Sunday, July 31, 2011

Saturday, July 30, 2011

delicious scents: men and women

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rachel ashwell: shabby chic

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covet by sarah jessica parker is a beautiful scent that i wear often. it is a light, summery fragrance that is more citrusy than floral. this perfume is perfect for day time, but can easily be worn during the evening as well.

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bleu de chanel is a gorgeous men's fragrance. if you are familiar with chanel fragrances you'll understand that the scent is a rather deep, musky one. the bottle appears nice and sleek and has a magnetic top. i bought the eau de toilette for my boyfriend's birthday and he loves it.

do you have a favorite fragrance?

Friday, July 29, 2011

dating a royal

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this morning i painted my nails with opi's dating a royal. after neglecting this polish for a while, i've rediscovered my admiration for it.

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when i purchased this polish, i was originally in search of a navy. dating a royal was a bit lighter than what i had in mind, but a pretty shade nonetheless. this polish is a non-shimmer, royal blue with a glossy finish. a couple of coats are required to get that nice, deep tone.

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i decided to throw on sephora by opi's traffic last minute. i think the rose gold sparkles compliment the blue polish well.

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Thursday, July 28, 2011

hot gossip

i had a return at mac which of course turned into an exchange. i decided that creme cup was a little too pink for my liking. while i can appreciate a nude-ish pink like pretty please, pinks like creme cup and angel just don't suit me. anyway, after swatching just about every nude lipstick on display, i've come to the conclusion that i'm a little bit over the nude lip. although i adore creme d'nude, even when i've melted about 5 of them, i guess my preference has changed for now. so, i ended up taking home hot gossip, a semi-deep cranberry type of color.

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i also picked up an oversized knit sweater from h&m. i usually get a size up in this kind of piece, so i purchased a medium. i love the gold thread running through the fabric.

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love ♥

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

pfchangs

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today my boyfriend and i went to pf changs, one of our favorite restaurants. we get the same thing literally every time we go.

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we started off with lettuce wraps, which are too die for. i could probably just order the wraps for my entree and be set if the chicken lo mein wasn't so delicious as well. we ordered the cheesecake for dessert and i pretty much hogged the crust.

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what a muffin!

fabulash

there seems to have become a trend on my blog regarding revlon cosmetics. revlon is my favorite drugstore brand because they have proven with each purchase to be of supreme quality. fabulash mascara is no exception.

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i've unfortunately spent wasted money on highend mascaras that perform no superior to drugstore brands. i constantly end up repurchasing fabulash in blackest black. it's formulation is on the dryer spectrum of mascaras. i've not had a problem with fallout or under-eye smudging while using this product.

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the wand, along with the formulation, provide a non-fussy and clump-free application. i'm pleased with the volume it gives my lashes.

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Tuesday, July 26, 2011

let's talk skincare

let me start off by saying that i have oily, acne-prone skin. because of this, i am a skincare maniac. i've been to the dermatologist many times and my opinion is that when it comes to fighting moderate breakouts, there is no need to rush to a professional.

i've tried a variety of drugstore skincare products enough to know what is best for my skin. i'm not about buying a whole line of a particular brand because it can be a waste. for example, i love clean and clear cleansers, but i loathe their moisturizers. as long as you find a product that works for your skin, you can easily incorporate it into your daily regimen.

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aveeno's smart essential's daily nourishing and nighttime moisturizers are quality products that help to maintain healthy skin. the daily moisturizer contains spf 30, which is important in protecting your skin from the sun's damaging rays.

moisturizing your skin is a necessity. i've heard so many people say that they don't moisturize because of oily skin. if anything, neglecting a moisturizer can only hurt skin's quality. if you're prone to acne, a good moisturizer can help heal and actually prevent future breakouts. again, your skin needs moisture!

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make up removal is key in achieving clean skin. i use makeup wipes to remove the majority of my makeup before cleansing. this way, my cleanser can actually do its job instead of circulating dirty makeup all over my face. wipes are easy because they don't involve a liquid. i actually prefer neutrogena's hydrating cleansing wipes, but these garnier towelettes were $3 cheaper. no point in buying an expensive pack of wipes.

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now, my favorite skincare product of all time, clean and clear's 3 in 1 exfoliating cleanser. this cleanser has a thick and creamy consistency with miniscule beads that are supposed to help with exfoliation. the important thing is that it contains 5% benzoyl peroxide. this acne fighting ingredient is so effective in keeping a clear complexion. i find it to to be way more significant than salicylic acid because benzoyl peroxide is able to penetrate deep into pores and fight acne-causing bacteria. this ingredient may cause dryness, so a moisturizer is especially necessary when using products containing bp.

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finally, exfoliation. the clarisonic mia does an excellent job at removing dead skin cells, leaving skin smooth and vibrant. the cleanser is so gentle and effective at removing the remains of makeup. incorporating an exfoliation technique into your skincare regimen is beneficial because it prevents clogging of pores from dead skin cells, environmental dirt, and oil. however, exfoliating more than a few times a week can be harsh on skin.

for those wondering if i would recommend rushing to purchase the clarisonic, the answer is no. there are many good exfoliating products on the market. the clarisonic is more of a luxury than a necessity.

