beautopiaxoxo - Beauty and Fashion!

Butter London - Mollycoddled

2015-11-08T08:30:00.000-05:00

Wow, it's been a long time since I've done a nail polish post. I am happy to share with you this new nail color that I like wearing for the spring and summer seasons. It is also the first Butter London nail polish I have ever owned! I had heard so many positive things about this color that I knew that this would be the color I would pick up if I ever decided to pick up a Butter London polish. Butter London describes this shade as an "opaque lavender orchid cream," and I must say that that is a pretty accurate description. Great formula, easily application and good wear time. The color, which is a pale pink purple, is soft yet chic. Big thumbs up. What other nail polish shades do you guys love from Butter London? Would love to know! :)

Teenage Dream by OPI (Katy Perry Collection) - accent nail

Sunlight

Instagram Recap #6 (September 2015)

2015-11-01T10:30:00.000-05:00

During the month of September, I was definitely eating way more ice cream than I should. There are these new Thai-style ice cream rolls that are all the rage right now and of course I had to try them and at different places too! I'm not very good about posting Instagram pictures immediately, which is the whole point of it, but I like to quickly snap pictures and then enjoy the moment instead of busy posting up a picture to share. Hence, most of my pictures aren't actually "insta" but more like "latergrams." Enjoy every moment, especially when it's a great one. :)

First Korean Beauty Sample Sale by Peach and Lily, Egg Shop, Matcha Latte and Smoked Salmon Sandwich from Chalait

Black Sesame Thai-style Ice Cream Rolls at Juicy Spot, Cafe Bene's Bingsu Dessert, Stained Glass House (Brooklyn Bridge)

Nature Box's Mini Belgian Waffles, Airplane View, Rock N'Roll McDonald's in Chicago

Shiso Pretty by Ice & Vice, Wedding Ready Nails (Gold and Pink)

October 2015 Birchbox

2015-10-25T10:00:00.000-04:00

Another Birchbox post since my last one was super late and I didn't want this one to be delayed either. Here's a quick look at what I got this month. The sample choices this month were all mascaras and I decided to go with the new Benefit Roller Lash. I don't really use mascara anymore but having a nice sample size mascara in my possession will be good for those sudden moments if I decide that I want to put some on. I rarely went through a full size mascara back in the day anyway. If you've been following me for awhile, you would be able to guess that the product I am most interested in trying is the Macadamia dry shampoo. I am all about dry shampoo since my fine, second day hair pretty much always needs a pick-me-up, so I am always interested in trying new dry shampoos. Overall, I am pretty content with this month's products.

Macadamia - Style Extend Dry Shampoo

Benefit - Roller Lash

N4 - Restore & Repair Oil

Biorepublic - Cucumber Breeze Soothing Fiber Mask

Too Cool for School - Dinoplatz Pearl Bay Invasion (#2 Baby pink clam) - shimmering base or highlighter

September 2015 Birchbox - You're Beautiful

2015-10-18T09:30:00.000-04:00

This Birchbox post is extremely delayed but it still warrants a post on my blog. Birchbox has really changed their boxes so that each month there is a different box design. Previously, it was the same plain, brown box holding the goodies, but now each one is colorful and lively. This month I received a nice variety of products, ranging from eye products (skin and makeup) to haircare, as well as perfume. Awesome!
Emblazoned on this month's box are the words, "Psst...You're Beautiful." This is a nice reminder to anyone opening the box that, "Yes, we are beautiful." Beauty isn't just about the physical, it's also about the inside. A person with a beautiful, kind soul is just as beautiful as the person who has a great physique. Everyone is beautiful in their own way and many times people don't even realize it. What people need sometimes is a little more confidence. A person exuding confidence, ready to take on the world one step at a time with a smile on their face will have beautiful written all over them. We must always remember to love ourselves. ❤️

Instagram Recap #5 (August 2015)

2015-09-15T12:12:00.000-04:00

Can you believe summer is gone and we're already halfway through September? August had been a good month and I wish it hadn't passed by so quickly. I was able to go on new adventures and try a lot of new things (new foods!). There was the summer Restaurant Week here in New York City where I got to enjoy some lovely food at Blue Fin and Le Philosophe (French cuisine). I went to Chicago during this month and it was amazing. I had not been on a vacation in 5 years so this was definitely a highlight for me! Hope you guys had a relaxing summer. I have been kind of busy and stressed lately so until the next post. :)

August 2015 Birchbox - Soak It Up!

