FOTD: New Year's Eve Edition

Happy New Year's Eve everyone! Only five more hours until 2013 in California. Here are the products I used for New Year's!


From L to R:
- Neutrogena Healthy Skin Pressed Powder in Light/Medium
- Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet + in 45
- Wet n Wild blush in Heather Silk
- Maybelline The Colossal mascara
- Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm in Red Dahlia
- Revlon Brow Fantasy in Dark Brown
- Too Faced Shadow Insurance
- Maybelline Color Tattoo in Too Cool
- Maybelline EyeStudio quad in Olive Martini
- Wet n Wild Gel Liner in Black

This will probably be my last post of 2012 so I want to wish everyone a happy new year filled with peace, love and success!

xo, Kathleen

FOTD: My 5 Min. Makeup

Good morning everyone! I'm sorry I haven't been blogging as much. I've been sick for the past two weeks and I'm feeling so much better now! Today I thought I'd show you my 5 minute makeup routine. I don't like wearing too much makeup when I'm sick but I still want to look alive ha!


From L to R:
- Almay Smart Shade Smart Balance Makeup in Medium
- Maybelline The Colossal mascara
- Neutrogena Healthy Skin Pressed Powder in Light/Medium
- Clinique Blushing Blush Powdered Blush in Sunset Glow

Hope you're all having a great day!

xo, Kathleen

December Birchbox 2012!

Good evening everyone! Today I'd like to show you what I got in this month's Birchbox! The theme for December is "All Wrapped Up". I can honestly say this was the best box I've gotten this year! Let's see what I got!


Isn't the box adorable?! It looks like a mini present!


1. Benefit it's potent! eye cream - An eye cream?! So excited to try it out!
2. Aerie Shimmer Fragrance - It smells pretty sweet and the packaging is cute!
3. ModelCo SHINE Ultra Lip Gloss - This looks like a full size lip gloss! Plus it's worth $16, more than the box itself! I got the color Showgirl Red, which is a blue based red with shimmer. Such a gorgeous color!
4. Kèrastase Resistance Ciment Thermique - Protect - I got two of these in my box. It says it's a leave-in conditioner that protects against any heat on your hair. I don't use my straightener often but I'll give it a shot when I do.
5. Lifestyle Extra - Chuao Chocolatier ChocoPod - I don't have a picture of it because my mom ate it (lol) but it looked good!

I'm definitely excited about the eye cream and lip gloss! What did you guys get?! Until next time!

xo, Kathleen

Monday Questionnaire: Dec. 17, 2012

I cannot go to sleep (it's almost midnight here in California) and I figured I'd write a quick little blog post before going to sleep. I can't wait until Christmas, even though I work on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Let's get on with the questions!

1.) Mood:
So happy! I finished my last final today so my month long winter break starts now!

2.) In what order do you apply your makeup?
Usually it's primer, foundation, concealer, powder, eyes and lips. If I'm doing a really dark smokey eye, then I'd do my eyes first to get rid of any fallout.

3.) What is one thing that made you smile today?
Watching Elf on tv. I love that movie so much!

4.) Current Nail Polish:
China Glaze's For Audrey

5.) Have you ever had a kiss under the mistletoe?
Nope! In fact, I don't believe I've ever seen one in real life!

6.) Current Outfit:
In ma pj's!

7.) Moment of truth: do you usually drive the speed limit?
"Usually" is the key word here. I'm a Californian so naturally, we tend to drive over the limit.

8.) If you could spend the holidays anywhere in the whole world, where would it be?
I would love to go to Times Square in New York! It looks so much fun on tv!

9.) Do you know sign language?
Only like one or two words.

10.) Weekly Goals:
Sleep in and become more active on my blog.

Sweet dreams night owls!

xo, Kathleen

Maybelline ColorSensational lipsticks: Review + Swatches!

Hey everyone! Today I wanted to share with you one of my favorite lipsticks ever: Maybelline's ColorSensational lipsticks!



