Recent Outfits~

Hi Everyone!

Here are a few of my most recent outfits. Spring has finally arrived with some weather fluctuation. It can get as hot as 80F and the next day can be 50F. =P So my outfits are a variety of styles depending on the weather. =P

Spring Chic 

Coat: Banana Republic
Top: H&M
Skirt: Forever 21
Shoes: Nine West
Scarf: Forever 21

This is a very feminine spring outfit. Simple and cute. The top looks like a sweater bu it's a very loose knit and not very soft material, but it is great for warmer days when you need ventilation!
It's a kind of easy but classic look, especially with the coat!


Preppy Korean Girl

Sweater: Yesstyle
Collared Shirt: Levi's
Shorts: Lucky Brand
Flat: Nine West

This is a very common and popular style in Korea. It's more of a relaxed but still cute look with a variety of colors and textures. It's very comfortable and great for eating! haha
This sweater I bought online and was very lucky with the quality. It is very soft and warm.
Sorry for the ugly bangs, my hair wasn't working with me that day. =P


Prim and Proper

Top: Jack Wills
Belt: Yesstyle
Skirt: Forever 21
Shoes: DSW

This outfit is a little darker, and more mature. More of an older look and more conservative (minus the length of the skirt lol). The top is very light and silk so it's actually great for warm days despite looking on the dark and heavy side. The heels may look tall but they are very comfortable and stable; one of the very few heels that I can walk in all day without a problem!

This look is a little more old fashioned and European looking, haha. Or maybe it's just the top, because that is a British design. =P

I hope that you enjoyed these outfits! Let me know if you have any questions or comments in the comment box below. Thank you for reading! I will see you later =)

Mini Reviews! Nars Lip Pencil, Maybelline Mascara, and Sally Bobby Pins!

Hi everyone!

Today I am doing a mini review of the following products:

-2 Nars lip pencils
-Maybelline Define-A-Lash mascara
-Sally mini bobby pins

My mini reviews are reviews for products that I honestly don't have much to say about, not necessarily meaning they are bad or poor products, it's just that I don't have that much detail about them and they tend to be short, sweet, and to the point!

Review on Nars lip pencils: Cruella and Rikugien

I received 2 Nars lip pencils as a birthday gift from Sephora. This was my first time trying and using Nars lip pencils so I was pretty excited, because Nars is well known for its lip pencils.
I got a beautiful classic matte red color: ETC and a shimmery pink color: ETC.
I found them both to be very long lasting and water resistant. I could lip my lips and the color would not come off, especially with the matte red one, it was not going to come off after it set! However, the pink one still left residues on my cups while I was drinking.
I really liked the matte red lip one, it is a beautifully classic red that did not dry out my lips too much, I just needed a lip brush to apply it well. The pink one was a little too shimmery for my tastes, a little too young and fun, probably better for a high school or young college student. =P I also found that I'm not good at putting on lipstick and I usually don't put on lipstick so I ended up giving these to a friend.
For the holidays and special occasions I would recommend the ETC. I think it leaves a beautiful finish and as long as you exfoliate and moisturize your lips before applying, it should not make your lips dry and chapped.

Review on Mabelline Define-A-Lash mascara (waterproof version)

I think I saw a youtuber review this, might have be Ilikeweylie? I think it was her. She liked this mascara and I decided to try it out. I bought the waterproof version.
This mascara is very black and does not irritate my eyes or my lashline. It does a pretty good job of separating the lashes and lengthening them; not so much for thickening and giving volume. However, it is very good at holding a curl. I think this a great affordable mascara if I wanted a everyday look or curling them with false lashes to blend in with the false lashes. They are very good and staying up and perky all day and don't smudge much, a little on the outer corner of my eyes, but not too much.
If I was to compare this with the Dior Overcurl, I would say Dior lengthens and separates the lashes better, but this one holds a curl better.
I think this is a pretty good affordable waterproof mascara for everyday use and I recommend it if you are looking for something that will hold a curl well and give some length and definition.

Review on Sally mini bobby pins

mini: ~1.5 in or 4 cm long
regular: 2.25 in or 5.5 cm long

Surprisingly, this turned out to be one of my favorite and most useful products!
These are mini professional grade bobbi pins. They are great for hairstyles that need a lot of discrete pins to help hold up the hair without having parts of the pins sticking out. They are very strong, long lasting, have great grip and do not damage the hair or scalp when putting them in or pulling them out.
I did milkmaid braids one time and my hair stayed on my head all day, even at the gym, and I got a lot of compliments. Have to thank these bobby pins, for holding all that hair into place!
I highly recommend these bobby pins, you can find them on Amazon here.

