Monday, August 30, 2010

FAVORITES: It's That Time of the Month...

For some August favorites! I cannot believe it's August already, it seems like last week was the week where I said the same thing about July. Although it is a little different this time around, when students are heading back into school. I graduated this spring so I won't be heading back until I decide to go to grad school. Anyways, that's beside the point so without further ado...

1. Estee Lauder DayWear Plus SPF 15 - In the cute blue tub houses my holy grail daytime moisturizer. I decided to purchase this after hearing my mom rave about it (she swears by Estee Lauder) and I have nothing bad to say about it. I have been on the hunt for something with SPF in it, but everything I have tried drugstore wise broke me out. With this, I have not. It does what it is supposed to do, smells nice, does not feel greasy and keeps my skin glowing during the day. 

2. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex - Can you tell I'm a huge fan of Estee Lauder's skincare yet? I mentioned this in my Skincare post. The purpose of this is to repair damage that is already occurring and to prevent future damage from the environment (smoke,pollution etc.). I have been using it for the month and I have noticed that the tiny hyperpigmentation spots on my cheeks have diminished noticeably and my face is as smooth as a baby's bottom. I love this and I will keep purchasing, it is $93CAN I believe for 50mL.

3. CHANEL Rouge Allure Laque in Ming - This was the first Laque I purchased. It is a gorgeous muted baby pink and runs cool on my lips. It is incredibly easy to wear and lasts for about 3 hours on my lips. I do not need to apply gloss since the formula delivers shine and color. Most importantly it is not drying! I have not yet been disappointed with CHANEL products as the quality is just superb.

4. Dior Addict Hi-Shine Lipstick in Catwalk Mauve - I wanted to try Dior's Hi-Shine line and I chose this color, a pink-mauve with blue shimmers. The shimmers are subtle but add that extra sparkle and shine to the lips, making them look full. The formula is smooth but the color payoff is meant to be on the sheer side. I don't mind as I use this on the days I am wearing no makeup at all just to pull everything together. The result is very natural. 

5. MAC Pigment in Magenta Madness - When I have a pigment, my intention is to wear it as a blush since I don't wear eyeshadow. This was released as a neon pigment which is now available at counters in the new and smaller jars. The color is shocking, a neon pink-magenta. However, when applied onto the cheeks it gives such a nice pink wash. It's actually quite natural looking, and I love the effect it gives. I use the MAC 116 blush brush.

These are the products I have been loving for the month of August and I am excited for the rest of the fall collections to come out here in Canada. I am impatiently waiting for Lancome's La Rose Deco powder from the French Coquettes collection. I am expecting lots of gorgeous products in September! What are your August favorites =D? Thanks for reading!

Friday, August 20, 2010

ABOUT: A Wee Introduction...Redux

The purpose of this blog is to act as a reservoir, to share my ideas and thoughts on beauty. However, I like to read about the person behind the blog as well. I understand that some people may not read blogs to hear about people's hobbies and activities outside of blogging but there may be some who do. 

I have many hobbies, but one of the things I love doing is reading manga and watching anime. If you do not know what manga is, it is basically the Japanese equivalent of comics here in America. There is also a Korean version of manga available as well called 'manwha'. Most (if not all) of the manga I have read is in black and white, with the occasional special edition chapter being colored. It is read from right to left, the opposite of how a book is normally read. When I was a child, my favorite anime was Sailor Moon and Dragonball. Yes, I thought they were the bomb at the time (and I still do). I have read countless manga series and watched many anime series in the past few years and I am always searching for a new series to read/watch. Along the way I have picked up on enough Japanese to get me by if I ever decided to travel there, lol.

I guess you could say I am slightly obsessed with Japanese culture as well. I find it quite fascinating and beautiful. Some of the best video games were developed in Japan as well (Final Fantasy anyone? My personal favorite!). However, at the same time some of the things they come up with are - for a lack of a better word - screwed up. Case in point.

So, if you're reading this you may think this was the most pointless entry ever but I thought I'd share anyways = ). What are your hobbies and/or interests? 

