Review: Essence All About Roses Eyeshadow Palette

I mulled over this purchase for the longest time as I wasn't sure if the colors would be pigmented enough to show on my skin.  I finally gave in and purchased it when I was in Watsons in Mid Valley a few months ago. I figured that it is the ideal size of eyeshadow palette to have in my tiny makeup bag when I'm on the move.

I'm happy to say that I'm glad that I made this purchase. The colors are neutral on my skin. I find the texture soft and easy to blend. I tend to use the matte colors more since I wear these eyeshadows to work. I apply these eyeshadows over the Essence I Love Stage Eyeshadow Base and have no problem with the lasting power of these eyeshadows.

This palette also didn't break the bank. This is a good buy. Love!

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Essence All About Roses Eyeshadow Palette
0.33 oz / 9.5 g

Made in Italy

Normal Retail Price:  RM21.90
Available from; Watsons

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Review: Catrice Prime and Fine Pore Refining Anti-Shine Base

The Catrice Prime and Fine Pore Refining Anti-Shine Base is supposed to be a primer designed for oily skin.

This product, unfortunately, did not work on my super oily skin ;/

It goes on feeling like a moisturiser. It doesn't take long before my face gets super oily.

Certainly NOT a recommended product :(

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Catrice Prime and Fine Pore Refining Anti-Shine Base
30 ml/ 1 .01 fl oz

Made in Italy

Normal Retail Price:  RM24.90
Available from; Guardian

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Review: Rimmel Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder

The Rimmel Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder is one product that has had many rave reviews. So, on my trip to the UK in 2015, I just had to purchase it.

This product comes in translucent as well as several other skin toned shades. I purchased mine in shade 005 Silky Beige from Boots. I had not gotten around to using it until recently after I finished using my Revlon Naked compact powder.

To be quite honest, I have no idea what the rave over this product is really about. I found the Rimmel Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder to be no different from the other compact powders that I have used before (only that some of the other compact powders that I have used in the past, do not claim to be shine control). It does nothing in terms of shine control on my super oily skin.

Since I already have bought it, I would carry on using it but would I buy this product again? No. This is a meh product in my opinion. I'd prefer to give other products out there a try.

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Rimmel Stay Matte Long Lasting Pressed Powder in 005 Silky Beige
14g

Made in England

Normal Retail Price:  £3.99 (I got mine while it was on the 3 for 2 promo)
Available from: Boots UK

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Review: Essence Lip Liners

Essence Lip Liners in 07 Cutie Pink, 08 Red Blush & 15 Honey Berry

These are not new on the market. I've read many reviews about the Essence Lip Liners and only recently got around to purchasing some. I started out purchasing three shades and went back to purchase two other colours --- yes, that is how much I like them!

Essence Lip Liners in 11 In the Nude & 14 Femme Fatale

These are the new formulas and they are harder than the old formulas (I know this as some of the testers at the stores are the old formula. FYI the old formula has a grey coloured cap unlike the new formula that has a similar coloured cap).

I colour my lips with these lip liners and apply my Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick 3D Volume Lip Shine over it. They go well together. 

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Essence Lip Liners
1g

Made in Germany

Normal Retail Price:  RM5.90 (Yes, it is that cheap!)
Available from: Selected Guardian and Watsons 

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Empties | October 2016

These are the products that I finished using in October 2016:

1. Boots Zingy Berries & Cream Shower Gel | 250 ml | Made in Bulgaria
This was purchased on my recent holiday to Bangkok. I simply love the scent and texture of this shower gel. Good thing that I have backups!

2. Adidas Women Deodorant Pure Lightness Perfumed Deo | 150 ml | Made in EU
The scent of this deodorant is not as strong as Nivea and I prefer this to Nivea.

3. Catrice Nude Illusion Make Up | 30 ml | Made in Italy
I had a love hate relationship with this product but I persevered and used it all up! It goes on nicely but it tends to separate on my face and I just couldn't figure out if it was my primer that it was reacting to! I am now working on my the next foundation to finish on my list.

4. Citrus Hotel Guest Bar Soap
I like to use things up instead of wasting them. This was from my Bangkok trip.

5. Biore Perfect Cleansing Water| 90 ml | Made in Vietnam 
I didn't buy this product. I got it free in an exchange program where I exchanged an empty bottle of makeup remover with a new bottle of the product. This is supposed to be a makeup remover for face, eyes and lips but I used it as an eye makeup remover. It was an okay product.

