My new pink power duo!

Ever since I've learned about the Sleek brand years ago when it first debuted on UK drugstores, I knew their products were hardly duds. I brought back i-Divine palettes, Pout Polish, Glitter Powders home back then! 

Miracle Lips with Sara Happ's The Lip Slip One Luxe Gloss / 殿堂級護唇法寶 - Sara Happ One Luxe Gloss/Balm

I don't usually buy lip balms, because 1) too lazy to reapply; 2) it's ok to have one or two but I don't need more than that; 3) they aren't as exciting as color makeup like eyeshadows, ha! So why do I want to talk about Sara Happ's The Lip Slip One Luxe Gloss? I tried the One Luxe Balm packaged in a little pot (which I talked about HERE and THERE), I've been hooked ever since and will not buy any other balms other than from hers. 

Oh and thanks to the lovely BirkinBagBeauty for including the little pot of Sara Happ in her giveaway a few years ago and thereby introducing me to this amazing lip balm!! 

我很少買護唇膏的, 原因有三 : 1) 懶得補搽; 2) 有1-2支便足夠了, 反正從未用完過一支, 更不需要更多啦; 3) 護唇產品不及彩妝品 (眼影) 吸引, 嘻嘻! 今日點解同大家介紹 Sara Happ 既 One Luxe Gloss呢? 因為自從幾年前試過 One Luxe Balm (小瓶裝的, 已早前在這裡和這裡提及過), 之後就變了它的 loyal fan, 以後除了它之外, 任何品牌的護唇產品一概不買!

還有, 要多謝幾年前 BirkinBagBeauty在大禮裡面加入這個護唇法寶, 等我有得試!

Daily staples I can't live without (Spring 2012)

It has been quite a while I have posted about my monthly/seasonal favorites - forgive me for the absence. But this time I'm back with even more promising products, which have earned a daily staple status in my beauty routine. I tried my best to short list them down to the products I use to create a 'minimum' face - that is, the minimal number of items I have been using lately for my to-go look. As I'm always in a rush, eyeshadows are a bonus instead of essential. 

Latest drugstore gems //開架自有黃金屋

I have never been one who paid much attention to drugstore brands (don't get me wrong, I'm by no means a beauty snob), it's just you see those brands nearly every day and don't care much about them. Yet, if you look closer, you'd be able to find affordable beauty gems that deliver results comparable to high street brands! Today I'm sharing my latest finds:

我一向不太留意開架式品牌, (我當然不是 "非專櫃品牌不用" 那種人), 只是開架式品牌到處都是, 甚少會注意它們的新產品罷了. 不過, 細看之下, 其實有不少便宜又好用的美容新品啊! 近期和大家分享的新發現是:

1. Maybelline Pure BB Mousse Mineral Instant Skin Smoother SPF 30 PA+++

Beauty with a Cause: MAC Viva Glam Event for World Aids Day// 發自內心的美麗: MAC與世界愛滋病日

Many beauty brands make contributions to being cruelty-free, protecting the Earth, raising breast cancer awareness, etc. yet which does actually go full length and donate 100% of proceeds from their sales? Well, for every MAC Viva Glam lipstick/gloss sold, every penny goes to support the MAC AIDS Fund. To date, over US$228 Million was donated via the sales of Viva Glam series. It was World Aids Day a while ago (sorry it took me a long time to post this since I was really busy with work!) and I was lucky enough to be asked by my beauty pal Rach, to meet James Molloy - the Regional Director of MAC Asia Pacific, doing a demo on a model with various classic Viva Glam shades.

市場上很多品牌以保護地球, 不作動物測試等為豦頭, 但又有那個品牌會做全套 - 把100%來自銷售的收益全數捐予慈善用途? 不講不知, 售出的 MAC Viva Glam 唇膏和唇彩的收益都會每分每毫撥進MAC愛滋病基金作慈善用途, 用以支持愛滋病團體. 不久之前MAC就著世界愛滋病日發起了關注運動 (因本女子事忙, 現在才清稿, 實在不好意思!), 我才有機會認識 MAC 亞太區的總監和化妝師 - James Malloy. 他當日即時在model 唇上示範如何用Viva Glam的顏色打造經典紅唇look.

Jill Stuart Dreamy Garden Collection Petite Gloss Trio Swatches// Jill Stuart 公主夢幻迷你唇彩組合試色

Warning: This post contains extremely pretty contents, read on if you're up for princessy and cute things! The Dreamy Garden Collection from Jill Stuart has been launched on 1st April, the collection is only available in Hong Kong & Taiwan. Some bloggers have asked me to CP them the new eyeshadow palettes, perfume, etc. I only got the petite gloss trio, hence I will be posting swatches of the glosses instead of the eyeshadow palette, but I'll include some teaser pics of course.

