I love great, quality clothing but I am also looking for the best bang for my buck. Quality refers to strength of material, style and texture, figure-flattering, long-lasting wear and hold up of color/style over the years.
Rainbow, Easy Pickins, Dots and Pretty Girl were my go-tos in my teenage years. And while I still enjoy the styles found in these stores, it is very difficult for me to find clothing that will last at these shops. These stores would be a: No.
I then graduated to Ross Dress for Less. This store is a great store if you are willing to go through all the racks. However, I find mixed quality in this store. This store has name-brand clothing that are no longer the latest looks. I find that their blazers, purses and dresses are of very high quality. But the other clothing can be hit or miss. This store would be a: Yes.
Over time, I have always stopped into Target but I found their prices rising. I believe that Target has superior quality clothing compared to most stores. And the rising costs are justified, but unfortunately I will not be paying them. And I will go straight to their clearance! This store would be a: No.
In my late 20s now, I am looking into other quality stores for professional women, and one of my favorites is New York & Company. Their pants and blazers are particularly exceptional. Their jeans, however, make me look frumpy. Nevertheless, for the quality of their pants and blazers, this store would be a: Yes.
Ah, Macy's. I know real shopaholics live by this store! Unfortunately I have had several bad experiences. While the clothing appears quality and they do hold up over the years, the problem is the 3 items (a full $150 suit, blouse, $70 black stretch pants) I bought at Macy's tore within the first couple wears. It makes it hard for me to justify shopping there. Why MACY's is on this list is because you can find clothing in an affordable range even though my pieces were a little more higher-end. But I am not a fan of Macy's and would rather stick to other stores. This store would be a: No.
Likewise, Jcpenney's is a department store that I am not a huge fan of. The clothing looks frumpy and uninteresting. So, while the quality of the clothing is good because of long-lasting wear, the quality of the clothing is terrible in terms of style. But I do pick up some of their $19.99 curvy-average skinny Arizona Jeans, which has suited me well. This store would be: No.
I still peruse in stores like Forever21 because the clothes is so astonishingly cute, but I find that it also does not last for me. My purse broke on me after 5 uses! I love this store for staples like a quick cami or casual bodycon tank dress, but this store would be a: No.
I know H&M is a very popular store but I don't find that I really ever get excited when I go into their store. And you know, I must be excited to shop! They had more charcoals and grays like Wet Seal, and I am more into yellows, pinks, browns. Wet Seal used to be a favorite of mine in college because they had beautiful corals and yellows but there clothing would never last me. These stores would be a: No.
Primark in London (and other European countries), similar to other stores in Europe, used to have strong quality clothing but I find that quality has gone down dramatically. I bought T-shirts and bathing suits from Primark in 2009 and they are all still in great condition, but everything I bought from Primark just last summer in 2014 have basically collapsed. Unacceptable. (Note: A Primark should arrive in Boston in the US in 2015.) This store would be a: No.
I adore Charlotte Russe. Everything from their tops and heels to their skirts and maxis....and they always have an amazing clearance section on top of it all! I find it to be young at heart but with a sophisticated style, quality and approach. Their items are made with strong material and last me a long time, and so I truly get to enjoy them. They also have great deals and great sales! This store would be a: Yes.
Old Navy makes jeans that I feel make me look frumpy but their jeans sales are awesome, so it's always hard to pass those up...but I have to. Aeropostale has polos that are not so flattering to me. These stores would be a: No.
Overall, for quality I frequent Ross and Charlotte Russe. Every now and then I stop into New York & Company and pick up professional wear, or check out Target clearance, get a pair of jeans at Jcpenneys or pick up a Forever21 staple. But for quality, style and affordability, Ross and Charlotte Russe are my go-tos. I am not against spending more money at luxury brands but I would only buy a piece at a luxury brand of a particular look that I am going for. Great fashion can be accomplished at great prices.
*Enjoy, comment and subscribe!
Saturday, February 28, 2015
The Very Basics
On my beauty journey, I have studied the various elements that go into a "look". Note that there are a vast range of accessories beyond the basics but I will list here the basic elements of a look (which don't have to all be worn at the same time):
Jewelry (rings, bracelets, necklace, earrings, watches, ankle bracelet, etc)
Makeup (eyebrows, wax/thread, eyelash, lipsticks/gloss, foundation, concealer, setting powder, finishing powder, baked/cream eyeshadow, eye/lip liner, makeup brushes, beauty blender, blush, bronzer, primer, highlighter, contour, kabuki, lip exfoliation, etc)
Hairstyle (blow-outs, extensions, wigs, etc)
Haircare (hair products, coloring, straightening, curling, combs/brushes, etc)
Hair Accessories (headbands, flower crowns, bows, etc)
Nails (mani/pedi, nail polish/hardener, gel, acrylic, crystal, nail art, 3D art, nail sticker, etc)
Handbag/Purse (crossbody, satchel, clutch, hobo, etc)
Shoes (flats, moccasins, boots, platforms, heels, sandals, wedges, sneakers, etc)
Outerwear (blazers, denim jackets, hoodies, coats, shawl, kimono, cardigan, etc)
Other accessories (hats, belts, sunglasses, scarves, bathing suits, cover-ups, intimates, etc)
Jean/Pants (skinny, flare, boyfriend, straight, mid-rise, high-rise, low-rise, leggings, etc)
Skirts (mini, midi, maxi, pencil, etc)
Dresses (maxi, bodycon, baby doll, skater, ponte, hi-lo, jumpsuit/romper, little black dress, etc)
Tops (halter, tube, sweetheart, off the shoulder, tank top, sweaters, long/short sleeve, sleeveless, chiffon long-sleeve, polo, cami, crop top, lace, blouse, button up, graphics, etc)
Perfume (perfume, body spray, scented lotion, deodorant, etc)
Skincare (exfoliating soap/shower gel/sponge/brush, skin softener, sunscreen, skin brightener/lightener/tan/glow, wax, night treatment cream, face wash, hair remover, emollient/moisturizing lotion, etc)
When you are starting from little knowledge of what is involved in a look, you really have to list out all of the things that people have been accumulating all of these years that you have been completely oblivious to. There are several steps to each of eye/eyelash/eyebrow/face/lip makeup alone. Thus, pretty is indeed an investment of time, money, care, thought, effort. Trial and error. And sometimes pain. I created this comprehensive foundation from which to start and pick and choose what is most important to me as I build upon my wardrobe, collection, stash.
