quick update

hi everyone =)

as you can tell, i have not written for a while

my master's program is quite stressful and it is taking a lot more time an energy than i thought

i think about reviewing things almost everyday, but then i also think about an exam that i have every other week =P

plus we have class from 9-3pm on average and we study 6-10 hours per day, so not much free time besides sleeping, cooking, and eating and trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle by not eating out, eating junk food, and exercising more

i usually come home very tired from studying and i don't like working on reviews half heartedly just because i am tired

i'm so sorry for not posting this month, =( i am trying to figure out my schedule and see if i can open up some more free time!

i hope you guys are doing well, and for those who are going back to school, have fun and study hard! it doesn't get better after college. =P haha (true in some ways but not others)

see you in the near future! XD

Review on Make Up Forever HD Microfinish Powder! XD

Hi Everyone!

I am back, my sinus infection is gone (without having to take antibiotics! yay!) and I am starting my Master's program.

Today I am reviewing Make Up Forever's famous HD Microfinish Powder

I bought the mini which is 0.14 oz and cost $20 on Sephora.

What do I think of this product?
So, I bought this product to replace a very very old Maybelline finishing veil powder. That powder worked alright, it did the job and mattified my face very well. However, sometimes it would make my face a little powdery or cakey, especially underneath the eyes or around the nose. It was also very old, I think 3 or 4 years old and needed to be replaced. (Makeup and skincare are organic-based products and organic products decompose, even if they don't look like it =P)
Of course, this product was and is very popular and well known. I bought it for good reviews and it's high quality. If I was going to invest in something, it better be good. =P
And this product is great! I will not say that this is amazing and out of this world, because I rarely use foundation, concealer, or BB creams so consequently I don't use finishing powders a lot. However, it does everything that is says it does and it is worth the investment.
It is a super fine white powder that does not look white on the skin (except when you put massive amounts on your face and pose for flash photos). It does not irritate my skin (but might make me sneeze if I accidentally breath in the little cloud that rises up when I unscrew the cap XP).
 It does not make my foundation or concealer crease. It mattifies my face beautifully without looking cakey or powdery at all. It is long lasting and definitely keeps the oily shine away, though during the summer on hotter and more humid days, I might need to reapply or blot my face, if I am wearing foundation for the whole day. For a half-day or shorter event, no problem.
It is true that you can put as much powder on as you want and that no one can see it. However, like many have said, if you do that, and take flash photos, the powder will reflect and show a really ugly contrasting white cast on your face. I don't put that much because I don't want that. =P go figure.
I also love to use this under my eyes whenever I am wearing pencil eyeliner and/or mascara. It really helps prevent any possible smudging on the lower lashline/eye area, especially here in the East Coast where there is humidity + summer heat. In California, it's hot but it is dry, so I didn't need to worry about it that much.

Do I recommend this product?
This is a little pricy, but a little goes a long way. I don't think anyone needs to put on a lot and it does a great job mattifying the face, holding the foundation in place, and making you not look like you are sweaty, and oily mess in the summer. I consider this a great staple product and an excellent investment and I highly recommend this product.
Because you don't need to use a lot of product, for those who do not wear foundation often, I recommend the mini, it is cheaper and travel friendly as well. However, if you do wear foundation often, almost everyday, etc. it would be more worth it to buy the full size.

So I hope you found this review helpful. I know that this is a widely reviewed, well known, and popular product, so you may have heard of it's greatness already. =P
However, let's just say I am agreeing with the crowd who thinks of this product positively. =)
Feel free to write any questions or comments in the comment box below.
Thank you for reading and have a great day. =)

Review on Yu-Be Moisturizing Skin Cream ^o^

Hi Everyone!

I received this product as a free sample from my Sephora rewards points. I got the 10mL or 0.3 fluid oz size sample and the full size is the 33g or 1.25oz and the jar size is 2.2 oz.

You can buy this on Amazon or Sephora in stores and online.

