Outfits of the Week!

Hi Everyone!

Here's a short video of what I work during the week (more or less =P)
Please watch in HD! Thank you!


I do apologize if the lighting of the videos were not very good. The weather was either cloudy/rainy with bad lighting or I came back home late at night and so had to film indoors.

Here are all the looks I wore!

1) Overall a pretty dark look. I think it would be nice in the fall when it has not gotten cold yet!
I wore a black cardigan over my tank top and cami to hid all the straps that were showing and give a slimming and lengthening effect to my body. I think wearing a white or brightly colored cami under a deep tank top can give a good emphasis on the bust and possibly make it look bigger. XP
Would also look great in skinny jeans or shorts with tights. Just not leggings alone, I hate that.

2) A very cute look, kind of like a girl-next-door look. This is great for girls who have a slim and straight body shape or if you want to hide anything I guess. I personally like to go to buffets in an outfit like this, so no one can see how gigantic my stomach is afterwards. XP
I wasn't sure what to wear underneath the cardigan and I felt I could have found something better. But whatever, I'm over it. =P
I love my boots! I bought them in Japan! They are long, warm, and comfortable to walk in! FYI: During the winter, Japanese women love to wear very long high-heel boots, especially ones with narrow stilettos. I am not so skilled and brave so I opted for a thicker heel.

3) Very preppy look haha. Looked like I was a Hollister kid or something. But I'm not wearing anything from that brand here! Ha! I find this very school and work appropriate. Also great if you're going to go see relatives. I don't think they can find anything to pick on when you're wearing something like this. =P

4) A soft and feminine look done with jeans. I think I barely made this outfit work for me though. This is great if you have a slim figure with little body shape, as in not much chest or hips. The layers of the white lace will help give a widening effect for the hips while the plain top will emphasize on the slimness of the overall body shape.
My body is not that straight (in the hip and butt area) so I do have a bit of hip, so if the top was shorter, it would emphasize too much on my hips and make them look wider and more unproportional. I think that if this top was a little longer, it would have been perfect.
The booties are my favorite, beautiful, comfortable, and sturdy.

5) A more edgy casual look. Great for hot summer days when you feel like wearing just a cami but don't want to look so exposed to the public. This sheer crop T-shirt is light and cool. It is great for giving the illusion of a slimmer waist and longer body.
The shoes go with the black top and help give the edgy feel. However, these are probably the tallest and most uncomfortable shoes I have. They are poor quality and cut the back of my ankles and made of cheap material. Sorry Charlotte Russe, but it's true, shoes are not your area of expertise. I wouldn't walk too much around with these shoes, I mainly bought them for the design. Kind of like a vase, something pretty to look at. =P

These are outfits that I wore this week that I like to show to you. Perhaps you can take some ideas from me and use them for yourself! Either way I hope you enjoyed this video and thank you for reading my post. ^_^
Feel free to comment or ask me any questions in the comment box below!

See you later and have a great weekend! =D

Review on Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++ and CHANEL's UV Essentiel Complete Sunscreen Multi-Protection Daily Care SPF50/PA+++ Precision

Hi Everyone!

Today I am reviewing 2 high end sunscreens!
-Anessa Perfect UV Sunscreen SPF50+ PA++++
-CHANEL's UV Essentiel Complete Sunscreen Multi-Protection Daily Care SPF50/PA+++ Precision
I have used both of these sunscreens for at least 2 months.

Anessa

This product can be found online at Sasa or in Japanese skincare stores such as Takashima. It contains 2 oz. or 60mL of product and costs $40 US.
This product is said to be highly resistant to water, sweat and sebum. It is suitable for face and body and is formulated for use when participating in water sports to protect against UVA and UVB. It is said to leave a non-greasy finish.

What do I think of this product?
This product does not irritate my skin. It does have the standard sunscreen smell but it is not too strong and fades quickly. The formula is very smooth and almost water-like. It is easy to apply and blend onto my skin. I need to shake the bottle to mix the formula everytime before use.
It does have a mattifying effect, however, that is gone by about halfway through the day and I get a little oily. I only use this for my face, neck, and upper chest area because the product is so expensive. It would be used up too quickly if I used it on my body as well.
I like this sunscreen, it works well and I use it everyday. It helps prevent me from getting tanned or getting sun spots.


CHANEL's UV Essentiel

This product can be found in stores and online but not on the CHANEL website. It contains 1oz. or 60mL and costs $55 US.
This product is said to protect the skin from environmental stress, free radicals, pollution and UVs which are responsible for hyperpigmentation and photoaging. It contains vitamin E derivatives and plant extracts such as Liquorice Root and filters effective on both UVA and UVB rays. It is said to be non-oily, non-shiny.

