Thursday, October 31, 2013

Happy Halloween!

Here are some pics from my office's Halloween lunch party. I wasn't planning to dress up, but thanks to my friend's brilliant idea I managed to come up with a simple DIY costume that cost me almost nothing!


My colleagues came with amazing costumes! It was so funny when my "Lego" friend said. "How does Lego walk?" when were doing a mini fashion, or should I say costume show. 




I don't know why I was smiling so wide. I was so shy but tried to go through the 'costume' show  anyway. 


Elmo and Cookie Monster who also baked dessert for us


Happy Halloween!! 

What do you dress up as this halloween? 

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

My Pick: I Am Legend

I've decided to incorporate my-recommendation-on-other-than-makeup-related posts on my blog at least once a month. I know it's not really beauty-related post, but that's why my blog's called Beauty and Beyond. This is the 'Beyond' part =)


For the longest time, I couldn't decide what kind of movies l like the most. I used to think I like all kind of movies. Thanks to my parents who love going to the movies and cheap tickets in my hometown, I used to watch newly released movies at the theater more than three times a week. I guess I wasn't that busy during that time of my life. Not too long ago, a revelation came me. I realized my favorite type of movies is not rom-com, which I had led myself to believe for quite a while. I used to watch oldie but goodie like Princess Diaries, She's All  That, Wish Upon A Star over and over again until I could remember every scene. I realized how much I enjoyed watching sci-fi. There's this thirst inside of me to always search for great sci-fi movies, just like I Am Legend.

Halloween is just around the corner, and I think I Am Legend is a perfect pick for that spooky night full of zombies. I've watched this probably 10 times already, and still I cannot get over myself how nail-biting, heart-breaking, and satisfying this movie is. This is by far my number one movie of all time, and I don't say that kind of thing lightly. I take my movie very seriously. 

 If you've never watched this before, let me break it down to you. If you don't like action/thriller/heart-pumping kinda movie, then this might not be for you. But if you're a thriller-seeker like I am, then this is perfect. 

I don't want to give any spoiler, so please go watch it yourself and let me know how you like it!

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Shop Sephora - Holiday Gift Ideas

If you've been a faithful Sephora customers, you know that every year Sephora has friends and family sale which amounts to 20% off for everything in the store. For makeup/beauty enthusiasts like I am, 20% is a BIG deal to spend of high-end products because they're, rarely, if not never, on sale. But in 2012, Sephora changed its policy to have the 'Friends & Family' sale only for friends and family but they still have 20% discount for VIBs in the following month. 

I don't know what's the deal for 2013, but I'm assuming 20% off for VIBs will be coming up in November. On that assumption alone, it gives me reason  to share with you my picks from the store.

Lorac Pro Palette
This is currently out of stock in the Sephora's website, but I'm guessing it will be back in stock by next month. I remember how NAKED/NAKED 2 palettes were huge last year.
I've mentioned this several times already, I prefer Lorac Pro palette because it has more variety in terms of colors and looks you can create. Plus the pigmentation is amazing.


Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush Palette & Bracelet
 
You know how I love Tarte amazonian clay blushes. They're amazing, and having them all in one palette is just perfect for dollar saving! This palette comes in 4 blushshades - dollface, dazzled, darling, crave and 1 bronzer in park avenue princess. 


Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette
This comes in 3 different highlight shades that just perfect. These won't make your face like a disco ball. Hourglass really does a great job in creating a perfect highlighter combo. I used this in my last LOTD post.


Sephora Favorites Super Stars
You don't have to like every single product in this kit. For the price of two or three products that you actually will buy/try for yourself is worth the spend. Most of them do come in full-size rather than mini sample size. For more details you can watch GlamLifeGuru's video. Some of the things in the kit that I'm really excited to try are Josie Maran 100% Pure Argan Oil, Nars Blush & Bronzing duo, Origins GinZing eye cream and Smashbox BB Cream.


Obsessive Compulsive Lip Tar All-Star Mini
I've been wanting to try these ever since Emily mentioned them in her video. Obssesive Compulsive is a brand that's really against animal cruelty, which is a huge plus. This kit comes in 4 different shades in mini sizes, which I still think you can get a lot of use from considering they're "a little goes a long way" kind of products.

Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer + No.28 Primer Serum Duo


Hourglass primer is the bomb! I have both the primer and serum in deluxe size, but I haven't tried the serum yet. For the price, I think it's a good start to try hourglass products.


Thanks for reading!


*courtesy photo from Sephora.com

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

LOTD: YSL 'Youth Liberator' Serum Foundation

I'm so excited to share this review with you. As I mentioned on my previous post, I got YSL Youth Liberator Serum Foundation as a birthday present. My shade is B60. It claims to be infused by anti-aging serum, hence the name, serum foundation. It's said to provide 24-hour hydration and SPF 20 protection. 
 I've put this foundation in test for 2 different days just because I forgot to take 'after' pictures on the first day I tried it on.

