NARS Virtual Domination Cheek Palette Review

Today, I'm going to review one of my favorite purchase. This is one of NARS' holiday collection in 2014. I got this last December for 99$ at Sephora ION. Okay, I know the price is jaw-dropping, but when you see it, it has one highlight blush, three blushes, and one bronzer. That bronzer is a full size, and the regular full size bronzer is already 50$++. The rest are like half of the full size and you have four colors. This is the best buy since I couldn't afford to buy five NARS blushes in regular price.

And can we talk about the packaging? Can we talk about it? The front part is like glass with spider web (?) embossing and it is super sturdy, perfect for travelling. It is also very sleek and very NARS-like *squeal. Even though I have no idea why is it called Virtual Domination?

Let's talk about the colors! Laguna bronzer is per. fect. for beginners! I use it to contour all the time. Laguna is not too powdery, it is kinda hard and solid, so you can never put too much on your brush. You can always build the color by layering it. The color is also perfect for fair asian skin because you can apply it sheer, or layer it for more defined look. This bronzer is not orange at all. It has a cool undertone which is great. Definitely my holy grail contour powder!

The other blushes are also great! Like, duh, they're NARS! It's cool that they put Deep Throat in the palette because I have heard a lot about this blush. Deep Throat is kinda shimmery but not too much, and the color is gorgeous. Sex Fantasy is a very soft baby pink color and Final Cut is a matte orangey blush. I'm not a big fan of Miss Liberty though. I'm not hating it, but also not loving it. Too bad they didn't put Orgasm in the palette, otherwise it would be even better. I really hope they will come up with something similar for this year!


Ax

MAC Cinderella Lipsticks Review

Can I get a whoop whoop? Apparently from what I see on Instagram, we are luckier than those people in the US. I have mentioned everything about this MAC Cinderella collection in my previous post, and we are so lucky to have the collection in a physical store rather than in an online store because there is no delay, no waiting every minute to refresh the page. As I mentioned in my previous post, I'm not getting a lot of stuff from this collection. I decided to get the lipsticks because I collect lipsticks, they are so gorgeous, the colors are lovely, and they are not too expensive. I got one each at 33$ from MAC Vivo City.
 









Before I bought these lipsticks, I have seen swatches online, and I have to say I wasn't liking them so much because they look too sheer and glossy. I went to MAC this afternoon, contemplating on the way whether to get them or not. But when I got into the MAC counter and swatched Royal Ball, I was like, I'm sold. I'm buying this thing. The color look so much better in person and not as sheer as I thought, or maybe because I have weak mentality for beautiful-looking stuff. I immediately went to the cashier and got the two of them.

Both of these lipsticks have lustre finish, so they are suppose to be glossy. Actually I'm not really liking Free as a Butterfly, because it doesn't have much color and too glossy for me, but I feel uncomfortable buying only one without the other, it's like choosing your mom over you dad or the opposite. I have OCD. I know.

If you're missing some products that you want, worry not, because this collection is going to be released for the second time at March 6th at MAC Ngee Ann City and Bugis.


Ax

Anastasia Beverly Hills Catwalk Palette Review + Swatches + Chat

I just can't believe that this palette has joined my makeup family. As we all know, it is very very hard for us, Singaporeans, to have any (non-brow products) Anastasia Beverly Hills products. I think it is very despicable of Anastasia to put worldwide shipping in their website while they actually don't mean worldwide -___-. I remember last year I was trying to get their brow wiz and brow pomade from their website. I have registered and completed the payment, they have sent me the order confirmation. I was over the moon, and then the next day, their customer service emailed me telling that my order has been canceled because they don't ship to Singapore.
Mothafucka.
Don't get me wrong, I fucking love ABH. I love their products, they make the best brow products, and I am obsessed with Anastasia herself. I think she is amazing and Norvina is drop dead gorgeous. Back to the case, I was devastated! I was so pissed, but that time I was saved by net-a-porter. They sell ABH brow products and their shipping fee was very reasonable and their delivery was super. fucking. fast.  
And lately, I emailed ABH's customer service again, asking if they ship to Singapore (me making sure, trying to deny the reality that they don't ship to my country). Because I fucking want that cream contour kit, and the contour book, and their liquid lipsticksssszzzz. Seriously if anyone know where can I get ABH liquid lipstick (with reasonable price) please tell me!! Two days later they got back to me saying that they don't ship to Singapore. I don't know what the hell is the problem, I want to cry. Is it only Singapore, or they don't ship to the whole South East Asia? Or the whole Asia? They really shouldn't put worldwide shipping when they don't really mean it. :(
Anyway, enough with the long chat, let's go to the review.

