'Tis the Season for Handcrafted Gifts! - Soy Wax Candle Edition

If you have a Pinterest account or have spent any time on the internet, you might have run into some DIY gift ideas. This one is no different.

For some reason, I wanted to make candles this year. I went online to look for a recipe/instructions, my only criteria being it had to be easy and fairly inexpensive.

I came across this simple recipe for soy wax candles from CandleScience.com. And surprise! It's a business that sells candle-making materials -- one stop shopping!

I made a few adjustments to their recommended methods, mostly because I found easier/cheaper ways to do a few things. And I want to share those here with you.

RECIPE YIELDS ENOUGH TO FILL 24 fl oz.
(i.e. 3 CUPS -- 3 x 8 oz CONTAINERS, OR DERIVATIVES THERE OF)

MATERIALS

• 1 lb soy wax
• 1 fl oz fragrance oil
• pre-tabbed candle wicks
• hot glue gun
• 1 sturdy drinking straw
• disposable wooden chopsticks, not separated (like the kind that have been piling up from Chinese take-out -- you need one for each candle)
• containers (3 x 8 oz jars/tins or any derivative there of -- like 6 x 4 oz jars, etc.)
• 8 cup Pyrex (or equivalent) measuring cup 
• cooking pot or double-boiler, large enough to fit Pyrex measuring cup
• silicone spatula, or other mixing utensil
• kitchen scale
• tray (optional)
• 1/2 block of candle dye (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Get your hot glue gun ready. Why hot glue? Because we need something that can withstand the heat of melted wax. 
2. As you wait for the glue gun to heat up, prep all of your materials. Make sure your candle containers are clean and dry before you start. Place them on a tray to keep them organized. This will also protect your table/surface from the heat or from any spills when you start pouring the melted wax.
3. Thread one pre-tabbed candle wick into a drinking straw. Apply one pearl-sized bead of hot glue at the bottom of the tab. Using the straw, apply the candle wick to the center of the candle container and press down. Remove the straw and repeat for each container.
   
   

   A photo posted by J Kim (@msjkim) on Dec 9, 2016 at 1:46am PST

   
   
4. Once you are done attaching all of the candle wicks, hold them up straight by using disposable chopsticks. Be careful not to split the chopsticks, though! You need them to act like clothespins or paper clips -- only open them wide enough to hold the wick in between.
   
   

   A photo posted by J Kim (@msjkim) on Dec 8, 2016 at 3:08am PST



5. Fill your double-boiler or cooking pot up to about half full with water (use your judgment here) and heat on medium.
6. Tare/zero out your kitchen scale with the Pyrex measuring cup on it. Scoop 1 pound of soy wax into the cup.
7. Wait for the water in the pot to start simmering. If it is at a full, rolling boil, reduce the heat. 
8. Carefully lower the Pyrex cup into the pot, being mindful not to let it touch the bottom, or to let any water get into the wax. If necessary, remove some water from the pot. If you're using a double-boiler, rest the Pyrex cup in the upper pot (you can also pour the soy wax chips directly into a double-boiler, if you feel confident that you can clean it all out afterwards).
9. Stir occasionally as you wait for the wax to melt. This is going to take a little bit, so turn some music on or something. Wax will turn a golden color as it becomes liquid.
10. If you want to add some color, the recommended amount of candle dye is 1/2 a block for 1 lb of soy wax. I would say use your judgment here (you could certainly mix and match), keeping in mind that the color will change a little bit as the wax cools and solidifies. Continue to stir until everything is melted and mixed evenly.
11. DO NOT OVERHEAT THE WAX! As soon as the last bit of solid has become liquid, turn off the stove and remove the Pyrex cup from heat. Let the wax cool for about a minute before you add any fragrance oil (this is to make sure the fragrance doesn't burn off).
12. Gently stir fragrance oil into the melted wax until it is blended in. Don't stir it too much -- you don't want to create any bubbles.
13. Let the wax cool for at least a few minutes before pouring it into the containers. The original recipe says to wait until it's 135° F. My rule of thumb for knowing when it's okay to pour is when you start noticing trails in the wax when you stir, kind of like if you were stirring honey (or any thick, clear liquid).
14. Pour the melted wax evenly into each container, using the spatula to scrape the sides, etc. Obviously, don't fill each one to the brim (unless you want the melted wax to overflow when you light the candle). In general, you should leave at least a 1/2" from the top.
15. Let the candles set overnight. Keep them at room temperature in a dry area, out of the way of any disturbance.
16. When cleaning up your utensils, it will make your life easier if you wipe off any remaining wax with a dry paper towel before you start washing them.
17. Once your candles are all set, carefully remove the chopsticks. Make sure you don't tug too much on the candle wicks.
18. Cut the wicks so that they're about 1/4" to 1/2" tall.
19. Et voilà! Put the lids back on and decorate the containers to your heart's content!
    
    Or just light and enjoy!
    
    

    A photo posted by J Kim (@msjkim) on Dec 12, 2016 at 9:44pm PST

US FDA No Longer Approves of Antibacterial Soap

A couple of years ago, I wrote about the state of Minnesota banning products containing triclosan, which is the main antibacterial ingredient in most antibacterial soaps, body washes, and hand sanitizers. Now, the FDA has jumped on board and is no longer approving the use of several ingredients (triclosan being one of them) in soaps and body washes.

