‘Tis the Season to be SEPHORA Glammin’

The holidays are finally upon us, and I'm sure by this time you're set to attend Christmas party or two, may it be with a group of friends you haven't seen for a long time, or with people at the office. Imo, these parties are a great way to experiment and try out bolder, more done-up make-up looks versus the easy, everyday base-mascara-lip balm combo. 

I've finally started wearing my red lipsticks outside the house so I'm more than happy to share a look that I would actually wear out without feeling too self-conscious. It features a warm, golden eye and your signature festive red lip. You can never go wrong with this combination as its classy, elegant, but definitely do-able! 

This is actually very similar to the look I wore last Saturday when I saw my friends. We ate Korean BBQ to our hearts content - this is our only requirement to have fun, really (maybe Soju). 

Here's a complete collage of all the products I want for this look. More than a year ago this would have been impossible, but with Sephora PH its finally a possibility to get great quality makeup easily!

Base 

I wanted the base to be very skin-like but in a more perfected way. Its how I normally wear my base and I honestly like that it isn't overly perfect that it screams 'caked makeup!'. There is never a season for that!

This calls for primer with a certain amount of silicone to allow foundation to glide on better and to make the skin look smoother. I opted for the Benefit Porefessional mixed with a bit of my moisturizer, but for drier skins I'd recommend the Becca Backlight Primer.

I used one of my older favourites, the Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation (Shade 123) to get a skin-like finish. It lasts well on my oily skin but its definitely luminous enough for anyone with slightly drier skin to mine. I find that it also doesn't give any flashback, making it great for photos which you'll surely have a lot of for your parties!

Pair with a high coverage concealer to cover any spots, an illuminating, light-reflective concealer for any darkness around the eyes and face, and finish with powder if needed to make the base last through the day or night! Feel free to also use a setting spray to make the base almost indelible.

Eyes

Eye primer is essential for this look to have your eye make-up last all day. Its also very humid here in the Philippines even during December, so primer cannot be skipped. I used my ever-reliable Too Faced Shadow Insurance (don't mind the older packaging of mine in the picture above!).

To the star of the show - the Zoeva Cocoa Blends Palette. Ever since I ordered this in June from Sephora PH, I've used this for 98% of my eye looks (2% trying to wean myself off the palette didn't work in the slightest). I did a gold eye with a hint of cranberry at the outer corners (featuring Pure Ganache, Substitute for Love, Freshly Toasted, Beans are White, and Warm Notes), which is still festive without looking too predictable. Don't forget to add an inner corner highlight!

Its insane how long my lashes look in this shot. Also, I really went skinny with this liner!

Go as minimal or as bold with the eyeliner as you please! I opted for a thin line as I find this more flattering on my eye shape. It also allows the eyeshadow to stand out more without forgetting to define the eyes. Good example for this would be the Eyeko Skinny Liquid Liner, which will let you modify the thinness or thickness of the line depending on your preference. Don't forget a waterproof mascara to keep your eyes fallout and smudge-free!

Cheeks and Lips

The eyes are on the warmer side so any warm neutral blush would do. A little peachy-ness wouldn't hurt, so a shade like the Too Faced Love Flush in Baby Love would do nicely, as the shade brings a lot of life to the face without competing with the eyes and lips, which are the main focal points of this look. 

Go overboard with the highlighter, I'm serious! Now and New Year's Eve might be the only time during the year that you can do so. I personally skip highlighter due to my oily skin producing its own sheen for me, but something the like famous Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector would be ideal.

If you're seeking a bit of definition, don't forget to contour! I personally just used a taupe matte eyeshadow, but I have been very curious about the Cover FX Contour Kit for a while now. Maybe you'll see it here in the future as a gift to myself? Teehee!

And finally for the lips, any red lipstick will do! You can go as orangey red, classic red, or dark red, whatever your heart desires. There are no set rules for the holidays! A great holiday red in my humble opinion would be the cult classic Sephora Cream Lip Stain in 01 Always Red. You can never go wrong with a shade like this!

