Lullabies and Lippies

I love one-shadow looks. They take no time at all to put together, yet you still look like you've 'made an effort.' For the last installation of my Valentine's Trilogy, I will be talking about MAC All That Glitters eyeshadow, which is a shimmery, pinky-champagne color which is easily one of my favorites, and one of my first MAC eyeshadows.

Couple of years back, I kind of went cray and jumped on the MAC bandwagon and started collecting MAC eyeshadows. I've mentioned previously that since then, numerous neutral palettes have come out - with qualities just as good, if not better, for just a fraction of the price you pay if you were to get similar colors all in MAC. Since then, my MAC eyeshadows have been sadly neglected, save for All That Glitters.

This shade is what I would call a stand-alone shadow, meaning I can use only this one color for my whole eye look. The shade is multi-dimensional, so it looks different from certain angles and in certain lightings. Sometimes it looks more pink, sometimes a more warm, champagne color, sometimes more rose gold. In the crease, it looks almost coppery, so it looks like you've spent more time on your look than you actually did. In a simple one-shadow look, this makes your complexion that much brighter and refreshed!

This color also works well in combination with other shades. I would typically use this as a lid shade and sometimes also in the inner corners of my eyes to make everything look even brighter! This color is so versatile, it works in any combination you could ever dream of, I promise!

Shimmery champagnes are quite the popular choice for eyeshadows. Pretty much all brands will have their own version. Some which I've found to be close dupes for MAC All That Glitters are: 1) eyelid shade from Wet N Wild Walking on Eggshells eyeshadow trio, 2) Revlon Nude Slip satin eyeshadow, and 3) Stila Kitten.

For your viewing pleasure, here are some product shots and swatches! :)

L-R: 1-MAC All That Glitters, 2-eyelid shade from WNW Walking on Eggshells, 3-Revlon Nude Slip, 4-Stila Kitten

The eyelid shade from Wet N Wild Walking on Eggshells is just a tad pinker. Revlon Nude Slip has the same warm shimmers running through it, and is very similar in tone, but leans just a smiiiidge more bronze. These two I would say are the closest in the bunch - if you were to use Revlon Nude Slip on one eye and MAC All That Glitters on the other, I bet you won't even be able to tell! Stila Kitten is also very similar in color, but with a whole lot more shimmer. The shimmers in Kitten are also more silvery, so although color is very close, Kitten looks a lot cooler than All That Glitters. (Note: I have Stila Kitten in smudge pot form which is a cream shadow, but the shade is also available in powder eyeshadow form.)

I hope you enjoyed my Valentine's Trilogy and had a great Valentine's weekend! ❤

The nude-baby pink lip was all the rage some years ago after a photo of Kim K sporting a nude pink lip came out. Word's out that the lipstick she wore in the picture was MAC Angel. For PART 2 of my Valentine's Trilogy, I will NOT be talking about MAC Angel. Instead, I will be talking about MAC Creme Cup, which is Angel's classier, more subdued and sophisticated sister.

Here's the picture I was talking about:

Note: Photo is not mine. Credits go to the rightful owners.

I bought MAC Creme Cup quite a few years ago, but only very recently figured out the best way to wear it!

L-R: one swipe only, built up with 3 swipes

Off the bat, it's a creamy nude-y baby pink with slight blue undertones. The formula is a Cremesheen, so you can expect great color payoff from it while still being moisturizing. In comparison to MAC Angel (which I also shamelessly own) Creme Cup is more nude than pink. Angel has stronger pink tones in it. They're very, very similar, though! On your lips, you can't even tell the difference. You definitely want to get only one or the other, though. You really don't need both! (But if you're a hoarder like me, then be my guest! Hehe)

Fairer skin tones can certainly handle piling this on to get an opaque, nude pink lip. Piling it on doesn't quite work for my warm, Asian skintone though. Because I'm medium-skinned, too thick a layer can make the color look almost pasty. Also, piling it on intensifies the blue undertones in this, and I just found that to look a bit awkward against my warm skin. Ever since then, I sort of just pushed this to the back of my drawer and forgot about it. Late last year though, I came across this again and decided to wear it to work the next day. What I did was just a quick light sweep on my bottom lip, and another on my top lip, then blend, blend, blend it in with a finger, and VOILA! A very clean, classy. nude lip (that doesn't make you look dead and) that just makes you look so, so fresh. So office-appropriate, too! I got many compliments from my office mates that day I wore it.

