Category: beauty

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beauty haul review Uncategorized

Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette Review

I recently got the Urban Decay Naked Smoky Palette and as much as I love my other Naked palettes I’m blown away by this one!

 
NAKED SMOKY // NAKED LIPGLOSS
LIPSTICK EYESHADOW NAKED 3 PALETTE 
EYELINER CROWN BRUSH


I have the original Naked palette, Naked 3 and now the Smoky Palette.  I never ended up getting Naked 2 as the colors weren’t different enough for me to want it compared to these 3 palettes where I think there is enough color differences between each palette.

 
NAKED NAKED 3 NAKED SMOKY

I have to say that I love the new packaging.  My original Naked palette, although it is the oldest, is not looking so great.  I’m a sucker for packaging, especially with makeup so it’s just one of those things that I consider when I get new makeup.

I am not super awesome at makeup but I do try and my tiny Asian eyes are not so great at working with eyeshadow but after watching several youtube videos, I’m getting the hang of it so am really enjoying playing around with a smoky eye.

I don’t have a lot of time to watch youtube videos so I’ve been making time by playing them on my phone while I’m getting dressed, doing my makeup and hair in the mornings. It inspires me to have fun with my makeup.  I am obsessed with Sophia of Fashionista804 – love this tutorial as I do tend to go for more simple looks on a daily basis.


The palette itself lives up to all of the previous Naked palettes.  Urban Decay’s color payoff is always amazing.  The color is exactly what it looks like in the pans and it goes on smoothly and if I use the primer, the color stays on my lids all day.  I like that the whole palette isn’t just dark smoky shades. It has enough shades to do the smoky look but also a good amount of neutral shades to help create the pretty smoky eye that everyone loves as well as a pretty every day look.  I can never use black eye shadow well, it tends to look a bit harsh on me so I like the dark gray and purple shade next to the black to help me create the smoky look.

And although I wish I was good at video tutorials, I’m not.   So, here’s one of my faves, Jen of From Head to Toe with a fabulous tutorial with this palette.  And yes I’m totally bias, I always look for girls with similar eye shapes as mine so if you’d like to look for someone more similar to your eye shape, there’s tons of amazing tutorials on youtube just search “Urban Decay Naked Smoky” and you’ll probably find one that you love too.


DISCLAIMER: THE URBAN DECAY SMOKY PALETTE WAS SENT TO ME BY THE BRAND.  ALL OPINIONS ARE MINE.

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beauty haul review shopping Uncategorized

Loxa Beauty Haul: Beauty Products for New Year’s Eve

I really can’t believe that 2015 is almost over. I think I say this every year, except now that I have a little one, the year goes by so fast.  We stayed home the last two New Year’s when Layla was still a baby but this year, we are getting a sitter and going out for the night!  I am already planning my outfit and of course my hair and makeup are just as important to plan, otherwise I end up hating my makeup and wanting to re-do it.  I got some AMAZING products from Loxa Beauty that will be perfect for my New Year’s Eve look. I already pulled some inspiration from pinterest and can’t wait to pull it all together!

 
This set of mini polishes is perfect for the holiday season.  I’m always one for the accent or glitter nail so I love the options of the silvers with the reds. 
 
Morgan Taylor Gifted With Style Minis

Now, I haven’t yet decided which nail polish to go with yet but I may paint my nails ahead of time to save some prep time, because let’s be honest here and I’m horrible at time management and I’m always applying makeup/painting nails as I run out the door.  This nail kit promises a perfect looking manicure for 7 days!


CND 143 Rouge Red Stocking Stuffer Kit
I am all about mixing shades of lip colors and I love these two together.  Alone they are great colors for practically any skintone but together they create a really pretty nude with the perfect amount of shine from the gloss. 
 
