HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Hope you're all having a wonderful holiday with your friends & family! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

Sephora Favorites Give Me More Lip Set

Hello beauties! I was so excited when I got the Sephora Give Me More Lip ($59.00) set in the mail. Every year I look forward to Sephora favorites (they get better and better). 

The 2014 Give Me More Lip set contains 17 lip mini's that range from lipstick to balms to stains, in shades of reds, berries, nudes and pinks. 

This set is absolute LOVE! See swatches below. 

Bold Lipstick; a Mac Impassioned Review

I like lipsticks. In fact, I am guilty of hoarding a bunch of lipsticks I rarely use. I think many women can attest to that because we just absolutely love having a color to choose from at our leisure. In my case, there was a period when I was collecting bold lipsticks for when "that special occasion" would arise. Like a fine wine, I stored each special lipstick in a dry, cool tempered drawer with the lippies housed in their original packaging for safekeeping. 

It wasn't until recently that I started to wonder what the point is to keep them and not use them! So i unboxed them all, and put them with the rest of my lippies. Instead of saving them for an occasion, I decided to use one of my favorites, Mac Impassioned, for a night out that's anything but "glam" - an NBA game! As in the home of hot dogs, chicken strips, fries and a bunch of other yummy eats that is lipstick unfriendly ;) It didn't matter because the shade is so gorgeous and shouldn't be locked away.

Impassioned is a classic fuchsia shade in Mac's permanent range of lipsticks. After seeing this shade on so many people, a particular Korean celeb caught my eye. Jeon Ji Hyun sported a similar fuchsia/bright pink in the drama My Love From Another Star. While I never watched the drama, she was the inspiration for many looks recreated by bloggers. I have to admit, I cannot stop staring at her lips. It's gorgeous! 

Impassioned was the most similar color I could find. The lipstick is so hydrating, and has a gorgeous buttery texture. Since it's an amplified shade, the pigmentation is strong. To make it more wearable for the day, I would suggest using a darker pink, or red gloss to soften the bright neon look of fuchsia. 

I used Starlooks lip pencil in Tipsy as a base to keep the strong lip as long lasting as possible.

Readers, do you like bold lipsticks? Do you tone them down for work/school or save them for special occasions? :)

How to: Deep Clean Your Makeup Brushes in a Few Easy Steps

I have to be one to admit... I don't like dishing out a lot of time to clean my makeup brushes. I really don't. It takes a lot of time, energy and willingness that I do not have. But it's a chore that needs to be done for the health of your skin, as well as your brushes. Brushes accumulate lots of dirt, and oil and bacteria from daily usage and the best way to combat it is to simply clean them. In my case, I like to deep clean them for maximum efficiency.

Also, I do not like to spend lots of money on brush cleaners so I make my own solution. It's as easy as buying it, but without the cost.

So here's what you'll need:

1. Bowl

2. Dirty Brushes

3. Disinfecting Soap (I use dish detergent but you can use any antibacterial soap)

4. A silicon "wash board" (more on that later)

5. Microfiber towel or regular towel

Step 1:

Pour a few droplets of soap into the dish. Mix water and soap together to create a antibacterial wash for your brushes. 

2. Swirl your brush in round circle motions to loosen the dirt and grime. 

3. Get a better clean with this silicone wash board. This is essentially an oven glove with ridges. I bought mine at Daiso and you can find these at any discount stores or home stores. Using your brush that's dipped in the soapy solution, run your brush up and down and in circle motions. The ridges will get the dirt that's trapped in the brushes. This is is the "deep cleaning" part. 

5. Rinse your brush in cold water to remove the soap and any loosened dirt. Dry it with your microfiber cloth. Pump a bit of argan oil to condition the fluffy brushes. This will keep the bristles from drying out!

I used Eden's Pure Moroccan argan Oil but you can certainly use any oil you have available, including coconut, jojoba or good old EVOO.

And that's it!!! It's easy as pie and effective. Let your brushes air dry and they'll be ready and waiting for you in a few hours!

