Summer Haul!

Hey everyone!

I've done some shopping when my family was here for a visit. And then some on my own. =P

I feel like Bath&Body Works is always on sale. Am I right? Their body care products were all on 'buy 3 get 3' sale.  

These are all for me..

and these are for my boyfriend. He picked them up himself. Quite surprising actually because he typically doesn't care for this kind of thing. 

These mini candles were 2 for $5. I originally wanted to pick up the huge one for $19.50, but then I thought I can get 4 or even 6 mini candles with the same amount of candles. Plus, I get to put the candles everywhere, which I wouldn't be able to do with only one giant candle. 

A little tip from an Accounting major. Everything is always in calculation. =p

The hand soaps were $3 each. My boyfriend likes the Sea Island Cotton one, and I liked the Sweet Pea. I now have the shower gel, body lotion and hand soap in Sweet Pea. Do you wear matching shower gel and body lotion?

 I was really excited when this cute iPhone case finally came in the mail. It was supposed to arrive long time ago, but for some reason I didn't get the package in the mail even thought the tracking ID said otherwise. I really thought someone took it, but whatevs. I contacted the seller on ebay and he agreed to send me another one. How nice!

I love the colors. I also love the  melting-look-alike texture. It reminds me of ice cream kind of.   

I ran out of my Tresemme heat protector, so I bought the Joh Frieda Frizz-Ease Protective Styling Spray. It smells good, and I think, based on abundant reviews, it gets the job done. Protecting your hair from the heat is extremely important. Trust me. I learned the hard way. I used to think that back in the day people didn't need heat protector, so why use it now? I was wrong. Just because we don't have it doesn't mean we don't need it. I've got major split ends for as long as I can remember. My hair is extremely dry and damaged, but it's getting better now. 

The Tresemme Split Remedy Leave-in conditioner does its job really well. The other day after I curled my hair, I noticed how dry and tangled my hair was. I pumped a pea-size amount of the conditioner and just lather it on my hair, and it gives an instant moisture. Tangle no more!

It also makes your hair look shinier and healthier. 

left to right:
Elizabeth Arden High Shine Lip Gloss in Rose Gold
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Lovesick
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Foiled
One Natural Shea Butter Lip Balm in Berry delicious

Another lip products for me. I think I'm kinda a lip junkie. My mom gave me the Elizabeth Arden one. I've never thought of the brand before. I've heard of it but never really try anything from the brand. 

I love jumbo lip pencils like the Revlon Balm Stain. It gives you a lot of control, and it's just fun to apply on your lips. But the Lovesick is not really right for me though. It's fun for tutorial and all, but I'm not typically comfortable wearing such bright color on my lips. It might grow on me though someday. 

I've heard emilynoel83 raved so much about Revlon Super Lustrous lipgloss, so I went ahead to pick up one and try for myself. I like it so far. It's shimmery, glossy but not sticky at all. I've been told that sticky lip glosses help them stick longer on your lips, but I just don't like them. 

My mom bought One lip balms for her friends as souvenirs. I've never tried one before. She told me that products containing shea butter are usually really hydrating and moisturizing, so she picked one up for me too. 

Forever 21 floral short shorts. Love 'em! 

Van Heusen Colorful Plaid Scarf. It was on sale from $45 to $15. Wow!

Have you ever heard about the Pandora bracelets? I've never heard of it until my mom bought me this bracelet. We were on Harrah's hotel at South Lake Tahoe, and there was a jewel store selling this bracelet. It was supposed to be a dupe for the Pandora bracelet. The original one is really expensive, you have to purchase each charm for at least $20 each. 

You get this entire bracelet for the same price. 

If you haven't known already, I love bracelets. I picked these from H&M and the the mint green one is from Forever 21. 

Swarovski Hello Kitty Pendant

This navy necklace is from Old Navy. I never knew Old Navy sold any jewelries. I loved this particular one because of the color and the various charms around it. I wore this on the 4th of July, which by the way, I spent with watching movies and fireworks!
How's your 4th of July?

Last 2 Weeks

Hello friends! Long time no blogging.

The last 2 weeks have been really busy for me. My family came to town, my graduation, vacation trip, road trip, and house boating! It's crazy how I could fit everything in just under two weeks, but it was really fun.

My parents and my sister came on the 14th, and they just went back home last Thursday night. We went to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. The last day of the trip was almost a disaster because our flight home from LA got delayed 4 times! Fortunately, we called in and got into the earlier flight. Phew! The day after the next day, we were already on the road again to Yosemite, Mammoth Lakes and Lake Tahoe for 3 days and 2 nights. It was really exhausting to be in a car for hours, but the companionship I got was priceless.
We also did a lot of shopping during the 2 weeks. I never shopped that intense before. Haha. I might post a haul later on.