The Balm Read My Lips – GRRR! and POP!
This is my eye shadow inspiration for the night and I think the lip glosses would be a perfect complement to this look!
 
source
Can I first talk about this packaging?  I love how pretty the box is!  I like to give my hair some deeper treatment every once in awhile to help repair it and this is the perfect set.  It comes with shampoo, cream rinse and intensive treatment. My hair (and I’m sure everyone else’s) is easier to style and manage when it’s healthy.  I try not to use too many heat treatments but I do love my flat iron…
Paul Mitchell Awapuhi Wild Ginger Exquisite Repair Trio


Which leads me to this amazing flat iron, that makes my hair so shiny and smooth, I don’t
know what I did without it before!  It also does an amazing job at
curling your hair, I use my flat iron to create curls/waves more than a
curling iron as I like to more relaxed/wavy look it gives me. 

 

I don’t want to do anything crazy for the night, something simple and pretty.  I would love to get my hair to look like this!

 
source

I’m such a hair product junkie.  Every time I read the descriptions I feel like I NEED to have it.  Well the Hair Shaker is a liquid to powder finishing texturizer which is exactly what I need when styling my hair.  It’s my new favorite product.  I definitely need a bit of texture when I curl my hair so this gives it just enough to hold the curl.  And of course we all need a good hairspray and this “ultra freeze spray” definitely does it’s job.  It’s holds the style for hours and doesn’t make your hair extra crunchy.

JOICO Hair Shaker Kenra Ultra Freeze Spray 30
Make sure to check out Loxabeauty.com for all of these products.  I loved working with them, they were so nice and the products shipped super fast and packaged really well!
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beauty lip gloss lipstick review Uncategorized

Sleek Makeup Review

I recently got to try out a new to me make up brand, Sleek MakeUP and I had to share as I am truly impressed by the products.   The packaging is very fitting to their name, it is very sleek.  I love the high end look with the drugstore pricing!

These products have all been so great for fall and winter looks.  I’ve been using them a ton!
 

First off is this gorgeous eye shadow palette.  I’m not one for color on my lids but I actually am loving to change things up.  I use the neutrals all over the lid and then put the color close to my shadow line to treat it like a liner.  The palette is only $11.99 and worth every penny and more!

 

These cream to powder blushes are so pretty and they go on so smoothly.  You just use your fingertips to apply and it blends so well.
 
 Cream to Powder Blush – $8.99
I’ve been such a lipstick girl lately and these lipsticks are a go-to.  So creamy and applies easily.  The colors are all gorgeous on and I love, love the matte formula as it’s not drying at all and stays on for hours.
 
True Colour Lipstick $7.49
These new products are all about the highlighter/shimmer which I usually leave for the summer but I am having fun with it.  The Barekissed Illuminator is a bit much on it’s own but mixed with my foundation it livens up my skin.  And although I have been more about the matte lips lately, I am a girl who can never resist a little hot pink glitter so of course I love this lipgloss!
 
Barekissed Illuminator $13.49 // Glitter Me Lipgloss $7.49
This is a great neutrals eyeshadow palette but because it’s all so shimmery I usually use this in combination with the other palette to create a more day to day look for me.  I never knew how much I needed this many shades of gold until I had this palette!  It just goes so well with any other eyeshadow you want to pair it with.
 
Gold Standard Eyeshadow Palette $11.49

This highlighter palette is pretty amazing.  I love the different textures of the cream and the powder and the different shades.  You can use the cream to make a bit more of highlight on the inner corners of your eyes and on the tops of the cheeks.  They recommend the powder highlighters to use on your body like your shoulders and arms which is a great idea for holiday parties and such.

 
Solstice Highlighting Palette $14.99

You can buy all their products on their website or at Amazon.  Here’s a few of the ones I mentioned above and a few more that I am wanting to try out! 

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beauty crystal review Uncategorized

Japanese Gel Nail Art at M&M Studio in NYC

I was just in NYC visiting a friend and told her we had to make a stop at M&M Studio after I saw them tagged in a photo of some gorgeous nail art on Instagram. Luckily they were able to squeeze us in on a short notice.

M&M Studio is located in Midtown and very close to a subway station. It wasn’t too hard to find, just follow the signs. The space was cozy but facilitated individual attention, which is especially important for working one-on-one with a nail artist to perfect a design.

