ibuybeauti

Hello my lovelies!!!

I'm back and I apologize for being away for three and half months. :(

I've been doing a lot of projects lately and literally do not have the time to blog for the past couple months. However, I do post regularly on Instagram, so if you are following me then you know that I'm a regular Instagrammer. ;) 

I am going to thank ibuybeauti.com for sending me some free products to try. :)

ibuybeauti.com is a newly launched Korean cosmetic online shop. 

What I like about this online store is that I actually found some cosmetics/skincare here that I normally couldn't find at other Korean cosmetics online shops. 

Here are the products that I chose:

Left to Right: Tony Moly Luminous Goddess Aura BB Cream, Etude House Wonder Pore Whipping Foam, Etude House Sweet Recipe Cupcake Eyes in Mint Choco Chip

I haven't tried these products since I've been really busy lately. I will do a separate review on them in the future. 

They have also included some samples. :) 

It took about 2 1/2 weeks for the package to arrive from South Korea. 

Their prices are reasonable and customer service is superb! They were very prompt in answering my questions and they also provide free shipping! ^_^

So please check their website www.ibuybeauti.com and let me know your experience when you buy from them. :)

See you guys later! :D

February 2013 Favorites

Hello hello! :) 

Today, I will be sharing my favorites from last month (February). I haven't done this for quite some time now and I'm actually excited on doing it again. ;)

Aussie Heat Protecting Shine Spray, Soap & Glory Heel Genius Foot Cream, Ole Henriksen truth serum collagen booster, Josie Maran Argan Oil,  Maybelline Baby Lips in Coral Crush, Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream

1. Aussie Heat Protecting Shine Spray -  I am loving this spray so far! Right after I shower, I would towel dry my hair to the point that it's not dripping anymore, spray this then blow dry my hair. It smells good and it doesn't leave my hair sticky or whatsoever. Every time I use this, my hair feels sooo soft! 

2. Soap & Glory Heel Genius Foot Cream - I had very, very, very dry heels before and found the solution to that. Every night, I wash my feet before going to bed and massage this foot cream onto my feet then I would put on a pair of socks. This foot cream made my feet soft and smooth. 

3. Ole Henriksen truth serum collagen booster - This baby right here is a bit expensive for 1 oz. of a bottle. ($48). Luckily, I got this in one of my sample boxes that I receive monthly. I added this to my skincare regimen and noticed results right away. My skin is a lot smoother and brighter than before. Maybe it's the Vitamin C in the serum that's causing this. I use this every morning after using a toner to prep my skin for my daily moisturizer. 

4. Josie Maran Argan Oil - Ok, ok. I tried to stay away from the bandwagon of using Josie Maran Argan Oil and I hated myself for doing that. When people tell me that such and such is good for your skin blah blah blah, I don't normally just jump up and buy the product. However, I've been hearing so much great reviews about it that I caved in. I also added this to my skincare regimen and all I can say is WOW. This oil moisturizes my skin so well that my foundation would look so flawless. I add a drop of Argan oil to my moisturizer and it's just the perfect combination. My skin looks a lot healthier.

5. Maybelline Baby Lips in Coral Crush - I've been tracking this particular shade for how many months now and as soon as I found it, I've been wearing it constantly. I love the smell! Smells like oranges haha. This gives you a very sheer coral tint to your lips. I love all Baby Lips products. Sometimes I would use this as a base for my lipstick. 

