ShopLately: glint & gleam Review

*Disclaimer:  this product was purchased with my own money. I also used the free $10 gift certificate anyone can receive if you sign up for a ShopLately account and register through Facebook*

Hi everyone! Today I am going to review a necklace that I purchased from an online marketplace called ShopLately. The necklace was originally $24, but because I registered through Facebook, I was able to receive $10 credit, which is applied to ONLY purchases of $15 or more. The boutique that I ordered from, glint & gleam, also offered free shipping; therefore I ended up paying a total of $14 for this necklace. They shipped it super fast (if I remember correctly, they shipped it out on the same day that I placed the order!) and it came in less than 5 days. It came securely encased in a very thick plastic package, lined with bubble wrap.

Review: Wet n Wild Coverall Stick Concealer

*Disclaimer: this product was purchased with my own money*

Product name: Wet n Wild Coverall Stick Concealer in 804
Price: about $2 at CVS

Review: Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch in Radiant

Hi everyone! I am currently away at a Christian conference. I won't be back until the 11th,, so until then, here is a post I wrote in advance :) Or rather, a post that I finished a while ago but forgot about :P

*Disclaimer: this product was purchased with my own money*

Product name: Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch in Radiant
Price: about $7 at Ulta

Review: Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel

*Disclaimer: this product was purchased with my own money*

I started incorporating aloe vera gel into my daily skin routine about a year ago. Each morning I mix it with my moisturizer, and it has helped keep my skin nice and soft! However, the brand that I used discontinued their line of aloe vera gel. So when Jen Chae of frmheadtotoe raved about Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel in one of her Youtube videos, I had to buy a jar and see for myself if it lived up to the hype!

Name: Nature Republic Aloe Vera Soothing Gel
Price: about $9 on Sasa

Packaging: It comes in a fairly large jar. I'm not a fan of anything that comes in jars due to the fact that I don't like to have to stick my fingers in the product..it doesn't seem very sanitary.

Thoughts: Despite the packaging, I really love using this aloe vera gel! It contains 92% aloe vera leaf extract, which isn't the highest percentage that I have seen in the market but it's still a pretty decent amount. It's extremely hydrating and doesn't break me out. It's not sticky; also, my skin also absorbs it right away!However, there is a noticeable scent so if you're sensitive to any scented beauty products, this might not be the best choice for you! I happen to like the scent though :P

Overall: 10/10. I really like this particular aloe gel and will gladly purchase it again.

Review: Wet n Wild Juicy SPF 15 Lipbalm in Strawberry

*Disclaimer: this product was purchased with my own money* 

Hi guys! Just wanted to let you all know that I might be taking a break from blogging for a few weeks :X I have just started my second year of college and things are pretty crazy right now. Trying to balance two internships, a job, school, church, and other extracurricular activities is pretty tough! So...until then~

Product name: Wet n Wild Juicy SPF 15 Lipbalm in Strawberry
Price: about $3 at CVS

Packaging: It's a bit too bulky but then again, it IS a jumbo-sized lip balm. You can't twist the lip balm all the way down but that doesn't bother me at all. I'm not a huge fan of the length of the plastic cap though; I wish it was shorter as the length makes it hard to take the cap off without getting a bit of lip balm on it (you can see some stains in the picture above)

I liked this lip balm more than I thought I would. Although it's bulky I kind of like the jumbo size. The color is also really cute. Furthermore, it's slick but not greasy. It's not by any means going to help super chapped lips but if you need to moisturize your lips a little bit this lip balm will do the trick. In addition, there is a bit of artificial strawberry scent and hardly any tint. I don't like how it tastes though...it's not like I bite off a piece of lip balm and eat it, but the taste somehow creeps into my mouth and it's a bit disgusting. Thank goodness the taste doesn't last long.