*Enjoy, comment, subscribe!
Jewelry (rings, bracelets, necklace, earrings, watches, ankle bracelet, etc)
Makeup (eyebrows, wax/thread, eyelash, lipsticks/gloss, foundation, concealer, setting powder, finishing powder, baked/cream eyeshadow, eye/lip liner, makeup brushes, beauty blender, blush, bronzer, primer, highlighter, contour, kabuki, lip exfoliation, etc)
Hairstyle (blow-outs, extensions, wigs, etc)
Haircare (hair products, coloring, straightening, curling, combs/brushes, etc)
Hair Accessories (headbands, flower crowns, bows, etc)
Nails (mani/pedi, nail polish/hardener, gel, acrylic, crystal, nail art, 3D art, nail sticker, etc)
Handbag/Purse (crossbody, satchel, clutch, hobo, etc)
Shoes (flats, moccasins, boots, platforms, heels, sandals, wedges, sneakers, etc)
Outerwear (blazers, denim jackets, hoodies, coats, shawl, kimono, cardigan, etc)
Other accessories (hats, belts, sunglasses, scarves, bathing suits, cover-ups, intimates, etc)
Jean/Pants (skinny, flare, boyfriend, straight, mid-rise, high-rise, low-rise, leggings, etc)
Skirts (mini, midi, maxi, pencil, etc)
Dresses (maxi, bodycon, baby doll, skater, ponte, hi-lo, jumpsuit/romper, little black dress, etc)
Tops (halter, tube, sweetheart, off the shoulder, tank top, sweaters, long/short sleeve, sleeveless, chiffon long-sleeve, polo, cami, crop top, lace, blouse, button up, graphics, etc)
Perfume (perfume, body spray, scented lotion, deodorant, etc)
Skincare (exfoliating soap/shower gel/sponge/brush, skin softener, sunscreen, skin brightener/lightener/tan/glow, wax, night treatment cream, face wash, hair remover, emollient/moisturizing lotion, etc)
When you are starting from little knowledge of what is involved in a look, you really have to list out all of the things that people have been accumulating all of these years that you have been completely oblivious to. There are several steps to each of eye/eyelash/eyebrow/face/lip makeup alone. Thus, pretty is indeed an investment of time, money, care, thought, effort. Trial and error. And sometimes pain. I created this comprehensive foundation from which to start and pick and choose what is most important to me as I build upon my wardrobe, collection, stash.
*Enjoy, comment, subscribe!
The Compilation of a Look
Did you know that longer earrings elongate your neck to create the illusion of height and great bone structure? Did you know that drawing with a lip liner slightly extended beyond your lip line with a color that is nude on your complexion will make your lips look plumper and create the illusion of sensual lips? Did you know that hip-hugger jeans (wish they would come back!) with pockets lift your backside and create the illusion of a toned bum? Did you know that stiletto heels elongate your legs and create the illusion of slimmer, toner legs? Did you? Because I am just finding this out!
There is more to a look than meets the eye. Every piece of jewelry, every touch of makeup, every heel of a boot and every stretch of skinny jeans creates an illusion that adds to the pull-togetheredness of a look. Colors, textures, styles, patterns, etc are all placed together strategically to complement one another.
I keep this in mind as I create looks and ultimately establish my own style.
*Enjoy, comment, subscribe!
There is more to a look than meets the eye. Every piece of jewelry, every touch of makeup, every heel of a boot and every stretch of skinny jeans creates an illusion that adds to the pull-togetheredness of a look. Colors, textures, styles, patterns, etc are all placed together strategically to complement one another.
I keep this in mind as I create looks and ultimately establish my own style.
*Enjoy, comment, subscribe!
Introducing Shopmissa.com!
Speaking of jewelry, you must try out the online beauty supply store called shopmissa.com. Everything, including earrings, necklaces, bracelets, rings, scarves, sunglasses, nail art, tattoos, headbands, cosmetics, all for $1! Try-on alert! This is a great website for people who would like to try on all different types and styles of jewelry to prepare for buying the more expensive pieces once they have grown comfortable with the styles they like. It's better to try on cheaper items to establish what you like best before you make the larger purchases. Or, you may find that you are completely comfortable with the jewelry on shopmissa.com as a quick fix or a permanent staple. This website is also great for those who may like costume jewelry but could never justify the cost, who love to play around with jewelry and who may be looking to build a jewelry collection.
Have you ever gone into a store and saw gorgeous costume jewelry and then you looked at the tag of $12.99 and your eyes bulged out? I don't know about you but if I am paying $12.99 for something, it had better be a shirt. My costume jewelry breaks on me. They are so delicate and can break within a couple wears no matter how gorgeous and well-made they look. So I think I get better return for my investment by using that money to buy clothing. Or, coming back to the store to buy the jewelry only when I have a special event coming up that I want to look great for.
