CFBEAUTYDIARY

On My Nails: Kendal

2012-02-05T17:02:00.000-08:00

er.. or this *was* on my nails a few days ago until I wiped it off before my clinic shift! Kendal is a creamy beige-y lavender with cool and neutral tones. Two-three coats for a beautiful finish that barely chipped in the week it was on my nails.. no top coat used. Definitely recommend for fans of pastel or neutral colors. There's a little droplet of water on my nail from washing my hands,

Semi-Obsession: Moleskine Notebooks

2012-02-04T00:54:00.000-08:00

Pronounced however you want (I go by "mole-skeen"), Moleskine is a treat for notebook/journal lovers like me.Their craftsmanship is superb and there is a whole variety of notebooks for the artist, the planner, the architect, the doodler, the student or the everyday writer.. While I own a a few of their pocket-sized notebooks in black and pink, I can't help but to share these limited edition

Photoblog #1

2012-01-29T21:20:00.000-08:00

Helloo, I have decided to try out something.. periodic posts on random things that I have been enjoying or experiencing through snapshots here and there. I will be taking most of these with my phone because it's so much easier on the go.. hope you like these in addition to my normal posts! Tarte is my current favorite brand when it comes to face products: Park Ave Princess mineral powder

Help Janet Find a Match & Live

2012-01-24T11:55:00.000-08:00

Janet Liang, a UCLA graduate student and a friend of my friend, has been fighting leukemia since 2009 and has two months left to find a match for a bone marrow transplant. She has posted a personal plea on Youtube in hopes to find the person that can save her life. I don't want these next two months to be the only time she has left with us, so please, if you are able, register to be a match. Once

L'Occitane Hand Cream

2012-01-23T11:53:00.000-08:00

L'Occitane's Shea Butter Hand Cream is my current daily go-to, especially for the daytime. I've finished my first 1 oz. tube and am about to start on a new one. This best-selling hand cream is best known for its enriching properties, with ingredients of Shea Butter, honey and sweet almond extract, and Vitamin E. From my experience, this hand cream does nourish dry and dehydrated hands with daily

My 2012 Resolutions

2012-01-18T18:36:00.000-08:00

While it's already midway through January, it's never too late to make goals for myself.. not to mention there is Chinese New Year in several days, which can count as the beginning of my new year as well! I'm very happy that it is the year of the dragon. ;) Anyways, this year I'm keeping things simple. 1. Do what makes me happy by staying organized and disciplined. 2. Create a cardio workout

A Night at the Embarcadero

2012-01-09T22:30:00.000-08:00

Before I leave 2011 behind, I would like to share a few photos taken last October at the Embarcadero. These pictures take me back to a night of warmth and happiness, despite the chilly temperatures. Just for a few hours, I had no worries and I had the pleasure of enjoying good company and beautiful night time scenery. Mouth-watering tapas at a restaurant by the pier is also something I won't

Update: December at Midnight

2011-11-30T20:19:00.000-08:00

Helloo, I just wanted to say hi and give you a little update. December is always an exciting time for me but as the month changes tonight.. so will my level of panic/stress! Last weekend, I had quite a many tasks and arrangements to tend to, which is not such a bad thing when it involves friends, family, sparkling apple cider and pumpkin pie. The only problem is that my final exams begin next

Cruelty-Free Holiday Gift Ideas

2011-11-18T22:11:00.000-08:00

Here are some gift ideas that I would personally give or love to have on my wishlist ;) Of course these products are all beauty, skincare and personal care-related and all free of animal cruelty. Li'l Lush Pud bath bomb $4.95 per 3.1 ozThis bath bomb is inspired by British Christmas pudding and almonds.. how yummy does that sound?for a cozy time in the tub (but please do not lick or eat).LUSH

UD Liquid Liner: Perversion

2011-11-12T21:16:00.000-08:00

Whenever I want to go for a sharper and more defined eyeliner look, I opt for liquid liner. The one I'm currently using is Urban Decay's Perversion, which is a standard black color. Here's Perversion applied, for those that might want to see what it looks like on the eye. Here's a look at the bottle and brush. The brush is really perfect for creating that little flick at the end for a winged

Get Cracklin' with Latticed Lilac

2011-11-09T16:40:00.000-08:00

I wore this polish combo for a few days before I had to wipe my nails clean for Thursday night clinic shifts at school. This look is a bit distracting for the classroom but I have no problem enjoying a bit of self-expression here and there.. :) China Glaze Latticed Lilac crackle polish over Revlon's Plum Night. Plum Night is a matte dark violet, while Latticed Lilac is a shimmery iridescent

Treasure Island Flea Market

2011-11-05T23:18:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I made a trip to Treasure Island, a cute little island just 20 minutes from the city. It was a really lovely outing with the boyfriend as the atmosphere was light and the weather was gracious. I was most excited about the jewelry vendors, many of them selling antique or unique pieces that you don't find in typical department stores. I ended up with two gold necklaces from the red

Come Vote! Pumpkin Showdown

2011-10-31T23:49:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween! The boyfriend and I spent the night carving pumpkins for the first time, and we would like to know which one you guys like more. Of course, we're a tad nervous to showcase our fruits of labor but be honest and let us know! The comments section is open to everyone. pumpkin #1: hippo & heart pumpkin #2: piggy in the sky *fingers crossed!*

