Ms Nancy's Fancies

[Wedding Planning] Dressing shopping at David's Bridal

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 16:00:00 +0000

So... I am getting married later this year. I thought it might be fun sharing some of my planning process here. The most exciting part of wedding planning I think might be the dresses. Some brides want very elaborate dresses, I on the other hand want something very simple... Some brides have set aside thousands of dollars for their dresses, I on the hand wanted something less than $800, budgeting around $200 for alteration so that the whole thing would be about $1k. Luckily I was able to find a dress that's less than $500 :D Some brides like to shop at many different boutiques to find their perfect dress, I on the other hand only wanted to go to David's Bridal, and picked my dress at the second visit. I preferred not to look around too much; seeing too many options would just confuse me.

Here I want to show you the dresses that I tried on and veto'd:

Lace Over Charmeuse Gown with Soutache Detail Style SWG400: too much details, and the bottom section cuts me off. Would not recommend something like this for short people like me. Definitely looks million times better on the model.

Next:

Strapless Lace Fit-and-Flare Gown with Side Split Style YP3344: this seems to be a very popular dress. I've seen a lot of people try this on. My friend who also went to David's Bridal also tried on the same dress. When I showed my parents pictures of the different dresses I tried on, they liked this one the best. I think they liked the embellishments, and the flaring out. I on the other hand didn't really feel like myself in this dress; I also felt that this dress made my tummy more obvious than necessary =p I preferred something with less bling. Again, I wanted something simple and effortless.

Organza Gown with Print Waistband and 3D Flower Style MK3433: This dress is no longer available. When I tried it on it was on clearance. I actually liked it enough and ordered it online because it was around $200 only! But when I showed it to my family they didn't like it, so I ended up returning it. They didn't like the color of white on my skin, Asian skin I think looks better against diamond white or ivory; pure white appears to be a bit harsh. I liked the blue train in the back, and think it could have worked had I kept the dress.... But this fabric makes the front look a bit wrinkly and at the end I am glad I picked something else...

Strapless Draped Lace Column Gown Style VW351044: This dress was on the top 3. As you can see, I like fitted dresses that are soft and flowy. I ended up picking another dress that's similar to this, has a longer train, and has a better fit.

Strapless Sweetheart Gown with Beaded Waist Style WG3436: This dress is also on the top 3. I really like the mermaid fit, liked the embellishments, and liked the sweet heart neckline. I didn't pick it because of the vertical lines that you see in the front and back. The dress I picked doesn't have these obvious seam lines.

Organza Fit and Flare with Embellished Lace Style WG3121: yup no, doesn't fit me at all. Next!

Satin Fit-and-Flare with Sweetheart Neckline Style WG3477: I think this one is quite nice, but it's not me - too much going on, feels like I am at a pageant. Me being petite really doesn't look good with so much going on....

Lace Fit and Flare Gown with Floral Details Style CWG377: Another nice dress that's not me. It's cute though. But again, I wanted something more simple.

And that's it folks, these are the dresses I tried on and was able to pick the dress I wanted. In case you are wondering, I am 5'1 and 100 lbs :)

I'll post pictures of my dress after the wedding!

[Fancies] LipoSlimming Ultrasound Cavitation at Bay Area Body Spa UPDATE

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:25:00 +0000

Remember in Jan I had 3 treatments of LipoSlimming Ultrasound Cavitation at Bay Area Body Spa? The picture above was taken after the 3 treatments. As you can see, the result is amazing. But a lot of people have asked me if the result lasted. Here's a picture 3 months after the treatments:

So I'd say yes, the results last, as long as you don't change your diet. I still plan to get probably 2 more treatments before the summer :)

[Tip] How to not wait for the eyelash glue to become tacky

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 16:38:00 +0000

You know how we are supposed to wait for the eyelash glue to become tacky first before applying? And you know how if you apply them too soon the lashes don't really stick and they move around too much? I don't know about you but I hate having to wait for the eyelash glue to become tacky. I don't like just sitting there, trying to wave the lashes around and blowing on the glue to make the glue get tacky faster.

Well I finally figured out a trick that has worked out quite well:

What I do is that before I put on any eye makeup, I squeeze out some glue on paper towel. I leave the glue there, and proceed with doing my eye makeup as usual. By the time I'm done with eye makeup (primer, shadow, liner, etc), the glue that I've set aside on the paper towel has become tacky.

Now I use the back of my tweezers to scoop up some glue, apply the glue to the base of the lashes as seen in the picture above, and pop them onto my eyes. Since I set the glue aside, and use the time it takes for the glue to become tacky to apply my eye makeup first, I don't have to sit around and wait for the glue to get tacky - I simply put the glue on, and put the lashes on, and it sticks to my lids right away :)

[FOTD] Concealing lasered freckle marks

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:29:00 +0000

I am currently getting laser treatments to remove my freckles. What happens after a successful laser treatment is that the freckles actually get a lot darker (see left picture), and there was no way I'd not conceal them!

