BLOGMAS | Day 12: My Winter Skincare Routine for Combination Dehydrated Skin

I haven't written a dedicated skincare routine post in two years and while the steps haven't changed, the products sure have! My current routine is much more involved and focuses on hydration rather than maintenance. I still use my Paula's Choice products for acne treatment so I didn't include them here. These are all the basic steps that I think should be included in a skincare routine if you have normal to dry skin like me. 

I divided this post into my morning and night routine to make things easier to digest. I don't think the actual products matter but the function they serve is important. If you already have something you love serving that purpose, then keep using it! These are some of my recommendations if you wanted something new to try.

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BLOGMAS | Day 11: Kat Von D Metal Matte Palette Makeup Inspiration

It's New Year's eve as I'm writing this post! It's been raining the past several days so I'm hoping it'll stop in time for New Year's Day. I was planning to have this up before then so y'all could draw inspiration from this for your New Year's eve looks but I've been running errands, trying to get everything done before I start school in a week. Anyhoo, I also planned on doing a review on the Kat Von D Metal Matte Palette but since it was limited edition and sold out like hotcakes, I never got around to doing it. But I had all these looks planned out and wanted to share them with y'all anyway, so I hope you don't mind.

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BLOGMAS | Day 10: Charlotte Tilbury vs Revlon Lipsticks

{AT A GLANCE}

As a creature of habit, I end up with many similar looking colors. So I wasn't too surprised to see that I have two iterations of this browny reddish color: Charlotte Tilbury KISSING Lipstick in Stoned Rose (CF) and Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Rose Velvet. 

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BLOGMAS | Day 9: Sparkly Purple Smokey Eye for New Year's Eve

Only a few days to the New Year! I don't know about you, but I'm kinda sad that 2016 is almost over. Don't get me wrong, there have been plenty of things to be sad about but I've always prided myself on being a "glass half full" kind of person. So, in preparation, I've created a simple smokey eye that takes minutes to throw on to chime in the new year! So, let's get started.

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BLOGMAS | Day 8: Colourpop Holiday Haul

I'm not sure what came over me but ever since my first Colourpop Haul back in September, it feels like I've made an order every month! Their colors are quite unique and I find myself wanting to collect them all. Rest assured, this is the last one for a while but there's no guessing how I'll feel come January!

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BLOGMAS | Day 7: Candy Cane-Inspired Christmas Makeup

Christmas is less than seven hours away as I'm writing this post! I've been super behind on #Blogmas due to family commitments but I'll continue to post what I have planned because I think they still fit it with the winter season. This look was inspired by a candy cane, though it's a shame I don't have one to eat right now. I'm also documenting the Anastasia Modern Renaissance Palette for y'all so I'm doubly excited! So let's head into the tutorial!

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BLOGMAS | Day 6: Favorite Long Lasting Lips for the Holidays

As I'm writing this, it's Christmas Eve! I don't know if my level of excitement is noticeable but I cannot wait to see my family and chow down. So, I've prepared a few options that are guaranteed to last through the night. Whether you like a bold and matte lip or a glossy or sheer lip, all options will stay through the festivities! So let's get into the details.

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BLOGMAS | Day 5: ULTA Birthday Haul + First Impressions

I've gotta say, hauls are one of my favorite posts to do because I love sharing all the cool loot I got. But then I feel massively guilty afterwards when I tally up how much I spent. They're a good way of reminding me what I've got so they're not all bad? As I'm writing this post, all of the items I am talking about are still in stock, so fingers crossed that if what I'm showing y'all today interests you, y'all can still get it!

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BLOGMAS | Day 4: Holiday OOTD

This past week saw me fall off the Blogmas wagon but I'm going to continue posting even after because the posts still fit the holiday theme. Anyhoo, I wanted to share what I'm wearing this holiday weekend! I don't aspire to be a fashion blogger but I thought you all would enjoy the various content I have planned. Let me know if it's something y'all like or I should just stick to makeup, hehe.

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BLOGMAS | Day 3: Choosing the Right Glasses with GlassesShop.com

Choosing the right pair of glasses isn't easy. There are many guides out there, depending on your face shape and yada yada. Those never really worked for me so I just chose whichever one was the cheapest. I've been wearing them for the major of my life yet I've never wanted to be photographed with them on because they made me look weird. 

