NYX The Curve Eyeliner

How innovative! I haven't seen a bent liquid liner from any brand until this thing from NYX.

I'd imagine it's easier to apply, just as it is with bent mascara wands and bent eyeliner brushes.

June 2012 Favorites

love & beauty Hydrating make-up wipes: I actually got these in a 2-pack for $2.80 at Forever 21. They come 30 wipes each, so 60 wipes for under $3 sounded fantastic. love & beauty is Forever 21's beauty brand, known to just use other cheap brands's manufacturers (e.l.f., LA Beauty, some Korean brands). At first I hated these. They're so thin that they rip, and don't take off waterproof make-up. I continued to use them and figured I just need to fold it in half to layer it up. I use two to remove my foundation and other make-up products. I've been using this the entire month and I like it. I wouldn't repurchase, though.

Maybelline Fit Me! Powder: I believe I bought this in April or May. I picked this up because I wanted a powder to set my foundation and give me a little extra coverage. I've come to really, really enjoy this product. It's not opaque enough to use as a foundation on its own, but on top of a foundation it covers really nicely. What I like is that I have dry skin and this isn't matte! It's more-so a velvet finish, and really comfortable to wear.

Revlon Lip Butter in "Creme Brulee": Definitely my go-to lip product! My favorite shade of the four or five lip butters I've tried. It's a sheer and warm neutral color, which is perfect for nude-ing out your lips. I can't get over how I love that it's a WARM neutral! It's my perfect everyday lip color.

Maybelline Baby Lips: This is the clear one with blue packaging. It smells like sweet lemonade. It's more slippery than most lip balms, which I like. I don't think it's done any long term healing or nourshing to my lips, but it's comfortable to wear and helps throughout the day.

Maybelline Color Tattoo in "Bad to the Bronze": I did a review on this a couple months back and it turned out the me the only Color Tattoo I still grab for! It's really just a neutral shimmery bronze. It's truly perfect for everyday alone, or as a color base for your neutral shadows.

Covergirl Outlast Lipcolor in "Red Affair": CVS has an annual clearance sale, and I heard itsjudytime rave about these. Supposedly L'oreal has a similar product, but I haven't tried those. Let me tell you, this stuff is AMAZING. It truly stays on all day. It's not a lip stain, but it certainly stays on way better than one. The down side is you can't rub your lips together with this product, which I have a bad habit of doing. This stays on through kisses, napkin wipes, food, drinks, you name it! The balm that comes with it is actually pretty good too. 

Philips Electric Brow Groomer: Okay, this isn't the official name of this product, however I can't remember what it's called. It's basically and electric trimmer. I use it to quickly and easily trim and clean up my brow area. I love this. I use it on my upper lip as well. 

Products I Regret Buying

I don't think this is every single item I regret buying, but these are what I could pick out from my current collection. I'll do a part 2 if I ever find more!

e.l.f. Luscious Liquid Lipstick "Maple Sugar": I ordered this color on accident. The product itself is okay. I like the mint smell, but it smells a little herbal at the same time. The minty-ness agitates my lips.

NYC 16HR Smooch-Proof Lipstain: I bought this because cosmeticcandiesfyi mentioned she REALLY loved these lipstains, and that they're very cheap. It's not a bad product, I just chose a bad shade and stored it incorrectly (leave the tip facing down to let the stain drip to it. Otherwise, it'll just dry out). Nude's never a good choice for lip stains, I guess.

Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Liner: I HATE THIS! So not worth the $19 I paid for it. Temptalia gave this product an A, so I thought it'd be worth a try. It reminds me of a L'oreal liquid liner I bought a while ago. It's not waterproof at all. I like the color selection in this line. When it comes to black liners, I expect the best. I would repurchase but only in a unique shade.

Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser: Another product I hate. I used this twice and it was so painful. Neutrogena products have not worked for me whatsoever. They all have ripped my skin really badly, and this just followed the tradition. It's weird that it claims to be a natural product, but has a really sickly perfume scent to it. The ingredients aren't very natural either. 

