Talk It Out :: Reflecting on 2014

As I was staring at the white space on the "compose" page of my blog, I started thinking about topics that I could talk about. Since this will probably be my last post of 2014, I didn't want to finish with another product review or haul post. I wanted to talk about something meaningful, so I decided to reflect back on my year with my readers.

2014 was a year of accomplishments, dreams, and history. I finished my 5 years of nursing school, graduated college, passed my NCLEX, and lastly got hired at a hospital where I never imagined I would be at. On the other hand, 2014 was also a year where I was tired, lost faith, and was afraid. I was tired of the gossip, the negativity, and the untrue friendships. I found myself growing apart from church and God. And lastly, at one point, I was afraid about how my future would turn out.

Wow, this year had been somewhat of a long rollercoaster for me.

Puppy 101 :: BarkBox Subscription (November/December 2014)

Hi Everyone!

I posted a little update regarding why I've been MIA for so long, but in short, I've just had all my electronic devices fail on me around the same time. So this is another reason I wasn't able to post updates about BarkBox and what Candy thinks of it. Let me give a quick snippet of the November box, and then I'll show the December box.

Quick Update & Manicure Monday :: Zoya Quinn

Hey Everyone,

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas :) I know I've been MIA for the longest time, but I have a good excuse! (well, I think it's a decent excuse) Both the computer and laptop I have at home stopped working and I just didn't have the time to go out shopping for new electronics. But now, I have a new and upgraded desktop, so now, I can post things more regularly.

So for my big comeback, I have a new Manicure Monday post for you. I apologize for the quality of the pictures ahead of time. I usually try to use natural lighting, but I had to use my bathroom lighting late at night because I had to remove my nail polish because I had a chip on one of my nails and it was irritating me. Is it just me? Or does anyone else have that pet peeve?

Okay, so let's start! A couple of weeks ago, Zoya had a sale on their website where you were able to get 3 nail polishes and 1 remover for $20. As a nail polish collector, I couldn't pass up on this opportunity! The first polish out of the three I chose was the color Quinn.

Manicure Monday :: China Glaze Long Kiss

Happy Monday Everyone! 

Since the holidays are coming up, I decided to go a little festive. China Glaze's Long Kiss is a very pretty dark red. I'm not sure you can see it in the picture, but there's also a gold shine to the nail polish.

Manicure Monday :: Essie Topless & Barefoot

This week, I'm wearing Essie's Topless and Barefoot on my nails. This shade is the perfect nude shade with a hint of pink. After I buying this nail polish, I came home and thought, "What was I thinking? This is going to completely blend into my skin color." However, as you can see, it actually doesn't. I'm wearing two coats of this nail polish, and it's the perfect opacity! 

Product Review :: Bobbi Brown Gel Liner

Hello my lovelies, 

Gel eyeliners are my all-time favorite type of eyeliner to use. It is a bit of extra work because you have to use a brush and you need to clean your brush after ever use, but I think it's worth the extra time and effort for that perfect winged eyeliner.

This week's product review is going to be on the Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Jet Black. In the past, I have tried three other types of gel eyeliners:

1.  MAC's Fluidline in Blacktrack

2. Maybelline's Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in Blackest Black

3. Wet N' Wild's Mega Eyes Creme Eyeliner in Black.

Manicure Monday :: China Glaze Innocence

Hii Everyone!

Guess what day today is...? It's my birthday! :) So I have a special nail design for you all today.

Today, I'm wearing China Glaze's Innocence. I pulled out an old favorite for this special day. I'm almost out of this nail polish, so if I come across this polish while I'm shopping, I will definitely pick up another one.

Product Review :: Skin Food Black Sugar Mask

The product I want to review today is Skin Food's Black Sugar Mask. I actually went into Skin Food about 5 times before actually buying this product to try out for myself. These days, my skin has been having a mind of its own. It is rough and starts breaking out in random spots, so I thought it was time I get a good exfoliating mask.

