The Eyes That Bling on the New Years

Granted this will be my last post until the new year and I have to finish with a bang! In this quick demonstration, I put up tips on how to achieve smokey eyes for that your New Years party tomorrow. I know it's a little late, but if you read this tonight, then you'll at least have tomorrow to practice!

Having a good brush set helps a lot. Luckily for me, the lovely staff from Coutouture sent me (and other bloggers as well) a kit from Sephora and it helps so much in comparison to my brushes from Target.


It comes with every brush needed to achieve a simple smokey look, mascara, and a little chart. You can get it at Sephora at a pretty affordable price, considering MAC makeup brushes can run for $40 each. I imagine having the brush set along with Pop's smokey eye set will do wonders to your eyes, but for right now, I prefer my Smashbox eyeshadow.


First thing's first, prep your eyes to prevent creasing, smudging, and melting. I did put a little concealer and blended it all around my eyelids and under my eyes, also, I took a cream eye shadow and put it where I wanted my eyeshadow. I use this old product that Revlon had ages ago, but you can use any type of greasy, creamy eye shadow as a base.


Using the big shader brush, I cover it in a pinkish color from Smashbox's eyelights collection, 'Beam'. Then, I pat the color over the base, ensuring that it sticks to the creamy eye shadow. This way, the color has something to hold onto and your base is set.


With the dome brush, (I took the eye shadow picture with the wrong brush, and was too lazy to take another picture with the right one) I light tap it into my darkest color from the Smashbox trio sex, 'On Stage', and push it into my crease and slowly work the color in. You can vary how heavy or dark you want your eyes to be. Usually after this step, I like to take a q-tip and smudge over the dark and blend it into the first color used.


Using the middle brush, the shader, I tap it into the first color I used and a color slightly darker than that to blend in the darkest color and the first color, giving my eyes a small gradient. Hopefully, that makes a little sense. It's all a matter of playing with your colors until you achieve what you like. This is about the amount of 'smokiness' my face can handle before I look like a 12 year old hooker.


I know the last brush is a liner, but I ran out of Sephora brushes to use for the lightest color: white. Putting white in the corner of your eye and underneath your eyebrow helps contour your eyes making them pop and finishing your color palette.


Next, I run eye liner at the top of my eyelashes, making sure I get in between each lash and run it along the bottom. Don't wear a lot on the bottom, because as your night continues, the eyeliner from your top lash will rub up against your bottom lash. After two hours of applying your makeup, your eyes look perfectly smokey.


I usually put on 2-3 coats of mascara, but in this picture I only put on one. I say, load it up! I love thick, mascara lashes. Though, I'll be wearing falsies for my New Years Party.


Keep the rest of your makeup simple. For my blush, I put on a pale pink of 'Deep Throat' by NARS. Smile and wave.


And for my lips, Viva Glam II along with the finished look. Don't be fooled by the picture which does no justice to how smokey my eyes looked in person.

I hoped that helped! Have a FABULOUS New Years, stay safe, PLEASE don't drink and drive and wear a fat, gaudy cocktail ring.

See you next year!

The 15 Beauty Secrets

It's been a long time since I've written a beauty post... also somewhat refreshing since blog posts are becoming redundant. Though it's not my actual tips, these are very, very clever ones and definitely the "secret of the trade" type. Listed are my favorite fifteen, but you can read the rest here. I also took the liberty of posting my own commentary in italics.

Skin reviver. If you have jet-lagged or hungover skin, makeup artists swear by gel cloth masks like SK-II's Facial Treatment Mask. After cleansing, leave one on for as long as you can. There's no mud, no rinsing to remove gunk -- just a fuss-free mask that livens up your skin and saturates it with moisture.

Makeup on the run. If you don't have time for full-on eye makeup on a night out, try this: Dip your finger in a pot of waxy lip balm, then scribble a little dark eyeliner on top of the balm. Gently rub the finger into the roots of your top lashes and finish with mascara . . . the smearier, the better!
(I used to do this... still do actually... with chapstick or lipgloss. If my makeup is wearing dreary before a night's out, I would rub lipgloss or chapstick over my eyelid and rub dark eyeshadow over. Instant oomph!)

Smooth hands. Don't throw out used ground coffee -- it makes a great hand exfoliator. After it has cooled, place in a plastic bag in the fridge. Twice a week, scoop out a teaspoon and rub on your hands before rinsing and applying your usual cream.
(I say why stop at your hands when you can bring a whole lot into the shower for a full body exfoliation! Maybe if you have a friend that works at the coffee shop, ask them to save you leftover grounds. When I worked at Starbucks, my mom made me save the used grounds for her plants... go figure)

Beat puffiness. Splashing your face with iced water in the morning will reduce puffiness. But did you know that if you hold an ice cube against the roof of your mouth with your tongue, the chill will help reduce facial puffiness from the inside out?

