Sunday, November 25, 2012

Used Up

After a lot of beauty hauling, I've amassed an embarrassing amount of makeup, body lotions, and face creams. Recently I've been making a conscious effort to get rid of the odds and ends in my collection, simplifying it down to my holy grail essentials. I've been keeping the small fraction of products that are close to being finished in their own compartment, so I can easily reach for them and use them up.

I've posted about some of these before - Dermalogica skin smoothing cream (nice, but will look for something else), Caudalie thirst quenching serum, NARS sheer glow (amazing foundation!)
I've also talked about these two in a previous post here, and I still feel the same way about them. The Clinique gel is truly amazing, and something I will definitely go back to in the future. For the winter, it is not as hydrating as I would like, but this is perfect for the warmer months. The Dr. Hauschka lip balm was one of the best I have ever tried, and definitely the most luxurious. I would love to repurchase this again and again, if it wasn't so expensive! 
I have to say, I was not impressed by these Prestige mascaras. I've heard a lot of good things about my blackest lashes, and tried out my biggest lashes because I liked the name, but neither of these did it for me. The MAC technakohl liner in graphblack was also another disappointing product. It's not very creamy and smudges on me every time. 
I've posted about the Boots body cream in patchouli & lavender before. It's nice, and the tub looks adorable on my dresser, but I only have eyes for the L'occitane almond oil. I bought the La Roche-posay nutritic emulsion for my dry skin last winter and it worked pretty well while it lasted, but it wasn't exciting enough for me to want to repurchase. 

Nothing is more satisfying than scooping out the last bit of product of a tub that has been lying around for months. Looking forward to finishing more products and cleaning up my collection! Hope you enjoyed this post, 

~Vida 

Friday, November 9, 2012

Products I'm Loving

First off, the Real Techniques buffing brush. This brush is talked about so much, and now I know why - it's phenomenal. When I first used this to apply my NARS sheer glow foundation, I was blown away by how much of a difference this brush made. It blended in the foundation in seconds and gave an airbrush finish unlike any technique I've used before. It also washes really easily and doesn't shed! Really impressed and can't wait to try it with other foundations. 
Keeping in line with tools, I've been loving this new way of using my Clarisonic, that was first introduced to me by lilladylife. Pop out the outer ring of bristles and just use the center set for precise deep cleansing especially around the nose area. So simple, but it works dramatically! 
On my eyes I've been using MAC's blacktrack fluid line. I'm probably the last one on the bandwagon for this, but it's been working great for me. Creamy, black, and lasts all day. 
I've also discovered that Diorshow is my new favorite mascara. I've been a L'oreal Voluminous girl for a while, and didn't think that expensive mascaras were worth the money. This Dior one, however, curls my lashes like no other and really volumizes each lash without clumping. I'm obsessed with this mascara, and I really want to check out Dior's other lash offerings. 
I got this Caudalie s.o.s thirst quenching serum in a 500 point perk Caudalie set from Sephora. I've now used it up, and I am dying to get the full size. You put this on before your moisturizer - it's a light, milky serum - and it makes my skin glow. It feels and smells beautiful, makes the skin look plump and healthy, and seems to help my moisturizer sink in. My skin is so dry right now from the wind and cold, and this helps give that extra hydration that my skin is craving. 
My first and only Butter London nail polish in disco biscuit. This is a beautiful jelly magenta color with purple-y blue iridescent particles. So captivating and really a unique color. It is suprisingly dull on its own, but it really comes to life with a top coat. 
And finally, a fragrance! This is one of my oldest and most loved perfumes, Ferragamo Incanto Charms. It is fruity and sweet, but never overpowering and lingers all day. It's just delicious. Not really a fall/winter scent, but I rediscovered it on my dresser with just a few drops left, and I was reminded of how much I love this! 

Happy reading! 

~Vida

Monday, October 29, 2012

Mario Badescu Skincare

I was first turned on to Mario Badescu skincare when I tried their enzyme revitalizing mask. That mask to me, is a miracle worker and I will never be without it in my army of skincare products. After trying a few other products after that, Mario Badescu remains one of the skin care brands that I get excited to try different products from. So I was super excited when they sent me a few items from their line to test out. 
I've been using the enzyme cleansing gel as my morning cleanser. The one major plus about this cleanser for me is that it doesn't foam up, so it is perfect for over-the-sink cleansing because it doesn't get all into your hair, while I save my cetaphil for nighttime clarisonic cleansing. I think it's a good cleanser, it keeps my skin regular, but at the same time it isn't anything hugely special. 

