May has been a hectic month - finals, moving out, overcoming the shock that I finished my first year in college and such. I've gained a lot of respect for myself actually but that's definitely a personal thing because, I mean, growth is inevitable.
With that said, I wanna share some of my current favorite beauty/skincare items because I'm a girl okay, and I like playing with makeup and ensuring I have somewhat decent skin. ALL of these products are brand new to me and I like to say as I grow up and change, my tastes and preferences do too.
My current favorite hair styling product: Not Your Mother's Double Take Dry Finish Texture Spray
I don't know where this product has been all my life but it is certainly a must have. It essentially adds volume and texture to your mane and I suppose it can act as a dry shampoo as well, absorbing those nasty oils from your roots. It smells awesome and is my favorite Not Your Mother's product.
Although it's not technically a dry shampoo, I'd say it's comparable to my Batiste dry shampoo except a little bit sticky because it does have some good hold. My only complaint is that you do have to spray it from an a distance because it can make your hair feel sticky and itchy. Other than that, an A+ hair product!
My current favorite leave-in conditioner: Fekkai Brilliant Glossing Styling Creme
Ok, so I know this is a styling creme but man, it's probably the best leave-in conditioner I have ever used. I picked this up when I was making my first Birchbox in Soho, NYC and I'm glad I did. The product claims to eliminate frizz, add shine and smoothness. To be completely honest, I don't actually style my hair.
Usually when I come out of the shower, I let my hair just hair dry and sometimes I use whatever is laying around for the ends of my hair. This stuff is great because it doesn't leave my hair sticky or clumpy as some hair products do. It smells nice and since I don't really have frizzy hair, I can't say if it does eliminate frizz but my hair does look more "polished" as it claims, so yeah, I'm really digging this. I say leave-in conditioner mainly because it does a fantastic job at making my hair softer and actually is great at removing any tangles (I have A LOT - Asian hair problems).
This is actually a sample from Birchbox which surprised me because for a sample, it comes with a lot of product and since I have short hair, this is definitely going to last me a while.
My current favorite lipstick: Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Flamingo Pose
As a lipstick junkie, Milani doesn't play when it comes to their lip products. I've been an avid user of their eyeliners and now their lipsticks. One thing I noticed, not just with their lipsticks, is that their products are so freaking pigmented. They are one of my favorite drugstore brands and since I own another lipstick from them (I might do a post all about my lipstick collection in the future) I already know what to expect.
Flamingo Pose is cream based, coral, berry red/pink shade. I really suck at describing lipsticks but my guess is that…it's blue based? Technicalities aside, this shade is pretty much flattering on many skin tones and is certainly bold. As I mentioned previously about the pigmentation, it's unbelievable. One swipe and you get so much color payoff. It's a great lipstick paired with a neutral eye look.
Since it is a bit too bold for my liking, I'm generally very careful with this lipstick in terms of application. Because I am very lazy (maybe too lazy) I use my finger to apply the lipstick on, so it appears that there is a wash of color on my lips. Even then, it lasts a pretty long time before you have to reapply. It's the perfect summer lipstick.
My current favorite primer: Benefit The POREfessional
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| Sorry for the poor quality of the pic and bad composition >.< |
I was in Sephora looking for something else when this product caught my eye. I generally like Benefit's products and since this was only $10 and it's travel-sized, I said, "why the hell not?"
I'm very impressed with this primer. It does an awesome job at creating a smooth, matte base for my foundation and it actually helps extend the longevity of my foundation while making my face look less caky. Overall, this is a great primer to use in the summer for all those oily faces.
I do have to say that you MUST moisturize well before applying this primer. The first time I used it, I remember how dry it made my skin and my foundation application was skewed to say the least.
My current favorite foundation: Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation
My go-to foundation is this baby. My shade is Classic Ivory and this foundation does exactly what it claims to do and even though I don't get super oily in the summer, I'd definitely use this in place of my usual BB creams because I always tend to look a like a grease ball by the end of the night.
In the winter time, I could get away with just applying this but since it is getting hot and humid, I always set it with a powder. I wouldn't say the foundation is completely matte but it leaves more of a satin finish. Nonetheless, any foundation that conceals my flaws and not break me out gets a thumbs up from me :)
My current favorite makeup brush: Beauty Junkees Flat Top Kabuki Brush
Oh gosh, where do I begin…this brush is a godsend. It truly makes applying my Maybelling Matte + Poreless foundation easy, more even, and smooth. It's a flat top kabuki brush and as you can see below, you'll notice that the bristles are quite dense.
They are soooo soft and honestly one of the best makeup brushes I have ever owned, hands down. I bought this from Amazon and it was actually recommended by YouTuber Sam. Actually, she was also the one to recommend this foundation so I'm glad that I have both!
I'm used to using a beauty blender to apply my foundation/BB cream but with this brush, I always pair it with my Maybelline foundation mainly because if I use my beauty blender (which I always use damp) then I feel that the foundation isn't matte and it actually doesn't provide the coverage I want.
Overall, I freaking adore this foundation brush that I bought two. It's really great for the price you're paying as well.
Link to purchase: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F008GFQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
My current favorite mascara: Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara in Blackest Black (Waterproof)
As a lover of mascaras, my standards are kinda high. I've spent the last few months splurging on high-end mascara such as the Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara. While I still adore that mascara, lately, I've been grabbing this one each time I do my makeup.
Because it is waterproof, it holds my curl much longer than all my other non-waterproof mascaras. As much as I love Too Faced's mascara, I'm sad to say my lashes always look dull and wimpy after a couple of hours, plus it's a nightmare when applied to the lower lashes. I mean, it looks good on my lower lashes…2 or 3 hours later, I'm left looking like a panda. A sad panda.
