Style By Cat

February MyGlam Bag!

2012-02-21T17:10:00.000-08:00

Hello! I received the February MyGlam bag in the mail today. Check it out:

Um...yeah. I hate to say it, but I'm a little unhappy for a number of reasons. First of all, for a Valentine's Day theme, every product I received seemed a little drab for Valentine's Day, except for the cute little makeup bag itself. Visually, what I received was a little different than what I had expected from the sneak peak on MyGlam's site:

Meh, I guess I can't blame them for making the advertising look more exciting than the actual product. I mean, that's advertising, right? I guess I'm more bummed because I expect a little more glamour for a Valentine's Day bag. I mean, how am I supposed to impress my date with skincare products? Where's the glam in something that someone can't even see? Also, I didn't receive my bag until 7 days AFTER Valentine's Day. Too little too late. There were many other bloggers that received their MyGlam Bags several days ago. I know they were trying to time their shipping so that customers nationwide would receive their bags at the same time, but it's a little ridiculous that I literally live 15 minutes away from their shipping warehouse and didn't receive my bag until today.

So here's what I got:

I'm guessing that's a moisturizer and some sort of mask? Boooooooooooooring!

And yet ANOTHER mask...ho hum...

Cool! Shine control product! I'm actually excited about this one. Crossing my fingers that it helps with my oily t-zone!

Chocolate? I guess it's a nice Valentine's Day gesture.

NYX Roll-On Shimmer for eyes, face, and body. The only actual color cosmetic item I received was the dullest color imaginable! A muddy brownish shade with bronze shimmer called "Chestnut". Ugh, forgive me for not jumping for joy, but I can't imagine a shade less Valentine-worthy. Also, the roll-on application is a little awkward and lacks precision. Oh, and for eyes, face and body? Eyes, maybe. But why would I want to roll-on poo-colored shimmer anywhere else?

$100 gift card for NuMe hair styling products. This is actually kind of worth it. Although I don't really use flat irons and I'm pretty pleased with the curling iron that I do own. I could buy a nice gift with it, or save it just in case because it doesn't expire till August.

Alright, so I guess that's my February MyGlam "haul". I almost liked last month's better, but none of the bags I've received have been as nice as the first one. Now I'm really starting to believe that the premier Myglam bag was the "hook" to garner interest and snare subscribers. I really hope I'm wrong. I'll give it one more month, but if I'm not impressed, I think I might cancel my subscription. Stay posted for detailed reviews of this month's bag! (even though we're less than thrilled, I might be surprised)

Hugs,

Cat

Swatches! CoverGirl Flipstick plus NYX Stick Blush and Lip Cream

2012-02-18T18:04:00.000-08:00

Hey all! Got around to swatching my CoverGirl Blast Flipstick and NYX Stick Blushes and Xtreme Lip Creams. Here you go!

NYX Stick Blush in Hibiscus and Pink Lotus:

Hibiscus (left) Pink Lotus (right)

I LOVE cream blushes and I especially love that these are in convenient stick form. Why? Here are 3 good reasons why they're a must-have item for me:

1. No blush brush necessary when I'm in a rush.
2. Portable! I can throw them in my bag to have on hand for "emergencies".
3. FACT: Blush fades throughout the course of the day. These are a perfect way to touch up with no mess, no fuss.

They also make an awesome powder blush primer if you want to your rosy cheeks to last through a long day/night of activity.

I chose Hibiscus and Pink Lotus because I wanted a warm tone and a cool tone. I gotta say, I haven't been really well acquainted with these blushes yet, but I love them already. Hibiscus is a warm, fleshy coral shade and Pink Lotus is a bright, shimmery Barbie-pink. Both apply sheer if you want the slightest hint of color, but are buildable if you want an all-out, vibrant flush.

CoverGirl Blast Flipstick in Stunner:

Shimmer Shade

I'm wearing NYX Stick Blush in Hibiscus.

Cream Shade

Shimmer shade layered over cream shade.

Squeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaal! I'm so in love with this "flipstick". First off, what a fab idea! Two contrasting, yet complimentary lipsticks in one with different textures and finishes. Can be worn one at a time or together. AWESOME! The bronze shade is sheer, shimmery. Fairly subtle when worn alone. The cream shade, HOLY COW! Such a spicy red-orange! How's that for POP? I love how fiery the colors look when worn together for a multidimensional intensity. Aptly named Stunner, this one's a keeper for sure. Don't know where I'm going to wear it, but I'm glad I have it! Oh, they smell like toasted marshmallows too, yum!

NYX Xtreme Lip Creams in Dolly Girl and Spicy:

Dolly Girl

Spicy

Wow! These Xtreme Lip Creams are indeed extreme. They're super-duper pigmented almost like nothing else I've tried before, it doesn't take much. I look like I'm wearing vinyl on my lips, but in a good way! I'm really digging the super shiny wet look! I really can't find any flaw with these except that they smell a little weird...like paint, seriously. No cutesy candy scents, just straight up utilitarian plastic and paint. Oh well, you win some you lose some. I loved the way Spicy looked so much that I'm going out like this tonight!

Well, that's all of it! Whew, my lips are spent! I'm extremely happy, however, because this has been a very successful mini haul. There was nothing I didn't like! Hope some of you found this review helpful! Happy Saturday! :D

Hugs,

Cat

How I wore Jason Wu for Target!

2012-02-17T23:00:00.000-08:00

Wheeeeeee! I finally got my Jason Wu for Target haul in a few days ago. I've been dying to share and I finally found the time to do a quick shoot modeling the stuff that I got. Nothing formal, just tried on everything right out of the box. (you're going to have to excuse the wrinkles, didn't have time to press some of the items)

Before I start, I just wanted to mention how pleasantly surprised I was with the fit! As a rather petite Asian girl, my stats are as follows:

Height: 5'0"
Weight: 105 lbs.
Measurements: 32"-26"-36"
Dress Size: 2

I had anticipated that I would have to head straight to the tailor for alterations, however, it appears that I'm going to be just fine wearing everything off the rack! Hooray!

First up is the Black Flared Dress with the nude belt and lace hem. The fabric is a nice weight, and appears to be good quality. The belt accents the waist with a touch of color, in this case, a pale pinky nude. I love that it has a built in crinoline which helps retain the full shape. The lacy hem is embellished with sparkling black sequins. And I simply LOVE the pockets! Those were a surprise. Such a classic, elegant, and flattering cut! I think I'd be able to wear this dress 20 years from now and still look timeless! (if I still have my figure, that is. lol) I also found that my Lovelina Vintage Garden Rose Earrings were the PERFECT adornment for this dress. Whaddya know? :D

Next is the Navy Floral Sleeveless Chiffon Dress. It's a lightweight, billowy shape that's neatly cinched with a mustard-yellow patent skinny belt. The fit is flowy, feminine, and effortless. I can't wait to wear it in the spring, although I'm sure I'd be able to pull it off with some brushed fleece tights and a cardigan for our current nippy weather! I thought my Lovelina Leafy Bow Pearl Drop Earrings were a good fit with this dress. :D

Then I have the Blush Tee with Black Tie and the Straw Clutch. Though the tee is cute, it's extremely loose-fitting, as you can see, for an extra small. The quality is so-so, the stitching for the tie around the neck could definitely use some improvement, but the overall look is fine. I think I like it best with cropped leggings. I really can't find any fault with the clutch. The contrast top-stitching and clasp are nice details and I love the texture of the straw. I imagine it would be easily dressed up or down.

Last, but not least, I have the Blue Floral Printed Scarf and Classic Flap Handbag. The scarf is one of my favorite pieces because it's so versatile! I can wear it as a headband (as shown), as a belt, as a...well...scarf, etc. There are so many possibilities! I just adore the cheerful combination of soft blue, white, and yellow. The handbag is a little darker in color than I had expected, but is still super-cute. I don't know if I have any floral printed purses, so this is a first for me. I like how I have the choice to wear it on my shoulder or simply hand-carry it, though I did feel that the detachable strap was several inches too long even at its shortest. I think my Lovelina Teal Floral Painted Wood Button Drop Earrings goes best with this set.

Well, that's everything! Can you believe we shot all this in under an hour? (those of you that are familiar with photography understand that one can spend over an hour photographing just one outfit) Big thanks to my li'l sis for being such a fantastic photographer! XOXO She's also a tremendously talented graphic designer and illustrator. You can check out her artwork HERE.

I really wish I could have gotten my hands on the Navy Blue Poplin Dress and the Navy Trench Coat among many other things, but I really didn't have deep enough pockets for more than I purchased and I feel pretty fortunate that I got anything at all!

Hope you all enjoyed my mini fashion show and have a great weekend!

Hugs,

Cat

Florals, Buttons, and Bows!

2012-02-16T17:49:00.000-08:00

Cherry blossoms are in bloom here in northern California and they've inspired me to come up with more floral jewelry designs. I love the shabby chic, french country whimsy of florals painted on wood!

Orange Floral

Ditzy Floral

Pink Floral

I was so pleased with the way they turned out that I've been wearing a pair all day today! :D

Want to know how you can win a pair of your own? Running On Happiness is hosting a Lovelina giveaway where you can win ANY piece of Lovelina Jewelry of your choice. Click HERE for details on how to enter. :)

Maybelline Color Tattoo Review

2012-02-16T16:26:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, remember these?

I finally got a chance to test and review all 3 colors. Sorry it's taken me so long! It's just that I had to test each color on different days so that I could give you the lowdown on product performance and longevity. Anywho, I did just a simple color wash with each color and wore them for approximately 15+ hours.

Bold Gold:

Tenacious Teal:

Bad To The Bronze:

All colors were extremely lightweight, comfortable, and didn't fade or crease throughout duration of wear. I like them because they're such a quick, easy way to do eye makeup, no brushes necessary...perfect if you're in a pinch!

I found that Bad To The Bronze is probably the most neutral, wearable, every day color. Bold Gold is pretty, a little on the sheer side, but buildable, though not as opaque as the other colors. Tenacious Teal gives a lot of effortless pop!

I'd like to get a few more...maybe Pomegranate Punk and Fierce & Tangy? In any case I'm looking forward to incorporating the ones I already own into overall looks for future posts! :D

Hugs,
Cat

Ulta Mini Haul

2012-02-15T22:06:00.000-08:00

I recently received a small order from Ulta with some Nyx and Covergirl goodies. I haven't had a chance to try them, but just thought I'd share what I got. Swatches and reviews to come soon!

NYX Stick Blush in Hibiscus and Pink Lotus.

NYX Xtreme Lip Cream in Dolly Girl and Spicy.

CoverGirl Blast Flipstick in Stunner:

Don't these colors and products look like so much fun! I can't wait to try them out! Stay posted to find out if they were worth it. :D

Hugs,
Cat

Lovelina Giveaway on Running On Happiness

2012-02-14T12:03:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day! Let's celebrate with a giveaway! Actually, Katie from Running On Happiness will be hosting this giveaway from her blog. :D Just visit her site for rules and how to enter. The winner will receive ANY piece of Lovelina jewelry of their choice and is open internationally. Here is some jewelry that she's featured:

Love Letters Necklace

Painted Wood Button Earrings

I've been corresponding with Katie via email, and let me tell you, not only does she look like a supermodel, she has a lovely personality as well. She's super-sweet and genuine and it's been a real pleasure working with her to bring you guys this giveaway. I'm really honored that she's agreed to host it! So take advantage and enter to win your own Lovelina piece! :D

Here are some other Lovelina best-sellers:

Fancy Teapot Necklace

In A Heartbeat Locket Watch

Chubby Birdie and Branch Lariat

Love Gives You Wings

Antique Key Necklace

Happy entering and good luck!

