? MAC Viva Glam Cyndi, Vegas Volt, Ever Hip, and Hibiscus lipsticks; MAC Ultra Darling Sheen Supreme Lipstick; and MAC Richer, Lusher Cremesheen Glass.

MAC Tour de Fabulous: Lipglasses

MAC released a new collection called Tour de Fabulous on December 26. It features 19 new lip products, 17 of which are limited edition. There are a total of 11 new and limited edition shades of Lipglass released with this collection (five of which will not be reviewed here). This collection was originally called Glamglass, which was set to be released this past July and featured a brand-new formula of lip gloss called Glamglass. Due to product development issues, MAC decided not to release the formula as it didn't perform the way they intended it to. As a result, they released the same shades in the classic Lipglass formula instead. MAC's Lipglass formula is on the thicker, stickier side, but they have semi-opaque to opaque colour pay-off, and also wear fairly long for a gloss — about four hours before needing to re-apply. Lipglasses are vanilla-scented but taste-free. Each Lipglass comes in regular clear/black packaging with a doe-foot applicator, contains a total of 4.8 grams of product, and retails for $17.50.

Casual Air, It's A Wow, Tour de Fabulous, Knockout, Style-Packed, and Real Posh

Casual Air is a pale white-pink with white and pink micro-shimmer. It has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and more pink than Underage.

It's A Wow is a medium peachy pink with white micro-shimmer. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly lighter and more peach than Pink Lemonade.

Tour de Fabulous is a medium bright pink-coral with white micro-shimmer. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more pink and less vibrant than Lychee Luxe.

Knockout is a medium bright orange-red with red micro-shimmer. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is warmer and more orange than Russian Red.

Style-Packed is a medium bright cool-toned fuchsia pink. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is cooler than Pink Poodle.

Real Posh is a medium-dark berry-plum with pink micro-shimmer. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly more pink than Pop Mode.

While I don't think any of these are really must-haves, they all apply phenomenally well: very even and smooth with full colour coverage. These actually perform better than a lot of the Lipglasses that have been released in many of the limited edition collections from this past year, just in terms of wear and look. While I don't think it was necessary to release 11 shades of Lipglass in a single collection, I do think there is a good range of shades so there is something for everyone. If you like the Lipglass formula, I definitely think these are worth checking out.

MAC Tour de Fabulous: Lip Pencils

MAC released a new collection called Tour de Fabulous on December 26. It features 19 new lip products, 17 of which are limited edition, and two of which will be added to the permanent line-up. There are a total of eight new shades of Lip Pencil released with this collection — six shades are limited edition (two of which will not be reviewed here), and two of them will be added to the permanent line-up. MAC's Lip Pencil formula is on the drier side, but they don't feel drying on the lip over time. They also last longer on the lip as well as extend the wear-time of lipsticks and glosses worn on top, while being fairly transfer-resistant on their own. Each lip pencil comes in regular black packaging, contains a total of 1.45 grams of product, and retails for $16.50.

Entertain Me, Lasting Sensation, Embrace Me, Just Wonderful, Hip 'n' Happy, and Have To Have It

Entertain Me is a medium bright orange. This is a new and limited edition shade. It is similar to What A Blast! Pro Longwear Lip Pencil. The shade itself is similar to Neon Orange and Morange lipsticks.

Lasting Sensation is a medium bright coral-orange. This is a new shade, but will be added to the permanent line-up. While it does initially look similar to Entertain Me, it ends up looking softer and less neon on the lip. There is nothing similar to this in the current permanent line-up, though the shade looks similar to Vegas Volt lipstick.

Embrace Me is a medium cool-toned bright fuchsia pink. This is a new and limited edition shade. It is cooler and less red than More To Love Pro Longwear Lip Pencil, and less purple than Magenta Lip Pencil. The shade itself is similar to Show Orchid lipstick.

Just Wonderful is a medium-dark pink-berry. This is a new and limited edition shade. It is lighter than Absolutely It Pro Longwear Lip Pencil, and brighter and more pink than Half-Red Lip Pencil. The shade itself is similar to Positively Dashing Pro Longwear Lipcreme.

Hip 'n' Happy is a light-medium cool-toned pink. This is a new shade, but will be added to the permanent line-up. It is much, much cooler than both In Anticipation Pro Longwear Lip Pencil and In Synch Lip Pencil. The shade itself is similar to Dress It Up Pro Longwear Lipcreme, as well as Viva Glam Gaga, Creme Cup, and Angel lipsticks.

Have To Have It is a light-medium peachy-pink beige. This is a new and limited edition shade. It is darker than Subculture Lip Pencil, lighter than Boldly Bare Lip Pencil, and more pink than Etcetera Pro Longwear Lip Pencil. The shade itself is similar to Brave and Kinda Sexy lipsticks.

