notyourAveragebeauty

Real Techniques Brushes By Samantha Chapman Available In Malaysia!

2012-02-08T15:29:00.004+08:00

Ladies, I am sure some of you out there will be happy to know that Real Techniqes brushes by Samantha Chapman has arrived at our shores. I was looking to purchase these online but was pleasantly surprised when they were discussed on a Facebook group I subscribe to and even more surprised to learn that these were sold at Shins! To pursuade the hubs to take me to Mid Valley where Shins has an outlet was not too difficult, thankfully! Although there is a small Shins outlet at Festival City, a spanking new mall which is a hop and a skip away from my abode, I knew that they were too small an outlet to carry these brushes....so away we went to Mid Valley.

Samantha Chapman is a YouTube makeup tutor or a 'guru' as many would term her and she forms one half of the Pixiwoo team together with her sister Nicola Chapman. She is also an accomplished makeup artist and has worked on a host of runway shows as well as with top photographers. Now, she has created her own line of brushes for eyes and the face in order for us to be able to create looks that are professional and polished.

I picked up several brushes - the foundation brush, powder brush and the starter set for eyes. One of the first things you notice is that these brushes are color coded. Brushes for different functions have ferrules of a different color such as this:- purple brushes are those you use for eyes and brows; orange are for the face, to apply your base and pinks are your stippling and blush brushes. If you are a seasoned makeup user, one look at the brush head and you would know what it was for, so the color coding sort of did nothing for me in that sense. Also, one brush made for one purpose does not necessarily mean that we only use it for that purpose. I don't know about you but some of my brushes are multi-purpose and it is exciting to discover a new use for a brush that you bought for a different purpose altogether. For me that's stepping outside my comfort zone to stretch my abilities and make things work for me.

So I must say that the color, even though it adds a lovely touch, did not really set my mind to what function it coordinated to.These brushes also has the corresponding name printed on the side so you can identify the function and use of the brush. Quite useful if you make video's and and constantly using different brushes to create your looks. The ferrules are made of aluminium and is therefore very lightweight which I quite like.

Real Techniques brushes are made from taklon which are synthetic fibres and hence makes them cruelty free. The brushes I purchased, came with varying degrees of sofness with the softest so far being the powder brush. As soon as I got my brushes, I gave them a quick rinse and noted that not one of them shed a single hair, despite some vigorous sloshing around to get the cleansing solution to penetrate into the bristles!

Here is a view of the brushes I bought:-

The FOUNDATION brush. Retails at RM68.00. My first impression of this is that the bristles are not as soft as the powder brush and seems a little stiff to me. I hope that it does not poke at my skin and I am eager to find out how it dispenses and diffuses my foundation - will this be a replacement for my current favourite Shiseido foundation brush?

The POWDER Brush. Retails at RM78.00.

So far the Powder brush is the only brush I have used and I have fallen in love with how soft it is. What I have now for applying powder is a MAC 182 and I do love that but for a change from using a stubby brush, the long handle of this one was quite a refresing change.

The STARTER Set has the following brushes (pictured below from left to right in this order):-

deluxe crease brush, can be used to contour the eye sockets

base shadow brush to apply all over wash of color

accent brush that can be used for highlighting, and smudging

pixel-point eyeliner brush for eyeliner application

brow brush for shaping and filling in color to the brows

This is the back of the box which has a picture of Sam and a quick run down of the brushes included.

This set is sold at RM135.00. The brushes also come in a "Panoramic 2 in 1 Brush Case plus Stand". Very useful for when you are travelling and need something to store your brushes in as the case closes with a velcro clasp. Better yet, there are a few additional storage spots in the case for other brushes that you may want to store so you can ideally pick your favourite brushes and customize this storage case! If you prefer to have this stand on your dresser, then you can simply fold this in half by pulling on the toggle rope provided and prop it up as you can see in the pictures below.

The Starter Kit in it's Panoramic casing.

To be really honest, I took the brushes out and kept them in the big vase that I have for all my brushes and this case sits in my drawer. I did not find a standing case useful because I like all my things neatly kept away and displaying this on my dresser would only mess it up and look out of place.

The other nice touch to these brushes which Sam added were the fact that they are able to stand up straight if set on a flat surface as the ends of the brushes were all designed flat. It is a great feature but not quite compatible with my clumsy little paws! Also, I may now need to get a new container to house all my bruses as the wider flat end needs more space compared to my other brushes with more tapered ends. If there is a pressing need to shop....I am not complaining!!

Don't even think of drying your washed brushes standing up, my dear readers! That would not be good for your brushes as the water would run down the inner ferrule and ruin the glue that keeps your bristles together!

Lookin' Sharp in SLEEK - Some Love from the UK!

2012-02-02T13:16:00.000+08:00

A friend went on a trip to the UK to meet up with some of her friends and she asked if there was anything I would like from there and frankly, who could resist this offer? So I asked her to pick up a few items from Sleek which is a brand that I was interested in for some time already.

Sleek Makeup originated in the UK and is found in drugstores such as Superdrug. This brand can also be purchased in the US through its online store as well as drugstores. Their mission statement is "a colour cosmetics brand dedicated to providing a comprehensive make-up range for all women, especially those that are often under-represented by mainstream brands."

I really like that they care for ladies that are under-represented by mainstream brands because it sounds like my story and I am sure, for a lot of other ladies out there who were not born fair skinned. Back in the 80's when I was getting into makeup, the colors offered by most brands were limited. It got better for the likes of me who tried hard to find colors that were suitable or complemented my skin. Some of my friends who had darker skintones had a tougher time and most resorted to not bothering with makeup at all!

Enough rambling!

Thanks to ANR, here's what she got me:-

Two eye shadow palettes - the 'Oh So Special' and 'Storm' palettes
Blush in 'Flushed'
Contour Kit in 'Medium'
Pout Polish in 'Perfect Plum'

Here is the I-Divine 'Storm' Palette and if you love neutrals, then you will love this palette. This palette offers plenty of opportunity to create smoky looks as well as office appropriate looks if the smoky thing won't cut it in your office! There are 9 metallic shimmer shadows in here as well as three matte colors to create lots of interesting looks. I not such a big fan of shimmers but I find that plenty of blending helps to ensure that my eyes don't look like disco balls before I leave the house! I have used about three colors from this palette and I must say that they are truly pigmented and applied smoothly. So be very careful when you pick the colors up with your brush - go easy and build up the color.

This is the 'Oh So Special' palette and this one came witha plastic insert with the names of the shadows. So easy when you want to reference them in reviews. I have not dipped my brushes into these yet but when I look at the palette I see so many possiblities. I like that it has some warm shades thrown in bacause it can add a little subtle warmth to some eye looks. This palette has 7 matte shades and 5 metallics.

Like:-

Sleek black case, classic and not cheap looking.
Very pigmented shadows - which is a tall order for a drugstore brand
Blendable texture
lovely selection of colors
At GBP 6.49 = MYR 31, it is very cheap

Dislike:-

The design embossed on each shadow
I noticed a slight fallout with the black shadow in my Storm palette
The fact that it is not sold in our drugstores!

Sleeks blushes also were something I was keen to try and I picked Flushed which is a deep berry color and I must apologise that my mobile phone camera was unable to pick up the color accurately. It looks intimidatingly dark when you look at it but does not apply that way. It gives my cheeks a lovely flushed look which I like and because of that, I have been reaching for this quite often. A good way to keep strong colors soft and not too overpowering is to ensure that you ligtly tap the product with your brush and keep applying in layers until you are happy rather than squashing your brush and swirling it vigorously to get the color....unless you are a clown and need the pop of color.

This cost GBP4.29 and works out to about RM20! For 8grm of product, I think its a steal!!

Something I specifically wanted to try was the contour kit and I chose the color medium. Used to sculpt and define the face, this kit is quite something!

I used the darker shade under the cheekbones once and I must say that doing so adds a subtle lift to the cheeks which is better than plastic surgery! However, an expert hand is needed in blending this in so there are no harsh lines and because I am in a rush every morning, I do not incorporate this step into my routine. BUT the highlight shade is something else! It adds a very nice glow on the tops of the cheeks and I have also incorporated this as my brow highligher and I use it at the inner corners of my eyes to add a pop of shimmer and to give me a brighter look overall. The color is very subtle and close to my skin shade so its the perfect shade for me. I must confess that I have thoughts of purchasing this online so I can sleep better knowing there is a backup of this lovely shade in my drawer somewhere!

The retail price is around RM31.

Here is the pout polish which functions as a tinted lip conditioner. I used this once on my bare lips and it came off quite lovely and shiny and made me feel like I had a 'bee stung' look. This is in "Perfect Plum" and its a MLBB color on me. Love!
Costs around RM20 and it comes in a 10grm screw top pot.

My first impressions of the items I got were positive. Although I have not really gotten into the two eyeshadow palettes yet, I know that the shades are one's that I will be coming back to again and again. I will show you some swatches of these soon and will post up looks that I created as well.

Revlon's Colorburst Lip Butters - They're Here!

2012-01-30T14:50:00.001+08:00

Revlon's Lip Butters have been talked about and reviewed on the 'net since late last year and I was amazed to actually see them on our shores this quickly! Imagine my surprise as I was at Watson's Pavilion to get some vitamins and stumbled upon a small collection of these lip butters at the Revlon display. I was actually looking at the new Age Defying Foundation when these Lip Butters caught my eye!

There were only about 8 shades to pick from although I know that there are 20 shades in total that the US drugstores carry. Out of these limited shades, I picked out 4 and they are Brown Sugar, Sugar Plum, Fig Jam and Macaroon. Such delicious sounding names!

The packaging has quilted imprint on the side that is quite translucent. The casing also does not open at the halfway mark like most lipsticks do. I find it easier to open the 'traditional' lipstick casings as you can firmly grip the bottom half and then open the cap to reveal your lipstick. As for this product, the top casing encompasses two thirds of the lipstick. I do have some difficulty gripping just the edges of the bottom to release the top part. Having said that, I do like the packaging as the cover reflects the shade of lip butter that is in the tube and when your lipstick drawer becomes a tad messy....you can still find the shade you need!

I just eyeballed the colors that I thought would most suit me or that I could work with because as with all testers - the one's at Watsons were pretty much decimated! Do you notice this as well? Its as if someone hands all the testers to a bunch of chimpanzees prior to putting them on the shelf for us to try! I have seen ladies walk in to put on their makeup using all the samples and then take off...possibly heading out to meet their dates! Shameful!! The most I would do is test them on the back of my hand and have a tissue handy to wipe them off.

These are how they swatched on the inside of my hand. The colors are sheer although I swatched it several times. I also noticed that these swatched very creamily on my hand. As these are not straight up lipsticks, be aware that they will not have the same intensity. Hence imagine a creamy lip balm that is tinted. I imagine that if you use a lip liner and smudge a thin layer all over your lips and then apply the Lip Butter, it would look lovely and have that lipstick effect you are looking for with the added advantage of a glossy sheen as well. Also, if you are the sort who likes a sheer wash of color, one swipe of this on your lips would keep your lips moisturised as well as add some color. There are times that I only want some moisture on my lips with a small amount of color to brighten up my face and I forsee this being perfect for such a time as that.

I will have pictures of these on my lips and a review of how the product holds up soon so do watch out for that.These retail for RM25 each which is such a small price to pay for a quick pick me up!!

Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush

2011-11-02T11:06:00.000+08:00

I was on a mission recently and spent a considerable amount of time looking for a brush that would be suitable and have firm enough bristles to deposit foundation in a thin layer, evenly all over my face. As I was shopping one day, I came across this brush from Shiseido – a brand which I did not care for nor explore due to a bad experience many many years ago. Japanese and Korean brands I have found do not really cater for women of color and I was told once by a rude SA that the brand is for fair skinned people only.

That aside, my prejudices against a brand did not stop me from exploring it again and I did come away (thanks to a sweet SA that day) with not only a brush but with the most gorgeous shade of purple cream eyeshadow! (Review coming!)

I have used this brush almost everyday for about two months now and I must say that I am ready to throw out my sponges as well as some other foundation brushes which are in the category of “blah” at this moment.

The bristles are firm but has a soft rather velvety feel to it and therefore able to hold and spread the foundation thinly and evenly without scratching your face to bits. Also, the bristles are very tightly packed so you are able to pick up as much of the product as you need. In order to have the coverage that is ideal for you, you can pick up a little bit of your foundation and work it in a thin layer all over your face for light coverage or if you are going for more coverage, then you can slowly layer on the foundation until you reach your desired coverage. For me to be able to do this well with the brush, I use the back of an old CD to pump my liquid foundation on and then work the brush into the product picking up as much as I need or less depending on the look. I always use two foundations on my face, one the exact shade and another in a lighter shade. This is done to create some depth on the face. I start off by using the lighter shade above my eyebrows, bringing it down under my eye and then around my nose and the sides of my lips. Then I blend the color that is my skin shade all over, overlapping the first shade. This brightens up the area around my eyes and creates a look that is not flat.

Works well with liquid, cream or powder as the website claims but I have not used it with powder so I am unable to tell how effective it is. Its not a flat top but its angled a little and this is brilliant because it allows for the brush to reach the crevices especially around the nose and undereye areas.

The handle is a little on the short and thick side and does take a little getting used to. Initially when I used it, my fingers would hurt a little from the thickness of the handle but I am now used to it.

Using this brush results in even application of your foundation be it liquid or cream and the best part of all, you get an airbrushed quality application. Since I have used this, several people have commented on how smooth my face looks which I think is testament to how well this brush performs.

The price is quite reasonable at around RM96 and a good bargain too seeing that I use this everyday to apply my foundation. If you are looking at investing in something that delivers well then I say go for it.

I rinsed before I used the brush and was pleasantly surprised that there was no shedding and after a week of using the brush, I washed it with a washing liquid that I purchased from Daiso. Again, all the product residue came off the brush but no shedding.

If and when I find another brush that I like, this will be my go to brush for a while!

Please note that the picture of the brush above was taken from the Shiseido website as for the life of me, the pictures that I took right after I purchased this cannot be found - it must be somewhere in the black hole of missing photo's!

Vichy Purete Thermale Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser

2011-08-09T16:33:00.000+08:00

Do you always use the same facial cleansers? Or do you change brands once you are through with your current one?

I was very much into one from Estee Lauder called the Perfectly Clean Foaming Facial Cleanser which filled my needs but sort of lacked the umph that I was looking for. I went through a few different ones, mostly drugstore brands with different price points. None did it for me and the current one Total Effects Revitalizing Foaming Cleanser by Olay supposedly claims to deliver 7 anti-aging properties in one! I am sorry to report that it did not deliver even on its basic claim which is "thorough cleansing while enhancing skins natural radiance" - quite disappointing.

My cleansing routine with makeup on is to first use a cleansing cloth to remove all makeup especially waterproof stuff off my face. I then follow up with a cleanser to thoroughly cleanse whatever is left. This ensures that there are no traces of makeup and takes care of my skin. There is nothing like the feel of a freshly cleansed face after a long day of wearing makeup, I tell you. The problem with Olay was that each time I washed my face, it still did not feel clean. When I look in the mirror, I certainly saw a clean face with no trace of makeup but when I used a toner which I sometimes do just to have a once over around the hairline and on my neck which are notorious places that hold traces of foundation and soap, I noticed that there was a whole lot of residue on the cotton pad! And this was consistent everyday. I wash my face three times a day - once in the morning, again in the evening as soon as I get back from work and then once more before I retire for the night. I only use a toner in the evening (sometimes) and morning to prep my face for my makeup. So all in all, this cleanser does nothing to achieve a thoroughly cleansed face.

I recently became interested in the Vichy range of products which are available at our pharmacies and my first purchase was this cream cleanser. The clincher? The fact that it is parabens free and does not dry the skin. I was sold from the first use. I loved the scent which is fresh yet mild and the creamy consistency of it as well as the fact that you do not need to use a whole lot to clean your face.

The claims are that it will cleanse from deep within without leaving your skin feeling dry and indeed I can say that this is true. My skin feels fresh and soft as well as cleansed well after I use this and I love that. Its plain, simple, no frills and no silly claims about a million other things it can do for me while cleansing.....I like that.

