{Louis Vuitton Base Shaper: UPDATE!!!}

In my last Louis Vuitton base shaper update blog post, I reviewed the base shaper I purchase (and later returned) from an Etsy shop. During my initial search, I came across The Base Shaper Store but opted to try the Etsy shaper first. I'm obviously regretting that decision...but, you live and learn!

Anyway, back to The Base Shaper Store shaper. It is made simple and very effective. I'm a huge fan of the fact that it's clear, lightweight and has smooth edges. It doesn't have fancy pockets which I'm fine with since I typically keep my makeup, receipts and other loose items in separate pouches anyway.

{The base shaper is made of acrylic}

{The corners are smooth to avoid damaging the interior of the bag}

{No worrying about matching the interior with the clear acrylic!}

The most important thing is that it does its job! As you can see in these pictures, visually, the difference is very subtle. But, the fact that this simple technology preserves the overall shape and integrity of my bags, makes me an instant fan!

{Before LV Speedy 30}

{After LV Speedy 30}

I also purchased one for my LV Neverfull GM. I hesitated for a second because for this bag, I thought having interior pockets was important. This bag is HUGE and from other reviews, it's easy to  "lose" items in it. Ultimately, I decided to purchase one for this one too...and, I'm VERY glad I did!

{Same clear acrylic, only a bit larger to fit in this beast of a bag}

{The base shaper isn't skimpy. It fits very snug against the corners of the interior}

{Before LV Neverfull GM}

{After LV Neverfull GM}

Another plus is that I'm still able to take advantage of the extra feature of cinching the sides of my LV Nevefull GM to change it's shape when I need to. 

I highly recommend this base shaper. I've already told a good friend who has a huge Louis Vuitton collection and she's ordered a couple and loves them! I hope this helps some of you out there!

xx, Shiela

| Note: Item(s) mentioned above were purchased with my own money. I was not paid to review |

{Beauty Show Stopper: Red Lips}

A red lip is like the little black dress or a pair of perfect diamond earrings - timeless and feminine. A red lip exudes confidence and when done right could be an absolute show stopper.

{Like Julianne Hough's red lip look}

The red lip isn't just for special occasions or a night out in the town. Life is short, wear it as part of you're everyday look! To avoid looking overdone, keep the rest of your makeup simple.

{A good example is Shay Mitchell's look}

The hard part is to find the best shade for you. It's taken me a very long time, but, I think I've finally found mine. 

{Fierce by Tarte}

{Here's a swatch}

The staying power of this lipstick is incredible. I apply it in the morning and even after lunch my lipstick is still very much intact. This lipstick is matte and very pigmented. I like the matte look for myself much better because I have full lips. Matte formulas typically are too drying but this one is amazing and does not settle in the lines on my lips. I try to remember to apply a swipe of lip balm before the lipstick but even when I don't, my lips stay moisturized but not shiny or glossy. 

xx, Shiela

| Note: Item(s) mentioned above were purchased with my own money. I was not paid to review |

{Louis Vuitton Bag Shaper Review}

As promised, this post focuses on reviewing the handbag shaper I ordered from Etsy for my Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM bag.

{Louis Vuitton Neverfull GM}

Let's start with the good:
1. The shaper came sooner than expected. The Etsy shop quotes approximately 2-3 weeks because the shapers are handmade. The shaper I ordered was delivered in a little over 2 weeks.

2. The wipe-able, reinforced stiff bottom matched the fabric used for the rest of the shaper. This is a minor detail but a very nice touch.

3. The flexible sides are fantastic. This is an extra special feature because the LV Neverfull can be cinched at the sides for a different look.

4. The shaper is lightweight. This feature was very important to me because of the main reason I bought a Louis Vuitton bag. The bag is large and very sturdy. The straps, although very thin, can hold up to 200 lbs. This makes it great for both travel and everyday use. All this and still a very lightweight bag. I didn't want to ruin this special feature with a heavy shaper.

{Lots of room and interior pockets for organizing}

Areas for Improvement:
Color. I ordered the khaki color based on the shop owner's communication that this is the color that her customers purchase for this exact handbag. However, when I received it, the color was off. This may not be a big deal for most, but it was a deal breaker for me. The reason for this is because the LV Neverfull is an open tote style bag which means that anyone can see inside my bag at anytime. I just prefer a shaper that matched the color of the interior closer. The interior of the bag is a more beige-y brown and the shaper is more greenish beige color.

{Interior colors}

Like I said earlier, I contacted the shop owner prior to making the purchase to inquire about the color choice. I scoured the internet for reviews and pictures to see if the khaki color matched the interior of the bag. Had I come across a review similar to this or a review in the feedback section of the Estsy shop, I would have passed on this color. Instead, I would have chosen the chocolate brown version to match the interior stripes which would have complimented the beige interior much better.

{Interior stripes and text in a chocolate brown}

Verdict:
Unfortunately, I returned the shaper. I considered exchanging the khaki for the brown but was not offered  free shipping for the replacement purchase. Had I been offered the accommodation, I definitely would have spent the $67.95 to purchase the brown shaper. I lost about $20 for purchase and return shipping.

My search continues. I ordered another base shaper from an entirely different company. I will post another review on that one once I receive it. In the meantime, I hope this helps!

xx, Shiela

{Skincare Routine Part II: Night Time Routine}

My night time skincare routine is a bit different from my morning routine in that focuses a bit more on deep cleaning my skin. After wearing makeup for over 12 hours on an average day, my skin gets pretty oily and by bedtime my makeup is ready to come off! Like I said in my morning routine, I have very oily skin and I don't typically reapply makeup or powder too much throughout the day. Especially if I know I'm going straight home after work, I just leave my skin alone for the rest of the day.

