Beauty Food: Sweet Potato

 Hello everyone! Today I want to talk to you guys about my favorite vegetable, the sweet potatoes! Who doesn't love their sweetness...... drooling... I want some now but the market is closed. First off I would like my readers to understand that sweet potatoes and yams are actually different and not related although they are both considered flowering plants. Sweet potatoes are related to the morning glory family while yams are related to grass and lilies. I hope that that's informative and you guys won't mix them up!

Sweet potato (left) & yam (right)
Looks super similar to me but if you get the chance to eat both, yam will taste sweeter and contain more water.

Now back to the beauty part of this goody, sweet potatoes contains a strong dose of beta-carotene, cooper, and manganese that will bring miracles to your skin inside out! The beta-carotene helps improve rough, flaky skin while helping your skin shield out damages caused by the harmful UV rays.

Yes I know when you think of beta-carotene you guys will think of carrots but the thing you guys have to understand is that carrots are not as tasty as sweet potatoes. Carrots have this weird raw taste to it even if you cook it. (you can tell that I'm not a major fan of carrots) How many of you guys can really chug down 3 or 4 sticks of  carrots without any sauce? hard right? I knew it.

Alright, I wanted to look smart so I actually did some research to back myself up. I found out that beta carotene is actually very good for balancing ph levels and promoting growth of new skin cell. In addition, since this little baby is rich in vitamin c it will also help me fight against aging and dryness! Yah! forever youth! woot.... Oh gosh, I must stop this, I'm praising sweet potatoes as if it is gold.

I usually eat it steamed or baked without any sauce or else it'll ruin it natural sweetness. Now remember to eat more sweet potatoes! Yum!

Look at what I found at my local market....... hahaha...can you guys tell that there's something different about this sweet potato? (ignore the sign... this is a sweet potato, not a yam and I'm sure)

Haha... It's a gigantic sweet potato. See how big it is compared to a regular sized sweet potato? Almost like 10 times it's size. Yeah I know I'm lame but so cute right? Humm.. since a medium sized sweet potato is 117 calories... I wonder how many calories is this little baby. Omg...see how heavy it was? my veins are popping out.. eww... now remember to eat your veggies!

Sally Hansen Magnetic Nail Color Polish Review

I'm back again! Yes, there's a lot of new products released lately that sparked my attention so I'm going to try it out and give you guys my take on it. I guess the nail polish craze is hitting a lot of brands and Sally Hansen is finally coming out with their version of a magnetic nail polish. So far I've only seen this Sally Magnetic polish at Target but I've pretty sure it'll be available elsewhere soon.

Price of this polish is $9.44 which is quite expensive as it's not even half the cost of another famous brand that sells magnetic nail polish, Nails Inc. Nail Inc's magnetic nail polish cost a lot more at at $16 a bottle and the colors are very limited in the United States. Therefore, Sally's magnetic nail polish is a cheaper alternative with a lot more color selections so that's why I decided to pick up one bottle to test it out! (Honestly I think this product is too much of a copy cat because their bottles are almost exactly the same shape and size, but again cash is king so cheap is better.)

The formula painted on fairly smooth and did not streak. The brush is kind of big so I had to paint very carefully because my nails are very small.

You have to place the magnetic activator immediately after you paint your nail or it will not work! ( I messed up on one nail because I was taking picture and left it on for 1 minute and afterwards it would not move.) Remember to leave a gap between the magnet and nail to not ruin your nail.

Oh no just ruined my nails! Watch out and not touch your nails or you will stain this magnet like me.

Yes the final result! Looks pretty awesome right? The results are very similar to Nails Inc so I do like it. The only problem I have is that it's very hard to control the after effects of how the magnetic polish moves so it makes my nail not very united looking. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing but I personally prefer creating marbled swirl nails by dipping them in water instead because the results are more obvious.