It was pretty exciting to wait on my family to come out from the arrival gate at the airport, but it was really heartbreaking to let them go at the departure. Well, life must go on. Vacation's over and it's time to go back to the real life. Job hunting, here I am.

Makeup Haul!

I've been suffering from insomnia this past week. One day I couldn't sleep until 6 am. I guess I am stressing out towards my graduation and finding a job without realizing it. 

I did some shopping, and this hauls is a collective haul from several shopping trips.

I purchased this bare mineral kits mainly for its multi-tasking summer bisque powder because it really gives amazing coverage for a powder concealer. I've heard good things about Bare Escentuals makup, but I've never really tried it except for its powder concealer. It claims to be makeup that you can sleep on. You're not supposed to though =P

 You get 5 products and 2 brushes for only $20, so I think it's a really good bargain.

Quick tip: Save some money by shopping makeup products in kits. They usually come in cheaper overall price, and you get to try new stuff too!

This is another thing that really saves me some dollars. I've been eyeing this product since emilynoel83 mentioned it on her video, but it is so expensive. It costs about $26 for a 0.2 oz pot. This one comes in 0.11 oz pot and costs $10 at Ulta. If you buy two, you save $8 and get more product. It only comes in medium, which I guess fits more skin tone.  

It does a great job in concealing my dark undereye circles - thanks to my insomnia.

Love this powder foundation!! It gives you amazing coverage for a powder product. When you wear it alone, it does even out your skin tone if you have any discoloration. Make sure you have the right shade because it's really rich and thick product.

It also fulfills to what it claims it to give - stay matte bu not flat.

CoverGirl Eyeshadow Quad - Drama Eyes

I got this because, again, emilynoel83 mentions this palette to be one of her favorites of all time. I watched her bridal tutorial video using this palette, and I really like it. The eyeshadows are pigmented, and they blend really easily. They're not flaky or anything.

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick
left - 730 Coral Gleam
right - 235 - Warm Me Up

swatches:
left - 235 Warm Me Up
right - 730 Coral Gleam

I picked out two Maybelline Color Sensational lipsticks. I love this line because it has so many color choices. Look at the color gleam! Pretty coral color for spring/summer time. In terms of staying power, it stays pretty much as a normal lipstick can be. The color does fade over time, but it stays on your lips if you don't rub it off or eat/drink anything like that. Pretty common sense =P

NYX Slide on Eye Pencil in Brown Perfection and Jet Black

I love that they don't smudge. I haven't tested them on my actual makeup yet because I want to finish my maybelline master drama first. I did swatch them on the back of my hand, waited a little till they dry because they are creamy in texture, and rub them off. They didn't smudge, which is a yes yes for eyeliners =D

CoverGirl Cheekers
left - brick rose
right - sierra sands

Love them. Affordable and nice colors. Brick rose gives you a "barely-there-blushed" look, and Sierra Sands has deeper tone to it and gives you sun-kissed look. They look really natural, too. 

Benefit the porefessional
Benefit Hervana blush
Benefit chacha tint - liquid blush and lip color
Benefit Bad gal lash mascara

I got the Benefit Hervana blush at Ulta. Ulta was having a deal - if you purchase any Benefit product for $25 or more, you get 3 deluxe samples.

I haven't tried any of it yet, but I've heard great things about them especially the chacha tint. So excited to try it out!

Laura Geller the real deal concealer serious coverage - medium

Two words: Amazing Coverage! 

As long as you have the right shade, that is. 

Laura Geller has background of stage makeup, so she knows what she's doing =)

It comes in 5 shades - fair, light, medium, medium/deep, deep. 

 ♥  ♥  ♥

Jibber Jabber:

 ♥ One last final exam for my undergrad life!

 ♥ Graduation commencement is just around the corner. How do you prepare for graduation?

 ♥ Family's coming this Thursday. Yay!!

MyGlam Bag ✦ June 2012

Out All Night

Just got the glam bag yesterday. I was excited to get the eyeliner pen and NYX lipstick. As for the bag, it's really adorable but it smells really bad. =(

So here are what MyGlam's subscribers get this month. 

frizz Nourishing Styling Cream

It's suppose to stop frizz and leave your hair soft and smooth. 

philosophy take a deep breath oil-free energizing oxygen gel cream moisturizer.