I got this palette from a seller in Carousell. I love Carousell so much because you can find limited edition items, or items that are not available in Singapore (like this one). Smh on seller who raised the price so ridiculously. I got this palette for 50$ which I think is quite reasonable, because this palette was limited edition and as mentioned in above, it was hard to get. I don't know why would anyone sell this palette because it is gorjessss.

The palette has 10 shadows and a large mirror. The original palette came with a booklet but since this is a pre-loved palette, so. And can we talk about that brush? That brush is everything! I think it is perfect, good for packing on shadows and blending! Thank God, they didn't put that sponge eyeshadow applicator because let's be honest, we don't really like that thing, and it looks very cheap.

Downside, they didn't put the name of the shadow anywhere in the palette, maybe they did in the booklet, but it is hard to know the name. I don't have a problem but beauty gurus who make tutorials may find this a problem. I had to google the name of the shadows and here they are.

This palette was made before ABH launched their individual shadows, so the formulation may be different. And I don't know if they continue all the shadows, but I know 10K is still available now as individual shadows. As you can see from above, some shadows have more pigmentation than the others, especially for 'day rate', because if you pack that on, it will be the most gorgeous mauvy rose color. I love that this palette has mostly warm colors, so this palette is perfect for warm smoky eyes, which I love. I think this palette is better than Urban Decay's NAKED series because in this small palette you can have neutral, dark, warm, and it definitely has more 'color'.
And good news, this palette is actually still available and is on discount in ABH website. Good luck trying to ship that to your home though.


Ax

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer Review

How do you like my fake flowers? Today I'm going to talk about NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer. I bought this for 66S$ at NARS flagship in Tangs Orchard. This product doesn't have a wide range of color, but I don't think it matters because this product will apply very thinly on your face. I got mine in the color Finland which is the lightest color. Now, if you have dry skin, this product is perfect for you, and if you have normal / oily skin, this product will give you a nice glowing, dewy finish.

The coverage for this tinted moisturizer is light, but if you compared it to other tinted moisturizer, this one gives a decent coverage. Sometimes when you try a tinted moisturizer, it doesn't give enough color or coverage, it mostly acts like a moisturizer with a hint of color. However, in this case you don't have to worry about that.

It is very light, easy to apply, the texture is not too watery or creamy, just the perfect combination. To add more coverage, I usually don't go with another layer, I will just grab some concealer. If you are super oily, you can set it with powder and you should be fine for the rest of the day. A perfect face makeup for everyday wear, very lightweight, and it doesn't give you oily feeling.


Ax

Too Faced Melted Kisses Lipstick Set

Well hello to another lipstick review. I have to say this is one of the best investment I've ever made in makeup area. I got this set for... geez I forgot again, 49$? I got this in December 2014, okay. My memory is super bad. I think this is one of Too Faced holiday collection in 2014, and this set contains four, yes four, melted lipsticks. Last year, or even this year, still, Too Faced Melted lipstick was a big thing, a must have for makeup junkies. I first saw this set from beauty youtubers in their holiday haul, a lot of them got this set and I couldn't find it anywhere. I didn't set high hopes to get this set, this set would never be available in Singapore, it was just impossible. Until one day in December I went to Sephora ION and I saw this set and I was like, you're coming home with mama. I just put that set inside my basket without a single ounce of hesitation. 

This set contains four minis, they are not full size lipsticks, but I don't care because honestly, I've never ever finished a full size lipstick, ever. The colors are gorgeous, we have nudes, bright, and bold. As you can see in the packaging, we have Melted Nude, Melted Peony, Melted Fuchsia, and Melted Berry. Considering the price for the individual full size lipstick which is 30$, this set is a very good deal.

These lipsticks are very easy to apply, very pigmented, and yes they are liquid lipsticks. So sorry for the sloppy lip swatches though. These lipsticks, surprisingly, are not as long wearing as they claimed. The colors that I've used the most are melted nude and peony. They feel good on the lips but after three hour they tend to cling to dry patches on my lips and just look really bad. And no, I don't have dry lips, and my other lipsticks work just fine without making dry patches on my lips. And they wear off so easily, even without eating and drinking for two hours. I don't know, maybe it's just me, because people are saying good things about these lipsticks. I though admit the colors are really pretty and during the first hour I couldn't stop starring at my lips because they were just gorjess.

