Maybelline Color Elixir

So Maybelline (somewhat) recently released a collection of hybrid lipstick/balm/glosses called Color Elixir. They're supposed to be saturated as lipsticks, hydrating as balms, and shiny like glosses. They come in cute little tubes that resemble lipsticks and are available in a variety of colors. Fairly reasonably priced at about $7-$8 apiece, I decided on three…a bare, a blush, and a bright:

From left to right: Caramel Infused, Blush Essence, and Fuchsia Flourish

Caramel Infused is a warm, pinky-nude with a hint of shimmer. Blush Essence is a cool, shimmery mauve-pink. Fuchsia Flourish is a creamy, bright fuchsia with no shimmer.

I found that Caramel Infused was the perfect, glossy nude lip for my southeast Asian skin tone.

Blush Essence was on the slightly cooler side for my yellow undertones, but gave me a light, Barbie-pink tint without looking outrageous.

Finally, Fuchsia Flourish was a fantastic pop of glossy color that flatters my complexion while being very wearable. Bonus points for getting me compliments at a holiday party I attended!

These are probably my favorite lip colors at the moment. Though not *quite* as saturated as advertised, the colors I purchased were translucent-toward-opaque, especially the Caramel and Fuchsia. They have a wonderful milk chocolate scent and glide on luxuriously with a plush texture that is lightweight and not at all sticky. My lips definitely feel well-moisturized. Lasting power is about average for a saturated gloss, approximately 4 hours…if you're not eating. Let's be realistic; no lip color is going to last through a messy burger! ;)

I would recommend this lip color collection. Though I have so many different lippies to wear, I can't stop using these every day since I've gotten them. (I've had them for about 2 weeks now) They feel great, smell great, look great, and are a bargain compared to other, high-end cosmetic brands.

Hope you found this review helpful and thanks for reading! <3

Hugs,

Cat

Happy Holidays!

Sweet, minty pumps by Ivanka Trump.

So, I recently found my dream pump.

I'm generally not a big fan of "celebrity" brands, but I've been shopping for a sensible, yet attractive close-toed heel in a patent finish. I sorted pumps by rating on Zappos and found that the Janie pump was very popular with the customers. Yes, this shoe is very attractive, but the deal was sealed when I noticed that they 1.) came in a dreamy, shimmery shade of mint patent 2.) were marked down to $69 from $99.

They are so, so gorgeous in person and, as an added bonus, they're among some of the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn. The interior is lined in buttery leather and the footbed is generously cushioned. It's as if I'm walking on clouds! No break-in period necessary. I feel like I could run for miles in these!

I can feel a shoe addiction coming on! The Janies are available in a variety of wearable colors. I'm also exploring other styles by Ivanka Trump as well as the aesthetics, workmanship, and quality are on point, especially for the reasonable price. I know what I'd love under the tree this year for Christmas!

Hugs,
Cat

Bossy Boots by Butter London

Hey all! Miss me? Yeah, so sorry. I know, I'm forever apologizing for being absent. I noticed that I was a *much* more consistent blogger when I wasn't in school. ^_^; Oh, well. What's a girl to do? All I can say is that I think about Style By Cat all the time…when I'm trying out some new product, or get a new pair of shoes, or discover some fantastic fashion find. I just can't find the time. T_T

Good news! I'm in finals week right now, which means, by next week, I'll finally have some room to blog a bit more! Yay! I just thought I'd kick things off with a little review of one of my favorite new nail polishes: Bossy Boots by Butter London!

Yeah, I know. It says "Butt" London due to poor placement. Lol.

I first came across this color several months ago when I got a salon mani pedi. It was so unusual. I wasn't sure if I even liked it, but gravitated toward it for some reason. Even my manicurist thought it was weird. But once I got my tips and toes polished, we were like, "Whoa, that actually looks kinda nice!". I received compliments and inquiries about it while I was out and about, and, once it started chipping, I knew I had to buy myself a bottle.

I'd describe it as a creamy, pastel, green tea shade. It's very opaque, I almost didn't have to do 2 coats, and applies very smoothly and evenly. It's slightly warm, which I find compliments my skin tone quite nicely. I really like it because, while it's unique, it's not an over-the-top shade, making it striking, yet very wearable.

Anyways, I really miss you guys. I miss blogging. I dunno. Am I changing the world, am I making a difference, am I doing anything revolutionary? No, not really. It's just fun, it's expressive and meditative for me. I find it satisfying to be able to communicate my thoughts and share my little joys with my readers. I can't wait until Wednesday is over! (my last final for the year) Then I'm free to come back and blab on and on about whatever! XD

*BIG* hugs,
Cat

Latest Shop Obsession: ChicWish!

