Please, please, please wash your brushes

10:53 AM


A blogger once posted that she didn't wash her brushes. When they got too grubby to use she just tossed them and bought some more. That makes me cringe to my very soul. The price of the brush is irrelevant; if it's a good quality brush and you take care of it, that brush can last you many many years. Using dirty brushes can make you makeup look runny and awkward, can make you break out, and is just plain nasty. When you wash your brushes you're removing old dirty makeup, skin cells that have settled, and bacteria that can grow on your brush. Robyn posted a study of what grows on unwashed makeup brushes here, if you don't believe that bacteria shit.

I wash my brushes once a week. It's important that you do the same, even if you use it once during the week and it's barely dirty. After every use I run the brush over a baby wipe to get off any of the gunk that I can. 

Please, for the love of god, wash your brushes. You can save money and your skin. 

On a much lighter note, if you've ever heard the song December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night) by Frankie Valiie and the Four Seasons, my middle school band teacher is the guy playing drums and singing main vocals. I work with him at a music camp. We tease him endlessly about it, although it's pretty awesome. He's a fantastic drummer. You can watch him singing here.

Out With The Old | #4

7:12 PM

I'm back today with another OWTO/Empties post! I finished my last exam on Thursday so I should have a lot more time open to relaxing, watching tv, and blogging (:


Bath & Body Works Volumizing Shampoo and Moisturizing Conditioner in the Warm Vanilla Sugar scent
Neither of these did anything except smell good. Oh my god, they smelled fantastic. However, they just weren't good as hair products and it's no use keeping them around, as I don't even use them.

Bio-Oil
After faithfully using an entire big bottle of this through and through, I have deemed this... useless. On me. I think this, while also claims to be good for scars and dark spots, is mainly targeted for developing stretch marks. Mine have been in place for years, as have my dark spots, so this might not be the thing for me. I wasn't a big fan of the scent and it was a very oily oil, if you catch my drift. I will not be repurchasing.

Nivea Soft
I'm sad to see this go. I actually really enjoyed this product, despite all the nasties and animal testing involved. This is a lightweight moisturizer that is great for the body and the face, but it contains a lot of mineral oil and alcohol denat, along with petrolatum. I would recommend for those who don't mind these things, but I will not be repurchasing.

Yes to Cucumbers Calming Facial Mask
Nope. Nope nope nope nope nope. This stuff? Sensitive, my ass. It burned my skin and did nothing. It smelled waaaay too strongly of cucumber. The product hardened and dried up in the pot a few months after its first use. A lot of other people are reporting the same issues. I do not recommend and will not be repurchasing.

No7 Rapid Spot Rescue
At first I really liked this product and while it is good at reducing whiteheads and spots that have risen to the surface of the skin super fast, it's no good for blackhead and deep under-the-skin spots, which are what I suffer from. It's good for a pinch, but not for the long run. If that's what you're looking for, definitely look into this. I, however, will not be repurchasing.

Crabtree & Evelyn Lavender Age Defying Hand Remedy
This is a lovely hand cream with a lovely scent and a nice formula. However, the packaging leaked and I just couldn't bring myself to keep it around when every time I used it it oozed out way too much product. I could've just squeezed it out into a tub, but there's not much left and I've got a billion other creams to work through. Will not be repurchasing, although there's absolutely nothing wrong.

Nuxe Reve de Miel Lip Moisturizing Stick
Blech. I got this after seeing how much the potted and famous Reve De Miel Lip Balm costs, expecting it to be good. Eh, that's all I have to say. This doesn't moisturize at all. I think it's good as a protective layer over a moisturizing balm, like for those who like to run in the winter. However, as a lip balm on its own (which is the intended purpose), it's next to useless. The balmy feeling leaves the lips after just moments and I don't like the lemony/honey scent. Will not be repurchasing.

Physician's Formula Shimmer Strips for Green Eyes
These are wonderful eyeshadows, pigmented and soft, but they just don't compliment my eye color and I've had this around for several years and have never worn it out. I recommend and will probably repurchase eventually in a shade that's good for me.

Bath & Body Works Sea Island Cotton Hand Cream
I loved this hand cream, sigh. It smelled so damn good! It sunk in super fast and was deeply moisturizing and especially good for elbows. While this is an excellent hand cream, I will not be repurchasing purely because there are plenty others.

