Winter Beauty Haul (Seoul + Shanghai DF)

I'll spam pictures first, reviews to come later! Much excites hehehehe language is failing me

Skincare Haul

Makeup Haul

My first foray into falsies!

tried both out already and the verdict: they work pretty damn well!

Old and new loves - the red Play 101 pencil doubles up as a really good and blendable blush!

My best discovery: Glossy Blaster Tints from Too Cool for School!

Hair oils to kickstart the rescue mission for my hair

SAMPLESSSSSSSSSS HAHAHHAA

less significant, but still free :P

Shanghai Pudong Airport Duty Free Loot - Dior is dirt cheap in Shanghai

Quick review of Inglot Freedom System 3-pan Palette

This post is so backdated, first drafted this... 2 months ago? Anyway, there you go! With closeup shots and a mini review!

Wahaha this is my only loot from JB! Went there mainly to eat seafood with my classmates so I didn't really get to shop to my heart's content :( We were only in the mall for 2 hours after our meal at a street restaurant?

From Left to Right: 463 DS, 117 R, 63 AMC

Got a 3-pan palette with mirror this time round, LOVE this set up so much for the convenience! This is my go-to palette now for a quick everyday look. I take the shimmering nude all over my lids (I love how glittery it is!), then go closer to the lash line with the browns and finish up with the black as a liner. The centre brown shade doubles up as my eyebrow colour, which makes this palette legit double-duty goodness. LURRRVE.

MAC Lipsticks! Swatches and Review

Got sucked into a dangerous addiction a few months ago. Started with 1 and now.... I have 4. They're 30 a pop, so it's quite an uh investment. lol. Especially since I'll be going to Korea soon, and have no legit reason to buy any makeup before I go crazy there. BUT WHATEVER OKAY. Here they are:

Swatch Set 1 (from Top to Bottom): Lickable, Fanfare, Chatterbox, Brave Red.

Swatch Set 2, from a slightly different angle

First of all, I am super tanned now after my diving trip (LOL okay in comparison to my previous skintone, not other people okay. I'm still the fairest wherever I go, somehow), with my arms disproportionately darker than my face haha I look like a mess. 

On to the lipsticks review! 

I swatched each lipstick twice; the one on top is with multiple swipes, and the one on the bottom is 1 swipe. In the order from top to bottom:

Lickable (cremesheen): my very first MAC lipstick. Out of the 4 shades I got, I like this one the most. I got a slight panic attack after I recalled that I have a Revlon Colourburst lipbalm stain that's REALLY similar in colour to this, but heh, after swatching them side by side, the difference was still big enough to justify this purchase, so all's well. It's so so perfect as a perk me up colour! Really creamy, yet stays for at least 4 hours I SWEAR, and fades to leave an even stain. This impressed me so much that I went on to get...

Fanfare (cremesheen): wanted this as a MLBB kinda thing, you know, on days that I just need to look alive and not look too made up. This is the colour I go to when I want to look as make up free as I can get away with. Was rather disappointed with the texture of this though, it's definitely the less creamy out of the 4 I've got, despite it being a cremesheen formula. Tbh, it highlights how dry my lips are! I definitely have to load up on lip balm before I feel it's safe to apply this.

Chatterbox (amplified): This is the one that made me swear to not get another lipstick until... after Korea at least! This is a rather barbie pink kinda shade, for days that I feel especially girly heh. I LOVE the formula, it's so freaking intensely pigmented and flattering on the lips to boot. 

Brave Red (cremesheen): Then a Sephora 30% off sale swung by, and I got enticed by this gorgeous red. My first ever red lipstick! It's not bright, attention-grabbing, but rather, a more...understated red? It leans pink. Think less hooker, and more sophisticated. Definitely wearable. The formula wore perfectly on my lips as well, no complaints here!

In order of preference, I think I would go with Lickable > Chatterbox > Brave Red > Fanfare. That said, I do like all of them!!!! My expensive babies!!!

L'oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire

This is such an overdue post! I got these L'oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire lipglosses in 4 colours when I was in Seattle.

I daresay, they are the most long-lasting lip colour I own, they fade evenly, and  paired with a good lip balm, they do not slip and do not dry my lips out nor accentuate my dry lips! They look really lush and glossy on the lips. I love how pigmented they are too!

From Top to Bottom: 303, 202, 201, 101

Rouge Allegro 303: a reddish-pink that looks quite bold. It matches quite well with simple eye makeup and light application of either coral/pink blush.

Coral Encore 202: a gorgeous coral shade that is very suitable as an everyday lip colour for school - I use this the most often, especially because it goes well with my NYX Cream Blush in Rose Petal!

Rose Symphony 201: a rose-pink that goes well with my Clinique Cheek Pop in Plum Pop. It's a sweet looking colour that's not too overwhelming.

Rose Melody 101: a really light baby-pink shade that is perfect for the nude-lip look when I emphasise my eye-makeup and want to tone down the rest of my face.

The glosses all contain micro-shimmer that's not chunky or too noticeable but instead, just helps create a nice glittery effect when viewed closed-up.

The applicator reminds me of those found with YSL Glossy Stains! Rectangular, and tapered at the tip.

