Skincare + Makeup Favorites

This is a little odd coming from someone who never wore makeup but anyway. I have suffered from cystic acne about 3 years. I started getting a lot of cysts in the beginning of high school. I always get really large and red acne which was painful and takes a heck of a long time to disappear, then it takes even longer for the scars. 

I tried (almost) everything I could to get rid of them, or at least reduce the formation of pimples but nothing really seemed to be working out. I tried many different kinds of products on the market that were targeted towards blemished and oily skin. I was using SebaMed acne range and it worked out pretty well for a couple of months but at one point it stopped working. Then I switched my face wash to The Body Shop's Tea Tree facial wash and I loved it. I loved the feeling I got everytime I was finished washing my face but it worked out alright. Didn't prevent gigantic zits from popping out, which I wasn't expecting anyway. 

One time it got to the point where my skin was really bad and I had giant pimples all over my face so I decided to consult a dermatologist and she gave me all these acne medications and they worked really well. My skin cleared up dramatically but I stopped using them after a year. No reason in particular, I just wanted to see if my skin would be doing okay and if it would break out just as less as when I was using those prescription creams. But my skin has been doing good so far without them, which leads me to the main content of this post: My favorite skincare and make up products, or should I say favorite skin stuff??? Which one sounds better? Wow that was a long ass intro. 

Skincare Products

1. Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Skin Brightening Exfoliator

I've had this just sitting on the shelf for a long time. I bought it before I even started my Erha medication and didn't use it ever since. When I ran out of my Erha face wash I decided to try using this product again and see how it would work out on my skin and my skin had never been better. I was breaking out less than before. I had absolutely no idea considering this product is not targeted towards people with acne problems. It is only supposed to make your skin brighter but somehow it helped with my acne and I'm glad I'm back to using it.

2. Kiehl's Blue Herbal Moisturizer

This moisturizer was also just sitting on the shelf along with my Kiehl's scrub, and ever since I ran out of my prescription creams I started using this again to replace those creams. My skin was breaking out less and I think the combination of the scrub and this moisturizer is why my skin is clearer now (note: I did say clearer, it is not completely cleared up. I still have giant pimples here and there but definitely not as worse as when I was in high school). I bought this moisturizer because I received a sample of this and I loved it. This is a gel type moisturizer that sinks into the skin fast and makes my skin feel smooth like nothing else. The only con is the scent, I personally feel like it kinda smells like glue???? Which I don't mind anyway.

Make Up Products

1. Bourjois Air Mat Foundation

My whole I was avoiding using foundation as I have extremely oily skin already, but a few days ago I was interested to purchase a foundation of my own that actually gives me coverage. I was initially going for the healthy skin foundation but the store didn't have it and the lady showed me this foundation, which is a matte foundation and I thought it would be perfect for my oily skin (not that I was hoping it would mattify my skin the whole day, I know no matter what product I use I will always be oily a few minutes after. No joke). Till then I realized the healthy mix had a dewy result which I should probably avoid, that's why I bought the Air Mat Foundation instead. I got the shade 04 - Beige. The texture is very smooth and it really does feel like I'm not wearing any foundation. It doesn't make my skin more oily which is a major plus for me. 

2. Acnes Mentholatum Pressed Powder

I used this before I bought my foundation and it's just an average pressed powder, really. Mine is in the shade lovely pink which I believe is the darkest or second darkest color. It matches my skin tone pretty well and the reason why I like this powder is because it doesn't break me out which is the most important. 

3. LA Girl Pro Concealer & Revlon Colorstay Concealer

I decided not to seperate them because I mix both concealers in order to match my skin tone. I had the Revlon concealer way before I bought my LA Girl concealer and I find that it is too light for my skin, so I bought another concealer online which was LA Girl. It turned out that it was too dark and yellow for my skin so instead buying another concealer that matches my skin, I came up with a solution to mix them both and it works just fine.


4. Silkygirl Precision Sharp Eyeliner Pen

An eyeliner is the one makeup product that I have always been avoiding because I found that it makes me look so much older. But I finally gave it another try and it looks good and I especially like the pen version better than liquid and pencil is because it's easier to apply. It is waterproof but that doesn't mean you can rub your eyes hard especially using water as it will smudge eventually. 

Lip Products

1. Carmex Lip Balm

I love this lip balm because the consistency is very thick which I like because I tend to have really dry lips. As for the scent, I can't really describe anything specific except that it smells sweet. Unfortunately I got this lip balm in Vancouver so I don't know where am I supposed to repurchase it when I use it out (which is pretty soon).