 Enjoy and show me your results! Bye Bye

Ardell Double Up False Eyelashes Review

I have another lash review today again! I purchased this from my local drug store, CVS, for $4.99. This Double Up line from Ardell came out a few months ago but didn't get my hands on it till now. I absolutely love the idea of double lashes especially they are extreme time saver and are perfect for more dramatic occasions. Since I bought this item in a hurry I really didn't a chance to take a close look at it, but when I examined it at home I really did't like it.

A lot of people glue 2 pairs of  different style lashes together in order to create a more dramatic effect such as making the band longer to elongate eyes or variation in lash length for different types of look that original lashes couldn't create. Gluing lashes together is slightly problematic when you are new to this and don't know how to combine lashes together for the best results. Therefore, I think this is the reason why Ardell created this line. I mean if there's a demand then there's a market. You guys know... business is always business..

Sounds like a great idea so far right? The idea sounds simple and easy, but you guys are probably wondering why I don't like these lashes. I'm not a perfectionist, but I do expect greater quality when I'm whipping out 5 whole dollars to buy these lashes.

Front view! Looking nice and full!

Honestly, I really didn't like the fact that Ardell glued together 2 pairs of exactly the same style lashes. It only makes the lashes look fuller but it didn't create any sort of variation in lash length to create different wearable looks.



This is an example of how a few pairs of different style lashes are glued together to create more emphasis towards the end of the eyes and at the same time elongating the band of the lashes. This is really something that you can't buy outside that requires a little imagination and crafty hands.

Basically I'm trying to say that these Ardell eyelashes are boring and have no creativity. There's really no need to stack to pairs of lashes together for more volume when I can buy a pair of fuller lashes to begin with. I think it's all a gimmick to lure customer's attention.

I know that some of your guys might really love the idea of fuller lashes and I do too but these lashes are pretty poorly made. The company basically glued together 2 pairs of lashes instead of making 2 sets of lashes on one band to make it more natural looking that consumers can't do at home. Sucks right? I can do it myself so why do I have to spend the extra 5 bucks on you? Ardell, why waste so much time on advertisements and packaging if you are not planning to create better quality?

Look I didn't even use it yet and it's already peeling off! Oh... no... that's very bad! I have to glue them back together before I get to use it or it would be very embarrassing if one pair came off.

Now coming to the worse part......

The layers of the lashes are not clipped together! aww... I would literally have 3 layers of eyelashes if I were to put these on my eyes! Yes, that would look very creepy and disgusting at the the same time. I really wished that these lashes can look like one piece after gluing them together NOT letting people know I have double layers of lashes!

Overall, it's not worth the money at all! If something is going to make you look uglier then why do it? Why take the risk? Why wasting your time of finding a way to fix these lashes? It's really not worth it at all and if there's someone to blame then it's Ardell product designer. Designer, you disappointed me because I have always loved Ardell's lashes but definitely not this one. Hope this review helped you guys!

Origins Checks and Balances Face Wash Cleanser Review

Recently I've changed my facial cleanser to Origins because I've used up my Loreal's 360 cleanser. I had this sitting in my room for a year as I've got this free last Earth Day for giving them a empty container. Yeah they usually have free products on Earth Day. Don't be too jealous, I just always keep myself updated with ways to save! This year Origins gave out a free moisturizer for Earth Day but I didn't need it so didn't go get it.

 

Current favorite cleanser as after using this product my face feels clean and does not strip away my a lot of my natural oil making my face dry. This face wash also works really well in taking light makeup off. I feel like using this cleanser with my Clarisonic brush is making my pore look slightly smaller. woohoo!

I think this cleanser is going to last me a long time because I use it twice a day and a dime size is more then enough for my face. There's actually a lot in this bottle as I've used it for a month now and it still looks like the bottle is full. You can purchase this product online at Origin's website for $19.50. My packaging is different from their website because mine is released for Earth Day. 

Cleanser is in a creamy frosty texture and lathers up a little when you use.

Here's a test I did to show you guys how well this product works for cleaning makeup. 

 I applied 3 different brands of eyeliners on my hand then I'll go wash it off using Origin's cleanser. I chose to test with eyeliner because the results are more obvious then foundation and usually eyeliners are very stubborn and hard to wash off. 

