Summer Nail Color: L'Oreal Nail Color in Tangerine Crush

I don't paint my nails very often, but a lot of friends have been raving about orange / coral / pink-ish nail color recently, so I decided to give it a try as well. I went to Target today, and bought the L'Oreal Nail Color in Tangerine Crush (#400). I am not very good at painting my nails (I'll continue to work on it though, and hopefully will be able to achieve professional-looking nails in the future without getting a manicure!).

Source: lorealparisusa.com

I really love this color, especially on a hot summer day in Boston. It is very refreshing, and is a good balance of orange and pink tones. It is also very reasonably price. I got it for $4.99. This is my first L'Oreal nail polish, and I am very happy with its quality so far, when I compared to the O.P.I., Essie, and Dior polishes I have used before. I will update this a week from now to report on the health of my nails after using this nail polish.

Here is how it looks after applying them to my nails:

Give this color a try if you are looking for a fun, orange, pink-ish color for the summer!

Questions for all readers:
What are your favorite luxury and drugstore nail polish brands?
What nail color are your sporting this summer season?

Products mentioned:
L'Oreal Nail Color in Tangerine Crush

How I Keep My Acne At Bay

As I mentioned in my first welcome blog, I have been struggling with adult acne for the past two years. It has been very tough to deal with acne, not only because of the physical damage it has caused to my skin, but also because of the mental stress that comes with having bad skin, especially since my breakouts first began just a year before my wedding, and has continued to be a problem since then.

I have tried all sorts of remedies from antibiotics and topical creams to Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. Without going through everything I have tried, I wanted to focus on sharing what works for me.

A little about my skin
Skin type: sensitive, acne-prone
Skin tone: NC20 - 25, cool
Acne issues: cystic bumps on cheeks, whiteheads and small bumps on forehead

Prescribed medication: Spironolactone
Spironolactone is really what has helped treat my cystic acne. I started to see improvement to my skin after one week of taking the medication. Although I still have occasional cystic acne, it is much more manageable than what I used to have. (disclaimer: this is based on my personal experience only. I am by no means capable of providing medical advice. Please consult your dermatologist to find the right treatments for you.)

Cleanser: Jan Marini Bioglycolic Facial Cleanser
I have been using this cleanser for about two weeks now, and I am so happy that I have discovered it from reading reviews on Amazon! This cleanser contains glycolic acid, which has shown positive results in reducing acne inflammation and diminishing acne scars. I have a lot of hyperpigmentation on my cheeks, and have seen the discoloration fading gradually since I started using this cleanser. When using the cleanser, I feel a tingling sensation due to the glycolic acid, so I definitely try to be careful when applying it to my face, such as avoiding the eye area and not leaving it on my skin for too long.

Source: dermstore.com

Foundation: Jane Iredale PurePressed Base Pressed Mineral Powder
The Jane Iredale mineral powder has a nice texture, and does not break me out. The downside for me is that I haven't been able to find the perfect shade for my skin tone. I am currently using "warm sienna" and I find it a little too pale for me. If you are able to find a shade that matches your skin tone, this mineral foundation can be a good choice for you! One more note, I have used Bare Minerals before, and I prefer Jane Iredale's pressed powder.

Source: janeiredale.com

My skin is still far from perfect, but these products have helped my skin gradually recover. I will continue to review products if this is useful to readers. If you have any good recommendations on products that can address cystic acne, please share them in the comments below!

Saturday Makeup Fun: Doll-face Look

What did I do on a Saturday afternoon? I had some fun with makeup! It is definitely intimidating to upload photos of myself, but I hope this will allow me to connect with other bloggers and readers. Please bear with my amateur photography!

My attempt of an artsy photo :)

In terms of my makeup look, I attempted to create a doll-face look that emphasizes the eyes. I placed false eyelashes along the top and bottom lash lines to open the eyes. I applied minimal blush and a nude lip color to draw all attention to the eyes.

Here are the products I used:
Eyeshadow, Cheeks: Smashbox Meet the Masters Palette
Eyeliner: Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, Carbon Black
Eyelashes: Andrea Lash
Eyebrows: Chanel Le Sourcil De Chanel, 20 Burn
Lips: Nars Lipstick, Little Darling

Have you created a doll-face look? If so, how does your version look like, and what products did you use?

Tiff

Makeup Lovers Must Haves: Smashbox Meet the Masters Palette

My latest favorite makeup product is the Smasbox Master Class 11 Meet the Masters Palette.

Source: Sephora.com

This item is sold exclusively at Sephora, both at their retail stores and online. Lately, I have become very interested in exploring different shades and colors, and was searching for a high-quality palette that will allow me to experiment with a wide range of products and colors without breaking the bank. I went to Sephora, checked out different palettes, and ultimately decided on this Smashbox palette that retails for US$59.

This is one of my best buys, and I have been using it daily to create different looks. It offers 28 eye shadow shades, 4 brow powders, 8 cream eyeliners, 2 blushes, 3 highlighters, and 4 lip glosses. The colors are generally very neutral and wearable, with a mix of matte and shimmer colors. The palette is also very compact, and I am definitely bringing it with me when I travel.

I *love* all the colors in this palette, but my current favorites are:
Eye shadows: Flirt, Dusk, Cinnamon Toast (great for creating a skin-kissed look for the summer!)
Cream eyeliners: Caviar (black eyeliner that is very smooth and easy to apply)
Blush: Warm Apricot (it is a very neutral peachy pink that is great for everyday wear)
Highlighter: Shimmer (I use it to occasionally highlight the apples of my cheeks, nose and just underneath my brows)

I have used several products from Smashbox, and I am overall happy with their quality. Others seem to enjoy this product as well, because the ones on the display rack at the Sephora store I go to seem to disappear quite quickly! Don't wait, and check it out if you are a makeup lover like me.

A question for you all: do you own any makeup palettes that you love? If so, please share in the comments below.

Tiff


Product mentioned: Smashbox Master Class 11 Meet the Masters Palette

Hi, everyone! This is Tiffany...

Hi everyone,

My name is Tiffany, and this is my very first blog! Although I have been a long-time and avid user of social media, I never had the courage to write and share my stories openly with the public. Recently, I became involved in a project at work that involves implementing an internal social collaboration tool. Through the project, I have learned more about the power of social media, and it has inspired me to explore social media further and push myself to try something outside of my comfort zone.

Additionally, I have been following a few blogs closely, and I really appreciated the content shared by the authors. I am certainly not looking to be one of the most popular internet writers, but I'd be very excited if I am able to inspire and connect with a few individuals.

In terms of the purpose of Beauty Lollies, I am by no means an expert, but I hope to share my personal experiences on beauty, makeup and skincare. For the past two years, I have been battling with pretty severe adult acne, and have gone through a lot of ups and downs. I still remember the day when all of the trouble began. I was living in Hong Kong at the time, and during the summer of 2010, I made a business trip to Boston. As soon as I landed Boston and checked into my hotel, I went to the bathroom to freshen up. I looked into the mirror, and was shocked to see my entire face covered with large red bumps! Since then, I have tried almost everything possible to solve my skin problem; from Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture to antibiotics, topical treatments, and juicing. 


There were definitely moments that I wanted to give up. However, when I woke up the next morning, I would psyche myself up to keep searching for treatments that might work for me. I am sure there are many girls out there that are going through a similar experience, and I want to share my journey, and encourage you all not to give up! In my blog, I hope to review and share some of the skincare and makeup products that I have used. Please subscribe and check-in frequently if you are interested. Also, if you have any questions for me, please feel free to leave comments below.

Thank you for reading, and stay beautiful!
Tiffany