Bridal Beauty Inspiration (a Collaboration with Loverly)

Hello All!

Today's post will be a little different than my usual reviews. Instead, it will be about our second favorite things, weddings and wedding dresses! Many of you know that I am a on-site wedding coordinator (a part-time gig which I absolutely love!) so I've seen my fair share of bridal dresses and makeup. It's always wonderful to see what types of beautiful looks artists come up with to make the bride feel extra special on her wedding day and I always get inspired by each bride I interact with.

There are so many types of wedding dresses on the market that it can be overwhelming to decide which is best for you. Then, when you choose the right dress, you now have to create a look that will compliment you and the dress wholly. This inspired me to want share some of my favorite dresses and looks with you and with the help of Loverly, my inspiration became this post. Have you never heard of Loverly? No? Well you should! It's an excellent site that has all your wedding planning and inspiration at your fingertips. It's great for anyone who is in the process of planning their wedding.

Haul: My Ulta Goodies

About a weekend or so ago, the Mister and I went to Freehold Raceway Mall and I saw the ginormous Ulta they had in there (queue the heavenly music). I have to admit, I am jelly of those who live so close to the mall as it has a Sephora and Ulta both. Anyway, my loving Mister took a seat in the waiting area and I ran in with glee to look at all the goodies Ulta had to offer. I didn't end up buying too much, I'm still trying to not purchase a ridiculous amount of products that will end up sitting in my drawer. Keyword, trying.

Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge: Being such a fan of the Beauty Blender (I have the pink and black one) I wanted to add a low budget and affordable version to my stash. I had heard a rave review from VintageorTacky on YouTube and she stated it was comparable to the BB sponge. I have tried it and do enjoy the results from it. When damp, the sponge balloons to about twice its size which is pretty fun. As to which I like better, I'm still not too sure yet.

Real Techniques Powder Brush: Who can have enough powder brushes? I'm not going to lie, I'm lazy when it comes to washing my brushes and will just use all my clean ones until I'm forced to wash them, I know it's terrible but I'm betting a lot of girls do it! 

Real Techniques Mini Trio Set: I got suckered into this small adorable set while I was waiting in line. I have been looking for an ideal travel powder brush to throw in my travel makeup bag and I think I found it. Plus it's pink! The other two brushes were bonuses for me.

OPI Natural Nail Base Coat: I was in need of a new nail base coat, and decided to try the OPI one. Usually I stick with very basic drugstore versions like Revlon and Sinful Colors but I decided to try the OPI version instead. 

Smashbox Mini Full Exposure Palette: How friggin cute is this!? I'll admit I got suckered waiting in line (damn those compulsive buys) but seriously, this is truly the perfect travel size palette. The original large full exposure palette came out when it was the Naked 3, NARSissit, and Lorac Pro craze (and of course I own all three), so I couldn't justify purchasing another $50.00 palette with similar colors. I feel this is the perfect compromise and absolutely perfect for someone who loves neutrals. Yes, the glitter shadows do have some fallout but I apply those with my fingers gently patting down on my lid and find that to be the best answer. Another plus for me is that the six shadows are exactly what I would have chosen out of the 12 from the normal palette.

Flowery Quattro Four Way Buffer: And lastly I picked these up because a girl can never have enough nail files lying around! lol

Hope you enjoyed my mini haul. I will be posting my first empties post in a few days, it took me forever to accumulate some for a substantial post! Anyway happy Thursday!

My Back 2 MAC Pick: Faux

I had finally accumulated enough empties to bring back to the MAC counter at Macy's for their Back 2 MAC recycling program. I'm sure many of you already know about this, but if you don't I'll give you a brief description of what it is. Back 2 MAC is a recycling program in which you can give back six of your empty containers (with certain exclusions) to a MAC store, counter, or online and receive a free lipstick or eye shadow in return. From what I understand, you can only choose an eye shadow from the store. Also the containers you bring back don't have to be fully empty, any expired makeup just sitting around can be brought back too. For full information check out MAC's website here. 

So knowing that I was going to get a lipstick, I browsed online at MAC's collection of lippies to ultimately decide what shade to get. I didn't want to pick a color I would never wear, to be honest, I have a few already that are just collecting dust, so I wanted to get a color that I would wear often and finish. In the end I was torn between Brave and Faux. I know these two have been all the craze everywhere because of Kylie Jenner so I had hoped that these shades would still be available. Of course when I got to the counter Brave was sold out so the decision was made for me to get Faux.

Faux is described as a mauve, muted pink and is almost an identical match to my natural lip color. I find it to be a great color for every day and also for work. I was a little hesitant to get this lipstick because it is a Satin finish but after trying it on in the store, I was sold. It felt very comfortable and easy to apply.

