Sunday, July 29, 2012

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipstick in Peachy Scene

I was perusing the makeup section of Target the other day when I stumbled upon the clearance section and found this wonderful lipstick on sale for around $3 I believe. The color in the tube instantly drew me in, so I bought it. 

This shade is a medium pinky coral with some peach tones in it and a slightly frosty sheen. Now, I'm not usually big on frosty lipstick, but the frost on this one isn't too obvious and just gives a nice bit of a glossy look.


The formulation is quite creamy and lightweight; it's almost easy to forget you have lipstick on! However, upon application there is a bit of a sweet, artificial cake scent. Not my favorite, but it doesn't bother me too much and the scent goes away quickly enough.


I do think that this is a lovely color, especially for summertime (it looks great on tan skin!) It reminds me a little of MAC's Costa Chic lipstick, which is a similar shade of shimmery coral. 



As you can see, it applies fairly nicely, although the frost can emphasize lip lines, so I recommend using a moisturizing lip balm underneath it to minimize the look of lines. The staying power is decent as well, although lipstick staying power isn't really an issue for me as I don't mind reapplying once in a while. However, you should get a good three to four hours of wear with one application.


All in all, I really like this lipstick for summer! If it looks like something you might like, I would run out and get it, as it might be on the way to being discontinued!



Hope you all enjoyed this post!



Saturday, July 28, 2012

Two Date-Night Looks Feat. Bright Lips!

Here are two looks we created that would be great for a formal date-night or night out. I (Angela) did Sara's makeup, and she did mine! 

Sara's look features a bold, glossy fuchsia lip, Maybelline Superstay 10 HR Stain Gloss in Fresh Fuchsia. I used fairly matte, neutral colors on the eyes with a thick, dark brown liner to balance out the face, and a little brightness on her cheeks with a bright blush. 





My look featured bold red lipstick. Sara also used matte neutral eyeshadows on my eyes, and added a little bit of old Hollywood glamour to the look by adding black flicked liquid eyeliner. She used Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick in Red Revival.






Hope you guys enjoyed this post! We'll keep the posts coming! xx Sara and Angela


Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Liebster Award!

We (Sara and Angela) have been nominated for the Liebster Award by Pareasa at The F.A.B Journal! This award can be given to up and coming bloggers with less than 200 followers. There are also certain rules that apply for receiving this award. 
The Rules:
  • The person nominated must share 11 facts about themselves.
  • The person nominated must answer the questions the tagger (the person who nominated them) set for them.
  • The person nominated must choose 11 people to tag (nominate) and create 11 questions for them to answer. Then they must go to their pages and let them know they were nominated!
  • There are no tag backs!

11 Facts About Us (22 total!) 
  • Sara: I have a twin sister. She's 5 minutes younger than me!
  • Angela: I'm half Chinese and half American. My mom is from China and my dad was born and raised in the United States.
  • S: I had pet chicks when I was little! We had to give them away when they got bigger :(
  • A: My favorite genre of movie is action! I know that's probably weird for a girl who is obsessed with fashion and beauty, but I love movies like Inception, the Adjustment  Bureau, Limitless, The Avengers, and the new Spider-man movie!! A little eye-candy doesn't hurt either, haha.
  • S: My favorite food is pizza. I literally love any kind of pizza and any toppings. I must be Italian or something!
  • A: I lived in Japan for 7 months when I was a baby, and I lived in China for a year when I was 10. By the time I was one year old, I had spent most of my life in Japan. And while I lived in China, I went to a Chinese public school in Beijing!
  • S: I'm Iranian/Persian. I moved to the United States when I was 10 years old.
  • A: I wrote a novel when I was in 7th grade. We were assigned it for language arts class, and mine ended up being 21,000 words long. A year later, I participated in a challenge called NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) where you write a 50,000 word novel in a month!
  • S: I play the piano and flute. I've been playing the piano for about nine years now, and the flute for five. 
  • A: My first makeup product was an eyeshadow from Victoria's Secret. It was a rather dark purple, and I think I just used it on my lashlines.
  • S: My first makeup product was CoverGirl Lashblast! I took it from my mom!
  • A: I was very ambitious as a young child. I wanted to be everything from a chemist to a historian to an author!
  • S: I was the nosiest little child you would ever meet. I would literally follow people around to see what they were doing!
  • A: My favorite flavor of cake is red velvet! So delicious. I have no more words.
  • S: I have close family in every continent except Africa and Antarctica. (Someone needs to move to Antarctica soon).
  • A: The reason I love makeup and fashion so much: I did ballet when I was little, so we always wore pretty costumes and put on makeup for performances, I loved it! One of my ballet teachers called me Angelina Ballerina :)
  • S: The reason I love makeup and fashion so much: I would always watch my mom put on makeup when I was little, and I would ask for some and she would put a little bit of lip gloss on me, and I loved putting on makeup with my friends (using my mom's makeup!)
  • A: I'm a city girl at heart. I lived in Boston for most of my life and I plan on moving to a big city (if possible) when I get older.
  • S: My favorite subject in school is math! It sounds crazy how I love beauty and math at the same time, they're total opposites, but I do!
  • A: I run track! My dad is also a runner, and my mom did track in school and in college, but I hated running until I joined track during middle school. I've gone on to participate in high school, and love my team!
  • Both: We've been best friends for (what feels like) centuries. We do everything together, and we're planning to go to New York IMATS senior year!! <3

