GiveawayScout.com - A Giveway Search Engine

For those that love entering giveaway, GiveawayScout.com is about to make your life easier. They are a search engine that contains all blog giveaways, contests and sweepstakes in one place. You can even sign up to get email alert. Of course, there is a category for "cosmetic" :)

Giveaway: Marc Jacobs Lola Velvet!!!

This giveaway is closed. Congrats to Andrea.

Good morning! I have good news to share with you guys today. The nice people at Marc Jacobs are offering Beautiful Canvas readers a chance to grab the Marc Jacobs Lola Velvet perfume. Prize will be sent out directly by our sponsor.

Marc Jacobs Lola Velvet

Exuding a warm and seductive aura with notes of smooth vanilla, tonka bean and creamy musk that envelopes the skin, Lola Marc Jacobs captivates and enchants us with a collectible, limited-edition bottle. Featuring the original fragrance that wraps the skin in rich layers of sensuous florals blooming with a signature note of fuchsia peony, Lola has been reinvented with a sophisticated, yet lighthearted design. May I also add, the bottle is just gorgeous!

You will receive a Full Size Lola Marc Jacobs Velvet Edition Eau de Parfum Spray - 50 ML e 1.7 fl oz, value at $68

HOW TO ENTER:

1. If you aren’t already, sign up to be a member. (I’ll contact you through your follower account for your mailing address)

2. Leave a comment and tell us how wearing perfume make you feel.

All entries must be entered by 11:59PM EST Wednesday, November 10th. Winner will be selected randomly through random.org. Contest open to US residents only!

A big thank you to Marc Jacobs and Attention for sponsoring this giveaway. Good luck to everyone else!!!

Korres Natural Beauty Necessities Kit

I bought this Korres Natural Beauty Necessities kit awhile back. For almost $40, it contains a full size mascara, 2 eyeliners, a blush, and two lip glosses. I love that everything are full size version and I really like the lip glosses as well. Here are quick swatches, will do full review later.

Black and Dark Brown Eyeliner

Under $20 Sale at Sephora!!!

I love a good bargain and I especially love the sale section at Sephora. On top of that, you can save even more with Sephora Friends and Family 20% sale that is currently going on now till November 3rd. Code FF2010. Below is just a few items I found eye catching in the sale section that are all $20 or less. Happy Shopping!



Buxom Laura Does London Collection , $20


Lights, Camera, Lashes! Natural Mascara & Rejuvelash Lash Exhilarator Duo, $19


Stila Kitten Set, $12


Stila Backstage Eye Shadow Palette, $19

Share with us what you haul during Sephora's FF sale!

Review L’Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base

L’Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base is a base primer that promises to fill in lines and pores. It’s magic in a bottle.

Price: Around $13 from drugstores.

Pros: Oh my gosh, I love this for my giant pores. Out of all the primers I have tried, this is hand down the best at covering those pores. It’s due to the paste like consistency. Also, when I wear this alone without foundation, it blurs out imperfections, making them less noticeable.

Cons: I can really see people hate the jar packaging because you have to use your finger to scoop it out. To be fair, because of its paste like consistency, it may be too thick to package in a tube? Also, I have been testing this for a few months, at one point, my skin was really dehydrated. I put moisturizer on and within 2 hours my skin feels tight and foundation goes on flaky. I notice that even with primer, I can still get flaky but it does helps, just won’t eliminate them.

Overall: When my skin was going through a flaky, dehydrated stage, this primer did not solve that problem. However, it may be unfair to expect a primer to helps foundation applies more smoothly on problematic skin. As for pores, I think this is outstanding. It also helps de-shine greasy sunscreen. Thumbs up from me.

Disclosure: The product(s) being review was purchased by me for personal use or review purpose.

Too Faced Enchanted Christmas Collection 2010

Oh my gosh...can they be any cuter? I LOVE the packaging.

Glamour To Go Fairy Edition, $19.95



Pixie Pin-Up Palette, $32

Pixie Perfect Makeup Collection, $42


Enchanted Glamourland, $49 - Exclusively sold at Sephora

Mini Bobbi Brown Brights Palette

Most of Bobbi Brown's collection or palette has been more on the "play it safe", neutral colors so I was quite pleasantly surprise to see this bright, fun palette from her. You get a total of 20 mini eyeshadow and a brush for $70.

Review Origins Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Advance Serum

This is an anti-inflammation serum that is suppose to minimize redness.

Packaging: Plastic bottle with a pump.

Price: $50/1oz or $66/1.7oz or $110/3.4oz

Pros: Pricewise, I like that Origins offer bigger bottle size at a discount price. Another plus is that Dr. Andrew Weil donates all of his after-tax profits from royalties from sales of Origins products directly to the Weil Foundation.