It wasn't until this summer that I finally discovered the right frames for me. But I had some quibbles (some people call it being picky, but I KNOW what I want, hehe) with those. So when GlassesShop.com offered me a free pair to try, I jumped at the chance to pick out a pair. The four-step process itself was easy; all I needed was my current prescription. There are explanation bubbles if you are unclear about a term or service they offer.

Two things I would suggest considering when picking out your perfect frame:

• Frame material: They usually come in varying types of metal and plastic. Though metal seems to be more durable, they can be heavy and slide down a short nose. Plastic may seem cheap, but I've never had durability issues. I believe a sturdy case is more important for keeping glasses safe.

• Frame shape: Many guides will tell you to consider your face shape when it comes to choosing a frame shape. I think that's a load of BS. Depending on what your purpose is, I'd choose a larger frame so you don't have to adjust them when looking in a certain direction. 

I chose the Lena Oval in Tortoise. They are full framed and oval shaped, which covers my peripheral vision. My old pair were long and rectangular, making my vision blurry when I looked over or under the frame. My nose bridge isn't tall, so most glasses and sunglasses slide down my nose. The lightweight plastic frame of the Lena don't go anywhere, staying in place when I'm looking down at a book for hours. Since I wanted these to be my daily pair, I needed a pattern that would match with pretty much any occasion. The Lena comes in three colors but I chose Tortoise because it's neutral enough to match with my closet but not typical like black. Nothing wrong with black but I feel like it looks too harsh when I don't wear eye makeup. The lighter tortoise color doesn't overwhelm against a bare face, if you know what I mean. They grip my face nicely without pinching my nose bridge or my ears. My other pair to a bit of wear to "break them in" and make the comfortable. These were ready to wear after a few days of getting used to them.

Glasses can be expensive, especially if you buy them from an optician's office. My previous pairs have costed $117usd for no added frills and $250 usd for a branded pair with no special coatings. The frames from GlassesShop.com vary from $19.95usd to $59.95usd, with a little extra for prescription lens. But it doesn't come anywhere near the prices I used to pay. I know some people prefer trying the frames on in person but I liked that they have several models to virtually try on the glasses. If you would prefer to try them on yourself, you can make an account with them and upload your picture to virtually try on the hundreds of pairs they make. They make them for women, men and children, so everyone can find their perfect pair! 

 I only used to wear glasses during lectures but I love these so much that I only take them off when I'm showering or sleeping. Buying glasses online can be vexing but GlassesShop.com has a generous return policy. In addition to prescription glasses, they also offer prescription sunglasses! That's great for drivers like me, who are required to wear prescription glasses while driving. All pairs of glasses come with a carrying case, microfiber cloth and an anti-scratch coating -- for free! You can, of course, add on other coatings if you so choose, for an additional cost. 

So if you're looking for a pair of affordable and chic glasses, I suggest you give GlassesShop.com a try! With the holidays around the corner, giving the gift of sight is a thoughtful one. I do have an unaffiliated coupon code for all my lovely readers to use to get 50% off eyeglasses and sunglasses with free lens: GSHOT50 (sales frames excluded). Affordable doesn't have to mean clunky and unstylish!

Let me know how you get on with the service. 

What are you biggest pet peeves about eyeglasses?

XOXO,

Cindy ♥

Twitter // Instagram // Facebook // Bloglovin

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BLOGMAS | DAY 2: Birthday Haul with Urban Decay

Urban Decay make some of my favorite eyeshadows so when I found out they were giving a free eyeshadow of my choice with any full size purchase, I jumped on the website to see what I could get. At the same time, there were several Cyber Monday week deals happening.

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BLOGMAS | Day 1: October & November Empties 2016

Heeeey all! It's been awhile since I last posted but I was going through finals. I've never studied so hard before in my life, haha. Now that those are out of the way, I can finally put all my ideas down and into the blog! Starting off with my October and November empties, I wanted to share this before it adds up. I've even finished some makeup products, which is always exciting. So let's talk about which ones I'd repurchase and which ones I'm glad are gone.