Glitter & Snowglobes at MAC

2011-10-30T21:23:00.000-07:00

The annual holiday collection has finally been released by MAC, and I must say the sleek, white packaging and snow globe theme have got me ooh~ and ahh~ing. I have come to anticipate MAC's holiday collections as they come out with some very unique items worthy to be collectibles. This year's collection entails single lipsticks, lip glasses, nail lacquers, beauty powders, paint pots, and

Accents Lashes by Ardell

2011-10-28T00:31:00.000-07:00

Thoughts on my second pair of faux lashes: These accent lashes are only about half the length of regular falsies and I like them much more this way. They go on the outer edges of your lashline for a more natural but enhanced look. These particular ones are very lovely- you can see they are made in a way that gives the edge of your lashes a nice fluttery effect while resembling the look of your

The LFA at Lexus EOS

2011-10-08T21:44:00.000-07:00

This post is for the car enthusiast or Lexus lover, someone like my boyfriend who brought me to the Lexus End of Summer event last weekend where we drooled all over the main display: the LFA. Such a beauty.. We got to sit in and feel out the car! I may look teeny in it but I care not >:) Photo above and below courtesy of Enrique, who I met at the event. He used his nice DSLR which totally

Sapphire Smokey Eye & Faux Lashes Confession

2011-09-25T23:09:00.000-07:00

Helloo, Here's the look that I wore last night to a dinner and a friend's birthday celebration. For the eyes I used Stila's Sapphire palette which I really adore.. all the shadows are silky soft and beautifully pigmented. I also used UD liquid eyeliner and, for the first time, false lashes. Eek I don't know if it's good idea to tell you guys I'm a "noob," but I resisted using false lashes for

Eyeliner: UD 24/7 vs. Revlon Colorstay

2011-09-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

Urban Decay 24/7 eye pencils are known for their smooth, glide-on quality and long-lasting, non-smudge abilities. I do agree that this UD eyeliner is quite good in these compartments and I have been using it as my daily liner for about two years. However, I am not completely satisfied because it does tend to budge- the top of my eyelid folds over and covers part of the lower portion.. something I

Weekend Sweets & FOTD

2011-09-18T22:47:00.000-07:00

Hi lovelies, I survived my exams and now I'm off for two weeks to do absolutely nothing :) Here's the look I wore yesterday to trek the hills of Chinatown.. good thing I had my hair up because it was a hot and sticky day! Eyes: Naked Palette (Half Baked, Smog, Darkhorse) & Cheeks: NARS Orgasm, The Body Shop bronzer Lips: MAC Baroque Boudoir "Preciousness" gloss (over bare lips) that I am now

Burt's Bees Sensitive Facial Cleanser w/ Cotton Extract

2011-08-21T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hello there, My current facial cleanser is by a brand that I trust- Burt's Bees is not only dedicated to cruelty-free products but its products are also largely based on natural ingredients. Its Beeswax Lip Balm has been my holy grail chapstick for at least four years, so I had no hesitancy in reaching for this brand when searching out a new everyday face cleanser. The review for this product

OPI Mermaid's Tears

2011-08-14T19:01:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I've had the lovely Mermaid's Tears in my polish collection but I know it's not too late to give my input since it'll be around for a bit.. not to mention the price has lowered since my purchase for those that don't have it yet ;) I consider Mermaid's Tears a model nail polish- the color is gorgeous and the lacquer applies like a dream! The formula is SO (with emphasis!)

Help! No Delaying the Ban of EU Animal Testing

2011-08-11T14:11:00.000-07:00

Hi loves, I've got something proactive you can do to help push for the end of animal-tested cosmetics in the EU by 2013, and it only takes a few seconds: just click here and sign. While the U.S. has not made similar measures towards mandating humane procedures for product testing, we can at least support the EU who is taking the first step in recognizing using live animals for testing products

New Toy By Nume

2011-08-02T21:40:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, "Life things" (mainly school) have been keeping me busy these past few weeks, which means a much more sedentary lifestyle than I would like for myself. Before I show you my new toy (which you're probably going to scroll down to look at now anyways), let me give you a mini life update. Being a full-time student currently means attending classes from a range of 3 to 8 hours per day,

L.A. Sights

2011-07-18T18:23:00.000-07:00

Just over two weeks ago, my family and I went on a little trip to Universal Studios and several other cities around L.A., including Anaheim, Santa Monica, Monterey Park, Arcadia, Pasdena, Glendale, and Rosemead. Through this experience I learned that the cities of L.A. are too spread out for me due to buttaches from the long waiting times of stop-and-go traffic. However, I did get much better

Na Ya: A Sweet Shop

2011-06-28T00:15:00.000-07:00

I recently found a charming sweets shop that is Japanese inspired... I felt like I was transported to a cute little dessert place in the streets of Japan, Taiwan or Korea. This lovely place is called Na Ya. Strawberry milk tea that was actually more like strawberry milk shake.. I should have taken photos of the interior and decor, but I can always do that next time (as for certain there will be

It's About Time: Casual FOTD

2011-06-25T22:44:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last post so here's little FOTD update. In the past few weeks, aside from work/academic stress.. my hair has grown out a bit so my bangs are finally at a convenient length, and I've been starting to use my Naked Palette (esp. the shade Smog) for a brown smoked look in place of my typical light shimmery nude or cream eyeshadow. Other than the mentioned above, I am as

