Sephora Beauty Insider: Birthday Gift :)

Hey, guys!

I hope you are all having a great weekend!

I celebrated my 21st birthday last July 4th, and even though I'm not a little girl anymore, I still get excited for my birthday every year, haha. ;)

One thing I look forward to every year is getting my Sephora Beauty Insider birthday gift!

Yayyyy!!!

I got a Philosophy Vanilla Birthday Cake shampoo, shower gel, and bubble bath. :)

It smells amazing - I love it!

I've only used it as a shower gel, but I think I'll try using it as a shampoo too.

It leaves my skin feeling soft and smooth. A little goes a long way - it lathers up really well. It's a really good shower gel, so I'm pretty sure it will be amazing as a shampoo and bubble bath too.

I will definitely buy this when I am finished with the one I have. :)

I also got some extra goodies: BareMinerals samples!

The salesperson who helped me was so nice -- she gave me these samples as an extra birthday gift! :)

Here are the contents of the sample package:

BareMinerals Purely Nourishing Moisturizer, a cute and tiny BareMinerals brush, BareMinerals Original SPF 15 Foundation in Medium Beige (N20), and BareMinerals Mineral Veil.

I love Sephora!

Are you a Sephora Beauty Insider? Did you get your birthday gift for the year yet? Have you tried any of the products above?

P.S. You may have noticed -- I changed my blog design! I am loving the new look because it's so me, haha. I hope you guys like it too! :)

Book of the Week: Spellbound

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death? Indeed. This is the quandry that faces teenager Emma Conner as she starts over at a posh NYC boarding school. Emma's had a hard time of it and moving in with her wealthy aunt seems like a fresh start, even if she finds herself having to navigate the jungle that is Vincent Academy.

Emma seems on track for starting over until she lays eyes on Brendan Salinger, a wonderfully written teen heartthrob hero in my opinion. Brendan is dark, noble, mysterious, and, well, plain hot. Not surprisingly Emma finds she can't resist him, perhaps a bit more surprising is the fact that Brendan seems interested in Emma. At first. Then he starts running hot and cold--the forte of teen boys everywhere.

While all this normal teen stuff is going on Emma is also dealing with other troubling events--like weird dreams and street lamps exploding above her head. These supernatural events and a mysterious locket eventually send Emma and her friend Angelique on a search for their truth, one that directly impacts Emma's would-be relationship with Brendan.

Sure, Spellbound's subject matter isn't exactly new. Past lives, fated lovers, we've seen it all before, but Cara Lynn Shultz's writing was snappy and entertaining. Plus I found both Emma and Brendan rather enjoyable. A nice, light read if you like a little bit of supernatural (no vampires or werewolves, mind you) in your romance.

Beauty Watch: A Golden Glow + Jergens Natural Glow Review

Happy First Day of August!!!

I can't believe summer is almost over. For some, school will start in a couple of weeks and for others, it may have already started. :/

But despite our summer almost coming to a close, we still have a lot of time to hit the beach (or the pool), read new books and magazines, do absolutely nothing, sleep in 'til 12... basically do whatever you want to do. ;)

For a lot of people, summer means being tan, right? I love being tan, but I've never tried going to tanning salons (and I'm not sure if I ever will), and I also don't like staying under the sun for too long. Luckily, there are ways to get a "healthy-looking tan without the sun". :)

I achieve my tan by swimming and using tanning lotion. I haven't been working too much on maintaining it though, mainly because I have to go out there and try some other brands.

Here are some products People recommend:

1. For Instant Tint: St. Tropez Wash Off Dark Instant Glow Body Lotion, $18

2. Gradual Color: L'Oreal Paris Sublime Bronze Clear Self-Tanning Gel, $10.49

3. Bronzing Blush: Estee Lauder Limited Edition Bronze Goddess Sea Star Bronzing Blush, $34

4. Face&Body Wipes: Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Glow Pad Anti-Aging Exfoliating Self-Tanner with Active Vitamin D, $34 for 20 towelettes

Have you used any of these tanning products? Which of these do you recommend?

The tanning lotion I use is Jergens Natural Glow:

I like this lotion because it helps me keep my tan all-year round. At first, the smell is a bit off, but I got used to it, and it will definitely grow on you.

The thing that I dreaded about using this is waiting for it to dry - it takes quite some time. And I always used to bend my arms, so there was this huge white patch on my arm (the other side of my elbow... is that what it's called?). Yup, not good. And you have to make sure that you always wash your hands after!

I also use their face tanning moisturizer. It works the same way as the body lotion.

I don't really know the actual price, but I'm pretty sure it has to be under $10.

All in all: This is a good tanning lotion to start with. Very affordable, and easy to use. Once you get the hang of this lotion, you can probably move on to another brand if you wish.

