i ♥ Majolica Majorca lash expander

it's my 3rd tube of Majolica Majorca Lash Expander mascara and i just have to declare my  ♥  for it!

i guess that i am just a loyal fan and it's a "must have" in my cosmetics pouch.

also, i seldom buy the same product again and again because there are too many products out there waiting to be 

tried. however, it seems like this is an exception. :)

these are the pictures dedicated to it to show how much it helped to "expand" my lashes. hehehs

**most trustworthy mascara**

Chacott Finishing Powder Review

Think of Chacott, think of ballet.
At least, that's what I know about Chacott before this :P And how ironic it is that Chacott powder is rumoured to be first produced for ballet dancers. I don't really know if this 2 Chacotts are actually connected but it just makes me wonder.

Hopes this review isn't too long-winded...

Anyway, I took the longest time to decide if I wanna get this powder and I just wanna share with you girls what went through my mind and the concerns I had. Who knows maybe these might just do help for you if you're planning to get it. *wink*

Well, one of the biggest concerns I had was... I don't know what size should I purchase. The powder comes in 30g and a crazy 170g! As for the price (prices might be different for different seller), 30g is selling at RM80 and 170g is selling at RM100. Tell me if I should get the 170g or I'm dumb? Haha. 
But it's just so big and so much that I really think it's crazy. 170g is really alot LOT!  Haha.

Secondly, which shade should I get? I wanted to get the translucent (753) one but unlucky me, it's always out of stock when I've decided to get it. So next, I looked for some sellers who actually sell samples of 5g. Well, I just need to be sure on the shade before I get as much as 170g of powder, right?
In the end, I've tried 756 (makes my skin looks a tad yellowish) and 752 (makes my skin looks a tad reddish) Hahahha. *i  feel funny while writing this* and I've finally settled with 751 which is just the right shade for me.
So yeah, I bought the powder in 751 (170g) for RM80 from a seller/friend who bought it in Japan. =)

 

Some product info I got from one of the online sellers..

  How to choose the right shade?

The picture above shows a typical of Japanese cosmetics base makeup shades where it is either you're more to yellow tone or pink tone. I personally think that the colors on the chart are quite misleading as 756 is really yellow in real life and makes me look yellowish too. Just as a reference, my skintone is NC25 and some sellers keep telling me that 754 or 751 would be too light of a shade for me. Well, I got my right shade the hard way though...

Another better view of the shades. Hope this helps, though.

And, this is my 751..

Texture wise, this powder is really really fine and gives a soft, smooth and flawless finish. It doesn't look powdery at all. Best of all, it will not get cakey. I've tried applying it with a brush and also a sponge. By using a brush, you get a lighter coverage and with sponge, as usual gives you more coverage. Very much depends on your liking though. I'm not sure if this could cover blemishes or pimples but it definitely covers skin redness especially around the side of the nose area.

Right now, my daily base makeup would be a primer, my BB cream and this powder. I hardly wear any foundation anymore now. I'm still wondering if this is consider a good or bad thing. Hahahs.

What about oil-control? Well, I would say that this powder did a fairly good job. As usual, I blot my face at around after lunch time, say 3-4pm. On the days that I'm wearing this powder, my t-zone doesn't get as oily as other days. However, I still think that Make Up Forever loose powder wins here for oil-control. ;-)

Overall, I like this one from Chacott and I'm using it everyday now. This would probably be a 8.5/10.
I wonder when will I get to finish it. Hehs




Official site: www.chacott-jp.com/

quick update on more hauls

I'm super busy with work and I only leave the office at around 9pm-10pm every single day! =(
***********************

Anyway, over the last few weekends, I bought some more stuffs during the Kanebo warehouse sales. Ironically, I was actually planning to look for some Lunasol's eyeshadow palettes but I ended up with zero Lunasol product but a handful of Kate's cosmetics and also Kanebo Blanchir's lotions & moisturizer.
My work has made me gone mad. That's it.
I spent about RM500 here...

