Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation & Concealer Review

Source: Pinterest

Last month, while perusing on Sephora, I stumbled upon the Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation + Concealer. This is not a new foundation - it came out in early 2015 to very mixed reviews. I meant to test it out for myself but never had the chance to since I have WAY too many bases. 

I finally did purchase it during the holidays and I'm very much in love. 

Simple FOTD Using Gym Friendly Essentials

Packing light is key when going to the gym during the day and getting ready afterwards, especially in terms of bringing makeup. Leave your large palettes at home and instead take small eye shadow quads that have a mirror. Take cosmetics that have lightweight packaging, and are also multifunctional. 

Vampy Lip Colors featuring MAC Media and Dark Side

With Fall being on the horizon, and the glorious bordeaux's and beautiful wine colors starting to pop up in stores, there's pertinent excitement to soon be had with wearing plums and burgundies and gorgeous deep sultry reds. I know I am beyond excited!

Most Used Summertime Faves... Oldies!

Some of my favorite summer staples aren't new things I purchased or received; in fact, I actually took a break from buying new makeup. So my only option is shopping my stash and finding a lot of gems I would have otherwise forgetten :) 

For the past few months, I've been adorning pinks. It's such a bright color for the summer and so appropriate for any day of the week, and especially with traveling. 

Review: Diorskin Nude Air Serum

hellllloooooo beautifuls. 

I know I blogged in close to 2 months! RL got in the way and i've been busier than ever at work but I feel this emptiness if I don't blog because I am continuously trying new products and not getting to properly talk about them. 

One of those "new" things I tried is actually something that came out a long while ago. As in, not new. I got obsessed with serum foundations after testing it out at Sephora one day. Since my obsession a few months back, I have acquired the Dior Serum foundation and the Georgio Armani. GA review to come later.

Diorskin Nude Air Serum Foundation

The Dior Nude Air foundation is extremely weightless, very watery and dries to a powder texture. When I first tried it, I really love the coverage. Dior claims that it is sheer coverage but I thought it was more closer to a medium coverage because it's extremely pigmented for a lightweight foundation. The powder finish gave my skin a non-greasy set. 

 Longevity-wise, it lasts a good 6 hours or so. My skin started looking greasier at the end of the day but it wasn't overly terrible. 

See the powdery finish? Sometimes when my skin is feeling dry, the powder finish isn't actually ideal because it'll expose all the dry bits and bobs but it doesn't bother me much. It also sets really quickly so once you have the foundation layered on, you must work quickly otherwise the foundation will be harder to budge. 

Here are some before/after photos: 

Bare skin. I haven't been having good skin lately. Been dealing with cystic acne as of late -_- 

Dabbed on...now to get to work before it sets!

First layer on

2nd layer on.

Some lipstick - I'm using NYX's soft matte lip cream in Amsterdam.

Changed and on with the day! I just lined my upper eyelids with my Dollywink eyeliner ;)

No mascara, and no concealer needed. The Dior foundation actually covers really well after the 2nd layer.

The applicator is in a dropper bottle (which I LOVE) and I find it to be so cute. I feel as if it's less waste to the pump but I think it's made in a dropper because the foundation has serum in it and will be more runny than your traditional base makeup. 

I have not edited or retouched any of the photos you see here. I actually got a new laptop and haven't had a chance to install the photo editors yet. I apologize if these photos are crap...they're all taken from my phone.

I really like the Dior Nude Air Serum. I would recommend this foundation to anyone who has oiler skin because it dries to a matte powder finish. It also has a strong perfumed scent so it may bother folks who have a sensitivity to it. But if you are familiar with Dior, it's just like all their foundation products. 

Current Lip Faves

The weather is heating up. The sun is shining, the skies blue and clear. Aside from a good moisturizer, and a protective lightweight sun cream, the most important thing I'd have in my makeup arsenal is several bright lippies. Who can complain right? :)

Here are some of my current faves.

L-R: Benefit Posie Balm, NYX Sao Paulo, Guerlain Kiss Kiss in 805, Mac Petite Indulgence, Too Faced Melted Fuchsia

Benefit Posie Balm 
works well by itself or as a layering base. It's got a smooth balmy feel with a light milky pink color. Rosy scent is a plus!

Too Faced Melted Fuchsia 
 One of the bright shades I acquired right at the end of last year during the holidays. It's an absolutely gorgeous color from the tube, and translates into an intense fuchsia that's perfect for a minimal look. I love the look of bare skin and fuchsia lipstick! The formula is really smooth, and dries to a semi-matte. It's got a nice stain-ish quality after several hours and is easy to remove. More than anything, this shade stays true to its color upon wear and I love that!

Guerlain Kiss Kiss Gloss (similar) 
The Kiss Kiss range of glosses seems to be sadly discontinued :( I still love this. It's a pretty peach tone gloss that's shiny and shimmery. Looks great alone or with a nude lipstick.