Inglot AMC Mousse Foundation: I went to an Inglot counter at Macy's in SF and the sales associate told me this is the fullest coverage product that Inglot has... When I tried it in store, it looked opaque, however my stupid self forgot I was already wearing foundation and concealer! D'oh! This isn't opaque whatsoever. It's definitely a light coverage foundation.

e.l.f Mineral Blush: This was my first loose powder type of product. The product itself isn't bad, and the color is really pretty. I just really hate working with loose products. It's unbelievably messy. 

Laura Mercier Invisible Loose Setting Powder: This is my sister's favorite powder, and Temptalia gave this an A as well. It definitely mattifies the face, however I have normal to dry skin, and it made my make-up very uncomfortable to wear. I liked that it made my creamy foundations smooth and matte, but what happens to me is I end up producing a lot more oils because my skin was sucked dry of any oil! For some reason my sister's works very nicely. I think I got a bad one.

e.l.f. Brush Shampoo: Eh. It's basically just hand soap. This was a really unnecessary purchase.

e.l.f. Cream Eyeliner: There's always so much excess packaging for e.l.f. studio products in pots. This product dried out in a week. 

Wet'n'Wild Trio in "Walking On Eggshells": When these first came out, I was really excited because many bloggers were raving about them. They're soft and almost buttery, with good color payoff. They're not a bad product, I just don't like the colors. The pink and white color are packed with shimmer, and the brown doesn't show up well on my eyes. Supposedly they're MAC dupes. I'd buy a different trio if I found colors I liked.

Monthly Finishes, One Toss, and Must Finishes!

Sorry for the weird "lighting" and editing, I was REALLY lazy and didn't feel like editing these photos too much... So I just used an older premade action set that I had on Photoshop. I think they turned out okay... Haha.

Anyways, this type of post seems to be popular with a lot of people lately (Youtuber and bloggers alike). My personal favorite bloggers who do these monthly finish type of posts are tinyladylife and essiebutton! I feel like I've finished A LOT more products than the ones shown here, but I was either too lazy to dig them up (wherever they maybe) or I already tossed them. This is a collective finish, ha :P

Empties

Biore Pore Unclogging Scrub: THIS THING IS SO OLD! I used the last bits of it today and noticed it smelled funky, so I decided it was time to part. I really loved this scrub. The smell is really interesting, since it's a blend of melon and mint. It confused me the first time I used it, but made my face feel so so so clean. It has circular scrublets, so it's not harsh. I wouldn't say it removed my clogged pores, but with regular use, it got rid of them! This is my most favorite scrub by far. Unfortunately, Biore changed the packaging and formulation completely, so I'm not sure if the new one will bring the same effects. The original formula is available at CVS in travel sizes.

Olay Definity Moisturizer: I bought this because FutureDerm said it was her second favorite Olay moisturizer. She also mentioned it's supposed to lighten dark spots overtime. I didn't really see any results for that, but the only "dark spots" I have are acne scars, and they probably meant sun-gained freckles and age spots. I do notice that when I stopped using it, it was easier for my skin to scar. I liked the scent and formulation, though I remember this being pricey (for me).

Caudalie Premiere Eye Cream: I got two mini free samples from Sephora one day. I used it for over two weeks daily on my inner bags, (slowly coming) crow's feet, the top inner corners (driest of my eyes), and brow bone. So basically everywhere, haha! It did nothing for the driest parts of my eyes. I think the only place it helped were my crow's feet. I wouldn't buy the full size of this, as I already have many eye problems. It's worth a try if you're looking to prevent eye problems.

It's A 10 Leave-In Conditioner: I really liked this! My hair is very damaged and dry, thanks to a lot of bleaching and dying throughout the years, so I love love love leave-in treatments. I'd leave this in my hair ASAP in my shower. It lasted a while, and conditioned my hair nicely. I'd repurchase this.

Biore Steam Activated Cleanser: Another favorite! This was actually my second bottle. Again, Biore has since then repackaged and reformulated this product, so I'm not sure it's the same. It was very minty, but non-drying! My skin felt very clean and refreshed after using this. I LOVED how fresh it after my showers, but the effects wore off over time. I would repurchase if it were still available, but I'll give the new one a try eventually.

Tossing Out!

