Mellie's Closet

Review: OZ Naturals Super Youth Eye Gel

2016-02-27T17:21:00.000-05:00

The quest for the holy grail eye cream always seem to be a never-ending journey. Today I'm sharing a new eye cream - OZ Naturals Super Youth Eye Gel . Interestingly, if you search for the Super Youth Eye Gel on Amazon, the product listing name is Best Eye Gel Eye cream for dark circles, puffiness and wrinkles with no mention of "Super Youth". A lot of claims for ONE product!

OZ Naturals Super Youth Eye Gel

OZ Naturals is an American company that is cruelty free. Their eye gel is very affordable priced under $18. It also has all the keywords - hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E. Their packaging reminds me of DDF and comes with a nice sanitary pump.

OZ Naturals Super Youth Eye Gel

The product itself is a very lightweight clear gel and pretty much fragrance free which I do like. The clear gel feels nice and cooling. I can see how it helps with the de-puffing. Directions say this eye gel can be used on wrinkle prone areas such as forehead and laugh lines. On the back of my hand, the gel absorbs almost instantly and leaves my hands super smooth, almost as if it's a primer. But on my eyes, the gel takes a little longer to absorb, and I don't feel that same super smoothness. I also don't think it works well under makeup as they claim. Under the Benefit Fakeup under eye concealer, my eyes feels extra dry in this bitter winter weather.

Not sure if I'll repurchase this, I think it might be more suitable for the summer time than the winter. But this eye gel does have over 2000 5 star reviews on Amazon. Have you tried?

Thank you to Brandbacker and OZ Naturals for sponsoring this post.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only review products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Additional info can be found here.

Review: Valentia True Glow Eye Cream and Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask

2016-02-16T00:45:00.003-05:00

There's not that many brands out there that would be confident enough to provide a lifetime money back guarantee. A brand that does definitely warrants a try. Valentia offers this confidence on all their skincare products. On top of that they have best buzz words - organic, vegan, cruelty free and American made.

Their True Glow Eye Cream also claims to solve all eye concerns: moisturizing, diminish fine lines and wrinkles, gets rid of dark circles AND puffiness! All this packed into a bottle for $25! Sold on Amazon with hundreds of reviews, this is one of the most popular eye creams on Amazon.

Valentia True Glow Eye Cream

The Valentia True Glow Eye Cream comes in a little glass bottle with a pump. Though the pump tends to squirt out a long stream of product. (see picture below) A little too much product but still manageable.

Valentia True Glow Eye Cream and it's annoying long stream at 1 pump

The eye cream is in an orange creamiscle color with a similar orangey fragrance. But the fragrance reminds me of walking down a dollar store body products aisle. Not exactly my cup of tea. And for the product itself, when applied, it really does feel like it smooths out lines. It leaves a slight silicone feeling on the eyes and definitely shows under cream concealer. Not seeing any effects of the other claims though. Not sure if I'll actually repurchase.

Valentia Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask

The Valentia Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask is also $25 on Amazon with hundreds of 4 and 5 star reviews. Another multi claim product that is said to boost collagen production, reduce fine lines and increase skin radiance.

Valentia Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask with the uneven label

I know it's not a luxury brand, but seeing packaging like this is really disappointing. Reminds me of something from the dollar store. Packaging label represents the brand, something placed like this makes me feel that the product is not made with care either.

Valentia Ultra Plumping Hydration Mask - no seals

On top of that, the mask wasn't sealed in any way. Another little disappointing point because when I opened it, the rim is filled with dried mask residue. The scent of the mask is also smells like dollar store shampoo. Much more irritating than the eye cream since the mask is for the entire face and around the nose. The mask is in a yellow mustard color and it dries to a translucent goo. The mask direction says to leave it on for 15-30 mins and expect a tingling sensation. But I wasn't it to be this bad! I left it on for roughly 10 mins and washed it off. After washing everything off, my face was all red and burning. Luckily the burning wore off after 20 mins or so. Sadly I could see where the "plumping" action went to. A reminder for myself to remember to do a small skin test before applying to my face.

Thank you to Brandbacker and Valentia for sponsoring this post. Although my experience was negative with these Valentia products, there are much more positive reviews for Valentia. They just didn't work out for me.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only review products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Additional info can be found here.

2015 Year in Review & Favorites

2015-12-31T02:32:00.001-05:00

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and wish you all an even better 2016!

2015 was definitely a new milestone year for me with the engagement and wedding planning. This year also marked many new tried and true products that I definitely have on my holy grail repurchase list.

2015 Beauty Faves - Lorac Skinny Eye Palette in Black, Dior DiorSnow White Reveal Sunscreen, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation, Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil, Laura Mercier Lip Parfait Creamy Colourbalms

Lorac Skinny Eye Palette in Black - this was a Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Exclusive and I didn't expect it to be so perfect! Not only is it the perfect warm nudes palette, but it has both the shimmer and matte shadows that I use daily. The shadows are so buttery soft AND they don't crease despite all day wear. I found myself reaching for it almost every day in the last 4 months so it definitely had to be a fave for this year. I'm looking forward to getting more.
Dior DiorSnow White Reveal UVB Protection Sunscreen in Translucent - I was reluctant to use it in the beginning since it's pure sunscreen. I always have to mix it in with a moisturizer every morning so it was a little cumbersome but after finding the right one (Clinique's Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief), it works so wonderfully. Never greasy feeling and doesn't crease any base makeup.
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Ultra Light Skin Perfecting Sunscreen Makeup Foundation in 20 Beige - super lightweight foundation that has a light to medium coverage. My skin stays dewy all day without getting oily. Super love and already restocked.
Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil - if I had to choose the #1 beauty product of the year, I'm most amazed by the Luna Sleeping Night Oil's results. No, I didn't see overnight results like most people claimed, but I did see noticeable differences to my pores within a week. I also saw improvement to acne scars around my chin area. Maybe a full review to come soon?
Laura Mercier Lip Parfait Creamy Colourbalms - I already own 5 of these! They go on smooth and doesn't accentuate any lines. Leaves lips looking glossy and rich. Laura Mercier already added more colors in this line, I guess I'll be stocking them up again.

That's it for my top 5 beauty favorites of 2015! There were many wonderful products this year but these are definitely hands down the best I've tried and used this year. Do you have a list to share?

Once again, thank you for stopping by and making it possible for me to get chances like sponsored posts. I wish you all a wonderful 2016!

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Additional info can be found here.

Review: GlassesShop Warner Robin Rimless Prescription Glasses

2015-12-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

Here's a fun review today. I've converted to a contacts wearer for over 2 years now, but I'm still not 100% comfortable wearing contacts for work on a daily basis. For work, I'll still resort to wearing prescription glasses. Just when I decided to leave a pair handy at work, the reps at GlassesShop reached out to me to try out a pair of their glasses.

