2009's Best Face Forward

As you all know I believe that beauty starts with clear skin (hence my blog's name, Clearly Beautiful. Get it get it? ok moving on...). Ever since my first pimple at the age of 13, I've been devoted to trying out everything the skincare industry can throw at me with the promise of acne-free skin. Now that I'm in my mid-20s, I'm not only concerned with combating adult acne, but also preventing visible signs of aging. So for 2009, these were the products that delivered on their promises. Although I still suffer from breakouts, several problem zones of my face have been completely acne-free for a while (like my forehead and temples). So although the battle is only half-won, here are the VIPs of the year:

Biore Blemish Fighting Ice Cleanser: the active ingredient here is salicylic acid. This face wash is to be used after you've removed your makeup. I love how it has a non-foamy consistency, a refreshing cucumber smell, and a cool tingling sensation as you massage it in.

Olay Regenerist daily thermal mini-peel: the powerful combination of glycolic acid, thermal action, and microscrubbers combats both acne and dull skin (which contributes to an aged appearance). I adore anything containing glycolic acid, because I really see results overnight. Love this peel.

Lush Dark Angels: Honestly, please go buy this. Yes, charcoal-based products are a pain in the a** because they make a huge mess in your sink, but your skin will thank you for the effort. I love using this on particularly oily, icky skin days. The charcoal, rhassoul mud and black sugar make for a super duper exfoliator. I feel like I've had a microderm abrasion Lush-style.

Lush Grease Lightning: I gave my benzoyl peroxide the pink slip once I started using this serum every night. It prevents new break outs and quickly dries out blemishes. Best of all, it does not dry out my face like benzoyl peroxide did. And the tea tree scent is wonderful.

Aspirin: If you have nothing else in your arsenal for acne, keep a bottle of uncoated aspirin tablets around. Whenever I get a breakout, I mix 2 dissolved aspirin tablets with a cream cleanser and spread it on my face. After 30 min, I wash off, and presto, my blemish is zapped in no time. I call this my bazooka because it definitely works, but dries me out.

Mario Badescu Strawberry Face Scrub: Ok ok, I know I have used only a sample of this stuff, and only for 1 month. But I'm so impressed with it that it's made it on this list. This scrub not only exfoliates away dead skin cells, but brightens my complexion so I look a couple shades lighter. I absolutely love the texture and luxurious experience it delivers.

So there you have it, my favorite skincare goodies for 2009. These items will definitely be permanent pieces in my vanity. However, you may notice that I haven't raved about any moisturizers or makeup removers here, because nothing I've tried has blown me away enough to give it this recognition. Hopefully I will soon hit upon some gems.

If you have any suggestions for great moisturizers and makeup removers, please let me know!

And the Oscar goes to...

As 2009 winds down I find myself looking back and thinking of all the holy grails I've discovered this year. The quest for amazing makeup is not something I want to end--I always want a product to out-preform my current favorite. And I test that limit every month when I buy a new product simply for the novelty and adventure of testing a new toy. But these products have stood up to my fickle shopping ways. Even if I did buy something new, I make sure these products are in my collection at all times as veterans of their industry.  

Oscar for best liquid foundation goes to Revlon Colorstay Foundation. Medium-full coverage, a low drugstore price, immense lasting power, and a wide color selection make this a winner. However, it does break me out if I use it on a daily basis and makeup removal is a b****!

The Oscar for the best powder foundation goes to MAC Studio Fix. As with Revlon, this gives medium-full coverage, is priced well since it lasts a VERY long time, and MAC is renowned for its color selection. This trumps Revlon Colorstay because it does not cause acne breakouts on me. However, the coverage is not as long-lasting, so I use it for work, not play.

The Oscar for best lipsticks goes to MAC. I love how moisturizing these puppies are, and the color selection is almost infinite. My favorites are To Swoon For and Chintz on Chintz.

The Oscar for best lipgloss goes to NYX. This gloss is priced reasonably, gives sheer or heavy coverage, depending on which shade you choose, and is in the sweet spot between sticky/long lasting, and non-sticky/short-lived.

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack takes the Oscar for best eye-liner: This liner is the perfect black, is priced well because it will last for eons, and applies like a dream, no matter how clumsy you are. Just use an angled liner brush, and you'll be lining like a pro in no time.