Here's how I did it:

First I applied bb cream (you can use foundation if you want), concentrating on the freckled area. Here I used my favorite bb cream L'EGERE White Multi B.B Blemish Balm cream.

Next I applied concealer over the bb cream. Here I used Physicians Formula Concealer, Light + Yellow.

Here's what it looks like so far, the freckles are somewhat covered, but it's not enough.

Next I set the bb cream and concealer with foundation powder. Here I used Laura Geller Balance-n-brighten in Fair.

And final step, applying matte highlighter to reflect light away from the freckles. I love matte highlighters, they are so much more natural looking than normal/shimmery ones. Here I used Laura Geller Baked Highlighter French Vanilla.

Here's the before and after:

Not bad eh?

By the way, these super dark freckle marks are just temporary. They faded after 2-3 days, now my face is ALMOST freckle-free. I need another treatment to be completely free. Will post an update here when I'm done with my treatments :)

[FOTD] My practice bridal look, take 2 with details

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 16:32:00 +0000

Last time I posted my practice bridal look but didn't go in detail of exactly what it entails. I decided to do it over, and this time I wanted to share every step. This look doesn't look that complicated, but I've actually included a lot of steps...

First I applied Youngblood Mineral Primer (sample I got from Birchbox) all over the face. I don't usually apply primer on a daily basis but it is very important for a bridal look because the makeup needs to last hours and hours.

The eyelids need to be primed also. Here I used Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Sin.

Next I curled my lashes. I like to curl my lashes before putting on eye makeup else the makeup can get all over the curler.

Before applying any eyeshadow I applied a thick layer of looser power under the eyes so I can easily wipe away eyeshadow fall outs later.

For this look I wanted something neutral so I grabbed my all time favorite Shiseido Integrate Accent Eyes Eye Color palette in RD770 from many years ago. Even though it's been years this is still my favorite quad :)

First I applied the lightest shade all over the eyes, from lashline to brow.

Next I used the light brown all over the lid.

Next I lined my eyes with Rimmel London Waterproof Gel Eyeliner.

Don't forget to fill in the gaps between the lashes by tight lining.

For this look I don't like super sharp looking eyeliner, so I applied the dark brown shadow over the liner to soften it. I also applied some color in the crease.

Next I used a smudging brush to bring down some of the dark brown to the lower lashline, just in the outer corner.

Next is my favorite part of the eye makeup process: using the pink glitter to highlight the inner corner....

...and on the center of the eye...

...and under the brow.

Next I wanted to tame my brow by using NYX Eye Brow Shaper Wax.

But after I applied wax I realized I was supposed to color them in first. O well. Here I used Benefit Cosmetics Brow Zings.

Now it's time to apply fake lashes.

Often times the corner of the lashes would stick out, and this is what happened here. So I applied some more glue by using the end of my tweezer to the corner of the eye at the end of the fake lashes.

Now that the eyes are done, I wiped away the layer of loose powder to easily wipe away the eyeshadow fall outs.

Time for base makeup. First step was to hide my undereye circles. Here I used Physicians Formula Concealer, Light + Yellow.

I also have huge pore on my nose, so I used Benefit Cosmetics The POREfessional to cover them up.

Now time for foundation. I don't apply foundation everywhere, just the triangle area under the eyes and blending it outward toward jaw. Most of us have pretty good skin around the jaw, so you really don't need to put foundation there.

Next I set everything with my all time favorite Laura Geller Balance-n-brighten Fair.

Time to contour! This is a must if you want to make your face look smaller =p The only contour I use is Laura Geller Bronze N Brighten.

To ensure that blush lasts all day, I applied the blush primer from Mally Beauty 24/7 Blush Pink Nectar.

After blush primer is obviously blush. Here I used my all time favorite Laura Geller Ethereal Rose. Yes if you can't tell already, I love Laura Geller. I want to own almost all of her products =p

Now for cheek highlights, I think a matte highlighter is much more appropriate for a bridal look. No surprise here, I used Laura Geller Baked Highlighter French Vanilla. It's classy and not shimmery, and because it's not shimmery it just make your skin look naturally dewy, healthy, and youthful :)

Remember I used some pink glitter to highlight my eyes? I decided to make the glitter more muted by applying the French Vanilla over them:

Inner corner...

Middle of the eye, right on top of the eyeball...

... and under the brow.

Sigh... not done yet. More contouring. Here I applied Laura Geller Bronze N Brighten down the 2 sides of my nose to make them look sharper.

The center of the nose needs to be highlighted too, with Laura Geller Baked Highlighter French Vanilla.

OK almost done. Here I decided to touch up the eyeliner a little bit, by now the glue has dried and some of it needs to be covered up by applying liner over them.

Lip stain to make the color last longer: Revlon Just Bitten Kissing Balm Stain, Honey...