As you can see, I own six of these bad boys! What I love about this line of lipsticks is that they carry a wife range of colors, as well as their finishes. These lipsticks last a long time on me (5-6 hours) and they apply very nicely. Below are swatches of the lipsticks I own.


From L to R: Pink Satin, Bit of Berry, Tinted Taupe, Blissful Berry, Nude Nuances (LE), Elegant Lilac (LE)

I would have to say that the Maybelline ColorSensational lipsticks are my favorite lipsticks, either drugstore or high end. They're very easy to apply and my lips feel very moisturized and not dry. I highly recommend checking out these lipsticks!

Have a great day beauties!

xo, Kathleen

Monday Questionnaire: Dec. 03, 2012

Hello everyone! The weather outside is my favorite: rain! Perfect for cuddling up with my blanket and watching Christmas movies. Last night was really fun! The city I live in has an annual Christmas tree lighting festival and it was also my sister's 21st birthday. It was great spending time with family and friends. Time to answer some fun questions!



1.) Mood: Clean and refreshed. I just got out of the shower lol!
2.) You call into the radio station to request a holiday song-- which one is it? Definitely Michael Bublé's "Winter Wonderland". It's my favorite song from his holiday album.
3.) What is your ideal handbag size? If I'm going to school, I like to carry a big bag so I can put my textbooks inside. If I'm just going out with friends, I like to carry a small crossbody bag.
4.) Current nail polish: Sephora by OPI Under my Trench Coat
5.) What is the last fragrance you wore? Vera Wang Princess. It's amazing!
6.) Current outfit: Dark washed jeans and my Florence + the Machine concert tee.
7.) Which snow activity do you prefer: building snowmen, making snow angels, or snowball fights? I love building snowmen! I've been up to Big Bear in California once with my family and it was an awesome experience!
8.) What is your favorite restaurant cuisine? Definitely Mexican and Italian. I can't live without tamales and pasta.
9.) Can you whistle with your fingers? I can't even whistle with my mouth ha!
10.) Weekly goals: Study for my finals and countdown to Christmas!

Hope you're all having a safe day!

xo, Kathleen

Influenster's New Design!

Hey everyone! Hope you're all having a good day so far! My night class got cancelled today so I can catch up on Ringer on Netflix! It's one of my favorite shows! Too bad there's only one season :(

Anywho, this post is mainly about a site I recently discovered called Influenster. I came across it after I saw many girls on YouTube getting these boxes filled with amazing stuff called Voxbox. I became intrigued and signed up in May of this year. You basically did surveys and answer questions on badges you wanted and they will email you if you qualified for a Voxbox. Sounds cool right?!

In September of this year, they recently revamped their entire site. I love the new things they added. For one, you can see where everything is and have no problems looking up badges. I also like how you now have to work harder to get a Voxbox. Before the revamp, it was fairly easily to get a Voxbox but I like how I have to work harder to get what I want. I've met lots of new people who share the same interests as me, which makes participating online is really fun!

Overall, I like the new site. I'm very active on it now and I hope to get a Voxbox in the near future! I encourage everyone to sign up! It's a lot of fun!

xo, Kathleen

FOTD: Thanksgiving Edition

Hi everyone! Hope you're all having a great Thanksgiving with friends and family! For those not celebrating, I hope you're having a great day! Here's my FOTD.


From L to R: Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray, Maybelline Superstay Foundation in Nude, Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Plum, Too Faced Shadow Insurance, Korres Face Primer, MAC Select Moisturecover Concealer in NW35, Maybelline The Colossal mascara, Lancome Dual Finish Versatile Powder Makeup in Buff II, Inglot eyeshadows (sorry I forgot the numbers!), Wet n Wild blush in Heather Silk, Revlon Lip Butter in Berry Smoothie

Sephora VIB Sale Haul!

Hey everyone! I received my Sephora purchase today in the mail and thought I'd show you what I bought during their VIB sale! I didn't buy much this year because I'm saving up for a new laptop. Anyway, let's get to the haul!


