Guerlain Fall sneak peek

Elaine and I met this Monday since she was visiting HK, and we spotted the Guerlain Fall release out already! We snagged up all the stock (4 pieces) for the new Madame Rougit blush, LOL

My staple products of late

It's been quite a while since I last shared my staple products. One of my resolutions for 2013 is to blog more, and here I present to you my staples for the past 2-3 months:

Going "Minimal" and "Pop" for Fall 2012 with Maybelline offerings! // 以Maybelline產品創造秋季''Pop" & "Mineral" look!

The Maybelline trend of F/W 2012 makeup emphasizes on "Minimal" with beige nude lips and "Pop" look with daring red lips. And good news to your wallet, you only need two different lipsticks and two different eyeshadow palettes to create the 2 looks which could bring you anywhere from lazy days-out to the red carpet. 

Maybelline 的F / W 2012重點在創造 "Minimal" 及 "Pop"的妝容 。你只需要兩種不同顏色的唇膏和兩款不同的眼影色便足夠應付懶洋洋的日子和紅地毯場合了。

 

Step 1: Create a smooth canvas with Pure Mineral BB Base.

This lightweight BB base conceals, preps, provides SPF 26/ PA+++, evens out your skin tone in no time. Coverage is medium-sheer and texture is light. The minerals in it helps to control oil throughout the day to ensure a long lasting wear.

Step 1: 用純礦物BB 底霜打造順滑肌膚。

這支超輕量的BB底霜遮瑕，為肌膚打底，防曬, 在任何時候均勻你的膚色。 遮瑕度中等偏輕。它的礦物質有助整天控制面油，確保持久。

Step 2: Line your eyes with Hyper Sharp Liquid Liner. The liner once set, does not smudge or budge. It can be removed with soap & water, application is easy and dries fast.

Step 2: 在你的眼睛畫上眼線。Hyper Sharp 眼線液不塗抹或暈染。可以用肥皂和水清除，畫上後乾的速度很快。

Step 3: Curl and Coat your lashes with False Lash Volume Express Waterproof Mascara. Create a look which looks like you have put falsies on (yet minus the hassle).

Step 3: 捲曲睫毛和塗上與假睫毛般卷曲濃密效果的 Volume Express防水睫毛膏。

 

Step 4: For "Minimal" Look, pick Hyper Diamonds Eyeshadow Palette in BR-1. The palette consisted of earth-toned and office-friendly colors (see swatches above). Use the lightest color (golden champagne) on inner 1/3 of your lids and blend the third color on your lid. Smudge the darkest color onto your crease and outer 1/3 of your eye. Dab the fourth color all over your lid for some diamond sparkle.

Step 4: 要達致 "Minimal" look，用鑽石眼影BR-1, 包括大地色調和適合辦公室的啡色調（見上面試色圖）。使用最淺的顏色（香檳金）塗於內1/3眼蓋上, blend 中間的顏色於整個眼蓋。把最深的顏色塗抹到眼摺位和眼睛外1/3的位置。然後在整個眼窩搽第四色, 令眼神更閃耀.

Step 4: Alternatively, for "Pop" Look, pick Hyper Diamonds Eyeshadow Palette in WN-1, which consisted of royal-looking violet hues and lilacs (see swatches below). Apply second lightest color on the inner 1/3 of your eye and the medium color all over your lid. Smudge the darkest color on crease and outer 1/3 of your eye. Apply the lightest color all over your lid for extra sparkle and on the browbone for highlighting.

要達致 "Pop" look，用鑽石眼影WN-1, 色調包括貴族氣質的深紫和淺粉紅（見下圖試色）。使用第二淺的顏色塗於內1/3眼蓋上, blend 中間紫色於整個眼蓋。把深紫色塗抹到眼摺位和眼睛外1/3的位置。然後在整個眼窩搽第四色. 用最淺的顏色在眉骨上作 highlight.

Step 5: For "Minimal" look, use ColorSensational Lipstick in #721 Iced Brown, a warm brown beige color to warm up your lips for the My Lips But Better pout. For "Pop" look, use lipstick in #475 Coral Diamonds for a daring red pout. And voila! Two easy looks are done!

Step 5: "Minimal" look 可使用ColorSensational唇膏＃721，一隻溫暖的棕色，令整個妝容warm up。"Pop" look 可使用＃475 - 大膽的鮮紅色與紫色眼影的配合令人一見難忘。2個截然不同的 look 便大功告成了!

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. 

