December 2011 Hits & Misses

6:27 PM

Hello early January! It's time for another monthly hits & misses! Last month I found myself consistently grabbing the same products over and over but I think that is partially because of the fact that a few new products I bought have easily integrated into my daily routine. It's always a good sign when a new item steps in so easily, and I have a few of those in this month's favorites. :)


Products mentioned:
L'Oreal Paris Infallible Eyeshadow 890 Bronzed Taupe (swatched here)
Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch
Urban Decay Cannonball Mascara
Milani Liquif'eye Pencil in Black
NARS Immaculate Complexion Concealer
Diorskin Poudre Shimmer in Amber Diamond


On me:
Nailpolish is Sally Hansen Diamond Strength 32 Tyin' The Knot (bought in this haul) with Sephora for OPI Traffic Stopper Copper on top
Lipstick is Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch
Sweater vest and coral blouse are from LOFT (recent, on sale in stores)
Sequined collar from H&M
Ring is YSL Arty in lapis

So one of things I really want to highlight this month is Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch. As you can see, in the tube it's an almost intimidatingly Barbie blue-pink.


Thankfully this is one tinted lip balm that truly does feel more like a balm than a lipstick and it swatches to a pretty, translucent pink that is still pigmented enough to make the lips super girly without drying them out.


Overall, I'm really loving this lip product! It sells for around $4 at drugstores and I've seen it for around $2 at Target so it's very affordable. I'm not a huge fan of the childish-looking packaging (I can do princessy childish but bright yellow puffy letters aren't really my thing) but I'll forgive it since it's a good all-in-one product that I can throw in my purse and easily apply on an everyday basis.


The other product I wanted to mention is the NARS "Immaculate Complexion" concealer in Custard. After being disappointed with quite a few concealers after the discontinuation of my favorite Lancome Photogenic potted concealer in Camee, this is the first one to be an adequate replacement. My biggest concealing concerns are my acne blemishes and post-acne hyperpigmentation spots and the dry formula works to cover these quite naturally. It doesn't give me breakouts or look cakey. I wouldn't recommend this for just undereyes but I find that even wearing just this over bare skin looks flattering on non-foundation days.

The only disappointment with this concealer for me is the value for the size. For $22, a 0.06oz product is super expensive! My Lancome favorite was $27 for 0.16oz which is over twice the amount of product. Knowing that the NARS one used to come in a larger lipstick bullet and downgraded the amount for the same price is only salt in the wound! For now, this is going to be my go-to concealer replacement but I'll keep my eyes out for a more affordable HG.


You may have also noticed that I was wearing an accessory that I've been lusting after for years, the YSL Arty ring. Hubby and I both had late arriving Christmas presents for each other and I am completely in love with this one! I received the lapis blue color which has gorgeous flecks of gold in it with medium-to-deep mottled royal blue. As a ring collector, I am totally obsessed and in awe of my new acquisition! The size 4 fits perfectly on my right middle finger.

Cherry is admiring the shimmers

That's it for this month's hits & misses. Hope you enjoyed it and please let me know in the comments some products I should try... Maybe someone out there has a perfect concealer for blemishes suggestion? A NARS dupe maybe? ;)

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41 comments

  1. perfect concealer for blemishes: The body shop tea tree concealer, I love it bcuz its healing properties <33 I recently tried tinted blemish cream from oriflame too, will be reviewing it soon ^-^

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  2. so excited to see your post and new video, really want to try those eye shadows xx

    http://www.summerlightrunway.blogspot.com

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  3. In love with your ring!! Rocking it!

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  4. Hi Jen-- first off, I love ur blog! A question for You---- Does the Nars concealer also cover sun spots well? Please advise... Thanks!!!

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  5. yay for YSL accessory, that's gorgeous! great way to start the year, happy new year!

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  6. Hi Jen! Love your blog. Have you tried the Vichy Dermablend Ultra Corrective stick (at some CVS stores)? It is a great concealer for blemishes/hyperpigmentation and lasts forever. I am an NC30, and Nude is a great match. For under the eyes, I like Garnier Nutritionist Skin Renew b/c it's liquidy.

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  7. wow i need to get me that maybelline baby pink! it looks like a lipstick but feels like a balm? omg thats the best!!

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  8. OOOOOH Your rings! gorgeous! X)

    http://www.honeyfullife.com

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  9. Oh my, so jealous of your YSL Arty ring!! It's beautiful :)
    Please let us know if you find a less expensive alternative to that NARS concealer!

