Haul | L'oreal Products

Hey everyone, today I have a post on the recent L'oreal products that I purchased. My local CVS was having a 40% off L'oreal products which is a great deal. I really encourage people to purchase drugstore items when they're on sale. I hardly, if ever, pay full price for drugstore makeup. Here are the items that I picked up.

- L'oreal Voluminous Carbon Black Waterproof Mascara
- L'oreal Voluminous Original Waterproof Mascara
- L'oreal Fairest Nude Lipstick
- L'oreal 24 Hour Infallible in 556 Smoldering Plum
- L'oreal Royalty Reinvented 107




I actually texted a couple of my girlfriends and recommended some items that I thought would look great on them. I'm such an enabler:)

- Shayna

Makeup | Mandy's Wedding

Hey everyone,
This post is going to be on the wedding that I did for my good friend, Mandy. Like I mentioned previously, I didn't like the work that was done on her during a makeup trial. I just feel it wasn't suited for her. So I meet up with her one day and did her makeup while catching up with life. It was fun! no pressure or anything. I wasn't going in trying to land a job. I just wanted to do a look that would compliment her features and the wedding theme: a country day time wedding. Plus she's beautiful, so not much work for me! She loved the look and booked me for her wedding. The makeup on the bridesmaids will be in a separate post.

Products used
- Eyes
Benefit Brow Zing, Dark
Nars Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base
Mac Blanc Type Eyeshadow (highlight)
Mary Kay Hazelnut Eyeshadow (crease)
Mac Naked Lunch Eyeshadow (lid)
Mac Bateau Eyeshadow (outer crease)
Mac Carbon Eyeshadow (smudge into lashline)
Milani Eye Tech Extreme Liquid Eyeliner, 01 Blackest Black
Mac Pro Longwear Eye Liner, Definedly Black

- Face
Mary Kay Beige 302 Foundation
Mac Mineralize Natural Foundation, Medium Dark
Mac Refined Deeper Bronze
Tarte Blissful Blush
Mac Shimmer Highlight

- Lips
Nyx Lipliner, Natural
Mac Pillow Talk
Mac Wildly Lush Plushglass

Set with Skindinavia No More Shine Setting Spray




The bride looked absolutely beautiful and I'm glad that her makeup held up through the rain. Good thing I researched the products I used and tested them myself. Look out for the next post on the look I did on the bridesmaids.

- Shayna

Makeup for Pic ID

Hi everyone, today's post will be on makeup for a picture ID. I had to renew my license and I had to think about what kind of makeup I was going to do and I thought this would be a great post. Since I didn't know what time of the day I'd be renewing my license I thought it would be best to wear a mattifying foundation (I usually do anyway). For people who has normal/combo skin I suggest you look into wearing a long wearing/mattifying foundation. We don't want a shiny face that we need to look at for atleast 5 years! The foundation that I wore was Estee Lauder's Double Wear Foundation in Honey Beige.

I did my regular contour and blush but applied it a bit heavier than I usually do so it'll be noticeable in the picture. I skipped the highlight in case I do look oily (despite my efforts not to). For my eyes, I used a black eyeshadow base and applied Mac's Satin Taupe on the lid, Mac's Soft Brown in the crease and Mac's Blanc Type as a highlighter.  For lips, I use Mac's Mocha and Mac's Plushglass in Wildly Lush.

Despite my efforts, there was a shine on my face it probably was because the camera wasn't the best and print out too. Hope these tips will help you in your future picture IDs:)

Haul | theBalm on Hautelook

Hi everyone, look what I got it! After seeing swatches and reviews of Meet Matte Nude (the newer and bigger one) I had to get it. Of course, knowing theBalm makes regular appearances on Hautelook I decided to wait for it through there. It didn't take long at all considering that it's a new product. So I snatched it up along with Balms Away and makeup remover for eyes.

Top 12 products of 2012

Hi everyone! Today's post happens to be on the top 12 products of 2012! I've been working on this for awhile because it is kinda of difficult to narrow down skincare, haircare, tools and makeup products to just 12! So may I present to you my top 12...

My top 12, minus the almond oil

1)   CeraVe Facial Moisturizing Lotion AM SPF 30 ($13.99/3 fl oz.)
      I discovered this product from youtube guru (forgot which..) and I love it. I stopped using my Shiseido Moisturizer, my HG moisturizer for over a year, because of this. Not only is it cheaper than my Shiseido but almost double in size. It’s non greasy and I can apply more product to my face than my Shiseido before my skin stops absorbing product.

2)   Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Foundation ($36.00/1 fl oz.)

This is probably the best mattifying foundation that actually matches my skin! Finding foundation that suits your skin’s needs is easy, finding one that suits your skin’s needs AND matches you is hard! This does it for me.

3)   Bare Escentuals Matte Mineralize Foundation ($27.00/0.2 oz)

This is the best mattifying powder foundation I’ve tried and it has a good amount of yellow in it. I love yellow toned foundation because it matches my skin and also has a brightening effect to my face.

4)   Tarte Amazonian Clay Blushes ($26.00/0.2 oz)

Hands down my favorite blushes! I’ve been using their blushes almost all the time. If I could possibly sell all my non-Tarte blushes for a fair price I would. All my Mac, Nars, Rock N Republic….all of them!

5)   Nars Smudge-proof Eyeshadow Base ($24.00/0.26 oz)

This eyeshadow base made me turn my back to UD Eyeshadow Primer and Too Faced Shadow Insurance. It has the best consistency and applies invisible.