2015-08-20T12:42:00.000-04:00

This August Birchbox is still going with the summer theme which I am all for. Love love love summer. Sadly, it is the shortest season here in New York. I received an after sun lotion, pore cleanser, sun cream, dry shampoo, bronzer/blush, and a bonus Kerastase shampoo sample. I am always looking to try new dry shampoos so I'm excited to try this R+Co one. I have been hearing good things about the Coola brand, so I am also definitely interested in trying more of their products. How has your summer been? Are you making the most of the last few weeks of it? I sure hope you have!

Instagram Recap #4 (July 2015)

2015-08-10T09:30:00.000-04:00

July is officially over and we're almost half-way through August already. Further reminder that summer (my favorite weather!) is unfortunately coming to an end. Summer is definitely too short of a season here in NYC. I'm glad I managed to squeeze in a beach day in July but I definitely need a few more before it is no longer beach friendly weather. Not ready (never ready) to say goodbye to my shorts and dresses. :/

Exploring the New Whitney Museum

2015-08-03T12:00:00.000-04:00

I explored the new Whitney Museum with some friends awhile ago and while art exhibits or art museums aren't usually my preferred activities, I don't mind seeing new, interesting things once in awhile (even if I don't exactly understand them). The Whitney Museum houses modern, 20th and 21st century American art, including abstract pieces. I thought I'd share some pictures I took, although they aren't the best quality since my phone camera doesn't take the best photos in low light settings. Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Joseph Stella: The Brooklyn Bridge: Variation on an Old Theme

Jasper Johns: Three Flags

Mary Heilmann: Sunset

July 2015 Birchbox

2015-07-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

This month's box is about going bold and Birchbox definitely made that clear with the bright, colorful box design. Summer is definitely the season to bring out the bright lip colors and just have fun! The sample choice for July was one of three Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick and I got it in 13 bella. This is the only product I tested out so far and let me first say that the color is definitely very intense and not for the faint of heart. Unfortunately, this product was a no-go for me. It accentuated lip lines and didn't dry fully to a matte finish. It reminds me very much of the L'oreal Pro-last Lipcolor. Perhaps I will do a review on both of these later on.

Benefit They're Real! Push-Up Liner

Havvn Night Cream

Key West Aloe Save a Tan

Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray

Stila Look at Me Liquid Lipstick in 13 bella

Instagram Recap #3

2015-07-06T10:30:00.000-04:00

Happy July!

Can you believe June went by so fast and it's already July? I definitely can't. It's like summer is already almost over and I have yet to fully enjoy the summer weather. The weather in NY has not been the greatest this summer. Where is the sun?? However, with summer being here now, I have been having way too much ice cream, almost every week! Ice cream is love. Again, as always I have been trying out new foods and even got to attend a cupcake baking class with a friend. To gaining new experiences!

June

June 2015 Birchbox

2015-06-29T09:30:00.000-04:00

Next Stop: Adventure

Summer is definitely a time for adventure, whether it be going on vacation to someplace you've never visited before or just trying out new experiences. Like the Birchbox card says, "Say Yes!" "Adventure is a state of mind. It's about exploring the unknown, dreaming beyond the horizon, and letting go of the word no." I told myself the beginning of this year that I would be open to trying new things and having new experiences. How you want to live your life is in your hands. Say yes to adventure this summer and the rest of the year.

Essie - California Coral

2015-06-22T10:30:00.000-04:00

Essie's California Coral is one of my favorite shades for the summer. It is the perfect coral red that is nice and bright. It screams summer, sun and fun! As always with Essie polishes, great application, full opacity with 2 coats and no streakiness. This is definitely a polish that should be part of everyone's nail polish collection if you don't already have something similar or am on the look out for a nice coral red. Flattering color for most skin tones. What are your favorite polishes for the summer?

Instagram Recap #2

2015-06-15T11:00:00.000-04:00

May was a busy month for me but it was a good month, mainly because I finally graduated from college! I had finals and had some review classes to attend to so I was quite preoccupied, but I still found time to hang out with my friends and try new foods and places.

May

May 2015 Birchbox

2015-06-08T14:03:00.000-04:00

Finally back with a Birchbox post (although I am late on this as it is June already)!