The seaweed cleansing lotion is meant to be used as a toner, and on the days that I remember to use toner, I love using this. After my Super brightening toner smashed on the bathroom floor, this came in handy as a happy alternative. It is soothing, makes my skin feel soft and refreshed and doesn't dry out my skin.  
I have purchased the A.H.A. botanical body soap before on my own because I had been breaking out a lot on my back. In terms of getting rid of acne on my body, I think it helped slightly, but nothing too dramatically noticeable. It does, however, have an amazing herbally smell, and is not drying on the skin, as the papaya and grapefruit extracts are meant to gently exfoliate the skin. 
This is the standout product for me. I have heard a lot about the drying lotion before and now I know why. With this, I will never be afraid of getting a pimple on my face again. With just a dab of this before bed, the redness and swelling of a pimple was dramatically reduced within the next day. I did notice however, that this only works on big, ready to pop, basically disgusting pimples. It does not have as dramatic of an effect on little bumps, blackheads, whiteheads, or already popped blemishes. I love it though, and will never be without it!
I really wanted to like the summer shine body lotion, for that radiant, beautiful glow in the summertime, but I found that it was too shimmery for my liking, as most of these products are (the Burt's Bees radiance body lotion has been touted as "non-glittery", but to me it is still too shimmery). It smells amazing, and is a really nice consistency, but I can't get over looking down at my skin and seeing small speckles of glitter/shimmer. 
This would probably give off a pretty glow to other people looking at you, but it's just not for me. 

So there is my quick review of a few things from the Mario Badescu skin care line. There are some hits and some misses, as is to be expected. There are a ton of products in their range, and they are broken down into very specific skin types, so there is something for everyone. 

So sorry for the long overdue post, I am the worst blogger ever. I do, however, have some awesome products that I've been using a lot recently that I want to share with you guys, so look for that soon!

Hope you are all doing well
~Vida

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

H&M PATTERNED PANTS

Top: Brandy Melville; Jeans: H&M; Heels: Zara; Bag: Forever21
Last Thursday I was able to wander the streets of Soho for Fashion's Night Out. After a few cocktails and with no real plan, I managed to find myself in H&M. Shopping while under the influence is usually not a good idea, but I have to say these patterned jeans I picked up might be one of my favorite purchases this fall. They were 30% off that night, but I would gladly pay full price for these. 
These are the most comfortable pair of denim that I own - they almost feel like jeggings. I love the pattern, it's different yet subtle enough to wear regularly. I will be wearing these a lot this season. 
Also loving this white top from Brandy Melville. Super flowy like most of their stuff is and it's got a great open back, which I didn't manage to photograph =/ 
My new babies! After seeing these Zara heels on almost every fashion blogger, I caved and snagged up a pair while waiting at the airport in Hong Kong. 

I'm really glad I went to FNO; it was so much fun and I scored these awesome jeans. H&M are doing a whole bunch of other patterned jeans now, so if you haven't already, go check them out!

~Vida

Saturday, September 1, 2012

L'OCCITANE HITS AND THE BEST LIP BALM EVER

Ever since trying their shea butter hand cream, L'Occitane has been a brand that I associate with luxury and indulgence, and with getting the job done. I decided to pamper myself with some of their skin care products, namely the Almond Supple Skin Oil, and the Ultra Rich Face Cream

Words cannot express how much I love this body oil. The first time I used the skin oil I was shocked. I had been expecting it to be at least somewhat greasy (which is something I was willing to put up with), but this goes on with the most beautiful consistency. It's not greasy at all. It glides on kind of thick but is easily massaged into the skin and sinks in almost immediately to a dry-ish finish. I have never seen or felt my legs so silky smooth and the oil gives them a little bit of an extra sheen. It is so good, I don't think I will ever go back to another body cream. 

