Back to school...

I finally moved into my apartment yesterday. No class for me until tomorrow, so I've just been cleaning out the place. Of course, I visited my midway rest stop on my way up and bought a couple of things:

I know, I know. Ed Hardy's not everyone's favorite thing, but how can I not like it? I'm a Los Angelian and can't completely avoid Christian Audigier's influence. I like it in small doses, so I wouldn't necessarily wear an entire outfit of this stuff. I especially like their hoodies.

I also received my Rue La La Rich and Skinny purchase:



Their "Ladylike" cropped skinny jeans. I'm on the fence about whether or not to keep this because I hate stretch denim. This pair makes me feel shorter than I'd like. Yeah, I might return this. And everything I bought at once:





The hoodie is a size Large. Ed Hardy runs small and I like big hoodies.

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I'm really liking the La Mer tint. This and a light dusting of powder is all I use now. To answer B|u3's question: No, I don't feel like it's moisturizing enough to skip using a regular moisturizer, so I layer a generous pea-sized amount of the TM over their Gel de La Mer. I really love their gel moisturizier, btw. I'm thinking of cracking open my purse strings again and shelling out the $130 for it.

Here are the before and after pics, B|u3. These were taken a few days ago and all photos are sharpened.


Before


A closeup of my problem area at the time: My forehead before TM.


My forehead after.


After TM, powder, brow filler, mascara, and liner.

It's a subtle difference, but the stuff works. Medium is a little darker than my skintone, but that's the trouble with La Mer tint. I may have to buy Light and mix the two. It's not super noticeable though. Skin's evened out, cut out concealer, and experiencing zero caking. Loves it. Hope this helps.

About the Shu curler rubber pads... Some forums online have noted that the Shiseido and Essence of Beauty ones should fit, but I've yet to find out for sure.

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Q&A

If you can get your hands on an ELF curler, their pads fit Shu's as well. Or so I've heard.

- Faux Fashionista

Thank you! I'll keep my eyes peeled. I'd rather not order online.

man i really want to try la mer but i can't justify spending that much money! maybe later on when im making bank.

- Ainstein

Haha. I'm not exactly making bank either... My mom says I know how to spend money, but don't know how to make it! :\

i didn't kno La Mer had a Gel de la Mer....that sounds much better for oily skinned girls like us! Please do keep us updated on the results you get from this gel

- Ichigobunnie

I know, it's really not something everyone can afford, but I couldn't resist! I actually had a mini heart attack the other day when I knocked half of the contents of the sample out. And I didn't even pay for it! A little does go a long way, because I'm still using the sample, days later. The gel's doing well on my skin so far. My skin doesn't feel greasy after I apply it and I haven't broken out. In fact, it feels nice and soft. I definitely WOULD NOT recommend it for dry skin types, because I noticed when I used it after a really harsh cleanser one night that my skin still felt really tight and uncomfortable.

The last time I checked, Shu doesn't make replacement pads right..? They want you to buy a whole new curler. I switched to Shisheido which works perfectly fine for me bc Nordys carries extra pads. I think a pack of 2 is $5.00.

- Angie519

Nope. :( They don't make replacement pads. Which SUCKS. I was even considering abandoning Shu altogether, but I'll see if the Shiseido pads fit. Kevin Aucoin's curler is said to be comparable and they have replacement pads. And the pads are RED! I'd rather not toss out a perfectly good curler though.

i thought la mer would be my savior. but i hate anything that leaves my face too glowy, i want matte and satin look, wonder if this is possible w/o the use of loose power with tint fluid.

- Stephanie

Yeah, I prefer a really matte look too, but I'm in love with the fact that I don't get the cakiness I'd get from powder and fluid foundations. I don't miss that at all! And I'm lazy, so I get to cut out concealer and spf moisturizer at once.

looking for whitening products know a good brand???

- Pink

God, I've tried a few of those obscure Japanese brand whiteners, but I don't remember if I noticed a difference. I know the pearl creams definitely kept me fair, but it's way too heavy for me to deal with regularly. Likas papaya soap is supposed to work wonders! And is cheap! But drying, so most girls use it on their bodies...

man i'm sad revlon colorstay liquid liner doesn't work for you...i absolutely love the stuff

- Ren

It's not HG stuff for me, but I'm learning to use it just for a small flick at the end. It doesn't seem to smudge much if I apply it there where it won't get caught in my folds. lol

I think I'll try out the suggestion of adding sea kelp to the cream.