3!!! Eyelash curlers (one NYC, one F21, one generic)
None of these were good for my eye shape. Just no use keeping them around.

Essie All in One 3-Way Glaze, Sephora Nail Polish in Teeny Bikini, Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Rosy Pink
These nail polishes are all almost empty and goopy and gross now. There's just no reason for keeping them.

Thanks for reading! What have you finished up recently?

[My] Summer Red

1:21 PM



Last week Alix put up a post on the perfect summer red lip color. It's been on my mind literally day and night since then, and today I made a quick stop to Sephora and picked up one of their Cream Lip Stains, available in 9 colors and retail for $13. The shade the immediately caught my eye was 03, Strawberry Kisses, a "matte bright pinky red." My boyfriend thought it was a really nice shade as well. This is a lovely pop of a summer filled shade of red that wears well and comfortably. I highly recommend you pop into your local Sephora and pick up this shade. 

(A proper review of this product will be up after I test it thoroughly. Stay tuned!)

By the way, have you been watching the World Cup? Who are you rooting for? I originally thought Croatia was going to beat Brazil out, but that didn't turn out....

Influenster

Influenster Vow BoxBox | 2014

6:27 PM

I don't know why I got this particular box. I signed up for the graduation box, but all's well (: This is the first one of these boxes I have ever gotten and I was so excited that I cheated and looked at the products right when I found out I'd be receiving this box. This one is designed for those who are going to be at a wedding soon, but I think these products are pretty versatile, haha. Terribly sorry for the crap phone photo - y'all know I usually only stand for high quality shots.








Olay Regenerist Tone Perfect Cream | EcoTools Pure Complexion Facial Sponge Sensitive Version | Pure Silk Shave Cream | Tide-To-Go | Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Barracuda | Riley and Grey Coupon

Olay Regenerist Tone Perfect Cream
I would've been so excited to receive this had Olay not tested on animals. I don't use any products that are, so I'll probably pass this onto my mom or a friend.
"Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream is a lightly-scented, fast-absorbing moisturizer that hydrates your skin. Over 8 weeks, its formula with a brightening complex fades the look of dark spots, age spots, sun spots and discoloration – evening your overall skin tone. Simply massage the moisturizing cream into your skin each morning before applying make-up and at night after cleansing.Experience bright, beautiful, healthy-looking skin every day with Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream. 
  • Hydrates skin quickly and, over time, evens overall skin tone appearance as a part of your daily routine. 
  • Reveals bright, beautiful and healthy-looking skin. 
  • Fades the look of dark spots, age spots, sun spots and discoloration in just 8 weeks. 
  • Lightly-scented, fast-absorbing and non-greasy. 
  • Formulated with advanced ingredients that penetrate deep into your skin's surface to help re-energize skin’s appearance." 

EcoTools Pure Complexion Facial Sponge Sensitive
I've actually been thinking about getting this for a while now. Right now I'm using a cream and oil cleanser, and I have a feeling this is targeted for foaming cleansers, so I'll save this until I can get a foaming one. Until then, I look forward to this product!

"The new, unique Pure Complexion Facial Sponge is handmade with 100 percent natural ingredients, including Konjac vegetable fiber, for a better clean that reveals smooth, refreshed skin. It is dermatologist tested for use both morning and night to wash away dirt, oil and makeup, leaving skin glowing without over-drying or causing redness."

Pure Silk Shave Cream
I usually use coconut oil to shave my legs but it's quite a hassle so I'll try this out and see how it is! 
"Pure Silk moisturizing Shave Cream is available in a variety of deliciously scented fragrances. It's rich lather contains added aloe and moisturizers that help give you the smoothest most touchable legs without irritation. Pure Silk Shave cream, for legs like Pure Silk."

Tide-To-Go
I mess things up. I spill things. I ruin my clothes in the laundry with mysterious stains. This will be helpful.

Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Barracuda
I actually have a couple of these and while the colors are incredible, they never really dry to a hard finish and are easy to dent and ruin. I'll try this one out and see if I like it but if I don't I'll pass it on.

