Eyebrows Are Sisters, Not Twins

But mine are cousins *sobs* The hairs like to grow in different directions...
Since I haven't been to a professional brow groomer in quite a bit, I thought I'd take shaping into my own hands.

Mind you, I lack the skill in determining the shape of my brows simply by feeling my bone structure (that's what experts do!) so what I did was I dissected my brows with some basic geometry. I'll explain what each colored line means and take you through step by step how I shape and fill in my eyebrows.

Read on!


Note: This shaping method should apply to most oriental Asian features. If you have a more prominent brow bone, this may not work for you. Please consult a professional eyebrow groomer if you haven't already have shaped eyebrows. The measurements do not have to be precise

Red: The "head" of you brow should start at the vertical line of where the inner corner of your eye is. If you have wide set eyes, you may overlap the line and if you have close set eyes, you can move in towards the eye

Blue: The bottom tip of the "head" and the "tail" should end on the same horizontal line

Yellow: A more common way to determine where the "tail" should end is the diagonal line that connects the side of your nose and the outer corner of your eye

Pink: Most eyebrow grooming guides would suggest the arch to be vertical to the outer side of the pupil. I prefer to place my arch slightly more towards the outer corner of my eye to make my eye appear longer/wider

Purple: The slant of the "tail" should be parallel to the outer slant of your eye

Green: The slant of the "body" should be diagonal and not so much curved. The top of the body should be parallel to the bottom. You may keep the same width throughout the entire body but I prefer to make the top of the arch more rounded so that my brows won't look too pointy, which can result it to look rather harsh


Let's start marking! You'll need a white pencil and a ruler...

First you mark the "head" where your brow should begin. Next, mark the horizontal line to determine where the "tail" ends


Then, mark the horizontal line where your arch should be. Following that, match up the pinnacle of your arch with the other side of your brow by placing the ruler horizontally


After that, mark the diagonal line of the "body". To mark where your eyebrow should end, simply place the ruler at the side of your nose joining up to the outer corner of the eye

The region marked in white is where you tweeze! To make tweezing less painful, do it when your out of a hot shower or apply a warm compress to the brow area prior to tweezing


This is what the brow looks like after tweezing


Using a spoolie, brush your hair upwards and the bits sticking out should be where you trim the brows with a brow grooming scissors

Now we can start filling them brows in!


Using an eyebrow pencil, wax or powder, draw the bottom line of the "body" and the "tail"


Using the bottom line as a guide, start filling in the rest of the brow and define the arch. There's no need to fill in the "head"


Using an angled eyebrow brush, blend the color from the "body" to the "head". Use a cotton bud to clean up any messes or to tone down the arch


We're done! If you've made it through this daunting tutorial, give yourself a pat on the back. Well-groomed brows take practice and a lot of slip-ups but they're worth the trouble. When I first discovered makeup, I never did bother much about my eyebrows but as I dabbled in deeper, I've come to realize that the eyebrows can make or break a look. Don't worry if it takes forever for you to get your brows looking right, you'll get the hang of it eventually.

Good luck!



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V-Day Makeup Tutorial: "Touch My Hand" by David Archuleta

OMG! Connie with bright pink lips!

Dark bronze smokey eyes, though highly captivating, are a dime a dozen. After seeing Troy Jensen's work on Rachel McAdams and falling in love with the look, I thought I'd brave myself to wear a bright pink lip. What do you think?

"Touch My Hand", to me, is a powerful and timeless love song but with such innocence to it. I figured this bold yet somewhat sweet look would fit perfectly.



Read on for pictures and description of items used...


This eye makeup works for a Kim Kardashian look as well. Simply pair with some nude lipstick and bronze up the cheeks. You'll transform from sweet to bombshell in no time!


