What's In My Purse? ♡

Hello lovelies ♡,

Hope you all had a great Valentine's Day!

Today, I'm excited to show you guys a post that I wanted to do for the longest time, which is the famous and popular, "What's in my purse/bag?" post. I've  been dying to do this post for a while now, since the topic is what drew me into the beauty community of Youtube and got me interested in reading other people's blogs. 

And due to my neverending curious and nosey nature, I always enjoy reading what kind of items people carry in their purses...I'm weird in that sense, haha. ｡◕‿◕｡So, I thought to myself, why not share what I have in my purse as well, for other curious people like me?

I just wanted to point out that the items you see are the items that I generally carry, if I go out. If I went to school or the gym, you would see the same items, but, with additional things.

As a fair warning, this post will be picture-heavy. I will also be going through the items that I have in my purse and give description to it, instead of just listing the items, (it's a preference thing).  Also, if you have read my previous posts, primarily due to habit and enjoyment, you can be sure and guarantee it will be long as well.

(But, first some closeups.)

(The purse, itself)

The very thing that drew me to this purse (besides the colour, haha), was the fact it had a huge bow on the front  (^‿^✿). I got this purse from one of my all time favourite stores, Ross Dress for Less, when I was in San Francisco around May of last year with family.

Unfortunately, I cannot remember what brand this purse is from because I threw the tag away a while ago. Weirdly, there is no label inside the purse as well. I do, however, remember that it was made from a small independent company as I looked up the purse brand/company before I threw the tag away.

► I have to point out that I don't use this purse daily. In fact, I don't have a regular purse that I use at all, because I change my purses in order to match with my outfit. ◄

What the purse looks like with the flap off.

Inside view.

So the pattern inside the purse is black and white stripes going in the vertical direction, which is different, from what I was expecting, when I opened up the purse.

The purse itself has two zippers inside, one at the back, that can carry small items and one in the middle which serves a long pouch and a divider for the front and back space of the purse.

A thing that bugs me about the purse, is that from the outside, it looks very roomy, but it's really not. I can generally fit the items I carry usually, but when it comes to school supplies, notebooks & textbooks, I cannot carry that many things, and it becomes very bulky.
((╬ಠิ﹏ಠิ))

What the purse looks like, standing upright.

(Electronics)

So the electronic items that I mainly carry with me are my Samsung S2 phone, pink 3ds XL & my plain iPod headphones. I have to say my phone has been pretty loyal, despite me throwing it around my purse, ._. as it hasn't completely broke, yet. I have my phone for obvious communication reasons and it also serves as my music player and backup camera if I don't bring my own camera out.

I also bring my pink 3ds XL out with me, so I can streetpass other ds players and if I get bored travelling on the bus, I whip it out to kill time. I mostly play Super Smash Bros at the moment!

Closeup and angled.

(Essentials)

 I call these items my "essentials" due to the fact that if I truly only needed a minimum of items, it would be these and my phone. For obvious reasons, I need my wallet to pay for things, but as well it also carries my ID cards. I got my mirror from Forever 21 (the design was so cute), but I have my mirror with me just to check if I look presentable

The perfume you see there is Dior's J'adore perfume, which I absolutely adore, (bad pun intended) (๑•̀ㅂ•́)و, I have it with me so if I can dab it on myself to smell nice, and it's needed especially after I head to the gym. And finally, my hand sanitizer will always be tucked in my purse because I'm really paranoid if I touch hand railings in the public or buttons from machines, etc. so when I put this on, I don't feel as bad.

Closeup, sanitizer is from Bath and Body Works, while the mirror is from Forever 21. 

I'm well aware of how badly used and beat up my wallet is....since I did have it for a few years now (and a friend of mine likes to point it out). But it still functions well and properly, so I don't think I'm going to buy a new one for a while. If you were wondering where it's from, I got it from Fossil

✿ヾ╲(｡◕‿◕｡)╱✿ 

The design of the mirror is so cute and girly.

(Makeup)

If I have time to put makeup on when I go out, the only items that is related to beauty products would be my two lip balms you see on the right, which is from Blistex and Eos. I also carry backup hair ties and bobby pins, just in case my hair gets in the way.