For reference, my sensitive, reactive skin is moderately blotchy from redness on the tzone and cheeks areas. I also have some broken capillaries on my lower cheeks. I protect my reactive skin by avoiding the sun, hot water, harsh scrub, enzyme peel (allergic), etc. Unfortunately there is no cure for rosacea so I have not bothered to use any topical application for my condition. This is my first anti-inflammatory serum and I have been using it for about a month.

I brought this with me on my trip because I was expecting some major sun rashes from being on tropical islands for 2 weeks. I applied it religiously, 2-3 times a day. To my amazement, there was no visible irritation even though there were times where my skin sting a bit from too much salt water. Redness was under control and reduced even. The serum did not eliminate all redness, but it did reduce and keep it under control when skin is exposed to stress environment.

It's nude but applies transparent.

Cons: The first few nights, it smells bad. It has this funky, stinky smell to it that I can’t quite put my finger on. I was not sure if I would keep on using this. After a few nights, the smell lightens considerably. It still has a scent but no longer offensive. I don’t think it is the case of me getting use to the smell. There was probably some bad or concentrated stuff at the bottom that pumped out the first few nights. Who knows?

Overall: If you have redness due to broken capillaries and are hoping that this serum will treat your problem, you will be disappointed. Currently there is no effective topical treatment for vascular problem except laser or IPL. However, if you have reactive, sensitive skin or rosacea, I would recommend giving this a try.

Disclosure: This review contains sample sent by PR for consideration. The review is base on my honest personal opinions and experience.

Outspoken by Fergie

Outspoken is a new fragrance by Fergie, in collaboration with Avon. The name “Outspoken” seems like a fit with Fergie’s edgy persona. It's suppose to be a mix of floral and racy black leather.

Top Notes: Star Fruit, Iced Berry, Wild Saffron
Heart Notes: Tuberose Absolute, Midnight Jasmine, Passion Flower
Base Notes: Racy Black Leather, Raw Ebony Wood, Smokey Vetiver

Fragrance can be a difficult item to recommend because it is such a personal preference. Of course, if it does not smell good to me, I’ll definitely let you know. Personally I like it. It is different from what I already owned. It’s a mixture of both floral and woody scents with floral being the dominating scent. It is feminine in a sophisticated and sexy, not girly type of scent. I also love the design of the bottle and the price is also very nice, which are always a plus.

Outspokens retails for $28.00 (1.7oz) and is available exclusively through Avon Representatives or online at Avon.

Disclosure: This review contains sample sent by PR for consideration. The review is base on my honest personal opinions and experience.

Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora

We decided to splurge big time on this one of a lifetime trip and stayed in one of the overwater bungalow. Overall, the Four Seasons Resort is absolutely gorgeous. Pictures does not do it justice. Really, you can enjoy the island life without ever leaving the resort. The food was only okay which is a disappointment because I love to eat. Food on the cruise was much better.

The yatch they pick us up in.

If you open the window, you can see the lagoon. It's like taking a bath outdoor. Just be careful, make sure no one see you naked :)

Yes to Blueberries: Age Refresh

So it seems like the folks at "Yes To..." Brands has done it again. First, they created the Yes To Carrots for normal to dry skin, then Yes To Cucumbers for sensitive skin, then Yes to Tomatoes for combination to oily skin, and recently they launched their latest Yes to Blueberries for anti-aging.

The line is aim at improving skin firmness; diminish fine lines and wrinkles; repair and nourish aging skin. As usual, everything is reasonable price at $19.99, from day to night cream and serum.

Have you tried it? Liked it?

Polynesian Dance

Hello Beauties. So the reason I have not been blogging is because I was half way around the globe the past few weeks. I was lucky enough to visit the beautiful islands of French Polynesia. Below is a video of a young Tahitian girl dancing their cultural dance. I thought she was so cute so I decided to post this. Hope you enjoy it.

(Update: Sorry, it seems like the video is not working)

Me and the dancers

Update and Sunshine Award!!!

First thing first, sorry I have been MIA lately. Between my wedding and honeymoon, September was an awesome month, but it left me no time for blogging. The good news is I have tried a lot of products the last month and many reviews are in store. I’ll also post some pictures from my trip.

Also, I received my first blog award, the Sunshine Award by the lovely Skaki. Thank you! Her blog has a lot of information on giveaway that you can check out.

I believe below are the rules I and the ladies I am nominating suppose to follow.

Here are the rules:
1. Save the image above and post it on your own blog.
2. Pass the award on to 12 fellow bloggers.
3. Link the nominees
4. Let nominees know they have won this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to the person you received this award from.

I would like to spread the love to these other lovely blogs:
1. Fuz from Fuzkittie
2. Dao from My Makeup Blog
3. Kathi from Lotus Palace
4. Sami from Fresh and Simple Beauty
5. Sesame from Vivawoman
6. Lydia from Alice in a New Wonderland
7. Kyl from Beauty Couch
8. Eki from A Little bit of Eki

I do miss writing; I am looking forward to posting more often.