Here are the ingredients which I could not take a picture of as there was a sticker in the way. I took this list from the Vichy website:-

WATER • GLYCERIN • POTASSIUM MYRISTATE • PALMITIC ACID • MYRISTIC ACID • POTASSIUM LAURATE • POTASSIUM PALMITATE • POTASSIUM STEARATE • SODIUM COCOYL GLYCINATE • LAURIC ACID • PEG-32 STEARATE • PEG-6 STEARATE • BUTYLENE GLYCOL • PENTYLENE GLYCOL • STEARIC ACID • PHENOXYETHANOL • TOCOPHEROL • DISODIUM EDTA • CAPRYLYL GLYCOL • BUTYROSPERMUM PARKII SEEDCAKE EXTRACT / SHEA BUTTER SEEDCAKE EXTRACT • FRAGRANCE

What facial cleansers are currently on your list of favourites? Vichy Purete Thermale Purifying Foaming Cream Cleanser is certainly on mine!

Inglot's AMC Liquid Blush

2011-07-14T09:00:00.119+08:00

Wow! I am still buzzing from how much I am enjoying all the products I purchased from Inglot! I have been brave and used some of the bright colors in my Freedom System Palette - if you read my past post here, you would know that I picked out a few bold colors namely:- 362 (bright pink), 331 (medium green), 370 (bright yellow),371 (bright blue),372 (green with slight blue undertone), 441 (purple). I would love to put up some of the looks I have done hopefully in a future post - I am not diligent enough sometimes to take pictures of every look I do but I will make more of an effort so I can show you how these beautiful colors look on my skin.

Another item I purchased which I am quite in love with is the AMC blush in the auspicious number of 88! The lovely deep berry shade caught my eye and I knew it would work well on deeper skin tones. I have never tried a liquid blush before and was quite looking forward to the challenge of applying this. Besides for 15ml's of this at RM62 - I thought it was a steal! Not only that, the blush is very, very pigmented (as with their eye shadows) and a tiny amount goes a very long way. The other thing I love about it is the fact that it comes in a pump bottle which if pumped gently, will give you the smallest amount necessary to do both cheeks. Also, its hygienic because the pump means your fingers never come into contact with the product.

Being a novice at using liquid blushers.....I tried the pump cautiously the first time and dispensed way too much but using pump dispensers is a 'feel' thing right - you need to get a feel of how much pressure to assert on the pump and test it a few times before you get it right. Thats why in the picture below you see two blobs of the blush on the back of my hand. I just spent a few good seconds looking at the color and admiring it.

Here I rubbed the color in a circular motion to test how it would turn out and I was amazed at the incredicly pigmented color. I was afraid of it when I saw this as I thought, it was way too dark for me but I perservered and as you can see from the picture further below.

In the picture on your left, I continued to buff the color and it became quite sheer but I continued to buff the edges and gently work it in.....what you see on the right is the color that I felt really happy with (very very slight difference)!

Subsequently, I used this on my cheeks one morning and again used my fingers. This time I used much less than the first time and put a few dots of it on either side of my cheek. I then tapped on the color to disperse it all over the cheek bones to diffuse the color. This time, it came out very sheer and lighter than what you saw on the back of my hand. Overall, I loved it and noted that the color did not fade the whole day. I did use a light buffing of powder to 'set' the color in place.

At the price of RM 62, if you used a teeny tiny amount.....this product could last forever!! I saw many other colors when I was at the store and sadly I did not have enough time to swatch all the colors......but if you have any of the other colors, do share your thoughts on it.

Sephora's SUPREME Cleansing Foam - Darling or Dud?

2011-07-14T09:00:00.001+08:00

In earlier post, I talked about my trip to Sephora and how much I enjoyed it. Here is another product I purchased and this is from the in-house brand. Having been on a mission to find a good cleanser, (I may have found a HG cleanser (diferent brand)!! More in a future post) I bought this one because I liked the fact that it was a foam cleanser.

On the bottle you can see that it is called the 'Supreme' Cleansing Foam and claims to be an all in one cleanser which is able to remove even waterproof make-up and tones at the same time. Quite lofty claims aren't they?

The first thing that hit me when I pumped this product on to my fingers is the smell. It smelt very strongly of chemicals and was quite off putting. Now, I am usually quite tolerant of smells seeing it as an integral part of the whole aesthetics of the product but smell is something quite arbitrary because something that smells good to one person may have an opposite effect on another. This one was a clear no-no to me. Not at all pleasant.

The first time I used it, I did not use a make-up remover prior to washing with this foam. As expected my make up was not removed as thoroughly as I thought it would. When I came out of the shower and looked at my face in the mirror, I was amazed that my eye make up (shadow in the inner corner, waterproof liner and under eye concealer) were still hanging on for dear life. Well, I persisted, thinking it was not fair of me to put the cleanser through such a stringent test! I tried the next day after work and this time removed most of my makeup with a remover, then used the cleanser. I checked my face in the mirror. This time my face looked clean, but did not 'feel' very clean. I then used a little bit of toner on a cotton pad and to my horror, there was still bits of foundation around the hairline and around my nose.

I have tried using this product with every make-up combination possible, no primers, light mascara, just foundation and some lipstick and eye make-up (I don't use a make-up remover prior to cleansing when I don't have primers on) and the results are still the same. There is still plenty of residual make-up left after cleansing with this foam.

Even though this cleanser claims to remove waterproof make-up, things like liners and mascara also are not removed well. I will go as far as to say that my waterproof mascara hardly came off with this cleanser and as a result I needed to use a little bit of cleansing oil on a cotton round to remove this AFTER I had cleansed! I hate how heavy waterproof mascara feels if it is not thoroughly removed after washing.....

As for it's claims to tone skin, I did not at all feel this and I noticed no difference in my face as evidence of this. To be fair, I only used one bottle and this could not have been enough to produce the toning effect perhaps. I could not wait to finish all 150ml's of this product and was really happy the day I threw the empty bottle out! This will not be a repurchase for me and I will be quite cautious when I pick out the cleansers in the Sephora line of products.

If you have tried this, I hope you had a better experience that I did.......

Loreal De-Maq Expert - Ultra Make Up Remover

2011-07-13T10:50:00.001+08:00

My make up routine has changed so much in the last year, especially so with the addition of primers and I find that I now am more thorough with my cleansing at the end of the day to ensure that I get all the product off my face. I can bet that you too, dear readers, now use primers as part of your make up routine?

For me primers really help keep my make-up looking fresh for a longer time - and we all work long hours right and want to make sure that our make-up does not melt off by midday especially so in the heat of Malaysia. For me, having combination skin makes keeping my make-up on and looking fresh a challenge but with primers on my eyelids and as a base now has revolutionized the staying power of my make-up.

On a recent trip with the family up north a few hours to Ipoh, I came across this curiously named item at the mall. It's called the "De-Maq Expert" which is an ultra concentrated make-up remover - I can picture someone sitting by a window with their brow furrowed, trying to come up with something fancier than, say, "Make Up Remover"!

I already own and religiously use several different brands of make-up removers so I was keen to try out something different.

This product comes in a 100ml tube with a pop cap which makes for convenient dispensing of this gel like, ever so lightly yellow tinted substance. It has a light, sort of grassy smell which I found to be quite pleasant. Because the slightly oily, gel like substance is not runny, it's easy to dispense a small blob of this and work into the face. No need to first wet the face, just put a small amount on your fingers and work it into your skin. You will be surprised to see how well the products on your face sort of melt off!

Be sure to keep this away from your eyes until you are ready to wash this off because if the product gets into your eyes, there will be a few minutes of cloudiness experienced. I did not feel a sting, rather a slight irritation caused by the clouding in my eyes.

I start on my cheeks and work my way around the nose area, on my lips, along the hairline and my forehead before closing my eyes and massaging around the eyes concentrating on the inner corner of the eyes and the lashes. Be sure to keep your eyes tightly closed at this point. After you are done, take a little water and work it into the face to emulsify the gel which then turns into a milky substance. Rinse off well with water. I follow up with a cleanser to remove the product completely.

To be honest, there is one item that I stay away from because of the difficulty involved in removing them well, and that is waterproof mascara. I love them and have a few brands that make my lashes look very lush but hate the amount of work that goes into removing them properly. But since I have purchased this, I have been bringing out all my waterproof mascara's and having a blast with them as they come off easily with this product!

I must say that I am very happy with this product! Other oil based removers I use, are effective but oily and I have to make sure I follow up with a good cleanser afterward. With this, I do use a cleanser, but at least I am not fumbling with opening it because of my oily hands and then getting the sink all oily.....too much work!

A decent amount of this gel is all that is needed to effectively remove all my make-up. If you see these pictures, you can see how the product has turned brown as my foundation is removed.

All my eye make-up off, concealer under the eye, has virtually melted after a gentle rub of the gel....no vigorous rubbing necessary.

Below is a list of the ingredients:- I don't see any parabens in the ingredients list which is a good thing. The product claims to be suitable for sensitive skin too. I did not break out in spots after using this. As with every product I use, I am very cautious in the beginning and I use new products every other day in the first week. If I do not break out in spots, then I know this product is suitable....I have used this for close to a month now with no breakouts. Each skin reacts differently to different products so please be careful when you try something new.

For a price of RM27.90, I think this is well worth it - there is no need to use much as the product is concentrated enough to make a small amount go a very long way. I have also tried just using this product and then rinsing it off without following up with a cleanser, but my skin did not feel truly comfortable. Also, instead of washing off the product, I have used a facial wipe - this worked for me but again, I am the sort who likes a 'clean feel' face at the end of the day so its an individual thing.

Soap & Glory "CLEAN ON ME" Clarifying Shower Gel

2011-06-17T11:26:00.001+08:00

In an earlier post I spoke about my trip to Sephora and I came away with some goodies that day which I will be sharing with you. One of these is this jumbo jewel from Soap and Glory. I love the brand for their retro styled packaging and 50's vibe.

I had purchased a few items from this brand when I was at a Boots drugstore in Bangkok some time back and was excited to see them again at Sephora! So, in a nostalgic mood, I picked this up - oh the drama my dear readers!! I literally swooned and needed to hold on to something when I opened a bottle and got a whiff of this. I am indeed a sucker for sweet smells. That alone sold me on the product! Not a very conscientious shopper at all that day,I know... But the fragrance was so lovely and works like a little pick me up during shower time. This shower gel contains extracts of mandarin peel and I belive that this is the ingredient that provided that fresh factor. The smell reminds me of perfumes from Annick Goutal and I belive the notes do have some layers of similar scents - very feminine indeed. I like that the scent lingers for a very long time - I do not put on any other perfume when I shower with this gel in the mornings.

The price was the next thing I looked at and I must say that it was affordable seeing that I paid a fair price of RM29.90 for a 500ml bottle - this will probably last me at least 4 to 5 months, I am sure. Also, the shower gel comes jam packed with body lotion which leaves you without the need to add another step of moisturizing to your bath routine. For this reason, my skin does not feel parched and in need of additional moisturizing when I step out of the shower. The body lotion in this does not leave a greasy film on the body which is great and nothing beats soft skin after a good shower.

Bath time also becomes so much fun when you read the quirky quotes on the side of the bottle....this one says "Cleanliness is Essential when Godliness is Improbable"! So very cute, is it not? The addition of 50's style photo's is very cool, and adds to the retro-ness of the packaging. Its a straightforward, big bottle with a pump which dispenses enough with a few pumps. You can either pump this on to your palms and work up a lather or go for it straight on to your sponge and work from there. There is no spillage or wastage and fiddling with covers in the morning, which is quite essential for the girl on the go.

For me, the only downside to this bottle of delight is the stuff that goes into the making of it. It does contain parabens, so for the purists and those who have gone totally natural and organic, please turn your eyes now coz its gonna get nastay!

So, dear readers, have you been for a quick look see at Sephora yet? Their second outlet at KLCC has recently opened too, and if you are in the area, why not pop by?

Inglot - I Want To Break Free!

2011-06-15T13:36:00.000+08:00

Everybody greeted the news that Inglot had opened its flagship store in Sunway Pyramid not too long ago with excitement. I must admit, I was intrigued because I had seen so many videos and heard so much about their products.

Inglot is a Polish company which has been in business for over 25 years was established by Wojtek Inglot. He was revolutionary in wanting to produce high quality products at reasonable prices – all this while using only the best possible ingredients and raw materials from the most reputable suppliers. The man is still directly involved in the formulation and design process of all new Inglot products.

This company, in my opinion, is on the cutting edge of creating intuitive cosmetics for women. You must check out their world’s first ever Breathable Nail Enamel ensuring better health care for nails whilst enhancing their beauty. Another winner is their AMC lip gloss which is beautifully pigmented in a funky rainbow of color and paraben free. The gloss is housed in a square tube and applies smoothly with a doe foot applicator.

Thanks to a husband that understands my love for cosmetics, we made our way to Inglot at Sunway sometime back. My first impression of the store was its neat and spartan design. What a visual treat! It was not ‘in your face’ and surprisingly inviting. Everything was laid out on tables or neatly stacked on the wall. There was even a big sofa in a corner for husbands, friends, children etc to sit on and just chill while we are shopping! Thankfully, even though it had only opened the day before, there were only about 7 people besides myself browsing the goodies. I dislike crowds.

But on to delicious things! I was mighty interested in the Freedom System and the idea of creating a palette with the colors that I liked really appealed to me. This is what you see on the display tables....all the possible color combinations and possibilities.

The Freedom System consists of strong magnetized palettes that you can use to store some of the products that you pick and choose from a wide variety of shades. There are eyeshadow singles and brow colors or lip colors which you can choose to customize your palette. How cool is that? The system comes with a choice of square or round palettes which gives you yet another choice. However, the square palettes are just for eye shadows and the round palette allows you to create a whole look from brow colors, eyes, concealer and lip colors. That is a breakthrough in itself. You can also choose a two compartment palette, 3 compartments, 4 compartments, 10, 20 and the latest, a mega palette with 40 compartments for you to slot your single colors in. This means you can buy the empty palette and collect single colors as quickly as your budget allows!

Below is what the palette looks like – I love the design which is super sleek and very well constructed with some strong magnetic action going on to keep everything in place and virtually immovable. The frosted lid you see has an imprint of the Inglot brand all over it and allows you to see what colors you have in the palette without having to rummage about, if you have more than one of these babies in your drawer! There have been mixed reviews on how to remove the individual pans from their magnetized compartments. One way is to use the actual frosted glass cover to lift up the corner of the color you want to take out. I found this hard to do and it may or may not come off even after several tries. Some have reported using a pin or sharp object to prise it out which I am not in favour of as it can potentially damage your product. What I have found to be most useful is to use a strong magnet (stronger than the one on the frosted glass cover) to lift up your pan. Most of us would have a magnet(s) at home, usually found in your sewing kit or box to keep all your pins together (mine was given to me by my children and I believe it came from one of their toys!!) The stronger magnet lifts up the pan easily without damaging your color.

A quick tip shared by the lovely SA I spoke to – rather than trying to pull off the lid which could damage the precious colors inside, slide the lid sideways and it comes off easily.

I was like a child in a candy store the moment I stepped in. As I was wondering how on earth I was going to "create" my freedom system, a lovely SA came my way and taught me what to do. As you enter there are several wide and long tables on your left and right and centre. The table on your left houses all the colors available to create your personalized system. On your right are other products which you can browse and play with too. The table in the middle has foundation, concealers, powders, and the famed liquid blushers. For ladies with dusky skintones, go ahead and rush to the store because there will be a foundation shade for you! Yaay!

At the store, I decided that I wanted to purchase the 10 color square palette for eyeshadows. I was given a black magnetic board (similar to a clip board you use in the office) and told to choose the colors that I wanted, I was then to pick the color out of its place and put it on the magnetic board. The magnet on the board allowed me to pick out the colors and lay them out as well as move them about until I was happy with my choices. I picked a few extra colors and brought them to the counter, I then browsed around more until I was ready to decide which 10 went in my pallete.

The only down side to this system was if someone else had picked the colors you wanted, there would just be an empty spot on the counter and you'd have to either have the number of the color you chose or wait until the colors were returned to its original container as you can see in the picture below. There was a young girl who must have been obsessed with blues as she picked at least 6 shades of blue and brought it to the SA who taught her how to apply these shades to her eyes! I was ok with that as I was not interested in the shades she chose but still....

