FAVORITES | Best of August 2015 Beauty Review

If you've watched my August vlog, you'll know I've had quite a month! I had to take a two-week break from makeup due to my chemical peel and wisdom tooth extraction, so I wasn't able to try as much makeup as I wanted, but what I tried was very impressive!

I'm most excited for the Burberry launch at Sephora because they're stocking a slew of brand new releases all at once. The Fresh Glow Compact has been my Holy Grail powder foundation for nearly a year, but it was a UK exclusive, so I'm glad that everyone can try it now. The Ochre Nude No.12 shade matches my coloring to a T. It performs beautifully on all skin types! 

Contouring is still a big trend, so I'm glad to see that Burberry was able to create a cream product that looks natural and is easy to blend. It's — by far — the best cream contour product I've tried. Most are way too high maintenance (too slippery or too drying) and don't look smooth on the skin (especially when you see the makeup in real life). Burberry's Contour Stick in Dark No.2 can be used on all light-medium to dark skin tones! If you're alabaster to light or simply want more subtle results, try Medium No.1 instead.

Now for the YSL Kiss and Love Lipsticks.. a review with lip swatches is coming soon because this is my favorite lipstick launch for Fall. I wasn't a fan of the Rouge Pur Couture formula until now. These limited edition beauties are incredibly rich in pigmentation, and the packaging design is adorable. If you're looking for a new mascara to try, make it MAC's Upward Lash. I'm very picky with mascaras, but this one really stood out because its formula is water-resistant without crumbling!

I finished up with my top 3 skin care picks this month because my skin has been ultra sensitive. A lot of products can sting or burn after a deep peel, so you must use extra gentle products and take precautions. I didn't use the Lancome Aqua Gel toner during the peeling process, but I've tested it for a total of four weeks now, and it's amazing! I love how velvety yet comfortable my skin feels after using it.

Skin Savers for a Luminous, Radiant Complexion!

The Sulwhasoo Skin Finisher is like a skin care booster that makes your skin glow without looking greasy. Some alternatives are Burberry's Fresh Glow and SK-II's Cellumination Day Surge, but Burberry's is a primer while SK-II's has sunscreen. This means that Sulwhasoo's is the most versatile and can be incorporated into anyone's beauty routine. Use it day or night! If you have very oily skin, try using a few pumps in lieu of your moisturizer.

Last but not least for August's power lineup is the new life-changing Cle de Peau Brightening Mask. This mask is special because of the perfect fit and rejuvenating formula. My skin feels so happy after I've used this! I start by cleansing and toning with Equitance, then I apply this two-piece mask. The cotton is so plush and luxurious. It really is a splurge when compared to SK-II and Sulwhasoo prices, but I've already ordered another box because these Brightening Masks are that good! Actually, all the Fall 2015 color and skin releases from Cle de Peau have stepped it up a notch.. more to come soon xo

Products Reviewed:

Burberry Fresh Glow Powder
Burberry Contour Stick
YSL Kiss and Love Lipstick
Chanel Gloss Volume
MAC Upward Lash Mascara
Cle de Peau Blush Duo in 102
Lancome Lotion-in-Gel
Sulwhasoo Luminature Finisher
Cle de Peau Brightening Mask

Makeup Worn:
Lancome Brow Pencil in Blonde
MUFE Ultra HD Foundation in Y235
MUFE Eyeshadow Palette
LORAC Pro Eyeliner Pen
Burberry Fresh Glow Powder
Burberry Contour Stick
MAC Upward Lash Mascara
Cle de Peau Blush Duo in 102
YSL Kiss and Love Lipstick
Cle de Peau Concealer in Almond
MUFE Bronzer in 20M
Velour Lashes Oops Naughty Me
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Hair:
T3 Micro Bodywaver

Nails:
Marc Jacobs Le Charm

Tee:
Splendid Striped Top

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Shu Uemura Fall 2015 Vision of Beauty Haute Street Collection Review, Photos, Swatches + Giveaway

You might have already seen beautiful Instagram images from beauty junkies all over the world, raving about the new Shu Uemura Fall 2015 collection. It was released in Asia a couple months ago, but it has finally made it over to us in America and Canada! It is unusually colorful — with delightfully rich pigmentation across the board — so I am very excited to feature it.