Hugs,

Cat

Daring Valentine Look with Wet N Wild

2012-02-12T16:39:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I posted a soft, demure look for Valentine's Day. For those of you who are looking for a bolder look, I've decided to do a tutorial for a daring look as well. In the tradition of keeping the looks as affordable as they're amazing, I used Wet N Wild cosmetics this time. Here is what I came up with:

To start, I begin with a primed eye:

Next, I line my upper and lower lash lines thickly with black pencil eyeliner, forming a wing along my upper lash line. It doesn't have to be perfect.

From my Wet N Wild Spoiled Brat eyeshadow trio, I'm going to use the black glittery shade to layer over my eyeliner for a soft, smoky effect:

Then, using the bright pink shadow from the Spoiled Brat trio, I'm going to apply a bold streak right above my winged line:

Add mascara and false lashes and I'm done!

To complete the overall look, I'm going to brush some Wet N Wild blush in Heather Silk to my cheeks:

And apply WnW Silk Finish Lipstick in 511B for an ultra-bright lip:

Slip on a little black dress and I think I'd be ready to knock my husband's socks off for Valentine's Day!

It's a really fun look if you're an in-the-moment kind of girl who doesn't take herself too seriously. I nearly went out like this today, but had to remove the lipstick because it was a little much at 11am. Haha! Hope you all enjoyed the tutorial!

Hugs,
Cat

Demure Valentine Look with ELF

2012-02-11T19:14:00.000-08:00

Uh oh! It appears I've been absent for awhile. Sorry about the disappearance, I can't really seem to recall what I've been doing between my last post and now. Alien abduction? Hehe. Anyways, since V Day is coming up soon, I just thought I'd throw out a tutorial. YAWN! I know, how original is that, right? I'm sure every makeup blogger has generated at least a couple of these in the last week. I don't know if I really have anything unique to add to the pot, but I can at least tell you that what I'm about to show you is pretty easy. This is what I came up with:

I know I've been splurging on high-end makeup brands like Urban Decay as well as pricier drugstore brands like Maybelline. My ELF palette has been neglected, so I've decided to give it a little more attention today. (though I DO use my elf brushes, blush, and gloss on a daily basis) I'll show you how I used soft pinks to create a natural, romantic look.

Starting with my eyes, I'm going to use three colors from my ELF Endless Eyes palette:

I chose soft, shimmery tones of pink, latte, and chocolate.

I begin by priming my eyelids:

Next, I apply the shimmery pink to the inner half of my eyelid:

Then I apply the shimmery chocolate to the lower outer corner of my upper eyelid:

The shimmery latte shade goes above the chocolate color on the upper corner of my upper eyelid:

To soften the edges, I blend the colors toward the brow bone with a brush:

Using a brown eyeliner pencil, I line my lower lash line:

Then I layer the shimmery chocolate shadow over the brown eyeliner:

I apply black cream eyeliner to my top and bottom lash lines:

And I curl lashes and apply mascara to finish:

To complete my entire look, I brush ELF Studio Blush in Fuchsia Fusion to my cheeks:

And apply ELF Essential Liquid Lipstick in Perfect Pink to my lips:

And there you have it! Fresh and pretty Valentine's Day makeup without looking like you tried too hard. It's a relatively wearable look anywhere, heck, I just went to work like this and got a ton of compliments on the eye shadow. :D

Hope some of you found this helpful and have fun experimenting with your Valentine's Day looks, even if you don't really care for Valentine's Day. Honestly, any holiday, real or made-up, is a good excuse to try something different and new!

Hugs,
Cat

Missing Makeup Experiment 4: No Lips

2012-02-08T21:12:00.000-08:00

Hi hi hi! I'm super-happy today because I finished my midterms for this round and the weather was so unseasonably sunny and warm today that I didn't have to wear my usual coat and scarf! So, to cap off the day, I thought I'd post the final experiment in my Missing Makeup series. Lips? No lips? What difference does it make? Let's check it out:

I wanted to point out that I made the mistake of wearing bright shadow for this set of pics which is a little distracting. Oops! See if you can ignore that. Lol. But yes, I do believe there is a difference between that way I look with lip color versus the way I look without. I think I look more natural and down-to earth (minus the bright blue shadow) without lip color. Applying lip color, however, gives my lips a fuller, more symmetrical shape with prominent definition. So can I leave the house sporting bare lips? Sure! (Though I have to at least be wearing some SPF balm, bare lips are one thing, dry lips are gross!) If I want to add a little more glam to my look, however, having a prettily-colored lip is the way to go. Which do I prefer? I like it both ways! Like eye makeup, I feel that going out with or without lip color depends on my mood. :D

Well, that was fun! Hope you all enjoyed my little experiment. I certainly did and learned a lot about myself in the process. Have a great night!

Hugs,
Cat

Lovelina on Running On Happiness

2012-02-07T15:39:00.000-08:00

Spotted! The lovely Katie from Running on Happiness wearing Lovelina's Love Letters necklace! So perfect for the upcoming Valentine's Day, don't you agree?

Images property of Running on Happiness

Isn't she gorgeous? Just like a real-life Barbie! Not only is she blessed with good looks, but with impeccable style as well. So happy she's loving Lovelina! :D For a Love Letters necklace of your own, check out my Etsy listing:

Free worldwide shipping now through Valentine's Day with offer code: VDAY12!

Hugs,
Cat

Greedy Couple Buys Entire Jason Wu Stock!

2012-02-06T17:05:00.000-08:00

OMG! Just saw this story on The Huffington Post. A greedy couple from Miami run into their local Target and purchase nearly the ENTIRE Jason Wu inventory, leaving other customers irate and frustrated.

The so-called "vultures" are the man in the hat and the woman in the center. Image property of ElectricBlogarella.

Apparently, they bought everything and then attempted to re-sell the items to customers in the parking lot afterward. Good luck with that! There's also a lot of Jason Wu for Target items listed on eBay that are ending without bids. I hope these shameless people get stuck with a lot of unsold inventory!

For more details regarding this scandalous story, please check out ElectricBlogarella, who has a firsthand account of this unfortunate event. (she was there)

Just thought I'd share this because it makes me really angry how some people can be so greedy, selfish, and discourteous of others for just a little money. Target designer collaborations are supposed to make high fashion fun and accessible for those of us who aren't rich and people like this just ruin the experience for the rest of us. The worst part is, even though the local Target tried to stop this, corporate Target chose not intervene and allowed them to get away without consequence. In the end, it's only the $$$$ that matters to them. I guess this makes the company no better than these "thieves", willing to trade their integrity for a dollar.

Peace,
Cat

Lovelina on Mayo

2012-02-06T07:19:00.000-08:00

Check it out, my Lovelina Antique Rose Medallion necklace worn by Mayo of Mellow Mayoness! She's a very elegant blogger and prolific lookbook.nu member. I love that she loves Lovelina! :D

Maybelline Color Tattoo

2012-02-05T22:47:00.000-08:00

So I've been seeing these little cream eyeshadow jars on display at my local drugstores. The colors are appealing and I've been tempted to purchase a few times, but from past experience, I'm generally mistrustful of cream shadows. They're difficult to apply and have an uncanny tendency to crease. However, I got a text a few days ago from a friend telling me that they're comparable to MAC Paint Pots and, at about $6-7 per jar (depending on where you're shopping), they're going real fast! I jumped into my car and drove the two minutes to my local CVS. Sold out! So I took the longer drive out to Target and, luckily, there was one left each of my favorite colors from the collection. Here they are!

Bold Gold, Tenacious Teal, and Bad To The Bronze.

Bold Gold

Tenacious Teal

Bad To The Bronze

It's late, so the best I can do is swatch them, but I'm soooooooo excited to try them on my eyes! I chose two neutral-ish colors (gold and bronze) and a pop (teal, what a surprise, lol). The formula is super smooth and creamy and all colors are very shimmery and pigmented. Here's the breakdown as far as individual shades:

Bold Gold

- A gorgeous, shade of warm, wearable gold that isn't too yellow. Though it's the least opaque out of the three, it's opaque enough and buildable, therefore making this negligible shortcoming forgivable.

Tenacious Teal

- Personally, I don't think it's green enough to be considered a true teal, but it's still a beautiful shade of blue. It's quite opaque without having to use too much product.

Bad To The Bronze

- From the swatches, this shade is my favorite of the three. It's a lovely, minky teal with the barest hint of pink. I hope it looks as good on my eyes as it does on my arm, lol. Also, out of the three, it applies the most opaque.

Stay tuned for upcoming looks!

Hugs,

Cat

Missing Makeup Experiment 3: No Cheeks

2012-02-05T16:17:00.000-08:00

I used to never considered blush one of the major products in my makeup regimen and there was a time that I wasn't wearing it regularly at all. But here's the difference between cheeks with and without blush:

The change is subtle, but there is a change. There's a certain warmth and glow that rosy cheeks add to one's face. I think I look rather cold and colorless without a pink flush. Given the option, I would prefer to forgo eye makeup rather than blush. So, is blush absolutely necessary? I don't think so. I guess I look OK without it, but if I were in a rush and had to skip something, it wouldn't be the first thing I'd leave out. But this is just my personal opinion. :)

Hope everyone's having a great Sunday! It's back to the books for me!

Hugs,
Cat

Jason Wu Target Collection Haul

2012-02-05T00:39:00.000-08:00

I was sooooooooo planning on waking up at 6am tomorrow morning in order to battle the crowds for the launch of the Jason Wu Collection for Target, but, as it turns out, the sale started a few hours ago online, so I was able to snare a few items at the last minute. Sadly, I didn't get everything that I wanted, but didn't log off empty-handed. Here's what I got:

I had originally wanted the top and skirt set in this print, but they were long-gone by the time I got wind of the online sale. I went for this sleeveless chiffon dress with a skinny yellow belt instead. I'm actually liking it quite a bit! I hope it looks just as nice in person and fits well!

I'm a sucker for cute floral prints, so I couldn't let this one escape me! Also, blue is one of my favorite colors! I just adore this whimsical design!

This dress also came in white, but I figured black would be easier to wear (as well as easier to maintain a clean appearance). I love the nude skinny belt, but wish the lace was also the same shade of nude instead of black for more pop.

I'm not a big fan of clutches because I prefer having my bags hang off the shoulder as opposed to holding them (Cat = lazy). However, this clutch is too cute to resist! I like the idea of the dressiness of a clutch juxtaposed with the low-keyness of the straw texture.

I love this knit top! You get the comfort of a tee while the black trim and bow add a touch of chic. I can pair this with a pair of skinny jeans or tuck it into a skirt. So easy to dress up or down!

I love this scarf for the same reason I love the above blue floral shoulder bag. Aren't the colors and prints to die?! I can't wait to wear it headband-style, so gorgeous!

