Sensible Stylista

My Everyday Make-up Essentials

Alright everyone, today's post is all about beauty. I've gotten a lot of emails from you guys asking about my favorite products so I thought it'd be good to share my everyday makeup essentials with y'all.  I've used many of these for years now, and I swear by them!  Sooo, without further ado, let's get to it:
My brow game is strong:

1.  L'oreal Brow Stylist Prep & Shape Pro Kit in Light to Medium ($14.99):  This product is an absolute must-have in my book.  Groomed brows ooze polish so I always make sure to take care of 'em.  With this kit, it takes less than 2 minutes.  I brush them quickly before shaping them with wax, then fill them in with eyebrow powder.
2.  Smashbox Brow Tech Shaping Powder in Taupe ($25):  After using my L'oreal kit to give my brows a solid base, I fill in sparse areas with this procut.  The applicator's hella easy to control so shaping's a breeze.  

Eyes are the windows to the soul:

1.  Estee Lauder Artist's Eye Pencil in Softsmudge Black ($24):  I've been using this liner for years!  I like to line the bottom of my eyes with it first before tackling my lids.   I always go bold on top, but I STILL don't feel comfortable just going for it with liquid liner so I sketch out my lines in advance to make sure everything's straight and even.  That way, I can "correct" whatever goes wrong easily.
2.  e.l.f. Intense Ink Eyeliner ($3.90):  Hands down my favorite liquid liner - it works super well, and it's hella affordable.  The applicator's really easy to use so it takes less than 3 minutes to execute.  If you're a fan of cat eye or dramatic eyeliner, you'll want to pick this up STAT.
3.  Too Faced Better Than Sex Waterproof Mascara ($23):  Get serious volume without clumping!  Slowly coat each and every lash and experiment with layering if you're looking to up your eye game.
4.  Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler ($25):  The best lash curler you'll ever use!  Many use it pre-mascara, but I like to curl them after application - just make sure your lashes are completely dry before getting your curl on.  Simply place it as close to your eyelid as possible (without pinching your skin) and gently press.  Hold for 5-10 seconds and work outwards for perfect peepers.
Getting flawless skin:

1.  Nars Blush in Orgasm ($30):  I own SO many blushes, but this baby's my go-to - it's an oldie but a goodie for sure. The peachy pink shade has just the right amount of shimmer, and I love its natural finish.
2.  Anastasia Contour Kit ($40):  This kit's pricy, but it's worth every penny IMHO.  Sculpt your features with ease with these 6 beautiful + blendable shades.  There are two kits available:  light to medium & medium to tan.  I own the former, and the colors complement my asian skin tone perfectly.  Havana's my favorite bronzer, but if I'm in the mood for something more subtle, I go with Fawn.  Banana's the perfect highlighter, and Vanilla + Sand help mask zits and/or red marks.
3.  e.l.f. Brushes:  Obsessed with these brushes!  I own several of 'em, but my favorites include:  the small tapered brush (for foundation + highlighter), the stipple brush (for bronzer), and the powder brush (for blush).  
4.  NYX Concealer ($4.99): This has been a staple in my beauty routine for years now.  It's honestly one of the best concealers I've ever used!  I don't like wearing a full face of makeup on the daily so I mask my imperfections with a swipe of this.  It's easy to blend, lasts all day long, and is super affordable so it's a must-have in my book.

Totally kissable lips:

1.  Vaseline ($4.49):  As much as I love fancy moisturizing lippies, nothing hydrates my pucker more than a tub of vaseline.  I always make sure to slather some on before bedtime!
2a.  Mac Lip Pencil in Spice ($17.50):  Alright, so these next three go hand-in-hand because their colors work SO well together.  As I'm sure many of you know, I'm all about nude lips.  I like experimenting with different shades for special occasions, but this is def. my go-to everyday color.  I start by lining my cupid's bow.  Do NOT try to execute this in one stroke - I've found that small dashes work best.  I then carefully overdraw my lower lip to create the illusion of a fuller pout.
2b.  Kate Moss for Rimmel London Lipstick No. 47 ($4.97):  After errthang, I fill in my lined lips with this lipstick!  I seriously can't get enough of this lipstick.  The lasting power's impressive, and it keeps my mouth hydrated throughout the day.
2c.  Too Faced Melted Lipstick in Melted Chihuahua ($21):  If I want to step things up a notch and add intensity, I layer a bit of this matte gloss on top!  
3.  NYX Mega Shine Lip Glosses ($4.99):  I own a bunch of these glosses, and they're literally the BEST because they're hella affordable and look super pretty.  Sweetheart and Pink Frost are my favorite colors!  If you're looking to experiment with new lippies, I highly suggest checking these babies out at your local Ulta.  You're welcome in advance.

What are some of your everyday makeup essentials?  Do you guys use any of these items? If yes, which ones? Leave me a comment below! I'd love to hear from y'all.  

Find of the Day: The Asymmetrical Mini Skirt ($24.99)

Pumped to share my latest bargain find with you guys today on SS.  If you're a fan of the menswear trend (or cute skirts in general), you'll fall head over heels in love with this piece.  Made of 90% polyester, the asymmetric hem + bowknot waist are on point.  The quality's comparable to Forever 21/H&M, which makes perfect sense for the price.
For today's post, I styled my new skirt with a loose knit and threw on patterned tights for personality - I kept everything super simple because I wanted my stockings to take centerstage. I'm such a huge fan of cute legwear. In fact, so much so that I have an entire pinterest board (called "All About Tights") dedicated to it.  How do you guys feel about tights - are they hot or not? Do you wear them often? If yes, where do you like to purchase them?
Other fabulous tights:

Tights:  Apt. 9 || Shoes:  Qupid || Bag:  Chanel || Skirt:  c/o Metisu || Top:  Aeropostale
Photos shot by Sung Shin.

Oozing Casual Vibes on the Daily

SO in love with my new sweater from Metisu!  I paired it with jeans and fun boots for an effortlessly stylish everyday look.  Where do you guys like to shop for casual clothing?  Some of my favorite places include Charlotte Russe, TJ Maxx, H&M and Last Call Neiman Marcus.
A closer look at my top + other fabulous sweater options for you guys:

I may or may not have a thing for animal print errthang.  Elevate your outfit tenfold with a pop of it! If you're feeling shy, start small - try wearing booties or a printed crossbody to add personality.

Top:  c/o Metisu || Jeans:  Stitch Fix || Boots:  Nine West || Bag:  Prada
Photos shot by the amazing Sung Shin.