J's Thoughts #1- Chit Chatting about Feeling Down

Hello everyone,

I know for the past month, I've been throwing out product reviews and I even revived my Game Corner Series, which was mega fun for me, however, it's been a while since I just wrote about myself and how I've been doing, so I figured that today I would do that.
I had planned to do a skin care blog post to talk about some new products I've introduced to my routine, but I just have no drive to make that post today.

Today for the first time in approximately a month, I have no drive or excitement to post or write or even to play a video game. I told one of my friends earlier this week that I just feel so exhausted by everything, but today is definitely the worse day of them all. I posted some swatches on my Instagram today, only to delete it an hour later, simply because I didn't feel excited about my post. I'm usually really excited to post my swatches, or pictures of my dogs and random selfies, but today, I just feel meh.

You're probably wondering why I've decided to share this on my blog?

Well the answer is simple, I know I am not the only person who falls into these slums. Also, as a person who is planning on becoming a Psychologist, it's important for me to acknowledge these moods, and negative emotions, and find means to adapt or just simply relax and let them run their course.

I've spent so much of my life hiding behind a fake smile, try not to acknowledge my feelings, that only now I've come to realize, I'm not always going to be happy or optimistic, I'm going to have days, hell even weeks where I just feel run down, sad, and unenthusiastic.

I just need to remind myself, like I am reminding you, better days are coming. Even if it doesn't feel that way, hold on little one because they are. These feelings and moods won't last forever, and you just need to take baby steps to get your groove back.

I know this isn't in the usual nature of my blog, but this is not just my space for sharing my favourite games, makeup and beauty items, but it's also a place for me to place what's on my mind, it is my Mind Palace!

I'll return to my normal postings next week, but for now, I need to rest. I know this post is a bit of a downer but everyone experience lows in their life, I'm just choosing to share my with the world.
Until I see you lovely people again next week, stay safe.
Bye guys (^-^)

July Makeup Favourites!

Hello darlings!

Welcome to my July Makeup Favourites! I'm actually really excited for this post, July was a great month for me, coming down to the end, and I can't wait to see what August has in store for me. Without keeping you in a realm of my endless blabbering, let's get started on this past month's favourites.

July Makeup Favourites

Face: 

Maybelline Fit Me Matte and Poreless

Fit Me Matte and Poreless 310 Sun Beige

• I have been reaching for this foundation more than my L'Oreal foundations all of July. It's super creamy texture makes it very easy to blend and it has a solid medium-full coverage. Perfect shade match for me (310 Sun Beige), and it doesn't break down excessively throughout long, hot and humid days. I do have a full review on this and I will post the link to it at the end of this blog post. 

Eyes: 

Eyeshadows: NYX Trio in Golden/Rust/Walnut Bronze and Avon Single Eyeshadow in Champagne 

• All these eyeshadows are extremely pigmented, they have a soft and buttery texture and they translate beautifully on the eyes.
  
  NYX Trio:
• Walnut Bronze on my eyes and with my skin tone, tends to come off as an extremely warm reddish bronze shade. However, the lighting in this picture dulls the shade and doesn't do it much justice.
• Rust is a straight up reddish/coppery/cranberry type colour. It really differs to my eye depending on how light hits it. Absolutely love this shade, and I even have it in the original single shadow. 
• Golden...I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love gold!! Gold eyeshadows to me just scream wear me everyday, and on most days I do love to wear gold eyeshadows. Golden specifically strikes me as an antique gold. A perfect melting of yellow and bronze gold. 
  
  Avon Single Eyeshadow
• This is my go-to inner corner highlight. It is a metallic finish, although it is marketed as a shimmer eyeshadow, but nonetheless, its high shine finish brightens the inner corners of the eye making you look wide eyed and awake. 

Eyeliner & Mascara: 

Rimmel Exaggerate Eye Definer in Noir & Jordana Best Lash Extreme in Black

Rimmel London Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer in Noir

• I know you constantly hear about the Rimmel ScandalEyes Kohl Eyeliner, but these Exaggerate Eye Definers are awesome. They are very waterproof and smudge resistant, they are retractable pencils and they have a built-in smudger and sharpener. They are also extremely creamy, they glide onto the eye without pull or tugging the eye area. I use this to tighline, I use it on my upper lash liner and also on my waterline, if I'm feeling that look. 

