Month: October 2014

October Favorites

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I often add a space in my calendar to put in a “monthly favorites,” though I don’t always have “enough” products to show that would warrant an entire post. This is especially true for the month of October, most of which I spent in a different country. I do have a couple of skin favorites and mainstays that are similar to that of the last favorites post I did, but I hope you guys don’t mind if I also share some recent finds that I have been loving lately. One Love Organics Brand New Day Scrub & Masque This powder is to be mixed with water (to act as a scrub) or Greek yogurt/honey (to use as a mask). When I remember to use this—just about twice a week—my skin feels so refreshed and clean after. This will definitely be a mainstay in my routine. I just wish it were a bit easier for me to get. La Roche-Posay Redermic R and Redermic R Eyes This range is an anti-aging treatment that contains retinol, which …

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette

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After hastily swatching the palette—running on a 5-minute before meeting back up with everyone deadline!—I went directly to the counter, patiently waiting to pay for this beauty. The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette features 3 Ambient Lighting Blushes, one of which is limited edition and only available in this palette. I have big love for the Ambient Lighting range by Hourglass, so picking this up was kind of a no-brainer. I resisted getting any of the blushes when they first came out, stubbornly insisting that they were nothing special and I could live without them. And then I caved and my best friend had to be my mule. I picked Diffused Heat and was blown away because it was just so stunning. The Ambient Lighting Blushes have pigment marbled into the famed Ambient Lighting Powders, aimed to create a “seamless, soft-focus, and multidimensional color.”

Ellis Faas - Identity Revealed

Identity Revealed: a filmed triptych by Ellis Faas

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Earlier this week, I received an email about a new venture by Ellis Faas—a short film. I’ve always been intrigued by her, as she is one of the most successful makeup artists in the industry. Her line is also brilliant, and she began as a photographer. Last Thursday, the former queen of the Netherlands Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix opened a new exhibition at De Nieuwe Kerk (which is an old church) in Amsterdam: “Magical Africa – Masks and Sculptures from Ivory Coast. The Artists Revealed”. For this exhibition, the curators commissioned a film by makeup artist/photographer/filmmaker Ellis Faas, asking Ellis to draw inspiration from the traditional masks from Ivory Coast. “Since ancient times, humans have been using masks – in order to express power and authority; to feel self-confident; to stand out or to hide behind; to not be recognised and disappear into the masses. Not only by traditional masks, but also by disguising and ornamental elements such as clothing, jewellery, hair and makeup. But can one truly change one’s identity, or is it …

Everyday Necklaces

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A few months ago, I wrote a post called “Statement Necklaces Confuse Me,” and frankly, they still do. Fortunately for me, I’ve shaken off my tendency to be attracted to them and have been switching around necklaces—one of my accessories of choice—to wear everyday. Here are some of my favorites: Sofie Lunøe — This is a random necklace I found at the ICA in Boston. Sofie Lunøe is a Danish goldsmith and I can’t, for the life of me, figure out how to get a hold of her stuff online. I was hooked on the stunning geometrical shape at play here that it didn’t even matter that I rarely wear silver jewelry. (I do now.) Double Arrow Necklace by BRVTVS (Of a Kind) — Made in just a batch of 50, this necklace by BRVTVS in collaboration with Of a Kind is still a firm favorite. The pair of open ‘v’s juts out of the circle and sits on top of your collarbones, which adds a lovely effect.

My Picks from BITE Beauty

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BITE was always one of the brands that I had been itching to try out since finding out about them. What sets them apart from all the other lipsticks out there is that they use food-grade ingredients, which means that, technically, these lip products are safe for you to actually ingest. Their tagline is “Lip color that’s good enough to eat.” Sometimes, a range or a brand can be a tad bit overwhelming that you don’t really know where to start, so you don’t even begin the exploration. Luckily, my trip happened, although I am also a little disappointed that I didn’t get to decide on everything I wanted and ended up getting just three things. What I really, really wanted to try was the BITE Agave Lip Mask, which is a lip treatment that is supposedly a godsend. I mentioned it in an earlier haul as well as a favorites post, and truthfully, this stuff is amazing. I’m not a fan of the scent, but that’s not a deal-breaker, as I just need for …

Softly Sometimes just turned 2!

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I don’t really celebrate blog birthdays, mostly because I don’t remember to, but I’ve had this date saved on my calendar for a while now. Softly Sometimes just turned two years old a few days ago (October 21, to be precise). What was a seemingly innocent hobby accidentally turned into quite a big part of me—not to be dramatic~ or anything like that; it’s just the truth. I kind of still feel awkward about this because my interest in makeup and all that comes with it is the purely dorky kind—the kind that cares about textures and nuances in hue and shade, undertones and pigmentation, and the complexity of shimmers. I mean, what? All this talk sounds insane, but I love it. I love all of it. So, thank you for being a part of it, o reader of this post. It has truly been a blast. Now that that sentimental stuff is out of the way, please stay tuned for a giveaway I’m planning—the first on Softly Sometimes! I’m still in the process of …

Cle de Peau Beauté Eye Color Quad in 307 Stellar Gaze

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As far as high-end, truly luxury makeup goes, Cle de Peau has always been off the table for me. I don’t think I can live with myself if I spent $60 on a single sheer lipstick. As it happened… I was at Barneys one day and made heart eyes at the new eye color quad display for Fall 2014. And then, I blacked out and ended up with one of the quads. Or, I guess I should say, one of the refills. Like I said, CdP is very much “up there” when it comes to pricing. After I came to terms with spending $50 (plus tax!!!) on an eyeshadow quad, the lady asked me if I was interested in the $25 case. Ex-squeeze me?? I don’t think so, pushy SA who shall remain nameless. The mechanism of the refill is a “pop in” instead of magnetism. Which means that these aren’t going to stick to your Z-palettes by themselves. So, I’ve been keeping the quad in its plastic shell and box… like someone who has …