Update & Favorites

Hi guys! It's been a while since I last updated my blog. School has been kicking my butt, and I barely had anytime to do anything. Since summer is here now, I'll definitely be updating my blog more frequently. I thought I would come back with a current favorites post. I've definitely been trying tons of new products in the past months so keep checking back for more reviews coming up!

The Body Shop has been upping their games lately and coming out with lots of amazing new releases. I recently tried out their color crush lipsticks, and I fell in love with them. Their formula reminds me a lot of the YSL sheer candies; they're sheer and very moisturizing. They have been my go-to lipsticks lately as they're super easy to put on and the color is very buildable. I prefer them over the revlon lip butters, which I found to be very greasy-feeling on my lips and made my lips peel. I have it in the color #14 and #18, and I'll definitely be picking up more in the future!

I love me some neutral, bronzy eyeshadows, especially for the summer months when I can't be bothered with my eye makeup. I've been using the Bobbi Brown Shimmer Wash Eyeshadow in Rosegold all over my lids lately for an easy beachy, bronzy look, and it just gives my eyes the perfect amount of shimmer and definition. Just like the name says, it's a bronzy rosegold color. The formula is very smooth and buttery, and lasts well on my oily eyelids.

I finally discovered my holy grail powder!!! It is the Tarte Amazonian Airbrush Foundation. Words cannot describe how much I love this power, it is everything I want in a powder! It is sweatproof, waterproof, high coverage, and very natural looking on the skin. You can apply it over your liquid foundation or tinted moisturizers for a flawless look, or just use it on its own for days when you want an effortless natural look. Like the Laura Mercier Mineral Powder, you can keep layering this powder on your face without having it looking cakey. Moreover, it is more lasting than the Laura Mercier powder and gives more of a satin to matte finish, which I definitely need in the humid summer months.

Another product that's perfect for the hot summer months is the Josie Maran Coconut Cheek Gelee. It looks and feels like pudding in the pot, but once you apply it on your face, it turns into a stain and literally won't budge until you take it off at night. It just blends into your skin and makes you look like you've got a natural flush.

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Current Favorites #9

I recently got the Guerlain Terrocota Bronzing Powder as a birthday present to myself and I've using it nonstop. This is a luxury item so it's not something that everyone needs, but it is nice to have if you have the money to splurge on a high-end bronzer. It is incredibly natural looking on the face, probably one of the most natural looking bronzers I own, and blends seamlessly into my skin.

My go-to lipstick recently has been the Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick in Riviera, which is a gorgeous orangey red color. It is one of those lipsticks that goes on quite sheer to give you a natural tint, but you can also build it up to a quite bold color. It feels super creamy and moisturizing on the lips and reminds me a little bit of the the Revlon Lip Butters, except that this feels more comfortable on the lips and lasts longer.

I recently found these Smashbox eyeshadows in my local Winners for super cheap, so I quickly grabbed them because I've always wanted to try out some Smashbox eyeshadows. The single I have is in the color Minx, which is the most unique taupe color I've ever seen. It has both a purply tone and a bronzy tone depending on the light that you're looking at it under. It has definitely been my favorite crease color as of late.

The trio I have is in the color Screen Shot, which is the perfect combination of eyeshadows to create a neutral everyday look. It consists of a matte light brown color, a bronzy gold color, and a dark brown with goldern shimmers. These are super pigmented and easy to blend, and I really have nothing bad to say about them. I'm definitely interested in trying out more Smashbox makeup in the future!

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Current Favorites #8

I've been obsessed with these NCLA nail wraps as they're so easy to use and they literally last for weeks on my nails. I got the floral ones first and I loved them so much that I picked up these limited edition ones. If you suck at doing nail arts or just don't have the patience to do them, then these are perfect for you as they have all sorts of patterns and colors! I've been wearing them as accent nails and I think that they give my nails a great pop of color for the summer time.

I can't believe that it took me so long to discover MAC All That Glitters as it's one of their best-selling eyeshadows. It's the perfect bronzy champagne color and if you love neutral shimmery shadows then this is a must-have for you. I've wearing this all over my lids with winged liners and it just looks super put-together without too much fuss.

