The Ballroom Beauty

A Belated Happy 2011 // Show & Tell - Recent Hauls

2011-01-10T14:38:00.001-05:00

hello everyone!

i've probably been the worst blogger ever - i was really stuck in a huge rut for a while, and life kind of took over and thus i've been somewhat MIA despite the fact that i promised the hiatus was over. i did have a great holiday, reconnecting with old friends, family & friends, and so hopefully i won't retreat back into my hermit state pre-christmas.

some of my old dance friends & myself at my studio's christmas party, having a little too much fun maybe :D (the EOTD in this photo was quite nice, although you can't really see it... i hope to be able to do a post on it soon)

at the moment, i'm stuck in a job i didn't go to school for (one which really does not go well with my personality - for those of you who know me well, i'm not a very accomodating personality, so having to work in customer service makes me want to go on a godzilla-style rampage), and getting my act together just so i can take charge of my life is taking some time. i've dug a pretty deep hole getting fustrated over the sucky job market post-graduation, but i'm hoping by february i'll have some semblance of a real life.

due to the unmotivated state my life is in, i haven't actually been playing around with makeup that much at all, hence the lack of posting.

my two kitties, cha cha & leroux, wish everyone a happy 2011 (look at cha cha doing his best derek zoolander impression, and leroux just being a kitteh-burrito)

with the new year, i hope to be posting more regularly... i also thought i should my resolutions for 2011:

find a "real" job before the year is up, buy a car, and achieve financial independence
make podium (top 3 places) at a major dance competition
a minimum of 2 blog entries per week
generally take care of myself better - sleep, diet & schedule-wise
increase my proficiency in spanish & french, and touch up on my mandarin which i'm slowly forgetting while living in north america

after the break, i did manage to haul my butt over to my local makeup counters and do a little haulage...

makeup haulage: (mainly) dior & chanel haul

i ended up with 3 quints (1 from the new spring collection - la collection "montaigne") - ready-to-glow, mystic smokies & gris-gris. all three are pigmented, smooth, and absolutely stunning - i was particularly impressed with gris-gris (it looked gorgeous with my NW15-20ish winter skin & black hair), and bought a backup in case it was LE.

the three quints i ended up with: (bottom L, clockwise) mystic smokies, gris-gris, ready-to-glow

mystic smokies - look at that gorgeous almost-black purple, and the white-gold shade in the bottom left hand corner!

gris-gris - great for a cool-toned smoky eye, and the center black shade works great as a liner, too! so versatile and essential in anyone's collection.

ready-to-glow - warmer than the above two, but still very wearable on my neutral-to-cool skin due to the browns having a taupey cast. the pigmentation is fantastic!

i ended up adding glossimer in 131 mica to my collection (i personally love 104 astral - permanent in canada & 119 wild rose). it's a sheer, ballerina pink with lots of shimmer - it looks like light-reflecting water dancing on your lips, absolutely gorgeous!

look at that multicolored shimmer - blue, green, purple, pink & white in a pretty, girly pink base. i do love glossimers for their multidimensional look - it is very glittery but not in a cheesy or chunky way!

i'm hoping to swatch & do some looks with some of these, so stay tuned!

fashion haulage: purses

i ended up getting a little purse crazy and got 3 new purses - i'm in the process of trying not to wear so much black, which, incidentally, isn't working out so great for me (everyone wears black in the dance community, it shows less sweat), so i decided to add some grey & brown bags to my collection. basic, but still more interesting than black.

roots venetian village bag - custom made in grey prince leather & brass hardware

i'm very picky about my purses, and have very specific requirements for everyday bags - it must have both a short & a long strap, and be large enough to hold all my essentials, while not swamping me with size.

roots olivia bag in chocolate prince leather

i ended up with 2 roots bags in their gorgeous, soft prince leather (chocolate, grey) and a spicy tan colored fossil bag from their fall/winter collection... all very versatile!

fossil modern cargo convertible tote in saddle brown leather

how was your holidays? any resolutions in the new year?

Hiatus Over (+ a Mini-Review of the Body Shop White Musk Fragrance)!

2010-11-21T14:14:00.000-05:00

after a long break... i've decided to return to blogging :)

things have been in flux for a while - building my makeup artistry website, taking a full-time language course, searching for a new, "real" job, and dancing as usual... there have been a lot of things on my plate lately and i've been unable to keep up with blogging, but i'm back to post a few times a week, if anyone is still reading.

things i've ben obsessed with in the beauty world lately:

chanel glossimers - especially astral and mica (cellophane fluo pink with pink, blue and violet sparkles & a sheer, super shiny ballet pink, respectively) i've blogged about astral before - it's not LE in canada, thank goodness.
NARS deep throat blush (a peachy pink with fine golden shimmer) - so easy and effortless to wear and adds color to my NC15/NW20 complexion
MUFE smoky aqua lash mascara - really curls and adds a lot of volume to my stick-straight, limp (but thankfully long) eyelashes
the body shop white musk for women - EDP and perfume oil versions... so soft, velvety and comforting in the winter.

as for the body shop white musk for women ... it's a recent rediscovery - my usual chloe eau de parfum was starting to get a little bit too summery and high-pitched to wear with the weather getting cold, and i started to search for a warmer fragrance to wear.

since i dislike a lot of sweet scents, white musk fit the bill nicely - it's a clean, velvety, silky, slightly floral-powdery musk that smells more expensive than its affordable price tag. i dismissed it when i smelled it first since it was hot and summery and it didn't seem like something i would wear at the time... but a few dabs of the oil and a spritz of the EDP on my scarf and the scent is soft but lingering for hours. obviously the scent may be a little different on others depending on their skin chemistry, but on me it's mainly a cottony musk with a little powdery iris, sweet jasmine & lily of the valley and a hint of earthy patchouli. it goes great with jeans & a t-shirt and it also works in more formal situations where you want to be lightly fragranced but not overwhelming.

sillage is not great but it is a soft, skin scent that you need to be near someone to smell. on me it's not overly sweet but on some, the sweetness in the vanilla base may be amplified... which is not a bad thing if you like vanilla :)

overall, it's a great, affordable musk if you're just venturing into musk territory - it's not overly indolic or dirty smelling - it's a clean, casual, easy to wear musk for most women (and actually, guys too).

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Short Hiatus

2010-08-24T21:27:00.000-04:00

hi everyone,

for those of you still following this blog, i am just letting you know that this blog is NOT defunct... i am just merely in the process of creating my makeup artistry online portfolio & website.

eventually, this blog will be integrated into the new section of my website (inés k. beauty), which can be found here. it's still a work in progress, and my portfolio should be up for viewing soon.

as always, thanks for following the blog, and see you at the new website soon!

love,

lareinarumbera

The MAC for Rodarte Controversy (aka the "Juarez/Feminicidos" Controversy) - My Two Cents

2010-07-19T14:52:00.006-04:00

a face chart from the upcoming collection

by this point i'm sure most of you beauty addicts have heard of the controversy over the MAC for rodarte collection due to be released in the fall. i won't go into the whole issue, since numerous beauty bloggers have already elaborated on the relevant details, but i will say the following, despite the fact that it is truly depressing and saddening to start off the week with such a heavy, heartbreaking issue.

a beauty blog, such as this one, is usually not considered a serious or intellectual forum for moral or political discussion. more often than not, us beauty bloggers are pigeonholed into a category of writers who are concerned more with rampant consumerism and mindless spending on beauty products. nonetheless, many of us have been outraged by the insensitive marketing surrounding this particular collection. as beauty mouth aptly put it, given the (paraphrased) "length of time... and many people involved... it is absolutely gob-smackingly baffling" that they continued with the development for this collection.

my two cents is similar exasperation and disappointment for the marketing & merchandising team who came up with the theme for this campaign, that did not even bother to enter into a search engine the two words, "juarez, mexico" to do some proper research before they conceived of the idea for this campaign.

pink crosses as a memorial for the women victimized in the (continuing) femicides

in addition, i do NOT believe that naming a shade "sleepwalker," "ghost town," or "badlands" is coincidental, accidental or appropriate in a way - had MAC done all of 5 minutes of research, the team would have been able to redirect the marketing plan in a way such that it kept the aesthetic of the campaign, but sterilized the associations related to the "feminicidos" (femicides - the terrible, and saddening, abduction, torture, mutilation, rape and murder of female factory workers ("maquiladoras") in juarez, mexico - read up on it on wikipedia and at amnesty international's official website). if the company had taken the proper steps, it could have just called the campaign something more generic, like "desert beauty," or something along those lines and kept the same aesthetic, minus the outrage and controversy.

while the official story is the above of poor planning and coincidence - the promotional images also suggest some type of premeditation - almost as if they WANTED controversy to happen - i do NOT see the "The ethereal nature of this landscape influenced the creative development and desert palette of the collection" as stated by a representative from rodarte - what i DO see, however, is a bride-of-frankenstein, waiflike, haunting look. while i, as a MAC fan, desperately want to believe that this is all part of the poorly planned and researched marketing that went on prior to the release of the information for this collection, it increasingly starts to look intentional - a publicity stunt, which saddens this beauty blogger and MAC fan a great deal. MAC has always had excellent artistic direction and amazing, well priced products - i do not understand why it is they chose to take a route that cheapens and debases the company's previously good image and reputation.

a look from the collection - the intentionally ghost/corpse-like look

for a company like MAC, that keeps up a largely positive image of being socially responsible and tolerant (e.g. MAC AIDS fund, the "all ages, all races, all sexes" collection, the "back-to-MAC" recycling program), releasing such a controversial collection (due to the aforementioned lack of research and planning, and/or intentional maketing decisions) seems to be a poorly calculated and detrimental move for the company.

personally, i have to express my utter disappointment (and anger at their lack of remorse in responding to the many crys of outrage in the beauty blogosphere) in a company that i have been a loyal customer for years. i really do hope that MAC has learned from this experience and creates collections in the future that foster a sense of beauty, community and artistry, as it did in the past, rather than disgust, horror and disappointment.

in a nutshell - i encourage you to read up on the issue, and voice your opinions. i personally will be boycotting this collection, and i encourage you to do so, too (personally i do not find the promotional images to be all that appealing anyhow). perhaps if more of us voiced our disappointment and disgust, and/or boycotted the released products, MAC and estee lauder (its parent company) will be more cautious in the future.

you can read up more on the background and other issues concerning the above controversy (including full official MAC and rodarte statements) at the following blogs:

www.temptalia.com

www.lipstickrules.com

www.beautymouth.com
www.mizzworthy.com
www.britishbeautyblogger.com
www.bangsandabun.com
www.ladyofthelane.com
www.big-fashionista.blogspot.com
www.vexinthecity.com
www.sofarsochic.co.uk
www.londonmakeupgirl.com
www.lesalondebeaute.com
www.getlippie.com
www.londonbeautyqueen.blogspot.com
www.kraseybeauty.com
www.makeuploveer.blogspot.com
www.sparklesandbows.blogspot.com
www.healingbeauty.co.uk
www.reallyree.blogspot.com
www.just-nice-things.co.uk
www.musicalhouses.blogspot.com
www.liloo.blogspot.com
www.ditzymake-up.blogspot.com
www.perfectly-polished-nails.com
www.makeupsavvy.co.uk
www.sparkleandshade.blogspot.com
www.makeupadviceforum.com

Guest Posting

2010-07-12T12:12:00.000-04:00

hi everyone!

today i'll be guest-posting over on fellow canadian beauty blogger michelle's blog, lipstick rules (lipstick DOES rule, it's a sentiment that i can totally agree on). i have a few posts coming up - FOTDs for a photo shoot as well as a couple product reviews, so stay tuned!

here's a preview of the look, please go look at the tutorial!

love,

lareinarumbera

Friday Show & Tell - My Eyeshadow and (Partial) Blush Stash

2010-07-02T18:00:00.000-04:00

warning: picture heavy!

today i decided to share with you my complete eyeshadow (powder & cream) and partial blush (powders only) stash.

recently i depotted everything into palettes, to receive some free goodies using the back to MAC program.

all my eyeshadows are either MAC (brights, unusual colors) or bobbi brown (neutrals, mattes), and all my powder blushes are NARS (brights, iconic/cult favorite colors) or bobbi brown (neutrals, mattes), with the exception of 1 cargo quad which i received as a gift.

i'm a sucker for organization, and these brands generally allow for your eyeshadows & blushes to be depotted and placed into palettes/purchased as pans (MAC), or come individually packaged but able to "click" into palettes (bobbi brown). NARS blushes are generally not depot-able, but come in sleek, rubberized compacts (the rubbery stuff rubs off a little if you've had them for a while, but no biggie) with mirrors, which is a plus.

today i excluded my cream blushes & bronzers as that would probably be another gazillion pictures, but i do plan on sharing the rest of my stash (including my full lip product stash) in a future post.

so, here it is:

PALETTE 1 - MAC 15-pan pro palette (BRIGHTS & DRAMATICS)

this palette holds my MAC brights & dark colored eyeshadows. my favorite finish is veluxe pearl (soooo buttery, smooth & pigmented), but there are a few that are frost or lustre finishes as well.

column 1. blue based purples/violets - beautiful iris (lavender, veluxe pearl), parfait amour (intense blue-violet, frost), indigo glow (indigo with a lot of purple in it, this one is an annabelle shade that fits into MAC compacts, provided by the manufacturer, it is closest to veluxe pearl in finish)

column 2. coppers & pink-purples - mythology (copper, lustre), creme de violet (fuchsia-purple with gold, frost), stars 'n' rockets (pinked violet with blue pearl, veluxe pearl)

column 3. blues - moon's reflection (light silvery blue), freshwater (medium summery aqua-blue), blue flame (dark, intense blue); all veluxe pearl

column 4. greens & teals - warm chill (mint green, frost), swimming (sea green, lustre), shimmermoss (teal with green pearl, veluxe pearl)

column 5. smokies - silverthorn (icy silver, veluxe pearl), mont black (black with gold, velvet), carbon (flat black, matte)

PALETTE 2 - MAC 4-pan pro palette (HIGHLIGHTS & BASES)

this palette holds my MAC highlights & base colors. these shades are more unusual than my typical neutrals from bobbi brown.

from L to R, top to bottom: phloof! (champagne, frost), vex (beige with green & pink, really unusual, frost), seedy pearl (lavenderish pink, frost), sugar dust (palest pink-purple, more purple than seedy pearl, an annabelle shade provided by the manufacturer)

PALETTE 3 - MAC trip: 5 warm eyes

from L to R: whistle (pastel pink, satin), da bling (warm pink with gold, veluxe pearl), leisuretime (plum with fuchsia, veluxe pearl), cassette (dark aubergine purple, veluxe pearl), parfait amour (blue-violet, frost).

PALETTE 4 - MAC too dolly hello kitty quad

from L to R: yogurt (pale pink, matte), romping (strawberry pink with blue pearl, frost), too dolly (aqua, frost), stately black (blue-black with glitter, lustre).

PALETTE 5 - bobbi brown 6-pan palette (COOL NEUTRALS)

from L to R, top to bottom: bone (off white/cream), champagne (flesh-beige), pink pearl (ballet pink with shimmer), heather mauve (greyish purple-brown), fawn (ashy cool brown with pearl), gunmetal (dark grey-black with bluish shimmer), all shimmerwash except pink pearl, which is metallic.

PALETTE 6 - bobbi brown 6-pan palette (WARM NEUTRALS)

from L to R, top to bottom: champagne quartz (peachy-gold, more peach than champagne), burnt sugar (warm golden brown shimmer), java (dark chocolate brown with shimmer), all metallics; nude eye shadow palette clicked into the bottom half - pebble/navajo (silvery beige, beigey pinkish white), beige linen/chino (golden beige, khaki beige), caviar/maple sugar (brownish-black, amber bronze), all matte/shimmerwash duos

PALETTE 7 - bobbi brown 6-pan palette (MATTE NEUTRALS & CHEEKS)

from L to R, top to bottom: baby pink (literally, baby pink), flint (grey brown), mahogany (dark ash brown, great for lining, crease & eyebrows), all matte; blushes - slopes (flushed neutral-fleshy pink), nectar (warm coral-pink), both matte; bahama brown (pinked brown with golden shimmer), shimmer

PALETTE 8 - cargo toronto quad (BLUE SMOKY)

from L to R, top to bottom (shades don't have names): denim blue metallic, silvery blue-grey metallic, muted teal-grey metallic, black with silver glitter

loose eye items - cream shadows, eyeshadow singles

cream shadows, from L to R: MAC fresco rose (medium pink shimmer) & bare study (champagne-white shimmer) paint pots, benefit birthday suit (beigey-taupe shimmer) creaseless cream shadow-liner pot

the only loose eyeshadow in my collection currently, mainly because i don't use it very often: bobbi brown copper sand metallic eyeshadow (dark reddish brown) - i find this one a little bit too ruddy on most people except for the very tan/dark.

loose cheek items - NARS & bobbi brown

my NARS blush stash. i will name the colors using the bottom picture, from L to R, top to bottom: orgasm (medium peachy-pink with gold shimmer), cactus flower (poppy-red with gold shimmer - looks darker than orgasm in real life, but the flash washed it out a little, note: this is a cream blush), deep throat (light peachy pink with less shimmer than orgasm, more delicate & demure), angelika (cool candy pink with white gold shimmer).

my loose bobbi brown shimmer blush (this will remain loose until i have 4 more shades to put in a 6-pan palette) - pink sugar (cool clean pink with gold shimmer, very interesting because it's a cool base with warm shimmer, suitable for a lot of skin tones for a perky effect, warmer than angelika)

finally, here is my kitty, makeup assistant & blog mascot, cha cha, lording over the NARS blushes to show them who's boss (and plotting the demise of the human race/world domination)!

how do you organize your eyeshadows? do you prefer palettes or singles? what shades do you wish you had less/more of?

TGIF,

lareinarumbera

A Little Math with Lip Products, and a New Self-Instituted Lip Product Ban

2010-06-24T18:02:00.009-04:00

before i go on to my main post... a little heads up, the comments feature has been enabled on my food blog, which is once again here. there is also a "ask the foodie" feature for those of you who have any culinary questions :).

today, i was organizing my makeup stash... and realized - i have way too many lip products! i had 39, THIRTY-BLEEPING-NINE, lip products, not counting lip/cheek cremes/stains, lip care/lip balms, and lip liners. here's a picture of the offending stash:

i have, currently in my possession, the following...

three chanel glossimers, volage, wild rose & astral
three clinique long last glosswears, clearly pink, guavagold & bamboo pink
three l'oreal color juices, cherry on top, raspberry smash & watermelon crush
one MAC dazzleglass, rags to riches
three MAC lipglasses, prrr, nymphette & lychee luxe
two dior creme de glosses, beige silk satin & sweet praline
two dior addict ultra glosses, coral fantasy & pink trench
five bare escentuals BUXOM lip polishes, kanani, candi, skipper, marina & misty
five MAC lipsticks, lustering, see sheer, syrup, jubilee & ruby woo
two laura mercier hydratints, crimson & rose
two NARS lipsticks, jungle red & funny face
two MAC tinted lip conditioners, fuchsia fix & petting pink
one lancome color design matte lipstick, corset
one dior addict lipstick, rose bustier
one dior rouge dior, VIP pink
three guerlain rouge g de guerlains, gaela, georgia & brenda

PLUS...

two bobbi brown pot rouges (lip & cheek), pale pink & powder pink
three lip pencils, NARS funny face/jungle red & bobbi brown pale pink
benefit benetint (lip & cheek)
two NARS multiple sticks (lip, eye & cheek), orgasm & copacabana

which makes the grand total... a whopping 47 things that can be used on the lips at any given moment, many of which are similar in color family. note that, i did not include lip balms (i have 3 kiehl's in different flavors, 1 sunscreen one, rosebud lip salve, and 2 types of nivea labellos) because i consider these skincare and not makeup products.

if we crunch some numbers, and say that at any given moment, i use two products at a time (e.g. lipstick + gloss, or liner + lipstick... whatever it may be), then,

given the laws of math... 2 items chosen from a set of 47,

i.e. n C k = ( n! )/ [ k! ( n - k )!]
(combinations, not permutations since order does not matter and repetitions of same two-product combos are not allowed)

where n = 47 and k = 2,

47 C 2 = 1081 combinations of possible lip colors!

i know that not everything goes with everything and so it's not quite 1081 combos, but it's HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS of different looks i could be doing without buying new lip product!

holy batman in h*ll, i had no idea that i was being so wasteful... so, barring gifts & freebies, i am on a LIP PRODUCT BAN on further notice.

i know that lip products are probably my favorite makeup product... but really, do i need a 324878438th lip gloss, most of which i have a similar color for? probably not.

what's the #1 category of beauty product that you can't seem to stop buying, even though you have plenty?

Le Look Du Jour - Exotic Orchid

2010-06-22T12:24:00.001-04:00

hello, everyone!

here's a belated, but much needed update... if anyone's still following....

here's a look i did featuring exotic orchid pinks, purples & a light dusting of bronze. this look features two of the lovely items that isabelle of marcelle PR graciously provided for me.

this look is slightly out of my comfort zone - i'm scared to death of warm colors generally, so i decided to stay in the purple family (tried & true for me - but leaning more towards pink-violet & plums), and warm it up with some warm pinks & corals. on the lips i chose a mave pink warmed up with a golden shimmer, to tie the purple & pink/coral elements together.

for this look you need:

FACE.
MAC select cover up, NW20
NARS cactus flower cream blush (coral red with gold)
annabelle zebra bronzing powder (soft brown based bronze)

annabelle bronzing powder & skin swatches, on NW20/NC15 skin. zebra is a lovely, golden brown shade that goes on glowy, not frosty or glittery, and reminds me a bit of NARS laguna bronzer. it does a lovely job of adding glow to the skin, without looking too orange or unnatural.

vortex violet, which i did not have time to do swatches for, is a smoothly applying, metallic eyeliner pencil that is blue-violet. i was surprised that it did not seem to migrate very much, even though the eyeliner was called "smudgeliner." they stay on especially well layered over powders. overall, these two products were surprisingly good for drugstore products!

EYES.
MAC fresco rose paint pot (base, ballet-slipper pink frost)
MAC creme de violet eyeshadow (lid, pink-violet & gold frost)
MAC da bling eyeshadow (lid, gold-peach-pink duochrome veluxe pearl)*
MAC leisuretime eyeshadow (crease, plummy aubergine veluxe pearl)*
MAC swish eyeshadow (highlight, pastel pink satin)*
annabelle vortex violet smudgeliner (smooth, metallic violet)
bobbi brown ivy shimmer longwearing gel eyeliner (deep forest green with a pearly sheen) - not featured above (forgot to take a picture).
make up for ever waterproof eyebrow corrector, #04 (if needed)
l'oreal blackest black extra volume collagen waterproof mascara

*indicates the shade is from the MAC trip: 5 warm eyes palette.

