Video: Friday is for working those glasses!

I hate my spectacles so much I never wear them in public. But some ladies (who have less flat faces than I) can really work those frames. This video is a decent guideline on using makeup to work with and accentuate your eyes with glasses.

I do have some reservations about her total look though. While I agree with most of her tips, I really dislike the false lashes on the lower lashline and the poor blending of the blue eyeshadow/liner. While I think her point of emphasising the lower lashline is valid, I think the false lashes look rather sily and give her a droopy hush-puppy look. So take what's useful and toss the rest. =)

Tip: Short-handled brushes are best for near-sighted ladies. It lets you get nearer the mirror so you can see clearly.

Review: Australis Creme Colour Blush

I never paid much attention to Australis Cosmetics until the beginning of this year. The packaging is so teen-oriented, I always walked past their rack towards other brands. It's a little like Silkygirl in Malaysia - its not the first display you go to when you want to check out new arrivals.

Until you realise that the brand is full of undiscovered gems.

Take this blush for example. It caught my eye when I was going through a cream blush phase a few moons ago and turned me into an Australis convert since.

(Doesn't it look so pretty against my hat?)

Actually, this little pot of pink is meant for both cheeks and lips. I have tried it both ways and very much prefer using it as a blush instead of a lip colour for three reasons: first, the strong lavender scent makes me a bit wary of putting this near my mouth; second, one of the ingredients makes my lips itch; and third, I feel a bit iffy about double-dipping in pots and all that. A little odd as I ordinarily wouldn't give two hoots about hygiene issues.

It must be the lavender scent which is making me think twice.

I bought this in Dusky Rose, which as you can see from the swatch, is a pretty bright pink blush so it's easy to go overboard and look like Bozo the Clown. The best way of applying this blush is to lightly swipe the surface with your fingers and pat it onto your cheeks, before blending out lightly with a kabuki if needed.

Voila! Instant English rose pretty.

I have tried using a stippling brush but nothing quite beats using the fingers for applying this blush. I suspect that it's because this product contains quite a bit of oil and wax, which gives it a lot of 'slip' and makes it a little sticky.

This blush works best for me on bare skin, with a little bit of primer underneath. It has a tendency to wear off faster over foundation so I only take this out on days when my skin is on its best behaviour and want a bit of a pretty flush on my cheeks.

Something I realised recently is that this product is a deadringer for Bloom's Sheer Colour Cream, from the packaging and texture, right down to the lavender scent.

Australis Creme Colour Blush retails for AUD 8.95 and comes in three colours: Flirtatious Pink, Dusky Rose and Chocolate Truffle. Bloom's version costs AUD 22. Guess which one I am going for?

Bridal Makeup Trial: Feedback Wanted!

Helloooo ladies!

So, you've met my makeup artist, Sharon here. And with only two weeks more before the wedding, I decided that it was high time we did a trial run for the makeup.

So as I plonked down on her chair, I told her I wanted a natural look for day. Please don't give me super drama eyes etc.

Based on what I could remember, she used Bobbi Brown (BB) foundation, some commercial strength concealer, BB blush, a mixture of various eyeshadows which included Stila, BB and I'm not sure what else.

The BB foundation (if you read my earlier post, it means I've made it into "good skin" category! Yay!) was applied with her fingers, and it did not feel very heavy. She said she wanted to even out my skintone but still allow my skin to look natural.

She then gave my eyes a (very) little cat's eyes liner, and curled my lashes and gave them a good coat (or two) of her favourite Fasio mascara. (She said I won't be needing falsies for the day makeup.. hehe.) Oh, and she just defined my eyebrows a little more. I'll be cleaning them up a bit more before the wedding, though. =P

For the life of me, I cannot remember what lipstick she used though. It was applied with a brush, and I was VERY impressed by how long the lipstick lasted through drinks and teatime. And no, no lip liner or gloss.

This photo was taken after I got home. Fluorescent lighting with flash.

She used predominantly warm shades, and although it's definitely waaay more makeup than I've worn before, by the time she was done, I was quite surprised that it still looked rather natural in photos. Apart from my eyes, which were reeeally accentuated.

So. Waddaya you girls think? Too heavy? Too light? Too dark? Too much? Good? Bad?

Hit me back, girls! I really wanna know. Thank youu! =D

Review: Revlon Beyond Naturals Bronze/Blush & Liptints with SPF15

I love it when I've been eyeing a product, really wanting it, but being a good girl and not buying it... and then have those exact products land on my desk.

Not that getting the Beyond Naturals bronze/blush in peach and the lipting in berry stopped me from spending. I loved the tint so much that when I saw it on sale that evening for RM24.50 (NP RM31.90) I immediately snapped up a tube in rosy pink. And now having used the bronze/blush for awhile, I'm eyeing the one in pink! Help!

