A Beauty Moment: September 2013

30 September 2013

September 2013 Ipsy Glam Bag | Not impressed...

A couple of weeks ago, I received my Ipsy bag in the mail, and to be honest, I wasn't really looking forward to it. Why? Because, I already knew that the August 2013 Glam Bag would be hard to beat. I mean, they put an Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in that bag. What's next?

As always, I looked in my Glam Room before my bag arrived to get a peak at the products I would be getting. My reaction? Meeehh.

The bag is a bright royal blue pouch with black floral print. It looks a bit cheap, but I do like the color.

Products I received in my September Ipsy Glam Bag:

NYX Eyeshadow in Hollywood - a shimmery white [Full size $4.50]

Cailyn Tinted Lip Balm in Big Apple - a red lip balm with a brush applicator in the cap [Full size $19.00]

Starlooks Kohl Eye Pencil in Obsidian - a black eye liner pencil [Full size $12.00]

Victoria Jackson Brow Pencil in Taupe - a taupe shade mechanical brow pencil [Full size $14.95]

Elizabeth Mott It's SO Big - volumizing mascara [Full size $19.99, 10 ml. Received sample size 4ml $8.00]

Total cost of products: $58.45, not including shipping.

Price of Ipsy Glam Bag: $10.00

Total saved: $48.45 plus shipping

As you can see, getting an Ipsy Glam Bag does have its perks. You get to try a bunch of products for a fraction of the cost. If you're interested, go here to use my Ipsy link or here if you don't want to use my link. If you sign up under my link, I get points that build up so that I can get a free product from Ipsy. That's all. They don't pay me. :)

What do you think of this month's Ipsy bag?

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Smoky Blue Eye Makeup

I posted this video sometime last week on my YT channel, but I didn't share it much, so I would like to do that now.

This look was inspired by the cooler weather, and the upcoming winter season. Everyone is raving about autumn, and I guess I kind of skipped right into winter, lol.

If you're not into watching the video, here's a little diagram of what I did.

It's pretty simple, but I really like it. They say you can't wear blue eyeshadow after 1950whenever, but I think you can wear any color as long as you're confident that you're rockin' it.

What's your favorite color to wear on your lids this season?

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29 September 2013

DIY Hair Mask: Silky Hair Oil Cocktail

Greetings from my vacation spot for the weekend! If you follow me on Instagram and Twitter, you'll know what I'm up to. If not, well then aren't you a bit curious? :)

Anyway, I decided to give my hair a little treat this weekend and try to repair the damage I've caused it. Using a few oils I have lying around my house, I was able to create a really luxurious mix that left my hair feeling super smooth, silky, and shiny.

Silky Hair Oil Cocktail

Photo courtesy of Daily Perricone

Photo courtesy of Ulster Herald

Photo courtesy of ifood.tv

Ingredients:
1 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 Tbsp Coconut Oil
1 Tbsp Almond Oil
Shower Cap
Bowl

Directions:

Add all oils to the bowl and mix well.

Massage oil into your hair, keeping about an inch away from the roots (if you have oily hair).

Cover with a shower cap.

Wait at least 30 minutes. I kept the oil on for a couple of hours.

Shampoo and rinse. You may want to use a clarifying shampoo or shampoo twice. I used Aveeno baby shampoo twice. :)

Pat hair with a towel and let air dry.

See you all after my vacation!

What's your favorite hair mask?

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26 September 2013

Maybelline Color Whisper in Cherry on Top

It's almost the weekend, and I am very excited for this one in particular. I have a little getaway planned for my little family, so it should be fun! The best thing about living in a tourist destination is that the prices drop, great packages surface, and locals get fantastic discounts at the hotels during non-peak season. I'll try to take pics to show you all. :)

Anyway, in my last post, I showed you all my little beauty haul, and among those products were a few Maybelline Color Sensational Color Whisper Lipcolors. Today, I'm busting out Cherry on Top.

I purchased this online at Drugstore.com, but you can find them at your local drugstore. Be sure to look for great deals. These cost me $5.99 each compared to their original price tag of $7.49.

The packaging of the Color Whispers is nice. The lipstick is encased in a silver tube with a gray sticker label on the bottom displaying the shade number, code, and name. The color of the cover is similar to the color of the lipstick. Cherry on Top has a bright pink cover meaning the lipstick within is a similar bright pink shade as well. Easy.

I like that it's really slim, and I could probably fit it in my pocket if I wanted to. For now, it lives in my handbag.

The shade looks pretty strong in the tube, but when applied to the lips, it leaves more of a glossy tint. Depending on the shade, the tint may be stronger or brighter. Cherry on Top is one of the stronger shades.

