Revlon PhotoReady Foundation

Moving things back and fourth to the new apartment all day today! Crazyness. I even took a quick nap in the afternoon because I was so exhausted. Tomorrow is another day of moving, and we're that much closer to being done. I'm going to be sad when I don't have internet for the next few days during the transition of the move. The cable and internet guys are coming on the 31st I believe to hook everything up. I'll be moved in no later than Monday or Tuesday =D

Anyway, went to CVS today because I haven't been there in AGES. The last time I went there it was still called Long's Drugs or something =P Gosh, time flies! I've been hearing about these Essence of  Beauty brushes and it got me thinking to find it without having to order online. I bought the purse powder brush for my mineral makeup since I don't really have a brush suited for it. I've also been reading reviews about the Revlon Photo Ready foundation and saw that it was buy 1 get 1 free for all Revlon foundations and powders so I picked up two colors, Nude (004) and Natural Beige (005).

I haven't used the brush yet, but I just know that I will love it. It's not overly soft where it can't pick up enough product and it's not overly dense where it'll pick up too much. I feel it's the right size for my face and for at home use. I wouldn't really carry this in my purse. That's kinda crazy =P It also came with a random eyeliner brush, which I will find some use for eventually. It was only $9.99. Good price huh? =)

I came home right away and prepped my face for the Revlon foundation. Used one pump in Nude (004).

....and wow. I must say that liquid foundations have changed dramatically since the last time I bought them. It was hard for me to find the right shade but this Photo Ready foundation was SO amazing. It's such a lightweight formula that your face will thank you for it. It goes on amazingly smooth and has virtually no smell. I usually stay away from liquid foundations because they go on quite heavy and the idea of having an oily face after a whole day does not turn me on. But I was impressed by this foundation! I didn't even have to wear a setting powder over it because the foundation dried quickly and my skin looked all glowy. Even my Dior and Smashbox foundations don't match the superb quality of this one. Craziness!

I just LOVE this foundation!! It excites me that I found a color that matches me SO perfectly! I haven't tried the Natural Beige (005) yet! It's one shade darker than Nude and I think it'll be good for the summer when my skin gets darker. I'm so excited! I used to be so skeptical about Revlon products... I don't even remember why anymore =P

Here is the makeup I wore today =)

Prescriptives Colorscope Eyeshadow palette (I used the bronzy color on the bottom)

CoverGirl Volume Exact Mascara in black

Smashbox Brow tech palette

MAC Prep + Prime Primer (not pictured! missed that one!)

Burt's Bees Pomegranate Lip Balm (my go to balm. I stock it up like there's no tomorrow!)

Still trying to get my hands on a BB cream!! It's all the rage now, right? I was watching a review from Jen about the Lioele BB cream on her latest post. I tried to go on prettyandcute.com but it doesn't seem like they are selling it anymore =/ But I guess I shouldn't complain now since I found a possible HG product! =)

I want to make it my goal sometime in my next post to do a Kristen Stewart Runaways look. Heavy black eye makeup and pale skin. It'll be extremely bold... for me at least since I typically lean on the natural look. Well, I'll try! I'm excited! =D

Lastly, I want to know what are your favorite foundations and why? =) 

Goodnight everyone! =D Will be moving all day tomorrow but I will catch up on all your blogs before the end of the day. Take care!

Maybelline Pulse Perfection Review

This mascara came out shortly after Lancome Oscillation vibrating mascara hit the market. I wore it a couple times and I'm not sure that I'm convinced about its greatness and how it compares to Oscillation. This mascara promises intense color, no clumping and extreme volume. When I first tried it on, I was like ehh. It's really made for people who have naturally long lashes because I find that it did not give me the volume I desired or the length that I expected to be in this formula. The color also wasn't very intense either. It was merely a natural black. It's good for the office or just a regular day out. I'd skip this mascara for an evening out. It's not nearly as flattering as thicker formulas. My lashes are pretty short and sparse so it's this one was ehh...  not amazing. Just regular The vibrating wand was interesting. It felt more like a cell phone vibrating lightly. The vibration also didn't feel necessary because it didn't look any different if I were to put it on myself. I'd rather just apply it myself than with the weird vibrating feeling! The only thing I liked was the flexible applicator. It wraps easily around the lashes and is bendable.

Here is what it looked like with flash and natural light.

What do you guys think of vibrating mascaras? Was it trend that you followed or passed?

Anyway, here's the top I wore to work today!

I wasn't able to take a pic of my Michael Kors pants sadly! =/ My top is from Charlotte Russe!

Products used:

Smashbox Quad highlighter on cheeks

    Cargo lip gloss tin South Beach

Neutrogena Eyeshadow Duo in Iced Coffee

The packing has been crazy still! Sadly. I still have to work each day... and pack after work. I guess I'm lucky I get off @ 5pm everyday. Could be worse, but the idea of moving still sucks =( I hate packing! GAH!

