FOTD: Everyday Post-Holiday Season Makeup

It's rare that I get to post FOTDs here considering how much set-up it requires for me to be able to get a few good shots! Regardless, I thought I'd share with you this (relatively) easy look that I've been going for these days.

Base and Blush

My base has been pretty much the same for the past four months or so. I find that this gives me the most flawless, smooth base that doesn't fade awkwardly or patchily. I use the Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer for my t-zone and the areas beside my nose to achieve a poreless look, and use Max Factor's Facefinity All Day Primer for the rest of my face. It seems a bit tedious to use two primers, but that's just me being fussy. 

The Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation has been my go to for so long because it builds to a pretty solid medium coverage and lasts well throughout the day. I use the L'oreal Lumi Magique Concealer for my under eyes, dark areas, and just below where I would put my contour for subtle definition and illumination. 

I'm pretty much obsessed with my new Colourpop Blush in Aphrodisiac as it gives the perfect hint of colour on the cheeks while being slightly cool in tone to contour. I tried using brushes but found that patting it on with my fingers and blending with my foundation brush is the best method for me. I set everything with the Bourjois Healthy Mix Powder and Skindinavia Oil Control Setting Spray (if I'm going to be somewhere without air-conditioning) and I'm good to go!

Eyes

After doing very elaborate and defined eye looks for the holidays, I've embraced my usual blend-and-go product, the Maybelline Color Tattoo Leather in Creamy Beige. It does well in adding something to the eyes without too much work. A quick curl and coat with the Fairydrops Platinum Waterproof Mascara is more than enough for me. Finally, I add a bit of the NYX Brow Mascara in Espresso to the inner and outer portions of my brow, to make my brows appear neater and more pronounced without adding too much. 

Highlight and Lips

I normally don't do highlight, but the Colourpop Highlighter in Butterfly Beach is too beautiful to resist. It's slightly pink in tone so it really livens up the face, and the lack of any visible shimmer or glitter really allows it to blend into the skin well. 

I've been going for two lip options, though I've been really into browny nudes in the form of the Etude House Dear My Blooming Lips Talk Chiffon in BE109. If I want something more sophisticated and comfortable to the lips however, then I go for the Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle.

The end result is something pretty simple, but still incorporates the essential make-up I love the most which is a perfected base. What do you think?

Friday, February 03, 2017

FOTD: Everyday Post-Holiday Season Makeup

By Pauline Read More

Whats in My Travel Makeup Bag (Ireland/England Edition)

As I write this, I am currently fighting jet lag and waiting for dinner in Ireland. As it is the summer for most of the northern hemisphere, I thought it would be helpful for you all to see what I brought to Ireland with me on this month-long trip. It's the longest I've been away from home and I knew that makeup-wise, I had to bring products that I knew I could rely on and were multi-purpose.

I'm pretty good at packing the essentials (clothes-wise) so I had a bit more room for beauty products such as skin care, hair care, and make-up. I separated the items as follows: face, eyes, and lips. I've written my lists over and over again until I finally cut it down to a more or less acceptable number for each category. It may seem either too few or too excessive, but I find that I'm neither restricted nor overwhelmed with what I brought.

Face

Gasp! One primer, one foundation, and one powder? I was strictest with these items because I was going to buy tons while I was here. I also tend to bring too much whenever I travel, so I wanted something I was sure would work no matter what climate. 

The Etude House Good Bye Pore Ever Primer Essence has been a long time favourite of mine and is something I always come back to. It also pairs beautifully with the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint as it provides a layer of hydration and makes the tinted moisturizer look even more seamless and skin-like. The Maybelline Master Conceal while lacking in high coverage, makes up for it by blending beautifully and easily into the skin. Finally, the NARS Translucent Crystal Light Reflecting Pressed Setting Powder won't run out! I do prefer it as its finely milled but doesn't take the dimension away from the face when applied. It's also much easier to travel with a compact powder versus a loose powder, so definitely no spills with this! Lastly, I wanted to test how well the Skindinavia Makeup Setting Spray (Oil Control) fared in cooler climates. It'll also be useful when I'm going around for the whole day as I need to worry less about my makeup melting.

I only took one blush and my contour powder, since I was planning to buy a cream blush anyway (more on that later). The NYX Powder Blush in Pinched is perfect for the summer because of its coral and pink tones, which also works well with nearly all of the lipsticks that I bought. I decided to bring the Too Cool for School Createur du Contour as my face tends to bloat a lot whenever I travel. It's something I've noticed in all the pictures of me from past trips, and I'm determined not to look like a ball this time around!

Eyes

I was a little more lenient with eyes because most items are very small and compact. Of course I brought the Zoeva Cocoa Blend Palette because I want to test its versatility in creating multiple looks. I also brought a single Makeup Geek Eyeshadow in Cosmopolitan because I am obsessed with the colour and I knew it would pair well with the other eyeshadows in the Cocoa Blend palette. I also brought along the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Creamy Beige in case I won't have time to do anything fancy. The Urban Decay Primer Potion is of course a must, because I do want my eyeshadows to last all day and not crease (something that still happens even when I'm in cold countries). 