I really enjoy the fact that MAC does this and will continue to use the program. Hope you guys enjoyed my mini post! Talk to you all very soon.

Review: Benefit They're Real! Push-Up Liner

So I jumped on the Benefit They're Real! Push-Up Liner wagon and decided to get it about a week or so after it was officially released. I was originally on the fence about the product but was eventually sold when I saw a few gurus talk about it on YouTube. Now that being said, I'm going to tell you flat out I don't love it. I don't hate it either but it's nothing mind-blowing or holy grail material.  

According to Benefit, the They're Real! Push-Up Liner is an innovative liner that is "the first foolproof and budge-proof gel liner in a pen. This eyeliner’s soft AccuFlex™ tip is custom-angled to draw an easy line. Its flat, wide guard gently pushes lashes aside to get close to lash line. A gorgeous way to open up eyes, this matte black gel formula won’t dry out, and its cutting-edge tip ensures a precise line every time."

Sounds great right? While the tip of the pen is pretty unique and nifty, there is something off. It sits perfectly on my lid but when the actual gel liner is dispensed, something goes wrong. The gel product itself is very nice but it begins to pill and ball up while you are trying to line your eyes. Now some people may think that it's because that's old liner I need to wipe off. I tried it and still have the same results. I even tried to draw some on the back of my hand before applying it to my lid and I found that to be the most successful method. Even then the liner still balls up. 

Another gripe I have about the Benefit Push-Up liner is that it skips over itself if you try to reline an area. The gel starts to pull on my lid and I sometimes end up with patches. There have been a few times where I've gotten so frustrated that I've used my Stila Waterproof pen liner to go over the patches. Now for a liner that boasts ease and quickness, doing all these extra steps goes against these statements.

The last vice of this product is trying to get a cat eye with this. According to Benefit, you can "stamp" a line and then easily draw a cat eye perfectly every time. Now, maybe I'm inept but I my cat eye lines never come out even on each eye and I end up over drawing and will usually have this super thick, dramatic look. Not that I mind it, but I don't want to look so made up all the time.

Now there are some things I do enjoy about the liner. The first this is the staying power. This liner does not budge from my lids until I remove it which is great for people with oily or hooded lids. Another thing I enjoy about the liner is how black it is. The black is supremely matte and well black. As I stated, I do enjoy the tip and how flexible and comfortable it feels I just wish the after gel product would work more cohesively with it to create that smooth and beautiful line we are all looking for.

Benefit's They're Real! Push-Up Liner 

All-in-all Benefit's They're Real! Push-Up liner failed to really impress me. I understand that there may be a learning curve for new products and I really gave this a chance. I think multiple uses for over two months would suffice as enough time to learn how to use a product efficiently. It's highly unlikely I would repurchase this product. Did this product work out for you? Please let me know your thoughts!

June Favorites

June has certainly flown by and it makes me a little sad because I love the summertime! This month's favorites have all been about neutrality (nothing new there) and longevity. As of late I haven't been feeling the heavier foundations and often find them too thick and a bit cakey on me. I've also been about skin care as well. For some odd reason, the area around my nose and mouth were drastically drier than the rest of my face, I blame hormones but I still wanted to fix so I've been pretty focused on that. 

I'm also going to change up my favorites. Instead of just beauty favorites, I'm going to add a game, book, and/or television/film favorite just change it up a little bit. Anyway enough of my rambling, onward! 

Beauty Favorites:

1- Makeup Forever Face & Body Foundation: I forgot I had this in my stash and wanted to try it out again. I'm more tan and my MAC Face and Body is too light to match me. This is a great foundation that doesn't feel heavy and gives me a glow. It would be a definite repurchase. Very similar to the MAC version so if you have one or the other you're fine. 

2-NARS Laguna Luminizer: I picked this up at the beginning of the month and love it. Sometimes I mix it with my foundation or apply it as a normal bronzer. It is a bit pricey but it was worth he purchase for me.

3-NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder in Crystal: Holy Grail status. I love this stuff. I haven't tried the loose version, but I've only heard good things. I only lightly apply this to my t-zone and love the finish it gives. The feeling of my skin is smooth and looks poreless. 

4-NARS Narissist Eyeshadow Palette: I love this palette. It's been loved or hated. At the pricepoint, I would say you better be sure you love it. It's probably one of the more expensive palettes I've bought to date but it's so practical it's perfect for me. 