So, I really love how amazing this makes my lashes. Granted, I have lash extensions but I got them almost over a month ago and since they are falling out, it's time to whip out the mascara and spent a long-ass time making my lashes look like they actually exist.
It's a little hard to take off, but of course, what waterproof mascara isn't? My favorite part has got to be the wand.
I suppose it's the curved wand that's responsible for my curled lashes but honestly, when I do my lashes, I notice how every single lash hugs the gentle curve of this wand, pushing them upward. Haha, I'm probably the only one to notice such thing since I always hold the mirror close to my face when using mascara.
My current favorite body mist/fragrance: Victoria Secret's Victoria Fresh Body Mist
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| Not my photo, my camera died on me >_< |
The thing I like about this body mist is that the scent will linger on my skin longer than I thought (it could be that I use this in conjunction with the lotion) and it's so fresh and clean smelling that I might be wearing this throughout summer.
I really suck when it comes to describing fragrances but it's not too empowering and it had a slight floral scent to it. Anyways it's a great body mist to spray before heading out on a hot summer day.
My current favorite blush: NYX Blush in Mauve
I used to never be into wearing blushes - I only ever liked appealing bronzer and highlighter. When I was younger, my cheeks used to be naturally pink especially in the colder and drier months. However, as the redness on my face was reduced over the years, I realized that I could use a good wash of color.
NYX has always impressed me with their products and this blush is no exception. It's called Mauve, but it's the perfect shade of pink for me. It's quite pigmented so I'd be careful but other than that, it's a lovely blush to have in the spring and summer.
My current favorite powder: E.l.f.'s Studio HD Powder (Translucent)
This has always been a product I've been dying to try and now that I have it, I'm loving this. I'm quite used to using pressed powders and I've used so many. Sadly, I've yet to find a powder that locks my makeup in place.
This is my first loose powder and I'm surprised at how my face makeup doesn't fight it. After using this baby, my makeup lasts a good 6-8 hours before I notice some oil peeking through. My t-zone is quite stubborn which is why I always have blotting sheets on hand.
Overall, it's one of the best powders I've used and even though I wish it could keep my makeup from slipping longer, it's not bad for a drugstore powder and I will definitely repurchase this.
My current favorite eyeliner: NYX Studio Liquid Liner in Extreme Black
Truth be told, I love my eyeliners. The blacker, the better. A past favorite of mine was Urban Decay's 24/7 liquid eyeliner in Perversion but that price though…
I found this to be a great dupe for the UD eyeliner. The brush isn't a felt tip which I always felt is harder to use. With this brush, you can really control how thick or thin you want the line to be.
The formula is very similar to UD's and it's great to use in hot and humid weather. It's very black (the name says it all) and though it's a little difficult to take off, I can be assured that my eyeliner will stay put on my lids all day if need be ^_^
My current favorite nail polish: Sally Hansen Miracle Gel in Rosey Riviter
I change the color of my nails quite often and right now, I'm focused on this beauty. I'd insert a picture of what this looks like on my nails but they're kinda disgusting now so let's not haha.
This is a really nice coral color that's just so pretty, I often admire my nails despite the ugly condition they're in. Formula wise, it's not bad. It's not the best but it's the closest thing to a gel manicure you can get without going to the salon. The directions said to apply the corresponding top coat to it, which I didn't purchase, so I'm not too sure if that would've made a difference.
Nonetheless, it's creamy and opaque, and stays on my nails for about a week before chipping so I'm not going to complain :)
My current favorite facial cleanser: Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser
This is a really nice coral color that's just so pretty, I often admire my nails despite the ugly condition they're in. Formula wise, it's not bad. It's not the best but it's the closest thing to a gel manicure you can get without going to the salon. The directions said to apply the corresponding top coat to it, which I didn't purchase, so I'm not too sure if that would've made a difference.
Nonetheless, it's creamy and opaque, and stays on my nails for about a week before chipping so I'm not going to complain :)
My current favorite facial cleanser: Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser
For a really long time, skincare has always been a number priority for me. You only have one face, so you should take really good care of it.
The first time I shopped at Birchbox, I was intrigued by their rows of facial cleansers. There were so many brands I've never heard of and seeing my confusion mixed with awe, a sales associate came to me and after a semi-long conversation, she recommended me this cleanser.
I've never heard of this brand prior to her introducing me to it, but anything organic will have my attention. The number one ingredient of this product is citrus juice, which is known to clarify and detoxify our skin and leave it bright and fresh. I'll admit - it stung pretty badly in the beginning of me using this and I wasn't sure if I would continue using it, but a couple days later, the redness and sensitivity diminished and I could actually see a difference in my skin.
I noticed right away how bright my skin looked and while it was doing a pretty good job at clearing my acne, I still have some red marks (not scars, I've checked) on my cheeks and my forehead from severe breakouts I had in high school. But then again, I've yet to find a good product for these red marks since my skin can be stubborn =__=
I'm positive, however, that with continued use of this cleanser and experimenting with other facial products, that I'll be able to one day clear up my skin.
My current favorite makeup remover: Simple Kind to Skin Cleansing Facial Wipes
Lastly, these are my absolute favorite makeup removing wipes. I used to use Neutrogena's makeup removing wipes till I discovered these. I find that these wipes are more saturated and that they do a better job at removing my makeup then the Neutrogena ones.
Unlike Neutrogena, Simple's wipes are unscented and don't leave my skin feeling irritated as a result. My skin also feels super clean after using them and not dry at all. I still wash my face afterwards however, because you want to make sure all the dirt, makeup, and oil is off your face.
I apologize if this post appears to be messy - it is after all, my first time doing this type of post. I have another one coming right up after this since it is shorter (hint: it's a review) so I promise, I will update as much as I can.
Till next time,
Vicky
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