As I pointed out in the previous post, triclosan has been associated with bacterial resistance to drugs and antibiotics, as well as hormone disruption in animals and human beings (as a result of overuse and our environment being subsequently contaminated with the chemical).

However, the biggest determining factor, and perhaps the most important, is that antibacterial soap manufacturers have been UNABLE TO PROVE that their products are more effective than plain soap and water. It is probably safe to assume that it was all a gimmick to sell more soap.

Antibacterial hand soaps and body washes containing triclosan and the other list of ingredients will no longer be available in the U.S. within one year of the ruling. In other cases, I would recommend people stocking up before everything was pulled from the shelves. Not in this case, though. NEVER in this case.

Tips on How to Cruise, by a First-time Cruiser

Gone fishing.

A photo posted by J Kim (@msjkim) on Aug 28, 2016 at 4:47pm PDT

I recently went on a cruise with my family, a 4 day trip from Los Angeles to Ensenada (Baja California) by way of Catalina Island. It was my first time cruising.

At the end of my trip, I made a few notes so that I could have a better cruising experience next time. I'm writing them down here as a sort of reminder to myself, but also in hopes that they can help other first-timers.

1. BRING A WATER BOTTLE*
Depending on what cruise line you're traveling on and what type of stateroom you're staying in, a bottle of water will not always be provided for free (especially not in the cheaper rooms). Fill your water bottle up in the cafeteria to take back to your room and/or to take with you on excursions.

* NOTE: Your water bottle must be EMPTY when you board the boat on the first day (you'll be going through a security checkpoint, like at the airport).


2.  HAVE A LANYARD AND/OR CARD PROTECTOR FOR YOUR ROOM CARD
Your room card also serves as your charge card aboard the ship and as an ID/entry card to scan you onto and off of the ship when visiting a port. Most people keep their cards on a lanyard for easy access. If lanyards aren't your thing, then you can use something like a wristlet or smartphone wallet - something to keep things readily available.


3. BRING YOUR OWN SOAP AND SHAMPOO, IF YOU'RE PICKY
Every stateroom has soap, body wash, and shampoo, just like a hotel or gym would. But, just as you might find at a hotel or gym, the quality of the soap and shampoo you find in your room on the cruise may not meet your standards. If this is a big deal for you, don't hesitate to bring your own. 


4. DON'T SKIMP ON THE SUNBLOCK!
I guarantee, unless you are a construction worker or an avid outdoor sports enthusiast, you WILL be getting more sun than usual. In fact, it is likely you will get sunBURNED (so don't forget to pack the aloe vera, either)! If you have any excursions planned during the day, make sure you slather on as much sunblock as possible over every visible inch of skin (including the back of your neck and ears).


5. IF YOU'RE TRAVELING WITH A PARTY, PAY FOR THE CRUISE'S MESSAGING APP
Most major cruise lines will have their own smartphone app that lists the day's itinerary, lets you keep track of how much you're spending, AND provides a messaging service with other users onboard. For Carnival cruises, it's $5 (per person) to activate messaging on their Carnival Hub App for the entire duration of your trip.

Yes, the price is BS, but your only other alternatives are:

• A. Since you will have little to no cellular reception at sea, everyone in your party will have to purchase an internet package (which STARTS at $5.99/day on Carnival cruises) so you can use your usual messaging apps with each other, OR... 
• B. Run around the ship looking for each other. Believe me - the boat is HUGE, and it's easy to get separated from your party if you're not careful. Or maybe you just want to do things on your own for a while and need to get in touch with your people when you're done. Yes, you can decide on a meeting time and place for either situation, but it's not always easy or convenient to get from one end of the boat to the other (these boats also have around 10 floors). Let me put it this way: you can easily put in 10k steps a day on your Fitbit just by walking around on the boat. Just bite the bullet and pay the $5.

6. DRESS CODES ARE NOT AS STRICT AS CRUISES MAKE THEM OUT TO BE
In addition to a dress for Formal Night, I packed an extra couple of blouses because I thought the dress code for the dining rooms would be heavily enforced. There was no need. The general cafeteria area allows for more casual clothing (if dressing up isn't your thing), but on my trip, people in beat up T-shirts and flip-flops were being let into the proper dining rooms anyway, even during Formal Night. There were people walking around the boat, eating in the cafeteria and attending shows in bath robes. Not a fancy kimono or wrap dress that I mistook to be a bath robe. A WHITE, TERRY CLOTH, "PROVIDED IN YOUR ROOM" BATHROBE!!! If you're nervous, nice, clean resort wear is always a safe bet.


7. SPEAKING OF CLOTHES, PACK SOME DANCE CLOTHES!
If you like to dance, take some time to visit the night clubs on the ship.


8. DO THE MATH BEFORE YOU PURCHASE A BEVERAGE PLAN
If you only plan on having 2 or 3 drinks a day, then you'd be wasting your money on a beverage plan. Estimate alcoholic drinks to cost around $10 and sodas to be around $2. Do the math to decide whether or not the plan would be worth it for you.