Overall: I give it a 7/10. It's cute to look at and it does moisturize my lips a little bit, but it's not to the point in which I would buy the product again. I have other lip balms that are much more moisturizing and travel friendly. In addition, the chemical taste is gross and for this reason I will not consider buying this lip balm again.

Review: Essence Match2Cover! Cream Concealer

*Disclaimer: this product was purchased with my own money*

Hi everyone! Today I'm going to review a concealer I bought during my vacation in Canada. It was really cheap and I have heard good things about Essence's makeup products before, so I thought I would try it out and let you guys know what I think. 

Product name: Essence Match2cover! Cream Concealer
Price: about $3.50 at Shoppers Drug Mart/Ulta

Packaging: I like how compact it is. However, there wasn't a plastic seal on it so anyone could have opened it and took a swatch with their fingers....which I saw and put back on the display wall -_-"

Thoughts: It's okay. Not amazing, just okay. It's creamy and fairly pigmented, and of course the price makes it a great deal. It also has decent staying power.

Overall: I give this concealer a 7/10. As you can tell, I'm not loving this concealer but I don't hate it either. I would recommend this concealer to those who are looking for a cheap and decent concealer, but I personally wouldn't buy this product again because I rather pay a few more dollars for a great concealer than save the money and settle for a so-so concealer. .

Review: Majolica Majorca Lash King Mascara

*Disclaimer: this product was purchased with my own money*

Product name: Majolica Majorca Lash King Mascara
Price: about $10-13 at Watson's
Packaging: I love the design! It's so pretty and probably has the "fanciest" design out of all the mascaras I own.

Thoughts: Aside from the gorgeous packaging, I quite like this mascara. I have stick straight Asian lashes and somehow with this mascara my lashes manage to curl. It definitely lengthens  my lashes but there it doesn't noticeably volumize, so I would recommend using this mascara with another volumizing mascara. It's not very black, which I actually like since it looks more natural. I have been using this for two weeks and it hasn't smudged once, which is a plus.

Overall: I give this mascara a 10/10. This is the first mascara I have ever used that actually manages to curl my lashes without me having to use my lash curler. I also like how natural it looks; there is minimal clumping and it doesn't smudge! I unquestionably would buy this mascara again and highly recommend it :)

Review: Burt's Bees Refreshing Lip Balm with Pink Grapefruit

*Disclaimer: this product was purchased with my own money*

Product name: Burt's Bees Refreshing Lip Balm with Pink Grapefruit

Price: I forgot exactly how much I paid for this but I would say it was between $2-4

Packaging: Average packaging for lip balms. I love the pink cap though :)

Thoughts: You guys...I think I just found my new favorite lip balm. The grapefruit scent is amazing; it doesn't smell artificial at all! Also, it's incredibly moisturizing and makes my lips super smooth and soft. The soft and slightly creamy texture is very similar to that of Burt's Bees Nourishing Lip Balm with Mango Butter, another personal favorite. 

Overall: I give this lip balm a 10/10. I am a huge lip balm junkie and this is easily my favorite one thus far. It's moisturizing and it smells amazing- what's not to love?!

Review: Organia Water Drop Essence Hand Cream

*Disclaimer: this product was a gift from my aunt*

Product name: Organia Water Drop Essence Hand Cream
Price: Unsure; I received this as a gift

Packaging: Standard hand cream packaging so I don't really have anything to say about the packaging haha. I would prefer a flip cap over a twist cap though. 

Thoughts: I love it! The consistency of this hand cream is unlike anything I have ever seen before. It's almost gel-like but dissolves as soon as you rub your hands together. It's super light and yes, it feels like water after it dissolves. I think it's pretty moisturizing but since it's so light, those with extremely dry hands might have to reapply it often. In addition, there is a light floral scent.

Overall: I give this hand cream a 9/10. I love the unique consistency and how light it is. However, I took a point off because it's not extremely moisturizing and I personally don't like scented hand creams. It might also be hard to find in the United States.

