Inspired Look - Michelle Phan's New Year Magic

Something for the New Year that's coming around the corner.

I always loved Michelle's glittery looks and I thought I would re-create it differently without using glitter.

I replaced glitter with a loose shimmery eyeshadow.
In order for the loose e/s to stick, I used a clear lipgloss as adhesive.

Face:
Lancome Teint Miracle in Bisque 4
Lancome Dual Powder in Ecru

Eyes:
Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer
Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow in Not Just Nudes
Sephora e/s in Aspen Summit (inner corners & tear ducts)
Wet'n'Wild e/s in Lagoon (crease & outer-v)
Napoleon Perdis e/s in Charcoal (layering on the outer-v)
MAC e/s in Passionate (for a pop of color place on top of the crease)
Napoleon Perdis loose e/s in Sand Beige (place b/t Aspen and Charcoal)
Sephora Kohl eyeliner in Black
Random little pieces of falsies

Cheeks:
Rock&Republic in Call Me

Lips:
NYX lip liner in Natural
MAC l/s in Creme d'Nude

<3elle

Inspired Look - Ga-In (Brown Eyed Girls)

I've been really hooked to Korean music lately. I don't know what it is about them but they have great beat, rhythm, dance moves, and basically everything. Even though I don't know what the song is about, and I don't understand a single word... I still love the language and song.

I'm also intrigued by how flawless their skin looks, regardless if it's male or female. Especially in the music videos, I always end up staring at their faces and eyes instead of the whole picture. My favorite at the moment is Ga-In from Brown Eyed Girls. She has this really sexy yet creepy look to her eyes, with or without makeup. It's just within her, au naturale.

I tried to remake it using really simple stroke of the brush and eyeshadow. I guess what drew me into liking it was how simple it was and yet it pulled everything together. Ga-In's elongated and winged eyeliner is a true beauty. I love how elegant it looks on her with a twist of punk/rock to it.

And here is the lovely... Ga-In

She is absolutely gorgeous. And to think she's only one year older than me!

Nothing to complicated here, I literally used a black eyeshadow and slowly drew out the winged liner. Ga-In's look is extremely simple, that's why I love it! Pair it off with some natural lip color and voila!

I like the easy but yet sophisticated kind of look, very little effort but still look polished and pretty. If you're in a hurry, you might want to try this look out =]

<3elle

El'view: e.l.f. Studio Translucent Matifying Powder

Claims: Gives flawless skin that is smooth and is shine free. Sets and helps makeup last longer. The matifying effect makes the skin matte and diminishes the oil, revealing a more healthy looking skin.

Price: $3

Pros: It's a light powder that really matifies the skin. Doesn't clog pores and rids the oil that are on your face. Comes in a small compact with a sponge and mirror. It is a translucent powder so it would work on nearly all skin tones.

Cons: The sponge expands overtime and wouldn't fit in the given compartment which leads to difficulties in closing the compact. There is only one sponge, so you would have to purchase more individually or use a brush.

Overall: I really like this product, I even bought backups. I mean, you can't really go wrong with something this inexpensive and it works this well. I love using this after I blot my face with the blotting sheets since my t-zones are so oily after a long day. I can never find a powder that suits my skin tone and my skin type. I'm always afraid that it might discolor my face for choosing the wrong shades or the powder might dry my skin up. But this actually works for me, it's not heavy at all. I would say that this gives barely any coverage, it's geared more towards taking the shine away from your face. If you're really oily, then I would recommend this product. After blotting, just apply this on and you'll see how smooth your skin will be. This is one of my MP "most prized" products and "can't live withouts".

<3elle

Blushin' Shoes

Load and behold, Rock and Republic blushes.

I previously owned 2 (Call Me and Kinky) which I bought from HauteLook because they were really cheap. I got them half off and it's rare that Rock&Republic blushes goes on sale. So this time around, at the Rock&Republic website, they had discounts after discounts. There was a 20% code floating around and since I'm a first time purchaser I get an additional $25 credit deduct from my total, how sweet is that?! Oh, and shipping was just 99 cents.

So, I had to snag whatever they have in stock on the website. I wasn't going to give this chance up at all.
I really like R&R blushes because they're really pigmented, and for the price it's totally worth it. I got 4 more blushes for just $60, unbelievable... I know!

I first heard of these from Jen, she's so sweet and has a great in depth blog about nearly everything. The design of the blushes to the actual product is truly worth their retail of $40 each. But paying for less always makes us happy =]
Look at the sleek packaging!
It's actually pretty bulky to bring around, so it's best to leave at home.

Top: Seduce, Lust, Call Me (shimmery colors)
Bottom: X-Rated, Immoral, Kinky (matte colors)

Swatches
From L to R: X-Rated, Immoral, Kinky, Seduce, Lust, Call Me

I was waiting about a week for these blushes to come and when it did, I got so excited about them. I had to open them immediately and look at the pretty colors. When I was swatching, I do notice that the blushes with bits of shimmer in them seem to be a lot more softer. On the other hand, the matte colors are a bit harder to pick up when applying it with a brush... or maybe it's just me.

