Patterns

Marimekko, Flatiron NY

Bluebottle Coffee, Midtown NY

I pass this new-ish Marimekko boutique several times a week on my walk to and from work.  Each time I feel the pull.  My appreciation is more of the gestalt type - once I stop to examine individual pieces, I have less desire to actually purchase anything.  (It would help if they made at least some dresses in the fitted/flared style rather than the baggy-bag style.)  Still though – every time – I just want to step in, walk around, and soak up the happy vibes.  Who knows, maybe one of these days I'll try on one of their dresses.  Maybe it'll look smashing on me!  The patterns and colors are gorgeous.

Mani hands: Pink with Silver Border, Instagram Edition!

Good morning!  I thought I would share some of what I have been up to through pictures selected from my Instagram feed.

I tried a few simple variations on the standard manicure - First is what I like to think of as the borderline style.  I saw it online and thought for a good while about how to achieve it on my own.  I first painted a thin layer using a Sally Hansen silver (Celeb city).  I find metallic nail polishes easiest to control.  For me, the creamy, milky pastel polishes are the most challenging to work with!  Metallics glide on smoothly and are very forgiving.  I tried to bring the silver color as close to the cuticle as possible.

Next came the Essie pink (Muchi muchi).  As expected, it was easier than if I had painted the whole nail as there is less surface area to cover.  Working with my non-dominant hand was a bit trickier and the silver border came out thicker on the right hand.  However, overall, they looked great!  I can't wait to try this with other colors.  I'm hoping to get a gold and shimmery white polish sometime in the near future.

The trick to designs like this is to keep the hand muscles loose and relaxed while knowing exactly where you want the brush to go.  So, having a plan and being precise - but not getting tense.  Also, as with all diy manicures, cuticle prep is crucial!

Here is another shot of this manicure, taken with an actual camera:

Feel free to add me on Instagram - emyaugustus is my user name. Those of you who follow me know these pictures are from a while ago. I never have time to blog when school is in session, so re-capping from Instagram might be the only way!

House & Home

It was around three weeks ago, and it was really difficult in retrospect.  First, moving out of the top of a five story walk up, without the help of any movers, just you and your bf, is already pretty tough.  We spread it out over 2 or 3 days, and oh boy was there a lot of up and downs!  ... Then a mix of the cold and flu hit me for 4 days, and just when I was almost all recovered, it was "that time-a-the-month".  Now that all that is over, I can focus on the more enjoyable aspects of moving.

I ordered these sheer curtains from Urban Outfitters (by a brand called Magical Thinking).  I think UO is one of the nicer places to get curtains in that they have a variety of choices with the lowest prices.  My second choice would be Modcloth.  While they are also not too expensive, they are a little hit or miss in the designs.  Sometimes they'll have a nice selection and other times, like right now, they'll have 4 types of curtains in not-so-great patterns.  My third pick would be Anthropologie which has great designs and many styles, but as you can probably guess, very, VERY high prices.  Their online furniture/accessories sale section is one of my favorite places to browse on a weekly - monthly basis though.

I was hoping to get everything mounted this past weekend, but all we managed were a set of curtains!  I think we needed a weekend of mainly rest after all the hard work and sickness.

From Legacy Studio on Etsy - A very nice shop with a sweet country farm aesthetic.

Why yes, I am reading Moby Dick, and have been on and off for the past several months!  It's a very funny book when it is not busy overwhelming you with its sheer bulk of words.  

These also need to find a home somewhere on the ceiling:

Wax paper blow-up fish from Kinokuniya (Japanese for 'Corner Bookstore') at Bryant Park. 

Aren't they fun?  I'm amazed and glad they survived the move despite being made out of some thin, crinkly, plastic.  They came in a flat package, and to puff them up, you blow into a small hole in the center.  The big blue one was a challenge.  Don't attempt it if you have or have had asthma.

