My Current Favorite Beauty Products

Happy Monday!
I am back to blogging, with my dissertation due in a few weeks, so it is crunch time! I have 3 weeks exactly to submit to my committee, and one month exactly until my thesis defense! But I couldn't let it go without posting on my blog, and making a youtube video, to be exact! I can't wait to get back into regular blogging after I defend, I hope to ramp up the articles and some useful grad school articles for tips on various topics! I also want to write an article about career options in science and also do a live video on my instagram or Facebook page! Let me know what you think about all of these, and if there is anything you would like to see!

Anyway, Check out my Current Favorite Beauty Products!

Every Day Makeup Look Tutorial for Lab or Work!

Hi everyone!
I have been really busy with lab and other things I have going on, so sorry for lack of posts but I have some new looks to post about soon!

Today I bring you an Every Day Makeup Look Tutorial, using some of my favorite drugstore products (and some items from Sephora, but you can find easy subs!) to create this look:

 This look is simple and not over the top, and can be worn to the lab, to work, to a conference, whatever you'd like! It takes me about 5-10 minutes to do, but takes longer in the video because I'm explaining, so don't be afraid!

Watch below, and let me know what kind of tutorials you would like to see next! I have also linked the products below!

Shop the Products in the Video: 

Let me know your thoughts on the look or if you have tried any of these products before!

xo
Andrea

Cat Eye Liquid Liner Tutorial - YouTube Video

Happy weekend!

After much request over on Instagram, here is a new video tutorial of how I do my cat eye liner look.

Check it out and let me know your thoughts! There is a list of the products used over on the actual youtube video, so click thru and watch and leave me some comments or questions, or requests for new tutorials and videos!

Have a great weekend!

xo

Andrea

Makeup Monday: Vice 4 Makeup Tutorial, My Valentine's Day look

Hello!

Today I'm showing you another subtle look I created using my Vice 4 palette, this time for valentine's day! It is very similar to the one I showed you last week, but this one has a pop of pink, that is subtle but still super pretty for Valentine's Day!

I spent the weekend relaxing and unplugging from work. I had a great time spending the weekend with friends, having lots of good laughs playing Cards against Humanity, and spending valentines with my boy. Today is a holiday so I took it off and spent it doing things that I haven't had time for, like working on blog posts, watching tv, catching up on skype with my cousins, scrolling on instagram and creating new posts, and more. 

It's nice, and I'm about to head to the beach by myself to catch the sunset and just relax. It's nice to have others to go with but sometimes you just need some alone time!

Here is the look:

Vice 4 Makeup Tutorial: Metallics

Happy Friday!

I'm so glad almost the weekend!

I've had a busy stressful week, and I'm finding myself start falling back into my old ways from last quarter. I am trying so hard to STOP that! I can't go back to how I was feeling last quarter. So I am taking this weekend to relax and chill.

Here is a makeup look I created with my new Urban Decay Vice 4 palette I got as a Christmas gift from my mom!  I really like the pigments in all of the Vice palettes, so I was super excited to try the newest limited edition palette! I created a metallic shimmery look that you can wear on the daily but also dress it up to go out at night! 

Makeup Tutorial - Urban Decay Vice 3 Festive Holiday Look

Happy Friday!
I am so so glad it is the weekend. It has been a crazy few weeks in this December with long hours in the lab so I am happy it is finally holiday time and things are starting to wind down and celebrations are starting with office holiday parties!
Today my department is having an "Ugly Sweater" Holiday Party, and I decided to do festive eye makeup to match my ugly sweater (see my instagram @phd_fashionista for a peak at my cool science-y ugly sweater! lol!)

I broke out my Urban Decay Vice 3 Palette that I have been in love with for the past year because of the great pigmented colors, but I haven't used it in a while. Since I knew it had a vivid green and red, I decided to use them to create a holiday look! See the look and take a look at the tutorial below!

How to Wear a Maxi Dress/Skirt Guide for Petite Women

Hi Loves!
Happy Monday! I have been in the mood for maxi dresses and skirts for fall, as I have seen lots fall inspiration with some classy dresses! As a petite girl (I am 5' 2"), I have always loved the trend but never really knew how to wear it since every maxi dress or skirt I tried was wayyyy too long! I have shorter legs and a longer torso, so most of the time normal length pants and skirts are too long for me!

I decided to do some of my own research and come up with a guide on what I found for petite girls who want to wear Maxi dresses or skirts, as well as a few dresses or skirts from some shops that I really like! Maxi dresses or skirts are perfect for fall, as the temperatures get cooler you can trap some heat and also look rather fashionable! Here are some tips and shoppable links!