Shopmissa.com solves this issue. This website has allowed me to try on all types of jewelry and has improved my look greatly. I have always wanted to be the girl who rocks the multiple rings and bracelet on both wrists, necklaces and pretty earrings. And with $5 bucks, I can lace myself in all of these items and create an awesome look!
Let's talk about the quality. I know that is where your mind goes first. Shopmissa's quality is honestly mixed. There are some products like especially their pearl products that look great (and not cheapy), have some weight to them (and not light and plastic feeling) and last for a while. You can not go wrong with some of their beaded jewelry like the colored beads or the metallic beads either. It's hard for those to look cheap because they look similar to any more expensive fashion jewelry.
It's when you get to the gold and silver jewelry, and particularly the necklaces, that it starts to *look* questionable. And I will make an important distinction that I learned. First, only some of the gold and silver necklaces will "look" cheap out of the package but when you put it on yourself, they actually have a reverse effect. They look quite expensive. I found this out by having my sister try on a necklace I worried looked cheap. She assured me that the necklace looked amazing on me. But it wasn't until I looked at the necklace on another person that I could see that she was right! It looked like something of value. A few pieces may look cheap but get a model to see what it really looks like.
Second, the potential for a cheapy look has more or less occurred with necklaces near exclusively (a couple times with bracelets too). But like I said, they may have a reverse effect when you actually put it on. I find that almost exclusively their rings always look like exceptional quality. Their rings are a great buy! Their earrings are always cute, and if you get one with rhinestones, you may create bling envy. Other great purchases with good quality on this website are bronzer, mascara, baked/cream eyeshadow and blush. These come with good textures and highly pigmented. I am in love with their headbands--they have beaded ones, infinity ones, yoga ones, bejeweled ones, leather ones, and even plenty of the ever-popular flower crowns! Another excellent purchase with exceptional quality are all of their 100% human hair eyelashes. You would be hard pressed to find human hair eyelashes anywhere for a dollar and they look absolutely gorgeous.
Finally, on quality: one or two pieces came chipped or broken, which saddened me. And it is especially difficult to return to them because they make you pay for shipping and handling, which totally defeats the purpose after you have already paid only a dollar for the product. They also seldom run out of a product before it is shipped and refund the money.
This is my brief introduction to the shopmissa.com website which illuminates the value of this site and the quality of their products. Over the recent months, I have literally spent over $200 on this website and I can speak to a variety of products. Overall, I love the site and I will be using it over time but I think I have established a good enough base collection for a lot of beauty supplies. I will be sharing these soon.
Please note that they update with new arrivals everyday. But only cosmetics ever get re-stocked, so if you see a piece of jewelry you like, get it before it's gone! Items do sell quickly. The only thing I wish they had were watches. Please bring watches, shopmissa.com! They do have a charm bracelet section which is the only section that costs $5. Shipping and handling is a flat $3.95 no matter how much you buy. If you want to get more bang for your buck, search 'sets' for rings, bracelets or earrings, or search for 'palettes' for eyeshadows. I once got a 9-ring set including midi rings for a $1! What value. Try it out.
*Enjoy, comment and subscribe!
Have you ever gone into a store and saw gorgeous costume jewelry and then you looked at the tag of $12.99 and your eyes bulged out? I don't know about you but if I am paying $12.99 for something, it had better be a shirt. My costume jewelry breaks on me. They are so delicate and can break within a couple wears no matter how gorgeous and well-made they look. So I think I get better return for my investment by using that money to buy clothing. Or, coming back to the store to buy the jewelry only when I have a special event coming up that I want to look great for.
Shopmissa.com solves this issue. This website has allowed me to try on all types of jewelry and has improved my look greatly. I have always wanted to be the girl who rocks the multiple rings and bracelet on both wrists, necklaces and pretty earrings. And with $5 bucks, I can lace myself in all of these items and create an awesome look!
Let's talk about the quality. I know that is where your mind goes first. Shopmissa's quality is honestly mixed. There are some products like especially their pearl products that look great (and not cheapy), have some weight to them (and not light and plastic feeling) and last for a while. You can not go wrong with some of their beaded jewelry like the colored beads or the metallic beads either. It's hard for those to look cheap because they look similar to any more expensive fashion jewelry.
It's when you get to the gold and silver jewelry, and particularly the necklaces, that it starts to *look* questionable. And I will make an important distinction that I learned. First, only some of the gold and silver necklaces will "look" cheap out of the package but when you put it on yourself, they actually have a reverse effect. They look quite expensive. I found this out by having my sister try on a necklace I worried looked cheap. She assured me that the necklace looked amazing on me. But it wasn't until I looked at the necklace on another person that I could see that she was right! It looked like something of value. A few pieces may look cheap but get a model to see what it really looks like.
Second, the potential for a cheapy look has more or less occurred with necklaces near exclusively (a couple times with bracelets too). But like I said, they may have a reverse effect when you actually put it on. I find that almost exclusively their rings always look like exceptional quality. Their rings are a great buy! Their earrings are always cute, and if you get one with rhinestones, you may create bling envy. Other great purchases with good quality on this website are bronzer, mascara, baked/cream eyeshadow and blush. These come with good textures and highly pigmented. I am in love with their headbands--they have beaded ones, infinity ones, yoga ones, bejeweled ones, leather ones, and even plenty of the ever-popular flower crowns! Another excellent purchase with exceptional quality are all of their 100% human hair eyelashes. You would be hard pressed to find human hair eyelashes anywhere for a dollar and they look absolutely gorgeous.
