Hello everyone!  Long time no blog!  Ive been so busy lately since school just started.  Anywho, I just recently did a photoshoot with model/actress Connie Lopez.  So im excited for those photos to come out so that I can share them with you all!  Besides that, because it is makeup related,  I wanted to share a picture of a recent birthday gift that i received from my boyfriend!  Its a vanity set!!!!! isnt it beautiful??!!! i love it!! It has a very contemporary touch to it and that is exactly what I love.  This was one of the sweetest present Ive gotten from him , besides my beautiful puppy i got for my birthday last year, which is also pictured below.  YAY no more sitting on the floor doing my makeup haha.  

Other than those exciting news, I recently bought a couple things from katiebco.com.   The wonderful thing about katie's line is that her aim is healthy mineral makeup.  All of her products are made from natural and chemical free minerals.  Awesome!  As you all know, im faithfully inlove with her mascara.  Now im inlove with her foundation, concealer stick, and powder. All three of them used together give you the most airbrushed and full coverage you can ask for.  In my opinion if I had to choose one product out of those three, I would definitely go for the concealer/foundation stick.  Its rich, creamy, and very pigmented.  If you email her, Im sure she would help you pick out the right color if you send her your photo.  She personally called me and helped me pick out all the right colors. Now thats what I call wonderful customer service!  I also purchased the pressed mineral bronzer.  All the details of those products and  are below... more detailed info on each product can be found on katibco.com .... enjoy!!

Katie B Liquid Mineral Foundation

PROS:

1. Matte finish
2. Creamy and pigmented
3. Little goes a long ways
4. Chemical free sunblock since they are purely mineral!

CONS:

1. A little on the pricey side running at $34 for 35 grams
2. Not for those who like dewy finishes

Rating:  4 out of 5

Katie B Concealer/Foundation stick

PROS:

1. Works as a duo concealer and foundation!
2. When used on top of liquid foundation, it gives you a fuller coverage
3. Creamy yet non greasy feel
4. Very pigmented
5. infused with vitamins A, B, and C

CONS:

1. Nothing really, i love it.

Rating: 5 out of 5

Katie B Dual Pressed Powder

PROS:

1. Soft matte finish
2. Has Triclosan to help prevent breakouts
3. Densely formulated
4. Great for touch ups
5. Desired coverage density can be adjusted accordingly 

CONS:

1. Sheer coverage if used alone
2. Packaging is a bit bulky
3. Running at $30 each compact

Rating 3.8 out of 5

Katie B Mineral Bronzer

PROS:

1. Completly matte and sparkle free!
2. Natural bronzy tan look
3. a little goes a long ways
4. Very pigmented
5. Slim and easy to carry compact

CONS: 

1. nothing =)

Rating: 5 out of 5

This is a photo of me wearing all Katie B products listed above, so that you can see how flawless the coverage is!!

Coastal scents, Benefit Cosmetics, and Model in a bottle

Hi everyone!!! 

Its been such a long time since my last post.  Im sorry, Ive just been so busy with summer classes and my job.  Oh i got hired at a veterinary hospital, so Im super excited about that.  Anywho, for todays post I wanted to just update about me and do another review about my favorite product, semi favorite product, and least favorite product.  Here goes:

WOULDN'T BUY AGAIN

Coastal Scents 10 Concealer Palette 

The reason I picked this up in the first place, was because of some good reviews on it.  Unfortunately either I received a bad batch or I just did not like it.  When I first got it, the consistency was thin and creamy with an oily base. It goes on semi-creamy with an oily feel at first and dries to a matte finish.  It does cover imperfections pretty well, but it did give me a tad bit of a cakey look.  After a week, I reopened the case and it all lost its moisture, leaving me nothing but a sticky paste.  My attempt to still use it failed when it dried instantly on my face with an even more cakey look. =(  and no I did not leave the case open.  I think the combination of a poorly constructed case and formula made the product not worth it at all.

Pros:

1. Convenient case with a wide range of colors
2. Descent consistency cream on day 1 of opening =/
3. Matte finish
4. Good coverage

Cons:

1. Formula dries out
2. Could be creamier 

Product Rating:  2 out of 5

WOULD BUY AGAIN

Model in a Bottle

- Original formula

Model in a Bottle is a popular makeup setting spray that was mention on the Tyra Banks show.  It is meant to be sprayed on after makeup application to prolong the longevity of your makeup .  It claims to top off your makeup routine with a matte finish, keep oily skin at bay, and keep your makeup looking fresh throughout the day.  I was super excited to get this.  One bottle lasts a while too, with up to 300 sprays!  