Heh... It's a little dusty. It's been sitting around.

MAC Studio Moisture Tint SPF 15: I bought this almost 2 years ago... It was my first MAC skin base product. I had heard a lot of good things about this, such as it's one of the better higher end tinted moisturizer around (before Bobbi Brown's came out, which I hear is good too). I really liked it at first, but over time it just became and okay product. It smells like paint, as do most MAC skin base products do. I think this is better for those who are looking to even out skintone and minor flaws. I wouldn't repurchase this.

Must Finish...

I believe traditionally a post like this would be called "Project Pan," but I honestly can't commit to not buying until I finish these. I'll try, but I can't commit!

That BB Seaweed is actually a finished project, and it slipped my mind when I was taking the photo... it's my favorite LUSH Fresh Face Mask! This was my second time purchasing it, and I loved it just as much as the first time. It smells like roses and mineral goodness, exfoliates, is gentle, softens... I recommend it for all skin types.

I bought the Missha BB Cream last summer for only $8! It was such a great deal, and I got a free one with it. Since it's almost a year old, I figure I need to finish it... The Maybelline Dream Smooth Mousse was my first foundation ever. I finished it up really quickly (no idea how! I never wore foundation until last school year), neglected it for a long time, and rediscovered it. There's hardly any left.

The MAC Fluidline in "Blacktrack" is pretty old too. It's a great gel liner, but it's hitting the two years old mark, so I should try and finish it up. It's still good after those two years! The shameful little sticks are Milani Liquif'eye and Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On. They're both okay... I have really watery eyes, so I'm looking for something SUPER waterproof. I hope I finish these up soon!

The Palladio Tinted Lip Balm is a pink bronzey color. I bought it impulsively a year or two ago because of emilynoel83's recommendation. I think I could have chosen a better color, without shimmer. The Olay Beauty Fluid is a classic, and I do like it a lot really. It's great for sensitive skin, but I just have SO many moisturizers, I need to clear things out.

Maybelline Illegal Length and Rimmel Lash Accelerator need to go. Mascaras have short lives, and I feel like buying multiples at a time is such a waste. They all go bad before you can finish them. I have another mascara to finish up too (Revlon Grow Luscious). 

Hopefully I won't purchase any type of product until I finish a different one of the same category! For example, no buying mascaras until I finish the ones I have. Over the years, I've bought countless cosmetics... It feels like such a waste not finishing them up and letting them go bad. Hopefully I can change my ways! :P

Congratulations for reaching the end of this post!

disco nails inspiration

 

I'm kind of crazy about nail art. I'm also kind of crazy about Disco Nails. From what I've collected, they are a Japanese nail salon known for their intricate and crazy nail art. A famous client of theirs is Eriko Nakao (who is a personal girl crush of mine!)

They also have a tumblr, which is where all the photos are from.

Aren't you inspired by these photos? x

Instagram Updates!

I've been a little lazy on uploading for the blog, so here's a little Instagram update!

1: My family and I went out for dinner on a whim the other week! We weren't really sure where we wanted to eat, so I randomly pointed at this Thai restaurant. Luckily, it was empty when we came in, so our food came quickly! As the dinner progressed, the place was packed full. Thai food is definitely one of my favorite ethical "categories"

2: Went a bit crazy on a thrift haul with my boyfriend! I scored everything in that photo for a total a little over $20. 

3: Last week or so, I had a scheduled meeting with an admissions advisor at FIDM SF, so I took a trip up there with my boyfriend. We were late to Sushirrito, so I went to Loving Hut and ordered bun cha gio chay, one of my favorite Vietnamese dishes.

4: Following pic #3, he treated me to a nutella crepe with pistachio gelato, yum!

5: My current nails! I was a bit excited to do 4th of July themed nails. I did an American flag (for obvious reasons) and use a nude with gold sparkles to represent Roman candles/sparklers. It was a simple twist, in my opinion.

6: I finally have 5 pots of Lush fresh face masks! I'm finishing up my 5th, BB Seaweed (2nd time! It's the best), and getting my free one soon.

I'll try to post again soon! Maybe a nail tutorial?