What do I think of this product?
I got this as a gift. (Of course, why on earth would I buy such an expensive thing =P)It is very similar to the Anessa sunscreen. I would say that the formula is a little thinner and more water-like than Anessa which makes it even more light-weight and easy to blend and apply onto my skin.
It does not irritate my skin and has a light flora fragrance.
The container is smaller than Anessa and contains half the product amount but more than double the price! So I would of course not purchase this when this runs out. I like the small bottle because it is very portable and easy to bring around, but that alone doesn't make it worth buying.
I find this to be more mattifying than Anessa but I will get a little oily a little over halfway through the day, so no much difference in longevity when compared to Anessa.

UPDATE 12/12/14: I have recently re-bought the Chanel sunscreen. The packaging has changed but they say the formula is still the same. I think that the texture and how it works is still the same but I think they made the fragrance stronger. It is much more of a rose + floral scent. I am not a big fragrance person and I don't really like rose fragrance much. But it does not irritate my eyes, nose, and skin and the smell fades quickly so I got over it. =P Other than that, still works great!

Do I recommend either of these products?
Either way, if you do not mind the price of these products. I recommend both. I like how they are both very lightweight, non-sticky feeling and do not feel heavy on my skin.
The Chanel is a little better in terms of mattifying and having a thinner and smoother texture. But really they are almost the same thing, and both work the same.
I would go for Anessa just because it is cheaper of the two. I understand that they are both expensive products, but I really like sunscreen that have a thin water-like light-weight consistency.

So I hope you found this review helpful! I strongly encourage wearing sunscreen everyday, even when it is not sunny outside. It will really protect your skin from UV rays and prevent fine lines, wrinkles, and sun spots.
I personally like to invest in high quality sunscreens because skincare is very important to me, more important than high quality makeup. I'd choose a $50 pro sunscreen over an urban decay palette any day! =P
Feel free to write any questions or comments in the comment box below! Thank you for reading and I will see you later! =D

Review on Waterproof Volume & Curl Fairy Drops Mascara!

Hi Everyone!

I hope you are doing well! There was a nice storm in San Diego yesterday, so we got a lot of wind and rain. My clothes got soaked but that's okay, I had extra shoes and socks and a pair of scrubs in the car!

Today I am reviewing the Fairy Drops Mascara in Volume & Curl Black Waterproof

I bought this product in Japan for $16 US, and it costs $20-25 US in the United States. It is said to be waterproof against water, sweat, and tears. It is supposed to be okay for the ocean or pool with no smudging. It is supposed to volumize and lengthen lashes.

What do I think of this product?
I love this mascara! I would buy it again if it wasn't that expensive in the US haha. It is a very waterproof formula that holds a curl wonderfully! You still need to curl your eyelashes before application, but my short straight lashes were curled beautifully all day! The formula only smudges a little bit on the outer corner of my eyes, probably because the skin around my eyes is so oily.
This mascara does a great job of lengthening my lashes (but little change in thickness and volume)! The tiny fibers really extend my lashes out and fan them out in a pretty and non-clumping way. However, the formula is a thicker and drier formula (to build up lash length) so I recommend a zig-zag motion during application to prevent possible clumping and too much buildup.
The mascara wand is okay for me, it works, but I think it is kind of weird, and I'd rather have a curved wand than one with such a weird lumpy caterpillar shape. The wand also has way too much product on it when I pull the mascara out of the tube. I usually wipe the excess off with a tissue. This may seem wasteful, but I use mascara so infrequently that the bottle often expires before I finish it, so I don't have a problem with wiping off excess mascara. Wiping off excess mascara also makes it easier to apply and spread out the product and is much less likely to cause clumping or weighing down of lashes.
I have worn this when it is raining with no problem but I have not tried it in the pool or at the beach. That remains to be seen haha. =P

Here are a few pictures of the application:

hmm, for some reason one of my eyes looks a bit bigger than the other....but whatever

My left eye with curled eyelashes and 4-5 strokes of mascara. 

My right eye without curling and with no mascara.

Do I recommend this product?
If you are looking for a good waterproof, curl holding and lengthening mascara and do not mind the price or are in a place where you can get it cheaper, I recommend this mascara!
I think it is one of my favorites, and I love to use mascara alone for a natural look. If you are looking for mascara to give you a very dramatic, false lash look, this will really depend on how long your eyelashes are. For short sparse lashes, it will be harder to do an effect like that, but it will definitely make your eyelashes significantly longer. If you have fuller and longer lashes, this will really pop your eyelashes out!

