Sephora Samples

Along with the early bday gift sent from Sephora by Fresh, I also got some luxury skincare product samples.  I had a chance to try them all yesterday.  Here is what I received as well as my first impressions:

Amande Firming & Smoothing Milk Concentrate by L'Occitane.  Otherwise known as body lotion.  I just LOVE how the more expensive a product is, the longer, more highfalutin, and convoluted the name is! :D :D :D  Description from manufacturer: "This super-smooth body cream is rich in almond oil and almond milk to nourish the skin and leave it soft as satin."  I applied this cream all over after my morning shower.  My opinion?  Moisturizing?  Check.  Smells good?  Check.  Smooths and softens skin?  Check, check.  It does everything a good lotion is supposed to do.  Bonus points for a having a sweet, creamy scent.  I actually might purchase a full-sized jar...at $44 USD for 7 oz. of product, it's priced a little steep, but a girl should treat herself every once in awhile, right?

Next up:

LA BASE Pro Perfecting Makeup Primer by Lancome.  The product itself is a clear gel that you apply to your face prior to applying foundation.  It's lightweight, smooth, and finishes matte.  It's purpose is to smooth out pores, fine lines, and other little irregularities on the skin to provide a super-silky surface for flawless foundation.  Yes, it does work!  I carefully pat my BB cream on after application and my face looked like live Photoshop.  However a bottle will set you back $42 USD and reviewers have complained that it only lasts a month.  ELF offers a comparable product, Studio Mineral Face Primer, for only $6 USD.  If you want to save some money, I'd say that's the way to go.

And, lastly:

Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer by Smashbox.  Manufacturer's description: "This breakthrough, ultrahydrating formula primes the undereye area while reducing the look of fine lines, puffiness, wrinkles, age spots, and dark circles."  Meh.  This product didn't really do anything for me, although it may be because I'm not really afflicted with any of the problems that it's supposed to correct.  If anything, I guess I would describe it as an under-eye brightener.  For $29 USD?  I think I'm going to pass.

That's the scoop for the day!  Happy Saturday everyone! :)

Hugs,
Cat

Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment SPF 15

I just got the neatest little gift set from Sephora today!  A mini lip treatment duo from Fresh:

I received two adorable little lip balms, one original clear and the other in a sheer, rosy tint.  They're both buttery smooth, are lemony-sweet scented, have sun protection, and keep my lips super-soft!  Love 'em! :D

Back To School Blues

Lol, well, not really.  It's good to start a fresh new school quarter.  I'm looking forward to the hustle and bustle and creative challenges that my latest courses will bring.  Better to be busy than to be idle, I think.  More time spent productively than getting into trouble. *wink wink*

Anyways, highlights of my day include:

Drinking my morning tea from my cute new bear cup with a bear-faced lid!  Soooooo adorable, hehe.

Watching the late-summer sunlight filter through the changing leaves on campus. *sigh*  It'll be sad to see the warm weather go...

Just wanted to share my first day with you guys!  Happy Wednesday all!

Hugs,
Cat

FOTD: Yellow & Blue

Hey all, just playing around with my new UD stuff as well as some old stuff.  Here's today's face!

I realized, for as long as I've had my Coastal Scents Original 88 palette, I've never actually touched the bright yellow that's included in it.  So I thought I'd pair it with UD's Minx:

Drat my stupid bathroom lighting!  It looks so much more vibrant in person.  Wish you guys could see it! :(

So it's Coastal Scents yellow and  UD Minx on the eyes with black eyeliner and my fav Maybelline Full N Soft Waterproof mascara.  I have ELF Studio Blush in Tickled Pink on my cheeks and UD's Pocket Rocket gloss in Dustin on my lips.  Lol, "Dustin on my lips..." sounds so wrong! (my new lip glosses crack my hubby up!)

Last day of my summer vacay!  School starts tomorrow...waaaaaaaaaaah!  Oh well, brings me THAT much closer to getting my degree. :)  Happy Tuesday!

