Out of order......

Sigh...... 

I don't even know where to begin, but I guess things do happen, especially with technology. So here I announced the most upsetting news... My laptop died on me suddenly.

Yes, with no signs or symptoms, just suddenly with no reasons. Don't let me start counting how inconvenient it is right now that I don't have my "data" and a functional laptop....

My "little" inner shopaholic is kinda thinking I might need to get a new laptop (MAC maybe this time?). But, the rational side of me know it is not the time yet! So please, please someone fix my laptop for me ;(

Angora cardi

I apologize for my shaky hands and the blurry pictures, but all you need to see is the gorgeous colour of this new addition to my wardrobe. The sparkly rhinestone buttons are perfect decorations to add to this soft and comfy cardigan from EXPRESS (I have never owned anything from EXPRESS before). And I lied in the title, this cardigan does not contain any angora hair, instead, 5% cashmere to give it some extra warmth. Through time, I discovered that my favourite clothing material is probably rayon (hence the 40% rayon in this cardigan). I gravitate towards rayon because it gives the garments a very soft and comfortable touch. Yes, I am weird that I read labels because I can't really wear wool. My skin is quite sensitive to wool and it will give me rashes (not to mention the itchiness). One complain I have with rayon is that you have to wash the garment in cold water or else the "softness" will be destroyed and most of the time the garment will shrink (I learned it the hard way......). So nowadays I just wash all my clothes in cold water.

Interestingly enough, another new addition to my essie collection is "angora cardi". I bought this completely based on Hannah's (Hannah's channel ) recommendation. The formula is great and I LOVE the colour so much! It is just perfect for Fall/Winter!! My friends aren't too crazy about this colour but I don't care, haha. =P

My minimal face for Fall

NARS blush in Deep Throat
L'Oreal Voluminous waterproof mascara in black
Maquillage by Shiseido eyebrow pencil (102, GY921)
Canmake eyebrow pencil (02)
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus
MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35 in NW-25
Prestige waterproof automatic eyeliner in 02 Expresso
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on eye pencil in Bourbon
Shu Uemura eyelash curler
Kiss Me Heroine Make volume & curl mascara 

I am a foundation girl all-season. I just need the coverage foundation gives me and I can't part with it. But recently I have been finding myself reaching for a slightly different routine than my typical liquid foundation face routine. Now, if there is one thing you should know about me, it is given any day throughout the year I am in a rush. That's just reality that I have to press the snooze button several times before I drag myself out of my cozy bed. Getting ready and turning myself into a relatively-presentable state with shortest amount of time is my daily goal.

To achieve that, I have rekindled my love for MAC studio finish concealer. It is a thick, high-coverage concealer and I use my fingers to warm up the product and apply to my skin directly. After covering my blemishes, acne scars, and any other imperfections, I turn right to MAC MSF natural to set the concealer. MSF natural doesn't give a lot of coverage but I like how it never looks cakey on my skin. To boost the coverage a little bit, I usually reach for my elf flat-top powder brush to apply the powder. And this is pretty much my face makeup. If I have an extra 30 seconds to spare, then I will apply a tiny bit of NARS deep throat blush onto my cheeks to give my face some life.


Face is done, now my eyes. Eyebrows have become a must in my book nowadays. My brows are a little bit sparse especially towards the arch, filling them in just frame my face so much better. Eyebrow pencil is the quick and easy way to go. Some people complain about not being natural when using an eyebrow pencil, I think doing it in small, light strokes is the key. My favourite eyebrow pencil at the moment is the Maquillage eyebrow pencil. Maquillage is a line from Shiseido but I am pretty sure it's not available in North America. I bought mine from Hong Kong but when this runs out, I will have to look for alternatives here. It's quite special because one end is a pencil, and the other end is a powder. The powder can be used more for the "head" of your brows to give a softer look and the pencil can fill the rest. Not only do I like this convenient design, the colour match is quite perfect for me. I used to use the Canmake eyebrow pencil, which is a dark brown colour. But through time I find it is a little bit too "reddish undertone" for my brows. I still use it sometimes because I am trying to savour my Maquillage pencil and trying to use this up. The Maquillage pencil is more of an ashy brown colour. But if you ask me, I will definitely choose the Maquillage eyebrow pencil over the Canmake one.

