loves of the summer so far: eyes & lips

1. MAC Paint Pot in Indianwood

One of the first makeup items I ever bought in my life, this has been in and out of my routine for years but remained one of my favourites. It is the perfect bronze-y shade, especially during the summer with a bit of a tan, and is somehow capable of withstanding the 75%+ humidity that exists in Hong Kong as well as the oil that seems to inevitably spread over my eyelids. Perfect for sprucing up your face on a day by the pool and any on any other average day as a base under both matte and shimmery powder eyeshadows.

2. NARS Eyeshadow in Cyprus

I love NARS packaging. I don't care if the matte black gets dirty over time. I will forever love the simplistically beautiful clamshell compacts, and it was the fact that the single eyeshadows are a dinky adorable mini-size that compelled me to buy this shade. I've found over the years that this is the perfect every-day eyeshadow for giving your face that bit of 'oomph' to wake you up and look ever so put together, when in reality, all you did was squash a fluffy brush into the product and haphazardly smear it across your eyelids whilst half-awake. It is pleasantly shimmery when layered under equally shimmery cream shadows, (for example the aforementioned MAC Paint Pot), yet not too over the top to remain neutral enough for those days when you want to look like you've not quite got anything on. 

3. Maybelline Full'n Soft

This mascara is runner-up to my favourite ever - Maybelline Volum'Express the HyperCurl. It is a close-contender and slowly becoming my preferred of the two as it leaves my eyelashes with the perfect amount of volume and length whilst managing to hold the curl for the entire day.

4. Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in 300 Rose Blush

A whimsical purchase from New York which I liked at first but fell out of love with as I was preoccupied with my reds and plums during the cold and dreary winter. This has made it into my bag almost every day in place of my much-loved Clinique Chubby Stick in Chunky Cherry as I find it to be the perfect pinch of pink for my face during the summer months. It has a small amount of shimmer, doesn't lean too far pink, (in fact it probably leans closer to red), and has the loveliest smooth finish on the lips. I was also much surprised to find out that it has SPF 18 the other day when I was giving the label a glance to check the name of the colour and I'm also surprised to say that I've gone through about half the tube already since whipping it out earlier this month. Love.

ysl glossy stain

This is by far the most glorious lip product of my life; lasts forever, unbelievably moisturizing, doesn't budge -- all around amazing.

Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain in 11 Rouge Gouache.

winter skin

I generally moisturise all the time but NYC's drying weather has made me aware of what really works and what doesn't.

1. Carmex Original Moisturizing Lip Balm

- A soothing, easy to apply when you're on the go lip balm.

2. Aquaphor Healing Ointment 

- My go-to for absolutely everything. Not as thick as Vaseline and seems to protect all my dry bits and lasts from when I go to sleep to when I wake up.

3. First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream 

- A thick cream for elbows and other bits that need extra moisture that sinks in quickly and is pleasantly non-greasy.

4. Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, Intensive Moisturizing Hand Treatment 

- Medicinal-smelling but extremely hydrating and smoothing.

5. Caudalíe Beauty Elixir 

- A recent purchase that seems to really lock in moisture and is delightfully refreshing mid-day. 

*All photos taken with an iPhone 5.

winter lips

Dark lips have become my new favourite thing -- fitting since it's the holiday season.

1. Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Plum

- Probably the oldest product out of this bunch and my introduction to dark lip colours of sorts. I've had and liked / loved this for ages. It leaves the sheerest berry tint while moisturizing and bonus: it has SPF 15.

2. Dior Addict Extreme Lipstick in 829 Sunset Blvd

- A fairly recent purchase when I jumped onto the strong lips bandwagon. Allbeit slightly drying over time, it has enough colour to be the perfect in-between too strong and too light. 

3. Urban Decay Super-Saturated High Gloss Lip Colour in F-Bomb

- The first proper red-red I've ever owned / worn, shiny glossy finish and generally kind of perfect.

4. Trish McEvoy Lip Colour in Mulberry

- Well-used as can be seen in the above images; it has a sheer dark berry tint, teeny bit moisturizing, ever so slightly minty, and I've already bought a second in case they suddenly get discontinued.

5. Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Flash in 982 Black Tie Plum

- I tried this on at a counter but decided to think it over and ordered it online and it finally arrived today after decades of waiting. Perfect for layering over reds, plums, whatevers, impossible to apply just with the little brush because it ends up disastrously blotchy and drag queen-like but amazing colour nonetheless.

*Also featured Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Raspberry Bite: read more about it here.

**All images taken with an iPhone 5, processed through VSCO CAM.