Daily Skincare Staples

Having shared my Daily Makeup Staples, I figured I'd also share my Daily Skincare Staples!
Time and time again I've been asked to share my skincare regime. Since I shuffle through many different brands in a short period of time, it was difficult for me to firmly tell which products I'd use every day.

Well, now that my approach to skincare has changed and I actually have staples, it's finally the time to write this post!

Read on for the breakdown of products that I use daily as well as skin concerns that I've had previously and currently.

Fine! I'll admit it. I have good skin. There. I said it.

My skin is one of my greatest "assets" and I've had countless compliments over my skin *head as huge as a blimp*. Except the last time I actually admitted to having good skin when complimented, I was indirectly told to have a huge slice of humble pie. Reason being why I've since been apprehensive about accepting compliments.

However, for the purpose of this post, I'm not gonna beat around the bush and tell you I have bad skin, because I don't. Oh dear, I really really really hope I'm not jinxing my own skin *crosses fingers and toes*

Has my skin always been like this? No.
Can you get skin like mine if you followed my regime? I honestly won't know. Everyone's skin is different and how you would react to the products I've used could be different as well.

When I first started my blog back in 2008, I was already into skincare and had relatively okay skin as compared to when I was a teenager (couldn't find pics!). With the dark acne marks and dull skin almost all gone, the lingering problems that I had were breakouts, mainly on my forehead, and dry skin.

In efforts to combat the zits on my forehead, I used a lot of pimple treatment products and exfoliants to get rid of the scars. Eventually, the pimples went away and the scars faded but my skin was left badly parched. Fine lines were becoming quite apparent and many times, foundation wouldn't sit well on my skin. I would be using heavy creams and anti-aging products just so my skin wouldn't feel uncomfortably taut.

Many people expressed their envy over the absence of open pores on my skin and the that I don't get oily. The fact of it is, I have eczema which causes my skin to be very dry and flaky. On bad days, I'd get rough, itchy and inflamed patches on my skin. In order to keep my eczema eruptions at bay, I have to make sure that my skin is properly moisturized.

These days, my skin is well-behaved and it has never looked better. It's no longer as dry as it was before. I'm actually producing some oil come midday. The pimples too are quite controlled, occurring mostly during that time of the month. The only concern I have left is the discoloration (particularly my chin area), which I'm not quite sure how to deal with.

A few skincare rules that I live by:

1. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS remove your makeup properly! -- This is going to reduce problems with clogged pores and acne
   
2. Focus on hydration -- a well-hydrated skin simply functions so much better
3. Adequate exfoliation will improve texture and increase absorption of skincare
4. Make sunblock your best friend -- the sun creates all sorts of skin problems
5. Keep it simple -- using way too many types of products at one go can be stressful to your skin
   

AM

• Water: To wash my face with. No cleanser
• Ettusais AC-Skincare Skin Version Up Extra: No clue what this is supposed to be but I use it as a daytime moisturizer
• Hada Labo UV Moist Emulsion SPF 50 PA+++: I sometimes use this as a makeup base. I shuffle this with the Clarins UV Plus HP SPF40 PA+++

PM

• Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Oil: Gets all my makeup off
• Hada Labo AHA+BHA Cleanser: It removes any excess makeup and very gently exfoliates my skin
• JuJu Aquamoist Moisture Lotion: Just splash it on to hydrate after cleansing
• Clarins Hydraquench Cream: About a pea size for the whole face

You didn't expect my regime to be so simple, did you?
And note almost all of the products I use are not high-end brands...
I promise, it wasn't intentional. Purely coincidental.

Special Needs

• [Pimples] Ettusais Acne Clear Spots Superior contains Salicylic Acid to disinfect and I double zap the zip with Avene Diacneal Treatment Care to exfoliate with Glycolic Acid. I continuously apply the latter after the pimple has healed to reduce scarring
  
• [Tired/Taut Skin] This is when I'd whip out my Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate
• [Eczema/Sensitive Skin] The Madara Deep Comfort Toner immediately soothes and I'd moisturize with the Madara Regenerating Night Cream

Travel

• The Vichy Essentielles Emulsion and Cream follow me on my trips
  

I won't list down the masks and scrubs because I use them at random. Depending on what my concerns are and which one I feel like using.

So, tell me...

How's Your Skincare Regime Like?