For eyeliner, I prefer brown eyeliners more than black. I think it is just softer and more suitable on a daily basis. I used to never wear eyeliner because I just think it's too much and doesn't fit my hooded eyes. However, recently it has grown on me. I still don't like doing a thick line all across the lid, but what I do is to tight line towards the end of my eyes and to do a half-line on my lids. This just gives my eyes more definition, and at the same time, still natural enough. The two trustworthy eyeliner pencils that do not smudge on me are Prestige waterproof automatic eyeliner in Expresso and Urban Decay 24/7 glide-on eye pencil in Bourbon. Two different price points yet I love equally. Bourbon has a little shimmer in it so when I fancy some glitters on my eyes, I will choose Bourbon. (And when I say shimmer/glitters, it is really really really subtle.)

Lastly, curl my eyelashes with my holy-grail Shu Uemura eyelash curler and splash on some volumizing mascara. Yes, two options again, namely L'Oreal voluminous waterproof mascara in black and Kiss Me Heroine Make volume & curl mascara. I don't just stick with one thing all the time. I like some varieties. I really am not one of those people that will get into a rut with makeup. So this means, I am not sure how long this "routine" will last, haha. But that's the fun of experimenting with makeup.


p.s. I took these pictures on a very nice Fall day, definitely a day to remember......  

Something that you don't have to own, plus a little update

It has been exactly a month since I last updated and it is just the perfect timing to check in about my 1am-challenge progress..~ I was pretty good at making a "check" mark on my schedule when I went to bed before 1am, for the first half of the month. Although I failed to keep track on papers, I did manage to mentally remind myself to go to bed before the 1am "deadline". Sometimes, I failed by a few minutes. Some nights, I knew it was just meant to be a "fall-back-to-old-habit" kind of nights. Overall, I think I did meet my target 50% of the time. Still LOTS of rooms for improvement definitely and I can feel that I am starting to feel more lax about my 1am deadline. Time to pick it up and be a little bit more rigid! (Oh and did I mention about the daylight saving? The clock has turned back for an hour so that should have done some good to me too! Cause I feel sleepy earlier ;))

Ok, now that is being addressed, we shall talk about something else. Today, I wrote my final exam for one of my courses, and this marks the last exam in my undergrad life (hopefully). It's not like it is the first time and I really don't have any special feelings about it. But thought I should still make a note of it. Besides, what is better than enjoying a post-exam free Starbucks caramel brulee latte? ;) And the fact that no Starbucks staffs can spell my name? Haha, I appreciate their creativity.

My name has just gotten shorter, lol 

I always like to do a "little" shopping after some hard work has been done. I didn't get a chance to go shop today after my exam, so I thought I will pull out a dress that I tried on earlier. Surprise, surprise, I was at Winners again. The iPhone camera is totally not doing a justice here. In real life, the dress is a gorgeous chiffon type of material and a hot pink (rather than a red showing up here) fabric. It's so soft and so comfortable. And did I mention it's from BCBG? I am always drawn to BCBG but I can't afford the price tag. This dress retails for about $80 CAD at Winners and considering it is BCBG, this is not bad at all (and who knows the original price...)! I knew I wasn't going to get it before I walked into the dressing room. I just can't resist trying it on. At least I can have a picture of it. The price tag is a problem, but more of a problem is I don't really know when & where will I wear this. I have to occasions for this dress sadly.

That's all for my rambles today. I am excited about the holidays season coming!
But I know the upcoming months will be a very stressful period for me... well, well, well.

p.s. one more month till our 6th anniversary. 

Challenge me, today is the day...

Today's talk is a little bit different from the usual beauty rambles.

But, hey, this is life. 

Life is not just about beauty products (obviously). 

An old picture of Popo, wearing her boyish hoodie and not willing to get up....-.- 

Today marks the start of my "1am-challenge". 


I had an "intense" argument with the boy a few days ago about healthy living habits (why we started this talk and the details can be omitted. lol), and clearly, I have not been doing well on the "sleeping pattern" spectrum. I have long had this problem with not being able to go to bed early and wake up early in the morning, even during holidays when I am supposed to be less busy and more flexible with my time. In short, I have bad, irregular sleeping patterns that are NOT good to my well-being......

Root cause? Probably poor time management and lack of self-discipline. (I'm feeling exposed....-.-) I want to make changes and that's why I am here to set my very first goal: trying to go to bed before 1am each night. I am going to track for a month that how often can I achieve this goal and report back. I know this is a small, little step, but I would rather be more realistic and start small.

Well, I don't think there is much needed to be said. Wish me luck and let's see how it goes. ;)



P.S. I made this "challenge" public and now there is NO TURNING BACK!!!!!!!! 

Yet another beauty wishlist

What do you do when you are itching to shop? 

Make a wishlist and call it a day. 