First off, how cute is the box? Birchbox has been coming out with all these cute designs on the boxes recently. I was definitely pleased with May's Birchbox as I got some goodies that I am excited to try out. For my sample pick, I chose the Macadamia Nourishing Moisture Oil Treatment. I had heard many good things about this before so I knew I wanted to choose this one when I saw the choices available. The second item I am most interested in is the Benefit Total Moisture Facial Cream since I have never tried anything from Benefit's skin care line. I think I will be using the Jurlique Advanced Serum mostly along the neck and decolletage area as my decolletage area has experienced way too much sun and need some repair there.

Instagram Recap #1

2015-05-25T10:55:00.002-04:00

It's been awhile again!

My last post was a quick update on my MIA status and in that post I changed it up by including Instagram pictures I had posted over the span of two months. I think I will continue to do these quick cumulative recaps since I like the idea of sharing photos that I have taken in my day- to- day life. I enjoy looking at other people's photos and maybe you guys will enjoy looking at mine too."A picture is worth a thousand words."

April

It's Been Awhile - Quick Update

2015-04-09T10:30:00.000-04:00

Hello everyone! Long time no post!

I know it has been a long time since I've last posted. Thank you to my readers, old and new, for sticking with my blog and to anyone who drops by. I thought I would do a quick, update post and say hello. I am in my last year of college so my main priority is to focus on that and to juggle all the tests and assignments I have. I am also working on the side so that really doesn't leave me much time to blog or much time to myself in general. I haven't decided to stop blogging, but it probably will be awhile until I can really find time to put up an actual post. For this post, I thought I would do something a little different and post up some Instagram pictures from the past two months, for those who don't follow me on that, so you can catch a glimpse of what has been going on with me. I don't have many pictures but I will say that the majority of them consist of food. Yes, I love food, if that isn't apparent enough. :) You can check out more pictures on my Instagram here or just find me @beautopiaxoxo. I hope you all are doing well and thanks for reading!

February

March

Lip Product Fails from Sephora (Sephora Collection, Make Up Forever, and BITE Beauty)

2015-02-08T11:30:00.000-05:00

When there is a deal at Sephora, you just can't pass it up. That definitely applied during their Black Friday $10 deals! I grabbed the Origins mask set, Ciate duo nail trinket set, lip duos by Sephora and Make Up Forever, as well as a lip trio by Bite. The product fails, as seen from the title, were unfortunately all of the lip products I purchased. I am not much of a lip gloss person, but that doesn't really stop me from wanting to try them and maybe find a gloss that I actually really like.

Let's start with the Sephora lip duo. These are full-sized cream lip stains in the colors 04 and 08 (Cute Pink) that normally retail for $13 each. 04 was a matte, burgundy red color on the lips that dried quickly on the lips. Application was easy but the biggest con with this one was the result on the lips afterwards. All your lip lines are extremely accentuated which is not at all flattering. It kind of looks like you slapped on paint on your lips that ended up cracking. 08 (Cute Pink) is described on Sephora.com as a "shimmering rich hot pink." It was definitely a hot pink that was not flattering on the lips at all. Also, the formula was just all wrong. I don't know if I got a bad tube or if the formula is just like that but it was clumpy and applied on the lips all streaky and in patches. Definitely not what I had in mind when I had purchased these two lippies.

Next up, the Make Up Forever Get Glossy set, also containing full-size products that retail for $19 each. It came with Lab Shine D14 (Shimmering Indian Pink) and Lab Shine D16 (Shimmering Beige). From the packaging, it sounds like you would get super shiny, glossy lips. While they are quite glossy with shimmers in the formula, giving you the light-reflecting properties, they weren't particularly pigmented on the lips which is something I prefer in glosses. On my lips, the two products essentially looked almost the same on my lips, so I was not wow-ed. Alone on the lips, they are nothing special, in my opinion. Over another lip product, I can see them being a nice top gloss but still nothing overly exciting. The other colors in the Diamond Collection may provide better results, but these two were also abeige no-go for me.

There are some slight color variations due to lighting as such, but I tried my best to capture the actual colors.

Lab Shine D14

Lab Shine D16


Left: D14 (shimmering indian pink) Right: D16 (shimmering beige)

Lastly, the Lush Lip Trio by Bite, featuring Rambutan, Currant, and Strawberry. These full-sized lip glosses retail for $22 a piece. It claims to be made with real fruit and healthy ingredients which definitely is appealing. The main thing I didn't like about this product was the smell and taste of it. It had a very chemical-like smell and taste which is a total turn-off for me. I did not find the colors that amazing or pigmented and the glosses felt a little heavy on the lips. Out of the three, I was most excited to try Currant because I thought it would be a nice berry color but if I had to choose out of the three, I preferred the color of Strawberry.

