Waste of money: Benefit Stay Don't Stray Primer

It sounds like a good idea doesn't it? A primer for your eyeshadow AND your undereye concealer. 

Unfortunately, to put none too find a point on it, this product is absolute crap at both functions.

First, even after shaking it for ages, over several days, the damned thing still excretes an oily siliconey liquid before popping out some lumps of brown clay-like material. 

When you've managed to smooth this over your eyes, initially it does even out your undereye circles and if you have pigmented eyelids, would probably help those too. 

This is where it gets even crappier.

It not only doesn't help eyeshadow to stay AT ALL, it makes your undereye concealer look even heavier and cakier. It's supposed to prevent fading and caking! 

Bottom line is, don't waste your money on this garbage. I'm deeply disappointed in Benefit for having put out a product that is this awful. 

At full price, it's US$26 - expensive for a primer, INSANE for garbage. 

Thank goodness I got it as part of a kit with a mini cream eyeshadow and a mini tub of erase paste. Neither have been superbly impressive but neither have gone straight into my bin either.

Definitely stay away from this one. 

Note (Sept 27, 2012): Have contacted Benefit Customer Care about this three days ago and have received absolutely no response. 

Love it! - Sleek MakeUP Lash Out Mascara

I was deadly afraid to try this one. Western mascaras tend to smudge wildly on me and I hate that. 

But Sleek MakeUP had sent this to us ages ago for review and I was feeling guilty. So I gingerly tested this out on a weekend when nothing special was going on and I could wash it off at anytime. 

One coat and... Ooh!

Two coats and I ran out to grab the boyfriend squealing, "Lookee my eye! Lookee my eye!"

After he acknowledged the difference with great patience and suppressed amusement, I grabbed my phone and snapped this:

Cool, aye?

Review: Clinique All About Eyes Eye Cream

Hong Kong's dryer climate and probably my advancing years have convinced me that I need a better eye cream than the super light Natio cream I was using. 

Thing is I am really nervous about new eye creams. They're often pricey and do nothing, or too heavy and cause breakouts and give me milia. So when I spotted this gel-creme trial size (7ml) for HKD65, I thought, what the hey and gave it a try. 

Two weeks later and I've already ordered two more of these mini jars off Strawberrynet at HKD90 for both. What's so good about it? 

Well, first off it probably doesn't do much for dark undereye circles but boy does it work for puffiness. I'd noticed my eye bags were starting to show (not usually a problem for me) but the morning after I patted this on at night, I woke up brighter, fresher eye-bag less eyes - probably thanks to the caffeine in it. 

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.

What's Your Pick: Shaping Those Brows

Hello ladies.

Aren't you glad it's finally Friday? I know I am. Been slightly unwell, what with the flu bug going around now.

Anyhoo. Of late I've been noticing eyebrows, possibly because mine could jolly well use some cleaning up, and everybody knows what well-groomed eyebrows can do for a face. Eyebrows frame your eyes, and can certainly do wonders to your overall look.

Which has led me to wondering: What method do you girls use to clean up your eyebrows?

Over the last couple of years, I've plucked, threaded, and shaved my eyebrows (not all at once of course), but I still haven't picked a method which I prefer above the rest. Very often, I just go for what's most convenient, or what I feel like doing. Unlike some of my friends, who swear by threading, for example.

For the uninitiated, I've summarised the various techniques of cleaning them brows that I've tried before. Read on!

Plucking

Uhh.. use tweezer and pluck away! Well, actually, don't pluck away. I actually like this method as it allows me to pluck at my own time and I get to shape my brows exactly how I want them to be - very natural.

In fact, I cleaned up my own eyebrows for my wedding via plucking, and was very happy with the results. Granted, I am blessed with eyebrows which already have a distinct shape, so all I have to do it clean them up. If you're not sure as to how to shape your brows, you can always seek professional help first, then just use plucking to do cleaning up.

The most important advice when tweezing is not to overdo it! Step back every now and then to see the bigger picture. While almost everyone thinks Tweezerman when they think tweezers, my Manicare pair of tweezers has been serving me just fine.

Lifespan: About three weeks to a month before I need to get plucking again.

