Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Onward and Upward

With Christmas over, we're reminded that it's down to the last dwindling days of 2013. Looking back, we can see the wonderful ways our lives have changed. We have been blessed with beautiful friends and opportunities. We learn something new every day, and it's because we've been able to be open thanks to the people who allow us to share everything that gets us excited.

We are elated that life is an open journey as we walk towards our dreams. Every day is a celebration of the life we live. Here's to moving onward and upward together in 2014!

With love,
Anny & Oneo

Monday, December 30, 2013

What A Hauliday!


I thought I'd share some things I got in the past few months with you guys. In other words, a holiday haul, or as I like to say a hauliday. I love reading these kinds of posts and watching them on YouTube. Some of these things go as far back as the VIB Sale at Sephora, but most of these are gifts I got for Christmas. I won't go into too much detail, but let's get started, shall we?

  

  • Essenza Scented Wax Warmer (flavors in Mango Raspberry, Cucumber Sage, Red Delicious, and Vanilla Caramel)
  • Starbucks Double Wall Ceramic Mug - Alice+Olivia 
I LOVE LOVE LOVE that my new mug has a tutu. Isn't it so adorable?

  • LORAC Breakthrough Performance Foundation (SMS 4 - medium)
  • Tarte Maracuja Miracle Foundation 12-Hour Broad Spectrum SPF 15 (light-medium)
  • NARS Sheerglow Foundation (Punjab)
  • MAC Face And Body Foundation (N3)
I know. I got a lot of foundations, but I am so obsessed with creating a perfect complexion and I like to experiment. The LORAC and Tarte foundations are darker than my normal skin tone, so I have been mixing them with some lighter foundations I have to give my face a little color.

  • Murad Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisturizer
  • MAC Strobe Cream - Travel Size 
  • MAC Nocturnals Pigments And Glitter: Black And Gold
  • Em Cosmetics Chiaroscuro Counter & Highlight Stick (light)
  • Em Cosmetics The Great Cover Up Ultimate Concealer (fair warm and light neutral)
  • NARS Guy Bourdin Holiday Collection Limited Edition One Night Stand Cheek Palette
  • Tarte Off The Cuff Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush Palette
  • Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette
As always, thanks so much for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed reading this. If you've done a Holiday/Christmas haul, I'd love to read them.

XoXo,
Oneo

Thursday, December 26, 2013

New MAC Magnetic Nude Collection


Merry (late) Christmas! I hope everyone had a great Christmas and spent it with wonderful company.

I was excited beyond words to hear that MAC decided to re-promote the Extra Dimension line in the Magnetic Nude Collection. The shimmer and metallic effects of this collection are so unique. The collection launched in stores and at counters today, so go check it out. You won't regret it!

I'm so addicted to the MAC Mineralize Skinfinishes and I couldn't resist the Extra Dimension Skinfinishes in this collection. The finish makes your skin glow with warmth and has a soft frosty sheen. The color payoff is excellent and the texture is soft and easy to blend onto your skin.


Here is a close-up view of the MSFs. Superb (top left) is a soft nude with a champagne frost. Fairly Precious (top right) is a light peach with a peach frost. Magnetic Appeal (bottom) is a copper brown with a gold frost.

From left to right: Fairly Precious, Magnetic Appeal, and Superb

These highlighters are fantastic. They're really beautiful and flattering. Not only are the colors and textures extra dimensional, but so are the finish and glow it gives your skin. The nude and peachy tones are flattering and don't make you look pale like some metallic highlighters do.

If you need a better reference of how these shades might look on you, my foundation shade at MAC is NC25.


Like the MSFs, the Extra Dimension Blushes have excellent color payoff and are easy to blend. There are three blushes in this collection, but the one I ended up getting was At Dusk, which is a soft, neutral pink with a gold frost. 


Isn't that gorgeous? I already know I'm going to get a lot of use out of this blush.


I love me some nude lipsticks, so you can imagine my surprise when I saw promo pics of the lipsticks in this collection. There are four gorgeous shades, but after lots of swatching, I fell in love with Close Contact, which is a peachy nude with an amplified finish. Living up to its expectations as an amplified finish, the color pigmentation is great. It also has a creamy consistency.


In short, the MAC Magnetic Nude Collection is amazing. Each product has its own magnetic appeal. Although I didn't pick up any of the Fluidlines, Lipglasses or Extra Dimension Eye Shadows, I can tell you with certainty that they swatched beautifully. I'm happy with my selection and I hope that you enjoy this collection as much as I do.

XoXo,
Oneo

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

#TAGbeautytalk

Hello loves and happy Wednesday! Today I'm going to do something a little different and answer some really fun questions. I was tagged by Jess from www.jessicasbeautygarden.blogspot.co.uk on Instagram, so here we go.

