How to do a Vacation-Ready Makeup for your Year End Travels

Time really flies, isn't it? It's coming to the end of 2019!

I bet many of you have planned for a year end vacation to somewhere nice. For some of us, getting away to nearby countries such as Bali for the weekend may be the most doable option right now. Whatever your travel plans are, I have a easy glam makeup tutorial just for you!

Simple, Glam, Vacation Makeup Tutorial 

: click below :

Just click on the video and it will take you to my Youtube channel. 

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Products featured in the video:

Milan Travel Tips & Shopping Itinerary under 48 hours + My Personal Updates for 2nd half of 2017

It has been too long since I wrote anything personal...and I kind of miss connecting with my readers like this, so here comes a post to tell you what I had been and will be up to, for the second half of 2017!

3Day Milan Trip

I followed my partner on his flight to Milan last month (For those who are new here, my hubby is an airline pilot.). We had 3 free days in Milan; as it was a last minute decision for me to join him, I actually didn't prepare a proper travel itinerary. Honestly, even if I do have time to plan a scheduled trip in advance, I wouldn't do it. I am all about #YOLO, you know. Haha! Readers who read my previous trips' notes will know I am quite spontaneous, and well... probably a bit messy.

Shopping in Milan

If you're short of time and have only 48 hours or so, I suggest you banish the thought of sightseeing or taking day trips at all. 

JUST . FOCUS . ON. SHOPPING .

Milan is THE capital of fashion & shopping. Sure... New York, London, Paris, Tokyo have been nominated as fashion capitals as well; but in my humble opinion, MILAN IS KING (Of Fashion) and everyone else is at most, just a Queen. Okay, maybe Paris is on par.

Shops are all over the city and walking streets are longer, busier and more colourful than other cities. This can be a bane if you are short of time coz you will get distracted = waste precious hours.

So, where do you go shopping if you only have 48 hours or less?

Review of Clio Kill Cover Stamping Foundation SPF50+ PA+++

Sponsored

First stamping foundation in a compact - CLIO's latest release stirred up some fairy dust in the beauty community recently.

"It is not a cushion."

As the box is first opened, that catchy phrase just catches your attention. (Yes! I love liquid foundies more than BB cushion actually, so this is just awesome.)

BB Cushion Evolution - Review of New LANEIGE BB Cushion Pore Control and Whitening

Sponsored 

Sorry lovelies for the lack of updates on the blog lately! I have just officially moved into my first matrimonial home! And the past two months were a mad craze of overseeing my interior designers, contractors, getting furniture & furnishings, shifting from two homes to one, cleaning/packing/unpacking and now, trying to organise a housewarming party as well as plan an overseas trip. (Gosh!)

Now that I am finally more available to blog, I have decided to review the newly packaged and improved formula of the  Laneige BB Cushion (both Pore Control and Whitening) that I have used for more than a month.

Don't you find this pretty & very elegant holographic design cover exceptionally alluring? This new packaging is also much more slicker and easier to carry around for touch-ups. 

Note: Your old BB cushion refills won't fit this new one.

Yves Saint Laurent YSL Fusion Ink Cushion Foundation: Review, Swatches and MOTD

Look how elegant & luxe this packaging is! Oh the feels!

Amongst the numerous cushions I own in this couple of years, lately I have developed a penchant for Western ones more so than the Korean ones. Although we all know that Koreans are the pioneer/mastermind behind the cushion technology; but as the point of writing, many Korean cushions have limited shades, and the finish is also a hit or miss for individuals. For combination-oily skin like mine and residing in humid climate like I do, most Korean cushions pose another prevalent problem of longevity.

Following Lancôme and L'Oréal, many other big brands such as Givenchy, Dior, YSL, Biotherm also jumped onto the bandwagon - no wonder we say 2016 is a year for cushion foundations. And judging from the amazing compact technology of convenience-and-beauty-in-one, we totally understand why this hype never dies!

YSL Singapore is the first in the world to launch Fusion Ink Cushion Foundation on 20th Feb 2016, at the YSL Beauty Boutique at ION. 

So this was what happened to my vanity on the first day of the launch of Fusion Ink Cushion.

LIMITED TIME PROMO of YSL Cushion + any lipstick at SGD109 (For the first 100 customers at ION YSL) with free customisation of wordings is just too attractive to miss for any self-respecting beauty aficionado. Ahem.

On normal days, the cushion retails at S$88 for the case and a single sponge; subsequent refills can be purchased at $58.