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MAC Fall Tutorial: Burnt Copper

Fall's a great time to whip out those earthy tones and smoke them out!
As much as I love brights, I find shades like copper, bronze and cranberry to be flattering on warmer skin tones like mine. To top it off, they're the kind of shades that are wearable from day to night.

Since I didn't hit the snooze button, I had time to do a tutorial for this look I did for work -- I shall call it Burnt Copper.
Hope you like!

Items Used

Eyes

Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer
MAC Pigment in Gold Dusk
MAC Eyeshadow in Brash
MAC Eyeshadow in Tete-a-Tint
MAC Eyeshadow in Spiced Chocolate
MAC Eyeshadow in Signed, Sealed
MAC Eyeshadow in Chamomile
MAC Fluidline in Blitz & Glitz
Maybelline Cat Eyes Mascara
Shu Uemura Hard 9 Eyebrow Pencil in Seal Brown

Start by priming the lids with an eyeshadow primer. Apply Gold Dusk on the lid just short of the crease line. Then, place Brash onto the crease and blend out. Use a blending brush (MAC 217) to blend Tete-a-Tint over Brash and up towards the brow. With a fluffy crease brush, smoke out the outer corner with Spiced Chocolate, bringing some color into the crease.

Darken the outer V with Signed, Sealed using a round crease brush. Define the eyes with a soft black gel eyeliner (Blitz & Glitz) and flick out to create a small wing. Clean up the blended area on the outer corner of the eye with a tissue or cotton bud. Darken the lower lash line with Spiced Chocolate and further darken the outer portion, joining up to the wing with Signed, Sealed. Complete the eye makeup by filling in the brows and applying generous coats of mascara.

This look was loosely inspired by TiffanyD. I kinda didn't intend on the outcome because I failed to realize that Brash was metallic until the moment I applied it. I improvised after that because metallic in the crease is a big NO especially on "Asian" eyes that don't have much of a deep crease.

Face

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation in #53
Shiseido Natural Finish Cream Concealer in #3
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus
MAC Mineralize Blush in Conjure Up

Nothing on the lips since they're rather chapped. Just some lip balm. I had my hair up so my face is looking huge here >.<

Anyway, it's a basic look. Nonetheless, I hope you found this tutorial helpful.


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Nail Polish Noob: Making Progress!

Guess who's the clever girl who managed to get this done all by herself without mistakes? :D
Yes, I'm mighty proud of myself since I'm a complete no0b when it comes to applying nail polish. Even getting a single color on would require a few attempts because I'd keep messing up.

Anyway, I was lurking around Sasa last weekend and I picked up their Graffiti Nail Top polish, which is basically the poor girl's OPI Shatter.

I had some help from a couple of nail polish pros though. Let me take you through how I got this done after the jump!

How It Is Done:

1. Apply Color Combos in CBL112 (middle) as the base color. If you have a base coat, I think you're supposed to apply that first before the base color. Add a second coat for a more opaque color
   
2. One thick layer of the Sasatinnie Graffiti Nail Top in GN101 Black
3. Seal and add shine with The Face Shop Nail Top Coat

Thanks to Nikki's (Askmewhats) wonderful step-by-step guide on how to apply nail polish, I managed to apply the base color fairly quickly and without too many streaks. Even on my right hand! A few particular tips that were very helpful include:

• Removing excess nail polish on one side of the brush before applying
• Applying 2nd coat only after the 1st coat is completely dry
• Using the brush holder/cap properly (please refer to her post for pictures)

The first time I tried the shatter polish, I ended up with unsightly black crusts on my nail and upon reading Xin's (Prettybeautiful) post, I realized what I was doing wrong:

• Apply one thick coat and DO NOT OVERLAP

This "nail art" is somewhat idiot-proof whereby you don't actually need to be neat but a certain degree of basic skills is still needed!

A few no0b tips from moi:

• PATIENCE! Allow the first coat to dry completely before adding the 2nd coat
• Don't try to skip the latter by applying one thick coat which is gonna take much longer to dry and won't last very long
• When your nails are drying, try not to utilize your hands so much like opening a can drink...
• Try not to sleep on your hands when you've just had your nails done less than 3 hours ago or you'll end up with hair patterns on your nails
• If your base color application looks crappy, hide with shatter polish or glitter :D
• Keep in mind that pastel colors are going to be harder to apply nicely as compared to metallic, sheer or glitter colors
• Applying a top coat would make less-than-perfect base color application look a bit smoother
• Don't apply polish with the fan blowing at you

I think that's all I have...