However, if I don't have time to put on makeup, these are the makeup products that I usually carry:

By going clockwise direction, the makeup products I carry with me are:

1. Colour Whisper Lip Butter in "Bare to be Bold"

2. L'Oreal Voluminous Mascara

3. Sephora's Vip Pass Eyeshadow Palette

4. Sephora's Eyelash Curler

5. Rimmel Glam Eyes Professional Liquid Eyeliner

6. Joe's Fresh Eyebrow Pencil in Ash Brown 

✿ I highly recommend the liquid eyeliner, it's bold, precise and best of all it's cheap!!! Oh and if you're wondering where I got the makeup case, of course, it's from Daiso.✿

(Mints)

I like gum and mints, which is why you'll always find them in my purse, plus, just in case if I eat something that has a strong smell, such as fish, it will keep my breath smelling nice. I don't have a favourite brand of gum, but I highly recommend the Starbucks after coffee mints, they are really strong, but at least it keeps your breath fresh and minty smelling.

(Organization)

When it comes to organizing anything for me, I'm the worse. I can admit that I am a disorganized person, This year, I've been trying to break that bad habit, so I've been using this planner schedule to help me keep in track of what I need to do, so it's with me in my purse all the time. I got this schedule, believe it or not, at a dollar store from Surrey's Guildford Mall and heh, surprisingly the pen I carry is not pink, but blue.

Due to the fact that I have multiple midterms in the upcoming week, I don't believe I can do another post in February, ._. which sucks, because I already planned what I was going to do. However, I will try my best to squeeze in one more post for this month.

And because I'm a nosey bugger xD I would love to see/read your guys "What's in my bag/purse?" post, link it below in the comment section, or if you haven't done it yet, then I tag you guys to do so!

And also:

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

Thanks for reading,

Courtney ♡

[Review]: The Face Shop Black Label Lipstick in No.11 Lovely Pink

Hello everyone~!

I can't believe it's already February, time goes so fast, doesn't it?（　ﾟ Дﾟ）It's kind of surreal, since it means I'm almost halfway done the semester of school (Ｔ▽Ｔ). Anyways, since it's the month of February, I decided that during the entire month, I will dedicate my posts that is something related to pink, red, and things that are (or I considered, haha) girly. ❤ 

So, if you must know, I absolutely love lip products, they are my favorite type of makeup products I like to use and buy. And as you may have seen, I posted pictures of a lipstick that I had bought a while ago, from my previous post, about my small collective haul of January.

And as of today, I present you guys, with the review of The Face Shop's Black Label Lipstick in No.11 Lovely Pink.

Packaging of the lipstick.

Due to the lighting of the photo, the packaging may look like its gold, but it's actually not. The lipstick is held in a gray-silver, gunmetal package. The packaging is like any typical lipstick, however, I like the fact that, despite dropping it on the hard floor a couple of times, it didn't crack, showing me that it's very sturdy. Although, the case is not immune to scratches, as I have a very bad habit of throwing my lip products in my bag, which in turn, my lipsticks get banged around a lot in my purse.

No. 11 Lovely Pink.

I bought the shade in No.11 Lovely Pink, the colour is a neutral, opaque rose-pink. It's perfect for the natural look. Even with one swipe of the lipstick, the colour is noticeable. Though, with two swipes, you have a slightly darker pink, which still makes it great for a natural look. There is also a light scent, which is pleasant since some lipsticks and lipglosses I owe, do not have a nice smell to it.

It's a very sweet  & natural colour.

Applying the lipstick is easy, as it is very smooth. The texture was another plus as well, since the product has a very creamy texture. Even better, the lipstick is very moisturizing, and it didn't dry my lips at all, which I found great, since I have experienced with other lipsticks, that make my lips really dry and chapped.

Closeup of the lipstick.

There were a lot of positive things about the lipstick, but I did find a few things that I didn't like about it. First, the duration is average at best. If you don't eat or drink or make your lips touch anything, it lasts up until 2-3 hours at max. However, if you do eat or drink, the lipstick colour comes off quite quickly, so you do have to reapply a bit. Another thing that I didn't like about it was the fact that it smudges easily.

You may have notice that the lipstick is dented at the top corner, T_T, don't worry about it, mines is just like that because I accidently moved the lipstick onto the cap, when I was trying take a picture of my collective haul.

Gotta add the swatches!

Here, I just swatched the lipstick to show the colour and what it looks like. To the left, is one swipe of the product and to the right, is two swipes.

