REVIEW | July 2015 Favorites! Everyday Makeup Staples, Vlogging Camera Review + Skin Care Update

July has been an interesting beauty month! I have focusing on trying to rehabilitate my skin from traveling and finish unpacking my apartment. I have redone my entire living room thus far, which I am very happy about! I did not underestimate the redecorating, but the dream interior design process has been even slower than I had anticipated. I think a realistic goal for the completion is by Christmas. Until then, I am just happy to be able to display my beautiful Diptyque collection to elevate my apartment's decor! I featured the Tomas Maier candle that I have been enjoying all of July. No, it is not new, but it is new to me since it was sold out almost immediately after the first launch!

In this Favorites episode, I also covered my new set of go-to everyday makeup staples. I discovered a new Holy Grail lipstick and reviewed my vlogging camera, which many of you requested to know more about! I also reveal what skin care I have been using, as I had to switch up my routine a bit due to its travel-weary, dehydrated state. I have a morning routine video coming soon, but until then, I hope you find these quick updates helpful! xo

Products Reviewed;

Diptyque Tomas Maier Candle

Dolce&Gabbana Light Blue

D&G Polish in Light Blue

Shu Uemura False Lashes

Laura Mercier Lip Parfait in Sweet Guava

Tom Ford Lip Color in Spanish Pink

Burberry Glow Eyeshadow in Shell

Lancome Brow Expert in Blonde

Canon Vlogging Camera

Sunday Riley Flora Face Oil

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser

SK-II RNA Essence + Cream

SK-II Mid-Night Mist

Nails:

Chanel Vibrato

Hair:

T3 Bodywaver Styling Iron

Shirt:

Uniqlo x Disney Chip and Dale Tee

Makeup Worn:

Burberry Foundation in 4

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Powder in M

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Light Plus

Cle de Peau Concealer in Almond

Cle de Peau Eyebrow Pencil in 202

MUFE Pro Bronze in 20M

SUQQU Blush Duo in 3

Shu Uemura False Lashes

Dior Addict It-Line Liquid Liner

Lancome Pencil Eyeliner

Burberry Glow Eyeshadow in Shell

RMK Glitter Eyeshadow in Gold

Laura Mercier Lip Parfait in Sweet Papaya

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Heart to Heart | My Skin Story: Acne, Depression, and Healing

Last month in Tokyo!

Skin has always been one of my priorities, thanks to the women in my family. My grandmother is virtually ageless; she's turning 80 this year but doesn't look a day over 65. My skin, however, hasn't been perfect like hers. I discussed my acne skin story in this Top 10 story HERE, sharing why I got cystic acne and what products I used to speed up the purging process. Today's skin chat is more of a general take on my skin care history. The past 2 years been incredibly challenging and emotional, but I'm so grateful that my skin is nearly done healing!! Don't forget that your skin is an organ (your body's largest), so be gentle and patient. Below is a heart to heart video that I made while in Tokyo to share my journey, the process.

Equipment Silk Sleeveless Blouse // Gjenmi Staple Lariat Necklace // Hair: T3 Micro Compact Dryer

MAKEUP WORN:

Shu Uemura False Lashes // MUFE Eyeshadow // Burberry Eyeliner

Tom Ford Blush in Frantic Pink / Bronzer in Gold Dust / Lipstick in Spanish Pink

In case you've never seen my inflamed pimple-ridden skin, here's the Kiehl's video where I bare it all. I did manipulate the lighting so that it wouldn't look as red or as painful, but my face hurt all the time back then. I cried a lot. My eyes still get watery just thinking about it. I hated looking in the mirror, and I dreaded filming and uploading videos. I didn't want to talk about it, couldn't open up about it because I would inevitably burst into tears. I was so scared that someone would spot me in public that I stopped going to the gym and I stopped going outside altogether for a while. I started eating a lot of junk food and take-out and gained ten pounds back then, which many of you noticed.

To make matters worse, I was swallowed up by depression which deepened when the blue-purple welts started to surface. That part of the healing/scarring process was the most traumatizing because I looked bruised all over. I was fat, bloated, and ugly. There was so much deep damage that even my grandmother was very concerned that my skin would never bounce back. But after 6 months (which felt like years), my skin started to heal. My mood improved and I felt a surge of hope. The depression naturally lifted in due time, and although I was still embarrassed, I wasn't as afraid to venture out.

In hindsight, I think the best treatment would have been professional extractions and microdermabrasion facials every three weeks to boost the effectiveness of the products I had been using. I was overwhelmed and unable to take on that financial commitment at the time, but it would have left me with fewer, smaller scars. So that's my best advice to everyone.. find an exceptional esthetician AND use quality skin care! Of course, wearing sunscreen daily, drinking plenty of water, eating clean and green, and sleeping 7 hours a day will help drastically as well!

Even though I've been treating the scarring for a year, I have a couple stubborn scars on my cheeks and forehead. I'm hoping to clear those up in the next few months. It's all about consistency and lifestyle when it comes to these things. And since I haven't filmed a skin care routine video in a while, I figured I would share what products I've been using faithfully! I switch it up when I'm testing new products, but the lineup below features my go-to skin savers. These are my favorites, so please try them!!