So far I would say they score 7/10. Recomended, yes, but I'm not that brave to invest in the individual price. But they are having new colors and maybe I'll get them when Sephora have their 20% off.


Ax

Mac Cinderella Collection Hits Singapore

Asdfghjkl *keyboard smash*, my reaction when I first heard that the Cinderella collection will hit our shores! I was so excited because I did not have high hopes for this collection to hit Singapore. But they did! And I am over the moon! I've only seen the trailer a few times and I have to say I'm in love. I haven't watched the movie, but dare I say I loved it already *shriek.


The collection is going to be released twice. First on February 26th, the collection will be available at MAC Tangs and Vivo City. Second, on March 6th, the collection will be available at MAC Ngee Ann City and Bugis. I think it's a great idea to have them released in two different time. You build up the hype first, waking up the beasts inside us, when the products all sold out people will start hunting them like crazy (marketing, people). And actually in the US, they also released the collection on February 26th, online, and March 6th, in stores. But we don't have MAC online store, so.

Then my second reaction after that keyboard smash was telling my friend about this and we planned a trip to our nearest MAC store. Battle mode: ON. And here is the full set of the MAC Cinderella collection so you guys can start that wishlist and grab 'em fast. ;)

1. Lipstick - Free as a Butterfly 

2. Lipstick - Royal Ball 

3. Lipglass - Happily Ever After 

4. Lipglass - Glass Slipper 

5. 6 Shade Eyeshadow Palette - Stroke of Midnight 

6. Studio Eye Gloss - Lightly Tauped 

7. Studio Eye Gloss - Pearl Varnish 

8. Fluidline - Little Black Bow 

9. Fluidline - Macroviolet 

10. Glitter - Reflects Pearl 

11. Pigment - Evil Stepmother 

12. Pigment - Pretty It Up 

13. Studio Fix Lash - Bold Black 

14. Iridescent Pressed Powder - Coupe D'Chic 

15. Beauty Powder - Mystery Princess

Picture and information from A Yellow Brick Blog.

You can start looking for swatches and reviews online as some of beauty gurus have got a preview of the collection. Personally, on top of my wishlist are the two lipsticks and the beauty powder. Now, the beauty powder, I've never heard much about it so I did some 'research'. The beauty powder or the iridescent powder, they are pretty similar, you can use them as a highlighter because in this case the powder are very sheer and glittery.

I don't have a lot going on my wishlist, so don't expect a Cinderella haul from me. But I am a total lipstick girl, I will always go for the lipsticks and they are nudes. I'm all about nudes. And how long is your wishlist, or are you going to invest in this collection at all?


Ax

Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation Review

So this time I'm going to talk about Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation. You may have heard of this foundation before, lately I've seen a lot of beauty gurus talking about this in youtube. Now I know this is no new foundation. This foundation has been around for a long time. The reason I got this is because Casey Holmes on youtube said that this is her holy grail foundation and I've read great things about this foundation. I only got to try this foundation last week when I was visiting Sephora ION. I picked up this foundation for 52$ or 56$ (so sorry I forgot! and I used 10% discount from my points) , considering it pretty cheap compared to other high-end like NARS or Makeup For Ever. I got mine in the color Sand. It was the lightest color available in store.

Now, I think the packaging is super nice and luxurious but this packaging has no pump and that is a big problem because this foundation is li.qui.dy. This is foundation is super liquidy, it glides from the bottle so easily. I usually end up with too much foundation on the back of my hand. And I don't think they sell separate pump like Nars, or do they? Estee Lauder, if you're reading this, please.

So, as I said before, this foundation is super liquidy. You know I like to pack on my foundation, I remind you, you cannot pack on your foundation with this one. My first time using it, I use a generous amount on my face (as I usually would with my other foundation) and blend it with beauty blender. While I was doing my brows, I realized I ended up with super caked face. Like super cakey, I had to remove my foundation and start over again. With this foundation, a little does go a long way, so I started over again with a thin layer. A thin layer is enough to cover my acne scars, the redness around my nose, and even some of my dark circles. Needless to say, this foundation is FULL coverage. F.U.L.L. coverage, despite the liquidy texture.

