Steal the Deal: Ulta 40% off on NYX, Revlon, Almay, Physicians Formula

I'm not sure when the promotion expires but I went to Ulta today and picked up a few things from NYX and Revlon. It is really a good deal. It's a good time to try out different products or colors. Hope you find something lovely!

Check out ULTA WEBSITE for details.

Today's Makeup: Minimal Neutral + Tiny Pop of Color

I normally don't wear anything other than neutral on my eyes but I've been trying to add some color on my eyes to enhance the color of my eyes, which is really dark brown.

Purple, blue and green are contrasting to brown so they make brown stand out. I can't say that they make my eye color pop because it's so dark that it's almost black. But it's just fun to add a tiny bit of color to my same old neutral routines :D

Today I used a dark green frosty eyeliner on the top lash lines. I like that even though there's color, the look is still natural. The color isn't really obvious because of my hooded eyes, but I actually like that.

Product Used:

• Kanebo Freshel Moist Lift BB Cream
• L'Oreal Magic Lumi Concealer in Light
• MAC Prolong Concealer in NC 20
• Bare Minerals Touch Up Veil in Translucent
• Benefit Hoola Bronzer
• Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Tipsy
• MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle
• Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze
• Sephora Nano Eyeliner in Silver Green
• Lancome High Definition Mascara in Black
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Mauve It Over (Matte) 

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Tipsy | Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Mauve It Over | Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze | Sephora Nano Eyeliner in Silver Green

Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Tipsy | Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

Hormonal Breakouts and Cystic Acne: Facts and Tips

Some of my friends have been asking me how to deal with breakouts, especially hormonal breakouts and cystic acne.

Hormonal breakouts consist of cystic acne and other less severe types of acne. When hormones are changing, especially when testosterone level is relatively higher, the skin produce more oil/sebum and the oil can clog pores. The mixture of excess oil and dead skin cells and cause acne and if bacteria grows in the mixture it can cause inflammation.

Cystic acne is considered by dermatologists one of the most severe types of acne. It's larger and deeper than other types of acne, so it tends to leave scars. It's better ans safer to let dermatologists treat it than popping and picking it yourself.

I'm sure you've heard many people talk about treating acne with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide. One of my friend described to me her situation and that happens to me really often, too. Benzoyl peroxide used to work really well for her but it became less effective over time.

The truth is that most of the skincare we use provides temporary fix. What works for now won't work forever. Your skin will adapt to the active ingredients in the skincare over time, which makes those ingredients less effective. Now you'll need to find different ingredients that work for your skin. But it doesn't mean you have to dump your favorite skincare products completely. It just means that you need to alternate among several choices.

So her skin got used to benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid does not work for her. I recommended her to use 100% pure Argan oil. The triterpenoids in the oil have anti-inflammatory properties to help calm down skin irritation including acne swelling, and also help the skin to heal. Argan oil is a dry oil so it doesn't clog pores. It also help the skin balance the oil/ moisture production.

I used to get cystic acne pretty often last year. I was under a lot of stress and wasn't really happy with what was happening in my life. From that experience I learned a few tips for cystic acne:

• Have a good skincare routine
• Wash your face 1-2 times a day
• Never over-wash your face. It'll ruin your moisture balance and you might get even more oily.
• Use gentle skincare products
• Sometimes acne products can contain ingredients that are really harsh on the skin (alcohol, fragrance, etc.). I've found that gentle and all natural products work better
• Find ingredients that work for you
• What works for other people may not work on your skin
• Some common ingredients: salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, Argan oil, tea tree oil, witch hazel

