✿ Makeup Starter Kit ✿

hiya~

Today's blog post is all about beginners. I first started getting interested in makeup around 8th grade, when I discovered Youtubers like Zoella and Missglamorazzi. They sparked my interest in makeup, and I have been obsessed ever since.

Makeup is a fantastic way to boost your self-esteem and a fun past time. I consider makeup to be a form of art. I have improved greatly in makeup, and I am still learning about it.

Makeup is so addictive to me, and it helps me realize that beauty is so easily achieved; everyone is beautiful, and makeup is merely something to enhance it. Beauty products have helped me become less insecure.

In an effort to help you all with makeup, here are some products I recommend that are foolproof for those of you just starting out.

Here we gooooo!

EYELASH CURLER

The most important part of eyes is mascara, in my opinion. It's the most basic item you can have. My first makeup product was mascara. (MAC Haute and Naughty to be exact).

However, many people overlook the importance of an eyelash curler. Without one, I think it's pointless to apply mascara.

I've only ever owned one eyelash curler in my life, and that's this Sephora one. 

It's somewhat pricey at $17 but it's totally worth the splurge! I would probably pick up the purple one now, but I own the pink one, and it comes with extra padding in case you get your curler's padding dirty. i haven't switched it out since. Definitely invest in one of these!

                                       

EYESHADOW

Eyeshadow is definitely one of the most tricky aspects of makeup, and a cheat is cream eyeshadow. i still use daily now, and it's perfect for lazy people such as myself. I still haven't mastered powder eyeshadow, but I'm working on it.

My favorite cream eyeshadows are the infamous Maybelline Color Tattoos. I haven't found anything quite like them.

You can just apply them to the eyelid using your pinky for precision, and then blend out with your ring finger or a fluffy blending brush.

My favorite shades are Bad to the Bronze and Creamy Beige (from the leather line).

Bad to the Bronze

MASCARA

I will never stop using this mascara. I absolutely adore it. 

Everyone knows I love Maybelling the Falsies Volume Express. I've tried so many different mascaras in my lifetime --- high end, drugstore --- and nothing has ever compared. I keep coming back to this!

A ton of beauty gurus and notable people adore this as well. Acacia Brinley swears by this!

I always recommend waterproof, because why not? Who knows when you'll have an emotional breakdown? It's fantastic at separating, lengthening, and giving insane volume. If you curl your lashes well, this will make your lashes look false, hence the name. 

Make sure you pick up the Volume Express version, because there are 3 different versions of this mascara, and the other ones are definitely not as good.

CONCEALER

There are various types of concealers. I definitely recommend Nars Creamy Concealer if you are ok with splurging, because it gives great coverage and has fantastic consistency. It also lasts quite a while. 

From the drugstore, I quite like the Nyx HD concealer, as well as Rimmel Wake Me Up, which is currently my go to. 

For under the eyes, you can use Rimmel Wake Me Up, which is a fantastic double-use concealer. I also recommend the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer! 

POWDER

I would definitely go with translucent powder, because I find colored powder reveals pores and doesn't work when the seasons change and your skin tone alters. 

I'm currently using a Clinique powder, but honestly, any clear pressed powder will do. 

I find my face doesn't look finished until I use powder.

A drugstore recommendation from me is the Rimmel Stay Matte powder, which is fantastic! I need to go repurchase this myself! (for the third time??)

LIP COLOR

For light, sheer color, I highly recommend Baby Lips by Maybelline. My favorite shades are Grape Vine and Cherry Me. They taste great, give cute color, and condition my lips to baby softness!!! 

Clinique Baby Tints are also great, but don't smell as great or condition as well. I love the color selection, though! It's far better than the Baby Lips line, but if you don't want to splurge, I'd definitely say go with the Maybelline ones!

For actual pigment, I recommend any lip crayon type product. My favorite Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain is the shade Honey. I also enjoy the Soap and Glory Sexy Motherpucker Gloss Balm in Nudist, which is extremely glossy. My favorite lipstick is any of the Rimmel Kate Moss Lipsticks, because they taste fantastic and have a great color selection. I love 107 and 106.

