Last night, I was talking to my in-laws. I was inquiring as to what envelopes they had, and if we could have some of them, since they almost never write checks, and we have to all the time. But they didn't have the kind we wanted - specifically, security-covered check-sized envelopes.
I responded that we would just go to Amazon to buy them. My father-in-law chuckled.
Every day at my condo complex, hoards of packages come in. Boxes of all shapes and sizes come hither, bringing forth every good one could possibly imagine.
A lot of these customers are young people - people ranging from teenagers to those in their 30s and 40s. Young adults - millennials, as they say - get many, if not most, of their products off of this one site.
Even more than this, lots of other businesses are getting their "business" online. Clothing companies, pet box subscriptions, hardware stores and more - more and more products are being sold online instead of at brick-and-mortar stores.
Why is this? Who's winning? Who's suffering?
For one thing, it seems that millennials today are expected to do MUCH more work than previously expected. What I mean by this is that originally, with the advent of bigger and better technology, people thought that our lives would become easier. Instead, it has triggered a scale of invitations to have more responsibilities and other items to complete. Beforehand, people used to go to the library to look up topics in encyclopedias and journal articles. Now, we can access them at home.
But what is the trade-off? We do have more access to such media. But we are expected, instead, to have more responsibilities. We are allotted shorter amounts of time to access such things and are expected to produce more output, ever day.
Case in point is the modern working mom. My mom works a 60-hour a week job, but still has the responsibilities of all of the cooking and cleaning in the house. (My dad's culinary skills are terrible. Nobody wants to eat what he makes anyway.) How is she able to do this? She multi-tasks almost all of the time - starting the laundry as soon as she gets home, programming the oven so that it automatically turns on/off so that food is not undercooked or overcooked, using a high-tech rice cooker with both "cook" and "keep warm" settings, etc. At the end of the day, she sets on both the laundry machine and the dishwasher so that another load of laundry could be done, and the dishes would be washed overnight.
Her mother, a generation ago, was a full-time homemaker. She needed all of the time during the day, 24/7, to do all of the chores and cooking. She needed more time to change diapers, because she had to wash cloth diapers - unlike the luxury my mom had with disposable diapers. Laundry had to be washed entirely by hand. Technology was less advanced, and that meant that less things could be done at the same time.
Mind you - this was a long time ago, perhaps during the second world war era. So technology wasn't as great as it was now.
But the point is that, despite the fact that my mom needs a lot less time to perform such responsibilities than her mother, she (my mother) is bombarded with more responsibilities in addition. Her full-time job to "bring home the dough" takes up time, and she is also expected to do other things, such as type at a computer, text her children with tons of emojis, etc.
Which gets me back to my original point. Today's generation - nay, everyone living in today's technological world - is expected to do more things. Need to buy groceries? Don't go to the grocery store - use Amazon Pantry instead, so you can save time to do something else. Need a new couch? Don't make the drive out to Ikea - just look online at the reviews and pick one that is to your liking. Even simple things such as buying a present for someone requires only a search and the click of a button, rather than a trip to the mall, complete with used time and gas, etc.
But instead of saying "Yipee! We have more free time!", instead, we are bombarded with more responsibilities. Instead of using that extra time to relax, we're expected to spend more time on our jobs and obtain even more responsibilities than before. For example, as a student, life is filled with endless studying and working at the hospital. When I get home, I run the dishwasher and the laundry, load after load, while cleaning the floor and making coffee by the pot. I continue running the delicates while looking at a book - a book on the iPad. The husband, at work, runs tons of tests on machines at the same time, due to the sheer fact that many, many virtual machines are available for use. He isn't just using ENIAC. He's using i9 or whatever.
So ultimately, what wins? Whose lifestyle and responsibilities are better? Honestly, I don't know. Life is what life is. We are just simply inculcated to the responsibilities we are given. At the end of the day, we just have to do what we need to do. And that's that.
Showing posts with label Shopping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Shopping. Show all posts
Stuff I've used up + mini-reviews
I don't normally do these posts often (because it takes me quite awhile to use stuff up) but here's a list of recent products that I've finished as well as my thoughts on them.
EOS Lip Balm in Strawberry Sorbet - this is quite nice of an addition to the (giant pile of) lip glosses/balms I currently use. It's very light-weight and tastes/smells like strawberry shortcake. It's also very pretty, does not make my lips feel gritty, and glides on smoothly. The downside is that the bottom of the product is very hard to get out - I literally had to cut apart the bottom plastic holder using scissors and scoop out the product into another lip balm stick (think Chapstick tube) in order to use all of the product up without any waste. Kind of inconvenient. Also, although the packaging is cute, it is a bit hard to store in a bag or other place with its cylindrical design.
