FOTW: Pinky and purple

Last week, I got some extra makeup time because I decided to skip foundation. So on Friday, I decided to go with light eyes and dark red lips.

I used Autobalm again - pink on the lid, brown on the crease, black on the lower lashline. With the extra time, I used the Fenty Beauty Eyeliner in Later, Crater. I really like the effect of it, and it looks so normal and natural when you don't rub it to show off the glitter, so I'm really loving it. Except for the irritating wonky brush. On my lips I used NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Madrid, which I'd just bought last Thursday. When I swatched it, I thought it was dark red, but when I put it on my lips, I realised it was more pink than I thought. It's kind of like a darker KVD Bachelorette. Anyway, I found that Madrid is kind of less-opaque than I'd expected, so I have to keep reapplying it every time I eat or drink, so that's leceh, but I guess I don't mind for the comfort. 

On Saturday, it was really hot, and I was sleepy-ish, so I continued with the no-foundation routine. I used Nubian II's Jezebel on the lid because I was counting on its staining effect to counter the high amount of sweating I expected to do. And I put Leyla in the outer corner, to continue the whole purple thing, and sort of blended out the two shades with my Benefit blusher (whatever it's called). I know, such crappy blending, I'm sorry, I was in a rush. I smudged Leyla along my lower lashline, which actually looked pretty good, I thought. On the lips I had Dose of Colors in Berry Me, but then I made the mistake of putting NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Black Cherry Tart over it. I thought it would look fine just in the middle, but it was way too dark, so it didn't really harmonise and I had to slather it all over my lips. I ended up with full-on popsicle lips, sigh. Also I felt like glowing that day, so I used my Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector (the liquid one) in Opal on my cheeks and temple. I then took a really rushed photo, so here you are:

Yeah, the overall look ended up way darker than I'd originally aimed for, but it actually stayed on all night, and it looked pretty good once I'd stopped sweating. Also Cutes said I looked nice, so yay!

Face of Diwali

I haven't been posting in a couple of weeks because I've been too busy, tired or lazy. So today I'll be posting my Diwali look, yay!

It was just Madagascar and Kenya in the crease, with Yaa all over the lid. I really owe everything to my NYX Glitter Primer; I feel like I've been more using my shimmer and glitter shadows more frequently since I got the glitter glue, so yay! I also used my Avon eyeliner in my lower waterline, and smoked it out with the liner shade from my theBalm Autobalm. The smoky lashline thing was inspired by Kaushal, whom I adore. Then I used the highlight shade from the Autobalm on my brow bone. I skipped foundation and used my Laneige BB cushion instead, because my breakouts are really kurang ajar right now. And I ended it with NYX SMLC in Berlin. I really want to get more shades of this - maybe I should throw out some of my underperforming lipsticks so I can make room for more NYX lip stuff.

Anyway, I had an amazing weekend. Cutes and I ended up spending five consecutive days together, which was nice. Halloween Horrors Nights 7 was fun, because we didn't have to queue for ages for the haunted houses, and it was fun to watch people's reactions. Then on Saturday we went for Diwali drinks, and we watched a bit of this crazy Romeo & Juliet movie with Deepika Padukone in it. I thought the movie was crazy because the guys in the movie were wearing odd peasant/gypsy-type tops, while the girls were wearing normal Indian tops. Also, they were kissing mouth-to-mouth, which I thought wasn't allowed?

And yesterday was Mizi's comp, where he placed fifth. Yesterday was great because I met Cutes for breakfast first, and then later we took the train back together. I also attended a Reddit meetup at Bugis, so that was a new, scary, and ultimately rewarding experience.

Here's to more!

Sephora Private Sale Haul

I don't have a FOTW this week, but I've been using the Through the Looking Glass palette again this week, and it's been fun to know I'm actively trying to pan stuff. I think I'm happy to change my focus this coming week though - let's do the Juvia's Place Nubian II palette this week. Yay!

So anyway, Sephora finally had their private sale from 6 Oct to 8 Oct. It's definitely a couple of weeks later than last year's one, and Hanom says it was to throw us off. But I thought it over, and maybe they were waiting for more Fenty stock to get in before having the sale. The crowd around the Fenty display was constant, and I was happy to spot the Sephora staff restocking the foundations in the middle of the fray.

I was supposed to meet Hanom and sister/cousins on Friday after work so we could shop together. But I was so kiasu and nervous that they would sell out of the Becca Light Chaser in the shade I wanted, that I just went in anyway when I got to Ion at about 5.50pm.

Thankfully, this time they did not try to control the crowd entering the store. Of course, they did crowd control for the cashier, but at the time I was there, I was done by 6.30pm. :D

Clockwise from left: Zoeva Luxe Sheer Cheek brush, Murad Acne Body Wash, Too Faced Hangover Primer, Becca Light Chaser Highlighter, Laura Mercier Caviar Stick, Marc Jacobs Daisy Rollerball

1. Becca Light Chaser Highlighter for Face & Eye in Topaz Flashes Gilt (6.5g, UP $54)

I've been wanting this for about two months. At first, I wanted the Champagne Dream Flashes Bellini shade, but I went swatching with Cutes sometime last month, and he picked this colour instead. I protested that it was too green, but he blended it out on my cheekbone and I decided I liked the look after all. This was definitely on my list walking into the sale.

2. Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Cobblestone (1.64g, UP $49)

This was the second thing on my Wants list after the Light Chaser. I've been wanting to try a cream eyeshadow, maybe for quick eye looks when I'm in a hurry or wanna appear effortless, LOL. I did try the Covergirl Smoky Shadowblast years ago after watching ANTM, but they creased like crazy on me. This time, I wanted to try something premium and see whether it makes any difference. Also, I chose not to get a shimmer colour, because shimmers always crease on me.

So far, I've used this twice - yesterday at the beach, and today on a quick run out to Tampines. Not gonna lie, it definitely creases in my, er, crease, but it stays put on the rest of my eye, and is really quick and easy to put on, so I'm still happy with it. I also like the colour because it really looks like my eyelids but better. :D

3. Zoeva 127 Luxe Sheer Cheek / Blush & Contour Brush (UP $25)

My Manicare blush brush has been dying for ages - it's no longer fluffy, it's really scratchy and clumpy, especially after I wash it. I can finally throw it out now I have a proper blush brush, yay!

Now, most of the Zoeva line is actually on Sephora mobile, instead of in the physical stores, but I don't like waiting for stuff, so I wandered the Sephora Pro section for options first. Unfortunately, the Sephora Pro brushes are twice the price of the Zoeva ones, and I just can't get with that. So I went back to the Zoeva display and grabbed this one. I wanted a highlight brush too, but they'd sold out of that, so it's back to my fingers for now.

4. Murad Acne Body Wash (250ml, UP $79)

I bought this in the Sephora sale in the first half of this year, on Gothamista's recommendation. It amazingly worked on my back and chest blemishes, but then I decided it was too expensive for daily use, so I just use it on alternate days now. I still have about 5% of the previous one left, but I thought hey, why not just get a backup now because I'll definitely need it, and I don't have alternatives.

Well, actually it's $69 on Lazada, but as I said, instant gratification, and of course, at 20% off, it was cheaper during the sale.

5. NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Berlin (8ml, UP $14) [Whoops, not in picture!]

I love my other NYX lip products, and the SMLCs have gotten good reviews all round from my friends (well, just Baba, but good enough) and on Reddit as well, so I thought I'd try one out. I've recently come to the conclusion that liquid lipsticks generally don't work for me. I do have the two nude favourites from J*, and I love my Dose of Colors, of course, but with my lips being all sensitive and dry these few months, it just makes more sense to stick to glosses, cremes, and traditional bullets. So let's see how this formula works for me!

Also please remind me not to try out any more new liquid lipsticks. Thanks.

6. Daisy Marc Jacobs Eau de Toilette Rollerball (10ml, UP $35)

I feel like I've been getting smellier lately. Like, my perfumes and deodorant just don't seem to last all day anymore, so I've been looking into some kind of portable deodorant/smelly-no-more product that I could use for post-zumba or particularly sweaty days. Please don't recommend me those gross Victoria's Secret sprays because the smell annoys the shit outta me.

Anyway, Baba kirimed a Sephora rollerball, so while I was hunting for that, I thought, hey, why not a rollerball for myself too, right? And I decided to try this one because the smell doesn't annoy me. Also I've been getting into flowery scents lately.

I used this yesterday at the beach, and unfortunately, it doesn't radiate the smell out, unlike my favourite Dior Addict, but it'll do for now.

7. Too Faced Hangover Replenishing Face Primer (20ml, UP $22)

I grabbed this at the impulse fixture area because I've been wanting to try a hydrating primer since I heard dry-skin people raving about this on YouTube and Reddit. Actually, I thought this was sold out, because that's what it said when I checked the Sephora app on Wednesday, so I didn't even bother looking for it at the Too Faced display. So I was happy to see a couple displays of this at the impulse buy section. I know it's kinda pricey, but it's better than getting a full size, so we can see whether this one works or not.

So, all in all, I think it was a good haul. I didn't buy anything I didn't need, or that wasn't on my list, except for the NYX SMLC, but I forgive myself, because I do have a lipstick obsession. :P

Now I can finally put away this stuff and start using them. Yay! Till next time!

September 2017 Empties

I managed to empty out five skincare items last month! Yay me! Here's a rundown of what I used up, in descending order of like:

1. Hada Labo Hyaluronic Acid Lotion Moist, 170ml
I finally finished one bottle of the Hada Labo since I bought it about 4 months ago! Isn't that amazing? I've been using it for everything, and in 3 - 5 layers each time. Yet, it somehow managed to last me all that time. I'm quite impressed.

Besides the longevity of this product, I also love how it doesn't irritate my skin at all. I've used just the Hada Labo on nights when I'm too tired and annoyed at my skin for being extra itchy that day. The next day, my skin would be happy again. It's a cheap miracle worker, and I love it.


2. Simple Kind to Skin Refreshing Facial Wash, 150ml
I've been using this for about three years. I love a gel facial wash, and it always feels fresh and gentle and doesn't leave my skin tight. I haven't bought a replacement yet, though, because I'm trying to finish up a Belif facial wash deluxe sample (which I love also, but of course, $$$).