The Routine w/ Steady As She Rose

2011-06-12T12:46:00.000-07:00

The days and week prior exams are very stressful, especially during the end of each school quarter/semester. This may not be true for some, but I can feel my stress levels rise each day! Each time right before approaching a week of major exams, I find myself in this routine of doing two things before I really get in my zone: procrastinate online and paint my nails. Checking Twitter or watching

Pirate Polish

2011-06-01T18:40:00.000-07:00

Look what I picked up at Ulta over the weekend.. *maniacal laugh* I've been stalking these online for the past two weeks!! There are six shades total for the OPI Pirates of the Caribbean collection, all are pretty pastel mattes.. I picked out the two colors I most desire, Mermaid's Tears (muted jade green) and Steady As She Rose (light pinky-mauve). Btw, the lettering on the bottles look funky

FOTD: Candy Sweet ft. Giggly

2011-05-24T23:22:00.000-07:00

Helloo, I finally got the chance to create my FOTD using Giggly blush because for once the sun was actually still out by the time I got home. I paired the absolutely darling plummy-pink cheek color with pastel colors from my mineralized e/s called Girlish Romp, as well as a lip color that is brighter than what I normally would go for (NYX Tea Rose). I went along with the "Quite Cute" theme of

Any Jaguar Lovers?

2011-05-20T16:44:00.000-07:00

Look what I found on Sephora.. the Clarisonic Mia in Jaguar print! I have a feeling this print is going to either a hit or miss.. if it doesn't strike your fancy, luckily they sure know how to market themselves by coming in all kinds of cute pastel candy colors ;) Weekend is almost here.. I have a graduation and birthday in my family to celebrate, hopefully won't get too tired. Hope you all have

Clarisonic Mia: Love at First Sneeze

2011-05-14T00:03:00.000-07:00

I got my Clarisonic Mia in pink some time towards the end of February, so I've been using it for over two months. Two things about that- first, the Mia is the smallest sonic cleansing system available and it is perfect for the face; also, for each purchase of a pink Clarisonic, the company contributes to the "Look Good... Feel Better" program that that works with women with cancer. (However,

The Three Stages of Truth

2011-05-11T22:55:00.000-07:00

Tonight I am having some me-time with thoughts on how lesser known or accepted groups and systems are often wrongfully chastised by the predominant ones.. I know this is all so vague and general, but all I have to say is, I will stand by what is true and right to me, even if the masses are in opposition (mind you, I do hold myself to high standards and values!) All truth passes through three

Not in LalaLand

2011-05-09T20:54:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, I know I haven't posted for over a week.. well, on this blog at least. I have been tempted to post some random things on here but in the end decided against it. I do tweet my thoughts throughout the day though, so follow me on Twitter for all things related to me, cruelty-free updates, beauty and shopping bargains and more. But as the title says, I have not just been floating around

Saturday Afternoon

2011-04-30T22:10:00.000-07:00

A teeny peek into my afternoon. Monthly visit.. training me and the boyfriend on vegetarian cuisine. Crummy photo from my phone of: pho, vegan style. I can honestly say I prefer this over the standard beef pho. I made sure to leave room for a little-something I had in mind.. a bite of white chocolate & blueberry Cheesecake Factory at Union Square. Tomorrow sadly I will be all-day studying.

Tiger Mom Tee

2011-04-26T18:14:00.000-07:00

Bok Choy Apparel contacted me today about the launch of their newest tee in celebration of Mother's day, as well as in support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure by trying to raise $500 for the cause through sales. I think the t-shirt is superr cute and is a great idea for Mother's Day. I don't think the phrase "tiger mom" needs any introduction, but it's a good thing this shirt is adorable and not

More Than Giggly

2011-04-23T21:22:00.000-07:00

Even one thing can change my mood around and brighten up my day. Warmest welcome to my newest baby, so so grateful to the boyfriend for adopting her as a gift for me. Did you know Giggly is cruelty-free? <3 But even better, MAC you're amazing because what I really wanted were collectibles of the Quite Cute graphics. Hooray! What is one thing that is guaranteed to brighten up your day?

Boscia Oil-Free Daily & Nightly Hydration Duo

2011-04-20T22:03:00.000-07:00

I've been searching for cruelty-free moisturizers that have the potential to be HG status, and Boscia is one of the brands I have heard really great things about. Boscia be found at Sephora, and it specializes in natural skincare products. I originally purchased this day and night moisturizer duo for the boyfriend but ended up keeping it because he wants to use his own things for now. I had

The Body Shop: Strawberry Body Butter

2011-04-17T20:21:00.000-07:00

Here is a review one of the most moisturizing and delicious (I mean, delicious-smelling) body lotion that I've tried. I already gave it away with the title.. this lotion is literally body BUTTER. It took me years before I decided to finally try The Body Shop stuff, because the giant ball of intertwined-scents in the stores can be overwhelming and the prices can be out of range at times. However,

Not Quite a Life Crisis.. Hair Cut & Color

2011-04-12T21:26:00.000-07:00

A little over a week ago, I decided I wanted to cut off a good 4-6 inches of my hair.. and so I did! Okay, my hairdresser did. I also wanted some light layers and side bangs that I can tuck behind the ear.. I got my layers and unfortunately, bangs that are too short and just hang there and poke my eyes out. & just for fun I picked up the Palty hair color in "Juicy Peach" at Japantown last

