Empties: January 2012

Okay, so this is my first empties post — inspired, of course, by the original Beauty Reductionista herself, Liz. Everyone seems to be doing these posts now, but I buy so many cosmetics products and never actually see how many of them I finish, so I got curious. The empties in this post have been saved up from mid-December to the end of January (mostly because I decided to join in on the empties fun in December). So, here's the tally:

• Zoya 3-in-1 Formula Remove+ Nail Polish Remover (950 ml)
• Bliss Spa Lemon + Sage Body Butter Maximum Moisture Cream (414 ml)
• Shiseido Super Mild Hair Conditioner — Green Floral (600 ml)
• Lush Big Shampoo (325 g)
• Fresh Sugar Lemon Body Lotion (300 ml)
• Lancôme Crème Radiance Clarifying Cream-To-Foam Cleanser (125 ml)
• Shiseido Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol-Free (150 ml)
• Lancôme Hydra Zen Neurocalm Extreme Soothing Moisturizing Cream-Gel (50 ml)
• MAC Lightful Foaming Creme Cleanser (100 ml)
• MAC Eyebrows — Lingering (0.09 g)
• MAC Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara — Black (9 g)
• MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50 (30 ml)
• MAC Blot Powder Pressed — Medium Dark (12 g)
• MAC Studio Fix Powder+ Foundation — NC40 (15 g)

Yes, that's 14 full-sized (and in some cases, super-sized!) products completely finished!

Body Care/Haircare/Miscellaneous:

Zoya 3-in-1 Formula Remove+ Nail Polish Remover & Nail Prep (950 ml) — If a "holy grail" nail polish remover existed, this one would be it for me. So much so, that I actually finished the professional salon size bottle (to be fair, I do switch my nail polish shade every three to four days!). This bottle lasted me about six months, which I thought was pretty good. It removes all of my nail polish quickly and efficiently while being really gentle and completely non-drying, and is even effective in taking off glitter nail polish (not as fast as 100% acetone remover, but it's so ridiculously harsh that my nails will literally start peeling upon removal). It's phenomenal, especially if you like to change your polish often!

Repurchase? Yes, definitely yes.

Bliss Spa Lemon + Sage Body Butter Maximum Moisture Cream (414 ml) — I bought this super-sized version of Bliss Spa's famous body butter in one of their Back To School sets back in September. I started using this more often when the weather got colder and my skin got drier. I've been using this body butter on and off for years (when Bliss Spa's packaging was white and teal), and while I don't find it to be the most hydrating body cream on the market, it does a decent job in keeping the scalies away. I do find this to be on the heavier, greasier side (it is a body butter, after all, not a lotion), so it doesn't absorb quite as fast, so I would recommend this for drier skin (as opposed to normal/dry). Either way, it's the scent that really keeps me coming back to it. I don't smell the sage at all in this; it reminds me of lemon curd or lemon custard, which I just love. The only thing that makes me cringe is the price.

Repurchase? Yes, but only when it's on a promotional price.

Shiseido Super Mild Hair Conditioner — Green Floral (600 ml) — This is actually the second bottle of this conditioner I have bought, and I originally found this on a whim when I was grocery shopping at T&T Supermarket (a Chinese-Canadian grocery chain). In case you haven't seen it before, this is a part of Shiseido's "drugstore" line, which is big in Asia, but not so much in Canada. All the writing on it is in Japanese, so I can't really tell you what it's supposed to do or what it's supposed to smell like, but I love, love, love the scent of this. This conditioner comes in three fragrances, but I am partial to the green one, which is a light, fresh, clean floral scent. (The other two are almost too floral for my tastes.) I love that this conditioner isn't heavy, but leaves my hair feeling super soft and silky and completely detangled without leaving a residue. (For the record, I have non-dyed, long, medium-thick, coarse, dry hair.) Plus, it comes with a pump (which I personally like), and a 600 ml bottle is around $16 here (but it does go on sale for around $12, which is when I buy it).

Repurchase? Yep, I already did last week!

Lush Big Shampoo (325 g) — I originally bought this at the end of last summer, and it has lasted me this long! You can read my original review of it here. Honestly, there's really nothing I don't like about this shampoo. It leaves my hair feeling light and buoyant and really clean, while looking shinier and healthier. And it has a delightful beachy, citrusy smell! I use it every other day (I wash my hair everyday, which isn't recommended, but whatever) and it works wonders at deep cleansing the hair and scalp, which is especially important to me because I use hairsprays and Moroccan Oil, which leave a film on the hair. I've already converted three people to this shampoo.

Repurchase? Yep, I did last week!

Fresh Sugar Lemon Body Lotion (300 ml) — This is my favourite body lotion of all time. (For the record, I have dry, eczema-prone skin.) It's light, fast-absorbing, and non-greasy, but it keeps my skin well-hydrated throughout the entire day, and it smells phenomenal. I'm not a huge fan of the perfume, which kind of reminds me of Lemon Pledge, but the lotion is just fantastic — a softer, non-overwhelming version of the scent. And most importantly, it doesn't irritate my skin at all. Pricey, yes, but worth it for me.

Repurchase? Yes, I bought two bottles last November when I was in Buffalo.

