What's In The Bag - Tokyo Time!

It's that time of the year again! Off for my annual pilgrimage to the Land of the Rising Sun, Makeup & Fashion~

I really wanted to put in an entry before I left so I thought I'd share the contents of my makeup bag and accessories. Yeah yeah I know, this has 'filler post' written all over it >_<

Accessories first, I don't wear as much hardware as I used to back in the day but it's still an important part of my wardrobe...and these are my picks for the trip!

Unfortunately I can only tell that the 2 studded bracelets and chainmail-ish necklace were from H&M, the rest were from all over the place like Far East Plaza, online stores and previous trips. Oh excluding that Pandora bracelet up in the corner (^_^;;)

Really dig my 'good for a bit-o-luck' token that I got from a little store in Kichijoji last year~

And in the makeup section, I made a tiny pile.

=D

For base makeup, I brought:

• ClearLast Pore Smooth Base UV (purchased from Japan last year, probably gonna finish the tube this time)
• Clinique Even Better Foundation
• Kate Powderless Liquid for Cover
• Dasoda MG Mega Liquid Concealer

For eye make:

• Sleek Makeup Blush by 3 (Ok this one's for the face obviously =P)
• Maybelline the Rocket Volum' Express
• Maybelline Hypersharp Liner
• Too Cool for School 1 Day Tattoo Eyebrow

And lastly, lips:

• Edward Bess Ultra Slick Lipstick (in Sundown, it's my perfect perfect nudie lipstick)
• Ultrasun Ultralip SPF30 lipbalm (first time I've had the word 'ultra' thrice in 2 lines haha)
• Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar Stain Gloss
• Urban Decay Naked Ultra Nourishing Lip Gloss
• Revlon Colorburst Matt Balm
• Sleek Makeup Pout Polish SPF15

And that's the small part of my packing that I wanted to share today~ =)

Hope I'll come back with a more manageable haul this year, looking forward to share them with you guys when I get back! =D *poof!*

What's in The Bag - Luxola Party Goodie Bag

I know it's been awhile since I got this but I would still like to show the contents of the Luxola End of Prohibition Party door gift held a couple weeks ago ^.^

In a roomy bling-y silver pouch were~


#luxolasg!

Here's a clearer look at the respective items, I haven't tried them so I'll just attach a short description of the products according to their product write-ups~

In the skincare category, we have:

From top, then left to right then bottom:

• Harnn Oriental Herbs Hand Cream - Ultra rich, firming & highly protective hand cream with essential oils, Coenzyme Q10 and Hyaluronic Acid.
• Dr Hauschka Blackthorn Body Oil - For use as a massage oil or body moisturizer, helps prevent stretch marks during pregnancy.
• 66°30 Extreme Cycle 6-in-1 Face Fluid - For men, an ultra moisturizer that calms shaving irritation, protects and repairs skin.
• Alpha-H Liquid Gold with Glycolic Acid - A non-alcoholic powerful skin resurfacing lotion that helps to jumpstart skin metabolism, reduce open pores and fight wrinkles, pigmentation and sun damage. (Winner of the Harper’s Bazaar Beauty Hot 100 2013)
• VMV Hypoallergenics Armada Face Cover 30 - A light cream type sun+light screen, skin lightening, full spectrum, indoor and outdoor protection. Non-Comedogenic and 100% fragrance, paraben, preservative, dye and phthalate-free. It's also Halal and Vegan.
• Mekhala Soothing Tamarind Facial Cleanser - Unique formula that includes organic tamarind and honey nourishes and brightens the skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines. Also able to remove makeup without drying the skin. Free of artificial fragrances and preservatives, parabens and sulphates.

I'm most excited to try the Alpha-H Liquid Gold given it's many good reviews.

It's supposed to work very well on those pesky little clogs and zits that pop up every now and then too~ But I also read that it works best on skin that is at a neutral pH so.....given that I use a few products that contain salicylic acid, I'm not sure it'll work as miraculously on me...=\ But! We shall see (^_^)v

And in the makeup category, we have:

Clockwise from left to right:

• Color Show by Maybelline Lipstick in 107 Pink Paradise - True-to-color intense lip color that promises to stay on the lips even under hot and humid conditions.
• Sleek Makeup Pout Paint x 2 in shades 162 Milkshake and 154 Mauve Over -  Intense lip pigments designed for mixing but can also be used on its on for strong, long-lasting color.
• Sleek Makeup Pout Polish in shade The Afterparty - I think this is Pink Cadillac on the website though. Check the review HERE.
• Color Show by Maybelline Crayon Kohl Eyeline in Noble Purple - Full-on colour pigments for the eyes in a smooth kohl texture. Bold colour that doesn't budge.