Application
So here are the before and after I applied the foundation. 

                                  Before                                                                           After

The foundation instantly evens out my skin tone. It smoothes easily onto my skin and camouflages redness. This definitely offers medium to full coverage, depending on your application. 

  
My makeup is just freshly applied here. The foundation looks gorgeous and provides flawless and smooth coverage. The foundation doesn't have a matte finish, although the above picture might show you otherwise. I'd say it has more satiny finish, appearance-wise and velvety finish, texture wise. Does it make sense? What I'm trying to say is once I apply the foundation, I can feel how my skin just feels as soft as a baby's bottom. Now it's time for lasting power test. Fast forward to Saturday. 

Lasting Power 


These pictures were taken after about 3 hours of application. Everything still looks great. You can see in the pictures the my skin looks more glowy, thanks to the sunlight and some highlight. I personally prefer this type of foundation  rather than matte-finish one for winter because it makes your skin looks healthy and more radiant during colder season, which often makes skin look dull.



Quick LOTD:
●Maybelline Instant Age Rewind dark circle eraser - 'Light'
Lorac Pro Palette - I used 'Lt. Bronze' all over my lids, 'Gold' on the outer corner, 'Sable' on my crease and 'Espresso' as my liner
●Mally Beauty Volumizing mascara - in love with this!
●Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing makeup base
●Tarte Amazonian clay 12-hour blush - 'Buff'
●Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette - 'Radiant Light'

8 Hours Later...


My skin still looks covered. I can still see the blush on cheeks. My eye makeup stays put, which is more because of the eye primer, but still. My skin does get a tad oily especially on my forehead which is the oiliest part of my face, but nothing a little setting powder can't do. I also use Urban Decay All Nighter setting spray to lock the makeup in place, which in my humble opinion plays its role quite minimally. Why? Because I still get much more oily using the setting spray and other foundation that didn't work for my skin, so I don't think it makes a lot of a difference in the 'keeping oil at bay' area. It is a nice addition, but doesn't always work its magic. 

Anyway, back to the foundation. Overall, I really like this a lot. Even more than the previous foundations I reviewed from Marc Jacobs and Jouer. It provides coverage but still keeps you looking natural and not too made-up. I don't have to layer on the product to get the coverage/look I want. One layer did the job for my skin. 

Price
I realize $69 is very expensive for a foundation. That's why I was hesitant to get it for myself. But after trying it out for myself and seeing what the product can do, I'd say it's well worth the spend (well, even though I didn't spend the money myself this time, I would repurchase). Foundation is the key of great-looking makeup, so if you want to invest in one product, it's best to be a foundation. You can also go to the YSL counter in the department store (Sephora currently doesn't carry this product), ask for a sample and see it for yourself.

I highly recommend this foundation if you're looking for a hydrating, natural-looking foundation. Those two criteria are particularly important during colder weather when skin tends to get dull and dry. 

Thank you for reading!
Are you interested in giving this a try?
What's the best foundation you've tried?

Sunday, October 20, 2013

2013 Birthday Haul Beauty edition: Mally Beauty, YSL and Chanel



I know, this is about a month too late, but what can I say? I got my birthday presents late this year. I remember having a conservation about the five love languages. If you're not familiar with it, it's a book written by Gary Chapman. Basically, according to him, there are 5 love languages: words of affirmation, acts of service, receiving gifts, quality time, and physical touch. The book is a very interesting read. It's particularly important to learn about your love language and your significant other's.

I think receiving gifts is my second strongest love language. The gifts should be things I do like, though. Haha..
Anyway, here are what I got for my birthday. I did have a wish list going on. I think it is a smart move to ensure I get what I do like, although it does minimize the element of surprises. Well, we just can't get everything. =/

Mally Bulletproof Essentials Kit
I think this kit is exclusively from Ulta. I've always wanted to try Mally Beauty products after hearing Emily raving about it a lot in her videos. In this kit, you get: shadow stick (which Emily swears by it will stay like no other), a creamy automatic pencil liner, a lip gloss and the Evercolor poreless face defender, which is the whole reason I wanted to get the kit. It's supposed to act as a touchup product, to absorb excess oil and keep your makeup fresh.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation
Do you see the theme here? I am currently all into flawless-face products hence another foundation. This has been in my wish  list since last year, but I just couldn't justify the price at that time. I'm so happy to finally be able to try it.