11 Questions for Me:
  • What is your favorite thing about blogging? Sara: Taking pictures! Angela: Being able to share my thoughts and ideas with other people. 
  • Where do you see yourself in five years? S: In college...hopefully a good college. A: College too, not much else to say about that.
  • Do your friends and family know about your blog? S: Most of my family knows about the blog, but  most of my friends don't. A: I think my dad and my brother know about the blog, but most of my other family members and friends don't. 
  • What do you consider your greatest accomplishment? S: Receiving distinction scores on the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (ABRSM). A: I've survived for 15 years and 10 months, I think that's accomplishment enough. 
  • If you could trade places with anyone for a day, who would it be? S: Taylor Swift, she's gorgeous and super talented. A: I would say the same same thing, what a fun person to switch places with. Plus, she's a CoverGirl!
  • What is your phone's ringtone? S: Default ringtone, I'm so cool. A: Mine was "What Makes You Beautiful", but I want to change it to "Princess of China" by Coldplay. 
  • Who is your fashion icon? S: Bethany from Macbarbie07 on Youtube! A: Probably Emma Roberts or Lauren Conrad. 
  • What is one thing you are insecure about? S: My skin breaks out a lot. A: I get undereye circles because I stay up late a lot. 
  • What is one of your goals you hope to accomplish? S: Become successful in general. A: Become a doctor, preferably neurologist. 
  • What is your go-to beauty product (hair, makeup, etc.)? S: Mascara. I just love it. A: I would say lip and cheek stain because it brightens up your lips and face ( I like Stila Mango Crush and Benefit Benetint!)
  • What is your favorite vacation you've been on? S: The first time I went to Turkey because it was a big family trip! A: The cruise we took last Christmas--we got to go snorkeling and be on the beach  on Christmas day and spend time with the family!

We Nominate:

My 11 Questions:

  • What's your favorite dessert?
  • If you had to leave the house with only one beauty product on, what would it be?
  • Why did you decide to do blogging?
  • What's the first thing on your "bucket list"?
  • If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?
  • What's your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
  • What do you think is your best feature?
  • What weather do you prefer?
  • What's your favorite type of fragrance scent (sweet, fresh, fruity, musky, etc.)?
  • How did you meet your best friend?
  • Do you prefer watching TV or reading a book?

If you decide to continue this blog award, please leave a comment with a link to your answers! We would love to see how you answered the questions!! Thank you so much to Pareasa for nominating us!

Monday, July 16, 2012

How-to Wear Your Boyfriend's T-Shirt (and Still Look Cute!)


Regardless of whether or not you actually have a boyfriend, you can still look adorable wearing guys' clothing! By adding a few feminine touches, it's easy to create an effortless and casual outfit.

This look works best with a T-shirt that is of course loose and long, but not too loose or long. The shoulder seam should be a few inches loose, and the hem should be around six to ten inches past your waist. Choose a shirt that has an interesting design or wording--I like shirts that have a travel related or beachy vibe. Pick whatever shirt that you think would suit your look.

Pair the shirt with a pair of dark wash skinny jeans to balance out the looseness of the shirt. Wearing baggy jeans with a baggy shirt may overwhelm your figure and look too masculine; the goal of this look is to be casual, yet still polished.


How to Wear Your Boyfriend's T-Shirt


Add a girly pair of shoes that are still coherent with the rest of the outfit. Anything from canvas shoes (like Toms) to Oxfords to flats will do. I've added a pair of classic black ballet flats.

A simple accessory or two, like a cute bow bracelet or stack of bangles will work nicely with this outfit. Top it off with a dash of pink blush and some winged black eyeliner.


I hope you all enjoyed this post, and have fun raiding your boyfriend's/brother's/guy friend's closet (or the men's section of Forever21) for a shirt to wear for this look!




