[Lipglosseater]

FOTD # 69

2012-01-27T10:52:00.000+08:00

I look so haggard! T_T Months of sleeplessness has definitely had its toll on my skin! Pray for me that it heals soon please!! :D

Stuff i used:

Face:
Pond's Magic Powder

Cheeks:
MAC Blush in Bite of an Apple
MAC Mineralize Blush in Miss Behave (highlight)

Brows:
Daiso Eyebrow Pencil in 738 Dark Brown

Eyes:

MAC Eyeshadow in Electric Eel (all over crease)
MAC Eyeshadow in Chrome Yellow (mid crease)
MAC Eyeshadow in Saturnal (contour)
MAC Eyeshadow in Claire de Lune (highlight)
MAC Stubborn Brown Powerpoint Eye Pencil (tightline and lower outer lashline)
MAC Technakohl in Artistic License (upper lashline)
Maybelline Pulse Perfection Waterproof Vibrating Mascara in 01 Black

Lips:

MAC Lipstick in Ever Hip
MAC Dazzleglass in Goldyrock

Helllooooooooooooooooooo!!! :D

2012-01-26T11:45:00.001+08:00

I have finalllllly handed in the last of my assignments (for now)! Whoots!!! :D

My last product review was more than 2 months ago in the middle of November... and truth be told I have immersed into my school work for the past two months that I somewhat lost touch with blogging already. I have been working on this post for 3 days now, but the words just don't come out right :(

Well, one's gotta start somewhere - i'd figure that since this is a new (Chinese) year, it's perhaps fitting to review the year in past. And because pictures speak a thousand words when the tongue fails, here it goes:

2011 was pretty uneventful, partially because I decided to go back to school again ~~and the bank has dried up~~.

Thats me struggling when preparing for exams... T_T

However, all is not lost! :D I manage to sneak in some mini adventures here and there! My most exciting one, hands down, has gotta be obtaining my diver's license! :D

It's a dream come true to say the least, and I~~'m itching to buy a complete set of equipment now! T_T~~ can't wait to go dive again! :D

I also finally got the chance to visit Hatyai in Southern Thailand after all these years! Ate a juicy fat worm and it tasted alot better than the one i had at Bangkok! :D

The highlight for me blog-wise, is getting to meet these amazing ladies:

This photo is bigger because they are awesome! Lol! Do you know who's who?? :D :D

In August, I went for another dive trip, this time to Redang.

The 4S - sea, sand, sun, SCUBA - how i miss you already! Can't wait for the diving season to start again! :D

Before the year closed, I had the chance to revisit Gua Tempurung again with my colleagues, after 7 years! :D It was a heck of an adventure where we get to crawl through tiny spaces, smell guano and get my pants ripped when sliding down a slope:

All in all, 2011 is a pretty peaceful year, although laced with sleepless nights and near heart-attacks (when results are out)! lol! :D This year, I'm not going to review my resolutions like I always do here, here and here, simply because I broke every single one of them (oh dear!!) :P

So, no fancy resolutions for 2012, just one. This year, I will make an impact. I MUST.

Either that, or lose weight :P Happy Chinese New Year everyone! :D

Sneaking in a post...

2011-12-24T10:14:00.000+08:00

... to wish yall a wonderful Christmas, and another great year ahead! ;)

You know Jenn is really stressed...

2011-11-29T21:04:00.000+08:00

... when she starts buying shoes! >.<

Don't ask me why i got three pairs of pointy shoes. I don't know either! My answer to my husband: but they're different dear! One is flat, one is patent, the other one is suede!! *Innocent eyes*

Well seriously, academia is kicking my ass right now, so posts will be sporadic for the next month or two while my hair keeps dropping and the pimples on my forehead keeps popping. Do bear with me, wish me lots of luck, and in Schwarzenegger fashion, I'll be bakkkkkkk so don't go away for too long! :D

Product Review: Shiseido Tsubaki Damage Care Hair Mask

2011-11-16T00:00:00.079+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: RM41.90 / US$22.95
Weight: 180ml
Made in: Japan
Likes: Rinses clean, makes hair soft and tangle-free, lovely scent
Gripes: Can weigh hair down if used too much, tub not practical to use in a shower
Availability: Watsons, Jusco, Amazon.com
Repurchase: Yes

Ingredients:

Product Description:

Intense penetration and repair all the way to the ends of damaged hair. With hair repair ingredient that zooms in on damage.

Formulated with Pearl Livid (Pearl Protein, Lysine Derivative), for beautiful deep layer shine
With the aroma of Tsubaki Ryokuka
Formulated with Tsubaki Amino, a penetrating repair ingredient

Texture & Scent:

This hair mask has a creamy consistency, so it spreads easily unto your hair. It rinses out clean too :)

This has a lovely fresh scent that i like.

Packaging:

This hair mask comes in a plastic tub with a screw off lid. As I have mentioned before, I have a love-hate relationship with stuff that comes in a tub. On one hand you can easily dig up every morsel of product left in there, on the other, it's quite a pain to use in a tiny shower like mine :(

This is how it looks like brand new and sealed:

Open sesame - this is the amount you get with each tub:

Price & Availability:
This hair mask is priced at RM41.90 each, which I consider to be a little on the pricier side for drugstore standards. You can pick up a tub from Watsons or Jusco. Girls in the US can get this off Amazon.com for $22.95.

My $0.02:

I'd figure that it's about time I review this hairmask - I'm almost done with this tub! :P

When I first started using this, I didn't quite like it and immediately missed my Loreal Absolut Repair Hair Masque already. I thought it didn't condition as well as the aforementioned one, yet made my hair greasy. However, because I'm ~~stingy~~ persistent, I continued using it, albeit sparingly. And guess what? My hair actually likes this alot now! :D

Hair profile: waist long and abit dry at the ends. Condition has improved tremendously with the Loreal Absolut Repair Hair Masque, but still needs a hair mask daily to maintain this condition.

It took me awhile to figure out the exact amount of product needed to not grease up my scalp, yet still enough to keep my locks soft and manageable. Once i got that figured out, it really performed beautifully for me! :D

At over forty bucks per tub, it can be considered a little expensive for drugstore standards, but hey, it works for me (and is ten bucks cheaper than the Loreal one. Yay for an extra McDonalds meal! :P). I'll definitely repurchase! :)

Have you tried this hair mask before? :D

Product Review: Biore Makeup Remover for Eye and Lip + Free Sample! :D

2011-11-13T22:38:00.001+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: RM29.90 (approx. US$9.96)
Weight: 130ml
Made in: Japan
Likes: Non-oily, removes everything, the bottle is pink, affordable, easily available! :D :D
Gripes: None
Repurchase: Yes! :D

Ingredients:

Product Description

Worried about losing precious eyelashes from excessive wiping or stressing this delicate area that is prone to wrinkles and fine lines?

Biore micro cleansing formula removes eye & lip makeup quickly!

Thorough removal: Softens even heavily layered waterproof mascara and thoroughly cleanses from root to tip and in-between lashes. Also removes eye makeup like gel, liquid eyeliner and glitter eye shadow.
Gentle on eyes & lashes: Reduces need for excessive, hard and repeated wiping around eyes

Dermatologically and Ophthalmologically tested.
Contains Hyaluronic acid, a moisturizing ingredient, to keep skin around eyes moist.
Leaves no oily residue.

Directions:

Texture & Scent:

Typical of makeup removers that take off waterproof stuff, this remover has two layers - an oily layer on top and a runny layer underneath that according to the packaging, contains Hyaluronic acid.

The most surprising part for me is its non-oily texture! I was expecting this to leave an oily residue on my face because most waterproof makeup removers do, but hey, it didn't! It's seriously good stuff! :D

This product is fragrance free.

