cynthia lions: 2013

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Meet My Best Friend The Tiger Balm

Tiger Balm and I are the best of friends on days when I have a headache or if I’m feeling any minor aches or soreness in my muscles/anywhere. I have ditched advil and all medicine for now and I only reach for Tiger Balm when I am feeling any sort of pain anywhere. It’s super strong and I love the minty tingly icy hot feeling it gives to relieve pain. It’s usually in a pot and is a concentrated ointment but I have this topical cream version currently that I picked up at CVS or something. (BTW it's amazing they sell this in regular American drugstores!!) I bought it when I was feeling a lot of pain in my calves from working out but it works equally as well for headaches and any other minor pains. I am picking up a pot version soon!

Tiger Balm – Works where it hurts!

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Wednesday, December 18, 2013

MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Concealer

This is a recent purchase for me and I was influenced by Kourtney Kardashian's post on Inthegloss. She mentioned she uses the Make Up For Ever High Definition Concealer for under eyes and although I am loyal to my Bobbi Brown Corrector, I wanted something else for just under my eyes (on top of the Bobbi Brown) to brighten and cancel out dark circles. I picked up the shade 330 and have been applying it every morning around my under eye area so it brightens the whole area. It really does give this brighter, soft focus feel to the face. It looks really smooth and overall really nice. The concealer is much thicker than the concealers I’m used to. Once you apply it really stays put. It’s oil-free and blends in really well. It comes in 14 shades which is amazing and I think the applicator is very unique, sanitary and easy to use. All in all I’m impressed so far and love using this! Also, this will be great to use if you know you're going to be on camera!

Hope everyone is staying warm!

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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

December 2013 Birchbox

December's Birchbox has arrived! This month the packaging was a little bit more festive than usual though the products inside weren’t all that festive as I’d imagine.

Nonetheless I was really excited to receive a sample size of Embryolisse Lait-Creme Concetre. I used to use this religiously a few years ago but stopped just because I wanted to try out some new products. I’m leaving for a trip soon so I will definitely be using this on my travels. It’s a favorite among makeup artists and it’s just a really simple good moisturizer that works well to prep the skin for makeup.

Next I got the Hayadi Pure Happy Smooth styling lotion to help tame frizz and add shine to hair. It’s a keratin-infused styling lotion to use with any heat styling (blow dry, curl, straighten). I think I will like this because often times with the spray I’m not sure if I’ve gotten product on all my hair, but the lotion seems much easier to apply.

I also got a teeny tiny sample of the Jouer Pink Glace Moisturizing Lip Gloss. I still haven’t tried this but I love all things Jouer and this looks like a cute little sample to toss into my clutch for a night out.

This really intrigued me - the Sarahpotempa The Half-Up hair tool. I still haven’t been able to really understand how to use it because I think I have too much hair… but I look forward to attempting a half-up style, small top know or low bun…

Finally I got chocolate again… Fatty Sundays Gourmet Chocolate Covered Pretzel and since I don’t really like chocolate I was a little disappointed to get this. It doesn’t really look like an appetizing chocolate covered pretzel either…

Overall it was an alright delivery this month. There are a few products I'm excited to try but not my favorite box I've ever gotten.

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Monday, December 16, 2013

The Best Smelling Body Butter Ever

I have been missing out and the Peach scented Body Butter from the Body Shop all my life. Thank goodness it's mine now. The Body Shop Vineyard Peach Body Butter is my favorite step in the morning and night to slather onto my dry limbs. Even though I am a serious Kiehl's Creme de Corps fan (see my post here), I cannot get over how good this smells so I have set that aside for the meantime. It seriously smells like fresh fuzzy peaches and fuzzy being the keyword. Please go in to smell this scent next time you pop into The Body Shop. I ordered this along with a few more things on Cyber Monday and the site was 50% everything but I think that promotion is still going on with a friends and family sale so definitely check out the website!

Besides how incredible it smells (how many times can I mention that), it's a nice thick creme that isn't as lotiony as most body lotions. I like that about it because it doesn't feel oily or take a long time to sink into the skin. I wonder if they make a hand cream... I have a feeling I need to carry this around with me at all times.

Happy Monday!