Review: Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara

 I needed a new mascara, so a few days ago I decided to stop by Target and try out this mascara. Even though I've only used it a few times, I have already found some pros and cons about it. The price of this mascara is great! I believe that it may vary between approximately six to nine dollars depending on where you live.

*Before applying mascara*

*After applying mascara*

Like the mascara is supposed to, it gives my lashes curls. According to the Rimmel website, it is supposed to give 70% curlier lashes. I definitely think that it does give my lashes curls. As you can tell from this picture, my lashes look curled even though I did not curl them at all. This is possible the number one thing I love about this mascara.

The Mascara also does not clump which is always a thumbs up! 


*Before applying mascara*

*After applying mascara*

 The packaging is a very pretty and shiny purple color! What girl doesn't love shiny packaging? haha



 The brush it very easy to use. It has very defined bristles which is probably one of the reasons this mascara does not clump.

I definitely recommend this mascara if you love natural looking lashes for the day! However, if you're specifically looking for a lot of length or volume, I do not think that this mascara will please you as much. This is a great mascara if you're looking for non-clumping mascaras that give curls and some length and volume.

I hope this helped! Leave in the comments below if you've ever tried this mascara and what you think about it!




Sunday, July 15, 2012

Hair Care Routine (Products I'm Currently Using!)

Recently, I have been trying to put more effort into keeping my hair strong and healthy. I have fairly long, highlighted hair (it reaches just about to the bottom of my rib cage, as a point of reference), so it needs a good care routine to prevent it from becoming damaged and dry or breaking. I also have quite a lot of hair, even though I got it thinned out recently. The cut I have now is long layers with piece-y ends. 




I'm trying out a new shampoo and conditioner from Tresemme from their Naturals line. It claims to have lower sulfates, which can dry out hair and damage color-treated hair (like mine). They also claim to be moisturizing and nourishing, which is always a plus. In the shower, I basically lather my hair with the shampoo, concentrating on the scalp area. After rinsing the shampoo out, I coat my hair from the ears down generously with conditioner and wait 3-4 minutes before rinsing it out. When I get out of the shower, I gently wring my hair out with an absorbent towel and wrap my hair up in a towel turban type thing. 


A couple times a week, I'll use the Garnier Fructis Intense Cleanse Anti-Dandruff Shampoo on my scalp to deep clean my scalp..skin (does that sound weird? haha) and also to get rid of any hair product that has built up in my hair. Supposedly anti-dandruff shampoo works very effectively for removing product build-up that might weigh hair down and prevent it from being, well, voluminous. 


After I take my hair out of the towel, I will gently comb through it with the wide-tooth comb on the left in the photo below. I used to use a brush, but I found that brushing hair while it's wet causes it to break and snap. 
I use the brush on the right to brush out tangles in my dry hair. It works well because it's ionized to prevent static (I believe the brush is by Goody, but I don't remember exactly). I also use the brush in the center, which is by Conair, to smooth my hair. Boar bristle brushes like this one are supposed to be good for your hair because they help distribute the natural oils in your hair to the ends. 


After combing my damp hair, I rub a dollop of the Garnier Fructis Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment through the ends of my hair to condition it. I hear that this product is very similar to Moroccanoil--they both have a lot of the same ingredients--although I have not tried Moroccanoil myself. Anyway, I have found that this oil treatment does wonders for my hair: it conditions it, reduces frizz, and makes my hair feel suuuuper soft. If you want a full review, leave it in the comments below!
I rarely blow dry my hair, and prefer to let it air dry instead. Once most of the moisture is gone from my hair, I brush it out a little bit and apply a little more of the Moroccan Sleek Oil Treatment to the length of my hair, and add a little bit of Garnier Fructis Anti-Humidity Smoothing Milk (do you see a trend? I love Garnier products) to the pieces of hair around my face and the little frizzies that stick up on the top of my head. If I am going to curl or straighten my hair, I wait until afterwards to apply both of these products.


As for styling products, my favorites are Herbal Essences Set Me Up Mousse, Tresemme Freshstart Dry Shampoo, and Garnier Fructis Anti-Humidity Hairspray. I use the mousse if I want a tousled, beachy waves look, I use the dry shampoo to freshen-up second day hair, and the hairspray of course to set and hold any hairstyle. If you would like to hear more about how I style my hair, comment below for a post dedicated just to that!


All in all, I think the most important steps to maintaining strong, healthy hair is to use products that do not cause dryness, to treat your hair gently when styling, condition it regularly, and to avoid too much heat styling (at most, I will use heat on my hair only two or three times a week). I hope this post was helpful/interesting, and once again, if you have any review requests, please leave them in the comments below! 

Also, feel free to comment with any hair care tips you might have. Have a great week!








