Review: L'Oreal Paris Waterproof Telescopic Explosion in blackest black

I recently bought this mascara because my friend was telling me how it resembles the Givenchy's Phenomen'Eyes mascara.  There are two versions - the waterproof and non-waterproof - and this is the waterproof one.
The packaging claims that this mascara can extend and separate your eyelashes to create fanned-out lashes.  It's clump-free, flake-free, smudge-resistant, all-day waterproof wear, can be removed easily with waterproof eye makeup remover and suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

On the first application, it does effectively separate my lashes but with a few more coats, my lashes started to clump.  I would then use a brow comb to separate them.  The mascara didn't flake or smudge throughout the day.  When I removed the mascara, I tried removing it with Lancome's Bifacil eye makeup remover and it came out easily with no residues left behind.
I do like the look of this mascara it creates.  I can go off without wearing eyeliner when I apply this.
However, it is time-consuming when using this wand.  The traditional mascara wand will coat more lashes with one stroke but this mascara wand covers much less area per stroke.

Product: L'Oreal Paris Telescopic Explosion Waterproof in Blackest Black
Rating: 4 / 5

Pros:
- Separates and fans out lashes
- Gives volume and length
- Gets to each lash but require patience as the applicator doesn't have a huge surface area to cover lashes in one swipe

Cons:
- Can clump lashes
- Not the kind of mascara to use when you're in a hurry

Body Shop and Rexall 50% off Mascara Haul

I picked up some body butters from The Body Shop.  Each body butter cost $20 but they had a sale promotion going on, where if you buy 2 items, your 3rd item will cost you $0.76.  So in the end, they'd cost me $15.35 each, tax included.  I picked up Buriti Baby, Love ETC and Cranberry Joy.  I'm thinking about exchanging the Cranberry Joy for the Cocoa Butter.  I picked up the Cranberry Joy because it smelt nicer, but I forgot that I needed the Cocoa Butter one to help reduce stretch marks.  The SA offered me to try some samples and I chose Tea Tree Facial Wash, Seaweed SPF Moisture Lotion and Seaweed Pore Exfoliator.  She also gave me a $5 off a $25 purchase coupon.
  

Then at Rexall, I bought:

The L'Oreal Waterproof Telescopic Explosion in Blackest Black for $6.49.  I bought this for its resemblance to the Givenchy Phenomen'Eyes mascara.
I also chose the Cover Girl Lash Blash Volume in 805 Black for $4.99.  I bought this for its volumizing feature.

Buffalo Trip and Haul

My brother and I headed to Buffalo early in the morning, hoping to avoid traffic at the border.  But like always, there were tons of Canadians heading south to go shopping since CAD was near par with USD. 
We headed to Niagara Fashion Outlet first and here's what I bought:
From Levi's
I bought a spring or fall jacket.  I had to strip the manikin, or the display, for this jacket.  I spent $75.59 USD on it.

Then we drove to a Walgreens that's on our way to Walden Galleria where I bought a buy-one-get-one-free Borghese nail polish.  This was definitely a great deal because it cost me $4.99 + tax.

Finally, we stopped at Walden Galleria.  I was mainly shopping for clothes there.  I L-O-V-E the Forever21 there.  It's 2 floors and way bigger AND better than the F21 on Yonge St or the one in Fairview Mall.  I haven't had the chance to walk into the one in Vaughan Mills mall but I did hear the one at Vaughan is better.  Anyways, I bought a sweater cardigan for $14.50 and a pair of denim jeggings for $11.50.

I walked into Macy's, with the intention of purchasing a MAC brush.  And I ended up purchasing a MAC 239.

Keeping Your Skin From Breaking Out

This past summer I went to a friend's cottage to hang out.  One of my friends asked me what do I do to keep my skin so clear and acne-free.  And honestly, there is no remedy or secret.  As a matter of fact, I used to not understand why some of my friends constantly break out.  Being a Science student, I learned that genes play a role - well it seems that whenever there are things that we think are unexplainable, we say it is our genes.
My dad had a phase during his teen years where he broke out and now, he has a few acne scars here and there.  My brother also had an acne problem when he was a teen.  But surprisingly, his acne didn't leave him with scars.  However, he changed his eating habits.  He drank a lot more water, ate more veggies, less meat and lot of fruits.  Mind you, he doesn't apply face cream either, so with such a lifestyle change, the results are amazing.

Personally, I don't drink that much water but I'm trying to get into that habit.  I used to drink lots of milk, but now, not so much.  =\  I've always loved fruits.  I think it's the sweetness from the fruits that makes me love it so much.  Especially fresh blueberries that still have that blueberry scent in them - I'm saying this because some blueberries that are no longer fresh, don't have a taste to them at all.  And keep in mind, blueberries are high in anti-oxidants. *yummm*  The anti-oxidants that fights off free radicals, and free radicals are substances that makes us age.
As a matter of fact, if I don't eat fruits for one day, I feel weird.

Watching what you eating and making it a habit is really the best remedy for your skin.  You can buy crazy expensive beauty products and use them everyday but it won't help much if you don't change your eating habits which fixes you from the inside.  But don't get me wrong, you need to moisturize your face to keep your skin from flaking and drying up.  But what you put into your stomach will get absorbed and revealed onto your skin, your hair and your body.  For example, drinking enough milk helps maintain healthy, strong nails and hair.