Here are some other pictures of the packaging and information:
Note: I'm sorry if some of the pictures were unclear, I tried my best to take pictures, and edit the contrast, but the print was quite small and fine. Hope it's okay!

I hope this review was helpful! I was very excited to try this mascara since so many Youtube gurus like Bubzbeauty, rave about this mascara and I am pleased to say that I'm in good agreement with them!
Let me know if you have any questions or comments in the comment box below!

Thanks for reading and I will see you later!

How to find a good mascara?

Hi guys!

Who wants darker, thicker, and/or longer lashes? Then of course, you want to use mascara!
Using mascara can allow a person's eyes to look bigger, brighter, and more awake, which is essential in many looks.

Here are some tips on how to find a good mascara.
Of course, these tips are based on my preferences, so you may take from it what you like and what not.
Also, there may be some repeated information, since many things will overlap and affect one another.

I judge how good a mascara is by 3 things:
-formula
-amount of product on wand
-shape and size of wand

Formula

Irritation and Sensitivity
Of course, this is the first and most important step. Make sure that the formula does not irritate and/or hurt your eyes or the skin around your eyes. Just stop using it if it does.

Waterproof vs Non-waterproof
I tend to go for waterproof mascaras because they hold a curl better and they will last longer and of course if it rains or if you cry there is less mascara running down your cheeks. The downside is that waterproof mascara is more difficult to remove. But if you find a good makeup remover, then it is okay.

Smudging and Flaking
Of course no one wants their mascara to get messy, so make sure to find a good long lasting mascara that will not smudge or flake off onto your skin. I have pretty oily skin around my eyes and on my eyelids so finding a smudge-proof mascara is important for me. Again, that's why I usually go for waterproof.

Buildability
If you are looking for thicker and/or longer lashes, you also look for how much product you can buildup on your lashes to increase the volume and length. Generally wetter formulas with a thinner and smoother consistency have more buildability but they might need to dry in between coats or take longer to dry. Drier formulas can still be buildable and many work well, but you may need to work a little faster before they dry up. Sometimes if you apply mascara  onto eyelashes with dried mascara on already, it can make the lashes lump together or have large chunks of mascara stuck to it.
Sometimes formulas will have tiny fibers that will aid in the buildability of mascara and help thicken and/or lengthen lashes.

Clumping vs Not Clumping
Some people like the clumping effect, others don't mind a little and there are people like me, who hate it. I personally think that clumping looks ugly and unnatural, and it makes it very obvious to people that you are wearing it. Also, clumping can make so many of your eyelashes stick together that it will not have the beautiful fanout effect that some people look for, and your eyelashes may look even more sparse and unnoticeable.
If you want a formula that does not clump, try a formula that is not too sticky and/or dry.

How well it holds a Curl
For people like me who have straight lashes that tend to point down, we curl them before (and sometimes after) mascara application to perk up our eyelashes. If we don't curl them, then there's no point in mascara if you can't see your eyelashes first.
Generally drier formulas and waterproof formulas hold curled eyelashes better.

How well it Thickens/Volumizes Lashes
Depending on what you are looking for, some people want thicker or more volumized lashes. Usually that means that they are looking for a mascara that is easily buildable in order to create many layers to make the eyelashes look thicker.

How well it Lengthens
If you are looking for a mascara to lengthen your eyelashes, you are also looking for buildability, generally also with tiny fibers in the formula to help increase lash length.

How Long Lasting it is
Of course, everyone wants mascara that lasts all day without melting or smudging off. Waterproof mascaras are usually good at this.


Amount of Product

The amount is very important. The size of the container hole will be the one to determine how much product is on the wand when you pull the wand out of the container.
Too much product can cause a lot of clumping, or weigh down lashes a lot so they are no longer curled or upright.
If a wand has too much product, usually I will get a tissue and wipe off the excess before application. It may seem very wasteful, but it works really well if you don't want excess clumps of mascara when you apply. Having excess mascara may be hard to spread the product evenly and cause clumping and weighing down of the lashes, so they will fall flat after curling.


Shape and Size of Wand

Shape and size will determine how well the product is applied to your eye lashes and how easy it is to apply to your eyelashes.

Here are a few general rules for finding a wand that suites you:
-If you have small, short eyelashes, find wands that are skinny, small, and not that big and fat. It is easier to see what you are doing and easier to apply more product from the base to the tip of the lashes.
-If you want to prevent clumping, rubber wands are better than wire wands at preventing clumping and fanning out the lashes more easily.
-If you are looking for a want to coat each and every lashes, a skinny or small sized mascara will do the trick. Those kinds are also good for apply mascara to the lower lashes.