Don't forget to use coupon code RAEVIEWER for free shipping with any purchase + a chic makeup clutch and 3 deluxe cleansing oil samples! I do not make commission from the use of the code xo

My favorite products from the Vision of Beauty vol.2 Haute Street Collection are the warm x vibrant Eye Palette and the Lipsticks. As soon as I opened up the eyeshadows, I knew I had to create a sunset-themed makeup look! I utilized all the eyeshadows other than the shimmery plum next to the matte brown. These days, my latest "trick" obsession is softening my pencil eyeliner by layering powder eyeshadow on top. It's not new or revolutionary, but I love it nonetheless.

I kept the lips and cheeks simple. This way, none of the attention is drawn away from the gorgeous eye colors! I prefer when the lips and cheeks match, so I used pink to soften the overall feel. Feel free to use orange if you are looking for more drama. These new Rouge Unlimited lipsticks are exceptionally smooth and forgiving on my extra dry lips. The glossy sheen is truly non-sticky! Two thumbs up!!

The Fall 2015 Tint in Gelato release is unique because it comes in a squeeze tube, instead of the lipgloss-style applicator of the permanent lineup. This is great if you prefer the creamy color for cheeks! I swatched all four in a carefree manner to show the texture. Yes, Coral and Orange look very similar in the swatches, but Coral is much more pink when blended out on the skin. Orange will lean more red.

M A K E U P

Shu Uemura False Lashes

Shu Uemura Eye Brush

Shu Uemura Eye Palette

Shu Uemura Lipstick in 01

Shu Uemura Eyeliner in 04

Shu Uemura Tint in Gelato in 04

Shu Uemura Cream Eyeshadow in G White
Shu Uemura Brow Sword in Brown

Use coupon code RAEVIEWER for free shipping with any purchase

and a chic makeup clutch + 3 deluxe cleansing oil samples!

Hair: T3 Bodywaver  //  Necklace: Gjenmi Lariat

Nails:

Marc Jacobs Le Charm  //  Shirt: J.Crew Linen

Giveaway powered by Hellowave

And as promised, here's a little extra chemical peel chatter! Please do take note that chemicals peels are serious business, and I recommend them only to those who are diligent sunscreen users. Your skin will be much more sensitive and prone to sun damage after the peeling process. Regular application of SPF 30 (or more) is paramount to skin health, especially at the peak hours of 10 am to 2 pm. Reapply every two hours if possible! You don't want to end up with more pigmentation than you started with. Chemical peels do help create baby soft and ultra smooth skin, but with regular exfoliation and other treatments such as microdermabrasion, you most likely will not need a chemical peel. I chose to try Cosmelan because I have very old, very deep and stubborn acne scarring. 

Obviously, I am not a dermatologist or esthetician, so do consult a professional before committing to an expensive peel like Cosmelan! I've tried all sorts of chemical peels and trendy skin care treatments, but I had never heard of Cosmelan until a couple months ago. I bumped into a really sweet PR agency girl who recommended it since she saw incredible results. Cosmelan definitely went deeper than I had anticipated since I shed a lot of dead skin, but I'm not quite sure that it was worth the money I paid.. not just yet, anyway. I actually have part two of the peel scheduled next week, so I'll be sure to update you with any new feedback in my August Favorites video! 

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VLOG | A Casual Look at August: Juicing, Wisdom Tooth Extraction, Miami

Even though my subscribers have asked me for daily vlogs, almost all my days consist of work and Beau. Yes, that's it. There's really nothing glamorous or entertaining about my everyday life! I wear glasses and sit in front of the computer or my camera. That's why I always emphasize that Instagram and Facebook and other social media outlets are merely a highlight reel. It's not real life. But this month was unusually different! I actually had something to vlog about!!

Firstly, a lot of you have been asking about my weight loss. It's hard to believe, but it's all thanks to changes in my eating habits. I do walk Beau a few times a week, but I haven't been to the gym at all. Basically, I eat less meat and more vegetables + fruit. I try my best to have fresh juice every day. Since it was taking up so much time and costing a lot of money either way, it was time to invest in a juicer. 

