My Makeup Life

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!

Name: Jessica Revitte
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Day job/current gig: Bilingual (French) Customer Service Representative
Hangouts online: gettingcheeky.com, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest
Current favorite product: Bruno Acampora Musc Eau de Parfum
Beauty inspirations: French women, history and literature (Don’t believe me? I have an Inspired By Literature series!)
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: Classic

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

I’d be lost without Giorgio Armani’s Maestro Foundation, Stila’s Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner and Dior’s Rosy Glow Blush.

When did you start getting into makeup?

True story. As a small child (think five) I used a green Crayola Magic Marker to “apply shadow” to my eyelids. Needless to say my mother was not amused. Though I’ve loved makeup as long as I can remember, I didn’t fall head over heels in love with products until I studied in Paris. Painfully dangerous for my meager student’s budget.

What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?

Cut out the “paradox of choice” and keep a small selection of items at arm’s length for quick application. Being that I’m a beauty blogger I have a relatively large collection, but I only store the absolute essentials on the surface of my vanity. If I give myself too many options while I apply my makeup before work I’m easily distracted!

What’s your favorite beauty tool?

It may sound anticlimactic, but an eyebrow spoolie is everything. I have thick brows that I absolutely adore, but all too often they need to be tamed.

What’s the best beauty advice you ever received?

As a pre-teen my grandmother told me never to pluck my eyebrows. Days later I read an interview of a model in a popular teen magazine who said her grandmother had given her the same advice. The corroboration was too much to ignore, so I don’t touch them! (Hence my response above.)


What’s your skincare routine?

I’ve long made skin a priority so my skin care routine is quite lengthy. In the morning I apply a day cream (my current favorite is Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream) along with an SPF no matter the weather. At night I use the following products to remove my makeup and cleanse; Bioderma Sensibio H20, Pai Camelia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser, Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré, Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner (nightly) or Clarins Bright Plus HP Gentle Renewing Brightening Peel (once a week). I’m sorry to say that this is all augmented by yet more serums, eye creams and moisturizing balms depending on the season.

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

I tested Missha’s Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Hydro-Gel Mask once upon a time. The mask was great, but I couldn’t get over the fact that I had snail excretions all over my mug. (Shudders involuntarily.)

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

Despite my constant desire to experiment with new products and looks, my signature for the last ten years has been barely there base makeup, a flicked black cat-eye and blush. I let my hair do its own thing (which is usually BIG and wavy), but I often pull it back into a chignon when I can’t stand it in my face.

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

As a relatively straight laced 16-year-old girl with long hair and blonde highlights I impulsively decided to cut it all off, dye it Dr. Pepper red and suddenly go for the emo look. It didn’t look horrible, if I do say so myself, but it SO wasn’t me. The instant I got home I vowed to grow out my hair (that had been down to my lower back only hours before) and cried for hours about my impulsive decision.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

Will you be mad at me if I say Paris? I did live there after all, so it seems fair. When I’m home Nordstrom is my favorite beauty destination, and I visit Anthropologie weekly … though that may have something to do with the fact that it’s right across the street from my office!

Name: Jenn Coyle
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Day job/current gig: I’ve taken the plunge. I’m now freelancing full-time in graphic and web design.
Hangouts online: HelloBrio.com, Society6, Etsy, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and Pinterest
Current favorite product: Too Faced BB Cream
Beauty inspirations: Wistful indie films, Philadelphia high rises and quiet coffee shops
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: Journey

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

I will not go out the door without blush, mascara, and under-eye concealer. I know my weaknesses sans-makeup, and that trifecta of makeup products does the trick. I also need a good mud mask to help clogged pores.

When did you start getting into makeup?

Makeup became a big part of my life in middle school. My mom, who modeled as a young woman, knew that I’d spark an interest in makeup sooner than later, so she taught me how to use makeup to enhance features in a subtle way and not go overboard (hello, raccoon eyes and dark lipstick on a 14-year-old… Not attractive!)

What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?

Using an eyelash primer is the most incredible and failsafe beauty time-saving trick I have. Doing so allows me to apply one coat of primer and one to two coats of mascara, achieving maximum length and volume sans eyelash curler. Using primer also prevents clumping, since you won’t need as many coats of mascara to achieve eyelash definition.

What’s your favorite beauty tool?

I can’t do without my 1.5″ Hot Tools gold curling iron (model 1102). I’ve tried different diameters of curling irons, and the 1.5″ always gives me the soft, bouncy and put-together hair look that I want to achieve.

What’s the best beauty advice you ever received?

My mom is a wealth of beauty tips. She helped me understand that success in makeup depends on your ability to objectively understand your facial strengths and weaknesses, and enhance where needed.


What’s your skincare routine?

My skincare routine is almost embarrassingly simple and no-fuss. In the shower, I wash my face with Ivory bar soap if needed, followed by an exfoliator like the (generic version of the) St. Ives Blemish & Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub or the Yes To Blueberries Softening Facial Exfoliator if I sense a breakout coming. Then, I will swipe my clean, dry face with an astringent-soaked cotton ball (I typically use a generic Sea Breeze Astringent). From there, I use the Yes to Grapefruit Dark Spot Correcting Serum for hyperpigmentation issues and then the Yes to Blueberries Daily Repairing Moisturizer or Aveeno Eczema Therapy Moisturizing Cream if I need it. If it’s the end of the day, I will use a Yes To cleansing facial towelette and then complete my routine starting at astringent as mentioned above.

