My Holy Grails of 2011

I can’t believe the year is over. This coming year is a big one for me. I am hitting a milestone – my 40th birthday. Oh wow, I just admitted to being over the hill! I still feel like I’m in my 20’s anyway – mentally at least. Physically, the signs of age have been revealing themselves since I turned 30. I have slight arthritis, lower back pain, a slight droop in my eyelids and more freckles under my eyes – which is a familial trait. And not to forget the little pooch in my lower belly left by my two beloved children.

I don’t want to make any resolutions for the new year, but instead I need to make a list of things I should do this year. I feel that I have been a little overwhelmed by work and home responsibilities this last year and I need to be organized.

June 2011 I rediscovered the world of make up thanks to YouTube. My addiction is now about 6 months old. During the last 6 months I have been experimenting with different products, testing them out and I have made some picks of items I have decided are my Holy Grail beauty products.

Number 1 – Acne.org

This system cured my acne! I wish I knew about this sooner. I use this system twice a day. I remove my makeup after work with my favorite eye makeup remover and facial wipes. Then I wash my face with the cleanser. After I dry my face, I apply the benzoyl peroxide gel (treatment). I wait about 2-5 minutes for the benzoyl to dry then I apply the moisturizer.

Number 2 – Make Up Forever Eyebrow Corrector

My post about this

Number 3 – Revlon Lip Butters

I think I have 9 of the 20 colors by now. My favorite is PINK TRUFFLE!

 

Number 4 – Philosophy’s The Present

I love this primer!

Number 5 – Sonia Kashuk Eye Makeup remover

I have tried different eye makeup removers and this one so far has performed the best. It takes off all of my waterproof eye makeup without irritating my eyes. It’s $9.99 at Target.

 

Number 6 – MAC Painterly Paint Pot

So far this is the best product to use as an eye shadow primer. I have the least creasing with this compared to other primers I use – this is over a 12 hour night shift at work. I also own UD Primer Potion, Lime Crime’s Eyeshadow Helper, Too Faced Shadow Insurance, NARS Eyeshadow base and others. They all work well for 8-10 hours but I still get a lot of creasing after 10 hours. I don’t think anything can really prevent my creasing for the whole night since I have really oily lids, but MAC’s Painterly Paint Pot does the best job.

 

Number 7 -  Physician’s Formula’s Eyebooster Eyeliner

The main reason I love this product is that the tip is so fine that I am able to line my upper lash line with such precision!

 

Number 8 – Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Foundation

I love the fact that this is a drugstore brand foundation that actually works well for me. I have used MAC’s Studio Fix for the longest time, and it can get expensive. I’m in the shade Tan. Most of the time, you can buy this at CVS for buy 1 get 1 50% off!

 

Number 9 – Maybelline’s Falsies Mascara

During these last 6 months, I have been trying out various mascaras. I have never curled my lashes or used mascara for my whole life, until now. I have always relied on eyeliner. I never knew how bright and open your eyes can look when your lashes are curled and wearing mascara. I recently learned that waterproof mascara holds the curl better than other types of mascara. Maybelline’s Falsies does the best job for me.

Number 10 – You Tube

I love watching YouTube gurus for make up tips, reviews and tutorials. I have a bunch of favorite gurus, most are Asian with the same skin tone as I so I have an idea of what shades go well with my skin tone. I would love to give a shout out to Rebekkah Celeste of Everyday Make Up Blog and MissBecky0207 on YouTube. She is such a sweet girl. We have been leaving each other comments on our blogs and tweeting each other. I encourage everyone to follow her as her tutorials focus a lot on drugstore brand make up which is awesome coz it’s so affordable. I wish her all the best.

Happy New year everyone! Be safe and healthy. God bless!

My Glam Bag December–Book of Shadows deal!

I am sooooo late is posting this but work, the kids and the holidays have kept me away from my blogging. I really don’t have much to blog about but I do want to some how share what I have been up to lately.

I recently signed up for My Glam (Click here to go to website). I tried BirchBox for a couple of months but was not really into the random items that came with the monthly subscription. Then My Glam was introduced and I was more interested. The monthly subscription are items that consist only of make up.

My first bag came weeks ago and I am now just getting the time to share what I got.

The mail package it came in was really cute – pink foil!

Full Size Urban Decay Eye shadow in Sin

 

Sample size Urban Decay Primer Potion

NYX Soft MatteLip Cream in Istanbul

Tarte sample size Lights, camera, lashes! mascara

Mai Couture blotting paper (with Salicylic Acid)

Mai Couture Blush in a Rush – Sunset Blvd.

