All The Things I Can't Live Without...

I initially wanted to do this tag a few weeks back, after I saw Jen's (one of the YouTube makeup gurus that I subscribe to) "Naughty & Nice" list. Basically, it's just telling people which 5 products worked for you (nice) and which 5 didn't (naughty) for the Year 2010 and I thought it would be a nice end to the year. Anyway, everyone was coming up with their "My Favourites For 2010" lists so I'm doing this version of it. :)

Naughty List

[Credits to Zaleha/aizutto for the LUS makeup wipes picture]

1. LUS Makeup Remover Wipes

Yeah, I couldn't wait to throw away the thing after I was finally through with it, hence the "khoping" of Zaleha's picture. To me, it was the smelliest thing that I've ever placed on my face and I'm not even particular about smells at all (I still smother myself in my stinky baby pillow every night). Couple that with a mediocre cleansing ability and its relative small size, and you get item 1 on my naughty list.

2.  Dejavu Lash Knockout Mascara

I was trying to sell it away and am still trying to sell it away, cos it simply doesn't work for me. I know a lot of people raved about this product and the wonderful volume it gives to their lashes but this, for me, it's just clumps galore! Plus, I don't really appreciate the gigantic bristle brush; it threatens to poke me in the eye.

3.  Maybelline Gel Liner

Smudges like nobody's business. That's enough for me to blacklist it. (Read the full review here)

4. L'oreal Elnett Hair Spray

Ha ha, its weird cos almost everyone out there is raving about this product but I just don't get its hype. For me, it doesn't hold at all (a light breeze and my fringe is flopping all over the place) and granted it combs out easily, the other hairsprays that I've tried all comb out easily! Really annoyed with its non-present hold.

5. L'oreal Hair Spa For Dry and Damaged Hair

Once again, it was something that was recommended on the flowerpod forums so I bought a tub to try...and it didn't nothing for my hair. Except smell really nice and coconutty (I think that's the only part I liked about this product). It didn't moisturize and smoothen out my hair, and it weighed my hair down and made it slightly oily after 1/2 a day; it was just a big no-no. I still have 1/2 a tub left and I've got no idea what to do with it.

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Nice List

Ha ha, it seems that I've blacklisted a lot of L'oreal products but it gets better with the nice list. :]

1. Smashbox Long Wear Lip Gloss in "Boundless"

That's that beautiful coral colour you see in the picture. I was using this lip gloss to death when I was working in Sephora cos it's that amazing! And apparently everyone loved how it looked too, cos after I started wearing it, people started buying it and in 3-4 days it was sold out. :) It is very thick and sometimes clumps at the corners of the lips since it's a long-wear lip gloss, but I didn't mind that (just put a thin layer) and it lasted at least 4 hours on me. Still super glossy, the colour still as vibrant, plus it's got SPF15. Too bad it's so freaking expensive.

2. Lo'real 24 Hour Gel Liner

Ha ha, I don't hate all L'oreal products; in fact, I think a lot of their products are actually pretty good! This gel liner for instance. It was everything the Maybelline one wasn't - it didn't smudge, it lasted for more than 18 hours, it's really black and it's all spongey and creamy. And cheap too, if you can get it at S$10 at the L'oreal sale. :)

3. Kerastase Nectar thermique Leave-in Conditioner

I'm addicted to this stuff. One, it smells heavenly! Two, it has this amazing ability to straighten my hair and curl it in so that it doesn't dry all flipping out with cow licks. Three, it makes my hair so glossy and gives me that mush sought-after halo on the crown of my head. Four, it's got heat protective properties. Enough said.

4. MAC Mineralized Skin Finish in "By Candlelight"

Yay, at least 1 MAC item made it to my list and it's the MSF that I've been religiously using every day! Not because I wanna hit-pan on it or something, but I just love the sheer glow of colour it gives to my cheeks. And it's an awesome highlighter! This follows me everywhere I go, from east to west of Sg to Malaysia when I went over for a holiday 2 days back.

5. Tresemme Hair Products

Ok, this is technically not an item (cheating..?) but I love everything from this hair care brand. I'm digging their shampoos, their conditioners are awesome and I love the heat protectant spray. It really makes a difference when I style my hair with my straightening iron, and I think it's this spray, plus my Kerastase leave-in, that still keeps my hair healthy and smooth with my daily straightening/curling.

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So that's my list for 2010, which will be ending in 12 hours time. If you haven't done your favourites list or if you're interested in doing this tag, go ahead and share what worked for you and what didn't! Leave a comment behind on the link so that I can read it ok, cos I'm super kay poh and super interested in your items too!

Happy New Year everyone!

Ha ha, I know I'm long over-dued for this tag but since I haven't had anything to post on (waiting for my friend to send me some entry pics), I'll just do this for recreational purposes! Plus, I got tagged by Jones and Kimberly eons ago, so I owe them this.

