HAIR: Irresistible Me Sapphire 8-in-1 Complete Curling Wand

8 interchangeable attachments and a gazillion ways to style your hair. Such is beauty of the Irresistible Me Sapphire 8-in-1 Complete Curling Wand ($199 with free shipping). Straight-haired gals want curly hair and curly-haired gals want straight hair. As a straight-haired girl, there's nothing quite like a curling wand. 

Irresistible Me is a web store that specializes in clip-in extensions, full lace wigs and hair accessories. There's also two styling tools for sale - a straightening iron and the Sapphire Complete Curling Wand. When offered the option to try anything from the store, I skipped all the wigs (I already have enough hair for 2 and a half people) and went straight to the curling wand. 

LEFT - Loose waves with 32 MM Barrel // RIGHT - Unruly curls with the Pearl Barrel 

What's included in the kit: 

- 8 Barrels - 13mm, Pearl, 13/25mm, 25mm, 32mm, 25/13mm, 19mm, 18/9mm

- Sapphire handle

- Heat-resistant glove

- Black carrying case (not pictured)

- Instructions and safety warnings (be sure to read these before use!!)

- 1 year limited warranty 

The Specs: 

- tourmaline barrels

- negative ions (to eliminate frizz) 

- digital temperature display 

- fast heat up (~1 min) 

- 450F max

- 360 Degree Cord 

In general, the Irresistible Me Sapphire 8 in 1 Complete Curling Wand is super easy to use. To change the barrels you simply stick one into the Sapphire base and turn the lock to secure it. The wand heats up in less than a minute which is AMAZING for rushed mornings.  You literally just twist your hair around the barrel and hold it. 5 seconds = loose curls and 10 seconds = tight curls. I can do my whole head of lioness hair in 15 minutes or less. 

I'm also quite proud of myself because I haven't burned my face or my hands yet *knocks on wood*, which is mostly thanks to the heat-resistant glove and the cool plastic tip on each of the barrels. 

As for the anti-frizz and smooth/shiny hair claims given the negative ion technology, it seems to be working thus far. My hair is oftentimes (especially in the Winter) quite frizzy and use of the Irresistible Me wand has minimized my frizziness quite a bit. 

Overall, an awesomely versatile hair tool. I don't own very many hair tools (my first curling iron was a hand-me-down) and I suspect that $199 is a little pricey for most. But divide it by 8 and you've got 8 different curling wands for $25 each. 

 Do you use a curl your hair with a curling wand? 

PS: It can't be just me. I asked my friends, boyfriend, and a few other bloggers what they thought of the second photo (barrel attachments) and it appears that people think "sex toy" before "curling wand"... awks. 

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The Glitter Accent Nail

IMO, accent nails are the easiest way to add glitter without going overboard. I love wearing all glitter everything everywhere but it's  not the most business professional. So, I stick with a neutral on 8 of my fingers and wear glitter on my two ring fingers - so I only seem 1/5 as glitter crazy. 

If I'm only going to wear two nails of glitter, it needs to be really glittery. Wet N Wild's Sparkled is perfect for this...two coats and I get a full-fledged disco ball pink nail. 

Products Used: Essie First Base, The Body Shop Nail Polish in Frosting Fancy*, Wet N Wild Wild Shine Nail Color in Sparkled*, Revlon Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat*

How do you wear glitter? 

Press samples denoted with an asterisk (*). 

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If I had violet eyes...

I appreciate the way my eyes look naturally, but wouldn't it be fun to have VIOLET eyes? That's where coloured contacts come in. They're kind of like makeup - non-permanent but can alter your appearance drastically. Shown here are Pastel Noodles Neo Vision Madonna Violet prescription lenses ($15.70). Pastel Noodles sells a wide range of coloured contacts and circle lenses with or without prescriptions out of South Korea. Buyer beware, these are not approved by the USFDA but the KFDA. 

The contact lenses came in a small box with two vials - one for each eye. Unfortunately, there was no case to store the lenses, so I had to use my own. A word of warning, make sure to read the instructions before using contact lenses. You need to rinse off the provided solution with your own contact lens solution and let them sit for 6+ hours (you can't put them directly into your eyes!!). 

