In lieu of being half Korean and half "white", I'm going to start making more posts/videos of Korean inspired makeup looks and trends that are going on in Korea right now! Korea is know for having very advanced makeup and skincare (some say they're possibly 10 years ahead of the United States!) so whatever is trending in Korea right now is likely to become popular in America. So in today's post/video, I'm going to BREAKDOWN the concept of a "Korean Ulzzang Style Ombre / Gradient Lip".

By the way, if you're wondering what the heck "Ulzzang" is...Ulzzang is a term that literally translated means "best face" or "good looking"...which hey, we're all trying to achieve that right? This style is the very cutesy, fresh, and youthful look that is really popular in Korea right now for women of ALL ages!

First, you want to start of by exfoliating your lips if you have dry lips. Then apply a nice conditioning balm. This will make a nice base for all the product we will be layering onto our lips. *Fave Alert* I'm using my Nuxe Reve de Miel Baume Levres.

This product is something I picked up in Paris, France while studying abroad! Have you checked out my Study Abroad series yet?!

Next, I applied a liquid concealer around the edges of my lips. It's really important you chose a liquid type concealer because if you pick anything drier, it'll emphasize all the lines and cracks in your lips...not what we're going for here! I used my Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in Medium.

Once I've got an even layer of that around the edges of my lips, I took a hot pink lipstick and put that on the inside of my lips. I did a dragging motion from the inside of my mouth, out. (watch the video above to see a demonstration of this!) I used my MAC lipstick in Big Bow. So sad this was limited edition :( who doesn't love that packaging?!

After I've got a good coat of the hot pink color on, I took a bright red color and layered that on top. Be sure not to cover the hot pink color completely! We want a nice gradient effect :) The red I used was Revlon's lipstick in 740 Certainly Red. 

Now just use your finger and blend till you get the desired effect! So simple :) Now go rock those ombre lips you Ulzzang girl! :) 

What do you think of the Ulzzang look? Let me know I'd like to hear your opinion!! Also, be sure to check out the next tutorial in this series.... Korean Style Straight Eyebrows! :) I also just uploaded a video featuring another Korean style makeup tutorial...Park Gyuri's Makeup Look from the Kara Music Video "Pandora"! 

xoxo, Morgan 

My Top 5 Essential / Must Have Starter Kit Eyeshadow Makeup Brushes

When you first get into wearing makeup, it can seem overwhelming. So to make it easier, I made a video on my the 5 eyeshadow brushes that I use the most, and the ones I consider are essential eyeshadow brushes! Hope this is helpful! :)

Like I stated in the video, most of my brushes are from Coastal Scents or Crown Brush. These are perfect for me because they are pretty good quality but don't cost a fortune...and as college student, I can't afford to spend a ton of money on makeup brushes alone. Here are the brushes I discussed in the video:

1) Paddle Eyeshadow Brush

• If you're just starting out, this will be one of the first brushes you own. Great for packing on eyeshadow on your eyelid, running eyeshadow underneath you lower lash line, and applying a brow bone highlight. These are one of the most inexpensive brushes and pretty much every brand makes them. 

2) Angled Liner Brush

• Angled Liner Brushes, for me, have several purposes. You can use them to fill in your eyebrows to make them look crisp and defined, you can use them to line your eyes (obviously haha), concealing underneath your eyebrow to get a really clean edge, and you can line your lips with it if you're wearing a bright color (I demonstrate how to do this in the video!). 

3) Domed Blending Brush

• This is one of my favorite domed blending brush because of the size. It's large enough and not too dense so it blends out colors nicely in the crease, but it's not too large and too sparse where it overwhelms my eye area.
• Its great for softening any harsh lines, applying concealer on pimples or under your eyes, applying setting powder in certain places like on top of your concealer, and applying highlight on the tops of the cheeks and on the bridge of the nose.

4) Pinched Dome Blending Brush

• This brush gets a lot of attention because it's similar to MAC's famous 217 blending brush. The nice thing about this brush is that it's wayyyy cheaper! Although, I will say it's definitely not as soft as the 217. 
• This brush does an excellent job of applying color right into the crease and defining the crease, applying eyeshadow on the outer "v" area of the eye, running eyeshadow underneath the lower lash line, applying and blending out cream eyeshadow, and applying a wash of color on the lid.
• It's also good for applying concealer onto targeted areas like pimples or scars, but I'd say the domed brush above does a nicer job of applying concealer underneath the eyes. 

5) Fluffy Angled Eyeshadow Brush 

• I use this brush pretty much anytime I apply color to the outer "v" of my eye. It just takes the guess work out and makes it really simple. 
• I also love this brush for smudging out eyeliner, applying my brow bone highlight, applying color into the inner tear duct area of my eye, and applying eyeshadow underneath my lower lash line.

