Current Favorites #8

I've been obsessed with these NCLA nail wraps as they're so easy to use and they literally last for weeks on my nails. I got the floral ones first and I loved them so much that I picked up these limited edition ones. If you suck at doing nail arts or just don't have the patience to do them, then these are perfect for you as they have all sorts of patterns and colors! I've been wearing them as accent nails and I think that they give my nails a great pop of color for the summer time.

I can't believe that it took me so long to discover MAC All That Glitters as it's one of their best-selling eyeshadows. It's the perfect bronzy champagne color and if you love neutral shimmery shadows then this is a must-have for you. I've wearing this all over my lids with winged liners and it just looks super put-together without too much fuss.

I've been looking for a great summertime concealer that's sweat-proof and long-lasting for a long time, and a lot of Asian bloggers have recommended the Canmake Cover Stretch Concealer. It is seriously the longest-lasting concealer I've found, and it provides medium to full coverage while still looking natural. I have super oily skin and this literally doesn't budge until I go take my makeup off at the end of the day.

I got a BareMinerals Ready Foundation sample from Sephora, and I didn't have too high of an expectation when I tried it as I already found my holy grail powder which is the Laura Mercier mineral powder. This surprisingly gave my face a very similar finish to the Laura Mercier mineral powder. The coverage is bulidable and looks incredibly natural; no matter how many layers you put on your makeup never cakes up, and it just looks like a second skin.


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Current Favorites #7

So cream cleansers have become pretty popular lately and a lot of brands have started to make them. Since "like dissolves like", these cleansers dissolve into an oily consistency once you massage it onto your face and really helps to break down your makeup which are often oil-based. The Borghese Cleansing Creme has become my favorite cleanser at the moment. It feels super luxurious to massage this onto my face, and it leaves my face feeling squeaky clean and also moisturized

Benefit Fakeup has become my go-to undereye concealer lately. The actual concealer is surrounded by a layer of moisturizing balm, so you're getting the concealing action and the moisturizing benefit in one. This won't cover really bad undereye circles, but if you suffer from really dry undereye area and you just want a bit of brightening then this is perfect.

I finally picked up another one of Buxom's Lip Creams as they came out with a few new colors. This time I got the color Mai Tai, which a gorgeous orangey coral color. If you remember from a few posts ago, I mentioned that these lip creams are my favorite lip products of all time, and I seriously have to restrain myself from getting every single color. These lip creams are super pigmented and they make your lips look super juicy without feeling sticky on the lips. They're just super comfortable to wear on the lips and last pretty long as well.

I'm excited to say that I finally found my holy grail primer, and it is the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer. This stuff literally does everything I'm looking for in a primer. The fact that it is mineral-based and oil-free means that it is great for people with acne-prone skin and it won't clog your pores like a lot of silicone-based primers do. I find that it is also great at minimizing shine and smoothing out the skin texture, as well as making my makeup blend to a super natural and flawless finish. I find that when I use other primers my makeup will start to separate and look cakey by the end of the day, but when I use this one my makeup doesn't do that at all and even when my makeup starts to fade, it actually fades to a beautiful natural finish.


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Brand Overview: Benefit

First of all, can we just admire at the adorable packagings from Benefit? I feel like Benefit probably has the cutest packaging on the market, which makes me love their products even more. I did not realize the amount of product I had from Benefit until I started to gather products for this post. Most of these are loves, but I do have a few misses unfortunately.

Benefit Fake Up Concealer is my latest purchase from Benefit, and what drew me to this is the fact that it's supposed to be super hydrating. I suffer from super dry undereyes and I find that most concealers tend to accentuate the fine lines in my undereye area and make them look cakey. This Benefit concealer is super unique in that it has the concealer in the middle and a layer of hydrating balm on the outside so it helps to keep your undereye area hydrated throughout the day. It doesn't have the highest coverage so I wouldn't recommend it to people with serious dark circles, but if you're like me where you just want a bit of hydration and brightening then this is perfect for you. This looks super natural and does not crease or settle into fine lines.

Benefit Watts Up Luminizer is a peachy champagne highlight that helps to impart a sun-kissed glow on your face. The fact that it's in a stick form makes it super easy to apply and blend out.

