Estee Lauder Double Wear Makeup

Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup shade 2N1 desert beige

I've been wanting to try Estee Lauder foundation for a long time now, but I just hadn't done it yet. Now, that I have, I wonder I hold off so long to try it out! You just need the smallest amount to have amazing coverage. I just needed one layer to even out my complexion and cover the redness.

I'm very impressed with the coverage.It shouldn't be surprising, since it is known for its great cover-up. I do feel like I can't really get natural look out of this foundation because it's relatively thicker and creates a heavier makeup look. I can feel I am wearing makeup when I use this, which is not always a bad thing. Sometimes it's what I'm going for even though I'm more of a natural look kind of gal. 

The scent reminds me of pen ink. Really. I know it's so random, but that's how it smells like to me! I use pen all the time at work, so the ink scent is familiar to me. It's not so strong that makes me don't want to use it, but it's something to keep in mind for people who are sensitive to scents. Then again, maybe it's just me and my weird nose =).

leftt - Estee Double Wear powder shade 2N1 desert beige
middle - NYX stay matte not flat powder foundation shade 07 warm beige
right - MAC mineralize skinfinish natural shade medium plus

I also picked up the powder foundation in the same line. I got the shade 2N1, the same shade as the foundation. It is no doubt a powder with serious coverage. I wouldn't use this as a touch-up product on the go. It feels really smooth and buttery. It helps even out the the skin tone and mask redness when topped on a less-coverage foundation. It reminds me of my old favorite, NYX stay matte but not flat powder foundation which, as you can see from the picture, has even more opaque swatch. The double wear looks a lot like MAC mineralize skinfinish natural. The packaging itself is a little bit thicker than I would prefer allowing a compartment for a sponge, which I personally never use. The powder doesn't have any smell to me. 

Have you tried any product from the line yet? What are your thoughts?

LOTD: Blurred Imperfection - Summer Wedding Look

My good friend got married on Saturday. It was the funnest wedding I've ever been to simply because she is such a fun girl. She was literally the life of the party. She sang "All About That Bass" and danced on the dance floor while encouraging people to dance and sing along with her. It was awesome. She was a rock star. 

Since it was a summer wedding, I thought of a more rosy kind of look. The eye look is basically the my favorite for the past couple of years. I just love incorporating rosy shades with purple eyeliner. The foundation is the star of the makeup look I'm going for here. I fell in love in first try with Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide foundation. It does not only smoothen as the name suggests, but it blurs pores and imperfection. I love love love how this looks onto the skin. 

NYX Highlight & Contour Pro Palette

Contour and highlighting  have been in season lately. They have always been popular, but lately the hype is on another level. Companies come up with their own contour & highlighting palettes. I use matte bronzer for contouring and a highlighter to highlight. I finally join in the wagon and tried the NYX Highlight & Contour Pro palette. Relatively cheaper than the high-end products out there for $24.50 retail price. I got mine with the $3.50 off coupon at Ulta. 

The palette comes with 4 highlight shades and 4 contour shades. Two of the highlight shades in the middle are relatively matte, The other two on the ends have shimmer but they're not at all glittery. I use the yellow tone (the third one from the left) as setting powder on highlighting concealer around the upper part of the apples of my cheeks, kinda create a little triangle. I then use the shimmery one on top of the apples of my cheeks after blush. 

FOTD : Makeup that Survives Windy Day

Hi everyone!

Just a quick "face of the day" from yesterday. It's been forever ago since I did this kind of post, so I wanted to start doing it again. Yesterday I went with my friends to Moss Beach in Half Moon Bay for their pre-wedding photoshoots. It was quite cold and windy.

 My makeup help up pretty well through out the day, but I did need to touch up my blush when

 I got home. Here's what I used:

• Dior Pore Minimizer skin primer - this is the very key of my makeup holding up through out the day. I checked my T-zone several times, and it wasn't as oily as it usually was without the primer. It's still the best primer I've ever tried by far.
• Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation
• Urban Decay Naked flushed - I also used the highlighter all over my lids.
• Coastal Scents 88 Original palette - I bought this palette a long time ago, but I never really used it. I used the taupe/brown shades to on my crease and to create a smokey look
• Maybelline color sensational lipstick "warm me up" - I am rediscovering this lipstick. I sorta forgot why I liked this lipstick. This shade is really close to my natural lip color. I feel like it really is "my lips but better" color. 

 I hope you all have a wonderful day!

LOTD: Flawless Full-proof Makeup

It's been a long time since I had an LOTD post. I was going out to see the Monarch butterflies migration at Monarch Grove Sanctuary and wanted to have a full-proof makeup as I was gonna be out the whole day. I used YSL Youth liberator serum foundation (review). This just never fails to impress me. Every time I use the foundation, I just can't stop believing how amazing it feels on the skin and how great it makes my skin look! I don't really need a concealer when I use this. I can still see my blemish show a little bit, but that's the way I prefer.