What I REALLY Want from MAC Quite Cute

2011-04-10T11:11:00.000-07:00

MAC lovers will know exactly what super cute collection is out right now.. and will probably throw some pebbles at me for saying that what I really want from Quite Cute is not so much their makeup products as the graphics for their product promotion!! I was at the MAC counter yesterday and after looking at the products, I decided to run back over to take photos of THIS.. and THIS, instead. I

Clinique Eye Cream: All About Eyes

2011-04-08T15:45:00.000-07:00

Ladies (and gents).. if you're like me, you would think the skin is THE most important part of the face that you want to maintain, and it deserves being pampered up with products of the best quality and ingredients. I'm one that is willing to spend the most on skincare products- all other cosmetics are second priority. When I find a product that works really well, I rarely venture out to find

Vegas Part III: Cosmopolitan and XS

2011-04-04T16:44:00.000-07:00

The very last post on my trip! On my last day in the city, my goal was to explore the City Center where the new hotel Cosmopolitan is located.. I credit this to Lisa of Shop N' Chomp because she previously showed in her blog these super gorgeous photos of Swarovski chandeliers in the building. I had to hunt them down! My usual simple FOTD. While walking on the strip towards the City Center..

Vegas Part II: Just Want to Stay Inside

2011-04-02T22:29:00.000-07:00

Here goes day two of my weekend trip (or actually day one, since I arrived only the night before).. the day that I almost refused to leave my room! You'll see why in a bit.. Face for the daytime. Neutrals with a pop of peach. I really wanted to check out the Fashion Show Mall.. turns out it has very similar stores to the malls in San Francisco, but I was pretty impressed with their Forever 21.

Vegas Part I: I'm Back, Firefly

2011-03-31T18:22:00.000-07:00

Helloo there, After a seriously intense ten weeks of trying to juggle 8 classes, I just needed to go somewhere to relax. So when the boyfriend proposed a trip to Vegas last week, I was dancing with pompoms (mentally..), but the only problem is that it would be a road trip. I actually whined a lot before and during the two10-hour drives.. but fortunately, the drive (with its dreary view and butt

My Boyfriend the Mouse Hero

2011-03-29T23:54:00.000-07:00

Subtitle for this post: "How To Free Mouse From Sticky Trap" Here goes my second post under CFbeautydiary ♥! I wasn't planning to write one so soon, but tonight I was chatting with the boyfriend and he said, "hold on, sniff, there is a mouse caught on the sticky trap." I was feeling rather disappointed when I heard that, especially because we had a conversation before about how cruel and

Welcome to CFbeautydiary ♥

2011-03-29T20:53:00.000-07:00

Helloo, My blog is finally up and running after being MIA for the past week! For those already familiar with my blog, you might notice that things look a little different. Also, my blog name has changed from Allure of CF Beauty to CFbeautydiary, but not to worry because the URL is still the same. :) I've been wanting to give my blog a makeover since last year and being sick during my two-week

Animal Cruelty- Thoughts From My Heart

2011-03-29T17:38:00.000-07:00

This post was originally written in September 2009 and still embodies the core of my beliefs. However, I have updated it with some revisions. Something has been on my mind constantly for the past few months two years. Many of you know how I feel about animal cruelty. I have covered in this blog animal cruelty in product testing, in the fur trade/fashion industry, and even in circuses. I know

Contact

2011-03-29T15:55:00.003-07:00

To send me a message, email me at cfbeautydiary@gmail.com or use the form below. foxyform.com

About Me

2011-03-23T12:04:00.000-07:00

Helloo, thank you for coming by. I'm Karen, the author of this cruelty-free (CF) beauty blog and also my latest project: CFcorner (a general cruelty-free blog). In case any of you are curious, I am currently a graduate student who loves to eat, shop, and write. I am also an arts and crafts type of girl, and makeup is one of my ways of having fun in busy everyday life. As you'll see, I have a

Cruelty-Free Brands Directory

2011-03-21T16:32:00.000-07:00

Updated 11.2.11 added "Unconfirmed Companies" section for brands that are not validated by PETA or The Leaping Bunny and are not currently able to confirm that both finished products and individual product ingredients are cruelty-free. Updated 9.27.11 eliminated Avon & Mary Kay This is a periodically-updated and selective list of cosmetic and skincare companies whose final products as well as

Non-CF Brands Directory

2011-03-20T21:59:00.000-07:00

Some Non-Cruelty-Free Brands I Do Not Currently SupportAnna Sui Aveeno (Johnson & Johnson) Chanel Christion Dior Clairol (Procter & Gamble) Clean & Clear (Johnson & Johnson) L'Oreal USA (expected to go CF in 2013) Lancôme (L'Oreal) Lubriderm (Johnson & Johnson) Maybelline (L'Oreal) Nair (Church & Dwight) Neutrogena (Johnson & Johnson) Olay (Procter & Gamble) Paul and Joe Ponds (Unilever) Rimmel

About CFbeautydiary

2011-03-20T20:48:00.001-07:00

This blog is one medium through which I share my love for beauty products as well as my passion for animal welfare. What I do is research and share with you companies and brands that do not involve any use of animals in their product testing and development. However, as you'll notice, this blog is not so cut-and-dry and will feature personal posts as well as looks of the day. Why do I encourage

Ways To Help The People & Animals In Japan

2011-03-15T11:41:00.000-07:00

Hi loves, It is currently finals week again.. amazing how it seems like it was not long ago that I took my first set of final exams as a grad student, even though three months has already passed already! So yes, I should be studying at the moment but you know what? This post can not wait. My heart is breaking just thinking about how so many lives in Japan were lost or disrupted without warning,

Special Feature: The White Rabbit Is Back!

