Monthly Favorites: August

August came and went, now it's time for September!

These are the products I have used in August!

1. Aveeno Positively Nourishing in Energizing Pomegranate Grapefruit- I apply this after I take a shower and it makes my skin so soft and I love the scent. At first, when I took a quick sniff, it smelt a bit floral, but it really is pomegranate with grapefruit.

2. Dove Style+Care Strength and Shine Extra Hold Hairspray- I use this for my side bangs. Since my hair is naturally straight, the only way to keep it out of my face is to use this hairspray. Now, I am a total hair noob(meaning, I haven't really put any kind of hair product in my hair) and this thing is easy to use, not that hairspray usually isn't...

3. Mark Good Glowing Powder Blush in Golden Glo- Now this blush is definitely a bronze and it is so sheer that it has no point. Or so I thought. It is super shimmery or sparkly that I just use it as a highlighter on my cheekbones, carefully of course. It gives me a wonderful glow. 

4. Orly Nail Lacquer in Rage- Absolutely love this color! It's a metallic rose gold that is a bit bronze and I cannot live without it. Go get it now!!!!

5. Maybelline Ultra Liner Waterproof in Black- This liquid liner is really pigmented and gives me good control and generally stays in place. There is one thing I don't like: it flakes really bad when you take it off. This makes it hard to get off since the flakes go everywhere on your face and if you rub your eyes enough, it flakes quickly. Bleh!

6. NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder in Sunny- Love this bronzer! The only other bronzer I have used is the ELF blush and bronzer duo and I did not like all that shimmer. This is perfect for me because it isn't overly orange and completely matte while still giving you that glow. 

7. Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic- This has been my go to lip color. I just apply a sheer amount onto my lips and it gives me a nice flush of pink to them. If I wanted to go a bit more dramatic, I just apply more layers. 

I actually just added that ankle bracelet to the bottom because I thought it was a good accent for the picture. Ha!

Thank you for reading,

Megumi

PS: Tell me of a really amazing waterproof liquid liner! I really want one!

Simple Drugstore Look: Every Day Edition

Today, I am going to show you a look that I have really liked. It is a really easy look and you can adapt it in a way that you like. You can stop after the first step or do every single step and even add more colors. It is a very neutral look so it's not all up in your face. As an added bonus, the look is pretty much all drugstore. Cheap, but awesome at the same time!

Products Used:

Face

Skin79 Oriental Gold BB Cream

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Sand

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer in Sunny

Eyes

Wet n' Wild Eyeshadow Palette in Comfort Zone

Maybelline Ultra Liner in Black

Maybelline Mega Plush Mascara(Waterproof)

For tools, I pretty much only use ELF so there is nothing really specific that you should use.

For the face products, this is just what I use. I love these products, but you may have products you prefer.

This is the only eyeshadow palette I am using. It is super cheap ($4.99) and really amazing. You can find this at Walgreens. I labeled each side as Side 1 or Side 2.

Apply the browbone color on your browbone and the eyelid color up to your crease from Side 1. Don't go past the crease.

Add the crease color from Side 1. Make sure you blend it in really well.

Add the define color from Side 1 to the outer v. For me, I like it a bit subtle, so I did it with a very light hand.

This is what the look open so far.

For some added drama, I added the gorgeous( and I mean gorgeous!) define eyeshadow from Side 2 to the middle of my eyelid. The color is simply gorgeous!

So I finished it off with eyeliner and mascara. Voila! We are done! Easy-peasy lemon squeazy! 

Now even though this is not exactly part of the tutorial, I just really wanted to show you this color. It is the Revlon Just Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic. I have a very sheer layer, but it can definitely be made to be more opaque. Love it!

The format I used was inspired by Urban Babe. She posts about makeup, life, and it is all really interesting/helpful. You should definitely check her out!

Anyways, I hope this was at least slightly interesting.

Thanks for reading!

Megumi

Regret Buying: Revlon Lip Butter

This is such a sad day. I regret buying something that many people absolutely love! If you couldn't tell from the title, I regret buying the Revlon lip butter.
Why do I regret buying it? Not because of the packaging or the color or anything like that. I love the product itself, well, kind of. My problem is that it melts! It melts all the way down to the bottom of the tube. Why would I waste my money on that? Plus, I bought it for $8. I could have bought another lipstick that doesn't melt instead. It's a waste of money AND product.