Threading

An ancient method of hair removal which originated in Persia and the Middle East. Using a cotton thread, it's twisted into a V-shape, and then rolled over untidy hairlines, moustaches, eyebrows etc., plucking the hair at the follicle level. Unlike tweezing where you only pull out a single hair at a time, threading can remove an entire row of hair, resulting in a straighter line.

It does hurt quite a bit, but not unbearably so. Threading the tache seems to hurt more than threading your eyebrows though. The area around my eyebrows and upper lip always end up being red and irritated for about an hour or so after a session. In KL, areas like Bangsar and Brickfields abound in outlets which provide threading services for a small fee (RM5~RM8).

Lifespan: Easily three weeks to a month.

Shaving

A friend of mine once told me, "Shave your eyebrows, don't pluck! Or you'll get your eye area wrinkled up in no time." While I don't know how much of what she says to believe in, it does seem to make some sense. The eye area is very sensitive, and all the pulling and plucking must have some effect?

Anyhow, I've only gone for shaving once or twice - once done at the Shu Uemura counter and the other time after a facial at Clarins. Using a small shaver, my eyebrow is shaped, stray hairs shaved away, and the overgrown ones trimmed. It's the most painless, but you'll need to re-shape it a little more often. You can always check at the makeup counters if they offer this service. Charges range from RM15 and up, if I'm not mistaken.

Lifespan: Two to three weeks.

So how do you like to groom your brows?

My daily delight: The Balm Shady Lady Eyeshadow Palette

Meet the one palette that has successfully quenched all longings for any other palette. No, I'm not kidding! With nine superbly useable, long lasting, pigmented shades in a creamy powder formula that resembles Shu Uemura, it's hard to want anything else!

Palette
Ok I'm not a fan of the hoochie leopard print with the sillhouette - but the slim sturdy design witha lovely large mirror can't be faulted.

Shades
With 3 liner shades (matte), 2 highlighter (shimmer), and 4 mid-tone crease shades (satin) this pallete is wonderfully thought out! From sweet and pretty to daily glow to dark and smokey this palette makes it all possible. So far I've created a warm natural day look, a sweet and sexy purple and dark blue, a fresh green and gold, a smokey silver and blue... The combinations are endless!

Here are just 3:

>Lucious Lani, Curvi Cami, Risque Renee

Lucious Lani, Shameless Shana, Cought in the Act Courtney

Jet-Setting Jennifer, All About Alex, Jealous Jordana

For swatches, check out this great post at PrettyB!

Formula
As mentioned the creamy smooth blendabiity of these shadows rivals Shu Uemura. So easy is it to blend together that I have started using 4 even 5 shades on my eyes on somedays. It brings out the latent artist in me. ;)

Over a primer the shadows last all day with slight fading of the shimmer. One gripe I have is the liner shades on my lower lids does smudge somewhat on my oily skin throughout the day. Easy enough to clean up, but I'd rather it lasted like Bobbi Brown's Espresso eyeshadow. Maybe it's the trade in for blendability because even the liner shade is wonderfully easy to blend in to deepen and shadow.

Conclusion
I can't be happier with this palette - a great buy for RM120. My only worry is Luscious Lani, the most perfect shade of warm highlight pink, is running out faster than the rest. I may have to get the mono!

Great for Everyday: Maybelline Volume Express Hypercurl Mascara in Very Black

I've finally found an everyday mascara I'm happy to repurchase over and over. As far as I'm concerned this baby is a HG. Is it outstanding? Nope, but it's precisely what I want out of my daily mascara:
1. It's cheap!
At RM22.90 it won't break the bank, and if I'm going to buy a new tube every 3 months, and still afford to try out new mascaras, cheap is good! (Edit March 2011: It's now RM32.90 and I find myself a LOT less willing to shell out for it)

2. It lasts
No smudging, flaking, or any hanky panky around my eyes.

3. It holds a curl
While not as dramatic as Stage's Standing Ovation, it's not bad at holding a curl all day.

4. It isn't OTT
Even though I suffer from lash envy, I honestly don't want a fake lash look for everyday. This mascara volumnises but keeps lashes looking feathery and non-clumpy (providing you don't over-apply) and lengthens to a lesser degree. This subtle emphasis makes my eyes look pretty but not dramatic.


5. It comes off easily
This is super important to me. After a long hard day I don't want to spend 15 mins struggling to remove my tenacious mascara.