Do you have any Nail Polish Noob Tips to share?

The Sasatinnie Graffiti Nail Top (RM14.90) dries practically upon application so you have to work fast or the polish would goop up. The polish certainly works to get the shatter effect but you'd have to give it about a minute or so to shatter completely. They carry few other colors such as white, grey, pink and red.

The Color Combos polish applies a tad sheer but the color turns out nicely when layered. Honestly, I bought it 'cause it was cheap. I think Sasa's having promo now: RM3.90, get 2nd one at RM1.


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Evolution of Brows

Over and over again I've stressed the importance of having well-groomed eyebrows. In my opinion, the eyebrows can make or break a look. If I could only choose one makeup item to ever exist, it would be my Shu Uemura Hard 9 Pencil.

It took me years of trial-and-error to find the brows that I'm most comfortable with, which are the ones I have now. I can't guarantee that they won't change anymore though...

How Have Your Eyebrows Changed Over the Years?

Read on for my brow journey throughout the years and the current brows that I'm maintaining.

Left to Right:

1. Messy, without much of a shape. I dreaded filling in my brows and thought I looked weird
2. Went for eyebrow threading and ended up with super thin and rounded brows
3. Brows filled in according to shape without any shading. Sharpie brows!
   
4. Took awhile to grow out the brows and reshape them. Brows rather flat
5. Attempted to develop an arch and fill in the brows with more shading
6. Arch became more apparent but a tad angular
7. Over-arched!
8. More rounded arch and started to bleach eyebrows
9. Bringing down the front again for a more angled arch. Still filling in brows with brown
   
10. Brows trimmed short but arch a bit too inwards
11. Bringing the arch outwards
    
12. Rounding it out
13. The tail's getting thinner
14. Growing out the tail
15. Letting the brows bush up a little
16. Shape getting slightly more angular
    

17. My brows currently are kept a little bushy so that I can get away without filling in my brows when I don't have makeup on. I also fill it in just enough to enhance the shape. There's a soft arch that's not too angular and a shorter tail. They're also quite easy to maintain seeing as I haven't had my brows shaped for about a year.


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Beauty Budgeting Chp. 12: Emptying the Bottles

Well, this is embarrassing. More than a year since my last Beauty Budgeting post!
To be honest, I'm now in a hotel and have stupidly not uploaded any pictures first so that I can blog. I found a product pic so I can blog about that! Whee!

Getting back to the subject, I want to brag about how I've managed to empty out some bottles in the past few months and I'm very proud of myself!

You see, when you're a beauty enthusiast like I am, you can't help being intrigued by new products in the market, which usually results in a purchase because that cleanser looked "interesting" or that scrub is "popular".

The Reality: Your bathroom counter holds so much shampoo that you're starting to use it to wash your toilet (I've used a facial cleanser to wash underwear before which is just as bad) and you have enough facial cream/lotion to moisturize a whale.

Not only are we letting products go to waste simply because we've gotten bored of them, we are spending unnecessarily on products that we truly don't need. Yes, I get that I don't need another blusher or eyeshadow... Can't you just let me have my moment? At least I'm making progress...

Which Product Have You Most Recently Emptied?

List of products I've surprisingly emptied after the jump!

Hada Labo AHA+BHA Cleanser
I use this every single day and am now on my 2nd tube. Since using this cleanser, I haven't been too tempted to try any other cleansers.

Cellnique Body Plush Emulsion Wash
Although it wasn't fantastic but I was determined to use this up before I could even think of buying any new body wash. Goodness knows I have loads of body wash simply from gifts. So now I'm attempting to use them all up whether or not they're expensive (couldn't bring myself to use L'Occitane daily!) or I don't fancy the scent.

Ettusais AC-Skincare Skin Version Up Extra
I use this every morning so it's not at all difficult to finish this up in less than a year. A refill bottle is available, which I've bought but I'm still scraping the bottom of the bottle.

C. Michael Tricologica Hairomatherapy Scalp Improvement Shampoo
This shampoo is wonderful especially when my scalp's flaky and I've just run out of it. Although I'm very keen on replenishing, I'm trying to use up the rest of the shampoos that I still have.

Maybelline Pulse Perfection Vibrating Mascara
Using up a mascara isn't easy because they dry out before you can achieve that. This one hasn't dried out completely yet but I've used it so much that the battery has run out! AND I haven't bought a new mascara since... a pretty long time!

Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Lotion
This one ran out quite a long time ago but though I loved it, I was too annoyed by the patting so I'm using a different brand now. Oh, I've recycled the bottle :) *pats self*

Madara Deep Comfort Toner
I love love love this toner and I'm trying to not let it run out! I still have 2 bottles of toner to go through before I'd allow myself to buy a new one and I can't bear to live without the Madara DCT so I'm using this very sparingly. Mostly when my skin's feeling very sensitive.


Now to do the same when it comes my makeup... Mission impossible!

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Review: Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Oil + UV Moist Emulsion

We're often schooled in thought that skin care shouldn't be skimped on. It's your FACE we're talking about here! Shouldn't it deserve the best? Well, I've had my fair share of expensive skin care but as I began to discover my steady skincare routine, I realized that many of the products responsible for the wellness of my skin really aren't all that expensive.

*PHEW!* I'll go broke if my skin refuses to accept anything else but Creme De La Mer!


Today I'd like to share with you two affordable products that I use daily and wouldn't even think of replacing -- Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Oil and Hada Labo UV Moist Emulsion.

Frankly, Hada Labo has managed to hit the bull's eye in my books so many times I can safely say that I can survive with all my skincare being from Hada Labo . The famous Hyaluronic Acid Lotion is awesome and I'd go hysterical if the AHA + BHA Cleanser ever cease to exist.

Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Oil (RM49.90/200ml)

A cleansing oil is a must in my daily routine especially since I wear makeup almost everyday. I for one am a firm believer that as long as you remove your makeup well at the end of the day, there's no need to worry about foundation clogging your pores.

Having tried several brands of cleansing oils including the world-renowned Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil, I found that the one that I like best is the highly-affordable Kose Softymo cleansing oil. Unfortunately, it's not available in Malaysia and I'd usually have friends buy several bottles back at a time from Hong Kong or order it through Sasa.com.

Thank goodness there's now a locally-available alternative! The Hada Labo Olive Cleansing Oil works just as wonderfully as Kose, effectively removing foundation, eyeliner and waterproof mascara with just two pumps. The clear oil feels lightweight and emulsifies well without leaving my skin taut or greasy. There's nothing at all that I don't like about it!

Hada Labo UV Moist Emulsion (RM49.90/38ml)

When it comes to sunscreen, I have somewhat expensive preferences. My favorites have included the RMK Face Protector, La Mer UV Protecting Fluid and more recently, Clarins UV Plus HP. Being a product that is to be applied very liberally, spending a lot on sunscreen can take its toll.

Just as I was setting a fund for another bottle of the Clarins UV Plus HP, Hada Labo came to the rescue of my pocket! I'll admit that the Clarins one will still have a very special place in my heart but I can happily make do with Hada Labo. It has broad-spectrum protection of SPF50 PA+++, which is more than sufficient and I think it has some hydrating ingredients in there. I tossed the packaging so I don't remember.

If you're ever worried about sunscreens feeling heavy, smelling awful or leaving white casts, you won't have to be with Hada Labo. The texture's watery and feels completely lightweight. On top of that, the sunscreen doubles as a decent makeup base.

Hada Labo is available in Guardian and Watsons.


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NSFW: Semi-naked Hot Guys... Mmm...

There's no shame in oggling! Hot men are meant to be objectified.
I have undressing men on my lipgloss...
It got pretty hot with the Chippendales.
And I have a tutorial series inspired by men.
So, if anything's gonna get me off my butt and have my boobies checked, it would be this clip:



Thanks to Bee for sharing the video! I've watched it like 5 times :x

Guys (or ladies who like to gawk at other women), there's something for you as well after the jump.

If you need a push to get yourself checked for Prostate Cancer...



Special shoutout to Dil from ForTheYoungDude (formerly SCforM) for sharing this video!


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Tutorial Ft. Urban Decay Naked Palette: Autumn Luster

With all the fall makeup looks popping up, one morning I was feeling inspired to do this look for work using the Urban Decay Naked Palette. I loved the warmth and richness of the shades combined and how well they blended into one another.

Click on for a step-by-step tutorial on how I did the look.

First, I applied MAC Paint Pot in Constructivist as my eyeshadow base. Then, I blended Toasted over the base and up to the crease using the flat side of the Stila #30 brush. I used Buck to blend further up towards the brow bone with the MAC217 brush. To darken the outer corner, I buffed on Hustle with the fluffy side of the Stila #30 brush.