A few of these shades fill the gaps that were missing in MAC's lip pencil line-up (though there was a significant difference after the release of Pro Longwear Lip Pencils in September's Styledriven collection), but I didn't think they needed to release two bright orange lip pencils — while there is a difference between the two, it's a very slight one. A few of them are similar to already existing shades in MAC's line-up, but I'm glad that Lasting Sensation and Hip 'n' Happy are being made permanent, as MAC desperately needed a good coral and a light cool-toned pink added to their lip pencil shades. I felt like they could've released a good purple lip liner in place of one of the orange ones, though (the only remotely brighter purple liner they have is Magenta, which isn't really purple at all!).

MAC Daphne Guinness for MAC: Nail Lacquers

MAC released a new collection in collaboration with Daphne Guinness in stores today. It features 21 products, 17 of which are limited edition. There are three new and limited edition shades of Nail Lacquer released with this collection (one of which, Blueblood, will not be reviewed). Each Nail Lacquer comes in regular clear/black packaging, contains a total of 10 ml of product, and retails for $18.

Endless Night and Hyperion

Endless Night is a light beige with pink iridescent micro-shimmer in a Frost finish. It went on smoothly and evenly, but it is on the sheerer side, so I needed three medium coats to get it opaque. It is greyer than Quiet Time, and it looks like Essie's Sand Tropez with Kisses & Bises layered on top.

Hyperion is a pale greyed aqua blue in a Cream finish. It didn't go on quite as smoothly as I'd have liked; it goes on a bit streaky and it does seem to pull quite a bit. That aside, it goes on opaque in two coats. It is more grey than Essie's Borrowed & Blue, and lighter and more blue than China Glaze's Sea Spray.

Though I am personally drawn more towards shades like Hyperion, Endless Night ended up having a better formula. Endless Night takes more time to get opaque, but Hyperion does this weird pulling thing, so you can see the nail bed underneath in patches after two coats. It's kind of frustrating, because the rest of the nail will be completely opaque except for that small patch. It's probably fixable with ridge filler, but that also means more work, which I'm not a fan of. The colour is lovely, though, and more original to me than Endless Night. In the end, both shades have their merits, but for $18, these should have much better formulas (Chanel's nail polishes are very pricey at $26 a pop, but their formula is phenomenal and their shades are very unique). There are a few good dupes out there with better formulas and cheaper prices.

MAC Daphne Guinness for MAC: Cremesheen Glasses

MAC released a new collection in collaboration with Daphne Guinness in stores today. It features 21 products, 17 of which are limited edition. There are four limited edition shades of Cremesheen Glass released with this collection — three of which are new, and one of which is a re-promote (from July's Semi-Precious collection and will not be reviewed here). Cremesheen Glasses are creamy, shiny, completely non-sticky, and are vanilla-scented and taste-free. They're generally a more sheer formula of lip gloss, making them ideal for layering. As a result of a less tacky formula, they don't last very long on the lip, perhaps two hours, but they are incredibly comfortable to wear. Each Cremesheen Glass comes in regular clear/black packaging with a doe-foot applicator, contains a total of 2.7 grams of product, and retails for $22.

Borealis, Japanese Spring, and Narcissus

Borealis is a pale milky blue-white with subtle iridescent pink micro-shimmer. It is semi-sheer, so while it doesn't add a lot of colour, the milkiness will lighten your natural lip colour. There is nothing similar in MAC's permanent line-up, but it is similar to Chillin' from 2010's In The Groove collection.

Japanese Spring is a pale pale milky cool-toned pink. It is semi-sheer, so while it doesn't add a lot of colour, the milkiness will lighten your natural lip colour. It is slightly cooler than Fashion Scoop.

Narcissus is a mid-tone magenta purple. It is nearly opaque, so it does apply more evenly than the sheerer colours, which can settle into lip lines. There is nothing similar in MAC's permanent line-up; Loud & Lovely would be closest, but it is significantly less purple and more pink.

Of the three shades here, I feel like Narcissus is the only absolute must-have. Not that the other two shades aren't nice, but Borealis only adds a cool-toned milkiness and not much colour, and Japanese Spring looks very similar to Fashion Scoop (which is permanent). Richly Revered (which I do not have) is also very nice and more unique in the Cremesheen Glass formula, but is easily dupable (Pro Longwear Lipglass in Lasting Achievement and Lipglass in Desire are two examples). Narcissus is like nothing I've seen recently from MAC, especially in the Cremesheen Glass formula; it's so nice to have a such a bright, opaque colour in a non-sticky formula!

MAC Daphne Guinness for MAC: Pro Longwear Lipcremes

MAC released a new collection in collaboration with Daphne Guinness in stores today. It features 21 products, 17 of which are limited edition. There are four new and limited edition shades of Pro Longwear Lipcreme released with this collection. Pro Longwear Lipcremes are lightweight, creamy, and touted to last up to 12 hours without feeling drying. Each lipstick comes in regular black packaging, contains a total of 3.6 grams of product, and retails for $20.

