COLLECTIVE REVIEW: SALLY HANSEN NAIL PRODUCTS

Hey everyone,

This post is a review on the Sally Hansen products that i picked up a couple of weeks ago. I hope you enjoy :)

If there is a specific product you want to read the review on, i am going to number it then you can scroll down and read the desired review. That way your not having to read through everything to find out what you would like to know.

Sally Hansen 1. Hard as Wraps-Hard as Nails, Acrylic Gel  2. Diamond Strength-Instant Nail Hardener  3.Quick Care Growth Treatment Pen  4. Diamond Strength Polish, Top Coat  5.Lip Polish in "Engaging".

1. Sally Hansen, Hard as Nails-Hard as Wraps, Acrylic Gel

This product is to be used as a base coat for your nails. I say this because everytime i use it as a top coat i get these weird bubble things which are not that attractive. It is also targeted by saying an acrylic gel which is generally used on a bare nail as a base coat, providing a protective sheild around your nail. Using it this way makes your nails a bit thicker, a lot stronger and definitley healthier.

2. Sally Hansen, Diamond Strength Nail Hardener.

This is another product quite similar to the Acrylic Gel mentioned above however it is moreso a hardner rather than a protectant sheild. Use this as a base coat or just a clear treatment for the nails and you will eventually see them harden and become healthier.

3. Sally Hansen Quick Care, Ultra Smoothing Growth Treatment.

This is an extrmley cute item which i adore. It is perfect to throw in your purse for on the go use or just be an extrmley convenient way to paint your nails. Virtually, what it is a pen version of a nail polish. Underneath the cap is a brush and you click the end to disperse the polish onto the brush and onto your nails :) It is supposed to be a growth treatment therefore targeted at allowing your nails to become a lot stronger and healthier to enable them to be more prone to growing.

4. Sally Hansen Diamond Strength No Chip Nail Colour-Clear

This is just a polish from their Diamond Strength nail polish collection. I wasn't drawn to any of the colours from this collection but i still wanted to try out the formulation and such so i just got a clear one. I forget the name-it is something like bare or clarity. I prefer the OPI polishes to this but it is a cheaper alternative. these retail for $13 whereas OPI is $20 but if you want really good quality i would go with OPI. I also prefer the brushes of OPI.

5. Sally Hansen, Diamond 12 HR Lip Treatment

This lipgloss tastes soooo yummy and smells delicious however it is extrmley sticky and the glitters are quite chunky. Not compareable to a high end makeup item and for $14 you would want it to deliver more. I didn't have very high expectations-i just loved the colour and wanted to try it out. I also definitley doesnt feel like it would stay on for 12 hours or be used as a treatment.

So there you have it :)

My opinions on my latest Sally Hansen purchases!!

~Jordy

COLLECTIVE REVIEW: SUGARBABY SELF TANNERS

Hey everyone, 

Well this is going to be a fun post because it is a review on the self tanning haul i did a couple of weeks ago. This is going to just be the Sugar Baby section as i am doing a seperate review for the MAC Bronzing Oil and i am doing a comparison with the Garnier "Sombre Solaire" and a Loreal version i purchased yesterday.  So here is a review on all of the Sugar Baby prouducts mentioned :) I hope you enjoy!!

Okay so just in case there is a specific product you only want the one review on, i am going to list the Sugar Baby items left to right and give you number for them so you can scroll down and pick the review you are after.

Suntanned Sweeties 1. Moose in "Sun-believable",  2. Spray in "Golden Glamour",  3. Bronze Radiance Cream,  4. Tan Enhancing Shimmer Oil in "Island Glow",  5. Moisturising Tanner in "Bronze Bomshell"

1. Moose in "Sun-believable"

This is a moose form of a self tanner and i have to say it is the most brownest. This product delivers a deeper shade of brown however the colour payoff on the skin isnt too good. The feel on my skin is really soft and smooth and i would reccomend this for places like arms or even face as it is extrmley gentle. It smells very fruits and coconutty :)

2. Spray in "Golden Glamour"

This product is the spray version of all the Sugarbaby tanners and i LOVE LOVE LOVE this product. For $10 a bottle, you recieve what covers exactly the whole amount of your body. I don't know about you but to me that is amazing. It looks exactly like ti does when i pay $55 at the salon to get it done. Not orangey and very natural looking, results appear straight away as it isnt a developing tanner.