There's so many times I had black residue stuck under my eyes that wouldn't come off without makeup remover so it makes my life more complicated.  Haha... yeah that's when I kind of look like I haven't slept for a week with such a heavy eye bag. If you guys think of the bright side, the residue made me look like a panda... awww.. isn't that cute (Yeah, that was meant to compliment myself).

Now thanks to this cleanser, a lazy person can put less stuff on my face.

Oh yeah, that's me but minus the size. so cute!!!

This is not related to my post but I just came across it and it's so cute! It's a panda dog! It's actually a dog but his owner dressed him up to look like a panda. Although, it might sound weird but I heard that its quite a trend in China now. I guess people are trying to seek alternatives in owning a pet panda by making their dog look like other animal. Sorry little fella, I can't tell that you're a dog. 

 

Here's a another one. OMG... this one I really really like. Sooo....... cute!

Alright enough of the obsession and back to the testing. Now let me wash my hand. 

After 2 seconds of scrubbing, everything came off! I didn't even rub my skin and it just came off by gently using this Clarisonic brush. Wow it was way to quick for me show you guys how amazing this combo works. 

You could see in this picture that the Origins cleanser does lather but but very little. If you guys don't have a brush like I do, using your hand will work the same way. No hard rubbing is needed to remove makeup. 

Bam... the final product, a clean hand! There's absolutely no residue left on my hand and I just realized it look more moisturized.  Yah! another good product I found for my skincare routine that cost me NOTHING!

Beauty On A Budget 5/7/12 - 5/13/12 + The Body Shop Vitamin E Night Cream & Mask Review

Hi Guys! I'm back with some pretty awesome budget deals! This time it's for the brand "The Body Shop". I"m pretty sure a lot of you guys have heard of this brand, but in case you guys haven't, it's actually an international beauty chain store that carries a lot of products for your face or body that are derived from natural ingredients. My favorite product from this brand is actually their infamous award-winning body butter, but today I decided to venture into their face products. After long consideration I bought 2 skincare product from their best seller line, Vitamin E.

Alright, must not side track and get back to the point. Today's deal is actually a bargain because I there's a $10 off $20 coupon!!! Ahahaha... I LOVE coupons... and I can't lie! The mask was originally $22 and cream was $20 but after the coupons I purchased them for $12 & $10 respectively which is like half off! The current deals they have is either the buy one get one 50% off or buy 2 get 1 free and could be used in conjunction with this coupon. woohoo!!! I tried to force myself to purchase 2 items to get the 3rd one free but I really only needed 2 items so this deal was out of the picture. Therefore, I used the 50% off second item deal and only spent $22. Wahaha... so cheap considering its half off then half off that. Wait that doesn't sound right.... you guys get the point.

Anyways, you guys should really go try out their products now that they have this coupon circulating around as it's a blue moon to have such a good good coupon. Here's the linky:

http://www.thebodyshop-usa.com/coupon-landing-pages/pdf/TheBodyShopCoupon-10Off20-LikeACoupon.pdf

Product 1: Vitamine E Sink-in Moisture Mask Review

Finally got my hands on a Vitamin E packed moisture mask that's suppose to bring some moisture back on my dry face. I have always love love loooove.... vitamin e.. it's like a miracle product. I used to put vitamin e oil all over my face and it just makes my skin so soft and supple but kind of stopped because its too oily and my hair gets all over my face.

A really good thing about vitamin e oil is that it's super super amazing at healing scar. Believe me on this one! I had chicken box when I was 18 and like there was literally 100+ bumps on my face that turned into ugly scabs that took forever to peel off but applying vitamin e made it heal 3 times faster. (you guys could never image how ugly i looked during that phase... i sat in front of a mirror everyday counting the chicken box on my face. Seriously I had over 100 bumps on my face and only had 7 on my legs!!!!) Thanks to vitamin e oil, my skin had healed successfully with absolutely no scarring! Lucky me....