If my little sister (let's pretend I have one) were meeting her boyfriend's mom for the first time, this is the lipstick I would get her to wear! It's pretty, sweet, subdued, classy, clean, and fresh, all at the same time!

I'll be back with PART 3 of my Valentine's Trilogy! Clue: it's another lip product! :)

Keeping with the Valentine's theme, I give you my Valentine's Trilogy in which I will share with you my three favorite beauty products which are fresh, sweet, and pink! I'm doing PART 1 today, and you can bet your buttons that PARTS 2 and 3 will be up by February 14th. Today, I'm kicking things off with MAC Pink Swoon blush! ❤

I don't use pink blush all that often anymore. My current taste in blush leans towards the peachy to rosy-tan end of the spectrum. But I, too, was a teenager once! And once upon a time, I would only really wear pink blush! Some pink blushes, I feel, can look a little too 'teenager-y,' but lately, since I've been trying to shop my stash and use up what I have, I'm slowly falling back in love with MAC Pink Swoon blush, which is my first MAC product ever!

From this picture, you can kind of see that I've made a pretty huge dent on it already because I've literally had this since I was still in junior year high school, so almost 8 years now.

L-R: unblended, blended

In the pan, it certainly looks like a very intense, bright, blue-based pink that can look clowny. Being that this is a Sheertone formula, though, application is a different story. Color is true-to-pan, but you're still able to see a little bit of your skin showing through, kind of like your skin 'glows through.' I personally prefer this kind of formula best for my blushes, since it allows you to slowly build it up without going overboard. The color itself is a sheer, blue-based pink which just looks oh-so-young, sweet, and fresh on your cheeks! On warm, Asian skin, though, you can really tell that you have some blush on. It's not one to use if you're going for that natural/no-make-up look is what I'm trying to say (Peach tones work best for that on warm, Asian skin:) ) Just the same, though, I love this blush because it looks great in person, and even better in photos! Because of its blue tones, I find this blush really brightens up your entire complexion, makes your eyes appear whiter and brighter, and well.. just makes you look fresher. It's no wonder this is a favorite of make-up artists to use on brides, and one of MAC's best-selling blushes!

Sadly though, I hear this has been discontinued (why, MAC, why???), but you might still be able to get a hold of it at some MAC counters or online shops! If not, I hear MAC Well Dressed or NARS Angelika are really similar, just a tad on the cooler side!

In honor of Valentine's Day right around the corner, I'll be sharing a few make-up tips for a first date. ❤ (As always, these thoughts are my own and are only suggestions. Please feel free to do whatever you like or whatever you feel suits you best. :) )

When I think first date make-up, I think easy, pretty, but still natural-looking. Of course, you want to look pretty, but still natural and like yourself. I'm not a fan of super heavy make-up on a first date because: a.) it will look like you "tried too hard," and b.) your date might not remember you after your first date! (Kidding, but you get me.)

Here are my tips:
1. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!
The key to nice-looking make-up is well-moisturized skin. Well-moisturized skin not only makes a good canvas for make-up to sit on, but good skin always looks glowy, dewy, and well.. just better. So make sure to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize, not just in time for Valentine's, but all the time, really.

