Skincare routine

Skincare routine by momo-san92 featuring Neutrogena face cleansers

 Spending time at my friend's house this weekend, I realized the importance of having a skincare routine and sticking to it. We pampered ourselves with different cleansers, moisturizers, and masks and I definitely saw an improvement on my skin. I decided that I was going to set up a skincare routine and here's my wishlist:

1. Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser- I've been using this cleanser for almost a month now and I'm very pleased with the results. It removes all of my make up and it leaves my skin brighter and refreshed. I'm definitely restocking.

2. Neutrogena Pore Refining Toner- I've always skipped toner on my skincare routine and what a mistake that was. Toner can really make a difference of the evenness and texture of your skin. I haven't tried this particular toner, but I've heard good things about it and I haven't had any problems with this brand.

3. Neutrogena Naturals Multi-Vitamin Moisturizer- I was also very impressed with this moisturizer. It has a very light and refreshing scent. I've always been afraid of moisturizers because they tend to leave my skin feeling very oily, but this one absorbs very quickly and doesn't leave traces of oil on my skin.

4. Make Up Forever HD Microperfecting Primer- This is also a step that I've skipped before. I've never tried face primer so I've been looking at drugstore options, but I haven't really been convinced by any of the products. I've reading up on reviews and decided to go with a high end option. I chose this one specifically because it covers up redness and has a light feel to it.

5. Mary Kay Timewise Matte Wear Liquid Foundation- I don't consider foundation to be a daily option in regards to skincare, but I will be trying to use it more often. I've never really tried foundation until now because I always had this idea that it would feel heavy and mask-like on your face. This foundation has calmed all of my fears, it feels very light on my skin and it removes all of my oiliness. I just ordered mine and I can't wait to see how it will work for me in the long run.

6. Facial Clay Mask with Avocado and Oatmeal- I decided that I was going to pamper myself every week with a mask. I tried this one at my friend's house and I fell in love. It's not a peel off mask but I do feel like this does tighten skin when it dries. After I rinsed it off, I felt that my skin was softer and my pores did look a tiny bit smaller.

What's your skincare routine? 

D.I.Y: Neon Headband

The summer is as hot as ever and the neon trend is still going strong. Here's a twist on the nautical rope headband. So let's get to it!

I wasn't able to find neon colored rope so I bought nylon rope and freshened it up with two coats of acrylic paint. 

1. Cut three 18-inch strands of rope and glue them together. Cut an 8-inch strand of elastic.

2. Sew on the elastic. 

3.  Glue a small piece(around 4 inches) of ribbon and wrap around a couple of times to cover up the stitches.  

4. Braid the rope and after you're done repeat the above steps on the other side. Your finished headband should look like this.

Summer 2012 Trends: How to Wear Neon

Trend report: neon by momo-san92 featuring satchel handbags

Review: e.l.f. Zit Zapper

What motivated me to buy this product was the price. It is only $1, can you believe that?  I've used up almost the entire thing and if I could I would buy these in bulk. There are a lot of things that I love about this product. The first is the size. It's great for traveling and carrying it around in your purse. Although sometimes I do wish it was tiny bit bigger because I keep running out. Another thing that I love is that the formula's clear and it absorbs easily. I usually wear this under make up without any worries. As for its effectiveness, I think it works superbly. I apply it at night and by morning it has reduced the swelling and redness on all my break outs. The roller applicator was something that I wasn't used to in these kinds of products but I learned to enjoy it. It allowed me to apply the product consistently on the areas that are prone to break outs. I'd never been able to do this with other products because they were too drying and I was very happy to find out that I could do it with this one. So, yes, I would buy this product again in a heartbeat.

Review: NYC's Smoochproof 16H Lip Stain

Shade 492 Never Ending Nude

I must admit this was an impulse buy. These sell for around $5 and what brought it to my attention was the shade. I'm not a huge fan of the packaging, it is basically a solid tube so you don't really get to see the shade on the brush tip and I know this might be a problem for some buyers. I would say the product itself is good not great. It is very long lasting, I've worn it through an entire school day and it doesn't smudge. It is very pigmented (you basically get the color of the tube) and delivers a very natural flush to the lips. The only serious problem I have with this product is that it's very drying on my lips. If I don't make sure my lips are hydrated before I wear it, my lips start to flake. I've been able to reduce the flaking by using my Burt Bee's lip balm. However, I don't think I would buy it again. My experience wasn't terrible, but I'm looking forward to trying out different kinds of lip stains before I make a commitment.

