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

Okay, I admit it, I didn't wanna name it the generic "Smokey Silver blah blah" title! And this is the last Sephora LOTD theme that I'm featuring as I'll not be working there anymore after this Friday. It's a complicated feeling, kinda like sweet and sour pork (sorry, non Muslim here) but more on that later! Onto the pictures!

Look 1

Ahh, the conventional silver on the lids and black on the outer V method. Contacts and fake lashes gave the look even more oomph.

I tried using my black Aqua Cream on the outer V here, but I realized that it cannot be picked up by a crease brush (or maybe my brush quality is just plain bad). And also due to its quick setting time, it was difficult to contour the outer V so I gave up and used a random shimmery black instead. After checking with the MUFE beauty advisor, she said that it's better to use a firm and flat brush to sweep up the cream, as there's no way a fluffy contour brush would pick up the colour. But it's difficult to contour with a flat brush, gawd! x___x

Look 2

Sorry for the blank look on my face, hah, I was initially going for the mysterious gaze pose! FML, whatever.

For this look, I used my finger to blend my black Aqua Cream all over my eyelids as a base, then pat on silver e/s on the inner V. The Aqua Cream is a dream to use and with my UDPP, it stays in place and vibrant the whole day. <3 I know the 2 looks look very similar in these pictures, but there are subtle differences. Look 2 definitely looks more smokey and dark, while Look 1 is brighter and more glam.

I tried doing Sarah's Kim Kardashian silver smokey eye, which was featured a while back on her blog, but it looked a bit weird and messy on me. Maybe because it was my first time using her technique and I didn't do it very well, or maybe because I dreadfully lack a crease/double lid, so no pictures for that.

I'm going to do a reflection entry soon on my time spent in Sephora and the stuff I learnt, so definitely looking forward to ranting on that part. Also, thanks to all the people who has joined my Mario Badescu mini giveaway, I appreciate all your efforts, keep the entries coming in!!! Will talk to you guys soon, tootles~

Giveaway has closed! Please stay tuned for the winners~

Finally my turn to have a tiny giveaway! Wheee, so excited!!!

It's nothing much, but if you're interested in the products that I'm offering and you would like to support me try them, just enter this simple giveaway.

A week back, I got a few... no, a bucketload full of Mario Badescu samples from Sephora and since there's no way I'll be able to finish using all of them (before eventually melting my face with all those products), I decided to give some away to you guys!

Here's all the samples I got. Peek-a-boo in the paper bag, ah ha ha ha!

The tubs...

...and the bottles!

So here's what I'm giving away.

The hand is there to show you guys the size of the samples, they're not very big but certainly aren't stingy either.

Set 1) Eye & Body set

Set 2) All Skin Type set

Set 3) Combi, Oily & Sensitive Skin set

Set 4) Basic Skincare set

I'm keeping this simple since it's not a huge "I-hit-85-followers" giveaway kinda thing; just something to pass to you guys to show my appreciation for all my readers out there.

2 simple rules:

1) You'll have to be a follower of my blog.

2)  You can enter this giveaway the maximum of 3 times each day. You can place your 3 entries on 1 set or multiple sets.

There's no need to repost this on your blog, or answer some abstract question or do the chicken dance for me. Just tell me your name, email (so that I can contact you if you get it) and the set which you want.

You can follow this format:

Name: Regis/Cheryl

Email: xxxx_xxx@yahoo.com

Set 1

I will sort out the entries for the respective sets, allocate a number for each entry, then draw up 4 random numbers from random.org or from my hat or something (haven't figured that part out yet). The winners will receive the sets via normal mail. Also, apologies but this giveaway is only opened locally for Singaporeans.

This giveaway ends next Monday, on the 2/08/2010 sharply at 23:59 hours.

The more the merrier, so do go ahead and join! Hope to pick the winners soon~

I'm back from the land of living dead!!!

Nah, actually I've been working my ass off for the past 4 consecutive days at Sephora and I've fallen ill at the same time, which leaves me now in a messy coughing and sneezing wreck.  So yeah, I'm busy plugging my nose with tissue even as I'm typing this out.

But anyhow, I made a visit to MUFE pro boutique a week back with my colleague to visit some MUFE staff that we were missing terribly, and to pick up her All-Mat makeup base. I already had plans to get a few MUFE items while I still had the privilege of the staff discount, so here's what I got!