Hope June's been great for you folks! x

May 2012 Favorites

May has been a mixed bag for me. I finished my junior year of high school with mixed feelings. Anyways, my make-up has been pretty simple due to so many finals, exams, projects, and such. On any day I spotted eyeshadow, it was almost always neutral. I also went to my boyfriend's prom this month! Since it's nearly the end of the month, I figure it's time to include my monthly favorites.

L to R: Maybelline Fit Me! Powder in "310" | Wet'n'Wild Mega Last Lipstick in "Cherry Picking" | Maybelline Color Tattoo in "Bad to the Bronze" | Wet'n'Wild Color Icon in "Brulee"

A month or two ago, my friend who works at Target gave me his 30% off employee discount, so I picked up this powder. I was interested in a colored pressed powder since I was unsatisfied with my Laura Mercier loose powder. At first I regretted this purchase, but I've learned to love it! It's not matte, and leaves a decent lightweight coverage. I love that it adds a bit more coverage to any foundation or BB cream I wear.

I love these Wet'n'Wild lipsticks, and I think I've found my new favorite red. This is new to the permanent line (the shade). I grew tired of my bold true reds, and this just brought something subtly new. It's bright, but not true red. It comes off a lot different than it does in the tube!

The Maybelline Color Tattoos are fantastic. I particularly (and surprisingly) loved this shade the entire month. It's my go-to all over the lid shade. The word "bronze" originally turned me off to this shade, however I find that it's more a neutral shimmery shade... Bronze makes me think of more orange/warm tones. You can read my initial review here!

Wet'n'Wild truly kills it with their matte shadows. They truly make the best matte shadows I've ever, ever, ever used. They're soft and pigmented. This makes the perfect highlight and inner corner color.

L to R: Milani nail polish in "Totally 80s" | Maybelline Color Show in "Fierce n Tangy" | OPI "Mermaid's Tears" | NYC Quick Dry in "Lavender Cupcake"

I hope my selection doesn't seem too cliche. I wouldn't say it is! It's sort of a "twist" on the brights and pastels that often come to trend in the spring and summer time.

I love chartreuse, and I think Milani's "Totally 80s" captures it. This is the only nail polish I own from them, and I really want to try more. It's a great formula. Maybelline has a new range of nail polishes out, as I've mentioned in a previous post! I've been lurking around for a primary yellow and I've finally found it!

So looking at OPI's "Mermaid's Tears," you're probably just like, "God, another mint..." Wrong! I think this is a fresh take on the whole "mint" trend that's been around for the past three years. To me, this is more of a jade color and I love it! It looks so classy and polished. It looks really great with gold accessories and white clothes.

And then following the traditional pastel trend, NYC's "Lavender Cupcake" totally embraces the whole shebang. What attracts me to this color is how it looks like a pretty pastry (macaron perhaps?).

L to R: Physician's Formula Enriched Dry Skin Concentrate | Clean&Clear Advantage acne control moiturizer

Two skincare products that really helped my skin recover from a breakout are Physician's Formula's Enriched Dry Skin Concentrate (which I'm sure I've done a post on before!) and Clean&Cear's acne control moisturizer. PF's skin concentrate really helps hydrate and heal any dry skin of mine. I especially love applying it on my dry patches right after I shower. It seems to really lock in the moisture and keeps my skin feeling baby soft! It's helped with the healing process of my acne, since after they go, they get really dry. C&C's acne control moisturizer is something I used in middle school. The scent is nostalgic. Ha. It has salicylic acid in it, which is something I've been dying for in a moisturizer. I love wearing this during the day because it sits on my skin and creates a barrier between my skin and my make-up while treating acne. I'd definitely say it's helped clear up my skin.

What are your favorites for this month? Thanks for reading!

Wet'N'Wild dupes of... itself?

Today my boyfriend and I were biking around running errands and stopping by stores here and there, and we stopped by CVS! There, they had the latest Wet'n'Wild LE summer collection nail polish range, which I can't remember the name exactly... But the display had fireworks, which I'm sure inspired the nail polishes! I picked up two I was interested in (I forgot to get the names of ALL the polishes! Sorry!), and stopped by their "Spoiled" nail collection (which by the way, is only available in CVS stores)... and I noticed something interesting...

