My favorite scents from Bath and Body Works

I am a huge fan of "Triple Moisture Body Cream" and "Fragrance Mist" from Bath and Body Works. My favorite scents are:

[1] Butterfly Flower:

[2] Japanese Cherry Blossom

[3] Twilight Woods

[4] Dark Kiss

[5] Night-Blooming Jasmine

My skincare routine

I got a few emails requesting that I share my skincare routine, so here you go. A few basics first, I have dry to normal skin, slightly sensitive and of late a bit acne prone. I am in my early 30s so anti-aging is very important to me.

AM:
Step 1) Cleanse your face with Cetaphil for normal to oily skin. I use this instead of the one for dry skin since it foams. I feels like it removes the oils etc. build over at night very gently.

Step 2) (optional) Every other day wipe face with salicylic acid pads. I use the ones from Oxy Sensitive cleansing Pads or its dupe from Rite Aid/CVS.

Step 3) Apply Vitamin C serum. I am loving Ole Henriksen's Truth Serum Collagen Booster.

Step 4) Apply sunscreen. I like La Roche-Posay Anthelios 60 Face Melt-In Sunscreen Lotion
Or this Neutrogena one.


PM:
Step 1) Cleanse with Cetaphil again.

Step 2) Apply Avene Diacneal (my retinol treatment) or Mama lotion (my AHA treatment). I alternate them (so one night retinol and the next night AHA, repeat)

Step 3) Apply moisturizer. I am loving Cerave's PM lotion for summers.

Step 4) If my under eye area is feeling dry, I moisturize with Nivea cream (the blue tin, I got mine from Germany). In winters I use this cream on my entire face.

WEEKLY treatment:
I use a 40% lactic acid peel every weekend.  If my skin is feeling dry, I use the Korres Thyme Yogurt Mask.

Hair products that I am loving at the moment...

Here are the hair products that are working really well for me after numerous trials and errors.
I have 3B type curly but really frizzy hair, that I like wearing straight or in loose soft curls


1. Shampoo and Conditioner: John Frieda Straight Ahead
2. Deep conditioner: Joico K-Pak reconstructor
3. Heat protector: Tresseme thermal creations heat tamer spray
4. Curl enhancer (when I wear it curly): Aveda Confixor Liquid Gel.
5. Hair smoother (when I wear it straight): Tresseme no-frizz ultra light shine spray before I use a flat iron, and I finish with Ojon Shine & Protect Glossing Mist
6. Hair spray: still looking for one that I will love...any suggestions?

7. Flat iron: Solia Ceramic Iron
8. Curling irons: Hot Tools 1 1/4" and 1 1/2"

What are your favorite hair products? I would love to hear...

My top 5 favorite fragrances

My top 5 favorite perfumes, not in any specific order.

1. Juicy by Juicy Couture

Notes: Watermelon, Mandarin, Pink Passion Fruit, Marigold, Green Apple, Water Hyacinth, Crushed Leaves, Tuberose Absolute, Wild Rose, Princess Lily, Tuberose, Caramel Creme Brulee, Vanilla, Precious Woods, Patchouli.

Style: Flirtatious. Romantic. Precious.


2. Lovely by Sarah Jessica Parker

Notes: Fresh Mandarin, Bergamot, Rosewood, Lavender, Apple Martini, Patchouli, Paper Whites, Orchid, Cedar, White Amber, Musk Woods.

Style: Fashionable. Sexy. Fun.


3. J'adore by Dior


Notes: Mandarin, Champaca Flowers, Ivy, African Orchid, Rose, Violet, Damascus Plum, Amaranth Wood, Blackberry Musk.

Style: For the confident, sensual woman who celebrates her femininity - this is Dior's golden girl.


4. Light Blue by Dolce and Gabbana

Notes: Sicilian Citron, Bluebell, Granny Smith Apple, Jasmine Sambac, Bamboo, White Rose, Cedarwood, Amber, Musk.

Style: Deep and true.


5. Miracle by Lancome

Notes: The top notes sparkle with freesia and lychee. The power of spice breaks through the middle notes lighting the fragrance with ginger and pepper. The Heart reveals sensual notes of jasmine and magnolia.

Style: Modern. Sophisticated. Light-filled. Serene


So dear readers, what are your top 5 fragrances? I am always looking at trying new products...

My Everyday Eye Brushes

This is part II of my post on My Everyday Face Brushes. I can survive everyday with only these brushes:

• Lid: MAC 217
• Crease: MAC 224
• Define crease: MAC 222 or MAC 226 (226 for a more defined look, but this was LE)
• Blend out the crease: MAC 217
• Line: Sonia Kashuk Bent eyeliner brush (available at Target)
• Comb lashes and eyebrow: Sephora Brand's Professionnel Platinum Lash & Eyebrow Comb #21

What are your favorite everyday eye brushes?

My Everyday Face Brushes

A couple of people asked me to list my everyday brushes, so here it goes. If you have not had a chance to ready my post on "my everyday face" please do. In that post I list my most frequently used products at the moment.

My everyday face brushes are:

• (1) Essence of Beauty Foundation Brush

• (2) MAC 109 to buff the foundation

• (3) MAC 134 to apply MUFE HD powder to set my foundation

• (4) MAC 217 to smudge and blend my undereye concealer

• (5) MAC 188 for applying blush

• (6) MAC 165 to apply highlighter

My most loved and most frequently used MAC eyeshadows

I have found from experience that MY most used is not equal to most loved since my work demands a conservative look.

