Geek in Heels - Page 8

Feb 27, 2015 • In Beauty, Giveaways, Korean, Reviews

Giveaway: Dr. Oracle The Snow Queen Enzyme Powder Wash (Plus MORE Samples!)

I thought I had seen them all when it came to the form that Korean skincare took in its packaging and delivery systems. Ampoules, serums, sherberts, and gels, oh my! Funny-looking patches (have you see this Instagram photo I posted the other night?) and even sheet masks made of sea kelp!

But how about a skin cleanser…wait for it…in the form of a powder?!??

Doctor Oracle’s The Snow Queen Enzyme Powder Wash is yet another innovative skincare product from Korea. This unique cleanser, formulated with pineapple and papaya-based enzymes and other beneficial botanicals (like antioxidant green-tea-leaf extract), is suitable for all skin types and is a gentle and effective way to cleanse your face.

So just how does one use a powder cleanser? Simple — just add water! Once the powder is “activated” by water, it immediately transforms into foam.

As you can see in the pictures above (courtesy of Glow Recipe’s informative blog post), you can have complete control over the texture of the cleanser by adding less or more water. Use a 1:1 powder-to-water ratio for a traditionally creamy, foamy cleanse. Or, add just a few drops to create a paste mixture that will take advantage of the powder granules for an exfoliating treat. And of course, anything in-between is game!

My personal take on The Snow Queen Enzyme Powder Wash is that it cleans my face just as well as my other favorite Korean foam/gel cleansers. But the added benefit is exactly what I described in the paragraph above: I can change the texture as I see fit (i.e., if my skin feels dull or flaky that day, I will make a granule-y paste). It also doesn’t hurt that I like to pretend I’m a chemist (or, if I’m feeling immature, a mad scientist) as I create the mixture.

Glow Recipe describes another important benefit of The Snow Queen Enzyme Powder Wash here:

Why powder cleanser? Unlike many liquid cleansers, powder cleansers often require less preservatives and binding ingredients to stay fresh. This powder is also free of sodium lauryl & laureth sulfates, potentially skin irritating ingredients, often found in foaming cleansers.

This powder wash removes makeup and impurities, without stripping even the most sensitive skins of essential moisture. Formulated with mineral-rich carbonated water, and papaya and pineapple enyzmes for skin turnaround, this travel-friendly cleanser provides a deep-cleanse while leaving skin soft and Ph-balanced.

This product is free of parabens, mineral oils, sodium lauryl & laureth sulfates, as well as synthetic dyes. And, as is the case with all Glow Recipe curations, The Snow Queen Enzyme Powder Wash has been carefully tested and vetted according to their strict standards.

As if you need any further convincing, this cleanser is completely travel friendly! Just check out Self.com’s feature “Don’t Leave Home Without This Brilliant Face Wash.” I only wish I had known about it when I took my trips to Seoul and LA last year!

And now, for the part you’ve all been waiting for…

Glow Recipe has generously donated a bottle of The Snow Queen Enzyme Powder Wash for one lucky Geek in Heels reader!

And, because so many of you entered my Mega Korean Skincare Samples Giveaway (and who doesn’t like more free stuff?), I will be including SIX additional items with The Snow Queen Enzyme Powder Wash!

The Face Shop Real Nature Pomegranate sheet mask
The Face Shop Real Nature Blueberry sheet mask
Innisfree It’s Real Rice Mask
Color Combos Moisturizing Dual Booster Mask
Skinfood Black Sugar Mask Wash Off (8g / 0.28oz sample)
Banila Co. Clean It Zero cleansing balm (7g / 0.25oz sample)

This is a great sample haul, if I do say so myself. The Face Shop offers some of the best affordable sheet masks IMO, and the Innisfree Rice Mask is my personal favorite brightening mask. The Dual Booster Mask is a special two-step sheet mask which includes an essence as the first step. The Skinfood Black Sugar Mask is supposedly a dupe for the popular (and much more expensive) Fresh Sugar Face Polish, and Banila Co. Clean It Zero is Korea’s #1 cleansing balm.

