Review: Etude House Sweet Recipe Ice Cream Nails in 04

Hello! Today I will be reviewing  the Ice Cream Nails in 04 (Strawberry Star Candy) from Etude House's Sweet Recipe line.

Spotted! Essence Cosmetics in Canada

Hi everyone! I must first apologize for my loooooong absence but I'm finally back! I hope you've all been doing well ^^

If you haven't heard already, affordable European brand Essence has finally hit Shoppers Drug Mart across Canada. Not every Shoppers carry this line so I suggest going to locations that have higher traffic (i.e. malls). I was super excited when I saw the small but abundant display stand. The items cost $1.49CAD-$4.99CAD each! So far the quality is awesome and with its price, Essence cosmetics is comparable to some WetNWild and NYC products although I favour Essence at the moment.

First Essence haul :D

 I couldn't resist the colours and prices so I hauled the four angels. The nail polishes cost $1.49 while the Tint it! Colour Changing Lipgloss cost $2.99. Any product with "colour changing" properties immediately catches my eye. The shade that I got is 02 Turn to Lucky which changes from a tangerine to a pink.

From left to right:  43 Where is the Party?, 38 Choose Me!, and 86 A Lovely Secret. I've tried 38 and 86 so far and they are fantastic! They dry quickly and you only need two coats for a full opacity. I will definitely buy more shades one Shoppers restock them ^^ Another note, I haven't seen any special/limited edition displays but I'm positive that we'll be getting them. 

I hope you enjoy the rest of your lovely Sunday! It's only March and it already feels like summer~ It's 21 degrees outside! Toodles~~

Swatched Up a Storm: Joe Fresh Spring 2011 Nail Polish in Oyster, Wave & Cloud

Exciting new for all you Joe Fresh nail polish lovers out there (including me)! If you haven't seen their website recently, I can tell you that their spring collections have hit stores. This season, for nail polishes, they have 3 different displays and I have successfully spotted 2. Mind you that the Spring 3 display that I saw at Loblaw was terribly eaten...

Spring 3 display

Joe Fresh nail polish in Wave/Oyster

Joe Fresh nail polish in Oyster

 Oyster really stood out to me because it's formula really remind me of Peacock. It has a duochrome effect because in certain lighting, it appears silver. But in different angles, I can see purple and sometimes green. I can already imagine it on my toes, twinkling. The effect much like the inner shell of an oyster.

Joe Fresh nail polish in Cloud/Wave

 I don't know why I decided to try on Cloud. It's a basic gray with very fine pearl shimmer in it that is very unnoticeable on the nails. Then again, I don't have neutral colours...I prefer loud and bright ones :) Did I ever mention that I absolutely LOVE pastels? I love Wave. Wave might remind you of Powder Blue. Wave is a lot lighter in terms of colour, a light almost "fluffy" baby blue, and it gives off an aura of calmness. Both Wave and Cloud is a cream finish so I'm guessing that the formula is similar to Mint and Faded Violet (review here).

In all the swatches, 3 coats were needed to achieve opacity.

Mint vs. Wave

In the photos with poor lighting, it might remind you of Mint. But I assure you that they are drastically different.

I will hunt the last display down. It looks like the package designers (perhaps graphic designers) switched up the bottle. The ones from the Spring 2 display looks squared...but strangely, I like it.

On a side note, I think I found a suitable dupe for Nicole by OPI's Nicole...Spotted! (Gossip Girl Collection 2010). It is Nail Junkie by Sinful Colors. Don't believe me? Find out for yourself. Behold:

Pinkie finger: Nicole...Spotted! Fourth finger: Nail Junkie

Sorry about the black and pink rims. It was my attempt of quick removal. I only had on one coat of each.

Sinful Colors Nail Junkie/Nicole by OPI Nicole...Spotted!

I saw the Nicole nail polishes on sale for $4.98CAD at Pharmaplus. Want more info and pictures? Click here!

Spotted! New Wet n Wild 2011 Eyeshadows, Mascaras, & Nail Polishes!

