Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

The Routine

I personally believe that my beauty routine is very important to me. At one unfortunate point, it was not. I used to think nothing of a clean, healthy, exfoliated face, but then I wised up and learn to at least wash it once in a while. Too bad that's not enough. I knew I needed to start using some product. After my introduction to Borghese's Fango I needed more. I invested in a few things and received some testers for others. I had to have been on the right path since the cosmetics manager at Bloomingdale's started complimenting me on my skin.



It is a bare (bear) necessity to have a routine that you can stick to. It's ok to slip up here or there. I certainly do, but I know my skin will make me pay for it the next day.

Over the years I feel like I have tried enough products to know what works with my skin. I am, however, always looking for ways to improve what I already have. I like hearing about what other products everyone else uses and why. Maybe, I might come across something even better.

With that, I will share my current routine and why I like it so much for me.


I need to start out with a nice clean face, of course. Most mornings I use Sisley's Cleansing Milk with White Lily ($118). All I have left is my GWP sized bottle to photograph (these littles seriously last forever, about 3 months). It is normally for dry or sensitive skin, but I like it because if I washed my face and had an absolute emergency my face wouldn't feel tight or dry at all without any moisturizer.

For days that my face is feeling a little more icky (or if it has just been awhile) I will exfoliate. I use Borghese's Esfoliante Delicato ($27). Since there is no Borghese up here (and because I want to give it a try) I have ExfoliKate Gentle ($65) for when that runs out. I am curious to see how the two match up.


Now it's time to tone and moisturize. I found out that some things are just worth it (well, to me). The first splurge I made into high end skin care was the La Prarie Marine Biology Tonic ($95). If you didn't already know, I raved about it in "Nearly a Decade of Eyes." I love how it makes my face feel like a big puff of oxygen just hit it. It's like, "bam" and my skin is awake. I was told from the La Prarie rep that a little goes a long way, and it certainly does. One bottle lasts nearly a whole year with regular use.

My face has never felt better since I started using Moisturizing Cream with Cucumber from Sisley ($170). Also first mentioned in "Nearly a Decade of Eyes." This facial cream is so great, even the Mr. noticed a difference in my skin. That's really saying a lot too.



After that, primer and make up. Whew, what a day. Time to take it all off. I used to be so lazy with removing my makeup at night. Then, a friend recommended the MAC Facial Wipes ($28 for 100). They're awesome and now even after a night partying (not that I do that too much anymore) all I have to do is pull out a wipe and well... wipe.


While I'm in there taking off all my makeup, I might as well throw on some Bobbi Brown Hydrating Intense Night Cream ($60). It goes on well and when I wake up again, my skin still feels nice. I will admit that there is a night cream I do like better, but I hate wastefulness so I'm going to use up my Bobbi Brown first. It is the Sisley Botanical Night Cream with Collagen and Woodmallow ($195). It feels so much lighter on my face when going to bed, but it will be a beauty splurge when my current cream runs out.

I don't always need the most expensive product just to be happy. For my eyes I love my Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye Cream ($46). My eye cream has to work like an MVP because I have a problem with never getting enough sleep. A good eye cream makes it so I have less baggage to conceal in the morning. The nice thing about this eye cream is that I can use it night and day. I will put a little tiny bit on my lids while getting ready in the morning and it will help to act as a base for my eyeshadow to prevent creasing.

There we have it. A routine. My skin may not be anywhere close to perfect but it's current the best it has ever been. I do still get a pimple here and there. With that, take note that whenever you are changing skin care creams and things, breakouts can occur as your skin is adjusting to the new product.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

NARS Summer 2012

Finally I have enough pieces to have a dedicated post about the NARS Summer collection.


This is probably all that I will be getting from the entire collection. What I have here is the

Nail Polish in Trouville ($18)
Never Say Never Velvet Matte Lip Pencil ($24)
Eyeshadow Trio in Ramatuelle ($45)
Blush in Liberté ($28).

What I am missing out on is

Eyeshadow Duo in Marie-Galante ($34), which might be too adventurous for my eyes
Sheer Lipstick in Vengandges ($24), it seems way too deep for my face
Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Buenos Aries ($24), it seems so similar to a Bobbi Brown shade I have 
Soft Touch Pencil in Calabria ($24), also a little adventurous for me
Pure Matte Lipstick in Moscow ($25), which I might still get

The pieces I chose really come straight out of the collection's campaign photo with Ginta Lapina. It's a perfect summer look.


Here I wore the Bobbi Brown lipstick where Ginta is wearing Buenos Aries in the picture. 


Sorry for the blurry picture, but here you can kind of see everything put together. 


I love these colours together. This will be my new look.