The rest is really up to you and your preferences. Just remember wands can make a huge difference to how a mascara works on you and it just takes some time and practice to find one that suites your eyelashes best!

I hope this information was helpful to you! If you have any questions or comments, feel free to write in the comment box below! Thank you for reading and I will see you soon! =)

Review on N.Y.X.'s Wonder Pencils and Infinite Shadow Sticks!

Hi Everyone!

I hope you are having a good weekend so far!

I'm reviewing quite a few products today:
-N.Y.X. Wonder Pencil in Light
-N.Y.X. Wonder Pencil in Medium
-N.Y.X. Infinite Shadow Stick in "Flushed"
-N.Y.X. Infinite Shadow Stick in "Almond"

These are a couple of the newest products from N.Y.X.!
When I got my eyebrows done, my esthetician used Anastasia's famous under eyebrow/browbone highlighter and I loved it. But I wasn't willing to pay the price. So I did a bit of research, found a possible substitute and bought a few other things too!

Note: I do have alot of pictures and swatches this time. This is due to the fact that it was rather hard for me to take good pictures of what I thought to be the right color representation of the product. Especially with shimmery colors, with so much shine, it is difficult to show the color. I hope that looking at multiple pictures will give you a better idea of how true the color is and I'm sorry if you felt it was too much or too confusing.

N.Y.X. Wonder Pencil in Light and Medium

These pencils cost $4.50 each and can be bought online at N.Y.X.'s website or at Ulta. The net weight is 0.04 oz or 1 gram. It is supposed to be used as: "concealer, eye brightener, and reverse lip liner"

What do I think of this product?
So, I bought the colors in "Light" and "Medium". Light was a little lighter than my skin tone and I chose to use it as a highlighter. Medium is closer to my skin tone, not perfect, but good enough and I chose to use it as a concealer.
"Light" worked pretty well for me! It did not irritate my skin and blended easily. I use it to highlight my browbone and it definitely gives my eyebrows a cleaner and more defined look. I don't highlight my browbone often but I will do it for special occasions. I also use it to highlight the inner corners of my eyes, which brighten my eyes in the most beautiful natural way because the color is matte, not shimmery. Using it in these 2 ways, the product lasts all day for me.
I also like to use it to give a natural highlight to the bridge of my nose, to make it look taller and straighter and also on my waterline to brighten my eyes and make them look bigger. However, using the product this way, it is not that long lasting, and I need to reapply every 4-5 hours or so. I don't mind too much since I rarely highlight my nose bridge and I check up on my eyes often to clean up any gunk in the corners of my eyes, which gives me a great opportunity to reapply any makeup. Besides, it's just a pencil, very lightweight and portable!
"Medium" did not work well for me and I will return it. It did not irritate my skin, however, it did not give me a lot of coverage. It was okay in blending, but for me, it was not thick and creamy enough to pat out and blend. I tried it on my spots and dark circles and there was not much significant difference and it was difficult to build up layers. I put on more than 3 layers for my dark circles and they still looked pretty much the same.
I also think that "Medium" isn't that dark when I think of the shade "medium" for skin tone. I would consider it more of a light medium or beige color.

Here are some pictures and swatches:

I blended in half of the swatches

"Light" is above, "Medium" is below"

"Light" is above, "Medium" is below

Do I recommend this product?
As a highlighter, depending on your skin tone, I recommend this product! I think it is a wonderful matte highlight that can be excellent for natural looks, or if you like matte colors in general!
As a concealer, I do not recommend it. I think it needs more coverage, and be a little creamier and easier to blend.
It is lightweight, portable and very affordable! Last time I checked it was sold out on N.Y.X.'s website but I got it at my Ulta.


N.Y.X. Infinite Shadow Stick in "Flushed" and "Almond"

I bought these at Ulta. They cost $9 each and contain 0.19 oz or 5.27 grams of product. It is said to be waterproof, smudgeproof and lasts without creasing, flaking, or fading.

