Cheeky Deeky!

Another back-to-basics post! Yay me!

Today’s post would be about blush and bronzer. 

Choosing a blush or bronzer : 

Pale skin – Soft pinks for blush and light beiges for contouring.

Intense colors would look pretty scary on pale skins.

Okay, maybe her skin isn’t that pale, but you get the idea.

NYX Powder Blush in Peach and Natural. (Click here.)

Jordana Powder Blush in Rouge. (Click here.)

LA Colors Mineral Blush in Dewy. (Click here.)

For bronzer.

Physicians Formula Gems in Light Bronzer. (Click here.)

Boots No7 Dual bronzer. (Click here.)

Milani Bronzer XL All Over Glow in Fake Tan. (Click here.)

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Pink skin tones – Warm peaches for blush and pale beige for contouring.

CoverGirl Cheekers Blush in Pretty Peach. (Click here.)

Milani Baked Blush in Luminoso. (Click here.)

LA Girl Illuminating Blush in Radiant. (Click here.)

And for the bronzer, same as the above!

Note – Physicians Formula does amazing bronzers for those who are on the lighter side in terms of skin tones.

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Yellow skin tones – a corally blush and a bronzer that isn’t too dark!

Jordana Powder Blush in Redwood and Coral Radiance. (Click here.)

L’Oreal Visible Lift Color Blush in Coral Lift. (Click here.)

Maybelline Fit Me Blush in New Shade of Deep Coral. (Click here.)

NYX Matte Bronzer in Light or Medium. (Click here.)

NYX Tango with Bronzer in Bronze Ensemble and Tribal Odyssey. (Click here.)

Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sun Bronze. (Click here.)

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Deeper skin tones – a dark colored blush for contouring and blush.

It’s not quite realistic to use a bright pink blush on deeper skin tones because logic. (Not being racist) But darker skin tones don’t have the tendency to exude a bright pink glow.

Rimmel Natural Bronzer in Sun Light. (Click here.)

Wet n Wild Color icon collection bronzer in Ticket to Brazil. (Click here.)

NYX Powder Blush. (Click here.)

I think copper looks amazing!

101 reasons why I love NYX blushes, they come in so many different shades!

 Tips for applying blush :

>Smile, and apply it to the apples of your cheeks! Please do not apply it all over your cheeks. Ugly.

>If you have applied too much (pretty common when you use the NYX powder blushes because they are so pigmented.), apply some pressed powder to tone it down.

>Remember to blend, blend and blend! Especially around the edges because we don’t want any harsh obvious lines!

She’s so pretty!

Gel blush – you’ll need to blend them quick! They tend to dry quicker and you might be left with blotches of blush.

Same goes with cheek stains such as the Balm’s Instain. So maybe you might want to hold a brush in one hand and once you’ve applied the blush, blend immediately!

Cream blush – they give a more natural finish compared to powder ones. They blend really easily, but if you want to take your time and blend slowly, warm it up between your fingers first!

I really hate how expensive Bourjois is around here.

Powder blush – use a light touch along with a blush brush! This will allow the blush to look less harsh (rhyme!) and be blended more easily. Remember to tap off any excess! Especially if you’re using NYX blushes.

I absolutely love this video by gossmakeupartist. It makes so much sense and I’ve been applying my blush in that manner ever since I watched that video.

Bronzer – This is used to give you a sun-kissed glow! Apply it to places which catches the sun for it to look more natural.

>Choose a bronzer that is about 2 shades darker than your skin tone.

>Suck on your cheeks and apply the bronzer like how you would as blush, to the hollows of your cheeks, below your cheekbones.

>Applying it to your jawline can give a more defined and slim face. (especially if you have a little bit of a chin)

Look at those VS models! They seem to have that healthy and sporty glow, thanks to bronzer!

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Alright, that’s all I have for today’s back-to-basics. Hope you have learnt something new and stay tuned for my next post!

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Disclaimer : All opinions are mine and I’m not affiliated to any of the companies mentioned above. This is not a sponsored post either! The pictures aren’t mine and no copyright intended, credits to the owner of those pictures.

This has been inspired by Total Beauty written by Sarah Stacey and Josephine Fairley.

Winter Makeup!

I’m so excited for Christmas, and with each passing day, I’m getting closer to that amazing holiday! So I figured I should come up with a Wintery-Christmas makeup look for all you out there who loves this season as much as I do.

There will be 2 options for this look – either bright cheeks or bright lips. I won’t be including bright eyes because I feel that it’s more for summer. I’ll be using mostly drugstore products, but if I use any high-end, I’ll include a drugstore option!

Foundation. 

I’m opting for a tinted moisturizer because skin gets quite dry during winter so we need something moisturizing and hydrating!

Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer – This works something as a foundation, just lighter and more hydrating. It’ll cover most of the redness, acne and blemishes on the face while hydrating the skin as well, win! Plus it has a dewy finish which can give a healthy glow. Available here.

The Balm BalmShelter Tinted Moisturizer – This keeps the skin hydrated and glowing, which would stand out because everyone else is freezing and pale (haha). This has light coverage, but face it, would you need full coverage during winter? Available here.