Charlotte Tilbury and Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad Review

By now, if you have been following me for a while, you will know I am a sucker for eyeshadow palettes, especially neutral ones. Palettes are just lovely, aren't they? They have all you need in one pretty box. But..how much are you willing to spend on one little eyeshadow quad?

As my March haul and other buys suggest, I don't have much restrictions on budget for eyeshadows. It's not that I am rich; I am NOT, I have a budget (and I will write more about that, as well as the fun financial-related stuff on my next post. Haha! Did I just say FUN?) but when it comes to eyeshadow, I find myself more laid-back about my moolah.

Last month, I was gifted two eyeshadow quads by my family, on my requests. I feel exhilarated to finally be able to show you some swatches and pen my thoughts about these two products...

(Left) Tom Ford Eye Colour Quad Cocoa Mirage, SGD105 

(Right) Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palatte Dolce Vita, £38.00

 

 

Both are very wearable neutrals. Both shades are rather similar too. The key differences are textures- matte (TF) versus glitter/shimmer (CT); prices, quality of powder and the slightly warmer tones of CT palette. 

Swatches will tell the full story...

Tom Ford Cocoa Mirage

Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita

 My Thoughts on Tom Ford Cocoa Mirage

Get this look with Tom Ford eyeshadow quad! Read my Makeup Tutorial.

The first touch of this palette screams of luxury in capital L. From the shiny paper box, soft velvet pouch, palette exterior finishing, exquisite brushes - everything feels super luxurious! The feel of the exceptionally smooth powder drives every makeup junkie to instant orgasm. LOL. No kidding.

PROS:

• Powder is so finely milled, I dare say there is no other brand who can beat its quality, as of time of writing.
• Colours suit almost everyone, but may not be as obvious on dark skin.
• Everyday matte neutral colors that brighten up the eyes without being over made-up.
• SUPER easy to apply - perpertually GLIDES on quickly like a plane in the sky
• Pigmented and blendable (what a perfect combi!)
• The luxurious packaging and good amount of product makes this investment worth its buck.

  CONS:

• Hefty price tag of SGD105 (which can buy you 26 plates of chicken rice in Singapore)
• No shimmer in any of the shades, which means it produces an understated kind of look that won't make your eyes stand out (if you're hoping to) 
• Lasting power is so-so, not something worth mentioning about.

 OVERALL PRODUCT RATING:

With this price, I can't bring myself to give it a 5-kisses as I am concerned about the pockets of the everyday woman. I do LOVE this product very much because of the high quality and the colours can never go wrong on anyone. In fact, I will repurchase in other colours in future!

 My Thoughts on Charlotte Tilbury Dolce Vita

I applied CT eyeshadow with a VERY light hand. I used all 4 colours.

I was considering between this or Vintage Vamp. Eventually got my hubby to buy Dolce Vita as it is of a warmer tone and I thought the gold shimmer shade is just so sexy. Now I kinda regret it! (I have too many similar colours.)

PROS:

• Colours are very pigmented and dark - great for smoky eye look
• Unique inclusion of gold glitter (not the fine type) - good for evenings/parties
• All shades have shimmers in them - your eyes are sure to sparkle!
• Price is lower than Tom Ford's (approximately SGD80 after currency conversion)
• Sophisticated high quality packaging like TF.

 CONS:

• No brushes! No pouch.
• A little bit of fallouts from the gold glitter 
• Colours do not complement well. (IMO, I think they should change the fourth shade to something darker, sans the grayish hue)
• Not exactly cheap if compared to mid-range eyeshadows which deliver similar results.
• Not available in Singapore retail market yet. Need to ship from CT website. Shipping costs has to be factored in.

  OVERALL PRODUCT RATING:

Wanted to rate it better but perhaps I've set too high expectations of this product and even needed to trouble my hubby to hunt this down in London for me - all these factors played a part of this overall rating. If you happen to be in the UK and have not tried CT products before, and if you do not own similar colours, I guess SGD80 is still justifiable for the purchase, just for novelty sake.

IF THESE TWO PALETTES WERE IN A PAGEANT, WHO GETS THE CROWN?

Photo credits: about-face.org

Since I am the sole judge here, I will bestow the title to.....

LOTD: Valentine's Day 2015 Look

Valentine's Day is over, I had a great date with my husband. How about you guys? Did you share the special day with your loved one, family or close friends?


I hardly celebrate VDay with my partner due to the nature of my husband's work. This year was one of the rare years that he was in town on VDay, so I decided to show him a different look from my usual neutral browns and tried my hands on pink & purple eyeshadow (which usually doesn't sit well with my monolids)

The end look turned up well, and I had my Korean eyeliner products to thank for! I want to give a shoutout to CLIO for making such ...