For lip glosses, I enjoy the Nyx Mood lip glosses that come in the tubes. My favorite is the strawberry one. It tastes great, has fantastic color (definitely a dupe of the Dior Lip glow products), and isn't sticky. It applies super smooth. The new Cover Girl Colorlicious Lip Glosses are also fantastic! (not sticky, great colors)

I hope this blog post was beneficial to you! 

Leave comments with blog post suggestions, and happy Thanksgiving to those of you who celebrate it! 

Hope you're enjoying your well-deserved time off; I know I am!

love,

zozo~

✿ Fitness Goals ✿

hiya~

I apologize for my super long hiatus from blogging. It's been quite some time, and I've just been bombarded with school work, work, and volleyball.

However, I want to take time out of my day today to set some fitness goals for myself because I really would like to be healthier.

Working out is not a big necessity in my life because I'm constantly active due to volleyball, almost to the point where it is too much.

I do eat unhealthy, and at bad times and in bad amounts. I've decided to set a few goals for myself for this month, and see where that leads me in weight loss!


GOALS
~ Drink more water. 
1 cup before every meal, and at least one liter a day.

~Cut out fast food.
French fries are yummy, but there is no such thing as a free french fry?

~Lower carb amounts.
I'm going to attempt to cut out carbs from my diet.

~Don't snack aimlessly!
Instead, drink a cup of water to see if you're actually hungry or merely craving.

~No soda.
I am going to cut out soft drinks completely; only water, with the occasional iced tea (unsweetened).

~Document everything I eat.
That way, I'll actually be conscious of what I'm putting in my body instead of snacking and then feeling guilty later.


That's it for my goals. If you have any idea for me to help me healthily lose weight, leave them in the comment below!

I always say I'm going to go on a diet and make some serious health changes, but I never do it, so I'm going to put some pictures up in my room for constant inspiration.


love love love,
zoo <3

✿ What's Going On In My Life? ✿

hiya~

So recently I've been a bit distracted from my blogging. I have been binge posting at random times (meaning posting like three times in one day then being totally MIA for 2 weeks).

Here's why:

1) I've began to make YouTube videos! I finally posted my first one, and to be honest, it took me awhile to figure out what to do about my first, and I just yolo'd it and decided to post about my sunburns that I got recently. It's not that relatable or interesting, I know, but as Troye Sivan once told me, the first video is the hardest to upload!  There'll be lots of great new videos to expect there.

2) I'm starting school in less than a month! D: So I've been slacking around this whole summer, and I've decided to hop on my schoolwork right now! Bring on the Pre-Calc, AP Euro, and SAT prep man ://

3) I'm beginning to rekindle my interest in writing. Right now I'm kind of brainstorming and I've created a Wattpad account for when I decide to upload. Not quite sure if I'll be doing fan fiction because I know I want to but I also want do write about more serious(?) topics. I WILL LINK YOU WHEN I AM READY TO POST THERE.

4) Volleyball season is coming up very soon, and I took a little break, but now school season is slamming me with workouts, so I devote a lot of my time to that.

But no fear! I will still be posting. I'm working on a few posts, and there'll definitely be back-to-school things up very very soon, just as soon as I figure out when I'm going shopping hehe ^~^

Thank you for sticking with me! Also, I just realized that my NE YEAR BLOG ANNIVERSARY already passed on June 30 but lol it's ok! Almost 2k views and 100k views on my Google+ Page!

Thank you everyone that follows me or reads at all, even if you don't comment or I'm not aware of your existence. You guys are fantastic and you're what pushes me to keep creating things.

much love,
zozo♡

✿ YouTube Channel! ✿

hiya~

Just wanted to give you a quick update on what's going on lately in my life.
I've started a YouTube channel!

www.youtube.com/zoetheloser

I know that the username is dumb but that's ok because I don't really feel the need to make a new account I guess.