Warp Speed, Red Dwarf, Approaching Storm, and Seasoned Plum

Warp Speed is a pale metallic silver. The texture is smooth and creamy, but it goes on very patchy and uneven, perhaps due to the nature of the shade. I found that this shade really accentuated every dry flake and line on my lips. There is nothing similar to this shade in MAC's permanent line-up, but it is similar in colour to Eloquent Air from the Glitter & Ice holiday collection.

Red Dwarf is a medium muted raspberry red. The texture is smooth and creamy. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is a bit darker and more vibrant than Positively Dashing.

Approaching Storm is a darkened berry red with brown undertones. The texture is smooth and creamy. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and more brown than Endless Drama.

Seasoned Plum is a medium pink-violet. The texture is smooth and creamy. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly lighter and more pink than Goes and Goes.

I've always been a huge fan of the Pro Longwear Lipcreme formula. They're creamy and go on smooth with (mostly) opaque coverage, and don't feel drying on the lip. They do initially have a sheen, but it dries down to a more satin finish. However, they don't last near the 12-hour mark on me, and they probably won't in general, assuming that you eat and drink throughout the day. The brighter and darker shades usually last a good eight hours on me, while the lighter shades will last maybe five before I need to re-apply.

The only shade from this collection that is a flop for me is Warp Speed, and it's more so the formula than the colour itself, which is great for muting darker or reddened lips (and looks nice with gloss on top!). The silver shade itself would appeal to those who like Frost finish lipsticks, but it just goes on really patchy and uneven. The other three shades have fantastic textures; they look and feel great on the lips. These colours, however, are very similar to shades we've seen MAC release recently, so while they're very on-trend and "in" for the season, you may already have similar colours in your stash. Worth looking at if you like the shades, though; the formula is fantastic.

MAC Daphne Guinness for MAC: Interior Life Eyeshadow Quad

MAC released a new collection in collaboration with Daphne Guinness in stores today. It features 21 products, 17 of which are limited edition. There is a new and limited edition eyeshadow palette released with this collection — it features four shades, three of which are new and one of which is a re-promote. Each eyeshadow quad comes in regular black packaging, contains a total of 5.8 grams of product, and retails for $45.

Stratus, Bruised Sky, Interior Life, and Heather Belles

Stratus is a light greyed pink in a Matte finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is very dry, stiff, and hard to blend. It has very low pigmentation and sheer colour pay-off. I honestly found this shade really, really hard to work with; I had to pack on about five layers with a MAC #239 brush to get it to show up on my eye, even with a primer. It will perhaps show up better on very fair or very dark skintones, but for all the in-between skintones, this will show up muted at best. It is slightly darker and greyer than Yogurt, and lighter than Malt.

Bruised Sky is a medium-dark mauve-taupe in a Satin finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is on the drier side and can be a little more difficult to blend, but it has medium-high pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It is darker and less purple than Shale, and more grey than Haux.

Interior Life is a medium-dark cool-toned grey in a Veluxe finish. This is a new and limited edition shade. The texture is smooth, silky, and easily blendable. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. This shade is rather prone to fading, however, so it's ideal to blend in with a darker shade, especially in a smoky eye look. It is lighter than Print.

Heather Belles is a dark charcoal black in a Satin finish. This is a re-promoted shade from last year's Tartan Tale collection, and is limited edition. The texture is dry, stiff, and very difficult to blend. However, it has medium-high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. This shade is very good for darkening an eye look in the outer corner of the crease (using a stiffer brush) or used wet as a liner, but it is really hard to blend. I ended up having to blend Interior Life into Heather Belles when I used it in my crease, because it just looked completely uneven and patchy on its own. It's like a more pigmented version of Black Tied.

Overall, I think the colour combination is great for a classic smoky eye look, and these types of shades are a great addition to anyone's kit — if only the formulas were better! Only one of the four shades (Interior Life) had great texture, pigmentation, colour pay-off, and ease of use. The other three required a lot more work, and had overall dry, stiff textures that were hard to blend. These shades are also really easy to dupe, so I think many would prefer single eyeshadows with better textures. As much as I love the return of more matted colours after a whole season of shimmer and sparkle, this palette is a total pass (especially for $45!).

MAC Daphne Guinness for MAC: Blush Ombres

MAC will be releasing a new collection in collaboration with Daphne Guinness, available in stores on December 26. It will feature 21 products, 17 of which are limited edition. There are two shades of Blush Ombre being released — they are both re-promotes from last year's Spring Colour Forecast collection, and are limited edition. Each Blush Ombre comes in regular black packaging, contains 9 grams of product, and retails for $31.

Azalea Blossom

Azalea Blossom (top colour, bottom colour, mixed)

Azalea Blossom is a light warm-toned pink that fades into a mid-tone lavender purple. When swirled together, it creates a light-medium cool-toned pink with a subtle sheen. It has a soft, smooth texture, and is easily buildable. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. This shade is more ideal for fair to medium skintones; it may end up looking ashy or not show up at all on darker skintones. When applied, it looks similar to MAC Dame.

