Diana Agron at Grammys 2011 Inspired Look

    After watching the Grammys and expected to see so many new trends with fashion as well as makeup... I was kind of disappointed. The only look that caught my eye was Diana's ( aka Gwen from GLEE). I love how she played up her usual look of neutrals and went with a edgy rocker look. Very appropriate for the Grammys in my opinion. Gwen is my favorite in the show GLEE and I am so excited to be doing a look inspired by her. 

   This look proves that any girl can look edgy and smokey even if you're a girl who is always in pinks and prefer soft looks, that's the fun thing about makeup. Depending on your mood and what you're wearing or where you're going, the same girl can show her a different side to her that know one knows just by applying makeup a little differently. Of course, this look is not for everyday... unless that is your thing, but for a special event where you'll be turning heads, this is definitely the look for that night.

    My look is a little different because I am wearing grayish lavender accessories and I want my look to have more of a silver look rather than black. I know the black's contrast on her skin is absolutely stunning, but just to make mine more sultry I think the gray looks better against my dark brown eyes. I suggest if you have a lighter eye color like Diana ( hazel, green, blue, etc.) substitute for black. I plied on colors to give the eye a lot of dimension. If you were to only use black the eye will look very flat. Adding a brown as a blending color gives the eyes a warm gradient effect. We will be able to see the eye makeup in different lighting and differentiate the colors used down below. 

 Natural Sunlight

Indoors with FLASH

   I hope you guys try this look out even if you have to tone it down a little or find that some of my tips in the video helpful! I think it is really fun to play up your look once in a while just to let go and show a different side of you. Everyone has many dimensions to their characteristics so why not allow your makeup to translate that? 

Enjoy!! 

Jen

CHANEL Shine Lipstick... BOY!

See? I told you more CHANEL products will be on my blog haha. I know you're probably thinking it's just too pricey and that I'm crazy for getting hooked on this high high end brand. Well... please don't doubt me just yet. CHANEL's products really justify their price because of the quality. I know you can always find dupes for colors and quality for mascaras, eyeshadows, etc. but with CHANEL's products you can't simply find dupes. I think people that have gone through all brands high and low will understand the happiness of finally finding something you don't have to continue searching for. Even though I love my mascara, brushes, powders, and blushes I am always in the hunt for better products.


CHANEL have slapped a "STOP" sign on my forehead. I've tried their lipsticks, glosses, powders, foundation, etc. and they all are top on my holy grail list. I think you'll just have to try it for yourself. Why not spend more on one really really good product that is non replaceable instead of buying so much different brands of one product. You'll be saving money in the long run especially the quality will pay off.

Ok now that I have justify my obsession for CHANEL haha... let's go on with CHANEL's new lipstick formula SHINE. SHINE will be release in April of 2011, but the color BOY was released for a weekend up until Valentines Day. It's just a tease for us and to make people like me curious. Well, curious enough to buy it because it is NEW and limited until April.

Right: Heavily swatched Left: One swipe

As you can tell, I've used quite a bit... hopefully it will last me until April ;)

The color is very sheer pink with shimmer. The undertone is warmer and not pasty. I usually do not like shimmer, but CHANEL's way of incorporating the finely milled shimmer makes it very forgiving on the lips in all condition. The shimmer actually makes the lips look more plump as well as shiny (hint the formula's name). The texture is extremely moisturizing and not so creamy. Lighter than a lipgloss, I must add.  It's sheer but gives enough moisture with one sweep across the lips. I actually use it as my tinted lip conditioner. I can now leave my Chapstick/lip balm at home. My favorite part about this lipstick is that it is fool proof for application. I can reach into my purse get it out and apply without a mirror or standing still.



There is a CHANEL rose scent to the lipstick and I think it's lovely. I'd pick rose over vanilla smell like MAC's lipsticks any day! Wish the lipstick came in a bigger tube but the .2 oz difference compare to the regular CHANEL lipstick isn't that big of a difference. The price is the same for SHINE and other CHANEL lipsticks such as Rouge Coco and Rouge Allure. I just feel this way because the moisturizing texture this lipstick gives make you apply more and waste more product.

Taken with direct sunlight for true texture and shimmers

 Taken in shadows to see color in no direct sunlight

This is the color indoors. 