Aqua Creams. Are. Loveeeeee. <3

I got 3 - #1 Anthracite, which is a sparkly steel-blue black...

(colour in pot is compared with OPI's "You Don't Know Jacques" Suede nail colour)

This works great as a smokey eye base colour, as well as a eyeliner cos it's completely budge-proof and waterproof (I condemn you, my watery eyes). It sets very fast though, so you'll have to blend it out quickly. It'll be featured in the upcoming Sephora LOTD. :)

#5 Peach, which a total dupe of NARS Orgasm, but in cream form...

This Aqua Cream shade is totally multi-functional, as it can be used as a coral-ly e/s to perk up tired eyes, as a cream blush (Orgasm dupe!!!) if you blend it out on your cheeks fast, and also a lip colour! I've tried it out on my lips for the past few days, it makes a gorgeous shimmery nude shade for me, so pretty! One tip is to mix it with gloss before putting it on, since it can be very drying on its own. But it makes a super long-lasting lip colour, since it's waterproof! My colleague immediately tried this out after seeing it on me, and we both dig it tons! 8D

#15 Taupe, which a practical brown shade that can be worn everyday.

You can see it's quite similar to the nail polish colour, but only lighter. I haven't had the chance to try this out yet, but I played with the shade a gazillion times in the store (when I'm so friggin' bored and free) and it's awesome as a one-shade e/s on the lids.

I also got an Eyebrow pencil in No. 5 for my mom (cos she's got those geisha-esque eyebrows with only the nubby bits in front).

Their eyebrow pencils are really good! Take this from a Sephora staff that has been using and selling it almost everyday. The pencil is so soft and smooth that it comes off as a powder when you run across the tip with a brush, and it's super easy to draw on, build up and to blend. Since it transforms into a powder, you can use it with a eyebrow brush too if you dislike drawing directly from the pencil. LOVE THIS! Now just gotta teach my mom how to use it properly - she bulked at the price when I told her initially.

Swatches~

Totally worth the money spent, these products are awesome! Especially so after the staff discount, which gave me a massive saving.

So my colleague and I spent some time in the boutique chatting to our MUFE friends and learning some product details, and after watching me get the Aqua Creams, she totally got tempted and bought one for herself. Super spoilt for choice, since there's so many beautiful colours to choose from. Then we headed off to Raffles City's MAC where I psycho-ed her into getting the last piece of "Petticoat" MSF. She loved the metallic sheen and the raspberry colour on her cheeks after trying it out.

Here's the 2 of us collapsing at Sakae after our shopping spree~

"It's dangerous to go out with you, Cheryl. You're good at coercing money out of our pockets for cosmetics, bad girl!"

That's the last thing she said to me when we giggled each other goodbye. Ha ha, I guess my sales talk skills improved?

Thanks for reading!

Okay, given up advertising for OPI, I shall do it for my beloved brand - Urban Decay!!!

Ah ha ha, Nail of The Week, featuring the Summer of Love nail polish collection by Urban Decay~

My left hand, featuring 5 of the 7 colours in the set.

And my right hand, with 3 repeats and the other 2 colours (the  shimmery brown and the neon pink one).

I do think UD's nail polishes aren't all that bad - they apply really smoothly and are quite long-lasting with a good top coat. Plus, the colours are all very nice, I'm partial to the aqua turquoise, the pink shimmer, the purple and the brown shade!

The only bad thing about them is probably they being much less pigmented than OPI ones (but even some OPI shades are horribly pigmented). Except for the neon orange and pink, the other colours all required at least 2 thick coats/3 coats. The good thing? They don't go on streaky and even with 3 coats, they still stay "thin" on your nail,not like some goop monster.

Ok, I'm done with my quick update of my NOTD, now I'm off to work!!! Tootles~

So after last week's neutrals, we had to do purple EOTDs last week! Well, it was suppose to go along with pink blush and pink lipstick but I stayed away from the pink lips cos it's too Barbie-esque. So here are 3 LOTDs that I did, with a mini breakdown for each one.

LOTD #1

This was the LOTD featured in my hairstyling entry.