Packaging:

This makeup remover comes in a pretty pink plastic bottle with a flip top cap. The size of the dispensing hole is just nice to control the amount you pour out from the bottle:

This product comes in a plastic box:

Price & Availability:
This makeup remover is priced at RM29.90 each and is available at Watsons, Guardian, Sasa, Caring, Jusco and Aeon Wellness :)

My $0.02:

A quick shoutout to the Biore team for sending me this product - THANK YOU SO MUCH! :D Gotta love the personalized packaging this arrived in too:

Whoots! :D

I'm experiencing abit of a blogger's block now, so i'll let the pictures speak for themselves:

Liquid eyeliner - check! Waterproof mascara - check! Glitter eyeliner - check! Eyeshadow - check! No oily residue - check check check!! :D

The two obvious red lines on the right are not lipstick residue, it is my freakin cracked lip! T_T

No full-faced picture because those two look absolutely atrocious when put together, but you get the idea! This removes all traces of makeup without leaving an oily film on my face! I also like how efficient it is - it takes about 3 swipes per eye to completely remove all that gunk shown in the picture above! :D

At this price, it is an affordable option. I seriously can't fault this in anyway, and I'll definitely repurchase! :)

Ps: Along with the full-sized bottle, I got a baby bottle of this too:

Look at how small it is:

So cute! It's perfect for travelling! :D

Want to give this a whirl and see if you like it or not? You're in luck! The kind folks at Biore has offered to give the adorable 18ml sample shown above to 30 lucky Malaysian readers!

To get your free sample:

It's that easy! Once all 30 spots are filled, I will email you lucky 30 for your contact details to be forwarded to Biore. Kindly reply in 48 hours, otherwise your sample will be given to the next in list. Then just sit back, relax, and wait for your sample to arrive at your doorstep!

Faster go get your sample already! Don't forget to let me know how you like it when you have tried it! :D

This item is sent to yours truly by Kao for consideration. I am in no way affiliated with them nor do I get compensated monetarily for this post. Kindly purchase at your own discretion. Please read my disclaimer for the nitty gritty on sponsored products :)

Product Review: MAC Pleasure Principle Dazzleglass

2011-11-11T00:00:00.003+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: US$19.50 / RM84
Weight: 1.92g / 0.06 Us. Oz.
Made in: USA
Likes: Super lasting, super shiny! :D
Gripes: Limited edition, expensive, quite sticky! :(
Repurchase: Yes!

Ingredients:

Product Description

Taken from their website:

Lipcolour that dazzles with light and shine to bring an exciting dimensional pop to your lips. Large particle pearls reflect and refract light to mimic the brilliance of quartz and opal crystal. Provides exceptional shine with a crystalline iridescence. Non-sticky, non-tacky, lightweight and moisturizing. Glides on. Wear alone, or layer over lipstick or Lipglass for dramatic effect. Features our signature M·A·C vanilla aroma.

Pigmentation & Color:
This dazzleglass is basically a clear gloss with silver, teal and violet glitters. This lipgloss is like a discoball on steroids, it's SUPER BLING! :D

Skin swatch:

On my lips:

Texture & Taste:
This dazzleglass is probably one of the stickiest I've had! >.<

Packaging:
This lipgloss comes in the usual tube with a brush applicator:

The brush applicator:

The box it came in:

Time Test:
I don't know if the stickiness of this gloss had anything to do with its lasting power, but it lasted 8 hours on my lips - even after a meal its some of it is still there! :O

Price & Availability:
This is priced at RM84 each and should be available at all MAC outlets as well as on their website, but it is limited edition.

Usage:
Because of the glitters, I would reserve this for special occasions :)

My $0.02:

I didn't get this one when it first came out with the original Dazzleglass collection, and have been kicking myself ever since. I for one refuse to pay ridiculous ebay prices for this baby. Imagine my joy when I learnt that this will be repromoted with this year's holiday collection! I can now stop kicking myself and tell those e(vil)bay sellers to go kick themselves instead! Hehehe! :D

This dazzleglass is still as pretty as I remember it to be! It's so shiny and bling, more so than all of the other dazzleglasses! :D

This, however, is rather sticky. As mentioned above I'm not sure if this had anything to do with its lasting power though, cuz this lasted more than 8 hours on my lips! :D

All in all I'm really loving this shade, and I'll surely repurchase, if I run out that is! :D

Product Review: MAC Beauty Powder in How Beautiful!

2011-11-09T00:00:00.062+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: US$24 / RM98
Weight: 10g / 0.35 US oz
Made in: USA
Likes: Gives a lovely glow to the skin, finely milled :)
Gripes: Limited edition :(
Repurchase: Yes

Ingredients:

Product Description

Taken from their website:

Cool and frosted. Soft and shimmering. The Glitter & Ice spirit of the season in an ultra-luxurious pressed powder. Graceful as all Beauty Powders should be. The inspiration behind the silver-domed glossy white compact - a snowglobe!

Pigmentation & Color:

This beauty powder is described as a shimmery pale taupe on the MAC website. I don't know about you, but I've always pictured taupe to be greyish and much darker! :D This powder is a shimmery pinky beige on me.

This swatches much lighter and pinker than it is in the pan. This is one of the more pigmented beauty powders - it actually shows up on my cheeks! :D

Finger swatch:

From left: Outer color, marbled middle color, both together

And this is me wearing this blush, applied 2x with the MAC 136:

Squint and you shall see! Haha! Featured here with the Pleasure Principle Dazzleglass (review coming tomorrow! :D)! :D

Texture:
This one is slight more powdery than the usual beauty powders, but still lovely in terms of texture! :D

Packaging:

This beauty powder comes in a flip top compact with a mirror in it. This being from the Holiday collection features a pure white compact with reflective silver letterings on it:

The box it came in is silver too:

Time Test:
This product lasts about 7 hours on me :)

Price & Availability:
This beauty powder is priced at RM98, and should be available at all MAC stores. It is limited edition though, so grab it before it sells out!

Usage:
This is perfect as a finishing powder! :D

My $0.02:

I'm a huge fan of the beauty powders from MAC. They're always so finely milled, silky smooth, and gives such a lovely soft focus glow to the face! :D

This beauty powder is no different! One of the more pigmented beauty powders, it does show up on my skin (I'm NW20)! :D

I can't really think of what I don't like about this beauty powder, except maybe it's limited edition! If Malaysia starts to snow and I actually finished this, I will definitely repurchase then! Hehehe!! :D

MAC Ice Parade Holiday 2011 Collection Review + Swatches - Pt. 2! :D

2011-11-07T12:34:00.001+08:00

~~Here's a quick post on the rest of the holiday collection! :D Review will be posted tomorrow or the day after, so stay tuned! :D~~

Here's the 2nd part to the MAC Holiday collection, consisting of the palettes, kits and brushes! :D These usually offer a good deal as compared to purchasing the items in the set separately.

Snowglobe Eye Shadows (US$38 / RM188):

This year's eyeshadow palette features a pretty snowglobe on the top:

Unfortunately, the novelty wore off quickly for me when I realised that it meant that these palettes cannot be stacked :(

6 Snowglobe Eye Shadows / Warm:

This palette is SO PRETTY! I'm never a fan of Lustre-finish shadows, but i'll have to say that the ones in this palette behaved really well and had minimal fallout! :D The colors are so pretty too! :D

Winterscape (Lustre) - Bright taupe pearl
Magical Mist (Lustre) - Sparkle concrete
Patina (Frost) - Taupe brown with golden pearl
Buckwheat (Velvet) - Bark brown
Gaelic Gold (Veluxe Pearl) - Gold
Midnight Flurry (Matte) - Dark warm black

6 Snowglobe Eye Shadows / Cool:

I love my blues, but somehow this palette is just "meh" for me. Perhaps my disinterest is due to the shades leaning a little purple, but that's just me. All shadows in this palette apply nicely :)

Snowball (Frost) - Frost white
Illegal Cargo (Frost) - Pale lavender
Idol Eyes (Lustre) - Silvered violet with gold
Warm & Smoky (Veluxe Pearl) - Medium purple
Howzat (Satin) - Slate
Set to dance (Matte) - Dark royal blue

6 Snowglobe Eye Shadows / Sultry:

Just when I thought MAC had actually improved their holiday palettes, they had to release a completely YUCK palette! >.< The shadows in this palette are chalky, glittery, and dry :(