Here I switched over to the Never Say Never Velvet Matte Lip Pencil. I love it, although only when I'm feeling brave enough for a cranberry lip (more here).


Swatches!


I'm getting so much better. You can already tell that I have been utilizing my Trouville (more here)



Chanel's Dee-light

I haven't had much play with Chanel Cosmetics, but their Summer 2012 Collection was looking mighty interesting. One particular "Vernis" has been popular around my parts. So popular, it was sold out. That's fine, I'll wait. Then, one day while walking through the cosmetics department I asked the Chanel Rep, just maybe it had come back in. No, but she did spot one around. We found it and my day was made.


It goes on so easy and smooth and when it hits the light just right you can see just a hint of pink. This is a great summer addition. I'm glad I finally got my hands on it.


My Lips' New BFF

I have very dry lips and it drives me nuts whenever I want to wear lipstick. If I don't have a gloss to go with it, everything cracks and looks terrible. I was in search of a cure. This week I finally found Kate Somerville Quench and Correct. It retails for $29, a little much for a lip gloss (duo), but I find it to be worth it.



When I first saw it the words, "anti-aging" right on the box so I was a little weary at first. All I wanted was a nice normal soft lip. Well, that is exactly what it does. The natural ingredients help to improve hydration in the lips which results in less lines on them.

This week I also pick up NARS Satin Lipstick in Casablanca ($24). It's a nice burnt red orange and makes a great colour addition to my ensemble. 

Here are the two Newbies in action and even a glimpse at my slightly crooked teeth (I was always jealous of the kids in elementary school with braces on).

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Only a Half Posting (Let's Add Some Colour!)

Today The Mr. and I went to the Northwest Trek just outside Eatonville, Washington. This was nothing that I needed to look nice for, but since it was such a nice day, I thought I would add a little colour to my makeup routine.



I've have the Dior Eye Show (now discontinued) in Pop Aquadelic lying around, so I thought I would give it a chance. It's kind of an odd texture in comparison to other eyeshadows. It is almost spongey when I poked at it with my brush. I wonder why it was discontinued. Anyways, moving on...

I did my normal beauty routine, but added the pop of colour to my lower lid. Instead of black liner I used the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner ($22) in Ivy Shimmer.



I normally am rather timid with my colour, but with it being all about bright and bold this Spring and Summer it doesn't hurt to add that little pop of something extra. It definitely does not hurt to play around with some brightness until you feel comfortable with it.


On a completely separate note, yesterday was some major house cleaning. One of my many accomplishments for the day included going through all my old nail polish colours and picking out the ones that I probably won't wear ago. I'm so proud that I narrowed it down so much. All of these will go to a good home amongst my little sister and my mum. They seem pretty excited.


Saturday, May 12, 2012

MAC Fashion Sets, Myth



I admit, I am not fashionista. I like to follow trends that I think are fun, but also pull my inspiration from a very common source, television. That's pretty normal, except for the shows that I'm pulling my style from.

When Spartacus: Blood and Sand came out I just had to buy this gladiator-esque dress with gladiator sandals (of course). I was pretty late in the game with watching Dexter, but after becoming a fan, I wanted that über nude lip colour that Michael C. Hall has. I found it in MAC with Myth.

I could not withhold my excitement when I found out that the latest MAC collection is Fashion Sets based on their popular colours. There would now be a matching Tinted Lipglass ($14.50) and Nail Lacquer ($16) to go along with the original Lipstick ($14.50).


I was surprised when I got all three together and noticed that each share is a little different than the other.


The Lipstick has some pink to it. The nail polish has some pink as well. The camera doesn't show it well, so it looks mostly beige. The Lipglass is mostly beige with very little pink. They all go on so well though.


This is with just the Lipstick on. Sorry if everything else doesn't look as good as it should. I took this after a long and hot work day.



Here's with the Lipglass added on top.


And here is the Nail Lacquer. It's not great, but I can honestly say that I have improved, a little. I picked up the Nail Lacquer in Chestnut and chose to do it as an accent nail on the ring finger. I love how smooth the Nail Lacquer is. It went on so well, I didn't even need a second coat. I am overall satisfied with my set of Myth. I might have to pick up a few additional colours. 

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Sporty and Still Made Up

So... Today I'm going to the Seattle Mariners game. It'll be our first game up here and I feel like it will be a true test of how well we will be able to settle in the Northwest. I know the Seattle Mariners are exactly a great team, but I was still (am still) a diehard San Francisco Giants fan no matter how well they played.

Whenever I go to a sporting event I still want to look nice. Don't worry, I'm not one of those types that try to maneuver the 100's of stadium steps in heels and dressed to the nines. However, I'm not comfortable or confident enough go without any makeup. I've settled on a look that is as natural as I feel comfortable with. I can still looked put together in my baseball cap and Mariners Tee.



