Makeup Review: Yves Saint Laurent Shocking Mascara

Lets talk about mascara ladies (and gents too ;) Even though one may work for some, it may not work for others, that's just how it goes. Everyone has different type of lash hair, length, thickness & quantity. I read a lot of reviews where its a great mascara and there will be those couple people who will voice how horrible it is and their disappointment in the product. Well lets break it down, some mascara's are not made for our lashes. I'm sure all of us have used a few that just don't do the trick & really its not that its a bad mascara just because it didn't work on our lashes, its just not the formulation/brush etc that goes well with the lashes we have. So if a mascara doesn't work for you, yes its disappointing, however it doesn't mean its an overall "bad mascara". There you go :) that's my ity bitty disclaimer/rant. Now onto the review shall we? ;)

I think this is one of the mascaras that work well on people with average full, medium length or higher lashes (based on feedback from women I know). If you have short &/or sparse lashes this may not work for you, due to lesser quantity of lashes the thick creamy formula may be too much for your lashes, (I'm basing that on reviews Ive read) but give it a go if you like, theres no harm in trying!:)

 

This mascara works really well in lengthening and giving extra volume. It is more of a "wet" formula base mascara rather than a more dry formula and it has a slim fiber brush for precision & control of how much you put on. I found this mascara to be amazing for my lashes on a personal note ( I fall into the medium length & average full lashes). It does deliver on the voluminizing and lengthening claims. Yves Saint Laurent makes good mascaras, whether they are this Shocking mascara, Babydoll or the regular Volume Effet Faux Cils. Give it a whirl & let me know how it worked out for you! :) Enjoy!

Sincerely,
"CHIMERAH"
chimerah.net@gmail.com

Makeup Review: NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencils

There not a whole lot of shadow pencils that I'd vouch for, most seem to tug and pull at your skin, lack the smooth gliding effect &/or dont blend well. NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencils are one of those rare brands that get the job done right.

I got mine in a holiday set a year or two ago, however I didnt use it right away. I was a bit hesitant due to my past experiences of shadow pencils not working out as well as they claim to be. But Im happy to say these shadow pencils changed all that.

Lets just delve into the postive points. They're creamy.... they glide on the skin like a dream. Easy to blend, if you want a smoky eye just by using a shadow pencil these can do that, just shade the lid and blend upward from lashline then go back to lashline with pencil to deepen the color. Can be used along the lashline top & bottom or as a brow highlighter & for inner corner of the eye.These can be used as a base layer for powder eyeshadow to enchance the colors. I use them when Im in a rush to get ready and dont have the time to do my eyes, just pop a color in your bag or quickly wash a color over your lid and you're good to go. Also they are long wearing, however if your skin is any bit oily I suggest using an eye primer prior to putting on these pencils.
I only wish they had more colors!!

The colors I have are:
Aigle Noir - black infused with gold shimmer
Magic Moon - midnight blue
Tall Tale - deep violet purple
Palladium - shimmery teal
Skorpios - iridescent copper
Ballets Russes - iridescent silver

NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencils in (top) Ballets Russes, Aigle Noir & Skorpios (bottom)

NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencils in (top) Magic Moon, Palladium & Tall Tail (bottom)

NARS comes out with new limited time colours in certain season & sometimes during the Christmas Holidays as a set. Aigle Noir, Palladium & Skorpios are available in their regular line as far as I can tell. The other colors I have colors which are close to them in the regular line. Check out NARS @ www.narscosmetics.com or www.sephora.com to see the range! Enjoy!

Sincerely,
"CHIMERAH"
chimerah.net@gmail.com
　

　

Tis the Season!

 
Its that time of year again!! So Christmas shopping has begun, I took myself out today to start going through my list of presents to get...its just epic out there in the stores ;)

I don't know about anyone else but I like to start around September/October to space things out... however this year I've been quite bad and basically have left everything to crunch time. Ugh. I do however love the atmosphere in the malls, my first pit stop being Pacific Centre here in Vancouver, BC. ...everyone's cloaked in scarves and fur hats etc.. makes me feel I should be drinking eggnog or some festive starbucks drinks. Whats your favorite season?