- Tracy

DO IT. I want to see if the extract actually makes a difference!

i've had bangs for ever, lol...cos i have a long face. have u ever had bangs?

- Cheryl

I'll be sure to ask for their powder sameple next time. lol. YES, I had bangs! As a kid. Then puberty hit and with that came oily skin. Having greasy bangs didn't look good and it didn't help with my complexion either.

Girl you've GOT to try Merlot Moonlight Radiance night cream products if you are looking for skincare products!

- Tao

I'll look for this the next time I'm at the drugstore. Anything to keep me from shelling out the money for La Mer!

I'm C(indy), new to the blogger world, just wanted to say HI!

- Cindy

Hey, Cindy. Welcome! Have added you to my roll.

hi :]
uhm.. i thought i had milia on my eye but then i woke up one day and had whitebumps on my eyelid? then the next day i had whitebumps on my other eyelid. I thought it was because i didn't take off my eyemakeup well enough but... now i use almay eyemakeup sheets but bleh, do you have any ideas on how to take it away?

- Diana

It's hard to say what could be causing the white bumps. Perhaps cut back on eye makeup for a couple of weeks and slowly reintroduce products to your skin again. Make sure your brushes, etc, are clean and none of your products are past their shelf lives. A salicylic acid cleanser could help, but that's the extent of what I can tell you since I don't quite know what's up with your skin.

Hi Fei, Can I know where you bought LM in Aus? Which departmental store? I can't seems to find any LM counter at Myer. Tata!

- mini spice girl

I'm in the U.S., but I purchased my La Mer at Neiman Marcus. Also available at Saks Fifth Ave. Perhaps an Aussie reader could help out here.

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A few of you bloggers have private blogs, which I love by the way. I'm thinking of doing the same, because this blog is too open. I will seeeeee.

Dreading tomorrow's class. Just one. Three hours. Ugh.

LA MER & My HG D/S Mascara

I'm kind of late to jump on the LA MER train, but I have my suspicions about the efficacy of their products. C'mon, a hefty $130 for one ounce of their moisturizer?

But I've caved. I was able to try their Creme de la Mer, received a sample of their Gel de la Mer, and purchased the SPF 18 Fluid Tint (or Fluide de la Mer if you so wish).

Fluide de la Mer

I've never tried tinted moisturizers. I considered Dior's tint after Nessa's review, but was turned off by the scent, and since LA MER's TM is so popular on MUA (even coveted by scoffers of their Creme de la Mer) I figured I'd take the plunge. I've only tried it once, but I'm very impressed with how it just melts into my skin and blended away imperfections. My face is left glowy, not matte, which worries me since I'm oily-complexioned. It doesn't feel heavy and has SPF, though it's just 18. Unfortunately, their color selection is pretty limited (light, medium, and dark), but it's sheer enough to blend right in. The scent is light and unoffensive. $65 is a lot to drop for a TM (you get 1.7 fl. oz.), but I really didn't want the hassle of hunting for the "perfect" one. Fuzkittie's and Pink's reviews also helped shove me in this direction. I don't buy into bloggers' hauls and reviews anymore, because it's so bad for my wallet and I just end up accumulating a lot of crap. This was an exception. ;)

Gel de la Mer

If there's any wonder why LA MER products cost so much, here's another answer: Pretty packaging for free samples. How cute is that jar? Surprisingly, I really liked this gel. I already knew that Creme de la Mer would be too rich for my oily skin, so I asked for the gel. A little goes a very long way, because it spreads so easily. Absorption is great--my skin just drank this up. The smell is light and citrus-y. Still, it's expensive and I'm not sure if I'm sold on its value just yet.

Funny TMI story: When I made it known to SO that a 2 oz. jar would cost over $200, he eagerly tried it... In an area it wasn't meant for. Why, you ask?

Because it's the most important part.

Creme de la Mer v. Nivea

I don't have pictures of the Creme since I only tried it at the counter, but I do have a tin of Nivea Creme ($2 at my local discount store. Made in Thailand).




Gel de la Mer (left), Nivea Creme (right).

The Nivea Creme is very rich and very greasy looking. Once on the skin on my body, it sinks in and just feels silky--not slime-y, not sticky, and not oily. On my face, it feels like a mask and I probably won't be using it there.

