Chloe Gift Set + Sephora Samples

Hello everyone!

Last week, I purchased a 1 oz Chloe by Chloe eau de parfum at Sephora for $75.

Then of course, 2 days later. I received an email from Sephora for VIB Rouge members about a Chloe by Chloe perfume gift set that includes 1 oz perfume, 3.4 oz lotion, and 0.17 oz mini perfume. All of this for $80, a $112 value!! Annnnd it came with FREE 3-day shipping! 

So you know I had to jump on that really awesome deal!!!

I returned the perfume I purchased in store and bought the gift set that I could only find online. 

I also got a bunch of samples to go along with it.

Chloe by Chloe (per Sephora website) has notes of pink peony, freesia, lychee, magnolia flower, lily of the valley (happens to be my sorority flower!), rose, cedarwood, amber and honey.

I love Chloe because the scent is not too overpowering and lasts most of the day. One of my favorite perfumes is Burberry Brit Sheer, but that does not last longer than an hour or two. Way too expensive to disappear too soon.

The beautiful pink and gold box

The goodies!!!

Look how cute this mini is

Samples: mostly skin care :)

Just thought I would share. The packaging is way too cute and I must admit, I was way too excited to share :D

Xoxoxo

30th Birthday Diaries: Makeup Gifts

Hi everyone!

I wanted to share some of my birthday makeup gifts with you all. I haven't used any yet, but I did swatch a few and try on the lippies.

The goods

TWO FACED: NATURAL EYES:

I am in love! I love neutrals!! This palette is so beautiful (and comes with tutorials) that I almost do not want to use it. And the names are the cutest! :D

I did swatch the highlight, blush and bronzer. That highlight was way pigmented!

SEPHORA LUSTER MATTE LONG WEAR LIP COLOR: NUDE PINK

I am exchanging this one. It's so much brighter on my lips than the actual tube that the color, when on my lips, is almost neon, like a milky pink neon. Not very cute on me at all. It does not fit my skin tone whatsoever.

MAC: MINERALIZED EYE SHADOW IN SPICED METAL

This is very shimmery! It stays true to it's "metal" description. This is something I will definitely use on the center of my eye when doing a smoky eye. 

MAC: VIVA GLAM V

I really dig this. It is similar to a "my lips but better" color but with a luster finish. It's a beautiful every day color that I can wear to work though I do wish it did not have that shine. 

This is actually my first Viva Glam lipstick so I'm excited about that :)

I'll share some of my other gifts next week. I got tons of Starbucks gift cards (YAAAAS!). I also got a purse, a necklace and a dress (that may be too big for me).

Until next time! 

Xoxoxox

Mini Sephora VIB Sale

Happy Wednesday everyone!

We are at the middle of the week, half way to the weekend! YAAAASSS!!!!

I'm sure you have been seeing Sephora VIB hauls lately as Sephora had their VIB sale about two weeks ago. VIB-ers get 15% all purchases. Sephora does not typically have sales so people definitely go buck wild and take advantage.Who wouldn't?!

I'm kind of broke and trying to not hoard much makeup like I used to so I did not buy much.

This haul might actually be pretty boring, LOL. But a haul is a haul and I love sharing :)

Sorry for the poor, unblog like picture quality. I still haven't quite figured out how to take beautiful pictures of products. Bear with me!

Tada!!! LOL. Only four products (one not pictured) that I purchased

Benefit Hoola Zero Tanlines

I can't wait to try this. Quick backstory: I tan easily, but because I have Lupus, I can no longer be in the sun for too long. Thus, I am pasty and ghostly! I used to use tanners, but got over it because it was really smelly and took forever to dry. I will definitely post an update on this product!

Please see my review on the Lorac Island TANtalizer if you're interested on my thoughts on that.

Chloe by Chloe Eau De Parfum

I am happy to add this beauty to my collection. This is my second perfume ever! My first perfume ever was Burberry Brit Sheer. I felt like such a grown up! How beautiful is this packaging though??

(If you're curious, the fourth product I purchased was for my mom. It was also perfume: Prada Candy Kiss)

Clinique Scrub Cream + Moisturizer in travel size. 

I bought this for my upcoming trip to Las Vegas to see JLo :D I never bring proper face wash - only face wipes - so I figured this would be a great, practical buy. It was only $10 pre-15% discount.