Come to think of it, doesn't my blog name answer this tag already???

I shall stop here then. Please read the blog title and the subs underneath.

... Nah! I shall complete this cos it's kinda fun too! :D

Generally speaking, if I were to list down the 6 items I really cannot live without, I don't think many of them will be cosmetic products. I was living fine without a single makeup item (except the occasional eyeliner) in my arsenal until 9 months back, so it wouldn't really affect me if I got stripped of them. So here's my general "6 Items" list:

1) Apple Ipod

I CANNOT live without music. Period. Like, I would get really grumpy if I haven't had my music fix for the day. Sometimes when I go out, I'd happily forget my handphone while making sure that I've brought my Ipod along.

2) My laptops

Yep, I've got 2 completely functional laptops that I use on rotation (and I would have more if I haven't curbed my computer-buying habit). I can't get through 1 day without switching on either one, cos I'm hooked on the internet - I have to check my mails and FaceBook, stalk onsugar and YouTube, etc. It's thanks to my lappies that I can do totally without television.

3) Chow chow

[Guinea pig is not mine, and neither is this picture. Credits go to samanthakoh.com]

Lol, no, that's not a dog. It's actually my baby pillow's pet name. I've had it by my side for 21 years, and I'll never throw it away, no matter how dirty, drool-patched and tattered it has become. It's not like I can't sleep without it, just that if it were to disappear one day, I think so will a large part of my heart. One joke I always tell my friends is that the one condition my future husband has to accept is to take in my filthy and smelly pillow along with me. No pillow = don't even think about it, dude!

4) Black Eyeliners

Ah hah, finally, a cosmetic item! The very first makeup product that I tired wasn't an eyeliner actually, it was a mascara, but I much prefer these cos they go on in a sec and they do wonders for asian eyes like mine!

5) Garnier Pure Facial Foam

This is my holy grail facial cleanser and I've been using it since I can't remember when. Never broke me out, my face feels amazingly clean after that, and it's so affordable - reasons why I keep repurchasing it!

6) Leave-in Hair Conditioners/Serums

I don't chemically process my hair much (not until recently, that is) but I'm awfully paranoid about getting dry and damaged hair, so for the past few years, you'll never see me without a after-shower hair product. I'm still experimenting with a few, haven't found a holy grail yet, but Elips Hair Capsule was good enough to make me repurchase several times. Currently, however, Kerastase's Nutri-Thermique is threatening to give it a run for its buck. :)

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Now if you're strictly referring to cosmetics, I can also list down the 6 items I use daily and I guess that would actually be more relevant to this blog, no? Here's my cosmetic-related "6 Items" list:

1) Urban Decay Primer Potion

Never regretted buying this...well, okay! Kinda regret buying it in this packaging since UD just released a squeeze tube version (them suckers), but yeah, it does wonders for eyeshadows! I don't have a problem with creasing e/s (since I don't have a double eyelid) but it brings out the e/s colours so brilliantly and holds my e/s and eyeliners down.

2) Biore UV Face Milk

I've seen the wondrous effects of sunscreen (next post!) after starting on it a few months back, and now I hardly go outdoors without it on. I'm ok with going out bare-faced but I must have sunscreen on, or else I'll start getting paranoid about cancers and tumours suddenly springing up on my face. This product is so milky and thin that it doesn't feel suffocating on the face at all.

3) ZA Tinted Moisturizer (Shade 20)

I actually use this as a colourant for my sunscreen and BB cream, as the latter 2 products tend to be too light for my skin tone. There's a long story behind it, but to cut it short, I used to wear it on its own, I mix it with my other face products now and its SPF10 is an added benefit.

4) Silkygirl Liquid Eyeliner

It's one of the most pigmented liners I've tried. It never did smudge on me, ever. The felt tip is relatively easy to use. And it's dead cheap. The only down side is that it flakes if you start crying with it on, so it's kinda not waterproof. But stay happy always, or remove it before you cry, and you'll love this product as much as I do.

5) Black Pencil Eyeliner

Namely Koji Springheart's and Stage's pencil eyeliners. I always turn to them if I'm feeling lazy on certain days(sexy, smudgy rimmed eyes) and they tightline wonderfully when I do winged liners with my liquid eyeliner. My opinion of them would probably change a little if I find a holy grail gel liner, but that's not gonna happen anytime soon I guess.