... and layering it with gloss: Laura Geller Lively Lip SPF 15 Brightening Lipgloss in Opal.

Whew finally done. This took me so long to write too! The makeup took about 2 hours to complete... =/

Sigh, I can't believe I forgot to apply mascara on my lower lashes... bad bad bad!!!

The end. Finally. So many steps but all are necessary to make sure the bridal makeup lasts....

[Fancies] Rimmel Waterproof Gel Eyeliner

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 17:07:00 +0000

I have never tried anything from Rimmel before, and since I was the market for a waterproof liner I decided to give Rimmel Waterproof Gel Eyeliner a try. And what a pleasant surprise, I really like it! Unlike many other products that claim to be waterproof, this really is as waterproof as an eyeliner can be, at least it is more waterproof than the ones I've tried so far.

Just to show you how well this works, I drew some lines on my hand and went in the shower. Here's what my hand looked like afterwards:

As you can see, the lines did not wash off completely, even after I tried to rub them off with soap. Of course it is not completely 100% waterproof since some of them did come off in the shower but I am still impressed. Some of the waterproof eyeliners I've owned before would completely wash off with water!

And here's what it looks like on my eyes:

The finish looks more like a liquid eyeliner rather than gel, which wasn't exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a gel liner that looked like gel, but it's ok, I still fancy Rimmel Waterproof Gel Eyeliner a lot, and plan to continue to use it until it dries out.

[Sponsored] SOL REPUBLIC tokidoki tracks HD on-ear headphones

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 06:48:00 +0000

Remember the Sol Republic interchangeable headphones post from a few months ago? I am so excited to share another Sol Republic story with you, this time they partner with tokidoki to add that extra touch of fun to their very high quality headphones! If you are also a fan of tokidoki like me I'm pretty sure you'd adore these as much as me. Like all Sol Republic headphones, they offer interchangeability, amazing sound, and virtually indestructible design. Additionally, these headphones are personally designed by Simone Legno, tokidoki’s creative director and co-founder.

Let's take a closer look:

For more information, please visit http://solrepublic.com/shop/tracks-on-ear-headphones/special-editions-on-ear-headphones/tokidoki.html and check out video from Simone about his journey: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tif7rbKbxB4.

[FOTD] My practice bridal look

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 02:38:00 +0000

Kaitlyn's bridal makeover inspired me to try a bridal look by myself. I really wanted to see if I can achieve that youthful look because everytime I put on makeup I end up looking older =/

For the eyes I knew I wanted a round look, no cat eyes:

I chose criss cross lashes because I think these look more natural and I don't like the spikey look you get from straight lashes. As you can see from the pictures above, I used very natural shades, and slightly darkened the outer corner and crease. I used liquid eyeliner and smudged it out with eyeshadow. I also pulled down a bit of color to the lower lashline, just in the outer corner.

I don't know... this did not end up as youthful as I had hoped. I think the eyeliner is too dark, I should try brown next time. And I probably need to make the blush look rounder... not sure yet... still trying to practicing getting it right....

What I did right was apply my favorite primer: Laura Geller Ethereal Spackle. The picture above was taken at around 11pm, and I put on my makeup at around 2-3pm. My makeup lasted a good 8 hours and nothing melted off :)

My action item from now on is to try different ways to achieve that youthful look.... my goal is for someone to say "hey you look younger today" :)

[FOTD] Fun day with Kaitlyn and bridal makeover

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 00:38:00 +0000

My friend Kaitlyn, also the hostess of KTSF's beauty show "Kaitlyn's Beauty Journal" is dipping her toes in the bridal makeup industry. She came over the other day and gave me a bridal makeover. Different makeup artists have different styles, and I would consider Kaitlyn's style to be cute, pink, and youthful. You know how often times people end up looking older after makeovers, that did not happen here, which is a really really good thing in my opinion. This is also something that I am trying to master myself, how do I apply makeup without making myself look older....?

Looking back at the pictures we took when Kaitlyn came over, I think there are a few things that are required in having a youthful look:

Round eyes instead of cat eyes (think: babies have round eyes and not cat eyes)
Pale pink cheeks applied in circular motions instead of darker cheeks applied in an upward fashion to accentuate cheep bones (think: babies have round pink cheeks without noticeable cheek bones)
Pale pink lips instead of redder lips (think: babies have pink lips and not dark lips)

To create rounder looking eyes Kaitlyn put a piece of tape in the front corner of my eyes, which raises the fold for a rounder and less almond look. Of course, for brides who want photos of themselves looking down, you probably should stay away from taping your eyes because it really does look weird seeing tape in photos.

Now let's talk about hair:

We tried different hair styles. I personally like having hair down, but many brides are into buns so we also gave that a try. Ya, not a fan of buns, I put my hair in buns on bad hair days, so when I get married it will be down. Some brides like having hair to the side, I think that's also a cute look but I'm not sure if it can stand the test of time, I suspect 30 years from now I would say something like "that is SO 30 years ago" if I were to have my hair to the side. So yes, for me I prefer to leave my hair down, which I think will still be an acceptable look in the future when I become an old granny.

