Product Review: Sultra, The Wicked Styling Iron

I wanted to tell you about a new hair iron that my sister got recently. Its The Wicked Wave & Straight One-Inch Iron by Sultra. 

This iron is one inch wide, uses Kryocera Ceramic Technology and heats up to 375°F. Sultra claims that this iron will repair your hair with infrared rays. They also guarantee that you can get the look you want with just one pass of this iron.

A very unique feature this iron has, that I've never seen before, is that the ceramic plates move. This is supposed to help prevent snags, and ensure constant even heat. 

The plates also have no gap, and can be squeezed even closer to get your hair pin straight.

un-squeezed

 squeezed close!

I've used it a couple of times, so here is what I think!

PROS

♪Heats up EXTREMELY FAST. Maybe about 5 seconds.

♫Absolutely no snags! This is the smoothest hair iron I've ever used!

♪True to its word, I was able to get my hair done in a single pass.

♫The rounded edges of the iron made it easy to get the curl I wanted.

CONS

♪The power switch is on the inner side of the iron, and is a bit awkward to get to.

♫There is no temperature setting, which I strongly dislike. I have easily damaged hair so I usually use a low heat setting. Sultra claims the ceramic will self adjust its heat according to your hair type, and that it actually repairs your hair. I don't believe that for a minute - heat is bad for your hair, there is no way around it. Even if it may be able to self adjust its heat, I want to be the one choosing what heat level.

♪At $165, this iron is a bit pricey.

Here is a quick curling style I did. No styling or products( and no make up)! Just me and my freshly curled hair!

I was able to finish my hair very quickly - maybe 10 - 15 minutes. Normally its an hour!

I do like this hair iron. It was the smoothest, tug free process I've ever had with an iron. But I am not especially tender headed, and I am far more concerned about the health of my hair. Not being able to adjust the temperature is an absolute no go, and it is more than I would like to spend on a hair iron. I will not be purchasing The Wicked for myself (though I may borrow it from my sister occasionally, haha). I do, however, recommend this for those who are very tender headed, short on time, or can afford it!

♪♫grimmy

Xmas Wishlist

I guess its kind of late to post something like this. But I'm not posting it with the expectation that someone will go out and buy me these things (although if they did that would be awesome!). I want these things, but if I don't get them from Christmas I plan to go out and buy (or make) them myself!

I don't want these exact items, just ballpark lookalikes!

I'm also planning on getting some more circle lenses in the new year. I want to get some lenses that are larger than 14mm, in blue and purple. I am in love with the Dueba Shiny/Puffy 3 tone lenses Sara Mari recently did a review of, but I'm not sure about them in blue - since they are so aqua. :/ But I do love them in purple! I'm also toying with the idea of some brown lenses...I really like the way Princess Mimi Chocolate Brown look, but I wonder what they will look like on light colored eyes.

  

Other than all that I need to buy some make up. For the time being I think I'm going to bulk order some lashes on e-bay. And I am curious about Canmake brand. I know a lot of gals use it. Their lip concealer, blush, and eyebrow mascara really catches my eye.

Do any of you use Canmake? What do you think?

♪♫grimmy

Make up Inspo!

I've been experimenting a lot with my make up lately. Its been very hard for me to balance something that looks gyaru, with a style that suits my face. So I've been doing some studying! A few girls I've been looking at are Serina, Izumi Mana, Rumika, Momoko Ogihara, and Ozaki Sayoko.

Serina

Her look is a little too extreme for me, but its a look I could maybe play around with for special occasions.

 Izumi Mana

Yesterday I did my eye make like Izumi, even copying the "puffy eye" trend. I thought it looked a little strange, especially since I wasn't wearing any lashes or lenses (I was just lazing around at the bf's house), but I got a compliment when we went out to grab some food!

Rumika

I just think this girl is adorable over all, and she really makes me want to cut my hair shorter!

Momoko

I've tried, but it is hard to replicate Momoko's make up! I think its because her distinctive eyebrows really lend a lot to her whole look.

Ozaki Sayoko

Sayoko is my newest inspiration. I've always thought she was beautiful, but previously dismissed her make up style because I was worried it wouldn't look distinctly gyaru on a Western face. However I'm trying out her look today (again, no pics since I'm not wearing lashes or lenses - just going to work), and I really like it! I think her make up suits my face better than most, so I can't wait to try it out sometime when I can really go all out!

I feel a little weird drawing inspiration from AV gyaru. In fact, I used to be really against it, and frown on people who did. But honestly, it just their profession, and you can't deny that they have very distinctive looks and style! I really like that about them! I love that they developed their own distinct "look" that is different from everyone else. I feel like a lot of models make up tends to look the same.

