My to-go sans thinking everyday work blush. Described as a "nude", Tarte Exposed definitely looks more pink than beige on the skin than in the pan. The blush is of a dryer matte formula. It feels chalky when switch however doesn't look so at all on the face. I like to apply a larget stroke than I normally would with other blushers to give a bronzer look. I have no idea how they make it so long lasting. Seriously, I can still see it at the end of a 10 hour work day. A no-brainer that I give 2 thumbs up!
I have been seriously (!) semi-trying to hunt this down for years. The reason why I said "semi" is because every time I checked the ebay price ever since it's first launched in 2010 (ish?) I was like Who am I kidding? Nah, I don't need it for $50! I wanted it but have given up. So happy to see that M.A.C FINALLY brought it back in one of the latest collections. Me being me, cannot resist anymore after all these years of waiting despite the heftier price tag in Hong Kong (US$35).
Stereo Rose
"A luxurious velvet-soft powder with high-frost metallic finish. Smoothes on: adds buffed-up highlights to cheeks, or an overall ultra-deluxe polish to the face."
When I first swatched it at the M.A.C store I thought it wouldn't work with my light (and not to mention yellow) skin tone. All the other reviews I read from other blogs / online said that this blusher would only work with a tan. It is orangy, metallic and SO nicely pigmented. Especially for those who with lighter skintone, you really need to go light hand with this in order to not look like a clown. It would look different but should work for all skintones.
Despite the blending it lasts an enormous time on the skin. It would look so gorgeous on when I am more tan in the summer to reflect the light and give a beautiful glow. Is it absolutely everyone's cup of tea and worth the hype? Not necessarily, however I don't have anything similar and is an amazing blush with great application.
Decided to dedicate my first post of 2013 to my favorite blush / blusher EVER (Yes, and that even includes other high end blushes). I had a brief review in a monthly favorite posts long time ago HERE, but never really gave this well-loved product its own post. So here it is -
Retailed at under $4, Pink Sorbet is a light baby pink with a pearlescent sheen that lasts for hours. The formula is leaning towards the dry side. It is so easy to apply and is never too pigmented, meaning you can messily put it on and it will look good *fingers crossed. It appears more beige/peach on the skin rather than pink. I love it for everyday wear and cannot believe its at such a low price!
Planning on buying the entire range. Definitely worth a try if you are looking for something like this!
Hope you're all having a wonderful new year so far :))
Today is another day of totally not in the mood to put together a lengthy review on a certain product, lets just briefly talk about what I have been loving lately. 7 items - some oldies, some new stuff, not a whole long of list. Keeping it short and simple. 1 | Escada Island KissIt contains Orange, Passion Flower, Mango, Magnolia, Sunny Accord, White Peach, Hibiscus, Blond Woods, Musky Notes, Red Fruits... the list goes on. As you can imagine, Escada Island Kiss is of one of the sweetest perfume you could possibly imagine in a light and delightful way. It was also the very 1st perfume I owned ever since high school. Though I prefer the old packaging, I always keep a bottle of this to use during summer days and nights.
2 | Hera HD Foundation in no.21 A proper review will come after. Finally have time to give this foundation a go after receiving it for quite some time now, I adore the jelly consistency of this foundation. Easy to blend, medium yet buildable coverage for a dewy finish. It is also quite good at keeping the oil under control. Featured in both Cathy cookieyuri's Monthly Favourite video HERE and Rae raeviewer's HG Top 5 Liquid Foundation video HERE.
3 | Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Coral Reef (left) What is better to put on some coral lipgloss on a beachy breezy kind of day? The coral color matches a lot of the brighter tone of colors I wear during this time of year and instantly brightens up my complexion. The jelly consistency plumps up the lips too.
4 | Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Sweet Tart (right）There are several ways to use this lippie. With a full application, it provides full opacity like the OCC Lip Tar, or MAC Pro Longwear Lip Creme. It however, of which is also the way I perfer during the day time, can also be applied alternatively with a light hand to blend the color with the lightest amount. It almost makes my lips nylon.
5 | Shiseido Majolica Majorca Lash King Mascara
A proper review has to come later. This is of one of the most fiber-licious mascaras in the Majorlica Majorca line. It volumizes the lashes like crazy and is waterproof! One thing to keep in mind is that since it puts on so much volume of fiber to the lashes, it holds off better to build a light curled base first then to build up the volume using this mascara.
6 | Nars Orgasm Yes you already know, full review HERE, one of my favourite blushes of all time. The peachy pink tone instantly brightens up the complexion and gives the skin a nice glow.
7 | Laura Mercier Foundation Primer Radiance Personally not huge fan of Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer (anymore) or foundation primer, not sure the reason why I was drawn again to this primer. I just love the sheen when I swatched it at a Sephora and decided to give their base makeup another go. It turns out that I love it so much. I would not wear this primer alone because it will make me look like a reflective disco ball. You don't really see the sheen under any foundation or bb cream, whereas it gives a healthy sheen and makes the makeup last so much longer.
Quick Haul and reviews for some Canmake products that I purchased awhile back.