LIPS.
MAC syrup lipstick (a ladylike, semi-sheer mauve-pink lustre)
bare escentuals sunny buxom healthy lip shine (a sheer, gold metallic gloss)**

** indicates that the shade is exclusive to the BE buxom sailor girls lip gloss gift box set.

to achieve this look:

conceal under eyes, around the nose, and on any spots & shadows, using a concealer brush and dampened sponge to stipple out the concealer.

with a finger, or a large, synthetic shadow brush, apply a wash of fresco rose to the entire eye area, from lash line to brow bone. blend with a fluffy blending brush..

apply da bling to the entire eyelid, using a large angled shadow brush, up to where the eye socket ends. blend.

apply creme de violet just up to the crease, using a medium-to-small shadow brush (depending on your eyelid shape and color), concentrating the color closer to the lash line. apply leisuretime in the crease for depth, using a bullet shaped shadow brush or a smokey eye brush, and blend everything. apply a bit of swish to the brow bone & blend as a highlight.

line the bottom lash line with vortex violet, smudge with a q-tip or finger. line the upper lid with ivy shimmer ink, joining the two eyeliners at the corner into a cat eye.

curl your eyelashes, and apply two coats of mascara. fill in brows with an angled eyebrow brush, if needed.

with a synthetic blush brush or a duo-fibre/stippling brush, apply cactus flower to the apples of cheeks. blend upwards towards the temples.

with a large, dense bronzing brush, apply a wash of zebra bronzing powder, concentrating on the areas where the sun would naturally hit, and over the cheekbones, for a sultry glow. remember to apply some to the neck & decollete so that you don't end up with differently colored body parts!

apply syrup to your lips, straight from the tube, and top off with a coat of sunny... et voila! you're ready to rock this tropical look.

what do you think?

on another note, i've started a food blog, "qu'est-ce qu'on mange?" - a montreal girl's attempts to answer the eternal question of what to eat. all the food related content will now be posted there!

some products in this look were provided for review by the manufacturer. the ballroom beauty provides a personal opinion on the performance of all the products submitted for consideration - we do not do paid reviews nor do we advertise for any manufacturer. any review posted is a personal account only, and should not be considered medical advice, and should you have questions concerning possible reactions to a product, you should consult with a medical professional. for more information on product review policies, please email us at lareinarumbera@gmail.com. thank you.

Happy Birthday to Me/Le Look Du Jour - Classic & Professional

2010-06-11T19:01:00.001-04:00

first off, can i say... happy birthday to me?!

as of midnight yesterday (or this morning, depending on how you look at it), i'm 22 years old!

i plan on celebrating by dancing the night away with my friends :)

now, to the main part of this post...

as some of you know, i graduated last week - this officially marks the end of my academic career (until further notice; as we know in this day and age a bachelor's isn't worth much). after much blood, sweat and tears, i now have a piece of paper in latin that states that i have qualifications in economics, psychology and behavioral science.

to mark the big day, i chose a neutral, structured, classic look that allowed me to look clean, polished and photogenic (because, as you know, parents are big on the whole pictures thing).

for this look you need:

EYES:

MAC eyeshadows - phloof! (frost), silverthorn (veluxe pearl)
bobbi brown eyeshadows - bone (shimmer), heather mauve (shimmer), gunmetal (metallic)
MAC fluidline - blacktrack
dior diorshow iconic l'extreme waterproof mascara - black
make up for ever waterproof eyebrow corrector - 04

LIPS:

lancome color design matte lipstick - corset
dior creme de gloss - beige silk satin (231)

FACE & CHEEKS:

MAC select cover up - NW20
bare escentuals i.d. bareminerals powder foundation spf 15 - fair
bobbi brown pot rouge for lips & cheeks - powder pink
bobbi brown powder blush - slopes
NARS the multiple - copacabana

to achieve this look:

start with a clean, well moisturized face. conceal where needed with MAC select cover up; set with a dusting of bareminerals.
apply a champagne-beige as a base, such as MAC phloof!, using a large shadow brush, all the way up to the brow bone.
apply a heathered grey-mauve to the lid, up to the crease, such as BB heather mauve, using a medium shadow brush.
pack on a medium silvery-grey on the lid, such as MAC silverthorn, using a medium shadow brush or pencil/crease brush.
contour the outer V and crease slightly with a charcoal, such as BB gunmetal, using a small shadow brush with tightly packed bristles. clean up any fallout using a fan brush and gentle blowing.
line the eyes, with a black eyeliner (MAC blacktrack) following the natural contours of your eyes, extending a bit past the outer V in a slight cat eye shape. curl eyelashes and apply mascara (diorshow iconic).
fill in brows, if needed, with a shade corresponding your natural brow color (for me - MUFE waterproof brow corrector 04). your eyes are now done!
using a duofibre brush or a foundation brush, apply to the cheeks a light wash of a warm flesh-pink cream blush, such as BB powder pink. blend from the apples to the temples. dust a matte, flushed/neutral pink blush such as BB slopes, to set the color. apply using fingers, a highlighter to your cheekbones, such as NARS copacabana. finish by blending away any lines of demarcation with a dense face blender/kabuki brush.
straight from the tube, apply a flushed coral-pink or warm pink, such as lancome corset, evenly to your lips, and top off with a beigey pink gloss, such as dior beige silk satin, that has more subtle shine (you want your lips to look polished, not pornstary).

the result: a structured, pretty but not overdone look that looks great in pictures!
the below picture is the finished look, with my best friend cheryl :)

Quickie Beauty Tip of the Day - Exfoliation in a Pinch

2010-06-09T13:14:00.001-04:00

every beauty addict knows that exfoliation is the key to maintaining a glowing, even complexion. dull skin cells can accumulate and cause flakes, dullness and ashy skin, which over time can contribute to plugged pores and other skin problems.

most of us do own a scrub at home, but if you're strapped for cash, trying to become more minimalist in your beauty routine, or have run out, i recommend mixing your favorite cleanser with a pinch of baking soda, dark brown sugar, oatmeal, rice starch, green/red bean flour, or sea salt, depending on your skin type and level of grittiness you prefer.

not only are homemade scrubs such as this a great way to save cash and exfoliate GENTLY (some chemical scrubs are so harsh on skin - might as well use a brillo pad), they also do not contain those tiny, plastic exfoliating beads that over time cause damage to the environment.

for my finicky, sensitive, schizo-combo skin type, i'm really enjoying mixing the body shop vitamin E cream cleanser with a bit of dark brown sugar for some gentle exfoliation.

some other combos that i've liked:

OILY SKIN: brown sugar and/or an oil-absorbing starch (rice, green bean), a few drops of tea tree oil, in a gentle foaming cleanser (like vichy normaderm cleansing gel)

NORMAL/COMBO SKIN: brown sugar or sea salt in a gentle, non-greasy, non-foaming cleanser (like cetaphil gentle cleanser)

DRY/SENSITIVE SKIN: brown sugar and/or oatmeal in a creamy, moisturizing cleanser (like LUSH ultrabland, the body shop vitamin E cream cleanser, dove senitive skin non-foaming creamy cleanser) or moisturizing oil base (like avocado, olive, jojoba or sweet almond oil) base, if your skin is ultra-dry.

Makeup Basics - 10 Essential Eye Brushes

2010-06-08T13:25:00.000-04:00

continuing in the vein of my previous post on 5 essential face brushes, here are 10 brushes that i think are ideal for the application of a full range of eye makeup styles - from subtle & natural to dramatic & smoky to graphic & precise.

once again, here is a collage of the brushes i recommend, and the different shades (highlight, all over, crease, liner, accent etc.) that could be used with them.

10 essential eye brushes by lareinarumbera on Polyvore.com

blending/all over shadow brush. a fluffy, tapered brush used to blend harsh lines, apply a highlight color, and to apply a wash of color all over the eyelid. purpose - blends & applies soft, light/highlight colors. use it for - highlighting, adding a wash of light to medium color to the lid, and for blending harsh lines, suitable for both cream & powder products.
angled shadow brush. a medium sized, angled, paddle/flat brush used to apply eyeshadow all over, or in a more precise pattern. purpose - all over wash, application of lid color, precise placement of color. the brush has an angled head which conforms to the shape & contours of the eye area. use it for - washes of color, application of lid color, contouring. suitable mainly for powder shadows.
flat shadow brush. a paddle/flat brush of various sizes (choose the one that's the right size for your lid) used to concentrate accent/medium shades on the lid. purpose - application of lid color. use it for - general shadow application - wet/dry, cream/powder. can also be used to apply a brighter/more colorful shade all over the lid.
small shadow brush. a small paddle/flat brush (smaller than the one in 3.) used to precisely apply more concentrated colors. purpose - precise placement of any colors, anywhere in the eye area. use it for - very pigmented shadows, accent colors, darker colors.
pencil/crease brush. a tightly packed, pointed/bullet shaped brush for smudging dark colors onto the top lid. purpose - contouring, creasework, and smudging. use it for - creating smoking, blended effects, creating a deeper crease, the outer v - suitable for darker formulas, both cream and powder.
short shader/smudger brush. a paddle/flat shaped brush with tight, small bristles. purpose - smudges dark colors into the lash line for a intense, dramatic effect. use it for - smoking out liners, smudging shadows, intensifying colors, both with cream and powder forumlas, to create sultry, bedroom eyes.
synthetic shadow brush. a large, flat shaped brush with synthetic bristles. purpose - applies creamy formulas, potted primers, and concealers without absorbing too much product. use it for - cream shadows, primers, concealers - anywhere around the eye area.
liner brush. there are several types - i generally prefer the straight, pointed one, but others prefer a "bent" pointed brush, or a "push" or "flat" definer brush. choose the one that lets you line comfortably. purpose - applies cream/gel eyeliner. use it for - lining the eyes, with any formula.
brow/lash brush. combs brows & lashes so that they are neat. very simple. buy a sturdy one.
eyebrow/angled eye brush. an angled brush used to fill in and define brows. can also be used to linen the eyes in a pinch. useful for all types of brow product.

Makeup Basics - 5 Essential Face Brushes

2010-05-26T13:40:00.013-04:00

hi everyone!

i haven't posted in a while due to some severe burnout, but i'm back!

this is the first installment of the makeup basics series - let me know what posts you would like to see in this series and i'll run them if it's feasible!

if you're new to makeup, finding the right brushes can be a confusing task, because of the sheer number of brushes available on the market. here's my top 5 for the face that make good starter tools for the makeup novice, or for the minimalist (or for those of us unemployed/students who are on a tight budget).

although lots of makeup comes prepackaged with brushes/applicators, a lot of the times they're useless - they're too small, scratchy, or just plain ill-suited to apply the product. i always wondered why the companies bother, since it doesn't work the way it's supposed to.

investing in a set of good brushes will make your makeup sessions more enjoyable, and the end results will be doubly gorgeous. i personally like MAC, smashbox, ecotools & quo professionnel for their quality brushes, although other counters do offer brush options.

the below is a collage i did with each brush i think is essential, and the products it could be used with. i picked these five brushes based on the fact that each could be easily used for many different functions, which makes them more useful than highly specialized brushes.

5 essential face brushes by lareinarumbera on Polyvore.com

here are the five essential brushes i recommend:

buffer/kabuki brush. this is a dense, soft, rounded brush, often with a short handle, although some companies offer similar density brushes with a long/full handle. purpose - achieve a flawless, even complexion, blend away harsh lines, soft, diffused, delicate application of face powders and other products. use it for - mineral makeup, sheer bronzers/blushes, loose/pressed/setting powder, blending of overapplied products & lines of demarcation.
slanted contour/cheek brush: a slanted, small-to-medium sized brush that fits in the hollows of the cheeks. purpose - apply cheek & contour/highlight colors and to add dimension to the cheekbones & the hollows of the cheeks. use it for - normal application of blushes/cheek color & contouring/highlighting. it is best suited for powder products.
small duo-fibre/"skunk" brush/stippling brush: this is a flat-topped, small brush with longer (synthetic) hairs that grab the product and shorter (natural/goat) hairs that deposit & blend the product for a diffused, sheer, transparent finish. purpose - natural application of powder, cream, liquid, gel formulas to any area. particularly useful for foundation, cream blush/bronzers & pigmented blushes/bronzers. use it for - cream/liquid/gel products (blush, bronzer, foundation, concealer), intensely pigmented products, bright/dark products, lightweight, colorless, non-heavy application of mattifying products & powders. this is the only brush that i do not have dupes for - the only one i like is MAC 188 small duo-fibre - it's incomparable! this is really, truly, such a useful brush to have - i use it for EVERYTHING, from concealer to cream blush to even powdering my t-zone.
fan brush: this is a skinny, fan-shaped, thin brush. purpose - clean-up of product fallout, lightweight highlighting/contouring, diffuse harsh lines, lightly veiling the face with color. use it for - very sparkly/shimmery products, highlighting your cheekbones, cleaning up messy smoky eyes, adding loose powder for clean up.
concealer brush: this is a small-to-medium, flat, chiseled brush made of synthetic fibres. purpose - strategic placement of concealers & cover ups. also useful for cream bases/eyeshadows, since the synthetic bristles don't soak up all the product. use it for - applying concealer to key areas - under the eyes, around the nose, on pimples. can also be used to apply a wash of cream product/shadow to the eyelid.

my picks (in the order i explained the brushes above):

the cadillac of brushes: MAC 182 buffer brush - the softest, most dense, amazing brush on the market. other options: smashbox 19 face & body brush - soft, dense, but IMHO not as good as the MAC, although the longer handle may be more suitable for some; quo professionnel bronzing brush - comparable to the smashbox, but a bit fluffier & less dense. good for those who want a dupe on a budget; ecotools bronzing brush - cruelty free, soft, dense bristles and a sustainable bamboo handle make this brush a staple of vegans, vegetarians, and the eco-conscious.
MAC 168 large angled contour brush. soft, dense goat hair. incomparable to any others on the market.
MAC 188 small duo-fibre brush - there are no dupes. period. soft synthetic & goat hairs, small size allows precision.
smashbox 22 fan brush will not turn poofy and has a nice, soft, but still firm enough bristles for a variety of tasks. other options: benefit fan brush - a bit scratchier than the smashbox, but still okay in a pinch.
ecotools concealer brush is cheap, cruelty free, soft, and of high-quality synthetic bristles and blends concealer amazingly.

note on natural vs. synthetic bristles- natural hairs are better suited for drier products, that need to be applied gently and softly. synthetic bristles are good for creamy, wet products, since the fibres won't absorb the moisture in the product.

if you're vegan/vegetarian, or concerned about the animal hairs used in the brushes, please call the company to find out how they obtain their natural bristles. MAC, for one, only clips/shears their animals so that they are not harmed (i had a funny thought of gordon espinet, MAC guru, running after a squirrel with scissors to make an eyeshadow brush), while brands like ecotools, are completely animal hair-free.

due to the often inhumane treatment of animals in the fur industry, i always make it a point to call the company and ensure that the animal hair used in their brushes are not obtained by harming or hurting the animal. if a company can't tell you what their policy is, or does not give a clear answer, stay away - better to be safe, than to have a poor goat/squirrel/badger's blood on your hands. while i do use animal hair brushes, they are all from companies with sound practices - make sure yours come from a humane source too!

what do you think about my selection? do you have any other must-have brushes that you would add to this list?

happy hump day,

lareinarumbera

I'm Alive!

2010-05-19T13:54:00.000-04:00

hi everyone - i've been a bit burnt out after final exams, but rest assured i'm alive. i've got a lot of exciting posts planned that i'm working on now, and i promise to be back soon!

in the meantime - what beauty products have rocked your world lately? i've been wanting to do a summer haul soon!

Product Review: Marcelle Hydra-C Complexe 24h Hydrating Fluid

2010-05-05T23:24:00.004-04:00

about a week ago, i received a package chock full of goodies from the very sweet isabelle at marcelle PR.

one of the products she sent me was marcelle hydra-c complexe 24h hydrating fluid, a light, moisturizing, gel-cream contained in a airtight pump.

WHAT I LIKED ABOUT IT:
great, non-greasy, light, cooling texture, no discernable fragrance, hygenic pump packaging, good price point. the product just disappears into your skin - no residue, no shine, nothing. you don't need much - just a pump for your whole face, and another pump for your neck.

it would be an amazing moisturizer for the summer, and/or for oilier skinned chicas.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE ABOUT IT:
for my skin type (sensitive/reactive dry-combo, not oily-combo), the moisture just didn't last very long. it seemed to leave my t-zone happy, and my u-zone a bit tight and unhappy - i had to top it off with a small dab of my standby (LUSH celestial). i'm assuming that it will be better for oilier skins - i gave it to my sister, and voila, she was happy with the results.

while i liked the pump container, i'm puzzled that they would use a clear/translucent container for something that contains vitamin C. vitamin C is photosensitive and will break down if packaged in a clear container, as far as i know - maybe they found a way to stabilize it? it makes me cast a bit of doubt on the fact that the ingredients are supposed to brighten your complexion and energize you.

OVERALL:
good for oily-combo to oily girls (might be too oily for some, it contains shea butter) looking for a hypoallergenic, no-fuss moisturizer in a great, hygenic packaging.

i don't know whether or not it does what it claims to do, honestly - while it's a good basic moisturizer, i haven't noticed much brightening/energizing, other than a cooling, soothing feeling (which i enjoyed very much) - this might be true if i used it for longer (i've only been testing it for a week or so).

however, it didn't make my sensitive skin react, and it was a nice-feeling moisturizer for my sister, who has an oilier skin type. it may not be suitable for older skins, but for us (we're 21 and 17) it provides enough so that our skin didn't feel uncomfortable and tight.

it's very similar in texture to clinique moisture surge extra thirsty skin relief and biotherm aquasource non-stop.

i give this product a 3.5/5, or a B: good, solid, but not excellent (i may revise my grade once i use up a whole bottle and find that i notice my skin is brighter). it's a reliable, basic moisturizer, with not many bells & whistles. i do recommend it for those who are looking for a cheaper alternative to the clinique & biotherm moisturizers (the basic goal is to provide hydration, not fancy antiaging claims or do amazing things).

this product was provided for review by the manufacturer. the ballroom beauty provides a personal opinion on the performance of all the products submitted for consideration - we do not do paid reviews nor do we advertise for any manufacturer. any review posted is a personal account only, and should not be considered medical advice, and should you have questions concerning possible reactions to a product, you should consult with a medical professional. for more information on product review policies, please email us at lareinarumbera@gmail.com. thank you.

Quickie Beauty Tip of the Day - How to Wear Less Makeup on a Blah Day

2010-05-03T13:35:00.001-04:00

happy monday, pretty ladies!

here's a quick beauty tip - when you're feeling blah, and your makeup isn't going on right, try this:

after concealing and setting with powder only, apply a pinkish or coralish lipstick/gloss & blush BEFORE you apply the rest of your makeup. you'll see that you'll need less makeup overall! most women need a bit of a healthy flush in their lips and cheeks when they're feeling a bit down, to counteract the pallor, rather than layers and layers of eyeliner and foundation caked on - it's a lot more natural, and you won't feel like you're trying too hard. just remember to keep the tones in the same family, and you're good to go!

the right shade will give your face a lift, as if you've slept a full 8-10 hours, it should have the uplifting effect as if you're one of those insanely happy girls in laundry detergent commercials, frolicking in the meadows.

if it's also a bad hair day, i like to use a bright headband or scarf to accessorize, rather than to try and fix it by overprocessing it with products & hot tools.

how do you deal with bad makeup/hair days?

do drop me a line and let me know how you're doing!

love,

lareinarumbera

Le Look Du Jour - Sultry Neutrals

2010-04-27T21:38:00.003-04:00

i'm in the process of procrastinating, so i thought i would post a quick FOTD.

this is a look that i go for sometimes when i go somewhere and i want to feel a little sexy, but not over the top (please don't LOL at my attempt to make a sexy face in the below photo - it's kind of hilarious).

i concealed and set with powder under the eyes, added a champagne color up to the brow bone, added a taupe shadow to the middle, blended everything, and lined my eyes with a sapphire blue eyeliner (to make my brown eyes pop - you can use green/purple/black or whatever color you want to use). i then added a couple coats of mascara, and filled in my brows (mine happen to end a little short).

to keep my lips looking too pornstarish, but still going for the sexy nude look, i applied a fleshy pink lip pencil and then topped it with a golden-peachy-pink-nude gloss.

on my cheeks, i kept it to a minimum by highlighting and contouring with a shimmer pale pink and a brown-pink. to finish it all off, i used a light dusting of a sheer, pink-based bronzer (not an orange-based one, because that looks unnatural on my untanned skin).

what i used:
bobbi brown foundation stick in cool beige (as concealer)
bareminerals spf 15 in fair
MAC phloof! eye shadow
bobbi brown fawn (metallic) eye shadow
bobbi brown longwearing gel eyeliner in sapphire shimmer ink
bobbi brown pale pink lipliner
MAC prrr lip glass
benefit 10 bronzing & contouring powder
dior diorshow iconic waterproof mascara
make up for ever waterproof brow corrector #04
guerlain le poudre bronzante legere "les blondes"

what do you think? sexy or blah?

wish me luck for my exams! i'll be free once friday comes!

Polyvore Fun - Top 5 Springtime Perfumes

2010-04-22T22:45:00.003-04:00

with springtime, perfumes get lighter and fresher. they're also often girly, as opposed to sexy - here are my favorites for spring, in no particular order of preference (i like them all for different reasons):

Top 5 Springtime Perfumes by lareinarumbera on Polyvore.com

1. chloe eau de parfum: this is my default scent throughout the year, but it's partiularly appropriate for spring. it's a clean, soapy mix of lychee, peony, cedarwood, pink pepper, lily of the valley and rose. i hate the lychee, but it dries down to a soapy, sparkling rose that is very girly. it's a medium-strength perfume - you don't get much sillage out of it, but it's still softly lasting throughout the day.

appropriate for: dates, casual wear, office wear, daytime wear.

2. prada infusion d'iris: this is a dry, delicate iris - slightly powdery with a bit of soapy resin and woodiness. this is very unisex and a guy could easily pull it off. it's a skin scent, meaning that you can't usually smell this particular scent until you hug that special someone and catch a whiff of it on their neck. it's quietly supple and expensive smelling, a bit like a prada leather bag. because it lies close on the skin, this is very intimate and quite sexy, IMO.

appropriate for: couples who share, office wear, formal/business occasions, daytime wear, evening wear for those who don't enjoy strong scents.

3. carolina herrera 212 (the original): musk and lily of the valley with a hint of jasmine. very feminine, intense but not headache inducing, unique soft/white floral. it's quite sexy - i come back to this one often for nighttime. it's simple enough for an evening on the terasse with friends, but sexy enough for a lounge, or late night date. mega sillage, at least on my skin that takes to white florals well.

appropriate for: evenings, formal/dressy occasions, setting the mood.

4. frederic malle editions parfums en passant: watery/cucumbery lilac. this is the most realistic replica of lilac that i've ever smelled. it doesn't smell like an air freshener - it smells, literally, of lilacs and cucumbers "en passant" - in passing, on a breeze. very pretty. it's one of those perfumes cutesy/mild enough that if your little daughter/niece/cousin wanted to steal a squirt, you could let her get away with it, if you can swallow the price tag. beautiful and fresh though. average strength.

appropriate for: sharing with kids (or for kids to steal from their older family members), picnics, casual outings, daytime wear.

