Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Beauty Review | Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask


Happy Tuesday! I hope you all are having a great week so far. I am having my "friday" today and will have another long weekend this week. I can't believe new year's just two days away!

I got this in a set during Sephora VIB sale along with Origins Night-A-Mins cream, GinZing eye cream and GinZing moisturizer. I was looking for a good  moisturizer, and Origins is well-known for its skincare products. I like almost everything in the kit, but 
 Drink Up Intensive Mask is the star among others in the kit in my opinion.  

This is the kind of face mask that you leave on overnight and rinse off the next morning. The application is more like a moisturizer, but it acts a million times better. It's formulated with avocado and apricot kernel oil. Both ingredients are known for moisturizing benefit. 

I don't use this everyday, but every three or four days because I feel like everyday would just be too much hydration if that's possible. I also skip my moisturizer when I use this because it already covers the moisturizing part. When I wake up the next day, I feel my skin so smooth and look more healthy and glowy. It claims to work best for dry skin types. I have combination skin, and it still work wonders for me. Plus, the scent is soooo good. It's refreshing and just the kind of scent I want to put on my face. I would totally recommend this or just give is a gift for the holiday. 


Thanks for reading!
Have a great new year!

Sunday, December 28, 2014

Everlane Chunky Knit Sweater


Happy Sunday!
I hope everyone had a warm Christmas. I spent mine touring in San Francisco. We visited a couple of places and went back for dinner with friends. I get too dependent on my blanket and heater. I purposefully turn on the heater in my bathroom for a couple of minutes before I go in to save me from the freezing cold of undressing.  

Everlane has become my favorite online shop to browse. They deliver high quality products with simple essential clothing items. Comfy and chic are what I consider my own personal style, and Everlane resembles that effortlessly. 

I purchased The Chunky Knit Boyfriend cardigan a few weeks ago, taking advantage of their referral credits and holiday bonus.  I can't find this online anymore, but they have the crew version. Since it's boyfriend style, it's meant to fit loosely and more baggy which I love during this colder months. I just like to snuggle with thick sweaters. 

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

Happy Christmas Eve!

Happy Christmas eve!

I finally got to wind down from the busy-ness of the season. I got three days off from work which is really awesome. This is actually the first time ever in my life that I don't really have "holiday" holiday at the end of the year. I don't take any day off except for the ones I'm given, so I'm really grateful I get this 5-day weekend for Christmas. 

I have nothing special planned for Christmas this year. This weekend will just be filled with food and friends. I've put my presents under the tree, and now I'm excited to see what I'm getting. There's just something about presents... I love them! Big or small. haha..

Me as Rudolph at my office Ugly Christmas Sweater contest

Office Holiday party


With some of the people I am grateful of knowing =)

I wish you all a very merry Christmas. May you find joy and peace in this most beautiful time of the year. Thank you for supporting me and reading my blog. It means so much to me.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Walmart Beauty Box




Beauty subscription is not a relatively new thing anymore, a lot of companies do that now. My very first encounter of this was from MyGlam, now known as ipsy which is founded by Michelle Phan. Walmart beauty box is not a monthly subscription, rather it's seasonal. You will only be charged each time when the box is shipped. It only costs $5 which covers for the whole products inside and the shipping & handling fee. I think it's a really good bargain. 
This is my very first beauty box from Walmart, and I am pretty happy with what I got. It includes Burt's Bees makeup wipes and a full-size Covergirl colorlicious lipgloss in "candylicious" which already retails for $6 at Walmart. 

What do you think? 
Any beauty box subscription worth recommended?

Sunday, December 14, 2014

My Holiday Favorites/Beauty Gift Ideas



Hi everyone!
 I'm excited to share my Holiday favorites with you. I am a beauty enthusiast, meaning that I love all things beauty! I really like everything in this post, and I think others like me would really appreciate finding them under the tree on Christmas morning, or just any other day really. I know it's pretty late in the season, but better late than never. 

This fix include Marc Jacobs O!Mega Bronzer which I had been eyeing since it first came out. Look at the size of that beauty! It definitely is a mega bronzer. It comes in only one shade, though.  And who doesn't like a cheek palette? NARS Virtual Domination palette is just right up my alley. There are a highlighter which is not my favorite because it's too shimmery, but the blushes are gorgeous and the bronzer is the oh-so-popular Laguna bronzer that just has a little hint of gold shimmer.

Monday, December 08, 2014

First Aid Beauty


The brand was a hype around last year. I've seen many youtubers/bloggers mention about their Ultra Repair Cream, and then their Eye Duty Triple Remedy. I was intrigues, but I still had a lot of products in my cue waiting to be used.

As my day eyecream and moisturizer ran out, came Sephora VIB sale and I grabbed this kit for a steal. Of course, they soon ran out of stock, and I don't know if they will be available again for the holiday, but I can't find it online anymore.  Now, I haven't tried everything here yet, but I want to share with you in case you're interested to try them out.