Lip Tint with SPF15
It's ironic that the main complaint for these two products is that the lip tint is too pigmented, and the blush/bronze isn't pigmented enough! If you're expecting faint colour from these lippies, you won't get it. They are quite pigmented. What makes them a lip tint and not a lipstick is the formula. Instead of laying down a thicker creamy layer, this makes it look like your lips have been stained. The finish is not glossy but it's not matte either - it just looks like your lips with a slick of lipbalm

(L-R) Berry, Rosy Pink

I love both shades I have. Berry would be awesome in autumn (wrong country I know) but I can see myself using this for days when I want my makeup to be richer. Christmas dinners perhaps paired with a gold toned dress or deep rich jewel tones.

Berry

Rosy Pink is my honest to goodness MLBB shade (pic under Bronze/Blush section). Here's how Syen and I chose ours MLBB shades from this range. We both swatched Rosy Pink and Rosy on our hands and I swear Rosy looked more orange on me than on her, while Rosy Pink looked more pink on her than on me. Our chosen shades don't just perk up our lips they flatter our skintones. Syen reports that Rosy makes her face look brighter and fresher and I can say the same for Rosy Pink. So there's your shade selection guide right there!

The berry scents make the liptints smell of jam, or of berry-flavoured candy. I adore it although some ladies may find it cloying or too juvenile. The SPF15 included makes these liptints seem so wholesome - like non-makeup, makeup. Which is partially why they're so attractive I believe. We all have days where much as we love makeup we want to be naturally lovely without it. These liptints not only let me fake the look, they let me lie to me!

Bronze / Blush in Peach

Sorry for the weird hair, it was freshly washed in the pic. When swatched, the bronze/blush in Peach is not pigmented in the least. But when applied it gives your face a glow. Not a sparkly disco-ball glow, but one that makes you look like you've had 8-hrs sleep and a lovely walk in the park under a sunny sky. Sunkissed and happy. I find myself slightly addicted to it, and if I wasn't almost absolutely sure that the Pink shade would look precisely the same on my cheeks, and these duos didn't cost RM53 a pop, I would run out a buy another.

The bronzer is pigmented enough to contour and the blush bright enough to highlight and give your cheeks a pop. But neither are pigmented enough to make you look clownish. Fabulous, no?

I often use just the bronzer under my cheek bones, swirl both colours together and blend it into my cheeks as a blush, and apply only the peach shade on my apples for a pop. Perfect faking it. I rather wish they'd bring in the eye palette I KNOW I'd love it. Natural fuss-free browns in finger-friendly formula (for days when coffee has no effect and brushes require more IQ than you have alert braincells for). I can see myself bringing the collection on a holiday and being happy as a bug in a rug.

Conclusion
Revlon has hit the nail on the head with their Beyond Naturals collection. Great no-makeup, makeup they make you look like a prettier you. Even for makeup junkies like myself, that's sometimes all I really want.

Monday's beauty bits: Clarins Hydration From Madagascar Facial Review + Kahani's DIY at home facial

I have a confession to make, my review of the Clarins facial isn't as thorough as I'd like because 5 min into the relaxing facial I was in the zone and my brain was happily purring to itself instead of taking note. So I thought I'd bundle the quick review of the facial with my quick and easy DIY weekly facial.

Clarins Hydration From Madagascar Facial
Why Madagascar? Because the power ingredient in the hydrating products used is katafray bark extract from Madagascar. The extract is meant to increase the hydrating factor.

I've been into hydrating treatments since discovering ~H2O Face Oasis would actually decrease my skin's oiliness. I reason it's because less dehydrated skin feels less of an urge to overproduce oil. So I was delighted with Clarins managed to organise a facial session for me and give me three products from their new Hydration Range to try. They were super sweet and organised it on my day off!

Before the facial Clarins measured my hydration level. At first go, I registered as 'highly dehydrated' (18) to their delight. Then I convinced them to clean off some of my powder foundation and try again. To their dismay, my skin was well hydrated at (40) - the higher end of 'normal'.

Clarins facials are legendarily relaxing - incorporating massage and eschewing painful things like physicial extraction. So after the initial tense-and-relax excercises and bried foot massage I was happily tuned out.

My impression of the facial was - slather on mask/serum/oil/cleanser, wipe off, massage, and repeat for an hour! The facialist was quiet, gentle and professional.
The result of the facial was hydrated happy skin. Measured by the machine I registered as 'hydrated' with a score of 45.

in conclusion, the facial would be a god-send for dry skinned gals. Myself, although I had no breakouts, felt it was a bit rich for my oily skin. I would love to try their cleansing facials though!

At RM198 a session it is pricey. But it's cheaper (if shorter) at smaller Clarins outlets, and packages exist.

My DIY facial for oily acne-prone skin
This is not particularly relaxing or even pampering, but it is great for my skin. After a hard week my skin looks dull and clogged. This routine leaves it glowing, pores clear and closed, and absolutely no breakouts after. It also helps clear existing breakouts. And it's breathtakingly quick and easy.

1. Scrub & deep cleanse - 5-10 min
Cleanse skin of all makeup and then use an exfoliating mask. The aspirin mask is great for this. I use Soap & Glory's Scrub Your Nose In It. Rinse off with gentle scrubbing motions, use a toner (I use Clinique's Clarifying Lotion 2), and then...