Skincare:

Lancôme Crème Radiance Clarifying Cream-To-Foam Cleanser (125 ml) — This is my "holy grail" cleanser. I've been using it since it came out a few years ago, and even after trying all sorts of different cleansers, this is the one I always go back to. It takes off all of my make-up (including eye make-up and mascara) and also cleans my skin effectively without leaving it feeling dry. It foams up, but it's also creamy, which I love in my cleansers (as opposed to gels or foams or milks). It is pricey, especially now that I don't get a discount, but it is worth the money for me.

Repurchase? Always.

Shiseido Pureness Balancing Softener Alcohol-Free (150 ml) — I have been using this toner on and off for years, and I always love it when I'm using it. It's simple and fuss-free, with a nice, clean scent, and most importantly, it's alcohol-free. I have combination/oily skin, and this is a non-drying toner that does what it's supposed to do (e.g. remove any cleanser residue, prep skin for serum/moisturizer) while leaving my skin feeling clean, refreshed, and balanced. And it comes in a handy pump dispenser!

Repurchase? Yep, I did today!

Lancôme Hydra Zen Neurocalm Extreme Soothing Moisturizing Cream-Gel (50 ml) — My go-to night moisturizer. It's oil-free, lightweight, and extremely hydrating. I don't use this in the day because I get too oily, but it really soothes my skin after a whole day of wearing full-face make-up and removing said make-up. I was originally using Lancôme's Aqua Fusion Cream-Gel, but it was discontinued a couple years ago, and this is what replaced it, so I switched over to this. And I ended up liking it better. It has a light floral scent, which I personally really like, but if you like your skincare to be fragrance-free, then this wouldn't be for you. But I always go back to this because I haven't yet found something I like better.

Repurchase? Yes, if I don't end up liking the current one I'm using (Boscia).

MAC Lightful Foaming Creme Cleanser (100 ml) — I think I went through two tubes of this in total. I used this as my morning cleanser (so not my make-up remover). I absolutely love the texture of this — creamy and super-foamy. It cleaned my face really well without leaving any residue, and was gentle and didn't strip my skin. I didn't really see any "brightening" properties, as MAC's Lightful line is meant to do, but then again, this is a cleanser and it doesn't stay on my face, so it's really unlikely to see a cleanser make any difference in skintone.

Repurchase? No, this has been discontinued. But I will try MAC's new Lightful formula when it is released at the end of February.

Make-up:

MAC Eyebrows — Lingering (0.09 g) — I have been using this eyebrow pencil for years. I love that it's self-sharpening and that it has the finest point I have ever seen on an eyebrow pencil. I have thin, patchy, asymmetrical eyebrows, and this really helps fill them and shape them with precision. And Lingering, a soft taupe brown, is the perfect shade for me.

Repurchase? Yep, I always have two back-ups.

MAC Haute & Naughty Lash Mascara — Black (9 g) — This is now my go-to mascara. I have really long, but really thin and straight lashes, and this amps up the volume like no other. And it doesn't smudge, even though it's not waterproof. The formula is really wet, though, so it can be prone to clumping and it can get a little messy around the tube opening... but the effect is totally worth it, 'cause I love huge, dramatic lashes.

Repurchase? Yep, I always have a back-up.

MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50 (30 ml) — My go-to face primer. It keeps my face looking completely smooth and matte and perfect throughout the entire day. It doesn't leave a film on my face (e.g. Smashbox), and it has SPF 50!

Repurchase? Yes.

MAC Blot Powder Pressed — Medium Dark (12 g) — I've been using this for years. As mentioned, I have fairly oily skin. I use this to set my foundation, and as a result, I only blot my face once a day, as opposed to... six?

Repurchase? Yep, I always have a back-up.

MAC Studio Fix Powder+ Foundation — NC40 (15 g) — I've been using this for years. I've realized that I actually hate using liquid and cream make-up products on my face, and was looking for medium-full coverage in a matte finish, and this powder foundation was the answer. It's sort of a love-it-or-hate-it product, but I can't live without it now. It's completely easy and effortless to use, and I get smooth, nearly full coverage in about 30 seconds. It's more ideal for combination-to-oily skintypes, though, because it will emphasize dryness and is prone to caking on dry skin.

Repurchase? Yep, I always have a back-up.

Tallying empties is surprisingly satisfying. And it's made me realize: Holy crap, I use a lot of product. So, I'm kind of justified in buying tons of cosmetics, right? Right?

Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in Bossy Boots

The second colour I decided to try from Butter London's Spring/Summer 2012 collection was Bossy Boots. It's a pale pistachio green (more like pistachio gelato, really) in a cream finish. It has a slightly thicker texture than Butter London's usual cream formula, so it can be prone to pulling and applying more streaky, but it does go opaque in two coats. I personally love colours like this for Spring, since you know I have a thing for greens. I like that Butter London decided not to go the mint green route (which has been really overdone) and made this distinctly more pistachio (e.g. yellow-based). I initially thought there'd be more dupes, but the closest I have found is Essie's Da Bush, which is darker and much more grey, and Illamasqua's Milf, which is more blue-based (closer to mint green). Bossy Boots is surprisingly neutral and will work well on all skintones and undertones, so if you like green shades or want to try the green nail polish trend but want to keep it more subtle, this is fantastic.