All this in addition to the super gentle, remarkably effective, and ultra versatile Dr. Oracle The Snow Queen Enzyme Powder Wash!

To enter this giveaway, simply use the Rafflecopter widget below. Not sure how to use Rafflecopter? Watch this 52 second video for a tutorial on how to enter a giveaway using Rafflecopter. There are 7 methods of entry, with the first method (commenting on this blog post) being mandatory while the third method (Tweeting about the giveaway) can be used once per day:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway will end on Saturday, March 7th, 2015, at 12:01am EST, at which point a winner will be randomly chosen and announced here. If the winner has won the drawing via a questionable or illegitimate entry (i.e., not commenting on this post, using different accounts to enter multiple times, using a Twitter account that is only used to enter contests on a frequent basis, using the same Tweet URL to enter multiple times) I have the right to choose another winner.

Sorry, this giveaway is open only to residents of the U.S. and Canada who are over 13 years old.

Please use a valid email address and/or Twitter handle so that I can contact you if you win! If the winner fails to respond within 48 hours of my contacting them, another winner will be selected.

Good luck, and thank you for entering!

The Secret Lives of Superhero Toys

Warning: some of these are NSFW. But the creativity and technique of photographer Edy Hardjo are well worth a look…especially if you’re into the Marvel and DC superhero-verse. Enjoy!

Giveaway: 5 Items from the Shiseido Spring 2015 Collection (A $150 Value)!

A couple of months ago, Shiseido invited me to the launch of their Spring 2015 line at the luxurious Aire Ancient Baths in Tribeca.

I was naturally excited to go out, sans kids, to what seemed to be a sophisticated, adults-only affair. What I didn’t realize was how fish-out-of-water I would feel at this event; I felt severely underdressed, inelegant, and flat-out dumpy in a room full of tall, thin, impeccably-dressed women — most of whom were beauty journalists/bloggers and editors at fashion magazines.

But it didn’t matter, because I was super stoked to meet Heidi Manheimer (CEO of Shiseido USA), and Tomoko Yamagishi (Senior VP of Marketing of Shiseido USA), who introduced to us the Spring 2015 collection.

After the presentation, we got to nosh on delicious food and drinks while trying out the yet-to-be-released products for ourselves. The best part? Each attendee received a large gift bag full goodies from the Spring 2015 line!

And I’ve decided to pass on some of these products to one lucky reader!

This second giveaway in my triple-beauty-giveaway-extravaganza features FIVE items from the new Shiseido Spring 2015 collection, all of which were released just this month! The retail value of these products total $150!!!

The first item, and the most exciting to me, is the Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 50+ WetForce™. WetForce™ is the newest suncare technology from Shiseido. Formulated to change the way water and perspiration interact with sunscreen, WetForce™ doesn’t just resist water; it recruits water into the protection process to actually boost the UV protective veil.

I was able to witness a live demonstration of the WetForce™ technology, and the comparison between regular sunscreen (which tends to separate from water) and WetForce™ sunscreen (which dissolves and interacts with water) was simply amazing. And this Ultimate Sun Protection Cream? It absorbs wonderfully into the skin, creating a strong SPF 50 barrier against harmful UV rays, all while providing additional skincare benefits that fight wrinkles and uneven skin tone.

The winner of this giveaway will receive a full, 50ml (2oz) bottle of the Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 50+ WetForce™! But that’s not all, because there’s more…

The second item included in this giveaway is the Ibuki Multi Solution Gel. I have been a big fan of the Shiseido Ibuki line ever since it launched a couple of years ago, and the Multi Solution Gel is the latest member of this skincare line designed specifically to meet the unique skincare concerns of women between the ages of 25 and 34.

According to Shiseido, the new Ibuki Multi Solution Gel is a “high impact gel solution for skincare emergencies that appear as a result of stress and lifestyle habits.” It is suitable for all skin types and can be used as the last step in your skincare regimen or directly over makeup.