Drugstore option :

There aren’t any good drugstore options, but these 2 has been given positive ratings so yeah!

Olay Fresh Effects BB Cream – This claims to “moisturize, brighten and help protect skin from harmful UV rays” and that is always good! You get to save time as well because it acts as a moisturizer, light foundation and sunscreen! Available here. 

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream – This is for combination to oily skin and claims to “immediately mattifies, minimizes pores, and conceals imperfections to give skin a naturally smooth, flawless finish” pretty great uses if you ask me. (However we all know descriptions are dramatized) Available here.

Eyebrows. 

Ardell Brow Defining Powder – Powders tend to give a more natural look and this comes with the slant brush. Joy! Plus it’s pretty affordable too. Available here. 

Wet n Wild Ultimate Brow Kit – This comes with 3 different brow powders and that’s pretty amazing to me. If any shade is too dark, mix it with the white! And if any is too light, mix it with the dark color. Plus, it comes with tweezers for plucking your brows. Available here. 

e.l.f Studio Eyebrow Kit – This consists of a wax and powder which is pretty sweet as you can skip the brow gel as the wax would keep it in place. Available here.

For the brows, we want them to look like Demi’s because hers are perfect. They’re really strong and defined, so it’s important to use some brow product.

Look at her, her brows leave me speechless.

Eyeshadow.

Wet n Wild Eyeshadow Trio – I’m sure I’m not the only one who wants all the trios. The colors match so well and are really easy to use (with the words on it). Here are a few options that I’ve chosen because I think they’re great for a subtle eye. Available here.

Maybelline EyeStudio Eyeshadow Quad in Copper Chic – Pretty colors, a staple for every girl’s makeup collection! Perfect for the “no makeup makeup” look. Available here.

Milani Runway Eyes Fashion Shadow in Designer Browns – The colors in the quad are really pretty. They might be shimmery, but it seems like it’ll be able to give a neutral eye. Try to stay away from the copper brown and dark brown for this look. Available here.

Mascara. 

Any mascara would do, your favorite mascara or whatsoever! It’s a pretty opinionated so different mascaras work for different people.

BRIGHT CHEEKS VERSION.

Blushes. 

NYX Rouge Cream Blush in Red – Don’t worry about the color being too bright and scary. Apply a small amount and sheer it out (blending) and it’ll look amazing. Available here.

NYX Powder Blush – I feel as though NYX does one of the best blushes because they’re sooo pigmented. So use a light hand or else you’ll end up looking like a clown. Recommended colors would be : Pinky, Desert Rose, Silky Rose, Red, Rose Garden, Bourgeois Pig ; depending on your skin tone! Available here.

Lips. 

Revlon Lip Butter in Creamsicle – This is a nude tinted lip balm / sheer lipstick. It;s pretty moisturizing as well, which is great for winter as they tend to go all dry. Available here.

Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Honey – This might seem pretty “colored” but against the color of your natural lip, it blends in nicely and appears pretty natural. Plus it’s a balm, so it’ll moisturize your lips and keep it nice and soft! Available here.

Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer in Stargazer – It’s close to a clear gloss, with some gold color and nearly nude. It might wash you out though, just in case you don’t like that. But I feel that’s the effect we’re going for, for your cheeks to show. Available here.

BRIGHT LIPS VERSION. 

You can choose to go bare for blusher, but in case you want some dimension, here’s an option.

e.l.f baked blush in Passion Pink – This can double up as a highlighter and blush at the same time. The color part is pretty subtle so it’s perfect! Available here.

Lips.

Wet n Wild MegaLast Lip Color in Red Velvet – It’s such a strong red, pretty! Available here.

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate in 110 – It’s such an amazing BRIGHT red lipstick that will pop pop pop. Available here.

Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquer in Apocaliptic and Stellar – This line is amazing because it’s something like a liquid lipstick. Super pigmented and smooth, love in a tube. Available here.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Love That Red – Another red lipstick. Available here.

Revlon Kissable Balm Stain in Romantic – It’s a lip balm plus color, which can keep your lips moisturized while giving it the pop of color we need. Available here.

Different skintones suit different types of red lips. For a more detailed description, read this!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post and got a rough idea of how to do your makeup during winter / Christmas! Remember to slap on moisturizer and lip balm because dry flaky skin and chapped lips is not chic, at all.

Stay tuned for my next post!

Disclaimer : All the opinions are mine and I have not been paid / sponsored to write such a post. Photos aren’t mine and no copyright intended.

Lay your foundation.

Today’s back-to-basics post would be your foundation! (If that wasn’t obvious enough already)

Having a flawless canvas is really important for makeup because it allows other parts of the face to be in the “catch point” instead of the pesky pimple on your chin or anywhere else.

Choosing them :

Go foundation shopping during day time! During the night, artificial lights would be used and that’s when the color starts getting off because they do funny things to your eyes!

 

^Something like that? No.

Choose a foundation that matches the color of your neck because sometimes the color of your face is different compared to your neck and it’s a little odd to see you wearing a mask.