What do I think of this product?

I first used this for my lips and I found this product to be phenomenal! It did not irritate or redden my lips. It does contain glycerin so can feel a little slippery during application, but it does not look or feel oily. The color is a pale yellow. It does have a camphor scent, but it is not strong, sharp, or irritating to my nose, and it fades quickly. I actually kind of like smell, so, definitely doesn't bother me. =P

It was so good at moisturizing my dry and chapped lips, locks in the moisturizer and lasts for a good while. Even when my lips were peeling, after applying they felt and looked so smooth and hydrated! After that I can apply or reapply any lip color without it looking ugly and dry.

When they say "A little goes a long way" they were not kidding. I barely use a smidgen of product and it is enough for my lips! It's great! I got this a month ago and it barely looks used!

And then I got my sinus infection, and used a lot of tissue to blow my nose, which made the skin around my nose very dry, irritated, and sensitive. I started to use this product for my nose and nose area and my skin feels amazing! O_O It is no longer irritated, stays hydrated, and again, long lasting. I can still keep on blowing my nose, and the product protects my skin and locks in the moisture very well. =)

I would definitely repurchase this product after finishing my sample. Though I don't know how long that is going to take haha, since I need so little of it.

Do I recommend this product?

If you have dry patches of skin, tend to have dry, chapped lips, or blow your nose a lot because of allergies or sickness, I highly recommend this product. I think, despite it's price, it is a great investment and because you only need to use a tiny amount of product, it will last you a very long time. =)

Hi and Updates!

Hi Everyone! It's been a while.

So good news, I settled in earlier and faster than I thought I would!

Annddd bad news is that I have a sinus infection...=/, not feeling too great, especially when humidity is around 70% =P

I'm resting at my new apartment now and if I feel up for it, I'll post a review tonight! If not, then, later I guess =P.

Hope you all have been well and been having a good summer!
I have gotten so tanned! Might need to buy a new foundation shade. =P Also, lots of bug bites, not as exciting haha

Stay hydrated and don't forget your sunscreen!

See you soon! ^_^

Short Hiatus! =O

Hi Everyone!

If you didn't know, I will be pursing my graduate studies at an East Coast university this and next year.

My school reminds me of Harry Potter! XD old school style architecture and buildings! Very different from the modern West Coast!

I will be flying to the East Coast sometime this week and moving all my necessary stuff with me, finding and moving into an apartment, unpacking, getting used to the time change, etc. so I will be quite busy for the next 2-3 weeks or so.

Hope you guys understand!

I do have a few more things on my mind to review for you guys, including 2 awesome pencil eyeliners and an excellent brow pencil that I found and a lipstick and lip tint (writing this on here so I won't forget lol).

I will also use a bit of time to hang out with some friends on the East Coast, going shopping =P and doing tourist things, haha, before grad school starts!

My grad masters is a very tough program, so if I am not posting as much for the next 12 months, this is probably why. =( I know, sorry.

Thank you everyone who reads my blog and who have stuck with me so long! I will try post as much as I can and not disappoint you!
Continue enjoying the hot but wonderful summer guys! I will see you relatively soon! XD

Review on Tend Skin Care Solution =D

Hi Everyone!

Today I am reviewing the Tend Skin Care Solution

This can be found on Amazon (for prime shipping) in 4oz, 8oz, 16oz and 472mL.
I bought the 4 oz bottle for $12.
This product is said to eliminate razor bumps, ingrown hairs, and redness from shaving, waxing, and electrolysis. It is ideal for men and women.
Directions: After cleansing and rinsing off newly shaved skin with water, make sure that your skin is dry and use a cotton pad to apply this onto the skin. You must make sure you skin is clean and dry before application, if there is some residual water on your skin, the product will not have the proper skin contact and not be effective.