Jordana Best Lash Extreme Mascara in Black

• Holy mascara Batman! This TT$20 mascara, has me gaga! Undoubtedly, this is one of the best mascaras I have ever used. It volumizes, and defines each eyelash effortlessly. My eyelashes look longer, more voluminous and defined without looking clumpy or laden with product. I haven't had any issues with it running, flaking off or smudging throughout the day. A little warning though, the brush which is a very traditional mascara wand, has the tendency to pick up a lot of excess product, so I'd advise cleaning the brush off a bit before applying it. I've been reaching for this more than my Maybelline The Rocket and L'Oreal Voluminious Lash-Out Butterfly mascaras.

Best Lash Extreme Mascara Wand

 Lips: 

Lipliners: Avon Glimmersticks Lip Liner in Mystery Mauve and Avon Ultra Luxury Lip Liner in Neutral. 

• Recently, I've been really into lip balm and lip liner only. I've never been a huge fan of lip glosses, and I haven't been in much of a lipstick wearing mood. These two liners have been my immediate, every morning lip liners, and I even throw them into my makeup bag for light touch ups after lunch. I love the colours, but the texture of these lip liners are so amazing. They are extremely soft and pigmented. 
• I am in the process of hunting down similar colours to these because...Avon is no longer available in Trinidad and I do believe in the wider Caribbean (=_=').

'Tis the end of my July Makeup Favourites, and I hope you all enjoyed. I wanted to say thank you for the support on the return of Game Corner, I'm so happy to be reviving that series on the blog, so look out for more Game Corner posts in the coming months.
Do feel free to share some of your favourites from the month of July in the comments, I would love to hear from you all!
Until Friday, I hope you all have a productive and safe week. Stay happy, positive and healthy, and I will talk to you all very soon.
Bye guys (^_^)/

Links:
Maybelline Fit Me Matte & Poreless Review : http://jsmindpalace.blogspot.com/2015/07/maybelline-fit-me-matte-and-poreless.html

Game Corner : The Return!

Hello everyone!
I'm so pleased to announce that Game Corner has finally returned!
I haven't posted a Game Corner is quite some time, and it was simply due to the fact that I wasn't really gaming as much. However, today I have two Nintendo 3DS games to discuss, that you can get in the Nintendo eShop. They are; Pokemon Rumble World and Pokemon Shuffle....yes I am 23 and love Pokémon!

Pokémon Rumble World

• It is a free to start game, where you battle and collect over 700 Toy Pokémon. It's an easy and casual game that is perfect if you just want to unwind. 
• I usually play this after I get home from work, to relax. The Toy Pokémon designs are absolutely adorable, and I enjoy the concept of using hot air balloons to get to the different areas. 
• According to the information given about the game, there are 18 different areas with more than 80 stages, which to me is very impressive and generous for a free game. 

My complaints 

• In order to catch the Toy Pokémon, they have to wobble during the battle or at the end of the battle and that wobbling increases the chances of catching them. However, I've found even with the items to increase the chance of the Toy Pokémon wobbling, if you're on a stage with only 1 more Toy to capture, the chances of that particular one wobbling are still very low.
• Even after catching all the toys in a particular stage, you will more than likely end up repeating stages. The stage selection is similar to roulette, wherever the spotlight from the hot air balloon lands, that's where you'll be going. Despite the fact that repeating stages allows you the opportunity to catch more powerful toys, it gets annoying after a while. 

 Despite my annoyance with the repeating stages, I still find myself coming back to this game every evening. To me it's just a great way to relax and take the load of the day off of my shoulders.

Pokémon Shuffle

• Free to play puzzle game. 
• It's essentially Candy Crush or Bejeweled, where you match 3 or more of the same Pokémon. Each match sums the Pokémon's attack power, and does damage to your opponent (the Pokémon you are attempting to capture).
• You have 5 hearts and hearts are used to play the stages (again like Candy Crush) and each heart takes approximately 30 minutes to replenish. 
• Good way to relax and it is pretty fun to play. 

