Urban Decay Vice Lipstick - Ex-Girlfriend, Peyote, Trance, Trick | Review & Swatches

I know I'm a little late on the bandwagon since Urban Decay released their newest line of Vice lipsticks, but I've been trying to grow my collection and have thus far ended up with four of these. Three of them have metallized finishes, which I've captioned in my swatches as "M" and one of them is a Sheer Shimmer, which is captioned as "SS." You can tell that I have been using (and loving) my lipsticks in the photo, but I'll get into the specifics of these more. Peyote is only an Ulta and Urban Decay exclusive while the others can be purchased at the two stores mentioned above as well as Sephora. Urban Decay has reduced the price of this line by $5, which I believe is due to the packaging. This line features a less heavy, more lightweight tube and actually contains more product (.11 oz) than their previous line (.09 oz).

1. Longevity 3/5
The longevity on these are good, but not as good as I had hoped they would be. This might be because the sheer and metallized formulas are more creamy, so it would make sense for them to fade quicker. I haven't yet tried any of their comfort mattes, but I'm planning on growing my collection. 'Ex-girlfriend' (SS) fades the quickest on me and probably lasts me two hours before I have to reapply. With the metallized formulas, I can get a good four hours of wear without any heavy eating or drinking. The nice thing about these lipsticks however, is that when they do fade, they do so nicely and without looking patchy or messy.

2. Pigmentation 4/5
The pigmentation on these lipsticks are still just as great as their previous formulation of their revolution lipstick line. The lipstick shades' finishes perfectly reflect each of the finishes that Urban Decay has developed. The sheer shimmer lipsticks have the sheerest formulas of the entire line in my opinion, which is great for those days when you don't want your lips to be bare but don't really have the time for the whole exfoliate, line your lips, then apply routine. The shade 'Ex-girlfriend' is my perfect mlbb lipstick and to be honest, I don't really see too much shimmer on my lips when I apply it, which is good for those of you who aren't shimmer fans.

'Peyote' and 'Trance' are similar shades, with 'Trance' being the deeper of the two. Both colors are richly pigmented with a flattering metallic finish that doesn't look too flashy. The metallic formulations are quite wearable, especially if you like nude pink shades. 'Trick' isn't as solid of a gold color as it may appear to be. It's definitely more of a lighter coat of gold, which would work well over any matte or satin lipstick that you want to pop more.

From left to right: Peyote (M), Trick (M), Trance (M), Ex-girlfriend (SS)

3. Consistency 4/5 
None of the lipsticks I have apply patchy and feel fairly smooth on the lips. The sheer shimmer formula feels like a lip balm and the metallic lipsticks feel creamy. The only slight complaint I have is that the metallics have a bit of a tendency of clinging to some of the dry patches on your lips, so exfoliating would help if you're looking to try Urban Decay's metallized formulas. I can't speak for the other formulations, but I have heard from friends that the comfort mattes truly are comfortable matte lipsticks to wear, but lean more toward a satin finish.

Five Things I Wish I Knew as a College Freshman

As a rising senior at an awesome university, I have learned a lot over my time at school. The knowledge and insight I've gained over the past few years has allowed me to grow as a person. I don't just mean academically educated, but educated on life in general. There are, however, things I wish I knew in the earliest part of my college career. I hope by sharing some of these things I learned throughout college, I can help you enter college just a little better prepared.

1. Branch out of your comfort zone
 You tend to hear this a lot as an incoming college student, but truer words couldn't have been said. Freshman year is the best year to try new things because there are hundreds if not thousands of other freshman at your school who are in the same boat as you. This will open the door to new friendships that you will cherish throughout your uni years and well beyond them as well. If you're more shy and quiet by nature like myself, start with little things. Interact with your hallmates and your RA first. Make small talk on how crazy the walk up the hill to your 8 AM class is. The best way to make new friends is to find similarities between you guys. It's been scientifically proven that finding likenesses among individuals increases the probability of befriending that person.

Aside from making friends, join clubs or play club sports. You're going to want an outlet from all that studying and working that isn't Netflix. Try something you've never done but that you're intrigued by.