5-MAC Pedro Lourenco Nude Quad: A limited edition and spur of the moment purchase. I had a MAC gift card given to me as a birthday gift and I finally decided to use it. I told you my favorites would all be about neutrality! Seriously this is a beautiful quad and probably one of the best ones MAC has created. All four shades are pigmented smooth and apply like a dream. If you can still get your hands on this, I highly recommend you do!

6-Caudalie Beauty Elixir: I got the smaller size to try out before I invested in the full size. I'm not too keen on the smell, it's a bit too herbal for me but my skin feels so hydrated and smooth I bypass that part. The scent does dissipate so as least I'm not smelling it all day. I apply it both day and night and will most likely get the larger size and add it permanently to my skincare routine.

7- Urban Decay Chill Spray: This is great to freshen my makeup up and to set it. The All Nighter version is better for staying power but I decided to try this out instead because it is made for normal to dry skin. 

Book Favorite:

-Insatiable: Porn - A Love Story by Asa Akira: This was dirty, raunchy, and informative. It was definitely a fun read and a great way to look into what a life of a porn star is like. If you do plan on reading this, go in with an open mind, it's definitely more graphic than 50 Shades of Grey.

Television and Film Favorites:

Penny Dreadful: So me and the Mister binge watched the entire first season on demand and really enjoyed it. We are both fans of the old classics like Dracula, Dorian Gray, and Helsing so this was right up our alley. Plus Eva Green is phenomenal in it. Highly recommend and I can't wait for season two. 

Edge of Tomorrow: Time travel films often have plot holes but this one manages to get by without it. I know here are a lot of Tom Cruise haters but the film itself is excellent. A definite sleeper hit for this summer's blockbusters.

Game Favorite:

Child of Light: Ohmigod this game. It's a downloadable game available on Xbox 360 and One and the PS3 and PS4. Probably the best $15.00 I've spent on a game. The artwork is beautiful, story is solid, and the music!!! I'm going to the perfectionist and get all the trophies because I love this game so much. 

Phew, what a long entry! I hope you enjoyed the post and also your holiday weekend! Please if you can leave your thoughts about me adding the entertainment part to my favorites. 

Hello and New Hair

Hello to all my lovely readers! How is everyone? I'm sorry I've neglected my baby for a while, work has picked up and by the time I'm done with it, the last thing I want to do is sit another hour or so on my laptop. The work has gotten a little lighter so huzzah for that!  I've hope you've all been well and are enjoying this gorgeous weather we have been having. It's about time!

So I've been contemplating about getting my hair done for a while. I get so bored with my hair that I constantly want to try something new. Sadly that costs money and I can't really afford to get my hair done in a new style every other week. I stayed with a dark brown/black color for a while because it was easy to maintain and kinder to my wallet but with summer just around the corner I wanted something fun.

I'm pretty easy going in terms of whatever you want to do with my hair as long as you do the job well. So I was pretty disappointed with the salon I picked previously back in January because I felt the stylist didn't do as great of a job as I thought he could have. I asked for a lob with long layers and I basically got one length. I asked for chocolate brown and he applied a semi-permanent glaze to my hair which made it black. With the price I paid for the job, I felt it wasn't worth it so I searched for another salon in my area.

Waiting for the glaze to settle into my hair

I've been wanting a red ombre for some time. In fact I've tried it before but the red basically washed out after one shampoo. When I met my new hairdresser I told her I just wanted a balayage of some kind, I made no mention of red. As she was applying the bleach to my hair she asked me if I wanted to try something different and go with a plummy/violet red for my ombre, to which I replied yes. The amount of time and care she took with my hair was really great. She applied the red glaze and didn't like the result, so she did it again, it's probably the first time a stylist has ever done that for me. Then she applied a conditioning cocktail to my hair to make it super lush and soft. I'm very impressed with the color and know that even though the red will fade, it will still look nice.

The cut she gave is exactly what I wanted. Lots of layers with some bounce. I know that this is the type of cut that I won't have to worry too much about styling after I wash it, which is great for me, especially in the warmer months.

Photo taken with my iPhone with flash

Overall I was very happy with the way my hair turned out.With the proper care, I won't have to back until around mid-August for a touch-up. If any of my readers live in the Long Branch area, check this salon out and ask for Becky, she'll do wonders to your hair!

Brush Salon

• 129 Brighton Ave
• 732-222-3026
• brushsalonnj.com

March Favorites

Hello everyone!

