e.l.f. Contouring Blush & Bronzer Powder in St. Lucia

I think I like this. It's hard not to like a product that costs $3, especially when it's not a terrible disappointment. 

I was definitely more enamored by the e.l.f. contouring blush & bronzer duo the first few times that I used it. Both sides of the palette deposits a soft, subtle color onto my skin, which most brands label as "natural beige." 

The trouble comes when I try to build up the color; too much of the product results in a visibly powdery, cakey texture. 

The softness of the colors are great for every day, natural,"I wake up looking this great" look (you know, the "i'm not wearing any makeup" look that takes you 30 minutes to execute).

The photo above was taken before any usage. After a few weeks, I started to see little clumpy bits of product that lay beneath the deceptively smooth surface. Did not affect the performance of either the blush or the bronzer, though.

The bronzer looks incredibly orange on the swatch, but used in moderation with a big fluffy brush, it doesn't look so much like a fake tan. 

Do you own it? Thoughts?

New Sephora X Nail Polish in Prudish

I got lured into Sephora the other day by the giant display of holiday gift sets that sat inside the entrance. The lit-up platform, the clear acrylic case with the product displayed inside like a museum...when I came to, I was already inside. 

Just when I thought I made it past the organized pile of temptation, I bumped into the all new Sephora X Nail Polish display. I picked one up - it was pink and glittery - and felt the weight of the bottle (i'm a tactile person). Then.... BAM! Sales rep ambush.  She preyed on my curiosity, and won.

I don't know how I feel about this nail polish. I love the color, but I didn't think the formula OR finish was a game-changer. It's meant to have the strength and longevity of a gel manicure, but for me it didn't last that long.  Maybe it was my top coat - the Seche Vite caused some shrinkage, which was disappointing because it's my go-to top coat. 

It also took 3 coats for opacity - it's not unusual for lighter colors to require more coats, but I guess I expected a little bit more because of all of the over-promised sales pitch/marketing copy. 

I will give this another try with a different top coat -- but for now, I'm not all that impressed. Sorry, Sephora! 

cozy, sparkly Christmas

The days leading up to Christmas are some of my favorite days of the year. This year is no different, even though I'm spending those precious days packing away for the move. 

With most everything in a box my room is feeling a bit empty, but I made a note to leave the holiday warmth around until the last minute. I love snuggling into bed at night, room smelling like vanilla snowflake (thanks, bath & body works!) and emma at my feet curling up on a fluffy, Christmasy throw. 

A fluffy, festive throw from Target

This season has always been about love, warmth, and decadence. I do not hold back on the sugar, spending, and glitter. Bring it on...bring it all on.

Kate Spade Sparkler Gia Clutch

Essie Luxe Effects in Stroke of Brilliance, A Cut Above, Set in Stone

Best of November

As I write this post, most of my things are tucked away in a cardboard box, which are piled high in the living room. In a few weeks I'll be moving to a new place, and I've gotten a head start on packing up my clutter.

It was easy to spot my favorite makeup pieces because they were all the things that I couldn't pack...I use them every day. 

If reading long lists is not your thing, you've been warned for what's up ahead. No worries, I'm not the least bit offended - I'm the same way. I just jot these things down for future reference, anyway...just in case I ever want to revisit what tickled my fancy in November '12. 

maybelline baby lips [coral crush] - Smells like orange Starbursts..yum! 

fresh sugar lip balm - My favorite lip balm of. all. time. Of all time. Had to say it twice for emphasis. Softest, smoothest, lush little stick of expensive heaven. 

e.l.f. contouring blush & bronzer [st. lucia] - A very pretty, soft coral blush that comes paired with a light cocoa bronzer, both with a hint of gold shimmer. Three dollars. How are you doing this, e.l.f.?! 

essie nail polish [leading lady] - It's holiday in a tiny bottle, really. They look like tiny christmas lights, packed into a nail polish. Gives me sparkling, warm fuzzies.

lancome virtuose doll eyes mascara - why must pricey things be so, so impressive? more on this here

NYX collection noir liquid black liner - Super fine, super long tip that doesn't bump into my lashes and make a wet clumpy mess. 

l'oreal color lip riche balm [nourishing nude] - it really doesn't provide 8 full hours of hydration like the website claims (it's more like 30 minutes if you're a normal person that breathes and talks)...but i love this color and i will forgive the lies. 

