Senin, 09 Mei 2011

Makeup Monday: Ulta-Exclusive LORAC Multidimensional Beauty Kit



I was so excited to get this when I ordered it, and then things got crazy and I never got to finish my post.... I'm still excited about it, actually, and I've had it for a couple months already.

LORAC Multidimensional Beauty collection. This is an Ulta exclusive and I'm pretty sure it's limited edition. In case you can't tell from this picture, the box is HOLO:

See?! How cool is that?? I know it's just a cardboard box, but it's a hologram cardboard box and you know what a sucker I am for good packaging.

But the outer carton isn't the only thing that's holo-esque... This kit comes with a metal-plated makeup bag that is pretty much the most amazing thing ever. My only complaint is that it's not big enough to carry as a purse. I took a million pictures.

The left hand side of the bag has a rainbow pattern that's always visible, but the right hand side has no stripes.

It changes colors depending on the angle. It's mesmerizing to look at. See down toward the opposite edge of the bag, where it looks like it's lighting up aqua? It looks even better in real life. Holo makeup bag. Gaaaaah so awesome....


Okay, enough about the bag already. Here's what's inside:

Three full sized eyeshadows in 3D-Luxe, 3D-Mension and 3D-Licious plus an Ulta exclusive shade of LORAC 3D Multiplex lipgloss in Ulta Glam.

3D-Luxe is a light ivory with peachy tinted duochrome and subtle iridescent sparkle, 3D-Mension is a plain metallic bronze and 3D-Licious is a MAC Club dupe (red toned brown with green-blue duochrome shimmer).

3D-Luxe is my favorite one... it's so gorgeous, none of my pictures come close to capturing how beautiful it is. It has such delicate iridescent sparkle and just a faint sheen of duochrome across the color...

If you enlarge these, you might be able to pick up a little of the depth of the color. You sorta have to see it in person to fully appreciate it.

The Ulta Glam shade of Multiplex gloss is just as mesmerizing... I think the purchase of the kit was worth it just for this beauty:
Ulta Glam is a copper rose shimmer base, sheer, with strong brassy gold duochrome at one angle and darker pink-rose duochrome at another angle plus lots of iridescent microglitter that also adds to the color-shiftiness. The best part? There's BLUE MICROGLITTER. Blue!!! Glitter!!


Swatched dry over bare skin: 3D-Luxe, 3D-Mension and 3D-Licious shadows and Ulta Glam Multiplex 3D gloss. You can kinda see the blue sparkles in the gloss, right?

This also came with a gift with purchase that I thought was pretty neat:

A sample of LORAC's new Multiplex 3D Lashes mascara that comes on a holo card, in a tube with holo text. Yep, no denying it, I'm easily swayed by how much holo foil comes on the package... The mascara itself it's something I'd normally use. I like the curved plastic pointy bristle brush, but the formula doesn't add any volume. It makes your lashes super long and defined, but doesn't add any thickness. It kinda seems like it makes them curl like those old curling mascaras, but it could just be my imagination....

The formula on the shadows seems consistent with the other LORAC shadows I've tried. Like I've mentioned before, I'm really new to LORAC shadows and I'm still not sure if this is the normal quality and texture or not. The texture is disturbingly soft and loose- I say disturbing because it seems like it loosens so much product every time I touch it with my brush that I could use the entire shadow in a week. Very loosely pressed, soft and powdery. Medium pigmentation and payoff, not super pigmented or opaque. Suitable for wet use to intensify the payoff and color. I'd recommend wet use if you like your colors intense like I do. They don't seem to wear very well due to the super soft light texture; they tend to fade a bit and wear off by the end of the day (I always use primer and it behaves the same over all primers I tried). The colors themselves are pretty and go well together and they look light and luminous on.

The gloss is amazing. I love the Multiplex formula. It's smooth and silky, lasts a reasonable amount of time and tastes/smells amazing. Is it lychee? I have no idea what the scent is, but it's light and fruity and soft and I really really like it. The Ulta Glam shade in this kit does not disappoint. It's super duochrome but also full of microglitter so it's sparkly on top of being duochrome. The only downside is that the glitter is kinda gritty.

I love this kit. I really hope LORAC keeps doing the whole multiplex 3D theme. They enable me in my duochrome addiction... Just wish they'd lower the price on their Multiplex glosses!

This is gone from the Ulta website already, but I've seen plenty of kits still in stock in-store recently, so you should be able to find one if you have an Ulta nearby. The whole kit is only $35 so it's an excellent value- a Multiplex gloss alone is $22 (and no, I won't stop complaining about the price) and a LORAC shadow single is $19.