I have my favorite online shopping haunts: Forever21, ShopRuche, ModCloth, Express, etc. I've heard of ChicWish through a number of bloggers, but I never got around to visiting the site until this morning. I was very pleased to find that ChicWish is currently offering beautiful, holiday-weather pieces at very reasonable prices. In addition, they currently are offering 30% off plus free shipping for new customers.  Not a new customer? That's ok, there's a 10% off coupon for orders over $50. Just use offer code: THANKS10.

I was so excited, I checked these beauties out of my basket this morning:

I love the elegance of the damask print on this Baroque Print Dress with Contrast Collar juxtaposed with the sassy, short length. The embellished bow detail at the collar is so adorable! I know the weather is getting rather chilly, but imagine how smashing this would look paired with some cozy, fleece tights, mary janes, and a pretty cardigan for a polished, holiday look.

I own a number of trench coats in a variety of colors, however, it was love at first sight when I laid eyes on this romantic, oyster lace pattern coupled with the sophisticated trench cut that I so adore. This Floral Lace Print Double Breasted Trench Coat was a must-have item for me, as I find the feminine spin on a classic cut irresistible!

I know it's been awhile, but I couldn't help but come on after my long break to share the excitement! Happy holiday shopping, friends!

Hugs,
Cat

Hot Plum by Maybelline

Consider this another tribute post to my obsession with bright pink lipsticks! I was so inspired when I came across this image of Rihanna:

In an attempt to steal her lip-look, I purchased a tube of Maybelline ColorSensational Vivids in Hot Plum.

Oops! Got too excited and used it before I photographed it. Hehe.

I had this funny thought before I tried it. Since Rihanna and I have similar coloring, I figured I would look just as glam wearing this fetching shade of fuchsia. I was confused when it looked a little different on me. I thought: "Why the heck doesn't it look as good on me as it does on Rihanna?!" After several minutes, I had an epiphany.

That's because I'm not Rihanna. Duh. XD

Oh, I colored my hair semi-recently. I should post about it. LOL

Not to shabby! Actually, Hot Plum has come to be my new favorite bright lippy shade! It suits my complexion very well and pops without looking clownish, IMO. I think it's because the subtle purple tint offsets my strong, yellow undertones. LOVE IT!

Thanks for reading tonight and have a great weekend! I'm *THIS* close to finishing up my new filming rig so I'll hopefully be able to start making videos again. :D You'll be the first to know!

Hugs,
Cat

Guess what? It's OK to wear makeup to the gym!

I don't know if you guys know this, but over the course of the last 3 years, I have morphed from a chip-eating, soda-drinking couch potato to a bit of a workout junkie. I spend 4 days a week kicking butt at my Muay Thai gym, and the other 3 days doing Bar Method. In addition, I'm currently doing the 30-Day Squat Challege (this version), underhand and overhand pull-ups, and recently started incorporating hip-hop cardio dance lessons and Zumba into my weekly routine.

About 75% of the time, I'm wearing makeup. Here are a some locker room selfies I took after a rough Muay Thai training session. I typically look like this after most of my workouts.

So you're probably wondering why I'm bringing this up. It begins with a fitness inspiration that I admire on Instagram. Her name is Mimi Kong, you can check out her Instagram HERE. This lovely lady works out hard and takes nutrition seriously, all the while being very sweet to her fans. Here are a few images of her striking some very becoming fitness poses:

Images property of Mimi Kong 

Images property of Mimi Kong 

Getting to my point, I was admiring some of her workout images when I came across a vicious comment from another user:

"Girls that wear makeup to the gym are sluts and whores who aren't really there to get a good workout."

Whoa whoa whoa!!! First, most of the images where she's wearing heavy makeup are for photo shoots, she doesn't actually wear dark eyes and false lashes when she's getting down to business. But even if she did, so what? How is it anyone else's business whether or a not a woman chooses to wear makeup during her workout? And to classify a stranger as a "slut" or a "whore" just because they happen to have a little face paint on while they're doing their crunches is actually quite sad and pathetic. Often, I find that this kind of attitude comes from insecure people with low self-esteem projecting their dysfunction onto others. Sadly, it's mostly women trying to bring other women down. If these girls, who seem enjoy griping for no reason, were actually at the gym to work their butts off, they wouldn't take notice of who is or isn't wearing makeup. What a pitiable existence one must have, to be angry day in and day out based on how others are living their lives. I truly think that one of the secrets to happiness is to STOP HATING and to put that energy towards improving your own life!

