Favourites (For now!)

Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation + MAC Strobe Cream = Luminous Skin!

When I first purchased Chanel's Pro Lumiere, I thought it was a bit too thick for everyday so I decided to try mixing it with MAC's Strobe Cream and was pleasantly surprised- it gives a very luminous finish! It also lasts for a long time- for me it lasts all day at work in a heat and sweat environment. But I do use Laura Mercier Mineral Powder on my T-zone so I don't get the shiny beamy look!

I am loving this so much that I have been relunctant to try anything else (I was quite addicted to Makeup Forever HD foundation for a while).

Another fave product of mine right now is the Maybelline Define a Lash mascara- the green tube. It's so lengthening! I have pretty wimpy lashes right now and because I am pregnant I try not to use too many chemicals on my face ie. no lash enhancing or lash growing products. This mascara doesn't replace my HG mascara Makeup Forever Smoky Lash- but since I can't get my hands on one right now the Maybelline Define a lash works just nice:)

And my final fave product is the Dollywink Liquid Eyeliner in Deep Black.......

This is the best liquid liner I have used so far- I bought heaps when I was in Japan:) I still use my BB Gel Liner but to make it even more defined and more black I use the Dollywink Liner over it. A very dramatic finish and it's great for the cat eye wing effect look.

That's it for now! Have a great weekend everyone:)

Countdown to Xmas!

This has been the longest I have gone without blogging- so many things happening this year and kept me busy busy busy! eg. Getting pregnant and turning the BIG 30! And the baby is due in 3 months time which means I have been pretty busy getting ready to welcome the little one into our home. Lots of shopping- mainly baby stuff- no beauty products for me for the longest time.....until now! I just could not help myself! I resisted all collections from MAC and even stopped buying any makeup whatsoever and I was so proud of myself. haha

Shu Uemura has come out with a gorgeous Xmas collection- "Abracadabra Fantasy" and I gave myself a really early present this year! :P I think I deserve a litlle gift for being so good all these months......

I got this cute blush tint in miracle cherry- can't wait to try this! 

The Reindeer Kiss palette and the cleansing oil (which I didn't see at the counter when I was there)

and the Bowwow Magic Queen palette. I couldn't choose between the two so I bought both. When you see the packaging and the colours you just fall in love!

I also grabbed the harmony pink lip duo tint- my favourite colour if you didn't notice :)

I like the love apricot but again, they didn't have this when I was at the counter which may be a good thing- its not cheap these products from Shu Uemura. At least you get get a free makeup bag for your purchases over $200- so adorable!

Honestly, the packaging really sucks you in- I still have to try the products itself but they look so pretty I can't seem to touch it! However the pencil liners look really cheap and comes in colours like pink, purple and baby blue which are very nice but not worth money in my opinion. Anyways check it out- I predict it's going to be sold out very quick:) 

Below is a short commercial of the collection- the song is so catchy!

Here is some happy snaps from our honeymoon trip to Japan......

My Dumbo.....hahhaa

Dranks lots of green tea but had to miss out on all that sashimi and sushi (I was 4 months preggers already- boo hoo!)

The biggest slice of watermelon I ever saw (and ate!) but it was yummy!



Favourite Highlighters by Benefit

Not sure if you guys bother with highlighting in your everyday makeup routine but I find it's one way to make your skin "glow" just like those Korean actresses who always have perfect luminous skin. Sorry my camera doesn't take the best pictures- I actually look too shiny because of the flash- but in reality it's a very light shimmer.

There are many ways to highlight but here is what I use- it just so happens that both these products are by Benefit. There are alternatives out there and I will suggest a few at the end:)

Below is Benefit "10" and its a duo colour powder with a very shimmery light pink highlight and then a darker shade for contouring. I use a big fluffy brush and give it a couple of swirls and place the lighter colour on the top of my cheeks and then naturally the darker will be placed on the lower half of the cheek- all in one swipe of the brush. So easy! (as shown in the pic above) It comes with its own brush but I prefer using a big fluffy brush instead whish is easy to blend so as to avoid a striped effect. Not a very good look!

And finally I use the liquid highlighter "High Beam" for smaller areas such as the eyebrow bone and the bridge of my nose and a little bit on the highest part of my cheeks. This is also great to mix with your foundation and get a luminous effect. The good thing about these products is that it's not over the top glittery so you look like a fairy- unless that's the look are after. But otherwise the overall effect is very subtle.

If you can't get your hands on Benefit- there is another way! I sometimes use eyeshadows for highlighting and it works just as well. Eg. Mac E/S Jest or Naked Lunch. Jest is my favourite of the two- it gives are very nice "glow" and great finish too! I wouldn't suggest using anything too glittery- it's not the same effect!

