Black Opal True Color Foundation Review

Hi, guys!

I've been wanting to do a video review on my Black Opal True Color foundation collection. Its been a while in coming since I'm still very, very new to shooting videos and working out lighting issues and what not. Still haven't found a fix yet but at least I have my background sorted out.If you guys have any (inexpensive) advice or tips on how I can improve the quality of my videos, please feel free to leave a comment :). But let's not stray too far from the subject at hand just yet.

Many of you know that in starting my kit I decided to go with the Black Opal foundations. They're full coverage crème foundations which have been compared to MAC foundation but for a lot cheaper (yay for all the misers!!!).

***Pros***

Velvety smooth finish

Covers all my imperfections

Blends easily

Easily accessible (you can find these in almost every Chiney shop and pharmacy)

Affordable

Contains SPF 15

Easy to use, convenient packaging

Versatile, can be used for light to full coverage

 

 

 

 

 

***Con***

Have to use powder to set as it get's greasy even when I use a mattifier

 

 

 

 

 

2013 Summer Diet Survival Guide

Now that summer is well underway, we’re all ready to have more fun under the sun.  The great thing about summer is that everyone is more laid-back. School is out, the traffic is lighter so we can afford to sleep a little later in the mornings. This could spell disaster for our waistline since most activities during this season are centered around eating and drinking. So what’s a fit foodie to do?

Here are a few tips I’ve come up with to help you enjoy summer without busting the belt:

TGIF!!!

Here on our sweet island, we’ve become accustomed to the "woman a yaad" taking a break from the kitchen on Fridays. So Friday is usually the day we eat out. Even so, try to resist the urge to just “let go”. No matter what your weekend is like, always remember to:

•  Eat a healthy and satisfying breakfast.
• Always carry a healthy snack with you. Whether it’s a bag of nuts, protein or snack bar, having healthy snacks on hand makes it less likely to give into temptations.
• Devise a strategy. Think about your healthy options well before you’re starving and almost anything looks good to eat.
• If you’re eating out, try to cut back on how much you eat during the day since you’re more likely to eat more when dining out.
• Be mindful of how much you drink. While some make poor diet choices after a few drinks, alcohol can help to reduce anxiety-driven eating. Always remember, alcohol can almost double calories of carbs and protein so try to cut back when drinking on weekends.
• Give a little more during your workout sessions. Since we may be eating a little more, its only logical to sweat a little more to compensate.

Get This Party Started!

Summer and parties go hand in hand like bread and butter or chicken and chips. Many use such occasions as an excuse to forego your diet plans.  Here’s how to avoid these party tricks:

• Never go to a party on an empty stomach. Try a high protein snack or a small meal that loaded with protein and fibre to keep those stomach growls to a minimum. If you’re thinking of having a drink or two try to add some fat to meal, say almonds, to slow alcohol absorption to the bloodstream.
• Rather than hoping for healthy food options, why not bring some to the family get-together?
• Before going in the buffet line, survey and see which foods are your best bet and the select few you’d like to indulge on. This way you’ll avoid just piling things on your plate.
• Avoid going back for seconds. If your host insist and getting rid of the food, make sure to take along with you a small container to pack away seconds for taking home. Then station yourself away from the food table. Out of sight, out of mind.
• Never forget to fill up on water. Choose water over sugary drinks such as sodas and juice. Drinking alcohol? Alternate water a glass of water between drinks.
• Fill two thirds of your plate with the good stuff like veggies and protein and leave half for the not-so-healthy stuff like creamy Mac & Cheese. That way, you won’t feel so deprived. And avoid the regular stuff like rolls and chips that you can eat anytime.
• Dress to kill. The more fitted your clothing is, the more you’re conscience about what you’re putting into your mouth. So avoid the baggy, loose fitting clothes, or you won’t realize just how your waistline has expanded. 

Makeup Class Rant & Other Randomness

Becoming a Makeup Artist: Building Your Kit for Aspiring MUA (The Affordable Way)

Becoming a Makeup Artist | Building Your Makeup Kit for Aspiring MUA

Clockwise: 15 Color Camoflage & Concealer Palette, La Femme 12-Palette Blush Set, 88 Color Warm Eye Shadow Palette, 32 Color Lip Palette, BH Cosmetics 120 Eye Shadow 3rd Edition Palette & 120 Eye Shadow Palette.