Why is a $2 drugstore moisturizer compared to a $130 department store creme? Both contain the same basic ingredients, though probably in different proportions. It's debatable whether or not the German-made Nivea Creme is any better than the Mexican- or Thai-made versions (it's also made in Poland). Most significantly, the German version is missing two specific preservatives that may have adverse effects on the skin (Methylchloroisothiazolinone and Methylisothiazolinone) and does not contain petrolatum. It's also believed that the German-made version most mimics Creme de la Mer. Or is it the other way around and Creme de la Mer most mimics the German Nivea? Whatever it is, I'm not going to find out. There's no way I'm going to order German Nivea, but anyone else is free to give that a shot. Do I believe it'd be different? I think the only difference the absence of preservatives make will be a shorter shelf life and a slimmer chance of skin irritation. Just to throw something else into the mix: CDLM also contains methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, and petrolatum.

So is Nivea (non-German) exactly the same as Creme de la Mer? No. At first, they seem to be. Both are thick cremes that are hard to spread if you try to smooth it on straight out of the container. The difference shows up when you rub CDLM in your hands to warm it up. This has the effect of emulsifying the creme, making it easier to pat on. Nivea Creme, when I warm it up in my hands, becomes a greasy mess. It doesn't have that liquidfying effect and I'm just lotioning my palms as a result. CDLM also has the benefit of added antioxidant ingredients. Nivea does not. However, this doesn't mean Nivea is no good! Many of its users claim similar results to CDLM. Its smell even closely resembles the smell of LA MER's. If you don't want to pay for the LA MER brand, but still need a good, heavy-duty moisturizer for the winter, Nivea is a terrific choice. It does a damn good job at curing flakey skin. Hey, they've been around for over 100 years; I think they've done something right! You can also purchase sea kelp extract online and mix it into your Nivea. I don't intend to do that, but that's an idea that's floating around online.

Is CDLM CDLCrap? No. It works for many folks, doesn't it? In the end, I think if you have the cash to burn and have tried and really like CDLM, go for it! It's definitely an unecessary luxury, but there's nothing wrong with pampering yourself if you can afford to. Its cost is so much more than most moisturizers on the market, and the money's probably going towards maintenance of those expensive saltwater aquariums in their stores. Personally, CDLM is not for me--it's too rich (for my skin :p).

CDLM is popular for a reason. Max Huber Labs has an incredible marketing machine working for them. Though LA MER has gotten in trouble for advertising unbacked scientific details of their CDLM in the past; the UK Advertising Standards Authority challenged claims made in their leaflets in '02. What the fuck is "Deconstructed Waters" supposed to mean to ME!?!

Sidenote: If you plan on asking for a sample, g'luck. I was helped by a somewhat snooty lady at Neiman's who was suddenly able to find the "last" sample of the gel when I was ready to pay. All this after telling me they're usually unavailable. I can never understand what on earth makes name brand SAs think they're above anyone. They're usually working for less money than what their customers make and sometimes know less than they do, too. Spare me the haughty air, honey, and fetch me what I came here for. *chop chop* Shockingly enough, Chanel personnel have always been VERY nice in my experience, whether I'm browsing, buying, or returning an item. Kudos to them.

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Onto my drugstore hauls from the past two weeks:

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eyeliner


I know this is HG status for quite a lot of you, but for me it's so-so. My oily lids will NOT allow this to stay on, even with a base under and powder over it. If I do use this it has to be very minimally, meaning I cannot draw thick lines for dramatic looks. It's no good for my waterline and stings when it gets in my eye. On the upside, I do like the applicator. The stiff tip gives me a lot of control and by changing the angle I hold the brush I can draw a thin line or a thicker line if I wanted. The black is also VERY black. I won't be tossing it out immediately, but I won't be repurchasing this either.

Revlon 3D Extreme Mascara & Maybelline Full 'n Soft Mascara (both waterproof)






The Revlon brush is weird. Yes, it's supposed to help give your lashes a 3D pop. No, it doesn't work. The formula is also incredibly thick and goopy, almost like you've been using it for a couple of months. It does voluminize, but clumps too much and is harder to work with than I'd like. It also flakes, and when I try to brush them off they SMEAR. Not a repurchase!

