Time for a round down of products I've loved this year!

without further ado, let's talk about my favourite products of the year!
i've mentioned most of the important features in the video, so i'm just supplementing them with additional (but not necessarily important) thoughts about each product.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE



PRODUCTS MENTIONED//

1. DOLLYWINK long mascara
nuff' said about my love for this. i feel as though i'm a broken record because i've repeated what i love about this mascara many times! click on the link above for the review and swatch! or you can see me compare it with the maybelline lashionista mascara in this entry.

2. KISS ME HEROINE MAKE smooth liquid liner
another crowd favourite as it's constantly among the top few on the @cosme ranking, so i'm not the only one who thinks this eyeliner is da bomb! this is the only eyeliner i can trust to not get melted or dissolved by my tears, what's more, it is removeable by warm water! any makeup that don't require a makeup remover is automatically on my list this year as i'm avoiding makeup removers (for my sensitive skin).

3. KATE designing eyebrow N (EX-4)
i got to mention this since it's the only brow product i have. but i must say, i kept using it because i like using it, not because i had no choice (i could have easily bought another one if i wanted to). me touching pan on this is the greatest proof of how much i like it. plus, i've already bought a back up as seen in my haul video recently :P

4. KATE colorcious diamond eyeshadow (BR-1)
sometimes i wonder if it's fair to my other eyeshadows because i just keep using this on many occasions. especially on days when i didn't have time to think of how i want to wear my eyeshadows, i just pick this up and go on my auto pilot mode. this just works for me all the time! the shimmery bling coupled with pigmented browns make this wearable on any occassion. maybe, i just love the shimmery shades too much. 

5. REVLON colorstay moisture stain (005 parisian passion)
hands down, my favourite lip product of the year. i've had enough from korean lip tints/stains because their watery formula made them stain my lips very unevenly. i had no such problem with the moisture stain! what's more, it's in my favourite dark purplish red shade. not a lot of drugstore brand offer this colour, so it's a double win for me.

6. REAL TECHNIQUES starter set + setting brush
i want to say i do not own too many brushes, but in actual fact, i do. having brushes from elf, real techniques, and sigma, i find myself using the real techniques brushes the most because they're easy to use and so multi functional. they're also made of synthetic fibers, so i don't need to worry about ruining them in case i wash them wrongly.

7. LIFE FLO pure rose hip seed oil
this thing is value for money! finally something that's nice and doesn't break your bank :) some people find the scent of it to be intolerable, but i quite like the nutty smell of the oil. it's amber in colour, but worry not, it won't leave you yellow faced. instead, what you get is moisturized and soft skin the next day.

8. MY OWN ESSENTIAL OIL BLEND
because i can get the carrier oil for a low price, that means i can use this liberally over my body. works alright for me! if my skin is super dry, then this alone won't be enough obviously. but on my better skin, it keeps it moisturized for quite some time. and the scent is gentle and soothing, but doesn't linger for too long! if you're curious, i bought everything from iherb.

9. AVENE xerecalm lipid replenishing balm
BEST CREAM EVER. that's all i'm going to say. you got to try it to believe it.

ENDING NOTE
i didn't notice i managed to cram 9 products into a 9 minute video, wow. the video could have been a lot longer, but i decided to cut out most of the crap!

what are you favourites for 2015? let me know!

Time to reflect on the wisdom I've gained.

first of all, wishing everyone merry christmas (or happy holidays!) and a happy new year.
christmas is probably nothing more than a commercialized holiday here in singapore (IMHO), but i like to take the time to count my blessings before giving my blessings to others during this time of the year.

i don't do a lot of these personal posts over here at madokeki blog because..
well, they're personal, and not beauty related.
but once in a while, i feel the need to let that side of me trickle just a little into this space so that it's still a extension of who i am.
also, it's mainly because stephy did an awesome post reflecting on 2015, she got me onto the bandwagon as well.