Well, that's all I was able to get. Everything else was sold out and I don't even want to know what it's going to be like in stores tomorrow. Hopefully they'll re-release the collection in a few months so that I can snag all the goodies that I missed. In the meantime, I can't wait to get my stuff in the mail! Of course, I'll have practical expectations as far as quality and fit. One must keep in mind that this IS Jason Wu for Target, not RTW. But hey, beggars can't be picky!

Hope some of you were able to make away with some good finds. Have a great night!

Hugs,

Cat

Missing Makeup Experiment 2: No Eyes

2012-02-03T23:47:00.000-08:00

Well, of course I have eyes! But since the last experiment was "No Brows" I wanted to keep the format consistent. So, to be specific, I chose to forgo my eye makeup for Part II of my Missing Makeup Experiment. This was the result:

Hmm...not bad, actually! A few years ago, I used to feel so naked without eye makeup. I was self-conscious of my small, almond-shaped eyes. As I've gotten a little older (and maybe wiser, I hope) I've begun to feel more comfortable in my skin and am appreciating my natural features. Sure, I may not have those large, lush-lashed doe-eyes that are often coveted, but I can see pretty well through mine (20/20 vision) and my husband doesn't seem to mind staring deeply into them, so I really can't complain. I also think, personally, that going bare-eyed gives me a fresh, youthful look.

I later did a simple, smoky eye so that you could see the comparison:

Goodness! I think I kind of surprised myself. Is it me, or do I almost look like two different people? The eye makeup definitely changes the mood and attitude of the look. I went from girl to woman just like *that*! What a fun transformation! :D I think I like it both ways. What I do will just depend on my mood. Bottom line: I love my eye makeup, but I'm fine without it. Shadow application is probably one of the more time-consuming aspects of my makeup regimen, so it's good to know that if I'm in a pinch, I can leave it and still look alright.

Hope you all enjoyed the post and have a great night!

Hugs,
Cat

The Amazing Levitating Lady

2012-02-02T23:21:00.000-08:00

Hi guys! I've been busting my butt studying for my midterms so you'll have to excuse my sparse posting these days. I'll be posting another Missing Makeup experiment tomorrow, but for now I want to feature an extremely inspiring blogger. Natsumi Hayashi is a Tokyo-based blogger/photographer/model who does amazing, and I mean seriously knock-your-socks-off, self portraits where she appears to be in either a graceful state of floatation or aerodynamically zipping through the air. Her work makes my heart soar (pun intended) and it brings me great pleasure to share her blog with you all. Here are just a few of her many incredible images:

For more mind-blowing levitation images, please visit her blog: Yowa Yowa Camera Woman Diary. There isn't much text, and what little text there is happens to be mostly in Japanese. However, these breathtaking images really speak for themselves. I find them whimsically uplifting (pun intended yet again) and am soooooooooo addicted to looking through them. Unfortunately, it seems that she's been taking a break since June of 2011. I hope she comes back soon...

Goodnight and sweet dreams. I hope to dream of flying... :)

Hugs,
Cat

Missing Makeup Experiment 1: No Brows

2012-01-31T22:13:00.000-08:00

I know that I primarily post about applying makeup, but I decided to try something a little different this time. What if I left something out? I thought I'd start conducting a series of experiments where I leave out an essential point of makeup. For me, a full face of makeup includes brows, eyes, cheeks, and lips. Sure, this seems like a silly experiment, but there's a good reason behind it. As you know, I'm a really busy chick and, often, I don't have the time to do a very thorough makeup job. So, by doing this, I can find out which points of makeup are essential, and which ones I can skip when I'm really short on time. So let's start from the top down. Today, I thought I'd skip the brows. This is how the look turned out:

Ok, so I don't look entirely hideous, but I must admit, unfilled brows look pretty weird on me. Naturally, I have very thin and sparse brows so it's difficult to go without darkening them. I know that now more than ever, lol. Even my husband chuckled a little when I asked him how I looked. I decided against going out like this, so I ended up filling them in. What a difference!

Much better! When I was in high school, a girlfriend's mother (who was a makeup artist) had told us that brows are one of the most important aspects of the face because they frame the eyes, therefore being essential towards expressiveness. I agreed with her then and I agree with her now. Bottom line? For me, no brows = no bueno! Haha! :D

Hope you all had fun with this post! Nighty-night!

Hugs,
Cat

Zoya: Kristen and Kennedy

2012-01-29T22:09:00.000-08:00

Remember the secret giveaway that Zoya had a few weeks ago? Well I FINALLY got my polishes in and I'm sooooooooooo HAPPY! :D

For my two freebies, I chose colors from the Winter Neutral Collection. Kristen is described as a "gull gray...with a mild bluish hue" and Kennedy is a "pale french beige". Both colors are in the cool category.

For each color I did a base coat, only one color coat, and a coat of Seche Vite. The quality of these polishes are amazing! They apply so evenly and opaque with just a single coat. I'm really into these subdued neutrals as well, they're so quiet and elegant! (can a color be described as "quiet"? lol) I'm actually excited to order more Zoya polishes because I think the quality is worth the price. What's better is that they're vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and come in over 300 shades! Check 'em out:

Lovelina Bridesmaids

2012-01-28T17:38:00.000-08:00

Hey, just thought I'd share something cute. About a week ago, a bride contacted me about creating custom necklaces to suit the personality of each of her bridesmaids. We decided to go with the Tweet Lovebirds on a Rose Branch with different colored roses for each bridesmaid. What an adorable idea!

Pale lavender, purple, pink, and mint.

Most of my jewelry pieces are customizable in terms of length and color. I always try my best to please my customers, so don't be afraid to ask! :D

Oh, and remember, all orders ship for free worldwide now through February 14th. Just use coupon code: VDAY12!

Jason Wu for Target

2012-01-27T16:26:00.000-08:00

OMG! I just found out that designer Jason Wu is collaborating with Target to create a capsule collection that will be released Sunday, February 5th. (I'm sure this has been news for ages, you're probably wondering what cave I just crawled out of.) But anyways, yippee! I'm super-excited! I'll definitely be lining up at the door at 8am, though I bet there will be some hardcore frugal fashionistas that have camped overnight for first dibs. Anywho, here is a sneak peak at some of my favorites:

The prices are very nice as well:

Scarves: $20
Skirts, Tops, Sweaters, and Handbags: $30 and up
Dresses: $40 and up

There will be no items over $60. Sounds like a bunch of chic steals to me! I can't wait!

Hugs,
Cat

Daily Dose of LOL: Procrastination

2012-01-26T23:17:00.000-08:00

Hey all, sorry but just as I thought I was getting better, my cold took a turn for the worse. I'm afraid I can't do any beauty posts today because I'm sure I look and sound like poo, therefore being of no help to anyone. I DID see something that made me smile, however, which I'm happy to share:

Yep. This is a pretty accurate portrait of me as a student. I've got midterms coming up soon, but really, I'll never procrastinate agaaain! (I'm somewhere between stage 2 and 3 right now, I'm sure)

Sweet Dreams!
Cat

Lovelina for Ruche

2012-01-25T22:32:00.000-08:00

Hey, here's something cool. Ruche is selling one of my designs, a more dainty version of the bird and leaf lariat that's been so popular lately. Check it out:

They called it the Perched Dove Necklace, isn't it cute? The stones are genuine Swarovski crystals, even though they described them as "translucent green beads" which doesn't quite sound as valuable. Oh well, the point is that they like my style enough to sell my jewelry which makes me super-happy! :D

Anyways, sorry I'm delayed with my beauty posts. I actually have a winged eyeliner technique YouTube tutorial in the works. I just couldn't get it up today because my voice-over would have sounded terrible with my stuffy sick voice today. :( I'll see about getting it up tomorrow though! Night night everyone!

Hugs,

Cat

Two New Earring Designs

2012-01-25T16:43:00.000-08:00

Hello! I've been meaning to post these for awhile, but, as you know, I've had the sniffles and haven't really felt like doing much anything except for bundle myself up in bed under two blankets. Anywho, just thought I'd give you a heads up on what's new for Lovelina:

Leafy Bow Pearl Drop Earrings

Silver Leafy Branch Earrings

I take full credit for the Leafy Bow Pearl Drop Earrings, however the Silver Leafy Branch Earrings were created at the suggestion of a customer who also purchased my Silver Chubby Birdie and Branch Lariat:

Oh, and don't forget, be sure to enter offer code: VDAY12 to qualify for free, worldwide shipping!

I'll also try to do a beauty-related post tonight as well. :)

Hugs,
Cat

under the weather :(

2012-01-23T23:04:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone. Sorry I haven't put up a proper post in a couple days. I've been sick. :( I promise I'll get something up as soon as I'm feeling better.

Cute pic, right? It was done waaaaaaaaaay long ago by my uber-talented sister, who is currently in school for graphic design. :D Check out her artwork here: StrawberryCake. She hasn't updated in awhile because she's been busy, but will be getting back to it soon! Enjoy!

*cough cough*
Cat

Contemporary Cleopatra

2012-01-21T11:23:00.000-08:00

Cleopatra, in my opinion, was one of history's most intriguing people. She was ambitious, intelligent, and, though not described as an incomparable beauty, worked her womanly wiles in such a way that snared the hearts of some the world's most legendary leaders. She was the last pharaoh of Ancient Egypt. Thousands of years later, she would continue to be an inspiration. Today's tutorial is dedicated to her. I'm not really sure how she did her makeup then, there's only speculation and media representation, but I'm going to do my best to capture her essence in a modern, wearable way. This is what I came up with:

Of course, there have been countless interpretations through the ages:

I definitely wanted the gilded look, but I was going for something a little more subtle, in fact, I ended up going to work like this and received many compliments.

So, to start, I'm going to apply Urban Decay's Primer Potion in Greed to my upper and lower lids:

Next, I'm going to apply Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Chase (from my 15 Anniversary Palette) to my upper and lower lids:

Then, using black gel/cream eyeliner (I'm using the Wet N Wild brand), I'm going to create a leonine eye shape by winging my upper lash liner and extending my inner corner liner:

With Sephora's Glitter Eyeliner in Gold, I'm going to accent my top lash line:

For extra shimmer, I'm going to highlight my brow arch with Josie Maran Argan Illuminizor:

Then I'm going to curl my eyelashes and apply mascara (Maybelline Full N Soft Waterproof in Black):

To finish, I'm going to add some glittery eyelashes (from Daiso):

For a complete look, I applied ELF Studio Bronzer in Golden to my cheeks and applied Stila Lip Glaze in Vanilla to my lips:

Not bad! I think I nailed Cleopatra without looking too costume-y, although it would have been cool if I had one of those ornate braided wigs with the gold accents!

Anyways, hope y'all enjoyed the tutorial and have a great Saturday! :D

Hugs,

Cat

Quickie Day-to-Evening Transformation

2012-01-19T17:01:00.000-08:00

Hey all! Just thought I'd show you how I to do a 5-minute, quickie day-to-evening makeup transformation. Nothing too dramatic, I figured it's something that every girl should learn in case an impromptu after school or after work event pops up. Case in point, hubby called me on his way home from work last night and asked me to attend a friend's deejaying gig at a chic hotel and lounge in San Francisco. I was busy running errands at the moment and would only have minutes from the time I got back to our apartment to freshen up before going out. I decided to keep things simple, yet sparkly and shimmery. Here's what I came up with on the fly:

Before and after.

