Sale Alert - Asos Mid-Season Sale

With free shipping and returns, you cannot beat Asos's mid-season sale.  I bought the skirt below a few weeks ago.  I ordered on a Monday, and got it on Thursday or Friday!   They have a lot of great maxi skirt options I had to restrain myself from.  Remember what you like or want to hide about your body when choosing the skirt of your choice.  Even though some of the models are super skinny, you can can still see some extra curves due to shapely legs or hips in a tight, unstructured skirt.  They usually try to hide these body bumps with arm and hand placement. 

photo credit: asos.com

Review - Clinique Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20

I have to give this product two thumbs up.  It didn't solve all of my discoloration problems, but I am happy with the results.

I used the Even Better moisturizer in the mornings, and did notice an old acne scar fading after 4 weeks.  The 6th week passed on May 14th (almost 2 weeks ago) and I definitely see a difference.  Last year I ran out of some of my tried-and-true skincare products so I had a few very nasty pimples that left lasting marks (imagine this: one didn't go away for a few weeks even after getting a professional facial so I finally squeezed it, and 4 adjacent pores emptied out and it took quite a few minutes to get all of the gunk out) and they are almost gone now.  I also noticed a difference on my overall skintone.  My cheeks are naturally lighter than the rest of my face, which is common with women of color, and today I did notice that there was visibly less of a difference.  This never really bothered me beforehand, so this is a pleasant surprise! 

I will say that I noticed that I  developed a few tiny blemishes here and there, rather than one or two pre-menstruation.  No big deal though - they disappeared quickly.

When I mentioned before that it didn't affect all of my discoloration, I was referring to the area around my mouth.   Immediately next to the side of my mouth it is very light, and then in the smile crease area, it is dark.  So unfortunately, this highlights the hair that grows on my upper lip D=  Realistically, I will probably have to get professional peels and things of that nature to solve that situation because of the skin gathering in that region that causes the shadow...

So I am now wondering when I run out, will I have to repurchase? I am assuming that the blotchiness  won't return, and my night cream (Dr. Eckstein Krauter Supreme)already helps fade acne scars, though it works more slowly compared to Clinique's Even Better day moisturizer.  I apply the cream sparingly, so I barely put a dent in the jar - it damn near looks unused, so I will probably be using this at least through September.  I will continue to use it every morning, but I will be vacationing in a month, so after my skin gets some sun,  I will see if any unevenness comes back.

photo credit: clinique.com

Spring Cleaning - Makeup

I used to be OBSESSSSSSED with makeup - eyeshadows and lipglosses galore.  Earlier this year I started my bedroom on a massive cleanup effort and realized I just liked to buy makeup.  I dumped all but 2 lipglosses, a bunch of palettes I never touched, and a ton of lipsticks I never wore.  I never wear makeup daily, just when I would go out.  Even then, I couldn't recreate the gorgeous and creative looks I had in mind while buying all that makeup! So now I just pared down to the basics and kept some other stuff for fun or if I ever feel like getting into a crazy mood (who am I kidding? lol).

So for a regular night out, here are The Basics:

Uneven skintone:  My skin tone is blotchy and I have dark circles, occasional blemishes, and a few acne scars, but I really don't feel like painting my skin with concealer, foundation, powder, etc., etc.  I've accepted that my face is imperfect, so now I just use a tinted moisturizer.  I've mentioned this before, but I love Youngblood Cosmetic's Mineral Radiance Moisture Tint.

Black eyeliner: This will always be a must for me.  When I first started wearing makeup, it was when I was 12 and it was just liquid eyeliner on my inner rim.  Not exactly a good look, but I learned from my mistakes! I have a few in my arsenal that I use depending on what's sharp or what sort of look I am going for.  I like Urban Decay's 24/7 Eye Pencils, Korres Soft eyeliner, and Guerlain Terracotta Loose Powder Kohl liner.

Black mascara: Like I said on a previous post, right now I am using LashBlast, but will be going back to Korres sometime soon, unless I decide to try another brand.

Lips: When the Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tars hit the Youtube gurus I was instantly smitten. I bought Tarred (black), NSFW (red), Pageant (bright pink), and Safety Orange.  This was back when they only had a few colors! I never really used them but recently found a combination that looks great on me: I mixed NSFW and Pageant (more red than pink) and added a drop of Tarred.  It created a gorgeous purple.  On a side note, I made the tragic mistake of buying a new blackberry without a flash (I thought a flash was standard, guess not) so I can't really snap any good pictures.

I mix the colors on a paper towel with a lip brush, paint on, blot a few times, apply again and blot again.  They will not stick if you just smear it on and go.



Eyebrows: My eyebrows disappear in photos if I don't fill them in, plus I think that it brings more character to my face when I'm trying to look good, lol.  I use the tools from the NYX eyebrow palette (small, stiff angled brush and a spooly) by touching the brush to black, grey, and dark brown eyeshadows. I actually started using the shadows instead of the eyebrow palette because, like the rest of NYX's products, the packaging broke.  The site says they are using new/different packaging but I would take that with a grain of salt.

photos lifted from: ybskin.com, urbandecay.com, korresusa.com, sephora.com, occmakeup.com, and nyxcosmetics.com

What to Wear with Cropped Pants (Under $200)

Above-the-ankle pants will be pretty hot until about next year, and we can probably expect to see them most with ballet flats and a fitted tee - a very classic look that is very commonly associated with Audrey Hepburn.  But I would like to see a different look that is a little more unexpected.  Suede lace-up shoes will toughen up the look, while the drapey-ness of a jersey top will make the look more feminine, relaxed, and sexy.

Shoes:

Clark's Desert Boot (men's sizes, $100):

Rachel Rachel Roy Lenice ($120):

DV Dolce Vita Pascal ($88):

J.Crew MacAlister ($198):

Tops:

Rachel Rachel Roy  Maggie ($49):

Rachel Rachel Roy Twisted Shoulder Top ($43.99):

TopShop Orange Seventies Stripe Tee ($32):

TopShop Grey Marl Baseball Tee ($50):

Reiss Holly ($115):

Reiss Bluebell (also pictured above, $135):

Mossimo Drapey Tee ($14.99):

photos lifted from: reiss.co.uk, zappos.com, rachelroy.com, shopdolcevita.com, jcrew.com, topshop.com, and target.com

Platforms for Summer (Under $200)

I have my eye on a few pairs of shoes for summer.  For best in show this season, Nine West is the big winner in my opinion.

Colorblock: This style seems to be very popular - the style from Asos is sold out, but I hope it will come back in stock...

Asos Haven ($170.34):

Nine West Stylin ($89):

Espadrilles: My favorite category! If I only get one pair of shoes this year, I would choose Braxton, I love them! I can't wait to buy them and wear them.  I also really love Illy - can't you just imagine a young Marilyn Monroe wearing them?

Nine West Braxton ($99):

Nine West Illy ($140):

Nine West Keenster ($89):

Nine West Nacia ($89):

Rachel Rachel Roy Shiori ($139):

The sexy/tough super-platform: You will be able to touch the sky wearing these heels! I am normally not a fan of mules or peep-toes, but I really love the pair offered by Rachel Rachel Roy.

Rachel Rachel Roy Fenwick ($149):

TopShop Pristine ($195):

Frye Tamara, ($198):

photos lifted from asos.com, ninewest.com, rachelroy.com, topshop.com, and stores.thefrycompany.com