Quite excited about the Sleek Makeup lip colors but I haven't gotten to them yet due to a recent spree of pink lip pigments....you'll probably see them quite soon. Watch this space! lol

Oh! I also got picked for the lucky draw and won this travel size Sun Ocean EDT from Paris-Bahamas!

So happy cos I never win stuff! Just don't have the lucky wishbone in me I guess?

Isn't the bottle cute? The cover's filled with real pink sand from the Bahamas! Concocted with exotic coconut, frangipani and vanilla, this is truly a beachside summer in a bottle~ When I smell it, the image of lounging under the sun at Sentosa (or a better beach) comes to mind!

I believe this is my first What's in The Bag sort of post? Even though it isn't really MY bag that I tout around but all the same, hope you enjoyed a peek! (^--^)///

Pucker Up - Sleek Makeup Pout Polish SPF15

I have....been lusting after a stronger lip colour recently....having nude shades all the time DOES get boring after a few years so I've been hoping to brighten up my look! Previously purchased 2 red shades from Revlon and H&M respectively but....after awhile I decided that they were the wrong shade of red for me =(

Luckily, I was a girlfriend's plus1 to The End of Prohibition party thrown by Luxola on Thursday and got a couple of choice Sleek Makeup lip colours in our goodie bags! One of which was the Sleek Makeup Pout Polish in shade 959 The Afterparty~ (Looks similar to Pink Cadillac on the website but I'm not sure.)



Retails at S$14 on Luxola

Having been quite a fan of Sleek Makeup since they came to our shores via Luxola and Carmine Avenue because of their product range and crazy affordable prices, I was like WHOO!!! when a couple of these babies came tumbling out of the pouch~ Will go through the contents of said pouch in the next post =D

Pout Polish is a range of highly pigmented lip polishes that give dramatic colour and a lasting stain whilst conditioning and protecting the lips with a combination of oils (Jojoba, Avocado, Sweet Almond, Wheat Germ and Shea Butter) and SPF15. I was quite intimidated by the colour in the pot initially but the swatches put my mind at ease.


From top down: 3 layers, 2 layers, 1 layer

The small slim pot is simple, stylish and really easy to carry around! You could probably hide it in your bra if you had no pouch or pockets =P It has a slight Play-Doh-ish smell to it but it's not unpleasant really and isn't noticeable unless you sniff at the pot. I didn't notice it at all during application.

I was able to wipe the swatches off with little effort and a tissue but it did stain my fingers as I'd left the polish on while I took photos.

 

Alrighty then, polish my pout! (Wax on, wax off comes to mind teehee XP)

I applied a little under 2 layers (hope you understand what that means) and got a very nice lightly glossy shade of rose pink!


Isn't it interesting how brighter lip colours always make one feel like pouting?

I like that the gloss is really smooth (almost balmy) and not too in-your-face, making it easy to wear with light day makeup. AND IT ISN'T STICKY! It also left my lips feeling smoother and more moisturized throughout the day. The colour is also easily buildable to a more dramatic shade for nights out on the town~

The gloss factor doesn't hold up as long as I'd like but the stain does a pretty good job which I'm glad of because I'm a total lipstick eater hahaaaa. Had a drink and was in and out of air-conditioning...got home about 4 hours later with zero touchups and there was still some pink left on my lips~ yay~

So in a nutshell, the Sleek Makeup Pout Polish is

• from one the best budget beauty brands in my opinion.
• comes in a stylish and convenient little flat pot.
• available in a range of colours (6 on Luxola) ranging from nudes to pinks, peaches and reds.
• has a slight Play Doh-ish smell that's only noticeable if you sniff the pot.
• buildable colour delivers dramatic pigment as promised, use as little or as much as you want!
• polish goes on dreamy smooth with no gooey stickiness and leaves lips feeling moisturized and smooth even after wearing off.
• gloss factor and colour intensity wears off with food and drink so touchups recommended every couple hours to maintain maximum effect; lip tint does hold up for about 4 hours though
• lip conditioning and protection with Sweet Almond, Avocado, Wheat Germ Oil etc + SPF15

So glad Luxola held this awesome party!

Would I purchase this? YES. Because I LOVE Sleek Makeup! ( ˘ ³˘)❤ Have a good weekend everyone!!

MOE stands for My October Empties!

It strikes me that I have never done a post with products I've recently finished! So for that, here's this month's throwouts~

From L - R: Sleek Makeup Luminaire Highlighting Concealer, Cyber Colors Cell Recharge Snail Serum,
Lovemore Acnes All Out Purifying Mask and DHC Salicylic Acne Toner

It's taken me quite awhile to finish up some of these products like the Sleek Highlighting Concealer because I don't use much each time so I guess they've been really value for money in the price vs length of use department!

I STILL can't decide whether I want to repurchase the Sleek Luminaire Highlighting Concealer... Sometimes it works great, concealing the little blemishes like dark eye rings and light pigmentation so I can head out without foundation but sometimes I have to layer like crazy >_< The good thing is that at S$17, it's pretty cheap~ (Original review HERE.)