Finally, on quality: one or two pieces came chipped or broken, which saddened me. And it is especially difficult to return to them because they make you pay for shipping and handling, which totally defeats the purpose after you have already paid only a dollar for the product. They also seldom run out of a product before it is shipped and refund the money.
This is my brief introduction to the shopmissa.com website which illuminates the value of this site and the quality of their products. Over the recent months, I have literally spent over $200 on this website and I can speak to a variety of products. Overall, I love the site and I will be using it over time but I think I have established a good enough base collection for a lot of beauty supplies. I will be sharing these soon.
Please note that they update with new arrivals everyday. But only cosmetics ever get re-stocked, so if you see a piece of jewelry you like, get it before it's gone! Items do sell quickly. The only thing I wish they had were watches. Please bring watches, shopmissa.com! They do have a charm bracelet section which is the only section that costs $5. Shipping and handling is a flat $3.95 no matter how much you buy. If you want to get more bang for your buck, search 'sets' for rings, bracelets or earrings, or search for 'palettes' for eyeshadows. I once got a 9-ring set including midi rings for a $1! What value. Try it out.
*Enjoy, comment and subscribe!
Lipstick is Jewelry II
Your best bet in trying out new colors is to look at cheaper brands. Brands like Wet N Wild, Jordana, Elf, Kleancolor and LA Colors retail in drugstores and dollar stores from $0.99 to $2.49. These are great deals for these lipsticks. Wet N Wild Megalast lipsticks is a personal favorite particularly for people starting out, but even beloved by makeup veterans because there is great color pay off and their colors have frequently been compared to MAC. There megalast brand has a semi-matte finish, which is a slightly drier, flatter appearance to tone down sheen.
However, I am more of a fan of Jordana and LA Colors. I find that LA Colors is superior for a cheap brand, but I find Jordana to be superior just for any type of brand. It must be noted that I have only tried LA Colors lip gloss and moisturizing lipsticks and I love, love, love them. My favorite LA Colors color is Frozen Berries, a deep, rich "royal" purple color. It's hard to find but it's a great find! What most people don't like, and I am shocked that I do like, is that these moisturizing lipsticks are a bit sheer. But yet it still has excellent color pay off. It glides on so smoothly and you have never been moisturized by a lipstick the way you will be moisturized by these lipsticks! Amazing! Other favorites of mine in the moisturizing lipstick collection for LA Colors is Luscious Wine (deep red), Dusty Rose (frosty light pink) and Cocoa Shimmer (dark brown with gold flecks). Adorbs.
Jordana lipsticks are just...yaaass. The exceptional texture, look, make, formula, range of color, color pay off, application, wear, variety, versatility...all for an amazing price. They retail between $1.49-$2.49. They have regular lipsticks, matter lipsticks and modern matte lipsticks (their newest collection). When I say these lipsticks are superior, I *mean* they are superior. If you order on jordanacosmetics.com, you get free shipping after $25 but you will pay like $7 otherwise for taxes,shipping and handling. Better to order them from beautyjoint.com that only has $2.37 for shipping and handling. And you may find a better availability of the colors. Some fan favorites are Matte Rouge, Geranium, Pink Passion, Plum Obsession and Lavendar Lady. (Also, the new modern matte collection is especially popular). There are tons of youtube videos on these lipsticks. I have only tried Matte Rouge out of these fan favorites, and I am in love. While it's not MAC, it's my back up for my Ruby Woo. I have purchased literally 30 or more of Jordana lipsticks and there are still colors I am dying to try. They have that much range on colors, it's ridiculous. And majority of the colors excite me especially because I know their lipstick formula feels comfortable, goes on excellently and looks amazing. The colors are vibrant and yet natural. I am a huge fan of the modern Matte It Girl, a purple color. I also adore Pink Showstopper (light pink matte) and Poppy Pink (bright pink matte). I am waiting on some nude colors and more purple colors from their website. Excitement!
I am personally not as much a fan of Wet N Wild, although I find their Cherry bomb (brownish red), Sugar Plum Fairy (deep purple), Don't Blink Pink (bright pink), and Stoplight Red (bright blue-toned red) quite superior colors. I do not like the application because some of the colors get thick and clumpy as you apply. And while you get lots of color for each swipe (color pay off), I do not get too many colors that flatter my skin tone in this line. They are way too bright for my complexion. The four colors that I mentioned, with the exception of Don't Blink Pink, are darker bluer-toned or deep purple-toned lipsticks that are excellent on me.
Moreover, I do not like Elf lipsticks at all. While I can appreciate their colors and color range, the application and wear pretty much sucksss. Yes, sucks with three s's, or four if you count the first s. It's streaky. It bleeds. It clumps. It sits in the creases of my lips. It makes the skin of my lips peel. Even if a color is flattering on me (like the beautiful red color Fearless in their $0.99 collection), these lipsticks have the potential to ruin the texture of my lipsticks so bad that any lipstick that try on immediately afterwards, go on similarly. Fail.
Kleancolor is in-between for me. I pick up their products for $1 on shopmissa.com (a new favorite website of my mine). This brand has an exceptional application. It literally glides on to your lips. I place this application even superior to MAC application. It's good if you are into nudes, pinks, reds and purples. But I have only tried their Everlasting lipstick brand. I did not try their Femme lipstick brand (with blues and yellows), which has mixed reviews online. What I wish is that their everlasting brand came matte. I love their red Garnet color but it has a bit of a sheen. I don't mind sheen-y lipsticks but I would love that color in matte. The only issue with Kleancolor for me is that I am not a huge fan of their colors. Garnet is their most in-your-face color, and these are the type of colors I like. Super vibrant. Dark, deep or rich. Blue-toned. I am sure it's great for others who enjoy more toned down colors.