I have to be in class no later than 8:30 am on the weekdays and my university is about a 30-45 minute drive depending on traffic. So lately, I've only been doing brows, cheeks, eyeliner, and tinted balm. There's really no time for much else unless I want to wake up at 5:00 am and, trust me, I'm not a morning person AT ALL! To spruce up, I focused mostly on my eyes:

Before: simple winged eyeliner

I re-defined my eyeliner, applied Sephora Glitter eyeliner in Gold along my winged line, applied mascara, added my Daiso glitter eyelashes, and highlighted my brow arch with Josie Maran Argan Illuminator. Small changes, big difference!

After: glitter, eyelashes, shimmery brow arch highlight

I also touched up the color on my cheeks by applying ELF Studio Blush in Twinkle Pink (a nice peachy-pink with golden micro-glitter particles, a comparable dupe for NARS Super Orgasm) and slicked some Stila Lip Glaze in Vanilla on my lips to complete my all over golden glittery glow.

Slip on some jewelry and a cute outfit and I'm ready to go! Unfortunately, we didn't quite make it to the party. Husband decided he was too tired when he got home so we had a quiet, casual dinner date at a local italian restaurant instead. Oh well, lol! I hope he enjoyed gazing at my glittery face across the table while eating.

Anyways, hope you all enjoyed this post and found it useful. Have a great night! :D

Hugs,
Cat

Paisley

2012-01-18T15:01:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to post photos that my friend Sarah, over at Fizzy Photography, shot of me over the summer but ran into a bunch of hiccups along the way so I didn't get a chance to share them until now. Ah, how I long for that warm summer sun... Anyways, we had originally meant to do the shoot on the rooftop of her apartment building, but the lighting wasn't quite right and we ended up improvising. The results turned out very nicely and I'm happy to finally be able to post them today!

:: Sunglasses ::

:: Dress ::

Nordstrom Rack

:: Bag ::

Michael Kors

:: Shoes ::

Qupid

Thanks for reading and hope you all get a chance to check out Fizzy Photography's blog as well! Sarah does beautiful engagement, wedding, portrait, and event photography. :D

ModCloth Cabin Fever Sale!

2012-01-16T20:54:00.000-08:00

Heads up! ModCloth is having a "Cabin Fever" sale. Hundreds of awesome items up to 70% off! (click on image for direct link)

I just checked out my shopping basket. Darn it, I can never resist a good sale. No wait, scratch that, a GREAT sale! If there's something that you want, DO snatch it up because pieces are going FAST! Here's what I ended up getting:

Society Girl Blazer - ~~$109.99~~ now $32.99

I Really Mist You Dress - ~~$79.99~~ now $23.99

Look on the Bite Side iPhone Case in Burger - ~~$37.99~~ now $10.99

Hope some of you get to take advantage...oh yes, free domestic shipping on orders over $50. Happy shopping! :D

January MyGlam Review

2012-01-16T18:04:00.000-08:00

Alright! Over the weekend, I got to try every product from my first MyGlam bag. Here's the lowdown on this month's MyGlam goodies:

Freeman Facial Cucumber Peel-Off Mask

Ok, so first impression: GROSS! I'll bet you all don't appreciate my too-detailed images of the peeling process, lol. But let's get down to business. The mask formula itself is a pleasantly scented clear gel that you apply to your entire face. Upon application, you get a refreshing cool and tingly sensation. Be sure to avoid the area around your eyes! While it was drying, I noticed that I put some a little too close to my under-eye area and it stung a bit. Once the mask is completely dry, you just peel it off your face. Reminds me of when I used to peel glue off of my fingers in kindergarten after doing cut-and-paste crafts...except this time the glue is on my face, haha! The purpose of this mask is to remove impurities from your pores, similar to Biore strips.

Final Thoughts: I actually think this product is kind of neat. It smells and feels good on my face, and the peeling part is sort of fun, in an icky kind of way, lol. I know, I'm weird. My skin feels clean and refreshed after using it.

Sheer Cover Concealer Duo in Light/Medium

I've been using my ELF Studio Complete Coverage Concealer for months now with no real complaints. It does the job. However, I definitely experienced the difference in using a higher-end product. The Sheer Cover formula is thicker, creamier, and allows for fuller coverage. This little compact is going to last me a very long time. I used the Light side for brightening and highlighting and the Medium side for concealing.

Final Thoughts: Good stuff! I'm very pleased with this MyGlam goody. I would have never thought to try it if I hadn't received it in my MyGlam bag. Now I'm not sure if I'd shell out the $29 retail value that MyGlam tagged it at, but who knows. I might consider it once I run out of product...probably in a year or two.

Wen Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner

Yes, the Christmas tree is still up.

I was probably the most skeptical about this product for a number of good reasons. First of all, I already have super-straight, limp, unmanageable hair that gets even more weighed down with most conditioners. I use conditioner very sparingly as it decreases volume and prevents my hair from holding a curl. Also, I have combination hair...very dry ends while having an oily scalp. I could imagine Wen Cleansing Conditioner being useful for my crunchy ends, but I was really apprehensive about it making my oily scalp even greasier. To my surprise, I emerged from the shower with the softy, silkiest hair that bended to the will of my curling iron without any resistance. As you can see, full and soft bouncy waves galore! Plus my roots didn't feel greasy at all, amazing! The only downside I can think of is the smell. It's probably just me, but it smells a lot like an old asian lady (ie. my grandmother, who uses plenty of Tiger Balm plus a countless variety of asian herbal medicines). Lol.

Final Thoughts: Out of all the products I received, this one exceeded expectations more than the others. I've used it for two days in a row so far and love the results. I'm not sure what my hair will be like with continued use, but if the going stays good, I may even consider purchasing a full-sized bottle!

The Balm Hot Ticket Nail Polish in Silver Spoon Me

It wasn't love at first sight when I laid eyes on this nail polish. In general, I'm not a big fan of silver on my fingertips. I don't think I've ever even thought about purchasing silver polish before. But, upon application, it really wasn't that bad. The formula is very fluid and easy to apply while the color is very opaque. So now I have these super-shimmery metallic silver nails. Husband made a comment about "robot-nails" which I consider a compliment coming from him. (he's a big tech geek)

Final Thoughts: Not my usual go-to color, but definitely a lot more fun than I had expected! :)

Whew! So that's the skinny on my January MyGlam bag! Hope some of you found it useful. Let me know if you have any questions, I'll be happy to answer. :D

Sephora Glitz & Glam Look 2

2012-01-15T18:59:00.000-08:00

I got a chance to play around with my Glitz & Glam set a little more over the weekend and came up with a nice evening look which I wore out on a double date with myself, hubby, girlfriend and her husband.

I started with a bare eye, no primer necessary this time:

Next, I applied some Buxom Stay-There cream eyeshadow in Pug to my upper eyelid:

Then, I lined my upper and lower lash lines with black pencil eyeliner:

Using my finger, I smudged my upper and lower lash line liner:

For added drama, I layered Sephora Eyeshadow in Starry Sky over the smudged liner:

Such impact! Starry Sky is a shimmery shade of black, packed with tons of silvery micro-glitter particles. It was much more pigmented than I expected. LOVE!

To complete the look, I used Ultraflesh Gold Standard mascara on my lashes and applied a pair of my favorite glittery Daiso lashes:

The Glitz & Glam products that I used for the rest of my face are as follows:

Bare Escentuals All-Over Color in Glee for my cheeks.

Josie Maran Argan Oil Illuminator to highlight my cheekbones, the bridge of my nose, and my cupid's bow.

And Stila Lip Glaze in Vanilla glossed over Smashbox lip pencil in Smashing Muse.

Overall look:

It's important to use shimmer creams, such as Benefit High Beam or Josie Maran Argan Oil Illuminator, subtly as too much can make you look greasy as opposed to luminous. My trick is to apply them to my highlight areas after I apply tinted moisturizer, but before I apply pressed powder. That way, I get a radiant glow as opposed to a too-shiny effect. Placement along my cheekbones, bridge of my nose, and cupid's bow gives the illusion of more sculpted cheeks, a taller, slimmer nose, and fuller lips!

Hope some of you found this tutorial helpful! Thanks for reading and have a great Sunday night! :D

Hugs,
Cat

Lovelina for Valentine's Day!

2012-01-15T10:45:00.000-08:00

Ok ok, I know that Valentine's Day is just a Hallmark holiday, but I can't help it! I LOVE romance and will take any excuse I can to celebrate it. Even when I was single, I really enjoyed perusing through all the sappy cards and heart-embellished stuffed animals. (while eating my way through heart-inspired candy and chocolates) I've already planned on what I'm wearing this year (while working my butt off doing Bar Method in order to fit into it) and am deciding which restaurant we'll be conducting our ever-so-romantic dinner date. Accessorizing is a no-brainer, Lovelina all the way! :D I've got to love my own stuff, right?

Well, I want to spread the love and offer you all FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING now until Valentine's day. Just enter offer code: VDAY12 when you check out and you'll receive free shipping on any of my pieces, no matter where in the world you are. Give a hint to your significant other, buy something for your friend, buy something for yourself...it doesn't have to be romance related. Anywho, here are some of my love-inspired picks (click on captions for direct link):

Love Letters Necklace

Reversible Status Heart Necklace

Message D'Amour Necklace

Love Gives You Wings Necklace

In A Heartbeat Locket Watch

La Parisienne Necklace

Tweet Lovebirds on a Rose Branch

Tiny Wings Necklace

Happy Birthday Blog!

2012-01-14T22:31:00.000-08:00

Whoa, so today is Style By Cat's first birthday! I can't believe it's been a year...time flies when you're having fun! Thanks to those of you who have stuck around and thanks to those of you who have recently subscribed. I've really enjoyed meeting so many wonderful people from all over the interwebs! :D Here's to one year and many more!

Mmm...celebrating with a chocolate raspberry buttercream cupcake.

Hugs,

Cat

January MyGlam Bag!

2012-01-14T15:15:00.000-08:00

Okie dokie! So I finally received my long-awaited MyGlam goody bag after putting in an order back in mid-December. The theme this month is Nature. The products I received are described as: "cruelty-free, organic, all-natural, and earthy."

Here's the lineup:

1. Freeman Facial Cucumber Peel-Off Mask - $8 value
2. Sheer Cover Concealer Duo in Light/Medium - $29 value
3. Wen Sweet Almond Mint Cleansing Conditioner - $4.50 value (calculated per oz)
4. The Balm Hot Ticket nail polish in Silver Spoon Me - $10 value

To be honest, I wasn't really excited about the contents in this bag. It's just that the December bag was so temptingly glam with all these great color cosmetics that I was really hoping for a similar repeat. :(

The upside is that, though I think they fudged the numbers a little, I did a search and I AM getting at least double my money's worth. I'm sort of looking forward to trying out the polish and the concealer. My youngest sister is really excited about the peel-off mask, mostly because the idea of peeling something off one's face is oddly fascinating to her. And our middle sister says she's heard good things about the cleansing conditioner. So I guess it's not that big of a disappointment. I will get back to you all with reviews shortly. :)

Daiso Eyelash Giveaway Winners!

2012-01-13T22:42:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Sorry about the late night post, I'm so swamped with all sorts of things that I nearly forgot! Uh oh. Well, I just got in the door a few moments ago, thought I'd announce the winners for my latest giveaway.

Winner #1:

Bri!

Winner #2:

Kelly!