Now I don't put makeup on to go to the gym, but if I happen to have makeup on (which I do because I do other things during the daytime before I hit the gym in the evening) I'm not going to take the time to wash it off before I work out. Makeup on my face doesn't mean I'm not there to get a good workout. Trust me, I've done 1000 roundhouse kicks, out-planked my entire class, and suffered 300 punches to the gut by my trainer in a low squat position...all the while with smokey eyes and glossy lips.

Ok friends, that is my rant for the day! Happy Friday, everyone! I'm off to the dance studio for my hip-hop lessons now...eyeliner and all! :D

Hugs,
Cat

Fuchsia Flash by Maybelline

So Urban Decay is heavily marketing their new line of Revolution Lipsticks. I LOVE lipstick and I totally fell in love with a bright fuchsia shade called Anarchy.

Those of you who know me probably aren't surprised, lol. Unfortunately, the $22 USD price tag is a little steep for me. Even MAC lippies average about $15, so I found it hard to justify paying so much for a single tube of lipstick. I decided to go on a little internet quest to find a suitable dupe and came across Temptalia's review of Urban Decay's Anarchy which lead me to Maybelline ColorSensational Vivid lipstick in Fuchsia Flash. 

I was sold due to the favorable review and comparison so I picked up a tube at my local drugstore.

I couldn't wait to try it! The color is vibrant and pigmented with a subtle, glossy sheen while the formula is slick and lightly moisturizing. I think it's such a fun, bold shade, while being surprisingly wearable. I was initially worried that the cool hues would clash with my warm, yellow undertones. However, I think it works on me rather nicely. I found that it looks best on me paired with a thick stroke of black cat eye liner and lightly flushed cheeks.

I'm compelled to purchase more shades from Maybelline's Vivid's lip color collection now! I strongly feel that I'm getting high-end quality product for a drugstore price. I can't wait to explore more colors! :)

Hugs,
Cat

Hi-Low...how do you do?

I'm so in love with asymmetrical-hem dresses and skirts! Maybe it's just me, but I think they're quite flattering for girls who wish their gams were a little lengthier...such as myself. Anyhoo, I got this navy-hued, jersey hi-low dress from an online Asian fashion boutique called Sammydress. It was such a bargain for only $9 USD!

 The fabric is nice, soft, and machine-washable. I can also easily dress it up with a decorative belt, pretty jewelry, and heels...or wear it casually with sandals or flats.

 

Sammydress offers thousands of fashionable pieces are below-bargain prices. I can totally vouch for this dress, however, I've received a few shipments from them and, to be honest, I'm only satisfied with about 60-70% of the items I've purchased. Some pieces that I've ordered have been very poor quality, one dress nearly fell apart when I tried it on. Others are simply not as described. I bought a satchel and clutch that were photographed and described as white in color, but were actually TAN in person. Very disappointing. So beware!

Anyways, hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday so far!

Hugs,

Cat

Mint Lace

One of my current favorite color combinations of the moment is mint and gold. Mint has always been one of my most coveted shades, which I find refreshing during the warm summer months. Adding gold to the mix brings a touch of glitz to the look.

The skirt is from Forever 21 and I filched the belt off an H&M jacket I purchased years ago. Paired with a creamy white tank top from Abercrombie, a light cardigan from YesStyle, and sparkly sandals by Vince Camuto, I've got the perfect daytime outfit for a sunny day here in the San Francisco bay! Hope everyone enjoyed a nice Saturday and goodnight!

Hugs,
Cat

Are you Gelish?

One of my favorite ways to relax is to get a pampering mani-pedi. So, a few days ago, I went to a fantastic nail spa located in Oakland called Aveida. For those of you who may live in the area, it's a beautiful, relaxing space with friendly and skilled technicians. They also offer complimentary beverages, such as water, wine, tea, hot cocoa, etc., which I find to be a nice touch. For the month of July, they're running a Yelp check-in special: when you purchase a spa pedicure, you get a free manicure!

This is very exciting. What's more exciting, however, is that I decided to get an upgrade for a Gelish manicure. What is Gelish? It's a gel-based nail polish that takes only seconds to completely dry under LED or UV lighting when applied and remains perfectly glossy and chip-free for anywhere between 2-4 weeks.