Perfect Brown Eye Paletter 03 - I love this palette okay, and I expect anyone would too if you liek bronzy warm browns. The palette contains a clear eyeshadow stick base with tiny shimmers (not that shimmery), highlight shimmery color, warm bronze slightly metallic medium brown and dark brown colors. The light color and base don't really show up on camera but the base is really good actually. A tad of it makes the colors appear that much better and last. The darker colors are just so gorgeous, easy to blend (think wetter Urban Decay eyeshadow). This is my everyday to-go palette. Retails: $12
Cream Cheek 02 - I don't own a lot of cream cheek colors but decided to pick up a pink one earlier for spring. The pigmentation is quite nice however personally don't think its a right pink for me (the most far I can go is probably coral pink). Maybe that would change when I get more tanned in summer? *fingers crossed*. Retails: $9
Nail Polish in Marshmallow Pink - Thought it would be quite cute from the bottle. The color payoff is horrible. I couldnt even get an opaque coat after 5 coats... extremely sheer alert (look at the picture). Retails: $7
Fragrance Nail & Hand Cream in Grapefruit - Smells AWESOME, does not do a thing to my hands. Skip it for sure. $8
So overall I would probably recommend the eyeshadow palettes they have. They are great bang for the buck, and I will definitely get another one if not more. Hmmm perhaps one of those powder blushes that everyone pretty much raves about too. Have you tried anything from Canmake?
It has been awhile since last I did a monthly favourites post. I have so many products that I need to write about that I don't even know where to begin! To not overwhelm you all as a nice human being after all wtf, I am still keeping them to the minimum. These are really products that I use in the month of April on a day to day basis and they seriously have my love.
Giorgio Armani Designer Lift Foundation in 05
Hands down the best foundation I have come across for my skintype. I will have a separate review dedicated to this so I am not going to go into too much details now. Long story short it has a dewy finish (which I love!), lasts for >6 hours on my normal skin, does not have a white cast for photographs even with SPF20, and most importantly, glides on so smoothly and thin. It feel very comfortable to wear. It is just the foundation made in heaven for me.
Maybelline Color Tatto Cream Eyeshadow in Tough As Taupe
Tough as Taupe is a cool tone taupe with a little metallic sheen. Initially a color that is too "cool" for my skintone, I however really enjoy the formula of the product. It does not move or smudge (like tattoos, really!) This is perfect for work/school, something that you can just use alone once and be set for the rest of the (long) day. I will most likely go pick up Bad to Bronze for everyday use.
Maybelline Baby Lips Moisturizing Lip Balm in Energizing Orange & Anti-Oxidant Berry
Stupid me thought these were the colored ones (HERE). I have yet to try the colored ones despite hearing amazing things about them from the beauty community. I then realized these sans color ones aren't available in the US. Please correct me if I was wrong. They however are very moisturizing, not waxy (not my type) and would correct your lip's hyperpigmentation over time. I really like the overall scents and super moisturizing formula they offer. Oh, plus the affordable price since I go through my chapsticks as quick as shooting ETs with an laser gun wtf.
Rimmel Lasting Finish Powder Blush in 018 Pink Sorbet
From restraining myself from drugstore blushes for quite some time now, I had no regret in picking this blush for less than $2 when it went on sale at CVS. The packaging and brush that came with are undoubtedly just crap but the product itself is amazing. Its a coral pink with a sheen, tiny bit more pink than Nars Orgasm (another blush I cannot live without!) Its surprisingly lasts a good amount of time on me too. If I were to pick up only one drugstore blush for my life, this would be it.
Nars Laguna Bronzing Powder
When I am getting paler in life, my used-to-be favourite bronzer Benefit Hoola can sometimes be too dark for my everyday liking. Nars Laguna is one of those most raved about products in the cosmetics history with millions of reviews and swatches on Internet, I was actually quite hesitant to yet buy another Nars products that receives such high rankings. However you have once again done well Nars, Laguna is a smooth, non-shimmery, beige undertone bronzer that barely shows up on my NC25-30 skin. It does its job almost without noticing its existence. Its perfect for light to medium tone skin for contouring everyday. A full review with swatches will follow.
Koji No.100 Accent Eyelash Curler
To sum it up with just one sentence, it is a half eyelash curler with open ended on both sides. It comes in super handy to combine real and fake lashes, since sometimes they don't fit in the regular eyelash curler, and thus minimize the risk of tearing the fake lashes from eyelids. Highly recommend it for people who often wear falsies.
Lancome Color Design Mix & Matte Lipstick in Stylista (Not shown in picture)
As Lancome describes, the Color Design line is for full, fade-free color in tempting textures with smooth ingredients that make the lips feel soft and comforted all day, I cannot agree more. Since when matte lipsticks can be so moisturizing, not dry out the lips and essentuate fine lines? Stylista is a matte dusty pink with the texture made in heaven. I rarely love a formula of a lipstick so much and am already planning to get more summer colors from the range.
OR, if you're lazy to read, here goes the video too haha
So that's it! I will be reviewing some of the products from this list later on. Hope you've found something you are interested in. What have you been loving lately?