Hugs,
Cat

Latest UD Haul, Swatches, and Review

Okie dokie!  I got a chance to try out my new UD stash yesterday I've got pictures and reviews!  Here's my latest UD face:

So, let's talk eyeshadow, specifically Minx:

Minx looks slightly intimidating pressed in its little container, but the color applies as a shimmery pale blue with the slightest hint of green, packed with sparkly silver glitter.  I know that we all LOVE a good dose of heavy pigmentation, but in this case, I found the more subtle look to be very feminine and romantic.  Reminds me of Cinderella.  There a bit of fallout from the glitter, but I feel that a small amount of sparkle on my cheeks makes me a little more glamorous...like a fairy princess! :D  Loved it so much that I wore it two days in a row!  Since Minx is so gorgeous, I simply chose to do a monochromatic color wash on the top and bottom lids accentuated with black liner as not to upstage it with any additional hues.

Next up, Pocket Rocket glosses:

Dustin

Max

Rashad

You all know that I love a fun, bright lip!  But for a smoldering, sexy look, I love pairing smokey eyes with a high nude lip, which is why I chose to go with these more subdued gloss shades this time around.

All shades are translucent/sheer.  Dustin is a brownish nude with glitter particles.  It's the deepest of the three shades and shows up more dominantly than the other two on my lips.  Max is more of a true nude with the barest hint of shimmer.  I felt like I was applying a glossy concealer to my lips when I tried it on, but really, I love it so much.  I think it would look amazing with a super-smokey eye!  Rashad is a creamy, neutral, medium pink that is just so flirty and girly.  I love them all and can totally see myself going through a pale-lip phase for the next several weeks!

And finally, De Slick:

It's a super-fine oil-control mist that has a light, but not unpleasant, fragrance and literally feels like nothing on your face!  Spray it on before makeup application to control oil at the pore level, and then after makeup to set and seal.  I was most excited about this product because my oily complexion requires several powder touch ups throughout the day to hide my shiny spots.  Here are comparison photos of me in fresh makeup and then 12 hours later with the help of De Slick:

It's a little hard to tell because the "before" image was taken in the morning with a combination of natural and artificial light.  The "after" image was taken late at night with only artificial light, so the colors are slightly off.  Also, it looks like after 12 hours of wear, my eyeliner has run a little and my gloss (Rashad) has all but worn off! Lol.  But anyways, back to De Slick.  Though wouldn't say that it's a miracle oil control product, I am going to admit that, so far, it's the best oil control product I've tried.  I had to blot once, with tissue, to get rid of the shinies.  But, to be fair, it was after an intense cardio session and Bar Method workout.  I've only gotten a chance to try it for 2 days, however, so  I'll see about updating with my final consensus.

Well, that's that for now!  Hope everyone enjoyed a lovely weekend.  I think it's the last of warm weekends for a very long time here in sunny California!  Goodnight!

Hugs,
Cat

Simple Shadow Stick Eyes

This is for my middle sister.  She's, like, the loveliest girl in the world.  However, unlike makeup-crazy me, she's so lazy about beauty that she barely likes brushing her hair, much less take the time to apply cosmetics to her face.  Well, we talked the other day about coming up with a super-simple makeup routine that she could stick with regularly.  I think I figured out the perfect look for her:

These just might be the easiest eyes I've come up with.  I used Urban Decay's Glide On Shadow Pencils in Rehab and Sin.  Rehab for the upper eyelid, and then Sin to highlight the brow arch and accentuate the lower lash line.  Add a dramatic black wing to the top lash line and she's done!  (I gave her my spare Marbella Eyeliner Pen, which I used here to draw my winged eyeliner)

Time to complete look: less than 10 minutes.

That's probably the hardest part.  She already has an Etude House Drawing Eyebrow Pencil of her own to refine her brow shape and a variety of BB creams to choose from as foundation.  I did suggest UD's Afterglow Glide On Cheek Tint in Quickie as blush, and then any tinted balm or gloss to finish off the lips.

