Fall 2014 Favorites

This past Fall have been the season for me to fall more in love with makeup. I tried a few products that have got me head over heels over this season's makeup trends, both old and new!

Maybelline Vollum'Express: The Rocket Mascara

I know, I know. This mascara is old news, but it is new news to me! For the past how many years, I've been loyal to Maybelline's Volum'Express: Falsies. This year, I started branching out and trying new mascaras. I decided to give this a try this Fall and I am so happy that I did. I mean, look at my lashes! :) I own false lashes to make my lashes look that way :) Next up on my "To Try" list is Maybelline's Lash Sensational Mascara. Has anyone tried it?

NYX Matte Setting Spray

I LOVE THIS!!!!! I am currently using my second bottle. I actually think this works even better than the Urban Decay All-Nighter Setting Spray. That's a big claim especially since I love the UD spray. The NYX setting spray just really made my makeup last all day. If my blush and bronzer are still on by the end of the day, that's how I know the setting spray has worked. The UD is longlasting, but by the time I get home from work, my blush and bronzer have lightened to little to nothing. With NYX, I look nearly the same as I had left the house :)

Best way to use it: Put your moisturizer on, set, primer, set, setting spray, set, apply makeup.

I have heard the L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Makeup Spray was a great drugstore setting spray.  I do want to try it but it's more costly. 

NYX - 2.3 fl oz at $7.99 - $8.99

L'Oreal - 3.4 fl oz at $13.99 - $16.99

Urban Decay - 4 fl oz at $30.00

Urban Decay - 1 fl oz at $14

Even though L'Oreal has more product in it, it's still pricier per fl oz.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel

(Picture from Target website)

There are mixed reviews about this nail polish, but aren't there always? You cannot buy the polish without the top coat. TRUST. For me, the polish wore off just like any other polish would within a few days. The top coat works magic for me. It made my polish last for a week. Together, it does look and feel like you have gel nails on. It's shiny and sturdy. I love it! It's $9.99 each so definitely wait for drugstore promos such as BOGO 50% off. I am currently (and anxiously) awaiting the next BOGO sale from Ulta. Hurry, Ulta, hurry!!

NYX Matte Lipstick in Aria

Vampy is definitely back this Fall. I've never felt bold enough to wear a more vampy lip, but 2014 was my year to unleash the styles I wanted to be no matter how timid I felt. I always stayed safe with natural styles because it was expected of me, but heck! This year, I learned to just be me. Aria is definitely a gorgeous color, both in photos and in person.  It has fuchsia/magenta tones embedded in it so it makes it easier to transition to a vampy look if that's not what you're used to. The color is just so beautiful! I wish I could wear this every single day :)

Wet N Wild Megalast Lip Color in Sugar Plum Fairy

Another vampy look! I know this is similar to NYX's Aria, but this color is darker and less pink. The more you layer, the more plum the color becomes. So beautiful!! 

I cannot wait to see what I fall in love with this Winter :)

What were your Fall faves?

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Nails of Week: Floral Lace

This week's nails are inspired by @nailsbyerinn on Instagram. I found her picture below on Instagram's "Popular Page." I've seen similar designs before and this time I thought I'd just give it a shot! 

My inspiration (IG: @nailsbyerinn):

My interpretation:

To my surprise, the flowers were not a complicated as I had thought. I used to just skip the floral designs because I thought they were too difficult. It really was not that bad! :) This goes to show that practice makes perfect and that you just got to do it!

I really don't know how these nail artist take fabulous photos! I'm still trying to figure that out. Please leave tips if you have any :)

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Nails of the Week: Purple and Silver

These are the nails I rocked last week. It's a little sloppy (my silver lines are not straight), but they are well-intentioned!

I Google searched purple nails and found my inspiration from there. 

I used Sally Hansen Miracle Gel nail polish and the accompanying Miracle Gel top coat.

You must MUST use the Miracle Gel top coat with this Miracle Gel polish for best results. Granted, I haven't tried other drugstore gel-esque nail polish, I do vouch for this Sally Hansen pair. The top coat adds a long lasting gel shine that lasts as long as you have it on.

I initially used the purple polish with a regular Sally Hansen top coat, but it was nothing special. The shine disappeared after a day and the purple did not last as long.

When I used the gel polish and the gel top coat together, my nails and their shine lasted so much longer than with the non-gel top coat.