To summarize, if you are getting married in the San Francisco Bay Area, and you want a youthful look on your wedding day (as opposed to having a more glamorous look), contact Kaitlyn for more information.

[Deals] Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 04:07:00 +0000

As you can see, I got this 2 pack Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub on clearance for $4.98, originally $9.99. One scrub usually sells for about $6, and I got 2 for under $5!!

Now I have no idea if this works well or not, I am more interested in using this on my bacne than on my face. I hope it works!

[Deals] I bought 3 Stila products on Hautelook

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 03:00:00 +0000

It's been SO LONG since I bought makeup, I can't remember when the last time was... I basically went through this period where I lost interest in trying new products and was perfectly happy with the products that I owned already.

But lately my craving for new makeup products came back, I've been browsing online a lot more, and today when I saw that Stila is on sale on Hautelook I immediately responded =p

Here's what I bought:

I am very VERY excited to try the Long Wear Lip Pencil (Aspiring), Long Wear Lip Color (Flushed), and Natural Finish Oil Free Makeup (Shade C, Light/Neutral).

I've heard good things about the lip color and foundation, but no idea if the lip pencil is good or not. I'll be sure to come back with reviews in a few weeks :D

[Frown] Jurlique Purely Bright Radiance Serum

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:42:00 +0000

I was so excited to try the Jurlique Purely Bright Radiance Serum, mainly because it is one of Jurlique's newer products, it is natural, can be used in the morning and night. I was given this product when I attended Jurlique's launch party in SF a few months ago.

However I was not able to see any results. I wanted to see brighter skin and less acne marks. I was faithful though to use up the entire bottle, it just didn't work for me.

I did like the light flowery scent and the light texture though, and it can be absorbed really quickly.

[Fancies] LipoSlimming Ultrasound Cavitation at Bay Area Body Spa

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Mon, 21 Jan 2013 00:18:00 +0000

There's been a lot of deals floating around on Groupon/LivingSocial/etc on non-invasive lipo slimming treatments: I know of laser and ultrasound. I've always been curious and when I saw that Bay Area Body Spa was running a promotion for their Liposlimming Ultrasound Cavitation treatments I decided to try it, since the spa is pretty close by.

I called ahead to ask them how many treatments I should get. I explained that I am petite - 5'1, 100 lbs, and have a tummy that need to be worked on. The owner Louisa suggested over the phone that I get 3 treatments and it should be enough to see results. I appreciated that she didn't try to sell me the bigger packages. She also stressed over the phone that after each treatment, I need to drink 2L within 24 hours for 2 days, which means 4L for the next 48 hours after each treatment. In terms of the appointments, she explained that it is better to get all 3 treatments done within 1 week, so I scheduled the first treatment on Sat, 2nd on Wed, and 3rd on Sat. Again, she explained everything over the phone very clearly, before I actually bought the package.

As seen in the picture above, and just like a typical ultrasound, they first put a water-based gel on the area where you get the treatment, and then use the silver tool to perform the treatment. Many people asked me if it was painful, and answer is no. The tool is pressed lightly into the skin, so you do feel some pressure, but there is no pain. You can also hear the sound (hence, ultrasound) travel within your body and hear it from inside the ears. It is high pitch, but doesn't damage the ears or anything, and it's not so loud that you can't hear anything else; I was able to carry on a conversation during the treatment.

Now let me show you some before and afters:

This is after 1 treatment:

After 2 treatments:

After 3 treatments:

Pretty good results right? I was wearing the same pair of jeans in all the pictures. It is important that you drink at least 4L of water within 48 hours after each treatment. The treatment breaks down the fat cells, and you have the drink enough water to flush it out of your system. I know for me personally, I never drank enough water, I was never a big water drinker, I normally only drink 1 cup of water or less the entire time at the office. So knowing that I have problems drinking water normally, I went out and bought a 1L water bottle and mentally prepared myself to know that I absolutely have to finish that bottle twice a day, for 2 days after the treatment. The "side effect" is that I had to go to the bathroom every hour or so, which was kind of annoying. But the result is well worth the inconvenience, I knew that I wanted to get my money's worth and not waste the treatment. I paid $400 for 3 treatments and definitely did not want to waste the $400.

Any side effects you might ask? The area does feel a bit tender after the treatment, kind of like feeling sore after working out. The tenderness for me went away the next day. Although it felt a bit tender afterwards, the skin did not look red or swollen or anything, so from the naked eye you can't tell that you had something done.

