Girl Fight!!! Anastasia vs. Kat Von D.

Now that i've got your attention with hopes of some kinda hair pulling, titty twisting bitch fight gossip, lets talk about what really is on the agenda: Who's contour palette is better?  Kat Von D's Shade & Light Powder Palette or Anastasia's Cream Contour Palette?

Both these artist's makeup lines have blown up in the past 5 years .  Anastasia of Beverly Hills which started as a brow shaping and brow salon business has now expanded to a  phenomenal product line that has me cooing and weeping in despair that i can't afford it all, WHYYYYYYYY?!?!?!.  Kat Von D, originally a famed burlesque dancer and master of the nipple tassles collaborated with Sephora to launch her interpretation of the best red lipstick shades. Fast forward a few years and now her beauty line tackles it ALL and has some of the boldest colors and beauty options.  It really is hard to put the two up against each-other. So maybe rather than fueling a potential cat fight since we ladies deal with enough drama as is,  I'll play nice and not make this a discussion on who or what is better. Let's just chat about my likes and dislikes between Kat Von D's Powder and Anastasia's Cream contour.  

Kat Von D's Shade and Light Contour Powder Palette

My face has yet to lose its baby fat circa childhood so as a chipmunk cheeked makeup enthusiast, contouring is a neccessity. I had used cheaper palettes and substituted numerous powders and shadows to mimic what is now offered in just this one palette. Moonlighting as a makeup artist, contouring has been a huge demand these last few years and the convenience factor with the versatility of the shades offered by Kat Von D upped my beauty game in my makeup kit.  The palette has 3 lighter shades that assist with highlighting and strobing and 3 darker shades that can contour and sculpt.  

Hotel selfie alert!!  I used the Kat Von D palette on top of my foundation and concealer for this look and applied Mac's shimmer blush Peachy Keen to the apples of my cheeks.  PROS:  All powders are well pigmented and offer decent coverage on top of your foundation and concealer. Don't worry you don't have to be a makeup artist to master this palette. The colors are easily blendable and super user friendly.  This definitely gives a more matte finish and provides a more flawless high coverage look.  Although the powders are not loose powders you can essentially create the "baking effect" when applying one of the lighter shades over your concealer in your under eye area and letting it set.  I love the multiple darker tones to blend and create more of a bridge to my nose and to carve out my cheek bones for a heroin chic emaciated look.  CONS: The powders can often sit at the surface of the skin if not buffed in correctly and accentuate lines. Also, if not blended well the darker tones can get a ruddy look or just end up making you look more Walking Dead rather than Kate Moss. 

Anastasia of Beverly Hills Cream Contour Palette

I'd been using my Ben Nye Foundation palette as a contour palette in my makeup kit, but found that it is just a bit overkill for everyday makeup. The release of the Anastasia Cream Contour Palette had me racing to get my beauty fix.  Like most palettes it comes in multiple shades but for starters i purchased the Medium palette because it seemed the most versatile for my kit.  The palette consists of a concealer like skin tone color, a yellow toned color corrector for dark shadows and brightening, an orange tone color for for correcting skin discoloration and three sculpting shades in a bronzing tone and two other deep shading tones.  

Come hither honey, contour really gets me going! Don't mind my hormonal eyebrow blemish, but I used basically all the same products in this selfie as the previous except with the Anastasia Cream Contour Palette and a translucent setting powder instead. PROS: This product blends seamlessly and flawlessly for a dewy natural contour.  Most often we think cream products will appear heavier and less natural but this is quite the contrary.  The finish has a glow that makes your skin continue to look like skin just a sculpted, sexier version of your skin. Also, the orange color corrector is amazing for those of you who have any dark spots or melasma-like skin discoloration.  It cancels the grayness and blends your skin to one neutral tone. CONS: This is definitely a product for a more intermediate makeup officianado.  The blending needs a little more technique and a gentle touch that might not be for everyone.  Also, because it is a creamier product if you suffer from oiliness prepare to carry a blotting powder or oil blotting papers with you. On a warmer day i looked in the mirror to find my eyeliner had migrated and i went from looking like a youthful fresh face to looking like i was executing a walk of shame at 3 in the afternoon.  

There you have it folks. Get your contour on and let me know how it goes!

-Tuyen

Truly, truly, truly OUTRAGEOUS Holiday Lips!

I might be revealing my age by saying this but Jem and the Holograms were my childhood obsession.  When the movie came out this year it starred live actors portraying the cartoon but flopped before I could throw on my star earrings and pink wig. My disappointment was quickly diverted when I realized I could watch it sooner in the privacy of my own home annnnnnnd that Sephora released a liquid lipstick set paying homage to Jem and the Holograms!