5. annick goutal le chevrefeuille: honeysuckle at its best. green, fresh, lush, heady. not a strong perfume, but stays a skin scent for a while (i wish it lasted longer). it's a soliflore - it's all fresh cut honeysuckle that's sparkling but fleeting. very appropriate for spring - it's a sunny, happy, green-floral scent. it's one of those timeless, versatile scents for spring. i have a lot of nostalgia for this scent as it was the scent of a particular spring/summer.

appropriate for: anytime, although i personally don't find it has enough oomph for evening.

i've shared my top 5 - which perfumes do you reach for in the springtime?

Question - Do You Ever Go Au Naturel?

2010-04-21T23:04:00.001-04:00

sometimes, while it's nice to look all made up, i'm too tired to bother with a full face of makeup. i'm not going to lie - while i don't find myself unattractive, i do feel a little bit prettier and girlier when i have a bit of makeup on (not tons gooped all over my face, but just a few things)... that being said, i love the way i look, freckles, scar above my right eyelid (from a childhood tantrum involving which shoes to buy, yes i was a willful child), beauty marks and all, and once in a while when i'm too tired to do ANYTHING, i do just get up, wash my face and run out the door.

here i am, with no makep on my face other than some tinted lip balm (which i put on because it's got sunscreen in it and i was planning on going outside... FYI, it's laura mercier hydratint spf 15 in rose) and curled eyelashes.

i'm a bit shiny because i'm wearing sunscreen that has titanium dioxide, but other than that my face has nothing on it.

what do you think? do you ever go bare faced?

Product Review: Yves Saint Laurent Gloss Volupte

2010-04-19T20:38:00.001-04:00

L to R: #4 prune frappe, #2 framboise gelee

with springtime, i've been letting my hair down a lot more (it was hidden under a hat during the winter), and i've simultaneously developed a hatred for glosses that make my long (down to my waist) black hair stick to my lips.

that probably explains my recent lip product binge (there's many more lippy reviews coming your way, sorry for the lack of variety but i'm always looking for a HG) - i went from counter to counter searching for the perfect summer lipstick/gloss stick/tinted lip balm.

the YSL, unfortunately, fell very short of my expectations - the pretty, but expensive golden tubes and i had a short but torrid love affair, which in the end, was ultimately ill-fated. in the end, i hated the product so much that i gave it away to my sister, who only uses it sparingly and sometimes just looks at it longingly (she's a younger one, not old enough to have a job yet, so getting two YSL lippies is like winnig the lottery).

poetics aside, the skinny on the product:

for more info on my lip product rating scheme, please look at the box in the sidebar to the right.

formula: 5/5
pigmentation: 2.5/5
price point: 4.5/5

L to R: #2 on the right, #4 on the left (NC15/NW20 skin)

a very slick, balm-like, translucent (more transparent than the MAC lustre lipsticks, think of putting kool-aid or a clear jelly on your lips), and high-end/prestige gloss stick.

the two colors i had were both pretty cool toned (there are warmer ones in the bunch): #2, framboise gelee (frozen raspberry) was a flurorescent fuchsia in the tube that wears to a sheer, rosy tint on the lips, and #4 prune frappe (frosted plum) was a MLBB plum-pink that deepened the reddish/purplish tones in my naturally pigmented lips. i did love the colors, but the reason this particular lineup disappointed me was:

value: 1.5/5
too expensive for the amount of product it contains. after 1 day of use, i'd already put a dent in the product (used a visible portion of it) - since it doesn't last, you're going to need to slather it on, but the lack of product in the container makes it very heartwrenchingly sad.

packaging: 4/5
pretty nice packaging, didn't scratch easily or dent when dropped... only thing i found a bit cheesy was the matching stripe of color in the middle of the tube... looks tacky. however, the container is solid and clicks shut, letting you know that the tube is closed.

performance: 3/5
it wasn't horrible, but it didn't last long like other YSL products i'd tested, nor was it particularly nourishing as the company claims. i actually felt like it was moisturizing GOING ON, but when it wore off i was getting this horrible tight dry feeling. two points off for that; the remaining points go for pretty, stainlike colors, the yummy mango flavor that wasn't icky or too strong (tastes like mango ice tea), and the spf in the gloss (although, don't count on long-term protection).

availability: 4/5
standard prestige. many high-end department stores, sephora and duty free shops will carry this brand.

overall: 12.5/20, or D
i wouldn't recommend this, unless you had the cash to shell out for a new tube every month... it's really pretty while it lasts, but it's just not as good as the $15 MAC lustre lipsticks or as some cheaper tints/balms. i think even the body shop's $8 born lippy balms and even the $3 nivea cherry/strawberry tints beat this! save your money and go get yourself a rouge volupte, rouge coco, or rouge g de guerlain instead if you want to splurge (or get 3 MAC lipsticks, lol).

have you tried gloss volupte? did you like it?

10 Minute Meal - Easy Garden Vegetable Pasta

2010-04-18T20:57:00.001-04:00

hello, pretty ladies, i hope you've all had a great weekend :).

on the weekends, sometimes you just want something quick, easy and light for lunch - something that isn't overly greasy or complicated to make, and is clean-tasting on the palate.

here's a super-quick, easy recipe that takes about 10-15 minutes to prepare.

you'll need (per person):

one serving of our favorite pasta (about 1-1.5 cups dried pasta depending on how much you eat - in the case of noodles, it should be a small bunch) - i used a whole-wheat capellini (angel hair) pasta

3-4 spears of asparagus, tough ends cut off, divided into 1-inch (2.5cm for those of you who are metric) segments

1/2 italian tomato (the oval kind with less seeds inside), de-seeded and diced into 1/2-inch (1cm) cubes

a 2-inch segment of zucchini, cut into half lengthwise, then sliced (to look like half-moons)

1/3 yellow or orange bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch x 1 inch segments (1cm x 2.5cm, like a thicker julienne cut)

1/4 onion or shallots, sliced thinly

minced garlic, salt, pepper & crushed cayenne pepper, to taste

1 tsp. lemon zest

lemon juice, to taste

a few leaves of basil, shredded; save a couple for garnish if you want to make it pretty

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

to make this dish:

in a pot with plenty of water room, boil the water (about 5-6 cups per portion, add a little salt and olive oil), and cut up the vegetables as outlined above.

when the water comes to a boil (varies according to stove), add the pasta, and set the timer according to the directions on the package. remember to stir the pasta while you wait.

when there is about 3-4 minutes left on the timer, start the vegetable saute:

in a frying pan, heat up some oil until it's hot but not smoking. add the garlic, and stir with a wooden spoon to release the oils. take care not to burn the garlic.

throw in the onions, cook until softened. add the peppers, saute another 1 minute or so.

add the zucchini and asparagus, taking care not to overcook.

by this point, the timer for the pasta should have gone off, so turn the stove off on the vegetables, and strain the pasta. add the pasta to the cooked vegetables, sauteing quickly. season with salt, pepper, and crushed cayenne pepper to taste.

toss the pasta one last time, adding a drizzle of lemon juice to taste. add the shredded basil and lemon zest at the very last moment, to brighten the flavors.

enjoy!

other interesting accompaniments include a simple salad of arugula dressed with a dijon vinaigrette, or adding a piece of grilled chicken to add protein to the mixture. you can also play around with the vegetables, by adding a portobello mushroom and artichokes, for example.

have a great week!

lareinarumbera

Le Look Du Jour - Polished in Mauve

2010-04-17T14:58:00.001-04:00

happy weekend, everyone!

here's a simple look that isn't quite as strong as the moody blue look i did for you guys last week...

L: in natural lighting, R: with flash

it's a soft, polished, ladylike mauve and pink look - a subtle way to wear color for the office or for a date night. not that i had a date, le sigh, but that's another story!

for this look you need:

from top to bottom, L to R: MAC seedy pearl eyeshadow, MAC trip: warm eyes palette (whistle, da bling, leisuretime, cassette, parfait amour e/s), MAC fresco rose paint pot, MAC blacktrack fluidline, bobbi brown bahama brown shimmer blush, MAC syrup lustre lipstick, make up for ever waterproof eyebrow corrector 04, MAC select cover up, NW20.

for the eyes: a frosty, cool-pink eyeshadow, a ballet-pink cream eyeshadow or paint pot, medium pink, plum, and violet eyeshadows, a black gel/cream liner, eyebrow corrector/pencil if needed

for the lips: a sheer mauve-pink lipstick

for the face & cheeks: a neutral brown-pink blush with a bit of shimmer for dimension, and your favorite concealer.

FACE.

conceal where needed: under eyes, around the nose etc. using your fingers to warm the product and to pat it into the skin. do not add powder - skin should look natural and dewy (for those of you oily skinned/combo ladies, you may want to dust the t-zone lightly).

add a brownish-pink blush to the apples of cheeks, blend towards temple, and blend back down to soften, using a dense blush brush.

EYES.

eye products. MAC trip: warm eyes - i used the 1st 3 and the last shade. seedy pearl & fresco rose can be seen close up above. seedy pearl really is gorgeous, no? it has so much pink-violet iridescent shimmer!

put the pink cream e/s as a base, from lash line, all the way up to the brow bone, using your finger or a synthetic, flat-headed brush.

dust the icy pink eyeshadow over it to set and have a canvas for the other colors, using a large, fluffy e/s brush.

use a medium pink and blend it to where the socket is, using the fluffy e/s brush.

mix the plum and the violet, and put a light wash of color on the lid. blend a bit of icy pink over this, to soften the darker colors.

line your eyes with black eyeliner, top and bottom. correct brows and add mascara if desired.

the finished product!

LIPS.

sorry about the sloppy swatch, i forgot to correct the excess before i took a photo! it's not as messy from far away...

glide on a mauve-pink semi-sheer lipstick straigh from the tube. wipe off any excess if it goes on a bit sloppy, using a finger wrapped in tissue.

that's it'! this look probably took me 10 minutes to finish, it's simple enough that you can recreate it at home, with probably around 3 or 4 brushes at most!

Summer Beauty - 10 Ways to Wear Hot Pink

2010-04-14T13:00:00.000-04:00

happy hump day, pretty ladies.

i hope the week is going well for all of you!

in the months to come, i do love me a good fuchsia/hot pink, in varying intensities... from sheer to full color, from semimatte to glossy, there's a way to wear fuchsia that should suit everyone. additionally, it's one of those colors that bring out the rosiness in pale skin, neutralize sallowness in olive skin, looks stunning against darker skins, and enhances a tan (both the fake and real kinds).

here is a roundup of my favorite fuchsia products, and 10 ways to wear them.

THE PRODUCTS.

from NARS: funny face lip pencil & lipstick - a TRUE, full-color, blue-fuchsia.
from MAC: lustre lipstick in lustering - a sheer-to-medium pigment, watermelon pink with a wet sheen & tinted lip conditioner spf 15 in fuchsia fix - a sheer, deep, neutral fuchsia pink that is moisturizing and protecting.
from yves saint laurent: gloss volupte spf 9 in 02 framboise glacee - a transparent, popsicle pink with a delicious mango flavor and scent.
from chanel: glossimer in astral - a transparent, shimmery, vinyl-shine lipgloss with blue, lavender and pink micro-glitter. glittery hot pink in a wearable, classy way.

WAYS TO WEAR THEM.

matte, full color for the evening. pair funny face lip pencil with the namesake lipstick, with a neutral eye or blue eyeliner, and you've got yourself a nice, semimatte lip that will last long into the evening. best for those who like red lipstick but want a summery option!
sheer, punchy, transparent color with protection. ideal for the daytime, paired with a sundress, or on a date when you want a hint of color that isn't overwhelming - wear YSL gloss volupte in framboise glacee, or MAC TLC spf 15 in fuchsia fix alone, for an innocent but sexy lip.
for the office/workplace. pair funny face lip pencil, applied sheerly, and tone it down using MAC TLC spf 15 in fuchsia fix. moist and cheerful but not in your face like option 1.
low-maintenance, buildable color. ideal anywhere, gently dab on MAC lipstick in lustering to your desired intensity. this formula lasts longer than a gloss, but still has the wet look and also boasts sheer-to-medium coverage.
full on bling. take option #1, and top it with some chanel glossimer in astral. it takes the fuchsia to a whole new level - just remember to tone down the eye makeup, if you don't want to look like amanda lepore.
for the color shy. apply astral glossimer on its own, for really sheer, shiny color. great if you're still in your teens and don't want to pile on lipstick just yet.
moist, full color. fill in lips with funny face pencil, then either top with funny face lipstick mixed with MAC TLC in fuchsia fix or go a little heavy on the liner and top off with some lustering lipstick.
popsicle-stained lips. apply MAC lustering lipstick to your desired intensity, then use an oil blotting sheet (such as clean and clear oil blotting film) to get rid of the sheen. it will still be sheer and rosy, but will be more matte, giving you a nice, "i just sucked on a popsicle" look. pair with minimal makeup, and long, separated, curled eyelashes - it's great for hot summer days/nights when you don't want loads of goop on your lips.
a hint of glossy pink. apply funny face lip pencil and blot off excess with a tissue. apply astral glossimer over it to increase the intensity of the color in the gloss, and to enjoy a vinyl shine effect.
flushed cheeks in a pinch. if you don't have any blush on you, take the smallest quantity of fuchsia lipstick, and pat it onto the apples of your cheeks after warming it in your fingers. this works best with a semimatte formula, which has enough slip to go on your cheeks, but is dry enough that doesn't slip around everywhere. this works best for tanned, olive or dark skin tones.

that's it for now... what's your favorite hot pink product?

Quickie Dance Tip of the Day - What To Do When the Floor's Too Slick

2010-04-13T19:21:00.001-04:00

hi everyone!

i hope everyone is enjoying the nice spring weather... i know i for one am enjoying the sunshine...

a selection of comme il faut argentine tango shoes... my dream pair would be red patent leather, four inch heel

here's a quick tip for those of you that are new to ballroom/salsa/argentine tango/swing dance (dances that will use sueded soles for dancing):

if the floor seems too slippery or dusty, not giving you enough traction to balance and turn properly, try the following -

brush the soles of your shoe with a good shoe brush; and,
if the problem persists, take a tiny amount of water to wet the sole of your shoe (it should be slightly damp, not soggy).

if you have to wet the soles of your shoes, remember to fully dry & brush them afterwards, so you don't ruin your good dance shoes!

on another note... here's what i got from amazon.ca (not really, my cat just jumped in the box after we took out the books) -

cha cha, overly pleased with himself for getting into the box

Formula Focus - MAC Lustre Lipsticks

2010-04-12T10:00:00.067-04:00

happy monday, everyone!

continuing in the vein of my last blog post on the MAC lustre lipstick in see sheer, i wanted to share with you my thoughts on the MAC "lustre" formula.

from R to L: lustre lipsticks in see sheer, jubilee, syrup & lustering

according to the MAC website, this formula is "demi-sheer with wet-look lustre finish. Very slick. Makes lips look soft, smooth, ultra-moist."

while a lot of companies seem to just claim their products do something, when it really doesn't do very much, i find that MAC is one of the most accurate companies when it comes to product descriptions - the lustre lipsticks, do in fact, look EXACTLY as described by MAC.

my take on the lustre formula is that it indeed is somewhat sheer (i.e. "demi-sheer") - you can still clearly see the wash of color, but it is still transparent, almost like i've sucked on a lollipop or popsicle, and slick/shiny/moist looking. it imparts a nice, wet SHEEN, not a glassy, vinyl shine, leaving your lips look very even and moisturized.

the formula isn't overly moisturizing - while it is indeed comfortable to wear, compared to some other formulas by MAC, it isn't moisturizing in the way a balm is (it's very lightweight, almost like a layer of oil on your lips, in a good way). however, i am okay with this fact, since MAC only claims that it makes lips LOOK moisturized (note the above product description).

this is the largest line of lipsticks by MAC, which attests to its popularity (other than matte, amplified creme and creamsheen) - in fact, i loved the formula so much that i started with one (jubilee, a creamy, fleshy nude-pink) and ended up with four (see sheer, a pink grapefruit, syrup, a mauve-pink, lustering, a sheer watermelon, and jubilee). with one swipe, i was in love - it didn't make my long hair stick to my lips in the wind, gave me sheer, wet color that was appropriate for day, and didn't make me feel like i was wearing something on my lips. on top of that, it didn't involve me sticking my fingers into a pot of tinted lip balm (MAC tinted lip conditioner - i'm talking to you), or apply every five seconds, like some other sheer formulas.

it will NEVER replace my ruby woo (part of the MAC matte range of colors - a true, bold, blue red), but as a daytime lipstick - it truly is one of the best.

overall, i really love this formula and the range of colors it offers - there's a little of everything ranging from nudes to brights for everyone (and it's also a good way for you color-shy gals to get acquainted with reds, fuchsias and corals)! it's very reasonably priced too, for the amount of product you get.

that being said, what's your favorite lipstick formula?

Le Look Du Jour - Moody Blue

2010-04-09T14:55:00.002-04:00

TGIF, pretty ladies!

i have a look here for you that i did two weeks ago, but just didn't get around to posting... please note the crappy quality of the images is due to the fact that i didn't have time to properly take pictures with my SLR before rushing off to my friend's birthday party, so i've hastily snapped them on my blackberry, which doesn't have good imaging quality :(.

what i wanted to do with this look was to create a intensely blue, sexy look, that doesn't make you look like mimi from the drew carey show or that girl in middle school who started wearing makeup first and overdosed on blue in a not-so-good-way.

blue, done the wrong way

obviously, i didn't intend for this look to be normal for the daytime, but it's a nighttime look that you can take to a club or party.

for this look, you need:

from top to bottom, L to R: NARS laguna bronzer, GOSH velvet touch eye pencils in petrol blue & metallic brass, dior diorshow iconic waterproof mascara, make up for ever waterproof eyebrow corrector #04, MAC eyeshadows in blue flame, moon's reflection and silverthorne, MAC studio finish concealer spf 15 in NC 15, MAC paint pot in bare study, chanel glossimer in volage, MAC lustre lipstick in jubilee

SKIN.

in dim lighting situations, you don't need a full face of foundation - apply a longwearing concealer like the one i've used anywhere you have dark circles, redness, or blemishes, using your fingers to warm the product, and stipple with a makeup wedge to camoflauge, for a naturally flawless effect.

EYES.

apply a champagne/champagne pink cream eyeshadow or primer all over the lid, up to the brow bone. this creates a nice base for the powder products.

with a large, dry, fluffy shadow brush, apply a silver shade all the way up to the brow. you want a wash of color, not molten metal.

apply a medium blue shade with a medium shadow brush, DAMPENED (not wet) with fix + or a similar product, up to the middle of the eye area, about where your eye socket bone can be felt.

blend over with the fluffy shadow brush that was used for the silver to blend in any lines of demarcation.

using a dampened crease brush, pack on the dark, true blue shade in the crease, creating a slight V in the outer corners. pack on color until the desired intensity, then blend out with the fluffy shadow brush.

LINING, LASHES & BROWS.

after cleaning up any fallout from the eyeshadows, apply a freshly sharpened navy/petrol liner to the top & bottom lash lines. create a slight cat eye.

using a black or metallic black liner, tightline the top and bottom waterlines. MAKE SURE THE EYE PENCIL/KHOL IS WATERLINE SAFE!!!

curl eyelashes, then apply 2-3 coats of your favorite lengthening/curling mascara.

with an angled brow brush, fill in brows (if needed).

eyes, finished - excuse the blurriness, but you get the idea.

CHEEKS.

using a shimmery, neutral shade, such as a golden-brown bronzer or mocha colored brush, and a small, dense blush brush, contour the hollows of the cheeks, blending well.

using the shimmery champagne cream shadow, apply a light shimmer to the cheekbones.

set everything with a loose, translucent powder if you have oily/combination skin.

LIPS.

apply a flesh-pink nude lipstick one tone lighter than your natural lips with a lip brush, taking care that it is even.

top off with a shimmering, golden-peachy-pink lip gloss for a wet shine, that doesn't compete with the intensity of the eyes.

THE RESULT.

a sexy, intense look for nighttime - blue done in a modern, wearable way. the key is to balance the intensity of the eyes with natural, but sculpted cheeks, and nude lips (take care the lips don't disappear - too nude and you look like you're trying to hard). pair with loose, bed head-y hair, and strut like you're a rock star!

unfortunately, i do look a bit tired and haggard there, i've been working a lot and my skin wasn't looking so good (doesn't help that the photo is taken under fluorescent lighting)... when i'm well rested though, it's a pretty look, i swear!

in other news... hansel the fish died, and now ichabod (icky for short) is replacing him - what a shame. RIP hansel - i hope in fishy heaven they give you all the bloodworms and brine shrimp you want!

ichabod, my new betta fish. ichabod is not an expensive double tail like hansel was, but his colors are still pretty!

i hope you all have a lovely weekend - i'm going on a sugar shack outing with my dance school, which involves loads of uninhibited dancers getting hopped up on maple sugar and scaring away regular tourists from vermont!