I find that eyeliner makes such a big difference whenever I wear it, so I brought both the K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner Micro and the Clio Kill Brown Brush Liner for variety and ease of use. The Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara (Waterproof) still hasn't gone bad on me, though if it does, I'm definitely going to pick up a new mascara while I'm here.

Lips

I remember asking Alex from The Red Eyeliner on the acceptable amount of lip products to bring while traveling, and she answered four including lip balm. Not going to lie, surprising answer considering how much she likes her lipsticks! I managed 5 lip products including lip balm (not featured due to embarrassingly beat-up packaging), though I did pick up the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment during my layover in Singapore (oops). 

I brought along the Golden Rose 2000 Lipstick for a nice red in case needed, along with the Etude House Play 101 Pencil in 21 as they pair well together. The MAC Lustre Lipstick in See Sheer goes everywhere with me now because it goes beautifully with warm eyeshadows, and isn't too stark like most corals. Finally, the Chanel Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle is my go-to lipstick on lazy days, or for when I want to look a little more presentable. 

And that's it for me! I hope you all enjoyed this monster of a post. What about you guys - what do you usually bring on trips? Is there anything I should have brought that you recommend?

Friday, July 01, 2016

Whats in My Travel Makeup Bag (Ireland/England Edition)

By Pauline Read More

2015 Favourites

Better late than never, yes?

2015 did a better job at showing me who was boss than I did, so I'm honestly glad to say goodbye. While there were moments of laughter and joy, I was struggling through most of it. That, however, is not the case for make-up! I've found so many gems this year that I am more than happy to add to my permanent collection, and I can't wait to share it with all of you!

I didn't choose a product for every category, as I didn't try much from each anyway. I included those wherein I had a lot of options, or those really worthy of a mention! These products have easily obtained holy grail status and will be used until they're gone. <3

Best Base: Jouer Matte Moisture Tint (My shade: Nude)

This was tough, especially for those of you who know how much I love bases. This Jouer one is great for everyday, and is also amazing for mixing with other bases! A little goes a very long way, and the coverage and finish is amazing. This is similar to the Fairydrops Candybar BB Cream (review here) though with a faster drying time. Essentially, perfect skin in a tube! 

Best Concealer: Maybelline Master Conceal (My shade: 30 Light-Medium) (Review here)

I've reached for this concealer ever time without fail. I love its thin, lightweight consistency but good dry down time, making it great for dark circles, covering redness, and for scars. It was non-cakey on my normal and my combination skin, and looked very natural even on its own! Really amazing drugstore concealer that I would recommend to anyone!

Best Cheek Product: Too Cool for School Art Class by Rodin Createur du contour (Review here)

I never expected to love this product as much as I do now. I find that using a small amount every day makes a world of a difference in adding definition to the face without looking too obvious. It adds amazing shadow to warmer skin tones or Asian complexions like mine. I've already made a hefty dent, and yet its still going strong!

Best Eyeshadow: Too Faced Natural Matte Palette (Review here)

I have reached for this palette so much on so many occasions it's almost ridiculous. The colours are perfect for my needs, can be used alone or in conjunction with other palettes, and the formula is amazing. I still would highly recommend this palette and I will definitely be using it up until I hit pan!

Best Lipstick: MAC See Sheer

This was honestly the easiest for me to think of, despite acquiring a number of lip products this year. I have reached for this colour so many times even after the end of the warmer months, and I have loved this. Its essentially the only "coral" I would wear, which is a very big statement. This might be the first lipstick I will finish - I'll keep you all posted.

That's it for my favourites! I hope you guys liked this post and are looking forward to the year ahead as I am. Here's to a happier, better 2016!

Saturday, January 09, 2016

2015 Favourites

By Pauline Read More

FOTD: Gold Eyes and Dark Red Lips

Before I go into this week's post, I'd like to apologize for the phone-quality photos for this and the next few posts. My SD card for my camera broke just as I finished shooting several posts, resulting to me using my phone instead. Ah, all that wasted time. :(

But yes you read that right - this is a 'Face of the Day' post! My friends from uni had a sleepover and photoshoot a few weeks ago, and I wanted to share with you the look I wore for that shoot! It was really fun as it was Harry Potter-themed, and being a huge fan of Harry Potter, it was easy to say I enjoyed not only planning, but participating as well. 

I was sorted into Slytherin - yes, we did go into that much detail for a sleepover + photoshoot - so I knew that I wanted to wear a dark red lip. It was meant to be an evening look so I didn't hesitate in having heavier eye makeup and (gasp!) contour. These were the products I used (save for the powder, as I borrowed Alex's Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder, which I need to get for myself) at the time.

