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

Subtle 40's Makeup - Rachel McAdams Inspired

I thought I'd so something a bit different today and show you a make-up look I tried to translate on myself. Its not something I normally do, since I usually just watch a ton of YouTube videos and mix and match whatever I think is pretty. I really like the outcome though and I'm really excited to share it with all of you! This is actually a collaboration with Alex from The Red Eyeliner, so if you'd like to see her look click this!

Now when you think of 40s makeup, its usually characterised by soft bedroom eyes, prominent brow bones, defined cheekbones, velvet skin, and of course a matte red lip. While I have not done that look yet (and I will eventually - feel free to bug me for a post!), I thought I'd share a more wearable 40s look that I could add to my limited arsenal of daily makeup looks. 

The look that I went for is this one from The Notebook. It was set in the forties and had less of the Hollywood look and more of a casual one. I would like to clarify at this point that I'm not trying to look like Rachel McAdams! I could try but we won't really get anywhere. I'm more after her makeup, which looks very lovely in this photo below.

This has three distinct features: velvety skin, pinky peach cheeks, and a wine red stain on the lips. You see none of the bedroom eyes or defined cheekbones in this one. I absolutely love how it still reads fresh without dewiness, which is something I'm not always fond of. Here are the products I used below.

Base: Etude House Pore Ever Pore Primer Essence, Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation (123), Innisfree No Sebum Loose Powder*
Cheeks: NYX Powder Blush (Pinched)
Eyes: Urban Decay Primer Potion, Too Faced Natural Matte Palette, Fairydrops Platinum or Scandal Queen Waterproof Mascara, Lioele Auto Eyebrow Pencil (3)
Lips: Covergirl Queen Collection Lipstick (Tawny Port)*
*Alex's Products

I did my routine as usual (primer + foundation) and left my eyebrows alone as they're naturally quite full anyway. I focused more on the eyes by doing a bit of crease definition. I did this by sweeping Heaven all over the lid up until the brow bone, and then lining my socket lightly with Cashmere Bunny. After mascara, I then powdered to get rid of all shine (yes, all shine). Final step was to add 1 light layer of the lipstick, rubbing it in slightly to create a stained effect.

Yes, shame on me for not bringing the appropriate lip colour! The closest I have in my collection is currently the NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Mandore. That one has slightly less brown tones, but one light layer will look identical. Any more than one layer results to a more autumnal look. 

You couldn't see the eye makeup on Rachel, but I did do a tiny bit of defining through the crease. It just adds a bit of definition and shadow without going in the cut-crease direction of the 60s.

This is the finished look! In hindsight, I would have contoured just a tiny bit because my face is too round for my liking, but I do like the output nonetheless. Alex and I had tons of fun hanging out and taking pictures with our respective looks and we hope you like them, too!

P.S. There was a 70s look but due to lighting issues, we didn't push through with it. I don't think any of us are ready to see that yet!

Friday, July 24, 2015

Subtle 40's Makeup - Rachel McAdams Inspired

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?

Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Baguio May 2015 Travel Make-Up Bag

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!

Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest

Friday, May 29, 2015

April & May Favourites

By Pauline Read More

Spring Drugstore Haul

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to share with you my long overdue haul. I got these all to start my venture into drugstore makeup, which I have long ignored in favour of high-end products or Korean cosmetics with cute packaging (and equally cute advertisers. See The Saem for reference).

I also wanted to get more spring/summer appropriate makeup since all of my current lip products are more fall/winter appropriate. Never mind that the only seasons I get are extremely hot and dry and extremely rainy - its an opportunity for me to expand my collection and to try out new things! I've already put these to good use right after taking photos so expect to see these more on my blog from now on.