Seems to be more darker and this is how it will look on your lips.

If you've missed this, I'm sorry. But my teaser should make you more excited for April. I will try my best to swatch as many as I can when the complete SHINE line comes out.

If you've tried this formula tell me how you like it or dislike it.

Have a great weekend!!

CHANEL Black Pearl... my precious!

I have found a new respect for CHANEL in all aspects. You will be able to see it later on in my blog and videos, but for starters let me just say OH MY to their polish quality. I am a licensed manicurist and have been working for about 7 years now. I love high quality polishes and some of my favorites are OPI, Essie, China Glaze, ORLY, and now on the top of my list is CHANEL.

    I actually got this polish for Valentines Day from my love and he knew I would never spend that much on nail polish because one, I get it for cheaper with my license, and two, I have too much beauty junk to add on a high maintenance "necessity".

   Black Pearl is from the new 2011 Spring Collection from CHANEL. I know you're probably thinking this color is too dark for Spring because when Spring comes to mind we think of lavender, pink, coral, yellow, and other pastels. But I cannot argue with Chanel. This color is daring yet classy. We have to trust CHANEL because they did bring Black as Chic (Black Satin) and Taupe as Fresh (Particuliere). This just works! It ties in with their Spring Collection so well! The color isn't that dark on your fingers due to the pearl effect and I must add, it is just like the name... it's a BLACK PEARL...well 10 pearls on your hands. I usually do not like frosty colors and lean more towards the cream finishes, but this color is just unexplainable. The pearl effect is demonstrated through strands of green sparkle and silver twinkles hehe. In some light it is blue, others it is green and far away it looks like a dark steel color. I think it will be great on any skin tone.

   As you can see the "Black" in the color is slightly in the background of the polish and enhances the pearl blue/green, which does not make the color dark. Just like a black base is applied under eyeshadows to make the color more amplified as well as give it dimension.  I tried my best to take as many pictures in different lighting and positions possible so that you can see the many dimension of the color.

With complete and direct sunlight the color cannot be describe as black. 

The pearl is very visible and not at all "silver".

This is indoors with natural light hitting some areas. 

This shows the true color you will see through out the day.

 Also, you can really see the strands of shimmer.

I hope I did and didn't convert you to become a CHANEL lover hehe. 

Jennifer

Gaga for New Gaga's MAC Viva Glam VII ?

One of my favorite thing about MAC is their Viva Glam idea. My next favorite would be the "Back to MAC" of course ;D. Viva Glam lipsticks and glosses are for a good cause. The full price of 14.50 USD is all donated. MAC does not profit at all. M·A·C will donate every cent of the selling price of Viva Glam Lipstick and Lipglass to the M·A·C AIDS Fund to support men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS. This way you can beautify yourself as well as donate to a good cause. Actually because of the purpose of this line, I make more uneccessary purchases because I can justify my expenses!

After falling in love with Cyndi's Viva Glam lipstick, which was launched the same time as the GAGA lipstick, I couldn't help but be excited when the news of a new GAGA lipstick was leaked. I personally did not like the GAGA lipstick, but on others I loved it! I'm not into pastey colors because I am on the tanner side and do have pigmented lips.

 Shortly after the lipsticks was goo goo gaa gaa by almost everyone, MAC launched the lipglosses and again I was very skeptical because I felt like it wasn't my cup of tea. I'm not really into glosses at the time, but Karla Sugar had a LIP OF THE DAY and surprisingly it was gorgeous. I converted and bought two! haha See what blogs can do to you AND me?


  Ok so here for the new GAGA Viva Glam VII... Gloss and lipstick is both released at the same time. Tomorrow the new GAGA will be in MAC stores and counters, but online Nordstrom already have it up.

 The color is too beige and creamy. I think it is going to be like the original GAGA Viva Glam just not pink. The finish is amplified, so I think it will cover pigmented lips well. The only other way I think this color would look good is if you use it to mute your lips and apply a color you wish shows up on your lips like it does in the package. BUT I hope I'll like it... because it is for a GOOD CAUSE ;D


IF you decide to get it or happen to stop by the counters and try it out, please let me know how you like it! I won't be rushing out to have a look, but I will come back with my input after my weekly run to Nordstrom.


Have a great day!