Vintage Grape

Vintage Grape (top colour, bottom colour, mixed)

Vintage Grape is a medium rosy pink that fades into a dark reddish plum. When swirled together, it creates a medium-dark raspberry plum with a subtle sheen. It has a soft, smooth texture, and has intense pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. A little goes a long way here, and it's very easy to over-do considering the intensity of the shade. This shade is more ideal for medium to deep skintones, though can also be used for a bolder cheek colour for lighter skintones (just use a light hand!). When applied, it looks like a less pink version of MAC Breezy.

For the amount of product you get in a compact, which is almost the same size as MAC's Beauty Powders, it's a good value for a blush, even by MAC's pricing (a regular MAC blush is $3.92/g, whereas the Blush Ombre is $3.44/g). For me, it's not so much the value that I care about; they're just very nice colours that look pretty on the face and in the pan. For those who really wanted these last year but couldn't get their hands on them, this is your chance to get them! These will undoubtedly be the first to sell out from the Daphne Guinness collection.

Maxim Bakery & Restaurant

Since we are typical Asians and just don't do Christmas at home, my mom and I went to Maxim's (an Asian-run restaurant that doesn't serve Asian food) for our annual Christmas dinner:

Potato salad wrapped in smoked salmon on a bed of spring salad, tiger shrimp with tomato avocado salsa, and pearl scallops and seaweed salad on a puff pastry with hollandaise sauce

Crab cake stuffed in a crab shell and drizzled with béchamel sauce

Lobster bisque au Cognac

Oven-roasted New Zealand Provençal rack of lamb with golden crust and rosemary au jus, served with sautéed vegetables and garlic Yukon mashed potatoes

Mango almond meringue cake, profiterole with strawberry and mango, and New York cheesecake

Oh, god, dinner was so good. Better than anything we could cook at home (though, let's face it, we wouldn't even dream of cooking at home). I love that they serve three mini appetizers on one dish, rather than one huge appetizer. It keeps it interesting with different flavours and textures. I loved the different interpretations of each type of seafood this year, too. And that crab cake was so moist, so flaky, so... full of crab! The crab shell was a nice touch, as well. They serve the lobster bisque every year for their five-course Christmas dinner, but it's as good as I remember it: So creamy, so rich, so flavourful! But the lamb was just glorious. There was so much meat on that rack, and it was so tender and juicy and fatty, and the golden crust added a really nice texture and flavour to the meat... I will dream of this lamb for years to come.

And, of course, the infamous mini dessert buffet. You see, Maxim's is not just a restaurant; it's also a bakery that is well-known for their phenomenal cakes. I had three mini pastries, but you know if I wasn't about to bust out of my pants, I would've gotten more, 'cause it's all you can eat! And all inclusive for $45. Completely worth every penny. And so rewarding after a ridiculously busy and tiring day at work (and over a week of being sick!).

Hope you all have a very merry Christmas!

Friday Five

This week's Friday Five:

1. In 2011, what did you do far too many times? Get sick! And spend too much money.
2. In 2011, what did you rediscover? My love of cheesy '90s pop music. Hello, Hanson, Robyn, and All Saints!
3. What 2011 event will you still be paying for in 2012? Shopping from this holiday season.
4. In what unexpected place did you find a friend in 2011? I don't think I found any friends in unexpected places.
5. As 2011 comes to a close, what in your life is trending upward toward a much better 2012? My job. (Knock on wood!) 2011 started off a little rocky in finding a stable job in the make-up industry, but I got a contract in the Spring and am loving (almost) every minute of it. I'm excited for next year's trends and colours and collections!

China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Ring In The Red

I went to the doctor's yesterday, and it's official: I have bronchitis and asthma. Joyful, no? I have been rather miserable, so in an effort to get into the holiday spirit, I decided to start with... my nails. Obviously. I'm not usually a fan of Christmas-themed anything, but I decided that China Glaze's Ring In The Red was just Christmas-y enough without going overboard. It's a cherry red base with cherry red glitter and shimmer. I'm not usually a fan of red nail polishes on myself, either, but this one is actually really, really pretty. It looks infinitely better in real life than in pictures — I had about eight people ask me what polish this was the first day I wore it. The formula isn't China Glaze's best; I needed three coats, which is on par with many glitter polishes, but China Glaze is usually good with the opacity in their formula. That aside, it's definitely worth checking out if you're looking for a fun holiday colour.

Moxie's Classic Grill

Our friend, Sherwin, is back from teaching English in China for Christmas break, so we all met up at Moxie's for dinner tonight. Now, I'm not usually a fan of the food at Moxie's, as it's usually mediocre at best, so I was a little wary when ordering. I ended up deciding on the Italian sausage ravioli, which is a new dish on their holiday menu. And, I gotta say, I was rather impressed. The ravioli is plump and filled with Italian sausage, and then there are chunks of the sausage on top of it, along with green beans, and freshly shaved parmesan cheese. Simple, but very tasty. It's too bad that this dish is only around for a limited time — it's definitely worth adding to their otherwise sub par regular menu.