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

My weird beauty thing probably has to do with going vegan and gluten free for about 3 months in 2011. My skin ended up looking great as a result of this lifestyle change, and I felt more energized. But when all’s said and done, that type of extreme diet isn’t sustainable for me.

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

My trademark look is pretty simple: black winged eyeliner, natural-looking mascara, and pink blush; and my hair is styled with a loose curl if I have the time!

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

Oh, the hair. For a while, I dyed my hair an awful golden light brown from a box which just ended up looking like brass city. If I had a chance to dye my hair again in a drastic way, I think I’d go for platinum or silver. But only if a professional did it!

Where are your favorite places to shop?

Target, always and forever! When I lived in the suburbs, I may or may not have gone to Target more than once a week. I’m not a huge fan of their clothes, but I love the rest of the store, especially the home decor. I love to get my trendier clothes from Forever21 and H&M. I’ll go to Urban Outfitters for my pseudo-hipster everyday wear, and LOFT for my I’m-an-adult-lady clothes.

Anything else you want to share?

Being beautiful comes from the core of believing you’re beautiful. Confidence always prevails (at healthy levels, of course) and allows you to radiate from the inside.

Name: Radhika Mohan
Location: Santa Clara, California, and when I’m in India, I call Bangalore home.
Day job/current gig: I work(ed) part-time, from home, for a medical transcription company — a job that involves a lot of typing…and chipped polish.
Hangouts online: weekendramblings.com, Instagram, Twitter, Google+, Facebook and Pinterest
Current favorite product: Dior Creme Abricot Fortifying Cream for Nails. A little sticky and best used right before bedtime, but this cream sorts out any pesky dry bits around the nails almost overnight.
Beauty inspirations: Clear blue skies and starry nights, my mom’s garden after a rain, and the best mood board of all — Pinterest!
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: Simple

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

This Indian girl can’t live without a black eyeliner, and my favorite is the Urban Decay eyeliner in Perversion. Also, Bobbi Brown Corrector (dark peach) and a good lip balm.

When did you start getting into makeup?

For the longest time, I had a 2-step makeup routine — Maybelline Mineral Power Powder Foundation (which I bought mostly because it came with a brush) and a liquid eyeliner. Trouble started about 5 years back when I discovered beauty blogs. A brief stop at a Chanel counter, and I got myself a brand new obsession!

What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?

My go-to time-saving beauty trick is to use my lipstick as a blush. Pick up the color either directly from the lipstick or from the lips and dab on to the cheeks. Perfectly coordinated blush in a second! Or use a lip-cheek combination product like the Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge.

What’s your favorite beauty tool?

Chanel eyelash curler, which for reasons unknown is/was a limited edition release. My lashes are quite straight, and I love how the curler gives them a naturally lifted appearance.

What’s the best beauty advice you ever received?

Eat healthy, walk a lot, sleep early. Of course, when it comes to actually following all that advice, I am a bit of a work in progress. :P


What’s your skincare routine?

Grab a cookie or two…this is going to be one long answer! My skin type is oily/combination-sensitive, and here’s what I am using currently.

Face wash: Olay Cleansing Cloths for oily-combination skin. These have salicylic acid in them, and the textured cloth provides gentle exfoliation to keep skin looking clean.
Serums: Chanel Resynchronizing line – Le Jour and La Nuit. The day serum has salicylic acid in it, and La Nuit — for the night — has hyaluronic acid. Both are light enough to use under my regular moisturizer and are perfect for my crazy skin type.
Moisturizer: Lush Dream Cream (actually a body moisturizer meant for sensitive skin) for the day and Clinique Moisture Surge Overnight Mask for the night.
Eye Cream: Chanel Sublimage Eye Cream. I had always believed a good face cream would work just as well for the eye area, but after trying a couple of samples of this cream and noticing a difference in the darkness around my eyes, I gave up on the theory and bought a full-sized (tiny) jar.
Face masks/treatments: I am currently using the When Travelmate Essence sheet masks. And, Biore Pore Strips – a must-have for anyone who has a camera inches away from the nose!

For my incredibly dry lips, I depend upon the Fresh Sugar Polish and the Rosebud Salve.

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

I can’t call this weird as it is something a lot of people do, at least back home in India — use a mix of henna powder, yogurt, and egg as a hair mask. It adds in moisture to the hair and gives it a healthy shine, but I cannot stand the smell of eggs…and yogurt…mixed together. Sigh…the things I try on my hair!

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

Brown eyeshadow, black eyeliner — I look sleepy-eyed without it — and a nude/neutral lipstick.

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

I did try cutting my hair myself, ending up with a lopsided blunt cut that took ages to grow out.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

I do a lot of my shopping online, but in-store or online, I love to shop at Nordstrom and Sephora.

Anything else you want to share?