clinique chubby stick [whole lotta honey] - made with mango and shea butters; I love its glossy finish and subtle but still impactful tint. 

revlon lip butter [pink truffle] - I was largely unimpressed by revlon lip butters until this color. All aboard the hype train!

soap & glory face soap - I admit I bought this because I love the packaging aesthetics of the brand, and because the product itself is SO pretty (tiny little pink beads suspended in aquamarine gel)...but it really is an effective, great product. The beady bits help exfoliate, and though it doesn't lather as much as I'd hoped it would, my face has been feeling cleaner and less rough - which tends to happen because my area has harsh water.

Well, you made it to the bottom! You crazy, bored person. 

Thank you :)

lalaoopsy mittens fluff n' stuff: holiday edition!

Mini Lalaloopsy - sneaky little buggers, always taking a tiny nibble out of my paycheck. 

I saw this and said, No. Not going to get it. Must practice restraint. No time like the holidays for positive changes. 

Nope, not even with those tiny little ice skating boots.

Not even with the tiny pet.... with the tiny scarf.... and tiny mitten ears.....

.....

Sigh. Welcome home, mittens fluff n' stuff. 

Lancome Virtuose Doll Eyes Mascara

Whenever my mom goes to Japan to visit family, she brings me back a treat - sometimes it's Hello Kitty trinkets, sometimes it's makeup. She knows me so, so well. Best mom ever. 

I'm not usually one to splurge on mascara, so this is exciting. But also dangerous. What if it's so impressive that I can no longer be satisfied with my beloved drugstore mascara brands....

....I tried it anyway. You know, because i'm a daredevil.

And it was impressive. 

The little spikey bits? Those are the fibers that attach to the ends of your lashes to add length. I applied 2 coats and there was no clumping, no crunchy lashes. It felt lightweight and the results were pretty dramatic. 

I love it, and I hate that I love it because there goes the Maybelline Illegal Length Mascara that I was TOTALLY satisfied with just a second ago. 

Top: Without Mascara || Bottom: With 2 coats of Lancome Viruose Doll Eyes Mascara

Hello, fluttery lashes. Goodbye, all of my money.  

What's the bottom line? Will I really never touch a drugstore mascara again? Nah, I'm too budget-conscious to be replenishing a $30 mascara every few months. 

But the Lancome Virtuose Doll Eyes Mascara makes my lashes look so naturally pretty. Maybe it's something I put on my birthday wishlist, and then again on my holiday wishlist.. [insert sneaky laugh]  :) 

MOR Hand Cream in Honey Nectar Review

Twice a month when I get paid, I feel like a millionaire. 

On this particular day, I paid $14 for hand cream. I am not even a hand cream person. Aside from my face, I moisturize nothing. When I wake in the morning and find my legs dry and flaky, I reach not for lotion but leggings. Cover those babies up! No one will know!

So gross...I know..

No doubt that this is a wondrous product. The actual lotion is thick, creamy, and effective. It has the same consistency as buttercream frosting when you squeeze it out of the tube, but as it absorbs the warmth of your skin it turns into soft butter. It's also worth noting, I think, that the hand cream is matte, not shiny like most lotions. It looks and feels very decadent. 

It takes a while to sink into your skin (I'd say 7-10 seconds) but I noticed that during the week that I used MOR on a daily basis, I had no hangnails (ouch, hate those) and my cuticles were never dry. In November.  

The fragrance is subtle and I love that about this hand cream. I already wear perfume/frangrance mist, so I don't like very aggressively scented things that would compete with it. It's sweet but subdued, it's a comforting and luxurious sweetness. 

There's another scent that I loved - Basil & Grape - that I think I'll get for my mom for Christmas along with the Fresh Sugar Lip Balm. 

I am most definitely enjoying the MOR Hand Cream in Honey Nectar -- do I think it's worth $14? On paydays, yes. On budget-conscious days...I'm not too sure. I only say this because I am not an extravagant spender on beauty products, and hand creams are not part of my beauty necessities. 

Have you tried it? What do you think....worth the money?

