Hello Kitty for Sephora - Review and Comparison

Hello Kitty for Sephora - Review & Eyeliner Comparison

My package from Sephora arrived right before Christmas last week! Amidst all the hustle & bustle of the holiday season, I didn't get around until opening anything...until today!

The packaging -as expected- is SUPER adorable...the perfume box is topped with a silver bow sticker...

...and the "sweet gloss" packaging is imprinted with Hello Kitty's famous mug



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Cuteness aside, here is my review.



*Perfume*

This 1.7 oz perfume is decently sized - but I definitely took a gamble on ordering it without ever sniffing. The description sounded just perfect for me! The mysterious unnamed Japanese fruits and green apple made it sound like this would be a fresh & sweet scent.

I was disappointed - it doesn't smell BAD - just extremely generic. The "wink" of vanilla is more than just that and the apple scent is nonexistent. That or my nose might be a little stuffy. The pretty bottle is now doing just that - prettying up my vanity.

*sigh*

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*Sweet gloss*





Equally sweet blogger Rina also purchased this and has some good swatches of Peachy up on her blog

I purchased "Peachy" for my sister and kept "Pink Bow" for myself.

The fruity scent is really nice and the consistency is more of a balm than a gloss in my opinion. I like the color, though it is just a tint.



The packaging is nice, sturdy, and cute!

I was overall very pleased with this purchase, though I'm not sure I would shell out $16 for another one.

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*Penpal Eyeliner*



I am always on the hunt for a great eyeliner. I have tried different felt-tip liners before, without much success. I just recently opened my Dolly Wink Deep Black eyeliner and was pleased with the precise tip and the staying power!

As Rina mentioned, the cap on the Hello Kitty Pen-pal eyeliner is super tight - which I suppose is nice because it will prolong the life of the product. This cap is a bit too tight though, and you have to put a little bit of muscle into tugging it off. :P The problem with felt-tip eyeliners is their tendency to dry out quickly, so I'm hoping the cap at least keeps it fresh. For all that work, it'd better! :O

The tip itself is not nearly as fine as the Dolly Wink tip...



Here are my swatches of the liners - see the whiskers on the Hello Kitty heart-shaped swatch? :3 (Don't ask about the Dolly Wink one, it was supposed to be winking with a bow T_T)



The eyeliner isn't disappointing...but it definitely is NOT waterproof so save this one for a sunny day! The pigmentation is decent, but I would use it over regular pencil liner for more contrast. I don't think it would be dark enough for my liking on its own! That or it might have to be layered on.

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All in all, I bought into the hype! The novelty of this line is reason enough to get excited but the quality of the makeup itself is nothing to write home about. I still might browse again mid-January when the line officially launches - if anything, I *might* pick up the brushes or the mirror. Maybe.

*****

My LOTD was decidedly Princess-y. :)

Pink fuzzy top from Yesstyle.com

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Sparkly "tiara" headband

*****

The Yesstyle model rocking it



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I can't believe the year is about to END!!!

I'm so excited to start another year- thank you all so much for your continued love & support throughout all of 2010. I really and truly feel so blessed - and I have a nice way of thanking you coming up next month!!! :D

I hope the new year holds bigger and brighter things for all of you! Take care and have a safe & Happy New Year!

♥ Irene

Review: ELF Waterproof eyeliner pen, swatches +

First of all - WHAT GIVES. Snow in Texas yet AGAIN...one day it's like 70 degrees and t-shirt weather and then the next day, suddenly 30 degrees and snowing! Weather is seriously having an identity crisis. I can see it slowly building up on the front lawn again. *sigh*

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As other lovely bloggers have already discovered, E.L.F (Eyes Lips Face) cosmetics are available for instantaneous purchase at TARGET. Love Target. Love their dollar section! Love their clothing! Love their Pro All-things-Hello Kitty-&-DOMO sponsorship! ♥

Well, it's easy to get carried away, but I bought a reasonable 3 products to test out. Today's review features their Waterproof Eyeliner Pen.

The pen is sleek and ergonomic - the lid was a bit annoying (kind of hard to pop off) but I guess as long as it keeps the product from drying out, it might be worth the extra hassle. At only $1 it seemed too good to be true.

The tip is akin to a felt-tip pen and has the ability to draw a thick or thin line



I got excited when I swatched the pen on my arm - the pigmentation seemed decent with only one swipe and was buildable. The swatch on the left has been built up a few strokes while the one on the right is just one swipe.



The real test though, was how well it works on the area intended! My lids are a bit wrinkly to begin with so eyeliner application (especially liquid liners) has always been difficult.





Nooooo...it really was too good to be true! For a waterproof eyeliner, this stuff sure didn't stand a chance on or even near my waterline. Granted, some of my disappointment may be due to my lack of skill in precisely applying the liner -- that being said, I was none too impressed.

Pros: CHEAP, unique way to apply liner, supposedly waterproof (some people have said it works really well as a waterproof liner?), sleek design.

Cons: Has a bit of a 'scratchy' feel to it, takes a few applications to build pigment, not good on bottom lid (smudges and wears away lightning fast), might dry up quickly.

I don't recommend it overall - I don't think I'll be using it very much (though I might give it another chance on a rainy day for round 2!) - I much prefer my Revlor Colorstay eyeliner - so much easier to apply, darker, richer color and less hassle with the lid.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ (2/5)

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This Target purchase made me happy. Comes in xs - xxl and it's super cute and a bit western princess! Lovely for a warm Summer day (NOT a frigid winter-y nights such as tonight :( )

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10 honest facts about myself tag by the feisty & fabulous FortheFierce!

1. I FINALLY am comfortable in my own skin...Literally. After years of covering up my face in liquid/powder/xyz foundation, I have learned to go without and it feels GREAT. I still spot cover if needed and cover up completely on special occasions, but I feel like my skin has improved significantly since I stopped piling things on.

2. If there is one part of myself phsycially that I love, it's my LEGS. :D

3. I sometimes regret that I never had the guts to truly follow my dream - do something awesome like fashion design, graphic design...Creative stuff that I would wake up excited about everyday!

4. I believe in true love. ♥

5. I have a weak spot for ramen noodles, anything with cheese, and spicy foods

6. I am kind of blind. I have the worst vision in the family even though I also was the number one consumer of carrots. If anyone can recommend a place that sells colored contacts for nearly blind people with astigmantism, please share! I have been searching forever! :(

7. I have a strong work ethic and believe that though life isn't always fair, hard work gets you places.

8. I have been burned so many times by 'friends' before - I think I may be a little scarred inside.

9. I play video games sporadically and get hooked quite easily. It's a little embarrassing to whip out my Nintendo DS lite at the airport, and see the 7 yaer old little boy across from me do the same. Oh well, I still rock at TETRIS (I can kick Bowser's A$$!)

10. I'm a natural introvert. I feel like the support here in blogworld and the general environment is so much more positive though, it is easy to open up and feel more like myself. ♥

I'm interested in what everybody has to say, so you're all tagged! :)

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Before bedtime, a sweet welcome to DOLL