After 5 hours of shopping and swimming through endless crowds & lineups I finally came home completely exhausted but not as tired as I might have been had I not had two wonderful "elves" help me out! This shout out goes to Donika @ Holt Renfrew Dior counter & Crystal Ram @ Sephora Pacific Centre. Thank you ladies for helping me out!!! (more on them under "Shop At" section).

I'd like to remind everyone to mind their manners this season (like always) "please" & "thank you's" go a long way. Wait your turn, watch your step, and a little charity wont hurt anyone ;)

Lets keep our fingers crossed & hope I survive through 2 more shopping sprees that may just leave me panhandling outside the mall...hehehe.

Sincerely,
"CHIMERAH"
chimerah.net@gmail.com

Book Review/Recommendation: "The Cage" by Ruth Minsky Sender

Have you ever come across a novel, that you read at one point and many years later still recall it as if you just read it yesterday? A novel, leaving such an impression on you, that it served a hand in shaping who are... ? Have you? ....I certainly have had the fortunate circumstances to read several... This is about one of them.
When I was 14 years old, in Junior High, I would have never ever have thought that in English class we would ever be given anything remotely interesting to read. Like most kids I found it utterly boring I did well, very well...but it was dry and like many others I questioned when in time will we ever have the need to decipher a poem or need to know the different types of poems there are (well unless one were going to end up in a career field that required that type of knowledge).

Mind you, English class is important nonetheless... learning grammar, how to write essays , punctuation, the development of good writing skills & reading skills...etc. All this knowledge comes in handy on a day to day basis of our lives. Do we need it? yes.. Do most of us appreciate it? probably not.

My feelings of great appreciation did come and thankfully right then in grade 9 English class. My teacher waltzed in the classroom one fine morning, and declared we were going to be reading a novel as a class & with it every student would be summarizing & writing their thoughts & opinions on it as assignments. At that moment, everyone breathed a heavy sigh thinking what awfully boring novel was going to torture us for the next month or two... I know most of cringed as we were told about this... rarely does it happen novels that are engrossing & captivating are given out as reading material in classes. But our teacher when onto explain quite seriously, this was not going to be easy for anyone to read...not due to a difficulty in the reading level but because the content was sensitive, very descriptive and also disturbing at times. I recall him saying its a true account of how cruel life can get.... I recall my his somber warning and my interest peaking about this novel.

The novel handed to us all was called "The Cage" by Ruth Minsky Sender. A novel, (which is a memoir of the author) is set in World War 2. It depicts the test of human spirit during harrowing time of the Holocaust. The story of Ruth Minsky Sender herself, who's family was separated from her in the concentration camps, her courage, determination, fearlessness ..her story of survival.

It's quite well written in depicting the environment of World War 2, specifically of the concentration camps.. the torture, victimization of Jewish people.There are many books on the Holocaust obviously, some which have way more content & information. This novel is a light read, meaning that its not a thick 800 page book... its 264 pages and its great for a beginner reader of all ages who is interested in the time of World War 2 & so on.

I highly recommend this book to everyone, its unforgettable & it will leave you appreciating your life, freedom & your family even more so. If you have a child (13+...you be the judge on their reading skills and maturity) I highly recommend this for all kids... this novel teaches great lessons in gratitude, freedom & survival and I cannot imagine any child not developing a good sense of empathy, compassion & humanity after reading this....because that is exactly what it developed further in me as a young teen, as my other classmates as well I'm sure.

Thank you everyone for lasting through this review & recommendation! If you haven't already, pick up this book at your local bookstore, you may have to order it in however its inexpensive and only costs around $10.00.

To my grade 9 English teacher Mr. Clish.....thank you from the bottom of my heart for trying to teach us kids some good wholesome values in a time where the only thing that is taught is the layed out curriculum. For always believing in me, supporting me, and cheering me on no matter what. I don't know if you'll read this post...or where you are. Wherever you are today, I hope you are safe, happy and life is treating you great. Just know you had a hand in shaping me into the human being I am today....and for that I will always have deep appreciation for you & forever indebted. Thank you.....

Sincerely,
"CHIMERAH"
chimerah.net@gmail.com

Remembrance Day

"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~JFK
Deepest gratitude to the people in service of the Canadian Armed Forces - Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army & the Royal Canadian Air Force - past, present & future....