This foundation also set almost matte on my face (I have oily skin). I don't like matte foundation because even though I have oily skin, I love the dewy look, I love the shine, and most of the matte foundations that I've tried tend to catch on my dry patches. But this one, this one is amazing. I don't know about it but I really love the finish it gives. And I realized when I draw my brows (I use Anastasia Brow Wiz), I feel like drawing on paper. Like literally drawing on paper. It dries into your skin so nicely. It is however, not suitable for everday look, because this foundation is on your face. Like people can tell you have foundation on, but in the good way. ;)

And this foundation lasts all day. I did my makeup at 9am and wore it until 7pm and I did not once touch up. Insane. I only blotted once and the makeup did not move a bit. I do feel like this color is a bit dark on my skin. I'll buy another one in lighter color. I hope more people recognize this foundation because this stuff is bomb dot com.


Ax

Marc Jacobs Love Marc Lipsticks Haul

Just a few days ago I was visiting Sephora NEX and I encountered these beautiful babies sold for only 29$! Marc Jacobs lipstick with the price of a MAC? I am soooo in the market! At first I couldn't believe my eyes, I thought they displayed them incorrectly. But the label matched the lipstick name, Love Marc Lip Gel. I asked one of the staff and she just said that they have been reduced from regular price but she didn't know why. Well, hell I knew why. 

I've been following @marcbeauty on instagram for a while now and they are releasing a new range of lipsticks called the #LeMarc. They came up with new shades for #LeMarc but they are not discontinuing the Love Marc shades (which I have now). The Love Marc with will be discontinued but the shades will be reincarnated into the #NewNudes. The #LeMarc will have the black packaging and the #NewNudes will have a new nude packaging, and they said the formula will be different, even though I am already so pleased with the old one. 

PS: I found that Love Marc in other Sephora, in Sephora ION, the price tag is still 42$. I don't know if they forgot to display the new label or is it only happening in Sephora NEX?

Needless to say, I did a pretty big damage to my wallet. I couldn't buy just one, I need at least two, but three is always better. Because it's not everyday you can bring home Marc Jacobs lipsticks with 29$ each, not even with the annual 20% sales. I love nudes. Nude lipsticks all the way. I always wear nudes. Nudes for live. Long live nudes. Amen. I got the shades (second picture from left to right) Strange Magic, Severine, and Role Play. Role Play is my favorite /winks.  

I am a sucker for packaging. The packaging is one of the main reason I bought these lipsticks in the first place. The packaging is so sleek and it comes with a magnetic cap, like the NARS Audacious, which I think makes it even more more more luxurious. 

I am totally in love with the formula. It gives satin finish, very long lasting, and moisturising. I have nothing bad to say about these lipsticks, but the formula is more on the oily moisturising side not so much on the creamy, pigmented side. If you're looking for more pigmented, dramatic lipstick, this may not be the one for you. But I will definitely recommend this for everyday use. 

Ax

NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation Review

What better way to start my first post other than reviewing NARS’ latest foundation.

"Wow, that’s a mouthful." My first thought when NARS announced their new foundation on Instagram a month ago. All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation. A long name, but is it as good as it claims?

I bought this foundation from NARS flagship store in Tangs Orchard. This foundation is not available at Sephora (yet). But you can find them at all NARS boutique. This foundation costs 75$ including GST, 3$ more expensive than the sheer glow and sheer matte. This foundation hit our stores last week, I came in today and they only had a few left for each shade. I was so lucky, I got mine in Light 3, Gobi, and it was the last stock. God bless. 

NARS is taking their packaging to another level with this one. I have no complain about the packaging. It has a pump (!!!), and that glass bottle, c’mon.

I pumped it onto the back of my hand and it is so liquidy. And note, you have to shake this foundation well before use, otherwise you can see it separating. The packaging stated that one pump can cover your whole face. Some people can cover their whole face with one pump, but I like to pack on my foundation (guilty). I used one and a half pump. It gives medium coverage and dewy finish ( I have oily skin) . They also suggested to apply this foundation with fingers, but I just don't like using my fingers and I used my trusted beauty blender. It covered my redness but not my acne scars. I would say this foundation is more sheer than the sheer glow.

I think this foundation is perfect for everyday use. Definitely lightweight, luminous, and stays all day. I wore the foundation from 10 am - 7pm and it looked just fine. I did not touch up at all, I only blotted once. The long long name definitely covers the performance.