Left: Wet'n'Wild Spoiled | Right: LE Wet'n'Wild Fast Dry

Yup! There you have it! They're basically the same nail polish! The LE Fast Dry (right) one seems like it has a lot more glitter though. I can't make any comparisons on the formulation, nor can I really comment on the formulation of either! I've yet to try the Spoiled nail polish, and as for the Fast Dry formulation, I've only tried Grey's Anatomy. So no comment on the glitter formulations! They both retail at $1.99, however Spoiled contains 0.5 oz, while the Fast Dry contains 0.45 oz. Not a big difference there, folks. I guess it all comes to to whether you want value (0.05 difference!), formulation, glitter density (?), or perhaps brush/applicator quality!

Left: LE Wet'n'Wild Fast Dry | Right: Wet'n'Wild Spoiled

Again, I do have to apologize for not taking their names down or comparing all of the polishes! It skipped my mind. But then again, I think this would be a time to utilize Google in case you were interested!

yellow (nail) fever

for the past month (or at least what seemed like a month!), i've been on the hunt for a primary yellow nail polish. for the most part, i'd only come by yellows that were pastel, filled with shimmer, or metallic. blegh! a lot of companies seem to avoid yellow because it's as tricky as white. the color tends to create streaky and sheer formulations... so when i saw this at my local walgreens on a new display, i bought it right away!

i'd heard a lot about these polishes - particularly their cheap cheap cheap price! the display i picked it up from had no price tag, but i figured it'd range from $2.99 - $3.99, since that's the price range i've seen it for online. but no! it was a shocking $4.99! i wonder why my walgreens (or maybe it's just america?) has it for so pricey. the packaging doesn't make it seem like you get much... i'm guessing it's just because it's a *new product*. anyways, i'm sure, or maybe just hoping, the prices of these puppies go down. there are so many pretty colors i'd love to try! 

♡ NAIL POLISH SALE ♡

hey readers! i'm cleaning out my nail polish collection and selling polishes for cheap! most of them run for $1, and there's even some freebies, so check it out ♥


photographed in sunlight


photographed in indoor lighting


detail shots of glitter polishes (4 7 11)


detail shots (8 9 10)

end of march collective haul + swatches

L to R: H&M black suede pumps | ASOS package {knitted headband, on sale for $3!!} | beauty products mentioned below

these past few days have been such a splurge for me... i've been pretty disheartened and down in the dumps lately. a bunch of personal issues seemed to have arisen all at once and it was a huge mess for me. luckily, i have an AMAZING support system of my friends and my lovely boyfriend. the spring weather flirted with me a bit this weekend, and i have to say that it added to my mood. this past winter, i definitely will agree to saying that i suffered painfully from SAD.

L to R: rimmel x kate moss "12" | revlon lip butter "creme brulee" | OPI "mermaid's tears" | inglot mousse foundation "MC 300" | maybelline color tattoo "bold gold"

my boyfriend actually gifted me the rimmel london x kate moss lipstick! what a gentleman. he also paid for the maybelline color tattoo with a coupon that i printed out, hehe. he knew i was in a bummed out mood, so he KINDLY paid for it as well. i owe this sucker a kiss or two. i bought the revlon lip butter in "creme brulee" because i have been lusting for it since before the release of the lip butters! so i thought it was okay to indulge in more cosmetics... and the OPI nail varnish is in "mermaid's tears," which was just PERFECT for me. it was from the pirates of the caribbean collection from last summer, so imagine my amazement when i saw it at target! i snatched it and i can very well say i'm in love...

OPI "mermaid's tears"

i mean LOOK AT IT! my boyfriend and i went to san fransisco today and i literally ran up to everything in every color (shoes, shirts, dresses, bags, clutches, etc) saying, "look how AMAZING this looks with my nails!" i mean, look! i can't capture how wonderful this varnish is. it just really brightens up my mood. you can think that it's just another mint nail color, but it really isn't. it's not as pale and pastel-y as most are. something about it just seems more jewel-like, more jade. it has the slightest bit more blue than most mint nails, but i didn't capture it very well (yellow lighting, sorry!).