Yes to Grapefruit Naturally Smooth Lip Balm - this is also a light-weight lip balm that has kept my lips quite happy over the course of a few months. It's got a slightly heavier feeling than the EOS lip balms but also provides more moisturization to the lips. The grapefruit smell is very appealing (perhaps not the people who take meds messing with the Cytochrome P450 system though... grapefruit essentially cancels out the meds' effects... more on that later). I received this product a PR campaign/giveaway. This product costs $2.99 a pop and honestly doesn't last that long (much less than the EOS lip balm) so I can't say it's truly efficacious when it comes to pricing.
Kipling Large Organizer Brownie Wallet in True Blue - I received this wallet as a birthday present from a dear friend 4 years ago and have used it steadily since then. Recently though, the wallet started coming apart (the inside walls/shells became flimsy) and also, the wallet became stained and gross due to stuffs I've put in my purse over the years. I tried washing the wallet but it just came completely apart. It's a very good nylon wallet with 12+ pockets, a coin compartment, and a TON of space for bills, ID cards, and other stuffs. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to store his/her checkbook but wants to store just about everything else in it. It was definitely worth it as it costs $26 on Amazon and lasts for years (4 years in my experience).
ELF Studio Tone Correcting Powder - I bought this powder 4 years ago and, despite regular use, only recently finished it. That's a long time! This $3 product has served me well over the years, helping correct skin tone and balancing out the yellow sallow/reddish/bluish areas of my skin.
Here's what it ended up looking like at the end:
Neutrogena Make-up remover Cleansing Towelettes - These little buggers are very good at removing makeup. Even waterproof makeup. They've been very useful during my recent travels and also are pretty soft on the skin. The downside is that they're pretty hard to store as (1) you have to put them upside down in order for the cloths to retain their moisture and (2) the top sticker to keep the wipes inside the pack is pretty flimsy (think baby wipe boxes to keep baby wipes from getting dried up). They're pretty cheap at Costco at $14-18 for 114 wipes so honestly, as long as you store them upside down, they're a bargain.
Yes to Grapefruit Correct & Repair Facial Wipes - these makeup wipes are also very effective at removing makeup but they're a bit pricier than the Neutrogena ones. At $5.99 for 25, they are 24 cents each as compared to the Neutrogena ones (15 cents each). I personally don't like these as much because the grapefruit scent/chemicals burn my eyes when used around the eye area. Sensitive skinned people bewarned.
FTC: The Yes to Grapefruit lip balm was generously given to me by Yes To via PR and a giveaway. All other products were purchased with my own money or gifted by family/friends. All opinions are honest and my own. I am not sponsored by any companies (although it would be nice to be sponsored!)
 |
| Link |
EOS Lip Balm in Strawberry Sorbet - this is quite nice of an addition to the (giant pile of) lip glosses/balms I currently use. It's very light-weight and tastes/smells like strawberry shortcake. It's also very pretty, does not make my lips feel gritty, and glides on smoothly. The downside is that the bottom of the product is very hard to get out - I literally had to cut apart the bottom plastic holder using scissors and scoop out the product into another lip balm stick (think Chapstick tube) in order to use all of the product up without any waste. Kind of inconvenient. Also, although the packaging is cute, it is a bit hard to store in a bag or other place with its cylindrical design.
 |
| Link |
Yes to Grapefruit Naturally Smooth Lip Balm - this is also a light-weight lip balm that has kept my lips quite happy over the course of a few months. It's got a slightly heavier feeling than the EOS lip balms but also provides more moisturization to the lips. The grapefruit smell is very appealing (perhaps not the people who take meds messing with the Cytochrome P450 system though... grapefruit essentially cancels out the meds' effects... more on that later). I received this product a PR campaign/giveaway. This product costs $2.99 a pop and honestly doesn't last that long (much less than the EOS lip balm) so I can't say it's truly efficacious when it comes to pricing.
 |
| Link |
Kipling Large Organizer Brownie Wallet in True Blue - I received this wallet as a birthday present from a dear friend 4 years ago and have used it steadily since then. Recently though, the wallet started coming apart (the inside walls/shells became flimsy) and also, the wallet became stained and gross due to stuffs I've put in my purse over the years. I tried washing the wallet but it just came completely apart. It's a very good nylon wallet with 12+ pockets, a coin compartment, and a TON of space for bills, ID cards, and other stuffs. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who doesn't want to store his/her checkbook but wants to store just about everything else in it. It was definitely worth it as it costs $26 on Amazon and lasts for years (4 years in my experience).
 |
| Link |
Here's what it ended up looking like at the end:
I had to throw this product out because (1) It was loosing its sanitary purposes and (2) it was not working very well as a (not finely milled) loose powder product. It was also getting hard to store because the powder was coming off and making "poofy clouds" everywhere whenever I used it. I did like it though, and it had a good run.