I saw these 2 days ago at my local Zellers. I'm guessing that they haven't finished stocking the shelf because I only saw one of the brand spanking new eyeshadow trios: Spoiled Brat (silver, black, and hot pink). Looks like they have the MegaLash Clinical Mascara and Serum too :) All the Fastdry Nail Polishes look fabulous! Which ones will you try? Many are dupes of well known brands such as OPI and Deborah Lippmann ^^

FOB: My Very First with Sephora

 After reading some not-so-good about Sephora and their "service", I was actually afraid to step in there especially when I know that I probably won't be buying anything. Except, this time, I had a purpose so I braved the "cold"(glares) and looked for my baby ;)

 I also dropped by H&M and I picked up this versatile waist belt for under $7CAD! Being petite sized and all, it's always hard to find a nice fitting belt.

 I was really surprised with my experience with the sales associates. They were actually very kind and helpful! I was there to pick up something from the Hello Kitty x Sephora collection and when I got there, they were still putting the display up. I swatched some of the products and a lot of it lacked pigmentation. The sweet gloss and apple cheeks didn't really show up with the exceptions to this one sweet gloss in pink grapefruit: I was able to see the satin pink and it smelled yummy too! I think the apple balm ($12CAD) is worth picking up. The SA gave me some to try: it gives you a pretty and slightly tinted pout and it's moisturizing. I only bought one item and the SA gave me 2 samples (surprisingly!) This is probably because she felt bad that I couldn't get my Bare Escentuals sample.

Hello Kitty Nail Art in Purple Sprinkles

I have it on my nails right now and I am testing it out. Review coming hopefully soon!

Bunnie Loves: Joe Fresh Nailpolish in Mint, Faded Violet, & Peacock

All pictures are *click worthy* ;)

You have no idea how lazy I am. This post was supposed to be up during the summer. YES. 4 months. See how  backlogged I am? It's funny too because Mint and Faded Violet were thought to be limited edition spring/summer 2010 colours. Now I believe they're permanent :) I've blabbed a lot about the Joe Fresh line so if you haven't heard about it yet, they're only available at Loblaws and Superstore supermarket chains across Canada.

TO THE REVIEW! *pic heavy*

I will separate this into 3 different sections so I can focus on the individual colours because their finish and formula varies. 

Swatched Up a Storm: Nail Polish 2

sorry about the recent absenses! it has been very difficult for me to find time to write a post...especially being a perfectionist -_-;; i like to provide my readers with high quality pictures and accurate information so research is sometimes necessary.

i had a lot of lovely comments on my first nail polish swatch post ^^ with fall coming in, new collections hit stores and you see this random girl walking around with a handful of nail polish testers and a skittles manicure. haha i do it for all you awesome people!

Quo is celebrating their 10th anniversary with an alluring limited edition! this is the very first time where they feature nail polishes as part of their line.

taken from http://www.beautycrazed.ca/ 

you've probably already heard about the Nicole by OPI Matte Collection around the blogsphere. i was at shoppers the other day spotted the collection! i think the colours are really unique and are worth getting since they have fine shimmers in them, but dries to a matte finish. shimmers+matte= uber interesting ^_~ they dry fast too! almost like lightning haha

taken from http://nailsbeautiqued.blogspot.com/ 

i only tried on 2 colours: virtuous violet and positive energy. i used 2 coats [=

i went over to zellers since it was in the mall anyways. i saw this interesting wetnwild color icon insomnia collection and i was spooked by its dark theme. i swatched 33484 blue jitters and 33486 (one coat). apparently they have great formula and a few coats provide a rich opacity with nice glitter. some of them lack shine so they appear dull (just use a top coat to solve this problem).

taken from http://budget-beauty-goddess.onsugar.com

lastly, i visited my nearest loblaw, and they had almost all the joe fresh fall colours in stock! i went there twice. the first time, they had all of them but when i took the picture, they only had these.

from left: matte top coat, storm, fog, brick, caramel, khaki, persian blue, jade, orchid

here are the swatches! i was only able to swatch a few from each collection. 

indirect sunlight

 from left: prowler, blue jitters, storm, orchid

 from left: prowler, blue jitters, storm, orchid

 joe fresh orchid

 wetnwild prowler, blue jitters

 thumb to pinky: QUO flirt, Nicole positive energy & virtuous purple, QUO bliss & sugarcoat 

direct sunlight

 thumb to pinky: QUO flirt, Nicole positive energy & virtuous purple, QUO bliss & sugarcoat 

from left: prowler, blue jitters, storm, orchid

hope you enjoyed another swatched up a storm post! ^^ enjoy the weekend~!