I use Dior Pore Minimizer primer (review). It's my trusty primer to keep my makeup look fresh throughout the day and keep the shine at bay. I also use Soleil Tan de Chanel to keep on the full-proof theme and warm up my skin tone. This cream bronzer looks natural on the skin. It gives subtle dimension by contouring, which can be built up. I chose Revlon Photoready Skinlights in the shade "peach light" for my hightlight. For blush, I use Tarte Amazonian clay blush in the shade "embrace" from Tarte Pin Up Girl blush palette. I seal everything in with Rimmel Stay Matte powder and Urban Decay All Nighter spray. 

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.

Beauty Review: Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide

I've been a fan of the legendary Laura Mercier silk creme foundation. When I found out they launched Laura Mercier Smooth Finish Flawless Fluide, I was eager to try. For the price tag of $48, I could not commit on buying before trying it out first. I went to Sephora and asked for one of the ladies to give me a sample of that in the shade 'Ecru'. Sephora is pretty generous in giving out sample. It can last me for 3-4 uses.

The first time I applied it on my face, I instantly got the very smooth feeling. At first I thought applied too much because it felt a bit too slippery for a foundation. Soon enough, it set to a velvety finish which I was so impressed. I can literally see the foundation blur out my blemishes and other imperfection. It doesn't accentuate my dry patches which is due to my acne treatment, and 

it also doesn't emphasize my zit. 

Not only that, it also makes my pores appear less obvious. Does anyone who have tried this feel the same way? I can see how the foundation blends flawlessly onto the skin and blurs out my pores. 

7 hours since application

I had my makeup on for a good 14 hours, and it still looked pretty good. I did use MAC skinfinish natural powder when I applied my make up in the morning but didn't touch up ever since. The foundation did wear off around my nose and cheeks, but I could still see the blush and bronzer which is indication of a good base of foundation. 

Have you tried it? What do you think?

Let's get connected!

Bloglovin' | Google+ | Twitter | Instagram | Blogger

Chambray Playsuit, Bourjois Foundation and theBalm Hot Mama Blush

Hi everyone! 

I just got back from a weekend trip for a cousin's wedding in Missouri. Although there's only two hours difference, I feel a little bit jetlag and need to catch up on sleeping. I'll post more about the trip soon.

I want to share my newfound love with this chambray playsuit from Loft. I visited Missouri Botanical Garden. Although the beauty of the gardens sure made my day, still the heat got me. It was humid and nearly 100 degrees there.

I gotta admit, going to the bathroom with this outfit was surely a challenge. I need to "halfly undress" everytime. Other than that it's perfectly comfortable and keep me as cool as possible despite the humid weather. 

My makeup today is based on the Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum foundation - No. 55. This is really a natural looking foundation that gives dewy look. Although throughout the heat of the day, the foundation slowly wears off. One thing that I must applaud is the blush I wore here. It's theBalm Hot Mama Blush (also worn here). This lasts all day even after all the sweat. 

Stay tune for more posts to come from the trip!

 

Let's get connected!

Bloglovin' | Google+ | Twitter |Instagram | Blogger

LOTD: Purple Pretty

Not too long ago, I posted a little haul. One of the things I got was a purple eyeliner from Rimmel. I've been seeing several beauty bloggers featuring colored eyeliners, and I think it's such a great alternative to black or brown. 

I searched from my collection, and came across this MAC "Spoiled Rich Eyeshadow" quad from the Archie's Girls collection launched around Valentine's day last year. The palette has a very cool purply tone which is very different that I'm used to. I got this just because I was an Archie's fan but never really got around to use it. So this is a perfect timing!

LOTD: Comfortable and Effortless Makeup

Last Saturday was crazy. We were selling food for fundraising. Our youth fellowship needed new sound system equipment since we just moved to a new building. So I volunteered to help out the cooking process. It started at around 10 am and ended at 1.30 am the next day! Later on, at 10 am I was already at church getting ready for people picking up their order after service. 

This was  taken on Sunday - an attempt to look put together without spending a long time, 

at least for me. 

In time like this, rushing and stuff, I always go with the products I feel most comfortable with. I like doing this type of post because I can share with you guys the products I'm currently using, or in this case, products I feel comfortable with.

Quick & Simple LOTD

Hi everyone! Thought I'd share with you a quick LOTD of yesterday. We had a company event, so for once I got to wear Friday casual on a Wednesday. I also got to leave home at 9 instead of 7 like usual. It was nice!

So here's a video instead of a usual blog post!

Thanks for watching!

☀☀☀

Let's get connected!

Bloglovin' | Google+ | Twitter |Instagram | Blogger

LOTD Feat. Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation

Hello lovely people of the internet! It's been a nonstop work week at the office, but I finally manage to post something. Here's from last Saturday. I've been wanting to try Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation for a while now. I asked my mom to buy for me when she was in the UK, but she picked up the wrong product and got me Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation and some other goodies, of course.