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Friday, December 13, 2013

The 5 Product Face #2

We all get a little lazy sometimes over the weekend or on days we barely even leave the house. On those type of days (Sundays) I like to use as little makeup as possible but still enough to look presentable. Back in July I tackled this subject of the 5 Product Face. Here is another take on no makeup makeup look using only 5 products:

I start with Dr. Jart's Water Fuse BB Cream. Since it is water based I know that it's light, gives light coverage and just leaves my skin feeling like skin. The important this is it still evens out skin tone and gives some life back into my tired morning face AND it has SPF 25. Next I fill in my brows with Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Ash because I absolutely refuse to leave the house without filling in my brows. To open up my eyes I apply some Loreal Telescopic otherwise I'll hear the “You look really tired” comments all day. My next step is my favorite step in winter because for my I just need that extra glow: RMS Living Luminizer. I dab this on the top of my cheekbones, down the center of my nose, under my eyebrows and above my cupids bow (whew that was a long list). This definitely gives you a subtle glow that just makes you look young, luminous and healthy. Lastly I need a lip product and something that will last all day are the YSL lip stains. They are super easy to apply and just stay put. I have a really natural shade #7 that just gives your lips a light pink wash. And that's it!

Hope everyone has a nice weekend! Stay warm if you're in NYC!

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Thursday, December 12, 2013

e.l.f. Brush for Cheeks

I finally came to realize that using a brush with cream blush needed to happen. (woah brush for cream blush is incredibly hard to say) I love the ease and effortless feel of applying cream blush with my fingers, but most days I think I just wished I had the option to apply it more evenly and smoothly with a brush. I picked up the e.l.f. studio small stipple brush this week and so far it has been the best decision I have made all week. The brushes (and there are a lot of choose from) are only $3. I repeat. $3!! You cannot beat that price. I decided to go with the small stipple brush because it still gives me good control over which areas of the cheek I want the blush to go and the stipple brushes don't pick up too much product so you can go in with a light hand as well. Overall I am super happy. The brush is super soft and I just still can't get over the $3 price. Stippling brushes are amazing at giving you that air brushed effect to your skin and you can use this brush for foundation, concealer, powder or cream blush - pretty much whatever your heart desires. My blush now looks so natural and well blended. Thank you e.l.f.!

Go pick up some e.l.f. brushes. Now.

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Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Amika

I try to do a hair mask about once or twice a week. Lately I have been loving the Amika Obliphica Nourishing Mask. Masks can help give your hair that extra moisture, help with any damage and can help prevent split ends. I discovered this while browsing through Birchbox’s products and saw this had really good reviews (almost 700!) and decided to give it a try. It's a great affordable price and will last a long time since I only use it once a week. I like to apply this mostly to my ends and stay away from my roots because I tend to get very oily quickly. I leave it on in the shower for about 5 minutes and then rinse it out. My hair feels instantly so soft and while I still like my $3 Aussie 3 Minute Miracle Mask, the Amika mask feels much more thick and rich. This is definitely a product to pick up for some winter hair rescue if you're in need of a new hair mask!

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Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Goodnight Skin #2

I wrote about my night time skincare routine back in August this year. I am still using Bioderma to remove my makeup and I'm switching up my cleanser these days, but these are the core products I have been using every night.

First I have been toning my face with Lush's Tea Tree Water. I quite like this spray toner because it targets acne prone skin. It's simple ingredients help reduce oil and balance skin tone. Using toner helps prep my skin for my serum and moisturizer. Next I apply an eye cream. I'm almost done using a deluxe sample size of the Amore Pacific Rejuvenating Eye Treatment Gel. This absorbs into the skin so easily and feels really nice and light. The treatment gel helps with dark circles and puffiness and fine lines. I like using it but I don't think I will purchase the full size because it's a whopping $85.

I always apply a serum at night before my moisturizer. Currently I am using the Missha Time Revolution Real Expert Serum. This serum helps brighten dark spots and even pigmentation. It smells good and feels really smooth and nice on the skin. I enjoy applying this and will report back later about any results I see. For my moisturizer I am still using the Boscia Clear Complexion Moisturizer. I talked about this back in August here. I was using this day and night but I realized that you can absolutely not wear this under makeup. Anything you apply to your skin after this has been applied will cause the lotion to ball up and flake off your face. It's still a great moisturizer but I can only use this at night.

Night time is such an essential time for your skin to rest and recover. I also like to apply overnight face masks and will be writing a post on that soon.