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HAUL | Sephora 2016 VIB Sale

November is my favorite month because not only do we celebrate Thanksgiving in the U.S. (food! family! FOOD!), it's my birthday month! It's so dangerous because there's so many great sales to tempt me. I pretty much picked up items that I've had my eye on for ages and a gift for my sister. So let's get into the items. :)

I tried a sample of the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream in my Samples Weekly Edit #2, and while it was too rich for summer, it's perfect for this drier fall season. The First Aid Beauty Winter Skin Savers ($38usd) contains one Ultra Repair Cream, One Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration in Vanilla Citron, and two Ultra Repair Lip Therapies, one in colorless and the other in Rosy Red. These are going to be a gift for my sister since she's been complaining about dry skin so I'll have to ask her whether or not it was a good one! Since I too also suffer from dry skin in the colder months, I bought a 2 oz tube of the First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream Intense Hydration ($12usd). They come in various sizes but this one is a good size for me because I only need it for winter so I think this size would see me through the colder weather.

Lisa Eldridge always has the prettiest nails and I was mesmerized by a jade color she was wearing in one of her videos. I didn't want to get that one so I was looking for a dupe and came across the Formula X Nail Color in Supersonic ($10.50 usd). It's very similar in tone to my jade bracelet, so bonus points for that. I haven't tried it on my nails yet but will do so at some point in the future. Unfortunately, it seems as if this brand is being phased out of Sephora so check your local stores to see if they have this color. If you're interested in this color, OPI Jade is the New Black was my inspiration (not cruelty-free though).

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RE-DISCOVERY | Rose Gold Love

It's been too long since my last post. For the past month or so, I've been busy studying for bimonthly exams and now that it's Thanksgiving weekend here in the U.S., I've had some time to catch my breath. So of course, I wanted to finish up some blog posts that have been sitting here for too long. 

I'm not a fan of wearing pink clothing but rose gold is one of my favorite shades to wear on my face! For those who aren't sure what rose gold is, it's a an alloy of copper and gold with a tiny bit of silver. There's something so soft and romantic about it. It adds just enough color without being too loud, exactly my kind of shade. So I've gathered all the rose gold makeup that I own to share with my fellow rose gold lovers. So, let's get to swatching!

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HAUL | Colourpop Fall 2016

If you haven't figured it out already, I've been a tad obsessed with Colourpop lately. I was always a late bloomer so I'm kicking myself for missing out on so many awesome shades! But I believe that it's better late than never so I'm making up for lost time with yet another haul. Most of the eyeshadows and highlighters are from their Fall release and so should still be in stock by the time this post goes up. And if you're anything like me, let's jump right into swatches!

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HAUL | Colourpop X Hello Kitty

Growing up, my sister was a huge fan of Pochacco. She had all the stationary and plushies but the one that kept my attention was Hello Kitty. I had hair clips and pencils with her splashed all over. When I was in high school, one of my closest friends was also a fan, cementing our almost decade-long friendship. So when I got wind about this collection, I marked my calendars and patiently waiting for the day this collection would drop. Instead of going wild and picking up one of everything, I picked up the Mama's Apple Pie quad, one Ultra Satin Lip in Tiny Chum and one Lippie Stix in Konnichiwa. 

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FOTD | Makeup to Beat the Heat

It's been scorching hot in California these past few weeks. Major adjustments were needed to keep me looking perky and fresh. Ditching my liquid foundation and cream products, I went straight for powder products for a long lasting finish that didn't melt off as soon as I stepped out of the refreshing blast of air conditioner. So if you have oily skin or live in a hot climate, I hope that this will help you stay looking put together all day long without the need for heavy duty cleansers at the end of the day!

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BEAUTY ROUNDUP | September 2016

It's Friday, y'all and while I still have classes this weekend, I'm super excited because it's a whole new month for new successes! September has been a turning point for me so I'll always be thankful for second chances. So before I get too sappy, let's talk about things beauty bits I've been loving (and not so loving) this past month.

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EMPTIES | September 2016

September has gone by so quickly that I feel like I have whip lash. I've been focusing on using up my stash instead of buying things so I feel quite proud of the empty products I've amassed. As I continue to clean up my collection, I'm throwing out things that have gone off or just don't make me feel happy, because what is makeup for if not to make me feel good about myself? Anyhoo, let's get into the details!

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PRODUCT SMACKDOWN | Battle of the Lip Balms

It's been over two weeks since I last posted on the blog and I do apologize for the silence. School is my main priority, so I hope you understand. I'm taking human anatomy, along with two other courses, and it's been kicking my butt. I hope this doesn't come across as bragging, but I've never studied so intensely for any course in my life! The last time I was this studious was for AP U.S. History in high school. So, it's definitely a challenge but I'm enjoying everything so far...let's see how I feel by the end, haha. 

