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!

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!

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.

overview: my moisturizers!

i know, i know... no one really needs this many moisturizers. i can't help it! i love hydrating my skin. i guess we should begin with establishing that i have normal to dry skin. sorta. kinda. my skin has been really weird lately. despite the cold winter weather, it's been... oily!? it's been a little hard for me to work with.

anyways, these are my current moisturizers. i tend to rotate between them depending on my needs. i'll quickly talk about them with you guys and gals!

clinique dramatically different moisturizing gel - this was actually my boyfriend's! he purchased this in december or january, and it was his first moisturizer ever (also his first purchase at sephora.. heh)! he has oily/combo skin and it worked for the drier parts of his skin REALLY nicely. he handed it over to me though because he said, "it made my skin so soft... i couldn't stop touching it... and then i broke out from touching it." so yeah. despite having dry skin, i actually really like the gel consistency! it definitely feels slick and watery. it works really well on my cheeks (the drier parts of my face), but makes my forehead oily. i'm hoping i'll love this when the weather gets hot!

eucerin everyday protection lotion spf 30 - i ran out of a daily moisturizer some time this year, and i randomly grabbed this at target... it's okay. i have sensitive skin, so i was like... eucerin? why not? it does moisturize my face decently, as well as provide protection from the sun. what i don't like about this is that it makes my face look really white and tends to ball up on my cheeks.

olay active hydrating beauty fluid - okay... who hasn't heard of this!? a lot of people tend to say that their mothers use this. sarah from clothesencounters even said that! i actually literally picked this up yesterday, inspired by lil lady's life! she said the sensitive one is her HG, and that the regular formulation proved to work well on her oily skin in the winter. so why not, right? right? i used it this morning and like it so far. people say it smells like baby powder or some other baby product... i personally dislike the smell. it does resemble some sort of baby smell, but it reminds me of the smells when moms change their baby's diaper in a public restroom. ugh. ANYWAYS, this soaks into my skin SO nicely. enjoying this so far!

physicians formula enriched dry skin concentrate - this stuff is my BFF when i'm suffering through cracked, dry, and irritated skin. i saw this in CVS one summer and was like, "whoa, physicians formula does skin care!?" this has never broken me out, despite how thick and creamy it is. it'll definitely leave you feeling a little... vaseline-y if you pile on a bunch all over your face. this always heals any cracked skin i have (which tends to happen around my nose, cheeks, and chin) by the next day! it also lasts forever, dude... it smells like most vitamin e products, or just products for dry skin in general. a baby powder-y scent that i don't mind and actually prefer. i associate the smell with being for sensitive dry skin.

philosophy hope in a jar - this isn't a full size product. i got it as my 100 point perk at sephora. i actually wrote a first impression on this that you can read here! it's alright. supposedly, this stuff is suited for any skin type. like with most moisturizers, it makes my forehead kinda oily. not anything really bad though. it isn't hydrating enough for my cheeks. i guess i'd recommend you give it a try if you were oily / combo. it smells... interesting. i don't really know what it is, though. i think of all my moisturizers, i'm going to try and finish this one first and on its own. it claims to gently exfoliate your skin to make it look more radiant. i'll have to get back to you guys on that one.

estee lauder time zone spf 15 - estee lauder claims you can use this AM or PM, but i try to use it for AM only. i don't feel comfortable with using SPF at night! as with most estee lauder products, it's heavily scented. my skin just can't handle fragranced skin products... so i just use it on my neck! it's the only place where i have mega noticeable wrinkles anyways. it really does hydrate. i haven't seen it improve any wrinkles or fine lines yet. we'll see in due time. disclaimer: my mom purchased this for me in a gift set for my birthday.

the body shop vitamin e nourishing night cream - i loooove the body shop's vitamin e line! they say it's for any skin type, but i suggest using the line if you have a more normal / sensitive / dry skin type. there's a *regular* night time moisturizer too, but i picked this one up. it reminds me of the physician formula moisturizer since it's so thick and creamy, but it doesn't leave a vaseline-y feel. or at least, not as much. i like using it when i feel my skin is dull or just dry. would i purchase it again? hm... maybe after i've gone through other brands, i'll come back to this one day.

in short!
my favorites - physician's formula
likes - clinique, the body shop, olay
eh - philosophy, estee lauder, eucerin

february 2012 favorites

a wee bit late, but never too late!

