LUSH Catastrophe Cosmetic Face Mask

Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic

I must say I was rather impressed with this mask. Firstly, it has the must delectable scent of blueberries and powder (think Caldesene Powder). It is a rich grey paste, infused with blueberries (for anti-oxidants, vitamins, & minerals), Chamomile, Irish Moss, and Almond Oil (for soothing), and Calamine (for cleansing).

The first time I applied it I left it on for 10 minutes. My skin felt a tad bit tight when it was dry, but the mask was not hard or crusty, so it was quite comfortable. It was very easy to rinse off and left my skin soft and clean. I began using it twice a week; all over my face on Sundays and just on my t-zone on Wednesdays. I notices a reduction in my amount of oil around my t-zone area after the third use.

Lush Catastrophe Cosmetic

It smells great, is easy to apply and wash off, and more importantly it works ... So why did I stop using it?! The shelf-life...

Catastrophe Cosmetic is good for only four weeks. I bought it 1.5 weeks after it was made so I barely got to use it before it expired. Six applications were not enough to put a dent in the 75g jar. I was rather peeved that I had a full jar left and could do nothing but toss it away.

Made 26/03/12. Use by 23/04/12

LUSH is usually very good at delivering value for money because customers are, essentially, not paying for fancy packaging. But they missed the mark with this one. I will purchase this product again only if they find a way to extend the shelf life.

I think it is an effective product and would recommend it to individuals who suffer from breakouts and clogged pores.

Red Lipsticks for Women of Color

Last fall I did something risqué; I wore bright red lips, and loved it!!!

Wearing Koh Red

I guess I was apprehensive about wearing red lipstick because of how easy it is to get the look completely wrong, and I was not entirely sure how to get it right. After admiring Kerry Washington crimson ensemble with flawless makeup, and timeless red lips, I knew I had to try. So I did my research (Youtube) and gave it a whirl. Well, since then I have fallen head over 4inch heels in love with red lips.

Inspiration : Kerry Washington

It’s quick, surprisingly very easy, and screams confidence. Wearing red lipstick is one of the easiest ways to look like you spent an hour applying your makeup when you actually only spent 10 minutes. A bit of black eyeliner, mascara, and a touch of color on the cheeks is all that’s needed.

These are my fave three red lipsticks:

Bold Red Lips

For a bold, glossy finish I use KOH lipstick in RED! It’s is creamy so it goes on smooth. Be warned, it stains, so you need to apply a base prior to applying the lipstick to make removal a bit easier.

I apply my clear Barbra Cosmetics* Belweder lip balm

Line my lips with BH Cosmetics Waterproof Lipliner in Maven or Jordana Kohl Kajal Lipliner in Deep Purple or MAC Magenta. I find that using a dark purple liner gives a nice gradient of color, but a red liner works well too.

©       Use a lip brush to apply KOH RED!

©       I also apply just a touch of clear gloss

Matte Red Lips

For a matte, retro look I use MAC Ruby Woo. This is not moisturizing, so you need a good balm to use as a base.

©       I apply my clear Barbra Cosmetics* Belweder lip balm

©       Line my lips with BH Cosmetics Waterproof Lip Liner in Rouge or MAC Lip Pencil in Chestnut

©       Use a lip brush to apply MAC Ruby Woo

Plum Red Lips

Dark plum is especially flattering on darker skin tones. I use Black Opal Black Current to achieve a rich plum red look. I really like the color of this lipstick, but absolutely hate the way it smells. Fortunately, the scent does not linger.

©       I apply my clear Barbra Cosmetics* Belweder lip balm

©       Line my lips with Black Opal Precision Lip Definer in Black Cherry

©       Use a lip brush to apply Black Opal Black Current

©       I apply a smidge of Clinique Long Last Glosswear SPF15 in Mystic 18 to finish the look.

The Body Shop Blue Corn 3-in-1 Deep Cleansing Mask

For a brief moment I thought this was the one. The mask that would end my search for a product that would get rid of the impurities and leave my pores squeaky clean. But alas, it was not to be.

The mask is grey with a blue tint, grainy, and THICK. So thick that is a rather difficult to apply. Once applied, I felt a slight tingling, and thought, this must be working. Plus, it contains Koalin clay, an ingredient well-known for its cleansing and absorbent properties. So it has to work, right?!

It dried in the recommend 10 to 15 minutes. There was no mistaking whether or not I needed to wash it off because this thing dried as hard as concrete. It was very uncomfortable as I could feel it pulling my skin. The worst part is that I could not get it off! I tried warm water and a wash-cloth but it just would not rinse off. I could see little white spots of leftover mask all over my T-zone wear my pores are a bit enlarged.  I had to wash my face with a cleansing gel to remove the whitish residue left all over my face.

Despite these cons, I was still impressed with the refreshing, tingling sensation I got when I applied the mask (silly me), so I held out hope that it would help to  unclog the pores in my t-zone. I tried the mask 7 more times over a period of 4 weeks, but saw no improvements. Needless to say I had to accept defeat and toss this one aside.

