Origins sales - use code TENOFF09 to get $10 off on your purchase online

Video Bar - this month's topic : Smoky eye

Hello QBs,

Check out the video bar on the right hand panel for video make-up lessons I found online.

If you like someone to take you step by step through how to create a smoky eye look for this holiday season, I will be updating the video links every 2-3 days to show you some ideas.

Enjoy~

Body Scrub

In the winter, many QBs suffer dry and rough skin. Well, other than find the best body butter, find a good scrub to make sure you get rid of the dead skin before applying moisturizer is also very important.

A few things to keep in mind before we start "scrubbing":

1. Don't use body scrub too frequently. It actually hurts than helps. Scrub too much will get rid of the oil on the surface of our skin that actually protects the skin. So, once a week is more than enough.

2. Using sauna or steam room to heat up the body before using scrub can help soften the dead skin and give better result on the scrub.

3. Must use thick cream or even oil afterwards, especially in the winter. I highly recommend baby oil after using scrub instead of regular body lotion or cream. Baby oil is the best body oil on the market; it's good for sensitive skins, and has no chemical.

Here is a list of body scrub for your consideration:

1. Bodyshop - Spa Wisdom Africa Spa Salt Scrub (bottom left)

I have used this scrub for at least 8 years. Every time I cheated on it with other scrub... I always ended up going back to it. The salt in this product dissolves in water quickly, so you don't feel much "scrubbing" on your skin. It actually feels smooth and creamy once it touches water. But it really gets does the job done.  There will be no dead skin after using it. As I said, it has been part of my body skin care routine for the past 8+ years.

2.  L'Occitane Honey and Lemon Sugar scrub (top right) - 

Honey, Lemon and brown sugar, what a wonderful combination of ingredients!!!! My 2nd love. It's got a great smell. You don't need to use much, and try to use it when the shower is off. Rub it all over your body then wash it off to get better result.

3. Giovanni Hot Chocolate Sugar Scrub

A sensational treat for the body. It amazingly moisturizes the skin while it exploits. You can use it more often than the other scrub.

It also nicely scented... It smells like chocolate cake. LOL...

The smell doesn't stay on your skin for long after you wash it off. Well, I think it's for the better. I don't think I can resist satisfying my sweet tooth if the smell stays on for too long!

 4. Borghese Tuscan Sugar Glow -

Living up to the Borghese masks reputation, this scrub brings out the skin glow like no others! For QBs love the tanned darker skin, this scrub is perfect to give your skin the sun kissed glow.  For fair skin QBs, it is still a fantastic one to show a brighter skin tone. Rub on a little bit of baby oil afterwards will really show off the result~

5. Clarins Smoothing Body Scrub for a New Skin -

Good for dry and sensitive skin as it is as gentle as the body shop Africa Spa Salt scrub. Clarins body products are better than their facial skin products in my opinion. It is among the pricier scrub on this list. However, it is quite price value is not bad considering you don't need much to get the job done. It lasts a while in other words.

Once you have a chance to read through these products and my comments. Feel free to share yours by posting your comment. I would love to hear from you too on what you use and what else is good!

Sales before holidays! Why wait until black Friday? (This weekend only)

11/17–11/21

Fall merchandise from Vivienne Westwood, Iodice, Bliss Lau, and Ilaria Nistri is up to 75 percent off. Prices range from $50 to $300.
Place: Scatola Showroom, 544 W. 27th St., nr. Eleventh Ave., sixth fl.
Time: Tu–F (10–7).

Mara Hoffman coats, dresses, tunics, and tops are up to 75 percent off at the Savvy & Co. sample sale.
Place: 42 Greene St., nr. Grand St., second fl.
Time: Th–F (10–7), S (10–7).

Men's and women's clothing and accessories are up to 80 percent off at the Armani warehouse sale. New items will be added daily.
Metropolitan Pavilion, 123 W. 18th St., nr. Sixth Ave., fourth fl.
Th (3–8), F (10–8), S (10–6).

Fashion for Action - Public Sample Sales
The annual three-day designer sample sale features more than a million dollars in fashionable apparel and beauty merchandise at the charitable cost of 50-70% off retail value. Designer includes: 3.1 Phillip Lim, Brooklyn Industries, Apple Bottoms, Diane Von Furstenburg (2 signs) , Diesel, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Donald J. Pliner , Donna Karan International, Hugo Boss , Ideeli, Jimmy Choo , Joan Rivers Worldwide, Juicy Couture, Kate Spade, L.A.M.B., L’Atelier , Louis Vuitton, Lucky Brand Jeans, Yumi Kim, Yves Saint Laurent, Zegna Sport, Zero Maria Cornejo...etc

Place: Chelsea Thrift Shop
143 West 17th St., New York, NY 10011 :: 718-838-5050
Time: Fri, 9-8pm Sat, 9-6pm, Sun, 10-6pm



Read more: New York Sales & Bargains - This Week's Best Sales in New York City - New York Magazine http://nymag.com/shopping/articles/sb/#ixzz0XKW0pmOM