Tools

Never forget that great make-up can also be achieved with good tools! I love using the BeautyBlender but you can use a buffing brush like the one from Real Techniques in their Core Collection as well. I also love my Zoeva Brushes (namely the Luxe Sheer Cheek and the Luxe Petit Crease brush) that I got in my Sephora PH haul as they are not only amazing quality, but apply product and blend quickly.

And that's it for me! I hope you enjoyed this post and the rare pictures of my face. Portrait shots are a lot of work for me, especially with the sudden onslaught of gloomy weather. Hope it (the weather, not my self-portraits, haha!) doesn't ruin your holiday parties!

What are you wearing to your holiday parties? I'd love to see pictures down in the comments section!

Shop more make-up products on Sephora PH here!

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

‘Tis the Season to be SEPHORA Glammin’

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

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

REVIEW: Too Faced Natural Matte Palette

Probably the biggest splurge I have for this year is this palette. I knew I wanted it as soon as I saw it on Instagram and waited for any of the local online shops to stock it or to be open for pre-orders. It also made me realize that I have a weakness for good quality, warm-toned eyeshadows! They cannot be resisted!

The Too Faced Natural Matte Palette is a new release from Too Faced for 2015. It is really just the matte version of their best-selling Natural Eyes Palette, and a great alternative both for neutral matte eyeshadow lovers or those who would like to diversify their current eyeshadow collection. I said I wouldn't buy a palette after receiving the 1028 Visual Therapy Brownie Eyes Palette but I was lacking in warm matte shades that the Urban Decay Naked 2 just didn't have. 

Packaging

Like all new Too Faced 9-pan palettes, this comes in a metal tin with a magnetic closure. Its only slightly bigger than an iPhone 5s so I find it really travel-friendly and fits in most make-up bags. It feels very sturdy because of the metal casing and not cheap in any way as a cardboard case tends to feel. The pretty lace pattern on the front of the palette make it look very classy and elegant, which reflects the sophistication that comes with matte eyshadows, I think. I saw reviews saying that this was smaller than their previous palettes, and I do not find this to be true. It's the same size as my  mom's Boudoir Eyes Palette in packaging and shadow size.

Texture

I've swatched matte shadows from MAC before and found the ones I was eyeing to be quite hard or chalky. I can say the same for Tease from my Naked 2 Palette. This however has the smoothest texture and is in no way chalky or overly powdery. I find that the darkest shades are the most buttery (Strapless and Chocolate Cookie especially) but you will have no problem with the lighter shades. They are very easy to blend and build up if desired, and do not go patchy on the lids at all. This makes it so easy to use, even for beginners like me.

I will say that there is little fallout in the pan, but only when you swipe with your brush. It's definitely much less than the Boudoir Eyes (which is why I don't borrow it often) but it might annoy some of you who are expecting 0 fall out. Two ways to avoid this: either you use a dense brush or you press your brush on the pan. I find that you get more product with the later, anyway!

Pigmentation

For a matte palette, the eyeshadows are pigmented, especially with the darker colours. With the swatch above, I only had to run my finger through the darker colours once. They are buildable though so if you want more or less pigment, you just have to adjust your application technique accordingly.  I do wear them with an eye primer though so do take note of that. Here are my individual reviews for the eyeshadows:

1st row (Day)
Heaven: Light cream eyeshadow good for evening out the eyelids | Can look powdery if not applied well
Cashmere Bunny: Light slightly taupe brown | Good transition shade or daytime crease colour | Even pigmentation but slightly hard to blend
Sexpresso: Cool dark brown, also the darkest shade in the palette | Evenly pigmented and good for smoking an eye out

2nd row (Classic)**
Lace Teddy: Light peach that's good for warmer skintones as an overall lid shade | Can be slightly powdery and patchy
Strapless: Warm midtone brown with slight red undertones | Best shade out of the entire palette due to even pigmentation, blendability, and lack of fallout
Risqué: Dark brown with purple undertones | Hard texture and slightly hard to blend

3rd row (Fashion)
Nudie: Warmer version of Cashmere Bunny | Good as a transition shade or for subtle crease definition | Has significant amount of fall out | Easy to blend
Honey Butter**: Warmer midtone peach with orange undertones | Slightly patchy | Probably the shade I won't get much use out of
Chocolate Cookie**: Orangey brown version of Strapless | Very blendable and pigmented | Ever so slightly patchy but this rarely happens

** Palette-exclusive shades, the rest are also in the Natural Eyes Palette

I would say thought that I would have loved to have a matte black eyeshadow in this palette, but because it would be so useful. Other than that, I think the colour selection is really good!