The formulation of Cherry on Top is silky smooth, and gives a sheer wash of color that is buildable. It's moisturizing on the lips and leaves a glossy finish. My favorite part is that it leaves behind a stain on the lips when it fades, so it still looks like I'm wearing something on my lips.

I've seen the Color Whispers compared to the Revlon Lip Butters, and I think the Lip Butters are more creamy while the Color Whispers are more glossy. That's just my opinion though. However, I do prefer the Color Whispers to the Lip Butters.

Do you own any of the Color Whispers? Your thoughts?

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24 September 2013

Drugstore Haul: Drugstore.com

Today was my first day back to work in the real world. It took me several months to land this job, and even then, it's only a part-time gig. However, the managers I work under are incredible, and it is very obvious that everyone enjoys working with the company. I see myself in a good place, at least for now. Curious at my new job? I'll just say that I work with cars. Ooooh :).

My shopping experience.

You all know of my shopping disaster with Walmart.com, and if you don't, you can read about it here. I took my money elsewhere, and perused the offerings of Drugstore.com and Beauty.com. If you're not familiar with these shops, Drugstore.com is pretty much a virtual drugstore, and Beauty.com stocks higher end beauty brands. Both shops use the same shopping cart, so you can shop both drugstore and high end brands and only have to go through one check out process.

Negatives.

The only down side of this, is the same issue I have with most US companies. They don't seem to realize that US territories are a part of the US, and that they can ship to me if they would only utilize their postal service. You know, the US Postal Service... really, it's getting old, you guys. Not you readers, lol. The companies!

Positives.

Other than stocking some of my favorite brands and products I've been wanting for a while now, I was able to route my order via a forwarding service. The price is reasonable if you buy a TON of stuff. Next time, I'll know to wait. Either way, I get my goodies, so I'm happy.

More positives.

Every product was packaged and sealed. FINALLY! I was so ecstatic when I saw that there was plastic wrap around each lipstick, the Baby Lips was packaged as well, but I was too impatient to wait to use it, hehe.

I'll be posting swatches and reviews of these products in upcoming posts, so stay tuned.

What have you all been up to lately? Do you have any of these products? Your thoughts?

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19 September 2013

Lust List: Handbags

I have been wanting a new handbag lately, and since I only get one bag a year, I'm about due for another one. I'm very picky when it comes to bags. I don't like them to be too expensive, because I know that I'll treat it like any old bag, and most likely, the little one will be playing around with it. It might even get blessed with a bit of spit up every now and again. I also prefer them to be on the smaller side, because well, the bigger it is, the more stuff I can put inside. I'll end up lugging around my entire house.

Here are the top 3 handbags on my mind at the moment. You could say that I'm a satchel girl.

Lust List: Handbags by abeautymoment featuring a mint green leather purse

ASOS makes great handbags, and I'm pretty sure you can find one that you like. Their price range is also great ranging from $30 or so and upwards. I chose two ASOS satchels:

ASOS Color Block Mint 11" Satchel (Cambridge Satchel Company) for $194.07. It's mint, it's a satchel, it's a win-win. LOVE the look of this bag.

ASOS Satchel Bag with Scallop Bar Detail for $50.63. The scallop detail and gold touches of this bag are very girly and add such a nice flair. I especially like the burgundy shade. It's different, but a good different.

Lastly, the Zara Mini Office City Bag for $49.90 is the mini version of the infamous Zara Office City Bag. It's perfect for work, looks professional and very sleek. I chose a navy blue instead of black, because I'm adventurous. Heehee.

What do you think of my picks? What's are you lusting after lately?

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18 September 2013

DIY "Chan Luu" Style Wrap Bracelet

Happy Wednesday, everyone! The weekend is almost here once again. I made a bracelet earlier this week and thought that I'd share it with you all via a video tutorial. I thought of making a pictorial instead, but the process is a bit too complicated for that, so I made a video instead.

The style of the bracelet is similar to the Chan Luu Wrapped Bracelets. This particular one retails for $195. So you can kind of see why I wanted to make my own. :)

Want to learn/see how I made it? Watch my video :).

If you're feeling nice, please like my video and subscribe to my channel. Don't forget to say hi!

What do you think of my version of the bracelet? Do you like this style?

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17 September 2013

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Turn On

My interview is over, so I get to blog now! I'm going to share with you the Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Turn On. These lipsticks are getting a whole bunch of hype, and for good reason.