For this look, I did the basic colours with my 88 palette (just realized that I really don't have blue-based purples in my entire cosmetic stash! D:) and then went to the store to sweep some MUFE Aqua Cream #18 onto the lids. It's a very light, sparkly blue-toned purple and it looks super sweet when used on its own. You can probably see that I didn't blend it out very well - that's because I was hiding from my supervisor and trying to touch up at the same time, a difficult task indeed! The blush I had on was Stereo Rose! It's super pretty and coral-ly!!!

LOTD #2

For this look, I used Urban Decay's Deluxe e/s in "Ransom" on top of my basic colours (which will forever be form my 88 palette). "Ransom" is a gorgeous deep blue-toned purple and the pigmentation is awesome! It totally changes the whole look of my eye makeup - I was initially sporting a rusty red-purple look and it changed to a nice royal purple after that. I think my blusher here was Petticoat, can't really remember but I've been using my MSFs everyday.

LOTD #3

Oooh, I think this would have to be my favourite LOTD, cos of the purple eyeliner! I totally dig purple eyeliners now!!! :D It's my Silkygirl Funky Eyelights eyelner, btw, ha ha~

For this look, I took extra steps to glam it up a bit. Instead of black eyeliner, I went with the purple and I also used Stage cosmetics' pencil concealer on my waterline - it works wonderfully, there's a nice contrast between the purple eyeliner on my lower lash line, my lashes and my nude waterline. And on my lids, I brushed on some Urban Decay Starlights purple e/s, which has very long lasting and super sparkly glitters. For the tear duct and inner corners, I lined them with Silkygirl's Funky Eyelights in Silver. Lastly, I was using Petticoat as my blusher.

So the same purple theme, the same basic colours but 3 variations and 3 different looks. I quite enjoyed this theme, I must say, and as my term at Sephora is drawing to a close soon, I think I'll miss doing up all these fancy eye makeup. Ha ha! Can't wait to have some good rest at home though, the job's tiring!

Hope you enjoyed this post, I'll be posting some more stuff up soon! Cheers~

EDIT: I have got no idea why this entry un-published itself cos I've published it so much earlier on and already have comments on it. Hmm, another onsugar glitch? Anyway, enjoy the post if you haven't read it. :)

Yes, it's long-overdued but better late than never~ :D And also given the fact that I'm so swamped by work that I haven't even had the time to break out my goodies and play with them yet. ):

But anyway, here's what I bought!

Yay, spotted the odd one out of the gang?? Ha ha, couldn't resist the bargain of the Korres Lip Butter and since I was at Ion, it's like destiny you know?? Might as well drop by and get one!

Also, I was given a copy of Stage's 2010 catalog which I've glimpsed through. A lot of product write-ups (tempting) and a few makeup tips, don't know if you guys got it too. But I love the front cover page!!! The colours, the LOTD, the lashes, the pose - they all add up to a brilliant front spread!

As you can see, I got 5 items at a price of S$37.90, which is really quite cheap. Product close-up time!

I got a pencil eyeliner in "Pewter Performance" (S$6) since the "Blackstage Black" was out. I've been using the black one for 1/2 a year now, and even though it doesn't really stay on my waterline, it's still a relatively good eyeliner. The pigmentation is good, that's for one. Then again, who am I trying to kid?! Nothing stays on my waterline for long, not even UD 24/7 or MUFA Aqua Eyes liners.

Also, I got persuaded to get the pencil concealer in "Creme Brulee" (S$10) (seriously, when will manufacturers ever realize that as long as they keep naming their cosmetics with food names, I'll keep wanting to eat them up) - and I never regretted getting it. It's like the really budget version of the highly sought-after MAC chromagraphic pencils but with the same awesome quality! This pencil, though feels hard to the touch, is really soft when lining the eyes and it glides on smoothly without additional pressure. That, and it actually stays on my waterline for quite some time. This gives me the perfect nuded-out waterline, which makes my eyes appear much larger and gives much contrast to my lower lashes, thus making them look longer. Plus it can be used as a nude lipliner, or a spot-concealer as well. Really satisfied with this item!

Next, had to get 'em lipsticks!

Got a Wonderlust Lip Color in "Judy" (S$7.50) and Wonderluxe Lip Stick in "Buff Belle" (S$6.90). Both colours look like my natural lip colour, but better and they smell delightfully of vanilla. However, the Wonderlust semi-matte lipstick can still be a bit drying and the Wonderlust has got this weird petroleum-y taste after the vanilla scent fades away, which I don't quite like, so I'm still figuring out how to deal with that part.