What products have stood out to you this year?
I have a bit of an obsession with the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders. What I like about these is that there really is no right or wrong way to apply it. It's so versatile. It's not like your typical highlighter. It gives your skin a natural glow that lasts long, smooths out your skin and minimizes imperfections. While different shades are used for certain things, you can use them as an overall setting powder, to highlight specific areas of your face, or to enhance your bronzer and/or blush.

Which makeup items would you recommend for young girls or people who are just getting in to beauty?
Experimenting with makeup should be fun, so I would definitely recommend e.l.f. or NYX eyeshadow palettes. The colors are rich and they come in a variety of shades that you can create SO many looks with. Plus, they are super affordable and you don't have to be a beginner to love these products.

Favorite high street and high end beauty brand?
My favorite high street (drugstore) brand is Revlon. Whenever I buy something, it never disappoints. I really love that the ColorStay foundations come in different formulas for different skin types, which is unique for a drugstore brand.

My favorite high end brand is MAC Cosmetics. I love that there is so much versatility in their colors, products, and packaging, which is always a good thing, right? Well, at least it is for me. There's always something exciting going on. They do an excellent job at hyping up new collections, providing tips from their pos, and updating me on the latest and the greatest products.

Most disappointing product you've tried?
I don't like to invest in primers, simply because they don't really work for me. I don't know why, but it makes my makeup look cakey, heavy, and oily. Despite its promises, it never delivers. I am still searching, though, so I will let you know when I find the perfect formula for my skin!

A beauty item you use every day?
I can't go without Josie Maran's 100 percent Pure Argan Oil. Argan oil has so many skincare benefits and it breathes life back into my skin by giving my face a healthy glow and keeping it moisturized all day long.

What are your essentials for winter?
You can check out my recent post here to see my winter essentials, but to list a few I am absolutely in love with Josie Maran's 100 percent Pure Argan Oil, Philosophy's Purity Made Simple, and Victoria's Secret's PRO Smooth FX Lip Scrub & Balm.

Your favorite product for a dramatic, party look?
I love a bold lip -- whether it's a classic red, hot pink, bright orange, or a deep burgundy. Sporting a bold lip is timeless. It may be intimidating at first, but once you get it right, it intensifies your look and is the ultimate confidence booster. The key to rocking a bold lip is owning it, and of course, having fun with it.

What's on your Christmas list (beauty-wise)?
Where do I start? There are so many things that I want, but I'll keep it simple. The first, most-coveted item is the Sigma Sigmax Essential Kit (10 brushes). The second item is the Urban Decay Naked3 palette. Lastly, I want pretty much everything from the Magnetic Nude Collection by MAC that's launching on December 26th. I am so excited that they are bringing back their Extra Dimension Blushes and Skinfinishes. I am not letting myself miss out this time!

I hope that you enjoyed my answers. I'm glad that Jess tagged me because this has been really fun. I tag you all! Be sure you use #TAGbeautytalk on Instagram and don't forget to visit Jess' blog for more details.

XoXo,
Oneo

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Fall/Winter Skincare Essentials


I know I'm not alone when I say that my skin gets SUPER dry during the fall and winter season. The coldness heightens my dry skin and chapped lips to a whole new level. Here are some of my favorite and must-have fall/winter beauty products that help with the transitional weather (in no particular order).


1. Philosophy Purity Made Simple

I love this cleanser! It's so gentle, but effective. It doesn't dry me out or make me oily. It works for a lot different of skin types. I purchased this a few years ago on someone's recommendation and I haven't turned back. It does claim to remove all of your makeup on top of deep cleaning your pores, but I haven't had much luck with that. I still need to remove my makeup separately, and once that's been removed, it does an excellent job of deep cleaning my pores. It also doesn't smell as bad as people make it out to be. It smells herb-y and I actually really like it.



2. Skin79 Rose Mist Toner & Skin79 Smart Clear Deep Cleansing Oil

I love the way the Skin79 Rose Mist Toner feels. My skin feels refreshed and rejuvenated. Rose water is also so fragrant, so that's always a plus. I'll admit that I'll use any excuse to use a mist toner, but I really do feel that this Skin79 one locks in the moisture. I have pretty sensitive skin and rose water does a good job of soothing it.

I tried out Skin79 Smart Clear Deep Cleaning Oil for the first time when Anny brought it over and I fell in love! It's not what you would expect for a typical cleansing oil. It's not thick or sticky. It not quite the consistency of water, but it's very light. Whatever it is, it works wonders. I only need the smallest amount to remove ALL of my makeup and it makes my skin super soft and moisturized, without making it oily. The only thing I found unpleasant was the smell. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it's too overpowering for me. 