I tried the Ibuki Multi Solution Gel at the aforementioned Shiseido Spring 2015 launch event, and it quickly became my favorite product from the Ibuki line. As its name suggests, it is multi-functional and a great solution for anyone who needs a little skin pick-me-up. 🙂

The next two items included in this giveaway are 2 of the 4 new shades that Shiseido released for the Shimmering Cream Eye Color eyeshadow line: PK224 Mousseline (a soft, airy peach-pink), and GR125 Naiad (a delicate, pale platinum with a faint greenish tint).

These cream shadows are smooth and easily blendable, but once applied, they become smudge-free despite a dewy finish. They can be worn alone or blended together, and I can attest that they feel divine! The pictures above do not do the shades justice; each color provides just the right level of opacity (which of course can be layered for more color), and they are just so pretty in real life!

The last item is from the newest lipstick line from Shiseido: Veiled Rouge, which is developed via the Veiling Formula technology. Upon applying pressure through application, the “veiling oil” spreads over the top layer of the lips, and the wearer can re-apply the effect simply by pressing the lips together again.

And despite the fact that it is a long-lasting lipstick, it does not feel dry or caky; the formula remains soft and smooth throughout the day with a delicate shine. I have the Veiled Rouge in RD707 Mischief, and it’s become my favorite lipstick for going out!

As you can see in the picture above, the shade I am giving away is RS308 Sloe, which is a vibrant, berry pink — a cheery pop of color that would delightfully suit the upcoming spring and summer months. It also doesn’t hurt that this lipstick is a shade of bright, yet soft pink that is so popular with celebrities these days. 😉

To sum up, the winner of this giveaway will be receiving the following five items from the Shiseido Spring 2015 collection:

Ultimate Sun Protection Cream SPF 50+ WetForce™ sunscreen (50ml net wt. 2oz)
Ibuki Multi Solution Gel cream (30ml net wt. 1oz)
Shimmering Eye Cream Color eyeshadow in PK224 Mousseline (6g / .21oz)
Shimmering Eye Cream Color eyeshadow in GR125 Naiad (6g / .21oz)
Veiled Rouge lipstick in RS308 Sloe (2.2g / .07 oz)

That’s a total value of $150! (Well, $149…but let’s round up. 😉 )

To enter this giveaway, simply use the Rafflecopter widget below. Not sure how to use Rafflecopter? Watch this 52 second video for a tutorial on how to enter a giveaway using Rafflecopter. There are 5 methods of entry, with the first method (commenting on this blog post answering the question “Which product are you most excited to try?”) being mandatory while the third method (Tweeting about the giveaway) can be used once per day:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway will end on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2015, at 12:01am EST, at which point a winner will be randomly chosen and announced here. If the winner has won the drawing via a fraudulent or illegitimate entry (i.e., not commenting on this post, using different accounts to enter multiple times, using a Twitter account that is only used to enter contests on a frequent basis, using the same Tweet URL to enter multiple times) I have the right to choose another winner.

Sorry, this giveaway is open only to residents of the U.S. and Canada who are over 13 years old.

Please use a valid email address and/or Twitter handle so that I can contact you if you win! If the winner fails to respond within 48 hours of my contacting them, another winner will be selected.

Good luck, and thank you for entering!

“Bad Sleeper”

Sleep and I do not have a good relationship. We have never been friends. I am constantly chasing sleep and then pushing it away. A good night’s sleep is my white whale. Like Ahab, I am also a total drama queen about it. I love to talk about how little sleep I get. I brag about it, as if it is a true indication of how hard I work. But I truly suffer at night. Bedtime is fraught with fear and disappointment. When it is just me alone with my restless body and mind, I feel like the whole world is asleep and gone. It’s very lonely. I am tired of being tired and talking about how tired I am.