Friday Five: Storage

This week's Friday Five:

1. What are your favourite storage containers like? I really like these white plastic bins from Ikea for my make-up and skincare because they look so sleek and streamlined. I don't think they sell them anymore, though.
2. What seems to require more time and energy to store than it's worth? My CDs. It seems like such a simple task, and then it's like, "Should I organize alphabetically or by genre?" And then when I realize I have over 500 albums to go through, it's like, "Maybe I should just leave it in a pile in the corner of my room..." Oh, and also printed photographs. I don't print many pictures now, but back in the day, I had hundreds and hundreds of photos to sort and store. It was ridiculously time-consuming, and I don't think I ever really looked at them again.
3. What unusual container are you storing something in? I am currently storing my Muji pens in a Squirt the Sea Turtle (from Finding Nemo) plastic mug that Shawn got for me when we went to Disney on Ice.
4. What packaged product has a container you really like? Pretty much all cosmetics from Dior and Chanel, and YSL's Rouge Volupté lipsticks. Oh, and I really, really love the packaging for some of MAC's limited edition collections: Fafi, Dame Edna, Baroque Boudoir, To The Beach, Give Me Liberty of London, Marcel Wanders. Lollia's packaging is some of the prettiest I've ever seen, and I also like the simplicity of Fresh's perfume bottles, the sleek and slim Julep nail polish bottles, and the ridiculously luxe-looking Marvis toothpastes. There's plenty more, but I'll just keep it to these.
5. If you suddenly had some new storage space in your home, what would likely go there? Nail polish!

Lush Haul: Ocean Salt, Dirty Springwash, and Big

I went into Lush a couple days ago to look for the Red Dragon Soap that was released for Chinese New Year, but was told that Canadian stores never received them, even though they were supposed to. But I figured since I was there, anyway, I would pick up a new tub of Big Shampoo because I just ran out of it, and it has really become one of my favourite shampoos — my hair feels truly clean, light, and springy. Plus, it smells really good. (I've actually converted two of my colleagues to this shampoo.) I also bought a new tub of Ocean Salt, which I now like more as a face scrub than a body scrub, 'cause it leaves my face super soft and glowy (I went through a big tub in about a month using it as a body scrub!), as well as a bottle of Dirty Springwash Shower Gel, which I had never tried before but really like the clean, minty, ocean-y smell (I think they meant for the name to be ironic...). And the super nice guy that was helping me gave me some sample bar soaps for free (in case you were wondering, they were The Godmother, Honey I Washed the Kids, and Sea Vegetable). But, yeah, I totally ended up spending nearly $60 more than I was intending to. Ridiculous.

Chako Barbeque Izakaya

Shawn and I, along with Edward, Jesse, and Ronsee were craving Korean BBQ tonight, so we decided to go to Chako. And proceeded to eat about 30 trays of food (a.k.a. a ridiculous amount of deliciousness):

Assorted banchan: Spicy tofu, bean sprouts, kimchi, and carrots and turnips in vinegar

Assorted maki: Egg and crab rolls, mango rolls, spicy salmon rolls, and California rolls

Ready to be grilled!

Meat...

More meat...

Assorted seafood!

See? We even fit a veggie or two in there!

My plate continually looked like this the entire night; that is, it was never empty...

I do ultimately prefer the flavour of the meat at Korean Grill House. But Chako does offer a much wider variety of food, which keeps things interesting. I mean, after three trays of beef ribs and another three trays of beef, sometimes you want like, a shrimp or something, you know? Before returning to the trays of beef.

It is now four hours later. I am still full.

Survey Says...

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

1. Favourite blue eyeshadow? For darker blues, I like MAC's Deep Truth, Contrast, and Plumage. For brighter blues, I like MAC's Freshwater, Steamy, and Robin's Egg.
2. Favourite nude nail polish? I don't wear nude polishes very often, but it would probably be Essie's Vanity Fairest, and perhaps MAC's Endless Night.
3. Favourite berry lip colour? YSL's Forbidden Burgundy Rouge Volupte Lipstick, Illamasqua's Resist Lipstick, MAC's Deliciously Forbidden Mattene Lipstick, MAC's Rebel Lipstick, and Revlon's Raspberry Pie and Berry Smoothie Lip Butters.

Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer in Knackered

Because I needed more nail polish in my life, I ordered all five shades from Butter London's Spring/Summer collection (the set of five is $73, rather than $85, which is what all five would normally cost). I actually got these in the mail a couple weeks ago, but seeing as I still have about 30 other shades to try, I didn't get around to looking at these until this week. I decided to try Knackered first because it looked the most unique. Butter London describes this colour as, "A sheer twinkling oyster shade flecked with glitter particles." I'm not exactly sure what they mean by "oyster," but it does kind of have that multi-chrome effect of an oyster shell: it shines periwinkle blue at one angle, silver at another, and grey-green at another. It has a metallic finish, and has multi-coloured micro-glitter throughout that shines all different colours in different angles. It's a really pretty effect, actually. As mentioned, this is a sheer formula, so you need a minimum of three coats to get it opaque (I did three medium coats, and you can still kind of see my nail showing through, but it's mostly opaque). This would actually be really pretty layered on top of blue, grey, and green polishes. I can't think of any dupes for this shade, which is always impressive in a world with thousands (millions?) of nail polish shades.

Year of the Dragon

Happy Chinese New Year!