Congrats ladies! In order to claim your prize, click here to send me an email with your full name and mailing address. I'll ship out your fabulous lashes as soon as I receive your info!

Missoni for Target RESTOCKED!

2012-01-13T10:21:00.000-08:00

Wow! Remember several months ago when Target debuted their Missoni collection? I was so excited, but on the day it was released, the site had completely crashed and by the time I got myself to my local Target, the area looked like a post-apocalyptic war zone. (I visited 3 of them, btw) Therefore, I am very pleased to announce that Target has very quietly restocked a number of their Missoni items, no fanfare whatsoever. Just thought I'd make the announcement to anyone who was still interested in acquiring some of the pieces. Here are a few of my favorites (click on photo for direct link):

Oh yes, free shipping on orders over $50 and 10% off site wide with code: TGTHTT5Z. Happy shopping!

Hugs,
Cat

Back To School Look

2012-01-13T08:32:00.000-08:00

So remember the Sephora Glitz & Glam set I got in the other day? Well, I know I mentioned that I was excited to use it for a date or a night out with the girls, but I just couldn't wait and decided to try out some products for yesterday's makeup before going to class. Blargh, it's the first week of winter quarter at my university. I know there's nothing glitzy or glamorous about class at 8am, but as it turns out, this set is versatile enough to achieve a natural, daytime look for school, work, etc.

I really don't have a whole lot of time to get ready on school mornings, which are 4 days out of the week. This look requires about 10-15 minutes, which works well with my schedule.

For my eyes, I used Buxom Stay-There Eyeshadow in Pug and Ultraflesh Gold Standard Mascara from the set:

I don't use cream eyeshadows, but I'm sooooooooo in LOVE with this one right now. Pug is a shimmery, "smoky pewter" shade that glides on as smooth as silk, is nicely pigmented and very build-able. It's also whisper-light. I couldn't feel it on my lids at all, unlike some other heavy, greasy-feeling cream shadows. I was able to quickly and efficiently create a very nice gradient from my lash line to my brow bone. Talk about easy smoky eye! I can't imagine it being simpler. I didn't need a primer and what's really amazing is that, 12 hours later, there was little to no creasing whatsoever. I want to get Buxom Stay-There Eyeshadow in EVERY color now! Somebody stop me!

Oh, and I really like the Ultraflesh Gold Standard mascara also. The formula is light, non-clumping, and really holds a curl. My sister commented that my eyelashes looked really long, so I guess it works! The only problem is that I didn't see a full-sized tube available for sale on the Sephora site. Maybe that's a good thing, I'd go broke otherwise.

As for the rest of my face, I used Benefit High Beam to highlight my cheekbones, Bare Escentuals All Over Color in Glee as a blush, and Stila Lip Glaze in Vanilla.

I've used High Beam before, it's a decent, all-purpose cosmetic highlighter. You can use it to highlight your brow arch, the bridge of your nose, your cheekbones, etc. Glee gives your cheeks a warm, earthy-rose flush and I imagine it's flattering on most skin tones. Vanilla is a very shimmery, sheer champagne color that, when worn alone, gives your lips a glossy, luminous glow.

So that's my first look from the set. I can't wait to experiment some more with it to create additional looks, including something on the dramatic end of the spectrum. Stay tuned! :)

Hugs,

Cat

Beauty Tips for the New Year by Liz Davies

2012-01-12T22:13:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone! Today I'd like to share a health and beauty article, authored by Liz Davies, Style By Cat's first guest writer. She has some really useful and important tips for us all in order to kick off a successful new year being the best we can be be, both inside and out. These are great tips, not only as a start to the new year, but to keep in mind all year round. So let's give her a listen, I'm sure you'll find her article to be quite helpful. :)

Beauty Tips for the New Year

The holidays are a time when people are surrounded with friends, family and even co-workers at New Years parties and get-togethers. Therefore, it is important for important for women to always look their best so that they make the best impression on those they are around. Plus, when people look good, they feel good, and that puts them in better holiday spirits.

Teeth Whitening
Most New Years parties, especially ones held with family and friends, involves picture taking. People love to commemorate holidays and special events with snapshots, so it’s important that people’s smiles look their best. White teeth instantly make a person look better in her pictures as well as feel better on a day-to-day basis. If professional dental whitening from a dentist can’t be afforded, there are plenty of over-the-counter whitening treatments available on the market that can do the trick. If professional treatments are desired it is likely there is a dentist down the street that has services available. Teeth whitening has become a popular service for California to DC dentist offices to offer with many options available.

Skin Care
Winter weather tends to dry out the skin, and no one wants dry, scaly skin. Therefore, daily moisturizing face and skin creams are a must throughout the holiday season. Facial skin care is the most important since the face is the base for makeup and one of the first things that people notice. For people with naturally dry skin, winter skin care is especially essential. Moisturizing before bed and before makeup application in the morning provides the best results.

Makeup Choices

Makeup can be used to play up festivities as well. The party season is known for color, and implementing some into makeup application can add to the holiday look. For example, frosted eye shadow fits in nicely with the winter holiday season, and red lipstick can complement and bring out holiday colors very nicely. Glitter, when done in moderation, can add a festive feel to a style. The key to implementing color into makeup application is to do it in moderation. Style By Cat has excellent tips on fun ideas for parties!

Weight

With the party season comes dinners and catering. Eating is expected at holiday get-togethers, but the key is not to go overboard. Some tricks that can keep people from over-eating at parties is to have a healthy snack like raw veggies before attending the party. That way people won’t be ravenous and overindulge. The less hungry a person is, the less likely she will be to sample every hors d’oeuvres offered.

Following such beauty tips throughout the holidays will help make people feel and look better, not only throughout the holiday season, but afterwards as well.

Liz Davies is a recent college graduate and aspiring writer especially interested in beauty and fashion. She wants to make a difference in people’s lives by spreading positive messages. Liz also likes shopping, hanging out with friends, reading and playing with her dog, April.

If you have any questions or comments, you can click here to contact Liz via email.

Sephora Favorites Glitz & Glam

2012-01-11T22:43:00.000-08:00

Hee hee! Guess what I got in the mail today? The Sephora Favorites Glitz & Glam Set! I almost forgot that I even ordered it. Funny story: my younger sister really wanted to get the Sephora Hello Kitty palette, but didn't want to pay the full cost of shipping, so she made me add something to her basket in order to qualify free shipping. It was a difficult decision, but I had to help a sister out, you know what I mean?

This set consists of golden and champagne-hued products, chock-full of shimmer and glitter, hence the Glitz & Glam moniker. Here is what's included:

1. Benefit High Beam
2. Buxom Stay-There Eyeshadow in Pug
3. Bare Escentuals All Over Color in Glee
4. Sephora Eyeshadow in Starry Sky
5. Sephora OPI Nail Colour in Charge It!
6. Tarte Celebutante Dry Oil Shimmer
7. Josie Maran Argan Oil Illuminizer
8. Tarina Tarantino Sparklicity Gloss in Paiette
9. Ultraflesh Gold Standard Mascara in Black
10. Stila Lip Glaze in Vanilla

Of the ten products, three are full-sized while the rest are generously half-sized. All for the sale price of $29! That's less than $3 per product, how could I say no? I can't wait to share some fun looks with you all! Wouldn't some of these be perfect for a glamorous date night or an evening out with the ladies?

Here are a few more photos via Instagram:

On a completely different note, I want to apologize to you all for not having any recent looks or tutorials. :( School started for me again this Monday and I've been so swamped between work, classes, and jewelry orders that it's been really hard to squeeze in some quality blog time. I'll try my best to make things flow as efficiently as possible, but it's going to be pretty busy for me starting from now until summer. But don't worry, I'm not going to give up Style By Cat!

Hugs,
Cat

Kanebo Kate Mascara Base

2012-01-10T21:58:00.000-08:00

Before I discovered Maybelline Full N Soft Waterproof Mascara, I could never get my eyelashes to hold a curl after applying mascara...not unless I used an eyelash primer first. The best mascara primer I've ever used would have to be Kanebo Kate Mascara Base, well known among Japanese brand beauty products. It's amazing! This eyelash primer would make my puny, stick-straight eyelashes longer, fuller, and keep them nice and curly, regardless of what mascara I decided to use.

It's a whitish, translucent gel with fine fiber particles interspersed throughout. The gel lengthens while the fibers thicken. After applying a coat to freshly curled lashes, I would apply a coat of any mascara over it, hiding the whitish color. You may ask why I stopped using it. I don't have a good answer other than I got lazy after discovering that Full N Soft kept my eyelashes curled without the extra step. I've decided to purchase another tube of Kate because I recently bought some mascaras that I like which don't hold a curl very well, including some cool colored mascaras. On average, a tube of Kate will cost you anywhere between $17 to $20. I found it for $15 (shipping included) online at a site called AdamBeauty. You can click here for a direct link to the product. The site isn't fancy, but it's the lowest price I've found compared to anywhere else.

Anyways, I'm expecting my tube in a few weeks since it ships from overseas. I'll definitely be doing a comprehensive review and demonstration, so stay tuned! :)

Hugs,
Cat

Seche Vite, where have you been all my life?

2012-01-09T21:39:00.000-08:00

So, after hearing so many amazing things about Seche Vite, the highly touted miracle top coat, I finally got around to purchasing a bottle from my local CVS. Generally, I'm more of a makeup maven than nail aficionado, so I figured that a top coat was a top coat, right? Well, I learned soon enough that not all top coats were created equal.

I had a little time last Sunday afternoon, so I decided to give myself a proper DIY manicure, complete with a base coat and 2 coats of polish, topped off with Seche Vite. I was so impressed that I was fawning over my own nails for at least an hour. I'm pretty sure husband and sister got sick of hearing about how, smooth, glass-like, and shiny my nails were. I was also ready to use my hands again after just 15 minutes of drying time. See, another reason why I'm so lazy with my nails is because they require at least an hour to dry somewhat properly and I'm so impatient. I get all squirmy and fidgety sitting there with nothing to do. Even with the TV on, I hate sitting still. I need my hands, darn it! Seche Vite (true to it's English translation: "quick dry") cuts my squirming and fidgeting to a fraction of the time. Yay!

I used it over Mint Candy Apple by Essie. I wish you could see how glossy they look, I just can't seem to get the lighting right. (much respect to those amazing nail bloggers out there!) And the best part is, they looked perfectly the same when I woke up this morning, no scratches, no smudges, all shine! I can't imagine using anything else now! For those of you out there that haven't tried this stuff yet, go get yourself a bottle! :D

Hugs,
Cat

MyGlam subscriptions now available!

2012-01-09T14:50:00.000-08:00

Hey gals, just got an email from MyGlam announcing that they have a limited amount of subscriptions available again. Just thought I'd give you all a heads up in case any of you were still interested. :)

For those of you who are hearing about MyGlam for the first time, check out my previous post about my subscription to MyGlam.

Cheers!
Cat

Two Free Bottles of Zoya!

2012-01-09T11:12:00.000-08:00

OMG! So exciting! A friend of mine just tipped me off on a secret giveaway by Zoya nail polish. Two free bottles with offer code: ZOYA2012. It really works! Hurry, this giveaway ends before midnight tonight!

FYI, Zoya retails for $8 per bottle, but here you get 2 full-sized bottles for free, any color of your choice. US residents just pay about $7 for shipping. I'm not sure if there are any restrictions for international buyers, but it's worth a try!