警告: 這篇post內含極漂亮同華麗既包裝, 請自行決定看不看.

Jill Stuart 公主夢幻系列已經係1/4 登場了, 只在香港及台灣發售. 有唔少外國的bloggers托我購買新系列裡的眼影盤及香水 , 我就買了gloss trio, 所以只會post唇彩試色圖, 但當然會包括teaser pics 啦.

The flowery and feminine design on the paper box:

包裝紙盒上的花朵圖案, 很有女孩味:

Many people are after this shade in #102 Amazonite Dazzle because it's not similar to the shades released before, and not found in the entire Jill Stuart eyeshadow range.

很多外國bloggers都說要#102號色的眼影盤, 因為盒裡的顏色和Jill Stuart現有的顏色很不同, 以前也沒有出過.

Here are official promo pics, but they don't do justice at all, to the pretty packaging you will see below!

官方圖片, 我說實物比圖片靚得多!

Now come to the glosses. I was thinking of skipping this collection altogether (not in a mood to shop lately), but I thought I'd swatch them before I pay the other items and go. Man, it was such a wrong decision (-_-) I found two of the glosses pretty pigmented and I fell for it. Grrr.

轉談今次的迷你3色唇彩. 我並無打算買任何東西 (最近無shopping的mood), 但臨走前做了個錯的決定: 試色上手. 我發現其中2隻色異常地上色, 所以...*吼*

Pretty box which houses the gloss trio:

漂亮的盒子:
Side of the box:

側面看:
"Omg it's so pretty I wanna cry..."

漂亮到想喊吧?
Colored gem stones on the lipgloss caps, such a nice detail!

每支唇彩的蓋都有不同顏色的閃石, 很精緻和用心的設計.
The 3 shades are: #101 Pretty Tutu, #103 Sweet Perfume, #102 Cherry Whip. #103 Sweet Perfume INSTANTLY reminds me of NARS Angelika lipgloss after I swatched it *faints*...but minus the heavy glitter in NARS Angelika, #102 Cherry Whip is a matte coral shade (can I say "matte" again? ♥), these two are the most opaque ones. #101 Pretty Tutu is a pretty transparent shade with fine glitter/shimmer.

3隻顏色分別是: #101 Pretty tutu, #103 Sweet Perfume, #102 Cherry Whip. #103即時令我想起NARS Angelika的唇彩色, 但#103無NARS那麼多閃粉, 接近啞色系. #102係無任何閃粉的珊瑚色 (可不可以再強調是啞色系? ♥), 這2色都是比較實色. #101係接近透明色, 但有很幼細的閃粉.

Swatches:

試色:
Honestly I'm blown away with the pigmentation of #103 Sweet Perfume and #102 Cherry Whip! The regular line of jelly lip gloss from Jill Stuart doesn't come close to these two. #101 has the prettiest fine glitter/shimmer I've seen, they're not chunky and looks so dreamy in the tube. I am totally digging the 3 shades!! (P.S. If anyone needs help purchasing the new collection, email me.)

#103 和#102的上色度頗impressive. #101裡的閃粉是我見過的最幼細, 不會結成一塊塊, 看下去很夢幻的感覺. 趁現在有promotion, 去親自看看吧!

Monthly Favourites (March, 2011)//每月至愛產品

It's the end of the month (What?! Again?), time for a monthly wrap-up on my favourite products of the month. I look forward to this time of the month because many bloggers will share their favourites (oh and a great way to ignite new lemmings, haha). This month I'm loving:

又到了每月round-up的時侯 (下? 乜咁快又一個月喇?), 每個月都好期待呢類round-up posts既出現, 好想知道大家用緊D乜產品 (順手睇下有無新野想試, 哈哈). 今個月我挑選了:

1. MAC Sculpt & Shape Powder from DSquared Collection: Got this ages ago, have made two dips in the pan, haha. I love the shading bit which is matte, and sweeping it on my jawline gives me instant face lift (cheekbones!). The highlighter shade is also nice without being shimmery, I'm sure most of you have shimmery white/pearly highlighters right? The shimmer in this is so muted! Natural-looking. I wonder when sculpt & shape powder will come out again, if not I'll probably buy the PRO pans.

