Happy 2014

It's been a blast, 2013! This past year, I've been blessed with new career and business opportunities that make me that much closer to achieving all my dreams and aspirations. I've also met some amazing new people in my life who support, motivate, and inspire me to be a better person everyday. I've got some big changes happening in 2014 that I'm both nervous and excited for; one of them being the fact that I'll be teaching in Korea for a year! I want to thank all my old and new readers for sticking by me and I'm super hyped to be sharing my life with all of you in the new year!

This quote, by one of my favourite authors, really stuck to me and I wanted to share it with all of you.

If you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're doing something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make new mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it. -Neil Gaiman

Let's make some glorious mistakes together! In 2014, be inspired, be fearless, motivate one another, and reach for the stars ★

Ugly Christmas Sweater DIY Tutorial

I attended an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party yesterday and had no idea what to wear. I didn't want to spend a lot of money on an 'ugly' sweater so I decided to DIY one that I already owned. All the props used were purchased from my local dollar store and it literally took me around 15-20 minutes to complete my ugly sweater masterpiece. It's definitely funny (I looked like an snowball explosion wrapped in a ribbon bow) and festive but not hideous because to be honest, who wants to look really ugly at a party? It's somewhat ridiculous and somewhat cute, and it cost me less than $5 to make. Another plus? The props are super easy to remove without destroying my sweater.

Here's a quick tutorial on how I put this ugly sweater together. I hope this inspires you to DIY your Christmas sweaters!



You Need:
1. A sweater
2. A decorative bow (the bigger the better and get ones with bells to make them fun)
3. Fluffy pom poms or fluff balls resembling snow balls
4. Scissors and bobby pins.



Take your ribbon and attach a bobby pin to whatever hook or pin is attached to it at the back.



Group your pom poms into small sections and attach bobby pins to the end. You can easily purchase thin grey wires to attach to your pom poms.



Place the bow in the middle of your sweater and then secure it with 1-2 bobby pins.



Place your pom pom bundles all over your sweater and then secure them with bobby pins.


Voila! You have your ugly Christmas sweater!



Holiday fun :)

Motives Makeup Review & Swatches

I'm a bonafide makeup junkie. God knows I don't need anymore makeup but I'm always drawn to trying new brands and products. I was recently able to get my hands on some Motives cosmetics; wanted to try them because of the good reviews. Their custom blend foundation is particularly popular apparently because they can mix shades to customize your exact skin tone. I don't have that to review for you today but I do have some other great products (e.g. face, eyes, lips) to show you. I've tested and swatched all the products so let's get started!

All products have been purchased by me for review purposes.

Motives Pressed Blushes



Lush is a coral pink with tiny microglitters but when swatched, it's mostly a sheen finish. Very comparable to Nars Orgasm and Rock & Republic Call Me.

Pretty in Pink is a matte, cool-toned baby pink. Similar to MAC Pink Swoon but Pink Swoon is more blue-based and Pretty in Pink is warmer.

Overall Thoughts: I'm in love with these blushes and am excited to try more shades! I didn't notice when swatching but when you apply them on with a brush, they're very pigmented. Both the matte and shimmer blushes feel soft to the touch and applies on smoothly. Colour can definitely be built up easily. The packaging is also simple yet sleek and I appreciate that the pans are easily removable to add to your own palettes.
Verdict: ***** 5/5 stars

Swatches:

Wearing both blushes, Lush and Pretty in Pink, and California Girl bronzer.



Motives Pressed Bronzer

California Girl is a warm brown with a semi-matte finish and has a slight sheen.

Overall Thoughts: I really enjoy how the bronzer has a soft texture and applies very smoothly on the skin. It's pigmented so a little can go a long way and the colour build-up is impressive. The shade was a little too warm on my complexion but I can see this looking great on light to medium warm skin tones. The packaging also garners more points; it's weighty and chic looking with a generous sized mirror inside the compact.
Verdict: ****` 4.5/5 stars



Motives Gel Eyeliner (Little Black Dress)


Overall Thoughts: On a day-to-day basis, I wear Maybelline's Eyestudio gel liner because it's the best gel liner I've tried but I may have to switch to this Motives liner because I love it! It's an opaque, matte black with a soft texture and a clean, smooth finish. I love both liners but I feel the Maybelline starts to crumble and flake on me after a long period of time whereas, the Motives liner stayed on all day with minimal touch-up or fallout.
Verdict: ****' 4.5/5 stars



Motives Luxe Precision Eye Line (Jet Black)


Overall Thoughts: This liquid liner pen is so good! Intense pigmentation, smooth application, and once you put it on, it dries in two seconds and literally doesn't budge until you wash it off with makeup remover. The felt tip isn't too flimsy but firm enough to have good control over the brush. Perfect for winged liner or tightlining.
Verdict: ***** 5/5 stars

Swatches:

Wearing Jet Black liner on top and wing, Little black dress gel liner on the bottom, and all the Motives eye shadows.



