Most Loved 5 of October 2013

Nude ProGenius Treatment Oil & Cellular Renewal Moisturiser
I got these 2 products in a deluxe sample set. My skin has improved so much after using them. I use the set at night. I use the oil first and put the cream on top. My breakouts and irritation have calmed down and my skin has become super soft and smooth. They're very pricey products but they're worth every penny!

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
This little wonder has been hyped about for a long time. I just recently got mine from HauteLook. It's so worth the hype. I pop it on my acne spots at night and when I wake up they're not as red, bumpy, or irritated anymore. It's a miracle!

Korres Lip Butter in Pomegranate
I can't wear a lot of makeup at work so my beloved lipsticks are obviously out of the picture. I've been loving this lip butter because it gives nice pigmentation and hydration. I love that it's not as thick and sticky as a lip gloss, not as opaque as a lipstick, and not as sheer as a lip balm. It does dry out in 2-3 hours but it leaves a natural stain on the lips. It's very fool proof so I don't mind reapplying. You can also use the product left on the finger tip as a natural blush.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush in Natural Beauty
I've been wearing this blush almost every time I wear makeup for the past month. It's seriously a gorgeous blush. It mimic the natural blush perfectly and give your face a lit-from-within glow just with the beautiful color. The longevity is awesome. It truly lasts all day until you take it off. See my review for more details and pictures.

Tarte Natural Beauty | Korres Pomegranate

October was a good month. I discovered some of my holy grail products that have made a big impact on my skin and my makeup. Definitely try some of these products out if you haven't and I hope you enjoy it!

Most Loved 5 of September 2013

This month's Most Loved 5 is in video form! I'm gonna try to do it for every month because these posts tend to get too long and dull. Hope you enjoy it!

Most loved products:
Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm (reviewed here)
Caudalie Vinosource S.O.S Thirst Quenching Serum
Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Balm
Almay Liquid Lip Balm in Apricot Pucker (reviewed here)
Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Powder in Candlelight

Other products mentioned:
Bare Minerals Luminizer in The Love Affair
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle

Most Loved 5 of August 2013

I had been doing Most Loved 10 for the past a few months. The posts always ended up being super long and I understand that my readers can lose interest because I lost interest writing towards the end! Also I find a lot of things that I love and use a lot are from previous months' favorites. So I'm going to cut it in half and here we go: Most Loved 5!

MAC Eyeshadow in Soba
This is an eyeshadow that looks nothing special in the pan and swatched. This is an eyeshadow that you really have to try it on to love it. When it's applied on the lids it gives the eyes a subtle warmth. I normally don't put a color darker than my complexion on my hooded lids but this shade, surprisingly, opens up my eyes while giving definition at the same time.

MAC Eyeshadow in Brun
In last month's Most Loved I mentioned Crave in Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette was my favorite brow color. This month I've been using MAC Brun for my brows. I find that Crave is really close to my natural hair color, maybe a teeny tiny bit darker. Crave is pretty pigmented and buttery so it makes my brows look darker and pronounced. This month I've been wearing lighter eyeshadows and Brun is the perfect color for more natural eye looks. MAC describe it as satin muted blackish brown. To me it looks completely matte. It's a dark grey brown so it's just a little lighter than my natural hair color. It gives my brows definition without being dramatic. It's not as buttery as Crave so it's easier to work with as a brow color.

NARS Blush in Luster
I've been using this blush most days this month. It's a beautiful apricot color with shimmer. It's not overly shimmery, which allows me to use my highlighters. I don't use bronzers to give warmth to my skin because it can sometimes get too dark and look funky with my contour. This blush is light and almost doesn't have any pink in it so it gives a nice warmth to the cheeks without making my face look muddy.

Shiseido Eyelash Curler
I had always been afraid of eyelash curler because they tend to either break my lashes or pluck them. My lashes are very fine so they get nice natural curl just with mascaras. The curl that Shiseido Lash Curler gives is like the enhanced version of my natural curl. It's natural but opens up my eyes even more. It grabs almost all my lashes (only missing few front ones) so I don't have to worry about uneven curls. It has not broken my lashes or pluck them. It's definitely worth the money.

Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque
This is a Lisa Eldridge influenced purchase. I have been breaking out and my skin feels very irritated. Whenever I use it (at night) my skin feels much calmer and my pimples are not as red the next morning. It contains hyaluronic acid, which is very effective in hydrating the skin. My skin breaks out from hormone changes, allergic reactions, or dehydration. My skin isn't particular dry but it is definitely dehydrated. This mask has done magic in soothing the discomfort.
It comes out clear so it's perfect to use on the airplanes. The only thing I don't like is the smell. It smells kind of like fish. But it's quite easy to get used to.