The phrase “going to sleep” has always given me great anxiety. I don’t like doing things I am bad at, and I have been told since I was very young that I am a bad sleeper. As soon as I become prone, my head will begin to unpack. My mind will turn on and start to hum, which is the opposite of what you need when you begin to switch off. It is as if I were waiting the whole day for this moment. Trying to sleep is often when I feel most engaged and alive. My brain starts to trick me into thinking this is the moment it should turn on and start working overtime. It is a problem. I need some rest. I have a lot to do.

– an excerpt from Amy Poehler’s Yes Please
(because I feel EXACTLY the same way)

A futile attempt to nap with the girls.

Mega Korean Skincare Samples Giveaway (42 Pieces!)

I know I’ve been promising some giveaways since…gulp…last year…and I’m so sorry to not have delivered sooner!

To make it up to you, I’ve decided to run 3 giveaway just 3 days apart from each other. 🙂

This first giveaway may not seem like much, but it’s ideal for anyone who would like to try a multitude of Korean skincare and beauty products without breaking the bank.

And by multitude, I mean 42 pieces. 😯

The winner of this giveaway will win every Korean skincare/beauty sample pictured above. The full list comprises of the following…

Cleansing:
- Etude House B.B. Deep Cleansing Foam
- Etude House Baking Powder Pore Cleansing Foam
- Nature Republic Snail Solution Foam Cleanser
- Skinfood Aloe Vera Foaming Cleanser
Toners, Emulsions, Essences, Serums, Lotions, and Creams:
- Be the Skin Botanical Nutrition Power Cream
- Be the Skin Botanical Nutrition Power Serum
- Etude House AC Clinic Daily Skin Care Kit (includes toner & gel lotion)
- The Face Shop Myeonhan Miindo All-in-One Cream
- The History of Whoo Whitening & Moisture Cream
- IPKN New York Hyaluronic Acid+ Skin Care Primer in Natural Glow
- IPKN New York Liquid Ice Cube+ Pore Essence in Radiant Finish
- Nature Republic Snail Solution 80 Emulsion
- Skinfood Black Sugar Perfect First Serum
- Skinfood Fresh Apple Sparkling Pore Toner
- Skinfood GoldKiwi Cream
- Skinfood Royal Honey Gift Set (includes toner & emulsion)
- Skinfood Royal Honey Hydro Massage Gel
- Skinfood Verdure Pure Cabbage Toner
- su:m37º Time Energy Skin Resetting Moist Firming Cream
- Tony Moly Intense Care Snail Cream
- Tony Moly Timeless EGF Power Cream
B.B. and C.C. Creams:
- Banila Co. It Radiant C.C. Cream
- The Face Shop Face It Aura CC Starter
- Missha M Perfect Cover B.B. Cream (no. 21)
- Missha Signature Complexion Coordinating B.B. Cream (beige, 2x)
- Missha Signature Complexion Coordinating B.B. Cream (white)
- Missha Signature Real Complete B.B. Cream (no. 21)
- Skin79 The Oriental Shining Pearl B.B. Cream Plus
- Skin79 Super+ B.B. Cream
- Skin79 VIP Gold Collection Super+ B.B. Cream
Sheet masks:
- Etude House I Need You, Green Tea! Mask Sheet
- Etude House I Need You, Pomegranate! Mask Sheet
- The Face Shop Real Nature Mask Blueberry sheet mask (x3)
- The Face Shop Real Nature Mask Rice sheet mask
- Mamonde 7 Days Project Sheet Mask: Brightening
- Mamonde Flower Essential Mask: Lotus Cooling & Soothing
- Nature Republic Snail Solution Mask Sheet
- Tony Moly Floria Whitening Mask Sheet
Misc:
- Skinfood Tomato Whitening Point Pad

Yes, those sheet masks are all full-size, and YES, some of those brands are high-end, luxury lines!

Overwhelmed yet? I know that I was, when I looked at my humongous box of samples and realized that I may never get around to using them…but then realized that you might benefit more from it!