I definitely love this new line from Sally Hansen. If only the polishes were a bit cheaper.

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Ulta Haul: First-Time Products

Interesting fact about me: As much as I love makeup, beauty, and all that jazz, I am very wary of trying new face products in fear of a massive breakout...

HOWEVER, in my last trip to Ulta, I bought three never-tried-before face products. Look at me living on the edge...kinda...LOL

Rimmel London 

Fix & Perfect Pro Primer

I know, I know. I'm late to jump on this bandwagon, but I have always stayed away from primers because I did not want to add one more product to my face. When it comes to makeup, I want less on my face and more on my eyes and lips. Bold eyes are more my style. 

As I get older and as it gets hotter in our Los Angeles summer (we're going through a heatwave right now), my skin tends to get oilier faster. I know there's a Stay Matte primer, but I opted for the Fix & Perfect because I do want some fresh faced dewiness. 

I shall keep you posted on how it works out for me :)

L'Oreal Paris

Revitalift Eye Cream Moisturizer

Okay, so this isn't exactly living on the edge. I do have the regular Revitalift Moisturizer. I purchased this after reading an online article (I know, great source, lol) that said women in their mid 20s should start an anti-aging regimen. Whether this is legit or not, it prompted me to do the same. 

My mom is also a big fan of anti-aging products. Maybe I inherited it from her. When I was in high school, she bought me Estee Lauder's DayWear moisturizer which helped with anti-aging. Like mother, like daughter?

I've been using it for a week and have not noticed a difference yet. It feels like the regular moisturizer. I suppose knowing that it has a purpose is comforting enough to me at this point. 

Benefit 

The POREfessional Mini

To be honest, I didn't know what pores were until I noticed them on my ex-boyfriend's face two years ago. Haha. Then I saw them on my own face on a small patch of my cheeks by my nose. My pores, thankfully, are not big, but you can still see them when you look closely. 

I decided to try this out. I think it works? I always forget to use it and I'm not sure if it makes a big difference for me, perhaps my pores are not too big? Maybe I should try it on my ex. LOL. 

Eco Tools 

Skin Perfecting Brush

In my RIP Sigma post, I talked about my favorite face brush - Sigma F80 - being on its deathbed. Hairs were falling out in chunks. 

I decided to buy something much cheaper. I did my research and found that the Eco Tools brand was a good set and also good for the environment. So why not? The description read that it was good for BB/CC creams and tinted moisturizers, which I use on a daily basis when I step out of my home. 

My verdict: It's okay. It does get the job done. Cons: It is quite prickly which makes a smooth buffing motion difficult.

Sally Hansen

Miracle Gel in Street Flair

If you know me, I am a sucker for nail polish and even bigger sucker for muted purples. I heard great things about this nail polish and decided to give it a go. 

My verdict: LOVE! I only wore it for 3 days (instead of the usual 5 - 6) before taking it off. It was smooth and stuck on strong. I hear the Miracle Top coat does wonders to it. I'm thinking of trying that too because Ulta does sell them in a duo of a gel nail polish and top coat. I almost bought the set in store but I did not like the color in the duo. 

I just love Ulta and any makeup store really. What's going to kill my wallet is that Ulta is having a 21 Days of Beauty sales events. OH ULTA. WHYYYY +ULTA Beauty <3 

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Product Fail: Sally Hansen Color Foil

In my previous haul blog, I raved about the Sally Hansen Color Foil nail polish. I wrote about how I didn't understand why it received such poor reviews online...then the next day, it all became too clear. My nails were chipped!

Some of you may not think that's too bad. This picture was taken Wednesday morning. I did my nails late Monday night. My nails do NOT chip this fast...ever! Even when I use cheaper 99cents nail polish. 

Reviews online said that nails chipped the next day. I have to agree. I had the nails on for one full day only. This is sad. If you've seen a few of my previous blog posts, you would know that I am a nails fiend and love doing my nails.

This polish retails for $8 - $9. I can't believe a nail polish as expensive as this did not last me more than a day. Rite Aid offered 40% this nail polish when I purchased it. Had I paid the full price, I probably would have returned it.

It even cleans off funky too. Haha. Gross. It looks like brassy funk.

The foil finish is beautiful, but I really don't think it's worth buying at that price. I suppose it's great if you do it the day of a special event. It does dry fast, but still...the total wear time. No way, Jose!

Have you tried the polish? Please tell me your story!

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