I've been looking for a great summertime concealer that's sweat-proof and long-lasting for a long time, and a lot of Asian bloggers have recommended the Canmake Cover Stretch Concealer. It is seriously the longest-lasting concealer I've found, and it provides medium to full coverage while still looking natural. I have super oily skin and this literally doesn't budge until I go take my makeup off at the end of the day.

I got a BareMinerals Ready Foundation sample from Sephora, and I didn't have too high of an expectation when I tried it as I already found my holy grail powder which is the Laura Mercier mineral powder. This surprisingly gave my face a very similar finish to the Laura Mercier mineral powder. The coverage is bulidable and looks incredibly natural; no matter how many layers you put on your makeup never cakes up, and it just looks like a second skin.


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Current Favorites #7

So cream cleansers have become pretty popular lately and a lot of brands have started to make them. Since "like dissolves like", these cleansers dissolve into an oily consistency once you massage it onto your face and really helps to break down your makeup which are often oil-based. The Borghese Cleansing Creme has become my favorite cleanser at the moment. It feels super luxurious to massage this onto my face, and it leaves my face feeling squeaky clean and also moisturized

Benefit Fakeup has become my go-to undereye concealer lately. The actual concealer is surrounded by a layer of moisturizing balm, so you're getting the concealing action and the moisturizing benefit in one. This won't cover really bad undereye circles, but if you suffer from really dry undereye area and you just want a bit of brightening then this is perfect.

I finally picked up another one of Buxom's Lip Creams as they came out with a few new colors. This time I got the color Mai Tai, which a gorgeous orangey coral color. If you remember from a few posts ago, I mentioned that these lip creams are my favorite lip products of all time, and I seriously have to restrain myself from getting every single color. These lip creams are super pigmented and they make your lips look super juicy without feeling sticky on the lips. They're just super comfortable to wear on the lips and last pretty long as well.

I'm excited to say that I finally found my holy grail primer, and it is the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer. This stuff literally does everything I'm looking for in a primer. The fact that it is mineral-based and oil-free means that it is great for people with acne-prone skin and it won't clog your pores like a lot of silicone-based primers do. I find that it is also great at minimizing shine and smoothing out the skin texture, as well as making my makeup blend to a super natural and flawless finish. I find that when I use other primers my makeup will start to separate and look cakey by the end of the day, but when I use this one my makeup doesn't do that at all and even when my makeup starts to fade, it actually fades to a beautiful natural finish.


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Current Favorites #6

I decided to add Trilogy Rosehip Oil to my bottles of facial oil collection after seeing it on practically every beauty blogger's blogs. Rosehip oil has become pretty popular lately for its ability to decongest pores as well as heal breakouts. It is rich in antioxidants and vitamin E which help to repair skin cells and fade any pigmentation. It feels super light on the skin and absorbs into my skin right away, and I find that I can pair this with my moisturizer without feeling like I have too much products on my face.

I've been looking for the perfect yellow nail polish to wear in the summer time for a longtime, and I finally decided to splurge on a Butter London nailpolish. Butter London Jasper is the perfect shade of pastel canary yellow that adds a great pop of color to your look. The formula of Butter London nailpolish are always super creamy and opaque.

I got the Benefit Watt's Up Luminizer as part of my Sephora Beaut Insider b-day present. It's been on my to-buy list for a while and the fact that I got it for free is even more awesome. It's a peachy golden highlight that helps to give a luminous glow to the skin, and I've been all about the glow lately.

I got the Etude House Cute Eyes Maker after hearing so many Korean beauty bloggers rave about it. It's supposed to help you to achieve aegyo sal which has been pretty popular in Korea and a lot of k-pop stars even undergo surgeries to get it. It has two sides with spongy applicators. One side is super shimmery which you're supposed to use in your inner corner, and the other side is a very subtle matte brown color which you're supposed to use underneath your aegyo sal to bring it out even more. Definitely try this out if you want that Korean ulzzang look!