Clockwise from top: Kanebo Blanchir Superior White Deep Conditioner (280ml) "I know I'm crazy to purchase such a big bottle!", Kanebo Blanchir Superior White Deep Milky Conditioner (130ml), KATE Line Spicy Eyeshadow (BU-1), KATE Line Spicy Eyeshadow (PK-1), KATE Lipgloss (BR-1), KATE lipgloss (PK-3), KATE Rouge Trance lipstick (OR-4) "very very pretty coral color", KATE liquid foundation (OC-B) and lastly, KATE liquid eyeliner (BK-1)

I also got myself this... and it's actually FREE~~

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.

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hehehs, I got myself the Maquillage Limited Edition X'mas eye palette by Christopher Kane. Yes, it's the year 2008 edition and I only got it now coz I was not really that into cosmetics back then (although I fell a little in love with it) and also, it was sold together as a coffret set but I got it individually this time around. =)

So, when I saw this on the display counter, I knew I had to get it! I swatched it again and the color payoff was great. Lovely.. gonna find some time to do a look with this palette soon!

some sneak peek pics (gonna post up more with a proper dedicated post on it):

more soon, gotta work now.. =(

quick updates + recent hauls + FOTD

I feel bad for forsaking this baby blog of mine. Has been busy working and going out alot lately with all the catching up sessions with friends and birthday celebrations for a few friends and also myself. :D

Some of the highlights of the month:

- my birthday, of course :P

- a few close friends' birthday as well

- Thomas Cup

- lots of late nights and drinking

- work! and work and work!!
- *psst* i bought myself a very expensive birthday gift :P (will reveal soon) =)


Because of my hectic schedule, I've decided to post up the pictures of my recent hauls in april and this month for a quick update. =P
I do hope I could come out with the reviews as soon as possible. Some of them are actually in drafts at the moment. hahahs. Hope you girls have not forgotten about me... >.<
Enjoy the picas~

skincare haul

- Sasatinne Bulgarian White Rose Brightening Mask

- Polynia Honey Rose Mask

- Mandom Cleansing Express (Cleansing Lotion)

- Missha The Style Eye & Lips Makeup Remover

- b-Liv Shrink and Tighten Pore Reducing Serum

- Cellnique Intensive Soothing and Hydrating masque

- Cellnique Skin Action Sebum Gel (second purchase)

- BodyShop Pomegranate Body Butter

cosmetics haul

- Guerlain Meteorites miniature sets (Mythic, Beige Chic, Pink Fresh & brush)
- Dr Jart BB Cream (silver label)
- Maquillage UV Moisture Base
- Bare Essentuals PrimeTime eyelid primer
- Vincent Longo eyeshadow (Aqua)
- Maybeline Studio Gel Eyeliner
- Jill Stuart Jelly Eye color (Platinum Satin) - got this as a birthday gift from a dear friend <3
- Maybeline Long Extreme Mascara (disappointment)
- Missha The Style Pencil eyeliner (dark brown)
- P2 pencil eyeliner (black & dark brown)
- The Style single eyeshadow (dark grey)
- Majolica Majorca single eyeshadow (sv380 & sv821)

My FOTD taken this morning while getting ready to go out for another small birthday celebration. Went for lunch and buffet dinner. I feel like a pig today... urgHHHh..

