But First, Ulta San Francisco

As a newbie in the parenting department, I'm still figuring out time for baby, time for marriage, and time for me. When news broke that an Ulta was FINALLY opening up in SF, I couldn't wait. Can you believe there hasn't been one in SF until NOW?

Fortunately, timing worked in my favor. As a treat, I went in to check out the new digs and use the Ulta Salon services to got my eyebrows done. A day to myself filled with beauty shopping? Yay! 

And I even fit in some beauty product shopping, too. Have you guys used OPI's Avoplex cuticle oil? That stuff is dreamy.

Tools for the trade

 Bare brows - post waxing

Brow mapping

 Selfie with Benefit expert, Marcus (who recently moved to the Bay Area!)

Products that made my brows look ah-mazing

 The final results (and some good uplighting) - what do you think?

Bye, Ulta Beauty in SF. I'll see you again real soon.

*This post was in collaboration for the grand opening of Ulta Beauty in SF. All opinions and photos are my own. Thanks for reading!

Last Minute #DIY Valentine's Day Nail Art

With Valentine's Day around the corner, I figured I'd get in the spirit by painting my nails. I opted against the traditional red and pink colors and went for pastels. 

Here are the tools I used:

• Nail polish (I used Essie's Pansy, Lilacism, Absolutely Shore, Good as Gold, Color Club Apollo Star and Chanel Eastern Light)
• Nail dotting tool (or toothpicks)
• Washi tape (this tape is less sticky and is easy to work with)
• Scissors

Paint your nails with the shades you picked 

Fold a strip of washi tape in half (leaving the ends apart so you can pull apart the tape later).

Cut out half of a heart shape where the fold meets in the middle.

Pull apart the washi tape, which now holds your heart stencil.

Place the washi tape over the nail of your choice and choose an alternate color to paint over your nail stencil.

Use the nail dotting tool (or toothpick) to dot your other nails.

And you're done! Finish with top coat and you now have no-fuss, Valentine's Day inspired nails.

Daily WIth Mineral Fusion

 

Mineral Fusion products (℅)

When it comes to daily make-up, I keep things pretty simple. I have my go-to products (neutral eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, blush and lipstick) and have mastered my routine so it takes about 5-10 minutes and I'm set. I've tried out several products since I first started applying makeup (middle school!) but, during college I became more interested in "healthier" products that were mineral based and cruelty-free. To qualify under that category, and still be a good product, is actually tougher than I realized.

Having come across Mineral Fusion recently, I am honestly thrilled to say that they are a batch of products I would gladly incorporate into my daily routine. The products are made of pure ingredients and truly feel good on application. You can get them at Whole Foods Markets and other natural retailers.

Mineral Fusion Hydration Mist $16.99

• 100% vegan, all-natural, hypo-allergenic
• Made with chamomile, white tea, burdock root and sea kelp
• Feels wonderful to mist on. The spray application is great for the "on-the-go" person

Mineral Fusion Blonzer $21.99

• One palette with a soft pink blush and nude (apricot) bronzer
• Gluten-free, all-natural, hypo-allergenic, 100% vegtarian, paraben, articicial color, talc and fragrance-free
• Serious pigment. This is a new favorite for daily use. I love the way the color flatters my skin-tone and gives a pick-me-up to my face

Mineral Fusion Lip Tint $9.99

• Gluten-free, all-natural, hypo-allergenic, 100% vegetarian, paraben, artificial color, talc and fragrance-free
• Sheer, hydrating formula made of natural ingredients with cocoa butter, Vanilla mint flavor
• I usually wear bold lip colors but I definitely change things up with more neutral shades. I liked the subtle tint but for a person who usually wears bright colors (like red and pink) I layered the product on about three times (if I wore this without lining my lips). Nevertheless, I did like the ease of application and the color. I'm not a fan of flavored lip products but the flavor passed in a short amount of time (within 30 minutes or less!)

Mineral Fusion Glow & Go Volumizing Mascara $18.99

• Hypo-allergenic, 100% free of propylene glycol, butylene glycol, artificial coloring and gluten
• Vitamin E (enhances growth and strength, antioxidant blend of pomegranate, aloe leaf juice and white tea (protects/heals lashes), pure mineral pigments
• I don't naturally have bold lashes so I'm constantly seeking new mascaras to elevate my lashes (I just don't have patience to put on falsies!). I like the way the mascara applied and didn't clump after two applications. The mascara didn't flake throughout the day and was easy to remove. Plus, it didn't irritate my eyes (I wear contacts). My lashes were not very voluminous but, I did not mind that.

Givenchy's All-Asian Model Line-Up

Images via style.com

I'm not one to post more than once a day but, I'm too excited about the recent style news that Givenchy had an "all-Asian model line-up" for their runways in Paris.  Givenchy has its history of famous designers for the label (of course founder Hubert de Givenchy, John Galliano, Christian Dior, Alexander McQueen, Julien McDonald, and currently Riccardo Tisci) and so it is no wonder they continue to make history now with its runway models.

As a person of Asian descent, I think it is amazing!  Some may question this decision and others may even ponder if this is considered racial--but without getting into the politics behind fashion, I think it is a nice departure from the "average runway."  Of course, the models are just as skinny and tall as any other model in the fashion world but, for women like me (i.e. Asian) it's nice to see a new representation of beauty.  Personally, I cannot wait to see more photos.  Who knows what can be next for the runways.

I'm also thrilled that one of my favorite models, Shu Pei Qin is included!  Take a look-see below...

All images via style.com