2. NYX Butter Lipstick - Pops Explosif

I recently bought this lipstick cause I was looking for a nude color with a hint of pink so it's not too nude nor too pink and I found the perfect color which is NYX Butter Lipstick. The reason I was looking for this particular color is because I wanted to have something I can put on with any outfit and looks natural but I still look like I'm wearing something on my lips. This lipstick glides smoothly on my lips and the color is quite pigmented and it has a finish that I can't really describe. It's not matte nor it is glossy. I find myself having to reapply after I drink or eat but I don't mind cause I didn't expect much from this lipstick anyway. 

3. Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip - Beeper

This might be my best purchase for lip product in my life as it has a very good quality. It has a matte finish which I always love and color is super pigmented. The texture is very smooth and it dries pretty quickly. It will last you hours even after having meals and drinks and definitely won't come off unless I use a makeup remover. There's nothing really much to say about it except that is makes my lips dry (but not severely dry). Other than that, it is my favorite lip product ever. 

4. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream - Copenhagen

Surprise, surprise. Another matte lip product. This is a darker shade of red but I the way I like to use it is to apply a thin layer to create more of a pink/purple-ish color with a hint of red instead of the really bold dark red color. But sometimes I would use a think layer so it shows its true shade. This lip cream is quite drying (as most matte lip products are), and it doesn't last as long as the Colourpop Ultra Matte Lip. But still a great color.

Da-Bomber Jacket

Finally finished sewing this bomber jacket after leaving it for weeks, or months? I can't even remember. So happy I got to use this pink fabric. Not really my color but I think I can pull it off?

The collar, cuff and bottom rib of a bomber jacket is supposed to be made of this stretchy ribbing material but because I had no idea where they're sold, I just used this leftover black fabric which I don't even know what it's called, and used it as the collar and the bottom ribbing and it worked out pretty well. The hem is not stretchy, I only gathered it so it would look as if it can strech but really, it can't. The cuffs, however, is stretchy and that is because I used socks. Yes, socks (brand new ones tho). I figured it was necessary for the cuff to be tight and stretchy because that what makes it a bomber jacket, so I had to find a way to make cuffs that look exactly like an actual bomber jacket. I searched on YouTube on how to make stretchy cuffs and I'm so gald I found it.

April 2016 Wish List

Starting May with a wish list post.  I haven't done this type of post in awhile so I decided to post a new one. These are the things that I was obsessing with over the past month and I'm gonna get into the details in clockwise order.

1. Bomber Jacket

I've been seeing bomber jackets in every store lately and because of my obsession with outerwear I figured a nice plain bomber jacket would be a staple piece of mine (but unfortunately haven't got the chance to purchase one. Sigh). This bomber jacket is from River Island with a nice army green color. I prefer black because I can put together any outfit and it'll basically match everything and every color. (ps I'm in the process of making my own bomber jacket but still too lazy to continue doing it. Soon ok. Pretty soon. I hope)

2. Grey hair

This grey hair trend has been everywhere and I think it's such an interesting color. Since I got rid of my ombre hair I want to dye my whole head grey. I know, a little bit too extreme. But if I have the change I'd like to go for a more darker grey with a hint of dark blue. But for now I'd like to keep it black and natural.

3. Liebeskind 'Alissa' Backpack

My obsession with peach is not ending anytime soon (no not the fruit, the color). Peach and backpack specifically. I know some girls prefer wearing handbags over backpacks, but I'm more of a backpack kind of girl. Although most of the time you'll find me wearing my old black handbag (if I'm too lazy too pick an outfit that goes together with a backpack. Which is almost everytime). But often times if I have the opportunity to pull off an outfit wearing a backpack I will wear the backpack. Anyway I was in search of a new bag to replace my old bag that's already peeling off here and there and I came across this new store and fell head over heels right off the bat. Long story short saw this leather bag and thought "I need this in my life" and that's that.


4. Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in 'Amore'

I'm always on the hunt for the perfect lip color and I've always been obsessed with mauve/plum color. I've searched here and there and I couldn't seem to find the perfect lip product with the color that I want and also affordable (no, Stila is not affordable but this is just a wish list, right?!). I tried this on at Sephora and I thought this was the perfect color. But because Stila is more on the pricy side obviously I didn't purchase it. But if there's a dupe or a similar products that does the same thing, I'd definitely like to get my hands on it.