Much love for ASOS......and hello again Hong Kong

After succumbing to my office cold last Friday, over the weekend whilst trying to win the battle (I totally hate being sick!), I got online happy. I ordered some skincare gifts from ASOS on Saturday and it arrived at my door today. Wow. Impressed with the service fo sho'.

Here is the neat, crisp box (no doubt where it's from!)



The Breast Cancer Care giftset and Bliss At Home Oxygen blast gift set:


The Elemis giftset is for me ##coy## as when it first came out I loved the fact that my HG Pro Marine Collagen cream came in a delightful pink container. The Bliss gift set is for my sister (don't worry, none of my family read my blog : D ) as I thought as a busy mum, often tired off her feet, that a relaxing but energising skincare set would be just the ticket for her. The set comes with full size triple oxygen instant energizing mask (which my friend raves about and it froths on your skin so once it's fizzled out you wash it off), triple oxygen +C energizing cream and triple oxygen instant energizing eye mask.

With the Elemis gift et I have tried everything before - mainly in a gorgeous facial - but I absolutely love the pink container for the Elemis Pro Marine Collagen cream - will definitely be using this for travel! I also wanted to try their perfume for the first time. Love the pink bag too. This giftset came with:

Pro Marine Collagen Cream
Cellular Recovery capsules
Elemis Parfum
Visible Brilliance
Pro Marine Lifting Treatment Neck and Bust



Both sets were 20% off this last weekend and I will definitely be perusing ASOS much more now....



........and I am missing family and want to escape the cold so I am making an impromptu visit to Hong Kong next week. I can't wait. Just to rest, eat, be with family and play with my young nieces - and kinda go back to my roots again. Just need to be refreshed.



So what better way to sign off with my favourite song at the moment..........REPRESENT!!!!


Far East Movement - Like a G6



xx

How difficult is it to finish a lipstick?!

(Excuse my camera pics at the moment - I can't quite find my better one - so I am using just my web cam)

I am feeling a bit frustrated. You know you have those makeup items in your stash that you're not grabbing for anymore and it's sitting aamongst a family of other unused items? These 3 lipsticks pictured have taken me AGES to use up. When I want to chuck out a lipstick but use it up before it goes bad - I tend to use them daily for work. That's the only way I will get to use them on a regular basis in the hope that that bullet goes down quickly! So here are the l/s I am trying to use up from top and clockwise:

Becca Gisella Sheer Tint Lip Colour

A nice pinky beige nude with medium pigmentation and a lovely application. Has a moisturising finish with a tiny bit of sparkle. Lovely packaging with a screw mechanism (rather than the traditional top) and it feels lovely on.

But it doesn't last long and dries my lips out a bit.

Maybelline Moisture Extreme Pinky Beige 721

A really lovely pinky beige as well and a great drugstore price. But this has a bit of a waxy smell which turns me off and the lipstick does dry my lips out.

NARS Roman Holiday lipstick

This is a pale lilac colour, and I love the name because of the film. Applies nicely and creamy-ish (not as creamy as MAC's cremesheens or Clarins Rouge Prodige) but doesn't last long. It's the only lilac lip colour I have - and I don't think it suits me. Also the rubber packaging is wearing off and becoming a bit sticky : /

I'm nearly there with the Becca but the Maybelline and NARS is gonna take some more wearing. I tend to reapply only 2 or 3 times a day at that - I'm just so busy at work I don't tend to retouch.

...that's it! The power of retouching..........

Any makeup frustrations for you lately?

xx

Some essentials for winter 2010.....

....just a short post about some items I have added into my makeup and skincare regime for the oh so cold and blustery and snowy weather! Though I don't have any serious dryness that you can see on my skin with the drop in temperature - my skin just doesn't have the same 'bounciness' or moisturised look with my normal year round skincare.

I've been adding MAC's strobe cream to my foundation to make it more moisturising but at the same time giving a luminous finish. This helps me look like I have a glow within.

I love also adding a generous pour of Jurlique's Eucalyptus Body Oil to my body moisturiser (I use SolarSilk from Creative Nail Design)and it just adds that bit more of moisture but also a gorgeous uplifting but relaxing smell. Though I do apply the oil by itself - I still find it bit greasy and mixing it in with a body moisturiser seems to make it less so. Also makes the oil go longer : D

And finally I did a YT review on this last year, but Euceerin's Hyaluron-Filler night cream is perfect for moisturising my skin at night. It feels very protected. It is the most richest cream I have used - and will leave a slight film of oil in the morning - but I'm not averse to that as I'm at home anwyway. And I feel that it really settles it from a whole day of indoor heating and the cold outside.

