target summer 2013 beauty box & impressions

hi guys! i'm still working on the photo migration/link updates but i wanted to get this post up!

hi all! toward the end of april, target style (on facebook) offered a beauty box trial-run for just $5!! so i decided, why not give it a try? the following is a screenshot i took of the facebook page before it was taken down. they were only offering them either for so long or for so many people, don't remember which.

main complaints: the execution of this box. the invoice email said it'd arrive 4-6 weeks after we ordered it. ok, fine. except, i didn't get mine until about two whole months after i placed the order (placed on 4/30). i'm not entirely sure the exact date it arrived, as it went to my apartment's office first and i picked it up today, but that's a bit extreme; arriving nearly a month after the estimated date. that being said, the coupon in the box is expired (6/22) because they didn't give enough time for the boxes to arrive, and the surveymonkey they wanted us to do (as a survey sweepstakes) "ended" june 1st. so it's like wtf guys. and it's not the post office's fault. i went to the target style facebook page and they were saying that they were in the process of mailing them out....MID JUNE. 

otherwise, for the money, this box is great. ~Lin-chan ^.~

1. la roche-posay effaclar duo (.17oz--sample, ret. $37 for 1.35oz) -- i have a tube of this stuff and it's awesome. i don't use it over my whole face as a moisturizer (as it says), but moreso as a spot treatment.
• update: given away for a friend to try and because my tube is still very full
2. fekkai glossing cream (2oz--mini, ret. $23 for 4oz) -- it smells really nice, i don't think i've tried this before. i'm excited to try it but i probably won't buy it since there's other hair products that i like.
3. gillette venus & olay sugarberry scented razor (full size 1 blade, ret. $11) -- the idea is nice and all, but venus replacement blades...or replacement blades in general (male or female) are kinda expensive. i mean, that's how they get you hooked, they give you a razor for free basically, then they're like, ok $20 for 4 refills! and it's like TT_TT lol. anyway, it says it's scented, so that'll be interesting whenever i get around to opening this.
• update: it has the most familiar scent ever, but i can't place it. it works fairly well; it's a bit awkward for me because i haven't used a razor with bars on both sides of the blades before.
4. l'oreal magic bb cream in light (.025oz--sample, ret. $8 for 1oz) -- i was kinda interested in this, i know i had a sample packette of it before (can't remember if i used it or gave it away....) but we'll give it a[nother] try.
• update: light is orange on me. whattttt?
5. sally hansen salon effects nail polish strips in queen of the jungle (full size, ret. $8.50) -- i love these nail strips; they're super easy to use. i'm not huge into the leopard print, but hey, i can find someone who might like them/use them.
6. $3 off $15 beauty purchase coupon -----faillllllll.
7. i like the sturdy box it came in. the target-printed part is actually a slip cover for the box. i'm definitely going to reuse this box, gifting or otherwise.

approximate product value: $35.86

update: photo hosting progress

see update here.

**i have encountered a problem with using Google Drive to host my photos; if you use MS Internet Explorer, my photos will not load. you will need to use a different browser such as Chrome or Firefox.


hey guys! this post will be continually updated as i progress through updating the images and links in prior posts. all planned posts will be postponed until this project is completed. thanks for your understanding.

this is post mostly for my reference as i go through this process. thanks. ~Lin-chan ^.~

completed:
-affiliate links sidebar & disclaimer page
-lush reviews page & lush haul posts
-draft posts -- all
-notd posts -- all
-2011 -- all
-2012 -- January to December (reswatch: 5/13; retake photos: 2/28; update 9/15)
-2013 -- January through Present


FINAL CHECKS COMPLETED:
-disclaimer page
-affiliate links sidebar
-lush reviews page
-beginning of time to end of time (incl. drafts) -- minus above updates needed

i'm still here!

hey guys! i'm still here. i'm still in the process of deciding how i'm doing everything for my photos/photo hosting issue. most photos have been downloaded and then re-uploaded into my google drive, but i'm thinking of stamping all of my photos from before the whole ftc stuffs as well, in addition to possibly condensing some of the photos into PicFrame to have less spread-out photos. i'm still working on it and it will be done before july 15th--when xanga may or may not shut down.

between working, being an extra in a movie, going on our anniversary trip, it's been kinda hectic. [and two new video games aren't helping either...... ^_^;] and doing the above things is kinda a pain. Paint.net is slightly a fickle program as far as speed (loading/opening files). as well as, if i use PicFrame: i'm migrating photos onto and off of my phone to condense them..then putting my signature stamp onto them. ~.~

anyway, i'm still working on everything if you guys could all bear with me. thanks. ~Lindsay-chan ^.~

elf cosmetics free shipping!

hi guys! elf is has a coupon code for free shipping with a $15 purchase through midnight tonight! check it out!
eyeslipsface.com
code: SOCIALIZE

