La-la-loving

Shorter days and busy schedules have not been kind to my blogging. Nonetheless, here are a few things I've been really loving. 

Revlon 3D extreme mascara. This is my second tube of this, and I absolutely love it. It's a very dry formula, which I like because it doesn't smudge or get messy during application and it makes my lashes just the way I like them. I think this has been discontinued from stores, but it is still available on amazon and for me, it is worth the trouble. 

La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo. This acne treatment is one of the best skincare items I have come across in a while. Before I found this, my biggest skin concerns were the blackheads and small bumps on the bridge of my nose that I just could not get rid of. This potent duo of benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid did the trick and my nose is the clearest it's ever been. Because of its strength, this is not for everyone. If you can tolerate it though, this is a miracle worker. 

Revlon colorburst lip butters. These definitely deserve the hype they are getting. They are the perfect lipstick - lip balm hybrid - moisturizing, aptly pigmented, and affordable. The two colors I have, creamsicle and creme brulee, are nice nudes. 

Nude taupe nails. Specifically, essie's sand tropez. This is a light essie shade that goes on surprisingly opaque and smooth. I love this nude shade in my clothes, shoes, and accessories, and now it's made it into my nail polish collection. 

NARS sin blush. This came in the danmari palette and I have been reaching for this shade a lot ever since I got it. It's a great fall berry shade that is easy to wear with a lot of different looks. 

The perfect denim shirt. The best purchases are those that you've been constantly searching for and coveting and this shirt was one of those. I haven't been able to stop wearing it. It looks great on its own or paired with just about anything that I can throw under it. This has quickly become an essential in my closet. 

What are some things you've been loving?

~Vida

Girls will be girls

Just when I thought I was done with buying nail polish for a while, I bought another one. But, it is so good it ought to be a necessity and it may well be one of my new favorite nail polishes. It is Sally Hansen's Bronze Ablaze, a stunning bronze with gold shimmer and olive undertones. It goes on smooth and opaque in two coats, and dries instantly just like the bottle says. 

After doing a whole post about bronze, it's no surprise that I would be obsessed with this color. I've already gone through two manicures with it, and it's the one nail polish that I want to have on my nails over and over again, especially because it is perfect for fall. 

Also, last week while walking around my neighborhood I snuck a peak into City Chemist, a local pharmacy/cosmetics boutique that sells a number of high end beauty brands. I was immediately drawn to a display of perfumes from a brand I had never seen before in other stores called Tokyo Milk. It was a rack lined with dozens of perfumes - simply packaged and simply named with a no frills, short list of the notes in the perfume.

I picked up the one called Dead Sexy, and aptly so, because this is what sexy must smell like. 

The notes are deep vanilla, exotic wood, white orchid, and ebony. It's a little bit woodsy, but still has a light floral hint in it that seems perfect for the colder months.

I've never really had a "fall scent". The perfumes that I usually pick are light, floral, and clean, so I'm excited to switch it up with this one. I love this, and I really recommend Tokyo Milk as a brand. The perfumes are small, but they are appropriately priced. And, they have so many scents, you're bound to find one that suits you. With the notes written clearly on the bottle, it's easy for the perfume connoisseurs out there to pick out their favorites. 

Now that I've got the frivolities out of my system, maybe I can get some work done =)

Have a great weekend,

~Vida

Products I'm loving

As I am patiently waiting for Hurricane Irene to pass, I figured it would be a good time to catch up on some blogging and show you some products that I have been loving recently. 

My blush obsession never seems to go away - no matter how many shades of pink, peach, or plum I may have, I've always got room for more. 

This is one I got while I was in China, Maybelline's pure mineral blush in what I think is shade N00. I've been looking for these everywhere, but could not find them in any of the drugstores around me. It's a mineral blush, the first one in my collection and it is everything that I was expecting.  It goes on smooth and it is easy to control how much you put on. The dusty rose color looks amazingly natural and also has a slight contouring effect.