"Skip the salon, get the results. Don't settle for just color when you can get a base coat, strengthener, growth treatment, salon-inspired color, top coat, chip-resistance and a gel finish all in 1 bottle. Featuring the unique precision brush for a flawless finish and patented Vita Care technology for advanced 10 day wear, more shine and nourishing care. Choose from 56 gorgeous shades."

Overall, this box was not for me, but not because there was anything wrong with it, I just wasn't excited to receive these products. I think lots would definitely enjoy it, but not I. I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

NYX

NYX Eyeshadow Base in Skintone | Review

4:35 PM

I realized that I haven't had a blog post up in a while. For some reason I thought I had queued a bunch of posts, but I was sorely mistaken. Anyways, look forward to a few posts coming your way soon. Today's is on the NYX Eyeshadow Base in Skintone.


What it is: an cream eyeshadow primer
Where: Ulta, Target, select CVS stores, and online
Price: $7
NYX is cruelty free! 

I was hoping this product would be similar to a MAC Paint Pot, something you apply either alone to cancel out redness or underneath product to make it stand out more. NYX says to "maximize the intensity, longevity and brilliance of your eye shadow statements with our eye shadow primer pots. Each of the three NYX Eye Shadow Bases—for vibrant, pearl or neutral tones—creates a smooth canvas for color, increases its durability and prevents fallout." There are three shades available, a white, a shimmery white, and this one, Skintone.


The packaging is typical for a cream eye product, albeit a little bland. The product comes in a plastic jar with a white twist off cap and contains .25 oz, or 7 grams of product. This is a unhygenic but totally normal for a cream product.


The color of this is definitely visible on the eye. It's a super warmtoned (almost orangy) medium skintone. Those with medium to medium-light complexions could definitely pull this off alone but if you have a very fair or dark skintone someone will be able to see the product.

This is so creamy it's ridiculous. It's easy to smooth and blend out over the eye and definitely makes colors pop, but the downside is that it tends to crease when you use even the smallest bit too much. There's a weird algorithm for applying this; I find going in two thin layers is best as it won't crease but is enough to make the colors pop. I think this base is great for holding shadow on the lids longer and I've heard good things about the other two colors making bright shades pop, but for those looking to prevent creasing this is definitely not it.

pacifica

Pacifica Smolder Eye Lining Gel in Tahitian Pearl | Review

6:25 PM


What it is: cream eyeliner/eyeshadow
Where: Wherever Pacifica is sold (Target, certain supermarkets and Whole Foods, online)
Price: $14
Pacifica is a cruelty free brand!

Pacifica is a brand that I've not tried very much from, but I absolutely adore their Sea Foam Complete Face Wash. I was really interested in these eyeliners when they first came out, as they had the most gorgeous shades, so I picked this one up. I did think it was black at first, but nonetheless the color is beautiful. Their makeup line launched around this time last year I believe, but they've added some lip and eye products.

Pacifica says "The Smolder Gel Eye Liner [ ] stands above the rest. It's not waxy or tacky but has a creamy finish that can be smudged or left sharp. The smooth application allows you to rock a natural to smoky dramatic look with long-lasting natural mineral color. Line the eyes effortlessly or use as an allover creaseless shadow. Can be worn sheer or layered for more intensity. Gently line both upper and/or lower eye lid with a lining brush for a dramatic effect, or simply use your finger to smudge the edges for your sexy smolder. A product that is a true multi-tasker. 100% vegan." There are three shades available, and I'm reviewing Tahitian Pearl.




The packaging is pretty basic, but functional and aesthetically pleasing. The product is housed in a simple white jar with a screw-off lid. There's a window that allows one to see the shade inside, which is convenient if you want to own more than one. Inside there is .07 oz of product.


Before we move onto the formulation I want to talk about the shade, which is simply amazing. Pacifica describes it as a "pearlized green/gray with gold dust" and while that's definitely true, I think the best way to describe it is a deep khaki with gold shimmers. It's a very beautiful and flattering shade on my medium complexion and dark brown eyes.

This product is super duper creamy. I was surprised by the soft, creamy texture - I was expecting a true gel texture, but this has more of the texture of a cream shadow. It's easily blendible, a bit too easy to smudge, but easy to build up. As the product claims, it can be used as both a cream shadow and a liner. Sounds great, right? But here lies the problem. This product never really sets, making it easy to fade drastically and quickly and prone to creasing. I suppose one could set it over with an eyeshadow, but isn't that kind of counterproductive?

