Mermaid Nails

Happy new year!

Goodbye 2013, hello 2014! Hope you all rang in the new year fun and safely! :D I wish I had some epic revelation to share with you regarding my 2013…but the only thing that comes to mind at the moment is that I learned that my favorite hues tend toward mint/teal shades. (surprise surprise)

Anyhoo, celebrated today by coating my tips in a shimmery aqua-mint color duo called Sun Shower for Revlon's Sun Candy collection:

I started with a base coat, applied one coat of the creamy color, one coat of the glitter, and finished with a coat of Seche Vite. The cream coat is a little bit on the thickish side and applies slightly unevenly, but the glitter coat covers any imperfections for a visually perfect finish.

Previously, I also got a chance to try out Drops Of Jade from Maybelline's Color Show Polka Dots collection:

For this look, I applied a base coat, one coat of Essie's Turquoise and Caicos, one coat of Drops of Jade, and finished with a coat of Seche Vite. I really loved how I was able to get substantial bits of black and white hexagonal confetti bits in a variety of sizes. Easy to apply and made for a super-cool effect.

And finally, Mint Candy Apple by Essie. Yeah, it's a pretty popular shade and I'm sure I've posted about it before, but I thought it looked really cool paired with my new Kate Spade stripe wallet. Just a gratuitous shot of a rockin' color scheme:

Something about mint, gold, and white…one of my all-time-favorite color combinations!

Happy Wednesday, all! And cheers to a bright 2014! Thanks for reading. :D

Hugs,
Cat

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