2. MAC Pink Cult Blush from Jeanius Collection: The perfect muted pink which is work-safe and interview-safe. On days you don't feel like going bold, this is the ONE. Don't be fooled by how dusty it looks in the pan, it's the prettiest pink in my blush stash! It'll never fail.

3. Swarovski makeup jewel lip gloss pendant: it smells like magnolia ♥ very handy for touch-ups, I have been wearing it everyday since I got it.

4. Estee Lauder Signature Silky Powder Blush #21 Peach Nuance: think a lot of you know it's a close dupe for MAC Ripe Peach? I don't have the latter but I love this one! It's a coral shade, perks up my complexion and adds warmth to it.

5. DollyWink Pencil Liner in Brown: This gets featured again this month because it applies smoothly and doesn't smudge. Plus, it's on the cheap side. I avoid black liners because they tend to look too harsh for my overall look.

6. MAC Lustreglass in #Wonderstruck: sent to me by the lovely Christine (go check out her blog btw!), I realized I like slim packaging for lip products! This little gloss is tiny but mighty with the glitter in it!

7. Sephora house brand Atomic Volume Mascara: sent to me from the lovely Kat (check out her blog here), I don't have much expectations for this but alas it doesn't smudge. It lengthens lashes a bit but does not really volumize, but I've been reaching for this since it won't smudge, I'm safe.

What are your favourites this month? :D

1. MAC Sculpt & Shape 光影粉 (限量, Dsquared系列): 喜歡它用來打陰影的啡色, 因為是啞光, 所以沒有閃粉, 在下巴掃數下, 顎骨即時出現 :D!! 臉變尖了!!!

2. MAC Pink Cult 胭脂粉 (限量, Jeanius系列): 給我找到了所有分店的最後一個. 千萬不要被它在盒子裡的顏色騙到, 看下去很"陳舊", 掃在面上是另一碼子的事!! 這可能是我這麼久以來最喜歡的淡粉紅色, 好自然, 當想不到用什麼顏色時, 用這個就好了, 一定無錯.

3. Swarovski的唇彩頸鍊: 自從收到了這個便幾乎日日用它, 勝在夠方便, 也有百合花的香氣♥

4. Estee Lauder Signature Silky Powder Blush #21 Peach Nuance: 正在MAC去年春季系列裡的Ripe Peach賣斷了之時, Peach Nuance就被發現了成為 Ripe Peach的姊妹, 因2者都很近似, 珊瑚粉紅色把春天的氣息帶出來!

5. DollyWink 啡色眼線筆: 近來keep著使用它, 很滑, 但又不會暈染. 我是避免使用黑色眼線的, 因為會令整個look很"惡".

6. MAC #Wonderstruck 唇彩: Christine寄給我的, 雖然看下去很迷你, 但顏色頗閃的, 包裝很''纖幼", 個人很喜歡.

7. Sephora Atomic Volume 睫毛膏: 是另一個blogger, Kat寄給我的. 雖沒有包裝所說的濃密效果, 但優勝之處是不會暈染. 用了它出街不用怕變成熊貓眼.

今個月你又喜歡哪類產品? :D

"Aura" by Swarovski x Clarins: New Fragrance and makeup launch party// 新作: Aura by Swarovski x Clarins香氛

Hello lovlies! I was honored to be invited by Douglas (Special thanks to Doug if you're reading this :)) to the "Aura by SWAROVSKI" launch party, apparently Swarovski has a collaboration with Clarins Fragrance group to invent a new perfume with crystal embellishments! And here I shall unveil the new fragrance and makeup range for ya :)

很高興獲邀出席 Aura by Swarovski的cocktail party, Swarovski與Clarins合作推出香氛 (產品當然是有水晶裝飾!). 等我揭露下當晚的party和新系列吧 :)

The party was a regional event held at Domani restaurant in Hong Kong, it adopts a lilac-toned theme.

是次party在金鐘的Domani舉行, 主題以淡紫色調為主, 配合新香氛的設計.
Dazzling and sparkling Swarovski jewelery display:

展示的當然是耀眼的Swarovski首飾了:

This dress blings so much I was almost blind.

這條裙bling得我差不多盲掉, 哈哈!
Representatives from Swarovski and Clarins Fragrance Group introducing the new perfume. The scent is a fruity floral one, the notes include: lychee, rose, amber, tuberose, pink pepper, white musk and benzoin.

來自Swarovski 和 Clarins Fragrance Group的代表為大家介紹新的香氛. 甜甜的花味裡帶有水果的味道, 有荔枝, 玫瑰, 琥珀, 麝香, 月下香, pink pepper 以及benzoin.