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Monday, December 9, 2013

Gold Nails

This time of year makes me want to pull out the glitter and gold nail polishes. Currently I'm wearing the shimmering copper gold Color Club shade called Top Shelf from one my of recent Birchbox monthly boxes. It's from the Cocktail Hour Collection (cute name) and is perfect all winter long and is especially fitting for any holiday parties or New Years. It's makes me feel more festive because I normally go for the solid no glitter super shiny nail polish shades. This is quite a metallic shade and I think its a great way to compliment your outfit for any holiday parties.

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Friday, December 6, 2013

2014 Pantone Color - Radiant Orchid

Pantone has just announced the Color of next year and it’s Radiant Orchid! (This year it's Emerald Green). Radiant Orchid is a beautiful shade of purple. It's somewhere between lilac, fuchsia and mauve. It's a color I definitely can see myself wearing for Spring (especially on my nails). Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute, described Radiant Orchid as “an enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones" that "inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health." It’s a beautiful color in makeup and as well as fashion. I pulled together a few things I thought would be beautiful to incorporate into your closet and face for 2014’s It Color.

1. Chinti and Parker Heart-Intarsia Cashmere Sweater
2. Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar in Hoochie
3. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Never Say Never
4. Marc Jacobs Beauty Shameless Bold Blush in Outspoken
5. Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Grab

Will you be sporting Radiant Orchid next year?

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Thursday, December 5, 2013

My First Glossybox

You all know how much I love getting my Birchbox packages each month in the mail. This month I decided to treat myself to something a little more special - a Glossybox! The glossyboxes are double the price of the Birchboxes. They're $21/month or you can do longer subscriptions that over are slightly cheaper. You receive 5 beauty products delivered to your doorstep! The packaging for Glossybox feels much more luxe and it was very exciting opening it up, but I am a little disappointed in the products I got.

This month's theme is holiday romance. Dramatic eyes and lips.

Here is what I got:

Mastey Color Protecting Leave-In Oil Treatment
I always use a leave-in treatment for my hair after I get out of the shower so this one will be great for travel! Contains a special combination of argan oil, olive oil and grape seed extract.

The Aloe Source Jojoba Radiance Cleansing Polish
This sounds like a nice makeup remover/face wash/exfoliator in one.

Nicka K New York Professional Eyeshadow Brush
This seems like a great angled eyeshadow brush and I don't have an angled brush yet! It will be great to apply eyeshadow in the crease.

Jelly Pong Pong 2-in-1 Eyeliner and Shadow
This brand's name is hilarious. This a color I wouldn't normally get for myself and I"m a little unsure how it will look but I love a good eyeshadow pencil.

Emite Makeup Micronized Eye Shadow in Dams
This will be a great eyeshadow for an intense smokey eye. The packaging is nice and the formula is oil-free. Will be good to use with the Nicka K eyeshadow Brush!

Here's a closeup of all the products.

Have you guys tried Glossybox? Do you guys like it?

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Wednesday, December 4, 2013

November 2013 Beauty Favorites

This past month flew by. I mainly stuck to the same routine although I did test out some new products which caused my skin to freak out, so I went back to the tried and true.

I have been seriously loving the L'Oreal Telescopic Original mascara. The thin and precise wand makes application super easy and the formula gives you some serious length. It's not as crazy voluminous so it also doesn't get super clumpy which I like. I haven't reached for any other mascara this month. For base, I do switch it up a little depending how my skin is looking, but for most days I went with the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint. With SPF 15 it's a nice velvet-y looking tinted moisturizer that has medium coverage. I can get oily throughout the day but I know which this my shiny t-zone can last just that bit longer. I still powder over mainly to set my concealer, but just to be safe as well. It's quite a large tube, too, so I think you get a good amount for the price.

For days when my skin started acting up, I added this extra step into my night care routine: Ren ClearCalm 3 Night Replenishing Serum. My skin is pretty sensitive and can get agitated easily. This helped calm my skin down, reduced blemishes while hydrating it. I have also been enjoying using the Origins Modern Friction exfoliant. This is a good exfoliator if you have sensitive skin because its very gentle. This cleanser helps with pore size, fine lines, discoloration, uneven patches and sluggish skin. Sounds pretty amazing, right?

For hair, I have been enjoying the It's a 10 Miracle Leave-In Conditioner. I spray a generous amount to mostly the ends of my hair after I shower. This has a whole list of benefits (10 to be exact) and I love how this also helps detangle.