Bonus: Favorite Blogger of the Month
Caroline Hirons
Her blog has changed my perspectives on skincare. I've made a lot of changes in my skincare routine, including using washcloths and pulling myself away from foaming cleansers. She provides a lot of tips on skincare, as well as product reviews. I love that she gets to the point and says it like it is. If you haven't, please check out her blog at http://www.beautymouth.com/. If I could only recommend one blog this year, it would definitely be hers!
If you don't know where to start, check out her cheat sheets first on the right navigation section (scroll down a bit).

Most Loved 10 of July 2013

REN Glycol Lactic Radiance Renewal Mask

This thing has been talked and raved about by so many beauty gurus so I finally decided to bite the tongue, spend the $55, and give it a go. If you're not familiar with glycolic acids, this VIDEO would be very helpful. This mask leaves my face very soft afterwards. It's a good product use if you're just starting to get into glycolic acids.

Josie Maran 100% Argan Oil

This is my first beauty oil and I've been using these oils for months and this remains my favorite. It's my travel essential because no matter what kind of weather or what kind of condition my face is under, this never fails me. For more details, please see this REVIEW.

Blistex Lip Medex

I got this tiny one for $1.29 on Drugstore.com. I believe this is the one that Estee from Essie Button swears by. This is so good. It's not the best tasting because if you lick it it will tingle your tongue. It gives the lips a tingling sensation, which makes the lips feel plumped. It's very moisturizing and it doesn't make my lips dry once I stop using it. It's clear. It doesn't make your lips look ashy.

Clinique Even Better Makeup in Golden Neutral

This is one of my favorite foundations. However, my complexion has become lighter over the years and this shade is too dark for me. I use it in the summer to mix it with my winter foundations. I find a lot of lighter foundation shades have pink undertone. Golden Neutral is really yellow base so while it darkens the lighter foundations, it neutralizes the undertone.

NARS Blush/ Bronzer Duo in Deep Throat/ Laguna

This product was featured in my Best Travel Makeup Products post and I've done an individual review for it. The product itself isn't that amazing. But I love how compact, fool-proof, and versatile it is. For more details, please see this REVIEW.

Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Creme Bronzer in Rich Bronze

This is a cream to powder bronzer. I love the formula because it's not like a typical cream cheek product. It's very easy to blend with a brush. I apply it just like how I would to contour with a product bronzer. Rich Bronze is a good shade for contouring. I wouldn't say it's orange but it's a little warmer than Benefit Hoola. I'll soon post a review for this product. Stay tuned!

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette - Crave

This palette was in last month's Most Loved 10. This month I haven't been using this palette for eyeshadows but instead, I've been using the shade Crave to fill in my brows. My natural hair color is a very dark brown, almost black. Crave is black but because of its pigmentation, it looks like a very dark gray, which is perfect for filling in my brows.

MAC Paint Pot in Constructivist

I used this paint pot also every time I wore makeup this month. It's such a versatile product. You can achieve different depths of the color, allowing you to do a complete eyeshadow look with just this product. I will have a review and demo of Constructivist soon. Stay tuned!

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic

It's red with warm undertone. I love how you can get a sheer wash of color by putting it in the center of the lips and blend it out. You can also get an opaque color with normal application. It feels great on the lips. It does stain, but not as much or as evenly as Smitten. It does leave a little bit of a ring around the edges but it's nothing terribly noticeable if you have pigmented lips.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Mauve It Over

It's my "my lips but better" color. It's a mauvy pink. I don't find nude lipsticks flattering on me, so this pink mauve is perfect. It's natural and comfortable to wear. The finish is beautiful. It's a matte finish but when applied on the lips, it has a very slight moisture, giving it a natural satin finish. I love this lipstick with dark or bright eye looks.

Clinique Golden Neutral | NARS Deep Throat | NARS Laguna | Sonia Kashuk Rich Bronze | Urban Decay Crave | MAC Constructivist | Revlon Romantic | Revlon Mauve It Over

Best Travel Makeup Products

I've been travelling almost every week since May. It's essential to pack my makeup very smartly and lightly.
Travel sizes or samples are definitely good choices. But sometimes I would be out of town for longer than just a weekend so it's equally important for me to bring products that will work no matter how my skin condition is.