Anyhoo, since I start school super early in the mornings, I can only put in minimal effort. On top of that, the past few weeks have been hot and dry. Out of all lip products, lip balms are my favorite because they require little to no effort to apply and don't look horrible if I don't do touch ups. I mean, not much to touch up throughout the day if it's a lip balm?  I've been rotating between the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments, Maybelline Baby Lips, the Burt's Bees Replenishing Lip Balm and the ULTA Lip Balm. So let's get into my thoughts on each!

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HAUL | Colourpop Shadows and Lippies

After following the Youtube beauty community for several years and being burned countless of times, I hesitated on jumping on the Colourpop bandwagon. KathleenLights is one of my favorite Youtubers so when she released her second collaboration with Colourpop, I wanted to show my support. But as every beauty lover is prone to do, my eyes started wandering and I ended up with 8 Super Shock Eyeshadows, 3 Ultra Matte Lips, 2 Lippie Stix, 1 Satin Matte Lip and 1 Lippie Pencil. For someone trying to downsize her collection, hauls seem counterintuitive. But I have no other reason for wanting this other than that I cannot turn away from glittery shadows and affordable products.  I have swatches of the lip products and two looks for y'all. I wanted to keep the shadows looking pretty for a review so I haven't swatched them for the blog but will include those photos soon!

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PRODUCT SMACKDOWN | Benefit's Watt's Up v NYX Bright Idea Illuminating Stick

We are in the height of the highlighting craze so I thought a Product Smackdown comparing my two favorite highlighters would be apt. I have come a long way from my powdery matte finish days. With the inundation of highlighting products, I have amended my routine to include subtle highlights. In my experience, cream highlighters are the best at achieving a natural, dewy glow. Benefit's Watts Up! Highlighter has been a long time favorite due to its subtle radiance. Recently, I found the NYX Bright Idea Illuminating Stick through a lazy browse on Ulta's website. Intrigued, I scanned the colors and saw that Chardonnay Shimmer suspiciously looked similar to Watt's Up and immediately put it in my basket. After a good trial, I'm ready to share my findings with y'all today!

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BEAUTY ROUNDUP | August 2016

The end of August has been a busy month for me as I went back to school. As such, blog posts will be even more sporadic than they already are, haha. But anyway, let's talk about all the products I've been using all month. This one is heavily skincare-based as I've been reaching for all the same things from the previous months, so if you want to know about my makeup favorites, check the previous Beauty Roundups!

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EMPTIES | August 2016

 August was a productive month for me as I finally tackled my collection. I went through every item, tossing the bad stuff and organizing the pretties that was still useable. I've been documenting my progress through my Destashing Project, so click on the link to see what makeup I'm keeping and which I'm saying goodbye to. I didn't finish every item in here but most of them have gone bad so I want to clear them out. So without further ado, let's get into the products!

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FOTD | Quick & Easy Back to School Makeup

I'm writing this while waiting for my first class of the semester to start, so excuse the spelling mistakes, hehe. I'm sure many of you can empathize with me on first day jitters. I can never get a good night's sleep before an important event so I'm dealing with dark circles, watery eyes and lackluster skin. Waking up in the morning isn't a struggle for me but I can be sluggish. Doing my makeup gives my brain to wake up as well as giving me a confidence boost. Because I'm quite slow in the mornings, I decided to do a bare basics look and time myself. But I also wanted to see how long it would take me if I added a few things here and there for a complete look, which lately is turning into my fancy face, haha.

So I'll be walking y'all through my bare basics look and my fancy face to give you some ideas and tips. If you aren't going back to school, lucky you! This'll still work for work or any other occasion in which you just want the bare necessities and don't want to be faffing about with a billion brushes.

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REVIEW | it Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream SPF 50+

As an avid Korean makeup lover, bb creams and cc creams are nothing new to me. In fact, most Western versions disappointed me because they lacked the skincare aspect. Color options were slightly improved but formulations were mostly disappointing. When the it Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream SPF 50+ was released, I turned away. However, a  glowing review from Emily Noel made me change my mind. Still slightly skeptical, I went with the travel size. After giving it several months of wear, I'm ready to share my thoughts!