My birthday haul........

So it was my birthday yesterday - another year goes by : D

I took the day off and decided to do a round of shopping. I like to walk around places to get a feel of what they are like - especially on a work day to see how life is when I'm not in the office : D It was nice, I've been quite stressed at work so it took me a while to come down to enjoy my day. But by the time I'd bought the one thing I'd been lusting after - I felt much better.

I also hauled at the 20% discount event at Shu Uemura in Covent Garden today. Here's my haul:



Ever since reading WearingitToday's post on these fabulous leopard print Kurt Geiger heels - I had to have them. They weren't cheap but I waited til getting a discount offer somehow - and it appeared in a 25% offer with Glamour UK magazine. I feel glamorous and sexy as soon as they slip onto my feet - I can see wearing them with all black or with some cargo pants. Miaow : D SATC for sure.



So here's my Shu haul plus MAC's Eyebrown crayon in Stud and also Clarins Instant Light Brush on Perfector in 02. I love my Shu brow gel but I did a full on heavier face with smokey eyes on Saturday (my boyfriend took me out to a posh Thai restaurant for my birthday- Nahm in London - so I got my hair did too)and I felt that my brows looked a bit light in comparison to the rest of my face. So I'm gonna try out the MAC crayon - as it's quite creamy and easy to apply and the colour seems to match my Shu brow gel if I wanted to use them both together.

I also have wanted to recreate that famous Kardashian concealer trick thing beneath the eyes but with an illuminating highlighter so opted for a highlighter pen. I chose Clarins because I liked how it swatched (in comparison to Dior, Givenchy etc) - it looks like foundation but with a certain coverage and dewiness - none of that pale pink whitish cast which I get with YSL Touche Eclat. A review will be coming up on that.





I got 2 matte e/s from Left-Right, M beige 831 and M beige 821. I passed by the NARS counter the other day and swatched the e/s duo Madrague and I liked the tone of the shades but much prefer the quality of Shu e/s. These aren't exact matches - but quite similar and looking forward to using it for a neutral work look, with caramel tones.



I was planning on getting a pink blush cos I don't have a pink from Shu, but instead fell in love with this caramel neutral toned blush M Amber 86 - on the left. On the right is a shimmery highlighter P Gold 94. I wavered on the highlighter because I have enough of them and this is pretty creamy shimmery but blended out on top of blush, especially the M Amber 86 - it looked very pretty. Very Chloe.



I have a few Shu e/s and blushes now and this palette is perfect to fit them all when I travel. It is v slim and sleek - though I anticipate will scratch easily - but I love compact stuff and this fits the bill.



Then just a few other things. I had to get a refill of my shampoo - Aveda's pure abundance - but also wanted to give Pond's Cold Cream a go as a makeup remover. I remember my mum using this - so I thought why not?

I've also had a creaky Boots hairdryer since my uni days which although still works fine, is just boring. I want to begin styling my hair a bit more now and needed to up my hair karma : D So I just got a Babyliuss Turbo Power 2200 dryer. The T3 will have to wait.

And lastly, I am a huge fan of SATC the series - watch it on re run every night - so I couldn't get away with not treating myself to SATC2 that was released on my birthday - just had to obey karma. I've just watched it tonight : D

Can't wait to play with my new goodies......thanks for reading!

Shu event at Covent Garden store

So I found out about the event, and there is one at the Covent Garden store next Tuesday. I think it is only in the evening. The discount is going to be 20% on products.

I am a bit disappointed that I haven't had an email notice through as I was told I would be, and also that when I went into the store the SA was a bit nonplussed at telling me about the event. Which kinda disappointed me cos I do like that store and had great experiences.

BUT, I am still gonna go because Shu products are great quality - and I am looking to get some e/s and blushes : D

55 Neal Street
Covent Garden
Tel : 020 7240 7635

I got a Shu------eeeeeeling. Holiday collections - Shu Uemura

I posted last year near Xmas that I purchased a few things from Shu when they were having a holiday event - including my favourite blushes - and I enjoyed it so much that I remembered to pop into the Covent Garden store this last week to see if they were doing any holiday events this year. They are.