The shadows come in several finishes :

• Matte finish which has a, well, matte finish!

• Pearl finish which has a frosty but satiny finish;

• DS or double sparkle, which are semi-matte and has very fine glitter (not the sort that gets all over your face)

• AMC (Advanced Makeup Component) these finishes resist sweat and does not contain talc but has a healthy dose of vitamin E. This one is a matte finish with fine glitter;
• AMC 'Shine' - this one is similar to the one above but has slightly more shine and sparkle;

When you are done choosing the colors you like, the SA will pull out a new pan of that colors and you can either purchase it like that and fill the palette yourself or get the SA to fill your palette. They will be more than happy to help you fill it at no additional charge.

Below are the colors that I finally decided on and swatches of them on my arm as well as on a piece of paper with the numbers of the colors. Please note that the colors on my arm and on the paper are the closest and truest to the original, somehow the colors in the pan look a little off :-

I must admit that I had watched so many videos by the time the store opened that I had a list of some of the colors I wanted. It so happened that I had a note on my phone of the numbers of the shadows but my phone died in the shop. I was quite upset that this happened at such a bad time but I happened to be carrying my charger with me and asked the SA if I could quickly charge the phone to give it enough juice to retrieve the numbers I wanted and they were more than happy to do that for me. So a quick trip behind the counter to sort that out and I was free to look at the other goodies for a while.

This is when I fell in love with the AMC lipgloss and how beautiful the colors were and what depth it added to my lips. The funny thing is I thought I had broken the doe foot of the gloss when I opened it to find the doe foot missing! But the SA said that they were taken off for hygiene reasons. I was glad they did that because I would never have put the product on my lips to test it otherwise. She proceeded to give me a disposable applicator and I helped myself by taking a little of the product and applying it to my lips. It just made whatever color I had on more vibrant and luscious. AND there were so many products I had my eye on that I had to leave the gloss there for another time!

As for the blushes, I was so intrigued by the liquid one and tried a few before settling on one that was beautiful on my skin. I also picked out some brushes to add to my collection. Those are reviews that will be coming soon, readers!

To answer your questions on the quality of the shadows.....YES they are incredibly pigmented. This is especially so for the matte shades where one swipe of the brush produces enough pigment to be worked onto your lids. One more tip I can share with you is not to swipe your shadow brush across the pan which will produce dusty particles of the shadow and then fallout when you apply but rather press gently but firmly on to the color and pat onto eyelids - you will get enough product this way. In the picture below, I have written the numbers of the individual colors on the front of the palette so I did not need to keep taking the pans out to check. For this I was inspired by Many Faces of Beauty on Youtube and did the numbering with a gold felt tip pen. These are cheap and easy to find at a stationery store near you. I found it a little odd that there were no names but rather numbers for all their products - names are easier to remember and associate with a color rather than a number, but I am not complaining!

I want to say a big thank you to these 4 ladies from the store who all helped make my experience there a truly memorable one! Here they are posing with my purchases in the bag! You can see on the counter where they were assembling my freedom system!

My First Sephora Visit!

2011-05-05T17:34:00.000+08:00

Friends, I made it to Sephora!

I loved the layout of the place and got really excited at some of the stuff there. I also came away with a few things and cannot wait for more brands to make their way here.

First of all, I must say that the SA's were not too sticky....i.e they did not shadow me around but gave me some space and were near enough for me to call when I needed assistance. One in particular, Eunice who manned the MUFE counter was very professional and spoke very good English. Best of all, she allowed me to help myself to some of the application wands and spoolies on the counter for customers to use while testing products. I took a dual tipped sponge applicator, a brush, a spoolie and a lip gloss applicator. These are so useful for when you travel as the size is just right and she had no qualms about me taking one of each.....so sweet! I also spoke with another SA, Isaac and he was great too, explaining everything to me and taking me round the shop to show me all the goodies. There were two more which I could not get the name of, who were just as patient and helpful.

At the chekout, as I was paying for my products, I got two samples - one was Urban Decays Eyeshadow Primer in Eden and a day cream by Ole Henriksen.

Have you been to Sephora yet folks? If you do go, feast your eyes on the Sephora brand of goodies and most of the stuff on the right of the shop is stuff that we did not previously get in Malaysia.....hope you see something you like there! Happy shopping.

By the way, Sephora OFFICIALLY opened yesterday (4th May 2011).

NEWSFLASH

2011-04-28T15:00:00.001+08:00

Peeps, Sephora Malaysia officially opened its doors at 12:30pm this afternoon!!!!!! Of course, even though my office is just round the corner, I could not make it for the opening....bleh!

Makeup junkies, arise and make your way to Starhill Gallery a.s.a.p!

Remember you heard it first here!!!!!

Putting on Falsies - The Whole Process De-Mystified!!

2011-04-27T15:32:00.002+08:00

What a struggle it has been for me to put on false eyelashes!! Of course I turned to You Tube and watched a few tutorials but do you think I learned anything? Nope....there are some things in life you need to experience and fail at before you get the hang of it. This is one of those experiences.

I was inspired to take on wearing false eyelashes after seeing a cousin of mine wear them and I purchased some online - cheap as chips they were, and can last up to several uses if you treat them well. So allow me to take you on my journey.....perhaps you too can pick up a trick or two after reading this.

Let me start with the falsies themselves....you can buy them at any beauty store for a very reasonable price if you look around. There are some fancy styles of varying thickness as well as lengths and there are simple ones which mimic natural looking lashes or elaborate ones. For some reason, I have always associated false lashes with drag make-up and the whole over the top look which cannot be practical for everyday use. I was wrong. I have spotted a few ladies around my work area wearing falsies to work too!

I have some which I purchased from an online seller at http://forum.lowyat.net/StuffForTheLadies but I found some very usable everyday falsies for an absolute steal at a store near my home one day and all I went there for was to do my grocery shopping! See the picture below? These cost RM3.90, are flexible (you want them to be pliable so they fit the curve of your lashes without the ends popping up halfway through your day!) and very natural looking. The brand on these were Opoola Eyelashes and the number on them was 040. The lashes came with a tiny tube of lash glue which I did not use - rather, I used black colored eyelash glue which I purchased from SASA. If you look closely, the lash on your right (in the first picture below) is slightly shorter in width as I snipped off a little to experiment the fit. They sit very nicely in the box and will not move around because the band that holds the lash is slightly sticky and the lashes will stick to the plastic backing.

The pictures below shows my eye with the eyelash on. Do you think they look natural interspersed with my own lashes?

Now for the how-to! First you need to assemble your equipment. Get your glue and squeeze out a little on the cover (pictured below) - here I used the plastic cover that the lashes came in.....don't worry about getting it dirty as once the leftover glue dries up, you can easily peel it off and there will not be any residue on the surface. Use a bobby pin or orange stick (the one's you use to push your cuticles back) or in this case, I used a plastic stick. Carefully peel off one lash. Pick up some glue with the stick, and apply this to the entire length of the band. Ensure you add a little extra glue on the ends of the band if you need to - this ensures that the ends stick firmly to your lash line. If you do not put enough glue on the ends, they tend to lift off or peel off as you begin to blink and will feel uncomfortable.

There are several types of glue on the market with varying prices. The best brand I know is DUO which SASA Singapore carries. I have not seen this brand at our local SASA. There are different colors also which you can choose from: transparent, white and black. White glue will turn transparent when dry and the black glue can get messy if you do not wait for it to dry a little before applying your lash.

Once you apply your preferred glue to the band of the lash, you need to wait for at least 30 seconds to a minute until the glue gets tacky - this means it should dry a little and get thicker. My mistake was putting on the eyelash as soon as I applied the glue.....the result? The eyelash did not stick well and the ends kept coming off. I spent 20 minutes last Sunday as I was getting ready to attend the Easter Service....I also got black glue all over my eyelid which messed up my eye makeup! I gave up after struggling with it, until I attempted it again, this time using a different approach. My fear was that the glue would dry up and the eyelash would not adhere properly to my lids. Boy was I wrong!

So now assuming you have put on the glue, give it a minute, or less if you blow on the glue several times. Once the required 'setting' time is up, hold the lashes firmly in the middle and put it just above your natural lashes. Angle it so you get this middle part and the middle of your natural lashes aligned properly. You will find that the false lashes will stick to your skin. Next gently grip one end of the lash and push it down, again along your natural lash line, followed by the other end. If indeed you waited long enough for the glue to get tacky and thick, you will not need to worry about the glue smearing all over your lid and the lash will stick properly.

In the picture below, you will see a lash gripper, which I found at the beauty section of my local grocery store. I used this earlier to apply my lashes, but you can do just as well with your fingers or a tweezer.

The next step and quite crucial to the whole process is to use a tweezer or even the back of an eyeshadow brush to gently push the tops of your eyelids down on the freshly applied lashes to further 'seal' it in place. As you can see from the picture above, I placed the metal grip a few millimeters above my false lashes and pushed downwards. This motion pushes the skin just above the eyelash inwards and ensures that it sticks firmly in place. Do this along the entire line of the lash and you are done.

Open your eyes carefully, as some glue may have seeped onto your bottom lid, thus sticking them together. If that happens, gently pull off the glue. Once you are done using the lashes, gently peel them from one end to the other and peel off any dry glue from the band before you put them back into the original box. These can then be used again. You may need an oil based remover to remove the glue residue from your lids.

Below you will see the set of falsies and metal applicator which I bought for a steal at RM10.90. The metal applicator does not hold the lashes very well as the tips do not meet fully when pushed together but it takes some getting used to and I have only used it once. The funny thing is, I purchased this for RM10.90 and then took a walk to check out what was new at a SASA store close by and the very same item was selling for RM15.90!! Can you believe that? Such an elevated price! So one other thing you can learn from this is to first check if you can get the item you want from SASA cheaper somewhere else....who knows, you might save yourself a few ringgits, like I did!

So for those of you who have been wanting to try out falsies, do give it a spin. Like me, you may need to try a few times until you get it right but nothing ventured, nothing gained!

ELF Brightening Eye Color in Luxe

2011-04-26T11:52:00.000+08:00

This palette has been in my collection for quite a while and I did not quite know how to make use of it to create a pleasing eye look. This was because I did not know how to use the taupe color in the quad to suit my skintone. For me, one color that is difficult to work with is taupe and I dismissed this palette to the back of my drawer because of that color, which is quite unfair really. So when I was free one evening, I took this out and challenged myself to come up with a look that used all the colors - yes, even the dark greyish taupe. I must say, I was quite pleased with the results and also thought of one more way to make taupe work for me. Let me share that with you as you read....

This is Luxe (#2005) from the dollar range of products that ELF has and I bought this in a spree quite some time back! My apologies if the photo looks a little mangy....there is color dust all over the palette and I took photo's of this AFTER I had used the palette for this look.

Here is the finished look which from afar looks very wearable even for the office. Quite muted and not at all over the top. The key to this was slowly layering the colors and careful blending. I have not used this look for the office yet but will do so when I have enough time to apply, blend and keep it light and muted.

Up close, you can see the colors in the quad. Particularly I wanted to try the rosy red as this is not a common color as well as not something you would think of using to the office. In the picture, I used it in the crease to 'lift' the rest of the colors and give some definition to the eye. I topped this off by defining my brows with a spoolie and a coordinating brow color swept through to give the brows more shape. I then used a black liquid liner and finished with lashings of mascara on the lashes.

If you have this quad (or are thinking of picking something up from ELF) and have been wondering how to do justice to all the colors, I have added a guide here for you. In the picture below, I have numbered the colors. 1 - is a creamy yellowish beige with shimmer; 2 - is a rosey burgundy color; 3 - is a shimmery taupey brown and 4 - is a dark taupe with greyish undertones.

Here is how I placed the products on my lids and they correspond to the numbering on the quad itself. I started off by priming my lids with NYX Eyeshadow Base in Skintone - ladies, if you do not use primer on your lids, do consider starting because this one step prevents creasing (which is a problem for me) and it really intensifies whatever colors you use and keeps it looking vibrant all day. I work long hours somedays and I put on my make-up at 6:30 in the morning and when I get home at 7 in the evening, I sometimes stop and stare in amazement at how brilliant and fresh my eye colors look even after 12 hours!

I placed the beige on the eyelid as you can see above and used this as my base color. I extended this color all over my eyelid concentrating on the inner part of my eye. Once that was done, I used the rosey red with burgundy undertones on the crease of my lid with a fluffy brush and blended this in until it was a light swathe of color.

I then used the light brown on the middle towards the outer corner of my eyelid to create a gradual wash of color from light to dark. Then with the darkest color, I placed this on the outer corner of my eye to give it some shading and definition. This I blended well with a clean blending brush. I took some of the light brown and used this on the top of area #2 to blend in the harsh lines of the red. Lastly, I used the lightest color as a highlight on my browbone - #1.

Remember I mentioned that I thought of another way to make the colors pop on my skin? Well, the next time I use this quad, I will use NYX jumbo pencil in Milk all over the lid so the colors look a little more brighter...perhaps the effect will be different. Promise to update you once I get the chance to do that!!

Hope you liked this....

Badger Balm Cuticle Care - If The Badger Needs It, So Do I!

2011-04-25T15:57:00.000+08:00

My cuticles are not a sight to behold because they are very dry and tend to split often which is why I always carry creams to apply on my hands whenever I feel that they are dry. It also does not help that I work in a very cold and dry office. So you can imagine my surprise when I chanced upon a whole range of Badger products in Isetan, KLCC in the most unlikely of places....the childrens department close to where milk bottles and nappy rash creams are!

I have been interested in purchasing the Sleep Balm for my mother and meant to do it online for the longest time but never got round to doing it, so I was indeed thankful when I saw this last weekend. I quickly picked up the Sleep Balm for mum and chose the Cuticle Care Balm for myself as I liked the fact that it is small and convenient to slip into the sidepocket of my hand bag ready to be fished out when I need a quick touch up on the cuticles.

First off, I have to say that I find the smell of this balm totally relaxing. As soon as I opened the tin, I got a whiff of the smell and it was very soothing and not at all overpowering. Once I had worked it into my cuticles, the smell seemed even fainter to the nose. My husband took one sniff and asked me if this was to keep mosquitoes away! I gave him 'the look' of course, but when I inspected the ingredient list, lemongrass oil was there - which explains why he thought it was to deter the mozzies! In Malaysia, some insect repellants use this as an ingredient and when applied on the hands and legs, effectively keep the bugs away and he was merely remembering the smell from the repellant our children use before they play in the garden every evening!

The moment you put your warm finger into the buttery yellow balm, it melts. The back of the tin says that upon the heat of your finger touching the surface, pearls of shea rise to the top and you can see that the surface of the balm becomes shiny and oily.This however, allows you to pick up the product to apply on your cuticles easily without having to apply pressure. The Shea Butter in this product is from the seed of the wild-grown Karite Tree of Western Africa. Do not place this tin near warm computers, in your car or places where there is direct sunlight as this will 'melt' the product very quickly.

Once I massaged the balm into my cuticles and the areas surrounding my nails, the dryness disappeared and my hands look so much better. I do hope with prolonged use, this will improve my dry cuticles and keep them looking moisturized. I purchased this for RM 35 - may be a little pricey but I think the product will last for a long time and will work out to mere cents if you are looking at cost per use/application.

Here is a list of the ingredients:-

Vitellaria Paradoxa Sp. Nilotica (Shea) Butter, Olea Europaea (Extra Virgin Olive) Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Essential Oils of Pelargonium Graveolens (Geranium), Citrus Reticulata (Mandarin), Cymbopogon Schoenanthus (Lemongrass), Elettaria Cardamomum (Cardamom), Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary Verbenone), Litsea Cubeba (Litsea), and CO2 Extracts of Hippophae Rhamnoides (Seabuckthorn Berry) Extract and Zingiber Officinale (Ginger).

I liked how it said "Carry Beauty In Your Hands" and "Clever Badger" on the side of the tin - very cutesy.

Have you tried any of the products in this line? I have my eyes on the Cheerful Mind Balm (very good for pre-menstrual days!) ; Stress Soother (a nice strong whiff whenever the boss is around!); Sore Muscle Rub - Extra Strength (to ease the neck muscle tension from hours of sitting in front of a computer). There are also balms for babies - Baby Balm and the Night Night Balm. There were also some lip products which, sadly, I did not pay much attention to as I was in a hurry.....but there will always be a next time.....