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Current Favorites #5

One of my summertime skincare staples is the Murad Oil-Control Mattifier, and I can't believe that I haven't mention it on my blog before because it is what I absolutely swear by in the summertime to keep my oily skin at bay. It is the only thing that will keep my face from looking like a oil slick throughout the day, and I've pretty much tried every single oil-controlling or mattifying product on the market.

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Current Favorites #4

Sexy Hair Healthy Soy Renewal Beach Spray is beach hair in a bottle. It acts as a leave-in conditioner and a texture spray in one to give my hair volume and tousled waves as well as nourishing it at the same time.
I find that a lot of texture or salt sprays make my hair crunchy and dry, this doesn't do that at all. I love the fact that it does two things at once because who wants to put on a bunch of hair products in this hot and humid weather?

I can't believe that it took me so long to try out Hydraluron as this has been the most raved-about product by bloggers and youtubers recently. It is basically a serum that contains purely hyaluronic acid which penetrates into the deep layers of the skin to restore moisture and elasticity of the skin. Consistent use of this will help to increase cell turnover, reduce skin roughness and boost the action of other skin care products that you put on top. Again, as I've mentioned countless times in my previous posts, moisturization is the key to solving any skin problems, so I highly recommend this to any skin types.

I got the Innisfree Vivid Tint Rouge on Ebay recently because I heard that it's apparently a dupe for the YSL glossy stains. I have it in the shade #4 Refreshing sweet orange, which is an orangey red color. It is surprisingly pigmented, and lasts really long on my lips without being drying. I've the tried the YSL glossy stains before, and I have to say that I like the Innisfree one better.

If you read my previous post on cream shadows, then you'll know that I'm obsessed with them and I pretty much wear them everyday because they're great for everyday natural makeup and stay on my eyelids without creasing in the hot humid weather. Daiso Cream Eyecolor in Rose has been my recent favorite. It is a rosegold color that is super pigmented, easy to blend and lasts forever on my eyelids, and it is super affordable too. You can find it on Ebay for around $6.

Here are the swatches:

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Current Favorites #3

  

 

So it should come as no surprise to you that I've been super loving this Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Glow in Tansoleil for the past few weeks, as I've just dedicated a whole post on cream blushes not too long ago. After loving every single product that I've tried from Kevyn Aucoin, I decided to give their cream blushes a go, and I've fallen head over heels for this. It is a beautiful coral color that dries to a dewy finish so it helps to give your face a natural glow. This just makes my face look so healthy and fresh even when I have a bad skin day. I never thought that a blush could make my skin look better, but for some reason it just does.

Here is a closer look at the product:

             

To brighten up my undereye area, I've been using the Clinique Airbrush Concealer. It is super light and moisturising, and it is one of the few undereye concealers I find that don't emphasize my fine lines. It gives me a subtle highlighted effect and makes me look more awake and fresh.

I've been trying out more face oils lately as I find that they make such a big difference to my skin, and I will do a post on them in a few days. Balance Me Radiance Oil is the one I've been really liking lately. It contains loads of good ingredients such as sweet almond oil, grapeseed oil, jojoba oil and rosehip oil, just to name a few. This is suitable for all skin types, especially oily and acne-prone skin as the oils really help to decongest the skin and prevent any future breakouts.

To get rid of any product buildups in my hair, I've been using the Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo every other week. I find that sometimes my hair can look really dull and flat just because I use a lot of hair products in my hair, and this just helps to get rid of those nasty residues that normal shampoos can't get rid of. It is a clarifying shampoo so it is meant to be used every week at the most because it can be a bit drying on the hair. I find that this gives so much volume and shine to my hair after I use it, and I can't believe that I didn't discover this product sooner. Follow my blog with Bloglovin

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Current Favorites #2

Now that the weather is getting warmer, I've been getting into lighter makeup. Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua is a water-based fluid foundation that is oil free and non-comedogenic. It has a light and buildable coverage, and helps to create a fresh and natural complexion. It evens out my skin tone and covers up any redness, while still letting my true skin show through. This is great if you want to look like you are not wearing any makeup, and I've been getting a ton of compliments lately when I wear this.