1.) Dior Shimmer Powder in Amber Diamond 

Applying a highlighter is not part of my regular day-to-day routine but isn't this shimmer powder gorgeous even just to look at? I have heard numerous people raving about this highlighter and I have been wanting it forever! Not to mention this is totally a multi-task product because it doubles up as eyeshadows. I know Physician's Formula makes similar products called "shimmer strips" but I don't think my desire of wanting this powder will ever rest until the day I got it.

2.) L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil 

I have chronic dry skin due to eczema so a moisturizing, gentle shower product is a must-have, especially during the colder seasons. As Winter is approaching, this L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil sounds appealing to me. I believe I first heard about this product from Hannah (her youtube channel), and although I don't think I am a huge fan for almond scent, I am intrigued. I smelled it once in the store and there isn't an over-powering almond scent at all.

There is only one problem. 

I have been holding back because I just have way too many shower gels sitting in my cabinet....... -___- Two in use, eight still waiting at my beauty stash, hoping I will pick them up next..... I blame Bath & Body Works' semi-annual sale for this...... How on earth will I be able to to finish all of them before Winter hits? I don't think it's possible, but I will at least try my very best to use them up. I really don't think those B&B shower gels are moisturizing enough for my skin's need. Not to mention, I get super sick of those scents very quickly... (I must have lost my mind when I picked those up, clearly my brain was shut off. Sales are dangerous!)

So let's see when I will pick this L'Occitane baby up.

3.) pai camellia & rose gentle hydrating cleanser 

Not going to deny I have never heard about the brand pai before my fellow Canadian blogger/youtuber Sandra (her youtube channel) talks about this cleanser in one of her latest videos. She said she bought this upon A Model Recommends' (her youtube channel ) recommendation, and as a 3rd party here myself, it is simply impossible pass on this. As far as I heard, it is a creamy cleanser without any preservatives. And of course anything rose-related attracts me. pai is not available in stores here in Canada so I will have to order it online if I really decide to take the plunge.

Let the empties continue...

OK,
so let's just jump right in without further ado, we have lots of talk about!

(Left to Right)
My beauty diary peach soda eye & lip makeup remover (dual-phase)
MAC Fix+ skin refresher / finishing mist
Fancl mild cleansing oil (special edition bottle)

• My beauty diary peach soda makeup remover - I remove my eye makeup separately from my face makeup and I have come to the realization that dual-phase removers work the best. This is no exception. I like it a lot, doesn't leave a greasy film on my eyes yet effective! There isn't any special scent to it despite the name. It is pretty to look at though because the bottom layer is a pink liquid. =) I also like the scroll cap packaging, easy and do not have to worry about leaking. Good for traveling! 
• MAC Fix plus - a very popular product in the beauty community. It's an OK product to me, it works in terms of making your makeup looks more dewy and less powdery. Staying power? I am not 100% sold. I also am not too crazy about the mist, the packaging doesn't produce a mist that is fine enough. As opposed to what the salesperson said, I didn't think MAC Fix plus helps to fight humidity. I was using it during my stay in HK, where heat and humidity are all there is left in Summer months. Still, I think this is not a bad product and I might consider repurchasing for Winter. 
• Fancl cleansing oil - Holy Grail status in my book! My first cleansing oil and I always have this on hand no matter how many cleansing oils I try. 

(Left to Right)
Laneige water sleeping pack plus
Chanel Precision UV essentiel daily protection SPF 45/PA+++
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri anti-chip top coat
NUXE intensive firming cream
Origins super spot remover
Dior Miss Dior Cherie L'eau Eau de Toilette 

• Laneige water sleep pack plus - an overnight mask that gives moisture to your skin when you are sleeping. To be honest, I have used a few jars of it before even though I can't say I am crazy about it. However, I discovered it is quite good to use during long haul flights. May repurchase but I kind of want to try something else for the moment. 
• Chanel prevision UV essentiel daily protection fluid - big NO NO for me. Yes, you would think everything from Chanel must be good but I struggled to use this up. I hate sunscreen being thick and greasy and this is exactly how I feel about this. I used this up by applying it to my neck area. I do not recommend this at all. =(
• Sally Hansen insta-dri top coat - a great, affordable top coat and I did enjoy it a lot. Like the mega-shine top coat, it is no exception that towards the end of the bottle, the product gets too thick and goopy to use. Still trying to find my favourite top coat but I will certainly keep this in mind. 
• NUXE intensive firming cream - I love the smell of this cream! It came from a sample set and it claims to have bamboo, amazonian plants and kigelia africana in the product. Can't speak for the firming ability but I would repurchase just for the scent. However, I am unable to find this line in stores so I wonder if it's like a limited edition thing? 
• Origins super spot remover - I need to have at least one acne treatment on hand at all time and this serves the purpose. I actually already repurchased and am using the 2nd bottle of it. I find it hard to say if any of these acne clearing products really works, but my philosophy is to "keep holding on". This spot remover doesn't make my skin peels with 1.5% salicylic acid in it, and it works well underneath makeup which is critical to me. 
• Dior Miss Dior cherie L'eau EDT - I am trying to use up some of my perfume samples and this is first in line. I do not own the original Miss Dior cherie perfume so I am not sure how they compare. Scent is very personal and hard to describe but all in all, I am not intrigued to buy the full size. 