I really enjoy using the applicator: it dispenses and spreads the lipgloss evenly, and is just the right size and shape to manipulate. The scent of the lipglosses bother me a little though. It's a rather faint floral(?) scent that definitely fades after a while, but still, something to note. With regards to the texture, it is definitely not as goopy as the Maybelline Colour Elixirs, but not as watery as the YSL Glossy Stains (review coming up in just a bit!). It feels slightly tacky for the first few minutes you have it on, but after that it's all good.

In comparison to my other favourite, the NYX Butter Glosses, the NYX ones are definitely more nourishing and moisturising. However, the stain that these L'oreal babies leave on my lips last waaaay longer than the NYX ones. The NYX Butter Glosses typically last 3 hours before I have to re-apply, while I can go 4-6 hours before having to re-apply the L'oreal Colour Extraordinare glosses.

It's such a pity that these aren't available in Singapore!!! I totally regret not buying more...but then again... hehehehe I have more than enough lip products already :P

Favourite Face Brushes

My loves:

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

The Real Techniques Buffing Brush is part of the Core Collection Set (which is a MUST-GET because every single brush in it is good, especially the lip/concealer brush). It's the perfect size, not too small and not too big, very dense as you can see from the picture which makes it absolutely great for mineral powder. I use it to buff in liquid foundation such as the Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream, or to apply my mineral foundation, the Tarte Airbrush Foundation. The brush helps to spread product evenly, and is rather gentle on my skin as I work it all over my face. Definitely THE foundation brush to buy!

Real Techniques Stippling Brush

The Real Techniques Stippling Brush is a more recent purchase (I bought the Core Collection Set last summer?). In this short time that I've had it, I've been using it almost every single day to apply my blush. It picks up cream blushes like the NYX offering so effortlessly, and can be used with the Clinique Cheek Pop blushes too even though that one's a powder. I haven't been tempted to try using it as a foundation brush yet, given how well my Real Techniques Buffing Brush's been performing. Maybe I'll give it a whirl for that purpose soon, just to test it out?

Real Techniques Setting Brush

THIS IS THE BOMBBBBB. The Real Techniques Setting Brush is an absolute gem in my brush collection. After I'm done with my foundation and concealer, I use this brush to gently tap on my setting powder, currently the Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Powder, on my T-zone and chin. Previously a subscriber to setting with a powder puff, I've become a total convert - the brush applies a light layer of powder without disturbing my makeup AT ALL. Amazing.

P.S: the brushes all look a lil' dirty heh, I know. Proves that I've been using them frequently!! They actually all have white tips. All three featured are synthetic by the way, as with all Real Techniques brushes.

Daily School Makeup

Preface: The picture makes everything look more yellow than irl.

Face: bare, except concealer (Collection Lasting Perfection Longwear Concealer 01) on my chin pimple. Short review for the concealer: the lightest shade is a little too pinkish for my skin, but so far I really enjoy using it! It's creamy on application, but dries to a matte and impenetrable finish. I've been reaching out for it the most recently!

Eyebrows: I'm been loving MAC Eyeshadow in Concrete ever since I got it in Vancouver along with the MAC 208 brush. I'm a total convert to powder products for my brows now; they look more realistic and natural than pencil/liquid brow products?

Eyes: Clio Kill Black Brush Liner (oops, was trying to draw my eyeline downwards, but it ended up being a little crooked), MAC Wedge and Grain on my lids.

Cheeks: I am a total fan of the NYX Cream Blush in Rose Petal!!! SUCH a gorgeously natural-looking shade, and it gives my cheeks a glow due to its texture! I mentioned in a previous post that my skin seems sensitive to the formula, but I've had no problems whatsoever with it recently! Alternatively, I've been using the Clinique Cheek Pop in Peach Pop a whole lot as well.

Lips: My baby, the YSL Glossy Stain Rebel Nudes in Pink Taboo 103. It's a pretty watermelon-pink, and is quite similar in colour to the NYX Butter Gloss in Peach Cobbler. This contains subtle micro-glitter that endows the lips with a beautiful shimmery glow. I love it! One thing to note though: the YSL Glossy Stains leaves a film of product on the lips rather than really being absorbed by the lips it seems... I haven't really been impressed with its staying power compared to, say, the L'oreal Colour Extraordinaire Glosses.

My daily MAC quad

Wow this photo is as colour accurate as it gets. Taken with my new camera, Canon S120! Clockwise L-R: Concrete, Wedge, Blanc Type, Grain.

Just wanted to do a quick post about what I've noticed myself consistently using. I actually transferred these 4 colours in particular to my MAC quad that I was reserving to be used on trips as my travel eyeshadow palette.

They are: Concrete (used for my eyebrows and to line my lower lashline), Wedge (to bring warmth to my crease area and to create a slight shadow), Grain (swept over the front half of my lids, and used to highlight the inner corner so as to brighten up my eyes!), Blanc Type (my favourite brow bone highlight that simultaneously cleans up my look if I bring Wedge too high up).

Together, they create a very everyday, casual eye-look that's appropriate for school and whenever I'm lazy to think of what eyeshadows to use. Basically my default combination!

I really love all 4 of these eyeshadows, and definitely highly recommend them for beginners :) Swatches available in my previous posts!