BEAUTY BASICS

When it comes to my beauty regime, I try and keep it simple. The less makeup products to put on, the better. I'm usually in a mad dash to get through the door so I don't have much time anyway. I'll be the first to say that I'm guilty of hitting the snooze button too many times in the morning. I need my beauty sleep, you know?

So here are the beauty basics that I reach for on the daily and never do me wrong:

Prep: I have been loving Glossier's Balm Dotcom. I use the universal skin salve mostly for my lips but have used it on my cuticles to give my nails a little TLC. I tend to have dry hands so I always have a cream in my bag. I recently got this & Other Stories Moroccan Tea Hand Cream because it smells fresh and clean. 

Face: At the moment, I can get away with not wearing foundation everyday, but I always blend in a little NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer under my eyes and in areas I need it. It evens out my complexion without it being too heavy. To really fake good skin, I dab the RMS Beauty Living Luminizer across my cheekbones and on my cupid's bow. This stuff make your skin look so healthy, hydrated, and fresh. What more could you want? 

Eyes + Brows: A little cat eye flick has become my signature look and I do it with the Stila Stay All Day Liquid Liner. I have never cheated on my liner, but the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner has me tempted. With that, curled lashes and a few coats of mascara, my eye look is complete. I don't go anywhere, and I mean anywhere without my brows on. I have gone through quite a few of the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz and Brow Gel. Its the perfect duo to naturally define your brows and have them stay all day. 

The Finishing Touch: Lately, I haven't been wearing much on my lips since they have been so dry thanks to the changing weather. When I do wear a lip color, its the Giorgio Armani Lip Maestro because its easy to apply, matte, yet moisturizing, and the color is natural. It's everything I want in a lip color basically. Just before I leave for the day, I spritz on Diptyque Les Eaux Eau Rose. With a mix of damask rose, lychee, and bergamot, it's a fresh and feminine day time fragrance that always gets compliments. 

I have tried plenty of makeup and skincare but these are the standouts that always get the job done right. What are some of your beauty bag basics that you can always count on?

LONDON PHOTO DIARY

Here are some pictures snapped on my recent trip to London: an insight of some things I saw, wore, and ate.

We did the usual tourist ventures such as gawk at Big Ben and take selfies in the red phone booths, but we also wandered the art museums and the cold streets in search of the best earl grey tea. It was also Fashion Week and I did a lot of style stalking, getting so much inspiration from the impeccably dressed ladies and gentlemen roaming the streets London.

 One of the biggest highlights of my trip was attending the Emilio de la Morena F/W15 show at the Somerset House. The Spanish designer made jeweled tone velvet a new obsession of mine. I loved the silhouettes of the garments but my favorite look was look 16: (see it here) Longline black coats are by far my weakness and forever will be.

London is such an amazing city filled with so much diversity and energy, I only wish I had a longer stay. I will be back sooner than later!

THE LONDON LOOK NO.2

I'm still adjusting to the idea of liking weather below 65 degrees. Being spoiled by the California sun all my life has made me oblivious to what cold actually is. London's weather is definitely not what I'm used to but, of course, I'll take any opportunity I get to wear something warm and fuzzy. I'm currently favoring any deep blue hues and faux furs, so this jacket hits the spot. Pairing it with an easy boyfriend jean that I can layer tights under for extra warmth makes this outfit a little more functional for exploring alleyways than it looks.