The two nail artists we were booked with, Sayaka and Maiko, are both professionals at Japanese style nail art, meaning they can dream up really complex, intricate designs, even in 3D. I brought a photo of a style I wanted to emulate and Sayaka executed it flawlessly and even customized the look a little so that my nails would be unique. Check out my friend’s amazing nails in the above photo!

The salon has a wide selection of colors and an impressive quantity and variety of embellishments. They have your normal glitters and rhinestones, but they can do glass-style nails (the hottest new nail trend from Korea) and have very kawaii 3D shapes (bows, donuts, and hearts just to name a few) that can be glued to your nail design. This is just one tray of their possible designs.

My friend and I felt that our two nail artists didn’t skimp on the manicuring of the cuticles/nails but cut time by being very efficient, showcasing their experience. For example, my manicurist drew quickly but didn’t make any mistakes, turning a process that usually takes about 1.5-2 hours into a relatively quick 1 hour appointment.

It’s been about two weeks and my nails still look perfect. I noticed that Sayaka was really great about applying the gel polish underneath the tips of my nails too to prevent chips and really create a solid base.

To see examples of M&M Studio‘s nail design work check out Sayaka and Maiko’s Instagram here and here.

What are your thoughts on Japanese style nail art? 

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beauty make up for ever review Uncategorized

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation Review

I’ve been a fan of Make Up For Ever for years and years.  Their Duo Mat Powder Foundation is a staple in my make up bag and I seriously buy it in bulk as I can’t stand the thought of running out of it.  I had seen their new Ultra HD Foundation and was curious about it, so when Make Up For Ever sent over a few products, I was excited to test it out!

 
FOUNDATION BRUSH   LIQUID FOUNDATION   STICK FOUNDATION
FINISHING POWDER LIPGLOSS PRIMER

Knowing how much I loved the powder foundation, the liquid foundation had a lot to live up.  I have to say, it exceeded expectations!  I absolutely love this foundation.  It goes on so smooth, you don’t need a lot.  I just put on a couple dots all over my face and blend it with the brush.  It covers everything I want to cover (dark circles, the occasional pimple, dark spots) and completely evens out my skin.  A big thumbs up from me!  I love that it comes in so many colors to match any skin tone.  I’m R250 – Beige Nude and is a perfect match for my skintone. 

 
Foundation Brush // Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation

I’ve never used a stick foundation before but after playing around with it, it’s definitely going to be something that I always keep in my makeup bag!  It’s great for touch ups and to cover up dark spots.

The other products that I got:
Hydrating primer – I love that this primer has more than just the purpose of being the base of my foundation.  It actually balances out my skin before I apply the foundation and with it on, it helps with the staying power of not just my foundation but other make up I apply as well.

HD Microfinish Powder – Now that I use the liquid foundation I don’t need to use the powder foundation that I was previously using.  I love having this powder to use after I’ve applied my makeup and it helps keep everything on and keeps my makeup in place all day long.

Artist Plexi-Gloss – I’ve been more of a lipstick girl these days but I do like to layer gloss on top sometimes and this is a great layering gloss.  It is a bit thicker than most glosses but it really stays on all day!

Thank you to Make Up For Ever for sending over the products for review.  All opinions are mine.

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beauty home review Uncategorized

Antica Farmacista: my favorite home fragrance

I absolutely love a good home fragrance.  I think it started in college when every girl I knew had scented candles to make their room smell good. I caught on to that and definitely had my own candle stash!  I’ve moved on beyond Bath and Body Works although that store definitely brings back some good memories and I think they are genius for coming up with such creative and unique fragrances, it’s just not me anymore.  But I have found some more brands that I think align to my tastes now.   Antica Farmacista recently reached out to me to try some of their products.  I’ve actually been a fan for awhile now, most of my home fragrances are from them, so was excited to recieve some new products. I actually did not realize until just recently that they are based in Seattle too!  I love that! 

I’ve always loved room diffusers, not only are they pretty, they make any room smell great!  I got a few diffusers and put this one in my office.  This is the Damascena Rose, Orris & Oud which is a gorgeous floral scent that does not over power. (get it on sale here!) I’m loving the size of these mini diffusers as they just fit in so well when you have a lot of small knick knacks, like I do.

I also didn’t realize that they had lotions and soaps!  I got the Orange Blossom, Lilac & Jasmine hand wash and the Bergamot & Ocean Aria body moisturizer.  Both are in the guest bathroom as I like to keep my fancier soaps and lotions for guests to use!  They both smell delightful and the best part is that it’s not super fragranced that would bother people, it’s just enough that you can smell it but doesn’t overpower.

I also got a hand cream to keep in my purse!  This is the Acqua fragrance and oh man this is my favorite ever for a hand cream!  It’s so light and sweet but just smells like fresh air.  The lotion itself is moisturizing and not too greasy.  Definitely a must have if you love hand creams like I do.

Nordstrom has some great scents and sets that are on sale for the Anniversary Sale!  It’s the perfect time to stock up!

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beauty monthly faves Uncategorized

June Beauty Faves

I love monthly favorites posts, they are one of my favorite youtube videos to watch from my favorite beauty gurus so I’ve been trying to keep up with my own monthly favorites.  Sometimes it’s more beauty and sometimes it’s more skincare but this month it was all about the skincare.  Summer weather just wreaks havoc on my skin.  Especially the summer we’re having in Seattle which is much much warmer than usual so my skin has been extremely dry and also breaking out along the hairline because of sweat!

My newest tool is this Face Effects by Spa Sonic which comes with three tools, a grooved silicone brush attachment

that cleanses like exfoliating beads, a classic face brush and a latex

sponge for microdermabrasion and the application of skincare products.  I LOVE having these options and my face does too!  It even comes with a carrying case so it is easier to travel with.  The best part, it’s $60!  I’m so used to these facial brushes being over $100 so it was nice to find one that I love that is a reasonable price.

The Bionova cleanser is a new to me brand but I wanted to try out a new cream-based cleanser.  I love using this with the facial brush.  I’m the girl that no matter how tired I am, I still go through the entire skincare routine as I hate feeling like I left any trace of makeup on my face.  I love using the two of these together as my face just feels super clean and so soft!

CLEANSING TOOL CLEANSER

A few continual favorites from my go-to skincare brand, Murad.  The clarifying wipes are a must-have for me during the summer.  I’m not a sweaty person but it has been getting hot and if you live in Seattle you know that most places do not have AC, which includes the t+j Designs offices!  We did install a portable AC so it’s not unbearable there but it does still get hot.  All of these products from Murad are perfect for these hot temps.  I tend to break out right along the hairline and also a little by my nose so I’ve been using these wipes as soon as I get home to wash my face and clear off the sweat/oil on my face.  It’s kept my face pretty blemish free and is one of my favorite products.  The Hydrating Toner is great for when your face is feeling a bit dry and dull.  Just give it a spritz and it feels great as it settles onto your skin!  One thing people always say is that you can always spot aging in hands more than on your face and so I’m always trying to take good care of my hands with a good hand cream.  I’m never without it!  This moisturizer is a must have in any season but I love the SPF so that when I put it on in the mornings I feel like my skin is still protected and feels great when worn under my makeup.

WIPES TONER HAND CREAM MOISTURIZER

I wrote about Scentbird previously and I am loving my monthly fragrance subscription!  It’s fun to get a new fragrance every month and not feel like I have to commit to an entire bottle.  I love the small case and I carry it around everywhere with me.  The fragrances that I’ve been getting have all been perfect for my taste and I’m really happy about the selections they have.  The only thing that is annoying is that they had a limited edition pink case so I ordered it about a month ago and it still hasn’t shown up although a new perfume has come in the mail already.  I’ve emailed customer service and still have not heard back about my extra case.  Hoping I can resolve it soon as I really do want my pink case!

CHLOE BAG REVLON LIP COLOR SCENTBIRD PERFUME