Monday, July 25, 2011

favorite polish

i'm not big on nail polish but i rarely go without it. i've used many brands and opi is probably my most favored. the application is smooth and easy. usually, i find them to be pretty opaque without resulting in a goopy mess.

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java mauve-a, dating a royal, bring on the bling.

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with gold, green, and red sparkles, bring on the bling is more opaque than your typical sparkle polish. this is nice because only a couple of coats are required and you don't have to wait forever for the polish to dry.

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orly; hair band, basket case. sally hansen hard as nails; strobe light. china glaze; emerald fitzgerald.

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orly's basket case is the perfect barbie pink, especially with sally hansen's strobe light over top (seen on thumb nail). emerald fitzgerald is a gorgeous green and one of my favorite polishes.

super lustrous lips

i'm a lip product junkie. i don't go anywhere without a lipgloss or lipstick in hand. revlon has a wide range of gorgeous lip products for an affordable price. their colorburst and super lustrous lines are comparable to highend cosmetic quality and have great pigmentation.

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crystal lilac and strawberry are from revlon's colorburst line. they both obtain some shimmer and not only are they gorgeous colors, but i love their packaging as well. the flat doe foot applicator of these glosses make for an easier application.

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lilac pastelle and coral reef are from the super lustrous line. these were from last year's summer collection and contain spf 15. along with the colorburst glosses, their payoff is great and they wear just as long as any good quality lipgloss.

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top; crystal lilac, lilac pastelle.
bottom; strawberry, coral reef.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

kate *landry wallet

i figured i'd share what i carry around with me to hold my cash, cards, id, and whatever else. i've had this kate landry wallet for years now. it is genuine black leather and i am obsessed.

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this wallet is spacious and well-organized. i love the twistable clasp!

Wednesday, July 20, 2011

lovely liquid makeup!

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i find that the most significant similarity between the above foundations are their quality, which both deserve a thumbs up. i am the lightest shade in each, 110 in makeup forever hd and 001 ivory in revlon photoready.

i bought photoready after running out of the makeup forever hd. although i love hd, i didn't necessarily want to leave sephora 40 short again. i can say that i am pleased with this decision.

revlon's photoready foundation is a meduim, yet buildable coverage. it leaves a slightly dewy finish and i find it's results to be pretty flawless. this foundation contains spf 20, which is always a bonus. i wont go into how it photographs, because i don't really care about the quarrel of photos and sunscreen. the product makes my face look healthy. pretty simple. and at $11, that's not to shabby.

i still recommend makeup forever hd if you don't mind investing in higher end makeup. it is lightweight, coverage is medium, and the finish is natural. this foundation is beautiful and relatively undetectable.

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top; makeup forever hd
bottom; revlon photoready

the formulation of revlon photoready has a slightly thicker consistency, but both are easily blendable and last decently on the skin. by far my favorite high end and drugstore foundations.

closetspace






















i thought it might be interesting to share how i organize my closet. or maybe not very interesting at all. the truth is, i quite like this little space located in my bedroom. it is actually pretty roomy compared to the previous closet that was in my old apartment.

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here are my loves. it's nice to have easy access to all of my shoes, instead of rummaging around the floor for the right pair.

Monday, July 18, 2011

coral lips

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illamasqua's obey is a matte, orangy/coral color. this lipstick is opaque and high maintenance, definitely requiring some blending work. applied lightly, it can be very wearable. i often pair it with revlon's superlusterous lipgloss in coral reef for a gorgeous, coral shine.

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obey. coral reef.

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both colors are beautiful on their own, but they're flattering combined as well.

Sunday, July 17, 2011

minihaul

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toms are so lightweight and comfortable. these shoes are nice for casual days when you don't necessarily want to wear sandals. i think they'll look super cute with shorts or skinny jeans. i got mine in classic black to match everything. the fact that the company gives shoes to children in need with every purchase is amazing!

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sephora by opi's traffic is much more rose gold than in the photo, which is why i bought it. this chunky glitter polish would look great ontop of orly's rage. here, i'm wearing it alone. with just a couple of coats it covers the nails, giving a nice dimension and shine. it doesn't take long to dry, either.

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mac's paint pot in bare study is a gorgeous, shimmery shade and the perfect neutral base for any shadow. this is the first paint pot i've purchased and i actually prefer it's formulation to benefit's creaseless cream shadows.

Friday, July 15, 2011

every day face

most used makeup products

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after i apply revlon's photoready foundation, i'll cover any blemishes with a concealer. then, i'll apply both deep throat by nars and mac's well dressed for a flush of color. benefit's high beam gives a natural sheen to the skin, which i'll blend onto my cheekbones. i've cut out face powder from my routine because i prefer a glowy rather than matte look. for eyes, i'll use benefit's creaseless cream shadow in birthday suit as a base for my naked palette. i often skip on liner, but sometimes i'll apply sapphire by stila when i feel like taking the time. it's a nice navy shade. lips vary, but one of my most used lipsticks is naked by urban decay. aside from it's hideous packaging, it's a gorgeous, natural shade with an appealing creamy formula.

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top row are my favorite/most used shadows from the naked palette; toasted. buck. virgin. sin. naked. sidecar. top left; sapphire
bottom row; high beam. deep throat. well dressed. naked (lipstick).

oh, the blending shadow brush above is a sonia kashuk brush from target. along with my measly blush brush, they are the only brushes i use.
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