I tried it and I was pretty satisfied with the results.  Usually my blush fades by the end of the day, but with this finishing spray it had a stronger staying power.  I did notice I had less oily skin, but it didnt totally disappear. I would recommend this spray if you have  a long day of work or a long night of partying!! 

One thing that does bother me a bit is the smell.  Its a strong rosey scent that reminds me of popuri.  Even though its is suppose to fade away after about half an hr, I dont like the fact that it clashes with my perfume. However, its is bearable. I still get a light scent after an hour but disappears after a couple of hours. Some people love the smell, some dont. 

Pros:

1. Gives staying power to blushes, eyeshadows, and face foundation
2. Dries quickly to a matte finish
3. Good payoff with over 300 sprays per bottle
4. Even coverage spray with a light mist
5. Comes in two formulas: Original and Sensitive skin
6. Good price @ $15 

Cons:

1. Not as effective for those with super oily skin
   
2. Strong rosey scent ( it does disappears with time)

Product rating:  3.8 out of 5

WOULD DEFINITELY BUY AGAIN

Benefit Erase Paste Concealer

Hands down I love this concealer. It comes in three shades that brightens up skin complexion. It does work for blemishes and under dark eye circles, but it does wonders for brightening around the eyes.  I stay up a lot to study so I look like a zombie in the mornings.  The consistency is a thick and creamy paste.  It goes on smooth, blends easily, and finishes with a dewy texture.  

The color of the cream might seem too pink at first but it has a purpose.  Benefit claims that the paste acts as a concealer and a face brightener.  It does just that.  As we all know, salmon color concealers are great for under eye circles because it covers skin discoloration without leaving behind a greenish shadow of your under eye circles. The thing that sets this concealer apart from any other concealer on the market is that it gives you a healthy glowing look, instead of a matte mask on your face.  It can even be used by itself on fresh skin give your skin some umph! I love the Benefit Cosmetics company.  They formulate products that enhances your beauty with a natural finish.  Erase paste is a bit pricey but it is densely pigmented, so you get your moneys worth.  A little goes a long way unlike any other sheer concealers out there on the market.

Im always in a hurry in the morning because I am known for pushing the snooze button.  With this I dont have to use multiple concealer colors to do the job.  I just throw this on the entire area of my eyes/ parts of my face that I want to highlight and finish it off with mineral foundation powder, light blush, mascara, finishing spray and  Im set!  I look like I had my full 8 hours of rest. It is truly magic beauty rest in jar.

Pros:

1. Quality Creamy paste
2. Very pigmented  
3. Little goes a long way
4. Covers under eye circles
5. Brightens skin with a glow
6. Blends easily into skin 
7. No harsh lines
8. Dewey finish and not oily
9. Buildable coverage

Cons:

1. Works better as a skin brightener rather than a blemish spot concealer
2. On the pricey said for a 0.15 oz jar @ $26
3. When used as a full coverage concealer for under eye circles, foundation is needed to even out skin tone and tone down the brightening effect.

Product rating: 5 out of 5

This is a completed look that includes some of the products that I mentioned today (benefit erase paste and model in a bottle).  Other products that I used are listed.  Hope you all like the makeup and new hair color =)

• Dark circles --Benefit erase paste concealer
• Foundation---Face Atelier Foundation in colors #4+#6
• Contouring---Physicians formula pressed multicolored face powder in "creamy natural"
• Eyeshadow--- Tarte cosmetics "west egg" (matte purple) - blending color
•     --- Bare i.d. minerals "soul sister" (dark glimmer purple) - crease color
  
•                     --- Katie B pro cosmetics "black setting" - crease and outer corner darkener
•     --- Benefit cosmetics "low profile" -eyebrow bone highlighter
  
•     --- Benefit cosmetics cream eyeshadow "honey bunny" -eyelid color
  
• Mascara---- --Katie B Faux lash mascara
• Blush----------Napoleon Perdis blush patrol
• Lipstick-------MAC "jubilee"
• Eyelashes--- -Ardell lashes #103
• Set Spray-----Model in a bottle in original

Just a fun and colorful look =)

the Loves & the Regrets reviews

Hello my lovelys,

For the past 2 weeks, I had a shopaholic attack and picked up lots of goodies.  I will get around to reviewing everything that Ive tried out, but todays review will focus mainly on one product that I LOVE and one product that I REGRET buying.  Im not saying that the results I encountered will be the same for everyone, but for me it was.  Enjoy!