So I thought I'd just post this as I know some of you last year wanted to have an opportunity to attend. If you pop into a Shu store or call them up and sign on to their mailing list, they are due to send an email alert in the next few weeks to give details about the event. The SA in Covent Garden told me that the event will be in the last 2 weeks of Nov most likely, and the event will be similar to last year with discount off products.

As soon as I receive the email - I'll be posting to let you know the details...as I wouldn't want you to miss out. I'm eyeing up some more of their glow on blushes....so will be compiling my list!


http://www.shuuemura.co.uk/

NET HAULING - a few things I picked up this week

Just to share some web purchases that I am thrilled about receiving this week! I'm not normally a web purchase kind of person as I always like to check things out in person but I couldn't resist these......



I've always wanted a Juicy Couture gold charm bracelet - actually the London series one with a red telephone box is my ultimate lemming! - but I find them quite expensive. However, this gold lucky charm bracelet was on sale on ASOS and so I took the plunge. It comes in a really nice leather embossed box and the bracelet is lovely - just the right type of gold, the right chunkiness and I love the discreet Juicy Couture embossing on some of the charms. A new found fave.

Another absolute new found fave is the new Sigmax HD Synthetic trio set of brushes on offer over at Sigma. I have never tried any Sigma brushes before though always read and watched all the glowing and positive reviews for the brand. I have used the angled and flat top brushes already and LOVE them. I am a huge huge advocate of synthetic brushes and these are soft, dense and substantial. I will definitely do a review of these on my YT channel - want to play with them a bit first. Customer Service was fab - it arrived within 4 days of ordering and came with a travel SE25 brush (their version of the SE 217 I think).

I also got on Amazon the new Lauren Conrad's Style book. I LOVE it! I am a fan of Lauren's - her elegance, her style, her professionalism, her loyalty (although I will say that she can be too quick at judgement but that's cos she has high standards and expectation!). Will definitely do a review of this too as she has some gorgeous makeup pix.

Today I then received as part of a Makeupalley swap an item that has been on my swaplist for absolute ages - MAC Peaches blush. It looks like such a gorgeously happy
blush - just what is needed to carry me through the now increasingly darker days and nights! And cos I love the Sigmax brushes as a newbie and having them for less than 48 hrs I wanted to take a closer (though crappy) web cam pic of it again!:



Just wanted to share what I was excited about this week.....what have you hauled this week? xxx

What is your dream makeup vanity table?

Long time no post......sorry!

I'll be moving sometime spring next year and have a chance to start afresh with the way I arrange my makeup. Currently it's in Muji drawers that I place on top of a clothes cabinet and also in an Ikea mirror cabinet (with shelves inside).

In my excitement, I've been trawling the web, beauty sites and You Tube to get some ideas. My ideal - which I would think is all of ours! - is to have something with great storage and organisational capacity but at the same time pretty. : D

What I'd like is something with this storage capacity:


.....but looks pretty like this:


Am I asking for the impossible? To be honest they look quite similar - just that the first one has more storage capability it looks. I am planning on having my vanity in my bedroom near the window - but it's a finite space and it's a battle for me to keep tidy so I am completely committed to designing something from the outset that will help me achieve that goal!

On You Tube, my favourite look so far is from MakeupbyTiffanyD who's makeup vanity and accompanying storage looks so beautiful and good for storage. I just don't have that much space : (

Any ideas? What would be your dream vanity table? Any suggestions to websites or YTers whose makeup organisation you love?

Would love to hear from you

Some blog lovin'

Thanks to Kat over at Click & Makeup for being a blog to watch - thanks Kat! So as I understand it I have to nominate back 10 blogs or list 10 things I like. I like the idea behind this, but as ever, I can't go the full hog on rules (hey, I am a bit of a black sheep!)but I had wanted to give a shoutout to blogs that I check pretty much daily.

BEAUTY:

Londonmakeupgirl
http://www.londonmakeupgirl.com/
Always learn about a new product or brand. Updated daily.

Makeupforprofessionalasianwomen
http://www.makeupforprofessionalasianwomen.com/
A true makeup fan! A fabulous and extensive makeup collection. Regular makeup looks posted - and I look forwad to seeing what Jamilla uses on a daily basis!

lollipop26
http://www.lollipop26writes.com/
The One & Only.