Full 'n Soft is officially my HG drugstore mascara. I prefer traditional brushes versus the new fangled rubber ones. This mascara lengthens, volumizes enough for me, and isn't crusty when it dries. My curls last all day and it's pretty easy to remove. Clumps aren't a huge problem and I can swipe a few times without my lashes sticking together. This is definitely something I'd buy again and I'll be looking out for any BOGO offers.

Lately, I'd been having trouble curling my lashes with my Shu curler. My lashes kept curling at a 90 degree angle, I would miss the corners, and it seemed like I was losing lashes. I couldn't believe it! Why is Shu failing me! Turned out, the rubber pad had cracked and I just needed to replace it. Everything's peachy keen now, but a new dilemma: Where can I find replacement pads???

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Q&A

i like that scoop neck dress..but do you wear it with or w.out a bra..i can't let my little lumps be free. haha

- Judy

With a bra, the strap JUST shows at the very bottom of the scoop. That's not a problem for me, especially if I wear a black bra. Without a bra, my ladies are too free, so I always wear it with a bra.

i like yogurtland better than pinkberry. it's self serve and a lot cheaper than overrated pinkberry.

- Ainstein

that yogurt looks just like this place we have here called yoforia...i always get the green tea too!

- Ren

I always get the green tea yogurt from Pinkberry, too. What are your fave toppings?

- Tracy

Pinkberry or not, I love fro-yo. Even better from another place, because they're cheaper! My favorite toppings are the fruits. I always get strawberry, love mango, sometime blackberries (because they look cute), and kiwi. I like seeing COLOR in my cup, so I try to get different colored fruits on a green tea backdrop.

I guess high end brands ARE worth it (: haha

I've never really been interested in Fendi though.. not a fan of the mono, like LV.

- Joey

YES. I'm a huge advocate of "you get what you pay for," especially when it comes to bags. I fall in and out of love with monogram depending upon my mood. The entire reason I fell in love with Fendi was definitely the monogram. What can I say? I love the Fs. Right now, I'm sick of my bag and want something new. lol. Monogram gets a bad rap since it's so overdone and heavily copied. But when I think about how classic something like the LV mono speedy is it's suddenly not so tacky, especially on the arms of women like Audrey Hepburn. It does attract a lot of stares and I always feel women's eyes molesting my bags when I'm out. It's really uncomfortable for me. Time to switch it up!

dude sweet wallet! i love me some new Fendi...in a big Louie like that you need to utilize it woman...like some bread rolls and shavers shovels...take note of vanessa she has a magic bag

as for costumes go to foreplay in LA...

- Pink

I don't know how Vanessa fits all that in her bag. It must be bottomless. If I put anything else in that bag, I'll never be able to find anything! I'm probably going to order my costume online... Gonna be a sailor!

may I suggest that you do more outfit of the day? I love your sense of style!

- Tao

Thank you! I'll try to include more pics of myself. Believe it or not, I'm not much of a pictures kinda person. Despite all the camwhoring I've done!

i've been lurking your blog for awhile now...borderline stalking so i decided to add you to my blog list...hope that's okay.

love your blog!!

- Mama Pham

Thanks! It's okay. I think I've done scarier stalking stuff in the past... Let me know your blog url, so I can return the add. :)

Fundi

I've shopped this entire one+ week. A lot. And this is my favorite purchase so far:

Fendi! Yeah, yeah. I shouldn't be spending money on shit I don't need, but it's okay! I sold one of my LV pieces on Craigslist (a nightmare to deal with) and that paid for a large portion of my new continental wallet.

Striptease for you!






Purr. I spread 'em for you.

I missed out on Vuitton's yellow epi with the yummy purple lining, so this is to make up for that. Zippered, which makes it great for holding a whole lot of crap, and in a continental size so I can also use it as a clutch. I love when I can make things pull double-duty. Violet leather and fabric lining with violet stitching. I actually just started liking purples again. I had a college roommate whose side of the room was everything lavender. I HATE it when people are super matchy with their favorite colors. We're not in kindergarten and doing that totally kills it for me.

What's in my purse now:



I don't use my cosmetics case strictly for cosmetics. I just toss in whatever I don't want floating around my bag aimlessly. Inside are one lipgloss, one lipstick, a tampon, fragrance, sunblock, gum, and oil control sheets.


Mirrored oil sheets case.

