Benefit Cosmetics Vending Machine at JFK Airport

I’ve seen vending machines for tech products, such as iPods, phone chargers, headphones, etc (besides the drinks and snacks ones). But, a vending machine for MAKEUP??!!? Not yet… Until today!

While on a business trip, strolling around JFK airport’s Terminal 5, searching my gate, I happened upon this amazing new novelty machine, to me!

I noticed out of the corner of eyes, a cool, pink trolley, with the Benefit-like artwork all over. To my wonder, it IS a Benefit Cosmetic machine! Totally cool. Wish I saw this when I was walking out of the airport to my meeting. I forgot my lipgloss and traveling just makes your skin so dry. Even my lips were drug! I had to resort to my lipstick, which wasn’t as moisturizing.

I wonder how many people bought stuff from there. It would actually be helpful if you travel and forgot something at home.

Would you buy makeup from a vending machine?

Lash Extensions – My Experience

Every year, when it’s around my birthday, I go through a sort of “mid-life crisis” and feel the need to do something to myself (new haircut, boob jobs, nose jobs, etc – just kidding).

So, this year, I wanted to try something I’ve been wanting to try and heard so much about. LASH EXTENSIONS!

I saw a deal on Gilt City Boston for Lash L’Armour and decided to research them. Saw a ton of great positive reviews on Yelp (always research places before going or buying any deals). So, I decided to go for it and give lash extensions a try.

Got my Gilt voucher for “dramatic” option. Gia helped me. She was very friendly and gentle on my eyes. Before the procedure, she explained to me what she would be doing to my lashes. And as she works on my lashes, she talks to me about each and every step she is doing. And we also chit chat on other things.

The whole process took about two hours. Now, I know why it costs so much to get them done. I would be charging the same amount, if not more, for my time. It’s a very detailed-oriented procedure. Each extension is meticulously placed with glue to your individual natural lash.

She sectioned my lashes the way a hair dresser would section your hair, as she lay out the lashes.

I did love my new lash extensions after they were placed. The set included one free touch-up session within one week of the new set. So, I made an appointment to go back the next week.

As the week went on, I found the lashes to be annoying. I was careful with washing my face and not wearing mascara, even though you could wear mascara (just not waterproof ones). The fake lashes are plastic, so they’re a bit stiff and I felt like they were stabbing me in the eye. (And these are high-end ones. Not even sure how the really cheap ones would feel). And I don’t think I did a fantastic job of taking care of them.

After one week, they’re just too high-maintenance for me. I was afraid to use eyeliner on my eyes, since I’d have to use my eye makeup remover to remove them at night, and I was afraid to wipe my extensions away. On my free touch-up appointment day, I asked for them to be removed.

Gia had set only 30 minutes aside for the appointment, as it was supposed to be a touch-up appointment only. Luckily, Cynthia, the wonder, was there and happened to be free. So, she helped me removed my extensions.

What a great woman. She started her business at their Newton location, and expanded to the Newbury Street location (the one I went to).

She was very careful with the removal process, and it was quite painless.

My recommendation:

GET EXTENSIONS if:
1. You have a special occasion
2. Have time to spend grooming them every morning and night
3. Don’t mind the every 2/3 weeks upkeep
4. Have the money for the 2/3 weeks maintenance
5. Don’t use a lot of oil-based products

DON’T GET EXTENSIONS if:
1. Enjoy low-maintenance beauty care
2. Wear a lot of eye makeup
3. Like oil-based beauty product and eye makeup remover
4. Don’t have time/money for the upkeep

My take from this entire experience – I realized that I’m it quite as high-maintenance as I thought I am, and I’m just plan lazy. I want to just got home at night, use my eye makeup remover and then wash my face in my quick and easy way.

I would definitely go back to Lash L’Amour for extensions if I have a special occasion I’m attending.

Please let me know about your personal lash extension experience.

Hiking… In Style (as much as one could)!!!