For all you lazy daisies out there, I don't think it gets any simpler.  This look requires no brushes and is virtually mess-free.  It's a really convenient way to look polished while letting your natural beauty shine through.  A girl can walk out the door with this face for work or school, and then transition into a date or evening look by adding false lashes and a cute hairstyle.  All of these products fit inside a small makeup bag, which you can easily keep in your purse/backpack/messenger bag.  Also good for travel if you don't have a lot of room to spare for beauty supplies. :)

Steph, I hope you're reading this. *wink wink*

Hugs,
Cat

More Urban Decay

I've been a bad girl.  I just can't resist Urban Decay's clearance sales...top quality makeup at dirt-cheap prices?  How could I say no?  Here's my latest:

Pocket Rocket lip glosses in Dustin (nude with iridescent sparkle), Max (nude pink...but looks more salmon), and Rashad (creamy, medium pink)

Eyeshadow in Minx. (blue with green shift and silver glitter)

XL bottle of De Slick oil control mist.  A part of my ongoing search for the perfect oil control agent.  Still haven't found it yet, so hopefully this is the one! (crossing fingers)

Unfortunately, my makeup is already done for the day, but I'm so excited to put this haul on my face tomorrow!  Will update with swatches. :D  TGIF!

Hugs,
Cat

Yet Another Bebe Dress!

Sooooooooooooo into Bebe bodycon dresses these past few months.  Here's a lacy, corset-inspired number that'll turn heads for sure!

I tried it on right out of the package, so my hair and makeup didn't look appropriate for the dress.  But wow!  I love the fit and it's so comfortable!  I tried it on in an XS, but found that it was too roomy in the hip area, so I bought it in the XXS and it's perfect!  I think I just need to take the straps up a teeny tiny bit to prevent any wardrobe malfunctions from happening, haha!  Here's the dress from the site:

Wish the model and I shared the same height, lol, but I still feel pretty good wearing it.  I'm planning an elegant girls night out at a champagne lounge and now I think I have the perfect outfit for it!

Happy Wednesday everyone! :D

Dogs And Such

Happy Tuesday!  No makeup or fashion posts today, really.  Just wanted to share how adorable my pups look with their new haircuts! :D  No one is opposed to a little dose of cute, right?

Here's Yuki the maltese, ready for a nap on her Santa blanky after a long day at the doggy salon:

And here's Monday the yorkie, looking mighty fine with her autumn-themed hairbow:

FYI, Monday is my very first pet dog after years and years and years of begging for one.  She turned 12 in March.  She looks pretty good for an old lady, don't you think? :D

Hope everyone is having a good one and thanks for reading!

Hugs,
Cat

Sephora Blues

Good evening all!  Just trying to keep things alive here at StyleByCat, lol!  I got a new eyeliner last week...the Sephora Collection Waterproof Retractable Eyeliner in Blue:

I realized that I had deep, navy colored eyeliners as well as bright teals and turquoises, but I actually don't have a medium-blue shade.  I used it to accent black eyeliner and then decorated it with Sephora Collection Glitter Eyeliner...also in Blue.

Here's the result:

Lol, unfortunately, the best image I had of it was while sipping on my daily dose of Jamba Juice.  But, it serves it's purpose.  Colorful and shimmery, but still casual enough to wear during the day!  The pencil itself is fine.  It's soft enough, decent pigmentation, and the shade of blue was just what I was looking for!  It also comes with a built-in sharpener as well as a smudge tool.  The quality suits the amount I paid...about $12USD.

Hope everyone's had a nice Monday, thanks for hanging in there with me and have a great night!

Hugs,
Cat

Etude House Precious Mineral Sun BB Cream

Hi everyone!  Sorry about the disappearing act!  The new school quarter is about to start soon and I've been tying up loose ends in order to prepare!  But to heck with school for now, let's talk about makeup!

