Longcils Boncza Pencils

I am not sure if these are discontinued or maybe just really obscure but if you do run into these, here is what I think about them.  The types of pencils I have from Longcils Boncza, who also make a fabulous cake mascara are brow pencils, eye khols (waterliners), and eyeshadow pencils.

Tocca 007 Candle-As close as I will get to James Bond

I bought this on a whim with other "designer" candles. This version is the candlelina which is the smaller version and costs about $16USD.  My friend saw this, she asked me if it smelled like Daniel Craig. I told her it smells just like Daniel Craig in a tuxedo suit driving an Aston Martin. She ordered this the next day.

Some Stuff from Mehron

If there ever were products that I wasn't thrilled with and found them hard to review because of a lack of interest, the Mehron foundations and cream products would be them. I got this stuff during the summer and waited (procrastinated) until winter to review. I thought I would change my mind and find the products wonderful to apply. Nope!

Becca Brushes-Part 2: Face Brushes

I am making this Becca Brush posts sound like some mini-series. The posts are only two parts. I just didn't want to put all the pictures in one post and have you scroll down forever.

Like I said in my previous post, Soft Surroundings had some brushes for extreme sale and I bought some. The face brushes are all well made and gorgeous. Some have some variations, for example I bought the #40 Cheeks brush and the #41 powder/blush brush from Makeup.com and bought back-ups at Soft Surroundings. The #40 brush bought from Makeup.com looks more like the one at the Becca website while the one bought at Soft Surroundings is shaped just a tad differently, a bit less curved. The #41 brush from Makeup.com fluffed out more and has more hair while the one from Soft Surroundings is still fluffy but has just a bit less hair, making fluff out less. These are just variations in manufacturing.

Becca Brushes-Part 1: Eye Brushes

I can't resist good quality makeup brushes especially when they are on extreme sale.  Recently, Soft Surroundings had (has) a clearance on Becca brushes, some were as low as $9.99USD.  I decided why not buy, I skipped all the other pre-Christmas and post Christmas makeup sales in-store and on the web mostly because I didn't know what to buy and lo and behold the makeup Goddess said, "Olivia, you said you wanted to try Becca brushes.  Here is your chance."  And, I said, "Oh my makeup Goddess, I thank you so much for holding this sale for ME!"  Okay, there really never was a conversation.  I just wanted to see how that would look typed up on this post.  Onto the brushes.

Grumble, mumble, jumble

Well, after have some trouble with DISQUS, I think I have it in sync now. *crossing fingers*

Now for other talk. I have a very weird brain and when it becomes inundated with too many things, it will eventually explode! At least, it feels that way. What I am talking about is this blog and the flow of it. I got the flow of the blog and thanks to you followers and lurkers it is nice to know people actually look at my blog. I really really think I couldn't do one, but here it still is. And, where will it go?

This is mostly for me and maybe it is selfish but it makes it easier for me. I am moving my Into the Palette posts to a separate blog called Into the Palette. That blog will only contain those tutorials. I am doing this because when I am writing my blog my mind starts a post then starts to wander onto what other posts can I write next, maybe a review or it will be another tutorial, then the writing flow leaves me and I start playing around with someone's eyes and see how different and really beautiful they are compared to all the usual makeup ads that you see. The different shapes and ethnicity really is what makes the Into the Palette posts fun for me. It is so refreshing to see eyes that regular society mingles in and not the ones from the celebrity driven ads. In the following days the posts will move and some may be tweaked for clearer explanation or pictures or both.

As for this blog, The Land of Makeup Obscurity, it will mostly do reviews on makeup products and such with the usual details and pictures.

So if you have time please wander into the other blog.

My Ten Staples

I haven't done a post for my best products of 2009 and I don't think I can because my mood changes as much as I change my underwear (which is everyday!!). So, I decided to do one on my staples, the products I reach for the most and don't have to think about. These are in no particular order.

New Comment Box (Edited) + more ramblings

I decided to change my COMMENT box below after being spammed with naughty things! Not sure how it will go. As for the other comments they are supposed to be imported but I don't know how that works with this. I will try to retrieve them somehow. So, test the new version out.

I decided on this DISQUS not only because it is simpler for me to keep track of the comments but also for the safety of you readers.  Yes, I got spammed in a foreign language: Mandarin and I knew it was fishy because as I was about to copy and paste the comment for translation, I noticed that in the left hand corner of my webpage the URLs to various adult sites would show up.  I was lucky not to click onto any of this comment because for one, this poster had an anonymous IP.   Once I clicked they could have gotten a hold of my IP and possibly tried to hack.  (This is just an extreme scenario.)  Two, the links could always deposit spyware and such.

My blog is here to enjoy and not bring angst when it comes to your computer.  I know the previous comments are in limbo and should be imported once DISQUS and I get the rhythm going!  So, don't be afraid to comment.  And, if you do comment a lot, keep track of them on DISQUS.

My Unusually Shaped Makeup Brushes

I have many makeup brushes and some just seem so gimmicky due to their shape. The three that I mention here look gimmicky but they do their job so they aren't a waste.

The Winner of the Skin MD Natural Giveaway and another chance to WIN

James McAvoy! No, no, no. First, I would like to thank everyone who participated in this giveaway. *applauds* CONGRATULATIONS to KATE!!!!! *throws confetti* For those of you who didn't win, you still have a chance to win this stuffed VALENTINE's Gift Basket. The contest just started today and ends on February 7th. Enter by clicking here.


