First Look: No. 7 & Poppy King Lipstick & Lipgloss Collection

This news snippet is brought to you with the help of my bestie in UK, Agent Honey Bunny. Special thanks to Whatsapp for allowing us to link up a Blackberry and an iPhone. Excuse the darkish pictures. There's only so much an iPhone can do.

Lipstick lovers unite! Poppy King, creator of cult Lipstick Queen, has created 8 lipstick and lipgloss shades for No. 7, the Boots in-house makeup brand. Released some time last week, I emailed my best friend in UK about it.

"It is," I wrote, "your duty to check them out and pick one for me."

"No problem!" she replied cheerfully. "Just tell me which swatches you want to see."

"Everything, of course," I told her.

An hour later, my Blackberry started blinking.

"I am at Boots!"

Instant love! - Esmeria Organics Prickly Pear Protective Body Lotion

It's not often I fall in love with a product at first use, but that's what happened with this. I received a tube for review last Friday and absentmindedly applied some on my right shin. A moment later I reached down to brush a fallen hair off my leg and... hang on... my skin was silky smooth. Like incredibly touchably smooth. I check my thigh and other shin... nowhere NEAR as smooth. Quickly, I grabbed the tube and slathered it on a minute later... everything was silky smooth. Could not stop err... stroking myself.. (Oi! Get your head out of the gutter!). 

The lotion's texture is somewhere between a lotion and a cream and a little goes a surprisingly long way. When applying it gets runnier and almost immediately sinks into your skin leaving no oily residue and (have I said it enough yet) bloody smooth skin wot! I've been using it daily ever since (I'm writing this review Monday night). As soon as I get out of the shower, I pat myself dry and apply. That was 8am this morning, and it's gone midnight now and my skin is still silky smooth! Now I don't have especially dry skin, but even for me this is amazing. 

The Beauty in Life

Reaching home last night, I was informed of the passing of a colleague whom I knew fairly well. He suffered from a heart attack at home, and never made it to the hospital. He was only in his 40s.

He was a big man, with a big smile, and a huge laugh. You could always tell when he was around. People laughed wherever he went. He laughed with all, and he was loved by all.

His passing has certainly come as a shocker to those of us knew him.

Quick Peek: MAC Pink Cult Blush + the Balm Shady Lady Vol. 2

I know this seems more of a Monday's post, but good news are meant to be shared. The quicker, the better, right?

Also, I was worried that Monday might be a tad too late because these babies might be gone by then. So I'm giving you a quick peek in case you'd like to nab these!


So first up - MAC Pink Cult (Price: RM75)

Review: Hugo Boss Orange Sunset

With Sienna Miller as the face of Hugo Boss Orange I suppose I should have guessed I wouldn't like it. I'm not much a bohemian, sure I can appreciate the lifestyle but let's face it when push comes to shove my taste tends towards prim. 

But what I really dislike about this fragrance is that it can't make up its mind. It's like they took every single popular note on the market, threw it into a bottle in equal proportions and shook it. 

Vanilla? Check!

Floral? Check!

Musk? Check!

Candy? Check!

Citrus (Candy Mandarin actually)? Check!

Woodsy? Check!

You name it they included it. And it's strong, no matter where I spritzed it, my wrist, my hair, my dress (never again), my back, my knees... it annoyed me and gave me a headache. 

Rainy Days and Fragrance

Confession: One of my favourite things to do on a rainy Sunday afternoon is to curl up in bed with a slice of chocolate cake or something equally indulgent (Hot Horlicks doesn't cut it) and read about perfume.

I am not a perfume person in the sense where I have a lot of perfume and wear a lot of it. Heck, I don't even know what notes I am smelling half the time! But I do wear a spritz or two on an almost daily basis and have a few perfumes to pick from -- not a large collection, only 3 bottles and a few samples -- but it's enough to keep me from getting bored.

And enough to make me think about buying more.

Loving: St Ives Fresh Skin Makeup Remover & Facial Cleanser with Chamomile

Once again, I was doing my usual prowl at the drugstore when the cleanser-fairy sprinkled some fairy dust on me, and suddenly I had to buy a cleanser.

Not buying it? Alright, not really.


But spotting an old old flame on the shelves... I had no choice but to bring it home. And the St Ives yada yada bla bla Facial Cleanser with Chamomile... we really go a loooong way back.

Monday's beauty bit: My mini glamour-to-go kit + Laneige offer to Malacca shoppers

Working long hours means if you want to run out and have fun, you don't have time to run home and glam up. So instead I've taken to carrying around a tiny pouch filled with mini goodies that can be used to create an everyday look or to build up a day look into one for a night on the town. Also, in case you haven't noticed, I adore putting kits together and this one's been tried and tested!

The kit contains:

One cute satin pouch - small and compact yet roomy from Daiso (where else?). 