Despite the brevity, I hope that you found these mini reviews helpful! Let me know what you think and if you have any questions in the comment box below! Thanks for reading =)

Review on Lush Seanik shampoo bar

Hi everybody!

Today I am reviewing Lush's Seanik shampoo bar

This product costs about $12 for 1.9 oz of product.
It is said to be:

"Solid seaweed shampoo bar for shine and body

Soften tangled locks and add oceans of shine with this mineral-rich, sea salt volumizing shampoo bar. Seanik is made with nourishing ingredients from the sea: softening Irish moss seaweed and Japanese nori seaweed make your hair soft as silk from root to tips, and sea salt gives body and volume to hair that’s fallen flat. One seriously sexy shampoo, we added lemon oil for extra shine, and the exotic far eastern fragrance of sensual mimosa and jasmine oils to bathe you in the heady scent of tropical flora all day long."

What do I think of this product?
So I have used this product for at least a month and I have mixed feelings. =/ I bought this to be a drying shampoo for rainy/snow/sleet days and also because my scalp tends to be oily and I have read reviews that this bar tends to be drying.
I honestly didn't care much about the added volume and shine benefits of this bar, because that wasn't what I was looking for haha. I personally do not think it gave much shine or volume to my hair. Though, my hair is quite long now, and weighs a lot, and it is probably weighing down my hair more than the shampoo can pull it back up, if you know what I mean. So maybe it would work better for people with shorter hair.
The bar has a clean fresh scent to it, that is not strong or painful to smell (unlike the Karma Komba). However, the scent doesn't really transfer much fragrance to the hair, which I would have preferred (because I like clean and fresh scents) but didn't mind too much.
The product lathered into a rich foam, was easy to work with, did not irritate my scalp. The seaweed bits I never had a problem with them getting stuck in my hair or in the drain. They were small enough to wash down.
I enjoyed using this for the first couple of weeks, but after a while I was starting to get doubtful. My hair looked clean and non-oily, which was good, but it didn't smell clean. If I scratched my head and smelled my fingers (and I know some of you do this, don't deny it!), it smelled as if I didn't shower, that sort of oily hair smell. I also started to smell that unwashed hair smell on myself, even without scratching my head. My hair looked and felt fine/normal, but smelled dirty. Like I could sit at the computer and then move my head a bit and where my head was before, I could smell dirty hair.
I'm pretty sure I'm not imagining this or being hyperaware or sensitive about this, because I have a relatively sensitive sense of smell, and this has never happened to me before. That after showering, my hair would smell bad. At worst it would smell like nothing, which I'm totally fine with. I am not okay with my hair smelling bad or dirty, even if it is actually clean. Maybe that's how it's supposed to work? I don't know, but I don't like it. =/ And it makes me unsure of whether this shampoo properly cleaned my hair or not.....-___-
I would probably not repurchase this one again. I can use it everyday, and it won't dry my hair out, which is great, it drys it out enough that my hair won't get oily but won't make it uncomfortably dry and flaky, but I can't stand it when my hair doesn't smell clean. Big no no. Didn't work for me. I still have it, but I'll just use it on lazy days, when I'm hanging out at home or being boring and studying in the library and not socializing with people. =P

Do I recommend this product?
Assuming that this bad experience of mine was a special exception, I think this a good bar to try out. It is one of the more well know and reviewed shampoo bars out there, so it might work out better for you, especially if your hair tends to be oily.
But if you like your hair to have a smellable fragrance after showering, I don't recommend this product. Probably won't smell as fresh and cleans as you would want.

So I hope this review was helpful. I know that Lush products are rather expensive, so it's safer to read what other's say before purchasing. I do it all the time. Feel free to comment or ask questions in the comment box below!
Thank you for reading! I will see you later. =)

My last winter outfits before spring!

Hi everyone!

Here are the last of my winter outfits before spring! Winter is quite long on the East Coast, it actually snowed ice today and was in the 40s, so we're not quite there yet, but hopefully by the end of this month spring will greet us!