Tangerine tango is one of the top runway trends for this spring and summer and I am totally loving it. Well, should I say I pretty much love incorporating corals and oranges into my makeup routine around this time of this year? Having been MIA on the youtubeland for about 5 months *ashamed, running away, I have put together a look that corporates a few of my favourite coral/orange products for a look that transforms from day to night.
Milani Liquif'eye in Dark Brown (also used in this look HERE)
Princess Lee Lashes in crisscross-8
Koji No. 100 Accent Eyelash Curler
Nars Laguna
Revlon Super Lustrous lipstick in Coral Reef (HERE)
I started off with a pretty simple day time look with the main focus on the metallic orange eyeshadow with a juicy coral lip. Its perfect for work/school everyday. To transform to the night time look, I thicken the liner with a jet black liquid eyeliner, slightly deepen and neutralize the cheek color for a strong bold orange lip.
Orange itself has a lot of dimensions and can easily corporate into many different looks. It is a color that instantly brightens the complexion while bringing together a fresh look. I always love my corals and oranges.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend so far! See you all soon xo.
This month I really started to feel a little overwhelmed by how many new products I had the desire to try out. Besides the swap from Cathy that I never got around to review, I am waiting for my $500 Sephora F&F package. The sad truth is I want to try them all, however the daily 15 min makeup routine doesn't permit. Too many products, too little time :( Anyway, I realized I had to do this to apologize the lack of updates for you wtf so lets jump into everything...
Inglot Palette - One of the very summery palettes that I can easily alternate the darker colors for fall and winter. Cathy sent me this during our swap because Inglot in the US does not sell pre-made palettes. I will be sure to do a more throughout review on all my Inglot eyeshadows since I did pick up another 10 color freedom system palette from NYC a few weeks ago. But as for now, you can read my very old review HERE to get a sense. The eyeshadows are very pigmented, "wet" in my opinion and very comparable to MAC's. Picture above is one swipe of the eyeshadows.
Kate Palette - Brown Collection in BR-3 - The pigmentation and quality are not necessarily superb however I love the concept of combining brow powder and eyeshadows in one. This baby is always in my morning makeup bag (since I do my makeup in the work bathroom every morning wtf). Having this I can easily make sure that neither my brows or eyes were left behind wtf. The brushes that come with are of great use as well; The small brush allows me to add colors on my brows within seconds whereas the tiny tip of the other brush allows me to line my eyes using the black shadow. Swiping the pink color all over my lids and dapping the lightest silver color on the inner corners, I am good to go!
Majorlica Majorca Enamel Glamour Volmne On mascara - Newest release of the Shiseido Majorlica Majorca family aka my new love (though I got it in late 2010-_-). Read my complete review HERE.
Skinfood Lime Secret Shine Base - I love my base makeup to be a little more luminous, especially for the dry fall and winter. Love adding a drop of this to the base makeup I am using... works great with all BB Creams and foundations. It can also be used alone as a highlighter like the Benefit Moon beam. Though this one is much more luminous and silky however does not grease up on the skin. It is affordable (not cheap but comes in such ginormous volume) and versatile.
MAC Gingerly Blush - One of the recommendations after I saw Sharon's favorite blush video (Check out her channel HERE, 1000 thumb ups!!). Putting Mocha and Plum Foolery aside, I started using Gingerly everyday, this dark nude neutral coral color works well and gives me a hint of romantic check no matter what eye look I am wearing. I notice that it is a bit chalky than other MAC blushers (maybe just mine?!), yet still a wonderful must have blush and fall version of my all time favourite Melba.
Laneige Hydra Solution Activator - using this alone as a serum does not give me enough hydration during the night however padding this on before my sunscreen and makeup in the morning is great! I notice my face has become a better canvas for makeup to stay put longer and my t-zone is also not as oily. Perhaps I am just happy to find a way to make this work so I dont regret carrying this all the way back from Korea wtf.
L'oreal Collagen Moisture Filler/Combleur Hydratant - my favorite night cream at the moment! I first started using it but it broke the hell out of me. It was too oily on my T-zone though I noticed a pretty obvious change on the moist level on my cheeks and forehead. After 2 nights my skin started to react to this differently. It stayed on til the next morning and I notice that my fine lines are slowly diminishing. I am sure my Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair serum helps (a lot) too but this cream builds a fortification to lock all the nutrients in the skin overnight. (Talk about skin war!) My skin still feels moist the next day. I am already on my second bottle and am planning to use this to fight the New England cold throughout the winter. If you have relatively drier skin and love a super thick cream for the night like me, give this a go!
Orly Rage - Holymoly, I love this polish so much. The color is fierce, shimmery yet subtle enough for work. With different lightings, it may appear as a rose gold or bronze gold. It compliments my yellow undertone skin, applies well with 2 coats and barely chips. Pictures are taken after 10 days of wear. Go figure!
So here are my October favorites. Give me another week and I will be full gear blogging and making videos! A lot of haul, skincare and makeup posts will be coming shortly. Thank you very much for reading and I hope everyone is having a fabulous weekend!