A rollerball vial of Annick Goutal's Petite Cherie - my absolutely favourite perfume of the moment. Feminine, fresh, pretty and crisp. 

Everyday Minerals mini kabuki - soft & dense it's great for everything from blush to powder foundation and more compact than any retractable brush I've seen. (Discontinued I'm afraid but Loving Minerals has a substitute!)

Bobbi Brown blush in Nectar - If you're only going to bring one blush around, I'd say this is it. It's not shimmery nor completely matte and it straddles the line between peach and pink which means it can go either way. Brush on lightly for a natural no-blush flush or build it up into a rosy cheeked look. Your choice. It's also very compact, sturdy but with no extra packaging making it perfect for on-the-go beauty. 

Bobbi Brown eyeshadow split pan shimmerwash in Champagne Shimmer and Espresso - I think this is discontinued and that's such a shame as these are probably bobbi's two most versatile shades ever. I got it in a beauty swap with the girls (thanks!) and am constantly amazed how many looks I get get out of it. Espresso, a matte incredibly pigmented eyeshadow, can be dusted on (VERY) lightly for a , built up into deep intensity, used as an eyeliner or to fill in brows. Champagne blends espresso out well and can be used as a face highlighter. 

Benefit mini brush - Most brushes you get from kits are rubbish but this mini dual-ended brush from Benefit's Primpcess really isn't bad. While not good enough to be an everyday brush, the mini fluff brush works very well in a pinch to blend and layer eyeshadows while the mini talent brush acts as a great little eyeliner brush. 

Silk Naturals Vegan Lipstick in Crimson - SN's dupe of MAC's Russian Red this little beauty (pardon it's battered appearance) is the right size for the kit and swipes on easily for instant glamour. Plus the mini tube means precise application without a lip brush or a lip liner. Can be patted on for a more natural stain too. 

Quick Peek: Benefit Good-to-go Lipstick

Hey lovelies,

I had planned a grand post for today (well, grander than what you're gonna be getting), but work beckoned and I ended up finishing reeeally late.

And because I really haven't got anymore brain power left to work with, all you're getting is this. A photo of my current favouritest lipstick - Benefit Good-to-go.


It's a brown-based plum from Benefit's range of silky finish lippies.

Plus a swatch.

Majolica Majorca Pressed Pore Cover

I live in fear that when my stockpiled original  ZA 2-Way refills run out, I will still not have a single powder, blot or foundation, that I can use. EVERYTHING these days seem to contain dimethicone, cyclomethicone or cyclopentahexane (all silicones) and since discovering the benefits of a silicone-free foundation for my skin I'm NEVER budging from my anti-silicone stance again. The one exception is Clinique's DDMG which has dimethicone but bafflingly enough seems to suit my skin.

After reading every ingredients label in Watsons much to the bemusement of the sales assistants, I finally found a powder that was formulated without Silicone. Majolica Majorca Pressed Pore Cover, like most MM products, promises to fulfill all your wishes, mattify and minimise  your pores. Well, for the record when used with a brush it did mattify as well as ZA 2-way, or possibly slightly better, it did give my skin a temporarily smoother look, and it was mostly translucent. BUT after only 4 days in my bag the powder came loose and...

Yeah, That Muddy Blue Eyeshadow Combo Looks Great on You: Worst Makeovers You've Seen/ Experienced

Lord, forgive me for I am about to sin. It's the season of Lent and here I am writing about something which most of you have a story worth telling.

Makeovers. Really bad ones.

I am talking about that badly done purple smoky eye which made you look like a domestic abuse victim. That heavily applied bright pink blush which made you look like Bozo the Clown. The pale foundation which made you look like a Chinese opera singer. And for heavens sake, when will some makeup artists realise that not everyone can wear pink lips?

The office makeover where the MUA decided that a green smoky eye paired with a bright pink blush would make a great office look. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw my face.

There's also the wedding you attended where the bride wore bright orange eyeshadow and looked absolutely miserable because she knew that the makeup artist messed up big time.

Share your horror stories!

Daiso Lashes & Smokey Eye Look

Finding my favourite iNouvi lashes hard to replace I decided to take a risk with these falsies from Daiso in #10. After all, I only had RM5 to lose! I also picked up the tiny bottle of lash glue in black and whatddya know, I find myself loving both so I went back and picked up these tiny lashes in No 2 for a really natural look and a bottle of clear glue.

The lashes are in two parts and therefore much easier to apply than if they were one long stiff strip. The strip is a touch stiff so wrap it around a small eyeshadow brush before applying. Be gentle with them and you should be able to get at least two uses out of it before they fall apart.