Yes the packaging looks like this was made for tweens but trust me this gift set is the best thing EVER!

I know the Christmas is here in one day and New Years is around the corner but bold lips remain on my calendar until February comes to a close. Liquid lipsticks full coverage make a bold lip perfection. Kat Von D and Anastasia Beverly Hills make some of the most coveted liquid lipsticks but unfortunately they never do a gift set. For 20-25 dollars a pop it's tough to justify a full size, blue toned magenta statement lip that I may wear three times out of the year. Thus the 5 color Sephora homage to Jem and the Holograms gift set including 4 intense liquid lipstick colors and a sparkly pink gloss is exactly what this beauty junky was looking for.

My selfie game is on fleek.

Let's talk the colors.  In above image from right to left: the first tube is actually a soft shimmery pale pink gloss. This gloss is surprisingly light in texture and great on top of the liquid lipsticks or on its own. Next we are brought to the first liquid lipstick which is a mauve/rose neutral color resembling the color we have been seeing on the likes of Kylie Jenner (pictured right) and Ariana Grande. Next color is an obnoxiously hot Barbie pink.  Then we have a rich burgundy that has a deep beet tone.  The last liquid lipstick is a true aubergine purple. So yes, these colors on their own can appear overwhelmingly loud but the great thing about this set is the colors are easily blended and fabulous mixed.  I've been mixing two colors at a time to achieve the perfect deep plum or a rich fuschia lip color.  To top it off they are extremely long wearing and not drying to the lips.  Sephora still carries this online for $25!!!! A lip puckering steal you can find here!! I apologize for the self-indulgent selfie blast you are about to receive.  But check out some of the great Jem tribute, holiday inspired, seasonal fun colors i've concocted:

I know, what was I thinking going head to head with Kylie Jenner in a selfie contest?  Anyhoo, get this limited edition set while you can. Or before all the thirty-something Jem fanatics catch wind. I'm sure a post Xmas sale will be on the horizon.....

-Tuyen

Halloween Haute

It's that time of the year again where I dig through dusty high school dance recital gear and that hidden box of old raunchy ex-boyfriend lingerie where crotchless panties and torn fishnets come in all colors (Hubby, if you're reading this, I've only been with one other person, he was a college sweetheart and these clothes were more for dress up than dress off). Yes, it is HALLOWEEN season! My dilemma with Halloween is the high cost of dressing up when dressing in so little.  I surely don't want to dig too deep into my Chanel fund for a one night only shit show.  Thus I rely on these few things: Creativity, Joanns Fabrics, the back of my closet I haven't cleaned out and MAKEUP!!  

Here are some simple makeup and easy costume ideas to make your Halloween sexy and maybe a little spooky. I promise I won't have what happened to Lindsay Lohan on Mean Girls happen to you.

Geisha

Things you'll need- A robe or kimono in a satin or oriental print. A sexy pair of strappy stilettos. A topknot in your hair with chopsticks.. 

Makeup:

• Ben Nye's Super White Face Powder $6 or Ben Nye Clown White Foundation $9- both are reasonably priced professional makeup products that are easy to apply.  The cream makeup will look like our girl here on the left where the powder applied over your own foundation will have a look similar to the girl on the right.  
• A smoky eye shadow combo.  I highly suggest utilizing Mac's Blacktrack fluidline as an allover lid base with Mac's Carbon eyeshadow to set it on top.  
• A bright matte red lip color.  I personally like Lorac Lipstick in Explore.
• For the look on Geisha girl on the right I highly recommend NYX Extreme Apricot for the pop of red in her eyeshadow. It's a vibrant matte red and it's only $4.50!

Kylie Jenner

Things you'll need- A long haired blue wig, a two piece nude or low cut white dress and a selfie stick.

Makeup- The look is winged eyeliner, with neutral eyeshadow, lots of fake lashes with a lot of mascara, deep contouring of the cheeks and nose, and a LOT of emphasis on the lipliner.  For the contour emphasize the look by strobing with a lighter loose powder below the eyes and cheek bones. And for the exaggerated pout start at the cupids bow of your lips to extend out with a deep colored lipliner like Chestnut from Mac.  Once you get that duck faced outline, blend in to finish the look. 

Kitty Kat

Things you'll need- Love this simple but sexy costume.  Cat ears and a black outfit that makes you purr. Perhaps fishnets and garters? leather leggings? or maybe if you read Jeanie's previous blog some over the knee Highland Hack's?

