Top 3 Bronzers

I recently filmed and uploaded a video all about my top 3 bronzers that I am loving for the warmer months. These bronzers are great for transitioning our paler skin tone from winter to summer.

Make sure to check out my video here!

from left: Physicians Formula Shimmer Brick in Waikiki Strip, Jouer Perfect Tan, Bobbi Brown Natural

Physicians Formula makes some of the best bronzers at drugstore prices. You can always find them on sale at CVS buy one get one 1/2 off or recently at Rite Aid buy one get one FREE!!! This product reminds me a lot of Bobbi Brown's shimmer bricks and Dior's bronzer. I like using this for a subtle wash of color or highlight. The great thing is you can use the shades individually or swirl them together for different looks. 

My favorite makeup artist on set told me about this Bobbi Brown Bronzer in Natural. She told me to use this all over my face for a natural wash of color and pick me up. If i'm lazy and barely have time for anything I'll dust this all over for a bit of color, works great on my eyes too. 

This beloved Jouer bronzer in perfect tan is sadly no longer available. Jouer has a new one called sun tan that is very similar without the spf in it. I rarely hit pan on products, but this bronzer works year round on me and is a grey natural contour shade that works on so many skin tones. 

what are some of your favorite bronzers? Have you tried any of mine? 

Review Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation

Review Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation

How can this little bottle be so effective?

I’m always a little hesitant to spend so much money on such a small amount of product, but after reading and watching all the rave on this baby, I decided to give it a try. 

It’s amazing how so much love can be given to such a small bottle of product. This foundation is water based, so you have to shake it up before applying. 

I prefer to apply with clean finger tips since it’s such a thin fluid consistency. It feels like a light moisturizer, but it covers amazingly. I’d say the coverage is about light medium with definite build-ability, but I like to not feel my makeup, so less is more in my case. I do use a primer with this. Currently I prefer my hourglass mineral primer. 

Other than a little under eye brightener/ concealer I’m good to go with a dust of powder after applying the chanel vitalumiere aqua foundation. 

You only need a small drop of this stuff to cover your whole face and it really is a great light weight feeling on your skin that lasts all day. 

Definitely worth the splurge for the look and feel. 

Review Lush's Mask of Magnanimity

Review Lush's Mask of Magnanimity

When I first tried this mask I thought it was a little scary with all the chunks and bright green color. 

What Lush says:

MAKES DIRT A DISTANT MEMORY Mask of Magnaminty isn’t technically a daily ‘facial wash’; it’s actually a deep cleansing face and back mask. China clay and fresh peppermint reach deep down to pull the debris from your pores, giving you that delightful tingly-clean sensation. We add loads of aduki beans to exfoliate flaky or dry skin, vanilla absolute to calm redness and honey to soothe. Our inventors created Mask of Magnaminty to be the ‘ultimate face mask’, intense but not harsh or abrasive on the skin. We recommend using Mask of Magnaminty weekly to keep the skin in good condition. What I Say: I definitely felt my skin got a deep conditioning. After using applying the minty mask and letting it sit for about 5 min. I rinsed off with warm water and towel dried my face. I noticed an immediate difference in my complexion. The pores on my nose (always a problem area for me) was nautically clearer and smaller, huge plus. My over all complexion looked brighter in the mirror and I really felt like my skin was squeaky clean.  The second time I used it I left it on for 10 min. I think it was a little too long because it was really hard to rinse the mask off and I did have a few red splotches that did go away after a few minutes, but the effect was still the same a squeaky clean feeling that brightened my complexion and cleaned out those nasty pores.  Definitely worth the price and if your on the fence Lush is great because you can just hop on into a store and ask for a sample to take home. They are always more than happy to send you home with samples to try, which is another reason I’m a fan of their company. 

YSL Shocking Mascara Review

YSL Shocking Mascara Review

So I finally caved and gave this baby a try. 