<3 as always,

lareinarumbera

MAC Mini Haul & Product Review: See Sheer Lustre Lipstick

2010-04-08T11:38:00.004-04:00

hi everyone!

i have a confession to make - i *was* on a shopping ban, but i fell off the wagon and paid the local MAC store an impromptu visit...

i swore not to leave with anything, but given my love for lip products, i ended up with MAC lustre lipsticks in see sheer (pinkish grapefruit/coral) and lustering (muted watermelon/fuchsia pink), along with a frost eyeshadow in seedy pearl (pinkish lavender-white).

from L to R: lustering, see sheer & seedy pearl

the lustre formula is my favorite formula when it comes to demi-sheer lipsticks (focus on this formula coming soon) - hydrating, comfortable, glossy (although, not a vinyl finish, it's more of a sheen) and pigmented but still transparent - they fade evenly too, depositing a nice stain after the sheen wears off. while a matte formula (such as my beloved ruby woo) deposits the most color, i really don't like the fact that it drys my lips out so much, and the lustres really do deliver on the moisture/comfort front.

see sheer lipstick

today, i'm going to focus on the see sheer lipstick, which is by all means NOT a color i'd normally buy. i'm really, really deathly afraid of corals - i have visions of me looking clownish or looking like i'd just eaten a bag of cheetos, which is how most corals end up looking on my cool-toned, fair skin (yes, your red- and fuchsia-lipstick wearing, drag-queen eyelash toting dancer blogger is actually afraid of a color).

enter see sheer - the color is a bit off in the photographs (it's a cloudy day today in montreal, BUT, the skin swatch is probably the most accurate!), but it's exactly the coral color you see when you slice open a pink grapefruit (MAC's swatch is all wrong too, but their description is very accurate - "pinked grapefruit) - a cool-tone flattering mix of pink, red and orange, that doesn't turn garish on my skin. essentially, it's a PINK coral, which makes it more wearable and less garish, IMHO.

the demi-sheer formula deposits a nice, punchy wash of summery color, that i'll enjoy wearing this summer without feeling self conscious... it's a coral that flatters most skin tones, striking the right balance between all the different color aspects of coral.

also, another upside of this particular coral is that whilst the pigment is NOT missing (you can clearly see that there is a wash of coral), it's still sheer enough that you can swipe it on without a mirror and go. MAC really overdid themselves on this one... i don't know how i'll live without it now - PLEASE don't discontinue this color!

top: see sheer on the lips (medium pigment, NC15 skin)

bottom: see sheer skin swatch, L - swatched sheerly, R - swatched heavily, on NC 15 skin

since it's sheer (but buildable), it can go on as a face-brightening MLBB-coral during the day, and layered, makes a more dramatic statement (although, you won't get the oomph of vegas volt, so don't expect a full-on coral). it's a nice, wearable coral, perfect for those who want something summery but can't wear corals because they work in an office (or because you're like me, and are scared sh*tless of coral lipsticks). it's definitely NOT an old lady coral, and it's definitely not a fluorescent/shocking coral, so i can see myself wearing it with a wide range of looks.

overall review (NEW LIP PRODUCT RATING SCHEME IN EFFECT):

formula: 4/5 (1 being dry as a bone and 5 being lip-balm like)
pigmentation: 3/5 (1 being colorless and 5 being full pigment)
price point: 3/5 (1 being dirt cheap and 5 being luxury/prestige)

overall: a moderately moisturizing, demi-sheer, moderately priced lipstick.

value: 5/5 (1 being too expensive for what it is and 5 being right on with pricing)
packaging: 3/5 (1 being crap and 5 being ultraluxe)
performance: 5/5 (1 NOT doing what it claims to do at all and 5 doing exactly what it's supposed to do)
availability: 5/5 (1 being niche/hard-to-find/limited ed. and 5 being available almost everywhere)

overall: 18/20 or A (general letter grade of recommendability)

comments: i would recommend this to everyone :)... it's an excellent lipstick! it's also part of the permanent line, and is available both at your local MAC counter and on their website.

happy almost friday :)

NOTE - how the new lip product rating scheme works:

the first three criteria, formula, pigmentation and price point do not affect the overall grade - they are indicators of where they are in the market (some prefer dry, matte lipsticks, while others like slick, balm-like ones, it's just a way to show what KIND of a lipstick it is)

the last four criteria, value, packaging, performance and availability sum up to a grade out of 20, for which an overall letter grade is assigned (A= 17-20, B= 15-16.5, C= 13-14.5, D= 11-12.5, F = 10.5 or lower), which is the general degree to which i recommend the product to others. an A is excellent, B being quite good, C being passable/mediocre, D being worse than average, and F being not recommendable to anyone.

value - whether or not the price of the product reflects the quality and performance of the product.
packaging - whether or not the packaging protects the product, makes usage easy, and is aesthetically pleasing to look at/touch.
performance - whether or not the product does what the company that produces it claims it will do.
availability - whether or not the product can be purchased easily. IMHO, this is a big deal when you find the perfect lipstick... it's the worst thing to find the perfect color, only to have it be ridiculously hard to buy.

Le Look Du Jour - Bronze, Blue & Fuchsia/Dance Update

2010-03-28T23:59:00.003-04:00

hi everyone :)

i know it's been a while since i posted, but february/march is always a busy time of year for me, usually packed with shows, and a couple major dance competitions that i bust my ass for.

you've already seen my professional pictures, but here are a couple from this saturday which my sister took (sorry about the crappy quality, we don't have the right kind of lens to capture fast movements from a distance) - i opted for the same dress because, well, it's so fabulous, i couldn't resist wearing it again :D:

from top to bottom: chicken walks in the EC swing, the split & the lunge, both in the rumba

for the two dance competitions i've competed in, the results are as follows:

with danse elite, which i participated in saturday, i placed all 1st & 2nd in 8 single dance categories (bronze & silver american rhythm cha cha, samba, rumba, and EC swing), 3rd overall in the bronze 3-dance (american rhythm cha cha/rumba/EC swing) championships, and 2nd in the silver 3-dance championships (strange, considering you would think i would do better in the bronze than in the silver).

at la classique du quebec, which happened in february, i placed all 2nd & 3rd in 6 single dance categories (bronze intermediate & bronze american rhythm cha cha, rumba and EC swing), and 5th out of 15 couples in the bronze 3-dance champs, which wasn't bad considering it was my first championship, and that this one was much tougher than danse elite - there were more, and more experienced couples dancing in this one.

anyway, with the competitions, i've been rocking a steady golden-bronze glow, thanks to pelle montreal, where i go to for my magic tan needs (about 2-3 "dark" aerosol tans get me that competition color).

basically, over the course of 2 days, i pretty much go from my NC15/20-ish self to about an NC35/40, just to give you an idea.... while the allure of a golden brown glow is undeniable, this usually leaves me with some pretty washed out lips - my medium-pigmented lips that look rosy with my paler, natural self looks pretty ashy and dead (the dreaded "guidette" effect you see too often on jersey shore), which causes me to rely heavily on brighter lip colors to bring out the tan in a good way.

so long story short, to look nice and glowing, and not sallow, i decided to give myself a bronze/copper eye (which is quite nice, as i can't wear these shades normally - they make me look sickly), lined with blue to make the bronze pop, with a juicy, fuchsia lip.

the key is to look glowing, dewy and fun, which i hope i achieved in this look...

WHAT I USED FOR THIS LOOK:

from top left roughly clockwise: NARS bronzer - laguna, maybelline mineral power concealer - latte, MAC eyeshadow - mythology (lustre), bobbi brown eyeshadow - champagne quartz, guerlain poudre bronzante legere - brunette, NARS lipstick & liner - funny face (semimatte), GOSH velvet touch eye pencil waterproof - pretty petrol, MAC tinted lip conditioner - fuchsia fix, bobbi brown longwearing gel eyeliner - sapphire shimmer ink

THE FACE:

1. prep skin by concealing where needed with a creamy concealer. stipple with a sponge. set with a light, semimatte bronzing powder.
2. apply a dark brown, shimmery bronzing powder to the hollows of cheeks, using a lighter hand on the cheekbones for a shimmering effect. warm a small amount of moisturizer between fingers (about the size of a pea), press on cheekbones for a wet sheen.

THE EYES:

1. apply a shimmery bronzy-golden shadow to the brow bone with a large shadow brush. 2. with a dampened shadow/crease brush, pack on a metallic copper shadow to the lid, blending upward to join with the bronze.
3. line upper and lower lash & waterlines with a blue, waterproof pencil, using a slightly heavier hand than usual. trace over with a skinny, pointed eyeliner brush dipped in a sapphire/dark blue gel eyeliner to set.
4. fill in brows if needed.

NOTE: i left out mascara, because i was going dancing - if you're in a salsa hole for 3 hours, with no air conditioning, your makup will run anyhow, and mascara just adds to the whole runny mess... but you could add it!

THE LIPS:

(excuse the blotchy part of the tan on my chin, fake tanners always inevitably get darker in the drier areas surrounding my lips)

1. prep lips with lip balm before applying eye makeup. blot with tissue.
2. apply a fuchsia/hot pink lipliner to lip line & fill in lips. press lips together, blot.
3. apply, using a lip brush, a matching fuchsia lipstick to lips, CAREFULLY. blot, then apply a 2nd layer.
4. using a warm finger, press on a sheer deep pink/fuchsia pink lip balm or lip gloss over the semimatte lipstick for a sheen.

THE RESULT:

this could be a fun look for my medium- to dark-toned gals to try in the warmer months to come - it's glowy and fun way to add a pop of color to your lips & eyes without looking too overdone, IMHO. if you're scared to wear the fuchsia full-on, you could always try a lip stain or a sheer lip gloss, like yves saint laurent gloss volupte in 02 framboise glacee (which i will review for you soon).

happy monday (it is almost midnight, so i guess it is monday) - and let me know how you're doing!

<3 as always!

Dance Photo Roundup - January/February 2010

2010-03-10T13:09:00.005-05:00

happy hump day, everyone!

UPDATE (6:35PM):

due to requests for the makeup used in the below photos, here is the list (bear with me, it's a long list of product) -

COMPLEXION -
start off with 3 "dark" magic airbrush tans at a salon, to turn my NC15-ish skin into a more competition-appropriate NC30/35-ish tone;

maybelline mineral power liquid concealer in latte (for dark skin tones) under the eyes/around the nose, NARS multiple in copacabana on cheek bones, NARS bronzer in laguna on the hollows of the cheeks, topped off with benefit 10 powder; guerlain poudre bronzante legere in brunette to set it (instead of a powder);

EYES & BROWS -
make up for ever waterproof eyebrow corrector in shade 04;

MAC rubenesque paint pot as a base, bobbi brown champagne quartz eyeshadow all over, fawn & java on lid, MAC carbon eyeshadow for outer-v, bobbi brown gunmetal eyeshadow to darken;

MAC blacktrack fluidline, dior diorshow iconic waterproof mascara in black;

NARS copacabana on brow bones & inner corners of eyes;

make up for ever 112 lashes (my favorite); make up for ever individual false lashes on the bottom lash line;

LIPS -
prime with LUSH chocolate whipstick lip balm & blot, NARS jungle red lip liner, MAC ruby woo lipstick applied carefully with a small brush, a dab of kiehl's lip balm #1 in mango for sheen

NAILS -
OPI nail envy as a base, OPI the thrill of brazil applied in 2 coats, creative nail design super shiney top coat, opi drip dry to finish.

BODY -
the body shop monoi miracle oil applied with a misting gun (like the kind you use to mist plants) for a healthy, tanned sheen & to enhance the airbrush tan

the photos finally arrived from the february competition (la classique du quebec 2010), and here they are - CLICK TO ENLARGE:

the beginning of our rumba routine

syncopated cross overs (new yorks) in the cha cha

syncopated chasses

cross over, regular timing

cuban breaks, side by side

lady's wrap turn around man

this set is from the show i did in january (centre de danse ballroom danse sport spotlight january 2010), where i danced the paso doble:

flamenco line

promenade with appel

tuck jump into bubble lift

after the slide between man's legs

shot of me and my friend dancing the samba socially!

how do you think they turned out?

let me know in the comments how your week is going!

love as always <3

Weekend Project - How to Tackle Makeup Organization

2010-03-06T23:30:00.008-05:00

une bonne fin de semaine, mes belles :)

me trying to cuddle my reluctant kitteh, cha cha... picture taken after friday night dancing on my living room couch :)... makeup stayed on really nicely, even through dancing. i'm wearing: bobbi brown face touch-up stick in 3.25 cool beige, MAC studio finish concealer in NC15, MAC phloof!, silverthorne, mont blanc, bobbi brown gunmetal, champagne & fawn eyeshadows, dior diorshow iconic waterproof mascara in black, MAC blacktrack fluidline, NARS multiple in copacabana, bobbi brown shimmer blush in bahama brown, MAC jubilee lipstick under chanel wild rose glossimer, & make up for ever waterproof brow corrector in shade 04.

those of you who know me know that i'm almost painfully OCD about organization... and one of the things that i am so painfully anal retentive about is my makeup collection.

i organize everything except facial skincare and shower items (and things that go in my purse) in this handy plastic drawer thingy with wheels (helps if i want to clean underneath it, hee hee) that i bought at canadian tire for about $30.

when it comes to organization, this is how i tackle the most tough, disorganized things (i'm an administrative coordinator/executive assistant at a financial consulting firm 20-30 hours a week, i get paid to re-organize and overhaul disorganized corporate systems):

PART ONE. FORM CATEGORIES.
this is how i divided my product:

smaller things go in the top 2 drawers, while bulkier things go in the bottom 3. uglydoll collection to the left :)

PART TWO. TOSS vs. KEEP.
decide which things you will keep, and which things you will toss. handy rule of thumb: if it smells off, or you haven't used it in a year, toss it. for things that are in working condition (e.g. that second tube of mascara you never opened), give it away to friends. less stuff = more organization. i know that for us makeup addicts it's hard to give away/toss that one tube of bright orange lipstick that we thought was a good idea 2 years ago, but you should regift/toss it if you really, seriously don't use it.

to keep my makeup drawer from overflowing, i do this twice a year.

PART THREE. GROUP ITEMS IN AN EASILY REACHABLE FASHION.
i recycle gift boxes, things like body butter jars (fantastic containers for little items, like perfume samples, hairpins etc.), and those makeup bags that come as gift with purchase. i also tend to buy makeup that organizes into pans (i <3 bobbi brown custom pan palettes, gooooo bobbi!). finally, i arrange them in drawers:

up top: things that i use often - vitamins, sleep aid (i take valerian root for my insomnia), hand cream, body lotion, everyday jewelry (special jewelry goes in a bigger box elsewhere), daily hair clips, bands & pins, eyedrops etc.

drawer 1: my fragrance stash. fragrances i use often are in the front, samples, minis & scents not appropriate for the given season are further back.

drawer 2: color cosmetics & base. small palettes (blush, bronzer, eye palettes), eyeshadows, concealers, eyeliners on the left, powders/compacts, lip & cheek tint/stains, lipsticks, glosses, balms on the right, bundle of eye & lip pencils on the left front corner, mascaras & liquid eyeliner in the right front corner.

drawer 2: big palettes get stored flat on top of the lip stash (bobbi brown 6-pan palette shown).

drawer 3: tools & body care. brush & tools case (in a bobbi brown makeup organizer), body care (creams, balms, massage bars etc.), nail tools (file, cuticle clippers etc.), hair band, brush cleansers, q-tips etc. all go in this drawer, roughly grouped in recycled boxes (red one was from a clinique GWP).

drawer 4: hair acessories & first aid/sunscreens. muscle relaxant & powders, band aids, blister cushions, antibiotic ointment, cortisone cream, bug bite cream, sunburn spray, safety pins, all kinds of hair pins, jewels, bands, ties and clips (organized in the back half, in GWP makeup bags & recycled body shop body butter tins).

drawer 5: hair styling tools & product, nail color. hair dryer, brush, curling iron, various products for styling, and a bag of nail polish & nail polish remover (mark. expandable cosmetics case that i got for free about 3 years back when i worked for avon briefly).

PART FOUR. MAINTENANCE.
once everything is organized, you MUST put things back where they belong - i find that for most people, this is the hardest step. however, it IS easy if you take the 5 seconds to do it after you've used something, rather than to wait until everything is a huge mess and take 4 hours to do it. so... conclusion? if you're messy, you're probably being lazy. period.

this also goes for your purse. i buy MAC signature makeup bags in different sizes so that i stay organized, both for traveling and for day-to-day makeup and essential needs. i have a medium one (blue liner) for my makeup i tote around (which i keep as simple as possible, btw), a small one (orange liner) for emergency meds, contact lens care, eyedrops, disinfectant etc., and a large one (green liner) for things like pens, pencils, dance kit (band aids, blister cushions, sewing kit, shoe brush etc.). i always return items, for example, if i change lip product or a blush color, then i PUT IT BACK IN THE RIGHT PLACE IN MY DRAWERS! simple, fast, easy, no excuses.

if you adhere to the four steps, then you'll have a nicely organized makeup stand in no time!

happy weekend,

lareinarumbera

Beauty Showdown - MAC Blot vs. Covergirl Clean Pressed Powder for Sensitive Skin

2010-03-05T10:00:00.039-05:00

TGIF, everyone :)

another week as come and gone by, we're into march already, and that makes me slightly happier, since montreal does seem to be warming up slightly.

we're not all made of money, and when we can save a few bucks... why not? a few days ago, my office stash of MAC blot powder (light) broke into a million pieces (felix, one of the kitties at the office, knocked it off when i wouldn't pet him, cats are seriously evil but awesome).. >:( (insert angry asian throwing a fit here).

instead of going out to buy a new MAC blot powder, which would have set me back about $30 canadian after taxes, i decided to make a run to the drugstore, to do a comparison for everyone.

the two products: MAC blot powder pressed (light) vs. covergirl clean pressed powder for sensitive skin (classic ivory), one of the three "clean" formulas by covergirl (the other two are oil control and normal skin).

DEPARTMENT STORE OPTION - MAC BLOT
silky, lightweight, transparent. blots away excess shine and doesn't oxidize on my face. only requires a light application. puff that came with it useless; i use a powder brush. 12 grams of product for about $30-32 (depending on taxes). doesn't cause breakouts. available in shades ranging from light (NC10-15 ish) to deep dark (NC 45 ish).

down side: expensive, cracks very easily due to the lanolin in the powder, applicator that comes with it is useless. comes only in one formula - may be too drying for some.

DRUGSTORE OPTION - COVERGIRL CLEAN PRESSED
similar application, good color match with classic ivory. 10 grams of product for about $9-11. puff also useless. so far, no breakouts or clogged pores. shade range NOT comprehensive; only works for fair to medium skin tones.

different from the original packaging - extra points for updating the packaging into a sleek, plastic compact that doesn't scream drugstore. i cannnot compare to the old formula, as i never used the old one. kudos to covergirl for the three different formulas - i don't know how the other ones are, but it's nice that you get a powder suited to your skin.

downside: the powder is not as finely milled as MAC, and seems to require more product and more frequent touch ups. however, it is about 1/3 of the price of the MAC. incomprehensive color selection, puff is horrible. it DID leave a slightly "powdered" cast, which the MAC does not have.

THE VERDICT:
it's a tie!

i'll say it's a toss up - i prefer the MAC just because i don't have to apply it as frequently - i only touch up before i leave the office to head home, whereas the covergirl (applied lightly with a powder brush, anyway), required more applications, and more product. if you don't mind powdering a few times, the covergirl is fine for you, if you're like me, and want to leave the powder at your desk/at home, the MAC is for you.

the price does bite a bit, but the way i use it (partially over t-zone), the MAC lasts for a long time, and i don't mind shelling out for it once a year, although if you were less spendy than me, you may want to check out the covergirl.

TGIF!

Cubicle Beauty

2010-03-04T15:24:00.002-05:00

hi everyone!

i know it's been a while, and most of you are probably wondering where i'm hiding... i've been insanely busy for a few reasons - graduation pending in the spring (= loads of time buried in books), job search for after graduation (= loads of time spent writing unnecessary cover emails and such), maintaining a good status at my current job (= loads of time spent doing tedious paperwork and such), and increasingly competitive dance career (= loads of time contorting myself into painful positions) - which all accumulate and leave almost no time for sleeping, eating, blogging or any other enjoyable activity :(.

anyway, today my boss is away from the office, and he didn't leave me enough work, which means the employees will play - and i thought it would be a good time as any to update my blog.

there are several posts in the works, including a dance photo roundup, which will happen as soon as the damn photographers mail me the prints from la classique du quebec.

unfortunately, makeup and taking care of myself is among the many things i don't have time for these days... which is why i try to streamline as much as possible, and a typical work/schoolday morning routine consists of the following for me:

SKIN
wash + tone + moisturize as per my usual regimen of LUSH angels on bare skin, darphin tonique purifiant, LUSH paradise regained moisturizer & burt's bees radiance eye cream with royal jelly;

conceal as needed (usually under the eyes, and around the nose, since these areas tend to get shadowy/red if i don't sleep very well) with bobbi brown face touch up stick in cool beige, and set with bareminerals foundation in fair (has sunscreen for incidental exposure upon walking to office, after that, the sun sets pretty early still, so i just walk home in the dark).

MAKEUP
i keep it super simple - natural but put together. it consists of a formula so i don't have to think about what i'm doing: cream blush (used as lip tint also) + wash of cream shadow + longwearing gel eyeliner + mascara if i'm wearing contacts (with glasses, no mascara, since that makes my eyelashes touch my glasses and makes it uncomfortable for me).

i often turn to the following products: bobbi brown pot rouge for lips & cheeks in powder pink (a neutral rosy pink) or pale pink (a bright pastel pink) for healthy color when i haven't slept much, MAC paint pot in bare study (golden champagne nude) for adding lift to the eye area, bobbi brown longwearing gel eyeliner in sapphire shimmer ink (shimmery navy blue) for definition which isn't as obvious as black, and dior diorshow iconic waterproof mascara in noir extreme. this takes less than 15 minutes, and keeps me looking professional and not overdone, while looking good equally with glasses or contacts.

during the day, i will touch up at the desk with covergirl clean powder for sensitive skin (green compact) in classic ivory, with an ecotools cruelty free powder brush.

i actually keep the following at my desk:

i toss everything in a $4 fishbowl that i bought at the local $5-and-less store. the top is wide enough to let me stick my hand in and get everything out easily.

stuff that's jumbled in there: NARS cactus flower cream blush (red-coral with gold - not as scary as it looks, trust me, i'm really really fair without fake tanner!) - doubles as lip stain, burt's beees original beeswax lip balm, nivea creme (for dry hands and the like), ecotools powder brush (an awesome, cheap brush line), MAC select-cover up in NC15, covergirl clean pressed powder for sensitive skin in classic ivory (surprisingly good for a drugstore powder), rimmel exaggerate waterproof eye pencil in black, l'oreal wear infinite eyeshadow in satin tutu, a sample of lise watier base lift eclat (a makeup base that mattifies and refreshes), and a nail file/buffer. the red towel is for the cats in the office to sit on should they be inclined to join me on the desk.

this covers any bases just in case i need to go straight to dinner & drinks, or an impromptu dance night with the girls at one of the local salsa/tango holes.

when you put together an office beauty kit like this, make sure everything can be applied quickly and easily: if i can't apply it with fingers (with the exception of setting powder), i don't buy it. i also buy things that can be used for multiple looks: an automatic, waterproof eye pencil with a smudger attached can be used for clean definition and can also be smudged over a ballet pink shadow for an interesting smoky eye, and a bright cream blush can double as a lip stain when you add untinted lip balm on top. a more liquid concealer can double as fuller coverage foundation if you want, and sample-sized tubes of primer/lipstick etc. can help you cut down on how much product you actually keep at the office.

in my purse i will tote AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE - usually just blotting papers, a mirror, (tinted) lip balm/pot rouge.

having a hectic-workweek routine, which focuses on appearing alert & healthy, rather than something complicated, helps me get through the day looking professional when i don't have the time to spend on a 15-step look with 7 eyeshadows and 3 kinds of blush and highlighter.

do you have an emergency/busy week routine that you whip out when you've got a particularly busy schedule?

Quick Update...

2010-02-09T20:07:00.001-05:00

hi everyone!

his is just to let you know that i'm actually alive & around... i've just been busy training for the upcoming la classique du quebec!

blogging will resume as normal after - i'll be updating you on stage makeup, how i placed, how my shows have gone, and more!

wish me luck :)

for now, here are some shots from my recent show:

some of my friends & me

a little argentine tango shenanigans in the hallway...

(this is for you, MARCELA ;) )

before walking on stage... me trying to eat michel's face off.

a shot from my recent show - a paso doble to "village attack" from the blood diamond sountrack.

handstand dismount from a lift

shoulder perch - one of our signature moves

until next week...

love as always,

lareinarumbera
xoxo

It's Finally Here - New Red Latin Costume

2010-01-13T23:52:00.002-05:00

hi everyone!

i've been very busy with training for the upcoming la classique du quebec and the big show coming up... so i've been lazy with blogging... yet again...

today i received my red, one-shoulder, asymmetrical hemmed latin costume from my dressmaker (after almost 2 months of waiting)... for me, this was better than christmas - it's a true, lipstick red, with over 80 gross of swarovski on it (1 gross = 12 dozen or 144 stones, so you do the math) - crystal AB (the white) and siam (the red all over stones).

anyway, here it is... yay or nay? i do look a bit washed out because i have absolutely NO makeup on at all, but that'll change when i go get my competition tan and do my stage makeup.

you can see the shape better in this photo

look at that gorgeous stonework on the sleeves (and my cat, cha cha, standing next to me)

Chicago Haul/New Year's Eve Dinner

2010-01-04T21:08:00.007-05:00

hello, everyone!

i hope you've got off to a good start in 2010!

anyway, here are some chicago haul pictures as promised - there's also a ton of clothing & accessories that were hauled but here are the beauty products, which i'm sure you're more interested about.

the haulage mainly happened at the cosmetics company outlet, except for the eyelashes & c. o. bigelow lip products which were purchased at woodfield mall (chicago's biggest mall).

all the loot!