I also asked Louisa about the laser fat removal treatments and how they compare with this ultrasonic treatment. She said the laser treatments does not require labor, the technician would just put some laser points on your skin, turn on the machine, leave the room during the treatment. However, the ultrasonic treatments require the technician to manually work on your area, press the tool into your skin for the entire duration of the treatment. I haven't tried any laser fat removal treatments so I don't know how laser compares with ultrasound, but it sounds like ultrasound is more effective since someone is manually working on your area the entire time during the treatment.

Now when I look at these before and afters, I was amazed at the results. But I also started to wonder if the granny underwear that I was wearing during the first treatment made a difference into making my tummy look bigger than normal. So today, which is about 1 week after my 3rd treatment I decided to take pictures again with granny underwear:

As you can see, while the granny underwear is tighter than my other underwear which in turn squeezes on the fat, but it is obvious that the treatments really work :)

I am pretty sure that I am going back for another 2-3 treatments as the weather warms up, before I put on bikinis :) I was told that the results are permanent, as you did lose fat and not just water weight, and as long as I don't change my diet the fat shouldn't return. Overall I am pleased with the results :)

[Fancies] Peter Thomas Roth AHA/BHA Acne Clearing Gel

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 23:45:00 +0000

Well, I have complete used up my Peter Thomas Roth AHA/BHA Acne Clearing Gel. I bought it because it says it minimizes pores and it is also anti aging. I applied it twice a day on my nose hoping to reduce my blackheads and pores. I would also apply it anywhere else I had pimples.

At first I couldn't tell if it worked or not because I still had blackheads and they never went away completely. But when I went on vacation for a week over the summer and didn't bring the gel with me, I came back with gigantic and super dark blackheads. It was very obvious that the gel really worked in controlling blackheads. But this isn't a magical gel, while it controlled my blackheads it never got rid of them completely. I guess I shouldn't expect a product to permanently get rid of my blackheads.

I talked to a dermatologist about it, he said only weekly microdermabrasion would help. I really don't feel like spending that much money going to the doctors office for microdermabrasion so I think this gel is the next best thing.

I do have a small complaint though, this gel smells like alcohol, definitely not pleasant. But I didn't mind it that much, I still used up the entire bottle. Now that I am done with this, I decided to try the one from Dr Perricone just to see how it compares.

[Fancies] I got my first Allumera treatment from Khuu Dermatology

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Fri, 28 Dec 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Yesterday I blogged while I was getting my Allumera treatment at Khuu Dermatology. The experience was boring to be honest. The nurse applies the treatment on your face, and you sit in the chair for an hour, and then sit in front of the light for 15 min. The picture above shows how bright the lights are. It also felt a little bit warm, and the hand fan they gave me was helpful but I didn't really need it.

This is what the BLU-U equipment looks like before the lights are turned on:
Other than feeling a bit warm, my skin also felt a little tingly but not uncomfortable. Dr Khuu said if your skin is more sensitive it will feel more tingly.

I didn't feel or see immediate improvements yesterday, but this morning after I woke up I could feel that my skin felt a lot smoother - so smooth I kept touching my skin! I also noticed that my pores got a little bit smaller:

Like any other medial treatment at the doctor's office, this is not cheap. I paid $155 from their Groupon deal compared to their regular price at $350 per treatment. Dr Khuu recommends 3 treatments to see better results, I do have plans to go back for more but I will wait for their next deal ;)

Next treatment I plan to get is freckles laser removal! I made an appointment for the end of Jan. I can't wait!

Still unsure if Beautyblender is still worth the price

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 00:20:00 +0000

I started using the Beautyblender about 2 months ago when I got it in my Birchbox. I've heard lots of good thing about it but due to its high price I haven't been able to justify buying one. Good thing it came in Birchbox for me to try!

I like the shape, the pointy side is perfect for the eye and nose area. I like how soft it is, and it really does make base makeup that much more sheer looking.

I've been using it daily for the past 2 months by wetting it first and then using it to apply my L'Oreal UV Perfect BB Max (which I had blogged before). It applies beautifully. After which I use a regular sponge to apply another bb cream. I use another be cream on top of the L'Oreal because I think of it as a sunscreen only.

The reason I use another sponge to apply the bb cream is to compare it with the Beautyblender on a daily basis. I personally think the Beautyblender results in the same effect as using a regular wet sponge. I don't see any difference. The only differences are 1) the Beautyblender has better shape and 2) the Beautyblender lasts longer than a normal sponge. After using these sponges for the same exact period of time it is clear that a normal sponge wears out a lot quicker.

Despite these 2 advantages that the Beautyblender has over normal sponges I am not sold because it is still too expensive in my opinion. A normal sponge gives you the same results.

Here are some pictures:

Waiting for my Allumera treatment

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 00:05:00 +0000

I am sitting at Khuu Dermatology getting my Allumera treatment. The nurse applied the cream all over my face, and I am told to let it sit for an hour and then go under the light on the BLU-U equipment for 15 min.

I decided to try this because it is supposed to help with pores. My biggest skin problem is the huge pores on my nose. Wondering if this will help...