(school) lanyard: i don't care what any fashion-conscious person says about lanyards. hate them all you want; i love mine! my parents are always scolding me for forgetting my keys at home, so i decided to help myself (and my friend, she was selling this as a fundraiser for the swim team) and purchase a nifty lanyard. why not keep my keys on my neck the whole day? i've been wearing it nonstop since i've gotten it, and this is the best $2 i've spent in a long while. i haven't worn any necklaces since, but i don't mind. i kinda think it looks cool... school spirit, preppy, whatever. and yes, i have no car key. take note of the bike lock key! and the heart thingy is actually an audio jack splitter that lets you plug in TWO headphones. nifty on nifty!

the body shop vitamin e face mist: i purchased this along with a handful of other stuff during december when the body shop had their sale (BOGO free and B2G2 free). i think what drew me to this product was that 1) it's for dry skinned folks like myself, 2) i already really liked the vitamin e line, and 3) it claimed to set make-up! the make-up setting property probably sold me the most. does it really do that? not really, i find my face getting oily much quicker when i use it as a setting spray. but golly gee, this stuff is hydrating! i love spraying this whenever i felt my face getting tight or dry throughout the day and it helps reduce any powdery-ness of my face.

missha bb cream no.27: i LOVE this bb cream. more than any foundation i own! i got this for $8 during their promotional sale, but it's originally around $30! what they say about bb cream is true, it's good stuff. i won't get much into it, but i truly do love this product. i haven't been into my revlon colorstay lately because i've been wanting a dewey / glowy finish.

wet'n'wild coloricon single "panter": wet'n'wild seriously makes the best matte drugstore eyeshadows. ever. i was in love with their six pan palettes and i think the one called "greed" had the same matte black shadow. it's matter and ultra pigmented... perfect for setting my gel liner. i was so torn when they announced that they were discontinuing it, but jumped out of my seat when i saw this single pop up on blogs!! it's even more pigmented than in the palette! but less soft, and the packaging hurts my fingers when i try to open it. HG line-setting shadow, though!

MAC fluidline "blacktrack": this was featured last month and is one of my HG products. what else is there to say? good stuff.

shu uemura lash curler: yup. just about everyone's favorite lash curler. i've tried shiseido, tweezerman, and some other brands but none fit me as well as this. given, not everyone will love this because not everyone has the same eyeshape! i've just been diggin' curling my lashes a little bit more this month. another HG product.

january favorites

can you believe the first month of january is already over? days and weeks fly by way too quickly... soon enough i'm going to be seventeen. it's really strange how quickly high school flies by. elementary school and middle school seemed to have taken forever to get over with... and now it just feels like my youth is escaping away for me. everyone is always telling me to enjoy my high school career, but how can i when it's slipping out of my fingers? oh man.

anyways, here are my favorite make-up products of january! i would have included skin care, clothes, and misc but i was kinda lazy. and it just feels like i have to gradually get myself back into blogging again... so yeah. i don't really know my own style for this blog yet, and i just wanna... do whatever. ha. i don't even know where i'm going with this. anyways, my favorites are a mix of old favorites and new loves. i think most of these fave made it into my personal favorites nonetheless.

laura mercier loose setting powder - sephora

pond's wet cleansing towelettes - this is my second time purchasing a bulk pack of three of these! i got it for around $9, and these so far have been my choice cleansing towelettes. i use to them take of any make-up at night, and then i proceed to clean my face. these aren't amazing holy grail wipes, but they've been my favorite out of the few i've tried (baby wipes don't take off everything and the neutrogena ones leave my skin feeling strange). i tend to like pond's products because they're a-ok for sensitive skin.

revlon color stay foundation - oh gosh. the color selection in this range really is nuts. there are over twenty colors to choose from, and some of them are just so close to one another. i actually purchased one that's just slightly darker than me, but it was so hard to tell in stores! anyways, i purchased the one for oily/combination skin even though i have more normal/dry skin because i wanted a matte foundation, and i was afraid of shimmers in the other formulation. this stuff really does live up to its name! it's the longest wearing foundation i've ever purchased.

maybelline stylish smokes in "natrual smokes" - this is actually a re-purchase. i purchased it back in fall, but my sister wanted it and i gave it to her. the pigmentation in this quad is really average. it's not bad, but it's definitely not the most pigmented palette i've owned. it really isn't bad at all! however, i love it for the colors and the price. i'm happy to have re-purchased this.

MAC fluidline in "blacktrack" - MAC stores and counters

laura mercier loose setting powder - after hearing just about every beauty blogger rave about this stuff and using my sister's, i decided to get my own. the price tag didn't bother me at all because it's actually cheaper than sonia kashuk! you pay less per ounce. can you believe that!? laura mercier is actually cheaper than a drugstore brand? and the sonia kashuk one isn't even that great... anyways, this powder is the finest powder i've ever touched. my boyfriend was amazed at how fine it was too! it definitely prolongs the wear of my foundation and it just somehow makes your face a little more flawless (even though it's colorless).

MAC fluidline in "blacktrack" - i actually purchased this over a year ago and it hasn't dried up at all! and i've still got a ton of product left. this truly is the best eyeliner i've ever used, and it's still going strong as my favorite.

xo