The next blush is Milani's baked blush in rose d'oro. 

A little more shimmery than I expected, but still beautiful, this blush translates into a peachy golden coral. It feels very finely milled and has great pigmentation. 

I finally got my hands on the Sonia Kashuk Hidden Agenda Concealer Palette!

After hearing about this from Fleur De Force and Tiffany from Will work for Makeup, I really wanted to give this a try - even more so after I couldn't find it at my Target. I've only used it a couple of times, but I have to say, it lives up to the hype.

When it comes to blending the shades together, I have no idea what I'm doing, but it always seems to work out for my skin tone. I really like the idea of a neutralizer shade with green undertones (bottom left corner) compared to those very obvious bright green concealers out there. 

The consistency is a little harder than what I am used to. This is not one of those slippery, creamy concealers, but it is still very workable and I think this is what makes it stay on for so long. This is a great palette, it's got everything you need in one place. 

Another goody I picked up from China, the Missha perfect cover B.B. cream.

BB creams have been getting a lot of attention so naturally, I had to get myself one. There are tons of them out there, and it can be really confusing to choose one. Almost all of the ones I tried out were only available in one shade - a grayish one that made my skin look ghastly. 

This Missha one was the only one I found that carried them in different shades and blended in with my skin nicely. I got the shade No. 27 (Honey Beige) and it is a perfect match, as it should be because it is supposed to adjust to your skin tone. 

There are a lot of things that I love about this product. It seems to really sink in to whatever lines/cracks you may not even know you have and makes your skin look perfect and smooth without looking like you have any makeup on your face. It has a light-medium coverage and gives a really nice finish that is natural, but on the slightly matte side. It is also packaged in an amazing squeeze tube w/ pump. 

It sounds amazing, but it's not a perfect product. There are two things I don't like about this. One, it is scented with a "your mom's perfume" kind of smell. And two, although it doesn't really give a dewey look, it does feel very tacky on your skin. These two things combined give me a constant reminder that I have this product on my face. Other than that, it works wonderfully. 

Another hyped up product that I found at one of the hundreds of beauty shops in Hong Kong, the Bioderma Crealine H2O cleansing solution. 

This stuff is incredible. It takes every stitch of makeup off (except maybe waterproof mascara) and thoroughly cleans your skin, all while feeling like water and and keeping the skin smooth and moisturized. I love using this in the morning for a quick cleanse. 

I picked this new body cream up from Target, admittedly because of the pretty packaging. It is the Boots Original Beauty Formula body cream - patchouli & lavender. 

This looks like a thick cream, but it absorbs into your skin quickly and feels really light. I love the smell and the fancy glass tub =)

Lastly, I dug this up recently and I remembered why I loved it so much before. It is one of the Sephora lipsticks, lip attitude glamour in the shade G19. 

The packaging's a little weird, but the lipstick itself is really nice. It's a dusky pink that gives a nude look but with a more color and depth. This lipstick is VERY glossy and has a lot of slip. The smell of this also makes me crazy (in a good way).

 This is super old, so I don't know if it's still available, but I would be interested in checking out some of the other Sephora lipsticks. 

Here's some swatches of the products I mentioned:

This post has reminded me how much I missed blogging. My posts will definitely be a little less regular, but I'm still going to try to fit them in when I have time. 

Thanks for reading and sticking with me,

~Vida

Products I'm loving

I really thought that I would be blogging more now that I am on my summer break, but it's actually quite the opposite and I'm not proud of it. Apart from just being lazy, I've also been trying to buy less makeup (trying being the key word), which means I need to dig for blogging inspiration in my existing collection. Although, I feel a binge makeup haul coming on...

Anyhow, I wanted to do one of my favorite kinds of posts and share with you a few products I've been loving. There's not too many things as makeup and hot weather simply do not go well together. 