I can't speak too much to how long this wear unfortunately because I am doing a lot of this underground for now until I am ready to sprout like a flower. I wear my lipsticks out here and there and I am outside for maybe a couple hours. Of course after 2 hours, they all are still pretty much on your lips. But in a while I will be out and about longer and I will update on wear.
Alternatively new lipstick lovers can go to the MAC stores, where lipsticks go for $16 per bottle. You can sample different colors of lipsticks there at the store. Or you can splurge on a $60 lip palette with your choice of colors. Online they are currently doing free shipping on all orders. So I psyche myself out and tell myself "Oh, this is not *really* a $16 bottle; I am just paying $10 bucks for an excellent lipstick and $6 bucks for 'free shipping'"! Honestly, there is no lipstick brand better than MAC. Yes, the love for MAc is cultish. But it is sincerely well-deserved. There may be more colors somewhere else, maybe a single solitary better color somewhere else, or even a nicer, smoother application or wear somewhere else, but no brand has the magic that solidifies everything that a lipstick should be in all their products consistently. The best-selling red lipstick is MAC's Ruby Woo. And Russian Red is another fan favorite. Ruby Woo is a retro matte, which is especially drying, but looks absolutely fantastic on any skin complexion--a perfect finish. I am waiting on Flat out Fabulous!
Go and try on jewelry for your lips!
*Enjoy, comment, subscribe!
However, I am more of a fan of Jordana and LA Colors. I find that LA Colors is superior for a cheap brand, but I find Jordana to be superior just for any type of brand. It must be noted that I have only tried LA Colors lip gloss and moisturizing lipsticks and I love, love, love them. My favorite LA Colors color is Frozen Berries, a deep, rich "royal" purple color. It's hard to find but it's a great find! What most people don't like, and I am shocked that I do like, is that these moisturizing lipsticks are a bit sheer. But yet it still has excellent color pay off. It glides on so smoothly and you have never been moisturized by a lipstick the way you will be moisturized by these lipsticks! Amazing! Other favorites of mine in the moisturizing lipstick collection for LA Colors is Luscious Wine (deep red), Dusty Rose (frosty light pink) and Cocoa Shimmer (dark brown with gold flecks). Adorbs.
Jordana lipsticks are just...yaaass. The exceptional texture, look, make, formula, range of color, color pay off, application, wear, variety, versatility...all for an amazing price. They retail between $1.49-$2.49. They have regular lipsticks, matter lipsticks and modern matte lipsticks (their newest collection). When I say these lipsticks are superior, I *mean* they are superior. If you order on jordanacosmetics.com, you get free shipping after $25 but you will pay like $7 otherwise for taxes,shipping and handling. Better to order them from beautyjoint.com that only has $2.37 for shipping and handling. And you may find a better availability of the colors. Some fan favorites are Matte Rouge, Geranium, Pink Passion, Plum Obsession and Lavendar Lady. (Also, the new modern matte collection is especially popular). There are tons of youtube videos on these lipsticks. I have only tried Matte Rouge out of these fan favorites, and I am in love. While it's not MAC, it's my back up for my Ruby Woo. I have purchased literally 30 or more of Jordana lipsticks and there are still colors I am dying to try. They have that much range on colors, it's ridiculous. And majority of the colors excite me especially because I know their lipstick formula feels comfortable, goes on excellently and looks amazing. The colors are vibrant and yet natural. I am a huge fan of the modern Matte It Girl, a purple color. I also adore Pink Showstopper (light pink matte) and Poppy Pink (bright pink matte). I am waiting on some nude colors and more purple colors from their website. Excitement!
I am personally not as much a fan of Wet N Wild, although I find their Cherry bomb (brownish red), Sugar Plum Fairy (deep purple), Don't Blink Pink (bright pink), and Stoplight Red (bright blue-toned red) quite superior colors. I do not like the application because some of the colors get thick and clumpy as you apply. And while you get lots of color for each swipe (color pay off), I do not get too many colors that flatter my skin tone in this line. They are way too bright for my complexion. The four colors that I mentioned, with the exception of Don't Blink Pink, are darker bluer-toned or deep purple-toned lipsticks that are excellent on me.
Moreover, I do not like Elf lipsticks at all. While I can appreciate their colors and color range, the application and wear pretty much sucksss. Yes, sucks with three s's, or four if you count the first s. It's streaky. It bleeds. It clumps. It sits in the creases of my lips. It makes the skin of my lips peel. Even if a color is flattering on me (like the beautiful red color Fearless in their $0.99 collection), these lipsticks have the potential to ruin the texture of my lipsticks so bad that any lipstick that try on immediately afterwards, go on similarly. Fail.
Kleancolor is in-between for me. I pick up their products for $1 on shopmissa.com (a new favorite website of my mine). This brand has an exceptional application. It literally glides on to your lips. I place this application even superior to MAC application. It's good if you are into nudes, pinks, reds and purples. But I have only tried their Everlasting lipstick brand. I did not try their Femme lipstick brand (with blues and yellows), which has mixed reviews online. What I wish is that their everlasting brand came matte. I love their red Garnet color but it has a bit of a sheen. I don't mind sheen-y lipsticks but I would love that color in matte. The only issue with Kleancolor for me is that I am not a huge fan of their colors. Garnet is their most in-your-face color, and these are the type of colors I like. Super vibrant. Dark, deep or rich. Blue-toned. I am sure it's great for others who enjoy more toned down colors.