(Left to Right)
Prestige my blackest lashes mascara
Fairy Drops mascara
Lancome cils booster mascara base
NARS pro-prime smudge proof eyeshadow base 

Finally some makeup bits! 

• Prestige my blackest lashes mascara - heard a few people raving about this mascara, claiming it to be similar to the Makeup Forever Smoky Lash. First of all, my Asian lashes are extremely hard to hold curls so waterproof mascara is almost always a must. My blackest lashes mascara does not come in a waterproof formula but I was still intrigued to try this out. Well, my lashes went straight almost immediately after I applied this mascara... so needless to say, I won't repurchase this. 
• Fairy Drops mascara - a Japanese brand mascara and I often prefer Japanese brands when it comes to mascara. Maybe because our lash types are more similar. It has a very interesting wand with 3 "balls" on it and it was amazing at keeping my curls. I already bought a 2nd tube of this (with different packaging and slightly different wand) because I am a sucker for mascaras. Also, I found that with this mascara, it is best to wait for a period of time before it reaches its best performance stage (in other words, it might be too wet when you first start to use it). 
• Lancome cils booster mascara base - this was a gift from my friend, before I knew anything about makeup (I still don't know a lot of things of course). It was basically sitting in my drawers for years before I finally open it. Despite the fact that this is a "star" product, I can't say I love it. Again it made my lashes straight.... I don't know if they have changed the formula over the years (probably have) so I might try the new formula some day. 
• NARS pro-prime smudge proof eyeshadow base - got this sample size from Sephora in a mini NARS set. After finishing this little sample up, I ran to Sephora and bought the full size. It serves its purpose well and I think it performs even slightly better than my Two Faced Shadow Insurance in humid weather. The only downside is the packaging... it gets dirty so easily and I would prefer it in a tube like the Two Faced one or the newly packaged Urban Decay primer potion. 

Woooo, so this wraps up my super long and overdue empties post. I hope I can keep this spirit going and let's also hope that I won't accumulate that many to blog at a time again....-.-

Too many empties, too little time

Over the past few months, I have accumulated some "used-up" empties, in attempt to clear my beauty stash. Doing this kind of posts will definitely keep me motivated and on track. However, I just haven't been able to find a time to blog about them... In fact, I had an entire bag of empties that I wanted to write about. But before I had a chance, I have to throw them away. Anyways, let bygone be bygone. I really should just blog whenever I have a relatively small pile of products to talk about... That being said, please be ready for a "relatively long" empties post......   OK, I have decided to do two separate posts, this is just getting ridiculously long... lol 

(Left to Right)
Laneige Pore Clear Wash Off Pack
Cliniderm Gentle Cleanser
NUXE BODY Fondant Body Scrub
OPI Expert Touch Lacquer Remover (Fast-acting/moisturizing)
Bath & Body Works Carried Away Shower Gel
Bath & Body Works White Tea and Ginger Shower Gel

• Laneige Pore Clear Wash Off Pack - a nice clarifying mud mask. May re-purchase. 
• Cliniderm Gentle Cleanser - I have used up multiple of this cleanser. One of my favourites! Very gentle and non-stripping. No parabens, dyes, perfumes, lanolin, formaldehyde and proteins. Not sure if it's available outside of Canada though. It's made by the same company as Neostrata. 
• NUXE body scrub - not a fan of this, don't like the smell, left lots of residues in my bath tub whenever I use it. 
• OPI nail polish remover - I want to give a shout-out to myself!!!!! That is 480mL (16 fl oz.) of nail polish remover!!!!! I can't believe I was able to use it all up!!!! Besides that, this is a very good nail polish remover, does the job quick and I found it relatively non-stripping than other removers. Will purchase if I can find it at Winners again at discounted price. 
• B&B Carried Away shower gel - like the scent at first, but as with all other B&B products, I get super sick of the scent quickly. 
• B&B White Tea and Ginger shower gel - OK, this is an exception. I ADORE this scent. It is nothing over-powering comparing to all B&B scents I have tried. Doesn't smell like ginger to me, but rather a very clean and fresh scent. I love this scent and I have back-ups of it. 