Lightfully (Lustre) - White with pink reflect
Trax (Velvet) - Burgundy-plum with shimmer
Fun! (Lustre) - Pink patina
Festive Delight (Lustre) - Bordeaux wine
Black Tied (Velvet) - Black with silver sparkle
Shadowly Lady (Matte) - Blackened plum

Eye Bags (US$45 / RM248):

These, um, eye bags (what a name! Imagine somebody going "Hey, I got my eye bags from MAC!" >.<) are really pretty! :D All shadows swatch beautifully, with the exeption of Celestial Black. I'm personally a huge fan of the MAC Technakohl liners because they're just sooo smooth and easy to use! :D

Iced Delights Eye Bag / Gold:
Baby, It's Cold... (Frost) - Butter yellow frost
Woodsmoke (Frost) - Muted emerald green
Brownborder Technakohl Liner - Deep chocolate brown
Zoomlash Fast Black - Deepest black
275SE brush

Iced Delights Eye Bag / Silver:
Silverwear (Frost) - Metallic lavender
Blue Spruce (Velvet) - Marine blue with lavender sparkle
Graphblack Technakohl Liner - Rich graphic black
Zoomlash Zoom Black - Deepest black
275SE brush

Iced Delights Eye Bag / Pearl:
Taupeless (Lustre) - Lavender pink
Celestial Black (Velvet) - Rich blue black with red pearl
Purple Dash Technakohl Liner - Intense purple
Zoomlash Fast Black - Deepest black
275SE brush

Iced Delights Lip Bags (US$38 / RM158) and Ice Delights Nail and Lip Bags (US$36 / RM158):

The mini nail polishes are SO CUTE! :D My personal favourite of the lot is the Rocking Nail and Lip Bag - the colors are just so vibrate and festive! :D

Iced Delights Lip Bag / Wintercool:
Creme d Nude Lipstick (Cremesheen) - Pale muted peach beige
Fashion Whim Cremesheen Glass - Pink flesh
Stripdown Lip Pencil - Creamy brown-beige

Iced Delights Lip Bag / Sultry:
I Love Winter Lipstick (Cremesheen) - Medium passionfruit
Deelight Cremesheen Glass - Raisonette
Boldly Bare Lip Pencil - Dirty red brown

Iced Delights Nail & Lip Bag / Rocking:
Kanga Rouge Lipstick (Amplified) - Bright red
Golden Blanket Lipglass - Translucent with silver pearl
Asiatique Nail Lacquer (Cream) - Bright cherry red

Iced Delights Nail & Lip Bag / Pure Drama:
Hang Up Lipstick (Cremesheen) - Deep berry
Frozen Lame Lipglass - Frosty nude
Vintage Vamp Nail Lacquer (Cream) - Rich deep retro wine

Ice Parade Viva Glam Melt Your Heart Lip Bag (US$36 / RM138):

These two lipsticks are really lovely, although Gaga is a little too pink for my sallow skin! :D I do think I've preached enough about Viva Glam lipsticks and the MAC Aids Fund, so I'll shuddap this time and leave your ears in peace already :P

Gaga (Lustre) - Pink. Read my review here.
Gaga 2 (Amplified) - Nude. Read my review here.

Fabulously Festive Face Kits (US$59.50 / RM288):

The Face kits are such an amazing deal! It easily costs double that amount if one were to purchase everything in this set individually! My local store, being a partner store, only had the Nordstrom Exclusive palette and not the rest, so I apologize for not having swatches for those.

Festive Frost Face Kit (Nordstrom Exclusive):

This palette is so so so SO PRETTY!!! The colors go so well together, and I thought this will make an amazing travel kit! :D

Once Upon a Time (Veluxe Pearl) - A repromote from last year's 6 Dashing Lassie palette
Expensive Pink (Veluxe Pearl) - This is a permanent shade.
Below Zero (Veluxe Pearl)
Embark (Matte) - This is a permanent shade.
Buff (Matte) - This is a permanent shade
Imagine This Lipstick (Amplified) - A repromote from last year's A Fabulous Fantasy lip palette
Tra-la-la Lipglass
Brushes - 129SE, 266SE and 275SE.

Not swatched:

Fabulously Festive Face Kit / Wintercool:
Phloof! (Frost) - Frosted off-white
Quarry (Matte) - Soft muted plum brown
Dance in the Dark (Matte) - Dark brown
Brun (Satin) - Muted blackish-brown
Mocha Blush (Matte) - Soft plum-pink
Hot Gossip Lipstick (Frost) - Medium pink
Emancipation Lipglass - Creamy light pink

Fabulously Festive Face Kit / Warm:
Golden Flurry (Lustre) - Nude sparkle
Omega (Matte) - Soft muted beige-taupe
Soft Brown (Matte) - Soft golden peachy-brown
Carbon (Matte) - Intense black
Seasonal Appeal Blush (Matte) - Adobe clay
Mellowarm Lipstick (Frost) - Medium peach
Join the Party Lipglass - Creamy pale peach
Brushes - 129SE, 266SE, 275SE

Make It Perfect Brush Kits (US$49.50 / RM268):

Last but not the least, the brush sets! :D It's no new news that the Special Edition brushes do not feel and perform the same as their full sized, handmade counterparts, but I'll have to say that this year's SE brushes feel alot more solid than the ones from the past 3 years! :)

Make It Perfect Brush Kit / Essential: 190 SE, 275 SE, 266 SE and 226 SE
Make It Perfect Brush Kit / Special Edition: 167 SE, 168 SE, 239 SE, 217 SE and 212 SE
Make It Perfect Brush Kit / Mineralize: 187 SE, 130 SE, 286 SE and 282 SE

Thats all for now! Didcha get anything? Annnnnnnd I'm finally done with assignments, at least for this month. I can go to bed now... Zzzzzz

MAC Glitter and Ice Holiday 2011 Collection Review + Swatches - Pt. 1! :D

2011-11-05T08:50:00.008+08:00

Here's a quick post on all swatches for the Glitter and Ice collection because I have one assignment that is almost due and I have NO CLUE about it! T_T Check back again in a few days time yeah for the review! :D

This is the colour collection of MAC's annual Holiday collection. This year's collection features pure white packaging corresponding to its "Glitter and Ice" figure skating theme. Though I much prefer this year's packaging than last year's, I secretly hoped that the compacts are shimmery though (like the Moon Bathe ones), but oh well, can't get everything you wished for can you! :D

Ok without further ado, lets go onto the stuff! :D

Mineralize Eye Shadows (US$21 / RM85):

Sadly, we only got 2 out of the 6 mineralize eyeshadows, so I apologize for not having swatches for the rest :( :( Like previous MESes, these are smooth and pigmented, albeit a little glittery (probably because they are festive :D).

Fresh Ice - White silver melange
Snow Season - Soft taupe melange

Not swatched:
Hold That Pose! - Pale mauve melange
Frozen Blue - Blue silver melange
Shimmermint - Pale green melange
Winterized - Dirty purple with silver, indigo and pink melange

Paint Pots (US$18.50 / RM74):

The paint pots from this collection are SO PRETTY!! Paint pots tend to be drying on me but I find these really smooth and easy to blend! :D

Let's Skate - Pale pink with pearl
Morning Frost - Shimmering champagne taupe
For Effect - Black with pearl

Technakohl Liner (US$16 / RM68):

I wasn't really feeling them when reading online reviews prior to seeing them in person because many people find them hard to apply. I did not experience that though - all 6 liners are really smooth and easy to use! I believe these cannot be used on the waterline because they are glittery!

Silver Skates - Silver with pearl
Going for Gold - Gold with pearl
Seasonally Spicy - Brown with pearl
Fancy Moves - Violet with pearl
Practice Makes Perfect - Navy with pearl
Smooth Manoeuvre - Black with pearl

Lipsticks (US$15.50 / RM71):

With the exception of the last two, all lipsticks from this collection are quite sheer.

