Beauty Junkie

Despite the fact that my bathroom counter is literally spilling over with beauty products of all kinds, I'm always on the lookout for the latest and greatest new products on the market to share with the world. I snapped up Charlotte Ronson's Charm 2xA Blush/Bronzer stick from Sephora in 'Abby' (named after Abby Elliott) and am thrilled with the results. (Note: I've been a fan of the hip designer's beauty line since I first attended her launch party, so I knew taking a gamble on this seemingly smart product most likely wouldn't disappoint.) And, I was right.

It's a genius little duo that quickly contours and brightens the face with a few quick swipes. It's easily transportable, virtually fool-proof and the shades are fantastic on my olive/golden complexion. With summer just around the corner, I know this is one fabulous multi-tasker that will make its way into my summer tote all season long.

Beauty Junkie

When it comes to eye makeup, I have a hard time straying from my usual routine of neutral shadows and black eyeliner (emphasis on the eyeliner!) As an editor, I'm constantly urging readers to experiment with bold colors or fun trends, but truth be told, I'm a scaredy cat myself. I spotted these magnificent liquid liners from Makeup Forever at Sephora last night, and picked up not one, but two! Black (per usual) and the shimmery navy blue. Bold! Exciting! Fresh! I'm going to go for it. And I encourage you to do the same.



Makeup Forever Aqua Liner $23 at Sephora.

Beauty Junkie

I admit it: I had doubts when I heard the claims from Miracle Skin Transformer--even the name sounded far-fetched and too good to be true. This product supposedly hydrates, evens out skin tone, provides flawless coverage and has SPF all in simple, fuss-free lightweight tinted moisturizer?


I was so skeptical I actually neglected it on my bathroom counter for weeks, thinking there's no way it would be able to replace my stable batch of highly-edited foundation formulas I rotate in and out on a daily basis. Boy, was I wrong. This product really does work! I applied a small amount on my face this morning and my skin looks airbrushed, flawless and perfectly even. Not a hint of afternoon shine, and better yet, it also feels light (like I'm not wearing anything at all) and provides a great amount of everyday coverage. I'm amazed already. This just might be the best discovery of the season.

P.S. Dying to get my hands on the concealer next...will report back!

$48 at Sephora.

Charlotte Ronson + Sephora = Genius

Charlotte Ronson (yes, sister of Sam) has been making headlines for some time, quietly, though, thanks to her successful indie girly fashion lines (in particular, her I Heart Ronson line does well at mass scale for JCPenney), and now the designer darling is expanding to beauty.

Last night I joined the ranks of her gal pals including Nicole Richie, Paris Hilton, Nicky Hilton, Rashida Jones, Monet Mazur, Drea de Matteo and more to toast her latest expansion with Sephora at an intimate dinner at Il Sole in West Hollywood. The beauty collection features fabulous lip glosses, eyeshadow quads, bronzer, beachy hair spritz and more--and most are named after her famous friends. How's that for a lil name dropping that will surely boost sales?











As for the product line, I have to say, it's definitely got promise. Not only does Charlotte subtly bring Young Hollywood to the masses, but the line is pretty quality too. My 'Nicole' eye shadow quad, for example, is right on the money--pretty earthy browns that are great for everyday. Can't wait to see how this collection fares in the near future.

The Charlotte Ronson beauty collection hits Sephora stores this September.

Beauty Junkie

I'm admittedly an eyeliner addict, but I pretty much stick to the same formula (Stila, Smashbox, Bobbi Brown or MAC gel eyeliners, LORAC liquid pens) that have proven reliable no matter the circumstance.

NARS just launched a killer product called Larger then Life eyeliner, and I have to say I'm hooked. The Via Veneto (black) color is smooth, budge-proof and dramatic--just the way I like it.



Plenty of pretty colors for all of your creative beauties out there!
$23 at Sephora.

Intrigued...

When it comes to makeup, it's fair to say that I'm never fully satisfied. Sure, there are plenty of products that get my heart racing and deliver satisfying results, but my quest for perfection has yet to be met. It's this drive that will inevitably lead me to create my own line of cosmetics one day--I just know it!

When it comes to mascara, I'm a believer in Maybelline's Sky High Curves (R.I.P. by far, the best drugstore product that is now tragically discontinued) and Lancome's Hypnose formula. As for the other cult-favorites like Great Lash, DiorShow and Cover Girl LashBlast? Meh. Not impressed.

When I stumbled upon FAIRYDROPS mascara exclusively on Sephora, I was dying to know more.



Developed by a Japanese personality, this mascara scored all kinds of rave reviews, and many from Asians (who, like myself, suffer from short, sparse, barely-there fringe), so I trust the public opinion on this one already. I'm dying to get my hands on a tube to test it out....has anyone tried FAIRYDROPS yet? Speak up!

