Best of 2012 Roundup - Skincare

Hello, Happy Holidays!  Hope you all have some time to relax after Christmas.  

This post will wrap up the year combining November, December, and 2012 Best of Roundup.  I have mentioned some of the products in the past and some will be shown for the first time.  Let's get started...

Skincare - Sulwhasoo, Sunday Riley, L'Occitane, Fresh

Sulwhasoo Deep Cleansing Oil was new to me this year and I LOVE it!  It is one of the best cleansing oils I have ever tried.  It not only takes off heavy eye and face makeup, but my skin feels extra supple without being greasy after each use.  It has a herbal scent that is not very common, but I do not mind it since I am used to oriental herbal and medicinal scents.  I sampled other skincare items in this brand, but this to me is their stand out product.  I high recommend it. 

Sunday Riley Modern Skincare was a line that I thoroughly enjoyed using over the warmer months.  The products contain active ingredients and are very effective.  My favorites are Juno, Good Genes, and Start Over.

L'Occitane Angelica Eye Roll-On was one of my favorite eye rollers this year.  I mainly like the gel like texture as it refreshes the eye area and wears well under makeup.  The Angelica grassy scent is amazing!

I have seen mixed reviews on Fresh Black Tea Instant Perfecting Mask.  For me, I see results after continuous use.  As I said before, this is one of my all time favorite masks especially before events and on special occasions.  Read more about it in my previous post here.

I will be back to talk about makeup next, but let's start with this video on some new Dolce & Gabbana makeup.  Don't you love the glowy and luminous look?  Great techniques to create that winter glow.




Until next post......

BRB

Hello, Readers, 

I will be away from blogging for the duration of November, but I will be checking your comments periodically!  See you all very soon! 

Until next post......

Lazy Sunday

Hello, Happy Sunday!  While I am at my usual chores and studying for a board exam today, it seems like the other residents in the household are enjoying a lazy and another surprisingly warm day this weekend...

Hope you are all having a wonderful Sunday!  Go Giants!  

Via Examiner.com

Until next post......

Best of October Roundup - Cellbone Technology, Sunday Riley, Natura Bisse, Lush, Caudalie

Hello, Every year in October, I find myself switching skincare and makeup in time for the new season and in hopes to improve my skin and overall appearance before my birthday.  I admit vanity gets the best of me as my birthday approaches each year.

Let's get started with what I have been loving lately...

Skincare - Cellbone Technology, Sunday Riley, Natura Bisse

Left to right:

Cellbone Technology is a lesser known skincare line from the US.  I buy their products directly from their website.  Cellbone offers pharmaceutical quality products using pure ingredients.  Some of the core ingredients in their products include Hyaluronic Acid, Collagen, Acetyl Hexapeptide 3, Idebenone, L-Ascorbic Acid, and vital nutritive botanicals.

I first learned about Cellbone from a Hong Kong blogger, BeautyQQ aka Queenie Chan, about two years ago (see one of her videos below, it is in English and Chinese with caption in English).  This line is apparently very popular in Hong Kong, a very beauty conscious country.  

I have been using various Cellbone products over the past two years and these are some products that I have been using over the past two months:

C23 High Potency C-Serum (Day)

Hydra Repair Skin Repair Gel (Day)

Super AOX Antioxidant Firm Moisturizer Cream - (Day and Night) a Must Have antiaging treatment!

Sunday Riley Start Over Active Eye Cream - (Day and Night) also mentioned here

Natura Bisse Diamond Mist - (Day and Night)

Natura Bisse Diamond Extreme - (Day and Night)

Natura Bisse Diamond Drops - (Day) 

Both Sunday Riley and Natura Bisse products are expensive, but these products are worth every penny and they do last for many months.  I have tried both lines in the past and saw changes in my skin, therefore I am not opposed to repurchasing these brands from time to time.

Makeup - Lush Emotional Brilliance in Intuitive and Perspective

I want to finish where I left off last time when I talked about Lush Emotional Brilliance.  Today I will share with you the other two colors that I acquired, Intuitive and Perspective.

Intuitive comes off as an electric neon green color for the eyes, it is surprisingly wearable and fun.  I use it all over the lid alone or sometime with a darker green color on the outer corners for depth.

Perspective is a mauve pink. It is not the most flattering pink for my lips, but it is a good one if you prefer pinks with mauve undertones.  It is a nice color for Fall if you are not into reds or the darker colors and prefer something more subtle.  I love using it as a cream blusher, it is so easy to blend out and it lasts all day.  

As I mentioned before, I like these bottles of cream colors from Lush.  They are fabulous to play with and they are available at Lush and Lushusa.com.