2. Detox with clay mask - 15-20 mins
Suck out that excess oil and toxins with a great clay mask. My fave is, of course, Himalaya Herbals Neem Mask but any cleansing clay mask is great. Rinse off massaging the wet mask gently into skin, use toner and then...

3. Hydrating mask - 10-15 min
Slap on a hydrating mask of your choice. Right now I'm in love with Clinique's Derma White Brightening Moisture Mask (review coming up). Other great options are Neutrogena's hydrating mask, Clarins hydrating mask, or a thicker application of ~H2O+ Face Oasis / Clinique Moisture Surge Extra (review also on its way). Massage into skin, tissue off, or cleanse with water when done, and...

4. Finish
Apply a light moisturiser and use light makeup or try and give your skin a break from makeup for the day. Or as long as possible.

DONE!

Easy yes? And if you don't use sheet masks, you can potter around doing laundry and housework. Weekends are precious after all and I won't waste a minute of it.

What's your fave facial routine?

Video: Friday is for a Twiggy Inspiration

Growing up ultra-skinny I was always drawn to stars who were rocking the scrawny, gamine look. Audrey Hepburn was one and Twiggy was another. Credited as the face of 1966 and the mod-era Twiggy, born Lesley Hornby was edgy her style typified by the bobbed haircut, simple lines with bold colour blocks and big smokey eyes with false eyelashes and pale lips. The big eyes I'm deficit in but that doesn't mean I can't be inspired by her nonetheless.

Beauty Tips: Playing like a Girl

Hands up if you were at the MASCA NCG games 2 weeks ago! I was there screaming, cheering and playing so you might have seen me. If you didn't, fret not. I look pretty different on court.

If you are wondering what on earth I am talking about, the Malaysian students in Australia have an annual sports meet where we get to meet and wallop the crap out of each other in the name of sportsmanship and national solidarity.

After getting all sweaty and bruised, I thought a post combining sports and keeping pretty would be a great idea. Some of the best players went out there wearing eyeliner and lip tint. I had to resist the temptation to run after them and ask if they were using K-Palette eyeliner as I couldn't see any smudge traces after the game.

Maybe I should have asked. (Are any of the Queensland futsal girls reading this?)

Anyway, here is my list of things I would bring to a sports meet or a gym trip.

1. A large bottle of water. Pretty much self-explanatory as you have to keep yourself hydrated during a game. Some guys I know add a pinch of salt to their water to keep themselves from cramping up. My uncle used to drink some vile concoction of water, honey and salt for his endurance bike rides -- not recommended as I would keel over and die before reaching the court.

2. A face towel. To wipe off the sweat, of course. As my coach says: If you aren't sweating and panting, you weren't playing.

3. Facial wipes. If you aren't showering after the games, these babies come in handy for cleaning your face, neck, pits and other body parts which need some freshening up.

4. Dry shampoo. All of us suffer from flat head after a game but not all of us can be bothered to bring bottles of shampoo and conditioner with us. Not to mention the hassle of drying your hair. Happily, Batiste just came out with handy 50ml cans of their dry shampoo for AUD4.95. Just don't forget to bring a brush along.

5. Anti-perspirant. Need I say more?

6. Contact lens solution + case. Just in case your lenses need a rinse. A friend's contacts dropped out after a really vicious game of basketball a few months ago and she had to pop them back in without rinsing. Nasty. She scored the winning 3 pointer though.

7. Sunscreen. You'll need to top up every few hours if you are out in the sun.

If you suffer from backacne like I do, a good wash with something containing salicylic acid followed by some scrubbing (I use a face cloth for this. Loofahs are too abrasive for my back) works wonders.

I go barefaced when I am on court but if you really do feel the overwhelming need to put something on your face, please use budge-proof and waterproof products. And road test them first by going for a run or swim. You don't want to take victory photos with eyeliner dripping down the sides of your face, do you?

Review: Lancome Maquiliquide UV Infinite

It's been an amazing month for review products. Please understand that I don't emphasise that I received a product free to boast, but in the interest of honesty. Even though I try to be objective, there is no denying that I am more likely to like a product or forgive it its flaws if I didn't have to pay for it.

This foundation has received rave reviews from Beetrice and ParisB, they love the sheer coverage, light formula, and on them it lasts all day. So this may come as a shocker, but I find myself preferring my staple foundation - Revlon Colorstay! (It's a shock to me too let me tell you).

Formula
I really do love the watery, light formula in this foundation. When first swiped on I find ut doesn't match my skintone at all, but once patted in it almost magically sinks in and blends in, providing even luminous coverage.

This foundy has the prettiest finish I've ever seen when freshly applied. Although matte it still appears luminous - my skin but better. Even better it has SPF20, which to me, lets me bypass sunscreen (I slather on a lot)

Sadly on my crazy oily skin it doesn't last well enough, even when set with powder after blotting, coverage fades patchily - especially around the nose - and I have to touch up with 2-way foundation. This obscures the pretty finish of Maquiliquide.