Back to this product...First off it smells so much like baby powder so it's a little overpowering. The texture reminded me so much of hair conditioner, very light. It's kind of like pudding but less dense. I spread on a thin layer all over face and neck and let it sit for around 30 minutes then wash off. After application, face feels very moistured but after 20 minutes or so the mask gets absorbed into face and feels oily. Yeah, looked like I just poured some oil on my face which is not pleasant looking at all!

After washing off the product, my face those feel a little smoother and more hydrated by not too noticeable. Honestly, it didn't do much for my skin and selling at a retail price of $22 is just ridiculous. It's totally wasted my $12 and my precious time! I showed my face to my sister and she said the same thing... no difference. That made me sour because it's sad that this product claims to be "intense" when the affects are so minimal! Sorry Body Shop, you guys totally ruin that miraculous image of Vitamin E for me.

If you guys want a good moisture mask go for paper mask because it's very hydrating and easy to use, apply on face and remove so there's no need to wash. Here are some of my current favorite! (I'll probably do a post for paper facial mask later on so keep following)

 Etude House Collagen Mask. Smells fresh and makes me skin whiter and more hydrated. Around $2-3/piece but its much cheaper in Asia. (ask your friend/ relative to buy you some or stock up if you travel)

Oh yes, we want more collagen on our mask and here's caviar. Picture and thought of putting this black looking stuff on my face is gross but works like a charm! Yeah, Missha should have picked a better image for the packaging. Yeah, it just led me to image myself putting fish eggs on my face... so disgusting!

Ok ok, the sheet is white and smells very fresh so that helps to know right? Nonetheless, this stuff is pretty darn good at restoring moisture! Thank you Missha for being so creative... caviar... I didn't know I can use you beside eating you.

Last favorite is Beauty Diary's mask. This mask is super cheap at $1+ a sheet and is very effective. My current favorite is the cherry blossom one because it smells so sweet. It also works very well in alleviating, refreshing, and whitening my dark and dull skin. If you guys are interested and what to buy this product I have it on my website. I'm not trying to sell you this product but it really does work! You could always buy on ebay too if you like! Here's linky if interested:

http://trouvailly.com/product_info.php?products_id=206 



2nd Product: Vitamin E Nourishing Night Cream Review

Again this night cream smells too much like baby powder. I really don't like baby powder scented products. Why? isn't it obvious... it makes me feel bad because my skin is no longer soft like a baby's butt. Oh no, I shouldn't compare my face to a butt... it should say it's no longer soft like a baby's skin. Anyways, this products claims to replenish and revitalize skin while you sleep using rich wheat germ oil. It's suppose to nourish my skin overnight and wake up to soft silky skin so lets see how well it works...

Texture of this product is very dense, kind of like body butter but not that oily. Skin feels hydrated immediately after application.

Now 8 hours later, skin feels pretty soft and hydrated. The dry patchy area around my cheeks seems like it improved. Overall, pretty good product for $10 and I'll give it a 8 out of 10 stars. Definitely a much better product than a lot of drug store branded night cream. Overall, I would buy again because it works and does not break out my skin. The only problem I have is that I feel like it still cannot replace my favorite moisture cream, Clinique's moisture surge because it doesn't make my skin as soft and dewy as the moisture surge would. However, the moisture surge is like $40 and this is $10 so if I'm on a budge I'll get this one instead.

Alright, this post is much longer then what I intended to write so sorry that it's so long! Remember to go check out the store if you guys get a chance and please use the coupon! Saving up is the key to having more money to buy more products. Bye now

LA Girl Fruit Scented Nail Polish Review

I walked into my local rite aid today and this LA Girl nail polish captured my eyes. Why? It's scented!!! There's a total of 8 different colors and best part is that it's only for $2.99. I think it's pretty cheap considering it's in a 14ml bottle.

You guys know how smelly nail polish are when you apply it so if there's really a sweet scent in it then its my problem solver. Yeah, every time I apply nail polish my brother would scream that I'm killing him by intoxicating his air. He's such a jerk, every time he would rat to my mom and she'll come and complain.