Spotted! Joe Fresh Fall/Winter 2010 Nail Polish Collection & Mini Haul

i got around to actually taking the picture today. so happy the joe fresh new nail polishes arrived! i was lemming the matte top coat when i first heard about it.

from left: matte top coat, storm, fog, brick, caramel, khaki, persian blue, jade, orchid

this is a small buy ( i just love joe fresh nail polishes lol): matte top coat, orchid (deep plumish purple), jet (black)

they were 3 for $10CAD, available at any loblaw and superstore chain. the matte coat and orchid is part of the fall collection while jet is part of the permanent classic collection ^^

my 'sister' :P wanted a good black polish so i referred her to this one. to my surprise, one coat is already really opaque and it dries hella fast!

i swatched two of the other colours in the fall collection so stay tuned for another, swatched up a storm post! enjoy you weekend, ladies!

Swatched Up a Storm: Nail Polish 1

i've finally acquired enough nail polish swatches to show you guys! except, the idea of writing down the names did not occur to me...

left to right: joe fresh nail polish in espresso, milani nail lacquer in key lime shine, jf n/p in grape and ink. all is one coat.

sally hansen HD nail polish. i can't recall the exact shade but it is purple and has glitter flecks in it. it isn't part of the usual line.

nicole by OPI gossip girl collection

bottom clockwise: nicole...spotted!, scandals, secrets and sparkle, too rich for you, party in the penthouse

all is 2-3 coats.

direct sunlight

sally hansen complete salon manicure summer 2010 collection i think ^_~

top to bottom: hidden treasure, silver lining, ...

all one coat! that's why the colour isn't really showing..

silver lining, (some pink version of dive deeper whose name does not occur to me)

dive deeper

dive deeper 

FOB: August, I Miss You

hey lovelies! i'm sorry with my absence but school just started and it's already hectic...i'm ahead on one day but totally behind on the other >.< i'm just glad that the weekend is here! i don't think i'll have as much time to watermark and resize my photos so i'm just going to let them be. it makes the whole photo more appealing anyways ^^ (please don't steal my pictures. if you want to use them, make sure you let me know and give me the credit).

FOB means 'fresh of the buy' (lol. i couldn't think of anything else). i'm going to show you what i've acquired over the month of august in a 'LOOK BOOK' fashion. it's just where i have very few (or even no descriptions). just pictures =) 

mint/peacock/faded violet

review coming up soon! love them so far!

annabelle mono eyeshadow in lagoon and rainforest

chain and ribbon necklace from smart set 

some pads for my shoes

lush honey i washed the kids soap

lush all bland cleanser sample

hard candy baked blush crush in living doll

fruits and passion shower gel sample

my mom needed a new face product so i recommended theBalm balm shelter tinted moisturizer to her. the Bahama mama bronzer and overshadow the sexpots were both GWP.

posh brushes are no longer available at pharmaplus so i picked the eyeliner duo up before it was gone forever.

i went to toronto (pacific mall) and bought a cute acid wash skirt. i like it because of the wash and the length (not too short). some pens and pencils for back-to-school (unfortunately) and i got the strawberry as a thing where you add a bit of money when you reach a certain amount with your purchase. all the stationery stuff were $1CAD! it's really good cuz they're actually cute (not like the ones you get from the dollar store =P) also got my first pair of circle lenses! i don't know why but i look creepy in them...maybe i'm not used to them *sigh* i don't want to waste them. they are the GEO angel brown ones ^^

i'll most likely show you some of the stuff in detail sooner or later! so stay tune!

enjoy your weekend~!