2. Use a mineral foundation
I love mineral make-up because it's good for your skin, controls oil well, and gives great coverage while still looking really natural. When done right, you can't even really tell that you have it on. It does take some getting used to though! So practice, practice, practice, if you can a few days before! :)

I love using my V&M Naturals mineral foundation in Hazelnut Latte. The container is teeny tiny, but you really only need a small amount to buff onto your skin to get good coverage. As you know, I have very acne-prone, combination-oily skin, and this stuff keeps my face matte all day and doesn't break me out! Double thumbs up for being a local product, yay! :) Got mine from Andi of PeaceLoveAndOrganics on Instagram. :)

This mineral foundation is so finely milled, it feels like it just melts into your skin! :)

3. Conceal sparingly
Concealers with a light formula, but still brightening are my best bet for this. My picks are the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles and the Rimmel Wake Me Up. Just put a few dots on your undereye area to brighten them up a bit, and spot conceal on other  areas which may be red or if you have any blemishes. You definitely don't want to be caking it on, though. So, use sparingly! If you have certain blemishes which still kind of peek through even after concealing, personally, I say, just let it be if you can. You'll look waaaay more natural (and low maintenance) this way!

Note: Photo is not mine. Credits go to the rightful owners.

Note: Photo is not mine. Credits go to the rightful owners.

4. Fill in your brows
No matter what look you're going for, I always recommend filling in your brows. Filled-in brows frame your face and make you look so much more polished. Makes a world of a difference! Any neutral-toned, matte brown eyeshadow works well as a brow powder. Just fill them in and comb through them with a spoolie brush. Brow powder is definitely the way to go for natural-looking brows!

5. Use a lip & cheek stain
Easy, quick, and doesn't really look like you have anything on - it just looks like you're naturally blushing! Also, since it's a stain, it doesn't really add on another layer on top of your mineral foundation like a powder or cream blush would! Less layers = less possibility of cakey make-up. On your lips, this will last waaay longer than a regular lipstick or gloss would, so you can be eating, drinking, and laughing all night without worrying about retouching your lip color. :)

6. Curl your lashes and apply mascara
Doe-eyed look? Check! Just give your lashes a few quick squeezes and put on some mascara. It's a small step that makes a huge difference. Your eyes look instantly brighter and wider. There's just something about long, fluttery lashes which is so pretty and girly! ❤ The mascara that I recommend all the time to anyone and everyone is Maybelline The Falsies. It separates, defines, and thickens your lashes and holds a curl really well!

7. Set your make-up with a finishing spray
This is optional. If your skin is dry to normal, you can totes skip this step, but if you're somewhere from combination oily to oily, definitely set your make-up with some sort of finishing spray. It takes care of any powdery-ness and helps your make-up to last longer, so you don't have to worry about blotting your face or retouching throughout the night. The Urban Decay All-Nighter setting spray is tried and tested for me!

Note: Photo is not mine. Credits go to the rightful owners.

This is not necessarily just for a date, you can use these tips anytime, really. I use these a lot, even when I'm just hanging out with family or friends, if I want to look very casual, natural, but still polished. Good luck! ❤

P.S. I'm trying to think of more Valentine's-related topics to blog about in the coming days. If you have any ideas, please do leave it in a comment down below! :)

I've got a lot to talk about and not much time, so here we go with the beauty faves!

Starting with skincare, I've been loving:
Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate & Midnight Recovery Eye cream
I use these in conjunction with one another at night, the concentrate as a serum, and the other (obviously) as an eye cream. This is probably Kiehl's two most popular products and over the years, and I've heard so much raves on how this truly is a miracle product to make your skin look more youthful, supple, and fresher by morning. I'm always skeptical about things like that which promise results immediately in such a short period of time (by morning? Are you kidding me?) but it truly does! The serum is nice because it doesn't leave a greasy film on your skin, it sinks in really nicely. And the eye cream - you can tell it's very potent, but it's still thin, so it gets absorbed really quickly. By morning, my skin looks refreshed and I look super well-rested!

Note: Photo is not mine. Credits go to the rightful owners.