I hope you all are doing great! :) Thank you to all my sweet followers =) Reading your guys' blog is an addiction for me! =P

Knock on my door

Hello everyone!

I've been so busy for the past few days! I'm moving to a new apartment on the first of April and it's driving me nuts with the packing and the preparation. I really hate to pack and ruin all of my neat little piles of things. It's annoying, right? On top of that, I am living through garbage bags! =P Well, most of my clothes are in there since I'm just moving a few streets up to a more roomier place where I know I can support my shopping addiction there. I'll just have to get more storage though, but the square feet in the apartment is much bigger than the one I have now.

Anyway! Enough about apartments. Thank you all for the sweet comments in my last post. I've really learned everyone's likes and dislikes for makeup brushes! And trying everything once sums it all up for most people, which is good. As long as you're not breaking the bank finding brushes, I don't see why not =)

Amidst all the packing and lease signing, I tried on my ELF false eyelashes. It was a first for me and I had a hard time using the glue. I got a comment about trying Duo eyelash glue, but I picked up Ardell's Lash Grip before I saw the comment! =/ The one I have from Ardell is a waterproof formula.

 

 The glue is watery but it gets tacky fast and I'd say very good considering the fact that I've never played with falsies before and i used this glue and got it to stick =) It was fun to wear them, but it's kind of hard to do when you're short on time. It would be great to wear them in the evenings out.. I'd feel great too :) If someone can give me a link from where they normally purchase eyelashes, please share! I'd love to order a different ones to see how they differ from ELF :)

 

It's kind of hard to see that I have falsies on! =p I couldn't crop it the right way where you could see them clearly. I think I can zoom in and crop next time... maybe it'll work better. But if you click on the pics, you can see that it's on  =P AND one of them looks like it's falling off. What a nightmare it would be to have it fall off while you're on a date =P

This was my FOTD on Monday before work! :) I was wearing a bronzy eyeshadow and NYX lipstick in Indian Princess. I really love that lipstick! It makes my lips really pinkish and it's moisturizing. They really are great buys :)

I took the pics in the bathroom since there was light coming from the windows. I'm just so glad to be moving where everything will be more functional =P 

Also, I painted my nails on Sunday and here is what they look like today!

 

The color chipped very minimally. I used Sally Hansen French Manicure with the nail tape and all! LOL It came as a set.

It was a good buy, because it was easy to do. The polish is really tough because I use my hands to do everything, from washing dishes to packaging boxes for the move (I packed half the apt already) but the polish stayed on quite well and it seems to be okay now. But I know if I used a darker color such as a deep blue, chipping would be more visible. My favorite blue is Yoga-Ta Get This Blue from OPI. After the move, I think I'll be using that next :)

I hope everyone is doing well. I will be moving things starting Friday so I might not be updating but I will be reading your blogs =) Take care all! 

Brushes, falsies, and a dress

I'm so excited for Spring fashion. Everywhere I go I see embellishments on every shirt, dress and cardigan. I think it's the new Spring trend. I love how a simple flower can dress up a boring t-shirt or a black zipper can harden the look of an outfit. Headbands with flowers or studs can really add some zing to your hairstyle. Accessorizing truly is the key to what we see as fashion. Simply amazing. I know it's late to finally make that connection! Better late than never I guess!

I was at my local Target yesterday and guess what I found?! They are selling ELF products now. I saw some once or twice during the holidays but now they have a whole new section just for it. In my last post, I was wondering about people's fave go to makeup brushes and I had a lot of recommendation to try ELF brushes because I would have nothing to lose. So I bought the complexion brush from the ELF studio line and a pair of false eyelashes!

This is my very first pair of falsies. I forgot to buy the glue to go with it so I can't wear it yet. The glue that came with the lashes smells SO bad... i can't even describe how bad it is. It's like a bunch of expired chemicals in one watery tube. Yuck! :( 

 The complexion brush is really soft! I was looking for an eyeshadow brush but most of their stuff was sold out already. I guess I'll look for it again the next time I scour Target like a madwoman :) I tried using the brush for loose foundation... it's way too soft to even get anything on your face. I guess it's really for setting the powder once you're done with foundation? I can now see what Ramblings of a Number Nerd meant when it doesn't pick up enough product. Eh, can't complain. It will be useful :) Will be continuously looking for good brushes :)

Also picked up a cute dress!

 Looking @ the dress now makes me think of dairy cows!! Oh no... will this make me look like a cow? LOL And I don't mean by fat this time... will I literally resemble a dairy cow? But it's nice material, heavy fabric...twas $9.99. It's exactly the same style as the yellow dress I posted here except this one has black dots! What do you guys think? How would you wear it and what would be a good occasion? At first, it looked to me like a cute pinup girl dress and it would be good to recreate a look that resembles that of a pinup.

