spring break

hooray for spring break week!

whether you're at a gorgeous beach resort or a fun amusement park with your family, make it the best spring break vacation ever! 

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shop spring break must-haves here :

beauty event

i am always excited when neiman's have their beauty event. shop for your favorite beauty products (you spend $125) and you get a bag filled with product samples. it's a great way to try out beauty products you normally don't prior to deciding what really works for you! it's currently ongoing online and it starts in stores today! below are some of my picks : 

naked nudes

one of the biggest trends for beauty this spring are nudes. i can easily rock nude lips, a swipe of taupe eyeshadow and neutral blush for a natural everyday look. 

i am excited that the latest take on the nudes involve a hint of rose gold, one of the biggest trend lately. here are a few of my nude makeup favorites :

1 // tarte's amazonian clay blush in exposed  -  a long lasting blush that gives a natural healthy flush to the cheeks.

2 // tom ford's lip color in sable smoke  - for my medium skin tone, this is the perfect nude lipcolor that does not wash me out. added bonus that this lipstick is super creamy offering great pigmentation and longevity.

3 // marc jacobs lust for lacquer lip vinyl in sweet escape - the formula on these lip glosses are amazing. it's like a hybrid creamy lipstick with the slick of a gloss. this particular shade is a lovely shimmering pale pink that's perfect alone or as a topper over a nude lipstick.

4 // marc jacobs hi-shine nail lacquer in baby jane - after all the dark polishes from the holidays, i am ready for some clean manicure with nude polish and this shade is the perfect beige.

5 // urban decay naked 3 eyeshadow palette - the latest addition to the naked palette series from UD, the rose-tinted eyeshadows are a great option to create several looks ranging from soft natural to even smokey eye looks with a rosegold base. loving it!

winter skin savers

the winter months bring out the worst in our skin. cold weather dryness leaves skin dehydrated, sensitive and parched. here are a few products that i use daily to combat just that :

1 // dior creme de rose lip balm ~ this heavy duty balm with a light rose scent is luxurious and does the job in hydrating your lips all day, all night. a bit pricey but all worth it!

2 // caudalie divine oil ~ talked about this oil before and it is a staple in my routine even during summer!

3 // josie maran whipped argan oil body butter ~ whipped argan oil sounds divine? well, it is. that vanilla apricot scent is a delightful sweet smell that's not too overwhelming.

4 // aquaphor ~ another staple in our home, aquaphor heals cuts, redness, severe dryness for any part of the body. used this on aston  for years as a baby and we still use it till now!

5 // michael todd jojoba charcoal facial scrub ~ i recently discovered this scrub and i use it to wash my face. it thoroughly cleanses but never leaves skin dry. instantly you feel your skin smoother yet tighter for a fresh clean feel. easily a new favorite!

6 // eucerin original healing lotion ~ another oldie but goodie that does the job all year round. you can read the full product review here.

7 // essie apricot cuticle oil ~ another key product for leaving nails and nailbeds looking and feeling healthy. and the heavenly apricot scent is divine!

 what are your favorite winter skin products?

evolution of smooth

let's talk EOS lip balms today. the generous PR team of EOS sent over samples that will last me season after season with these supply. i am obsessed with them! 

I can't resist them so they are making their way into my blog via an introduction (even if these are out in the market for awhile now) and a quick review. they come in a variety of flavors packaged in these soft touch, ergonomic, recyclable cute containers. some are limited edition flavors including a medicated anti-bacterial balm and a holiday collection.

all EOS balms are USDA-certified organic, 100% natural formula (except for the medicated formula which i will talk more towards the end of this post) enriched with shea butter and jojoba oil for lasting moisture that softens and smooth lips. they are petroleum-free, paraben-free, gluten-free.

first up is this 3-pack Holiday Collection in an ornament-inspired package with winter graphic embossing. they are the perfect stocking stuffer or secret santa gift!

it feature flavors vanilla bean (limited edition), sweet mint and pomegranate raspberry. they are absolutely yummy smelling and the flavors are not strong at all. i love that it does not feel slippery or tacky on the lips yet still hydrating and moisturizing.

i adore that it is packaged ornament-style perfect for the holidays!

next up is the limited edition Passion Fruit smooth sphere lip balm in the prettiest lavender color. it is currently available for the holiday season.