What Sephora says:

What it is:
A mascara that exaggerates lashes with excess volume from every angle.

What it does:
Exclusive to YSL, the amplified helix brush provides instant volume to the lashes. The slim brush design allows for perfect control and precision and the off-center twist enhances length and curl. The beautifully creamy formula with pro-vitamin B5 coats each lash evenly, creating a thick and lustrous fringe with a wet look.

What I Say:

This mascara defiantly is one of my new favorites. I love the classic brush vs. the typical plastic ones these days. The slim brush also is easy to work with. The mascara itself is very wet and stays wet looking, so you don’t get the caked on dry look at all. I get good length and volume as well with the brush and formula. 

Worth the price?

At $30 this is the priciest mascara I’ve ever purchased, but I do love it. I think this will all depend on how long it lasts. As a high end mascara I do love it. For me it’s defiantly a splurge. 

Review: Dr.Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Cream

Review: Dr.Jart+ Black Label Detox BB Cream

Claims to: 

“What it is:
A purifying face cream that provides age defense, and hides uneven skintone and blemishes. 

What it is formulated to do:
- Botanical Formula to purify and calm blemish prone or sensitive skin while also combating dark spots and pollutants for an enhanced radiance 
- Features SPF 25 sun protection 
- Comes in one universal shade

Perfect and protect skin instantly with this all-in-one multifunctional Beauty Balm. This triple-action formula naturally covers blemishes and uneven skintone, and contains botanical actives to purify and calm blemish-prone or irritated skin. Arbutin works to erase unwanted dark spots, while caviar extract and antioxidants protect skin from inner and outer pollutants for an enhanced radiance. Lightweight with sunscreen protection for simple, one-step neutralizing coverage, this soothing cream delivers optimal results for both women and men. 

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
- Parabens
- Sulfates 
- Phthalates ”

info from Sephora

So I finally gave this baby a try. I have to say that at first application I liked it. The texture is smooth and lighter than my Asian bb creams. It blended in nicely using my beauty blender. My complexion looked brighter and more even. It still felt a bit like a glorified tinted moisturizer, but it did even out my complexion and left a dewy/ matte finish. 

I powdered lightly to set the bb cream, but I found a few hours later I was a bit too shiny for my taste. I did not use any concealer with the bb cream, but I found that areas on my face looked as if I had used concealer and it was slipping off. 

By evening, I looked pretty worn off. 

Overall verdict, It’s a good tinted moisturizer that need to be touched up 2 to 3 times a day if you want to stay looking fresh. 

Offers light to medium coverage. 

easy to blend

a bit steep at $36 for a full size for a tinted moisturizer, but also not overly expensive for a higher end brand. Really just depends on personal preference. 

Review: Benefit’s new Fake Up Under Eye Concealer

HIGH-RES

I have to admit I was really skeptical when this came out. Usually I’m not a fan of benefit cosmetics concealers or foundations, however I had to give this a try.
Lately my under eye area has been really dry and causing my normal makeup to crease.
So when benefit says this provides hydration without settling into my fine lines all day and conceals dark circles, I gave it a try.
I’ve worn it 3 days now and I have to say I’m pretty impressed. I defiantly notice that my under eye is hydrated and it so far has not slipped off all over my face. I do set my makeup with powder in the morning and touch up in the afternoon again with powder.
I like the cool clear gel surrounding the color part of the product. The packaging is adorable as always from benefit. The coverage is light to medium in my opinion with potential to build up, but I tend to use less under my eyes for fear of creasing and caking,
Over all the product seems to do what it claims, but I’m still not sure I would buy it again yet. I’ll have to use it for awhile longer before I can make up my mind. At $24 from Ulta it’s fairly priced. 