 

Try to choose a foundation with a bare face, so that you’ll find the perfect color.

If you feel uncomfortable doing that, testing a foundation out on the inside of your forearm is almost as good because that’s the place where the color is most similar to your face!

The color of your undertone is really important as well, here’s a video that will explain everything to you!

Application tips :

Never apply concealer / foundation to unmoisturized skin. Those products are made of chemicals that isn’t the best for your skin so you would want to make sure it’s hydrated and kept “safe”.

 

You’ll want youthful, clear skin!

Leave the moisturizer on for about 10 minutes before putting on makeup as this will prevent your makeup from wearing off more easily.

Never apply foundation / concealer while looking into a magnifying mirror. You’ll be able to see all imperfections and be tempted to slap on a whole lot of product, which might settle into fine lines and that won’t make you look good. 

 

Synthetic foundation brushes can make application quicker.

 

Here’s an e.l.f foundation brush, and I’m always amused by them because they remind me of paint brushes that I used for painting. I prefer their studio line though, the quality seems to be better.

Concealer :

Use concealer over your foundation as the concealer might move around to other parts of the face while you’re applying foundation.

Use your ring finger while blending out the concealer as it gives a light touch and leaves a natural finish.

Your concealer for blemishes might not be suitable to be a concealer for your under eye areas. It’s recommended to use a corrector for your under eyes to remove the discoloration.

Benefit’s Erase Paste has been highly raved and Benefit cosmetics is a fabulous brand, so I believe it’s amazing!

 

The Bobbi Brown corrector is another famous product!

 

 

Alright! This marks the end of my “base” episode of the back-to-basics series! I hope you’ve learnt something from this post and here’s to flawless, young, healthy and clear skin!

 

 

 

Pucker up!

Alright ladies! Today’s back to basics post would be about your lips!

Aren’t those some dreamy lips?

How to make your lipstick last longer :

Use a lip liner! Yes, surprisingly, since I’m not a big fan of them. They act a little like a lip primer, or glue, as the lipstick will adhere to the liner.

What you should do is to use short, light feathery strokes to outline your lips then fill them in. If you don’t fill them in, and the lipstick gets “eaten” off, it’ll leave that distinct line which isn’t very pretty. Fill the lips in like how you’d color a picture in a coloring book!

For bigger lips – draw inside the natural lip line, just right inside! Leaving a gap makes you seem a little foolish.

For smaller lips – draw right on the outer edge of your lip line!

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NYX does some pretty great lip liners, along with MAC.

When shopping for a lip liner, choose a color that’s closest to your natural lip color. Tip : the pads of your fingertips is the part that has the closest color to your lips! But since there are so many shades available, go for what you like!

Go natural!

Honestly, lipsticks made out of more natural ingredients are always the best because we’re always eating them. Licking our lips and stuff like that, we’re ingesting our own lipsticks and it isn’t ideal for it to be made out of a mixture of chemicals.

Origins, Aveda, Jurlique and Dr. Jart are some brands that use natural ingredients (majority) for their lipsticks and other cosmetic products.

However, the shade choices for the natural lipsticks are much lesser as there are fewer natural pigments.

Plumpin’ action

Add a little bit of shimmer lipstick / lip gloss to the centre of your bottom lip and smack yo ISP together! This creates an illusion of plumpness as more light will reflect. Use a white pencil (or silver, or gold) to the cupid’s bow to let your upper lip stand out more.

Red lipstick:

There is a red lipstick for everyone! Maybe you want to look like Taylor Swift, or stand out in the crowd, here are some tips.

Warmer complexions go well with reds that have yellow or orange in them and fair skins look better in blue reds.

To avoid red teeth (where the lipstick smudges onto the lips), do a duck face and stick your index finger in your mouth and pull it out. This will remove any excess that could’ve ended up on your teeth!

Fruity colors make the teeth seem whiter and brighter (eg watermelon, berry) whereas colors that are brown based and too bright of an orange would make the teeth seem yellow, ugly!

Alright, that wraps up the lips edition of the back-to-basics series. Hope you’ve enjoyed this post and stay tuned for more!

Is this how it feels like to break up?

Just a couple of days ago, I received my Urban Decay Naked Flushed in the mail and the worst thing ever happened today. 

It broke. 

I was reorganizing my makeup area and wanted to remove something, next thing I knew, it all came crashing down. Somehow only my naked flushed and eos lipbalm managed to hit the floor, while the rest were caught from demise. 

I’ve tried salvaging it, but putting a few drops of alcohol in and using a tissue to cover the colors before pressing it down with a hard object. It’ll never look the same now. 

Is it normal to feel that deep sadness within me? I feel so broken and as if something’s missing in my life. Odd. 

Now, the color payoff isn’t that good. Did I do something wrong? 

Anyways, I was just feeling so upset and depressed about this, I had to blog about it. 

This calls for 2 scoops of ice-cream tonight. 

Pet Peeves!

I had no idea what to post about, until I thought of horrible things girls do to make them look “pretty” so I was inspired to do a pet peeves post. (ha! alliteration!)