$24 at Sephora.com.

Beauty Junkie

Happy to report that my hair has been considerably bouncier lately, and I owe it all to Fresh Soda Shampoo. And FYI, I'm a big fan of Fresh--I swear by their soy face cleanser daily, love their lip balms and have gone through a few bottles of fragrances in my time--but this was my first shampoo experience and I think I've found my Fresh favorite.

This clarifying, volumizing cleanser also smells amazing (an awesome blend of mint flower water, balancing lavender water and vibrant grapefruit extract) and invigorates the scalp, too.



I'm hooked.

$26 at Sephora, Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue.

Beauty Discovery!

As I write this, I'm almost giddy with excitement. Literally, ecstatic. As a super straight-haired gal, I'm always on the quest for secret hair weapons that will give me volume, waves, curls, anything at all more interesting that stick-straight strands. And for the last solid two years or so, I've stayed true to my ghd flat iron to curl my hair.

Now I still love my ghd, but today I received a new life-changing styler to test out and I have to admit, I am falling for it fast.




The Sultra Bombshell curling iron is actually clipless, which makes for really easy, really fast hair twisting and twirling around the super-hot rod. Wear a heat-resistant glove to protect your fingertips and work your magic without worrying about weird kinks and clamps ruining your curls. It heats up in seconds and gives you a head of fabulous, beachy, bouncy, gorgeous, sorta-messy, sexy curls that I seriously dream about.
Think Kate Hudson hotness, and that's just about what I've managed to create effortlessly during my first trial run tonight. If I keep practicing, I'm pretty sure I'll be able to pull off red carpet-ready hair in a moment's notice.

$130 at Sephora, and I swear to you, worth every penny.

Beauty Steal: LORAC Eye Kit

Talk about bang for your buck! I did a double-take when I saw this awesome kit from LORAC at Sephora for only $36.

It comes packed with five full-size fantastic products for the price of one (and a half or so.) I love LORAC shadows, I wear them almost everyday, and this trio is perfect for a subtle smokey eye for going out. The liner is one of my new faves, and the primer is pretty superb, too. You also get a double-sided brush and mascara.
I haven't snagged this kit myself yet, but if I were you, I'd order one online ASAP.

Beauty Junkie

My latest beauty obsession comes in the form of a fabulous little bottle from Josie Maran. Her Argan Primer Mist is an unbelievable solution to just about everything: it's an all-natural healer and protects skin against aging, sun exposure, dullness and more.



Just spritz on skin (I spray in my palm first and then pat onto my face) in place of a moisturizer this summer, and your skin will look radiant and even; or mist your hair with it for a fresh pick-me-up to banish dried, damaged locks.

My favorite use? One spritz swirled with my Bare Escentuals Matte foundation creates a perfect base that gives phenomenal coverage and stays in place all day...even in summer's sweatiest moments.

$36 at Sephora.com.

Beauty Junkie

I'm constantly asked for skincare recommendations, and while I definitely have a few solid products I stand by, it's always exciting when a new product catches my eye, and actually lives up to its expectations. Make way for Korres Quercetin & Oak Anti-Aging Day Cream with SPF 10. This potent cream feels incredible on the skin--more importantly, it literally tightens and tones upon contact. No matter what your age, it's always important to prevent and treat aging effects, and this bottle should do the trick daily.
It has a fresh yet familiar 'oak' scent that is pleasant and nourishing (trust me), and a little SPF is always more than welcome. Be sure to layer added SPF (I love Neutrogena's Ultra-Sheer SPF 85 formula) on top, and you're all set, sista.




$48 at Sephora.com

Beauty Junkie

I'm a lover of lip gloss, but try as I might, I always reach for the same two or three tubes, no matter how dozens (errr...hundreds?) I amass on my bathroom counter. Just recently, though, I happened upon a fabulous product from Too Faced, that has quickly become my new favorite: Mood Swing Lip Gloss in Petal Pink.



The color swipes on pearlescent at first, but morphs into a super-flattering, wearable pink for your pout, depending on the temperature (it's supposedly emotionally-activated) and lasts for hours. Muah!

Coming to a Sephora Near You...

If girly glam is your thing (and I know it's mine!), then you're probably all too familiar with jewelry queen Tarina Tarantino. But now, the line goes beyond Hello Kitty-infused pendants and bedazzled barrettes--TT is rolling out a makeup line that just hit Sephora nationwide. I attended the launch party for the line last week in Hollywood and got doused in shimmer powder shortly after my arrival. (Not complaining!)

Her collection features eyeshadow, eye liner, shimmer powder and spray (for hair or body), lip gloss and more.

