I've gotten many requests on how to actually do what I call my "Lazy Nails". I've showed you them in a previous post as part of my "Weekly nails" series.

Now you can see just how easy it is to achieve these glamorous looking nails, in minutes.

If you do this look, share pictures with me on my Facebook or in the comments below!

Also don't forget to subscribe to my Youtube page if you like what you see. There will be many more videos coming up :)

Good luck & Stay Maganda<3
-K

If you woke up and your eyes still feel so heavy, why not accessorize? Sometimes makeup just won't do the trick and people can still see how tired you are based on your eyes.

What I do is simple -- Wear Glasses!

I'm in for another hectic week so I can foresee me wearing these babies often. Today was one of those days where I just couldn't wake up and kept snoozing my alarm. Does that happen to you too?

If you don't wear glasses, you can get really inexpensive ones from Ebay, even in the trendy thick framed ones. Most don't run for more than $10.  You don't need a prescription either because they will be non-prescription glasses or "plano". They're perfect for these types of days.

I've bought larger framed ones (similar to the "nerdy" ones) that are non-prescription just for the style. However, these in the photo are my real prescription glasses (Prada frames) so if you're shopping around, I recommend these :)

Remember: When wearing glasses, lighten up the area under the eye since the glasses will cast a shadow.

What's your favorite accessory? How do you cover up tired eyes?

Stay maganda!<3
-K

Ps: Do you like my shirt? I totally stand by thinking positive now-a-days. Be grateful for what you have in your life :)

After a LONG hiatus, I'm finally filming again!

Here's a screenshot of my rekindled passion -- filming beauty videos :)

This is where my love for teaching future beauties what I know started and I took a long break from it. But now I've set a new goal for myself to continue making videos and bringing my ideas to life again.

Stay tuned!

SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOUTUBE: http://youtube.com/kelx0

What videos would YOU like to see? Leave your suggestions on my Facebook page or in the comments!

 

Stay Maganda!<3
-K

 

My trick for keeping my eyeliner in place all day AND my lids oil-free is this ^^

It's not necessary to wear every day (unless your lids get super oily) but on hot / humid days, this is definitely your go-to solution. You don't need both, one will do if that's all you have.

Urban Decay's Primer Potion is my FAVORITE eyelid primer. I've tried others and I haven't found one that does the job so well. I love how a little goes a long way, so one bottle can last your a really long time depending on how often you plan on using it.

Rimmel's Stay Matte Pressed Powder is my favorite powder to set my makeup. It super light and it really takes away the shine on your face, leaving a nice matte surface. Also, it's a drugstore brand so it's fairly inexpensive. Good deal!

On your lids, you can use one (or both) and just pat it on before adding your eyeliner/eyeshadow. With the primer, you see the minuscule amount I use? You really don't need a lot to get the job done. Keep in mind, I have smaller eyelids and I was only putting on eyeliner. If I wear this with eyeshadow I'd use more so I can prime all the way to my brow and under my eye.

Remember: Oily skin is not a death sentance or a tragedy. As long as you have the right tools, you'll be on your way to oil-free skin in no time!

How do you keep your face oil-free?

Stay Maganda!<3
-K

 

Sleep and Dark Circles

Did you know that dark circles aren't caused from lack of sleep?

Lacking sleep actually causes the eye area to become puffier than usual. This "puff" casts a shadow under the eye which in turn looks like a dark circle. If you get enough sleep, this puffiness can be avoided somewhat, but not completely especially if your eyes are naturally like that.

To remove the puffiness, a quick tip is to cool and refresh the area. Cool cucumbers can do this since cucumbers are full of water. You can also use creams with caffeine in it to get rid of the swelling.

Do you know the source of your dark circles? See if you can pinpoint your dark circles using my list.

Dark circles also become more prominent with age (unfortunately). So for a normal day, I recommend the Garnier Anti-Dark Circle Roller, which is a personal favorite of mine. Find out why here!

If you have any questions about dark circles or don't know how to target yours, feel free to share it with me in the comments below or on my Facebook!