For my night time routine, I don't neglect treating my skin and I certainly incorporate some in there. It's easy to overdo treatment so I'm careful to find products that are super gentle for my very sensitive skin. 

1. I start with taking off my eye makeup with Neutrogena Oil-Free Eye Makeup Remover. I've tried other eye makeup removers and this is by far my favorite. It is effective and does not sting or irritate my eyes. This is important because the skin around the eyes are thin and delicate. 

2. I cleanse my skin with La Roche Posay Efflacar Deep Cleansing Foaming Face Wash. This really deep cleans my skin and takes off all my makeup. However, it doesn't over dry my skin. In fact, it really does leave my skin pretty soft.  

3. With the La Roche Posay face wash, I sometimes use my Clarisonic Mia for an even deeper clean. I only use this about once or twice a week. I'll do a more detailed review of this in an upcoming post. 

4. After cleansing, I use Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Acne Treatment & Moisturizer. Like I said earlier, I try to be consistent with treating my skin since I'm very acne prone. I use a very thin layer of this lotion. It's very gentle and doesn't sting or dry my skin. 

5. While my moisturizer is drying I use La Roche Posay Hyrdraphase Intense Eyes Hydrating Eye Care Gel under my eye and lid area.

6. The last step is optional. I only use La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo treatment on active breakouts. Even though I already use the Philosophy treatment and moisturizer, I feel like this really focuses on the actual breakout to speed up healing. 

I'm sure you've noticed that I use a lot of the La Roche Posay products. I will be doing a detailed review on these products in a future post. I discovered these products from a YouTube beauty blogger and they have since changed my skin. Make sure to look out for that post!

xx, Shiela

| Note: Item(s) mentioned above were purchased with my own money. I was not paid to review |

{Skin Care Routine Part I: Morning Routine}

Searching for the perfect skincare routine is like searching for a unicorn - it probably doesn't exist. After a lot of trial and error, I've found a routine that seems to be the most effective, for now. I say for now because in the past, I've found routines that have worked...then, stopped working. This is always so frustrating since I'm not the type of person that likes to experiment with skin care. I guess it's because when I get breakouts, it takes my skin a while to recover.

{ Love this sun-kissed skin and natural make-up look!}

Let's start off with my skin type: ultra sensitive, very oily, acne prone skin. Fun, right? I've done a lot of research and have found that the main thing I should focus on is rebalancing my skin. I've realized that there's a lot of truth to this. When my skin is acting up, it's my body telling me that something is not right. So, I really tune into my lifestyle and how it's impacting my skin. If it's random breakouts, it's probably a bit of stress and lack of sleep. When it was cystic acne, I figured it might have been hormonal. When my skin is a total wreck, super oily and dull at the same time, I probably haven't worked out and had not been drinking a lot of water.

{More glowy skin inspiration!}

So, in addition to a good balance of products, I also found that committing to more exercise and making some lifestyle changes is proving to be a big help with my overall complexion. When I exercise, I sleep better. When I sleep better, my skin looks better. See a pattern? Bottom line: exercise and positive lifestyle changes are good! See my Health and Fitness post for ideas!

Morning Routine:

1. I start off with cleansing my face with Philosophy Clear Days Ahead Acne Treatment Cleanser in the shower. This is best for me in the morning because I don't have makeup on and I don't think this is necessarily that great for taking makeup off. Second, the steam in the shower help to open up my pores and really let the salicylic acid penetrate in my skin. This cleanser is effective but gentle to my sensitive skin.

2. Instead of moisturizer, I use Boscia Clear Complexion Treatment. It's more like a fast-absorbing gel that really keeps oil production at bay and gives me a matte finish which I love because like I said earlier, my skin is very oily. I haven't been using this long, but so far I like it.

3. While the Boscia gel is drying, I use La Roche Posay Hydraphase Eye Gel to moisturize my under eye and lid area. I'm terrible when it comes to eye cream. I just don't really invest the money and time to find a good one. But, this is changing because I know I should because with wrinkles, prevention is key.

4. This next step is my favorite. I use Tarte BB Cream. I've only been using this for a couple of weeks but, so far, I love it! Other BB creams I've tried in the past have been too oily for my skin. This one is really good. It gives build-able coverage and can really be worn by itself and a little powder. The most important for me is that it has sunscreen since my Boscia gel does not. It also works as a primer, which typically means that it fills in fine lines so that other makeup will go on smoother. It claims to be a light moisturizer which I'm not sure about. It definitely is not drying, but I'm not sure I can use this without first applying my Boscia gel. It also claims to have an anti-aging treatment. I'm not sure how I'd test this but this isn't the most important ingredient for me for the reasons I've listed above.

5. The last step is technically makeup and not skincare. But, I wanted to add it in since it's another item I actually use on my face to prep for other makeup. I've been using Clinique Stay Matte Foundation for over year now and I've loved it. Great coverage and friendly for sensitive oily skin types.

Please keep in mind that this is what works for me. Like I said earlier, I did a lot of research and took advice and tips from many different sources before finding just the right mix of products. I hope some of this helps and stay tuned for my night time routine in Part II of this post!

xx, Shiela

| Note: Item(s) mentioned above were purchased with my own money. I was not paid to review |