If you are interested in these or other Korean skincare products, I found these at Pretty & Cute.


3. Victoria's Secret PRO Smooth FX Lip Scrub & Balm

Finally! I have found a lip scrub that works well! I love that this little jar contains two different products. On the bottom you have a decent amount of lip scrub and on top you have a very buttery lip balm. The lip scrub isn't harsh. It does a good job of scrubbing away the dead skin cells and leaving you with the perfect canvas for any lip stain or lipstick. I wish there was more of the lip balm on the top (or sold separately) because it works so well for me. It's not greasy and very long-lasting. The consistency is like Vaseline, but moisturizes like a lip butter.


4. TONYMOLY Appletox Smooth Massage Peeling Cream

Isn't the packaging so cute? I'm a sucker for cute things, so I couldn't resist getting this. The first thing I noticed was the fresh scent of green apples. Mmm. 

I thought the name of this product was a little misleading. I was expecting some sort of a peel, but it wasn't like that at all. Once your face is clean you're supposed to massage it onto your skin for a few minutes, leave it for 30 seconds, and then wash it off with lukewarm water. There was no peeling of any sort, so I was slightly disappointed, but who knows. Maybe I'm using it wrong. I do like the product as a whole. It claims to help get rid of dead skin cells (Maybe that's what they meant by peel?) so that your skin can absorb nutrients provided by the other skincare products you might use. I don't find the claims to be untrue. It makes my skin feel really, really clean and I have noticed that my moisturizer absorbs better since I've started using this twice a week. 

I also found this product at Pretty & Cute.


5. Josie Maran 100 percent Pure Argan Oil

I don't even know where to begin with this product. This is my absolute, holy grail moisturizer of ALL time. I didn't believe it when someone said it would work on oily skin. I was so wrong to not believe because it opened my eyes to what my skincare has been missing this whole time. Despite having oily skin, this product actually helped balance my complexion. To elaborate, it corrected it. My skin is no longer oily and has become normal. My skin has never felt so calm or refreshed. If you have oily, sensitive, acne-prone skin, I highly recommend this. If you are worried about putting oil on your face, try the light version that Josie Maran recently released. Start off by using it only at night and work your way up to using during the way. Your skin will love you. I never knew what it meant to "moisturize" my face until I tried this. 

I hope you guys enjoyed reading about some of my favorite fall/winter skincare essentials. They are a must for me during the cold seasons. It took me a long time to find some of these products, but they were worth the wait, as so many things are when you find what's right for you. Please do let us know if you try any of these. Let us know what you think!

Xoxo,
Oneo

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Michael Kors Beauty Collection

As a huge fan of Michael Kors, it wouldn't be too over-the-top to say that I was pratically drooling when I first saw the beauty collection at Macy's.


Just look at that! It's so gorgeous. I especially love the bronzer compact. When I inititally saw pictures online I didn't realize how big the compact was. Let's just say I was pleasantly surprised when I saw it at Macy's. It's well worth the money for the size you are getting.

The collection has three themes: Sporty, Sexy, and Glam. Each theme has its own palettes of colors. I was really drawn to the Sporty collection because of the nude and natural tones, but I wanted a darker bronzer so I went with Beam, from the Glam theme. Glam consists of shades of purple. Sexy has shades of red.


As you can see from the swatches below, the bronzer is GORGEOUS. I am going to love wearing this. It was so hard to NOT grab this while I was doing my makeup in the morning because I was saving it for this post, but now that I don't have to, this will definitely become a part of my daily routine. I'm so excited!


The lipstick (Diva) and lipgloss (Muse) have a shoft shimmer, but are sheer so they are not my favorites. I expected a little more from the lipstick since it is Michael Kors. Even after a few coats it's not very buildable. I did notice though that it has a light fresh, citrus-y scent, which I really liked.

Overall, I do like Michael Kors' beauty collection, especially the bronzers. I'm not too impressed with the lip products, but they are workable. If you are a Michael Kors fan like I am, it may be worth the trip to Macy's to check out the beauty collection. 

XoXo,
Oneo

Saturday, October 26, 2013

I Knew It Was Meant To Be - Rihanna Hearts MAC Fall Collection


Let's just take a moment here to appreciate how beautiful the packaging of this collection is. Once again, this was beautifully done by MAC Cosmetics. I seriously couldn't take my eyes off of the packaging and I knew I had to have it.