The GlassesShop website is pretty easy to navigate through. There's definitely many options on their website to choose from. Everything from prescription glasses to sunglasses. Many of their frames are very affordable in the $30 price range.

I was all set to try something different than my norm (narrow rectangle frames). I like how they also show you try-on pictures for each frame. So I decided to go with these rimless frames ($35) in a fun red metallic frame.

Warby Robin Rimless Frames

What the glasses come with

These frames came in a plain clear plastic eyeglasses case. I liked the fact that it looks plain and simple. All my designer frames would come in these leatherette cases that only get beaten up in my purse. And inside was a small cleaning cloth (though I must note that it was kind of disappointing to see that "eyeglasses" was misspelled.)

A close up of the metallic frames

These Warner Robin Rimless frames are surprisingly lightweight. I barely notice them on my ears. The legs are also very flexible. Unlike most glasses, these glasses would not stay folded. When you want to put it inside the case, you will have to quickly close the case before the legs spring out.

Overall I really like how these rimless frames look on me. Haha, it almost looks like I'm not wearing any frames. Perfect for those who are not used to how they look with glasses.

Excuse the poor lighting please!

As for the prescription, I've recently updated my prescription on my contacts, so there's some getting used to with these frames. I'll advise to visit your optometrist annually to ensure you have the correct prescription.

The GlassesShop is currently offering my readers 50% off a brand new pair of glasses. Use code GSHOT50 on prescription or sunglasses with free lens! Check here for more details.

Let me know in the comments if you're guilty of wearing lens-less glasses as a fashion accessory! I'm definitely guilty on this one too!

Thank you to GlassesShop for this fun collaboration. As always, everything mentioned is my own honest opinion.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Additional info can be found here.

Swatches: BareMinerals Modern Pop Marvelous Moxie Lipstick Collection

2015-09-30T00:56:00.002-04:00

Wanted to put this up since Bare Escentuals is currently running a 20% off everything with free shipping promotion. Use code ELEVEN.

This Bare Minerals Modern Pop collection came out in the beginning of this year and is currently on sale for $7.6 a piece ( I got mine a little cheaper at a 30% off coupon earlier.)

Bare Minerals Modern Pop Marvelous Moxie Lipsticks

There are 3 colors in this collection "Express Yourself", "Fall in Love" and "Dream Big". Each one comes in this super shiny metallic lipstick tube decorating with polka dots.

There's a little knob to push out the lipstick tube

The lipstick tube looks really nifty pushed out from the metallic case. As an added bonus, each lipstick also comes in their own (what I called) 80's inspired lipstick cases! (Not exactly sure who carries these around anymore but it reminds me of the ones from 99cents stores.)

From left to right: Dream Big, Fall in Love, and Express Yourself

This beautiful collection of nude lip colors are gorgeous and would flatter than skin tone. Originally I was afraid that Fall in Love would be too dark on my lips, but it's a beautiful chocolate brown. I was expecting Dream Big to wash me out because it looks palest in the tube..

Swatched on the inside of my arm

You can see the natural sheen of these lipsticks but sadly the lipsticks wasn't as moisturizing as I had hope. It goes on without much effort on top of a chapstick but on it's own, it can tug.

Let me know if you've tried these lipsticks and if you have a favorite nude lip you want me to try.

Have a happy last day of September! First days of fall finally here!

Try It Thursday: GLAMGLOW SUPERMUD Clearing Treatment

2015-09-10T00:32:00.001-04:00

Try it Tuesday got a little pushed back since I posted earlier in the week. This week, I whipped out a deluxe sample of the GLAMGLOW SUPERMUD Clearing Treatment.

I'm not sure if I got a bad sample, but there were lots of clumpy pieces in the mask. You can kind of see it on the cap in the picture, except the pieces goes up to 3x that size.

GLAMGLOW SUPERMUD Clearing Treatment

But that definitely didn't stop me from lusting on this mask! The results were truly amazing! Just like any mud mask, I just leave it on my face for approximately 15 minutes or until it completely dries. I never would have expected such immediate results. After washing off the mask, I could easily clear out clogged pores by lightly squeezing.

So far it looks like this deluxe sample size will last me 3 uses. I've already used it twice and the results were pretty consistent. I'm trying to persuade my fiance to give it a try, clogged pores seems to be a constant problem for him.

Anybody else tried this? I'm curious about the other GLAMGLOW products now.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Additional info can be found here.

Deal: Barney's Love Yourself Beauty Gift Bag Event September 2015

2015-09-07T10:43:00.001-04:00

It's back! A few months back I talked about the last beauty gift with purchase that Barney's offered and now it's back for the fall. Like last time, this bag is yours with a $200 beauty purchase.

Without going through too much details in the actual samples, just looking at the Tatcha Enzyme Powder and the Ritual Shower gel, that's already $30 worth of products. (Samples sometimes due vary, but it should still be very comparable to this.)

There's also a long laundry list of all the individual brand gifts with purchases. Instead of sharing what I received, I think Lola's Secret Blog has the best details.

What I have the hardest time with right now is to come up with my picks and what to buy! I'm trying to go on a no-buy in beauty (especially after Macy's one day sale and Sephora's recent VIB sales). But here's my initial list:

Tatcha Dewy Luminous Mist - $48 (didn't get it last time)
Tatcha Camelia Cleansing Oil - $48
Tatcha Pore Perfecting Sunscreen - $68
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation in B20 - $47

Are you shopping this event? What would you be getting? I need ideas~! =D

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Additional info can be found here.

Deal: Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Powder Duo for 20% Off!

2015-09-04T01:11:00.002-04:00

Yup you read the title right, I just checked out with this Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Powder Duo for 20% off! And yes it is LEGIT! Ebates currently have a coupon code for 10% off at SaksFifthAvenue.com plus they have 10% cashback from Saks during the Labor Day Sale! Coupon code EBATES15 and expires on Sept 7.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Additional info can be found here.

Try It Tuesday: Kate Somerville Line Release Under Eye Repair Cream

2015-08-25T23:27:00.000-04:00

I decided to create a new series of posts, my version of Try It Tuesdays! I have hoarded so many samples and products that I never get to use. These hardly ever show up on my empties and by the time that they do, they sometimes end up going bad. So hopefully this along with my empties, I keep track of a list of my favorite products that work for me.

(image from katesomerville.com)

This past weekend while away on my road trip, instead of bringing a full size eye cream, I brought along with me this Kate Somerville Line Release Under Eye Repair Cream sample packet. The full size comes with a hefty price tag at $125. The packet lasted 2 days and nights with a total of 4 applications. Don't think the whole dark circles and anti aging worked in those 4 times I used it, but I do love the creamy texture. It feels very luxurious and not greasy on my eyes. Most importantly, it didn't crease my under eye concealer. Adding this to my to buy list for the future.