For what it's worth, I also observed people bringing 12-packs of soda with them onto the ship. Self-service beverages in the cafeteria (water, coffee, hot chocolate, lemonade, and iced tea) are free.


9. DO NOT EAT MEALS OUTSIDE ON THE PATIO!
You're dining in the cafeteria today, and it's a nice day out, so of course you'll feel tempted to eat on the patio. I'm telling you right now to turn around and find yourself a table inside. Seagulls perch near patio areas waiting for any scraps. Some are even bold enough to snatch food right off the plate in front of you. Sit next to a window if you want to enjoy the ocean view.

Eating outside may seem like a good idea in theory, but...

A photo posted by J Kim (@msjkim) on Aug 30, 2016 at 10:04am PDT

10. HAVE A GOOD TIME!
Above all else, you're there to relax and enjoy yourself. That's not to say there won't be a few aggressive salespeople and the like, to whom you'll need to put your foot down and just say "No!" But remember to loosen up and let yourself go with the flow! As long as you're not inconveniencing or harming anyone else, there is no wrong way to have a good time.

Everyone's Talking About Phones!

The Apple Pie Phone 6
(now with real fruit filling)

I don't have any strong feelings towards a particular brand or model of smartphone.  As a gadget enthusiast, I like them all!  If my wallet could support it, I'd buy one of each.  But alas, my fate is such that I can choose only/barely one.

Recently, for some reason, a lot of my friends and acquaintances on social networking sites have been asking for advice or complaining about new smartphones.  They're eligible for an upgrade and want advice about switching from an iPhone to an Android, or they just switched over and now they're not getting text messages anymore.  They just can't figure it out! 

I'm going to sound like an asshole for saying this, but I'm going to say it anyway: technology is only as advanced as the people using it.  I'm not saying that to make fun of anyone or to be cruel.  I'm saying it because, whether you're going from iOS to Android or vice versa, you need to take the time to learn the new system before you can get used it.  A smartphone is only a tool, and it can only do as much as you know what to do with it.  Unless your new phone's giving you real problems, don't give up so quickly.

That said, here are a few tips for those of you who are getting rid of your old iPhones (even if you're upgrading to another iPhone).  Many of these tips also apply to non-iPhone users.

1.  First and foremost, back up your data!
Your contacts, your photos, whatever.  Plug your iPhone into your computer, open up iTunes, and "Back Up Now."  Alternatively, you can use iCloud by going to Settings (on your iPhone) > iCloud > Backup > Back Up Now.

If you're upgrading to a newer iPhone, then this step will be instrumental in seamlessly resetting all of your old contacts, settings and apps on your new phone.  Just plug in your new iPhone and hit "Restore Backup..." (you'll most likely have to choose which backup you want to restore from - they're all designated by the date and time of the backup).  If you're switching over to an Android phone, then you will have to transfer your old contacts to a Google/Gmail account (Android is developed by Google and, therefore, makes use of a Google/Gmail account).

If you're switching from an Android to an iPhone, then follow the steps outlined in this article to transfer all of your contacts, photos, and other media.

2.  Make sure you turn off iMessage on your old iPhone before activating your new smartphone.
Why?  Because of this.  Many former iPhone users have run into a problem where they no longer receive text messages because their iMessage is still active on their old phone.  Remedying the issue can be easy if you have your old iPhone still on you.  If you don't, you'll have to deal with Apple Customer Support, which can be not as easy.  Go to Settings > Messages to access this option.

3.  While you're at it, delete your iCloud account and restore your phone to factory settings.
Go to Settings > iCloud, and scroll to the bottom to sign out.  Why are we doing this?  To make sure the next person who uses your old phone won't have access to your info and files.  This is also so you don't get random pictures in your iCloud Photo stream.  And just to double make sure, go ahead and wipe the memory clean.  You can restore your phone through iTunes or by going to Settings > General > Reset > Erase All Content and Settings.

4.  Get your old smartphone unlocked.
Unlocking your old phone will give you more options when trying to sell it because it opens it up for use on different wireless networks and in different countries.  If you've fulfilled your 2-year contract with your carrier, your old phone should be eligible to be unlocked.  Here are links to instructions on how to unlock your smartphone on the 3 major wireless providers (U.S.):

• AT&T
• Verizon
• Sprint

5.  Don't forget to remove your old sim card and/or get your phone deactivated by your wireless provider!
Since you'll need your sim card for your new phone to work, make sure you take it out of your old phone before you give it away.


Now that you've prepped your old phone for a proper send off, it's time to sell it.  Most smartphones (iPhones in particular) have pretty decent resale values.  Assuming you haven't already promised your old phone to a friend or family member, you could stand to make at least $100 (depending on the model and the phone's condition), enough to cover some of the costs of your new phone.

Do You Veg?

As an omnivore, I sometimes find it difficult to meet up with vegetarian friends for a meal.  Not in an ideological sort of way but in an actual, physical sense.  Yes, many restaurants have dishes without meat, but I would bet that most of them don't really have a huge variety.  You'd also be surprised at how many animal by-products are in our food - places where you wouldn't even suspect!

Bottom line: I don't like having my friends relegated to, say, pitiful garden salads while I'm chowing down on a huge burger or something.  I can compromise.

That's where HappyCow comes in.