As you know, I'm currently using Bright Fit BB Cream from the Etude House Precious Mineral collection.  So far, I've been pretty happy with it.  It comes in a variety of colors, including shades that suit my southeast Asian complexion, it is moisturizing, provides sun protection, is lightweight, and doesn't make me break out.  The only thing that it doesn't do for me is control my oily t-zone and it doesn't last through a good sweat.  Let me explain.  I work out about 6 days a week.  I practice Muay Thai kickboxing and I do Bar Method.  I know that it's kind of lame to wear makeup while working out, but most times, I can't help it.  I have things to do and places to be and makeup is a part of my every day routine, it's the first thing I do when I get out of the shower.  Most days, I don't have time to or it's inconvenient to wash my face prior to hitting the gym.  I wear a lot of waterproof cosmetics, especially around the eyes, therefore makeup removal is a process that requires a number of different products.

So how does one break a sweat while maintaining a perfect complexion?  Well it seems that Etude House has answered that question with their Precious Mineral Sun BB Cream.  It's a supposed to be a sweat resistant BB cream that's made for more active lifestyles.  It's moisturizing, has very high sun protection (SPF 50), and claims to be waterproof.  It also comes in 3 shades.  Sounds too good to be true!  I had to order a tube to try from Cosmetic Love!

You get a little less for your money here...about half the amount of product for $2USD more than the Bright Fit BB Cream.  But I think it's still worth the money if it does what it's supposed to do.  My cost was $18.45USD for 35g, free shipping and tax free from Cosmetic Love.

It comes with an attached sponge applicator.  A novel idea, but something I found inconvenient and unwieldly.  Judging by the texture, I didn't think I'd be able to apply the product efficiently nor evenly using this method.

Never fear!  You are given the option to unscrew the sponge cap and squeeze product out straight from the tube.  My favorite application method is with my fingertips!

I purchased a tube of Sun BB Cream in the darkest available shade, Sand Beige.  Even so, it looks to be a shade lighter than my current color, which is the second to darkest shade among the Bright Fit BB creams, Honey Beige.  I was a little concerned when I noticed this.  The pasty-face look just isn't very flattering on me, nor anyone else, I don't think.  Using foundation that's too light for your complexion can create a rather ghastly effect and looks just too unnatural.

I was apprehensive to try it, but once I applied it, the color seemed to adapt to my complexion.  I still think it's a touch too light, but, unless you look very, very closely, it seems to work.

Notice how it's just a tiny bit lighter than my neck?  No one around me has pointed this out so far, hehe.

In general, I found that Sun BB is a little thicker than Bright Fit BB.  It's a slightly less moisturizing, but it does control oil a bit better.  It also does last longer and is fairly water resistant.  I had some on my hands and washing it off took some effort and I noticed that the water just beads off the cream.  All in all, it's a fairly effective BB cream to wear for warm weather, outdoors, and activity.  I'm happy with it for now, though I'll probably switch back to Bright Fit when the weather gets cooler.

TGIF everyone!

Hugs,
Cat

My Instagram Weekend

Hi everyone!  Hope you all had a nice weekend.  Just thought I'd share my weekend via Instagram with you all. :D

I ate:

Clockwise from top left: Matter Paneer (Indian), Chai (Indian), Marmite Cheddar Avocado Toast with Bretel (#cateatsweirdthings), Kimchi Fried Rice w/Eggs (Korean-Fusion)

I attended a wedding in this awesome Bebe dress:

I'd been eyeing this dress for awhile.  It's body-conscious and figure flattering, while remaining classy with a polite neckline and hemline.  My husband saw how much I wanted it and gifted me with it just in time so I could wear it to my friend's wedding! :D

And I had my picture taken while wearing a cute bow beanie, which I'm sure you all have seen before:

FYI, I got it from YesStyle.  I bought it because my baby sis got it and I got jealous and HAD to have it.  Our other sister later purchased her own too.  Haha!