I didn't get a chance to shop Rihanna's first collection, so I can't comment on the fact that MAC repackaged some of the previous items. It's all new to me. I honestly wasn't sure if I wanted to get any of the blushes. What I really wanted was the cream colour base (pictured in the middle), which I was able to order online when it launched. The other two I had to chase down by finding a MAC store that actually had it, so that was a fun adventure.


The powder blush duo in Hibiscus Kiss was a little disappointing because I expected more color payoff. It is very buildable though, so you can definitely make it work. The powder blush in Bad Girl Gone Good on the other hand was very pigmented. It's a good, bold color for fall. The cream colour base in Diamonds is very subtle and I find that it works well for my skin tone (NC25). It gives me the right amount of highlight without going overboard. You can also use this over your lids or over your lips for a little shimmer.


Those are swatches of the powder blushes. I couldn't get a good picture of the cream colour base because it really just looked like my skin. No matter how many times I took the picture it was same. It was just too suble, so I apologize for that. 

Let's move on to the lipsticks, shall we? 


As you probably know by now, I am a major lipstick junkie. I couldn't wait to get my hands on these. The only thing was that I didn't think the pictures I saw online were true to color. Well, at least not for Nude and Who's That Chick (both pictured on the right). Nude is a cool medium/dark brown with a little bit of a gray cast. It's odd to think of a nude/brown color as cool, but either way it doesn't work for me. It's too dark for me and with the hint of gray, it seems to suck the life right out of me. As for Who's That Chick, I was pretty surprised that it was so orange. Don't get me wrong, I liked it and it's a good shade for me, but there is just way too much frost/shimmer. Talk That Talk looks a little scarier than it really is, but it's a beautiful plum color and it's just so gorgeous. I don't have a color like this so I am excited to try it out this fall. RiRi Woo is a cool classic red that is very pigmented. The formula is a little dry, but it's a great color.  

Here are some swatches:

(From left to right: Nude, Who's That Chick, RiRi Woo, Talk That Talk)

The last thing I got was the Extended Play mascara in Gigablack Lash. This is my first time using a MAC mascara and I'm really impressed. I get a lot of precision with the smaller wand. It does a good job of coating and defining my last on the first application. 



Other than the fact that it took me three hours to shop and check out online (and not to the mention the two stores I had to drive in complete opposite directions for), I'm super glad I was able to get my hands on these products. There was so much hype around it and now I know why. Needless to say, I am excited for the release of her Holiday collection and have high hopes for it. Hope you enjoyed, loves.

XoXo,
Oneo

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Drugstore Junkies!

I absolutely adore drugstore makeup...especially now that they keep coming out with more and more new products. But what I love most about them is their PRICE. Of course, the downside to purchasing drugstore makeup is the lack of testers. BOO. So what I've compiled up is a few drugstores that have lenient return policies to ease the headache of buying products that don't work for your skin type.


  • Rite-Aid: Has a 100% Money Back Beauty Guarantee. They will take any opened package of any type of makeup you do not like with a receipt. But I have definitely went in there with no receipt before and they took back my returns as well. Rite-Aid's definitely are priced a little higher than most drugstores but if you want to find the correct shade and test out some products, paying a little bit more might be worth it. And they continuously have BOGO 50% off certain brands. What I also love about Rite-Aid's are that they have clearance makeup sometimes where you can get them for dirt cheap. It's super cool. Of course, the selection on that may be limited but it's always great if you're the lucky one to find that the shade/color is your type.

  • Walgreen's: They have a 30 day return policy with receipt. They like Rite-Aid are a little bit more spendy but do have BOGO 50% off. What I like about Walgreen"s is that they normally have certain product's that regular drugstores do not. I remember I had found a gel finish nail polish from Sinful colors that I had not seen at any other drugstores. SO if you're having a hard time finding something in particular, give Walgreen's a try. :)

  • Wal-Mart: I love this store. They probably have the most inexpensive makeup AND they take returns on makeup that's been used. However, the downside to Wal-Mart's in my opinion is that they are usually on the messier side. And a lot of their makeup has been opened and used or tested on. So if you find a lipstick shade you like, be sure to open up the cap to see if that's been touched or not.

  • Fred Meyer: They have a 6 month return policy! Fred Meyer's is a bit on the spendier side for drugstore makeup but hey, if you're in there getting grocery's anyways, why not pick up some makeup as well? It can save you both gas and time.