I chose the Omega first, but I purchased the Hurom thanks to my friend (another enthusiastic juicer) Derek's recommendation. Now that I have had a couple weeks to try both, I decided to return the Omega and keep the Hurom. Although the Omega is easier to clean and creates less foam, I think the Hurom juicer creates tastier, purer juice. It's also significantly quieter.

The Hurom does not struggle with hard veggies like beets or carrots nearly as much as the Omega does. If you are looking for a multi-tasking juicer, try Omega. If you're a strict juicer as I am, try the Hurom! It takes me 30 to 45 minutes every morning to prep the produce, make the juice, and clean the Hurom, but my new health-conscious routine has definitely been worth the effort!

Wearing Velour Lashes and Louboutin Lip Color

My jaw felt tender and sensitive early on this month, and it was then that I realized my bottom left wisdom tooth had broken the surface. I was talking to my friend Stacey about how hard it is to find a good dentist, so her dentist's office gave me a great referral to the doctor I booked with. My phenomenal surgeon was kind and efficient. The surgery cost me an arm and a leg, but it was worth every penny because the entire process only took 2 hours - incl. x-ray, consultation, prep, sedation, surgery and post-op home care chat). 

I was expecting the worst, but thanks to his skilled hands, I experienced only minimal swelling. My wisdom teeth were impacted and touching the nerves, so another dentist warned me that I could even have nerve damage with the extractions. Dr. Park (he's in Santa Monica) reassured me that I would be fine, and I'm so happy that I will go back to him if I ever need oral surgery again.

Most comfortable platform heels

Now for my super quick trip to Miami! I was there to attend the European Wax Summer Goddess Model Finale, so it was my first outing since my chemical peel and wisdom tooth extraction. It felt great to curl my hair and wear makeup again! It wasn't nearly as hot as the first time I visited Miami, but I was sweating at the event nonetheless. A lot of you commented on my Instagram selfie that my skin looked better and asked for a strobing tutorial, so I have duly noted that request!

And since I've never shown the contents of my awesome Tumi makeup bag, I figured this vlog was perfect opportunity to share! I switch it up depending on where I'm traveling to, but staples such as my concealers and false lashes are always ready to go in this case! I never use everything I carry, but like I mentioned in the video, I bring more because I like having options. I know I never got around to reviewing my ADDICTION eyeshadow palette, but I will try to purchase the new colors and swatch them for you.

You might have noticed my Anya Hindmarch case in my Rimowa carry-on luggage, but I've talked about it many, many times now. I use it to store my liquids such as skin care and hair care as well as face masks. Check out my Tokyo vlog if you want to see what I pack for long flights!

Hoodie:

Comme des Garcons

Sunglasses:

Tom Ford (Black)

Dior (Gold)

Heels:
Saint Laurent

Blouse:
Equipment

Purse:

Proenza Schouler

Nails:

Christian Louboutin Rouge Louboutin

Sneakers:

Nike iD

Makeup Worn/Makeup Bag:
Replenix Sunscreen
T3 Compact Dryer
T3 Whirl Trio

SkinCeuticals Sheet Mask
Christian Louboutin Lip Colour

Cle de Peau Concealer

YSL Touche Eclat

Shu Uemura False Lashes

Velour Lashes in Oops Naughty Me
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Lancome Liqui-Pencils
Burberry Eyebrow Pencil
Sara Happ One Luxe Gloss
Mason Pearson Hairbrush
BeautyBlender Travel Case
Koh Gen Do Makeup Wipes
Charlotte Tilbury Bronze and Glow

Tom Ford Blush in Frantic Pink

TATCHA Blotting Papers

Chikuhodo MK-2 Brush

Suitcase:
Rimowa

Camera:
Sony

Juicers:
OMEGA
HUROM

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PREVIEW | Christian Louboutin Lip Colour + First Impressions of Rouge Louboutin (3 Formulas)

Christian Louboutin Nail Lacquer + Rouge Louboutin Lip Colour

The most exciting launch since Tom Ford's Private Blend lipstick collection several years ago is finally upon us! I have three Christian Louboutin Lip Colours to share today — the Rouge Louboutin trifecta — the same color in three flawless formulas. Unlike the rest of the line's golden packaging, these signature shades are housed in black bullets. These Louboutin Charme lipsticks have now popped up on Sephora, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue! Continue reading for my first impressions of each of the formulas xo