I see this has 4 stars on Sephora. Anybody try it before? I'm still in search of my perfect eye cream.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. Additional info can be found here.

OOTD: Cool Summer Blue

2015-08-25T00:02:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone, I just came home from a nice long weekend away in the Hamptons celebrating my birthday with my fiance. This weekend was all about doing what I love - shopping!

Today was much cooler but you'll still feel that summer heat if you are under the sun too long. So I opted for something nice and breezy.

Add caption

Top - Lush Rolled Tab Tunic $42 & also reviewed here
Bottom - AE Twill Shorties Shorts $19.99
Shoes - Vans X ASPCA Puppies Slip On Sneakers $55 (on sale in stores)
Bag - Louis Vuitton Eva Clutch in Damier Ebene

Vans X ASPCA and Converse 'Jack Purcell' from Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Here's a close up of the sneakers. These Vans Slip Ons are so cute! I rushed to stores once I saw Hollyannaree posted about these. They were on sale in stores for $29.99. These are my first Vans so I wasn't sure what to expect. The soles definitely feel comfy enough, but the canvas upper actually scraped the top of my toes, bad enough to leave a blister. =( So in the outfit, you can see my wearing Puma no-show socks (the irony I know) that I had to buy and put on right away.

Sadly back to work for me tomorrow, hopefully it'll be a good week!

Review: Lush 'Perfect' Roll Tab Sleeve Tunic (Nordstrom Anniversary Sale)

2015-08-02T02:42:00.002-04:00

Today's the last day of the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale! So it's time to snatch up as many goodies as you can before prices go up. Aside from the lovely purses that I shared in my last post, this Lush 'Perfect' Roll Tab Sleeve Tunic (on sale for just under $28) was definitely another favorite of so many. There are sooooo sooooo many posts on IG if you look for #nsale of this tunic.

Lush Perfect Tunic from Nordstrom

I immediately ordered this top in 3 different colors when I saw that the classic ivory and olive colors were being backordered. This blue was still available in my size and shipped out to me immediately. When I took it out of the plastic bag, I was so excited. It is exactly how I imagined it to be, soft and drapey in all the right places. I couldn't wait to get my hands on the other 2 colors!

Lush Perfect Roll Tab Sleeve Tunics from Nordstrom

And here they are, all side by side, definitely beautiful tops and material, but guess what? I'm RETURNING the olive and ivory!

Can you tell why? Can you see what's wrong with them? How about now?

Lush Perfect Roll Tab Sleeve Tunic Imperfections

These tops have such bad craftsmanship that it just looks cheap! Here I'm comparing them side by side on a hanger. The moment I held up the olive top with my own hands, just looking at it I could see the imperfections! I can't imagine how horrible it'll be hanging off my shoulders. The pocket looks so awkward hanging off lop sided. The shoulders were so off between the left and right side. I can't believe they had such horrible quality control. I'm guessing that first batch of tunics was so popular that they just rushed to get the next shipment of these tunics out during the anniversary sale.

I do love these tops but seems they are a hit or miss in quality. Thank goodness to Nordstrom's free return policy! I actually saw this very similar H&M tunic for $35 and passed on it thinking I have a "nicer" Nordstrom one coming to me. Now I think I'll go back to pick up the H&M one instead.

H&M Vneck Tunic

Have any of you had such experience with Nordstrom clothing?

Review: Rebecca Minkoff Love Chevron Quilted Crossbody & Clutch (Nordstrom Exclusive)

2015-07-30T01:02:00.003-04:00

Hi everyone, today I wanted to share with you my very first video! I shared a picture on Instagram recently of my Nordstrom Anniversary Sale haul and I wanted to give a review on both the Rebecca Minkoff Love Chevron Quilted Crossbody and Clutch (still available here) as a side by side comparison.

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale Haul

The crossbody is on sale for $196 from $295, but unfortunately it's already sold out online. The clutch is on sale for $169 from $265 and both colors are still available online. Even though I planned to return one of them, in the end I think I'm going to keep both!

Let me know in the comments if you liked the video and also if you're interested in seeing the rest of my haul goodies. Thanks for stopping by!

Review: L'Oréal Ultimate Straight Haircare Line

2015-07-23T00:50:00.000-04:00

L'oreal Ultimate Straight Haircare Line from Influenster

I recently received this haircare package courtesy of Influenster. The L'oreal Ultimate Straight Haircare line is definitely not a stranger to me. I've only finished the shampoo/conditioner set back in April. I was drawn to the shampoo because it contains keratin (a popular protein for hair in high end haircare). So I bought the shampoo and conditioner on my own at my local CVS. =) Given that I haven't repurchased, I was a little disappointed that I received this package from Influenster. But the other 2 products were new to me and I'm glad I did give them a try.

Just a quick summary of my hair, I have your typical Asian straight hair. I've never dyed my hair and it's naturally straight. Not pin straight, but it bends around my ears and towards the ends. And thankfully no split ends! My normal hair wash routine is to shampoo from roots to ends and only condition from my ear down to ends. I never condition the roots.

This L'oreal Ultimate Straight Haircare line consists of 4 steps:

Advanced Care Smooth Intense Ultimate Straight Shampoo - Roughly $5 at the drugstore. I did not care for this shampoo. I usually have a rule that my hair should look fresh for up to 48 hours. If my hair starts feeling greasy in 36 hours, then it's a no go. My hair started feeling icky by the 24th hour! Not crazy about it and definitely regret it.
Advanced Care Smooth Intense Ultimate Straight Boosting Pre-Conditioner - Now this was a great surprise. I tried adding this with my Clear shampoo/conditioner and my hair felt silky soft for over 36 hours. Definitely credited to this pre-conditioner. But the directions say to only use it once a week and to leave it on for 1-3 minutes before your normal conditioner. The days I don't use the pre-conditioner my hair didn't feel much different.
Advanced Care Smooth Intense Ultimate Straight Conditioner - As mentioned earlier, when used alone with the shampoo this didn't wow me. Detangles hair like all other conditioners nowadays.
Advanced Care Smooth Intense Ultimate Straight Perfecting Balm - This balm unlike the rest of the line had a completely different scent. May be because it's used on towel dried hair so can't rinse it off. The scent was definitely more sweet and but luckily doesn't linger for long. It's a pink gel that I just applied from my ear down to ends. It's meant to be used with heating tools like a hair dryer or flat iron. When used with a hair dryer, I think I do notice my hair straighter than normal. During the summertime, I tend not to use a hair dryer and using Steps 1-3, I didn't notice extra straight hair.