Yes, no primer and yes, false lashes! I really want to get into wearing false lashes because they add such drama to eye make-up. Sometimes, I find that the Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation applies better on bare skin as it fades evenly and breaks apart less after a few hours. I applied a bit of face mist prior to foundation and it gave a very skin-like, glowy finish. I applied a bit of Maybelline Master Conceal (review here) and set my base with powder.

After priming my eyes with Too Faced Shadow Insurance, I applied my Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in My Two Cents which is a coppery-bronze cream shadow. I put a bit of Strapless and Chocolate Cookie from the Too Faced Natural Matte Palette (review here) on my crease and blended. I added a bit of Sexpresso from the same palette to the outer portion of my eye to create a bit more depth. I then lined my eyes with Clio Kill Brown Waterproof Brush Liner (post about it here) and applied my favourite Fairydrops Platinum/Scandal Queen Waterproof Mascara (review here). I wasn't after neatness for this eye look, but more for the warm gold & browns. I didn't do it in this recreation, but I added 3 lashes per eye at the corners to give a more fluttery lash look. I then added a bit of the K-Palette Real Lasting Two Way Eyebrow Pencil to fill in any gaps to my brows (review here). 

I just added a bit of the Too Cool for School Createur du Contour as the last of my face make-up, and finished everything off with two layers of the NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Mandore, blotting in between layers to give a darker colour. I absolutely love this lip pencil now and I'll definitely be using it more in the coming months!

Here's the finished look! I tried doing the eyebrow raise, but its hard to look mean in a floral shirt haha! I hope you guys liked this look, and let me know if you want to see more FOTDs in the future!

Friday, August 21, 2015

FOTD: Gold Eyes and Dark Red Lips

By Pauline Read More

COMPARISON: Maybelline Master Conceal vs Make Up Forever Full Cover Concealer

Hey, everyone!

Sorry for missing last weeks weekly post :( I've been interning for the past few weeks and its left me with very little time to sleep, much less blog. I'm back now though and hopefully my posts won't be interrupted anymore!

Anyway I promised I'd do a comparison post for my recently acquired concealers - the Maybelline Master Conceal and the Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer. When I was still reading about them prior to purchase, I did think that they would be quite similar. It's been a good two months and I've formed a pretty good opinion (and liking) for both!

Packaging

They're both in tube packaging, which can be good or bad depending on the person. I personally like it because I find it to be more hygienic than a doe foot applicator or anything else with a sponge-tip (ahem this concealer).

The Master Conceal (MC from now on) has a bigger opening and thinner tube, and I do admit that its difficult to get the right amount of product as it offers less control. I think it was designed this way because of the more liquid consistency of the concealer, which means you need more.

The Full Cover (FC) on the other hand has a smaller opening and a stiffer tube, allowing you to get the amount you need. This reflects the fact that a little goes a long way with this particular concealer.

Pigmentation 

The FC is easily full coverage. A little goes a very, very long way with this to the point that I recommend a teeny drop to start with. This is great if you have any spots you need to cover because you will be sure it will be hidden. It dries to a matte finish that isn't too flat or obvious, as some mattes tend to be.

The MC is more medium to full coverage if built. You do need more product to get to a full coverage if desired, but its not an excessive amount. This is good if you don't want to go too heavy on under eye concealing, since too much under the eyes can crease really fast. This dries to more of a natural finish. 

Consistency & Blendability

The FC is much thicker in consistency, but definitely nowhere near heavy. This is such a refreshing change compared to high coverage but heavy and cakey concealers! You only need a little bit to cover spots, so you can expect this tube to last you a long time. I will say though that its best to work in sections with this as it dries fast and gives little time to blend into the skin. I think a large part of this comes from the fact that its waterproof; once its there, it won't migrate or disappear until you take it off with a make-up remover.

The MC is, as I mentioned, a more liquid consistency. Granted this does mean that it takes longer to set, needing the help of a powder, but this also makes it easier to blend. This is great for people who are new to make-up, as it leads to a little less of a mess and is more forgiving if any mistakes are made. This does not last as long as the FC, so its not good for long days.

What I like about both of these is that they both blend well instead of just sitting on the skin. This makes it a little less obvious that you're wearing make-up, giving you the option to  just spot conceal and call it a day for your base.

Versatility

The MC easily wins this round as it can be used as both an under eye and spot concealer. The consistency isn't too liquid that it slides off spots in an hour, but its also not too dry for the under eyes. This makes it great for travel as it is multi-purpose. I must say though that on my personal skin, it does not aggravate acne (since it isn't oil-free) but it might if you have more sensitive skin.

The FC seems to be best for spots, as its consistency is a little too dry for the under eyes for my liking. This is fine by me as I need more concealing for my spots rather than under eyes anyway! For those looking for a full coverage under eye concealer however, you might need to look elsewhere.