(I kinda like this concept!)

 

Coupon code for the Urban Decay Book of Shadows. It retails for $64 but just went on sale for $44 and the $15 coupon code still works, knocking the price down to $29 (plus shipping) Shipping is free with purchases over $35!

Thanks for stopping by!

My HauteLook purchase

I was excited to receive a little package in the mail yesterday. It was my second Hautelook purchase. If you are unaware of Hautelook, it is a website where you can purchase high-end brand name items at low prices. My first purchase was two pairs of designer jeans that usually are $100-$130 a pair. I got two pairs for $100, they were from Rock & Republic.

I love the deal I got on my second purchase, which was also from Rock & Republic. This time from their cosmetic line. I bought their Exhibition Pressed Powder in Cashmere. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be a match to my skin tone, but for $11, I took the chance and it paid off. I am NC42 in MAC, just to give you an idea on the shade I got.

These powders usually go for about $60, so $11 + shipping (about $15 total) was a steal for me. I really wished I got more after I received this item, but I wasn’t sure if I was going to like their product. Certain brands usually return on Hautelook events every now and then, so I’ll be on the look out. I want to try their blushes next time. I see them selling online for $100!

The packaging alone is worth it. It’s like eye-candy. I would love to pull it out of my purse in public and “touch-up” my make up just to show this baby off.

I L O V E the R&R logo on the top of the compact.

Other brands that I have seen on Hautelook:

Crown Brushes

Guess

Jessica Simpson

Betsey Johnson

Anna Sui

Miss Me…

I could go on, there so many to mention. They even have discount hotel stays, resort stays, furniture, kitchenware, etc.

Favorite Hair Color part 2

I thought I would elaborate more on my hair color. Maybe posts some pictures to show what it looks like on my hair.

My natural hair color is black.

Now this is what it looks like after I used the Garnier once:

Then I re-touched my hair a few weeks after and noticed my hair becomes more lighter after a couple of uses.

It seems the lightening of my hair is more natural with this product than other hair color products I used in the past. The dark roots look like they belong and not like my hair is need of a desperate touch-up.

Thanks for stopping by!

My favorite hair color

I have recently been dyeing my hair a medium brown color. For years I used Loreal Feria then a few months before our family vacation in the Philippines, I stopped coloring my hair in anticipation of having my hair straightened by “bonding”.

It’s been a few months since my hair was straightened and I am starting to see the waves grow out. I needed a changed and color was my answer. I decided to try another brand and went with Garnier’s Iced Macchiato. After a few weeks of wearing this color, I was about to color my hair back to it’s natural black color as winter is approaching, but suddenly I was getting compliments on how good the color looked on me. I guess I’ll keep it this color for a bit longer…

Feelin’ Old

Came across this survey someone posted in Twitter. This student was asking for help in school. This was the 1st question. UGH!

Nars Blush Palette–my new treasured possession!

I just had to give in and order this online on the last few hours of the Friends and Family sale at Sephora. It was out of stock for a few days and I was bummed that I couldn’t add it to my original order. My first order I bought some of Benefit’s creaseless eyeshadows and other stuff. When this was back in stock, I used a different email address to generate a 2nd 20% coupon code to order this! I haven’t used it yet – its just too pretty to ruin!

 

Target Beauty Bag–Free Samples

I came across a blog post announcing free samples from Target, I signed up for one and I shared the link on my Facebook page and my personal blog (before I had a beauty blog)

.Target Free Sample Blog Post

This was back in August and I thought that I would never get one as it has taken so long. I finally got mine in the mail a couple of days ago…

I could say the dog ate it, but we don’t have a dog. It really looks like the mailman was attacked by a dog, or some kind of animal with sharp teeth. My poor package.

I got a few samples of shampoos and conditioners, facial cloths, face cream and a book of coupons all inside a little make up bag.

Technorati Tags: Target,beauty bag,free samples

So far I used one sheet of the Ponds’ Cleansing Towelettes and I love the smell and texture. I plan on purchasing a pack on my next haul and use the coupon that came with my beauty bag.

I also used the John Frieda full REAPIR shampoo and conditioner this morning. I need more product to decide how I like it.

I really like the make up bag. It will be placed in my purse along with my other make up bags that I use in my attempt to organize. I never can find anything, so I’m trying to fix that.

October Faves

The end is near… the end of 2011 I mean. I feel a little sad. It seems I haven’t accomplished much this year. It was the middle of this year when I started getting really interested in make up and beauty products. After 4 months, it has become a full-blown addiction. I have spent a lot of time and money hunting for various products I wanted to try. I think I have enough to last me a lifetime now. At least I will look gorgeous until I die!