Using the KIM E131, I applied Creep tight along the upper lash line and bring the line out to a small flick. On the bottom lash line, I used Hustle followed by Creep just in between the lash closer to the outer. To highlight, I used Naked.

Define the brows and apply generous coats of mascara to complete the look!


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Review: KIM Professional Makeup Brushes + Sigma Brushes

A couple of months ago, I was sent several brushes from KIM Professional Makeup to try out. They're a line of handmade brushes under Rekab, a 100-year-old brush manufacturer.
Weird thing is, I'm liking them for what they're not meant to do :-/ I'll explain after the jump.

And because I've decided to hijack my own post, I'll be commenting on some of the very-much-raved-about Sigma Brushes.

Stay tuned!
Warning: Lengthy post. Feel free to pick what you want to read.

KIM F251 Stippling Brush, $39

"A large round brush designed specifically for application of wet make-up. The white synthetic and soft hair combination allows for maximum color and liquid retention."

For a foundation brush, it's pretty big compared to the MAC187. The bristles are very fine and soft but they're not as dense and resilient as I would like them to be.

I initially used it as a foundation brush with liquid foundation and the outcome is not bad. However, it takes far too long to apply my foundation whether by stippling or buffing compared to using any other foundation brushes such as a paddle brush or flat-top brush.

So instead, I use the F251 as a powder brush and it's fantastic! For setting makeup, it applies just the right amount of loose powder or compact powder. I'm never afraid to over powder with this brush and I don't get cakey blotches or excess. It's also great to buff on a light coverage of powder foundation. The fine bristles deposit the powder very evenly and gently without budging any base makeup that I may have applied before hand.


KIM E131, $10 & KIM L311, $9

"[E131] A flat angular brush, perfect for precise lines and detailed work. Emphasizing lining and shaping of the eyes and the eyebrows."

"[L311] A flat, tipped brush, for precise lining of the lip contour and for perfect application of lip cream and gloss."

Admittedly, I was a tad disappointed when I received a flat-angled brush and a lip brush, neither of which I use much for my daily makeup. Nonetheless, I gave them a go and again, found that I liked them but not for what they were meant to do.

The E131 was not stiff enough to use as an eyebrow brush and a little too wide for precision eye-lining. Though I do use it for applying gel or powder liner, it's for when I want that smudgy effect or to darken between the lashes. Since they bristles were non-prickly, the don't irritate my eyes when I get the brush really close to the lash line and it creates soft, natural lines.

I almost never use a lip brush unless I plan to shape my lips, which I hardly do. It took me awhile to figure out what I was going to use the L311 for and I finally tried using it to apply eyeshadow on my lower lashline -- a step that I usually won't miss when I'm applying eyeshadow. I was using this tiny Crown Brush for the longest time and while it got the job done beautifully, the bristles were rather stiff and pricked my skin when I attempted to blend. This brush, on the other hand, had smooth bristles that felt very comfortable on the more delicate skin near my lower lashline. The shape is great for a tight and precise application and blends pretty well too.

All in all, I'm very happy with these brushes and they're the few that I use practically every day. The face brushes are rather pricey but the eye brushes are alright. Regardless, they are very good quality, well-made brushes.

The company ships internationally for $10 but I don't see Malaysia on the list of countries they serve *shrugs*

Mini Review on Sigma Brushes

If you're a blog-reader or YouTube-watcher, you'd be no stranger to Sigma brushes. They were very highly recommended by many many popular YouTube Gurus and beauty bloggers. Judging from how they've developed since they first launched, I believe they are doing quite well. After all, their main selling point is that they offer MAC lookalike brushes at a fraction of the price. Heck, they'd even named their brushes with MAC brush codes earlier on but have since changed their coding.

I was very excited when I first found out about Sigma but back then, they only sold the brushes in sets and shipping was a hassle. My excitement died down a little and I finally decided to order the Premium Brush Kit. However, I only kept the brushes that I was interested in and sold off the other brushes, including the brush roll.

The one thing I must comment is that the brushes were very well-packed and the shipping was insanely fast! From the US to Malaysia only took 6 days! Including weekends! Also, their customer service was efficient because they sent me 2 of the same brushes with 1 brush missing from the kit. They promptly sent the missing one at no extra cost.