I purchased this from Macy's ($22). You can also get them at Ulta ($22), Sephora ($22), or Debenhams (£15). They are everywhere.

Turn On is described as a "rosy pink" shade that is a perfect neutral pink lip color for every day wear. I wear this to my interviews, and it's perfect for a professional, polished look.

The formulation is smooth, creamy, and very pigmented. It's best to dab on and build up the color, because, ladies and gentlemen, this can get intense.

The lasting power is decent, give or take 2-3 hours, or 4-5 if you use a lip liner beneath. If you eat and drink, you'll have to reapply. The lighter shades fade faster than the bright, bold shades. But I don't mind. I need to use up all my lipsticks before they go sour. The only way to do that, is to use them. A lot.

My thoughts?

I love it. I want to buy all of the colors, and you may just have a little sneaky chance to win one in the coming months. :)

The lipstick is encased in a gorgeous, sleek, gunmetal casing. UD is embossed on the top, and the name of the shade is labeled on the bottom.

Sadly, the stickers are all the same gray shade, so the only way to tell what color you're looking at is to open it up. Still, I think the color will imprint itself in my brain somewhere, so I'm not complaining.

True to it's name, Turn On is a beautiful rosy pink shade. Perfect for any occasion. Wear it to your heart's content, even if you're not leaving your house!

I forgot to swatch the product on my arm, but I do have a lip swatch. As you can see, it's quite a natural color. Somewhat like a "my lips but better" shade, lol. I know. I said the cliche phrase. Oh well. It's a really pretty color!

Have you tried the Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks yet? What's your favorite shade? What do you think of Turn On?

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14 September 2013

My Blogazine | The Blog Scene

One day, a thought occurred to me (well, not just one). I was wondering if there are blog magazines out there that are dedicated to feature bloggers of all kinds. With all the hard work that we put into blogging, it sure feels nice to be recognized and have a little bit of extra help to get our blogs out there.

So I came up with something. The Blog Scene, or TBS for short.

I already knew what I wanted to do - feature some of my favorite blog posts of the past weeks, and invite all of the readers and writers to nominate some blog posts as well. Anyone can nominate a post, and feel free to nominate your own. There is no shame in being proud of your hard work. Please understand that there is a schedule and limited slots, so I am not able to feature EVERYONE'S posts, but be patient, and one day, you might see yours up there.

Currently, TBS is being managed and produced by me, Ash. Maybe sometime down the line, I'll have co-producers. For now, it's a one-woman show, and I'm really enjoying the positive response I've gotten so far.

To read more about The Blog Scene, check out the About section.

Thank you to everyone for your amazing support, as always!

Have you checked out TBS yet? What are your thoughts? Would you like to feature one of your posts? If yes, visit the About section to see how you can! :)

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13 September 2013

Pamper Evening: Olive Oil and Honey Mask

It's the weekend once again, and one of my favorite things to do on the weekends is to have a little pamper session. I'll take a nice long, cold shower (haven't had a water heater since before Y2K), do my nails, and make a nice face mask as a treat.

I like to create my own face masks at home, because it's cheap and really easy. My favorite mask is a honey and olive oil mask. Honey and olive oil are really good for your skin and aid in moisturizing and skin rejuvenation. Please ensure you're not allergic to these ingredients though!

Photo courtesy of SPAR

Photo courtesy of Greek Gold Olive Oil

Recipe

1 teaspoon Honey
1 teaspon Extra Virgin Olive Oil (regular Olive Oil works fine too)
Small bowl
Fingers for mixing

Instructions

Pull hair away from face. I like to use a headband.
Remove all traces of makeup, and cleanse face. Pat dry.
Add ingredients to bowl, and mix well with fingers.
Scoop up a bit of the mixture and gently massage into face.
Continue to scoop more mixture and massage into skin for at least 5 minutes.
Rinse off with warm water or wipe away with a warm wash cloth and rinse.
Pat dry.
Go to sleep. :)

Results
Skin will feel soft, supple, and will have a nice glow.

How do you like to spend your pamper evenings? Have you tried this mask? Thoughts?

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10 September 2013

Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Coral Crush

Maybelline has been knocking it out of the park with their lipsticks lately, and I have been trying desperately to get my hands on a at least a few of their really great shades. The Color Sensational range carries 43 shades (at least what I've found) ranging from browns and nudes to corals, pinks, and reds. And these don't even include the Vivids! There is a shade for everyone. Probably more than one.

I as able to get Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Coral Crush, which is a coral shade that leans more towards the orange side. You can find it for $7.49 here.