I always ahve to pin my bangs back when doing my make up. I always start with 

NARS Pro-Prime Multi-Protect Primer SPF 30 ($32)
Bobbi Brown Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation SPF 30 ($46) 
For concealer both Bobbi Brown Face Touch Up Stick ($23) and Laura Mercier Secret Concealer ($22) 
Blush is NARS Blush in Orgasm ($28)
Brows are with Benefit Brow Zings ($30)
Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in Chocolate ($22)
Finishing powder is Guerlain by Emilio Pucci Terra Azzurra Pearls d'Azur ($59)


Some touch-ups and I'm good to go.


Let me root, root, root for the home team
If they don't win it's a shame 
For it's one, two, three strikes you're out at the ol' ball game.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Newness

I was able to pick up a few things over the weekend. I have some more pieces on their way, but I just wanted share my new favorites.


MAC Fashion Sets are now available. I had the Lipstick before in Myth, so I thought I just had get the matching Lipglass ($14.50).


Here's a couple pieces from the NARS Summer collection. Liberte ($28) is the latest blush, while Never Say Never ($24) is the new Velvet Matte Lip Pencil. Liberte is similar to a burnt apricot colour while Never Say Never is a really cool berry. 


At first, I was intimidated by how deep it was, but as soon as I tried it on, I was hooked.

Here I have on the NARS Liberte and the MAC Lipstick with the Lipglass over it.


A Nice Sunny Day in May

Today was supposed to be my lazy day, but it was too nice out I just had to go out for a stroll around the local lake.


I actually don't think I have seen lily pads before. The wonderful day had me thinking about how I can vamp up my spring look. My new look for May, or a more updated look for May.


These are the main colour pieces that I used. There is:

Guerlain by Emilio Pucci Terra Azzurra ($75)
Diorshow Mascara ($25) 
Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum ($28) 
MAC Lipglass in Myth ($14.50) 
MAC Lip Stick also in Myth ($14) 
Bobbi Brown Long Wear Cream Shadow in Nude Beach ($24)
Laura Mercier Sateen Eye Colour in St Germain ($22)
Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel Eye Liner in Ivy ($22)


Front view.


Unfortunately, in a photo my cheeks are not as bright as they actually were, but because of the brightness I went with the nude lips. 



I have always felt like I do not have the type of face that can wear tons and tons of makeup, so this is as dramatic as I like to go nowadays.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Nearly a Decade of Eyes




Writing about MAC Cosmetics last night made me feel a little nostalgic. I went through some of my old pictures and took note of my changing style, especially with my eye makeup. Two things stood out. Second, I was much bolder with the crazy colours when I was 17 and, second, how did I ever get by without all the things I so attached to now. I think, "What did I ever do without... (defining my eyebrows, illuminator, concealer, liquid foundation, etc)?"

Seventeen.


I was all about this corally pink and yellow that year. I had to have eye shadows to match. Turquoise eye liner, why not? I love so attached to that eye liner. Somewhere I might even still have it in an old make up bag.

Nineteen.


For a portion of nineteen I was an island girl on Hawai'i. I had already stopped with the dramatic colours and here I am with nothing but my sun kissed freckles. How would I wake up in the morning and feel so comfortable without any makeup?!

I wish I had some photos from when I was 20. I was all about this silver cream shadow from MAC, everyday. What was I thinking?

Twenty-two.


I was introduced to Bobbi Brown. I got a chance to try different foundations, tinted moisturizer, (oh!) and bleaching my hair. I found my favourite foundation, Bobbi Brown Natural Finish Long Lasting Foundation with SPF 25 ($46). It felt so light and went on so smooth (I used a sponge for application).

Twenty-Three.


Skincare and Jo Malone. I remember walking around the cosmetics department of Bloomingdale's with the supervisor explaining all his favourites to me. This brought me to a whole new luxury. With La Prarie Marine Biology Tonic ($95) and Sisley Botanical Moisturizer with Cucumber (recently marked up to $170) I made sure my skin was being well cared for, with or without makeup on. I'm so glad that I'm not battling wrinkles yet, or it's going to get pricey now that I only want the good stuff. The other major addition to my routine, defining my sad little eyebrows. I should have listened to my mother when I was in my teens. As so for everything else, I tried to take in as much as I could, from techniques to how differ brushed produce different results. I loved spending a 15 minute break in the beauty department.

Today.


Not too far from 23, I still keep my style very similar. Now, however, I'm obsessed with new trends and products. As for today, I was running late, so I had to keep it simple, but as soon as I find the time, I'm going go crazy with the glam eyes or even try and recreate one of those prior looks of mine.