6. I don't hate the brush
I don't love it either, but really look down when applying and you won't smudge your lids. It isn't outstanding but it isn't bad. Good enough for me!

Conclusion
I've found my staple basic mascara that I'm happy to buy over and over. I must add though that there are two shades for this - brown and very black and the only difference is a tiny sticker at the bottom. Brown does nothing for me, so I am annoyed that I've made this mistake. I wish maybelline marked it more carefully. Be careful!

Review: Physicians Formula Organic Wear Mascara

Okay, fine. I admit to being a hippie green chick at heart. When the Physicians Formula Organic Wear range finally launched in Australia a couple of months back, my little heart skipped a beat for joy.

Unfortunately, the prices are really high and the while the packaging and designs are really cute, the colours wouldn't show up on my skin. The only thing I would consider getting is the pressed powder and that will have to wait until I am done with the rest of my powder foundations.

What I really was lusting after though was the Organic Wear Mascara. I had read some really nice things about it and the cute packaging was irresistible. A leaf handle! How cool is that? I had to get it.

Justifications over, let's get on with the review.

The mascara formula is not waterproof so it was pretty runny when I first opened it and took ages to dry on my eyelashes. Blink too hard and you are left with black smears under your eyes. Thankfully, the formula is less runny after a week or so's use and it dries much faster now.

The Physicians Formula website claims that the mascara has a 5x Lash Boosting effect. Err.. right. It lengthens and holds a curl pretty well but 5x? Nope. I just get very pretty and natural eyelashes with no clumping. I like the effect but I could do with a leetle bit more volume.

The plastic brush is okay but not fantastic at combing out eyelashes. The mascara tends to gather up at the sides of the brush and encourage clumps so wiping lightly on a piece of tissue beforehand prevents this. The comb tips are kind of pointy so be careful. I accidentally knocked my pupil with it and was dancing with pain for a while.

Concealers and eye sunscreens usually cause some amount of smudging with my good ol' Full 'n Soft but I didn't experience that with this mascara. No smudging or flaking even at the end of a hot day. Woo hoo!

The only smudging I got was when my eyes teared up from yawning and cutting onions. Well, the first gave me slight inky marks while the latter left me with a big black smear. Both were quickly remedied with a bit of damp cotton.

One of the drawbacks to this mascara is that it has a bit of an odd smell. I don't know how to describe it but the nearest thing it reminds me of is cow dung, only in a less pungent-I-am-going-to-puke-now way. It definitely makes you do a double-take and while the smell fades off, you still get whiffs of it through the rest of the day to remind you of what you are wearing.

Rest assured, you won't be losing any friends. I got friends to sniff around me (yes, I make my friends do weird things) and they said that they couldn't smell anything.

For a product which is supposed to be earth-friendly, this mascara sure uses a lot of packaging. Check it out. One huge cardboard box and additional plastic holders to package one tube of mascara. What wastage!



Being eco-friendly sadly does not come cheap. This mascara retails for AUD 24.95. Ouchie. I got it on sale for about AUD 21 but it's still pricey for a drugstore mascara.

Review: Natio Eye Contour Treatment Gel

I know that today is supposed to be the 3rd installment of my hair-raising tales but I don't have the brains for explaining hair drying techniques and the like. So, I'll combine Week 2 and 3's posts into a single post next week and review one of my favourite products instead.

Its assignment time for my uni so I have been pulling all-nighters and surviving on 4 to 5 hours sleep a day for the past week. When I wake up, I usually look like the Ghost of the Christmas Future (Dickens must be rolling in his grave right now) with beeeeeg beeeeg puffy swollen eyes. In fact, they are sometimes so swollen, I can't open my eyes in the... Well, I was going to say morning but its more like late afternoon, actually.

That's when I stumble blindly into my bathroom to look for this little baby on the left.

I actually got this on a whim last year. I was traveling and forgot my eye cream so I ran into a pharmacy and grabbed this for AUD 15.41. It contains 35g worth of product (about over 20ml?), heck of a lot of generous than the 15ml tubes sold by other brands.

The packaging claims that this is supposed to work for getting rid of dark circles but I doubt it. It does work a treat for puffy eyelids though. Less than a minute of applying this, puffiness gones away and my eyes feel fresh and blinky awake. And I don't have to keep this in the fridge for added coolness.