(Left to Right)
Neogence C+ Whitening Serum
Curel Intensive Moisture Cream
Sofina beaute SPF50+ PA+++
IPSA Foundation (shade 102)
Caudalie Beauty Elixir
Sofina White Protect SPF50+ PA+++ (discontinued)

• Neogence whitening serum - Taiwanese brand. Unsure about effectiveness, at least I don't see any dramatic changes. Probably won't re-purchase but I think I still have a back-up at Hong Kong. 
• Curel Intensive Moisture Cream - Absolutely LOVE this cream!!! So moisturizing, non-irritating, yet non-greasy!!! I can feel my skin absorbing the moisture. Definitely will repurchase after I finished all my stocks and when I visit Hong Kong again. Not available here in Canada. 
• Sofina SPF - My all-time-favourite SPF. Nothing much to say except I love it and will continue to re-purchase. I think I should dedicate an entire post to it. 
• IPSA foundation - another shout-out to myself that I managed to finish a base product!!!! I use base product everyday but I'm not sure why it always takes forever to use something up. Maybe because I am always interested in trying other base products. Nontheless, IPSA is a very nice brand for making foundations. But this shade is slightly lighter than my complexion, not a perfect match. 
• Caudalie Beauty Elixir - used this up fairly quickly. I purchase this in August for my flight to HK and this stuff is just addicting! I love how it smells and how it feels. So refreshing! I can't speak for any skincare benefits yet with this travel size, but I will keep in mind re-purchasing this some day. 
• Sofina white protect SPF - I used this on my body during the Summer months. Again, a great sun protection from Sofina, but this particular line has been discontinued.    

When September ends... Outfit

I know, I know, it's October already.

But better late than never. =P

So here I present you my outfit on the last day of September.
Simple, all-black, with some extra touches.

I have to admit, I am quite surprised with the quality of this Forever 21 shirt. Not only is it flowy and comfy, the elastic band around the waist really gives some definition to my body. I also really like the cutting of the sleeves. To me, it definitely looks like it is more expensive than Forever 21. All in all, just a very nice shirt to dress up or down. And let's be real, black is never going to go out of style.

A closer look of the shirt (Forever 21)  & necklace (American Eagle)

Ring (Tiffany & Co.)
Watch (agnes b)
Jeans (Uniqulo, style no. T1000)
Flats (Zara) 

M.A.C lipstick in Plink!

 


This is technically my first M.A.C. lipstick from its regular range (I have two sheen supreme lipsticks which were limited editions at that time but are now permanent). Everyone is crazy about M.A.C. lipsticks and say how great they are. I admit that they have a wide range of selection, but in day-to-day life, how many different colours would I wear really?

Well, let's go back to this lustre formula in Plink!. I have heard a few youtubers talked about it and it is always at the back of my head that I will have to try it some day. I am definitely not a M.A.C. lipstick expert, but as far as I know, the lustre range is more sheer and gives you a sheen. This totally sounds like something I would like. And let's be real, how could I resist the name Plink! ? (Pink is my favourite colour, surprise surprise)

First of all, the classic scent or taste of M.A.C. lipsticks - a slight vanilla scent. I don't hate it and I am absolutely fine with it. My problem is...... it doesn't really show up a lot on my lips. I know it is supposed to be sheer, but of course I would still like some differences (or else why would I bother to put on an extra product?). My lips are quite pigmented to start with, so maybe this is just not a shade for me. I also find it hard to apply on top of my lip balms. My lips are quite dry so I NEED a lip balm underneath. But so far I can't seem to find a combination that works perfectly.

I don't hate this lipstick. It's just I don't find myself reaching for it that often. Maybe you guys have recommendation on how to use it? Or maybe I should try other M.A.C. lipsticks from other ranges?

Btw, as a side note, I really don't think I should get more lip products...... I just have way too many..... How could you ever finish a lipstick or lipgloss? -________-

Beauty Wishlist --- HK Edition

While you are reading this post, I have landed Hong Kong safely. As a shopping paradise, it is no exception when it comes to beauty products. Not only most of the products are much more affordable than in North America, the selection is beyond! So of course I have to seize the chance to grab a few of the items I have been eyeing which are not readily available in Canada.

