My Life Through a Lens

Welcome to my blog. Here, I share photos of my personal fashion, favorite beauty products, recipes I've created, and many more aspects of my life.
(All photos have been taken by me unless otherwise specified.)
31st Aug 2015 | 1 note
Sephora Haul
I finally got around to hitting up Sephora for some much needed beauty supplies.
First off, I picked up Caudalie’s Instant Detox mask. I had previously received some samples of this product and was really impressed. The first time I used...

Sephora Haul

I finally got around to hitting up Sephora for some much needed beauty supplies. 

First off, I picked up Caudalie’s Instant Detox mask. I had previously received some samples of this product and was really impressed. The first time I used it, there wasn’t too much of a noticeable difference. However, the next time I gave it a go, I could easily see a dramatic improvement in my skin overnight. ( I am an avid user of all of GlamGlow’s products, but I think that this mask worked even better than their Supermud mask.)

If you have acne prone skin or need a detoxifying mask, I highly recommend trying this product out. It has worked really well with my skin and I hope it does with yours too!

I recently hit pan on my Make Up For Ever HD Pressed Powder (which I love and also highly recommend), and wanted to take this opportunity to try out other popular setting powders. I picked up Tarte’s Smooth Operator and the NARS Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder. As I just picked these up, I have yet to test them out. However, just by looking at them, I noticed both seem to have a brightening quality to them. 

Next, I needed a new Beauty Blender since my puppy ate part of my last one. I had the white one, but I wanted to try the black one just to mix thing up. I aslo picked up this set of four mini tweezer since I misplaced my favorite one. These are great though because they are small and travel friendly, but bright and colorful enough to be found easily. Also, the four of them are only $10! As always, I’ll link them below so you can snag these up too. 

I picked up another Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in the shade Granite, because I wanted a really cool toned color (even cooler than Dark Brown). I have black hair and it works really well for me. 

As the cooler months are around the corner, I stocked up on one of my favorite lip balms by the Rosebud Co. The formula is long-lasting, very hydrating, and the original formula has little to no scent. If you haven’t tried these, ask for them when you’re in your local Sephora. 

I also recently tried out the Becca UnderEye Brightening Corrector and was really impressed. If you get dark blue/purple spots under your eye like me, this is a great product to cancel them out. The product is a light peachy pink shade which neutralizes the darker hues. The formula is a cream and it has a pearlized quality to it which also helps to brighten. In the morning, I pat a little under each eye (a little goes a long way) and then use my choice of concealer. 

Last, I am about to try out the Skin Inc. serums and so I have no opinion on them yet. 


Thank you for reading and I hope you found this article helpful. If you’re interested in any products I’ve mentioned, check out the links below. 

Victoria 

2nd Jul 2015

I recently worked with Health Beauty Life magazine as a guest writer and shared my beauty and fashion tips for summer. You can read the full article here.

If you’re interested in any of the products I’ve mentioned, or the ones picture, you can shop them through the links below. 

1st Jul 2015 | 2 notes
I absolutely loved Emilia Clarke’s look for the cover of Harper’s Bazaar so I thought I’d share some products to recreate her eye and lip makeup.
For the lips:
Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Color in 90 Pimpante (feel free to use any warm...

I absolutely loved Emilia Clarke’s look for the cover of Harper’s Bazaar so I thought I’d share some products to recreate her eye and lip makeup. 

For the lips:

Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Color in 90 Pimpante (feel free to use any warm nude shade)

For the eyes:

Marc Jacobs Highliner Eye Gel Crayon in 74 Sunset (line up to the center of your lid and blend; this will help to intensify the gold/bronze shadows)

Marc Jacobs Style Eye-Con No. 7 palette in Lolita (use the two shades on the far right and the matte dark brown to add a little smoldering effect) 

Bare Minerals eyeshadow in Cognac (buff this all over the lid and lower lash line)

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz (choose a shade slightly darker than your hair)

Finish the eye look with a generous coat of your favorite black mascara for added intensity. 

29th Jun 2015

Wow! It’s been a while since my last review, but I’m back!

Today I’m sharing some of my thoughts on a lesser known, but high quality skincare brand called Kaplan MD.

If you’ve been following me for a while, you might have read my previous review on my favorite product from their line–the Lip 20 Mask. However, after trying out the Lip 20 Treatments, Glosses, and toner, I have to add these products to my list of favorites.

The two shades of the Lip 20 Treatment that I got (Sheer Candy and Tangerine Shine) give the lips a beautiful and natural wash of color. The formula is very hydrating and has a pleasant fresh minty scent.

The Lip 20 Treatment Glosses also have a hint of soft mint. One aspect I really like about the glosses is that the formula is not the slightest bit sticky. To give you an idea, when I rub my lips together, they feel like I only have a lip balm on. The only downside to these glosses is that the ones with glitter have a slightly “gritty” feeling when you rub your lips together.

If you want to read my full review on the Lip 20 Ultra Hydrating Balm and ip 20 Mask, click here.