3. Bronze Radiance Cream

This cream is sort of like an illuminance lotion and a tan enhancing glitter. It has fine microglitters in it and is the consistancy of a body souffle. It is a creamy white colour and sparkles in the sun so it is perfect over a tan and brilliant especially when in the sun. A really nice summer product for the beach bag :)

4. Tan Enhancing Shimmer Oil in "Island Glow"

Such a gorgeous colour!!! An affordable version of the MAC Body Oil that came out in the Back To The Beach collection. I must say it goes on a bit more like a jelly rather than an oil but i think i prefer this as it is less messy. It looks extrmley orange at first glance but once you rub it in, the true colour is revealed to be a gorgeous bronzey golden colour that shimmers perfectly in the sun. Another must have for the beach bag in summer.

5. Moisturising Tanner in "Bronze Bomshell"

The ever so popular moisturising self tanner!!! Every brand seems to have one and they are probably the most popular method of self tan application. I tend to stay away from these things due to their strong scent and the fact that you dont really know how it is going to look until the morning unlike tanners which develop straight away. The moistursing type take a while to develop and in that time i always get anxious BUT i was not dissapointed at the result of this one :) It didnt leave me orange nor did it become streaky or blotchy or scratched!! The perfect natural glow :)

These are some of the best self tanner i have tried and reccomend these 100%. Not only are they affordable and Australian so your supporting your country (if your an aussie out there) but they also smell great, give an amazing result and to me they gave me more confidence in the winter as that is when i loose my natural tan!

Reviews for the MAC Bronzing Body Oil and the comparison on the Loreal and Garnier gradual self tan sprays are coming up :)

~Jordy

If there's any justice in the world, Gabriella Cilmi's new single will conquer the world - watch the 'Defender' video now!

It's rare that a truly great ballad comes along these days.  Too often they are filled with ridiculous vocal acrobatics (Beyonce/Xtina), "of the moment" gimmicks (we're looking at you, autotune) or just aren't particularly moving or genuine (Celine).  But, the foregoing just makes Gabriella Cilmi's new track 'Defender' all the more special, with its restrained delivery, natural production, and a confidence that is rare in fifty-year-olds, much less 18 year old girls. 

Yes, barely-legal Aussie songstrel Gabriella has churned out one of this years' finest tracks so far, and as artists are wont to do she has made a video for it.  In it she does some things and then gets naked but none of that is really important because the real star of the clip is the VERY GOOD SONG. 

Apparently in celebration of Cilmi's "legal to perv on" status, her people have decided to give the video exclusive to the always-classy Sun newspaper.  You can watch it here but be careful not to click on ANYTHING ELSE on the site or you may be bludgeoned with boobs and lager ads until you are left writhing in a pit of lowbrow mediocrity and take a job driving an airport shuttle van until you get fired for running over someone while distracted by a girl with big boobs or a football score of some sort.

If you don't want to risk it (we don't blame you) then you can just listen to the song below. 


"Stunning."

Robyn wants us to 'Hang With Me'...let's all take a look at what she does behind the scenes in her new video

The good news is if you loved Robyn's 'Dancing On My Own' you will ADORE 'Hang With Me' in all its new, rerecorded glory.  It has that same "weeping at the discotheque while your mascara runs fabulously down your face" feel of 'Dancing' but has a more accessible and immediate melody.  And the bad news....well there really isn't any, because this whole thing is pretty brilliant and even though the video's been cobbled together with "candid" (read: not candid at all) clips of Robyn just "being Robyn" it's somehow still pretty satisfying. 


Robyn - Hang With Me official video from Robyn on Vimeo.

On a personal note, just one more day left of exams before ScopiSat is back to its old self.  We know you can't wait, and neither can we.

I ORDERED MY LOUIS VUITTON HANDBAG!!

Hi guys,
So SUPER exciting news!!!
After school today my mum needed to go into the city to do a couple of things and being as familiar with the city as i am i just went off and did my own thing. I found myself at the Louis Vuitton store!! I wasn't thinking about getting anything but then the best or worst (either way you look at it) thing happened to me...i fell in love with a purse!! You guys have all seen a couple of my Louis Vuitton items already so you know im a fan but i am pretty sure this purse is the most beutiful piece of monagrammed leather canvas i have ever EVER seen!

So i went in there and i was just browsing..the monagram vernis were catching my eye due to their bright colours but i was positive i wasn't going to allow myself to get one of those. I have too many BRIGHT purses which only go with certain colours of clothing. THEN I SAW HER!! The most beautiful purse i have ever seen!! The "Tivoli PM"..i was gobsmacked at it's beauty and how perfect it was for me. I then persuaded myself to purchase it through finding no cons but only a long list of positives!