Sunday, August 15, 2010

LIPPIE: My Latest Obsession

CHANEL Glossimers. 'Nuff said. I have always been a fan of their Rouge Allure and Rouge Coco line but wanted to try out their Glossimers suddenly. I have never been a lip gloss wearer, I do own some but they do not compare to the Glossimers. MAC lipglasses seem to last on my lips for a very long time but they are very sticky, so I never really use them. Remember in the first post about how I said this site would be focused on lipstick? Well, maybe I should change the blog name now lol.

I have purchased a few lip products from CHANEL's Fall 2010 Collection titled 'Les Contrastes de Chanel'. Before purchasing a product I always do extensive research on them for reviews and information (MakeUpAlley is my savior). The Pink Teaser Glossimer is the most pigmented one out of the four being promoted and is a gorgeous medium pink shade with iridescent pink shimmers. Like all Glossimers, the texture and formula is weightless and comfortable on the lips. It is very gel-like so it is a bit thick, however it is not sticky so I was surprised to find that it was still on my lips after 4 hours of wear over a lipstick. The shimmers are not gritty and it does not dry out my lips which is a common problem for me. Most Glossimers are known to be sheer but there are more pigmented ones so I try to go for those. The packaging is classic CHANEL and sturdy. 

I currently own six, it seems as though most of them are from CHANEL's 'Lumieres Celeste' collection back in 2009. I am particularly fond of the shades that were promoted, however many are hard to find but my local Chanel counter still has most of them available!  The names of the ones I own are Astral (104), Mica (131), Venus (124), Mirage (132), Pink Teaser (142) and Rose Dilemma (144). These are $31CAN each without tax and while to some this is may be an outrageous price you have to remember that it is partly the brand you're paying for. If this was in the same price range as MAC it wouldn't be Chanel.

Oh, did I mention that I purchased these all in the span of one week? Yeah. It's only downhill from here *sigh*. End of rant. 

Product: 1. CHANEL Glossimer - $31CAN

Friday, August 13, 2010

SKIN: Personal Routine

Wow, what a boring title. I'm sorry I haven't posted anything in over a week, I have just been busy with life and what not >_<. Today I would like to share my skin care routine with you as it may help some figure out products for themselves. I have never really been into skincare however for some reason this summer a lot of my free time is spent on researching about skin care and skin products. I am by no means an expert at skin care, there are many blogs and resources out there for that. I only know what works for me right now and hopefully it may help you.

I am Asian with a warm yellow-olive complexion (that sounds hideous!). I have combination/sensitive skin - which basically means I am oily in my T-zone, and I have delicate skin that flushes easily. When testing out products it takes about a week before I can tell whether or not there's a reaction. I don't have large pores, however I am prone to random breakouts sometimes - especially when the monthly friend comes >:( . I will break down my morning and night time routines:

Day:
1. After brushing my teeth and what not, I will cleanse my face. The cleaner of choice is Estee Lauder's Splash Away Foam Cleanser. 
2. A toner will balance the pH in my skin after cleansing so I choose to use Estee Lauder's Perfectly Clean Fresh Balancing Lotion.
3. I have not yet found a moisturizer that has SPF in it that DOES NOT break me out. I have tried many and still no luck. I know it's bad, but currently I am just using Nivea Creme on my face. 
4. I apply an eye primer underneath my eyes, my favorite is MAC's Fast Response Eye Cream. 
5. In the summer, I like to apply a tiny amount of MAC's Skin Refined Zone to my T-zone to keep oil at bay.

Night
1. I will repeat Steps 1 + 2 from above.
2. I then use an OxyPad with 2% Salicylic Acid all over my face (this stuff is great, strong but great).
3. Using Estee Lauder's Advanced Night Repair Concentrate I apply only a couple drops to my entire face. This stuff is expensive but lasts a long time and is worth it.
4. I then use 40 Carrots Retinol Rich Eye Gel underneath my eyes, I gently pat it in. 
5. Lastly I use 40 Carrots Retinol Rich Sleep Cream.