  • Target: I love Target! They always have everything nicely presented and clean. However, some Target's will not take opened makeup, but there are some that are more lenient. So this would definitely be a bit of a gamble. :/

  • Ulta: I think Ulta is one of the best places to shop for makeup; they have such a variety. I love that they have both drugstore and high-end. I also love the fact that they give gifts with certain purchases, even drugstore! And they consistently send out $2.50 off $10 coupons. What a steal! They have a 60 day return policy which I think is pretty generous. And their staff is always super nice and helpful.
In my opinion, these stores are like a Nordstrom for drugstore makeup. If you guys ever want to give drugstore makeup a try, you will see how good some of their products are at a huge fraction of the price of high-end. And the best part is that you can test out some of the foundation colors to see which one suits you best. If you find a lipstick that you think is a great color but once on, you don't believe it matches your skin tone...you have an option to return it! Isn't that great??? (It happens to me a lot, some colors I choose washes out my skin). And I'm always glad I can return a foundation that broke out my skin or if I didn't like the way it felt on my face. I hope this helped some of you guys! Happy shopping! <3

Love,
Anny

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars

There are a lot of things I look for in a lip product, like staying power, color payoff, and packaging. I'll admit that there are times I'll compromise one for the other if I really want it, but there's one thing I can't and that's versatility. This is why I am so in love with Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars. They deliver on all fronts and have become my holy grail lip product. As I mentioned in our May Favorites post anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with these.


If you are unfamiliar with Lip Tars they are a hybrid between a lip gloss and a lipstick. When you squeeze the color out of the tube it feels like a lip gloss but finishes like a lipstick. It has a refreshing peppermint smell and glides on like velvet. The first time I swatched these I was pleasantly surprised to find that a little bit goes a looooong way. You really only need the tiniest bit to transform your lips. They are a bit messy if you use your hands, so they do come with a brush for your convenience. I personally don't care for the brush because you can't close it so I use it with my retractable Missha Lip brush. 

Lip Tars come in a wide array of colors for a limitless selection. What I mean is, you can use the colors Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics have or you can mix them to create a custom color of your own. Lip Tars are so fun and versatile. They allow you to be creative and unique, so you can simply be...you. That's never a bad thing, right?

Check out swatches of Interlace, Hush, Divine, Nylon and Anime below:


I'm so sad that I didn't get to include Zhora in this post. It is my absolute FAVORITE lip color of all time, but it was nowhere to be found when I went to grab my Lip Tars. It was a sad morning and it's a little embarrassing to admit, but I felt lost without it this morning. Luckily, I did get a chance to swatch it for you guys. Check out our May Favorites to see its glory. 

If you are looking for something that will last all day through lots of eating, drinking, and talking then you will love OCC Lip Tars. It requires so little maintenance that you will forget you have it on until you're ready to wash your face at night. Because it's so opaque you might need a good cleansing oil to wipe it off (And again, remember that it's a bit messy if you use your hands.) 

You can get OCC Lip Tars for $18 at Sephora. Not bad at all, especially for what you're getting. 

Hope you enjoyed. Until next time, have a beauty-tastic day!

Xoxo,
Oneo

Monday, June 10, 2013

May Favorites

Hey loves! I can't believe it's already June! Doesn't it seem like time flies when the sun is shining?

I've been so excited to share some of my favorites with you. I couldn't decide what to include at first because I wanted to share it all with you. But let's take it one step at a time. I still have June (and July and August and September...) to do that! So let's get started, shall we?


Let's talk about Tarte's Lights, Camera, Flashes! Mascara. I mentioned this on my Tarte Journey to Natural Beauty review in February, so I won't go into too many details. All you have to know is that I'm in love with it (wayyyyyyyy more than I expected to be). Check out the review here.

Skin79 The Oriental Gold BB Cream

I've tried BB creams from Clinique, MAC, Urban Decay, Garnier, and L'Oreal, but they just can't be compared to Skin79, Missha,or Lioele. In my experience the Korean BB creams I've tried have a lighter consistency and provide more coverage. I recently purchased the Skin79 The Oriental Gold BB Cream on Amazon and I am in love! I especially love that it has a built-in lip and cheek color. It's so multifunctional that all I need is my mascara and I am set for the day (but there's no fun in stopping there, right?) The benefits of this product are that it's rich with moisture, provides UV protection (SPF 25 PA++), and contains tea ingredients to help keep your skin healthy. The color does come out gray, which you can see from the swatch below, but blends well once it oxidizes. I believe this product only comes in one color like many Korean BB creams, but if you are an NC20 or NC25 in MAC (or lighter), this will work for you. If you're looking for something with a warmer tone, you can try Lioele's Triple The Solution BB Cream or Missha's M Perfect Cover BB Cream (I believe this one comes in a variety of shades.)


I looked around so many websites like Pretty & Cute, YESSTYLE, and Skin79, but I found the best deal on Amazon for $20, which is about 50% off!

NARS Illuminator in Orgasm

Here's another multifunctional product. NARS turned one of their most iconic shades into an illuminator, but you can use this as a blush, bronzer and highlighter. It blends really well and has LOTS of shimmer! Think beach babe!

