Lady Gaga Failed Tutorial + Teal & Purple Meet-up Look

I'm really starting to suck with titles, aren't I?

Last week I asked on Twitter and Facebook for a tutorial request and I decided to go with the Lady Gaga Viva Glam II look. It was my first time attempting to record a video using my Lumix LX5 with a proper tripod so I totally screwed up the angle. Long story short -- No video tutorial! *pouts*

Allow me to continue rambling after the jump.
And.... guess which awesome beauty blogger I recently got to meet? At long last!

Even though the tutorial failed, I would still like to reattempt this look because I went with pixiwoo's choice on the lower lashline colors (main feature of the eye-makeup) and they ended up looking very off ie. purple, on my skin. For the rest of the shades used, I'm pretty satisfied with them. I better get it right the next time 'cause I only have one more pair of those daily disposable lenses, which I think are the best match to Gaga's eye color in the photo.

Here's what I used:

Face:
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in #6
Anna Sui Spot Concealer in 03
Giorgio Armani Loose Powder in #2

Eyes:
Urban Decay Primer Potion
MAC Paint in Stilife
MAC Pigment in Gold Mode
MAC Pigment in Gold Stroke
Stila Eyeshadow in Kitten
MAC Eyeshadow in Tete-a-Tint
MAC Eyeshadow in Chamomile
MAC Eyeshadow in Sketch
MAC Eyeshadow in Signed Sealed
Maybelline Hypersharp Liquid Liner
I Nuovi Fluidliner in Noir
I Nuovi Fluidliner in Light
Maybelline Pulse Perfection Mascara
CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Waterproof in Very Black
Shu Uemura Hard 9 Eyebrow Pencil in Seal Brown
Chamayu Brows Up in 1K (to tint the brows -- love it!)

Lips:
RMK Lip Liner in 09 Silver Brown
MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Call My Bluff
NYX Megashine Lipgloss in Taupe

Moving on...

Last week, the girls and I finally got to meet Jenn from Lipglosseater! We've been wanting to meet up for the longest time and it's finally happened! It was just a brief gathering so I can't wait for the next! Road trip!

This weekend I'll be meeting another very special beauty buddy... All the way from the Philippines... Wanna take a gander at who that may be? ;)

This was the look that I wore to the meet-up and to work as well. I was really starting to miss my MAC Electric Eel which I've blended with something... I can't remember what... I think it was MAC Signed Sealed and the purple was Burberry Midnight Plum (one of my favorite shadows for lower lashlines). There was NYX Brown in the crease as well.
Rant: My MAC Rollickin' (light-medium teal with fine gold flecks) Paint Pot dried out!!!!!!! It's my favorite Paint Pot of all time! I can't find a dupe for it and I'm really hoping that MAC would repromote it. It's been 4 years since it came out! :(


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New & Improved: Clarins HydraQuench Range + Facial

Out of the few Clarins products that I've tried and tested, one of my favorite products comes from the HydraQuench range. When a brand decides to reformulate a favorite, one can only cross one's fingers really REALLY tight in hope that the new formula doesn't suck.

Let's compare the old with the new and see what's the final outcome...

Similar to the previous HydraQuench range, the star ingredient of the HydraQuench range is the Katafray bark extract from Madagascar and the ever-so-popular Hyaluronic Acid. Demonstrated during the presentation was how a wet sponge would absorb better than a dry sponge, indicating that a well-hydrated skin would absorb much better compared to dehydrated skin. Naturally, I couldn't agree more. My skin care has always been focused on hydration because I've had dry skin for the longest time.

As an introduction to the new range, I was given a chance to try out the new Moisture Replenisher facial as well at the Clarins Skin Spa. I quite liked my previous experience but this time around, they've definitely kicked it up a notch. I dozed off more easily and my skin felt really good after the facial. I took the picture above (freshly washed) the next morning and I was very glad to see that my skin was still plump! And now to maintain this skin with the new HydraQuench products...

Clarins HydraQuench Cream-Melt replaces the cherished HydraQuench Cream, which I'm now using (and love) as my night moisturizer. It annoys me when companies try to tweak what's already good. Nonetheless, change is inevitable and in the beauty world, it's up to me to adjust to it.