2011-03-03T16:46:00.000-08:00

Helloo loves, Some of you may remember that in August of last year, I did a post on Bok Choy Apparel, a San Francisco-based business that sells tees with unique, Asian-culture inspired designs. You can see how I came in contact with the Bok Choy Apparel team as well as my thoughts on their apparel here. I am very fortunate to be featured on their clothing site for their White Rabbit Candy Tee

Blue & Peruvian Food On Valentine's Day

2011-02-19T22:53:00.000-08:00

I was blue for Valentine's Day.. not my mood (thank goodness), but rather outfit and nails! I decided to stick to a sweet and glowy neutral makeup look for the night.. and not wear the typical red or pink colors for clothing just because I can. :P Outfit was very comfy- teal blue oversized sweater, belt, leggings, and brown heel boots. Oops, and mickey & minney-mouse themed Swarovski brand

Cool Wintery FOTD: Green & Gunmetal Eyes

2011-02-04T12:03:00.000-08:00

Helloo, This is a look featuring the green Etude House Petite Darling Eyeshadow from Georgina as well as Gunmetal and Creep from the UD Naked Palette. I paired these slightly darker eyes with neutral pink lips and some bronzer.By the way, the "cool" in the title refers to the cool-toned shades of eyeshadow.. the gunmetal reminds me of the gray winter skies, and I like the light wash of green

Review: Etude House Petite Darling Eye Shadows

2011-02-01T22:09:00.000-08:00

This a post introducing Petite Darling Eyeshadow by Etude House in two colors, pink and green. These were gifted to me in a love package from dear Georgina, you can check out her blog here! For those interested, I also have a post on a baby pink Etude House nail polish from Georgina's package. Etude House is a Korean cosmetics brand that is cruelty-free, according to this list by the Korea

Baby Pink NOTD: Etude House

2011-01-23T14:23:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone, I stayed home for most of the day yesterday and now I'm staying home ALL day on a Sunday. :( I caught something somehow, so this is the second time I have gotten sick within three weeks. This is seriously no joke-- I feel miserable and my body feels worse! I guess I'm a big baby when it comes to getting sick but hmph. Anyways, here is a NOTD using my first ever Etude House nail

Everyday Look w/ Naked Palette & NARS Orgasm

2011-01-15T22:21:00.000-08:00

Helloo, These past two days have been surprisingly warm and sunny.. finally, after weeks of being North-Pole-cold! It's been a while since my last FOTD so here goes an everyday look featuring the Urban Decay Naked Palette and NARS Orgasm blush.. I know, these are two over-raved products but I happen to like pairing them together very much. Can't go too wrong with neutral eyeshadows and a

Goals for the New Year

2011-01-08T22:24:00.000-08:00

Helloo, This is my first post of 2011, and I've seriously been having blogging withdrawal this past week.. considering my absence for almost two weeks!! Totally unacceptable :( What basically happened was that I caught something flu-like and was stuck at home for one whole week, completely missing out on all New Year festivities. Then my two weeks of winter break ended just like that, and I

My Holiday Wishlist With A Twist 2010

2010-12-25T00:29:00.000-08:00

Helloo all, I'm super stuffed from a family hot pot (火鍋) dinner tonight, so as I sit here unable to concentrate on any reading, I thought would write a post I've been meaning to do this week in light of the holidays. Btw.. at the same time I will be mini-chomping on this big box of Wonka Nerds candy that I've been eating this whole week.. my sweet tooth is especially crazy during this time!!

Reelers & Rockers FOTD: Duo-Tone to Dramatic Eyes

2010-12-21T20:57:00.000-08:00

Helloo, It's about time for me to come back!! I have a two week break from academics (sort of..) and I want to catch up on the posts that I've been meaning to do. This post actually consists of two looks, one built upon the other using MAC's Reelers & Rockers palette. See the review for this holiday palette here. Look #1 features simple two-toned eyeshadow, while look #2 amps up the look to

MAC Reelers & Rockers: Review and Swatches

2010-12-21T19:00:00.000-08:00

Reelers & Rockers is an eyeshadow palette from Chapter 1 of MAC's holiday "A Tartan Tale" collection. The packaging for the Tartan Tale palettes are quite festive and I absolutely love the little MAC crest on the front of each one. Only the Reelers & Rockers palette really appealed to me- it was the most beautifully pigmented and contained the most unique colors out of the four eyeshadow palettes

Will Be Back In A Week

2010-12-10T13:59:00.000-08:00

Helloo, I'm going to be a little bulldozer for one whole week as I try to dig out of the heaps of books and study materials for final exams. Let's hope I will have enough fuel to keep me running through 4.5 exams! (.5 for one class because it is a take-home assignment lol) Take care, Karen

In Love: Skinfood Nail Vita in Rich Mocha

2010-12-05T20:20:00.000-08:00

I've found a new brand of cruelty-free polish that I love, all thanks to Dina of Voyageur for sending me this gorgeous Skinfood Nail Vita polish! Skinfood is a Korean cosmetics brand that is cruelty-free, according to this list by the Korea Animal Rights Advocates (KARA). This nail polish is close to everything I'm looking for in a good nail lacquer. The color is beautiful and unique. The

FOTD: Jade Green & Coffee Brown ft. CS 87 Palette

2010-12-01T16:04:00.000-08:00

Helloo, I'm super guilty of neglecting blog.. I don't even know how things got so busy in the last two weeks, but yes there was assignments, exams, project, events one after another! The weather is literally freezing every day now.. all I want to do is hibernate but of course that's not an option :( Well, to cheer myself up in this weather, at least I get to create some fall-winter looks.. this

The Versatile Blogger Award & Tag

2010-11-25T00:04:00.000-08:00

Hello all, My friend Rick of RicAdeMus - Waiting for Wisdom has kindly extended the "Versatile Blogger" award to me, thanks Rick! I followed him the moment I found his blog, because he has such a warm personality and shares stories that seriously evoke laughter, thought (by that I mean deeper insights), and joy. The rules are to share 7 random facts about myself, and I will try not to repeat

Winner of My MAC Venomous Villains Giveaway

2010-11-24T23:08:00.000-08:00

A sincere thank you to each of you that participated or simply left me a comment supporting my blog and cause. I will try my best to return your comments, but if time restraints prevent me from doing so, just remember that I know you gave me your valuable time and support and I appreciate it. Without further ado, the winner of this giveaway is Enchi of A Smile's Secret. Congrats girl!! There

Oh My, Stereotypes Against American Born Chinese?

2010-11-12T23:04:00.000-08:00

Hi dearrs, Today's post is a more solemn than the usual, as I want to discuss my thoughts on what appears to be a prevalent stereotype about Chinese people that are born in the U.S. (as I am). Stereotypes are common beliefs regarding specific groups of people based on preconceived assumptions. It seems as though American Born Chinese (ABC's) are looked down upon by those in countries inhabited

Etude House Caramel Sepia FOTD

2010-11-09T09:28:00.000-08:00

Helloo, Here is a more natural-looking FOTD with neutral colors as the cold weather is fast approaching.. As always, I place emphasis on the eyeshadow, and today's star is Etude House's #3 Caramel Sepia palette. According to KARA (Korea Animal Rights Advocates), Etude House is one of the six main cruelty-free Korean cosmetics brands (see the list here). Thank you dear Dina (XXYan) of Voyageur

MAC VV Bad Fairy NOTD & Review

2010-11-03T20:41:00.000-07:00

If I were to rate Bad Fairy out of 5 stars, it gets a 3.5. Don't get me wrong, I love MAC stuff and the color of this polish.. it's one of the most unique and extravagant colors I've seen. But in terms of everything else I would rate a nail polish on, it doesn't score very well. The formula is not very good.. as in it's very sheer and needs at least 3 coats to have a consistent layer of the

My Halloween "Starlet" FOTD & Costume

2010-11-01T18:17:00.000-07:00

Helloo, This past week has been reallyy busy for me, but I did manage to have some fun over the weekend.. ;) I dressed up this year and went out to the clubbing event in SF called "Monsterball." My costume is not too ingenious but I got a "starlet" costume (this red velvet gown) and dressed it up with this pearl choker necklace and white fluffy boa to wrap around my shoulders. And of course, I

MAC VV FOTD #1: "She Who Dares" Defined vs. Smoked

2010-10-27T17:01:00.000-07:00

Hello dears, Finally the Venomous Villains makes its appearance in a FOTD! ^o^ Before we go on to the pics.. I want you to know that I don't look quite like a villain so don't be disappointed. As you'll see, this post features two different eye looks with the She Who Dares eyeshadow (eyeliner was unneeded for both!) products used: Darkly My Dear powder blush, She Who Dares mineralize e/s duo,

Revlon Nail Enamel Review and NOTD's

2010-10-20T14:22:00.000-07:00

Hellos, For those that prefer wearing high-quality nail polish and perhaps also support cruelty-free beauty products, I highly recommend Revlon. Revlon is one of the few major drugstore-brand companies that do not subject their products to any animal testing. Unfortunately, other cosmetic corporations like L'Oreal, Maybelline, Sally Hansel, and Rimmel have not followed Revlon's compassionate and

200th Followers Giveaway: MAC Venomous Villains

2010-10-17T13:02:00.000-07:00

Helloo dears, As the title says, this is a special giveaway as a thank you to everyone that's been following me on my blogging journey. As a girl that loves animals as well as the world of beauty products, I am committed to purchasing and sharing about cruelty-free (CF) products. There is absolutely no reason for animals to be tortured and used in product (and ingredient) testing- first and

Someone Slap Me! MAC's "A Tartan Tale" Holiday

2010-10-15T18:16:00.000-07:00

Hellos, as you guys might knoww.. Venomous Villains was my favorite MAC collection for the year for many of its unique product colors and textures and of course for cute Disney villains-inspired printed graphics on the packaging. And just when I swore off MAC for the rest of 2010, MAC decides to tease and torture me some more with their holiday collection... "A Tartan Tale" collection features