From left to right: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colours in Jungle and Plum, Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish in Betty, MUFE Mat Velvet+ foundation in 45

If you would like to see swatches or reviews on any of these products, let me know! :)

Until next time!

xo, Kathleen

Monday Questionnaire: Nov. 12, 2012

Hi everyone! I have the day off today and decided to lay in bed and watch Netflix all day. Sounds like a plan! Anyway, today is Monday sooo, time to answer some questions!

1) Mood:
I feel very relaxed. I've been working 8 hour shifts for four days straight and I'm so glad I got the day off!

2) What is the last song/album you purchased?
Imagine Dragon's Night Visions. I love them to death.

3) The best video game system ever is __.
Gameboys! I still use mine on a regular basis!

4) Current nail polish:
Essie Bahama Mama

5) How many times did you hit the snooze button this morning?
Zero. I don't use an alarm; only when I have to get up early for work.

6) Current outfit:
Tie-dye shirt and black sweatpants, AKA my pajamas.

7) What is the furthest distance you've ever driven?
Around 80 miles, which is from where I live to Tijuana, Mexico.

8) You can only use one mascara for the rest of your life-- which one is it?!
Definitely Maybelline The Colossal Volume Express mascara! It's my HG mascara.

9) If you could have a $1000 gift card to anywhere right now, where would you choose?
Costco, hands down! I can buy everything I want/need in one place.

10) Weekly Goals:
Organized my makeup collection. It's a huge mess!

Hope you're all having a great Monday!

xo, Kathleen

Mini Drugstore Haul!

Hey beauties! So I recently picked up some products at Rite-Aid and thought I'd show you a few things. Surprisingly, I only got one makeup item but Sephora's VIB 20% off sale is super tempting! Let's get on with the haul!



I believe this product is new since I found it in its own display. It's the Aveeno Clear Complexion Foaming Cleanser. I've been having a lot of breakouts lately on my chin and neck area and I have tried EVERYTHING! Nothing seems to work so I'm soooo glad I found this. I really hope this works out!



I believe this brand is fairly new too. It's the Formula 10.0.6 Seriously Shine Free Mattifying Oil-Free Moisturizer. Wow, that's a mouthful! Anyway, I'm currently using the Neutrogena Oil-Free Moisture moisturizer and that thing sucks! It's the opposite of oil-free! I just wanted to try out a new moisturizer.



Next up is the Formula 10.0.6 Deep Down Detox Ultra-Cleansing Mud Mask. I've never tried a mask before before and I was intrigued by it. Well, their packaging also intrigued me. I'm a sucker for packaging.



A hair product I got was the Nexxus Pro-Mend Split End Binding Curl Defining Crème Gel. I just had to buy products with the longest names ever! Anyway, I've always wanted to try Nexxus products but they're so expensive. Good thing I found this for 75% off! I can't wait to use it!



I also got an Essie nail polish in the color Bahama Mama. This is ny first Essie nail polish and I hear soooo many people talking about this specific color! It's a darkened plum/maroon color that is perfect for fall! I CANNOT wait until I put this on my nails



Last but certainly not least, the only makeup product I bought was the Luscious Lips Glossy Lip Balm Collection. I love wearing lip balm and I have way too many but I was drawn towards this set. They look too cute to even use!

I can't wait to use all of these things, especially the nail polish and lip balms! Hope you're all having a great Saturday!

xo, Kathleen

October Favorites 2012!

Hey all! So glad October is finally over! I had so many midterms and essays to do during that month. I did however found some standout products for this month! Let's get to it!



First, I would love to talk about Wet n Wild eyeshadows. If you have not tried these little suckers, you are not living in the beauty world! WnW eyeshadows are extremely pigmented and wear for a long time. Best part is, they are cheap! I'm talking $5 and under. I don't have a specific favorite trio or palette, I love them all! I definitely recommend them to everyone!

Next is a Wet n Wild blush in Heather Silk. This blush is perfect for fall! I love how it gives my cheeks a flushed look. It looks like the blush has a bit of sparkle in it by I swear it comes out matte on the cheeks. It's very pigmented and very affordable! Another great WnW item!