Shade
I was matched to BO-015. When I first saw it I thought it was too light for me but was convinced by the makeup artist that it would match my face. Well, it may match my face but the contrast between face and neck is just too obvious!

I look like I'm wearing a mask. I wish I had held firm and gotten a shade darker. I may have liked the foundation better if I had.

Coverage
It evens out skin remarkably for such a light formula. It is especially good at counteracting redness. But it does nothing for dark spots left by pimples and undereye circles so a concealer is a must.

Wear
As mentioned earlier, although the foundy promises to be long wearing and sweat proof, it doesn't stand up to my insanely oily skin.

It also doesn't control oil as well as Colorstay. The good news is it doesn't break me out at all.

Conclusion
I'm really disappointed in my skin for not cooperating with this foundation. There is so much to love about it that I want skin that works well with it! Sighs. Still at RM130 for 30ml, it's maybe just as well I didn't fall madly in love with it!

Even though it doesn't work for me, I can see how many girls would LOVE it. So if you have combination or normal skin, and want a long-lasting light formula, this is your dream come true in a bottle.

Me? I'm stuck with thick, bullet proof and cheap Colorstay and grateful I have it!

*Edited! Beauty Mistake: Pressing Silk Naturals Mineral Eyeshadows with Fyrinnae Powder Modifier

I had such high hopes for this pressing medium.wonderfully affordable, and sold in an eye-drop bottle it was perfect, shipping and quantity-wise.
As you can see I had everything all laid out neatly, ready to boast about my perfect, lovely eyeshadow palette with my four favourite Silk Naturals colours - Honey, Velvet, Vogue, and Olive You.

And just LOOK isn't it absolutely lovely? I got the magnetic compact from Coastal Scents for $4.99 sometime back with a project like this in mind. It's solid and professional looking and magnetised so you can well worth the price. But...

Edit: ladies I'm so sorry - I seem to be having some problems with using blogger on the blackberry. In this case half my post disappeared! Ish.

Anyway, this gorgeous palette was a beauty mistake because as soon as I touched it with a brush the next morning it crumbled to bits!

I tried mixing one with water, another with alcohol, a third with a bit of both, and one more with a lot of alcohol - none of them worked! All fell apart. Boo!

Fortunately I was able to carefully scrape out the shadow and save most of it in jars so they aren't wasted. But oh I was so sad!

Anyone know of a way to press SN shadows?

Monday's Beauty Bits

Ever tried using hairspray to remove pen ink? I've never even heard of this, until Beaut.ie blogged about it. Handy tip to try!

Speaking of ink removal, my colleague had a highlighter go crazy in her bag. We found that hand sanitizer had enough alcohol to remove the stains. But where it has completely soaked through the cloth, it was terribly hard to get out.

If you were lucky enough to find a gorgeous vintage compact, Vixen Vintage has a great tute on cleaning it out and getting it ready to tote around in your bag.

Whitening lotions may not make you fairer quickly, but they seem to work much faster on fingernails. My nails were slightly yellowed by nailpolish (too lazy to use a basecoat - my bad) and within a week of using Garnier Bodylight on my hands and arms my nails were all pretty and white again. Has anyone else noticed this?

I'm sorry to report that the formula for Clairol Herbal Essences in Long Term Relationship sold in Malaysia is smells more like shampoo and less like raspberry smoothie than the formula I bought in China. Boo!

*Updated with pics! Loving it: Nivea Star Fruits Lip Balm in Strawberry

I love tinted balms - who doesn't? You get to moisturise your lips and add a pretty tint at the same time. But I've tried Nivea's strawberry lip balm in the past and hated it! It was drying, left a matte finish on my lips, and even worse - it left gunky build up on my lips and the taste eventually got cloying. So I was never going to buy a tube again.

Well, until I saw Meldee use it and realised that the formula looked totally different. It made her lips glossy - heck, even the stick of balm looked glossy! And the smell was still sweet but a much tangier strawberry. So when I saw it on sale for RM6.40 in Guardian, I gave in and bought it.



Now I'm hopelessly in love with it. The sheer glossy red brightens my skintone while looking natural. Also it has that coveted my-lips-but-better factor.



I also find it much more moisturising than it used to be and it makes a great base for other lippies and glosses. Particularly the ones I find a bit pale for me.

This is now a handbag staple for me. I'm even considering getting this gloss in cherry. And normally, I hate cherry balms because the scent is reminiscent of cherry cough mixture. But the colour is prettyyyyy...!

Great Deal: Eyeko VIP Set for £25 + Quick Reviews

If you've been lusting for Eyeko stuff, this could be your chance to grab a bag full of loot for less. Worth £45 but going for £25 (with free shipping) this is a great chance to sample a whole lot of Eyeko products. But as your friendly neighbourhood beauty blogger I have to warn you that so far I haven't been very impressed with the products I've received (yes I am a DREADFUL ambassador) but their marketing and customer service is wonderful.