2015 is a pretty short year for me because i spent most of the time resting (due to my health and skin).
i only really got my life back some time in august, and it's been a bang ever since then.

suddenly, everything was coming my way.
it felt surreal for a bit when you're caught in the center of the hurricane,
seeing everything swirl past you at super sonic speed.
the good thing is, i got to experience a whole lot in a short period of time,
the bad thing is, i had too little time to full immerse myself in each of those moments.

so here are a few things i learnt this year, which have been about 80% down time and 20% highlights.
i want to reiterate that down time isn't all that bad, except for when you're stuck in it at that particular moment.
but the fruits you will reap after that is very fruitful (hahahaha ran out of words to use!).

1. it's okay to take a break to catch a breather. many times i catch myself working endlessly, projects after projects without taking a real break. even a small one at the end of the day would have helped! that also included a break from social media - sometimes you just have to give others a chance to miss you for who you are :) to those who really care about you, that is. those who forget you the moment you go missing from the radar are probably, just not worth it.

2. find the constants in an ever changing world. as much as change is a constant thing in life, it's also daunting and scary at times when we're not prepared for it. sometimes it catches me off guard to be in a totally foreign place filled with new people. one of the ways i coped with that is to reach out to my group of trusty girl friends, who are essentially the constants in my life. they keep me grounded and rooted and remind me of who i am in the face of change.

3. always, always, cherish those who matters. this is a continuation from point number 2. after identifying the constants in my life, i make sure they receive the love they deserve for being darlings in my life. it goes out to my family as well, which have been the biggest pillar of support in my life. it's easy to forget about them because they've been so constant in my life, i tend to take them for granted. but all it takes is a little reminder, a little bit of kindness, and a word of appreciation to set things right.

4. slow down, pause, and look around you. it's not difficult to have your attention completely caught up by a fleeting distraction. sometimes we are in that situation because we really enjoy the moment, but more often than not, we're probably too caught up by stress to full enjoy everything around us. for example, when you're too stressed out finding your way to a certain place, one tends to focus on all the road signs and the map, only to neglect all the beautiful things along the journey to your destination. take it easy pal! it's okay to be lost for a bit, take a little detour, and be surprised with the things you discover serendipitiously.

5. everything will turn out fine, as long as we keep trying (something different). of course, i'm talking about constantly making changes to our behaviours to improve our life. albert einstein says insanity is to do the same thing over and over again but expect a different result. so don't keep doing the same thing if you expect things to change! the beauty of this quote is that, when you fail, simply take that in stride and use that as a sign that says "this method doesn't work! try something else!" instead of flipping the table and go "i give up!".

and for the upcoming year, there are a few things i hope to do better.

1. plan ahead, but don't be stressed out about the planning.

2. be more flexible and accommodating.

3. continue meditating, and be more mindful.

4. creating more quality work that i'm proud of.

5. relax, breathe, and live better.

are there any things you'd like to do better next year?

Basic skin care, Special skin care

here comes the skin care products after the overall winners (grand prize, hall of fame, and best new buy) are published in part 1 of the @cosme awards series.

warning: there's A LOT of products.
last year i didn't blog about the special skin care, but since i'm an avid user of facial oils now i might as well include that section in :P

all information and images are taken from the official @cosme website.

BASIC SKIN CARE

CLEANSING

1. FANCL | MILD CLEANSING OIL

"removes the most stubborn makeup without drying skin out"

2. BIFESTA | URUOCHI WATER CLEANSING EYE MAKEUP REMOVER

3. COSME DECORTE | AQ MELIORITY REPAIR CLEANSING CREAM

FACE WASH

1. COW BRAND | BEAUTY SOAP RED BOX (MOISTURIZING)

"well loved by people who likes simple skin care"

2. CLEANSING RESEARCH | WASH CLEANSING

3. ARSOA | ARSOA QUEEN SILVER

MOISTURIZING TONER

1. SK-II | FACIAL TREATMENT ESSENCE

"a luxury lotion that gives a boost the skin's natural beauty"

2. EAUDE MUGE | EAU DE MUGE MEDICATED LOTION

3. CLINIQUE | EVEN BETTER ESSENCE LOTION

SERUM/BOOSTER

1. SHISEIDO | ULTIMUNE POWER INFUSING CONCENTRATE

2. LANCOME | GENEFIQUE ADVANCED

3. ALBION | ECLAFUTUR

FACE LOTION

1. MINON | AMINO MOIST MOIST CHARGE MILK

"delivers long lasting moisture and smoothness to sensitive skin"

