April favorites 2013

sorry the picture is not the right way =S

This is gonna be a quick post (procrastinating against revision and term papers)

Maquillage powder foundation (featured in last month's favourites too i know, but it's just so EASY to whip this on)

Shiseido Senka Face UV (it's supposed to be a "sunscreen" but it's tinted and has coverage like a concealer)

Biore UV aqua rich (this is a genuine sunscreen, with an almost gel cream texture, I am so blown away by its texture)

No7 Beautifully Matte Makeup primer (It sucked when I used it in winter, white patches here and there, but this stuff is amazing in warmer months when oily skin just won't behave)

L'oreal Shine Caresse Dazzling shine fresh moisture light weight lip color in 900 Pretty Woman. (Coral color for spring, it's a subtle apricot color, not too orange, lasts quite well, does not suck the life out of lips.)

March 2013 "Favourites"

I've been incredibly busy this month, sticking my head into rehearsals here and there, so I didn't really have time to do much with my makeup. But through the haze that went by, I think i used the following 3 items the most.

Left to Right: Shiseido Maquillage Moisture Forming Powdery UV Foundation in OC10, Collection Illuminating Touch concealer in 02 Natural, MAC blot Powder in Medium

And of course I have my covergirl lash blast length mascara, but I've photographed it too much, it bores the hell out of you and me so i'll omit it in the picture.

These days I just run out the door with some concealer on my acne scars and dark circles, then top it up with the powder foundation (foundation and powder two in one! yay!) But since this foundation (although it is in powder formulation) looks very natural (imagine "dewy" in a powder form.... not really that dewy, but as dewy as you can get from a powder) and offer oil control for only about half an hour, I blot on the go with my Blot powder.

I have actually had this powder foundation for quite a few years, and have been contemplating about replacing it.... any powder foundation suggestions? Stuff that I can literally just slap on and leave the house without the tedious blending? Leave your suggestions in the comments below =]

February Favourites 2013

This month had been quite exciting with all the Chinese New Year celebrations. It was also quite exciting that I have discovered that they sold Collection (formerly collection 2000) in Hong Kong (slowpoke me)! I bought several of their products and the quality is quite astonishing! I don't think I have ever came across such good quality with products it's price.

Collection Illuminating Touch brightening concealer in 02 Natural HKD$39 (OMG, can you believe the price???)
When I first got to the Collection counter, I actually wanted to pick up the famous lasting perfection concealer(in a doe foot applicator packaging). But apparently they only carry the illuminating concealer, I was a little disappointed but I gave this a shot anyway. At first, on the back of my hand, the color look way too pink toned, but it worked quite well with the color of my face (My face has probably the worst coloring ever,I am always between shades, and everything is either too orange or too pale for me). It is very easy to blend without rubbing off in the process of blending (with fingers). The best thing about this is that it works on both my under-eye area AND the rest of my face. (usually whats good for my acne scarring is horrible for my dark circles and what is good for my dark circles are usually too orange for my face). Downside is their crap packaging, although I only had this for like a week, the words on the packaging are already rubbing off, and every time I hold it the printing transfer on to my hand. If I put it in my makeup bag, the printing is going onto the lining. So this is on house arrest until all the printing has been rubbed off from the packaging.

Collection Primed and Ready smoothing make up primer (HKD$79)
This is probably the most expensive thing at the collection considering you only get 18ml of products (I think the common practice for primers are to give you at least 30ml of product). Despite the small amount you are getting, a little goes a long way, since too much will make your face feel overly slippery. A little bit of this will mattify your skin and create an incredibly smooth surface for your make up to glide on. It also provides a good 2-3 hrs of oil control without using powder to set your makeup. I usually use this in conjunction with my Vitalumiere Aqua.

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Skin perfecting makeup in B20 Tendre (HKD$410)
This is still in this month's favorite, although I said that it kind of oxidizes. Now I think it's not really oxidizing that much, but rather the shade is not right. It's a bit too pink for my skin tone, and of course stupid me did not double check all the colors available at the counter. Turns out Hong Kong chanel has a BO21, a more yellow version of the B20 Tendre I have. If I ever finish this bottle and repurchases, I'll go get the BO21. 

Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Espresso (HKD$205)
oooooooh, this is another pricey splurge (*guilty gulp*). I wouldn't say this eyeliner is overly amazing, but it's creamy enough to be applied between the lashes without it smudging all over the place like NARS larger than life eyeliner does. But it's still waterproof without being pokey as hell (like some of the japanese waterproof eyeliners). The dark brown color is also internse enough so it darkens my lashline and creates the perfect no makeup makeup look.

Bourjois Healthy Mix serum in 52 vanille(HKD$168, I have no idea why this is cheaper than other bourjois foundation)
52 is more neutral in shade than 53 (more yellow), but it serves to brighten up my skin tone, which is very handy when meeting the relatives during Chinese New Year. I definitely think that the serum foundation runs a bit lighter than the regular healthy mix foundation. This foundation has the same fragrant scent of the healthy mix foundations, but is more watery and lighter than the regular healthy mix in both coverage and consistency. This is a much more dewy foundation, perfect for colder weather. Although it's promoted as a gel foundation, I think its even lighter than a gel, it definitely has a very unique consistency, but i'd say more like a very light moisturizer (akin to the shiseido mattifying moisturizer) than a gel. But it's feels great on the skin, makes you feel like you drank an energy boost drink through your skin.

Covergirl Lashblast length mascara in black (USD$7, i think...)
Go read my comparison on the lashblast length and it's max factor equivalent here. I have raved enough about it.

January Favorites 2013

This month has really whirl past FAST!

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B20 

This is amazing, feels incredibly luxurious on your skin. Downside is that you need a thick layer of primer underneath to stop it from oxidizing.

Maquillage Pore Perfect Cover

For use with Vitalumiere Aqua. Again a downside is that too thick a layer will give foundation a cakey look. 

Covergirl Lashblast Length

oooooh, my frd studying in America helped me got this, now I can enjoy long separated eyelashes without having to pay a heavier price tag for the max factor one!!! It is simply too marvelous for words.

Reve de Miel Lip Balm

It is incredibly buttery without being all greasy and shiny, great for layering on top of the just bitten lipbalms that could be a bit drying (without smudging the color or causing it to move around like other lipbalms do). Since its matte, it's great for priming the lips before lipstick too.

Revlon Lip Butter in Pink Tutu

The best pink color for colder seasons. It's not as bright as the revlon lip balm stain in honey, but still provides that warmth to your lips. Saved me from looking like a zombie this entire month.

Crabtree and Evelyn Evelyn Rose Eau de Toilette

The is basically my all time favorite but I forgot to include fragrance in my 2012 favorites post. It's a light rose scent that is very refreshing and feminine. It's too bad the company had changed the scent with the upgrade of the packaging. The new Evelyn Rose no longer smells like the Old ones. Any suggestion for a new fragrance?

2012 Favorites

Hi There! It's almost the end of the year already, good times fly by so fast. I'm hoping I could share some of my yearly favorites with you guys before I go off to a trip to Korea. =]

Skincare Favourites
Bioderma Sensibio Micelle Solution
La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo
Ettusais Lip Essence (Deep Moist)
Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Oil Antiseptic

The Bioderma Sensibio was an instant favourite the moment I first tried it, it cleanses without leaving a film like sensation on the skin and now act as my favorite morning cleanser when I am lazy. Effaclar Duo really helped with my comedomes, I'm not sure if it works on whitehead acne though. I usually follow with a dab of  tea tree oil over broken acne/whiteheads after moisturizer, if my acne is bad, i use it as an allover face oil (becareful, the smell stings quite a bit if its too close to the eyes)

Makeup Favorites

UGB Premium Crystal Beblesh Balm

Max Factor Lash Extension Mascara/ Covergirl Lashblast length

MAC Blot powder in Medium

Shiseido Translucent Loose Powder

Koji Eye Talk

The UGB BB cream is actually my mom brought me from her earlier trip to Korea, I like my BB creams to feel a bit thick (so that it does not go all liquidy and dries to an unflattering oily wet finish like some of them do) and this feels great on the skin. It applies a bit too pale on the skin, but give it five to ten minutes and it will gradually adjust to your coloring (not sure if the same applies to medium to dark skin tones). 

