May Favorites

GlamGlow SuperMud Clearing Treatment has become my all year round essential in helping with clearing and unclogging my pores to keep them from breakouts. This is my second tube and yes, I know it is expensive but it is totally worth the money. You can use it for spot treatment to make the tube last longer as well.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure is my most-grabbed blush this month. It has enough pigmentation and has the beautiful glow. 

Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Color in Hot Raspberry is such a fun summer lip product. I find myself going for minimal makeup look with just a splash of lip color so I wouldn't look totally washed out.

I am not big on shimmery eye shadow. But there is something about the L'Oreal Infalliable Iced Latte which amazes me. I just apply a tiny bit of it in the middle of my eyes and instant brightening effect happens.

Diorshow Fusion Mono Matte in Celeste is such a pretty and easy cream shadow. It is matte and it brightens your eyes instantly with the soft lilac color.

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind was used so much last year but for some reason, was pushed to the back of my makeup drawer. I am glad I rediscovered it in my stash and began using it again. The formula is so creamy and I picked a lighter shade than my usual skin tone for my under eye so it instantly brightens the dark under eye area.

Another "rediscovery" in my stash is my Dior Addict Lip Glow. It is such a pretty natural but better than your lips color. Easy to apply and perfect to throw in my purse for mid-day touch up.

Have you tried any of these products? 

My Summer Essentials

Summer is here and I can't be more excited about it after having a terrible cold long winter here in Canada.

Can't live without my La Roche Posay Anthelios sunscreen. I wear it all year round, sun or no sun. This really changed my sunscreen perception. I used to hate applying facial sunscreen on my oily combo skin. With this, it is such a light texture and non-sticky formula that you don't mind putting on.

GlamGlow Super Mud Clearing Treatment helps with clearing my skin so much. It is pricey but it is worth every penny.

Holy grail foundation is Marc Jacobs Genius Gel Foundation. Don't have to set it with a powder afterwards and my skin stays matte all day long.

Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder got to be the best drug store pressed powder. So affordable and doesn't look cakey. 

Lush Tea Tree Water is one of the best toners. I spritz on in the morning after my facial wash and it is so refreshing and helps calm any blemishes.

Urban Decay All Nighter Makeup Spray is my favorite setting spray so far. I have tried quite a few and even this is pricey, I keep going back to it.

What are you summer essentials?

My Summer Essentials by shoppingobsession featuring a gel foundation

GlamGlow face care
nordstrom.com

La Roche Posay beauty product
casa.com

Gel foundation
sephora.com

Rimmel face powder
$6.71 - superdrug.com

Urban decay makeup
beauty.com

May Empties

Yes, that's that time of the month again. Monthly empties. I have a great sense of accomplishment of committing myself to finish up what I have opened before starting off with items in my new stash.

Bath & Body Works 3 Wick Candles: Island Margarita, Watermelon Lemonade & Coconut Leaves

Out of these 3, Watermelon Lemonade was the only one I probably won't be re-purchasing. When I sniff it at the store, it smells delicious but when you start to burn it, it gets so sweetly-scented that it gave me headache.  

My all time favorite hand cream has to be Glysomed Hand Cream. This is the fragrance free version. I apply this every night before I go to bed. I finished another one of Fresh Soy Face Cleanser. This is my holy grail night time cleanser to use with my Clarisonic. Gentle enough but leaves my skin feel thoroughly cleansed. Yes, this is an expensive cleanser(CAD $45). I have gone back and forth to find alternatives but I always go back to this one.

Warm weather is here and that means humid weather and frizzy hair. John Frieda Frizz-Ease Weather Works Style Creme is my must-have. Apply this on damp hair and before blow-drying. Really helps with calming my hair.

Of all the skin care products I received in my monthly subscription boxes, Dermalogoica Daily Microfoliant is my favorite product. It is a very gentle exfoliant which I can use every day without leaving my skin dry. 

Josie Maran Argan Cleansing Oil is such a nice gentle cleansing oil. I switched from using makeup wipes to cleansing oil for a good 5 months and have seen significant improvement in my skin. Cleanses very well, even with waterproof mascara. Has a nice scent. Will definitely re-purchase.

Another splurged eye cream finished, Shiseido White Lucent Anti-Dark Circles Eye Cream. I bought this last November with the Sephora VIB sale event. Yes, it is expensive and it really works on helping with dark circles. I already re-purchased another one.

The rest of the products are my staples: Benefit Porefessional, Clinique Bottom Lashes Mascara & Buxom Lip Cream in White Russian. These ones are re-purchased already.

Do you try to finish off products before you start new ones? 

Prettiest Glowing Blush Becca Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle Lychee

Love glowing dewy look for summer. When I see Becca has released a new beach tint shimmer souffle, I knew I need it in my life.

