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

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

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

#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

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