SOCIAL MEDIA

Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Beauty Empties #13 ♡ ft. MAC, Guerlain, Charlotte Tilbury, ColourPop, Etude House, Skin79 + More!

Hi everyone, it's been awhile since I posted on this blog and no, I have not gave up blogging, I just felt like I needed a little break because blogging was costing too much and it is time consuming. Sometimes I felt like I have to rush through a post and it ends up being not perfect and I often ask myself what is the point of this blog when reviews aren't properly reviewed. 

Anyway, during my break I took some inspiration of project pans from Weibo (the Chinese twitter). When I say blogging is costing too much, what I mean by that is, to maintain an active beauty blog, I had to buy all these newly released makeup to keep up with the trends and I would end up with draws and draws of makeup that I probably only tried once and will never use again. 

I used to be a makeup hoarder, I love buying makeup and I especially love collecting limited edition products. I know that it's wasting money and products, but I just could not help it. Then one day I was re-organizing my makeup collection when I thought... I am actually really sick of this, all these brand new makeup, all these money spent that I could actually buy food instead and seriously, when and where will I wear this blue lipstick?! It's thoughts like this that hits me hard and that is when my first project pan list really started. Nowadays I still buy makeup, but it's not as crazy as before and good news is, my project pan list is actually doing really well. 

Today I am sharing with you my latest Beauty Empties and if you are curious about the products I have hit pans on, head over to my Instagram as I post them to my IG stories.


 GUERLAIN Meteorites Perles Light-Diffusing Perfecting Primer was actually mentioned in my 11th Beauty Empties post and I am talking about it again as they were still a little bit of product left. I think Guerlain may have changed the name and packaging of this primer and it's now called the Meteorites Primer Perfecting Pearls. I wasn't a fan of this primer at first and I bought it because of the packaging, but after using it for awhile, I kind of fell in love with it. The texture is very lightweight, it squirts out like a gel formula and when spreads out it's kind of like water, it makes my face feels very smooth and I love that Guerlain fragrance, it's floral-ish and not over powering. 

 GUERLAIN L'Or Radiance Primer is infused with pure gold flakes and the bottle looks so pretty. The primer itself is as amazing, although the texture is not as smooth as the one mentioned above, it does squirts out with the gold flakes and they disappear as you spread out the product. This primer is actually meant for people with normal to dry skin, it doesn't make my oily face more oily during the day, it smooth my skin, keeps my makeup in place and delivers that natural glow. 

 WET N WILD Coverall Primer is life. The texture is a little thicker and when I spread out the product, it becomes a little sticky, after letting it dry for a minute, my face feels very soft and smooth. It cover pores, prevents concealer creasing and foundation caking and it really helps my makeup stays on all day. Surprisingly, hardly any crazy oily T-zone when wearing this primer. The only negative thing about this primer is the smell, it's not too bad, but as weird as it sounds, it smells like public swimming pools.

 CANDYDOLL BB Cream is a very old product and I am glad to have finally finished this. I only started liking this BB Cream towards the end, occasionally it would make my face looks flawless and other times I feel like it's just another BB Cream. 

 ETUDE HOUSE Beauty Shot Face Blur is a re-purchase. I used to love this product, it brightens up my complexion, smooth out my skin and I can wear this without foundation on day that I don't feel like makeup. It smells like sunscreen, the texture is thick, but it's easily spread out using fingers. 

 SKIN79 Pink BB Plumping Cushion is one of the best-selling BB Cream from the brand, this is the cushion version and the original one is the Super Plus BB Triple Function Hot Pink. Back in the days when the blogging world has just started, everyone was obsessed with SKIN79's BB Creams, I have tried a few myself but they didn't work well with my skin. With the Cushion version, I like that it has a good coverage and it gives my face that natural healthy look. The packaging is a lot different to the traditional Korean BB Cushions and I find it hard to press and get the product out. When I apply it with the cushion pad it comes with, it looks like I have a lot of makeup on, but when I use a Beauty Blender, it gives me a very natural look.


 THE BODY SHOP Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial Wash is probably the most mentioned emptied products on my blog, therefore, I don't think I need to explain this further.