Polish fixer. Splash a drop of olive oil over freshly painted nails. This forms a protective film over the polish, encouraging it to dry more quickly and stop smudging. Alternatively, transform grubby nails by rubbing chalk under the tips with a nail brush to give a French manicured look.

Home trim. You can trim your own fringe, but do it dry and with proper hairdressing scissors. Divide your fringe into three sections, grab the first one, pull it straight up and twist. Snip into the ends with the point of the scissors, cutting diagonally so each strand varies a little in length. Drop the section to see where it falls, then twist and cut more if necessary. Pull up the next section, matching it to the length of the first and so on. You've just added a few more weeks to your cut!
(I really sucked at cutting my own bangs, and my hairdresser could tell and would scold me everytime. So to prevent the hairdressers' frustration and health hazards of overwhelming pet peeves, some salons do it for free. Particularly Toni & Guy, ahem.)

Silky legs. If you suffer from ingrown hairs following hair removal, get into the Nivea Creme habit. Ingrown problems should become a thing of the past with a daily application as dry skin causes hair to imbed. Nivea helps to retain moisture, meaning existing hairs pop out and new ones don't appear.

Face saver. Revive a tired complexion by going hot and cold. Soak your face cloth in warm water with a few drops of Dr. Hauschka Lemon Bath, which softens hard water and revitalizes you and your skin. Apply the compress to your face for a few seconds -- repeat and do your usual cleansing regime. Complete with a cool splash -- this contrast in temperature strengthens the skin. The warmth stimulates the delivery of oxygen to the surface, while the cool helps eliminate toxins and closes pores.
(The bottle is about $30 on Amazon. I wonder how this will work with real lemons? Does anyone want to put it to the test?)

Bright smile. Before a wedding or party where you're going to be photographed, rub the juicy side of cut strawberries across your front teeth to brighten them.

Get rid of shine. Caught yourself in the pub mirror with skin like an oil slick? Don't panic. That nasty hard toilet paper makes an excellent blotter! Simply tear off a corner and press on to your skin to soak up shine.
(Is anyone besides me guilty of using toilet seat covers for face blotching? I am! And I totally recommend it. I mean, only if you're really desperate. Kind of off topic but just today, James was introduced to those blue oil botching sheets. You know the ones I'm talking about. It's a super sensitive light blue sheet and a little pat on the skin leaves an embarrassing dark blue imprint. Yeah, that one. He got a huge kick out of it: "Hah, I have less oil than you." Gosh, everything is a competition with him...)

Baby-soft feet. For beautiful feet, use Benefit "Touch Me Then Try to Leave" cream. Rub all over, then wrap in cling wrap, put socks on, and leave overnight for totally soft skin by morning. Do this once a week, and your feet will be gorgeous by sandal season.
(I want to try this with my legs and arms using basic Aveeno moisturizing lotion. Tonight.)

Don't be flaky. Dandruff? Crush up an aspirin and mix it with your regular shampoo. Properties in the painkiller will calm the dry scalp and save you splashing out on special brands.

Hair tamer. A small tube of hand cream in your handbag can fix a bad hair day. In winter, rub a tiny amount on your hands and smooth over your head to eliminate static and hat hair. Come summer, running a tiny amount through your hair with fingertips will tame frizz.

Easy polish. For a hassle-free DIY pedicure, apply base coat and two coats of color a few hours before bed (don't bother trying to keep within the lines) and top off with glossy top coat. Next morning in the shower, you'll find you can easily scrape off any stray polish with your fingernails -- and voila! -- perfect toes.

Natural glow. To fake the natural look, dab some cream blush on the apples of your cheeks, then apply light foundation or tinted moisturizer over the top to the flushed-from-within look.

These are just some of my favorites, my other beauty tips are much too obvious to really deserve recognition (eg. drink lots of water, eyelash curlers do wonders, avocado mask etc..), so what are some of yours?

The Underwater Love

I'm sure you've heard that scent is the strongest sense tired to our memory. It's a good way to make your presence remembered, whether you're slightly brushing your arm against a hot stranger (when you're really implying that you want to caress him), or making that first outstanding impression. For me, a quick whiff of Abercrombie and Fitch (ugh.) takes me back to 2004 in the arms of my boyfriend; lavender reminds me of my mom.

