an [oomph] review. eshakti. 02

[i received one dress for purposes of review; opinions good or bad are 100% mine.]

in case you aren't familiar with eshakti, it is an online clothing retailer that provides fit and style customization. this is a great option for those who are shorter or taller than average, have a longer or shorter torso, or anything else that makes you special! for me, it's my height. everything is too long for my 5'-2" frame. you can also purchase standard sizes without any customization.

every item starts with a base, like this palm print maxi dress below. i loved the tropical print but felt it would be overwhelming for my height as a maxi dress. so...some customization was in order. i took the length to just above my knees and shortened the sleeves to 3/4 length. i also entered all of my measurements to get a more customized fit.

the result is below.

the dress turned out exactly as i ordered. the new length and shorter sleeves make the dress more wearable. it is also lined, so it has a nice weight to it, and the pockets are an added bonus!

looking at the original dress and my dress...what do you think? would you take advantage of a customization service like this? let me know in the comments!

in case you missed it:

eshakti review. 01

eshakti beach coverup

an [oomph] review. irresistible me diamond flat iron.

we always want what we don't have. as a kid, i had stick-straight asian hair. wanting curly hair, i remember trying to perm it a few times. that didn't work.

fast forward five years to intermediate school, and i now had slightly wavy hair with a bit of a frizz. now i wished it were straight. 

i've been ironing my hair ever since with either a curling iron or a flat iron. i was provided a Diamond Professional Flat Iron to review. its features and my thoughts are below.

this next-generation flat iron uses diamond hi-tech which coats its ceramic plates with crushed diamonds mixed with tourmaline. it claims to protect hair by retaining oils and moisture, and will provide longer-lasting styling against humidity and stress.

you can see the many features listed on the box above.

pros:

- adjustable temperature (up to 450 degrees F)

- super quick heat up (literally less than a minute)

- swivel cord (easy to move around)

- power/control buttons on inside (you won't accidentally turn it off or mess with heat settings)

- comfortable design (fits nicely in hand)

cons:

- auto shut off after 30 minutes. (mornings are a rush. sometimes i turn it on while doing other things to get ready. then when i'm ready to iron, i'll realize my hair is not getting flat...because it had turned off!)

- my iron doesn't close completely (there's a little gap, so you have to grab bigger sections of hair, which can take longer to straighten)

- although the plates are smooth to the touch, it doesn't glide smoothly along the hair for some reason.

before...washed and air-dried.

  after.

i don't like my hair too flat, so using a mid-range heat setting of 350, i'm able to iron out the slight waves in my hair while keeping some volume. in terms of frizz, i didn't feel that it kept my hair frizz-free longer. it is extremely humid here, and some days i felt as though my hair frizzed out as soon as i went outside.

overall, i liked the diamond flat iron and would recommend it to others. i can't say the diamond technology made my hair feel or look more shiny (compared to when using other flat irons), but it performed by straightening my hair. 

the diamond flat iron retails for $149 but is on (labor day) sale for $112!

Learn more about Irresistible Me:

website | instagram | facebook

best nail polish remover ever.

i received these Absolute nail polish remover pads way back in my november 2013 POPSUGAR must have box. i put them aside thinking they would be great for travelling and completely forgot about them.

assuming they were probably dried out, i almost tossed them. glad i didn't. not only were they still moist, but they worked really well! it claims to remove polish from all 10 nails with only one pad, and it does. in addition, it has a very light and pleasant scent that won't be offensive to others around you. i tend to do my nails late at night when others are sleeping, and this won't smell up the house. this is so easy to use...makes me wonder why i bothered with the bottle and cotton balls all these years!

have you tried nail polish remover pads?

what's your preference...liquid or pads?

you can see how thin the pads are here.

it easily removed the dark brown nail polish i had on for a while.

and again here with the pink polish.

(absolute nail polish remover pads available on amazon, here and here)

pros:

acetone free.

formulated with vitamin c & e.

pleasant smell.

affordable.

easy, no fuss, no mess.

portable, convenient.

cons:

available online only (at least for me in hawaii).

an [oomph.] review. hanes hosiery tights.

[i received these tights for the sole purpose of this review;

all opinions are 100% mine.]

fall is a great season for experimenting with layers and textures, especially when trying to extend the life of our summer wardrobes. an easy and affordable way to add a layer of warmth is with stockings and tights. there are so many patterns to choose from making this a fun way to show off your personality. a few years back, i was obsessed with polka dots and leopard prints!

this time, i swapped out my usual black tights for these Hanes matte opaque tights in green to add some fun fall color to my black outfit. i added a third color (camel) for dimension and a print (leopard) to break up the solid colors.

have you tried Hanes hosiery?

how do you express yourself with tights?

my thoughts on these matte opaque control top tights:

- they are durable and do not snag easily.

