I bet you didn't know you were applying your lipstick wrong!

Well, okay, maybe there's no wrong way to apply lipstick but I didn't realize that there was a technique until I was recently helping my lipstick-novice friend try a dashing new shade of scarlet and she asked "How do I apply it?"

Woah. Lightbulb moment. Bright lips take some serious planning to make application look perfect. After years of experimenting with every lipstick shade under the sun, I took this fact for granted and completely glossed over the fact that there indeed are steps that make the process way easier!


Therefore, my Lipstick 101 tutorial was born. (If you haven't seen the rest of my 101 Basics series, you can check them out on youtube or on the blog here.) Some of you might be like me and usually apply it straight from the tube but then need to amp it up on date night so I shared two different ways to have the perfect (and easy) lipstick application. Check out the video & swatches below!

Hey guys! Today I wanted to share my February Favorites. This month I had a couple of favorite new blush and lip products as well as a new regular foundation. Easy, go-to products we the name of the game for this past month since I did so much traveling, but I'm thankful because it gives me a chance to distill my product choices and know what I really love. Check out the video below!

Happy New Year everyone!

Facing the fresh start of 2014, I am feeling immensely blessed at the amazing things that have happened this year. 2013 wasn't so much about the tangible things that I had, but more so reminders of not taking for granted the things that I've always had: my family. From my sister battling and overcoming cancer to welcoming our puppy Oreo (his instagram) into our lives, I feel like I can't reflect on the past year without a great depth of appreciation for the love around me, especially when it was least expected.

I wanted to write this first before getting into my favorites because I know it seems like each month a lot of the talk goes into consumable products and tips for surface-level beauty but ultimately this blog, my videos, and everything else I talk about means so much more to me than just things. You guys give me passion. It's about how we touch each others' lives and bring each other confidence, hope, and positivity in a world where there is far too little of it and far too much judgement and cruelty.

For this next year, it's my resolution to (of course) continue bringing you my thoughts on my favorite products, but more than that, to bring you the ability to be more yourself by loving yourself at every stage of your face and body. Hopefully recommending a few good things will give you more time to spend doing you. Let's all be more comfortable in our own skin in 2014!

With that, lets get on with this month's favs!

Hey everyone and happy December! It's now my favorite month of the year since it contains both my birthday (Dec 14th! Anyone have the same b-day as me?) and also Christmas. Is it just me, or was November especially fast? We had Thanksgiving dinner at our place with friends and family and ordered in Jack Stack Barbeque from Kansas City so it would taste like home. Add in a few more Thanksgiving favorites and Monsters University and we had a wonderful, cozy, and very thankful holiday. :)

Here's a photo I shared on Instagram of some of the delicious meal:

Hello everyone! Today I just wanted to officially announce something that if you already follow me on Twitter you've probably known for a while: I will be flying out to Los Angeles next week and attending IMATS in Pasadena, CA! I know I mentioned this at the end of a blog entry earlier, but my plans are obviously confirmed now since I will be flying out in a couple days. Excited!!!

If you don't know what that is, IMATS is the International Makeup Artist Trade Show which is a big annual makeup convention where tons of top makeup brands have glorious booths of sparkle and magic and there are speakers and attendees alike who I am dying to meet. (Literally, dying. One of the keynote panels includes the makeup artists for True Blood! Omg love that show!) If you will also be there at the show please let me know in the comments. I'm looking forward to meeting some of you. ^_^

So on to today's tutorial. This look is what I recently wore in my May Hits & Misses video and I got several requests for the makeup. It's my favorite way to wear taupe eyeshadows!



Products mentioned:
Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-In-Place ShadowCreme in Silver Leaf
MAC Eyeshadows in Vex, Satin Taupe, and Shroom
Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Yeyo
Holika Holika Wonder Drawing Dot Liner
Shu Uemura Lash curler
FAIRYDROPS mascara (updated version here)
FAIRYDROPS Scandal Queen Mascara
Model 21 lashes in #63
Kiss Lash Adhesive (more accessible Duo lash glue here)
Rock & Republic Contrived Pressed blush in Spank
NYX Mosaic Powder in Highlighter
Dior Addict High Shine Lipstick in Coral Sensation (new Dior Addict lipsticks here)



Oh, I forgot to mention, my denim shirt is the same one from Target that I wore in my NYX Black Label lipsticks post and my necklace is actually my husband's grandmother's. The silver was all tarnished but I cleaned it up and absolutely love how classic it looks even now!