Silver Rosy Lovebirds

2012-01-08T15:25:00.000-08:00

Hey friends! My Tweet Lovebirds on a Rose Branch necklace now comes in silver. Just thought I'd share with you guys first. :D

Happy Sunday!

Hugs,
Cat

Dresses I Kinda Want

2012-01-08T00:06:00.000-08:00

I love "window" shopping online. One of my favorite things to do when I feel like shopping, but don't have the money to do so, is go to all my favorite clothing sites, throw a bunch of things I want into my shopping cart, and then turn off my laptop. I know, I've got a sickness. Still, I'm going through a dress phase right now and thought I'd share a few dresses that you'd find sitting in my deleted shopping carts.

Hmm...I'm starting to see a theme here. Mostly dark colors and peter pan collars. I guess I can't help it, it's what I like right now. Haha.

Hope you're all having a great weekend so far. Goodnight! :D

Hugs,

Cat

Dangerous Part 2

2012-01-07T00:01:00.000-08:00

Good evening everyone! I'm going to make today's post short and sweet. Can you believe I've been out of the house from 8:45am this morning until now (11:45pm)? I took a short break for lunch during work to reply to comments and emails, but otherwise, I haven't had a moment to even think about blogging. But, here I am! So, I tried another look today with my new Urban Decay Dangerous palette, which, unfortunately, seems to be sold out at the moment. :(

Following the same technique for my previous Dangerous tutorial, I used these colors instead:

I used Gunmetal for the inner half of my upper eyelid, Oil Slick for the outer corner of my upper eyelid, and Haight along my bottom lash line. I also enhanced my upper lash line eyeliner with Sephora Glitter Eyeliner in Silver and applied Daiso false lashes. (Which you can enter to win in my latest GIVEAWAY!)

Well, that's it for tonight! Off to bed...I know it's early for a Friday night, but this Cat needs to hit the sack! :D

Sweet Dreams!
Cat

Dangerous by Urban Decay

2012-01-05T19:15:00.000-08:00

Urban Decay makes sultry, smoldering eyes easy with their Dangerous palette, which was a part of my holiday goody showcase a few days ago. I love how colorful this palette is while remaining dark and gritty. It also comes with a 24/7 eyeliner pencil in Rockstar as well as a travel-sized Primer Potion in Greed.

Today, I'm going to show you guys my take on Dangerous with this look:

These are the colors I used to get it:

Clockwise from top:

Mildew, an olive green with golden shimmer

Rockstar, a shimmery, smoky gunmetal plum

Oil Slick, a shimmery black with chunky silver glitter

To start, I'm going to apply Greed to my eyelids:

It's a light-gold primer that applies very shimmery, but becomes more subtle once I pat it evenly on my eyelid. The formula is very similar in texture to the Original potion, smooth, silky, and light.

Next, I apply Mildew to the inner half of my upper eyelid:

Despite the icky name, Mildew is a very pretty color. I really like earthy greens. They give you that bit of color without looking too conspicuous. Now, I'm going to apply some Oil Slick to the outer corner of my upper eyelid:

Then, I'm going to apply Rockstar shadow along my bottom lash line:

It's a very edgy shade of plum, almost more gunmetal than purple. We're halfway there! I'm just going to smoke and soften the edges with a fluffy blending brush:

Using a creamy black gel liner, I'm going to draw a tapered line along my upper lash line, thin towards the inner corner and thick towards the outer corner. I'm also going to lightly line my bottom lash line as well.

Apply mascara and glittery false lashes and I'm done!

Don't forget to enter my latest GIVEAWAY to win FOUR pairs of Daiso false eyelashes like these! :D

To keep my eyes the center of attention, I'm going to apply a sheer, nude gloss to my lips. Urban Decay's Lip Junkie Gloss in Wallflower is perfect for this look:

Overall look:

Don't I look DANGEROUS?! Umm...no, not really. Lol. Still, I think it's unique and sexy, while remaining quite wearable. I dare you guys to try it! Haha! :D

Candie's Gold Glitter Platform Pumps

2012-01-05T18:36:00.000-08:00

I was at Kohl's last night and made an impulse buy. It was an excellent move, however, in my opinion. $28 marked down from $60 PLUS 20% off! How could I say no?

As you know, I am totally obsessed with all things sparkly recently, especially those in the golden-hued range. As glitzy as they are, I feel they can be easily dressed down as well. I tried them on with some dark, super-skinny jeggings:

Wouldn't they look great with my lacy dress for Valentine's day? (yeah, I know I'm thinking pretty far ahead)

Anywho, just thought it'd be fun to share! Hope everyone's having a great Thursday night! :D

Hugs,
Cat

Topless and Barefoot by Essie

2012-01-04T21:41:00.000-08:00

Whoa whoa whoa! Does that sound risque or what? But hey, let's cool our heels and get those seductive mental images out of our heads...we're talkin' nail polish here!

Can you believe I've had this nail polish for over a month and I've yet to try it until recently?! It's a sign that I may have graduated from makeup aficionado to obsessive compulsive hoarder! But here's the skinny on Topless and Barefoot: it's a soft, creamy nude shade which I find absolutely gorgeous, I really can't get enough of nude. It's like, the new black, you know what I mean? There's an understated elegance to it and it's a color that goes with just about anything. When I can't decide what to wear...dress, shoes, lipstick, nails...nude is my default go-to color. You can't go wrong with it. I purchased my bottle of Essie Topless and Barefoot at Bonanza for less than $5 (shipping not included). It's a pretty good deal as far as I can tell because it's sold at my local CVS for close to $9.

In the photo I'm actually wearing it with *gasp* a base coat AND top coat! What a surprise. Those of you that know me know that I've always been waaaaaaay too lazy for those extra steps and generally wear my polish "naked". I DID cheat a little, though, by using a 2-in-1 base and topcoat formula by Sally Hansen called Double Duty:

I'm no nail polish connoisseur, so there's not much I can tell you except that it gives my polish a super-shiny finish! I guess it's supposed to prevent chipping and makes your nails stronger, though it's only been 2 days so I can neither confirm or deny that. Lol.

Featured on Miss Lipgloss!

2012-01-03T14:08:00.000-08:00

Imagine my surprise when I groggily grabbed my phone this morning to check email and noticed a sudden surge of subscribers and traffic on Style By Cat. Holy heck, how did that happen?! So I read through some of my new comments and learned that I had been featured by a very, very prominent beauty blogger from Holland named Cynthia who has a blog called Miss Lipgloss:

Yep, that's me! How cool is that? I'm always so surprised and grateful when I get featured by amazing bloggers. :D It gives me such a great opportunity to meet new readers from all over the world which makes me super-happy!

Anyways, I really wish I were literate in Dutch, but I guess I could get the gist of what her post is about. I don't know much about Cynthia except that she's a gorgeous, very accomplished beauty blogger with an uber-professional site which makes mine look pretty ghetto by comparison, lol. Check her out if you're not already subscribed to her!

Soooooooooooooo if you're reading this, thanks Cynthia! You're awesome! :D

XOXO,

Cat

Silver Bird and Branch Lariat Back in Stock!

2012-01-02T21:29:00.000-08:00

This popular piece sold out last week and I've gotten a lot of requests on my Etsy to restock. Just wanted to give everyone a heads up that it's now available again, however in limited quantity for the time being.

Governess Dress

2012-01-02T16:31:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to play with a red, black, and yellow color scheme for awhile. Since hubby has one more day off before getting back to the grind, I thought I'd squeeze in one more style shoot. Here's what we came up with on the fly:

:: Dress ::

eBay

:: Cloche ::

Old Navy

:: Sunglasses ::

Sunglass Warehouse

:: Handbag ::

Marc Jacobs

:: Socks ::

Forever 21

:: Shoes ::

Unlisted

My Yellow Dressy!

2012-01-02T12:55:00.000-08:00

Style post! When was the last time we had one of those? I really want to post fashion more often because it was my first and foremost passion. Bet you didn't know that I graduated from a fashion program at my college years ago and used to be a fashion designer...sigh... Oh well, some stuff doesn't work out, you move forward, and life goes on, right?

Anywho, just thought I'd share another one of my holiday goodies, a lovely yellow dress that was gifted to me by my sisters. :D I've never owned a yellow dress before, so I was delighted to receive one for Christmas!

:: Dress ::

Soda Fountain Dress from ModCloth

:: Necklace ::

Chubby Birdie and Branch Lariat by Lovelina

:: Earrings ::

Painted Wood Button Earrings by Lovelina

:: Shoes ::

London Calling by Poetic Licence

:: Socks ::

Anthropologie

Rollergirl by Urban Decay

2012-01-01T21:32:00.000-08:00

I couldn't wait to try out my new Urban Decay Rollergirl Palette so I figured I'd post a tutorial in order to kill two birds with one stone.

Rollergirl is a fantastic palette that includes 3 neutral shades (Verve, Suspect, and Darkhorse) and a poppin' hot pink (Woodstock). It also comes with a 24/7 eyeliner pencil in Whisky and Lip Junkie gloss in Crush, both in travel sizes. Not only are the colors gorgeously pigmented, versatile, and easy to work with, but the compact is sleek, attractive, and extremely portable, perfect for quick day-to-night transformations.

For today's tutorial, I'm going to show you guys how I used Rollergirl to create this look:

To start, I'm going to prime my eyelids with my current favorite primer, Lime Crime's Candy Eyed:

Next, I'm going to add some Verve, a "pale oyster shimmer" to the inner corner of my upper eyelid:

Then, I'm going to take some Darkhorse, a deep brown with golden flecks, and apply it to the outer corner of my upper eyelid:

Once I've completed that step, I'm going to apply Suspect, a taupe-y bronze shimmer, above Darkhorse:

Using a fluffy brush, I'm going to carefully blend the colors so that there are no visible harsh lines:

Now I'm going to take some hot pink Woodstock and apply it along my bottom lash line:

Using a thin, bent eyeliner brush, I'm going to apply black gel/cream eyeliner to my top and bottom lash lines, making sure to wing it along the top lash line:

For extra sparkle, I'm going to enhance my eyeliner with the gold Sephora glitter liner that was gifted to me over the holiday:

Holy cow! I soooooooo LOVE the way this looks! Uh oh...new obsession! Be prepared to see a lot more gold glitter liner in future posts! lol

Curl my lashes and add mascara and I'm nearly done:

You know I'm gonna have to add some fun, glittery eyelashes to really complete the look!

Don't they make such a big difference? Don't forget, you can now win TWO pairs of your own glittery Daiso lashes in my latest GIVEAWAY!

Almost done! I'm just going to apply some Lip Junkie gloss in Crush to my lips:

It's a sheer, shiny pop of pink that is more subdued on the lips than in the tube, which is perfect for today's look! It's smooth, moisturizing, smells and tastes great...like mint chocolate chip. :D

Overall look:

The Rollergirl Palette totally met my expectations and I had so much fun creating today's look with it, one of my favorites in awhile! I can't wait to see what else I can come up with! Hope you guys found this tutorial and review useful! Happy January 1st!