Vintage babe

This summer more and more people are opting for retro inspired bathing suits with a modern twist. Besides thinking they're cute, I've always liked them for what they represent. Women in the 1940s and 50s didn't have this pressure to be skinny, they were real women with real curves. There wasn't a certain body type that was considered to be ideal. These women had confidence! They also had a certain playfulness to them and just because they were more covered up that didn't stop them from being sexy.

Vintage babe by momo-san92 featuring norma kamali swimwear

D.I.Y: Fringe Necklace

Before you begin this project make sure you have enough chain (I used up the majority of this pack which is about 100 inches.)

1. Measure and cut a 16 inch strand of chain. Attach a lobster claw clasp and a hoop at the ends.

2. Cut as many 3 inch strands of chain as you can. Group the strands into pairs.

3. Fold the necklace in half and mark the middle. Attach the first strand. In my case, I made the center strand a bit longer that the rest (about 4 inches instead of 3).

4. Continue attaching strands on both sides until you're happy with the results.

Here's the final look:

D.I.Y. Inspiration Board: Fringe Necklaces

Fringe is a pretty classic summer staple. It gives off a carefree and laid back vibe. However fringe jewelry can give a sophisticated touch to any outfit. I've been gathering some ideas and I've managed to make my own version of a fringe necklace. Stay tuned for the DIY!

It's all in the bag

So you are a serious blogger that recently decided to step up your blog's pictures and finally get that DSLR. You've been playing with it for weeks and you've finally figured out all the awesome features of your new baby. Now that it's time to take your baby out, you realize that all you have to protect is a nylon camera bag. Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to bash on camera bags. However you're a person that's constantly on the move and you need a bag that can offer your camera some protection and still be caught in those fabulous outfit of the day pictures. Handbag designers are well aware of this new need and now skipping out on style for your camera bag is not an option.  For this post I've picked out some of my favorite camera bags. (Hopefully I can commit to buying one of these sometime in the future.)

The Lola bag by Epiphanie $169

It's available in four different colors: red, teal, black, and pink. It features a waterproof synthetic leather exterior. The interior is fully padded and it counts with adjustable velcro panels that can be moved to any position. 

The Brooklyn Camera Bag by ONA $309

This bag is a bit more on the pricey side but I just love the schoolgirl charm it has. It's made with handcrafted and vegetable tanned leather. It has a customizable interior with 3 removable dividers.

Posey 2 Bag by Kelly Moore $169

I really like the sporty aspect of this bag and the fact that it has many sort of built-in pockets for credit cards and such. It also features a waterproof synthetic leather exterior and a fully padded interior with 2 adjustable dividers.

The Georgia Bag by Jo Totes $107

Again I really love that it's a satchel and it has a very cute nautical pattern on it. The exterior is faux leather and canvas and it features plenty of extra pockets for personal items. The interior is completely padded with 3 adjustable dividers.

The Bossi Bag by THEIT  $159(canadian dollars)

I think the quilting on the exterior gives this bag a very classic and put together sort of look and who doesn't like a little Chanel look-a like? It has a water resistant exterior and a fully removable padded insert that lets you choose between camera bag or purse.


Which one is your fave?

May's Beauty Haul

This summer I'm using more relaxed makeup styles so most of my experimenting has been going on with nail polishes. I'm really into bright blues, pastels, and nudes. Anyway here's what I got: 

Nicole by O.P.I. polishes in My Lifesaver (left) and My Favorite Gold (right)

O.P.I. mini set inspired by  the movie Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides 

Revlon Nail Polishes in Graceful (left) and Radiant (right)

NYC Smooch Proof 16H Lip Stain in the shade Never Ending Nude