Check out my party pics below:

Secret Weapons

On a whim, I recently snapped up two hair products from Sephora in hopes of improving/enhancing my 'do. It boggles me that even with trendy highlights, pricey haircuts and an arsenal of high-tech appliances, my hair still fails me in performance more times than not. The optimal hair goal? shiny, bouncy, voluminous, gorgeous hair that holds heat styling and still looks healthy. Up until now, I sadly miss the mark on this quest about half the time....until now!

I'm thrilled to report that my bad hair days are finally over, and I owe it all to the goods I grabbed on Sephora.com.
I am positively loving on Living Proof Thickening Cream and HerCut Long Layers Catalyst for my hair.





A combo of both (worked evenly throughout before blow drying) transforms my hair into thick, lustrous, bouncy locks. Styling with a flat iron or hot rollers after is a cinch, and the style (more importantly, the lift at the roots and the curl at the ends) lasts all day long. Even day-old hair still looks shapely and fresh, and needs no touching up.

Glorious!

Get it...NOW!

Not one day passes where I don't reach for CARGO's liquid liner to rim my peepers. It delivers inky black liner with precision and lasts forever.


Color me surprised when I discovered today that Sephora is sadly discontinuing the line completely, and everything is marked half off! In other words, stock up, sisters! The liquid liner is only $11, while supplies last.

Beauty Junkie

Had to share my latest make-up discovery: Kat Von D.'s Ludwig eye palette. At just $34 at Sephora, its packed with richly-pigmented wearable shades in a sleek, edgy compact. I'm totally impressed with the quality and performance, and the range of colors is close to flawless (I'm loving the pearlescent earth tones, of course.)
A sizeable mirror inside makes the whole package that much more perfect.
Get it now!

New Season, New Skin!

Summer is officially slipping away and you've probably spent considerable time in the sun. Needless to say, your skin could probably use a little TLC right about now. Allow me to introduce you to my latest (and I predict, a lifelong) beauty obsession: DermaDoctor KP Duty Body Scrub.



It contains powerful medi-exfoliation beads that plow through dry skin, flakiness and otherwise unappealing bumpy patches, leaving you with seriously smoother skin. Forget goopy sugar scrubs and fruity -smelling sloughers: this is the one scrub you need if you really want deep exfoliation that gets the job done.

I've been using it for about a week, and am blown away by the difference in texture and smoothness in my skin already. A little goes a long way, so don't be intimidated by the $44 price tag.

Two New Lipsticks I Love...

A good lipstick is hard to come by, so when I find one (or two) that meets the mark in color, wearability and performance, I've gotta spread the word! Here are my two latest discoveries:

I snapped up Buxom's Big & Healthy Lipstick from Sephora yesterday and am so glad I did. It defines, fills and plumps lips beautifully and the color selection, though minimal, is universally appealing. My new purse staple!



I was pleasantly surprised to find a sample of Maybelline's new Color Sensational lipcolor in my mailbox today (thank you, PR!) and immediately swiped it on. Gorgeous color (a head-turning red called 'Are you Red-dy?') and fantastic wearability.



Pucker up!

Beauty Junkie

Sephora just answered my prayers (again!) Their most recent addition (and which will surely become an instant addiction, natch) is the TEMPTU Airbrush Makeup System.




Now I've always secretly wanted a pro airbrush machine of my own because it delivers flawless foundation coverage (really!) and clearly caters to my inner makeup artist. Whenever I've had airbrush foundation applied on me (weddings, special events, etc.) by pros, I'm always a little bit overly infatuated with the process: five seconds of super easy application= gorgeous long-lasting coverage? Sold.

Of course I never actually thought it was a) very accessible or b) necessary for little 'ol me; but now that Sephora stocks this awesome system with separate air pod foundations and blushes, I'm super tempted to splurge on myself. Read the reviews...they're that good.

And yes, $225 is awfully steep, but I like to think of it as a beauty investment. After all, can you really put a price on perfection?

Lash Out!

Like most Asians, I can definitely attest to getting the short end of the stick when it comes to lashes. Mine are on the skimpy side, to say the least, so pricey lash enhancers have always peaked my interest. I've tried a few out--Revitalash, ModelCo and Jan Marini, namely, and experienced subtle results, but didn't use either as consistently as I probably should have.

I researched Tarte's new MultiplEYELash Enhancer ($65 at Sephora), and was intrigued.



Not only is it natural and packed with ingredients like soy, amino acids and hydroplant peptides, but it's much friendlier on the wallet than other enhancers that run about $120 a pop.

Even better? I think it's actually *working*, and it's been less than a week! I'm still testing it out, but so far, so good. I'll keep you updated, darlings!