I am beginning to come out of hibernation now that it really is starting to feel like spring. I mean, this winter has been brutal to everyone here in the States! Snow, more snow, air that hurts my face. It was a vicious cycle of wash, rinse and repeat (see what I did there, hurrhurr). Anyway, now that the Uggs and majority of bulky sweaters have been put away, I feel like dolling myself up again. I can't be too mad though, March has been very quiet and peaceful, I was able to spend a beautiful March day with my mother for her birthday (sometimes you just can't express the appreciation you have for the people in your life, no matter how much you try). Now I look forward to April showers (yes really, anything but more snow and crazy wind), longer days, and of course lemming more beauty products! Now that I've blah, blah'ed for a bit, let's move on to the favorites.

1) Stella McCartney's Stella- This has hands down been my favorite perfume for the past, I would say, six months. With notes of rose, peony, and amber, I can't help but feel pretty when I wear this. It also lasts for a while, compared to some of my other perfumes, so it's a nice plus especially for the price. I love this so much that I keep the rollerball version in my purse.

2) NARS Narsissist Palette- I tried so so hard to not want this palette. I read the reviews on this and they were pretty mixed so it kept me away for a bit. Then I saw HeyClaire's Get Ready With Me video using the palette and yeah, my restraint went downhill. I went to Lord & Taylor to swatch the colors and was pretty much sold. It is very expensive, if you are content with the Naked palettes, the Lorac Pro, or the Too Faced Chocolate bar palette you can definitely skip this. I would say to only get this is if you like five or more shades because it will justify the price.

3) Maybelline The Rocket Mascara in Waterproof- I did some shopping in my makeup stash and found this little guy. I had forgotten all about this mascara and when I retried it, I fell back in love. It definitely gives volume and length and above all else, it holds my curl. I've even worn this at the gym and it didn't sweat or smear off. The highest of fives all around.

4) The Body Shop Shea Body Butter- All the Body Shop body butters are amazing but I've been using this one up. The smell is fantastic but not overpowering and it makes my legs feel super soft and smooth. I would repurchase this particular scent, but I have six other tubs to go through. 

5) Revlon Parfumerie China Flower- Another item that I tried hard to resist. I finally purchased this in combination with Pink Pineapple (I haven't tried this one yet) in a set. It smells SOOOO good. I have to admit, I have a bit of nostalgia when it comes to the smell because it definitely reminds me of my grandma. It applies beautifully and compliments plenty of skin tones.

Swatch of just how beautiful this is!

6) Tales of Symphonia Chronicles for PS3- Non-beauty related item, but I had to share for those who love Japanese RPG's. Originally released for the Ninentdo Gamecube (I know, talk about a blast from the past) and Wii,  this was remastered for the PS3. I LOVED Tales of Symphonia when I initially played it, so there was no hesitation to purchase the remastered edition. This version also includes Tales of Symphonia: Dawn of the New World which is the sequel. I have to say, I'm not completely in love with the the sequel but the original story and game does have my heart.

Definitely check this out if you get a chance and of course once you beat the game, watch the anime!

Happy Monday and talk to you all soon!

Sephora Recommendations

I'm sure many of you beauty fans are aware of Sephora's current sale. If you are not, then you must be 1) not into beauty products at all or 2) have been living under a rock! Anyway, I took advantage of getting some new goodies to try so reviews will be coming shortly on those. I wanted to put this post up to give you some of my recommendations that will hopefully make it to your collection! There are about four to five days left depending on what member status you are, so hurry, hurry or else you'll have to probably wait until Sephora's Friends and Family sale in late fall. Just type of the promo code when checking out.

I tried to compile a bunch of different items to recommend or else the majority of the products would have been lip products (not a surprise there).

1) Shiseido IBUKI Skin Softening Concentrate- I wrote my thoughts about this product here. It's been so wonderful for my skin this harsh winter. I have already repurchased a second bottle.

2) Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation- My review here. A nice option for those who have pretty decent skin and want to give skin that natural glow. Another plus? The more you wear this, the better your skin looks!

3) Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder- Great multitasker of a powder. You can use it to highlight, set your makeup or even as eyeshadow. Ideal for that "glow from within" look.

4) BeautyBlender Sponge- This is magical for a flawless application of foundation. That's it. The end. 

5) BareMinerals Marvelous Moxie in Rebel- A lovely gloss with some tack but not to much to be annoying. Fills in lip lines and gives lips an overall fuller and plumper appearance.

6) Bite Agave Lip Mask- Great to wear overnight for super dry lips. I switch up between this and the Reve Miel lip balm.

7) NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl- Beautiful red that is easy to apply and flattering for many skin tones. Depending on your coloring, the red can lean more pink-red or true blue-red.

8) Benefit Gimme Brow- I own this in both colors and love them both. You can wear this alone or set your brows, the tiny micro-fibers in this gel create the illusion of tiny hairs and fuller brows.