Whew! I know it seems like a poop load of stuff but I find that this is working for me so far. My skin has never looked better. I am only 22 but I'd rather take preventative measures now than trying to reverse them later on in my life. Lastly, I want to end by saying the number one most important thing you can do for your skin: DRINK WATER! I cannot stress this enough, I have always been a habitual H20 drinker which I believe has contributed to my skin. Ok, this post is way too long already. I'll stop here. 

Thanks for reading!!! = )

P.S. I just came back from watching The Expendables tonight with the bf. 
P.S.S. It was awesomely kick-ass and epic...go see it.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

MAKEUP: Daily Face

I mentioned in my first post that I do not wear foundation or eyeshadow. I have never really been interested in them and I favor a natural look when it comes to makeup. I'm not saying you can't look natural with foundation or eyeshadow, this is just my preference. Also, I do not like the feeling of having stuff on my face. I am active and I am on the go all the time, the last thing I want to worry about is having my face sliding off. My daily routine takes no more than 5 minutes max:

1. Concealer - After priming with MAC Fast Response Eye Cream, I apply MAC Select Cover-Up in NW25. I don't have puffiness but I do have darkness under my eyes. I only use a TINY (and I mean tiny) amount of this product, a little goes a long way. I pat this into my skin and then I move on.


2. Blush - My blush changes daily since I try to rotate them all. One of my favorites though is by MAC in the color Breezy. It's a gorgeous deep raspberry plum, infused with very subtle gold shimmer. I apply this using a MAC 116 blush brush.

3. Lips - At this point, my lips would be moisturized prior to applying any lip product. My lipstick of choice depends on the color of blush I am wearing for that day. Choosing a shade of lipstick in the same family as the blush creates a cohesive and natural look in my opinion. If I don't feel like using lipstick that day I would just use a lip balm. 

 4. Mascara - This step is optional for me, sometimes I wear it sometimes I don't. When I do choose to wear it though, I am a fan of using more than one mascara. My favorite combination is Cover Girl's Lash Blast Luxe in Emerald Black for volume at the base of my lashes, then Estee Lauder's Double Wear for length. 

As you can see, my routine is simple but it works for me. By no means do I have perfect skin, I would probably look better if I did use something. However, I like having my imperfections show through and it allows my skin to breathe throughout the day. I hope you enjoyed this post and as always, thanks for reading! 

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

FAVORITES: July

Can you believe it's August already? I am sort of over summer right now and I want winter to come (when that time comes I'll be saying I want summer)! Today I just wanted to share a few favorites with you, all of which I have used during the month of July. So here goes:

1. MAC Marine Life Hightlight Powder - When this product first came out it was so ridiculously overhyped and overrated. I didn't care for the ugly gold overspray or the fact that it had a seahorse on it. What I bought it for was the color. This is what I wanted Ripe Peach to be on my cheeks. It gives me a coral flush to the cheeks, but it's a coral that runs more pink on me. It applies smoothly and evenly and is extremely flattering. 

2. MAC See Sheer Lipstick - I have many lipsticks by MAC and I love collecting them. This color is from the permanent line and is a color that is very underrated in my opinion. It is a lustre formula which is one of my favorites. The color looks to be a deep coral-red in the tube but on my medium pigmented lips it comes across as a very beautiful pink. It's great for summer but I feel as though I'll be reaching for this when the weather cools down as well. 

3. Korres Lip Butter in Quince - I have also hit pan on this product since I have been using it ever since I purchased it a year ago. The tub is never-ending and I've been using it everyday morning and night, so it is a good investment. The texture is very soft and silky and it gives my lips a very pretty rose tint. I wish this had SPF in it though for the times I just want to wear this throughout the day. 

4. Chanel Rouge Allure Lipstick in Super - The last of my favorites is from Chanel's summer collection 'Les Pop-Up de Chanel'. I love the texture and consistency of the Rouge Allures; they are lightweight and do not dry out my lips. This color is much more pigmented than the regular RA, it is a very bright pink with a hint of blue. The way I wear it is to apply a thin layer of lip balm first and then dab the lipstick on top to sheer it out. 

   So there they are! I am sorry for the lack of pictures but I hope to start posting some as soon as I find a suitable camera that I like. Have a great week and thanks for reading!