Guest Post

Name: Sunny Hu
Location: Leuven, Belgium
Day job/current gig: Translator, but I’m really more like a professional feline entertainer typing a few lines when my bosses are taking their naps!
Hangouts online: mostlysunnyblog.com, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest
Current favorite product: It’s a tie between Guerlain Bronze Ora Iridescent Eyeshadow (incredibly stunning and complex shade that functions well on its own) and Dior Bikini Diorblush Cheek Creme (you can apply and blend it out in a pinch, and it sticks around).
Beauty inspirations: I wear a lot of dresses with bold prints, and the prints inspire me to try new color combinations!
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: Happiness

What makeup/beauty products can’t you live without?

Hourglass Soft Brunette Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil is the only product I don’t want to be seen without, and everything else is extra! Some other products that get a lot of love around here include a black gel liner (I’ve tried several brands and they perform equally well on me), Dior Diorshow Maximizer Lash Plumping Serum, Dior Diorshow Iconic Overcurl (my favorite mascara. Period), Burberry Pale Barley Eyeshadow, Edward Bess Cosmic Bliss, and Dior Spring Ball Addict Extreme (if I had to stick to one lipstick for the rest of my life, this would be it).

When did you start getting into makeup?

I had a couple of counter makeovers when I was in high school and some basic pieces when I was in university, but I really started getting into makeup about 3 years ago.

Urban Decay Naked Palette was all the rage, and I went through a lot of trouble to score one. I started watching tutorials and reading blogs to figure out how to work with it. Several months later, I made my first luxury makeup purchase (Chanel Mademoiselle Rouge Coco and Peridot Le Vernis). One thing led to another, and here I am with quite a collection (and a blog about it)!

What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?

Cream/stick eyeshadows! Some shades are pretty enough on their own. If you find a formula that lasts well on you, you can cut down the time you need for eye makeup to about 30 seconds.

What’s your favorite beauty tool?

Le Métier de Beauté Eye Shadow Brush. It places color, blends, and feels like a soft breeze on the lids.

What’s the best beauty advice you ever received?

This comes from my mama: eat healthy and go to bed early. I don’t always follow it to the letter, but I try!

What’s your skincare routine?

This could get really long, despite the fact that I’ve tried my best to streamline the process. A few tried-and-true skincare products in my bathroom cabinet include Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm, Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask, Omorovicza Copper Peel, Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser, Pai Echium & Argan Gentle Eye Cream, La Roche Posay Effaclar K & Duo, Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum, Caudalie Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Fluid, and Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Treatment.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve tried in the name of beauty?

I had my eyelashes permed! It was years ago, so I might have blocked out most of the memory. I do remember the curl wasn’t all that natural. Suffice to say, I’m pretty happy sticking to my eyelash curler.

Do you have a trademark look (hair/styling/makeup)?

Neutral eyeshadows, winged-out eyeliner, and a bright pop of color on my lips!

Are there any beauty decisions you’ve made that you look back on and ask yourself, “why?!”

Most of my beauty woes are related to my brows. I’ve plucked out too much hair and filled them with unnatural-looking shades because I didn’t know any better. I also used to over-apply eyeshadows before I discovered eyeshadow primers because they would fade before the end of the day/night. I might soon need to do a thorough job destroying pictures in which I have purple eyeshadows all the way to my eyebrows!

Where are your favorite places to shop?

Locally, ICI PARIS XL for my luxury purchases and pharmacies for brands such as Caudalie, Bioderma, and La Roche Posay. Beautybay for a large selection of brands that are not available in Belgium. I also sometimes beg friends who live in the US to order stuff from Sephora for me!

Anything else you want to share?

I’m an introvert (probably not the first thing you’ll notice about me, but I assure you it’s true), but I have a desire to share and make people laugh, which is why I started a blog! I spend a lot of time with my cats, Tango and Muffin. They have taught me patience and mellowed me out over the years.

Name: Monika Wykurz
Location: Bellevue, Washington, United States
Day job/current gig: I’m a part-time retail sales associate at a small Northwest beauty supply and salon chain, and a full-time wife.
Hangouts online: rocaille-writes.blogspot.com, Twitter and Instagram
Current favorite product: The Body Shop Honey Bronzing Powder in Fair Matte 02 (the perfect summer glow for pale skin tones!)
Beauty inspirations: Urban lifestyle, rock ‘n’ roll scene in the ’60s and ’70s, San Juan Islands, French Symbolist poetry, So-Cal, Audrey Hepburn, travel photography
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: Eclectic

What makeup/beauty products can’t you live without?

A good concealer is an absolute must for any skin emergencies, and MAC Studio Finish and Becca Dual Coverage Compact concealers are some of the best out there. I also can’t leave the house without a hint of blush on my cheeks, and Laura Mercier Second Skin Powder Blush in Lotus Pink suits my complexion particularly well. Last but not least, a good brushing of black mascara, like Covergirl LashBlast Volume.

When did you start getting into makeup?

When I was a little girl, I really wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps and become an actress; I even played a minor part in a Polish movie when I was 12 and remember being fascinated by the make-up artists’ trailer. Then, in my early twenties, I stumbled upon YouTube make-up tutorials when getting ready for a 1930s-themed costume party, and that sealed my interest.

What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?

Mineral foundation! My skin is my greatest insecurity so a super quick application of a powder foundation, like Laura Mercier Mineral Powder SPF 15, does wonders for my self-esteem. I also think that a slick of bright lipstick equals instant glamour.

What’s your favorite beauty tool?

I love the luscious softness of my bdellium tools makeup brushes. I use no. 776 (MAC 217 dupe) for a quick one eyeshadow look and to blend out the crease, no. 995 kabuki to buff in my mineral powder, and no. 975 is my favorite for bronzer. The green and yellow handles always manage to cheer me up!