what i love with all these EOS balms is that they claim all these flavors but they are subtle and mild and if you are sensitive to strong odors or flavors, you will really like them. and that's what i love about these balms.

this is a staple in my bag along with my everyday makeup stash. i always apply a balm before my lipstick. helps to keep lips nourished to prevent dryness especially during cold and winter months.

lastly, right on my bedside table is the new Tangerine medicated Anti-Bacterial lip balm in the bright yellow sphere packaging. safe to use daily, this balm provides medicated relief and helps prevent bacterial contamination on lips.

it's formulated with antioxidants, zinc, vitamins C and E, shea butter and jojoba oil. this also helps alleviate symptoms of cold sores. it's 95 % natural and the key ingredients for this formula are : 0.5% phenol which provides anti-bacterial and germ fighting protection with antiseptic properties, and a healthy blend of zinc honey, natural fruit and green tea extracts, vitamins A, C and E.

EOS balms are available at target, evolution of smooth, CVS, walgreens, ULTA and drugstore

thank you once again to the generous PR team of EOS for providing me samples for review. as per usual, all reviews are my own honest opinion.

~ all images by SCF

little luxuries

my ultimate luxury would be a day in the spa, a personal chef to attend to our meals at home, a personal trainer and a color-coded closet. hahaha, a girl can dream right? but i can certainly settle for the above mini luxuries as well.

1 // la mer lip balm - i am dying to try this. i have heard good things about it.

2 // tom ford cheek brush - softest brush that is a must for your makeup brushes lineup.

3 // hermes blanket - the blanket's H logo is an understated elegant statement for any room.

4 // guerlain lipstick - a lipstick that's moisturizing and packaged in a cool-looking case that mimics a james bond gadget. love that it has a mirror!

5 // diptyque candle - mimosa is a sophisticated scent but any of the diptyque candle scents are just as divine.

6 // hermes notebook - hermes is the ultimate in leather luxury and a little notebook wrapped in buttery leather goodness is a chic accessory to be toting.

7 // jo malone - their latest peony and blush suede scent  is a fresh sensual smell that's in my wishlist for the holidays.


HAPPY MONDAY WISHES TO ALL!

about face

i struggled with adult cystic acne for years after college and i still do get breakouts every month or so. it's hormonal and no matter how i take good care of my skin daily, they manage to pop out and annoy the hell out of me. 

i have been on proactive for years and it has controlled the breakouts but i feel that it hardly ever works anymore. my skin needed to switch out cleansing and medicating regimens to keep my acne at bay. here are a few products i've been loving lately :

ole henriksen wipes // on days that i feel lazy to wash my face, i use these refreshing wipes to remove makeup. it does a good job of erasing makeup traces on my face. it has a citrusy scent that's fresh and it has age-defying properties and vitamin c that's beneficial to skin. it leaves skin moisturized and smooth. 

bioderma solution // i love using this solution to remove tough waterproof eye makeup by soaking cotton and leaving them on my eye area for a few minutes then wipe them off. i also use this sometimes as a toner after cleansing and this particular solution (sebium H2O) is for oily skin. 

juice beauty organics to clear skin set // i wash my face with this set's cleansing gel every night (i'm not a big fan of the scent) but it leaves skin really squeaky clean. then i follow with the blemish clearing serum and apply them on affected areas on my face. the mask i use once a week and i also use the moisturizer daily that's part of this set. it is indeed a great value set! 

queen helene mint julep masque // i use this masque as a spot treatment for deep cystic acne. it dries it out quickly and does a great job of decreasing it's swelling and inflammation. i find it especially effective if you apply it to the spot right before it exacerbates. the minute i feel that a pimple is developing, i apply this right away! very inexpensive too!

smith's rosebud salve // i can't neglect my lips. this lip ointment hydrates and moisturizes my lips like no other. i regularly apply this before going to bed and before i apply my lipstick. 

so, if you have oily troubled skin like mine - try out any of these products and see if it works for you! 

tory burch beauty

 tory burch's most awaited beauty collection is finally here! 

you can get the complete line in stores and online starting today! 

here's a peek at the gorgeous beauty line - the packaging looks luxurious and elegant. the line includes a lipstick, blush/bronzer, bath products, a brush, a lip/cheek tint duo and a signature scent. i wish there were more color selection but it's a very well-edited beauty line debut that i think the products are worth a try. 

