March Empties: Smith's Menthol and Eucalyptus Balm & Leaders Collagen Fluid

If there is one balm I would buy over and over, it would the Smith's Mentol tin. 

This is the most effective multi use balm I've ever used! For lips, for dry patches, for smoothing out chapped/dry lips... this tin kind of does it all.  

I have been using this for many years, and mostly in the evenings. The tin isn't the most practical, but I use it primarily before i sleep with clean fingers so it's okay. There is something so nostalgic about the tin. I seriously seriously love this stuff.

It absorbs quickly, and keeps my lips smooth. It works best overnight because the next morning my lips feel super soft and lipstick ready for the day.

I have also used this as a 10 minute intensive treatment for my lips by slathering a good amount on my lips while doing my hair or makeup, then wipe all of it off my lips before applying lipstick.

Works perfectly! 

Another skincare product I've been using for months is this collagen serum from Leaders, a Korean brand that's sold in Asian skincare stores. I couldn't find much about it on the web here, but I've been using it and have repurchased a 2nd bottle already. Seems like it's strictly collagen, watery based. Has a nice subtle scent, and very easily absorbed into the skin. 

Review: Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector

Clarins  Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector

Skincare or makeup...?

Clarins claims that it's both, because they use nourishing oils in these glosses so it helps heal your lips while glossing you up. The skincare benefit is probably the only thing redeeming about this!

I have been using this gloss for a better part of a few days and the scent of vanilla is still wafting my senses. Part of me really wants to love it but another part of me feels like this is an expensive knockoff of a cheap product.

Favorite Things of The Moment

Some of my favorite things of the moment happen to be the simplest. Beside the hot cocoa, the festive lights and holiday candles, these are also wonderful.

The Glam Glow Hydrating Cleanser is so super nice. I am dealing with dry skin and this is the perfect luxurious cleanser that works so nicely. It's so refreshing and even with the exfoliating beads it still is hydrating and creamy. Definitely will consider purchasing the full size.

The Sephora  Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover is amazing. It's just like their more expensive counterparts and works just like it if not completely identical. A cotton round has removed stubborn JAPANESE waterproof mascara perfectly, which I love. It's easy and gentle, and not too oily.

Because I wear heels a lot, the Dr Scholls Balls of Foot cushions are a godsend! These things are squishy and comfortable, compact in size and provides enough support for hours. 

I've been loving this Ciate London polish in Mistress. The most alluring true red, and the perfect seasonal color for a bright pop of red and coral. The formula is so amazing - dries quickly, very opaque, creamy and this is just one coat on my nails. Absolutely gorgeous!

The most practical and useful thing in my vanity is the Q-Tips Precision Tip Cotton Swabs. I don't think there is anything else more awesome. These q-tips have the extra point in the swab that helps with everything! I use these for cleaning up mistakes when I get mascara marks on my eyelids, erasing nail color mistakes that get outside of my nails, precision defining my lips for the perfect red lip, touching up eyeshadow fallout and so much more. I love the little box it comes in so you can use it for traveling. Keeps it all nice and tidy. #organizationalperfectionprobz 

My NEW favorite mascara. I'll do a proper review of this in the next post...stay tuned for that :)

The Nars Audacious Mascara is really really amazing. It adds lift and volume to my short lashes. The wand really helps amplify the lashes but the only downfall is the hard plastic bristles which can be painful if you poke your eye! Other than that, it is really effective, and I must say I am surprised because this is HARD to find. The only other high end mascara that's given me similar results is the Lancome Hynose line.

The Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Balm is the newest lippie I have in my collection. This balm/pencil combo works amazing as a nude lip filler on bare lips. This is in the shade Heaping Hazelnut. It defines the lips beautifully and has a nice creamy feel to it. Doesn't dry out my lips and keeps it very natural looking with a subtle sheen. I would love to try other shades such as Super Strawberry. Not surprised it made it into 2015 Best of Allure :)

What are your favorite things of the moment? :)

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. 

Afternoon Lipstick Project

Hello again, lovelies!

How are you all doing? :)

I have yet another cool find from Daiso that I want to share with you all. Remember how obsessed I was with making lip pots and depotting lipsticks? (Here) 

That has not changed at all! =) I went to Daiso to walk around after a heavy lunch and I stumbled upon this pill container that has 8 small compartments and a larger top compartment. My idea was... OMG, I could put lipsticks in here! and put a lip brush or lip liner on top! For USD1.50 it totally beats out more pricey Japonesque ones (as lovely as they are). I say this because the Japonesque ones also seem to be made of plastic-y material just as this Daiso box is.

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!

YSL rouge volupte lipstick in Peach Passion

I have long since been a fan of YSL Rouge Volupte lispticks. Something about their creamy colors, light as silk textures and beautiful timeless shades. 