Honestly, I don't think it smells too bad, at least better than his paint for his Gundam model. I mean I look better after I color my nail but what does coloring his Gundam do for his look? The answer is NOTHING! Now girls if you have a brother or someone like me then this nail polish is your solution! It really does smell like fruits but like extract flavoring... Which is kind of fake, but again who can make something smell like fresh fruits? If you want to smell like fresh fruit then peeling an orange is what I'll advise you to do. Yeah, just don't complain because this polish is under $3.

Okay, going back to the meat of this review... When you first apply this polish it does smell like regular nail polish but minus half. It's better then nothing. After 1-2 minutes the disgusting scent will go away and then bam! Fruity nails!

The lighter colors are kind of sheer so I think it'll be great as a top coat because it has glitter and I love glitter. The darker colors are very vivid even with one coat so I'm just going to wear it alone. Overall, it took around 10 minutes for 1 coat to completely dry so not too bad.  Overall, I like this nail polish because of it's price and easy application. It's fruity scent is definitely a luring selling point! The only thing I don't like is that there's not a lot of colors to choose from and most of them are sheer colors. As a nail polish holic I need variations! I guess I would buy again unless I find something better! So happy now, I'm going to wave my hand in front of people's face so they can smell it and enjoy it. I'll try it for a few more days and update you guys regarding the lasting time. Chao!

This one smells kind of like mixed berries. (yes I'm lost) I think applying darker nail polish looks better on my hand because I'm so dark. I should have listened to my mom when I was younger to stay out of the sun. So sad, now my hands are darker then my face.

 Kind of like this scent because it smelled so much like pineapple lifesaver. Yeah it gave me the urge to want to lick it. I know it's weird... but you have to bare with it! Sadly, 2 hours after application this nail polish has already lost its scent.

I love the glitter in this sheer red polish and glad I have one because I don't have anything like it at home. This one is also my favorite scent because it smells like strawberry. Today I washed my hands for around 5-6 and the scent is still there. Hey! I'm clean so of course I used soap too!

Update: 3 days later
The strawberry polish has already lost it's scent already today. It still had a faint smell on the 2nd day. That's just way too bad as it only lasted for 2 days. That means no more waving around for me. *sad* Yes, I'm pretty darn sure the scent is gone as I'm still smelling things fine because luckily the blueberry polish still smells really good. Now thinking of it I finally realize what the blue nail polish smells like... it's potpourri! You guys know.. that flower that you put in the restroom for scent... Yeah...now thinking of it, I hope people don't think that I just came out of the restroom because I take every opportunity to wave my hands around. Anyways, I still like it as it still didn't chip yet... haha...no one can change my mind as I'm planning to buy some more!

Japanese Inspired Spring Nail Art Tutorial

Recently I created another nail art tutorial and this one is meant for spring. Since I'm in love with pastel colors I used almost all of them on my nails. Yes, that's right... If you can't decide then you find a way to use them all... The more the better. Haven't you guys ever made a nail polish haul and then come home wanting to use all of them but then you only have 10 finger nails so you really can't until a few days later. Yeah, this are the times I wished I had more nails.... Ehh, on second thought maybe not because I don't want to look like a creep. If my sister hears me say that she's going to think that I'm crazy. Okay now back to what I was talking about earlier, these nails are inspired by a set of nails I saw on the Japanese nail magazine called Nail Venus. If you guys are a nail polish whore then you guy must take a look at this book! If you guys are lazy and don't want to make these nails then you could always purchase them from my website. Anyways, I hope you guys find this enjoyable and sorry if the quality is bad. I'm still a newbie so please spare. Oh, for those of you who reads my blog, would you guys still prefer a visual step by step guide in addition to this video or video only is good enough. Please let me know.

Doesn't it look so gorgeous? I love my masterpiece. Please don't dislike it, but if you do please don't say it.... Keep it in your heart. Sorry that video is super long because I had to put filler in the back in order to pick that specific shot for the YouTube thumbnail. Video officially ends at 5 mins and 58 secs! If you guys like it the please comment, rate , and subscribe. If you guys really really like it then please watch it again.