The Shiseido Loose Powder is actually a sample pot i got long ago, it does not make you look white or cakey and its perfect for winter to preserve that slightly dewy look, but this does almost nothing in summer. 

MAC blot powder is the BEST powder I've ever tried, since Hong Kong's weather is such a bitch. I'm quite oily in the T-zone (especially the nose) and this (although does not maintain matte appearance for the whole day) actually controls my oiliness and does not make me look like an oil slick after a few hours (on good days, one application in the morning can last me the whole day, only looking slightly dewier in the evening)

The Max factor mascaras are basically just more expensive versions of the covergirl mascaras. This lengthening formula is gives length and volume in the most natural way, it lengthens but it does not scream MACARA HERE! It's like an undercover mascara. Gotta love this stuff.

I don't know how many of you are familiar with Asian eyelid enhancing products, Koji Eye Talk is actually an eyelid glue (helps create double eye lids) I only use it as eyelid glue when I need to apply eyeliner (my crease on the right eye is more hooded and actually covers the lash line, making even eyeliner on both sides extremely difficult) other times I use it as lash glue. I prefer this over regular lash glue because I find that some lash glues are very difficult to remove and leaves an undesirable 'sticky stain' on eyelids and fake lashes. This, however, dries to a clear finish and is easily peeled off or washed off and still holds fake lashes perfectly. Plus it has a brush applicator so no fuss involved. It has been a great companion for my dance performances.

So here are my favorites for 2012, tell me what's yours in the comment section!

November Favourites 2012

Yay! December is coming! Sad thing is that I've already gotten rather sick, so please excuse the lazy polyvore assemble of my monthly favourites.

Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer --- Light 02 Alaska

This stuff is amazing, although it provides very sheer coverage, you can tell your skin looks better and more even. But you definitely need a concealer if you have any spots or dark circles. This retails at Hong Kong for HKD$420, which is a lot pricier than what you can get at UK (£27) and US ($42)

Nars Blush --- Douceur

This is a pinky-brown blush (more to the brown side) that gives natural contours to the face. I think it's more like a contour than a blush (gives small amount of color to the face, but contours more). Great for subtle definition, plus it's kind of like a two in one product. Very sheer, but buildable. Retails at HK Nars counter for HKD$280.

Max Factor Lash Extension Effect Mascara ---- Washable Waterproof Black

First, this is not waterproof. I'd say it's water resistant, so don't be fooled. But what I like about this mascara is that it gives length and slight bit of volume ever so naturally, it does not clump my lashes together and people will barely notice you have any mascara on, but makes your lashes significantly longer than with no mascara on. It's also incredibly easy to wash off in the shower, another plus for lazy people like me. It is also quite a good dupe for cover girl's lash blast length, they have the same brush. Retails for about HKD$138.

Revlon Just Bitten Balm Stain ---- Honey

This balm stain is a pretty pinky rose my-lips-but-better color, it looks very natural and also quite pigmented, one swipe gives back the life to your lips. It does stay quite long as a stain, and fades evenly. Almost no touch up is required because this color is so natural, another plus again for lazy people. Retails for HKD$98.

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo

I've been really spotty this month, plagued by some less evil cystic acne, regular acne and comedones. Although it does not look incredibly horrible, it's bad enough that my regular tea tree oil treatment can't handle, I remember I have a small sample of this thing lurking around in my samples pile and decided to give it a try, although it did not clear away everything over night, my bumps felt significantly less rough and I went to get the full size. Althoguh I have only been using this for a few days to a week, this is definitely one of the favorites of the month. Retails for HKD$260.