Price and Availability

I purchased this for P1500 at Make Up Pro along with three other items. If I add in shipping, this palette costs about P1550, which is not bad for a matte eyeshadow palette of this quality! Too Faced isn't available in the Philippines so you do have to rely on online sellers or relatives going to a Sephora or Ulta to get this palette.

At the Too Faced website, Ulta (where it was first made available) and Sephora, this retails for 36 USD. This means that its readily available for you guys on the other side of the Pacific, so give this a swatch if you can!

Summary:
(+) Sturdy packaging
(+) Travel-friendly
(+) Pigmented shades (Especially darker ones)
(+) Blendable and buildable
(+) Easy to use
(+) Smooth texture
(+) Minimal to no fallout
(+) Reasonably priced
(+/-) Lacks a matte black
(+/-) More warm-toned so might not suit all
(-) Repeated shades from the Natural Eyes Palette
(-) Not available in the Philippines

Recommended for: Anyone lacking or interested in matte eyeshadows!

Overall, I would highly recommend this palette for its quality and shade range! I'm so happy with this palette and have been wearing either on its own or complementary with eyeshadows I already own. I'd recommend to at least give it a swatch if its readily available to you just to see if you like it or not.

What about you guys? Have you tried this palette? Do you have any matte eyeshadow recommendations? Let me know in the comments section below!

Friday, July 03, 2015

REVIEW: Too Faced Natural Matte Palette

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

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.

Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Pinterest

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!

Twitter | Instagram | Tumblr | Pinterest

Friday, May 29, 2015

April & May Favourites

By Pauline Read More

COMPARISON: Too Faced Shadow Insurance and Urban Decay Primer Potion

Long time no comparison post!

I've never considered primers to be essential before I got into makeup, but now I can't see myself doing my make-up without one, and eyeshadow primer is no exception. Somehow the best primers manage to make cheap eyeshadows show up and stay on my eyelids, so I knew I didn't want to settle for nothing less than the best, especially if I only needed a tiny amount for each application.

The Urban Decay Primer Potion (UDPP) is the first eye primer I've heard of when I first got into beauty, and now it's still one of the best primers around. Another great contender that I've discovered as of late is the Too Faced Shadow Insurance (TFSI). Today I wanted to put two of the best eye-primers on the market to the test to see which one is really the best. Keep reading to know my verdict!

Consistency & Finish

Both primers are flesh coloured when dispensed, but turns invisible when spread. You only need very little (probably a quarter of a pea) for both eyes. On my eyes they manage to cancel out most veins and any darkness, but take note that I have very little of these to begin with, so I cannot speak for those with more prominent veins and darkness.

Left - UDPP, Right - TFSI

There are very subtle differences in consistency, which I don't think first-time users will notice. The TFSI is slightly more runny, while the UDPP is slightly thicker and seems to contain less oil. This could mean that TFSI might be better suited for those with drier eyelids, while UDPP would be better suited for those with oilier eyelids.

I do find that I need a little bit (and I really do mean a little) more of the TFSI than the UDPP. I also find that I need to warm the UDPP a bit between my fingers, because the first few times I didn't led to a bit of blending that made me tug on my eyes a bit, which I don't like to do. I also take a little more time blending TFSI. As for the finish, you can barely notice the difference between them once blended, which takes a few seconds.

Performance

Both primers definitely bring out more colour and add to longevity to whatever eyeshadow is placed on top versus not using a primer at all. The story is different between primers. They both manage to make all eyeshadows more vibrant and long-lasting without any signs of creasing on my eyelids. Do note that I have hooded, oily eyelids, so this is a big accomplishment.

