anniversary sale

it's that time of the year ~ nordstrom's anniversary sale is here! 

today, nordstrom rewards card holders have early access to shop for the anniversary sale and limited edition exclusive beauty products. if you're not a rewards member, don't fret - you can still access and mark your favorites and shop for them on july 17th! 

but if you'd like to sign up with nordstrom rewards card, you can sign up here & shop early! 

happy shopping! 

summer essentials $ 50 and under

hello summer!

shop summer's budget essentials :
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summer beauty edit

SUMMER BEAUTY CHECKLIST

CLEANSE

purity made simple cleanser - does not leave skin over dry
ole henricksen cleansing cloths - great to remove makeup on the go
simple micellar water - a more inexpensive & accessible version of the bioderma

TONE TREAT MOISTURIZE

nuxe toning lotion - very gentle and smells like roses
paula's choice 5% benzoyl peroxide - the only lotion that only controls my hormonal breakout
algenist eye balm - very hydrating under the eye and also helps with puffiness
sunday riley good genes - i alternate this with my benzoyl peroxide treatment to treat and brighten skin
embryolisse lait creme - a great moisturizer especially during the drier winter months. it's thick yet sinks in the skin quickly and even the husband loves it!
elta md sunscreen SPF 46 - my favorite sunscreen that's very light and has great skin protecting properties

PREP & PRIME

urban decay concealer - a new favorite in the concealer game. a full coverage yet lightweight concealer
smashbox primer water - a refreshing way to prepare and moisturize skin before makeup
beauty blender - one of my favorite tools for a flawless finish
first aid beauty eye duty triple remedy - an eye cream that i also use as a brightener/concealer

BRONZE & BRIGHTEN

anastasia contour kit - the perfect palette to bronze and contour
hourglass ambient powder palette - the only powder trio you need. obsessed with it.
becca shimmering skin perfector - gives the skin a natural healthy glow without overdoing it

COLOR

chanel cream blush - a long lasting cream blush that just melts in the skin
dior lip glow - a lip balm that creates your own unique color plus it's got SPF 10
tom ford eye and cheek - ok, i've included this here because i am lusting over it. possibly the only palette-on-the-go you need for when you're traveling!
benefit roller lash mascara - no need to curl your lashes with this mascara. love it!

do share your summer beauty favorites!

for mom

the countdown to mother's day is on and
i can't believe it's less than two weeks away!

here's my mother's day gift guide list :

candle / necklace / cookbook / cuffs / makeup
perfume / clutch / bag tag / artwork / tea set (similar) / sun skincare 

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wait!
here's more mother's day gift ideas for you :

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saks beauty event

 it is spring beauty event once again. if you shop at saks beauty counters (and online) and spend $125, you get this beautiful tote filled with samples from some of your favorite beauty brands. use code BEAUTYW2 when ordering online.

i ordered a few items last week and i'm hoping to get them today. i am excited to try this concealer and primer that are holy grail status for some. now is the perfect time to try products you have not tried before and the ideal time to stock up on your daily beauty and skincare essentials. and great bonus that you get to go home with a free tote and goodies! 

here are my picks for spring : 

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winter skin care

let's talk beauty and skin today. the cold and freezing weather does make my skin extremely dry all over. to combat all that, i have an arsenal of products i swear by. keep in mind that these routine change up depending how my skin is acting but mostly, these are what i use to keep them moist and hydrated everyday. 

1 / my current skin cleanser is the gentle purity facial cleanser. it cleanses skin without drying it

2 / i love applying a bit of that cleanser onto my wet konjac sponge. it helps to deep cleanse without overly irritating my skin

3 /  my new favorite lip balm hands down is the malin + goetz mojito lip balm. keeps my lips soft and supple for hours!

4 / i have added an argan oil product to my skin routine. i learned of a great tip to add a drop of this oil on to my makeup foundation before application for a smoother soft focus finish. i also love to mix a drop of argan oil to my toner and pat it directly to my face. instant hydration!

5 / i have read about the embryolisse moisturizer from beauty bloggers and all the rave about is true. it has a slightly thick consistency but absorbs quickly in the skin. i love wearing it under my foundation and i use it as a night cream before bedtime.

6 / i love using a tinted moisturizer, a cc cream or a bb cream in the winter for that added skin care benefits and coverage as well. the it cc cream has medium to full coverage and lasts all. day. long. i suggest you try it!

7 / this shower oil is the last thing i slather on before i step out of the shower. i love it more than applying lotion after. i love the scent and it keeps skin smooth despite the frigid weather.

8 / a hand creme is always a staple in my handbag, inside my car and my desk. this a cult favorite and i have several tubes of them all over the house and in the office.