Eloquent Air (Glaze) - Sheer white silver
Double Spin (Cremesheen) - Pale mauve pink
Whirls & Twirls (Glaze) - Sheer pink with gold pearl
Soft Sable (Frost) - Cool frosted taupe
Such Flare (Matte) - True red
What Joy! (Satin) - Deep berry

Dazzleglasses (US$19.50 / RM84):

Yums, my favourite lipglosses ever! :D As I mentioned before somewhere, Dazzleglasses are not meant to be pigmented and offer little to no coverage. They are meant to add shimmer and bling to your lips, and they look stunning layered over lipstick! :D

Pleasure Principle - Clear white violet, teal and white pearl. This has been on my wishlist since I missed it when it first launched! Now it's mineeee baybeh! :D
She-zam - Sheer silver with silver and red pearl. A repromoted from two Christmases ago. Read my review here.
Glitter and Ice - Light nude with white and gold pearl
Dressed to Dazzle - Pale dirty pink with red and gold pearl
Love Alert - Raspberry red with red pearl. A repromote from the permanent line, but the one from this collection seemed a little more pigmented. Read my review here.
Spanking Rich - Raspberry pink with red and gold pearl. A repromote from the original Dazzleglass collection.

Beauty Powders (US$24 / RM98):

I'm a huge fan of Beauty Powders! They're so finely milled and look so natural on the skin! :D The ones in this collection are GORGEOUS, especially How Beautiful! :D

Snowglobe - Frosted pinky beige
How Beautiful! - Pale shimmering taupe

Nail Lacquers (US$16 / RM45):

Two coats each.

The nail polishes from this collection are just so-so, though I find Unconditionally Fabulous a fun shade to have (though I'm pretty sure that there are tons other cheaper alternatives available out there)!

Festive Finery - Dirty midtone greyed violet
Get Noticed! - True bright red
Unconditionally Fabulous - Super sparkle white

Thats all for now! Didcha get anything from this collection? :D Stay tuned for the kits, I promise I'll post as fast as I can! :D Have a wonderful (long) weekend, everyone! :D

Product Review: MAC Viva Glam Gaga Lipstick

2011-11-02T00:00:00.007+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: US$14.50 / RM65
Weight: 3g / 0.10 US Oz.
Made in: Canada
Likes: Nice texture, non-drying, it's for a good cause! :)
Gripes: Limited edition, takes a few layers for an even finish, the color can look ridiculous on me if applied too heavily.
Repurchase: No

Ingredients:

Product Description

NA

Pigmentation & Color:

This lipstick is a blueish Barbie / Bubblegum pink which I have to admit, is not for everyone (especially me! >.<). This being a Lustre lipstick isn't meant to provide an opaque finish. However, I find that I have to apply a few layers in order to achieve an even finish.

Swatch:

And on my lips:

Texture & Scent:
MAC Lustre lipsticks usually apply smoothly. I've read about how some people find Lustre lipsticks drying - I don't experience that with this lipstick though. This has a very faint vanilla scent.

Packaging:

MAC Viva Glam lipsticks usually come in the usual black lipstick bullet, but with a signature red ring and MAC letters on the front.

Once you remove the cover, you can see Lady Gaga's signature in there:

The box also have that same signature, albeit in red hot metallic red:

Time Test:
This lipstick lasts about 4 hours on my lips before it fades.

Price & Availability:
This lipstick was priced at US$14.50 / RM63 when I bought it, but it has been discontinued now. It's been repromoted though with the Holiday collection - you get both the Viva Glam Gaga's lipsticks and a beautiful red bag for $36.

My $0.02:

I'll be the first to admit - I'm terrified of pinks for my lids and lips, especially blueish, loud Barbie pinks like this one, and I'm terrified of Lady Gaga. For some strange reason, MAC manage to put BOTH of them together and create something that would end up in my shopping bag! Oh MAC, how you do me in...

Lol! Seriously though, this is one of the more "wearable" bubblegum pinks there is out there, but I'll not lie - it CAN look ridiculous on me if i pile on the layers. Case in point:

Featuring this lippie on my lips, MAC Pink Swoon blush on cheeks.

See what I mean! It's totally WRONG for my skintone! Haha! But, the beauty with makeup is that the colours are just as limited as your imagination. Mix it with a gold gloss, and tada:

Featuring this lippie and the MAC Liberated lipglass on my lips, NARS Orgasm on cheeks, MAC Artistic License Technakohl on lids.

See, no more pink now! Haha! Ok, I know that defeats the whole purpose of wearing a pink lipstick, but hear me out! Although this is not a color that I'd consider repurchasing, I usually make it a point to purchase at least a Viva Glam lipstick every year ~~to ease my conscience~~ because I really like what MAC is doing with the MAC Aids Fund - seldom do you see companies donating 100% of the sale price of an item for a good cause :) So happen that last year's was a pink one, so oh well, pink it is then ~~(Voice in head: Excuses, excuses, excuses, you could have left the counter with just the Cyndi Lauper one you know. Just admit it already, you can't say no to MAC!)~~.

*ahem* Sorry! Reading back, this post is like a verbal vomit! >.< This is what you get when you sleep only 3 hours a day! >.<

Ok, to summarize, while I love its smooth texture, the color's not right for me. That being said, I won't be repurchasing, unless MAC comes up with another pink, limited edition Viva Glam...

Over to you. Will you be buying the Viva Glam set this year? :D

Product Review: MAC Viva Glam Gaga 2 Lipstick

2011-11-01T00:00:00.023+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: US$14.50 / RM65
Weight: 3g / 0.10 US Oz.
Made in: Canada
Likes: Lovely color, doesn't feel drying on the lips, it's for a good cause! :)
Gripes: None! :D
Repurchase: Yes

Ingredients:

Product Description

The VIVA GLAM and Lady Gaga collaboration takes off again with a shade as enigmatic as the Diva's star persona. A light warm beige with an Amplified finish, the look is as cool as only she can be. All monies raised go the M∙A∙C AIDS Fund to help support people living with HIV/AIDS. Limited edition.

Pigmentation & Color:

This shade is described as a light natural beige on the website, and I would say that that is accurate. This swatches lighter than it is in the tube, and the color on your lips varies with the undertones / pigmentation of your lips. On my lips it leans a little pink! :)

Skin swatch:

And on my lips:

Texture & Scent:
I personally am a great fan of the Amplified finish - it's so rich and pigmented, yet soft and creamy! :D Similar to most other MAC lipsticks, this has their signature vanilla scent that i find kinda yummy! :D~

Packaging:

This lipstick comes in the regular black twist up tube with a screw off cap. This being a Viva Glam has special red letterings on it! :)

On the twist up tube itself is Lady Gaga's signature:

Anddd, this is box it came in:

Time Test:
I typically get about 6 hours wear for Amplified finish lipsticks.

Price & Availability:
This lipstick is priced at US$14.50 / RM65, and is available at all MAC stores as well as their website. This is limited edition, however. Also, consumers have the choice to either purchase this individually, or as part of a set together with the original bubblegum pink Gaga lipstick (review coming up tomorrow! :D) in the Holiday collection.

My $0.02:

Come to think of it, although most of my FOTDs feature a neutral lip, i don't ever recall doing a nude nude lip per se.

This is my 2nd nude lippie, the first one being Fleshpot, which made me look like the living dead. This is darker, and it leans a little pink so it works for me! :D

Featuring this lippie on my lips, NARS Torrid blush on cheeks.

Depending on your skintone, this may or may not wash you out. I find that I have to pair this with strong eyes and brighter cheeks to counter the nude lips.