Lakme Insta-Liner

2011-04-15T09:54:00.000+08:00

Here's what I scored from a recent trip to Singapore. If you had mistaken this bottle for nail polish - you are forgiven! I thought so too at first glance! Then when I read it was an eye liner, I was delighted and intrigued as to how it would perform.

My first reaction was - what a generous amount of product for about RM10? Don't you think so? The bottle is big compared to other liquid liners on the market which come in a very small bottle but to be fair lasts a very long time.

For me, what is important is the applicator....if its too long, the application can be less precise. If it is not long enough, you will not be able to apply the product close enough to your lashes without smudging it over the lid. Take a look at the slim brush tip at the bottom.

The applicator itself is not that long but the brush is in my opinion too long and being similar to nail polish in design, you need to remove excess product from the brush tip before you apply as it seems to pick up more product than you need. This is also because the liquid liner is very watery. Have you ever had nail polish which flowed to the tip of the brush and created a large blob at the end of the brush? Well this will do the exact same thing if you do not first swipe off the excess on the lip of the bottle.

The color available was black and this was indeed a very dark black. It applied smoothly as you can see from in the bottom picture and gives a nice thin line. However, you need to have a deft hand and some experience in applying liquid liner. Not for the faint hearted and unsteady handed I assure you.

I liked how I was able to get very close to the lash line with the applicator but even though I apply liquid liner everyday, I still needed a few tries before I got used to the wand which is usually slim on other brands. I applaud Lakme for its unique approach to creating the bottle and thank them for the quantity which is good value for money for those who are on a budget (this was SGD 3.50).

Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara

2011-04-14T09:26:00.000+08:00

With the promise of lashes looking as if you have falsies on, who can resist? No sir, not me! Ever since I heard that Max Factor was back in town, I was itching to go see the goods. Sadly, to hear that this brand is no more a 'drugstore' brand was upsetting as I do remember seeing items from this iconic brand in the boudouir's of several aunts back in the day.

This mascara looks rather bulky but I have no problems with that. The wand is rather big and long but I like the grip of it as it gives me good control. As you can see from the picture below, the applicator has short stubby bristles which are rubbery in texture. They work very well to grip the lash and dispense product to it. As for the mascara itself, to me it seems a little on the dry side and sometimes I wonder if I do have enough product on the end of the wand - I do not pump the wand vigorously up and down to get more product as I don't like the idea of introducing too much air into it. So what I do is gently swirl the wand in the tube as I open it.

The before and afters are quite dramatic and speaks volumes! Please note that I did this at night without any makeup on my face.....

The picture below shows you my lashes without mascara. (Sorry for the red veined eye!)

And this picture below is with mascara! KA-BOOM! Look at that! Lengthened, thickened, darkened - all in two coats! I do not curl my lashes partly because I am lazy and also because I think the method I use to apply my mascara gives it a natural curl which stays all day long. I have never experienced limp lashes and the humidity does not affect them once my mascara is on.

Here is what I do - I apply mascara to the top side of the lashes from the root in a left to right motion and then sweep from root to tips from the outer lashes to the inner ones. I then move to the underside and do the same. Only as I am sweeping the wand from the root to the tips, I press the wand against the lashes that are close to the root and push the lashes up to create the curl and keep it. What happens is, when the product that you put on the top part of the lashes dries, it holds the curl and keeps it that way without going limp.

You can see that the eye on the left looks light and sparse whereas on the right, lashes are thicker and longer.

What do you think readers? Do you have this lovely mascara? Will you purchase and give it a spin like I did?

Tip of the Day

2011-03-29T09:40:00.000+08:00

I read on Missus Smarty Pants (She blogs about style, dressing well and looking your best no matter what your age) today that a good way to ensure that your nail polish is always easy to open is to smear a little Vaseline around the lip of the bottle before you start using it. This keeps the cap lubricated and it is easy to open everytime!

Do you do this already?

Garnier Pure Active Exfo-Brusher Review

2011-03-28T16:19:00.000+08:00

I was in Singapore recently and I picked this little thingamajig up when I saw it at Guardian Pharmacy. It's called Pure Active Exfo-Brusher from Garnier and what caught my attention was the brush like attachment at the top ~ although I must say the tester at the pharmacy was a little grimy looking....ewww! That did not put me off though so I purchased one to try. Apart from the brush, the other thing that caught my attention was the claim that the product would eventually fade acne scars. I do have a spot or two which I am in the process of trying to rub into oblivion and I thought that this could give it the much needed boost it needs.

It is a big bottle and you get 150ml's of product. I have been using this on and off for two weeks and I am quite pleased with what I am experiencing so far.

To begin with, I do have oily skin and this leads to the occassional breakout or two. As a result, I do have a few marks on my face, which is why I was interested to see if there was any truth to the claim that this will help diminish acne scars as well as lessen the sebum production a little too.

The active ingredient in this product is 2% Salicylic Acid. For those who would like to know, here is a little information on Salicylic Acid taken from E-How.com:-

Salicylic acid is a beta-hydroxy acid derived from the bark of a willow tree. It has both cosmetic and medicinal uses. It is often found in skin care products because of its ability to treat acne, psoriasis, warts and other skin conditions.
Salicylic acid has many cosmetic benefits and is usually used to treat blemishes. When applied to the skin, salicylic acid works by causing the cells of the epidermis to shed properly. This prevents the pores of the skin from getting clogged up and being infected with bacteria. It's basically a chemical agent that aids in the process of exfoliation by eliminating surface skin cells and opening up pores.

The Good:

The Exfo-Brusher head has180 ultra soft flexi-bristles which together with the liquid cleanser that it dispenses works to clean the face and exfoliate at the same time. I thought this was really unique that an exfoliator did not come with harder bristles to really rub the life out of your skin....so this was a pleasant surprise indeed.

What I did like about the product is the smell of the cleanser - it is fresh, pleasant and clean smelling and not at all cloying which is a big put off for me. The soft bristles was also another bonus and this meant that I would have to deal with a red face or be afraid of how much pressure I assert on it as I am scrubbing my face. I did like the lovely soft scrubbing sensation on my face as I used it. It cleans my quite oily face without leaving it taut and dry. My skin feels truly clean after washing with this.

To ensure maximum benefits, you need to turn the bottle upside down and press until some of the liquid comes out of the little hole in the middle of the brush (as you can see from the photo below). The cleanser is not gel like but rather very runny so you need to be sure that you do not over squeeze like I did the first time. This results in a lot of the product dribbling down the sides. Thoroughly wet your face and begin brushing this in a circular motion all over your face. For obvious reasons and you will see as you look at how the brush head is designed, this is not meant for more delicate areas such as the area under your eyes. I stay away from that area and concentrate more on five areas :- my cheeks; my forehead; my chin; my nose as well as my neck. A little bit of the product can go a long way as I use one generous squeeze for all these areas.

The cleanser is not overly foamy too which suits me fine.

I find that this product is more effective on a face that is devoid of makeup - so I do not use this when I get back from work to remove make-up. I remove my make up with moist towels which come pre-soaked in cleansing oil and then I wash with a cleanser. I keep this exfo-brusher for when I wash my face just before I go to bed. I like the slight tingly feel of a well cleansed face and you do get a tingly clean feel because the scrubbing action gets your circulation going and prepares the face well for night lotions and potions!

What Can Be Improved:

I think the overall design can be improved a little. For starters, the brush head is a little too big. If it were smaller, I would be better able to handle it and target specific areas. I found the areas on the bridge of my nose and around the nose area generally hard to handle because of the big brush head.

Also, the bottle becomes harder to manage when your hands are wet and soapy. I suggest rubber grips on the side to give more control over it's use.

If the cleanser was a little thicker, this can prevent too much product from dripping out as you turn it over to dispense the liquid.

I cannot comment on whether it has lightened my acne marks, because I have not used it long enough. I am not keeping my hopes up high but if there are any noticeable changes in a month or so,then I will report back.

Va J-J Visor! Protection For Your Privates - Strange but True

2011-03-03T09:00:00.002+08:00

Whilst trolling some websites, I came across this curiosity! Yes, you read it correctly, it’s a Va-J-J Visor! How interesting! And, I must add, quite useful if you um, need coverage of a more personal kind.

This product was developed by a gynecologist in Washington, but there is no mention on whether the creator was a woman or man though! Men have a similar product for themselves, called the ‘cup’ to protect their bits and pieces and now women have THIS.

The VJJV (as it shall now be known) is a disposable shield that protects a woman’s privates, namely the inner labia, clitoris and vaginal opening. It is soft and flexible and stays in place using your body’s natural muscular tension. No strings attached baby!

Uses of the VJJV includes during hair removal – however you like it done girls, whether it be depilatory creams, hot wax, razors, and scissors, as well as during laser and electrolysis treatments – you can use this to keep the tender bits covered and for a little modesty as well.

Importantly, this can be used while you are trying out swimsuits so it’s more hygienic, though personally I have never stripped down completely when trying on swimsuits.

If you are into tanning – which I dare say is not that big in Malaysia yet – then you can use this to protect your parts from a big blast of UV rays. Also, if you suddenly feel the need to tattoo or pierce your private area then this will be great to ensure that the instruments involved don’t venture too near the danger zone!

Check out the colors! Really cute!

Quite useful don’t you think?

Bloodshot Eyes - But I Am No Drinker!

2011-03-02T09:28:00.000+08:00

This is a plea to all my readers for natural remedies on how to restore my eyes to it's white glory. For the longest time I have battled the whites of my eyes looking all reddish and bloodshot. I am sick of people asking me:-

if I just cried;
why my eyes are red (if I knew, would I not do something about it?);
why I look tired;
if something is wrong with my eyes;

I have had quite bad sinuses which get infected easily and am allergic to excessive dust and am affected badly by the air conditioning. Can that get any worse friends? My GP mentioned that my congested sinuses are the cause of the red eyes but she said nothing much can be done about it unless the sinuses clear up....which, seeing that this runs in my family looks like a no go for me!

So here is my plea, if you have any natural remedies which you can share with me on how to overcome this and restore my peepers to its pearly white lustre, I would be eternally grateful! Is there a herb that I should boil and drink the juice of? Are there specific dietary changes I need to make? Help!

Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless Serum Primer

2011-03-01T14:38:00.004+08:00

A friend from Kentucky was kind enough to pick up a few things for me when she came to KL for her annual family visit. One of the items she brought was Covergirl & Olay’s Simply Ageless Serum Primer. I was so very excited to try this to see if this primer was any good compared to Smashbox Photo Finish Primer and even Monistat Chafing Gel.

On the website, there are several claims which state:-

Hydrates and smoothes skin for an ageless canvas

Hydrates and smoothes skin for an ageless canvas
Helps boost skin’s elasticity
Creates a finish that looks instantly firmed

This product goes on above your moisturizer however, it says on the packaging tha you can forgo moisturizer and use this alone under make up. As with all products I use, I give it a minute or so to allow for it to be absorbed well. I instantly noted that this product did not feel like silicone but rather like cream on the face.

What I liked:-

Here is what it looks like.

I love the pump packaging which dispenses just enough product hygienically. It looks mousse like and has the consistency of moisturizer. I did not notice any fragrance which is great as I hate a medley of contradicting smells on me. It also did not feel like heavy silicone ‘sitting’ on my face.

As you can see above, the primer looks very white and I was afraid that it would leave a whitish cast on my face. After blending and patting it in, you can see a slight sheen but not a noticable white cast.

What I did not like:-

Here is the sad truth….this is not for babes with oily or combination skin. I found the primer to be quite oily as early as two hours after application. This is totally the opposite of what I experience with my current primer which in fact works very well to manage, control and diffuse oiliness on the face. In fact, I really felt uncomfortable and I found that I needed to pat my face with a tissue throughout the day. This is totally not the case with my other primers. When my face became oily, I noted too that my make up did not stay fresh and I looked almost washed out. This was caused by two things:- Firstly, the greasiness 'melted' my make up causing the colors to fade and secondly, I kept constantly dabbing my face with a tissue and this also caused make up to come off onto the tissue.

Well readers, I did not give up on the product easily. I tried it again after some time and this time I chose to leave out my moisturizer thinking that this will contribute less to the oil slick I experienced the last time. Sadly the result was the same. My face did feel unusually greasy and I still needed to pat off the oil several times during the day. I tried applying a thin dusting of face powder at lunchtime but that just felt heavy and was not comfortable at all. Needless to say, my day at the office was not so pleasant.

The Verdict:-
Unless you have dry or mature skin this is a product that you can do without. I gave this to my mum and she has not experienced the extreme greasiness that I felt. Not a product that can challenge Smashbox Photo Finish Primer or even the cheaper Monistat Chafing Gel. I would not recommend this at all. It was worth a try just for this review though!

FAKES at SASA

2011-02-14T17:17:00.000+08:00

Readers, I nearly suffered from whiplash as I did a double take while shopping at SASA (Sungei Wang Plaza, KL) recently. I stumbled upon a set of brushes which looked totally like some other brand and when I looked closely.....the brand name was not the same.

Check this out! Its called Fenling - Made in China. AND the resemblance to the original is astounding right down to the string used to tie the brushes together! Just below the brand Fenling are the words Earth Friendly Beauty (it is not clear in the picture).

I managed to dupe the SA into thinking I was looking to make a phone call on my phone and distracted her with questions about another product in a different aisle before I quickly took a picture.

Compare that up there to this down here. The ORIGINAL Ecotools. Same right?

It really upsets me that these stores have resorted to selling fakes so blatantly. Next time you pick up what you think is Ecotools at SASA....look again, you could end up with Fenling and the guarantee of soft eco friendly brushes may not be true.

Blue and Purple Eye

2011-02-11T11:19:00.001+08:00

For some reason I have been craving blue and purple makeup. So here is an eye look I did with yellow gold in the inner corner into blue into purple and into darker purple with a touch of black. There seems to be a greenish cast on the crease but I did not use any green at all.

I created this look using the Coastal Scents 88 palette. I primed with MAC's Painterly. The eyes were lined with IN2IT black liquid liner and Loreal Ultra Volume Mascara was used on my lashes. Seeing that it is so fierce, it would be wise to keep the rest of the face light!

Have a great weekend y'all!

Review: Maybelline The Magnum Volum' Express Super Film Mascara (what a mouthful!)

2011-02-09T15:06:00.000+08:00

This mascara practically barked at me when I walked past with its bright yellow packaging and bold red words declaring what it can do for lashes. Being the sucker that I am, I picked it up immediately of course.

Its not pretty and luxe looking, the packaging, yet there is something about it that made me want to get it and take it for a spin.

Maybelline The Magnum Volum' Express Super Film Mascara promises a few things, volume (minus the clumping), long lasting wear (up to 24 hours, it seems) and easy removal (use warm water and BAM....gone!).

Volume

I was not blown away. I think my lashes are quite full and hence what I look for is a mascara that can make them look nice and thick with just one coat. I normally do not put on more than one coat on work days as I do desire that clumpy effect and I do not have the time to use a lash comb to separate them in the mornings.

Look at the brush from two different angles. To me this sort of gave me hope that my lashes would come out very thick and curled. Unfortunately I did not experience that.

Let me tell you how I apply my mascara. I apply one coat on top of my (upper) lashes and another coat on the underside of my (upper) lashes and that’s how I do it. Sometimes I will use two coats on the outer corner of my lashes. To get a nice wispy effect and add more definition to my eyes, I do make an effort to attack the lashes on the outer corner of my eyes. For me, those couple of lashes out there are easily missed and I need to move my hands and head this way and that to ensure that they are coated too.

Very rarely do I apply any on the bottom lashes as my bottom lashes are long and I tend to get mascara all over that area if I try to be a hero and apply it there.

As for the inner corner of my eyes…..I pretty much leave them alone too. After trying many times to coat them as best as I can without (a) poking my eyes with the mascara wand (b) poking my nose with the mascara wand – I do have a high bridge on my nose! (c) smudging mascara all over the inner corner of my eye, I gave up as this would have resulted in me having to take the morning off work trying to get the smudges off! All three options are not at all appealing so I leave the inner lashes alone.