As of late, I've been looking out for some neat shoes. Every girl needs some sexy and comfortable boots, and don't forget about pumps!

Over-the-knee boots from Chinese Laundry. I got these from Bakers. Originally wanted to try the Tate but the salesperson bought out Chinese Laundry also. They pretty much look exactly the same but the only difference is at the heel.
The Tate is a wedged heel which is a lot more stiffer and harder, so when you walk you make the "clicking" sound.
Chinese Laundry has a regular small rubber heel, which makes your walking a lot smoother and doesn't hurt or put pressure on the heel as much.

This was probably my most loved pair that I got. It's so sexy. The shoe says it all.
I can't wait to wear it!

<3elle

Oh... The beauty of it all

It took me a long while to post this entry up just because I've been working every single day for the past 2 weeks. I know that's pretty insane but I have two jobs and it really helps me out with repaying my loans. Anywhose, this post is a bit random with little bits of here and there that just happened since the last time I wrote.

Exciting news! At least for me it was. I won XJOLE's giveaway! It was shocking because it just came out of the blue, what a great incentive for working 14 days in a row! I literally rarely win anything, even lottery and scratch offs don't like me.

The oh-so-generous Joanna sent me a package with goodies which I wouldn't have expected!

Wow... MAC stuff? Thank you so much!!! <3>

She got me MAC e/s in Brill and and eyebrow pencil in Taupe.
I'm in love with the eyebrow pencil, I never new MAC made such nice eyebrow pencil!
Swatches are above.

NOTD - Summer Peach

I feel like I'm getting all this weather and color polishes all mixed up. Why am I wearing summery colors in the fall? But I have to say, it is a nice non-flashy color.

American Apparel branded polishes have gorgeous colors but the staying power is really poor. I wouldn't purchase them again even if their colors are sooo pretty. The nail polishes starts chipping and coming off in less than a week, and I already place a base and top coat. Disappointing, I know.

On a light note.
How about some pictures of eateries =D

Crawfish Stuffed Bread

Gator Bites (yes, it's alligator meat!)

Catfish Josh
(fried catfish with shrimp and crawfish in cheese sauce, sauteed greens)

Crawfish Mara
(spiral pasta with crawfish tails in spicy cream sauce)

Mara's Homemade
342 East 6th St
New York, NY 10003

I guess you guys figured out nearly all the dishes have crawfish in them because apparently, crawfish season is back! hahaha
I never had crawfish before but it sure taste like a cross between a mini lobster and a sun-dried shrimp. It was pretty good for a southern creole spot. I was actually more interested in the alligator meat. That was a first timer for me also, gosh I feel like a virgin talking about food now. Hope your mouth is drooling now! =D

<3elle

Oceanic Beach Eyes

Face:
Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream
E.L.F. Translucent Matifying Powder

Eyes:
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Too Faced e/s in Boy Toy
Too Faced e/s in Fantasy Island
Urban Decay e/s in Flipside
Urban Decay e/s in Oil Slick
Too Faced e/s in Oscar
Smashbox gel liner in Black
Sephora Khol liner in Black
E.L.F. dramatic lashes

Cheeks:
MAC blush in Mocha

Lips:
MAC l/s in Blankety
NYX gloss in Sparkle

Just to let you all know, Flipside and Oil Slick makes this really gorgeous blue when you mixed them together... which is the color on my crease!

Hope you enjoy the look!

<3elle

Let the bells chimes in the whistling wind

Wedding on Halloween. That's right!

My boyfriend's cousin had their ceremony and reception this past Sunday. It was an Asian reception with friends and family. Instead of taking pictures of the place and everything, I was busy helping out and was the one being taken pictures of.

My outfit for the wedding reception. I thought this was just too cute to pass up on. One sided long sleeve dress and I added a belt for some texture and shape. I got this dress from Necessary Clothing.

It was crazy windy and cold on Halloween night, and I wore that with an overcoat and my circle scarf from American Apparel. It was still cold, I was bare legged! That's the price you have to pay for wanting to look all cute and schmexy.

Isn't the bouquet beautiful?
So simple yet so elegant.

So long story short... if I can make it short.
The bride and groom is really close to my bf so....
Time comes for the bride to throw the bouquet, I didn't want to go up since I'm technically not single but the groom made me! I stood on the side with my boyfriend's sister thinking we would probably never get the bouquet cause we're too off to the side. The bride's first attempt of throwing hit the chandelier and fell to the ground, so we did a redo. Just then, the groom whispered something to bride (no idea what) and suddenly the bouquet went flying towards my direction. But... my bf's sister caught it.

The bouquet was intentionally thrown to me but it missed me just a tad bit and landed in the sister's hand. LOL what luck! If I had gotten the bouquet, the groom and his best men and cousins would've made sure my bf caught the garter.
How sweet!

That's how I ended up with the bouquet at the end. 'Cause it was "suppose" to be mine. I got yelled at by the groom as to why I didn't catch it. Well, I actually could've jumped forward and caught it right before it landed in the sister's hands but then I would look desperate and that would be so wrong! Don't you guys agree?