Firstly, i have mild OCD so i kind of get frustrated when i can't physically see everything in my purse and things hide in corners. The Tivoli PM had a hardback bottom with rounded corners that are barricaded off so that nothing can get lost in there and its not flimsy so you won't be searching for things at the bottom of a purse. Secondly, i love carrying my purse on my arm in comparison to my shoulder but when the straps are made for shoulder use rather than arm use, the bag dangles and becomes uncomfortable. The Tivoli PM is short handled so that it is perfect height for arm use AND the straps are GORGEOUS rounded smooth creme handles of amazingness (do you love my description haha). It also comes with a cute LV charm, a dust bag, an authenticy booklet and a certifcation card.

Well, i guess the price may be a con but think about how long the purse will last you! I am nearly positive the first question i will get is how much so i am going to CLEARLY STATE IT haha it was $1200. Now, i know this may seem like a lot of money and feel free to call me crazy but i am content with my purchase and completley happy as i paid for it all by myself using my savings from the three jobs that i obtain. I work hard for my money and there is no reason i can not enjoy the outcomes of my hard work. Clearly, i work hard :)

The only problem was that when i explained to the lady that i would like to purchase the Tivoli PM she explaned to me that they only had the showcase models at the moment and she would have to order it in. Althought i was a bit disheartened by this, she explained that the shipping would be free and it was only going to take up to 10 days so i was fine with that.

You can see the purse on the Louis Vuitton website (Australian)
http://www.louisvuitton.com/au/flash/index.jsp?direct1=home_entry_au0

So that's my story...basically i am going to sit by the phone and wait for Louis Vuitton to call and inform me that my bag has arrived then RUSH INTO THE CITY haha :)
~Jordy

MAC PRESSED POWDERS OVERVIEW

Hey everyone,

MAC has three face powders on the market and this post is going to be an overview of them :)

The three face powders include

* Studio Fix

* Select Sheer Pressed

* Mineralize Skinfinish

The other MAC pressed powders you can get are bronze and irridescent but this post is going to be about the foundations.

1. Studio Fix

Studio Fix is a pressed foundation and helps you achieve the same effect a liquid one would. It is so much like a foundation that it isn't even classified as a powder by MACs terms and is in the Foundation section. There is another foundation which looks very similar to Studio Fix however do not get these two mixed up. One is a pressed foundation called Studio Fix and the other is a liquid foundation but in a thick cream consistancy. I have Studio Tech also but i never use it so it is in the bottom of my collection. I prefer this Studio Fix from Studio tech 100%!!! I use this as a staple in my everyday foundation routine as it is my foundation replcement. You can use this powder to either set your foundation or to replace your foundation. For me, i use it over a concealer and my foundation is done. All i put over it is either blush or bronzer depending on the season. This is a lightweight, smooth, velvety texture and feels increibly soft and light on the face. I use a kabuki brush to apply mine and kind of neglect the little spongey thing that comes with it. I find that a kabuki buffs it into your skin better, stops it from becoming cakey and there is less bacteria involved in the brush method of application. It is my holy grail pressed foundation and can be purchased from any MAC counter for $48.

2. Select Sheer Pressed

This can be used as a foundation but unlike the Studio Fix which is a full coverage pressed foundation, it is only a medium coverage. However, this pressed powder works in a different way. I have heard that it fills in wrinkles extremley well and any lines on your face. It looks flawless AND i reccomend using the supplied puff which comes with it for application. Select Sheer Pressed comes in a smaller compact compared to the others and therefore is more slim and portable, perfect for a purse. You can purchase Select Sheer Pressed in your colour from any MAC counter for $43.

3. Mineralize Skinfinish Natural

This is a light coverage pressed powder which is most likley used for situations where oonly very light coverage is needed (such as the beach) or to set a foundation. The MAC Mineral Products are said to be better for your skin but i would watch out for this one because although it does not contain talc (which MAC highly markets thi item to be), it may contain other ingredient known to irritate sensitive skin or react with acne prone complexions. This powder includes a shimemr through it for an irridescent finish. You can purchase a Mineralize Skinfinish Natural from a handful of colourings at any MAC Counter for $46.

~ Jordy

Katy Perry does a ballad and it works somehow. We are as surprised as you are - listen now!

What are the words you think of when you think of Katy Perry?  If you're anything like us, it's words like "cheap hair dye" and "genital herpes,"  but we think we speak for everyone when we say that "effective" and "balladeer"  are not among them.  That all may change with new single 'Teenage Dream,' which manages to shoehorn the K.P. trademark sound into a ballad form in a way 'Waking Up In Vegas' attempted but failed miserably at.  After the all-conquering 'California Gurls' and now this, it seems Miss Perry might actually be here to stay.  While that prospect terrifies us, we can at least take some comfort that with every single she releases, Valtrex stock doubles in value.