Base Products

Shiseido Extra Smooth Sun Protection Cream for Face SPF 36 PA+++
I've been using Shiseido sunscreens since I was a little girl. It provides fantastic protection without making your skin greasy. It's also very gentle and never breaks out my sensitive skin. The formula is very light, making it perfect under makeup. I got this a while back. Now the closest they do is SPF 38, but everything in the blue packaging line has similar formula and works nicely. Available at Sephora and Nordstrom.
Kanebo Freshel Moist Lift BB Cream in Medium Beige (Mentioned in this POST)
I can use it when my face is either combination or dry. The color also suits me all year around. I can get a light coverage with this, or layer it to get medium coverage when I have spots. It sets to a natural finish, looking like your skin. I usually don't have to set it with powder. It's very gentle and doesn't feel heavy at all even if you layer it on. It's comfortable to wear no matter what type of weather it is.
Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard (Mentioned in this POST)
It has very good coverage without feeling cakey. It can be used for under-eye dark circles and all over the face. It sets to a natural finish that looks like real skin. It doesn't last as well as MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, but it lasts better any other concealers I've tried. I love taking with me for travels because I don't have to take an under-eye concealer with me. I can get away without setting it most of the time.

Shiseido Sunscreen | Kanebo BB Cream | Nars Concealer

Setting Powders


I don't always set my makeup, but I always bring a powder with me just in case of hot weather or night-outs.
Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder (Mentioned in this POST)
I got a deluxe sample size of this amazing setting powder. It's a extremely finely milled powder. It sets and mattifies the makeup instantly. The size is perfect for travel.
MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC20
This powder is perfect over light foundations or BB creams because it provides great coverage. It will take the light coverage to medium-full coverage. I also use it over moisturizer. I love this product for travel because it's very versatile in coverage and application. It also wears off beautifully, no cakey patches or bumps. I don't take both of these powders but either one works fantastically. Available at Nordstrom, Macy's, and MAC.

Tarte Powder | MAC Powder

Blush and Bronzer

Illamasqua Powder Blush in Naked Rose (Mentioned in this POST)
It's a matte dusty rose blush. It's super wearable and fool proof. It's almost impossible to mess up with this blush. I use it for everyday looks as well as evening looks. It's very versatile in terms of the opacity and intensity of the color.
Benefit Hoola Bronzer
It's my all time favorite bronzer. It's matte and neutral tone, making it perfect for contouring. It applies smoothly and blends out easily. It's also very versatile so it can be used both day time and night time. Available at Sephora and Macy's.
Nars Deep Throat Blush and Laguna Bronzing Powder Duo
I've been taking it with me instead of a blush and a separate bronzer. It's super convenient, a beautiful shimmery blush, a semi-matte bronzer, and a big mirror. Deep Throat is such a beautiful peachy rosey blush that doesn't overload shimmer. Laguna is a nice shade for contour. I still love Hoola more because Hoola is smoother and more neutral. But Laguna is still a lovely product. Available at Sephora.

Illamasqua Naked Rose | Benefit Hoola | Nars Deep Throat | Nars Laguna

Highlighter

I don't always bring highlighters. It's something I can skip over. But for the times I'm into highlighting, I would bring just one highlighting product.
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle
It's a champagne highlighter. It's noticeable without making you look shiny or like a disco ball. The only thing I don't like about this while travelling is that it takes up a lot of space in the makeup bag. But other than that, it's a beautiful highlight that's very easy to work with. Available at Nordstrom, Macy's, and MAC.
Benefit Moon Beam
I like to take it with me mainly because it's smaller compared to powder packagings and I don't need a brush to apply this. It gives an iridescent glow. However, it has some pink shimmers so i don't find it as natural as Soft and Gentle on the cheekbones. Available at Sephora.
Benefit Watt's Up Highlighter
I got this little cute sample size in my Sephora birthday gift combo. I think even the full size would be travel friendly. I'm so in love with this cream highlighter. It's like Soft and Gentle but gives a more iridescent finish because the pigments are finer. It's very easy to apply. It's not sticky and it's super easy to blend. I also love that you don't need a brush to apply this. Available at Sephora and Macy's.

MAC Soft & Gentle | Benefit Moon Beam | Benefit Watt's Up

Eyeshadows

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze (Reviewed in this POST)
I take this with me when there's not important occasions that I have to go to during the travel. It's easy to apply and doesn't require a brush. I put it all over my lid and put on a second layer at the outer corner of my lid to create some dimensions. It last long and wears off well.
Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette (Reviewed in this POST)
I can get a day time look and a night time look with this. It has all the shades that I need for highlight, contour, and eyeliner. The formula is very smooth and creamy. I always bring Nars eyeshadow primer with me if I'm taking this palette.