Items Used:

Face:
Majolica Majorca Skin Lingerie
L'Oreal True Match Foundation in G1 Vanilla Ivory
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus

Cheeks:
I Nuovi Cheekblush in Urbanite
Revlon Matte Blush in Perfectly Peach



Lips:
Giorgio Armani Sheer Lipstick in Hollywood Pink
MAC Lipglass in Funky Fusion


Eyes:
Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin
Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Twice Baked
Stila Eyeshadow in Golightly
Shu Uemura Glow On Blush in P Gold 91
Scott Barnes Eyeshadow in Night
MAC Penultimate in Rapid Black
Giorgio Armani Eye Pencil in Black
Taiwan Faux Lashes
Stila Major Lash Mascara
Prescriptives Eyebrow Powder
GEO Nudy Golden Blue Lenses

"Touch My Hand"
by David Archuleta
(music video)

Saw you from a distance
Saw you from the stage
Something about the look in your eyes
Something about your beautiful face

In a sea of people
There is only you
I never knew what the song was about
But suddenly now I do

Trying to reach out to you, touch my hand
Reach out as far as you can
Only me, only you and the band
Trying to reach out to you, touch my hand

Can't let the music stop
Can't let this feeling end
'Cause if I do, it'll all be over
I'll never see you again

Can't let the music stop
Until I touch your hand
'Cause if I do, it'll all be over
I'll never get the chance again
I'll never get the chance again
I'll never get the chance again

I see the sparkle of a million flashlights
A wonder wall of stars
But the one that's shining out so bright
Is the one right where you are

Trying to reach out to you, touch my hand
Reach out as far as you can
Only me, only you and the band
Trying to reach out to you, touch my hand

Can't let the music stop
Can't let this feeling end
'Cause if I do, it'll all be over
I'll never see you again

Can't let the music stop
Until I touch your hand
'Cause if I do, it'll all be over
I'll never get the chance again
I'll never get the chance again

Saw you from the distance
Saw you from the stage
Something about the look in your eyes
Something about your beautiful face

Can't let the music stop
Can't let this feeling end
'Cause if I do, it'll all be over
I'll never see you again

Can't let the music stop
Until I touch your hand
'Cause if I do, it'll all be over
I'll never get the chance again
I'll never get the chance again
(Reach out to you, touch my hand)

I'll never get the chance again
(Reach out as far as you can)
I'll never get the chance again
(Only me, only you and the band)
Trying to reach out to you, touch my hand, yeah

Read more!

Review + New Stuff: I Spot a Dupe!

Seen this thinga machiga in Daiso before? From my first visit to Daiso (which was over a year back) until my most recent one just two weeks ago, the Daiso Eyebrow Coat has always been on my radar. Though rather interesting, I never did find the need for an "eyebrow coat". A year later, still with the curiosity and 5 bucks to spare, I picked one up just because.

This clear liquid is supposed to make eyebrow makeup "waterploof" (that's what it says on the packaging!). As I started to use this, I was reminded of a similar-looking high end product that presents the same concept.

Can you guess what product that is? Read on!


My eyebrows were filled in with eyebrow POWDER over no primer. I simply applied the fast-drying liquid over my eyebrows in small strokes. The color of my eyebrow powder deepened but only very slightly.
The 12 hours is inclusive of a 3-hour nap and I do somersaults in my sleep.

Pretty amazing, right??!! It also acts as an eyebrow gel, keeping hair in place.

So, have you figured out which high end product that the Daiso Eyebrow Coat resembles?


Give yourself 100 points if you guessed Benefit She Laq!
The last time I've used this product was a little over 3 years ago when it was RM90 (USD$30) for a bottle with 4 brushes. I'm sure the price has hiked up since then.

I wasn't too bothered with She Laq since it didn't make much of a difference in making my makeup last longer plus it dulled colors down.

Let's do a little comparison of ingredients...

Benefit She Laq: Water, SD Alcohol 40-B, Acrylates/Octylacylamide Copolymer, Triethanolamine, Propylene Glycol, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Imidazolidinyl Urea

Daiso Eyebrow Coat: Water, PVP, Alcohol, Stearic Acid, Triethanolamine, Cetyl Alcohol, Propylparaben, Methylparaben

Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

She Laq claims to seal eyeliner, eyeshadow, mascara and eyebrow makeup. Although I haven't tried using the Eyebrow Coat on my other eye makeup, I'm pretty sure it'll work fantastically. Have a look at the smudge test below:


Tested on non-waterproof liquid liner, pencil liner, cream eyeshadow and powder eyeshadow. Top swatch is without Daiso Eyebrow Coat and bottom swatch is with. You can tell that the colors deepened slightly and the powder eyeshadow looks more vibrant


No smudging! The cream eyeshadow budged only ever so slightly. It's the top swatch's smudging that's overlapping it.