When it comes to eyebrows, I don't do much to them. But after recently watching MakeupByTiffanyD's eyebrow video, I became obsessed with filling in my eyebrows. I never noticed how it gives a significant new look on my face. She used the Revlon Brow Fantasy pencil and I love it! It comes with a pencil and a gel. My eyebrows look amazing just by using this product! It lasts for a long time and it does not smudge all over my face. A definite two thumbs up!

Another favorite this month would have to be my Wet n Wild Mega Liner Liquid Eyeliner. It's the best liquid liner I've ever tried! I have used the L'Oreal Linear Intense and the Maybelline Line Stiletto ones and it just made cracks all over my lash line. Not a cute look. The WnW one lasts all day and doesn't smudge on me. Love it!

Since it's now fall, I love wearing dark red and berry lipsticks. My favorite one this month was Revlon Lip Bitter in Red Velvet. I love just how smooth they glide on your lips and how they are incredibly pigmented. Red Velvet is a dark reddish/burgundy color that is perfect for fall! I love it!

Last but certainly not least is the Rite-Aid Renewal brand makeup brushes, specifically the Kabuki brush. I love using this for applying powder on my face. It's really soft and picks up the product really good. I need to try out more brushes in the future.

What were your favorites for the month of October. Leave me a comment down below or tweet me! Until next time!

xo, Kathleen

October Birchbox 2012!

I got my box about a week ago but I still wanted to write a post about it. I've been watching videos on YouTube and many were disappointed with this month's box. I'm actually really excited about it because I got something that I've been DYING to try!



I love this box! The first thing I noticed when I opened it was a Beauty Blender. Yes, a Beauty Blender! I was literally in shock when I saw this! I cannot wait to use it for my foundation! I also got a sample of theBalm's Mary-Lou Manizer. I have the full size of it and it is the best highlighter ever! It gives such a pretty glow to your face without looking like an oilslick. Love! I also got a Luna Bar in Chocolate Raspberry, a sample of Supergoop City Sunscreen Serum and Lucy B Roll On perfumes. I love this month's box! Tell me below what you guys got! In the meantime, I'll see you later!

xo, Kathleen

Monday Questionnaire: Oct. 22, 2012

Hey guys! Sorry for the lack of blog posts. I've been dealing with some family issues that have been fortunately cleared up! For today's post, I've decided to do Amarixe's Monday Questionnaire. I love watching her videos on Youtube and it seems like a lot of fun to do. You're all welcome to copy and paste the questions yourselves! Here's the questions!

1) Mood: 

I'm feeling okay right now. Getting ready to pick up my little sister from school then headed over to my math class. Fun....

2) What was the best part of your weekend?

My family and I headed over to a pumpkin fair at our local mall! There were rides for kids, pumpkins everywhere and delicious food! I had to get a slice of pumpkin pie!

3) If you HAD to choose one: drastic hair color change, or drastic haircut?!

Definitely a drastic haircut. I hate the texture of my hair (super thick and wavy) and a haircut would really improve the condition of my hair.

4) Current nail polish:

L'Oreal The Perfect Trench. It's from their new limited edition Fall London line.

5) Do you carry a checkbook in your daily bag?

No, but I should!

6) Current outfit:

A cream 3/4 sleeved laced shirt with a pair of black khakis. I feel really laid-back at the moment.

7) Are there any TV shows you are really loving at the moment?

I love watching The Amazing Race, Castle and Elementary!

8) Do you change your makeup routine with the seasons?  How is it different for fall?

Kind of. My foundation is a bit thicker in the fall and I like to wear berry lip colors with a soft smokey eye.

9) Are you dressing up for Halloween this year?

I still have no idea. I'll probably just make up my own costume.

10) Weekly goals:

Study for upcoming midterms, find a costume and buy dark colored skinny jeans. All of mine are worned out.

Hope everyone is having a great Monday!

xo, Kathleen

September Favorites!

Hello everyone! A bit late but I'm here to show you my beauty favorites for this month! This month I rediscovered some favorite products of mine. Now onto the products!