The packaging is a rectangular semi-transparent lid encasing a silver bullet. The shade is listed on the sticker at the bottom of the bullet. Under the right lighting conditions, the sticker will almost match the color of the actual lipstick. As you can see above, the sticker looks more red, when in reality, it is more coral.

It isn't the most secure packaging, and the lid may come loose in your handbag, so you might want to place it in a pocket that is secure, with very little movement.

Like I said, under different lighting conditions, different colors will pop out, and here, it looks more red than it is. You'll see in the swatches below. As for the formulation, it glides on ever so smoothly, is moisturizing, and leaves behind a subtle stain as it fades, which is quite nice. It is a bit sheer, so you'll want to layer it on until you get the color intensity that you like.

Here, you have a double swatch of Maybelline Color Sensational Lipcolor in Coral Crush, and it's a bit orange toned now (more like the actual shade).

On the lips, it's a touch more pink due to the color of my lips, but still on the coral side. It doesn't cling to dry patches, and leaves a smooth, glossy finish. It feels very nice on the lips.

Of course, I had to share with you one of my latest indulgences. Mmm yummy!

Do you have this lipstick? What are your thoughts on Maybelline's lipstick range?

Have you entered my giveaway?

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09 September 2013

Job Interview Tips and Outfit Inspiration

If you follow me on Twitter, you'll know that I've been having job interviews for the past month or so. I say interviews (plural, more than 4), because I'm honestly THE WORST interviewer. Ever. I always forget my words, I tend to make up stuff as I go, because I forget what I needed to say, and it just ends up a horrible mess. I practice A LOT. Still, my nerves always get the best of me, no matter what I do.

Why? Because of the kind of person that I am. I'm shy, reserved, and I'm terrified of people. Why? Because I've had experiences that I still can't shake off. I don't like talking to people I don't know. They scare me, especially if it looks like they don't even want to be in the interview themselves.

I'm not like everyone else who can just BS their way through an interview. I'm honest and to the point. I don't BS well. I apply for jobs that I truly want, but it doesn't translate well, because the interviewers are making me talk my way into proving how much I want the job. Put me to work, and I'll blow your mind. Or I'll at least get the job done.

I've learned a few things from my past interviews, and I want to share them with you in case you're going through the same thing. I know there are a lot of anxiety ridden bloggers out there, like myself. I hear you, and I promise you can do this. Even if you can't get the job, you can at least get through the interview.

Little Interview Tips

Be yourself. Don't even try to hide it. It'll come out whether you want it or not. May as well flaunt your awesomeness. Don't lie, because that will come out too.
Practice those typical interview questions (Tell me about yourself, major strengths, weaknesses, why do you want to work here, why should we hire you, what would you do in a stressful situation, etc.). Write down your answers, and practice until your teeth bleed (not really). Just practice. Say it in front of the mirror, your children (this is what I did, haha), your dog, your cat, anyone. Practice in front of something with eyes, and stare those eyes straight in the pupils.
Tell them why you are the BEST fit for their company, and what YOU can do fro THEM. Don't let them think that you're only applying for the money or using them as a stepping stone for that better job. Don't do it. No one wants to feel used.
Dress nicely, but don't dress like you're going to a club (unless you're interviewing for one). Also, don't show any cleavage, or anything above your knees. You might be interviewing with women, and the last thing you want is to make them feel threatened or that you're going to be the new competition. Keep the makeup minimal and natural, but use SOME. Throw your hair in a bun and out of your face. SMILE!
If you don't get the job the first time, or the second or third or fourth (like me), don't worry. Practice makes for a better interviewee. Learn from your mistakes. Even if you think it went really well, maybe the job really wasn't right for you. Try again, and don't give up. Don't ever give up.

Outfit Inspiration

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08 September 2013

My First Milestone Giveaway with Friends

Since the end of March 2013, this blog has been my favorite place to share and interact with so many amazing people. I now have 500+ followers on Bloglovin, 400+ on GFC, 400+ on Twitter, and 200+ on Instagram. WHAATT?!?! Crazy talk, I know. To all of you who support my blog and social media, Thank you, so much!!!

To celebrate, I've teamed up with a few lovely ladies to host this wonderful giveaway for you!

♥[Paulina at Color Me Brave] ♥ [Nykki at Josephine Nychole] ♥ [Nia at Style of Colours] ♥

On to the prizes!

The RULES are:

The giveaway will run from September 8 - 28, 2013 Pacific Time.
There will be ONE (1) winner.
This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL.
Must be 18 or older OR have parental permission to enter this giveaway and receive prizes in your country.
NO giveaway accounts will be accepted as entries. Sorry.
Host and Co-hosts will not be responsible for shipment damages. After the post office has received the shipment, it is in their hands. Shipping insurance will be provided where applicable. Any claims to the USPS must be made by the winner.