Anyway, I've used the brushes for quite sometime and here's what I have to say:

F35 Tapered Highlighter, $16 [MAC165 dupe]
I like the tapered head for shading with bronzer and it blends well. The bristles are soft and have good resilience. I don't shade much though.

F15 Duo Fibre Powder/Blush, $16 [MAC131 dupe]
When used with the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish, I got a lot of shimmer and not a lot of color. With a blush, it picks up quite a bit of product but doesn't deposit or blend well. Just lots of peachy dust. Soft, though.

E45 Small Tapered Blending, $9 [MAC226 dupe]
It felt very odd blending with this brush and I simply couldn't get the hang of it. Don't really know what to say about this brush.

E25 Blending, $9 [MAC217 dupe]
Out of the lot, I only have the actual MAC217 to compare this with and trust me, they are quite different. The MAC217 is softer, less splayed and holds its shape better. In terms of performance, the MAC217 wins by a mile.

E55 Eye Shading, $9 [MAC214 dupe]
It's an interesting brush to have but not really necessary. I was using it for smudging on eyeliner but the bristles are rather stiff and prickly so they do hurt a little. Now that I have the KIM E131, I don't even touch the E55 anymore.

One would think that "you get what you paid for". While the Sigma brushes are affordable, they're not exactly cheap. Funny thing is, I actually use some of my cheaper brushes (e.g. Ecotools, Crown, elf, Silk Naturals) a lot more than I use the Sigma ones. I'm not saying that the Sigma brushes are no good because they are alright but they're not brushes to settle for just because you can't splurge on the MAC ones. Personally, I'd prefer hunting for cheap alternatives which I'll love for years [Read my Beauty Budgeting tip on brushes].


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Daily Makeup Staples

It's no secret that I have a not-so-modest collection of makeup that's enough to last me a lifetime. Yet, some products get more attention than others. I reach for them constantly knowing that I can count on them to get the job done quick and deliver every single time.

These Daily Makeup Staples are here to stay...

Shu Uemura Nobara Stick Foundation
Using since October 2009

Believe me, it wasn't love at first sight. When I first started using this foundation, I found that it didn't sit well on my skin. Months passed and my skin became less dry and became a perfect match with this foundation not only in terms of texture and finish but also color.

The coverage of this foundation is buildable and can be adjusted for day and night. With the right brush, blending is a breeze, leaving practically no streaks, cake or creases. Sadly, it has been discontinued but I've gotten a back-up.

Ecotools Bamboo Bronzer Brush
Using since June 2010

Pair this with the Shu Uemura Nobara Stick Foundation and I get perfect coverage in 10 seconds flat. Why I've never gotten around to reviewing this brush is beyond me. It's super soft and dense with synthetic bristles that don't irritate my skin like natural bristles do. It also hardly sheds or bleeds. Only problem is that it's pretty huge, making it too big to work with liquid foundation. Here's to hoping that someday Ecotools would make a smaller version.

Origins Brighter by Nature Powder
Using since February 2011

You know how when you get sweaty and your powder rolls off you face in beige beads of sweat, leaving unsightly streaks? Well, this powder has thus far been the best at repelling sweat. I use powder mainly to set foundation and I never touch up. Yes, never. I don't bring my compact out. When I know I'll be sweating (mainly from brisk-walking to work), without thinking, I'll reach for this powder.

elf Mineral Eyeshadow Primer
Using since December 2009

Evidently, it's not the best eyeshadow primer in the world. Nevertheless, it gets the job done well enough. The primer's light and very creamy so I can blend it faster compared to most of other eyeshadow primers. My eyeshadow can stay put for a good 8 hours under normal conditions. Plus it's only USD$3!

RMK Eyelash Curler
Using since October 2008

This is probably my most frequently used product of all time. I may feel the need to try out different foundations, mascaras and even makeup brushes but this is one item that I'm not looking to replace even after 3 years. My first one went missing a month ago and I quickly got another one. It's not as seasoned but it's still wonderful.

Shu Uemura Hard 9 Eyebrow Pencil
Using since July 2010

For more than a year I've been using this pencil practically every day and have gotten it sharpened about 5 times. It can probably take another 3 more sharpening before I have to get a new one. I place great importance on eyebrows and even at times when I don't feel like wearing makeup, the least I'd do is fill in my eyebrows. This pencil makes filling-in so much easier and faster. I'm serious when I say, if only one makeup item can ever exist in my world, it would be this pencil.

So tell me,

What are your makeup staples?

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