6. Egyptian Magic All Purpose Skin Cream - About a month and a half ago, I had an allergic reaction to something. I didn't know what it was, but one morning, I had these dry bumps scattered on my back and face with dry patches. I couldn't wear my regular moisturizer because it would leave my skin drier than before. I bought the Aveeno for Sensitive Skin thinking it would work, but made it worse. It stings actually! I was in desperate need of a moisturizer to calm the bumps on my face and back and found this Egyptian Cream at Whole Foods. I was a bit skeptical even after reading the reviews but oh well, I was desperate, even though I had to shed $46. I would put this on day and night. It's not greasy and it only contains six ingredients. This cream cleared up my face and back in a week! I was extremely happy. Now, I'm back to using my original moisturizer (Cerave Daily Facial Moisturizing Lotion with Spf 30). I also use this Egyptian Cream on my elbows and it works wonders. :)

What are your favorites last month? :)

Pantone Color of the Year 2013: EMERALD

It's quite exciting to know that this year's Pantone Color of the Year is Emerald. I love this particular shade of green. In my opinion, the color itself is very elegant. I've decided from now on that I would add some pieces into my wardrobe, jewelry or make up collection. Yesterday, I went to the mall and bought a few items that I think would be enough to strut this beautiful color. :)

In this picture: Forever 21 necklace, Sephora eyeshadow "Picnic in the Park" and Sephora+Pantone Universe Color Charged Graphic Lacquer in emerald 2013

The necklace looks different when it comes to different lighting. It looks a bit blue green above this picture but outside with the natural daylight, it looks more green. Haha

This is my first green jewelry piece actually. I'm already pretty excited to wear it! :)

I swatched the Sephora eyeshadow in the store yesterday and it was gorgeous! It's subtle but also it's buildable for those who want to look more vibrant. :) 

The nail polish from Sephora is beautiful too. There are a lot of nail polish out there that would match this particular color for a cheaper price. I paid $10 for this just because I'm picky and I want to match the exact color of this year. :D 

Now, I'm on a mission of looking for an Emerald peplum top. I think it would look nice with white jeans and a nice pair of pumps. ;)

How about you guys? Would you guys buy anything with this particular shade of green? :)

Haul: Zara and H&M

Hello gorgeous readers! I've haven't blogged for about 3 weeks now. I'm so sorry! I've been very busy lately with projects and such. 

Today, I would like to share my mini haul from Zara and H&M. :)
I've been browsing zara.com for their current sales and actually snagged a couple of items from their sale section.
For H&M, I wasn't really planning to buy anything from them, however, I found some really cute accessories.

These are the tops I got from ZARA:

Sweater with Pleated Chiffon Back in Khaki
I got the blouse above for $29.99, originally $79.90

Printed Sequin Top
I got it for $19.99, originally $79.90 ( I believe they're $14.99 now at the store the last time I checked it.)

From H&M:

Scarf: $9.95

Ring: $5.95 - I never had anything like this in my collection..  :)

Ring: $3.95 (I think this one is really cute! The style is unique.)

Bangles: $12.95

I didn't really shop that much today. Before, I used to go crazy every time I see something that's on sale.  I did a good job! ;)

♥ Have u guys bought anything lately?♥ :)

Cinderella Moonlit Kiss Lipstick Set and Swatches

I'm sure you guys have heard the Cinderella Moonlit Kiss Lipstick Set by Sephora.
I picked this set up last November during the 20% OFF Event at Sephora. I'm sooo excited to get my hands on this one. It's only $25 for all four (full-size).

I love how elegant and feminine the packaging looks like. ♥

From left to right: Lady Tremaine, Pumpkin, Who Is She?, My Moment

 ~ Lady Tremaine is a berry color
~ Pumpkin is a light pastel peach
~ Who Is She? is a warm rosy mauve
~ My Moment is a pink champagne glitter

I think all the colors are gorgeous. The smell typically smells like lipstick <-- because="" i="" it="" mentioned="" one="" read="" reviews="" some="" that="" this="" ve="">smells awful, smells like really cheap lipsticks

.. For me, it smells like a drugstore lipstick, for example, Rimmel. I don't have any problem with the smell whatsoever. :) Although they tend to be a bit on the dry side. So, I would just put on some lip balm and I'm good to go. To my surprise, they are long-lasting!

Here are the swatches:

Lady Tremaine

Pumpkin

Who Is She?