MAC trip: warm eyes palette (pinks & violets), MUFE 112 & 113 lashes, c. o. bigelow lemon lip cream & mentha lip shine in pink mint (a hint of rosy pink)

MAC lipstick in syrup (cool MLBB pink, semi-sheer, lustre), c.o. bigelow lip product again, paint pots in fresco rose (rosy ballet slipper pink) & bare study (golden champagne)

MAC e/s: phloof (champagne pink, frost, emmanuel ungaro edition), mont black (black with gold particles, velvet), blue flame (an amazingly beautiful deep blue, full of fire, veluxe pearl), silverthorn (icy gray, veluxe pearl), creme de violet (grape soda purple, frost) & bobbi brown face touch up stick (3.25 cool beige - exactly the same shade as MAC NC15)

other things not pictured included a kate spade brooklyn heights jillian hobo bag & gramercy park neda long wallet (both in matching black leather - THANK YOU LISA FOR GETTING ME THIS AWESOME GIFT), a coach clutch (in antique gold patent leather) a few pairs of shoes, and a trunk full of clothes.

needless to say, it was an awesome haul - i found some great deals in discontinued MAC product & travel exclusives, as well as some replacements for my kit... very successful indeed.

relaxing with boomer, my cousins' dumb but awesome & sweet german shepherd (he is NOT a very "good" example of a german shepherd, if you know what i mean), sans maquillage

next came new year's eve - an occasion where i bypass the crowded clubs/bars/dance halls and spend it relaxing at home with my mom & friends (my sister is at the age where she thinks she's too cool to hang out with us)... this year, like the past five years or so, i cooked our annual new year's eve dinner.

if you know anything about me, you'll know i love two things truly in life. one is dance, and the other is food... so if there's an excuse to eat, i'll be cooking up a storm!

on the (vaguely mediterranean-inspired) menu:

fennel & orange salad with a dijon vinaigrette

bruschetta with classic toppings on country loaf

cotelettes d'agneau in a red wine and rosemary marinade, served with roasted bell peppers & pearl onions tossed in a balsamic reduction.

if you want any of the recipes, let me know, they're delicious!

coming up:

a simple EOTD using soft browns and an unexpected pop of color

Drugstore Cheapie - Derma E Tea Tree & Vitamin E Antiseptic Creme

2009-12-30T16:15:00.000-05:00

happy new year, everyone :)

another year has come and passed...

i got back from my chicago trip on monday, but i've been catching up with work (thank god i have tomorrow & new year's off) so i haven't been around much...

on the plane to chicago, i started getting a sore, tingling feeling on the side of my nose - the telltale signs of a horrible little boo-boo forming - and since i'd packed light to travel (not to mention those horrible liquid restrictions on carry-on baggage), i had none of my regular LUSH grease lightning spot treatment with me (regular spot treatments are too drying for my dry-combo sensitive skin, so i stick to natural tea tree remedies), i couldn't treat it at all... resulting in a huge, red, pulsating ugly thing on the side of my nose (thank god for concealer) that i couldn't pop (i had no pore extractor with me) or treat (since my cousin has very very dry skin that never gets spots)!

so i walked around with this abomination growing on the side of my nose for 5 days, then came home and made it worse by picking at it. yesterday, while at the pharmacy to pick up some eyedrops, i saw in the organics section a big, ugly jar labeled "tea tree & vitamin E antiseptic creme." i checked the ingredients list, and since tea tree oil is listed as the second ingredient after water (they say 5% pure tea tree oil), making it stronger than my usual treatment, i decided to give it a shot.

i went home, cleansed, toned and applied this creme (overwhelming tea tree scent FYI, from the high tea tree oil content) to the spot that was picked raw & swollen. the cream itself was thick, but absorbed very well with no greasiness - although it did BURN like crazy for a bit (not just on my picked area, which i assumed would burn anyway, even if i used another treatment, but on other areas i tested this cream on). then i moisturized as usual and went to bed, and in the morning found that the huge volcano was now flat, pain-free and healing.

after 2 applications, the spot had dried out completely (minimal flaking) - it worked better than anything else i'd tried!

if you live near a pharmacy that carries this line or a health foods store, go pick up a jar (it's around $13 canadian). not only does it dry up zits, apparently it's good for other minor skin irritations including bacterial/fungal infections, minor cuts, scrapes and burns, eczema, sun/windburn and itching/bug bites.

it does come in a jar, so i would suggest using a q-tip or a spatula to dig out a little bit at a time (you only need a small, small amount, as it spreads very easily) to avoid contaminating the whole jar. apply to clean skin before moisturizing (if you don't moisturize it might burn/sting for a bit).

OVERALL RATING:
4/5 (1 point off for the gross jar packaging) - B+/A-

since i have a day off tomorrow i promise to post pictures of things i got from my chicago haul (cosmetics company outlet had some awesome deals on MAC products, yay!).

happy 2010 in advance,

lareinarumbera
xox

Disco Hustle Performance Pictures & Un Look du Jour - Disco Green

2009-12-21T12:56:00.010-05:00

PLEASE NOTE: PICTURES ~~TO FOLLOW TONIGHT. I'M AT WORK AND DON'T HAVE THEM ON ME!~~ ADDED :)

i hope you've all had a great weekend!

i've been a bit busy, what with the christmas party shows and all... but here is a full FOTD as i promised. this is by all means not a daytime look (you could do it without the false eyelashes for a night on the town if you're feeling bold), but it is a fun, bright look that works well on stage. i was doing a disco hustle with michel, so this was supposed to be an over-the top, disco-queen type of look - by no means not for the faint of heart!

while this look may be a little bit too much for anything other than the stage, i found it worked great because you need your face to pop while you're 20 feet away from the audience, while moving very fast, and often while it's darker than usual. to achieve a look that is still visible on stage requires you to really pile on a lot more than you would normally, which is why this look can be frightful up close, but looks great from a distance.

also, read on for some shots taken during rehearsal and after-hours dancing, where you can see how this look turns out in photos.

sorry about the smudged shots - i didn't have time to take pictures before my show, so everything you see is taken after-hours, when a lot of the contouring and stuff has smeared from the sweat & humidity (also, that is why i look like an oil slick in most of the pictures, i had been dancing from 7PM-1:30AM). this post is a little LOOOOOONG, but it's a stage look, which takes time & many products to do...

as always, click to enlarge the pictures.

time it takes to do this look:
approx 45mins to an hour

to do this look, you'll need:

EYES
eyeshadow primer (i used: too faced shadow insurance)
a pearl-platinum, as a highlight (i used: NARS the multiple in copacabana)
a chrome coloured cream shadow, as a base (i used: benefit creaseless cream shadow in birthday suit)
a mint green, as an all-over color (i used: MAC eyeshadow [frost] in warm chill)
a bright golden-green, for the lids (i used: MAC e/s [lustre] in swimming)
a gunmetal, to darken the inner lids (i used: bobbi brown e/s [metallic] gunmetal)
a black, for the outer-v and contouring (i used: an unknown GOSH e/s - the number rubbed off)
false eyelashes + lash glue, winged, long and wispy (i used: make up for ever 112 lash w/ glitter strip)
a black, waterproof mascara (i used: dior diorshow iconic l'extreme waterproof in noir extreme)
a bright green, waterproof eyeliner pencil (i used: GOSH velvet touch waterproof eye pencil in green grass)
a bottle/blackened green gel or cream eyeliner (i used: bobbi brown longwearing gel eyeliner in ivy shimmer ink)
a straight up, black gel or cream eyeliner (i used: MAC fluidline in blacktrack)
a brow product (i used: MUFE waterproof brow corrector in shade 04)

FACE
a fixing spray/mist (i used: MAC fix+)
a fluid concealer for under the eyes (i used: MAC select cover-up in NW15)
an eye cream to mix with the concealer - prevents cakey concealer application (i used: the body shop vitamin e eye cream)
a thicker concealer for around the nose & any other uneven spots (i used: MAC studio finish spf 35 in NC15)
a highlighter (i used: NARS the multiple in copacabana)
a brown blush/bronzer to contour (i used: guerlain poudre bronzante legere in brunette all over, and bobbi brown blush [shimmer] in bahama brown in the hollows of my cheeks)
makeup-removing wipes, to wipe off shadow fallout etc.
a blotting powder to set (i used: MAC blot powder in light)

LIPS
a thick lip balm (i used: LUSH chocolate whipstick)
a fuchsia lip pencil (i used: NARS lipliner in funny face)
a fuchsia lipstick (i used: NARS lipstick [semi matte] in funny face)

to achieve this look:

1. do the eyes first - that way you can use the makeup wipes to clean up any black/dark shadow that inevitably falls on your face. also, make sure to blend, blend blend, so that there are no harsh lines of demarcation where you put all the different shadows. this is what i did:

apply the shadow primer all over, on upper and lower lids.
apply the cream shadow up to the brow bone.
dampen a large, fluffy shadow brush with setting mist; apply mint green shade all over.
with a dampened small-medium shadow brush, pack on the darker green shade on the lids, up to the middle of the lid (not quite the brow bone).
darken the inner part of the crease with the gunmetal shade, blending it with the green, so it graduates from the bright green-a dark forest-green sort of shade.
line the top and bottom lid with the green eye pencil, and smoke out with a sponge applicator or q-tip to blend further and make the transition more vibrant.
using the black shadow, contour the outer v; follow the natural shape of the eye. in my case, that makes it look more catlike. work with the natural bone structure of your face. darken to desired intensity.
clean up any black fallout with a wipe.
rim eyes in a cat shape with the bottle green gel eyeliner; line inner rims/lashline with the flat black gel eyeliner.
fill in brows, if needed. i do them anway, because i want them to stand out on stage.
glue the false eyelashes as close to the natural lash line as possible. apply mascara to blend the colors.
highlight the brow bone and inner corners of the eyes with a pearl/platinum shade, blend.

2. do the face - the key is the achieve a contoured, flawless appearance.

make sure you clean up any fallout.
apply liquid concealer to undereye area mixed with a small bit of eye cream, and blend with a makeup sponge, taking care to not smear the hard work you did on your eyes. the NW shade lets you disguise purple tones better than the NC shades.
with a concealer brush, apply the thicker concealer around any redness. blend away any lines with a makeup sponge. NC shades let you disguise any red tones.
set with a setting powder applied with a large, fluffy powder brush.
dust bronzer, using a light hand (i use a fan brush, but a "skunk" or duofibre brush would also work), all over. dust the bronzer in the hollows of the neck & collarbones, so your face is not a different color from the rest of the skin around it.
apply a pearl/platinum shade on the upper cheekbones, and blend out towards the temples.
apply a brown shade of blush in the hollows of your cheeks, below the highlighter, and blend. sucking in your cheeks lets you see where to put the color.
spray with a setting/finishing mist to lock in the color.

note: if you have very blotchy skin, you can consider using a foundation, like cover fx cream foundation, but i don't like to, because i'm blessed with even skin, and i find that it melts off unevenly anyway.

3. work on your lips:

massage in a lip balm (don't overapply or your lip color will have no staying power) until absorbed; blot any excess with a paper towel, not a kleenex (kleenex sheds little bits, while a paper towel won't).
line with a fuchsia color; fill in lips. blot.
using a small lip brush, go over the color with matching lipstick. blot, and apply a second layer.

now you're ready to hustle your booty off!

shoulder perch lift w/ michel

oufit: lululemon boogie on short, american apparel leggings, ray rose carmen 3" flare heel latin sandals, shine dancewear clubwear top

inversion/drop w/ michel

after-hours dancing with W., one of my favorite dance partners (you've heard about him in my rant on the rumba before) - we raise a few eyebrows and make old ladies blush, haha

developpe into shoulder sit w/ W.

previous L/E/FOTDs:
retro red
peacock
blue steel
fierce leopard
the cheryl
au naturel
blue and green

please also let me know what other looks you'd like to see - more natural, stage looks, artistic looks... i welcome all comments! i'll also try and get a video of the performance up.

happy holidays,

lareinarumbera

Freedom, Finally - Thursday Night Shenanigans

2009-12-18T13:32:00.005-05:00

hello boys and girls :)

i hope you've all been very good this year... christmas is coming!

it's been FREEZING COLD in montreal, take a look at the photo below of me and my friends during a night on the town:

anyway, as of 12PM EST yesterday, i've been free from exams, and the horrible lack of sleep/relaxation. i could use a spa day (hint, hint, aubrey!) or a back rub at least, but at least i got to go shopping and salsa dancing last night.

i don't have any FOTD pictures, but i did do a very intense smoky eye with beigey-pink lips and contoured cheeks.

i've got a show tonight, so i'll be posting a full FOTD sometime soon, as well as pictures. some other posts to come:

fragrance review: stella mccartney stella eau de parfum
a possible guest post
dance gear review: ray rose carmen 3" flare heel latin sandals
product review: benefit benetint and l'oreal telescopic clean definition mascara

in the meantime... here are some of the shenanigans we've been up to (photos courtesy of andrew):

me & my dance buddies @ les jeudis salsafolie: chilling on the couch

the lovely julie & me in a dance pose - she's a great lead, better than some guys, actually. also, she smells better and is prettier.

another nice drop/dip (not sure which this one classifies as)

see you all soon, and happy holidays :)

lareinarumbera

xox

A Little Chanel... To Lift the Exam Blues :)

2009-12-06T00:44:00.003-05:00

hello, pretty ladies...

it's been a while since i posted... i've got three finals next week, and another the week after, so makeup & dancing's been on the back burner for a while. i've been mad stressed out, so it was time to hit up the chanel counter at murale (like a canadian sephora)... i'd been reading all these rave reviews about the glossimers, and needed to get my little paws on one of those :).

i had $55 worth of points, so in the end i came home with two, astral (a clear blue pink with blue, gold & silver sparkles), and wild rose (a plum mauve-pink cream with silver sparkles), for only $15 (they retail for CAD 31 each)! later, when my lovely friend christie said she would be at the beijing airport on her way home from a business trip, i said, what the hell, and asked her to bring me home one. her color choices were right on, and she brought me volage (a peachy-pink with golden frost).

the glossimers, no flash, artificial lighting. L--> R, volage, wild rose, astral

close-up of the colors side by side, w/ flash. L-->R, volage, wild rose, astral

i've been enjoying just putting these on (i mean, i'm just at home in my stretchy/fat pants with no other makeup on, studying my a** off while all muscle tone clearly goes to h*ll) because the colors are soooooo pretty (and well, c'est CHANEL)! so, as a method of procrastination, i decided to give you a quick swatch-and-review type of deal.

i apologize in advance for the inadequacy of the swatches/shots, because this was really a 5-minute type of job... my lips were not prepped properly nor did i apply very carefully, which is why you'll see some blotchiness :(.

skin swatches (dazzleglass missing), NC15 skin. L-->R, wiild rose, volage, astral

the chanel glossimers have been compared multiple times to MAC dazzleglass, for its shine and sparkle - i find this is only half accurate, since the sparkle from the chanel is much more grown-up and refined than the all-out drag queenly bling of the MAC. i own one single dazzleglass, that has been barely used (i use it for extra sparkle during dance shows and things like that), in the shade rags to riches (mauve-pink with red, blue, purple, pink and white glitter).

MAC dazzleglass in rags to riches

rags to riches on lips- FULL ON BLING.

to compare:

FORMULA
i prefer the chanel - less sticky, actually very gel-like, silky and cushiony. also, i find it spreads more evenly than the MAC. the glossimers are very easy to apply despite their glitteriness - i don't need a mirror at all, while if i applied the MAC without a mirror, i would probably end up with a lot of sticky, uneven glitter on my lips. i find this is a downfall of most MAC lip/dazzle/plush/lustreglasses. the MAC has that signature MAC vanilla, the chanel is a TRULY unflavored/scented gloss, no aftertaste of sunscreen or plastic, just nothing. i find both to be good in this department (one has a pleasant smell, the other, none at all, which is just as good).

LONGEVITY
both wear well - exceptionally in fact - and last through drinking, and eating small things (not huge meals or sandwiches, because obviously that would make it rub off). i apply the chanel maybe 2-3 times throughout the day, and the dazzleglass around the same amount. both fade into pretty glittery stains without the white, gummy residude sometimes left in the corners of your lips.

OVERALL
i prefer the chanel... due to the ease of application & low-maintenance formula. the MAC is just too much upkeep, and i find myself not reaching for the dazzleglass at all.

now, the individual shades:

VOLAGE

volage in the tube

volage on the lips... see the peachy-pink iridescence?

can i say, i really, really <33333 this color (MUCH THANKS TO CHRISTIE, I LOVE YOU)? it's what i wanted MAC lipglass in prrr or NARS lip gloss in orgasm to be. the MAC was too sticky and too gold, so it washed me out, and it was just a pain to apply well, and ALL the nars glosses have that horrible, plastic taste that i HATE. i have given away every tube of NARS lip gloss i have ever bought in the hopes that i would fall in love with it. it's a glowing, pretty, peachy-pink with gold that just lights up my skin, even when i haven't slept much or don't have anything else on. this would look equally gorgeous with smoky eyes for a vixeny look or just for everyday, when you're wearing more neutral colors (e.g. for work), and you want to brighten up your look without going overboard.

WILD ROSE

wild rose in the tube... kind of underwhelming.

wild rose on the lips... PRETTY!

a very easy to wear, MLBB type of shade. ALMOST exactly the color of my lips, maybe just a touch darker. reminds me a lot of my beloved dior creme de gloss in sweet praline (oh how i love thee, but that's another post. seriously, go buy the dior, it's AMAZING), just a touch darker. i like the chanel for a wetter look, while i like the dior for a creamier, moisturized sheen. i love this with a more sophisticated look, or when i just want my lips to have a more natural, but shiny look. doesn't look all that groundbreaking in the tube, honestly, but it makes my lips look so good (hence the my-lips-but-better), that i would buy one for all my color-shy friends, who wouldn't want the volage or astral.

ASTRAL

astral in the tube. seriously, the pictures don't describe accurately how beautiful this shade is in the tube.

astral on the lips. a lot sheerer than it looks, thanks to the clear-based pink base.

reportedly, this clear/cellophane blue-pink with multicolored sparkles is one of paris hilton's favorite glosses. now, while i don't find her terribly interesting, nor do i understand why she's famous, i can say... HOMEGIRL GOT TASTE WHEN IT COMES TO LIP GLOSS. this is an utterly gorgeous, multifaceted, holographic, sparkly pink... it looks seriously SCARY in the tube, like flourescent, glittery goo... the pictures don't do it justice, it's so pretty and INTERESTING. it's not over the top, and while this is the most similar to the dazzleglass (see above to compare) it's still more subdued and refined. it's dazzleglass' more elegant, chanel cousin :). LOVE.

so overall... i can say that i'm ~~pretty~~ very happy with my lip gloss haulage :D. i *think* that chanel glossimers may be up there in lip gloss holy grail-land with dior creme de gloss (emphasis on think, with my lip product ADD, who knows if this will change)... GASP.

anyway, have a happy rest of the weekend, and good luck on your exams if you have any!

<3,

lareinarumbera

xoxox

10 Minute Meal - Artichoke & Palm Heart Salad

2009-11-23T21:00:00.068-05:00

it's monday again...

while this is hardly the best thing ever, i do try and make the best of it :) - today i made aubrey (visit him at the wrong resolution) and myself a tasty lunch, which you can do for yourself in 10 minutes or so.

please excuse the fact that it's plated in an ugly tupperware (and that it's blurry, the focus is broken on my camera) - i realized i forgot to take a picture when i started writing up this post!

now, i don't usually blog about food, but i do love it, almost as much as i love dancing or red lipstick, which says a lot. i'm constantly cooking for family & friends... food brings people together in an intimate way, and helps facilitate conversation, IMHO.

to make this delicious artichoke & palm heart salad (serves 3-4 as a meal, serves 5-6 as a side) you'll need:

2 cans artichoke hearts, quartered
2 cans palm hearts, sliced
1/2 to 3/4 can black ripe olives, sliced
1 pint cherry or grape tomatoes, halved
1 can baby corn, cut into segments
1/4 large red onion (or 1/2 small one), chopped fine
1-2 bouquets of cilantro (or basil, if you prefer), minced
1 orange or yellow bell pepper, seeded & chopped

and for the dressing:

1/2 to 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 to 1/3 cup white wine vinegar
4-5 tablespoons of dijon mustard (a l'ancienne, or grainy style)
1/2 lemon, juiced, and zested (avoid the white pith)
black pepper & salt, to taste
crushed red chili, to taste

as a side:

1/2 a ciabatta loaf (or miche parisienne/baguette), sliced in wedges
minced garlic
olive oil to drizzle, or butter at room temperature

to assemble:

prep ingredients as above and place in a large salad bowl;
make the dressing: adjust the proportions of vinegar, olive oil, lemon juice and mustard to desired acidity, and season with salt & pepper, crushed chili to taste. i find that this is easiest if you get an empty bottle or a sealable container type of thing, and just shake it like crazy. the alternative is to use a whisk, which won't emulsify the dressing as well;
pour over ingredients, toss well, until everything is evenly coated. let sit;
preheat oven to 380 farenheit (about 200 celsius);
on ciabatta wedges/slices, drizzle olive oil (or butter it up). smear on some minced garlic (go as easy or as strong as you want on the garlic). toast in oven until golden brown on top, about 7-12 minutes, depending on how crunchy you want it.
toss salad again; serve with hot garlic ciabatta as a side.

this is a great salad for a low-key meal - colorful, easy to eat (everything is pre-chopped so you can just spoon it in), still gourmet, and goes great with garlic bread. as a side, i like to serve this salad with grilled chicken or seafood, with extra lemon wedges on the side. go ahead and try it with your friends and family!