The ultra rich face cream, to some people, may sound like the scariest thing to put on your face, but to me it sounded like the perfect nighttime hydration. This is basically the shea butter hand cream, for your face. I love it - it's thick, moisturizing, and smells divine. It's great for the dry patches I've been getting and I am so looking forward to using it this winter. 

And lastly, I found the best lip balm ever - for only 5 dollars! 
It's the Yu-Be Lip Therapy, and my search for the perfect lip balm may be over (although that probably won't stop me from buying more). This goes on completely matte - no stickiness, no shine - but still has a good slip to it. It has a slight tingle to it, and smells medicated and herbal, which I LOVE. It keeps my lips moisturized and half the time I don't even notice that it's on. This is definitely my favorite lip balm to date, and for 5 dollars, I won't feel bad repurchasing it over and over again. 

Lesson learned: if you are ever in need of a good pamper sesh, turn to L'Occitane. 
Hope you are all well, and thanks for reading!

~Vida

Saturday, August 11, 2012

ON REPEAT - SEPHORA MYRTILLE

Just wanted to share the nail polish that I'm currently obsessed with. It's Sephora's myrtille and I've had it on my nails consecutively for the past two weeks. For a nail polish junkie like myself, that means something. 

Myrtille is a bright cobalt blue. It goes on fairly smoothly, and has a nice fat brush. It may be the only nail polish that I ever fully finish due to its teeny tiny size. Because it's so small, I have a feeling it will reach the point of gloopiness pretty quickly. At four dollars a pop, this little baby nail polish is actually quite pricey. 

The color is what I love, it goes amazingly with gold jewelry and a nice tan. I'm sure I could find a dupe out there, but for now, this is my addiction. 

~Vida

Monday, July 23, 2012

BARE MINERALS PRETTY AMAZING

Finally posting after weeks of being MIA! I'm still away from home, in San Francisco, and I always find it hard to blog without my familiar setup. On top of that, I haven't really been inspired by anything beauty related. I've been living off my "travel makeup" and have fallen into a repetitive routine. That is until I placed an order from Sephora and this gem arrived, bringing some fun back into getting made up. 
The Bare Minerals Pretty Amazing lip color has one of the best lip product formulations I have ever come across. I hate lipgloss, but I have a bunch sitting around in my collection for the off chance that I will want to put up with the annoying stickiness for a few hours of glossy shine. This product is the ideal liquid lipstick - the perfect in between of lipstick and gloss. It gives the right amount of shine, goes on thick but can be easily sheered out, and has a nice slip. The bendy applicator doesn't really help with getting this on, but I like that it's different.
The color free will was the obvious color choice for me - it looks like all my other favorite lipsticks. I never feel comfortable with shine on my lips during the day, but something about this is so wearable, I've been wearing it everyday.
Maybe this will be my first shot at finishing a lipgloss!

If, you've tried these, I'd love to hear your favorite shades!

~Vida

Thursday, June 28, 2012

TAIWAN

Greetings from Taiwan! I'm visiting the island for a little while before heading to China to visit some relatives. The blistering heat and humidity makes any activity anything but glamorous. Nevertheless, it's a beautiful place with a little bit of everything. Best of all, it's a haven for snacking. Here's some shots from my trip so far. 
{"Apple-bananas"} 
{Night market}
{Papaya milk + my favorite manicure of the moment - OPI pandamonium pink} 
{Pebble beach}
Hope you are all enjoying your summer! 

Monday, June 18, 2012

Free Flowing

Top: Brandy Melville; Bandeau: Brandy Melville; Jeans: Zara; Bag: Aldo; Cuffs: David Smallcombe 
My first week in SF consisted of hanging out, eating, drinking, and shopping. Thanks to my best friend Nisha, I now have a sick obsession with Brandy Melville. Naturally on our first shopping outing together in SF, we made our way down to the store and I picked up two new favorites - a floral patterned bandeau, and the flowiest of casual white tanks. 
With all these sheer, loose fitting tops popping up this summer, a cute bandeau comes in handy. I'm so glad I have one now, and it was the perfect match for this cropped white tank. I love the way this tank fits; it isn't so cropped that you would feel uncomfortable wearing with regular rise jeans, and it has great movement. See here as I struggle with it in the brisk San Francisco wind. 