I also had the chance to try out the Clarifying Toner and have really enjoyed it so far. I’ve only used it for about a week, so I haven’t noticed any changes in my skin. However, my skin has not reacted negatively either. The formula is light, refreshing, and absorbs quickly.

The toner is packaged in a sturdy spray bottle (this is my favorite way to package a toner, by the way). Instead of wasting product on thick cotton pads, a spray bottle allows you to apply as much product to your face with as little waste.

Thank you for reading and I hope you found this review helpful! Be sure to follow me on Instagram (@victoriarcho) for updates on my latest posts, mini reviews, and beauty tips.

<3,

Victoria

4th Jun 2015

Swatches of the new Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliner Gel Eye Crayons for Summer 2015.

15th May 2015 | 1 note

Sephora Haul

Too Faced Sweethearts Perfect Flush Blush

Awhile back I picked up this blush in the shade Peach Beach and immediately fell in love. I am all about glowy skin and when you wear this blush, you don’t even need a highlighter to archived that illuminated look. I wore this blush for a month straight before I realized that I needed to pick up another shade. Something About Berry is the perfect magenta-pink shade and I can see myself using this just as much as Peach Beach. 

SEPHORA COLLECTION Astonish Lash Trio

My favorite false lashes come from Esqido and Velour Lashes, however, I wanted to try out a cheaper, everyday alternative. I chose these because they look very natural but have enough volume to make your lashes look full. So far I’m pretty happy with them. 

If you’re new to false lashes, I would recommend trying these lashes out. They are a great introductory lash since the band is very comfortable and super easy to apply, and the lashes themselves are light.

KAPLAN MD LIP 20 Mask
and KAPLAN MD Perfect Pout Lip Mask + Lip Balm Duo

I bought the Perfect Pout Duo a little while back and loved it so much that I used it up in a few weeks. I finally got around to buying the set again and the full sized tub of the lip mask. For a review and before and after photos, click here.  

Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Kit

I know that this was one of the original contour kits (before contouring became so popular), but I’ve never gotten around to trying it out. I have quite a few counter kits, so I am really excited to try this one out and see how it compares to them.


I hope you enjoyed this haul/favorites/review and feel free to follow for more posts like this. 

x,

Victoria 

12th May 2015 | 2 notes

Marc Jacob’s Enamored Hi-Shine Lip Lacquer
and Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer

These three gorgeous pairings were handpicked by Marc Jacobs and are each perfect for a wide range of occasions–from a day on the beach to a night out. 

Pairing 1:

Love Drunk, Enamored Lip Lacquer
Petra, Enamored Nail Lacquer

These two shades are on the darker side and would work well for a fun night out with the girls. The deeper rosy mauve color gives the lips a slightly mysterious and seductive feel, while the sparkle in the nail lacquer gives a fun and flirty vibe.  

Pairing 2:

Moonglow, Enamored Lip Lacquer
Jezebel, Enamored Nail Lacquer

This pairing is very classy and versatile. The nude lips embodies youth and natural chic, while the red mani elevates and matures the look. It’s a timeless combo.

Pairing 3:

Uproar, Enamored Lip Lacquer
Le Charm, Enamored Nail Lacquer

I can see myself wearing these shades together on the beach. The orange-coral lip lacquer is on the sheer side and gives the lips a natural wash of color. The nail lacquer is a gorgeous copper, rosy gold and looks very feminine. 

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed this article. 

x,

Victoria

7th May 2015 | 4 notes

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Pro Palette

The Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Pro Palette recently became available at Sephora. As it is a limited edition item, I snatched up one for myself the day I saw it on the website. You may be wondering why anyone other than a professional makeup artist would use this, however, I believe that this is a great addition to any makeup lover’s collection. Keep reading to find out why.

Overview

The palette contains all eleven shades of Anastasia Beverly Hill’s Brow Powder Duos in the full-sized 0.03 oz pans and one 0.04 oz brow primer. The retail price for only one 0.03 oz Brow Powder Duo is $23, while the palette is a huge steal at only $88! For the price of four Brow Powder Duos, you can buy all eleven shades and a brow primer. 

How to use multiple shades

Some of you may only be interested in using one color from the Brow Powder Duo line, but I like to keep a few different shades on hand to give me flexibility in my makeup for that day. For example, I usually use the shade Medium Brown, but for days that I want a more natural makeup look, I use Taupe. For days that I want a darker and fuller brow to balance a heavier eye look, I use Ash or Dark Brown. 

Also, if I want a glowy, bronzed look, I might choose a warm brow powder shade to soften the look and compliment the warmth of the bronzer. On the other hand, if I want to create a sleek, sophisticated look with a slight smokey eye, I will go ahead and use a cool brow shade for an added edge.

I hope you found these tips helpful and pick up this amazing palette soon if you’re interested!

<3,

Victoria

4th May 2015 | 3 notes

Marc Jacobs Beauty Twinkle Pop Eye Stick

These swatches were taken in direct sunlight. 

4th May 2015 | 2 notes

Anyone else love Benefit Cosmetics minis?