What I should have worn for Christmas....probably =P

Scarf: gift (but I think it's from H&M)

Sweater: Yesstyle

Skirt: Yesstyle

Tights and long socks: Uniqlo

Boots: Aldo

The sweater was a good choice, usually it's hard to know the material of sweaters and how they feel on your skin when you are buying online, but I got lucky. This is both soft and warm and the knitting is not that loose so there are no gaps or holes in the weave. However, it is a sort of cropped sweater, which I didn't expect (or maybe because I'm taller than most Asians, it would be normal for them but short for me). You can't really tell it's cropped here because the red skirt is actually a high waisted skirt, ha ha! This combo has a very Christmas vibe (hence the title) and I really would have liked to wear this for Christmas actually, but oh well, next time! 

The boots are a low wedge heel that go over the knee. They are very soft and comfortable. Not real leather so it can deal with some rain and salt without taking the trouble to prep it or clean it afterwards. Being a low heel, they are very easy to walk in and (as a person who loves high heels) feel like I'm wearing flat boots.

 Preppy girl #1

Scarf: Uniqlo (men's but who cares!)
Turtleneck: Uniqlo Heattech
Peacoat: Banana Republic
Red skirt: Yesstyle
Tights and long socks: Uniqlo
Short boots: Sporto (has a little orange duck as the logo) (bought at DSW)

So yes, I got another coat from Banana Republic. They might as well sponsor me now for all of this! lol Anyway, it was a very good deal. From $180 to $90 and I could not resist XD. It looks very classic too and I like that. =)
The short boots are awesome too! I also got them for sale, I don't remember how much though. They are waterproof and lined with fur! So they keep my feet warm and dry. I've walked through snow in this without too much trouble until the snow gets higher than the shoe, and well, then, yes, my feet will get wet from snow going inside the boot. But where I live, it doesn't snow that much, it only snowed that much once or twice, so I wore a longer pair of snow boots then.

I put effort in my hair that day! haha And I did milkmaid braids! It was snowy and windy those days, and I wanted to still look cute but not with messed up hair! And the bun thing gets boring, so did this! I used professional grade bobby pins which I will talk about in a review soon! And it turned out really well! My hair has grown quite long and now I can play with it a bit more. I got a ton of compliments in and outside of school, haha, definitely a confidence booster.


Preppy girl #2

I love my scarf!

 Scarf: H&M
Turtleneck: Banana Republic
Peacoat: Banana Republic
Gray skirt: Yesstyle
Tights and long socks: Uniqlo
Boots: Aldo

Yes, here's the peacoat again. =P But it I really like it okay! XD
The sky blue turtleneck bring some lightness and softness into the outfit, starting that color transition towards spring (but not the clothing transition, still gotta wait). It is quite soft and comfortable, a little shapeless, but who care when you want to be warm! I find it to be simple, clean, and chic.
The skirt, don't get it, just saying, it's way too short. I ended up donating it where some child could wear it, because it was so dangerously short! Ended up buying a very similar looking one in Zara for $20 that was much better material and more appropriate length. =P
That scarf will probably be my spring scarf this season! I love it so much. It is actually very very long, but also incredibly soft. I can wrap it around my neck at least 3 times if I want extra warmth and it has a floral print that screams for spring, but with toned down soft gray and white neutral colors that can match most outfits. ^_^

I loved winter; it was beautiful and terrible (mostly the melting and the ice), but I am so ready for spring! When I went back to CA, it was 90F and sunny and awesome! I don't like summers here because they are hot and humid, but spring should be fun, in the 60s and low 70s and not humid yet! I'm looking forward to it.
Hope you liked some of my outfits and it gave you some ideas for next winter, or if you still live in a place like mine that's still cold, then some current cold weather outfit ideas.
Feel free to comment or ask any questions in the comment box below!
Thanks so much for reading! I will see you soon! =D

Updates!

Hi guys!

I'm really sorry for being MIA. I probably had one of the worst med classes ever, SDR (sexual development and reproduction). I mean it was an interesting class and I learned a lot, studying for it was tough though =/. It was so hard that I didn't have time to update you guys because I spent so much time studying and being stress. So I'm sorry for not communicating well with you guys. =(

I also flew back to CA for spring break, because all of us needed a break, and I needed some personal family and friend time, and uh, eating Asian food time, maybe haha.
But I am back early from break because stuff needs to be done! But I am free before I start classes again! Thanks for those of you who have stuck with me, I really appreciate it. =)

So I guess I'll get to it =P.

Cheers!

Winter to Spring Transitional Outfit!

Hi guys!

Looks like I have lots of free time today. =P Also, don't feel like going to sleep even though I'm tired, haha. I have those days sometimes, do you?