Convinced yet? Go buy it! This is a very handy product that every makeup kit should have and the best part is, it costs less than a McChicken burger.


Su-Pah (Treasure Trove of Makeup) and I did a little swap few weeks back. I've been wanting to try out some UK drugstore brands so I got a Sleek Eyeshadow Palette, Gosh Lip Jam and Gosh Effect Powder. Su-Pah was super sweet to include some extra goodies which included two H&M Masks, a Hello Kitty Lip Balm tin, Barry M Dazzle Dust and a huge slab of chocolate!
Thanks, girl!


My elf order package came too. The Studio Blush Brush is flat and has a small head -- I've been looking for such a blush brush for the longest time. The Studio Concealer I just wanted to try but I'm a tad concerned since it's looking a little pink. Then I got myself two empty compacts to put in some of my I Nuovi eyeshadows and also pressed pigments, which I'm working on at the moment.


Read more!

V-Day Makeup Tutorial: "1, 2, 3, 4" by Plain White T's

Let's kickstart the V-Day Makeup Tutorial series with something simple, shall we?

If you're experiencing déjà vu, you've probably seen me wearing this look in a previous post. I often use this technique as it elongates the eyes, making them appear wider and more prominent. Which Asian girl doesn't want that, right?

Achieving this look is "as easy as 1, 2, 3, 4" steps!



Read on to view more pictures and description of items used


Items Used:

Face:
Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus

Cheeks:
MAC Beauty Powder Blush in Eversun

Lips:
Stage Wondergloss in Penelope

Eyes:
Paul & Joe Eye Gloss in 03 Brown
Bobbi Brown Gel Liner in Ivy Shimmer Ink
I Nuovi D27 Eyeshadow in Spellbound
Maybelline Turbo Boost Mascara
Daiso Auto Eyebrow Pencil

For this technique you can do whatever color combination that you want. The possibilities are endless!

"1, 2, 3, 4"
by Plain White T's
(music video)

1-2, 1-2-3-4

Give me more loving than I’ve ever had
Make it all better when I’m feeling sad
Tell me that I’m special even when I know I’m not
Make it feel good when I hurt so bad
Barely getting mad
I’m so glad I found you
I love being around you
You make it easy

It's easy as 1-2, 1-2-3-4

There’s only one thing
To do
Three words
For you...
(I love you) I love you
There’s only one way, to say
Those three words
That’s what I’ll do...
(I love you) I love you

Give me more loving from the very start
Piece me back together when I fall apart
Tell me things you never even tell your closest friends
Make it feel good when I hurt so bad
Best that I’ve had
I’m so glad I found you
I love being around you
You make it easy

It’s easy as 1-2, 1-2-3-4

There’s only one thing
To do
Three words
For you...
(I love you) I love you
There’s only one way to say
Those three words
That’s what I’ll do...
(I love you) I love you

(I love you) I love you...

You make it easy
It’s easy as 1 2 1 2 3 4
There’s only one thing
To do
Three words
For you...
(I love you) I love you
There’s only one way to say
Those three words
That’s what I’ll do
(I love you) I love you

(I love you) I love you
1-2-3-4

I love you
(I love you) I love you

Read more!

Eyeshadow Primers 101

Eyeshadow Primer = A skin-colored cream that is applied onto the lid before applying eyeshadow. It functions to create a smooth canvas to make eyeshadow appear more vibrant. Additionally, eye makeup becomes more long lasting as the primer prevents smudging, creasing and fading

This post covers the:

• Differences between eyeshadow primer and eyeshadow base
• Common eyeshadow primer ingredients
  
• Factors contributing to the performance of eyeshadow primers
• Types of eyeshadow primers
• Various brands of eyeshadow primers and their effectiveness
• Alternative methods to make your eyeshadow last longer
  

Read on to learn more...