I recently bought this on ebay- Skin Food Lime Secret Shine Base and can't wait to try it out. It comes in 3 colours but I chose the gold finish since I don't have this colour. If you've tried this please let me know what you think:)

Lazy Winter

Winter blues are getting me down and very very lazy.......I miss the hot summer days! My appetite also is disappearing- nothing is appealing anymore which makes me even more sad :(

At least I can use makeup to make me look a bit more cheerful! Just want to share what I have been using these days when I feel extremely lazy. Especially in the mornings when I stay in my warm cozy bed an extra 10 minutes which of course cuts into my "getting ready" time. 

Firstly, I apply my Hourglass Veil mineral primer- this is the best primer I have used so far. If you like Smashbox photo finish primer (they both give a similar velvetly finish) then you would really love this product. 

I have gone back to using my BB creams (I finished with my beloved Laura Mercier Liquid foundation) and I personally think they blend easier than any foundation and it's so foolproof - kinda like a tinted moisturiser.  I've been using Skinfood Gingko Green BB Cream- which is my colour and blends really well into my skin. I even got a stranger complimenting on my porcelain complexion- which I never ever receive using other foundations! However, BB creams are notoriously hard to skin colour match especially for tanned to darker skins- not fair I know! Also they do tend to be oilier so avoid this in summer or if you are prone to a shiny skin. 

I also redisccovered my old favourite concealer- Lancome's Effacernes Longue Tenue (how do you pronounce this?!?) Anyway it just works well with the BB Cream and it lasts all day.

And to add a bit of cheeriness into my sallow complexion I've been using Benefit's Posie Tint which is a very pretty pink stain. Benetint is more rosy so this is a bit more girly. It gives a very light finish without the heaviness of powder or cream (ideal for hot summers!) I also use this on my lips- looks very natural and lasts longer than lipgloss:)

Last but not least, this Sephora colourful duo eyeshadow No. 9 is a very flattering colour for dark or brown eyes- I use the lilac on my lids and the darker dirty plum to line the upper lash line and the lower lash line. It looks so much better than plain old brown! Try it:)

Anyone has any lazy winter tips please share!

June Purchases

I got a bit carried away when I ordered these Unii Palettes! They look like Nintendo DS at a glance! I saw Jennifer from "From Head to Toe" on Youtube demonstrating how to put all your eyeshadows into one neat box. Or in my case I wanted to fit them into several lil boxes. I bought all the colours so I can colour coordinate them and it comes with magnet stickers so you can move the shadows around in the palette. Now I have to find the time (and motivation) to depot all the eyeshadows and reorganise my whole shadow kit. I manage to start on one.......

Anyone wants to try Nato? It's fermented beans- I love this! It's a strange snack to eat and everytime I eat this people close by will definitely complain about the smell. It's an aquired taste- you hate or you love it. Yum!

Charcoal Wagyu Beef- so delicious! I was drooling whilst cooking it. 

Revlon Colorburst Lipsticks- in Carnation (left) and Soft Nude (right)

I don't suit nudes at all! I give up! :(

Carnation is a nice bright sheer pink colour. I like the packaging.

My first Nars lipstick! This is in Roman Holiday and I loveeeee the colour. Have to say it is better than the Revlon Colorburst Lipstick Carnation. Too bad Nars don't spend much on their packaging for the price on their lipsticks.

Laura Mercier Mineral Powder- LOVE LOVE LOVE

Totally love this product......Laura Mercier Mineral Powder SPF15 (I use it in Natural Beige)

I wear this everyday- it gives a very natural finish to my skin. You can wear this on its own and apply with a kabuki brush for more coverage. I use it over my Nars Sheer Glow foundation or the Laura Mercier Oil Free Liquid Foundation- I switch between the two products!

This mineral powder is by far the best powder I have used. It buffs away my big pores and doesn't leave a chalky finish to the face like some powders do.It takes away the shine but it also doesn't make your face look totally matte so it gives a really nice glow.

I have never tried i.d BareMinerals before and I heard it was very good but I am so happy with LM Mineral Powder that I am hesitant to try another brand! If anyone has tried both- please let me know what you think.

I will be purchasing the Laura Mercier Finishing Powder too- I love all her face products so far!

Beauty Experiments....

My first Chanel purchase- I was never really into the Chanel range...a bit boring and a tad too expensive for me. But I thought I would give their foundations a go this week. I bought the Pro Lumiere (for my shiny face) but it was recommended you go for the Vita Lumiere if you have dry skin.

Anyway I found it to be...OK only. I guess I am comparing it to Nars Sheer Glow and Laura Mercier Oil Free Hydrating Foundation- which are my favourites! Pro Lumiere is good but for the price I will still prefer the Nars or LM foundations. I wouldn't repurchase again.

I also bought a lipgloss/lipstick from Chanel (Rouge Allure Laquer no. 72) which is a really beautiful red colour. It is so bright red but it makes my teeth look super white! Even when it fades it gives a nice natural red stain at the end of the day. I like the wand applicator so it's very easy to apply straight onto the lips. The texture is very hydrating but not sticky. BEWARE- it still smudges so be extra careful of red teeth!