[ When girls put blush all over their cheeks ]

I’m not sure if this happens a lot anywhere else in the world but I see so many girls around here that apply blush all over their cheeks. Best part? It’s the girly shade of pink, and honestly, I think they look hilarious doing that.

 

^ They look something like that but with heavy eye makeup as well. I think the model looks gorgeous because there’s a balance of each feature of the face. However girls around here feel the need to load up on eyeliner.

 

There, something like that^, just without the eyeliner under the eyes. Perhaps it’s because they have Asian eyes and feel the need to pile on eyeliner as to make it seem bigger. Along with big eyes, this brings me to another point.

[ Colored contact lenses ]

I never quite understood why anyone would use colored contact lenses. Won’t it feel uncomfortable on the eyes? Plus, it’s pretty dangerous if the contact lenses are from a company that isn’t reputable. I wouldn’t quite want to risk my eyes getting hurt.

 

(I’m not using those photos as a form of criticism)

If you’re participating in cosplay or anything along those lines, I understand, use it all you want. But if it’s for vanity purposes, it’s a little odd to me. Face it asians, we don’t have blue eyes or green eyes for that matter. Purple? Out of the question. So why are you trying so hard to look like something you’ll never be. Strange. But then again, it’s my own opinion.

[ Too much makeup ]

This has to be one of my biggest pet peeves. Why does anyone want to put that much makeup until you look like a completely different person when the makeup’s off? False lashes, huge eyebrows, a new layer of skin… Just imagine how much it’ll shock everyone when you take your makeup off. Is that how you’ll go on a date?

 

Maybe it’s insecurities knocking on the door, that’s why?

[ Fake girls ]

(i) When girls try too hard to be cool. Penny boards?

 

They’re meant to be rode on (that’s what she said!) and it’s the weirdest sight when girls carry their penny board, walking down the street. See the irony there? Maybe they want to seem all grungy and swaggy. Gross.

(ii) When girls take a picture of themselves and have a caption totally unrelated to them. What the hell?

(iii) “Why can’t I get a real man?” Then you look at them – fake tan, fake boobs, fake hair, a ton of makeup, fake nails, little clothes. Seriously, real men go for women that are elegant and classy, not trashy. Fake tans are so weird.

 

Trailer park worthy!

(iv) When girls dress up so much and walk down the streets thinking that they’re so hot to trot. Bralet, high waisted shorts, platforms, handbags etc. They think that they look so good and every guy in the world is into them. Uhh, no.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST, MY ULTIMATE PET PEEVE,

[ STINKY PEOPLE ]

Seriously! Is it that hard to buy a deodorant and spray it on yourself? If you’re already using a deodorant and still smelling bad, try a shower and perhaps, change your deodorant?!

It grinds my gears when I’m on public transport and someone besides me smell like they’ve been dumpster diving the whole day, diving in the stinkiest bin ever. Do you not smell it yourself? Maybe it’s a nose problem? Please, do everyone a favor and smell good. I don’t want to pollute my lungs.

 

 

Alright, so there’s my pet peeves, ones that annoy the guts out of me. Felt more like a rant, hope you agreed on stuff I’ve mentioned!

Christmas Wish List!

It’s only the 28th of October, too early to plan for Christmas? No. Never. 

Christmas is my favorite time of the year and throughout random phases of the year, you can hear me playing Christmas carols. It’s just so uplifting and makes me feel so cheery.

I honestly wish Santa was real (who doesn’t?) and could send me gifts on my wishlist. But with everyone’s wishlist, Santa would be broke.

But anyways, if a random soul decided to be Santa and give me a few gifts for Christmas, here’s my list and feel free to be generous.

(Click on the pictures to see where you can get these babies from!)

BATH AND BODY : 

Laura Mercier Creme Brûlée Sugar Scrub.

 

Seriously, how much more luxurious can this get? I absolutely love body scrubs because they make me feel so fresh, new and soft, and to smell like a dessert? Yes please!

Philosophy Peppermint Stick Shower Gel & Bubble Bath. 

 

Yum yum, peppermint. Peppermint is the ultimate Christmas-y seal. To smell like Christmas whenever I want? Hell yeah! Thus I’m loving the Andes Peppermint Crunch Thins. Addictive.

Fresh SugarBath Lemon Bath Cubes. 

 

Fresh has one of the cutest products ever. The mini lip polish and the wide array of lip treatments! It’ll be so amazing to have these bath cubes to ignite the whole bathtub and have the toilet smelling like lemons.

SKIN CARE :

L’Occitant Ultra Rich Face Scrub with Shea Butter. 

 

I’m in need of a facial scrub that has the right amount of abrasiveness for me! My face has a lot of dead skin at the moment and I’m desperate to get rid of them because it’s so rough and awful, not chic at all!

Bobbi Brown Buffing Grains for Face. 

 

Aesthetic wise, it isn’t the most appealing thing to me. But from what I read, it leaves the skin soft, smooth and glowing. Now, who won’t want that?

Korres Pomegranate Toner. 

 

I just love the smell of pomegranates, so this should be pretty amazing for me!