Tarte Bronze & Glow Matte Bronzer & Cheek Tint in Park Ave Princess

My ideal bronze is subtle, rather than an obvious tan. I like to ease into summer by warming up my skin tone and this is a good product for that. The Bronzer has a similar texture to the Amazonian Clay Foundation, but not as blendable. Don't worry, the streakiness goes away and it looks great alone or combined with the cheek tint. It gives my face an effortless flush perfect for a summer glow.

I'm realizing now that I didn't swatch the cheek tint (Sorry!), but I would describe it as a gold, peachy shimmer. The only thing I didn't like about this product is that there is SOOO much bronzer than cheek tint. I will let you know which one I run out of first.

Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blush in Pinched

I have to admit the shades in this collection look a little intimidating in their packaging, so I didn't get Flushed or Coral Reef. I've heard and read reviews that those shades are pretty sheer, which is also true of Pinched. I can't say for sure about the other shades, but Pinched is pretty buildable (Starting from the bottom of the swatch you can see what it looks like with 1, 2, and 3 applications.) The creamy texture applies smoothly and the light peach color is a purrrrr-fect match for my skin tone.

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) Lip Tar in Zhora

Anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with OCC Lip Tars. What I'm attracted to the most is the versatility. You can mix them up in so many ways and you only need a little bit for it to go a loooooooong way. They're highly pigmented and definitely worth the $18 it retails for. Don't let the size of the packaging fool you. They will last you a very long time! Zhora is a light, peachy orange with a metallic pink/gold undertone. It gives me the perfect nude lip without washing me out.

May was so good to me. I am excited to see what June brings!

XoXo,
Oneo

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Let's Talk Breakouts!

I've recently noticed little bumps over my face and I started to freak out so I decided to investigate why. A little background on my face: it's normal but tends to be more on the dry side around the nose area. Regardless of what I do, unless I'm not wearing makeup, it is very noticeable. I don't have uncontrollable acne problems, I break out here and there. I have some broken capillaries but in general my face is pretty good.

What I have learned about breakouts around different areas of your face. Starting with your forehead, that tends to breakout because of bangs. If your hair is not clean the oils can clog your pores which causes breakouts on your face. VICTIM. I had decided to not wash my hair daily because 1) I know that the less often you wash your hair the faster it grows because of the oils that are accumulated with your dirty hair somehow makes it grow faster. I definitely don't have short hair but I do want longer hair. However, this method must not be for everyone because I realized my scalp turns too oily easily and if I don't wash my hair everyday, I start seeing flakes, which was really disgusting and 2)  I didn't want to wash my hair everyday is because I'm lazy. Yeah I'll admit it, but I have long and thick hair so it takes forever to dry and it was starting to drive me insane. >_< 

Your left cheek. Believe it or not, may be telling you that you have liver problems. However, that's not the only thing that it could be telling you. It may also be a sign of stress, nutrition problems, dirty cell phones and pillows as well as dirty makeup brushes. I am also a victim. I've noticed little pimples growing on my left cheek. However, there hasn't been too many. Now, my makeup brushes lately have not been very clean. I am definitely a lazy one and I don't remember the last time I had cleaned my brushes. I did know they needed to be cleaned because I was starting to look at them grossly since I knew that bacteria was growing pretty exponentially. >_< Along with not washing my hair as often lately, I cannot guarantee my pillow case was very clean. Did you know that the dirtiest place in your house is actually your pillow? A little fact I had learned when I worked at Nordstrom Rack.

The right cheek. The difference between what is on the right cheek than what have been mentioned on the left cheek is sugar. Sadly, I have also been a victim of this lately. I think lately I've been drinking too much bubble tea. >_<

The nose area hints at poor diet. Which unfortunately I do practice. My nose though, never really breaks out and I might be seeing a little dot popping out but it's not there unless I look REALLY closely. :D Other problems could be constipation.

I think every female suffers from this problem area many times. And that would be the chin area. If your chin area breaks out it's usually hormonal. Whenever I am close to my menstrual cycle, I tend to break out more than usual. And because it is almost that time, my chin has little bumps all over. Another reason you could be breaking out in that area is because of your toothpaste irritating your skin. If that happens you might want to look into a different type of toothpaste.