"the invention of a new fragrance is made with Passion, Patience, and Perfection."

"研製新香氛少不免要耐性, 熱誠和力求完美的心."
Live ad played on a billboard on the top of the opposite building, it's cool isn't it!

對面金鐘廊的billboard首播新香氛的廣告, 好型!
Pretty models modeling the new perfume and lip gloss necklace:

Model 率先戴上新系列裡的吊墜頸鍊, 其實是唇彩黎! 手上拎著的便是香水了.

The new fragrance and makeup range includes a body butter/cream and a necklace pendant which houses a gloss in Glistening Pink and Transparent shimmer in white (which can also be a highlighter). The line also includes a perfumed body lotion, shower gel, deodorant spray, and another makeup accessory Crystal Touch in Silver Shimmer.

同場加映的還有潤膚膏, 吊墜頸鍊唇彩, 有白色和粉紅色, 白色的亦可用作highlight, 另一款吊墜頸鍊叫 Crystal touch, 帶銀色的閃粉. 同一系列包括shower gel, body lotion, deodorant spray.

Celeb sightings ;)

湯盈盈亦在場介紹新的系列.
Snacks that were so dainty and cute:

很討人喜歡的迷你小吃:
The "paper" with words printed on it is edible! Made of sugar.

印了字的''紙" 其實是用糖製, 可以吃的.

Very thoughtful ribbon scented with the new perfume ♥

大會給每位繫上絲帶, 都噴上了最新的香氛, 把香氣帶回家 ♥

I came home with these:

帶了這些回家:
Sleek and elegant design of the bottle with a crystal embellished on the top:

User-friendly的瓶身, 很纖巧, 瓶頂鑲了水晶:

Lipgloss pendant:

唇彩吊飾:

Does this cute packaging remind you of cupcakes?

包裝很精緻, 令我聯想到cupcakes.

Lipgloss pendant unveiled:

內裡銀色盒子內藏頸鍊:
Close-up:

近看上面的水晶裝飾:

I've been testing out the new scent and I instantly wore the pendant these few days, the pendant + lipgloss design was so handy for touch-ups. If you happen to come across this new perfume from Swarovski, I highly recommend you to go and have a sniff! The new range will be out on 1st April.

我戴了頸鍊數日了, 內藏唇彩和鏡子的設計很方便. 香水的味頗持久, 有機會的話大家要親自試試它的味道啊! 4月1日有售.

Monthly Favourites (Feb 2011) // 每月至愛產品

February has not been a very inspiring month. I didn't get to put on much makeup, didn't buy that much makeup, in general, it has been boring, haha! As you can probably see from the picture below, not many makeup products are being featured, but I figured I would do a monthly round-up post like this every month :P So here you go.

From left to right:

Carmex Healing Cream - my whole family has been swearing by this hand cream. I've never had chapped hands this winter, and I noticed my mom's hands are better than what they used to be during winter. This hand cream gets all the endorsement from my family! Mom even said this is going to run out soon, I said, it's not available in Hong Kong, haha!! This cream absorbs extremely quickly - the slippery feeling would disappear in 10 seconds max and your hands are good to go.

DHC Cleansing Oil - This is probably my 4th bottle of cleansing oil from DHC. Yes it is a tad bit more expensive than usual ones (Orbis, Fancl, etc) but the volume is slightly larger too! I've tried everything from Fancl, Bobbi Brown, Shu Uemura, Orbis, Dove, Jill Stuart...and I always come back to this. This removes makeup pretty well but I always use a separate eye makeup remover for mascaras. Got this when the local drugstore are having BOGOF, hope they'll do it again soon!

Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick in #Natural Gloss - Got this from a swap with a colleague during summer. At first I found this sheer (Clinique website says so too), but I've grown to LOVE this color. It's perfect for the MLBB (My Lips But Better) look, and the formula/texture is DIVINE. Hands down the smoothest and most buttery lipstick I've ever tried, period. This shade is no longer available in the existing lipstick range I believe.

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips Lipgloss in #Zena - Received this from a giveaway I've won from Fruity Lashes. My first BE lipgloss and I'm addicted to the shade! This gloss gives my lips a cooling sensation that lasts for 2 hours minimum, and plumps my lips, making them look fuller! Sadly this shade is discontinued and I got this in a Bare Escentuals Kit. The size of this mini gloss is rather small, like 2ml and I can see myself going through this quickly.