I can't believe I haven't hopped on the mineralize skinfinish natural bandwagon until now. I can't get enough of this stuff. For now I have been using it as my base with some concealer underneath. It gives a really nice glow without being overdone, and at the same time helps minimize shine in my t-zone. Its lasting power is questionable, so touch-ups may be necessary. I don't mind though because I love using it, especially with my angled flat top kabuki!

MAC's well dressed, an oldie but goodie. This is probably one of my most reached for blushes. I haven't been laying out in the sun a lot so I'm still not too tan for this to show up on me. It's a blush that I have to pile on for it to work, but I like that it is almost impossible to overdo. I've heard that Illamasqua's katie blush was a similar, but more pigmented version, so I will have to try that.

I've already talked about the Covergirl eye enhancers here. They are on the bit on the less pigmented side, but I guess I really like them for a more subtle, light look. They also work well with a good paint pot as a base. 

I have also been loving this little e.l.f. elements customizable palette. This costs $1 and holds four MAC sized eye shadows. I decided that instead of getting more 15 pan MAC palettes, I want to just get these little quad palettes. They are small and portable and come with a little mirror on the inside. They feel pretty durable and are a great alternative to the MAC palettes. Currently, it is housing some of my MAC neutrals that I like to have with me on the go. 

Revlon pink pout lipstick is such a pretty pink lipstick. It also has a slightly lavender tone to it, and I seriously fell in love with this color when I saw it through the clear plastic top, and even more so when I put it on my lips! Another successful Revlon lipstick - matte, but glides on smooth, easy to whack on, and beautifully pigmented. 

Another Revlon lip product that needs no introduction, peach petal lip gloss. This is the perfect lip gloss. When people talked about lip glosses that weren't sticky, I could never understand it. After trying this one, I can finally see how a lip gloss could be not sticky. A great all purpose gloss, this is one to throw in your purse. 

That's it for now, I hope you enjoyed and let me know what you've been loving =).

~Vida

Summer Shimmer

I typically prefer matte/satin finishes, but lately I have been noticing that a lot of the products I've been using contain quite a bit of shimmer - and I don't hate it. In the summer time I tend to wear less makeup so I think it's easier to wear a shimmery eyeshadow or blush without being overwhelming. It brings a lightness to my makeup and adds to the dewy glow effect. The only thing is that my t-zone gets pretty oily, so sometimes adding shimmer to my face can be a little distracting. I bought an Origins mattifier to help myself out and hopefully I can do a review of that soon. 

After Lisa Eldridge, 25FLondon, and many others talked about these colour mousse eyeshadows by Rimmel, I was intrigued. I am down for any cream eyeshadow that comes in a pot, and luckily a good friend of mine was in England at the time and was able to get me one of the colors, Get Fresh. Feeling panicked that I only got one and did not have easy access to the range, I quickly ordered two more off ebay, Glitz and Sassy, and even went further to get the mousse bronzer in medium glow. 

These are really good for the price. The formula is more like a cool gel than a mousse, and it dries almost instantly and does not budge once it is set, so you have to blend these babies out quick. The eyeshadows go on a lot more sheer on the eyes (although you can build them up) and are super shimmery, but I do like the effect that they give. I really like using a flat shader/concealer type brush to put these on because using my fingers is just too messy. 

The bronzer has some shimmer in it too although it is hardly noticeable on the cheek. The color is a terracotta brown that I'm afraid could go orange on some people, but works for me. It's nice because you can put a thin layer on for a subtle tan - cream bronzers look so natural!

A few other cheek products I have been using

ELF warm bronzer, NARS Deep Throat, Wet N' Wild Pearlescent Pink

The ELF bronzer is very peachy toned. On some darker skin tones it barely shows up, but for me it works well as a blush/light bronzer. It gives lots of sheen and is one of those great products that you will never feel guilty using. 