Anddddd, I LOVE the amplified creme formula - it glides on like a dream, is so pigmented and most of all, it's so comfortable to wear! :D

I can't really think of anything I didn't like about this lipstick, except that I'll definitely miss it when it's gone! :) If it's still available by the time i'm done with this tube, i'll definitely repurchase! :D

Do you own this? How do you like it? :D

MAC Ice Parade and Dazzlesphere Collection Pt. 2 + Viva Glam + Kids Helping Kids! :D

2011-10-31T00:00:00.009+08:00

Just when you think you have seen the last of the Holiday Collection here and here, here comes yet another (and FINAL, i promise!! :D) part of the holiday collection! :D

This collection features the yearly mini pigment / lipgloss sets that typically launches about two weeks after the two aforementioned collections. This year, however, they have included a mini Nail Lacquer set, which i thought was BRILLIANT! :D

Mini Nail Lacquer Kit (US$25.50):

Dark Angel - Green
Style Tip - Soft pink nude
Much Adored - Sheer white pink with pearl
Mistletoe - Pale gold

Crushed Metallic Pigment Kits (US$32.50):

Dazzlesphere! Smoky Berry Crushed Metallic Pigment Kit:

Pearl - Pearl
Rose - Light Rose
Spicy Smoke - Dark strawberry
Roasted Chestnut - Deep chocoalte with gold pearl

Dazzlesphere! Smoky Blue Crushed Metallic Pigment Kit:

White as Snow - Snowy white
Silver Sleet - Medium grey
Wintersky - Purple blue
Dark Moon - Charcoal

Dazzlesphere! Smoky Plum Crushed Metallic Pigment Kit:

Light Violet - Pale violet
Grape - Purple
Seasonally Cool - Sparkle taupe
Misty - Pale silver

Mini Gloss Kits (US$32.50):

Dazzlesphere! Neutral Mini Gloss Kit:

Bare Necessity - Caramel apricot with red and gold pearlized pigments (Dazzleglass). See swatch here.
Get Rich Quick - Warm yellow brown (Dazzleglass). See swatch here or here.
Boy Bait - Light neutral beige with pearl (Cremesheen Glass). See swatch here, here and here.
Over Indulgence - Neutral brown (Cremesheen Glass). See swatch here.

Dazzlesphere! Coral Mini Gloss Kit:

Phiff! - Yellow pink with red and sapphire pearl (Dazzleglass). Repromoted from here.
Eurobeat - Peach coral with gold pearl (Dazzleglass). See swatch here.
On the Scene - Light coral beige (Cremesheen Glass). Repromoted from here.
Richer, Lusher - Peach coral (Cremesheen Glass). See swatch here.

Dazzlesphere! Pink Mini Gloss Kit:

Rags to Riches - Plummy pink with red pearlized pigments (Dazzleglass). Swatch.
Like Venus - Clean light bubblegum pink with red pearl (Dazzleglass). Swatch here.
Fashion Scoop - Clear pink (Cremesheen Glass). Swatch here.
Petite Indulgence - Mid-tone bright blue pink (Cremesheen Glass).

Remember the Viva Glam surprise I mentioned earlier? You're gonna love it! :D

Viva Glam Melt Your Heart Lip Bag ($36):

Viva Glam Gaga - Pink (Lustre)
Viva Glam Gaga 2 - Nude (Amplified)

Kids Helping Kids Teddy Bear Ornament (US$18):

Silver Teddy Bear
Viva Glam 1 (SE)

I reaaaaaally hope we get the teddy bear this year, because it's gonna look SO CUTE on my dresser! :D I'll try my best to get the reviews for the two Viva Glam lipsticks up by this week so that you can see it before it launches here! And Penang girls, the Holiday collection launches locally on the 3rd (Thursday), so head on over to MAC during the weekend if you need to pick something up! :D

Oh, before I forget, if you're the kind who prefer to mail out traditional Christmas cards, do check out the Kids Helping Kids holiday cards:

Kids Helping Kids Holiday Cards (US$10):

6 Greeting Cards with Envelopes
12 Greeting Cards with Envelopes

100% of the value of the Viva Glam lipsticks as well as the Kids Helping Kids cards will be donated to the MAC Aids Fund, so you're actually doing charity whilst looking pretty! :)

Ok enough of preachy talk from mua! Are you gonna get anything from this collection? :D

Credits: All pictures from Beautyinsider.ru, color story from Temptalia.com.

MAC She-Zam Dazzleglass over lipstick! :D

2011-10-28T14:11:00.001+08:00

Readers Galaxia and my girl Gio requested to see how the MAC She-Zam Dazzleglass looks over lipstick, so here it goes! :D

This is me wearing the She-Zam Dazzleglass only:

Looks pretty right? Wait till you see what's coming up! :D

This is the MAC Russian Red lipstick, on its own (a review is brewing in the background, btw! Stay tuned! :D):

Pretty, you say. But wait till you see this:

MAC Russian Red Lipstick + MAC She-Zam = The Bomb!!! <3 The dazzleglass just gives it such a beautiful, polished finish and lends another dimension to an otherwise matte lip! :D

Itching to get She-Zam now? You're in luck - it will be repromoted with the Glitter and Ice Holiday Collection again, so go grab one already! Don't miss out again! Hehehe! :D

Have a great weekend everyone! :D

Product Review: MAC She-Zam Dazzleglass

2011-10-28T00:00:00.000+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: US$18 / RM80
Weight: 1.92g / 0.06 Us. Oz.
Made in: USA
Likes: Lasting, fun color, layers over lipstick beautifully! :D
Gripes: Limited edition, expensive! :(
Repurchase: Yes!

Ingredients:

Product Description

Taken from their website:

Lipcolour that dazzles with light and shine to bring an exciting dimensional pop to your lips. Large particle pearls reflect and refract light to mimic the brilliance of quartz and opal crystal. Provides exceptional shine with a crystalline iridescence. Non-sticky, non-tacky, lightweight and moisturizing. Glides on. Wear alone, or layer over lipstick or Lipglass for dramatic effect. Features our signature M·A·C vanilla aroma.

Pigmentation & Color:
The dazzleglasses are not meant to be very pigmented. They're fun, shimmery lipglosses that look amazing when layered over lipsticks! :D

This dazzleglass is not different - it goes on almost clear with silver and violet sparkles (though the website says silver and red).

Skin swatch:

On my lips:

Texture:
This dazzleglass is not actually sticky, but its not too runny either. IMHO its the perfect compromise between the two extremes and it helps to prolong its staying power :)

Packaging:
This lipgloss comes in the usual tube with a brush applicator:

The box it came in:

Time Test:
I typically get about 6 hours wear, shorter I had a meal in between :)

Price & Availability:
I got this one RM80 / US$18 each, but the one from the upcoming Glitter and Ice collection will cost abit more because it has special packaging (US$19.50 each). This should be available at all MAC outlets as well as on their website, but it will be limited edition.

Usage:
Because of the glitters, I would reserve this for special occasions :)

My $0.02:

Wow, has two years passed already since the Magic, Mirth and Mischief collection already?! :S It's about time i get around to actually START USING the stuff i bought! :P

Anyways, methinks that this is a fun shade to have. I'll not lie - this is not for everyone, especially not those who're not a fan of silver glitters on their lips, but hey, it's the holiday season! :D Truth be told this is hardly tacky (unless you really pile it on)... and it looks absolutely beautiful when layered over another lipstick! :D

The dazzleglasses do last on the lips as well. I think that could be atributed to its medium thick consistency - I typically get about 6 hours of wear, which is great! :)

On the downside, this IS expensive (even more so than the Dior Addict lipglosses if you're calculating by weight)! Within that decently sized tube you're only getting 0.06 ounces of product, which is almost 1/3 the amount of a usual lipglass :(

That being said, I don't regret getting this back then at all. Ok maybe I do, because I much prefer the packaging of the upcoming one! :D

Jenn Asks: What products have you finished in the past month?