They've changed the texture and the scent, one for the better, the other for the worse. The silky texture that feels like lotion on the skin with powder-like smoothness is a good improvement. Previously, I wouldn't wear the cream in the day since it was on the heavier side. As for the scent, I prefer the old scent that apparently wasn't liked by most users. At first whiff, the floral scent for Cream-Melt appeared to be more pleasant but after a few minutes, the scent becomes rather strong and almost offensive (similar to stale oil). But that's just my nose.

In terms of whether it is as effective as the Cream, I really can't tell because my skin has not been highly dehydrated in a long time so it's difficult to determine if there's any difference. I'd say that the Cream is a more effective as a night moisturizer because my skin feels less taut the next morning when I use the cream but it isn't necessarily less hydrated after I've switched to the Cream-Melt.

Verdict: I might just get another Cream as a back-up. Still on the fence if I can do without it.

As for the Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase, I didn't have very high hopes on it because I got an allergic reaction from the previous one.

As before, you'd have to shake to mix the dual-layer serum before applying. Upon application, this formula feels slightly oilier but it doesn't make my skin oily. I can wear it under a moisturizing foundation without problem. The smell is slightly more floral but it still had the musky scent from before, which I prefer.

The first few times I used this, my skin would itch and I'd get a mild rash but I persevered. Now when I use it, the rash doesn't surface but I do get that annoying tingly feeling under my skin.

Effect wise, it wasn't drastic but then again, my skin isn't all that dehydrated at the moment. I can, however, tell you that whether with or without the serum, my skin didn't feel much different the day after. *shrugs* Maybe the benefits are just very skin deep that I can't see them externally.

BOTTOM LINE: Were the improvements for the better? Probably, but I personally feel that they were not necessary. The HydraQuench range was already very good to begin with. Why fix something that's not broken?

Clarins The Moisture Replenisher Facial/ 60 mins (RM228)
Clarins HydraQuench Cream-Melt/ 50ml (RM180)
Clarins HydraQuench Intensive Serum Bi-Phase/ 30ml (RM200)

Note: Product prices went down but Facial price went up!

Speaking of Bi-Phase... Meet Blizzard with his cool Bi-Colored eyes! He's playful but he knows how to restrain himself. He's available...






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Look: Wearable Sunset Eyes

Yeah, alright. Sunset Eyes aren't all that dramatic to begin with but the thought of using colors like yellow, orange and purple probably do freak some people out. I wore this look to work on a Thursday or Friday (don't remember).

Breakdown of the products used and some tight shots after the jump.

Products Used:

Face
Madara Moon Flower Tinting Fluid
Origins Brighter by Nature Powder in 05 Light/Medium-Warm

Cheeks
The Body Shop Bronzing Powder in Light Matte
Can't remember which blush I used...

Eyes
MAC Paint Pot in Coral Crepe
MAC Pigment in Off The Radar
Anna Sui Eye Color in 801 (Yellow)
MAC Eyeshadow in Fig 1
NYX Single Eyeshadow in Brown
MAC Eyeshadow in Signed, Sealed
MAC Eyeshadow in Chamomile
Inglot AMC Eyeliner Gel in 74
Maybelline Pulse Perfection Mascara
Shu Uemura Hard 9 Eyebrow Pencil in Seal Brown






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Finally!! -- Review: Maybelline HyperSharp Liner

About time they came up with a decent pen liner that doesn't break the bank!

Having gone through a number of pen liquid liners, including the popular K-Palette Liner and MAC Penultimate, I haven't had one that truly satisfied like the Maybelline HyperSharp Liner did. Lotree came very close but it had more of a gel-liner finish.

Read on for my thoughts and swatches!

I will always prefer gel liners over liquid (reason unknown) but it's hard not to like this one! Sometimes when I'm on-the-go, I'll just need my eyebrow pencil, eyelash curler, mascara and the Maybelline HyperSharp Liner to look somewhat presentable.

The brush tip is really fine and gives good resistance to create a thin and controlled line. I haven't had any problems with the color not showing up or not coming out smoothly. While the ink is pigmented and glossy, it's not a very dark black but I can live with that.

With enough drying time, the liner doesn't lift off when I curl my lashes, which is a big plus. I believe it claims to be waterproof but it still smudges a little in the inner corners but overall, it's pretty long-wearing.

You know what pleases me the most? The fact that it's priced at an affordable RM23.90! For that price, this is a very very decent product. It's probably not the best there is but I like it enough to use is quite often simply because it's easy to use and you can count on it to get the job done.

I can finally stop hunting for an affordable liquid pen liner! Yay!

Available in most healthcare stores eg. Watsons, Guardian.


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