Wednesday, November 26, 2014

Autumn Layers | "Thanksgiving Belly"

Hi everyone! 
Tomorrow's Thanksgiving. Who's excited?! I am! I so long a nice days off to just recharge. I have dinner plan with my friends and pretty much will spend the weekend at home or shopping =p. I was never crazy for black friday shopping but excited with the excitement. Does that even make sense? 


Here's an outfit idea for Thanksgiving. Since we all know Thanksgiving is a days of giving thanks and most people, including me, celebrate it with food, food and food, it's a great idea for layers. Cover up, what I call, "thanksgiving belly" with layers. lol.

Monday, November 24, 2014

Autumn Layers | Sweater over Dress



Hi everyone! 
I can't wait for Thanksgiving weekend! So excited. I've already imagined the food and how I'm going to spend the days off relaxing under the blanket with hot tea. Hmmm...

Here's another take on "Autumn Layers". Fall is indeed the best time for layers. I get to experiment with different pieces of clothing and I get to mix and match. 
This idea can turn a simple spring/summer dress to fall-appropriate outfit by adding an outer layer over it. Here I'm adding a basic oatmeal sweater over my sleeveless shirt dress. 
Adding the sweater creates a whole new look on it. 



I'm playing it safe with the simple monotone colors, but it will be interesting to layer different color schemes and patterns. 


Thank you for reading!

::Outfit::
sweater - H&M (old)
Dress - Ann Taylor 
Skinny belt - Ann Taylor (old)
bag - ebay
shoes - Vince Camuto (true to size)


Thursday, November 20, 2014

Beauty Review | Dior Pore Minimizer Primer



Yes!
Y to the E to the S. 
YES!

That's my first reaction after I tried Dior Pore Minimizer Skin Refining Matter Primer. It's the first primer ever that manages to really keep my T-zone, most oily-prone area of the face, shine free. It works every time. I go out and about, and when I check my forehead, it feels much less oilier than usual. 

It claims to "instantly corrects imperfections by filling, refining, and mattifying skin for a high-definition flawless complexion". Although the name is "pore minimizer", I'm not so sure how minimizing can pores be. I do see the primer help blur out imperfection and smoothen the skin, prep it for foundation. It leaves the skin feel velvety, and it keeps that way for hours. I've used it for 10 hours straight, and I'm convinced that it's the best primer I've ever used. Don't get me wrong. It won't keep the face oil-free 100%, but close. It helps reduce oiliness and, thus, shininess. 

Another plus is the packaging comes with a pump which makes it easier and more sanitary.


What's the best primer you've tried so far?


Monday, November 17, 2014

Autumn Layers | Earth Tones and Leopard


Happy Monday!

Fall is the best time for layers. It's getting cooler every week here in San Jose, but it's still warm enough to wear dresses without tights. I wore this dress to my friend's wedding a couple of months ago when the weather was much warmer. I'm trying to create more looks with this dress, and I was inspired by this picture to pair the dress with a basic button-up shirt for something to wear to work.    

Wednesday, November 12, 2014

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette





I was so excited when I found out that Hourglass launched their blushes in palette, just like they did with the Ambient lighting palette last year. The individual blush is retail for $35, so the palette is a much better deal for $58, considering. I took advantage of the VIB sale last weekend.

 Sephora website was down for hours on the first day, so I went to the mall during lunch break to make sure the things I had on my list weren't sold out. This is the only sale  I'm looking forward to the whole year, and possibly the only time I really shop at Sephora. Surely enough, there was only one left at the store, so I quickly grabbed it, along with a couple other things.

Wednesday, November 05, 2014

Things I'd Tell My Teenage Self About Beauty



Stop biting your nails!

Wear sunscreen everyday!

I wish dry shampoo existed at your time.

A little eyeliner and mascara wouldn't hurt

Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize!

Eye cream is not only for old people

Your hair needs some love too - use conditioner!

Eyebrows, meet tweezer.

Lip balm exists, you know.



Monday, November 03, 2014

Weekend Pampering | The Body Shop Honey & Oat 3-in-1 Scrub Mask



Sunday afternoon is the best time to pamper myself. Face mask, hair mask, body mask, you name it!

One of my favorites mask is Honey & Oat 3-in-1 Scrub Mask by The Body Shop. I picked it up several months ago, but didn't really use much of it. My first impression was the scent. It has his rich scent of oatmeal that I find calming. 

The mask has beads that are oatmeal grains, which should act as scrub. It claims to "cleanse, polish and moisture". The scrub isn't the kind that gets dry. It doesn't dry on the skin, which is great especially for dry skin on this colder weather. I put it on and leave it for about 15-20 minutes, sometimes more while I go about doing something else. Then, I rinse it off with lukewarm water. I read that lukewarm water is better for your skin. I use a washcloth to take it off if I don't go take a shower after.