The glue is also inspired. It comes with a tiny wand to apply it precisely on the lashes. The black glue is TRULY black so you'll need to pair it with black eyeliner as well. While I doubt the glue will withstand wind, rain and sweat, it held up beautifully the three evenings out I used it and removed easily with a cotton pad soaked in eye makeup remover.

Here's the lashes paired with Lisa Eldridge's Quick Smokey Eye method using Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Skinny Jeans.

Monday's Beauty Chat: Your Daily Makeup Needs and Nots

Hello lovelies,

I thought it'd be great to kick-start this week with a little chat.


And this time, on what's an absolute must-have for your daily makeup, and what products do you hardly ever need at all. For some of you, daily makeup might be as basic as just lipbalm, while for others, it could include the whole routine of slapping everything on, right up to the fake lashes.

So, I want to know what your daily makeup routine is like. What do you absolutely need, and what do you not need?

Wanna know mine? Right after the jump!

Cheap Indulgence: Lux Tropical Sunset Body Wash in Mango & Grapefruit

Knowing what I know now about the copious amounts of research Unilever pours into the Lux brand, I'm more convinced than ever that I live in the wrong country. You see, this shower gel is sold in New Zealand, but as far as I know, not in Malaysia. You see, most Malaysians prefer floral perfume blends and cream formulations. In NZ though, this shower gel is sold out almost within a day of it hitting the shelves.

Apparently It Works: Zogan Facial Massage

After turning into an avid Saeki advocate, Mum came into my room a few weeks later.

"Aren't there any easier face massages? The Saeki one is so hard to remember!"

Some Googling turned up Yukuko Tanaka's (another Japanese beauty expert) Zogan massage. Apparently great for anti-aging and facial contouring, Mum found it much easier to remember and faster to do (under 5 minutes).

She pranced up to me the next morning.

"What do you think?"

I squinted blearily over my cup of Horlicks. And then:

"You have a chin! And your neck looks better!"

"I know!" Mum preened. The stress from my father's illness a few years ago resulted in a double chin and neck wrinkles for my mother. She has always been upset about it.

Until now. Looks like the whole anti-aging thing might work. Will report back in another month.

The facial massage videos can be found after the jump. The before and after pics were obviously photoshopped.

Review: MONSOON-id Hair Saloon

I was still in my office, just after office hours yesterday, when I was wondering aloud if I should go get a haircut.

A colleague of mine then said she too, was in great need to shear down her long, looong tresses (near waist-length hair), and so off we went on a primping spree.


The salon of choice - MONSOON-id, in Tropicana City Mall, which was just down the road from our office.

Monday's beauty announcement: Clear skin at last!

I'm almost afraid to say this for fear of jinxing it. But my skin has been the best it's ever been since puberty hit with a vengeance for the past month or so. The only time it messed up was when I messed up and tried going back to Revlon Colorstay - something my skin will definitely no longer tolerate.

Since switching to a dimethicone & silicone free formulation in Laura Mercier's Oil-Free Foundation, my skin has pretty much cleared up, just purging residual clogged pores. This is one of those moments where I wish I knew what I know now ages ago. *sighs*

Review: MAC Style Snob

Hello Friday!

Lately (on days when I actually wake up early enough to slap on more than just blush and lipbalm), I've been wearing eyeshadow.

And among the many, many eyeshadows I have amassed over the years, I find that I've been reaching for this one fairly frequently - MAC Style Snob.


And so I thought it would be good for me to share my thoughts on it. Here goes!

Book Review: Chizu Saeki's Japanese Skincare Revolution

"What is this?" my mother picked up the book on my bed.

I glanced over my shoulder. "Oh, that. I bought it for you in Australia but forgot to give it to you."

"You shouldn't have," she automatically said* as she flipped through the book. "I don't think I will read it."

I hid a grin.

Sure enough, the book disappeared from my bookshelf and reappeared on Mum's bedside table the next day.

Etude House Minime Stick Perfume in Ms Hot

I just had to share this great birthday pressie with you girls! Not only is it crazy adorable, it's grapefruit scented. And not JUST grapefruit scented, it smells BANG on like the now discontinued Pink Grapefruit range from The Body Shop - fresh citrus, grapefruit floral scent. 

My colleague knows me well. =)

As a stick perfume, it's not as emollient as many and unfortunately the scent doesn't last very long nor is it very strong. The grapefruit fades first leaving the floral a gentle whisper on the skin. The stick format though makes it ultra-portable, great for touch ups on the go. 

This range comes with a perfumed mist - I can't wait to check it out!

Because it's a gift, I don't know how much it costs, but Etude House products are generally very reasonably priced so we can forgive it for mimicking LAMB's Harajuku perfume bottles and TBS's Pink Grapefruit scents. =P

Edit: I checked and each perfume stick is a surprisingly pricey RM55.90! The lemon scented one is calling me now though, it's remarkably like an old The Body Shop scent - lemon tea.