Urban Decay Anarchy Face Case & Snow Photos

New York City is once again hit by a snowstorm, so I cooked up another snow inspired makeup for a photoshoot with a photographer friend. I've been dying to find the perfect opportunity to try out my new Urban Decay Anarchy Face Case set I got at Sephora's sale. This was it!

I wanted a very frosty look, more so than my previous one, so the silvers in the palette was perfect. It was a lot more pigmented than the Sephora baked eyeshadows. It showed up on my lips a lot better as well.

These are all shot by myself, which is a bit difficult as I had to hold it at arm's length, thus producing these cropped shots. However, I do kind of like the mysteriousness of it! 

Here's a preview of the photo from the shoot! We wanted a furry, Ice Queen look.

This set contains 0.03 oz x 5 Eyeshadows at the top tier
Redemption - deep gunmetal satin (used at outer corner)
Fray - warm mauve matte (used as base)
Vaporize - deep metallic gray-taupe shimmer (used at center of lids)
Provocateur - light metallic mauve shimmer with multidimensional micro-glitter
Revolt - bright metallic silver shimmer with silver micro-glitter (used at inner corner of eyes and lips)

On the bottom tier is 0.10 oz x 2 Blush
Fetish - mauve-pink
Quickie - bright pink (on cheeks)

and 0.05 oz Highlighter in Craze - pale gold shimmer (on bridge of nose)

It also came with 0.01 oz Super-saturated High Gloss Lip Color in Scandal - bright metallic raspberry shimmer, and 0.03 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Perversion - blackest black matte

I haven't tried the lip gloss or eye pencil (but tried another color and love its staying power), but will update the post when I do.

The case is very beautiful, and separating the eyeshadows and blush keeps it a lot cleaner. The slots for the eyeliner and lip gloss is very useful for a whole face kit on the go. Just keep a separate brush case and you're good to go!

When I first tried the eyeshadows in store, using fingers to apply it did have some fallout. But when I tried it yesterday with a brush, it worked fine with almost no fallout. I love the pigmentation of it, very rich and shimmery. Love the colors of the eyeshadows!

The blushes on the other hand are way too pigmented for me, the bright pink made me look like a clown. The mauve had to apply with a light hand, and then used another light powder over it to tone it down. The highlighter was average.

So for me, only the top tier was useful to me, I have to figure ways around to make the second tier work. Since it was on sale for $29 and I had a 20% coupon for sale items at the time, it was quite worth it! Especially since I wanted a deep black matte eye liner. I have it in Zero which is more off black. I'm quite worried the lip gloss will be too bright though. So overall I only recommend this to those that like more pigmented eyeshadows and blushes.

Snow Queen Makeup Tutorial

One of my most favorite shots!!

About a week and a half ago, NY was hit by a big snowstorm, covering all the streets with white fluffy snow (for a bit, until it turned black and yellow from obvious reasons). Most people dreaded the walk to work or the shoveling it comes with it, but for a photographer or model, it was playland for us. I quickly asked one of my good friend, Jensen, if he was interested in a snow photoshoot. I've put some of my favorite shots from him in my post.

We didn't really discus any themes but I really wanted to do a lingerie in snow. Luckily, I talk myself out of it as I was already shivering nonstop in my lace maxi dress. Imagining myself without that thin layer layer or protection is already giving me frostbite. So instead, I made a crown in about 10 minutes the day of the photoshoot and came up with a frosty makeup. Good thing I own a few faux fur coats because it came in every handy - both for visual and warmth purposes.

With my crown I am able to do a Snow Queen shoot, whereas last year I wore a tiara for a Snow Princess. But many people still called me Snow Princess >_<!!!! I tried guys, I tried...

Since many people liked my makeup, I decided to film a tutorial for it. It's my first time having someone film me do make up (filmed by my AXL Photography), so sorry if I'm awkward hahaha And I'm not the best at video editing... anyways enjoy!