Finally, I couldn't resist getting a gloss and it's a nude, in "Diana" (S$7.50)! So far I've only opened it to test it once, so far so good. It didn't wow me like my NYX megashine lipgloss but it didn't offend me either, so this warrants for more usage when I've got the time. And also my Korres Lip Butter in "Mango" (S$12.90), it tastes and smells heavenly! And the bright coral-ly colour is really nice too. My only complain is that the tub is quite inconvenient to use and bring out.

Altogether about $50 spent, but I think I've gotten quite a good deal and I can't wait to wear more of the stuff out when my job ends (right now I'm too pre-occupied with UD and MUFE at my work place). Thanks for reading, cheers!

Continuation with the previous post on why I looked like a humanoid doll/poodle in my 2nd LOTD pic.

Well, that's because for this and next week, GWC's Sephora is having free hair styling services! That means complimentary curling or straightening with Sephora's hair irons and Fekkai products. And as slaves beauty advisors, of course we'll have to get our hair done to set an example.

Which is why one fine morning, my assistant supervisor grabbed and pushed a whimpering me into a chair and started curling my hair. This was the result at the end my 12 hr work day and after a vicious comb-through in attempt to loosen the very springy curls.

Ahhh, it looks okay here cos the curls have already loosened quite a bit after my comb-through and by humidity. But it was maggi mee-like springy while I was working in store, my face was fixed in a grimace 80% of the time due to the trauma.

But one thing I can vouch for is that the Sephora Curling/Straightening tongs are friggin' awesome!!! Seriously, the tongs give you bounciest, springiest curls ever and they can last for a whole day without loosening if you don't comb through them. All of us were really awed at the tongs, which can curl and straighten hair equally well. But they come at quite a steep price too - ahh well, price for quality.

Salute the amazing hair tongs and its amazing price tag!

Ha ha, so I've learnt my lesson well and when I spotted my assis. sup the next day, I sneakily crept away from her. If she moved to the front, I'll weasel to the back; if she took a step towards me, I'll be trying to serve some customer. It's not like I hate her hair styling - in fact, I think she's really talented in this area - but I'm really not into tight curls and it dries my hair out horribly.

But after hiding for 1/2 a day, she went "Cheryl, come and do your hair! No use hiding."

*frightened eyes darting all over the place, looking for an escape route*

In the end, I still got hauled by my collar over to the styling chair and she proceeded to do this on my hair.

Yeah, I kinda think she took pity on me and my fear of killing my hair and put my hair up in a fancy bun instead. Gosh, this felt so much better than tight, dry curls but after she was through with me, everyone asked if I was getting married.

=____= Cos the hairstyle was really like some bride's in some wedding magazine, those complicated bun styles with a poof at the crown of my head, and my bangs all front and down. Like so...

Face of a blushing bride??? Ha ha ha ha, everyone kept teasing me which really didn't help on the blushing bit on my part.

After saying all that, in the end I really still do appreciate all the effort my assis. sup had put into styling my hair and how she put in a thought for me when she did the 2nd style. I really do think she's very talented (her makeup skills are really good and she can curl her own hair with just a mirror, no external help needed) and I wish I could tell her that, but everytime she works on me, I end up being all dumbstruck and embarrassed and all I ever do is to start giggling hysterically or to hang my head in shyness. And I think I kinda hurt her feelings, which I'm very remorseful over now.

How I wish I can hold my head high, look her straight in the eye and show everyone her work proudly, but I just can't bring myself to do that. I don't know why, maybe it's not in me to want to do that kind of thing.

................ whatever, life goes on.

Thanks for reading this entry and sorry for the rant! Cheers everyone! :D

Last week's theme was taken from the Sephora catalog that came together with Her World magazine - I urge onsugarettes to get a copy, cos we have this coupon in that catalog that allows you to redeem a free trial size of UDPP Eden or TFSI - and it was Smashbox's simple smokey brown look that we were going for.

Given my laziness to go to work early, all the browns I used were from home, e.g. L'oreal quad and 88 palette. Here's 2 of my LOTD that I noted down, nothing very boomz.