More pictures:

[FOTD] Interview Look using Mally Beauty and Maybelline

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 20:51:00 +0000

I had an interview a couple of weeks ago. Now, I don't normally wear any eye makeup when I go to work for a number of reasons:

I am lazy in the morning, I don't feel like waking up earlier for eye makeup applications.
I feel applying eye makeup actually ages the eyes faster because of the minimal (but necessary) tugging of the lids no matter how gentle you apply your shadows and liner. And most people raise their eyebrows when applying mascara (myself included) and raising eyebrows increases and deepens the forehead wrinkles.
Unless I am meeting with clients, I don't need to look that good at work, no one is looking anyway.
Wearing eye makeup also requires special handling at night when removing makeup: need to apply eye makeup remover on cotton pads and gently press it over the lids to remove the makeup. This alone takes a couple of min to do, and usually at night I get very tired I just want to quickly wash and go to sleep.

Now, going to a job interview is a different story. I wanted to look put together with minimal makeup. The interview was early in the morning and I didn't have that much time to do much anyway. Here's what I did:

First I lined my upper lids with Mally Evercolor Starlight automatic waterproof eyeliner. Even though it claims to be waterproof, it still smears a bit, but it's not horrible. It is pretty easy to apply, it's pigmented and goes on smoothly.

Next I used Mally Evercolor Shadow Stick in Twilight to smudge out the black eyeliner. Again, Mally claims that this is bullet-proof, it's supposedly to be a primer, shadow, liner all in one, but it smears rather easily and is not that long lasting. It is however also very easy to apply and also goes on smoothly. The color is very natural, and has a nice sheen to it.

Mascara I used Maybelline New York The Colossal Volum' Express Washable Mascara.

Here's the final look: minimal and natural.

Rather than leaving my hair down, I put it up in a pony tail. I thought of putting it in a bun but I thought that might appear as if I am trying too hard. Again I wanted to appear put together but with minimal effort.

I am starting this new job in the new year. At first I was nervous about this decision but now it feels right and I am ready for this new chapter to begin. New year new job :)

[Frown] Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 07:24:00 +0000

I got a sample of the Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation, this has been something I've been wanting to try because it sounds so promising:

Created to keep skin looking dewy and flawless, this unique formula delivers many benefits of a traditional foundation without the heavy matte finish, which emphasizes the tiniest skin imperfections. No Foundation Foundation is a multi-purpose product that provides natural translucent coverage, corrects skin undertones, instantly smoothes fine lines and boosts skin's natural moisture throughout the day, all the while delivering antioxidant benefits. (www.perriconemd.com)

However, in my opinion it really is just an over-priced tinted moisturizer. I really see no difference in any improvements in my skin and skin tone after application. In the picture you can see that the color appears warmer and darker on application initially, but blends into the skin like I have not applied anything on.

Here's some more before and afters:

No real big improvements, maybe a little bit of my freckles are covered.

It does feel moisturizing, but might be a bit heavy for folks with oily skin. I would recommend this for drier skin types if you really want to try it, but overall I wouldn't recommend buying an over-priced tinted moisturizer.

迷你小切口雙眼皮 Mini-Incision Double Eyelid Surgery

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Wed, 05 Dec 2012 10:19:00 +0000

Last time I talked about double eyelid surgery and a few of you responded wanting to know more about it. I got mine done back in 2008 in Taiwan. There are a few different methods, I chose the Mini-Incision method "迷你小切口". How did I pick the method and the doctor? I did my research online on forum.fashionguide.com.tw. Compared to traditional methods where the incision is much longer than the mini-incision: .5 cm vs traditional methods of 1.5cm or 2.5cm and above.

Mini-Incision

Traditional Incisions

The doctor is located at 麗晶 in Taipei. His website goes into details on how this method works, how it compares to traditional methods, with a lot of before and after pictures.

I think people in general have a lot of different types of questions regarding why I wanted the surgery, how I picked the doctor from overseas, what the procedure was like, what was the recovery like, etc. I did this back in 2008 so I might have forgotten some of the details but let me try to answer these questions to the best of my abilities:

Q: Why did I want the surgery?

A: This is something I've wanted since I was little. My parents both have double eyelids, and so does my sister. Most of my relatives and cousins have them as well. Since I was little I've felt like an odd ball not looking like the rest of my family. So I knew from very early on, before I became to understand how society values double eyelids, that I wanted double eyelids so I look more like my family.

Q: What did I look like before?

A: Here are my old pictures:

Q: What were the logistics in booking a doctor in Taiwan from the US?