6. NYX HD
This eyeshadow primer lasted me ages. It was okay, I guess but I have since moved on to another product which I like more so it's quite unlikely that I'll be repurchasing this product.

Sephora's Black Card Sale

Yup, I went to the Sephora Black Card members' sale and this is all that I bought :)

I've been wanting to buy the Zoeva 317 Eye Liner brush for the longest time but prior to this, Zoeva was only available on the Luxola website and Zoeva was never on sale.

This time around though, the entire Sephora store and website are on 20% discount and I took the opportunity to purchase the Zoeva 317 Wing Eye Liner brush --- yay!

Empties | April 2016

These are the products that I finished using in April 2016:

1. Tesco Everyday Value | Facial Cotton Pads | 100 pieces | Made in Malaysia

This is one of my everyday staples. It's good, doesn't cost an arm and a leg and does what it's supposed to do.  :)

2. Tesco Loves Baby | Moisturising Baby Wipes | 30 Sheets | Made in Korea

Another of my everyday staples that I use as makeup remover wipes. I don't wear a lot of makeup and this does a good job in removing my makeup before I wash my face with a facial cleanser. 

This product is alcohol an paraben free.

3. Stila Color Convertible | Magnolia | 0.75 oz / 4.25 g | Made in U.S.A.

This product lasts a long time even with daily use for work. I got this is part of a Christmas set that I purchased in Sephora around two years ago. I've been wearing this to work for over a year (about 16 months, to be exact). 

While the colour Magnolia may not look bright in the container, it gives my cheeks a nice natural looking healthy glow when applied on my cheeks. Unfortunately, this colour has been discontinued. 

I love Stila's Color Convertibles and I have the other colours in deluxe sizes which I purchased as a set of three. 

4. Guardian Facial Oil Blotters | 100 sheets

Do not buy these. I painstackingly finished this pack of oil blotters which I purchased a long time ago. They don't absorb oil very oil. No!

Empties | March 2016

These are the products that I finished using in March:
1. Catrice Photo Finish 18 Hour Liquid Foundation | Shade 030 
Made in Germany
This was my staple foundation which I used daily to work. You can read my review on it here. Sadly, this product has been discontinued :(

2. Tesco Loves Baby | 30 Moisturising Baby Wipes 
Made in Korea
I use this product as makeup remover wipes and it does the job. Better still, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg! You can read my review on this product here.

3. Daiso | Silk Oil Blotting Paper | 100 Sheets
My repeat buy to combat the oilies on my skin.

4. Skin Wisdom Moisture Care Soap | 100 g 
Made in China
This product is produced for Tesco UK in China. It is a pretty moisturising soap and costs a lot less if compared to body washes.

5. Bagno Doccia Shampoo | Milk & Peach Shampoo & Body Wash | 500ml
Made in Italy
I purchased this in the supermarket next door to where I live. It's an okay product that does what it's supposed to do.

6. Wilko Fruits Chocolate Orange Fragrance Explosion Body Butter | 100ml
Made in China
I purchased this on my recent trip to London. While I love scent (who can resist the scent chocolate oranges?), I certainly didn't like the texture. Finishing it was a pain. Read the full review here.

7. Bubble T Bath & Body | Summer Fruits Tea Body Spray | 100ml 
Made in the UK
This was purchased while I was in London last Christmas. I love this scent of berries. Too bad that I only purchased one bottle :(

8. Carrefour Dental Floss | 50m 
Made in EU
I bought this dental floss while I was in Dubai recently. It did the job.

Empties | February 2016

... and these are my February 2016 empties.....

1. Bourjois | 123 Perfect Foundation in No. 55 | 30 ml | Made in France
This worked really well for me while I was in London recently when I found that my staple Catrice Photo Finish foundation was too dry for me in the winter. I was glad that I packed this foundation along for my trip.

I enjoyed using this foundation. The colour matched my skin well but unfortunately, the Bourjois 123 Perfect foundation range seems to no longer be available in Malaysia :(

I tried looking up for this product on the Boots website but the darkest colour that they had was no. 54 :(

2. Fa Deodorant | Pink Passion | 150 ml | Made in Germany
I love the scent. I purchased this in Dubai as part of a set of three. It claims to protect for 24 hours.

What I love most about it is that it doesn't leave any mark on my clothes.

Fa used to be sold here but sadly, this brand is no longer available here... :(

3. TRESemme Shampoo | Luxurious Moisture for Dry or Dull Hair | 500 ml | Made in EU
This shampoo worked well for me. It didn't dry out nor make my super sensitive scalp itch. The only reason I have not repurchased this shampoo is because I had been eyeing the Timotei shampoo for quite awhile now and wanted to try it out.

