Haul Time! Sephora F&F, MAC, and More

Hi Everyone!

 Sorry for posting my Sephora F&F haul sooooo late! I've been meaning to post this haul on Monday, but I got distracted or something. Anyways, here are the stuff that I got, I ended up getting different things from my list (as usual) except for the POWda WOWza palette and the Too Faced bronzer. I also picked up a few things from MAC and the drug store, so I added them in my haul, too. Hope you enjoy :).

Lancome Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate : I basically purchased this because I've tried their 7 day sample pack and really liked it. Believe it or not, Lancome claims that they did 10 years of research, so it has to be good, right?

Benefit POWda WOWza : I was immediately sold when I saw this palette because it contains Coralista, Bella Bamba, and Hoola. Was only $28 as well!!!

Bobbi Brown Party Eye Palette : I bought this because I heard a lot of good things about BB eyeshadows. I like how the packaging is really sleek and professional looking.

SOPI Spark-tacuar! Top Coat : This guy was on my wish list for a while- I have it on my nails already and it's gorgeous! Worth every penny.

Too Faced Caribbean in a Compact - Sun Bunny : Like the Lancome serum, I had a sample of this bronzer for quite a while and I really liked it. Usually, I don't go for shimmery bronzers, but this one looks so natural on my skin.

Then, I got this Boxum set for 500 point perk! ^_^ *YAY*

MAC Paint Pot in Let's Skate : I know that I don't need another shimmery pink, but the name + packaging were too cute to resist.

MAC Make It Perfect Brush Kit : I knew that MAC brush kits had bad reputation, but I picked them up anyway because they were "pretty". I opened the box at home and returned it the next day. They do suck :(.

Chanel VitaLumiere Aqua in B10 (and samples of MatLumiere and PerfectionLumier) : I finally finished my sample (almost had it for 2 months!) of the VitaLumiere, so I thought it was time make a purchase. It's a great light-weight foundation.

Wet 'n' Wild I love Matte Palette : My first Wet 'n' Wild palette ever! I never ever wear bold colors, but this palette make me want to.

Revlon Lip Butter in Creamsicle : I first saw this tinted lip balm on Jess' blog Don't Call Me Jessie, and I felt like my heart stopped or something. It was perfection!! So I ran out to CVS and bought the last one :).

Sana Hadanomy Collagen Mask : I never saw or heard about this mask before so I thought I would give it a try. It was kind of expensive comparing to the MBD masks, but I thought it might bring better results?! I don't know, maybe, maybe not.

So that was my haul, let me know if you want me to review any of these products, I'm more than happy to do so :). Have a wonderful weekend! xx Amy

April Favorites

Hi Everyone! ^0^

I hate to say this every month, but I can't believe it's that time again for the monthly favorites. 2011 is truly going fast. This month, I've been using the same products over and over again and these are them. As you can see, I've been loving COR~ALS~♫ . So, let's get right in to it!

1. Giorgio Armani Face Fabric in 02

I love this foundation! It's super light weight, but still manages to even out the skin tone very well.  This product doesn't give a ton of coverage by any means, but makes you look polished. It has the same kind of consistency as Benefit's Some Kind-A Gorgeous (cream to powder finish), but think it matches my skin tone way better. Also, this smells really good! It reminds me of baby lotion or baby shampoo, but much more subtle.

2. MUFE HD Powder

I go back and forth to this powder, because no matter how much I love it, it can make me look like a ghost time by time. This month, I've been using it pretty much everyday and learned to use it very sparingly. The key is not to use a huge kabuki brush, but a small contour brush. That way you can apply it very lightly only where you want it to be.

3. MAC Cremeblend Blush in Something Special

I hated this blush when I first got it, because for some reason I didn't think it was very special (haha bad joke.. but I couldn't resist). However, the second time I used it, I couldn't stop looking at the mirror lol. I love how it gives a natural flush and blends really well. I would say the color is a very similar to Nars Deep Throat, but without shimmer. Can you believe this was the only blush I used for almost 3 weeks straight ? I can't.

4. Mac e/s in Satin Taupe and Mulch

These guys were in my March Favorites, so I'm not going to talk about them very much, but I've been only using these two for the whole month. Satin Taupe all over the lid and Mulch in the crease and lower lash line. They are both lovely colors :).

5. Lip Combo in MAC's Myth and Ever Hip (LE, Liberty of London, 2010)

I think the pictures are pretty self explanatory - agian, loving the corals. And of course, you know I love my Myth lipstick :). 

6. Benefit High Beam

I remember having the full size some time ago and I hated it so much that I threw it away. This mini size sample was in one of those try out kits and I didn't care about it so much. Two weeks ago, I tried it on my nose and cheekbones and I fell in love! That is probably why you shouldn't be throwing out your make up before it expires I guess... Anyway, this is a really pretty pearl with a hint of pink highlighter. Would recommend it to anyone!