Top to bottom: Strawberry, Currant, Rambutan

Left to right: Currant, Strawberry, Rambutan

Unfortunately, these lip products did not work out for me and I am extremely grateful to Sephora's return policy because many times, things just don't work out. I will definitely be keeping an eye out the next time Sephora's Black Friday deals roll out to snag some goodies. ;) Thanks for checking out this post. I hope you liked the photo-filled post and that my thoughts were helpful. Have you guys tried these out where you enjoy them or did they also not work out? Let me know your thoughts! :)

Plum Power Nail Polish by Sally Hansen

2015-01-25T11:00:00.000-05:00

Plum Power by Sally Hansen is a nail polish I have had for a long, long time. It is a dark purple polish that is quite "plum-like" with shimmers in it which give it a nice sheen. Two coats will you full opacity and longevity is around 1-2 weeks for me, a duration that is common to the Sally Hansen polishes I have tried, which is not bad overall for a drugstore polish that is on the lower price end. It applies easily so no worry about streaks or uneven application here. This is a color I usually wear during the colder months, fall and winter.

January 2015 Birchbox - Let's Do This!

2015-01-18T11:30:00.000-05:00

Hello 2015! This is my first post for the new year and what better way than to start it off with my monthly Birchbox posts. I will list all of my past Birchbox posts at the end if you want to take a look at them. :)

For my "Pick My Sample" this month, I chose the Tocca hand cream. I could always do with more hand creams, especially these travel-friendly sized ones.

Past Birchbox posts:

In a way, it's a little snapshot of my progress on this blog with my first Birchbox post up until this point. I hope you guys had an amazing start to the new year and that we all have a great year ahead of us! Like this month's Birchbox theme, "Let's Do This!"

Ski Teal We Drop by OPI

2014-12-26T11:00:00.000-05:00

With nail polish, I have slowly been stepping out of my comfort zone and trying out shades that aren't my go-to shades of reds, pinks or purples. I had received Ski Teal We Drop awhile ago and finally tried it out this month in lieu of the winter season. It is a teal, blue color that is quite wearable since it is a darker shade and has more blue than green in it. As always, OPI's nail polishes go on smoothly and easily with good staying power. Two coats of this color will give you full opacity.

For the accent nail, I used the L'oreal Magic Topcoat in "The True Diamond," a polish I have mentioned in previous posts before. (July 2014 Favorites, Pretty in Pink, Splash of Grenadine by Essie) It is one of my favorite polishes to use as an accent or just over the top of nail polish colors.

November 2014 Birchbox Unboxing

2014-11-23T11:00:00.000-05:00

It's time for another Birchbox post!

1) Klorane - Floral Water Makeup-Remover with Soothing Cornflower -- This is supposed to be an eye makeup- remover that is supposed to get rid of waterproof makeup as well. I will definitely be trying this. Hope this works out!

2) Not Soap, Radio - Body Wash -- I'm not sure how I feel about the scent. It is supposed to be green and white tea with clover scent. I'll still use it anyway even though I'm not a fan of the scent.

3) Supergoop!- Daily Correct CC Cream SPF 35 in Light to Medium -- My time with Birchbox has left me with quite a few different products from Supergoop. I do not use CC creams or BB creams for that matter because I have found them to be unsuitable for my skin.

4) Royal Apothic - Cuppa Cuppa Firming Tea Treatment Mask -- I am very interested in trying this product. I have never owned a firming mask before that is also supposed to help brighten the skin as well.

5) Cynthia Rowley - Creamy Lip Stain in Dahlia -- I have developed a liking for berry or plum colors for the lips so I will be trying this one out as well.

This month's bonus is a Honeycomb ChocoPods treat which I have never tried before. Yay food! Thanks for taking a look inside my box with me. :)

Blue Freeze by Maybelline (Color Show Nail Polish)

2014-11-13T10:30:00.000-05:00

It's been too long since my last post, but please excuse the condition of my nail polish, as the pictures had been taken around a week after I had the polish on!