And for dessert, of course, I got the sticky toffee pudding. Everyone always gets the white chocolate brownie at Moxie's, and it's good, but the sticky toffee pudding is what I keep going back to. It's served warm with melty vanilla ice cream in a pool of toffee, and it's just so damn good. The cake itself is so moist and soft and flavourful, and unlike the brownie, I never feel like it's too much. I never thought I'd say this, but I had some really good food at Moxie's tonight.

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Favourite cheek highlighter? I used to be completely obsessed with NARS Hungry Heart, but I am really, really digging NARS Miss Liberty at the moment. There's this sparkling, almost wet look to it that makes my skin look perfect and luminous. I totally picked it up on a whim and kind of felt guilty about it because I have so many highlighters, but I don't regret it at all now (especially given that it's limited edition!).
2. Favourite brow highlighter? My go-to used to be MAC Ricepaper, but I'm currently loving the light golden-champagne shade in MAC Mineralize Eyeshadow Duo in This & That. It's so underrated, but it's really flattering on all skintones. And I like that it's not matte, but also not too shimmery or metallic.
3. Favourite face highlighter? My face is way too oily to use highlighter all over my face, so I don't really utilize highlighters in this way. But if I had to choose one, I guess it'd be MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Lightscapade. There's a bit of iridescence, but it's very subtle.

Glymm: December Box

I received my December Glymm box last week. For those who haven't heard of Glymm, it's a beauty subscription program very similar to Luxe Box. It's $10 a month, and you get a box of four to five deluxe beauty samples sent right to your door.

This month, I received:

Ahava Deadsea Water Mineral Hand Cream (sample size, 20 ml): Ahava is a brand that is known for incorporating Dead Sea minerals into their skincare and bodycare, which hydrate and restore moisture to even the driest skin. This hand cream is actually quite lovely; it's lightweight but very, very hydrating. My super-chapped hands feel super-smooth and silky after using this, and it leaves a light, clean, slightly floral scent. This sample size is perfect to put in my handbag, and there is definitely enough product for multiple uses. I would definitely considering buying this when it's done.

Caudalie Vinoperfect Enzymatic Peel Mask (sample size, 3 ml): This mask is made with revitalizing grape acid and antioxidant-rich grape seed oil, which "work together to gently dissolve dead skin cells and reveal a perfectly nourished, balanced, and luminous skin complexion." Caudalie is a great skincare brand, and this mask does seem promising. This sample size will be enough for two uses at most, but it should be enough to see the benefits, as masks are generally more of a short-term fix. The only problem here is that I don't use face masks. I just don't have the patience for them. I wish that I received Caudalie's hand cream instead (I've seen it in other December Glymm boxes).

Sula Natural Lip Gloss in Come Find Me (full size, 2.69 g): I've always wanted to try Sula's products, so I was quite excited when I saw this full-sized lip gloss in this month's box. Sula's gloss has a thinner texture (no thick, gloppy mess here), and has sheer colour pay-off. It has minimal stickiness and goes on smooth. Come Find Me is a peachy nude in the tube, but it goes on clear, perhaps a little milky. It initially reminded me of MAC Cremesheen Glass in Boy Bait, but Come Find Me is actually more sheer. I was kind of disappointed with the shade, because as pretty as it looks in the tube, it really is colourless on the lips. It's ideal for adding shine more than anything else. Overall, I really like the formula, but the smell? Oh, god, the smell is horrible. Like... plastic, with an herbal twist. It's something I would never want to put on my lips. I don't know if I got a bad batch or what, but the smell of this lip gloss alone would make me not want to buy it. So disappointing!

YSL Parisienne Eau de Parfum (sample size, 7.5 ml): Love, love, love. I actually own the full-size bottle of this, so this little one will be more for putting in my purse. Parisienne has notes of blackberry, damask rose, and sandalwood, and is a very feminine, sophisticated, sweet floral scent. Of course, perfume is a really personal preference, but I'm so glad they chose to include Parisienne in this box, and a very generous size, too! None of those cheap little tubes you get at the drugstore; this is the deluxe sample you get as a bonus in the gift sets.

Jelly Belly Candy: Cherry and chocolate pudding flavours for this month. Honestly, these are cute, but I rarely eat candy, and these just end up piling up on my desk.

Overall, I like the items in this month's box, but the lip gloss was just so disappointing because I really wanted to love it. It just smells completely rancid. I wish they had sent a bottle of Sula's Paint & Peel nail polish instead, because I do really want to try those...