NARS Deep Throat is my first and only NARS blush, although not my last, and it definitely lives up to the hype that follows it. It is slightly peachy pink, shimmery, and amazingly pigmented. I love this and will probably never run out. 

The Wet N' Wild blush looks sort of like a dupe for Deep Throat, but is rosier and contains much chunkier glitter, which is probably barely noticeable on the cheeks. It is also extremely pigmented and is among the many good products from Wet N' Wild. 

I love all these, but the one thing I will never do is shimmery lip products. I can't stand them! 

~Vida

A Few Products I'm Loving & Giveaway Winner

The past month has brought more rainy days than I would have liked and as a result I haven't been as creative with my makeup. Nonetheless there are a few products that I have been reaching for quite a lot recently. 

1. L'oreal Voluminous - this is so far my favorite mascara. This is my second tube and I'm almost through with it too. It is really as amazing as everybody says it is, it's easy to apply and is just what I want for full, fluttery lashes. 

2,3, and 4. Inglot Cream Blush # 88, Inglot Face Blush #24, and Royal & Langnickel Stippling Brush - these three in combination make the perfect go to cheek for everyday. The cream blush is a cream to powder finish and is nice on its own, but I like to put the lighter peachy powder blush over it to brighten it up and make it last longer. I love the stippling brush for applying these blushes because it blends them in well and gives a really light finish. 

La Roche Posay Ultra Light Sunscreen Fluid - I try to wear SPF everyday especially now that it is warmer and I spend more time outdoors. I have always hated the sticky feeling left on your skin by sunscreen, the reason why I would never have put it on my face a few years ago unless I was going to the beach. I'm so glad I found this sunscreen because it is not greasy at all and sinks in to your skin almost immediately. It is pretty pricey for a sunscreen, but in comparison to the other excessively high priced products that I buy, this one serves a much greater purpose.

Burt's Bees Radiance Body Lotion - I first heard about this through one of juicytuesday's videos where she raved about it. While at the drugstore one day, I saw it, got excited, and bought it. It is a really runny, gel consistency but it really does look very pretty on the skin. In general it gives a glowy sheen, but I have found in some lights it can look a bit glittery. It is great for going out and it smells amazing!

L'oreal EverStrong Sulfate-Free Bodify Shampoo & Conditioner - this shampoo and conditioner really gives my hair some body and makes it feel thick and less prone to oiliness. It does say it is sulfate-free, which is not the reason I bought it because I can't really be sure that it is any better than the other shampoos/conditioners that are out on the market. All I know is that it is nice to use and works well.

And finally, the winner of my 100 followers giveaway is Pepper!
Funny story - I dropped the lipstick while photographing it for the giveaway picture. Not to worry, I'll pick a new one up this weekend, and you can expect an e-mail soon so I can ship all the stuff to you by next week.
Thank you to all who participated, hope you enjoy my blog =)

~Vida

Hot for Spring

Thank you everybody for supporting me and entering my giveaway, and hello to all my new followers!
I loved reading all your comments and discovering new products. In the responses that I have gotten so far, I've seen some obvious trends in the things that people want and like in the spring and it inspired me to make a collective list/wishlist for myself of the things that you guys think are hot for spring:

1. Facial Sprays - I purchased MAC's fix+ a while ago at a CCO, but I haven't really been using it lately, because it is just an extra step that I often forget about. I really do like the effect that it gives though, and after seeing many people say that they liked using it in the spring, I realized how perfect it is to freshen up the face and keep your skin looking glow-y and healthy. You probably know this trick, but I like to spray it on my face and then blowdry it - it works amazingly!
A few to try: MAC Fix +; Evian mineral water spray; Evan Healy Lavender facial tonic

2. Bright Blush - Sometimes the brightest, scariest blush colors are the ones that I end up loving the most. That is why I am always on the lookout for bright, unique colors and I got some really good suggestions from you guys. A few that I really want to try are MAC dollymix, NARS desire, and Milani luminous, which isn't really very bright, but still pretty nonetheless.