Bath & Body Works fragrance mists

When I fell in love ULTA's Precious Poppies Fragrance mist back in September, I developed a fixation for fragrances. Though I'm not a complete stranger to perfumes (DKNY fresh blossom, Clinique happy, Taylor Swift Enchanted Wonderstruck), for everyday happiness I'm more comfortable with the less intense, more subtle approach. 

These three came home with me all in the same day. One transaction. Triplets, you may even say. 

Love Love Love: "A lovely trio of white plum, peony petals, and glittering vanilla musk." Several bones to pick there, starting with how glittering can qualify as an aromatic descriptor. It does smell fruity and sweet, with a hint of holiday - you may get a whiff of this if you ever got the chance to hug a sugarplum fairy. 

Warm Vanilla Sugar: Smells just like how it sounds. I was torn between this and Cashmere Glow, which had a quiet musky undertone. I ended up with this one because it's mellow, comforting, and indulgent.  This in the winter makes me feel like a toasty marshmallow.

Secret Wonderland: "Luscious strawberry, frosted jasmine petals and white amber." What an incredibly ornate description. This one is the muskiest of the three, which is softened by the floral and fruity undertones. Because it's so strong ("pointy" is what I feel it is), I don't wear it as often but when I do, it stays with me all day. 

marie antoinette nails

The only reason I call these "Marie Antoinette" nails is because it was inspired by a singular image from Sophia Coppola's 2006 film.  In this production still is Kristen Dunst, sitting back on a luxuriously cushy pastel blue chair in a decadent white dress, salmon pink tulle peeking through the bottom. There are trays of pastries in the background and a french maid in the foreground. 

I love everything about this image. This is how I feel on a late Saturday afternoon sitting in a beauty salon. It's how I feel when I allow myself the luxury of room service, and as I'm being ushered into a room at a spa. 

"ahh, this is the life." -- that feeling. 

Soft colors and unapologetic bling: that's what I channeled when I made these. 

NYX Bohemian Chic Nude Matte Palette

My love affair with cosmetics spans all of high end and drugstore makeup. I like to think I place my bets wisely - every-day staples & skincare? High end. Transient trends? Drug.

After the glorious Naked Palette [Urban Decay], I became entranced by every neutral eye shadow palette that crossed my path. The NYX Bohemican Chick Nude Matte Palette was no exception.. 24 shadows! 2 blushes! All neutral! $18! My wallet as undone. 

One of my favorite things about this palette is that the bottom tray includes 6 muted colors that work perfectly with the 18 neutrals on the top tray. I love me some variety! 

The answer to the big question - quality - is that it's close to great for under $20. Some of the shades apply lighter than they appear in the palette, but for the most part I'm satisfied. I don't expect a lot from drugstore brands; I certainly don't hold them to the same standards as some of the high-end products. 

That being said, I'm happy to report that these are pretty soft and pretty pigmented.

Bottom line: I use this palette every day, which makes the purchase worth it. 

I love mattes in the winter - there's a warmth to the finish; something about it goes so well with knits and boots. Bring it on, sub-60 temperatures! 

lalaloopsy - marina anchors

At my most recent job interview, I was asked this question:

Do you have a favorite toy that's currently on shelf?

I was in a jam - do I give my honest answer, or do I name my favorite toy that this company makes? I did the former (followed quickly by the latter, because I really wanted this job) -- lalaloopsy. 

I love toys that are cute, whimsical, miniature, with personality and with adorable thematic variants. Sometimes I've heard men in this industry ask, "So what's the feature in this toy? What does it do?" 

When it comes to girls' toys, cute is a feature. We cannot give two shits about whether it explodes or transforms. Make it sparkle, and you've captured hearts. 

Marina Anchors was my first Lalaloopsy purchase - I just know it won't be my last.

Damn you, job! 

nautical nails

My love of all things nautical stems from one singular source -- sailor moon.  As a girl, I was obsessed with that show, much in the same way that boys were probably obsessed with Ninja Turtles and such. I read the books, I watched the TV show, I knew all the songs, I knew I was destined to be the 11th member.

These press-on nails were something I designed when my friend and I were working on a side project together. Among many, many other things, she and I share a love (obsession?) of nail polish and nail art.  She's original and hilarious and kind -- one of my greatest friends, and definitely would have been an essential 12th member of the sailor moon squad in my imaginary world :)

e.l.f. Disney Villains Palettes

I love lots of things in life (which I won't get into now, as it would be a very long list), but one that sits high on that list is Disney.