Face

Estee Lauder Matte Primer

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation

Estee Lauder Concealer

Eyes

Too Faced Eyeshadow Primer

Bobbi Brown Bobbi's Eye Wardrobe Palette

Dior bleu de Paris Palette

SEPHORA Moonshadow Baked Palette In the Dark

Wet n Wild Megashimmer in White

KATE Liquid Eyeliner

Urban Decay Eyeliner in ZERO

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes in Silver

Shiseido Eyelash Curler

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Mascara

Duo Lash Glue

Lips

Rimmel Lipstick Nude Delight

be a Bombshell cream stick in Girl's Crush

SEPHORA Moonshadow Baked Palette In the Dark

Wet n Wild Megashimmer in White

Cute photo by Calvin

Photo by Nancy showing my crown :D

"Light Fight" - Kevin Lynch's House 2013

Who knew that there was a national "Light Fight" competition and that there were many participants around NYC! I recently heard of it through a friend, so my boyfriend and two photographers friends decided to bare the cold winter night to take some photos. We were lucky as we got the very last day, and the very last photo with the owner Kevin Lynch in front of his amazingly decorated house.

Little plastic nutcrackers marching down his lawn.

His house was perfectly situated at the corner of a Whitestone street, giving it two visible sides of the street. He took 6 weeks to cover it in 300,000 lights to meet the deadline of the competition. Ranging from nutcrackers, to deers and bears, santa and Snoopy, his house displayed all sorts of Christmas decorations.

Despite the cold, he greeted us warmly with a big smile asking if we got all the photos we wanted as it's time to shut it down for the season. We got one last photo with him (and had some self timer fail haha -_-), and before parting he said with a twinkle in his eye "Wait until you see what I'll have for next year." He decided he will put it up earlier next year in September so people can enjoy it in warmer weather and not freeze our fingers off. Well it was mainly out fault for going on such a cold day but so worth it!

Group shot!

I love this shot, we got lucky with the wind blowing my hair.

Upon doing some research, his house did in fact win first place on the Dec 9th episode, taking home $50,000. He definitely deserved it for the great work he and his family put into decorating it. Plus he was a very humble and humorous man! (I hope that amount paid off for his electricity bills though... I can't imagine how much it costed to light up throughout the Holiday Season)

I used to love nutcrackers in cartoons and movies when I was young.

I look like a little kid here hahaha... but that doll hanging there kind of scares me, sorry :X

His neighbor's lights.

Girl's Day "Something" Look

While being snowed in and browsing Facebook, I saw a post from a Korean entertainment site I follow that posted the release of Girl's Day "Something" MV. I saw their teasers popping out the past few days, and I was intrigued by the styles they wore. It was really up my alley. In the MV, I really liked Yura and Hyeri's make up, so I ran to my vanity table and tried to copy it. (OK I don't really know any of their names because I don't follow this group, so I cheated and googled it hehe) I realized my favorite look on myself was Hyeri, which was a surprise as I don't usually like sporting a short hair look. 

Here is the photo I used for reference.

Please don't judge too harshly on my version. I took all the photos myself, and focusing at arm's length was quite difficult haha. I found out that I'm not very good at angling myself with my DSLR, so this was my best effort :D I was going to film, but I'm sure it will be out of focus so I did a pictorial instead. Watch it below!

Face Products

Milky Tinted Sunscreen

Jill Stuart Loose Powder 

Real Techniques Buff Brush

L'Oreal Visible Lift Concealer

Eyebrows

Etude House Eyebrow Pencil Shade #1

day keep Eyebrow Powder

KATE Eyebrow Mascara BR-1

Eyes

POP Naturally bare Eyeshadow Trio (I got this from ipsy)

Urban Decay Anmo Palette (Smog & Chopper color)

KATE Liquid Eyeliner

Sephora Retractable Waterproof Eyeliner in Black

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk

Make Up For Ever Aqua Shadow in 28E and 20E

Demi Falsies that goes Short to Long

Doly Wink Lash Glue

DIORSHOW Volume Mascara

Lips

POP Rose Romance Lip Crayon (I got this from ipsy)

PIXI Magic Tink Tint (I got this from ipsy)

Covergirl Lipstick in Spellbound and Euphoria

Revlon Lipstick in Stormy Pink

The reason why I really wanted to do it, was as you can see from all their promotional photos, their outfits is totally right up my alley. I love the cream, white and black outfits (hellooo crop tops ;D), I have a lot of similar outfits to these. But I really dislike the red lace assemble... I don't know it looks like birds exploded on their red dress, sorry. Or the feather on their pinky.

