Are You Ready To Get Dark And Dirty With MAC Volcanic Ash Exfoliator ?

I don't usually follow MAC collections because there are so many of them. But once in a while, some collections will catch my eyes. Style Black is a collection that MAC launched on September 24th, 2009 in the U.S. for the Fall season. This all black collection is very unique and chic. It also includes a few skincare products, Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask ($19.50) and Volcanic Ash Exfoliator ($19.50), which are both re-promotions from previous collections. I took the mask to test, and the result is very decent.

I already did a review on the thermal mask, so please check that out if you are interested. Exfoliator is an essential part of my skincare routine. I use it once per week, and this helps me to achieve that smooth skin. MAC claims that this exfoliator "refines and unclog the skin". The sugar based exfoliating particles are quite moisturizing and melt away after a few scrubs, leaving it much easier to rinse clean the face. It is also not too abrasive, which is good for dry or sensitive skins. The exfoliator leaves the skin super soft and much more smooth than when using other exfoliating products. I also noticed that this product helps to control oil secretion a bit for me. This is probably due to the volcano ash ingredients.

One thing I do have to complain about this product is its strong artificial scent. It is very strong, so allergic noses need to be aware of this. Other than this, and the face that a MAC limited edition product is always hard to find once it gets discontinued, this exfoliator is one the best I've tried.

Pick It or Not ? 

• Quality: 45 (out of 50)  
• Packaging: 20 (out of 20)  
• Price: 20 (out of 20)   
• User Friendly: 5 (out of 5)   
• Availability: 2 (out of 5)

Angela's Ultimate Pick: A

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Blogosphere Buzz : Zoya Ultra Glitter Collection

It is so true as they always say, "Some girls were just born with glitter in their veins!" Every girl should have a glitter nail polish in her collection, and the new Zoya Ultra Glitter Collection will fulfill your glamorous dream. I ordered all 3 colors from the collection, but unfortunately, I couldn't find Astra ($7). I'm sure it is just lost somewhere in my huge makeup stash, but I am just sad to not able to showcase its beauty to you. But fear not because Nova ($7) and Luna ($7) is just as stunning.

More about the collection : Three new show stopping, fully loaded, full coverage glitters to rock your nail color world! Ultra long-wearing, glossy nail lacquers by Zoya are free of toluene, camphor, formaldehyde, and dibutyl phthalate (DBP) - chemicals that are known to cause cancer and birth defects. Zoya Nail Polish is vegan friendly.

The glitters in the collection are so bright and sparkly. I have been receiving many compliments when I wore Luna, which is a beautiful whitish silver shade. What I like about these shinny nail polishes much more than others is the fact that the glitters are so intense but they are not cheesy or overwhelming. They also add some attentions to your nails during those special occasions.

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Beauty Babble : Taking Care Your Feet Could Be Dangerous

When it comes to makeups and skincare, I believe that educating ourselves is very important, so that we don't just blindly follow raves. One easy way to do this is the internet. Usually, I spent at least some time every week to try to read news articles and blog posts about cosmetics. The beauty world is constantly being updated and changed. I find myself lost if I don't try to keep up with all the new things. On top of this, internet provides a good way for me to receive first hand news, so that I can share them with my readers.

A while ago after reading a news article, I wrote about the possible negative consequences of using cosmetic products made with nanotechnology (click here to read). Today, while I was browsing online, I came across another news article that brought to me some shocking news.

I'm sure many of us have used face masks before, but recently, foot masks had quickly became a popular skincare trend, especially in Asia. Just like how some facial masks work, most foot masks claim to get rid of dead skin on your feet and make your feet soft and nice. Most of them contain Salicylic Acid, which are widely used in skincare products, especially to treat acnes. However, Salicylic Acid have to be used really carefully because overdose of it is toxic. This is why many governments have strict rules to the amount of Salicylic Acid that can be used in cosmetic products. 

Recently, Taiwan's Public Health Bureau received complaints that some consumers got their feet burned after using foot masks, so the department conducted random tests on 3 of the most popular foot masks on the market. 