Sob, sob, I was wanting to record another Halloween tutorial today but sadly, I am still very sick today. :( Pretty much sound like death. Instead I thought I'd post about my MAC haul that I recently did from the big Disney collection that came out with some of the best villains ever created.

I recorded this video a few days ago when I wasn't coughing as much. I know you've all probably seen tons of videos and pictures of this collection already but what can I say, I was still excited about mine. ;)

I didn't mention Bite of an Apple blush in my video because I actually received it as a gift from my dear (and amazingly talented photographer) friend Kassia which was TOO GENEROUS of her, but in return for having these swatches and photos for you all, you should visit her blog, full of makeup & eye candy magic!


The packaging had some pretty sweet sketches on the cardboard boxes. I always have such a difficult time throwing unique packaging away so I'll hoard them in a drawer until I need more space. ;D


The much-coveted Bad Fairy nail lacquer. This is a duo-chrome shimmer polish in the same vein as the ORLY CosmicFX collection. I have 3 CosmicFX polishes that I still need to post about, so I'll show all three swatches then. I'll just say that this type of polish makes me weak in the knees and very distracted by my hands while I'm walking/working/driving/in sunlight at any point.


Blushes! I love blushes, which you probably already know from my ridiculously huge Rock & Republic blush collection. I didn't used to be such a blush hoarder but now I can't go without them! Even on no-makeup days, I find a bit of blush brightens up the face so easily. ^_^


Briar Rose beauty powder blush. MAC Beauty Powders tend to be sheerer but impart a nice glowy look to your skin that makes it look more like a natural, beautiful flush. This one is such a lovely pinky-purple, which is a shade I've been loving for the Fall weather. It's more sophisticated than my summer corals. Although it's matte, I could see a few shimmery flecks in the sunlight.


Bite of an Apple blush is a wham-bam coral red that is VERY pigmented and completely matte even in sunlight. I recommend using a light hand with this one, or a stippling brush. This would actually look SO pretty with Heartless lipstick for a cheery holiday look.


The 2 lipglasses I bought were Revenge is Sweet and Strange Potion. Revenge is Sweet looks neon purple in the tube but is actually the prettiest glossy, sheer fuchsia pink. Super wearable for everyday and not too sheer in my opinion. Others complained about this color being underwhelming but I love it! Strange Potion in contrast is a cute opaque peach with pearl shimmer. Very wearable as well for those afraid to go full-nude with lipstick but still want an opaque nude lip.


Heartless lipstick is a very neutral, bright red. Cousin to my favorite red, NYX Snow White, but brighter. Can't wait to try this one out for the holidays! The image of Cruella isn't my favorite but honestly, she was never a very attractive lady. I'm pretty sure if the Evil Villains were all makeup bloggers Cruella would be the one with the most hater comments from 13-year olds telling her to re-shape her eyebrows. ^_~


And of course, swatches! Click for a bigger image.


For those of you who are wondering about my outfit/nail polish in the video, I'll have a video and OOTD post about it more in-depth next time. :] Hope you enjoyed these pics and swatches!

Now it's time for me to go nap before going to the in-laws to celebrate hubby's birthday. HE'S SO OLD!! Just kidding, he's only 2 months older than me. You can wish him a Happy Bday in the comments since I'm pretty sure he stalks my blog or something, wtf.

<3<3<3 lolzjkloveyouhubby! I'll try to stop coughing on you as my present. True love!

My lovelies, I just first of all want to announce and congratulate the winners of my Mineral Magic Cosmetics Giveaway. In order, Prize #1 goes to hana, Prize #2 goes to Miss (Daniela), and Prize #3 goes to Young. I will be sending you an e-mail shortly, so please let me know your addresses so I can send off the prizes! I really appreciate all of the entries, and I think these ladies really deserve these gifts!

I also wanted to mention that I decided on which platform sandals to keep. An overwhelming majority voted for the pewter and although I do love the blacks too, I must agree that the pewters actually look more flattering on me. Oh well, we petites should try to stick to the rules that make us look best when we can. ;)

Speaking of shoes, I recently bought another pair of shoes that I am really stoked about. As a size 4, it is actually rather difficult to come across basic black heels that should be pretty standard for work wear. I never see size 4's at Marshall's but I happened to quickly run into one and couldn't pass up these cute buckled heels for only $34! The stacked heel isn't too high and I am -such- a fan of buckled toe details on shoes.