Whoo hoo! Sparkly pink tips! I believe this glittery shade is called June Bride #01353. The ladies at Aveida were kind enough to color match regular polish for my toes as well:

Happy hands and feet! And happy Friday to everyone, too. Enjoy your weekend and thanks for reading!

Hugs,
Cat

Happy Independence Day!

Hello everyone! Just popping in to wish everyone a happy 4th of July! And if you don't celebrate this holiday...happy Thursday! :D

The navy, striped one-shoulder tank is from Forever 21, the lace and chiffon mini skirt is from Abercrombie & Fitch, sunglasses are CK, and shoes are by Qupid.

Miss you guys! I'm on my summer break now, so I'll see about posting pics of stuff that happened in between my last post and now. Looking forward to being back! :D

Hugs,
Cat

Boots And Things

I have the most thoughtful hubby! Check out what came in the mail for me the other day:

The Bailey Button Triplet by Ugg. I've been wanting these for awhile. They're such a stylish, casual, comfy little boot that I can easily wear with tights, shorts, skirts, etc. I'm so excited! I also received the care kit in order to keep my new little booties in ship-shape! :D

And as if these weren't enough, I was also gifted with this super-sweet vintage Gunne Sax dress, purchased from American Archive:

It's such a flattering and timeless shape! The straps were a touch too long, but nothing that can't be easily fixed by the tailor. Haha, it's so bad, but having this dress makes me want to get some pretty little western-style boots to go with it. I've been browsing Zappos and I'm totally in love with these distressed, slouchy boots by Durango:

Gasp! Aren't they absolutely gorgeous?! Unfortunately, the price tag is a little high for me and I think I'd be seriously pushing it if I asked my mister to buy me these babies when I haven't even worn the last pair (see above) that he gave me. Haha. Instead, I've settled for these:

Not quite the same, but adorable, nonetheless, and will still achieve the same look. These are Sheriff by Rocket Dog and are a steal at a mere $59 USD. :D

Currently scouting some cool locations here in northern Cali for a "prairie girl" shoot location featuring my sweet little dress and, hopefully, western boots. Crossing my fingers!

Hugs,
Cat

Current Obsession: Vintage Gunne Sax

Argh! I know, I said I'd be posting more, doh! This quarter really has me by the neck, however. We're only 3 weeks in and I feel like it's finals week already! I have one more term to go before graduation, so my professors are really stepping it up! I hope you guys don't mind intermittent posts in the next couple months that are more image-based with minimal text, haha. I just don't have the brain power to write so much these days, I'm using all my juice for school!

Anyways, the weather is getting nice and warm, though in the bay area, temperatures don't exceed the mid to high 70's even during the height of summer. Personally, I think pretty dresses would be perfect for this season and I'm currently OBSESSED with vintage Gunne Sax dresses right now, especially from the 1970's! Check out what I found on eBay:

I found these beauties on an eBay store called American Archive. Aren't they gorgeous? I just love how feminine, romantic, and shabby-chic they are! I like to imagine beautiful, boho-chic girls wearing them to outdoor music festivals back in the day...*sigh* so romantic! I MUST MUST MUST get my little paws on a few of these, they would make for some gorgeous shoots, wouldn't they?

Hugs,
Cat

Strolling Through Paradise

Hi all! So, looks like I'll be back for a little while again! :D After a grueling school term, my most difficult one yet, I took a much-needed vacation, during my spring break, on the island of Maui in Hawaii. We stayed at the gorgeous Westin Maui Resort & Spa on Kaanapali Beach. Such a beautiful, beautiful hotel. The grounds were impeccably manicured, we had an oceanfront room whose balcony overlooked five swimming pools and a perfect view of the beach, and there was even a waterfall and lagoon in the lobby, complete with live flamingos! I can't wait to tell you all about my adventures in the next post!

However, back to business. I thought, it's been awhile since we've done a style shoot, and where best to have one than in the amazing paradise that is Maui? So, early one morning before the hustle and bustle of other hotel guests, I got all gussied up and we were able to get a few good style shots that embodied the exotic and luxurious feel of my vacation experience.

This Forever 21 dress is one of my current favorites! The corset-style bustier is the prettiest blue floral print and has an open lattice design on the sides. The high-low skirt portion is a deep, navy blue chiffon and is partially lined. You may have seen my clutch from previous posts, Jason Wu for Target. And my black velveteen, open-toed pumps are from Cathy Jean.

Thanks for reading and I hope you all enjoyed this post! I've really missed blogging and am looking forward to posting more regularly in the coming weeks! :D

Hugs,
Cat