A: Looking back, it does look a little risky. I did all my research online on forum.fashionguide.com.tw. Good thing I had a very easy job at the time and had lots of time to do random things at work. I browsed extensively, and probably looked at every single forum post about double eyelids. I spent months and months reading through everything, read all the comments and questions people had. Also looked at failed examples, which really did worry me and obviously I didn't want my surgery to fail. When I came across this mini-incision method, it seemed that only 1 doctor performed it. I am not sure if that's still the case but that's what it seemed like back in 2008. I looked at everyone's before and afters and decided that that was the method I wanted. There are some other methods that give a much more natural looking result, but those are not as long lasting and are not permanent. I knew I wanted something permanent so I didn't have to keep on going back to Taiwan for "touch ups".

When I decided on the doctor, I called them from the US to make an appointment for consultation and surgery. My consultation was on the day that I landed in Taiwan, and surgery was later that same week. Of course, I could have canceled the surgery if I didn't like the consultation.

During the same trip back to Taiwan I also wanted to visit Shanghai. The nurse told me over the phone that the stitches needed to be removed after a 1 week (if I remember correctly), so the Shanghai trip would need to be at least 1 week after the surgery.

It just so happened that I got a new job, and thought it was the perfect opportunity to have a longer break in between so I can get my eyes done in Taiwan, visit Shanghai, and do other family-oriented things in Taiwan. Overall my trip was 3 weeks. 1 week in Taiwan, 1 week in Shanghai, and another week in Taiwan after Shanghai.

Q: What was the consultation like?

A: The nurse explained all the logistics very well, about the type of care you need afterwards: lots of icing, etc. The doctor was also very thorough in explaining what the procedure was like. He also stressed that surgery is not magic, so don't have unrealistic expectations. I remember asking him about failed cases, and I think his response was, as long as you don't request for a super huge lid it should be fine. He then proceeded in picking the different depth for my lids: small, medium, large. I asked for the smallest because I wanted something more natural. He hesitated and said a smaller lid might turn out looking like an "inner double lid", so he suggested something in between small and medium.

I had uneven eyelids, one side was bigger than the other. I also asked if the surgery could correct that. I think he said something about it not being a problem, I think the difference in my lids were so small that it didn't mattered really.

The doctor also asked me to open my eyes as widely as I could, and he immediately told me not to raise my eye brows. It was interesting, I didn't even realize that I felt like I had to raise my eye brows to open my eyes wide. He said that is typical for people with single eyelids: without lifting the forehead it is hard to keep eyes wide open. He also said the surgery was going to correct that, with double eyelids, you no longer need to lift your forehead to open the eyes wide.

Q: What was the surgery like? Was it painful?

A: The surgery didn't feel that long, it felt like an hour, but it was probably more like 2 hours. I had local anesthesia, and I remember them putting a lot of drops on my lids. Through out the surgery, if I felt any pain, they'd put in more drops. The doctor explained his way throughout the surgery, telling me every step. It felt like something was tugging on my lids.

When the surgery was done, he also showed me the fat he took out from my lids - another reason why single eye lids tend to look puffy, it's because of the fat under the lids. The first reaction when I looked at the mirror was: wow I have long lashes. The lashes were hidden and being pushed down by my eyelids before and now they are more exposed.

The doctor also warned me before I looked at the mirror to not be shocked because it wasn't going to look pretty. I think because of the warning I was expecting to look hideous, but it really wasn't that bad - I just looked like I had very puffy eyes.

Q: What did I look like after the surgery?

A: This is what I looked like the first 1-2 weeks after the surgery. It pretty much just looked like my eyes were puffy from crying. But really, if people didn't know me they wouldn't even notice anything.

Q: What was the recovery like?
A: I remember a lot of icing, but I don't remember at what intervals. I just know that it was many times a day for x amount of time. Basically I did not step foot outside my house for at least an entire week after the surgery. I stayed home, and iced. I also couldn't wash my hair because you are not supposed to get the incision site wet to prevent infections. There's also topical medication that you are supposed to put on, to keep the area moist. I remember we had a family gathering at the end of that week, so I went to salon to get my hair washed, that was the only time I left the house during my recovery. I remember the lady at the salon commenting that it did't look like I just had surgery.

Q: How much did this cost?
A: I think about $800 back in 2008, if I remember correctly.

Q: How do you feel now, 4 years after the surgery?
A: I definitely made the right choice, the surgery was good especially because it fixed my uneven lids. I used to have to tape 1 eye to make them even.

Q: Did my friends notice a big difference?
A: Not really, a lot of my friend didn't even notice that I got my eyes done, until I told them and reminded them by showing them my old pictures.

Q: How are your eye lids now?
A: They are perfect for what it is, obviously my eyelids are not natural. At certain angles you can definitely see the incision, I think it's the most apparent at this 45 degree angle:

But other than that, I have lots of pictures here on my blog with other angles where you can't really see anything.

I think these are probably the questions that are most often asked. I hope this post was informative for you. Let me know if you have any other questions.

[Sponsored] Sol Republic interchangeable headphones

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:00:00 +0000

Need gift ideas for the special guy(s) in your life? What about SOL REPUBLIC headphones? SOL REPUBLIC is the world's first interchangeable headphones.