Overall I was most impressed with the pre-conditioner. L'oreal also has a very broad advanced haircare line, now I'm curious to tried those. Anybody else tried? Let me know in the comments!

Disclaimer: This set of L'oreal products were sent to me by Influenster to try out and sample, my opinion remains my own.

My Wishlist: Nordstrom Anniversary Sale 2015

2015-07-08T23:16:00.000-04:00

Today I wanted to share with you all my picks from the Nordstrom Anniversary 2015 Catalog. Every year the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is the big event for all fashionistas and the ability to shop their sale early before the general public definitely was the reason why I signed up for the Nordstrom Rewards credit card.

The anniversary sale will start with Early Access from July 9-16 and will be open to the public from July 17 on. Here are my picks and things on my wishlist! (I'll update with links once all these items become available.) Let me know what you're getting!

My Picks for Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Laura Mercier "The Art of Colour" Palette $79 - LM always has a similar holiday palette every year. Definitely a staple for those who don't own one of her palettes.
Movado "Bold" Round Patent Leather Strap Watch $300.90 - a classic Movado face in pretty new colors, I love the gold band
Mackage Wool Blend Coat with Leather Sleeves $459.90 - I love how chic this coat looks with the leather sleeves. The leather sleeves make it a little edgey but the wrap front is definitely all feminine.
YSL 'Rock Attitude' Glossy Stain Set $72 - I haven't tried this cult favorite yet and I missed it when Sephora had a similar set, so definitely want to grab it this time.
Hunter 'Tall' Back Zip Rain Boot $169.90 - Another cult favorite, I already own a pair, but this one is a little more fun (and probably A LOT easier to get into) with the back zip
Rebecca Minkoff Chevron Quilted Love Crossbody $196.90 - I might have many RM bags already but this one that is so Chanel Boy Bag-esc is just too hard to pass over
NARS 'Blame it on NARS' Cheek Palette - this is always a cult favorite (probably with the exception of last year's holiday palette) and always sells out fast! Though the shades in the picture look like they're from the current line, the names indicate they're brand new colors. Plus it includes a little cheek brush this time.

What's on your #nsale wishlist?

Review: Elizabeth and James Cynnie Sling Backpack

2015-06-25T00:14:00.000-04:00

When planning for my Milan trip, I knew I needed to get a new backpack. I needed something that I can use to carry my mini DSLR camera and travel guides. But I was skeptical of getting any backpack because I knew I wouldn't be putting it to use on a daily basis. So my search started with looking for my holy grail backpack and I was soo happy when I found the Elizabeth and James Cynnie Sling Backpack with tassels.

Elizabeth and James Cynnie Sling Backpack in Moss

This purse was just perfect, not only is it a backpack, it converts into a trendy bucket bag that can be worn on one shoulder. Definitely combining both the backpack and bucket bag trend in one!

While doing research on the purse, I was a little worried if it'll fit my needs, there just wasn't enough pictures available online, so I decided that this post warrants more detailed photos to help some of you that might be on the border with the purchase. Be warned photo heavy post today!

The Cynnie Sling Backpack with tassels

The basic Cynnie Sling ($595) doesn't come with the long tassel zippered front. I'm very glad that my version ($273 on sale at Last Call) came with the tassels. It makes the bag a little more casual and of course fringes is also another all the rave right now (another trend - checked).

Cynnie Sling backpack

The purse has a large front zipper with tassels, a cell phone slot inside and a zippered compartment inside the main compartment.

Cynnie Sling with Shoulder Strap hanging back

One gripe I have is that the main compartment is a drawstring closure (perfect bucket bag though.) This was where I was hesitant with using it as a travel purse. Ideally I would have preferred a zipped closure so I don't have to worry about pickpockets.

Cynnie Sling Drawstring Closure

But since the drawstring material was made from the same buttery soft leather as the rest of the purse, it was not slippery and there was no way anyone can open or stick their hands in without using some noticeable force.

Cynnie Sling front zippered compartment

The front zippered compartment is fully lined and expands into the bag, so that it fits bulky items and not just slim small miscellaneous things.

Cynnie Sling some close up details

The leather on the Cynnie Sling is so soft and luxurious feeling, but that's also why you see the wear and tear on the drawstrings in the upper right picture after a 5 day weekend of use. But there are studs on the bottom of the bag so the bottom does get the same wear and tear. The thick shoulder strap is removable but the backpack straps are not.

Now for some really personal pics that I wanted to share with you all, mostly just to showcase the purse. But this Milan trip will forever be cherished in a special place in my heart as this was where my boyfriend proposed. I'm sure I'll be back in the near future.

Cynnie Sling hangs low on my back naturally

Taking in the view of the Duomo in Milan

Cynnie Sling Backpack the back view - going up the Duomo without suspecting anything up ahead

Cynnie Sling at Milano Centrale Stazione

Cynnie Sling & I at Santa Maria Iglesia

Thank you all for reading up to this point!

Nail Art: Spring Cherry Blossoms

2015-06-18T00:36:00.001-04:00

Cherry Blossoms Nails with Rebecca Minkoff Hudson Moto Mini

Sharing today a little nail art that I featured in a recent Instagram post. This day I was planning on going to check out cherry blossoms, so I decided to match my nails to the outing.

Cherry Blossoms with Essie's Muchi Muchi and L'oreal a la meringue

I used this Sephora Nail Art Set to create the little fluffy cherry blossom petals using L'oreal's a la meringue. The base color is 2 coats of my favorite pastel pink featured in this previous post. I think nail art with neutral colors is still suitable for a professional work environment.

Thanks for reading. Have a nice weekend!

Review: Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Spot Corrector

2015-05-24T11:00:00.000-04:00

Not sure how to describe Clinique's Even Better Eyes Dark Spot Corrector. Is it skincare or is it makeup? If you say it's skincare, it has color. If you want to call it makeup, it's really used as an eye cream. I first tried it in one of those small packet samples and loved the texture so much that I decided to buy the full size.

Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector with metal applicator

Let's start with my usual bullet points.

Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Spot Corrector Facts

Packaging - Comes in a little squeeze tube with a metal applicator
Size - 0.34 oz or 10mL
Price - $39.50 (a lot pricier than the popular Clinique All About Eye line)
Specifications - Eye cream specifically formulated to lighten dark circles with the metal applicator used to massage and depuff undereye bags
Directions - Use day and night using the applicator to apply directly to the eyes
Ingredients - I'm disappointed that the only listed ingredients can be found on the original packaging and can't share anything here. But the texture felt a little silicone-y so for those who might be allergic be aware!

Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Spot Corrector Review

Scent - fragrance free because my eyes can't smell ^_~
Essence - A soft melt in your fine lines eye cream with a little orange color (see swatch below)
How I Use It - Because of the metal tip applicator, I only use it in the morning. Squeeze some product out and swipe on the undereyes from outer corners of the eye to the inner corners towards the nose bridge. Then tap and blend with your RING finger. I'll blend excess on to the top of the lids.
Overall Experience - I really do enjoy using this as an eye cream. The texture really helps fill in any lines under your eyes making it look much more unanimous and the little bit of coverage does help. Of course the coverage is sheer almost translucent at best, but I do see a slight difference in my dark circles. And as with all metal tip applicators, it feels so nice and cold against your eyes, it helps with puffy eyes in the morning.

Now let's check out the swatches - wanted to compare it with 2 other concealers that I've been using: Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Correctur in Shade 2 and NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard.

Swatches (from left to right) - Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge Correcteur Concealer in Shade 2, Clinique Even Better Eyes Dark Spot Corrector and NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard

The LMdB concealer is slightly more peachy where the Clinique corrector is more a translucent lotion and the NARS concealer a very light paste. Surprisingly all 3 swatches look completely different to each other, but when I blend them in, I can't tell the difference!!

Overall I did really like the Clinique corrector, but not exactly sure if I'll repurchase. It wasn't good enough to use as an eye cream (it doesn't really help dark circles and it was doing a decent job with moisturizing, but that's it.) If you say it's a makeup item, its coverage is mediocre and not really worth the while.

Have you tried this Clinique corrector? What are your thoughts? It seems like skincare/makeup hybrids are getting very popular now. All those serum foundations too. I'm curious to try.

Have a happy Memorial Day!

Monthly Empties: February, March & April 2015 & A Personal Update

2015-05-12T00:16:00.000-04:00

Somehow I managed to turn it into quarterly empties again, but work and personal life has definitely taken a toll on my time! I just got engaged! ^_^ Even though it's only been a month, so much has already happened. We've taken the plunge and already made an offer for our new home! Hopefully everything will work out so we can move forward and onto home decor. So exciting!

With a new home in the horizon, I really need to start downsizing on everything I own, not only on makeup/skincare but also on clothing and bags and shoes. I'll be posting a lot of items on my Poshmark (@mellie_closet) and on Ebay. Check it out if you're interested, mention my blog and I'll offer 10% discount!

Now I'm really on a mission to empty out more products, there should be more products going into these posts.

February 2015 Monthly Empties

February we have mostly skincare and samples used up!

Aveeno Skin Relief Moisture repair cream - Aveeno have been a staple in my body care for years! You can go all the way back to my first post and this moisture cream is so much nicer to use than the pump lotion. Thickness wise it might be a little teensy weensy bit thicker but not really noticeable. But at least with this packaging I don't have to get all frustrated shaking the bottle to get the last bits out. I'm not normally a fan of tubs, but I only use it right after I shower so my hands are always clean
My Beauty Diary Earl Gray Tea & Macaron Mask - Another of My Beauty Diary masks, nothing too different than the others. Leaves skin looking bright and supple.
Dior Capture Totale One Essential Skin Boosting Serum - This pricey serum came in one of my Dior Secret Admirer boxes, great consistency and leaves the skin looking radiant without being greasy. But didn't really see results that warrant me going out and actually buying it out of pocket.
Vichy Aqua Thermal Rich Cream - Came in one of my Glossyboxes and I used it during my trip to Turks & Caicos as a hydrating night cream. Even though it says it's a rich cream, it was very light weight and absorbed really quickly. Not bad for the price at all
Lancome Absolue Premium Bx Replenishing and Rejunvenating Day Cream - I swear I go through these once a month and still have a load of them in my stash. Another of the Lancome gift with purchases that you get. I love using these because they all come with SPF 15 so I don't need to apply a separate sunscreen. Not greasy under makeup at all.

February might have been too short and I got confused in March, not sure why I separated the empties into 2 pictures.

March 2015 Monthly Empties - the first half

The first half of month -

SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion - This little guy has turned into my skincare staple for both day and night. I think my skin have behaved after using it religiously. I know I still owe a detailed post, will be coming up soon!
Lancome Advanced Genifique Concentrate - I've done a full review here before, I repurchased in a set with the new Genifique Pearl Eye. Probably wouldn't repurchase again as I didn't really feel like it did much for my skin. But it is non greasy and absorbs quickly on your skin.
SK-II Essential Power Moisturizing Cream - This was a goodie from a SK-II purchase of my favorite SK-II FTE and FTCL ^_~ can you recognize the shorthand by now? I used it as a night cream but ironically not very thick. Takes a little longer to really sink into the skin but at least I wake up without feeling greasy in the morning.
Murad Hydro Dynamic Ultimate Moisture for eyes - My search for the perfect eye cream is still going, but this Murad eye cream was definitely a surprisingly good contender. A almost souffle like fluffy texture that instantly melts into your eyes. Very moisturizing without me worrying about any type of milia built up. Plumps up the eye and smooths out the fine lines
Silk Whitia Highly Concentrated Milky Mask - You can check my previous review here. Not too crazy about these anymore, I prefer the My Beauty Diary sheet masks, but needed to use these up.

Now for the second half -

March 2015 Monthly Empties - the second half

Missha M Prism Multi Blush - Probably one of my very first blushes. I love the coral peach on the bottom and this has always been my favorite purse companion whenever I needed some color. Sadly I dropped the palette face down on the floors of a restaurant corner and I'm too germophobic to still use it. Also discontinued now.
La Mer The Eye Concentrate - Another luxury deluxe sample size from a Saks gift with purchase, I was looking forward to it since it's such a popular luxury brand, but can't say I wasn't a little disappointed in it. Eye cream was a nice texture but a little on the thicker side and I think I started seeing a little bit of milia forming in the corners of my eye. =( It was nice and fast absorbing so it worked really nice under eye concealer.
Shiseido White Lucent Anti Dark Circles Eye Cream - After using the La Mer, I went back to my trusty White Lucent line. This was a sample that the sales rep really wanted me to give a second chance to when I complained it wasn't much help for my dark circles. It's still a nice moisturizer for the under eyes so I don't mind using it.
Shiseido The Skincare Hydro-Balancing Softener - When my SK-II FTCL ran out the previous month, I thought I'll stray away and see what happens to my skin. My skin definitely have been spoiled, it just doesn't feel the same with my Shiseido softeners. While this one did leave my skin feeling hydrated, it feels heavier on my skin than the FTCL, not sure if that even makes sense, but needless to say, I went back to my FTCL when this was done. ^_^
My Beauty Diary Sheet Mask in Arbutin - I talk about these too much, refer to any of My Beauty Diary comments =D
Revive Moisturizing Renewal Serum - This was another luxury sample from Saks. Can't say I was too crazy about the scent, it was such a strong citrus scent in a light peach colored formula. The sample didn't really wow me, so probably not going to invest in a full size.