1. Wear heels  - You don't have to wear sky high heels, but any length can help. Even wearing ankle booties with a slight heel is better than nothing! A good alternative to getting height without sacrificing comfort is wearing wedge heels with a platform. Heels will lengthen the leg and flatter the lower body. You want the skirt to hit somewhere between the lower and upper part of your ankle. Anything longer will cause you to step on/drag the dress/trip, and anything shorter may actually make you look even shorter! You can always go to a tailor to shorten the skirt, which can be very helpful.

2. Accentuate your waist - a big thing to help a petite girl seem taller is to accentuate the waist, whether you are wearing a dress or a skirt. A belt always does the trick, and helps elongate the line making you seem taller! Even without a belt, look for dresses that cinch at the waist, so your petite frame is not overwhelmed. You can also tuck your shirt into the skirt for a high waisted look that will make you seem taller! A skirt with a foldable waist also allows you to adjust the length of the skirt as you can roll it down.

Loreal LA Palette Nude 2 - Smokey Cut Crease Tutorial

Happy Friday!

I am bringing back my makeup tutorials, as I haven't had a chance to do one in a while! I am also going to get back on track for 2 posts a week, I was trying hard to keep up but with traveling and the stresses of life I had been posting once a week! But I have a lot of fresh new content to deliver so be on the lookout for more things! 

I am SO so so happy it's Friday! I had such a busy and stressful week, and it's finally over. I easily worked over 60 hours this week, and those 60 hrs were spent on preparation work and literally running around all day, so I don't feel as bad not going to the gym or working out. Although I have been trying to do some yoga every day!

Here is a makeup tutorial for a look I wore this past weekend to a fellow blogger's baby shower using a new Palette I have had for a while but never opened, the L'Oreal LA Palette Nude 2! I got this Palette at the Vanity Fair Social Club event for the Oscars a few months ago but I never used it because I was so obsessed with my Urban Decay Palettes. One day I thought I would try to create a new look with this palette and I fell in love with the colors! They are all matte, but they create a really glam look when paired correctly! The palette even has some look tutorials on the back!

Red White and Blue - Vice3 Makeup Tutorial

Hello lovelies!

I am back with a *late* blog post, but I liked it so much I thought I would post it anyway. The craziness of life has started to slow down, so I have more time to post! I was working crazy long hours to try to finish experiments before I leave on my trip, and throw moving a whole one bedroom apartment over a weekend was a feat in itself - I didn't realize how much stuff I have accumulated since living by myself! My new apartment is almost completely set up, which feels good and I can finally relax! And then in a week I will be heading off to Europe - first to a conference in Spain - which I am ECSTATIC about! I have always wanted to go to Spain, and particularly Barcelona! and then off to Cyprus to lounge by the beach and hang out with family! SO. EXCITED.

Today I bring you a Fourth of July makeup tutorial from last week, using shades from my beloved UD Vice3 Palette! This palette is seriously so versatile, and can create so many different looks, as you have seen with my makeup tutorial series using this one palette! Even something like a Fourth of July look can be created! I took a break from packing last Saturday to go to a BBQ, and decided to try to be festive, so I pulled out my palette and created this look! I realized after its not completely original since a lot of other people have done this look but I didn't look at any other photos to come up with the idea! Lol. Take a look!

Hawaiian Luau Inspired Makeup Tutorial - Vice 3 Palette

Happy Friday loves! TGIF! 

I'm glad its the weekend! Even though I feel like I didn't get much done experiment wise, I still feel exhausted, from running around doing things I needed, and finished a final presentation for a class I was taking. Today I helped plan a End of Year party for the graduate students in our department that is Luau themed! I love anything Hawaiian themed, and it brought me back to last year when I went to Waikiki to visit my cousin! I bought the decorations and leis and I am really excited to start setting up in a few hours!

Here is a makeup look inspired by the colorful hawaiian vibes! I used my Vice 3 Palette (seriously, the makeup looks and combinations are endless!), and the colors are so vibrant, I love how it came out. I still haven't mastered the great photography techniques other makeup bloggers have mastered, but I am trying!

Smokey Eye Makeup with a pop of color - Tutorial and Giveaway Winner announced!

Hi everyone!

Happy Friday and weekend! This week seems to have flown by and I am not sure I got a lot done this week! I have a final presentation for a business class I'm taking, so I decided to dress up a little for my presentation in a few hours with a cute navy blue blazer and some gold accents! And to pair with some nice makeup, I created a Brown smokey eye look with a pop of some blue/green color!
And at the bottom of the post I announce the winner of the Anjolee Necklace Giveaway!

Here is a tutorial for this look created using my Anastasia Beverly Hills Maya Mia palette I have had for some time now! I also created a double winged look, which I think adds a nice chic touch! I lined the lower lid with my liquid liner so I had to be careful, and then used eye pencil to line the inner lower lid!