My Moment

My least favorite is My Moment. I do appreciate that it has this glittery effect but it just doesn't go well alone with my lips. Maybe I have to put on another color before using this.

Overall, I looooove them! I just hope they would restock again. 

 

♥ Any lippies that you guys been wearing lately?  ♥

ZOYA Nail Polish Swatch

My order arrived today from ZOYA. They had this promotion where you get 3 nail polishes for FREE (Just pay shipping and handling ~$10). 

I think it's a great deal since their products start from $8 each. :)

I love majority of the colors so I really had a hard time choosing which ones I like the best. Hehe

Finally, I chose these colors:

Left to Right: Bevin, Zara and Piper

Bevin

Zara

Piper

This is actually the first time I've purchased from their main website. 

I've received some ZOYA Nail Polishes from my beauty boxes before. I love how their nail polishes don't chip easily. :)

I like how the nail polishes are Formaldehyde, Toluene, DBP (Dibutyl Phthalate) and Camphor Free. Also, they have a huge selection of shades to choose from.

Now, these colors will be added in my current nail polish collection! ♥

Have you tried ZOYA Nail Polish before? What are your favorite shades? :)

NEW! Physicians Formula: Happy Booster & Sexy Booster

Left to Right: Happy Booster Illuminating Bronzing Veil in Bronzer, Sexy Booster Sexy Glow Blush in Rose

We all know how expensive Physicians Formula can get for a drugstore brand right? Well, I'm in luck today! ;) These new products came with an instant $3 OFF each item. On top of that, it's 40% OFF at my local CVS Pharmacy. I believe I've gotten myself a great deal! :) The Happy Booster one is originally $14.49 and the Sexy Booster Blush is $11.99. 

I PAID $5.69 for the Happy Booster and $4.19 for the Sexy Booster Blush! Ahh! I'm sooo happy! :D And I also used my $5 gift card from CVS, so this totally saved me even more money. Hehe

Happy Booster Illuminating Bronzing Veil in Bronzer

What it says on the box:

~ Ultra-lightweight loose powder hearts feature bronze and gold micropearls for a warm luminosity with the smooth look of a loose powder veil, without the mess.

~Includes a soft, fan-shaped bronzer brush for all-over face application and a luxurious puff, perfect for dusting bronzer on decollete. 

~Infused with our Happy Boost Blend featuring Happy Skin and Euphoryl, natural plant extracts which have been shown to promote a feeling of happiness by mimicking the effect of Endorphins and helping protect the skin from environmental stress.

~The sweet scent of Violet provides a feeling of joy each time you apply.

Sexy Booster Sexy Glow Blush in Rose

What it says on the box:

~ Wear this blush like lingerie for your face for an instant sexy boost with an alluring blushing glow.

~The perfect blend of shimmery blushing tones delivers a sultry after-glow illumination that lasts all day.

~Infused with the scent of warm vanilla, "afterglow" illumination and pheromone-mimicking ingredients including clinically tested Androstadienone. Cocoa Extract (aka "The Love Chemical") and ancient aphrodisiac Horny Goatweed to enhance your sexy side.

 

I cannot wait to use these! Both of them smell sooooo gorgeous and sweet! :) I'm loving the colors too and the cute hearts. ;) I'm always drawn to cute things like these. 

I hope you can find these in your local drugstore. :)

Cooking: Penne Pasta with Sun-Dried Tomatoes

 I noticed I haven't posted anything about cooking/recipes here yet. :) 

I've been in a cooking mood lately so earlier I pulled up this recipe online. I've been oggling at this pasta for months now on Pinterest. I looked for the recipe on Google and voila I was off to the market to get the ingredients. 

