Inked in Pink

Products used to achieve this look:

• NYX Jumbo pencil in Milk
• BH Cosmetics 120 Color palette 2nd edition
• Virgin and Buck from Naked palette
• Tease from Naked 2 palette
• Wet n Wild brow powder
• Essence gel liner in Midnight in paris (MY FAVOURITE GEL LINER)
• NYX glitter liner in Silver
• Salon perfect lashes

Tutorial:

1. Using a fluffy blending brush, mix BUCK from the Naked palette and Tease from Naked 2 in the crease, blending it upwards towards the brow bone to soften any harsh edges. Layer on the shadow until you've reached your desired intensity.

2. Taking NYX jumbo eye pencil in Milk, apply it all over the lid and smooth the edges. This will act as a base for the shadow to stick to and also make the pink more vibrant. 

3. Taking a matte bubble gum pink shadow from the BH Cosmetics palette, apply it over the white base and gently blend out the line where the pink from the lid and the brownish purple in the crease meet. 

If during the blending process, you lose some of the pigment, go ahead and pack on a little more to make the pink more vibrant. 

4. At this point, take the time out to blend the shadows in the crease and the lid so you get a smooth transition. Blending is key!

5. Half way through, I decided I wanted to do a bit of a cut-crease so I just deepened the line a bit more  and blended it upwards. 

6. Apply your favourite gel liner, winging it out towards the end. 

Taken from google cause mine is in terrible condition ._.

7. Using NYX glitter liner, draw a thin line over the black for a hint of sparkle (since all the shadows used here were matte)

8. Add mascara and put on a pair of falsies and make sure to curl the two to blend them together.

9. For the brows, I used a medium brown powder to fill in any empty spaces and set it with a clear gel.

10. Lastly, I applied a matte cream highlight to the brow bone and inner corner 

I hope you liked this make up tutorial :) 

1st OOTD post - Lime Crime

Neons were in full bloom all throughout spring and have been making their way into summer clothing and accessories as well. Over here, I took a bit of a risk and incorporated two different trends into one single outfit.

1. Mixed Prints - A simple trick is to make sure both prints fall under a similar colour palette. Using a solid item to separate two different prints gives the eye a break and allows the rest of your outfit to stand out. This will keep your look from getting overwhelming.

2.  - Pairing a black & white outfit with a pop of electric neon kimono creates a high contrast look that will instantly perk up an otherwise plain ensemble. The fluidity of the fabric makes it breathable and allows tons of movement which is a great option during the hot summer days. 

 For the dark and neutral lovers, neons can be a bit intimidating to pull off so a good way to try out this trend is through accessories: a colourful bracelet, a bold clutch, perhaps a bright lipstick or even nail polish. The possibilities are endless :) Try it in small doses until you feel comfortable enough to wear it in bigger statement pieces. Embrace it as a form of art and experiment! :)

TIP: Go for darker, muted colours on areas you want to downplay and use neon as an accent only. Its important to not overdo it, otherwise you're gonna give everyone around you a headache. 

OUTFIT OF THE DAY

SHIRT:  Old Navy

KIMONO & SCARF  - H&M

                                     PANTS & MULTI-COLOURED BANGLE - Forever21

SHOES- Bakers

CLUTCH - Local Boutique 

Colours of the Rainbow TAG - SUMMER EDITION!

Probably one of the cutest tags that's been going around on Youtube. You basically just list beauty/hair/skin care products you love that match the colours of the rainbow plus pink and multi-coloured.
For some of the colours, I had a hard time picking between two, so I just included both ._. Hope that's okay.

So my loves

Following the order ROYGBIV, here are my picks: 

********************************************************************

RED: Vivid Rose from the Maybelline Colorsensational Vivids collection is my go-to lipstick for the summer. Its a bold hot pink with rosy undertones. Pigmentation is fantastic, it applies beautifully, wears very well and doesn't settle into the lines of my lips. 

With flash

It has a creamy finish but without that gooey feeling on your lips and also doesn't feel dry throughout the day, as many lipsticks tend to. 

The colour stains your lips in the most flattering way, giving you the ultimate fruit punch pout. It's a perfect accessory for a night out!

Drugstore lipsticks are really coming a long way

TIP:  As long as you keep the rest of your makeup minimal, don't be afraid to rock a bright lipstick. 

Orange: Coral is one of those colours that was just made for summer and will flatter just about anyone.

It looks very overwhelming in the compact but when applied, it gives you the most natural flush that really brightens up your complexion. Stunning pigmentation, works hard to keep your oiliness at bay in the heat of summer while also keeping your colour fresh throughout the day. On my oily skin, it lasts 6-8 hours before I have to reapply. 