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Ah yes~ The snail serum. I really didn't think much about the whole snail mucus fad until I got this little gem from Cyber Colors at Sasa! And 30ml lasted me pretty long!

I'll never get over how quickly this serum healed a badly popped zit (*_*) 90% Snail mucus ftw! I usually apply it when I have an emerging or busted zit so it's just 1 pump each time and that 1 pump brings up enough product to spread thinly over the rest of my face as well if I want to. I already have a 2nd bottle on standby and will definitely keep repurchasing! (Original review HERE)

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The Lovemore Acnes All Out is a blackhead removal mask set that comes with 3 items, a sebum softener, a purifying mask and an astringent essence. Unfortunately I have abandoned the first and last steps due to laziness personal reasons.

 

These days, I use The Face Shop Volcanic Clay Mask to open up the pores before using the Lovemore Step 2 purifying mask. Been using it on and off for about 2 years now and I still find the peel off results pretty awesome! (Original review HERE)

 

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Lastly, my latest favorite =D The DHC Salicylic Acne Toner. This toner still does a good job of regulating sebum production and keeping those pesky clogs away from my jawline so I am really pleased! If there was one thing to gripe about, it would be that this range is rarely on sale at Watsons! The other DHC products would be on 20% promo and the Acne range would be sitting pretty with their original prices >_< (Original review HERE)

But at the end of the day, the results matter most and it's still a drugstore brand so it isn't that pricey. It's really cheap in Japan though (half the price!) so check it out if you have a trip planned!
 

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So that's it for October~ =)

Oh yeah! In other news, I've received my first sponsored review invite! Pretty excited for my appointment this weekend ^_^ Stay tuned ok?

The Perfect Palette from Sleek Makeup Blush by 3!

Sleek Makeup, with the opening of Carmine Avenue at Scape on top of the extended range available on Luxola, is slowly making its presence known on our little island, and I hope it's being welcomed with open arms 'cos I like what I see so far!

Recently got round to purchasing Blush by 3 from Luxola and.....instant love! Available in 5 palettes, with red, orange and plum variations in the mix. I bought Lace:

Sleek Makeup Blush by 3 - Lace / S$20 from Luxola.com

Fully pigmented! Matte and shimmer!

As you can see, the shades are really quite bright and pigmented. I was quite apprehensive at first because they looked really bright!

Wanna be Forever Young~ =P

I'm not going to lie. I like falsies. I think they're fine, and a girl can use 3 pairs at the same time if she wants. No hating here. ^_^ I seldom use mine though. But I'm guilty of buying boxes of them whenever I get the notion that I want to put more effort into my makeup!

I just broke out a box that's been parked in my drawer for months! Glad I managed to get them on in just 1 try and that they're quite natural though thicker than what I used before~

Love the flushed look my Blush by 3 (Sleek Makeup) palette gives~ LOVE! Love the natural lip from L'Oreal's Shine Caresse~ LOVE! Love the enhancement to my lower lashes from Maybelline Lashionista~ LOVE! lol lots of love in this post hahaha~

This was also the first time I used the Kiss Me Heavy Rotation Perfect Eyeliner which didn't disappoint! No smudging despite being both outdoors n indoors for the next 5 hours~ Blush by 3 held up very well too~ No touchups (not even lipstick after dinner) for the 5 - 6 hours I was out and this is what I beheld when I got home:


Barely a budge from my makeup! ^__^

Products used today are:

Details:

• Kate Powderless Liquid for Cover - Ochre-D / OC-D
• Sleek Makeup Blush by 3 - Lace (used Crochet, first shade from the left) Review coming up!
• Maybelline Lashionista
• Kiss Me Heavy Rotation Perfect Eyeliner N - 02 Deep Brown
• L'Oreal Shine Caresse - Venus
• Edward Bess Ultra Slick Lipstick - Sundown
• Hollywood False Eyelashes - TP008

In case anyone was wondering how the Edward Bess Ultra Slick Lipstick fits into the whole equation, I used it as a lipliner that day, lining my outer lip then dabbing inwards before blending with the Shine Caresse. ^__^ It's my attempt at mimicking a youthful pout =P Did it work?

Have a good weekend everyone! xoxo

Shedding light on the Sleek Luminaire Highlighting Concealer~

Hello all~ ^_^

The last time I dropped by the Luxola office for the Edward Bess openhouse, I purchased the Sleek Luminaire Highlighting Concealer as I was in the market for an undereye concealer at the time. I only recently got to using it though:

S$17 from Luxola.com; Available in 3 shades with L02 being the middle child

Brush tip + Click dispenser control
The initial pumps came up slightly cakey but was fine from then on.

I haven't had the best experiences with highlighters as they tend to not make much of a difference =( The Sleek version?