Puppy 101 :: NEW BarkBox Subscription!

To all my fellow dog lovers, hello!

I feel like I've been neglecting my puppy posts for way too long!

Ever since I saw hollyannaeree from Youtube talking about this subscription, I have been wanting to give it a try. And now that I have my own job, this is the first thing that I wanted to get for Candy. For those of you that don't know Candy, she is my little Chorkie. She will turn 4 years old this November.

#MessyFurDontCare

Recently, I came across the code "EXTRAREMIX" to get an extra month of BarkBox. Because I wasn't sure if Candy would like her subscription, I started off by buying one box. And because I used the code, she will be getting a free box next month.

This is how BarkBox works. First, you choose the size of your dog, and then, choose the number of months you want to be subscribed for. You have the pay for the number of boxes up front, but this money is going towards helping dogs in need. It's a very good cause, so I definitely don't mind paying upfront.  

After a couple of week of waiting, Candy's box finally came in today! As you can tell, I didn't wait too long before posting this on my blog. This is how excited I am about it! When I opened the box, this is what I saw: 

Nature Box :: Free Sample Box Review

Hey Everyone!

Once again, I am so sorry for NOT posting my regular posts this week! I feel so guilty every day for not having something ready to post! I'll try my best to write more during the small breaks that I get.

Lately, I've been reading Liz's posts on her website, My Subscription Addiction. I came across a code on Facebook offering a free box of Nature Box goodies, so I decided to give it a GO!! I also loved the idea that I could do a little taste test before fully diving into the monthly subscription. After about a week of waiting, I finally received my box! :)

I was super excited to try this out because I've heard nothing but good things about this subscription. But, I think I may have expected way TOO much from this box. Or maybe it was because it's a sample box? 

Anyways, this is what I ended up receiving. I apologize for not having a full picture with everything inside. I thought this little post card listed what was inside, but I was wrong. In the end, I only ended up liking the big bag. It was little pieces of popcorn with a little bit of sea salt. I really wanted to like this box of goodies, so I was SO sad when it ended up not working for me. 

Hey readers, if you have ever tried Nature Box and found something that was REALLY good. Let me know! I am willing to give this subscription another try.  

Mini Haul :: Nature Republic, Too Faced, JetPens

Hii Everyone,

I know I usually have blog posts on Thursdays, whether it's a Talk it Out or Product Review post. However, this week, I have been a little busy with work, and never had a chance to sit at my computer to actually type.

So, because I missed my Thursday post, I'm substituting it for my 2nd mini-haul post! Towards, the end of September, there was a Korean Festival that happened here in LA. I was volunteering at the Korean-American Nurses Association booth, and during one of our breaks, I went to the Nature Republic booth and had somewhat of a splurge purchase. While I talking to one of the representatives, I found out they are opening their very own Nature Republic store in Rancho Cordova! And according to Yelp, it is already open and in business! :) I have used the majority of these products and will do a more thorough review on each because I definitely do have some opinions to share on each one.

Onto my next product. On September 18th, Ulta sold their Too Faced's Shadow Insurance Primer for $10! It was such a steal that I wanted to try one out for myself. Most of the time, I use Maybelline's 24 Color Tattoo as my base color and find that I don't need a separate primer. I can definitely do another separate review on this product too.

Lastly, my friends and I got together and made a JetPens purchase! Besides makeup and beauty products, I do have a bit of an obsession with stationary and pens. I just learned from my parents that I have had one ever since I was a little kid :P

Today's post my have not been too interesting, but thank you for reading! :) 

Manicure Monday :: Essie Eternal Optimist

Happy Monday Everyone!

For today's Mani-Monday, I have Essie's Eternal Optimist on. This is one of my FAVORITE dusty pink shades. I want to say it's very similar to China Glaze's Primrose, which was part of the Limited Edition Hunger Games collection. Is anyone like me and likes saving their limited edition products because you're afraid to run out? Well, hopefully... I'm not the only one.

