Yay! A way overdue hual! ... and post.

I had a crappy week last week and the only thing that made me happy all last week was knowing that my purchase from Sephora would be coming today, Tuesday, except that it came a day early (it came yesterday)! Yay! So here's what I got:

- Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2 - 13.5 oz $20.00
- Sephora Brand Signature Clear Bag Collection - Smoke - Medium Cosmetic Case $6.00
- Sephora Brand Glass Nail Files - Purple $8.00

- Kat Von D Holiday Tote Bonus Gift (not sure if this is still available)
- Sample - Lolita Lempicka Forbidden Flower Eau de Parfum - 0.4 oz
- Sample - Lancome GENIFIQUE EYE Youth Activating Eye Concentrate
- Sample - Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy Eau de Parfum - 0.05 oz

Now here's the kicker... I only paid sales tax of $3.15 on all this. I had a $25 gift card and I also used the $15 discount that Sephora was having. This really made up for me missing out on their friends and family sale. I know this may not be a lot for most people, but since I'm not a big makeup shopper, this is pretty big for me. So far, I'm loving all the products. Here's a short initial review to each product:

Clinique Clarifying Lotion 2:
I was hoping this would be the size with the pump cap, but it isn't. The one with the pump you can get at Sephora stores or they usually come with holiday sets. It kind of sucks because that was pretty much the reason why I wanted to get this large size in the first place. Oh wells. Onto my initial review. I've tried #4 before but it was so strong in alcohol. That toner really made my fingers all dried up and it looked horribly disgusting. I'm hoping that #2 will be a bit more milder than the #4. So far so good.. but it's only been 2 days. The smell is alright. I don't mind it. It's a mix between alcohol and something else.... probably the witch hazel.

Sephora Brand Signature Clear Bag Collection - Smoke - Medium Cosmetic Case
I love this! Ok, I admit, when it comes to some things, I am a name-brand whore. This was only 6 bucks and it says Sephora on it. I love the color and I love that it is tinted. To me, it gives it a more classy/sophisticated feel rather than the clear. Yeah.. that's what it says on the product description, but I do believe in it. Before this one, I was using an old Hello Kitty one and I'm not a big fan of hello kitty. I associate Hello Kitty with teeny boppers and children.

I love that this holds all my daily makeup including my medium size travel mirror. It's also the right size to put in my purse. Think the only thing I don't like about this is that there are 2 large gaps by the zipper ends. I can see skinny items like pencil liners and my tweezer falling out if this gets tilted during travel.

Sephora Brand Glass Nail Files - Purple
I've been wanting a glass file for so long since I've heard that these are better for your nails than the sand paper type ones. Also, it's reusable. All you have to do is run it under water and ta-da it's clean! I tried it out once I opened the Sephora box and I think it's pretty much like any fine sand files that i have used before. But I guess I'll see if this file really does make a difference later on. The clear holder that it comes in is made of cheapy hard plastic and it's already starting to tear apart. Not sure what to put the file in after the holder rips though.


I'm also loving the freebies. I plan on using the Kat Von D bag for camping trips as my toiletry bag. The perfumes I like and I can see myself maybe purchasing the full size later on. Probably not any time soon though since I'm not a big perfume wearer. These samples would probably last me for a good amount of time. I am pretty excited to try the Lancome Genifique Eye Youth Activating Eye Concentrate. I have horrible under eye circles and puffiness so I hope this takes care of it. This stuff is pretty expensive too so if it works on me, I am hesitant to buy the full size. But I have a pretty good size sample so hopefully it'll last me for a bit.

Review: Reviva Rosewater Facial Spray

Product Description: Natural extract of roses makes this facial spray very refreshing and stimulating. helps moisturizers and night creams have better effects in making skin look better with makeup or "setting" makeup; you'll find dozens of other uses. For male and female athletes, this mist is a great refresher and cleansing aid.

Refresh skin & set makeup
Spray away perspiration
Moisturize skin & hair in dry weather
Use as a sensitive skin tonic

Ingredients: Distilled rosewater, glycerin, aloe juice, polysorbate 20, hyaluronic acid, tocopheryl acetate, vegetable oil & vitamin A and Vitamin B, fennel extract, hops extract, balm mint extract, mistletoe extract, maticaria extract, yarrow extract, mallow extract, ivy extract, cucumber extract, sambucus extract, arnica extract, trace mineral concentrate, potassium sorbate, sodium benzoate, citric acid.

Size: 8 oz. (236 mL)

My Duration of Usage: 4 months





Likes:

• Smells good
• Hydrates well
• Relieves itchy skin
• Sets makeup well
• Affordable
  

Dislikes:

• Can be a little sticky

Review: I was looking for a more natural facial mist because I noticed MAC's Fix + had a lot of chemicals in it, plus it was expensive. While shopping around on iherb.com, I found this and was intrigued by all the natural ingredients it has and the great part is that it's only $5.20!

I have super sensitive skin that breaks out very easily and this has never broken me out. Actually, it has seem to sooth my skin from itchiness and redness. I wear mineral foundation and it works great helping to set my foundation. It smells like roses, but the scent does dissipate after a while. It can smell like "old lady" or "grandma" since a lot of very mature-type scents have roses in them. This also feels great on my skin after working out or just being out all day.