Motives Pressed Eye Shadows



Steel is a warm pewter taupe with a shimmer finish. Pigmented, has great colour payoff, and has a soft texture when applied without being chalky. Verdict: ***** 5/5 stars

Sunkissed is a golden champagne shimmer. Looks a bit chalky in the pan but it swatches smoothly with good pigmentation.
Verdict: **** 4/5 stars

Creme Fresh is a milky white with very slight shimmer. It's the least pigmented of the bunch and a little powdery, but it applies smoothly on the skin. Makes a great shade for the inner corners of the eyes, really brightens them up.
Verdict: ***` 3.5/5 stars

Bedroom Eyes is a warm, caramel-bronze taupe with a shimmer finish. Super pigmented, very soft texture, and applies on smoothly. It reminds me a little bit of MAC's Satin Taupe.
Verdict: ***** 5/5 stars


Overall Thoughts: These are some really good quality eye shadows and I was pleasantly surprised. They applied on really smoothly and lasted all day. I love how all of them were a really soft texture. My favourites would have to be Steel and Bedroom Eyes, super gorgeous! Their eye shadows are definitely worth a try.
Verdict: ****` 4.5/5 stars

Swatches: Swatched without a primer or base.



Wearing Creme Fresh in the inner corners, Sunkissed all over the lid and underneath, and a mix of Bedroom Eyes and Steel on the outer v/crease area.




Motives Creme Eye Shadow (Brown Sugar)


Swatch:


Overall Thoughts: I'm in love with this creme shadow! I'm a big fan of cream shadows in general because they're so low-maintenance: a primer and shadow in one! Brown Sugar is a sultry caramel brown with a slight rose gold tint. Intense pigmentation in a soft texture that glides on extremely smoothly. I'm dying to try out the rest of the colours!
Verdict: ***** 5/5 stars



Motives Lustrafy Mascara (Blackout)


Overall Thoughts: Like every mascara I've tried, there are pros and cons. I like the full bristles and the fact that the mascara is really good at separating and lengthening my lashes. There is virtually no clumping or flaking which is a great bonus. The mascara doesn't really do anything to help hold the curls of my Asian lashes, which tend to be stick straight and point downward. I rate it a 4 because it's quite a decent mascara and would have rated it perfect if it also held curls. I haven't found a mascara yet that lengthens, holds curls, and is volumizing.
Verdict: **** 4/5 stars



Motives Eye Base


Overall Thoughts: The eye base has an interesting formula. Unlike Urban Decay, Shadow Potion, which has a creamy/dewy consistency and applies in that same dewy consistency, this eye base initially has a creamy consistency but when you apply it on the skin, it transforms into more of a silky consistency with a matte finish. I have dry lids so this base may not be the best for me because this may leave dry patches for those who have dry lids. For those with oily lids though, this base is perfect for you because of it's silky matte finish! It does a good job of neutralizing the lids due to its opaque coverage. Although I can't attest to it's anti-creasing power (I'm mono-lidded), I can say that my shadows lasted all day in all its vibrant glory. Kudos for its lasting power!
Verdict: **** 4/5 stars



Motives Rich Formula Lipsticks




Ruby is a matte scarlet red with pink undertones in a slight sheen finish. Extremely pigmented and amazingly soft texture! The neutral shade of red looks like it'd be flattering on all skin tones. Verdict: ***** 5/5 stars

Pink Sugar is a light, rose-nude pink with gold flecks in a shimmer finish. It's soft texture allows for smooth application. It's really sheer compared to Ruby, more of a wash of tinted colour on the lips. It'd be good for a really subtle day look.
Verdict: **** 4/5 stars