The lenses are a bit stark on the outer edges, so they're more obvious than natural-looking. the circumference is slightly larger than my own pupils, so the lenses make my eyes appear much larger. The lenses feel like my regular contacts. Thin, light and comfortable for 6-7 hours, when my eyes start to dry out. 

TBH - I look superbly Asian with coloured contacts on or like some sort of dolly anime character (it's a bit scary actually...). Not the look I'd go for on the daily, but something fun to play around with.  Makeup for purple eyes, anyone? 

Have you ever tried coloured contacts? 

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Mary Kay Eyeliners in Black, Deep Brown & Steely

I love a good eyeliner and I'll be straight up and say that Mary Kay's best selling Eyeliner ($16) is pretty darn good. 

 Mary Kay Eyeliners in Black, Deep Brown and Steely 

Mary Kay Eyeliners in Deep Brown, Steely and Black

The liner is thin and kinda cute. There's even a little detachable sharpener inside the lid. As for the liner itself, the claims are (1) rich colour (2) 8+ hour wear (3) intense shades (4) fragrance-free and suitable for contact lens wearers and sensitive eyes. All true. Other than that, the liners are creamy, blendable, and set quickly. It's totally smudge-proof, water-proof - good if you like to watch sad Korean dramas and the like. 

Not much to say other than the fact that I'm impressed. It's a little pricey compared to eyeliners at the drugstore but it's worth it for a mid-priced eyeliner. 

Have you tried the Mary Kay Eyeliners? 

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Lancome Hypnose Custom Volume Mascara

Iconic high-end mascaras always pique my interest. What makes a 3-month-lifetime product worth $30+? That's $10/month, nearly half my phone bill! I won the Lancome Hypnose Custom Volume Mascara ($31.50) from a giveaway run by Stephanie of theFantasia. 

The wand is pretty standard - straight, with natural bristles. Per the Sephora website, the claims of the Lancome Hypnose Custome Volume Mascara are simple. Buildable volume withought smearing, smudging or clumping. 

attractively curved mascara tube 

Does it lengthen? Yes. Does it volumize? Definitely. Does it clump? Slightly. Does it smudge? Unfortunately, yes...after 3 hours. Does it droop? No. 

Indeed the Lancome Hypnose Custom Volume Mascara delivers on it's volumizing claims. One coat for an everyday natural look. Above, I've built up three coats for a more dramatic lash. The downfall of this mascara is in it's smudging. The chemistry of the formula just doesn't work with my skin (or something...). Within 3 hours, the mascara smudges along my lower lashline, racoon style, and it isn't pretty. For the time being, I'll be sticking with my $7 HG drugstore option. 

Do you prefer high end or drugstore mascaras? 

Featured item won in giveaway, as mentioned above! 

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Hard Candy Fierce Effects Lip Gloss in 972 Plum Diva & 967 Skyfall // Spring 2015

HURAH! Blue and purple lip glosses are now available at drugstore prices! I can finally get my fierce on.  Recently launched are the Hard Candy Fierce Effects Argan Oil Lip Glosses ($4.98, exclusively at Walmart). Available in 8 intense shades and 4 sheer shades, the Fierce Effects Lip Glosses are quite a daring pop of colour. 

Pictured above are 972 Plum Diva and 967 Skyfall, both intense shades. In addition to the dark plum and baby blue, there's an orange, black and red that are both unique and eye-catching. Even if crazy colour isn't your thing there's also 962 Nude Plunge and 963 Make Blush. 

Both colours require a couple coats over the lips for full opacity. The glosses are enriched with citrus and argan oils, making the product hydrating and a bit slippy/sticky. Both colours will easily get on your teeth, so be careful! Lasting power is so-so at 2-3 hours. Plum Diva leaves a nice stain after it wears away, while Skyfall fully wears off (all over you're face if you haven't been good at checking in the mirror often).

972 Plum Diva

967 Skyfall

Overall, these Fierce Effects Lip Glosses are very, very cool. While Plum Diva is surprisingly wearable on its own, it would also look amazing under a purple lipstick (maybe Revlon's Matte Balm in Shameless). Skyfall is a stunning colour but can't really be worn alone, as it's a bit patchy and hard to make fully opaque. I would recommend wearing Skyfall over a white or blue lipstick for better application. A few issues with with product formula but a must-have if you want bold colour at drugstore prices. 