So these are my top 5 essential / must have eyeshadow makeup brushes! I use all of these pretty much everyday, and if you're just starting out, I'd recommend these brushes as a starter kit. They're also super inexpensive too.. you can purchase all of these brushes for under $15 (not including shipping!)! (Click on the title of each brush for a direct link to where you can buy them!) Let me know what you guys think and if you'd like to see a similar type of post/video for face brushes! Be sure to follow this blog, and subscribe to my Youtube Channel, The Beauty Breakdown, for my great videos and tips like this!

xoxo, Morgan

P.S. Don't forget to check out my latest look! A gorgeous gold, bronze, and copper smokey eye!

The Travel Breakdown: Study Abroad in Paris; Disneyland Paris, Last Night in France

On Day 30 of my study abroad adventure, I finally convinced Michael to take me to Disneyland, Paris! I'm a huge Disney fan, and I wanted to go at least one time in my life! The park is much smaller than the one in Anaheim (you could spend half the day there with enough time to walk around the entire park). The lines were much shorter, but the rides were totally different from the Disneyland park in Anaheim! There were a lot more roller coasters, and the rides were a little bit more intense (maybe French people like more thrill rides? haha). For example, Space Mountain had a LOOP in it and Indian Jones was a roller coaster too!! It was a nice day to go since it was overcast and the weather wasn't too hot. I, of course, had to stop by the souvenir shop and pick up a couple things to take home :) I wouldn't say this is a must-visit if you're ever in Paris, but if you're a Disney fan... how could you resist? I'm not going to lie, I do prefer the Anaheim park much more, but it's something I definitely don't regret because now I can say I've been there!

The front entrance to the park

Can you tell I'm super happy to be at Disneyland, Paris?

Almost in the Park!! 

The castle in the center of the park (which btw, is actually smaller than the one in Anaheim)

Yes, I took a picture of the screen. 

Day 31 of my study abroad experience in Paris was the last day of class. We took our finals and went to Le Marais to get falafel for the last time. We went to a final dinner with some of our friends at a restaurant in the St. Michel area. It was really bitter, sweet but it was nice to enjoy the company of our friends in Paris for the last time. We went back to the Cité Universitaire and packed our luggage. Most of our flights were early in the morning, so we said our goodbyes and went to bed early. BUT... if you liked this series be sure to check back... Michael and I actually traveled to LONDON and BARCELONA as well so be sure to subscribe to this blog if you'd like to hear more about our trip there :)

Be sure to come back very soon! Michael and I spent 10 days after our trip visiting London and Barcelona, so I'll blog about that as well if you'd like. Also, be sure to visit my YOUTUBE channel, where I can also put vlogs up from Paris (yes, I DID TAKE FOOTAGE) but only if you'd like :) So be sure to let me know! Thanks guys :)

Edit: It's finally here! Here's the next post continuing my journey studying abroad in London, England!

xoxo, Morgan

P.S. Again, don't forget to visit my Youtube Channel, The Beauty Breakdown by clicking HERE

The Travel Breakdown: Study Abroad in Paris; Sacré Coeur, Montmartre, Lock Bridge

On Day 27 of my study abroad experience, I slept in and then met up with Michael to visit Sacré Coeur in the Montmartre area. I'd visited Sacré Coeur before (I'd visited Paris two years prior to studying abroad in France), but Michael had never been there. It's definitely an area you should see once in your lifetime and a must-stop place if you visit Paris. We took the metro there, and walked up to the Basilica at the very top. It is seriously such a beautiful church. We sat inside for a little, just to soak up the experience more and then decided to walk around the shops around the church. There are a ton of tiny boutiques on the streets surrounding the basilica and lots to look at. Since this place is known for the painters in the area (there's actually a courtyard by the basilica that has TONS of artists painting and selling their art) we picked up two small paintings while we were here. We got a painting of the Notre Dame (one of my FAVORITE places in Paris) and the Eiffel Tower (of course!).

Day 28 was a Sunday and we went to the area around the Notre Dame for breakfast (if you're looking for places to just wander around and randomly find something to eat, this place is great for that because there are lots of little restaurants and cafes). Since it was one of our final days in Paris, we decided to climb the Eiffel Tower. We took the stairs, which was a work out, but definitely worth it for the views. It's actually pretty cheap to do as well (I believe it's about 4-6 euros per person to climb the first half of the Eiffel Tower, then less than 10 euros to go all the way to the top)

About half way up the Eiffel Tower...look at that VIEW!