Definitely a staple in my collection <3

Another orange favourite is this body mist from Bath and Body works that I got last year. A wonderful floral and feminine scent, with lovely gold shimmer that makes you sparkle in the sun. The packaging is super cute. I just wish it wasn't limited edition.

Yellow:  Loveeeee this product! Makes any eye make up look SO glamorous. It retails for $16 but for the difference it can make, its well worth the price. A liiiiiiiiiiiiiitle goes a LONGGGGG way, you only need a drop of it to get just the perfect amount of sparkle. When the light hits it, it is absolutely stunning!

I'm especially lazy with my make up routine during the summer time cause of the heat, so anything that makes it look like I've put hours worth of effort into my makeup when I really haven't, I'm down for it and this does it for me. Its eye catching without looking cheap or tacky. Highly concentrated fine glitter that has the consistency of water but not the kind where it rubs off all your eye shadow in the application process. Can be worn alone or over a shadow. 

I do prefer the original liquid lustre (a beautiful diamond/silver shade) over this as it goes with every single eye look you do but this really brings life to any gold eye shadow. I can't rave enough about these liquid lustres. GET ITTTT!! It's a sparkle junkie's dream <3

With flash

GREEN:  These two go hand-in-hand for me as its part of my make up removing process. 

I've tried so many different brands of eye make up remover, even high end and I always come back to this one from L'oreal.

 It's an oil-based eye makeup remover so it easily takes off waterproof mascara, eye liner, etc, without irritating the eye. I use it with a cotton ball and in just a few gentle swipes, most of my eye makeup is dissolved. I cannot go a day without this product, it's my fifth bottle and I've already got a back up.

Very affordable. Conditioning of lashes is an added bonus and I have noticed a difference in the way my lashes look. 

Say yes to cucumbers towelettes are my favourite facial wipes! Does a great job removing all my make up, feels clean without stripping my skin of moisture and it smells delightful. Its especially refreshing and soothing during the summer time when its super hot out. 

 I've tried make up wipes from the CVS brand, Neutrogena, Simple, Ponds, and I prefer this over the rest. I've gone through packets of these already! Will repurchase when I run out.

BLUE: Where has this been all my life!?! I was a long time user of the Crest Whitening strips and it did work but it was just way too expensive.

During the school semester, I go through 2-3 cups of coffee and noticed my teeth were starting to look yellow and gross. But then one day I stumbled across this product at Rite Aid and despite my skepticism (I had heard nothing about this brand before) I decided to try it and I am oh so glad I did because this does the job for me, for a much cheaper price. 

I honestly didn't think it would do anything but now I wish I had taken before and after pictures to show you what an incredible difference it has made. The first time I used it, I didn't notice much of a difference so I continued to use it until one day I noticed my teeth in a picture (taken with flash) and saw how white they looked! I was impressed. I like to keep it on for 15 minutes instead of the suggested 5 minutes. 

Great product with fast results, doesn't make my teeth sensitive. I feel more confident about my smile now and I find that whiter teeth just make my whole face seem brighter. 

INDIGO: I'm using this colour very loosely here, but the packaging is somewhat of an indigo, so I hope that's not cheating lol ._. 

Image taken from Allure Cube 

I'm all about highlighters and glowing skin in the summer time and so a highlighter was a necessary addition to this tag. Its a beautiful palette of shimmery pale pinks that work as fabulous highlighters, blush and even eye shadows. 

The packaging looks so chic and the powder itself feels extremely high quality. Its fine texture allows it to blend seamlessly into the skin and adds a lovely lit-from-within princess glow to the face without being overly shimmery. I'm dying to get my hands on Amber Diamond.

VIOLET: If you saw my May favourites post here, you'll know exactly why I love this product! Super inexpensive but effective treatment for dry, damaged hair. 

PINK: I didn't have to think too hard for this one at all, definitely my Beauty Blender! I love love love this stuff. I didn't understand the hype about it in the beauty community until I tried it out myself. I was looking for new ways to apply foundation in the summer time where I wanted a lighter touch but was very skeptical about spending $20 on a sponge. In the end, I bought it because my priorities are high and I know what really matters in life :D but really though, I'm hooked!

My friends, say good bye to cake face for good! This sponge gives you THE most flawless airbrushed finish that looks like skin but with great coverage. Don't get me wrong, I still love my foundation brushes but the Beauty Blender reigns supreme for me. Besides, you just can't beat pink :) Everyone needs this in their makeup collection! Worth the hype

The bottom round part of the beauty blender is used to apply foundation on larger areas of your face while the pointed end is helpful for those hard to reach areas like the corners of your nose and under the eyes. 

