Makeup test: Urban Decay Primer Potion

Today was my job hunting day. I dolled myself up, put on my second best push-up bra (the best was in the wash), and printed about a bazillion copies of my resume. I sprizted on my Juicy Couture Viva la Juicy (fresh, fruity, makes me feel like an adorable, coquettish girl with a hint of sex. Beyonce's Heat, which is my clubbing scent, felt a little too sexy, and therefore rather inappropriate), rolled on my deodorant, and applied makeup.
I followed the standard steps, primer, concealer, foundation, blush. But my face is really not where I shine, makeup wise. It's my eyes. And what good is all the eyeshadow in the world if it creases up? I don't know, and I can say that from experience. However I found Jesus in a bottle. It's called Urban Decay's Primer Potion and it's been out on the market for about a century, so I'm sorry for being so late on the bandwagon. Unfortunately the first couple of times I used it it didn't work. Today, for some reason though, it worked. My eyeshadow hasn't creased or moved yet, and I put it on at 8 this morning (that means it's now 9 hours and counting). It even kept my liquid eyeliner from flaking, for which I praise the gods. Or maybe that demon I sacrificed those 24 virgins to. Either way my Primer Potion did it's job to help me get a job so I applaud the power of positive thought.
For anyone who is looking for an eye primer, I have found your option. You can get a lot of mileage out of one bottle, but it costs your first-born child, so be aware of that. Also Urban Decay eyeshadows are great. I layered them on top of the UD primer, so maybe that was actually it. Keeping all of my products within the same company. It wasn't those 24 virgins. I guess I should start work on an apology.

This is my face. That is my makeup. I had on lip color, but it wore off. Don't look at the Beanie Baby in the background. Yes, this really is my room.

Best Dry Shampoo: Suave Professionals and Not Your Mother's

I let about a day or two go between hair washes, because I have delicate locks and I try not strip them of the oils they need to stay healthy. However in between washes the roots can get a little lank, and that is by far the worst look, since my actual hair will have lots of body and volume, but the roots just kind of lay there. So you can imagine my happiness when the hair care industry created dry shampoo. Perfect for the lifeless roots I get, you just spray it on and let it absorb all the oils you don't need.
However with all the commercial success of dry shampoos, there are a lot of different options and some work better than others. I've tried a bunch of different brands and have picked my top two companies: Suave Professionals and Not Your Mother's.
I had the great fortune to get the Suave Professionals dry shampoo as a sample, but for what a five ounce can costs ($3.50 at CVS), it's a good bargain. The small trial size can I had lasted me a long time, and every time I used it it delivered the same amount of product, provided you shake it. It sprays on white and a little damp, but after it dries just rake it into your roots with your fingers to make it blend in and it delivers great results. It instantly restores a bunch of volume and absorbs the oil from your roots, making them looking matte and freshly washed. For curly hair, try the foam version of dry shampoo, however I can tell you that I have exceptionally curly/wavy hair and the dry shampoo works just fine for roots.

The 5 oz. can of Suave Professionals Dry Shampoo

The Suave Professionals Waterless Foam Shampoo

The other dry shampoo that I swear by, and this one happens to be my favorite, is the dry shampoo by Not Your Mother's. There's not much difference between dry shampoos, but for some reason this one works the best. Shake it and it sprays on a nice layer of powder, white like Suave, and it drys a little faster. Then when raked through the roots in blends in nicely and soaks up every particle of oil you don't want.
However words don't mean as much as a presentation, so I used Not Your Mother's the other day and took some pictures to prove how well it works. Here's my lank hair before I put any on; notice how lank the right side of my hair is.

My hair before using Not Your Mother's dry shampoo

It sprays on white, like I said. Leave it until it gets dry, since it also sprays on a little damp. 

My hair with Not Your Mother's dry shampoo on

After it dries, run it through your roots with your fingers, and TA-DA! Brand new volume! Notice how large it is on top. I love this dry shampoo brand; the results it delivers are great and consistent.