2011-10-27T00:00:00.057+08:00

Inspired by Connie's Beauty Budgeting post, I dug up the empties I had and am pleasantly surprised at how many products I have finished using recently (perhaps having a shoe-string budget this year has its benefits as well!)! :D

Never have I been so happy because I ran out of 3 different kinds of shampoos... AT THE SAME TIME! ~~Now I can go buy more~~! Whoots! Haha! :D

Pantene Hair Fall Control Shampoo, Tsubaki Shining Shampoo and the Clairol Herbal Essences Weighty and Strong shampoo. Just in case you're wondering, yes, I was rotating between 4 different shampoos (the other one being the Tresemme Deep Cleansing Shampoo), because I'm horribly spoilt like that :P

I also finished up a bottle of the MAC Cleanse Off Oil:

and my beloved Lancome Spot Eraser:

I finished the Estee Lauder Brilliant Cells serum too:

Now pat me on the back already! Hehehe!! :D

This isn't exactly clearing out my stash, but I actually used 3.5 packs of the 3M Acne Patch within a month:

That's how bad my pimples are! T_T

How about you? Didcha finish using any products lately? :D

Product Review: Loreal Total Repair Night Essence

2011-10-26T00:00:00.001+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: RM32.90
Weight: 150ml
Made in: Indonesia
Likes: Lightweight, absorbs quickly, doesn't leave a residue on clothes / pillow, easily available.
Gripes: Does nothing for regularly conditioned hair, not a fan of the scent
Repurchase: No

Ingredients:

Product Description:

The 1st total reparation of the 5 signs of damaged hair with Cement-Ceramide, L'OREAL's exclusive active ingredient, that works similarly to natural hair cement, Ceramide. It helps keep hair strong and healthy by filling in cracks for strengthened and resilient hair and sealing hair scales for replenished moisture and ultra-smooth and ultra-shiny hair surface. Split-ends are prevented.

Texture & Scent:

This hair serum has a light runny texture that spreads easily. I love how it absorbs quickly into the hair with no stickiness left behind.

This has a floral scent that I'm not crazy about, and it lasts for hours :(

Packaging:

This hair serum comes in a plastic pump bottle with a clear plastic cap. The pump bottle travels well because the top is sealed, but that also means that you can't open it to scoop out the last morsels of product when it's almost empty.

The dispensing outlet is kinda big, but it makes sense because most of us will use quite abit of product to saturate our hair:

It comes with a adorable little plug for the outlet to prevent spillage:

Price & Availability:
This hair serum is priced at RM32.90 and is available at all Watsons / Guardian outlets as well as your local supermarket. I got mine from Thailand for only 199 baht with no discount, whoots! :D

My $0.02:

Ever since I got this during a weekend trip across the border earlier this year, I have been using this every now and then, but with no remarkable results. True, my hair was soft and manageable, but I could achieve similar results without using this (just using the Loreal Absolut Repair hair masque).

Remember my Redang dive trip when I said that I will test drive this out? I didn't bring any conditioner with me, just this product. We all know how sea water makes your hair parched and dry, but this product manage to soften my hair and kept it tangle free.

While I love how lightweight its texture is, and how it doesn't leave a residue on your pillow, this is kind of redundant for me since I condition my hair daily. That being said, I don't think I'll be repurchasing.

Have you tried this product before? Do share in the comments! :D And oh, Happy Diwali to all my Indian readers! Have a wonderful new year ya! For the rest of us Malaysians, happy holidays and have fun! :D

MAC Fall Trend Collection Review + Swatches! :D

2011-10-25T00:00:00.000+08:00

Wat Ratchaburana, Ayutthaya

I hope I didn't confuse you with the picture ahead, this IS indeed the review of the Fall Trend collection! :D My local MAC just happen to not get the displayer for this collection, that is why I don't have the usual displayer picture for this! I don't get 4 seasons where I live, but I thought the orange tones and botak (bald) tree in the pic above does give the "Fall" vibe, so there it goes! :D

I must confess that I have NO IDEA who Cindy Sherman was before! A renown photography and director, she is the brainchild behind this collection. Here, she transforms herself into 3 distinct characters: A sultry goddess (Midnight Blue - featuring dark colors), sweet girly (Angel Flame - pastels) and a clown (Wild Colors - blindingly bright colors!).

The most noteworthy product in this collection has got to be the Lightscapade mineralize skinfinish. First seen in the Danse collection in 2006, this is a much prized and sought after item (fetching insane prices online!). I'm also loving the super bright pro pigments - i guess people living in a country without a Pro store will be happy! Hehehe!! :D

I didn't swatch the items according to their characters because i couldn't remember which belongs to which, lol. So here they are, all jumbled up! :D

Eyeshadow Quads (US$38 / RM140):

Eyeshadow x 4: Angel Flame Quad:

I love how this quad has a dark color to counter balance all the pastels in there. Angel Flame is absolutely GORGEOUS! :D

Chamomile (Satin) - Creamy pale yellow. A repromote from last year's Warm & Cozy collection - its still as chalky and hard to swatch as I remember it to be! >.<
Angel Flame (Frost) - Coral that flashes pink / yellow
Feather Pink (Satin) - Midtone pink
Gravel (Matte) - Blue-grey

Eyeshadow x 4: Parlour Smoke Quad:

I'll have to confess that I wasn't impressed with this one when I first saw it - it looks so boring and blah! However, the colors work beautifully together and I can see all colors working together to create a sultry smokey eye! Indigo Noir had the worst texture among all 4 shadows - it's hard and difficult to swatch.

Parlor Smoke (Frost) - Mauve grey
Cross Cultural (Matte) - Neutral brown. Last seen in the All Ages, All Races, All Sexes collection.
Indigo Noir (Matte) - Navy
Steel (Veluxe Pearl) - Almost black

Eyeshadows (US15 / RM58):

Three Ring Yellow (Veluxe Pearl) - Yellow green
Passionate (Matte) - Mid-tone red. Permanent.
Shock-A-Holic (Satin) - Deep purple. A repromote from the Dare to Wear collection last year. This definitely has a better texture than the one released previously - i wonder if thats due to the change in formulation (the former was a Matte).
Blue Candy (Satin) - Clean blue
Royale (Matte) - Clean violet

Pigments (US$20 / RM82):

Wow! Can we say madness? Neo Orange and especially Magenta Madness has gotta be the MOST blinding pigments there are out there! So bright and eye-catching! :D These are permanent PRO products, so Malaysians, grab it while its still available already! :D

Of the lot, Blue Storm is the most beautiful (but then again, you know I love my blues). All have a wonderfully smooth texture :)

Neo-Orange - Intense neon salmon
Magenta Madness - Intense neon blue pink
Violet - Vivid bright violet purple
Blue Storm - Rich metallic blue
Starless Night - Deep black purple with light purple pearl
Tan - Muted pinky brown bronze

Not swatched (not available locally):
Emerald Dusk - Deep yellow blue with white pearl
Golden Olive - High frosted green-gold

Chromagraphic Pencils (US$15 / RM62):

Process Magenta - Matte magenta
Basic Red - Primary red
Rich Purple - Dense purple
High Def Cyan - Cyan blue

Fluidline (US$15 / RM72):

Ash Violet - Blackened purple

Not swatched:
Blacktrack - Solid flat black. This is from the permanent line, click here to see it on my lids! :D

Lipsticks (US$15 / RM65):

Fleshpot (Satin) - pale muted pinky beige
X-S (Satin) - Dirty red chestnut
Neon Orange (Amplified) - Bright clean orange
Show Orchid (Amplified) - Vivid hot pink
Fusion Pink (Amplified) - Bright coral
Violetta (Amplified) - Bright clean violet purple

Not swatched (not available locally):
Ruby Woo (Matte) - Vivid brightly coral-red
Plum Bright (Lustre) - Purple

Lipglasses (US$14.50 / RM65):

C-Thru - Peachy beige with shimmer. Permanent.
Orange Tempera - Pale peach
Good Times - Pale Mauve
Pink Fade - Pale pink

Lip Erase (US$18.50 / RM83):

This product works kinda like a concealer, and is used to neutralise the lip color. This product would be particularly useful for people with pigmented lips who wish to use light lip colors.