Favorite 5 Makeup Products Under $5 Tag

DIOR CREME DE ROSE PLUMPING LIP BALM REVIEW

I was finally able to get my hands on the Dior Creme De Rose Plumping lip balm recently and I have to say I’m impressed. I’ve been pretty disappointed lately with the new lip balm purchased I’ve done. The Nivea Lip Butter, while smelled and tasted amazing, I found left my lips looking dead with a layer of grey white gunk to go with it.

The Korres lip butters where not much better. They were so disappointing I actually returned them, which I rarely do.
So I decided to try the Dior Creme De Rose. Here is what Sephora says about the product:
What it is:A smoothing, plumping lip balm with SPF 10.What it does:Creme de Rose is a refined lip balm that soothes, re-plumps, hydrates, and protects the lips with SPF 10.This nourishing lip balm comes in one universal petal pink shade and features a delicate rose scent.What else you need to know: The sister product to Dior’s legendary Creme Abricot, a nail care product dating back to the 1960s, this product has the same classic white packaging.Lips are visibly hydrated: +32 (6h after application)

You can find the product and details here

While I’m not sure how much the balm plumps your lips, I do find it hydrating without being greasy. The light rose sent is very pleasant and not at all overwhelming. The pink tint goes on clear or you cannot see it on your lips.

When you first use the product you need to warm it up with your fingers a bit. I like to use it before bed and after I brush my teeth in the morning. I also find that it’s a great balm to use when you already have lipstick on and need a little hydration over the lipstick.

My lips do feel very hydrated and smooth after using the balm. I like the packaging and find it a very luxurious item to have on my nightstand or makeup table.

Sephora sells it for $27 plus tax. The price is a bit steep in my opinion, but I do like the balm quite a bit. I’d have to say that this is definitely a splurge item, but quite practical at the same time. This is something I use frequently and does a good job keeping my lips hydrated and smooth.  

Maybelline Rocket Volume Express Mascara Review

MAYBELLINE’S NEW ROCKET MASCARA REVIEW

So I finally opened up my new Maybelline Rocket Mascara and used it this morning and I have to say I love it. I was a little skeptical, since the last new mascara I tried was disappointing. I have been using the L’oreal Millions mascara in the gold tube, and had high expectations, but sadly were not met.
As always I curl my lashes with an eyelash curler before applying my mascara. 
The new Rocket Mascara REALY Volumizes like it claims. I’m shocked at how much fuller my lashes look. I applied 1 coat on each eye, then went back and applied a second coat. It doesn’t lengthen as much as I’d like, but then again it never claims to be great at lengthening.
Being Asian, I do everything I can to create fuller, longer, and curlier lashes. Usually I spend more money on higher end mascaras to create the look I prefer, but with mascara it’s so difficult since it should be changed every 3 months for sanitary reasons. So I’m very happy with the new Maybelline Rocket Mascara especially since you can get it for about $6 from target :-) 

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Foundation

I have to say I was skeptical about this foundation, but I’m loving it! I’ve used it twice now and I love the creamy, whipped texture. To apply I use my just cleaned fingertips. A little goes A LONG WAY. It really does cover really well and feel great on my skin. So far it lasts all day and works well with my other make up. Doesn’t feel like i’m wearing it and I don’t need to really add powder to my face like I normally do with other foundations.
The cost is pretty good too. I got true beige, but I think I’d like to go a shade lighter for the winter time. 

How I Treat/ Prevent Breakouts

HOW I TREAT/ PREVENT BREAKOUTS

So lots of my friends ask me about my skincare regiment and what I use. It really depends on the time  of year and even the time of month. My skin can be really oily in the summertime and really dry in the winter time.
Currently I switch off between MaryKay’s Timewise miracle set and Kate Somerville products, depending on the time of the month.
My skin always tends to want to breakout once a month. To clean my pores and keep them exfoliated, I use Kate Somerville’s Exfolikate 2 times a week. It can be a bit pricey, but it usually lasts me 6-8 months. A lot goes a long way.