When a package went missing due to a mix up, the sweet people at Eyeko not only refunded the money I spent on their site, they even sent me a care package with Eyeko Sexy Eyes, some makeup remover wipes and a peppermint balm by Beauty Rehab.

In the VIP set you will get (brief comments reviewing products I've tried):
Eyeko Cream - Pretty, shimmery, pink and thick I thought this would be a great dupe for Benefit That Gal and in looks it actually does function similarly. But this broke me out and That Gal didn't.

Eyeko Tinted Cream

Eyeko Touch Up & Go Concealer

Eyeko Touch Up & Glow Highlighter.

Eyeko Glitter Liquid Eyeliner

Eyeko Rosy Pink Lip Gloss - I have this in cherry and have never used it. Tin is crazy pretty but the scent was cloyingly sweet.

Eyeko Punk Polish - while the milk bottle style bottle is very very cute, I found it very impractical. For one thing, it's a huge mouth so your polish dries up faster in the bottle as you're painting it on. You also have to be careful not to splatter polish about when taking the brush out. Plus, I have this in the shade "pretty nails" ( a tad streaky but very pretty) and after only one use couldn't unscrew the top anymore. It was completely stuck!

All in a Eyeko Silver Shopper complete with 5 cute Eyeko badges.

Conclusion
Now some bloggers, like Nikki, genuinely love Eyeko products and the products really work well for them. So because I love the company's approach so much I haven't totally given up on the line. Compare reviews and decide if it will work for you!

Don't forget to enter my Eyeko Beauty Ambassador Code: E1598 for a free gift!

Video: Friday is for Foundation, Foundation, Foundation

Lancome UV Expert Voucher & Contest (yes, again)

It seems there were some problems with the last contest that encouraged you to forward the flyer around. Well the folks at Lancome have reissued it just for beauty blog readers (that means you!)

Print it out and take it along to the counters. Forward it around, CC'ing uvexpert@lancome.com.my to win the contest. Happy sampling ladies!

Promtion valid till July 31.

Clinique High Impact Lipstick in Magenta Rose

High impact is exactly the right description for this lippie! Even in a sweet shade like magenta rose, the lipstick is pure, bright pigment. While not exactly matte, there is no shimmer or shine in the colour. Instead it has a slightly creamy finish.

Magenta rose is a bright pink with mauve and brown undertones to add depth. In any other lipstick formula, it would be a lovely MLBB shade. However with high impact the colour payoff on the lips is exactly what it is in the tube.

The formula is not thick, and you'll feel like there's nothing on your lips. While I love the appearance of a tint, I do like some cushioning to even out my lip lines. I like that the formula isn't drying, but I still prefer to use it over lip balm.

Because the shade is so bright my fave application method is to swipe it on only the lower lip and then moosh my lips together. The sheer application of pigment makes precisely the shade I want. I also love topping with clear gloss or liquid lipbalm.

Because it is so pigmented this lipstick is very long lasting. It will fade after meals, but it fades prettily and evenly.

Conclusion
At about RM70 I find this sophisticated lipstick well worth the price as you won't find a formula like this in cheaper lipsticks. I was lucky enough to receive this tube to review and am now lemming a true red shade (of course). I can see how this formulation would be perfect for a strong red lippie.

Review: Missha Pore Minimising First Base

If I knew Korean, I would apply for a translator's job in one of their many cosmetic companies. Some of their products' names are so ridiculously long, they fail to slip off your tongue with ease.

I am a sucker for anything which claims to minimise pores so when I spied this little guy for AUD 12.90, I snapped it up! I was in the market for a makeup primer anyway and the price seemed about right.

When I brought it home to use, I was horrified to find that the product had shimmery particles (remember what I wrote some time back about the Korean obsession with shiny?). The particles weren't too big and they did have a nice sheen BUT rule of thumb says that shiny is a no-no when you want to hide large pores. The reflected light makes your pores look even larger than they actually are.

I kerplunked on my face anyway to see how this worked. It did okay in filling up some of my larger pores but not for moon craters. Then I dusted on some matte powder to tone down the shimmery-ness and waited for a few hours to see how it would go.

3 hours later, I was blotting madly and cursing mildly. I don't oil up that much on ordinary days!

I am writing this primer off as a no-no. The shiny bit was bad and so was the zero oil control. I am trying to finish this off by using it on gloomy winter days when my face could with some amount of brightening.

To its credit though, I didn't break out while using this product after using this product for 2 weeks. If you have dry skin, no large pores and don't mind shimmer, you can take a peek at this. Or ask me for a sample.

Stage Floral Frenzy: Colours I've never played with before

This post epitomises the joy of being a beauty blogger. All that hard work, the dedication that makes you post even when youre life is in chaos and you're exhausted. It pays off when you're invited to try items like this. Items that you would never normally splurge on, but now have a chance to play with and have fun.