When you're picking out perfume, don't be so impulsive about it. Give it a quick spritz on your arm and let your body chemistry react to it. Some perfumes will last longer on your than it does others. Just because it smells good on someone else, doesn't mean it'll have that your body will react the same way.

I picked out a few of my favorites, and I really could continue to ramble on about each perfume and it's layers of scent, but I rather not.



Miss Dior Chérie has been out for a while, but it has always been my favorite perfume. I never purchased it, but I can't help to spray it on every time I see it in a department store. Besides, that touch of strawberry sorbet really grasps it for me.



After I run out of my current bottle of Vera Wang Princess, I am definitely investing in Daisy. I love how you can't label it as sweet or musky or fruity -- it'll all the above, but done in the most brilliant way possible. Oh Marc, you are a man after my heart. Not to mention, the bottle is adorably divine.



When Vera Wang came out with this perfume last year, it was a hit. It was the first thing on my birthday wishlist, and it was the first gift I received. My boyfriend absolutely loves this on me, I have to say, my body chemistry loves Vera Wang. The pink guava blends really well into my skin and it drives my boyfriend off the edge. It'll be hard to convert to Daisy since this is my signature scent.



Gwen Stefani just came out this this perfume not too long ago. A representative at Bloomingdale's smothered me with a few samples. I've worn it our a few times and I got a lot of compliments on it. Also, I love how you can smell the pear, but it's not overwhelming -- it pairs well with the musk.



Aside from lavender, Chanel also reminds me of my mother. The perfume is so sophisticated for all ages! That, my friends, deserves a huge quantum of respect.

Those are my top 6 perfumes, and I'm sure I'm missing a few. My absolute favorite cologne is Marc Jacobs. If you have a boyfriend, buy it for him for his birthday or Christmas. I swear, when my boyfriend wears the after shave, it drives me crazy.

But not that you have an idea of what my taste in perfume is, and maybe a better understanding for your next perfume shopping spree, here's a few tips about perfume.

1. Think pulse points: wrists, neck, behind your earlobes, cleavage area. Having perfume on those areas will kind of stay on more because the hot spots keep activating it and stimulating the scent.
2. You can keep your perfume fresh by keeping it away from heat and light. Placing your perfume bottle in the fridge helps a lot too, it slows down the oxidation process.
3. Don't apply to your clothes, some perfumes can leave stains.
4. After you spray on the perfume, don't rub it around, it breaks the scent. Instead, let it slowly dry onto your skin for a most lasting impression.

So, what's your favorite perfume? What are you wearing right now? Have any perfumes in particular that you're eyeing in time for Christmas?

frugal beauty

To begin, I’m not writing this beauty post to preach and rave about my daily beauty routines, in fact, I’m dead tired of my products and haven’t grown out of any the past few years. Yes, I’ve been using generally the same products for years. Most of these worked wonders for me the first time around, which is why I stuck to it.

But after hanging out with some makeup wizards and having them point out my ‘beauty-nevers’, it made me take a long hard look at my long years of routine and habit. I did all sorts of horrible things: lightly brush black $2 eyeliner to my brows, flat iron my hair every day without a heat protectant, put layers of mascara on till it clumps, neglect to use body lotion, awful, awful things.

I really need something new. So here are some of my favorites, feel free to make suggestions. Who knows, maybe some of mine will be of help to you!

