My Guide to Gorgeous Locks

Hair is probably the second most important thing to me after my skin. I take very good care of it and always have. I used to hate my curly hair when I was younger, but as I grew older I began to embrace my natural curls gracefully. Curly hair is difficult to maintain, at least more so than straight hair. For instance, you can't brush your curls once they're dry, it has a tendency for dryness and you need to apply some sort of styling product after you jump out of the shower.

If you're reading this and you have curly hair, here is something else to feel blessed about: those with straight hair spend hours and money trying to achieve curls, lose waves or a more voluminous, thick appearance to their flat hair (no offense, straight-hair gals). I even had a Keratin straightening treatment once because I wanted to "rock" short hair. That's when I really began to miss my curls. Luckily, they grew back, and I have a routine that makes my curls look awesome.

1. Investing in good shampoo and conditioner: Pureology Hydrate Shampoo and Conditioner

I began using this duo four years ago and its been my favorite combo since. They're aimed for those with dry color-treated hair, though you can still use it even if you don't have color-treated hair. The shampoo is thick and different to all other shampoos I've tried. Due to its dense texture, you need less amount than an ordinary shampoo. Even though it's sulfate-free, it lathers and cleanses perfectly. It has a subtle lavender scent which I find captivating. The conditioner is my favorite because it smells like peppermint and envelopes your hair in this coolness you just have to experience yourself. It is so relaxing and so soothing on the scalp and even your back as you're rinsing off the product (if you have long hair, it feels SO good!) PS: Men love it, too!

2. Using an oil or serum after you jump out of the shower.

I've tried Moroccan Oil Treatment, Agave Hair Oil (sold at Sephora) and now I'm using Oribe Gold Lust. Out of all three previously mentioned, this one has the thinnest texture. I like to apply an oil from mid-shaft to ends after I (gently) comb my hair after getting out of the shower. Think of it as a serum for your hair -- it has a concentrated formula and penetrates deeply to nourish and heal.

If I am going to have a blowout, these would be my only two steps. I'm always left with touchable soft, silky hair. 

If I am going to let my hair air-dry, I proceed to step 3.

3. Use a styling product for curly hair.

I've tried an array of products for curly hair. My holy grail is Moroccan Oil Curl Defining Cream. This is my second bottle but my first one lasted a little over a year (!). When I had shorter hair, a pump would do the job, but now I have really long hair and I use two pumps, though I divide it. I use one pump for half of my hair (left side), using my fingers to distribute the product and then I use a second pump for the other half of my hair (right side). I then let my air dry and I get the most bouncy, gorgeous, frizz-free curls that people always compliment.

Another great thing about this product is that second day hair and third day hair still look polished. In fact, sometimes my second day hair looks better than my first day hair.

Extra Tips for Curly Hair
- Avoid humid areas after you get out of the shower. Turn on the AC if needed until your hair is mostly dry.
- Don't wash it every day: use dry shampoo if you need to.
- Do a weekly intense treatment: I like to use coconut oil and sleep in in.

Best of 2014

  I am so happy to be sharing with you my beauty favorites from 2014! It's been an amazing year full of discoveries I'm revealing today. Please keep in mind that every skin is different, so what works for me may not work for you. Also, I am not sponsored by anyone. These are my genuine thoughts and I'm recommending the crème de la crème. 

 

Skincare 

The cleanser: I raved on and on about Nude Perfect Cleanse Omega Cleansing Jelly because it's that good. I even have two backups. I look forward to washing my face every morning and night just to use this. Yes, I use it in the morning. I find it's a great "skin" cleanser as it always leaves my skin feeling comfortable, nourished, cleansed but with a soft-focus glow. Bonus: the jelly-like consistency minimizes the risk of messiness and the plastic packaging makes it excellent for travel.

The skin transformer: Peel pads are a quick way of removing dead skin cells in a non-abrasive way revealing a more youthful appearance. After experimenting with several methods of exfoliation, I fell in love with Radical Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads. They do seem expensive at first, but considering you get sixty pads you only need to exfoliate once of twice a week, it's not a bad deal at all. I absolutely love the ingredient list; the blend of AHA's and BHA plus antioxidants provide visible results in weeks. They're also easy to use: just cleanse, tone and run the pad across your face and neck. Follow up with your eye cream, serum and moisturizer/oil.