They also both work well with shimmer and matte eyeshadows, which was one of the more important factors for me. They prevent excessive fallout that come with glitter and shimmer shadows, but also bring out more of the colour of matte shadows. They also make mattes more blendable.

L to R: No primer | TFSI | UDPP

Palette used: Too Faced Boudoir Eyes Palette

Top row: Voulez Vous | Bottom row: Satin Sheets

L to R: No primer | TFSI | UDPP

Palette used: Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

Top row: Tease | Bottom row: Snakebite

One thing I noticed is that the UDPP works slightly better with UD eyeshadows than the TFSI. You can see above that the eyeshadows are a little richer in colour than with the TFSI. For Too Faced shadows, I find that both work fine. On the eyes however, I barely see any difference, which is why there aren't any pictures for that portion. Trust me, I've tried for weeks!

I will say that when I overapply the UDPP, eyeshadows get a little more difficult to blend. This means that I spend a longer time blending my eyeshadows, but on a positive note, its plus points for longevity.

Longevity

I've had a lot of days where I've worn UDPP on one eye and TFSI on the other in order to test the most important claim of eyeshadow primers. At the end of the day (and the end of my day is usually 12+ hours later), both held eyeshadows well with minimal fading and almost no creasing. There are days when I don't even remember which primer I used for which eye!

Price

I purchased both of these in Sephora Singapore for 30 SGD, from what I remember. On the Sephora USA website, they retail for 20 USD. UDPP contains 0.30 ounces or 11 mL and TFSI contains 0.35 ounces or 11mL. It's pretty much the same amount for the same price (unless that 0.05 oz means a lot to you) so it would really just be down to which one you prefer or which works for you.

Summary:
TFSI + UDPP:
- Sets clear, shadows appear more vibrant, long-lasting, works well on glitters, shimmers, satins, and mattes

Too Faced Shadow Insurance:
+ Formula slightly more moisturizing, works well with both UD and TF eyeshadows
- Use slightly more product, slightly longer setting time

Urban Decay Primer Potion:
+ Slightly drier formula, colours richer with UD eyeshadows
- Shadows hard to blend if overapplied, needs warming up to avoid streaks

Verdict: Both primers are equally good and do what they claim to do well. What you decide to be better will be up to your own experience. I personally like both and use them interchangeably.

I hope this was helpful for any of you who were curious about these two!

What were your experiences with these primers? Have you found one that is better than both? Feel free to leave me a comment below!

Friday, May 01, 2015

COMPARISON: Too Faced Shadow Insurance and Urban Decay Primer Potion

By Pauline Read More

Stolen From Mom Tag

If there was anyone who has been quite a big influence on me in terms of beauty, it is my mother. I've watched her put on make-up in a moving car flawlessly for years and I can say that the colours she uses to this day have greatly influenced some of the colours I prefer (especially in lipsticks).

I was tagged by Alex from The Red Eyeliner to do this tag (who also made it btw) because we used to talk about some of the make-up we've "stolen" (rather, taken and then eventually given) from our moms and how that has influenced us in terms of make-up.

For the sake of this tag, I wanted to include a few hair and nail things as well as I "borrow" a lot of those from her as well. I also added another question which will be marked accordingly. So here are my answers to the new 'Stolen from Mom' tag!

1. What is your favourite "stolen" piece?

Cure Natural Aqua Gel & Christian Dior Effets Blush Trio in 802 Expression Rose (Discontinued)

I've lusted over the Cure Natural Aqua Gel ever since I saw BubzBeauty use it years ago. I mentioned it a few times to my mom whenever we passed by Beauty Bar, and she eventually came home with a bottle. I have claimed it as my own since and as you can see, finished the entire bottle! I'm not sure if she ever got to use it as well but she's been very happy with her Laneige Multi Cleanser which I introduced her to 3 years ago.

The Dior trio is an interesting one because it was something that my mother also "stole" from her mother, which I eventually took. My grandmother was definitely more into makeup than she was (probably the same level as I am right now) and she had four drawers full of luxury make-up items. My mother used to use this on me during school events up until I was a pre-teen. I just keep it for sentimental reasons now, and I'll definitely be sad when I have to throw it out.