What methods do you have in cleansing your brushes? Do share! 

Lorac Mega Pro Palette: Swatches and Review!

Lorac Mega Pro Palette - $59, exclusively sold at Lorac, and Amazon

I know this is a bit early but I was so delighted when i got it in the mail I couldn't stop using it! It's so pretty! I am a sucker for neutrals, and am a bigger sucker for LE palettes that come out around the holidays.

This is actually my first experience with Lorac. I haven't used anything from the brand before and I've contemplated on getting their pro palettes way too many times than I can remember. Because I am new to Lorac, this palette comes as a great alternative to the pro I and II because it's like a mixture of both palettes in one. 

On ordering: I had the most frustrating experience when ordering. On the date of launch, there wasn't a set time the palette would be released so a large part of it was that there was no content other than "COMING SOON" on their website. So I checked every hour or so, and it wasn't until close to noon that I finally saw the "add to cart" option available. I was originally going to order through Amazon and get Prime shipping but that was impossible because it kept going out of stock and then reappearing in stock only to show errors. It was so dodgy I ended up going through their website. I also had questions about charges being taken out of my CC and no one at Lorac was able to answer it - by phone, or email. I am kind of disappointed at that. I mean, this should be at the top of their list despite how busy they are with orders.

And now onto the happy part...the palette!

Cream - off white, bright matte shade. Extremely chalky, with a lot of fall out.

Fawn - cream beige, soft, silky. matte. Lots of fall out as well.

Camel - a light butter brown, matte. Very silky. Not so much fallout.

Sepia - Reddish matte brown. Nice finish, silky texture.

White - Bright white shade, cool undertone. Matte.

Khaki - A beautiful light brown, has a satin-like finish and a soft buttery texture

Brown - A true brown with a matte finish.

Stone - A unique grey with a subtle hints of plum. Matte finish.

Dusty Plum - Has a really pretty reddish tinge. True to name!
Orchid - A bright lavender, soft focus finish. Matte.
Mulberry - A dusty rose shade with a bit of plum. Matte finish, buttery soft texture.
Espresso - Really dark brown black. Has an almost satin finish. Very powdery, highly pigmented.

Lilac - A gorgeous cool toned lavender. Bright matte finish.
Wisteria - Seems to be a mix of purple and grey, a little muddy looking. Not my favorite.
Gray - This is not a true grey. This is more of a charcoal grey with blue tones. Powdery finish.
Black - True to name. Semi satin finish but mostly matte.

Opal - Champagne gold with a metallic finish. Bright. Ethereal.
Sand - Peachy gold and shimmery with a metallic finish.
Copper - Pretty brown with gold shimmers. Metallic finish.
Sienna - A medium brown with a bright shimmery/frost finish.

Vanilla - White with a silver frost finish.
Cashmere - A golden shade with a pretty gold finish. Frost.
Smokey Topaz - Metallic medium brown with a shimmery frost finish
Dusty Rose - A reddish brown with a shimmer finish.

Apricot - A dusty copper shade with silver shimmers. So beautiful!
Blush - A cool toned pink with a frosty finish. Lots of fall out, very powdery.
Merlot - A warm reddish brown with plum undertones. Metallic finish. Gorgeous shade!
Indigo - This is a gorgeous dark blue with light blue shimmers. Bold color. A bit glittery though.

Granite - Dark brown with shimmers.
Maroon - Reddish brown, soft warm color.
Deep Teal - Blue/Grey  shade with a muddy color payoff. Not the prettiest.
Caviar - A blue black shade. Inky color, soft buttery texture.

All in all, this is a gorgeous value packed palette. What I've noticed is that the light shades have a ton of fall out, and are usually powdery. The darker shades have a buttery, silky texture with better pigmentation and lasting power.

I like that there is a great combination of matte shades as well as shimmery ones. All have good color payoff if you build it up but the lighter shades need a bit more work. The shimmery colors are gorgeous, especially Indigo! It's got a really worldly sheen to it and reminds me of Revlon's Galaxy nail lacquer.