{AT A GLANCE}

The it Cosmetics CC Cream fuses makeup and skincare. Claiming to offer full coverage without creasing or cracking in fine lines, it contains physical sunscreens only as well as various vitamins and botanical extracts for brighter, hydrated and smoother skin. This formula is paraben free for those concerned. it Cosmetics was recently acquired by L'Oreal and so may not be considered cruelty-free for some. In my case, I do consider in cruelty-free as long as they continue to not test either ingredients nor the finished products on animals during any stage of manufacturing AND do not sell in China. 

Each full-sized bottle contains 1.08 fl oz/32ml for $38usd. That comes out to $35.19usd per oz. The travel sized bottle contains 0.4 fl oz for $15usd. That comes out to $37.50usd per oz. Pretty comparable since travel sizes usually come out to be more expensive than buying the full size. Shade range includes 5 colors but the travel sizes only come in two: Light and Medium. I have mine in Light.

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REVIEW | Physician's Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer

Summer is on its way out here in the Northern Hemisphere but I'm going to hold onto it as best as I can! This was definitely the summer of bronzers for me. I fell in love with the bareMinerals' Skinny Dip last year so when everyone was raving about the Physicians Formula Murumuru Butter Bronzer, I had to give it a try. If you're bronzer-averse like me, I'd definitely recommend it!

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HEART TO HEART | Make up with a Heart Turns 3! + Giveaway

Another 365 days have passed and boy, have things changed. This is more of a personal post so it's going to get serious and gloomy for a bit but I promise there's a light at the end of the tunnel. If you're here for the makeup, just
skip to the giveaway--you won't hurt my feelings. But if you want to hear more about my boring life, keep reading :)

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DE-STASHING PROJECT | Going Cruelty-Free: Lip Edition

I'm back for another De-Stashing Project! This time, it's all my non-cruelty free lip products. If you haven't been keeping up with this series, I am transitioning to a cruelty-free blog so I went through and pulled out everything that isn't CF. Attempting to use up all my non-CF stuff up first is the main goal but I'm also hoping to cut down my collection because I want to curate a collection of all my favorite things. This is the last part of the makeup before I move onto skincare and then hair/body. Eventually, I will go through the rest of my collection until it is down to a manageable size. So without further ado, let's move into the products!

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FOTD | Simone Biles' Rio Olympics Inspired Makeup

As a kid, I remember having many dreams about what I'd be when I grew up. Becoming a teacher and a violinist are some of the ones I remember most clearly. But every four years, I'd watch the Olympics with my dad and every time the women's gymnastics program came on, I'd be glued to the screen and mesmerized. I'd do tumbles and leaps all around the house for days until my mom told me to sit down and read before I knock over yet another expensive vase. 

This year was a bit different and I've been avoiding watching the Olympics. However, my mom turned it on last night and we watched the women's team event and being the makeup junkie that I am, I was mesmerized by Simone Biles' eye makeup. The colorful glitter pop on her lower lashline felt fun and patriotic at the same time. I'm a bit too old to be doing tumbles and leaps so instead, I wanted to recreate that look for you. I'd post the photo for you but I've just been reading about copyright so I'll link you to the photo instead, hehe. 

Basically, she has a light golden satin eyeshadow all over her upper lid with a cat eye. On the lower lash line, she has red glitter on the outer corner, silver glitter in the center and blue glitter on the inner corner. There's different variations of this look but I like the one using the U.S. flag's color scheme the most. So, let's dive into the makeup!

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REVIEW | Becca x Jaclyn Hill Champagne Collection Face Palette

I'm super late to the whole Champagne Pop party but it's still fashionable to be late, right? I wanted to be completely sure about my feelings on this palette before I wrote this review but as always, I'm never on time. Still, I wanted to get this out because 4 out of the 5 products are available in duos so y'all can pick and choose what you like instead. So, let's get into this review!

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BEAUTY ROUND-UP | July 2016

July is finally over and that means only one more month until school starts! It's been a month of ups and downs but let's focus on makeup, shall we?These are the 8 products I've been using this month so let's dive in. 

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EMPTIES | July 2016

 I posted a June Empties a couple of posts back but I wanted to be on time, so here's another one! I have tons of stuff on its last legs so August will probably be busy too. Do you ever run out of things at the same time? That happens often for me, haha. So let's talk about the nine products I finished up this month!

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PRODUCT SMACKDOWN | Vitamin C Spot Corrector: Garnier vs Paula's Choice

It's been a hot minute since I've done a product review so I'm sorry if it's not up to my usual thoroughness. Also, it's been a year and a few months since I've finished these products so my memory isn't the best but I'll be as descriptive as I can. You're probably here because you have some dark spots you'd like gone. So let's see how these stack up to each other, eh?