First Aid Beauty Flawlessy Fab Skin 

This was a points perk. I have heard such great things and decided to give it a try. I also included the many samples I received. I am most excited to try the dr. brandt oxygen facial mask as well as the Caviar CC leave-in perfecter. 

That's it for my mini Sephora VIB sale haul. I hope you enjoyed :)

Xoxoxox

RIP Sigma F80

Essential Kit - Mr. Bunny

Case that comes with kit

Kabuki F80

(photo credit for all pictures above: sigma.com)

Nearly two years ago, I purchased my first real set of high end brushes from...dun dun dun...SIGMA - one of the most (if not THE most) talked about makeup brushes on YouTube. 

And I understand why! I love my Sigma brushes. They're sturdy. They're dense. They're soft. They're whatever they're meant to be. They're amazing and I love them.

My most used brush, the Sigma F80 Flatop Kabuki, was an additional purchase as it did not come with the set. I used the F80 to buff in my tinted moisturizer and foundation (when I actually wear foundation). I also use it to blend my concealer underneath my eyes.

This brush is nearing its deathbed. 

This big ol' chunk plopped right out. Days before this came out, I noticed a few random brush hairs on my face whenever I used it. Then eventually, a good chunk just stood up high and marched on out...well, not literally, but it was donezo! 

Is this normal?? Have any of my Sigma users experienced the same thing?

I am definitely saddened by the near death of my brush, but the show must go on! I'm not ready to let go of my brush. The remaining hairs are looser of course as a chunk of it is gone. However, I continue to use it until its final day...or until I get myself to an Ulta or Sephora. LOL.

I've been hearing good things about Real Techniques and Japonesque.

Decisions decisions...

<3<3<3

Product Empties #1

Aloha!

This is my first Beauty Product Empties post. I probably shouldn't even be writing this post right now as I need to finish packing my luggage. I'm going to the Philippines in two days! My mom started packing things she wanted me to bring over to the Philippines. She took up one full large luggage and half of one smaller luggage. I feel so unmotivated to maneuver my stuff in. 

Procrastination is the name of the game so here I am!

I've been meaning to do this post for ages and I guess this is the "right" time to do it, in the midst of packing for a two week vacation... -__-

Here's my compilation of productions!

FACE: 

L'OREAL Revitalift Moisturizer (Repurchase? This is like my 5th tub!)

Revlon Color Stay Power in Light Medium (Repurchase? Probably...not?)

Milani Powder Blush in 06A Pink Craze (Repurchase? No)

EYES:

e.l.f. Eyebrow Kit in Medium (Repurchase? This is my 1st compact and I stocked up on 2 more!)

Sephora Liquid Liner in Black (Repurchase? If I was at Sephora and it was more convenient to buy liquid liner then and there)

Superlash by Apple (Repurchase? The results were great, but the brush was difficult to master)

Pink & Green by Apple (Repurchase? The results were great, but again, the brush was difficult to master)

EYES (in detail)

My sister gave me these mascaras that she found at the dollar store. They are made in Mexico. The smell was awful. One was an awful almond and 
the other was just awful! Either 1) I got used to the smell or 2) it faded in time.

Maybe I'm not great at putting on mascara, but these brushes where difficult to maneuver!  95% of the time, I got mascara all over my lids and lower lash line. It was a hassle to touch up eyeshadow if I wore any.
I must admit, the results were pretty great. Family, friends, and coworkers did comment on how curled, voluminous and long my lashes looked.

To me, it's just not worth the mess.

LIPS:

L'OREAL Infallible Lipstick in 512 Intensely Mauve (Repurchase? Undecided, but maybe?)

L'OREAL Infallible Lipstick in 227 Eternal Rose (Repurchase? Again, undecided)

I love the Infallible line by L'OREAL. The only hesitation for me to repurchase these colors is that I want to try other colors :D

I hope you enjoyed my spontaneous/procrastination post.

What are on your beauty empties list? 

<3<3<3

OOTD and FOTD: Baby Shower (again)

I'm in that age bracket in which most [ by history's tradition] people start to get married and/or have children. A few weeks ago, I attended my 3rd baby shower since December. That's 3 baby showers in 4 months. YEEE! A reminder that I am getting old. Whompity whomp.