Review: Wet n Wild Idol Eyes Creme Shadow Pencil in Pixie 130

*Disclaimer: this product was purchased with my own money*

Product name: Wet n Wild Idol Eyes Creme Shadow Pencil in Pixie 130
Price: about $2 at CVS
What it claims: According to Wet n Wild's website, it is a "Soft-blending, creamy eyeshadow at the convenience of a pencil. Silky-smooth formula glides on easily for high impact, light-infused color that last for hours."

Packaging: Not much to say about the packaging; just your average pencil with a plastic cap.

I bought this because I fell in love with the shimmery cool champagne color. I thought it would look great as a highlight color and so that's what I used it for. This is now my HG highlighter for the inner corner of my eyes! Also, it's so pigmented and really does light on smoothly. In addition, it doesn't smear off; in fact, it stays on for hours. 

However, it does look like it'll be a pain to sharpen. I might have to go out and buy a jumbo pencil sharpener just so I can continue using this pencil :/

Overall: I give it a 9.5/10. I can't say too much about it as an eyeshadow pencil but as a highlighter? Love! And for just $2? You can't go wrong! I took half a point off because it looks like sharpening the pencil will be somewhat inconvenient, but in any case I will definitely be purchasing this again when I run out.

Review: Robanda Eye Gel

*Disclaimer: This product was purchased with my own money*

I have been looking for a good eye gel/cream for quite a while now. I have horrible puffy dark circles in addition to barely-there-but-still-exists fine lines; in order to prevent further "damage", I spent some time browsing in stores and looking up reviews for an affordable but good quality eye gel/cream.

I stopped by Marshall's the other day and found THE best eye gel I have thus far.

Product name: Robanda Eye Gel with Advanced Retinol Vitamin A
Price: about 6-7 at Marshall's or TJ Maxx
What it claims: "Minimizes the appearance of fine lines, puffines, and dark circles. 100% pure Vitamin A penetrates quickly andhelps restore clarity, tone, and elasticity to revitalize tired eyes.."

Packaging: It's a really simple packaging so I'm not going into too much detail...I mean, it's just a jar. I would prefer a pump over a jar though;it's probably more sanitary.

How to use it: As written on the jar, "Apply gently morning and night on the eye area after removal of make-up with the Robanda Facial Cleansing Lotion. To apply, pat the gel around the eye area with the tip of the finger." I only apply the eye gel at night as I have discovered that if I apply it in the morning (before I put on my makeup), it messes with the consistency of my BB cream.

Pros:
1. It works!: I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the eye gel actually does what it claim to do. Just after a few days, I noticed that there was a dramatic decrease in puffiness around my eye area. As for my dark circles, there wasn't a significant amount of change but I do believe it's getting a little lighter. I'm not too sure whether or not it's doing anything for my fine lines, but then again, I don't really have any prominent fine lines so perhaps that's why I don't see a difference.
2. Affordable: Since these are found at Marshall's and TJ Maxx, they tend to be cheaper than the original price. For $7, I would gladly purchase more if I happen to see them.
3. Does not cause milia: This was a huge pro for me. Overall, I have pretty good skin and rarely break out...but for some reason all the eye gels/creams I tried in the past caused a tiny bit of milia around my eye area. Even though it was barely noticeable, I tossed those products. I'm so glad that this eye gel doesn't cause ANY breakouts.
4. Will last for a while: Although some may think paying $7 for a .5 oz jar is a lot, but so far I have been noticing that you only need to apply a tiny amount, so it should last you for quite a while. I have been using it for 2-3 weeks and have used up only maybe 5% of the eye gel!
5. Good ingredients: The gel contains aloe vera barbadensis extract, retinyl palmitate (vitamin a), tocopheryl acetate (vitamin e). Please correct me if I am wrong, but I think the aforementioned ingredients are known to be really good for the skin!
Cons:
1. May be hard to find: When I went to Marshall's, there were only 2 jars. I stopped by again another time and spotted just one jar left. I have seen this sold at TJ Maxx but haven't been there recently, so I'm not sure if they have any still in stock. Then again, the stock at Marshall's and TJ Maxx constantly changes, so it may be hard to get your hands on this product.
2. Packaging: I wish this eye gel would come in the form of a pump. I always make sure my hands are clean before applying anything to my face, but still, a pump would be better and more convenient than  a jar.