"New Year Cake"

Lucky red pockets

That's pretty much all my day has consisted of. We had a big family dinner at Star Walk Buffet on Saturday night (which was rather mediocre, actually, but my grandpa loves buffets) for a pre-Chinese New Year meal, but that was as celebratory as we got for this holiday. My mom pan-fried some "New Year Cake" with egg this morning, which she does every year for new luck and prosperity for the new year. Of course, for me, nothing really says prosperity like red pockets... (Which will pay for my new iPhone 4S that I got a couple days ago when I renewed my cell phone contract. And man, what an upgrade from the 3GS! I took those pictures above with my new phone using the Hipstamatic app, and they look about ten times better than pictures taken with my 3GS.) Hope you all have a fantastic Dragon year!

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butters

By now, everyone and their mothers have at least one tube of Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter. These were released last October in the States, and became available at select stores in Canada sometime in December. Starting this month, they have been made widely available at all Revlon retailers. Nearly every "YouTube beauty guru" and beauty blogger has raved about these. Basically, they're the new lippie darlings in the beauty world. I don't often buy drugstore make-up, but these piqued my interest. I mean, why are these so popular? I had to know.

In case you've been living under a rock, Revlon's ColorBurst Lip Butter is a hybrid of lipstick and lip balm, with mango, shea, and coconut butters being the main hydration ingredients. They are meant to provide "super-charged hydration" and "sheer to medium colour with buttery shine." I don't detect any distinct smell or taste, so these are great for those who are sensitive to scents. They come in 20 shades, so I picked up seven shades to try. They are housed in translucent shade-matched tubes with a quilted pattern etched into the sides. They have transparent tops so you can see what the actual shade looks like in the tube — this really comes in handy, since drugstores often don't have testers of every shade. Each Lip Butter contains 2.55 grams of product, and retails for around $9 to $10 (some places like Wal-Mart or Rexall have them for less, and some stores like Shoppers Drug Mart have them for more).

Berry Smoothie, Lollipop, Peach Parfait, Raspberry Pie, Strawberry Shortcake, Sweet Tart, Tutti Frutti

Berry Smoothie is a medium rosy pink with pink micro-shimmer. It has low-medium pigmentation, and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is darker than MAC Sweetie, and lighter and less purple than MAC Plumful.

Lollipop is a medium fuchsia pink. It has medium pigmentation, and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is slightly cooler than MAC Speak Louder.

Peach Parfait is a light peachy pink with pink micro-shimmer. It has low pigmentation, and sheer to semi-sheer buildable colour pay-off. It is darker and more pink than MAC Shy Girl, and more peach than MAC Politely Pink.

Raspberry Pie is a medium-dark raspberry red. It has high pigmentation, and semi-opaque to opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is less purple than MAC Quite The Thing! Sheen Supreme Lipstick, and cooler than MAC Perpetual Flame Pro Longwear Lipcreme.

Strawberry Shortcake is a light cool-toned pink. It has medium pigmentation, and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is slightly warmer than Viva Glam Gaga.

Sweet Tart is a medium bright reddened pink. It has medium pigmentation, and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is more pink than MAC Full Speed Sheen Supreme Lipstick.

Tutti Frutti is a medium bright coral-orange. It has medium pigmentation, and semi-sheer to semi-opaque buildable colour pay-off. It is darker and more orange than MAC Blossom Culture Sheen Supreme Lipstick.

Yep. Revlon's ColorBurst Lip Butter totally lives up to the hype. These are ridiculously moisturizing — way more than waxy lip balms (e.g. EOS, Burt's Bees) — without being sticky or greasy or thick. And unlike many "moisturizing" lipsticks (e.g. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine), these actually keep lips hydrated throughout its entire duration on lips. Seriously, they wear so comfortably, and my lips still look plump and moist after a few hours of wear. And unlike many tinted lip balms, these are actually quite pigmented — I love that you can do one swipe for a more sheer tint of colour, and layer it for a brighter pop of colour (without staining!). It comes in a large range of gorgeous colours, so there's something flattering for every skintone and undertone. Plus, the packaging is really cute. And the best part is, it's totally budget-friendly! Come to think of it, I don't think there's anything I don't like about these. Go buy one or two. Or ten. You won't regret it.

Samosa King

Shawn and I decided to get some take-out from Samosa King for late lunch/early dinner:

Vegetable samosas with spicy coriander chutney and sweet tamarind sauce

Vegetable samosas (innards)

Butter chicken and naan

You can be damn sure that if an Indian restaurant is called Samosa King, their samosas are the main draw. And these are easily the best samosas I've ever had in the city, and like none I've had at any other Indian restaurant. Apparently, people travel from all over the city for these deep-fried delights, ordering 50 or more at a time, so they always churn out fresh batches. They are packed with well-seasoned potatoes, peas, and onions, and the outer shell is crispy and substantial (think egg roll shells, rather than spring roll shells). And they are only 5 for $1! I ordered 15 for myself because they still taste phenomenal when they're microwaved, so you know, midnight snacks. Apparently, there is usually quite a line-up at Samosa King (for take-out; there is also a dine-in restaurant next door), especially on Tuesdays and Fridays for the $2 specials, but we went around 5:00, and there were maybe five or six other people there.

The butter chicken was pretty good, but not fantastic; the chicken was moist and tender, but the sauce didn't have the same spices as the butter chicken I've had at other places, so it was more like chicken in gravy to me. Which is good, but just not as... butter chicken-y as I had hoped. (As Shawn pointed out, though, it's called Samosa King, not Butter Chicken King.) Their curries are pre-made and sitting in heating plates, so I'm not sure how fresh it was at 5:00 in the afternoon, though. But the naan was phenomenal, and might just be my favourite naan I've had so far. Each piece is thick, fluffy, flavourful, and baked to order. I will definitely be going again and again for the samosas and naan, and will try one of the other curries next time. And the rotti. And the desserts. Oh, god, too much deliciousness...