What do I think of this product?
I have used this product for almost 2 months and have nearly finished the bottle. I think it is a great product and works very well.
I use this on my arms to reduce ingrown hairs from keratosis pilaris and I use this on my legs after I shave for at least 3 days straight. (Keep in mind, I probably used this product up very quickly because I use it for my arms too, but if you just use it for your legs or face, it will last much longer)
During summer, it's hot and sunny, and of course we want to wear dresses, shorts, swimwear, etc. and because of this, most of us prefer to shave. I shave much more often during the summer and tend to get more ingrown hairs and irritation as a result.
This product has significantly reduced the amount of ingrown hairs and razor bumps I get from shaving and keratosis pilaries and helps reduce the redness and irritation. I don't need a lot, don't need to soak a cotton pad with the product, just dab some product onto the cotton pad and wipe it on my legs. After application, I will applying my body lotion. This product does contain alcohol which tends to dry out the skin, and will sting if there are any cuts on your skin, but I have had no negative side effects from this product. It does not make my skin irritated, more sensitive, or red.
I have heard that some people say it has a strong bad smell, to me it just smells like rubbing alcohol, and it's not that strong and fades quickly.
I have also heard that there are fakes sold on Amazon. I don't think the one I got from Amazon is a fake since mine does apparently work for me and it has an expiration date and lot number on the back.
During use, I will get probably one or two deep ingrown hairs that this product cannot work with, but if you read the instructions carefully, they tell you that if the ingrown hair is too deep, this product will be less effective. That makes sense, since this product works topically and I don't expect it to go that deep into my skin.
The only thing I'd really like to know is how this product works, like the biochemical mechanism. Does it soften the skin or have a kind of chemical exfoliant that makes skin thinner so it is easier for the hairs to grow out instead of in? Or does it do something to the hair follicles that changes the structure or direction it grows. I have no idea, and my research online has lead me no clear answers. This is not because I am suspicious of the product and if it will damage my skin, I am just curious and would like to know how it works. But Tend Skin probably keeps it as a trade secret or something. =P
Overall, I think this product is worth the money, and I will definitely repurchase this again! =)

Do I recommend this product?
If you tend to get a lot of ingrown hairs and razor bumps from shaving I highly recommend this product! However, if you have sensitive skin, make sure to talk to a dermatologist before use, or try it on a small area of skin to see if there are any side effects.

I hope you found this review helpful! Let me know if you have any questions or comments in the comment box below! Thank you for reading and talk to you later! =)

Special Occasion Summer Outfit!

Hi Everyone!

Please watch in HD! Thanks. =)


The dress is from Anthropologie and the purse is Ralph L. Lauren.
Wedges are from Nine West and watch is from Seiko.

FYI, I did not buy this dress or purse, it was a gift from a family member. I would never buy such nice things for myself, too poor. =P

The summer has been pretty hot so far. It's a little cloudy now, but still kind of warm outside.

This dress is great for outdoor events such as weddings, parties, shows, etc. The material is light-weight and comfortable!
You know those hot summer days when you have to dress up for something but you don't want to feel sticky, sweaty, and gross inside a thicker or more form-fitting dress. Something like this is a great alternative!
It is soft and flowy, allowing air to circulate through and best of all, you can go out and eat in this dress, because no one can see you tummy! XP

The white inner layer is quite opaque and so no one can see your underwear, but if you want to be safe, like me, go for nude underwear. =P

Here is the bag up-close:

I hate to be one of those people who complain but can't help it today. I don't really like this bag. Because it is made of real leather, I can't put too much inside (even though the bag itself is pretty big) otherwise it will distort the shape. My mom would always come up to me and say "Why is your bag so heavy!" "There's something poking out on the side, take it out! It will stretch the leather!" and so on. =P Yeah, I don't want a real leather purse/bag anymore. What's the point of a large bag if I can't put a lot of stuff in it....

Has a little mascot now! ^_^ A bunny keychain I got in Japan!

This was my makeup that day (if you care to know, lol):

So I hope you enjoyed the video. See you later! =)