Recent purchases: Daiso, MUJI, Sleek, Heavy Rotation

Purchases from Daiso, Heavy Rotation, Sleek, MUJI, Essence

It was quite a cathartic relieve to be shopping for cheap, discounted beauty products. Gratification sure if high buying so many things and not spending too much.

Picked up Sleek's Suede blush from undertwenty's flea market stand at SCAPE yesterday afternoon and was surprisingly given a freebie (Napoleon Perdis Pigment)! I have been wanting to get my hands on Suede after watching Beautycrush do her Rita Ora tutorial.

Sleek Suede Blush

Suede is a matte nude-peachy colour, an earthy blush. I have no blush similar to this and am pretty excited to start using it!

The other Sleek blush that I own is the ever popular Rose Gold one. I was pretty impressed by the pigmentation and amount of product in it. Each blush contains 8g of product! The size of the mirror also impresses me. It is nonetheless a very 'compact' compact, the design of it wastes no space and perhaps helps with its competitive prices.

Bought from undertwenty for S$12.

MUJI Light Toning Water

Have been finding a cheaper and easily available alternative to MAC's Fix plus. Have been reading around how water and glycerin will make a good dupe, and someone actually recommended MUJI's light toning water. I have decanted some of the product into a Daiso spray bottle. Let's see how that works! Really pretty and sleek bottle (actually for men but whatever), and costing S$13 for 200ml. That's so much product for the price! 

Heavy Rotation Gel Liner

Heavy Rotation Gel Liner

Heavy Rotation Gel Liner, a much quietly celebrated product in Singapore. Got introduced this by Fitrina and have been itching to try it. I haven't used a gel liner for quite some time and now is probably time to give it another go.

Heavy Rotation is yet another Japanese make up brand that came to Singapore Watson's. It carries pencil, liquid and gel liners and also beautiful nude lip glosses.

I have tried the Clinique gel liner here and there. However, it tends to smudge under my eyelids in the humid, sunny and warm Singapore. Really detest smudging and that's probably the reason I stayed true to the Dollywink liquid liner or the Kiss Me Heroine Make liquid liner. Hopefully the Heavy Rotation one will make me love gel liners! Stay tuned for a review!

Napoleon Perdis Loose dust pigment #38

This was a freebie that came with the Sleek blush! I actually picked this colour as it really reminded me of MAC's Club eyeshadow. It is a duo-chrome brown and metallic green/blue. Its gorgeous to look at from the container and is a pain to dabble with. It flies absolutely everywhere as with pigment and loose dusts and glitter. Sadly, when I swatched it, the brown didn't come out. It was an extremely light dusting of power when used dry. However, when I used the MUJI toner as a solvent, the colour came out much much better. This product must be used wet, or over a cream, MUST.

Daiso purchases

My Daiso buys: 50pc bobby pins and a grey brow pencil. I've begin to draw my brows as I notice it disappears in photos. This is a perfectly working product that's very affordable. For just S$2, you get a compact with an inch length of product.

Essence C'est la vie! Nail polish

Last but not least, is Essence's quick drying nail polish in C'est la vie! This is a perfect nail colour for Summer. It is a bright peachy pink colour (photo has gone a bit too orange). At S$2.80, its really affordable and great on the nails. It has a gel-ish colour and finish but I had to do three coats for a truly opaque colour. I'm excited to get more polishes from Essence!

Essence is available at the Watson's in Ngee Ann City.

What a long post! Once again, I love getting new stuff (new cheap ones ><) and had great fun shopping for these items!

Thanks for reading!

:)

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Findation.com Know your foundation shades across brands and products!

I recently got introduced this very ingenious website, http://findation.com/. Findation (currently beta) claims to help you find your right shade of foundation across different brands when you input at least two of the brands (and shades) in their dictionary of products.  

findation.com

The steps are fairly idiot-proof. You first type in to search, or scroll through the long list of brands for something you already have (for example, Bourjois). The second step is to find the specific name of the foundation (e.g: HealthyMix Foundation) and lastly the shade you're in (e.g: 54). 

Then select the second foundation in the same manner as the first. 

After you're done with at least two, you are ready to find the brand, foundation and shade! It's cool isn't it? And I really think it solves a lot of problems that we girls have, having to try shades over the counters with snobbish makeup sales people. However, I cannot confirm that the shades equated to you are the perfect match and so can findation. Thus, a percentage of what they think is close will be provided. It's a good, shortcut way to getting a match. No harm trying it out!

