January 2013 Favorites Recap!

Its that time again to share my monthly favorites.  When I was prepping for this video, I was surprised to see that I had more non-makeup items including a shampoo!  I'm not one of those who has a billion haircare bottles just to get my hair looking perfect.  I'm the last person on this planet to know, see, and feel the difference between hair products.  But, I don't want to spoil what shampoo I feature in this video so go ahead and check it out!

DAILY GRINDS

♥ I'm back in school!  Not what you think, but I'm taking online courses offered by Coursera.  The company is partners with accredited universities around the world and provides free courses online!  I'm taking 2 courses where one is Intermediate Algebra (math nerd alert!) and the other is The Science of Gastronomy.

♥ My husband and I have Alicia Key's latest CD on replay.  We play it all the time and my current jams are Brand New Me (my 2013 life anthem) and That's When I Knew (absolutely amazing!).

♥ I'm moving!

Makeup Review: theBalm Balm Jovi Rockstar Face Palette

I received this palette during Christmas from my secret Santa with my cousins.  I first heard about this palette while watching Emilynoel83 (on Youtube) mention it in one of her holiday videos.  I immediately added this to my wish list and ... you know the rest.  I'm so happy that I have this palette and it's a great addition to my makeup collection.

This sleek palette comes with 12 eyeshadows, a blush, highlighter, 2 lipsticks/cheek stains, a palm-size mirror, and instructions to create different looks.  You can throw this palette into your purse or travel bag and there would be no damage at all.  This palette is very sturdy compared to other cardboard palettes that tend to be boxy and bulky.

The eyeshadows are playfully named after rock bands of our time.  A few of my favorite colors are Alice Copper (real name Alice Cooper, duh!), Allegro, The Stroke, and Third Eye Blinded.  The colors are creamy and can be applied either wet or dry.  This palette is ideal for any makeup look at any time of the day because this has the essential neutrals and enough accent colors to create a rockstar, smokey look.

The blush and highlighter are current favorites among a few Youtubers who own these beauties individually.  The blush is a light pink/coral color that reminds me of Benefit's Coralista.  The highlighter is a sheen gold and adds a nice tough to the cheekbones.  The lipsticks can be used as a cream blush, so the palette comes with 4 cheek items which is a nice addition.  If you wear the lipsticks, wear a lip balm underneath because it is a little dry (in my opinion).

Overall, this palette is awesome and makes me want to go on tour with a band! When you read the front and back of the palette, the description sounds like Rolling Stones made its own review of the palette.  This is a spunky palette, reasonably priced , and the best kick-ass addition in my collection.

Playful Winter Makeup Look

Are you tired of the same makeup routine?  Are you in a makeup rut since the holidays are over and there's no more gatherings to attend?  This look should cheer your spirits.  It's playful, fun, and easy to achieve in time to head out the door.

Check out my YouTube channel for the tutorial!

- Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream (medium)
- Smashbox HD Concealer (medium)
- NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil (cottage cheese)
- BYS Colour Perfectionist Eyeshadow Palette
- Josie Maran Argan Naturally Long Lasting Eye Liner (black raven)
- Sephora Collection Long-Lasting 12HR Wear Eye Liner (black)
- Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara
- MAC Blush (blunt, pinch me)
- Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick (airy fairy)
- Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish (dolly)


Thanks for watching! xoxo

Face of the Day

FACE & EYES:
From the Mally 7pc Makeup Makeover Collection (link) - Age Rebel Diamond Un-Powder (tan/rich), Evercolor Shadow Stick (antique taupe), Evercolor Starlight Waterproof Liner (black violet), Instant Impact Mascara (black), Perfect Prep Under Eye Brightener (deep)

CHEEKS:
MAC Blush (pinch me)

LIPS:
Tarina Tarantino Lip Conditioning Sheen (floriculture)

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Date Night Makeup

I rarely do date night with friends or with my husband.  When you're a parent, date night consists of any valuable time where there's no noise resonating in the house.  The minutes after your child falls asleep is positively the best part of the night until you or your husband starts cleaning the house, falling asleep on the couch while watching tv, or your husband starts drifting into his computer gaming world.  So, when I saw a date night makeup tutorial on YouTube, I wanted to give it a shot and recreate the look with what I have.