Blog Tag!

The ever-lovely Liz recently tagged me in this post. I'm supposed to post seven random facts about myself, so here goes:

1. The first album I ever bought was No Doubt's Tragic Kingdom on cassette. It was 1996, and I was in Grade 5. This was obviously before my Spice Girls and Backstreet Boys phase.
2. When I was six, I hit my left index finger on something in the playground during recess, and half my nail fell off. When I was eight, my right ring finger got stuck on the hinge of a metal door. It is permanently crooked. When I was 18, I slammed my car door on my right thumb by accident (sadly, I was sober, but luckily, it was winter and my hands were completely numb from the cold), and the entire nail came off. Also, my right index finger is my only double-jointed finger. Yeah, my hands are fucked up.
3. The question I am asked the most by strangers is, "Are your eyelashes real?" (Yes, they are.)
4. I have been wearing glasses since I was 10, and contact lenses since I was 12.
5. I do not drink alcohol because my body doesn't process it properly. I don't get drunk; I literally go from sober to black out to sober within the span of two to three hours, regardless of how much I drink. It is not fun, to say the least, and is a big waste of money.
6. I have had exactly two manicures in my life, and never had a pedicure.
7. My make-up collection is worth more than my car. Yes, it is ridiculous.

Glymm: January 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:

Burt's Bees Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion (sample size, 7 ml x 2): This is a nice, simple body lotion that's not too heavy but hydrates quite well. It fast-absorbing and non-greasy. I'm sort of indifferent to the scent, which smells like honey and beeswax. I probably wouldn't buy a full size tube because there's so many other body lotions that I want to try or like better, but this is a good option if you like natural beauty products. The two sample sizes in this box might not be enough for the whole body (I would probably need both samples for one use on my body), but is more than enough for multiple uses on the hands and will most likely be enough for you to judge whether you'd want to buy the full size.

Kaia Naturals 100% Natural Bamboo Facial Cleansing Cloth (one cloth): I'm not a huge fan of make-up removing wipes because I just don't find them as effective as good ol' cleanser and water, but as far as make-up removing wipes go, these ones does an effective job. I tested this with lipsticks and lip liners (bright, dark, and long-wearing), eyeliners (pencil and liquid, waterproof and non-waterproof), as well as foundation, and it took off all of it. It also leaves skin feeling clean, with no oily residue afterward. I would still recommend using an actual eye make-up remover with a cotton pad to take off mascara because there's just not enough product in the wipes to take it off, but otherwise, it's a decent product. I personally don't like the scent of these, though, which has sort of a synthetic plasticky beeswax smell to it. If you like natural products and are looking for make-up removing wipes, this might be something to look into. Otherwise, MAC Wipes (the same price at $18 for 30 cloths) do just as good a job (though they leave a slight residue) and are much more widely available.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel (sample size, 2.5 ml): I don't normally use brow gels, but I gave this a try and actually really quite liked it. I use an eyebrow pencil regularly without anything else on top, but this gel does make my brows look neater and more groomed and keeps hairs in place. My brows felt slightly stiff with it applied, but not uncomfortably so. However, at $21 for the full size, I am positive that you can find a cheaper alternative that does exactly the same thing with the same results. I feel that this brow gel, which is essentially clear mascara, just isn't worth $21.

Vasanti Cosmetics Brighten Up! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator (sample size, 12 g): This is a facial exfoliator with a "triple action formula" that has "powerful papaya enzymes and microderm exfoliating crystals to help smooth your skin's surface to uncover a bright, youthful glow." I have used this once and it did make my skin feel nice and smooth, but it's not enough product to test any long-term results. That having been said, it's a really nice scrub with micro-crystals, so if you like face scrubs with very small beads/grains, you might want to look into this.

Cargo Cosmetics Eye Pencil in Black (full size, 1.1 g): This is "an incredibly high pigment pencil that delivers intense colour combined with a smudge-resistant formula for immediate and long-wearing results." I will agree that it has good pigmentation with opaque colour pay-off. It goes on smoothly and evenly, but I wouldn't say that it's smudge-resistant. There are definitely pencils out there that have the same colour pay-off, go on smoothly and evenly, and are smudge-resistant and water-resistant (MAC's Powerpoint Eye Pencil is one example). I personally wouldn't re-buy it because I don't really wear pencil eye liners (I am a liquid eye liner girl, through and through), but I reckon there are tons and tons of brands that offer black pencil eye liners in better formulas or are cheaper.

Overall, this month's box was decent. I wouldn't say it's phenomenal, but there were lots of products that are worth trying. They're all products that I probably wouldn't buy the full size version of, but I'm glad I got to try them. As far as the purpose of all of these products, they all did a pretty good job in terms of efficacy. And I like that all the skincare products were not age-specific or skin-specific, and the make-up products were all basic (clear brow gel, black eye liner). I have yet to get a box as good as last October's box, but this month's wasn't bad. I am, however, glad that they didn't send more jelly beans!