Stay Maganda!<3
-K

Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin and Facebook! I'll appreciate it very much :)

Myths Unveiled: Chocolate and Acne

Myth or Fact?
Chocolate gives you acne.

MYTH!

Chocolate has no ingredient in it that contributes to acne or breakouts. Having a bad diet is what can trigger breakouts. If you eat too much chocolate, you might see some emerging pimples or breakouts, but that's because you are putting too much fat and sugar into your body, not because of the chocolate.

The same thing can happen if you eat too much chips, fast food, or even drink too much soda. Your diet will show on your skin.

So you don't have to give up chocolate or fear getting breakouts if you take a bite of your Hershey's bar or M&M's, it won't hurt you. Just remember what the food pyramid says - eat your sweets in moderation.

There your have it!

How many of you knew this already? Any choco-holics out there?

Stay Maganda!<3
-K

Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin and Facebook! I'll appreciate it very much :)

Weekly nails: Balance & Luck

Me and my boyfriend are complete opposites, but at the same time we compliment each other so well. Because of that, we gave ourselves the nickname - Yin & Yang - which is where I got my inspiration for this week's nails.

I didn't want it to be overwhelming so I balanced it out with plain nails using as close to a  Jade color as I could. Jade stones are said to bring you good luck in Asian culture :) My boyfriend gave me this Jade necklace which has a horse on it since I'm the Year of the Horse in Chinese astrology.



 

Would you like to see a tutorial for this look?

What's on your nails this week? Post a picture on my Facebook page or a link in the comments below!

Stay Maganda!<3
-K

Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin and Facebook! I'll appreciate it very much :)

Myth or Fact?
Washing your face more often will lead to acne-free, clear skin.

    

MYTH!

Over-washing your face is counter-productive because all of that scrubbing will lead to a drier face and that flawless look you were going for will cease to exist. When your face becomes overly dry, your skin starts to produce more oil, resulting in an even oilier face! If you suffer from acne, stick to washing your face twice daily using products made for your skin type. If you're in your early teen years and are new to this, it will take some trial & error to get a proper routine going, but once you find it - don't stop doing it if it's working!

Washing your face is important and effective if done properly. Remember, too much of something is never a good thing.

So there you have it beauties, over-washing your face is counter-productive and leads to oily, dry skin.

What's your skincare routine?

Stay Maganda!<3
-K

Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin and Facebook! I'll appreciate it very much :)

I'm starting a new beauty series where I unveil common beauty myths or misconceptions and get down to the truth of them all.

Myth or Fact?
Shaving or waxing makes your hair grow back thicker and darker.

         

MYTH!

When you shave or wax, hair essentially is growing back shorter, giving it the appearance of thicker hair. The base of the hair is thicker than the tip and so it appears to be thicker once it starts growing back (similar to the hair on your head!) Notice how if you let the hair grow for a while, it appears thinner than when it first started growing? When you cut or pull the hair out, what starts surfacing is naturally going to be thicker since it is new hair, but that doesn't mean your hair became thicker just because you removed it.

So there you have it beauties, shaving or waxing does not change the thickness or pigmentation of your hair.

Shaving, Waxing, Epilating, or a Depilatory - What's your preference?

Stay Maganda!<3
-K

Don't forget to follow me on Bloglovin and Facebook! I'll appreciate it very much :)

Growing your hair can be the most tedious chore for us ladies. Those of you who yurn for longer hair have tried almost everything and often see  little results, right?

Truth is - there is no product in the world that can stimulate hair growth and unfortunately it really depends on your hair type and your genetics.

Straight hair grows slightly faster for the sole reason that it is straight. Wavy or Curly hair grows slower because it twists and coils around. Notice how when you curly lock girls comb your wet hair straight it appears longer?

So is there any trick or technique you can use? YES! The real trick is to prevent breakage on already grown hair AND to stimulate your scalp because well, that's where all the new hair is coming from.

Bloglovin!

Hey all!

I've finally created a Bloglovin account! To follow me click here!