I only use two or more coats if I have a special occasion to attend and want to wow everyone with my super long (natural) lashes but then again....they have invented falsies for that bit of cosmetic deception!

So back to the verdict on Volume - most mascara's out there do have volumizing effects and give better results. This one is just so-so.

Long Lasting Wear

I am blessed with slightly upturned lashes and always notice that my lashes do not droop despite reading this gripe from many other bloggers out there. Some mascara’s curl my lashes more and some keep my natural curl but I have thankfully not come across one that causes my lashes to droop. Perhaps it lies in the way I apply mascara - I really wiggle the brush all the way as close to the waterline as possible upwards. I also do it in sections – once close to the inner lashes, once the middle lashes and lastly once on the outer lashes.

As far as lasting wear is concerned, for my eyes, this lasts and don’t droop on me at all.

Easy Removal

Love how easily I can wash this off with my cleanser! I dislike the waterproof one’s where even a facial wipe soaked with oil remover does not remove all traces of the mascara and I have to practically triple wash my eye area until it becomes rather sore. Washing once is good enough if you have a great cleanser. Using facial oil to remove all traces of makeup prior to cleansing is good too but having to wash twice and still not get all traces of the mascara off really upsets me. I hate that heavy / clumpy lashes feeling when I don’t get it all off after washing!

All in all I think this is a cheap and good mascara for light day wear – I would definitely use more coats or use a different brand of volumizing mascara altogether for a thicker, fuller look for evenings.

Here is the before leashes:-

And these are the After lashes:-

Quite curly and this curl holds until I get home after work....so on that count alone its pretty good for me.

My Top Beauty Picks of 2011!

2011-02-08T15:33:00.000+08:00

Here are some practices I started in 2010 and am continuing through 2011 and beyond. These are items which have become entrenched in my beauty routine now and I cannot do without them.

Meet my not so new friends – NYX Eye Shadow Base and Smashbox PhotoFinish Primer. These are the two additions to my beauty steps prior to applying makeup.

I love NYX Eye Shadow Base for the lasting power it gives my eye shadows and now I do not have to worry about that ugly oily crease that I get in my eye socket by midday. I used to be so self conscious about it and sometimes when I am busy at work and forget to check, I wonder how others would have felt when they had to look at the ugly light brown line on my eye where the oil had its way! Not any more…..i wonder why I did not discover this earlier, because it certainly has been a wonderful product. Initially I was skeptical as to whether this product would deliver as even though I had heard about Urban Decay’s Primer Potion, I had not come around to purchasing it due to the numerous complaints about its seemingly flawed design. There were hundreds of YouTube posts on how to depot what was in the cute bottle and that scared me a little, I must admit.

Well, the NYX ES Base indeed was a little surprise in a pot for me as the payoff was good, bright colors and most important of all, super staying power. Even when I walk out in the sunny heat for lunch, my eye does not get that oily crease-y gunk that looks terrible. I cannot say enough about how much I love this product.

When I finally got round to purchasing Urban Decay’s Primer Potion, I did not use it as much as I do my NYX. I have also (albeit, a little unfairly) not given it a spin and put it to the 12 hours and above test like my NYX. I guess I will have to get round to doing that soon and when I do, I will let you know how that went. In fact one day I am going to use UDPP on one eye and NYX ESB on the other and put it to the test that way!!

My other makeup staple now is the Photofinish Primer by Smashbox….which they have thankfully also repackaged! The old packaging was terrible and until this day I have not figured out how to get the last bit of Primer out of that damn package! I love how my face looks and remains fresh throughout the day with the Primer on and it really controls the oily shine that is so unsightly. I still need to pat my oily face with a tissue or Blotting papers after lunch everyday but even if I forget, the oil does not shine like a beacon on my face!

Another good substitute for this Primer, if you are a beauty on a budget is Monistat Chafing Gel. It is just as good as the Smashbox version only cheaper. I do use both interchangeably without preference for any one. I think Smashbox is slightly better at controlling my oiliness but just marginally so. I do not think Monistat can be purchased here in Malaysia (at least I have not seen it in the shops) but there are some online spreer’s that will be more than happy to purchase it for you.

Apart from these, I am also more aware of the need to exfoliate regularly and I use Clinique’s Exfoliating Scrub every two or three days. The grains in this gentle scrub are not abrasive and can be used often. It is 100% fragrance free and its top ingredient is water. I never realized how my pores can get clogged and thus resistant to absorbing all the good and expensive products I have bought for my skin until a recent experiment done by my favorite SA at Clinique (Pavilion). She cleansed my cheeks – one side with cleanser and the other she used the Exfoliating Scrub. She then applied my moisturizer on both cheeks and asked me to feel which side had absorbed the moisturizer best. Lo and behold it was the cheek that had been exfoliated that had completely absorbed the moisturizer! That side of my cheek felt smooth and satiny. The other side was still a little damp with my moisturizer just ‘sitting’ on my skin and after some vigorous rubbing, I then felt that the moisturizer had been absorbed. That too not as fully as the other cheek that was exfoliated.

We may sometimes think we know so much about makeup but there are still some tips and tricks we can learn that will benefit our skin greatly. It is one thing to talk about the benefits of doing something or using some product but until we experiment and see the results for ourselves, we will never know. So do try this little experiment for yourself with whatever Exfoliating Scrub you currently use and then see how well your moisturizer is absorbed. For my face, I have to exfoliate every three to four days in order for my moisturizer to properly be absorbed. The environment we work in also plays a big part in clogging our pores. A cleanser alone cannot wash away what is deeply embedded in our pores and the dust (heat and dust are our greatest enemies when it comes to clogged pores and being in the tropics, we cannot run away from these two things). So, surprise, surprise, our cleansers do clean what lies on the surface but a thorough exfoliation or even a deep clay mask will do the trick of cleansing from deep within.

What are your must haves for 2011 dear readers? Have you discovered a tip that was interesting? Do share!

My First Eye Look Using UD Naked Palette

2011-02-03T12:44:00.000+08:00

This is my first look created using the Urban Decay Naked Palette! I love the colors so much and I knew exactly which colors I wanted to rock this morning! Nope....I had nowhere to go and nothing to do, but I so much wanted to play around with the colors that I spent half an hour just doing my eyes. Another first if you did not already notice, I have on falsies!!! My first time using false eyelashes. I am indeed proud of myself. Not a look you want to sport to the office....well you could, if you toned down the eyeliner and left out the falsies.

Here is the complete look. I started off by priming the eye lids with my NYX Eye Shadow Base, which I think is comparable to the UD primer potion. I have worn eye make up with this as a base for 12 hours straight and it looked as fresh as it did when I put it on.

Take Virgin and lay some down on the inner corner of the eyes as well as on the brow bone to highlight. I could have used more on the brow bone - I failed to realise that once I was done with the look, Virgin had sort of faded a little with all the buffing and swirling.

Then take Sin and use that all over the lids going up to just below the brow bone. After that, tear off a small piece of sticky tape and angle it on the outer corner of your eyes to achieve the cut crease look. (Many tutorials of the cut crease are available on YouTube, please watch those to get an idea of how this is done.) Make sure you take off the tackiness of the sticky tape on the back of your hand prior to using it on the outer corner of your eyes. Once you are happy with the placement of the sticky tape, take a small fluffy brush and apply Half Baked on the middle of the eyelid. You don't need to go all the way to the outer corner of the eyes but concentrate on the middle of the lids.

On the outer corner use the same small fluffy blender brush to pick up Hustle and apply going from the sticky tape towards the middle of the crease of the eye. Pick up a little more of Hustle and repeat until you get the density that you are happy with. I also took a small amount of Creep and concentrated on the outer corner to give it a little more definition.

Then use Zero to line the upper eyelid and Whiskey to line the lower lids. I used Sidecar with a pencil brush over Whiskey to make the color pop...but I don't think I used enough as I could not see it clearly in these pictures.

Over this I added my False eyelashes. These are from Taiwan and look quite pretty and natural. I had to put on a thick layer of Liquid Eye Liner - Cyber Color in Black, to mask the glue line of the falsies. I did not quite get the falsies to stick nicely so if you note that in these pictures, please forgive me. It is my first attempt after all!

Hope you like this look - my hubby said I looked like a Geisha with my fluttery lashes!!

Dupes for the Urban Decay Naked Palette

2011-02-02T19:15:00.001+08:00

Here it is for all you dear readers out there who are wondering whether to purchase this magnifisome (magnificent and awsome rolled into one) palette. Personally, you should splurge on the Urban Decay palette and keep it in your stash for I guarantee that this is the one palette you will be going to over and over again for all sorts of looks. If you are into smoky, sultry looks or even something toned down for the office, this is a sure winner. I am thinking of buying another one of these as a backup - THAT'S how much I love the colors!!

In a rather primitive way, I have swatched the colors on a piece of paper and swatched both the original and the dupe alongside each other. The good news for you is that most of the colors can be found in the Coastal Scents 88 Warm palette. Two of the colors I have taken from the Coastal Scents 88 Eyeshadow Palette. So if you do have the 88 Warm palette, then you are indeed in luck and can get your fingers stuck in with creating the numerous looks possible with these colors. Humbly I submit that these dupes are colors that I found which look as close or close enough to the original UD Naked Palette and if you have the same palette and feel that there are other colors which are a closer match, then please do let me know.

What you see here is the Urban Decay Palette on the Right and the 88 Palette on the left. I believe that the colors are quite a close match and you will be able to get a similar effect layering the 88 palette to get a deeper color. I have only used my fingers for the swatches and as some of the UD colors are shimmers, the camera does not pick that up very well. I will let you know how I referenced the 88 colors below as these colors have no name.

What are your thoughts on the dupes? Quite amazingly similar right? The colors that were the most difficult to find a match for in the CS palettes was Half Baked and Gunmetal. Half Baked is in two words:- liquid gold! It is quite hard to replicate that and I am thinking of MAC painpots in Bare Study or Cash Flow as good dupes. The Gunmetal dupe had a slight greenish tint which was not present to the naked eye prior to swatching. As for Darkhorse, the color is pretty spot on if you layer it a few times. My swatch was just two swipes in the picture clearly not enough to get the deep chocolatey goodness of the original.

If you are interested in trying out the Naked look and do not already have the palette because it is sold out or yours is on the way or even if you are just curious as to what the hype is all about, then do give these colors from your 88 palette a test drive and see if you like them. You might just be convinced to get the original to keep after you fall in love with the versatile looks you can recreate!

So if you see the swatches of the 88 colors above, you will notice that they are referenced this way:- 3/3 W or 10/2 ESP. 3/3 means the third row from the left and the third color down. The 'W' or 'ESP' after the number reference is 'W' for Warm and 'ESP' for Eye Shadow Palette. The palette you see directly below here is the Warm Palette which is where the majority of the dupes are found. The palette below that is the Eye Shadow palette with its mixture of brights and browns.

The 88 Warm Palette from Coastal Scents

The 88 Eye Shadow Palette from Coastal Scents

I do hope that these dupes have inspired you to find similar colors for the UD Naked palette in other brands. I know MAC has some dupe-worthy colors that you can use as a substitute for some of the colors in the Naked palette. What is important is that you are not restricted by just the colors of one brand - even if there is a huge cult following sometimes, it is just as fun to walk on the wild side and see that colors, as varied as they are, do still have similar undertones and can be replicated successfully. Have fun!

Konad: M65 Design with French Tip

2011-02-02T16:58:00.000+08:00

It has been so long since I attempted to Konad because, my nails were not worthy of polish or paint due to how brittle it was and how easily it broke. I have been taking Biotin supplements alongside my usual vitamins and I must say my nails are looking much better and stronger now. Another problem I have is dry and scaly cuticles. My cuticles grow very quickly and become rough and hard causing me to pull and peel at them - bad right? I'd like to think that I have kept to my resolution this year which is to take better care of my nails and cuticles. So I present to you my latest Konad adventure.

For the design you see above, I primed my nails by giving them a clear coat of Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails and then used one coat of light pink natural tone from a Sally Hansen French Manicure set.

I then took out my M65 plate and chose this design - you can still see the white Konad Special Nail polish that I used for the design on it! I transferred this design as best as I could placing it on one side of my nail and stamping it all the way to the other side.

For the white tips, I free handed the French design on my nail tips with the white polish you see above and set everything again with Hard as Nails. I stamped the nail design first and then did the french tips for a neater look. I was quite pleased at how my french tips turned out seeing that I could not for the life of me pick up the french tip design on my Konad plate. It came off in bits. I also did not have any nail tip stickers with me for the french tip so a freehand was what I settled on and it turned out ok.

This look lasted one whole week with light washing involved so it is really worth the time and effort you take to use a top coat and Sally Hansen's Hard as Nails, really deliver. Make sure you also coat the edges of your nails and the underside with the product to ensure that everything is well protected!

Totally Naked with Urban Decay's Naked Palette

2011-02-02T16:25:00.000+08:00

Surely you have seen it and love the colors right? Urban Decay made half the ladies of the world go ga-ga over this much anticipated palette and judging by the inability of the stores to keep this on their store shelves, everybody is truly loving this incredible palette. The colors are also super sexy and best of all, you don't have to keep this in the drawer to be pulled out for evenings out but rather, many of the colors are well suited for day looks. Just check out the many video's on YouTube on how-to's. I promise to show you a look or two using these colors in the very near future and if you are darker skinned, you will be able to appreciate how these colors look on your skin.

I was in Singapore late last year and called up Sephora to check if I could come and get one and I could hear the SA on the other end laughing in an evil high pitched laugh before she said "No chance of getting one...we don't have stock now and the last batch sold out in seconds!" What to do but book via a spree on Lowyat.net early this year and as I am writing this, I am gently stroking the lovely velvet cover of my palette! Yay!

I must say that the day I received my palette, I spent 25 minutes just staring at how lovely the colors were as I sat by my window......this is well and truly the mother of all neutral palettes and I can really understand why everyone is crazy over it!

As you can see above, this palette came with the 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil in two colors as well as 3.7ml's of the Primer Potion (below). The only complaint I would have is that the Primer Potion is still in it's old packaging and I guess I would have to depot this once the bottom bit cannot be accessed but thats another story altogether.

These are the swatches of the colors on the back of the box.

The amount of product you get is 1.3 grams per palette which is plenty of color and real value for money.

Even though you have probably seen many swatches, the difference here is that it is on my skin and if you are curious to know what these colors look like on olive/dusky/Indian skin then scroll on.

If you ask what my favourite colors are, I must say Sin, Halfbaked, Toasted and Hustle. A lot of the colors have pinky undertones to them and are workable on every skintone. Buck is very close to my skintone and seems to disappear as you can see above. Halfbaked is like liquid gold with a yellowish undertone and will be gorgeous on dusky skin. Smog and Sidecar are also worthy of a mention for being bronzily beautiful.

These are the swatches of the eye pencils, one half is a black called Zero and the other half a browney bronze called Whiskey.

After looking and thinking about the colors, I realized that not all women out there will want to shell out plenty of money for this palette - cult following nonwithstanding. Fret not for there are respectable and affordable dupes out there which you can use and pull off a decent look. I found most of the dupes in the Coastal Scents 88 Warm Palette as well as in the 88 Eye Shadow Palette. These I have kept for another post and once I sort out the pictures I will post that so you can do a whole look with similar colors. Perhaps Sidecar and Halfbaked were the biggest challenge to dupe but there are very close matches for both in Coastal Scents 88 palette.

For those of you who are celebrating Chinese New Year - Have a prosperous start to the Year of the Rabbit!

Gripe! Smashbox Photo Finish Primer: Love this Product - HATE the Packaging!

2011-01-06T10:56:00.001+08:00

I blogged about Smashbox Photo Finish Primer (which you can read here Smashbox Photo Finish Primer Review) and told you all about how much I love this primer. I still love it with a passion! Its the packaging I have a massive problem with! Am I the only one out there with a dud dispenser?

Just an update as to how difficult it is for me to use this product without first getting into a fight with the dispenser! If the powers that be at Smashbox ever come across this tiny corner of the blogosphere, please take note of my concern!