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick: #5 Beige Etrusque

On that trip to Murale with Mary, I bought a third lipstick, one that Mary and I loved so much, we both had to have it: YSL's Rouge Pur Couture in #5 Beige Etrusque. (You can see a lovely full-face vision of this lipstick on Mary here.) Like my beloved Rouge Voluptés, these also come in elegant weighty gold metal casing, but square instead of round and with the YSL logo centered at the case opening. Not quite as flamboyant, but ultra-chic just the same. Rouge Pur Couture lipsticks are ultra-creamy, very pigmented with incredible colour pay-off, and give off a lovely sheen. They go on very smoothly, evenly, and opaquely, and wear very well. They also have a subtle tropical fruit scent but no taste. Each Rouge Pur Couture lipstick contains 3.8 grams of product, and retails for $38.

#5 Beige Etrusque

#5 Beige Etrusque is a medium peachy beige with a hint of pink in a satin finish. This shade is neutral enough to go with all shades of blush and eyeshadow, but has more colour and depth than a full-fledged nude. It should suit both cool and warm undertones beautifully. It is more peach than MAC Kinda Sexy, more pink than MAC Cherish, and lighter and less brown than MAC Mocha.

I was trying to figure out what the difference was between the Rouge Volupté formula ("Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick") and the Rouge Pur Couture formula ("Pure Colour Satiny Radiance Lipstick"). As I previously mentioned, they're both ultra-creamy, very pigmented with incredible colour pay-off, and give off a lovely sheen. They go on very smoothly, evenly, and opaquely, and wear very well. But the difference was more noticeable in the wear: Whereas the Rouge Volupté started off moist and dried down rather fast (not to be mistaken for drying), the Rouge Pur Couture go on moist and stay that way. While I like the colour range of the Rouge Voluptés more, I definitely like this formula more. I didn't think it was possible, but there you go. Looks like there will be a few many more shades in my future...

La Biblioteca

The goat's mustache is Cameron Diaz.

Save Community! This show is too ridiculous to be cancelled.

P.S. If you are wondering about all the YouTube videos... I am sick and bored at home. This is what happens.

Rumour Has It / Someone Like You

Okay, so Glee has gone really downhill this season (does anyone still watch Glee?), but this mash-up has single-handedly upped their game. Rachel and Mercedes are phenomenal singers, but Santana's voice just gives me chills.

Okay, Gleek-time over.

Kitten Mittens

I am super pissed off right now. I don't know how this is possible, but I am sick yet again. That's three times in three months. Is my immune system that shitty? Yes, apparently so. Like, this has never happened to me before. I thought your immune system was supposed to be phenomenal after getting sick, fighting all that bacteria and shit. Apparently not. Conclusion: My immune system is an asshole. (Not literally.) Anyway, I thought I'd share this video from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, because it always cheers me up. Seriously, I've watched this 20 times already... and I laugh every time. And if you don't watch this show already... well, you should, 'cause it's the funniest show on television.

Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer in Exquis

So, after reading about it everywhere, I finally broke down and bought Dior's Exquis nail polish from their holiday collection. It's a murky olive-brown with muted gold shimmer, though it looks more brown in certain lighting, and more olive green in other lighting. It's an interesting take on a holiday colour, and actually makes for a good neutral shade. The formula on Dior polishes are absolutely phenomenal: a little on the thicker side, but has smooth flow, even application, and goes on nearly opaque with one coat. The brush is also thicker, so it takes less time to coat the entire nail (though this also means less precision, so those with smaller nails may not appreciate it). Either way, I was totally in love with this shade... but after a few days of wear with dulling top coat, I realized: It looks kind of like baby poop.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush: Blushing Bride, Flush, and Natural Beauty

I was so impressed with the first three Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes I bought that I went to Sephora with Mary last week and snatched up three more shades because I had a $20 off coupon through their VIB program. (Liz, it looks like we may start that circus tent, after all!) They are housed in mirrored compacts with the corresponding blush shade, and are imprinted with what I imagine is the Amazon River flowing through tropical rainforest. Each blush contains 5.6 grams of product, and retails for $33 in Canada.

Clockwise from bottom: Blushing Bride, Flush, and Natural Beauty

Tarte's Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blushes are solar-baked and, as implied, are infused with Amazonian clay, which Tarte calls "nature's most perfect ingredient." They are supposedly "nutrient rich and skin-nourishing" because of the Amazonian clay, and promise to "restore harmony for a flawless finish that lasts all day." It promises to balance out all skin types, so it absorbs oil for those who are oily, hydrates and restores moisture for those who are dry, etc. The shades are "inspired" by their Cheek Stain shades, and most of them are actually named correspondingly.

Flush (close-up)

Blushing Bride, Flush, and Natural Beauty

Blushing Bride is a medium raspberry-plum with gold micro-shimmer. The shimmer looks very obvious in the pan, but it's much more subtle in execution, so it gives off more of a sheen than full-on shimmer. I believe this is the only non-matte shade of the range. It has a very smooth, silky texture, and has amazing pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. A little goes a long way here, and it's very easy to over-do considering the intensity of the shade. It's much brighter and less brown than MAC Flirt & Tease, and less pink than MAC Breezy.