• Spot treating


• You don't need benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid all over the face. They can dry out the skin. Only use them on spots.
• Simplify your routine
• Too many products can make processing and working the ingredients difficult for your skin. Also some ingredients may interact with each other making the effects less effective or more intense. Only use products that are effective and necessary.
• Products you should have: makeup remover, cleanser, moisturizer, scrub, spot treatment (only when needed)
• Products you probably don't need: toner, serum, masks
• Alternate skincare products when your skin adapts to current products
• Be patient
• Cystic acne generally takes longer to treat.
• Stop picking, squeezing, or touching that pimple!
• You're just bringing more bacteria to it.
• Popping it can leave scars. By scars I don't mean hyperpigmentation (you can expect that in all types of acne), I mean a dent on your face.
• Hygiene
• It's okay to put makeup on acne as long as 
• Your makeup is gentle (no harsh ingredients, doesn't make you breakout)
• Your makeup is clean
• Your applicator (brushes, sponges) is clean
• You take it off before sleep
• I keep a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol on my makeup table to disinfect my makeup and brushes. It's okay to spray it on your makeup to disinfect. Just make sure it dries/evaporates before you use it.
• I almost prefer wearing makeup when I'm breaking out because it creates a barrier between my skin and all the dirt outside (especially in a campus full of construction!) and I touch my face much less.
• Protect your skin with SPF
• SPF in your makeup or skincare is not enough. Always wear sunscreen (oil-free and alcohol-free preferred) underneath your makeup.

These tips are also helpful for other types of acne.

Here are some extra tips for all the girls out there suffering menstrual cycle breakouts:

• Most breakouts occur during PMS week because there are more dead skin cell on our face and our skin is thicker. Now is a good time to exfoliate so that the extra oil we produce doesn't mix with dead skin cells and clog our pores.
• When the period starts, it is time to pamper your skin. Now the estrogen is at the lowest, which makes your skin a little dull. Treat your skin with some serum or mask to add hydration and glow.

Acne is sometimes inevitable no matter how hygienic we are or how healthy our lifestyle is. Knowing how to minimize its impact is just as important as knowing how to prevent it.

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

Maybelline Great Lash (Waterproof)

Price: $4-$6     0.43oz/ 12.7ml

Ingredients: Petroleum Distillates, Pentaerythrityl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Carnauba Wax, Polyethylene, Synthetic Beeswax, Quaternium-18 Hectorite, Ceresine, Magnesium Carbonate, Beeswax, Kaolin, Aluminum Stearate, Silica, Propylene Carbonate, Cetyl Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Wheat Germ Oil, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben. May Contain: Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide, Ultramarines, Mica

EWG score: 4

Availability: drugstores, grocery stores

The color I have is Brownish Black.
This mascara gives a pretty natural look. It's not very volumizing. It lengthens the lashes pretty well.

2 coats, some smudging along bottom lash line

Whenever I dislike a mascara, 90% of the time the reason would be that it transfers. It is the case with this mascara. It smudges and transfers 3 hours after application.

This mascara has received some credit because it's a really good beginner mascara since it gives a really natural look. I would actually recommend beginners the Mega Plush because it achieve a even better look (more natural even with more volume and length) without transferring.

For some reason I have 2 of the same mascara. I don't know why I got another one when I don't even like it... The other one I have is in Very Black. I took it out of the packaging but I've never used it and I'm not going to use it. So if you would like to have it, let me know in the comment and I'll send it to you (for free, of course). First come first serve.

Steal the Deal: YSL Shocking Mascara Set

I've been using a sample size of YSL Shocking mascara a lot and I also have a REVIEW on it.

It's a very lovely mascara. The mascara itself is $30. I've said that I wouldn't purchase the full size because of the price and I still wouldn't purchase the set because I'm not in need of a high end mascara. But for those of you who want to try this mascara, this set is the ultimate deal because it's $30, same price as the mascara alone, for the mascara, an eye cream, and a makeup remover. Nordstrom also offers free shipping on any orders.

For more details, visit NORDSTROM WEBSITE.

Maybelline Color Show Nail Polish

260 Paint the Town, 270 Dressed to Kill

Paint the Town is a vibrant red and Dressed to Kill is a dark bloody red. I love both colors. Dressed to Kill is very dark. Sometimes it can look black and sometimes dark red.

The formula of these polishes are amazing. They apply very smoothly. The consistency can look a little watery but it usually only take me 2 coats to get an opaque color. They also dry fairly quickly. I've experienced some polishes that just never dry. But these polishes are definitely not like those.

Once it dries, the finish isn't as glossy. I would add a top coat if you like the very glossy look.

I actually like these nail polishes better than the other more pricey ones (Essie, OPI, Nails Inc.) and they are only $4. I will definitely explore into more colors.

I highly recommend these nail polishes. If you've been frustrated with crappy polishes, try these!