My complaints

• None!

Conclusion
These two games are super chill and I do enjoy them on a daily basis, but I know for many people these won't be their cup of tea. If you're trying to relax and you're on a budget and you like Pokémon, why not give these a whirl, you've got nothing to lose!

Now this isn't the end, just yet, I'm now going to list a few games I hope to play in the coming months and that I may include in a future Game Corner;

• Smite 
• BloodBorne
• Batman Arkham Knights 
• MKX
• Marvel Contest of Champions (app)
• Fortress Fury (app)

If there is any game above, that you want me to spew my thoughts on first, please feel free to leave a comment, I would love to hear from you.

That's all from me today, I may see you on Sunday, for some favourites and/or not so favourites *wink*
Until then, stay happy, healthy and positive (keep that optimism up!)
Bye (^_^)/

Review : Rimmel SCANDALEYES Eyeshadow Paint and Eyeshadow Stick

Another Friday, another blog post.

Hey everyone, how are you today? I really hope you're all safe and enjoying your day.
I'm continuing my month of reviews this week, with a couple of products that I absolutely love!
Today's post is going to be all about the Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paints and Eyeshadow Sticks. I have two (2) of each product, and I'm most definitely going to pick up some more. Now, I may have mentioned these products in a few favourites post I've done in the past, but I decided that they needed their own time in the spotlight.

I know many of my foreign readers may not care to read a post about these products since they came out a long time ago over in the UK, USA and Europe, but Rimmel has only been available in Trinidad for approximately one (1) year, so a lot of these products are new to myself and my fellow Caribbean peeps. So without any further ado, let's get into the review.

Rimmel SCANDALEYES Eyeshadow Paint
 

Swatches: Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paints in Pomegranate(left) and Rich Russet (right)

The two shades I own are; 019 Pomegranate and 006 Rich Russet.
I was highly skeptical about purchasing these because I saw many mixed reviews on it. It was either people absolutely loved them or they absolutely hated them. So, I decided to try them out for myself to see whether or not I liked them. 
These eyeshadow paints are not cream eyeshadows, they are liquid eyeshadows and recently liquid eyeshadows have been "trendy"...I don't know, I'm not one who cares for trends. If I like something, I'm going to wear it whether it's in season or out of season, I really don't care.
Liquid eyeshadows are thinner in consistency to cream eyeshadows, so you have to be careful when blending these out because you run the risk of removing the product from the eye. However, when applied correctly, these are longlasting, beautifully pigmented, and great to grab on an early morning when you are in a hurry. I've been using Rich Russet all week, I wore it for my Master's interview with a warm matte brown shadow in the crease, yesterday, I wore it all over my lid with some mascara, and today I wore it as a base for my (Avon) Satin Taupe eyeshadow with a pop of Makeup Geek Insomnia pigment in the inner corner.

Today's Makeup: Lids: Rich Russet as a base, (Avon) Satin Taupe (lash line to crease) and Makeup Geek Insomnia Pigment (inner corner)

Rimmel SCANDALEYES Eyeshadow Stick

Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Stick in Blackmail (left) and Bad Girl Bronze (right)

 I have had my fair share of love/hate relationships with jumbo eyeshadow pencils in the past...I'm looking at you NYX. However, these Rimmel pencil have me singing a happier tune. These are extremely soft and pigmented and extremely long wearing. I've been using 008 Blackmail to tightline and the only time I look like panda is when I'm removing my makeup. I tend to use 003 Bad Girl Bronze, as a stand alone eyeshadow all over the lid on days when time isn't on my side. Through heat and humidity these eyeshadows sticks last. They are amazing on their own or you can use them as a base. I am planning on getting more of these, especially since I can get so much use out of them as an eyeshadow base, a stand alone eyeshadow or a longlasting, waterproof eyeliner.

I highly recommend these two products, and no this is not a sponsored or paid post for Rimmel. I am 100% positive that Rimmel don't even know I exist.

I hope you all have a safe and fun weekend.
I hope to see you all again next Friday for another post.
Stay happy, positive and healthy guys!
Bye (^_^)/