The tube itself. I love the packaging!

 I've had it for barely a month and I don't even put it on everyday. I put it on maybe once a week if I remember and it's not even like I am swiping it on my lips constantly. I put a sheer layer and leave it at home.

I am sad to say that I will never buy another tube of this. So sad, but it had to be done! I mean, if my chap stick and such don't melt, why do you!

I hope you found this post helpful.

Thanks for reading!

Megumi

Holy Grail

I noticed that recently I have been only using certain products. These products are the one I reach for and I really do love them a lot. I can honestly say these are my holy grail makeup products.

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder in Sand

This is the product I use to set my foundation or when my face is a little shiny. It mattifies my face really well and it is nearly translucent. It has a hint of color, but not enough to change the color of your face.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Rose & Shine

This lipstick is a bit like my natural lip color, only a hundred times better! It has a pearl finish so it is not too shimmery and it is a bit of a cooler tone lipstick. It is a bit moisturizing so it does not have a long staying power, but I don't mind re-applying it.

Wet n' Wild Creme Eyeliner in Black

This eyeliner has got to be the best eyeliner I have ever tried! It is nice, creamy and super affordable at 3 dollars. The packaging is lacking some, but for 3 dollars, how can you complain?

That's all I have for holy grail items as of right now. Thanks for reading!

Haul: TJ Maxx, Target, Walgreens

I am going on vacation soon, so I bought a couple more things from TJ Maxx, Target, and Walgreens because I obviously need more things...right closet?

TJ Maxx:

I don't really know what provoked me to get this, but I got it. Annd love it. Annnd hopefully wear it. It has a cinched waist so it gives you an hourglass figure.

Price:16.99

Most of my tank tops are from Old Navy and I have had them for a looong time so I bought myself a new one. This is from American Eagle and glad I bought it at TJ Maxx since I am sure it costs a lot more than what I bought it for. 

Price:5.99

Target

Aren't these sunglasses cute?! They have a wire from that is painted white with gold trimmings. I personally think it is rose gold, but I wouldn't really know.

Price:16.99

This is probably the best eyeliner I have ever tried! I was not a fan of the Milani Liquify Pencil. Nice pigmentation, but horrible smearing. This eyeliner actually stays on me all day. It does fade, but no smearing in sight. 

Price:7-8.99

in bold brown

This Revlon polish is amazingly beautiful. It has these blue, finely milled glitters and silver chunky glitters. I put two coats on without a base color and look at it!

Price:3.49

in 441 radiant

I needed a new deodorant soooo I bought it? Target is having a sale this week were you buy a deodorant and get a spray free. For some reason, at the register it wouldn't ring up the spray for free, but the employees checked the advertising and the price tag so it was fine. If this happens to you, ask them to check it. It's not buy two get one free, its just buy one!

Price:3.89(for individual)

I got an EOS lip balm because I heard the strawberry was a good one. It really smells good!

Price:3-4

Walgreens

I got a new contact case at Walgreens and I think it is really cute. 

Price:3.39

That's everything. Thanks for reading!

My Take: Gradient Lips

So, recently, I have really been trying to pull of the gradient lips for some time now. I first saw it on Miss A's MV "Touch"(which I think is beautifully made) and I think I have finally pulled it off.

So here is my step-by-step take on it:

On a well moisturized set of lips, add a lip tint that mainly focuses on the middle of the lips.

The tint should be a berry color. Think of bene-tint by Benefit

Here is an open mouthed shot for a better look

Next, add some nude, pink lipstick to blend the tint. The lipstick should not be overly pink or nude. Like your natural lip color, but slightly better. The one I used has a bit of shimmer.

Here are some swatches of the products I used. 

Top: Covergirl Outlast Lip Stain in 425 Plum Pout

Bottom: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 619 Rose & Shine

I also like to use the NYX lipstick in Femme. I just dab some of the product the same way I did stain and I smudge it out with my finger. This gives it a bit more orange-y red color. 

Thanks for reading!