 |
| Link |
Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara Mini - I received this product as part of a Sephora gift with purchase awhile ago. This mascara is the best non-waterproof mascara I have ever used. Seriously. It gives a ton of volume as well as length, and doesn't give crazy racoon eyes at the end of the day. I guess the thing is that high-end non-waterproof mascaras work better than their drugstore counterparts (at least in my recent experience). It is quite pricey though - $20 for the full-size product on Sephora's website.
 |
| Link |
Avalon Organics Vitamin C Renewal Vitality Facial Serum - I purchased a pack of 2 on Amazon. (Amazon is the place to go!) I had seen this product on shelves at Whole Foods but for the longest time hesitated to purchase the product due to its rather pricey price. Honestly, I'm kind of ambivalent about this product because (1) at the beginning it made me break out due to its long list of oils and other ingredients and (2) there are other, more pure vitamin C products out on the market. Granted, I do like the fact that the product was not tested on animals (do humans count as "animals" in this case?). I'm not exactly sure whether it makes my skin have less wrinkles and other anti-aging effects (as evidenced by the amount of wrinkles on my forehead) but it does provide a power boost for my sunscreen every morning.
 |
| Link |
Tree Hut Shea Moisturizing Shower Wash in Brazilian Nut - this product literally reminds me of chocolate. Breathable chocolate in body wash form. Given my chocoholic tendencies, I love it. I bought this product on sale at Kroger for $3.84 a pop and really enjoy the moisturizing texture and tasty aroma. This product is usually pretty pricey for a drugstore body wash (around $7.50 a bottle) but honestly at the discounted price, it is definitely worth it.
 |
| Link |
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Perversion - this is one of the best waterproof eyeliners I've ever used. It is very matte black and stays on a long time. I like using this in my waterline as well as as an over-the-eye eyeliner when wearing glasses. It also brings ton of color output when tightlining. I got this as part of an Ipsy bag quite awhile ago. The product is super creamy and glides on like butter. I've even used it to apply Halloween makeup on dpod_the_owl (dressed up as a pirate)! It is a pricey product at $20 a pop, but I honestly think it's worth it.
 |
| Link |
Neutrogena Make-up remover Cleansing Towelettes - These little buggers are very good at removing makeup. Even waterproof makeup. They've been very useful during my recent travels and also are pretty soft on the skin. The downside is that they're pretty hard to store as (1) you have to put them upside down in order for the cloths to retain their moisture and (2) the top sticker to keep the wipes inside the pack is pretty flimsy (think baby wipe boxes to keep baby wipes from getting dried up). They're pretty cheap at Costco at $14-18 for 114 wipes so honestly, as long as you store them upside down, they're a bargain.
 |
| Link |
Yes to Grapefruit Correct & Repair Facial Wipes - these makeup wipes are also very effective at removing makeup but they're a bit pricier than the Neutrogena ones. At $5.99 for 25, they are 24 cents each as compared to the Neutrogena ones (15 cents each). I personally don't like these as much because the grapefruit scent/chemicals burn my eyes when used around the eye area. Sensitive skinned people bewarned.
Okay, so there were the products that I used up recently. Feel free to give any of them a try!~
(And if you do, please leave a comment describing your experience!)
~Lucy
Massive haul
I don't do many haul videos but lately I've purchased several products and I feel that it is a good time to post everything.
I'll go through all of the products in separate categories.
Hair/body products (Left to Right):
Pureology Haircare: 1.7 fl oz shampoo, 1.7 fl oz conditioner, 1 fl oz Instant Levitation Mist. Prices are around $50 for 33.8 fl oz of the shampoo and conditioner and $26 for 4.9 fl oz of the mist at Online Drugstore and Ulta, respectively.