Totally unrelated but doesn't the bottle look like something a mad scientist in a movie would pull out from his shelves??? Not that you would care, hehehe!

The Body Shop Vitamin C Daily Moisturiser SPF30
I caught a cold at the beginning of the month, and so I swapped in my usual Aveeno daily moisturizer for something a little more 'awakening' such as this one! And even after my cold had gone, I have not stopped using this! I love how certain instances like that bring you back to a product you once loved, and you think to yourself, "Why'd I ever stop using this??" I've been trying to be really good about applying SPF daily, and this has been helping me with that. The stereotypical moisturizers with SPF formula is thick, goopy, greasy, and sticky. This one however, for the SPF 30 content it provides, is surprisingly light and truly gel-like! I could hear my skin drink this up when I put it on (not really, but you get it!)

Note: Photo is not mine. Credits go to the rightful owners.

MoroccanOil Light Treatment
I love Argan Oil, but it's usually too heavy for my very fine (but unfortunately frizzy, so it doesn't look fine at all) hair. This Light formula is really the only thing that won't weigh my hair down! Feels like nothing when you put it on, but it's super nourishing.

Note: Photo is not mine. Credits go to the rightful owners.

For make-up:
Christian Dior Creme de Rose lip balm
The chilly/windy weather has made my lips so dry and chapped, this is the only thing that helps! Other lip balms I have are too thin or slippery, and they just don't cut it! This one is nice and thick and feels really nourishing and luxurious on my lips. I'm just about to run out of this one, but probably won't be repurchasing because it really is crazy expensive for a lip balm. (Any suggestions for a cheaper alternative that works just as well? Chapstick doesn't cut it for me!)

Note: Photo is not mine. Credits go to the rightful owners.

Shu Uemura Face Architect Glow Enhancing Powder Foundation
This was my first ever powder foundation. My mom got this for me waaaay back in high school. (Admittedly, I still have the same one, yikes! But no worries, it hasn't gone bad yet.. or so I hope.) I've been digging the whole minimal make-up look lately, and I've been opting to go for a light dusting of powder foundation. This one provides a good amount of coverage too, so I find when I use this, I don't have to use nearly as much concealer as I normally would if I were to use another powder like my 3W Clinic or my Maybelline Dream Matte. Doesn't get cakey or oily, and I find that the more 'worn-in' this gets on face, the better it seems to look!

Note: Photo is not mine. Credits go to the rightful owners.

NYX blush in Taupe
Staying with the whole minimal make-up look trend, I've been opting to define my face a little bit more vs. putting on eyeshadow. I'm okay with no eyeshadow, just give me contour. You know when you see someone and notice they've done something different to make them look better, but can't seem to tell what exactly it is? THIS.

Note: Photo is not mine. Credits go to the rightful owners.

Benefit blush in Bella Bamba
Because I've been going so minimal on the rest of my face, I do like a little bit more color and just a taaad bit sparkle on my cheeks to give me more life! This blush is the perfect peachy pink with subtle golden sparkles for everyday to make you look fresh and happy! :)



Wet N Wild Megalast Lipstick in Stoplight Red
On days that I do have to look a little bit more put-together, I'd rather sport a bold lip rather than wear a bunch of eyeshadows. Takes waaaay less time and effort to get ready, and you look just as polished (maybe even more!) This one by Wet N Wild is my favorite bold lip to wear because it goes with any outfit. It certainly is dramatic in person, but in pictures, it looks really nice and surprisingly, almost natural! I think I wore this one out on all weekends of January.

Note: Photo is not mine. Credits go to rightful owners.

That's it for my faves. I'd love to hear yours! :) Comment down below?

I hope your February is full of LOVE, LOVE, LOVE. ❤

One of my resolutions for 2015 is to be brave and try new things. New things like a new bold lipcolor!

Note: Photo is not mine. Credits go to the rightful owners.

Messy hair and bold lips - my uniform everyday!