1.) Lioele Beyond the Solution BB Cream 

- The trend of BB cream is nothing new and there are numerous BB creams out there in Asia. After trying 1-2 a few years ago, I have made the conclusion that BB cream is not for me. I just prefer foundation all in all. However, I believe the technology of BB cream has definitely been advanced and I have been told that they now offer a better colour match and coverage. A lot of people has recommended this particular BB cream from Lioele and I am curious to check it out.


2.) Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner 
3.) K-palette Liquid Eyeliner 

- I am not a big fan of dramatic eyeliners on myself but I have been curious about these Japanese liquid eyeliners. Both of them are known to be long-lasting and precise, not to mention the great colour pay-off. Should I get both? I am thinking maybe to get one black and one brown from each brand to try them out. 

4.) Solone Eyeliner Gel Pencil

- Yes, another eyeliner. lol. This time a pencil. We all know how hard it is to find a pencil that is really smudge-proof. Now I believe this is a Taiwanese brand and we shall see if this is the answer to my prayer.


5.) Menard Beauness Booster Lotion

- This is a lotion/toner that claims to make the skin less likely to become rough or pimpled. It is also fragrance-free and non-comedogenic. Menard is not available here in Canada but it is in Hong Kong. But I first have to find out how much it retails. 

How many lip balms can one girl have?

I am sure we all feel the same - there can never be enough lip balms. Summer or Winter, Spring or Fall, lip balm is a must all year round. I don't know about you, but I rarely finish an entire lip balm because I always want to try new ones. So inevitably, a mini collection has formed......

(Left to right) 

Smith's Rosebud Salve 

Jurlique Love Balm 

Avene Cold Cream Lip Balm 

Lip Ice Strawberry Lip Balm SPF 15 

DHC Lip Cream 

Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm Lemon 

Elizabeth Arden Lip Protectant Stick SPF 15 

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly Rosy Lips 

La Roche-Posay Ceralip Lip Repair Cream 

Maybelline Baby Lips Anti-oxidant Berry (with SPF)

Evie Plumping Rose Lip Therapy (Day, with SPF) 

My handbag staple right now is the Elizabeth Arden lip protectant, which is essentially their ever so famous 8-hour cream in stick form plus SPF. This is a brilliant idea because it is so much more convenient than applying the 8-hour cream. I also love the DHC lip cream but it doesn't have SPF so it would be more suitable for Fall/Winter months. It is definitely on the top of my list because I actually have gone through one before (the rare one!!!) and this is my 2nd tube of it. However, it is not available here in Canada and I will need to stock up when I am back to Hong Kong. Another one that I can only get from Hong Kong is the Evie lip therapy. It smells absolutely amazing and is packed with essential oils: almond sweet oil, avocado oil, hazelnut oil, jojoba oil, just to name a few. By looking at the ingredients you already know how amazing this lip therapy is, not to mention it is organic. It leaves a slightly more oily/shiny finish than the other two mentioned above so I wouldn't recommend putting a lip stick on top, at least not immediately or you can blot some off before apply your lip colour. 

I keep some of these lip balms at my nightstand for the convenience of applying before I go to sleep. The one that I reach for the most (frankly the only one I reach for) is the La Roche-Posay Ceralip. I've always adore La Roche-Posay and I used to keep re-purchasing their hand cream (I still love it but I'm just too busy with trying new things now). This Ceralip comes with a set with the hand cream and at first I didn't love it. I thought it was too thick for my liking, but the truth is I haven't found a right use for it. Ever since I started to use it at night before I go to bed, I have completely fallen in LOVE with it. It is so nourishing yet non-greasy and for me, it is just perfect as a bedtime treatment. 

An obvious disappointment is the Avene cold cream lip blam. I enjoyed the Avene cold cream hand cream so I was expecting this to be just as good. Arghhhhh, I really just don't like it. The worst part is it leaves a white film on my lips and this is clearly not attractive. It also didn't do much for my lips so I am not even sure if I will enjoy using it as a night treatment. Overall, this product is C- for me. 