Overall: I give it a 9.5/10. This eye gel actually works; I was able to see the results in just a few days. That itself makes me want to buy a few more jars in case Marshall's or TJ Maxx stops selling it. Furthermore, it's extremely affordable and just one jar will probably last for a while. However, I wish it was easier to find and that it came in a pump than in a jar.

Lunch at Red Chopsticks

*Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the restaurant mentioned in this post; the food was paid for with my own money (or rather my mom's money kekeke)*

A Chinese restaurant opened up in the Aurora/Naperville area. My mom and I happened to be in that area today, and so after running some errands, we decided to go to Red Chopsticks for lunch.

I forgot to take a picture of the decor/interior of the restaurant (I was all too focused on the food haha) but it was very chic. The hostess was friendly, as was our server. Despite the fact that there was only one server there during lunch time (we later found out that there were supposed to be two other servers but for whatever reason they weren't there, so one of the managers actually had to step in as the server for the day), the service was good.

We ordered off of the "traditional menu", which I believe lists more authentic Chinese food when compared to the  regular English menu. If you can't read Chinese, I still encourage you to ask for the traditional menu because it actually has both the Chinese and English names for the dishes. 

We ordered 3 dishes. This dish contained beef and leeks. It was really good! I usually don't like to eat beef but the beef in this dish was very tender. It was a tad too sweet for me but then again I have an extremely bland palate.

This was a dish with pork...I don't remember what this dish was called haha. It was listed on the menu as spicy, but since I can't tolerate spicy food, we asked for the spiciness to be reduced. The chef did a good job and it ended up being the perfect of spiciness. On its own, it was a little salty, but it tastes so good with rice.

This was the Salt and Pepper Shrimp and I highly recommend it! I have been to a billion Chinese restaurants and ordered Salt and Pepper Shrimp many times, but this was by far the best one I've ever had. When this dish arrived, the shrimp was nice and hot and super crispy. The amount of salt, pepper, garlic, and whatever else they put in it was perfect; the flavor was amazing! Unlike the other Chinese restaurants I've been to, the shrimp would start losing its crispiness as soon as it got to my table. At Red Chopsticks, the shrimp stayed crispy throughout our entire meal! My mom also agreed that this was the best Salt and Pepper Shrimp she ever had and the next time we come here, we will for sure order this dish again. 

Overall, both my mom and I liked the food and the prices were reasonable. We'll definitely come back here for lunch again :)

Lunch at Kobe Hibachi Sushi Buffet

I had a doctor appointment today and happened to be in the area where Kobe Hibachi Sushi Buffet is located. A few of my friends have been there before and told me that it was pretty good; even then I never bothered to check it out because I didn't feel like making the drive all the way to the buffet. But since I was in the area today, my mother and I went there for lunch.

This is the first plate that I got. As you can tell, I headed straight for the sushi section. They have a lot of different types of sushi to choose from, and the sushi was pretty good!

It was my first time seeing a cucumber sushi roll that looks like this hehe.

This is my second plate. I was getting pretty full from the sushi from the first plate and ended up not getting that much "hot" food. The coconut shrimp and mushrooms with oyster sauce was okay...it wasn't amazing but it wasn't bad either. I wasn't a fan of the chicken feet (too bland for my taste), or the "fried tofu" (it wasn't crispy because of the sauce, which made it really chewy). My two clams had sand in them, but my mom got 5-8 clams and they were perfectly fine. In any case, the steamed fish (flounder?), though, was really good. My mom got 3 giant pieces to eat!

Close up of this crispy sushi thing that I got.

