Choi’s Choice; Makeup Edit
*Note this is a repost from my old website
Hello beautiful people, how are you? I hope you’re well. During this unpredictable COVID time, things are harder than they have ever been. I hope my blog can be a place where we can come to shelter from the insanity of the world around us. I hope I can provide some sort of escape during this difficult time.
I think that is the beauty of well, beauty. It can be a safe place, a reliable ritual that we can come to. Though I think that confidence should never be built on the way you look, there is no denying that feeling good and feeling beautiful is empowering like none other. Routines have become a must (if I don’t do my routines, days seem to bleed into each other), and your beauty routine is one of the most important routines that one can develop (in my humble opinion).
We can’t control what is going on in the world around us, but we can control how we perceive and decide to react to it. I think this time has truly opened my eyes to how valuable having reliable things are. Whether it’s a routine, a person, or a beauty product, reliability is so incredibly important. It’s almost comforting in a way, knowing that something will work the same as you expect it to. So in honor of that, I decided to do my first Choi’s Choice. This will be a series where I write about my choice (I’m a Choi if that isn’t clear haha) on different topics. These topics will range from beauty to fashion and everything in between. But for this first Choi’s Choice, I thought I would write on my favorite, staple makeup products. So without further ado, let us begin.
First up brows. Brows have power, fear the brow. The shape and color of your brows can completely change your entire face (kinda scary huh), so it is CRUCIAL you have the right brows for your lovely face. Buuut I am no brow expert and you should definitely consult a professional to find the right shape for your face. What I do know is that Bondi Boost’s Lash + Brow Growth Serum is the BEST brow (and lash!) serum I have ever encountered and this is something I recommend to all who will listen. Okay, I concur, this technically isn’t makeup, but I wear this everyday instead of brow gel so… just cut me some slack for this one (thanks much appreciated). Truly though, this has completely changed my entire brow/lash life. Brows are thicker and more defined, lashes are thicker and longer, wahhh a dream. I have tried all sorts of lash serums, but none have worked as well as this oil blend. The best part is, it’s organic and natural AND it works stupendously. It is one of my top 3 beauty must haves. I have been using it for a year and have seen significant growth and definition to both brows and lashes. It is non irritating (like most of those other serums) and it smells of lavender. A DREAM. Go snatch one for you, your friend, your neighbor, anyone with brows and lashes. They’ll thank you. Here to make it even easier, I’ll link you straight to it.
Next up a product whose praises I’ve already sung: (it’s in the Feb Favorites post!) Ilia’s Multi Stick in All Of Me. A creamy, highly pigmented, blends-like-a-dream stick blush in a watermelon red color. It gives you such a natural “I was out at the beach for a little too long” flush that I think is so endearing. It’s the most reliable product in my possession for when I need to look like I actually go outside. I like putting it on my cheekbones, across the high bit of my nose bridge, and on my eyelids. It’s so natural and very flattering. It brightens your face and makes your features look more defined (in a good way). If a red shade isn’t your thing, it also comes in several other different colors. All have the same wonderful formula and pigmentation.
$34.00 USD at Sephora.com
Okay real talk. I’m Korean, which basically means that my eyelashes are VERY VERY VERY straight and stubborn (my fellow Asians know the struggle). I’m talking about pin straight, thick lashes that will NOT hold a curl to save me. I have gone through every curler and every mascara in hopes of finding one strong enough to hold a curl on my darn lashes. It’s truly a tragic story. I would find a curler that would curl them impeccably, but then when I applied mascara they would fall as if they were never curled. Until I found this duo. Now I have to be honest, I’m very picky with my mascara. I want it to be defining but not clumpy. Lengthening but not stringy-spider like. And of course, IT HAS TO HOLD CURL. Now I must confess, I have not found a perfect mascara yet. The mascara of my dreams is yet to be created (hmm maybe I should create it then hehe), but I have found something that works well enough in the meanwhile. That was a lot of hyping up, I’ll introduce the products now.
First up the Shiseido Eyelash Curler. It’s a reliable curler that curls lashes well and gently. If your lashes are extra stubborn, you can heat up your curler with a blow dryer just until it’s warm to the touch. I’ve seen some people heat theirs with a lighter, but I would advise against it. I chose this lash curler as my favorite because of its verstitle, universal shape that fits all eye shapes. I also prefer this one over others because Shiseido sells curler pad refills. (Curler pads? What are those? Oh you silly little thing, great question. It’s the small, typically silicone/rubber pad on your curler. Psst, I added a picture below). Why is that important, you may ask. Well, even curler pads can be worn out with lots of use. When it’s worn down, it doesn’t curl as well. If you have noticed that your curler isn’t curling your lashes anymore, chances are your curler pad needs to be replaced. Most companies add one or two extra ones with the curler, but Shiseido sells them in a pack. So instead of buying a whole new curler every time, you can just buy a refill pack! Nifty!