YSL 'Youth Liberator' Serum Foundation
The packaging..oh my, I can't even...It's like a bundle of joy in a glass bottle. This is my first YSL makeup product ever. I've heard great reviews about this, but to be honest, what sealed the deal for me other than this being a great foundation was the packaging. *Guilty*

I will have reviews on all of these products on my blog once I get a chance to try them. So stay tune!



Friday, October 18, 2013

New Makeup To-Go: Marc Jacobs Foundation, Lorac Pro Palette, Tarte blush, and more

Prepare for some reading! 


I've tried quite a few new products, and I want to share some with you guys today.  On daily basis, I don't really wear makeup that often just because I don't have it in me to get up earlier in the morning just to get ready. I'm guilty when it comes to sacrificing look for sleeping. But lately, I've found a solution where I do my makeup after I get to the office. That way I don't have to rush to beat the traffic. I go to work pretty early and most people at my office don't usually show up until about an hour later. So I get a good minutes to get ready in my little cubicle. 

Here are some mini reviews of the products I've been carrying in my makeup bag lately. 

I got this as a sample from my online Sephora order. I've heard good things about Hourglass lately, and I was so excited to try this out. This product is freakin' amazing. I know how primer smoothes out the surface of skin, but really this takes the whole priming-step to the next level. It only takes a little bit to smooth onto my face, and my skin immediately feels really soft and even. It does help with big pore problem in a way that it acts as a veil to the area which keeps the foundation from 'magnifying' pores. Best primer I've tried so far, hands down.

Okay, so this is not exactly a new product for me, but I've found a new way to use it. Instead of using it after foundation, I dab the product under my eyes and blend it before foundation. That way, it makes my dark circles less apparent and highlight the area without looking too white or to 'made-up' if you know what I mean. I like using this because the product doesn't cling to lines or the creases under your eyes which concealers typically do. That's why I prefer not to use regular concealer under my eyes because they're not meant to be used on the area like this is. 

I have a whole review dedicated to this foundation. I fell in love with this when I first tried it from a sample I got at Sephora and decided to get the full size after getting 25% discount. The foundation looks really nice on my skin, and I feel that it holds up pretty well throughout the day. I do need to powder my forehead to keep the oil at bay, but other than that, everything looks good!

I have a blogpost for my Tarte haul a couple of months back. From all of my Tarte products, I love the amazonian clay blushes the most, especially this particular shade, buff. The best way I can describe the shade is it's a nude peach-y color that makes you look glowy without looking too much. You don't really need a highlight when you use this. It acts as a blush and a highlight, and also a bronzer! No, I don't contour or use it as I would with a bronzer, but the nude peachy shade makes my cheeks pop and my skin looks more tanned and glowy. Plus, the lasting power is amazing! This has amazonian clay in it which claims to minimize oil and keep the product in place. 


Lorac Pro Palette
I love the color combo on this palette. I feel it gives more variations hence more different looks than the great ol' Urban Decay Naked palette, which I still like. The pigmentation is great, the colors are nice. There's not really anything bad to say about this palette. I find myself using the shade 'Lt. Bronze' and 'Mauve' the most. I particularly enjoy using 'Mauve', which is a matte shadow, as crease color. It's a great alternative to typical matte brown.


Rimmel Scandal Eyes Water Proof Kohl eyeliner - Nude
The beauty blog world is rocking this product. I'm really sure every beauty youtuber I watch recommending this product, claiming it to: make you look more awake, brighten your eyes, stay throughout the day. I personally like it, I think the shade is a better choice than stark white that beauty bloggers used to swear by "making you look more awake/make your eyes look bigger", but I don't think it stays on my water line as long as the hype says it would.

Cover Girl Last Blash Volume
Nothing new, still my favorite mascara for its smudge-proof feature, even after long hot summer days.

Milani Eye Tech Extreme Eyeliner - Blackest Black
I've told you all about it on my review. I like it because it doesn't smudge on me, but I did hear my friend told me that it smudged on her. She also told me she has oily eyelide and had no primer on. It's something to consider as some products do need a little 'boost' to work better.

Cover Girl Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss - Apricot Twist
Similar as Revlon just bitten kissable balm stain, it's a jumbo lip pencil which I enjoy the easiness of applying. The color Apricot Twist is, for me, a standard natural lip color that suits different kind of skin tones. It smoothes onto my lips, and it doesn't feather throughout the day, which I find a lot of drugstore lip products do.

Thank you for making it this far! Hope you enjoy reading it. 
What's your favorite new products?

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Revlon Colorstay Whipped Creme Foundation

Hi everyone!
Happy October 15th! Yes, tax season is over! At least for now. Sorry for being awol for quite a while.
Yep, these were taken when I was at the office. I didn't have time to put my makeup on before work. I was rushing to beat the morning traffic. I don't usually wear makeup when I go to work just because I don't really have time and I don't feel like it especially during busier months like now. 
This was on a Friday, so I thought I post a review on an old product I've been using but haven't got a chance to put on a test till now, Revlon Whipped Foundation. My shade is warm beige. 