NOTE: This is a very lengthy post, I know. Feel free to skip whichever section that you're not interested in reading. Also, all the information here are partly factual but mostly based on my own opinions and interpretation of whatever information that I've obtained through my experience and what I've learned. I'm in no way a cosmetology expert so what I'm presenting is not so much the facts but rather what I can make sense out of

Differences Between Eyeshadow Primer and Eyeshadow Base

Many people get confused when they come across these two terms. Eyeshadow primer, as defined in the introduction, is applied before eyeshadow to promote vibrancy and long lasting wear. So, what does an eyeshadow base do? The main difference is that an eyeshadow base is usually colored, which helps to bring out the color of the powder eyeshadow used later on. A more common term for eyeshadow base is cream eyeshadow. While some eyeshadow base that are nude-colored can act as primers, they still have a tendency to crease. A layer of eyeshadow used wet before applying powder eyeshadow of the same color is also called an eyeshadow base.

If you want your eyeshadow to really last and look vibrant the whole day, first apply eyeshadow primer then follow with an eyeshadow base of the corresponding eyeshadow color that you will apply. Examples of eyeshadow base/cream eyeshadow are MAC Paint Pot, Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow and NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil.

Common Eyeshadow Primer Ingredients

• Talc: A soft mineral used as an absorbent, anti-caking agent and to improve the feel of the product
  
• Dimethicone: Substance derived from silica. The unique fluid properties of silicone give it a great deal of slip, and in its various forms it can feel like silk on the skin, impart emolliency, and be a water-binding agent that holds up well, even when skin becomes wet
• Isododecane: Hydrocarbon ingredient used as a solvent. Isododecane enhances the spreadability of products and has a weightless feel on skin. All hydrocarbons used in cosmetics help prevent the evaporation of water from the skin

Ingredient definition from Paula's Choice and Cosmetics Info


Factors Contributing to the Performance of Eyeshadow Primers

How an eyeshadow primer performs depends not only on your own skin but also the environment and the eyeshadow that you apply over it.

• Oily skin: People with oily skin will often have problem with oily/creasing lids. You may want to make sure that your skin (especially the forehead and skin around the eye area) is kept oil-free with silicone-based primers and oil-absorbing powder
  
• "Creamy" eyeshadow: You know those powder eyeshadows that are so smooth that they feel almost creamy? Those usually apply very thick because the eyeshadow particles are so large. While the bottom layer of the eyeshadow sticks to the primer, the top layer doesn't and thus it'll have a tendency to move, resulting in creasing
  
• Poor quality eyeshadow: Poorly pigmented (usually chalky and powdery) eyeshadows that contain a lot of fillers cannot sustain enough color so while the eyeshadow primer is able to intensify the color, it won't stay vibrant for long compared to better quality eyeshadows
  
• Eye cream: Applying eye cream or moisturizer on the lid can compromise the performance of the eyeshadow primer because you've created a barrier that prevents the primer from grabbing onto your skin
  
• Hot and humid conditions: Some eyeshadow primers may work well in cool and dry climates but in Malaysia, they simply refuse to work. The temperature and humidity can have an effect on a product's consistency and performance

Types of Eyeshadow Primers

• Tube: Comes in a lipgloss-like tube with a wand applicator. Easy to apply. Product wastage when you can't dig out the product at the bottom and on the sides of the tube
  
• Squeeze-tube: Usually doesn't come with an applicator so you'd have to use your fingers. May squeeze out too much product
  
• Pot: The primer is usually a solid cream type instead of a soft cream/liquid. Doesn't have an applicator and may require some warming up before application. It has the least product wastage since you can get all the product out BUT the wide opening of the jar exposes the product to the air which may cause the product to dry out
  
• Dial-up Pen: Most efficient way to get the most out of your product without the risk of it drying out. Unfortunately, most cosmetic companies put very little product in dial-up pens so they're not quite value for money

Various Brands of Eyeshadow Primers and Their Effectiveness

e.l.f. Mineral Eyeshadow Primer (USD$3): For how much it costs, I'm very impressed with this one. The slightly runny cream applies smoothly and feels extremely lightweight. Eyeshadows appear more vibrant, stay on longer, no fading... However, I can't really say that it prevents creasing because sometimes it does happen but not very often. The color is fairly transparent and have a pinkish tint so it won't help to even out discolorations. If you don't want to invest a lot of money in an eyeshadow primer, I highly recommend this.


Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion (USD$17): This legendary King of all eyeshadow primers, as much as we hate to admit it, lives up to its claims. Although I can't guarantee it's awesomeness, I can almost always depend on this baby to prevent creasing. This stuff is so good that you can probably go swimming with eyeshadow on. Way back in Skin Deco history, my friend Carmen did a review on it and there was a picture of her, completely drenched from a thunderstorm -- her eyeshadow was still very much intact. Besides the awful product-wasting packaging, one major gripe about this primer is that some eyeshadows, especially matte ones, can become difficult to blend. But this primer grabs onto eyeshadow like there's no tomorrow so regardless, it's a definite winner!


L'Oreal De Crease (USD$8): This primer is a lot thicker and pigmented compared to the other two primers so it works well to even out discolorations. However, the formula is somewhat chalky so if you don't blend quick enough or if you have dry flaky lids like I do, the product will appear patchy and make your eyeshadow look that way as well. It performs slightly better than the e.l.f. Mineral Primer in terms of preventing creasing.

These more dependable primers are the ones that I use most often. Some others (including bases) that I've tried before:

• Too Face Shadow Insurance: Not meant for our climate. May crease
  
• MAC Paint Pot: A tad too thick. May crease
  
• MAC Paint: May not pick up color of poorly pigmented eyeshadow
  
• Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow: Low tendency of creasing but color may fade
  
• Beauticontrol Shadow Control Cream: Sometimes it works marvelously, sometimes it doesn't. Not very consistent
  
• NYX Jumbo Eyeshadow Pencil: Too creamy and creases on me
  
• Paul & Joe Eye Gloss: Doesn't crease and keep eye area dry for a long period. Doesn't pick up eyeshadow color well

See here for eyeshadow base comparison post


Alternative Methods to Make Your Eyeshadow Last Longer

• Foundation/concealer: Apply a thin (and I mean THIN!) layer of foundation or concealer onto your lid and lightly dust with some loose powder or nude eyeshadow to set before proceeding with colored eyeshadows
  
• Layering: If you apply your eyeshadow heavily at one go, chances are you're gonna experience creasing. That's because the excess product doesn't have anything to grab onto therefore, it slides/smudges. When you apply eyeshadow layer by layer to intensify the color, every layer grabs onto the one below so ultimately, your eyeshadow becomes more "sturdy" and lasts longer
  
• Use Eyeshadow Wet: This is a great way to create your own eyeshadow base without having to buy additional products. Take a face spray or mixing medium and moisten your brush with it before dipping into eyeshadow. Apply over lids and allow it to dry before proceeding with powder eyeshadow. Mixing mediums and face sprays have moisture-binding ingredients which keeps the inside of the layer moist but repels the moisture outside (please don't quote me). When you apply dry eyeshadow over the "wet" base, the eyeshadow will grab on better and at the same time, become less affected by the moisture outside that tries to slide it off
  

The products mentioned in this post are not available in Malaysia except for MAC, Benefit and Paul & Joe. Beauticontrol are sometimes available via Tupperware resellers/representatives. If you'd like to purchase products from the US, please refer to sgdrugstore


Read more!

Stash Sale: Open for Auction -- Now With International Shipping!

I really wanna get rid of products that I don't use because they're taking up space and I don't want them to go to waste.

From January 25th until February 1st, post a comment under the product picture on the Stash Sale album stating how much you are willing to pay for that product. At the end of the period, the product will be sold to the highest bidder. If you're interested in partaking, read on for the conditions.