I've heard a few people complain that it absorbs your foundation, but I've found that the best way to avoid that is to smear your foundation on your face and then use the BB to blend it out instead of dipping your BB directly into your foundation and then stippling it on. 

MULTICOLOUR: I have two fashion faves that fit this category. I adore them cause they're so super cute and summery.

The first one is a bracelet from Forever21 that I picked up few months ago in the most random location at the store. It was really inexpensive ($6 something) but it looks like it'd be worth so much more.

It's a very pretty bracelet with good construction and artistry. It has good weight to it too so it doesn't feel cheap. The bracelet has four gorgeous pastel shades that go in a crisscross/braided design, and the contrast with the gold rim is so pretty. Its got a ton of gems that sparkle and its clarity is more than I expected from a Forever21 jewelry collection so overall, I'm super pleased with it.

Lovely to look at, lovelier to wear! Even my mom adores it :)

The second multicolour item is this tote bag I picked up from Target recently. It is well made, the print is absolutely lovely, great colours for the summer time and the price point is incredible. Its the perfect size bag for a girl who has a lot to carry, but does not like a big bulky bag.

The bag retains its shape and stays upright when you set it down and has sturdy handles, which I love. There aren't any exterior pockets but there is plenty of space and corner pockets inside to stow small things, so while it would have been nice, this wasn't a deal-breaker for me.

Nail Colour of the month: Essie Mint Candy Apple

I searched high and low for this shade when it first came out, but every store was sold out of it. So when I spotted it at Target recently, you can probably imagine the state I was in.

It's a GORGEOUS pastel sea foam/mint green with a smidge of turquoise. Such a unique and an on-trend colour for spring and summer. 

Really brings out a tan if you have one :) 

It applies very smoothly, dries fast and two coats are enough to give you an opaque layer. After two coats, I like to top it off with Essie's fast drying top coat and it makes my nails look so shiny. 

I love it so much, I can't stop staring at my nails!! I honestly think it'll be flattering on any skintone.

May Favourites! NEW PRODUCTS!

MAC Mineralize Skin finish in Soft and Gentle

My HG highlighter!! It looks sooo pretty when applied, catches all the light in the right places. Its like angel kisses on your face. 

This a very multipurpose product, and you get an insane amount so its definitely worth the $30 price tag. I've been using it for MONTHS and have yet to see a dent in the pan. It provides a subtle champagne sheen that's great for day OR night time and looks great on all skin tones. Very finely milled, and a little goes a long way. 
If you over apply it, it is very noticeable so use a light hand. 

During the summer time, I like to sport a fresh face with minimum eye make up so what I do is apply a bit of it on my cheek bones, cupid's bow, tip of my nose, under the brow bone and lids and I'm good to go!

If you wanna glow like J-Lo, YOU NEED THIS!! a must-have in my collection


Aussie 3 minute miracle deeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep conditioner 

 A tropical vacation in a bottle and a drugstore gem in my opinion! It's an awesome and highly inexpensive treatment for damaged hair for those on a budget. Detangles hair easily and makes it so soft! 

I honestly only wanted to try it cause of the way it smelled ._. Smells like delicious coconuts but not so overwhelming that you're walking around smelling like a pina colada. The packaging is super sleek and kind of odd (but in a good way). You just squeeze it and product comes out, you don't have to bother opening, closing or twisting any caps.

I've done a lot of things to my hair ever since I was 13-14, its been bleached, burnt, dyed and over processed. At this point, my hair is just simply pissed off so I'm always in search for products that target hair renewal and conditioning so that I can restore it back to its healthier state and of all conditioners I've tried, this one seems to give my hair the moisture it so desperately needs. I prefer to keep it in my hair much longer than the recommended 3 minutes, but of course that's entirely up to you. 

I think there are better deep conditioners out there for dry, damaged hair (Macadamia deep repair masque $33, for example) but if you want something cheaper that still does a great job hydrating, this is worth a try!
Highly recommmend it!

Benefit They're Real mascara

This product makes my eyelashes look SO glamorous. Really defines each and every lash, adds crazy length and volume. I love the formula, it applies super black and doesn't flake or smudge.  I don't have to worry about my mascara smearing when I perform wudu, you honestly need an eye make up remover to get it off which is great for people who have a long day ahead of them and don't like to retouch.  

With Flash - After 9 hour wear (still kept my curl)

I could never justify spending $20 plus on a tube of mascara that I go through SOOO FAST, but now that I've tried this one I can understand why it is such a raved about product.  