~Lin-chan ^.~

June 2013 ipsy bag & first impressions

 

guess what came in the mail today: June IPSY BAG*!!! (theme: on the wild side) i actually got to see my glam room yesterday, before the package even arrived. and this one is ok too. ranking the past three months, this one is number 2. april is number 1, and may is number 3. i still think the biggest problem with last month's was because my quiz answers were wrong, but still. at least for this bag, i didn't get the dry shampoo or the lashes...both of which, i do not use so that was a plus. anyway onto my impressions! ~Lin-chan ^.~

1. nyx cream blush in cb12 bronze goddess (3.5g--full size, ret. $6) -- at first, i was a bit skeptical. first off, i don't generally use cream blushes, much less, a bronze colored one. but i was pleasantly surprised. it actually came off as a nice, natural shade. i think this would be great alone as your blush or contour.
• likelihood to repurchase: yes, not this shade
2. starlooks lip pencil in k308 bare (2.4g--full size, ret. $12) -- this shade is not me. this pencil, while matte, creamy and smooth...worn alone, makes me look like a zombie. it's that pale, death-purple kind of shade on me. so while i'm not totally bashing this line of pencils or brand, this shade is a definite no.
• likelihood to repurchase: no, but i may explore the brand
• update: passed it off to mom
3. j.cat beauty sparkling cream palette in sp106 volta (3g--full size, ret. $4.49) -- i think this one's going to go to T. this is basically glitter mixed with a clear, tacky base. i'm not huge into wearing glitter products, i prefer shimmery products. another thing i don't like about this is that the glitter is chunky,  like craft glitter and feels pretty rough if you're not gentle with it. while it's a pretty neat idea, it's not me.
• likelihood to repurchase: no, but i may explore the brand
• update: passed off to T
4. cailyn cosmetics line-fix gel eyeliner w/brush in iron (4g--full size, ret. $21) -- i think this'll be a new fave. as the name states, it's a kind of gunmetal-ish black shade. this liner, once set does not budge. i rubbed and rubbed and it did not move. it does smudge when it is still wet and it is fairly difficult to remove, i used both a makeup remover wipe and an eye makeup remover pad and i still have a line on my arm! whatt. so as far as waterproof-ness, obviously this is a swatch-impression, so i'm not so sure. maybe that's why it took so many tries to get it off my arm? idk. but i really like this so far. i do not advise using the brush that comes with it, it is a flat concealer-style brush and it's not super stiff, so even if you turn it sideways, you won't get a perfectly straight line. but it is super soft and you could probably use it for things...like concealer..if you want.
• likelihood to repurchase: yes, not this shade & will likely explore the brand
• update: omg LOVE. see my spring/summer favorites post.
5. chella ivory lace highlighter pencil (1.4g--full size, ret. $18) -- this is a matte pencil, it's fairly creamy and applies very smoothly. this shade, on my skin, is a little bit too light, but if i blend it enough it'll work. i personally think this might work well as an eye base (idk about staying power), or at least something to even out your skin color before applying eyeshadow.
• likelihood to repurchase: undecided
6. leopard print ipsy bag -- i kinda like how the florescent yellow zipper breaks up the pattern, but boy is it loud! the inside matches the zipper.
• update: passed it off to mom
7. card with company info/discount codes
1. nyxcosmetics.com: 15% off entire site: ipsy15 OR 40% off tango with bronzing powder: ipsycheeks (exp.7/10/13)
2. starlooks.com: 35% off purchase, code: ipsy (exp. 7/15/13)
3. jcatbeauty.com: 25% off purchase, code: loveipsy (exp.7/15/13)
4. cailyncosmetics.com: 30% off purchace, code: ipsy30 (exp. 7/10/13)
5. chella.com: 20% off purchase, code: glambag (exp. 6/30/13)
6. freemanbeauty.com/ipsypsssst: receive super hero hair duo set with bonus for $13.98 (duo set ships free w/this promo code), code: ipsy33 (exp. 8/31/13)

approximate product value: $61.49

volta palette; bronze goddess cream blush, iron eyeliner, ivory lace highlighter, bare lip pencil

*Affiliate Link.

xanga's going down...maybe.

hi all! as many of you may or may not know, i started my first blog on xanga in june 2004. through this past january, i was posting to it quite regularly and even paid for a lifetime membership several years ago, which made my site ad-free and gave me 10gb of photo storage. unfortunately that chapter is coming to a close as the lease on their networking facility is nearing expiration. they have come up with an alternate solution plan that will require a continually paid subscription to keep the amenities i once enjoyed.

so here's my solution:
free google drive accounts come with a good bit of cloud storage, so i'm planning to begin migrating my photos to it soon. i would like to complete the photo migration (and update image links in past posts) before making any new posts, with one exception: i will still make a post for the ipsy june '13 glam bag later this week, when i receive it. (please refer to this post for more information on how to permalink your photos from your google drive account.)


thank you for your understanding and patience in this transitional time. ~Lindsay-chan ^.~

candles by victoria june sale info!

hi guys! i am finally conscious after a long week at the movie set! here's what's going on for this month's cbv sale! ~Lin-chan ^.~