I totally flipped out about these e.l.f. palettes when I saw them in Walgreens...I should have bought the third one (Maleficent) but I could tell I wouldn't use the colors much, and so I was good. Do I regret being good? Always. 

At $10.00, it's a huge offering -- 

- 1 pair of false lashes + glue
- 8 eye shadow colors

- 2 lip & cheek color pencils

- eye primer

- liquid eyeliner

My favorite part is the fold-out panel that guides you through two looks - Day Evil & Night Villain. You can flip the clear acetate page to see the "day evil" look ... SO. COOL. 

The Evil Queen palette, called the Devious Dramatic Eyes, opens up like this.....

It's mostly shades of plum and mauve, a mix of matte and shimmer.  I'm falling in love with the names of these shadows, too - fairest of the land, one bite, majesty, poison apple...

The Cruella Palette, Evil Everyday Eyes, is just as exciting and probably my favorite of the two. Before I get into that, though, how CRAZY are her cheekbones?! And her boomerang eyebrows? Love.

The colors are very neutral and earth-toned; all are shades of brown with the exception of one very pretty mossy green called Cruelty (other names to love - puppy love, coat of dreams, little beasts).

I didn't expect too much on the quality front because you get so much product for $10, but it actually isn't bad at all. I can tell that the trouble lies in staying power, but I suppose that's where the primer comes in. 

Disney is rallying behind this Villains program in a big way. I saw a huge display at the Disney Store with collectible fashion dolls, stationery, and apparel..everything was so pretty! 

Sigh. I love Disney. 

October Newcomers

|| Top Shop Lip Stick in Charmed / Top Shop Cheek Duo in Break of Day / Maybelline Color Tattoo in Gold Shimmer / Unii Palette ||

Hi, internet :)
It would be a severe understatement to say that the last couple of weeks have been stressful and long. One of my favorite ways to unwind is to come here and write something new.

These are the newcomers to my never-complete makeup stash. I can't wait to try them out this month and see if they'll earn a permanent spot! They're all so pretty, I'm already feeling happier :)

|| inside my honeysuckle Unii Palette -- mostly Love & Beauty colors, plus a lone Stila ||

stuff i did in september

Routine is both a comfortable and scary thing for me. Recently, I've fallen so deep into the rhythm of working life that I can barely feel the passage of time. It seems like I go to bed on the first of the month and wake up on the 31st. 

It's funny because on a day-to-day basis, work just feels like the most important thing. So many things happen in that 8+ hour window that when I walk out of the office, I feel like I've fought a hundred battles. Sometimes it feels like I moved mountains, and sometimes it feels like made it out of a torture chamber only half alive (dramatics - I like them). 

But in a removed environment like this when I'm reflecting on days past, I very rarely think of work. That's because it's what lies outside of the office -- family, friends, nap time with Emma -- that defines a month. Or a year. ...or a lifetime. 

.......................

|| my second -- and LAST ever -- football game ||

|| my favorite bun bo hue in the westside!! ||

|| in vegas to celebrate a birthday of one of my great friends, and to welcome the return of another || 

|| a mini-commercial shoot! product hidden because it's still under wraps ||

|| found this little gem at home. I've always had a thing for fat animals, and now I know why. Kindred spirit. ||

 || my most exciting purchase through my new favorite flash-sale site: sneakpeeq.com - the unii palette! ||

September: stuff i liked & stuff i didn't like so much

Preface:

Over the years I've seen a healthy amount of beauty products come and go from my stash.  Along the way I've discovered stuff that is so great that I don't even touch the same product from other brands. And that is saying a lot, coming from a person who is easily seduced by new products that are riding on a carriage of marketing half-truths ("Clinically proven to reduce blemishes by 70%!"... "24-hour staying power!"..."Smudge-free!").

For nail polish top coat this is Seche Vite, for pencil eyeliner it's Sephora Kohl Waterproof liner in Keep Black.  For the rest of my routinely used products, I'm still on the hunt. So I try new things from time to time, hoping I'll find my Holy Grail :)

P.S. I struggled to come up with a more efficiently worded title but it really wasn't happening.

 

Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash (pink grapefruit) - Disaster. It dried out my skin so badly that I literally had skin flaking off of my cheeks. I also had a crusty lip. Sorry to be gross, but that is what happened. Gross hit me in the face and stayed there for 2 weeks. 