Anyways, one thing that I love about the Essie polishes is that they last very long without top and base coats. Also, they don't get streaky and bubbly even if you have to apply a couple of layers. I am wearing 2 coats on most of my nails, but actually, for some, I have 3 coats on. You really can't tell the difference, huh?

So readers, do you have a favorite pink nail polish that's wearable on an everyday basis? Let me know in the comments down below! 

Product Review :: The Face Shop Face It Lipstick

I know, I know you're probably all thinking, "Gloria, it's Fall. You should start reviewing vampy lip products." Don't get me wrong, I love my vampy plum lipsticks, but for my first lippie review, I decided talk about a beginner's product. This product is The Face Shop Face It Long Keep Lipstick in OR201. 

It looks a little too bright for a beginner lipstick, right? But take a look at my swatch down below! It's a product that has properties of a lipstick and a lip-tint! At first, I was a bit hesitant about purchasing this product, but it was definitely worth while. This is one of the products that I always seem to have with me in my bag because it's so easy to wear. I'm pretty sure I've mastered putting this on without a mirror. ;)

So, unfortunately, here comes my criticism. This product really accentuates your dry and cracked lips. I find myself having to exfoliate and moisturize my lips before applying. Also, for me, it sometimes leaves a white film on the inner portion of my lips. I actually find that with a lot of my lip balms as well, so if you know why, please let me know in the comments down below! I am not sure if I would repurchase this item, just because there's way too many lip products I want to try.  

Rating: 8/10

Manicure Monday :: Wet N Wild Undercover

This week, I have Wet N Wild's Undercover on my nails. This time I can actually say that I have actually tried many of the nail polishes from the Megalast line! You can find this brand at your local CVS and I want to say that this particular nail polish is $1.99, but don't quote me on that. I remember it being very inexpensive.

One thing I noticed about this specific nail polish was that it was very liquid-y when compared to the other ones. However, I didn't have any problems applying the nail polish. In this picture, I am wearing three coats, and it turned out to be the perfect pink-rose shade that is slightly see-through.

I also love the brush applicator of this nail polish. It is very wide and can pretty much cover the entire thumb nail in two strokes. For all my readers that have a lower-budget for nail polishes, check this brand out. I can guarantee that it will not disappoint you!

Talk It Out Thursday :: Blessed

This past week has been a blur.

Does anyone else have those kind of weeks? Or month, maybe? Actually, now thinking about it, this entire month has been pretty strange--a good, new type of strange. 

I took my NCLEX in the first week of August and got my passing results within 48 hours. Woohoo! So, now what? The infamous and most dreaded  job hunt. 

I had been applying to various new graduate programs in California since March, but didn't have any luck. I had one interview, but didn't get chosen for the second interview. That was okay, because I (at least) got interviewing experience. There were some hospitals that I got instant rejections from, and others where I never got rejections (even till this day). 

Days passed. Weeks passed. I started getting nervous as a noticed more and more people in my nursing cohort scoring interviews and getting into new graduate programs. I wasn't even getting a call for an interview, so I kept thinking, "I wish I had been a CNA. I wish I had more certificates. I wish I had volunteered continuously during school. I wish I knew someone on the inside that could hire me. I wish... I wish... I wish..." The more I kept thinking about things I could change, the more depressed, anxious, and upset I got.

Product Review :: The Face Shop Lip & Eye Remover

Hey Everyone, 

This week, I want to review this Rice Water Bright Lip & Eye Remover from The Face Shop. 

Before purchasing this product, I used the Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. Even though this one said, ¨oil-free," I always felt like it left my eyelids oily. So when I went to The Face Shop, I asked the lady if she could recommend a product to me without this ¨oily¨ factor, so this is the product I ended up buying. I actually used quite a bit of it, so I feel like I can properly review it. 