I think this product would serve best as an exfoliator, but based on my experience, I would not recommend it as a deep cleansing mask for individuals with oily skin or enlarged pores

O.P.I Slightly Peached Pink Nail Look

In between my Shellac appointments (obsessed), I try to polish my own nails. I have found that with mixing and matching different colors and textures I can create unique hues and cute looks. Here is my go-to nail look; it is a quick-and-easy-goes-with-almost-any-outfit-kinda-look J

I use:

OPI Start-to-Finish Base & Top Coat NT T71 (I ♥ multi-taskers)

OPI I Think in Pink NL H38 (a rich baby pink)

OPI Pink Before You Leap NL B34 (pink with fine glitter)

1)    Apply a coat of Start to Finish Base & Top Coat.

2)    Apply a coat of I Think in Pink.

3)    Apply a coat of Pink Before You Leap.

4)    Finish with a coat of Start-to-Finish Base & Top Coat.

*Wait a few minutes between each coat to allow the polish to dry.

Depending on how the light hits your fingers, you will see an iridescent peachy pink color.

The glitter in Pink Before You Leap will help extend the wear of this look. I normally do not start chipping till about 4 to 5 days after polish.

LUSH “Pink Clouds” Bath

I love LUSH bath bombs and bubble bars. I also enjoy mixing and experimenting to get the results I want. So, I added three LUSH products to create Pink Clouds; a pink bath with lots of soft white bubbles, moisture, and an incredibly sweet scent.

For this bath I use:

1/3 The Comforter Bubble Bar

1/2 Creamy Candy

1/2 Mmmmelting Marshmallow

And of course a bath tub and warm water  

The Comforter Bar creates the fluffy bubbles and pink water, the Cream Candy add the sweet smell, and the Mmmmelting Marshmallow, infused with almond oil and cocoa butter, adds the moisturizer.

I crush all the bars with my hand and spread the crumbs at the bottom of the tub. I use the shower faucet to jet water on to the crumbs so they soften and start melting.

I turn on the tap and full the tub with warm water. Add my favorite candles and voila; a bath fit for a queen.

The scent sticks to the skin and the moisturizer leave it very soft; great for replenishing the moisture dried out by winter’s cold dry air. As an added bonus the sweet scent linger in the bathroom for days J

Do you have a fave LUSH recipe? Please share :)

*To seal in the moisture apply your favorite body butter or cream immediately after the bath.


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Figs & Rouge lip, face & body balm

The little tin that keeps on giving.

These balms come in the cutest retro tins. At 0.60 oz and 0.26 oz they are the perfect size to tote around in your purse and are pretty enough to put on display on your desk at work.

Inside the pretty tins are 100% of organic goodness. On the lips and body the balm is soothing and nourishing. It is not greasy yet quite moisturizing.



Wild Cherry and Pomegranate have sweet fruity scents, and Rambling Rose has a soft floral scent.

I have been using these since early January and I am absolutely addicted! I keep Wild Cherry (my favorite) in my study, Pomegranate on my bedside table, and Rambling Rose  in a small pouch I carry around in my purse.

Rambling Rose 8ml/0.26 oz.

Wild Cherry with Sweet Orange 17ml/0.60 oz.

Usually, I keep a small hand cream, cuticle oil, and lip balm on my bedside table. I have replaced all three products with my tin of Pomegranate. I apply a small amount to my lips, hands, and cuticles every night.

Pomegranate 17ml/0.60 oz.

At first I was a bit squeamish about having to stick my finger into the pot, but I got over that quickly. My only hang-ups on these balms are that they do not contain SPF or UV protection and that they are not long-lasting when used as a lip balm. I find that I have to reapply quite frequently; certainly more often than I would with my longtime favorite, plain old Chap Stick. However, I really like Wild Cherry and Pomegranate and will continue to buy both.

I also want to try Coco Vanilla.

Sacha Eye Shadow Palettes

If I had to list my must-have makeup products my Sacha neutral eye shadow palette would be at the very top. I bought the neutral and color palettes about three years ago* in Antigua. I liked them so much that I bought two more of each and gave them as gifts.

The shadows in both palettes are very pigmented, which I like because the colors are visible against my darker skin tone. They are also powdery; meaning they are not too dense and difficult to work with.

Neutral Palette

Color Palette

I fell in love with neutral palette right away and it’s one of the two eye shadow palettes (the other is my MAC pro-palette) I take with me every time I travel. It is light and compact enough, plus I rarely experiment with bright colors when I’m home so I doubt I will be doing so when I travel. I have not found another gold or dark purple that match my two favorite colors in the neutral palette, nor have I found another gold and dark purple that suit my skin tone so nicely.

Colors from the neutral palette

I really do recommend the neutral palette because I think it is good value for money. I admit the packaging is not the best and should be improved (perhaps this has already been done), but I would certainly buy this palette again.

From the color palette - looks even brighter in person!

*I know three years is the “shelf life” of eye shadows but I figure I can get a few more months of use from these before I toss them. I disinfect my eye shadows often and I am the only one using them so I am not worried about a buildup of germs/bacteria.