This product comes in a pump bottle and for the life of me, I can be pumping and pumping and the only thing that comes out is AIR! Where is my primer meanwhile? Well it sits pretty in the bottle and is in no rush whatsoever to come out and serve my face! Have you experienced this before? Well it's a daily battle for me!

I have tried everything....when I first bought the thing, I went back the very next day to replace my primer because it would not come out after repeated pumps but even then the new bottle had the same issues. I then tried storing the bottle on it's head but this only seemed to work temporarily. Mornings are such a rush that I don't have time to be pressing the dispenser 50 times to get a pinhead sized dollop of this primer so I tend to reach for my Monistat Chafing Gel which is easy as hell to dispense!

As you can see from the picture above, despite the issues I am having with it's packaging, I have used up a significant amount of the stuff and am on my last legs with it already. I cannot for the life of me get that last bit out and will need to unscrew the cap and pick it out with a cotton bud - I hate having to do that.....only because I have paid a lot for this primer and I would expect that for the amount I paid, at least I should get a device that works perfectly.

If any of you are facing the same problem as I, do share....at least I will know that I am not alone.

P/S:- Paris B of My Women Stuff pointed out in the comments section that this product has indeed been repackaged into a tube.....picture below! Thank God for small mercies! I can breathe easy now.....

Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser

2010-12-30T13:31:00.001+08:00

I saw this thingamajig being reviewed on You Tube about 6 months ago and was instantly drawn to how it worked and whether it would be effective so I hopped on to Drugstore.com and put in my order via a spree.

It so small and cute and best of all it vibrates! Wink wink!! I stumbled upon this little image when I was looking for one of the whole set in the box as I opened mine without taking a picture....

The Neutrogena Wave Power Cleanser as it is called is a gently vibrating tool with a round pad that is pre-soaked with facial foam and attached to the head of the device. You attach the slightly abrasive pad to the head, wet the pad slightly and switch it on then gently massage it all over your face in a circular motion.

Focus on the areas that are rougher - in my case, on my forehead and chin. Keep adding water to the pad as it dries so you get a good lather. You will feel a slight tingly sensation as the solution works on your skin. I also feel incredibly relaxed as I am using this due to the vibration on my face!

We all know that exfoliation is key to revealing and maintaining clear skin and the Wave is an affordable tool that can assist in this process. This product/device will help in unclogging pores and this in turn will allow your skincare lotions and potions to sink deeply into the epidermis thus receiving the total and full benefit of it. Other benefits of deep exfoliation are also the fact that your moisturizer will be absorbed better and your foundation will also glide on easily and not be patchy.

Whats there to love about my new gadget? Plenty!

I control how much pressure I use when I exfoliate with this product. This is really important for those with sensitive skin and the amount of pressure you use with this product can be controlled. Gentle circular motions is what I use on most of my face but areas such as my chin and forehead, I tend to press a little more.
It is ergonomically designed as it fits into the palm of my hand and its rounded design with its rubberized textured grip on the sides means I can hold it comfortably without the fear of it slipping. It is also ultra light.
Comes with a velcro top which makes the circular pad stick fast.
The pad also comes pre-soaked with a foaming wash which is convenient - and I like the fresh and non overpowering smell of it. Once you begin exfoliating your face with this, the solution on the pad gives a sort of tingly feeling which I really like.
It can be used in the shower and there is no fear of getting it wet.
Skin feels much softer and brighter after use.
The kit comes with one AA battery and a two week supply of the disposable cleansing pads. How nice is that!! I hate it when I rip open a product to use and have to immediately go out and buy batteries as well as refills of the thing, so this was great in that I was able to use it from the word go!

It comes in pink, turquoise, or apple-green color and since I bought it online, I was not able to specify what color I wanted. Of course you already know that I would have so chosen pink!!
I like that this is convenient and small and that I don’t have to deal with many fiddly bits before I can use it. You just switch it on (which is a small button on the bottom of the gadget) and go.

Here is a section of my cheek after a few minutes of using the Wave. As you can see, there is a small amount of foam.

Neutrogena claims that this device is clinically proven superior to manual cleansing in three ways:

1. 100% of women showed significantly deeper pore cleansing from its penetrating cool foam

2. Its massaging, vibrating action opens pores to remove dirt, oil, and makeup and stimulates the skin’s surface

3. You’ll see immediate softer, smoother skin after just one use

I experienced a deeper pore clansing in the form of fresh feeling and clean skin right after cleansing with this product and my skin did feel smoother and softer after one use. However, if you have sensitive skin, I would not suggest that you use this everyday - as the package says you can - you might aggravate your skin. I use it about once or twice at the most per week and that is enough for me.

My only gripe about this product is the fact that the cleansing pads are for single use only which seems wasteful to me. But for hygenic reasons, it is best to discard it after each use. I may try using a regular cotton pad and a drop of my own cleanser to see if it is as effective although I doubt it.

The good news is that a few months after I purchased this for USD7.99, I spied it at our very own Guardian Pharmacy for around RM 50 plus! They sold out pretty quickly but the cleansing pads were readily available at the Neutrogena counters. If you want a deep cleanse and an at home exfoliator then this will be right up your alley!

LUSH - Snow Fairy LE Christmas Shower Gel

2010-12-30T09:00:00.004+08:00

I have a friend who smells sort of bubble gummy/candy flossey all the time! I ventured to ask her if she made candy floss on the side because she smelled so divine as if she worked in Santa's kitchen! By the way, if you are a cosmetic junkie there is NO shame in asking when you see (or in this case smell) something awesome even if it is a complete stranger!

Back to my friend.....she told me that the smell in question was her shower gel and it was from a company called Lush. Now I had read about Lush and all their handmade goodies and was about to get another friend from the US to help me ship it over. As luck would have it, this friend of mine was an Australian working in Malaysia and her contract allowed her to fly back every two weeks. She was generous enough to bring back a small bottle from her private stash for me to try out in October. I was sold! And put in my Christmas order for several large bottles of the pink stuff pronto!

The shower gel in question is called Snow Fairy and is only sold for a limited period during the Christmas season which means.....it sells out pretty quickly and you need some good grabbing skills to get them off the shelves and into your shopping basket in two seconds flat before it is all gone!

Snow Fairy just brings out the child in you and as much as my two little girls are averse to anything pink (!), I on the other hand embrace all things pink with gusto!! The smell!! Oh how shall I describe this without doing it serious injustice? Well, it smells of sweet candy and when it has had time to mix with your natural body oils, it smells like you but better! Can you imagine that? I just love it and on the days I shower with this, I refuse to tarnish it's sweet goodness with any perfume.

Here is a list of what goes into this sweet concoction:-

As you can plainly see, the ingredients include Iridescent Glitter!! Yes, glitter.... please don't be alarmed, this washes off in the shower and can hardly be noticable once you lather it up. But totally divine to look at in the bottle. I may have mentioned this is a past post but when I was growing up, I never had the opportunity to use fancy soaps so I guess the child in me goes into overdrive at the sight of these little things! In fact I do have a whole stash of Lush soaps courtesy of my friend AKC (thanks man!) who insisted I tried out all her fave's as well.

Two Funerals, A Wedding Anniversary and A Family Reunion!

2010-12-29T10:41:00.000+08:00

A lot has happened since I last blogged as as the title suggests, I had way too much to deal with and lost a little of my spunk along the way!

Tragically, a young cousin and an old uncle passed away within a month of each other and I thought I would never get over the first death when the second one came along! This threw me into a deep state of sadness which I could not overcome for a while. I did not want to do anything and my mind felt like it was in a state of nothingness. It was just blank and I was going through the motions.....

My husband came to the rescue by just being there for me and allowing me to cry whenever I needed to. What I would do without him I really do not know......it also helped that I had friends whom I could count on, thanks PPS!

I was back and raring to go soon enough and looked forward to spending some time with my beloved on our 11th wedding anniversary. We dressed up and spent an evening wining, dining and sharing our wonderful year together. I assure you ladies, it gets better as the years roll by! (at least for me it did)

The icing on the cake after the tragedies, was reconnecting with a lost branch of our family tree on my mum's side. After 26 years, my family and I met with some long lost nieces/nephews/cousins! What a blessing indeed it was for me to discover that I had 5 older cousins (when all along I was the eldest!) and to meet up at my place on Christmas day was a double blessing indeed!

So all in all, in the last months that I have been missing, what I really missed was writing and testing products and playing with make-up! I may have lost some members of my family but God gave me more than I lost by way of my new-found relatives. It was amazing to see each one of them and best of all.....I have connections in Singapore which means I would be able to get products from there not found in Malaysia to review for you my dear readers!

I pray that each and every one of you has a blessed year in 2011! Thank you for your loyal support.

Coty Airspun Face Powder

2010-09-22T17:50:00.001+08:00

Did you ever watch your mom/elder sister/aunts put on their makeup when you were much younger? My earliest memories of cosmetics were watching my aunts put on their makeup. They were heavily into Indian Classical dance and when there was show, they would sit in front of an old wooden dresser with a worn out mirror and put on their makeup. I would be perched on a big old bed in their room and just stare at their images in the mirror. The memories of my childhood were somehow jolted to life when I came across this product online one day because I distinctly remembered seeing something like this on their dresser. (Its been around since 1935, my friends!) It looked so retro and reminded me for some reason of them and that memory in their room.....They are not around for me to actually verify that it was indeed the same powder they used but I just thought I'd share that with you.

Back to Coty Powder, which is not available here but easily purchased online and is relatively cheap. I bought Coty Airspun Face Powder in Translucent Extra Coverage for RM 38!

Coty Powder is a finely milled loose powder which you use to set make up and it does so very nicely. The color says translucent but it does have a tiny bit of color which does not bother me as it blends very nicely with my foundation . This one is also and Extra Coverage powder which is buildable and you can add on which is something I have not tried to do as I believe the coverage from my foundation is sufficient. I use my favorite Eco Tools Kabuki brush to pick up the powder and dispense all over my face.

I was pleased to note that this powder helps with controlling oil as my face still looks matte at midday which is nice.

The packaging has also changed very much for the better as previously Coty was sold in a stiff, round cardboard container and did not come with a sifter. Oh the horror of all that powder flying about as you open the thing! However, they have revamped the packaging recently and it is now housed perfectly in a plastic container with a sifter and a puff (which is totally useless, so don't even bother). I must say, since I discovered the kabuki brush, I have not used puffs to apply my powders at all.

It has a smell which I cannot explain but since a small amount is applied on the face, I don't smell it and it does not bother me.

The back of the packaging says that this powder will smooth out fine lines and blemishes. Please take that with a pinch of salt as you will need to apply and build the coverage until that happens.

There is plenty of powder in there that it will take ages to get through it so if you are looking for value, then this could be something you consider purchasing.

NYX Eyeshadow Base

2010-09-17T16:49:00.000+08:00

There are many Eyeshadow Bases around but this one is the best IMHO. I purchased it for the sake of trying and not really expecting it to blow my socks off but this one came out a real gem!

I put it to the test one day when I needed to take my look from the office to dinner with a group of friends with nary a minute in the middle for touch ups. I put on my make up at 7am that morning and came home at 9pm and went straight to the mirror to have a look at how my eye make up looked. Having oily lids, I sometimes see creasing as early as noon and its not pretty! BUT on that fateful day, at 9pm I looked and looked and looked and WOW!!!! my lids looked as fresh as when I put on my make up that morning! Thats 14 hours that this base held my eyeshadow together my friends!

How can this be, I asked the eyeshadow Gods.....and the reply was: NYX eyeshadow base!

The color that I chose was ESB 03 which goes on a little light as you can see below but does help with making any eye color you apply on it just that little bit brighter.

Let me tell you that a very little bit goes a long way. Just pick up a little of the product with your ring finger and apply all over the lids up to the brow bone, wait about thirty seconds for it to set (well, I like to anyway but if you dont have time....go ahead) and you are good to go with putting on your eyeshadow.

Now this puppy is part of my daily staple. I spend long hours in the office some days and I am confident enough not to be checking my eyes for that awful line in my eyelid crease that gives my oily skin away!

Go online now and buy it!

Chanel Vitalumiere Satin Smoothing Fluid Foundation with SPF15

2010-09-15T16:52:00.001+08:00

I have been lemming this beauty for a while now so when things were a little slow in the office one day, I put my lunch hour to good use by stopping by a Chanel counter to check this out. I was a little apprehensive about whether they would carry a shade that would work for my skin tone, however I was delighted to find a shade that matched my skin perfectly which is 50 Naturel. I ran all the way to the cashier to pay for my new 'toy'!

This is the product explanation of Vitalumiere on the website:- " Delivers a young, radiant look. Lines, wrinkles and imperfections seem to be erased. Ultra-gliding fluid provides buildable coverage. SPF 15 UV protection; nut extract guards against free radicals" Now who does not want all that?

Whats not to love about this product? Nothing at all, in fact I love it so much its been the only foundation I have been using for a while now. The pump bottle is super efficient in dispensing just the right amount of product for a light to medium coverage and on the odd day that I do notice some extra redness on my cheeks, I use a bit more.

Its wonderful to note that the foundation glides on and blends easily and it does not feel heavy on the face. You get a lovely dewy finish which lasts all day long and looks as fresh at the end of the day as when you first applied it in the morning. Unlike some foundations, my face did not get very oily towards the end of the day which makes me love this foundation all the more.

Here is the back of my hand with a little bit of the foundation on it...see how it matches quite nicely?

And here is a picture of the foundation smoothed out on my skin!

If I were asked what I don't like about this product, I would not be able to provide an answer because I like the pump bottle, I love the product and the dewy finish, I love that there is a color that suits my skin, heck, I even love the slight whiff of an unexplainable smell that it has!!

For those of you who want to know what goes into making this beauty, here is a list of the ingredients:-

You know something dear readers, I think this may be my HG foundation!!!!

NYX Jumbo Pencils

2010-08-28T08:00:00.057+08:00

Oh the raves about these little things I tell you! Of course I just HAD to investigate!

Hence, I present to you these:-

From left to right:- Milk, Pure Gold, Purple Velvet, Orange and Black Bean.

The must have colors are Milk and Black Bean. Milk used as a base so lighter colors applied on it pop and Black Bean as a base for smoky looks.

What you notice first is that these are not your regular slimline pencils. These are the Sumo Wrestlers of the pencil world and hence the name "Jumbo" Eye Pencils! For the relatively cheap price (less than 15 ringgits) I was all excited at the amount of product that I got!

The best part is that these pencils apply so very smoothly and are dreamy creamy which makes it so super blendable. Because it is creamy though, there can be a tendency to overuse. So exercise caution when using as a little goes a very long way.

On the downside.....because of the Jumbo-ness, it is not ideal for using to precisely line the eyes. You will most likely end up with an uneven line. (You can tell that I tried to do it right?)

You will also need to invest in a sharpener that is big enough to accomodate the larger girth that this pencil has but this is not difficult as these sharpeners are easily found. You know when I am sharpening my lip liners, I always mourn the fact that a lot (a LOT!) of product is wasted from the sharpening....I hate that which is why I was delighted to come across many video's online on de-potting (yes! de-potting) the Eye Pencil without changing the quality or consistency of the product. I may give it a go and report back later with my findings.

Kings & Queens Nefertiti Honey Soap

2010-08-27T08:00:00.020+08:00

Free from Mineral oil and parabens, Kings & Queens Nefertiti Honey soap got me all giddy from first smell! Yummeh!

When I have time, I like to spend my Saturday afternoon taking a nice long shower and I would take the time to work in some scrubbing and rubbing into the whole routine. I picked the Nefertiti Honey soap from the range to join the other little gems that I use during my shower.

The bar is huge (larger than the standard bar of soap) and I needed to shop for a soap dish large enough to house the honeyed beast, which of course took a long time as I had to shop in several places before I was happy with this one dish! Did I ever tell you that I am a little crazy?

I don't need to go into the wonderful properties of honey but if it is good enough for Queen Nefertiti, it's good enough for lil' ol' me!

The soap lathers a little more than normal soap and is very sudsy. The smell was nicer when it was still in the package so I was a little disappointed with the intensity which was far less than when it was unused and packaged! Bah! Also, I felt that the soap was a little drying to my skin despite the fact that this soap is enriched with Pomegranate, Blue Egyptian Lotus and Malachite extracts.