Anyway, here is my FOTD! First two are with no flash, just desk light and the other one is with flash. I feel like I look so different o_o

This is what I used:

BE foundation in Golden Medium
Clinique eyeshadow palette (used the soft shimmer disco pink, 234)
NYX Jumbo Pencil in Black Bean, 601
Maybelline Pulse Perfection Mascara (will be reviewing it in the next post!)
Loreal Color Juice stick in Personali-tea, 805
Stila convertible color in Peony, 3

I'm thinking about what I should do tomorrow. It's my friend's birthday... I think I should wear something in tribute to her. Hmm..

Thank you to Inspired by Beauty for tagging me on this award! :) So cute. This is my first ever tag so it's exciting for me that the beauty blog world is so sweet and together when it comes to advising each other on beauty and fashion.

And now, to tag 10 bloggers! (most of you have it on your blogs already!)

The Skinnies - my very first follower! :)
JESSU
Ramblings from a Number Nerd
Serena Everyday
SIDESTORIES
For the Love of Beauty
THIS WAS FOREVER
Makeup by Mai
arethaseraph
Skyla Arts

Happy Friday!

Or Saturday. It's technically 18 mins past midnight so I guess it's Saturday :)

I woke up this morning very well rested. I slept @ 2am Thurs night but still woke up around 8am Friday as if I slept for 2 whole days. I guess because it's Friday and it's also the end of the work week and it was WARM. It's always good to choose your outfits the night before so you don't wake up all groggy the next morning trying on everything you have. We had a luncheon at a local Mediterranean restaurant with all the ladies in my department today so I decided to stay neutral and natural in terms of makeup. I normally don't go crazy or anything. I just didn't use dark toned colors today :)

These were taken early in the morning so the lighting is a lot better. I wore a bright yellow top with a blue with white polka dotted high wasted skirt. I have it in the laundry pile now but I will take pics of it next time. It's one of my favorite and I try to wash it as little as possible but it's time to wash it now. I've been sitting everywhere on it!

I received this Estee Lauder eye shadow set as a gift with purchase awhile ago. I hardly ever touch it, but I find that with the right brushes, these shadows go on very beautifully. They are not as pigmented as MAC or Urban Decay, or even NYX shadows.. not even  close, but it's soft and pretty when applied with the right brushes.

I really want to invest in a good set of natural hair brushes. I currently have a mix of natural hairs and synthetic brushes but I feel as though synthetics go on not as naturally as natural  hairs would. They take longer to dry when washed and they just don't feel as soft. I hear a lot of buzz about Sonia Kashuk brushes that they sell  @ Target and Coastal  Scents ones..even Sigma. Ideally, I would like a set of go-to brushes that I can use and use and use and be happy with. I have tried the Eco-tools set, which I find to be better with  liquid makeup since it's synthetic. I'm currently using Kirkland by Borghese ones... but they are synthetic as well. The eyeshadow brushes waste a lot of product by picking up the eyeshadow but doesn't go on evenly on skin. I'll admit that it can  be my wrongdoing, but when i use natural hair brushes, they tend to distribute the colors more evenly on your skin. When you wash them, they become soft like hair! Aye. The best brush that I'm currently using is my blush brush that I bought 5 yrs ago at a BBW store! They used to promote the Awake makeup line from Kose Japan and I bought one of the brushes along with the blush and I still use it today. It was like $12 but what a great investment it was. It's an angled brush perfect for applying blush or highlighting your jaw. So yes, I'm in dire need of new brushes!

What are your favorite brands of eye shadow brushes? Foundation brushes? Please advise!

It's kinda late and all...

I am almost 2 days late for a St. Patty's day look but I kinda/sorta did one anyway. It wasn't a big deal or anything, but I think greens are pretty colors :) Here is what I have on today:

What I used:

Smashbox Hybrid 2 in 1 Primer - I adore this primer. It's just like the regular Photo Finish combined with a luminizer. The packaging was a little hard to operate since one side of it is the primer, the other side a luminizer. You have to sit it at the right angle to get even dollops of the product out. But the effect is nice. It goes on skin very smoothly and creates a clean canvas before any face makeup, plus you have a little glow from the luminizer.