Good Genes by Sunday Riley had to make it to the list to. It's a powerful serum (though it has a lotion-like consistency) that contains 40% lactic acid. Talk about glowy skin in a pump, reduction of fine lines and wrinkles and minimized pores. I don't use it every single night because I do find it runs fast, but when I do, my skin looks noticeably better.

The skincare splurge: I had always wanted something by La Prairie because I grew up watching my mom use it. This year I graduated as a Psychologist and to reward myself, I decided to get something from the line. I knew I wanted a serum because I love them; they are potent, effective and you only need a small amount. I went for the Essence of Skin Caviar Eye Complex because it was on the lower end of the spectrum price-wise. I tried it at Bloomingdale's and fell in love with the immediate tightening effect. The best part is that you only need one drop and the packaging comes with a pump, so all you have to do is very lightly press it down - otherwise you'll get too much product and waste it. I reviewed it here.
 

The brightening serum: Tatcha Deep Brightening Serum has an incredible lightweight feel to it, unlike serums that feel more like light lotions. Tatcha uses HADASEI-3 Bioactive Complex (a blend of green tea, rice bran and red algae) and licorice to reduce hyperpigmentation and give the skin luminosity and  clarity. Just one pump is sufficient to cover my face and neck, gently pressing it into the skin. 

The moisturizer: Tatcha Moisture Rich Silk Cream has everything I look for in a moisturizer: it has a light, gel-texture that feels amazingly soft, I get a beautiful blend of ingredients, my makeup glides effortlessly over it yet it's nourishing enough for nighttime. It's never oily and never feels heavy. I highly recommend it to those with normal to combination skin.

The SPF: Second time in a row winner, Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free SPF 42. You need to make sure you give it a good shake. This is superbly light and quite mattifying, so it's the perfect final step to your skincare routine. Even though I have normal to dry skin, I've never had any issues with it making my skin feel dry or tight because of all the layers of moisture underneath (toner, serum, moisturizer). If you hate sunscreen because it reminds you of oil, stickiness and the beach in an unpleasant way, give this a shot.

The mask: Another second-time winner! Arcona Tea Tree Mask is the perfect mask, in my opinion, due to its antimicrobial properties and its ability to quickly reduce inflammation while providing an invigorating, relaxing, cooling experience. It doesn't harden on your skin like most acne-fighting masks. And even if you don't have problematic skin: this mask just feels too delicious to pass. 

The brand: I tested a lot of skincare this year and playing with foreign ingredients can lead to unhappy skin. No matter what the problem was, Tatcha was there to solve it. I love it because it is such a balanced skincare line with only a few steps in its routine. Aside from that, the team behind is an incredible family that always makes their customers feel like friends -- they even include handwritten notes in every order, and its lush packaging makes you feel spoiled and pampered. No matter what my skin concern is, all I have to do is go back to Tatcha so my skin goes back to its prime state.

Makeup

The foundation: everyone raved about it but it took me a while to get it. Armani Luminous Silk makes skin look perfected and flawless. It photographs beautifully, making it a must have for special events. I do want to point out that this isn't a good foundation for you if you have oily skin. It's best for those with normal to dry skin.

Me (left) wearing Armani Luminous Silk Foundation for my brother's wedding. It photographs so beautifully!

The concealer - high end: Second time winner, By Terry Touche Veloutee. I am still using the same one, so even though it's pricey, it lasts a long time. One pump is sufficient to dab this full, yet natural coverage concealer under my eyes to illuminate and conceal. I like to use my fingers to blend it out. The texture is absolutely lush.

The concealer - drugstore: I was lucky enough to discover Bourjois Happy Light Concealer this year thanks to my sister-from-another-mother, Anne. It immediately became my favorite after smoothing it under my eyes using my ring finger. It is so creamy, has excellent coverage and wears well. You also get a lot of product and you don't need a lot to do the job. I absolutely LOVE this concealer!