With listings of vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants and businesses throughout the world, this site is particularly handy for those who are traveling and need to find a place to eat.  For friends of vegetarians, you can use it to locate nearby restaurants that can accommodate the dietary needs of your entire party.

The site also offers recipes and other resources that you may find handy and interesting.  Go give it a try!

Minnesota Bans Antibacterial Ingredient. You Probably Should, Too.

Triclosan.  It's found in our favorite antibacterial hand soaps, body washes, hand sanitizers, tooth paste, cosmetics, deodorant...  It's in a lot of stuff.

It has also been banned in Minnesota.

I've always been a skeptic when it comes to many things.  I can't say that I didn't fall for the antibacterial gimmick when it first began picking up steam in the '90s, or that I don't fall for it whenever I end up coming into contact with... not-so-clean things, but I always wondered if the draw towards those products weren't so much science as it was marketing.  Now, I know the answer.

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed a rule that would require manufacturers of antibacterial products "to prove their products are more effective than plain soap and water in preventing illness and the spread of infection."

According to CNN:

"Millions of Americans use antibacterial hand soap and body wash products," the [FDA] said in a statement. "Although consumers generally view these products as effective tools to help prevent the spread of germs, there is currently no evidence that they are any more effective at preventing illness than washing with plain soap and water."

You may ask, "So what if it's not more effective?"  It may not be any better, but it couldn't be any worse.  Better to be safe than sorry, right?

Not necessarily right.  In fact, according to some research, it's plenty worse.  Not only are antibacterial products contributing to bacterial resistance to drugs and antibiotics, they're also being accused of disrupting hormones in our bodies.

Since I'm not an expert in this field, I can only share with you the literature that I have come across on this topic (links to which you'll find throughout this post).  Even though I feel many of the statements made in these articles are compelling, it's ultimately up to you to determine for yourself the legitimacy of these findings.

For more information about the FDA's position on triclosan, please visit:
http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm205999.htm

Amazon: Sometimes You Get What You Pay For

I posted this to my Tumblr page several months ago, but wanted to share it again here.

Amazon is an amazing online retailer!  You can find pretty much anything you're looking for, and you can get it at a fairly decent price.  When I first started shopping there years ago, I had no intention of ever looking elsewhere for anything ever again.  These days, unfortunately, I find myself shopping on Amazon less and less.

For Mother's Day earlier this year, I decided to introduce my mom to the world of smartphones by getting her a Samsung Galaxy SIII.  I needed to purchase accessories for her new phone, so where else would I look?

I knew from reading other blogs and the customer reviews on Amazon that some of their sellers were not being very honest and were selling counterfeit items.  One important piece of advice that pretty much everyone had was, if you're buying from a third-party seller, make sure that it says the order is being "fulfilled by Amazon."  That way, the item that you're purchasing is going through an additional check point (the seller's items are actually being sent from the Amazon warehouses) before it gets to you.

I went one step further - I chose to buy directly from Amazon.  It didn't work.

Authentic Samsung products have a holographic "Samsung Original" sticker.

You can tell the cardboard packaging was cut by hand - the edges are off.

They totally sent me a knock-off.

To be honest, for what I paid (a mere fraction of the MSRP), I would've been happy if the stupid case had just fit on the phone, but it didn't even do that.  I basically paid for trash.

I filed a complaint, returned the case, and got my money back.  It seemed like Amazon was having one of its third-party sellers fulfill their orders; the original link I had for the item now directs to a different seller.  From what I understand, though, that wasn't the first nor will it be the last seller to completely dupe customers on the site.  Instead of trying my luck again with Amazon, I decided to head to my local Best Buy, where I could actually see that I was buying the real thing.

My friends, this problem doesn't end with smartphone accessories, unfortunately.  I would be very, very careful when purchasing anything from third-party sellers online.

This is also true with imported cosmetics, especially BB creams from Asia.  Many of the bigger companies (Missha, Skin79, Skinfood, etc.) have websites/online shops operating in the U.S., as well as operating actual brick and mortar stores.  Even though the prices there can be a bit higher than what you can find on Amazon or Ebay, I would really recommend purchasing from legit places.  You really don't know what you're getting from these third-party sellers.  It could be completely fine, or it could just be older or stolen merchandise, but it could also be lower grade, possibly harmful cosmetics disguised in brand name packaging.

In any case, when making purchases online, make sure you do your research so that any decisions you make are well-informed ones.  Caveat emptor!

***
UPDATE (May 26, 2014):  I was recently looking up YouTube videos on Clarisonic facial cleansing systems, and I came across a video illustrating the differences between real and knock-off Clarisonics.  The woman in the video was gifted a Clarisonic Mia2 that was purchased on Amazon, which isn't an authorized dealer of Clarisonic products.  I just wanted to add this as more reason to be careful of what you buy through third-party sellers.
*** 

Find the Right Foundation Shade

It may be because I'm a makeup newbie, but I feel like finding the correct foundation shade is becoming something akin to a spiritual journey. When you find that perfect match, it'll be as if you've just discovered the meaning of life.

One of my many searches led to a five-year-old post on a message board. The following is a recommended guide written by user "pbsadhaka" (one of the most in depth guides I've come across so far):

OK girls, here is a non-fail formula to find your true skin tone, and to match up what color of makeup and also hair color best compliments your skin tone. Save this, b/c it is always true, and failsafe!