The result is shocking. All 3 foot masks' PH level is abnormal, and all 3 has higher than recommended level of Salicylic Acid, which can cause inflamed skin or even burn your feet. The department recommends that consumers be careful when purchasing foot masks until further tests can be conducted on these masks.

This news is so shocking to me because personally, I have actually used 2 of the foot masks that are mentioned in the article. Luckily, I didn't have any bad reactions to them. But I want to share this news with my readers because I know many people had or are interested in foot masks. I stopped using foot masks after trying the 2 kinds because I felt they are too strong to my skin. Plus, when they claim to get rid of your dead skin, it literally means that. After soaking your feet in the masks for an hour, you rinse it off. After several days, you will notice that skin start to peel off of your feet. It was kind of nasty because I like to wear sandals, but my skin was peeling off like I had some kind of skin disease on my feet, so I stopped. 

I would be really interested to see how further tests on these foot masks would turn out. Before that, I would just recommend people to hold off from using them. There are so many other ways to achieve soft skin on our feet, but we don't need to risk our skin getting burned. Has everyone used foot masks before? What are your thoughts on them? I'd love to hear what you guys thinks.

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Are You Ready To Get Dark And Dirty With MAC Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask ?

I don't usually follow MAC collections because there are so many of them. But once in a while, some collections will catch my eyes. Style Black is a collection that MAC launched on September 24th, 2009 in the U.S. for the Fall season. This all black collection is very unique and chic. It also includes a few skincare products, Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask ($19.50) and Volcanic Ash Exfoliator ($19.50), which are both re-promotions from previous collections. I took the mask to test, and the result is very decent.

MAC claims this as a deep cleansing mask that also moist the skin. I am not so certain about the deep cleansing ability because it clearly is not one of the best I've tried. If you are searching for a good cleansing mask, I would recommend the Borghese Fango Active Mud for Face and Body ($33.50 ~ $61), which I have also reviewed on this blog before.

But that is not to say that this is not a well worth product. My skin feels soft, clean, and moisturized after just a few minutes with this mask. I also noticed that it is extremely good at controlling oil secretion. I usually use this in the morning before I apply makeups, so that it can help keep shine away much longer.

A thermal mask is also known as a heat mask, meaning that the mask can either self or mix produce heat. For this mask, once it touches water, it will start to heat up. Unfortunately, the hot sensation only lasts for a few seconds. You can reapply some water to repeat the process. This is a bit disappointing because I did hope that the heat function is not so short lived. Many seem to be intrigued by this idea, but the truth is that head mask is certainly not a new invention, and this MAC one sure is not the best one out there either. What I concluded is that this is a very decent treatment for the face, but I wouldn't panic if MAC doesn't re-promote this in future collections.

Pick It or Not ? 

• Quality: 35 (out of 50)  
• Packaging: 20 (out of 20)  
• Price: 20 (out of 20)   
• User Friendly: 5 (out of 5)   
• Availability: 3 (out of 5)

Angela's Ultimate Pick: B

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Urban Decay Eyelash Primer Potion : A Not Bad Extra But Not A Must

Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion ($18) is well known for being the cult favorite for both makeup artists and beauty amateurs. The brand also has a whole line of primer potions that targets other areas other than the eyes. Recently, Sephora launched an exclusive Urban Decay set, the Box of Potion ($65), that includes some of its most famous and popular products such as the Complexion Primer Potion - Brightening ($30), Complexion Primer Potion - Pore Perfecting ($30), Eyelash Primer Potion ($20), and Lip Primer Potion ($20). I was extremely eager to try out the set because I am a big fan of the original eyeshadow primer potion.

More about the product : Wave this magic wand before your favorite mascara for lashes that appear thicker, longer, and stronger—right before your very eyes! Lashes are bolstered with the tiny fibers that band together and cling to every lash, creating extraordinarily eye-popping extensions. Results are maximized with the conditioning, fortifying, and thickening formula of Silk Protein, Panthenol, and Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein. Just apply Eyelash Primer Potion, let it dry, and apply your fave mascara—you won't believe your eyes!