What are the other things I like about this? Because it's so light, it sinks in quickly without any funny residue. I don't have to worry about over applying it so I can just dab a bit on throughout the day whenever my eyes feel overheated from staring at the computer. Oh, and best of all, it isn't scented. I hate scented eye products. I can feel the fumes attacking my eyeballs whenever I use something heavily scented.

So spill. What is your secret weapon to bright-eyes in the morning?

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.

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!

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. >_<

Review: Maybelline Full N' Soft Mascara

You know those products which have a spot on your shelf for so long, you cease to realise it’s there and just automatically reach out for it? Bingo. That’s Maybelline’s Full N’ Soft Mascara for me. It has been a staple in my makeup bag ever since I hit Australia and I love it.

Let’s get the formalities out of the way before I do my gaga thing.

This stuff comes in two colours – Brownish Black and Very Black – and two formulas, waterproof and non-waterproof. The normal retail price is AUD 16.95 but I can usually get it on sale from Kmart for less than AUD 12. If it hasn’t sold out by then, that is. It sells out amazingly fast come sales period.

If you look this up on MUA, the jury is split over the waterproof and non-waterproof versions. Some like one more than the other, some claim that there isn’t a difference, others hate both. Me? I have only used the waterproof version and I lurve it.

True to its name, Full N’ Soft really does leave my lashes looking incredibly full and soft to the touch. Amazing as most waterproof formulas feel a little heavy and stiff on me. All I need is just one coat and tada! Beautifully defined lashes without looking overdone. Another two coats gives me fluttery eyelashes worthy of Bambi without the fuss of falsies.

When you first open this, the formula is pretty watery and liable to clump but happily, the texture improves after a week to reveal pretty, clump-free lashes.

Another wonderful thing I have discovered about this mascara is that it gives me the exact same results as DiorShow Iconic. I applied a coat to each eye and marched over to a friend’s room to ask if he could see the difference and my very befuddled male friend said no. Exact same length, volume (well, Full N’ Soft delivered a wee bit better there) and heck, they even smudged the same way at the same time! (Will get to that soon)

The only cons I can think of with this product is that it can smudge after a month or two’s usage but I guess that’s fine if you are particular about trashing your mascara every 2 months as recommended. The second con is that we can’t get this in Malaysia! *sighs* Can we petition Maybelline Malaysia to bring this in?

Video: Friday is for faking 8 hours of sleep

I love picking up "oh, I never thought of that!" tips from reading other blogs and watching beauty vids. My takeaways on this vid is to duck my head down when looking in the mirror to conceal undereye circles (how have I never known this before?) and that I should consider getting a pinker undereye concealer.

Review: Bourjois Anticernes Pinceau Brush Concealer

My pet peeve about my much raved about industrial strength Bobbi Brown concealer is that it takes a while to pat on and blend in the morning. And, if my eye area is not properly moisturised, I end up with parched-earth type cracks under my eyes before lunch time.

So whenever I am rushing for time in morning, that's when I reach out for this little baby by Bourjois.

A cheaper version of YSL's Touche Eclat, I stumbled upon this little treasure a few months ago in Priceline. Usually sold for AUD 25, it was on offer that day for AUD 20. I snapped it up in Beige Dore 83 (the darkest shade amongst the three) when I realised that it was a perfect match for me.

Application is pretty fool-proof as all you have to twist (I usually twist-click it twice), swipe and pat with a finger. Great when you are pressed for time in the morning and handy to tote around for touch ups during the day (though I have never found myself having to do touch ups).

This product isn't great if you are looking for something more heavy duty. Coverage is about sheer to medium, just about enough to make me look a less panda-ish than usual when I use it on its own. When I layer this over NYX concealer in Medium, I actually look pretty decent. And the best thing is that there is hardly any caking at the end of the day.

For those worried about sanitation issues with brush-type products, fret not. All you have to do is spritz the brush with rubbing alcohol and wipe dry. Ironically enough, I got this tip from a YSL sales assistant while checking out the Touche.

Fast, easy and travel-friendly, this is definitely a keeper in my makeup bag. I suggest checking it out if you are looking for something to brighten up your under eye area.