After using Not Your Mother's dry shampoo

TRESemme Split Ends hair care

Recently I got my hands on the new TRESemme Split Remedy hair care line, and I was a excited to try it out. I have a lot of split ends, and if I can finally find a shampoo and conditioner that actually seals up my little split ends, it would be a God send. However, at first, I must admit, I was bit skeptical. After all, how many times can you here "80% of your target problem is gone within a certain amount of washes" before you become immune to their promises? On top of that, TRESemme is a fairly expensive brand, so it's good to know what you're getting before forking over the cash for a two large bottles.
Thankfully TRESemme went and proved me wrong. They assured me that if I used their shampoo and conditioner every time I showered, after three washes I would see 80% less split ends, and it would protect my hair against future splits, and leave my hair "soft, smooth, and salon-fresh looking" I actually saw less split ends after my first wash alone! After 3 consecutive washes, the vast majority of my split ends were gone, and my hair was full and healthy. Not only that, but this shampoo and conditioner smell fantastic. After washing your hair, the scent sticks around for two days at least, should you skip a day in between hair washes. My hair is amazingly soft, light, and bouncy, and responds to straightening and curling just as well as ever!
If you are looking for a great shampoo and conditioner to get rid of split ends (because summer is the time to get them, with the pool chlorine and sun damage), then get the TRESemme Split Remedy shampoo and conditioner. It smells fantastic, works quickly, and leaves hair softer and stronger than before.

TRESemme Split Remedy shampoo

TRESemme Split Remedy Conditioner

Deciding to Branch Out

My dearest non-existent readers (unless of course the elusive reader exists, in which case please make yourself known), I've decided to branch out. In the blogging sphere of course; I'm not about to actually leave my house.
My first venture is a dating site specific to Phoenix, AZ. I know this may not appeal to many of you, but if it does, pop on over and give it a look. I've only just started, and right now it's in its fledgling state as I try to figure out how this whole deal is going to work. Maybe I can work in some freebies and prizes to up traffic. Free tickets to various theatre and museum showings? I'm still not sure, as you can tell: http://dating-ideas-phoenix.blogspot.com/
Another blog I plan to start up is one dealing with beauty products, from bath soap to mascara and everything in between (basically if it makes you look or feel good then it'll be up there at some point). This one will probably have a lot of giveaways and freebies, because I'm nice. I haven't started this one yet... but soon :)
This will require a time commitment on my part, so if I start to fall behind on posting, you'll understand since it will probably be due to school. But never fear, as I live by Mark Twain's words: "I never let schooling interfere with my education."
When the beauty blog is up and running, I'll let you know!

Graduation

It was recently graduation for class of 2012 at my high school, and my entire Facebook wall was crammed with all the seniors cyber-crying over what it represented. However I felt that the seniors (most of them) are being over emotional and forgetting just what really happens in real life.

"OMG, graduation! I'll miss everybody I've ever met ever! Suddenly everyone I went to school with is the most amazing individual and I will keep you all in my hearts for the rest of my life!"
I mean, no offense, but bitch, pls, you're going to forget about them by next week. Does nobody realize that later in life, after you have all graduated from college and gotten jobs, none of you (well, the ones whose peak years weren't high school. Uncle Rico, I'm looking at you) will even be speaking to the people you went to high school with? The only people with whom it would make sense to remain in contact with would be your very best friends from high school, the ones you grew up with and shared large amounts of time with. People who really changed your life. And I'm pretty sure that not everybody in the class of 2012 changed your life. 
Now, granted, I cannot say I speak from experience. I still have one more year of high school to complete before I can put my jaded hypothesis to the test. But from the stories and complaints via my parents and relatives, most people don't keep on touch with anyone from high school. 
Perhaps I'm being a bit disingenuous, since I'm sure that Miss Preppy Cheerleader/Dancer with 1000+ Facebook friends will totally remember all of them and what they did together by the time the 5 year reunion rolls around, but for the majority of high school seniors they will graduate, college, and then job without thinking about their classmates from high school too many times.
And for those seniors who graduate just to dwell on the people and things they did in high school, please, do us all a favor and look at your life, look at your choices. Because they clearly aren't working to your advantage. 