Dior Sculpt 030 - Medium Beige - I rarely ever use this foundation because it's so rich and thick and has quite a heavy coverage compared to ALL of my liquid foundations. It's not as liquidy as my other ones either and is not runny. I didn't have to use any concealer because the coverage is so heavy. I bought this years ago... and I know it's bad to keep makeup for so long but it was a bit pricey and I hate wasting it =p I like the way it smells also :)

Physicians Formula Bronzer - I love this bronzer! You get a lot of product in just one sweep from the brush. A little goes a long way. If you accidentally put on too much, you would look like an orange =p But overall, I love it. I've been using this bronzer for years. Discovered by accident during one of my drug store mini hauls :)

Kat Von D Liquid Eyeliner - I don't remember if I reviewed this one or not. I think I may have reviewed the eyeshadow palette. This eyeliner is phenomenal. I love it to pieces! You can line your eyes so effortlessly. The tip is flexible and the product goes on very precisely. I normally don't use liquid liners because they are messy and dry slow, but this one is great. You can wear it very minimally or hard edged since it's such a dramatic black. It even has a sheen that reflects light. Dries extremely quickly.

MAC Delights Eyeshadow Palette in Eye/Cool - I don't know if anyone even remembers this palette. It came out years ago... I'd say 4 yrs to be safe, maybe more! o_o I was 18 or 19 years old when I purchased it... i remember being a Freshman or Sophomore in college when I worked at the mall. I LOVE the packaging.. it's so pretty! It has this almost antique feel to it and became something collectible for me :) This is one of my favorite eyeshadow palettes. It has a frosty shimmer so it's easy to apply and blend. I don't know how to describe it exactly, but I feel it's great for those who aren't too precise with matte shadows (like myself!)

Revlon lipgloss in Pink Pursuit (120) - This was part of the limited edition breast cancer awareness gloss. It's such a pretty pink! It's shimmery, it's fun and very wearable. It doesn't have a strange, unnatural look or smell or anything. It's not really a long wear gloss, but it's still sophisticated  and feminine. I bought it for less than $5 so... =p The creamy texture is also very moisturizing and contains SPF 15 :)

I still have yet to try any BB creams. They are everywhere online! That and false eyelashes. Oh, I am using Loreal Voluminous Mascara (original). GOD, I love the mascara. I'll be reviewing that soon. I should also do swatches for the products I'm reviewing as well! Duh.

What are your favorite primers for face or eyes?

Blue

I hope everyone is having an enjoyable Tuesday night. Mine was nothing special, as usual. I stayed overtime @ work tonight which explains my undereye bags! I haven't had much sleep over the past weekend because I was either up all night thinking or having strange dreams o_o Oye.

So this is what I wore today:

Blue-ish flower dress. It's made of cotton so it's very soft and wearable. I didn't feel too dressy or overly styled.

I was in a super hurry so I had on a little eyeshadow, some mascara and a little sunscreen on my face. I may have over did the blush. I hope I didn't look like a clown walking past people =P I didn't brush  my hair as usual... I really wish I knew how to style it more but since it requires straightening all the time, I hardly go the extra mile for it.

 All the products on my face are from the Tarte Treasure Chest. I adore the highlighter although I may have misused it but I can care less. Makeup is fun, and it should be that way :) I used Covergirl Lash Exact mascara (it's the yellow one), and Clean and Clear SPF moisturizer.

The weather was absolutely beautiful today. Sunshine all throughout the day. I think I am affected by the time change... it's making me feel a little crazy and tired but I think for the most part I'll survive as long as I get to bed as soon as I finish updating this blog :) Thank you for all the nice comments. It made my day :)

I will check back in tomorrow! 

Goodnight, all =)

Warm teas and pretty cups

I was going to post earlier but was stuck cleaning something. Before you know, time flies!

Anyway, I did a FOTD for tomorrow. Yes, I know..it's kind of weird that I prep for tomorrow when but I find that I just love to put on makeup and feel nice even if I have to wash it off before bed. It's a security thing, I guess? o_o Well, that and the fact that I have some time to put on some color. I really want to do one of those before and afters, but I feel hideous w/o anything on!

 

Here is what I wore:

FACE

Bare Minerals foundation in Golden Medium

Cargo blush in Tonga 

Clinique Pore Minimizer in Invisible Light (01)

Alba clear lip gloss in Passion Fruit Nectar

Smashbox brow tech for my eyebrows

Eyes

Lancome concealer in Beige (undereyes)

Lacome Graphic Color in Chic Plum (06) - I used the very light blue in the palette. Doesn't say what the color is! =/

Covergirl Volume Exact in Black

Shu Umera eyelash curler

I find that I really like mineral foundations. They feel much better on the skin than liquids. It's hard to find the right color in liquid foundations for me! I usually use Dior Purelight or Smashbox HD foundation but my face changes color in different lighting, especially inside restaurants or bars. It does not look nice to have one color on your face and another on your neck. After I finish BE, I think I'm going to try Everyday Minerals. Or a drugstore brand... =) What are your favorite foundations?

The weird lighting kind of makes it hard to see my eyeshadow and blush. I just used the blue shadow as the base and blended it with a little of the browns. The blue makes my eyes appear brighter and will be especially necessary to look well rested. Next time I'll take some photos during the day so the lighting will be better :) 

Take care! :)