summer base

Recently, I've been switching up the my base; instead of covering my face in big patches of concealer in an attempt to even things out, I've decided to use some products that even things out and dab concealer where it's really needed.



1. Indeed Labs, Nanoblur

This has seriously been my summer saviour. It's supposed to leave your skin "camera ready" and fill in fine lines and whatnot, but I have yet to obtain these fine lines (fingers crossed I don't get them for a next decade or so).  So, I use this more for its glorious mattifying powers and primer-esque qualities. When you put this on, it gets quite tacky but I think it's the tackiness that keeps makeup from sliding off in the 34˚C summer heat in Hong Kong. Plus, it keeps my skin from getting too shiny during the day and hasn't broken me out yet - win.

2. Garnier Ultra-Lift Transformer

I used this daily throughout the month that I spent in the Turks and Caicos Islands - when it comes out of the tube, it's a white cream with these teeny little beads that I guess break open when you rub it onto your face and the stuff in the mini beads give you the slightest bit of healthy tint. It's supposedly an anti-age skin corrector, and it has a broad spectrum SPF20 sunscreen in it. It's super easy to throw on to make your skin look a little more alive without being too heavy for summer weather.

3. thisworks, perfect look skin miracle

This is awesome, it's an "instant tinted skin perfector that hydrates and brightens" and was the first of these 3 'skin brightening / perfector-esque' things that I purchased. It looks kind of orange-y when it comes out of the tube but when you blend it in, it somehow gives you this extra glow that is inexplicable. It is the ultimate product to use when you're going for that no-makeup makeup look.

4. Becca Bronzing Skin Perfector
As the name states, this is the bronziest of the bunch. When dabbed and blended out gently, it gives your face the loveliest bronzy sheen without the shine that the other two give - it's somehow a bit mattifying when it goes on. It's got a bit of sparkle but nothing too overwhelming and you don't look like a great big disco ball when you put it over your entire face (which I have done, evidently). This is probably the one out of the three that I lean towards most often for this summer since it seems to be the most shine-controlling.

5. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Medium 2, Ginger 

I have been in love with this concealer since the minute I decided to purchase it after hearing all the hype about it. If you haven't tried this already, it's the most glorious concealer that will ever have the pleasure of gracing your face - it blends out perfectly and covers what needs to be covered without looking cakey and heavy.

night-out eyes

The holidays are slowly winding down and I thought I'd share my go-to night-out eye look. More often than not this is what I would go for; a few variations here and there, but the mascara, taupe-y purples, that MAC Paint Pot, and shimmer (of some sort) remained consistent. 

1. MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot in Frozen Violet

I already did a bit of a review about this when I first got it here, and what I said pretty much remains the same; it's a bit too dark to be part of my daytime look but serves as a perfect base for dark evening looks. I still love this taupey-purple colour, and it's been my go-to look in winter.

2. Bare Minerals Eyecolour in Nude Beach

This has been part of my make-up bag for quite a while now, and was mentioned briefly here. Considering how much I use this shade, it's still got a surprising amount of product left in the pot, but then again, a little goes a long way. It's a very shimmery glitterbug shade that has a pink twinge but still silvery enough to blend with almost any eyeshadow. It also glides on beautifully and gives any look that extra bit of sparkly oomph.

3. Nars Eyeshadow Duo in Brousse

This is one of my most well-loved Nars Eyeshadow Duos -- the taupe shade acts as a lovely eyeliner for daytime looks, and both tend to be slapped on haphazardly for give my evening looks a bit more depth. Both shades are fairly pigmented but easily buildable and I find myself reaching for this duo quite often when preparing myself for an evening out.

4. Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Zero

I've been a big fan of these eyeliners for a while now, I started off with Bourbon and branched out into a fair few shades. You can never go wrong with a plain black eyeliner and this is one of my favourites for the waterline and smudging along the lash line to give my look a bit more depth.

5. Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Gel Creamliner for Brown Eyes

When I feel like adding even more drama to the look, I sometimes try to add a cat-eye with an angled brush. More often than not it fails and I end up smudging it out to create a more smoky look, but once in a while it'll work out. This is a 'gel creamliner' and I don't really know what that means but I've had it for a while and it hasn't dried out yet so yay I guess. 

6. Shiseido Eyelash Curler

I've tried the Shu Uemura eyelash curlers before but never bothered investing in one since this seems to do the job perfectly well. The squishy bit needs to be replaced soon, I think this is going to be the second time I've replaced mine but the curlers seem to be a good shape and work quite well on my eyes.

7. Maybelline Volum'Express the HyperCurl

If you've been reading my blog you'll know that this is a much loved mascara of mine (it's been mentioned here, here, and I carry it around in my purse as can be seen here). I'm not going to say any more about this other than this is some good stuff.

current face

1. Nars Cream Eyeshadow in Cosmic Girl

- a lovely shimmery highlight on the cheekbone.

2. Bare Minerals Eyeshadow in Nude Beach

- by far my favourite Bare Minerals shadow; delightfully shimmery and sparkly yet somewhat neutral.

3. Chanel Illusion d'Ombre in Emerveillé

- the most glorious texture for a creamy mousse-y eyeshadow that is perfect for all day every day.

4. Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

- it gives the most natural finish like your skin but better when mixed with a pinch of moisturizer.

5. Maybelline Mineral Pure Conealer

- just your average concealer that isn't outrageously heavy and cakey.

6. Stila Convertible Colour in Poppy

- the perfect colour that gives your face a healthy flush or a "I've just been outside in the cold" tinge.

7. Maybelline Volum'Express the HyperCurl

- my favourite mascara ever, probably my seventh or eighth tube; I have unopened ones lying around in case, God forbid, Maybelline decides to discontinue it.

*All images taken with an iPhone 5.

current make up preferences

So I'm kind of a humongous makeup junkie a.k.a. I have more make up than I could ever use and still continue to buy more -- but it's not about having just enough it's about having variety. These are just some of my current favourites - neither things I especially use every day nor particularly new purchases.

1. Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer in Sand

- because I've lost my tan and Fawn is far too dark for me. I gave the the Tinted Moisturizer a break but NYC's ridiculously dry weather is making my face look like a desert and this saves it a little.

2. Nars Multiple Duo in Copacabana & St Barts
- the perfect creamy highlighter / bronzer / contour / whatev combination. (available online only on narscosmetics.com)

3. Stila Convertible Colour in Poppy

- leaves the loveliest and prettiest flush without making me look like a giant tomato.

4. Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Pomegranate Punk

- one of my friends has gotten me loving reddish colours on the eyes which also happen to perfectly fit autumn.

5. Nars single eyeshadow in Nepal

- one of my all time favourite neutral shimmery colours. (Also somehow crumbled a bit from being well-travelled). 

6. L'Oreal Colour Infallible in Iced Latte
- delightfully shimmery and seriously soft.

7. Custom Mac Quad: All That Glitters, Sable, Espresso, Carbon

- probably my most practical palette.

8. NYX Lip Pencil in Hot Red
- drying but is buildable and acts as a lovely base for everything.

9. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Raspberry Bite

- it looks almost burgundy in the tube but comes out as a lovely blue-based red, is perfectly creamy and leaves such a perfect stain.
10. Physicians Formula Eyeliner
- has amazing staying power.
11. Maybelline Great Lash Mascara in Brownish Black
- a recent purchase I thought I would try as it's something I constantly hear people raving about.

*All photographs taken with my iPhone because I am procrastinating and did this out of pure boredom and to avoid studying.