So, nothing magical about this soap apart from the fact that it is a little more luxe than normal soaps and you do need to treat yourself a little now and then eh!

King & Queens does some lovely body butter, body milk and shower gels apart from their soaps. I purchased this at Shins at One Utama for RM25.

NYX Blushes in Silky Rose, Desert Rose and Pecan

2010-08-26T11:55:00.000+08:00

I recently purchased these little babies and have since taken them for a test drive.

The first thing that I noticed was that nice embossed or quilted pyramid pattern on it which I really love. For me it adds a touch of luxury and its fun to look at.

I am sure that all of you already know that NYX (pronounced Nix) is affordable and has really taken off because of the price as well as quality. Unfortunately though, not available in Malaysia yet which is really sad!

The three colors that I picked up were Silky Rose, Desert Rose as well as Pecan.

My first impressions were that they did not look as finely milled as I had expected. When I swept a fan brush over the blush for the first time, I was alarmed at how chalky and powdery the blush was and this confirmed my initial impression of it.

However, these blushes are intensely pigmented which means that you should use it sparingly as you can pick up too much color and then have a huge spot of color on your cheek. A fan brush works well for picking up a light dusting of this blush and blending well (perhaps you can use a kabuki brush to buff the color well) is KEY in getting the color evenly on your cheeks. Some of us tend to sweep our brush into the pan to pick up the color - not so for this one. It will only pick up too much color and leave you with a chalky mess to deal with. So whatever brush you use, make sure you gently sweep it across the color. I know some blushes take some work with the brush to get it to pick up a decent amount of color. But if you are patient and wield some measure of control over your brush, these blushes will work very nicely. Remember it is easier to build color to the desired amount rather than take away.

I love both Silky and Desert Rose which is great on Indian skin. I purchased Pecan to use as a contour and I am still improving my technique with it.

I hope dear readers that you will stick by me as I have loads more NYX products to review and will do so soon!

Freaky Footwear Friday!

2010-07-30T11:29:00.000+08:00

What a dream for make up addicts worldwide! I love the shoe.....and the fact that I will be able to save some space in my handbag by carrying my lipstick on my heel!

Did You Know.....

2010-07-30T11:16:00.000+08:00

Did you know that MUFE's single shadows have pans that are easily detachable?

I recently discovered this!

All you do is use your nail (or a sharp object) and from the top (carefully) pull out the pan. It is attached by a magnet and comes out easily.

Cool if you decide to depot and organize all your colors in one pan!

Prepping Lips For Lipstick

2010-07-26T15:21:00.001+08:00

I just wanted to share a tip with you ladies out there. Before I begin putting on my makeup, I usually put a little Vaseline or lip balm on my lips. This gives the product time to soak in my lips and do it's thing as well as prep's my lips for smoother application and longer lasting lipstick.

My lipstick goes on last after I put on my clothes because I had an accident while putting on a white blouse once - I needed to do a quick change and that really upset me. So after that incident, I always put my lippie on last.

Just before I put on my lipstick, I use a tissue to pat off the excess vaseline or lip balm on my lips and then proceed to line my lips and fill it in with lip color.

Do you already do this, dear readers?

MAC for Rodarte - Why I Will Not Be Part Of This!

2010-07-22T10:45:00.023+08:00

I am so ashamed to say that I am now knowledgeable about Juarez through M.A.C – clearly, M.A.C is not an article detailing shameful history but rather a make-up line!

Thank you M.A.C for bringing this terrible injustice to my attention – however, that is all you managed to do for I will not be purchasing anything from this shameful collection. Using those products would make me feel dirty.

Whats all the fuss about?
Juarez is an impoverished Mexican factory town notorious for the number of women between the ages of 12 and 22 who have been raped and murdered with little or no response from police. Most of the young women are employees at the border town’s factories, called maquiladoras, and disappeared on the way to or from work.

Here is the link to an article published about the issue in Lucky Magazine: http://womenofjuarez.egenerica.com/content/view/10/25/. One thing that jumped out at me from reading the many other articles was that the ladies had to show the owners their soiled pads or tampons every month to prove they were not pregnant. There are many more articles about this if you are interested. Please do a search on 'Juarez', 'femicides' or 'maquiladoras' and you will be bombarded with an eye opening view on the issue.

Who is Rodarte?

Rodarte is a brand of clothing and accessories founded by Kate and Laura Mulleavy. Rodarte's work has always been influenced by the macabre things in life (horror films etc). These two sisters took a road trip through Texas and the town of Juarez was the inspiration for the collection!

WHAT RODARTE SAID ON THE MAC AND RODARTE COLLECTION - THEIR OFFICIAL STATEMENT

"Our makeup collaboration with M•A•C developed from inspirations on a road trip that we took in Texas last year, from El Paso to Marfa. The ethereal nature of this landscape influenced the creative development and desert palette of the collection. We are truly saddened about injustice in Juarez and it is a very important issue to us. The M•A•C collaboration was intended as a celebration of the beauty of the landscape and people in the areas that we traveled."

WHAT MAC COSMETICS INITIALLY SAID ON THE MAC RODARTE COLLECTION - THEIR OFFICIAL STATEMENT

"We understand that product names in the M•A•C Rodarte collection have offended some of our consumers and fans. This was never our intent and we are very sorry. We are listening carefully to the comments posted and are grateful to those of you who have brought your concerns to the forefront of our attention. M•A•C will give a portion of the proceeds from the M•A•C Rodarte collection to help those in need in Juarez. We are diligently investigating the best way to do this. Please be assured that we will keep you posted on the details regarding our efforts."

Sorry ain't gonna cut it.

The E/S you see below was initially called Sleepwalker (M.A.C has comitted to changing it's name now), in reference to the ladies who worked in shifts at the maquiladora.

I do not want streaks of blood on my eyes.

After a severe backlash on the blogoshpere M.A.C re-issued another statement saying :-

We understand that product names in the M·A·C Rodarte collection have offended our consumers and fans. This was never our intent and we are very sorry. We continue to listen carefully to the comments we have received and have the following plans to address concerns:

•We are committed to donating $100,000 to a non-profit organization that has a proven, successful track-record helping women in need and that can directly improve the lives of women in Juarez in a meaningful way.

•We are changing the product names in the M·A·C Rodarte collection.

As we have done in the past, please be assured that we will communicate details regarding our progress in this matter.

At least this furore has put a spotlight on the Juarez issue, which I am SURE was M.A.C's intention in the first place! I hope something good comes out of all this......

100th Post! Yay!

2010-07-22T09:00:00.000+08:00

My dear readers,

This is my 100th post and I am well and truly proud of myself!

I would like to thank each and everyone of you for stopping by and reading my two cents' worth. To those who have followed......I do so appreciate it.

I am humbled to be a part of the blogosphere and I have learnt so much and am still learning from all of you.

Much love,
Jacqui

Review: The Hayan Collagen Essence Masks

2010-07-22T08:42:00.001+08:00

I recently purchased The Hayan Korean masks and tried two of them in the past weeks. I bought a few so I picked the pomegranate enriched collagen essence mask first because I love the fruit and was looking forward to the smell. The picture below was taken just before I put the mask on.

My first impression was the fact that it was soaked with the essence to the point of dripping! So I carefully opened the mask and when I looked at it, I was surprised at how much bigger than my face it was. But I guess since these don't come in sizes, then it must be one size fits all.

The scent was a pleasant floral smell but not a true pomegranate smell. I put it on and found it a bit difficult to adjust to my face. Mind you this was my first time with a sheet mask like this so I found it a little fiddly. As you can see below, the mask did not sit on my face smoothly. I put this down to my technique of putting on the mask - I guess I should not have just slapped it on. I was too lazy to readjust it tho'! However, I managed to get it on and then lay down for 15 minutes to allow the essence to do it's magic on my skin.

When time was up, I took off the mask and expected to see something different but my face looked the same, the only thing I noticed was that it was soft and bouncy. Good right? Also, because the mask was still wet with essence, I used the excess on my neck and arms.

The soft and bouncy effect did not last till the next day and everything was back to normal by then. I was not truly impressed, I must say.

A week later I gave another mask a try and this time I chose the Pearl Collagen Essence Mask. I can only guess that this has pearl powder mixed in the essence because the ingredients are all in Korean.

This time I prepped my face by spritzing on some minerals and vitamin infused spray by Youngblood (review coming soon). I then applied the mask carefully, beginning at my forehead and then working my way down towards my chin. The tricky part for me was getting the mask to sit properly around the eyes and nose. But this time I got it right and settled down for half and hour. The instructions say that you should use the mask for about 15 to 30 minutes so I decided to keep it on for half an hour.

The results were much better this time. In the thirty minutes (I managed to shape, buff and shine my nails AND watch t.v at the same time!) the essence soaked into my face well and when it was time to take the mask off, I noticed that it was almost dry. Much better absorption than the first one I tried. This was caused I am sure, by keeping it on longer and allowing for the essence to properly soak in. My face looked clearly brighter, more refreshed and hydrated. This lasted well into the next day.

My conclusion is that in order to get the most out of these sheet masks, use them for at least half an hour and apply the mask onto the face well so it sits smoothly and the whole face can benefit from the essence it contains. I also rubbed the mask all over my arms and legs with what was left and woke up to softer skin.

Verdict:- Buy only if you have spare change and don't expect the results to last long. Keep using on a regular basis to maintain hydrated skin.

Tip! Which Lotion Comes First?

2010-07-20T18:45:00.001+08:00

As consumers we are bombarded with lots of lotions and potions that each claim to perform some miracle on our faces and with agressive advertising we always get the impression that every product that comes out is "THE " product to have! I suspect that most of us don't have the three basic products - cleanser, toner moisturizer but rather a whole host of products in each category and if you are cofused as to which order to use them then do I have a tip for you.

Read on!

Always, always CLEANSE and EXFOLIATE first. The only way to start is with a clean face. If your face is not clean, then you are likely to clog your pores further by adding and layering products on your face.

STEP 1a: CLEANSING

Cleansing is also a crucial step. Check your cleansing routine. Some years ago, I discovered that I was not cleansing the area close to my hairline well. I began having breakouts in this area and upon investigation I realized that my cleansing routine was wrong.

Start by spashing some water on your face. This is important to allow your cleanser to mix with the water and begin its work. Then squeeze or pour out a decent measure of cleanser on the tips of your wet fingers and rub well to produce lather. Once this is done, start working the cleanser on your face. I begin with my t-zone (my nose and forehead) and then move to my cheeks and then all around my eye area, lip area, near the hairline, close to the earlobes and under my chin as well as my neck. Gently rub in circular movements for a minute or two.

Once you complete this step, splash your face with water and focus on your hairline, around the eyes, and on the neck to remove all traces of cleanser. You are done once you gently pat a towel on your face to remove the moisture.

STEP 1b: EXFOLIATING

I usually exfoliate once a week or if I do have time, at night while I am showering. This helps deep cleanse the face and remove stuff like dead skin cells. Exfoliating also reveals the freshest layer of skin on your face and if done well, you should notice a brighter and slightly fairer face after. Too much exfoliating is not good as it can lead to redness blotchy skin. So take it easy on this one.

STEP 2: TONING

This is an optional step for some people and always comes AFTER cleansing. At this point, your face is still a little damp.

Take a piece of cotton wool - they come in squares or circles in packs and are really cheap. I personally prefer the circular ones because I feel they are thicker. Splash a few drops of toner on your cotton piece and sweep over face concentrating on areas around the hairline and close to the earlobes. Don't be surprised to find some last traces of makeup on the cotton.

Toning will tighten up pores and preps the skin to receive all other products. If you don't have large pores and oily skin (lucky you!) then by all means skip this step.

STEP 3: SERUMS AND TREATMENTS

If you have a serum then now is the time to put it on. Rub your fingers together to warm it up and then pump or pour out a little of the product on them. Rub your fingers together to spread the product and gently swipe on your face. Let it set and settle for a few seconds. Give your skin time to absorb the product before you move on to the next step.

STEP 4: MOISTURIZING

A good tip is to buy a moisturizer with an SPF factor of at least 15. What is an SPF you ask? SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor.

A sunscreen with an SPF of 15 filters 92% of the UVB. Put another way, a sunscreen with an SPF of 15 will delay the onset of a sunburn in a person who would otherwise burn in 10 minutes to burn in 150 minutes. The SPF 15 sunscreen allows a person to stay out in the sun 15 times longer. (Taken from About.com - dermatology)

UVB (or ultra violet) rays are bad and small amounts of these are emitted from your computer screen and flourescent lighting too (surprised right?!). Wearing a moisturizer with SPF will give you some measure of protection from this.

Again, with moisturizer, get some on your fingers and rub between fingers to dispers and then apply on your face. Do also factor in some for your neck....this is often overlooked and will begin to show signs of ageing later in life so better start taking care of it now!

So there you have it. Hope this was useful!

Stage 'Keep It Clean' Brush Cleaner - My first Video!

2010-07-20T08:38:00.001+08:00

I recently purchased a Brush Cleaner from Stage called 'Keep it Clean' and I did a video to show you how to use it. Please click on the video below.....

I would appreciate it if you could let me know in the comments if this was useful. I may be inspired to do more......

Idea! Storing De-Potted Lipstick

2010-07-18T21:46:00.002+08:00

I certainly had a very productive weekend! I spent some time de-potting what seemed like a million lipsticks into a cheap container that not only saved me a ton of space for more purchases (big smile) but also gave forgotten purchases a new lease of life.

The container I used to organize my lippies is a pillbox which I nicked from my dad! He loves organizing things and this is how he organizes his medication - I guess I got the organizing gene from him! I asked dad for one of these pillboxes because he has quite a few - "just in case I need an extra" he says.

I realized that there were many lippies that were lying at the back of the drawer and I thought that this would bring most of it together in one palette and allow me to pull it out and have a look at what takes my fancy for the day. I know the box does not look posh and fancy - it is quite basic - but this is my personal collection and it works for me, so thats why I think it is a great idea. If you can get your hands on a box that is clear without the days of the week printed on them in English as well as Braille then all the better.

I used a long pen knife to de-pot the lipstick right from the bottom (because I hate wastage) and then carefully dropped the lip color into the different compartments. I then popped the row out and labelled each color with the brand and color. As you can see, each row of lipstick pops out of the main tray and I quite like the idea that I could pop out a tray and take it away whilst travelling too.

In order to use these lippies, you will need a good lip brush - just open the compartments and have a go! It is easier to mix colors to create a unique color this way too.

Most importantly, do get a container that has compartments which snap shut firmly to avoid any nasty accidents. As for the labels at the back, I used labels which I bought in a pack (these are sold cheaply at stationery stores). I use these labels for all my spices, baking ingredients as well as for the hundred little things that the children have so I always have these about the house. I am a bit anal when it comes to labelling because I also have a huge battery operated Dymo (labelling tool) that I use when I organize stuff! Remember, all pictures are clickable if you want to see them a little more clearly!

Avon's Soft Mousse Blush in Apricot Flush

2010-07-16T09:02:00.000+08:00

I have recently fallen in love with this little wonder in a pot! I bought this ages ago and threw it in my vortex of cosmetics and it sort of sat at the bottom of that pit feeling very lonely until I found it. I have worn this several times since it resurfaced as you can see from the defiled product picture above!

It's called Apricot Flush and its a sweet shade that gives dusky skin a healthy flush. I swatched it on the back of my hand here for you to see.

Very pretty shade. Soft and seems to turn into very fine powder once it is on skin. It is totally buildable. If you use your fingers, which I intially did, the color tends to be a little on the heavy side and getting an even wash of color over my cheeks was not easy to achieve. I tried using MAC's 188 brush (small enough to get it into the pot and swirl for color) and the results were much better. The color applied very sheer and I was able to apply it evenly as well as build the color. Much easier to control where the color went compared to using my fingers. This is my personal opinion though because some ladies are more adept at application of makeup with their fingers.

When I first purchased it, the mousse blush seemed slightly more softer but I guess that keeping it for quite some time has dried it out ever so slightly. When I took out this blusher, I expected it to have dried out completely thus rendering it useless. I was pleasantly surprised.

Avon is offering the Soft mousse blush in two shades - Apricot Flush and Peach Mousse. Apricot Flush has a cool rosy undertone and Peach Mousse has a slight orange undertone to it which makes it very wearable and suitable for a wide variety of skintones.

