MAC Viva Glam Cyndi Lipglass

When MAC collaborated a few months ago with Cyndi Lauper and Lady Gaga to create 2 Viva Glam lipsticks, I was really excited to check out the collection and possibly pick up something. Cyndi Lauper is responsible for one of my all time favorite songs, one that even my mom knows and loves, which is why I grew up listening to it: "Time After Time" :)


I ended up getting the Cyndi lipstick, since its soft coral red proved to be more wearable on me than Gaga's more pale baby pink. I've been wearing it on and off ever since. I really liked it because it transitions beautifully from season to season and from day to night. It looks great both in warmer and colder seasons thanks to its coral tinge, which keeps it from looking straight red.


Then, when I heard recently that MAC was also coming out with Cyndi and Gaga lipglasses in the same shades as the lipsticks, I was as excited as the first time I heard of the collaboration. Again, I tried both Cyndi and Gaga, but ended up with the Cyndi lipglass for the same reason: it's just easier to wear.


The lipglass comes with MAC's typical doe foot applicator, and the formula, also typical of lipglasses, is on the stickier side. I usually hate sticky lipglosses, but I found that I don't mind as much in this case because it helps with the staying power.


The Cyndi shade is so pretty! Here's a swatch of the lipglass (left) and the lipstick (right). As you can see, the gloss is more opaque than the lipstick, but on the lips it looks juicy and bright without going overboard.


On my lips


See? Nice! :)


I think this picture shows the color better. You can really see the coral here~

Overall, I'm loving it. It goes nicely with my Cyndi lipstick. On its own, the lipglass adds a shiny pop of color to the face. Paired with a lipstick underneath, the coral red is intensified and looks even more gorgeous. I would definitely recommend checking out/picking up Cyndi in either lipstick or lipglass form (or even better, both!). Then, go listen to an oldie but goodie as you put it on :)

NARS Strawberry Fields

Hope everyone had a great weekend! :) Monday's already winding down for me, thank goodness! It's always so hard for me to get back to the daily grind after a nice weekend. But that's life!

Today marks the beginning of my transition into fall fashion and make-up. Summer is quickly fading, and as the weather gets cooler, my lip color choices get darker. It's about this time of year when I start to dream of sleek pea coats, warm scarves, and knee-high boots. Though I still love summer, now that I'm older I realize I actually like fall and winter a teensy bit more. Blasphemy, I know! But really, I love to bundle up in different layers and experiment with red lipsticks more than stripping down to a bikini and trying not to blind people with my ghastly white legs in shorts. :P I am definitely more suited for colder weather, as I CANNOT stand temperatures above 80 degrees or humid climates. Plus, there's the holiday season, heartier foods to make (chili and beef stew anyone??), snowboarding to look forward to (yay!!!), I can go on and on...!


ANYWAY, seasonal tangents aside, today I have for you the first of my fall make-up acquisitions. NARS lip gloss in Strawberry Fields, which sounds like summer but is reminiscent of autumn's rich colors.


Described as a "bright strawberry pink" and packaged in the brand's signature black and white, this is supposedly a limited edition item that came out this summer. Now, I love NARS lip glosses, but I definitely don't buy them for their bold colors. Compared to many other brands, NARS' glosses are generally sheer. However, what they lack in pigmentation, they make up for in the formula and staying power. These babies are definitely in the higher end of the lip gloss spectrum, both in price ($24 each) and quality. They go on easily without drying out your lips. And as a plus, the tube itself is sophisticated-looking. ;) I always love seeing a NARS lip gloss when I look into my purse.


Strawberry Fields strays from the NARS norm because it is quite possibly the most pigmented lip gloss that I have in my collection. It's definitely the most pigmented gloss that NARS has come out with so far.


I think it's my favorite NARS! Its typical doe foot applicator makes it a cinch to apply, and you definitely don't need very much for your lips to stand out. This color is bold, but there's nothing garish about it. In fact, I would consider it a very grown up shade to wear. Definitely different from a red lipstick, but just as pretty. Also, I wouldn't consider this a "pink"; it's definitely more of a berry.


Swatch on my arm. Look how opaque the color is!


Even when the color fades away, there's still a faint stain that stays on your lips for the rest of the day. Or if you want the look of a stain without the shine, slick on a bit of this lip gloss and blot off most of the excess with a tissue. Instant stain without having to buy another product!


The color's so rich and vibrant. It's right up my alley :)


If you're looking for a gorgeous berry shade this fall, go get NARS Strawberry Fields! Even if you're skeptical of bright colors like this, you should still try it out. I think this shade would be nice on a variety of skin tones, and it's much easier to pull off than diving into bright lip colors with red.

I hope NARS keeps this in their permanent collection! It's too good to be just limited edition!


