What's in my shower: St. Ives Apricot Scrub

The good ol' stand by. I am pretty sure most girls have tried using St. Ives Apricot Scrub. I started using this product when I was a teenager. At less than $4 a pop, it was affordable then as I was a teenager with not much cents.

And as I get older and older, I'd always come back to good ol' trusty St. Ives Apricot Scrub. It offers enough of that scrubby thing to make me feel like it is doing a good job at exfoliating. I have tried other scrubs before, but none has came close to making me feel like they have gotten rid of the nasties in the pores. But St. Ives. Yes.

So, at least a decade after my initial use, I am still a firm believer in St. Ives Apricot Scrub. I have been through the scrub in a jar and scrub in a tube. I have used it when it was just an apricoty colored packaging to its now, cleaner, chic-er packaging. Still love this product.

Go and get yours today.

What's in my shower? Alpine Xtreme Body and Face Wash

This will be a series of products I have in my shower. I am going to start this series with a body wash that I have recently purchased some weeks ago. I was browsing at Wal-mart for some bar soaps for my boyfriend. Usually I will buy Zest or Ivory soap, since they are not too expensive and he doesn't really care too much as long as it doesn't smells too flowery. This caught my eyes because it was hidden up on the highest shelf.

It is a bigger bottle (compared to the others standing next to it) with a nice, pretty sturdy looking pump. The name "Alpine Xtreme" and "Body and face wash" were calling out to me. My boyfriend believes in not spending extra money on face wash because to him, soap is soap. And he doesn't like to have 10 different products cluttering up the shower.
I gave the pump a little lefty loosey turn and took a whiff. Hmmm... smells fresh. And off I tossed it into my cart.

It foams up well. And I have been using it instead of my Bath & Body Works shower gel. I really enjoy how fresh it smells. The freshness wakes me up in the mornings. I use it after my runs and I love smelling sporty and fresh. And at night, when I take my showers, it smells so fresh and makes me feel so clean that I am ready to jump in bed.

It is blue. It is in a non-girly bottle. It smells great. It is a body/face wash in one. Granted I haven't used it for my face, but I haven't heard any complains from the boyfriend. So, I guess it's a green light.

Did I mention it wasn't too pricey?

And now... I am ready to take another shower.

A Blast with the Lash

If there is one makeup product I have to have on my face, it would be mascara. I love mascara because it gives a lot of definition to my eyes. Even though I am Asian and have darker features compared to my friends in the U.S., my darker features are actually quite light compared to my best friend - Kris. I love how Kris has the almost jet-black irises and eyebrows. Mine are kinda medium brownish-looking. And my eyebrows are in a darker brownish tone and it is sparse. Yes, really sparse! Anyway, I just don't have good luck with hair on my eye features - sparse brownish eyebrows and short, rather sparse eyelashes. Hence, eye products are quite essential and mascara is definitely a MUST.

I have tried different kinda of mascaras - both high-end and drugstore products. I think I have found my absolute favorite and it is reasonably priced. Introducing Covergirl's Lash Blast mascara.

I saw a T.V. advertisement featuring Drew Barrymore (one of my favorite actress cos' she always looks effortlessly chic, bubbly and pretty). She has the bold eyelashes in that ad. And I mean, BOLD lashes. I thought to myself, I want THAT eyelashes.

So I went ahead and purchased it. It has those orange rubbery bristles and it comes in a fat tube with a fat brush. I got the black brown shade.
One day, while driving, my best friend did commented and complimented my lashes saying it looks bold and dark and nice. (Compliments from her about my makeup are treated very seriously because she is so good with it). So, anyway, I told her the product I was using.

So far, I am on my 4th tube and my 4th tube is in Blackest Black shade in the waterproof formulation. I am not too sure about the waterproof formulation because it seems rather difficult to take the product off at night using my facial wet tissues. The regular formulation was perfect though. Even though it wasn't specifically waterproof, it didn't smudge and if I didn't take my makeup off before I go into the shower in the evening, I didn't necessary have panda eyes either. I am probably going to go on and buy my 5th tube (yes, that is how much I adore this product). They have different versions of Lash Blast such as in Luxe and what not. I can't speak for those products because I am really having a blast with the original Lash Blast formulation and I don't believe I will try anything else.

Try it. It is inexpensive and does a good job. Sometimes you will get a sweet deal buying those "2 in a pack" deal for under $10. I hope you will enjoy it.

Laying the Foundation.

I think I just might have found my favorite drugstore foundation.

I have been wanting to just splurge on a more expensive brand such as Bobbi Brown or Mac just to be able to get the ladies at the counter find me a good shade. However, on a recent trip to Walgreens, I bought two different types of foundation because their Maybelline products were on a "Buy one get one half off" deal. What do I have to lose, right?

I bought the new Maybelline SuperStay 24HR Makeup. It claims to stay comfortable, give a naturally flawless look all day, and withstand heat, sweat and humidity. My shade is Nude.

Verdict: Love it. I applied it with a flat, slanted foundation brush from E.L.F. I pour a little bit of foundation onto my brush and dab it all over my face. Then, I blend it out. I think it gives a medium coverage and my face looks pretty darn good! Hah! I think I hit the jackpot with the shade this time for drugstore foundation. It doesn't feel too heavy on the face and it appears to even out my skin tone and provide a nice cover without being too masky.

Another foundation I bought from Maybelline was its Dream Matte Mousse Makeup foundation. My shade is Nude (Light).

Verdict: Love it too. It is whipped and light and feels sheer and light on my face. For application, I have been using the E.L.F. foundation brush and dipping the brush in the foundation jar. Then, I dab the product on my cheeks, forehead and nose, and then blend it out evenly. It provides a light to medium coverage. I have been enjoying the product.