ENTER here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

07 September 2013

NOTW: Strawberry Melon

I'm slowly getting back into the flow of blogging again, and I'm quite happy to be back. It's been an extremely long and stressful week, but my interview went well yesterday, so I'm hoping for good things. In either case, if I didn't make it through, then I've learned some new things to take with me to my next interview or two.

I'll share it with you. Be yourself. No matter what. Your personality will come out and shine through no matter how hard you try to hide it. They'll find a way to get it out of you. ;).

Essie Mint Candy Apple ($8.00) has been on my mind through all of August, so I decided to do a sweet little mani using my favorite minty green. I paired it with Wet n Wild Tickled Pink ($0.99), which is a pretty pastel pink, and I'm calling this look:

Strawberry Melon

For my base coat, I used OPI Natural Nail Base Coat ($8.00). I like this base coat, because it dries really quickly, and it isn't sticky. Seche Vite ($5.99) is my holy grail top coat. I won't use anything else. Even if I have to order this online every single time. I have NO patience at all when it comes to waiting for nail polish to dry. There are things I have to do, and of course, I choose to do those things after a manicure, haha! Seche Vite dries really fast, glossy, and makes my nail polish last the whole week with only a bit of tip wear.

I know it's the autumn and winter season now, but where I live, it's summer year round, so I can rock these colors whenever I please ;). Either way, I think brights during the colder seasons are a great pick-me-up. I'll try to throw in some darker, more moody shades now and then, though. :)

Do you like this color combo? What's on your nails right now?

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06 September 2013

August 2013 Favorites

I'm back! Well, for now, haha. Just a quick update before I share my favorites with all of you lovely readers whom I love so much.

I was invited to join RewardStyle last week and have just set it up, and if you haven't heard of it, you can find more about it here.

To sum it up, whenever I share products (products that I HAVE CHOSEN MYSELF) with you, and you click the links in the post and purchase something, I am able to get a small commission off of your purchase. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO CLICK MY LINKS. You can simply do a Google search for the products if you'd rather I not get commission. I won't be offended or hurt, I promise ;).

It really doesn't matter to me, but I thought it would be nice to make a little bit of money from something I work so hard on almost every day. It's a nice thought, right? If you're interested in getting an invitation, I can refer you, but it's up to rStyle to approve you. Just send me an e-mail :).

I just thought I'd be up front with you all before I started posting as a rStyle member. Now let's get on to the favorites!

August 2013 Favorites

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05 September 2013

Quick Update and Current Giveaways

Hello to all my followers, old and new! I promise I haven't dropped off the face of the earth. I am currently preparing myself for this huge interview that I have on Friday. I'm hoping it goes well, but with my luck, I'll probably mess up my sentences... So, I'm really needing the extra prep. I hope you all understand.

I won't leave you with nothing though! There are two great giveaways ending soon, and you should really check them out!

I hope you all enjoy those, and good luck to everyone who enters! See you all later! :)

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03 September 2013

Origins Drink Up Intensive

Up until recently, I'd never tried any of Origins' products. I just couldn't justify the price, but my skin has been extremely dry lately, and being someone with combination oily skin, it's pretty strange for me. I guess aging is knocking hard on my front door, lol!

I ordered the Origins Drink Up Intensive overnight mask from Macy's for $24.00 for 3.4 fl. oz of product. Now that I'm looking at it, It seems like a pretty reasonable price to pay. But does it work?

Basically, Origins Drink Up Intensive is a moisturizing treatment that you massage onto your face and leave in while you slumber, waking up to softer, more supple skin. You can use it once a week or daily, depending on your skins needs.

Ingredients include:
Plant Glycerin, Hyaluronic Acid and Apricot Kernel Oil, Avocado Oil, Mango Butters, and Japanese Seaweed.

Origins Drink Up Intensive is thick and creamy and melts into the skin as it's massaged in. It doesn't leave behind a greasy residue, and once it sinks in, my face already feels much better and so much softer.

My face is pretty thirsty, so I use this every night before bed. I don't chuck on a ton of product, and now that I'm reading the description, I probably should... Either way, I've been using this as a night time moisturizer and keeps my skin feeling more human and less like a crocodile. I really love the smell. It's reminiscent of a sweet and citrus-y drink that I can't put a name to. Either way, it smells delicious.

Have you tried Origins Drink Up Intensive? What are your thoughts? What's your go-to moisturizer?

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