And have fun I DID. As Connie told me, it's pure therapy to just sit there and play with makeup. At the end of this post, with a different eye look on each eye, I looked like a confused pixie. BUT I was indeed happier. =D

The Floral Frenzy palette is part of Stage Cosmetics' Floral Fatale collection and the five shades are really very pretty. The pink and blue are shimmery and the orange, yellow and white are matte.

But here's the problem, I have never in my life used yellow or orange eyeshadow. EVER. So that this palette was sent to me to test is awesome because I got a chance to play. =D

Review
The palette itself is beautiful. It reminds me of some of the palettes Stila has released in the past. It doesn't feel a solid as it looks though, which makes the overall packaging feel less posh than it looks.

The shades are quite pigmented, but still sheer. I'd recommend using them over an eye primer like MAC Paint Pots if you want the shades to pop. Orange and yellow are more pigmented than pink and blue, but well they're yellow. I'm yellow. It doesn't stand out!

Star product: Liquid Liner in Eucalyptus

This is Beetrice's favourite product out of the collection and I can see why! The liner is a lovely shade of metallic green with fine silver shimmer. Once dry it lasts quite well without smudging - I haven't worn it a full day yet as I can't see myself wearing a shimmery green liner all day at work. But I love it so, the time is nearing when I will TRY!

The brush is divine by the way. Fine, capable of laying down a precise line. Soft and yet you're fully in control. When my Revlon eyeliner runs out I'm going straight to stage and getting their black eyeliner!

Looks
I started out trying to make these wearable. But then started having so much fun I threw wearability to the winds and went to town on each eye.

Right eye: White as a base. Shimmery blue on the crease, pink on the lid, and 60's winged liner in shimmery green


Left eye: White as a base. Orange on the crease, yellow on the lid (it really IS there.. I'm just too yellow!), and cleopatra eyeliner in shimmery green.

I was surprised how much I liked this last look. It looks like something an autumn dryad would wear. So now I have the look, where's the fantasy convention? =D

Which look do you prefer?

Conclusion
To be totally honest, I would never have bought this palette, priced at RM135, for myself. But only because the colours are not practical. The quality of it is fantastic. I love impractical gifts though and this was a lovely pressie to brighten (geddit? geddit? my week). I'll keep playing with it and will use the shades individually with other looks. If you're looking for a palette of bright fun colours, this is definitely a great choice.

The liner on the other hand is heart-stoppingly gorgeous and a wonderful product. I would not only have bought this for myself, I plan to pick it up in practical black and brown too! At RM52 it is very reasonably priced compared to other premium brands.

See what Beetrice thought of the collection!

Monday's Beauty Bits: Airplane Beauty

Although I admired this girl's initiative and lovely narration, I'll admit I was pretty frustrated with the lack of useful tips on surviving a long-haul airplane flight and looking pretty. I've clocked up a fair amount of plane travel in my time, so here are some things I do to minimise the trauma airplane travel can have on your skin. Plus, it keeps me entertained. ^_^

Before sleeping

Never use the water from the airplane loo's tap to brush your teeth. Bring a bottle of water instead. Too lazy? Just bring a tiny bottle of mouthwash and give your teeth and gums a good rinse.

Always take off your contact lenses! Clean your hands with a wet wipe and use a small hand mirror that can stand on its own to remove your lenses. I use a small towel to drain away the excess fluid from cleansing. Or just pop them into cases and fill with fluid - it's better than nothing! Renu sells amazing contact lense travel kits that obey flight restrictions and even come with two zip-lock bags. I also suspect the solution is extra moisturising and kinder to dry eyes.

Take off your makeup with a facial cleansing wipe. I love the ones by Simple, they can take off everything but the most stubborn of mascaras. The sheets are big enough for your entire face and its basic, unfragranced formula lessens the chance of irritation.

Go through your regular night-time routine. Use travel jars and bottles to bring it along with you on the plane. This will lessen the trauma the stress of travelling can have on skin.

Slather on extra (as in, more than usual) hydrating moisturiser like ~H2O+ Face Oasis, or Clinique Moisture Surge Extra. Airplane air is legendarily dry and this will help you wake up looking fresh instead of dessicated. If your skin is acne prone like mine don't be tempted to use heavy cream moisturisers. You'll STILL breakout. Oh and I don't need to ask you to slather on lip balm do I?

When you wake up

Grab another cleansing wipe and give your face a once-over. You'll feel much more refreshed! I also like to use the blanket as a modesty shield and use a wipe to give my body a wipe down too.

I'm sure you'll also want to give your teeth a brush or rinse. Unless you feel like torturing anyone you speak to!

Pop your lenses in. The small hand mirror and towel comes in handy again. Watch out for turbulence!

Go through your regular daily routine. If it's vastly different from your night one, make do with the stuff you have from your night routine. Your skin will like the extra moisture anyway.

A brightening primer like Clarins Flash Balm or Benefit That Gal primer will help you fake a radiant glow even though you feel like death warmed over.