I can't speak too much to how long this wear unfortunately because I am doing a lot of this underground for now until I am ready to sprout like a flower. I wear my lipsticks out here and there and I am outside for maybe a couple hours. Of course after 2 hours, they all are still pretty much on your lips. But in a while I will be out and about longer and I will update on wear.
Alternatively new lipstick lovers can go to the MAC stores, where lipsticks go for $16 per bottle. You can sample different colors of lipsticks there at the store. Or you can splurge on a $60 lip palette with your choice of colors. Online they are currently doing free shipping on all orders. So I psyche myself out and tell myself "Oh, this is not *really* a $16 bottle; I am just paying $10 bucks for an excellent lipstick and $6 bucks for 'free shipping'"! Honestly, there is no lipstick brand better than MAC. Yes, the love for MAc is cultish. But it is sincerely well-deserved. There may be more colors somewhere else, maybe a single solitary better color somewhere else, or even a nicer, smoother application or wear somewhere else, but no brand has the magic that solidifies everything that a lipstick should be in all their products consistently. The best-selling red lipstick is MAC's Ruby Woo. And Russian Red is another fan favorite. Ruby Woo is a retro matte, which is especially drying, but looks absolutely fantastic on any skin complexion--a perfect finish. I am waiting on Flat out Fabulous!
Go and try on jewelry for your lips!
*Enjoy, comment, subscribe!
Lipstick is Jewelry
My latest obsession is lipstick. I have gone through many obsessions and this is just the latest. I will talk more about this later in my blog.
I am so drawn to lipsticks right now that it literally lowers my blood pressure and makes me feel happy and at ease no matter how stressed out I get with daily activities. Shopping for lipsticks on MACcosmetics.com, Jordanacosmetics.com, beautyjoint.com, cherryculture.com, walgreens.com or simply running to the local drugstore or dollar store to try on new lipsticks has been a slight...addiction. I am literally floating whenever I purchase a new color I am excited about!
It is quite exciting to be excited about something that I never thought I would be excited about. It feels like I am in an alternate reality. Like a video game. I feel brand-new. Like I have entered a new level. I feel as though I am about to enter into a new season in my life...and I am so ready!
As time goes on (and I get a better camera and lighting), I will display my ever-growing lipstick collection. Today I want to focus on a new mantra that I created: Lipstick is Jewelry.
Say it with me. Lipstick is Jewelry.
As I go through my beauty journey, I discover new things about all elements of beauty, and I will be sharing the new mottos I come up with as I explore.
The truth is, as I am discovering, is that lipstick can make your face pop. Lipstick can make your outfit pop. Lipstick can make your hairstyle pop. Lipstick can even make your eyes or your skin or your teeth pop. Now that I am really thinking about it, lipstick might be even *more* than jewelry.
It's all about finding the right color to match your skin complexion and your undertone.
(Pause. Didn't I sound pretty legitimate with that last statement? Shhh! I still have no clue whether I have a warm or cool undertone...but I intend to find out!)
Do not fail to try lipstick in its range of colors (purples, pinks, reds, oranges, browns, cherries, mauves, nudes, blues, yellows, etc). You may be surprised to find out which truly compliments you.
Now go out there and pop!
*Enjoy, comment, subscribe!
I am so drawn to lipsticks right now that it literally lowers my blood pressure and makes me feel happy and at ease no matter how stressed out I get with daily activities. Shopping for lipsticks on MACcosmetics.com, Jordanacosmetics.com, beautyjoint.com, cherryculture.com, walgreens.com or simply running to the local drugstore or dollar store to try on new lipsticks has been a slight...addiction. I am literally floating whenever I purchase a new color I am excited about!
It is quite exciting to be excited about something that I never thought I would be excited about. It feels like I am in an alternate reality. Like a video game. I feel brand-new. Like I have entered a new level. I feel as though I am about to enter into a new season in my life...and I am so ready!
As time goes on (and I get a better camera and lighting), I will display my ever-growing lipstick collection. Today I want to focus on a new mantra that I created: Lipstick is Jewelry.
Say it with me. Lipstick is Jewelry.
As I go through my beauty journey, I discover new things about all elements of beauty, and I will be sharing the new mottos I come up with as I explore.
The truth is, as I am discovering, is that lipstick can make your face pop. Lipstick can make your outfit pop. Lipstick can make your hairstyle pop. Lipstick can even make your eyes or your skin or your teeth pop. Now that I am really thinking about it, lipstick might be even *more* than jewelry.
It's all about finding the right color to match your skin complexion and your undertone.
(Pause. Didn't I sound pretty legitimate with that last statement? Shhh! I still have no clue whether I have a warm or cool undertone...but I intend to find out!)
Do not fail to try lipstick in its range of colors (purples, pinks, reds, oranges, browns, cherries, mauves, nudes, blues, yellows, etc). You may be surprised to find out which truly compliments you.
Now go out there and pop!
*Enjoy, comment, subscribe!
Friday, February 27, 2015
My Story II
I spent most of my life looking at girls and wondering why they were so flawless. Granted, I knew they all had flaws but their outward appearance was so, for lack of a better term, BOSS. I always wanted to be a boss.
But to me, those girls were magical. They knew how to "wake up like this". Thus, I figured I would keep my nose in my books and allow their sprinkledust to carry them off to the ball while I stayed behind in the forest.