3. SK-II WS Dermdefinition UV Lotion, 30g
This has been my daily staple for the past four years, since the time I suddenly decided that I needed to protect my face from constant exposure to the sun while riding. I asked Sharmely for a recommendation, and she recommended this! I bought it, no questions asked. It's a cool $80 or something, which, like whuuut? I definitely wanted to smack myself when I realised this year that Biore Watery Essence is a thing.

I will have to say that this sunscreen is pretty good. There's no white cast and I've definitely not gotten any PIH in all the time I've been using it. I also think it helped protect my skin from the road pollution. However, due to the thick creamy texture and the high price point, I used minuscule amounts instead of a quarter-teaspoon or whatever the standard is. So I have a small collection of like five other sunscreens now, and I finally finished this one. Yay!


4. Belif the True Cream - Aqua Bomb, 50ml
I enjoyed using this as a daytime moisturiser. I also used it at night on just my neck (while the rest of my face gets the Moisturizing Bomb), which reacts badly to heavy creams. I have not bought a backup because I have a 10ml sample of it which I bought in a sample kit, and am slowly using up now. Also, Belif released a third True Cream - the Water Bomb - about a month ago. I got a foil sample of it and I didn't react badly to it, so I really want to try the full size and see if it works any better than Aqua Bomb. Based on the foil sample, Water Bomb did not cool down my skin unlike it claims to, but I think I'd like to confirm it with a full size.


5. Belif Hungarian Water Essence - Moisture Binder, 75ml
This ended up being really meh for me. I know it's purportedly one of their bestsellers, but I didn't see it binding moisture like it's supposed to do. The only good thing about it is that it smells great, like all the other Belif products. I'm happy to finally have used it up, and I will not be repurchasing.

Clockwise from left: Hada Labo, Belif Aqua Bomb, Simple Refreshing Facial Wash, Belif Hungarian Water Essence, SK-II UV Lotion

Back next time with more empties, I hope! See ya!

FOTW: More Alice Through the Looking Glass

Like I said in my last post, I wanted to shop my stash and get more use out of the Urban Decay: Alice Through the Looking Glass palette.

I think I did pretty well, using up the shades I hardly use from the palette.

On Friday, I did a simple dark smokey look. I just put some Chessboard up in my crease/transition, with some Chronosphere on the outer 2/3 of my lid, and Mirror on the inner third of my lid.

My lips were J* Pumpkin Pie, which I thought I should be wearing more often, especially since it's "fall" now. I added a little clear gloss on top because I'm bored with matte lips these days. Anyway, it held up pretty well for a night out with Hanom after, so yay!

On Saturday, I had a bit of a bad makeup day. I think it was combination of bad makeup choices and uncooperative weather.

Before:

I thought I did pretty well on the eyes, I actually tried to carve out my eyebrows with my NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer for the first time. I thought it would look crazy and cakey, but it actually looks pretty okay, right?

Anyway, on the eyes, I used a combination of Reflection, Chessboard and TheBalm's brown crease shade from the California Driving Licence on my crease/transition. I brought Chessboard down to my outer corner, and then I went in with the NYX Glitter Primer ($10, just got it on Friday!) on the rest of my lid. I patted Lily and Duchess on my lid. First I used a brush, but it didn't look hebat, so I just used my finger instead, and that went a lot better. I will say that the NYX kinda made my eyes sting and water a little bit. But it was fine after, so what the hell. Also, I decided to emphasise my eye shape by extending my inner corner with Lily. On my lower lashline is Lily on the inside, and Gone Mad on the outside.

Then I put KVD Bachelorette on my lips, just because I realised it's been a while since I've worn it, but I hated the overall look! So I rubbed it off and put on J* Leo, which definitely looked more cohesive and daytime to me. (And fall. Heh #fallvibes.)

Then, I realised that my foundation was breaking up around my nose and looking really cakey on my chin. I'd used a 50:50 mixture of KVD Lock-It and L'oreal 24HR Matte, and I knew it was the KVD doing it, so I painstakingly removed the lower half of my foundation with Garnier Micellar Water. Then I had to go in with my skincare all over again, wait for it to sink in, put on sunscreen, wait for that to sink it, before I could buff the L'oreal in again. I also changed my blusher from The Body Shop bronzer to TheBalm blush shade.

I'm pretty pleased with the finished look! I think that I should stay away from the KVD foundation, as much as I'm trying to pan it. Or maybe just use the tinest amount in combination with my other foundations.

We had a lovely time watching the matinee of West Side Story at MBS, followed by lunch at The Bird.

I was testing how the Glitter Primer helped my shimmer shadows not-crease, and I was quite surprised that it worked pretty well in preventing crazy creasing within the first four hours. By the time I got home, there was just minimal creasing, so I'm happy and can't wait to use it again. Also, I did not touch up my lipstick and I cannot believe it still looked good and not flaky or crumbly, even after my fried chicken and biscuits lunch.

So yay! I think I will continue with Alice for the rest of this week, because it's been doing well this past week. Catch you next time!