7. Benefit Instant Brow Pencil

review here.

8. MAC Pencil in I Get No Kick (LE, Cham-Pale, 2010)

Love this pencil for the water line and inner corner. It makes my eyes look bigger and the color is gorg!!!!  I wish this was part of the permanent collection, because they don't have a bright colored pencil anyway. I love MAC, but sometimes I just don't understand...

9. TonyMoly Party Lover Gel Eyeliner in #2 Brown

This gel liner is by far the best. If you saw my haul, I currently bought Bobbi Brown's gel eyeliner and think this is even better than that. It is very smooth when applying, but once it dries up, it doesn't move at all. Great for the price, too, because I think it was less than $5 (KRW 6,000).

That was it for makeup and here are my random ones :D

10. Trader Joe's Dairy- Free Mochi

It is no secret that I love coconuts, right? This Mochi ice cream is made out of coconut milk and has been my dessert for the whole month. At first, I thought it was a bit weird, because the mochi part was a bit rubbery (if that's the right word..), but that's why I'm so hooked as well. 

11. TOMS Red Canvas Women's Classics

So comfy and light. I was really skeptical about these shoes, because they didn't seem worth 40 something dollars. One day my friend gave me a pair and all of my doubts disappeared. If you haven't, you should really try them out, they're for a good cause anyway :).

image from toms.com

12. My Aldo Wedges

These are LOVE! I got tons of complements from random people on the street. OOTD post with them here.

image from aldoshoes.com

Phew! that was a lot!

Thanks for stopping by <3

'Til next time ;)

Amy

Rave and Review : Benefit Instant Brow Pencil (in Medium)

As promised, I have a review of the best brow pencil in the world for you :D I have been looking for something like this for the longest time and think I finally found it. Mine is in Medium, this pencil comes in three colors :  light, medium, and dark. I'm planning to buy the dark one as well.

Love the packaging! Super cute! :)

What is it ? Basically a tinted wax in a pencil form. One side is the actual pencil and the other is a brush.

Texture? Very creamy and soft. Not a hard pencil at all. 

What does it do ? Fills in the brow very naturally like a powder, but gives definition at the same time. It's like a powder-like-pencil I guess... Love how it still manages to keep the hair in place, because it is a wax. I've tried MAC's Pencil that is exactly like this, but unfortunately didn't match my hair color.

Staying Power ? Excellent! Stays all day long, I don't need to touch up.

Color ? Medium brown, a little bit on the warm side. I'm using this color because I dyed my hair. My natural hair color is black.

What is the brush like ? It's pretty hard and scratchy, but I don't mind that much.

Overall ? I'm in love!!! I have tons of brow products and I only use this!! Two thumbs up 5/5.

Review : Benefit B.Right Skincare

 Hi Girlies <3 So Sephora was giving out Benefit's new skin care samples for the VIBs and I can't believe I totally missed out! I read the email talking about this opportunity and then simply forgot about it!! Ugh how can I be more stupid, right??!!! I've been wanting to try them for the longest time and lost the chance like that :(.  However, not too long after, I found this cute set at Macy's by accident. I think I was going to the gym at my mall or something and they just caught my eye :D. This set includes an exfoliator, a cream, and an emulsion and it was only $12. I wanted to try their cleanser, too, but I guess these are good for now. 

Refined Finish Facial Polish, Total moisture Facial Cream, Triple Performing Facial Emulsion

here are the sample size products that I purchased(above), 

the full size looks like this (below) : 

packaging is too pretty to pass up, right? 

from benefitcosmetics.com

 I used all three products for a couple of weeks now, and I'm sooo sad to say that I'm a bit disappointed :(. I love Benefit and they are decent skin care products for sure, but not as good as what I've tried currently (Origins, SK-II, O HUI, Lush, EM, etc). 

1. B. Right Triple Performing Facial Emulsion SPF 15 PA++

 I think this is good day time moisturizer. It's light weight with a watery consistency and contains SPF 15 (not much, but better than none!). Easy to spread out and makes the skin soft and healthy. I don't know if the "exclusive tri-radiance complex" really helps like Benefit claims, but I can say it does a pretty good job on hydrating the skin without making it greasy. But again, I don't think it is anything special. My Origins 'Make a Difference' can do the same or better job in so many ways. What really turns me off is the scent tho - It's like a cucumber kind of scent - not the real cucumber, but like one of those Dove Go Fresh cucumber kind of scent, but worse. I think it's very strong in a bad way and don't know why Benefit would choose something like this :(.  Overall : 3/5

2. B. Right Total Moisture Facial Cream

 This is my favorite among the three. It's a very thick but smooth cream that really helps the driest areas. I only use a tiny tiny bit tho, because even a pea size amount can be too much (I have combination skin). The scent is the same with the emulsion. Really disappointing :(. I wouldn't recommend it to the people who have oily skin, since the moisturizer can make the face very shiny. Overall : 3.5/5

3. B. Right Refined Finish Facial Polish

 One word to describe this scrub - HARSH. It hurts my face and I wouldn't repurchase this in any condition. After washing it off, the face feels really clean, tho. I also believe it's supposed to brighten the complexion  as well, but I don't see my face getting any brighter. If I were to spend money on a scrub, I would recommend Origins' Modern Friction (great for brightening) or St. Ives instead. *all of these products share the same scent* Overall 2/5

so that was it for today- Hope you have a great week :D

Amy

March Favorites

Happy April everyone! 