I got the recipe from here. Thanks to this website for the recipe. ;)

♥ PENNE PASTA with SUN-DRIED TOMATOES RECIPE:

• 2 cups (8 oz) dry penne pasta
• 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes
• 1 (12 fl oz) can Nestle Carnation Evaporated Lowfat 2% Milk
• 2 cups shredded Italian-style four-cheese blend ( I used the five-cheese blend instead..)
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

♥ DIRECTIONS:

1. Cook pasta according to package instructions. (I like mine al dente ;) )
2. Add sun-dried tomatoes to boiling pasta water for the last two minutes of cooking time. Drain.
3. Combine evaporated milk, cheese, basil, garlic powder and ground pepper in a medium saucepan.
4. Cook over medium-heat, stirring occasionally, until cheese is melted. ( I overcooked mine so it looked clumpy on the picture. Haha!)
5. Remove from heat and add the pasta and sun-dried tomatoes the the sauce.
6. Stir and enjoy! :P

That was our lovely lunch earlier. Overall, I love how it turned out. It was so creamy and delicious! 

PS: Currently, I am trying to organize my posts. I wonder if you have noticed that there are tabs now located at the top of this page. ;) It's a lot of organizing to do! :P

Review: Firmoo Sunglasses

I was contacted to do a collaboration with Firmoo months ago but there was a glitch on my end. USPS lost my package and was sent a new pair of sunglasses right away. I'm supposed to do a review about a month ago, however, I've experienced some technical difficulties with my blog. 

 Firmoo is an online optical store and also the world's most popular online eyeglasses store. They offer over 300 styles of affordable and stylish frames for you to choose from. They also offer a Virtual Try-On system where you can upload a photo of your own and try their glasses/sunglasses virtually.

Firmoo has launched a program offering free eye wear for first-time buyers. It's an excellent way to try their products and to check its quality. This offer is open to almost all countries in the world including the U.S., Canada, Australia, etc. You can read more about this offer here.

Here's my unbiased review:

Overall:

I give it a 3.95 star rating.  

 The sunglasses that was sent to me (for which I chose) is the #OTO2581 model. ($40) Now, currently unavailable.

PROS:

~ Customer Service is superb! USPS lost the first pair of sunglasses that Firmoo sent me and I notified them immediately of the situation and they shipped a new pair right away.

~They do indeed offer a variety of different styles for eyeglasses.

~Delivery was fast.

~I love the quality of the pouch that's included.

~ I love how they offer free eye-wear for first-time buyers.

~ They also included extra screws and a mini screwdriver for the sunglasses that was sent to me.

~The Virtual Try-On System helped a lot for the type of sunglasses that fits me.

CONS:

~ I was limited to a number of sunglasses to choose from (the second time). The first sunglasses that I picked was the one USPS lost. I picked this one because there were only 3 available styles to choose from. I didn't like the other two, so I finally chose this one. There used to have more than 8 styles to choose from, however, it was unavailable at that time.

~ The sunglasses I received has a dent. How unlucky of me! (refer to picture) I wouldn't pay $40 for it to be honest.

~The website is a little confusing to navigate to find their sunglasses. It seems like it only really caters for eyeglasses but not enough variety for fashion sunglasses. 

~ This particular sunglasses that I chose is being phased out by the manufacturer/designer. See here. So I guess there is no way for the others to get a hold of this product.

I am glad that I get to have a collaboration with Firmoo to review their product. This was a great opportunity for me to work with them. 

I strongly suggest to try their free eyewear for first-time buyers program to try their products before purchasing.

3-Day SALE ~ Cute Dumpling Shop

Hello lovelies! :) I am having a 3 - Day Sale for my online store ~ Cute Dumpling Shop

I'm offering 15% off your total purchase. 

Use the discount code @ checkout : CIS370

Hurry! This limited time sale will expire on December 14, 2012 @ 12:00 AM

I also offer Free Shipping on orders that are $40 or more (never expires)

Use the discount code code : FREESHIPPING

Also, the store's Facebook page is up. Please check it out and like the page. :D

https://www.facebook.com/CuteDumplingShop

I'm currently in the process of making new handmade bracelets. 

Don't forget to read the News page under info on the store's website. :)

Have a great day!