Bobbi Brown Spring '12 Long-Wear Eye Collection Swatches and Look // Bobbi Brown 春季持久不脫落妝品

Bobbi Brown's Spring Color Collection theme is Long-Wear that lasts from coffee to cocktail hours, the lineup includes Long-Wear Eye Pencils, Long-Wear Cream Shadows, Intensifying Long-Wear Mascara. Alas, I told myself, my search for a pencil liner that stays put on my lash line is finally over! I'm an avid fan of pencil liners over liquid liners any day, and the latest release of Long-Wear Eye Pencils from Bobbi does not disappoint!

Bobbi Brown的春天的顏色款式的主題是12小時持久不脫落，春季陣容包括持久不脫落眼線筆，持久不脫落的膏狀眼影，和持久不脫落睫毛膏。天啊，我立刻告訴自己，終於可以結束搜尋一支持久不渾染的眼線筆了！我每天畫眼線之餘, 幾乎只使用眼線筆 (可刨的那種)，而Bobbi Brown新出的眼線鉛筆令我喜出望外！

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

Project 30-days results + giveaway WINNER!

About a month ago, I started this project 30-days (post here). Now it's time for the results!

I realized the pics are taken at different times and it's hard to adjust the lighting and the angle, size LOL......sorry about that!

First we have....

a small but noticeable tip in the Canmake Cream Highlighter. I used it for highlighting the brow bone and nose bridge.

Next we have my everyday powder foundation: Benefit Hello Flawless in Honey. Wow the pan's diameter enlarged XD!
Length of Urban Decay Bourbon eyeliner has gone a bit shorter when compared to the unsharpened/untouched Zero:
Ettusais loose powder. I can't really judge how far this has been consumed within one month...the results aren't significant eh? I applied with a powder puff, maybe that's why? (since a puff takes up less product than a brush through the sift?)

One of my HG blush: Cargo Blu-Ray HD blush/highlighter in pink shimmer (i believe...). Blush surface has been disturbed even more in the middle, in real life a tiny tiny dip is beginning to form...it didn't show up much on pictures though :/ The latter pic is more similar to the original thing in terms of color.
Marc Jacobs EDP:
Crabtree & Evelyn Gardeners Hand cream. Whee it's getting less product inside. I use this only at night before sleep.
Dior Lip Glow Color Reviver balm - completely finished yay! (previous review here)
Jill Stuart Day Care Essence - a month ago there are about 10 uses left, same as the Dior lip glow I chose these two to include in the project because 1) they're the easiest to finish up; 2) can't wait for them to be gone/binned. XD I have used this Day Care Essence as a primer (with SPF) for about half a year, although not regularly. This should be long gone by 4-5 months of uses.
My thoughts on project 30-days:

It's easy to stick with the same foundation, primer, eyeliner, hand cream, highlighter, perfume; yet it's not the case with blushes, lip products and loose powder. If you have a huge stash, it's even more difficult! I found that I can stick to a blush for at most 3 days (unless you have determination and self-discipline of a saint, haha) but after that my hands tend to *drift* towards the others (oh well but I didn't!). It's freaking hard to stick to the same blush :/ especially when you have too many to choose from XD With lip products it's the same case, it's hard to stick to one item when you don't like it in the first place!

I would continue sticking to the same powder foundation, concealer and hand cream, but that's all LOL.

p.s. I just remembered I forgot to take a pic of the Canmake concealer! The tube itself is opaque so it's hard to judge how much it has in the beginning/after 30 days. I'm going to stick to that concealer until it's completely used up/dried up. I am even thinking of dismantling it like people do to their UDPP, but not sure how to cut through the tube -.-.

On another note, the giveaway winner is.....*throws confetti*

fleur!

Congrats hun! Please email me your info and details within 48 hours :)

Thanks to you all who participated!! ^_^

Products I'm digging into this month + giveaway note

While I was reading this post on MWS, I figured it'd be interesting to see how makeup products will turn after intensive use within a month XD This is because I never finish anything, with the exception of mascaras being tossed because they passed their date of 4-5 months. The closest I've come to finishing a product is with sunscreen-primers (I only use primers with SPF and also use as sunscreen alone). You're supposed to wear sunscreen everyday so this doesn't really count I guess? The second closest occasion is hitting pan on 2 foundation compacts, and one concealer - that's the *only* items I've hit pan on. I have way too much blushes, eyeshadows and the like so none of them gets regular love. *shame*

And I picked the following items:

- CARGO Blu-Ray High Definition Blush/Highlighter in Pink (HG!)