BONUS: For purchases over RM100, you may pick any product under RM10 as your free gift + free local shipping

I'm now opening the stash sale to International readers. Payment will be done via PayPal. Do read on for order procedure and shipping rates.


Auction Conditions:

• You are not allowed to bid for products that are initially selling for less than RM10
  
• Starting bid price should not be less than 50% of the stated selling price eg. if you're bidding for the MAC Satinfinish, the lowest you can go is RM45
• Minimum bid raise amount for products selling below RM50 is RM2 and for above RM50 is RM5 eg. if someone bids RM45 for MAC Satinfinish, the minimum you can raise the bid to is RM50
• Please state your name (don't have to be real) when you comment to bid. Don't place bids in this post's comment box. Go to the Stash Sale album, click on the product picture and place your bid in the comment box below the product picture
  
• Please e-mail me the list of items that you have bid for and your bid amount so that I can contact you if you've won the auction. E-mail (skindeco.net@gmail.com) me soon after you've placed your first set of bids. You only have to e-mail me once as long as you are using the same name in your consequent bids. If you're the highest bidder but I did not receive an e-mail from you stating that you're bidding for that product, the product won't go to you but the next highest bidder

Local Shipping

• Pos Express: RM4

• Pos Daftar: RM4

• Pos Laju: RM5

Free postage (Express/Daftar) for purchases above RM50 is only applicable if you buy at the initial selling price

Free postage (Express/Daftar) for purchases above RM100 is applicable if you are buying at auction price

International Shipping

Asia (Registered Shipping)

Less than 500g: RM15
More than 500g: RM25

Europe/America (Registered Shipping)

Less than 500g: RM22
More than 500g: RM32


To place your order, please send an e-mail to skindeco.net@gmail.com
Upon confirmation of order and total, I will provide you with my account details for payment. Once the payment has been cleared send me your mailing details and I will have the product sent out to you within an allocated time.


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Look + Update: It's a Little Too Early to Celebrate

I had my second last paper today called Retail & Distribution Strategy. This subject was made for shopaholics (though I'd consider myself more of an avid shopper) so I pretty much came out from the exam hall equipped with a huge grin, trembling fingers and a half empty new pen. Kinda spent two pages rambling away about E-tailing :D

No tutorial for this look because I decided that it wasn't good enough to make the cut. See, only quality material for Skin Deco readers! I've finished recording my third Valentine's Day tutorial, which I'm very excited to post up next week.

Read on for the V-Day tutorials playlist and description of items used for the look above. Picture of Lexi too!


As I've mentioned in a previous post, this year the V-day looks will based on a new set of love songs:

• "1, 2, 3, 4" by Plain White T's
• "Touch My Hand" by David Archuleta
• "Love Song" by 311
• "Eternal Flame" by The Bangles
• "Two Is Better Than One" by Boys Like Girls feat. Taylor Swift

Items Used:

Majolica Majorca Skin Lingerie
L'Oreal True Match Foundation with Hyaluronic Acid in G1 Vanilla Ivory
Youngblood Liquid Mineral Foundation in Tahitian Sun (to darken foundation above)
Ben Nye Concealer Wheel
MAC Mineralize Blush in Superdupernatural
elf Mineral Eyeshadow Primer
MAC Pigment in Cocomotion (lid blended into crease)
Beautilicious Victoria Palette (highlight)
MAC Fluidline in Macroviolet
MAC Eyeshadow in Fig1
MAC Zoomlash Mascara in Zoom Black
Daiso Auto Eyebrow Pencil
Majolica Majorca Honey Pump Gloss Neo in BE248

See how big Lexi has gotten!

Read more!

Look + Picture Tutorial: Two Down, Two More to Go!

Well, the first paper wasn't quite done and over with... But I must say that I'm pretty pleased with my second paper :D
February's approaching before I can even settle down into 2010. This year's V-day will be colliding with the Lunar New Year -- booooo!! I'm assuming that those who are celebrating CNY will have to postpone their dates? Oh, keep your chin up! If you want to, everyday can be Valentine's. Considering how much restaurants are ripping people off this time of year...