Sabtu, 07 Mei 2011

Hours of Che Guevara






Hours of Che Guevara

Fancy Sculptures Ever Seen




Fancy Sculptures Ever Seen

Monkey Rider Ever Seen Before




Monkey Rider Ever Seen Before

Vedauwoo Wyoming: Turtle Rock Trail and Beyond

Distance: 3.2 mile loop (Turtle Rock), at least 6 miles if you include Renyold's Hill and the Devil's Playground
Elevation: 8,280 ft
Elevation Gain: 958 ft (up and down)

Vedauwoo, in the Medicine Bow National Forest Wyoming, is a unique treat. This formation is in an area called the Devil's Playground.

Vedauwoo, (pronounced "vee-da-voo") is a cool area in Wyoming filled with interlocking trails, interesting rock formations, beaver ponds, and young Aspens. It is a great place to hike, bike, rock climb or lounge.

The start of the Turtle Rock Trail

Vedauwoo rocks are formed from Sherman Granite.

Just across the border from Colorado, it makes for a unique day trip for Denverites and an easy jaunt from those in Ft. Collins. It is also easy to find, just take I-80 west of Cheyenne to exit 329 (Vedauwoo Road). There is a very nice campground in the park for those who want a quick getaway from the city.

My friend Tom revels in an early spring day.

This lone boulder is on the back side (having gone clockwise) of the Turtle Rock Loop.

On this trip, a friend took us on the Turtle Rock Trail and then veered east toward Reynold's Hill and the Devil's Playground before returning to Turtle Rock. Since I did this trip in 2007 before I started blogging, this post won't be as accurate as my current descriptions. We did at least 6 miles that day but I can't give you our exact route beyond Turtle Rock, just the major destinations. Many of the rock formations in the area are named and easily identifiable.

A view of the Sherman Mountains from the north side of the Turtle Rock Trail

Streams crisscross the area. Many contain small ponds with Beaver houses or dams.

The word Vedauwoo means "land of the earthborn spirit" in native Arapaho. The granite rock formations that are the main attraction are 1.4 billion years old. Hard as a rock (ha!) this stone resisted erosion and remained long after much softer substrate slowly drained away.

Looking east with Turtle Rock to our backs at Reynold's Hill, our next destination. We'll be crossing that meadow filled with Sagebrush.

Getting closer to Reynold's Hill

If you enjoy rocky scenery, you may wish to check out Mathew Winters Park in Golden and Roxbourough State Park south of Denver for easy hikes and Goose Creek Trail south of Pine for a more strenuous experience. Further away is the Dillon Pinnacles.

A nice view of Renyold's Hill

A map showing the Vedauwoo area. The icon in the lower left is the start of the Turtle Rock Trail. Turtle Rock is obvious on the terrain map. The first icon in the upper right is Reynold's Hill with the Devil's Playground just beyond.

Natalie Portman Golden

Natalie Portman Golden. Pregnant Natalie Portman wins
  • Pregnant Natalie Portman wins



  • Natalie Portman Golden. Natalie Portman photo by
  • Natalie Portman photo by



  • Natalie Portman Golden. Natalie Portman At The Golden
  • Natalie Portman At The Golden



  • Natalie Portman Golden. Natalie Portman and fetus
  • Natalie Portman and fetus



  • Natalie Portman Golden. Natalie Portman: Golden Globes
  • Natalie Portman: Golden Globes



  • Natalie Portman Golden. natalie portman golden globes
  • natalie portman golden globes



  • Natalie Portman Golden. Natalie Portman look uber
  • Natalie Portman look uber



  • Natalie Portman Golden. Natalie Portman: 2011 Golden
  • Natalie Portman: 2011 Golden



  • Natalie Portman Golden. date, Natalie
  • date, Natalie



  • Natalie Portman Golden. Natalie Portman earned the
  • Natalie Portman earned the



  • Natalie Portman Golden. Natalie Portman
  • Natalie Portman



  • Natalie Portman Golden. Natalie Portman.jpg
  • Natalie Portman.jpg



  • Natalie Portman Golden. Natalie Portman Golden Globe
  • Natalie Portman Golden Globe



  • Natalie Portman Golden. Natalie Portman, Golden Globes
  • Natalie Portman, Golden Globes



  • Natalie Portman Golden. Natalie Portman at 2011 Golden
  • Natalie Portman at 2011 Golden



  • Natalie Portman Golden. Natalie Portman at the Golden
  • Natalie Portman at the Golden



  • Natalie Portman Golden. Natalie Portman (Best Actress
  • Natalie Portman (Best Actress



  • Natalie Portman Golden. Natalie Portman poses in the
  • Natalie Portman poses in the



  • Natalie Portman Golden. pregnant images, Natalie
  • pregnant images, Natalie













  • Pengikut