Flush is a medium-dark magenta-berry in a matte finish. It has a very smooth, silky texture, and has amazing pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. A little goes a long way here, and it's extremely easy to over-do considering the intensity and brightness of the shade. It's slightly less violet than MAC Rhubarb.

Natural Beauty is a medium bright strawberry red with pink undertones in a matte finish. It has a very smooth, silky texture, and has amazing pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. A little goes a long way here, and it's extremely easy to over-do considering the intensity and brightness of the shade. It's slightly more pink than MAC Salsarose.

These blushes are absolutely gorgeous, from the texture to the wear to the shades. All of them are so smooth and silky and blendable; they go on like a dream! I've never personally had a problem with the wear-time of blushes because I always wear it on top of primer (MAC Face Protect SPF 50) and powder foundation (MAC Studio Fix Powder) rather than on bare skin, so I can't actually say if this has a longer wear-time than my other blushes. Theoretically, though, because they're so pigmented and finely milled, they should wear longer. Given the intensity of these three shades, they are extremely easy to over-apply, so I recommend using a very light hand or a duo fibre brush.

I have combination skin where I'm very oily in the T-zone and normal in the cheeks; I will agree that these blushes do give my cheeks "an overall smooth and even appearance," but most blushes look like that on me, so I'm not sure I really notice a difference with their "Skinvigorating" ingredients. Moreover, a lot of the skincare-like claims with these blushes ("improves skin clarity, elasticity, firmness, and texture") would require using these blushes everyday, like skincare, to really test their efficacy. In the end, I would recommend these for how they look and wear as blushes, since at the core, that is what they are. I actually see these shades working really beautifully on darker skintones because of the intensity, though those with light to medium skintones who are looking for more dramatic blush shades should also check these out. They will, however, end up looking quite severe on fair skintones. Regardless, Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blush formula is probably one of my favourites to date, and I would check them out either way, 'cause there's a shade for everyone!

Survey Says...

This week's Survey Says... from Temptalia:

1. Age you first used make-up? I was 16. I bought a Clinique Perfectly Real Compact Makeup in attempt to cover up my pimples and acne scars. (This was, of course, before I discovered good skincare!)
2. Age you fell in love with make-up? I would say 17; it was when I ventured into eye make-up.
3. Oldest beauty product you own? A Stila #21 powder/blush buffing brush that is now discontinued. I still use it every single day to put on my MAC Studio Fix Powder.

Estée Lauder Pure Color Gelée Powder Eyeshadow: Cyber Teal and Cyber Green

About a month ago, Estée Lauder came out with a new formula of eyeshadow in six shades by make-up artist Tom Pecheux, called Pure Color Gelée Powder Eyeshadow. It's a tri-blend formula that's powder, gel, and liquid in one. Usually, Estée Lauder's make-up products don't really intrigue me, but I was bored on my lunch break so I stopped by my local Estée Lauder counter, saw their new display, and started swatching the colours. I was so ridiculously impressed with these Cyber Metallic finish eyeshadows that, even though I have an arsenal of more than 150 eyeshadows, I bought two of them without even hesitating. I'm still unsure of whether they're limited edition or not, because the beauty advisor at the counter said her rep told them they were being added to the permanent range, whereas their website states that they're limited edition. Hopefully, it is the former. Each eyeshadow comes in a gold plastic mirrored compact, contains 0.9 grams of product, includes a mini eyeshadow sponge applicator, and retails for $28.

Cyber Teal and Cyber Green

Cyber Teal and Cyber Green

Cyber Teal is a medium smoky teal with a silvered shimmer-sheen in a Cyber Metallic finish. It goes on smooth and silky, and has phenomenal pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. When used dry, it has a smooth metallic sheen. When used wet, the colour intensifies and it almost looks like liquid metal. I don't personally have a dupe for this; it is less bright and more grey than MAC Steamy.

Cyber Green is a blackened olive-brown with gold and olive green micro-shimmer. It goes on smooth and silky, and has phenomenal pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. When used dry, it has a smooth metallic sheen. When used wet, the colour intensifies and it almost looks like liquid metal. This shade used wet would make a phenomenal eyeliner colour. I could not think of a dupe for this; it looks kind of like MAC Pro Longwear Eyeshadow in Legendary Black but more metallic and mixed with olive green.

I am completely and utterly in love with this formula. I was so tempted to buy all six shades, but I ended up with these because they were the most unique... and mostly because I didn't have $168 to spend on eyeshadows, and the third shade I wanted was sold out. It surprised me how dry the texture of these shadows are, because usually colours that look this intense and metallic have a very buttery or velvety feel to them, almost creamy. And it's so pigmented that a little goes a really long way. If these do end up being limited edition, I say snatch these babies up as soon as you can!

