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