Honestly, I have no idea how to differentiate between “good” and “bad” toners, I mean, aren’t they all toners?

Caudalie Moisturizing Toner. 

 

I’ve always had that impression that Caudalie is an amazing high end skin care brand and I’ll look shining and glowing once I’ve used their product. Now, moisturizing toner? That’s a first.

Clinique Take The Day Off Cleansing Milk. 

This takes makeup off (which is amazing, I don’t have to use another product!) and leaves the face soft and comfortable (that’s what it said.) so yeah, amazing!

MAKEUP : 

Now this is going to be one hell of a list, just because there is a ton of products to try!

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer. 

 

I have never gone around to purchase this product just because of its price here. $70 for a tinted moisturiser? I might pass, since I’m not earning a lot of money and I might have to forgo half a year of drugstore makeup shopping. I should start saving though.

Diorskin Nude BB Cream. 

 

I’ve been wanting this ever since I saw essiebutton use it. I was blown away by the coverage it gives and how easy it blends into the skin!

There’s so many tinted moisturizers and BB creams out there, I seem to want to get everything! But there 2 are the ones I want the most.

Nars Sheer Matte Foundation. 

 

I’m not exactly a huge fan of foundation, because I personally feel I can get away with concealer and powder. But there are those days where I have pretty ugly and blotchy skin, so I would need some cover up. This has just the right amount of coverage and shade!

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Concealer. 

 

This has been highly raved by fleurdeforce and I trust her taste! The packaging is so classy and elegant, I would be honored to own one of them.

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Concealer. 

 

I’m in need of a good concealer because the current one I have creases under my eyes and that isn’t good looking at all! This is a full coverage concealer, so I have quite a lot of hope in it!

NARS Guy Bourdin Holiday Collection Limited Edition One Night Stand Cheek Palette. 

 

How pretty! They didn’t scrimp on the amount of product and I have a choice of so many colors, perfect for travelling or doing makeup for others.

Diorskin Shimmer Star. 

It’s like a highlighter and blush mixed together as one. The shades are gorgeous with peach, pink and coral, also, the packaging and product both look so luxurious and classy. Love!

Stila Convertible Color in Petunia. 

 

I absolutely adore the texture and color payoff of this product. Plus the packaging is so cute!

There are so many blushes out there that I would love to try. My faith has been regained ever since I got my hands on NARS’s Orgasm, I was using NYX before that and I always looked like a clown after application.

Benefit Cosmetics Hoola. 

 

I’ve always wanted to try a bronzer, and this is on top of my list! Benefit has been my favorite brand of cosmetics for a very long time now. Ever since I was… 10.

Benefit Cosmetics High Beam. 

 

I think a highlighter would do well in my makeup bag because I’ve been dying to give my nose a bit of a lift, as well as my cheekbones!

Laura Mercier Artist’s Palette for Eyes. 

 

The colors are so neutral and gorgeous! I’m not into bright colors, so this is so amazing. The perfect eyeshadow palette.

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil. 

 

I never fancied lip products that gave a distinct glossy finish so matte would be amazing for me. I feel that this pencil, accompanied with a layer of lip balm on top would look beautiful!

Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Sheer Candy Glossy Balm. 

 

I love that this is sheer, it requires less maintenance compared to full on lipsticks! Plus this smells gorgeous, W-A-N-T.

Yves Saint Laurent Glossy Stain. 

 

Gorgeous color!!! Plus it’s a stain, I don’t have to use a lot of it. Adorable packaging.

After sitting in front of the computer for about 2 hours, I’ve finally shrinked my list into these few items, yay me! Everything on the Sephora website seemed to be calling out to me, I was overwhelmed.

I can’t wait to go for Christmas shopping and maybe then, I’ll pick a few items up for myself.

Silent night, holy night. All is calm, all is bright. 

 

Drugstore Hauling!

So over the past few months, I managed to pick up a few items from the drugstore and here are the products I’ve been trying out!

First off, e.l.f concealer brush.

I got this as part of the 12 piece makeup brushes set and thought it’d be really useful to blend concealer into the skin flawlessly, but no. It was a major letdown. The brush itself was way too small.

(Sorry if it’s a bit dirty, I used it to line the eyes instead.) Look at how small the brush it, I only wish my blemishes were that tiny. Plus it’s so difficult to use it in a stippling motion and “spreading” it just ruined everything. Thank goodness it was cheap.

Next, Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze. This has been raved all over youtube and among beauty gurus, so I thought I’d give it a shot. Though it is easy to apply and blend, it’s a little too dark for me. Suits a smokey eye more.

I really like the shimmer and bronze-ness to this, the metallicness is wonderful! I might get Inked in Pink soon, seems like a very pretty pinky shade that provides a great wash of color on the lids.

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous Foundation in natural beige. I had great expectations of this because everyone has been giving it praises.

However I thought this was fine. It has an orange undertone, which makes it seem a little like a fake tan gone wrong. The smell isn’t too pleasant, but neither does it smell awful. I might try this for a few more times before I make a decision whether to love it or hate it.

Urban Decay Lip Envy in Greedy. This was the only item that wasn’t from the drugstore, but it was half price at the time I got it, so why not?