5) MAC MSFs

Ha ha, I know I'm playing cheat but saying "MSFs" generally, but I always reach for them for my blusher. I don't exactly favour any one out of my three, cos they all work fantastically well, but if I'd have to pick... I'll say Stereo Rose. Just because it gives me such a nice coral-ly glow without being too metallic, and I'm coral-bias. Recently, however, I've been using By Candlelight a lot! :)

6) L'oreal Open Eyes Quad

Nope, it's not the recently released quads but the older generation, I think. I haven't had the chance to try the recent ones (cos I have way too many e/s) but the brown one was actually my very first e/s palette and it's still the comfort one that I turn to when I have no idea what look to go for. I've used the darkest brown to fill in my brows, the highlighter shade is awesome, and the coppery shade is so sparkly and pretty!

Yay, I've finally completed it! Sorry for the very long tag entry, I just had to do 2 lists. Thanks for bearing with me and for reading it! I doubt anyone hasn't done it already, so I won't be tagging anyone here. However, if you haven't done it yet, do make an entry of this tag alright? Cheers!

I've been nominated by icefrost for this award, thanks for being such a sweetie! Gosh, my first award... I'm so touched. I've been experiencing a lot of 'first's lately - my first UD eyeshadow, my first Estee Lauder eyeliner (these are considered branded, so never in my right mind will I consider getting them), now my first award. Ahh, bliss~ And it's all thanks to you guys! :D

7 Interesting Things About Myself:

Geez, will anyone even bother reading this...? .___. Nevermind, I'll do it for the tag and for fun!

1) I'm still a proud owner of my baby pillow, aptly named "chao chao" (or "smelly smelly" in dialect). It's been with me my whole life, so it'll be turning 22 soon and it was made by my paternal grandma. It has been said to be such a object of terror that my mom wouldn't go 1 meter near it, but I still put it on face everynight. :]

2) I have VERY big feet. So big that it's difficult to find shoes in Singapore. =___= if there was plastic surgery to change the size of my feet, I would consider... Hmm...

3) I have to have my daily dose of music. It's my little quiet time with my iPod, be it on the bus or in the toilet. My friend has personally experienced my wrath/moodiness if I don't get said dose.

4) I'm a relatively light sleeper while my Uni room mate is an extremely heavy one, so she's extremely wary when she moves around the room in the morning. Cos 1 minute I'll be sleeping soundly, then the next I'll be sitting up and staring blearily at her. I think she feels bad for waking me up, but it can't be helped.

5) I've recently mastered the dance moves to Super Junior's "Sorry Sorry" and "It's You"! Super satisfied with myself!!! ^^

6) Ehh... I know a bit of Japanese, French and German, cos I took those language elective courses in Poly and Uni.

7) Ohh yes!!! How can I forget?! I'm an avid gamer! :D There was this point of time I was so absorbed in this online game, I was contact-less for 5 months. My friends complained that I would never answer their smses or calls, lol! It's not really healthy, I do admit it now. :p

That's it, very boring facts indeed. I think most of people would have already been nominated or done this tag but I'll just give my pick.

I'm nominating:

1) MaddyMadeline

2) Crazy4Mac

3) FiestySkies

4) Eclecticsatire

5) Reyenal

6) My friend, Naphula~

7) Debx

Thanks for reading, take care everyone!

(Stupid weather, can stop being so hot?!)

OMG, I have been tagged to do my very first... tag? Ah ha ha, thanks heavenlygorgeous for tagging me, dear~

So, hmm... wishlist. Let's see...

1) Revlon's Matte Lipstick in Nude Attitude

I've been wanting to get this lipstick for AGES. Seriously, since Nov last year..? But SG doesn't carry Nude Attitude and I keep putting off ordering it from drugstore.com. I shall pakat with my friend to order this with Drugstore's BOGO promotion soon, heard it's a brilliant matte lipstick (comparable to MAC's Myth but more moisturizing).

2) MM's Lash Enamel Glamour Volume On

This mascara just sounds too awesome to be missed and omg, the wand is so unique! I'll be heading down to Jurong Point's Watsons soon to swatch it, hopefully it lives up to my expectations. *grin*

3) Revlon's Photo Ready Makeup SPF 20

This product has been said to be comparable to Make Up For Ever's HD Foundation and I've heard so many raves about it. Not forgetting to mention, I'm loving the dewy finish it's said to give as well as the SPF 20 (what else can we need more in this little HOT island of ours?). Sill deciding whether to import it from Drugstore. com or not...

4) Rimmel's Soft Kohl Kajal Eye Pencil

I've been on a never-ending search for a good kohl eyeliner that smudges well but doesn't run, as I've been into the black rimmed smokey-eye look recently. So far, all the pencils I've tried either don't smudge well or they smudge too well (starts running after an hour or so). I've heard this kohl pencil is not bad, so I've been deciding for a while whether to get it or not.

That's all for now, I don't really lem for much stuff - I get them on impulse!!! Ha ha, I know that sounds really dangerous for the pocket but my self-control has been under-checked... so far. :)

I'll tag anyone who visits this blog and hasn't done the tag yet. DO share with us what you've been wanting to splurge on recently, cheers!