I decided to pair it with this thrifted Victoria's Secret slip, long charcoal cardigan from Forever 21, and my favorite grey skinnies from Abercrombie kids.


I also apparently wore that same zipper-flower headband from F21 with this outfit (which you may remember from a previous post on lipstick). Obviously, I am ridiculously behind on posting.


I loved wearing this outfit! Many compliments. I chalk it up to these totally amazing lace leggings from Forever 21. They are a thicker lace, similar to fishnets, so they feel more sturdy.


A close-up of the leggings.


Since the leggings are already a bit flashy on their own, I tried to balance out the "sparkle" factor with this amazing sequin belt from Target's girls section. Easy way to find a waist belt!


You may also notice that I kept the rest of the outfit relatively simple. The purple tank dress was from Marshalls and the charcoal cardi is the same as the previous outfit. No necklace, just some lavendar rose earrings and the headband to bring some attention up from the legs to my face. It's all about balance. :)



This entry is already getting long-winded, but I also decided on this particular day to whip out my Dazzleglasses to swatch for you all. Can I just take a moment to say that I LOVE these? Yes, they are sticky but the effect is just ridiculous in a good way. GLITTERBOMB! And I have had some glitter last to the end of a workday, even through lunch with no reapplication. I won't write much, just post pics of the awesomeness.

Money, Honey. Great for everyday looks.


Love Alert. Redder than my pic shows, and very sweet.


And saving the best for last, Funtabulous. Friggin purple glitter. I cannot tell you how hot this looks over fuscia lipstick. Even by itself, it is a show stopper!


This is how it looks on me. I just love it so much. It really pops! If you have a favorite Dazzleglass, let me know what you recommend in the comments since I'm sure I'll want more in the future.



Anyway, that's all I have for now. Hope you all have a great weekend!

I must say, I am a huge fan of MAC's Mineralize line, especially the blush colors. When the Mineralize Grand Duo blushes came out, I immediately fell deeply in lust with Love Rock. It has a hot pink shade on one side and a golden pink melange highlight on the other. For you frequenters of my blog, you know that I loves me some hot pink. Now I didn't initially intend to buy it when I visited my local Mac, but I had to quell my beating heart somehow. :P



Love Rock kicked off my little group of baked blushes. I came upon Petticoat Mineralize Skinfinish at a local Cosmetics Company store and, like Love Rock, couldn't stop staring at the pretty marbling of colors and the unique sheen that it produced. It was like looking at a sparkly jewel. I just couldn't put it down when I got home, thrusting it in the hubs' face and saying, "LOOK HOW COOL IT IS!" He was obviously not quite as enamored as I was, but agreed it was neat.



The third one was a spontaneous purchase from Marshall's because it was less than $5. Sugar's Sweet Cheeks baked blush in Cupcake. I thought the purple color was interesting and hey, it's only $5.


A comparison photo


And here are my swatches:




Petticoat really shows off the unique sheen it has in natural light. It's like a warm coral color with red pearl. It can be used all over as a blush or face brightener, but in my opinion it can be a little too much on its own. My favorite way to wear this is as a highlighter on top of other blushes to kick it up a notch. It definitely has that "OMG, what blush are you wearing!" reaction from friends. :)

Love Rock is one of my favorite blushes. When I'm in a hurry I just swirl it all together and apply to the apples of my cheeks. When there is a little more time, I can start with the solid pink and highlight the tops of my cheeks with the marbled side, which gives a nice peachy glow. The result is like you just came in from the snow: pretty, flushed-pink cheeks. I just wish it were bigger. Petticoat is huge compared to this tiny Grand Duo blush!

Cupcake is honestly one I haven't used much just because it's so frosty. The lavendar color is interesting but the pink side actually has a silver shine to it that just doesn't match my warm complexion very well. It works as a nice eyeshadow though, and it's pretty huge when you think of it that way. The packaging is not so great, as the baked part is just sliding around on top of the plastic container. Very messy! Oh well, it didn't exactly break the bank.

All in all, I'd say Love Rock I can't live without, Petticoat is one of those special purchases that I'm still giddy about (it's very limited edition and hard to find!) and Cupcake... Well, maybe I can use it for a special all-over purple look someday.

I'd love to grow my collection of mineralized products, so let me know in the comments if you have any recommendations. I've got my eye on a couple of the regular mineralized blushes. Those swirls just make me go crazy!