Red Lobster

Shawn and I finally got to curb our Red Lobster cravings tonight! Hello, Four Course Seafood Feast:

Those glorious cheddar biscuits!

New England Clam Chowder

Caesar salad

Garlic alfredo shrimp and scallop pasta

Apple Crostada with caramel drizzle

Oh, god, I died. A meal with those biscuits is always a good meal. But luckily, everything else was good, too. Not transcendent (like the biscuits), but definitely worth going back for. And definitely a good value at $18, seeing as the entrée is already that price on its own. I forgot to get more biscuits to bring home, though, sadly. I will make up for it and bring home an entire basket next time...

Dior Garden Party: Dior Vernis Garden Party Scented Nail Lacquers

Dior's Spring 2012 collection, aptly named Garden Party, is inspired by the garden surrounding Christian Dior's home in Granville, France. This collection is available at all Dior counters, Sephora, and online. This collection features 12 new products in total, of which two are online exclusives, and they are all limited edition. With this collection, Dior has released two shades of Dior Vernis Scented Nail Lacquers. Each nail polish comes in Dior's signature clear square bottles with logo embossed silver caps. It contains 10 ml of product in total, and retails for $24.

Waterlily and Forget-Me-Not

Waterlily

Waterlily is a light-medium pastel leaf green with iridescent white and green micro-shimmer. It has smooth and even application, and goes opaque in two coats. I did think that the texture on this one was thicker than usual, so it can be prone to pulling. When dried, it has a subtle rose scent. The closest dupe that I own is Rococo Jaded, which leans more blue. Though I don't own it, it seems similar to Chanel Jade.

Forget-Me-Not is a medium-dark reddened violet in a cream finish. It has smooth and even application, and goes opaque in one coat. When dried, it has a subtle rose scent. It is darker and less pink than Sephora by OPI Domestic Goddess and lighter than Sephora by OPI What A Broad.

Overall, both of these polishes are beautiful and really nice to have if you don't have anything similar. Waterlily is a more unique shade, but has a thicker texture and can be a little harder to work with. For those who wanted Chanel Jade but missed the chance, you might want to take a look at Waterlily. Forget-Me-Not is a bit more dupeable (and looks more like a Fall colour to me), but applies phenomenally. Dior's nail polishes have a thicker brush that make it really easy to apply nail polish if you have bigger nail beds. If you prefer smaller brush strokes (like me) or have smaller nail beds, you may find it a bit harder to control. In the end, Waterlily is the must-have for me out of the two (and from the collection as a whole!). It's just a gorgeous shade for Spring, and surprisingly not as dupeable as I originally thought.

Dior Garden Party: Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Glow in Pretty Rose

Dior's Spring 2012 collection, aptly named Garden Party, is inspired by the garden surrounding Christian Dior's home in Granville, France. This collection is available at all Dior counters, Sephora, and online. This collection features 12 new products in total, of which two are online exclusives, and they are all limited edition. With this collection, Dior has released two shades of Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss (one of which will not be reviewed here). Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss is a featherweight, "flash-plumping" lip gloss with hyaluronic spheres to keep lips smooth and moisturized, while "mirror-like micro-pearls reflect light in all directions for a dazzling finish." They have a very subtle vanilla scent, but are taste-free. Each lip gloss comes in Dior's signature clear logo-embossed tube with a Lucite top and silver "knob" cap. It contains 6.3 grams of product in total, comes with a brush applicator, and retails for $31.

Pretty Rose is a light-medium pinked peach. It goes on very smooth, even, and creamy, with low buildable pigmentation and semi-sheer colour pay-off. It will suit fair to medium-dark skintones more; those with dark to deep dark skintones will find this looks almost clear. It is darker and more pink than MAC Boy Bait Cremesheen Glass, less pink than MAC Just Superb Cremesheen Glass, and much more peach than MAC Ample Pink Plushglass.

This is definitely one of those shades that I'd reach for all the time, and one that looks lovely on its own and fantastic on top of lipstick. As many of you will know, my favourite lip gloss formula is MAC's Cremesheen Glass, which is lightweight and non-sticky with semi-sheer to semi-opaque colour pay-off. And it seems that Dior's Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss is like a much better version of that. It has similar colour pay-off, but is even more lightweight and non-sticky. It glides on like a dream, and once I put it on, I totally understood what "flash-plumping" is: My lips instantly looked fuller, juicier, smoother, just plain better. And with none of that tingly plumping nonsense. Whereas Cremesheen Glass is sometimes prone to streaking and bleeding (and lighter colours also emphasize lines and dry flakes), Ultra-Gloss doesn't. So, there you go. Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss is now my new favourite lip gloss formula.

Dior Garden Party: Rouge Dior Lipstick in Tulip Pink

Dior's Spring 2012 collection, aptly named Garden Party, is inspired by the garden surrounding Christian Dior's home in Granville, France. This collection is available at all Dior counters, Sephora, and online. This collection features 12 new products in total, of which two are online exclusives, and they are all limited edition. With this collection, Dior has released two shades of Rouge Dior lipstick (one of which will not be reviewed here). Rouge Dior lipsticks are "saturated with nourishing hyaluronic microspheres," and are meant to "dress your lips in voluptuous, long-wearing color, while simultaneously providing definition, moisture, and nourishment to the lips." They have a floral rose scent and taste. Each lipstick comes in Dior's signature deep blue square tubes, with the Cannage pattern embossed on the sides and the logo in silver by the opening. It contains 3.5 grams of product in total, and retails for $36.