4. Nivea Anti-Perspirant | Extra Whitening | 60 ml | Made in Thailand
I got this as a freebie when I purchased a full sized Nivea anti-perspirant. It is the perfect travel size and I took this one on my London trip. It claims to work for 48 hours.

My one issue with all Nivea anti-perspirants is that they all leave a white stain on my tops :(

5. Dr Fresh Velocity Dental Floss | Waxed | 130 yards | Made in China
This was something that I picked out from Village Grocer out of curiosity. It did what it was supposed to do. If I remember correctly, it was cheap for the length of floss in the package.

6. Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser | 250 ml | Made in Canada
This is a super gentle cleanser that doesn't leave my skin feeling tight like most other cleansers do (you can read my review on this product here). I loved this cleanser and have since purchased the 500 ml pump bottle. Love!

Review: Biore UV Perfect Face Milk

I've been going around sans sunscreen for years (I know, I know, it's not a good thing) basically because I hate the icky feeling that most face sunscreens leave on my super oily skin.

I recently watched a BBC documentary on skin aging and after watching it, I thought that I might give sunscreens another go. My online research led me to Biore's UV Face Milk which has received good reviews on the net.

The product is packaged in a plastic bottle that comes with a ball bearing in the bottle that allows you to mix the product before you dispense it. The bottle has a tapered opening which makes it possible for you to dispense the product by the drop.

The Biore UV Face Milk is very thin and runny in texture. It dries almost instantly upon application thanks to its alcohol content. It dries to a matte finish and makes my skin feel silicone smooth. It is so thin in texture that I can't even feel it on my skin!

It also works as a makeup base and believe it or not, it actually controls my super oily skin, something that I absolutely love!

My only gripe about this product is that it leaves a white cast on my olive toned skin if I use too much :( I have, however, found that if I use the product sparingly and make sure to spread the product evenly, the white cast isn't so obvious.

Applying my foundation on top of this product is easily done and my foundation simply glides over it.

I've never used any silicon based product on my skin before this and so far, I haven't experienced any problems with my skin reacting to it.

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Biore | UV Perfect Face Milk
30 ml

Made in Japan

Normal Retail Price:  RM32.90

Available in Guardian & Watsons
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Soap & Glory Crazy Sexy Kohl Review

I saw this on the Boots website after Xmas while I was in London and seeing that it was on sale at half off, I just had to have it! So off I went to the nearest Boots outlet the very next morning and was thankful to have been able to snag one of the last few tins of the Crazy Sexy Kohl left on the shelf (and boy, were they going fast!!!).

Soap & Glory's Crazy Sexy Kohl is a set of 5 different colored kohl pencils (black, brown, blue, purple and green) packaged in an eyeliner pencil box, or to be more accurate, tin. 

I wanted to try the Smoulder Kohl before this but the normal retail price of £5 each too much to pay for a product that I wasn't sure if it was going to work out for me given my oily skin condition. However, at the half off price of £7 for the entire tin, each pencil costs around RM10, making the kit a steal, if you ask me. 

As it normally goes with me, I use my eyeliners up one by one and I have only tried using one of the Smoulder Kohls which is the Superblack one. I have read great reviews about this product and was interested in finding out how it would perform on my super oily skin in a super humid climate.

It goes on well and have been often compared to Urban Decay's 24/7 eyeliners by other reviewers in the blogosphere. It is super creamy and smooth and goes on without any tugging or pulling. The color payoff is also great.

When I first applied it on my lids, the color smudged and transfered onto my crease by the end of the day. I had to touch up at about lunch time as I didn't want it to look seriously like smoky eyes.

When applied on my waterline, the color lasted for about an hour and a half before travelling down to the skin beneath my lower lashes. Hmmm....I really wanted this product to work for me....

Determined to make it work, I later tried applying this eyeliner to my lids and then smudging it out with an eyeliner brush and it worked! This method makes the product last on my super oily eyelids for the entire day. Yay!

I love this product.

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Soap & Glory |Crazy Sexy Kohl
Made in the UK

£14.00 (Normal Retail Price), I got mine for £7.00 (Half Price After Xmas Sale at Boots, London)

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Empties | January 2016

These are my January empties:

1. Tesco Loves Baby | 30 Gentle Baby Wipes 

I use these as makeup remover wipes.