71: The Self-Empowered Woman: Kankuben Lalabhai Parmar

Dear Followers,

Today - thanks to Guy Trebay and the New York Times - I'd like to tell you about an amazing woman who has defied all odds and become an international business woman even though, for many years, she'd never traveled outside her own home.

Kankuben Lalabhai Parmar is from the village of Madhutra in the Indian State of Gujarat. To get to Manhattan, where her crafts are being sold at the Asia Society, her journey involved an oxcart, a trishaw, a jeep flatbed. an open-topped shuttle, and then her first-ever airplane ride.

Ms. Parmar officially belongs to a "scheduled caste," which meant that she was considered untouchable; the men were limited to their region or village, and the women were traditionally bound to their homes. She is now 50 years old, but never met a man who wasn't a close relative until she was an adult.

Married at 14, she is the mother of seven children, and her life changed dramatically when (two decades ago) the not-for-profit Sewa Project came to her village to help preserve native handicrafts and create "alternative employment."

Ms. Parmar creates patchwork embroideries that often include small pieces of mirror that she buys (as scrap) by the pound. Her pillow covers, for example, require almost a week's worth of sewing and sell for about $15 at her local market. Today, she earns about $60 a month, which has made her the family's chief breadwinner.

As she told Trebay, "When I was a girl, all the assets belonged to the father or the husband or the brother...now that I have my own business and make my own money, my husband shows me respect."

Ms. Parmar is an informal ambassador for Sewa and the Crafts Council of India; it's estimated that in India alone 40 to 60 million people earn part of their living making crafts.

In New York, Ms Parmar visited museums, bought gifts at CVS for her daughters, and enjoyed all the sophistication of Manhattan even though she is illiterate and must use her thumbprint for a signature.

Twenty years have made a huge difference in the lives of the once-untouchable women of Madhutra, India. Their quiet and dignified example of global feminism should inspire us all.

Looking forward to your comments...

SOME EVERYDAY MAKEUP ORGANISATION

Hey everyone,

I just thought i would show you guys some organisation i have been doing with some of my makeup :)

I decided to pick out all the things from my makeup collection that i use on a regular basis. So i filled up a vase of random MAC eyeshadows (a large variety of colours so i have options and if i need more shades of one colour i can go into my makeup drawers for the rest.)

I also have my everyday perfume, eye makeup remover and brushes.

A vase full of everyday lip products.

I also sorted out my everyday skincare. Leaving out only what i use on a daily basis and storing it in drawers.

While i was at it, i also organised my perfumes :)

I think i am going to like this way best because i have everything out that i use everyday so its easy to acess. Then i have everything i dont use so often stored away. I will probably often rotate my everyday makeup so my stored away stuff will still get attention!

~Jordy

Robyn asks you to 'Hang With Me' on new single - listen to the brand new radio version now!

Apologies for the lack of posts recently.  ScopiSat is currently studying for next Tuesday's Bar Exam - which, for our foreign readers, is a two-day test given after law school that must be passed before a you can become a practicing lawyer, for the apparent sole purpose of destroying any flicker of joy or happiness that may still exist within you - and 13 hour days of studying are not conducive to pop-blogging.  Having said that, we are of the opinion that pop music exists to encourage and nurture the very gaiety that the exam seeks to eradicate, so every so often we take a tiny little break and check out what's going on in popland.  In fact, ScopiSat's 'future article' folder is bursting at the seams with a variety of pop nuggets that we just don't have the time to tell you about, but rest assured that we will be back to our old selves again just as soon as this whole nightmare is over.  Until then you'll have to make do with only the absolute necessities that we stumble across during our "sanity breaks."  Necessities like this new Robyn track, which we have managed to play 3x already today despite having 9 hours of practice essays to write or something ridiculous like that.  THAT IS HOW COMMITTED WE ARE TO POP. 

First of all, we love Robyn.  Ever since we rocked out to 'Show Me Love' while lugging our Trapper Keeper and slap bracelets to school (yeah we're gay, get over it) way back in the day, she has been churning out consistently great music except for a couple things in the 90's but we will just ignore all that.  The winning streak continues with her epic reworking of ballad 'Hang With Me,' which originally was an acoustic track at the end of her 'Body Talk Pt 1' album/EP thing.  It's the next single, and it is quite good.  Will it go on to rule the charts?  Probably not, because no one has any taste anymore, but at least all of us pop fans can light up a little inside every time it comes up on our iPods. 




"Immense."