 THE BODY SHOP Tea Tree Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution is also another stable products in my collection, ever since I bought my first bottle in Europe, I have been re-purchasing it every time I run out.


 It's Skin collaborated with Sesame Street and one of the most popular product from this collection is the Power 10 Formula, a range of 10 different serum targeting different skin concern. When I bought the IT'S SKIN x Sesame Street VC Power 10 Serum, I have absolutely no idea what it is, the girl from the makeup store told me it's a serum, you apply it before moisturising your face and you apply it before makeup and so I applied it as I was told. At first I didn't see much difference, then I start to see that my complexion and uneven skin tone has improved.

 ETUDE HOUSE Monster Micellar Cleansing Water was mention in my favourite products summer edition and at the time I really like how this cleansing water performs on me, my skin felt soft and clean after each used; but towards the end, I kind of felt like it's just like any other micellar cleansing water you buy from the supermarket, so don't be fooled by its' cute packaging haha.

 CLINIQUE Clarifying Lotion and the Dramatically Different Moisturising Gel are both stable products in my skincare collection. They have sets for different types of skin and I have always re-purchased the combination to oily ones.

 The KORRES Black Pine 3D Sculpting Firming & Lifting Night Cream shown in my photo is a sample sized and if I remember it correctly, this came in one those Mecca Loop boxes. I had about two weeks used of this product and I must say that this is a very rich cream and it is probably more suitable for those who has visible signs of wrinkles to see if the firming and lifting really works.

MAC COSMETICS Lip Scrubtious Candied Nectar is literally the best lip scrub I have ever tried! It removes dead skin well without being so rough when rubbing the product onto the lips and it's quite moisturising, so it's not a must for me to put lip balms on afterward.

 LUSH Lip Scrubs Mint Juleps has been a favourite for a long time, it does the job well and the only difference to the MAC Lip Scrubtious is that a lip balm must be used after scrubbing as it is not moisturising at all. I have always loved this product until I tried MAC Lip Scrubtious and then I kind of realised that this is actually a very rough product. Imagine washing your body with soaps and imagine that squeaky clean feeling on your lips.

 This is my first time trying an It Cosmetics product and I have to say that the IT COSMETICS Confidence In A Cream moisturising impressed me so well! I love this moisturiser, the texture of the cream is buttery, but it doesn't feel heavy on and it makes my skin feels baby soft the next morning.


 TONYMOLY Inked Cushion Gel Liner #03 dried out so fast! I have only used it three times and I was just planning on a first impression / review of this product, then the next time I opened the cushion, nothing came out... *cries*...

 COLOURPOP No Filter Concealer Light Neutral #15 (old numbering / name) has only just started becoming a favourite when I was half way through the tube. Although the texture is quite thick, it doesn't crease, it has a good coverage for covering under-eye circles and it's quite long wearing.

 TOO FACED Born This Way Natural Radiant Concealer Light was love at first sight and the one shown in the photo is a mini sized that can be purchase from Mecca for around $15?! This concealer is very lightweight with excellent coverage, it's long wearing, it doesn't crease and it smells so good, like coconut.

 CHOSUNGAH22 Dong Gong Minn Brow Maker Black Brown is a 2-in-1 brow gel, it's a cool concept, but it's very hard to work around with. I only just started liking it towards the finishing when there weren't a lot of product left. When the spoolie is too big and when there is too much products, the product smudges everywhere.

 MAC COSMETICS Pro Longwear Waterproof Brow Set Brown Ebony has been mentioned once or twice in my previous beauty empties and it's a stable product in my makeup collection. I love that the spoolie is not too big and it sets my brow hair in place all day.

 BENEFIT Gimme Brow Volumizing Eyebrow Gel is also another favourite and probably the best one I have tried so far.

 Guys, if you have eyelashes like mine, short, always pointing down that doesn't stay curl for long and literally no mascara works, then you need to try this - HEROINE MAKE Long and Curl Mascara. This has become my number one go-to mascara and it is the only one that keeps my eyelashes stay curl all day. It is sweat-proof and waterproof and I mean VERY WATERPROOF and it's very hard to remove, unless if used with the HEROINE MAKE Mascara Remover (you can buy them in sets).