Keepin' it short and sweet!  Can't wait to share what I got in from Cosmetic Love over the weekend! :)  In the meantime, for those of you on Instagram, my handle is MEGAMIMOON if you feel like following.  Why not StyleByCat?  I dunno.  I've had it for awhile, it was a username I'd been using since high school and it just kinda stuck.  But anyways, I post all sorts of random things on my Instagram.  It's like a little photo diary of the daily goings-on in my life.  Sometimes, I give sneak peeks of what's to come on StyleByCat, so if you want to be "in the know", feel free to follow!

Hugs,
Cat

Hot Tools Tapered Curling Wand

As you all know, my hair is naturally stick-straight.  You know how they say the grass is greener on the other side?  Well, I double heat style my hair on a daily basis in order to give my hair more body and curl.  But even with my Hot Tools 1.25" barrel curling iron, the curls don't stay, rather, they turn into voluminous waves.  Looks great.  I get tons of compliments on my hair, which I appreciate.  But sometimes, I don't want waves.  I want curls, darn it!  Curls! 

Well, holy smokes, I think I've found a way to get curls that actually stay!  Wheeeeeeeeeeee!  Yeah, I've seen those tapered curling wands that they sell at the mall kiosks for $100.  To be honest, I was skeptical.  First off, the people working the kiosks are pros with these things, so of course your curl is going to look perfect while they're pushing their product on you.  Second, it just seems so complicated and inconvenient...I like that my curling iron has a spring-loaded clip.  These curling wands require a two-handed effort, one hand holding the wand, and one hand keeping your hair wound around it.  With my lack of hand-eye coordination, it's just a recipe for disaster!

But, after hearing so many great things about it, I finally gave in earlier this week and bought one off of Amazon.  Hot Tools, my favorite curling iron manufacturer, makes one in 3 different sizes: small, medium, and large.  I went with the medium tapered wand, which cost me $28.75, shipping included!

Check out my results from using a curling wand for the very first time!  Not bad!

It was a little awkward to use at first,  but I got the hang of it after my 4th or 5th section of hair.  A number of people have complained about having straight ends because of the fact that you have to hold on to the end of your hair to keep it wrapped around the wand.  Yes, I did have to hold my fingers precariously close to the hot wand to keep the ends from remaining straight, which was a little scary.  Even so, I did experience straight ends.  But that didn't really pose a problem for me because I just went back and wrapped any straight ends around the wand after I was finished, which only took a sec!

 It does take a little longer to curl your hair this way.  With a normal curling iron, I'm usually done in less than 10 minutes.  This took about 15-20 minutes.  Right after curling, you're going to have really tight, ringlet-like curls.  They relax a little, but your hair remains pretty curly.  If you want massive, and I do mean MASSIVE, amounts of volume...shake out your hair and you will triple your body.  I wish I would have taken a picture after I shook it out.  It was crazy how much volume I had!

Best part, the curls last and last and last and last.  I woke up this morning and, yup, still here!

 If you want curls, I can't recommend this product enough!  My curl-resistant hair is the ultimate test and this curling wand passed with flying colors!  I'd love to do a tutorial on how to use one properly, but I haven't been able to figure out the filming logistics in my new house yet...if push comes to shove, I might consider doing a low-resolution video via my laptop webcam.  I really don't want to though, because I want to give you guys higher quality video!  We'll see. :)

TGIF everyone! 

Hugs,
Cat

Clash and Woodstock

Hello!  Here's a colorful look I did using UD's 24/7 Glide On Shadow Pencil in Clash, 24/7 liquid eyeliner in Woodstock, and Heavy Metal glitter eyeliner in Catfight:

Clash is one of all-time favorite shadow colors...brilliant turquoise blue with tons of silver sparkle.  The color lasts all day without creasing and, unlike the pressed shadows, there's no glitter fallout.  Easy, efficient, mess-free...that's how I like to roll!  Paired with Woodstock and topped with Catfight, this look definitely packs a punch!

Keepin' it short and sweet today!  Happy Wednesday all!

Hugs,
Cat