Price and Availability

Sadly, the MC is not available in the Philippines. I think this is only available in the US for now, but feel free to correct me if I'm wrong! If you can get a hold of it however, you will not have to break the bank as it costs P300/$8.99 at the least since it is from the drugstore. I know that this is available at ULTA if you buy online, but I got mine from Bon Marche, where I got a few other products as well. They're really nice and ship your items really fast, so go check them out!

The FC is more readily available in all MUFE stores as well as Sephora. This does cost a lot more locally (P2000) so I might recommend purchasing from online stores. I got mine from Make Up Pro who also ships products really fast and accepts pre-orders! I got it for about P1400 which is closer to the price they pay in the US ($32). It is more expensive compared to the MC, so if that is a setback for you, the MC is a much better alternative.

Summary:

Maybelline Master Conceal (30 Light-Medium)
(+) Blendable, multi-purpose, medium-full coverage, natural finish, good for beginners, affordable
(-) Not oil-free, no control for packaging, not readily available in PH

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer (6 Ivory)
(+) Full coverage, waterproof, good for sensitive skin, long-lasting, more shades, good for spots, matte finish, very pigmented
(-) Less blending time, expensive, learning curve to use

I don't have a winner for this round due to the very different consistencies. I also wouldn't say that they're dupes of each other since the consistency is so different. I will say that I am very happy to have purchased both since I now have options, and I like having options.

That's it for now! If you have any questions or comments, and even recommendations, feel free to leave them down below!

Friday, July 17, 2015

COMPARISON: Maybelline Master Conceal vs Make Up Forever Full Cover Concealer

By Pauline Read More

REVIEW: Maybelline Master Conceal (30 Light-Medium)

If you have been reading my blog for a while, you will know that I have a love affair with base products, and concealer is no exception. I have a lot of acne scars that need covering and sometimes a tinted moisturizer or foundation isn't going to cover it. You all know that I have purchased and loved my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (mentioned numerous times on my blog) but felt that I needed to try something new. 

The Maybelline Master Conceal is one of the newer concealers from the brand, which was released December last year along with several other base products by FaceStudio. Maybelline is a brand that has a lot of concealers that have been raved about time and time again (such as the Age Rewind and Fit Me Concealers) so I thought that this new product would be just as good.

It claims to be lightweight, full coverage, and multi-purpose. Not only would it be great for acne scars and darkness under the eyes, but it would also be great for travel, which is something that I do put into consideration when purchasing products nowadays.

Packaging

Unlike their previous concealers, this is the first that comes in a squeeze tube, which is very hygienic but not too good for travel. I say this because a lot of the tubed products I have tend to explode whenever I travel. The best way to avoid this is to squeeze as much air out of the tube as possible, and sealing the opening with tape for good measure. 

The tube is opaque, so you cannot see the product inside the tube. This does bother me as I won't be able to see how much concealer I have left as I continue to use it, which makes repurchasing difficult to estimate. I do find that it was a nice touch to have the shades of the concealers correspond to the colour of the tube, but I would have liked it better if there was at least a stripe on the side that would indicate the amount of product inside.

Before - Swatch plus eyebrow pencil lines

After - Blended swatch plus concealer layered on eyebrow pencil marks

Consistency and Pigmentation

The product itself is quite fluid, but not runny. This helps in spreading and blending the concealer out both under the eyes and on spots and redness. Its fluid enough not to cake or gather in fine lines when applied under the eyes, but not too fluid that it easily rubs off. I find that applying with fingers is the best way rather than using a brush, as it warms up the product and helps give a more skin-like finish. 

Despite the products' claim, I wouldn't say the product is full coverage; instead I would gauge it to be more medium to full. It can definitely be built up to full if desired, but the best you're going to get is medium. I also find that despite several layers, the product never becomes cakey, which is a huge plus. 

Finish and Lasting Power

At first I do find the concealer to be noticeable even with blended edges, but once set with powder or on its own, it blends into a very natural finish. Its undetectable except when the mirror is 2 inches in front of you, but even then it is not very noticeable. As time wears on I find that it does not cake or disappear, but rather it fades evenly, something I've grown to appreciate about this concealer.

I do find that this can emphasize dry patches, so I wouldn't recommend applying this concealer over those portions of the face. I haven't found a concealer that can glide over dry patches anyway and I rarely have them, so this is not a big problem for me. I can see this being quite problematic on those with very dry to dry skin.

On me, I find that this lasts 4-5 hours in non-airconditioned places, and 5-6 in airconditioned places. I didn't expect this to wear all day as it isn't oil-free and waterproof, anyway. Take note that I always set my concealer with powder, so I presume that this helps with the lasting power. This wear time may seem short, but also take note that I have oily skin and live in a very humid place, so everything does tend to fade on my skin at a faster rate. If you have drier skin or live in a cooler climate, wear time will probably increase by 2-3 hours. 