Lately my skin has been problematic- lumps, bumps and dry, flaky skin. Very annoying. Decided to try this sample pack -SKINFOOD's Black Sugar Mask. It smells like lemons and looks like brown sugar mixed with honey or something strange. Very course and I feel like it's going to irritate my skin even more and my skin felt tight. I had to apply a super moisturising cream afterwards. Rodium Glam Balm is my saviour! I recommend this to anyone- it's much better than the Egyptian Magic Cream.

Finally- I managed to dye my hair! My roots were so horrible. I tried Schwarzkopf Coloriste Hair Dye in Chocolate Brown. It ended up being more like a Jet Black! Pair it with my pale white skin- I kinda look like Morticia from the Adams Family! haha

Stay tuned for more beauty experiments..........

A Beautiful Day.....

So good to take a day off work and just relaxxxx... just hanging out with my husband- having maccas out on the grass:)

Oh no! His favourite pair of thongs broke!

YES! I hattteee those thongs- he wears them everywhere!

My New Bob

Are you ready? It's a big chop off my old boring hair and I am so glad I finally did it! Yay!

Sorry this is a closeup- using my new speed dial lippie - such a wearable everyday lipstick:)

ok unto the hair....

I love it! But I always like it after a session at the salon. It's what happens after the first wash- my hair doesn't behave! I need to colour my hair again- the roots are quite bad...

Anyway if you are in Perth and want to know the place I got my cut- Head Studio on King Street in the city. It's the same place I had my hair done last year before my wedding. It's also the same girl (name is Jesse- she is bubbly and very friendly plus very good at cutting hair). She felt so bad lopping it all off and she squeaked when they swept my pony tail away ahahaha...I don't really miss it at all. It feels so much lighter and cuts down my "getting ready" time before I go out.  

Going to watch "Clash of the Titans" tonight...my first day off in ages!

Happy Easter everyone!

The Big Chop!

Yes, I have finally decided to get the "big chop"- talking about my hair of course!

So sick and tired to washing long hair- it's very high maintenance and it weighs a tonne! I have lots of hair and I lose a LOT of hair too! I think I have long hair for so long now and I just need a change. The only reason I kept it long is for the wedding- now that's over and done...I will go for it! I can't wait:)

Now....which style to choose?

Eva-I like this! Simple and clean with a deep side part...it looks like something that's easy to maintain.

Hayden- I like her lipstick! ahahha and her hair too of course!

oooohhh choppy layers! Very nice! But don't think I can maintain this look on an everyday basis?

I wish my hair was this shiny- but unforntunately my hair tends to BOOF out a lot. Especially after a hair wash! I will need to layer a lot to get out all my thick hair!

I like this style! I will probably show the hairstylist this picture:) I like the parting to be quite to the side and also I want bangs but not too short. A fringe doesn't suit me!

Wow- I think this hair will make me look like a 5 year old! It looks great on Katie though!

Ok- bye bye to my long, long locks....I probably will have to close my eyes when they cut it all off! Scary but I'm also excited!

Stay tuned for the results............

Hauls: Lipstick Cravings

I blame it on work- there is no time to go shopping nowadays. So naturally, I go crazy when I did find the time this week. I thought I lost all interest in makeup these few months. Boy was I wrong!

I also blame it on this video from one of my fave youtube makeup gurus- its an old one and she hasn't been making any new ones lately which is pretty sad......anyway to cheer myself up I thought I would buy the Lacvert lipstick in "Yuna Pink" and the lipgloss too in "Lovely Yuna". It looks like such a pretty colour! I had to have it!

In the meantime, while I wait for my purchases to come through the mail (its probably going to be two weeks!) and I am so impatient- so I went and bought the MAC Viva Glam -Lady Gaga Lipstick. Its a real pretty light blue pink. Surprisingly it is very tame kind of pink which is unlike Lady Gaga's adventurous makeup looks. Still- I love it!

While I was at the MAC Counter, I spotted the Spring Colour Forecast Collection. It's nothing special to me...but lately I have been wearing lots of golds and bronzes so I really like the Colour 4 eyeshadow palette. It's all I need for my daily makeup look.

Since I was on a roll, I bought my very first YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in no.1 (Nude Beige) and also the matching YSL Lipgloss. Oh, and I also had 6 empty Mac shadow pots and I exchanged them for a lippie in "Speed Dial".

Swatches: Top: Speed Dial and Bottom: YSL Rouge Volupte Nude Beige

The YSL Lipstick is very creamy- it literally just glides on! However- the colour does not suit me at all! Actually it makes me looks so washed out and tired. Maybe Nudes don't suit me- I need some colour! I guess I will have to buy another colour next time hehe:P Any suggestions???