Since we've now entered the shortest month of the year and the groundhog has already seen his shadow (Darn! More winter!) it seems to be time again to share with you my monthly favorites. Since I was traveling quite a bit last month, I went back to using some of my current default favorites as well as introducing a couple of new ones.


PRODUCTS MENTIONED:

Skin 79 VIP Gold Triple Functions BB Cream (US BB Creams Clinique/Boscia/Estee Lauder/Too Faced)
L'Oreal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base
Maybelline Color Tattoo Eyeshadow in Tough as Taupe
L'Oreal Infallible Eyeshadow in Iced Latte and Continuous Cocoa
Benefit Hervana Blush
Stila Kajal Eyeliner in Topaz

ON ME:

Lipstick is Maybelline Baby Lips in Pink Punch
Forever 21 hat (similar/similar/similar)
Nailpolish is Incoco Nail Strips in Plum Quartz (Sally Hansen version)


It comes as no surprise that I'm featuring my Skin79 Gold bb cream this month because I have been absolutely loving using this Asian, boosted foundation-alternative. The gold version is more hydrating than the pink and the shade suits my winter skin coloring much better than in the summer when I'm tanner. For reference, I am probably MAC NC25-NC30 right now (Or in layman's terms that means medium-to-light beige with yellow-undertones).

In a nutshell, this BB Cream makes my skin look healthy, brightened, and glowy with a more natural appearance than most foundations. The trick is in layered coverage which I show in this post.

Additionally, I mentioned my Stila Kajal pencil in Topaz which I am quite happy to say adds a natural brightness to the lower waterline on days when you feel tired and could use a visual pick-me-up. Most of us have heard of the trick of using white pencils on the waterline to make the eyes look larger, but I prefer using a softer matte pink or peach since it gives the same overall effect without screaming that you are trying too hard.

The swatch above shows the color and texture. It goes on quite smoothly and doesn't irritate my sensitive eyes like most black pencil liners do. To see application in action, check out my Everyday Monolid Tutorial and you'll see what I mean about the subtle brightening effect.

Can I also just mention that I've worn my glitter nail polish strips for 10 days now? There is minimal amount of tip wear and nail growth but I am so impressed with how these have lasted compared to traditional polish. Plus, you can even apply them on an airplane! All the glitter look and none of the abrasive removal process. Love it! Just for the record, the Incoco strips and Sally Hansen strips are exactly the same.

Hope you guys enjoyed the video and I'll try to put together my Cali haul (oh yes, I did shop) and maybe some vlog footage as well that I'll have up soon. Happy weekend!

Hello everyone! I said I would start doing more "basics" videos this year and I wanted to kick-start that trend with one of the most highly requested videos, a "how to apply BB Cream" tutorial.

I was actually surprised to see that so many of you wanted to see this, but like with foundation, the texture of the product has a lot of impact on how best to apply it. My technique is actually a bit different than how I apply foundation so here's a step-by-step look at how I prefer applying BB Cream.


PRODUCTS MENTIONED:

Skin 79 VIP Gold Triple Functions BB Cream (use code FRMHEADTOTOE for 5% off!)
NARS Concealer in Custard
Tarte Smooth Operator Powder
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed

ON ME:

Lipstick is Urban Decay Naked
J. Crew bateau tee (similar/similar)
Nailpolish is Urban Outfitters polish in Hangover (similar/similar)

So for those of you new to "bb cream", they are Asia's answer to an all-in-one tinted moisturizer.

They give a natural coverage while giving additional benefits like sun protection, anti-aging properties, evening skin discoloration, and help to heal blemishes and unbalanced skin. I do have an overview review and post of several different kinds which you can check out here.

I show you the entire process in the video, but I'll break down my process into a few easy steps:

Hi everyone! So today's blog post is going to cover a topic that is probably one of the most-requested subjects that I get: BB Cream.

To explain quickly, BB Cream or "blemish balm" is sheer foundation-like, multi-functional cosmetic that is purported to be good for your skin. It was initially developed in Germany as a healing cream with coverage properties to help patients who have undergone plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedures. The Korean cosmetics industry took that idea and ran with it, creating various different "bb creams" that usually have skin benefits such as SPF, whitening, anti-wrinkle, and nutrients to help improve the health of your skin.