Bloglovin is great if you follow multiple blogs on multiple sites - blogspot, wordpress, blogger, etc. It allows you to see all of the blogs you follow on one page so that you don't have to log into so many different accounts to like a post. Definitely check it out! It makes following blogs 10 x easier :)

Follow my blog on Bloglovin!

If you have an account, comment with a link to your page and I will follow you to show support :)

Stay Maganda!<3
-K

With the latest trend being nail art and funky nail colors, it's hard resist temptation to try them. But, the only way you'll achieve nice looking nails is if you take care of them properly. I've gotten many compliments on my nails since I started doing them myself and some even mistaken them for being done professionally! I used to get my nails done at a salon in high school, but when I went to college, I wasn't close to my trusted salon and started doing my nails myself. It later became therapeutic for me and is now one of my favorite stress relievers. No more salons for me!

Here are my 7 tips on achieving healthy looking nails:

Happy Friday everyone!

Did anyone else feel like this week was super long, even with the holiday - or is that just me?

Since it's Friday, in most work places it's "casual Friday" meaning that you can dress down your everyday work outfit. It's unfortunate that there isn't a dictionary defining "dress down" in a way we can all understand and as a result, people often misinterpret the phrase.

Well, it really depends on where you're working and the industry itself. If you work in corporate, jeans are a definite no. But that doesn't mean you can't take part in the casual Friday. Check with your human resources department or one of your co-workers who's been there longer to see what's appropriate on casual Fridays. If you work in a creative industry, chances are that your dress code is much more liberal, but double-check just in case. The last thing you want is to be the talk of the office due to inappropriate work fashion.

Here's my outfit of the day:



Today I'm working at the design company where the dress code is more liberal, so jeans are allowed. To still make it work appropriate, I went for a dark wash jean, and completed the casual outfit with a structured blazer and some jewelry.

The key to a good looking blazer is to make sure it's fitted, but not too tight. The shape of this blazer curves inward at the waist and doesn't cut off at the bottom, so it doesn't give that boxy man shape you see in most blazers.

What are you wearing today?

Stay Maganda!<3
-K

Arm Candy!

The "Arm candy" trend exploded this year once springtime hit. Bracelets all of a sudden became the hottest thing, practically becoming an obsession for some people. So what exactly is "arm candy"?

Arm candy is when you stack your bracelets. Really, that's it!

This can be done however you want to fit your style and fashion sense. Some people stack similar bracelets that come in packs, while others buy separate bracelets and simply stack them. You can mix and match big and small bracelets, colors, expensive and inexpensive jewelry - whatever your mood desires that day.

Arm candy can be worn on any occasion and is a great way to add some pizzazz to your outfit. So for those of you who don't like to experiment with prints or bright  colors in your wardrobe, opt for some cute arm candy instead to instantly dress up that outfit!

Here are some examples of what I've been wearing, mostly with everyday, casual outfits:

    

My yin-yang and patterned bracelets are significant to me, so I always try to find a way to incorporate them into my outfits. Good thing they're versatile!

Have you taken part in the arm candy trend? Send me a link to your pictures or post them below!

Stay Maganda!<3
-K

Also don't forget to LIKE my Facebook for daily tips & tricks in beauty or fashion! Click here to LIKE!

Back to basics: Patriotism

Happy Fourth of July everyone!

I repainted my nails a little earlier than intended to celebrate the holiday. This basic French manicure is super easy and super stylish with the added color. If you've followed my weekly nails then you know I'm into basics when it comes to almost anything. But being basic or simple doesn't mean you can't be stylish right?



I love taking classic styles and adding my own twist to them. The thing with the French manicure is that it is such a simple design so why not add colors to jazz it up? In this case, I've used patriotic colors, but it can be done any way you want - experiment!

I plan to spend my day shopping (yay July 4th sales!) and spending time with friends and family. A day off from work is needed sometimes to indulge in life's good company.

What does everyone have planned for July 4th? What's your favorite nail trend?

Stay Maganda!<3
-K

To all my followers and supporters......

Hi everyone! This is a recap post as well as a thank you.