2. Find an internship early
I recommend this for everyone and cannot stress this enough. For one, the competition is rough and it only gets worse from there. The best time to intern, in my opinion, is the summer of sophomore and junior year because this gives you an idea of what you might be looking for when it comes time for all the senior year career fairs you'll be wanting to attend. Even though a job might be listed as "entry level," they still want at least one year of functional work or internship experience from you, and you want to be competitive.

But what if you don't know what career you're after yet? You should definitely still intern. Look up listings on a job search engine (I use Indeed.com). Apply to internships that particularly peak your interest. Check it out and see if you can envision yourself working in a similar position in the future. This is honestly the best way of finding out whether or not you truly have the capacity for, and will enjoy the job you're looking at. I made the mistake of delaying this more than I should have and definitely wish I could have started my internship search sooner. Finding a job and transitioning to life after college will be more simplified if I had found an internship sooner, but I am happy that I have found something, even if it's a bit delayed. If you do find an internship earlier on, you might even get a full-time job offer from the company you're interning for.

3. Take advantage of free services on campus
There are so many valuable resources available to you on campus that you may not even know that exist. And they're free, or covered in your mandatory student fees anyway. These could include the more obvious services like interview skills workshops and specialized career information sessions. Please, please, please do yourself a huge favor and attend these when you can. These workshops and information sessions offer such a wealth of information when it comes to finding jobs after graduation or figuring out whether you'd want to attend grad school. There also may be other less obvious services available on campus. For example, at my university, there is a designated graduate student for each school of majors who advises undergraduates on how best to get admitted into grad school. This includes reading and revising your personal statement, to offering advice on approaching the GRE to viewing and evaluating your resume. As you can imagine, this one-on-one advising is a great way to get specialized help on getting into grad school. There are many services outside of your university that charge for this kind of advising, so make sure you can take advantage of this opportunity while you're still an undergrad.

4. Double major if you can
I really, really wish I could've done this because you're quite literally getting two degrees for the price of one. Of course, this doesn't come easy. It does take a large portion of your time and you really have to be dedicated toward both of the majors you're working towards. However, if you make sure to put in the effort, completing a second major is incredibly valuable. This looks stellar on resumes and gives you the chance to have extensive knowledge in two major fields.

How would you choose your second major? Purely on something you enjoy? Or maybe something that compliments your first chosen major? I would try to incorporate a bit of both. If that isn't something that's possible, then go with something you'd enjoy since a second major is such a huge time commitment.


5. Don't take an 8 AM class
You hear this all the time, but don't take this piece of advice lightly. I don't know what it is, but there's something about 8 AM classes in college that makes waking up early twice as unbearable than it was when you did it for high school. Since you have the liberty of choosing your classes, try and arrange them when you feel you're at your personal best during the day. Assess whether you're a morning, afternoon, or evening/night person. For example, I am purely a late morning/afternoon person so I don't really like to schedule classes for the early morning or evening times, unless there is a mandatory class I need that is only available at that time or the professor for that class just happens to be exceptional. I ended up taking a couple of 8 AM classes that I honestly didn't need to, and truly believe that if I took it at a different time, I would've performed better.

Obviously, if you need to take a class that is only available at 8 AM and there is no other choice or time in the semester or quarter you can take it, no worries - take that class and try to manage your time accordingly. However if it's avoidable, don't take it. In college, sleep is as valuable as money. You want make sure you're getting your money's worth by performing as best as you can in class, which means you need to sleep!

I really hope this helps anyone who has already started college or is going to start soon. Good luck!

Kat Von D Lock-it Setting Powder, Concealer, and Brush Review!

Kat Von D's presence in the beauty community has definitely brought so many new angles to makeup trends that everyone is dying to try. She is constantly innovating and bringing new products to the market that peak the interest of so many consumers.

Back with an extended line of Lock-It products, Kat Von D continues to impress full-coverage beauty junkies with even more makeup that is sure to provide that flawless look.

Influenster kindly sent me the products pictured above for testing purposes, which I'll share my thoughts on below.