3. Coral lips - Of course. Coral is the color for spring and it is everywhere.
A few to try: Chanel Sari Dore; MAC Costa Chic; Revlon Coral Reef

4. Spring Scents - I am so bad with matching my perfume to the seasons. Most of the time I just wear whatever I think smells good, but I'm glad you guys gave me some good ideas for perfumes and body sprays.
A few to try: Bath and Body Works Bali Mango; Burberry The Beat

And now I want to share a few things that I have been absolutely obsessed with this spring:

Essie's Boat House Nail Polish

This is the perfect true coral color. It is one of the more "watery" formulas, which I tend to like more because they are easy to apply and any mistakes that you make disappear as the nail polish spreads and dries. It makes your nails pop, and adds interest to any outfit.

N.Y.C. Blushable Creme Stick - Plaza Pink

I just got this, but I can already tell that I am going to love it, and have already planned to get more. I was pleasantly surprised when I popped open this 3 dollar blush stick, and witnessed the creamy smoothness and pigmentation of the swatch on my hand. Because of the pigmentation I recommend using a light hand or getting it on a brush first before dabbing it on. The color is like a watermelon pink, much more like the bottom picture than the top one which makes it look more coral.
I think these are great, especially because there aren't many cream blushes available at the drugstore.

NYX Orange Soda

This is one of my all time favorite lipsticks, which is great because it is dirt cheap. I have already gone through one tube of this, and I love having it in my purse and throwing it on without worrying about using it up or messing it up. I mostly love this because of the color. It is an orange peach sherbet color that always makes me feel spring-y, even though I wear this year round. I think it is a truly unique color that I haven't been able to find in other lipsticks, except maybe one by Illamasqua, which is way out of my price range.
I usually dab a light layer of this on and then rub it in with my fingers. It gives the perfect nude lip with a hint of pale peachyness, and doesn't look like lipstick when it is applied like this.

Just Mascara

I used to wear eyeliner practically every time I wore makeup. Recently I have gone for a lighter look, skipping the liner and just putting mascara on my top and bottom lashes. It makes such a big difference - my eyes look less heavy and my lashes look longer and stand out more.

Cognac Leather

Cognac leather anything always catches my eye. I think it looks especially good in the spring, against a white top and accented with some brightly colored jewelry. Actually it goes with a lot of different colors and patterns and is so easily worn for a classic, put together look.

So these are the things that I have been loving this spring. The warm weather always makes me pay more attention to the little things that make me happy =)

~Vida

Product Rave: Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow

In my previous haul I mentioned I got the Bobbi Brown long-wear cream shadow in the color slate from Allcosmeticswholesale. 

When I first swatched it I was seriously disappointed. I have only ever used MAC paintpots, which I love, and I was expecting this to be a similar product. This felt a lot thinner in consistency and was very sheer and blended away very easily. I was quick to judge, and for a high end cosmetic company, I was not impressed. 

And I was wrong. I have been using this everyday since I got it, I absolutely love it!

First off, the color is perfect for an everyday neutral look - it gives definition without looking too dramatic. It is a plumy taupe gray, one of those colors that would look good on anyone, and goes with any blush and lip color. 

Second, I have begun to see the benefits of its consistency and now I really like it. This cream shadow is very sheer, but also very buildable so you can apply one layer for a neutral, subtle look, or you can apply several layers for a more intense color. In the pot, it feels like a cream, but when you apply it to your eyelids, it feels more like a powder. I don't know what it is about this, but when you apply it, it blends into your skin so well that it doesn't look like it is product sitting on your skin, unlike some MAC paint pots. It is also extremely blendable, which makes it a dream to apply. 

Thirdly, I love the packaging. I realize this is not so important, but the sleek packaging makes me happy to have it in my collection. The pot itself has a very narrow opening, so it will keep it from drying out longer - hopefully. 