Skin tones can be broken down into 4 categories: olive, red/pink, golden, & neutral. The easiest way to find your true skin tone is to hold a piece of white paper up to the skin where your neck meets your collarbone.

Olive skintones have an underlying tone of green, gray, or yellow. Olive people look best in either cool or neutral colors. Warm colors should usually be avoided unless it is of a darker value.

Makeup shades for cool/neutral skintones include: blueish reds (not orange/reds), plums, violets, silvery greens (evergreens), grays, and deep mauves. Haircolors that compliment olive skin are: blueish blacks, auburns, chestnut brown, dark golden brown. If you go lighter, you should never go lighter than a level 4 with a golden tonality.

Red/Pink skintones have an underlying hue of reddish brown, red, or blue-red. This skintone also looks best in cool or neutral colors. Warm colors are not recommended for this skin type. Complimentary hair colors for this type are any ashy or sandy blonde, burgundy browns, light cool blondes, avoid reds - it will make your skin look ruddy. If you want a red tone, go with a very light auburn or strawberry blonde.

Golden skintones have an underlying tone of golden-brown, gold, or peach. This skin tone looks best in warm colors. Makeup colors should include: grays, tan, browns, bronze, gold, grassy & mossy greens, warmer orange-reds, and corals. Complimentary hair colors should include ash and golden blondes, aubruns, neutral browns, and warm dark browns/blacks.

Neutral skintones have a balance of pink and gold undertones. You will have a hard time finding a dominant undertone in this type. Tis skin tone is usually described as ivory, beige, or brown skin. Neutral skintones can wear either cool or warm.

Taking your eye color into account can also help you decide your skintone:
Warm Eye Colors:
-Brown with red, orange, yellow or gold flecks.
-Blue with yellow or gold flecks.
-Green with reddish-brown, orange, yellow, or gold flecks.

Cool Eye Colors:
-Brown with black, gray-brown, gray-green, or gray flecks.
-Blue with white, blue, gray, or violet flecks.
-Green with blue or gray flecks.

When choosing makeup, there are other factors that you must take into consideration too. Women often choose a foundation that is too light for their skin. This gives you a pasty, pale "canvas" of a face. Then any makeup that you put on looks overly done - painted on. The other danger is going too dark with your foundation and ending up with an orange "mask". NEVER go more than 1 shade lighter or darker than your natural skintone. Also, don't rely on the names that the companies give to their foundations - look at the actual color of the product. What Revlon calls "golden", L'Oreal might call "beige". But whatever foundation you choose make sure that you BLEND and feather it from under your chin down onto the neck and behind the ears. But if you are choosing the correct level & tone, you should not see a line where your foundation stops anyway.

Eyeshadows can really compliment your eyes. Choosing a deeper/darker shade of a color will make the iris of your eyes appear lighter & brighter. A lighter eyeshadow will usually make your eye color deepen.

Sorry this post is so long, but there is a lot of info here. I use this guide all the time with clients, and there have been only maybe 2 or 3 times when someone did not fit this formula exactly!

If that doesn't get you closer to your "perfect" shade, then I don't know what will.

My Choice for Best Lipsticks...

Since I don't wear makeup all too often, I always feel awkward whenever I recommend a certain product to someone. That being said, if I had to pick my favorite lipstick, my choice right now would be NARS lipsticks.


They come in 3 formulas: satin, semi-matte, and sheer. I can't speak for everyone, but I've noticed that most lipsticks dry the hell out of my lips after about 10 minutes of wear. With NARS, even the matte formula leaves your lips feeling nice and moist, like you just put on some lip balm.

My favorite, so far, is the sheer formula. The colors are highly pigmented (one swipe is usually enough) and buildable (meaning, depending on how much you put on, the colors can be light on your lips or deeply saturated). These lipsticks also leave your lips moisturized pretty much forever (or at least until you wipe it off) without leaving behind any of that greasy/slippery feeling some "moisturizing" lipsticks have. On top of that, there are no added scents or flavors, which I know is a big pet peeve for a lot of people.

NARS lipsticks are extremely popular among makeup fanatics. It has even won the 2008 Best of Sephora award (it was also last year's winner). I have to admit, the price tag is a little steep ($24 each), but this is one of those rare cases where you get what you pay for. NARS is available at Sephora and many higher-end department stores (like Nordstrom or Saks Fifth Avenue).

For those of us with tighter budgets, don't fret! I also have a choice for best drugstore lipstick because, in my opinion, Revlon's Super Lustrous Lipsticks come in at a VERY CLOSE second (we're talking photo finish here).


The quality of this lipstick is, I feel, better than most luxury/department store brands and is definitely on par with NARS. My only gripe is that there aren't a variety of textures. No matte, no sheer - it's only the one, full-finish color. But boy, does this lipstick leave your lips feeling SMOOOOOOOOOOOTH!!! No scents or flavors here either.