Hope you enjoyed your weekend! Any new purchases?

~Vida

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Guest Blogging for Birchbox

I have some exciting news to share with you guys! For the past few weeks I have been working on a few guest posts for the Birchbox blog and they are going to be posted each day of this week, so check them out! Since discovering their blog, I have been addicted to their short and sweet posts. 

Here's my first one, all about my beach essentials. I hope you guys enjoy!

Also, I apologize for the lack of posts. I've been a bad blogger for quite some time, and I have no excuse other than that I've been crazy busy and on top of that I am going to be doing a bit of traveling this summer. 

As always, thanks for reading! I love reading your comments and sharing thoughts and ideas with you guys =)

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Better Than Shu - Shiseido Eyelash Curler

On my last trip to San Francisco, I left my entire makeup bag on the plane, never to be seen again. Seeing as this bag contained all my favorite things at the time, I was devastated. Now, over a month since the incident, I am happy to report that I have resisted the urge to repurchase every thing in that bag. The only thing that I found I could really not live without was an eyelash curler. 

Ok, I re-bought the MAC 239 also, but let's be real - that is a necessity. 

I had been using the Shu Uemura eyelash curler for a while, and it had become a holy grail for me. I was painfully reminded of how good it was when I went back to my one dollar e.l.f  one.
Shu Uemura is a little annoying to get in the U.S. now, and I didn't feel like paying for shipping, so I did a little research on the Shiseido one, which also has rave reviews. 
I fell in love with this after one try at the counter, and immediately snatched it up. It fits my eyes even more perfectly than the Shu, so that I have complete control in getting to the roots of my lashes. You don't need to clamp down very hard to get a good curl; it is an amazing tool. The sleek graphite look is also really nice. 
When I first got the Shu Uemura curler, I didn't think it was as special as everyone made it out to be, but with this one I can really feel and tell the difference. The Shu Uemura is fantastic, but this Shiseido curler is just one step above in my opinion. I love it so much, and can't recommend it enough, especially for asian eyelashes. 

Let's just hope I don't lose this one on a plane...
Hope you're all having a lovely week!

~Vida

Monday, May 14, 2012

MAC - Pink Cult and Kinda Sexy

When the Tres Cheek came out, it really got me excited about MAC again. By the time I made up my mind that I was going to get something from the collection, it was already sold out at my local store. I cut my losses and moved onto the other limited edition collection that was on display - reel sexy. The one thing that caught my eye was a blush called pink cult
The makeup artist told me that people tended to be turned off by this color in the pan because it had a gray tint to it, but I happen to love colors like this. I was looking for a light, taupe-y pink and this fit the bill exactly. When applied to the cheek it doesn't come out exactly how it looks in the pan or swatched. It is a very natural pink flush and is hard to overdo. If it is still available at your MAC, check it out, because, it really is an unusual and unique color. 

Whilst in the store, I decided to try on a lipstick that I have always had my eye on - kinda sexy
 I love everything about this lipstick - the name, the color, and the matte formula. I'm beginning to think that matte lipsticks are really my thing, with a bit of lipbalm they make the perfect understated lip. When I put this lipstick on, it transforms my face. It gives me full, fleshy, kissable lips that actually makes me feel, kinda sexy. 
The shade is hard to describe - it is a coral-y, rosey, nude. It is a "my lips but hotter" shade and it is the one darker color in my collection that I feel I could wear everyday. It has quickly jumped onto the list of my favorite lipsticks. 

I hope you check these out at MAC because I love them both! 

~Vida

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Out for Brunch

This weekend I wore my red denim Zara pants out for brunch. Ever since I got these pants, I've found so many ways to wear them. They are such a breath of fresh air for my wardrobe, which consisted mainly of dark denim jeans. 
I've always loved the combination of navy and red. To keep it from looking too sailor-ish I decided to wear a fluttery, floral patterned number that is actually an old dress that was strategically tucked in to become a shirt. 

This bag is an oldie but goodie from Topshop that I dug out from the depths of my closet just recently. I can't resist a good bowler bag. 

 I have just discovered something that I can't wait to post about, and I am planning to do some makeup shopping in the near future, so stay tuned =) I hope you all had a great weekend!