Here are my top products of the month :)

1. Kiehl's Blue Astringent Herbal Lotion

 This blue toner is the best acne treatment I've ever used. I break out occasionally around the nose and the chin and I really really really really hate it! Once I get a pimple, it not only hurts, but looks kind of bad and stupid. Moreover, it takes like a million years to get rid of the scaring. So what I've learned through this experience is, PREVENTION is the best when it comes to acne- and that's what this toner exactly does for you! I only apply this toner on the areas where I usually break out and voila! My face is clearer than ever. Now I only break out around my chin (only 1 or 2) when the monthly events occur.

*Side note : This toner can be very drying and even stingy, so only use on the oily areas (contains alcohol). And of course you have to be washing your face everyday to see the results.

2. MAC Eye Shadows in All That Glitters, Shale, Satin Taupe, Mulch

L-R : All That Glitters, Shale, Satin Taupe, Mulch

L-R : All That Glitters, Shale, Satin Taupe, Mulch

All That Glitters is a orange-y champagne with iridescent sheen. It is a great all-over-the-lid color for simple neutral looks. I like to use this shadow on busy days or when I go to the gym (yes, I wear makeup to the gym, but not all the time :p).

Shale is a purplish brown with a wee bit of silver-y sheen. I got this shadow about a year ago and I hated it so much, because a lot of times it made me look like someone punched me in the eye. I don't know what happened to my skin tone, but now it actually looks really good! So weird.

Satin Taupe is a nice shimmery taupe color. I love how the shadow is super pigmented and creamy. A must have for neutral lovers.

Mulch is a warm toned brown with gold flecks. When I first got this eye shadow, I didn't care about it so much, because I had so many browns at that time and didn't think it was very unique. Now, I love using this for the crease or the outer v. It goes well with many shades like greens and purples.

3. Nars Blush in Desire

All time favorite blush. What can I say.

4. Benefit Instant Brow Pencil

I think I found my love! It is the best eye brow product so far (I've used pencils, waxes, gels, and powders from all kind of brands like MAC, ELF, Anastasia, Benefit, UD, Revlon, Hera, etc), Will do a full review on this very soon <3

Here are the swatchy swatches for you :)

L-R : Nars Desire, Nars Desire blended out, Benefit Instant Brow Pencil

5. Starbucks Cake Pops!

I am so happy that Starbucks came up with these cute cake pops! They are delish ^^ and adorable. Whenever I am craving for cake, I can go to Starbucks and get these without feeling guilty, 'cause they are only 180 calories. The Birthday Cake is my favorite (the pink one).

What were your favorites of the month?

I'd love to hear from you-

xxx

Amy

Birthday Haul and Some Pics...

Hi Girls :)

As you all know my birthday was on March 19th, and I truly had a wonderful time.

Thank you so much for the sweet birthday wishes :D

Now looking at the pictures, I wish I took more of'em tho... guess I was too busy eating and drinking :p

So, in the morning 

my bf surprised me with my favorite cupcakes (Love at First Bite) and flowers :). 

If you live in the Bay Area, you really need to try these cupcakes! 

They're not the prettiest cupcakes in the world, but are THE MOST delicious ones.

My favorites are the chocolate coconut and green tea.

My sister also got me a huge cake, but it didn't make it to the pictures :p.

Then, of course I went to Sephora and Bloomingdale's and got more makeup lol. 

(from left to right) 

Philosoohy Birthday Shower gel (birthday gift from sephora),

Georgio Armani Face Fabric in 02,

Nar blush in Deep Throat,

Paco Rabanne Lady Million Perfume (100 point perk)

Benfit Instant Brow Pencil

And for my Birthday diner, 

my bf and I went to one of my favorite French restaurants in San Francisco called Chouquet's.

I love this place for the friendly environment and delicious food.

Also, I don't have any pictures here, but this place makes the best Kir (appitizer cocktail) in the city.

Here is a picture of the food- I had chicken and he had lamb.

as you can see I am already eating, so my bf took the picture for me lol.

and of course we totally forgot to take pictures of the desert :o.

I guess we have to really work on that part...

And last but not the least,
My B-Day present!!!
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I've been wanting this necklace since it came out, and he got it for me  *yay* :D
*So happpy*
Thanks babe- I'm going to wear it everyday-

<3
Amy