Kpop Inspired Nails: Orange Caramel (Nana) - "Lipstick" MV

A few days ago, Lexie told me she loved Nana's nails in the most recent Orange Caramel MV. The nails are pretty simple (which is why she loves them) for what you would expect to see in an Orange Caramel MV. We all know how extravagant and sometimes hard to swallow their concepts are.

So, because I've been loving that dark green color she's wearing (perfect for fall) I thought I'd do something similar to show you guys.

I'm sorry for the s*itty photos that you're about to see, but I really don't know how to use my camera my camera sucks. Stupid lightning, flash/no flash, I could not capture the beauty of these nails.

(I'm not the "oh-im-so-ugly"-waiting-for-compliments type of girl, I'm just worried you can't see how pretty these nails really are in the following pictures.) 

BUT ANYWAYZ...

Instead of Nana's silver glitter, I used a white base with a beautiful multicolor glitter MY CAMERA CAN'T CAPTURE ㅠ.ㅠ

It looks like a big mess here and I can't tell you guys how frustrated I am because I absolutely love this and it looks so perfect in real life. OTL

Here's a close-up. 

(I mosaiced my cuticles 'cause, girl, trust me, you don't wanna see that)

My green also looks a lot darker than it really is.

[REVIEW] Missha M Signature Real Complete BB Cream #21

Sorry for M.I.A, we were really busy with other things. Now on with the post.

A few days ago I got some samples of Missha M Signature Real Complete BB Cream with SPF 25, as a gift, along with my recently bought BB Cream. I admit, I never tried Missha and I never thought of trying it either. Why? I've seen some reviews and I didn't really liked it. 

This is how a normal package looks like. I didn't have any pictures of it, sorry.

 

Until now, I've used Skin79 Hot Pink BB Cream, which is really good. I've never had any bumps/eruptions after using it and it's really friendly with my skin. 

Note: my skin complexion is quite normal, with a few freckles, but my nose gets a bit oily. I don't get bumps/eruptions on a daily basis either. 

Now on with the review.

First, some swatches: 

A "decade" later, after blending and oxidizing:

 I dropped a bit too much on my hand, sorry.

And this is how it looks on my skin, 20min. after I applied it (you won't get to see my whole face, because I looked like a thing that got hit by a truck):

The shade is #21, which is light pink-beige, for fair-skinned girls. My skin is really fair, similar to the type of skin Asian girls have. By Asian girls I mean Korean/Chinese girls. 

The texture is really watery/liquid while most BB Creams have a more creamy texture. This one was seriously "running" of my fingers. I did not like that, at all.

The coverage is somewhere between sheer to medium, really good for girls who do not have bad skin complexion, bumps, dark circles etc. It also reduces redness, but after applying 3 layers. However, it felt a bit heavy on my face and I couldn't layer it properly and it was hard to blend as well. Not to mention it took quite a while until it oxidized, so I looked really pale/yellowish in the meantime. I think it's a bit too fair, even for me. Bia also tried it on and her skin became really white and it barely blended in. She's also fair-skinned like me, but her skin is normal/oily. What somehow bothered me more about the coverage is that it looked more like a foundation and less like a BB Cream.

It also has a strong fragrance, unlike my Skin79 Hot Pink BB Cream. I prefer non or less scented cosmetics. Why? Less harmful ingredients. 

 We tried it on yesteday and up until now I did not have any skin reactions, but 1-2hrs after Bia applied it on, her skin became really oily, in other words, it doesn't have good sebum control.

Additional comments: I don't like shiny BB Creams, but the Missha one was sorta shiny, so I had to set it up with powder. It's also caked on me and it lasts only a few hours, about 3-4hrs if the weather is normal/chilly, and probably less if the weather is hot, while my regular BB Cream lasts up to 7hrs, sometimes more, depending on the weather. 

Some people might disagree with me when it comes to this Missha product, but it varies from skin to skin, sometimes in a bad way and sometimes in a good way. But after this experience, more in a bad way I think. 

Asymmetrical Skirt

Another very trendy item this spring/summer season, an item you can find anywhere around - from the smaller shops to the mall and on women wearing them on the streets - the asymmetrical flowy skirt. What do you think about it?

All pictures are from lookbook/weheartit. Full credits to their rightful owners.

Trend: Cat Eye Sunglasses

   

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 50s-60s Cat Eyes Sunglasses are back in trends since last year and it seems like more and more celebrities are sporting it out! If you didn't get your hands on a pair what are you waiting for? Don't let this spring pass by without showing off your trendy accessory.

Lexie

Parabens - Harmful or Not?

While reading this article please keep in mind I am not an expert and this article is based only on my personal research!

Parabens are a widely used ingredient in personal care products. You can find them in pretty much every cosmetic product in your home (shampoos, moisturizers, cleansing gels, toners, make-up products).

As you may have noticed, nowadays a lot of cosmetics come with the label “paraben-free”.

You might be wondering why should you avoid them even if they can be found in 85 % of cosmetic products. Over the past few years, a debate has been going on among scientists whether these ingredients may be harmful for our health.

What are parabens?

Parabens are a group of preservatives used to prevent bacterial and microbial contamination of products, especially in the moist, warm environment of a bathroom. The most common names of parabens include methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben and butylparaben, but you may also find isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben or benzylparaben. Their importance is unquestionable as they are a necessary antibacterial ingredient in every cosmetic product.

So what's the problem with them?

Some scientists started questioning their safety use after finding low concentrations of parabens in breast cancer tumors. That's because parabens can mimic the hormone estrogen. However, it has been proved that parabens are 100,000 times weaker than natural estrogen in the body, so they're far too weak to have a role in the development of breast cancer.

Should I still avoid them?

The answer would be no. Despide the controversy going on in the media, researchers have come to the conclusion that parabens, in the small amounts used in cosmetics, are not harmful ingredients consumers should avoid.

It's up to you if you decide to choose the precautious way of not using products containing them. But you should know they have been allowed for use as cosmetic ingredients by the U.S. FDA and the European Commission and there is no reason for consumers to be concerned about the use of products containing parabens.

I personally think the media has an important role in developing the intellect of the masses and tends to exaggerate, leading people to misconception. My fear is that, trying to get away of some things, we are approaching others that are worse. I'm pretty sure that those “paraben free” products contain more dangerous substituants or even worse, other preservatives with less of a proven track record.

What do you think? What are other ingredients you try to avoid when shopping for cosmetic products?