My skin will instantly feel healthier, if that's even possible. It feels not tight, which cold weather does to skin, and smooth. I love this mask. The mixture of honey and oat makes a gentle moisturizing component for the skin. 

I also like The Body Shop Tea Tree face mask  for fighting acne. 

What's your favorite face mask?

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Stripes, Squares and Rosy Cheeks ft. It Cosmetics CC Cream

Hi everyone! 

Long time no post! I hope you all are having a wonderful week. I finally finish my second tax season of the year. The weeks had been exhausting. I could even find the energy to just sit down and write. I miss it, for sure.


I am really excited to share my recent newfound love for a CC cream.  It's from It Cosmetics 'Your skin but better' CC cream with SPF 50+.  I have really been loving this lately. It's a good alternative to a heavy straight on foundation. I still think a BB cream or CC cream or tinted moisturizer or whatever they are called nowadays are just gimmicky names the marketing people came up with.


I would never alternate my moisturizer for this or any of the mentioned above, but I am so glad to swap my foundation for this particular one. The coverage is awesome. I could go away with just one well-blended layer. My skin has been acting up a lot with breakouts on my cheeks and forehead. I feel like this gives lighter touch but comparable coverage of a foundation. Whenever I apply it on, I feel like I just wear moisturizer which it should be doing anyway.

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Weeked Getaway | Quincy Roadtrip - What's in My Travel Makeup Bag



My Quincy trip was a low-key/relaxing trip with a lot of time spent outdoors. I didn't pack a lot of stuff in makeup bag, just the essentials, most of which you probably are bored of =).

I just wanted to stick with the product I am comfortable with. I do have a couple of new products with me, one of which I have been enjoying for the past month and the other I have been trying out to create different looks with.



Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Weekend Getaway| Quincy Roadtrip

Hi everyone!

Last weekend, I had a roadtrip with my friends to Quincy, CA. It was my post-tax-season trip which I seem to have annually. Ocep organized the trip, which I really appreciate. I've never heard of the city before, but Ocep said the Fall color is beautiful there, and it certainly was. I saw the prettiest trees I'd ever seen, and it was just uplifting to see how simple things could bring such and joy and excitement. 



Despite hours of driving and occasional nausea due to the winding road, it was a memorable trip. Ocep said the color would be prettier if we would've gone two weeks after, but 
 I'm just happy we went.

I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we did taking them.

Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Monthly Edit | September 2014

September has always been a special month for me because it's my birthday month. It's always something to look forward to every year regardless of what I ended up doing on d-day. This September has been such an eventful month full of joy and blessings. 

 I had most of my weekends filled with exciting things. I didn't share as much as I wanted what was going on throughout the month, but let's recap!

Finally watched the famous Wicked musical. So glad we decided to spend extra to get a great seat. 
It was totally worth it! And I'm still in love with the Ann Taylor trench dress. Best purchase of the month!

Our impromptu date to Filoli. I posted all about it here

I went ziplining at Mount Hermont. It was fun! You can read more here
My birthday lunch with the girls at work. We had a feast at Mandarin Roots, Palo Alto. The food was really good!


My church was having a church dedication since we just purchased a new building. My youth fellowship was in charge of decoration. I am so grateful for this group of people! We had carnival-themed decor with colorful balloons and streamers. The food was delicious. It was exhausting but thank God for the beautiful day!

Later that day, my friends surprised me with a belated birthday cake. My boyfriend cooked dinner for us. I was so tired from the carnival event, I didn't even pay attention anything weird going on. He covered it up so well!

A matchy-matchy kinda Sunday


Our friends' baby girl Sophia was 30-day old! I'm so glad we got to celebrate it with her!

Another Friday feast at Sancho's Taqueria. The fried fish taco was da bomb!


Our friend got married to his short-time girlfriend. Haha. It was an express courtship, and we were all surprised, but still we pray for the best for him and his wife. I was really looking forward to the wedding just to dress up and hang out. I also managed to do my own hair in less than 10 minutes. Thanks to Kate from The Small Things Blog. She also has a youtube channel with the same name. I tried her 'undone french twist' and it was a success!

How was your September? 



Let's get connected!

Saturday, September 20, 2014

The Weekender | Filoli

Seems like weekend always feels so short.
 Last Sunday, my boyfriend and I visited Filoli in Woodside, CA. He bought a groupon for $20 -for-2-adult entry. The regular entrance is $18 each, so it was quite a bargain.

I love going to public gardens. Taking a stroll in the middle of beautiful flowers and plants relaxes me (Check out my visit to other gardens in Mendocino, CA and St. Louis, MO). Lately, my boyfriend also has taken an interest of house plants. He made several cute purchases from our visit.