All in all, this product falls in the "if only" category. Do not get unless you're okay with setting it and working really hard to get it to stay on your lids. 

Skincare Products I've been Using Lately | #3

5:03 PM


Sephora Triple Action Cleansing Water | Coconut Oil | No7 Melting Gel Cleanser | H2O+ Marine Toner (Discontinuned) | Mary Kay Firming Eye Cream | Yes to Cucumbers Calming Night Cream | Tarte Maracuja Oil | Yes To Carrots Fragrance Free Daily Cream Cleanser. | Tarte C-Brighter Eye Treatment | Meishoku Organic Rose Moisture Cream | Coola Face SPF 30 Mineral Cucumber Matte Finish Sunscreen

Since my last post which was very simple, my skincare stash has grown significantly. I honestly don't like using so many products, but I'm trying to finish things up in a timely manner. Products sitting around not being used are just a waste of space and money.

I only use the coconut oil and cleansing water if I'm wearing foundation or eyeliner, which is about every other day. I massage coconut oil all over my face and between my lashes, then wipe off with a cotton round/swab and then go in with the cleansing water to really make sure that my skin is clean of makeup. If I'm wearing minimal makeup (concealer, brows) I'll just go ahead to the next step, which is cleansing.

I cleanse at night with the No7 Melting Gel Cleanser, which begins as a gel but melts into an oil as it's rubbed into the skin. It takes off light makeup really well, which is why I use just this when I'm wearing light makeup. After washing, I apply a toner with my hands because I feel like I get more bang for my buck and I get to smell the pleasant scent the H2O+ Marine Toner. After my skin drinks it up, I put a dab of the Mary Kay Firming Eye Cream on my orbital bone. I actually don't really like this product because it takes forever and a half to sink in, but I feel the need to use an eye cream at night and this is the only appropriate night eye cream I have. The moisturizer I'm using right now is the Yes to Cucumbers Calming Night Cream, which has a soothing scent of chamomile and cucumbers. This bad boy sinks in quickly and leaves my skin feeling soothed and hydrated. Every other day at night I take a couple drops of the Tarte Maracuja Oil and smooth it over my face, concentrating on any dry patches.

In the morning I cleanse my face with a gentle cream cleanser, the Yes To Carrots Fragrance Free Dilay Cream Cleanser being my go-to these days. I don't use a toner in the morning, but rather go straight into moisturizing. My eye cream is the shimmery Tarte C-Brighter Eye Treatment, and I follow up with the sweetly scented Meishoku Organic Rose Moisture Cream. If I'm not wearing a foundation or tint moisturizer with SPF that day I will follow up with the Coola SPF 30 Minereal Cucumber Suncreen.

That's all, folks! What skincare products have you been using?


What's In My Bag | 2014

5:02 PM

I've never been one to carry lots of crap around in my bag. But I do try to pack for any situation in a light manner. My backpack is a canvas rucksack picked up at a night market in Taiwan. What's in my bag:

  • iPad 3 with Bamboo stylus - great tools to have for students
  • Brave New World by Aldous Huxley, currently reading for class but I really enjoy it.
  • Water bottle - old VOSS bottle that I scratched the label off
  • Pencil case - case from Taiwan
  • Calculator (TI-84 Plus)
  • Wallet - from a street vendor in Taiwan. This bad boy has lasted me two years with not a single issue. 
  • Cell phone - Motorola Moto G with Eagle Cell case
  • Apple earphones
  • Domo bag with tampons (hey, don't judge)
  • Lancôme makeup bag
  • Mirror
  • Elizabeth Arden Exceptional Lipstick in Breathless (discontinued)
  • Boots Botanics Tinted Lip Balm in Sheer Pomegrante
  • Bath and Body Works Fresh Picked Passionfruit Lip Butter
  • Folding hairbrush
  • Bath and Body Works Japanese Cherry Blossom Hand Sanitizer
  • True Religion Love Hope Denim Perfume

Recent Purchases/Mini Reviews

4:26 AM

Today I'm writing a post about some recent purchases. I've been sneakily shopping over the past month and a half and putting reviews and posts up, but these are the other products that I've added to my pile of things to use and haven't mentioned yet that I want to talk about. Read on!