Rexall Deal: 50% off Mascaras

Rexall is having a 50% off mascaras promo and I'm fighting myself from going! I've still got tons of mascaras to finish and I'd hate to see them go to waste!

Ramble About Two-Hour Stay at the Fairview Mall

Today I walked into an Aritzia store with my mom to find something I can spend my $50 gift card on.  But I couldn't find anything I want! I found their apparel were either over-priced or average quality! I own a TNA bag, Winfred skirt, TNA leggings, and a pair of TNA sweatpants that I've not worn more than 10 times.
I prefer to shop at Zara now - better, nicer and classier clothes, and definitely worth it!  And once in a while, if Forever 21 wasn't that messy, I'd shop there as well.
I never understood the hype about Bench clothes.  The enormous logo they have on their clothes make you look like a walking advertisement for them, meanwhile you paid a hefty amount for it.  A few years ago, I followed my friend in this hype for Bench and owned 2-in-1 top and a hoodie sweater.  But I've definitely not worn those tops enough for the discount price I paid.

Shopping for trendy, moderately priced and good quality clothes is just so hard!

Lisa's Cosmetics Sale Coming Up

Lisa's Cosmetics sale is finally coming up.  It's starting on Nov 20 and guess where I'll be that day?!? =D
I'm going to have to stock up on some Smashbox Photofinish Oil-Free primer.  And I'm considering on getting perfume.  I'm deciding between two of the Juicy Couture fragrances - either Viva La Juicy or Couture Couture.  Hopefully, I won't be overspending this time =S .

Makeup Look #5: Lookin Blue

So I decided to do a blues look.  Even though I own blue shadows, I've never stepped out of my house wearing it.  I find it's hard for me to pull off.  It's just easier for me to collect. =)  Anyways, I thought I should play around with the Bell-Bottom Blue OJ pigment I bought from the MAC sale.  So here it is:

I've applied moisturizer, sunscreened and primed my face.  Applied concealer and primed my eyelids with MAC's Painterly Paint Pot.

Then I took a light, shimmery blue colour and pat it on my inner one-third of my eye lid.

I took a slightly darker shimmery blue colour and pat it on the two-third (middle) part of my eye lid.

I took an even darker shimmery blue colour and pat it on the outer V of my eye, creating depth and dimension.

Using my MAC Bell-Bottom Blue OJ pigment, I lightly dabbed some pigment into the outer one-third of my eye.

Taking an eye smudger brush, I picked up some more Painterly paint pot and lined my lower lash line with it, creating a base for the darker shimmery blue colour.  Then I applied the colour.  I didn't apply an obviously alot of colour on my lower lash line because it tends to give me that "raccoon-y" look - which isn't so flattering. =\

I blended out any harsh lines.  And with every eye makeup look, you can not forget out the eyeliner.  I took an angle brush and picked up some black eyeliner, creating a winged cat eye.

And to finish up with the eye, I curled my lashes and put on some mascara.

And to finish the makeup look, I applied MAC Honeylove l/s since I have a lot of dramatic look going on at the eye, I don't want to draw the attention away from that.

The lighting washes out the colour pigments of my eyeshadow =( . And my camera isn't picking up a lot.

Venomous Villains Mini Haul

It told myself I can not spend any more money on makeup until I finish what I have now, but it's like I'm addicted to it! I ended up stopping by The Bay to check out the Venomous Villains collection.  I picked up Oh So Fair beauty powder and Heartless l/s but ended up returning Oh So Fair, thinking it won't show up on my skintone.  I never knew makeup can be returned if it doesn't satisfy you.  Anyways, I ended up switching Oh So Fair for Briar Rose since Bite of an Apple was sold out.  I really wanted to see what the BoaA colour would look on my skintone - probably hard for me to pull off - but they didn't have the tester at the counter.

Anyways, as I was returning Oh So Fair, the MA (who is super nice - I'm surprised because I don't meet a lot of nice MAC MAs) sanitized the tester Oh So Fair for me to try on, and it actually looked natural on me.  The colour gives a natural look and if I wanted the colour to really show, I'd have to build on it but I like how subtle the colour was.  But oh well.  What's done is done.

If I do plan on getting Oh So Fair again, I'll probably get it when I go to Buffalo (in the States).  The price difference is so big between Canada and USA that it's shocking.
By the way, MAC has jacked up their prices once again.  I remember MAC lip sticks were $16.50 back in February, but I bought my Heartless l/s for $18.50! And on top of that, we have that 13% HST! Prices in Canada is just crazy on taxes! Actually, crazy is an understatement.

NYX Round Case Lipsticks + Duo Eyelash Glue

I just came back from my local drugstore Rexall, formerly known as Pharma Plus, in Canada, is finally carrying NYX round case lipsticks.  They used to only carry the diamond sparkle lipsticks, which I don't find the formula to be that great compared to the round case lipsticks. 

Also, I spotted Duo eyelash glue for $6.99, much less than the price being sold at MAC stores.  =)