I don't often wear eyelash primers for the simple fact that the ones I've tried either don't make any differences or for the most times, I am way to lazy to add another product to my already busy makeup routine. But since it is Urban Decay, I convinced myself that I will give it a chance to prove me wrong. I do adore Urban Decay's purple and patterned packaging. The product contains no noticeable fragrances and is easy to apply. It also does not weight down my lashes, which is another big plus for it. Unfortunately, the result does not meet my expectations. It doesn't do much in terms of lengthening or thickening my lashes. It also made my mascaras clump a bit. I would say that if you are looking for something that can help you achieve that long and amazing lashes, your best choice is probably a good mascara, which can doubles as a primer too. This will save you money and time

Pick It or Not ? 

• Quality: 10 (out of 50)  
• Packaging: 20 (out of 20)  
• Price: 18 (out of 20)   
• User Friendly: 5 (out of 5)   
• Availability: 5 (out of 5)

Angela's Ultimate Pick: F

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Sparkle Midori First Blog Giveaway (Closed)

I logged into my blog account yesterday and noticed that I have more than 50 followers. I was literally jumping ups and down. This is the best thing that happened to me this week, and I am just so happy. I am truly honored that some of you follow and subscribe to my blog and listen to my rambles. There is no word that can describe how much I love you all, and thank everyone who find my blog at least a bit interesting. So, to celebrate this special occasion and to thank all my followers, I will be having my first blog giveaway. I will make it really easy and here are the details : 

• All participants must either be a blog follower or subscriber. If you are an e-mail subscriber, please leave your register e-mail address in your comment.
• To enter the giveaway, comment once below this post with "ENTER ME", and please let me know what you would like to see more on my blog. Remember to also leave your contact information if it is not on your profile.
• This giveaway opens to both U.S. and international readers.
• One winner will be picked through random.org website.
• The winner will have 72 hours to reply to the notification e-mail. If not then another winner will be picked through the same website.
• This giveaway ends on 10/31/2010 at 12:00AM PST. Any entry after the deadline will not be honored.

Giveaway prizes :

• Etude House Aqua Sherbet Skincare Special Kit
• Bio-therm Anti-Drying Protective Lip Treatment
• POP Mini Ribbon Gloss
• Breast Cancer Awareness Bracelet

Extra entry : please leave a separate comment for each additional entry

• Post this giveaway with a linkback to this post on your blog and comment below with the link to your post.
• Follow my other blog Free4Beauty.
  
• Tweet this giveaway and comment below with your twitter name.
• Become my Facebook fan
• Mention this giveaway in a Youtube video and comment below with the link to that video.
• If you do any 3 or more of the above, you also earn another entry.

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Sparkling Beauty Secret : Cleansing Oil Good And Bad

Cleansing oil and oil based makeup removers are some of the most effective ways to take off makeups, but how much do you know about your cleansing oil? Today, I will share with you all some of my own tips at choosing the right one for you.

 
Personally, I don't usually use oil based products because I don't really enjoy oily feeling on my face. Plus, I have found other non-oil based makeup removers to be just as effective as cleansing oil. However, for heavy makeup girls out there, oil products can be your best friend and a shortcut to an ultra clean face.

Most people who face problems with oil products often encounter below :

• Acne
• Oily scent
• Sensitive reaction

There are a few tips that we can use when picking cleansing oil so we don't have to worry about negative consequences as the ones listed above.

• People with dry or sensitive skin should use cleansing oils with minimal amount of emulsifiers. Vise versa, oily girls like myself should pick the ones with high concentration of emulsifiers.
• High concentration of emulsifiers means that the cleansing oil will be easier to be mixed with water. The easier it is, the less oily feeling it will leave on your face so this is ideal for oily skin. Emulsifiers allow water to trap the oil inside and to carry away all the dirt and makeups on your skin. The more emulsifiers a cleansing oil contains, the better it is at removing products, but these stronger ones can also be more irritated to sensitive skin and may cause dry skin.
• Many cleansing oils contain Mineral Oil, which is a harmful ingredient, although the name sounds otherwise. Mineral Oil can stuck pores and cause canes and other problems for our skin. Instead, try using vegetable oil based products.