Bobby Brown Concealer This is probably one of my favorite concealers used to date. It’s easy to apply and doesn’t leave your skin flakey on the dry parts (which is a case for me around my t-zone). It’s clay based, so it helps absorb oil. But what makes this my favorite is how the creamy texture helps blend into my skin without leaving orange streaks. Sadly, since I only wear concealer, I can easily go through a tube in a few months, and it’s a little pricey to replace often.	Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion Love this. I don’t think I’ve ever tried a (affordable) moisturizer that works so well. I’ve been using it for years, and I don’t think that’s going to change. It moisturizes extremely well without making my skin feel greasy or clogged. My only concern is that my t-zone is extremely dry no matter how much lotion I apply to it. The consultant said I should use a specific lotion that is for combination skin; I find that when I give those a try, it doesn’t give my skin enough oomph, and I’m stuck with skin that feels stretched. Any suggestions? Though, I did use some of my mom Le Mer cream and that worked for my dry spot-treatments, but we can no longer afford that stuff.
Aveeno Foaming Cleanser I can’t even tell you how long I’ve used this as my face cleanser. I took a quick liking because it took off all traces of makeup, and that’s all I needed. It’s very gentle on the skin and after a few uses, I did notice my skin begin to glow and even out. A few years later, I’m either jaded or immune because I started to rotate between four – FOUR – different cleaners. Apparently, that’s really bad for your skin. I think my favorite cleanser I’ve used was by Clinque (a 3 step system, I think). It’s pricier than department store brands, but sort of within my price range. However, I would love to take some department store suggestions.	Big Lips, Skinny Hips I received a tube from my friend Jenna who works under Purple Lab. I was a little skeptical at first because I afraid of lipgloss: the way wind blows hair to your lips, that annoying feeling of something on your lips, and just the overdone glossy look. This however, is very light, with a natural tint and sheen to the gloss, which works better for me. Can’t say I’ll ever convert to a lip-gloss girl though, but if you are one of those girls, definitely try it.
Fekkai Coif Lifting and Texturizing Hair Gel Spray I don’t really use hair products. To make matters worse, I don’t even care what shampoo I use; if it’s on TV and in Target, it belongs in my bathroom. I got a small Coif sample that has lasted me a while and has me interested in hair products again. This one is great because it actually does what it says… lifts and texturizes! Without any products, my hair will fall flat by the end of the day, and while I used to like it, hair with body is just so much better. Now, any cheaper alternatives?	Lancome Fatale Mascara My friend Christine gave this to me since the no-brush wand scared her; it’s a comb. Personally, I like it – a lot. There’s a triangular groove that requires your own technique for efficiency. The groove holds a heap of that mascara stuff, so I rub that part on my eyelashes and then comb it out. Would I go out and buy the $24 tube for myself? Probably not. I can imitate the same lashes with the cheap mascara that comes in the infamous pink tube.
Clinique Pore Minimizer I’m convinced this is Jesus disguised as a makeup product. Being a non-believer in foundation and powder, this product is insanely perfect for evening out skin, covering pores, and diminishing shine with a natural finish. I find that this also works really well when you put it over concealer to make sure it stays put all day. Did I also mention that the tube is ever-lasting?! I’ve had it for a year and it’s still pumping.	MAC Lipstick in Cyber and Blankety In the previous post below, a lot of you asked what lip color I’m wearing. It’s CYBER! It’s so beautiful and intimidating. I assure you though, if you try it on sparingly, you will find that it’s actually a beautiful deep, berry color. The harsh black lips only comes when you apply several coats. It generally looks better on pale skin, which is why I’ve made sure to stray away from the sun this summer. Pale is the new tan. Religiously, Blankety by MAC is my favorite daily color. I can’t do without a nude lip; it’s me. Do check it out though!

P.S. I'm sorry some of the wording is cut off. I can't figure out how to fix it... for now you will just have to copy and paste the text to a notepad if you want to read it. Sorry for the trouble!

The Dream Walking Society

Well, hello my friends.
How's your day going?
Is it hot where you are?
cause it sure is here....
not really liking it! haha

Well, on a positive note, just finished another painting in my "Series on Love".
I'm having way too much fun on this series!
Thank you, thank you, to everyone who has been sending me inspiration for the series!
It's really helping me :)

Oh, also yesterday, i started a site with my friend Stacy called "The Dream Walking Society".
The site is full of dreamlike images and videos and music, etc.
The name came about cause I've always wanted to figure out a way to travel in my dreams into my friend's dreams...
haha i know that sounds silly, but it's true.
So that's how the Dream Walking Society came about.
Click here if you want to check it out!
Let me know what you think ;)

white out the blacked out

I know that I can never pull this off, but I am so desperately in love with Daul Kim's new hair. Seriously, people who pull of peroxide blonde hair are badass. I need serious envy control everytime I see Kristin's hair.



Iliketoforkmyself

Nars Fall 09 - TO DIE FOR!!!!

Beige,Gold,Lavender,Deep purple???? GIMME MORE!


Ruby

Vlada Roslyakova - Vogue Nippon Beauty

Magazine: Vogue Nippon Beauty (September 2006)
Model: Vlada Roslyakova
Photographer: Ben Hassett

Hello Friends!
Well sorry for the long absence from posting.
I've been painfully swamped on projects, and have been working non-stop.
i'm really happy to show you this new painting.
I love Vlada & Vogue Nippon, and Ben Hassett's photo was incredible.
Just seemed like a perfect photo to paint.
I really hope you like it :)

OPI Matte Collection !!

YAY !!
6 COLORI : Russin Navy, Lincoln Park After Dark, You Don't Know Jacques!, Alpine Snow, La Paz-Itively Hot & Gargantuan Green Grape
Mi servono tutti !!! ( tranne il verde ... )

Flor

Clearly models are NOT like us....

Look how harsh is the contrast with the lady in the blue coat...OUCH!!!


Ruby