2. EXAGE | EXAGE WHITE WHITE CRYSTAL MILK II

3. EXAGE | EXAGE WHITE WHITE CRYSTAL MILK III

FACE CREAM

1. CUREL | INTENSIVE MOISTURE CREAM

2. NIVEA | NIVEA SOFT SKIN CARE CREAM

3. ETTUSAIS | PREMIUM AMINO CAVIAR CREAM

SUNBLOCK

1. BIORE | UV AQUA RICH WATERY ESSENCEY SPF 50+

"provides the highest level of UV protection without feeling heavy"

2. ALLIE | EXTRA V MINERAL MOIST NEO

3. CLE DE PEAU | UV PROTECTION CREAM

SPECIAL SKIN CARE

OIL

1. HABA | PURE ROOTS SQUALANE

"a long seller loved by all skin types"

2. MELVITA | ARGAN OIL

3. KNEIPP | KNEIPPBIO OIL

LIP CARE

1. CUREL | LIP CARE CREAM

"maintains a high level of moisture for a long time"

2. DIOR | DIOR ADDICT LIP GLOW

3. NIVEA | NIVEA CREME CARE LIP BALM (UNSCENTED)

EYE CARE

1. CLE DE PEAU | INTENSIVE EYE CONTOUR CREAM

"gives you smooth, firm and radiant eyes"

2. FANCL | EYE SERUM

3. CHANEL | SUBLIMAGE LE CREME YEUX

SHEET MASK

1. MY BEAUTY DIARY | BLACK PEARL MASK

"gives you the most bang out of your buck with their low price and carefully selected ingredients to achieve transparent and clear skin"

2. MINON | MOIST SKIN CASK

3. MY BEAUTY DIARY | IMPERIAL BIRD'S NEST MASK

EXFOLIANT

1. ROSETTE | ROSETTE PEEL

"removes dead skin cells gentle, makeup glides on evenly after exfoliation"

2. CUREL | NATURAL AQUA GEL CURE

3. ORBIS | AQUA PEELING GEL

MASSAGE

1. EST | ACTIVATE CIRCULATOR

"30 seconds of massage with the carbonic acid foam and you'll get a lit from within glow"

2. SUQQU | MUSCULATE MASSAGE AND MASK CREAM

3. LUSH | FULL OF GRACE

EYELASH SERUM

1. SHISEIDO PROFESSIONAL | ADENOVITAL EYELASH SERUM

"repairs damaged lashes while it lengthens and volumizes at the same time"

2. DHC | EXTRA BEAUTY EYELASH TONIC

3. AVANCE | LASH SERUM EX

SKIN CARE POWDER

1. PIGEON | BABY POWDER (MEDICATED)

"a travel friendly multi purpose powder"

2. MAQUILLAGE | SNOW BEAUTY 2

3. EXAGE | EXAGE WHITE WHITE CONDITIONING POWDER

if you're looking to purchase some of these products, you can do so conveniently at the @cosmeshopping website where they grouped all the award winning products together in one place.

part 3 (eye makeup) will be up next week!

The holidays are coming!

it's been a while since my last makeup look, isn't it?
skin issues aside, i was on a holiday so i simply can't do that while abroad!
here's a christmas bauble inspired look because i happened to see some shiny christmas tree decorations at the mall the other day,
the glittery and shiny orbs caught my eyes!

i was that close to applying glitter on my eyes, but i don't have cosmetic glitters so..
next year maybe?
the main point of this look is to contrast the shimmer with a matte shadow, high contrast always bring out the best of both finish!

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE



PRODUCTS USED//



1. MAKEUP REVOLUTION redemption iconic 3
2. MAYBELLINE hypersharp liner (black)
3. KOJI white fix eye lash glue
4. DOLLYWINK long mascara
5. KATE mineral powder foundation
6. VISEE color polish lipstick (RD420)
7. KATE designing eyebrow N (EX-4)
8. GENERIC false lash (#216) [NOT IN PHOTO}
9. FRESHEL skin freshener [NOT IN PHOTO]



colours used from the eyeshadow palette.

