Clarisonic Mia 2! (Two Week Impression)

Hey dolls!

If you've ever attempted to keep up with the latest skincare trends or even casually browsed around Sephora or Ulta, you know about Clarisonic! Just in case you haven't heard, Clarisonic is a face brush that uses sonic motion (think sonic toothbrush) to deeply cleanse your skin. This little guy make a lot of claims to fame. The clarisonic claims to shrink pore size, improve skin texture, eradicate fine lines and wrinkles. The biggest claim that probably grab peoples' attention is that it removes your makeup 6 times more effectively than manual cleansing, and removes air pollutants from your skin 30 times more effectively than manual cleansing. 

I've been eyeing the clarisonic literally FOR YEARS. What turned me off was the steep price for this device. As a graduation present, my sister blessed me with a Clarisonic Mia 2! The Mia two is the smaller of the different models they have. The difference between the original Mia and the Mia 2 is that the former only has one speed while the latter has two speeds. My clarisonic Mia 2 came with a sensitive brush head, a cashmere luxe brush, and the Kate Somerville gentle daily wash (value exclusive to QVC), and of course, the charger and the travel case. 

*not pictured: pLink charger* 

Before I get into the review, I should give you a brief background on my skin. When I was little, I used to have SUPER dry skin all the way up until my sophomore or junior year in college. Now, I have combination skin. My nose area and the lower part of my forehead get oily, whereas the rest of my face is normal (starts to get dry if I go too long without exfoliating).

*This review is based on washing my face with the Clarisonic twice a day on the lowest speed with the sensitive brush head* 

First impression:

When I washed my face in the morning with my clarisonic, I noticed that my skin was SIGNIFICANTLY softer, and I noticed that it looked immediately smoother. As the day progressed, I realized that my nose area slowed down the production of oil. Usually, without any type of oil controlling product, my nose will start producing oil within an hour, and it will be oil slick by the second hour. After I used my clarisonic, I noticed minimum oiliness around 3:00pm, and I washed my face at 10:00am! 

End of week 1:

Others notice that my skin appears smoother and more clear. I have these weird tiny, fine bumps on my face that you can't really notice until you are (uncomfortably) close to me. I've had these bumps for as long as I can remember. After just a week, some of them seem to just disappear around my temples. Although they are not completely gone in other areas, it's promising that they are diminishing! 

Week 2:

A couple days ago, I started experiencing very small breakouts. To be completely honest, I am not completely sure if this the "purging phase" because these breakouts could be from switching moisturizers. If you haven't seen other Clarisonic reviews, many users go through a "purging phase." The "purging phase" results from the deep cleansing of the clarisonic. It's getting all of the gross things from deep inside your pores and bringing them to the surface, which could make you break out. It's the same result if you have ever used a detoxifying facial cleanser or treatment; it gets worse before it gets better. The breakouts I've gotten so far are so small, they're not enough to complain about, and are gone in a day or two. 

Another noticeable difference is my pore size. My pores aren't the largest, but I could notice they're there on my nose and the area on my face directly next to my nose as well (where I get oily the most). I saw a difference in my pore size within a week, and they are continuing to shrink on my nose. (I wish I took pictures!) 

Overall, I have seen a difference in texture  and pore size. Do I think it's worth the price? Abso-freakin-lutely! My face is so much softer and smoother. Since, I'm in my early 20's, it is important to me to start investing in my skin and really taking care of it. I've used cheaper alternatives to the Clarisonic (Neutrogena Wave and DDF 400x Revolve), and nothing made my skin feel so soft so quickly! Please don't let the "purging phase" scare you away from the Clarisonic! Some users  experience very small, mild breakouts if they experience a purging phase at all. 

I completely understand that the Clarisonic Mia 2 is expensive (and the second cheapest of the types of Clarisonic models available), but QVC makes it easier to obtain. You can pay for the Clarisonic in easy payments that vary upon the model you want, and sometimes they come with a cleanser as well and/or a replacement brush head (as mine did). 

Do you have a Clarisonic or want one? How do like it? I will do a post comparing my Clarisonic Mia 2 and my DDF 400X Revolve in the very near future! Until later loves! 

OPI Coca-Cola Collection

Hi Everyone! 

Nothing screams summer more than an ice cold coke on a hot, sunny day. Last week, OPI released their summer collaboration with Coca-Cola in stores. I hopped on ebay right away to order these gorgeous nail polishes. This fun collection is inspired by Coca-Cola products including Fanta and Sprite. I only bought four of the nine piece collection, all of which are cream formulas. Here are some the polishes I picked up along with some dupes/comparisons. Enjoy!

First up is You're So Vain-illa, inspired by Vanilla Coke. This color is a warm beige with yellow undertones. The formula was a little streaky on me, so I used three coats for an opaque finish. You can never have too many neutrals, and I don't have a neutral like this with such a strong yellow undertone. Comparisons are shown below:

Thumb to pinky: Essie Topless and Barefoot (thumb), Essie Sand Tropez (pointer), OPI You're So Vain-illa (middle), OPI Don't Bossa Nova Me Around (ring), Essie Spin the Bottle (pinky)

You can definitely see the yellow undertone in this picture. I instantly thought of Don't Bossa Nova Me Around and Essie Sand Tropez when I saw this color. However, as you can see in the comparison pictures, Bossa Nova has a rosy undertone, and Essie is more tan with soft yellow undertones. You can definitely justify owning this if you have any of these colors because there are no dupes here!