One thing that is similar to the Neutrogena product in that you have to mix the two solutions together. This removes ALL of my stubborn eye makeup (ie. waterproof mascara)! I also love how it's very cooling and gentle to my eyes, especially after a long day. It has a slight scent, but it's refreshing. This one is a definite repurchase. Honestly, I don't have anything negative to say about the product. 

Rating: 10/10    

Manicure Monday :: Revlon China Flower

I realized that I mostly used of my teal nail polishes for previous Mani posts, so let's spice it up a little this week, shall we? For this week's Mani-Monday, I've decided to go a little bright with Revlon's China Flower. I know, I know, I'm kind of late on the trend. This color has been a favorite among many Youtubers for a while now. It has become one of my favorite summer colors as well, and that's saying a lot because I usually gravitate toward the teals and blue-greens when it comes to nail polish. 

This nail polish is also SCENTED! I am very sensitive when it comes to scents, but I actually love the smell of this one. The scent also lingers for a long time after it's applied. So, that is my Mani-Monday post of the week :) Have a wonderful week everyone! 

Talk It Out Thursday :: Life Moving in Fast Forward

Hey Everyone,

It's inevitable, the majority of my blog posts are going to be beauty related. If you are here, on my blog, I'm sure that's something you won't mind. However, at the same time, I don't want to be a faceless blogger, I want to find a way to reach out to my readers on a more personal level. I'm going to starting calling this series of posts Talk it Out Thursday :)

Me speaking at the Nursing Pinning Ceremony 2014
Photo Credits: Simplybokeh.com Photography

In this post, I want to talk about education. I still get jittery when I say this, but this past June, I graduated from college. Looking back on the last five years of my life, it seems like everything moved in fast forward. I feel like it was just yesterday when I walked onto campus as a freshman, clueless as ever. I remember signing up for classes during orientation, and finding out halfway through the quarter that I was registered in a senior level course. But HEY, I still made it out alive!

During my first two years, I was a ¨pre-Nursing¨ student, so I was taking all the prerequisite courses required in order to be qualified to apply to nursing school. I feel like general education classes were easier than some of the classes I had in high school, especially the AP courses. But I can also say that I studied a lot during my first two years because I made sure not to forget the fact that my parents were paying for my full college tuition out of their own pockets, so I couldn't let them down.

DIY :: Apple Cider Vinegar Toner

Hey Everyone! 

Today, I'm coming to you guys with my first ever beauty-DIY blog post. I made my very own Apple Cider Vinegar Toner. (Disclaimer: This is not my own recipe. I came across it on Pinterest. I don't remember exactly which blog/website I got it off from, but I am so thankful for such innovative people in our beauty world!)

Manicure Monday :: Butter London Poole

This past weekend, Ulta had their 2 for $15 deal on their Butter London nail polishes. Like a lot of the other products I've been blogging about, this is my first time buying a Butter London product. 

I was excited to try out this product because many beauty bloggers and Youtubers seem to love it, but I started reading the label and got even MORE excited. This company is a cruelty-FREE company! And another plus is that they don't include Formaldehyde, Toluene, or DBP in their nail polishes.

Okay, okay, so moving on. This week, I have the Butter London "Poole" on. When I bought it, I thought I was buying a mint green shade, but turns out, it's more of a minty-aqua color. The picture above doesn't do the product justice. It's a bit more of a darker pastel in person and a whole lot prettier. 

I applied Sally Hansen's Xtreme Wear Invisible as a base coat, and applied two coats of Poole. As I mentioned in a previous post, I am extremely low maintenance when it comes to painting my nails, so I skipped the top coat part. We shall see how long this lasts. 

If you also love minty-blue shades like me, you will not be disappointed by this product! :)

Mini Haul :: Ulta, MAC, Sephora, & Image

Hey Everyone,

So over the past month, I went out an bought a couple of things. They're nothing too expensive, but these are some products that I have wanted to try for a while. 