Glitterdollz
http://glitterdollz7beauty.blogspot.com/
I'm relatively new to this blog and YTer. Beautiful looks on a beautiful, sweet lady.

A Model recommends
http://www.amodelrecommends.com/
I'm very new to this blogger. She's a recognisable London model. Look forward to seeing how her YT channel and blog develops.


FASHION and STYLE

http://wearingittoday.blogspot.com/
Absolutely <3 this blog. Gorgeous stylist, with a great eye for fashion. Casual luxe IMO. Inspires me to emulate her! Any day now....... : )

http://www.diaryofavintagegirl.com/
My vintage style fix. Love this blog, as I find it a lot of fun.

http://www.bargainistafashionista.com/
Fellow HKer in London. Fun, cool blog.

And one that does both:
http://blogs.elleuk.com/
Absolutely love the Beauty Notes Daily and What Elle Wears to Work blogs. If I could emulate the makeup and style of a magazine, it would be this one.

What blogs are you loving?

Long overdue post......and my 1st What's In and What's Out

#sheepishly peeks out from the corner#

..........hope you all have enjoyed your summer! I've been missing from my blog for over the last month - no real reason other than I've been concentrating on my YT channel (3 videos a week yay!)and busy buying and swapping makeup!

So to get back into blogging, I'm doing my first What's In and What's Out.

What's IN

- Bare Escentuals eyeshadows. They are currently rocking my world. Loose pigments yes, but the buffing let's me feel like my own artist and also gives me such a flawless finish.
- Swapping. I've completed quite a few over the last few months - and it feels very good to have lightened my collection of things I don't use and possibly someone else loves, with the bonus of trying out new items!
- Synthetic makeup brushes. So easy to clean and whatever brush head shape it takes, it's great to apply cream and liquid products, as well as powder.
- Cake eyeliner. Am trying out Becca's, but have also tried Laura Mercier. Not as easy to apply as gel eyeliners, but I love the finish, gives a perfect 1960s opaque finish.
- Mineral foundation makeup. My Prescriptives All Skins powder and MAC MSF Natural are my go to and fail proof products in these summer months.

What's OUT
- Messiness. Once all the makeup is on and I'm happy with my finished look, my desk surface is cluttered with makeup products, tissues, brushes, q tips. It's like cooking, I'm not one of those people who clean up as they cook!
- Mascara splotches on your eyelid. No matter what angle I tilt my head or mascara wand, I can't get away from this!
- how in the UK we have to wait for the Urban Decay Naked Palette to get to our shores......all the reviews and raves about it are grating on me ; p

It's good to be back!

On a no buy....lemmings galore Becca Becca Becca

So my no buy on makeup is going well, not bought anything remotely makeup or cosmetic related. : D Been busy at work too so that helps. Haven't bought any fashion mags either ; D

As a result, I am lemming some items. Mainly Becca. Today I tried out their new mineral powder, seductively named Boudoir, the new pink grapefruit beach tint and Songbird blush on top. Love all three!

I think I'm gonna get the grapefruit beach tint, a pretty girly coral, and am umming and ahhing about the mineral powder. I am nearly finishing up my MAC Mineral Skin Finish which I like and need a new one. The Becca one has great packaging, a mirror inside and is something new - always game to try a new thing. But I think the MAC MSFN is a better product - plus you get more for your money. The MAC at £18 is also cheaper than the Becca which retails at £26. Hmmmmm....

Any thoughts on the above? What are your lemmings this week/month?

Brush cleaning - what a workout!

So I normally clean my brushes on a Sunday - which is generally housekeeping day for me! I normally clean my more used brushes every few days (like my foundation and powder brushes, MAC 217 - my most used eyebrush) with Clinique's brush cleanser and then do a more thorough clean once or twice a week for the other brushes I don't use so frequently. I have a large collection of brushes, and I like to rotate them too just like my makeup collection.

Below are the brushes laid out to dry. These are my main stash of brushes that I use regularly, and included in these are my travel set (the pink handled Smashbox Rapture set).






My fail safe method of cleansing is to use Johnson & Johnson baby shampoo. Cheap and cheerful, and most importantly effective. Not harsh at all.

I've been using Cinema Secrets brush cleanser (mainly cos Tricia Sawyer raves ahout it) but I find that it doesn't cleanse effectively (my brushes are still dirty after a couple of soaks). I prefer the Clinique cleanser to this.

I'll do a vid review of it in the near future.