Origins Sales

25% OFF* + FREE STANDARD SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS** ENDS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19 Shop Online Now > Use offer code novff*

come get muddy and pretty~

Yes to Carrot C the difference Mud Mask: 

Yes to carrot is an increasingly popular organic cosmetic brand. You can get them in pharmacy at a very reasonable price. With my colleague's, Peggy, recommendation, I picked up a free sample (a full/regular size bottle) and gave it a try.   I've used 2-3 times so far. It's not bad. It's a bit irritating at the beginning, I suppose that is because the mask is killing the germs and digging out the dirt in the pores.. LOL..
As the mask started to dry, I started feeling the mask tightening my face. After the mask is completely dry, I washed off my mask, then I noticed my skin is brighter, tighter and much cleaner. Plus the price is reasonable for this product, you can totally use it often and not break the bank.

Bodyshop 3 in 1 Blue Corn Deep Cleaning Mask

It's got stronger cleaning effect than Yes To Carrot's c the difference. The irritation feeling is a bit stronger at the beginning too. But you can really see your face get brighter with a healthier glow afterwards.  It's not too pricy either. It's good to have it around and use it when you want to give you face a deep cleaning.  Using it once a week is more than enough in my opinion.

Jurlique Intense Recovery Mask:

My dear friend, Joan, recommended this mask. The price is at the higher end. However, this mask is AMAZING. It doesn't irritate at all and it's like getting a mini face lift. You have to let it completely dry before washing it off to get the most out of the mask.
The mask itself is really smooth and fine, and it feels more like a cream. But it's in muddy green color. After you wash the mask off, you will notice the person in the mirror looks like you in your last year book. haha... ok.. I am exaggerating a bit here. But, you definitely can see the visibly "youthified"  you! (Yea.. I made that word up)

If you have a slightly bigger budget for mask, you should pick this one up. It will save you some $ that you would normally spend in spa.

The followings are Borghese masks. Borghese masks are probably the MOST famous mud masks in the world~ I used it once before when my mom used to have it in her vanity. ( Yea, I stole some from her jar!) But, I haven't used it for a while. If anyone is using it right now, please share your experience. I would love to know if I should get it too.

Borghese fango Active and Brillante brightening mud mask

bebe: Share the surprise with 25% off for your friends & family!

What's good for winter?

If you are looking to stock up your vanity for the winter, a few recommendations on the basic products you can keep in mind:

1. Face Wash: Origins Check and Balance face wash

highest rated origin base product. Many of my friends use this one. So far everyone loves it. Good for winter.

2. Toner: Avene Gentle Toner

I have recommended this one in my "all about toner" posting. Before using this, remember to shake it up a bit. Always use the spray!!

For those budget QBs, you can get it in drug store at a very reasonable price.

3. Moisturizer: Clinique Skin Moisture Surge Extended

Save your super duper dry skin, use this one as base moisturizer.

4. Make up primer: Guerlain Meteorites Perlectrices Base

Recommended by a close friend, Joan. I picked one up on my trip to China. It is fantastic! It's the most moisturizing primer that I have used so far.

5. Lip Care - Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment

Also recommended by 5 different beauty magazines this Fall. It was back ordered for a few weeks.

It is by far the longest lasting lip care I have come across. You should have one in your purse this winter.

false eye lashes

How to wear false eye lashes?

More and more people use fake eye lashes nowadays, so if you haven't caught up the trend and are still struggling with wearing fake eye lashes, you have to continue to read this blog post. I will show some simple ways/ tricks on how to properly wear fake lashes.

Prep work:

1. You want to put on false lashes as the last step of your make up application.

2. For beginner, choose a more natural looking lashes and softer lashes, such as Model 21 No. 16A. Or any lashes look more like the picture below: not too full and too long

3. pick a good glue. I recommend DUO, they have both clear and black glue. For beginner, you can choose the dark glue to cover some tracks. :)

4. use lash curler and curl your own lashes first before putting on the false lashes, so that when you put your lashes on, the real lashes and fake lashes inter-locks each other.

How to put your lashes on:

1. trim your lashes to fit the length of your eyes. Make sure you trim both ends.

2. bend a little bit to fit the shape of your eyes.

3. apply lashes glue on the lashes, either squeeze a black bean size on your hand and run your fake lashes through it or squeeze a little out and apply it directly on the lashes. Whichever way works better for you, but I find these 2 are the easiest way to apply right amount of lash glue on the lash. After putting the glue on, you don't have to put the lashes on right away, give a few seconds (3-5) before putting the lashes on. The few seconds will allow the glue to get sticky and it will glue right on to your eye lid.

4. hold the middle of the lash and place it directly on the root of your lashes where you will normally draw your eye liner on.

5. after the lashes is glued on your lashes, in order to make sure the real lashes and fake lashes are close together and look more real, use the big fake lashes curler to close them up.

For a more dramatic look, for example a club night out, you can choose a more dramatic lashes, such as fuller and longer lashes like below:

Fuller one: (Don't pick those that are really full, it will look very fake)

Longer lashes:

Application steps are the same. enjoy~~