Shiseido Refreshing Sun Protection Spray for Body & Hair Broad Spectrum SPF 16: $30 for 5.2 fl oz at Nordstrom
Nad's Facial Wax Strips: $5 for 24 strips on Online Drugstore
BioInfusion Keratin Silk Smoothing Serum: $8 for 4 fl oz on Online Drugstore
Bath & Body Works Ribbon Candy Anti-Bacterial Deep Cleansing Hand Soap: Discontinued, Normal price $14 for 8 fl oz on Amazon
Face products (Left to Right):
Missha Near Skin Extra Renew Cleansing Foam: $18 for 150 ml on MisshaUS (I purchased it during a sale, for $9 instead)
Olay Foaming Face Wash for Sensitive Skin: $5 for 7 fl oz on Online Drugstore
Neutrogena Sensitive Skin Broad Spectrum SPF 60+: $9 for 3 fl oz on Online Drugstore
Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream SPF 42 PA+++ in No 23: $30 for 50 ml on MisshaUS (Currently there is a sale, BOGO Free)
Alba Hawaiian Facial Mask w/ Papaya Enzyme: $13 for 3 fl oz on Online Drugstore
Lip products (Top to Bottom):
Maybelline SuperStay 10 Hr Stain Gloss in Berry Heavenly & Pink Plush: $7.51 for 0.35 fl oz on Online Drugstore
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Black Honey: Free deluxe sample from Sephora (original price is $15 for 0.07 fl oz)
Eye products:
Urban Decay Vintage 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils in Gunmetal and El Dorado: Original price was $19 each but currently on sale for $9.50 each on Urban Decay website
Tools + Miscellaneous (Left to Right):
ELF Mechanical Eyelash Curler: $1 on EyesLipsFace
Daiso White Cotton Swabs: $3.00 for 350 ct, local Japanese drugstore
L'Eau De Missha perfume sample, free
London 2012 Olympics keychain: gift from friend
Haul! + other Random things
DHC Deep Cleansing Oil (gift)
My Beauty Diary masks, Black Pearl (99 Ranch Market)
My Beauty Diary masks, 7 mask combo (99 Ranch Market)
Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque (repurchase)
Compressed Face Masks (Ebay)
Blue Lizard Sunscreen (Amazon)
MAC Glitz Gloss in Girl's Got It (gift)
Clinique Moisture Surge Intense (Sephora gift)
Maybelline's Colossal Cat Eyes Mascara in Glam Black, Waterproof (Kroger)
Hair clips (Ebay, similar)
Awesome Groupons
/
Thursday, October 11, 2012 /
Posted in
Shopping
Lately I've been loving Groupon.
For those who don't know, Groupon is a super cool discount/savings sight where you can get restaurant deals, furniture deals, vacation packages, massage/spa packages, jewelry, food, you name it - for huge discounts. I've seen even surgery (LASIK and liposuction) packages on there. At first, I thought it was just a scam. But lately, I've seen things really pop up, and it seems to be pretty legit.
I just purchased my first deal on Groupon. I just bought a Swarovski necklace for $8 - normally priced at $75. That's a 89% in savings!
Wow.
All right, here's the shameless plug: if you're interested, please sign up using my code: http://www.groupon.com/l/uu45036177. I know, I know - but for ANYONE who joins with your code (after you get an account) and make a purchase, you will get a $10 credit as well. Yes, I know. But I think life should be lived a little, right?
I hope to be getting my Swarovski necklace soon!
For those who don't know, Groupon is a super cool discount/savings sight where you can get restaurant deals, furniture deals, vacation packages, massage/spa packages, jewelry, food, you name it - for huge discounts. I've seen even surgery (LASIK and liposuction) packages on there. At first, I thought it was just a scam. But lately, I've seen things really pop up, and it seems to be pretty legit.
I just purchased my first deal on Groupon. I just bought a Swarovski necklace for $8 - normally priced at $75. That's a 89% in savings!
Wow.
 |
| Source |
(I got the red one)
All right, here's the shameless plug: if you're interested, please sign up using my code: http://www.groupon.com/l/uu45036177. I know, I know - but for ANYONE who joins with your code (after you get an account) and make a purchase, you will get a $10 credit as well. Yes, I know. But I think life should be lived a little, right?
I hope to be getting my Swarovski necklace soon!
Products I've used up and repurchased
Here are some things that I've liked so much that I've repurchased. Throughout the course of several years, ever since I first started going into skincare and makeup products. I'm not going to give reviews for them, since for most of them I've already reviewed them in previous posts, or will review them in future posts.
1. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, $5.49, 6 oz
2. Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, $4.71 for 8 oz
3. ELF Mineral All-Over Eyeshadow Brush, $5
4. Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer, SPF 15, $10
5. Carmex Moisturizing Lip Balm, $1.50
6. Clean & Clear Dual Action Oil-Free Moisturizer, $6
7. Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliners (all) $18 (individually)
8. Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer, Cream Light 4-5, ($6, discontinued, but you can still find it on Amazon and Ebay)
9. ELF Eyelash Curler, $1
10. Covergirl Eye Enhancers 1-Kit Shadows, $3.50 (all shades)
So there ya go, 10 products that I think are pretty awesome. Enjoy!
<3
Sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10
1. Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash, $5.49, 6 oz
2. Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque, $4.71 for 8 oz
3. ELF Mineral All-Over Eyeshadow Brush, $5
4. Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisturizer, SPF 15, $10
5. Carmex Moisturizing Lip Balm, $1.50
6. Clean & Clear Dual Action Oil-Free Moisturizer, $6
7. Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliners (all) $18 (individually)
8. Maybelline Dream Mousse Concealer, Cream Light 4-5, ($6, discontinued, but you can still find it on Amazon and Ebay)
9. ELF Eyelash Curler, $1
10. Covergirl Eye Enhancers 1-Kit Shadows, $3.50 (all shades)
So there ya go, 10 products that I think are pretty awesome. Enjoy!
<3
Sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10