9) Anastasia Brow Wiz- Wide range of color selections and so precise. You can fill in full brows or draw them on, the choice is yours. You can check my thoughts here.

10) Urban Decay Naked 3- I picked the Naked palette 3, but you can't go wrong with any palette of the Naked line. They are very versatile and high quality shadows that will last you quite a long time.

If you happen to purchase any of these during the sale, please comment down below and let me know your thoughts on the products!! Happy Sunday and in honor of the Game of Thrones premiere, "YOU KNOW NOTHING JON SNOWWWWWW!"

Review: Maybelline Color Sensational Color Elixir in Petal Push and Nude Illusion

I had originally purchased these Maybelline Color Elixirs first but fell in love with the L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinary lip glosses more (check my post here!). Now that being said, this isn't a bad product at all. It all depends on what you are looking for. Compared to the L'Oreal counterpart, these are sheerer. I prefer more opaque glosses that only take one to two coats as opposed to two or more. These Maybelline Color Elixirs took me two to three coats to get the opacity I like but then it felt slightly heavy because I had so many coats on. 

When it comes to the scent, it smells sweet, like a vanilla candy, but with a floral background. It's definitely not for those who prefer lighter scents. There is a slight tack to the product but nothing obnoxious. I didn't notice any peeling on my lips but this does go on much better if your lips are smooth as they tend to settle in lip lines. The packaging itself is, cute. It's not my favorite, but that's because I prefer sleeker, more sophisticated packing. This tends to lean more towards teen, young adult in my opinion.

The wand is excellent. It allows for precise application on all lip sizes. It also picks up enough product for one full application which is nice. Out of the two I picked up, I enjoy both colors. They are great for every day and for people of all ages (despite the packaging). 

All in all, I enjoy these glosses but they didn't make me jump out of my seat. Unless there is a color I really want or has excellent reviews, I don't think I will be repurchasing these.

Pros:

-Over 20 shades

-Felt hydrating
-Affordable and easily accessible

Cons:

-Not as opaque as in the packaging

-Scent for sensitive noses
-Packaging may not appeal to everyone

Repurchase? Highly unlikely

February Favorites!

Happy March! I'm counting down the days till spring because I'm sick of all this cold and snow! The picture above describes exactly how I feel about the winter this year. So spring, hurry up already! Anyway, onto the favorites. It's been a quiet month in terms of beauty products since I've been feeling that natural, but put together look. 

1-The Lorac Pro palette- I love this palette, it sneaks past the Naked palettes in terms of versatility because it includes all shades of neutrals like a purple, rust, and a slate. I always bring this with me when I travel as well since it's so slim and lightweight.

2-Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Deep- So, I tried the Anastasia Dipbrow pomade in three colors, chocolate, dark brown, and ebony and did not like any of them. They all seemed too warm for my hair coloring so I returned them all. Now I use this in conjunction with the Shu Uemura brow pencil in stone grey or the Anastasia Brow Wiz in Ebony. What I love the most is the small brush it comes with, it always makes for precise application and leaves no mess. My brows look natural but detailed at the same time. 

3-The Body Shop Wild Rose Hand Cream- I got this for free during The Body Shop's Christmas giveaway and love it. I'm a fan of rose scents so I love slathering this on. The cream itself is airy, lightweight, and absorbs very easily into the skin. I have the almond scented one by my bed to use on my hands and feet at night. 

4- Shu Uemura Hard Brow Pencil in Stone Grey- On days where I don't wear makeup, I usually use this on its own. When I use quick strokes of this on my brow, it creates a soft, full look. While this is pretty pricey for an eyebrow pencil, this thing will last for ages because a little goes a long way. I do not recommend this for anyone who has really, sparse brows. It won't draw on brows like the Brow Wiz. 

5- BareMinerals Marvelous Moxie lipgloss in Rebel- I love minty glosses so I knew right away I would enjoy these. I believe Rebel is the one of the few cream finishes in the line. There is a slight tack and a bit of a tingle, not crazy lip plumping burn your lips off tingly, but it does plump lips slightly and decreases the appearance of lip lines. 

6- NARS Pressed Light Reflecting Setting Powder- This is an awesome setting powder. When you first get it, you need to, in a sense, scratch the surface with a real haired brush and then the powder is magic. No cakiness at all and it makes my skin look flawless. If I really want to look super ethereal, I'll dust on some Houglass Ambient Lighting Powder on my high points and call it a day. 

Hope you enjoyed the post! Also hope you are staying warm in this very blustery weather!