What  I haven't talked about which could also be a factor in why I've been breaking out is my skincare routine. I have been trying out a couple of products which could also be a factor in my skin breaking out, it just so happens that the areas that they are breaking out in may be because of other causes. One other reason may also be because lately I feel like because I've been using the Clarisonic my skin has been drying out so I decided to wash my face less. In the mornings I would just use a witch hazel toner to wipe down my face since I use my Clarisonic to clean off my face thoroughly at night. But I guess that might not be clean enough for my face and is still holding bacteria. >_<

What I have learned today: clean my brushes more often, wash my hair daily, need clean pillowcases, clean off phones more often, and to practice a healthier diet. I am hoping that my skin clears up first and I hope that those of you that do read this, this was informational enough. :) There is more detailed information here: http://www.skinacea.com/acne/acne-face-map.html#.UZmpdbXijEw which is where I found all of my information and had thought back on what I've been doing wrong to get what I'm seeing today. Good luck to all of you and I hope you don't get what I got. :)

Love,
Anny

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stains


I was a little hesitant to pick these up during my last visit to Walmart. The shades looked great, don't get me wrong, but I was worried that they would be a completely different shade than the packaging (Don't you hate when that happens?) The other reason I was skeptical was the fact that it was a lip stain. My experiences with lip stains have been unpleasant. They dry out my lips and when the stain settles into my lips it only seems to magnify the dryness.

This product has been raved about by SO many beauty bloggers and YouTube beauty gurus, so I had to give it a try. My first impression? They shockingly didn't dry out my lips! I wouldn't replace it for an actual balm, but I do like that they keep my lips moist. I also like that it has a subtle peppermint scent and a tingly application. It feels super refreshing!

I personally think the color payoff is pretty sheer. They aren't as opaque as I thought they'd be, but they are buildable. If you have darker lips and you purchased some of the brighter shades you might want to nude out your lips with a concealer before application. I also find that I have to tug and drag the product on my lips because of the consistency. As far as staying power goes, I can get a solid three hours of wear with these, which includes the time when the balm wears away and my lips are left with a stain. The color of the stain does become a brighter and more vibrant shade after a while, but I don't mind it too much.

Would I ever replace these with my lipsticks? Probably not, but they are definitely fun to play with. Plus, they're travel-friendly and the packaging is super cute! I've read some reviews where people had trouble with the lids falling off, but I haven't had that problem...yet.

Here are some swatches from the three shades I picked up: Cherish, Honey, and Charm.

 

This isn't the holy grail of lip stains for me, but I'd consider purchasing it again if I ever use up the tube. It's successful in terms of its claims to being a balm and a lip stain, but the consistency and color payoff could use some work. If you're looking for cheaper alternatives to Clinique Chubby Sticks and Tarte LipSurgence lip tints then these are for you!

XoXo,
Oneo

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Take A Journey to Natural Beauty, Courtesy of Tarte Cosmetics

I'd never think to describe myself as someone naturally of organically aware. I don't always do what's best for my body, but I am learning how to make healthy and conscious choices. It doesn't mean you can't indulge in delicious sweets or irresistible promises. It just means being selective about the unhealthy things that find its way to your body. 

For this reason, I have always been an advocate of Tarte Cosmetics. Their products are made of natural ingredients that focus on the overall health of your skin. To name a few, they're made without parabens (toxic, disrupts normal hormone function) and synthetic fragrances (may contain hundreds of chemicals that are neurotoxins). I think it's fair to say that going Tarte is one of the better decisions I've made.

Anyways, when I saw the 6-piece (really 7 if you count the Brazilliance Self Tanner sample I received) Journey to Natural Beauty collection as QVC's TSV (today's special value), I had to get it. You get 6 beauty essentials and a super adorable multi-colored chevron pouch that you can use as a makeup bag or clutch.

 

What's included in this collection:

• Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Foundation (I got light)
•Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Plummy Rose
•12-Hour Amazonian Clay Blush in Fearless
•Lights, Camera, Flashes! Statement Mascara in Black
•Brown Architect Brow Shaper
•Airbrush Finish Bamboo Foundation Brush (not pictured)

This is a lovely collection, so let's move on to what I thought!

Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Full Coverage Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Foundation: I already own this as well as the airbrush finish brush, but I didn't mind getting another one of each because I truly enjoy it. The formula is smooth and blendable, and light is a perfect match for my skin tone. Most importantly, this keeps the shine at bay. I have oily skin, so this is essential. The only negative thing I have to say about this is that it's not really a "full" coverage. It fades after 6-8 hours and could last shorter or longer depending on my activities.

Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Plummy Rose: This is a VERY moisturizing lipstick. It's soft, light, comfortable, and buttery goodness. This is one of my favorite Tarte products ever. EVER. It delivers on all fronts and I would highly purchase this again if it became a permanent part of Tarte's cosmetic line. I sometimes even prefer it over my chapstick. The only thing I dislike is the packaging. It's made of cardboard and honestly feels a bit cheap.