For those times that you can tell your skin wants to breakout or if you’ve just been wearing a lot of makeup or (big no no) goto bed without washing your face, I use Kate Somerville’s Detox daily cleanser. For me it’s when I’m stressed or been eating badly.

Then I’ll use this mask:
 
To really try and prevent any breakouts. I’ll use it when I’ve broken out as well.
For spot treatments I like to use tea tree oil, applying using a q-tip. or a spot treatment cream like mary kay’s

The tea tree oil works great and it’s all natural. I get mine from Trader Joe’s or whole foods and one small bottle lasts a long time. Just make sure you dilute it with water before applying because it’s strong stuff. I dip my q-tip in water then the tea tree oil.
Another trick I learned from my esthetician a few years ago was baking soda. I know lots of people mix it with a gel cleanser to apply as a mask or other products, but I just use baking soda and water. I mix a paste then apply to clean skin and let sit while I wash my hair and shower. The baking soda really gets rid of blackheads and brightens your overall complexion, plus it’s super cheap!
Looking great always starts first with you skin and I’m a big believer in taking care of the skin you have. Makeup can do wonders, especially these days, but why have to pile it on? I like the option of foundation or au natural.

First Impression Maybelline Vivid Lipsticks

First Impression of Maybelline’s new Vivid Lipsticks
I’m actually really digging these beauties!
So today I filmed a first impressions video on them and you can see what they all look like on me as soon as that’s up.
But basically the color payoff on these are amazing! They are very vibrant and go on smooth and creamy. I don’t feel like i’m wearing lipstick and the color really stays on. It actually stains your lip a little, so be prepared for that.
As you may know I hate wearing lips products that feel sticky, waxy, or heavy on me. I’m also not a fan of weird tastes and smells, but these do not taste like anything and they definitely don’t have a sent to them.
I am defiantly a fan of these new lipsticks!
my favorites are on fire red and hot plum

Clinique Even Better Foundation Review

CLINIQUE EVEN BETTER FOUNDATION REVIEW

So I’ve been watching a lot of Tanya Burr tutorials on Youtube and she mentioned how much she liked Clinique Even Better foundation. I was a bit skeptical since I haven’t used Clinique since High school and am not a fan of their makeup or skincare, but I decided to give them a try.

I’m shocked! I love this foundation. It goes on really smooth and does a great job at evening out my skin tone and making my skin look flawless. It feels light on my face and I’ve worn it all day and it still looks good. I did use a primer before and  Maybelline’s dream matte powder to set it.
I can’t even explain why I love this so much other than it really makes me feel like I’m glowing and it feels good on my skin. It’s $27 at Macy’s and I wear Ivory in combination skin formula. I do like that they break up the foundations by skin type, because I believe it’s very important to buy a foundation that is made for your skin type. There’s no weird smell and for $27 you get a decent amount since you don’t need to use too much.

Revlon Photo Ready BB Cream First Impression Review

REVLON PHOTO READY BB CREAM FIRST IMPRESSION REVIEW

For those who rather not watch a youtube video on my first impression of the new Revlon Photo Ready BB Cream, here is a quick summery.

Today I tried the Revlon Photo Ready BB cream for the first time. As I apply it, it feels thicker than the average tinted moisturizer and defiantly blends easier than the overpriced, over rated smashbox bb cream. I like that it isn’t as greasy as the original Garnier bb cream too.
I used the shade Light Medium and I was happily impressed with the easy that it blended into my skin. I also noticed an immediate difference in my skin tone and it did even out my skin enough for a quick foundation-less application.
My biggest worry is that I’ll look like a grease monkey by the end of the day, but I applied a dusting of Rimmel Stay Matte powder and it has been several hours and I’m still looking fresh.
I may have finally found an affordable bb cream from the states!

