Wednesday, 26 March 2014
Sunday, 23 March 2014
Friday, 4 May 2012
My Favourite Things
So I am packing to move (again, renting in Hong Kong sucks!) and this is giving me a perfect opportunity to have a sort out. First on the agenda are my beauty products. As I was clearing out my cosmetics case I was struck by how much stuff I have that I never use, whoops, but also but the products which I use at least daily if not more... I decided to share my Top Ten 'can't live without' products with you...
From top, left to right:
1. Benefit Boi-ing Concealer
Claims to be 'industrial strength' and it lives up to the claim. I use this everyday under the eyes for dark circles and it is also pretty good at dabbing on red spots to conceal them. I tried to switch to Touche Eclat due to other reviews, but keep returning to Boiing... Plus everyone that I have introduced to this product is now an avid user... Definitely worth a try!
Claims to be 'industrial strength' and it lives up to the claim. I use this everyday under the eyes for dark circles and it is also pretty good at dabbing on red spots to conceal them. I tried to switch to Touche Eclat due to other reviews, but keep returning to Boiing... Plus everyone that I have introduced to this product is now an avid user... Definitely worth a try!
By itself or over colour, I find this to be a reliable classic.
I don't really have anything to compare these too - I'm still on my first pair, now several years old and going strong. They curl my lashes easily, I don't need them to do anything else!
4. Black Eyeliner Pencil
My initiation into the world of eyeliner has been fairly recent, so I am just finishing my first pencil. I am currently using Bourjois 'Clubbing Waterproof Eyeliner' in ultra black. I brought this product because it was cheap and I wanted to try it out before investing in a more expensive version. I am now hooked on the discreet smudge I can create which adds definition to my eyes. After a month I decided to upgrade and brought the Dior eyeliner pencil. To be honest, the Dior pencil is not as good, so I think I need further advice and research before my next purchase. It is definitely a firm staple in my makeup bag.
Any advice would be very welcome!
5. Nars 'Paris' Eyeshadow Duo
I used to find dark eyeshadow worrisome; does it make my eyes smoulder or do I look like I have had a rather violent altercation? After lots of trial and error I have settled on this Nars duo as my 'go to' night out make up. The powder has a really smooth finish and blends easily which I think that it makes the application much easier than other brands.
I used to find dark eyeshadow worrisome; does it make my eyes smoulder or do I look like I have had a rather violent altercation? After lots of trial and error I have settled on this Nars duo as my 'go to' night out make up. The powder has a really smooth finish and blends easily which I think that it makes the application much easier than other brands.
6. Clinque High Impact Curling Mascara
I don't leave the house without mascara on! This is my everyday staple. It is not so much 'high impact' as it is reliable. It doesn't clump, and it does let lashes hold their curl. Also, it washes off with water - so much better for your skin!
I don't leave the house without mascara on! This is my everyday staple. It is not so much 'high impact' as it is reliable. It doesn't clump, and it does let lashes hold their curl. Also, it washes off with water - so much better for your skin!
7. Nars 'Orgasm' Multiple Stick
A light delicate pink with a slight shimmer. This can be used on lips, cheeks, eyelids. Perfect for travelling or popping in your handbag for day to night transitions on the go...
Cure all! I put this on dry skin, chapped skin, cuts, spots, bites, sunburn... I have it at home, in my bag, in my desk at work. Maybe it's an addiction? Well, I recommend it...
9. Chanel Rouge Coco 'Boy' Lipstick
The only lipstick I regularly wear, it looks natural on me and I like how it moisturises the skin. Plus carrying around a 'Chanel' is always good!
The only lipstick I regularly wear, it looks natural on me and I like how it moisturises the skin. Plus carrying around a 'Chanel' is always good!
10. Laura Mercier Smokey Neutrals Trio
I think neutral eyes are a classic and at the moment I am using this palette. Laura Mercier shadows don't crease and are easy to blend. Packaging seems a little cheap, but I think the product is up to scratch!
I think neutral eyes are a classic and at the moment I am using this palette. Laura Mercier shadows don't crease and are easy to blend. Packaging seems a little cheap, but I think the product is up to scratch!
Wednesday, 11 April 2012
Spring 2012: Nude Nails
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Seen at NY Fashion week :
DKNY, Alexander Wang, Versace, Derek Lam, Giorgio Armani, Christopher Kane, The Row, Rochas et al...
I embraced this trend in Summer 2009, when it was last in full swing. There does seem to be some bloggers who really don't like this trend - think 'fake plastic Barbie' nails, however I wholeheartedly disagree! Nude nails look chic and they match any outfit.
