It's here! Ulta's biggest event of the year is well underway so I wanted to share my loot and tell you about the beauty savings from all your favorite brands — Benefit, St. Tropez, Tarte, Urban Decay — that shouldn't be missed. There are daily promotions that you can scroll through to plan ahead, up to 50% off along with online exclusive buys. We are halfway through so seize the steals!
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.
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 lotof 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!!
October has been a successful haul month! This episode has a little bit of everything from drugstore skin care to flattering fitness clothing to Chanel Holiday makeup, so I hope you'll appreciate the variety! I tried my best to incorporate only the best and most memorable from my loot. I also wore a couple of pieces from Anna Beck (see above), the new jewelry line I have fallen head over heels for! AB jewelry is beautiful, comfortable, and totally collectible. Rounding out this month's haul, however, is Chanel Holiday 2014 makeup which includes the elusive Reve d'Orient eyeshadow palette and the phenomenal new Rouge Allure Lip Glosses! Hope you enjoy xo
This summer has hectic with travel and shoots, so I have been enjoying any and every minute to relax and enjoy the little things. Still, I figured this would be the perfect time to take a moment to share what beauty products I have been loving as well as some new I discoveries found along the way.
I always travel with my Tatcha Soothing Silk Hand Cream. You never know when you'll have to shake someone's hand when introducing yourself! It keeps my neglected cuticles from looking too dry, and it truly hydrates without making my hands feeling greasy. The Soothing Silk Hand Cream has a pale blue tint to it, but rest assured, it blends into the skin like any other translucent lotion and leaves no color residue.
A recent discovery is the Ivory Lashes brand. I have fallen in love with many of their styles because they come with thin and flexible lash bands, striking the perfect balance between weight and definition. I have been wearing Smitten Kitten and Hey Lover the most, which I think would suit all eye shapes beautifully. They are also just plush enough to transition from day to night seamlessly, which makes it easy to amp up your look with just a bit more eyeliner!
Since I usually wear false lashes on shoots, I've kept my D.U.P. Eyelash Glue in Black very handy recently. My lashes do not lift often, but I like to relieve my dry eyes with my Refresh Optive Advanced Preservative-Free eye drops (the best for sensitive eyes) throughout the day. Since the drops can wet my lashes and weaken the glue's hold, I carry my lash glue just in case I need a quick fix. I purchase the D.U.P. glue from Little Tokyo beauty boutiques or Japanese grocers like Mitsuwa with a beauty aisle.
I rarely ever touch up my makeup when I am out and about, but I like to take my Cle de Peau Luminizing Powder with me — and I swear it's not just because the champagne compact is utterly, jaw-droppingly pretty. This is a magically luminous-yet-never-oily, smooth and even complexion in a compact. I swear by it! I use 13 Sand when I want a bronzy glow and 14 Delicate Pink when I want a brighter highlighted look. These Cle de Peau Luminizers are ultra finely milled, do not accentuate pores, and in short, are the best powder highlighters I have ever encountered... and that's saying a lot considering I've worked with luxury cosmetics for a decade now!
As I age, I love red lips more and more. I now fondly recall my college days when I was too self-conscious to wear red lipstick or even red lip gloss in public, but now I find that it really enhances my complexion in a manner that no other color can! It makes me feel bold and spunky and can even perk up my mood. My favorite of the summer has been Giorgio Armani's Rouge d'Armani lipstick in 400, their signature shade. I love that it is hydrating yet semi-matte, allowing my lips to look fuller without any gloss. It lasts all day, even when sipping water and tea!
Since the sun beats down on us for most of the year, I am wholly dedicated to sunscreen. A good broad-spectrum sunscreen is the best step toward the anti-aging campaign since it will protect you from wrinkles and sun spots as well as prevent any acne scars from darkening. While traveling to Shanghai recently, I discovered some incredible sunscreens! My new obsession, however, is the Lancôme UV Expert XL-Shield SPF 50 PA+++. This sunscreen is an Asia exclusive, but it is worth tracking down because it keeps my skin comfortable yet matte — a nearly impossible combination. Lancôme knocked it out of the park with this one! If you have oily skin or you have been looking for a sunscreen that will not leave you looking oily or feeling greasy, then this is one to try. I found mine in duty-free shopping as a duo set, so gift one to your best friend as I did. I definitely wouldn't blame you if you kept both for yourself, though!
I always carry a bottle of water to stay hydrated through the heat. When I can swing by a Starbucks, I grab an iced drink to cool off. I drink coffee when I need a pick-me-up, but I have recently been loving the new Teavana® Shaken Iced Blackberry Mojito Tea Lemonade™. It's unique, refreshing, and totally addicting! I've also tried the Teavana® Shaken Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade™ (sweet and tasty) and the Teavana® Shaken Iced Black Tea Lemonade™ (a classic), which I throw in the mix to shake things up.
Last but not least, I have been wearing my Ray-ban Aviator Flash Sunglasses non-stop. I have them in Green and have been contemplating the Copper version because I have become so fond of the style! I usually prefer my oversized plastic sunglasses, but these affordable Flash lenses are ultra lightweight and comfortable. They also make a statement, which goes hand in hand with my colorful lululemon athletica outfits for easy, breezy airport outfits!
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Click here to check out my Pinterest Board on Summer Beauty + Lifestyle Essentials!
