Makeup Must-haves in 'Radiant Orchid', Color of the Year

Ever since Pantone announced their decision on the new 2014 Color of the Year: Radiant Orchid, I can't stop noticing violet purple everywhere! From interior decor, to commercials, to magazines, to fashion and beauty products, to even food. I wouldn't usually wear this bright violet color in clothing or even makeup but I feel that 'Radiant Orchid' will be an exciting iconic theme for the new 2014 year. 

It's a vividly blooming color that brings out confidence and charm. Related colors range between light lilac and lavender softness, to medium pink violets, and to deep plums and burgundy. Being a purple shade with both cool and warm undertones, this color is expected to last brilliantly throughout the changing seasons in the year, and most importantly, is still flattering for all hair, eye, and skin tones. 

Here's a linked list on popular 'Radiant Orchid' makeup and beauty products to try!
(most items are included in photo above) 

EYES

• Revlon ColorStay 16 Hour eyeshadow quad in Seductive, $5.99
• Maybelline Eyestudio Color Plush Silk eyeshado quad in Purple Icon, $9.99
• Too Faced Eyeshadow Intense Color single in Poison Orchid, $18
• Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Asphyxia, $18
• Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in Violet, $20
• Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Orchid, $26
• Yves Saint Laurent Ombres 5 Lumières Palette in 4 Lilac Sky, $58

LIPS

• Maybelline Color Sensational Whisper Lipcolor in Oh La Lilac, $7.49
• Shiseido Luminizing Lip Gloss in Barely There Lilac, $22
• Bite Beauty High Pigment Matte Lip Pencil in Violet, $24
• NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Never Say Never, $25
• Yves Saint Laurent Volupté Sheer Candy Glossy Balm Crystal Color in 08 Iced Plum, $32

CHEEKS

• NYX Stick Blush in Tulip, $5.99
• MAC Powder Blush in Breathe of Plum, $21
• MAKE UP FOR EVER Powder Blush in Lavender, $21

NAILS

• Essie nail polish in Splash of Grenadine, $8.50
• OPI nail polish in A Grape Fit, in Do You Lilac It?, and in Purple with a Purpose, $9
• Butter London nail lacquer in Molly Coddled, and in Moggins, $15

SKIN

• St. Ive's Body Lotion in Coconut Milk and Orchid Extract, $4.43
• Bath & Body Works Body Lotion in Enchanted Orchid, $9

There's much more to explore on this purple passion, but as you can see, pretty much anything that reminds you of the beautiful purple orchid flower will do. 

I'm starting to lilac it a lot. ;)

Eyeliner: Different products for different looks

Of all makeup products and styles, eyeliner has got to be the easiest and most essential part of my makeup looks. It can really accentuate the eyes and complete an eye makeup look. Even if you skip the eyeshadows or the mascara part, having just eyeliner can make a whole lot of a difference.

There are 4 common types of eyeliner products:
         1. Pencil
         2. Powder (eyeshadow)
         3. Gel
         4. Liquid


Pencil liners are my least favorite since they smudge easily on my oily lids, especially in my inner and outer corners of my eyes--that is even if I have primer on! I believe it's my eye shape and naturally oily lids that make it more difficult for my cream-based eyeshadows or eyeliners to stay put. I also don't like that the eyeliner pencils round off at the tip once you start using it, which then create bolder lines than I prefer. I could try sharpening them more often to keep it pointy, but that just seems to waste more product. The best time for pencil liners to me are when they are thin retractable ones for tight lining my upper and lower waterline.

favorite pencil liners:

• Department: Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof in 'Stingray' - $20 at Sephora and ULTA
• Drugstore: Milani Liquid Eye Pencil in 'Graphite'- $6.99 at Walgreens

Powder/eyeshadow as eyeliner is my least favorite type, but I do like that it's the easiest to remove. With a flat angled brush, you can dab eyeshadow to your lash line. What I like about this most is the fact that it gives the most subtle look, emphasizing the eyes by making the lashes look fuller. It's also the best way to blend out for a soft smokey effect, but it won't necessarily be the best tool to create a sharp edge or tip. Because pencil and gel can smear/rub off, I've found it's best to use a matte black or dark brown powder/eyeshadow as a setting layer on top of an already applied pencil or gel eyeliner. It can also be used to soften the harsh edge that liquid liners make.

favorite powder/eyeshadows for eyeliner:

• Department: SEPHORA COLLECTION Colorful Eyeshadow Matte in 'Black Lace' - $13 at Sephora
• Drugstore: NYX Nude Matte Eyeshadow in 'Stripped' - $4.99 at ULTA, $4.50 on NYXcosmetics.com

Gel liner is something I haven't used too often, simply because I find the process to be more a hassle than other eyeliner products. I don't like having to use a separate tool (brush), dipping it into the gel a few times, worry about the rest of the jar drying out if I leave the cap opened for too long, and then also cleaning the brush after every use in order to prevent any gel residue from hardening on the brush hairs... blah! That said, I do think gel liner is best for more dramatic and bold eyeliner looks because you can build layers and adjust the shape of the eyeliner more easily than pencil or eyeshadow powder. As a tip, use a little bit of product at a time, and work fast but carefully in small strokes as the gel does dry quickly upon application.

favorite gel liners:

• Department: Bobbi Brown Long-wear Gel Liner in 'Black Ink' - $27 at Sephora
• Drugstore: 2 very good comparable selections
• Maybelline Eye Studio Drama Gel Eyeliner in 'Blackest Black' - $9.99 at ULTA, CVS, and Walgreens
• L'Oréal Gel Laquer 24 Hour in 'Blackest Black' - $9.99 at ULTA, CVS, and Walgreens

Liquid is my favorite method to apply eyeliner. The felt tip* gives the quickest application with the darkest and straightest edge, allowing me to draw my cat-eye wings evenly. It wasn't easy at first but after much experimentation, it's gotten much easier for me to control my liquid liner pen. It's best to start on the outer corner, drawing thin short lines on your lash line, pointing the felt tip towards the inner corner. Work your way inward by connecting the short lines together. Use less pressure to create a thinner line and add more pressure to create a bolder line or continue to layer until you've achieved a desired definition.

favorite liquid liners:

• Department: Kat Von D Tattoo Liner in 'Trooper' - $18 at Sephora
• Drugstore: Maybelline Eye Studio Master Precise Ink Pen Eyeliner in 'Black' - $6.49 at Target,  $7.99 at ULTA

* Look for 'felt tip' liquid liners that have fine synthetic hairs as they are best with sharp precision and won't dry out quickly. Avoid liquid liners with a single foam point as they are more flimsy, rounded at the tip (instead of being pointy), difficult to control, and tend to harden over a shorter time.


Here's an simple info sheet I've compiled of the 4 eyeliner varieties for an easy overview of their differences:

New Year's Resolutions for Makeup

With every new year, we all hear a lot about the top resolutions people make for themselves, and why they want to make changes in their lives. Losing weight, traveling, doing good deeds, and getting organized are some aspirations most people aspire for. Of course, they're great resolution ideas and all, and it shouldn't hurt to try. There's always room for self-improvement, right?

Personally, I wasn't a believer with making new year resolutions before. I figured I'll quickly fall out of practice after a couple months, and fall back into my usual habit. Maybe I was just shooting for the boring 'most popular' and stereotypical resolutions, or ones that other people expected of me. But those never worked as well as I'd hoped because they were things I wasn't truly interested in at the time.

This got me thinking: what resolutions should I consider? The key is to direct the goals toward enjoyable experiences. I know they've got to be important, but also realistic and practical. So I've finally decided to hop on this 'new year's resolution bandwagon'. Instead of general lifestyle changes, I'm focusing on resolutions for my makeup hobby. I know I've got a few embarrassing flaws tied to my makeup use, and I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one with the same problems. Let this be our reminder to take care of these matters because it's never too late to make our daily interests even better for our health of mind and body.

4 NEW YEAR'S MAKEUP RESOLUTIONS TO MAKE :

1. Wash makeup brushes regularly.

This is probably the biggest 'makeup sin' I've committed. I must admit, I often get lazy to wash my brushes. If I'd just wash them at least once a week (instead of once every few weeks or more than a month), I could maintain the brush bristles in cleaner, better, and stronger condition. Overusing them may lead bacteria build-up that can irritate the skin. And as more product gets trapped in the brush, the hairs can loosen and shed out making it more difficult to apply your makeup precisely. As a result, I'd get more tempted to purchase new brushes instead—which leads us into my next resolution point...

2. Lessen spontaneous makeup shopping sprees = save time and money.

I have a bad habit of buying products, trying it once, and never touching them again. On top of that, I hardly make the effort to return items I don't even like. My makeup collection continually piles up with junk I don't need. To avoid this mess and hassle, research information, read reviews, and compare prices on one or two products before going out on a wild makeup hunt. That way, we can stray away from wasting time and money on random purchases.

3. Remove makeup before sleeping.

Sometimes we will forget to do this, and other times we may be too stubborn and lazy. But it's highly unhealthy and unsanitary if we don't take the time to remove all makeup before heading to bed. Wearing makeup for a day can naturally collect bacteria, dirt, and oil on the face, which may cause more wrinkles as it weighs into fine lines. The layer of skin on your face is much thinner and more sensitive compared to the rest of the body, hence making it vulnerable to breakouts, infections, and irritations. Removing the makeup before sleeping allows your skin to breathe and could save you some prep time the next morning. ULTA beauty stores has a variety of effective makeup remover items which you can find listed here with affordable prices and reviews.

4. Cut down makeup application time.

Applying makeup can take an excessive amount of time for me. I tend to get bogged down into the details of the procedure and my 'perfectionist' side slows down the whole process. It's important to practice simpler makeup looks, to find easier application methods, or to simply skip wearing makeup for a day more often. That way, I can cut down the time it takes to get prepped and dressed. I know I want to look good and 'put-together' for the day, but it's better to have more time to do other (more) important things, too. If you're headed for work, school, or an event, makeup should NOT be the reason why you were late. I know I've those close calls before, and the stress to rush on your makeup is unnecessary.

Overall, makeup should be a fun experience, and these related steps shouldn't be forgotten in that experience either. Hopefully this has been an insightful read, and hopefully has inspired you to come up with some makeup resolutions for yourself as well! I'd love to hear what y'all come up with (maybe I need to pursue more makeup resolutions myself).

Happy 2014, my friends!

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