October 16, 2012

FOTD: EVERYDAY ORANGE

This is a scheduled post. I'm currently doing some serious shopping over in Japan! I'll be sure to reply all comments when I get back. In the meantime, if you wish to catch a glimpse of my trip please follow me on instagram 'makeupedition'. ;)

This isn't the first look where I've played with orange eyeshadow (see here); I love the colour, but it's really not something I usually wear on my eyes. Maybe it's the spring season, but I actually feel comfortable to go out looking like this. Hopefully I'll be able to put my Sleek Sunset palette to better use this spring/summer - it's been sitting untouched in my makeup drawer for way too long!





October 10, 2012

My Essential Holiday Makeup


With only just DAYS now till my trip to Japan (SUPER excited!!), I'm all packed and ready to go. I'll be sure to shop like no tomorrow when I'm over there, so a practically empty suitcase is what I was aiming for. I've gone back and forth a bit on what makeup items to bring, and have stripped it all back to 12 essential products including: 

1. Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Eyeliner in Smog 
2. Lioele Auto Eyebrow Pencil #2
3. Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamor Volume On Mascara
4. Makeupshow Blush Brush H02
5. Makeupshow Powder Brush H01
6. Sigma Flat Angled Kabuki Brush F88 (not an absolute essential, but I love using this to apply foundation)
7. Lancome La Base Pro
8. Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24 Hour Foundation #2
9. Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipstick in Liberte #46
10. MAC MSFN in Medium
11. Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed
12. Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler 

I’m sure many people would agree that when you’re overseas on a holiday, what makeup to wear on your face is probably one of the last things on your mind. I know a lot of people who would bare it all (face-wise) when on vacation, but since I practically look like a zombie in the mornings when I wake up, I need a little help to make myself photo-presentable. So here’s my 12-item holiday makeup routine!

To even further minimize luggage, you can easily opt for a tinted moisturizer or BB cream to avoid bringing a separate base and foundation. I’m sticking with my Lancome Teint Idole foundation because it's one of the longest wearing foundations I’ve come across, so I don’t have to worry about it coming off after a long day out. And with it's buildable coverage, I also use this as concealer.

I never powder my whole face and sometimes even skip it all together because I don’t like the cakey finish (or maybe I just apply too much lol). But a good powder definitely does make my foundation last longer, and that's definitely the key factor here!

(Note: Please excuse the difference in lighting, the sun kept coming and going.)
Whenever I wear eyeliner on it’s own without eyeshadow, I prefer to use brown over black as it makes the overall effect less intense and more natural. A great alternative to the UD liner is the Bobbi Brown gel liner – again long-wearing!

If I skip mascara, it’s like I almost have no lashes. And though not as severe, my eyebrows are pretty non-existent too. Lol. So I never leave anywhere with out defining my brows and putting on some mascara. I''ll probably be bringing back a whole suitcase-ful of Japanese mascaras, they do miracles for my lashes!

October 3, 2012

My Crazy Long Skincare Routine! Pt.2

I must admit I've been a little slow on the blogging front lately, I do very much apologize. In less than 2 weeks, I'll be going on a trip to Japan! Yes, JAPAN!! So I'm very excited...and super distracted at the same time. I start jumping up and down just thinking about all the makeup/skincare shopping I'm going to do over there - Koh Gen Do, Shu Uemura, SUQQU, Addiction, the list is endless. If you have been following this blog you would know that I've actually been traveling a lot this year - which has always been disruptive in the flow of things. So please bare with me! I'll be sure to make all my rounds soon! ;)

Anyhoo, back to skincare! So here's how I use all my skincare products together...
Step 1: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser
Step 2: JUJU Aquamoist Moisture Lotion
Step 3: Estee Lauder Idealist Serum
Step 4: Kiehl's Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate
Step 5: Biotherm Aquasource Deep Hydration Replenishing Gel
Step 6: Lancome Renergie Yeux Multiple Lift Eye Duo
Step 7 (not pictured): Bobbi Brown Lip Balm SPF 15 

Step 1: Yesto Cucumbers Facial Towelettes or JUJU Aquamoist Moisture Cleansing Oil
Step 2: Chanel Precision Gentle Eye Makeup Remover 
Step 3: Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser
Step 4: Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant
Step 5: JUJU Aquamoist Moisture Lotion
Step 6: JUJU Aquamoist Hyaluronic Acid Essence
Step 7: Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair
Step 8: Kiehl's Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate
Step 9: B-liv by Cellnique Blackheads Sebum Gel
Step 10: Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief
Step 11: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Eye
Step 12: Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
Step 13: Bobbi Brown Lip Balm SPF 15 

Now for the products! For part 1, please see here.
Concentrates and Serums (L-R):
Kiehl's Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate, B-liv by Cellnique Blackheads Sebum Gel and Mario Badescu Drying Lotion.

Besides Kiehl's line reducing concentrate, I don't use the other 2 products on a day-to-day basis. I can't really justify my love for the Kiehl's concentrate - given that I'm 25 and don't have a whole heap of lines to reduce - but I truly do believe this product does its job. I mainly apply this on my forehead and around my mouth and have yet to see any signs of frown/smile lines - so that's proof enough to me!

I mainly bought this B-liv serum/gel because I've read so many good things about Cellnique and this was the closest thing I could get to it. I don't find this serum/gel to be effective when it comes to minimizing pores and blackheads, but it does help reduce redness around my nose when applied after I've squeezed out a few blackheads (yes, it's gross even just to write about). 

This Mario Badescu drying lotion is probably the best anti-acne product I've come across so far - which is really saying a lot! I try not to use it too often though because it is a strong formula and can be very drying on the areas on which it is used.