Sadly though, I was looking for backups of this the other day and I suspect that Australia has stopped carrying the Beige Dore shade! *grumbles* I'll keep you girls updated when I go on another manhunt this weekend.

Budget Beauty: Awesome eye brushes from Carrefour! - Living & Companion Eye Definer and Eye Contour brushes

Meet the brushes that completely cured my lemmings for a new MAC 224 brush (my SE version is spiky with split hairs) and MAC's pencil brush. And here's the really great part. They only cost RM8.50 each.

You'll find them in Carrefour's beauty section in plastic packaging that looks like this (pic on left). I first learnt of them thanks to Dollie Pomme's rave review, and when I was researching Essence of Beauty's Eye Contour Brushes I found that they were comparable to Living & Companion's thanks to Puss in Heels.

You can bet I tore down to Tropicana Mall and snatched these babies up!

I've been using them a week and I absolutely could not be happier. They are soft, soft SOFT... and unlike most budget brushes, these are made of animal hair. Which animal? Can't tell you, it doesn't say. But so far these two brushes have performed wonderfully. Love them!


Eye Contour Brush
To me, this rounded countour brush is the real steal of the two. Densely packed, its tapered shape makes it great for everything from smoking out to precision work. I find I can use it in my crease, to blend out my darker shadows and even along the lower lash line. It's shape is absolutely brilliant!

Eye Definer Brush
I use this loose and soft brush much as I did my MAC 224 - to apply a sheer wash of shimmery shadow and blend it out. It's not much good for defining in my opinion, but I love it for blending lighter shadows over darker as it applies just the right amount - enough to see, but not enough to obscure the darker colour beneath. It also works great for blending shadows up and out so that the shadows blend seemlessly into your skin.

Conclusion
I've washed both brushes twice so far and no shedding although both have a few hairs wandering out of place. I love these two so dearly I'll probably buy backups. And at this price, I can afford to!

Review: Revlon Colorstay Liquid Eyeliner

When researching for the best liner to achieve a "winged" tip, the one that kept getting recommended, again and again, is this - Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner. (What's wrong with their site? Black looks MAROON!)

Right where was I? Ah yes...

I caved and picked up the liner at RM31.80 because my Coastal Scents Gel Liner was getting gunky. Also the idea of being able to swipe on my liner without needing an additional brush was tempting.

After a week's use I can see why this liner is so highly recommended. And I also realise that my dream of not using the liner brush is going to STAY a dream for everyday use.

Applicator
This is where the product is special. It doesn't use a brush, but a pointed felt-tip applicator that allows maximum control and the absolutely finest tip I've ever seen. If you want to draw wings, heck, if you want to draw flowers, birds, bees you name it you probably can!

Problem is, while it is great for precision, it lays down a very hard thin line which is too hard, thin and black for everyday. So I end up dotting on the liner and smudging it out with ELF Studio's tiny Smudge Brush. The result is wonderful!

Formula
When they say blackest black, they MEAN blackest black. It don't come more black than this! And it's smudgeproof and waterproof. Good thing is, once it's on it doesn't budge. Bad thing is, once it's on it doesn't budge so do all your smudging and correcting quick quick before it dries.

Conclusion
I'm aleady loving this liner, and will be happy to use and repurchase it. I aim to get the hang of the wing-tip and maybe one day be able to swipe it on perfectly and not require smudging! We all need something to work towards. ;)

Video: Friday is for a clear how-to on eyeshadow

This video made me think, "WHY hasn't anyone ever explained it so clearly before?" While I have actually figured this out myself through trial and error, I don't believe anyone not Bobbi Brown, not Sonia Kashuk, and certainly not my mom ever put it so well!

Budget beauty: Silky Girl Lash Prism Mascara

When I got a tube of SG Lash Prism in black, I'll admit I regarded it with trepidation. What if it turned me into a racoon? What if it stung my eyes and caused what few lashes I had to fall out? But I finally screwed up the guts to try it and by jingo, I was pleasantly surprised! It lenghtened, defined, and even had fibres in it to bump up the volume and length of my lashes. No stinging, no racoon eyes.

Curious about the price, I went to an SG counter to check it out. It was RM13.90. And it came in blue, brown and purple. Thrilled I snapped up a tube of purple mascara just for fun.