BRUSHES USED//

1. REAL TECHNIQUES deluxe crease brush
2. REAL TECHNIQUES setting brush
3. REAL TECHNIQUES brow brush
4. SIGMA medium sweeper E54

FINAL LOOK//



this is actually a rather easy and light makeup look (compared to the more dramatic ones i've thought of),
but i really want to keep this look light because i planned for this to be a day time look.
if you want to glam this up, you can always add more dark colours on the outer third to intensify the look,
you can even tight line your lower water line with a black eyeliner for a full on sexy look.

i always find it easier to add things on than to remove things,
that's why i tend to film the lighter makeup looks as it's always easier for you to darken it yourself,
than for me to teach you how to lighten up a heavy makeup look.

i went without blushers for this look as i felt the red lips was sufficient to add that pop of colour onto the face,
if i added a blusher on it might have made me look like a clown.
that's not good!

i am so going to wear this for a christmas date!

A lot less items than I originally planned for.

why were they not mentioned in my HK BEAUTY HAUL VIDEO?
it's a matter of timing, and forgetfulness.
at the time of filming, i have only bought the makeup remover, which i've promptly stuffed into my luggage and forgot about them.
the other things are only bought after i filmed,
hence this extra post just for these little babies.

the irony being, i've originally planned to buy a shit load of skin care items about a year ago (before my skin gave me problems again).
due to the unfortunate series of events, i've struck off most of the items off my list.
stuff like whitening lotion, serum, and creams,
as well as basic moisturizing lotions from other brands.
my skin can't use any of those right now anyway, so i got minimal stuff this trip.
most of them aren't even for me.

BIFESTA | CLEANSING LOTION (AGE CARE + BRIGHT UP) | 300ML

LUNG SHING DISPENSARY (TSIM SHA TSUI, HONG KONG) | HKD 59 EA

repurchases for the.. 4th time i think. i can't remember. all i know is this thing works well, it's bloody affordable, and i'm sticking to it. i think i've reviewed these before, you can read that if you need more reasons to give this a try.

i later found out they cost the same at WATSONS and MANNINGS, so there's no reason to drop by LUNG SHING DISPENSARY just to get these, they aren't any cheaper there. but you might chance upon some really good deals there.

SANA | NAMERAKA HONPO EXTRA MOISTURE SKIN LOTION | 200ML

SASA | HKD 70

i actually wanted to get the lotion from their WRINKLE LINE, which is targeted at mature ladies since i'm getting this for my mom. but that line is not available in singapore, so i got something equally moisturizing - this extra moisture skin lotion (which is supposed to be the toner you use after you wash your face).

this belongs to the soymilk isoflavone line, it claims to contain 2.5 times the normal amount of soy extract, and has 9 times more moisturizing. it even claims to have whitening capabilities as the soy extract is able to suppress melatonin production, as well as to stimulate collagen synthesis to achieve a anti aging effect.

confused yet? this is simply the roided version of the original soymilk skin lotion. like super roided up, since they have the original, moisturizing, and extra moisturizing version (which is the one i bought).

MEISHOKU | BIGANSUI MEDICAL LOTION | 80ML

SASA | HKD 58

another lotion? this is meant for my brother though!

the bigansui is a medicated lotion meant for acne skin type, it contains salicylic acid which gently removes dead skin cells, as well as pionin which prevents a build up of sebum. google also says that the latter is antimicrobial, probably why it's good for some kinds of acne, especially if it's caused or worsened by microbes.

hoping this thing delivers its claims of controlling sebum production and reducing pore size. i want my brother to have beautiful skin! someone give me a good sister award already :P

FRESHEL | SKIN FRESHENER | 130ML

LOG ON | HKD 92

let me say this first, this was a lot more expensive than i expected. and it was almost impossible to find as it's not available in sasa or bonjour, neither have i seen it in watsons or mannings. it was a surprise find at LOG ON (apm). 

i first saw this on the @cosme ranking, since it clinched the first spot in the booster category - it's meant to be used before all your skin care to boost the absorption of subsequent products. i can go on to tell you about what the liquid contains, but i believe that's not the most important feature that help skin care products to go into your skin more easily, rather, it's the amazing mist head.