On Day 29 of my study abroad experience in Paris, Michael and I had a "date night" type of thing to celebrate our whole experience in Paris. We stopped by the lock bridge by the Notre Dame, and put our own lock on it (we couldn't resist). After putting our lock on the bridge and throwing the key in the Seine (I wonder how many keys are at the bottom of that river! haha), we went to dinner. We found a restaurant by the Notre Dame and got a three course "set" meal. A "set" meal is where they offer an appetizer, main course, and dessert from a menu that offers 3-6 options for each course. You then pay a set price inside of paying each course individually... you just pay per person if that makes sense (just as an FYI, there are a lot of restaurants around the Notre Dame that offer this type of dining experience). I got french onion soup, steak and spaghetti, and a caramel custard. SO GOOD! After dinner, we had a final boat tour along the Seine River with the rest of our program. It was so bitter, sweet but nice to float along the river and admire the city at night. After that, a group of us decided to go to the Pantheon to reenact the scene from Midnight in Paris. (haha)

Our lock is the one with the huge red heart on it... I can't wait to go back in a couple years and see if it's still on there!

I forced Michael to pose with me so I could capture the moment...I'm such a girl. haha

Look how beautiful the Eiffel Tower is at night.. totally surreal to ride by it on the boat and see it sparkle!

I'll be adding pictures of Sacré Coeur soon, so be sure to check back! :) 

Also read on to my next post on DISNEYLAND PARIS!!!   

  xoxo, Morgan 

The Travel Breakdown: Study Abroad in Paris; Académie De La Bière, Mummified Animals, Yummy Mussels

With only a week left, I really felt like a true Parisian. On day 24, my friends and I got breakfast and attended class and then walked around the area of Bastille (the metro stop!). I love this area because they have tons of tiny boutiques that offer unique items and they have a couple open air markets here. Of course, I can't go to the open air market without picking up cherries and peaches... for some reason, they're so much better than the ones from home! For dinner that night, a group of us went to
Académie De La Bière (In English, this means the Beer Academy) and got the moules et frites (mussels and french fries!). Evidently, this place is known for this dish and I can see why! It was excellent and they gave super large servings! They're also known for their beers, but I'm not a big beer drinker so I obviously didn't get any. A great place to eat and they're open late ;) If you take the RER B, get off on Port-Royal.. it's very close to the RER exit.

On day 25 of my study abroad experience in Paris, Michael and I visited the Louvre Museum after class. With our program, we got in for free to all the museums in Paris, and since this museum is HUGE, we decided it was a good idea to go back and explore the museum one more time before we left. We spent more time in the Egyptian wing of the museum, and looked at all the mummified cats, dogs, fish, and crocodiles! So crazy! This is one museum I could spend days in and still not lose interest...and that's saying a lot ;) After, we got coffee and dinner at a cafe near the Cité Universitaire and met up with some friends to enjoy their company along the Seine River.  

Some of the displatys in the Louvre

On Day 26 of studying abroad in Paris, it was a typical day except we got a bunch of friends, crepes (yum!), apple cider (an alcoholic version of sparkling apple juice that's super popular in France), and a blanket and hung out in front of the Eiffel Tower for the night. We stayed there all night watching the sparkling lights of the Eiffel Tower and the people, who were all enjoying the beautiful warm, evening weather. It was amazing being there with good company, and just relaxing, which is sometimes hard to do in such a busy city :) We caught the last metro back (the metro closes at 2 am I believe) and went to bed!

Even though it was the middle of the night, you can see how busy and lively this area is all the time! :)

 Almost done with my Paris trip! So sad :( Let me know what you guys think or if you've ever visited any of the places I've mentioned!

Read my next post on Sacre Coeur and Montmartre! Seriously so beautiful!

xoxo, Morgan 

How to Sick Day Makeup - Natural Makeup Tutorial

We all know the feeling...you're sick but still have to go to work, school, etc. But let's face it, you don't want to look like a total wreck! In this tutorial, I show you a quick makeup tutorial that looks nice and natural but still hides the fact you're lacking sleep and not feeling well.  

What's your routine when you're feeling under the weather?? Let me know what you think :)

And when you're feeling better, try out this makeup look! An awesome Smokey Purple Duochrome Smokey Eye that will definitely perk you right up! :) 

xoxo, Morgan 

My Crazy Cat Fights with me Over Making the Bed

I just thought this was funny/cute so I wanted to share! 

My cat, Lucky, loves sleeping and napping in my bed when all the blankets are messed up...So whenever I try and make the bed, she does everything she can think of to stop me from making it! She's so funny!

Does your cat do this too? Or anything else that's weird? 

xoxo, Morgan 

Fast and Easy Bombshell Hot Rollers Hair Tutorial - Low Heat

In this video, I BREAKDOWN how to achieve a voluminous, sexy, bombshell look using hot rollers. Hot rollers are super easy to use once you get the hang of it, and I love them because they don't damage my hair as much as a curling iron would.

I would love to hear your feedback on what you think of this easy hairstyle :) I'll be adding more videos very soon so be sure to subscribe to my channel or this blog (add your email into the email subscription section on the right ;) ) so you'll be updated when I add my next video or post!
P.S. Wanna see a tutorial on 3 Cute Hairstyles to Wear to the GYM?

xoxo, Morgan