Face Atelier Powder Eye Pencil in Onyx

-the one I regret

So I have very watery eyes, and Powder pencils  tend to stay on me the longest when used before setting it with black mineral powder.  Face Atelier is a cosmetic company geared towards professional makeup artists and has a pretty good reputation.  They are known for their foundation line, a mixture of foundation and primer in one!  However, in my opinion their pencil is =( not good at all.  Especially for the price of $19.50.  The color is not the truest black.  Its more of like a really dark grey and kind of transparent when applied to the waterline.  After application, 15 minutes later... I had raccoon eyes and the liner powder had seperated all over my waterline. Very disappointed.  I hate throwing away products , so I tried the pencil on my top lid eyeliner and smudged it for a smokey effect.  Other than that, I dont recommend this liner.

Pros:

1. good for smudged effect

Cons:

1. Pricey @ $19.50 
2. No staying power
3. Not a true black color

Rating:  2 out of 5

For an alternative, with much better quality and bargain, I recommend Katie B's powder eyeliner.  It can be found here:

 http://www.katiebco.com/shop/eyes/powderliner.php  

or if you would like the set, it can be found here:

http://www.katiebco.com/shop/eyes/liner.php

These liners have the truest black pigmentation and stays longer than face atelier's liners. The texture is very soft and almost giving a  silky feeling.  The liners are available in 3 colors, while the set is only available in black.   The liner by itself is sold for only $16.50 and the set with a liner and powder is $34.  With the set, it is a bit pricey, but you recieve a huge pot of black powder that will last you forever!!! It is also very pigmented and a little will go a lonnnggggg way.  So in the end its very worth it because of its quality, size, and multiple uses (liner, shadow, etc.).

Benefit Cosmetics Lipscription 

-the one I love

For months I was on the hunt for a quality lip exfoliator and I finally found it.  For a person that loves lipstick, I have very chapped lips naturally.  This product is a must before lipstick application!!  The set includes a tube of exfoliating cream and a tube of lip balm.  I really mean it when I say that a little goes a long way with this.  Its pretty pricey, so dont be wasteful!!  The buffing beads in the exfoliator is gentle on your lips but strong enough to buff away all that dead skin. The exfoliater cream is not oily, but rather creamy.  So you wont get that disgusting oily feeling.  The balm is thick enough to give you a long lasting moisturizer for your lips, but isnt annoyingly sticky.  These two put together gives you a perfect canvas for lipstick application, just like those models in covergirl!! Ofcourse, your lips will be flushed with red, since you just applied pressure to them when exfoliating.  So, having nude lipstick or lipgloss will tone down the redness.  But if you like the red tone on your lips , then throw on some clear gloss and you are set!  I would buy this product again and again, but from the looks of it, this set will last me for quite a while. <3

Pros:

1. Gentle exfoliating beads
2. It actually works
3. Balm is a good lip conditioner
4. A little goes a long way
5. No irritating smells or fregrances

Cons:

1. A bit pricey @ $34 for the set
2. Exfoliating cream dries out rather fast during application (does not effect outcome, because it looses moisture to remove dead skin)  

Rating: 4.8 out of 5  (perfect other than the price)

Makeup Session and Reviews

 

 Before

 

 

After

  Hello my Lovelys,

Yesterday, my best friend and I had a makeup session for her date later that night.  The pictures above are before and after pictures.  Hair and makeup done by yours truly =)  She wanted a natural and sophisticated look, so I softened up her face with a light foundation, a pinch of bronzing powder for a sun-kissed look, and pinkish brown eyeshadows for her eyes.  For a  sophisticated look, I used a straightener to curl out the bottom layer and curl in the top layer of her hair.  Hope you guys like it =)

Products that I used on Miss Siripa here was:

• Bare i.d. Minerals mineral foundation (medium beige & medium tan)
  
• Smashbox Photo finish primer
• Beeroyal Rose Bouquet Blush (Autumn flower)
  