 

As I mentioned in my previous post, I recently enrolled in the Professional Makeup course at the Face Place. For any makeup artist, one of the most important things you have to invest in is your makeup kit. But for most of us who are just starting out (myself included), since you're not getting paid as yet, you don't want to break the bank. So I did my research and found most if not all my essential items at an affordable price. The only thing I think I may need to add to my kit are a few more foundations. I did purchase a cream concealer and colour corrector palette but I think I may run out based on the size.

The school does offer a makeup kit in association with Sacha Cosmetics. However, the reason I decided to get my own kit was because the kit offered by the beauty brand did not include an actual carry case, eyeshadow palette etc and this was almost double the price I paid to purchase my own supplies.

Below I listed the company websites I used to purchase most of my items:

www.eyeslipsface.com
www.lecosmetique.com
www.bhcosmetics.com
www.makeupmania.com

I hope you found this little info useful. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave it in the comment section below. Thanks for visiting my blog!

Other Must-Have Items for makeup Kit:

Tweezer
Cotton Roll
Cotton Pads
Sanitary Wipes
Hand Sanitizer
Cream Cleanser
Rubbing Alcohol
Witch Hazel
Face Moisturizer
Eyelash Curler
Eye Pencils (Black & Dark Brown)
Mascara (Black & Brown)
Lip Moisturizer
Assortment of Face Powder
Translucent Powder
Headbands/Hair Clip
White Protective Covering for Client
Mixing Palette
Spatulas
Disposable Mascara Wands
False Individual Eyelashes
Eyelash Glue
Makeup Wedges
Q-Tips

Silvery Eyes & Purple Lips Makeup Tutorial

So I recently enrolled in a Professional Makeup course to brush up and fine-tune my skill as an aspiring makeup artist. here's what I came up with. Enjoy!

If you have any questions, pleas feel free to leave it in the comment section. I love hearing form you guys. If there's a makeup look you'd want to see me do, please leave your requests below. Thanks guys!

Flat Twist-Outs: Success or Fail?

 

 

Products Used:

H2O

Aunt Jackie's Curls & Coils Defining Curl Custard

Cantuu Shea Butter No Drip Hair & Scalp Oil

 

 

 

 

 

I wasn't too disappointed with the results except for the fact that my hair didn't dry completely which inevitably led to frizz. Its a good thing I like messy hair ;)



Product Review

Eco-Styler Protein Gel

The wash n go’s has been my go-to style for the past few months and up until now, I have been loving it. After trying a few different gels such as World of Curls, I finally got my hands on the infamous Eco-Styler. I was looking, in particular, for the Olive Oil version but, in my desperate state (World of Curls was just not doing it for me), I bought the only one I could find which was the clear version.  This version definitely lived up to its name as it kept my curls defined for up to five days. Whereas with other gels, I’d have to do wash n go’s every two days to maintain a similar look. Needless to say, I was glad to have found a product that would save me some time in the mornings.

So How Fit Are You?

About two weeks ago, I had gone downstairs to fix myself something to eat before I got settled down to work. I had popped a bag of popcorn and picked up a medium sized Julie mango for dinner (I prefer to eat light in the evenings to avoid the almost inevitable energy dip after eating in addition to the fact that I’m just tired). I took my meal up to my bedroom but realized I forgot my bottle of water. As I was making my second trip upstairs, I decided to run upstairs as I had usually done not more than a few months ago. Needless to say, I was a bit surprised when I found that these stairs aren’t that easy to sprint up. I know my exercise routine had been on hiatus for a while but surely walking up and down these stairs everyday must have counted for something. So it got me thinking: what does it really mean to be fit? How do you even really know how fit you are? And, how can you improve fitness?

Say Bye-Bye to Shine (Finally)!

 

One of my biggest pet peeves about my skin has always been the fact it can start looking like a well-greased frying pan even in an air-conditioned room. It has always been that way since childhood up until now. As a self-declared “girlie-girl”, I’ve always been really conscious about it. Whereas other kids were busy frolicking their youth away, my friends and I were trying to achieve and maintain the “cool face”.  We tried everything to no avail. Washing our faces multiple times before the end of lunch break in primary school, we desperately hoped that if we washed enough times, our sebaceous glands would subsequently cease to exist.

Can You Trust Food Labels? Part II

So  we learned that even though some labels say products are low fat or fat free, they make still contribute to a considerable amount of fat when the servings are added up and they may contain a lot more sugar than the full-fat versions. “Hydrogenated” oil equals trans fat no matter what the labels say. This installment of the Nutrition Files, I’ll be addressing the biggest craze since low carb: Gluten-Free