The brow product: Anastasia Beverly Hills has done it again for me this year. Brow Powder Duo features two long-wearing shades that can be used on their own or mixed together to fill in your brows. Another bonus is the variety of shades available -- there is something for everyone.

The blush: My friend Fenny introduced me to Dolce & Gabbana The Blush Luminous Cheek Colour. I was so impressed by the texture; despite their powder-formula, these go one so creamy on the cheeks. Just beautiful.

The highlighter: I could never get ahold of Mac Whisper of Gilt, which is such a beautiful gold-toned highlighter. I kept seeing Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in the shade Opal being compared to it so I decided to get it and oh-my-God. It is now my go-to highlighter, I never reach for anything else. It provides the most dewy, glowy highlight while being creamy and easy to blend. Note: be careful with your brush; you don't want to apply too much product as this is highly pigmented. Remember it's easy to add makeup than to remove it.

Wearing Becca "Opal" as my highlighter

The red lip: Now we have second time winner, Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in the shade "Beso". There's just something about this red that is so perfect. I always feel sexy when I wear it and I think it's a very universal red. I love how long-lasting it is and how pigmented it is.
 

The mascara: My eyelashes are straight and very stubborn. The majority of the mascaras I've used have failed to impress me, but Hypnose Drama by Lancome is awesome. It's buildable, so you can go from natural looking eyes to thick, dramatic lashes. It isn't as volumizing as Too Faced Better Than Sex, but at least Hypnose Drama doesn't flake.

The eyeliner: Most of my eye looks include eyeliner. I feel "weird" without a wing. I found an intense black gel liner this year, but unfortunately, it can have the tendency to smudge a bit. Inglot #77 Gel Liner is an opaque creamy black that goes on smooth.  

Using Inglot # 77 Gel Liner + Mac 210 brush

Contouring and highlighting: When I want to sculpt dramatically, my go-to is the Mac Prep+Prime Radiant Rose Highlighting Pen set with the Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Light which is lighter than my skin tone. I then bronze my skin with any matte bronzer and then contour with Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in Medium. This combo photographs beautifully, too!  

Heavy sculpting + Stila "Beso" liquid lipstick

Body 

The smoothest legs: 2014 was the year I stopped using shaving gels/cream. Yes, they are cheap, but after using an oil in the shower, I have not looked back. L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil is a thick oil that warms up as you massage it on your skin and makes a great base for shaving. My legs are never irritated afterwards but rather smooth to the touch. I also love the Almond Supple Skin Oil. It's very nourishing and makes my legs glossy and look sexy - great if you're wearing shorts or a dress! If you don't like oils and prefer cream textures, their Almond Milk Concentrate is absolutely lush and has great slip to it providing intense moisture without needing to use too much product.

Hair

Calling all curly-hair gals:

"I cannot even count how many hair products I've gone through in my lifetime trying to find the one product that keeps my curls looking hydrated, soft, bouncy, yet not crunchy or wet looking. Moroccan Oil not only smells divine, their Curl Defining Cream works. It is my HG curl product. I love how much product you get for the price you pay (a whooping 250 ml for $33.60!). All you need is a pump -- massage it between your hands and run it down your towel-dried hair. I personally always let it air dry. I'm left with soft, voluminous, frizz free curls. I have received tons, believe me, tons of compliments on my curly hair. Thank you, Moroccan Oil." (December 2013)

This is my favorite product for curly-hair gals once again. I agree with everything I mentioned last year, only that now I use two pumps instead of one because my hair is a lot longer. Everyone always compliments me on my curls and it's all due to this gem!

I hope you have a beautiful Christmas and New Year's Eve and that 2014. From the bottom of my heart, thanks to everyone who takes the time to read my posts. Your support was one of my biggest highlights of the year. 

Much love,

Patricia

Best of 2013

We are approaching the end of December, so it's time to talk about the products that stood out to me the most throughout 2013 (do not confuse this with all-time favorites). I want you to know that I carefully selected the products because I want you to read and discover the crème de la crème. 

Hope you enjoy. 

pat