Here are four polishes already in my stash (clockwise from top left):
1. Jessica: Naked as a Jaybird.
2. OPI: Coney Island Cotton Candy.
3. OPI: Tickle My Francey
4. OPI: Barefoot in Barcelona
These polishes would suit a wide variety of skins - everyone's nude is, after all, very different.
And here are a few more nude polishes I am currently lusting after...
As you can see from my photos, it can be hard to match your skin to a polish. It depends on the undertone of your skin, the light you are in and how much tan you have - what looks right in April might not match in July. Here are a few pointers:
Fair skin: Tends to have red undertones, this means pale creamy beige polishes work best e.g. Essie 'Intimate'.
Medium skin: Olive skin can look sallow if they polish has yellow undertones so pick a pinky nude e.g. Jessica 'Temptress of the Sea'.
Dark Skin: Looks good if you play up the red undertones - pick a warm deep colours such as Essies 'Over the Knee'.
Review: Aveda 'Be Curly Curl Enhancer'
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| Cost: $21 USD |
"Wheat Protein and organic aloe infused formula expands when hair is wet and contracts when hair is dry to intensify curl or wave.
To use: Smooth generously on damp hair. Dry naturally or blow dry with a diffuser for added volume and curl definition."
First Impressions:
I have actually been using this product for a little while, however I decided to include in my reviews as it can be very useful in the frizz battle.Widely available in Hong Kong, and globally, Aveda plays upon the natural and organic market that is currently incredibly popular in the beauty world. It is therefore a little surprising to check out the ingredients list...
Out of interest I looked it up on the 'Skin Deep' website and found out that it is rated as a 'moderate' hazard to health! Ingredients can cause irritation to skin, lungs and eyes amongst other concerns. This site bases its' review on the 2005 formula so it may be out of date.
Whilst this is something that I am interested in I will not be giving up my favourite cosmetic products until there is conclusive and widespread proof of ill effects. The main reason that I looked in this instance was due to Aveda's heavy emphasize on the 'natural' which does not ring quite true.
As I find with all Aveda products the first thing that you notice is the smell. It is a herbal smell which is slightly sweet. To me it invokes memories of relaxing spa visits and pampering. It is a clean scent that does not overpower, however you do continue to get whiffs through out the day which I find pleasant.
The product is a white cream, it is not sticky. I applied a blob around 4cm by 4cm to my towel dried and combed shoulder length hair. This is a little more that I used to use, however this is what the instructions dictated. I ran the product through my hair using my fingers and then used a hair dryer and diffuser to dry my hair fully. High temperature, low speed. I finished off with hairspray to hold the curl longer.
The product is a white cream, it is not sticky. I applied a blob around 4cm by 4cm to my towel dried and combed shoulder length hair. This is a little more that I used to use, however this is what the instructions dictated. I ran the product through my hair using my fingers and then used a hair dryer and diffuser to dry my hair fully. High temperature, low speed. I finished off with hairspray to hold the curl longer.
The Verdict:This product claims to tame frizz and enhance curl. It definitely does both of these to a certain extent, however in my opinion it is much better at curl enhancement.
Though the packaging instructed 'generous use' I felt as though I had added too much product to my hair, and after drying my hair felt a little dry and stiff. This effect was increased by the use of hairspray, which is necessary to hold the curl and volume in the humidity. After an hour or do outside in medium humidity the frizz was creeping back around my hair line.
Overall I think this product is better for enhancing the curl in shorter length hair, it seems to weigh longer hair down. It is not really a frizz fighting contender...
Friday, 30 March 2012
Fighting the Frizz - Let the Battle Commence...
As the temperature in Hong Kong rises so does the humidity. As a curly haired girl this can be particularly problematic, so short of scraping my hair back for the next six months and doubling L'Oreal's hairspray profits, I need to investigate how to deal with this prickly issue.
When the humidity is high the outer layer of each hair, the hair cuticle, relaxes. This means that water can pass through the normally water resistant layer to the cortex. The cortex soaks up the water and expands, however as the expansion is uneven the hair so varies in width and orientation and it is this which causes the frizzy look.
Other factors that cause frizziness are over drying (using appliances like dryers, curling tongs and straighteners) which causes hair to become brittle and break; unfortunately there are also unavoidable heredity factors (thanks Mum!).
There are a plethora of products on offer that promised to fight that frizz and over the next few weeks I am going to review a few of them. I have curly, fine shoulder length hair that is a fairly dark brown...
This includes: shampoo, conditioner, hair masque and oil treatment.
Let the battle commence!
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