First Impression: POND'S FLAWLESS WHITE

I know it's late and it really isn't my style to write up a review while trying to keep my eyes open, but I am so excited for my new POND'S FLAWLESS WHITE that I had to just write a little about it. It just came in the mail today from YesStyle. 

    What is POND'S FLAWLESS WHITE? It's a product line that is not available in the USA due to customer demands, I believe. It's a custom/tradition that many asian woman love and believe white or lighter skin is beautiful. Kind of the opposite here because people pay tanning salons just to get darker. I think it started with the belief that if you are darker (in Asia), then you are a lower class person or at least from a chain of lower class relatives. Because the darker you are the more time you spend outside, and among the many reason of being outside a lot is working out on the fields. Unlike here in the USA, a good tan means you have time to actually go on a vacation and enjoy some sunlight. 

    POND'S FLAWLESS WHITE is actually mostly compared to Shishedo's WHITE LUCENT. I cannot say how the Shishedo one is because I have not tried it, but my friend Ha has and said it took forever for her to see results and that it cost too much for her to keep up with so she gave up after one buy. Therefore, I cannot say if you were to continue to use it that it could give permanent result ( I doubt it), but it hard to spit up hundreds to have even skin tone. Oh! That leads me to the question you're probably asking and thinking of... why would we ( those who do not live in ASIA or want to be "white") want this product? 

    I personally decided to buy this because I have easily scar acnes or in other words my acnes leaves dark spots after it has attacked my face. I'm not dark so it doesn't blend in and I'm not fortunate to not be light enough for it to turn into red/pink scars. I've been using Lancome's Genifique Youth Concentrate for about 3 months now and love that it has even out my skin tone and even out my texture, but I don't think it has properties to fade scars and even out my slightly darker forehead and chin to the rest of my face. On top of that I have freckles and even though I have discover SPF 55++ it can only protect me from now on and cannot reverse the damage the sun has done. 

   I purchased POND'S FLAWLESS WHITE deep cleanser and nightcream. The reason why I did not purchase anything else from the line is because the other products are used daily through out the day. Products like these that acts like a bleach to the skin is extremely sensitive to the sun. I do not want to risk the chance of thinning my skin or create skin damage during the day. My scars have been barable for this long already so the speed isn't my concern. I'm only going to use the cleanser at night and then use the nightcream under my moisturizer. 

FIRST IMPRESSION:
- CLEANSER

     The smell is extremely nice and I know a lot of people prefer no fragrance in their skincare because it makes them believe that the product is purely medicinal and miracle work, but honestly I cannot put anything on my face ( because it is near my nose of course) that stinks. This pleasant smell of roses and other flowers make it more fun to put on as well as makes me feel "pretty" if that makes sense. There are little finely milled pink sand like particles in the cleanser that dissolves once you lather it onto the face. A little goes a long way and the texture is very creamy. The "foam" that is mentioned on the package is more like a soap with little water type of foam and not a foam from a foam nozzle. After rinsing the product off, my face feels squeaky clean... and by that I mean it actually made squeaky noises. I don't think that is a bad or good thing because that might mean there is a high amount of pH causing the product to be basic. The more basic a product is the more "soapy" the product's substances resembles. 

- NIGHTCREAM

The smell again is extremely nice and I just can't get enough of it. Very clean, classy, and not delicious but more like a bouquet of flowers. Even though you cannot see the shimmer in the pot it is very visible on the face... and let just me add THANK GOODNESS it is a nightcream. I hope this shimmer comes off once I wash my face tomorrow morning. I do not want to go out looking like a disco ball. The texture is creamy, but after it is spread, it becomes more like a very velvety powder. The feeling is luxurious and kind of mattifying. I think maybe if it is similar to the regular daily lotion/cream, then it might help those with oily skin. If it was daytime I would have to say this is enough moisture, but for nighttime I prefer to lather on a lot a lot of moisturizer, so I did put my POND's Dry Cream on afterward. 

Why I wasn't afraid to use this product?
- I have been in love with many of POND'S products such as Dry Cream, Cooling Cream, and Makeup Remover.
Try it out once you get a chance because these are available at your nearest drugstore such as Wal-Mart.

That was my first impression and if you're curious for more please stay tune and I will do a complete review with before and after pictures of the results in about two weeks.

GOODNIGHT Beauties!

Jen ;D