First Impression: L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinary Lip Color

I saw these beautiful little golden bullets on display in my local Walgreens and instantly went, "oooooh." After Maybelline released their Color Elixirs (impression on that soon!) L'Oreal followed suit and came out with their own version. It's their Colour Riche Extraordinary Lip Color. There are 16 shades total, ranging of nudes to pinks to oranges to reds to purples. Basically there is something for everyone. The packaging feels very luxurious but as with all gold/shiny things, it gets fingerprints very easily. The bullet displays the color on the side which is very true to the product color. Another thing I noticed and loved was the names of all the shades. Each had a play on music, like Rose Melody or Plum Adagio. How cute is that?

Out of all the shades, I chose the two that would be most wearable to me. I don't get fancy very often and on most days I just like to look put together so I decided on 101 Rose Melody and 601 Nude Ballet. I am so happy with the choices I picked. Both are very pigmented and apply beautifully. I was afraid Nude Ballet would not show up on my lips at all but it definitely mutes my pigmented lips just enough. Rose Melody is a warm rose-y pink that gives me a polished look. 

As with all L'Oreal lip products, there is a scent. I find it very pleasant but it can be overpowering for those who have sensitive noses. Compared to the Maybelline Elixirs, these tend to be more floral while the Maybelline ones are a little sweeter. Both don't bother me but it's definitely something to take into consideration if you are looking to purchase either one. The staying power depends per person. If you are a lip licker I don't see these lasting very long since they are not tacky at all. For me these lasted about two hours which is pretty decent for a gloss.

Rose Melody and Nude Ballet

So far I am really enjoying these. I have seen swatches of the reds and oranges and those are beautiful as well. Between the Maybelline Elixirs and the L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinary lip color, I prefer the L'Oreal. It wins in pigmentation hands down and over looks more sophisticated. Have you tried these? Which is your favorite?

Review: Maybelline The Buffs Lipstick Review

After searching online and in my local drugstores, I was finally able to get my hands on two of these ever so popular Maybelline The Buffs lipsticks. To be honest, at first I was kinda meh about the line and was going to skip out on it. Of course after reading blog posts and seeing swatches on Instagram and YouTube, I totally changed my mind and the collector in me needed to add these to my already large collection of lipsticks.

The formula is the same as the original Maybelline ColorSensational line. This means that the consistency, scent and texture are pretty much the same as its predecessor. So if you didn't like those, I would skip these. I personally don't mind the smell and find the texture to be creamy and slightly hydrating. Both lasted at least three hours on me without eating. With eating, I had to reapply after the meal.

The Buffs has ten permanent shades to choose from. The old me would have purchased all ten but after much debate, I decided on 915 Blush Beige and 945 Stormy Sahara. Some of the other colors were more brown and I'm more of a fan pinky/coral nudes. Blush Beige is the lighter of the two and definitely accentuates any flakes or dryness on your lips so exfoliation and balm is a must! Stormy Sahara is more of a "peachy, orange" nude that I just love. Both can be paired with a smokey eye or a natural eye, it all depends on your preference. Out of the two, Stormy Sahara is easier to wear, since it doesn't accentuate flaws as easily. 

Blush Beige and Stormy Sahara

If you love or like nudes, I suggest you check out the line. The ten shades provide a variety that go from very pale to vampy so there is something for everyone. Plus the drugstore price makes it more wallet friendly (the BoGo sales always help too!).

Pros:

-Creamy
-Ten shades
-Part of the permanent line
-Afforable

-Available in drugstore and online

Cons:
-Scent for some
-Not all shades have same texture

Repurchase/Recommend? Yes and yes.

Tag! 30 Random Facts About Me

I was tagged by the lovely and beautiful Kar Yi of Angelic Betrayal (please check her out! Her blog is fantastic and full of very informative reviews). Now I had done a 50 things about me post when I wanted to get back to that blogger life but I love these! Let's see what things I can come up with.