I bought this thing for $2.99 at Santa Anita Westfield. If you frequent that mall, it's in the Japanese novelties store by the Just Paws pet shop. Comes with a small pack of sheets already, so it's pretty damn cheap. Refillable with any brand that will fit:





Piece of cake.

And one last haul from Saks. I only ordered this thing online because of the Saks Mystery Money thing. They gave out $20 to $500 gift cards to past customers, so check your inbox if you've shopped with them before!



They don't care about the environment. Seriously, Saks? I appreciate the padded package, but it was just a brow pencil.

I ordered the Clinique Superfine Liner for Brows (just under $13). It's half the price of my HG Lancome and is an automatic pencil.




Slimmer than a normal pencil.

It really is superfine because of this slim pencil. I like really neat brows, so that helps. It's great that it's supa-fine and doesn't require sharpening, and the Soft Brown color is a great replacement for Taupe. Cons: You can't tell when you're about to run out. That's scary, because I don't want to run out with just one brow filled in! It's a lot like Lancome's, but less powdery. I'd repurchase because of the price.

More hauls, but I'm too lazy to take photos and review shit right now. Expect some drugstore makeup reviews next time.

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Thai BBQ in Studio city yesterday and Pinkberry:





Totally overrated, but still very good. I always get green tea (it's also fewer calories than the regular flavor, if you're interested). Always large, because I'm a damn pig.

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Q&A

i never knew w skinny chick liek you could have such curves! lololol you are totally rockin it girl.

- Tiff

I'd SO buy that dress but I don't exactly have the same frame. o_0 LOL. :P You make me want to shop for a cute ass mini dress now... I think I may have to. haha. :P

- Christiana

I have a question though, I was wondering if you do any kind of ab/hip workouts, cuz your abs are like a washboard, and you have perfect hips. Mine has dents...like a 3, I have a waist out, then it goes in at the hips, and then it goes out at my thighs...Any suggestions? Thanks!

-Tao

Oh my hell. I only look curvy because my hips are naturally wide (child-bearing hips says the SO). So no matter how much weight I lose or gain, they're there. Anyway, I seriously think most of AA's dresses would suit most girls' frames. If you have no curves (or think you don't) just try it on for kicks and you'll find that you DO have curves. Seriously, if you think your hills and valleys are too small, you'll be pleasantly surprised. If you're already curvy... FLAUNT IT. Nothing wrong with showing off what your maker gave you.

Oh yea, I really like your photography from the beach bonfire!

- Sugabum

I like those campfire pictures, Fei :] Nice editing :D ...I hear that their sizes aren't very consistent to normal clothing. Do you agree that their sizes run small?

- Chiara

Okay, I can't take credit for those pics. They're the work of SO and his nerdy photog pseudo-hobby. :p And yes, AA sizes tend to run on the tight and small side, depending on what you're looking at (especially the dresses/skirts). Nude or light colors run sheer too. :\

dear fei,
How come people don't go to my blog! It's not fair.

- someone who thinks he's awesome

Because no one loves you. :D

I feel like I must be the only person who hasn't shopped at AA yet...haha. That 2 tone dress interests me, but the only good colour is the one RB already has.

- b|u3

Get it anyway! With the right accessories, you could totally make that dress something new. I wanted the red top, since red's my faaaaave.

Anyhow I have it as well and I also wanted to suggest wearing the dress as top underneath skirts that are high-waisted or fall on the natural waistline. Maybe not skirts of the tight bandage variety, but I've seen it done on skirts that jut out and it's looked fantastic.

- Terrishka

Great suggestion! Now I really want to buy a skirt...

thank you for doing the tag game.. it has spread far and wide since I made it up and it's the last tag game you'll ever do too.. *sniffs wipes a tear* ok sentimentality over.

- Telliecoin

Aw... I couldn't possibly have missed out on yours. What a way to say good-riddancebye to any more tagging.

what's sb?

- Ethereal

It's Santa Barbara, California! Where Michael Jackson's ranch is and where Oprah's mansion also is. She's got cameras all around the perimeter of that place! No, I wasn't trying to sneak in...

Milia & Acne

To answer someone's question, YES I've had a milia bump or few. It's preventable, so you don't have to have them on your face.

First: What is milia?