Next up is Sorry, I'm Fizzy Today, also inspired by Vanilla Coke. I'm not sure how this color is related to Vanilla Coke at all, but the color is so beautiful I'll go with it. Sorry I'm Fizzy Today is a a light coral-pink color with a slight touch of peach that is absolutely gorgeous! Pink is always perfect for summer, and this one is no exception. Although this polish is not necessarily unique, it is still beautiful none-the-less. Below are two polishes comparisons and a dupe:

OPI Sorry I'm Fizzy Today (on thumb, middle finger, and pinky), Butter London Trout Pout (pointer finger), OPI Kiss Me I'm Brazilian (ring finger)

As you can see, OPI Sorry I'm Fizzy Today and Butter London Trout are exact dupes for each other. And I mean, EXACT. If you have to justify having both (me!), one could argue that Trout Pout is slightly slightly lighter than Fizzy. Honestly, the main difference between the two is the formula. Trout Pout's formula is so much better than Fizzy's formula. I had to use 3 coats of OPI to achieve the pictured opacity, and I only used two coats of Butter London for the polish to be perfectly opaque. If you don't have either of the two and you can spare $15, I would go for Butter London Trout Pout because the formula is absolutely stunning and a dream to apply. If you've had your eye on the Butter London color, but if you don't want to spend that kind of money on nail polish, go for the OPI color. All that being said, if you have one, you don't need the other. 

Compared to Sorry I'm Fizzy Today, Kiss Me I'm Brazilian is a medium-toned, true pink. No dupe here! 

You can't have a Coca-Cola nail polish collection without the signature red! Coca-Cola Red is the one I was most excited about. Coca-Cola Red is exactly as described. OPI did a great job recreating this color because it is the shade of red you think of when you think Coca-Cola! Call me crazy, but I think this polish is kind of  a bright tomato-ish, which is still beautiful. The formula is amazing, and a one-coater for me. For the sake of swatching, I did two to get the true color payoff. This color is absolutely gorgeous and I can see this being my go-to red!

Thumb to pinky: OPI Cajun Shrimp (thumb), OPI Big Apple Red (pointer), OPI Coca-Cola Red (middle), Essie Russian Roulette (ring), Essie Twin Sweater Set (pinky)

This is the color that I expected to be easily duped, but I don't have any in my collection that even come close. I am not a huge red polish wearer, and I almost skipped out on Coca-Cola Red because I thought that Big Apple Red or Russian Roulette would be similar, but to my surprise, they aren't at all. What sets Coca-Cola Red apart from the two is that Coca-Cola Red is so bright, which makes it perfect for summer time. Big Apple Red and Russian Roulette look more like similar dupes for each other than for Coca-Cola Red. Cajun Shrimp is a coral-toned red, which does not make it a dupe for Coca-Cola Red. In fact, Cajun Shrimp looks straight up coral compared to Coca-Cola Red. I initially thought that Essie Twin Sweater Set would be comparable, but it looks like a bordeaux color compared to these bright, true reds. If you love your reds, Coca-Cola Red is a must have!

Last, but certainly not least, is Get Cherried Away inspired by Cherry Coke. This polish is a deep, plummy purple which is absolutely stunning. To my surprise, this one ended up being my favorite! I normally don't go for dark purples, but this polish definitely turned me on to this rich tone. Cherried Away is easily a one-coat wonder, but I used two to swatch. This one will be gorgeous for fall and I can't wait to wear this. It looks like MAC Pure Heroine lipstick in nail polish form, so naturally I'm crazy about it! If I ever wake up one day and want my nail polish and lipstick to match, I know exactly what pair to reach for! I don't have any dupes for this polish because I don't have any thing like this in my collection. Get Cherried Away makes me want to buy more deep purple polishes for fall.

Those are the colors I have so far! Which colors from this collection do you have your eye on? I think I may get Today I Accomplished Zero next, which is a black jelly formula with red glitter. Until later my loves!

MAC x Lorde = Pure Heroine

Let me start off by saying that I LOVE Lorde. She has so much talent and insight and I just can't get enough! When I heard she was pairing up with MAC for a collection, it was a no-brainer for me. Her mini collection, if there is such a thing, consists of Pure Heroine lipstick and a black liquid eyeliner. Whether you want to join Lorde's "Love Club" or scoff at the idea of calling her Queen Bee, you can't deny that this girl's lipstick game is MEAN! *finger wave* She's been seen in everything from a nude to a rich burgundy, but I perceive her signature lip color as a deep purple, which may have taken some of us by surprise if you grew accustom to her clean (but slightly edgy) makeup in her music video "Royals." Pure Heroine captures Lorde's signature lip perfectly in my opinion, think the lip color she wears at awards shows (a la Billboard Awards and the Grammy Awards). Pure Heroine is the ultimate deep plum lipstick. To me, Pure Heroine looks like the love child of Cyber and Rebel. Lorde's makeup artist mentioned that she mixes Cyber and Rebel to get Lorde's look, which makes sense that this lipstick is reminiscent of the two.  This is an amplified formula, which is very comfortable and creamy on the lips. I applied without a lip balm, and I did not feel any dryness after three hours! Now that I've talked this lipstick to death, let's get to the swatches, shall we?