6)   Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm SPF 25 ($7.50/0.25 oz)

I’m almost done with my first tube of Jack’s Black and at first I thought it to be a bit overpriced at $7.50 a tube. After trying a more costly product that’s 3x! of this product. I’m not going to bring up the price tag of this product again. It’s a great moisturizing lip balm with a good amount of SPF. I also like the fact that this product is in a gel-like consistency so I don’t have to worry about it melting in my purse.

7)   Mac Blot Powder ($24.00/0.42 oz)

Although I have oily skin and use matifying foundations I still need to blot powder. This blot powder does the job and it doesn’t form a crust in the pan. This product comes in solid and loose form.

8)   Beauty Sponge ($5.95)

Ever since I’ve been using Beauty Blender dupe sponges I haven’t use any brushes with liquid foundation. These sponges lets me achieve the right amount of coverage without the cakey look. The best one I've tried so far is from LeCosmetique.

9)   Real Techniques Buffing Brush ($17.99)

The best brush for applying face products. I use mines primarily for powder foundations but I can easily see it applying contour and blush just as well. You can't purchase it separately because it's in the Core Collection. The other brushes in the collection are good as well and I already have a back up of this set.

10)  Maybelline, One by One Mascara ($7.99/0.3 fl oz)

This mascara gives my eyelashes the perfect look. I don’t like the tarantula look, so I don’t like super volumizing mascaras. The mascara brush on this also coats every single lash that I have.

11)  Almond Oil

This product was introduced to me during the later part of 2012 but this is an amazing product. I use it to remove makeup, oil treatments for my hair and also on my dogs. Both of my dogs have different types of skin problems. I’ve been using some essential oils along with this almond oil to treat them (Both dogs have high anxieties when taken to a vet, one of which is extremely sensitive to meds and hates taking them so I wanted to try a natural approach) I’ve been using almond oil as a carrier oil with a essential oil. As I'm typing this entry out I actually have tea tree oil with almond oil to treat a pimple on my cheek.

12)     Mac Eyeshadows in Blanc Type and Soft Brown

I use these eyeshadows in almost every look. Blanc type my go to highlighter and soft brown my transition color. 

I hope you enjoyed my top 12! I didn't go into depth with the products because each product deserves its own review.

What's in my Travel Bag?

Hi everyone, sorry for the lack of posts I've been super busy and as I was packing my luggage for my weekend trip to my cousin's wedding it dawned on me...post material! Almost every time I get ready for a trip that requires me to fly (every trip requires me to fly, I'm on a island!) I do a youtube/blog search for What's in my Travel Bag?

I know it this may vary depending on the length of trip, occasion and etc...but I do think this covers the basics of each travel bag. This is just an overnight stay but my home is an ocean away so I most likely packed more than I should but better safe than sorry.

Brush Holder, Dry Products, and Quart Size Bag for Liquids

Mac Large Brush Container

 I'm super excited to have this brush container. It's been sold out on the Mac website for a such a long time, I just got this Sept 2012. I use this to hold my brushes even when I'm not traveling.

Quart Size Bag for Liquids

All liquids must be put into a quart size container which isn't a lot of space especially when you add all of the hygiene products. Use your samples! I have a sample of a Coach Poppy Perfume and the Body Shop Shea Body Butter. I also had a glass sample container that I cleaned out and had put about 2-3 applications of my Shiseido Moisturizer with SPF. I didn't have time but if I did I would have stopped by my the Estee Lauder counter and asked for a sample of my HG foundation, Double Wear Light.

Dry Products

I have a bag dedicated to my dry products. Now here is the place you can get crazy with because there's no restrictions but I try to look at it like "the more I bring the higher the chance of a product breaking/getting lost". Of course one brings the best of the best so I really try to limit it. Here are the items that I'm bringing..

- Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush, Blissful
- Eve Pearl Concealer
- Mac Blot Powder
- Bare Escentuals Matte Foundation
- Mac Refined Deeper Bronze
- Benefit Brow Zing
- Beauty Sponge, dupe
- Japonesque Eyelash Curler
- NYX lipliner, Natural
- TheBalm, Mary-Lou Manizer
- Mac Lipsticks, Brave New Bronze & Mocha
- Dove Deodorant
- Travel Toothbrush
- Ponds Makeup Remover Wipes
- Ardell Demi Wispies

HG Quad (L to R) Blanc Type, Sable, Carbon, Soft Brown

Eve Pearl Au Naturale, warm palette

Mac Gentle Fumes, cool palette

Day After Christmas Deals

Hi everyone! I hope everyone had a great Christmas. One of the best days to go shopping is the day after Christmas. Better than Black Friday in my opinion:) I've actually got some Christmas shopping done for 2013. Yes, I am one of those people. I have a designated drawer just to hold gifts. Let me share some makeup deals with you.

Sephora, extra 20% off items in the sale section. code: Extra20

Stila: Park Avenue Matte & Shimmer Eye Collection

Stila: 5th Avenue Smokey Eye Collection

Sephora Collection: Colorful Duo Eyeshadows, 01 Intense Black

Sephora Collection: Colorful Duo Eyeshadow, 02 Intense Blue

 

Merchandise Total:  $68.00
Promo Discount:    -$13.60
Order Total:             $56.58 (w/tax)

$56.58 for all of that! What a deal, I also went through ebates to shop which currently has a 8% cash back rebate for Sephora. So it actually is about $51-52.

Ebates is a website in which you can get cash back with purchases. You need to go to here first to register and search to see if ebates has that particular shop/website. Once you find that shop (hopefully, Ebates does have most of my shopping sites) it'll create a tracking ticket and it'll direct you to the website. You go about doing your business as regular. In a couple of days, check your ebates account and you should be credited the appropriate amount. A check will be mail to you after a span of time. It's legit, I've received two checks totaling $50.86

Enjoy!
-Distinque