• Mac lipstick (Blankety)
  
• Mac Lipglass (C-thru)
• Katie B. Faux Lash mascara
• Physicians Formula bronzing powder (blushing mocha)
• The Balm Eyeshadow eyelid  V**drama shadow color (jealous jordana)
•  *the V drama is the outer corner of your eyelids directly underneath the tail of  your eyebrows, by dramatizing this area with a darker color, it creates a 3D  effect, forming bigger eyes
• Benefit cream eyeshadow/liner all over eyelid base (honey bunny)
• Benefit powder eyeshadows:

(these powder shadows are on clearance for only $9 (originally $19) on benefitcosmetics.com)

1. eyebrow highlighter color (low profile)
   
2. eyelid blender color (guess again)
   
3. eyelid crease color (getaway)

I did use one product that I absolutely love and recommend.  That would be........ (drumroll)........

   Benefit creaseless cream shadow/liner

This product was recommended to me by a professional makeup artist and I do admit it is a pretty good product.  When I picked up "honey bunny" and "marry up", I did a test run.  The results were impressive.  The colors are creamy upon initial application, and slowly dry to a smooth texture and not powdery like some other cream eyeshadows.  They are relatively easy to blend , but it does take a little getting used to.  The color intensity is buildable, so you can get anything from a sheer look to a more intense color coverage.  

I also used this cream as a base to intensify my eyeshadow colors on top.  After I was done , I took my finger and dragged it on my eyelid reallly hard to test how well the staying power was.  and NOTHING was on my finger.  I was pretty impressed by that.  All through the day my shadow did not budge.  So it does live by its claim... creaseless eyeshadow/liner.  I didnt even have to use my urban decay primer!!  

Pros:

1. Strong staying power
2. Buildable color
3. Pigmented
4. Creamy texture
5. Multiple uses ( as a primer, base color to intensify eyeshadows, by itself, eyebrow highlighter, cheekbone highlighter, blush ... endless possibilites !!)

Cons:

1. pricey $19 for a 4.5 g
2. wish there was more product

Here are some swatches of the two Benefit cream eyeshadow/liners that I bought and the four other that I picked up after my little test hehe =) enjoy and have a great weekend!!

In order from left to right:

Recess, Honey Bunny, Marry Up, Stiletto, Bunny Hop, Skinny Jeans

Green Smokey Eyes and Reviews

Hi Guys!!

Today I am going to review Beeroyal Rose Bouquet Blushes, Lorac eyeshadow in "after party" & "goddess", i.d. Bare minerals in "tortoise",  and the Balm eyeshadow in "jealous jordana".  All of which I used in this completed look. Lets do this!!

Beeroyal Rose Bouquet Blushes

These are definitely a collectors item.  The deep imprint of the rose is absolutely beautiful.  The color that I am wearing is in Garden Bouquet.  I did happen to purchase Garden Bouquet, Autumn Flower, Wild flower, and Rose Petal.  The textures of these blushes are silky soft and the color payoff is good, but not wildly intense.  Given that this series is a brides collection, the mixtures of colors give off a very subtle and soft appearance ( but color is buildable ).  Garden Bouquet and Autumn flower are very similar in color, with an exception that Autumn gives off a softer pink hue.  They currently are having a 25% off on entire order on beeroyalproducts.com!! yay for sales!

Pros: 

1. Pretty print!!
2. Silky texture
3. Even balance of colors
4. Subtle and natural colors
5. Buildable coverage

Cons:

1. A bit on the pricy side: $35
2. Tacky plastic brand sticker (peels right off, leaving a black matte plastic case)
3. Not for people who want an intense colored blush

Rating: 3 out of 5

Lorac eyeshadow in "after party" & "goddess"

These shadows are comparable to stila eyeshadows.  Its very silky and is not powdery at all.  Color payoff is great, esp for the shimmery purple ( after party). The size of these are about the same size as Macs and coastal scents eyeshadows. I would purchase this again.

Pros:

1. Silky texture for super easy blending
2. Very pigmented

Cons:

1. A bit pricey : $19

Rating: 4 out of 5

i.d. Bare minerals in "tortoise"

Very pigmented shadows.  Bare i.d. minerals have these distinct glitters in most of their shimmery shadows, with tiny interference glitters that almost have a rainbow effect.  Very eye-catching.  