I've entrusted my friend Hannah to help me review 9 different BB Creams to show their effectiveness and shades on varying skintones and skin types. :)

For reference, Jen is MAC foundation shades NC25-30 and combo-oily to normal skin, and Hannah is NW15-NC15 (NC15 is slightly darker than NW15) with eczema and dry skin.


(For those asking, Jen's headband is from Urban Outfitters, necklace is from See Jewelry, and cardigan is from Banana Republic. Hannah's hair was curled using the Remington Air Wave which I did a tutorial on in this blog post. ^_^)

BB Creams reviewed:
Skin79 DermaRX BB Cream
Skin79 Super Plus Triple Functions BB Cream (hot pink)
Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream
BRTC Gold Caviar BB Cream
Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream No. 23
Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream No. 21
BRTC Jasmine Water BB Cream
Skinfood Ginko Green BB Cream
Hanskin Super Magic BB Cream

Skin79 DermaRX BB Cream
Consistency: light like tinted moisturizer
Shade: oxidizes to NC30, greyer
Benefits: fades acne scars (contains arbutin), SPF 15, softens skin texture
Oil-control: Medium. I had to powder in summer, in winter I can just wear this alone.
Bottom line: Best I've tried for acne-prone skin. Fades acne scars, but coverage is light so it doesn't fully cover hyperpigmentation.








Bottom line: Basically just has sheer coverage. No SPF and no noticeable moisturizing or skin improvement.




And here are the very-important comparison swatches:


As you can see from the swatches, most of these bb's look very grey. Thankfully they tend to blend in better after oxidizing but it's definitely something to keep in mind if you apply it heavily and it looks off at first.

In the Summer, I tend to match Missha M #23 and Skin79 DermaRX best but they do tend to both lean grey/pink at first and are lightweight. For winter at my lightest I will probably go for BRTC Gold Caviar or Hanskin Super Magic. Currently, I've been using Skin79 Hot Pink and it's been working out great. :)

Hannah likes the Missha M #21 a lot and will probably also use the BRTC Jasmine Water more through Winter. She is also going to look for the new Missha color #18 which is supposed to be super fair! We learned about that one from reading the Youtube comments. Speaking of that, there is also a darker tan Missha color #32 that I'm quite curious about since it apparently matches NC35-40 and leans very yellow. Maybe I could mix that with my Missha 23 to make it less grey? Hmmmm...

One last note, I do want to emphasize that BB Creams ARE makeup and you must remove it at the end of the night just like regular foundation. There is a possibility that some BBs can break you out like any other makeup and everyone's body chemistry can react a little bit differently to each one so it's helpful to try samples if you can. I believe they do contain parabens so if you are hesitant about that sort of thing then be sure to watch out for it.

Alright, I hope that was helpful for those of you who are wanting to try out BB Creams but don't know where to start. It sure took a long time to put together! Also, HUGE thank you to Hannah for helping me with these videos and swatches. You reviewed for the first time like a pro! <3

Let me know if you guys have any more questions in the comments and I'll try to answer to the best of my knowledge. I haven't tried any other BB Creams yet but maybe some of you can add your own knowledge there as well, so go ahead and comment about your favorites too. :)

Disclaimer: BRTC BB Creams were provided by a representative of the company. Lioele Beyond the Solution was provided by prettyandcute.com. Skin79 hot pink was provided by Pinky Paradise. All other items mentioned were purchased by ourselves because we are crazy maniacs obsessed with bb creams.

Today I have another lens that was graciously sponsored by Pinky Paradise. As I mentioned in my Twitter (follow me here) I thought they were really cute and exciting! The reason? They are PINK! :D

As you probably already know I am a huge fan of anything pink, cute, princessy, etc, etc so I jumped all over this review. And let me tell you, I'm not disappointed.

Here is the lens and animal case. I had a pink bear in the video, but I wanted to show this elephant too cause it's super cute. ^^


You can see the pattern of the actual lenses here and as you can see, the color printed on the lens itself is a pale, salmon pink with a bit of a rippled sunburst pattern fading into a black limbal ring.