1. I just celebrated my 10 year anniversary with the Mister! I feel very blessed to have him in my life.
2. I go through stages of purging things from my apartment. There are times I get antsy and need to clean or de-clutter.
3. I know I've stated I love the Lord of the Rings films but I have yet to read the entire trilogy. It's on my list of resolutions and I am currently enjoying it.
4. I LOVE sleep. Me and Snorlax are buddies.
5. I am very excited for the new season of Game of Thrones.
6. I was not impressed with the finale of Battlestar Galactica. I don't know if everyone's hype about it made me have greater expectations but, meh.
7. When I was little, I wanted to be an ice-skater, how Asian of me.
8. Speaking of, I played the flute back in grammar school. I was told by my music teacher I was a natural and had a solo in the Christmas concert.
9. I never realize how expressive my face is until one of my friends or my fiance laughs at me.
10. I'm very picky about my hair, especially how I want it to look and am usually disappointed when I can't get the message across.
11. I've always wanted naturally curled hair, I always feel that sleek straight hair makes my face look fat. So the more volume in my hair the better!
12. My favorite workout day is leg day. Grow booty, grow!
13. I love lifting weights, it makes me feel strong and pushes away the doubts I have of myself.
14. I am very stubborn. My grandma got it right when she called me her little cow (I was born the year of the ox). It can take me a long time to relent especially if I think I have a winning argument.
15. As much as I wanted to dislike Speculoos Cookie Butter, I love it. I could probably eat that ish in one sitting. Very dangerous.
16. I used to be a chocolate fanatic when I was younger. Everything had to be chocolate, but now I like to try different flavors, especially when it comes to ice cream!
17. My favorite pizza topping is pineapple with bacon. Nom nom.
18. I love Fanta! Don't give me Crush or Sunkist, it's not the same. Can you tell I have a fat kid living inside of me?
19. Nine out of ten times, when I go to a nail salon, they will ask me if I am Korean. A lot of people think I am, they also think my mom is Korean too.
20. It offends me when people think I don't speak English. Even better, when a guy tries to hit on me speaking in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, etc., etc., 
21. I have me some big ole' calves and finding a pair of boots to fit me is an event. That's why I like booties!
22. I am hoping that 2014 will be an amazing year. Last year wasn't too bad, I made some great improvements but I want to be better.
23. My favorite super hero is Thor. When it comes to to DC I really like Batman and Superman.
24. I love to pamper myself with face masks or taking time to paint my nails. I find it very soothing, I never understood how women rush through their paint job.
25. I read Jane Eyre after college and loved it! It's in my top five for favorite books. 
26. I love me a nice hot cup of tea, regardless of what time of year it is. I like my tea to be piping hot or ice cold, never lukewarm or room temperature (blah!).
27. I am a huge fan of Namco Bandai's Tales series. I was very impressed with Tales of Xillia and am very excited for the relaunch of Tales of Symphonia.
28. I am beginning to dislike Facebook more and more. It's like MySpace but with family members. Gah!
29. I hope to visit Asia one day. The Mister says that he won't go unless I speak fluent Mandarin. It's definitely incentive to re-learn what I lost!
30. I wish my blogger friends lived closer. That way we could all hang out and be awesome together!

Whew, that was a little hard! I don't have many people to tag, but if you want to do it, go ahead and then leave me a comment! I would love to read your post!

I Tag:

LdotCdot

DrunkOnShoes

RicAdeMus

xPpinkXx

Review: Shiseido IBUKI Softening Concentrate

During the winter months, my skin gets ridiculously dry. I think it's from all the dry heat indoors and windy conditions outside. So it was no surprise that even my heaviest moisturizer didn't work. I would slather the stuff on and still see dry patches emerge on my chin and cheeks. My simple morning routine became longer because I would have to layer my moisturizer before even thinking of putting on any sort of makeup. The problem with layering moisturizers is how heavy my face felt. I felt like my pores weren't breathing so I decided to find a solution to this winter skin.

In previous years, I used the Lumene Arctic Aqua Moisture Booster before my moisturizer and loved it. However once I moved further from New York it seemed my skin got drier during the winter months. Maybe it has to do with me getting older, haha (not really). I also noticed that if I used too much of the serum, it would feel very tacky. That's when I got desperate and decided to look in Sephora for an alternative.

After browsing the skincare section, I was losing hope in finding an alternative until I stumbled across Shiseido's IBUKI line. I wasn't interested in any of the face washes or lotions but I did take a big interest in the IBUKI Softening Concentrate.

According to the website this is a "deep-infusion formula that delivers powerful ingredients into the skin for a softer, smoother feel." It's basically a more frou frou version of the Lumene moisture booster. At the store, I pumped a small amount onto the back of my hand and continued to browse the store. After about five minutes, the back of my hand felt great. I was sold.

I have been using this consistently everyday for the past month and have been impressed with the results. While it is more expensive, a little goes a long way. There is 2.5 ounces and I haven't even used a quarter of this yet so I know this will last me quite some time. I don't even use a whole pump and it's enough for my entire face and neck. Any tightness I feel on my face goes away completely. I'm pretty sure that I can even use this in the summer alone as a light moisturizer. That's how hydrating it is to me. After application, I allow the serum to dry a bit before applying my moisturizer and my face feels smooth and soft. I haven't experienced any abnormal breakouts or reactions while using this.