Price and Availability

I got this for P330 from Bon Marche, a local online seller. In stores in the US, I believe it retails for 8.99USD for 12mL or 0.4 fluid ounces. Its easily the cheapest concealer that I know of, as drugstore concealers in the Philippines are at least 500+ PHP. This is twice the amount of product than my NARS concealer for nearly a third of the price. As far as I know, this is only available in the US so far, but there are several online stores that stock this in the Philippines.

Summary:

(+) Hygienic packaging

(+) Lightweight

(+) Medium to full coverage

(+) Buildable

(+) Not cakey
(+) Natural finish

(+) Reasonably priced
(+) Multi-purpose
(+/-) Average lasting power
(+/-) Not oil-free

(-) Cannot see product in tube
(-) Can emphasize dry patches
(-) Transfers if not set with powder

(-) Not available in the Philippines

Best for: dry to combination skin | multi-purpose concealing (spots, redness, dark circles)

Repurchase? Yes! This is such a good drugstore concealer that I can see myself buying again once I run out.

I hope you all found this review helpful. Let me know what you think of this concealer (if you've tried it) or if you know of other great concealers in the comments section below!

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Friday, June 12, 2015

REVIEW: Maybelline Master Conceal (30 Light-Medium)

By Pauline Read More

Baguio May 2015 Travel Make-Up Bag

Surprise! I have not done a post like this ever, but I took some decent pictures of the make-up I brought to my last trip, and I thought I'd show you what I brought with me! You'll be seeing a lot of new things as well as old. If I'm being honest, I brought a bit too much. I rationalized while packing that I liked having options, but found that I had a small time frame to do my makeup and wanted to go with one look anyway.

Missing: Clio Kill Brown Waterproof Brush Liner

Base: Benefit Porefessional + Jouer Matte Moisture Tint (Nude) + Maybelline Master Conceal (Light-Medium) + Benefit Watts Up!

This has been my go-to base since I got the Jouer Matte Moisture Tint. It's not as heavy as using foundation (though my Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation is pretty lightweight) and it requires less upkeep. Having a primer plus a matte tinted moisturizer made my base last for a good 8+ hours which is great by my standards. And if you noticed, yes I didn't bring powder!

Color: NYX Powder Blush (Pinched) / Milani Baked Blush (Bella Rosa)

I'm the kind of person that matches their blush to their lip colour because I find that it looks more put together. I also wanted to have options, but found it unnecessary for this trip because I didn't bother wearing a blush at all. I'll definitely still bring two blushes for future trips - hopefully I'll have time to do my make-up then!

Eyes & Brows: Urban Decay Primer Potion + Too Faced Natural Matte Palette + Clio Kill Brown Waterproof Brush Liner + Fairydrops Platinum Waterproof Mascara + Lioele Auto Eyebrow Pencil

Since I didn't have a lot of time, I didn't do eyeliner no matter how much I wanted to :( I also just brushed through my brows since I just threaded them at the time. I did, however, put on eyeshadow  because I was testing out the TF palette. Also, I cannot go without mascara, which saddens me because I don't have any back-ups for my Fairydrops Mascara :(

Lips: Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate (05) / NYX Butter Gloss (Strawberry Parfait) / MAC See Sheer

I originally just brought the Rimmel and MAC lipsticks because those were the ones I couldn't decide on when packing. The NYX gloss joined the line up because it was the only lip product I owned that didn't dry out the edges of my lips if used alone. I ended up using See Sheer the entire trip because I needed the warmth on my face and because it goes really well with the NYX blush. 

It surprises me how this all fit in my make-up bag. One thing I learned when packing make-up which I want to share with you is try not to bring as much as me haha! On a more serious note, it seems better to bring products that don't require brushes if you can, just to save on space.

What about you guys - what are the things you have to bring when traveling? Any tips you'd like to share?

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Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Baguio May 2015 Travel Make-Up Bag

By Pauline Read More

Big May Haul

I know I just did a haul but I also have bad self-control during this time of year. :p This time, this haul isn't limited to drugstore products as the more midrange products are some that I've been eyeing for around a year or so, plus some Korean products! These consist of two online orders (from Bon Marche and Make Up Pro), one that my friends Leya and Tari from Tari in the Morning kindly bought for me while they were in Korea (thank you again <3), and a mall purchase.

At this point I'm glad I'm going back to school - need the cash!

Maybelline Master Conceal (30 Light-Medium)

This is a fairly new product, released last December. Maybelline is known for their concealers and I thought it would be great to finally try one. This one claims to be high coverage and can be used for both under the eyes and for spots. Plus, it comes in a tube rather than the sponge applicator that the Instant Age Rewind has. I like that you only need a small amount to cover spots, and that it leaves a natural finish. 

Maybelline Color Tattoo Leather (80 Creamy Beige)

I mentioned before that I frequently watch Essie Button's videos, and this was one of the products that grew on me. I found the original Color Tattoos too frosty for my liking, so this more matte version of Bad to the Bronze was a good alternative. That and I've been dying for a new cream eyeshadow.