This is our one completed project!  A very important one too as our window looks directly into another person's window which tends to make me get twitchy and self-conscious.  These curtains are from Modcloth.  Lovely color and pattern!  I was hoping to get another set to match but alas, they don't sell it anymore, and even when I googled the specific brand, none were to be found. 

Some future plans for our little 1-bedroom apartment :
1) A tiny couch.  Leaning towards this one from MUJI.
2) Building a sleeping loft (!!!)
3) A small kitchen table, preferably drop-leaf, preferably this one from Etsy seller 'Envy Alley'.  

From time to time, I tend to get bouts of impatience for everything to be done and settled already.  Yes these types of things take time.  In fact, I think that in decorating a living space, the slower it comes together the better.  It gives one time to find the right thing needed for the space/function.  It feels like a natural growing process, and probably shouldn't be rushed.

Fancy soaps

I want to use this short easy-breezy post to segue back into the blogging routine now that my first semester of graduate school has come to an end.  Just some minor edits left on a group project, then no deadlines for a solid month.  This post was actually drafted way the heck back at the start of the Fall semester.  Even though I like to keep things recent and somewhat spontaneous, I'll just go ahead and finish this one because I like the bright colors.  They'll cheer me up in these dark, short days of winter.  Aren't you glad the world didn't end?

I tell you, TJ Maxx is one of the best places to pick up fancy, large bars of soap for around $4 or $5. The scents are amazing.  The packaging is special.  I started using the yellow (lemon) one a few days ago and the size is just - - - sitting on my shower caddy, it reminds me of a submarine. A  ♪ yellow ♪  submarine. It suds up amazingly rich and foamy.

My goals for this month are to finish up some new sketches - the ones I have here are so old.  I also want to read some good books, possibly even one or two school-related ones if I can find them.  I also of course want to blog.  The question is what to blog about.  I actually feel rusty!  While I've really enjoyed trying out the expository writing style necessary for beauty/skincare products, I know this break will feel so short, and I've really missed having time to draw, sketch, doodle, so I would love to focus more on that this month.  We'll see how that goes.  Something about sharing the products you've tried is so instantly gratifying, and 'easy' ... in a way.  

Potential Topics :

1) Completed drawings

2) A follow up review of the Clarisonic Mia 2 

3) A really great lavender oil

4) DIY manicure progress & tips 

5) Outfits of the day (OOTD) 

Another exciting update is, I finally got a smartphone!  Yayyyy a phone with a camera!  ^_^

Also moving into a new apartment in about a week.  Same general area, just a few blocks closer to the subway, always helpful for those grey, rainy Mondays.

Have a good Christmas!  I am looking forward to all the cheery holiday Instagrams.  And food pics!

Mani hands - Green Edition

Thoughts & comparisons with doing it myself:

• The manicurist was fast and efficient
• She used thinner coats
• She painted with tiny feathery, overlapping strokes - almost like blending paint on a canvas - this is impossible for me to do
• Amazing cuticle clean-up *

* ... Just for that I would go back.  While the experience was unique, what with a fizzy, scented soak, steaming towels, cuticle oil etc., the finished result looks similar enough to what I can accomplish on my own that I'd want to stick with doing them myself.  The only difference of course, is that the whole process is much faster, and less tedious/stressful ... but I think I just need more practice.  

• Another very surprising thing was that the manicurist allowed very little dry time in between coats.  I always let the first coat dry for upwards of 2-3 minutes.  She, on the other hand, painted a thin coat on each nail, then immediately went back to the beginning and applied the 2nd coat.   Maybe the trick is a very thin first coat?  Hm.

Colors used:

OPI 'Jade is the new black'

OPI 'Greenwich Village'

I still have a pedicure left on my voucher (hooray!) ... so I'll be saving that for the summer!  For toes, I'd want to go with a more classic color like a poppy red, a bright pink, or a sleek neutral.  I went with green for my fingers because I have never purchased genuine green polish before (only that metallic mermaid green).  Every time I see it in the store, I want it – and never get it because it seems like the exotic color that'll get used once a year (as was the case with the metallic mermaid green).  The darker green (Jade is the new black) has a hint of teal in it and actually turned out to be quite lovely for this time of year - reminiscent of wintry pines, holly, fir branches, and christmas trees.

