A New Year, A Reintroduction, and Blog Changes Ahead

Hey everyone! 

So recently I was reading a blog post by Krystal (a fellow blogger) where she was taking the time to explain her journey as a blogger and her transition to blogging on her own terms. After reading her post, I felt inspired to take the time to reintroduce myself, give some background into the blog, and explain the vision/trajectory that I have for the blog in the upcoming year and future.

My name is Mai Thy, though I generally go by Mai. I've been blogging about beauty on and off since 2010. Virtually since the beginning of the blog, I was a full college student until I finally graduated with my Master's degree and started a full time job in July 2016. 

Though the blog had gone through many changes in the six years since I started (initially I was more into nail polish, then makeup looks, then reviews, and indie makeup), things really changed when I started my full time job and I had difficulty balancing work, home, and blogging. At the same time, I was also dealing with blogging starting to feel like a numbers and money-making game; I felt stagnated and compelled to blog for the sake of blogging and I think my posts began to reflect a change in my enthusiasm and posts tapered off by the end of last year.

For many people, they were happy to see 2016 go. 2016 ended up being an extremely memorable and life-altering year for me. I graduated, got a big girl job, and moved in with my then-boyfriend, now fiancé because we also got engaged. However I know that good change may not be in store in 2017. 

However, I am taking this year by the reins, especially when it comes to blogging. I'd like to transition to a new blog name/brand (which has been in the works for a while) and I'd like to return back to blogging when I had more fun and was much less focused on the numbers/popularity. I started getting into planners and planner stickers, especially the ones by Laura/MyNewestAddiction and it's been serving as an inspiration to get both my life and blog in order. I hope to do more makeup looks, reviews, tutorials, and possibly get back into doing Youtube videos. 

This week I'm going to IMATS LA and I hope to reinvigorate my love of makeup and beauty brands while at the show. I'll be doing my best to take photos of the makeup that I try (and probably buy) while at the show. Let me know if you're going to be going, I'll be going on Sunday!

Thank you if you managed to get even through part of this post. If you've been reading my blog for a while or recently discovered it, I want to say that I hope that you like the direction that it's going to go in and I hope you stay for my journey. This year will be a year of survival for many less privileged than I and I hope to be able to do what I can to have this blog be a source of positivity and frivolity for those who may need it.

Warm Sienna Browns Eye Look ft. Anastasia Eyeshadows

I Purchased This Affiliate Links Press Sample

Hey everyone! It's been a little while since I posted an eye makeup look and thought I'd share one using some of the Anastasia Eyeshadows I got from their Black Friday sale. The single eyeshadows were only $4.80 (discounted from $12.00) and I used Fawn, Fudge, Sienna, and Peach Sorbet in this look. 

I'm also trying something a little new when it comes to my eyebrows. I feel like in the past I tried to downplay the overall width of my brows and used product to add "sleekness" but now I'm trying to embrace the overall fullness while still enhancing its shape.

Products Used:

Milani Eyeshadow Primer

Makeup Geek Beaches and Cream (all over)

Anastasia Fawn (in the crease)

Anastasia Fudge (in the outer corner)

Anastasia Peach Sorbet (in the inner corner)

Anastasia Sienna (on the lid and blended upward towards Fawn)

Tarte Clay Pot Waterproof Liner in Black

Ardell Wispies Eyelashes

I'm trying to make a conscientious effort to update my blog/social media more frequently and balance out my time between work and my hobbies more fairly. The blog got very review-heavy over the last few years and I'm hoping to counter that and go back to my roots with more makeup looks.

Hopefully the new year has been kind to you so far!

Disclaimer: I purchased the Milani, Makeup Geek, Anastasia, and Ardell Lashes myself. I got the Tarte Liner courtesy of Gen Beauty. There are affiliate links in this post which provide me with a commission based off your use of the link.

Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Lovecraft - Swatch and Review

I Purchased This Affiliate Links 

Hey everyone! Today I have a review of the Kat Von D Studded Kiss Lipstick in Lovecraft. I got a mini size as part of a Sephora set and though I've swatched a lot of the lipsticks in store, I hadn't gotten a chance to really try one.

The shade range for this lipstick is massive, thirty nine different shades in typical and atypical colors (including a navy and seafood green). Lovecraft is more a typical color, described as a "matte mauve pink nude". It's like a dusty pinky mauve, a color I find surprisingly flattering on my skin.

Kat Von D makes some pretty lofty claims about the formula but does it live up to the hype?Click through to read my review and see my swatch.