<3,

lareinarumbera
xox

Le Look du Jour - Retro Red

2009-11-21T10:36:00.003-05:00

happy saturday everyone :D

today i'm going to share with you the look that i always go back to when i don't feel like doing a whole lot of contouring, shading and blending, but still need a look that's dramatic. every woman has a shade of red that they can wear - in my case it ranges from true, bright blue reds to a deeper blood red. i can't wear reds that are orange- or brown based, since cooler shades suit me better.

i own 3 reds currently: guerlain kisskiss extreme in rouge infini (a intense, true red), NARS lip stain/gloss duo in indian red (a deeper, blood red) & moon fleet (a clear gloss with golden flecks to be used as a topcoat, i rarely use this), and MAC retro matte lipstick in ruby woo (a bright, vivid blue red).

the NARS and guerlain reds have a more moist, creamy texture, while the MAC is a dry, but velvety and saturated with pigment. all three have intense pigmentation, and are longwearing. i additionally own a single red lipliner, to be used as a base for all three lipsticks (NARS jungle red lipliner - a no-nonsense, straight up red).

red lipstick is strangely minimalist - all you need is flawless skin and some mascara or eyeliner. you can wear it with nothing on your cheeks at all, or with a subtle contour... for me red lipstick is like a push-up bra for my lips, making me feel just a little bit more sexy whenever i wear it. i also like it for stage looks when i do a fiery dance, like the tango or paso doble.

to get my standard going-out night, red lipped look:

make skin flawless: conceal wherever needed - under eyes, around your nose, on any blemishes. apply foundation if you need it. set with a light dusting of powder (i used: MAC studio finish concealer for spots, MAC select cover-up under my eyes (shade: NC15) and bareminerals loose powder in fair).
highlight: scupt cheek and brow bone with a creamy highlighter (i used NARS the multiple in copacabana). add a contour shade to the hollows if desired (i used a bit of guerlain poudre bronzante legere in brunette).
eyes: apply a vanilla white shade all over (i used bobbi brown navajo), and apply a cool toned shimmer to the lids (i used bobbi brown pebble). with a tiny, pointed eyeliner brush, apply a black cream/gel eyeliner (i used MAC fluidline in blacktrack) to the top lashes, winging it out at the ends. go as subtle or dramatic on the eyeliner as you want. fill in brows with a brow product. top off with mascara.
lips: massage in a thicker lip balm (i used LUSH chocolate whip stick), blot off excess. with a FRESHLY SHARPENED red lipliner pencil (i used NARS jungle red), carefully trace the outline of your lips; fill in. then, with a lip brush, apply the red of your choice (mine: MAC ruby woo) until the desired intensity.

from left to right: BB pebble, BB navajo, NARS copacabana, MAC select-cover up, guerlain poudre bronzante, MAC ruby woo, NARS jungle red, MAC blacktrack, MUFE waterproof brow corrector 04

that's it! it's actually quite easy to do, and takes me about five minutes to do all of it. just make sure that the lips are immaculate, or it can turn into a joker mouth. thin- or very very full lipped ladies should avoid full-on red, but instead wear a stain or a translucent gloss.

let me know how your weekend is going in the comments :)

previous L/E/FOTDs:
peacock
blue steel
fierce leopard
the cheryl
au naturel
blue and green

Drugstore/Department Store Showdown - MAC Wipes vs. Olay Daily Facials Express Wipes

2009-11-20T11:26:00.003-05:00

TGIF, everyone!

today i'll be comparing MAC wipes and olay daily facials express wipes, both makeup removing/cleansing wipes that claim to remove stubborn makeup, dirt and oil. i don't use either on a daily basis, but i do keep them to clean off all the makeup when i'm just too tired to properly cleanse + moisturize (naughty, naughty, i know!), after dance class, or when i'm traveling.

first off, the luxe product, MAC wipes:

PROS: soft, nonirritating, oversized wipes. comes in two sizes (45 sheets - regular, CA$22, and 100 sheets - bulk, CA$31). i personally love the MAC wipes because they gently remove EVERYTHING, and i mean, EVERYTHING, without any residue. it also left my skin soft, and not irritated, even around the eyes when i removed my dior diorshow iconic waterproof mascara, which is normally super hard to remove, unless i use an oil-based cleanser. i also loved that it was not drying, and that it had a faint, pleasant scent. it also came in one of those packets that have a resealable cover thingy that CLICKS shut, ensuring your wipes don't dry out.

CONS: of course, it's a bit more expensive - about 48 cents per wipe for the regular size - but if you buy the bulk size, it acutally is 5 cents cheaper per wipe than the olay ones (31 cents vs. 36 cents). other than the fact that you can only get them at MAC stores (which could happen if you don't live near a department store), i don't really have anything bad to say about this product, LOL! to make them last longer, you could even cut them in half, because they are oversized.

second off, the budget version, olay daily facials express wipes:

PROS: readily available at most drugstores, cheap, more compact packaging than the MAC wipes, exfoliating. it removed makeup pretty well, and didn't break me out or dry out my skin. costs about $11 for 30 wipes.

CONS: i felt like the cloths were a bit scratchy, which made the skin around my eyes red when i tried to remove eyeliner. it also took a long time to remove all the eyeliner, which the MAC wipes just swept away gently. overall i prefer the texture of the MAC wipes - soft, gentle and nonirritating. also, the closure mechanism on top was only a sticker, which stopped sticking about halfway through the packet of wipes. also, the cost advantage disappears if you buy the bulk version of the MAC wipes - they're actually 5 cents cheaper than the olay.

THE VERDICT:
usually drugstore products work pretty well - but this time, the department store wins! cheaper at 31 cents a wipe, with a better formula and softer, more luxurious texture, the MAC wipes beat the olay wipes by a mile. the bulk will also last longer if you cut the cloths in half - 200 uses in fact (100 wipes x2) - which beats the olay wipes (only 60 uses per packet even if you cut them in half). also, the seal on the MAC wipes are actually functional, whereas it is pretty poor quality on the olay wipes (i had to ziplock them when they stopped sticking). if bulkiness is an issue i would just remove enough wipes, ziplock them, and take them for traveling etc., instead of buying the more compact olay wipes.

Future Posts - This Weekend & Next Week

2009-11-19T10:28:00.002-05:00

happy thursday, pretty ladies :)!

this is just a overview of what's coming in the next few days...

1. a post on one of my favorite (dare i say signature?) looks for evenings when i want to feel a little va-va-voom - RED LIPSTICK & WINGED EYELINER FOTD, and the current red lipsticks i love;
2. fragrance comparison: l'artisan voleur de rose & etat libre d'orange rossy de palma eau de protection (a mouthful, i know);
3. dance gear review: ray rose carmen t-strap latin sandal; and,
4. a random foodie post: artichoke & palm heart salad
5. mini-rant on dance: the bachata

i'll be hitting up some sort of free cocktail party today with aubrey @ the wrong resolution... and after that, some salsa dancing (i was suddenly overcome with a desire to bachata last night)... i'll let you know how that goes!

i may be able to sitck in a mini FOTD should i decide to schuzz it up a little bit before i duck out.

keep checking back to see what i've posted!

love as always (and thank god it's almost friday),

lareinarumbera xoxox

Product Review: LUSH Chocolate Whip Stick Lip Balm

2009-11-16T12:33:00.002-05:00

it's monday again...

the horrible part of my semester is over, with all my papers turned in, so now begins major review & readings - which isn't half as bad as writing a million pages on ethanol and its implications for the environment & development.

anyway, i've been living in stretchy pants sans maquillage recently, so there are no F/E/LOTDs for you pretty ladies, or any major tutorial, but i have been on a major LUSH kick, and so i'm going to review one of my favorite LUSH product (among many others) for you.

LUSH has a range of lip balms, most of which are made of a shea/cocoa butter base. i like two out of the five that are offered in canada - chocolate whip stick & none of your beeswax. the other three (lip squeak, lip service & honey trap) don't rock my boat... they're too thick, too greasy, too hard, or too strongly flavored.

chocolate whip stick is my favorite of the two that i like - it's rich, softening and soothing, but not too shiny (none of your beeswax is a shinier, transparent sheen, which is great for gals, but not for boys), which makes it a great unisex lip balm. i got aubrey @ the wrong resolution hooked on it - he loves it almost as much as i do.

at about $7 a tin, it's in the medium price range for lip balm, but IMHO, it has the following benefits:
great flavor (like chocolate oranges, very slightly sweet) - but not overpowering or artificial
long lasting, moisturizing and soothing (with regular water drinking it lasts about 2-3 hours which is great for a lip balm)
made with mostly natural ingredients
has an expiration date written on it

in terms of texture, it has a smooth, creamy, almost whipped consistency, and goes on like velvet on your lips :). it's very soothing on windburned/chapped lips due to the oat infusion it contains (it's actually the first ingredient), and it's free of cocoa butter (it's a shea/beeswax base) for those that are allergic. however, it's not vegan like none of your beeswax, so if you don't use animal products, you should avoid this. even though it's brown, like milk chocolate, it doesn't have any color on the lips, which is great :D. it works AMAZINGLY as a lipstick/lipliner base, and as an overnight treatment for dry lips.

the cons:
the tin is horrible, it dents easily and it doesn't seal, which means if it melts, you end up with an oily goo in the bottom of your purse.
it can be a bit "hard" and waxy if you don't warm it up properly, but it's great otherwise.
it's a pot application, i would prefer it in a stick, but i'll deal with it because i love it so much! it's not gooey like the body shop lip balms, so you can just rub in the leftover stuff into your cuticles as a cuticle cream.

overall rating: 4.5/5 (because it comes in horrible packaging).

that's it for now... off to class... AGAIN, but feeling great today :)
would love to hear from you gals about your day!

love,

lareinarumbera

Product Review - Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Therapy Mini-Haul

2009-11-05T20:40:00.001-05:00

hey there, pretty ladies!

i handed in one of three papers that are due this week/next week... and i couldn't JUST go to work, because i'd just finished something major...

so i was walking to the metro, when i saw that crabtree & evelyn was doing their annual customer appreciation day (20% off any purchase)... i justified my purchase by thinking that because i had no hand cream i would walk in to get some (i constantly peel/pick at my cuticles and nails, so they're ragged and horrible, unless i have something soothing to put on them).

now, i've never really bought anything from C&E, stuff looked pretty in there, but kind of quaint and old fashioned, which is totally not me... and you know me, i'm more into the sleek, sexy black stuff (think: NARS, MAC) or weird kooky stuff (think: LUSH soaps)... however, a girl friend in my class uses their hand therapy cream, and while the scent she uses was not quite me (C&E summer hill - floral, but once again, too "english countryside" for me if you know what i mean), the formula was amazing!

C&E hand therapy is a less greasy, shea butter & glycerin based dupe of l'occitane shea butter hand cream (which i cannot for the life of me stand the smell of), packaged similarly in a foil tube thing that looks a bit like old-fashoined toothpaste. thankfully, not all the scents smelled like old auntie muriel who lives in glouscester knitting doilies and giving you afternoon tea, but was inoffensive and gender-neutral.

i ended up buying a boxed set that had 50mL minis of all my favorite scents: la source (BLUE - nice, unisex fresh aquatic), gardner's (ORANGE - fresh, earthy herby smell, my favorite of the three), and rosewater (PINK - a light, watery, girly rose, thankfully not old-ladyish) and a 250mL of citron-honey-coriander (BIG BOTTLE - smells like dolce & gabbana light blue) to put on my desk.

the creams are lightly scented (compared to LUSH, the body shop etc.), non-greasy but concentrated, and very soothing. they smoothed out my ragged, thirsty cuticles but didn't make me put greasy fingerprints all over my keyboard at work. i love that it's rich but not greasy - overly greasy hand creams (like the l'occitane, and many from the drugstore that contain gylcerine, like glysomed) make my hands feel DIRTY, because i feel like the oil just attracts grime, if you know what i mean.

these creams also last a decent amount of time, the moisturizing feeling doesn't go away totally unless you really, really scrub your hands clean in hot water (the problem is, i LOOOOVE doing this, multiple times a day, in scalding hot water too, and that's what dries out my hands so much) - a light soaping in lukewarm water won't remove the cream totally, and you still feel a bit of the emollient feeling after you wash your hands too.

like all C&E gift sets, these are beautifully packaged (see the picture above) - the boxed set especially would make a great hostess gift (like most C&E things).

the hand therapy creams come in the following scents: the above mentioned, plus lavender, nantucket briar, summer hill, and goat's milk. i also like that they come in several different sizes, 100mL (standard single tube), 250mL (desk/bathroom-appropriate pump bottle), 3 x 50mL (blue striped boxed set, like the one i got), and 6 x 50mL (a bigger, prettier boxed set). the boxed sets especially are a great value, as are the 250mL pump bottles. i think i may be getting the boxed sets, and dividing them to give away as christmas presents :)

TG(almost)IF!!!

love always (and feeling much better now that that paper's been handed in),

lareinarumbera xox

Tagged! Again :)

2009-11-03T15:36:00.001-05:00

the lovely marcela @ el tren de belleza tagged me for this post:

7 interesting facts about me:

1. i have close to encyclopedic knowledge about all things futurama.

2. if you saw me friday night vs. on the street/at school, you wouldn't recognize me at all - i switch from feminine-chic to fitness hipster all the time... i clean up well :)

3. i have an addiction to lip products. lip balm, lip salve, lip gloss, lipstick, lip stains, i LOVE shopping for lip products on an almost constant basis.

4. i have a terrible habit of constantly playing with my hair... so i try and keep it out of my face as much as possible.

5. i love ugly-cute things: exotic shorthair/persian/cornish rex/sphinx kittens and pugs/any kind of bulldog/boston terrier puppies are some of my favorite. do note that i do NOT feel attracted to ugly-cute humans, however.

6. i was born in korea, raised in beijing, currently settled in montreal, and speak four-and-a-half languages.

7. i appear to be always busy & motivated, but in reality, i just overload myself because if i don't, i'll be the world's worst (or best, depending on how we look at it) procrastinator (not to mention super lazy), and won't do ANYTHING. by overloading myself, i actually get about half the things on my list done.

the questionnaire:

an animal i would be in another life: a black panther or jaguar. lithe, feline, sleek and athletic, but beautiful.

what i can't live without: spicy/flavorful foods, dancing

what i like the most about a person: their intelligence & their ability to take sarcastic/inappropriate comments in good humor.

the colors i wear the most: black, charcoal, navy, red & fuchsia. the occasional green or purple... i don't do wimpy colors.

three words that describe me: confident, outspoken, competitive

a place i would travel to: BUENOS AIRES, the city of tango. or spain. either way, there are spanish speaking, dark haired men... and dancing.

ideal date: spicy food, good conversation + wine, chocolate after, and maybe a little dancing?

one thing i'd like to do: SLEEP FOR MORE THAN FIVE HOURS AT A TIME.

if i didn't do what i did now, i would: well university student is not really a career, neither is personal assistant, so... i would say, professional competitive dancer, if money were no object.

most outrageous thing i've done: hmmm... one i would disclose to you guys without being fired from a future job - worn black lipstick, in broad daylight, probably. BORING! to my parents: dating a non-korean boy, most likely.

that's it :)

L'Attaque de les Boutons

2009-11-02T23:13:00.008-05:00

i'm quite literally dying of exhaustion from all my papers (and writer's block, and procrastination)...

i tried to bathe my cat today (the little brat spilled a bucket of bleach and cleaning solution, and rolled around in it), and am battling two huge boutons that started because i didn't wash my makeup off fully after my halloween exploits as a bunny rabbit (les francais sont tres charmant, even when they describe disgusting skin ailments) - which makes me feel deeply unattractive... i probably shouldn't have picked them but now they're inflamed and bleeding... awesome, since now it CAN'T be covered up in a natural way using concealer! :( MAJOR FAIL.

i'm treating it the standard way i treat all my clogged pores/zits (curse you, combination-sensitive skin that flares up at the first sign of neglect!): wash 2x day with LUSH fresh farmacy, treat with LUSH grease lightning, moisturize as always, and put antibiotic ointment with a band aid for the nighttime (prevents infection and soothes the area)... ARGH.

i feel like if you have chronic acne, people sympathize with you... but when you have one or two huge ones that are picked beyond all recognition... they just stare straight at it.

while i wait for this week to be over (and it's only monday), here's a quote that i live by:

"Always behave like a duck -- keep calm and unruffled on the surface but paddle like the devil underneath."

-Unknown

10 Wintertime Beauty Tips

2009-10-21T23:35:00.000-04:00

i'm procrastinating... so i'm going to share with you 10 things i do in the winter to stay pretty!

switch to thicker products. look for creams rather than lotions/gels for your face and body, and use hair products that have extra moisture. anything with the words oil or butter, or things denoting a thicker texture like deep-moisturizing or for dry hair/skin are things to look for. apply thicker product, concentrating on dry areas - ends of your hair, knees, elbows, shins, and the u-zone (cheeks, around the mouth and eyes). ingredients to look for are: almond/jojoba/coconut/marula/olive or similar vegetal oils, glycerin (holds moisture in), vegetal butters (shea, cocoa, mango, ilipe). i love: LUSH celestial facial moisturizer (face), the body shop mango body butter and LUSH each peach and two's a pair massage bar (body; the each peach has a nice uplifting scent to chase away winter blues), the body shop monoi miracle oil (body & hair!), herbal essences hello hydration collection and long-term relationship split end mending leave in treatment (hair), oh and don't forget a good foot cream - i personally love LUSH fair trade foot lotion.
skip the soap. bar soap can seriously dry your skin out. ditch the irish spring and use a creamy shower cream/gel instead; follow up with a body oil while your skin is still damp. same goes for your face - use a mild, creamy cleanser. i love: aveeno lavender & ylang ylang relaxing shower gel (super gentle on skin and smells great), dove cream oil body wash (comes in 3 varieties - somewhat dry to very dry skin) and LUSH coconut shower smoothie for the body; LUSH ultrabland, the body shop vitamin E cream cleanser, shu uemura cleansing oil (many formulas for different skin types) and cetaphil gentle cleanser for the face.
cover up. it sucks to look like the human burrito, but seriously, the less you expose to the elements, the less moisture you will lose! tuck your hair into a hat when you're walking outside to prevent frayed/dried out ends and shield your mitts by wearing warm gloves - this will prevent ragged cuticles and rough hands. if it's really windy, cover up your face as best as you can (without looking like a russian babouchka) with a large scarf and by pulling up your hood. i love: newsboy caps - they have a brim to keep the snow off your face, and a bigger back to tuck away your hair; canada goose expedition jacket - large, oversize hood, fleece handwarmer pockets, and longer body length to cover up your butt!
wear uplifting/comforting scents. wintertime can make you feel depressed - i know that first hand in montreal since it's gray and dark for 8 months, with 6 feet of snow on the ground! i personally like using relaxing (sandalwood, vanilla, coconut, lavender, chamomile) scents when i want to feel toasty and snuggly, and uplifiting scents when i get the blues (citrus, light florals like neroli, tropical scents like gardenia, zingy ones like peppermint) - you can buy individual notes in the form of essential oils, use scented body products, or buy a perfume that has a comforting/uplifting composition. i love: juara tiare jasmin perfume oil roll-on, j. r. watkins vanilla body cream, LUSH honey i washed the kids solid perfume, aveda single notes - bergamot, mandarin and rose absolute, the body shop coconut perfume oil, chloe eau de parfum (so clean and uplifting), l'occitane eau de recolte bleue just to name a few.
consume lots of fluids. i load up on herbal (peppermint, chamomile, lavender) teas and traditional korean grain (barley, solomon's seal) teas since they're caffeine-free (non-diruetic, won't sap water from your body), and taste great warm. i also like green tea - it's lightly caffeinated but full of antioxidants. it keeps your skin and lips looking plump, and keeps your body running at peak performance. i also load up on watery/citrus fruit and veggies (cucumbers, melons, oranges etc.). these have vitamins as well as a high water content.
have two types of lip balms. if your lips get cracked, get a salve-like lip balm to ADD moisture, and if your lips are ok, PREVENT moisture loss with a waxy lip balm. you can also use the salve at night as a deep conditioning treatment. i love: LUSH none of your beeswax lip balm, MOR lip delight in blood orange, MAC lip conditioner, the body shop lip butters (salves), nivea hydro care, the body shop cocoa butter lip care stick, aveda lip saver (waxes).
don't skip the spf. i still wear spf consistently on my face - the reflective glare off the montreal snow still can cause skin damange. i use a day cream with sun protection of spf 15 in the winter, and add a spf 15 setting powder over it. i love: LUSH paradise regained spf 15, biore dual fusion moisturizer spf 30, and bareminerals loose powder foundation spf 15 - FAIR.
go for more saturated blushes and lipsticks, in a creamy formula. i switch up my powder blush for a cream one and wear glosses or lipsticks that are creamier, for a "just stepped in from the cold" flush. i love: bobbi brown pot rouge for lips & cheeks - POWDER PINK, set with a bit of NARS orgasm powder blush or bobbi brown powder blush in SLOPES for lasting power, l'oreal color juice lip gloss - WATERMELON CRUSH (a saturated medium pink), clinique superbalm gloss - 09 CURRANT (a berry/plum-pink) and benefit silky finish lipstick - ROCKET POP (a medium toned mauve-rose). i go with a full blown, red/fuchsia lip for the nighttime.
exfoliate. it gets rid of flakes, and keeps your skin glowing, not dull. i use a exfoliating glove/mitt with my regular shower gel.
and lastly, exercise. even if it's just walking to the grocery store, it helps to exercise - it'll help you feel alert and less depressed. even though it's cold and dreary, you won't do your self esteem much good if you sit on your butt and eat oreos or something... take indoor classes (i recommend dancing, DUH :D), walk to meet your friend at a cafe, do winter sports... anything to make you move!