Unlike whiteheads, milia are protein-filled cysts under your skin and are not the result of uncleanliness. Milia are benign, but unsightly and quite annoying. They are usually found around the cheeks and eyelids, but can also form in other parts of the body, such as the area around your lips and even on genitalia.

Causes of milia are varied. Milia results from your skin's inability to exfoliate naturally, so skin damage from prolonged sun exposure can also make the natural sloughing of dead skin more difficult. Really heavy skincare and cosmetics products that smother your skin also cause milia. And, of course, genetics have a hand in all of this.

If you have milia, there are a couple of ways to get rid of them that I know of: Exfoliation and extraction. Mild milia can be treated with glycolic peels or microdermabrasion, and these are two things you could try at home as well as under the care of an esthetician. These suckers are really stubborn so if your case is severe you might want to go to a professional and have them lanced and "popped." They don't have an opening through which the stuff can escape, so trying to pop it like a pimple can be difficult and painful. Of course, you could try extracting it yourself, because you don't have to be a doctor to get rid of them. Just be sure to sterilize your needle before using it.

If you have milia, you might want to take a look at the products you're using (or not using) on your face. Preventative measures are the best way to avoid milia:

1) Exfoliate! If you don't already do this, I have one question for you: WHY NOT? Regular gentle exfoliation as a part of your skincare routine scrubs away dull dead skin and reveals the glowy new skin underneath. You'll look and feel refreshed, so it's something I would never leave out of my routine. Also, if you already have milia, slowly and gently removing layers of dead skin can possibly resolve the problem altogether.

2) Check your facewash, lotions, sunscreen, creams, makeup and removers, etc. Are they oil-free and non-comedogenic? Simply changing the product you use can help reduce the ocurrence of milia. Switch out your lip products if you keep getting milia around your mouth. Try to use less hair product.

3) Protect your skin from the sun. Use sunblock always and switch from chemical to physical blockers that contain titanium or zinc oxides if you think that's one product that is wreaking havoc on your skin.

4) Exfoliate. I can't repeat it enough.

Do I hear an echo in here? A lot of these tips are exactly what you should be doing to take care of your skin anyway, so unless you're just genetically prone to producing milia there's no excuse. This is just information that's already out there, but I've regurgitated it all in one entry. Feel free to add on if I'm missing anything, because I slapped this together a little haphazardly.

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Acne

Some time during my teen years, I was prescribed Differin acne medication. I was excited to use it, because I thought it would be the answer to my nightmare. I actually used it for a few days and then abruptly stopped for the same reason I had initially stopped using Retin-A. You will experience a purging period, which makes a girl feel really ugly, and understandably so. Your skin will get worse before it gets better. It didn't dawn on me to keep at it, because I thought it was just making my acne worse. Eventually, I ended up getting back on Retin-A and kept up with it. What's the lesson? Don't give up on something too quickly. It should take about two weeks for you to see fully the results of using a new face product. I think it took my doctor so long to prescribe me Retin-A, because my acne was fairly mild and I probably just didn't know how to care for my skin.

Because of the similar way in which both medications work by increasing cell turnover, I'll just share my experience with Retin-A. Absolutely nothing over the counter worked on my skin to tame the zits. I had tried various face washes and creams, even a prescription benzoyl peroxide face wash that caused my skin to become inflamed and itchy. I never tried Proactiv, even though I desperately wanted to.

Retin-A was the only thing that kept my acne in check. Some positives were that it kept my skin consistently clear. I didn't go through too many cycles between breaking out and smooth skin. My skin felt smoother than it had felt for so long. One huge negative was the dry, peeling skin I would get. Because your skin is rapidly turning over, you're going to have more dead skin than your body is able to naturally exfoliate. So I had to learn the importance of exfoliation. Those two combined equals skin as soft as a baby's bottom!

If you're using something like Differin or Retin-A, you have to be sure you use sunscreen. You should also avoid applying it in the corners of your nose, because when that area gets really dry it hurts like a motha. Exfoliate regularly, and you should anyway.

I don't use Retin-A anymore, though I still have a tube of it left. Sometimes I might use it to spot treat a stubborn pimple, which speeds up the process so that I don't have to live with it as long. I do end up getting a little dry patch of skin afterwards. I find that pearl creams work similarly, but gentler and much much cheaper, too.