Saturday, July 14, 2012

OOTD and FOTD!

I always love looking at OOTD posts! They give me great outfit ideas so I thought I would share my outfit for today with you! The main reason I chose to wear this outfit was because I was dying to wear my new wedges and they looked perfect with the dress!


CLOTHING
Dress: American Eagle 
Shoes: Macy's (Michael Kors)
Necklace: Forever 21
*unfortunately I do not know where the belt is from since I received it as a gift*





MAKEUP
Eyeshadow: Wet n Wild in "Don't steal my thunder"
Liquid eyeliner: Revlon Color Stay
Pencil Eyeliner: Revlon Color Stay (Haha, same brand as the liquid liner!)
Lips: Loreal Colour Riche lip gloss in "Rich Rose"




I hope you enjoyed!



      


Friday, July 13, 2012

Summer Style: Floral Shorts



Floral shorts are the perfect easy piece for summer. They're great for a casual, yet cute look. The look below would be perfect for a day out with the girls, a picnic date, music festival, or really any summer occasion. I like pairing the shorts with a casual tank top, some cool shades, and a pop of summery makeup.
Summer Style: Floral Shorts


The featured shorts in this look are from Target.

How would you style floral shorts for summer? Leave it in the comments below!





Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Go-to Everyday Summer Makeup Look Products


Since it's summertime, I don't wear makeup every day. But on days when I do feel like wearing makeup, there are several products I reach for that are great for putting together a quick, neutral summery look. 

elf Eyebrow Kit 

In my opinion, defining your eyebrows is a really quick, simple step that can really transform how you look. Brows frame the eyes and the rest of the face, so filling them can help pull everything together. This brow kit has a darker gel and a lighter setting powder which makes it easy to sort of customize the color to whatever color brows you have. The gel also helps keep the brow hairs in place. 



Sonia Kashuk Confidential Concealer 

I picked this concealer up fairly recently, needing a concealer for touch-ups throughout the day. At first, I didn't like it very much, but I found that it works nicely under the eyes and on redness on my face. Liquid concealers are sort of hit-or-miss for me, and this one has pretty nice coverage and doesn't settle into lines. It also comes with a brightening pencil on the other end that can work nicely as an inner-corner highlight in a pinch.


Stila Sun-Gel Gel Bronzant 

I got this product in a set from Stila, and I think it's now discontinued, but there are comparable products from Clarins and a few other brands I believe. I know I have mentioned this in a post before, but I really love it for the summertime! I usually mix my foundation or BB cream with a little dab of this gel to get an all-over sunkissed look.


Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in RSVP

I have loved this cream eyeshadow for a long time, in fact, I use it year round. But, it's especially great in the summer because it's quick and easy to apply and lasts all day. True to it's name, this cream eyeshadow will not crease at all! This glowy pink-champagne shade is also really gorgeous and a perfect summer color.


L'oreal HIP Concentrated Shadow Duo in Shady

I use this shadow duo combined with the Benefit eyshadow above. These two shades are matte and therefore perfect for the crease of the eye! I use a fluffy crease brush to sweep the lighter shade in the crease, and then concentrate the darker shade in the outer corner. These shades are both well pigmented and apply smoothly and blend easily--great quality for a drugstore eyeshadow duo. 





Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Bourbon

The most common problem I have with makeup in the summer is smudging. So I need to have a pretty kick-a** eyeliner, if you will, to stay in place and keep from smudging and smearing everywhere. Although Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes does just as well in the non-smudging department, I feel that the warm, shimmery brown shade of this Urban Decay Pencil is a great summer color. As you can tell, I've worked this one down to almost a stub. 


Maybelline The Falsies Waterproof Mascara

Another product that MUST be immune to smudges is mascara. If I'm going to be out in the sun or swimming, waterproof mascara is crucial. I have been raving about the Falsies because it gives so much volume and length...and the waterproof version holds a curl and lasts all day. (Check out my full review of the Falsies)



Stila Mango Crush Lip and Cheek Stain

Another product I have raved about in previous posts, this stain gives a gorgeous coral flush to the cheeks. And since it's a stain, the color lasts all day, even through sweat and swimming! It works well on the lips as well, but I find it especially flattering sheered out on the apples of the cheeks. 


Revlon Colorburst Lip gloss in Peony

And finally, for lips, I have been loving this peachy pink shade. It leaves a very high shine finish to the lips that doesn't feel sticky or too tacky. This color really lights up the face, especially with the gold shimmer in the gloss. It's the perfect finishing touch to a summer look, and looks fantastic on bronzed skin.



Thanks for reading! Leave your thoughts or requests for other posts in the comments below!