The Body Shop Camomile Waterproof Eye and Lip Make-up Remover 

I may or may not have put this in here just for the flower design, but you always need a makeup remover, right? I wasn't satisfied with the Bioderma I got from my last Impulse Haul, so I got this to remove my eye makeup. Being a person who wears waterproof mascara religiously, I know the pains of removing it and this makes it a breeze, I kid you not. I like that it isn't overly oily and heavily scented either. I also raved about this in my Make-Up Removers post and March Favourites.

NYX Powder Blush (Pinched)

I've been wanting to try this line of blushes since I was in high school, but Pinched more than others since it is famed as one of the top NARS Orgasm blush dupes. It's the standard pinky coral with a golden shimmer which screams Spring/Summer to me. I like how it makes me look much more awake and healthy, so I'm definitely going to be using blush more often!

Milani Baked Blush (Bella Rosa)

This was another product I got because of Essie Button, particularly in her Taylor Swift Inspired Drugstore Makeup Look. Colour-wise, reddish blushes seem to be more for Autumn/Winter, but because this one looks so bright in the pan and it has a bit of pink, I thought it was appropriate for Spring/Summer, too. I will say that you only need the tiniest amount due to the strong pigmentation, but the end result is a really pretty pinky red flush.

Happy Skin Angled Blush Brush

Happy Skin is a local brand that I honestly did not expect much from. I ignored it for a while whenever I saw it at Beauty Bar, until Alex told me about the brush set she got. I got this brush since it's the cheapest angled blush brush that I know of, and I'm surprised at the quality of it! The bristles are synthetic and very soft, and I like that they're white so I can tell how much pigment I have on my brush. 

Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Moss Lipstick (05)

I've been waiting for a long time to try this lipstick, especially after seeing Alex's review here. I wanted this particular shade because I knew I needed a lipstick that wasn't red. It definitely has a hint of berry in it, but its so brightening and makes me look so fresh and awake, which I think is something that one associates to Spring. Either way, I think this will be a great year-rounder lipstick for me. I need more from this range!

NYX Butter Gloss (Strawberry Parfait)

Who hasn't heard of these glosses? I knew I loved this as soon as I put it on because it applied well, smelled amazing (like cake batter), and left my lips moisturized. Even as it faded after about 2-3 hours, it didn't leave my lips icky and crusty at the edges which is what happens with me most of the time with most lip glosses. I got the shade Strawberry Parfait, which is a sheer fuchsia that leans more pink. I would have bought more but NYX stores locally haven't restocked in months.

That's it for now! I'm still looking for more Spring/Summer products to try so if you have any recommendations, please leave a comment below! Also let me know if you want a review on any of the products mentioned here and in my past posts!

Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest

Friday, April 17, 2015

Spring Drugstore Haul

By Pauline Read More

SPOTLIGHT: What's in My Bag (End of the Semester Edition)

Out of sheer boredom and because I like reading and watching similar posts on different blogs and YouTube respectively, I did a quick 'What's in My Bag' post for all of you! As someone who likes looking through my friends' bags (with permission of course :p) whenever we meet up, I thought it would be interesting to show you what I bring around with me at uni.

Disclaimer: I have a week of school left and not much is going on except 2 major papers and 1 exam, which explains the lack of notebooks and handouts. Trust me, if I did this a month ago, it would be 75% papers, 25% everything else. I'll save you the agony of my horrendously damaged notebooks and I'll show you everything else instead.

I normally have tissues and wet wipes, but both have mysteriously disappeared. -_-

This semester I've used this black Longchamp bag. Its actually my mom's which she bought in Seoul a few years ago. Funnily enough, I told myself during the first day of school that I was only going to use this for a week, and then suddenly...its the end of the semester. Oops.

It doesn't have any dividers inside so things can get messy easily without a bag organizer. Despite this I enjoy fixing the contents of my bag. It makes me feel like I have my life in order (when I don't, really). I like that it isn't too small that my notebooks can't fit, but not too big that it makes me look small. It can't carry my laptop, but I'm okay with that. 