It just feels so satisfying to have done a full set of washing! LOL

STOP PRESS!!! New Eve Lom Cleanser - Morning Time Cleanser

So, my regular readers and YT subscribers will know that Eve Lom's cleanser is my HG. I've reviewed many dupes on the market and still come back to her original cleanser. Last Friday I received a press release about the newest skincare item she has brought out - which is called the Morning Time Cleanser.

Imagine my excitement! I hotfooted it to my nearest Spacenk to check it out. Firstly, it retails £35 for 125ml. The SA told me that it is meant to be a convenient version of the original, in a tube so easy for travel and no need for the muslin cloth. She also said that it was a 'lighter' version of the original formula and designed for those who wanted to use something in the morning. I questioned her further as Eve Lom's philosophy is to cleanser once in the day, in the evening, with the muslin cloth and then in the morning only use water to wash your face with the muslin cloth. Cleansing again in the morning though? Sounds a bit to me trying to introduce another step in the regime. I asked whether it was to replace the original version and the SA said no. I'm confused. I think I need to go to an Eve Lom specialist at one of the spas to ask further : D

Now, the muslin cloth for me is all part of the routine. And I rather liked the fact that my skin got used to using the cleansing balm in the evening and only water in the morning - which I think is one of the reasons my oil production has regulated since using this balm.

Anyone bought it yet and used it? Do let me know what you think. I'm on a no buy of course (and still have my current Eve Lom pot to get through)so won't be purchasing this now.

xx

Zuneta workout - a haul and then a no buy!

Taking advantage of this past Bank Hols 20% discount offer over at Zuneta.com - I made an order last minute Sunday night. And it arrived today! I've only ever ordered from Zuneta once before and was impressed then, and am super impressed this time. The Customer Service is pretty darn good - friendly and prompt. I ordered a number of things and they wrote to me to say that my order was on its way to me but that one item, Malin & Goetz Eucalptyus deodorant was out of stock but that they were expecting new stock within the week and will be sending it immediately. I liked how their CS was to the point but friendly too, not the usual corporate official response.

And I've always liked the effort they put in the packaging. So here's what I got:




Extras were a sample of Hourglass' Mineral Veil primer and a Mane 'n Tail Shampoo. The MD Skincare Alpha Beta peel pads were definitely on my list since reading Belledejournewyorkcity's blogpost on it and how it cleared up her skin. I'm trying it out tonight!

And the Becca Watermelon Beach Tint has always been a product I wanted to give a go. I decided also to try out their cake e/l (I got the black colour, Barbarella) as I have a sample Laura Mercier one that I like (but it's not in proper case packaging) and Becca's packaging always has me sold. Plus I love the Becca MUA on Zuneta's YT channel and made me want to get the tint and eyeliner. I wanted more...but stopped.

NOW, it's not that long since I've been back from Hong Kong and this haul was definitely an unexpected one for me. So I am on a no buy til the end of June when hopefully I can attend the London makeupalley member meet up. I'm thinking of Becca's blush in Songbird for then.....or another tint......arrrgggghhhhh!
xx

Another fashion house braves the world of makeup - Burberry cosmetics

Tom Ford has just come out with his lipstick line - which has received quite a few raves for its luxe and glam feel, and highly pigmented colours. Definitely if you can't afford the clothes, the sunnies (I myself would love to bag a pair of Anouk sunnies) paying £35 might seem worth it just to attain a bit of that glamour. But not for me....I'd rather spend that money on a high end foundation : D

So Burberry is due to launch their line in July and it wil feature foundations, powders, bronzers, eye shadow, eyeliner, lip gloss, lip definers, lipsticks and mascara. Sounds pretty much on the mark of a standard makeup line. Burberry has done well in their fragrance line so why not try out cosmetics?

This is where I come over all British : D As much as my brain tells me to be positive and champion a much loved traditional British fashion brand, I don't have high hopes. We've been here before. Both Calvin Klein, Diane von Furstenberg have tried and failed. Though makeup and fashion are inextricably linked, a great fashion design house does not a great cosmetics house make.