L to R: revlon lip butter "creme brulee" | rimmel x kate moss "12"

creme brulee came out lighter on me than i thought it did! it looks pretty similar to my lips and skin, really. some sort of weird in between of the two. it has micro glitter that doesn't look glittery or frosty at all, but instead, makes your lip look more shiny and full. definitely going to be an everyday kind of lippy. the kate moss one is in "12," and is actually more matte than i thought it would be! it's more drying than the original lipstick, but i'm okay with that since i love matte colors. it's also a 'my lips but better' shade, and i'm VERY happy with this as well!! ♥

maybelline color tattoo "bold gold"

I KNOW, I KNOW. another maybelline color tattoo! well, as i said in my last post, my eyes have just been so sensitive to any fall out and i must resort to creams! this is the shade that i wanted the most out of the entire line, so i went for it. gold is definitely my favorite "color" to wear on my lids (i wear mainly neutrals). this proves to be a very yellow-gold, and i can't wait to wear this everyday. this is the final of the three shades i wanted from the line, and i [hopefully] won't be buying anymore.

maybelline color tattoo "bold gold"

i also bought a mousse foundation (not pictured, the box is unopen since i'm unsure if i want to keep it) because the girl who helped me at the inglot counter said it'd be good for my combination skin... she said it was a concealer, but it isn't! sad face. i was looking for a HEAVY and FULL COVERAGE concealer for my very dark post-acne scars (hyperpigmentation runs in my family!) and she said this provides the most coverage out of all inglot face products... the mousse feel really makes me feel otherwise. i should have went with my guts... oh well!

L to R: rimmel x kate moss "12" | revlon lip butter "creme brulee", it's so similar to my skin that it doesn't show on it! | maybelline color tattoo "bold gold"

swatches: maybelline color tattoo in "tough as taupe"

as i said in my last post, my eyes have been extremely sensitive to fall out from powder shadows... so i've been skipping liner and shadow all together. my only hope? cream shadows.

"tough as taupe" really isn't all that taupe to me. it's a very muted brown-mushroom type of color. i wouldn't say it's very warm, as taupes tend to be. it's the only shade in this line with the least shimmer and glitter (as well as the orange shade). i wish they made more matte / cream neutrals!

you could read my review of the formula and see swatches of "bad to the bronze" here!

mini haul 3/25/12

forever 21 over-the-knee socks, gifted from boyfriend. clean&clear blackhead scrub, target. maybelline color tattoo in "tough as taupe", target. worn wallet, target.

my boyfriend surprised me with those socks yesterday! i totally didn't expect it. my sister recommended i get a wallet from target, so i did. i like it. it's my first non-sanrio wallet... well, i had this leather bulky one before, but i lost it last fall. i finished one of my many cleansers, so i decided to pick up one with acne treatment. as of late, my eyes have been extremely sensitive to any fallout, so i've been running to cream shadows. i think i want two more from this line - "bold as gold" and the white one... or the pomegranate one. we'll see.

tips & tricks: basic skin care 101

so i've been back on my skin care routine... and it's been improving my skin a boat freaking load. i decided to share a little bit of general / basic skin care info with my readers. a lot of these are a no-brainer if you already have your skin care routine down, but it's always nice to remind yourself of these little things... or to teach any newbies! i am no means claiming i'm a skin care guru; i'm just tossing out my little advice.

determine your skin type.

this should basically be your step one before even getting into skin care. there are tons of skin types and then there could be a combination of them. you could have dry skin or oily skin, or maybe you're sensitive! you can have acne-prone skin, or very dull skin. maybe you have combination skin? maybe you have large pores or even dehydrated skin? determining your skin type will allow you to know what products to look for and to use.

moisturize!

even if you're thinking "i have oily skin... i don't want it to be even oilier." you can always opt for a matte moisturizer or a lightweight gel moisturizer. if you leave your skin dry after cleansing, thinking that it'll stay "dry" and "oil-free," you're wrong! your skin will think "i'm sooo dry," and then proceed to excrete even more oils. which equates to an even oilier face. i personally love moisturizers, especially since i have dry skin. if you have sensitive skin, skip out on any fragranced moisturizers (usually listed in ingredients). it's also key to keeping your skin youthful.