Colours
You really can see that the mascara is purple - but it's not too alarming on my lashes. I'm not entirely sure what I'll do with the purple since I much prefer the definition provided by black (and it is VERY black) but it was fun to indulge my curiosity so affordably.

(L) Purple & (R) Black

Brush
The brush may be the best part of the mascara. As you can see it resembles rimmel's sexy curves mascara in shape. Itks nicely dense and separates lashes well applying the formula evenly without clumps. It's also not too big, which is nice for small chinese eyes. ;)

Formula
As mentioned earlier, it really isn't bad. But of course at this price, it isn't perfect either. The difference it makes isn't dramatic so it's a good everyday mascara. It also feels rather wet and takes awhile to dry.

Although the formula claims to be waterproof I don't really find it so. It can smudge if I tear up from yawning or laughing. Crying would probably result in two black, or purple, rivulets down my face.

Conclusion
If I'm short up for cash, or needed to buy a mascara while on a trip, this is an excellent deal. Also if you're tempted to give coloured mascaras a go, this makes for an affordable experiment. Definitely worth a look!

Sold on false lashes thanks to iNuovi!

Warning this is a terribly cam-whorish post, but well, it's no often I have eyelashes to show off, so please forgive me.

I've been considering taking the leap and giving false eyelashes a whirl but never had the guts. Added incentive was provided by Steven Sunny, the makeup artist for my best friend, Mary's wedding. After he expertly applied false eyelashes on me I kept getting told "Oh you looked so lovely I didn't recognise you!" (Yup no one beats Malaysians when it comes to mixed compliments... >_< ) So when iNuovi offered to teach us how to apply false eyelashes on ourselves, I JUMPED at the chance. And guess what? If you just grit your teeth and do it, it really isn't that hard. I started with the half lashes (the one that's out of the box in the picture) and these I understand are much easier to apply than the full-lashed ones. I'll give them a try some day when the occasion arises. But even with the half-lashes, look at the payoff!

Definitely worth the effort for a special occassion.

Half-lashes are eyelashes that are designed to only reach midway across your eye. On my tiny eyes, these function like 3/4 lashes (which also exist). Because they are designed this way, they are much longer at the outer corners and taper inwards. These makes them look more natural than a full lash, but still dramatic in a cat-eyed fashion.

The more natural half-lashes I bought from iNuovi are the Prolash 05. At RM20 for a box containing two pairs along with a tube of really rather good glue, the value can't be beat. And affordable doesn't mean low-quality either. iNuovi lashes are designed with very flexible, sturdy bands. With proper cleaning and storage, I can reuse each pair up to eight times. Score!

I also decided to try a pair of drama lashes, the Prolash Ex 03 - a design we were told is a best-seller. I haven't tried these yet and fully expect to poke out my eyes in the attempt but ah well, nothing venture nothing gain. These lashes were a bit pricier, RM30 a pair. Since the iNuovi blogger event fell on a friends & family promotion day, everything was 40% off. It just gets better, huh?

ParisB has provided truly great tips for false eyelash application and I don't intend to repeat them, but here are a few more:

1. Instead of trying to line the inside of the lash band with glue, apply a dollop on the back of your hand, or a palette and dip the lash band into it lightly. Be especially sure to get glue on the outer corners of the band.

2. Wave it around and blow on it till it's tacky before applying it on your curled and mascara'd lashes.

3. You can still nudge it around gently until the glue has set. Try pinching your real lashes and the false eyelashes together to get them as close to each other as possible.

4. Look down until they're dry. You'll feel like something's on your eye for a bit, but don't worry this will pass!

Oh my, false-eyelash fever appears to have attacked beauty bloggers as a whole. Check out this incredible pictorial step-by-step tute created by Nikki on how to apply them. No way could I ever do something this awesome - this is a must read!

Hope that helps you be brave enough to give it a whirl. Do check up the other beauty blogger's false-eyelash experiences:
Connie
Plue
PrettyBeautiful
Beetrice

Note: If you, like me, have never bought iNuovi because the only place to find it was Sasa and let's face it, the salesgirls there are not only insulting and annoying - but outright stalker scary - you can find the iNuovi standalone store in Sunway Pyramid.