As you know, the one disadvantage of drugstore makeup is that you can't really try out the colors before you buy them. It's even harder with Revlon because they seal all of their products. As far as I know, Ulta is one of the only places where they have testers for drugstore brand makeup. If you don't have an Ulta near you, then here's a little trick. Look for a brand that doesn't seal their lipsticks, and test out their colors. When you find one that you like, look at the bottom of the lipstick, where you'll find a corresponding colored sticker (most makeup brands have this). Go over to the Revlon lipsticks and try to match up the colors of these stickers. More often than not, you'll get a pretty close match (make sure, though, that you pay attention to whether the lipstick is shimmery or not - Revlon will signify this with the words "creme" or "pearl"). If you mess up, just remember that you can return it (yes, you can get refunds on makeup from the drugstore!).

So, if you feel like you need a new lipstick, and are willing to indulge, then get yourself over to your nearest NARS counter. However, if you can't ever justify spending more than $10 on a lipstick, then definitely check out Revlon's Super Lustrous line (especially when stores have the buy-one-get-one-free deals). I assure you, you won't be disappointed either way.

Finding the Right Skin Care for Your Age

The other day, I was perusing the skin care aisle at Target and encountered two tween girls in serious deliberation. Girl A held up a motorized facial scrubber and insisted that it was the secret behind her great skin (mind you, these girls were at that age where they still have peach fuzz on their cheeks). Girl B was torn. She probably thought that the price was a little too steep for her allowance, but she ended up putting the mini face-sander into her basket anyway. Did either of these girls need this thing? Most likely not. But why did they buy it? Because they weren't aware that this product was not meant for them.

I think the same thing happens with people our age, in our 20s, 30s, and 40s. So many products exist in the world of skin care, all making (empty) promises of youth and beauty, and many of us (myself included) get sucked in. Unfortunately, many of us are also not yet ready to use some of these products either. For instance, did you know that people in their 20s (and some in their 30s) should stay away from anti-wrinkle and firming creams? Many women (and men) use these products as preventative treatments, but that's not how these things work. Most of these products "firm" the skin by tightening it and, subsequently, making it thin. Imagine what would happen to your skin if you started using these products prematurely. It would be like getting a face lift right now, albeit not that drastic. In the long run, though, you'd end up having to use more product and resort to stronger and even more drastic treatments later on down the line.

TotalBeauty.com, an online resource for - you guessed it - beauty and beauty products, has some tips for age-appropriate skin care. They break down what kinds of products you should use between ages 20 through 50, and they also include some product suggestions. According to them, people in their 20s, for instance, really only need to wash, moisturize, and treat specific skin conditions, like acne. They don't recommend daily exfoliation until your 30s, and no wrinkle treatments until you reach your 40s.

Total Beauty also has a skin analysis quiz, which is helpful in determining what kind of skin type you have, so that you can make more informed choices for your skin care regimen.

Another YouTube Makeup Tutorial Channel

I found another makeup tutorial channel on YouTube. This one is by MichellePhan (a.k.a. "RiceBunny").



I find that while her videos aren't as intimate as those by some of the other YouTube makeup artists (she doesn't talk directly to her audience on camera; it's all voice-over), they are very polished (they're EXTREMELY well edited), and the tutorials are easy to follow. She also has good taste in music, making the entire video-watching experience quite pleasurable.

Tips for Online Makeup Shopping

Online shopping can always be a gamble due to the fact that you can't see the actual product you're planning to buy. Whenever you click on "Submit Order" when you're checking out, you're taking a big leap of faith, hoping that what you get in the mail a couple of weeks from now will be in good condition; will be exactly what you ordered; or will arrive at all.

Ordering makeup online is even scarier. Because everyone's computer monitors are calibrated differently, the colors you see on the websites could be spot on, or they could be light-years off. As such, the only benefit to ordering makeup online is for the convenience (not dealing with aggressive salespeople, or the possibility of making the trip only to find out what you want is sold out) and for the discounts. So, before you get yourself any more ahead in the checkout process online, I'd advise you to do the following:

• 1. Go to your nearest makeup counter to swatch/try out the products you want.
  Unfortunately, some online retailers do not allow you to return opened/used makeup. Going to the store is the only way you can try the products out beforehand.


• 2. I've said this time and time again here on this blog: Visit Ebates.com and Retailmenot.com for cash back deals and promo codes.
  Really, this is the only reason online shopping is more useful than going to your local store. Especially in today's economy, it's more important for you to make use of these discounts!


• 3. If you don't particularly feel like getting yourself to the nearest Sephora, Ulta, mall, etc., then at least make sure you check out any online forums for product reviews.
  Websites like Makeup Alley are filled with reviews and pictures by fellow members/users. If anything, you'll at least be able to make a better informed decision before you purchase.

Hopefully, these tips will help you in making an online cosmetics purchase that you'll be happy with. Happy shopping!

YouTube Make-up Tutorials

Thank GOD for YouTube! Without it, we wouldn't be able to watch all those great TV shows or movies from overseas, that episode of whatever we missed last night, or that episode of whatever we missed 10 years ago, and that video of that kid who wants everyone to leave Britney alone... Okay, so it does have its negative side, too.

Anyway, one of the things that YouTube has also brought to us is a plethora of tutorials for a variety of disciplines. One such discipline is cosmetics/make-up. YouTube has a bevy of make-up arists (aspiring and professional alike) creating tutorials for us gals (and guys) who want to know everything from glamorous make-up looks to special effects make-up looks.