To set my foundation, I've been using the Laura Mercier Mineral Powder, which is one of my holy grail face products. Like the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, it provides buildable coverage yet still looks natural on the face. No matter how many layers I put on my face, it still looks natural and not powdery at all. Unlike most powders, this one doesn't make my face look so matte to the point where it looks cakey and lifeless, but it still controls oil and sets to a very natural finish. Mineral powders in general are very good for people with oily and acne-prone skin because they are anti-bacterial.

To help me to achieve that summer beachy tousled hair look, I've been using the Bumble and Bumble Hair Un Dressing Cream. I work it between my hands, and scrunch my hair with it while my hair is damp. It just helps to give tons of volume and texture to my hair.

To get my legs ready for the summer, I've been using the L'occitane Almond Shower Oil to help with the moisturization department of my legs. It has an oily consistency and you just work it over your whole body when you're in the shower. It makes my legs look super moisturized, smooth and glowing, and you don't even need to use a body moisturizer when you get out of the shower if you're lazy like me.

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Current Favorites #1

I want to start this new segment on my blog where I talk about my current favorite beauty products. Although I'm constantly trying out new beauty products, I do want to make sure that I use a product for at least two weeks before I mention it on my blog, so I will try to do these posts every other week.

First up is Buxom Lipcream in Berry Blast, which is probably the only lip gloss that I wear on a daily basis. It glides on the lips buttery smooth and doesn't feel sticky at all. It is extremely pigmented and can be worn alone. This is great for those of you who want bigger lips because it will make your lips look super juicy, glossy and moisturized. It also has a slightly tingly sensation when you put it on, which doesn't feel uncomfortable at all. Berry Blast is a gorgeous hot pink color and I definitely want to go back and pick up more shades. I used to hate lip glosses, but this has me totally converted.

The Clarins Evermatte Foundation is an oil-free foundation that gives medium coverage yet still feels light and natural on the skin. Clarins is a brand that never lets me down; all of their products that I've tried so far have been super impressive and this one is no exception. This is definitely gonna be my go-to foundation for the summer.

The Dollywink Volume Mascara is my newly found holy grail mascara. For many years, I relied on the Kiss Me Long & Curl Mascara as my go-to mascara; it is extremely waterproof and smudge-proof, which is just a godsend for my extremely oily eyelids. Personally, I find that Asian mascaras in general are better at being smudge-proof and waterproof than a lot of the Western mascaras. I have to say that the Dollywink mascara is just a little bit better at giving my lashes length and volume than the Kiss Me mascara does, while still being waterproof and smudge-proof. I still wear the Kiss Me one for everyday just because it looks more natural, but if I'm going out or if I just want my eyes to look extra big, I will go for the Dollywink one.

This is a fiber mascara which I prefer because the fibers really help to lengthen my lashes. It has a pretty big wand with a small tip, which helps to get to the really hard-to-get corners of your eyes. You can find this on Ebay or any other Asian beauty sites for around $15.

Turquoise has been the IT color this spring and summer; I've been seeing it everywhere from the runways to magazines. Dior and Lancome have both came out with a turqoise liner in their latest spring collections, and I've been coveting them for a while, but I wasn't about the spend almost $30 on an eyeliner. So I did a little search online and stumbled onto the Holika Holika Waterproof Eyeliner in Emerald Green, which is only $6 on Ebay. Color-wise, it is an exact dupe of Dior's Diorshow Liner in Aqua Green. It's also super creamy and pigmented, and lasts all day on both my upper lash line and my waterline. This will just give your makeup a bright pop of color that's super on-trend for the spring and summer.

Since the weather has been getting warmer, I've been opting for more simple makeup. I've just been wearing Benefit's Buckle Bunny all over my eyelids lately. It is a beautiful shade that has so many dimensions to it. When worn sheerly, it gives your lids this beautiful rosegold color; when you build up the color, it looks more like a warm bronzy brown. What I do is that I put a sheer layer all over the lids and build the color in the crease. This color works to brighten and define your eyes at the same time.

Here are the swatches:

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