Use a brightening concealer around your eyes and a heavier more matte concealer to cover red spots and blemishes. You can even mix some with moisturiser to even out skintone. Set with your compact powder or even powder foundation.

Use powder foundation. Anything else is just too complicated. You know my personal choice - ZA's 2-Way Foundation.

Choose a perkier peach or pink blush with some shimmer to make you look fresh and awake.

Keep eye makeup simple, and clean. Some highlight shimmer across the lid. A darker shade to contour along the crease and outer V. And powder shadow to line. Cream shadows don't fall under liquid restrictions so go for those if you want. I would skip mascara, curlers, liquid and pencil liners. Who wants to deal with those on a jumping plane?

Glosses fall under liquid restrictions. So opt for a solid gloss or sheer lipstick for your lips. A sheer natural pink with some shimmer is probably your best option. Anything too pale will wash you out and hot red lipsticks are a hassel.

Now sashay your foxy way off that plane and have everyone (but the person who sat next to you) wonder how on earth you can look so damned perky after flight. ; )

Video: Friday is for flying (or landing) pretty

Michelle Phan actually filmed this tutorial on an airplane! She took into account liquid restrictions and the danger of poking your eye out with an eyeliner pencil. I think she's slightly nuts to risk mascara though.

I'm a firm believer in taking all my makeup off and going through my usual night-routine (insofar as possible) on long-haul flights. I then have to re-do my makeup before landing so customs officials won't refuse me entry because I look like a rejected zombie from Night of the Living Dead. While I didn't learn anything from this tute, I appreciate the idea and practicality of it.

Budget Beauty: An unexpected Staple - Clean & Clear Clear Fairness Moisturiser with SPF15

Every beauty guru in the world is commanding us to USE SUNSCREEN. And they're right. But finding the right formula to suit my insanely finicky and break-out-prone skin is starting to be a real problem. Even formulas that used to work, like Sunplay's Clear Water can suddenly cause a breakout.

So while I rely on my layers of SPF-enforced makeup to protect my face (it got fairer, so I doubt the sun is getting through), my neck and chest is left undefended. Now here's where my problem gets REALLY annoying. Usually moisturisers that break my face out leave my neck and décolletage unblemished. Not so with those containing sunscreen. From pricey (~H2O+, Clinique) to cheap (Biore, Sunplay) ALL of them caused my chest and even neck to breakout. Until in desperation I tried this little cheapie.

Thank god I did! It smells delightfully of oranges, doesn't feel the least bit sticky, and protects my neck and chest without resulting in pimples. HUZZAH! I also have hopes that the Vitamin C it contains will lighten the area up a little and help it match my face better. It's SO much darker than my face now. =(

Conclusion
At RM10 for 50ml, this is budget beauty at its best. Completely affordable and effective. Who knows, maybe one day I'll screw up the guts to try it on my face. Maybe...

Duped: Smashbox Muse Palette by Silk Naturals Bon Voyage Shadows

I feel hopelessly in love with the Smashbox Muse Palette ever since I saw it. The absolutely gorgeous postergirl for the collection didn't hurt either. But not only is Smashbox really pricey, the pallete was US$48! It wasn't available in Malaysia.

So imagine my delight when the genius Karen of Silk Naturals duped the pallete in loose mineral-shadow form. And believe me, the colours are GORGEOUS. Here are the four darker shades I bought at US$4 each. You can opt to buy all 10 shades here for US$37.50 - but I like being able to get only the shades I want.


Colours & Formula
Karen really outdid herself formulating these shadows. The finish is shimmery with a delicate translucency that makes even vibrant purple Vacation" wonderfully wearable. They are smoothly blendable and last all day over a primer.

(L-R) Bon Voyage, Vacation, Getaway, Resort

Incidentally, Bon Voyage is the first blue shadow I've bought in years and is currently the ONLY shadow in my collection. I don't use it often, but I'm so in love with it!

Look

The lovely finish of the shadows make even a multicoloured look like this wearable even for office wear! Granted, my eyes really aren't the best to show off colours (and don't I know it!) but I was quite pleased with this look even if I do say so myself. ; )

Crease: Vacation
Outer-V: Getaway
Lower Lashline: Bon Voyage

Conclusion
These shadows are LOVE and they encourage me to play with colours a bit more. I do have a tendency to stick to brown, brown and more brown! I'm considering getting a few more of the darker shades.

Loving & Hating: Maybelline Volume Express Cat Eyes Mascara

It gives me defined, longer, separated lashes. But it flakes. It doesn't smudge. But it flakes. The comb is great for lifting and defining just the outer lashes. BUT IT FLAKES.

Yes that's the deal breaker for me! I can't stand having black flecks appear around my eyes all day. As soon as this tube's done I'm never repurchasing. Grrr...


I had high hopes for this mascara when I heard that it lifted and curled the lashes of some girls - without using a curler. I loved the idea of saving an extra step.

No luck for me. In fact I think this mascara uncurled my lashes a touch. -_-

This is forgivable, as is the fact that one stroke too many = clump city. Normally I don't mind some clumps but having your lashes a solid mass is no fun.