Jouer Matte Moisture Tint (Nude)

As much as I love my Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation, I know its too expensive for me to use everyday, and I'm quite fearful of it running out quickly. This one from Jouer is a rare gem in a sea of dewy tinted moisturizers, as it is one of the very few that I know of that gives a matte finish. Jen from From Head to Toe uses this quite often and like I said before, everything that has worked on her has worked very well on me so far.

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer (6 Ivory)

Yes, another concealer! I've wanted this for a while, but at the time opted for the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer that I mentioned in some of my favourites. This one is waterproof, oil-free, and long-lasting, so its supposed to be best for scars and blemishes. As someone who is acne-prone, a lightweight concealer that doesn't aggravate acne is a must.

Too Faced Natural Matte Palette

I used to tell myself that I shouldn't buy more palettes, but I knew I had to have this palette as soon as it came out. I'm fairly happy with my shimmery shadows recently (Naked 2 Palette & 1028 Visual Therapy Brownie Eyes Palette) but I noticed I lacked matte shadows. This is much cheaper than my original plan which was to buy a few MAC eyeshadows. I'll definitely review this as soon as I get to test it out!

Etude House Play 101 Pencils (21, 47)

I liked my first pencil in 23 so much that I had to get more! 21 is a neutral red that is meant to be used as a lip liner, while 47 is a rich copper that is meant to be used as an eyeliner or eyeshadow. Etude House is a brand that involves a lot of hits and misses, but I have to say that so far these are hits!

Clio Kill Brown Waterproof Brush Liner

I had a long love-hate relationship with this eyeliner, as I mentioned here, here, here, and here. The hate eventually ebbed and I realized just how lovely this eyeliner was when I used it again late last year. I bought my first pen last year and its still going, but I got this because I don't want to be without another!

Innisfree Mineral Single Cream Eyeshadow (04 Romance Burgundy)

I love cream shadows so much, so to see one of my favourite Korean brands with cream shadows was exciting. I've also been toying with the idea of trying a burgundy eyeshadow ever since seeing eyeshadows like MAC Cranberry and the Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pomegranate Punk. Lets hope that this one works!

Too Cool for School Artclass by Rodin Createur du contour

As a person with a round face, I could always use a little definition for my invisible cheekbones. I saw this product while browsing a few blogs and I was drawn by the packaging, to be honest! The  SA that sold this to me also mentioned that this product was usually sold out in Korea! This isn't overly pigmented, which is good to hear for a beginner like me.

That's all for now! Lets hope that this is the last haul I do in a while, for my wallets' sake! I do hope you enjoyed seeing these anyway and let me know if you want me to do a review on any of the products I mentioned.

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Friday, June 05, 2015

Big May Haul

By Pauline Read More

April & May Favourites

Finally my favourites post time! If you didn't know, I decided to have a bimonthly favourites instead and I have to say I think I like it better. Within the course of two months I got a few new things that I really like, and I can't wait to share them with all of you! 

I don't have any skin care favourites this time around because I've been using products from my dermatologist (gasp). I don't know if I ever mentioned, but I put off going to the dermatologist for a long time because I wanted to find a routine that would address my skin concerns on my own. It worked for a while, until my acne started getting out of control and nothing was working. I do have a hair product and (another gasp) a body product!

I do have to say that one favourite not included here is my old kit lens for my camera. I decided to try it out again after thinking it was broken and it gave much better quality images that my old lens! The only fallback is that I can only use manual focus, but I've read that its better than auto anyway.

Also - yay for the new background!

OGX Scalp Therapy Australian Tea Tree Conditioner

I mentioned the Kukui Oil variant in one of my impulse hauls last year, but I like this better because it does much more than the Kukui Oil one. It has reduced scalp itchiness (slightly tmi but its a very real concern XD) even when I don't use it every time I wash my hair while still leaving it smooth and easy to style (not that I do much styling). It also has a cooling effect, which is wonderful considering the 34~41 °C degree heat!

Too Faced Natural Matte Palette

Where do I even begin with this? Not only does this palette compliment my warm skin better than the mattes I had prior (aka the Naked 2), but the formula of these is the best that I've encountered! They're both pigmented and quite buttery, something I didn't think possible for matte eyeshadows. Expect a review of this soon!

MAC See Sheer talked about in depth here

April was the month that I really started getting and using lipsticks, and this is the one I reached for the most. Its a muted coral that is not too pink, too red, or too orange, and is really great for those who are adverse to strong corals like me, or those who want a hassle-free warmer lipstick!

NYX Powder Blush (Pinched) from this haul

I wore this with See Sheer and they made an amazing combination! Pinched doesn't only warm up the face but it also gives a lot of brightness. Again, I'm not the biggest fan of corals but I love this. This and See Sheer are some of the products that make me really excited to put on make-up!