To get you ready for the big date, I have several Valentine looks lined up for you so do look out for the tutorials, coming up right after my exams (which ends next Tuesday). Like last year's set, the looks are linked with their corresponding love songs. Meanwhile you wanna tell me what love song you're hooked on at the moment?

Read on for items used and a picture tutorial on how to recreate this daytime look...

Items Used:

Shu Uemura UV Under Base Fluid in 01 Beige
Anna Sui Moisture Rich Powder Foundation in P04
MAC Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden
MAC Mineralize Blush Duo in Earth to Earth (marbled side only)
L'Oreal De Crease (eyeshadow primer)
Stila Eyeshadow in Wheat (lid)
Make Up Store Microshadow in Viva (crease)
Stila Eyeshadow in Champagne (highlight)
MAC Fluidline in Blue Peep
Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Bourbon
Giorgio Armani Eye Pencil in Black
Fasio Lash Style Perfector Mascara
Prescriptives Eyebrow Powder Kit
Stage Wondergloss Lipgloss in Sophia

On primed lid, apply Wheat (mid-tone shimmery beige) onto the lid. Using a fluffy crease brush, blend Viva (matte tan) into the crease. Then, apply Champagne (pale peachy pink) as highlight under the brow. After that, line the upper lash line thinly with Blue Peep. I opted not to wing the liner but you may do that if you want to. If you're not winging, blend out the edge at the end of the line.

Next, take a shimmery brown eye pencil and line the lower lash line. Smudge out the line with a brush or cotton bud. Tightline the upper waterline with black eye pencil. Finally, curl lashes and apply mascara.

These days I've been filling in my eyebrows with a light colored eye brow powder as opposed to using eyebrow pencil. First, outline the shape then define the arch. Without adding more brow powder, blend the color into the inner section of the brow. Use a cotton bud to adjust the shape and clean up the edges.


And we're done with the eyes!

Apply bronzer to warm up the complexion. I apply it in a C-shape starting from slighty above my temples and down to my cheeks. On the apples, apply a natural shade of blush to add color.


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Review: Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse SPF17 PA++

Cream, gel, balm, fluid... mousse?

While the Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse is no stranger to makeup enthusiasts worldwide, you must admit that this is a pretty peculiar product! But then again, most mousse-textured makeup are.

Being one of their bestsellers, this makeup base is iconic to Shu Uemura alongside their Eyelash Curler and Cleansing Oil. So, we know those two "icons" aren't exactly essential... how about this one?

Read on!

Don't mistaken the Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse for hair mousse! Although, the dispensing concept is the same. Shake the canister until you hear a rattling sound made by the the metal ball inside, shake some more, then press the tab. What you'll get out of the nozzle is a cute fluffy ball of beige mousse. Aww... don't you just wanna pet it? Okay. Creepy, sorry. Just make sure to shake thoroughly or the base will come out as an ugly chunky liquid. It is what it is!

As you spread the mousse onto your skin, it'll become liquid thus, I'd suggest working on one area at a time. The blob size shown in the picture above is more than sufficient for the whole face.

Some squinting may be required but you should be able to notice reduced redness and appearance of marks as well as discoloration. The makeup base did not mattify my skin nor did it moisturize, which I appreciate. You see, sometimes there's just no need for those alterations. I love that the mousse allows the natural glow of my skin to come through. The airy mousse feels remarkably lightweight too -- we need a foundation in this form!

Fulfilling its skin-prepping duties for the next step, the mousse made the texture of my skin look and feel finer. My foundation went on smoothly, stayed on, hardly oxidized, and all that good stuff. The added SPF17 PA++ (SPF10 in the US) is a bonus although I'd prefer to use a separate sunscreen.

What's the big deal, right? Many makeup bases do that. Pffft!

I can't put a finger on what makes this mousse so special and from a analytical perspective, it's pretty basic. But there's just something about it that's making me reach for it again and again and again. It's my foolproof when-in-doubt makeup base.

Let's not spoil the moment by talking about the packaging, shall we?

Retails at all Shu Uemura counters for RM135/65g and USD$32/2.2 oz on the US Shu Uemura website.