$6.00 USD at Sephora.com
$22.00 USD at Sephora.com
Okay next is mascara. There’s a quote from William Golding’s Lord of the Flies that I think sums up my relationship with mascara pretty well. “They looked at each other, baffled, in love and hate.” As aforementioned, I have yet to find my dream mascara, but I have found one that works fine until I do. Good news, it’s a drugstore mascara (can I get a wooo for not having to break the bank for mascara). When I say that I have tried every mascara I could get my hands on, I mean it. Waterproof, high end, drugstore, natural, vegan, homemade (two words, charcoal mess), cake mascara, I have tried it all. None have worked as well as the Covergirl Clump Crusher Extensions mascara. It does what it says it will, crushes clumps. What I have found is for Asian lashes, as well as other stubborn lashes, is that a dry formula is best. That way, it has time to dry in a curl and won’t fall. One of the biggest problems with mascara on eyelashes that won’t hold curl is that the mascara you use is too wet and dense. It’s weight makes the lashes clumpy and thick, and because it’s wet it doesn’t dry fast enough to preserve the curl. This formula is dry and defining, a combination not easily found in mascaras. It defines, holds curl, but looks so effortlessly natural. Like I said, it's the best mascara I have found. It can be found at most drugstores, but I buy mine from Target.
$6.19 USD at target.com
Next another product I mentioned in the Feb Favorites post: Kosas Wet Lip Oil Gloss in the color Dip. It truly is such a dependable color and formula. It is a neutral, your-lips-but-better color that moisturizes and adds a glassy shine. Unlike other glosses and oils, it doesn’t fade 2 seconds after application BUT it isn’t sticky or thick. It has a pretty steep price at $27.00 USD per gloss, but I bought mine in the mini set on Sephora for $18.00 USD for three different shades. If you can’t buy the one on Sephora fear not. Kosas has sales on their website, so I recommend keeping your eye open for sales and opportunities to snatch this beauty.
$27.00 USD for regular size at Sephora.com or Kosas.com or $18.00 USD for a mini set of 3 at Sephora.com
Finally, mascara’s companion, eyeliner. Here are my two recommended liners for all your pretty eyes.
Calling out to all my fellow brown eyed beauties! We don’t get enough credit for our eyes. People sing praises for blue eyes, rich as the sea and light as the sky. People talk of green eyes, mysterious as forests and emeralds. BUT, us brownies don’t get our well deserved praise. So to all my fellow honey, chocolate, coffee eyed peeps, here’s a liner for you (and you blue and green eyed peeps, all are welcomed). I have found blue, purple, and green colors to be the most flattering on brown eyes. Something about those colors really opens up your eyes and illuminates them. For this I love Colourpop’s BFF Créme Gel Liner. They come in a multitude of colors, but I have it in a beautiful sky blue, Big Splash. Trust me when I say it really brings out brown eyes. Just a smudge on the upper lash line, or outlining the outer corners of the bottom lash line, this can be worn discreetly as well as played up. Such a creamy, pigmented formula. At $7.00 USD, it is a STEAL.
$7.00 USD at colourpop.com
Now on to my favorite classic black liner. For this I love NYX Epic Ink Liner in Black. It is a reliable liquid liner that goes on very dark and dries quickly. It is the best liner I have found for beginners and pros alike. Easy to manage and easy to wear, it’s absolutely wonderful. There's really not much to say about a wonderful eyeliner except that it is absolutely stellar. What’s even more wonderful is that it is $9.00 USD and lasts for a long time.
$8.99 USD at target.com
Well folks, that’s it for this week's post, I hope you enjoyed it. I had so much fun writing my first Choi’s Choice, and I dare say it was a success. As always, if you have read this far, it means so much to me, thank you. If you have any questions, comments, or want to discuss the best ice cream flavor, please don’t hesitate to reach out and either email me at oliveandkore@gmail.com or dm me on instagram, @oliveandkore. Don’t forget to subscribe to be notified when I post a new blog every Thursday! I've had a lot of fun, thanks for reading! :)
This post is NOT sponsored, I just enjoy sharing my favorite products with everyone!