This is not to say that it can't be done - YSL, Chanel, Dior make a great success out of it. And it is not to say that newcomers can't be welcomed. But it's something that Chanel and co are cosmetic brands which have been around for a while and have already developed that 'classic' status. I thought Missoni were going somewhere when they brought out a highligher palette a couple of summers ago (I think) but then that also went nowhere. The only newcomer that has successfully made the leap is Giorgio Armani. But come to think of it, I don't even own anything from his line either. That probably says more about me and my tastes. The majority of my collection is made up of items from makeupartist lines. Not to say that I don't rate fashion house lines - some of my fave items have been precisely from Dior, YSL and Chanel! I guess I feel that I respect and 'trust' those items from makeupartist lines. They appeal more to me.

Equally, you don't find many makeup brands that foray into fashion. What type of fashion would MAC or Shu Uemura produce?!!! Or Bobbi Brown!? How about Clinique or Lancome?

The Burberry line is featured in this July's Elle UK. Alongside images of a neutral colour selection of powders (which would normally have me on high alert) - eyeshadows, bronzers, blushers - etched with the Burberry check, it is promoted as the makeup to 'check out'. Turn the page over and the British supermodel Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley is quoting her summer bare necessity is a sweep of Burberry bronzer (£30). Marketing indeed.

Yes I am being cynical in this post. I will indeed be checking it out and will gladly and most happily blog about whether I purchase anything. Burberry is a line that is reknown for being very popular with the Far East, especially Japan, so if they have factored that in - it could do well - like Jill Stuart. Come to think of it too, I have some great Mary Quant eye shadows and wish that line would get more notice.

I'm all for being fair and I will give the line the benefit of the doubt. Sometimes, it's all about the surprise if something turns out to work for you which makes a makeup product all the better.

What do you think?

Da Wei - Ni Men Hao!!!! Pics from Beijing....

Hey there everyone

My hols is coming to an end (boohoo) but wanted to share some pix from my short trip to Beijing. I had a really good time - mainly because it was very nice to be with my parents. I like to be a bit silly with them - cos my family is quite serious (can't you tell from those of you who have seen my YT vids? lol) so I like to lighten the mood and bring a litte laughter in.

Beijing has obviously moved on so much from the last time I was there, about 20 yrs ago! I loved visiting the Great Wall and the workout up there! As well as the Forbidden City (need to watch the First Emperor film again) and the food of course! Went to Din Tai Fung (a Taiwanese restaurant but famous for dumplings) and of course had Peking Duck (roasted duck wrapped in pancakes with sauce - kinda like Crispy Aromatic Duck in the UK).

So just to share some pix:
One the way up to the Great Wall

I see it! puff, puff, cough, cough

WOW!!!

Quick gotta take a pic

More WOW!!

The trip down the mountain on a cable car

Checking out the history in Time Out (I totally rate Time Out City guides)
Eating fried Man Tao dipped in sweetened condensed milk = YUMMMMMMMMMMMYYY!

Chairman Mao greets you on entry to the Forbidden City (on Tianamen Square)

....and in the Forbidden City = so much history....


This is what I think of when I think of the Forbbidden City - long routes with high red walls a la First Emperor

Ballet flats before they were ballet flats....Chinese style - anyone?

....ok, how bout some chopsticks?

Din Tai Fung - how and where dumplings are made




And finally, of course I have done quite a bit of makeup shopping in HK - the highs are probably that I found a fantastic small cake eyeliner brush from the Bonjour cosmetics shop (like Sa Sa) that I use with my LM e/l and the MUFE aqua cream e/s and getting to restock on Sofina Lucent SPF 50. The low is that my all time fave and HG pale pink lipstick PK347 from Shiseido Maquillage has been discontinued....boohoo!

Anyhow - hope you all have been well and I'll be back to the regular schedule when I get back to the UK!
xxx

The makeup I brought with me on my hols....and my first purchases!

I'm not a fan of packing. I'm just too neat and symmetrical that things have to fit just so - which they never do! So I end up getting frustrated. But I DO love packing for makeup : D I just like examining my makeup collection in all its glory -with holiday purchases in mind - and then packing accordingly to the hols, where I might go, what I might wear etc.

Like most makeup fans - I tend to overpack in this dept. Though I have so many multi purpose products. So I took some photos of what I brought with me to HK and here it is:

I did edit it down only once - being honest - took out a few things such as highlighters, more brushes. I think I overdid it on the lipsticks and blushes for sure : ) The blushes for me weren't a surprise but the balance of lipsticks over glosses was a surprise as I think I've been neglecting a lot of my lipsticks so just brought loads! And I could have done with one less e/s quad and maybe a couple less of the MAC Greasepaints! I brought the whole Laura Mercier eye colour set (Mini Metallic Creme Eye Colour set) because I've been trying out the LM cake e/l - and it's part of the packaging. I could have cut it out - just didn't have the inclination!