Makeup:

• Winged cat eye, whiskers and nose- Makeup Forever liquid liner pen gives great precision.
• Lips-NYX no sharpen black pencil as liner and Mac's Viva Glam 1 red for lip color.  

Anastasia Steel, Fifty Shades of Grey

Things you'll need:  This hot number can most likely be dug up in your own freak nasty arsenal.  You might even get your significant other to join in as your Christian Grey but make sure you have a pair of handcuffs! Perhaps wear a black sheer robe, or a silk slip nighty, or maybe just wear a sheet pinned around you.  Then add a strip of black lace over your eyes like a blind fold. ...

Makeup- To give that "I've just been ahem...." look wear a dewy foundation and perhaps add some shine to the cheek bones and bridge of nose with a shine like Benefit's High Beam.  For the lips a soft subtle pink with a thick rich gloss like Mac's Oyster Girl Lipglass

Joan Crawford, Mommy Dearest

Things you'll need: I stole this idea from my dear friend and blog follower "I'm not a Kors, not quite a Birkin." She posted this amazing selfie and it is the balance of creative, freaky, and sexy. You'll need a wire hanger, a fabulous floor length robe, a headband and some big pinned curls!

Makeup:

•  For that Cold Cream mask look- Ben Nye's Clown White Foundation applied precariously and not blended or smoothed.
• A great matte red lipstick with a little depth to give that old Hollywood glamour- I suggest Mac's Viva Glam I.

Zombie Ice Skater

Things you'll need- I had to include one of my favorite costumes I did with my husband a few years back! For this zombie ice skater look I used a white embellished bathing suit then sewed a feather boa around the waist line.  For my hair I found white flower girl accessories to pin on the side and I found the medals at the dollar store. 

Makeup:

For the skull detailing and eyeliner = I suggest Mac's Black Track Fluidline used with Mac's Scene eyeshadow.

For the deep contouring - Mac's Coquette Eyeshadow is a cool toned brown that gives that near death, sunken cheek look.  

Beach Bag Beauty

As i pack for my Hawaii trip i must remember: A vacation to a tropical locale does not mean a vacation from beauty maintenance. Yes, I must pry from my grip my contour palette, my Urban Decay smokey eyes and my curling wand and opt for a more effortless beach chic approach.  Although vacation season is coming to a close SoCal mother nature has been blessing (or burning...) us with a sweltering 90 degree heat wave. So whether your jetting away to the far corners of the South Pacific or your just heading down the road to cool off at La Jolla Shores here are some of my beach beauty must-haves I will be bringing as I embark upon balmy weather, intense sun, and salty waves.

La Roche Posay Anthelios 60 Ultra Light Sunscreen

As much as i would love to carry a parasol and wear elbow length gloves like my fellow Asian cousins, this sunscreen allows me to maintain some of my dignity and protect my skin from the sun's aging rays.  All the ladies mags rave about it for good reason.  It's lightweight, has lasting protection and can be worn under makeup without a greasy finish.  A must have for all seasons! 

Nars Orgasm the Multiple

I just included this because the name is so amazing. JK!! No for real tho' this is a great cream stick blush in the same color as its popular powder blush predecessor "Orgasm."  It's a light-weight creamy texture with a soft coral and gold shimmer that looks great on tan dewy skin and can be used on cheeks, lips and eyes.  The stick application makes it easy to transport and it's also offered in a smaller travel size.  .

Eric Javits Sunhat

I have a propensity for melasma aka a skin discoloration resembling the beginning of a pencil thin Frenchmen's mustache. Thus a sunhat that offers preventative measures while still looking cute is KEY. I own the "Squishee" style photographed, but Eric Javits has multiple styles that are simple,versatile, and offer maximum sun protection blocking 95% of the suns UVA/UVB rays!! A total must in wrinkle prevention! They also travel super well and never lose their shape.  Just be prepared to spend a pretty penny. These can be found at Neiman Marcus or online but I was lucky to receive mine as a gift from my two bffs :)   

Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara

I just can't live without mascara no matter where I am. This mascara is truly the best in lengthening, separating and holding curl.  If i have to be a minimalist with my makeup I still need to have an amazing set of lashes!

Kate Sommerville Exfolikate

After a day of sunscreen, salt water, sweat, sand, and god knows what else you've covered your face nothing is better than a good scrub down.  This exfoliating treatment is intense but SUPER effective.  You only need a pea size amount and a few minutes of scrubbing and your face will feel completely renewed.  The next day my makeup goes on smoother and i feel like i can abuse it all over again!

What's in your Beauty Beach Bag??

-Tuyen