April Favorites

It's that time of the month again where everyone posts they're April favorites. I've been trying out a lot of products lately but I don't think I've been using them long enough to be included in a monthly favorites just quite yet.

1 & 2. Cargo Coral Beach and Sunset Beach Blush. I've been using these a lot over the past month as it's been getting warmer and I want more of a bronzey look to my cheeks. It's a perfect mix between a blush and bronzer.

3. One 'N Only Argan Oil Treatment has been an absolute miracle product for me. I've been using it everyday and it has done wonders for my hair. I've already done a review here.

4. NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in Brunette. The few months I've really been getting into filling in my eyebrows, it really makes a difference to your face. I really like this product, it's natural looking and affordable.

The NYX Soft Matte Lip Creams and Xtreme Lip creams are absolutely wonderful lip products. The ones I've been using the most out of the ones I got are Antwerp, San Paulo and Strawberry Jam. They're just wonderfully bright summer colors that really brighten up your face. Swatches here.

Not but not least are my Real Techniques Brushes. (They're dirty cause I've obviously been using them.) I honestly don't know how I did my makeup before getting these. I was using cheap rough, scratchy brushes before, which were okay but nothing compared to these. I've also done a review of them here.

I've been pretty busy the past week, taking mid-terms and such but I've been taking photos just haven't had the time to put them in a post so I'll be doing that this weekend. Also going to start doing outfit of the day and more face of the day posts just haven't had the time and also been a little lazy. :P

Favorites: Cream Eyeshadow

As you guys may or may not already know I'm a huge fan of cream eyeshadow. They're great for a quick wash of color on the lid or applying on the go since you don't need a brush to apply them. You can also use a darker color for the outer corners as well or as a base for your eyeshadow. What I look for in a cream eyeshadow is one that is creamy and easy to apply without too much tugging on the lids, pigmented, so it doesn't require too much layering and long-lasting without creasing. I also have fairly oily lids.

First up are the Essence Stay All Day Long Lasting Eyeshadow. I've been using these for the past 2 weeks now and I find the formula to be pretty similar to the Maybelline Color Tattoos. They're creamy and pigmented and last about 8-9 hours on me, without primer, before it starts to look a bit creased and faded. It usually isn't a problem since I carry my cream eyeshadow with me. The best thing about these is the price, they're only 3 dollars for 5.5g of product. These are available at Ulta in the U.S., now I only wish they carried the whole range of colors since they're all beautfiul.

The Maybelline Color Tattoos ($6-7 for 4g of product) have been raved about ever since they've come out to drugstores. Like the Essence cream eyeshadows, they're also creamy and pigmented, lasts 8-9 hours on me, without any primer. I find Bad to the Bronze is similar to Essence Coppy Right in color, Coppy Right is slightly lighter and warmer though. I think Maybelline should come out with more wearable colors as I'm not a very big fan of brights.

My first ever cream eyeshadaw is the MAC Paint Pot in Bare Study that I got 4 and a half years ago and is still creamy. These are the most expensive of the bunch at $17.50 for 5g of product, but they're worth every penny. Of the three, MAC's Paint Pots have the widest range of colors. These are also creamy and pigmented and last about 7-8 hours on me, without primer.

With a good eyeshadow primer I'm sure all of these will last even longer than they already do. I'd also like to add that I've also tried the NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencils, which are okay I find that they do crease on me so I have to use a primer and set with shadow and I just don't always have time to do that in the morning. 

March Favorites

Hello, hope you're all having/had a wonderful Easter, if not then I hope you have had a wonderful day. I love reading other peoples favorites so I thought I would join in on the fun.  I know I'm a bit late with this, but I've just started this blog so please forgive me. :P 


1. Urban Decay Naked 2 pallet is a super popular pallet. I much prefer this the second one over the first one cause the colors aren't as smokey. One of the best investments ever, saves much guesswork in the morning as all the colors I could ever need are in one pallet.