The Oscar for the best mascara goes to Maybelline Define-a-Lash. Do not be fooled by its humble drugstore status. This is one amazing mascara. The waterproof lengthening formula does EXACTLY what it promises: it separates, defines, lenghtens, and stays put until you've generously swiped it with eye makeup remover.

Kat von D in Ludwig wins the best eye-shadow pallete Oscar. Ok ok, I haven't tried EVERY eyeshadow pallete in the world, and certainly not MAC, but I have to say that for the price, this pallete will provide you with several looks, from neutral to bolder smoky looks. It all depends on which shades you use, and how you apply them. It's an amazing pallete that I reach all too often.

Last but not least, the ole'  faithful Oscar goes to Urban Decay Primer Potion. This Oscar is simply for a product that I've forgotten how to live without. I love using it even by itself to mattify and brighten my eyelids. And when I use it as a base, its not sticky, just perfect for applying e/s and having it stay on ad infinitum.

So there you have it folks. My top makeup picks for 2009. I hope 2010 exposes me to many more products because I have a humble, yet burgeoning makeup collection. I hope 2010 brings me more MAC faves and drugstore finds, but also opens me up to other brands. Thanks for reading!

November Favorites +1 Regret

Part of why I'm so late on posting my November favorites was because I felt like I'd be harping on and on about products I'd already raved about. But honestly, I do love these products, and they have stood the test of time and have been favorites month after month:

Revlon Colorstay Foundation. I don't think I'll bother paying for MUFE HD or Nars. Why should I when I have this drugstore gem? Although it does break me out if I use it daily, so I save it for weekends.

Merle Norman Super Lube: I've had this one jar of lip balm for nearly 10 years. I've hit pan recently, but there's still plenty left on the sides, which I take out with a lip brush. It's like vaseline, but a little richer. My next purchase will probably be the MAC Honey lip balm tin (I'm hoping Ebay will come to the rescue!).

Kat von D Ludwig Pallete--middle two highlight colors (Clay and Tequila). I use the more nude color all over my browbone, and then dot the really bright white right under my brow's arch.

Maybelline Define-a-Lash: This mascara is perfect if you already have nice lashes, but need a little more length and definition. You get that sun-ray effect where each lash is separated. It also holds a mean curl all day long.


Coastal Scents Blending Fluff: perfect for an all over color on the lid.

MAC 252 (from a holiday set from CCO): perfect for crease work and putting a dot of highlighter under the arch of my brow.

1 Regret: Burt's Bees Day Cream: although raved about this earlier, as I hit pan on the sample, the moisturizer separated into oil and lotion. When I put it on, my skin looked so oily that I couldn't wait to get home and scrape the greasy feeling off my skin. What the heck? Overall, I regret buying the Burt's Bees Radiance Face Sample Kit. It has so not been worth it. Yes, I did like some of the products, but none of them won me over to the point that I'd purchase a full size, and that was the whole point of buying the samples. Do you guys have any BB products you really really love? I don't want to turn my back on it just yet...

 What are your favorites and regrets for this month?

What are you thankful for?

Thanksgiving is the most magical time of the year for me because it was always a time to chill, enjoy great food, count my blessings, and laugh with my family and close friends. In contrast, most of my Diwalis (Indian festival of lights) have been spent taking mid-term exams and my Christmases have been spent in hotel rooms while on hectic vacations.

So here, I want to rant about what I'm thankful for in terms of beauty. Trust me, it's not just a joke! I feel that as a beauty community, we spend A LOT of time talking about our wish lists, our regretted products, how to cover up our imperfections, and so on. So I want to start a list of things I'm thankful for. Please accept this as me tagging you all to do the same. I can't say all these things at the Thanksgiving table as everyone will think I'm nuts, so I figure this is the place where it'll be appreciated. :-)

1. What are you most thankful for about the online beauty community? I'm thankful for the large and interactive beauty community we have. It wasn't too long ago when all I owned was a compact, a chapstick and mascara. And now, I've discovered not only how to apply makeup well, but also how to present a more polished me to the world, which I'm sure you've all experienced garners you the respect you deserve. When you take care of yourself, the world takes note. And this revelation was all thanks to you guys. Today, I'm floored to realize I have over 100 followers. Thank you all, I'm over the moon to be a part of such a wonderful community.