I haven't had time to sit down and watch ALL of them, but I have found 2 YouTube make-up artists that I like and whose tutorial channels I have subscribed to and have become a fan of:

Scandalous Beauty (a.k.a. "Erin")


and Panacea81 (a.k.a. "Lauren")


I think the one thing that turns some women, including myself, off of cosmetics and make-up is that they don't know how to apply it (properly or at all) and, therefore, are intimidated. These two ladies are very personable and are GREAT at showing you how much fun you can have with all the colors make-up has to offer. Rather than using it as a way to subscribe to some sort of standard of femininity and/or beauty, make-up can really be used to create a bold statement of one's individuality. ... Sorry, get too philosophical there for you? ;-)

Anyway, so, yeah. Ladies and gentlemen, don't let make-up intimidate you. Go onto YouTube, grab a few tips from the thousands of skilled make-up artists online, and JUST. HAVE. FUN. !!!

10 Ways to Be Happier

How happy are you, really? If there’s room for improvement, then Gretchen Rubin has some suggestions.

A few years ago, on a morning like any other, I had a sudden realization: I was in danger of wasting my life. As I stared out the rain-spattered window of a New York City bus, I saw that the years were slipping by.

“What do I want from life?” I asked myself. “Well... I want to be happy.” I had many reasons to be happy: My husband was the tall, dark, handsome love of my life; we had two delightful girls, ages 1 and 7; I was a writer, living in my favorite city. I had friends; I had my health; I didn’t have to color my hair. But too often I sniped at my husband or the drugstore clerk. I felt dejected after even a minor professional setback. I lost my temper easily. Is that how a happy person would act?

I decided on the spot to begin a systematic study of happiness. (A little intense, I know. But that’s the kind of thing that appeals to me.) In the end, I spent a year test-driving the wisdom of the ages, current scientific studies, and tips from popular culture. If I followed all the advice, I wanted to know, would it work?

Well, the year is over, and I can say: It did. I made myself happier. And along the way I learned a lot about how to be happier. Here are those lessons.

1. Don’t start with profundities.
When I began my Happiness Project, I realized pretty quickly that, rather than jumping in with lengthy daily meditation or answering deep questions of self-identity, I should start with the basics, like going to sleep at a decent hour and not letting myself get too hungry. Science backs this up; these two factors have a big impact on happiness.

2. Do let the sun go down on anger.
I had always scrupulously aired every irritation as soon as possible, to make sure I vented all bad feelings before bedtime. Studies show, however, that the notion of anger catharsis is poppycock. Expressing anger related to minor, fleeting annoyances just amplifies bad feelings, while not expressing anger often allows it to dissipate.

3. Fake it til you feel it.
Feelings follow actions. If I’m feeling low, I deliberately act cheery, and I find myself actually feeling happier. If I’m feeling angry at someone, I do something thoughtful for her and my feelings toward her soften.

4. Realize that anything worth doing is worth doing badly.
Challenge and novelty are key elements of happiness. The brain is stimulated by surprise, and successfully dealing with an unexpected situation gives a powerful sense of satisfaction. People who do new things — learn a game, travel to unfamiliar places — are happier than people who stick to familiar activities that they already do well. I often remind myself to “Enjoy the fun of failure” and tackle some daunting goal.

5. Don’t treat the blues with a “treat.”
Often the things I choose as “treats” aren’t good for me. The pleasure lasts a minute, but then feelings of guilt and loss of control and other negative consequences deepen the lousiness of the day. While it’s easy to think, I’ll feel good after I have a few glasses of wine... a pint of ice cream... a cigarette... a new pair of jeans, it’s worth pausing to ask whether this will truly make things better.

6. Buy some happiness.
Our basic psychological needs include feeling loved, secure, and good at what we do and having a sense of control. Money doesn’t automatically fill these requirements, but it sure can help. I’ve learned to look for ways to spend money to stay in closer contact with my family and friends; to promote my health; to work more efficiently; to eliminate sources of irritation and marital conflict; to support important causes; and to have enlarging experiences. For example, when my sister got married, I splurged on a better digital camera. It was expensive, but it gave me a lot of happiness bang for the buck.

7. Don’t insist on the best.
There are two types of decision makers. Satisficers (yes, satisficers) make a decision once their criteria are met. When they find the hotel or the pasta sauce that has the qualities they want, they’re satisfied. Maximizers want to make the best possible decision. Even if they see a bicycle or a backpack that meets their requirements, they can’t make a decision until they’ve examined every option. Satisficers tend to be happier than maximizers. Maximizers expend more time and energy reaching decisions, and they’re often anxious about their choices. Sometimes good enough is good enough.

8. Exercise to boost energy.
I knew, intellectually, that this worked, but how often have I told myself, “I’m just too tired to go to the gym”? Exercise is one of the most dependable mood-boosters. Even a 10-minute walk can brighten my outlook.