Benefit They're Real Mascara was a miss for me, unfortunately. I tried it several times and just found that it did nothing for my lashes and even weighed down my curls. I know it's a favorite of many people but it just did not work out for me.

Benefit Hoola Bronzer is definitely one of my favorite bronzers of all time. I'm the type of person who has to wear bronzers all the time because I have a pretty chubby face, and this one from Benefit looks super natural on the face and helps to make my face look more defined and chiseled. It has a grey undertone so it won't look too orangey or muddy on the face.

Benefit Porefessional was one of the first primers that I purchased and I used to love it, but after trying out so many primers over the years I found that it was just mediocre. I feel like there are much better primers on the market and this one is just overhyped. At the moment I'm just trying to use it up but I probably won't be repurchasing it.

Benefit Velvet Eyeshadow in Buckle Bunny is a must-have if you're a neutral shadow lover. It's the most gorgeous shimmery rosy taupe color that's super soft and easy to blend out, and lasts well on the eyes. I love using this shadow for the single-shadow look because it is one of those shadows that just has so many dimensions to it, so you can wear a sheer layer all over the lids and build it up in the outer corner.

Benefit Highbeam is another great luminizer from Benefit. It's a pinky beige highlight that comes in a liquid form so you can use it alone or mix it with your foundation to create a dewy complexion.

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Disappointing Products #1

In my past posts, I've only talked about products that I liked; I thought it's about time that I mention some products that I didn't like so much. It's rare for me to find products that I don't like because I usually do pretty thorough research before I purchase anything, and a lot of these products that I'll mention are actually cult favorites of many but they just didn't work for me. A disclaimer that I want to make is that what works for you may not work for me and vice versa, so hopefully you guys won't be offended if I'm bashing on products that you actually enjoy using; these are just my personal opinion. I will also be mentioning some alternatives that I think work much better.

Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray is a salt spray that's meant to give you tousled beachy waves, however I found that it made my hair look dry and crunchy, and actually weighed my hair down instead of giving it volume. It was hella expensive too. A cheaper and better alternative would be the Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Beach Spray, which acts as a leave-in conditioner and a salt spray in one to help to hydrate the hair while also giving it texture and volume.

I decided to try the Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Liner because it's supposed to be the longest wearing gel liner on the market. Unfortunately, it did smudge on me, even with the help of a primer. Keep in mind that I have super oily eyelids, so if you have normal or dry eyelids it might work for you. I have yet to find a gel liner that lasts on me so if you have any great suggestions please leave them in the comment area below!

Benefit They're Real Mascara claims to give the false-lash effect in a tube, however I found that it did nothing for my lashes. It did not lengthen nor volumize, and it also weighed down my curled lashes. The only good thing about it was that it lasted pretty long without smudging. For a better alternative, try the Kiss Me Long & Curl Mascara, which will definitely give you the false-lash effect and I always get compliments from people when I use this.

YSL Touche Eclat is meant to act as a concealer and a highlight in one to brighten up your undereye area and erase any signs of fatigue to make you look more awake and rested. However, I find that it is far overpriced and over-hyped. It just didn't cover anything and the formula was way too dry for my undereye area; I would prefer a drugstore concealer over this. If you want a concealer that's going to cover and brighten your undereye area, try the Clinique Airbrush Concealer. It is super creamy and hydrating, and is one of few concealers that doesn't emphasize the fine lines in my undereye area. Follow my blog with Bloglovin

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Brand Overview: Kevyn Aucoin

Kevyn Aucoin is a brand that I recently discovered and fell in love with, and I feel like it's a brand that deserves more attention than it receives. I love their elegant and understated packaging, and their products just have a super luxurious feel to them.

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin is a multi-purpose base product that is my secret weapon for creating a flawless and perfected complexion. You can mix it with your moisturizer or primer to create a tinted moisturizer or use it on its own as a full-coverage concealer. I usually stay away from full-coverage base products as they tend to look cakey on the skin, but this one manages to cover everything flawlessly while still making your skin look like skin. This is without a doubt my favorite base product of all time.

If you've been following me for a while, then you'll know that I have an obsession with cream blushes, and I had to give the Kevyn Aucoin Cream Glow a try after falling in love with their concealer. I have it in the shade Tansoleil, which is the perfect shade of apricot coral color. It dries down to a dewy finish, which helps to give my face an amazing glow. It's also super easy to blend and lasts all day on my oily skin.

Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder is hands down the best bronzer/contouring powder I've ever tried. If you want defined, chiseled cheekbones and a slimmer face, then you have to try this. A lot of bronzers have an orangey undertone which can sometimes make you look like an oompa loompa if you don't use it properly. This one however has a neutral grey undertone which looks super natural and subtle on the face.

As usual, here are the swatches:

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Products to Achieve a Glowing Complexion- Makeup

I've been all about the glowing skin lately, and it's hard to believe that just a few weeks ago I was terrified of putting anything slightly dewy on my skin as I have super oily skin and I thought that they would just look disastrous on my skin. Well, I was wrong. It's all about putting the glow in the right places and not only will it help your skin to look more youthful and healthy, it's also going to blur out any imperfections that you may have and even out your skin tone. So I've picked out a few of my favorite makeup products to help you achieve a glowing complexion.

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Brand Overview: Dior

When it comes to high-end makeup, Dior has got to be one of my favorite brands. Even though their prices are quite up there, I do think that you're getting what you paid for in terms of quality. Dior is known for making very wearable, natural makeup that is great to wear on the daily basis.

Amber Diamond is probably Dior's most popular and hyped up product. It is a powder highlight with very finely-milled shimmers that can be worn both on the face and on the eyes. This is my go-to highlight as it just creates the most beautiful and sophisticated glow that doesn't look tacky at all.

Dior Nude Foundation is my foundation of choice when I want to achieve a flawless yet still natural complexion. It has a medium coverage and dries matte while still making your skin look like it has a glow from within. It is a fluid-based foundation so it has a thin consistency and feels very light on the skin.

Dior Nude Hydrating Concealer has the same concept as the Dior Nude Foundation in that it also feels light and looks very natural on the skin, while also providing good coverage. This is my go-to concealer during the colder months as it is the only concealer I found that won't emphasize my dry patches.

Dior Skinflash is an amazing concealer to use under the eyes to create a bright, glowing look. It has the same concept as the YSL Touche Eclat, but it works so much better. I find that the YSL Touche Eclat barely does anything for my undereyes- it doesn't cover anything and it is not very hydrating so it often settles into my fine lines. Dior Skinflash on the other hand provides medium coverage and cancels out any darkness I have in my undereye eye area. It is also super hydrating and doesn't crease at all.

Dior Addict Lipgloss in #957 is a dark berry red color that is great to wear all year-round. It is very hydrating on the lips and doesn't feel sticky at all. It is pretty pigmented so it can be worn on its own or over other lipsticks, and it makes my lips look super juicy and glossy. Dior Addict Lipstick in #681 Icone is a very wearable pink color that is great for everyday makeup. Again, it makes my lips look super moisturized and hydrated.

In my last skincare post, I mentioned the Dior Creme De Rose as my favorite lipbalm. It just feels super luxurious on the lips and hydrates my lips like no other.

Here are the swatches:

               

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Current Favorites #3

  

 

So it should come as no surprise to you that I've been super loving this Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Glow in Tansoleil for the past few weeks, as I've just dedicated a whole post on cream blushes not too long ago. After loving every single product that I've tried from Kevyn Aucoin, I decided to give their cream blushes a go, and I've fallen head over heels for this. It is a beautiful coral color that dries to a dewy finish so it helps to give your face a natural glow. This just makes my face look so healthy and fresh even when I have a bad skin day. I never thought that a blush could make my skin look better, but for some reason it just does.

Here is a closer look at the product:

             

To brighten up my undereye area, I've been using the Clinique Airbrush Concealer. It is super light and moisturising, and it is one of the few undereye concealers I find that don't emphasize my fine lines. It gives me a subtle highlighted effect and makes me look more awake and fresh.

I've been trying out more face oils lately as I find that they make such a big difference to my skin, and I will do a post on them in a few days. Balance Me Radiance Oil is the one I've been really liking lately. It contains loads of good ingredients such as sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil and rosehip oil, just to name a few. This is suitable for all skin types, especially oily and acne-prone skin as the oils really help to decongest the skin and prevent any future breakouts.