(Here are pictures of what the lipstick colour looks like, when worn.)

Headband from Forever 21 & Top from American Eagle.

In better lighting.

What are the Pros & Cons?

Pros:
- smooth application
-creamy & moisturizing texture
-scent is very light
-nice neutral pink
-pigmented

Cons:
-not long lasting
-smudges quite easily
❊❊❊
Would I recommend this product?
Yes I would recommend this product and the line of the lipstick, it does it's job, and it gives you a nice colour, and a big one for me is that it doesn't dry your lips.
Would I buy it again?
Yep! But in different shades, of course. You can get it online or if you live in Vancouver, from The Face Shop either at Metrotown or Richmond Centre. Last time I checked, the one in Metrotown was having a 20% of sale for cosmetics.

 

❊[Overall Thoughts]❊

The packaging is sturdy and simple, but is still susceptible to scratches.

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ♡

The application is easy, very smooth gliding.

❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤

The colour is a neutral, opaque rose-pink, very girly and pigmented.
❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ♡
The texture  is light, creamy and moisturizing.
❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ♡
The duration is average, it depends if you eat or drink.
❤ ❤ ❤ ♡ ♡
The overall results are:
❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ♡

{Food Snaps}

(Cause I haven't done these for a while, and knowing me, I don't like writing short blog posts, so I have to find a way to make it long.) 

(ﾉ◕ヮ◕)ﾉ*:・ﾟ✧

Salmon & Tuna Don from Sekai Udon Bar.

Closeup.

"The High Tea", a 3 tier stand of  sweets and desserts from La Petite Cuillere.

"The Afternoon Tea", a 2 tier stand. The plating and dishes are so girly. :)

Entire view of the tier stands and the numerous desserts & sweets.

Any time is good, when it's tea time!

I know I have been doing reviews only, lately, (I do enjoy writing them though :p) but I will be doing different posts later on. I want my blog to have variation to it! Plus, this post was actually suppose to be a post about "Lazy Makeup/Lazy Hair Tutorial", but I didn't think it went well with the theme of February, which is why I decided to change the post topic.

Anyways, knowing that I don't have a good track record of updating on the actual day,  I will say it now:

❤ HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! ❤

Cake for you!

I hope you guys have a great one!

And to end this post, I will leave you a music video/audio of my new favourite song that I just discovered. It's called "Rollercoaster" by Bleachers. Hope you enjoy it!

Bleachers - Rollercoaster

Thanks for reading,
Courtney ♡

[Review]: Daiso Makeup Brush Cleaner + Daiso Winmax Slim Lipstick

Happy Monday everybody! c:

Recently I went to Richmond to keep my friend company, as he was buying a birthday gift for his other friend and knowing that Daiso was near, I convinced him I wanted to go there and Aberdeen Centre, (haha, it worked). 

Before stepping into Daiso, I explored/snooped around Aberdeen Centre since its been quite awhile I shopped there and was pleasantly surprised to find a Tony Moly in the mall. :)

A Tony Moly, now located in Aberdeen Centre.

If you're not too sure what type of store of Tony Moly is, it is a well-known Korean cosmetics and skincare store that was founded in 2006. It's similar to the Face Shop, but of course, these two stores sell different types of cosmetics/skincare items. 

Now that a Tony Moly opened into Vancouver, we, Vancouverites can have an easier access to buy their branded items, (although, I have to say prices are a tad bit expensive/overpriced). :$

My small haul from Daiso!

Items bought at my favourite store, Daiso! :D

When you enter Daiso do ever get overwhelmed? Admittedly enough, I usually do Dx, and I tend to buy a lot of things, but this time I surprised myself, by only getting a few items, that I needed/wanted.

✰What I got✰

-Makeup Brush Cleaner

-Winmax Slim Lipsticks (in Cherry Blossom & Raspberry)

:||| And I know just wrote on my last post, that I wouldn't be spending any more money on beauty related items, clothing, etc., (yeesh, I'm a hypocrite!!! Dx), but...I couldn't resist getting things from Daiso (:/ I need to work on my willpower.) Anywho, as a fair warning, this post is going to be very picture-heavy and long, so be prepared!

{Makeup Brush Cleaner Review}

What the product says it does:
"Removes dirt from the makeup brush and sponge to keep it clean. Wash the brush and sponge on a regular basis in order to use it longer. Does not damage the user's skin and easy to clean."