First, at Ulta, I bought the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. The description says that it's for applying liquid foundation, but who really follows directions anyways? ;) I personally started using it to buff out the blush that I bought at MAC. This blush is called "Pinch Me." I first saw it in meejmuse's recent Makeup Collection video. This blush is a deep rose color and it is VERY pigmented--a little definitely goes a long way. 

Manicure Monday :: Essie Where's My Chauffeur



Today, I have on one of Essie's teal nailpolishes called "Where's My Chauffeur." I have tried out a lot of different nailpolishes in the past, but this is the first time I am trying the Essie brand. I was surprised that I never thought of trying it before! I have definitely been missing out on all the nail polish action.

To be honest, I'm really bad when it comes to putting a base and top coat. In this picture, I'm not wearing either one. I will update you guys on how the longevity of this polish is without the extra support.

Product Review :: Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer

Hiii everyone!

This is such a long overdue makeup review on the Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer.

First of all, looking at the Sephora website, this is what this primer claims to do:

"What it is:

An iconic primer that preps skin to create a perfect canvas for flawless foundation application. 

What it is formulated to do:

The silky blend of vitamins and antioxidants smooths and perfects skin, while the unique formula supports natural collagen and fills in fine lines and pores for a flawless finish.

What else you need to know:

Use after moisturizer and before foundation for complexion perfection. This skin-soothing blend of antioxidants, which can be worn alone or under foundation, works overtime to fill in fine lines and even out skin texture."

So the main things I look for in a primer is: covers pores, keeps skin from becoming oily, doesn't make my foundation cake at the end of the day, and doesn't feel like a thick layer when applied. I bought this small travel size from Sephora in November 2013 because I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. If I remember correctly, I believe I paid around $10 for this tube, and after months of using it, the tube still looks as full when I first bought it. Unfortunately, I'm still not 100% sure if I like it or not, and here's why.

I mainly apply this primer on my T-zone because that's where I tend to get the most oily and I can say that this primer truly works with the "oil control." I have worked 12 hours shifts and barely saw a shine at the end of work, so that's a definite plus! (Side note: I am really really bad about touching up my makeup too). 

However, there are a couple things that I'm not a big fan of. When you apply this primer, it had this silicon feeling and it doesn't do a really good job covering pores. I know a lot of people use the Benefit Porefessional and I feel like it has the same type of texture. I've also noticed that my foundation cakes as the day goes on. 

So my final thoughts, I would give it a 3.5/5 because although it protects my skins from becoming oily, I think it should do a better job covering your pores. Would I repurchase it again? Maybe, but I'm more on the probably not side. I am definitely on a hunt for looking for new primers that have the qualities I look for in a primer, so any suggestions are welcome.

xoxo, 

I'm Baaack!

Hellooo! 

I'm back to the blogging community! Yay me, for getting my act together and finding time to blog again. 

I'm returning with a NEW semi-finished blog design from one of my good friends, Jeffrey Lorenzo. I came up with a quick sketch of how I wanted the layout to look, and he worked his magic with Photoshop and HTML, which are two things that I really don't understand at the moment. Major props to everyone out there that are pros at both!

I have been makeup shopping a little too much since graduation, so I will definitely start doing a lot more product reviews. I will also do my best to start posting weekly Mani Mondays! Please let me know what other topics you would be interested in! I will be sure to consider them in my future blog entries!

Lookout for a product review post tomorrow! :) See you all then.

 

Reason for being MIA

Hello hello!

I know I have been MIA for the longest time, but feel like I had a really good reason. I have been really busy with my final year of college! I have a couple more weeks left, but done with all major projects and exams, so I have decided to step back into the blogging world.

Currently, as you are reading this, my friends and I am working on a new layout for my blog, so please hang tight. I do have a couple posts already saved as a draft, so I will start uploading them once we get all settled in with the new blog layout! :) Hope you're excited as much as I am!