There is a scent to the product. To me, it smells like a fancy high end skincare product. Nothing too invasive or strong, but I can some who might find this too perfume-y for their taste. Like I always say, test it in the store or be sure the company has a great return policy if you buy online.

I didn't expect miracles with this item, but I'm glad that the IBUKI Softening Concentrate did deliver some excellent results. I am a now a fan and will continue to use this product. 

Pros:

-Hydrating, especially for very dry skin
-Nice base for moisturizer
-Lightweight

-Refreshing

Cons:

-Scent might be overwhelming for some
-Expensive
-Only available in dept. stores, online or Sephora

Re-Purchase/Recommend: Yes and yes.

First Impression: Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure

When Hourglass announced they would release a line of Ambient Lighting Blushes, I tried my best to ignore the ads and blog posts about it. I mean, I'm only kidding myself when I tell myself I need a blush. Alas, I failed and decided to purchase one of the Hourglass blushes when Sephora released it early for the VIB Rouge holders. Fail whale.

There are six shades total, each color is intertwined with their ever so popular Ambient Lightning Powder to create a "seamless, soft-focus and multidimensional color." According to Hourglass, they are offering a different approach to powder blush, which can look flat on the face. With these blushes they claim you can achieve that glow from within.

Out of the six shades, I decided on Mood Exposure. It's described as a soft plum. When I received it and took a swatch it looked a little warm on me. I think depending on your skintone, the color will change from warm or more neutral/cool. The blush is mixed with Mood Light which on it's own is described as "a soft, sheer lavender pink that mimics the softest, most forgiving light and brightens the complexion."

I am absolutely in love with the texture of this blush. Like their Ambient powders, it's finely milled and applies flawlessly onto skin. It never looks caked on or too powdery, even with my dry skin. When applied, it gives me this beautiful glow without it being shimmery or glittery.

A single swipe, the top is natural light, bottom is with flash


This is quickly climbing the list of being on of my favorite blushes and I may, when it's released in stores take a gander at the other shades. If you missed out of the VIB Rouge sale, the blushes will be available in Sephora stores 2/21. Or if you can't wait for it to be in stores, the Hourglass website also has these available.

Review: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Ash

I am a firm believer that brows shape and complete the face. I've seen those internet memes of celebrities without their eyebrows and frankly, they terrify and creep me the f*** out. 

Look at that!

Now thankfully I was blessed with pretty thick brows (thanks Mom!) but yet I wanted to shape and define them more. Remember folks, you want refined, shapely brows, not untamed shrubbery. Over the past years I have tried all sorts of drugstore eyebrow pencils but laughed at the results it gave me. Every color was too red or brown for my hair coloring and I ended up looking like a hot mess. I don't know about you but black hair and red brows is not a good look.

After hearing the rave reviews from pretty much everyone, I decided to bite the price bullet and purchase the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Ash. Now in my indecisive way, it took me about ten minutes to decide which color to get. After a tireless battle in my brain, I settled for Medium Ash because I didn't really want to color them, I just wanted to shape them up a bit. I also rationalized that if the color was really off I could simply exchange it.

Well, if you came here looking for a negative review on this brow pencil, you're looking at the wrong place. I LOVE THIS! Overall, my brows now look more refined and natural as opposed to using drugstore pencils or eye shadow. 

This is a mechanical pencil with a wind-up mechanism, so you don't have to waste any product sharpening it. Which to me is great since it doesn't come with a ton of product anyway. You only get 0.003 ounces which will only last some people about two weeks with consistent daily use. So this is a bit of an investment especially if you need to fill your brows everyday. The pencil also comes with a built in spoolie to help brush the brow hairs in place and to soften the pencil if needed.

I think what really won me over was the color selection. There are a total of seven shades to choose from, allowing everyone to find a suitable color for them. The shades all have realistic undertones which add dimension and depth without looking fake or drawn on. You never want someone to say "you drew on your brows really great today!" Another plus was how long it lasted on me. I went to the gym after a lunch date and to my surprise, my brows still looked polished and untouched. I would say that if you have extremely oily skin, this may not be as smear resistant.

If you are sick of wasting money on failed brow pencils, take a gander at the Anastasia Brow Wiz line. You may sing praises like the majority of us!

Pros:
-Great shade variety
-Wind-up pencil
-Formulated with parabens, sulfates or phthalates
-Water-resistant and smear-resistant
-People with all brow types can use this (sparse or full)

Cons:
-A bit pricy (usually priced at $21 USD)
-Not a lot of product
-Not available everywhere

Would I Recommend/Repurchase? Yes and yes.