Dance Gear Review - Lululemon Remix Lulu Hoodie

2009-10-18T18:34:00.003-04:00

hello, pretty ladies!

i hope we've all had a restful weekend. my cold came back, so i've been sleeping... it seems like EVERYONE is sick in montreal, what with the cold weather and all.

today i'm going to share with you one of my wardrobe staples (for school, lounging, apres-dance, running errands etc.) - the lululemon remix lulu hoodie. this is the item, folks, that started my lululemon obsession - turning me away from american apparel for my stretchy clothing needs, and making me into a starbucks non-fat latte clutching lulubot (or so would people who hate the brand say).

all my hoodies, rolled up! i love folding them like this, because i can easily see the colors and all the sleeves stay neatly tucked in!

bottom line is, call me a lulubot if you will, i freakin' LOOOOVE all the stuff i've bought from this brand. like i keep saying, it's top notch athletic gear, and it's cut for WOMEN, which means it's not shapeless and ugly like a lot of other brands. you could be lounging around in lulu and eating potato chips, but you can bet your cellulite that you WILL look fitter than you do if you're wearing their amazing pants.

as for me, i didn't work 6 days a week, 2-3 hours a day minimum on my back, arms, abs and legs, for it to be hidden under a freaking baggy shirt - call it vanity, but i want my back and abs to look carved out of wood, not look frumpy!

unfortunately, montreal being under cover of snow for 8 months a year doesnt really help with the back-showing, and this is where the hoodie comes in.

the hoodie is cut smaller, and fitted, not baggy and oversize, and is longer in the arms (thank goodness, i always have a problem where sleeves are too short). this makes it comfortable, warm and cozy, but NOT sloppy and frumpy - it still makes me look fit and toned but it's not skintight like i'm trying to make myself look like a human sausage in a lycra shell. i'm a size 0 normally, but since lulu runs small, i buy a 2, although for layering purposes, i own a few that are size 4 to allow more room for long-sleeved tees and thermal layers underneath.

it's made of high-quality, pre-shrunk cotton fleece, and the oldest one i have still looks like it's pretty new, even after washing is 1x/week for the past 2 years or so. if you zip it and wash it, the fleece will stay nice and thick.

some of the best things about this hoodie are that it comes with an oversize scuba-style hood, that actually COVERS the whole head without falling off, a high neck for those days when you forget your scarf, and a fleecy thing that covers the zipper so it doesn't irritate your chin. they also come in so many fun colors - ranging from basics like black, charcoal, gray, ivory and brights like pink, red, blues and purples. i currently own five - snorkel blue with navy undulation print (blue with swirlies), heathered gray outside/paradise pink lining with daydreamer floral print, heathered plum with alfalfa (purple and green), poppy red with navy, and a customized mood blue with white (faded heathered blue-gray), that has my affiliation proudly written on it (may dancesport/ballroom dancing live forever).

they also have satin name/phone # labels in all the pockets, so they're yours forever! i didn't upload mine because they have personal information on them, but it's a feature i really really like about lulu gear in general :).

all the seams are flatlocked (see the contrasting ribbon liner? it prevents the seams from getting raised) and there are no loose threads anywhere, making these virtually indestructible. they don't say they're waterproof, but i do find that light rain won't permeate the thick fabric. they are very very warm, especially if you layer it with a cotton long sleeve or something similar. i find if i wear a parka, i can get away with wearing a tank underneath, even if it is -30 outside. with a regular technical softshell, i can get away with a long sleeve. the last neat thing are the zipper pulls (click to enlarge). they're actually emergency hair ties - i can't use them at all since my hair is too thick and i have too much of it but my friends with thinner/shorter hair say it's great when they're running around town and they don't have a hair tie.

here are some detail shots of the hoodies:

some things i wish were different about this hoodie: i wish it were cheaper... it is $98 canadian, which is NOT cheap by any means, although they do last MUCH longer than other hoodies i've bought - my $55 canadian american apparel hoodie turned super thin and not fleecy after washing it twice, which means in winter, i can't wear it at all unless i wear another sweater underneath anyway, while my old mood blue (the faded blue-gray color) one is still thick and warm after washing it repeatedly. i also wish the sleeves came with thumb holes like their wraps/studio jackets - this helps the hoodie stay in place when you're putting on a coat etc., and that the body of the hoodie were slightly longer to cover the butt (remixes are a upper-hip skimming length). but overall, i'd buy these again and again.

all in all i give this hoodie a B+/A-, it could be improved slightly but i still LOVE IT TO DEATH. if you don't own any lulu at all, this should be one of your starting items - i recommend a remix hoodie, a reversible groove pant, and a power-Y tank to start off with, along with a cruiser backpack! FANTASTIC comfort, without sacrificing style at all. in fact, when i wear my remix hoodie with wunder under tights (a thick, reversible legging from lulu) and ugg boots, boys (both gay and straight) seem to find it VERY attractive... i've been asked out in the grocery aisle while wearing this hoodie + legging + ugg boot combo multiple times, but when i'm all dolled up to go out, dressed to the nines - more often than not i don't get any response at all.

i'm not trying to initiate you into the cult of lululemon at all... but if you are looking for a hoodie to stay warm in and look cute, give this one a go - it really is great quality and comfort all rolled into a stylish package.

i'm done with my ranting for now - let me know in the comments what you think about the hoodie and how your weekend was!

love,

lareinarumbera
xoxoxox

I'm a LUSH Lush - 2 Weeks After LUSH

2009-10-13T00:05:00.004-04:00

happy canadian thanksgiving, my lovelies!

i survived last week - still a bit tired, but i DO have one thing that i want to rave about this week. it's how LUSH skincare made my skin glowing, happy and balanced!

about three weeks ago i started using clinique super rescue antioxidant moisturizer in the PM because i got it as a GWP, and i was out of my regular night cream (dove sensitive skin day lotion). A BIG, BIG MISTAKE. even though it said it was "allergy tested," i broke out into tiny, tiny, itchy millia (all over my chin, forehead, neck) that would NOT budge for the love of god. now, i've had problems with clinique skincare in the past, but i guess i just didn't learn from my mistakes - it's SUPPOSED to be good for you, right? and i DO love some of their product - superbalm lip gloss (CURRANT, HOW I LOVE THEE), and anything bamboo pink - but their skincare always, always freaks out my skin.

so comes LUSH to the rescue. i had run out of my regular dream cream, which soothes itchy, sensitive skin and moisturizes really well, so me and my happy little credit card made a trip to the local LUSH. using the millia as an excuse, i thought it would be time to do a little haulage, and decided to try a whole new skincare regime.

i have very difficult skin - it's "confused" (oily at times, super dry at others), sensitive, itching/hives prone, fair & sensitive to the sun - although taking care of it with gentle products has helped me conquer the negative effects and have pretty good skin on most days.

so, the sweet sweet girls at my local LUSH hooked me up with the following (french names in brackets (i do live in quebec after all) my thoughts follow in italics):

from top to bottom, left to right: dream cream, vitamin E eye cream, grease lightning, angels on bare skin, fresh farmacy, ultrabland, celestial, paradise regained, eau roma. dreamwash not pictured (sorry, i forgot! :()

CLICK TO ENLARGE

daily cleansing - angels on bare skin (peau neuve) hand-rolled cleanser. with lavender and rose oils, and kaolin clay to cleanse extra oil, it's an exfoliator and cleanser in one! you take a pinch, dampen it into a paste, then massage it over your face & throat. looks weird - like a rolled up gray sushi sort of thing with lavender dried up in it (see closeup in picture below). definitely a consistency change! what i thought after 2 weeks: A-mazing. in 2 days, this stuff with ground almonds, essential oils, and clay cured my milia, improved skin texture, and made my skin GLOW. A+
makeup removal - ultrabland (ultra simple) cream cleanser. made with peanut oil and gentle enough for the eye area, it's like a cleansing oil-cream. my thoughts: i'd ALREADY been using this stuff for the past 2 years, and it's the best heavy-duty makeup cleanser ever. it even takes off that awful grease makeup that you wear for performances, DOESN'T clog pores (which seems unlikely, but the oils kind of "melt" the excess oil from your pores or something... i don't know the science behind it, but i've had LESS blackheads since using this). i still use clinique take the day off makeup remover for lids, lashes and lips for days when i'm not wearing as much makeup, but this stuff is gold in a pot. works great with the steam in your shower too! A+
breakout/problem treating cleanser - fresh farmacy (pharmacie frais) facial soap with calamine clay and tea tree oil. my thoughts: it's a bit drying, and kind of leaves this pinkish residue, but that goes away with toner. they told me to only use it when my skin is extra oily/acting up, and max 3 times a week. i haven't had any skin freakouts yet, so i don't yet have a glowing review about this product. C+ for now, may be upgraded later.
toner - eau roma (eau rome) facial toner. soothing, alcohol free lavender and rosewater toner. my thoughts: nothing groundbreaking, but it's nice. makes my skin feel refreshed but not tight. would buy again because it's gentle and effective at taking off residue. it also comes in a smaller size spritz bottle, which i will be tucking into my dance bag for a refresher spritz. B
spot treatment - grease lightning (no french name). i'd already been using this witch-hazel-and-teatree gel for a few months now, and it's great stuff - effective, not too harsh, suitable for sensitive skin. it probably only works on the occasional pimple though, it was too weak to cure my sister's chronic acne. B- because it doesn't cure chronic acne.
AM moisturizer - paradise regained (paradis retrouve). spf 15, has AHAs and antioxidants from pineapple and grape juice. almond and jojoba oils. pretty good, texture not as good as celestial (see below), takes a while to sink in but DID NOT IRRITATE MY SKIN, even with AHAs and antioxidants. overall, not too shiny for something that has sunscreen. solid product! A-
PM moisturizer - celestial (celeste). vanilla, orchid and other soothing extracts. almond and jojoba oils. my FAVORITE thing from this haul. GREAT texture - it melts into the skin, alleviates irritation, redness, dryness, what have you, and when you wake up in the morning - your skin looks GLOWING. in the beginning i was kind of bummed out because i was waking up oily, but after 2 weeks, i notice my skin is BALANCED, matte, clear and pretty. saved my "confused" skin! A++++++++++
body - dream cream (creme de reve) and dreamwash shower smoothie (lait de reve sou neuf). lavender and chamomile extracts calm angry skin. two of my favorites - calms itchy skin, moisturizes like a dream, gender-neutral herbal scent :) A/A+
eye cream - (non-LUSH) the body shop vitamin E eye cream (creme pour les yeux vitamine E). de-puffs, reduces dark circles. gentle. my take: i've been using this cream on and off for the past 4 years. this is the eye cream that i keep going back to - does what it says will do, affordable, hygenic packaging (no pots - ewww), moisturizing and works great as a base for concealer. probs not for "older" gals, but great for me as a preventative measure against premature eye wrinklage! only gripe - it doesn't de-puff as much as the body shop claims it does. A-

closeup of angels on bare skin... notice the lavender flowers, dried up and rolled into the cleanser :)

so overall - this regime worked better than ANYTHING i've used in the past - and i've thrown so much money away on avene, laroche-posay and other brands for "sensitive skin..." which i kind of regret now - dare i say it's holy grail? with my product ADD, i'll probably go off trying something else, but i know i can come back to these if my skin decides to freak out again :).

if one thing lush COULD improve... it's the fact that their creams are in a jar. i'd much rather a tube or a pump type thingy (like grease lightning) so that my products don't get contaminated... but it's a minor issue - the tubs are sturdy and stackable. if you collect five, you get a free mask (kind of like back to MAC but a LUSH version)! yay!

fresh farmacy and angels on bare skin are what LUSH calls "naked" products - they are sold in big rolls/chunks/pieces, and the nice girls at LUSH will cut a slice for you. they come wrapped in paper like the soaps, although the roll cleansers come in those little gelato tub looking things. they are sold by the gram - so it may cost you a little bit more or less depending on the slice you get.

i leave you with this picture of cha cha, living it up on my bed:

if only we could all just relax like that...

wishing all my pretty ladies a great week :)

lareinarumbera xox

MIDTERMS GALORE :(

2009-10-05T12:39:00.000-04:00

hey everyone who's still bothering to check up here... i've been super busy lately, what with my dance medal exams (kind of like final exams for dancing) and with school driving me insane, which explains the lack of posting.

i promise once this blows over, that you'll get a few FOTDs and reviews! i've been taking loads of pictures, just haven't been able to find the time to upload them and whatnot.

talk to you soon!

lareinarumbera

Bored at the Library - Musings on the Tango

2009-09-27T11:42:00.002-04:00

the promenade - notice the compact hold

the tango, in both ballroom and argentine forms, has got to be one of my favorite dances of all time. the tango inherently has this aggressiveness, and this intimacy, that sets it apart from the other dances. if the rumba simmers and steams slowly, the tango is a full boil - not quite as furious as the paso doble, but still aggressive and a bit intimidating. the tango is also what i like to call "elegant on top, but sleazy on the bottom," apparent in its origins and character - it appears elegantly danced, but underlying it is this animal sexual aggression that is barely concealed by the technique of the dance.

the pivots - notice how even though the woman (me, in this case!) is outside the man at this point, how she is wedged against him, and how her head is still facing away

to understand the power dynamic of the tango, one must understand the history of it. it originated in the brothels around the coast of buenos aires, where dock workers and sailors paid for the company of the lower-class courtesans and prostitutes. therein lies the power dynamic - the steps of the man are large, aggressive, the woman's head a bit hesitantly, and avoidantly, to the left, as if she does not quite want him. the woman's hesitation is apparent in the steps too - she follows, but almost a little bit late - while the man aggressively charges at her. in the paso, for comparison, the woman would charge at the man, since she plays the role of the capa, or cape, of the matador, and at times, the bull. there is no passivity of the woman in the paso doble - the dance may be about the man, but the woman is still an untamed creature. in the tango, however, the woman's unwillingness, and hesitation, comes through a little bit - as my dancer friend put it - "waltz is the foreplay, tango is the actual thing" - while the rumba is more of a mutual need for each other, the tango is this, rough, almost dominating force that the woman cannot stop. the hold is the same way - the woman is tucked around the man, wedged in between his legs, so that she reacts quickly to the rougher lead. the man rarely lets go of the woman - when he does (for a "fan" for example), it is almost as if she is being ripped away from him.

coming out of a "barrel" lift - the man still holds onto her as if he can't let go

nonetheless, the tango, in its argentine form (the above is mainly a description of the ballroom form), has evolved now, into a gentler, more fluid dance than its staccato ballroom counterpart. in any case, the firey nature of the tango, and the implied aggression of the man who will take what he wants, turn my legs to rubber... never mind that my mom is watching from the edge of the dance floor - a tango that is properly danced (my ballroom tango is much better than my argentine, i have yet to experience this at a milonga) just makes me feel bad, and i love it. the checks, the pivots, the head movements - the aggressiveness, and the closeness - it just makes me feel seductive, uninhibited, and almost in control of the man, since he wants me, at any cost.

the "shoulder perch lift" (almost over)

fans & kicks side by side

the tango, like the rumba, is not a dance for the faint hearted, or those with intimacy issues - it made me uncomfortable in the beginning, knowing i had no control over what i am doing. but when you do let go, and follow completely, it is truly a special experience (provided your partner is competent of course).

What to Wear When You Don't Know What to Wear

2009-09-22T22:15:00.000-04:00

hi everyone, i've been wasting too much time on polyvore.com... it's like, a giant online collage!

anyhow, here's my first "set:"

this is my go-to look when i have to be somewhere but i can't be bothered to come up with an idea for an outfit.

clothes: black backless tunic + black skinnies + black pumps (as high heeled as possible).
add a leather jacket and pashmina scarf if it's cold. clutch if i will be somewhere without dancing, otherwise, no clutch. simple, diamond drop earrings (i can't lose them because they're ring shaped) + bangle for jewelry. it's pretty but it doesnt' compete with my makeup, and gives a little sparkle.

makeup: retro red glamor. red lipstick + winged eyeliner (use a small, firm eyeliner brush) + contoured cheekbones + false eyelashes. make sure complexion is perfect, not flushed. red nails if i have time.

fragrance: something sexy. i like bulgari blu, or rossy de palma eau de protection - both are sexy and have a presence.

what to wear when you don't know what to wear by lareinarumbera

Update - L'Oreal Color Juice Lip Swatches

2009-09-22T21:10:00.001-04:00

hello, pretty ladies!

as promised, here are some lip swatches of the color juices.

just to recap - (from left to right) passionfruit squeeze, watermelon crush, berry burst & pink grapefruit

lip swatches (NC15/20 skin in artificial light) - click to enlarge, and see the texture/sparkles etc.:

pink grapefruit. nice, sheer ballet pink with a bit of satiny sparkle.

passionfruit squeeze. MLBB mauvey-pinky-beige. cream finish (no sparkles).

watermelon crush. reddish, flushed juicy medium red-pink with some gold pearl. not sparkly, but there is a discernable sheen to it.

berry burst. translucent, sparkling pink cellophane. the "wettest" look of all the colors. slight candy pink tint, but least pigmented on my lips.

pretty, yah? gotta love the juicy, plumped up look these give me!

Top 5 - School Bag Stashworthy Items

2009-09-22T15:21:00.000-04:00

hello everyone!

if you're like me, and get up at an ungodly hour, then run around all day going to class, work, then dance, you end up bringing a huge bag with you. in my case, it's a big ugly backpack (i have scoliosis so i don't carry a purse unless i carry minimal things, boo hoo). here are the top 5 items that i keep in my schoolbag at all times, for those emergencies.

1. the piece de resistance - the bag itself. i carry a lululemon cruiser backpack, which has color coded pockets to help you remember where you stashed your stuff, is waterproof, and ergonomically designed. it's also not as ugly as some other backpacks, and isn't too large on someone with a petite frame like me. i have it in black, but occasionally they introduce LE colors like charcoal and khaki (like above).

2. a kleen kanteen 800mL water bottle. it's stainless steel, not aluminum, won't dent, doesn't scratch easily, and holds just enough water so that i don't have to fill it more than 3x/day. it's perfect for those back to back classes & dance classes when you want to stay alert and hydrated! i have a pink one :) - makes me happy just looking at it.

3. a kashi granola bar. it's made with loads of whole grains, is lower in sugar than many other granola bars, has almonds for protein and is a great snack that isn't bad for you. i usually eat half when i'm dying of hunger during class and save the other half for emergencies. about 150-200 calories depending on which flavor you buy (my favorite is dark chocolate cherry).

4. bobbi brown pot rouge for lips & cheeks (shade: powder pink). adds color to faces that haven't slept more than 2 hours, and lasts a long time. natural, moist and blends well!

5. j. r. watkins 99% natural whipped body cream. keeps my skin soft, smells nice, is extremely moisturizing but not greasy at all. i love it in vanilla for the cooler months and lavender for the summer when vanilla can be a bit overwhelming.

what do you always carry with you?

Drugstore Cheapie/Dupe Alert - L'Oreal Color Juice Lip Gloss

2009-09-21T18:09:00.006-04:00

hello, pretty ladies :)

i hope your monday didn't kill you. i know mine was pretty awful, as in awfully long! i didn't get much sleep, but i don't really get much sleep these days anyway, so i just sucked it up and drank a load of coffee.

today's cheap thrill is l'oreal color juice sheer juicy lip gloss (a mouthful, i know). since l'oreal SA owns lancome and all, i figured these would be a cheaper alternative to lancome juicy tubes, which i have a love/hate relationship with. four of these color juices, at $7 or so each, will land you one measly juicy tube! i don't know about you... but i'd rather go home with four, rather than one lip gloss, with it being a recession and all (and also i end up with more lip gloss, hehe)...

but how do they really stack up against one another? IMO, the color juices win! why? all the lancome juicy tubes, while being shinier than the color juices, and less sticky, have this awful artificially flavored, mentholated, saccharine-sweetened flavor that i just HATE... and those mofos smell/taste super strong too, i just can't stand it. i don't mind a nice, classy flavor, like dior creme de gloss (white tea) or MAC (vanilla) or benefit (apricot), that is more subtle and not assaulting to my senses.

i first got one of these as a present from my sister (she gave me pink grapefruit, the palest shade above) - and i used up the tube super quickly and forgot about it. but when i needed my makeup-haulage fix, i decided to revisit these.

i got four shades, shown above (left --> right): passionfruit squeeze (a MLBB pinky-mauvey-beigey cream), watermelon crush (a reddish medium watemelon pink with low-level gold pearl), berry blast (clear fuchsia with multicolor microsparkles) and pink grapefruit (pearly ballet pink).

what i think:

FLAVOR/SCENT - all of them have the SAME scent, a swedish berry candy sort of generic sweet berry smell. no discernable taste. boys say it smells good, and it doesn't taste awfully sweet, so no complaints in this department.

TEXTURE/FORMULA - a bit thick. i wish it were just a tiny bit thinner. if you're like me, and have slightly pigmented lips, the lighter shades, like pink grapefruit, may be hard to apply without a mirror because you have to make sure the pearl pigment is distributed evenly (or it may look like glue on the thicker parts). people say it's sticky, but i usually wear my hair up, and when i wear it down i usually go for a thin gloss or a lipstick/balm so i don't really mind. MAC lipglass is thicker, while lancome juicy tubes are thinner in comparison.

although it's thick, it lasts ages and ages unless you eat something major (like a sandwich or an apple), and won't clump up in the inside of your lips & in the corners like some glosses. it also fades evenly. it isn't drying at all, and actually, when i fell asleep with the grapefruit shade on, i found soft lips the next morning!

it has a "juicy" shine like the name suggests, although it isn't quite patent-leather like stila lip glaze or MAC lipglass. it's a more subtle shine, like clinique superbalm or benefit lip gloss (reformulated version) - wet & full but not veering on cyborg territory. i'll get you some lip swatches soon! it makes my full lips even fuller and pillowy, but not trashy and pornstary as some patent finishes.

PACKAGING - 15mL squeezy tube. has a "fat" slant tip applicator - i wish the slant tip were thinner - it would be much more precise then... but the shades are all quite translucent, so you can just apply away and clean off the corners with a finger if you get some of the darker colors "outside the borders."

COLOR SELECTION - not as wide in canada as it is in the states. could be expanded a little bit to include more blue-based shades. most of the shades are brownish or kind of orangy, which sucks for people like me who wear cool colored shades. also, the lighter colors are all too nude for pigmented lips... there needs to be more colors like the berry/watermelon that have more of a cellophane-y effect for those of us with naturally pink lips!

now that i've tried shades other than the pink grapefruit, i think won't buy the pink grapefruit again, just because i can't apply without a mirror. if i wanted a nudish pink gloss that i needed to take care to apply, then i'd just stick with my MAC underage.

i do love the passionfruit and watermelon because they're MLBB for me, with the watermelon being more pink and the passionfruit being more beigy. watermelon is easier to apply for me since it's not a cream. passionfruit is easier to apply than the grapefruit, but i still need to take care to spread it well. watermelon gives my face a lift - like i have good circulation! works great with bobbi brown nectar blush :)

the berry is very easy to apply, and appears almost clear - it's like sparkly pink cellophane. this will probably be my weekend/no mirror gloss... looooove.

they all apply sheer, and are very forgiving. in particular the watermelon and berry apply very translucent. the passionfruit has the most pigment, and the grapefruit WOULD be more translucent on someone with less pigment on their lips than mine. i can see all four working well on many different skin tones. if you read the makeupalley review of the watermelon shade, you can see that it has favorable reviews from a wide range of skin tones, ranging from fair like me, to much darker.

PRICE - pretty cheap :) no complaints here. i won't need to repurchase for a while just because i have FOUR FREAKING TUBES (temporary insanity), but nonetheless, it's a great gloss at a great price. i won't be buying expensive squeeze on gloss ever again!

let me know how your monday went :)

lareinarumbera

Dance Gear Review - Shine Dancewear "Curve Maximizer" Latin Dancewear Skirt

2009-09-19T20:13:00.000-04:00

hello, pretty ladies!

today i'm going to share with you one of my favorite off-the-rack latin skirts, the shine dancewear curve maximizer dance skirt. this baby has a flattering fishtail shape, conforms to your curves, doesn't ride up or make you do a britney when you're turning, and looks freaking amazing for slower dances. i don't like this skirt too much for faster latin, but i do like it for rumba/bolero and social dancing since it's not too short.

the price point is quite good (approx $90), the material is great (microfiber for wicking purposes), and it makes my butt look geat. i also love that it comes in smaller sizes - i have a problem finding skirts that fit my waist properly.

i pair this skirt with slinky dance tops and plain cotton dance tops, and voila, smoking hot curves :)

shine dancewear can be bought on the website - contact dominique!

how's your weekend going?