My first favorite is the Ecotools Bronzer Brush. I actually use it for my liquid foundation. It blends my foundation really well and leaves my skin looking flawless. The bristles are very dense and super soft. I don't get why it's called a bronzer brush since it's too big to use. Nonetheless, it's a superb brush for foundation!

This a definite rediscovered love of mine. It's L'Oreal's Voluminous Full Definition mascara. I first started using it in February of last year and ever since then I've been loving it! It leaves my lashes very long and volumized, something not a lot of mascaras do these days. The formula is not too wet and not too dry, which works wonders for my puny little lashes. Even MakeupByTiffanyD on Youtube loves it! I definitely recommend this mascara!

I just recently got this nail polish but I already love it! It's JulieG713's new nail polish line, Julie, in the color Metallic Heels. This is honestly the best nail polish I have ever tried! The color is opaque in just one coat! Metallic Heels is a metallic gold color that is perfect to wear in the fall! I love the color range in her collection and I can't wait to try out more colors from her line!

Next, are the L'Oreal Colour Caresse lipsticks. I own two but my favorite is the one pictured above, Silky Java. I'm a sucker for rosy nude colors so I was immediately drawn towards this color. These remind me of the Revlon Lip Butters except these glide on smoothly. The darker colors are definitely more pigmented the lighter ones. They don't wear too long on me but I don't care because I love the color! It's a perfect fall shade too!

This product has been a total lifesaver for me recently! It's the Urban Decay De-Slick Setting Spray. I live in Southern California (specifically in Orange County) and the weather has been really hot! Where's the fall weather?! Anyway, this truly helps my foundation last a long time! I can't believe I haven't used this product until recently! It's a great product that anyone with oily skin has to try out! Highly recommend!

Last but not least, I have been loving the Black Amethyst scent from Bath and Body Works. I have the lotion and the spray. This scent came out last year and of course, Bath and Body Works just had to discontinue it. good thing I have back ups of both! This is scent that you either love it or hate it. It has a very strong floral scent that almost leans to the masculine side. When I layer them together, it smells like fall to me. It's probably my signature scent. Why did you have to discontinue it Bath and Body Works?!

Those were my favorites for the month of September! What were your favorites? Leave a comment down below and tell me! Hope you're all having a nice day!

 

September Birchbox 2012

Hey all! I was going to post this a week ago but I was so caught up with school and work. I know some people didn't enjoy this month's box, but I like it. Not the best, but there are some products I've been wanting to try. Here's what I got!

As always, Birchboxes come in their signature brown little box. I like to keep them and use them various things like storing my makeup or jewelry.

Each month, Birchbox has a theme and the products inside correspond with the theme. The theme for this month was the Birchbox September issue. They have a magazine? Huh, I didn't know that!

The first thing I saw was this little gift certificate for Madewell. I've never heard of this site so I can't wait to see what kind of things they carry!

Next, I saw this little booklet about fall trends to try. I don't know if this is their magazine or not, but I think it's very helpful to those who want to try fall trends. Red and berry lips, here I come!

I'm pretty sure you get a little perfume sample in every box and this month I got Kate Spade's Twirl. I really like the scent, very floral and sophisticated. It's a perfect fall scent!

This was the product I was super excited about! It's Benefit's The Porefessional primer. I've tried so many different kinds of face primers and I've heard Benefit's is really good. Can't wait to try it!

Next thing I got in my box was a Color Club nail polish in the color Insta-this! It's a royal blue color with a creme finish. I've heard it looks a lot like the Sally Hansen nail polish called Pacific Blue. 

When I saw this, I was like, "Why did I get a piece of ribbon?" Sometimes the things Birchbox puts in the boxes are kind of weird. I later found out it's a hair tie. I just gave it to my little sister since I personally have no use for it.

I also received a sample of Nexxus Pro Mend shampoo, conditioner, and treatment. Honestly, I never use these samples. My bathroom drawers are full of little shampoo samples. They do come in handy whenever I'm traveling. In the meantime, my bathroom drawer will become the home for them.