Products used on;

Face

- Maquillage Moisture UV Base

- Dr Jart BB Cream

- Palgantong Loose powder

- Guerlain Meteorites - Pink Fresh

Lips

- Vaseline

- NYX Round Lipstick (Iris)

Eyes (sorry for the messy mascara done on the lashes... I was actually in a hurry and I was using a comb mascara.. =(    )

- Shiseido Crayon eyebrow pencil
- Too Faced Shadow Insurance
- Jill Stuart Jelly eyecolor (Platinum Satin)
- NYX Runway eyeshadow (Mink Brown)
- Majolica Majorca Lash Expander mascara

**I didn't use any eyeliner today as I wanted to create a soft and natural look plus a little shimmer with Jill Stuart's jelly eyes. =) 

hair trim + FOTN

Happy Chinese New Year to all who are celebrating it!
Pheww.. was really busy with work right before I head off for CNY holidays and I just got back in town a few days ago after spending the delightful CNY with my family and relatives in Penang. =)

Anyway, I got myself a haircut, well to be exact, it was just a trim, really and I dyed my hair all over again. Had this just in time for the Lunar New Year. It's kind of a tradition for us to cut our hair when it's new year. I still don't really know the real reason behind this but sometimes we just have to please our mums, right? :P

My before haircut picture

My after haircut + color picture

*I know there's not much diffrent but the haircolor is more vibrant in real life*

& FOTN for a drinking session with some friends in the pub.

Close up of the eyes and highlighted cheekbones.

I wanted to try out a "dirty old bronze/ gold" look that night. I guessed that I could make it a little smokey more the next time with some black eyeshadow on the outer "V". Didn't wanna look so outstanding that night since it's just a casual drinking session with no intentions of attracting any guys :P

Anyway, I used:

• UDPP
• In2it Foam Eyeshadow - Beach (a Malaysian brand i think?)
• MAC pigment - Copperized
• NYX eyeshadow - Golden Bronze
• MAC powerpoint eyeliner - Black
• Majolica Majorca Lash Expander
• Shu Uemura Crayon Eyeshadow
• ELF Golden Bronzer - Highlighther shade on the cheekbones right below the eye sockets

Oh ya, btw, I'm also wearing the Circle lens model Fresh Brown. =)

NYX The Runway Collection eyeshadow

Tell me again and again, how could I resist the low prices of these NYX stuffs?
Well, I admit that I bought this palette without thinking much. All because of the low price, I knew that I have to buy at least one of it. Ohhh.. That's a really dangerous thinking.
Anyway, after much consideration.. I picked this color, Strike A Pose.

The colors when swatched:

sorry, this is with Flash on, else couldn't capture the White color. :-]

My personal thought of this:

Color collection - I could say that I'm pretty satisfied with the color collections in this palette. I am already thinking of the colors to mix and match with. =)

Texture - Alright, this one here is a little tricky. I tried 3 different ways of applying the eyeshadow and all 3 ways gave me different results! I was really surprised. At first, I tried swatching them with my bare fingers. With only one swipe, I couldn't get the pigmentation that I wanted. The swatches above were swiped in an up down, up and down manner. As for when I use the eyeshadow brush to apply the eyeshadows, to my horror, the colors just didn't show up. I was pretty upset at that time. I thought that might because the texture of the eyeshadow are a little more powdery and chalky (especially the lilac, black and white color) compared to the quality of their single eyeshadow. The 3rd way, I finally make use of the eyeshadow sponge applicator that came with the palette. Now, this one picked up the colors well and gave a pigmented finish on the lids. How surprising huh?

Lasting power - I don't experienced any bad creasing without a primer but I'm sure that they don't crease at all providing the lids were applied with eyeshadow primer beforehand eg. UDPP or TFSI. 

Price - I bought this at $3 only. I think I can consider that as cheap?

Will repurchase? - I don't know if I would give another chance for some other colors from this range again because honestly speaking, I was a little disappointed with the inconsistency of the quality of some eyeshadows that appeared to be too powderish/ chalky.

OOTD + FOTD + new club "The Opera"

What's the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear a club with the name, The Opera?
Hahahs. For a moment, I thought it's gonna be some theather like club where there's a huge stage with big red curtains and of course, performances or maybe some acting? LOL! I thought of Phantom of the Opera too.. the man with the mask "I think his name was, Erik?" And I remembered I was asking my roommate, who happens to work under the company that owns the club, "Isn't that weird?"