Even if you only want to try a few items from the lot, you can always share the rest with your friends and family!

To enter this giveaway, simply use the Rafflecopter widget below. Not sure how to use Rafflecopter? Watch this 52 second video for a tutorial on how to enter a giveaway using Rafflecopter. There are 5 methods of entry, with the first method (commenting on this blog post answering the question “Which product are you most excited to try?”) being mandatory while the third method (Tweeting about the giveaway) can be used once per day:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway will end on Saturday, February 28th, 2015, at 12:01am EST, at which point a winner will be randomly chosen and announced here. If the winner has won the drawing via a fraudulent or illegitimate entry (i.e., not commenting on this post, using different accounts to enter multiple times, using a Twitter account that is only used to enter contests on a frequent basis, using the same Tweet URL to enter multiple times) I have the right to choose another winner.

Sorry, this giveaway is open only to residents of the U.S. and Canada who are over 13 years old.

Please use a valid email address and/or Twitter handle so that I can contact you if you win! If the winner fails to respond within 48 hours of my contacting them, another winner will be selected.

Good luck, and thank you for entering!

Global Luxury Shoe Designers Reimagine Cinderella’s Glass Slipper

In celebration of the release of the live action film Cinderella, Disney has enlisted 9 global luxury shoe designers to create their own interpretation of the iconic glass slipper. Take a look!

Paul Andrew:

“Cinderella’s glass slipper represents every woman’s dream shoe. The story, being a classic, inspired me to use my iconic pointed toe silhouette, which I embellished with an array of hand encrusted Swarovski crystals to create the ultimate fantasy shoe. I used transparent PVC to create a ‘glass’ effect and ivory suede for luxurious texture and dimension.”

Alexandre Birman:

“My vision of the glass slipper was inspired by the timeless and feminine beauty that I believe Cinderella and the Alexandre Birman brand both share. I reinterpreted our classic Johanna pump, this time giving it a fashionable and romantic twist with satin and Swarovski crystals. It’s a shoe I imagine a modern princess would wear.”

René Caovilla:

“‘Works of arts called shoes’ to grant wishes and raise emotions. Passion and never ending research don’t draw the line at fantasy and creativity. This is how dreams come true in our fairy tale.”

Parody Posters of 2015 Oscar Nominated Films

Presented to you by the 2nd Annual RIPTcademy Awards. I would totally watch some of these; The Grand Arkham Asylum looks especially badass! And Quailman? I used to love the show Doug!

The Theory of Everything – The Theory of Everything is AWESOME!

American Sniper – Canadian Sniper

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Fluid Foundation Review: My New HG Foundation!!!

Can it be? Have I finally discovered a new foundation to replace my beloved “complexion perfector,” the Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Foundation?

The Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Fluid Foundation was released late last year to rave reviews. It is the latest in the liquid-to-powder foundation trend that began with the launch of GA Maestro two years ago. (You can read my thoughts on some of the other liquid-to-powder foundations here.)

So what made me want to try the Sensual Skin Fluid Foundation? It was an article in Refinery29, “Foundation Just Got Way More Amazing” — which talks about the liquid-to-powder foundation trend and reviews 6 of the most popular ones — that first sparked my interest. And the more I researched the Sensual Skin Fluid Foundation, the more I realized it may provide the additional coverage and longevity I had been seeking with the YSL Fusion Ink.

Even the sleek product design appealed to me, and the fact that it uses the silver “button” at the top of the bottle to operate the hygenic dispenser — it works just like an eyedropper, except you press instead of squeeze — made it even more enticing. (The GA Maestro can be difficult to travel with because of the eyedropper top.)

So when my foundation began to run low, I decided to use the money I would have spent on a new bottle of GA Maestro to buy the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Fluid Foundation instead.

And I am so glad that I did. 😀

How does the Sensual Skin Fluid Foundation stack up against the other liquid-to-powder foundations I’ve tried? It provides the most coverage of all of them (in other words, more bang for the buck since I don’t have to use as much) and lasts the longest too!