What do I think of this product?
So, I was looking for an on-the-go eyeshadow stick, something I could put on my eyes quickly when I was in a hurry and/or busy. It had to blend easily and last long.
"Flushed" is a shimmery coral beige color and "Almond" is a shimmery taupe color. Both colors are very pretty and the shimmer is not too strong so I think they are great for day and night use. "Almond" looks darker in my swatch compared to my eyes; it is not that dark on my eyes.
These shadow sticks are not as creamy and soft as the N.Y.X. Jumbo Eye Pencils but they are still pretty creamy and soft and so apply and blend well.
Because they are a little drier than the Jumbo Eye Pencils, they did last a little longer for me. However, within about 5 hours, they creased for me. =( I do have pretty oily eyelids and I use a lot of moisturizers for my skin, and the skin around eyes to prevent dryness, fine lines, and wrinkles. So there is a possibility that it creased because of one or both of those things. When I swatch them on my hands, they dry quickly and do not crease or smudge easily at all. Actually, a little hard to wash off haha.
I tried using an eyeshadow primer and then using the shadow sticks and the results were significantly better. I had about a good 9 or 10 hours until there was creasing.
However, my purpose of buying these shadow sticks was for quick and easy application. When I am in a hurry and busy, I don't have the time to first put on a primer and then wait, and then use the shadow stick. I intend to use a shadow stick alone. So, these did not work for me and did not suite my purpose, therefore, I will be returning them. So sad, I was looking forward to keep and use these regularly. =(
And I am not giving up my skincare routine for this, I would rather have good moisturized skin around my eyes, than drier skin that can hold eyeshadow creams better.

Here are some pictures and swatches:

"Flush" on left, "Almond" on right

"Flush" above, "Almond" below

Do I recommend this product?
If your eyelids are not that oily, then I recommend this product as a good product to try. It is decently affordable and has many positive reviews on its longevity. They are very beautiful shadows, they just didn't work for me.

I hope that this review helped you guys! I really like N.Y.X. products because they are so affordable. Feel free to ask any questions or comments in the comment box below. Thank you for reading and I will see you later! ^_^

Outfit of the Day!

Hi Everyone!

This is what I wore today! Please watch in HD! Thanks!

This look is Taiwanese/Japanese inspired.

Not something you can wear any day, and will definitely attract some attention haha.
But I think it is very cute and feminine and I have gotten many compliments!
I think that this look is best in the fall, due the darker red color of the dress and the soft brown booties. But, whatever, I wanted to wear it today! XD

Just make sure, that if you are buying a dress similar to this, that it is long enough to stay classy. Especially if you are a taller person, make sure your butt is not peaking out from the bottom. =P

This is great for shorter girls because the dress will make your legs appear longer. It can also cinch in the waist and the flare from the dress makes your hips look wider.

Or for bustier girls, who still want to look good, but not look like a slut and have their boobs exposed. The straps and underbust of the dress will emphasize and centralize towards your bust, but as you can see, no boob skin is visible and it can look sexy but still appropriate!

Thanks for watching!

Juju was such a cutie! But a little too excited today =P. Hard to keep her still for photos.

...where are you going?

On side note, I got my eyebrows done! They look so clean and polished! =D

I really recommend the beautician who did my eyebrows. She is such a professional and her prices are very reasonable. You can check out her website here.

Here are a couple of my pictures after my eyebrows were done:
I should have done a before and after, but I didn't think I would do a post on it. But the results are amazing!
She does a very natural look and gave me great tips for filling in my brows!

See you guys later! =)

Review on Mentholatum Acne Plus Skin Whitening facial cleanser

Hi Everyone!

I'm going to go get my eyebrows shaped and plucked today! Yay! I hated growing them out for 2 weeks...looked so ugly...-___-. But had to be done. =P

Today I am reviewing Mentholatum Acne + Skin Whitening facial cleanser

This product cost $145 Taiwan dollars which is about $7 US. I bought this in Taiwan because I have not seen this version in the US. It contains 100 grams of product. This cleanser is said to have Vitamin C and to clean the skin thoroughly while treating acne and having skin whitening properties.

What do I think of this product?
I love the Mentholatum acne cleanser brand. So far I find all of their cleansers to clean my face well while not drying it out and treats my acne, making them less red and swollen. I wanted to try this one because it is said to help lighten the skin.
This cleanser does not irritate or redden my skin. It lathers into a rich thick foam and cleans my skin wonderfully. It also keeps the hydration and does not dry my skin out. I think it does a pretty good job of treating my acne. I have had less acne than normal and the redness of my acne is reduced.
The whitening properties are not very significant though. I do not see much of a difference in my skin color/tone and it does not look that much lighter. This does not really bother me, I'm not big on whitening, I just wanted to see how well it would work.

Do I recommend this product?
If you are looking for an acne cleanser with whitening properties, I don't recommend it, because while it does treat acne it does little to whiten or lighten the skin. Especially if you are paying a little extra for both benefits, you want them to both work well.
I do recommend any acne facial cleanser from the Mentholatum line, I think they all work wonderfully, and I have reviewed a couple of them. There is the regular acne cleanser and the acne cleanser with exfoliating beads.

So I hope you found this review helpful! Feel free to write any comments or questions in the comment box below! Thanks for reading! I will see you later. =)