Ulta Sheer Fragrance Mist (precious poppies) - Ultimate champion winner.  Fragrance is entirely subjective so I won't try to sell this one too hard, but it's light and fruity and happy and I love!!

OPI (my very first knockwurst) - It's hard to be on board with fall colors when the weather is so blaringly summer...will revisit later. 

L'Oreal Color Riche Balm (caring coral) - I really like this. I'm a fan of all tinted balms because I'm afraid of actual lip colors. My eyes freak out when they see my face with a painted lip. 

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara (blackest black) - It's OK. Not as good as my long-time-favorite-but-not-quite-a-permanent-fixture mascara, which is the Maybelline Falsies right underneath. 

L'Oreal Magic Lumi Corrector (light) - I am too dark for this right now. But gosh darn it i'll find use for it in my paler months, because I'm not putting $8.00 to waste!

Emma Withdrawal

Work travels and the upcoming hell week (the 7 chaotic days leading up to the biggest company Toy Fair of the year) have forced me to keep Emma with my parents in Orange County. I miss this crazy dog; can't wait to reunite next Sunday...!!! 

Googly eyes Emma. This is her "EYES ON THE PRIZE" face for when I dangle a jerky. 

Unamused Emma. This is her annoyed face when I try to take pictures of her sleeping.

BakeGreek and cookies

Most nights when I sit in front of my laptop, I open Google Reader and educate myself on the global  headlines of celebrity news. Or bookmark yet another food blog recipe that I will probably never get around to realizing. 

Most nights I also end up on facebook, wading through food pictures, sports-related exclamations, baby photos and self-advertisements to try to find what really matters (travel photos, wedding announcements, personal drama aired out on the internet, etc). 

Sometimes though, I don't make it to the internet at all. In my archive of personal photos are over 10 years of memories, and on rare occasions I get caught up looking through them. Reliving the dorm life, the day I was knee-deep in mud water planting rice, the week I spent in Greece.

Today I came across the photos of cookies I made for BakeGreek.  It's kind of a bittersweet memory, because I remember just how excited I was to be a part of this project. I also remember how worn out I became, entirely due to my own over-ambition and self-applied pressure. When it all ended, I was exhausted and I hated that I could no longer enjoy something that I used to love.

Looking at these photos now makes me miss it a little bit. Maybe one day, when I'm struck by inspiration of the greatest idea in all of human history (because I feel this about all of my ideas), I'll make one. Not because it's time for a new blog entry, or because I'm getting paid, or because I need to prove something. Just because I feel like it.

Freeman Facial Clay Mask (avocado & oatmeal)

Clay masks, why have we not been introduced before?

I bought this at a Duane Reade on my last trip to New York. 

I loved it and feared I would never find it in California (not true - they are everywhere), so I bubble-wrapped it and sneaked it into a box of toy samples that would be shipped back to LA. Yes, there in a case full of thousand-dollar prototypes was my priceless tube of clay.... retail value $3.99. 

After the clay dries, you can see the oil that it absorbed from your pores. It also adheres to dead skin cells as it hardens, acting as a gentle exfoliant. I love the way my face feels after I wash this off. 

So fresh and so clean clean!

polka dot nails

Polka dots is my favorite pattern to have on my nails. Cute, whimsical, simple. I ♥ them.

one week of outfits

What do I wear today?  It's 5 minutes past the time I should be out the door but I am just standing there like a Stonehenge in front of the dresser, seeing the 50 separate pieces but unable to see an outfit.

I am not a fashion daredevil. I take virtually zero risks, and when no one is looking I spend an entire day in the same tank and leggings that I woke up in. I am only marginally ashamed to admit that at my previous job, I used to walk into the office in said outfit. It was a very relaxed environment.

The nature of my current job places me in a precarious position where I can be yanked into a meeting at any moment of the day. I learned the importance of proper attire when, sometime in my earlier days, I ended up in a conference room with various EVPs in my hello kitty tank. Hello Kitty wearing shutter shades.

In the morning haze, I can never get the gears in my brain moving quickly enough to pair pants with a top with a jacket with jewelry with shoes. So this week, I planned ahead :)

Bonus pic of Emma interrupting my shots: