Day to Night

I am in love with Revlon's Super lustrous lipstick in Raspberry Bite. I can't seem to capture the true color of this raspberry-red color in photos- it keeps coming out a dull red color. If you get the chance please check it out, it really is such a beautiful color. It is a creme finish and so rich and opaque in color.

Among the sea of nudes and pinks in my makeup drawer, this is the first dramatic color added to my collection. I'm normally very shy when it comes to bold lips, but I have a feeling that I'll be experimenting more out of my comfort zone. In fact, I was looking into another color of Revlon's called Fuchsia Fusion, which is supposedly a dupe for MAC's Show Orchid. It's so easy how you can go from day to night just by adding an evening lip color- throw on a black leather jacket, and you're transformed.

How experimental are you with lip colors?

Fall and its Colors

I was outside with my camera the other afternoon just as the sun was starting to set and I was able to capture the beautiful colors all around me. It felt so relaxing and peaceful to breathe in that cool fresh air. I got inspired by all the colors and it is certainly obvious in my choices of wear. Indeed a season of change, I just got an invitation to an interview at one of the schools that I applied to. I'm both nervous and excited that I am one step closer to achieving the future goals I've set for my career.

{Essie Mink Muffs, Lady Like, Chinchilly, Topless&barefoot}

{New in: H&M skinny belts}

{New in: Zara Duo Black/Reptile pointed patent leather flats}

What's your current inspirations in the things you wear?

Foundations

The most important thing in makeup to me is foundation. Aside from a good skincare routine, choosing the right foundation makes the biggest difference in appearances. The three that I have been rotating around are MAC's Face and body in C3, Nar's Sheer Matte in Barcelona, and Rimmel's 25 Hour foundation in 202 Nude. I have been using these 3 for almost one year now and I love them all.

Mac's Face and Body
Affordability- $34 for 4 fl oz
Packaging- Squeeze bottle (Hygienic and easy to control amount of product out of the bottle)
Coverage- Light (almost like a tinted moisturizer), best for good skin days/ evening out of skin tone
Consistency- Runny, water-based
Finish- Skin-like and dewy (If not properly applied, it can look oily)
Pros- Doesn't look like you have makeup on at all but instead the foundation looks just like skin, feels light, large shade range, foundation color adjusts to your skin
Cons- Not that buildable, can look oily if layered on too thick or if you have oily skin, too light of a coverage on days when more coverage is needed

Nar's Sheer Matte
Affordability- $42 for 1 fl oz
Packaging- Glass bottle, no pump, hard to dispense
Coverage- Medium to Full, buildable, best for evenings out or a lot of picture-taking
Consistency- Not too thin nor thick
Finish- Although called "matte" it doesn't look too matte where your skin looks lifeless- instead it gives you that glowy skin
Pros- Flawless looking skin with the tiniest amount needed, photographs beautifully giving a sort of blurred effect to the skin(like photo-shop?)
Cons- Quite pricey, no pump, can cling onto dry patches (but nothing a good moisturizing beforehand can't fix)

Rimmel's 25 Hour Foundation
Affordability- $6-8 for 1 fl oz
Packaging- Squeeze tube, easy to throw in makeup bag, sort-of easy to dispense but can get a little messy at times
Consistency- Thick
Coverage- Full
Finish- Flawless looking skin (not too matte nor dewy)
Pros- very affordable, easy to carry around, gives a flawless finish, doesn't feel thick on skin, very long lasting (looks the same after 10 hrs as it did when first applied)
Cons- Clings onto dry patches, light rose smell to it, limited shade range

I love Burt's Bees

Now that the cold weather is coming our way, I've prepared to arm myself against dryness whether it be skin, lips, or cuticles. I have already been using Burt's Bees Bee's wax lip balm for about 2 years and found it very moisturizing and soothing with its cooling menthol effect. Although I was at first repulsed by the smell and tingly feeling of peppermint, I eventually grew into it.

I love that Burt's Bees is a 100% all natural brand containing all sorts of natural oils and ingredients in their products. Lately, my cuticles have been on the dry side and so I looked into their cuticle cream. Never have tried a cuticle cream before, I did not know what to expect- or rather- what I've been missing all along, in this case.

The texture is waxy rather then creamy, leaving a grease-free result on the hands, which is awesome because you still have functional hands without being a slippery, oily mess. You won't even feel like there is any excess product on your hands no matter how much you apply. Although not overly creamy and thick, this cream moisturizes dry cuticles just perfectly. I would say the best thing bout this cream is the smell. The citrus lemon smell is the reason for my consistent applications.

So far I'm impressed with Burt's Bees and I will be sure to check out some of their other products. Do you have any favorite Burt's Bees products?

A Day at the Met

It was my first time visiting the Met of Art and I was so amazed and dumbfounded by how huge and beautiful it was. Limited by time, I only got a glimpse of each exhibition as I was trying to go through as many as I can. Regrettably, I did not do any tours and did not get any audibles to help me appreciate the artwork. I think it will take multiple trips to really absorb in the beauty of all the history and art in the Met. I could spend an entire day just in one exhibition.

DIY project: NFL

One of the things I love most about the Fall months is that its football season! I decided to get crafty and do a mini project that ended up as a perfect birthday gift.

The project itself was inspired by a customized locker poster, which was quite pricey for just a poster. I was determined to make a better and cheaper version of it and it came out perfectly. Not to mention it was 3D! It was pretty easy to make and so much fun to do. The good thing about it is that you can personalize it pretty much any way you want to and you can make it for your own favorite NFL team.

{Customized locker poster used for inspiration; image by Google}

{Pack of party Helmet favors; Party City}

{Outline for jersey}

{Shadow box used as the display; Micheal's}

{Project in process}

{Wrapped}

{Personalized}

{Customized jersey}


{Displayed}

Maybe this would give you an idea to make your own :)

The little things

It's the little things in life that makes me happy, so simple and cliche but true.

Girly

It was quite hot today for October- it still felt like a summer day. So I put on a girly skirt and we went for Rita's to cool off. I got my regular Mango Gelati. The leaves are just starting to change color and I couldn't be happier. Fall is my favorite season and I always feel like its way too short compared to the other seasons. Football, cool breeze, changes and transitions, the festivities (Halloween and Thanksgiving), scarves and layers- what's there not to love?