What the product instructions are:
1. Put the cleaner into the container and dip the brush/sponge thoroughly
2. Wash the brush or sponge by swirling the brush/sponge in a circular motion
3. Dry the brush or sponge with a towel
4. Let the brush or sponge dry naturally

To be frank, I absolutely hate washing my makeup brushes, its something I dread, which is ironic, considering how, to put it lightly, anal/freaked out, I am when it comes to skincare. When it comes time to wash them, I usually use baby shampoo and warm water. So, when I spotted this product at Daiso, I grabbed it, since, I had read positive reviews on the makeup cleaner from other bloggers.

When cleaning my brushes, it was the first time I used the Daiso makeup brush cleaner so this post serves as both of a first impression/review of this product.

Of course, my makeup brushes have to be pink.

I did not have a container, so I used a plastic cup instead.

I squeezed the makeup brush cleaner up until, the bottom rim/line of the cup and then added warm water to the cup, at least a quarter away filled up.

Liquid foundation, why you gotta be so noticeable? D:

I decided to use/test my foundation brush first, since it was the most dirtiest from the bunch. 

Doing the instrumental steps of cleaning brushes, dipping and swirling.

In this case, for the foundation brush, since it had been a while since I last cleaned it, (yeah, I know, ew!), I had to swirl the brush in a circular motion for a few minutes. But that's okay because....

The result!

I was very satisfy with the outcome!

The makeup cleaner was able to wash away the excess foundation of the brush.

Got to clean my most used brush, too!

❀ I also wanted to show the result of the brushes, that had darker and pigmented excess makeup on it, such as my eyeshadow brush, which still had leftovers of a dark violet eyeshadow on it.

From dirty to clean.

❀ I decided to test the cleaner on one of my most used makeup sponge too, and was pretty amazed at the result! My sponge looked practically new!

➨However, let me just point out, that while the cleaner worked, there were still some minimal spots of makeup left on the sponge and the eyeshadow brush. Despite that, I think this product is a really good buy and investment. Instead of spending a whole lot of money on a name brand makeup brush cleaner, you can buy this gem from Daiso, for only $2! 

(Please note: I did use some of these brushes and the sponge a few days later after I cleaned them, and I had no irritation on my skin whatsoever, so another plus!)

❀❀❀❀❀
Pros:
-Product is cheap, a good buy
-cleans majority of excess makeup
-serves its job
-very reasonable amount for $2 (150ml)
Cons:
-Smell is weird (but can easily be washed of from the brushes but not sponges so much)
-Does not get every excess off.
❀❀❀❀❀

If you're wondering where to get a collection of pink makeup brushes, there are similar ones from Ebay, Amazon, BornPrettyStore, RoseGal or Sammy Dress

(Both RoseGal and Sammy Dress carry the exact same brush set that I'm using.)

{Winmax Slim Lipstick Review}

Adorable packaging. ♚

The lipsticks out of the packages, Cherry Blossom on the left & Raspberry on the right.

What the product says it does:

"The Winmax Slim Lipstick has a creamy texture and is easy to apply. It hydrates and provides a soft touch."

What the product instructions are:

1. Apply lipstick by starting in the center of your upper lip

2. Work from the center to the outer edges, following the contours of your mouth

3. Finally, glide across the entire bottom lip

So unfortunately for me, the Daiso in Richmond has their cosmetic area right across the cash registers, and me being a sucker, for being unable to resist cute packaging and loving lip products, I grabbed these two lipsticks before we left the store. 

The lipsticks are from one of Daiso's own cosmetic line called Winmax. I really like the simple, cute and girly packaging. The white and gold design and decal was a nice touch and I liked the slimness of the tubes of the lipsticks.

There were 5 colours that the lipstick brand offered: Apricot, Cherry Blossom, Mocha, Raspberry & Salmon Pink. From these five, I selected, Cherry Blossom and Raspberry.

On the packaging of Cherry Blossom, it is described as "Chic Sweetie."

Swatch of Cherry Blossom.

Wearing Cherry Blossom.

Cherry Blossom is light matte, solid pink, that reminds me of the colour the company Mattel would use for Barbie or the packaging for Barbie items. Despite the name, it doesn't really remind me of real Cherry Blossom colours, as it is a bit darker. Overall, it's a very nice and sweet colour, very suitable for a girly girl.