So, this is not an Outfit of the Day, the reason it wasn't was because I returned the shoes in this picture. They did not fit my feet well and hurt. =( But I really liked the look so I took pictures before returning it, of course. =P

Dress: Jack Wills "Fabulously British"
Sweater: Loft by Ann Taylor
Tights: Uniqlo
Wedge heels: Nine West
Necklace: Banana Republic

Jack Wills is having a ridiculous sale now. It is a British brand that is relatively well known on the East Coast. Usually their stuff is expensive but their sale was super good because they changed designers so the older clothes can't carry the brand name anymore. This is a light summery dress, it was originally $98.50 and I got it for $40. Not bad =P
It's still a little cold here, but it was in the 50sF today and sunny so it felt nice! I pulled a sweater over it to give me some warmth!
These nude heels are so cute! But they're too tight for my toes. =(. They only had full sizes for this particular shoe, I'm sure 7.5 would have been perfect for me, but they didn't have it. Original price $80 and current price is $30. If you have narrow feet and short toes, I recommend this!
I'm still looking for a pair of nude heels, I don't have any! And I thought it looked so cute with black tights!

Now that spring is coming, it's a transition time to spring fashion! So most people tend to switch over to lighter and more pastel colors in their clothes. I thought that pairing a dark dress and tights with some nude heels and a pale sweater was a lovely transition towards spring. Especially with the nude heels! I can't wait to find a pair that works for me. The dress also has tiny white dots which helped break up the darkness of the dress and compliment the sweater better.
The gold chain necklace adds a pop of warmth and shine without being too showy. I love this necklace because I think it is very flexible and I can wear it with many outfits, and the gold gives a warmer feeling.

I think that dresses like these are great for traveling or for making a variety of outfits and looks. You can wear it alone or wear a shirt or sweater over it and make it look like a skirt! Or you could put on a cardigan or a cute vest! Very versatile. =)

So I hope you liked the outfit and maybe it helped you think about your transitional winter to spring looks! Feel free to comment or ask questions in the comment box below! See you later! Bye!

Review on the Hado Labo Gokujyun Facial Cream and the Aquamoist Facial Cream!

Hi Everyone!

It's the last month of winter! Can't wait for spring!

But before that, here is probably my last winter skincare product! I am comparing 2 hyaluronic acid facial moisturizers. I bought these when I went back for winter break in California. I'm so sorry but I forgot what the exact prices were. X( They should be around $20 each and can be found in Takashima, Marukai Lifestyle, and Mitsuwa or online. They both contain 1.76 oz or 50 grams of product.

Hado Labo Gokujyun Facial Cream

What do I think about this product?
This product does not irritate or redden my skin, or the skin around my eyes. It is a gel white cream. Because of it's gel-like texture, it spreads and applies very easily and it is very moisturizing. It is lightweight but a little heavier and thicker than my Rohto Hadalabo Gokujyun Hyaluronic Acid Lotion . However, it does not make my skin look or feel greasy/oil after letting it absorb into the skin. A little goes a long way and I don't need to use much for my entire face and neck.
Even though it says it is a facial cream, I think that most people in the US, would not think so, and it feels more like a thicker serum. I would still use this as a day or night serum, and apply a moisturizer on top, especially on windy and dry days. I also don't let it absorb all the way into the skin, I often apply my day moisturizer right on top and because of its smooth consistency, it helps spread out my moisturizer easier.
Overall, love this product, and I have been using it almost everyday this winter! Saved my skin a lot from the freezing windchill! Brr!



Aquamoist Facial Cream

What do I think about this product?
This product also does not irritate or redden my skin, even around my eyes. It is a clear gel cream that is decently thicker and heavier than the Hado Labo Gokujyun Facial Cream
I believe that this is heavy enough to be a moisturizer on its own, however, it does leave the skin looking very shiny and feeling a little sticky. It has amazing moisturizing properties and works very well when I have patches of dry skin, especially when I travel around or in very dry weather. However, I only use this at night, alone. It's so moisturizing, I don't need to add anything else!
I am currently not using this in the East Coast, just because my dad has very very dry skin and has eczema and so I gave it to him to use so it would relieve him of his super dry and itchy patches of skin. I did use it when I was in California, and it worked really well and I would use it as an evening super hydrating gel mask/moisturizer when I sleep, but only for that. Again, this spreads out easily and very well, and I don't need a lot of it for my face and neck.