I wanted to showcase my outfit which is a beautiful beautiful teal dress that I found at Target. Do any of you see something that you love, but tell yourself not to buy it, but you can't stop thinking about it?? That is me ALL the time...ALL ALL ALL the time (yes, I'm working on it, hehe).

The dress on the left is the dress that stole my heart. I saw it as I was leaving the checkout line.Holy canoly! Isn't it gorgeous?! I had to snap a picture so that I could forever remember the beauty that is this dress. Of course, I could not get it out of my mind. I looked it up on the Target website. It was $24.99. Not a bad deal, right? I convinced myself that I didn't need it. Days went by and I couldn't stop wanting (needing) that dress. One day, after hanging out with a girlfriend, she, without much effort, convinced me to end this longing for the dress and go get it! We drove to two different Targets in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles to find my size. Lo and behold! There it was! I bought the teal dress. As beautiful as the pink is, the color did not compliment my skin tone.

Now here is me flaunting the dress. I know, I know. I look silly, I look stupid, but HEY! WE ALL DO IT, DON'T WE? Admit it. ;] Gray and white blazer on top, nude kitten heels down below.

I love the dress! It's very "Stepford wife" which I'm starting to realize is very much my style when it comes to dresses...Oh well :D

Here is my creepy eye make up shot. I used the palette below from Urban Decay. It's an old palette that I bought over the Black Friday sale at Ulta. It was $10. What a steal!

Picture source: Ebay 

The palette is called Urban Decay Deluxe Shadow Box. It came out a few years ago so the price has gone significantly down. I bought because it was only $10 and I thought Why not? When I first got in it in the mail, I was freaking out just a bit. The pigmentation on the vibrant colors is (to be redundant) vibrantly pigmented. However, I learned to use it lightly, build, and blend. It is currently my go-to palette for soft neutral looks with a pop of color. 

There are two lessons to be learned in this post:

1)  If you like something and if it's reasonably priced, BUY IT then and there. Sure enough, someone else liked it just as bad as you did and grabbed it instantly causing you to drive all around town to find it. 

2) Try something out of your comfort zone. It just might end up being a beautiful thing ;]

<3<3<3

Halloween 2013: Minnie Mouse

HAPPY [early] HALLOWEEN!!!!

I have never really liked Halloween. Even when  I was a kid, I never cared about dressing up. I only dressed up when school "made" us wear costumes for parades or whatnot. I'm quite the chicken and don't like scary things so I was never interested in the spookiness of Halloween. Year after year I was either Thumbelina or some type of princess wearing a dainty dress with a load of tool. There was one year, however, when  I was a pirate, but that was a hand me down from my older sister.

For some reason, after a breakup with a longtime boyfriend in 2011, I started to grow a liking towards Halloween. Part of it was a reinvention thing but more so my just ever increasing fascination for anything beauty related. In 2011, I was Miss Philippines and in 2012, I was a poor imitation of Peter Pan. That year, I wore black leggings, wide-brimmed booties, and an off the shoulder green shirt. See, poor imitation.

This year, I decided to up my game a bit. Halloween is still one of my least favorite holidays and I am still not big on costumes, but it is an opportunity to play with makeup. I strive to look as normal as possible while playing with and enhancing makeup.

This year, I decided to be Minnie Mouse! The idea came to me when my cousin bought me Minnie Mouse clip-on ears from Disneyland. She and her boyfriend were visiting the US from Canada and Disneyland was one of their must-sees. The moment she gave the clip-on Minnie ears to me, I immediately became inspired for Halloween. And this was in July! My old self would look at my new Halloween-liking self and ask, "Who are you?!"

For my Minnie Mouse ensemble, NOTHING was bought! You can most definitely do Halloween for cheap or for absolutely nothing. I wore a causal red dress that I bought at JC Penny about 5 years ago, tights that I had from who knows when, a belt from a gray dress purchased in 2010, and wide-brimmed booties that I bought at Papaya in 2010. And of course, the ears were a gift from my cousin. 

 My "costume." Excuse the funky face I was making

Now for the fun part - the MAKEUP!

 I love dramatic eyes. Any opportunity to wear lashes and a smokey eye, I will take it!