I found this wallet in my house and have been using it ever since. I despite bulky wallets with a passion and I love how thin this is. Seriously, more companies should try creating thinner wallets for women, not thicker ones. -_- And yes, my bank book because I need to hide my money away before I can spend it. 

I like pens. A lot of pens. I've been using several colours of pens to write my notes with since high school, and noticed how it helps me remember things and makes studying a little less of a drag. Majority of my pens are from Muji and I like them so much more than the Pilot Hi-Tecs that I used to use a few years ago. The tips are quite thin, but not like the Hi-Tecs, so they won't break when you drop them. 

The offensively bright neon pink notebook is where I write any ideas I have for blog posts. It's also where I write lists of things I should try out or found to be really interesting, and I have to say it has helped me. I'm not a fan of neon though, so I'm definitely getting myself a less bright notebook for next year.

Of course there needs to be a beauty item or two lingering in the depths of my bag. I'm a bit of a clean freak so I must have isopropyl alcohol with me at all times. The reason why I don't use hand sanitizers is because most of them only contain 60% or less of alcohol, which isn't nearly enough to kill any bacteria off your hands. It needs to be at 70% for it to do that. Yep, I just put another science lesson again.

My hand cream of choice is this Nature Republic Hand & Nature Hand Cream in Wild Cherry. I got this in Korea last year and I love how it smells. I'll be pretty sad when this runs out because most of the hand creams from this range are always out of stock locally.

I carry two lip products, and for this week it was the Kiehl's Lip Balm and the NYX Butter Gloss in Strawberry Parfait, of course. I didn't wear any makeup this week because I wanted to give my skin some rest, and because I was breaking out from stress. The latter lip product always helps in brightening up my face and making me feel less ugh.

I finally got a replacement for my broken earphones a month ago and it has not left my bag since. I use the pink case to store my earphones and my lip products because I've realized that without a case, my earphones tend to break faster. Here's to hoping it lasts more than a year! The earphones I use are from a brand from Coloud. It blocks out noise just fine, but I'm not sure if I would buy it again because the earphones themselves don't fit perfectly. Of course, my phone. Sometimes I use it to take blog pictures, whenever my camera fails me. 

And there you go! I hope this was a bit interesting for you as it was for me to write. Do you carry these things in your bags? Is there something I'm forgetting that you consider a must have? Let me know down in the comments below!

                                                     Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Pinterest

Friday, March 20, 2015

SPOTLIGHT: What's in My Bag (End of the Semester Edition)

By Pauline Read More

Products of the Day: February to March 2015

Hi everyone!

I wanted to share with you some of the products I've been using lately for uni or for when I go out with friends. Honestly, a lot of the time its rather the same, and you'll see which make-up items I can't forego no matter what. Sadly, no FOTD yet (I know, I know, I should show my face sometime) but for those of you who like looking at pictures of scattered make-up products (I know I do), this will be the post for you! I talk more about each product so feel free to keep reading below!

These were more or less what I used the most in February. For my base I've stuck with the Benefit Porefessional-Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation-Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer-Benefit Watt's Up combination, but only when I have time on my hands. The result is a smooth, bright, healthy-looking face even if I don't feel that way. I've been switching around eye primers, which is why I've been trying the Too Faced Shadow Insurance. More on this soon! Of course I had to go with a Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow for an easy swipe and go look (this one is in My Two Cents). I've really grown to appreciate the Clio Kill Brown Waterproof Brush Liner which I got in my Singapore 2014 Haul. It's still going strong, though knowing how paranoid I am about things running out, I need to get a back-up soon. My consistent mascara of choice is the Fairydrops Platinum Mascara, which is probably the best all-rounder I've encountered. Finally, I've loved the look of the NYX Butter Gloss in Strawberry Parfait for a moisturizing gloss - definitely getting more from this range!