Another thing that has acne-clearing side effects is BIRTH CONTROL. Unfortunately, I never experienced that with any type of hormonal birth control method I have tried. But many girls do see those side effects, so it varies. The best thing about being on BC for me is regular periods, but that's a different topic altogether.

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All this talk about skincare has me lemming a Clarisonic brush. It's just $169 tax-free and free shipping on Amazon for the pink 3-speed Pro one, $10 of which goes to breast cancer research (big whoop, but I have a soft spot for the Susan G. Komen foundation). I haven't been big on makeup lately, so why not waste money indulge myself in a giant Sonicare toothbrush for my skin. I figure, Oprah loves it so it must be good! I'm THIS close to checking out, but I'm not even sure if it'll live up to the hype. If only it'd triple as a neck massager.

To anyone who uses Clarisonic:

Do YOU love it? Could you live without it?
Do you use it everyday? Are you supposed to?
Does this live up to its promises of smaller pores and fewer blackheads?
Is it worth the price tag???

Labor Day weekend

I have been fairly M.I.A. lately. Am feeling incredibly apathetic towards this blogging business; I can't even bring myself to produce mind vomit to fulfill my daily entries. Sorry, gals. Out of the deepest of compassions, I've prevented myself from subjecting you all to yet another stupid entry a la "Look What I Bought!" So posts will be more sporadic. I think this will last, oh... Until I'm back in school and need a vehicle through which I'll procrastinate.

I spent my Labor Day Saturday with my family, then with some friends for a BBQ that evening.

I swear, fobs can't do American BBQ justice (Oh, stop. Don't pretend to be offended by FOB). No offence to anyone who takes offence, but it's true. Feel free to prove me wrong... My gut will happily partake in a tasting.

Speaking on food, I found Bourdain's blog entry on Food Network Celebrichefs. I could keel over from laughter. I HATE that Sandra Lee character. How her Semi-cooking is worthy of its own Food Network show is beyond me. And Giada's cleavage! Well, that's probaby the only reason FN gave her a second show--such that they can be viewed in all their glory. But she has one on Sandra... The girl can cook food I'd actually eat; none of that processed stuff-in-a-can shit.

But I digress. My BBQ weekend was quite fun, albeit a little more fobby than I'd prefer. I spent the entire evening hanging out with the guys and with SO at my side. Slung back a couple of beers and some hard liquor, and passed my pack of Pianissimo Pêche ciggies around. I can't believe summer's over!



Cherry Wheat Sam Adams. This was actually pretty yummy. Surprising. I'm not much of a beer gal, but if I were to choose I'd lean towards Hefeweizen.

Any life altering lessons learned this holiday? Why, yes. Mixing liquors equals the onset of an early hangover. For me, that old wives tale rung true that night. As if I didn't already know! But I'm a glutton for punishment.

My parents are leaving for China this weekend, and plans are already under way for my last couple of weeks before school starts. Beach outings are a no-brainer and perhaps I'll finally attain that perfect tan. Because winners are tan (kudos if you get my Cho Show reference).

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Token EOTD:





Nothing extraordinary. Nothing amazing. Another soft, purple-y, wearable look for ya. My face has filled in! OMGAH. I hate it. I don't care what anyone says, you can never be too skinny.

I was actually contemplating making a spoken video for this entry, but while I was filming I had NO IDEA what to talk about. Youtube is completely saturated with makeup and hair tutorials, so I have nothing new to contribute in that area anyway. Video reviews are not my thang either--I don't enjoy watching them, so I won't submit you to that torture. At least you know I tried.

And if there was any question about the dazzle-ness of MAC Dazzleglass, here's a picture with flash of Rags to Riches on my lips:



Them bright white spots are flecks of glitter reflecting the flash. Nice! Dazzleglass is definitely dazzling.

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I bought a tube of Carmex Original chapstick the other day (haha, mind vomit!). I DO NOT remember it being mentholated the last time I used this (and a pretty strong tingle at that), nor did it smell like something an elderly woman would have in her handbag--it's so HERB-Y. But it's been a while. Perhaps what I had used was a completely different product altogether. Eh, I'll get used to this I suppose, but I swear I'm not buying another tube!

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Ling of MukoMuko has been sweet enough to offer my readers a 10% discount by mentioning my name ("Fei") in the "Additional Comments" section of the order form. Go forth and empty your wallets! You don't really need a reason to, do you?