So.. I went to check out the newly launched club in town with a bunch of friends. I had to work overtime that night too, which resulted in going to the club with bad hair + i-am-in-a-rush makeup. Anyway, this was my look that night. =)

That was actually my friend's fedora I was posing with. I still cant get to find the one that I want till now..
A quick one here on what I used on my face.

- Lunasol Control Makeup Base
- Lunasol Water Cream Foundation
- Majolica Majorca Pore Cover Powder
- ELF Golden Bronzer - highlight & contour shade
- Coffret D'or Blush - BE15
- Too Faced Shadow Insurance - *a must if you're going to a club*
- MAC pigment - Copperized
- KATE Gel Eyeliner  - Black
- Majolica Majorca Lash Expander mascara *I don't have time to curl my lashes that night.. resulting in not so nice and not so long lashes.. =( *
- NYX Round Lipstick - TeaRose *my lipstick gone from my lips in this picture. I think that was after drinking some beers*

Anyway, back to the club, there are all together 4 floors with different concepts where the 1st and 3rd floor (dance & stunts) are interconnected and the 2nd floor is kinda hidden and quiet. Suitable for intimate dates imho. Haha. While the 4th floor is the rooftop kind of bar.. something like LunaBar or Skybar.

I still don't really get it on why so many people keep saying that the place sucks. Well, for me, it's decent enough as a place to chill and drink with some close friends.  Maybe not so much of dancing as there's no dance floor around. And yea, I have to admit that the performances *chinese acrobats - plates balancing, body balancing, hoops, ropes, etc* were kinda weird though. I thought there'll be continuous stunts the whole night, well maybe not the whole night but during the happy hours? But every stunt lasted for about 5-10 minutes every 30minute-1hour. Hmmm...

Some of our pics that night:

I think I might go back again just to chill with some very close friends =)

Mascara: Flamingo (Taiwan)

I actually found and have been using this mascara since 2008 and I fell in love with it. I think this is my 3rd tube now.
I also did a blog post on it at that time but it wasn't really in detailed as I wasn't really into beauty blogging at that time too. You can refer to the post here -> Flamingo (2008)

This mascara gave me my signature look at that time. "The girl with thick and long lashes". Haha.
I still remember how my ex boss used to compliment my eyes alot at that time too. :D

Anyway, as per request by Blair, I'm doing a proper review on this lovely pair of mascara again.
Flamingo mascara is a 2-way mascaras. Normally we have the base and the mascara, but this one here, we have the "fibers" and the "transplanting gel". Very well named I thought, as it really "transplant" your lashes. haha..

Flamingo Transplanting Gel - Step 1

After curling your lashes, apply 1 coat of this and let it dry for a few seconds.

Recommended to apply for the other eye too while waiting for it to dry.

Flamingo Fiber - Step 2

Apply this one after a coat of the transplanting gel. Apply as quickly and neat as possible because if the fibers get into your eyes, its gonna irritate alot.

Tips: Do not blink your eye after applying this. *if possible*

Step 3 *sorry I forgot to snap the step by step pics*-

Apply the 2nd coating of Transplanting Gel as soon as possible after you got the fibers on your lashes.

Repeat to get thicker and longer lashes.

Sometimes I got scared of the length.. especially if I'm heading to the office. Haha.

Results *after 2 coats of fiber and transplanting gel* :

I'm sorry if this looks messy or clumpy.......The reason is, I have this mascara for almost 1 year already! yeah.. I know I shouldn't keep a mascara that long...but I didnt wanna throw it away until I get a new one. :P

So, to be fair, if you get a new and fresh one, your lashes wouldn't look as clumpy and as messy as this.