2. Do you have something of hers that she doesn't know you have taken?

Aveeno Pure Renewal Dry Shampoo

I wanted to try this to see if it would be better than the Etude House Oh My God! Dry Shampoo that I hoarded from Seoul, and it is nothing close! It's sticky, makes my hair feel greasy, and is just a 100% fail in terms of dry shampoo. It's sad because it comes in a really big size, and would have been amazing had it worked.

3. What item have you taken that you have not used?

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Wild Rose (Limited Edition)

This is the one constant thing in my collection, yet I have never bothered to use it. I'm not sure as to why despite the beautiful colours and the lovely glow it gives. I wasn't even aware that this was limited edition until I tried searching for it online to check the price. One of the main reasons that I don't use it (I think) is that I do not have a brush to apply it. I do want to try using it as an eyeshadow in the mean time!

4. Is there something you have been meaning to return?

Revlon Colorstay Soft & Smooth Lipcolor in Creamy Coral (Discontinued)

This was a birthday gift from me to my mother years ago, and was my attempt to get her on the coral lips trend that just came out at the time. I apologize for the stock picture, but this lipstick has not only been long returned, but it has seen better days and has been thrown away. This just means that I have returned this lipstick because I didn't really like the colour on me, and it was far too drying on my lips. I don't think my mother liked the colour very much either as she never really used it as much as her other lipsticks. 

5. Are there things in your collection that you think she wants to steal?

Lioele Auto Eyebrow Pencil #3 & Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette

My mom has definitely noticed the sudden increase in my make-up collection and out of all, she has stolen this pencil the most. She just ran out of her eyebrow pencil at the time and she loved the idea of the pencil having a spoolie at the other end. 

My Naked 2 Palette is another thing I've seen her inspect and open a few times when she'd visit my room. I know she's into browns and shimmery eyeshadows so I have an inkling that she really likes this palette. The only two reasons I can think of as to why she hasn't taken the palette for herself is that it's too big to fit in her make-up bag, and it has the word 'Naked' printed in the front. 

*6. Is there anything you want to snag from her current collection?

Too Faced Boudoir Eyes Soft & Sexy Shadow Collection

I was originally going to get her the Naked Basics Palette for Mother's Day (as I was in Singapore at the time) but I decided to get her this palette instead as I thought she would like the colour selection better (and it has more 'Innocent Mom-Friendly' names). She doesn't use this often, probably because she doesn't have a brush for it. Sometimes I want to take it for myself (or "borrow" it) because of the lovely shade selection; I especially love Voulez-Vouz, Sugar Walls, and Lap Dance (oops).

7. Do you have a makeup memory with your mom that you want to share?

It's a fairly recent memory, but I had to put on eye make-up for my mother for a wedding she had to attend. Her eyesight isn't as sharp anymore, so I had to fix her eyeliner so the lines were thick and crisp. Somehow it brought me back to all the times she had to do my make-up for an event. I definitely wouldn't mind doing her make-up from now on because she has better features to work with than I do!

8. Who do you want to tag?

I am tagging Shari of The Misty Mom and Tari of Tari in the Morning (who should get started on blogging soon, too!). I also tag all of you guys, so please feel free to leave comments and link your posts of this tag below!

I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I did reminiscing and laughing about my answers. Until my next post!

Twitter | Tumblr | Instagram | Bloglovin | Pinterest

1. Cure Natural Aqua Gel

2. Too Faced Boudoir Eyes Soft & Sexy Shadow Collection

3. OPI Nail Lacquer in Dimsum Plum

4. Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Wild Rose (Limited Edition)

5. Orly Mini Nail Lacquer in Gumdrop

6. OPI 'Muppets Most Wanted' Lacquers in Miss Piggy's Big Number, I Love Applause, Kermit Me to Speak, and Chillin' Like a Villain (Limited Edition)

7. Christian Dior Effets Blush Trio in 802 Expression Rose (Discontinued)

8. Body and Face Thairapy Morocco Argan Oil

9. Aveeno Pure Renewal Dry Shampoo (Sulfate-Free)

Friday, December 05, 2014

Stolen From Mom Tag

By Pauline Read More