2. St Ives Oatmeal & Shea Butter Body Wash | 400 ml

Love the smell and it's paraben free!

3. Rimmel Gentle Eye Make Up Remover | 125 ml

I've had this for years. It's an okay product, not really great at removing waterproof eye makeup though.

4. Daiso Silk Facial Oil Blotters

A must have in my handbag (especially in this hot and humid weather).

5. Tesco Everyday Value | Facial Cotton Pads | 100 pieces

Does the job, love the price.

Getting to the Annoying Last Drops of My Foundation

I'm coming to the end of my foundation and it's driving me insane knowing that there is still a fair bit more amount of product left in the pump bottle. I'm so going to try to get to every last bit that I can (yup, I'm like that!)

Revlon Color Burst in Berry Smoothie Review

Okay, I admit, I'm probably the last person on the planet to get on the Revlon Lip Butter rave wagon but hey, better late than never, no?

Where I live, Revlon products seem to be on the steeper end of drugstore makeup products. So I was pleasantly surprised when I was in Tesco's last week and they were having a 75% off discount on Revlon Color Burst Lip Butters and since I had heard many good things about it on the Internet, I decided to purchase one and find out what they hype was all about. 

I only purchased one as I wasn't sure about the color payoff and there were no testers available :/

I picked what seemed to be a safe neutral colour --- Berry Smoothie.

I now get what the hype around this product is all about. The formula of this product is fantastic. It's really moisturising and not drying at all, something that I really love about it. 

I like how the cover of the lipstick reflects the color of the lipstick inside. This would be of tremendous help especially when looking through my stash of lippies!

The colour payoff of Berry Smoothie is not much on my lips. It takes a few swipes of the product for it to show up on my pigmented lips. It looks natural on me and I like it. Now I wish I had picked up more! Definitely a love!

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Revlon Color Burst Lip Butter | Berry Smoothie
2.55 g

Made in U.S.A.

Normal Retail Price: 34.80 (I got mine for RM8.70, 75% Off at Tesco)

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Catrice Better than False Lashes Mascara Review

I purchased the Catrice Better than False Lashes mascara a few days ago. The tube is gold in colour and there is a picture of the mascara wand on the tube which is helpful in assisting you when purchasing the product should there be no testers available. 

The wand is the brush type and is big. This mascara is of the drier formulation and I found that I needed at least two coats of this mascara for it to look like I had anything on my lashes. 

The outcome is natural but voluminous looking lashes. My lashes are separated and not clumpy with product. It also didn't sting my eyes, which is good. 

I wore it to work and found that it didn't smudge throughout the day. It's also easy to remove. 

And oh, did I mention that it is a super affordable mascara? 

 It's perfect for work.

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Catrice | Better than False Lashes
12 ml

Made in Italy

Normal Retail Price: 24.90 (I got mine for RM17.45, 30% Off)
Available  at selected Guardian outlets

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Rimmel London | Kate Matte Lipstick Review

I purchased this lippie while I was in London. It was part of my three for two purchase of Rimmel London products from Boots. I picked colour 170, a berry red shade, a colour that I don't already have and besides, it seems fitting to be seen in a berry red lipstick when I'm dressed in black on most days against the grey London sky.

Rimmel London is no longer a brand that is available in Malaysia. They used to be sold here a number of years ago but that is sadly no longer the case.

This is a matte lipstick that isn't as drying as I was expecting it to be which is a surprise to me. It lasts well throughout the day and is something that I really like about it since I'm really rubbish when it comes to touching up my face.

I simply love the berry red colour. I think of it as a so London color, don't ask me why, but that is what I think of it. This is my current favourite lipstick colour which I've been wearing almost every day ever since I got it. So yeah, this is another purchase that I'm pleased with.

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Rimmel London | Kate Matte Lipstick in 107
4g

Made in England

Normal Retail Price: £5.50 (I got mine as part of the three for two offer at Boots)
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Empties November 2015

These are what I finished in November 2015:

1. Tesco Loves Baby | 30 Moisturising Baby Wipes

I used these as makeup wipes. They do the job and smell nice and refreshing. 

2. Jergens Foot Cream | 100ml

I've had this one for years. I purchased this a few years ago in Dubai.

3. Daiso Silk Oil Blotting Paper

Where would I be without these blotting papers???

4. Watsons H Bella Strawberry & Cinnamon Hand Cream | 80ml

Another purchase from years ago. Smells lovely. I'll not be repurchasing this one as I want to try out other hand creams and  hand creams last a long time with me.