I got severely burnt from going to the beach yesterday, so I filmed a video on how to make it heal fast and makeup to cover it!


Here's a link:

LOL AT MY AWKWARD THUMBNAIL

Also comment on my video or here with tips on soothing/healing sunburns because I would really like some!!

I'm still trying to figure out how to be my best on YouTube, so bear/bare(?) with me!

You guys are the absolute best, thank you so much!

Definitely going to have a lot more blog posts coming soon!

love love love,
zozo♡

✿ What's In My Travel Makeup Bag? II Zoe ✿

hiya~

Thank you for 1.5k! This is great (: Also I'm almost at 100k hits on my Google+ page which is INSANE.
much love mwah mwah

Here's a quick post I've been preparing that tells you some of my favorite makeup through what is in my makeup bag! I recently went to Florida to play in AAUs for volleyball and I had a great time.

Let's get started!

✿ Makeup Bag ✿

Ted Baker Celiar Baby Pink Washbag

Sorry I don't have any links for this bag because I purchased it at an outlet in Florida a year or two ago. You can find similar if not cuter ones at Ted Baker anywhere basically.

✿ Eyes ✿

Urban Decay Primer Potion Original Mini

You guessed it, I'm still using this primer. I purchased the mini travel size literally around two years ago and I'm still only halfway through the tube. This is a fantastic primer and it works great with my eyelids. It keeps shadows on all day.

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

This is a great paintpot-like product to use if you want a wash of color. I like using this mainly because it gives my eyeliner something to hold onto.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paint in Peachy Apricot

Again, this is just a really nice cream eyeshadow to use on its own or as a base because it's easy to blend and apply. It's a very sheer wash of color on your eyelid and extremely natural.

MAC 217 Blending Brush

I like to have this at hand for blending my cream eyeshadows to the degree of sheerness that I would like.

NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliner in Via Veneto

I like to use this to tightline, but it's just a whatever product. It definitely smudges and I don't think this was a good purchase. I need recommendations for a good eyeliner to tightline with so that it doesn't end up all under my eyes after an hour! Leave a comment please!

Eye Pencil in Coffee

I think this was my first eyeliner, and I just returned to it. It's really good, but it is a PENCIL. It's not creamy, it's just a solid pencil. You can soften it into a creamy state if you focus a blowdryer on it. However, it's still very good and natural! It doesn't stay for very long though, so I use the cream eyeshadows as a base.

Maybelline Falsies Volume Express in Very Black and Brown Black

Obviously I'm traveling with my holy grail mascara. I wouldn't want to use one that wouldn't work nicely for the entire trip! I brought two colors this time, in hope that my brown one that I purchased accidentally would run out, but I just ended up using my new black one. It's been years and I still worship this mascara.

Sephora Eyelash Curler in Rose Quartz

This will be my first and probably only eyelash curler ever used in my life. It's pretty good and it makes all the difference to curl your lashes before mascara!! 

✿ Face ✿

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser

I use this under my eyes because it's light, both in color and texture. It's pretty yellow, which cancels out my dark circles, but recently I've stopped using this because it makes my undereye area very very light, much like Kim Kardashian does commonly. So, I'm currently experimenting with the Rimmel Wake Me Up concealer which is very pink and somewhat darker.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard

I absolutely adore this concealer, I've already repurchased it! My first tube still hasn't run out yet, although it's alarmingly low right now.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

I use this brush to blend in my concealer on blemishes. To blend in my undereye concealer, I usually use my fingers or a cheap sponge I got from Forever 21. I can't find links to it, sorry! It's just a gourd shaped one, and it's very whatever.

Chanel Poudre Universelle in 20 Clair

This is a translucent powder, and it's decent. I don't find anything bad about it, but I don't love it either. I've finally hit pan on this after using it since around Christmas time I believe. 

Real Techniques Powder Brush

I love this powder brush; it's better than any kabuki or other powder brush I've used because it's huge and extremely fluffy, which picks up just the right amount of powder so you don't look cakey.