So here it goes:

My most frequently used MAC eyeshadows: I use these almost everyday from Mon-Fri.

• Brule (I have finally made a dent in this eyeshadow, I have been using it for months!)
  
• Tete-a-tint
• Saddle
• Texture
• Brown Down
• Carbon

My most loved MAC eyeshadows: I use these most often on weekends and for parties etc.

• Satin Taupe
  
• Deep Truth
• Humid
• Goldmine
• Ricepaper
• Shroom
• Embark
• Follie
• Bronze/Romp (you can pick either)
• Twinks
• Woodwinked
  

My favorite concealers

Of late I have been obsessed with concealers. Here are my thoughts on three of my all time favorite concealers:

1) Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage concealer (in SC-5)

The smaller side is the perfect salmon concealer ever! The concealer is on the dry side so you definitely need an eye cream with it. There is a certain way to apply this concealer, I found the application tips from LM's website. I am reproducing the salient points for you here (source:
http://www.lauramercier.com/products/flawless_face/products/conceale/secret_camouflage/)



2) Cleu De Peau in Honey

This is freaking fantastic!! I am 100% in love with this concealer. It covered my undereye circles and made me looks so awake. But I rate it #2 since $70 is completely ridiculous price point, and also it tended to accentuate my fine lines around the eyes just a bit.

3) Make Up For Ever (MUFE) Full cover concealer in #10

My third favorite concealer. The only problem is that #10 is just a tad light, and #12 is way too yellow for me. I settled for #10 and then I apply my foundation over it to even it out. This will be perfect for winter when I get lighter.

I hope this helps. What is your favorite concealer?

My favourite blushes

Here is a list of my High End blushes that I love...I adore NARS!!

Apricot	NARS Cactus Flower (cream), Bobbi Brown Apricot
Berry	NARS Sin, Pout Berry Babe, MAC Fab
Bronze/Browns	NARS Lovejoy, NARS Madly, NARS Gueule De Nuit (cream)
Contour	MAC Blunt
Coral/Orange	Pout Apricot Totty, NARS Taos, Bobbi Brown Coral, MAC Hipness
Highlighter	Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Brownie
Neutral/Nude	NARS Amour, NARS Dolce Vita, Stila Peony (cream), MAC Ladyblush (cream)
Peach	NARS Torrid, NARS Deep Throat, NARS Gilda, MAC Peaches
Pink	Bobbi Brown Sand Pink, MAC Dame, MAC Coygirl, Pout Cherri Tarte, Laura Geller Roseberry, MAC Dollymix
Purple	Cargo Gotham
Raspberry	NARS Crazed, Outlaw
Red	NARS Mounia. Laura Mercier Blaze, LORAC Crimson
“Don’t-have-time-to-coordinate-color” and “work-appropriate” and “foolproof” blushesJ	Stila Peony (cream), MAC Ladyblush (cream)

Here is a list of my drugstore finds in the same color categories. Jane and NYX make very high quality, blendable, and soft blushes. A good brand to start with if you are new to blushes.

Apricot	Milani Mango Tango
Berry	Milani Temptation
Bronze/Browns	NYX Terracotta
Contour	NYX Stone, Café, Taupe
Coral/Orange	Rimmel Apricot, ELF Glow
Highlighter	Wet n Wild All Over Shimmer
Neutral/Nude	NYX Rose Petal (cream)
Peach	Wet n Wild Naive
Pink	NYX Pinky, Dusty Rose
Purple	Rimmel Plum, Isadora Grapa Wine
Raspberry	Cover Girl Iced Plum
Red	Loreal HIP Thrilled (cream)
“Don’t-have-time-to-coordinate-color” and “work-appropriate” and “foolproof” blushesJ	Jane Petal, Jane Plum (these are sheer and buildable), Wet n Wild Cayman Island

Some of my favourite eyeshadows

Beige/Champagne	Lancome Vue Smashbox Champagne NYX Shimmer
Black	MAC Carbon NYX Black
Blue	MAC Deep Truth NYX Atlantic
Bronze	MAC Bronze, Romp Scott Barns Serpentine
Brown	MAC Espresso, Showstopper Milani Java Bean, Rich Chocolate
Burgundy/Red/ Orange/Coral	MAC Beauty Marked, Cranberry, Orange NYX Red Bean Pie NARS Rio Duo
Charcoal/Gray/Silver	NYX Dune, Silver MAC Silver pigment
Copper	MAC Coppering, Amber Lights NYX Penny pigment
Cream/Ivory	Wet and Wild Cream
Green	MAC Humid, Emerald Green pigment NYX Kiwi, Lime
Highlighter	MAC Ricepaper, Naked Lunch, All that Glitters, Shroom
Lilacs/lavenders	MAC Illegal Cargo
Neutrals	MAC Brule, Soft Brown, Cork, Soba, Seedling MAC Tan, Coco, Mauvement pigments
Pink	MAC Expensive Pink Milani Illusion
Purple/Plum	MAC Graphology NYX Morocco
Taupe	Lancome Click Urban Decay Stray Dog MAC Satin Taupe
Teal/Turqoise	MAC Teal pigment NYX Ocean
Yellow/Gold	MAC Goldmine UD Half Baked NYX Gold pigment
Perfect Crease Colors	MAC Saddle, Follie, A little Follie, Embark