5. Nyx Stay Matte Not Flat Powder Foundation in Caramel

I used this as a blotting powder throughout the day at work. It was okay. I'll not be repurchasing this is I want to try other powders. I have super oily skin and I didn't feel that this product did anything much for me in terms of oil control.

6. Oral B Essential Floss | 50m

This was a waxed floss which does the job that it's supposed to do. I normally carry floss in my handbag.

Earth Care Soaps Green Tea Orange Moisturising Lip Balm

I love pampering products. I happened to come by this brand while I was browsing at the Christmas stalls in The Curve after work yesterday.

I came across the Earth Care Soaps stall and I just loved the array of skincare products that they had on display. As it turns out, the Earth Care Soaps stall had more than just soaps. They also had facial and body scrubs, lip scrubs, lip balms, carrier and essential oils, body oil blend, hair oil blend and balms.

I tried swatching one of the lip balms on the back of my hand and I fell in love with the texture that just melted into my skin. I was sold.

I picked the limited holiday edition Green Tea Orange lip balm as I love the orange scent. It smells just so yummy. I just love sniffing this product...

This lip balm is colorless and goes on smoothly. My lips feel moisturised with it on. The packaging allows the product to be swivelled up and back down after use.

This is an organic product and as it is with organic products, the shelf life is not very long. This lip balm expires in July 2016.

I applied it on my lips before going to bed last night and woke up this morning with soft, kissable lips :D. So yes, this is certainly a purchase that I am pleased with.

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Earth Care Soaps | Green Tea Orange Moisturising Lip Balm
RM12.00
Purchased in the Christmas Stall in The Curve
Made locally with organic products
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Essence Cookies & Cream Blush Cake Pop That's Top Review

I picked up the Essence Cookies & Cream blush at the same time that I purchased the Essence Cookies & Cream Hand Balm (you can read the review here).

There is only one blusher in this limited edition line and the shade is named Cake Pop That's Top.

I didn't need another blusher but the color was just hard for me to walk away from. I not only love the color but also the texture --- it's buttery soft and I just need to touch my brush a tad bit to get a lot of color payoff.

This is a shimmery sort of blusher but the shimmer particles are very fine and not noticeable. It just gives my cheeks a nice glow of color. 

I love this blusher and I'm glad that I purchased it :) 

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Essence Cookies & Cream Blush in Cake Pop That's Top

Normal Retail Price: RM15.85 (I got mine for RM11.10 @ 30% Off)

Made in Poland

Available in selected Watson's

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Silkygirl Double Intense Eye Shadow & Silkygirl Moisture Shine Lipstick Review

Alpro has a warehouse sale going on in Jaya 33 now and I purchased the Silkygirl Double Intense Eye Shadow in 05 Silver Star and the Silkygirl Moisture Shine Lipstick in 08 Moonlight Pink.

I've never tried any Silkygirl eye shadow before this but since this was deeply discounted, I thought that it would be a great way to give it a try and if it doesn't work out, at least I didn't spend an arm and a leg buying it.

I tried on both products today. I applied the Double Intense Eye Shadow over my NYX eyeshadow primer and was pleasantly surprised as there was no fall out from  either color during application. I applied them using my Zoeva brushes and not the sponge applicator that it came with. I also had no problem with the colors looking washed out or fading on me. I must say though that the silver grey shade is growing on me.

Okay, so I didn't need to purchase ANOTHER lippie but it was cheap! The Moisture Shine Lipstick is a pretty pink. This product has been discontinued, I think, as I didn't see it at either of the two Silkygirl stands that I went to recently.

This is not a lipstick for those of you who prefer a lot of color pay off. This lippie feels moisturising enough when first applied but I found that it tends to dry my lips after a few hours. I have to wear this with a lip gloss otherwise my lips will chap and chapped lips are certainly NOT sexy ;)

All in all, I'm quite pleased with my two purchases at warehouse prices!

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Silkygirl Double Intense Eye Shadow in 05 Silver Star | 3.2g
RM6.00 (I purchased it during the Alpro Warehouse Sale; Normal Retail Price is RM16.90)
Made in Malaysia
Available in Guardian, Watsons

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Silkygirl Moisture Shine Lipstick in 08 Moonlight Pink
RM5.00 (I purchased it during the Alpro Warehouse Sale; I think this product has been discontinued as I could not find it at any of the Silkygirl stands in town)
Made in Malaysia
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