No7 Beautiful Skin Melting Gel Cleanser
This is the product that I've been using the longest out of the bunch. The moment I saw this cleanser I was reminded of the Clarins version of this, which I've never used, but if you have you might want to try this out because they seem quite similar. Anyways, this comes out a gel, melts into an oil, and emulisifes when water is added. There's a definite learning curve if you're used to foaming cleansers, but it's a really lovely cleanser. It takes off light makeup and leaves the skin feeling nourished and clean. There's a scent, it kind of smells like a sexy man. I don't mind the scent at all - I kind of love it - but this might bother a lot of other people.

Pacifica Eye Lining Smolder Gel (Tahitian Pearl)
I was so excited to hear that Pacifica was coming out with a makeup line. Up until last year they were a perfume and body product company, but they expanded to skincare then and onto makeup this year. This product was the first thing that stood out to me when I gave the collection a onceover. The shade is incredible. It's this khaki toned dark brown with shimmer. I've got a review of this coming up really soon, but let me just tell y
ou... I am conflicted.

Etude House Drawing Brow Pencil (Gray Brown)
I feel like in America the only well-known brow pencil with this type of packaging is the Hourglass one. I wasn't willing to pay the big bucks for that, so I shelled out a few bucks to get this shipped from Korea. It's an awesome shade, perfect for my soft black hair. This product is a great pencil, it really is. It's waxy yet not too waxy, long lasting but not impossible to get off, natural looking but defined, etc. The spoolie is nothing to hit home about but it's functional and brushes out product.

Meishoku Organic Rose Moisture Cream
I picked this up at a Japanese supermarket (Mitsuwa in Edgewater, NJ) where I also saw Bioderma, btw! Anyways, the products there were at such an inflated price that this was the cheapest thing that wasn't face wash. I've only used this a few times so I don't have a very developed opinion on it, but it's nice and light and smells nice and I haven't yet had a bad reaction. We shall see!

Koji No.70 Eyelash Curler
I always struggle to use eyelash curlers because they never fit my eyes right. I'm Asian and have a flatter facial structure, which includes my eyes. They're quite flat and my lashline is rather straight, so I was really pleased to see these curlers. I remember a YouTuber (can't remember who for the life of me) saying these were amazing for Asians, so I threw this in my basket. Yeah, she was right. They're pretty great.

Starter Brush Kit | Beginning Beauty

10:11 AM

I don't think makeup starters really need a lot of tools. For the first year or so of me applying makeup, I used my fingers and a sponge. However, brushes are great tools to have as they make application cleaner (using hands of course means dirty hands) and can result in beautiful, airbrushed finishes. Read on to see my recommendations for starters.


Eye brushes

To be perfectly honest, I think all one needs is a fluffy brush. Fluffy brushes are amazing because they can be used to do about a thousand different things; apply eyeshadow, blend out concealer, blend out harsh eyeshadow lines, apply highlighter, etc. A great little brush kit containing eye brushes is the Ecotools Essential Eyes Kit, which has a large and a small flat shader, a fluffy brush, an angled crease brush, and a pencil/smudger brush. The only thing I would add to this is an angled liner brush, which can be used to fill in brows and line lashlines. Of course, you gotta get a spoolie to blend out eyebrow lines.


Face brushes
To this day, I don't think everyone needs to fap around with twelve different brushes daily for the face. One great versatile brush is the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, which can be used for all types of products (liquid, cream, and powder)! The synthetic bristles blend out like a dream and don't absorb and product. They clean easily and dry fast, so I would definitely recommend this. The last essential face tool is a sponge. There are egg shaped sponges and wedge shaped ones. Sponges purchased in pretty much any store that carries makeup. The wedges often come in huge packs and are intended to be used just a couple times. I love sponges because they give a very natural but flawless finish and can be used on all types of products, although they're best for cream an liquid.

That's all folks! What types of brushes or tools would you recommend?

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Hi there, I'm Emily. It's nice to meet you. I'm a beauty blogger who also happens to be very interested in photography/film. Chat with me, let's be friends!