Dim - N37

Mineralize Skinfinishes (US$28 / RM115):

Put up your hand if you're excited about these!! :D They're soooooo buttery smooth and so pretty to look at! :D

Lightscapade - Soft candlelit beige with multidimensional shimmer. This repromote is much, much smoother and a gadzillion times less chunky than the original release. However, the multi-colored veinings is really minimal in this repromote! And oh, doesn't this product reminds you of our childhood creamsicle - PADDLEPOP! :D
Porcelain Pink - Soft pinky coral with gold veining. This is a repromote from the Colour Craft collection! :)

Bronzing Powder (US$23 / RM90):

Solar Riche - Midtone deep orange brown. The bronzing powder that has been repromoted to death (lol!), see other swatches here, here, and here :)

Nail Lacquers (US15 / RM42):

Coco Clay - Warm Chocolate
Oyster Shell - Light stone grey. This color is much, much prettier in person! :D

Thats all for now! Didcha get anything from this collection? Paddlepop, anybody? :D

MAC Posh Paradise Collection Review + Swatches! :D

2011-10-24T00:00:00.125+08:00

This collection brings back the all-popular Mattene lipsticks, which give a semi-matte appearance yet without the dryness of a traditional matte lipstick. They're housed in a slim lipstick wand not unlike the old, discontinued Slimshine Lipsticks. This collection also features 8 colorful paintpots which are bound to be a hit with paint pot fanatics! :D

This collection offers 2 nail lacquers too (which look ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS in the nail swatches I've seen online), but I apologize for not having any swatches for them because we did not get them :(

Mattene Lipsticks (US$14.50 / RM68):

Unknown Pleasures - Deep red blue
Seeds of Desire - Deep brown plum
Delectable - Orange-beige
Naked Bliss - Neutral light pink
Fresh Amour - Light Lavender
Eden Rouge - Bright blue-red
Deliciously Forbidden - Mid-tone berry
Potent Fig - Deep blue grape

Not swatched (not available locally):
Rare Exotic - Bright midtone blue pink
Legendary - Midtone brick red

Paint Pots (US$17.50 / RM70):

Pure Creation - Midtone frosty blue
Imaginary - Blackened navy
Hyperviolet - Deep violet
Idyllic - Mid-tone copper bronze
Genuine Treasure - Reflects antique gold

Not swatched (not available locally):
Treasure Hunt - Light pearled yellow
Nubile - Light peachy nude
Half-Wild - Mid-tone purple

Thats all for this collection! Are you a fan of the Mattenes / Paint Pots? :D

MAC Ice Parade and Dazzlesphere Collection Pt. 1! :D

2011-10-21T00:00:00.000+08:00

And here comes the annual holiday bunch consisting of eye palettes, brush sets and the like, all with that beautiful white / silver themed packaging! :D

Eye Palettes (US$38):

Cool Eyeshadow Palette:

Howzat (Satin) - Pale lavender (Repromoted from the Fafi collection)
Snowball (Frost) - Frost white
Warm & Smoky (Veluxe Pearl) - Medium purple
Idol Eyes (Lustre) - Silvered violet with gold (Permanent)
Illegal Cargo (Frost) - Slate (Same name as the one from Naughty Nauticals, but the description is different)
Set to Dance (Matte) - Dark royal blue (A repromote from last year's 6 Twists of Tartan palette)

Warm Eyeshadow Palette:

Buckwheat (Frost) - Dark brown. Repromoted from the Naked Honey and the 6 Dashing Lassie from last year's Holiday collection.
Gaelic Gold (Veluxe Pearl) - Gold. Repromoted from the 6 Reelers & Rockers from last year's Holiday collection
Patina (Frost) - Taupe brown with golden pearl (Permanent)
Magical Mist (Lustre) - Sparkle concrete. Repromoted from the 6 Dashing Lassie from last year's Holiday collection.
Winterscape (Lustre) - Bright taupe pearl
Midnight Flurry (Matte) - Dark warm black

Sultry Eyeshadow Palette:

Black Tied (Velvet) - Black with silver sparkle (Permanent)
Trax (Velvet) - Burgundy-plum with shimmer (Permanent)

Shadowy Lady (Matte) - Blackened plum (Permanent)
Fun! (Lustre) - Pink patina
Lightfully (Lustre) - White with pink reflect (Limited Edition)
Festive Delight (Lustre) - Bordeaux wine (Limited Edition)

Lip Bags (US$38):

Cool Iced Delights Lip Bag:

Fashion Whim Cremesheen Glass - Pink flesh (Permanent). See swatch here.
Creme de Nude Lipstick (Cremesheen) - Pale muted peach beige (Permanent). See swatch here.
Stripdown Lip Pencil - Creamy brown-beige (Permanent)

Sultry Iced Delights Lip Bag:

Deelight Cremesheen Glasss Mid-tone neutral (Permanent). See swatch here.
I Love Winter Lipstick (Cremesheen) - Passion fruit
Boldly Bare Lip Pencil - Dirty red brown. Repromoted from the Too Fab and Quite Cute collections.

Nail & Lip Bag (US$36):

Rocking Iced Delights Nail & Lip Bag:

Kanga Rouge Lipstick (Amplified) - Bright red. Repromoted from the Dame Edna collection.
Golden Blanket Lipglass - Translucent with silver pearl
Asiatique Nail Lacquer (Cream) - Exotically classical red. Repromoted from the Dame Edna collection.

Pure Drama Iced Delights Nail & Lip Bag:

Hang Up Lipstick (Cremesheen) - Deep berry
Frozen Lame Lipglass Frosty nude
Vintage Vamp Nail Lacquer (Cream) - Deep black wine (Permanent)

Eye Bags (US$45):

Silver Iced Delights Eye Bag:

Silverwear / Blue Spruce Metallic lilac (Frost) (Repromote) / celadon with violet sparkles (Velvet) (Eyeshadow Duo) (Limited Edition)
Graphblack Black (Technakohl) (Permanent). See swatch here
Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara (Permanent)
275SE Brush (Limited Edition)

Pearl Iced Delights Eye Bag:

Taupeless / Celestial Black Lavender pink (Lustre) (Repromote) / Rich blue-black with red pearl (Velvet) (Eyeshadow Duo) (Limited Edition)
Purple Dash Purple (Technakohl) (Permanent). See swatch here
Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara (Permanent)
275SE Brush (Limited Edition)

Gold Pearl Iced Delights Eye Bag:

Baby, It’s Cold… / Woodsmoke Butter yellow (Frost) / Muted emerald green (Frost) (Eyeshadow Duo) (Limited Edition)
Brown Border Brown (Technakohl) (Permanent)
Zoom Fast Black Lash Mascara (Permanent)
275SE Brush (Limited Edition)

Brush Sets (US$49.50):

It Makes Perfect Brush Kit (Mineralize):

187SE, 130 SE, 286SE, 282SE

It Makes Perfect Brush Kit (Essential):

190SE, 129SE, 275SE, 266SE, 226SE

It Makes Perfect Brush Kit (Special Edition):

167SE, 168SE, 239SE, 217SE, 212SE

Face Kits (US$59.50):

Warm Fabulously Festive Face Kit:

Golden Flurry Beige with sparkle (Lustre) (Limited Edition)
Soft Brown Soft golden peach brown (Matte) (Permanent)
Carbon Black (Matte) (Permanent)
Omega Soft muted beige-taupe (Matte) (Permanent)
Join the Party Pale peach (Lipglass) (Limited Edition)
Mellowarm Peach (Lipstick, Frost) (Limited Edition)
Seasonal Appeal Orange brown (Blush) (Limited Edition)
129SE, 275SE, 266SE (Limited Edition)

Cool Fabulously Festive Face Kit:

Phloof! Frosted off white (Frost) (Permanent)
Quarry Soft muted plum-brown (Matte) (Permanent)
Dance in the Dark (Limited Edition)
Brun Muted blackish-brown (Satin) (Permanent)
Emancipation Light pink (Lipglass) (Limited Edition)
Hot Gossip Mid-tone pinky plum (Lipstick, Frost) (Permanent)
Mocha Soft plum pink (Matte) (Permanent)
129SE, 275SE, 266SE (Limited Edition)

Thats all for part 1! I didn't realise there are SO MANY items in this collection! :O Part 2 coming up soon, so stay tuned. And here's a teaser... you'll REALLY LOVE this year's Viva Glam Christmas item! :D

Are you getting anything from here?