And, your lashes will be much longer than this one too. *trust me on this, ;-)*

It's just that my mascara is already drying and dying on me now.. :(

Amazing length huh? The lashes look much longer in real life.
Give it a try now! =)

p/s: what I love about this mascara:
- gives you amazing long lashes (you can continue with 3-4 coats to get the longest lashes you want. *it can go crazy* Haha)
- you can remove it by just using warm water & your facial cleanser! Yes... just wash your face like normal and the mascara will be washed off too! *big smiles*

Mandom Cleansing Express-Makeup Remover

Mandom from Japan.
I don't know if this is a popular brand but I have heard quite alot about it.. particularly on the star product - Cleansing Oil. It was such a fateful day when I discovered this brand in our local Watson's store. My first thought was, I saw and heard alot about this Cleansing oil before! However, I didn't get the cleansing oil because I think my skin is pretty sensitive to oil cleanser... the previous Kanebo Blanchir cleansing oil gave me breakouts. =( *still wondering why*
Therefore, I wasn't really brave enough to try out another brand of oil cleanser yet.

Anyway, I bought the makeup remover instead. This makeup remover is especially made to remove eye make up only I guessed. It's a little too oily for lips though.

So, it promises "to be gentle on your eyelashes". My verdict? True, it's very gentle indeed. And boy, this product sure removed every single bit of ur mascara and eyeshadow.

Imagine from this...

to this.....

everything's transferred to the facial cotton pad! :D

What I did was dabbing the facial cotton with the makeup remover on it on the eyelid for about 5 seconds. By that, you could see that about 80% of the eyeliner and eyeshadow will be on the cotton pad already. Next, gently massage on the mascara-ed eyelashes to remove the mascara bit by bit.
It doesn't irritate nor any pulling is needed *if you get what i mean* haha.

This also gives you a neat cleansing experience. A few swipes and you're done. Plus, it's not that oily too, compared to most drugstore makeup remover, eg. Maybeline.

Coastal Scents vs KATE gel eyeliner

I just got my new gel eyeliner from Coastal Scents in True Black last week. I did some swatches of it and actually wore it out for 2 times and to be honest, I was pretty upset with it.
I just don't get it.... there are so many great reviews about this. Coastal Scents' gel liner is infamous for smudge-free and superb pigmentation.

From the website:
"Gel Liners



24 rich in color Gel Liners have arrived, these apply with ease using an angle liner brush. We were sure to pass out samples to several of our testers who have used these for 2 months. Application is easy, has the ability to design and be creative, lasts all day without smudging or creasing and are highly pigmented."

Before I go into any conclusion, I did a quick comparison between the KATE gel eyeliner I'm currently using now with this Coastal Scents.

Coastal Scents ($6.95 for 3.0g) & KATE ($15-17 for 2.5g). Obviously Coastal Scents is way cheaper here.

Upon application, I have to say that both have almost the same smooth texture. But of course, I've been using the KATE for almost a year now and the CS is brand new. Well, to be fair, KATE might be smoother a year ago.. The gel has gotten drier after a year long.

Pigmentation wise, CS wins hands down. I personally prefer CS' pigmented black rather than KATE's. This KATE that I have, have some tiny glitters on it and I don't really favour them so much.

So, judgement time!

For the smudge test, I started off by using my bare clean and dry finger and I did a quick swipe over the 2 swatches. TO MY HORROR... CS smudged like crazy here. *I was really really shocked, because I actually had some high expectations on it*. Oh well, I couldn't really believe myself that time. On the other hand for KATE, it didn't smudge at all. =)

Look at the picture on how much that CS gel liner smudged... *plain disappointment here*

It got worst when I swiped it with my Mandom makeup remover (will review this soon). I was really really upset with it.. =(

So, my take on it;
Yes to pigmentation, No to smudge free *most important point for a gel liner*, Yes to smoothness.


While I still stumbled upon the quality of this particular gel liner, I went to http://www.makeupalley.com/ to look for the product review and yes, I found out that there are some people who were experiencing the same problem as I did. However, majority were saying that these are smudge - free. Why...?

Have we gotten the bad batch? =(
Unlucky me...

p/s: I still think the Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner I used to have few years ago is still the best. =)