Lorac has done a good job with this holiday palette. It's professionally made with attention to shade ranges. There was a lot of blending of colors, and each shade is unique as their names. I would highly recommend this palette for a collector and for someone who loves the Urban Decay Naked palettes as much as I do. Mega Pro is unique and has a great blend of shades that step just right outside the neutral zone without going over too much.

Readers, have you or will you be purchasing the Lorac Mega Pro Palette?

Deals & Steals: Concealer!

I'm going to keep this post simple and talk about two concealers that I think are quite comparable and very similar. 

I'm a huge fan of the Lancome EFFACERNES - Waterproof Protective Undereye Concealer - HUGE fan. I feel like the concealer is top notch quality and is super blendable and so natural looking. It's highly pigmented but it doesn't look harsh. However, for around $30 USD and only .50 oz worth of product, it definitely gets a bit pricey to replenish! 

In comes the solution! After searching high and low for a concealer that's "just right", as in, not too pigmented that it looks caked on, not too sheer that it's pointless, i've finally settled on a happy medium. The Maybelline New York Mineral Power Concealer is an absolute MUST-HAVE. It greatly defines the best aspects of all high end concealers but for a fraction of the cost! Like the Lancome one, it is also really blendable, liquidy enough to sheer out (or build up), and has a great brightening effect. 

Obviously, I have two different shades here but you can definitely see how similar they are in terms of texture! They both have that same liquidy feeling and blend effortlessly! I have some very pigmented concealers that take awhile to blend out but this covers imperfections in little time, which I love. I also can travel easily with the both of them with no issues. 

Honestly, my favorite concealer is the Maybelline one. It's definitely an HG product I have used for years! I don't think I'll deviate far from it because it's always been handy and reliable. I've used it during times of stress and no sleep and it's brightened my undereyes like no one's business! ;)

Definitely recommended. Both are great to own, but if you must be thrifty, I would suggest looking for the Maybelline one as it will not disappoint! 

Deals & Steals: Blush Edition

Welcome to part II of the affordable makeup series!

Blushes are, in fact, all that is pretty in the makeup world. They are the most versatile, most collected and most lusted after. Fr the  good thing is that there is never a shortage of pretty colors. Bad thing, however, is that it can be costly if you're a collector (like me) and it would be nice to get that dupe while you save up for the real prize.

Case in point, I lusted after Chanel blushes for the longest time. I still do. But for $45.00 each, they can add up and become quite pricey. Because my stash is quite massive already, I really have to consider if they are worth picking up.

I definitely do weigh out if I really want something, whether it is worth the splurge or if I can play around with a similar color. In many cases, I try for dupes. I think it's the most effective way for me because I couldn't justify buying a blush over really nice skincare.

Deals & Steals: eyeshadow edition

A sweet reader emailed me the other day and asked me what my favorite affordable makeup products are. In all honesty, I have a lot of favorites! When i was merely a student in University, I could not afford to just drop a ton of cash on pretty palettes and bright lipsticks. I had to stick to essentials. The basics. A year after graduating, Urban Decay read my mind and released the 1st Naked palette. Having worked just about a year, i "splurged" on it, and adored the palette over all of my other drugstore eyeshadows. I've sort of never looked back.

I'll start with eyeshadow. This is a fairly easy one. Since the release of the Naked palettes, Urban Decay has been my go-to for everyday looks. Soft neutrals, earthy tones, and pretty pinks. There's one for everyone.

VALUE

Naked 3 - UD's latest palette and probably my favorite of the bunch. The colors here have rose gold and pink undertones. Perfect for a soft work/school look, subtly sweet romantic looks, and pretty for any occasion.

Naked 2 - A much cooler version of shades. Still very pretty and perfect for fair skinned ladies. A must have in my collection.

Naked - The original and the one that started it all. This one actually has a gorgeous mix of cool tones, warm tones and shimmery shades. I use this palette a lot and have been for years.