I was quite surprised when I saw a couple of Asian (Korean) brands like Holika Holika, Skinfood and Missha. I thought it would be a more Western,  European help site. Heh, happy to know Asian cosmetics count as well :)

Illamasqua Pure Pigment Furore

Featuring the makeup world's fairydust – Illamasqua Pure Pigment in Furore!! Furore is the Italian word for Frenzy, and indeed if you're easily excited by glittery and pretty things, this will certainly make you go nuts!

Illamasqua pure pigment Furore

This pigment is incredibly gorgeous! The glitter is so finely milled so you won't find chunks of them stuck onto your face the whole day. The colour is pretty as well, a champagne neutral colour that is perfect for the inner corners of your eyes or all over the lids for a glamourous party look.

The packaging is sleek, classy and very 'Illamasqua-ish". The product comes out of a circular hole right in the middle of the plastic 'cap' and this prevents excess product to be out of the container. You know how messy glittery pigments can be!

illamasqua pure pigment Furore swatch

Here is a swatch on the back of my hand. Since it's consistency is so fine, you can swipe a little or pack a lot of product onto the skin. Be wary though, as since it is a pigment, you ought to be careful of fallout while applying. But the effect is worth the caution.

illamasqua pure pigment furore swatch blended in

It can be blended easily into the skin. The end result is a shimmery pretty finish that can excel even further with a cream base under it. MAC's paint pot in Bare Study will do the job purrrrfectlyyy.

I love this product and have yet to finish trying out different looks! Come to think of it, it'll be great to wear it out for drinks this coming Friday with my buds ;)

This product was purchased off asos.com. 

 

Eyeshadow: Furore
Liner: tight lined with NARS China Blue eyeshadow
Mascara: Lancome
Foundation: Shiseido Aqualabel White + Banila co. It Shiny highlighter
Lips: balm + TOPSHOP Hazard
Cheeks: Sleek Rose Gold

Thanks for dropping by!

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in San Paulo and Istanbul

Howdy! I have been quite obsessed with lip products this couple of months, especially with NYX's lip creams! My first purchase was San Paulo, a dark rose pink which turned out to be one of my favourite lip product of all time! My second lip cream is Istanbul, a fairly light and soft pink. Both colours are closer to neutral to cool-tones.

It's not lipstick, nor is it gloss. It's like nothing you've experienced before. It's lipstick cream that goes on silky but looks soft matte. 

Not exactly the most beautiful description but it is, honestly, true. The texture of the lip creams are a dreammm~ Soft and creamy, gliding effortlessly on your lips and leaving a colour true to what you see on the tubes. It is very pigmented (especially for San Paulo) and easily spreadable and movable during the first few minutes of putting it on. Look over to the right bar for the Lip of the Moment, currently San Paulo. The cream then slowly and subtly dries off to a matte (slightly powdery) feeling, adding colour to your face yet not stealing the limelight. I don't like shiny/glossy lip products as they can make me look more mature (yikes!). 

Longevity of the product is, like most lip products, according to what you do with your lips. If you're gonna have a meal or drink, the lip cream fades with wear. However, it's such a dream to put on you won't mind touching up! One thing though, since it feels close to nothing on your lips, you might forget having lip colour on. Becareful not to rub your lip area accidentally! 

Since this product is blendable and dries matte, I'm sure you can use them as cream blushes! Use Istanbul for a fresh-face blush or San Paulo for more intense colour. 

I love the NYX Soft Matte Lip creams and can't wait to collect em' all!! 

I bought the lip creams from Smoochiezz and it's Watson's Atrium Sale for $10 and $15.90 :( respectively. 

:) 

Dandruff, Psoriasis or dry scalp?

Check out an updated post on my dandruff condition here!

I'm almost ashamed to admit that I have a flaky scalp. It isn't the best accessory to bring with you and is probably a reason to be self-conscious. Having those nasty white flakes falling onto your dark clothing is more than embarrassing(and I love my dark tops)! I have lived with this issue for years and years, with each more serious episode slightly different from another. Well, I've always thought I had DANDRUFF, since the people who do comment (dear friends), would unrelentingly tell me.

http://wchild.deviantart.com/art/Snowing-texture-117096416

                           

Dandruff flakes are a mixture of oil, sweat, bacteria and dead skin (scalp) tissue and are usually yellowish or orangey due to the oil and sweat. They can flake, or stick close to the scalp.