Holy Grail:

SK-II LXP Ultimate Cream

SK-II Brightening Derm Mask

SK-II Facial Treatment Mask

SK-II LXP Essence

Sulwhasoo Snowise Mask

Sunday Riley Luna Oil

Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser

SK-II Skin Rebooster (now discontinued)

Other products in my current rotation:

Sunday Riley Good Genes

Equitance Brightening Toner

Replenix SPF50 Sunscreen

Koh Gen Do Massage Milk

Sunday Riley Flora Oil

SK-II Mid-Night Mist

SK-II RNA Essence

MAC Blemish Gel

Shu Uemura Blanc:Chroma Cleansing Oil

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May 2015 Beauty Hits & Misses

May 2015 was very stressful but very rewarding! After many months of hunting, I finally found a new apartment, and I even traveled to New York for an exclusive Sephora x YSL launch party! My skin is finally improving dramatically again — thanks to the fabulous products I have been switching up my normal routine with. I promise it's not just the lighting! My skin looks and feel firmer and bouncier than ever, which I'm very grateful for. Many of you have requested skin care updates as well as more affordable skin care features, so I am doing my best to show you a balanced selection of products that consistently give me results! Skin care is oftentimes a big investment, so I hope you will find these recommendations helpful. Don't forget to take advantage of the 20% OFF offer on the entire Michael Todd website HERE!

Products:

YSL Black Opium (review here)

Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Toner

Michael Todd Intensive Eye Treatment

Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil

Kane NY Serum Savant

Tom Ford Creme Blush in Pink Sand

MAC Technakohl Eye Pencils

Hourglass Ambient Bronzer in Luminous

Makeup Worn:

La Mer SkinTint in Light

Clé de Peau Concealer in Beige

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Powder in Medium

Hourglass Ambient Bronzer in Luminous

Tom Ford Creme Blush in Pink Sand

Clé de Peau Highlighter in Pink

Lancome Brow Expert in Medium Ash (ON SALE)

Armani Eye Tint Eyeshadow in 12

em Lengthening Mascara in Black

YSL Tint in Oil in Cherry (ON SALE)

Dollywink Eyelashes in 1

Shirt:

LNA V-Neck Tee

Nails:

Louboutin Tres Decollete

Hair:

T3 Bodywaver (ON SALE)

Lenses:

Acuvue Define in Shimmer

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TOP 10 | Spring Skin Care Must-Haves feat. Sunday Riley, La Mer, Sulwhasoo, and more!

Spring is the perfect time to update your skin care wardrobe. I have never tested so many new foundations and skin care products before, ever — which is saying a lot considering how many products I test every quarter — so my complexion has been congested and dehydrated and requires more TLC than usual. I've also been suffering from breakouts on my chin, so today's video will cover all varieties of skin care treatments! Because I am getting older and now fully understand all aspects of the arduous acne struggle, I take skin care very seriously. I never recommend or even feature something that I did not personally try, use, and feel is worth recommending.
Hence, the power players that I will be sharing today are some of the very best in their respective categories. I highly recommend you give them a try! Call my sister Patricia at Neiman Marcus in Newport Beach at 949.220.3366 if you need guidance with La Mer products. She can help you pick products that are suitable for your skin type and concerns, and there is no pressure as she does not work on commission. Plus, there will be a special (non-sponsored) giveaway launching on my Instagram page tonight, so please stop by to check it out!

Products Reviewed:

Sunday Riley Good Genes

Mentioned: Chanel Le Weekend

La Mer Lifting Contour Serum

La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream

Skinceuticals Physical Fusion SPF 50

Sulwhasoo Snowise Spot Serum

SK-II Repair C Serum

Koh Gen Do Macro Vintage Massage Milk

Koh Gen Do Oriental Plants Lotion I

Mentioned: Koh Gen Do Pure Cotton

Shu Uemura Blanc:chroma Cleansing Oil

Colleen Rothschild Charcoal Detox Mask

Mentioned: Charlotte Tilbury Goddess Clay Mask

Mentioned: GlamGlow Supermud Clearing Mask

Nails:

Louboutin Python Trio

Makeup Worn:
YSL Glossy Stain in 203 Corail

Please CLICK HERE for all other details

Shirt:

J.Crew (old)

Earrings:

Chanel

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Sephora VIB Sale Haul + Mini Reviews of Products

Hello, everyone! I apologize for the slight delay in posting this video. My blog was down for a bit this weekend and earlier this week because of a domain host change, so I was scrambling to make sure all was in order before I filmed any videos. Hope you enjoy this quick haul!



Makeup Haul/Reviewed Products:
Lancome Hypnose Drama WP Mascara
Becca Mineral Powder Foundation in Nude
Sunday Riley Soft Focus Pressed Powder in 125W
Dior Vernis Nail Polish in Safari Beige
Sephora Long Lasting Eyeliner High Precision Brush


Makeup Worn:
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation in B30
Becca Mineral Powder Foundation in Nude
Sunday Riley Soft Focus Pressed Powder in 125W [nose & slightly on the cheeks only]
Sephora Long Lasting Eyeliner High Precision Brush & Lancome Hypnose Drama WP Mascara
Tom Ford Cream Shadow in Platinum with Burberry Shadow in Pale Barley
Tarte Amazonian Clay Bronzer in Park Ave Princess
Chanel Glossimer in Volupte

Nails:
Dior Red Royalty


Hair:
Air Dry, Natural


Hoodie:
RVCA