Tip for the future:

If you want the ease of professionally done nails, and also want to save some $$$, ask for a 'polish change', not a manicure.  The place I went to, ThinkPink, offered these for $6 less, and the only difference may be the lack of a hand massage, which is silly anyway.  It tickled and lasted like, a minute.

Empties

Empties posts.  The initial appeal and novelty factor of discovering this niche topic still remains.  As time passed, I noticed the selections are actually not as random as they first appeared. The reviews, rationales for repurchasing/not repurchasing, and choices convey a strong sense of personality, and even worldview.

My first empties post is more on the random side.  Some were presents and the samples were mostly not chosen by me.  Let's start with those –– samples!

From left to right -

The Face Shop: Herb Day Cleansing Foam - Acerola | Review  [Price: $7.99]

Delicately light pink, soft and foamy with very light - no scent.  Will buy this next time I go to The Face Shop in Koreatown!  (I like the packaging with just the two cherries on top, for some reason the 'review' link shows a different, ugly package design.) fyi: Acerola

Bliss: Triple Oxygen + C Energizing Cream  [Price: $54]

Delicately light orange, amazing light texture, no scent.  Loved it but would not buy because it is over $50 (it's a face moisturizer).

Missha: Cho Bo Yang BB Cream SPF30 PA++  [Price: $30 - $45]

Redness and enlarged pores instantly disappear.  Really nice that it can be rubbed on as opposed to the Skin79 BB cream which needs to be gently patted on.  I get really tired when multiple face cosmetics require those annoying patting motions for application!  It is very light though, and only two shades are available.  I would buy this if I didn't recently get the Laura Mercier Foundation (also good).  

Next:

(Left to Right)

Trader Joe's SPA Lavender hand & body lotion | Review  [$4.99]

A consistent re-buy.  Both my mom, my sister (and me of course) have repurchased it so many times.

Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner 

Very strong fumes - strong alcohol scent.  Stings eyes to the point of teariness.  Also makes the inside of your nose feel strange when you breathe it in.  A painful kind of strange.  Does not minimize the appearance of pores, and the only plus side is that it cools the skin.  

Victoria's Secret 'Beauty Rush' Body mist and lotion in "Appletini"  

This is where the randomness comes in - this body lotion and body spray set was a present - from a stranger - and boy did I hate them. So much so that the body spray is not actually empty. I can't stand to use it up, especially since sprays take FOREVER to go through.  The scent was not only highly artificial and sickening, but the body lotion also had a strong undertone of alcohol ...  I forced myself to use up the lotion because I hate wasting things, and I was all set to use the spray at least as a room spray, but - no can do!  The color is very pretty - I do love green, but I am sooo happy to throw it out.

LUSH Ocean Salt - Coconut cream and sea salt scrub [$19.95]

A very pretty blue, nicely scented, feel-good scrub.  I wouldn't buy it again though because diy scrubs are easy and pretty much free!  Also, the Clarasonic already provides good exfoliation.  

Earth Science Olive and Avocado deep conditioning masque for hair  [$8.95] 
I found this at Whole Foods.  The mini size was on sale for $2 so I picked it up since I'm always looking for a good hair conditioner.  This one works really well.  I even cut open the tube when it was near empty to try and get everything.  Luckily, I found the large size at WF a few months later.  This is just as good, if not better than the Kiehl's Olive Fruit Oil Hair Pak, except for just 2.4 ounces less, it's almost 3 times cheaper.  ($8.95 vs. $25.00) 

Trader Joe's Virtuoso lip balm with SPF 15 (spearmint) [$2.45]
Really good price - 3 in a pack.  Feels and smells nice.  Another one of those consistent re-buys for my mom, my sister, and myself.  Oddly, I can't find a product page or crowd sourced review for this so check out the blog post here and here if you want to see more.  