The Cult of Lululemon - Musings on Dance Gear

2009-09-15T22:53:00.002-04:00

before i came to canada, i had not heard of lululemon. shortly upon arriving, however, and after attending dance class, i noticed that every well-toned butt in the studio had the ubiquitous squiggly logo (i think it's supposed to be a stylized "A", as in lululemon athletica). in the beginning, it was just some kind of fad that i didn't quite catch on to, since i figured my american apparel leggings would do exactly the same thing as a wonder under tight.

lululemon is the brainchild of one of the newer models of business, which, unlike older athletic brands, uses a strong lifestyle strategy to market its products. they have company "ambassadors," local yogis/yoginis, dance coaches, fitness experts and so on, that "uphold" the lululemon lifestyle - basically a physically fit, mentally healthy, pretty man/woman. essentially, you can "feel" fit just by sporting a lulu hoodie, even if you're just going to be a couch potato, or can't distort yourself into weird positions, if you wear lulu - that's the message they're trying to send.

the brand has almost reached cult status - its devotees marching daily to schools, studios, parks and everywhere inbetween with the ubiquitous stylized A tattooed on their butts!

there's been a lot of controversy over the brand's so called manifestos and employee practices (i.e. mandatory yoga classes? seriously?) and issues with the, ahem, very expensive gymwear... but here's what i think:

whilst lululemon does not make dance clothing exclusively per se (i.e. i can't walk in and buy a nice latin skirt), they do make well constructed, functional and comfortable technical gear that is suitable for a wide range of low- to medium-impact sports.

you can say that i've drunk the kool-aid, but what i do know is that their gear is by far some of the best i've had, and now there are days when my outfits consist of nothing but lulu! the remix hoodie is the warmest, coziest, comfiest hoodie i own, and is probably the highest quality, and the groove pant and studio jacket has held up after twice weekly washings & almost-daily usage in the past 2 years.

now i do find some of the ideology of lulu a bit silly, but i do love me some lulu!

Whee! I'm Back - a Peacock Feather EOTD

2009-09-12T23:00:00.002-04:00

hi everyone!

i'm more or less back on my feet now, so you should be hearing from me more :). i was more or less able to dance a bit without dying - i'm still a bit congested, and my voice is funny, but i'm functional! yay!

this look is a follow-up on the EOTD that used the leopard print theme and the FOTD inspired by my fish - i thought i would continue the animal kingdom sort of thing that i had going on, by doing a peacock themed one.

i used mostly MAC product for this - eyeshadows in warm chill (frosty mint green), swimming (lustrous golden green), moon's reflection (medium blue with pearl), beautiful iris (shimmering lavender) and parfait amour (a velvety violet). i also used select-cover up in NC20 (since i did this eye on my sister, not myself) as a base and to even out discoloration.

to this mix, i used GOSH velvet touch eyeliners in metallic brass (brown-black with golden pearl), pretty petrol (navy blue with pearl) and green grass (true green) and bobbi brown longwearing gel eyeliner in ivy shimmer ink (a blackened bottle green). CLICK TO ENLARGE IMAGES :D

from top to bottom: product shots, flash, then no flash (natural light)

i applied the select-cover up as a base, in the undereye area and over the eyelid, to even out color. i applied warm chill as a general base, using a large shadow brush to sweep it up to the brow bone, then highlighted with a bit of NARS the multiple in copacabana.

if you have sparse brows (my sister has nice dense ones, lucky her), you can fill them in for definition - same goes for your lashes, once you're done, you can apply mascara if you want, but my sister has long black ones anyway, so all i did was to clean them off a bit with a dampened cotton swab.

from top to bottom: no flash (natural light) and with flash on NC20/25 skin

now comes the part that is slightly tricky. the key is to be patient and BLEND, BLEND, BLEND! i sort of did a graudated rainbow of all the colors - parfait amour fading into beautiful iris, fading into moon's reflection, and finally, fading into swimming, from the inside edge of the eye to the outer corner. i lined the bottom rim of the eye with pretty petrol eyeliner, and set with moon's reflection. i lined the waterline with metallic brass. then i used a very fine eyeliner brush to line the top lid with ivy shimmer ink and joined it with the blue on the bottom. then i used the ivy shimmer ink and pretty petrol liners together to draw on a general peacock feather design, and finished off the centre with a mixture of green grass set with swimming on top and parfait amour (with a little fix + to intensify color).

i would personally pair this look with an understated lip, like dior creme de gloss - sweet praline, or bobbi brown lip pencil in pale pink with MAC lipglass - underage.

again, it's more of an artistic look than a wearable one, but it's still fun!

it's good to be back,

lareinarumbera :D

previous E/FOTDs:
blue steel
fierce leopard
the cheryl
au naturel
blue and green

Sick with a Horrible Cold :(

2009-09-08T16:48:00.000-04:00

hello everyone!

things may be a bit slow this week, i've been incapacitated by a horrible, horrible cold. i'm barely functional (making it to classes), but other stuff is totally on hold - and dancing & blogging will probably be back in a few days. i've got loads of stuff i've taken pictures of, but no energy to write posts :(.

i'll try and get better soon and post.

in the meantime, look through my archives for some fun posts from a while back!

sneezing and icky,

lareinarumbera

Fragrance Review (the Gardenia Quartet Part IV) - Origins Shedonism

2009-09-05T13:30:00.000-04:00

let me start off by saying that this is probably my least favorite gardenia perfume, which is why the review is so short. i find that it emphasizes the lushness of the gardenia a bit TOO MUCH. the coconutty-rich, spicy concoction, while very velvety and smooth, can be a bit too strong for me at times, and headache inducing. that being said, the body cream version of this is DIVINE, in terms of texture and moisturization - although the scent is still a bit too much. i have a bit of the spray left, and although i WANT to like it, i can't.

i like my gardenias sparkling and heady - the way it is done in tuberose gardenia. by contrast, origins shedonism is gardenias at nighttime; the smell of the white petals warmed by hot sand and a bonfire on the beach, with the smell of monoi oil and coconuts on hot skin and subtle spices. as much as i am entranced by this idea (dancing on the beach with a tall dark handsome stranger? COUNT ME IN :D) i can't like it - the same way i like the idea of rich orientals but can't stand to smell it on me. overall, i think it's beautiful, but not for me, although one guy friend who never comments on my perfume did say, "ooh, you smell good today." i think this would suit someone who likes tropical/coconutty scents more.

also, the container is a little awkward, it's very thin and long, so it will knock over if you're not careful. the price is not too bad (the cream is freakin' expensive though, for 200mL or so of body cream) won't buy again, at least not for myself.

25 Things You Probably Didn't Know About Me

2009-09-04T23:20:00.001-04:00

I'm bored, so i'm gonna rant about myself (also, due to a cold that's been going around, there's no dancing, bleeeeech)! it's a bit sarcastic, but enjoy! oh and also, I HATE BLOGGER BECAUSE IT SCREWS UP THE NEAT SPACING I WANT! and i suck at HTML, so i don't know how to fix it.

1. i'm convinced i make life difficult for MYSELF. i chose the two major combination that would possibly result in the largest reading load/workload, i chose the dance career that would take up up to six hours of my time a day (on some days), and chose to do them TOGETHER. a sane person would have just chosen a regular workload and gotten some sleep. plus, did you know i also have a job that takes up 15 hours a week?
2. i have a love/hate relationship with sleep and food. i would absolutely love to sleep more than 5-6 hours a day, but i feel like i'm wasting my time if i sleep, and i absolutely love food but hate how i eat everything in sight, without restraint, and constantly. i'm probably just eating because i'm sleep deprived and stressed out from the stuff that's going on in #1.
3. you know which friends are your true friends true friends when you're completely consumed by your various commitments, are unable to have a normal life, and then when you do eventually see them for a short coffee, everything is normal and it's as if it was first year again and you're procrastinating in your solin hall living room with a 40 of absolut and tropicana cranberry. when i say this, you know who you are :)

4. i've discovered that i'm very much like my mother - which makes me cringe. see #1 and #2.

5. everyone who knows me i don't really come alive until you see me on the dance floor. i'll be all cynical, overworked and tired, but then a tango/jive/foxtrot/rumba/cha cha/samba/bachata/mambo/salsa or something else comes on and despite the fact my sleep-deprived brain tells me to SIT MY ASS DOWN AND GO TO SLEEP, my body goes on autopilot. i did not discover this until i'd gained the confidence to dance, which occured shortly after i got contacts and became hot.
6. my nails won't grow but everything i eat will go to my hair. my hair just grows and grows. i also shed like a newfoundland retriever during molting season. it broke my vacuum the first year i came to montreal. strangely, even with all the shedding, i still have a crazy amount of hair. my nails on the other hand, takes A LOT of patience to grow and are constantly peeling. i wish i had nice nails, but i guess it's better to have nicer hair.
7. the eternal paradox - i love looking hot as much as any other girl, but secretly i prefer stretchy lululemons and a hoodie. and as much as i lust after those hot five inch heels, and spend every day dancing in three inch ballroom shoes, i'm obssessed with all squishy things ugg. seriously. lululemon + squishy sheepskin uggs (or havaianas in the summer) = the best thing ever. at least lululemon makes my ass look hot.
8. i love making food to satiate my pathological thoughts of food mentioned in #2. i love food almost as much as my dancing, but i think i choose dancing over food.
9. my favorite cartoon character is mom on futurama. she's a bitter, vulgar, hypocritical old lady, kind of like a female mr. burns. my favorite quote: "... i'll never forget the day that magnificent staliion left me... if i ever see him again, i swear i'll jam a squirrel in him!" you also have to love the fact she wears a fat suit in public.
10. i love my kitty. i may be a potential crazy cat lady later on.

11. as bad as the movie twilight was, i secretly have the hots for edward cullen. totally weird, given i like the latin lover type. totally terrible girl in the movie, but edward makes me want to move to forks.
12. trying to live thriftily is hard, because i have an addiction to looking good, and i hate old things. getting better at it though.
13. only exception to my hatred of old things - dance shoes. the worst thing is that by the time they're so worn out that they need to be thrown out, that's the only time they're comfortable. when they're new, they hurt more than anything.

14. i really miss beijing - i miss my girls (you know who you are), and even the sheep that used to roam outside the school grounds... although now it's a polluted, overpriced tourist city.
15. everyone has their insecurities. i personally hate my upper arms, wish i didn't have scoliosis, wish my legs were longer and that i was extra flexible. but at the end of the day, i feel sexy. every woman and man is sexy and beautiful because they're imperfect.
16. i love water, but i hate drinking it because i don't like peeing in school bathrooms. to this day, i will only pee in the SSMU bathroom at mcgill unless i'm bursting because everything is automated and i don't have to touch anything.
17. my favorite foods are all pungent - i love things with cilantro, garlic, basil, shallots, onions, tomatoes, ginger. but i know that the person who loves me will still kiss me after eating that giant, tasty dinner.
18. the reason i'm doing this now is because of #1 - i haven't slept very much and if i stop typing i'll fall asleep.
19. i have numerous personality problems - but these are also my assets. i'm arrogant, vain, cold/logical, cynical, spiteful and defensive, but that also means that i'm confident, self-loving, rational/calm, funny (in a chandler bing kind of way), not afraid to show my emotions, and that i don't take sh*t from anyone. this goes for everyone.

20. i know i'm not supposed to feed my fish more than a few pieces of fish food, but given my love food i feel bad for the poor bugger because i feel like he only ever eats the same thing and onlu gets a pinch of it a day (despite the rationale that his stomach is about the size of his eye).

21. i constantly wish i was less lazy... although to most people i look crazed on a constant basis. once again this goes back to my mother who hates laziness and how i am almost scarily like her.

22. my musings are always very verbose, as can be seen by this list.

23. as much as i come across as unemotional most of the time (at least when it comes to relationships), i am very easily affected by cheesy, romantic gestures. also, i love cuddles.

24. regardless of what you're pursuing, if there is no fire, it's not worth pursuing. i'm a person that needs lots of that fire burning inside me... or i get bored and i do soemthing stupid.

25. I HAVE THE BIGGEST FEAR OF THE FEELING YOU GET WHEN YOU GO ON A ROLLERCOASTER. it's gotten to the point that i can't ride a swing and i can't ride in airplanes when there' turbulence - without freaking out noticeably. i'm also afraid of heights and things with many legs (except sea creatures. octopuses and stuff are okay, because they're edible.

that's all!

seacrest, out!

Le Look Du Jour: the "Blue Steel"

2009-09-04T21:06:00.007-04:00

happy long weekend, pretty ladies!

derek, doing his best zoolander impression

i was inspired by my steel blue doubletail betta fish, derek, to do a FOTD called "blue steel." now to understand why this is sort of funny, to me anyway, you have to watch the movie zoolander, which pokes fun at male modeling (starring ben stiller and owen wilson). "blue steel" is one of derek zoolander's signature looks (others are "ferrari," "le tigre" and "magnum") - which made me ROFL and name my fish after him.

blue steel in action

to do this look (you've actually seen this photo before, i included it in the first tagged! post), you need: CARGO's toronto quad (sapphire blue, slate blue, silvery blue-gray and sparkly black), bobbi brown shimmer blush - bahama brown (not shown), NARS the multiple - copacabana (not shown), MAC blot - LIGHT + bare escentuals powder foundation - FAIR (not shown), and MAC lipglass - PRRR. the great thing about this look is, if you smile and act perky, it looks pretty & flawless. if you pull a straight face, it transforms to sexy & intense (see the face chart, you'll see what i mean). it works great with my pale skin, don't you think?

some product shots (eye prodcuts only, sorry, i had a lot of reading to do):

skin swatches (on NC15 skin):

face & eye chart:

even your skintone with the powder foundation and mattify with the blot powder.

apply shade #2 all over; put #3 on lids. contour the crease with #4 (as shown in the eye chart).

line with the gel liner, top and bottom. join at the outer corner; extend slightly to give a foxy appearance.

set on top lid with shade #1 and to increase vibrancy of liner color. highlight with bobbi brown bone (a shimmery vanilla white, not shown) or the multiple in copacabana.

apply a stripe copacabana to cheekbones and blend with fingers. contour just below with bahama brown (as shown in the face chart).

apply a thin layer of nivea hydro care lip balm or a similar stick balm. apply one thin coat of the lipglass in prrr (a peachy, pinkish shimmery shade - LOVE the name, btw, makes me feel all sex-kitteny), make sure you apply evenly. DO NOT TOUCH, or rub lips together! lipglasses look the best when ONE coat is applied with care and is not touched in any way!

i hope you're enjoying your long weekend! let me know how it goes. if you have any specific FOTD requests, i'll do one for you!

previuos F/EOTDs:

fierce leopard
the cheryl
au naturel
blue & green

lareinarumbera :)

Tagged, Again! - Daily Routine

2009-09-04T18:59:00.001-04:00

i was tagged again by marcela at el tren de belleza... and i'm supposed to share with you my typical, working-day morning makeup/beauty routine.

cha cha with some of my daily essentials (derek the betta fish in the background) - sorry, the picture is a little out of focus!

SKINCARE

what i use to keep my skin pretty - face (top) body (bottom)

i cleanse with cetaphil gentle skin cleanser, tone with avene brume eau thermale apaisante & follow up with nivea aqua sensation eye cream and biore dual fusion spf 30 moisturizer (cetaphil spf 60 facial moisturizer on ultra-sunny days). on my body i'll use LUSH dream cream, clarins creme jeunesse de pieds (important since when i dance, my feet are always swollen & hurting), burt's bees lemon cuticle butter on my hands (super dry, brittle nails : ) and follow up with neutrogena sensitive skin sunblock spf 60. i have dry-combo (super dry in the cheeks and slightly oily t-zone) skin that's super sensitive, so stick with gentle products. i also burn easily, which means mucho sunscreen, even in the winter (also, in montreal, the snow reflects a lot of light).

MAKEUP

my daily makeup. sometimes the eyeliner, blush or lip gloss will change, but usually most of it stays the same. blush, eye products & lip gloss (top) and concealer/powder (bottom).

i conceal with MAC select-cover up in NW15 (covers undereye better than the NC), set with a light dusting of MAC blot in light all over, then i apply blush - today it was bobbi brown nectar with a light dusting of bahama brown for a glow. i usually use the colors in my bobbi brown 6-pan palette, with the shades bone, champagne, heather mauve, fawn, java & gunmetal (today's shades - champagne as a base, bone to highlight, and a bit of fawn on the lid). i line my eyes lightly with bobbi brown longwearing gel eyeliner - today the shade i wore was ivy shimmer ink. then i curl my eyelashes with my shiseido eyelash curler and apply a coat or two of dior diorshow iconic waterproof in noir extreme.

LIPS

as you all know, i'm a bit loca about the lips. i choose my lip product depending on the day... and today it was all about the sheer, punchy fuchsia that is MAC lustreglas in fashmode. super gorgeous. makes my lips feel lush and full. i first apply a bit of clarins baume levres reparateur then apply the lustreglass over it (this times the tackiness)... then i'm all done!

okay, i'm done now...

i tag...

1. michelle at lipstick rules
2. cheryl at confessions of a 20-something year old
3. karen at makeup and beauty blog

Back to School Special - Makeup for Pretty Ladies Who Wear Glasses

2009-09-04T09:00:00.002-04:00

not all of us are endowed with perfect eyesight... and with 300 pages to read in three days, we sometimes suffer some damage to our sparkling peepers! i don't always wear contacts, because some days, with all the work and everything, my eyes are too tired.

first off, let me emphasize this point: the best makeup in the world will be useless if you don't wear nice frames that suit your face. for me, it's a basic, medium-brown tortoiseshell square frames from prada. they're good quality, and have lasted me 3 years now! best investment i ever made in terms of eyewear, maybe except for my oversized oliver peoples sunglasses.

me with my standard, glasses/school look.

(click to enlarge)

i've been a bit busy with school - so i haven't been able to do a full product swatch & face chart for you guys on this one, but like all the looks i do for daytime, this one is exceedingly simple! i look a little weird in this photo, but whatevs.

1. conceal any undereye darkness with MAC select cover up layered over smashbox photo-op under eye brightener. this is important to look fresh and awake.

2. foundation if you use it; if not, a light dusting of mattifying powder, like MAC blot.

3. add a dewy blush - for this photo, i used bobbi brown pot rouge for lips & cheeks (powder pink).

4. fill in brows with make up for ever waterproof brow corrector.

5. add a wash of flesh tone shimmery shadow, up to the brow bone. i used benefit creaseless cream shadow (birthday suit) and used bobbi brown shimmer was eye shadow (bone) on the brow bone to highlight. line eyes, top and bottom, in a slight cat eye shape with bobbi brown longwearing gel eyeliner (i used sapphire ink, that makes my brown eyes pop, but you can use any other color you like). i skip mascara because i find that when i wear it, they poke the glasses and the lenses get dirty fast (thank you god, for the long lashes though).

6. finish off with any gloss/MLBB lippie of your choice. in this look i have a combo of bobbi brown lip pencil (pale pink) topped with MAC lipglass (underage).

7. run out the door and get to class/work/the library! you'll look smart and pretty but not dorky.

Screw the Recession, I Need My Fix! - Benefit & Chloe Mini-Haul

2009-09-03T06:59:00.001-04:00

i know i'm supposed to be saving money and all... but i couldn't resist the lure of murale, which is sort of like a canadian sephora. there happens to be one in montreal, and the sales staff happen to be such sweet, nice girls, and they carry a whole bunch of cosmetics/skincare lines, from prestige to drugstore brands like l'oreal and GOSH, which makes it a nice place to hang out, get makeup/skincare tips and pick up a couple things.

here is what i got (aren't all the containers sooooo pretty? - the chloe eau de toilette is a gift, btw):

benefit silky finish lipstick - skinny dip (a muted neutral pink cream), benefit lip gloss - who are you wearing? (passionfruit pink shimmer) & chloe eau de toilette

benefit creaseless cream shadow/liner - birthday suit (a netural grayish flesh-metallic)

the other things are pretty much things that i'm drawn to - lippies & easy-to-wear cream shadow that will be great to apply in a cinch when i'm rushing to and from class, but chloe eau de toilette was completely out of character for me - i would have never, ever chosen it for myself based on the notes (lychee, yucky!) - it was a gift from a friend! a (~~not-so~~ full-on) ~~mini~~ review:

i usually like crisp, dry scents that are not sweet or fruity in any way (i've worn bulgari blu for years) or TRUE florals (not fruity-floral, like estee lauder private collection tuberose gardenia, etat libre d'orange rossy de palma eau de protection & carolina herrera 212) - but i DID like this one, and although it's not perfect, i do love it! there is a little bit too much fruit in the beginning (lychee, bleeeeeh) and it's exceedingly loud & screechy going on, but it settles into a subtle rose-and-lily-of-the-valley that lasts for hours and hours. i can see myself wearing it for quite some time now, since i was thinking of putting away my clean shower fresh eau de parfum because it's too summery and soapy for the cooler months - this one is still fresh, but is richer, somehow, and less shampoo-like than the clean - rosier, more expensive-smelling, if that makes sense, and more feminine.

i was pleasantly surprised - i avoided smelling this one for the longest time, and must thank my friend for flying blind and hoping that i would like it (he's a guy who thought my bulgari blu was well, ahem, a little too masculine/unisex, to put it nicely) - the beginning is still a little too sweet & fruity for me, but i did like the heart and drydown, which is what most of the experience is anyway. reminds me of the expensive marseille soap you were not allowed to touch as a kid - perfectly rosy and clean - and reserved for "fancy" people!

i guess it's a bit more obviously & traditionally feminine, but i don't know, it's pretty, doesn't make me feel like i can (as an argentine tango instructor told me to) kill a man with my eyes (en el tango, necesites matar los hombres con tus ojos, as he put it HAHAHAHA) or anything.

for that, there's etat libre d'orange rossy de palma eau de protection (a dirtier, incense-patchouli rose, no soap here, just a sexy, clingy red dress & skyscraper heels, ABSOLUTELY DIVINVE AND DELICIOUS, i've gone through 2 bottles already);

charogne (a leather-rose by the same brand, literally means "womanizer" - i do like this for myself although i do know it's for men, totally dirty, like roses crushed on a leather couch during a session of you-know-what);

bulgari blu (a cold, "blue" perfume - ginger, incense & a bit of vodka - LOOOOOOOOVE, a bit unapprochable, it's an arrogant perfume if you know what i mean - there's nothing warming it up. even the ginger is frigid, like it's been frozen);

and finally, editions parfums frederic malle carnal flower (an astounding tuberose masterpiece - fleshy, rich, so intensely sexy and buttery-smooth, and a little animalic as well - i have a delishgasm just thinking about this one - finally, a tuberose perfume that is not afraid of the indolic nature of white florals).

the bottle is pretty - although a little silly - silver plated?! really, chloe? just give me a regular metal and glass bottle and knock down the pricing please! $85 for 50mL - holy jesus ch*st. i mean you're a good perfume, but it does NOT put you in the same league as l'artisan, annick goutal or estee lauder private collection... you're still a mass release!

anyhoo - on to the lippies & eyeshadows: silky finish lipstick applies semi-sheer, and very slick going on (almost like a balm). not drying, the lasting power is just bleh, but i don't mind having to reapply, and skinny dip is such a nice neutral pink that i see myself using a lot. lip gloss (the reformulated version) has that same yummy apricot-lychee scent and is a bit thicker but NOT sticky at all. A++ - love it. gives lips a nice, pinkish tint but isn't so pigmented/sticky that it's high-maintenance. some lip shots & skin swatches:

from right to left: skinny dip, who are you wearing on NC15 skin

skinny dip

who are you wearing?

excuse the bad lighting - i had to take the shots at night, in my bedroom, and the yellowish bedroom lights kind of make my skin look darker than it is.

the eyeshadow applies silky & shimmery and dries to a stay-put finish that wears all day. i keep this in my daily makeup bag in case i'm caught with no makeup. easy to apply with a fingertip, and gives the eye area a nice glow! skin swatch:

how's your back-to-school transition going?

lareinarumbera