Oct. 9 Nordstrom Cosmetics Trend Show

2010-10-14T16:52:00.000-07:00

Helloo, Apologies for the lack of updates recently.. but I do have several posts lined up for this month (reviews, swatches, FOTDS), so forgive? :P Over the weekend, I went to Nordstrom's annual trend show @ downtown San Francisco's Westfield shopping center. The show started at 8:30 and by the time I got there, the place was already packed. There was a stage set up on the 5th floor of

FOTD w/ Purple Fuchsia Eyes (Beautylish Tee Inspired)

2010-10-07T17:33:00.000-07:00

Hi dears, This is a look that I created after putting on this cute fuchsia tee from Beautylish (when I attended their beauty event two weeks ago-- thank you!) I'm mainly wearing three e/s colors from the Urban Decay ammo palette: Last Call, Grifter, and Oil Slick. On the lips are Revlon Colorburst Soft Nude l/s and a light pink gloss over it. (Of course, both Urban Decay and Revlon are

Finally... My MAC Venomous Villains Haul

2010-10-06T18:27:00.000-07:00

Helloo, This post is to finallyyy share with you guys the MAC VV products that I carefully picked out based on the colors and characteristics after swatching them at the store. I'm a nut and wanted everything (except Dr. Facilier stuff, no offense to him), but not every shade flatters me (especially the super bold lipsticks) so I went with the things I would use for sure. 0=) Sorry no swatches

Winners of White Rabbit Candy Tee Giveaway!!

2010-10-04T18:07:00.000-07:00

Helloo, Thanks to everyone who participated in this giveaway!! Remember that if you didn't win this time, I have another exciting giveaway coming up soon (watch out for my next haul post for a hint of what it might be!) Now.. the two following winners who will receive either a White Rabbit Candy tee or a tee or their choice are... *drumrolls*.. entry#4 Gaby of GABY'S BEAUTY BLOG and entry #30

LAST WEEK To Enter My White Rabbit Candy Tee Giveaway!

2010-09-28T16:13:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, This is just a reminder that there are a few days left to leave me a comment and enter my giveaway (if you haven't done so yet) in which I will be giving away TWO cute tees by Bok Choy Apparel. I am extending the giveaway to the end of this week (since I made a booboo on my original date.. there is no Sept 31 haha-- instead, it will officially end October 4, 2010 at 12 am PST (

A Weekend: Lexus Graffiti the Sharpie Event

2010-09-27T17:45:00.000-07:00

Helloo, Today's post is something car-related.. hey, who says a beauty blogger can't like cars? ;) Two weekends ago I went to a Lexus event to see the infamous sharpie IS350 Lexus (from the Bay Area) get a makeover.. in graffiti! The bf is a Lexus fan, and so I got to see the Sharpie car in person previously at a Lexus meet in San Jose.. not sure if you can see it very well in the poster, but

Night of Fun at Beautylish Event in San Francisco

2010-09-24T14:01:00.000-07:00

Hello dears, I want to share a spectacular beauty event that I went to last night. It was held by Beautylish, an online community exclusively for guys and girls that want to learn and share about cosmetic products, beauty tips, and makeup tutorials. The Beautylish team is based in San Francisco, and their blog has tons of information about hot beauty-related topics: http://blog.beautylish.com/.

Yay! Previewing MAC Venomous Villains In Store

2010-09-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

Helloo, I wanted to share my happy news that I actually got a chance to see the entire MAC Venomous Villains collection at a MAC store two weeks ago. Why is it "happy news"? Well.... only that I've been waiting for this collection since early summer and because of it I've been holding out from buying any other collection since To The Beach (to save up for this one)! Thank you to the store

Ugliest Shoes Ever Or.. Cutest Shoes Ever?

2010-09-13T22:37:00.000-07:00

hehehe.. I borrowed this pic from yahoo's slideshow of the Ugliest Shoes.. Ever I think all the other shoes do merit a "what the heck!" look, but when I came upon these pink fluffy bear shoes.. I didn't think they were ugly at all. Not that I would personally wear these out, but maybe for "slippers" or my future kid :D P.S. If you look at photo #12, you'll see the Alexander McQueen "armadillo"

My Birthday Is Coming Up.. This MAC Cake Would Be Nice

2010-09-12T18:09:00.000-07:00

This isn't even my cake, but it still blows my mind! It's got love written all over it.. at least for all the MAC lovers. Even if it was a cake of assorted makeup brands..I still would love it. Whoever made this cake has some skills. & Whoever this cake belongs to, happy birthday lucky gal! credit: http://www.makeupgeek.com/forum/download/file.php?id=40291&mode=view Hope everyone's weekends

UD Voodoo Dark Pink Lips FOTD

2010-09-10T11:31:00.000-07:00

Helloo, It's been a little while since my last FOTD, which can be attributed to the fact that I have not been wearing makeup on most days. But I love trying different looks (can't get sick of it!), even if they are more on the simple side. You know how the basic rule of makeup is to either choose to play up your eyes OR the lips, because choosing both would make you look over-done or

Carlashes.. Eyelashes For Your Car?

