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!

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

L'Oreal Curl Impact Collagene Mascara Review//全新 L'Oreal 震撼捲曲豐盈睫毛液試用

When I knew L'Oreal is releasing a new mascara, I was extremely delighted and thought "This is just in time!" since the mascara I'm now using smudges badly (more on that later in a separate review)! I was invited to a blogger party where the new Curl Impact Collagene Mascara was introduced, here's my attempt at creating an artistic photo of the mascara using my bracelet, the gold mascara tube goes very well with the vintage-style bracelet with ruffles eh?

當知道L'Oreal推出新既睫毛膏, 我超興奮, 因為係時候要換支新架喇. 呢排用開果支睫毛膏暈染得好緊要 (另開post再講) 感謝HKCOSME & L'Oreal Paris, 我有幸獲邀參加Blogger Party, 介紹新既Curl Impact Collagene Mascara. 今次呢支mascara全新包裝, 黑色+金色既配搭第一時間令我諗起我最近買既呢條手鍊:

Some quick photos from the party: I gotta say I love the gold and white balloons, it matches with the color tones of the mascara.

Party以金色和銀白色既氣球做theme, 同支mascara好夾:
A makeup artist demonstrating how to create bigger and dramatic eyes using the new mascara and the Open Eyes Pro eyeshadow palette:

現場有L'Oreal 既makeup artist 示範點畫大眼妝:
Here's my take on the mascara :)

回家試用 :)
The formula is easily removable using warm water and is smudge-proof. Have you experienced a hard time removing mascara using eye makeup remover? I have never tried mascaras that can be removed by warm water and I'm definitely curious to try this out.

盒上說明話呢支mascara既配方可以用溫水清洗, 唔會暈染, 唔洗驚有熊貓眼. 大家一定用過D好難落既 mascara 喇?!

It is said to volumize your lashes and holds your curls, containing Amplified Collagene elements to protect your lashes.

支mascara有捲曲(curl)同豐盈(volumize)睫毛既效果, 仲有骨膠原精華, 幫你保護經常受損既睫毛.
The brush has a special design, "Spiral Curler Brush" with 2 different sides, each side is designed to volumize and curl respectively, the brush is especially designed for Asian eye shapes. ("OMG did someone say especially designed for Asians?!")

個睫毛掃係為亞洲女性既眼部專設既, 個掃兩邊有唔同型狀既設計, 比較扁平既一邊用黎令睫毛濃密, 另一邊用黎保持睫毛捲曲.
Close-up of the brush bristles: one side is actually flatter than the other.

近鏡: 一邊係比較彎, 另一邊係平少少的.
Before-and-after application:

使用前-使用後既比較:
I'm liking how it adds definition to my eyes and makes them look bigger. My eyelashes are pretty non-existent before application =.= They look instantly awake after applying.

I also swatched a few lipsticks from the L'Oreal Color Riche line, my initial thought is, these aren't lipsticks, they have such a glossy finish to it and aren't drying on the lips at all!

用左之後, 分別好明顯, 對眼望落精神好多 :D

The Open Eyes Pro Eyeshadow Palettes:

同場加映: Open Eyes Pro 眼影組合:

In better outdoors lighting:

室外燈光:

Swatches of the eyeshadow palette:

Close-up at the powder foundation, it's actually a two-way cake that can be used dry or wet. It comes with a small area for highlighting. I've never seen this before, it adds such a nice and thoughtful touch to it.

乾濕二用粉餅, 內置highlighter, 好細心既設計呢.

My thoughts on the mascara:

First, this mascara doesn't smudge, which is a HUGE PLUS. After 8 hours of wearing, I don't see any flaking-off or smudging under eye, that's pretty impressive to begin with. The price of this mascara is moderately priced and you got 11ml in it, plus you get a formula with collagen to protect your lashes. The brush bristles deserves a mention too, when applying the mascara in zig-zag manner, it doesn't clump. As you can probably see from the before-and-after photos, my lashes were virtually non-existent before application, this mascara however adds definition to my eyes and make them look instantly awake. It holds my curls and I removed this mascara with warm water and it's so quick and easy. I have tried a few mascaras before this and some of my lashes would come off when I use a cotton pad to remove the mascara.

使用後感:

用左8小時都無暈染, 又無甩黑色既一點點落面, 同埋佢保持到D睫毛捲曲. 價錢唔貴, 搽完又唔會令睫毛打 'cake', 配方仲有骨膠原精華保護到睫毛. 使用前同使用後分別好大, 令眼部好突出,落妝用溫水就得. 唔會好似有D mascara咁落妝時會整甩D睫毛.

Disclosure: Products mentioned in this post are provided by PR for consideration and this does not affect my judgment and views on the product quality. My product reviews will always be honest and impartial.

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 :)