Dessert! :D Sadly not all of them tasted as good as they looked. I don't know what the middle pastry thing is called (the one with the chocolate stripes), but my mom and I didn't like it. The kiwi was surprisingly good.

Close up of the pastry thing. Although it didn't taste good, it looks like it does!

The cream puff was okay. The cream itself wasn't overly sweet, which was good. However, the outer shell wasn't crispy like I thought it would be; it ended up being too soft and chewy :(

This thing...SO GOOD. It's a bun filled with sweet red beans. They had a small dim sum area and this bun was found there. I didn't get a picture of it, but my mom got this sweet coconut mochi-like thing from the dim sum area. It was so good but by the time she gave me part of hers to try, I was too full to get one for myself....

...because I ate four more of those red bean buns lolol.

Overall, I thought that for the price ($10 for lunch), the Kobe hibachi Sushi Buffet worth checking out. They offer a variety of food. Although not every single item was delicious, there were still certainly a few food items that will make me consider going back here for lunch or dinner in the near future.

Alright, time to take a nap. Food coma~! D:

geoGirl FYEO Feather Lash Mascara Review

I have Asian lashes, which means I have thin, stick straight lashes. As a result, I constantly buy mascara and  keep an eye out on MakeupAlley for any different brands of mascara that offer great length/volume for a decent price. I found out via MakeupAlley that a brand called "geoGirl" supposedly makes really great mascara that lengthens and thickens; it also supposedly doesn't clump and overall looks pretty natural.

I decided to buy it, and so I went out to Walmart, where I then quickly found the aisle with various geoGirl makeup product...and stared. The name of the brand itself implies that it is perhaps aimed toward younger girls, but everything looked so cheap in terms of packaging and quality. However, since it only cost $4 and had favorable reviews, I thought I might as well give it a try. And so here is my review!

Product Name: geoGirl FYEO [ForYourEyesOnly] FeatherLASH Mascara in Grey
Price: about $4 at Walmart
What It Claims: "This totally weightless mascara with Nettles and Sage makes even itty-bitty lashes look crazy long & naturally thick. Won't flake, clump, or speckle."

Packaging: I'm not going to lie, I love the packaging. I love the fact that it is made from "planet-friendly materials including renewable corn and recycled paperboard." Yeah, it doesn't look expensive and therefore may turn off some people, but who cares? If it's good for the planet, then I support it 100%! I actually like the cardboard material and the cute feather print.

How to use it: According to the packaging, "Blink, wiggle, wiggle. No U R not squeezing URself into skinny jeans. This is the secret 2 applying mascara. Just hold UR mascara wand horizontally at base of lashes & wiggle it back & forth until U reach the tips." Yikes. I'm not a fan at this brand's attempt to attract tween girls with its use of "U" and "UR".

Pros:
1. Length/Volume: I was pretty surprised that after curling my lashes and applying just one layer of mascara, my lashes seemed noticeably longer and subtly darker.
2. Natural ingredients: I love that this mascara (and apparently all geoGirl products) are free of parabens, phthalates, sulfates, propylene glycol, PABA, DEA, petrolatum, paraffin, synthetic fragrance, synthetic color, carmine, and animal ingredients (with the exception of cruelty-free honey, lanolin, and beeswax).
3. Affordable: At only $4, it's pretty cheap and won't break the bank.
4. Eco-friendly packaging: As mentioned before, the packaging is made from "planet-friendly materials including renewable corn and recycled paperboard". Love!
5. Giving back: According to the packaging, "geoGirl will donate a portion of net profits to gg-Gives to support girls' causes." I tried looking this charity up but couldn't find a lot of information on it. This was all I could find: "There's a philanthropic component as well, gg-Gives, which will donate a portion of net profits to a charity chosen by geoGirl's young customers." In any case, it's great that part of the money that consumers pay for geoGirl products will go toward helping others.