I've also found that its much easier for me to look gal if I go for a more extreme look. The lighter make up that's common in a lot of magazines I can't make look gal on my face. I just end up looking "normal", as a lot of people like to put it.

I can't wait to go shopping for new makeup after Christmas. We finally got a Sephora where I live, so maybe I can actually shop there a bit once I get some money!!

Things I need to buy:
♪ Mascara

♫ Brown/Neutral Eye shadow Pallete

♪ Stick Eyeliner
♫ Bottom & Top Lashes
♪ Eyebrow Gel
♫ Highlighting Make Up

I find it so hard to stray from what I normally buy when shopping for make up. Its easy with some items, like eye shadow, but mascara is hard! I'm very picky, and I don't want to waste $10! Does anyone have a recommended make up item or brand that they can't part with?

♪♫grimmy

My Make Up

My plans and back up plans completely fell through for today! But that's ok, its been thunder storming for the past couple days, so I don't really want to go out. And it left me with time to make a new post! Today I thought I'd share how I do my make up. This isn't meant as a tutorial or anything, just my routine. A friend has been asking me how I do my make up for a while now - and I thought it would be easier to make a post explaining.

My make up today was is inspired by the bolder colors I've seen Tsubasa wearing.

So let me start off saying that I'm no makeup expert, and I don't use anything fancy. Pretty much all of my makeup can be found at Target or Walmart. I also use these make up items everyday, so they aren't gonna look pristine and perfect!

 Speaking of not perfect! Ugh my skin is so broke out right now. I swear, I never got pimples until after I graduated high school! 

First I start out with a freshly washed and moisturized face!

Using Hard Candy concealer palette and Glamoflauge, Covergirl's tru blend foundation, and L'oreal's Hydra Perfect loose powder.

I start with the concealer palette, covering up discoloration under my eyes, around my nose, and any blemishes. Next foundation, and extra coverage Glamoflauge on any unsightly spots. Then finish with the powder.

Next up is contouring! I will be using all my eye shadows from this elf palette.

 Color is a bit off in this picture. 

I went for a lighter shade of brown than normal since I'm going to be wearing bright colors.

I shade starting at my inner eyebrows in a straight line all the way down, and stopping at my nostrils.

 Hard Candy blush in living doll, and Rimmel lipstick in pink blush.

Cheeks next! I love really pink cheeks. This Hard Candy blush is the best pink I've ever found, but its not enough for me! To make it really pop, and help it last longer, I draw circles on the apples of my cheeks with the lipstick, and blend. Then apply the blush over that. I only apply to the apples of my cheeks, blending outwards.

 Tada! Super pink.

Next: Eyeshadow.

 

 Using this yellow for upper lids, and blue for lower lash line.

 I think its necessary to use eye shadow primer when wanting bold eyes. I tried Lasplash eye shadow primer and sealer, and it worked so well! You can really see how it made the colors brighter! And I tried to wipe it off with a paper towel - the stuff without primer came right off, but the primed eye shadow is still on my hand!

 Rimmel's Glam'eyes liquid liner.

I really prefer liquid liner. I've given up long ago on stick liners. I like creme eyeliners you get in a tub ok, but it takes so long to get a really black line!

My eyes look so crooked here! >.<

Rimmel's Glam'eyes mascara

I LOVE this mascara. I used to be all about Covergirl's Lash Blast, but I found it dried up really fast and flaked.

 The wand takes a while to get used to, but I really like it now. It actually is really helpful with my "special technique."

 "Special technique" being that I also apply mascara to the backside of my lashes! This catches a lot of ends that I can't reach normally, and I've noticed it makes my lashes look longer and more voluminous. It can go on a little clumpy at first, but I just keep brushing until its all smoothed out. Rimmels mascara wand is really great at this! It definitely takes some practice, but it really helps me! Just make sure to do it while the mascara is still wet, or it will stay clumpy!

 With and without mascara.

 I add a little shimmer with Revlon's eyeshadow in glistening snow.

 Add this to the inner eye corners, and under the eyebrows.

Finishing touches!

 Hmm, which lashes to use?

 Love this color of lip stain by elf.

Finished product!

 Wearing my hardcandy house bow!

Before and after! Wow. I should never go without make up! >.>;;;;

 Close ups.

Some simple outfit shots. Not really anything worth mentioning, since I'm staying home. But I thought the top was cute, and I love my Abbey Dawn boyfriend pants!

In retrospect, this was probably a silly post to do since I've been so uncertain and experimental with my gal make up lately. I've been feeling like its time for a change. The old way I wore my make up (with a nose stripe, heavy white at inner corners, and tare me eye) I felt was just really uncomplimentary to my eye shape and I always thought I looked freaky when I saw myself in the mirror. So I've been trying something new practically every day.

 Does any one have any make up suggestions or tips?!