Not too much makeup bits since I have been just sticking to the same makeup look pretty much. One more month to go to end the year!

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Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Helvetica the Perfume

This is hilarious. Helvetica the Perfume. The Scent of Nothing. You literally are getting 2 oz of water in a bottle. A 24 K gold printed bottle. But still. It's just water and it retails for $62!! If you're looking for a new fragrance, this wouldn't be on your wish list, but if you have any designer friends, this would make an excellent gift to add to their bookshelf. This perfume functions more as art.

Helvetica the Perfume.
Air. Water. You.
Modernism Distilled.

Are you buying it?

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Monday, December 2, 2013

Sephora Black Friday Mini Haul

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Day weekend! I did a little bit of Black Friday shopping while I was at home (mostly electronic). However I did stop by Sephora and picked up a few things that I thought were an amazing deal!

First I picked up the Perricone MD Face Finishing Moisturizer because it was only $10 for 0.5 fl oz! It has amazing reviews on Sephora so that is always good and the moisturizer is good for combating fine lines and keeping skin hydrated so I grabbed one for my mother. Then I saw the Ole Hendriksen African Red Tea Foaming Cleanser which also comes with a pack of facial wipes as well for only $10! I'm excited about this cleanser because it's a nice simple gentle cleanser that will be good at removing makeup without stripping my skin. This also has amazing reviews on Sephora!

I had to stop myself because there were seriously a lot of amazing $10 deals, but I only picked up one more thing and that was the Sephora Favorites Draw the Line set of 6 different eyeliners. I thought this was an amazing deal and I really haven't tried a lot of these eyeliners. This has the Makeup Forever Aqua Eyes Eyeliner in Black, Sephora Collection Long-Lasting 12HR Wear Eye Liner in Glitter Black, Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in black, Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner in Black, Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Stingray and Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Double Ended Eye Pencil in Perversion and Demolition. So many of these are waterproof as well and that really appealed to me. SO excited to try them out!

Finally I used a 100 point perk to get a nice sample size of the Clarins One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser and the sales associate put in 2 more samples of the Murad Clarifying Wipes for blemish-prone skin and the Sephora Age defy moisture cream SPF 15. These will be great for travel!

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Friday, November 29, 2013

Happy Late Thanksgiving! | Travel Makeup

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

I am at home with my family this Thanksgiving and that means I packed up my makeup for the next 4 days. Sorry about such a late post but I have not been on a computer. I thought I would share with you what I packed for the long weekend.

Base
Dr. Jart BB cream
Bobbi Brown corrector in light peach
Chanel Correcteur Perfection Concealer in 20
Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

Eyes
MAC paint pot in Groundwork
Mally
Smashbox
Loreal Telescopic Original
Real Techniques

Cheeks
Kevyn Aucoin The Creamy Glow in Patrice
Benefit Watts Up
Bourjois Bronzing Powder
Real Techniques

I carry about a dozen different lip products around in my bag and pockets and none in my makeup bag. So that's it! I hope everyone is having a great Thanksgiving weekend with their families and loved ones!

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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Nude Skincare Miracle Mask

Need a midweek pick-me-up mask? I have been using the Nude Skincare Miracle Mask for when my skin is feeling a little tired and dull. The mask contains glycolic acid with exfoliating rice beads to help reduce the appearance of pores and instantly refresh your face to reveal brighter and smoothing skin. I did not expect it to feel the way it does the first time I applied this because it feels more like an exfoliater instead of a mask. After realizing this way you're getting the best of both worlds I have realized this is genius!

Take a small amount on your hands and gently massage the mask into the skin for 1 minute and then leave it on for about 5-10 minutes before rinsing it off. You are left with super soft radiant skin! A very easy and quick mid-week mask. I'm dealing with a little but of irritated skin (I think I've gotten an allergic reaction from one of my night creams...) so this mask is something I'm looking forward to using. And I really want to try more products from the Nude Skincare line. They're super nice and I know the ingredients are good!

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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick In Love With Ginger

While there is something very classic about a darker red lip such as MAC's ruby woo, I think a great youthful take on a red lip is more of an orange based red. It just looks much brighter and happier. I have been loving Rimmel's new shade, In Love With Ginger. This is part of their new Moisture Renew Lipstick line which I love because they're super creamy and moisturizing for the cold months. The packaging is slightly different but not that much better but the lipstick itself is a great budget buy. Rimmel is one of my favorite drugstore brands and I buy their latest releases on Asos.com. These even have SPF 20 which is amazing for a lipstick!