It can be due to various reasons like:

• Hormonal changes 
• Consumption of alcohol, high sugar or salt foods
• Lack of nutrients
• Weather changes 
• Overactive oil glands
• Bad hygiene 
• Even stress. 

A dry scalp however, over-sheds dead, dehydrated skin cells. The flakes of a dry scalp is mostly white coloured. This condition can be caused by:

• Inactive oil glands
• Bad product use/buildup
• Scratching
• Over combing

Psoriasis is a much more serious skin condition faced by many people. It is a skin condition that causes patchy silvery scales to develop on a person's body, including the scalp. This underlying skin condition can be triggered by the weather, cuts and abrasions and even sunburn. It is best to get a dermatologist prescribe some steroids or shampoo!

*information retrieved from here, here and here

I suppose I have a dry scalp more than one with dandruff.

Until recently, I did little to no research on this bugging issue. Head and Shoulders was always readily available to me in the shower. My mom seemed to face flakes too, so it probably was hereditary. Obviously the household anti-dandruff shampoo wasn't working wonders. In recent years, I have come to realise that I pick my scalp often – when I was reading, watching videos, blah blah. It kinda is a terrible habit that I felt good doing. It was my version of finger-biting and this addiction of mine wasn't helping the situation, it created the vicious cycle. I would feel for bits of dead skin on my scalp and remove it with my filthy fingernails. Ugh, sorry for grossing both of us out. I know I had to stop this nonsense.

A couple of weeks ago, I went on a hunt for a suitable shampoo for my condition. I stumbled across Dermaveen's Oatmeal shampoo meant to soothe dry and irritating scalp. I was immediately drawn to the smell of it (almonds and oatmeal!) and purchased it about a week later. I have used it a handful of times and I quite like it! The aroma is pleasing and comforting, and it does sooth my, at times, itchy scalp. Hair feels squeaky clean out of the shower (which I'm not used to) and makes my wet hair less smooth unlike conventional shampoo. However, when dried, my hair feels light, bouncy and soft!

Dermaveen Oatmeal Shampoo

Dermaveen Oatmeal Shampoo

It's still too early to predict the effectiveness of the shampoo, but heck, I'm enjoying it now.

I purchased Dermaveen Oatmeal Shampoo from Unity (a pharmacy by NTUC) for $16.90 (ish).

YouTube Beauty Vloggers I subscribe to

Beauty YouTubers are all the craze now! Everyone is subscribed to one of the many, watches their videos and follow their lives. It's kinda like a reality tv show, just not as crazy. I subscribed to many of them and they make up probably 70% of my subscription list! In today's blog post, I'll be introducing to you some of the very wonderful beauty vloggers I follow religiously!

Be mindful that they are not in any particular order!

Pixiwoo 

Do I have to explain more? The pixiwoo sisters (Sam and Nic), makeup artists and gorgeous ladies. They are professional, detailed and really comprehensive.

Pixi2woo

Sounds familiar doesn't it? Tanya Burr is pixiwoo's younger brother (Jim)'s girlfriend! She's young, beautiful and talented as well! I adore Tan's very sweet personality and her choices in beauty and fashion! I especially LOVE her Audrey Hepburn makeup look! 

 

Fleur De Force

Fleur, also friends with Tanya, has one of my favourite styles of vlogging. She's nice yet has her zesty moments, great at reviews and funny at times too. She gives a fair share of high-end and drugstore/high street reviews!

In this video is also Ingrid (Missglamorazzi), whom I follow! She's a very chirpy and happy vlogger and I just love her cat Nugz!

Sasaki Asahi

I love this woman. She is like a bubbly bubbly can of soda! Sasaki is a Japanese beauty vlogger who never cease to amaze me. Her videos are innovative, creative, crazy and just..full of life! Please watch her!

Sprinkle of Glitter

Louise is SO FUNNY! Her vlogs and videos always make me chuckle and smile. She's an intelligent young mother who's expressions are out of the world. Her witty (and sort of silly sometimes) comments and style makes me happy! Love watching Louise and her chummy Zoella too :) She is really a sprinkle of glitter!

Hope you enjoy watching them as much as I do!

Pink Treats!

Today is pink day! I've just recently gave my blog a good scrub and dress up, but this isn't it just yet. I obviously need a gorgeous banner. Am I already scaring you with all the pink? I promise I'm not any hardcore pink lover, this was purely random, heh!