"I Have a Whole Armada of Ships That No One Approves Of"

After a recent discussion with a friend of mine (or series of discussion; she and I butt heads often) I have come to realize that many of my "ships" (relationships, for those of you not in the know. A fandom term. A better definition here) are not universally accepted. In fact, only a few of them are actually liked. Perhaps if I give you a list and a description of each, you'll understand.

First fandom: Sherlock
I ship the requisite Johnlock, I mean, how can you not? The ship fuels itself, but I also ship Sherlock/Moriarty, which is one that not many people ship. I find this a bit sad, because they are clearly made for each other. But perhaps the reason I ship it is because I enjoy mutually-destructive relationships. I mean, what good can really come from have a high-functioning sociopath and high-functioning psychopath in a relationship together? Probably nothing, but some really good fights.

"Nemesis" by Montya on DeviantArt

Fandom: Marvel/Avengers
This is the one my friend and I fight about often. She ships Steve/Tony big time, and I just can't get it. I feel like Steve is just too All-American boy scout to be gay, even for Tony. However, I personally ship Tony/Loki. I mean seriously, think about it. Tony is a manipulative, charming playboy who feels that no one is really worth his time, and Loki is a hot-headed god who also feels that no one is worth his time. When they meet each other, they've both just found the one person who doesn't kowtow to them based on reputation alone. Neither one really respects the other, and so their competitive nature comes out. When Loki finds someone who doesn't grovel he feels the need to break them, but Tony won't be broken, and vice versa. I feel that this relationship is actually a good one, because they come in as equals who don't respect each other, and over time they do. So basically Tony/Loki for the win.

FrostIron - Morning Sunshine by AlexZoe on DeviantArt

"Tony x Loki" by Cheezah on DeviantArt

Fandom: Supernatural
Here's the big one. I ship Wincest really hard. And I know that after the frist season came out, it was the biggest ship in the fandom, but seriously, who actually ships two brothers together (other than those weirdos who ship Thor/Loki. I just can't)? But I do, and it's the one ship that I pour the most time into. As one Tumblrer put it, "you start to ship Wincest, but you don't really think about it, and then Wincest comes in and takes over your life." And it really does. I used to be the world's biggest Johnlock shipper, until I got into Supernatural, and now all of my other ships are on the back burner because of Wincest. I write, I draw, I read... all Wincest. I haven't actually read a different slash pairing fanfic in months. Mmm, Wincest. Or as I like to put it:
Friend: "Remember, gay porn over incest!"
Me: "Or both, since I ship Wincest!"
Friend: "..."

"SPN+ Chaste kiss" by Leyla-Lovely on DeviantArt

At any rate, there are planty of ships I sail that others approve of, and so I won't be stopped by just a few "haters." So ship who you want and ship who you like, because... it makes you feel good (I just wanted to use those Nicki Minaj lines.)

Don't ever stop shipping!

Tanner Foust and my inability to flirt

As a follow up to my earlier post about Tanner Foust, here are some shots of the lovely man himself, looking pensive and serious, shot in very deep black and white. Because that's the one adjective you can clearly apply to him. Deep. Or at least you can apply it to me. 

And an adorable Instagram picture he tweeted. Why is he so cute?

I won't apologize for my complete lack of shame. I'm not sorry. But look at me. Look at my life, look at my choices. Maybe he'll stop by Firebird Raceway sometime soon and I can abduct him meet him. That would be nice. He'll be charmed by me and my coquettish ways. I'll bat my eyelashes and twirl my fan around and maybe let him get a peek at my ankles. Because I can't flirt. If I lived in a Jane Austen novel or it was the early 1900's, I might be able to snag a man. Unfortunately I am not, and a woman's ability to catch a husband no longer rests with her ability to dance, smile and, in my opinion most importantly, have a good grasp of society, art, music, and the running of a large estate. 