NYX Soft Matte Lip Creme in Sao Paulo 
 A plummy red with a creamy matte finish. This is probably the most plummy and least bright here but it's got such a unique color. It's a cross between pink and plum and rose. A gorgeous hybrid for sure! The formula is a bit on the dry side so a good lip balm underneath would be good. Wear time is a bit shorter, about 2 hours or so.

MAC Creme Sheen in Petite Indulgence (similar)
This one is sadly discontinued but really similar to Japanese Spring in the spring collection. Cremesheen's are my favorite formula that MAC makes because it's never too sticky. It's always more hydrating than their other glossy formulas. Petite Indulgence is a perfect glossy for spring because of its pretty pale pink color that's both opaque and a bit on the violet side. Absolute love!

I have a ton of lippies that I'm currently rotating so stay tuned for more reviews! I'll have more FOTD's up and swatches shortly ;) And an updated Springtime skincare regimen along with some Korean skincare reviews and facial masks that I'm currently loving.

What are your favorite Spring lip colors and what formulas do you like?

As always, find me on Instagram and give a shout!

Recent Little Purchases

Happy March! 

I can't believe time has flown by so fast. Seems like it was yesterday when I was preparing for the new year. Sometimes I wish time would slow down. On the up side, Spring is nearing and the days are getting longer which is a good trade off!

I purchase a few things recently and quite happy about them so far. First up is the BKR water bottle - it's just a sweet looking nifty bottle with an awesome design. I've been drinking water in this and lugging it around everywhere. Fits nicely in my bag and loops around splendidly on my fingers. I can't say no to a cute girly design! These bottles are made with incredible quality. Even the silicone cover is great. Good grip. The glass bottle is uber sturdy and the most important part of the bottle is the small nozzle, resembling a typical water bottle. I don't like bottles with too big of an opening because water spills all over and tends to look ultra bulky. BKR's are a nice little luxury that gets me drinking more water. Love it!  

My next purchases are the LaRoche Posay cream and the Vichy Liftactiv cream. The LaRoche Posay one is intended on getting rid of blemishes, which I have quite a bit of at the moment. This is my first time using the cream and so far I'm impressed by how lightweight it is and how it doesn't reek of chemicals. Smells quite fresh actually. The Vichy cream is another first for me but I'm applying a thick layer after washing my face. I really love how it feels on my skin - cooling, calming and soft. So absorbent. I've got nothing but good things to say about it. 

Review and Comparison of Ray Ban New Wayfarers and Classic Clubmaster Sunnies

When you're in the vast outdoors, or the sunnyscape of temperate California, one thing you will need in your arsenal is a solid pair of sunglasses. Perhaps you are an avid biker, or an artist or a beach bum... either way, your trusty shades are there with you through thick and thin.

In my case, the criteria for the perfect pair is functionality, durability and style. 

Ray Ban's have been around since the 30's but more prominently in the 50's when they became iconic in American pop culture. When I was little, my dad had a pair of what are clubmaster sunnies today and I remembered how he looked SO cool in them. It was that effortless look that I most loved then and still love today.

Today I'm comparing two of their classic sunnies - the clubmaster and the wayfarer.

Pictured below is the Classic Clubmaster Sunnies 49mm (Tortoise/Arista Frame/Crystal Green Lens). 

This one is the new wayfarer sunnies with tortoise frames and black lenses.

Construction/Craftsmanship

Clubmaster - These glasses are crafted really nicely and the attention to small details is evident in the design. It also feels very sturdy in my hands and all the screws are perfectly in line. Everything from the gold rim to the nose bridge is secure and tight.

New Wayfarer - Solid acetate frames, lightweight and crafted well. The plastic is thick and sturdy and the hinges are strong and secure. It's slightly heavier than the clubmasters but not by much. 

Design/Comfort

Clubmaster - Retro, sleek, unique. Wears really well on my face, and doesn't fall off. The nose bridge support fits perfectly and I don't find myself having to push the glasses up. The lenses are a tortoise tint and isn't dark. In fact, it's much lighter than I envisioned but I really like it. To others, it's very dark and they can't see your eyes (which I love!). In bright sunny days, these shades won't cover the glare of the sun but everything will be a little greenish. 

New Wayfarer - Sharp, much more subtle than the original Wayfarer's. They sit on my face with a lot of ease. Compared to the Clubmaster's, this pair doesn't have a sharp angle with all the metal hardware. Super durable as well. I've had these for about 4 years now and they're still great. I use them constantly. I got the ones with the grey lens. It's much darker than the green tint so during the summer I constantly use these over the Clubmaster's.

Through the lens - Clubmaster's

New Wayfarer

The New Wayfarer's have more "bulk" compared to the Clubmaster's but I don't really mind it as long as it's in a case. Both are very lightweight anyway. The Clubmaster's are great casual sunnies that I take with me everywhere. Such a classic look that transcends time. Very lightweight and folds very flat so no bulky carry case either. You can easily slip them in a cover and it'll protect them. I think both look best with a bright lippie! 