Last (and maybe least), I got a zipper bag. Yes, you all heard right, a zipper bag. What the heck?! This is probably the most random things I got in a Birchbox. It says that you can store your makeup in it but I'm more likely to use it as a sandwich bag. So random!

That's what I got in this month's Birchbox! There were some hits and misses but I do like that you get a variety of samples. Tell me what you guys got in you box! Did you like it? See you guys later! :)

My Favorite Lip Glosses!

Hey there! I haven't been blogging as much as I would like but now I plan on blogging about once or twice a week. Yay! I am a true lipstick girl but lately I've been wearing lip gloss. So, I thought i would show you guys my favorite lip glosses!

The first lip gloss (from L to R) is the Sephora Collection Brilliant Shine Lip Gloss in Red Velvet. It is a super sheer red lip gloss. I went into my local Sephora about a year ago and I found it in one of those bins near the checkout stand for $4. I figured, "Why not"? I love the consistency of it: not too thick and not too watery. The scent smells like synthetic fruit which I don't really mind. It's a great beginning lip gloss for those who want to wear red but are intimidated by it.  I believe this line of lip gloss has been discontinued, which is a shame because I wanted to try more. Overall, this lip gloss is great!

The second lip gloss is Nars lip gloss in Stella. It's the most expensive one from the lot (coming in at $24) but I truly enjoy it! The Sephora website describes it as a "muted raspberry" color, which is true. It has some shimmer in it but not so much like a glitter bomb. Normally, I hate wearing shimmery lip gloss but Stella is really subtle. The texture leans more towards the thick side which makes it last longer on my lips than the Sephora brand lip gloss. Great lip gloss, but I'll wait until Sephora has another Friends & Family sale to buy more of them.

The third lip gloss is Stila lip glaze in Black Cherry. This is the thickest and stickiest lip gloss from the whole group. I don't recommend this if you don't like thick and goopy lip glosses. I bought this at L.A. IMATS this past June and I fell in love with it! It's a beautiful sheer burgundy color that is perfect for fall/winter! These are also fairly expensive ($22 a piece) but I would totally buy some more in value sets. This particular shade has no shimmer which is another reason why I love it so much.  Since Stila lip glazes are super thick, they really last a long time on your lips. I've gotten six hours of wear on these! Definitely recommend it if you love thick lip glosses!

Time for some inexpensive options! The fourth lip gloss is Revlon Super Lustrous lip gloss in Coral Reef. I've been looking for a good color lip gloss for the summer and I stumbled upon Youtube Beauty guru Amarixe's blog post about these (http://www.amarixe.com/2011/02/revlon-super-lustrous-lip-glosses.html). I LOVE THIS LIP GLOSS! It's perfect! I love the consistency of them. I love the wide color range. I love how their texture. I love everything about this lip gloss! This is definitely my favorite lip gloss from the group! Can't say enough good things about it!

The fifth lip gloss is Buxom Big & Healthy Lip Polish in Dolly. Once again, another Youtube guru (MissJenFABULOUS) made me want to try these out these lip glosses. Buxom lip glosses are sold as being plumping lip glosses. I think I have normal sized lips but I just wanted to give this a shot. Once you put it on, you feel an immediate tingling sensation. Some people might not like that but I actually like it. It feels very cooling to the lips. Dolly is a neutral color, more on the pink side, that has shimmer in it. Like the Stila lip glazes, it is very thick. Love this lip gloss!

Last but certainly not least is another drugstore find, Maybelline Shine Sensational Lip Gloss in Tempting Toffee. I actually got this gloss because emilynoel83 on Youtube liked it! Here's a link to her video about it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ0WjdAFpqY. They are not sticky and I love the scent on this one. It's smells very sweet, like caramel. Tempting Toffee is a rosy nude color that's perfect for anytime. I definitely need to try out some more of these lip glosses!

That concludes my top six favorite lip glosses! I love all of these and I hope you try them out too! Leave me a comment on what your favorite lip glosses are! I love trying out new things! Until next time!