- they have a nice comfortable stretch.

(although control top will be snug)

- no sliding down throughout the day.

- nice vibrant color.

- affordable.

food from a recent art + flea event...bonfire pizza, katsudog, aloha pops.

(Hanes Matte Opaque Control Top Tights c/o; Forever 21 cardigan; Lulu's vegan leather top; Urban Outfitters Leather shorts; Nine West shoes; Love & Sunshine bag)

an [oomph] review + GIVEAWAY. 3D Cards.

in this age of technology, we forget how special and meaningful the act of sending hand-written cards can be. i love sending cards as much as i love receiving them, and there's nothing more satisfying than knowing my card might put a smile on someone's face; it makes me smile when i receive one.

i recently learned of 3D Cards, and while i've seen pop-ups before, i've never seen any as intricate as theirs. 3DCards.com.au is a boutique hand crafted paper business that produces pop-up card designs that are laser cut and hand assembled.

the cards are well-made and have a nice weight to them. i love their handmade quality which makes them truly unique and special. all cards come with envelopes and ship in nicely padded packages.

if you want your card to stand out, wow your friends and family with one of these beautiful pop-up cards. from birthdays to holidays to love & relationships and get wells, you will find a card for every occasion and personality.

do you own a business?
personalize your christmas cards with your company logo. take a look at this christmas tree...it's sure to impress!

check out these cards, then scroll down for a giveaway!

3D Flower Basket

3D Lotus Flower

3D Boat on Waves

some of my favorites from the site - the ferris wheel & clothesline.

GIVEAWAY

prize: enter to win a selection of 6 cards

(4 premium, 2 regular).

blog comment mandatory, all other entries optional.

open worldwide, ends 10/25

enter using the rafflecopter form below

can't wait? shop now.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

keep up with 3D Cards: facebook | instagram

an [oomph] review. eshakti.

[i received one dress for purposes of review; opinions good or bad are 100% mine.]

let me preface this post by saying that i have personally shopped at eshakti prior to this review and was more than pleased with the items i received. regardless of my feelings about this particular experience, i would still make future purchases as well as recommend the site to others.

i'm sure you're all familiar with eshakti, an online clothing retailer that provides fit and style customization. this is a great option for those who are shorter or taller than average, have a longer or shorter torso, or anything else that makes you special! for me, it's my height. everything is too long for my 5'-2" frame. you can also purchase standard sizes without any customization.

i selected this lace up cotton print dress. it's not my style, but of the items available to me at the time, this was the only one i felt i could make work...possibly a beach cover-up because of its boho vibe? 

the default length for this dress was 'above the knee', and per the diagram on the site, it literally grazed the top of the knee caps. because i'm short, i decided to shorten the length to 'mini' which is mid-thigh. the dress on the left is what i received.

i was told the dress was processed at 34.5" per my height. it hits my knees and is definitely not mini. they were more than happy to rectify this, so i took 5 inches off their measurement and requested a length of 29". based on the original dress, this would hit mid-thigh if not slightly longer.

the dress on the right is the new length. mini, for sure. too mini! we just couldn't get it right. i felt frumpy in the original dress, so the new length is definitely more wearable as a beach cover-up and for lounging at the beach house.

length aside, the dress was not what i expected with a texture i can't describe. it's stiff and the heavier material makes it hot. if you wanted to close the gaping neckline, the ties don't stay tied because the balls are too heavy, and eventually the straps around the neck and at the arms just become a tangled mess getting caught on everything.

whether you need customization or not, eshakti has many other great styles to choose from. check out the other beachy white dress i purchased. definitely one of my faves!

do you have the need to alter your clothes?

have you tried eshakti? if so, tell me about your experience.

a week of beauty. sephora haul + review.

sephora recently had their beauty insiders 15% off ticket,

so i picked up a few products i've been wanting to try.

here's what i got:

- beautyblender [pure for my sensitive skin]

- bite beauty agave lip mask

- obsessive compulsive cosmetics lip tar / matte in black dahlia

beautyblender pure, $20

i recently switched back to liquid foundation, so i decided to invest in a beautyblender. it does a nice job of applying the foundation evenly, and the end result feels lightweight. i used to use flat sponges (typically the ones that come with your makeup) to press and drag the makeup into my skin. after using the beautyblender to "bounce" the product into my skin, i can comparatively say that the beautyblender is much easier on the skin. is it worth it? yes. life changing? no. similar sponges would give you the same result for less money like this one by sephora ($13) and this one by real techniques ($6).