I was using Smashbox's Starlights blush/highlighter wheel, together with "By Candlelight" MSF. I think the 2 complimented each other quite well. :)

Second look~

Falsies! Yay, I was wearing my falsies and contacts, which made my eyes look humongous!

This was the LOTD that I broke out my "Petticoat" MSF to use. Had to use it with a very light hand, or else I'll end up looking very metallic and pinkish. If used correctly however, it gives me a very nice radiant glow and I love it!!!

For the 2nd LOTD, I was a walking doll/poodle for the entire day and that will be revealed in the next post, ho ho ho!

Remember I was talking about MAC destiny the other day? (well, in the previous post to be exact)

This is destiny working at its best!

My very first MAC haul!!!

And I managed to get the greatly-raved Stereo Rose. That, and Petticoat MSF. Ha ha, I knew my very first MAc products are going to be MSFs, cos I love them so much!

A little story on my MAC destiny - I actually arrived at Tampines Mall's Mac booth at 11 a.m. and the first thing I asked to see were the items from "In The Groove". So the BA showed me the items which were still on the counter and not yet up on display, and I spotted Stereo Rose immediately. I asked for a piece, she said it was sold out even before they opened! Apparently, the MSF was so popular that there was a queue of people outside the shop at 10 a.m., waiting to go in and purchase it. So I was 1 hr late and I resigned to disappointment. I mean, those people deserved it cos they blardy queued up at 10 a.m. for it!

Nevermind, I started swatching the other items and a few minutes later, the BA informed me that there was 1 more Stereo Rose left! That thing was playing hide and seek with me! I felt really euphoric for a moment, until she came back and said it was reserved for a lady who was coming back to exchange another MSf for it. Lol, my euphoria vanished, like, in a split second! Seriously, mood roller coaster ride for me.

Nevermind, resign to disappointment for the 2nd time, went back to my swatch fest. The lady came, tried out her Stereo Rose, exchanged something and left. Then the BA came back to serve me...and in her hand was a piece of Stereo Rose. I blinked at her.

"Didn't the lady just come back to exchange...?"

"Ohh, she exchanged her Stereo Rose for another Stereo Rose." *flat look on the BA's face*

"Oh. Ohhh, ha ha, alright, I'll take that! LOL!"

And that's how I got my Stereo Rose, the last piece in the store!

Alright, story-telling session done, let's get on with the swatches!

First up, the gorgeous Petticoat!

Veinings! I asked to choose the one with more veinings for darker colour payoff. See the gorgeous gold and raspberry swirls? *swoons*

The 1st finger was swiped on an area with no veinings while the 2nd finger was swiped over the vein-rich area. You can see the obvious colour difference, which makes this MSF very versatile.

Left strip is the swatch from the vein-rich area, the right strip is from the area with no veins.

Next up, pic spam of Stereo Rose (my naughty little MSF)!

Veinings...not much though. But still a beautiful coral colour!

Here's the swatch of Stereo Rose, which is the strip on the most right. You can probably see it has much more orangey-coral colour as compared to Petticoat.

However, my MAC virginity didn't go to these 2 MSFs - it actually went to "By Candlelight" which I purchased 2nd hand from naphula!

She bought it as a highlighter but the colour didn't show up on her darker skin tone and she didn't like the sparkles, so I bought it from her since I'm fairer.

Swatch comparisons of the MSFs, with "By Candlelight" at the far left. The colour is really a faint gold-pink unless you buff on more.

Me cam-whoring with all  the swatches, and I happen to be wearing "By Candlelight" on my cheeks then. It does show up on me as a very light and natural flush, just that I have to buff in more.

Hope you guys enjoyed this destiny-pic spam entry, cheers!

Ohh. Mah. Gawd!!!

MAC's In The Groove collection is launching this Friday, 9th July!

[Pic credited to Temptalia~]

Signs that MAC destiny awaits me:

1) I'm off work on Friday itself.

2) Tampines has a branch, which is just 20 mins away.

3) And most importantly, I just got my pay!!!

Woo hoo!!!

Now it's up to destiny if I can own that (in)famous Stereo Rose.

.... ... But omg, all those mineralized e/s and blushes!!! I will go swatch-crazy that day.

Hope you guys are looking forward to it as well. Shall update if I manage to haul anything! Toodles~