Conclusion
At RM33.90, with the unique comb, the really quite nice effect he has on lashes, and the great packaging I would repurchase it. Except... it flakes. >_<

Monday's Beauty Bits + Lancome Sample Voucher

Carrefour is currently selling Revlon's Colorstay foundation at only RM44! That's cheaper by RM11 from the normal retail price. I've finished my first bottle (4 months of daily use) and took this chance to stock up. It's still a staple for me.

Ooh how I LOVE MUFE Super Mat Loose Powder. I've had a problem with my ZA 2-Way foundation sinking into my pores within 4 hours. However, MUFE's powder appears to be the perfect primer. The foundation lasts, wears evenly and doesn't sink into pores. Touching up on the go is also not a problem. Whereas in the past it would sink in. So great to have my 2-Way back for good-skin days. =D

If you've been eyeing our ravings over ~H2O+ Face Oasis longingly, but can't stomach the hefty price tag, check out ParisB's review of the new Garnier Aqua Defense Essence. As soon as my Clinique DDMG runs out, I'm getting this. At RM19.90 it's a steal and would be a wonderful daily gel moisturiser. It even smells of fresh green apples! Oohh.... =D

I've sadly concluded that nothing in the Biotherm skincare line will ever suit me. They were sweet enough to send me a jar of their classic Aquasource hydrating gel-creme moisturiser for oily skin to try and a bottle of their latest Aquasource oil free clarifying hydrating gel. While both were lovely moisturisers, continuous use left small rash-like red pimples all over my face. More around open pores. I strongly suspect the strong "Biotherm" fragrance permeating the products. It's so strong you can smell it even when the jar is sealed and in its box!

And here's the Lancome sample voucher! I'm so sorry I didn't load this up before July 7 so you could participate in the competition. To be honest I forgot. But print it out, and take to the counters for a sample of their new UV-expert Neuroshield sunscreen.

DIY Beauty/ Beauty Disaster: Carrot Face Mask

This isn’t so much of a tutorial than a warning. Always, always, ALWAYS do a patch test first before you decide to try anything, especially when it comes to DIY kitchen stuff. Your brilliant guinea pig here went all gung ho, decided not to patch test and owie, I ended up with rashes all over my face.

But you are still willing to give this a try and want to follow in the footsteps of Sung Hye-Kyo,* the recipe is... 3 portions grated carrot, 2 portions yogurt and 1 portion flour to bind it all up. If you have forgotten your ratios from school, think of it as 3 teaspoons carrot, 2 teaspoons yogurt and 1 teaspoon flour.

Of course, you don’t have to follow these proportions strictly. I used very much less and still ended up with rashes. *sigh*

Leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes and then wash off to hopefully clearer skin.

Anyway, what this mask is supposed to do – if it doesn't give you rashes, that is – is help clear up acne and brighten up your complexion. It seems that Song Hye-Kyo attributes her perfect skin to this face mask and does it a few times every week.

Takers, anyone?

* For non-Korean drama fanatics, she’s a Korean actress who shot to fame after acting opposite Rain in Full House.

Review: Stage Wunderluxe Lipstick and Wondergloss

I was a lucky girl at the Stage blogger event as I managed to nail both a Wonderluxe Satin Matte lipstick in Baby Blossom (RM48) and a Wondergloss in Venus (RM55). Ok.. I swapped to GET the Wondergloss in Venus, it's a firm favourite of mine as you'll soon see.

Both products smell of vanilla (but not overwhelmingly so, thank goodness) and are very luxuriously packaged. Although the Wondergloss tube does remind me strongly of Revlon's glosses... ah well, the creators of Stage are sole distributors for Revlon. They must be in the know. ;)

Review

By a happy coincidence I got a cool and a warm shade to play with and both work well for me! Baby Blossom is very cool, almost lavender shade with enough pink to perk it up and ensure I dont' look like a frozen corpse.

The satin-matte formula isn't heavy at all and is very pigmented. It also isn't drying which is what you may expect. It makes a very mature, sophisticated shade perfect for work.

The finish is interesting. Although it's matte in the sense it has no shimmer or gloss, it isn't a true matte. As you can see it still has a natural-finish and doesn't sink to my lip lines. Likey!

Wondergloss in Venus is one of those crazy versatile shades and formulas you can't live without. On its own its cushiony formula, high shine and shimmer makes for very voluptuous lips. Shade-wise it's perfect when paired to an intense smokey-eyed look.

For day-wear I also love the effect it has when layered over a sheer red lippie. It makes for a perfect shade. It's also very handy for toning down too-bright shades. You know the ones that have the exact tone you need but are too intense for your look? Slap this on, it brings it down and warms it up nicely.

Conclusion
Both the lippies are high-quality and reasonably priced. And now with a BOGOF (buy-one-get-one-free) offer on till July 6, I'm so tempted to go INSANE and get two more lipsticks and two more glosses... HELP! (anyone wanna share with me?)