 BENEFIT Goof Proof Brow Pencil #3 is a favourite and I am sure I don't need to explain further as everyone love this brow pencil, haha.

 COLOURPOP Brow Pencil Bangin Brunette is also a favourite, it's very creamy, pigmented and it stays on all day.

 HOLIKA HOLIKA Wonder Drawing Skinny Eyebrow and INNISFREE Auto Eyebrow Pencil, I don't have much memories of these products, hmmm.

 I love Charlotte Tilbury but the CHARLOTTE TILBURY Legendary Lashes Mascara doesn't work for me, just as expected.


 ORIGINAL SOURCE Sweet Apple and Vanilla Milk Shower Gel, this is my favourite shower gel brand, they can be purchased from Countdown (supermarket), they are so affordable and they come in many scents with majority of them smells sweety and fruity.

 Did you know that the Japanese store next to the cinema on Queen Street, Auckland sells the DAISO Puff Sponge Detergent now and they are only around $3 each, so affordable and does an amazing job at cleaning makeup sponges.

 BATISTE Dry Shampoo Blush is my favourite dry shampoo brand and my favourite scent is the coconut, but that scent doesn't come in the pocket size.

 I bought a bunch of ETUDE HOUSE Help My Finger Fast Drying few years ago from the Asian stores in the city, but when I return to buy more non of the stores stock them anymore, tried searching on eBay with no luck, if you know where to buy these please let me know! This product is so amazing, just one to two drops and my nail polish dries without seconds.

 GUERLAIN La Petite Perfume, not the scent I like, but I kept the tiny bottles as decorations.

 SOAP & GLORY The Breakfast Scrub *not pictured* has nearly five stars reviews on Mecca, from over 250 reviewers and that means it's a must try and you won't regret it product right?! I really did like it at first, it offers a comfy scrub and left my skin feeling soft, it smells so sweet and wonderful; but as I use it more often, I was sick of the scent, it's like a maple syrup scent that is way too overpowering and the scrub was becoming soggy after being left in the shower. It was such a relief to have finally used up the product and I have reused the container to store my coffee scrubs instead.

 THE BODY SHOP Tea Tree Skin Clearing Facial WipesSOAP & GLORY Off Your Face 3-in-1 Daily Purifying Cloths and 16BRAND Peach Soda Cleansing Tissue *all three not pictured* are my top three go-to makeup wipes. My most used and absolute favourite has to be The Body Shop Tea Tree one as I love the refreshing feeling and scent. 16Brand's Peach Soda smells like an artificial peach, but it's still sweet and Soap & Glory Off Your Face is just average.

Sunday, March 11, 2018

Most Used & Favourites Beauty Products ♡ Summer 2018

Monthly Favourites was a thing back in when I first started my blog and I have tired to follow the trend and failed most of the time because the products I use is pretty much the same every month. Although I do try out new products from time to time, it's only for a short period and then I am back with the products that I am most familiar with. 

I thought maybe I should change things up a little bit and write my favourites and most used beauty products seasonally. Obviously, you won't see me in a bright coral lipstick in winter, so, maybe the idea of a seasonally favourites would make things interesting.

Starting today, March 2018, I am sharing with you my first summer favourites and most used product. 

Summer Favourites 2018

Remember this haul where I shared with you my purchase of the MAC Prep + Prime Fix + in Lavender, Rose and Coconut? Well, I have been using the Lavender scent as a facial mist and I like that it's refreshing and moisturising, I also like the Sized to Go, as it's handy to carry around.

I have read an article where someone has mentioned that all Micellar Water are pretty much the same as they have the same ingredients, just different branding and different packaging. It may be true, but this claim doesn't make me stop buying Micellar Water from different brands, as you know, most of the time I buy beauty products based on its' packaging. I have been using the Etude House Monster Micellar Cleansing Water and I am absolutely in love with the coconut scent. I use about 7 or 8 makeup pads to remove a full face of makeup with this product and I always love the result, my face feels and looks very clean, it doesn't stint my eyes and it doesn't leave my face with that super squeaky clean feeling.