Soap and Glory Smoothie Star Breakfast Scrub

If you're not a fan of sweet smelling scents, steer clear. If you are however, this smells like pancakes! I haven't bought a scrub in a loooong time, and I have never used anything as good as this. It leaves my skin really soft and moisturized, even if I don't follow it up with lotion. This is honestly so much fun to use and I have to limit myself to using this once a week in fear of running out!

K-Palette Lasting 2-Way Eyebrow Pencil review here

Second brow product that I really grew to appreciate and have turned to whenever I'm going to be out for a long day. The pencil has a very fine nib that's great for drawing on individual hairs, and the powder is for lazy days or for filling out large gaps. Read my review if you want more details!

Maybelline Master Conceal 

I love that this blends easily, sets to a natural, seamless finish, and is quite pigmented considering the price. I find myself reaching for this more than my Make Up Forever Full Cover because it can be used both under the eyes and on blemishes, which makes it great for travel and taking around. It is slightly too light for me, but because it is blendable, it works well for me!

Also there are two new things that I got which will be in my next haul post!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend! If you have any questions or if you're tried any of these products before, feel free to leave a comment below!

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Friday, May 29, 2015

April & May Favourites

By Pauline Read More

Mascara Wish List

You all know that I love my Fairydrops Platinum Mascara (which I recently reviewed here) but it is getting very hard to find now. I even asked my friend to get me a tube in Japan but she couldn't find Fairydrops anywhere! I know I have the option of Cult Beauty, but that will be when I get desperate. Despite this sad revelation, I thought it would also be a good opportunity to share with you some of the other mascaras I've been eyeing to try that could serve as a good stand-in until I could get my hands on the Fairydrops Mascara.

I've come to realize that I have high expectations when it comes to mascaras. I look for definition (so just a little bit of volume and separation), a considerable amount of length, curl-holding, non-smudging, non-flaking, and long-lasting. In other words, a good all-rounder, waterproof mascara. It took a while, but I've narrowed my list down to four possible mascaras.

                         

Max Factor Clump Defy Extensions

The only non-waterproof mascara on this list, mainly because it doesn't have a waterproof counterpart. This mascara claims to add length, while separating the lashes due to its anti-clumping formula to give a very clean result. Max Factor has a good reputation with mascaras as well so it would be very interesting to try this.

Innisfree Skinny Microcara Waterproof 

Korean beauty doesn't really give much focus to lashes (unlike the Japanese) but this mascara caught my eye because it has the thinnest wand I have ever seen. My friends Alex from The Red Eyeliner and Danie from That Nugu really like the original formula of this because it gives a very natural look. Though lacking on the volume, I think this would be good for days when I don't want to draw too much attention to my lashes.

L'oreal Voluminous Million Lashes Waterproof

I don't think I've ever talked about a L'oreal product on this blog, but this one caught my eye. The brush has a lot of bristles to coat every lash without any clumping. It also claims to be smudge proof, which is very important as I like my lashes to look and stay the way they did after I just applied mascara. This is the one I have the easiest access to, so we'll see!

Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof

This is the newest one on my list, and probably the one I want the most. Despite its claims on volume, the result it gives it a more clean, fanned out lash look with more length. It can also be built up for a more dramatic lash look for the evening. If it is as good as everyone says it is, this sounds like a much cheaper alternative to my Fairydrops Mascara.

That's all for now! If you guys have any recommendations for a mascara, please leave me a comment down below! Also if you know where else to get Fairydrops because I'm really going to miss my tube once it runs out. :(

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Tuesday, May 05, 2015

Mascara Wish List

By Pauline Read More

Skin Care and Make-Up Regrets #1

It is with great displeasure that I write this post because of two reasons: first is that I don't really want to talk about products negatively, especially those that have worked so well on others. It is very possible that it just wasn't made for me, you know? Second is that thinking about all these things again just makes me wish I could trade it in for cash. Sigh, oh well. You need to experience the bad to know what's good right? Life similarities aside, here are some of the products I wish I could cash in (lol)!

Lioele Water Drop BB Cream

I've already made a review of this here but I regret this for so many reasons that I won't go into, lest this turn into a lengthy rant. This just did not live up to the hype and was the exact opposite of all its claims. I was determined to find a Korean BB Cream that actually worked and matched my skin tone (the best in terms of formulation and finish that I've tried being the Skin Food Mushroom BB Cream back when I was in high school). It's sad because the product itself is a lot at 50mL, and had it worked it would have lasted me a long time. 

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 PA+

Where do I even begin with this foundation? I bought this for its claims of a skin-like finish that's invisible to the eye, the longevity of it, as well as the light to medium coverage. I got none of the above! It settled into pores I never knew I had, lasted 3 (3!!!) hours on my face even with primer and setting powder no matter what method of application, left my face looking like an oil slick, and was more of sheer to light. It was so bad I've become so paranoid about the bases I'm eyeing to purchase. This is the purchase I regret the most among all because it was the most expensive! I wish it worked for me because it does leave a nice glow when freshly applied, and is a perfect colour match.