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DE-STASHING PROJECT | Going Cruelty Free: Face Edition

Here's the next installment of my Going Cruelty Free De-Stashing Project: the Face Edition. If you aren't all caught up, that's cool, life's busy. The long and short of it is that I've decided to go cruelty-free. I'm starting off with my makeup because that's the easiest for me but then I'd like to sort through my skincare and haircare products as well. 

Note that these are mostly my non-cruelty free items with a few cruelty free items thrown in here because I have extra or just didn't care for them right off the bat. Eventually, I want to whittle down my cruelty-free stuff and develop a capsule makeup collection, if you will. So, let's start since I have a ton of products to go through!

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BEAUTY ROUND-UP | June 2016: The Throwback Edition

It's that time of time of the month when I share about all the products I've liked these past few months. I call this the throw back edition because they're all products I've had for a while. Pulling them out for the Great Purge (a destashing project where I go through my entire collection to use up all my non-CF products) reminded me how much I love them. I am going cruelty-free so most of these will not be repurchased but I'll still talk about them while  I have them. Without further ado, let's get into the products!

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EMPTIES | June 2016

 Hello everyone! Long time no blog...and it's getting repetitive. The long and short of it is that I am going through some tough family issues that pretty much suck all the happiness out of my life. I'm not a crier but I've broken down twice this week. Instead of moping around and feeling sorry for myself, I decided to return to the things I love, mainly blogging and makeup. So, I'm starting my return with a June empties post, even though it's the middle of July, haha. I'm not the most consistent when it comes to blogging these days but bonus points for being unconventional? 

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DE-STASHING PROJECT | Samples Weekly Edit #2

If y'all were wondering what happened to last week's installment, I deeply apologize. I'm not the best when it comes to consistency but I had a bad reaction to an insect bite over the weekend. I talk about it detail in my Just Peachy Summer Makeup post so head on over there for the full scoop and a tutorial! Now, let's move onto the samples I used these past two weeks.

HAIR & BODY

L'Oreal EverSleek Sulfate Free Shampoo. Conditioner and Humidity Defying Leave-in Creme -- I like the idea of sulfate-free shampoos but if you have oily hair like me or use lots of hair products, you're going to go through a bottle of this in weeks. It did clean my hair but like always, the mop got oily and flat by the end of the night. I much prefer the Volumizing line by L'Oreal. 

Bottom Line: It's a pass...

Living Proof Prime Style Extender -- I like the smell of this, a peppery citrus scent. However, I didn't notice much extending of my style. Maybe it's because I don't blow dry my hair after applying this, letting my hair air dry instead. But my hair is notoriously hard to style. It's sleek and straight so clips and bands slide out in minutes and curls drop by the end of the hour. I prefer to let my hair dry in a bun, which is the only way for the curl to stay for longer than two hours. This didn't help add shape or curl like the L'Oreal Volume Filler Densifying Creme. The Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Treatment is much better at adding volume and holding a curl.

Bottom Line: It's a pass. 

Le Couvent Des Minimes Gardener's Hand Healer -- I've been gardening more and constantly washing my hands and digging holes does a number to my already dry hands. This is a lightweight watery lotion. The smell is quite medicinal and herbal. It's not a scent I enjoy but it did help my hands without being greasy.

Bottom Line: Not going to purchase...

Ahava Dead Sea Osmosis Body Concentrate  -- Serum for your body is what this claims to be. It targets dull body skin, toning and evening skin texture. I haven't much luck with Ahava products in the past but this piqued my interest. Not sure if this works on stretch marks or hyperpigmentation marks (from old insect bites) but that's where I applied it. Since this is just a sample, I didn't see any difference. Skipping lotion after a shower pretty much guarantees my skin will look like the Sahara Desert but this is moisturizing enough for me to skip lotion altogether.

Bottom Line: For $45usd, I'm not going to be shelling out for something like this. Good concept though!

Matrix Biolage Blue Agave Blow-in Control Shape Memory Cream -- 

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EOTD | Just Peachy Summertime Makeup 🍑

Hey, all! I didn't mean to be absent for a week but last weekend, I had a bad reaction to an insect bite. My left arm was basically a swollen lump and my joints were aching. It was totally weird...Since my arm hurt to move, long hours typing and editing were out of the question. The medication I was on totally knocked me out and I was tired all the time since I kept waking up from the intense itching. Moral of the story: don't ignore those bites! The sooner you get treatment, the better you'll heal.I'm feeling much better but the bite area is peeling...which is gross and totally not the point of this post, hehe. 