Tulip Pink is a medium coral pink in a cream finish. It goes on very smooth and creamy, with medium buildable pigmentation and semi-opaque colour pay-off. It gives off a sheen, but is not glossy. It should work on all skintones (though dark to deep dark skintones may find they want a bit more colour), and though it leans warm, it should work on all undertones as well. It is more opaque than Chanel Rivage Rouge Coco Shine, less brown than Clinique Mega Melon Chubby Stick, lighter and more peach than MAC Fanfare, less orange than MAC See Sheer, more pink than MAC Fashion City Sheen Supreme Lipstick, and darker than MAC Blossom Culture Sheen Supreme Lipstick.

Tulip Pink is definitely a gorgeous colour for Spring. The Rouge Dior formula feels amazing on the lips, just creamy and smooth and hydrating. It really does make lips look more moisturized and plump without actually being a plumping product. The scent is a little strong, so if you're sensitive to fragrance, I would probably look for another formula. I have no complaints at all about this lipstick, though the shade is not the most original and there are a lot of similar shades out there for much cheaper. Still, it looks and feels luxurious, so if you are looking for a lovely bright peachy pink lipstick and have no qualms about the price, I would definitely take a look at this one.

Dior Garden Party: 5 Couleurs Garden Edition Palette in Garden Roses

Dior's Spring 2012 collection, aptly named Garden Party, is inspired by the garden surrounding Christian Dior's home in Granville, France. This collection is available at all Dior counters, Sephora, and online. This collection features 12 new products in total, of which two are online exclusives, and they are all limited edition. With this collection, Dior has released two "Garden Edition" 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palettes, which feature rose and lace embossing on four of the five eyeshadows (the centre eyeshadow has Dior's logo embossed on to it). Each palette comes in Dior's signature deep blue mirrored compact with the logo in silver on top, and includes two double-sided sponge-tip applicators. It contains 4.8 grams of product in total, and retails for $60.

The top left shade is a light cool-toned pink with shimmer in a frosted finish. The texture is soft and smooth. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and cooler than MAC Sweet Lust.

The top right shade is a pale beige with light pink pearl and shimmer in a frosted finish. The texture is soft and smooth. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly less white than MAC Phloof!.

The bottom right shade is a pale icy pinked lilac with shimmer in a frosted finish. The texture is soft and smooth. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is similar to MAC Pink Freeze.

The bottom left shade is a medium silver with shimmer in a frosted finish. The texture is soft and smooth. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is less blue than MAC Electra.

The centre shade is a medium-dark purple with blue pearl and shimmer in a frosted finish. The texture is soft and smooth. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is cooler and more shimmery than MAC Satellite Dreams.

Like Garden Pastels, all five eyeshadows in this palette are phenomenal, not just in texture, but in pigmentation and colour pay-off as well. In terms of formula, these felt very similar to Estée Lauder's Pure Color Gelée Powder Eyeshadows. My only qualm about this palette is that I felt that Dior could have put in two pink shades that were a little more different; in the end, they're both pale pinks (one leans more lavender, one leans more true pink), and I felt there could have been a darker or brighter pink. The most interesting shade in a sea of soft pastel shades was the darker purple shade, which is one of the most gorgeous purple shades I've seen in a while and is one of the main reasons I was so attracted to this palette in the first place. Whereas the Garden Pastels palette features a more fun, unique combination of colours, Garden Roses is definitely more classic and romantic. Ultimately, the shades in this palette are more wearable together than Garden Pastels, which might need some darker and brighter shades to create more dimensional looks. Both palettes are gorgeous, but I can definitely see this one being more popular.

Dior Garden Party: 5 Couleurs Garden Edition Palette in Garden Pastels

Dior's Spring 2012 collection, aptly named Garden Party, is inspired by the garden surrounding Christian Dior's home in Granville, France. This collection is available at all Dior counters, Sephora, and online. This collection features 12 new products in total, of which two are online exclusives, and they are all limited edition. With this collection, Dior has released two "Garden Edition" 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palettes, which feature rose and lace embossing on four of the five eyeshadows (the centre eyeshadow has Dior's logo embossed on to it). Each palette comes in Dior's signature deep blue mirrored compact with the logo in silver on top, and includes two double-sided sponge-tip applicators. It contains 4.8 grams of product in total, and retails for $60.

The top left shade is a light-medium chartreuse green with shimmer in a frosted finish. The texture is soft and smooth. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is slightly lighter and more yellow than MAC Lucky Green.

The top right shade is an almost silvered white with shimmer in a frosted finish. The texture is soft and smooth. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is similar to MAC White Avalanche.

The bottom right shade is a light-medium aquamarine teal with shimmer in a frosted finish. The texture is soft and smooth. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is lighter and more teal than MAC Shimmermoss.

The bottom left shade is a pale butter yellow with shimmer in a frosted finish. The texture is soft and smooth. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is more yellow than MAC Nylon, and lighter than MAC Ricepaper.

The centre shade is a pale pink with shimmer in a frosted finish. The texture is soft and smooth. It has high pigmentation and opaque colour pay-off. It is less cool than MAC Pink Freeze, and lighter than MAC Swish.