YSL Rouge Volupté Lipstick: #11 Rose Culte and #12 Forbidden Burgundy

I went to Murale with Mary last Friday and left with some new Yves Saint Laurent lipsticks, including two shades of Rouge Volupté. For those who have never had the pleasure of trying YSL's Rouge Volupté lipsticks, they are the epitome of luxury make-up. The packaging is ultra-chic and elegant in weighty gold metal casing, with the YSL logo surrounding the centre of the tube, and a small mirror at the top of the cap for easy touch-ups on-the-go. The formula is ultra-creamy, almost buttery, and it's very pigmented with incredible colour pay-off and a lovely sheen. Despite the creamy formula, they aren't exactly moisturizing, but they aren't drying, either. They go on very smoothly, evenly, and opaquely, and wear very well. They also have a subtle tropical fruit scent but no taste. At the end of it all, they feel and look amazing on the lips.

#11 Rose Culte and #12 Forbidden Burgundy

#11 Rose Culte and #12 Forbidden Burgundy

#11 Rose Culte is a medium bright hot pink with red undertones. This is a fantastic bright pink for those with warmer skintones, or for those who want to wear fuchsia but find it a little too cool-toned. It is warmer and more red than MAC Girl About Town.

#12 Forbidden Burgundy is a medium-dark berry-plum. Typically, berry shades lean cool, but the subtle brown undertones in this shade makes it an ideal berry shade for warmer skintones. It is warmer and less pink than MAC Rebel, and less red than MAC Hang Up.

At $38 a pop, it's definitely a splurge, but if you find a shade that you really like, it's absolutely worth it. In terms of formula, colours, and packaging, YSL's Rouge Voluptés are the most decadent and luxurious lipsticks I own (I like these infinitely more than my Tom Ford lipstick, which is $14 more!). Honestly, Rouge Volupté is my favourite lipstick formula of all time. If they weren't so expensive, you can be damn sure that I would buy every single shade.

Casa Victoria

After seeing some pictures on her blog and craving hard because I hadn't been in over two years, Mary and I decided to meet up this afternoon for dim sum at Casa Victoria. The exterior of the restaurant is very nondescript (and is very easy to pass by completely), but when you walk inside, it's like being transported to a different world — one that can only be described as "fancypants." Massive crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, marble tiles deck the floor below, and pillars and dark mahogany walls with gold trim surround big round tables with swirly tablecloths and fine white china sitting neatly atop. Whether you see it as decadent or gaudy, nothing about this place really screams, "dim sum." And that's what you pay for. Casa Victoria is pricier than most other dim sum places, but the food is well worth it. Or, at least, that's what our simultaneous tastebud orgasms were telling us:

The requisite jasmine tea

Steamed BBQ pork buns

Steamed jumbo shrimp dumplings ("har gow")

Deep-fried taro dumplings with mushrooms and pork

Deep-fried spring rolls with mushrooms and pork

Pan-fried chives and shrimp dumplings

Steamed pork and mushroom dumplings with shrimp ("siu mai")

Pan-fried green onion pancake

Pan-fried turnip patties

Fancypants decor aside, the food was phenomenal. I thought maybe it was because I hadn't eaten dim sum in so long, but Mary said it was better than any other dim sum place she'd been to because the flavours were more vibrant and the different textures more apparent. And the shrimp dumplings (our favourite by default — so much so, that we ordered not one, but two steamers of them) seemed to be bigger than any I'd ever had. Usually, they're filled with minced shrimp, but these ones were full of plump, juicy, full shrimps. Phenomenal, I say! Likewise with the siu mai (which were probably the most gigantic ones I've ever had), which had the minced pork and mushrooms sitting atop a whole massive shrimp! I could go on and describe what I loved about every single dish, but that would take too many paragraphs, so I shall stop here and just say that they serve some of the most delicious, delightful, delectable dim sum I've ever had. My only tiff with their menu: Where are the egg custard tarts?

It must be noted, however, that, as good as the food is and as fancy as the decor is, the service is sub par, and that's really putting it nicely. Don't get me wrong, they're extremely efficient — our pot of tea got to the table within two minutes of sitting down, and our food came out fresh and piping hot from the kitchen within five minutes of ordering (no wheeling carts here). But they aren't particularly pleasant or nice or polite or attentive. Now, let's be honest, no one goes to Chinese restaurants for the service. You go for the food and the efficient delivery of said food. But the service really doesn't match the rest of the experience.

When the bill arrived, the woman who helped us (who was also the hostess, I believe) seemed to just want to get us out of there as fast as possible and was quite impatient with our deciding on how we wanted to pay. She just stood there, watching us take our wallets out. So uncomfortable. Considering that our bill came out to nearly $50 (note: none of the prices are listed on the ordering sheet!), you'd think they'd be a little more pleasant, but I digress. Perhaps it was because neither of us spoke a word of Chinese, but in this day and age, it's not nice being treated like an outsider, you know? Regardless, the food is what will bring me back there because, pleasant or not, they have some damn good dim sum that is served until quite late (4:00 PM). And lucky for me, I had some good company.