Indeed I was in the forest. Lost. When it came to beauty, I tried to put one foot in front of the other. And I was going nowhere, walking in circles. Reason being, I was doing it quite passively. There was no intention. No purpose, No drive. It was haphazard. No direction. No passion.
In between all my other interests in life--whether that be research, travel, spirituality--beauty took a back seat. All the way back. In the trunk. So while girls were getting prepared for a life of flawlessness as early as middle school when they played dress up, improving in high school when they played with makeup, solidifying their tastes as they blazed the runway that is a college campus and ultimately becoming the divas they are today, I was into reading. About everything. Except beauty apparently.
Beauty, as a topic, never showed up on my radar ironically even though it passively interested me. I would pick up makeup here and there. And by here and there I actually mean once in 4 years. In short, I only knew about foundation, lip gloss and eyeshadow (and only after college), and at any time I usually had only one of them on. Which I guess is not so bad. Yay me!
Shopping was never an adventure for me. It was a means to an end. In fact, I used to breeze through the mall and find nothing. That was because I never had an intention of what I was looking for. I had no clue then that some people go into the mall with an outfit(s) or picking up a staple in mind. The mall was a very uninteresting place to me. I was a bit of an anti-shopping snob. And I could never understand how people could spend hours at the mall.
Forever, I thought it was magic that made other women stand out. But now I know that this is an industry. This is a trade. There are tricks to the trade. This is an intention. This is passion. This is an obsession. Beauty is a paint job to blur out the imperfections and enhance the superior features. Beauty is where you are the canvass. Beauty is nature, taking care of your skin and hair with nature's treasures to create a flawless look even as you sleep.
And now on my beauty journey, I am taking action. Unlike before where I passively threw something (anything) together, I want to actively create a pulled-together look. I want to establish my style. In fact, I want to know my style. And I am so grateful that you all will be joining me on this journey.
*Enjoy, comment, subscribe!
But to me, those girls were magical. They knew how to "wake up like this". Thus, I figured I would keep my nose in my books and allow their sprinkledust to carry them off to the ball while I stayed behind in the forest.
Indeed I was in the forest. Lost. When it came to beauty, I tried to put one foot in front of the other. And I was going nowhere, walking in circles. Reason being, I was doing it quite passively. There was no intention. No purpose, No drive. It was haphazard. No direction. No passion.
In between all my other interests in life--whether that be research, travel, spirituality--beauty took a back seat. All the way back. In the trunk. So while girls were getting prepared for a life of flawlessness as early as middle school when they played dress up, improving in high school when they played with makeup, solidifying their tastes as they blazed the runway that is a college campus and ultimately becoming the divas they are today, I was into reading. About everything. Except beauty apparently.
Beauty, as a topic, never showed up on my radar ironically even though it passively interested me. I would pick up makeup here and there. And by here and there I actually mean once in 4 years. In short, I only knew about foundation, lip gloss and eyeshadow (and only after college), and at any time I usually had only one of them on. Which I guess is not so bad. Yay me!
Shopping was never an adventure for me. It was a means to an end. In fact, I used to breeze through the mall and find nothing. That was because I never had an intention of what I was looking for. I had no clue then that some people go into the mall with an outfit(s) or picking up a staple in mind. The mall was a very uninteresting place to me. I was a bit of an anti-shopping snob. And I could never understand how people could spend hours at the mall.
Forever, I thought it was magic that made other women stand out. But now I know that this is an industry. This is a trade. There are tricks to the trade. This is an intention. This is passion. This is an obsession. Beauty is a paint job to blur out the imperfections and enhance the superior features. Beauty is where you are the canvass. Beauty is nature, taking care of your skin and hair with nature's treasures to create a flawless look even as you sleep.
And now on my beauty journey, I am taking action. Unlike before where I passively threw something (anything) together, I want to actively create a pulled-together look. I want to establish my style. In fact, I want to know my style. And I am so grateful that you all will be joining me on this journey.
*Enjoy, comment, subscribe!
My Story
I was a raised in a family of 5 kids, and my mom and dad never really took us shopping for clothes. My mom would buy me really oversized clothing (possibly to make the clothing last). And I would hate every minute of it, yet there was no change. And thus, I think from there I developed a lack of taste for style. Since my initial interest in looking at least slightly better by wearing clothes that were not oversized was squashed, I think I conditioned myself not to care about my appearance.
Therefore, I was consumed by my number one interest then: reading. And there is nothing like reading to make you forget yourself and the world around you. So, I fell deeper into an abyss of not caring about my look so long as there was a book on earth.
Of course, my style and look greatly suffered as a result. I did not know it then but now I do. I wore a similar outfit with similar shoes almost everyday.
As a child, I wore a uniform to school even though it was not a school that wore uniforms. Growing up, I might have owned exactly one pair of jeans. I did not wear dresses and skirts, as a matter of taste then because I became a bit of a tomboy.
I usually had one to two pairs of shoes because that was how I grew up. I carried a backpack with me almost everywhere I went...I knew little about purses.
I might have known about lip gloss. But I vaguely remember carrying vaseline in aluminum foil to keep my lips moisturized.
I had terribly dry skin and I had no idea how to take care of it, and I did not ask either. I simply did not know how to take care of my hair whatsoever. I always felt neutral about hair and only prayed that my older sister would have time to help me fix it up.
I got my first job at the library at the age of 16, and then I began to finally have the opportunity to choose my own clothing. But I knew nothing about clothing: size, fit, style, etc. Because I grew up wearing rather large clothing which I did not like, by the time I could buy my own clothes I started wearing tight clothing. Most of my wardrobe was ill-fitting because I thought it was cute.