The song itself was catchy because its repetitive, but other than that it and their dance reminds me too much of SISTAR's "Alone". However I do enjoy the instrumental, especially as I was editing. Anyways, let's just focus on the pretty ombre lips, and pretty costumes shall we?

My favorite shot. This is so elegant!

Got a dress like this ;)

Got a bra, top, shorts and tights like this... lol 

I love mirror shots, reminds me of my Vegas shots

Errr... what...

How To Keep Colored Hair From Fading

This was a post from my previous blog, and since it's quite useful, I have reuploaded the video (I had to delete and reopen my account to get it to the username I prefer now) and copied the post to here. Hope you guys find it useful. It's a good reminder for me as I want to go dye my hair soon ;) Please keep in mind this was filmed and written about two years ago, so my writing style and looks are totally different haha.

I know I'm not a hair expert, but these are tips I've gathered from magazines, sites, friends that were helpful to me and I would just like to share with you guys. These are also all products I've used and loved so that's why I would recommend it to you~

So here is the complete list of the items I've show in my youtube video and where you can purchase it!

-Shampoo L'Oreal EverPure Moisture Shampoo Moisture (remember, I've stated it made my scalp dryer, so if you're wary of this, you can skip out on this brand and check the other brands I've listed at the end)
-Conditioner Fekkai Technician Color Care Conditioner
-Hair Mask Fekkai Technician Color Care 3-Minute Mask
-Hair Mask Lux Hair Mask that you can find at your local Japanese/Asian market
-Anti Color Fade Top Coat Fekkai Advanced Salon Technician Color Care Anti-Fade Top Coat 
-Color Protect Spray Paul Mitchell Color Protect Locking Spray
-Dry Shampoo Batiste Dry Shampoo
-Blow dryer (the one I have is from Vidal Sassoon, that's what it says on this blow dryer too, but I'm not sure why the product name says Revlon) Ion Select Professional Hair Dryer

Also, I forgot to mention some tips in my video! So I'll include it here!

- Since high heat causes hair to fade quicker, when you curl or straighten or do any of those styling to your hair (even hot blow dryer), use a heat protect spray. The one I use and love for curling my hair is Got2b Guardian Angel Heat Protect 'N Curl Spray. It not only protects my hair, but it helps hold my curls and smells nice too > 3<"! It was on sale at Duane Reade when I bought it too, so you can also check your local drug stores if they have it on sale. :) The one I use for straight hair and used to use when I blow dry (I now use the Paul Mitchell) is the Pantene Pro-V Damage defender spray. It also smells really good, like all their products~ You can also use the curlers/straighteners at a lower setting so that it won't be as damaging.

-The sun's UV ray causes hair fade too, so during the summer when the sun's UV rays are stronger, wear a hat, or any other hat accessories that can help cover your hair. I also use a parasol XD Also, don't forget to use your UV protect spray!

-Rinse your hair out thoroughly as shampoo/conditioners/masks left in you hair can cause it to dull out.

-Blow dry your hair with the dryer aiming from top to bottom, and comb in the same direction to minimize frizz. Like I said in the video, cool air will help lock in moisture and prevent less fading.

-Try not to use any volume or anti dandruff shampoos as both of them strip hair color quicker. If you have to use it, be sure to use the anti-fade mask right after to help maintain your hair color. :)

Other brands I've heard good reviews for shampoos/conditioners are;
- Pureology Shampoo (look for the one that's sulfate free. This one is also more costly. I have tried one, I like their texture and scent, it's just the price is a lot more than that of L'oreal and Kirkland.)
- Moroccanoil Shampoo & Conditioner 
- Kirkland Signature Shampoo (it is much cheaper to purchase directly from Costco!! I'll be trying this one next, and let you guys know what I think of it. Hopefully it's more moisturizing than the L'Oreal. Update, I have tried it, it is a bit thicker than the L'oreal type and the smell is more vanilla based)
- Nigelle HY Milbon Salon Treatment System (I get this when I go to my salon; they put the first treatment twice in your hair, and then give you four tubes to use at home once every week.)

Hope that this was useful and works for you guys~ Wishing everyone healthy, shiny hair♥