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girl crush

i enjoy watching youtube videos and this girl crush feature today is on jamie,  a talented young makeup artist with wicked video editing skills. i love her beauty product reviews and makeup tutorials. check out her fun videos below :

valentine's day : gift guide

top L-R  butterfly crystal / sweatshirt / necklace / print
middle L-R  sneakers / earrings / cologne / crossbody bag
bottom L-R  candle / envelope / compact / piggy bank

top L-R  men's cologne / biker jacket / bracelet / sneakers
middle L-R  messenger bag / travel kit / gingham shirt / foldable headphones
bottom L-R  weather station / bowtie (similar) / boxers

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beauty friends and family sale

it's that time of the year that everything is 20% OFF at beauty.com! 

it always unheard of when beauty brands especially skin care products go on sale and with 20% savings, that's a great time to stock up on beauty essentials! 

it's also the perfect time to grab holiday gift items for loved ones and girlfriends! hurry sale ends friday 11/7 (no discount code needed) ! 

CLEANSE
caudalie cleansing milk / koh gen do water cloths

TONE
paula's choice pore reducing toner / dr. haushka facial toner

MOISTURIZE
philosophy hope in a jar / first aid beauty restore cream

SPF + COLOR
bare minerals foundation
nars tinted moisturizer
tarte amazonian clay blush
nars smokey eye kit
nars audacious lipstick 
eyeko black magic mascara
butter london nail lacquer

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my 5 fall favorites

1 // my of the moment scent, jo malone's wood sage and sea salt cologne. a perfect blend of earthy, slightly musky and fresh air that's invigorating!

2 // the classic burberry check in an updated modern poncho is this season's must-have wrap. of course, it's out of stock online.

3 // i am addicted to the new nars audacious lipsticks especially in the shade anna,  a gorgeous dark mauve perfect for the fall!

4 // this nike sneakers with a retro vibe takes me back to fun high school days. it comes in two other great color combo!

5 // our home is smelling like a mix of a bakery and starbucks and i'm loving it! thanks to these candles!


what are your fall favorites????

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beauty event

it's neiman's beauty event again! spend $125 and get a gorgeous tote filled with beauty samples! 

here are my top beauty picks :

SKIN CARE 

HAIR CARE

FRAGRANCE

MAKEUP

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my fall picks : under $ 100

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nude lips

this summer i have been loving the look of nude lips and a smokey eye. for daytime, switching out the dark smokey eye with a lined eye look is also perfect paired with nude lips, matte or glossy. 

i have an arsenal of nude lipsticks ranging from pinky, peachy, rosy and brown nudes. but this trio below is something i want to try! 

and here's a list of some of my favorite nude lip products high-end and drugstore. 

pinky nudes : 

tom ford pink dusk

estee lauder pure color envy impulsive 

maybelline born with it

chanel rouge coco shine boy

peachy beige nudes : 

elf matte lip color in nearly nude

mac freckletone

burberry lip cover nude rose

nars satin lip pencil biscayne park

what are your favorite nude lip products? 

photo source 1, 2, 3 

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budget beauty buys

1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5 // 6 // 7 // 8

i love my drugstore beauty products as much as my high end ones. at a great price point, these products perform just as well in my opinion. my favorite lipstick from the drugstore are the revlon super lustrous line (fun fact : my everyday lipstick shade was toast of new york  in the 90s when i worked as a flight attendant right after graduating from college). a really creamy and pigmented lip product that's not drying. this wet n wild eye shadow palette is pretty popular and for a reason. it's very inexpensive and the shadows are blendable and the colors are gorgeous. 

this summer, i have been slapping on the jergens bb body lotion along with a favorite body luminizing lotion for a bronzy glow. keeping face fresh and clean is vital for everyday skin care and i find that using these oil-free wipes easily erases out makeup at the end of the day. some of my daily makeup staples are : a blush (luminoso  shade is a fave) that gives a natural healthy glow to the cheeks, an under eye concealer that you don't need much to achieve brightening and concealing, a foundation that's full coverage (but may be to heavy for the summer months) and thanks to beauty now founder kathleen  for recommending this mascara that i'm totally in love with now! 

what are your favorite drugstore finds? 

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beach babe

the summer brings us to the beach and if you're quite not there yet,
here are a few bath and beauty products inspired by the sand and sea to get you going......

via 

loves lately and more

hi all! welcome back and i hope you all had a splendid weekend! 

i thought i'd share today some new finds and loves lately in case you're out looking for any of these products. i'd quickly share my thoughts and experience on them. do leave a comment and share any thoughts you may have on any of these!  

the PR team for skindinavia reached out to me to test out their brand new makeup primer spray*. i am quite familiar with their setting spray (which i love!) but this one really piqued my interest. i have a few primer favorites in my beauty arsenal but i have never tried a primer spray before. i was quite excited knowing it's a method of application that i don't have to get my hands messy right before applying foundation. 

the primer spray is easy and quick to apply, not tacky at all and it even leaves face fresh and cool right before applying your makeup. my foundation applies smoothly and it stays on longer. quite frankly though, i didn't see much difference between the regular makeup primer spray and the oil-control version. they work great on my oily skin but i can say i didn't see much variation it did on my makeup in terms of finish and longevity. what i also love about this primer spray, it is paraben-free, silicone-free that helps in redness and prevents breakouts. it is currently added in my daily makeup routine for sure!

