Mani Monday

So, I haven't been getting my nails done as much ... I still go to get pedicures but I've learned to do my own nails and save some $$!

Here are my nails today - the color is A Crewed Interest by Essie.  I'm not so crazy about this color.  I use a top coat called Seche Vite which gives my nails that high-gloss salon-shine.  Love it!

-Lisa

My New Fave Lipcolor

Hooray for Friday!!

I love it when I find something I forgot I had!!  I found this lipstick in my makeup stash and totally forgot I had it - I've been wearing it all week, I love how subtle and peach-y it is.  It's perfect for work or when you need something lighter on your lips.  It's Laura Mercier in Rosewater.  It looks super pink on the web site but trust me it's gorgeous and looks so natural - it's semi-sheer.

Quick update on this 5:2 diet: I survived two weeks of this and so far so good!

Oh, new favorite snack: 100-calorie greek yogurt w/ frozen fruit (we have lots of frozen fruit in our freezer from JD's smoothie days)  + 1 packet splenda = DELICIOUS!  It's a like a super creamy parfait dessert.  So good.

-Lisa

Smudge-proof Liquid Eyeliner

Today is my Friday because I have a 4-day weekend ahead of me!

But before I go off to celebrate our 4- year wedding anniversary I need to share my love for Lancome's Artliner.  I've been using this since college and while I experimented a little bit with YSL's eyeliner gel I've always gone back to Lancome's Artliner because THIS EYELINER DOES NOT BUDGE!!!

Trust me gals - I have really greasy hooded Asian eyes and nearly everything smudges EXCEPT for this Artliner + my favorite Trish McEvoy eyeshadow pens.

I wish I had a close-up pic of my eye to prove this to you but that would be weird wouldn't it :)

I will admit though I do and must use eyelid primer to be 100% sure nothing smudges.  I use Urban Decay's eyelid primer.  I dab this onto my eyelids, pat on some eyeshadow and then draw a thin line with the Lancome Artliner.

After the eyeliner I curl my lashes & coat on some Lancome Hypnose Waterproof mascara.  Waterproof mascara I learned is the key to helping your lashes stay curled.  Who knew!!!! It's a bitch to get off but that's what eyemakeup remover is for right :)

HAPPY WEEKEND ALL!!
-Lisa

July 4th & My New Diet

Hope everyone had a wonderful July 4th holiday!!!

This post has nothing to do w/ makeup but the blog is called the "Powder Room" and if I were in a powder room with you gals I would for sure discuss the below!

So, I can't remember the last time I enjoyed the July 4th holiday weekend this much.  Chris, JD's brother was in town from Charlotte, so we got to spend time with him and play tourists for the day in Manhattan.

We ended our weekend with a BBQ at my parents' house - it was a party to introduce the Kims to the Li's (Eugene's girlfriend Qimin's family).  She has such a warm, outgoing (and big!) family - a nice complement to our smaller slightly more reserved clan.

Anyway with all of the gluttony that went on last week and for all of June pretty much I gained a few lbs.  So I'm back to my regimen of healthy eating + working out.

I also am trying out this 5:2 diet, where you eat normally for five days and limit yourself to 500 calories for two days.  I just started this week, and survived Monday & Tuesday on 500 cals each.   This is what I ate:

Monday: 

• Lunch - salad with sesame dressing, peppers & tofu (274 cals)
• Snack - 3/4 cup grapefruit (56 cals)
• Dinner - 1/2 cup rolled oats with water & 1 tblspn raisins (183 cals)

Tuesday: 

• Lunch - 1 cup of brunswick stew (320 cals)
• Dinner - 1/2 cup rolled oats with water & 1 tblspn raisins (183 cals)

Dinner sounds small but the oats are surprisingly filling.  I made sure I went straight to the bedroom after I ate to watch TV, because as pathetic as this sounds, when I watch TV in our bedroom I'm less likely to go downstairs and fish for snacks (because I am that lazy).

So now that I've gotten those 500-calorie days out of the way, according to this diet, I can eat normally the next five days.  I'll still count calories the rest of this week (using the MyFitnessPal app which is a godsend) but at least I can "cheat" on things like wine and something sweet.

We'll see how things go!  Tonight I have cardio kickbox + a belly, butt & thighs class @ my gym.

-Lisa

Summer Face

This weekend was a scorcher and I loved it.  With all this humidity I've been going lighter on the macquillage lately, using just 3 things: concealer, bronzer, blush.

I've been dotting my face wherever it's red (sides of nose, in between my eyes) with this handy concealor/highlighter -- Yves Saint Laurent Touch Eclat.  I read about it on this blog which I love to read for discovering new makeup.  I love reading what the models/fashion editors use!!  It's how I discovered Giorgio Armani Face Fabric.

This is my face with some Touche Eclat, Guerlain bronzer and Nars Orgasm blush a few weekends ago for a boozy brunch with some gal pals.  I do not like Nars Orgasm and am trying to finish it up so that I can finally get to my Chanel!

What you don't notice (thanks to Instagram) is how shiny my face is ..

So I went to Target and bought this Rimmel Stay Matte powder which TOTALLY WORKS!! BUY IT NOW if you are at a drugstore that carries this!! I bought it in transparent and it is a miracle worker at only $3.99 (much cheaper than the Makeup Forever Powder which also works, but is messy).  Shine be gone!

-Lisa