OOTD AND FOTD! Special occasion edition.

So in the past semester, I was enrolled in 2 lab courses in my school. We had an awesome time in these classes, so after the semester has ended my biochemistry laboratory decided to have a get together to celebrate and to also thank our TA for his awesome guidance in the course! =D

This was a big thing for us, so I decided to take my time and do my hair and makeup today.

Tank: Aritzia

Jeans: American Eagle

Boots: Aldo

Blazer: Aritzia

Jacket: Aritzia

Since the place that we went to today was a pub I decided to go semi dressy, but still casual. I was originally going to wear tights instead but I figured that would make it a little too dressy so I went with jeans! =)

As for my makeup, I decided to go for a natural look and putting the focus on creating healthy and glowing skin!

This is what I used:

Primer: The Body Shop Moisturize It Primer + Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Concealer: MAC Select Cover-up NC20

BB Cream: Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream 21 & 23

Powder: MAC Studio Fix Powder C2

Setting Spray: MAC Fix+ Lavender

Bronzer: Tarte Matte Waterproof Bronzer

Blush: MAC Beauty Powder "Shell Pearl"

Highlighter: Bare Minerals Illuminating Mineral Veil

Eye Shadow: Clinique Eyeshadow Duo "Like Mink" + Miss Helen 

Eyeliner: Physician's Formula 2-in-1 Lash Serum and Eyeliner

Mascara: Tarte MultiplEYE Primer and Lash Enhancing Mascara

Eyebrows: Smashbox Eyeliner and Brow Kit

The whole look was super easy and fast to do, and last all day thanks to Fix+. It was a natural enough look for day time but also not too light for night time wear!

The whole night was amazing thanks to all my friends from the lab! I hope y'all liked the outfit and the makeup! Let me know if you'd like a tutorial on the look...

Hope everyone all had a wonderful Friday night!

Love,

Helen.

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Everyday Makeup Routine

Since I am now working in the cosmetic industry, I'm required to wear a certain amount of makeup every day at work. As I've been working full time for the past 3 weeks, it's been quite tiring to have to put on makeup every morning at 6:30 and make it to work on time! It's also not the best feeling to have layers of makeup piled on your face and having it sit there for usually 8-12 hours a day!

I've then developed what I call a FULL-PROOF makeup routine that's bound to make me look polished and yet takes NO time at all! Plus, it's also light and airy, so there's less stress on the skin!

The concept behind this makeup routine is that I don't want to make anything dramatic; the whole purpose is to work with my features and emphasize their shape and play around with light and shadow to make them "pop" on my face...=D

This is pretty much what I use all the time:

Foundation:

Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturizer SPF15

MAC Studio Fix Powder N2 or N3

Eyes:

The Body Shop Lightening Touch Illuminator 03

Clinique ColourSurge Eye Shadow Duo - Like Mink

Miss Helen (this is an eyeshadow duo that Sam brought me back from Paris with my name on it! ♥ ~)

Physician's Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Eyeliner - Brown

Majolic Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus

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I will usually moisturize first and then put on the tinted moisturizer. I'll use the illuminator under my eyes and then finish off by powdering my whole face with the Studio Fix Powder. The tinted moisturizer gives a light coverage, and will act like a base and grab onto the powder. The powder provides further coverage, but you don't need as much of it to achieve the same result because of the tinted moisturizer. All in all, less powder to suffocate the skin, and the moisture surge is actually a very good hydrator! 

Then I will first use a light colour all over my lid, and then use a darker brown colour and blend it from my lash line up evenly across my eye, until just a little above the crease. This way, you don't really see the colour in the lid space (as I have Asian eyes...) but then you see that shadow created by the colour and so it makes the eyes look deeper and more emphasized on the face. I'll then line AND tight-line my top lash line with the liquid liner and slightly pull it out as a wing. I'll apply mascara and then finish off with some blush. My daily blush colours would be different depending on what I'm wearing that day; the one that I have been carrying around and have been reaching for very frequently is NARS's Deep Throat. Deep Throat is basically a peachy coral colour with some light golden sparkles to give a little radiance. It's SIMILAR to NARS's Orgasm, but more pink (less orangy,) and much subtler in terms of the glitter. 