1. Setting Powder 4/5
This translucent setting powder is perfect for locking in your makeup look for the entire day. I tested this out for about eight hours, along with the concealer to see how well the powder would last for a typical work day. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with the results at the end of the eight hour period because no product ended up settling in my smile lines. This is saying quite a bit, since I always tend to have some product gather in my expression lines when I'd use my old powder. The only reason I gave this product a four is because it applied slightly patchy in the beginning, so you'll need to make sure to blend out any areas that might have uneven deposits of powder.

2. Concealer 4/5

L: [L3] Light with warm undertone R: [L5] Light with neutral undertone.

This concealer is pretty heavy duty, and will provide some serious coverage for your under eye area. I would definitely recommend this for anyone with severe discoloration on your eyelids or under your eyes, because this concealer has one of the highest coverage formulas I have seen. The consistency is quite creamy and smooth and there is no distinct chemical-like scent to them. The applicator is a convenient shape, as it is a slanted doe foot applicator with a pointed tip designed for applying product to smaller areas of the face.

I received shades Light 3 which has warm undertones and Light 5 which has neutral undertones, and found that Light 3 was a good match. I used this color to conceal my blemishes and it worked quite well, however if you intend on covering blemishes with this concealer, make sure that you have thoroughly moisturized your face because this can definitely stick to any dry patches.

3. Powder Brush 5/5
This brush is now my favorite powder brush in my collection (larger brush head pictured above). The bristles are incredibly soft and supple and it feels like angel wings when I use it to apply powder on my face. The handle tapers out at the end, which I read was inspired by a witch's broom which is such a unique concept for designing a makeup brush handle. The bristles pick up powders quite well- I even tried applying powder blushes with this brush and it deposited the color beautifully on my cheeks. You can definitely tell this is an extremely well-made makeup tool.

4. Concealer brush 5/5
As you can imagine, the bristles on this brush are also soft but they are densely packed into a square-shaped head which makes it really easy to blend out your concealer under your eyes. I rate this above using the beauty blender for under eye concealer blending because the shape of this brush is perfect for smoothing out product in the tough-to-reach areas. I used the flat, straight portion of the bristle to pat down the concealer directly under my eyes and it gave me a flawless, airbrushed finish so I definitely recommend this brush!

Overall, these products from Kat's new range of Lock-It products are definitely high quality and well-made. I am so thankful to Influenster for sending me these to try out. I probably would have purchased something from her line anyway just because Kat's products are some of the best on the market in my opinion.

If you're a full-coverage type of person, I think that you'll particularly enjoy products from this line!

Tarteist Glossy Lip Paint - "Obvi" | Review and Swatch!

Tarteist Glossy Lip Paint in "Obvi"

Tarte has been on a roll lately with their lip products. Their line of lip glosses, in particular, has caught my eye. Mainly because of the shades they made available. These nine glosses are pretty much some of the most appealing colors someone could wear on their lips. The shades range from five nude/neutral toned glosses and four deeper colors. Me being a neutral type of person opted to go for the second lightest shade, which to me, looks like a pinky, warm nude.

So far, I've worn this out twice and was overall pleased with it, but I feel like there are some points that could be improved.

Longevity: 3/5
Longevity on this gloss in particular was so-so, which is to be expected with a lip gloss. Through eating and drinking, the gloss and its color definitely wore off, which called for reapplication. That being said, without messing with the gloss too much while it's on your lips, the color stays on quite well. Using a lip liner will definitely prolong the wear time of this gloss, but I typically prefer wearing lip gloss on its own for something that will quickly pull a look together.

Pigmentation: 4/5
The color payoff is one of this lip gloss' highest points. This shade is my perfect nude gloss and has strong, consistent pigmentation with a high shine finish. It's great natural looking shade that doesn't look too bold for everyday wear. I would say that the pigmentation is almost equivalent to the Anastasia Beverly Hills lip gloss formula, which is known to have rich pigmentation and has a vibrant deposit of color on the lips. To get a bit of a bolder look, I found that you can layer this gloss and the color will definitely show up bolder. This was a unique point for me, because you can't always layer glosses. A lot of them just become a goopy mess when you try and add more, but this took it pretty well. I also like that this doesn't go on streaky like some of the more pigmented lip glosses tend to do.