I thought I did well with my skincare : D I didn't bring any of my masks because I'm going to repurchase the Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant in HK (tad cheaper) and which I had finished anyway. The Decleor Aromessence balm and La Mer sample were for the plane flight (I smear my face with the DEcleor balm to protect my skin and after using a wet wipe I apply a moisturiser - La Mer was one I found in the back of my bathroom cabinet). The Dermalogica sampless my mum gave me. I actually didn't need the Olay lotion because the weather in HK is quite warm (27 celsius) and more humid than London so the MAC Oil Control Lotion is doing a good job alone. Threw in my fave deo there too.

The shopping began at Heathrow Duty Free and I got the YSL Singulier mascara in 4 (purple) and the Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel in Sunkissed. The Chanel highlighter I'd checked out before and was hooked by its beauty. I have enough highlighters as it is but this has the most beautiful gold, slight peach tan shimmer to it. And the packaging is classy torture : D The YSL mascara was an impulse buy as I've been looking for a good 2 years now for a replacement of my Dior Maximeyes purple mascara and the YSL ad for this mascara had me intrigued. I did like the Faux Cils, so we'll see how this compares as the DFS SA told me it has the same effect, but is meant to be clump free. Hmmm.


I've been here a couple of days and only been out to shop once for about an hour in total! So I had to check out the True Professional Shop in Prudential Centre (I mentioned it in my makeup tour of HK YT vid) and I got the Graftobian HD colour palette at a 20% discount. After watching all the YT vids and reading about the MUFE Concealer palette - I was really wanting to see what all the fuss was about these kind of palettes. I've never tried Graftobian before - and with my experience of Cinema Secrets and Kryolan - I'm all out for trying film and TV makeup brands. First thoughts are that the colour palette seems good in texture (creamy and easy to apply) and the range of colours are sensible - ie. not too extreme in being too light or too bright/dark. I also had to get my trusty Sofina Lucent SPF50 as I had run out of this in the UK (and got backups!).

I did take a pic of the brushes I brought with me (this I am proud of cos it's not as many as I usually bring!) but for some reason my folks' computer can't upload it!

Above everything else, it feels very very nice to be back with family and to be back with the smells, hustle and bustle, lights and heat that makeup HK! (see how I cunningly squeezed that word in there?) I'm off to Beijing tomorrow for a few days trip so wanted to get this post out to you all - if you want me to name anything you see just let me know! Am excited about Beijing because I haven't been since I was a young teenager and it has changed so much - of many of the higlights I'm looking forward to - the food, Tianamen Square, Forbidden City and the Great Wall.

This post has grown into some kind of history essay. My next post might be more of stuff that I am checking out - want to look at Shiseido, Bioderma, Neutrogena, MakeupForever. Hope you all had a good bank hols in the UK for my readers there - and for everyone else a fab weekend!

....how I miss that Fragrant Harbour............

I have been working hard. So I have missed blogging and doing YT vids. But there's been nothing better than from a long and hard day at work, coming back home and relaxing watching other YT vids and reading blogs.

There's loads I want to say and video - but I am just a bit tired. I've bought a few things and treated myself to a massage at a spa - all great pick me ups to reward myself.

...but in the main I am missing my family and Hong Kong life. I just want a change of scenery, bit of convenience and to be back in the arms of family. I'll be flying outt at the end of this week and am very much looking forward to it. Fingers crossed the volcano behaves : D

So, I've compiled my hols beauty list....

1. Check out Asian brands like RMK, Sofina, Sonia Rykiel, Shiseido Maquillage, Shu Uemura, Cle de Peau etc
2. Check out Mario Badescu (lemming Glycolic wash)
3. Check out Sasa, Angel Cosmetics and other non-descript shops
4. new MAC collections if Hong Kong gets them as I'll miss out on the launch of Pret a Papier in London

.....any suggestions from my readers?