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Monday, November 25, 2013

Sweater Weather Tag

I love doing Tag posts. What can I say.

On to the questions!
1. Favorite candle scent?
I absolutely LOVE Diptyque candles. This winter I will be burning Gardenia to make believe I'm filling my apartment with fresh flowers all day long.

2. Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate?
Umm, chai latte? (and now at startbucks I can add eggnog to my chai lattes - mmmm so good)

3. What's the best fall memory you have?
Every Fall my dad and I have a tradition to do Black Friday shopping. I really enjoy that day.

4. Which makeup trend do you prefer: dark lips or winged eyeliner?
Dark lips!

5. Best fragrance for fall?
Diptyque Philosykos

6. Favorite Thanksgiving food?
Stuffing or Mashed Potatoes. Can't decide.

7. What is autumn weather like where you live?
Too cold for comfort.

8. Most worn sweater?
My beloved Proenza Schouler Degrade Pollover!

9. Must-have nail polish this fall?
I love dark nail polish colors and my two current favorites are the Nails Inc Gel Effect Nail polish in Kensington High Street - a super shiny burgundy color and my other favorite is Essie Smokin' Hot - a deep rich grey.

10. Football games or jumping in leaf piles?
Sadly I will be watching much more football games this year than leaf pile jumping...

11. Skinny jeans or leggings?
Leggings win because they are just way more comfortable.

12. Combat boots or Uggs?
Combat boots. I have never even tried on a pair of Uggs before. Not going there ever.

13. Is pumpkin spice worth the hype?
Not for me...

14. Favorite fall TV show?
Right now it's all about THE VOICE!

15. What song really gets you into the fall spirit?
This fall I have been listening to a lot of Lorde!

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Friday, November 22, 2013

Empties #5

Here are a few products I have finished up using recently:

Clinique All About Eyes Rich
A great eye cream I have been using since college. It's super moisturizing and a good basic eye cream. It also helps with dark circles and puffiness!

John Frieda brilliant Brunette moisturizing shampoo
Since I ombre my hair I like to use shampoos sometimes to help bring out the different highlights and shades. This is a really affordable shampoo and although it's not really that noticeable to me, I think it helps maintain my dyed color.

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser
I love Kiehl's. This was a great every day gentle cleanser that I like to use in the morning to refresh the face. My face didn't feel stripped after at all. I really enjoyed using this and it lasted a long time!

Murad Rapid Age Spot and Pigment Lightening Serum
Even though this was a deluxe sample it lasted me quite a long time. I think this helped fade a lot of the freckles and unwanted spots on my face that I got this summer. It's quite pricey so I'm not sure I'll purchase the full size but I really enjoyed the sample!

Batiste Deep Brown Dry Shampoo
I absolutely love this and will repurchase this! It it great if you have dark brown to black hair it's perfect for helping reduce oils in your hair and give some volume. I'm a huge fan.

Caudalie Beauty Elixir
I pick these up from time to time. They come in such a good travel size and I love using this as a toner or refresher during the day. They are great because they act as a toner but also as part serum helping to tighten pores and stimulate microcirculation.

Have a great weekend everyone!

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Thursday, November 21, 2013

YEEZUS

Last night we went to the Yeezus Tour at Barclays in Brooklyn!!! It was totally insane and he played so many good songs. And Kim was here. Happy. The end.

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Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Nails Inc Gel Effect Polish

I have never gotten actual gel nails done at the salon, but I am all about the super shiny nails. I love Nails Inc so I was happy to pick up their new Nails Inc Gel Effect Polish in Kensington High Street. The polish allows you to get that plumping and glossy effect with any UV. I think I was expecting the polish to be more plumping but it is definitely super shiny. And I don't have any nail polishes with such a large oddly shaped (in my opinion) lids - so it was a bit strange to apply. I still put a top coat on because the Seche Vite top coat just dries so fast and I hate waiting for nails to dry but I would say if you wanted to skip it you definitely can with this new formula. I absolutely love the color and I think it's perfect for winter. Currently they only have 4 shades out in the Gel Effect range but I'll definitely pick up some more once they release new colors.

Do you prefer to get your nails done at the salon or at home?

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