Maybelline Bad to the Bronze | Urban Decay Venus | Foxy | W.O.S | Naked 2 | Faint | Crave

Mascara


I'm not a mascara "layerer" when I'm travelling. I like to take just one mascara that does the job. These two mascaras both do a pretty good job in lengthening and volumizing and they are both transfer free and mostly smudge-free.
Rimmel Day 2 Night Mascara (Mentioned in this POST)
This is not the waterproof formula. However, it doesn't transfer on me while a lot of other waterproof mascara does. It smudges on the bottom lashes a little bit after long hours, but nothing terrible. I really like that I can get a false lashes look just with this mascara. It's a little hard to take off but it comes off with my DHC Cleansing Oil.
Cover Girl Lash Blast 24HR Mascara
It's a very volumizing mascara, more so than lengthening. It has a rubber wand. It's very waterproof, doesn't transfer on me but like Rimmel Day 2 Night it smudges a little after long hours. It's much more difficult to remove than Rimmel Day 2 Night. I really have to allow some time and give my lashes some massaging for the cleansing oil to dissolve the mascara. Overall I like Rimmel Day 2 Night more than Lash Blast, but Lash Blast is still a really nice one. Available at drugstores and Drugstore.com.

Most Loved 10 of June 2013

Kanebo Freshel Moist Lift BB Cream in Medium Beige
This BB cream has pretty light coverage but it's buildable to lighter medium coverage. It covers up the redness very well. It feels light on the skin. I use Real Techniques Expert Face Brush with this, which is a very dense synthetic brush.
It's very comfortable to wear. It doesn't feel like it's glued to your face, but it doesn't feel like it's sitting on top of the face, either. The finish is in between dewy and matte. I love it because the finish looks like my own skin.
The tone is neutral. It's not too pink or too yellow, but at the same time doesn't look gray on me. There are only 2 colors. Medium Beige, which is the darker of the two, is a good match for my NC20 complexion. The colors can definitely suit multiple shades of complexion. However, I think the colors will be way too light for dark complexions.
It's just overall an easy-to-use and fool-proof base product. I've been travelling a lot in June and I always take it with me. I got mine in Taiwan. They can be found on eBay.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard
This is basically the thicker and more pigmented version of Kanebo Moist Lift BB Cream. The finish is very natural, just like natural skin, which makes it a great concealer for a no-foundation day. It's very easy to blend and long-lasting. Compared to MAC Pro Longwear Concealer it's easier to blend but just a little less long-lasting. But compared to any other concealers it's very long-lasting. It's something that you can put on any part of your face. I use this for blemishes and under-eye circles. This is another product that I've been taking with me for travelling.
Nars has a great selection of colors. Custard is yellow toned. It's just a tiny tiny tiny bit too dark for NC20 but it blends out nicely and the color different isn't noticeable once blended out. I would say it's a very good match.
Available at Sephora, Nordstrom, and Beauty.com.

Tarte Smooth Operator Amazonian Clay Finishing Powder
I have a little sample size but a tiny bit goes a long way with this product. It's a translucent ultra finely milled powder that's impossible to look cakey. It mattifies the makeup. It wears off very well; it doesn't get patchy or cakey at all throughout the day.
I'm not a fan of loose powder because they get messy. I wish it came in a compact. But this is something that I would purchase once I run out of setting powder.
Available at Sephora and Beauty.com.

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze
I love it when I'm in a rush or lazy. It's easy, quick and gorgeous. See review and swatches in this POST.
Available at drugstores and Drugstore.com.

Urban Decay Naked Basics Palette
This is such a travel friendly palette because you can create day and night eye looks with just this palette, including lining your eyes. All you need other than this palette is a mascara (or false lashes). See review and swatches in this POST.
Available at ULTA, Sephora, Beauty.com.

Rimmel Day 2 Night Mascara in Extreme Black
This is a waterproof, smudge-proof, and transfer-proof mascara. It gives incredible length and volume. The formula is a bit wetter than other mascaras, which makes it prone to clumping and sticking the lashes together, but that only happens if you don't wipe off the excess. The only thing I don't like about it is the wand is a little bigger than most mascaras, but it's manageable.
Available at drugstores and Drugstore.com.

MAC Lipstick in Lustering
I normally don't wear pink because a lot of them are blue tone, which doesn't look good on my warm skin tone. Lustering is a Luster finish. It's a sheer bright pink with warm undertone. I love that it doesn't look cakey on the lips. It's a easy everyday color.
Available at MAC website, Nordstrom and Macy's.

Illamasqua Powder Blush in Naked Rose
This is such an easy and fool-proof blush. You can keep putting it on and this will never make you a clown. But at the same time it has nice pigmentation without being overly pigmented that you have to be careful. It suits lots of skin tones and complexions. However, darker complexions may need something more vibrant or pigmented than this. The formula is the creamiest that I've ever seen. Illamasqua blushes are definitely worth every penny.
Available at Sephora.

Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concentre
I got this moisturizer because Pixiwoo sisters love it. It's a great moisturizer to put on before makeup. It's moisturizing while it gives you a matte finish, making it a great canvas for foundation. I would recommend it to any skin types in between the extremes. So I wouldn't recommend it to very oily skin or very dry skin.
Available at Dermstore.com.