Here's a pic of it on:

I have been mostly wearing it on its own and I love it because it is such an easy makeup. It lasts pretty much all day, and wears beautifully. 

I did try using it as an eyeshadow base the other day, and it worked well to bring out the color of the eyeshadows, but it did crease a little. I think I will stick to using my eyeshadow primers and paintpots as eyeshadow bases. 

Needless to say, I am completely in love with this product, and so I felt the need to tell you guys about it. 

Hope you enjoyed this. Thank you for reading and commenting! 

Products I'm loving right now

Recently I have discovered some products that I have really been enjoying using, so I thought I'd share with you =) 

These first two products are kind of similar, even though they are meant for different things. 

BECCA Eye Tint - Vacuna 

Orgasm Illuminator 

                                                                                                                                       Orgasm                           BECCA eye tint 

As you can see, they are both shimmery liquid/cream products. 

I was first turned on to Becca products after watching Lisa Eldridge's videos, and the eye tint seemed like something I would really like. It comes in a variety of very neutral colors; I chose one of the lightest ones, which I was hesitant about because some reviews complained that it was barely visible on the lids. I personally love the color. It really brightens up the eye and is the perfect product for a barely there makeup look because it takes 2 seconds to apply. I have just been wacking this on with a little bit of gel eyeliner and I LOVE it.

It stays tacky after it has "dried" so I think it would work well as an eyeshadow base. It does crease slightly, but only if you apply a lot. This also works amazing as a highlighter, but make sure you test it out first if you have sensitive skin. 

The Orgasm illuminator is a sample that I got with my sephora beauty insider points, which I didn't think would be anything special, but I really like it. 

It applies really smooth and liquidy and imparts a beautiful peachy glow to your cheeks. You could use it anyway you want - as a highlight for your cheekbones, under your blush, mixed in with foundation. It is such an easy product to use; I love the packaging! You have to be careful to blend out the edges though, otherwise you're left with an obvious patch of highlighter, but otherwise, it's amazing!

MAC Creme Cup lipstick

Lately I've been more daring with my lipstick. Daring as in, wearing things other than nude, and this pink is so pretty. The cremesheen formulation is always great and the color a very wearable blue toned pink. 

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

I wanted to see what all the hype was about and so far I have really enjoyed using this. I apply it with a regular flat foundation brush, which I'm not really a fan of, but it seems to work the best. I like to use stippling brushes, and sometimes I will use a stippling brush after I've applied it just to buff it in - this gives such a nice effect. 

It gives good coverage and is really nice to work with, but I don't really get the dewey complexion that I thought I would with a name like "sheer glow". But, so far, I'm happy =)

Origins Ginger Souffle

This just sounds delicious. And it smells delicious too. It is basically a huge tub of body moisturizing goodness. 

It is a very light moisturizer and it soaks into your skin quickly, so it's good if you don't like a sticky feeling that lingers. It works like a dream and I'm glad I will be using this for a good while. 

LUSH Shampoo Bar - Karma Komba

Who doesn't want their hair to smell like karma? 

I have always been so skeptical of these shampoo bars. They look funny, and seriously, how does one wash their hair with a soap bar? But after buying this and trying it out, I am now a believer in shampoo bars, and I would love to try out some of the other ones. I still don't know how the hell it works, but you only need to rub this through your hair for a few seconds and you will have the fluffiest lather ever. 

Each one is supposed to work for a different hair concern. Karma in particular is good for detangling knotty hair, which I don't think is very true, but it is good for deep cleaning. It is a shampoo that really clarifies and gets rid of all the grease and gunk in your hair. Some people might find this "stripping", but I have oily hair and it works really well for me. This would be really good for every other washes, so that you don't strip your hair of its natural oils, but you can still keep oily hair in check. 

*Beware, do not leave this in the shower unattended. It will melt.*

So there are a few of the products I've been really enjoying lately. 

Do you have any products that you have been particularly loving recently?