2. Which Cult Classics are you thankful for? For me, its MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation, MAC lipsticks, Revlon ColorStay foundation, and MAC Fluidline (which is now a part of my soul). I'm so happy that these manifestations of perfection exist, all to make my skin look beautiful, my lips look pretty yet moist, and my eyeliner to glide on even though I'm a shaking klutz.

3. Which Dupes are you thankful for? What would we do without dupes people?! First, dupe videos and posts are fun. Second, they are great way for beginners or those on a shoestring budget *cough me cough * to get both price and quality. My first dupe nirvana was achieved when I bought the duo fiber stippling brush from Coastal Scents. Aaaah it was heaven! Next, I want to get the complete eye brush kit from Sigma to dupe the MAC staples!

4. Which personal features are you thankful for? Instead of focusing on my flaws, I want to start being more thankful for the features that I do like in myself, and which, thankfully, just don't need that much upkeep. My little un-sung heroes are 1) my hair, which is soft, full and bouncy no matter how little attention I give it, 2) my nails, which are long thanks to my big hands, and 3) my big dark eyes, which give me so much room to play around with eye makeup!

So that's it for my beauty-related Thanksgiving post! I hope you all enjoyed, and please feel free to answer these questions in your own blogs, or post 'em in the comments below! I'll pretend to be sitting at a harvest table with you guys while we go around saying what we're thankful for!

Affordable October Favorites

Coastal Scents 26 shadow blush combo palette ($19.95): this is a mix of shimmer, matte and pearl finish e/s and blushes. CS always delivers in terms of pigmentation, and this palette is no exception. For day time, a single swipe of e/s will give you a lovely sheer wash of colors all over the lids. Also, the multitude of purples and grays are so fall-appropriate. Finally, the 2nd blush from the left is an absolute staple. Having a pre-assembled palette really helps me explore colors I would't have naturally picked up by themselves.


Conair 2" ceramic hair straightener ($19.99): I've been happily using this baby for years now. It heats up in 60 seconds, has extra-wide ceramic plates, and a very handy removable comb is attached to it so you don't have to comb your hair sections anymore. LOVE it.


Elf Healthy Glow Bronzing Powder in Warm Tan ($1): Do not, I repeat, do not use this as a bronzer. It's just bits of coppery gold shimmer. So why is it a fave? I love applying this with my finger over a pink lipstick for the fall. It turns a matte pink into a coral-bronzey pink. I've also created a custom lip balm by mixing bits of this stuff with my Merle Norman Superlube (you can use Vaseline) and a bit of powder blush. Superb multi-tasker.

Elf Shine Eraser Blotting Sheets ($1): You all know what blotting sheets do, so I'll spare ya. This is a fave because its a shame to blow a lotta money on blotting sheets, so for $1, stock up!

Sorry it took me so long to post this! October just flew by!

Thank you + Survey!

I want to say a big thank you to all my followers for taking an interest in my bloggy blog! I can't believe I've reached over 30 followers,. I am amazed at the sense of community here. Writing about makeup and skincare is such a great outlet for me as my day job is anything but girly. So as a way for me to know you guys better, please fill out this wee survey and post in the comments below.

1. Favorite makeup line?
2. Your favorite weekend pampering session? 
3. What are the three makeup items you can't live without?
4. What are three items you're lusting over right now? They can be makeup, skincare, or nails.
5. What kinds of blog posts do you love the most and why (haul, product review, DIY, tag, etc.)?
6. If you have your own blog, when did you get started, and why?

Here are my answers:

Favorite makeup line? MAC

Favorite weekend pampering session? 

Threading eyebrows, DIY mask (aspirin or besan/yogurt/honey), manicure, and a makeup haul. ;)

What are the three makeup items you can't live without?

MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation, Maybelline Define-A-Lash, Merle Norman Super Lube (lip balm)

What are three items you're lusting over right now? They can be makeup, skincare, or nails.

Revlon Colorstay Foundation, Dermatologica Daily Microfoliant, OPI Barefoot in Barcelona

What kinds of blog posts do you love the most and why (haul, product review, DIY, tag, etc.)?

DIY skincare cuz they're so effective, cheap, and fun, and all-natural.

If you have your own blog, when did you get started, and why?