The prize basket is valued at $100 and contains the following
- Bottle of Skin MD Natural shielding lotion
- Bottle of Skin MD Natural + SPF 15 shielding lotion
- One pound of See's dark assorted chocolates
- Pack of Starbucks VIA Ready brew coffee pouches
- Kiss Me coffee mug
- A Cuddly teddy bear
- Lollipop Bouquet

Again, CONGRATULATIONS Kate!!!!

TheBalm For Keeps Watercolor Lip Stains

Cake mascara, cake eyeliner, cake and ice cream; I like cake. And, when TheBalm came out with a cake lip stain-For Keeps Watercolor Lip Stains that retails for $28USD, I had to get it. Well, it isn't called a cake lipstain but a watercolor lip stain. It is an interesting product housed in a little compact (measurements shown in picture) with a mirror and mini lip brush. There are two sets: Petunia Pink/Raspberry Red and Plum Berry/Brown Sugar. I bought the Petunia Pink/Raspberry Red. The pans are the average sized 26mm ones, the colors look like your average blush or eyeshadow colors. Dry they feel very rough and hard and leave no color, not the way to use them anyway. Wet is another story.

Some More Ramblings

I dunno why I am writing this but maybe my fingers just want to type. For you people who are on MUA you know I post on there, well lately I have been lurking more than posting. I have also been deleting my reviews. I think I have deleted at least half and will probably do more. It is taking me longer than I expected. Why delete? Some aren't worth it to be left on there because they are old reviews from way back like 2001 or so, others because no matter how detailed they are, they aren't the MUA type of stuff to be reviewed. I will probably keep the MAC and Bobbi Brown reviews up but that can eventually change. For others they will slowly go bye bye and that includes Julie Hewett which will eventually be moved here.

As for my blog, I look at it as part of my brain that is storing too much information (obsession) on makeup and each time I post, my brain empties a little and makes room for other thoughts (like what Blu-Ray movies to get next). Quite refreshing since my brain cells rejuvenate at a slower rate due to age now. :p

I Have Been Tagged: 7 Things About Me

I have been tagged by two people at the same time, London Makeup Girl and Of Faces and Fingers for Getting to Know You and Beautiful Blogger Award, respectively. So, I hope they don't mind if I combine the two, besides revealing too much at once can get boring; gotta leave some for later. ;-) Ok, so here are 7 things about me, some might be good or bad:

Into the Palette-The 1960's Eyelook on Caucasian and Asian Eyes

The post has moved to Into the Palette blog.

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Lipstick

I heard about Koh Gen Do cosmetics in the middle to late 80's in Japan. Many makeup artists were raving about how great it was because of its light texture and smoothness. Well, now this line is here in the USA and its foundation has joined the Hi-Def bandwagon. In fact the entire line is suppose to be HD friendly. However, my review isn't about the foundation, it is about the Maifanshi lipstick ($35USD) which comes in eight colors. I got this sample blister pack by signing up on their website. (If you haven't signed up, their samples appear to be different this month; makeup bases.)

Skin MD Natural-Giveaway is CLOSED

Skin MD Natural contacted me to see if I would like to do a giveaway. Since, I had tried the product and liked it, I said sure. So, to enter this giveaway, take π (pi=3.14) to the 45th decimal and multiply it by the square root of 568334509 then add Hugh Jackman's birthday (month, date plus the year) . Write your answer in the comment box below.

So, what I want you to do is go to the Skin MD Natural website and check if the product is available in your area via the store locator or one of the international flags. In the comment box below either say yes (for available in your area) or no (not available) AND to make this more fun give a SHOUTOUT to one of your favorite male actors! If they ever google their name they will wonder why is my name showing up on a beauty blog?

This giveaway is open to everyone 18 years or over including international readers, you don't have to be a follower of my blog. You can be a lurker. If you are a follower, then the email is already there on the google friend connect. BUT if you lurk and still want to enter leave a username and an email address that can be in the form of example at gmail dot com instead of example@gmail.com.

OK, I will start: Yes and Hey Hugh Jackman! Oh wait, I am not allowed to enter. Well, you all can!

The contest will end January 12th, 2010 at 11:59 PST (Or US West Coast Time.) One winner will be chosen at random.

Skin MD Natural-An Unconventional View

The PR of 21st Century Formulations contacted me to try this. Yes, I did get this free.

Before I received a bottle of Skin MD Natural, I did google and found many blogs that have reviewed this particular lotion. To put into my own words, this is a shielding lotion that provides a barrier between the outer layer of skin and the air. Why would this be important? Sometimes some creams moisturize the skin on the initial application then as the day wears on from the air conditioning or heating unit; the moisturizer slowly evaporates and your skin begins to feel dry. This one bonds with the skin yet never feels dry, tight, greasy, or sticky. The moisture is held within the skin because the ingredients provide the moisture rather than drawing moisture from the air; a self-sustaining lotion that is to be used on the face, body, hands, and feet. If you have eczema, this will provide relief and possibly heal the skin without the use of antibiotic creams which can become ineffective over time. The texture is slightly runny, this is only because the amount needed is very little since it contains only the ingredients needed to do what it does and none of the pretty little ones like fragrance which can irritate the skin. No fragrance means it is a unisex lotion. Men can use it and since there are no irritating ingredients, children can use it too. But why think of this only as a shielding lotion?