It’s a deep berry color that can be sheered out into a light fuchsia. It smells like vanilla which isn’t overpowering, smells amazing. I honestly thought that the product would be bigger than what it actually is, but hey, who needs a huge bottle of stain?

For the best look, make sure your lips aren’t chapped / flaky. It’ll look horrible if you apply a stain because it will enhance the chappiness. Try to use a lip balm before application to hydrate the lips and get rid of any dryness.

e.l.f flawless eyeshadow set. This looked really easy to apply, since they have all the words for you to apply onto the lids. However, everything was too shimmery.

It’s so shimmery to the point that it looks frosty on the lids. It’s pretty hard to blend as well! I tried using the lid color as the crease and it wouldn’t blend in with the base. I looked so stupid. Definitely wouldn’t buy it, but the base color makes a great highlight.

Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me. This is a great product that’s fast and easy. You don’t need a mirror to put it on and you’ll look just fine! Plus the color is pretty subtle, so no one can actually tell that they aren’t your true lip color, *winks*

The packaging is so adorable and the scent really reminds me of a Chapstick I’d use when I was much younger. Great memories.

Maybelline The Colossal Volum Express mascara. This was a miss then hit for me. I didn’t like it at first because it took longer than the clump crusher to dry and would transfer easier. However when I realised what difference it makes to my eyes and how easy it is to be washed away, I liked it more.

One thing that I didn’t like was the way it smelled. It was so weird. Maybe it’s just my tube, I don’t know. But it doesn’t tickle my fancy.

Last but not least! CoverGirl Smoochies Lip Balm in Luv Bug. 

This has some shimmer in it, and might get a little frosty, but it’s all good! The sheerness of it is perfect for me and provides the perfect pop of color for the lips. The typical “your lip but better” kind of color. There’s a huge huge huge range of colors to choose from, you’ll definitely be able to find a color that suits you.

This smells a lot like my mum’s lipstick, how I used to borrow hers and play with it when I was younger.

Alright, this wraps up a mini haul I have, and I hope you’ve enjoyed it!

Disclaimer : everything was bought with my own money! No company has sent me anything and so they’re all my honest opinions and thoughts.

Drugstore Makeup Starter Kit

This is, as the title states, drugstore makeup starter kit! It’s for those who are starting to get into makeup, or those who want like a “basic” kit for makeup. Everything mentioned can be found in drugstores because when you’re first getting into makeup, you want to experiment with makeup and find out what suits you best.

It’s pretty pricey if you want to experiment with high end products! A warning, this might be addictive.

Because you’re starting to use makeup, you don’t need a collection this huge.

 

Maybe when you’re getting into makeup you can start collecting them slowly, but for now, just one item from each category will work!

{ FOUNDATION }

CoverGirl Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation with SPF 20.

 

 

This is an awesome product, honestly. It is longwearing because it is a primer itself and it is a concealer too, hence the 3-in-1. What’s more, there’s SPF in it, which can protect us from the sun and keep our skin youthful!
It’s only $7.83 on drugstore.com right now, and there’s 2 online coupons that can give you an extra $3 discount. S-T-E-A-L. I’m so getting one for myself!

Revlon Colorstay Foundation

 

This has great coverage, is lightweight and lasts almost the whole day. It’s also awesome how Revlon came out with 2 different formulas to suit users with different skin types. There’s a really wide range of colors available, and you’ll definitely find one that suits you. It’s $10.39 on drugstore.com at the moment!

L’Oreal Youth Code BB Cream with SPF 15

 

If you have pretty good skin with minimal areas that needs coverage, a BB cream would be suitable because it won’t feel as heavy on the skin and it’s really natural. There’s SPF in it, has moisturizing properties, evens out skin tone and corrects some areas too. It’s super convenient especially if you’re rushing out of the house. It’s much easier to blend too. It’s $16.49 for a pretty big tube on drugstore.com and there are 2 shades to choose from.

{ CONCEALER }

This is optional, but if you have severe acne scars or you want to cover up those dark circles, you could use with these products.

Maybelline Fit Me! Concealer Makeup

 

This is lightweight and is best used for undereyes. It doesn’t crease and blends easily, does its job well! There’s 6 shades available and is only $3.99! (Because there’s a 20% discount)

Maybelline DreamLumi Touch Highlighting Concealer

 

This is recommended to be used for undereyes because it highlights as well, and can totally freshen up your whole look and make you appear more awake.
It isn’t exactly the best thing to highlight the imperfections that you’re actually trying to conceal! It’s $6.39 on drugstore and there’s 6 shades to choose from!

CoverGirl and Olay Concealer Balm

 

 

This is a great product and can actually be doubled as a foundation if you have really good skin and you don’t even need a BB cream to cover up anything but have just a few areas that could use concealing. You’re blessed.
It is a smooth glide stick, unlike e.l.f’s coverall stick which has a weird sticky consistency to it. It’s $6.39 and there’s a coupon that gives you an extra discount of $1! There are 6 shades available.