Consistency: 4/5
Tarte's lip products have always known to be on the moisturizing side, and this is no exception. The formula is quite smooth and feels pleasant on the lips. When I first applied this, I noticed how rich and serum-like the formula felt and then went on Sephora's website and read that the formula is actually composed of a conditioning serum so this is definitely very forgiving for those who have drier lips. This formula is not at all sticky, but I do find that it can feel a little bit thick. I can feel that I have something on my lips, which might not be a very appealing feature for some, although it doesn't bother me.

Last thoughts: It might not be the longest lasting formula of lip gloss out there, but this color in particular is so beautiful, I want to buy a couple more shades! The applicator is your standard doe foot wand and does the job well, though its size makes it a bit difficult for those with smaller lips. Since my top lip is considerably small, I had trouble getting a more precise application.
There's no scent to this, which contrasts Tarte's usual signature of mint-scented lip products.

I also think that the deeper shades would be great for the fall because some of the colors are deep, plum-toned shades that will look great on so many different skin tones. Honestly, I'd wear these glosses all year long, not just fall.

Overall, I really like this and would love to see Tarte develop their formula some more and maybe add some more shades to this range.

Back to School Essentials | High School Edition!

So I may not be in high school anymore, but I have two sisters who are right in the midst of their high school years. I asked one of them if she would be willing to let me share with you guys what she takes with her on daily basis to school since she is always more than prepared with almost everything you would need.



I'll list the items for you guys and specify where she got them from and how much they were. 





1. Agenda - TJ Maxx

This is a pretty obvious staple in every student's bag, because all the homework, tests, and club meetings you'll be having will all need to be translated into some kind of organized chaos. My sister and I both like to get smaller agendas with full monthly calendars as well as some blank lines under dates to write other important events or things to do. The smaller size is way more comfortable to carry around because you probably already have a very heavy schoolbag and could do with a lightened load.

2. Notebooks/composition books - Target

Also obvious staples in a high school kid's bag, notebooks and composition books will probably be where the bulk of your notes will be. She prefers notebooks over binders with loose leaf lined papers because it's way more convenient to have a full notebook for each subject than to fumble around with loose papers that could easily get lost and ripped out of the rings of the binder. My personal favorites are the multiple subject notebooks with dividers on the inside so that you can put any handouts from class directly into the respective notebook.

3. Pencil bag with pencils, pens and highlighters - Target

Everyone has their favorite type of pen they like to set aside for notetaking purposes, and my sister mainly sticks with the pilot gel pens because of their precision. My personal advise would be to splurge on a good quality pack of pens that are your favorites, because nothing is more important than making sure you're actually comfortable using your main writing tool so that you can understand the notes you've taken.

4. Smaller necessities - Target, CVS, Trader Joe's

You're at school for an unbearable long time, so chances are you'll almost definitely need other important necessities like hand sanitizer, feminine products, tissues, mints, and some makeup to touch up throughout the day. Although these are the most common of the extras you'd think to bring with you, I'd also recommend bringing a portable charger and your phone cord for backup, a small container for your hairties and bobbie pins (cause those always end up in vortex), and a mini stapler with a pack of staples. When I was in high school, I used to bring a mini stapler with me and not only would be saved when I'd forgotten to staple my papers, but I'd save everyone else who forgot to staple their papers as well.

5. Extra pouch - Marshall's

If you don't want all the small necessities to be cluttered in your bag, you will undoubtedly need a small pouch of some sort to keep them all in. The pouch pictured above actually came with the bag and is a decent sized pouch. The bag itself is also giant, and the two of them together only cost $39.99 from Marshall's. I definitely recommend Marshall's for schoolbag/pouch shopping because they receive amazing shipments right around the back to school time and the bags they carry usually have pouches that come with them!

The bag itself is by Steve Madden, and both my sister and I adore this brand for bags/purses because they're really well-priced and good quality. Target and Marshall's were definitely two of the most visited stores for my sisters' back to school shopping.