Now, and even then, it's based on whether or not her boobs look good shoved nearly up her nostrils. But unlike then, a woman is found attractive if she isn't as smart. No longer is emphasis placed on knowledge. Glittering generalities, or do those awful blonde jokes have a grain of truth to them?

My argument is bolstered by the my father. Every once in a while when I'm creeping on the popular chicks in my school on Facebook (never in person), he'll pop up behind me and make awkward comments like "oh, she's cute." When I lament the fact that God is unfair and despite her having a small waist and a pair of 36Ds, she's as dumb as a post, Dad goes, "no, no, that's all right. Dumb is good." I give him my best "shocked and appalled" face, but he won't be chastised by me. 

My observations are also helped along by the amount of teen relationships in my school. Dare we notice who they are all between? The cliche jock and cheerleader/dancer? No! Say it isn't so! The hot guy, who himself is low on the brain wattage, picks the dyed blonde who wear his two favorite colors, short and tight? She laughs at all of his horrendously awful jokes and constantly tells him "I love you, baby, you're my everything." Oh horror! It's true!

Ergo, the best way for me to pick up dudes is to do a complete 180 on my personality and appearance. 

Thankfully for me and the rest of the downtrodden female population, deliverance is upon us. We just need more mature men! So far my mother's wise words have been repeated by such reputable sources as Jim Belushi and my best friend's parents. Men don't mentally mature past 8 years of age until they hit about 35-45 years old. Sad, but true. 

However my baby Tanner Foust is 38 years old (June 13, 1973, if anybody cares), so I think that he and I will get along perfectly. I'd better work on my giggle though. 

My Reality Check on Men

Nobody gives me more flak over the men I choose to like than my little brother.
Case in point: Having recently begun watching the US version of Top Gear, I have been reminded of how much I like Tanner Foust. I kept it on the DL before this, but as of late I've been pretty out and proud with my various celebrity crushes.
Today my touching but sad crush on Mr. Foust was called into question by my younger brother, who at the ripe age of 11 has seemingly deemed himself the ultimate expert on men in general, specifically on how terrible the men I choose to like are. The only time he can put together a good joke is when he's making fun of me (and understand that my brother is one of those people who try very hard to be funny but just aren't, and come off as irritating and slightly pathetic). I was verbally patting myself on the back, loudly, about how good my boards are on Pinterest, and the family stopped by to investigate. One of my boards centers around guys who I find physically appealing, and so, naturally, there are several pins of Tanner on there. My brother noticed this (how could he not?) and began his usual commentary.
"Ew, you like him? He's how old?" (38 years of age, thank you very much. I'm still down) "He's going to be so old by the time you marry him. Like, fifty. He'll have wrinkles. You'll kiss him and his jaw will fall off." Here he continues in a wizened voice (and began to mime a man with a walker) "Honey, will you help me into bed?" Then continued his diatribe in a normal tone, "Hahaha, you won't have kids together. All your money will be spent on one of those chairs that moves him up the stairs," and on and on ad nauseam, until I started hollering at my mother to make him stop.
It was continued throughout the day, being brought up when Mom voiced concerns about Tanner's height (the internet says he's 5'10" which Mom countered with, "that means in real life he's about 5' 6", honey") and later on as I questioned my own ability to park (quickly answered with a snarky "will Tanner have to teach you how to drive?").
I was not unaware of my brother's negativity up to this point, far from it. These not-so-subtle put-downs about the men I like have been happening to me for quite some time. And no celebrity of mine is immune to my brother's disdain towards them, for no apparent reason. It's happened to Tom Hiddleston, Chris Evans, Robert Downey Jr. and best of all, my one and only Benedict Cumberbatch. No one is safe.