this is worlds apart from the hadanomy collagen mist i got before, the atomizer did a pretty shit job at dispersing a fine and even mist (you can feel a ring of mist on your face). the one on the freshel skin freshener is totally different, the mist is really fine, and a lot more even than the former.

i don't intend to use this only as a skin care booster, but also as makeup priming/setting spray, because i'm going to say it for the last time - IT'S THE FINENESS OF THE MIST THAT AFFECTS EVERYTHING. it makes a world of a difference after using this over powder makeup, everything just comes together in a way you never imagined until you try it.

and how beautiful is the faceted bottle design? totally going to finish this up and then replace it with water to set my makeup next time :P

Grand prize, Hall of fame, Best new buy

just as i was wondering what to blog about, i realize that time of the year has come again - @cosme released their best of cosmetics awards for the year of 2015.

if there's one thing i learnt from blogging about this award over the years, it's that the categories of awards keep growing each year.

i've separated the awards into 4 parts because there're too many items, i don't want to overwhelm you all at one go.
if you'd like to find out the winning products for yourself, you can do so at the @cosme 2015 best of cosmetics official website.
it's in english, don't worry!

all images and information taken from @cosme official website.

GRAND PRIZE

1. YVES SAINT LAURENT BEAUTE | ROUGE VOLUPTE SHINE

"perfect blend of moisture and beautiful sheer colours"

2. DAISO | SILICONE MOISTURIZING MASK

3. MAQUILLAGE | DRAMATIC MELTING ROUGE

HALL OF FAME

COW BRAND | BEAUTY SOAP BLUE BOX (REFRESHING)

"the classic scent and foam of this soap makes this a well loved item"

NIVEA | NIVEA CREME

"a well trusted moisturizer with a friendly price tag"

ALBION | HERBAL OIL GOLD

ANGFA | SCALP-D BEAUTE PURE FREE EYELASH

"it's not a pair of false lash, it's my own lash, just extended by fibres"

SHISEIDO | SPOTCOVER FOUNDATION

"covers redness and all other blemishes perfectly"

CHANEL | POUDRE UNIVERSELLE LIBRE

"ultra fine powder that can give you transparent and glowy looking skin"

CANMAKE | CREAM CHEEK

"fool proof item to achieve that natural flush"

HOUSE OF ROSE | OH! BABY BODY SMOOTHER

"keeps the entire body smooth when used during bath. the repurchase rates are surprisingly high"

MORROCAN OIL | MORROCAN OIL TREATMENT ORIGINAL

"amazing shine, even severely damaged hair are revived"

VO5 | SUPER KEEP HAIR SPRAY EXTRA HARD (UNSCENTED)

"your hair can survive through the wind and rain with this"

PANASONIC | NANOCARE IONIC HAIR DRYER

"innovative hair dryer supports a healthy scalp on top of drying your hair"

BEST NEW BUY

ESPRIQUE | SELECT EYE COLOR

ALBION | DRESSED MOISTURE CHIFFON

NIVEA | NIVEA CREME CARE LIP BALM (UNSCENTED)

ESSENTIAL | NIGHT CARE MILK

FRAGRANCE | CHANCE EAU VIVE EAU DE TOILETTE

BENEFIQUE | BEAUTY BOOSTER

if you're looking to purchase some of these products, you can do so conveniently at the @cosmeshopping website where they grouped all the award winning products together in one place.

part 2 (skin care) will be up next week!

5 Hours was simply too fast too furious.

i've never been to macau all my life,
so i decided to visit it while i was back in hong kong this november.
i think all the years of hearing about macau from others painted a rather unrealistic picture in my mind,
it's sad to say i'm a bit underwhelmed when i was there,
but it's probably because of my tight schedule.
if i had more time, i would love to just sit and absorb the atmosphere of those spectacular architecture.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE



MORE PHOTOS//

didn't take too much photos again :P


mandatory selfie shot while at the venetian.
i was just passing by actually, because the shuttle bus took me here and i really need to take a look at the venetian hotel.


it's inside is amazing, this is the next best thing to actually being in ancient buildings in some part of europe i guess.


fast forward to san ma lo, where most of the tourist spots are located at.
this building is painted in bright yellow.
why????????? it hurts my eyes.


the ruins of st paul's is probably the icon of macau in my mind.
but when i saw it..
"oh wow, that's all?".
it's so sad that all's left is but a wall.
nonetheless it looked amazing.


i've been here! :D

my trip to macau is really short,
i didn't expect to stay there for that long anyway,
but i really underestimated the vastness of macau and failed to factor in the time needed to go from one place to another.
i barely made it back in time for my ferry ride!