There are 6 shades available and it is so hard to choose. I finally decided on Lychee/Opal which is an unusual shade for me. But I want to have a brighter pink shade on my cheeks which actually would show up on my skin tone. I have other pink blushes but usually with my NC30-35, it barely show up.

Lychee/Opal is described as bubblegum pink infused with golden opal. It has the most interesting texture. It is exactly soft and bouncy as the name souffle suggests. 

Don't let the bright bubblegum pink shade scare you. When it is applied, it is nothing like that.

When it is swatched, it is more like a peachy-pink with the golden shimmer infused in it.

The Becca Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle is described as:

A pop of luminescent colour in an air-whipped cheek souffle. Water-resistant and oil-free, it provides effortlessly buildable color with a soft, lustrous finish, infused with skin-soothing, redness-reducing brown algae, this formula hydrates and revives dull skin for a youthful glow.

This is very comparable to my other favorite blush, the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush. This has a bit more shimmer than the Hourglass one. As the golden opal is quite dominant in the pot, you really need to use a light hand. I find the best way to apply is to use a small stippling brush.

Here is a comparison of lychee/opal with similar blushes in my collection.

from left to right: Becca Lychee/Opal, Milani Berry Amore, MAC Lust & Benefit Rockateur

I am totally in love with this new blush. It gives my cheeks the prettiest glow and the lasting power is very impressive. Perfect for hot weather as it doesn't seem to fade off throughout the day.

Highly recommend this blush if you are looking for a luminescent one and water-resistant. It would be great when you spend a lot of time outdoor and even to the pool. 

Buying because of the cute packaging?

I am a big sucker for cute packaging. No wonder cosmetic companies spend billions on how to market and package their products. 

I like MAC products and when they come up with limited edition products with amazing packaging, I'm in. Yes, I'm that shallow :(

Aphrodite's Shell (extra dimension bronzer)

MAC has released its summer collection called Alluring Aquatic Collection. Just by looking at the press pictures a few months back sucked me into wanting the collection.

Isn't the packaging cute? It resembles water droplets. 

The bronzer comes in an aqua compact with water droplets on the edge. Absolutely beautiful packaging.

Aphrodite's Shell is described as golden bronze with a hint of shimmer. Unlike other extra dimension blushes/highlights, this limited edition bronzer is not glittery. 

It is a soft brown with tiny bits of shimmer which is more noticeable in the pan than when swatched. To me, it has a slight pink undertone which I think is good so I could use it sometimes as blush as well as contouring. 

Are you into cute packaging of beauty products? 

eShakti Nautica Dress Review

I was contacted by eShakti, a clothing company which offers customized clothing with a vintage vibe and I was given a wide range of dresses, jackets and tops to choose from for a review. 

I am overjoyed with the idea that you could customize your dress. I always have a tough time finding a nice dress to go for special occasion or weddings. I don't know how many times when I picked out a potential dress, I said to myself," I wish the sleeves are a bit longer, the length of the dress a bit shorter and maybe if this has a pocket, this dress would be perfect". 

I picked Nautical cotton sateen dress which is made out of cotton spandex. 

This is a navy A-line dress. I picked this dress as I like dresses I could dress up or down to get the most wear out of it. 

The dress is made out of spandex cotton. It is a relatively substantial fabric which stretches a bit with spandex. It has a very cute nautical buckle belt. 

This is the picture of the dress shown on the website. As you could tell, that looks quite different from what I have on. When you place an order, you fill in your height and there is a detailed size chart which you could pick from to fit you the best. I also customize it to short sleeves, above the knee, v-neck and  a pocket added. I like the new neckline I picked out as the plunging neckline shown on the picture is not for me. I am so happy with the dress length as it is just above my knees and it is the perfect length for me. 

Add a cardigan and it is less formal and can easily be turned into appropriate work attire. 

With a striped cardigan and it is another way to wear this dress.

This is how the back looks. There is a side zipper on one side of the dress for easier slip on and off. Also a pocket is made for this customized dress. It is so handy to have a deep pocket. 

I am very happy with this dress and I know I can get a lot of wear out of it. Very impressed with the quality of the dress and the customer service. From the time I placed my order online to when I receive the dress, it took less than 10 business days. I got an email confirming my order right after I placed my order and a few days later, I got an email with the shipping and tracking information. It is shipped by DHL and it goes right to your door step. I appreciate company who send products by courier and have the item delivered in a timely manner. 

My other picks:

I have a coupon code for you ladies, 10% off your purchase using code shopobses(code valid till June 16,2014). Head over to eShakti if you have a special occasion or upcoming wedding to attend and still haven't found a dress. Also check out their Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

Bobbi Brown Sheer Lip Color in Rosy & Hot Raspberry

I am on a lip product obsession lately and cannot stop myself from getting more lipsticks.