Hugs,

Cat

Holiday Goodies

2012-01-01T13:54:00.000-08:00

I wanted to share a few goodies that I received over the holiday, which ought to make for at least a few fun posts:

Clockwise from top: UD Rollergirl Palette, Sephora Glitter Eyeliner in Silver and Gold, UD Dangerous Palette, UD mascara and 24/7 eyeliner pencil sampler combo.

Cream tiered lace mini dress and blush faux python clutch, both by Lola.

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Aren't these shoesies ultra-gorg?! They're named London Calling by Poetic Licence. They're just my taste...these guys really know how to do footwear. Can't wait to wear them! :D

all images taken via Instagram for iPhone

Oh, and don't forget to enter my latest GIVEAWAY to win some goodies of your own!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, just thought I'd end the evening by wishing everyone a happy new year. Here's to 2012! :D

Here are my resolutions for the upcoming year:

1. Adopt a healthier lifestyle!

Yes, I'm sure this is on the list for about 90% of the population. I was actually able to stick to a regular exercise regimen and healthy diet for about eight months before Thanksgiving and I've fallen off the wagon since. No better time to start up again!

2. Take more risks and dive full-force into the things that I'm passionate about!

In general, I've always been hesitant, cautious, and overly-concerned about how my actions might affect my future. This year, I'm just going to throw myself into the things that are truly important to me. I think there's success to be had if I work really hard towards the things I'm most passionate and enthusiastic about. :D

3. Be the best me I can be!

This kind of relates to resolution #1 and #2, but I'm just going to try my best at all of my endeavors and see what happens.

I suppose that pretty much wraps up my hopes and expectations for 2012. What about you guys? :) Whether you're setting goals for yourselves or not, here's to a Happy New Year all the same!

Cheers!
Cat

Daiso Eyelash Giveaway!

2011-12-30T22:59:00.000-08:00

Hey hey! Thought I'd announce my latest giveaway to celebrate breaking 200 GFC subscribers! :D Sooooooooooo y'all know that Daiso eyelashes are my favorite eyelashes in the world. They're lightweight, flattering, comfortable...and the price is very nice. But I also know that they're not widely available, so here's your chance to win some of your own! I'm giving away one box of Daiso Daily Eyelash Style "A":

AND I'm giving away one box of Daiso Flared Glitter Eyelashes Style "F":

That's TWO boxes of eyelashes for a total of FOUR pairs! There will also be TWO winners eligible for the prize, which increases everyone's odds. :D

So! Here are the rules:

- Subscribe to my blog and comment below so I know that you're in it to win it!

- For a bonus entry, follow me on Bloglovin' and "like" this giveaway. Just comment below that you have so I can enter you twice.

The winners will be randomly chosen via Random Number Generator. There are no restrictions on who can enter. Girls, guys, dogs, cats...whatever. I don't discriminate. International entries are also welcome. :)

The drawing will take place Friday, January 13, 2012. Oooooh...Friday the 13th! Good luck and happy entering!

Hugs,

Cat

Greetings from Bear Valley!

2011-12-29T00:27:00.000-08:00

Hey all! Just wanted to check in to let you know what's new. :D

Hubby got the week off, so we decided to head up to a cabin in the mountains with a small group of close friends and family. He's an avid snowboarder so he's been looking forward to this trip all year. I, on the other hand, have a terrible fear of cold as well as sub-par balance and coordination...not the best characteristics for snowboarding. However, after about 4 years, I'm getting better at it, therefore it's becoming more fun. Plus, the snow is so pretty. :)

Have I mentioned that he's one of the kindest, most patient men I've ever known? Even though he's really experienced, he'll spend nearly every moment with me on the bunny slopes helping me improve my skills. I guess that's love!

My sisters and me, all bundled up and ready to take several tumbles down the hill. Haha!

I was taking a shot of my cousin when I noticed a rainbow. Pretty!

So, yup, that's what I've been up to! Thus explaining the reason why I've been a little absent with the fashion and beauty posts.

Oh, I'm also very pleased that I've reached 200 subscribers! Yay! I'll be announcing my celebratory giveaway on Friday when I return. Can't wait! :D

Hope you're all having a nice post-Christmas week so far and have a great night!

Hugs,
Cat

Puppy Explosion!

2011-12-26T23:18:00.000-08:00

Home video that hubby made on his phone. Poor Yuki. Lol.

*disclaimer* No animals were harmed during the making of this film. :D

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T17:10:00.000-08:00

Hope everyone's having a great one! Yuki is especially happy because she got to have ham for the first time! :D

I Heart Monkeys

2011-12-23T22:57:00.000-08:00

This is a video of Squirrel Monkeys experiencing Jell-O for the first time. It puts me in a great mood. I like to watch it every once in awhile. :D I freakin' LOVE monkeys...

Hope you all enjoyed! (hope no one here has monkey-phobia)

Hugs,
Cat

Make it Pink, Make it Blue

2011-12-23T00:17:00.000-08:00

Hi! As you can see, it's rather late for me over here... a little past midnight AND I have work early tomorrow. But I couldn't sleep without at least putting up a little post. Here's another Disney-inspired look:

Remember Princess Aurora from Sleeping Beauty? She had that dress that her fairy godmothers kept switching between pink and blue:

I actually didn't intend for my look to be inspired by Princess Aurora's color-changing dress, but once I was finished, that's immediately what I thought of, check it out:

Lol, because my crease and socket is so shallow, you can only really see the pink when I shut my eyes. There you go, like magic, pink to blue to pink to blue...

To get this look, I used Junkshow, Deep End, and a little bit of Blackout from my UD 15th Anniversary palette:

Overall look:

Ugh! My hair is getting sooooooooooo long and my ends are so dead. You can't see it in the picture, but it's waist-length now. I'm starting to look like The Grudge:

Maybe I should have asked for a haircut for Christmas. It's something I'm definitely doing sometime after the new year. New year, new look. I'll keep you all posted on what kind of hairstyle I choose. Okie dokie, just keeping it short and sweet. Time for bed! Thanks for reading and have a great night! :D

Hugs,
Cat

Mermaid Lagoon

2011-12-21T22:54:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite films is Disney's Peter Pan. Well, pretty much every Disney film is one of my favorite films. Anywho, I always thought the part where Peter and Wendy visited Mermaid Lagoon was super-cool. (except for the part where they started assaulting Wendy) I LOVE mermaids. They're so pretty. So I decided to do an exotic, cool-toned look with mermaids for inspiration with the help of Sugarpill and Lime Crime. :D

I'm going to start by priming my eyelids with Lime Crime Candy Eyed primer:

Next, I'm going to whip out my Sugarpill Sweetheart palette and play with some colors. Today, I'm using Midori, a ultra-gorg cool, bright green with slight shimmer and Afterparty an intensely bold, turquoise blue.

You know, I never got a chance to talk about how much I adore this palette. It's like, Barbie-meets-Comic Book! The colors are incredibly pigmented and vibrant. You get the impact of loose pigments with the convenience of a pressed shadow. I can't wait to get the Burning Heart palette once that comes back in stock!

Ok, I'm going to apply Midori to my upper eyelids:

Then I'm going to apply Afterparty to my bottom eyelids:

Next, I'm going to smudge along the edges of color for a soft, blended look:

Using black pencil eyeliner, I'm going to thinly line my bottom lash line:

Then I'm going to layer some matte black shadow over the pencil liner:

I know it looks like it didn't make much of a difference as far as looks, but the shadow helps the liner stay put with minimal smudging and smearing.

With my new favorite eyeliner, LA Splash Glitter Liquid Eyeliner in Onyx, I'm going to draw a winged line along my upper lash line as well as tracing a little along my bottom lash line:

Finally, after curling my eyelashes and applying mascara, I'm going to add some Daiso eyelashes:

OMG! I blinked during application and got black eyelash glue everywhere! I must have screamed at this point because I felt like I ruined the entire look. Waaaaaaaaaah! However, after several minutes of carefully peeling off the eyelash glue and re-applying eyeshadow and liner, my eyes ended up looking like this:

As long as you don't look too closely, you can hardly see my mistake. Whew! :D You can't have exotic eyes without having exotic lips too! To complete the look, lacquered my lips with Lime Crime Lipstick in Airborne Unicorn:

My Cheeks are Studio Blush in Fuchsia Fusion by ELF.

Wish I were wearing seashells and a fishtail in the Caribbean instead of a sweater in cold weather...sigh.

Hope you all enjoyed the post, it was a fun look to do. I love playing with new colors! :D

Hugs,

Cat

Daily Dose of LOL: Sh** Girls Say

2011-12-20T20:50:00.000-08:00

OMG! Hubby just showed me these hilarious YouTube videos and I just had to share! I could actually hear and see myself a few times. LOL!

I can soooooooooo relate to some of these situations. Hope you all enjoyed! :D

Hugs,

Cat

MyGlam

2011-12-20T19:20:00.000-08:00

Ok, I did it. A few days ago, I caved and started a subscription with MyGlam.

For those of you who aren't familiar with it, MyGlam is sort of a beauty club that recently launched a few weeks ago. It's free to join, but if you're interested in receiving their monthly goody bag, it's $10 per month or $110 per year for a subscription. I'm usually very cautious about these kinds of things, but after hemming and hawing over it for a week or so, I couldn't really find any cons to subscribing. Look at what's included in their December bag:

Five, full-sized "samples" for all of us beauty addicts to enjoy for just $10, shipping included! The Urban Decay eyeshadow is worth $14 by itself. How could you lose? There's also the option to cancel your subscription at any time if you're no longer interested. I'm so excited to receive mine! Can't wait to share! :D

Hugs,
Cat

Hot Pink with Sugarpill and Lime Crime

2011-12-19T23:46:00.000-08:00

Who says monochromatic has to be boring? I decided to go crazy with hot pink today and did eyes, cheeks, and lips in the brightest pinks that I could find! While I'm at it, I'll include a step-by-step tutorial on how to get pink eye (not the icky kind):

As usual, I'm going to start with primed eyelids. Today, I used Lime Crime's Candy Eyed Eyeshadow Helper. Then I'm going to apply a little bit of Sugarpill's Dollipop, from my Sweetheart Palette, to my top and bottom eyelids:

Next, with the help of a medium flat eyeshadow brush and my finger (one of my favorite and most-used makeup tools to date), I smudged and smoked the color to soften the edges and to create a gradient.

Then, I'm going to line my upper and lower lash lines with black pencil eyeliner:

Now I'm going to use my finger (you can use a smudge tool if you'd like) to smudge the pencil liner:

Using matte black eyeshadow, I'm going to layer over the smudged pencil liner:

To finish, I'm going to apply mascara and false eyelashes, as well as a little bit of glittery black eyeliner along the outer corner of my bottom lash line:

Now that's pretty darn pink, if you ask me. To coordinate, I'm going to apply some neon-pink lipstick to match. I FINALLY got a chance to try my new Lime Crime lippie in Countessa Fluorescent:

How's that for some hot hot heat? Such a gorgeous shade of fluorescent pink. It's a little bluer than the eyeshadow, but I think it still works:

Oh, and that's ELF Studio Blush in Pink Passion on my cheeks. Yeah, that's pretty wild-looking. Lol, I don't really know what else to say. I stayed inside today mostly, though I did get a compliment during a brief trip to the grocery store. Where would you guys suggest I sport this mug?

Happy Monday and have a great night!

Hugs,

Cat

p.s. My eyelashes are by Daiso. :D

New Lovelina designs available!