Fiuuhh. That's a mouthful! =P

NYX Round Lipstick in Georgia

Marbella Permanent Eyeliner Pen

I love the eyeliner pen. It doesn't smudge! Yay!

What's in My Travel Makeup Bag?

I used to travel light. Really. Now? Not so much.

It's hard to choose which makeup products to bring, even though I know for sure that I won't use them all. But a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do - in this case, choose!

I try to bring products that I know I will use every single day.

♥ Maybelline B.B Cream (Click here for review)

♥ Laura Geller Balance-N-Brighten Powder Foundation

♥ SheerCover Concealer

I bring BB cream instead of foundation because foundation can sometimes be a little to heavy, and I want something that is light-weight since I'm gonna be outside for hours. I also bring a powder foundation instead of a regular powder because powder foundation can give extra coverage that a BB cream lack of. This particular one by Laura Geller really fulfills to its name - Balance-N-Brighten. =)

Having a two-tone concealer makes it practical to cover up your imperfection and dark circles under your eyes. 

 ♥Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush in Hot Tamale

♥Cover Girl Cheekers in Sierra Sands

♥ theBalm Hot Mama! blush

♥theBalm Bahama Mama bronzer

♥e.l.f bronzing powder

Okay, I know I don't need more than one blush and one bronzer but I can't help it. I love blushes. I love bronzers. The Dream Bouncy blush by Maybelline lasts for a long time. It's like a cream blush but has texture like a play-dough. It's so cool! It is also a great base for your powder blush.

As for bronzer, the e.l.f bronzing powder gives you a golden-y finish. The Bahama Mama one is darker, which is a nice contour to give definition to your face. So what I do, I lightly tap my brush on the e.l.f bronzing powder and put it all over my face. Then with the Bahama Mama, I put it under my cheekbones, forehead, and on the jaw line. 

♥Urban Decay Primer Potion

♥Rimmel Quad in Smokey Brun (review and look with this quad click here)

♥e.l.f Quad in Day to Night

♥Maybelline Master Drama eyeliner in Midnight Master

♥Almay one coat get up&grow mascara

I'm not a big fan of overdoing my eyes when I'm travelling. I usually just go with a black eyeliner and mascara. But to 'umph' up your look, eyes are very important. You can go by with just smokey eyes and look completely different. I bring neutral palette by Rimmel. Love this quad so much. It's a great substitute for the Naked palette. I bring e.l.f quad which I personally think good pigmented eyeshadows but a little bit too powdery and they oxidize really easily after few hours. 

♥Neutrogena Revitalizing Lip Balm in Petal Glow (smells good and looks good! - Click here for swatch)

♥MAC Tendertone Lip Balm in Purring

♥Makeup Forever Aqua Lip Liner in 1C (FOTD: Neutral Matte Lips)

♥Wet 'N Wild Liptsick in 902C (featured in my LOTD: Nude Nude Natural)

♥Revlon Lip Butter in Creme Brule

♥Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in 730-Coral Gleam 

♥Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in 235-Warm Me Up

Remember when I said I love blushes I love bronzers? Well, I looovvveee lip products. Really. I always have one in my purse and re-apply it through out the day. Lipsticks/Lipgloss was the toughest one for me to choose because I think they can give your face a nice touch even without the other products. For travelling, I bring neutral colors that go pretty much with anything. 

What's in YOUR travel makeup bag? ;)

♥♥♥

Jibber Jabber:

♥ 2 more weeks until graduation. Argh!

♥ My family is coming in next week. Yay!

♥We're going to Vegas after my graduation. Can't wait. =)

♥A lot of makeup shopping I did. Haul coming up.

♥Really really really reaallllyyyy want this bag - Celine Trapeze in Terra Cotta

Mammoth Lakes - Finding the View

I went to Mammoth Lakes for memorial weekend. It's about 5-hour drive from where I live, and my spring weekend getaway turned out to be a snowy vacation. Yay! 

Mammoth Lakes and its surrounding areas were so beautiful. Really. No kidding. 

Snowing at Yosemite National Park - 2 hours away from the destination

Drastic pressure change!

Convict Lake =)

It seems sunny and bright, but the wind is cra-zeh!

I looped this lake which was about 3 miles. It took me four hours including the photo-shoots =P 

Used to be a gold mine. 

(Click here for more information)

Mono Lake - The water is 2.5x saltier and 100x more alkaline than the sea. 

You can float really easily on this lake!

June Lake

Somewhere in the middle of the way home.

I had to take this picture before any car passed by!

Look how pretty!

 God is amazing. 

He's wonderful and such a great earth-designer!