I gotta say I'm really impressed of the finish of the foundation. It's really impressive! You can see the comparison with my bare face.

LOTD: No-Makeup Makeup

Does the title even make sense to you? =P

I was going out to dinner the other day, and I was in a kinda weird mood. I wanted to look nice, but I didn't really want to make an effort to really ready. I was browsing  to look for the "hidden" gem products in my collection, things that have been stuffed in the back and don't really get the love they deserve. I wish I could say I love everything that I purchased, but well who am I kidding. When you're in the world of trying different makeup brands, you are bound to encounter one too many fail products which I usually set aside from my collection for maybe future posts. 

LOTD: Pink Passion

Greetings!

I don't typically go for this shade of blush. It looks very bright and neon-y on the packaging, and this usually would drives me away from blush. But this doesn't transfer the same on the skin. Once blended, it looks pretty wearable and is perfect for a sunny day just like, well, yesterday for me. =)

LOTD: Fresh Spring Radiant Makeup

Yellow!

I recently watched essiebutton's March Favorites video, and she mentioned Nars Tinted Moisturizer. I ahve never tried Nars product before. I've heard great things about them, but the price tag always hinders me from buying. I don't know why considering I've used and loved other high-end products with comparable prices. 

When I was getting ready for church last Sunday, I found a sample of the exact product she was talking about, Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in the shade Alaska. Normally, this kind of shade would be way too light for me, but somehow it worked. I guess because it was a tinted moisturizer so it has less coverage than a foundation, but I don't know. I'm not really a tinted moisturizer kinda girl. I just can't imagine substituting my regular moisturizer with a tinted one. 

I used em cosmetics the great cover up concealer under my eyes before applying the tinted moisturizer. This is my very first time trying it out, and it works wonder. You can't use all concealers for under the eyes because the area is generally more dry compared to other parts of the face. That's why I prefer to use products that are intended for covering dark circles rather than using regular concealers. This concealer is really creamy and does work for under the eyes. 

I then applied the Nars tinted moisturizer, and it instantly gives radiance and glow to my skin. It loos really great on pictures, too! I also just notice that it has SPF 30 which is always a plus. I have dry patches here and there thanks to the inconsistent transitory weather. This tinted moisturizer, or should I say skin perfector, doesn't enhance that and it does moisturize as well.

LOTD: Spring Sunday - More on Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation

It's finally Spring and I finally get a chance to post quick one. Here I'm featuring Tarte Amazonian clay airbrush foundation. I know I've featured it once here, but considering my skin that's lately prone to breaking out I figured a mineral foundation would act gentler than a liquid foundation.

It looks flawless on photos, but I don't know if I really like the finish when I wear it alone. In this look I tried to build up the coverage to cover my blemishes. It really does a great job. My skin looks flawless without looking powdery. 

LOTD: Blushing Blush

Happy Sunday! 

Still enjoying the last day of the weekend. It's almost time to sleep now, but I just want to share another piece of my weekend with you all. I'm loving the blush theme today. I feel kinda romantic and sophisticated.

LOTD: Sweater Saturday ft. Tarte Amazonian Clay Airbrush Foundation

I spent quite a comfy Saturday. It's so refreshing to have the weekend . I went for lunch with some friends at Los Gatos Cafe which has the most amazing crabcake! It was so tasty. I can eat that everyday.   

Today's look is all about comfortable because that's what I've been feeling with the weather like this. It's such a perfect day for strolling-in-the-park kinda activity. Not too long ago, I purchase the Tarte Amazonian Clay full coverage airbrush foundation from Ulta after hearing Estee from essiebutton on youtube raves all about it. You can watch her video dedicated all about it here. The only mineral foundation I've tried is Bare Mineral which I really like, so I thought why not give this a try. 

Although on the website it's described to be full coverage, I wouldn't say the same. It does, though, have the ability to even out skin tone without looking powder-y. The powder is really finely milled and very smooth feeling. I can barely look at it when I swatch on my hand, yet it makes your skin look like your skin but better. Does it make sense?

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation & Powder

Hi everyone! I finally managed to write this post. If you remember from a month ago, my mom bought me Bourjois products when she was in London. I've heard Estee aka essiebutton raves about it and got even more interested after watching her one brand focus video on Bourjois.

The foundation shade is a little bit too dark for me, but I think I can still pull it off with good blending. The foundation really does make my skin looks more lively. It instantly evens out skin tone, which I guess most foundations nowadays do. But one thing that makes this foundation stands out is its ability to give that radiant finish. I don't really know how to describe it, but I feel like I can get away with just this foundation and blush. I don't have to put too much to make it work. 

                                             with flash                                                                    without flash

This doesn't have SPF, so I do recommend to apply sunscreen under the foundation. I can see under flash photo, it looks pretty good, although I should retain myself from applying too much under eye concealer, which causes that white cast around my eyes.

And for the powder...