Which product would I recommend?
This will depend on the environment where you live and your skin type. I believe that if you have extremely dry skin or if you are transitioning from a wet/humid climate to a dry climate, I would recommend the Aquamoist Facial Cream. You could apply less of it, if you think it appears too shiny/sticky, and layer on a moisturizer that has a more matt finish for the day.
If you have dry skin or live in a dry environment, or the weather is cold/hot and dry during certain seasons, I recommend the Hado Labo Gokujyun as a day and night serum. Depending on how you feel about it, you could wear it alone or with a moisturizer on top. I wear a moisturizer on top because I feel I need a little more hydration, but it's up to you. =)
Again, I like both and was very happy using both of them during the winter. I probably wouldn't need them during the summer, hopefully, but I would buy both again for the winter. =D

I hope that this review and comparison was helpful and not too confusing. =P Feel free to comment or ask questions in the comment box below! Thank you for reading and I will see you later! ^_^

Review on Lush Karma Komba Solid Shampoo!

Hi Everyone!

It's February! Time flies!

Today I am reviewing Lush's Karma Komba Solid Shampoo

This product can be bought online or at Lush stores. It is about 2.0 oz and cost $12.
Long story short, the description is online, it's too long for me to write down and the effect that it had for my hair was different than my experience, so I wouldn't find it too helpful. =P

What do I think of this product?
Now, I have always been very skeptical of Lush. To me it was a ridiculous smelling store that was very expensive. =P I still kind of think that way, but now I feel that their products may be worth it for some people.
I tried to use Head and Shoulder's regular shampoo and it gave me the most oily and greasy hair ever. -__- Fail, I hate you Head and Shoulder's, I used you for 12 years of my life and now you suck. Such a disappointment....anyway.
I went with a friend to Lush, she is a Lush lover, and recommended this one for oily hair. My hair is not as oily as it used to be, after puberty, the skin and scalp get less oily, but I currently had oily hair from Head and Shoulders, and I do get oil buildup, especially if I do not shower. Because of that, I usually have to shower everyday. So, I was like, what the heck, sure I'll try it. =P

I have also been very skeptical of solid shampoo, but now I see that it really works!
So, yes this is totally made for oily hair. This is very very good at getting rid of product and oil buildup in hair, lathers up well, and does not irritate my skin or scalp! It does have a very very strong fragrance, which....I am not fond of. I took one whiff of it, and started coughing like I had an asthma attack or something....not good. Also, the fragrance will stay in the hair all day, it's not as strong in the hair, but I can definitely smell it on me all day. It is a kind of flora scent, a unique flora scent....sorry, can't describe well.
After using this, my scalp feels so clean and oil free! It's great! I also don't have to use my blow dryer on it for long because it makes my hair dry a lot faster. I can even not wash my hair everyday because this really cleans my hair very well and prevents it from getting so oily! It's great for lazy weekends when I'm not doing anything and I'm just studying or at home. =P
However, I can't use this everyday, if I do, then it starts drying out my scalp. So I end up using it about 3 times a week, switching it off with my "The Body Shop" Ginger Scalp Care shampoo. If I do use it more often, after I rinse it out, I will rub my Super Mild Hair and Scalp Mask into my scalp to prevent my scalp and hair from getting too dry.
Being winter, this was probably not the best time to try a shampoo that has a tendency to dry out my hair, but it is very good at deep cleansing my hair when I need to, and solved my oily hair from Head and Shoulders without me having to use tons of my other shampoo to rinse it out.
I also use this on rain days and snow days, so that my hair doesn't get damp and musty smelling.

I am looking forward to use this during the summer, where it is very hot and very humid, and I feel so gross and disgusting from the humidity. I think that this will be a lifesaver for me when the time comes. Also, this would be great when I go to Asian countries during the summer because those places are super hot and humid too, and I think it will help prevent my hair from getting too oily, damp, and sticky in that environment. (You can buy a travel tin for it too)
FYI, after using, take this out of the shower, or put it in a tupperware, if you leave it in the shower, the bar will dissolve and you will lose product very fast.
The only thing about this product is that it is kind of expensive. It is supposed to last for 2 months or so, depending how much and often I use it. Because I don't use it everyday, I think it'll last longer than that, so hopefully that makes it worth it. Overall, pretty impressed, it worked well without any skin irritation and I like the results! =D

Do I recommend this product?
If you have very oily hair or you are traveling or living in an area that is very humid, I highly recommend this product, but, please be aware it has a very strong fragrance. If you don't like things with strong fragrance, I don't recommend this, it will hurt your nose. =P But maybe you could just use less of it and it would not be as potent.

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