Have you ever tried a blue lip gloss? 

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NYC Strip Me Off Base Coat

Glitter polish is a pain to remove. So a peel-off base coat seems like a solid solution, right? A while ago, OPI had released Glitter Off, a Natural Nail Base Coat, which seemed pretty cool but ain't no way am I going to ever pay $9 for something that resembles Elmer's Glue. 

This year, NYC launched it's Strip Me Off Base Coat ($1.99) in Canada. The price is a lot more reasonable. Regardless of price, I wanted to see if the product was a good alternative for the mess that is scrubbing my nail beds until they fall off. I only have one want - I want my polish to come off as soon as I will it so but no sooner than that. 

Indeed, the NYC Strip me Off Base Coat looks, smells and feels exactly like glitter glue (I have zero doubt that it isn't). To use it... 

1. Apply one thin layer of the base coat to your natural nails

2. Let it dry. You'll know it's done when it becomes clear (~3 mins)

3. Paint your polish over top of the base coat

4. To remove your polish, scratch it off at the base with an orange stick or your finger nails

I'm happy with this discovery! It works exactly as I wanted it to. Furthermore, the polish on top lasted as long as polish on top usually does (2-4 days depending on the brand). This makes removal ultra-quick and simple. No damages to the nail underneath and absolutely no acetone and 5,000 cotton pads necessary. 

If you hate removing glitter polish (or just polish in general) then is a definite must for you to try! 

Have you tried a peel-off base coat? 

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EVENT: Estee Lauder Spring/Summer 2015 Preview

Last Thursday, I spent a little time hanging out at the Estee Lauder Corporate Office in downtown Toronto. There, I learned about what's new for Spring and Summer 2015. I also picked up on some tips and tricks known as "3 Minute Beauty" - perfect brows, the best eye makeup application for your eye shape, sky high cheekbones, and more. They're little beauty tidbits that can be achieved in 3 minutes or less. More on this in future posts ;) 

Here's a few things that happened at the Estee Lauder HQ: 

1. Hung out with Canada's #1 Repair Serum

Photo creds to Jenn of A Beautiful Zen

2. Swatched shades of the Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Lipsticks

L to R - Blossom Bright, Passionate, Suggestive and Heavenly ($34 each)

Swatching creds to Jenn of A Beautiful Zen

Match your tips and lips with Pure Color Envy Polishes ($25 each)

3. Dreamed about Summer 

Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess Illuminating Powder Gelee ($32.50, limited edition)

4. Took a trip to the 60s with the Courreges x Estee Lauder collab collection and the Lisa Perry GWP 

Estes Lauder Courreges Lip and Cheek Ball ($29)

Estee Lauder Courreges ($36)

5. Got excited about Asia-exclusive products being available in Canada

Estee Lauder Crescent White and Nutritious Vitality8

6. More Swatching

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay in Place Eye Pencils ($26 each)

7. Made myself smell like flowers

Estee Lauder Pleasures Florals ($72/50mL)

Aerin Rose de Grasse ($205/50mL)

All in all, there's a lot to be excited about. What's piquing your interest from Estee Lauder? 

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NEW THINGS: CoverGirl & Olay 2015 Launches + GIVEAWAY

P&G Beauty has recently come out with a slew of new products. Here's three new things that I've been trying (and loving). 

// Olay Regenerist Luminous Overnight Mask Gel Moisturizer ($32.99)

As of late, overnight masks have been all the rage. It's 100% easier than wash off masks because it contains all sorts of fun extracts that get work done while you sleep. The water-based gel formula is quite light in texture. It sits on the skin for ~20 minutes before the slimy mask texture dissipates. So, you don't actually have to use this as an overnight mask if you've got 20 minutes to spare. I haven't been using this long enough to see the look of dark spots disappear but the mask leaves my skin feeling plump, hydrated, and refreshed. 