And lastly, because they didn't leave behind any kind of packaging/wrapper and so I almost forgot: 

*shampoo bar and bar tin was a present*

1.) Fun to try out, however, both my boyfriend and I thought it didn't clean the hair very well on those oily-hair days.  Also, I didn't think it made my hair any shinier, unless you count the natural oils it left behind!  The store advises you to purchase their special tin for storage in between uses to promote the longevity of the bar, but like others have said, when I did this, the soap stuck to the tin, took forever to get out, then broke in half.  [Check it out]

2.) This facial soap worked very well at getting rid of oil.  However, storage was an issue for me.  I found it pretty messy to keep around and for that reason, will keep using bottled face washes with the clarasonic. [Check it out]

Highlighter: Jemma Kidd

Jemma Kidd Makeup School - Dewy Glow All Over Radiance Creme in Iced Gold | Rose Gold

As you can see from the photos below, this shade fluctuates between a warm gold and a silvery beige.  Both photos were taken on a sunny afternoon, the difference being whether I opened/closed the curtains.  I was stuck between this lighter shade or the darker one, Rose Gold.  Luckily, Jemma Kidd made it easier for me by discontinuing the latter.  So I took a deep breath, reminded myself that in a shimmer product the shades probably wouldn’t make too much of a difference, and ordered the Iced Gold:

This is the more true to life appearance:

I don't know why I was so worried.  With BB creams and tinted moisturizers, the lighter shade usually works for me.  I think I was just super attracted to the name of the darker shade - it sounds so much warmer and prettier no?  Short story: I’m happy with this product.  This was to be expected - it is a cult favorite!  Longer story: once I started using it, I realized that this highlighter would really work to its full potential for those whose makeup routine involves a matte or powder based foundation. The BB cream I use in lieu of foundation already has a dewy finish, so when I put this highlighter on top, the effect is quite subtle.

I’m trying to build a makeup collection that has just the bare essentials, so this discovery makes me wish I had gotten something else first - a contouring blush perhaps, or a face primer. It’s surprising; even with the goal of getting the minimum, it still amounts to a lot of stuff! (eye shadow primer, eyelash curler, eye makeup remover, contouring brush, pressed powder brush, all things I still need)

This product combined with a light coverage foundation (for those with average to good skin) would be a great no-makeup makeup look.  While I am a fan of the enhanced yet natural look, I also love the very opposite of that.  Something like this.  

Mani Hands

Base coat: OPI Nail Envy Nail Strengthener

Color: Sephora's Let's Dance, Essie's Muchi Muchi

Top coat: Seche Vite, Wet n' Wild's Kaleidoscope

School starts in a few days.  My first semester of graduate school will involve five classes and 2 clinical observations per week.  The beginnings of new things often cause OCD-like behaviors.  For instance, cleaning my room more meticulously than usual, or using too many coats of nail polish, as may have been the case this time.  Upon finishing a manicure, I will compulsively start pushing back the cuticles some more, creating a millimeter gap which I then have to fill of course.  

The first half of the summer saw me with a lot of leisure time as a result of leaving a part time retail position. Even though I’ve committed to a new position, I still have a good deal of free time.  As a result, a lot of reading has been accomplished.  (Thank you bf for digging out your old books!)  Mostly 18th Century European Classics by the Brontë sisters: Charlotte, Emily, and Anne, George Eliot (born Mary Anne Evans), and Jane Austen. Wuthering Heights stands out as the different one, being so much darker. 

I am looking forward to the fall when there won't be as much makeup-ruining humidity. I ordered an item off my wish list which I am still impatiently waiting to receive.  Even though I anticipate being away more come October, I will still be checking in with your updates. What are you looking forward to in the coming months?

Skincare: moisturizers

Q: why do we need different moisturizers for day and night?

A: daytime moisturizers have SPF and night time ones don't, and SPF is important because the sun causes premature wrinkles.    

