The consumer culture that we live in is our worst enemy. Companies push products out constantly! In order to entice people to buy them, PR firms, marketing agencies, & tons of ads are produced. Celebrities that the common people look up to are used to endorse products. The result? People wishing to buy products that they can't afford to, which can lead to consumer debt!
It's not that we don't recognize that the media is bombarding us with ads for products that we "need". In my opinion, it's just that to this date, our generations have not effectively learned how to critically analyze what the media tells us from a young age. So we find ourselves trapped in a culture where most of us want to live the luxurious lifestyles that we see celebrities living, but we just don't have the money to.
I find myself trapped in such a consumer culture.
This summer I plan on vacationing in Dubai, U.A.E & in a few cities in India. I've started thinking of what I want to take on my trip & I have to say.. whoever came up with the concept of
must have been crazy! Haha, okay definitely not crazy.. in fact, they must have been very smart because I've already realized that traveling light is probably one of the hardest things to do! I mean, look at the amount of things that I have on my wishlist already..
Wedding + vacation = tons of pictures! Isn't that a bit too obvious? I currently own a Sony CyberShot & Nikon P80. The Nikon is big to carry around at all times & the Sony is old, so I've been looking for a new compact point-&-shoot camera & so far the Canon Powershot S90 looks promising.
Aldo gladiators in Chantha (black synthetic)
Summer vacationing means a lot of walking around & for that I'll need comfy shoes. These ones at Aldo are stylish, yet practical.
Sunglasses
I never buy expensive glasses. I'm one of those people who likes changing things up all the time, so usually each summer I buy 2 pairs of sunglasses. This year, I want to buy a good pair because I get headaches easily in the summer. I LOVE these Louis Vuitton ones, but I don't think I'm willing to spend that much on sunglasses just yet.
Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler
Ever since the first time that I used an eyelash curler, I've used it every day (with the exception of a few days of course)! It's definitely a staple in my make-up routine/bag. I've heard rave reviews about the Shu Uemura & Shiseido eyelash curlers, so I'd love to try one of those. I know they're a bit pricey, but for something that you use everyday & it doesn't pinch your skin or give you bent/L-shaped eyelashes, they would definitely be worth the price.
Z-Palette (large)
I cannot express how convenient this product is! Not only can you depot all your eyeshadows into one magnetic palette, but the cover is clear so you can see what's in the palette without having to add extra labels or open the palette to see what's inside. So it's obvious why I want one of these especially while traveling. You can either put all your depotted shadows in a palette, or make a palette with your face powder, blush, (neutral) eyeshadows, etc. all in one palette that you can carry around with you everyday. The Z palette comes in 3 different colours: black, pink, & a zebra print. I want 2 of these palettes & the colours that I would choose would be black & the zebra print.
Evian Facial Spray
The summer can easily make you tired. What better way to pick you up than a facial spray? I have a picture of the Evian spray up, which is in an aerosol can but I would love to get a facial mist that comes in a spray bottle so I can customize it by adding a few drops of peppermint oil, lemon juice, & other oils as well.
Hype Mia Tote in Aztec 2 or Smoke
No girl can have enough bags, but I fell in love with this tote as soon as I saw it. Too bad it was for $270 & there was no way I was paying that much especially since I knew nothing about the brand. The colour that I saw in the store was the one above & it's called Aztec 2, however, since it's so bright & wont match with everything I'd probably get it in the colour Smoke. I want a bag that will match most outfits & I want it to be exactly like that: with smaller handles but I can wear it with the strap across my body as well. I want a bag so big so that I can carry everything with me including my sunglasses, facial spray, bottled water, camera, mini makeup pouch, & whatever else I think I might need.
Swarovski:
Stonehenge Black Diamond Mini Pendant
Holy Night Pierced Earrings
I love how casual the pendant is. I've seen the larger one on a black string & it looks gorgeous. The one I have above comes with a chain (for a more formal look) or a black string (that will give the pendant a very casual look). I want something that I can wear most of the time & I love how chic this one looks.
I've neglected my big earrings ever since I've started university & even though I'm not a big fan of star earrings, these caught my eye because they're perfect for everyday wear. Usually when I find a pair of earrings that I like, I stick to them till I wear them out. Currently, I sport diamond-like studs every day. It gets boring, but I have them out on my dresser & just put them on every morning.
Valentino Watch
I can't get this Valentino watch out of my head. It's just so pretty! It's not very practical since you might not be able to tell the time because of the small dial, but it's too cute to pass. Plus, I've been getting into watches lately since I wear one everyday now, so any sexy watch would probably make it on my wishlist!
OPI Nail Lacquer in Done Out in Deco
I have the small, sample size bottle in this & I love the shade. It's a beautiful dusty lavender shade. If you're familiar with OPI nail lacquers, it's a little darker that
Do You Lilac It? A lot of people love Do You Lilac It? but I think Done Out in Deco suits my skin tone better. Plus, it's the perfect shade for spring!
Lancome Hypnose Mascara
I highly doubt that I'll be wearing a lot of makeup in a lot of heat, so I'll opt for fresh looks instead & for that a good mascara is a must! Lancome's Hypnose is said to be one of the best mascaras on the market, which is why it made it on my list.
Blush Brushes: Angled & Retractable
If you asked me about one beauty product that I cannot live without, it would be blush! So it should come as no surprise that a good blush brush is important as well. The blush brush that I currently use is from a Sephora travel set. I love it & in order to protect the bristles from going bad or bending, I still put the plastic covering on the brush after each use.. crazy, I know! That's why I would love to have a good, soft, retractable blush brush. If it's angled, it would be even better, or I could probably just get an angled one to keep at home.
MAC Blacktrack Fluidline gel liner
I've heard so much about gel & creme eyeliners, but I've never used them. I've heard they last really long, which is great in the hot weather when you feel like all your makeup is melting off your face, haha!
Angled Eyeliner Brush
If I get a gel or creme eyeliner, I'll need an eyeliner brush as well & I've heard that the angled brushes are easier to use.
NARS blush
I ♥ blush! & that's why I'd like to try NARS, since it's supposed to be AMAZING. The colours that I would like to try would be (in no particular order) Outlaw, Amour, Dolce Vita, Lovejoy, Sin, & Oasis. Yes, it's a pricey product again but if a little goes a long way, then it's worth it!
Urban Decay Primer Potion
For the times when I do wear eyeshadow, I'll probably need UDPP to stop my eyeshadows from creasing. I don't have that problem now & it usually takes hours before my eyeshadow creases, but I think it might be a problem in the heat.
Coastal Scents 88 matte palette
& lastly, for those special occasions when I need a full makeup face, I'd like to have every eyeshadow colour possible on my hands. Since I don't want to be traveling with a gazillion eyeshadows & a lot of palettes filled with depotted eyeshadows, I'd love to take this palette with me!
& that's it.. for now! Told you my wishlist was long.
So do you believe that hegemonic ideas, which tell people what products to buy in order to portray a certain image of themselves have taken over our lives? On a less serious note, what are some products that you're itching to get your hands on?