This is my first time buying from Bobbi Brown online and I am so impressed with their lighting fast customer service and shipping. I placed the order yesterday morning and I got my order this morning already. They ship by Purolator and my package arrived in perfect condition.  I am always worried about buying lipsticks online in the warmer weather. Don't want my lipsticks to be melting. 

Left: Rosy

Right: Hot Raspberry

These are from their sheer lip color collection. Don't let their name fool you, they are not sheer at all.

Rosy is a coral rosy color. It looks more coral/red on the tube. Hot raspberry is a very pretty blue-toned pink. 

Left: Hot Raspberry

Right: Rosy

I tend to go for lipsticks which are moisturizing and less pigmented as I like to reapply throughout the day. I find with matte and more pigmented lipsticks, as you reapply throughout the day, it dries my lips more and the finish is not that flattening.

Hot Raspberry

Rosy

Currently, they are doing a promo of 2 free mini lip glosses and free shipping with orders over $50(use code LIPLOVE). I also got a sample of their hydrating eye cream.

Far left: Rose Sugar Lip Gloss

Second left: Pink Sequin

Rose Sugar is a very pretty light rose gold lip gloss. A little bit sticky when first applied. Pink Sequin is a light champagne pink. Excited to try these.

OOTD Anthropologie Sale Items

Was at Anthropologie at Shops at Don Mills last week when I went home to Toronto to visit my family. I picked up a couple of pieces from their sale section and they are having a 15% sale on full priced items online today.

Linosa Top in size M

This one is 3/4 sleeve length and made of polyester. Has the softness touch of silk but easier to manage. I can throw it in cold wash and don't even have to iron it when it is dry. 

Close up pattern

I just love pattern like this for tops. Easy to style and goes with anything. You can dress up or down with this. This one is originally priced at CAD $118, and on sale for $59.95.

The only thing I am not crazy about is the zipper at the back. First, it is a zipper at the back of a scoop neck top which is totally not necessary. Second, it is the cobalt blue color which just screams for attention. Good that my hair is long enough to cover most of the ugly-looking zipper at the back.

Skirted Cardigan in dark grey size M

This cardigan is a soft plum brown to me which does not look anything grey. This is made out of very soft cotton. Rather thin so perfect for spring days or cooler summer nights. 

The detailed back is very pretty.

This one is originally priced at CAD $98 and on sale for $49.95.

Have a great weekend everyone!

IOPE Air Cushion XP

For the warmer months ahead, I prefer lighter makeup. I love natural looking but my skin is not at an ideal phase to go bare-naked. I like BB  or CC cream and their coverage which my skin could still peek through.

Ever since I bought the Korean brand, IOPE, water fit lipstick, I am keen in trying out more products from the brand.

I believe this one has SPF 50 but on the box, the broad spectrum sunscreen has been crossed off. In Canada, SPF regulations are different and sometimes the product has SPF in it but since the products are imported, the retailers crossed off the sunscreen label on the packaging. 

I am new to the new air cushion technology. Basically, it is a cushion soaked in foundation. 

What it claims:

* Moisturizes skin, giving it a healthy glow

* Improves the condition of pores for flawless skin

* Reduces fine lines with additional active ingredients

* Long-lasting without darkening side-effects

It comes in a compact with a mirror and a sponge. It is completely sealed until ready for use.

The set that I bought includes the compact, the blue sponge and a refill. The actual foundation is housed in this container. The compact is quite bulky and the container with the foundation has a lid to it. I may just bring that out for touch up during the day.

The shade I got is C23. They have 2 types available at the store I went to: C & N. N is for more dewy, natural look while C has more coverage. It may look very dark in the pan but don't let that deceive you.

I used my finger to dip into the sponge and this is the actual shade and product. 

You press the blue sponge into the compact and this is how much you will be getting. You only need to push lightly to get the product out. I apply to my face by gently patting the sponge. I try not to rub the sponge all over my face as I think the patting motion gives the most even and natural coverage. 

Swatched on hand. The coverage is enough but still looks like skin. It has a bit of sheen to it. I tried the N21 in the store and it is much lighter coverage and more dewy finish. I am glad I picked this shade C23 instead as I am not sure if the N21 would work well with my oily combination skin in the summer.

This is how it looks on me. It gives enough coverage which I really like but still looks natural. Will have to try it out longer to see how it lasts on warmer days.

I have tried it for a few days. The coverage is quite good. But you have to be careful on how much product you are using. If you use too much, it can look cakey. This does not make my face look too oily throughout the day. But since I'm not used to the dewy finish yet and still prefer to set it with powder. 

There is a similar product from Dr. Jart at Sephora. It is called the BB Bounce Beauty Balm. Basically, same concept. It is retailed for Cad $58. 

Have you tried any of these new air-cushion products? What are your thoughts?