Oh, and I think they repackaged this line, so they probably don't look like those photos above anymore, haha. I just picked those photos because that's the packaging I had. ;)

Have you used Jergens Natural Glow tanning lotion? What did you think of it? Any brands not mentioned here that you can recommend?

Have a fabulous first week of August, everyone! :D

***images from Google***

Review: HANA Air Premiere Hair Dryer

Happy Weekend! :D

It's really here... the last weekend of July!

I still can't quite believe that it's already August next week, it's just really crazy. :O

Anyway, I'm pretty sure you've all heard of Misikko and their fab hair irons before. I had the chance to use the awesome HANA Air Premiere Hair Dryer, and now it's time for me to share what I thought of it with you guys. :)

Before that though, I invite you to check out www.misikko.com - if you are a fan of all things hair-related, then that is the website for you! They have everything from croc irons to salon blow dryers. The quality of their products is amazing, and from my own experience and from what I've heard, they are totally worth the price.

the package from Misikko!!!

Brian from Misikko contacted me and offered me this fabulous hair dryer to review. :)

The shipping is incredibly fast - I instantly got a tracking number, and the package arrived right on schedule.

The first thing that popped into my mind was, "Oh my, this is a huge box for a hair dryer!". I didn't know it had all these goodies included!

Paul Mitchell Extra-Body Daily Shampoo and Conditioner

(with scented roses, both placed inside a tin container)

pamphlet, a rose, a toy monkey, sleep mask, heat proof pouch, ionic hair brush, and two little bags (inside are hand sanitizers and nail files)

HANA Shine Shield Thermal Protectant

I think I'll be doing separate reviews for the thermal protectant, shampoo, and conditioner. :)

HANA Air Premiere Hair Dryer

Italian Design- Sleek design and Unparalleled Performance dries over 60% faster than other salon dryers

Ceramic Tourmaline- Negative Ions protect and seal in moisture + ActiveION technology increases ionic effect

Low EMF- Low emission of EMFs equates to decreased damage to hair

Most Powerful Motor- Motor Design Generates an Equivalent to 2300 Watts of Power

Ergonomic and Balanced- Handle reduces hand fatigue and dryer is gyroscopically balanced

Overall Best Hair Dryer- Highest rated for performance and quality

Adjustable heat: 2 fan speeds, 3 heat settings, and a cold shot

Ceramic Heater: most advanced far infrared ionic heat

Cord: 12'' extra long, ALCI safety plug

Environmentally safe

2 years warranty

Price: $314.99, but it is on sale for $194.99!

I was truly impressed with this hair dryer - I guess it really does live up to its title: "Best Selling Top Rated Hair Dryer".

And I mean, come on, just look at it -- it looks sooooo sleek and professional, right?

Holding it and using it, I can totally feel its super high quality. It is a bit heavy, but I don't mind. It's very quiet, and dries my hair in no time. I have thin hair, so that might be a factor, but I've read reviews saying that it dries thick hair in 15 minutes!

It dries my hair, but doesn't dry it to the point that it's almost fried (I hope that made sense...). Plus, the cold setting really helps a lot.

I really don't have any major complaints as it is really the best hair dryer I've tried thus far.

Okay, let me think... I had a bit of a hard time attaching the concentrator nozzle at first, but then again maybe that's just me, haha! There are instructions though, so do make sure to read those. Another thing is, it's so beautiful, I hate to just leave it lying in a drawer in the bathroom... I always want to put it back in its box. ;)

All in all: I think it's a really good hair dryer, and if drying your hair is an integral part of your routine, I suggest you get the HANA Air Premiere Hair Dryer - you won't be disappointed!

Thanks to Brian from Misikko for the opportunity to try this fabulous hair dryer!

And special thanks to my sister for helping me out with my photos! :D

Have you tried the HANA Air Premiere Hair Dryer before? What did you think of it? Is it something you might want to try?

What brand and model is your current hair dryer? How is it working for you?

I hope all of you are having a fabulous weekend! :D

Current Lip Gloss: Smashbox in Candid

Hey, guys! :)

I hope you all had a good start to the last week of July...

THE LAST WEEK OF JULY! Can you believe that?! :O

Anyway, I may have mentioned before that I have this thing where I only use one certain lip gloss at a time... do you do that too?

My current lip gloss is Smashbox in Candid:

Drench your lips in luminous color and shine with LIP ENHANCING GLOSS. This ultra-moisturizing gloss keeps lips soft, smooth, and naturally plumped for hours. Now in 3 advanced color formulas for a range of dazzling looks. Enhance your lips like never before. Winner of Allure Magazine's Editor's Choice Award for Best Lip Gloss.

Here is a swatch:

The color is pink with some gold shimmer -- I love it!

I use this lip gloss by itself, or sometimes over lipstick.

It really does enhance my lips and leaves it smooth and soft, as the description says.

It's long-lasting and the colors they have are gorgeous!