Summer is right around the corner and peach and coral totally get me in the mood for summer makeup! So, to bid adieu to spring and welcome summer, I have an easy tutorial rocking the peach and coral  look. I'm using drugstore eyeshadows and these don't irritate my eyes--yay! I'm still loving the NYX Avant Pop! Palette in Surreal My Heart. There are all the basic shades I need to create virtually any eye with some lovely blue and yellow pops. My only gripe is that the colors are much more vibrant and darker in real life than they are on the website. The light periwinkle blue turned out to be a bright cobalt; I'm not complaining because I love blue shadows but I wish the colors online were more true to life. But let's move onto the tutorial!

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DESTASHING PROJECT | Going Cruelty Free: Eye Edition Pt. 2

This is part 2 of my Eye Makeup De-stashing Project! If you haven't checked out part 1 of the De-Stashing Project: Eye Edition, head on over there to find out what eyeshadows are staying and which are going onto greener pastures.

So without further ado, here is me trying to decide what to keep and what to let go...harder than it looks :(

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DESTASHING PROJECT | Going Cruelty-Free: Eye Edition Pt. 1

Welcome to the first part of my De-Stashing Project! As you all know if you read the previous post, this blog is going cruelty-free. I have been limiting my purchases to cruelty-free only items but decided that it was finally time to go through my collection and either sell or use up the non-cruelty stuff. The process took me at least 3 hours plus photography time but it's been organized and being put to use. Since I have such an overwhelming amount, it was difficult to find things but with the way things are now, I am reaching for more products and getting use out of them. We're starting off with the eyes since it was the easiest to go through.

When I finished writing this post, it was super long and ain't nobody got time for essays. So, I'll be splitting it into two parts. This first part (going up today) will be single eyeshadows and palettes while the second part will be eye primers, eyeliners eye crayons and mascaras. The second part will go up on Saturday so you get an extra post this week--yay!

 I'll be keeping tally of what's staying and what's going to a better home. So let's get started!

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HEART TO HEART | MWAH is Going Cruelty Free!

Since two years ago, I've been trying to live a healthier lifestyle. I exercise three times a week and have stopped eating red meat, incorporating more veggies and fruits into my diet. Sugary drinks were banished from my menu and most sugary foods have disappeared from my regular diet. That doesn't mean that I don't eat ice cream or chocolates, but I treat them as indulgences, a once-in-a-while treat. I actually lost weight and felt so much better! 

That motivated me to green-ify other aspects of my life. Makeup is a major passion of mine, if you hadn't noticed ;), so I looked into going cruelty-free. I didn't think it was possible but after some light research, I realized it wasn't difficult. Some of the blogs I find most helpful are crueltyfreekitty and Logical Harmony. Cruelty-free mean different things to different people. For me, the products  must be verified by PETA/Leaping Bunny/similar entity and cannot be sold in China. If the brand is owned by a parent company that tests but the brand itself is cruelty-free, I still choose to support it. This stance isn't very popular but I hope my readers and future readers can respect my decision. As sentient beings, we can decide for ourselves what is right for our lifestyle. Criticism and comments are always welcome on my blog but they must be presented with respect. I do not tolerate vitriolic or hateful speech in real life and my blog is a personal extension of me. So now that we have that out of the way, let's go down my journey!

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FIRST IMPRESSIONS | Sonia Kashuk Knockout Beauty Spring Collection

It's nearly summer yet I'm still stuck on this spring release from Sonia Kashuk. The Knock Out Beauty Collection has a wonderful message behind it. Some brands are capitalizing on different social movements and jumping on the bandwagon while turning a profit. Some view that as problematic but I'm all for beauty with a cause. 

After seeing photos all over Instagram, I decided to bite the bullet and purchase three items: the Knock Out Beauty Skin Glow in Golden Gloves, Knock Out Beauty Eye Liner in Split Decisions and Knock Out Beauty Nail Colour in Roll with the Punches.

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DE-STASHING PROJECT | Samples Weekly Edit #1

As I mentioned in my Beauty Samples Hoarder post, I've made a commitment to use up more of my items. I like to save things for rainy days or for travel but they end up going bad before I get any use out of it. Stockpiling items has made my collection grow out of control and like I mentioned before, I've lugged all of these items through 3 houses and since I'm about to move again, I really need to clear things out.