Raspberry is described as having "Sophisticated Charm."

Swatch of Raspberry.

Wearing Raspberry.

Raspberry is a dark reddish pink, but more so towards the pink colour spectrum. Although depending on the lighting, it may come out looking more red. Comparing the two lipsticks, Raspberry is definitely the brighter and bolder one. The colour stands out alone. This colour is more daring and is most suitable for someone who wants their lips to be the main focal point of their makeup look.

(More pictures, just so I can post more selfies, ;A; I'M SHAMELESS)

➨I wasn't expecting much from Daiso cosmetics, truthfully. I'm always weary when buying makeup that is sold so cheaply, so I was definitely surprised at the quality of the lipsticks were. First of, the colour of lipsticks were very pigmented, which was great! Secondly, application and gliding was easy, the lipsticks itself were soft and smooth.Thirdly, the duration of the lipstick is pretty good. It can last from between 2.5- 4 hours if there's no eating or drinking involved. But if you do eat or drink, the colour does not come off right away, the colour just becomes lighter.  Lastly, the lipsticks actually does hydrate your lips with its creamy texture! :)

❀❀❀❀❀

Pros:

-Price is cheap!!!

-Colours are very pigmented

-Bold colours

-Creamy texture

-Hydrates and smooths lips

-Application is easy

-No smell

Cons:

-The lipstick brand does not come in many colours

-Bold colours can a bit bright at times

-No smell (if you like lip products with a smell)

❀❀❀❀❀

Final Thoughts:

Would I BUY these products again?

A big definite yes!!! The prices are great for the items you're getting. The makeup brush cleaner is great, it does wash off the makeup. The lipsticks are in great quality for the price you are paying

Would I RECOMMEND these products?

Again, yes, if you're a bit lazy like me when it comes to washing brushes, the Daiso makeup brush cleaner is your best friend! If you're looking for bright, creamy lipsticks, then I would highly recommend the Winmax slim lipsticks.

{[Guilty Pleasures]}

(Well, television show-wise, I mean.) 

Sigh...:/ have you ever found a show that was good and entertaining, but only to be shocked to find out that it was cancelled? And even worse, it was cancelled on a CLIFFHANGER?!

That's pretty much of the situation I'm in now, once I discovered the show, Popular. 

The cast of Popular.

Popular was a comedy-drama, created by Ryan Murphy and originally aired in 1999-2001 on the WB. It's about two groups of friends, the unpopular group and popular group joining together, disrupting the social hierarchy, when the two main characters parent's get married. I had heard of it a year ago, when I was reading about the shows Ryan Murphy had created, and was interested to see how his first ever show was like. 

Before I started actually watching it, I read about it on wikipedia. and was curious to find out why it got cancelled on a cliffhanger. (Yep, I was judging that it got cancelled because I assumed it was a bad show.) 

But now that I actually began to binge-watch the episodes, I'm so mad at the fact about the ending. >:( It's a funny, clever and great show, and very satirical. I also love  seeing the 90's fashion and hair in play while chuckling slightly (although, I have to say, chokers, are coming back in style) and I like seeing how people interacted without the use of smartphones that are so dominat in today's society.

So if you ever need a show to watch, I highly recommend Popular, especially season 1, you'll be introduced to two of the funniest characters on it, Mary Cherry and April Tuna.

To move on onto something else, I'm excited that one of the mangas that I read a few years back, Strobe Edge, has been turned into a live-action film, that will be released later in March! :) Strobe Edge was created by Io Sakisaka, it's a shoujo manga that centers around Ninako Kinoshita and her falling in love with a fellow student, Ren Ichinose.

I'm not the best at summaries, so I'll just link the wikipedia page of it, Strobe Edge.

 Plus, it's one of the few mangas that I have followed and I liked/enjoyed the ending...(looking at you HnR & NARUTO >:c)

Can't wait for the movie!!!

So I was actually going to add more to this post, but I decided against it. Anyways, I'm pretty satisfy with myself, seeing how this is my fifth post for January alone! :) Woot! Be sure, that upcoming posts, will roll around soon, if not, then most likely in February.

I'm going to try to do various posts that is related to beauty and fashion and hopefully, create a Youtube video in the near future, it's something that I want to do and push myself to do, since I think it will be good for me to conquer my shyness once and for all.

As always, thanks for reading,

Courtney ♡.