Beaty Blender Review and How To Use

BEAUTY BLENDER REVIEW

So I know I’m super late on the beauty blender wagon, but I finally caved and bought a kit from amazon.com 38 dollars later (eek!). I was really skeptical especially for having to pay that much for a sponge. 
Before I opened my beauty blender I watched the how to video on the official beauty blender website and read tons of reviews and watched a bunch of youtube videos. I’m happy I did, because it’s not like any old makeup sponge.
You have to remove it carefully from it’s packaging to not cause any damage to the sponge. To use, you need to run it under the faucet while squeezing. The beauty blender grows before your eyes. Next you have to squeeze out any excess water and wrap it in a towel and squeeze again. This is all much faster when you do it in real life and not as much work as it sounds.
The water prevents you from using too much product, but I do find that I use more product than if I were to apply my makeup with a brush or my fingers. So you know I tend to be on the less is more on my foundation.
To apply the makeup with the beauty blender I pour a bit of my foundation or bb cream onto the back of my hand and then dab the beauty blender in the product. Then in a stippling and bouncing motion i tap the blender on my face starting from my nose blending out.
The beauty blender really does an amazing job at covering the skin and creating a flawless finish that looks airbrushed. The coverage is medium to heavy with the beauty blender. I was shocked at the amazing coverage from just my bb cream and the beauty blender. I also did my first impression with the beauty blender with the Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation and it never gave me as much coverage as it did when applied with the beauty blender. You can find the video on my youtube channel and here.
I have to say that the beauty bender really did live up to the hype. While I feel the cost is a bit steep, I’m really enjoying the application and it’s fun to bounce the cute pink sponge on my face in the morning. It feels nice, the coverage is great, and it’s quite easy to clean as well. I’ll be doing a how to video on that soon. I look forward to using my beauty blender each morning and find that the finish it provides is natural, yet flawless.
So as long as you follow the directions, I think it’s worth it. Not sure how long a beauty blender will last, but I did get the kit with the cleaner and I’m trying to take very good care of it, depending on the longevity
of my beauty blender, I’d definitely repurchase one based on my weeks worth of use so far. Who would have thought a little pink sponge could do so much for makeup. 

Lime Crime Lipstick First Impression and Review

FIRST IMPRESSION AND REVIEW OF COVERGIRL CLUMP CRUSHER MASACRA

Sadly I was disappointed today by my new mascara. After hearing so much hype about the new covergirl clump crusher mascara I ran out and bought one. Today I tried it for the first time.
First off, I’d like to state that I have very stick straight lashes that need a lot of help from my mascara. I need volume and length. If you watch me channel on youtube you see I even use a heated eyelash curler (thank you drugstore princess) when necessary.
That being said, I found that the Covergirl clump crusher is a decent mascara for a very natural look. It does not clump, but it also does not deliver the “200%” volume it claims on the packaging.
I think for a teen or pre teen this will be a great beginners mascara since it gives a natural look and does not clump. However I need some volume and length! Now my lashes of course looked better with the mascara then without, but I wanted more.
I will probably use the mascara on my lazy no makeup days since I don’t want to be wasteful and toss a brand new bottle, and I don’t hate it enough to do it either.
Will I buy it again? No.
Who I’d recommend it to? Beginners and teens or gals who want the super subtle look.
I did posted my vlog on youtube with me trying the mascara for the first time so check that out as well :-)

Concealer Review

My all time favorite concealer after I discovered it from a make up artist is Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer. It’s $32, but really lasts a long time and worth it. Other concealers tend to wear off as the day goes on and crease into the fine lines under my eyes where I use concealer the most. A little goes a long way and I apply it with a concealer brush. 

Before Hourglass I used Erase Paste from Benefit. While it did the job, it tends to be a bit heavy and would wear off by the end of the day or crease into the fine lines. It’s not as bad as some other concealers and it’s a decent enough product, I just won’t give up my hourglass one :-)

Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer $32 get it Here at sephora. 

Erase Paste by Benefit $26 click Here. 

Read the blog on my tumblr with photos :-) Dress Yourself To Happiness