[I am MAC NC50 for reference]

swatches from left to right: MAC Nightmoth lip pencil, Pure Heroine, NYX Deep Purple lip liner

**note: the next few swatches are without any liner***

I can't help but channel Lorde's music video, "Tennis Court" while wearing this. 

This lipstick doesn't look as dark on the lips as it does in the bullet, but it is still darker than I expected to be with the given swatches I've seen online so far. If you're still craving more darkness, just deepen it up by filling in the lips with Nightmoth lip liner by MAC seen below:

(Nightmoth + Pure Heroine) 

Speaking of online swatches, I CONSIDERED passing on Pure Heroine because I thought it looked like MAC Rebel lipstick online. Boy, was I wrong. 

Left to right: MAC Rebel, MAC Pure Heroine

I LOVE this lipstick, and I can't wait to wear the heck out of it this fall!...or maybe not since it's limited edition. I just wish the collection was a little bigger and included the softer side of Lorde's looks, like a nude or pale pink (a la "Royals" music video). I took care of this myself by purchasing MAC Faux lipstick. If you want more of a sheer pale lip from the video, try a wash of NARS Roman Holiday lipstick.

(Left to right) NARS Roman Holiday, MAC Faux

MAC Faux

(doesn't she look like a love child of Kylie Jenner and Cher Lloyd with natural makeup? I don't know what's up with me and love children today!)

Did you snatch up this beauty or let it pass you by? What MAC collaborations do you want to see in the future? Personally, I'm pulling for a Lana Del Rey collection! I can just see lipsticks named "Ultraviolence" and "Sweet Like Cinnamon," a navy eyeliner named "Blue Jeans" (my FAVORITE song of hers), and a eye shadow quad called "Shades of Cool." *sigh* I should be on someone's creative team. But I digress...More to come, my pretties! 

Soft Special Occasion Makeup

Hi Lovelies!

No time, no see! So much has happened between my last post in October...just kidding. Mainly research papers, endless reading assignments, my birthday...oh yeah, and this happened!

That's right, I graduated from college! I received my Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology! Although it happened a month ago, it's still a blur, and it's still hard to believe that it actually happened! Starting off as a chemical engineering major four years ago, I never thought I would see the day! 

Now that it's officially summer, I have more time to commit to my blog..before I start grad school that is...I thought it would be fun to do a tutorial on the look. Here is a close up of the makeup I wore for graduation:

(Check the gown in the back!) 

I wanted my makeup to be soft, but noticeable in pictures. I turned to my trusty Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette, soft blush, and subtle highlighting (no contouring). This look is SUPER easy, beginner-friendly, and appropriate for any occasion. This look is soft and neutral enough to wear for everyday as well. I love the very subtle shimmer (for lack of a better word) on the lid to add dimension. Enough rambling! Here is what I did to achieve this look:

1. Prep your lids with an eye shadow primer. I used Urban Decay Primer Potion in the original formula.

2. Take the shade Liar (my favorite shade Ever in life) from the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette with a flat shader brush, and sweep all over the lid.

3. Next, take a fluffy crease brush and work the the shade Nooner (which is my favorite matte shade in the palette) into your crease. Using a fluffy brush will make the transition from your lid to your crease look soft and seamless. If you want a more defined look, use a tapered crease brush, and blend out any harsh edges with a blending brush. 

4. Lastly, apply the color Strange underneath your eyebrow with any fluffy brush to highlight. That's all for the eye shadow!

5. Line your eyes as desired, apply your favorite mascara, and you're done! 

Here are some additional products I used to complete my look:

Face:

Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector

Make Up Forever Mat Velvet+ in Coffee 75

MAC Studio Finish concealer in NC50

MAC Mineralized Skinfinish Natural in Dark

MAC Powder Blush in Desert Rose 

LORAC TANtalizer Baked Bronzer (Beautiful highlight for dark skin)

Eyes (additional products):

Maybelline Eyestudio Gel Eyeliner 

Benefit They're Real! Mascara

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in Perversion 

Ardell Brow Defining Powder in Mink Brown

Lips:

Lush Honey Trap Lip Balm 

NYX Slim Lip Pencil in Brown

MAC Viva Glam V lipstick

Brushes:
Coastal Scents 22 Piece Brush Set
Beauty Blender Sponge 

When I went out to celebrate that night, I simply touched up my makeup and used a bright pink lip (MAC Candy Yum Yum + MAC Magenta lip liner). 

(Not the best quality, but you get the idea) 

I hope that this is helpful and informative! What are some of your favorite looks for special occasions? Do you go bold, or tone it down with soft neutrals? Until next time loves!