Pros: 

1. Pigmented
2. A little goes a long way
3. Subtle micro glitters that dont look tacky

Cons:

1. A bit pricey: $13 for .57g
2. Mineral shadows, so a bit harder to work with due to fallouts

Rating: 4 out of 5

the Balm eyeshadow in "jealous jordana"

One of my favorite eyeshadows.  The sizes of these are twice the size of MACs pans and about the same size as Stila eyeshadows.  Textures are similar to Urban Decays shadows, where they are evenly powdery and silky for easy blending.  Very pigmented.  

Pros:

1. Very cute packaging ( sturdy cardboard with inside mirror)
2. Only $14 for big pan that goes a long way
3. Very pigmented
4. Easy to blend 

Cons:

1. ....nothing really =)

Rating: 5 out of 5

pwhew!! that was a long post.  If theres anything I didnt answer, please feel free to ask so that I can satisfy your curiosity =]  

Yours Truly,

Kim Kay

Katie B. Faux Lash Mascara

Hello my sweethearts!

I just wanted to start off my first post with a product review.   It is the all time favorite Katie B. waterproof  Faux Lash Mascara.  Ive been using this mascara for 3 years and everyone I have recommended it to, has been a faithful user.  Why is it so awesome?  Being asian, I have stick straight lashes and most mascaras out there weigh them down.  Faux Lash Mascara is formulated to thicken, lengthen, define, and KEEPS your lashes curled all day!!  

The brush is designed to reach the outer corner lashes with its cone shaped bristles.  For those of you that are always  in a rush, the brush is a plus because it is rather big and can coat those lashes in no time without clumping.  But when I do take my time to evenly coat my lashes 2-3 times, the results are more defined lashes.  The formula's drying speed is at a medium level, so I do have an opportunity to work with it until I get the results I want.

 The brush design can also be a downfall to people who perfer small brushes.   This type of brush is also not meant for the lower lashes because of its size.  However, I love the formula so much that I just use a smaller disposable mascara wand to coat my lower lashes. Lastly, throughout the day the mascara does not flake, so it stays looking fresh.  

The best thing about this, is that it won't cost you an arm and a leg.  Its only $13.50  for a 13g/.46 oz. tube that will last you quite a while.

If you have a chance to read up on Katie B on her websites, you will feel a lot more comfortable trusting her products.  Her portfolio is pretty impressive. 

http://katiebco.com/

PROS:

• Affordable
• Keeps lashes curled
• Defines
• Lengthens
• Thickens
• Waterproof
• No flaking
• 100% natural ingredients: mamey seed oil, bee wax, isoparafins, castor oil, anhydriede lanoline, black iron oxide tenox, propylparaben

CONS:

• Not available in stores, only online
• Only shade available is Bat Black
• Brush is too big for a clean application for lower lashes
• A bit harder to remove with makeup remover
• Plastic packaging could be cuter! =)

Product Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Make sure that when applying this mascara:

1. Apply to clean, combed, and curled lashes. 
2. Start at the base of your lashes and wiggle the wand to obtain a thickened base  
3. Slowly drag out to the tips lashes.  
   
4. Repeat 2-5 times to coat your entire lash
5. After one coat, let dry for about 10-20 seconds and reapply a 2nd or 3rd coat depending on your desired thickness.....and wah laa! your set for the day.  
6. Do not try to recurl your lashes after application (because you wont need to!) Because if you do, it will clump up the base of your lashes and those luscious lashes wont look so great anymore.

*****UPDATE*****

As I have mentioned before that the only thing I kind of dont like about this mascara is the brush.  Sooooo recently, I received a deluxe sample of Bare Essentials BUXOM lash mascara.  I tried it, and as always many mascara formulas do not hold up a curl, neither did BADgal mascara from Benefit cosmetics.  BUT anywho, what i DO like is the BUXOM mascara wand.  I absolutely love how its rubber bristles act as an eyelash comb while applying mascara.  

SO, I removed the brush from the Faux Lash and replaced it with the wand from buxom.  In order for the brush to fit into the faux lash tube , you also have to switch the plastic stopper that holds back the excess mascara.  This combination makes the perfectoo mascara.  I will post before and after pictures soon.  

Did I mention that the silver capped wand makes the Faux Lash packaging look ubber cute?  **hint hint katie B** =)

Enjoy! 

Yours truly,

Kim Kay