Ellefar 9 Color Shadow Palette From Daiso

2010-07-06T11:06:00.002+08:00

Wow Daiso! I walked in to the One Utama outlet last Sunday and it was packed to the brim with people browsing through the racks of stuff they have there! There seems to be something for everyone and I bet you will never come away without buying something! Everything from cosmetics to kitchenware is in one store and all for RM5 flat!

See what I bought.......this is Ellefar Slim Color Pact - 9 Color Eye Shadow Palette called Sweet. I was drawn to this because I thought the colors were adorable and versatile enough to create several looks as well as being useful to take along while travelling. I must admit though that I was sceptical as to whether the color payoff would be good. But for RM5 who can complain right?

Have a look at these shimmery colors up close. The palette does not name each color so what you see is what you get. My favourites are the from left to right at the top, first row, third color - its a salmon pink. In the second row, I love the rich chocolate brown and in the bottom row, the buttercup yellow, right, is also quite delicious.

I must say that these colors are fairly pigmented which you can see from the swatches below. You will see a little powdery fallout but it is quite minimal. All colors except the chocolate brown were swatched once. In order to get the chocolate brown to show up properly, I needed to swatch twice.

The three pinks look similar but are ever slightly different if you look closely. The white (top row, middle color) looks like it has a little blue undertone in the picture which really surprised me because it looks a little pinky in the pan. This could be because this color is flanked by two pinks on either side. The green and blue at the bottom are quite exciting colors and I cannot wait to experiment with them some time soon.

I tried a look with three colors:- I used the cream (middle row, right) all over my lids and used a little on the brow bone. I then used the salmon color (top row, right) over the cream on the lids to create a subtle wash and then used the chocolate brown (middle row, left) at the corner and along the crease line. The cream and the salmon turned out quite nicely but I found it a little hard to get the chocolate brown to show up clearly. I did not put on more shadow as I was in a rush to get to the office. That is the trouble darker skinned women encounter - some colors are harder to wear than others. Its something I am working on by watching online videos and looking at tutorials. I will try this again soon and see if I can get the brown to show a little more.

I must say this is an interesting palette and if you want a little fix to appease the inner shopping queen in you, then head on over to Daiso - they have other little goodies too!

Smashbox Photofinish Lid Primer - An Experiment

2010-07-02T16:50:00.002+08:00

I had been mourning the fact that my eye colors just did not pop the way it does on some ladies. The colors looked lacklustre and lacked the 'oomph' that I was after. Which is why I purchased Smashbox Photofinish Lid Primer - many bloggers have reviewed different eye primers and the verdict seemed to suggest that eye colors would literally reach out and grab you if you put on a primer first.

This primer comes in one shade and melts into skin to provide a base for eye shadow. Below is a swatch of the color on the back of my hand:

I only recently discovered the power of primers and primers should be used over your moisturizer to keep your make up looking fresh, vibrant and long lasting - so important to working women like me because I don't have time to check my make up every so often.

So I embarked on a little experiment to see if the use of a primer would brighten eyeshadow colors. The results, will shock you! Read on!

The Lid Primer comes with a doe foot applicator that dispenses just enough product for both eyelids. Just a

swipe of the applicator on each lid and then smooth the product all over the top lid. The product is very creamy and blends well.

I applied a color that was bright on its own and expected the color to really pop. This is NYX Ultra Pearl Mania Loose Pearl Shadow in True Purple Pearl. I applied primer on only one eyelid and the other was just a little loose powder.

Can you tell which lid has the primer on? You can't? Really?

Well, this is the lid WITHOUT the primer...... it's the lid on your left if you refer to the picture above

And this is the lid WITH primer........the lid on your right

My eyesight is not failing me right? I expected this experiment to really blow my socks off and it did........for the wrong reasons!

I expected one eyelid color to pop and the other to look lacklustre.....that did not happen. Both eye's look the same (one with a slightly thicker eye liner, my bad!) but otherwise, nothing to suggest that the primer did anything to enhance the eye color at all! Quite disappointing really.

On a more positive note, I wore the color for about 5 hours and after that, I did another assessment. The lid with primer did not crease and the color stayed the same whereas, on the primer-less lid, the color faded a little and creased too. So, for me the only concrete reason to use a primer would be to keep my eye colors looking fresh. It does not in any way make the color more vibrant as can be seen on the side without any primer.

Has anyone else experienced this? Should I go on using a specific primer for eye lids or just stick to covering the area with a little concealer and a light dusting of powder before I put on eyecolour?

Rimmel Color Rush Duo Eye Shadow in Soft Glam

2010-06-25T09:41:00.001+08:00

When Rimmel first hit Malaysian shores I was really excited because I remember purchasing a few items from this drugstore brand way back in the early nineties in London.

When it comes to eyeshadows, I was not very adventurous and only preferred light pink to deep purples. However, after seeing so many wonderful lady bloggers out there use to-die-for colors on their lids and watching all the inspiring You Tube videos of women of color experiment with bold bright colors, I have become more adventurous too! So when I saw this, I decided to purchase it because green was a color that I had previously NEVER considered putting on my lids......

This duo is called Soft Glam and I must say that there is nothing "Soft" or "Glam" about this! Strong words, I know.

The moment I opened the package, I noticed that there was powdery dust all over the inside of product. The shadows were not smooth upon application and there was a lot of fallout under my eye which had to be cleaned up. The color payoff was miserable especially the lighter color at the bottom. In the picture above, it looks rather silvery but its actually a lovely light cream shade, which was what caught my attention to this duo anyway.

As for it not being soft - the sponge tip applicator provided is of course, crap. But the product itself, seems very grainy and coarse with a lot of product wastage because of its powdery nature.

The colors too are not glam - let me show you the swatches below:-

The top swatch is the green color which is a lovely shade but, in order to get the color to match that of what you actually see in the packaging, you will need to apply it several times. This is not a single swipe of the color on my hand but about three or four swipes! The bottom color on the other hand totally refuses to turn up on my hand and you cannot really see a true reflection of the color too. I swatched this at least six times and was still unable to get the color to show up! The same goes for when I apply it on my lids........

Verdict: Totally dislike this product and would not recommend it. Pricewise, it's priced at RM18.90 at the time of purchase so it did not cause any trauma to my wallet. As for my introduction to green....well this bad experience has not totally put me off the color so I will continue to look for the perfect green for my skintone. Meanwhile, I will chuck this duo in with the other colors that are lying in my cosmetics graveyard.

Idea! How to Store Your Brushes

2010-06-24T11:49:00.001+08:00

Have you tried many methods of storing your brushes and not found one that was satisfactory? Well here is an idea that you can use to ensure that your brushes stand straight up and don't flop around in your brush container!

My brushes (sorry for a photo of unclean brushes - I promise they are up for a thorough wash this weekend!) are stored this way. I am a big believer in repurposing simple things that you find around the house by giving it a new lease of life. So the container you see here was from a hamper full of cookies stored in several sizes of this clear plastic container. The plastic is very durable and the height of the container was just right for my brushes. I took the cover and attached it to the bottom of the container to form a stand.

Initially I could not find the correct materials to keep my brushes standing upright and one day as I was walking past a craft store, I spied these lovely beads that were being sold for RM13 per bag.

The beads are long cylindrical ones and are a lovely shade of green. In these pictures the green does not show up as vibrant as they are. It looks rather dull here but I assure you that in the container, it looks lovely and sparkles quite a bit!

All I did was to empty the packet of beads into my container and I had a sturdy holder that keeps my brushes stand upright and I don't struggle to keep it organised anymore.

Another idea is to buy colored sand which can be found in our Ringgit store or flower shops. I have purchased some of these and will do a post sometime in the furture to tell you how the sand holds up as compared to these colorful beads.

How do you keep your brushes organized?

Spotted! The Hayan Korean Beauty Masks

2010-06-24T11:06:00.002+08:00

I was at Wisma Cosway yesterday having lunch and to walk off some of what I had eaten, I decided to walk around a bit and stumbled upon this little booth selling Beauty Masks under the brand called The Hayan. Pricewise, they are about 5 ringgits each.

The Hayan, according to their website here means "best beauty products for women that dreams of longing for white and fresh skin". I must say that I am not longing for white skin.....I am brown and I do like it that way but who does not want fresh skin eh, dear readers?

The lady manning the booth called "Park" (she and about 6 million other Koreans are called Park right!), could not speak very much English but she managed to tell me that they are having a BOGOF (Buy One Get One Free) promo going on and so I picked up two masks and got two free. She was kind enough to help me pick her bestsellers.

Here is what I got:-

Arbutin is extracted from bearberry plant and is said to prevent the formation of melanin, therefore used as a skin-lightening agent. Arbutin can also be found in wheat and in pear skins.

Artemisia are shrubs such as mugwort and sagebrush. It is said to have antibacterial properties.

Pearls copntain a unique combination of natural substances and minerals exist which, when applied topically, keep the skin smooth, soft and supple.

Pomegranate extracts help to smooth rough skin and lighten skin pores.

I was particularly attracted to this product which is a mask specifically targeted for hands. You put it on and put on a pair of gloves to allow the goodness of the essence to seep into your hands and wait for half an hour for the magic to happen. I am excited about seeing what this can do.

Last of all, Ms Park threw this BB cream into my bag as a parting gift. Sweet!

I will try these masks and let you know how I feel about them in the near future!

Jordana "Glitterama" Eye Liners

2010-06-21T11:46:00.003+08:00

Jordana is a US drugstore brand and although I believe way back in the late nineties, it was sold in Bukit Bintang Plaza, I have only recently stumbled upon it at Shins. I saw a few products in this line and I picked up the Glitterama Eyeliner Pencils for their attractive colors and great price!

What attracted me to these pencils were the cute colors namely the purple and turquoise and the glitter. The eyeliner pencils came in a packet of 5 for the price of RM29.90 which is super cheap.I mean who wants a plain ol' eyeliner when you can make your eyes pop with glitter around them!!

On a more serious note though, I was curious to take this for a test drive to see if :-

the pencil is soft
the glitter would show up after application

Here is a swatch of all 5 colors. They are Midnight Celebration, Purple Party, Turquoise Jamboree, Bronze Fest and Black Bash. Not the most creative of names, I must say but that did not put me off buying it though!

On their website, Jordana glitterama is pitched as being "glamorous, glitzy, daring and edgy". They also claim that the "sparkling micro-glitter adds shimmer" and the color promises to be "super intense and creamy". However, I beg to differ.

The pencil was not soft and creamy. I think what made it difficult to apply were the micro-glitter which had a tendency to scratch the lids. The pencils pulled on my lids and did not apply as intensely as I wished it would. This is especially so for Bronze Fest and Black Bash which was a total disappointment in terms of intensity.

You can see from the swatches that the glitter is minimal and not at all that intense which can be a good or bad thing. If the glitter was really intense, then these pencils would be great to use to a party or for a night out. But seeing that it is not that 'in your face' these pencils are suitable to be worn to create a day look without looking too overdone in my opinion.

I wore Black Bash to the office and the glitter was not so noticable - I had drawn a thin line on my top lids that day. Perhaps it would have been more noticable if the line had been thicker. That remains to be seen and perhaps I will swatch these on my eyelids soon to give you a feel of what it looks like that way.

Overall, I am not that enthusiastic about these pencils and I may use it occassionally perhaps but for now, I will stick with what I am using.

EcoTools Brushes

2010-06-18T15:45:00.000+08:00

I am so happy to be part of this earth friendly movement! I spotted these beauties in Shins and though their collection of brushes were extremely limited, I still managed to get two brushes which I had been wanting to add to my arsenal namely the Eye Shading Brush (1203) and the Retractable Kabuki Brush (1214).

The 1203, has wide synthetic taklon bristles and the ferrule is made from recycled aluminum.

The 1214 on the other hand, is also made from synthetic taklon bristles and I am going to use it to pick up loose or pressed powder to set my makeup. Its retractable case is made from recycled aluminum which is great to know.

My first impression of these brushes were how soft the bristles are and I am happy that I finally have a kabuki that is super soft! The other kabuki that I am using is a Smashbox one and it is a little too scratchy for this missy's face!

I note with glee that the packaging these brushes came in are reusable and at this point, for the life of me, I cannot think of what I would re-use them for....so my dear readers, if you have any ideas, please share them with me.

Shins was an exciting shop to walk through and since I was unable to fully explore it, I am determined to go again. If you click on the link to Shins, you will be able to purchase their products online but not all products found in the shop are found online though.

Freaky Friday

2010-06-18T14:49:00.000+08:00

Looks like the heel fell off and this lady asked her husband to glue it back...trouble is he was watching a crucial match in the World Cup and did not pay close attention to what he was doing!!

M.A.C Give Me Liberty Of London Lipglass In A Different Groove

2010-06-02T10:24:00.002+08:00

When I spied this at my nearest M.A.C recently I was quite taken in with the packaging. So cute and whimsical that I wanted to get something from this collection. I guess it must have been "that" time of the month because most of the items were sold out and the only things left were the harder to match colors. Nonetheless, I ended up picking a Lipglass in the color A Different Groove.

Indeed it is a groovy color and not for the faint hearted as this is a strong and deep almost purply brown color with flecks of bronzy shimmer in it.

I do love it and I have worn this on an easygoing weekend with lashings of mascara and eyeliner and just this lipglass. Very sweet!

Here are some other items in the Give Me Liberty of London collection:-

Beauty powder

Shell pearl - Pale peach with gold pearl
Summer Rose - Soft violet pink with pearl

Eye shadow

Give me liberty of London - Flat creamy pink (matte)
Free to be - Creamy true coral (matte)
Dame’s desire - Frosty mid-tone reddish purple (frost)
Birds & Berries - Frosted dark green blue (veluxe pearl)
Bough grey - Mid-tone blueish grey (satin)

Lipstick

Ever hip - Creamy light coral (cremesheen)
Peachstock - Neutral peach (satin)
Petals & Peacocks - Creamy bright magenta pink (amplified)
Blooming lovely - Creamy greyed lilac mauve (amplified)

Lipglass

Frankly fresh - Neutral pink beige with soft pearl
Perennial high style - Creamy bright pink coral
English accents - Creamy midtone blue pink
A different groove - Deep purple brown with pearl

Powder Blush

Prim & Proper - Neutral nude
Dirty Plum - Sheer Dark Plum (Pro)

Nail Lacquer

Vestral white - Creamy white (cream)
Blue India - Dark green blue with pearl (cream)

I was quite lemming the powder blush in Dirty Plum but they did not have stock of it! Pffttt!!! Did you get anything from this collection, dear readers? What did you think of it?

My First Face Of The Day!

2010-05-31T16:43:00.002+08:00

I have never done a face of the day and I since had put on my "face" whilst trying out a few lipstick swatches, I thought why not use those pictures to give you a little something extra to look at. So here goes!

These are some of the items I used to achieve this look:-

Face:-

M.A.C - Mineralize Satinfinish SPF15 Foundation in NC42 (not in picture)
Coastal Scents Professional Camouflage Concealer (not in picture)
Smashbox Halo Hydrating Perfecting Powder in Medium (not in picture)

Eyes:-

Coastal Scents 88 Palette - 1st row from the left, 5th color down - a light salmon matte color; all over the eyes
M.A.C Painpot in Indianwood on eyelids only
M.A.C Eyeshadow in Crimsonette on the outer corners of the eyes and inwards around the browbone
Coastal Scents 88 Palette - 6th row from the left, 8th color down - a dark matte purple; on outer corners to intensify the color
Coastal Scents 88 Palette - 11th row from left, 8th color down - a dark, charcoal grey; to line the lower waterline
NYX Ultra Pearl Mania in Nude in the inner corner of the eyes around the tear duct

Eyelashes:-

Loreal Ultra Volume Collagen Mascara (top lashes)
Majolica Majorca Lash Gorgeous Wing (bottom lashes)

Brows:-

Red Earth Absolute Brows Brow Perfecting Kit in Mahogany

Cheeks:-

M.A.C Blusher in Hushabye

Lips:-

Revlon Colorburst in Mauve

My goodness! That is quite a list indeed! Well, I wanted my first face of the day to be a saucy picture of me and I think I achieved that!