Peach Passion was one of those coveted colors many years ago and I largely suspect it's still a popular item. This is a beautiful shade of coral and pink, packaged in a luxurious tube of girly. It's also the perfect transitional color to spring. It doesn't look nor feel heavy at all, and I imagine the cool peachy color would look great on almost anyone.

                 Source: Pinterest

I definitely dabbled in peachy cream colors when it comes to lipsticks. I'm not particularly fond of all corals because it makes me look too Barbie-ish and unnatural. The YSL one looks particularly nice but it isn't very "natural" looking either. Its a bit bright but not clownish. 

Lasting power isn't so impressive though. It's creamy to the point where it literally glides off after food or water. If you leave it on long enough, it'll stain and that'll last at least 3 hours. One thing I don't like is that since it is overly creamy, it often settles on the lips and emphasizes the dry and cracked parts. 

Overall, a beautiful lipstick. Aside from the packaging, this lipstick is not without its flaws but I could overlook them for now. 

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? :)

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?

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti

An oldie but a goodie. 

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti is the perfect summer shade. The rich moisturizing balm and the tinted reddish coral is seriously a juicy rush of all things SUMMER! 

I have several shades from this collection (my other fave is Lollipop) and this one is by far my favorite. Not only is it wearable, it also doesn't have any shimmers so it glides on like a naturally sun kissed lippie. I absolutely adore it and it is a must in my handbag! Part of the reason I like this so much is that it stays ultra balmy and feels great on the lips. 

Natural lip

One swipe of Tutti Frutti

Being that it's a drugstore brand, it's affordable (BOGO deals!) and readily available online and off. I got mine at Target for less than $6.

What's your favorite summer color? :)

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment and Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment

I

I am just absolutely in love with these lip treatments. These were from the Sephora birthday gift I got last year and I didn't open it until now! o_o

These two are the most popular selling lip treatments from Fresh. It includes the Sugar Lip Treatment with SPF 15, and a tinted rose lip treatment that also has SPF 15 in it. First off, the packaging is so pretty. To open these lippies, you have to twist the screw top which is so functional and smart so lids won't go flying off in your handbag. Brilliant.

The texture of these treatments are both identical. They glide on very smoothly and has a very hydrating formula. It's formulated with lots of natural oils (blackcurrent being one of them), fatty acids and real sugar. The oils really provide a lot of nourishment and my lips feel incredible with it on. 

They claim to be free of petroleum, mineral oil and lanolin which are the main ingredients in most commercial lip balms. Because it's formulated without those ingredients, both treatments are actually very soft. If you're in warm weather, these can melt very easily. 

Scent-wise, it has a really bright lemon-y scent that isn't overwhelming. It's quite refreshing and reminds me of lemon bars. 

Here are the swatches. The sugar lip treatment is really glossy and pretty. The tinted rose one has a really pretty, very subtle color. So pretty!

Between the two, if I were to choose one, I would choose the tinted one. Essentially they feel identical on my lips and one isn't more hydrating than the other so I'd definitely go with color ;)

The only con I have with these is the melt factor. Because it's so natural, you also have to be aware that these can melt in warm weather. I ran them across my lips and I can feel it melting from the tube! 

These lip treatments are on the pricier side and run about $22.50 each for the full size. It's definitely a splurge but they are just irresistible!

Do you like these lip treatments? :)

Review: Wet n' Wild Mega Last Lipstick in Cherry Picking

Yet another lipstick review! I've just been really digging Wet n' Wild lately. I don't know why but I think their range of lip colors are fantastic!!!! I've only ever owned their lip pencils and eyeshadow palettes so lipsticks are a new alley to explore.

Currently, I'm obsessed with reds. Anything remotely red is eye-catching ;)

Cherry Picking is a shade of red that is a matte cherry red. It actually is more of a fuchsia once I wear it, not quite the cherry shade I imagined. But fuchsia's are quite pretty and goes with any day and night look. And it's also not the bright hot fuchsia that is associated with runway colors - this one is a lot more toned down depending on how many layers you apply. I always like a wash of color, never too dramatic.

On the lips, it feels quite waxy. Not necessarily very dry, but it's also not slippery either. There is no sheen. It's like a simple matte lip color that's meant to stick on your lips and not slide around.

I find that to be a little uncomfortable as I press my lips together and they feel waxy...so I actually put a bit of balm on my lips before applying the lipstick.

It gradually kind of fades like all lipsticks do to a pretty MLBB color. I love it! It makes my lips look full, healthy and tinted. Despite its waxiness, I do love this shade a lot. I think it's so pretty.

Wear-wise, I haven't experienced feathering or bleeding of color, just as they claim it won't. It feels very in-place. I mean VERY. It's not gonna budge once you have it on. 

Here's what it looks like with some balm underneath. It looks a bit more glossier, which is nice too!

I really enjoy this color a lot. It seems like such a playful shade for warm weather! I'm particularly liking it a lot with minimalistic tees and shorts. It adds such a femininity in otherwise neutral looks. Oh and it looks great for work as well! :)