Natural Light

If you can't tell from my previous posts, I am a red/pink/purple kind of nail polish girl and basically stay away from blues, greens and such because I have not found them to be all that flattering on me. I had actually bought this nail polish awhile ago and upon first trial, I thought the color made my nails look like a monster, so I put it away and never gave it another go. For some reason, this fall I wanted to branch out and decided to give this polish another try and at first I was still hesitant, but I grew to actually like it. It is a dark blue with blue and purple microglitters or shimmers in it, giving it a nice subtle sparkle or sheen to it. Two coats will give you full opacity. The longevity of this polish is pretty good, as you can see that the polish is pretty much still intact for me even after a week. I have gotten compliments on this polish which is definitely a bonus! This color definitely makes a nice fall and winter color.

October 2014 Birchbox Unboxing

2014-10-19T11:30:00.000-04:00

1) ModelCo - POWERLASH High Impact Black Mascara -- I can only use waterproof mascara so I will not be using this. It is an Australian brand and this mascara is supposed to add length and volume.

2) Ojon - Rare Blend Oil Total Hair Therapy --It is a decent sample size and I will be able to get quite a few uses out of this. I rarely use hair oils, but I would like to try this one and see how well it nourishes.

3) Ellovi - Vanilla Butter -- This seems like it will be quite greasy so I'm not sure how I will feel about this.

4) Jouer - Matte Moisture Tint in Nude -- I've heard positive reviews about the Jouer line so it'll be nice to try this out. I hope the color matches me.

5) Vasanti Cosmetics - BrightenUp! Enzymatic Face Rejuvenator -- This is supposed to mimic the effects of microdermabrasion so I will definitely give this a try. I have hyperpigmentation from acne scars so I hope it'll help with my complexion.

Not one of my favorite Birchbox monthly box but let's see what I get next month. :)

Would You Rather Beauty Tag

2014-10-14T10:30:00.000-04:00

1) Would you rather lose all of your mascaras, eyeliners, lipsticks, and lipglosses or lose all of your palettes and eyeshadows?

I’d have to go with my palettes and eyeshadows. I don’t use eyeshadow all that much. Love my eyeliner though!

2) Would you rather chop off all your hair or never be able to cut it again?

Never be able to cut it again.

3) Would you rather have a coral cheek or a pink cheek?

Pink.

4) If you had $1000 to spend, would you rather buy clothes or makeup?

Clothes!

5) Would you rather apply lipstick as eyeliner, or eyeliner as lipstick?

Eyeliner as lipstick. It would be quite hard applying lipstick as eyeliner and my lipstick colors tend to be in the red and pink ranges.

6) Would you rather only shop at MAC or Sephora?

Definitely Sephora! So many choices!

7) Would you rather only use one eyeshadow color or one lip color for the rest of your life?

One lip color. Even though I don’t wear eyeshadow all that much, I can’t imagine only using one eyeshadow color for the rest of my life.

8) Would you rather wear winter clothes in summer or summer clothes in winter?

This is a terrible question for me. I am deathly afraid of the cold, yet I get very hot easily too. I guess I’d rather sweat to death than freeze to death, so winter clothes it is.

9) Would you rather have dark nails or bright nails all year round?

Bright nails!

10) Would you rather give up your favorite lip product or your favorite eye product?

Favorite lip product. The first favorite eye product that comes to mind is the MUFE Aqua Liners and I definitely cannot give those up!

11) Would you rather only be able to wear your hair in a ponytail or a messy bun?

While I’d like to wear my hair in a messy bun, that is something I’ve never been able to do with my hair so ponytail it is.

12) Would you rather never be able to paint your nails again or never use lipgloss?

Never use lipgloss. Not really a fan of lipgloss anyway.

13) Would you rather shave your eyebrows and have none at all or sharpie them in everyday?

Sharpie them in everyday? I can’t imagine having no eyebrows at all.

14) Would you rather live without makeup or nail polish?

Tough one but I would go with nail polish because I sure need my concealers!

What would you guys rather do for these questions? :)

The One That Got Away by OPI (Katy Perry Collection)

2014-10-05T11:00:00.000-04:00

With the change in season from summer to fall, it is time for the darker nail polish colors to come out. The One That Got Away by OPI, which is part of the Katy Perry Collection that came out in 2011, is a good fall or winter color that I have been wearing this past week. It has specks of microglitter in it that makes it holiday friendly as well if you want more than just plain nails but still want to be subtle. For me, it is a little harder to get completely evenly coated nails with this color, so I had to use three coats which if I look closely I can still see that they are not completely opaque. However, it isn't too obvious so it's not a big issue for me.

1 week

Natural Light

It is a dark, burgundy color and I use Essie's Good To Go topcoat.