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Starbucks through their partnershipwith POPSUGAR.
While I was compensated by POPSUGAR to write a post about Starbucks, all opinions are my own.
Judging by the list below, I lost all inhibition but left no room for regrets! It was my first time abroad so I was a little overwhelmed by the incredibly vast selection in Singapore, where makeup counters are aplenty and luxury seems to be the standard for beauty. I had saved up for months, so I was in shopping heaven with the multiple department stores [Takashimaya, Tang's, Isetan, etc.] and took full advantage of the situation. I must also thank my lovely friend Leanne for guiding me though the maze of malls and for treating me to such delicious food!
Products Reviewed:
SK-II Skin Rebooster [Hydrating Gel Mask]
SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion [Large 215 mL Bottle]
SK-II Advanced Eye Treatment Film [Eye Treatment]
SK-II Compact for Emulsion Red Stempower Cream Foundation
Guerlain Meteorites My Palette with Radiant Pressed Powder, Blush, Highlighter [Duty-Free Only]
YSL Travel Selection Extremely YSL For Eyes Make-up Palette [Duty-Free Only]
Shu Uemura False Lashes in Farfallina, Dazzling Black Diamante, and S217
Shu Uemura The Lightbulb UV Compact Foundation Case & Refill in 774
Shu Uemura Tsuya Skin UV Under Base Mousse SPF 30 Primer in Peach
Shu Uemura Mika for Shu POREraser UV Under Base Mousse SPF 35 Primer in Beige
Shu Uemura Eyeshadow Quad Case and Refills in ME 906, ME 825, ME 270, ME 280
Shu Uemura G (Glitter) Eyeshadows in White Gold 311 and White Rainbow
Shu Uemura Custom Case Duo in White
Tom Ford Lip Color Lipstick in 22 Forbidden Pink
Dior Gel Nail Polish in 268 Ruban
Dior Summer 2014 DiorShow Mono Transat in 541 Pavillon
Dior Nude Tan Transat Edition Golden Shimmer Powder
Chanel Le Blanc Whitening Makeup Base SPF 35 in 20 Mimosa
Chanel Le Vernis Nail Polish in 555 Blue Boy
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Color SPF 15 in N 02
Chanel Vitalumiere Compact Douceur Powder Foundations in 10 and 20
Guerlain Maxi Lash Waterproof Mascara in Black [now available at Sephora]
Helena Rubenstein Lash Queen WP Mascaras in Sexy Blacks, Fatal Blacks, Feline Blacks
RMK Ingenious Cream & Powder Eyes Duo in 03 Purple
RMK Ingenious Powder Eyes in ME-02 Metallic Gold
RMK Irresistible Lips Lipstick in 01 Peach
RMK Gloss Lips N H-05 Holographic Orange
Koyudo F001 Flower Kabuki with Pink and Blue Bristles
Koyudo H Series Macaron Kabuki Brush in Pink
Koyudo White Kinoko/Mushroom Kabuki Brush
Hakuhodo Short Handled Exclusive B Set - J214 Eye Brush
Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 05 Ole Flamingo
K-Palette Real Lasting Tear Tank in 01 Glamorous Pink
Majolica Majorca Lash King Waterproof Mascara
The Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipstick in PK 376 became a bestseller due to a Korean actress who wore the color in a popular Korean drama, and it sold out completely. I, however, was lucky enough to spot it at the Narita Airport's Duty-Free cosmetics store in Japan! It was unfortunately obscured by all the other products on my desk, so I was not able to include it in the video.. my apologies!
The other products, like the Shu Uemura Premium a/i Cleansing Oil — can be ordered online — and the Clarins Water Comfort One-Step Cleansing Water($35 USD) is available at department stores. Last but not least, the Lancome Absolu Essence/Serum Foundation in 130 Ivoire is another Asia exclusive that I had to cut out due to time constraints. I have heard hit and miss reviews of this product, but it is one of the few full coverage serum foundations available! I will keep you updated if any of you are interested xo
It is a very exciting weekend for beauty fiends, as IMATS has finally reached Los Angeles! I was fortunate enough to shop on Pro Night yesterday, so I picked up some fabulous goodies. I am saved up as much as I could for Hakuhodo brushes, and I am overjoyed with the performance of the styles I have chosen. Still, I wish I had been able to purchase more!
Don't forget to check out the IMATS Exhibitor Map so that you know exactly which booths to head to. Sunday is a tough day to shop since lots of top sellers will be sold out, so go prepared with a wish list and prioritize your time! MAC was selling all their Pro goods at 20% off, and you may use your Pro Card for additional discounts if you have one that is up to date. Plastic only, must pay tax. Now, Hakuhodo never offers discounts, but I was happy enough that I did not have to pay taxes on my purchases. Don't forget to swing by Velour Lashes and stock up on the best luxury false lashes on the market! I already hoard mine but never hesitate to buy more whenever I get the chance because I'm nutty like that. Last but not least, visit the far left end of the makeup arena to purchase Parian Spirit brush wipes and Violet Voss cosmetics glitters and rhinestoned accessories.
I threw in some non-IMATS goodies by Tom Ford and Urban Decay at the end, so I hope you'll enjoy the variety of products featured! Some new, some Holy Grail.. I promise it's worth the extra few minutes of your time! And if you're attending IMATS tomorrow, best of luck and happy shopping! xo