For $54 each, these palettes are definitely a splurge. But they are the most affordable in terms of value. You get 12 full sized shadows for merely 4.50 each. Each one of these shadows are pigmented and buttery, formula silky and each shade unique in its own right. I would consider this to be a basic must-have and a fundamental in any collection.

SPLURGE

A similar Dior palette, as pretty as it looks, costs $60 (Earth Reflections).

There's a certain appeal and allure to it, but these shades are very similar to the Naked palettes, all the way down to the shimmer.

For a drugstore variety, I would definitely recommend the Loreal quads. They have nice pigmentation, a great assortment of colors and coordinated shades that make life easy for us gals. For just under $7, these are great for trying out different looks, and getting bolder shades without breaking the bank, 

BARGAIN

Readers, what are you favorite value eyeshadows and splurges? :)

Mini Skincare Reviews featuring La Roche Posay, Naruko, Kiehl's and More

Happy Saturday, loves! I hope you're all having a nice weekend. Over the summer, I've acquired a few skincare items that I thought I'd share with you.


The first one is the La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 40 Sunscreen. I purchased a couple of these to try as I've heard wonderful things about it. After using it for a couple weeks, I can't say that I love it but I don't hate it.

 To start, it is a supremely thick sunscreen. See the swatch below.

The sunscreen takes a long time to sink into the skin so you musn't be in a hurry! It also takes a rigorous amount of massaging to clear of the white cast. It remains on skin feeling moist, a bit sticky but otherwise okay. I would not suggest to use foundation on top unless you're powder type ones. You definitely need to set the sunscreen so it stays in place.

Not all is bad with it though. One of the good things about this sunscreen is that it truly protects the skin from sun exposure and damage. Mexoryl, a unique UV filter is exclusive to the La Roche Posay products is proven scientifically to guard against UVA rays. Another good thing about this sunscreen is that it's so incredibly thick that it actually acts like its own foundation against skin. It actually evened out my skintone, leaving very little imperfections I had to cover.

Verdicgt? Possible repurchase.




Next item is the Naruko Raw Job's Tear essence. I started using this a few weeks ago and I am okay with it so far. One of the highlights of this essence is that it's suppose to keep your skin hydrated before the use of serum. I didn't find this to be that hydrating. It just feels like water on my hand, and nothing too special. I much more prefer their serums better and night creams better.

Verdict? Not repurchasing.

The Biore UV Perfect Face Milk. Seriously my favorite sunscreen ever! I have gone through bottles and bottles of this. This inexpensive Japanese drugstore sunscreen is seriously the smoothest, most lightweight product ever! Every time I use it, i use it with ease and efficiency. It does not break me out, or cause any dryness or oiliness in any kind of weather. It stays put, and lasts a really long time. Texture is liquidy, smooth and soft. Probably full of 'cones but oh well. It's wonderful. I will always continue to repurchase this!

Kiehl's Smoothing, Nourishing Face Cream for Men. Now discontinued. I was visiting my parents this one weekend and realized I forgotten to bring night cream and LA is seriously dry and hot! I gifted this to my brother, who never actually opened it, so I took it and used it as a makeshift night cream and LOVED it. Despite its name, it's actually not just for men. It has so much shea butter and oils in it that we can all benefit from. My face felt softer the next day, so hydrated and healthy looking. I decided to take it back with me and now I use it over my facial oils to seal in that extra moisture. Really marvelous. Great cream! Too bad it's discontinued though. Will definitely look for something similar.

EO Lavender Body Oil. I seriously love body oils. Whether it's coconut oil, or this, I love it all. They're much more lighter despite the oil in its name, and they're more effective (i think). It seems to absorb more in my skin than butters and lotions. This highly soothing oil has lavender in it as its essential oil and it smells so divine after a hot shower. It just feels like heaven! Easily wearable, quick absorption and also very inexpensive for a huge bottle.

FOREVER repurchase.

Have you tried any of these products?