I think this is a great alternative to the recent MAC 09 collection's Rose Romance's Fix + Rose LE. So if you missed your chance on getting that, you might want to give this a try. Ingredients are different, but I'm 99% sure it'll do the same thing, but so much cheaper. I believe Fix+ Rose was like $17 for 3.4oz compared to Reviva's Rosewater for $5.20 for 8oz. Although, I must have to say that Fix+'s packaging looks much more fancier than Revivia's.

Price: $5.20 - $8 depending on where you buy it.

Where to buy: iherb.com use code viv402 for 5 dollars off your first order. If you do, you pretty much are paying 20 cents plus shipping! You may also be able to find this at your local health food stores.

My Rating: 8.5/10 (packaging could be a bit more appealing)

20 Questions tag from Youtube

So sorry for the huge lack of updates, but I'll try and get some stuff up soon.

Ok.. so this tag that was going on around youtube sounded fun to do so i decided to answer these questions on here since I don't make videos.

1. Thing you cannot leave the house without?
Clothes. If I have my bf with me, i can leave everything at home, but this only depends on where we're going. Like for instance if we're going shopping, i have to have all 3 items with me - wallet, keys, and cell phone, but if we're going to a friends house and he's driving... i bring nothing but myself.

2. Favorite Brand of makeup?
I don't really have a favorite brand of makeup. I usually just pick and choose whatever product that works for me. Although, I do like NYX a lot because they're affordable, packaging is nice, and there's so many products and colors to pick from.

3. Favorite Flower?
I love lilies - especially the ones with the pink stripy down the middle of their petals (don't know the name). They smell so good.

4. Fav clothing store?
I would have to say Forever 21 and similar stores to that. Target has some nice stuff sometimes, too. I also like Ross since they're stuff is cheap and a lot of their stuff can be found at stores like Forever 21... I know this because my sister bought the same exact shirt as me from Ross and I bought mine from Forever 21. This was a coincidence.

5. Favorite Perfume?
None at the moment because I find most perfumes gets me irritated. Especially when other people dip themselves in perfume. They just ruin it for me.

6. Heels or flats?
I prefer flats because I can walk in them perfectly. I only wear heals on special occasions or occasions where heels are appropriate. I can't stand how they pretty much eat up your feet and ruin them if you wear them a lot.

7. Do you make good grades?
I think i'm slightly above average, like a B+ student. I usually get A's and B's and the occasional C. I tend to do pretty well in classes where the professors are interesting or if the material is interesting.

8. Favorite colors?
Teals and blues.

9. Do you drink energy drinks?
No. I'll have a sip here and there when my boyfriend has them, but generally I will not drink one whole. They have tons of sugar and who knows what chemicals in them. Plus they make me feel all jumpy and jittery and I hate that feeling.

10. Do you drink juice?
If it's low on sugar and near 100% real juice then I would gladdy drink it. If it's mostly artificial stuff, i'll pass. Smoothies and natural brands like Odwalla I will drink.

11. Do you like swimming?
It's nice on hot days, but I can only swim free style. I still can't back float or tred soooo.... if i'm ever in deep water, I think i would drown. Although with more practice, I'll probably learn all those, but it's been years since I've actually swam for real.

12. Do you eat fries with a fork?
Only when a fork is provided and if they're like chilli fries or fries with tons of topping. If it's regular fries, I just use my fingers.

13. Favourite Moisturizer?
Lately, I haven't really been moisturizing my face because of my horrible breakouts. I try to limit what I put on my face. But the days when I use moisturizer, I go for Jojoba Oil and Jason's Vit E oil mixed together.

14. Do you want to get married later on in life?
I do, but I do wonder if marriage would really work out. Statistics show divorce rates are high so that kind of scares me a bit. Unlike most girls, I have never played wedding or really planned out my wedding. I kind of just go with the flow and see what happens.

15. Do you get mad easily?
Only when I'm rudely awaken by noise. I get really bitchy and have lashed out at friends for making a lot of noise while i'm sleeping. My bf and sis are now scared whenever they try to wake me up. Generally, I don't get mad that easily. Only when someone close to me has crossed me is only when I get really mad. If it's some random stranger, it's like whatever. I won't see them ever again, so why bother wasting my breath?

16. Are you into Ghost Hunting?
Not at all, but my bf's friend wants to go some time to this place called Hicks Road in San Jose. I'm not really interested in going so I probably wouldn't. I hear the people living there would do just about anything to scare touristy people away because they're sick of them taking pictures and gawking.

17. Any phobias?
Spiders and i'm kind of ashamed to say this but... driving. It just freaks me out to know that people have been shot to death just because they accidentally cut someone off. One time, my friend was driving and he cut someone off unintentionally... twice, and the person in the passenger seat kept throwing something, maybe pennies, at us. It made a few small dents on the car door =\ I only drive when there's no other choice, or if I feel confident enough, but usually i take the bus or someone else drives. I hate California big city drivers.

18. Do you bite your nails?
Nope. It's a nasty habit (your hands touch everything) and I'm glad I'm not an addict to this.

19. Have you ever had a near death experience?
Nope... and I hope it stays that way; although, there was this girl who died in high school who had the same name as me and a few people thought it was me who died.... but that's not really an experience. Although, it did make me ask myself "what if i did die?" and other questions like that...

20. Do you drink coffee?
I drink it like every once in a while, I like soy mochas, but I find coffee too rich in flavor. Coffee to me is equivalent to a desert. I prefer tea.