UD's All Nighter setting spray used to be my all time favourite, I take it every where with me and I buy several backups just incase I run out, but lately I have been using the Urban Decay De-Slick setting spray and I think this may be my new favourite. I find that it does a better job at keeping my makeup in place for longer hours.

Mario Badescu Rosewater Facial Spray and the MAC Prep + Prime Lavender Fix + mentioned above pretty much does the same job, except that I bring the MAC Fix + with me everywhere I go and Mario Badescu is like a stay-at-home product.

If I remember it correctly, this is my third bottle of The Body Shop Tea Tree Anti-Imperfection Daily Solution, ever since I bought my first bottle in Germany back in 2016, I have been so obsessed with this product and it has definitely made it into my holy grail list. I use this product as the first step of my makeup routine and I like that my face is a lot smoother nowadays, pimples don't randomly pop up unless it's that time of the month and it keeps my makeup stays in place throughout the day.

Summer Favourites 2018

My most used concealers this summer is the Too Faced Born This Way Concealer, Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser and the ColourPop No Filter Concealer. My favourite out of all three is definitely the TF Born This Way, I love that it's buildable, but it doesn't feel heavy, it has a great coverage and it doesn't crease during wear, also it smells like coconut and that is a big win win for me. ColourPop No Filter is also great and affordable, it has a thick and creamy texture that applies smoothly, but I dislike that it dries so fast and it doesn't give you time to blend out, so the only way to have a perfect application is to apply an area one by one, instead of covering your whole face in concealer then blend out. Maybelline Age Rewind Eraser is just an okay product to me and it's one of those that I don't really understand the hype. The thing that annoys me the most is having to twist the tube for a long time for the concealer to come out and it's probably my fault for choosing the wrong shade, I have the 'brightener' and it makes my undereye looks ghostly.

Urban Decay All Night Liquid Foundation is literally the best foundation for those with oily skin that loves a full coverage look. I have worn this foundation for more than 12 hours, apart from my nose area where my glasses often slides down and removes whatever makeup I have on the day, other parts of my face stays flawless. Although the formula is thick and creamy, it doesn't feel heavy during wear. I am in the shade #2.5 and I have also tried #3.5 which is a bit too dark on me (click here to see swatches).

CandyDoll BB Cream has been mentioned in my Best of 2014 Foundations & Concealers and 2015 Beauty Favourites. I have tried a lot of new products during 2016 and 2017 and I don't remember reaching for this BB Cream, but I have fallen in love with it again this summer. It has a liquidy texture that feels lightweight with a good coverage, it gives you that naturally dewy look and it wears for a good amount of time.

My most used primer this summer is the Mecca Multi-Purpose Plumping Balm and the Wet n Wild Coverall Primer. They are both great at keeping my makeup in face throughout the day and I love both equally. Mecca has a thicker texture while Wet n Wild is more runny, on days that I wear absolutely no makeup, just primers, I would go for Wet n Wild as it makes my face feels like a baby bum, it feels so smooth and mattifying at the same time.

Summer Favourites 2018
Summer Favourites 2018
Summer Favourites 2018

I bought the Guerlain Meteorites Pearls in 2014, it has been mentioned in my 2015 and my 2016 Beauty Favourites, it's definitely one of my all time favourite beauty products and as you can see in the photo above, it's been more than three years since the purchase and there is still a lot of product left. I have the shade in 'Clair' and I use it as an overall powder. I love that it's not cakey and it gives my face my absolute flawless look.

As you know I am a makeup collector and I rarely hit pan on products, especially not bronzers nor highlighters, but surprise surprise, I have hit pan on the highlighter of the Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Bronze and Glow and the Too Cool For School Art Class Bronzer. CT Film Star Bronze and Glow is another holy grail that I have talked about so much on my blog and used in almost every single makeup looks posted on here and the TCFS Bronzer is actually a newly purchased product that I was testing and preparing to review, but I can't believe that I hit pan this fast. TCFS Bronzer is literally life for those with a light skin-tone, it gives you just enough shading and you can never go over the top with this product.