Stay tuned for Part 2, which will be my mini collection of tinted lip balms. =) 

Wishlist

As a shopaholic and a beauty-addict, you can imagine how hard it is to control my spending. I must say, often times it is not things I NEED, but rather things I WANT, which I am sure is the majority of case for others as well. But as inspired by ViviannaDoesMakeup recently, I really want to streamline my "collection". Quality vs. quantity, as simple as it sound, we all know how challenging it could be. Now, for my first baby step, I think it is a good idea to visualize my "desires". Making wishlist will give me a chance to think twice before buying something new. Plus, I think we can all agree that it is interesting to know what others are eyeing at the moment. ;)

OK, without further adieu, here I present my wishlist as of late:



1.) O.P.I Nail Envy 

- Nails strength has always been the thing I am lacking. They break so easily and I have heard good things about this product. I am just hoping it will go on sale.





2.) Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H 

- Base makeup is one of the things I care the most and need the most because of my blemishes and hyperpigmentation. When it comes to Summer, longevity becomes even more important. And to add on top of that, I will be back to Hong Kong in 2 weeks...... The hot and humid weather there is really no joke...... I hope my Makeup Forever Mat Velvet is going to do the job (still testing this out). If not, I will have to seek some help and this Lancome foundation is definitely on my list. 

3.) NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliners 

- I am quite happy with my Prestige eyeliner pencils but of course I am always on the hunt for better. I don't really go for colour liners but I would love to try the brown, skintone and black ones. 

Well, that's it for now. You can for sure expect more of these wishlists to come. 

I'm loving ZOYA

ZOYA Mia 

O.P.I Pirouette My Whistle 

Canmake 101A 

I tried ZOYA nail polishes for the first time recently and I have to say, I fell in love with its formula immediately (at least this shade)! I am certainly not an expert when it comes to applying nail polishes but it was just so easy to work with this one. Opaque in 1 coat but I added a 2nd coat just in case. The most impressive thing to me is how it smooths out. I have never encountered a nail polish that has such a smooth and shiny finish (even with my far-from-steady hands). I was so tempted not to put a topcoat on it.

I am definitely going to pick up more from ZOYA (in fact I did pick up 2 more shades from the Summer collection) and I can't wait to try them! I love Essie's colours, but in all honesty, their formula really is "hit or miss" and even it is a "hit", from my experience it still doesn't compare to ZOYA.

Outfit of the day

Nothing fancy, nothing especial. Just a simple outfit that I wore to lunch with my friend. 

Top: aerie 

Skirt: Forever21 

Belt: Forever21 

Sandals: Guess 

Escape from the heat

The heat wave has been brutal. The temperature is constantly around 33-35 °C and with the humidity, it feels like around 40°C!!!!!! Never thought that Canada can be that hot & humid.... 

So with no air conditioning, I just can't stay at home all day long. Just like any other "normal" person, my first resort is to go shopping. Honestly, I really don't have anything specific in mind, but here I present you the fitting room: 

Awwww, this dress is just so ME. 

I can never get tired of neutral. 

Now there is only one problem, the back is slightly low-cut (which is very pretty) and I just don't know what to wear underneath (which is why I can't even show you because I am obviously not wearing appropriate "garment"). 

I would really appreciate if any of you girls (or guys I suppose) know the solution to it because I do like this dress a lot! 

This kind of weather is not doing any good to my wallet. Luckily, the heat has gone down a bit today and I can finally feel some breeze. The question is, would this stop a shopaholic from shopping? Yesterday I spent all day clearing my wardrobe and I have two bags of clothes to donate. I feel like I have more closet and hanger space now, however, I really want to try to keep it this way. I just can't imagine when I am going to move and need to pack all the clothes...... 

Or, I will say, I am gonna try to only invest in quality pieces. =) 

p.s. In case you are wondering, I found this dress at Winners. 

MIA

MIA Status is active starting from today.
Only 1 goal in the upcoming 3 weeks.
Once and for once, just do it!
Pray that I can have the strength & wisdom and a healthy body.

See you after 3 weeks~

Lorraine

Shiseido The Makeup Mascara Base

Dear Shiseido The Makeup Mascara Base,

We have been good together, but I think it's time to let you go......

It was so hard to find you because you were being reformulated to a new formula. Finally, I was able to hunt you down while I was visiting Hong Kong. It is sad to know that, I probably won't be able to find you in stores anymore. I hope the new formula would deliver like you did, or even better!

You protected my lashes and thickened them so that I looked like I have more lashes than I really do! Most importantly, you kept my curls lasted! When you stepped in, even with a non-waterproof mascara, the curls would last longer. You know exactly that curls would not survive on my Asian lashes with a non-waterproof mascara, so you came to help. When paired up with my regular waterproof mascara (I always wear waterproof formulas), the result is amazing! I remembered the time that I paired you up with the Majolica Majorca mascara, and I cried..... guess what? My curls were still perfect and no smudging!

