Update + Look Of The Day

Hi Guys,

I know I've been MIA as of lately and that is because I've been juggling sooo much on my plate lately. Minor backstory -- I work full time, go to grad school part time, and I also freelance in addition to managing my blog and my other social media sites. ALSO, (for those who don't know - I have lupus) I've been managing my crazy symptoms that have been all over the place ever since the weather changed to super cold and the stress of school/work has started catching up with me. *Pause to breath*

Oh, side note -- I started a lupus blog where I log my daily feelings, tips, inspiration, whatever just happens to pop into my head. Check it out if you'd like - LA VIDA LUPIE.

ANYWAY, back to beauty related topics, here is my look of the day:

Because my health has been all over the place lately, I'm usually really exhausted by the time Friday rolls around (definitely not 18 anymore!) so I opt for simpler makeup looks. Today I wanted to dress up my eyes a little more with gray, and balanced out the washed out eye with a red lip stain for some color. Quick, easy, fresh and clean - perfect for work or school.

What's your favorite look to end a busy week?

Stay maganda<3

-K

Follow me on social!
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest 
Instagram

Subscribe to my Youtube channel!

How To: Pair Your Makeup

Learning how to properly pair your makeup is a staple skill to learn if you plan to wear it. This is how you can avoid the infamous "clown face" that you see many makeup novices sporting. The best way to know is to ask yourself - "Which feature do I want to focus on"?

LIPS

If you want to accentuate those lips, pair a bold lip color with soft eyes. Dark lips are a staple for the colder seasons like purples, plums, and deep reds! If you depend on eyeliner to make your eyes appear bigger, use a beige or white pencil on your lower lash line. This makes the whites of your eyes appear larger, hence bigger eyes! 

EYES

Bring attention to your eyes with a sexy smokey eye or, if you want to keep it simple, thick eyeliner. Pair that with a natural or nude lip color - soft pinks, mauves, and nudes are perfect options. If you're not into lipstick, opt for a lip stain or a tinted lip gloss! 

As you can see, pairing your makeup is about maintaining balance. Pick a feature you want to show off and keep everything else in the background. Of course, that doesn't mean that you can't have fun with your makeup still!

Which look do you like better?

Stay maganda<3

-K

Follow me on social!
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest

Subscribe to my Youtube channel!

My Updated Hair Care Routine

Tadaaaa! Okay it's time to reveal my "hair secret" to the world! *drum roll*......

Okay guys, it's really not much of a secret... I really just baby my hair and take special care of it because I use heat on it daily (I know, I know, major hair faux pas) but hey, that's why I baby it so much.

So if I use heat on my hair on a daily basis? Then how does my hair come out like this:

 Because I protect and nourish it.

What I don't do:

-Tie my hair in a tight pony tail or bun

-Drink soda or sugary drinks

-Towel dry my hair after the shower

What I do:

-Drink lots of water everyday

-Take multivitamins

-Use heat protectant

-Use a hair mask once a week

My main hair products

 I've been using the Shiseido Tsubaki Oil Shining Shampoo and Conditioner for over a year and noticed an almost instant improvement to my hair texture and overall health. Believe it or not, my hair was severely damaged from lightening it for the "ombré" trend. A friend told me about this brand and so I gave it a shot. It is pricey, but it lasts you an entire year (or more!) depending on how often you wash your hair. A bonus is the scent - I just can't get over how good it smells!

The other product I highly recommend is the L'Oreal Sleek It Iron Straight Heatspray. Before I stumbled upon this gem, I was using the Tresemmé Heat Tamer Spray (interchanged between the regular and the Keratin infused one) which were fine, but I noticed it wasn't making my hair as sleek as it was if I were to skip the spray (because the shampoo/conditioner made my hair sleek on its own) so I wanted to try something new and I'm glad I did!

My tips for you

1) Remember that what you put into your body is reflected on the outside. Drinking plain water every day will reflect positively on your skin and your hair. 

2) Instead of using a towel to vigorously rub your strands dry, use an old t-shirt and gently press/pat your strands dry. Then if you want, gently wrap it up while you finish your morning or nighttime routine. I usually take it out of the wrap after 5-10minutes and let it air dry.

3) Know the ingredients in your hair products and ensure that there is nothing in them that can harm your specific hair type. Remember - not all hair products are created equal!

4) On the contrary of popular belief, switching up your products constantly doesn't actually benefit your hair. If it works, why change it?

5) If you are one of those who skips a day (or two) of washing, make sure you use a clarifying shampoo at least once a week to remove any buildup from hair products. Clarifying shampoos deep clean your scalp and hair better than a regular shampoo.

6) ALWAYS condition your hair. Even if you have thin or fine hair. Shampoo dries your hair out because of the lather, which is necessary to actually clean the hair. Replenish moisture by choosing a conditioner made for your hair type.

Those are my hair tips for today! I hope you learned something or will try some of these tips in your daily hair routine :)

Leave a comment below with any questions or additional advice/tips!

Stay maganda <3
-k


Follow me on social!
Facebook
Twitter

Subscribe to my Youtube channel!

Look of the Day: Tired Face

Yesterday I was feeling super tired because I've actually been doing a lot of running around lately between work, school, working out and miscellaneous tasks. People often compliment me on how "awake" and put together I look and I feel kind of guilty sometimes saying that it was nothing, haha! So I figured that I'd start sharing my random tips and tricks that I use so that I can always look my best because every day brings something new and different - you never know who you will run into!

Here's the look I went for:

The trick to looking awake, even when you haven't gotten much rest, is to brighten up your face and eyes. I used a light beige eyeliner on the inner corner of my eye, which fakes the appearance of a larger eye, and then rocked a red lip to really bring some bright color to my face. 

I typically keep my makeup simple on a day to day basis since I usually just go to work and then head home. However, if I'm meeting someone for dinner or drinks afterwards, it's best to refresh your face with some color on your lips or shimmer/highlighter on the inner corner of your eyes and your lids!

What's your go-to look?

Stay maganda <3
-k


Follow me on social!
Facebook
Twitter

Subscribe to my Youtube channel!

Black Is My Favorite Shade

Wednesday once said "I'll stop wearing black when they invent a darker color"

If you know me or have seen my fashion "style" then you may have noticed that I wear A LOT of black. My younger sister often teases me that when you open my closet it just looks like a black hole...but hey, I won't deny it.

I used to think it was weird to love so much black, but over the years I started to just embrace my love of it! It's mysterious, it's chic, and hey - it goes with everything! What's to hate?

I don't feel ashamed or "gothic" for loving so much black, it's just a personal preference I have. I love how I look in black and lately I've added my "pop of color" with the use of accessories or makeup (red lips, oh heyy!) 

 

So power to Wednesday for paving the way for those of us intrigued by the darkest of shades. Because at the end of the day, it's just a shade people, not a way of life.

You may be thinking what point I'm trying to make and it's simple – just be you.

It's great to be back to blogging! Until next time!

What's your favorite or go-to color?

Stay Maganda <3

-k

Same color, different outfits! Get creative :)