Sara Happ The Lip Slip One Luxe Balm - Got this lip balm a year ago from a giveaway. It heals my chapped lips when I was freezing in European weather (-31 degrees in Sweden and Norway), I swear by this if you have chapped lips, one jar lasts forever (15 grams) and you only need a tiny tiny bit when applying because it blends and spreads like butter. I put this jar next to my bed so I get to use it before sleep every night and wakeup with hydrated lips ♥ This product is pretty difficult to get hold of but you can buy this here. I checked with a local retailer in Hong Kong and they only stock the lip scrub, boo!

從左至右：

Carmex Healing Cream - 整個冬天全家都在使用它. 香港沒有出售 Carmex的潤手霜, 只有護唇膏. 今個冬天我從未有爆擦既手出現過, 留意到媽媽用了這支hand cream之後對手好左好多, 佢同我講: 就快用晒喇! 我話: 香港無得賣呢 ~.~

DHC Cleansing Oil - 應該係我第4支黎喇, 雖然較貴, 但size都唔少. 用過好多隻 (Fancl, Bobbi Brown, Shu Uemura, Orbis, Jill Stuart), 始終覺得呢支最岩我. 早排見到買1送1.

Clinique Butter Shine Lipstick #Natural Gloss - 暑假時和同事swap番來, 全新的. 起初覺得唔出色, 但漸漸喜歡了它淡淡既顏色, 最岩造 "My lips but better" 既look. 最抵讚係佢既質感, 好滑, 好smooth, 好似搽牛油咁, 可惜呢隻顏色好似沒有得賣了.

Bare Escentuals Buxom Lips Lipgloss #Zena - 從Fruity Lashes收到既其中一份禮物, 我第一件Bare Escentuals (BE) 既妝品. 超喜歡這隻粉紅色, 搽完會有極度冰涼既感覺 (維持超過2小時都feel到), 令嘴唇更飽滿. 可惜#Zena係限定色, 這支又係迷你版.

Sara Happ The Lip Slip One Luxe Balm - 舊年去歐洲時我用黎發誓既lip balm! 係零下31度我既嘴唇無爆裂就係因為佢 ♥ 15 grams有排都用唔完. 我而家會擺佢係床邊, 臨訓前搽, 起身時嘴唇都好潤. 之前JOYCE有得賣的, 但現在好似只有lip scrub賣, 沒有這個了.

What are your favourite products in February? Share in the comments below :) and if you have done a post about it, feel free to drop the link to your post, I love knowing what others like to use!

Jill Stuart Valentine Love Collection Info and Photos

I was kindly informed by a blogger who reminded me that Jill Stuart's Valentine Love Collection is coming up, in fact it's set to release on 24th Jan! Oh how quick...another 2 weeks to go before Chinese Lunar New Year!

(all images taken from Jill Stuart official website)

My heart fluttered as I checked out their promo pics! I felt so bad ever since I missed out last year's Bridal Collection from the brand :( because I was outside Hong Kong. But I know this year I will be able to get my hands on this collection and can custom-purchase a few sets for bloggers too! I am loving the dessert-theme here, the gloss trios look like candies in a box!

4 new and limited edition products would be released:
They are:

1) Heart Gloss Trio neatly put in a heart-shaped tin:
The cap carries heart-shaped crystal with a "J" on it:

There are 3 different colors in one tin: #101 Sweet Rendezvous (bright fuschia pink); #102 Cross My Heart (pure red); #103 Platonic Romance (nude pink).
2) The second product is 6ml nail polishes (they're smaller than regular-sized ones) and come in 5 shades: #109 Love Scandal (far left); #110 Captive of Love (second left); #111 Love Potion (the middle shade); #112 Love is Blind (second right); #113 First Love (far right). Each is sold individually.
3) Also being released is a set of two blotting papers. The one on the left is #01 Heart and Cupid; the one on right is #02 Love Key

4) 2 Emery boards for nails will be introduced:
How they look when flipped over: (not sure which from the above corresponds to the ones below :P have to find that out!)

(Source: Jill Stuart official website)

I am eyeing on the gloss trios and some of the nail polishes as I think they're absolute value for money, not to mention the heart-shaped tin looks cute on the dresser :)! The nail polishes look decent and are cheap to invest when compared to their regular-sized bottles too.

P.S. If anyone needs help purchasing these, please email me in advance as I will be able to make pre-orders. Limited Edition collections and products are sold out in a matter of 2-3 days (not to mention their Christmas Coffret last December!). More info on my custom-purchase services here.

What are you eyeing on :)?