// Olay Fresh Effects {Spot Zinger} 2-in-1 Salicylic Acne Spot Treatment ($12.99)

Since I began #nomakeupmarch, I've been turning to a topical acne spot treatment instead of concealer. It's thanks to the {Spot Zinger} that I've avoided picking at my skin. Formulated with 2% Salicylic acid, the Olay claims that this stuff improves the look of blemishes in just 10 minutes. Maybe not 10 minutes for me but I put this on before bed and when I wake up in the morning, the vast majority of a potentially bad situation has cleared up. BONUS: It's got citrus and mint, so it's the only acne treatment that I've ever used that smells good. 

// CoverGirl Colorlicious Lipstick in 300 Garnet Flame ($8.49)

The reformulated and repackaged version of the CoverGirl Lip Perfection Lipsticks. CoverGirl has released new shades and has also split them up into four easy-to-navigate colour families - nudes, pinks, reds, and plums. "New and improved" really doesn't apply here - these look, feel, and smell the same as the Lip Perfection Lipsticks. They're still good. The colour is rich and pigmented in one layer, the product doesn't bleed and lasts on me for up to 5 hours. Garnet Flame is a pink-leaning red. 

HERE'S THE GIVEAWAY PART. To win my P&G faves, follow me on Instagram @stephh_lau, find the first photo in this post and give it a like. For an extra entry, tag a friend or regram the photo! Open to residents of Canada only. Ends March 30, 2015. Best of luck! 

Have you tried any new things from CoverGirl or Olay? 

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NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella & Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien - Sephora Birthday Gift 2015

Is it just me or does Sephora keep stepping up it's birthday gift for beauty insiders year after year? As far back as I can remember thus far it's been Philosophy, Fresh, Benefit, Make Up For Ever and now NARS. I picked up the Sephora Beauty Insider Birthday Gift for 2015 two weeks before my birthday in-store. To my excitement, the gift included minis of the the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella and the NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien. 

The full-size of both lip pencils retails for $26. The minis are only 0.02 oz. less than their full-size counterparts. This means that these little guys retail for ~$17, which is pretty amazing considering they're free. They're also a suitably universal set neutral and a bold colour, wearable for pretty much anybody. Pencil lip products are super handy for on-the-go. The big fat caveat with this one is that it doesn't twist up, so make sure you have a sharpener handy.

On to the colours... 

The NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Cruella is described as a scarlet red. How is it that Cruella is a red yet so darn wearable. The pencil form makes it easy to stay within the lip lines and it only takes one layer for full pigmentation. Furthermore, it's super creamy, moisturizing and rich. Upon application Cruella has a slight "velvet" sheen on the lips that wears down to a complete matte after a couple hours, some eating and drinking. It's not transfer proof but it doesn't bleed or get all over my face. After 6 hours, the product dries down to an even red stain. 

The NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Rikugien is described as a rose pink. It has zero shimmer (hurrah!) just a satin rose shade with a hint of shine. On me, it's a my lips but better and virtually fool proof. It's like wearing lip product but it's so similar to my natural lips that I can't tell if it's worn away. Furthermore, just like Cruella, it's hella moisturizing and glides onto the lips with such ease. 

Overall, super impressed by this Sephora freebie. 

Have you tried the NARS Lip Pencils? 

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Hakuhodo J5523 Eye Shadow Brush (MAC 217 dupe)

In search of "the perfect eyeshadow blending brush", I had been lemming over the MAC 217 brush, which it seems like everybody and their mother owns. At $27 for a single brush, I scoured the internet for a similar product at a lower price point. After reading many a Shameless Fripperies post, I  was dead set on purchasing something a little out of my Real Techniques price range and settled on the $23 Hakuhodo J5523 Eye Shadow Brush Round and Flat at IMATS Toronto 2014, justifying it to myself as an important investment to my makeup-wearing experience. 

