Lioele Blooming Gloss, YEN Countdown 2012

December 26, 2012

Outfit of the day:

Top: PJ by Peter Jensen Animal Face sweater (Urban Outfitters);

Bottom: Aerie Slim Gym Skinny Pant (American Eagle);

Shoes: UGG Australia Bailey Button boot (Nordstrom);

Accessories: Kate Spade Cluster Studs (katespade.com);

Hair: Messy, which I promptly threw up into a ponytail after the makeup pictures.

Outfit of the day

Makeup:

Foundation: Holika Holika Face 2 Change Liquid Roller BB Cream in #23;

Powder: Maybelline Dream Matte Pressed Powder in Beige Medium;

Eye shadow: Ulta Eyeshadow in Sable (MT) and Milk Chocolate (MT);

Eyeliner: Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner in Deep Black;

Mascara: CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara in Black Brown;

Blush: LORAC powder blush in Soul (from the LORAC Croc Palette);

Lips: Cherry ChapStick and Lioele Blooming Gloss in #3 (Cherry Red). 

Makeup

OK, so today I dressed for comfort rather than style, but when everyone else is wearing tracksuits or dirty parkas, a sweater and leggings are more than acceptable. My makeup look is minimalist, with Lioele lip gloss in #3 swept on for a pop of bright jelly-sheer color.


I woke up late and walked to a café in Wudaokou, the “downtown” area of the district in Beijing where I live. It’s where all of the college students congregate, and there’s even a lightrail station, a few nightclubs, and many more bars. Usually it’s overrun with foreign students who are here studying Chinese, and the café I went to today was no different. When I was in school here in Beijing, I would walk (or scooter) down to Wudaokou almost every day to eat or study, because of its convenient juxtaposition to my university and the department I studied in. Now I come here to visit my friend who is still in school here, and to drink $7 lattes.

About to enter campus, aka the Zone of Quietness

View of the street between my university and Wudaokou

Insanely overpriced (but yummy) latte

It was so cold today, and as usual, the sky was masked by a thick layer of smog. I’ve been waking up with headaches every morning, and I don’t know if it’s because I’m not used to the contaminated air or because I’ve just been sleeping in a different bed. I try to go running every other day to stay in shape, but breathing in the cold air makes my sinus area ache and my insides feel like I swallowed a Popsicle. Also, I’m not used to breathing in the exhaust fumes, but I’ve already gotten accustomed to the smell of old soy sauce (this is what the air in Beijing smells like to a newcomer) since I arrived a week ago.

Lioele Blooming Glossesin #3 and #2

Lioele Blooming Gloss sponge applicators.

Lioele Blooming Gloss swatches.
Thicker swatch on left, thinner on right.

The Lioele Blooming Gloss that I used has quickly ascended to take first place in my collection of lip products. The formula of the gloss is light and not sticky at all, and when I put it on, I can barely feel it there. I use cherry ChapStick underneath because the gloss does not have an SPF, and it lends the overall look a more pigmented rosy pink. I first heard of this gloss on Frmheadtotoe’s YouTube video. She describes the gloss as having a smell reminiscent of plum candy. I’m not the biggest fan of the smell, and it definitely does linger, but to me, the exceptional formula far outweighs the slightly floral taste of the product. The applicator is a slanted flat sponge tip, and it applies color evenly and holds enough gloss so as not to warrant double-dipping in order to cover the entire lip. The staying power of the lip gloss is acceptable (up to an hour if I don’t rub my lips together often), but honestly, I don’t expect too much from glosses in general.

I have the lip gloss in two colors--#2 (Flower Pink) and #3 (Cherry Red). #2 is a peachy-pink color that has the slightest amount of minuscule glitter particles in it. When applied, the glitter is not noticeable--it just adds depth to the lip by highlighting and "plumping" up the area it's applied. #3 is a sheer candy-apple red that does not have any glitter and lends a nice pop of sheer bright color to the lip.

Good stuff! Comes highly recommended, as long as floral lip gloss scents don't bother you. 

Annual YEN Countdown Rave. Are you ready?!

I’m currently planning my New Year’s Eve night out with my best friend. We’re going to a bar in Wudaokou for dinner and then heading over to 798 (the Beijing art district) where the annual YEN Countdown bash is held. I’ve never been to any YEN parties, so I don’t know what to expect, but my best friend went to the White Out party and she had a good time. I’m expecting the crowd to be decked out in various cuts of the same glitter/sequin fabric, so I decided not to conform and will probably wear a black dress with red pumps, and my hair pulled back into a ponytail. I will post pictures of the proposed look once I've figured out what it will be, so stay tuned!

Lucia