Soap & Glory Original Pink Eau de Toilette
I got this perfume because I love the scent of the Righteous Body Butter and it smells just like that. It doesn't last long since it's Eau de Toilette but I just love the scent so much that I don't care! I'm horrible at describing scents but it's for sure floral and fruity.
Available at Sephora.

Heavy swatches: Kanebo Moist Lift BB Cream in Medium Beige | Nars Radient Concealer in Custard | Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze | MAC Lipstick in Lustering | Illamasqua Powder Blush in Naked Rose

Blended swatches: Kanebo Moist Lift BB Cream in Medium Beige | Nars Radient Concealer in Custard | Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze | MAC Lipstick in Lustering | Illamasqua Powder Blush in Naked Rose

10 Favorite Lip Products

I don't really categorize my lip colors as winter colors or spring colors. I gravitate towards bright colors all year long and these are the lip products I reach for no matter how cold or warm it is outside. As spring is approaching, I figured this post/ video would be helpful for people who would like to experiment with bright colors for the warmer months.

Lancome Color Design Lipstick in Stylista | MAC Lipstick In See Sheer | Lady Bug | MAC Lipglass in Viva Glam Cyndi | Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Coralberry | Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple | Tutti Frutti | Revlon Super Lustrous Lip Gloss in Coral Reef | Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey | Smitten

Revlon JBKBS in Smitten | MAC Lipstick in Lady Bug | Revlon Lip Butter in Candy Apple | MAC Lipglass in Viva Glam Cyndi | MAC Lipstick in See Sheer | Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti | Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Coralberry | Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Coral Reef | Lancome Color Design Lipstick in Stylista | Revlon JBKBS in Honey

March Favorites 2013

Product Mentioned:

• MAC Mineralize Moisture in NC 20 (REVIEW)
• MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC 20
• MAC Lipsticks in See Sheer & Lady Bug
• YSL Shocking Mascara (REVIEW)
• Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl in Nude
• Nubar Nail Polish in Black Polka Dot (REVIEW)
• Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil
• Smith's Rosebud Salve (REVIEW)
• Soap & Glory Hand Food (REVIEW)
• Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter (REVIEW)
• Moroccan Oil Hair Treatment
• It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Concealer in Neutral Medium

What I'm Wearing:

• MAC Mineralize Moisture in NC 20
• MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC 20
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural
• e.l.f. Contouring Bronzer & Blush
• NARS Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Primer
• Bare Minerals Ready Luminizer in The Love Affair
• Inglot Eyeshadows in #393 (eyelids), #360 (crease), #378 (liner)
• Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof Mascara in Brownish Black
• L'Oreal Voluminous Waterproof Mascara in Carbon Black
• Jouer Lip gloss in Birchbox Pink

February Favorites

Makeup Favorites

• NARS Concealer in Custard: It’s a stick concealer that’s very convenient for travel and touch up. I use this when I’m in the rush out of the door. It’s easy to blend. I don’t use this for undereye because it could be drying.
• L’Oreal Magic Lumi Concealer in Light: I use this for under eye concealing because it’s luminizing. There is very subtle shimmer that’s pretty hard to detect. It looks natural and gives an instant pick-me-up. It can also be used to highlight other parts of the face if used without or on top of foundation. The consistency perfect; it’s not too sticky nor too dry. It’s very easy to blend. It feels very light on the skin. I would say it’s to lighten the skin more so to cover the skin. 
• Kate Super Sharp Liner in BK-1: I don’t know how I included this in a bunch of face makeup… Kate is a Japanese drugstore makeup brand owned by Kanebo. The price point is between L’Oreal and Physicians Formula. I got this in Taiwan. I’m usually not a fan of liquid eyeliner because it takes a lot of time to get a perfect smooth line and it usually turns out to be too thick for my hooded eyes. The tip of this eyeliner is very thin and flexible, which is really easy for me to control the line. It has a semi glossy finish.
• Bare Minerals Ready Luminizer in The Love Affair: It’s a golden highlighter. The shimmer is very finely milled. It’s not glittery at all and gives the skin really nice glow. It’s pretty pigmented. I hate those highlighters that you have to pile on to get the effect. I don’t have to do that with this highlighter. It’s so easy to apply. The powder is smooth like a dream. It’s perfect for light-medium to dark complexions. I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re very pale, especially with cool skin tone. The golden shimmer may look too noticeable.
• Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Sand Medium 0-1: I am SOOO late on this bandwagon. This powder is very nice. It reminds me of Bare Minerals Veil. The powder is very smooth. Even though there are different shades, the powder isn’t very pigmented and doesn’t add much coverage, which I actually really like because I already expect my foundation and concealer to cover the imperfections. This powder keeps my face matte longer than Mineral Veil. I would definitely repurchase it when the current one runs out.

• Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze: This is the third Color Tattoo I purchased. I don’t know why I did because the first two did not impress me, but I’m glad I did. It’s a very nice all-over eyeshadow and also a nice crease color. I’ve been really lazy on my makeup this month. I usually just put a layer of this all over the lid and put some more on the crease. It’s very creamy and stays on all day. I’ve posted a review of this cream eyeshadow.
• L’Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Amber Rush: I was hesitant to buy it because I had never worked with pigments or pressed pigments. But I couldn’t resist the color so decided to give it a go. I love this antique gold color. It reminds me of MAC Paintpot in Rubenesque (shown in picture above). It’s not a dupe but the color is pretty similar. Amber Rush is a little more rosy and more metallic. It’s very pigmented, smooth, non-messy, and easy to use.

• Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Truffle: When I first bought it, I was really disappointed because it was too dark for my taste. This month I had been reaching for it for a neutral look. It shows up pretty brown in the picture. It’s actually rosy mauve. It feels very nice on the lips and it’s easy to wear.
• MAC Lip Coulor in So Vain: It’s a limited edition/ discontinued product. But I thought I would show it because you might be able to get it from eBay or some other places. It’s a lip cream that’s not too matte and not too glossy. It feels like a film on the lips and also feels like it’s just gonna slide off. However, it actually stays on pretty well. It’s a rosy peach color. Very wearable.

• Maybelline Color Show Nail Polish in Dressed to Kill and Paint the Town: I love these nail polished because they are cheap but the quality is so good. It doesn’t chip on me for almost a week. Sometimes it can go for a whole week without chipping. The color is opaque. 2 coats are enough. Dressed to KIll would be a little more tricky to work with than Paint the Town (the first coat can be really streaky) but nothing too challenging. I’ve been loving Dressed to Kill a lot. It’s a very dark red, almost black. I’ll have a review on these nail polished posted soon.

Skincare Favorites

• My Beauty Diary Masks: These masks make my skin look really good the next day. It looks rejuvenated and well-rested. The left over serum is the key. I like the pink one. The green one doesn't make me break out or anything but I can tell my skin likes the pink one better. It just feels more calming and more gentle. There are tons of different scents and they do different things to your skin. They’re available on Amazon. See this post for more details and demo.

Hair Favorites

• Paul Mitchell Clearifying Shampoo: I use this one a week to get rid of the buildup on my scalp. It does as it says and it doesn’t irritate my scalp.
• Organix Moroccan Argan Oil: It’s a dry oil so it doesn’t weigh down your hair. I like to use it before I style my hair as a protectant.
• Living Proof No Frizz Nourishing Styling Cream: It’s one of those products that don’t make a dramatic difference but it makes whatever you’re doing much better (if that makes sense). I use it on damp hair before I braid it to get the beachy wave the next morning. I also use it on the root of dry hair to create some volume. It smells heavenly. I hope there’s a perfume that smell like it.
• Redken Heat Styling Thermo Actif Spray Starch 15: It’s a hair spray that holds the style while leaving it flexible. I love that it doesn’t make my hair crunchy. However, it has really strong alcohol scent when you spray it.
• Diffuser: I noticed that if I blow dry my hair with it before I go to bed, my hair has more volume the body the next morning and it looks good down.

Random Favorite

• The Girl Who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson: This is the second book in the Millennium trilogy, after The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I just finished The Girl Who Played with Fire. This one is easier to read than the first one because it’s not as dark. I like both books. I do think you have to read the first one to understand many things in the second one better though. The characters and their relationships can be hard to understand if you skipped the first one. If you’re interested in the final one, I would suggest you start right after the second one. Unlike between the first and second one, there’s no time lag in the story between the second and third one.

January Makeup Favorites

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer in NC 30, e.l.f. Shimmer Palette, Benefit Hoola Bronzer, Bare Minerals Ready SPF 15 Touch Up Veil in Translucent, Physician’s Formula Conceal RX in Natural Light, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium, Inglot Eyeshadows in 393, 378, 402, 360, Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Coral Reef, Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara in Blackest Black, Maybelline The Falsies Mascara (waterproof) in Very Black, NARS Pro-prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base, Tarte Clean Slate Poreless Primer

The MAC Pro Longwear Concealer has very nice coverage and it’s very light weight. I don’t use it under my eyes because they’re too dry. It has great staying power on the face. I’m running out of this little sample and I will purchase the full-size.

I use e.l.f. Shimmer Palette as face highlight. It’s a cream product and even though it looks like they are different colors but they actually show up the same color on the skin. However, I’ve found some more glittery than others. My favorite one to use is the white one. It’s not as iridescent as Benefit Moon Beam. It’s not as glittery as some powder highlight. For 3 dollars it’s a very nice product.