- Canmake Cover & Stretch Concealer UV #02 (HG!) (previous review here)

- Canmake Cream Highlighter

- Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in Bourbon (HG!)

- Crabtree & Evelyn Gardeners Hand Therapy

- Marc Jacobs Eau de Parfum

- YSL False Lash Effect Sample in Black

- Dior Lip Glow (previous review here)

- Jill Stuart Day Care Essence (transferred into a small jar due to small amount remaining)

- Ettusais Medicated Acne-control loose powder

- Benefit Hello Flawless Foundation in Honey (HG!)

Phew, picking which items for this month is not an easy task! I recently 'shopped' my stash and took out Benefit Hello Flawless and it was my HG powder foundation up to now, and since I've hit a medium-sized pan on it, I want to see a larger pan XD. Choosing eyeliner is the easiest - black liners look too harsh on me, browns are perfect for everyday use if I can't switch. Canmake concealer is my HG and I've been using it for almost a year (easier to finish up?) so that's definitely on the list. Canmake cream highlighter is included because application is fast, and it contains so little product so easier to hit pan on LOL! Jill Stuart primer - needless to say, only 6-7 uses left, the tube was already dismantled by me, HAH! Ettusais loose powder because it's been used for more than a year (O_o just realized up to this point) and seems never be able to finish it. YSL mascara sample because it flakes and smudges in my undereye area - throwing it away is kind of wasteful...(let's see how long I can tolerate this mascara). Dior Lip Glow is chosen since only 1cm of the product is left in the tube and I disliked this product so much and wanted to use it up. Marc Jacobs EDP is a signature perfume of mine and the scent is perfect for fall and winter. Since winter is approaching and I often reach for hand creams, so it's included. Eyeshadows are left out because I don't wear eyeshadows often.

The hardest part was choosing which blush to use...finally CARGO Blu-Ray blush was chosen because I love the formula - it applies dreamily like melting butter (short for words...). And the blush changes color according to your skin or lighting I think...so much fun to see it show up in different hues of pink everytime! :D

Before heading to bed - please meet this fellow:

They're the new glasses I got. These are the first pair of thick-framed glasses I have. And why am I digging it this month? 'Cause November is the season for assignments, revisions and exams!

Have you had similar experiences of choosing particular makeup products and tell yourself to use it intensively? How did it go? How do you choose which products to include?

p.s. In case you haven't, check out my giveaway here :)

EOTD: MAC Tartan Tale Follow Your Fantasy eyeshadow X Canmake Perfect Brown Eyes

As you may realize, I seldom do EOTD :P This is because I'm an amateur with eyeshadows and I don't know how to experiment/mix-match vibrant colors. Plus the art of blending eyeshadows is quite hard to master for a dummy like me. This can explain why most shadows in my stash is neutrals, lol!

Since one of you requested an EOTD with MAC Tartan Tale Follow Your Fantasy eyeshadow (swatches here), I figured I'd pair it with Canmake's Perfect Brown Eyes palette in #03 Glitter Brown (review and swatches here). And here you go :)

Eyes lined only with Revlon ColorStay eyeliner in Charcoal, concealed with TheBalm's TimeBalm concealer (it creased, Ouch.)

Products and shades I used are marked with red ticks.

First, I used the top left shade (a pearly ivory shade) on the Canmake palette to highlight the brow bone, from inside of the brow to the end of it. I then swiped Follow Your Fantasy all over lid. Then I used the bottom right shade (bronzey brown) on the palette to blend from lashline to the crease. Finally, dap the top right shade (a deep khaki brown) on the palette on the outer corner of the eye. It wasn't so obvious in the first pic so I put more color in the second pic marked with the red circle.

The colors in the palette contain some micro-glitter but they didn't show up much in the pic ^_^ so I guess this look is very safe-for-work.

Ta-da! This is it!

Speaking of eyeshadows, what brushes do you use for applying eyeshadows and blending eyeshadows? Do you use the same brush or separate ones? What brands are the brushes? Please share :D

and... Happy Halloween!

Review and Swatches: Canmake Perfect Brown Eyes Palette in 03 Glitter Brown

Today's review is on Canmake's Perfect Brown Eyes eyeshadow palette in 03 Glitter Brown. This palette comes in 3 color variations, I hesitated on 01 and 03, but I got 03 finally because it looks more pretty with the shimmer in it. 01 is rather shimmer-less, 02 is less shimmery than 03. All palettes were centered around neutral brown, bronzey shades, 01 leans a bit towards a slightly-smoky look, 02 is paler than 03. All of them are perfect colors for work. :)

There's a tiny mirror inside the palette, how thoughtful it is! This is a palette for on-the-go people, you can apply eyeshadow in one hand and holding this palette with the mirror on the other. Perfect design!