The allure of such a blending brush is that it's meant to be an all-in-one for eyeshadow application. The brush is of medium density, rounded on one side and tapered on the other, making the brush perfect for both blending and precise application in the crease area, not to mention super soft bristles. The Hakuhodo J5523 can be used with cream, liquid, and powder products. 

about hakuhodo: 

Hakuhodo is a prestige Japanese brush manufacturer. All of their brushes are handcrafted in Japan, with prices ranging from $16 to $200+. Hakuhodo is also an Original Equipment Manufacturer, which means that it creates brushes for other companies (Estee Lauder and supposedly Tom Ford). Hakuhodo only has a few brick-and-mortar stores, mostly in Japan. Their  brushes can be purchased online or at trade shows like IMATS. 

the specs: 

hair - goat

handle - wood/black

ferrule - nickel-plated brass

full length - 151 mm

hair length - 16 mm

thickness - 4.5 mm

The bristles are the perfect size for my hooded eyelids, not to mention they're also rub-it-all-over-your-face soft. I can easily apply shadow with the surface area of the brush and then dip into another colour using the tip of the brush to create a defined crease. The handle is slightly shorter but equally as weighty as other brushes I own (i.e. MUFE Artisan Brushes). I've only washed it twice but it hasn't shed one hair and has thus far retained its shape. 

Overall, I would definitely recommend. I use the Hakuhodo J5523 every time I apply eyeshadow and haven't really looked back. Since I don't own any other brushes like this, I'm glad I picked this one up and am contemplating looking for similarly shaped brushes (for when I'm lazy and don't want to wash this one). All in all, the Hakuhodo J5523 has been a eyeshadow-blending game changer for me. 

Have you tried anything from Hakuhodo? Do you own the MAC 217 or something similar? What's your favourite blending brush? 

Purchased by me

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Hard Candy Glow All the Way Ombre Baked Blush in 994 Punch

I never thought I would see the day. Ombre blush has arrived for less than a $10 bill. Pricier brands like MAC, IT Cosmetics, Estee Lauder, Lise Watier all have beautiful limited edition ombre blushes in their line. Now available at Wal-Mart is the Hard Candy Glow All the Way Ombre Baked Blush in 994 Punch ($6.98). 

According to Hard Candy... Baked ombre blush gives your cheeks all over warmth and glow. The ultra-light, micronized pigments are infused with radiance enhancing pearls and blend effortlessly into the skin to enhance skin tone and give you a natural looking finish. 

First thing I noticed, the packaging is utterly bleh - not a fan of white plastic. Good thing the look of the product inside makes up for everything that is aesthetically wrong with white plastic. 

994 Punch is a combination of a pinky-white (far left) and a bright fuchsia pink (far right). Everything mixed together (centre) yields a light pearly pink. The blush as a whole is quite pearly but not a chunky glitter. To the touch the blush is quite smooth and soft but not as finely milled as the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders. I prefer not to mix the blush before applying it on my face because the colour is a bit too pale and only shows up as shimmer this way. Instead, tap my brush in a couple times and apply directly to my face. The result is a gradient from fuchsia up into the highlight shade. It's a pretty glow and multi-tasks as both highlighter and blush in one. Furthermore, it lasts about 6-7 hours before fading away. 

Overall, a blush that's pretty in the packaging AND pretty on the face. Such a shame that 994 Punch is the one and only colour of the Hard Candy Glow All the Way Ombre Baked Blush, as it's such a beautiful blush. I can see a lot of people appreciating peaches, reds and everything in between in ombre form and hope that Hard Candy will expand its Ombre Baked Blush range. 

Have you tried the Hard Candy Ombre Baked Blush? 

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Quo by Orly Art Scene Collection - Abstract & Graffiti // Spring 2015

New season, new nail polish. This Spring, Quo by Orly has launched a limited edition collection of 4 unique topcoats ($10 each, exclusively at Shoppers Drug Mart). While there's nothing surprising about mixed confetti, round, and square glitters suspended in clear polish, as seen from brands like Hard Candy and Indie Polish, I can't get enough. The combinations are endless and Quo by Orly definitely did it right with its Art Scene Collection. 

Abstract - pastel coloured confetti with white squares and small white circles 

Graffiti - black confetti with blue and orange circles with red and black smaller circles

Put simply, these are funky topcoats that are the perfect addition to any nail look. Lasting power is similar to that of any other glitter - annoyingly long and a pain to remove, but totally worth the artsy effect. 

Do you like these kinds of top coats? 

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