I recently went on a hiking trip in the Mount Washington Valley area by North Conway with my boyfriend. We hiked 9.5 miles, in 7.5 hours. We started at 9am, and finished around 4:30pm. Boy, was it a difficult hike. It was well worth it though, when you see the view. We hiked up the Crawford Path, we summited Mt. Pierce, and we kept going and conquered Mt. Eisenhower as well! It was just AMAZING to be seeing the view from both of those peaks. (Photos below in this post).

 
Not that I’ve never hiked before. I have done some hiking. My first hike ever was when I was 19, Diamond Head, on Oahu with my sister Sally and my favorite uncle, Kevin. And when I lived in California, I did some hiking around the hills and the Mt. Tam area of northern California. But, I never really went on a hike as rigorous as this last one. Thank God, I have my boyfriend. When I told him that I want to go hiking this summer, he actually did research on proper hiking gear. I’m more spontaneous, and do not think things through as good as him. I thought, “Okay, I want to hike, so I’ll put on my hiking boots and some workout pants, and a water bottle. I don’t need anything else.” He got me to buy the clothes and gears to help me make it through the long hike. I am used to the easy trails that I used to do in California, and my hikes were like 2-3 hours max! If I want to hike Mt. Washington, I would need more than just those things.

When he told me I need proper hiking pants, and when I saw how ugly they are, I just couldn’t be bothered to wear them. BUT, I was able to find some more “fashionable” hiking pants. I bought The North Face Arches Pants on Backcountry.com, ON SALE, for $59.47 from $84.95. These pants are cool because they look great on, and they can be worn long, or converted to capri-style pants if you’re too hot. And they’re really stretchy, and does not restrict your movement. I actually tried these pants on at REI, and did not want to spend $89 on them. And when I saw that Backountry.com was having a sale on The North Face products, I went online and bought them! I got the brown color ones because I did not want black. I want to be able to find ticks on me, if any, and the black color makes it more difficult to see the ticks.

Another essential item for a long hike is good backpack. My boyfriend suggested that I get a CamelBak since their backpacks come with a water reservoir. He actually found CamelBak’s Helena Hydration Pack, on sale for $50.39 from $84 on Backcountry.com! They were last year’s style, but who cares? I love the bright yellow (so I can be easily spotted if I’m hurt or lost), and it fits everything I needed to have for my hike that day.

One thing I didn’t have with me, and I’m glad that my boyfriend did, was a pair of trekking poles. I had actually thought those things are only for OLD people. And boy, was I WRONG. He brought a pair of trekking poles, and gave me the right-side pole since he’s a lefty and I’m a righty. And THANK GOD for that pole. It really saved me knees. So, after this hike, I bought a pair of trekking poles from REI. I can’t wait to use them on my next hike!

Lastly, on this last hike, I had my old hiking boots that I’ve had for over 5 years. They really hurt my feet by the end of the day. So, this past weekend, my boyfriend and I went shopping for new hiking shoes. I had such a great shopping experience at the Eastern Mountain Sports store in Harvard Square, in Cambridge. The guy who works in the shoes department really knew what he was talking about. He tries on shoes every day and makes sure he really understand each pair of shoes that he wears, so he can properly recommend the shoes to their customers. Not that he’d tried on WOMEN’S shoes, but he really did know what he was talking about. After telling him the issues I had with my old boots, he had me try a few different pairs, and was very patient with me, and taught me how to properly try on the shoes. They even had a ramp for you to walk up and down on, so you can get a real feel for the shoes. I ended up walking out with a pair of Oboz’s Women’s Yellowstone BDRY. They were so comfortable. And the brown color matches the color of my hiking pants. I will definitely need to break them in before hiking Mt. Washington in September! I can’t wait to try out my new boots on a shorter hike one of these days.

Remember, always search all sites for the best pricing. I always find great deals on Backcountry.com and REI sends out an email every month to its members, offering 25% off one REI brand items, which is how I got my trekking poles at a discounted price! 🙂 Happy shopping!!!

Here are some pictures from our hike. I couldn’t just go hiking with some earthy-looking colors. I wanted to make sure I could be easily spotted if I was lost or fell somewhere, so I had a pink top to go with my bright yellow backpack. Don’t I look pro? 🙂