{ EYEBROW }

This is definitely not necessary at all, and you can skip this step if you want to, plus it takes some practice to fill in your brows and let it look natural. But if you’re confident and really hate your sparse brows, this is for you.

e.l.f studio eyebrow kit

 

There’s a brow wax and brow powder in the kit, along with an angled brush and a sponge tip one for easy application. There are 3 shades available so that you can find one that suits the color of your brows. I always get very amused by how blondies have blonde brows and old people have white brows, it’s just so interesting! Anyways, digressing. The powder in the kit can be used to set the wax so it won’t slip and slide everywhere! It’s only $3.

Revlon Brow Fantasy Pencil and Gel

 

This comes in a colored pencil and colored gel which can help fill the eyebrows further. The pencil can be used to fill the brows in and the gel would allow them to look more natural. There’s 4 shades available and is $5.91.

{ EYESHADOW }

When you’re just starting off with makeup, you don’t want to start off with bright colored products, just because you don’t have much experience with them and they might not turn out well on you.

Maybelline Color Tattoos

 

You can’t really go wrong with this product because it’s really simple and easy to use. All you have to do is just apply it all over the lid and you’re good! It can also be used as an eyeshadow base if you want.
It’s $5.83 on drugstore and comes in a variety of colors. However, I recommend that you use a neutral color so it doesn’t make you look like you’re auditioning for the circus. (that is if you have no experience in makeup!)

Wet n Wild Color Icon Collection Eyeshadow Trio

 

This is great for beginners because there are word imprinted on the eyeshadows, telling you where to put that color. It’s only $2.99 and comes in many many different trios, so you can try them out! You might want to start off with the neutral colors first, before proceeding to smokey eyes or something, just because you don’t want to look like a panda!

{ EYELINER }

Personally, I’m not a huge fan of eyeliners because I’m asian, and they make my eyes seem more asian that it does without eyeliner. (I have double eyelids if you’re wondering) But I know some of you like statement eyes and want more definition around that area, so this is for you.

Maybelline Unstoppable Eyeliner

 

 

This glides on pretty smoothly and is suitable for sensitive eyes, and as well as contact lenses. The tip is thin enough so that it’d be easier for beginners to control and use.
Gel liners can sometimes be too much, so a pencil is recommended as the amount of product used is limited. This is $4.71 and comes in 5 shades, and brown is advised to those who are just starting with makeup, because it’s more subtle and easier to match instead of a jet black color.

Almay Amazing Lasting 16 hour Eye Pencil

 

This too, has a very thin tip that would result in a thin eyeliner line, but it can be built up and is definitely better than putting too much and having to remove it. This is $6.09 and if you were considering to buy it with a friend, the next would be at 50% off and y’all can split the bill!

 

{ MASCARA }

I’m not totally sure with what effects ( lengthening or volumizing) that you like, so I picked the ones that are loved and raved about by so many people.

CoverGirl Lash Blast Clump Crusher Mascara

This mascara lengthens your lashes a whole lot. I didn’t like it at first, but now I’m adapting to it, I pretty like how much length it adds to them and they don’t clump that much, except for some occasional globs of mascara gel that might get onto the lashes. Easily removed, don’t worry! Also, the wand is curved shape so it makes your lashes flare out more and it looks great. It’s $5.51 and 4 shades are available.

Maybelline Volum Express The Falsies Colossal Cat Eyes

This mascara flares the outer lashes and gives you a little cat eye look which is cute. Also, it doesn’t clump that much and gives the eyelashes a nice lift and makes them pretty!
What’s more, the packaging has leopard prints on them, how sassy and adorable. It’s $6.22 and sadly, only one shade is available!

{ BLUSH }

It’s always nice to have a bit of a pop of color on the cheeks, it makes you look much more lively and cheery. However, too much can make you turn out looking like a demented doll that came out from a horror movie, not good.

Milani Baked Powder Blush

The Milani baked powder blushes are really good, because it is subtle, but not till there’s no color and not super pigmented like the NYX ones which I feel is a little harder to blend. It comes with a mirror and a brush, so you don’t have to buy a blush brush just to use it.
Also, it’s pretty compact and you can put it in your purse and do a touch up whenever you want. It’s $6.37 and comes in 5 shades.

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Blush and Highlighter

2-in-1 product, anyone? It’s a highlighter and blush packed into one, and can give you more glow when used. The highlighting color can by used by itself to highlight, and the blush colors can be mixed to give a natural and healthy color on your cheeks! It’s $11.99 and there are 4 shades to choose from.

{ BRONZER }

For those fair-skinned and pale ladies out there who aren’t much of a sun-worshipper, a little bit of bronzer can go a long way. It’ll make you seem much more sporty, athletic and healthy. Don’t use too much though! It might pass off as though you have really bad pigmentation.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Blends Natural Radiance Bronzer

This bronzer will give you a sun-kissed glow and is very easy to blend. It also has good pigmentation and won’t come off as cakey. And! It gives a hint of color, a hint, so it won’t be too much!

Maybelline Fit Me! Bronzer Pressed Powder

The Maybelline Fit Me! Collection is a really good line and this has lightweight pigments with a smooth texture. It’s long lasting and natural at the same time, so it would be good for an everyday use without looking too orange. It comes in 3 shades and is only $4.40 right now.