OCC Black Dahlia: Review and Photos

I've been seeing Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics - Black Dahlia all over the blogosphere lately and had the sudden overwhelming urge to wear it as I've always lusted after this shade. It looks completely like a Halloween prop here but it's quite gorgeous in its own right. It's more of a burgundy red with slight hints of brown.

OCC (Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics) is a NYC based cosmetic brand that paved its way onto the beauty scene from their professional formulas that makeup artists for television and film used. They are now a brand that's sold all over and have gained global status although they are very much a cult favorite among consumers. Best of all, all their products (at least their lip tars) are 100% vegan, and cruelty free. Yay!

Black Dahlia is blackened matte red. At first glance, it looks dramatic, gothy and deeply pigmented. Once you try it on, it's actually a lot thinner than it looks but you can build up the opacity to your level of intensity. 

It's hard to get the hang of applying this lip tar. Because of its intense color, prepped lips is a must. In this review, I am simply reviewing the shade and didn't wear anything underneath. 

Upon application, it has a very dry feeling. It actually dries very quickly once it "sets" on the lips. The texture is smooth and matte, has a very powder-like sensation once it dries. You have to be careful while wearing this because it stains everywhere. If you're not careful, it'll smear and you'd need a oil based remover for it to even budge.

I applied the lip tar from middle of the lips using a lip brush, working my way to the outer part of my lips. I used light strokes to keep the color wearable. It turns to an almost berry color with one coat. Using that one coat and going over it on my lips, I could feel that the lipstick adheres to my lip and not cover it like some lipsticks do. I didn't feel a film of product over my lips. 

In terms of coverage, Black Dahlia can be described as medium coverage to very opaque. It lasts all day (at least 6 hrs), and leaves your lips stained. It also emphasizes lip lines so I definitely recommend a lip treatment/scrub before you apply this shade on. Or wear a salve/balm underneath for comfort.

Since it was so dry and matte, I decided to use the OCC clear coat which is basically formulated with oils to moisturize your lips. I used it over Black Dahlia and loved the results so much more!

It "loosened" the color and made it a little slippery. I didn't mind it, because it felt so much more comfortable. I think it also looks better to have a bit of shine as opposed to all matte.

The results of Black Dahlia are definitely gorgeous. I've been wanting this color eversince I heard of the release. It's definitely a wearable shade despite its packaging. One little tube of this lip tar can probably last for many years because you only need a little to cover your entire lip. I think this color would look great in formal events, and in the evenings. For a daytime look and even a work look, sheer it out with a moisturizing balm and apply one coat lightly to give it a berry stained look. 

OCC is one of my favorite brands of lip color and even though I don't wear their lip tars everyday, I certainly LOVE collecting them!

What are your favorite OCC shades? Do you like Black Dahlia?

Review: Kate Integrate Mascara and Kate Lash Maximizer Primer

FINALLY. Freaking finally, I have found a lash method that works for me. With my sparse Asian eyelashes, it's like a science just to find a mascara that lifts, volumizes and doing so without breaking my lashes, and clumping. I honestly love my Loreal Telescopic Mascara a lot (my favorite, and HG), but i love exploring other mascaras. It's part of what makeup hoarders junkies do.

So I finally started getting into Japanese mascaras and the first one I ever tried (the one I'm also reviewing) is seriously amazing. Kate, from the global brand Kanebo, is a line of Japanese drugstore cosmetics aimed at trendy, and cost conscious consumers. Also, the fact that the quality of this mascara is so nice is a stark contrast to "just another drugstore product".

The Kate Integrate mascara has a skinny applicator which works really great in terms of lengthening. The formula is also quite dry so it won't weigh your lashes down. In fact, it is superbly lightweight in contrast to the Loreal Telescopic one. That one darkens my lashes a lot more than this one. 

The Kate lash primer is also an interesting product because the primer itself is white! It has little feathers of product that stick onto your lashes to make it look more amplified. It's like an extension of your own lashes.