Here are close-ups of the lens in dimmer and more direct indoor light. In dimmer light, it blends nicely into my natural brown iris color and in the brighter light, the pale pinky-lavender shade really pops. I'm almost certain the pink color would be even brighter in natural light but it was late when I tried these out after work. ;)


And how it looks on my face


All in all, I really really love these lenses! Even with the first wear, they were very comfortable to me and I wore them for around 4 hours with no problems. I have pretty sensitive eyes and often feel discomfort with lenses after as little as an hour but these didn't dry my eyes out and didn't make me dizzy either. Even plano lenses can be slightly... I don't want to say blurry, but a little wonky sometimes but these didn't have that problem. The only issue I had was since they were 14.5mm, the actual lens is quite large and I had troubles getting it into my left eye at first. Once it was on, it felt pretty good and didn't slide around my eyeball like some lenses do.

Now, you'll have to forgive me because I got a little snap happy since these lenses are so cute! I'm just loving how they come out in pictures. They are probably one of the most flattering lenses in my collection! Barely purple-toned but not unnaturally so like my Adult Violets. More like a softer and cuter lens that I could wear on any ordinary day. So with no further ado, onward commencing with le pic spam!

Smile with teeth, since it seems to always be requested.


I know I look like I'm 12 here. Better that than looking old, M I RITE??


Obligatory Asian Victory sign! -_-V


I did want to mention that I'm wearing Skin 79 Super BB Triple Functions (Hot Pink) bb cream that I also received from Pinky Paradise which so far I'm loving! Really makes skin look smooth and flawless. Will do a review once I test it out for a while longer.


I also used Lioele Blooming Pearl Shimmer Base (pink) from Pretty and Cute which I failed at swatching on my hand here but I think you can pick up on the slight glow in my complexion in these pics. I'll review this also once I've tested it out a bit longer! (Just realized I'm doing an Asian "punch in the face" pose as per Asian Poses. You guys should visit this site. It's hilarious!)


These were my attempts at looking really fobby


Nomming on a red bean paste bun? J/K it's really a cell charm from my friend Janie who runs Pretty and Cute. ;) You guys should visit and follow her personal blog here!


Ok, I'm sure you're all very sick of my face now so I'll just leave you with one last Myspace-angled shot. XD


I LOVE THESE LENSES!!! :D

<3

As promised here is a review of the Lioele products I received from prettyandcute.com! Everything is so pink, cute, and with a princess theme. In other words, extra happy points in my opinion.



Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream

The packaging is nice and hygienic and the texture feels nice and covers really well. It's an all-in-one because you don't need another product for base or concealer. I find it's a touch light for my skin, but it would work best for a mac shade NC 20-25.


Blooming Cushion Touch Blusher

Another surprisingly incredible product. This matte baby pink blusher lasted 12 hours on me! Plus, the packaging is super cute and fool-proof to use.



Blooming Pop Cherry Tint

A cherry red lip stain that lasts for a long time. It's not as drying as my old Revlon lip stain and can also be used on cheeks for a cute flush. The texture is a watery gel and I feel like the intensity of pigment is easier to control than the Revlon's roller ball too. The packaging looks like nail polish and it's similar to Benefit Benetint.


Blooming Gloss in #10 Lovely Twoway

Looooooooove the smell of this gloss! My friend told me it smells like something from Bath & Body Works and I agree. It's yummy without being too sweet or floral, but with hints of both. The texture has nice weight and slip and isn't too sticky.


Princess Mirror in Baby Pink

This is my favorite thing I got for sure. It has totally replaced all mirror compacts that I use to apply makeup. It feels nice and weighty (not cheap and light plastic) and evokes a strong sense of nostalgia for me. <3 Very cute and princessy flourishes and a rose engraving on the mirror itself as well.


As I noted in my last entry, prettyandcute.com is doing a special where if you buy Lioele products, you can get 10% off the Lioele items using code lovelioele in the comments box. Additionally, you get free shipping for orders over $75 within the US!

Anyway, I hope this review helped you guys who are interested in Lioele products! I was overall very impressed with what I've tried so far and I want to continue to try out more of this brand since they seem to be very adorable and good quality. Time for rest now since my cough seems to have come back. I have a doc's appointment on Monday morning so wish me luck!

Disclaimer: Items in this post were sent to me for review consideration. All of my reviews, as always, are my 100% honest opinion. ;)

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. :)