Either way, I had tons of fun.
Singing.
Dancing.
Drinking.
Partying.

More weddings to come in the next coming year. Need more outfits and shoes!

<3elle

NOTD - Office

I recently went to American Apparel to get a scarf for chilly weather that has been coming on and off here in NYC. But instead of just getting the scarf and leaving, I snatched 3 nail polishes before I left.

As you may notice, I've been really into matte shades. It fits the weather so much more. I have two more shades from American Apparel I need to share with you all.

I thought this color was alright, it suits summer more than fall/winter. This shade of light teal looks so plastic on my nails but I think it would look awesome on a classic french nail (replacing the white with this color).

<3elle

El'view: Sabon Body Scrub

SABON Body Scrub in Lavender Apple


Claims: Get rid of dead skin cells to reveal a newer layer of radiant skin. Nourish the skin and keeps it smooth. Gives the skin a more youthful glow.

Price: $30 according to the Sabon website

Pros: Smells extremely good. Really exfoliate the skin with the sea salt. Even if you scrub hard it wouldn't be too harsh because the oils help soothes it. It has a little spoon that comes with the scrub.

Cons: It contain oil which makes it really smooth and slippery. Hard to open the lid because of the oil.

Overall: I really like this scrub, especially since it was a birthday gift. I think I would purchase this because it smells extremely crazy good. I mean, I still smell the scent a couple of hours after I showered, that's pretty awesome. Love the color also, pretty pinky peach color. The packaging totally got me. The scrub feels really soothing in the shower and the sea salt really exfoliates the skin. That means it actually works while making me smell good. I'm curious as to how the other scrubs smell, and if they work also.

That's the little wooden spoon which it came with. Gives such an earthy feel.

There's a layer of oil on top. So, remember to mix the jar well before scooping any out to use.

The sea salt is really small and fine but I wish it was even smaller. The glistening you see on top is the oil. When you apply this on your skin and start to move in circular motions, it feels like you're getting a massage.

Total win for me.
I get to exfoliate, smell good, and remove dead skin cells.

<3elle

My New Love

I finally got myself a pair of booties. I never seem to find the right pair that's comfortable and looks nice. I feel like I have deformed feet and it's so hard to find ones that doesn't squeeze my web feet. But, I went on a serious mission today to find some sort of new shoes for myself. It was either going to be booties, over the knee boots, or tall boots. I was hoping to find a sexy pair of over the knee boots but that was no luck.

I mean, I went to DSW, found the boot on display that I like, want to try them on, and they don't have any sizes of those boots at all except the sample display. How disappointing. I saw a couple online also... tried to find them. Only found one (what a fail) and it was hugging my leg crazily. I was wearing skinny jeans, so I guess my leg needs to be naked or to have leggings on. Well, at least I know the over the knee boots at DSW won't be doing me any good. Off to look somewhere else for them schmexy high boots!

Luckily, I found myself a pair a pretty black sueded boots... so cuuute!

That red box with black lettering is so darn hot!

Aren't they just cute?
I can't wait to wear these with skinny jeans, leggings, dresses, and skirts! They practically work with every outfit. Not to mention the little button on the side adds a little comfort and autumn feel to the whole boot thing.
DSW still have these in store, so check them out or snag yourself a pair if you love them like I do =D

<3elle

Been Blinging

I went out this weekend with the bf to shop around. It was a nice day here in NYC and perfect to go out and enjoy the sun and light breeze. Winter is coming faster than I thought, the weather here is changing quite fast. Chilly in the morning and warm in the afternoon... I feel like I'm going to get sick soon -_-"

Jeans from Aeropostale
Top from Forever21
Moto jacket from Armani Exchange

The whole outfit was very chic and comfortable. The top gave a flowy, girlie touch to it while the jacket gave it some rock hard masculinity.

Had my nails did too. I've been lovin' matte nail polishes! Gives that fall feel to it and it looks a lot neater on the hand. I absolutely looove this color, Casting Call. It reminds me of a mauvey-ish color with pink undertone. Amazing on the fingers, and it pretty much looks just like it is in the photo above.
Sephora OPI are true to color so far. Every color I got and put on looks exactly like the bottle... at least the matte colors do, as for the shimmery and glittery ones... I have yet to try them.

So, I went shopping with the bf... more like he shopped and I tagged along. I don't know, I just don't like shopping in person. I hate it when there's so many people in a store and I can barely move. I rather be comfortable and at ease shopping online. Oh... did I mention I also hate waiting on line for those fitting rooms?

While the bf was shopping, I literally walked off and went to Forever21.. yea I'm so bad.

I found this last pair and was like it would sooo come in handy one day. So, I got it! They had tons of the white/creamy colored ones but I like the black a lot more!

Addition to the earring, I got 3 rings... well more like 6. I don't know if Forever21 had this before but the new banded rings are elastic, which means they can fit on any finger! Yayyy now it's one size fits all =D
Those 4 rings in the front... is absolutely gorgeous. Two of them have diamonds on it while the other 2 are plain. I like the little curve it has, makes it looks so much more sophisticated.

<3elle