9. Stop nagging.
I knew my nagging wasn’t working particularly well, but I figured that if I stopped, my husband would never do a thing around the house. Wrong. If anything, more work got done. Plus, I got a surprisingly big happiness boost from quitting nagging. I hadn’t realized how shrewish and angry I had felt as a result of speaking like that. I replaced nagging with the following persuasive tools: wordless hints (for example, leaving a new lightbulb on the counter); using just one word (saying “Milk!” instead of talking on and on); not insisting that something be done on my schedule; and, most effective of all, doing a task myself. Why did I get to set the assignments?

10. Take action.
Some people assume happiness is mostly a matter of inborn temperament: You’re born an Eeyore or a Tigger, and that’s that. Although it’s true that genetics play a big role, about 40 percent of your happiness level is within your control. Taking time to reflect, and conscious steps to make your life happier, really does work. So use these tips to start your own Happiness Project. I promise it won’t take you a whole year.

About the Author
Gretchen Rubin is the author of several books, and she keeps a daily blog at www.happiness-project.com. Her next book, The Happiness Project, will be published in late 2009. She lives in New York City with her husband and two daughters.


Thanks to Maria, who first forwarded this to me!

Jean is a Photojournalist...

... Sort of.

I have been honored by Schmap, an online travel guide, who chose one of my pictures for the 5th edition of their New York guide.



About Schmap:

Schmap is a leading publisher of digital travel guides for 200 destinations throughout the United States, Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. The innovative technology behind Schmap Guides also lets end users publish their own ‘schmaps’ (to share trip itineraries, local reviews and more), and powers a popular range of Schmap Widgets, displaying maps with content and event schedules for travel, sports, concert tours and more on a fast-growing network of websites and blogs. Founded in 2004, Schmap is privately owned and based in Carrboro, North Carolina.

I had no idea that my picture was even being considered for something like this until Schmap contacted me through my Flickr account. Now I wish I had uploaded a better version of this picture... Oh well...

Thanks again, Schmap!!! :-)

Makeup Alley

Want to read reviews about almost every cosmetic product that exists on the face of this planet? Want to swap that makeup you never use with someone else who has makeup you really want but don't have the budget to purchase? Want to participate in a forum discussing the merits of, or the best way to use a particular cosmetic product? Makeup Alley is the place for you! Makeup Alley (or "MUA") is where I go to check reviews for makeup, and it has rarely failed me. Membership is free, and it provides a valuable resource for those interested in beauty products.

Deals & Steals Online!!!

With the economy down, we're starting to watch our spending. Although the best thing to do is to not buy anything at all, we all know that's impossible. We all have some material needs (and wants) in life that we cannot ignore.

Online shopping has become increasingly popular because of goods being priced lower than those offered at your local brick & mortar. On top of that, more online retailers are offering deals for free shipping, and sometimes you can even get away without paying sales tax. It's also a wonderful thing for semi-asocial people such as myself. No hassle of having to deal with aggressive salespeople, and no waiting in long lines to check out. Pure heaven. Now, let me tell you about a few online resources that can make your online shopping experience much more grand.

First off, there is my current favorite: Ebates.com. Join Ebates (for free), and you'll have access to getting cash back from hundreds of online retailers. How does it work? Log into your Ebates account, click on the link to the online retailer of your choice, and start shopping! Clicking on the link activates a sort of link between your purchase and your Ebates account. The money will be deposited to your Ebates account and will be sent to you directly or deposited into a PayPal account.

There are two minor snags: 1. You have to have earned a minimum of $5 in cash back before you can see any of that money; and 2. Checks are sent to you on a quarterly basis (once every 3 months). BUT I can assure you that this service works! I joined earlier this year, and have already received checks from them. Also, in my experience, dealing with customer service when a particular purchase hasn't posted to your account has been fairly easy. Of course, the burden of proof is on you, but it's as easy as sending them a copy of your invoice and evidence that you activated an Ebates ticket for that retailer at the time of purchase (which you can easily find in your Ebates account). They also have a "Daily Double" deal, where they'll choose one retailer and double the cash back percentage for the day (I'm still kicking myself for the day I missed Shu Uemura at 10% off, plus additional coupons!!!). If you're just signing up for Ebates, be sure to tell them I referred you (enter my email at hotmail.com)! ;-)

Second, there are those AAA discounts. Of course, you have to be a AAA member in order to take advantage of this, but deals like 10% off of any Target online purchase??? Save yourself the gas money, and order those funky linens online!!! AAA deals work a little like Ebates: you have to log into your account and activate the link in order for the discount to work, but it's taken off right when you check out (no waiting for any checks).

Next, there is Retailmenot.com. This one is pretty straightforward. Type in the web address for a particular online retailer, and the search engine will bring up a list of available coupons, along with a rating of whether or not it's working and comments from other users. No membership involved.

Then, we have sites like Shopping.com and BizRate.com. Enter the name of the item you want to buy in the search engine, and these sites will bring up a list of all the online retailers selling that particular item. The best part? They also indicate who's selling it the cheapest. Make sure you check out their seller's ratings, though.

Finally, register online to become a member of whatever clothing, electronics, makeup brand or retailer you have any interest in, and sign up for their email newsletters. Most of the time, they'll send you a bunch of junk advertising the latest whatever (it might be helpful to create another email address dedicated to this stuff). BUT, every once in a while, they will send you that ONE EMAIL... The one that has the line, really small in the corner, that says "25/50/75% off all purchases!" JACKPOT!