And for 10 years, I went on like this. Now it's my turn to fit me. Along the way, I did learn things about size, style and fit but it was not until I started my beauty journey late last year that I began to put all of this very basic knowledge together to make it work for me in what is to become my personal style.
Literally, the start of my beauty journey has mostly been underground--meaning, I have only started to play dress-up and play with makeup now but only in my bedroom. I have only brought it out piece-by-piece (like a lippie here and a new hairstyle there but not altogether yet) to the public a couple times. But I want to start making it consistent and pull my look together. My goal is a polished, classic, stunning look.
I have been studying beauty and fashion intensely for months now. Passionate. I am a student to the world of beauty.
*Enjoy, comment and subscribe!
Therefore, I was consumed by my number one interest then: reading. And there is nothing like reading to make you forget yourself and the world around you. So, I fell deeper into an abyss of not caring about my look so long as there was a book on earth.
Of course, my style and look greatly suffered as a result. I did not know it then but now I do. I wore a similar outfit with similar shoes almost everyday.
As a child, I wore a uniform to school even though it was not a school that wore uniforms. Growing up, I might have owned exactly one pair of jeans. I did not wear dresses and skirts, as a matter of taste then because I became a bit of a tomboy.
I usually had one to two pairs of shoes because that was how I grew up. I carried a backpack with me almost everywhere I went...I knew little about purses.
I might have known about lip gloss. But I vaguely remember carrying vaseline in aluminum foil to keep my lips moisturized.
I had terribly dry skin and I had no idea how to take care of it, and I did not ask either. I simply did not know how to take care of my hair whatsoever. I always felt neutral about hair and only prayed that my older sister would have time to help me fix it up.
I got my first job at the library at the age of 16, and then I began to finally have the opportunity to choose my own clothing. But I knew nothing about clothing: size, fit, style, etc. Because I grew up wearing rather large clothing which I did not like, by the time I could buy my own clothes I started wearing tight clothing. Most of my wardrobe was ill-fitting because I thought it was cute.
And for 10 years, I went on like this. Now it's my turn to fit me. Along the way, I did learn things about size, style and fit but it was not until I started my beauty journey late last year that I began to put all of this very basic knowledge together to make it work for me in what is to become my personal style.
Literally, the start of my beauty journey has mostly been underground--meaning, I have only started to play dress-up and play with makeup now but only in my bedroom. I have only brought it out piece-by-piece (like a lippie here and a new hairstyle there but not altogether yet) to the public a couple times. But I want to start making it consistent and pull my look together. My goal is a polished, classic, stunning look.
I have been studying beauty and fashion intensely for months now. Passionate. I am a student to the world of beauty.
*Enjoy, comment and subscribe!
The Purpose of When Beauty Brings (out) the Bea(s)t
The mission of When Beauty Brings out the Beast is multiplicative. I am starting a beauty journey right now in my late 20s and I would like to bring you along for the trip. I finally feel like I am becoming who I am and who I am meant to be, and beautifying myself is like the gift wrap.
This journey prepares me for the next step in my life, in which I will have to step out and show myself. I would like to have the best presentation possible of myself. This will indeed be transformative for a little girl who once hated lipstick so much that she once told her mother that she would never, ever wear it. And now I own more lipstick than all my sisters and friends combined. A girl needs color, you know?
The title of this blog "When Beauty Brings (out) the Bea(s)t" holds a significant meaning to me. The use of the term "beast" is both positive and negative. In slang terms, being a "beast" can mean being the best at what one does (think Beyonce). (Ironically "beat" is slang for an awesome look). However, "beast" also refers to an ugly, scary creature. We all know that beauty can bring out both the best and the worst in ourselves and in one another. And thus, this blog will show both the positive and negative sides of personal, interpersonal and collective aspects of beauty and appreciating beauty in ourselves and in others.
This blog will follow me on my beauty journey--the ups and downs, the trials, successes and failures, and the experiences and opportunities. It will also speak generally to the topic of beauty and manners and how it impacts me personally and us as women. I will do product, brand and store reviews. I am interested in telling my story of how to look and feel great inside and out. I will also talk about how my other interests in life are related to my quest for beautifying myself. I hope to upload photos and videos for your viewing pleasure to really illuminate the journey as I go through it. Please do enjoy, comment and subscribe!
This journey prepares me for the next step in my life, in which I will have to step out and show myself. I would like to have the best presentation possible of myself. This will indeed be transformative for a little girl who once hated lipstick so much that she once told her mother that she would never, ever wear it. And now I own more lipstick than all my sisters and friends combined. A girl needs color, you know?
The title of this blog "When Beauty Brings (out) the Bea(s)t" holds a significant meaning to me. The use of the term "beast" is both positive and negative. In slang terms, being a "beast" can mean being the best at what one does (think Beyonce). (Ironically "beat" is slang for an awesome look). However, "beast" also refers to an ugly, scary creature. We all know that beauty can bring out both the best and the worst in ourselves and in one another. And thus, this blog will show both the positive and negative sides of personal, interpersonal and collective aspects of beauty and appreciating beauty in ourselves and in others.
This blog will follow me on my beauty journey--the ups and downs, the trials, successes and failures, and the experiences and opportunities. It will also speak generally to the topic of beauty and manners and how it impacts me personally and us as women. I will do product, brand and store reviews. I am interested in telling my story of how to look and feel great inside and out. I will also talk about how my other interests in life are related to my quest for beautifying myself. I hope to upload photos and videos for your viewing pleasure to really illuminate the journey as I go through it. Please do enjoy, comment and subscribe!
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