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

Collective Haul

Aka the things I got since the last time I updated post. It's very difficult to balance blogging with thesis I'm afraid, so these little updates will have to last for a few months longer. I thought I'd show you the new things I was gifted/acquired lately, because who doesn't love a good haul post, right? I'm going to include a bit of swatches and first impressions too, so here we go!

Skin Care

Origins Ginzing Eye Cream

Since I've started seeing a dermatologist regularly, a lot of my skin care products are medicated. Honestly, the only ones I can purchase for skin care are cleansing oils/water/balms and eye cream. For years I've used eye creams that either just moisturize or do nothing at all. I picked this up on a whim after dropping by my local Origins counter and instantly loved how hydrating but effective it is at reducing the puffiness under my eyes. Plus, its not greasy at all! Expect a review in the coming months.

Make-Up

Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder

I've been hearing about this powder for years, and how its a godsend for people with oily skin. Out of everything I purchased, I find myself most disappointed in this. Not only can I see this powder on my skin, but it clings to dry patches I didn't know I had and does nothing for oil control. I see it less when I buff another powder over it (more on this in another post) but for the most part, I'm really bummed that this did nothing for me.

Skindinavia The Makeup Finishing Spray: Oil Control

I initially wanted to try the Urban Decay Setting Sprays but wasn't too willing to shell out the money for it. Since those sprays were made with Skindinavia anyway, I thought it'd be better to try from the source! So far I find that this does wonders at preventing my foundation from settling on my nose and the sides, but doesn't hold up too well with humidity. Will test this out more before giving a final opinion!

Makeup Geek Eyeshadows (Cosmopolitan, Latte, Drama Queen)

This was an impulse purchase, I swear! I was only supposed to get the spray when I chanced upon these while browsing the MakeUp Pro site. I've heard nothing but good things about these shadows and I have to say that everything bloggers have said about these are true! The colour selection is amazing and the pigmentation is up there with brands such as Urban Decay (some are even better!). Amazing quality at such an affordable price point! Definitely making a detailed review on these soon!

Fairydrops Platinum Mascara (Waterproof) (Review)

My true mascara love has returned! These are nearly obsolete now - they're not even available in Japan. My friend Alex managed to find some in Sasa which I am eternally grateful for. I'm currently keeping this when I get desperate, as I'm currently using the Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara.

Milani Rose Blush (Romantic Rose)

I knew I needed to expand my blush collection as I only had peachy and peachy pink shades. This blush not only has one of the prettiest designs I've seen on a make-up product, but the dusty pink colour suits a variety of make-up looks. I will say now that it has a weird, plastic-like smell in the pan that's stronger than I would like, but it faded when you apply it to the skin.

Kiko Moondust Illuminating Powder Blush (02 Fairy Mauve)

A gift from a lovely friend! The marbling reminds me a lot of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes, though I think they're a tad bit more sheeny than those. I love how this really lights up the face, making it great for evening looks!

Kiko Long Lasting Eyeshadow Stick (06 Rosy Brown)

I have wanted this eyeshadow stick for a long time, ever since I heard about the brand. I find the ByTerry Ombre Blackstars to be outrageously expensive (its the same price as some of the foundations I'm eyeing, for goodness sake) so I settled for this and it did not disappoint! The formula is creamy without being too slippy, and once it sets, it will not budge for a good six hours. Plus, the colour is so unique - probably the only close dupe to Misty Rock that I've read about!

As promised, swatches of all the products! I've learned that readers really appreciate swatches and first impressions on products, so I thought I would structure my post this way. I hope the new format is okay with you guys! Let me know down in the comments below!

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

Collective Haul

By Pauline Read More