Have been rethinking a blog name as well, any suggestions? :)

And since I've taken photos of quite a few products, I might as well dive into it and give some of it a nice little shout-out.

DKNY Sweet Delicious – PINK MACARON

How can someone not adore such a cute little thing! Pink Macaron is one of the three newly released 'Sweet Delicious' scents from DKNY. I'm sure you are fairly familiar with its elder sister Be Delicious! Got hooked within seconds while browsing duty-free stuff in the airport and just had to get it! It's a sweet scent yet not toooo sweet. Scents are so hard to describe aren't they, so just go check it out! The others in the line are Creamy Meringue and Tart Keylime (which are gorgeous too!)

Banila co It Shiny

I received it as part of my birthday goodiebag from Fitrina. The product is called It Shiny. Whatever the reason for the weird grammar, it's a cool product. It is a liquid highlighter that is pinky-peachy when squeezed and its great for mixing in with your foundation or just dabbing it on the bridge of your nose or cheekbones! 

Fairy Drops Mascara

Well, this is a product that has been raved by the beauty community. It is quite a good mascara! It has great black colour, a unique application wand and it stays on foreverrrrrr. They say the Japanese makes the toughest and best mascaras. Oh yea~ I can hardly remove it with my usual eye makeup remover (for eyes and lips). Truth be told, I'm not such a big fan of mascara! The tugging and rubbing to remove mascara is too damaging.. ;( Great product though.

Soap & Glory Hand Food

Soap & Glory is kinda known for their scent. Many people love it and some claim it smells exactly like a Chanel perfume. I personally have yet to take a whiff at the expensive luxury brand but it does smell nice and sweet. I've almost finished my little tube of Hand Food! In terms of effectiveness, it does work fairly well, and has a pleasing scent. 

Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Hand Therapy

I received this as a gift from Shu (my sister). It. Is. A. Huge. Amt. Of. Handcream, that smells like rosewater. It's very creamy and silky which absorbs into your skin to near nothing, your hands feel soft and moisturized after. The metal tube will last you for ages but could be a chore to carry around (that's why I bring around my S&G one more often). Shu uses the Lavender scented one and I always preferred it more to mine! :p

p.s. my new favourite hand cream is the Elizabeth Arden 8-hour one! 

Products:I wish I had! NYX Matte Lip Cream, Heavy Rotation Gel Liner, Sleek Suede

I have on my YouTube subscription list, a whole bunch of beauty vloggers, and this means that I get exposed to many new (not forgetting pretty) beauty products that I wish I had my hands on! Well, there can never be too many makeup items can there? Sadly, money is a huge issue here. An undergrad is usually poor and in debt and that's exactly who I am!

But still I think it can't harm to just share what I am hoping to get my hands on, can I :) So, here are the few items on my 'to buy if I have excess cash' list!

1) NYX Matte Lip Cream in Antwerp

I have the lip cream in San Paulo, a gorgeous deep deep rose pink. I love it! The pigmentation is there, it smells and tastes great (creme bulee, sorta?) and goes on so smoooothlyyy. The cream glides on exactly like a cream and subtly dries to a slightly powdery matte finish. I need to get my hands on more. I'm eying on Antwerp, a bright peachy colour. I am lacking that colour in my lipstick collection ;)

However, I am worried about how it'll look on me. I have an average (or slightly darker) Asian yellow skin tone. I've seen it work wonders on people who are fair.... but I WANT!

2) Kiss Me: Heavy Rotation Gel Liner

I have heard great things about this gel liner from Fi. She has made this her most current HG eyeliner! How can I not try it! I love my liquid liner, but truth be told, I'm still not too expert on it just yet. It takes a lot of patience and STEADY HANDS. I work better with an angled brush.

It's costing about S$24-25 bucks at Watson's and that is, by my standards, pretty expensive! I wonder if I should use my Watson's rebate on this. hmm.

3) Sleek Blush in Suede

This blush was introduced to me by beauty vlogger Beautycrush. It is a matte neutral blush that seems to just enhance one's facial features! It looked good on Sam (vlogger) and totally convinced me that I need it. Just waiting for undertwenty to restock :)

I know I would probably get all three items when the time comes... they are not exactly high end and damn expensive! But only time will tell.

In the meantime, share with me if you have tried these products. Let me know if they are worth it!