April 2015 Monthly Empties

April was right after I got engaged and I decided old things need to go!

Butter London Powder Room - no comment as this just evaporated on me after a month of owning it. Liquid left behind was all oil. Toss!
Sally Hansen Diamond Strength Nail Polish in Clear - Yeah.. my clear nail polish didn't exactly stay clear - turned into an icky looking yellow. Don't remember much about how it was. Toss!
Bath & Body Works Gentle Foaming Hand Soap in Cucumber Melon - I always stock up on these hand soaps when they have their 75% sale, easy to clean your hands from any cleansing oil make up remover residue.
Clean & Clear Oil Control Film Grapefruit - If you can find these with a reasonable price you should definitely get these over their normal blue ones. Works just as well with a yummy scent that makes blotting more pleasant. Haha.
Estee Lauder Resilience Lift Day Cream SPF 15 - More gift with purchase day creams. I think the weather getting warmer is making this one a little greasy looking under make up. Probably will hold back on this one for summer
The Body Shop Body Butter in Olive - Went out and got myself another one of these. I love the scent and really like how fast it absorbs. Will definitely repurchase after I finish my stash of body lotions & creams.
Shiseido Cotton Pads - Such expensive cotton pads and a cult favorite, but definitely not mine! These leave lint and fall apart so easily, nothing compared to my favorite Muji cotton pads.
My Beauty Diary Sheet Mask in Aloe - MBD sheet mask, need I say more? But I would add that I like using the Aloe ones when my skin starts breaking out. I think it helps calm & sotthe my skin.

That's it for the empties! Going back to more steady posting. Check out my Instagram if you want to see some new outfit posts and handbag reveals. Until next time!

Swatches: Tom Ford Lips & Boys - Patrick, Flynn and Leonardo

2015-03-15T15:30:00.000-04:00

Tom Ford lipsticks are always all the rage, but I just couldn't get myself to spend $50 on a lipstick. Luckily his limited edition Lips & Boys collection came out with a huge selection of mini sizes at $32 for each lipstick. After doing some research, I finally decided to pick up 3 shades: Patrick, Flynn, and Leonardo.

Tom Ford Lips & Boys Lipstick - (from left to right Patrick, Flynn and Leonardo

I purposely chose distinct color categories - shades that don't look too similar. As much as I love my neutrals pinks and MLBB (my lips but better) shades, I figured I'll venture out and try some fun colors. Patrick is a bright coral, Flynn a muted pink and Leonardo a bold vampy red. More on the shades later.

Tom Ford Lips & Boys - the packaging

First off, let's just say, I finally understand the hype. Even in a smaller size, the packaging and lipstick screams luxury. From the heavy duty sleek black lacquer packaging to the TF embossed bullet - I'm just in awe playing with them in my hands.

Tom Ford seems to have a signature vanilla candy fragrance in his lipsticks and these lipsticks definitely smell like that. Not really a fan when lipsticks smell so much like food but at least it wasn't lingering too long after application.

I will excuse the fragrance because they applied sooooo sooooo smoothly on my lips. Solid opaque color transfer onto my lips as I glide them around my upper and lower lips. Not sure if it's true for the rest of the colors but all 3 of them have a satin finish leaving my lips with a healthy sheen and not a bit too glossy. Melted so well into my lips I forget I have lipstick on.

Tom Ford Lips & Boys in Patrick #22 (excuse the blemish spots)

Patrick (#22) is a bright coral lipstick. Not too bold that I would feel uncomfortable to wear and warm enough against my NC 25 skin tone. Patrick did seem to sink into my lip lines a little.

Tom Ford Lips & Boys in Flynn #17

Flynn #17 looks like a MLBB in the tube, but actually still gives off a nice nude pinkish tone without washing me out.

Tom Ford Lips & Boys in Leonardo # 40

Leonardo #40 is definitely an unexpected favorite. In the tube, it's a dark vampy red, but when applied, it's actually much sheerer and leaves my lips in a dark rose mauve tint. Love the fact that it's on the sheer side making it much more wearable. It does have blue undertones, but I think against my skin, it gives me a fairer complexion overall.

Here's a final narcissistic picture with my favorite TF Lips & Boys

Can you guess which one's my favorite? Most of these are currently sold out now unfortunately. Did you manage to pick any up? Let me know which one you like!

Barney's Beauty Bag Event for March 10-14 2015

2015-03-05T01:10:00.001-05:00

Barneys Beauty Bag March 2015 Gift Bag

My Barneys New York sales associate just shared this with me. The Barney's Beauty Bag event will start on March 10 to 14 and with $200 beauty purchase you can bring the gift bag pictured home! Samples might vary but I spot the Ritual Yogi Flow shower foam which was featured in the February GlossyBox.

They're actually accepting pre-orders now too. These are the things that I plan to pick up:

CHANEL JOUES CONTRASTE POWDER BLUSH IN CRESCENDO $45
Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist $48
Tatcha Polished: Classic Rice Enzyme Powder $65

Need something else to qualify for the gift any ideas? Trying to spend strategically haha.

Monthly Empties: January 2015

2015-02-27T01:23:00.000-05:00

We're off to a very good start for 2015! January called for an end to a lot of products including very rarely seen makeup items! Brace yourself, this is going to be a long ride (on in our case - post =D ).

January 2015 Empties - this Glossybox was definitely overflowing this month

Let's go through the makeup/color items first since I barely ever show any.

January 2015 Empties - the Makeup Empties

Here we have:

Seche Clear Crystal Clear Base Coat - Used once and it never let me open it again. >.< I have bad luck with the Seche brand, I also only used the cult favorite Seche Vite because I broke the bottle!
NARS Stick Concealer in Custard - Love love love the drier solid concealer. Literally took me a year to actually finish using on and off. I think dry formulas works best in cover spots. Did not work well undereyes though, would sink into fine lines. Custard is a perfect color match for Asian yellow undertones
Lancome Hypnose Drama Mascara in Excessive Black - Got this in a GWP for Lancome - love love love the formula. No worries about it transferring and giving me raccoon eyes. Can't wait to try the other variants
Ciate Mini in Humbug - (discontinued) came in a set of 6 in an Christmas ornament collection, this little bottle dried out before any of the other colors. Never even got a chance to try it.
BareMinerals Matte Foundation in Medium Beige - I have so many deluxe sample sizes in these. I use the color from Fairly Light to Medium Beige, I don't think the color differ much on my skin. My very first foundation and I still love it. Normally I use it when my skin likes to act up. This matte formula do stay matte on my skin for the entire day, My forehead usually gets a little shiny when using the original formula.
BareMinerals Full Flawless Foundation Brush - My absolute favorite powder foundation brush. Super soft with natural bristles and the handle is a good weight to use to apply. No fallouts when I wash. Always buffs into a truly flawless finish. Sadly my beloved Shiba Inu had a field day with most of my makeup brushes as you can see from the chewed up handles. She actually pulled at the bristles as well and I think the glue gave way so that every time I use it, at least 10 bristles stick to my face. I'll definitely repurchase this, I'm just waiting for a good coupon from Sephora or Ulta to buy the kit again. This brush is much better than the smaller Flawless Foundation brush.