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  10. I haven't had a chance to watch your video yet -- our internet suddenly became very slow. I was wondering if you tightline with the Milani Liquif'eye liner, and if so, does your liner transfer to your bottom waterline? What would you suggest I do to stop the liner from transferring? I'd like to line my lower waterline with a nude pencil.

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  11. Really love that ring... I've been wanting on in the pink color for awhile. But while my boyfriend can somehow justify my $2000 balenciaga bags, he can't seem to justify a $350 (what he calls) "fake ring." Maybe one day he'll come around ;)

    On a different topic.. I don't know how obsessed you are with nail polish, but Zoya is giving out 2 bottles for $6.95 (basically just S&H). Pretty good deal if you want to try out the brand since they usually run $8 a bottle. Just a heads up! :)

    Just put the two bottles you want in your basket at Zoya.com and enter code "ZOYA2012" at checkout.

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  12. great collection! love the ring!

    http://tzeyien89.blogspot.com/ xxx

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  13. I love metallic/shiny taupe colored eye shadows! I definitely have to try that!

    prettytea.blogspot.com

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  14. Lancome still sells their discontinued items. It's the link all the way at the bottom of their main page. Here's the link though! http://www.lancome-usa.com/Phot%C3%B4genic/556214-BBB,default,pd.html?dwvar_556214-BBB_color=Cam%C3%A9e&start=35&cgid=discontinued-itemssub

    And it's in your shade, Camee :D!

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  15. Great video! YSL arty ring looks very cool!

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  16. That's a gorgeous blue, very good choice b/c I keep seeing the coral and turquoise on most fashion bloggers' fingers. Nice to see a different color and it suits you too =D

    I love all your rings and have been trying to collect rings that look nice on thin long fingers, but cannot find lovely pieces without paying a hefty price.... where do you usually shop? online or in a specific store?

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  17. I love that you featured both new and older products! I keep seeing all my favorite bloggers post about Amber Diamond, maybe one day I'll finally decide to buy it!

    vsmakeupsecrets.blogspot.com

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  18. I've heard that a lot of people are now finding the Infallible shadows at Target and CVS! Which is awesome, since my local Bed, Bath, and Beyonds do not carry cosmetics. So I would definitely check these places, too.

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  19. I forgot to add: Jen, there's a mascara I thought you might want to try. It's Rimmel's newest (I think), Scandaleyes. I picked up a tube (and unfortunately it's not a pretty tube, haha), but it definitely holds my curl well. However, I do use a heated lash curler instead of a manual clamping curler, so I'm not sure if that will make a difference for you. The texture is a bit wet at first, but it does dry stiffer, thus holding the curl, I'm guessing. It volumizes quite well for me, but I can't speak to the lengthening, since I don't have issues on that front. But my lashes also point straight down and are tough to curl, like yours, so it might be worth a try.

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  20. Hey Jen!

    I finally gave in and bought some Revlon lip butters, and ended up trying 2 colors you didn't swatch (I think).

    One was Fig Jam, which looks like this incredibly intimidating dark, dark brown in the tube but goes on your lips as a natural lip color enhancer, sort of like Sugar's plum lip balm.

    The other was pink truffle, which was okay, but YEAH they're amazing, especially fig jam! Thanks :D

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  21. I'm not sure if you've tried liquid concealers, but if your skin is anything like my hyper-sensitive/combo and hormonal-acne-prone skin, you may want to try out Chanel Correcteur Perfection ($40, I know!!!) or Laura Mercier Eye Basics ($24).

    I've been following you for 2 years now, and am leaving a comment for the first time.
    I love your posts and videos - you're quite an inspiration <3

    My friend and I have been talking about sharing our thoughts about beauty products through a blog for more than a year now, since we already do so to each other. Recently, we took the leap of faith. Please stop by and support us, if possible! :)
    http://weare-practically-frugal.blogspot.com/

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  22. I've heard tons of good things about the baby lips. I haven't tried any for myself yet but I will soon. I'm looking for the pink punch one.

    Hey could you check out my blog and maybe vote for me in the Rimmel 10 contest, infos on my blog
    http://collegemakeupbudget.blogspot.com/

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  23. A good concealer for blemishes Too Faced Absolutely Flawless Therapeutic Herbal Eye Base. Even though it's meant for the eyes but it works well on acne marks & blemishes. It's selling for $19.50 0.11oz but on sale now for $9.75 on their site so it's worth a try!

    http://snowyscorner.blogspot.com

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  24. I love dior amber diamond! :) it really is the best highlighter out there for how natural it looks on!

    i picked up loreal infallible in eternal black and bronzed taupe over the weekend, so I'm glad you're loving bronzed taupe! can't wait to see how that works for everyday with the iced latte shade I got a few weeks ago.

    i'm gonna try that shade of baby lips & pick up a milani liquif'eye (not that i need ANY more eyeliners) :)

    the nars concealer in the lipstick bullet was a different formula, though I don't know how different it was. that version was pretty good though. It's sad when companies make products smaller when they repackage or reformulate something :(. Hope you can get your lancome concealer like the other commenter mentioned! Otherwise you should try lancome macquicomplet!