I used to think that Dior's eyeshadows weren't that great and certainly not worth the price, but this palette has changed my mind completely. All five eyeshadows are phenomenal, not just in texture, but in pigmentation and colour pay-off as well. In terms of formula, these really reminded me of Estée Lauder's Pure Color Gelée Powder Eyeshadows, which are also fantastic. I realize that pastels aren't for everyone, and the five shades in this palette alone might not create the most versatile looks, but they would be gorgeous blended in with some darker or brighter shades. A lot of people might look at this palette and think, "Oh, pastels aren't for me." But I never look at the colours in a single palette as being unwearable — there is always a way to make an eyeshadow colour work (now, I'm talking about shades, not formulas, 'cause some eyeshadows are horrendous to work with!) and look good. It's just about how comfortable you are wearing them. I will agree that $60 does seem rather steep for a five-colour eyeshadow palette, but actually, in terms of cost per gram, it's almost the same as MAC's single eyeshadows. So, if you're looking for some pastel shades (whether to be used on their own, or with other shades), definitely look into this palette. And the rose embossing is just too gorgeous to pass up on!

Joe Maggiano's Italian Steakhouse & Bar

Shawn and I had our heart set on eating at Red Lobster tonight (four-course feast for $18!), but when we got there at 8:30, we saw a massive line-up in the foyer and was told that the wait for a table for two would be at least 45 minutes. I was starving, so I was like, "Screw that," and we decided to eat at nearby Joe Maggiano's instead. (Cheddar Bay biscuits, I will devour you another time.) I was kind of surprised that it wasn't busy at all — there were maybe six or seven tables filled — but that just meant faster service for us! So, for your viewing pleasure, some food porn from tonight's dinner:

Bread drizzled with garlic oil

Spinach and artichoke dip with tortilla chips and flat bread

New York striploin steak with sweet potato fries

The spinach and artichoke dip was definitely one of the better ones I've had (definitely better than both Milestone's and Moxie's), creamy and full of spinach and artichoke (not just cheese, which is great, but then this is not a cheese dip). My steak was juicy, tender, and flavourful without the need for sauce or extra seasoning, but I found that my supposedly medium-rare steak was definitely medium and even medium-well in some spots. I should really just order rare next time, because I know a lot of steaks will continue to cook as it makes its way to the table. And those sweet potato fries are addictive as hell, and also some of the better ones I've had (at least compared with those from pubs and chain restaurants), served with a delightful creamy chipotle dip. Other than the unsmiling, unwelcoming hostess, the service was decent; our waitress was friendly, attentive, and efficient. I'm actually not sure why I hadn't tried Joe Maggiano's before, seeing as I am always in that area, but I will definitely be going back — the pizzas and pasta dishes are calling out to me!

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm: Mega Melon and Chunky Cherry

About a year ago, Clinique released these tinted lip balms called Chubby Sticks. Now, it must be said that I am not personally a fan of Clinique's products, both skincare and make-up, but these Chubby Sticks were so adorable, it was hard not to get suckered in. Last fall, my mom had asked me to buy her a tube of Black Honey, and so I took the opportunity to pick up a couple shades of Chubby Stick while I was at the counter. Of course, once I brought them home and put them on my desk, they were promptly forgotten about until I was trying to find a particular lipstick in my stash last week and came across these — still brand new and in their boxes!

Mega Melon and Chunky Cherry

Chubby Sticks are made with Shea Butter, Mango Seed Butter, and Jojoba Seed Oil to "deliver a surge of moisture" and to "keep lips luscious and irresistibly soft" while also providing "a sheer hint of colour that glides on effortlessly, leaving behind a natural blush of colour and sheen." It is also meant to provide "stay-true colour and buildable coverage." Each Chubby Stick comes in shade-matched (as in, the tube colour matches the balm colour) self-sharpening "crayon" barrels, contains 3 grams of product, and retails for $19.

Mega Melon and Chunky Cherry

Mega Melon is a medium peachy coral. It goes on super smooth and creamy, with low pigmentation and semi-sheer colour pay-off. It has the sheen of a lip balm, but is not glossy. It is darker and much more pigmented than YSL Volupté Sheer Candy Glossy Balm in Dewy Papaya.

Chunky Cherry is a medium pinked red. It goes on super smooth and creamy, with low pigmentation and semi-sheer colour pay-off. It has the sheen of a lip balm, but is not glossy. This is similar to Fresh Sugar Passion Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15, and is darker and more pigmented than YSL Volupté Sheer Candy Glossy Balm in Luscious Cherry.

Chubby Sticks do everything Clinique says they do: They are mega-moisturizing, keep lips smooth and soft, and provide a natural hint of colour (semi-sheer, but buildable). Of course, because they are not opaque, your natural lip colour will show through, but both shades here did stay true, so Mega Melon tinted my lips peach-coral, and Chunky Cherry tinted my lips red (like a popsicle stain). I also love that you can twist these up instead of having to sharpen them with a giant pencil sharpener. The only thing I don't like, and this is a deal breaker for me, is the taste. Okay, as you know, Clinique's products are 100% fragrance-free and allergy-tested, and the Chubby Sticks are no exception. Of course, because there is no fragrance, it just smells like wax. And it tastes that way, too. I wouldn't mind if it smelled kind of plasticky but had no taste, but the taste is also plasticky. So, as lovely as these Chubby Sticks are, I will not buy any more (and will use these more as a layering tool), which is just a shame, because they have a great formula and some really pretty shades.