{ LIPPIES }

My favorite part of makeup, the lips. They can change a whole look, from neutral to wild and from innocent to sexy. I can’t leave the house without anything on my lips, even if it is just a lip balm.
I love how my lips feel with something on, especially if it’s hydrating and moisturizing. So this is going to be an exception and I’ll recommend a few more products!

Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter

This is beautiful! It glides on really easily and is pretty sheer, so you don’t have to worry about looking “unnatural”. The color intensity can be built, but it’ll remain towards the sheer side, so, feel free to give your lips a few more coats!

Also, this smells ahh-ma-zingggg! It’s vanilla-y and smells like a cupcake. There’s not too much glitter in it, so you don’t worry about your lips looking like a disco ball! It’s only $5.99 and there’s a wide wide wide range of colors to choose from, so you can experiment with them to see what shade suits you best!

Maybelline Baby Lips, Cherry Me

This is a tinted lip balm, but the pigmentation and color that it leaves on your lips doesn’t really seem like one! The color goes on pretty well and looks good. Not to mention the scent! I don’t mind eating a cherry chapstick, do you? Haha, just kidding.
Anyways, this is great for the younger girls because it isn’t anything too mature and it has SPF in it which can protect your lips from being dry and chapped! It’s $3.19 and there are other flavors if you’re not interested in cherry flavors.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain

This is a product that’s between a balm and a stain and I think it’s a really smart idea because stains tend to dry out the lips, and the balm in this product can help counteract the drying power of the stain and leave it hydrated while moisturizing at the same time.
Since it’s a stain, it’ll stay on the lips for a good amount of time and touch ups aren’t as needed! It’s $7.19 and there are many shades available!

L’Oreal Colour Riche Le Balm

This is fabulous! It’s like a sheer lip gloss without too much glitter and a balm. When applied, it leaves this glossy sheen and that is just nice for “beginners” because it isn’t that reflective. The colors in this range are all pretty neutral and perfect for anyone. It keeps lips really hydrated and does not dry out, at all.
What’s more, it smells like cupcake! Something made out of those pre-mix boxes, a yellow cupcake. That’s what I call it. It’s only $7.95 and it is a steal for what you’re paying for. My holy grail lip product!!!

TIP : If you choose to use a lipstick, be sure to put on a lip balm before application so it’ll look better because it’ll glide on easily and the dried areas won’t show through as much under the lipstick!

{ TOOLS }

This, honestly, is optional. But if you’re slowly getting into makeup and want to find out what makeup tools that would be useful, you can stick around and read further!

e.l.f brush set

This is really affordable and cheap, I mean 12 brushes for $12? Where can you find such a deal? I love how e.l.f comes up with a huge range of cosmetics that is super super affordable! And they have occasional discounts on their website, and that’s fab.
You can purchase this if you just want to get the hang of using makeup brushes. This isn’t the best brushes around, but for someone that’s starting out, it could be a lot of help.

e.l.f studio brushes

The reason why I’m showing only one brush is because this is the multi-purpose brush. It can be used for foundations, tinted moisturizers, blush, bronzer and stuff like that. Of course, it isn’t very “professional” but you can still get away with it. Personally, I think the studio line has much better brushes because they’re much softer and soft is good, we don’t want the brushes to pierce every pore we have.

Real techniques brushes

They come in several different sets, and from what I know, there are 3 colors ; purple,morange and pink! There’s a starter set ( above ) as well as a core collection,

And a travel set

They’re all priced at $17.99 (for the sets) and they look really stylish and sleek. I’ve never actually tried it before, but it has been highly raved by many youtubers around and fun fact ; it’s created by one of the youtubers! It’s said to be really soft and there’s no shedding.

eyelash curler

I think this is fairly important because they make your lashes lift more and together with the mascara, you’ll reach the expected effect of super long and volumized lashes, along with ones that are “curly”.

* Please do note that you don’t need to buy every product mentioned, they’re just rough guidelines for those who are just starting out with makeup and are not too sure on what to get. If something else fits you better, by all means purchase that.

Also, no photo copyright intended! All items mentioned can be found on drugstore.com and the respective websites of the brands.

Do comment below if you have something eager to ask / feel free to drop me an email at snickeriggles@yahoo.com

I have no title for this post because it’s just random snippets of my life over the past 5 days so…

First off there’ll be a haul part 2 coming up! There’ll be a lot of items that I’ll be reviewing, joy! I wanted to do it today, but it was raining so lighting was a problem. And plus I passed out immediately after reaching home because I was so damn tired. And I guess I though of Z too much, made me tired.

Argh I’m so upset how I’m not getting as many views nowadays, it’s like my dream of being a beauty blogger will never come true. Sob. Oh well!

The Three Idiots is a great movie, despite it being an Asian one. Some stereotype here. But anyways, it was so crackin’ hilarious! The genius male lead looks pretty good too, a little like Eminem. And Eminem is hot.

Have a great weekend all you lovelies!