I tried the Tracks Ultra On-Ear Headphones, and the first thing I said after putting them on was "wow this DOES sound good!" I was watching random videos on Youtube and they sounded really good! These headphones look good too:

The Tracks Ultra On-Ear Headphones are more expensive than Tracks HD On-Ear Headphones, but I am not sure how their qualities compare since I have not tried the HD one. The other comment I have is that the white paddings might get dirty with high usage.

Their on-ear Tracks start at $99 and in-ear Amps start at $59 with guaranteed ear-tips replacement for life.

All SOL REPUBLIC Tracks and Tracks HD headphones feature interchangeable pieces that work with the entire Tracks Remix system, nearly indestructible FlexTech Sound Track headbands, plus a remote and microphone. The leading-edge V10 HD Sound Engines provide listeners with deeper bass, higher clarity and crisp vocals. Each piece is completely interchangeable so people can purchase the headband, cable and sound engines separately to build headphones that mix and match with their outfits, occasions or just to change up color or pattern. More on that here: http://solrepublic.com/shop/tracks-headphones-remix-headbands-cables-speakers.html.

For the ultimate sports fans, they have Collegiate Tracks - partnering with many of the top colleges & universities: http://solrepublic.com/shop/index.php/tracks-on-ear-headphones/tracks-collegiate-on-ear-headphones.html.

They also have the HD Anthem (http://solrepublic.com/headphones/anthem), inspired by Michael Phelps. He wore these headphones all throughout the games and is a huge fan of the quality of the sound delivered.

[Sponsored] 2012 Allure Best of Beauty Guys Stuff: AXE Understated Natural Look Cream

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 01:06:00 +0000

AXE Hair Understated Natural Look Cream + Tea Tree Extract was recently awarded the Allure magazine’s Best of Beauty for guy stuff. Understated gives guys a light hold for a natural, relaxed look that we love! Understated debuted in fall 2010 and has been honored with this award 2 years in a row. To apply, simply rub the product on wet hair, it will dry in a natural look.

Keep in mind this is meant for a natural look, understandably it does not have a strong hold.

If your guy likes the natural look, he might appreciate this 2 In 1 Shampoo And Conditioner as well. Who doesn't appreciate a quick clean routine right?

Double eye lid surgery

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 04:04:00 +0000

Do you want to know more about double eye lid surgeries? I got mine in 2008 in Taiwan.

[Frown] L'oreal UV Perfect BB Max SPF 50 / PA+++

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 05:37:00 +0000

Well, I know that I had previously said that I liked the L'oreal UV Perfect BB Max SPF 50 / PA+++... BUT, I don't know what happened to the product but now I HATE IT!!!

It just DOES NOT BLEND at all! I'm not sure what happened. I always get a thick chunk of product around my nose, and even when I rub really hard with my fingers I am still unable to blend out the product.

And if I can blend it out, bits and pieces of the product actually get rubbed off and fall off my face in pieces.

Right now the only way to apply and blend out the product is using a wet sponge. But I prefer to apply sunscreen in massive amounts - about a quarter size of product daily. Using a wet sponge does not give me the kind of coverage I need.

Has this happened to you before? When a product used to work fine but stopped working....?

[Halloween FOTD] Mario's Princess Peach

noreply@blogger.com (Ms Nancy) — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 16:00:00 +0000

What are you dressing up as this Halloween? Or, what did you dress up as? I was Princess Peach this year. Her and Mario are one of the cutest story book couples don't you think? It took me awhile to convince my bf to dress up as Mario, he is not into Mario's dorky look =p

The key to her look is her spiky lashes. Let's take a look:

First I used Vincent Longo Wet Diamond Eye Shadow in Libertango (a shimmery pink) all over the lid. This is the only eye shadow I used, I didn't use anything in the crease. Next I lined the lower waterline with a white pencil liner and applied thick black eyeliner on the top lash line. I didn't wing it out because Princess Peach does not have cat eyes, her eyes are big and round.

I knew I wanted spiky lashes, so I picked up this random Japanese brand from Japan Town in San Francisco. They look cute and all but boy were they uncomfortable!! The lashes are very rigid and definitely didn't feel that great. But they surely look very Princess Peach-like.

I drew on some faint black triangles on the lower corner of the eyes to add a comical-effect.

The black spots I drew on help enlarge the eyes.

And of course, hair was curled to mimic Princess Peach's hair.

My costume is Leg Avenue Women's Pretty Princess Costume, Pink, Small, it's super cute! It was a bit too big so I manually took in the sides, and chopped off a couple of inches at the bottom since it was clearly made for taller people (I am only 5'1). My favorite part of the costume is the crown, it's super cute!

And here is my Mario. We made his shirt with yellow foam paper and blue felt.

Hope everyone had a good Halloween party over the weekend!