Benefit Hoola is a matte bronzer. It’s just the perfect shade for me. It’s also easy to blend. I’ve been using the same one for I don’t even remember how long (at least 2 years) and I just hit pan.

Bare Minerals Touch Up Veil is much more convenient than the loose powder version. It comes with a sponge and a mirror in the compact. It matifies the skin very well but doesn’t do a good job at keeping the face matte throughout the day. But overall it’s a very fine powder and at least wears off beautifully.

Sometimes I set my makeup with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural when I want more natural look. It doesn’t matify the skin. But it makes the foundation less dewy.

I’ve been using Concealer RX much more this month under my eyes because though it’s not moisturizing, it’s not too dry for under eye. It provides nice coverage.

I got these Inglot eyeshadows because I lost my MAC palette in Taiwan. I customized the palette for everyday look and it had Cork, Ricepaper, Shadowy Lady, and Satin Taupe. I was going for a cheaper alternative but the same colors so I picked up these 4 dupes from Inglot. They are very very close but I don’t think they are exact dupes. They are very nice eyeshadow in terms of ease of use. They are pigmented but not to the point where you have to be super careful. They are easy to blend.

I’ve never been a lipgloss girl because I don’t like my hair sticking on my lips and getting the lipgloss everywhere on my face. But I was willing to make an exception for Revlon Super Lustrous in Coral Reef. It’s such a wearable color and the color payoff is quite nice.

I had been using the Mega Plush for a while and it was starting to dry out so I repurchased an old favorite, which is the Falsies. Mega Plush’s formula is very light so it doesn’t weigh down your lashes. I would say it’s more lengthening than volumizing but it does both pretty well. It gives a more natural look compared to the Falsies. So if you like very volumizing and clumpy mascara, it is DEFINITELY not for you. I didn’t get Mega Plush in waterproof but it didn’t smudge on me. The Falsies is much more dramatic than Mega Plush because it’s more lengthening and volumizing. The waterproof version is very waterproof!

NARS eyeshadow primer is so good that I have absolutely nothing to complain about it. It makes eyeshadows go on so smoothly and it really prevents creasing, even on my oily lids.

Tarte Clean Slate primer is one of those silicone primer but thicker. I like using it to help the foundation blend more easily. I think a lot of other silicone primer can do the same but this one doesn’t break me out.

I mentioned a lot of product because it’s my first monthly favorites. I’m sure a lot of these favorites will carry over to next month so next month’s favorites post won’t be this long!

January Hair Care Favorites

L’Oreal Ever Creme Shampoo, Moroccanoil Hydration Hair Mask, L’Oreal Ever Sleek Conditioner

All these products were mentioned in my 2012 favorites.

I use the hair mask only once or twice a week. It’s extremely hydrating and makes the hair very soft. It’s pretty pricey but it’s well worth it.

The shampoo and conditioner are hydrating and doesn’t dry out the scalp. They can weigh the hair down after a while so I use clarifying shampoo once a week so get rid of the build-up.

Moroccanoil can be found on Amazon and in some hair salons.

January Random Favorites

Ralph Lauren Candle in Crisp Morning

I’m terrible at describing scent so I’m not gonna try to confuse you! I got this at Marshall’s. It might still be available. I like a lot of fruity scents and some floral scents. I think it’s a good mixture of both, more fruity than floral. It’s also available at some online retail sites.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

I watched the movie and decided to read the book. The movie is good and the book has a lot more details than the movie. It’s the first one in the trilogy. I’m not sure if I would read the next one because this book is quite dark. I probably won’t read it again but it’s such a good story and I really enjoyed it. I recommend doing a little research on the author before you get this book because the topics he writes about might be sensitive to some people.

January Skincare Favorites

Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Formula Swivel Stick, Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream, Utterly Smooth Udder Cream, Boscia Balancing Facial Tonic, Burt’s Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream, Burt’s Bees Sensitive Night Cream, Burt’s Bees Radiance Serum, Clinique All About Eyes Rich

All of these are actually included in my 2012 skincare favorites except the Burt’s Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizing Cream. It’s basically the thinner and less rich version of the Night Cream.

I just used up the Utterly Smooth body lotion completely and it’s now my body wash bottle. I’m currently using the Vineyard Peach Body Lotion from The Body Shop. Even though I still like the Utterly Smooth better but it’s a really nice lotion. It might show up in the next month’s favorites!

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil, Bioderma Cleansing Water

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil has been my favorite makeup remover of all time. It removes the toughest waterproof makeup very gently.

When I first used Bioderma Cleansing Water I did not like it. Not because it was ineffective, but because compared to DHC oil, it just takes too much time, too many cotton pads, and too much product to remove the whole face of makeup. But I found it works very well for spot cleaning. If I accidentally mix water in the DHC oil, it wouldn’t take off makeup as effectively. Then I would rinse the oil off and then remove the residues with Bioderma. Bioderma is also good for fixing little mistakes when you’re going makeup. Just put it on a Q-tip and wipe off the little eyeliner smudges or mascara transfer, etc. It’s very easy and mess-free.