What’s the best beauty advice you ever received?

The best and most difficult to follow piece of advice I’ve ever come across is to understand that we often are our worst critics. Being a perfectionist, I sometimes really struggle to look past my flaws.


What’s your skincare routine?

In the a.m., I wash my face with Dermalogica Ultracalming Cleanser and tone with the Ultracalming Mist. I followup with Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion and always wear Devita Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30+ when I’m not staying in.

In the p.m., I remove my makeup with Dermalogica Precleanse oil, cleanse with either the same cleanser as in the a.m. or my REN ClearCalm 3 Clarifying Clay Cleanser, tone and apply John Masters Organic Vitamin C Anti-aging Face Serum. I also treat my acne-prone areas with either a prescription retinoid or some good ol’ salicylic acid.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve tried in the name of beauty?

I think neem oil takes the prize for this one. I’d read that it was amazing for clearing up the skin, but the garlicky chive smell was so pungent that I wasn’t able to use it long enough to see any results.

Do you have a trademark look (hair/styling/makeup)?

My fellow Lipstick Bandits seem to agree that I gravitate toward perfected skin and often wear a peachy pink lip; but overall, I love wearing a winged-out eyeliner and a vibrant lipstick with cool undertones.

Are there any beauty decisions you’ve made that you look back on and ask yourself, “why?!”

I like to experiment with my look and usually embrace the results. I’m definitely not the type of girl to cry at a salon over a cut or color service; however, when I was a teenager and couldn’t find a concealer to match my fair skin, I used to apply a skin tone powder eyeshadow on my spots. Maybe not such a big crime in itself, except that it was a pearl finish…

Highlighted pimples, anyone?

Where are your favorite places to shop?

I purchase most of my makeup from Sephora, but I also love browsing Nordstrom’s beauty counters. For fashion, I tend to shop at H&M and Forever21, although recently I’ve become obsessed with Asos.com. My most loved shoes usually come from Nordstrom as well.

Anything else you want to share?

Apart from being an irrevocable beauty addict, I’m also a huge bookworm. Snuggling on my couch under a soft blanket with a cup of Cream of Earl Grey tea is one of my favorite pastimes! Since summer is typically the season for all sorts of getaways and lounging by the pool, I thought I’d recommend a couple of books I’ve been enjoying — The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie by Alan Bradley for all mystery lovers, Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami for a bit of magical realism, The Character of Rain by Amélie Nothomb for language geeks, and lastly The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin for some self-reflection. Happy reading!

Name: Terive Swerts
Location: Antwerp, Belgium
Day job/current gig: Makeup enthusiast and assistant to Noodles the Cat
Hangouts online: BellaChique.be, Twitter and Facebook
Current favorite product: Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Make Up
Beauty inspirations: music, images, nature, the people I see around me,
films
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: Fun!

What makeup/beauty products can’t you live without?

Without a doubt my beloved Shiseido Nourishing Mascara Base. It’s great for anyone having issues with curl hold. It also protects your lashes from drying out. My other pick is the Shu Uemura Lash curler because, you see, I need all the help I can get with my puny little lashes.

When did you start getting into makeup?

Well, makeup and I have had a bit of a complicated romance. I first got obsessed with it when I was around 14 years old. (Imagine bronzer, glitter and eye kohl overload!) A few years later, I hit my tom boy stage and suddenly makeup was out of the question. Then around 19 I rekindled my obsession again, got into beauty blogs, foundation and cultivated a slight obsession for lipsticks.

And so it began!

What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?

When rushing I try to pick one feature to highlight, mostly opting for brighter lips like fuchsias to draw attention to one place. I groom my brows, too, and try to make them look polished.

Do not underestimate the power of a well-kept brow!

What’s your favorite beauty tool?

Again, without a doubt, my beloved Shu Uemura lash curler! I’ve tried lots of lash curlers, and it’s my one true love because it lasts forever and doesn’t pinch my eyelids. Just my eye lashes. I also love the curl it makes. Some curlers really crimp lashes in a very unflattering angle, but this one gives a nice round curl. I also really love my good old Tweezerman tweezers. They stay sharp for ages!

What’s the best beauty advice you ever received?

Use sunscreen! My mom never taught me this. She still doesn’t really understand the importance of sunscreen (even though I try to convince her!). We used to live in tropical and sub-tropical climates, and you can see the sun damage over time. I’ve battled with pigmentation spots ever since, and they are incredibly hard to get rid of.

Better to prevent them in the first place.

What’s your skincare routine?

I wake up and do a good cleanse with the Clarisonic Mia 2 and Paula’s Choice Moisturising Cleanser. Then I use Estée Lauder’s Daywear SPF50.

At night, I do the same cleansing routine and use either Paula’s Choice Skin Recovery Serum, Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Lotion or Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum. Those are the main products I use, but sometimes I throw other things into the mix.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve tried in the name of beauty?

I guess I’m a bit boring, but I did paint a bandit mask on myself. It was an awesome moment shared with my little bandit kitty!

Do you have a trademark look (hair/styling/makeup)?

Coral lips for sure!

Make that coral everything! I’m a very big believer in coral. Everyone should have it in their stash because it’s just so flattering, fun and pretty!

Are there any beauty decisions you’ve made that you look back on and ask yourself, “why?!”

Yes! I guess I was a confused teen because I got lost in the big world of beauty. I overly tweezed my poor brows into thin little sad lines, and I definitely overdid it on the bronzer. Not just any bronzer, but really dark glittery bronzer! I thought I looked like a beach babe, but I think “Oompa Loompa” was a better choice of words.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

I love the local beauty stores here, but most things I order online because we don’t have the largest selection of brands where I live. Beautybay is my favourite online shop because they have so many great brands, and the shipping is free!