Overall Thoughts: Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a lipstick fiend! I absolutely love the formula of these lipsticks! My lips tend to get dry so I fully appreciate lipsticks that are moisturizing enough for me to wear on its own. The formula on these babies are super soft and they apply very smoothly. A pet peeve of mine when it comes to lipsticks is when they feel too heavy, where I can uncomfortably feel the lipstick on my lips. I love how these lipsticks feel light and comfortable on. The lipsticks would have to be my favourites out of this line and I can't wait to get my hands on some more colours. If you're going to get anything from this line, I'd recommend the lippies!
Verdict: ***** 5/5 stars

Swatches:


Pink Sugar:


Ruby:




Motives 40FY Lip Treatment


Overall Thoughts: Right off the bat, this lip treatment/balm smells so delicious! It smells like mint chocolate peppermint and the scent reminds me of LUSH's peppermint lip scrub. It's a pleasant minty scent and not at all sickening. This treatment balm is suppose to hydrate your lips while making them fuller and while I can't attest to whether it plumps my lips noticeably, it is hydrating. It does make my lips slightly tingle so I'll provide a follow-up review of its plumping claim once I've used the product for a longer period of time.
Verdict: **** 4/5 stars



Motives Lip Crayon(Neutral)


Swatch:


Overall Thoughts: I'm absolutely in love with this lip liner! Hands down the perfect nude pink, my-lips-but-better shade that's really flattering! Very pigmented with an extremely soft texture that glides on super smooth. A big plus is that it's not drying which lip pencils tend to be. I've been wearing this by itself, just paired with some lip balm underneath. I've already used up a quarter of the pencil and am dying to get my hands on the other colours!
Verdict: ***** 5/5 stars


Wearing Neutral lip liner on its own.



Motives Lip Shine(Radiant Glow)


Swatch:


Overall Thoughts: Is a light coral pink with gold shimmer, very pretty. It's pretty sheer and is more of a slight tint of colour when worn on its own. I like my glosses to be opaque and pigmented but this works well as a layering gloss. I really like wearing it with the Motives Netural lip crayon. It's a little less stickier and thick than a MAC lipglass.
Verdict: ***' 3.5/5 stars


Wearing Radiant Glow lip shine on top of Neutral lip liner.



Motives Perfecting Face Primer


Overall Thoughts: I haven't tried too many face primers but I was impressed by how this primer combined with the Motives Setting Spray literally made my makeup last all day. The primer has a liquid-like gel consistency which quickly absorbs into the skin and leaves a smooth, matte finish. I have pretty sensitive skin but it didn't irritate or break out my skin.
Verdict: **** 4/5 stars



Motives 10 Years Younger Makeup Setting Spray


Overall Thoughts: I really enjoy this setting spray as it did make my makeup last all day (combined with the Motives Perfecting Face Primer). It's basically a watery mist that's very similar to MAC's Fix Plus. It didn't sting or irritate my face nor did it leave a greasy/sticky finish. I also really appreciate the fact that the product is not tested on animals!
Verdict: **** 4/5 stars



Motives Essential Brush Set


Overall Thoughts: This 7 piece brush set includes: blush brush, eye primer brush, crease brush, lip brush, angled eyeliner brush, brow grooming brush, and a eye shadow brush. These are some good quality brushes; the bristles are super soft on all of them! The blush brush is the perfect size for applying blush to my cheeks or contouring with bronzer. I really like the angled liner brush because the bristles are soft but aren't flimsy. The shadow and crease brushes all work well. It also comes with a convenient travel pouch I can stash in my bag.
Verdict: ***** 5/5 stars

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I hope this review and swatches were helpful for those of you who've wanted to try out this brand!

All Motives products can be purchased at: Shop.com/fashionmeows for U.S. and Canadian shoppers and Global Shop.com/fashionmeows for International shoppers.

Click on my personal shopping site above, sign up with shop.com, and you can shop for Motives makeup plus earn cash back for every purchase you make. The best part? Shop.com offers cash back and deals at hundreds of major retailers such as: F21, Urban Outfitters, Karmaloop, Walmart, Sephora, and more! I'm an impulsive online shopper and now that I can earn cash back, it's like getting paid to shop! :)

You can click below to see a short tutorial on how to use shop.com.
Shop.com Tutorial

I'm thinking of doing a contest giveaway for the new year so please comment on what Motives products you would most like to try! If you've tried any other products or shades that I haven't tried, let me know what you thought of them!

XOXO