PHEW.

it could have been worse, right?

Brace yourself, Christmas is coming.

christmas, the season of giving and festivity.
but who says these are only good for gifts for others?
i find christmas to be a good time to score good deals provided you've been wanting to try certain products for a while, especially if you've been wishing for smaller sizes.

your wish is granted.

here are a few gifts i personally wouldn't mind receiving because EVERYONE needs/can use a hand cream.
i assume if these are stuff i see utility in, others will too. (totally imposing my likes and dislikes on others haha!)
instead of getting them in full sizes, you can now get to sample (several of) them at one go at a fraction of the original price.

also, this is a really good time to grab a few travel sets so you can use them when you go on a weekend getaway. there's a limit on bottled liquids (you can only bring a maximum of 1L of liquid on board, each individual container must not be more than 100ml), so miniatures will be perfect!

thanks santa!

all information and images taken from their official websites.

L'OCCITANE

Holiday Hand Cream Trio Set A | SGD40

- Cherry Blossom Hand Cream 30ml

- Shea Butter Hand Cream 30ml

- Almond Delicious Hands 30ml

about $13.3 each

Holiday Hand Cream Trio Set B | SGD40

- Cherry Blossom Hand Cream 30ml

- Shea Butter Hand Cream 30ml

- Roses et Reines Hand Cream 30ml

about $13.3 each

Holiday Hand Cream Set | SGD71

- Shea Butter Hand Cream 30ml

- Roses et Reines Hand Cream 30ml

- Cherry Blossom Hand Cream 30ml

- Lavender Hand Cream 30ml

- Almond Delicious Hand 30ml

$14.2 each 

CRABTREE & EVELYN

Hand Therapy Musical Tin (Set of Twelve) | SGD98

Avocado, Olive & Basil (25g)

Caribbean Island Wildflowers (25g)

Citron, Honey & Coriander (25g)

Gardeners (25g)

La Source (25g)

Lavender (25g)

Nantucket Briar (25g)

Pear and Pink Magnolia (25g)

Pomegranate, Argan & Grapeseed (25g)

Rosewater (25g)

Summer Hill (25g)

Verbena and Lavender (25g)

about $8.20 each

Limited Edition Hand Therapy Tin | SGD39

Frosted Rose Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy (25g)

Sugar & Spice Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy (25g)

Apple Snow Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy (25g)

$13 each

Classic Floral Hand Therapy Tin | SGD33

Rosewater Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy (25g)

Lavender Ultra-Moisturising Hand Therapy (25g)

Lily-Moisturising Hand Therapy (25g)