2. MAC Bare Study Paint Pot is MAC's version of a cream eyeshadow. Bare Study is a shimmery champagne color. I use this under eyeshadows or by itself when I'm in the rush. One of my first MAC purchases all the way back in 8th grade and it's still going strong.


3. MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation is my favorite foundation that I have tried so far. It has a healthy dewy finish and medium-full coverage. I have this in the shade NC20. Will do a full review soon.


4. Imju Fiberwig Mascara is my favorite mascara. Of all time. It is a lengthening mascara.  I usually don't spend a lot of money on mascara, so I can only say that it is my favorite among the drugstore offerings. Fiberwig is pretty expensive in Sephora but I found an ebay seller that sells it for cheaper here. 


5. Maybelline Dream Lumi Touch Concealer in Fair. Is an illuminating concealer that it suppose to brighten up any dark areas. I use this on my under eye circles which have been particularly bad this month and then I follow up with my regular under eye concealer.


6. Canmake Cream Cheek in no.5 Sweet Apricot is a peachy apricot with golden shimmer. I absolutely love these cream blushes. They're a cream to powder formula and this color is just lovely. Cream blushes are my favorite type of blush.


7. Nars Laguna Bronzer is another staple. The goldeny brown color works very well with my skin tone. It's not too shimmery or too brown/muddy looking that sometimes happened with Benefit Hoola.

So those are my march favorites, I hope you've enjoyed. 

Favorites: Lipsticks

      One of my favorite makeup products *ever* is lipstick. It has the ability to complete or brighten up any look. Lipgloss, in my opinion, is heavy feeling, sticky and just a tad too sheer for my liking unfortunately. There are some truly amazing lipgloss formulas out there, but those are the few exceptions. Besides, the hair in lipgloss look is never attractive under any circumstances. I currently have 9 lipsticks that stand out to me among my modest sized lipstick collection, but I'm sure I'll be picking up a few more sometime soon. Cream finishes are my favorite finishes, frosts and shimmer are just not very flattering, but that's my preference. Non-drying formulas are a must.  First up are my MAC lipstick favorites, each retail for $14.50.

• MAC Creme D'Nude is a beige nude with the slightest peach tone to it. Darker skintones may have some trouble wearing this as it may make them look zombie-fied. It is a cremesheen finish which happens to be one of my favorite finishes from MAC. 
• MAC Hue is slighty yellow toned pink. Definitely a "my lips but better" lipstick. It is a glaze finish but a bit more pigmented than your average glaze.
• MAC Peachstock is a tan peachy nude. A great summer shade for when your tanner than usual. I have this in the limited edition Liberty of London packaging, which is, hands-down, my favorite MAC collection to date. It is available at MAC Pro stores but is permanent in Asia I believe. It is a satin finish so it can be drying at times but a bit of balm solves that situation.
• MAC Ever Hip is a pinky coral. Unfortunately this is a limited edition color that was repromoted and sold out almost immediately. Very flattering on almost all skintones and not too shockingly bright either. Another cremesheen finish.
• MAC Morange  is a straight up bright orange. I am in *no way* brave enough to wear this on its own but it is great to mix with another lipstick to add an orange touch to it. It is an amplified finish, so it is very creamy and very pigmented.

(From L-R)

These are my drugstore lipstick favorites, none are over $9.

• Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Soft Nude is a peachy soft nude. Aptly named isn't it? Compared to Creme D'Nude it is more peachy and wearable. 
• Wet N'Wild 519A is a cool toned strawberry red. A bit annoying that it is numbered and not named. It has also broken at its base but I'm willing to be forgiving as it is only $1.
• Maybelline ColorSensational Lipstick in Pink Me Up is a mauvey-pink. Just a fair warning, some of these lipsticks go bad so make sure to check them out before purchasing.
• Milani HD Advanced Lip Color in Ignition is the perfect mix between coral and red. Probably my favorite lipstick in my whole collection. Worn this for weeks, maybe even months at a time. 

I hope you guys have enjoyed this post. Tell me what are some of your favorite lipsticks and I'll be sure to check them out.