Makeup Monday - Daily look with Naked2

Welcome to another edition of my Makeup Monday Series Tutorial featuring a daily look I created with some neutral shades from the Urban Decay Naked2 Palette. To be honest, I didn't have the $54 to buy the Naked2 palette, but I love all the shades, especially after using my Naked3 and Vice3 Palettes. 

I found on Groupon a palette series called "Exposed," which features several shades suspiciously similar to the three Urban Decay Naked palettes on sale for $18 each. I decided to just go for it and ordered the "Exposed 2" palette, which has similar shades to the Naked2 Palette! I can tell the difference in the quality of the eye shadows, but they do their job and achieve the look I want. After using this palette, I will definitely be purchasing the Naked2 palette next time I have some money to spend at Sephora! 

This is a perfect daytime look, I tend to wear some neutral gold shades to work, they give some glam while not being too over the top. 

Makeup Monday - Vegas Birthday Look!

Welcome to another edition of Makeup Monday - Vegas Birthday Look, using my Vice3 palette!

When I said this was a very versatile palette, I wasn't joking! I have used this palette to make so many different kinds of looks, that when I travel, sometimes its the only palette I need! On my birthday trip to Vegas this past weekend, we went to Tao Nightclub in the Venetian Hotel. We had such a great time, got on the Guest list and walked in for free and got some free drinks! 

I wanted to create a really glam look; I decided to go with my bold colors from the Urban Decay Vice 3 palette. 

I used a gold shade called Lucky on the middle of the lid, and added some black to the outer corner, careful to blend it nicely to create a smokey effect. 

My winged eyeliner isn't so great today, I had issues because I was about to run out of my liquid liner. But usually it comes out nice.

Valentines Day Romantic Pinks - Vice3 Tutorial

Happy Monday loves! With Valentine's Day this weekend, I decided to create a romantic pink look to wear to dinner! I used the same pink shades from my Vice3 Palette that I have used to create a different look/tutorial, but this one is a lot more subtle and romantic! This palette is so versatile that you can create super dramatic looks or more subtle romantic looks! This is one of THE palettes to take with you when traveling since you can create any kind of look!

Makeup Monday - Vice 3 Tutorial - Mermaid Green!

Happy Monday! Welcome to my Makeup Monday Series, an expansion of my Vice 3 Tutorial series! I want to start featuring Makeup tutorial looks every Monday! I have acquired so much makeup that I have bought that I want to start using it and making unique and classy looks you can wear to various occasions! 

I am still in awe of my Vice3 Palette by Urban Decay (and no, they did not give me anything to do all these tutorials and feature their palette, I am just in love), and I had been itching to use these green-blue shades! I wore it to work, which may have been a little much, but I think it turned out well! I was having an off morning so I just did my makeup to make myself feel better since I felt so glamorous! And it was an easy look to transition from work to night out for drinks with some friends and the boyfriend! Also, I guess you don't have to use the Vice3 palette, if you have similar shades you can also create this look! 

This look is super glam, and can be very versatile! Check out the tutorial below!

Makeup Monday - Winged Liquid Liner Tutorial

Hello loves!

Happy Monday! 

I am just getting over/still having a little cold, but that hasn't stopped me from working like a mad woman, both at work (trying to submit a paper!) and on the blog (some new collaborations in the works!).

Here is a requested Cat Eye Liquid liner look that I seem to have perfected -- practice makes perfect! I use the Maybelline Line Stiletto - It is amazing and so easy to use! 

The Tutorial:

Vice 3 - Tutorial 3 - Goldie Pink!

Welcome to Part 3 of my Vice 3 Tutorial Series! I am obsessed with this palette and how many vibrant looks I can create with it! On this MLK day, I am heading off to lab with a late start (I deserve to sleep in!), I created this vibrant, fun Goldie-Pink look using shades I have used before in my other tutorials, but they all work well together as well! I am surprised how many different looks you can create with this palette! And the colors are so vibrant and bright, it is beautiful! Check out the look and tutorial below! Complete Look by Urban Decay Products (Eye shadow and Mascara!)

Vice3 - Tutorial 2 - Majestic Gold

I decided to explore more looks with my favorite new makeup palette, the Vice3 by Urban Decay! I was getting ready to go out for a friend's birthday and decided to try some bold colors! I created this "majestic gold" look, using purple and gold shades!

Vice 3 - Tutorial 1 - Pinks

Hey guys, here is Tutorial 1 in my series of Vice 3 looks! This is a simple look I created using my new Urban Decay Vice3 Palette featuring Pink shades! I fell in love with this palette from the moment I opened it, the colors are so vibrant and pigmented, they are perfect!

This look is great for a daily look, the pinks are so romantic with just a bit of drama at the outer corner with the darker shade! It also can work as a going out/glam makeup look to add some pizzazz!

Here is the look with the corresponding numbers/shades labeled!

Naked3 Daily Make Up Tutorial - Youtube Video