I have a handful of beauty products that has become my must haves this last month.

First is Vanicream.

I have really dry, problematic skin. I suffer from eczema and so do my two young children. My poor 3 year old daughter has it worse than her brother. So, I am always on the look out for a good moisturizer. I heard about this cream on YouTube and a few days later I found it at my local Target.

It states “Formulated without dyes, lanolin, fragrance, masking fragrance, parabens, formaldehyde”. I love the stuff. For the longest time, I was using Eucerine (the big one in a jar), and it worked fine except it was like smearing spackle on your body. That stuff is THICK! Vanicream is creamy, goes on smooth – like a thick lotion. It’s formula is so pure, it can also be used as a face cream.

It is a little pricey. I got it for a little less than $15, but I was able to get a 2nd jar at Walgreens for $12 ( it was on sale). The quantity of the product is in weight rather than ounces – this jar had a net wt of 1 lb.

Second up is my Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuli Brush:

It buffs in my liquid foundation so well. I kind of go between this and a damp beauty blender. I use my Beauty Blender when I use the The Present by Philosophy as a foundation primer. But the rest of the time, I use this. I just saw a video by GossMakeUpArtist on how to make pores disappear. He used a technique that blends the foundation into your skin. I think this will be the perfect brush for that.

Third is my Sigma E25 Blending Brush:

This is a travel size brush.I got this as a free gift when I purchased a couple of brushes off their website. It’s a nice treat. I plan of ordering a full size one when the budget allows. I’ve gotten a little crazy buying stuff lately, I need to slow down.

This brush blends the edges of the eye shadow so nicely. I really like it. I think it actually improved my make up skills.

Fourth is O.P.I.’s Nail polish in Vodka and Caviar

I am a nurse, so nail polish is a no-no on the finger nails. I’m limited to pedicures and the occasional manicure for special occasions. But the minute I have to report to work, my nails should be bare. It’s a big part of infection control. That being said, I am not going to show you how this color looks on my feet. It’s too awkward for me. I don’t have “sexy feet if there is such a thing. You are gonna have to take my word for it that this is a nice color.

It is a deep red. There are sooooooo many other brands that carry this classic color, but what makes this special is the life span of this polish. It stayed on my feet for almost two weeks before I felt I needed to redo my nails, and that was only because my nails grew a little longer.

Last is Benefit’s Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow in STRUT:

I like how you can put a small amount and have a subtle shade on your lid but if you pack on a little more, it makes the look more dramatic. And it does stay on a long time on the lid. It works really well when you use it for a smoky-eye by blending a little on the outer corner of your lid, but I like putting a small amount right above my upper lash line and slightly blending it keeping it right below the natural crease then lining my upper lash line with some black liquid eyeliner and the look is done. The swatch above it one heavy swipe with no blending.

The trick also with this product is to blend it quickly as it dries and sets really fast.

That’s it for my faves of this month. Til next time.

Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter–Gotta have it!

I’ve been waiting for these to show up in my local drugstores/grocery stores and just came upon the a couple of days ago. I’ve heard a lot about them on YouTube, gurus have raved about these, so I just had to try them.

I found them at my local H.E.B. (a local Houston grocery chain) and they were priced at $7.47, BUT they had their yellow coupon specials and it was $3 off!!! So, at first I grabbed 2 of them, just to get a feel. The minute I tried them, I had to get more.

They are so creamy and go on smooth (like butter!). It feels really hydrating – I think these would replace my EOS lip balms as a lip treatment. But I think I’ll still stick to EOS when I’m at home – for those times I’m not wearing makeup.

The pigmentation is awesome for a lip butter – it gives off a color just slightly less intense as a lipstick would. Enough to be worn alone.

And the shine they give off – no need for a lip gloss on top either.

It’s a product that will replace many of your lip products by itself.

I have a total of six shades:

Crème Brule, Sugar Plum, Berry Smoothie, Peach Parfait, Pink Truffle and Fig Jam

I really don’t know how many shades there are total, but I know there are many more. I really would like to get Red Velvet next as I think it would be a good thing to ease me into wearing a red lip. I’m more into wearing neutral/nude colors. I get really self-conscious when I wear bright lip colors. But I’ve heard darker red lips is the in-thing for the winter.

I am hoping these are a permanent line for Revlon as they are so awesome. I’d hate to see them disappear. I plan on getting some of these for my stepmom who’s a lip stick addict.