2010-09-07T16:31:00.000-07:00

Hi dearies, The long weekend is overr, and it's time to get back to work (whatever work may refer to)! I know my previous post was so very solemn, and I'm sorry for bringing down the mood.. My heart is still very saddened, but I do have a lot of other things keeping me busy right now. Before I get back to other things, I want to show you something interesting.. whether it's good or bad is for

Under the Weather: Please Rest In Heaven Fishpie

2010-09-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone, I'm actually feeling rather down today, one of the reasons being that I found out that this sweet cat that roams our block has passed away due to a car accident on a very busy main street at one end of our block. His name is Fishpie and he was a little black cat that was just so affectionate and friendly.. always coming up to people to say hi and wanting to come in our house for

Know the Fur Industry: Would You Wear Your Cat or Dog?

2010-08-29T13:34:00.000-07:00

*This post contains no pictures or videos, because photo evidence of the fur industry can be too graphic for some. However, I would appreciate if you gave this a read, for the sake of love and compassion.* The cruelty of killing animals for their fur has long plagued my mind. Although I have known about this heart-wrenching side of the fashion or clothing industry for quite some time, the truth

White Rabbit Candy Tees: Story and Giveaway

2010-08-25T16:14:00.000-07:00

Helloo dears, This is a special post dedicated to Bok Choy Apparel (BCA), a San Francisco-based clothing business inspired by Asian culture and local organizations working towards community causes. I am honored to be featured for their new line of women's tees.. keep reading for how I got to know this wonderful brand and how you can win a comfy t-shirt! I discovered BCA's line of

"The Paradox of Our Age"

2010-08-21T23:02:00.000-07:00

Please read this, friends.. "The Paradox of Our Age" by Dr. Bob Moorehead The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers; wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less; we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families; more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense; more knowledge,

Mini Update: Sick for the Week

2010-08-19T22:13:00.000-07:00

Helloo... unfortunately I am not feeling well at all this week so there will be no new post for a just a little while longer. It started with a severe sore throat when I woke up one morning, which led to fevers and extremely painful coughing. Finally went to the doctor today, who told me I had bronchitis. At least it isn't pneumonia, which I had nearly two years ago-- true nightmare!! Antibiotics

From Sweet Peachy to Dark Smokey FOTD ft. Light Honey e/s

2010-08-13T23:11:00.000-07:00

Hi dearss, Have you seen makeup tutorials that show you how to convert a simple day look into a darker night look? I did something similar for these two FOTD's, both of them featuring He Qi Beauty's Light Honey e/s pigment (which I introduced in this post: FOTD: Purple Pleasure E/S from Lisa (He Qi Beauty)) You can let me know how I did :) For the soft day time look. Lip color is Revlon

Vacation to Rocky Mountains: Scenic Photos

2010-08-09T17:43:00.000-07:00

Helloo! Did anyone notice my absence from the blogosphere the past week? If not it's okay.. then you won't be upset at me for secretly running off to vacation :P I spent the week in Canada with my family, on a tour of the Rocky Mountains. The mountain range covers over 3,000 miles as well as 7 Canadian National Parks, a few of which I got to visit. The trip was rather difficult, because I was

FOTD: Purple Pleasure E/S from Lisa (He Qi Beauty)

2010-08-01T20:24:00.000-07:00

Hello hello, This is a post on Lisa He's newest additions to her He Qi Beauty products line: the mineral eye shadows and the eyelid primer. You can find her blog here http://hqcdblog.blogspot.com/ and her shop of handmade goodies here http://heheproductions.ecrater.com/. I was so excited to see this package from her. If you order some of her handmade or hand-blended beauty products, it will come

Food Tease: Peruvian & French Cuisine

2010-07-30T21:50:00.000-07:00

Hi dears, As the title suggest, this is a post to "digitally" share with you with some yummy food I've had with the bf for his birthday this past week. The first bday meal was with his group of friends, and the second was just with the lovely girlfriend *ahem. :) First is Fresca.. one of my favorite restaurants for Peruvian cuisine, tapas style. Does this dish look familiar? Paella never fails

8 Interesting Questions Tag

2010-07-28T15:26:00.000-07:00

I have been tagged by Minakichu of Prettywittybitchyme, thank you girl for your fun and engaging questions! Please check out her blog and her (for lack of a more suitable word) witty and very interesting posts on life, shopping, beauty, and relationships. Some of my answers may rub off the wrong way as they are honest and true. I hope that they do not, but if so I ask that you keep an objective

Alert! The Toxic Trio in Nail Polish

2010-07-27T12:38:00.000-07:00

Hi dearies, Aside from trying to encourage cruelty-free beauty products that spare innocent animals from cruel and painful product testing, I am also very interested in more natural beauty alternatives. This also means I try to watch out for harmful ingredients in beauty products that can harm us. I recently discovered an organization called the California Healthy Nail Salon Collaborative that

Cute Despicable Me Minion NOTD

2010-07-23T20:48:00.000-07:00

Hola, Here's a cute nail look I found on youtube for drawing little minions on your nails!!! Here's my version.. messy prototype =p Oh yes, the minion is trying to feed me a piece of egg puff! It's afraid of being eaten too.. hence its apprehensive expression? =\ Hehe, hope you like. Below is the nail tutorial video I found: Ah.. another week has passed. And another weekend is here.. good