Body Care - Caudalie Divine Oil

What can I say?  Housed in an elegant amber colored glass bottle, Caudalie Divine Oil is simply Divine!  I use it all over from head to toe.  The main ingredients include the oils from argan, sesame, hibiscus, grape seed, and shea butter.  It is a dry oil, but it is slightly heavier than other dry oils that I have tried.  It is not greasy by any means and it is easily absorbed into the skin.  The scent is a wonderful warm floral, a perfect treat for Fall!

Thanks for reading!  Have a good weekend!  Until next post......

Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report

Check out some Crimson, Oxblood, Wine Lips at Rola's Fountain of Youth.

Lola's got a lot of empties this month! See what she used up in October at Lola's Secret Beauty Blog.

Olivia from The Unknown Beauty Blog has a special guest post this week, featuring the LORAC Eye Candy Full Face Collection. 

Rachel from Rachel's Makeup and Skincare tries One Love Organics and is definitely in Love.

Lindsay at The Beauty Think Tank has some fun swatches of the NARS Andy Warhol Collection and of some lesser swatched MUFE Aqua Liners.

If you would like to be featured on a future Up & Coming Beauty Bloggers Weekly Report, please e-mail Lindsay at beautythinktank(at)gmail(dot)com!

Crimson, Oxblood, Wine Lips

Hello, I am sure you have heard and seen, red lips are big for Fall.  Red is the universal lip color of class and glamour for women around the globe.  

Whether it is in the form of a gloss, glaze, stain, or lipstick, I am head over heels over red lips in any season.

Top to bottom:

Burberry Lip Glow Natural Lip Gloss in No. 13 Hibiscus 

Via Google Images - Burberry Lip Glow No. 13 Hibiscus

Aveda Nourish-Mint Rehydrating Lip Glaze in 366 Cherry Blossom

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in 045 Romantic

Estee Lauder Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in PCL 23 Fig Creme 

Via Google images

Via Google images

Via Google images

Via Google images

Via Google images

Thanks for reading!  Until next post......

Wedding Guest Makeup

Hello, I wanted to preface by saying I love weddings!  I thoroughly enjoyed planning my own wedding back in the day.  When I attend weddings, I pay attention to the details because I understand and appreciate the effort that went into creating this once in a life time event.

In September, I attended an intimate evening wedding on the first day of Fall.  As a wedding guest, I decided to go with a demure and classy makeup look with soft neutral eyes and red lips.  I wore a cobalt blue cocktail dress, so I did not want my makeup to overpower the strong color of the dress.

Face:

Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup in 2CN2
Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Stay-in-Place Makeup SPF 10 in Intensity 2.0
Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Kit - also mentioned here
MAC Pro Longwear Blush in Stay Pretty
Kevin Aucoin The Celestial Powder in Candlelight
Diorskin Forever Flawless Perfection Fusion Wear Makeup Powder Foundation in 021 Linen - not pictured

Eyes:

Nars Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base - a cult classic must have!
Givenchy Magic Kohl Eye Liner Pencil in 1
Nars Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Via Appia
Inglot Freedom System Eye Shadow Squares
Kevyn Aucoin The Eye Shadow Duo in #202
YSL Shocking Mascara Volume Effect Faux Cils in 1

Lips:

YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis A Levres Glossy Stain in 20 - also mention here

I was inspired to mix two Estee Lauder foundations together from this bridal makeup look video:


Finally some snap shots from the beautiful wedding in September:

Have a great weekend!  Until next post......

Zuppa

Hello, Earlier in the year, we had a birthday celebration for my friend/girls night out at Zuppa.  Zuppa is an intimate Italian eatery located in the SOMA area near Mission Bay of San Francisco. The owner/chef of Zuppa is Joseph Manzare.  

On that evening, we shared all the dishes from appetizers to entrees.  Every dish was fresh, tasty, and Amazing!

  

I must admit that there are countless food choices in San Francisco and there are constantly new restaurants in the scene.  But don't miss Zuppa, it truly has substance to stand out in the growing crowd! 

Thanks for visiting!  Until next post......

Pink

Hello, In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, I am celebrating pink by sharing with you my current favorite pink blushes and highlighter.  A smidgen of pink on the apple of the cheek is the best way to perk up one's complexion.

Spread the word about breast cancer awareness!  Stay pretty in pink!

Victoria's Secret Luminous Cheek and Face Highlighter in The One

Bobbi Brown Blush in Pale Pink 9 - also mentioned here

Inglot Face Blush in 24

Illamasqua Powder Blusher in Naked Rose

Thanks for reading!  Until next post......