What a difference makeup makes! Look at my chubby cheeks on the before shot. 
You can see from comparing the two pictures, the finish of this foundation is quite matte. Yes, it perfects your skin, but that's exactly why I don't like to use this often. It doesn't really look as natural as I prefer. 

Consistency and Coverage
The consistency is very thick. I remember seeing this the first time and thought "It does look whipped." I don't really feel the need to use concealer when I use it. As you might have guessed from the thick consistency, it also does show on the coverage. 

Application
You might want to be careful when applying the product because a little bit does go a loooonngg way especially for a product as thick as this. I dab a few dots on my face and blend it with my Sigma kabuki brush. I then dab a bit more on blemishes to act as concealer. 

 Lasting Power

About 9 hours later...
As far as the coverage goes, the foundation pretty much still covered my blemishes, although I could see it oxidized a little bit. I could still see my blush  which is a good thing, but the finish is not as matte as I first applied it in the morning. From the picture, you can see that it slightly turns to a dewy finish. And no, it's no a good dewy look I like. 

Under natural lighting, the foundation still looks pretty good, although as I said, it's lost its "perfect" coverage. Lo and behold! You don't want to take flash photographs with this foundation after several hours. Look how oily my face is! I can literally wipe off excess oil from my forehead, nose and cheeks and it rarely happens for me as my skin is more on the dryer side, but then again, it might have changed towards combination after all the products I've used.

Overall, it is a good foundation, but it's not something that I would go for a day-to-day use. I also wouldn't rely on it as a  long-lasting product as it, ehm, oils my skin. This does look good for photographs on the first few hours. It needs touchups and all that jazz to make it last longer.

Have you tried it? What do you think?


Tuesday, October 08, 2013

What's in My Makeup Bag - Essential edition

Happy Saturday! 
Lately, I've been expanding my "beauty route" and carrying a little "not-really-makeup-bag" with me. I am one who always go for a "light baggage". What I mean by that is that I don't like to carry things that I don't really need, or at least I don't think I need until I dhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJFnHjzkHX0o. I don't usually bring makeup with me wherever I go except for lipbalm/lipstick.

What's in my makeup bag is more an essential stuff. 
  • Hand Sanitizer - well, everybody needs one. =)
  • Dramamine - okay, so I don't need it on daily basis, but when I do, I usually don't have one with me so I have to buy a new one. I have this ever since my trip to Mendocino on 4th of July. I got sick on the road, and my boyfriend got me this on a convenience store. I don't usually get road-sick, but it was a winding road and we didn't have lunch till late. I gotta say, this stuff works because of the drowsiness it causes. I fell asleep like no other. It's more like a sleeping pill than motion-sickness pill. Well, whatever works. But I'll get the non-drowsy version next time.

  • Maybelline Baby Lips in peach kiss - I carry this because it's just easy to apply and basically colorless. It's not completely colorless, but you can't really tell. I bought this because I thought all Baby Lips have SPF but turns out only certain shade does. Oh well.
  • Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm in rose petal - The packaging might look boring, but I really like this. It's oval-shaped, so it's different. I like the scent, too. I can't describe how it smells, but let's just say it smells good. The shade is just wow. It highlights the high tip of your lips so you don't really need a gloss on top. It's a tinted lip balm, and it's comfortable on the lips, but I use it as more lip-color purpose. Don't rely on it as a stand-alone lip balm because it tends to give noticeable feathering on lips throughout the day if you have dry lips like I do.
  • Moist towelette - this just a random thing I got from a restaurant. I didn't use it at the time, so I just put it there thinking it might come handy someday.
  • Pen - need I say more?
  • Zam-Buk - for those who are not familiar with this stuff, let me tell you, this is a magic ointment. The packaging looks more like a giant lip balm. The product itself is green, and the it has that soothing eucalyptus scent you tend to find on skin ointment remedy. My mom got me this from Singapore, so I'm not sure where you can get this in the States. This has numerous uses - minor cuts and grazes, chapped hands, chilblains, sore/aching feet, etc. I like using it wherever I have cuts or burns. It just makes the area heals faster and more, I guess, gentle.
  • Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Therapy in Rosewater -  I know Crabtree & Evelyn from my mom and sister. It has the most gorgeous little store at the mall, and I just like the rose scent. I got this hand cream on sale awhile ago.
  • Hair tie and clips - this just that little things that are handy anytime anywhere.

    Thank you for reading.
    I hope you all have an awesome weekend!

    ❤❤❤