By the way, the fluid version of this base... *shakes head*


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Look + Picture Tutorial: Connie, Shouldn't You be Studying?

*groans* I will! Tonight, promise :)
Yeah... my exam starts in 36 hours and here I am, not really progressing.
The lenses that I'm wearing are called MX-21 Brown from Dueba. I was expecting them to be light-colored but apparently they're not. Still undecided with how I feel about them since I'm so used to my gray lenses. Please don't ask me where to buy these lenses because there are no sellers that I'd recommend at the moment. Try doing a Google search and you should come by a few sellers.

Oh, did you hear that Giorgio Armani Cosmetics will be pulling out from Malaysia? That should happen at around March. I checked with the counter manager of Isetan KLCC's GAC counter and there hasn't been any instructions from management to set hefty discounts like in Stila's case. There are only two counters and they don't carry a lot of stock to begin with so I'm guessing that you can expect a lot of GAC in the next L'Oreal Luxury warehousesale and not so much a closing down sale. It's now or never -- I've just reserved my bottle of Luminous Silk Foundation.

Read on if you'd like to see how I did the eye makeup or nose in on the products that I've used for this look...

Items Used:

Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus
MAC Beauty Powder in Sunspill
elf Mineral Eyeshadow Primer
MAC Eyeshadow in Tete-a-Tint (lid), Signed Sealed (wing), Ricepaper (highlight)
Giorgio Armani Eye Pencil in Black
MAC Zoomlash Mascara in Zoomblack
Prescriptives Eyebrow Powder
MAC Dazzleglass Creme in Sublime Shine

On primed lid, sweep Tete-a-Tint on the lid and blend up to the crease. Apply Ricepaper under the brow and blend downwards. Using a hard angled brush, create a wing shape with Signed, Sealed. Blend out the edges with a small brush and add more color as you go

When you've gotten the shape that you're satisfied with, clean up the outer edge with a cotton bud. Apply Signed, Sealed on the lower lash line as well, joining the line with the upper wing. Highlight the inner corner of the eye with Ricepaper. Darken the roots of the lashes using a black eye pencil

Complete the eye makeup by applying mascara and filling in the eyebrows


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Review: Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Lotion

Slap your way to bouncy skin!

Hada Labo, a Japanese skin care line, has recently been introduced to the Malaysian market. Although the first time I've ever heard of this brand was from ParisB's post, its bestseller, the Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Lotion, is apparently so popular that a bottle is sold every 4 seconds in Japan!

Since the hydration-boosting benefits and friendly pricetag appealed to me, I picked one up and have been a satisfied user for the past 2 months.

Read on for the review...

First, to clear up any confusion, "lotion" in Asian skin care is the equivalent to "toner" in Western skin care. This means that the product is used after cleansing and before moisturizing. The Super Hyaluronic Acid contained in this product claims to retain twice the amount of moisture compared to regular Hyaluronic Acid. While I'm not too iffy about the science, I can happily announce that the promises for instantly hydrated, soft, supple and silky smooth skin are pretty much spot on.

Simple and fuss-free, the packaging has a nozzle that deposits a controlled amount of product with a lid that shuts tight. As the lotion/toner is watery, about a 50 cents coin size would suffice. My way of applying is to spread the lotion all over on cleansed skin and start patting...

...and patting

...and patting. In the words of ParisB, "It takes forever and a day" so this is not a product you'd wanna use if you're short of time, which is why I only use this at night. One Spongebob Squarepants episode later, the lotion should be fully absorbed. Here's how the product should feel in chronological order: wet > sticky > absorbed/smooth. The sticky stage is when you'll experience the "bounciness". Do watch the short video below and you'll get what I mean!



What happens if you don't pat in the lotion? It will just drip all over and slide off your skin without giving it much of a chance to be absorbed. Despite the slight hassle, I love how this product makes my skin feel thus, I don't intend on giving up on it. At least not until I come across something better though I'm not exactly looking.

Ingredients: Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Disodium Succinate, Methlyparaben, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Succinic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate

Retails for RM40.90 (170ml) at major Guardian Pharmacy outlets



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