Each week, I'll pull out at least 5 samples from 3 categories: hair & body, skincare and makeup, to use throughout the week. Every Sunday, I'll report back and give mini-reviews. I'll try to include swatches but since these aren't official reviews, I apologize ahead of time if there aren't any!

So with the introductions made, let's get into the juicy bits!

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DE-STASHING PROJECT | Confessions of a Beauty Samples Hoarder

I mentioned on Twitter that I would be resurrecting this series on my blog. If you don't already follow me, my handle is @MakeupWithAHart. Do it and find out about sneak peeks and my day-to-day life! 

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FOTD | Current Foundation Routine

I'm a creature of habit so when I find something that works for me, I stick with it. Also, finding a great color match makes it difficult for me to use just one product for foundation. Since discovering this gem, I have finally found a cruelty-free option that I can sing the praises from the rooftops! I don't like to jump on trendy products as much as I used to, so it's taken me a long time to finally give the itCosmetics Your Skin but Better CC Cream a try. And my goodness, why was I ever so hesitant?? This is seriously HG material. But I'll save all the gushing for a later review; let's just get into my current foundation routine that I've been enjoying for the past 2 months.

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EMPTIES | Collective + May 2016

I can't believe this is the first empties post of 2016 and the year is half over, naughty blogger...If you've been through traumatic events, you know what I'm talking about. Your normal routine disappears, self-care becomes survival mode and hobbies goes out the window. But this post is not about that so I'll talk you through the products I will repurchase until the end of time and the products I'd run the other way from.

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FOTD | Sparkly Purple Prom Makeup 2.0

I meant to post this up waaaay earlier than this to make it in time for prom season, #storyofmylife, BUT if your prom has already passed, take this as a #throwbackThursday! My senior year prom was back in 2011, which isn't that long ago, now that I think about it...I was adamant about doing my own look after a friend's quinceanera fiasco a year back. At the time, I was super proud of my look, evidenced by my wide smile. I usually don't smile as wide anymore but I was also ecstatic about getting my braces off in time for prom, haha. 

While my 2011 look isn't horrendous, there are many things I would improve upon, like my base makeup, which was virtually nothing, and eyeshadow. So, I decided to call my updated look "Sparkly Prom Makeup 2.0", abbreviated to SPM 2.0 for future reference. Unfortunately, I no longer remember or have the original items used in SPM 1.0 so I substituted with items readily available in 2016. So with improved product formulas and additional experience, I'll walk you through my updated look! 

Oh gosh, the nostalgia of 17-year old Cindy...

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EOTD | Pastel Spring Makeup - Diane Von Furstenberg Spring '16-Inspired

To get back into the swing of blogging, I've been putting together tons of makeup looks. Spring is almost over but I think with a bit of bronzer and coral blush/lips, it would be a great transition into a summer look. 

Products used in the look!

I've been a bit bored of natural eye makeup so I've been playing around with color. My favorite color is mint so I pulled together all my mint-colored items together and created this look inspired by Diane von Furstenberg's Spring '16 fashion show. Now I am no Pat McGrath so my recreation is a pale shadow compared to the real deal so here's a link to the actual look: DVF Spring 16 Makeup.

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HAUL | Collective ULTA + Sephora Birthday Haul

So it's been several months since I've posted on this blog. I'm sorry about the prolonged absence but real life has been draining my energy, leaving me with none for blogging. It's a little awkward getting back into it; I've actually been very nervous about posting again in such a long time. Anyone else feel me on that?

Anyhoo, I've bought all these things last year around November and most of it's just been sitting here, waiting for me to crack it open and use it. I'm embarrassed to say that most of it hasn't been tested at all and still sits in its original packaging. However, I will give updates when I do get around to testing everything. 

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BLOGGER BOOT CAMP | Day 15: Transformation Tuesday: Once Upon a Time inspired

Hello everyone! Spring is in full force here in California and I'm so glad. I'm getting ready to plant my flowers. For #TransformationTuesday, I decided to transform myself into a character in one of my all-time favorite tv shows, Snow White from Once Upon a Time! Her look is always so fresh-faced and lovely, so I think it'll look great throughout the Spring. I even attempted false lashes in this post and I think I did okay for a first try!

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