Allow me to share a little background before I jump into product reviewing.  Two years ago, I was using moisturizer as little as possible because I thought it would contribute to clogged pores and pimples for those with oily, combo skin.  Almost a year ago, I picked up Trader Joe's enrich on a grocery trip and happily used it after washing my face in the morning ... and at night.  At some point, I realized that I probably shouldn't be using a moisturizer with SPF when sleeping.  My next purchase was TJ's Nourish, which caught my eye because it happened to be the featured item.  As you are probably sensing, my first facial moisturizers were acquired rather haphazardly, based more on trust of the Trader Joe brand than on research and reviews (I had already tried their toothpaste, face cleanser, shampoos and conditioners, soaps, body lotions and body scrubs).   Once I started to delve a little deeper into skincare, I purchased those two more expensive bottles - Cetaphil for the higher SPF and oil control, and Paula's Choice out of retinol curiosity.  I’ve been using these moisturizers for 2 - 6 months now, and here are the reviews (from L- R):

D a y :

Trader Joe’s enrich moisturizer with SPF 15: $3.99 |review|

It is indeed light, I love the simple bottle design, and when I use it under my BB cream, it adds a glowy look to the skin, easily remedied in areas I don’t want shine with a dusting of finishing powder.  It’s fast absorbing and hasn’t caused any breakouts.  My only issue is with the Trader Joe’s logo on the front.  

Cetaphil Oil Control Moisturizer with SPF 30: $16.99 |review|

Great! Absorbs quickly, matte, light weight, etc.  It received polarized reviews on Makeup Alley though, so you might want to check that out.  I only wish I could find one with an even higher SPF. 

n i g h t : 

Trader Joe’s Nourish, Oil-Free Antioxidant Facial Moisturizer: $5.99 |review|

I almost returned this one. The first few uses I squeezed half a pump onto my palm, dipped a finger in, and rubbed it onto the face, where I found that it wouldn’t absorb. Instead, it formed a thin white film over the skin that I could see moving around to wherever I rubbed.  However, I changed the application method and it works fine now.  I squeeze a – tiny – amount onto the palm, rub it between my hands to warm it (this helps with absorption), then pat on and rub.  It’s lightweight, fragrance free, and my skin feels like velvet afterwards.  I reach for this automatically and habitually more than the pricier Paula’s Choice moisturizer.

Paula’s Choice Barrier Repair Moisturizer with Retinol: $22.95 |review| 

I find this moisturizer somewhat stressful to use.  The instructions say to apply a small amount as more lotion does not equal more efficacy.  Further instructions tell you to apply it quickly to ensure the briefest air-light exposure possible.  I found that when using this on humid, summer nights, my skin felt weighed down and oily.  Especially the T-zone.  So, I just might save this for cooler seasons.

These four moisturizers, due to luck and research, have been working out well for me. I'm rather disposed to think that moisturizer is an easy thing to get right. Was your favorite a simple choice or difficult to find? While I love the Trader Joe moisturizers for their no-frills effectiveness, I am hoping to try ones by Jurlique and La Roche Posay, perhaps when the Paula's Choice runs out!  

Little things

When I heard from various social media sources that the fresh truck was to be parked on Bleecker street one day, I promised myself to stop by and pick up some samples. Normally I don't care much for promotional tote bags, but this one turned out to be quite nice. 

What a cute trio, n'est pas?  (The two on the left I received thanks to the Sephora Insider birthday present program)  I was hoping to get a sample of their sugar lip scrub as well, but unfortunately it was only being given if you purchased their face cleanser and toner set right then and there.  To be fair, they were offering the set at a deep discount as part of the promotion - $40 instead of $80.  The sales woman seemed a little taken aback that I wasn't taking the bait!         

fresh products are beautifully packaged and designed; they feel amazing and work well.  For now though, I'd rather spend my $40-$80 on high end cosmetics, for instance, any of the NARS blushes, and not on something as basic as a face wash which is easy to get right for so much less.  However, believe you me I understand the appeal of fancy basics.  


(You can visit their website here.  The truck looked exactly like its illustrated counterpart.)