Cons:
1. The colors: Apparently geoGirl sells this mascara in black, but at my local Walmart, only 3 colors are sold- grey, blue, and brown. I wish it was easier to obtain this mascara in black! The grey color is fairly dark, but for my skimpy lashes, I'm sure that a black one would be better. Then again, this is supposed to look natural T~T So I suppose grey is acceptable but not ideal.
2. Minor clumping: Although this product claims to be clump-free, I found that there was still minor clumping.
3. Packaging: This is in regard to the text on the cardboard backing that came with the mascara. This actually isn't really a con but just something that irritated me haha. I strongly dislike the use of "U" and "UR" in general, so to anyone else it may not be a problem at all (I am an English major after all). I understand this brand is marketed toward tween girls, but still...

Overall: I give it a 8/10. I like the fact that it's eco-friendly and uses natural products, but I wish I could find the mascara in Black in stores. It does look natural, which is a plus. However, I can't overlook the fact that there is minor clumping. I will consider buying this again in the future because it' so cheap and the clumping is really minor. I still reach for this mascara for everyday makeup but for a night out, I would choose something different.

Greenmax Yam and Mixed Cereal Review

Ahh I finally have some time to sit down and blog! Man, college life is so busy T~T I don't know how other bloggers balance blogging and school/work...

Prior to starting my freshman year in college (wayyy back in August 2012), my mom made sure that I had plenty of healthy snacks and drinks. She bought me this bag of cereal mix that I was never really interested in trying, as I opted to go down to the dining hall and eat breakfast there. 

But as I stated in my last post, I have been trying to eat healthier...and the dining hall is not helping! Breakfast tends to be really greasy and heavy (powdered eggs, bacon, sausage patties, hash browns, etc.) to the point in which my plate is super shiny from all the grease! I started to choose to eat yogurt, or fruit instead. However, within the past few week, I started to crave something different. I rummaged through my food bin (I have a giant storage bin full of food hehe) and found a bag of Greenmax Yam and Mixed Cereal! And so I wanted to share a quick review of this :) 

First of all, one giant bag contains 13 little individual packs, so it's very convenient. I forgot to take a picture of the packets though -_-

Then, boil some water (I randomly estimate it, but the packaging says to add about 1 cup of water)! My mom bought me a this "Multi-Pot" from H-Mart. It works really well and boils the water super fast. 

This is the cup I use :) I love this cup to death...it's from Anthropologie (one of my favorite stores...too bad it's so expensive!), it has a really cute floral design, it has a "J" on it, and it was only $4. Some of you may recognize it as I shared a picture of it a long time ago. 

So after the water has boiled, pour the contents of a packet into the cup. 

Stir, let it stand for 3 minutes, and then enjoy :) 

So as you can tell, it's super easy to make! It tastes really good and most importantly, it's good for your health as well. It also contains the perfect amount of sugar so it's not overwhelmingly sweet.

See those seeds? This cereal mix contains pumpkin seeds, black sesame, white sesame, wheat, rye, and oat. It also contains black bean, black rice, black jujube, mung bean, black glutinous rice, yam, green tea, and crystal sugar! 

Some of the benefits as listed on the packaging include: 100% natural ingredients, 6 black diet ingredients (I have on idea what a black diet is ._."), no preservatives, sweet taste, no artificial colorants, no artificial flavors, high in dietary fiber and calcium, vitamins and minerals, rich in Vitamin A, B1 and C, contains Vitamin B2, E, and Iron. 

I sound like those people on infomercials, but I promise I have not been asked to write this review or anything like that (in any case, I'm not a super popular blogger so I doubt I will ever be contacted/sponsored to do something like that LOL)! I just really really like this cereal mix to the point in which I wanted to share with you guys :)

I'm not sure how it costs or where my mom bought it from (I assume H-Mart though!) but I highly recommend this Greenmax Yam and Mixed Cereal drink :) Let me know if you have ever tried it before or are planning to!