For the purpose of this post, I used a heavier hand than usual in applying the foundation in the pictures below so that you can see the beautifully medium coverage it is meant to deliver. (I usually only use a few drops right after moisturizing, for a sheerer finish.) Additionally, I purposely didn’t wear my contact lenses because my glasses leave my face oilier at the end of the day and I wanted to show you the Sensual Skin Fluid Foundation’s lasting powder!

Right after applying (I should’ve taken a picture before using setting powder…sorry!):

And here I am, a full 8 hours after taking that initial picture:

I did NOTHING to my face between the two pictures — not even blotting paper! And as you can see, the only difference seems to be a teeny bit of shine along the t-zone.

And if you can recall, my biggest complaint about the YSL Fusion Ink was its strong flowery scent. I’m sorry to say that the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Fluid Foundation is also scented. 🙁 However, it is a subtly sweet, nutty aroma that reminds me of roasted almonds (I’m not too familiar with Kevyn Aucoin’s other products — do they smell like this too?) and it doesn’t bother me nearly as much as most other perfumed makeup.

Now, for the price. At $65, it is slightly more expensive than the Giorgio Armani Maestro’s $64 (GA raised the price of the Maestro by $2 since I first wrote about it). But since the difference is only a dollar, and because I’m using less per application than I did with the Maestro, it is certainly worth the extra buck, IMHO!

Interested in seeing the shades offered? My go-to queen of swatches, Beauty Professor, has once again come through in this extensive post. (I use SF05, if you’re wondering.)

You can purchase the Kevin Aucoin Sensual Skin Fluid Foundation at many major department stores and online beauty boutiques such as: Barneys, Beauty.com, Beautylish, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Space NK.

Want to try a sample before you buy but can not get to a department store? Camera Ready Cosmetics sells samples for $5!

Questions? Comments? Please leave them below!

Into the Great Unknown

YOU. GUYS.

You’re probably aware of the fact that both the Star Wars and Indiana Jones movies were made by the same production company, Lucasfilm.

And you have to know that Han Solo and Indiana Jones were played by the same actor, Harrison Ford. (Right?)

So what if they could meet?!???

“Into the Great Unknown” is a 10-page non-canon comic story that was included in the comic book Star Wars Tales 19 in 2004. It serves more as a fanboy fantasy than a serious addition to either Star Wars or Indiana Jones worlds, but it truly is mind-boggling and leaves one almost wishing it were true.

(Almost. Without giving anything away, something big happens in the storyline with which most Star Wars fans have a big problem.)

Check it out below!

35 Movies of 2015, Each Symbolized by a Single Image

Can you recognize these anticipated movies of 2015 from just a simple icon? (Hint: the numbers represent sequels.)

See my answers in the comments section below. I couldn’t find the answer to row 6, image 4 (the orange one with the suitcase). I know it’s a sequel since it has the number 2, but I have no idea what it could be. Any guesses?

Via Sploid.

Giveaway: Dr. Oracle The Snow Queen Enzyme Powder Wash (Plus MORE Samples!)

You may also like:

The Secret Lives of Superhero Toys

You may also like:

Giveaway: 5 Items from the Shiseido Spring 2015 Collection (A $150 Value)!

You may also like:

“Bad Sleeper”

You may also like:

Mega Korean Skincare Samples Giveaway (42 Pieces!)

You may also like:

Global Luxury Shoe Designers Reimagine Cinderella’s Glass Slipper

You may also like:

Parody Posters of 2015 Oscar Nominated Films

You may also like:

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Fluid Foundation Review: My New HG Foundation!!!

You may also like:

Into the Great Unknown

You may also like:

35 Movies of 2015, Each Symbolized by a Single Image

You may also like:

Currently enjoying…

Navigation

Subscribe

Elsewhere

Recent Posts

Arkangel James Rollins	Revenge of the Tipping Point Malcolm Gladwell
The White Lotus