Just Another Manic Monday

I've collected a ton of makeup since last year and today I feel like sharing one of my biggest collections from Urban Decay.  I have always loved this brand since high school, but never really used the products (religiously) until last year.  My sister used to buy Urban Decay products back in the day and was one of those girls who wore a ton of makeup, but made it look effortless and natural.  Now, she's a simple girl who just throws on eyeliner, mascara and lip balm and calls it a day.

I thought my Urban Decay collection would look a bit out of control, but I guess it looks reasonable with the amount I've purchased in the past year.  I love my UD palettes especially my Naked palette.  I used to own Naked 2, but found myself gravitating more to the original.  I ended up giving it to my sister for her birthday last October in mint condition.  You can say I am obsessed with their eye shadows more than anything else.  (Ahem- I also am obsessed with their primer potion and setting spray.  I think I'm working on my 3rd tube and bottle right now.)  I believe the quality of the eye shadows are long lasting, vibrant and creative.  As long as you apply an eyelid primer, your eye makeup lasts forever!

I definitely want to venture into other products from this brand.  I'm currently loving their lip gloss that's a plumper, but want to try their jumbo lip pencils.  I remember during one of my trips to Ulta I wanted to splurge on their eyeshadow pencils because they're so creamy and long lasting (duh, it says 24/7 on the pencil!).  But I quickly found dupes of the pencils I wanted on the other side of Ulta and a las did not purchase these beauties.  I've read reviews and watched a ton of videos of people raving about different Urban Decay products that I can't wait to get my hands on.

Which ones are your favorites?  Definitely leave a comment on what I should try!  Note: I'm on the fence about purchasing Naked Basics palette.  Should I or shouldn't I?

Just Another Manic Monday

New Year's resolutions are overrated, yet everyone always makes them.  It makes no sense for people to make impossible resolutions if they can't stick to it for the first 72 hours of the new year.  I really didn't decide to make new resolutions once it struck midnight on December 31.  Instead, I told myself to keep up on the small changes I've been making on my day-to-day activities.

Here are my resolutions, which I'll change to daily goals, for 2013:

1. Eat breakfast!  I was never a breakfast gal.  The only time where I would really enjoy breakfast would be on weekends when my dad would cook an enormous meal with corn beef, spam, eggs, and fried rice.  Nowadays, I'll cook omelettes or cinnamon pancakes if I'm in the mood.  When I'm not in the mood, I just forget about breakfast and stuff my face at lunch.  There came a point where I wanted to change my habit which I slowly have been.  I feed my daughter breakfast everyday, so I too should eat breakfast.  My husband and daughter are breakfast people and I'm starting to become one.  For the past few weeks, I've been eating either oatmeal (which I absolutely hated as a kid) or toast with hot chocolate.  With the new year, I told my husband to constantly remind me to eat breakfast.  It's the most important meal of the day!

2. Be active and patient!  I've been out of a job since the end of 2011.  For most of 2012, I was spending most of my days on the couch watching tv or Youtube videos.  I decided to get myself active again by doing some type of exercise at least 20-30 minutes a day.  This doesn't mean my goal for 2013 is to lose wait.  Rather, I just want to get the blood flowing throughout the day.  Plus it's not easy to play with a 4-year-old when you're sitting on the couch.  So that's the active part.  Patience is towards my daughter.  Now that she's growing into the toddler "habits" of constant activities and play time, I need to be able to keep up with her.  She's constantly on the go wanting to do or play with something different.  I want to be a good parent and discipline her without being harsh.  I definitely don't want to come across as the parent that she should be afraid of.  I just need to learn how to not let out my frustration on her.

3. Out with the new, in with the old!  Wait, isn't is "out with the old, in with the new"?  This goal pertains to makeup only.  2012 was a great year for me to learn more about cosmetics in which I spent a ton of money on buying the items.  Heck, I still have makeup products sitting in boxes and bags in my closet.  I told myself, "If I want a new item, I need to finish something else first".  Plus, by the time I buy a certain item, it'll be old news already.  The beauty industry is a constant revolving door especially with the limited editions.  Once it hits the shelves, it'll be gone in the blink of an eye.  So, I need to finish my current (and new, unopened) items before I go buy some more.  It's not easy to buy makeup when you have no income...

So there you have it!  My resolutions (or daily goals) for 2013.  It'd be great to know what are yours by leaving a comment below <3

Favorite Items of December

Happy New Year everyone!

Here's my favorites for the month of December.  I'm so blessed to have started this new venture in cosmetics with my YouTube channel and blog.  I hope 2013 will bring lots of happiness, luck and success to my family and me.  I wish the same for you too!