'Til later! <3

Brown Smokey Eyes

Here's a look I did for a night out with my girls. I made my eyes the main focus and kept the rest of the face pretty bare, with a light gloss and some bronzer/highlighter. I'm not a very experimental person when it comes to my eyeshadow (instead, I venture outside of my comfort zone with lip and blush color); I tend to stick with browns and greys, but hopefully that will change the more I blog! For now, here's a little something something ;)

I started by moisturizing my face with Philosophy Hope in a Jar (my new favorite!), priming with Make Up For Ever HD Primer, and concealing small spots with Laura Mercier Undercover Pot number 2

Although I love this MUFE lavendar primer, I find that it works best with my skin in the winter, when I'm a little paler so my face matches the rest of my body. However, there's no denying that it does its job of brightening my skin!

Used my favorite powder foundation, Laura Mercier Mineral Powder SPF 15 in Real Sand, then set everything with Guerlain Meteorites in Mythic 01

Prime eyes with Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, then put on Paul and Joe Eye Gloss in 05 on the eyelid, just up to the crease, then blend well

I used Dior 2-Colour Eyeshadow in 565 Nude Look this time. It includes a matte reddish-brown and a beige golden shimmer

Put on eyeshadow just up to the crease, then blend blend blend, concentrating on the outer corners. Keep repeating and building up color until it's the shade that you desire

Tightline and line eyes with MUFE Aqua Eyes liner in 0L

Using black liquid liner, draw a slightly winged line, flicking it up gently at the end. Not going for a cat eye here, just very subtle slant

This is what it looked like for me. You could continue adding more of the matte brown shadow if you want to go darker. I also used the shimmery shade on the inner corner of my eye and also on the browbone

Time for falsies! I used Revlon Fantasy Lengths in 91002 Intensifying. Cut to fit your eye length, then follow the directions included in the box to put them on :)

I'm actually a newbie at the whole false lash thing, so it took me a while to get this part right :x

Curl lashes to make your real lashes blend in with the falsies, apply a layer of mascara (I used Diorshow Iconic Extreme Waterproof), then darkened my brows with Bare Escentuals brow powder in Brunette. I also lined my bottom lash line with brown pencil, used the brown shadow to smoke it out, and used the shimmery shade to line the inner bottom lash line and dabbed some on the inner corner of my eye (not pictured here)

Contoured with Dior bronzer in 001 Healthy Tan, highlighted with Mac Mineralized Skin Finish in Soft and Gentle, and made my lips shiny with NARS lipgloss in Orgasm

Ta-da! (again :P)

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Now, for the outfit!

Sequined top from H&M

Belt from....I don't remember where

Studded leather cuff and leggings from Forever 21 (LOVE that cuff!)

Heels from BCBG

Full outfit in front of my parents' (kinda dirty) mirror again. Mostly black with a pop of white and plenty of gold, haha

That's it! :)

Sephora Haul

Sephora had a Friends & Family 20% off sale a few weeks ago, so I decided to take advantage of it and buy some of the things that I've been eyeing :)



Dior Bronze Original Tan in 01 Healthy Tan~ I've been looking for a good bronzer for summer; decided on the Dior. So far so good!

With the plastic cover still on

Perfect and natural for my skin tone :)

The beautiful Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc in Gilded Garden....I already have plenty of pink blushes, but I couldn't resist this one!!! I open the compact sometimes just to stare at the prettiness hahah. BUT it is also very pretty on the cheeks...gives just the perfect amount of glow!



Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Reflect in 577 Fuchsia Poplin~ vibrant berry pink gloss perfect for spring and summer!


And Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick SPF 15 in 8 Fetish Pink~ I got this one because I wanted a baby pink lipstick...I was envisioning healthy tan skin (from a bronzer, not the sun--BAD!) with a pretty pink lip. This lipstick goes on soooo nicely...it's smooth and VERY pigmented so a little goes a long way!


Swatches of everything....the top 4 colors are from the Laura Mercier Shimmer Bloc, the 2 middle colors are of the YSL lipstick (left) and Dior gloss (right), and finally the Dior bronzer swatch is at the veryyyy bottom (almost not noticeable!)


Wearing the YSL Rouge Volupte lipstick...see how pink it is??? I was wearing no other eye make up besides mascara in this picture, but I love how the pink lip is so prominent. I just lightly dabbed the color on my lips until it reached the shade I wanted
Close up...to take some of the matte off the lips, I brushed on just a little bit of the Dior Fuchsia Poplin gloss...just a bit on the bottom lip and then blended against my upper lip for a little shine...what do you think? Cute color, right? :)


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Went home to Norcal this weekend for Mother's Day and to attend a wedding...remember the vases that the boy and I painted at Color Me Mine? Here are the finished products before they were given to our moms


On Sunday before I flew back to LA, I woke up early and went out to buy 3 bouquets of tulips for my mommy...put them in the vase, and surprised her when she woke up. I'm so mad I forgot to take a picture of the vase with the flowers! >:(


Anyway, Happy Thursday! I'll create a post about the wedding I attended later~