To get rid of any product buildups in my hair, I've been using the Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo every other week. I find that sometimes my hair can look really dull and flat just because I use a lot of hair products in my hair, and this just helps to get rid of those nasty residues that normal shampoos can't get rid of. It is a clarifying shampoo so it is meant to be used every week at the most because it can be a bit drying on the hair. I find that this gives so much volume and shine to my hair after I use it, and I can't believe that I didn't discover this product sooner. Follow my blog with Bloglovin

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Favorite Drugstore Face Products

I'm pretty picky when it comes to face products as I have quite acne prone skin and I don't like to try out a lot of drugstore face products as I find that they often have really harsh ingredients that can be quite irritating on my skin. However these products are some of my favorite face products in general and are very comparable to some of my high-end face products.

Bourjois is one of my favorite drugstore brand, although it is a bit more on the pricey side. Their makeup are really high quality and well-made. I have the Bourjois Powder Blush in 54 Rose Frisson which is bright coral color that's great for the spring and summer. It is a finely milled powder that's super soft and easy to blend, and lasts forever on the skin. Bourjois Bronzing Powder is a good drugstore bronzer that won't look muddy or orangey on the skin; it's completely matte and gives the skin a nice sun-kissed glow. Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation is definitely one of my go-to foundations; it feels super light on the skin and gives the skin a natural coverage.The reason why it's called a serum foundation is because it contains vitamin-rich fruit extracts in it to help to give the skin moisture and an overall radiance. It never feels greasy or cakey on the skin and is great for all skin types. I like to use the Boujois Healthy Mix Concealer for my undereye area because it is super moisturizing and doesn't settle into my fine lines.

Speaking of undereye concealers, the Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer is another one of my favorites. It contains micro shimmers which help to instantly brighten up the undereye area to make you look much more awake, and once you blend out the concealer you won't be able to see the shimmers at all.

Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Concealer is what I use to cover up any discolorations or acne scars on my face. It is super opaque and long-lasting, and is great for the summer time. This is a UK drugstore brand, but you can find it on ebay for around $10.

The NYX Powder Blush in Taupe is such an unique color in that it is a pinky taupe color that can be used both as a blush and a contour. It has a grey undertone which makes it great for contouring your whole face to give your face a subtle definition. When used as a blush, it makes your cheeks look super defined and chiseled. Again, I've never seen this color anywhere before and I find that it looks much more natural on the face than the typical bronzers which are often brown-based; however because this NYX blush is grey-based it helps to create natural shadows on your face.

Here is a closer look:

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A Dupe for the Bobbi Brown Corrector

I'm sure all of you have heard of Bobbi Brown's infamous under-eye corrector; it is a cult favorite of many beauty gurus here on the internet. I obviously had to get it after reading and hearing so many great reviews about it ever since I became interested with makeup. It is a creamy concealer-like product that acts to correct dark circles and brighten up the under-eye area; you can also follow-up with a concealer if your under-eye dark circles are especially bad. Since I don't have a lot of problems with dark circles, I use it on its own and set it with either the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder or Baremineral's Well-rested. The reason why it's so amazing at brightening up the under-eye area is because it has a peachy undertone, which acts to cancel out the bluish or purplish undertone of your dark circles; a regular concealer just doesn't perform the same.

Well...I've found a dupe, and it's called the Salmon Concealer from Skinfood. You can find this on pretty much any Asian beauty sites; I bought mine from Ebay for around $10. It comes with 10 grams of product, which is absolutely amazing considering that the Bobbi Brown Corrector retails at $30 and only comes with 0.05 oz (approximately 1.5 g) of product.

As you can see, they look pretty similar in the pot, but on my hand, Skinfood swatches a bit lighter than Bobbi Brown. I have the skinfood one in the lightest shade which is No.1, and I have the Bobbi Brown one in light peach. They both have that peachy undertone, and perform exactly the same on my face. They both have that creamy texture that makes them extremely easy to blend, and longevity wise, they perform pretty similar as well.

The only downside about Skinfood is that it only comes with two shades, while Bobbi Brown has way more shade selections. If you're around Mac NC30, then both shades should suit you pretty well.

If you're in a budget and doesn't want to pay the hefty $30 for Bobbi Brown, then definitely check out the Skinfood salmon concealer.

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