These products are not widely available. I got the DHC oil on the DHC’s website and the Bioderma on Amazon.

Favorites: 2012 - Skin Care, Hair, Body

2012 was a good skin care year for me. I felt that I know more about my skin and what to look for in cosmetic products. And maybe I was hormonally more stable :P
My skin used to be very dry and I've noticed this year that my skin has become normal to combination. Even though my skin rarely get uncomfortable like dry skin does, it's still sensitive to certain chemicals. So I tend to go for products for sensitive skin.
These are my favorite and most used skin, hair, and body products of 2012:


Boscia Balancing Facial Tonic - 5 oz $24
Very gentle and natural to the skin. It's very hydrating and absorbed quickly. It never broke me out. I'm very sensitive to alcohol so I don't think there's any alcohol in it. I think the price is pretty reasonable, too. I've been using the same bottle since the spring and I'm just now down to about 10-20 uses out of it. I also use it after makeup to take away the powderiness and it works pretty well for that.





Origins Checks and Balances Frothy Face Wash - 5 oz $20
I got a sample size in Birchbox and it lasted for MONTHS! You only need a little bit because it really lives up to its name "frothy." It's so foamy and feels nice on the skin. The best part is that it rinses off very easily and doesn't leave residues on the skin. It doesn't dry out the skin, either.






Burt's Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser - 4.34 oz $7.99
It's the kind of consistency I hate, but it just works so well! It doesn't foam up. It's like gel and oil. But it gets rid off every trace of dirt and makeup. It truly cleanses the skin. It feels like there's residue of the cleanser left on the face but when I wiped my face with the toner on a cotton pad the pad was crystal clean. It's not harsh on the skin, either.



Caudalie Hand and Nail Cream - 2.5 oz 15$
This hand cream isn't the most moisturizing. It's kind of a temporary fix. But I absolutely LOVE the scent. It's fresh and fruity, kind of smells like Starburst. I got a sample in Birchbox and later bought a full size one.

L'Oreal Ever Sleek Line
I started getting into sulfate free hair products this year and have tried several sulfate free shampoos and conditioners. The common problem with sulfate shampoos is that they don't lather as much so I tend to use way more product when I wash my hair. The Ever Sleek line shampoos lather up just like the ones with sulfate. The conditioners are really nice and hydrating, too. I've noticed that my scalp doesn't produce excess oil any more and my hair is smooth and soft. This line is more affordable compared to other sulfate free product, too.


Moroccan Oil Intense Hydrating Hair Mask - 8.5 oz $35.79
This is the most hydrating hair mask EVER! When my hair was damaged from a perm I used it 3 times a week to keep my hair less frizzy and smoother. After I got back to my natural hair I still use it twice or once a week, depending how much I heat style my hair that week. It's definitely pricey but it's totally worth it. I've already repurchsed a second one. It's not widely available. Some hair salon carries it. Amazon does, too.

Udderly Smooth Udder Cream - 10 oz $6.49
It comes with unscented and lightly scented. It's not super thick or super watery. It's perfect for year around. In the summer it doesn't leave the skin greasy and it doesn't sweat right off. In the winter it's moisturizing enough for normal skin.







Burt's Bees Radiance Serum - 0.45 oz $17.99
It's gentle and hydrating. It's completely liquid and it comes with a dropper, which I really appreciate. I find it better than some of the high end serums (Estee Lauder, Ole Henriksen, Caudalie)









Burt's Bees Sensitive Night Cream - 1.8 oz $14.99
It's very moisturizing and absorbed quickly. Feels very nice on the skin. It doesn't break me out. Perfect for the winter times. I also put it on dry patches on my face before putting on makeup.







Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Swivel Stick - 0.5 oz $2.99
Most chapsticks I've try have the really made-up chemical, kind of plactic-y scent and I can't stand it. This chaptick has a very natural cocoa butter, vanilla-y scent, which smells and taste really good! The cocoa butter is very moisturizing and the mineral oil locks in the moisture. It's my before bed and makeup chapstick.





Clinique All About Eye Rich - 0.5 oz $30
It's a very thick and rich eye cream. It claim to minimize dark circles but I don't really see the difference. But I love how it feels under the eyes and it makes applying under eye concealer the next morning smoother.






Befine Exfoliating Cleanser - 4 oz $24
I got a sample from Birchbox and then I bought a full size one. It leaves the smoothest skin. I also like that it's exfoliator and cleanser in one and it does a really good just in both.









Feel free to request any reviews of these products!