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner (Brown)

Unlike the previous two products I don't think this is a bad formula at all. In fact, its an amazing gel liner that lasts and doesn't melt and smudge all over my face throughout the day. I regret it because I never have the time and patience to put this on, save for photo shoots which happen once in a blue moon. I wish I could swap it for another Clio Kill Brown Brush Liner since pen liners in general are much more portable and don't bring with it the hassle that gel liners in pots have.

3 Concept Eyes Lip Lacquer (Bonbon)

I bought this after seeing it in one of Jen's videos. The colour looked so pretty on her and I wanted to try something from 3 Concept Eyes so bad! The product is pretty good in terms of packaging and colour range, but falls short in formulation. It is so drying on the lips and the colour was so wrong for me! It made me look dead and washed out, which is sad because it looked great on other people. I wish they'd reformulate them to be more like the Sephora Cream Lip Stains I've read so much about, which have amazing pigmentation and lasting power but are not drying.

Skin Food Egg White Pore Foam

It took a while for me to admit I didn't like this because I had such a great experience with other Skin Food Cleansers like the Tea Tree Cleansing Foam and their bestselling Black Sugar Scrub Foam. This one just left my skin feeling tight and too squeaky without the complete clean-ness, leading to the overproduction of sebum and eventually pimples! It didn't really clean out my pores either or make them appear smaller, even after I've used this religiously. Sad miss from one of my favourite Korean brands!

Etude House Wonder Pore Freshener (Not in photo)

If you read most posts in my blog, you'll know I've mentioned this a lot of times and how it has turned my skin oily! It claims to leave skin smoother, cleaner, with less visible pores and all that jazz but in the long run it just dried my skin out and made me look like a tomato. I suspect its the alcohol content and other harsh ingredients but I'm glad to have it out of my life. I'm considering this my last Etude House skin care purchase because none of those I've tried ever worked for me. I'll stick to their primer and Play 101 Pencils instead!

So there you have it! I'll admit it feels good to finally get all of this off my chest and put it in one big post. I don't think I'll be doing a frequent post of this, maybe twice a year or every year? If you guys have tried any of these products, or have beauty products you regret purchasing, leave me a comment below!

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Friday, February 06, 2015

Skin Care and Make-Up Regrets #1

By Pauline Read More

SPOTLIGHT: Cult Favourites

Hi, everyone!

I'm sure you've all been swayed once or twice by beauty bloggers and vloggers to get some of the products they "swear by" - I know I have. While most of the products are pretty good, there are also the better products that really deserve their "cult" status. I compiled a few of the cult favourites I have and can say lives up to the hype. 

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

This was well worth the wait (as I had to wait for a month to get my shade) as it is now my favourite concealer! I use it daily over whichever base I'm using (foundation or BB Cream) mostly as a spot concealer, but this also works well for under the eyes (with a lot of eye cream). It's quite thick, a little goes a long way, and offers medium to almost full coverage. The applicator also makes application easier if I'm in a hurry. Highly recommended for people with drier skin!

Urban Decay Primer Potion

I never saw the need for an eyeshadow primer until I saw the difference it made in eyeshadow wear and vibrancy. This is easily the best one I've used - I just warm it up between my fingers (as I find that applying it directly makes it slightly tacky), apply it on my eyes, and whatever I put over it will not budge until the end of the day. Perfect for oily lids like mine but if you have drier lids, I would recommend Too Faced Shadow Insurance. An essential to have in your makeup kit!

Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

I was so excited when I got this because I've been wanting it for a very long time (and I'm talking years). I opted for this versus the original Naked palette as I liked this colour selection and packaging better. All colours are very pigmented, easy to work with, and not chalky at all. It comes with a dual-ended brush which is a very good shading and blending brush if you don't have one already. Overall I'm very happy with this palette and have no regrets.

Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner

I got this on sale during my break as a recommendation from friends. I didn't want to splurge on gel liners yet since I didn't know how to work with them yet. This particular gel liner already comes with a decent brush which makes it a little more worth your money if this is your first gel liner. The product itself is very pigmented, and easy to work with in a sense that it does not dry too quickly or takes too long to dry that you're standing there with your eyes closed for a long time. On my oilier lids it lasts well throughout the day with minimal to no fading (with eyeshadow primer). My only qualm is that in the jar, it does contain noticeable shimmer, though it does not translate on the eyelids.  

So there you have it! If you love these products as much as I do or have other cult favourites that have also become your favourites that you would like to share, feel free to leave a comment below!

Also, don't forget to follow me on Twitter if you haven't already! See you all in my next post!

Friday, August 29, 2014

SPOTLIGHT: Cult Favourites

By Pauline Read More