Clubmaster's

New Wayfarers 

Both of these sunglasses are perfect for me and I tend to interchange them depending on my mood. I think they both present two very different looks but both equally flattering and practical. The New Wayfarers look more polished whereas the Clubmaster's are a little more "hipster". Both are great though and I don't think I could choose between the two! 

Price-wise, Ray Ban's are perfectly situated in the lower priced end of "high end" lenses. Each pair of these were less than $150, making it very affordable for someone who doesn't want to sacrifice style for quality and vice versa. They are readily available on Amazon, eye wear stores and online.

I may experiment with the Ray Ban Aviators sometime in the future but from past try-on's, they're not very flattering on me. These fit my round face frame a lot better. 

What is your go-to brand of sunglasses? Low end v High end make a difference?

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. 

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? :)

Current Skincare Routine and Reviews on Products!

Hello hello beautes!


Hope you are all having a fantastic Oscar Sunday! ;) I have to admit I haven't seen much Oscar nominated movies last year but I'm very excited about the dresses, the makeup and the speeches. I can't wait!

Aside from that, I've been getting a lot of requests from readers to do an updated skincare routine. So I'm excited to share with you all the things I'm currently using.

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters!

These itty bity lip butters are all the rage, aren't they? I've been lusting them for a little while now. At first they reminded me of the Clinique lip butters. I picked up 2 colors - Cotton Candy and Peach Parfait.

I absolutely adore the packaging! It's Revlon's best yet -- Very feminine and simple. Some argue the packaging is for tween aged girls, but I think they're really pretty. It never crossed my mind as such, because I think the packaging has won over many many people.

Here are some swatches!

Cotton Candy -- It's a true baby pink with a pretty sheen

Peach Parfait -- A very pretty pink with golden shimmers. 

These are exactly what they claim to be -- buttery! They're buttery rich and balmy and perfect for your daily lip. They don't last very long but that's just as well because they don't make any sort of that claim. The ones I have are nourishing and leave my lips feeling hydrated and soft.

They have a synthetic vanilla smell. It's light enough not to bother me, but they really should make it fruitier instead. 

Overall, I still really like these. They're priced fairly at around $8.00 each, but we all know to take advantage of drugstore deals when they have BOGO or coupons. Never buy these for regular price. 

I'm on the lookout for more! 

Lip butters -- yay or nay? 

Best of 2011 Series: Foundations!

If this blog was dedicated to one thing and absolutely one thing only, it would be for foundations. It's what I reviewed the most passionately about in 2011. It's hardly an easy task to find the right foundation, but the joy is in the journey searching for the one. I certainly had a great time trying different kinds - from drugstore to high end - both equally great in their own rights.

Best Drugstore Foundation of 2011

Kanebo Media Moisture Foundation

See my review with swatches and a FOTD here! :) While this is a Japanese drugstore brand, it's hard to find in the US. I had to buy it online, for around $12.00 on Adambeauty. It's a very moisturizing foundation and feels amazing on the skin.

For a foundation that's easier to get, I definitely love the Revlon Photo Ready foundation.

Best High End Foundation of 2011

This was hard because I liked so many! But my ultimate favorite is the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation.

See my review and swatches here, and here. 

MAC Face & Body Foundation

See my review here. 

It was a tie between Guerlain Lingerie de Peau or the MAC one, but i ultimately chose the MAC one because of how light it felt on my skin and how comfortable it sits in high heat and relative humidity. The Guerlain one, while a wonderful foundation, didn't impress me as much as the MAC one. My next goal for 2012 is to try the MUFE face & body one to compare to my beloved MAC one :) We shall see.

Honorable Mention

Shu Uemura Face Architect Foundation -

I realized I didn't write a review as promised (sorry!), I will do so in 2012. 

Best Of 2011 Series: Bobbi Brown Downtown Beauty Palette

Ah, why oh why did I not ever gush about this palette on my blog?! It was backlogged on my laptop for the longest longest time. I suppose it's been such a staple I never thought too much about it. Shame on me. Srsly.

This was an exclusive QVC set that came out this past Spring. It came in a 6 piece set but the eyeshadow palette is the best part of the collection. Like srsly. The best ever! Luckily you can still find this on QVC here.

Bobbi Brown Downtown Beauty Palette

. 

Ivory - matte white highlighter

Heather Lilac - a shimmery metallic taupe

Bronze - shimmery bronze

Heather - matte taupe 

Black Plum - gorgeous semi-matte base for a smokey eye

Overall this palette is full of gorgeous neutrals and versatile for any and every occasion, but especially fitting for the office. This is the palette that travels with me on my trips to LA when I usually pack at the last minute.

I hope your holidays are fun and warm right now, my dear readers and bloggers alike! I am officially on vacation today! Which means doing nothing for the next 4 days! *happy sigh* :)

Best of Series continues with foundations in the next post. Stay tuned! ^_^