(Excuse the cray cray brows. I was growing them out to have them reshaped...which I did today!)

 My eye make up. I am so proud of it! Not to toot my own horn, but I'm getting better at this eyeshadow thing. It takes a LOT of practicing (and blending), but it DOES get easier.

I received these sample eyeshadows from Sigma when I purchased $30+ worth of products. I really like them! They were a bit powdery but I'm not sure if that's because of the sample packaging. 

Foundation: Makeup Forever HD Foundation in N127

Undereye Concealer: L'oreal True Match Super Blendable Crayon W 1-2-3

Power: Revlon Colorstay in Light Medium

Brows: ELF brow kit in medium

Blush: Milani Pink Craze

Inner corner:  Sigma - Elope

Lid: Sigma - Gimp

Crease/Lower lashline: Sigma- Elysees

Outer corner/V: MAC Typographic

Eyeliner: Sephora Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Mascara: Maybelline Volume Express Falsies in Blackest Black

Lashes: from Daiso, a Japanese $1.50 store

Nose: Wet n Wild brow pencil in Black Black, MAC Typographic, Sephora Liquid Eyeliner in Black

Lips: Wet n Wild Wine Room

My other favorite: NAILS!

 My Minnie inspired nails. Just dots and bows

Base coat: Revlon

Red: NYC Big Apple Read

White: Sinful Colors Snow Me White

Tools: Toothpick for the bow and bobby pin head for the dots

 

So I may not have the same Halloween spirit as other more festive Halloweeners, but I am sure warming up to it. Whether or not you're a fan of Halloween, I wish you a wonderful and safe night. If you're walking the streets, always have a buddy and watch out for cars. If you're driving on Halloween night, please be wary of trick or treaters. 

<3<3<3

Nails Nails Nails: Gallery of Past Designs

I think 2011 was the year I became obsessed with doing my nails. I was becoming more and more obsessed with beauty blogs, YouTube tutorials, and Pinterest. Oh social media, the things you do to me!

I decided to just showcase my nails from seasons past. The great thing about blogs is that you have an online record/diary of everything you do and choose to post. As you can see, I rarely do monotone colored nails anymore. I need some type of design. Very rarely (usually when I don't have time) do I just do one full color sans design.

Here goes it!

*Disclaimer: Please don't mind the poor lighting and amateur clean up. I am only just a beginner :) And sorry for the sudden influx of photos :) All products that I can remember are mentioned.

I did these nails for the UCLA v. CAL football game last week (UCLA won!). Products used from left to right: Revlon Multi Care Base+Top Coat, Revlon in 020 Pure Pearl,  Forever 21 Marina, Elf Golden Goddess, and Wet n Wild 236C Silvivor

 I found the Loreal Limited Edition Diamond Collection nail stickers on clearance so I bought two: one black and one gold. I used the black one on top of Sinful Collections 857 Bianca. I used the gold stickers on a Wet n Wild nail polish. I used Butter London's Nail Foundation as the base coat. LOVE

These nails are inspired by a design that I came across on Pinterest. As you can tell, I modified it and added a Peter Pan collar on the the thumb nail

These nails were also inspired by a design that I found on Pinterest. I used Sinful Colors in 857 Bianca mixed with a white nail polish also by Sinful Colors

Sorry for the poor lighting. This is another Pinterest inspired manicure

And yet, another Pinterest inspired manicure. I wore this the week of Valentine's Day in 2012

Simple blue and gold diagonal

This was my go to look when I worked in a very [unstructured] structured facility. Nails had to be less flashy. Since I just couldn't do nails without flash, I did these more subtle decor

These nails are inspired by after seeing Google images of "baby shower." As the caption reads, the nails were done in honor of my baby nephew

I was obsessed with bows at one point

 I did these nails for my former co-intern's wedding 

Nails for the Olympics. Go Philippines! :D

The beginning of my nail bow obsession

Lupus Awareness themed nails

This is the only nail that came out decent! HAHA :D And this is the first of my nail art obsession

I know I added a lot of photos in there, but I do hope you enjoy. I make no claims to be fantastic at nail art. I simply enjoy doing my nails and playing around with different designs. I find it quite therapeutic.

Show me your nail art. I'd love to see it and be inspired!

<3<3<3