TAG - 3 questions and you're out

So I enjoyed reading this 3 tag on Ondine's beauty blog: http://thisisondine.blogspot.com/2010/04/tag-3.html and decided to give it a go myself

Three jobs I have had:
1. Arts assistant
2. Arts Manager
3. Project Manager

Three places I have lived:
1. Los Angeles
2. Singapore
3. Hong Kong

Three favourite drinks:
1. Vita Lemon Tea (mmmm, yum - I grew up with this, in fact did a Hong Kong TV commercial for it)
2. English Breakfast tea (Sainsburys Red Label to be exact)
3. Diet Coke

Three TV shows I watch:
1. True Blood
2. Damages
3. Glee

Three favourite old TV shows:
1. My So Called Life (man, I loved this show during my teens)
2. Sex and the City (could watch re runs endlessly)
3. Miss Match (had high hopes for this one, thought it was a cute show)

Three places I have visited:
1. Russia just before the Communism regime fell - the history, so much of it turbulent, the tough people and you could sense that a change was in the air
2. China - because it's where my mum is from. Like Russia, the history, so much of it turbulent, the tough people and the phenomenal changes it has been through which would not have been anticipated 20 years ago.
3. Australia - it just feels like the other side of the world : D

Three places I would like to visit:
1. Cambodia
2. Sri Lanka
3. The South of the US - never been there e.g. Louisiana, New Orleans, Tennessee

Three people who text me regularly:
1. My boyfriend
2. My best friend
3. My workmates

Three favourite dishes:
1. Phad Thai
2. Spaghetti Vongole
3. Sticky Toffee Pudding

Three makeup products I couldn't live without:
1. Becca Duo Concealer in Tahini
2. Maybelline Waterproof Full&Soft mascara in black
3. Stila Convertible Colours

Three things I am looking forward to:
1. Taking a well deserved hols soon to HK (I have been working so hard!)
2. Seeing my family and meeting my newborn niece for the first time
3. Spending the weekend with my boyfriend

Three 'life' lessons I have learned/am learning (this last one I have added to the tag)
1. Don't take life so seriously (am working on this!).
2. You don't need approval from other people that you are kind, loving, fun or whatever it is that you are seeking approval for. The only person you need approval from is yourself. (This is a tough one for me!)
3. Treat yourself and others with love and kindness - no matter what shit is thrown at you.

I tag all of you!!!

OOTD and FOTD inspired by Kim Kardashian in People Style mag

I was relaxing with the April issue of People Style (the one with Jen Aniston on the cover) and fell in love with this KK look done by Mario Dedivanovic:



I like it cos it's very pretty, simple but fresh and radiant. It's a bronzed peachy radiant face, with classic thick black eyeliner on top with a copper bronze liner on bottom. I like also how her brows aren't as filled in as she normally has them and which I find sometimes really overpowering for such a pretty face. I like how they are much more natural here.

So I was inspired to do something similar, though something better suited to my skintone using products I have. Here's my version:




FACE
Korres Wild Rose Foundation #2
Kryolan blush (taupey brown) for contour
Stila Gerbera Convertible colour on apples
Kryolan blush(peach) ontop of apples
A touch of Shu Translucent loose powder on forehead, tip of nose and chin

EYES
Kryolan Kajal #1092 on lids and inner corner and inner dark circles (used as eye base and to help conceal dark circles)
Becca Duo Concealer in Tahini
Shu Uemura M820 on lids and just above crease
MAC Espresso on outer crease corner
Laura Mercier cake eyeliner
NYX French Fries to line lower lid
Shu Uemura ME 860 ontop of NYX liner
Kryolan Glamour Glow palette - Pale Tan and Bronzing Agais to highlight inner corners

Shu Uemura Black Forest eyebrow gel
Maybelline Falsies Mascara in black
Maybelline Waterproof Full & Soft in black

LIPS
Smashbox Elegant and Beautiful
Jouer lipgloss in Wind
17 lipliner in Fawn traced around lips

I could have bronzed it up more and added false lashes, but it's a lorra products for a simple look! I like it. Looks simple pretty and classy with the liner. I used a few new products - the Kryolan khol and blushes (the ref numbers which I can't see as it's stuck in a palette!) and the Laura Mercier cake eyeliner. I'm really liking the Kryolan products thus far and interested in trying out more. The LM cake eyeliner also surprised me as it takes a lot to tear me away from my Bobbi Brown gel eyeliners - but I really like how it gives an opaque finish and is very 60s. Very Pixie Lott! And for the first time using it - it doesn't transfer to the top of my lids.

Hope you enjoyed this breakdown - long as it was!

xxx