2011-12-18T17:50:00.000-08:00

Fancy Teapot Necklace

Swinging Bird and Dahlia Necklace

Orange Floral Painted Wood Button Earrings

Pink Floral Painted Wood Button Earrings

Don't forget, 10% off your entire order with code: HOLIDAY10. Sale ends December 31st.

Socks!

2011-12-18T15:41:00.000-08:00

Check it out! I got some new socks from H&M:

5 pairs for $9.99! Don't know if you know this, but I LOVE cute socks. I especially like pairing them with heels and mary janes in skirts and dresses.

The solid ones are fine, but I love the patterned ones in particular. Pink, brown, and ivory...mmm...like Neopolitan ice cream!

Turquoise and Pink

2011-12-18T15:30:00.000-08:00

Today's look is simple, yet colorful.

Make Up For Ever Aqua Liner in Diamond Turquoise Blue #5. Gorgeous, waterproof color that lasts and lasts. Worth the $23 price tag? I don't know, but it sure is pretty! Comparable alternatives: Sephora Doe Eyed Eyeliner in Blue ($12) or ELF Studio Cream Eyeliner in Teal Tease. ($3)

ELF Essential Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Perfect Pink layered over ELF Mineral Lipstick in Runway Pink.

This look is pretty simple and straightforward so I figured you didn't need a tutorial for applying eyeliner and lipstick. :) Just enjoying my lazy Sunday afternoon, hope you're all having a good one!

Hugs,
Cat

p.s. My blush is ELF Studio Blush in Pink Passion.

Tiny Wings by Lovelina

2011-12-15T18:27:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to share a new design available from Lovelina:

Tiny Wings

Don't forget, all orders 10% off until the end of December with offer code HOLIDAY10!

Gold Maroon Tutorial

2011-12-15T17:11:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is a step-by-step photo tutorial on how to achieve the Gold Maroon look that I posted yesterday!

These are the shadow colors I used to get this look:

ELF Studio Pigment Eyeshadow in Golden Goddess

Shimmery shades of maroon and charcoal from my ELF Endless Eyes palette

I start with a primed eye. I'm using Candy Eyed Eyeshadow Helper by Lime Crime. I find that the texture of this primer enhances loose pigments better than other primers.

Next, I'm going to apply Golden Goddess to the inner 3/4 of my upper and lower eyelids:

Then, I'm going to apply a shimmery maroon shade from my palette to the outer corners of my upper and lower eyelids:

Using a blending brush, I'm going to blend the area where the two colors meet so that the color transition looks smooth. I'm also going to use the blending brush to soften the edges of the color and fade it towards my brow bone to create a soft, gradient glow.

For the next step, I'm going to apply a bit of black pencil liner along the outer corners of my top and bottom lash lines:

Using my little finger (you can use a smudge tool if you'd like) I'm going to smudge and blend the pencil eyeliner:

Then I'm going to use shimmery charcoal eyeshadow from my palette to layer and smoke over the smudged pencil eyeliner:

To complete the look, I'm going to draw a winged line along my top lash line with my LA Splash Glitter Liquid Eyeliner in Onyx as well as the outer corner of my bottom lash line. I'm also going to curl my lashes and apply mascara.

All set! I didn't apply false lashes today as I had done in yesterday's post because I felt like my eyes needed a little break from the glue, but if you want to check out how that looks, just click here.

Hope you guys found this useful and happy practicing for those who want to try it out! :D

Hugs,

Cat

EOTD: Gold Maroon

2011-12-14T16:26:00.000-08:00

Today I had lunch with a very dear friend whom I haven't seen since my wedding day. It was really nice catching up with her and she keeps up with StyleByCat so I wanted to do something a little different with my eye makeup. Do you know that I've never tried wearing burgundy or maroon colored shadow? I guess there's a first time for everything! I've been seeing a lot of beauty bloggers pairing gold and maroon so I thought I'd give it a go. Here is my take on the combo:

I didn't do a step-by-step tutorial because it was my first time trying this look and there was the possibility it would go very wrong. Now that I'm sure I've achieved a somewhat passable version of what I had in mind, I can go ahead and do a tutorial. Maybe for tomorrow?

Anywho, these are the products that I used to get this look:

ELF's Studio Pigment Eyeshadow in Golden Goddess is now one of my all-time favorite shadows. I wasn't a big fan of gold until I got my paws on this stuff.

I also used a shade of maroon and gunmetal from my Endless Eyes palette for outer corner shading. Alternately, you can purchase the Beauty School Eyeshadow Pigment Collection to get the same look for only $2.25.

I used my new favorite liquid liner, LA Splash Glitter Eyeliner in Onyx and applied some glittery Daiso false eyelashes to complete the look.

:: Face ::

CG Smoothers Aqua Tinted Moisturizer in Light/Medium

ELF Mineral Booster in Tinted

:: Cheeks ::

ELF Studio Bronzer Palette in Cool

:: Lips ::

ELF Essential Hypershine Gloss in Berry Cherry

FOTD: Pretty Pastels

2011-12-13T14:01:00.000-08:00

Hey y'all! Just thought I'd post a quick face-of-the-day. I'm so relieved that I'm on Christmas break from school right now. Unfortunately, that also means taking care of all the errands I've been putting off all school year. My goal is to get most of them out of the way today, which will leave me more time in the following days to do more tutorials, reviews, style posts, etc. :D Here's a soft pastel look I created today using mainly ELF:

:: Eyes ::

Studio Matte Eyeshadow in Mint

:: Lips ::

Mineral Lipstick in Runway Pink

Essential Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Perfect Pink

:: Cheeks ::

Studio Blush in Pink Passion

I'm sooooooooo OBSESSED with this lip color combo. Runway Pink makes such a pretty lip base and Perfect Pink glossed over it gives it the perfect boost of color, shine, and fullness. I've been wearing these for the last 5 days in a row. I just can't get over how romantic and feminine this looks!

Soft, mint-green is one of my favorite colors and I haven't worn this one in awhile. It was looking a little lonely in my train case so I decided to wear it today. :) I enhanced it with LA Splash Glitter Liquid Liner in Onyx and some glittery Daiso eyelashes.

Happy Tuesday, everyone...and off I go! :D

Hugs,

Cat

Impromptu Lime Crime Sale!

2011-12-11T14:52:00.000-08:00

Whoa whoa whoa! I was on Facebook and noticed a super-tempting post from Lime Crime. Select items on sale, including some of my favorite lippies for just $12 and eyeshadow primer for just $10. Can't beat that! For those of you waiting to stock up on your favorite Lime Crime products or are curious to try, this is the time to buy! :D

I love the bright, amazing, and unique colors that Lime Crime offers in lipsticks! But of course many of you know that already, lol.

My favorite primer to use for loose eyeshadows! It has just enough "sticky-ness" to really grab onto those loose pigments to give you a nearly foiled look. Love love love!

I wish they had this sale while I was shop-happy! I can't buy right now because I still need to finish shopping for the holidays, but for those of you who can afford to, enjoy! :D

Pink Pop Tutorial

2011-12-11T13:44:00.000-08:00

Hey all! It's been FOREVER since I did a video tutorial, so I thought I'd start again by doing a fun, easy, and colorful look inspired by and using some of my favorite Urban Decay products. Today I'm going to show you guys how to achieve a sexy, sparkly, poppin' pink look for your eyes:

These are the colors I used from my 15th Anniversary palette:

And I've been dying to use my Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner in Catfight (how appropriately named!) so now I get the chance to!

So, without further ado, here is my step-by-step video tutorial on how I got the look:

Overall look:

Well, I hope you enjoyed the tutorial! Off to run some errands now. :D Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

Hugs,

Cat

Lovelina Jewelry Collection Holiday Sale!

2011-12-10T17:23:00.000-08:00

Hey guys! Most of you probably know that I own and operate a tiny little jewelry collection called Lovelina. :) Anyways, I have some cool news to share. As you may be aware, I have a little Etsy storefront, but I'm also sold at Ruche and ModCloth. So, as of a few days ago, nearly all of my designs have been sold out at both Ruche and ModCloth. I spent much of the last few weeks fulfilling re-orders as well as answering some additional wholesale inquiries and completing retail orders...all while studying for finals and working at my part-time day job. (oh, and blogging, of course, lol) Yikes! I totally deserve this 3-week holiday break, don't you agree?

Well, I finally had a few moments today to add some new designs to my collection, something I haven't done in months.

Birdhouse Birdie Lariat Silver

Rainy Day Umbrella Necklace

Extreme Cleavage Necklace

Ok, so maybe two of these aren't entirely new, but the Extreme Cleavage Necklace has been sold out for quite some time and I'm offering the Birdhouse Birdie lariat in silver for the first time.

Anyways, for my holiday sale, I'm offering 10% off your entire order with no minimum order. Just use coupon code: HOLIDAY10 at checkout, and you're good to go. Keep in mind that orders within the US take about 3-5 business days to receive and international orders can take up to 2 weeks. I'm sorry, I should have posted this earlier in the month, but I got so busy I totally forgot about it!

Well, off I go again! I have a holiday party to attend, hosted by my workplace, and then a birthday party afterwards. The fun just doesn't end! :D Happy shopping and have a great night!

Hugs,
Cat

p.s. Oh yeah, the offer code is good through the month of December. :)

Simple Smoky Taupe Tutorial

2011-12-10T10:57:00.000-08:00

Good morning! Hope you're all having a fab Saturday so far! :D I'm especially gleeful because this is my one Saturday morning off work this month and I got to sleep in...woke up about 15 minutes ago, lol. Anywho, as you all know, I just wrapped up finals and have been spending the last two evenings celebrating. Despite being on break, I still have work, however, so I didn't have a lot of time to get ready to go out last night. Therefore I decided to grab my new ELF Studio Pigment Eyeshadow in Naturally Nude, and created a quick and easy smoky look for the evening:

To start, I applied Naturally Nude to my primed upper and lower eyelids:

As I had with my previous loose shadows, I tossed the included sifter.

Be warned, Naturally Nude is not really nude. It looks nothing like the swatch shown on the website, actually. It's more of a deep, shimmery taupe with an antique-gold cast.

I applied it with a medium, flat eyeshadow brush and then blended with my finger to soften the edges. Next, using black pencil eyeliner, I traced the outer corners of my upper and lower lash lines:

Then I smudged the pencil with my finger to create a smoky effect:

To increase the smoky effect, I layered matte black eyeshadow over the smudged liner:

Using black cream eyeliner, I created a modest wing along my top lash line and traced the outer corner of my bottom lash line:

To wrap it up, I curled my lashes and applied mascara:

I later thought it would be fun to add a little extra glam, so I applied a pair of glittery Daiso false eyelashes:

Makes a difference! I got a nice compliment about my eyes last night. That's always a confidence booster! Hope you all found this tutorial useful and enjoy the rest of your Saturday! :D

Hugs,
Cat

$25 for 2 movie tickets plus $50 for dining!

2011-12-07T17:03:00.000-08:00

Hey guys, just thought I'd post this cool deal I found online. 2 movie tickets and $50 at participating restaurants for just $25. Perfect for a fun evening out with a friend, family member, or SO. Makes a great stocking stuffer too!

Unfortunately, this coupon is open to US residents only. :( For those of you who are eligible and are interested, chop chop! The offer ends in about 4-5 hours!