What's in your bag?

Urban Decay All Nighter Liquid Foundation | Review

I have a strong affinity toward anything full-coverage. Foundations, concealers, fully covered strawberries in chocolate - you get the idea. When Urban Decay announced that they would be launching a new full coverage foundation that claims to last all night, I knew I would need to get my hands on it. I love its lighter coverage cousin, the Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition foundation, so I figured that this foundation would be twice as promising to try.

I tested this foundation out every day for one full week and paid attention to three of the most common criteria when it comes to finding a good foundation: coverage, application, longevity, and shade range. Out of that week, I wore the foundation for about 12 hours (9 AM to 9 PM) to check its lasting power.

As a note, when I review skin-based products, I will also recommend which skin type and primers would best suit this foundation. For reference, I have acne prone, combination skin with oiliness in my T-zone and dryness around the outer portion of my face. I hope this review is helpful to those looking to try this foundation!

Coverage: 5/5
The coverage of this foundation is phenomenal. I have used several foundations in the past that were marketed as full coverage but ended up being more medium coverage. All of my stubborn blemishes and marks from previous acne have been completely covered. I also didn't need to any additional concealing on my cheeks or under my eyes because this foundation pretty much did the trick. One pump is plenty for the entire face and I recommend applying the foundation with a beauty blender or makeup sponge to give it a more airbrushed finish. 

Many have been comparing this foundation to the likes of Kat Von D's Lock It foundation and I would agree with this comparison. Urban Decay markets this foundation to have three times as much pigment in the formula as compared to their Naked Skin foundation which is definitely evident upon application.

Application: 3/5
For the most part, applying this foundation is pretty solid. For me personally, it gives the same amount of coverage if I were to apply it with a beauty blender or with a brush. The only difference is that the sponge happens to make the finish appear more flawless and more skin-like than with a brush, so if you don't own a beauty sponge, you definitely don't have to go out and get one just for using this foundation.

To those with textured skin and larger pores, you might find that this foundation might not apply as smoothly and point out some of your pores. In this case, I would recommend a multi-purpose primer that also smooths and fills in your pores. This foundation doesn't set too quickly, so you have a little more flexibility and control when putting on your base. I noticed that this foundation can sometimes apply slightly patchy at first, so make sure you have a close-up mirror to see any parts that might have been applied patchy and make sure to blend out your foundation well. Since this foundation applies quite matte, I first make sure to moisturize my face and wait about ten minutes before I put on my primer. I also put on a more hydrating primer afterwards so that the foundation doesn't adhere to any of my dry patches.

Longevity:  4/5 
During one of the days I've been testing this foundation out, I went to Disneyland in the blazing heat. I was wearing this foundation from 9AM all the way to 9PM. It didn't settle into any of my expression lines, which no foundation has been able to do for me yet. There was definitely some fading next to my nostrils.

My only complaint is that after a few hours, my face got a bit shiny, but touching it up with some pressed powder took care of that with no issues. However that being said, I think if a foundation claims to last "all night," it shouldn't really be making my face look shiny after four hours.


Shade range: 3/5 
The shade range isn't bad per se, but the 0 and .5 shades don't really allow for a more neutral color option. Sephora only seems to have .25 (neutral) in four other color areas (light, medium-dark, dark, and dark beige), so if you fall into a shade range other than the ones I mentioned above then you would have to settle for either a warm or cool tone undertone.

I personally have the color 2.0 and it's a good match, but this foundation definitely oxidizes. I would say it applies a full shade lighter than it turns out to be. That being said, if you already own a foundation from the Naked Skin line, I would advise purchasing the same color in this line because the All Nighter foundation ends up oxidizing to the same shade.

This foundation best suits: Oily skin (with mattifying primer) and combination skin (with hydrating primer).

Those with oily skin and enlarged pores should use a multi-purpose primer like the Smashbox Photofinish Foundation Primer.