12-Hour Amazonian Clay Blush in Fearless: This shimmery warm pink shade is so pretty. It also has amazing pigmentation and staying power like all of their blushes. Need I say more?


Lights, Camera, Flashes! Statement Mascara in Black: The bristles on the wand have really fine points that are great for getting deep into your lashes. My lashes look plumped and lengthened with just one application. It does tend to clump just a little where the mascara gathers at the end, but I just have to comb through my lashes. I've heard complaints that it starts flaking off after 5 hours, but I haven't had that issue.

Brown Architect Brow Shaper: This has become a holy grail for me. It's a 3-in-1 pencil for brows! On one end you have a spoolie, on the other end you have a retractable brow pencil, and in the middle you have a brow concealer. I was worried at first that the pencil would be too dark for me, but it comes out pretty faint and makes my brows look natural. You can definitely build it up for a more dramatic look. If that's what you're going for then the concealer is perfect because you can really shape and define your brows with precision.

In summary, this entire collection is fab. It retails for over $160 and I got it for $59.94. It was an offering I couldn't resist. It's now $65.94, but it's well worth the splurge for what you get.

Any Tarte lovers in the house?

XoXo,
Oneo

Sunday, February 17, 2013

I was never a girl that used to wear blush, I used to believe the less amount of product on your face the better (which I still believe). But then I saw how blush could liven up your face a bit, and now I see it as an essential, well on days when I'm not in a rush out the door to work or if I do have that little bit of extra time to apply it on my cheeks.

After I had decided to get into this whole blush crush, I tried out as many different brands as possible: Too Faced, NARS, Tarte, Benefit, Milani, e.l.f., hard candy and N07. I of course love the higher end ones but they are also not as bank friendly, so I wanted to check out what the drug stores had to offer.

I had seen many recommendations for e.l.f. so I decided to give that a try and with it being $3, why not? Lets start with packaging, I LOVE THE PACKAGING! The packaging is very similar to NARS except it actually has a window for you to see what color the blush is. :) I did not know which color I had wanted to try and tickled pink had attracted to me the most because of the gold shimmer that was in it. It reminded me a lot of NARS Orgasm. Which of course I was very exited when I had saw that at Target with Oneo.

Now let's talk how the product actually performs. I must say that I was rather disappointed. This product contains a lot of shimmer that is not very subtle. It's so extravagant that the camera can even pick up on those pigments. I am not huge on lots of shimmer, but I had noticed that if it is subtle enough it gives you a very pretty glow, which can be beautiful, but when I apply this blush I feel as if there are fall outs, which is not pretty. However, I do want to be fair, I have not tried the ones that are more matte in the e.l.f. lines so I will one day try it out and let you guys know how that goes! <3

Onto the next one: Milani Baked Blushes. Ohmygosh these are amazing! The two colors that I own are dolce pink and berry amore. They both look beautiful with my yellow skin. These blushes do have shimmer as well but it is very subtle that gives you a nice glow. I had first purchased berry amore which retails around $7 depending on the drugstore you go to. I do not even know what else to say about this blush, it's just that great for me. The berry amore does give me a tanner look and the dolce pinks gives more of an innocent look with the pop of pink.

Dolce Pink
For me, I'm not an oily person so I can't say for those that are oily, but these blushes lasts on me ALL DAY, it's like they just don't budge! Which is a bonus for me because I do not like to reapply/touch up my make up throughout the day (well not that I touch up my make up anyways, but just saying). ;)

Next one up: Hard Candy's spicey and sweet. What attracted me to purchase this blush was the packaging. It is super adorable with "fox in a box" written across the top  of it. Another reason is because Hard Candy used to be sold in stores like Sephora and now that they are at Wal-Mart, I figured why not give it a shot? I can't say that I am super impressed though. I felt like this product was very chalky and it was hard to blend all those colors together to get one solid application. But I have tried some of those different colors individually and it's a lot easier to pick up on those colors. This retails for about $7 which is not a bad price and it's not a terrible product, I think I just had higher expectations for how this product would perform. :( I think for $7 I would rather get another one of Milani Baked Blushes. :D

Last but not least, I have the N07 Natural Blush in 20 Honey. This blush is more matte which is why I was attracted to it at Target. Honey is kinda a peachy tone in it and looks very subtle on the face. Of course if you want to have a little glow/attraction to your face, you would have to apply highlighter separately. I do like this but I do not see myself reaching for it. It's one of those products where I sometime's just "stumble" upon it and think "oh maybe I'll use that today. "

I know this is pretty long and it kinda dragged but I hope it was informative and would make you think about what you want in a blush the next time you go searching for one!

Love, 
Anny