Credits: All pictures from Beautyinsider.ru, color story from Temptalia.com.

MAC Glitter and Ice Holiday 2011 Collection

2011-10-18T00:00:00.000+08:00

Have you seen the Holiday collection from MAC yet? It's super GORGEOUS!!!

I don't know about you, but i'm not really feeling their poster pic though:

Powdered nipple, anybody? *coughs*

*ahem* Anyways, I thought that the packaging is SO PRETTY! *squeals* Love the pure white compact... it's been awhile since we last seen one (last was Moonbathe in 2007, gosh I loved that collection! :D).

A family pic of this collection:

There's bound to be something for everyone in this collection - lipsticks, dazzleglasses, colored technakohls and those beautiful mineralize eyeshadows, all with limited edition packaging!

Paint Pots (US$17.50):

For Effect - Black with pearl
Morning Frost - Brown with pearl
Let’s Skate - Pale pink with pearl

Mineralize Eye Shadows (US$19.50):

Fresh Ice - Silvered white
Hold That Pose! - Pale lilac
Frozen Blue - Silvered blue
Shimmermint - Pale green
Winterized - Silver and indigo swirl
Snow Season - Soft brown

Beauty Powders (US$25):

How Beautiful! - Neutral brown with pearl
Snowglobe - Pink beige with pearl

Nail Lacquers (US$15):

Get Noticed! - Bright red (Cream)
Unconditionally Fabulous - White with pearl (Frost)
Festive Finery - Purple (Cream)

Lipsticks (US$14.50):

Such Flare (Matte) - Bright red
What Joy! (Satin) - Deep berry
Whirls & Twirls (Glaze) - Pink with pearl
Double Spin (Cremesheen) - Lilac-pink
Eloquent Air (Glaze) - Silver
Soft Sable (Frost) - Brown with pearl

Dazzleglasses (US$18):

She-zam - Silver. Repromoted from last year's Magic, Mirth and Mischief! collection. Stay tuned for review! :D
Pleasure Principle - Silver with white pearl. Repromoted from the original Dazzleglass collection.
Dressed to Dazzle - Pink with gold pearl
Glitter and Ice - Nude with gold pearl
Love Alert - Jewel-toned red. Permanent shade. Read my review here!
Spanking Rich - Red with gold pearl. Repromoted from the original Dazzleglass collection.

Technakohl Liners (US$15):

Silver Skates - Silver with pearl
Going for Gold - Gold with pearl
Seasonally Spicy - Brown with pearl
Fancy Moves - Purple with pearl
Practice Makes Perfect - Blue with pearl
Smooth Manoeuvre - Black with pearl

Lashes (US$15):

#7 Lash

This collection also comes with the Bad, Bad Black Opulash mascara. It will be available in the US end October, and us international girls, in November :)

Do you feel any of these items calling out your name? I know i want everything!!! >.<"

Credits: All pictures from Beautyinsider.ru, color story from Temptalia.com.

Jenn Asks: Do you toss stuff out once its expired?

2011-10-14T00:00:00.005+08:00

We all know that - mascaras by 3 months, cream products by a year and powders, three. But do we actually "abide" by that rule?

Personally I do stick to their use-by date (for skin care items and food anyway. My husband can testify to my constant nagging of him consuming expired bread and milk!! Eww! >.<). For items with the "good for after opened" icon, I'll try to use it up within that timeframe, but am I little lenient - one or two months after that is ok I guess.

I'm terrible with makeup though!! My trusty 6 year old Maybelline brow pencil (that has been discontinued for eons already) is still going strong although the cap has yellowed significantly! =X I usually trust my eyes and nose - if it has changed color / texture and has a funny smell to it, then it's time to officially toss it into the bin, otherwise it's still good to go - so far, so good! Yes, I'm horribly biased like that so sue me! :P

How about you? Do you discard your beauty items once time's up, or like me, do you hold on to some of them for *just* a little longer! lol! Answer away! :D

Product Review: The Body Shop Tea Tree Body Wash

2011-10-12T00:00:00.038+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: RM29.90 / US$13
Weight: 250ml / 8.4 US Fl. Oz.
Made in: UK
Likes: Non drying, cleanses skin well, does help prevent pimples! :D
Gripes: Not a fan of the smell, doesn't cure existing pimples.
Repurchase: Yes!

Ingredients (Taken from their website):
Water, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 20, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Sodium Chloride, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Glycerin, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Citric Acid, p-Anisic Acid, Benzophenone-4, Sodium Hydroxide, Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane, Disodium EDTA, Limonene, Leptospermum Petersonii (Lemon Tea Tree) Oil, Tocopherol, Caramel, Yellow 5, Blue 1.

Product Description:

Taken from their website:

Best if you want to: Feel clean and revitalized with an invigorating shower gel that leaves you with zesty, fresh scent.

How it works:
Lemon tea tree and Community Trade tea tree oil from Kenya contain properties that help fight blemishes and prevent new ones from forming.
Tamanu oil from Madagascar has a soothing effect and helps to calm irritation and redness.

Texture & Scent:

This product is probably more gelish in texture than the other shower gels from The Body Shop. It foams up quite abit:

This smells just like tea tree oil! lol! :D

Packaging:

This shower gel comes in the usual plastic bottle with a flip top cap.

Price & Availability:
This blemish gel is priced at RM29.90 / US$13.00, and is available all year round at all The Body Shop outlets! :)

My $0.02:

I bought this one together with the Blemish Gel, hoping that this will cure my backne, after hearing my colleague raved about how this product cured hers!

So did this cure my backne?

Unfortunately it didn't! As expected, things that wash off do not really have a lasting effect on the skin! :(

However, this DOES work to prevent back acne. After my serious bout of stress-induced backne (that left me scarred T_T) healed, i stopped using this because i don't like the scent. Within a few days, i had several pesky tiny bumps on my back already. After zapping those with some topical medication, I now use this daily, so far so good, no backne. yet.

With school work picking up and my stress levels skyrocketing, lets see if this continues to work for me! Lol! I'll report back if it doesn't! I'll probably pick up a bottle when I run out, or I might just try the cheaper anti-bacterial body washes available in the market! :D

Product Review: The Face Shop Herbal Therapy Geranium & Everlasting Flower Healthy Mask Sheet

2011-10-10T00:00:00.011+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: RM6.90 (approx. US$2.30)
Weight: 20ml / 0.67 Fl. Oz.
Made in: Korea
Likes: Brightens skin well, cheap, easily available
Gripes: Super strong fragrance, contains alcohol, huge mouth opening!
Repurchase: No

Ingredients:

Product Description

This mild, all-natural mask sheet is formulated with Geranium and Everlasting Flower extracts to hydrate skin for greater health while indulging the senses in its refreshing aroma.

Aroma therapeutic benefits of Geranium:

Revives and helps balance moisture and oil levels for clear, hydrated skin

Aroma therapeutic benefits of Everlasting Flower:

Refreshes and promotes healthy, radiant skin

Directions:

Texture & Scent:
This mask doesn't contain as much essence as the rest, but it still contains quite wet! I like how this sinks in quickly after you remove the mask.

This has a SUPER STRONG fragrance that made my eyes tear up! :(

Packaging:

This mask is individually packed into their respective packs and is sold by the piece. As usual, the mask sheet fits my face well except for the mouth part:

Time Test:
15-20 minutes!

Price & Availability:
This mask is priced at RM6.90 each and is available at all The Face Shop outlets.

My $0.02:

This is just an average one for me. While it brightens well and didn't leave a sticky film on my skin, I wished that it is a little more moisturizing!

This is how i look after using this mask:

The strong fragrance of this mask really puts me off, so I don't think I'll be repurchasing! :(

Jenn Asks: What is at the top of your wishlist now?

2011-10-07T00:00:00.000+08:00

I really, really, REALLY want a diving vacation now! :(