I got started by wanting to learn about how to do my own makeup for my wedding this last summer. So I watched hundreds of YouTube videos and even read books by professionals in the industry about makeup and skincare. A week before my wedding, I was totally broken out, and Michelle Phan's aspirin mask literally rescued me! So I decided to pass on the good and share my tips and tricks on skincare and makuep. I have to say that the blogging community has taught me so much. In the last 3 months, I have had the best skin and makeup of my life. :)

Have a lovely week and hope to see your comments soon!

September Favorites!

September has been such a fun month for me because I started blogging. It's like my baby now. Here are my favorites this month:

1. Kat Von D True Romance Ludwig pallette

I'm probably going to end up hitting pan on all of these colors. They are so versatile and all of the shades can go from day to night, depending on the application. My favorite colors are the two highlights colors (clay and tequila). I use Clay as an all-over browbone color, and tequila just under the highest point of my brows.

2. Fluidline in Blacktrack

Sigh. I'm a slave to it. 'Nuff said.

3. Organix Shampoo and Conditioner

I've been using this for 2 months now, and my hair is thick, healthy, no breakage, and the smell is divine.

4. Coastal Scents 88 piece pallete

This is a staple for every makeup collector. The sheer variety of neutrals and brights is great--I can always match my outfit to my eyeshadow by using this pallete. Love it. I especially love the grays, they're so pretty.

5. MAC Lipsticks ($14 each)

Left to right in 1st picture, and top to bottom in 2nd picture: Chintz on Chintz, To Swoon For, Romancin, Fastlane. I think the middle two are from last year's holiday collection. All of these lippies work well with any outfit. The pink ones are a little too pink for me, so I put a layer of the darker colors to tone them down. LOVE! 

Yay for fall!!! I love layering clothes, wearing dark nail color, and having shiny hair!

My Top 6 Favorite Makeup Brushes: Tag

One of my favorite YouTube gurus, xteeener just did a video about her 6 favorite makeup brushes. I love that her makeup is usually natural and she goes for affordable products. Here are my 6 favorite brushes:

1. Loew Cornell 1/8" 7400C Angled Shader $3.29

This is a MUST HAVE for gel eyeliner. The brush glides on the product without wrinkling the delicate skin above your lashes. I also use this wet to line my lids with eyeshadow. It does such a great job that I am not at all tempted to buy different colored eyeliners.

2. Loew Cornell #8 7500C Filbert $4.29

This is what I use for concealing undereye circles as well as blemishes. Its size and shape is perfect.

3. Loew Cornell 3/8" 270 Maxine's Mop $3.79

This is a nice dense brush for packing on eyeshadow to your lid. It's actually its a bit scrapy, but I like that because it helps when you are trying to pack on color.

4. Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation Brush. $10.00

This brush is perfect for quickly and flawlessly applying powder foundation. I use it to apply my Studio Fix.

5. Coastal Scents Silver Duo Fiber Stippler Brush. $7.95 

This is a perfect dupe for MAC187. I use it for liquid foundation. I've also bought the pink duo fiber stippler for applying blush for an airbrushed finish.

6. Coastal Scents C218 Blending Fluff $1.99

I use this a lot to highlight my browbone, blend harsh lines, or give my lids a simple wash of color. I actually reach for this more than my MAC holiday eye brush collection.

Honorable Mention: Coastal Scents Pro Eyelash Defining Comb $3.89

Although not technically a "brush", this is super effective at removing clumpy mascara, and the price is great.

My favorite foundation & concealor

 Behold my absolute Holy Grail foundation and concealer!

MAC Studio Fix Powder Foundation in NC45

Mary Kay Signature Concealor (in bronze)

Mary Kay mineral brush

On weekdays, I just skip the concealer because the Studio Fix gets most of the job done. My MK mineral brush is just dense enough to cover my face in 3 swipes. The only downfall of the Studio Fix Powder is that you need another product to add a dewyness to your skin. I guess one can get dewyness by using liquid foundation, but the time factor just makes this more enticing for me.

As for the MK concealer, its consistency is fluid and yet still gives full coverage. I also like that it's in a tube, so there's no question of the product drying out. This is the only product where I've bought a backup. However, I don't recommend this for undereye circles cuz it sinks into the tiny wrinkles.

By the way, a great brush for concealing spots is the Loew Cornell #8 filbert 7500C. This is available at any crafts store like Michael's or Hobby Lobby.