Sorry I've been missing again. I've been posting up quickies onto my Facebook page with quick tips of the day and pictures among other things. If you have not yet liked my page you should to keep getting those quick tips I have to offer, and you can even take a look into what I'm up to on a day-to-day basis with the instagr.am feed on my page.

Like my page here: Click!

I just wanted to say -- Thank you so much for the support. My followers and supporters keep me inspired to continue writing. I'm glad I can share my knowledge with you and I'm so grateful to have such lovely followers :)

Stay tuned for a new product review and my new nails of the week coming up soon!

Stay Maganda!<3
-K

Art Lesson: Complementary Contrasts

In art terms, complementary colors are colors directly opposite each other on the color wheel. They are called complementary colors because although they are opposite from each other, they go together harmoniously. When placed directly next to each other, these colors tend to "vibrate" (try it with color swatches from the paint section).



For the primary colors (Red, Yellow, Blue) their complementing colors are the secondary colors (Green, Violet, Orange).

Being a designer and an artist I have a knack for colors and I see colors in their entirety. If you point out any color to me I can tell you just how much of each color is mixed in and if you give me paint, I can replicate it. (Crazy huh?)

The traditional color combos are commonly seen anywhere colors are used - fashion, makeup, and nail trends.

For this week's manicure, I wanted to display my love and understanding for color in the most basic of ways. Complementing them.

Using summer hues, I went with the Blue-Orange approach. What do you think?

You can try the same combination or experiment with other combinations like Red-Green or Yellow-Purple (Violet). If you don't like to be limited to just primary/secondary colors, look at opposing colors in the color wheel and combine those. Have fun with it!

Good luck & Stay Maganda!<3
-K

Wet Weather Hairstyles

New York, along with other parts of the East coast, has been hit with a series of humid weather, thunderstorms, and plain rain. On these days, trying out your latest sleek style may not be the brightest idea because you're actually going against your hair's chemistry.

When there are high levels of moisture in the air your hair naturally curls up aka, frizz. Even the straightest hair experiences frizzy hair. However, you don't have to have a "bad hair day" on these days, just try a different approach.

Some hairstyles you can try to have yourself a good hair day are:
1) Tie your hair in a side ponytail. This classic look is very elegant and can match with just about any outfit. Dress it up with cute hair accessories like clips or headbands. For a little sass, add a hair scarf.

2) Sport the wavy hair. Beach waves or even the classic bed head waves are highly supported by humid and wet weather. This would be the perfect day to finally try out the hairstyle and you'll notice that it will stay longer than on a dry day. For this look, spray on salt spray or use a pomade/wax and scrunch up your hair until you achieve the desired wavy look.
Check out this article to make your own salt spray or how to achieve the wavy look if you have stick straight hair.

3) Braid your hair. Braids are so versatile and can also be worn with any type of outfit and style. Any type of braid would suffice. My favorites are the Fishtail braid or the classic French braid. (Comment for a tutorial on either braid!)

What hairstyle do you wear on rainy days?

Stay Maganda!<3
-K

It's officially summer time meaning you're going to be spending a lot more time in the sun. However, spending that much time in the sun doesn't mean you need to give up on your makeup. Makeup doesn't adapt to the seasons, you have to change your makeup depending on how your skin responds to weather changes. In the summer, your skin tends to be more oily, leading to more shine. The trick is using the right type of makeup.

Weekly nails: Sephora inspired

I was in Sephora the other day and came across their booklet with all these sweet nail trends to try. They even come with step-by-step instructions on how to achieve the look. It was time for me to do my nails again and I decided to try one of their trends a try - the Nude nail.

Here's the original:

And my spin-off:

This was probably one of the more time consuming designs I've done due to the super steady hand you need when doing this look. I wanted to make each nail slightly different from the next, but I still kept my personal favorite trend of making one nail totally different from the rest of the nail.

Nude nail colors are another hot trend for this season along with bright colors, neons, and pastels. Nude nails are a personal favorite of mine because they go with everything and are appropriate for every occasion! At least one nude color is an investment worth making.

What do you think of this look? What's on your nails this week? 
If you'd like to see a tutorial, let me know in the comment box!

Stay Maganda!<3
-K