As you can see, the top left color is a shimmery champagne color with tiny glitter; the bottom left is a CREAM BASE, which looks like a vanilla color but actually is for highlighting purpose only, it's transparent. The top right color is a taupe-ish brown to me, and is used for lining the lashline. The bottom right color is a bronze color. All colors embody a small amount of glitter, but stop - they don't show up once applied. I found the glitter in Canmake products are never over-the-top, it's funny because you can see them on the pan (like their cream blush and powder blush) but you can't see the glitter when you apply onto face.

Back of the palette has instructions on how to use the colors (for eyeshadow amateurs like me XD). Notice they recommend applying the Cream Base using your fingertip. The dual-ended brush contains one side with synthetic fibres (a flat brush) and the other side is a sponge applicator. Although i'm not a fan of brushes that come with palettes/kits, but this brush is workable.

I lined my eyes with Revlon ColorStay eyeliner in Charcoal, coated my lashes with YSL false lash effect mascara in black BEFORE applying shadows:
How the colors showed up:

I found the eyeshadows very safe to play with (we can't go wrong with neutrals, right?) and I like the finish of the shadows. Their texture is pretty solid, and I have no issues with fallouts. What I mean by not-solid is, say, Stila's eyeshadow is soft in texture and when I apply I would experience fallouts all over my eyes, and this turned me off. This palette is decently (read: moderately) pigmented, which I'm happy with.

Pros:

- shades are easy to carry

- small compact, nice to put in makeup bag for touch-ups

- no fallout issues

- shimmery/semi-glittery finish, glitter is not very noticeable

- convenient design with a mirror inside

- includes detailed instructions on how to apply

Cons:

- price rather expensive for a drugstore product (9 Euros)

- contains rather small amount of product

Overall verdict: A-/B+

I'm loving this palette a lot! I'd be heading back and pick up 01 later. I also like the fact that this palette is small and easy to carry around. Along with other Canmake products, they never indicate how much grams of product is it has. It's difficult to make a guess on this palette's content, from what I see, it contains rather small amount of products (same with Canmake's whole line) but I would say it can last me for a long while. :D

If you don't own any Canmake products yet, THIS is the sure thing to get!

Review: DiorShow Iconic Mascara

received this mascara sample from Sheila during the beauty blogger meetup swap in London. It's a sample sized mascara and contains 4ml of product.

Here's what the bristles look like, a big thumbs up for the dense bristles!

The bristles might not be well-captured in the photo, but they are not aligned in a parallel manner. Towards the tip of the comb, the bristles kind of make a turn and swirl their way to the top (if that makes sense at all, lol).

Here's how my lashes looked like after application. I lined my eyes with Stila x Barbie eyeliner pot in Cobalt Clutch, which is an electric blue. I didn't expect this mascara to do a lengthening job, but it did lengthen it a bit.

I woke up with a sleepy left eye (does this happen to everyone? or some people?), I do find it weird, sometimes my eyes are of equal shape but sometimes they're not. I curled my lashes with a Shu Uemura lash curler.

Immediate thought:

The consistency of this mascara is pretty thin, i.e. no sticky paste or fibre-like threads hang on to the comb when I pull it out from the tube, which is good news, it means less messier application! (unlike Majolica Majorca lash expander's comb...but more on that in a separate post, maybe). However, the consistency is so thin that I didn't feel like my lashes are well coated. It didn't volumize either. Yet, the bright side is, its so thin that it doens't clump your lashes, I don't need a lash comber (those mini ones) to comb the clumped lashes.

What it says on Sephora's product description:

"A mascara with an innovative oblique brush that curls and defines lashes. "

Well, there you are. This statement is very well said, this product did what it claimed to. It doesn't claim to volumize, doesn't claim to lengthen. I like the design of the brush that prevents your lashes getting clumped.

HOWEVER, look at how it turned out after 6 hours:

The mascara had fallouts and these deposited in the undereye area, which made me look like a racoon. I found this happening to my Majolica Majorca Lash Expander too. But hey, it's Dior, so you're not expecting it to have fallouts, eh?

Verdict:

Won't purchase it in full size because of the fallout issue. But the brush design is worth checking out when hunting for HG mascaras in future!