Thank you, you have been loved. <3
I will definitely try your new formula some day~


Love,
Lorraine =)

Inside the Fitting Room

Of course when I'm supposed to study, I want to blog! =S
Ok, let's make this short & sweet! I tried on these two dresses about a month ago in H&M -

 

Left: from the H&M DIVIDED line; it fits pretty nicely and comfortable to wear, not too sheer, don't have to wear a tank top or cami underneath, but it is a tiny tiny tiny little bit too short for my liking. 

Right: a very bright yellow colour, comes with the belt; quite sheer materials, I need to wear a cami underneath, longer than the dress on the left. 

Only one went home with me...... 

I am usually not a fan of such bright colour, especially bright yellow. I just didn't think I could pull off the look.  

But I am drawn into this dress (almost immediately). 

I think the materials and the cut made the dress super appropriate for this Spring/Summer season. And pair it up with a leather (faux) jacket + chunky circle scarf + black stocking? It works for the still-chilly weather here in Canada. ;) 

I really can't wait for the weather to WARM UP here!!! But for now, I just have to go back to the pile of notes/articles/books. 

Monday Questionnaire from Amarixe

I really miss Amarixe's Monday Questionnaire! Finally here comes one again =D 


http://www.amarixe.com/2012/04/monday-questionnaire-april-2nd-2012.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FVEFS+%28%C2%A0%29






And now my turn: 


1.) Mood: 
Unmotivated, unproductive; trying to turn this around!!!!! And feeling tired all the time....


2.) Are there any spring trends you're loving this year? Any you're hating?
Love the coral (or light peach?) colour trend! Also colour pants! 


3.) Do you like to cook? 
I do cook a lot and with what I'm studying, I guess I have to say I like to cook. But I'm definitely not "obsessed" with cooking what so ever. I don't like recipes that are too complicated or time-consuming. I like trying new recipes but I don't always go out and seek new recipes. 


4.) Current nail polish:
OPI My Pointe Exactly (way too watery and sheer! I applied 4 coats!!) 
Essie Shine of the Times top coat (because the OPI is too sheer, I need to add something extra on top) 


side note: now, there's something about  this combination, because it has been 1 week and no 1 single chip! @@

5.) What is something you are excited about at the moment?
End of term? =P But it also means final exams.... 

6.) Current outfit:
Sleeping pants, aerie red hoodie. 

7.) Are you a heavy or light sleeper?
Ummm, heavy? When I fell asleep, it usually very hard to wake me up... lol But the thing is it could be hard to make me fall asleep. 

8.) What size handbag do you prefer? 
Big bags! I always have to carry a bunch of things with me. 

9.) Do you like karaoke? 
I secretly love singing, but I know I am no where near a good singer.  

10.) Weekly goals:
Complete 3 major projects/presentations (not really goals, they are MUST!) 
Eat healthier 
Try going to bed before 2am 


Love, 
Lorraine 

Monday Rambles

Lately I have been really unmotivated. Nothing in my life is on schedule. No plans, no motivations, no actions.
I blame the weather for that. Two weeks ago, it was all sunshine and high plus 25-ish (degree Celsius). Last week was all rain and cold. This week, we are anticipating more sunshine, but the temperature is still on the low side. Hopefully the warmth of the sun will boost up my spirit.

Enough of this weather talk. Aside from that, my sleeping schedule is just a pure mess... I am definitely one of those people who need lots of sleep, especially when the quality is not as good, I need more. That doesn't mean I could fall asleep whenever I want. First time in my life, I gave in and sought help from sleeping pills. I really try to refrain from relying on medications (except when it comes to pain, I have very low pain tolerance) but I couldn't stand watching myself having a non-human-like sleeping schedule. My study suffers, my skin suffers, my health suffers......

When I started this blog, I didn't plan on writing much about my life and my feelings. I just purely want to share my "obsession" / "addiction" of beauty products. However, life is so much more than that. It is so easy for us to forget ups and downs in our lives. But when we look back at these little pieces, we know that everything is just part of life.

Sharing snapshots of my life

waiting for my Korean take-out 

Found Macaroons!!! YAY!!!

first try of the season, first win (2012 Feb) 

obsessed with the new sheen supreme formula

my coffee on Valentine's Day 2012

loving this green Zara top

first Lush bath in rose queen

poor Popo after the emergency-room incident =( 

previously obsessed with this Gap sweater, warm & cozy

cuteeeeee <3 

flying business, awesome! 

the making of chocolate fodant pudding 

new york fries indulgence 

Love,
Lorraine