Later in February and last week, I've appreciated the appeal of a lighter base, which is why I fell back on the Lioele Water Drop BB Cream. I usually do my eye make-up in the car whenever I went for this look (with much difficulty, mind you) but it was enough for me to look like I made a lot of effort, even when I haven't. A fail-safe wash of colour for me will always be the Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit, which I talk about in most of my posts...oops.

These products are for the days when I thought I had a lot of time, but took too long to do my base and had to rush everything else. Fun fact: it takes me a good 15 minutes to do base make-up. Time just seems to fly by whenever I do! And since I'm starting to slowly get into lip products (I have the lip product queens Summer and Alex to thank (or not) for that) I tried out this Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bar that my friend Ena got for me in October. Balmy but leaves a really nice tint - the range is great for those who like bright colours!

Finally, these are the products I've been wearing for the past two weeks. Yes, I do have two BB Creams, but I use more of the Lioele and mix a tiny, tiny bit of the Fairydrops Candybar BB Cream to give a little more coverage. I've also been using the It's Skin Babyface Jelly Tint in #1 which is a sheer but very brightening red. The tint gets stronger after a few applications and it never fails to make me look more awake. Now I see why lip products are such a big deal. Next stop - lip butters!

And there you have it! As you can see, base is very, very important to me. I'll go without every other product but base products. I hope this was interesting for you as it was for me to write. Also look forward to a few new series' in a few months - possibly a top 10 and a few things related to travel? Stick around and wait for my next few posts!

Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Pinterest

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Products of the Day: February to March 2015

By Pauline Read More

February Favourites

Not going to lie, I had a particularly hard time picking this month's favourites. Using mostly the same products over and over again leaves little to talk about. Nonetheless, there were a few products that snuck into my daily makeup routine without my noticing. I've talked about most of them in previous posts, so in a way they are old new favourites, save for one.

This was also the month I switched things up and went for lighter bases. Whether its the fact that putting on too much was getting tiring, or that I wanted an extra 10 or so minutes sleeping, I opted for a base that felt light but didn't make me feel too conscious about the redness in my face or my spots. If anyone has any more base recommendations, let me know!

Benefit Porefessional

I now know that I cannot go without primer - it's as essential as BB Cream/Foundation is for me. With my skin getting oilier, I knew I had to put my Etude House Primer to the side for a while since that one is a little more hydrating. I've ignored this for a good few months but now it's a staple for me and I appreciate what it does for my makeup. I learned that its best not to use a lot of this, else any base on top tends to go patchy after a few hours. It doesn't feel heavy or make me feel like my skin is suffocating under it. I guess I can see why there's so much hype around this!

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

Another recurring favourite, but I felt like I finally learned how to use this properly this month. I wore very light bases, not caring much if my redness was completely covered, but used this to hide any evil spots. You also don't need a lot to cover things up, which is probably why this has lasted for so long even after using it almost everyday since June last year. I was debating on whether or not to repurchase, and now I think I will!

Benefit Watts Up

I got this in my first impulse haul and wear this on most makeup days. Whenever I forget to wear this I feel like my skin lacks a bit of luminosity, especially in the inner eye corner. It's a very blendable, easy to apply cream champagne highlighter that you won't need much of to add some brightness to your face. Definitely repurchasing the full sized one when I run out, but it seems like a long time before I do.

NYX Butter Gloss (Strawberry Parfait)

Giving you a bit of a spoiler for my Spring/Summer haul post! This is one of the first products I picked up because of all the recommendations from several beauty bloggers. I didn't expect this to be as great as it is but as soon as I tried it on I didn't go a day without wearing it! The colour is a really nice sheer fuchsia pink and the formula is really moisturizing. Highly recommended for an everyday wash of colour on the lips. Out of all the products I think this is my ultimate favourite this month!

And there you have it! What do you think of these products? What were your favourites for this month? Let me know down in the comments! :)

Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Pinterest | Bloglovin

Friday, February 27, 2015

February Favourites

By Pauline Read More