NARS Nail Polish

The night before last I just had to stop by my neighborhood Nordstrom looking for the new releases. They, unfortunately, did not have the collection I intended on purchasing, but they did have two of the new NARS sets. In the mood for painting my nails, I gravitated towards to nail polishes.

NARS just released both their Thakoon collaboration nail polishes inspired by he spring Thakoon collection, as well as Summer 2012.

Both are really neat and I cannot wait to pick up more pieces but the store was literally closing within a few minutes so I went with the first two things that caught my eye. Also, as I had mentioned, I really wanted something I could paint my nails with. I chose Kutki ($18) from the Thakoon for NARS and the Trouville ($18) from Summer 2012.


I'm still terrible at painting my nails. I was even told (by family) I should really leave it up to the professionals. I thought I would at least have a little fun with the two colours, but settled on the plain pinkiness of the Trouville. It dries much pinker than I had originally expected. In fact, the two colours together reminded me a lot of painted Easter eggs. The pastel blue of the Kutki would be a fun all over colour for my nails, but work insists on "natural" colour polish. Kutki will have to wait until either my next day off or until my toes need redoing. I can't promise I'll be attempting "tips" again any time soon.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

MAC Viva Glam 2012


I was introduced to the world of cosmetics at around 12 when my mum first let me play with a few MAC items that she had purchased. I became hooked. Don't worry, I was not one of those pasty Tweens you see nowadays with way too much foundation and awful clumpy mascara. I loved to play with the few  lipsticks, lip glosses, and eyeshadows that I was allowed to obtain.

With them I would research application trends and style myself before it was my bedtime. My favourite collection of all was the Viva Glam lipsticks. Even at 12, I was impressed that every penny (not a portion) or the sale from my pretty new lipstick colour went to help the MAC AIDS Fund.

Now, well over a decade later, I'm still smitten with each new addition to the collection, even if they are temporary. I know it's already been out for a couple of months now,  it was actually my first beauty purchase in my new hometown after moving February, but I think MAC Cosmetics needs a special shout out for its continued excellence and for Viva Glam Nicki and Ricky.




Viva Glam Ricky ($15)

Viva Glam has now released a really awesome lip conditioner. I am very loyal to my Jo Malone, but this is a touch second. It goes on smooth and moisturizes my perpetually dry lips. It reminds me of the Jack Black lip conditioner that The Mr. loves so much. I love it because it smoothes out my lips so lipstick always looks nice and even. I'm also glad to see Ricky Martin out and about again. I was wondering what he's been up to lately, aside from a cameo on Glee.


Viva Glam Nicki ($14.50)

I mentioned on twitter (@MakeupansMaitai) that I have a soft spot for all things Nicki Minaj. Viva Glam + Nicki = One Happy Dee. I truly love this bright pink. I've been trying to more and more bold with my lip colours, and this was a nice way to add a shade of pink that I normally wouldn't touch into my favourites.



Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Guerlain by Emilio Pucci

I have been waiting so long for this collection and it has finally arrived. It's so awesome that only pictures could depict my excitement. 


I was only able to take home the Terra Azzurra Terracotta bronzing powder and blush ($75), the Meteorites, and the brush, but I can't wait to get the rest of the collection. I honestly am in love with it. 


An unappreciated note that I really enjoyed was opening up the boxes to the Pucci print. 


The Pearls d'Azur ($59) add just a bit of shimmer. It is surprising to think that your skin has natural bits of blue in it, but it really is a great illluminator. The brush ($43) really is the right size to move around and pick up just enough product. 


As one of the main pieces, the bronzing powder and blush is a little pricey, but the detail in the veneer finish make it worth it. It is surprisingly large and takes up my whole palm. It contains a mirror on the upper half and opens magnetically with a twist.


The embossed logo adds a nice touch as well as the Emilio Pucci pouch it comes in.



I'm not too well with the bronzer, so I prefer to use it as a blush by blending all of the colours from dark to light. In the pictures I also used the  Pearls d'Azur as an all over powder. Maitai also wanted to make an appearance. 


I actually tried to swatch the Meteorites on my hand, but it is so light it almost unnoticeable. The same goes with the lightest shade in the Terra Azzurra Terracotta. You can kind of make out the pinky nude, but I am also quite pale (even with some Xen-Tan).

Overall, I enjoy the luxuriousness of this collection. I feel that all the small details make it an worthwhile and fun to work with. It just came into the Neiman Marcus in Bellevue which means that it should be available at most others by now. The collection should also be available at most Nordstrom, Sephora, and Bloomingdale's.