Here are some pictures of how it all turns out!

It's basically a very natural look that gives definition to the face, and makes me look awake and put together, but will not over do it with too much makeup on the face. The whole thing takes about 15 min in total, and requires barely any effort!

This is what the makeup looks like after 12 hours, and 1 touch up --- pretty good and long lasting! =)

Hope everyone's having an awesome New Year's Eve ♥ !! 

Love,

Helen.

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I got a HAIRCUT!!!

I was SOO annoyed with my hair because it was getting SO damaged, tangled and thick!!! There are no layers left and no shape to my head what so ever, so I needed a trim!!!

I went to Chin-Generation at Pacific Mall which is the place that I usually go to. Out of every hair salon I went to I think this one offers me the most in terms the quality of their cut and customer service!! I also love the fact that most of their stylist can give me a hair cut according to what I want, and create a style that suits my face shape, my features and everything else. It’s simple enough that you can just tell them what you want, and they are very understanding will offer you something very close to what you were looking for.

I’ve had a side part for the LONGEST time, and this time, I felt like I wanted to try a center part for a change.

It was a risky choice because it’s very hard to work a center part, because you have to be very symmetrical to look flattering with it. It is also a HECK LOAD of maintenance involved EVERYDAY…

My stylist was Perry Pak and he did a GREAT job on my hair layering it and keeping the length that I want..and giving me the EXACT look that I wanted!!! ^^ *so happy!!*

 

 

It’s a VERY romantic look!! All I did was taking a curling iron and curled my bangs BACKWARDS on the top of my head…and when it falls, it will fall away from your face in a very lose and voluminous way!!

 

I LOOOVED how sleek my hair looked but it took FOREVER for him to blow-dry it straight!! >< I certainly don’t have the skills to do it myself…and I don’t think that a flat iron would make it look as SMOOTH it is!!! That’s one thing that I hate coming back from the hair salon~~ you can never make it look as nice as the way that they made it for you!! TT^TT

 

That’s about it! Hope you guys enjoyed it!

 

Thanks for reading!

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Dear Foundation Diary – Estee Lauder Double Wear is ROCKIN’ IT!!!

 

 

This has been a LONNNNG postponed post….I’ve MIA for a while now…finally got to enjoy 2 weeks off from school, work and everything else…BUT I am BACK! =D

 

 

Overall:

I LOOOVE how this foundation looks on my skin!!
I currently have it in the shade Dusk, which I think is  a little bit too pink for me and a little bit too dark for me, but it looks AMAZING!!

 

I looks SO smooth and flawless on my skin, and makes it VERY even! I think the most important reason for it is that it’s very hydrating and it keeps my skin very nourished throughout the day, which also helps the foundation to stay better!

It doesn’t look cakey or heavy, and just looks very natural. The coverage is DEFINITELY a full coverage foundation…VERY easy to apply and smooth out, and very buildable! The most important thing is that a little goes a LONGGGGG way!!

 

 

7 hours after application:

The foundation after 7 hours of wear still looks very very fresh~! and it definitely is very HYDRATING since it didn’t make my skin look very dried out and appear to be rough and breaking out~

There no settling of the foundation into lines and although the coverage is beginning to being eaten away…it’s DEFINITELY still a medium coverage…(note: there was no touch up!!)

 

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What did I use??

1) Skin79 Hot Pink BB Cream as base
2) Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation in Dusk

NOTE:

This is AMAZING!! I got the coverage I wanted WITHOUT having to powder and layer foundations with my MAC Studio Fix Foundation!!
It didn’t make me extremely oily, and I only have to gently blot with a tissue!!

*picture taken 7 hours after application with ONE gentle blot and no touch up!*

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The Ratings~!

Staying Power – ❤❤❤❤
Coverage – ❤❤❤❤❤
Hydration – ❤❤❤❤
Price Range – ❤❤❤❤

Overall – ❤❤❤❤❤

 

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I think Estee Lauder’s Double wear is THE ONE!!!

I will soon be looking into purchasing this…perhaps at the next Estee Lauder/MAC warehouse sale~?!

 

Thanks for reading!

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FOTD and another HAUL!

Enjoy! =)

 

Estee Lauder Double Wear Review coming TONIGHT!

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