i have yet to check them out myself. i hope the makeup will be pigmented and will feel creamy on skin or lips. something you'd expect from luxury beauty products. i am also excited to sniff her perfume (which i did on a magazine sample but sometimes they all smell alike if it's in magazine page - you know what i mean?) and can't wait to see the lasting power of the scent and the makeup products. 

you can shop for the entire beauty line HERE. 

beauty finds

thought i'd share some beauty products i have on rotation this season. some of my best finds are from the local drugstore and a few fancy ones as well. best to feature them here side by side for comparison!

dr. jart bb cream + maybelline bb cream
chanel vertigo + essie bordeaux
maybelline age rewind concealer + ysl eclat 
clarisonic + olay
kate moss for rimmel + tom ford

midweek musings

well, let me just start this post by sharing some unforeseen events in our little home. right before the new year, my husband discovered a leak in his closet from our masterbath shower and needless to say, we are in the midst of having this fixed right now.

it's not what i wished our 2013 to kick off with but i know there are other people with far more problems than us, so i can't help but still feel blessed that we have found out about this issue at an early stage. it's just such a hassle and as you can see (pic below) there is no way we are hanging around ~ we have relocated upstairs in the meantime. 

in other lighter news, our friends and blog sponsor, skincare rx sent me a few goodies last week. these are definite 2 must-haves : oscar blandi dry shampoo spray and nars super orgasm blush (highly pigmented and lots of glitter than the regular orgasm blush). these are my new daily products i use before i head out the door!

in yet another recent trip to target, i discovered this really adorable mug and more colorful paper straws (like i really need them....). oh well, they're cute!

and more target finds, these pretty in pink craft items went home with me in the hopes of starting valentine's day crafting.....

and more paper goodness at the target dollar bins. they are rolls of wrapping paper in these beautiful trellis and tiny hearts pattern! 

people, valentine's day is just a few weeks away! 

and remember those notebooks i blogged about last week? see how pretty they are together? not to mention the tempting sprinkles cupcake? can't resist! 

and finally, it's my birthday month - so i stopped by sephora and picked up a tube of dr.jart bb cream and my birthday gift, a duo set of mini benefit products! 

and that benefit fine one one (another new favorite - a lip and cheek tint) is from birchbox that also came in the mail that same day! what a way to kick-off my birthday month! 

so like i said earlier, i still feel lucky despite us having to deal with a major setback due to unexpected house repair. i still can't stop counting my blessings everyday. our family is healthy, i've got them and my friends and these little treats are just added bonus we get to enjoy! 

here's hoping your wednesday is off to a good start!

birchbox + goop

if you are not familiar with birchbox, you are missing out at an awesome monthly beauty program subscription. birchbox promises about 5 pieces of sample luxurious beauty products (occasionally full sized too) for you to try every month for $10. sometimes they add surprise lifestyle products in it which i love. to subscribe, click HERE. 

this month, birchbox teamed with gwyneth's lifestyle site goop to handpick products to try. and i have a bad habit of checking out what i will receive in my box ahead of time by clicking through the link (can't wait) and anticipate with excitement. here's what i'm getting :

chantecaille brilliant gloss // marie veronique anti-aging oil // DDF wrinkle resist plus pore minimizer // 

luna bar // beauty blender 

i'm busy tracking my box as it has already shipped!

birch box report

i am excited to report on this month's march birchbox sponsored by TEEN VOGUE. i've posted about birchbox previously in my facebook page and i've tweeted about them but in case you haven't signed up yet or just needed to know about it, here's the breakdown of this monthly beauty program :

"Four to five hand-picked deluxe samples delivered to your door for $10 per month."
to join, click HERE. 

{ here's what i got in the mail }

this month, birchbox teamed up with the editors of TEEN VOGUE & have them handpick items to be featured in this month's box (you can opt to do the regular box, if you like - i tried the special box this time even though i'm no longer a teen ~ ha!)

• tarte lip stain - i love the feel of how moisturizing this lipcolor is on my lips! 
• a full-sized essie luxeffects nailpolish - i am excited to try this! 
• twistband hair ties - i already own a bunch & a brightly colored red one is a perfect addition! 
• shisheido oil-control blotting papers 10 pcs - i LOVE anything from this brand! 
• annick goutal petite cherie sample - smells heavenly! 
• a modcloth discount coupon code - can't wait to peruse the shopping site! 

if you'd like to try, here's how to join!