A lot of you have been asking me about BB Creams and if I've tried any before. For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, BB Cream or "blemish balm" is a type of makeup that has swept Asia the last couple of years. It is similar to liquid foundation but is touted to have medicinal benefits and apparently was developed to help heal and conceal patients' skin after laser treatments and surgery.

I'm not sure how much of that has trickled down into mainstream bb creams, but it was enough hype to warrant at least trying it, right?

I bought mine from an ebay auction and got the type DermaRX from Skin79. I've heard that this one is good for acne-prone skin and is a bit darker than others, as well as having fairly good oil control. One bad things about bb creams is that they usually only come in 1 or 2 shades and as you will see, this is a bit grey on me.

I wanted to show the BB Cream size for comparison. This is a China Glaze nailpolish next to it. Pretty small tube, plus it is flatter on the sides.


Skin79 DermaRX Beblesh Balm (beblesh because "blemish balm" was copyrighted), MAC Studio Sculpt foundation NC30, Sugar Tinted Moisturizer


Swatches: DermaRX is a bit grey, Studio Sculpt is closest but a bit too yellow, and Sugar is much too dark and orange. This is natural light.


Indoor light.


Skin79 DermaRX on my face.



Again, it's a bit light and grey on me. Not that bad though, and it does seep in more and match better after a few minutes. I thought the coverage was nice, light to medium applied with a foundation brush but you can layer on areas you need more coverage. I didn't find the oil control to be awesome, but I seem to get oily with any liquid foundations so it wasn't a surprise. Added benefits are that it has spf 20, tea tree oil for acne, and arbutin for whitening. Overall though, I find that I do prefer mineral foundation for everyday use as this still feels like liquid foundation to me.

Off and on lately, I've been mixing my facial moisturizer with a bit of DermaRX and the sugar tinted moisturizer to get my own color match and it's been working out quite well. After topping with Everyday Minerals Finishing Dust, coverage lasts longer than mineral makeup.

Too bad I'm just not a liquid makeup fan. Don't get me wrong, it's not bad. I'm just too busy to apply it and mix-and-match everyday! I bought 2 tubes so I'll probably list the unopened one in my blog shop soon.

So, let me know in the comments. Have you tried bb creams? Which ones? What are your favorites? I may not give up completely on bb creams just yet if I can find a really good one that matches my skin better. :)

Hey everyone! I hope everyone had a great Valentine's day (or singles empowerment day!)I had a fabulous time spending a few hours with my hubby just chillin' then getting a delicious steak dinner at Texas Roadhouse. I have a few other FOTDs to post that came before this one but I wanted to post this one soon because I really liked this look. I was really inspired by Nessa's V-day look so I tried to do a toned-down version. Warning, this is pic heavy!

I used 4 eyeshadow colors for this look: NYX hot pink, cherry, black, and a highlight color similar to MAC shroom that is a creamy, pinkish taupe pearl.

I started with UDPP over the whole lid, then applied cherry in an almond shape on the lower half of the lid. One tip is to apply the color high enough that you see a line of it when your eyes are open but not so high that it recedes into your eye socket. I then applied hot pink on top of cherry on the inner half of the lid to make it more pink and shimmery. Then I applied black to the outer corner and contour, and also along the bottom lash line. I also tightlined my bottom waterline with black pencil liner. Apply your highlighter to the brow bone and tear ducts, and blend everything so it is nice and smooth. Add blacktrack fluidline and mascara, and the eyes are done!




Look! Big smiles again! ;)



The light in my bathroom was washing out the color. This gives a better indication of what it really looked like:



Close-ups:




For lips, I used my new Hello Kitty Mac lipstick in Big Bow which I LOVE. It's a reddish hot pink with a blue sheen in the glaze formula. I applied it fairly sheer but it can be applied to be VERY pigmented too. I'm not a huge lipstick person but this one doesn't feel dry at all and it wears for a long time. I feel like it blended well with my pigmented lips and I could wear it during the day. It's such a cute color!



Speaking of Hello Kitty, I happened to snag the last brush set + cup from my local Nordstrom's and it is also freaking adorable. I also picked up Tippy and Fun & Games blushes. :)



You may have noticed but I got a new vanity mirror which makes sweet reflections and nice lighting for photos. I'm still experimenting with it, but what do you think? It's quite glossy!




Now for a little Vday camwhoring fun!

Thank you for the gorgeous vday bling, honey! My birthstone, blue topaz. <3



Love my shisem falsies. :)





xoxo