Price: $18

Smashbox divides their lip enhancing glosses into three categories: Sheer, True Color, and Full Color.

SHEER COLOR - Full of shine polymers with a hint of glistening color for gorgeous reflective shine. Brush wand flawlessly coats lips.

Candid

Baby Pout

Illume

Scoop

Pop

Pulse

Afterglow

Radiant

Tease

TRUE COLOR - Vitamin E and sunflower seed oil nourish with a touch of creamy color and soft radiant shine. Velour wand perfectly contours lips.

Pout

Pixel

Fame

Electric

FULL COLOR - Saturate lips with high-impact color and brilliant, three-dimensional pearlescent shine that lasts for hours. Vitamin E nourishes and protects, keeping lips moisturized and conditioned. Velour wand ensures color precision and control.

Aura

35mm

Starlit

Sultry

According to www.smashbox.com, the True Color and Full Color glosses can be used in place of lipstick for long-lasting color and luminosity.

Aren't the colors so beautiful? I can't even pick which of these I want to buy next! ;)

Have you tried Smashbox Lip Enhancing Lip Gloss? What did you think of it?

Which of these colors did you like the best?

I wish all of you a wonderful week ahead! :D

Harry Potter... IT ALL ENDS. Give me more Kleenex!

Happy Friday!

So yup, after months of waiting, the day has finally come... it truly is the end of an era. *Sigh*

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 has already earned $126 million -- it hasn't even been in theatres for a full 24 hours... simply phenomenal. Okay, I should warn you guys, I'm probably gonna be gushing about Harry Potter for the remainder of this post. ;)

All the actors in this movie did a brilliant job (well, maybe Bonnie Wright could've done a better job at the bridge scene and the "19 years later" scene, but it's okay, I still loved the movie!).

Daniel Radcliffe did an amazing job. I am convinced that he is really Harry Potter, I mean who else would Harry Potter be besides Daniel Radcliffe, right? Haha, I hope that made sense.

"How dare you stand where he stood. Tell them what happened that night. Tell them how you looked him in the eye. A man who trusted you, and killed him!"

Rupert Grint... he's always been my favorite!!!

He can make you laugh and cry at the same time.

Emma Watson... the girl can do no wrong. One of her scenes made me tear up... I'm not gonna say which one though. ;)

And of course, the Ron and Hermione kiss! Some people say it wasn't good enough, but hey, we waited ten long years for that, so I am not complaining... now if only Rupert and Emma can be a real-life couple, haha. ;)

Matthew Lewis - I know the web has been all abuzz with how dashing our dear Neville Longbottom is in real life... come on, have you seen his recent red carpet photos?

I love how Neville shined in his own way in this movie. Yay, Neville! :D

Voldie, Voldie, Voldie... greatest villain of all time! Ralph Fiennes, you are amazing!

Snaaaaaape, I always knew you were good!

The flashbacks that explained Snape's background were a bit hurried, and it's probably confusing to those who haven't read the book, but I think they did it the best way they could. Alan Rickman is absolutely brilliant, I wonder why he's never been nominated for an Oscar...

Professor McGonagall!!! I love her.

"Potter, it's good to see you."

Fred and George -- my favorite twins ever!

Tom Felton... I love how well he portrayed Draco - Tom can make you hate him in one scene, and pity him in another.

Not gonna lie, it's not the same without Crabbe...

(No offense to the new guy, though... he was a good replacement.)

Our favorite witch and wizards. :)

I really hope they have more movies to come after Harry Potter. These three can totally be the next Colin Firth and Hugh Grant and Kate Winslet. ;)

Ten years, wow, ten years... what am I supposed to do now? No more Harry Potter books or movies to look forward to. :(

I was only 11 years old when this started, I honestly feel like I grew up with them... well, I did in a way. :)

Anyway, the movie... It's the kind of movie that will make you feel excited, make you cheer, make you laugh and cry, make you feel nostalgic, make you sad, make you feel happy -- it will probably evoke every kind of emotion there is. It was fast-paced, action-packed, and you can tell everyone involved in it did their best to give us the best ending possible - an ending that gives justice to this epic saga. I wish they added more dialogue to the "19 years later" though, but I understand it's a long book - and despite that, I still think they did an amazing amazing job with the movie. It's a beautiful ending to a beautiful story. And yet I still can't believe it's over!!!

Excuse me while I get some more Kleenex...

Do you need to dry your tears too? Well then, let's watch this funny video! :)

Robert Pattinson -- American? Whaaat?! Haha.

I think it will be easy for Tom Felton to get American roles, how excellent is his American accent? Rupert's expression when he asked if the Chips Ahoy were really chewy is priceless!

Have you seen Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2? Thoughts? (without spoiling anything though, haha) ;)

***images from Google, video from Youtube***

*P.S. My Perricone giveaway is open until July 23rd! :D*