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  25. I like your YSL accessory. It's look good on you. ^_^. I will check out the Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch because I really want to get the baby pink color for long time. Thank you for review these products.

    http://jentdreamworld.blogspot.com

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  26. I'm loving that Maybelline Product! Definitely going to go out and get some!


    http://highfashion-higherpurpose.blogspot.com/

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  27. i'm very curious about UD's cannonball or w/e mascara. but it's a bit pricey and i still have like 3 mascaras that i'm using. >.>

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  28. the YSL arty ring is so hot nowadays everyone is wearing it!

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  29. Hi Jen, thank you for all your videos and blogs, I love them! Can you do a tutorial on pink based eyeshadows? I have a Estee Lauder Signature Eyeshadow quad in 04 Berry. And I applied them one day, friends asked "what's wrong with your eyes? punched?" Thank you~

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  30. Great reviews. I have been wanting to try the Maybelline baby lip balm but keep getting mixed reviews.

    From the other reviews they say it gives them dry lips. What do you think? I have dry lips so i am wary of it.

    myminibag.blogspot.com

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  31. I have the same problem with straight eyelashes as you do (well, I'm Asian) but! I've started using electric eyelash curlers a few years ago, and they do MAGIC!! I don't even need false lashes most of the time because they curl my lashes so well, which makes them look longer too. The only problem is that if I don't wait for the mascara to dry completely before curling them, too much of the mascara will come off onto the curling wand. Anyway, I hope you do try using them if you haven't already, I really really recommend them!

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  32. Love the ring! The color is stunning.

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  33. Have you tried out Bobbi Brown stick foundation, but as a concealer? It works really well as a concealer since it is so creamy when applied and blends like a charm!

    I suppose though that with your recent Dior purchase, anything else might be on hold, the time your wallet heals a little bit :P

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  34. Hi Jen! What is your favorite brand of drugstore lipstick that stay & pigmented? Thanks!

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  35. Hi! With my New Years resolutions I have chosen to be more social. A little about myself, I'm Asian-american (chinese), I'm 22, married, I live in Olathe, I'm from a small town in Illinois, my style is simple, cool, feminine, and I have been following you for maybe one year. I joke with my husband that your my brother from another mother, but I certainly feel a connection. Ever since I started watching your videos I always look forward to the next one! I of course love your blog because you use and review asian products, but also because you love design, kpop, and your open and frank! AWESOME! 
    I'm still fairly new to makeup artistry but I'm already hooked on Rock and Republic and Korean/Japanese makeup. Who could resist???
    I prefer natural makeup however. I currently use Korres and tarte. When I was younger I developed lupus a chronic condition so now I more considerate of my health. I still admire Dior, MUFE, and other brands from afar. LOVE IT!! 
    You certainly served as inspiration not only for personal style but also personal character. Even as hard as it is some days for me to get past my illness your blog has helped me keep my feet on the ground and keep going. Really just show me there still is life and excitement out there and pink lipstick with adorable and irristible packaging.
    It would be wonderfully amazing to meet you, have lunch or a drink. Btw I'm a night owl too (it's genetic probably), one of my goals is to beat all the levels on the new super mario wii game I got for Christmas, I used to be a huge bookworm, I just changed my eyebrow shape, I just purchased my first Louis Vuitton product the eboni (brown) damier multiple wallet for my husband,  and my birthday is December 14th also! Crazy! I've started to refer to you as my long lost twin. Here is my email if your not creeped out and would like to message me back! linda.h.cheung@gmail.com 

    All my best,
    Linda

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  36. I love your blog. Very informative.

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  37. Amber Diamond is such a good highlight product no idea why Dior decided to discontinue it :(

    http://looksleeknotcheap.blogspot.com/

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  38. Hi Jen, this question has come a bit late so I'm hoping you would respond. I was looking to get this ring but unfortunately I can only get it online and I am undecided on whether to get the size 4 or 5. Could you perhaps share with me your finger circumference? I have small fingers but not sure if they are small enough to be a size 4. Thanks!

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  39. Hi jen, could you give us tutorial of your eyeshadow you using in this video. I love it so much very pretty.

    Thanks jen.

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