NARS Double Take Overexposed Glow Highlighter was purchased in November last year and it has already become my most reached for highlighter this summer. This highlighter has lips shaped embossed on the actual product when it's brand new, which you can see it here, but as you can see I have obviously used it a lot and it just looks ugly now. I love that the highlighter gives a soft glow that looks natural and it's wearable on any occasion.

Summer Favourites 2018

I have been switching between the 3 Concept Eyes Love 3CE Cheek Maker #Orangish and NARS Dolce Vita this summer and my most reached for is definitely NARS. This is a mini sized from the Dolce Vita + Audrey Love Triangle Set. The colour seems more suitable for the winter season when looking from the pan, but when applied with a brush, it transform into a sheer rosy shade.

Summer Favourites 2018
Summer Favourites 2018

Can you believe it?! Two years ago I don't fuss over my brows and a year ago I only wear eyeshadows in makeup looks and now it's full on eyebrows and eyeshadows on a daily basis.

I started wearing eyeshadows to work towards the end of 2017 and my most reached for is definitely the Too Faced Sweet Peach Eyeshadow Palette. In my daily routine, I always use the shade 'Peaches n Cream' as the base and the shades 'Bellini', 'Luscious' or 'Candied Peach' all over my lids depending on the clothes and lip colours I am paring with on the day.

I also use ColourPop Super Shock Shadow in the shades 'Posey' or 'Tea Party' on days that I feel like I need some sparkles.

As for brows, at the moment I am obsessed with the ColourPop Precision Brow Pencil, I love that although it has a creamy texture, it doesn't break easily, it glides on precisely, smoothly and it stays on all day. I have also been using the Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil, but I seem to always have this love hate thing with it. I love its slanted shaped pencil as I can draw on the most perfect brows without even trying, but I dislike that it's a little bit too waxy and sometimes it doesn't fill in the brows evenly which really frustrates me when I am running late.

Summer Favourites 2018
Summer Favourites 2018

YSL Glossy Stain is one of my favourites throughout all seasons, I love that it melts into my lips upon application and it leaves a cooling feel after application. I have the shade is 07 Corail Aquatique, it's a light orangey coral shade that is perfect the summer. (click here to see my lip swatches)

Wearing a lip gloss in New Zealand depends on the weather nor the season, and the weather could change from good to bad several times in one day, so the chances of wearing a lip gloss is not that often, but I keep buying anyway, because I love lip products.

I have been switching between the Guerlain Gloss d'Enfer Maxi Shine Lipgloss and the Too Faced Lip Injection during the summer, Guerlain Maxi Shine Gloss is another one of my favourites, I have the shade in #901 L'Oiseau de Feu and it used to be a clear gloss with golden sparkles, but as you can see, I have been wearing it with other lip colours that it has now turned into a pinky shade.

Guerlain KissKiss Roselip in Pink Me Up is a newly purchased item that I have been reaching for a lot lately, I like that it gives a sheer wash of colour, but I dislike that I have to re-apply every hour. It's pretty much a tinted lip balm, but it's not as good as the Innisfree Glow Tint.

The old name for Innisfree Glow Tint is called Innisfree Eco Flower Tint Balm, I have all five shades from the range, but the shade that I love the most and have almost emptied is 'Camellia'. This is also a tinted lip balm, but it's 100 x better than the Guerlain KissKiss Roselip. It's a lot more pigmented, the colours doesn't fade throughout meals and there's no need to re-apply hourly as the colour stays on for forevers.

MAC Hug Me Lipstick came as part of the MAC Look In A Box Natural Flare Collection in 2017, the lipstick is part of the permanent range, so it can be purchased individually. I have been reaching for this a lot through the summer, it's a stable in my purse, hence why it looks so wobbly right now as it has melted and fixed in the fridge too many times. I get compliments every time I wear this and that is probably why I am currently obsessed with it.

Summer Favourites 2018
Summer Favourites 2018

Lastly, I have been using MAC Shadescents in Candy Yum Yum almost every day during the summer, while it is described as a flirty scent, the bottle is bright and girly and the overall scent and packaging screams summer, my main purpose is to empty this bottle so that I can buy a new perfume that I have been eyeing up for ages. MAC Shadescents aren't bad but I am just not really feeling it.