$11 each

THE BODY SHOP

Soft Hands, Warm Kisses (Shea) | SGD19.90

- Shea Hand Cream 30ml

- Shea Lip Butter 10ml

Seasonal Hand Cream Trio | SGD29.90

- Frosted Cranberry Hand Cream 30ml

- Frosted Plum Hand Cream 30ml

- Glazed Apple Hand Cream 30ml 

about $10 each

Fruity Body Butter Sweetheart | SGD 29.90

- Strawberry Body Butter 50ml

- Satsuma Body Butter 50ml

- Mango Body Butter 50ml

about $10 each

TRAVEL SETS

L' OCCITANE Pivoine Flora Petite Shower Set | SGD39

- Pivoine Flora Shower Gel 75ml

- Pivoine Flora Beauty Milk 75ml

- Pivoine Flora Hand Cream 30ml

- Limited Edition Holiday Mini Box 

CRABTREE & EVENLYN Pomegranate Argan & Grapeseed Traveller | $30

Pomegranate, Argan & Grapeseed Body Wash 50mL

Pomegranate, Argan & Grapeseed Body Lotion 50mL

Pomegranate, Argan & Grapeseed Hand Therapy 25g

THE BODY SHOP Strawberry Beauty Bag | SGD29.90

- Strawberry Shower Gel 60ml

- Strawberry Body Butter 50ml

- Strawberry Hand Cream 30ml

- Red Mini Crinkle Bath Lily 

EDITOR'S THOUGHT

before you say that the selection is very limited, i'd like to reiterate that these brands are those i've been keeping a lookout for throughout the years, so that's why i'm featuring them since i just so happen to know this few brands. even though they all sell roughly the same things, there's still a difference between their price points (with l'occitane being the most expensive out of all).

after making necessary conversions, you get the most value of of your buck (for hand creams) if you get the CRABTREE & EVELYN Hand Therapy Musical Tin (Set of 12) (at $9.84 per 30ml). 

so, one tube of hand cream for every month?

Some places are better consumed in small quantities.

so the trip finally happened.
i originally planned to head back to hong kong earlier in april,
but my skin suddenly took a turn for the worse so i had to put that on hold.
little did i expect to be able to be well enough to fly back 6 months later.
FOREVER THANKFUL :)

this vlog isn't about me introducing you to the best places to shop and eat,
it's just a diary of where i've been to.
it's literally, fragments of my memory.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE



MORE PHOTOS//

i didn't really have too many photos taken since i'm either filming footages on my camera or i'm not. for me to whip out my phone to snap a photo, it better be worth the hassle!

while at CHEUNG CHAU, basking in the sun and cool breeze with my new found friend, a cute little daschund.

also at CHEUNG CHAU, my first time seeing the sea in a long time, it's hong kong island in the far distance (that looks misty).

you probably already know i have a thing for bearbricks now. this was at CTMA CENTER, MONG KOK. i always make it a point to drop by this place even if i'm not buying anything. :P i might just chance upon a good deal!

picked this up on my girlfirend's recommendation. LOVIN' IT. mentioned this in my haul video!

while walking along HAIPHONG ROAD, TSIM SHA TSUI, they were giving out free drinks. this is adult apple juice!!! SO GOOD.

i saw these ads in train stations, but it was so hard finding them. when i finally saw them in SHA TIN, i didn't get them because they were priced too ridiculously. could have easily gotten 7 normal lip balms for that price (around HKD210).

yum cha is a must while in hong kong. i already gobbled up the best runny salted egg yolk bun before taking this photo.

i got a year's worth of nature in TAI O that day. spent half a day there, but i honestly wanted to leave 3 hours into the trip.

but this scene made the trip worth it, i guess. #justlookingonthebrightside

this definitely left me in awe. the colours are too beautiful!

had to throw this photo of the 炸兩 (zha liang) in because i've been craving it and finally had it.

the humble egg tart near my grandma's place. for HKD3, this is the best egg tart i had in this price group, sometimes i think the more expensive ones can't beat this one i had. disclaimer: i did not eat this while starving for me to find it super delicious! the crust is crumbly and super buttery, right up my alley!

awesome weather in STANLEY - sun and breeze.

i laughed when i saw these fake abercrombie and fitch slippers. never knew they had a sister brand called aberconnbie and fiche. hahahahahhaha!

the chicken was good enough for me to want to snap a photo of it. it's one of CHUEN CHEUNG KUI's signature dish. MUST HAVE.

more beachy goodness at SAI KUNG.

could have been a message from god :P looked divine.

perspective matters. a view of KWUN TONG from APM.

packing mania! it actually makes me feel very uncomfortable looking at the messy table, thankfully i managed to packed them all away before i left hong kong.

dad took this photo, can you spot where am i!?

i went to hong kong with only a backpack and a luggage, but i'm returning with one extra hand carry luggage :X and it was dead heavy too. and my new tripod which i bought for a steal! best buy of my trip because it cost me HKD80, while the market price is 300 and onwards. my dad knows where to find good deals :D

so that concludes my trip to hong kong this year. 

well it's obvious i did not share personal photos of my family and i, those are memories i keep close to my heart, and myself. just because i excluded them from my beauty blog does not mean that they are out of my life! just so you know :)