Whenever I wear it, I get people asking me if I'm wearing falsies, no joke! I've never gotten this many compliments on my eyelashes, EVER!! I know some people consider it 'spidery', so I suppose its a hit or miss. I personally adore full, dramatic lashes that give you a baby doll look so its a winner in my beauty book.

(Excuse the shine, I had just removed all my face and eye makeup (aside from mascara and a bit of eyeliner)

I'm a huge fan of the brush. Its perfectly sized to coat and define each and every lash and the spikey ball at the tip of the brush is great for getting into those hard to reach places. It really brings out my bottom lashes as well. I think this might just be my #1 mascara now .___. 

Macadamia Healing Oil treatment 

 I've heard tons of good things about this product but I wanted to try it out before I purchased the full size as it is quite pricey. I spritz it on after showering, focusing mainly on the tips and then just go over the rest of my hair with whatever is left on my fingers. It smells great, and has only done good for my hair. Keeps it silky and manageable but doesn't weigh my hair down, like many hair oils do. I will repurchase it as soon as I run out. 

Ever since I incorporated this into my hair care routine as well as the next product I'm about to mention, I've noticed a significant decrease in hair fallout. Love love loveeee

Its a 10 miracle leave-in treatment 

I've been using this religiously since I bought it. My hair tangles REALLY easily and struggling to comb through it usually results in a lot of hair fall out but ever since I used this stuff, my comb glides through my hair like butter. Its amazing! My hair and I just might become friendsies again ._.

Mariah Carey 'M' Perfume

Its a sexy and sophisticated scent, smells sweet but with a hint of dark, smoky mysterious musky goodness that compliments my personality. When applied too much, its quite strong so its important to spritz lightly otherwise you may overwhelm yourself and the people around you. I've honestly owned this for years and I still have a good amount left. 

The lasting power is phenomenal. I can smell it on my clothes days after wearing it. It lasts especially long when my body temperature is high, like during the summer time. 

Even though I think it is suitable to be worn all year round, I think this would be fantastic during winter cause it makes you feel super warm and cozy.

It's definitely not the best fragrance in the market and I personally know a few people who can't stand the scent, but it seems to work wonders with my body chemistry and I mean, who doesn't love that? I get compliments on it EVERY SINGLE TIME I wear it. Packaging is super cute as well! 

 It's a beautiful scent for any time of the day and suits women of all ages. Try it out, its definitely worth a sniff! :) 

Benefit Porefessional

I did a review of it here. Great for those with noticeable pores like me, makes my foundation go on so much smoother.

Boots N7 Beautifully Matte foundation

I hardly even have to do any touch ups. Surprisingly not a lot of people talk about this which is interesting cause its a good drugstore foundation. It offers medium coverage with one layer but is easily buildable to a full coverage. Sits beautifully on the skin, matte but not flat and looks natural/skin-like throughout the day.

Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Seashore Frosts 

 I simply adore these colour tattoos! Really inexpensive, don't crease, super creamy, great pigmentation, wide variety of colours to choose from, just really great quality products. 

This shade is perfection in every way. It has the most gorgeous soft gold duochrome, I've never seen anything like it so I had to have it - kinda reminds me of a mermaid's tail. It can go from looking gold to like a blueish grey and green and bronze, agh its so hard to describe it. When I swatch it on my hand, the blue and gold stands out, but on my eyes its more of a gold and emerald sheen, but then in the sunlight I see hints of mauvey bronze and gold @_@

I just find it absolutely stunning and definitely my favourite of all the new shades. Worth the hype in my opinion. I'm thinking of trying out 'Lavish Lavendar' as well - the swatches of it are so prettyy!! 

This was the best I could do to give you an idea of what it really looks like

Nuance Wild Lime exfoliating facial gel 

 I've seen products from the Salma Hayek line at CVS for months but never thought of trying anything out until one day, I came across this product and the list of ingredients just really intrigued me so I decided to pick it up along with a few other skin care items and have been enjoying them a lot. 

This stuff works like a chemical exfoliate, there are no visible, gritty beads like regular exfoliating products. Its just a gel that you smear over your wet face and massage it in circular motions, let it sit for 5-6 minutes and then wash it off. The lime makes it tingle a little so you feel it working. After washing it off, my skin felt supple smooth and even looked brighter. I use this twice a week and been really enjoying the results. 

I've also been using the Walnut facial scrub and dark spot corrector from this line, and love them both as well <3

That's it for my may favourites! I'm hoping to upload my blog more often now that I'm on summer vacation so stay tuned for more beauty posts! :)