Next up, let's check out the skincare items I've used up, literally ranges and shows you my entire skincare routine.

January 2015 Empties - the Skincare Empties

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence - nothing new, I have these well stocked up for many months to come.
Dior Capture Totale Eyes Essential Eye Zone Boosting Super Serum - (now that's a mouthful) Bought this from Sephora part of a Dior kit. The packaging just screams luxury - very heavyweight with a small pump, though I'll like to be able to see when I'm running out. A very lightweight eye serum that doesn't cause any milia on me. Hydrates the eyes instantly and I feel like it really keeps my fine lines at bay. Comes with the big price tag too but it lasted me a good few months (used more religiously after my Lancome Renergie emptied).
Shiseido Benefique NT Lotion - obviously not a lotion but another one of my beloved Shiseido's softeners. Nothing too adversely different than the others, but I think prefer the more natural herbally scent in this one than the other lines' softeners.
Clinique even better eyes dark spot corrector - One of the few items that I bought full size after trying the sample size. Didn't last as long as the Dior super eye serum, started using it after my Origins emptied in September, so about 3 months. It is slightly tinted and works almost like a primer - full review coming soon.
Lancome High Resolution Refill-3X - another gwp staple from Lancome purchase. I love using these because they have SPF 15 and broad spectrum!Works well under makeup and doesn't leave a white cast
Rosette Hello Kitty Collagen Wash - I finally finally finished! Sounds creepy as I got this during my Taiwan/Japan haul, but I just had so many other items to use up. It has the yummiest sweet candy scent, nothing too overpowering as I'm not even a candy person, but it reminds me of Japanese candy. Works super well with both my Clarisonic and my new Foreo Luna. Doesn't leave my face feeling dry.

And last but not least, the other miscellaneous items that I've used up.

January 2015 Empties - the Misc Empties

MUJI Cotton Puff - finshed another bag of these. Normally I cut each puff in half and use it to apply my softeners and SK-II Clear Lotion. Nothing beats Asian cotton pads and I was pretty much in frantic mode after emptying it out and not having any back up. When I finally got a chance to stop by MUJI again, I bought a whole year's supply!
SASA Cotton pads - Got this as a free gift from a sasa.com purchase. It was good but it falls apart very easily with my softeners.
My Beauty Diary Earl Grey Tea & Macaron Sheet Mask - doesn't smell like what they claim to be at all, haha. But very similar results as the other sheet masks, leaves my face looking bright and hydrated afterwards but a very short while.
Korres Body Butter in Guava - Finished my full size recently and wanted to get rid of the smaller one too. See my previous review here.
Aveeno skin relief 24hr moisturizing lotion - Still my favorite body lotion for years now. The Skin Relief line really stops any itchiness caused by dry skin. The only thing I really hate is the pumps, they never reach the bottom of the bottle! I often give up and toss it on the side and wait till the weekends before I pound on the bottle a gazillion times to get it out, which is why you see 2 bodycare products here this month.

Finally done! I hope I didn't bore anyone too much. I'm really happy to see older items finally getting tossed out. I need to make room for all those newbies!

How often do you get to clear out a make up item? I think if you can actually finish a makeup item, it truly shows how much you really like it.

Swatches: Le Metier de Beaute Colour Core Lipstick in Riviera

2015-02-19T18:08:00.000-05:00

Happy Lunar New Year to those that celebrate! May the Year of the Ram bring you happiness and prosperity and most importantly health!

Chinese New Year is all about the bright reds so I decided to step out of my comfort zone and sport a bold red lip today. This Le Metier de Beaute Colour Core Lipstick in Riviera came in my first LMdB Beauty Vault VIP box, sadly I never even tried it since I always shy away from bright colors.

Le Metier de Beaute Colour Core Lipstick in Riviera

LMdB's Riviera is a classic red in the tube. Very scary for us MLBB (my lips but better) girls. But boy was I surprised when I applied it on the lips.

Lip Swatch Collage on Riviera

The lipstick applies like a lip balm/stain. The lipstick is on the sheer side, but you can easily layer it up for an even color. It's not a classic red lip after all, but instead leans a little on a warmer orange side. Pairs nicely on my Asian neutral skin tone unlike a classic red that might lean on blue tint side.

This LMdB Colour Core Lipstick was so creamy and easily glided on my lips. Leaves a moisturized shine on the lips and still sophisticated looking. Love love how it's not sticky at all. Haven't really tested on staying power yet.

And now for my final CNY look!

Happy Chinese New Year with my LMdB Riviera Lipstick

P.S. Stay tuned for more lip swatches as my Tom Ford Lips And Boys picks just arrived! I'm so loving the bright bold lips now. =)

Monthly Empties: November & December 2014

2015-01-16T00:33:00.000-05:00

Alright, trying not to be too tardy with my monthly empties post this month. November and December wasn't too exciting in terms of products. But I see how much I'm piling for January already, so need to get these 2 months up fast!

November was spent with a week at Turks & Caicos so I ended up using many samples instead.

November 2014 Empties- qiora Face wrap spa mask, Silk Whitia Collagen Moisturizing & Nourishing Eye Mask (review), Korres Body Butter in Guava, Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion, DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew, fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy

qiora Face wrap spa mask - These were quite interesting face masks as it's only for the bottom portion of your face (eye area and below). I love the qiora line and these was a nice mask that left my face feeling very subtle and plump afterwards. Sadly I think these are discontinued now.
Silk Whitia Collagen Moisturizing & Nourishing Eye Mask - reviewed here before. I, of course ,used it to compensate for the lack of an eye mask from the qiora spa mask. =)
Korres Body Butter in Guava - These body butters are quite pricey at $29 a bottle! But I do love how silky soft your skin feels afterward applying. Absorbs super fast and erases any dry patches immediately. Guava is also a very pleasant sweet scent and not in an overpowering way. Something that I don't mind using again, but hesitant because of the price.
Peter Thomas Roth Max Sheer All Day Moisture Defense Lotion - I received many samples of these especially inside the Sephora Sun Kits every summer. Not something I really cared for, it applies and feels like sunscreen and not the lightweight lotion that it claims to be.
DDF Ultra-Lite Oil-Free Moisturizing Dew - Also a Sun Kit frequenter. I preferred this over the PTR lotion. It feels a lot less like a sunscreen maybe because it's only SPF 15 and applies more like a thicker lotion. Nothing that I'm too crazy about though
fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy - This was a deluxe sample size that I received from one of the Sephora promo codes. I've tried and review the regular Lip Treatment before and feel like this one is not that much different. But again, not sure if it's because these are the sample sizes, they break so easily.