treat yourself to a mask from time-to-time.

look for masks that meet your skin type. it's nice to actually treat your skin instead of just cleaning and moisturizing. most masks contain multiple perks in one. i personally really like the mint julep masque to reduce pore and pimple sizes. lush provide a nice arrangement of fresh masks too. and of course, you could DIY a bunch of masks with things you already have at home. make google your best friend! i also LOVE asian sheet masks, but i didn't have any at the time of these photos.

the skin on your face isn't the only skin you should take care of.

remember to clean (i'm sure you do daily, or at least every other day... right?) it and exfoliate every now-and-then to keep it looking radiant. slaughtering off dead skin cells off your lips will reveal youthful, plump-looking lips! and it'll make any lipstick application much nicer. using oils during baths or after your shower makes my skin baby soft. moisturizing after showers locks in all the moisture. i wish i took care of my hands younger because now i have wrinkly old lady hands! and don't forget to wear sunscreen!!! prevention is key.

hope this helped! if you have any questions about the products pictured or for any more of my own advice, feel free to leave a comment.

vein-y nails!!

the example from rookiemag. hannah's hands are so much prettier than mine...

after seeing a post on rookiemag on giving yourself a veiny manicure... and being a total geek for human anatomy/physiology... I JUST HAD TO! i actually saw this quite some time ago, and i've been really lusting to do this for the past week! i don't know why i didn't do this sooner.

L to R: "red" by forever 21 | "go overboard" by essie | "private viewing" by wet'n'wild megalast

the tutorial is extremely simple. you can go read the step-by-step how-to on rookie mag, but in short you just:

1. paint a nude base color
2. get a tool (i used a bobby pin, you can use a nail art brush or whatever!) and create a red vein
3. repeat step 2 except with a blue vein
4. carefully (i did shit on this step HAHA) create a heart... or whatever you want!
   

my left hand. i left the pinky without a blue vein because of laziness... but i like how it looks!

to be honest, my nails didn't come out as nicely as hannah's... but i like it! when it comes to DIY type of junk, i'm not all too hard on myself because i just breathe in and out, accept that i'm no pro, and then enjoy my creation! of course, i will strive for perfection, but i'll take my creations as they come. also, practice makes perfect. but you knew that.

my right hand! i'm a lefty, so this side came our better.

honestly, i'm really digging these. like, a lot. i can't wait to show these babies off to my physiology teacher... haha. ANYWAYS, i don't think these nails too me too long. i didn't keep track of time though, since today was just (another) lazy sunday for me.

spring nail polish favorites

so i know it isn't exactly spring yet, but we're nearing it! warm weather, come to san jose already!

so there's basically three 'trends' (not sure if they are trends, but 'styles' i've been digging!) i'm enjoying right now are: duo chrome / beetle-y, muted bolds, and neon.

duo chrome / beetle - so basically i've been really into duo chromes. to summarize, duo chromes are like holographic (micro) glitters that change color depending on how the light hits it! some cars have this effect too, but i don't know them well enough to go on about that. the two i featured are 'beetle' by hard candy and 'grey's anatomy' by wet'n'wild. you can see the duo chrome effect in the photos!

muted bolds - the one i'm featuring is essie's 'go overboard', which is new to spring 2012. this is the only color i've worn twice in a row (as in, as soon as it chipped after a week, i painted it again until it chipped!). i LOVE this color. i never liked a blue nail polish before until now. what i mean by muted bold is like... i've been into colors that are sort of deep, but standout-ish. colors that you'd find in a crayola marker pack in "BOLD." haha.

neons - i never ever thought i'd be into neons. ever. however, i love milani's 'totally 80s' from their neon collection. it isn't really neon, though. it's more chartreuse to me, but i still love it. people have frowned on it and said it looked ugly, but i think it looks really good with a tan! the last bottle in the photo is urban outfitter's 'jerk,' and it is a true HIGHLIGHTER yellow/green. they both have this velvet finish. it's pretty cool, actually. these would look good if you put a matte top coat over it! i love the way these two look when i wear black clothes.