*i was provided samples of these products for my review consideration.

for mother's day, i picked up a new hand lotion i was dying to try. diptyque's new eau rose hand lotion is really lovely - it is moisturizing and smells heavenly. if you love rose scents, this is for you. i find this version of the rose scent quite modern and youthful. it's far from the vintage rose scent we are familiar with and that's quite refreshing. i keep this tube handy in my purse at all times. i wish it came in a bigger size and for $ 28 (1.7 fl oz) it's a little pricey for a small tube of hand lotion. 

i am getting ahead here but i am excited to share that if you are looking for a great father's day gift, my friend nina's shop PBC closet carries these cool iphone cases for the men in your life! 

i haven't been in a tennis court in ages but we've signed up aston  for tennis lessons this summer so we did a headstart and played a few sets this weekend. ben  and i are not good at all but we braved the heat and played in our neighborhood courts. aston  is enjoying it so far and we are looking forward how he'll do this summer. 

i watch a lot of beauty youtube videos on a daily basis (mainly while waiting in carpool) and it can be tempting to try products these beauty gurus highly recommend. i have recently discovered by terry's ombre blackstar eyeshadow sticks and they are amazing! if you're in a mood for a quick easy one color eyeshadow shade, a few swipes of this on your lids will do the trick. the colors are highly pigmented with lots of dimension. it's easy to blend and when it sets, it won't budge or smear. i love lining my upper and lower lids with it and smudge it out for a more softer, less intense color.


that's what i have so far. as i've mentioned, let me know what you think if you've tried any of these. i hope you are all having a great start to your week!

summer beauty essentials

makeup and beauty products that are on the high-end scale hardly goes on sale and if they do, you need to take advantage of it. so this week, beauty.com has their ongoing friends and family sale (ends 5/16). enjoy 20% off on your favorite makeup, skincare and hair products!  

BEAUTY.COM

it's the perfect time to stock up on your summer beauty favorites!

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oh lief!

i love trying out new products and i certainly love being introduced to new organic natural products for bath and body care. i think the first step to complete body care is making sure that what we are applying to our bodies are free from harsh and toxic chemical ingredients. 

elmbaby has generously introduced me to a new line called oh-lief,  an all natural all certified organic body products for baby, toddlers and the whole family. it is made in south africa with ingredients even good for sensitive skin and not harmful to the environment as well. they sent me the oh-lief natural body lotion in roman chamomile to test out. 

it is a very rich creamy lotion, not greasy at all. it has a very faint chamomile scent (very much like the scent of chamomile tea that you drink) which even for those who are sensitive to the slightest scents or perfumes may like. it leaves skin well moisturized and smooth. the formula is not super thick, it blends and melt in the skin effortlessly. i think it's great for babies and kids as well to avoid rashes and dry patches in the skin. even more perfect for pregnant mommies and mommies-to-be to moisturize stretched skin in the belly. 

TIP : another great idea for a mother's day gift ~ a basket filled with a complete 

oh lief  product treats such as a lip balm, hand lotion, olive heel balm, body wash and so much more! 

this post is sponsored by elmbaby

check out this one stop shop for mommies and babies

looking peachy

spring and summer calls for pretty warm peachy shades that's perfect for the season. ranging from peachy-pink to coral-orange, it's a hue that looks great in all skintones. i have a few favorites and i'm sharing them with you today : 

1 / mac lipstick in peach blossom
2 / nars blush in gina
3 / tom ford nail lacquer in coral beach
4 / real techniques miracle complexion sponge
5 / molton brown body wash
6 / bumble & bumble invisble oil
7 / roses de chloe scent
8 / quilted makeup kit
9 / mor cosmetics hand & body lotion

spring beauty

spring is the perfect season to play with colors and also bring out a more natural makeup look. with the warmer weather, a weightless foundation or tinted moisturizer to even out skin tone is perfect to wear this time of the year (try this or my favorites, this and this). i have raved about this balm lipcolor for weeks now and i sound like a paid ad but i promise i'm not. i am simply obsessed with the aerin rose balm lipstick. they have a wide range of colors that i feel there's a perfect shade for every skin color (i have liebling  and geranium  and i'm tempted to get more).

to add a pop of color to your makeup, i love to use an eyeshadow or eyeliner for a subtle gleam of fun color in the eyes that's all the rage this season. rimmel's eyeshadow sticks has some pigmented bright colors that are fun to work with.

rosy bright cheeks (love the new milani matte blushes) over luminous skin (achieved with a dusting of these powder pearls) gives that natural glowing perfect complexion. and let's not forget nails - i am loving lavenders and mint green as of late. and to add a lovely set of brushes in your vanity, this set is just darling (and under $5) !!

hey friends, what's in your spring makeup bag lately?