✿ Cheeks ✿ 

Dior Rosy Glow Healthy Glow Awakening Blush

This is the best blush I own, in my opinion. I think that this adjusts to your skin tone and makes it look very natural. However, you should have a light hand with this or it'll look like you had an allergic reaction.

Real Techniques Blush Brush

I adore this brush. It's cute and pink, and it's fluffy enough so that it doesn't pick up too much powder and make you look like you've been running a marathon.

Dior Rose Diamond

I just attempted to find links to this product, only to find that it's been DISCONTINUED D: I'm not sure how to feel about this because I was always planning on buying Amber Diamond as well, but I didn't get the chance to and now it's gone :(((((( This is very depressing. This is a fantastic highlighter, but it also works as an eyeshadow palette and a blush on its own!

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzer in Sunny

This is my first bronzer I've ever purchased. It's kind of orangey on me, which I don't like. I'm not a bronzer person, so I just use a little bit under my cheek now if I feel like it for a bit of contouring. I think this is a little dark for me, which is saying something because it's pretty light. It's super cheap, though, and a good Hoola dupe! ($2.79 i believe!)

✿ Lips ✿

Dior Addict Lip Glow

This is another holy grail product of mine, and of course it's from DIOR, my all time favorite makeup brand. It never does wrong, I'm telling you! This is another one of those adjusting makeup items, and it's absolutely fantastic. It comes off as a sheer hot pink, but it's very healthy looking.

Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me and Grape Vine (the first two from the right)

I'm personally a big Baby Lips fan, and my favorite shades or Grape Vine and Cherry Me. They're great, natural sheer colors with fantastic taste and amazing moisturizing capabilities. 

Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker in Nudist

I'd have to say this is my all-time favorite lip crayon. It's a pinky nude gloss stick, which means it's very natural and shiny. This is super moisturizing, and I absolutely love the taste. It tastes like the usual Soap and Glory scent would taste -- think the Righteous Body Butter and Hand Food, but if you could taste it!

\

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

This is a surprisingly natural looking pink shade. This is another one of my holy grail lip crayons. These lip crayons taste like toothpaste to me. I didn't like it when I first used it, but I've grown to like the scent and taste.

Thanks for reading! This took quite awhile to put together whooooh. 

Have a great day! 

One more month of summer :((

xoxo,

zozo~

Instagram: @zoewangx (if you follow, comment that you're from my blog)

Twitter: @zoewangx (Tweet me for a follow back saying you're from my blog!)

Tumblr: ihatezoe.tumblr.com

✿ June Favorites! ✿

hiya~

Here's the extra blog post that I promised ^~^

I'm a tad bit late, but here are my June Favorites!

✿ Beauty ✿

Maybelline Baby Lips in Grape Vine

I absolutely adore Baby Lips, and I think that this is definitely my favorite one, tied with Cherry Me. It looks a bit intimidating because it's a solid purple, but it comes off as a sheer, natural looking shade. It tastes like grape and is extremely moisturizing. Definitely a must have for all year round!

                                    

NARS Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in Frivolous

I LOVE this lip pencil. It's fantastic; not sticky, yet glossy, but not sparkly. It's a beautiful sheer, natural shade. You have to sharpen this, which is something I'm not a big fan of, but it's easy application and absolutely beautiful finish. I was very pleased with this item, and I haven't heard a lot of hype about this, but I think it's definitely one of the best lip crayon/pencil type products I've used, and it's very unique in it's texture and finish. A good splurge! 

Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes Mascara

I have a mini size of this mascara, and for a non-waterproof formula, I was very surprised by how much I liked it! It stays and does not flake or smudge. I very rarely like any new mascaras I try; you can tell by my makeup drawer--I have 3 different tubes of Maybelline Falsies, and then this mascara! The mini has been lasting me awhile, and I'm looking to buy a big tube of the waterproof formula when I finish the mini!

Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze

I've heard great things about this cream eyeshadow, and I must say, I wasn't expecting a lot out of it, but it's crazy how much I love it now! I use it basically every day to ensure that my eyeliner will stay in place, and it's just a pretty wash of color. You can layer this to build up intensity, which is fantastic, or you can use it as a base. This is very similar to a MAC paint pot.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeshadow Paint in Peachy Apricot

Continuing the cream eyeshadow trend, I was pleasantly surprised by this Rimmel product. I had actually heard negative comments about this product, but I like it a lot. Much like the Color Tattoo above, it's a cream eyeshadow with minimal shimmer. This color is gorgeous, and what I like better about this eyeshadow is that it has a wand applicator, which is much easier than a pot. I'm looking forward to trying more of these in different shades!

Aveeno Smart Essentials Daily Moisturizer SPF 30

I've been looking for a good daytime moisturizer, and this one is great. It smells delicious, and it has SPF in it, which basically kills two birds with one stone. I haven't ever tried a drugstore moisturizer before, and I was a tad bit worried that this would break me out, but it didn't, which is fantastic. I also like that this has a pump!

L'OCCITANE Cleansing And Softening Shower Oil With Almond Oil

THIS PRODUCT IS LIFE-CHANGING. If you ever have a chance to buy this, you MUST. It's a bit of a splurge, but it's absolutely incredible. I have not loved a product as much as I love this in a long time. This product is a shower oil, and I like to use it on my legs in the bath for when I shave. It foams up a little when you apply it to damp skin, and it gives the best shave ever. Afterwards, your legs are crazy soft too. This works better than any shaving gel I've ever used, and that's including the EOS one! 

GREAT GREAT GREAT PLZ BUY SO GOOD

Revlon Parfumerie Scented Nail Polish in Bordeaux

This nail polish is my all-time favorite. The color is a gorgeous maroon, and it smells like cherry jolly ranchers. It's so yummy and easy to apply, and the packaging is so cute! I need to buy all of the polishes in this line, but I've started biting my nails again after a short hiatus. This nail polish was one of the reasons I stopped biting my nails, but then when I didn't wear it it went downhill from there :(

✿ Music ✿

Ed Sheeran - x

I was so excited about this album when it first came out, because I've loved Ed Sheeran for soo long. My first instagram username was @zozosheeran, and people still call me that, which is embarrassing but also nice because it displays my good taste in music? (or so i think). I think this album has something for everyone--slow ballads, rap, and pop. I absolutely love the songs Don't and Runaway, which are my favorites off the album. 

Sadly, it seems I'm destined to never see Ed in concert :( 

✿ Film/TV ✿

Kill Your Darlings

This is my new favorite movie, Kill Your Darlings. The cast is phenomenal, and the story is so interesting. It's about the Beat poets, who were a group of poets that I would describe as "hipster"-- they didn't want to conform to the "rules" of poetry and art. The movie focuses on Allen Ginsberg (Daniel Radcliffe) and his adventures at Columbia. He's a freshman and he meets Lucien Carr (Dane DeHaan) and he teaches him to be rebellious. 

Here's an equation I built to describe this movie:

Harry Potter + Harry Osbourne + Dexter + Olsen Sister + Poetry = Kill Your Darlings

This movie is incredible and it deserves a gazillion awards. It's not for younger kids, though, because there are some mature themes, such a violence, murder, drug use, and homosexuality. The movie is great because it's so raw and real. It's a loose adaptation of events that happened in real life, although it may not be entirely accurate, I think it was a beautiful, philosophical piece that really makes me think. 

I LOVE. Also Dane DeHaan is incredibly gorgeous and dark and mysterious and a fantastic actor and overall my dream guy.

Parks and Recreation

I haven't found a show this funny since I finished the Office. Park and Rec is extremely similar to the Office, and it is equally, if not more, funny! (confessions wow) Also, Amy Poehler is the queen of comedy, and the entire cast is just perfect. 

Also, to top it off, Rob Lowe came into the show after the first two seasons, I think, and if that isn't reason enough to watch the show immediately, I don't know what is.

That's it for my post today! I hope you liked it, and I'll see ya soon!

luv luv luv,

zozo♡