A boring November of empties lead to an even more uneventful December empties.

December 2014 Empties - My Beauty Diary Arbutin Whitening Mask, SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion, Josie Maran Argan Oil

My Beauty Diary Arbutin Whitening Mask - I came back from Turks & Caicos with a crazy tan. So out came the Arbutin Whitening Mask to help me return back to at the very least my summer foundation shade. But these again only have a short term effect. So I have to resort to my regular whitening/brightening regimes using SK-II.
SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion - Finished another bottle of theses Clear Lotion that I use as a toner after cleansing. Will be sharing a more detailed routine and how to use soon. They've become a staple in my skin routine!
Josie Maran Argan Oil - Harsh dry winters call for super moisturizers like this argan oil. I just add 2 drops to whatever night lotion/cream that I'm using and it just leaves my face hydrated and glowy. It's an intense treatment to keep my face from getting any dry patches. $48 for a 1.7 oz. I usually get these 0.5 oz bottles from Sephora sets since I only use them during the winter time.

That wraps up the previous months of empties. 2015 started with a great bang of empties! I can't wait to share all the skincare items that I managed to empty out.

Any of these items show up as a repeat empty for you? Let me know in the comments below!

OOTD: A Comfy New Year's Eve Outfit

2015-01-05T23:00:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year to all! May the new year bring you happiness and health.

Sharing today my New Year's Eve (NYE) outfit. Didn't really make any plans this year so decided to just hang out with my family and boyfriend - going on a BONES binge watch marathon and sipping kalimotxo. Oh no worries, 10 mins before midnight we switched off of Netflix and watched the ball drop. =)

Apologize in advance since I seem to be having trouble posing properly. I think I have to figure out a better outfit/camera setup.

Anyway, I still had to work during the daytime, so my outfit had to be more work appropriate. (Judging by the amount of people that actually showed up at work, I probably should have just opt for jeans.)

Mandee's Chunky Sweater Dress (old), Hollister V neck Tee (old), Yesstyle Skirt (here), Gap knit tights, Chinese Laundry Nitro Over The Knee Grey Suede Boots (old, similar styles here), Jewelmint Necklace (old)

NYE Outfit - Comfy Sweater Knit

Decided to go with this chunky knit sweater dress that I got from Mandee's years ago. But it was a little too short for comfort in a professional work environment so I paired it with this cute Yesstyle A-line skirt.

Yesstyle skirt ruffles from the back

It was the perfect match! I was getting bummed out that the Yesstyle skirt was soo sheer in Ivory. There was no way I would have been able to wear it alone and I was going to eBay/Poshmark it. But letting the ruffles of the skirt peak out under the sweater dress made this outfit look super cute. =) It gave my dress the extra 3 inches that it needed. I guess I won't be getting rid of this skirt anytime soon.

NYE calls for silver glittery nails - sharing this nail look soon

Gold jewelry accents on a black outfit

To finish the look, I went for the classic gold accents on black. Gold jewelry was never my thing growing up, but recently I just can't help but gravitate towards gold jewelry over black and white monochrome outfits. Wore a long chain necklace from Jewelmint that added just enough weight to balance the heavy sweater dress.

If I had a choice, this comfy casual outfit would also be paired with chunkier gold rings. There were so many choices at Invaluable.com, but I was able to narrow down to something similar to this one:

18K gold ring from Invaluable.com

A sleek but chunky design that will stand out on any simple basic outfit. A little on the pricey side at $75 right now, but it is 18K gold plated silver.

What did you do for NYE? Any of my fellow New Yorkers brave the cold at Times Square? That's actually of the things that are on my bucket list of things to do in NYC. Just need to wait for a year where it's a tad bit warmer. =)

P.S. Invaluable.com reached out to me to see if I can pair one of their rings with my holiday outfit. So I scoured their hundreds of items and picked this ring to finish this NYE outfit. I'm not compensated in any way and opinion and choices are my very own.

My 2014 Beauty Favorites

2014-12-31T02:34:00.002-05:00

2014 is coming to a close and a new year is already knocking at the door. Not much to brag about this year in terms of accomplishments but I definitely traveled quite a bit. From Alaska to Turks & Caicos, all new places for me to explore. I guess traveling to all these new places should be considered an accomplishment.

This blog have been much neglected over the years, but I finally gave it's own home! If you haven't noticed, going to melliescloset.com will bring you directly to this blog. No more .blogspot.com. Mellie's Closet is now getting branded! This is now my permanent home to all things girly. I'm getting a little tired of the whole pinky purple theme, maybe I'll work on cleaning up the theme a little bit.

Enough chit chat. time to share my ultimate 2014 Beauty Favorites! These products aren't necessarily new in 2014 but they are things that I've discovered in 2014 and easily became my everyday staple.

My 2014 Beauty Favorites - SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion $70, Sally Hansen Dries Instantly Top Coat $6, beautyblender Pure $20, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Sticks (discontinued), Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette $58

Looking at this bundle, the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette was the only one that launched in 2014. It's a limited edition that contains 2 blushes from their permanent collection and one exclusive color Incandescent Electra. I love love this exclusive shade because it gives the most natural looking pop of color.

Sadly the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadows that I bought last year are completely discontinued now. I wished I had tried them earlier when I bought them (New Year's Resolution, always try out new products I buy!) They glide on soooo easily without any tugging on my lids and delivers the most pigmented color with just one swipe. Doesn't crease on me even after a long day at work. Sad to see these go!

The SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion is definitely a rediscover for 2014. I thought it doesn't work and have totally removed it from my routine. But I started back at my Pitera sets and finally found the correct way of using it. Now my skin is totally clear of annoying clogged pores! (Of course, I still have the occasional hormonal acne.) Sharing my routine and more deets in an upcoming post!

The beautyblender came up as a Glossybox spoiler and I jumped on that ship instantaneously. Definitely my favorite tool for all types of liquid and cream foundations and even cream concealers! And the soap that it comes with works so well in keeping my white beautyblender WHITE. I've heard stories about the pink one bleeding out pink dye, so I'll probably stick with white from now on.

Last but not least, this Sally Hansen Dries Instantly Top Coat has been such an incredible find. It makes me want to paint my nails again. So easy to work with and dries to a gel-like top coat finish so quickly! I don't have to dread sitting around for an hour without moving my hands anymore.

That's all for my 2014 Beauty Favorites! What are yours?

Before I go, I want to wish everyone a happier and better new year! Best wishes!

Love,

Melissa