There are also a few ingredients we should try to avoid when purchasing a cleansing oil

Benzyle Alcohol, Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), Sodiu, hydroxide, Patassium Hydroxide, Triethanol Amine, Amino Methyl Propanol (AMP), Isopropyl Myristate (IPM), Isopropyl Isotearate, Octyl Stearate

And one last tip to remember, only use cleansing oil first on dry face and always remember to thoroughly emulsify it.

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Happy World Animal Day

I saw on another blog that today (Oct 4th) is World Animal Day, and I totally forgot about that, so I decide to do a really short (well kind of long because I can't control my ramblings...LOL) post to celebrate it.

I celebrated with my kittie with a special treat (it probably made no difference to her because she gets them every day...LOL...the vet has declared she is overweight). I talked about her before, and I'm sure some of you have already seen her. We got her from a shelter more than a year ago. At the beginning, my sister had allergic reaction to her fur, so my mom was thinking if we should just sent her back to the shelter, but I was like "NO WAY". That is the cruelest thing you can do to her. You give her hope of a new home, and then sent her back to the shelter. My mom was like," but she is an animal. She won't know." NO, she knows. Just because she can't say anything doesn't mean she doesn't feel it.

A lot of animals at shelters are the results of not carefully planned adoptions. People suddenly wanted a pet, but then when things don't turn out the way they wanted, they abandon the pet or returned it to shelters. I saw someone posted that you should treat adopted animals like your adopted kids because they require the same responsibilities. I totally agree with that. If you can't even do some of the things to your kids, why do you do it to your animals. They have feelings. They have emotions, and YES, they know what you are doing to them.

Lucky, my sister is no longer allergic to the kittie, and she has been living with us for more than a year now. We just recently celebrated her 3rd birthday. I just want to let everyone know that we should all take a moment and think about our animals. If everyone can just put in a little effort, there would be less homeless and abused animals. A life is a life no matter what form it takes, so next time if you see a homeless dog or abandoned kittie, please contact your local organizations so someone can take care of them and find them a new home. Because that is a life that you saved. 

It breaks my heart to see homeless animals, all skinny and afraid, to look for food in trash. If someone can give a dollar to that homeless man at the street corner, why wouldn't they do something to the animals on the street. Yes, no one can save the whole world, but I believe that if no one start that first step, the world would definitely not be saved. 

LOL....i get emotional everytime I talk about animals. Hopefully starting from today, we can think less of ourself and more of others, humen and animals. I dedicate this post to all the lovely animals in the world because we want 

"To celebrate animal life in all its forms!"

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Hisamitsu Lifecella Orange Mask : Cute But Useless

I have always been a big fan of the Japanese cosmetic brand Hisamitsu, which owns the collection called Lifecella. 

Lifecella is popular for its sheet masks and gained even more fame with many Asian celebrities endorsed and promoted the brand. Such celebrities included Barbie (also known in Chinese as 大S/徐熙媛), who is a singer, actress, TV host, and her recently new title, Beauty Queen, which she gained from her beauty books. Barbie is well known for her extreme steps for beauty, and she has published several cosmetic books, which are considered the beauty bibles by many Asian women.

As an almost mid 30s woman, she looks beautiful and has flawless skin. In her first beauty book, she talked about the Hisamitsu Lifecella Orange Mask ($13/4 pieces). As a big fan of Barbie myself, how can I give up the chance of something that she adores.

Each mask comes in 2 pieces. It is made with pre-formed gel so that when you open it up, there is no dripping or mess, and it is very similar to a sheet mask. All you have to do is put it on your face. Due to its gel form, the mask doesn't dry up for a long time and lasts much longer than a regular sheet mask. The faint mandarin scent is very delightful, and the affordable price is also very friendly. However, the result is quite disappointing. It doesn't do much to my skin. The shape of the mask is also very awkward and causes the mask to keep falling off of my face. I have to use my hands to constantly press on the mask for it to stay, which is not so convenient. I think I will just stick to my normal Lifecella sheet masks. This is a nice try but definitely not something for me.

Pick It or Not ? 

• Quality: 5 (out of 50)  
• Packaging: 20 (out of 20)  
• Price: 20 (out of 20)   
• User Friendly: 1 (out of 5)   
• Availability: 2 (out of 5)

Angela's Ultimate Pick: F

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