(*This foundation was purchased by me)

Summer Travels | Lake Tahoe

Tahoe has been a summer vacation favorite for my family and I to travel to. We come here often to experience all the attractions this city has to offer. Being LA natives, we are used to the smogginess of the So Cal skies, so when we travel to Tahoe, we literally experience a breath of fresh air.

This town is enveloped in trees and forests and sits high at an elevation of over 6,000 feet. The sky is a rich blue compared to LA's faded skies. Not trying to put down LA, it's my hometown and all, but Tahoe is a true gem. We always try to look into new things when we visit, but here are some of our favorite things to do when we're in town:

1. Hike Fallen Leaf Trail

We are not a family who has hiked before, so we literally showed up to the trail in rompers, jeans, handbags, and sneakers. And we forgot bug spray. But we had to give this place a look because everyone we have talked to has recommended taking a look. 

I can definitely understand why- the view of Fallen Leaf Lake is absolutely picturesque. There's also a waterfall nearby, which us being the super novice "hikers" we were, couldn't actually find. Granted, if you're not experienced or aren't used to the place, it's fairly difficult to find. If you're planning on visiting, definitely figure out where the falls are so you're not wandering around aimlessly. We were disappointed about not finding the falls, but we were also winded from the long walk we just took (I repeat, we are not seasoned hikers :D). 

All in all, we had a great time laughing at our ineptitude and enjoying the views. This is a great place to visit if you love hiking and gorgeous views. If you're not an experienced hiker like we were, just make sure you're dressed and prepared for an actual hike. Make sure to bring a camera of some sort, because there are breathtaking points of interest on this trail. There are also designated camping spots across from this view. 



2. Water Sports/Activities

If you're traveling with a group, this a great way to spend some time with friends and family. There are so many different places that offer jet skis, boats, and even giant inflatable rafts and swim rings! Since renting these out can get on the pricier side, I would recommend going with a group and splitting the cost! There is definitely more than enough room for four people on the inflatables and room for nine or more people on the boats. We ended up renting a boat and sailed all the way to Emerald Bay. It was after we heard that a bear was spotted near Emerald Bay that we decided to turn back. We had enjoyed our time on the water for a good hour, hour and half by then though.

3. Visit Reno 

Known as the biggest little city in the world, Reno is one of the next largest cities located near the Lake Tahoe area. Filled with casinos, it is somewhat reminiscent of Las Vegas but smaller. The main casinos are all connected to one another, so it's really easy to visit each one because they are all in walking proximity. Reno houses a few of the general casinos that also have locations in Vegas and Tahoe like Circus Circus and Harrah's, but they also have a couple that are unique to only Reno. The most notable of those was the Silver Legacy, which emulated a Victorian themed interior. It even had a large museum-like display with some of the fortune of the founder of the casino dating back to the 1800s, which isn't something you'd normally see in a casino. There are a lot of spots to take pictures, so make sure to bring your camera!

If you're in the shopping mood, be sure to check out the Sparks outlets just 15 minutes away from Reno. Outlets range from Adidas, Guess, Banana Republic, Nike, and so many more. There are also some great sales around holidays, where a lot of the merchandise is marked down on top of any other sales the store might be having. I scored a dress that was originally $36 for $12 during the 4th of July sales Banana Republic was having.

4.  Check out Local Eateries

Sure you'll have your IHOPS and Applebee's but Lake Tahoe has so many eateries that aren't chains for practically any meal of the day. My top two breakfast places are A Cup of Cherries and Driftwood Cafe. A Cup of Cherries has unique flavors of cappuccinos and lattes, complete with latte art and all. Their breakfast choices are great, since there's a good variety of what to choose from. The portions aren't terribly large, so splitting a plate might not work for here, but that might not be such a bad thing after all. It'd be a great time to order yourself a nice serving of their delicious Island Pancakes all to yourself!
Driftwood Cafe's also has a wide selection of breakfast and lunch options. The portions here are definitely larger, so splitting can be an option if you're looking to save a little more. 
My favorite place for lunch is Artemis Grill, which serves traditional Mediterranean cuisine. Portions here can also be split. They also have a lakefront cafe on the Ski Run Marina, which is a great place to go for a bite to eat and to admire the views.