tips for using:

some people say that they end up using more product with the beautyblender. the type of foundation you use makes a difference. the sponge will naturally soak up liquid, so choose a foundation with a thicker consistency. if you pour a dab of liquid foundation on your hand and it immediately drips or runs, the beautyblender will soak it up and less product will make it to your face. 

tips for cleaning:

two words....ivory soap. don't wash your expensive products down the drain...literally! beautyblender has its own liquid ($18) and solid ($16) cleansers, and i've heard some people use their pricey face washes, like philosophy's purity ($23). if you want a cheaper alternative, ivory soap is pure (no synthetics) and simple and washes out easily. i used to bathe my kids with ivory, and if it's good enough for my kids, it's good enough for my brushes and sponges! baby shampoo works, too, if you have kids (and shampoo on hand). otherwise, you can get 10 bars of ivory for under $4 and use it for bathing, dish washing, and laundry!

bite beauty agave lip mask, $26

i've been desperate to find a product that works for my extremely dry and chapped lips. after hearing youtubers rave about this lip mask, i had to try it. this stuff works and keeps my lips hydrated all day. no more peeling!

it looks and feels like an ointment, is heavy but not uncomfortable, and has a nice scent. some may prefer to use it overnight, but i use it like a primer in the morning and apply my lipstick over it when i get to the office. it has a nice long-lasting shine if worn alone. although it's pricey, a little goes a long way. this little smudge on my finger is too much product for one application. is it worth it? yes. life changing? yes.

occ lip tar: matte in black dahlia, $18

i've been wanting a dark vampy red lip color, and i heard black dahlia was it. the product in the tube is intimidatingly dark, but one coat produces a beautiful radiant orchid shade (above). these lip tars are buildable and will easily give you that deep red with a couple of coats. the lip tar has great pigmentation, and lives up to the matte name. perfect for an event, particular look, or the runway.

the bad? they are super drying! it's like i took two steps forward with the agave lip mask, and one step back with the lip tar. my lips instantly dried up and peeled after using. (i expected some dryness with a matte product). you definitely need to use a lip primer (occ has their own here), and i had to apply lip balm to keep my lips moisturized throughout the day. the color also needed to be touched up after a few hours. because of the multi-step process (apply lip primer, unscrew cap, apply to brush, etc...) it would not be an everyday lip product for me. is it worth it? no. if you are looking for a deep red, try jordana matte lipstick in merlot. if you have tried regular or metallic occ lip tars, let me know your thoughts on those.

have you tried any of these products?

do you prefer brushes or sponges to apply your makeup?

shop the post:

an [oomph] review. Firmoo sunglasses.

spring and summer are around the corner...time to upgrade those sunglasses! i know many of you are experiencing some extreme winter conditions, and i'm virtually sending you some warm vibes from hawaii. meanwhile, cozy up in a warm blanket, and get online. Firmoo, the world's most popular online eyeglass store has a huge assortment of eyeglasses to choose from. every pair on the site can be prescription or non-prescription and tinted for sunglasses...and those are just a few of the many options available.

i love aviators, but my current pair is gold. i've been wanting one with a silver frame, so i searched Firmoo for silver + aviator and was directed to this pair. i was a little hesitant about the shape of this one, so i decided to 'try it on' by uploading my photo to the site. their virtual try-on system is a great tool that provides a realistic picture of what the glasses will look like on you. i was satisfied with what i saw, so i ordered them with a 60% tint.

my first experience with Firmoo was flawless,

so i did have some expectations this time around.

a few minor things:

1) my glasses took much longer to arrive,

although it was ordered during the busy holiday season.

2) i wish they had a visual chart showing the different tints;

i had to guess at the percentages. although i'm happy with

what i got, i would have liked a darker tint.

3) the glasses are too big (temple length). my fault,

i didn't pay attention to the measurements.  

if you are hesitant to order glasses online, check out

Firmoo's First Pair Free program. you can try a pair of [selected] glasses risk free.

already got your first pair? use code: rockoomphblogs4 

to get $30 off your next classic series pair.

even mini-he liked the sunglasses!

(Firmoo #FM09 aviator / silver / 60% tint)

have you purchased glasses from Firmoo?

tell me about your experience.

in case you missed it:

Firmoo glasses video review 

*i received one pair of glasses for the purpose of this review. opinions are 100% mine.