The matte-ness is slowly growing upon me.

a small revelation here,
i have never thought of myself as a matte lipstick fan because i've always associated matte with "dryness".
plus, growing up under the influence of japanese makeup where juicy and plump lips are the desired look,
matte lips just never appealed to me,
until recently.

that's the up side of being exposed to different standards of beauty.
not only does it widen my perspectives, i learnt to appreciate a whole new range of lip products i've never laid eyes upon before.

from my lipstick collection, i picked out these 4 matte products (because the majority are still non-mattes).
they are all drugstore brands (revlon, maybelline and l'oreal) available in singapore.

from left to right: REVLON super lustrous matte / REVLON colorburst matte balm / MAYBELLINE colorsensational bold matte / L'OREAL moist matte

i feel like matte lipsticks aren't that popular in the singapore market because the selection is a lot smaller than other finishes.
but i managed to pick out a few good ones.



REVLON super lustrous matte (010 wine not) is a dark raisin colour, leaning towards a brownish/purplish shade. the lipstick is smooth on my lips and deposits a thin layer of colour that can be built up to my desired intensity in 2 swipes. settles into lip lines easily, works best with a thin layer of lip balm underneath it. not very moisturizing, but i can get 2-3 hours of comfortable wear out of this before reapplication.

REVLON colorburst matte balm (210 unapologetic) is a bright pink, it's closer to coral than hot pink. the lipstick glides extremely smoothly to deposit a generous amount of lipstick, you can probably get full intensity with just one swipe. just beware of getting too much product on as it might end up looking uneven. it doesn't feather, but the product does bunch up. doesn't feel drying, but it will sink into my lip lines after several hours. a complete removal before reapplication is recommended (to prevent overdose of product). thankfully, removing this stuff is as easy as wiping it off.

MAYBELLINE coloursensational bold matte (MAT 3 cheeky coral) is an orange! application is smooth but sheer, even after several swipes the colour fails to build up to the intensity of the bullet. probably works best as a blusher than a lipstick. it's not even a full matte as there's a slight sheen after application. feels more moisturizing than the previous 2 revlon lipsticks though!

L'OREAL moist matte (PR511 spring rosette) is dark dusty pink, even though it looks pretty dark on the swatch above it looks a lot lighter when on my lips (it's probably looking darker when compared to the white tissue) the formulation is perfect, the lipstick glides like butter and deposits just the right amount of products. highly pigmented, even, and moisturizing. it can feel dry after 4 hours and accentuate lip lines beyond that, so it's time to reapply. from memory, i can reapply straightaway without removing the remnants first.

MY FAVOURITE?

this is my ranking:

L'OREAL moist matte > REVLON colorburst matte balm > REVLON super lustrous matte > MAYBELLINE colorsensational bold matte

one thing for sure, my matte lipstick collection is only going to grow.

Sudden explosion of liquid eyeliner population at madokeki HQ.

obviously, this post is dated because now my eyeliner collection has grown from 3 to 4 (addition of dollywink).
this post will do a simple comparison between the qualities that matters to me the most (i assume they matter that much to you too).

THE CONTENDERS //



MAYBELLINE hypersharp liner (black), HEROINE MAKE smooth liquid eyeliner (black), KATE super sharp liner S spider liner II (BK-1).

click on individual link for their respective reviews!

SWATCH//


swatched on my arm, all are one swipe only.

COLOUR: all three of them are jet black. MAYBELLINE seems a little diluted because it was brand new when i swatched it.

FINISH: MAYBELLINE is the only matte black liner, while HEROINE MAKE and KATE both has a slight sheen to it.

RUB TEST//


i think this is self explanatory. you can see the results for yourself.

RUB RESISTANCE: HEROINE MAKE > KATE > MAYBELLINE

WATERPROOF: all claims to be waterproof, but MAYBELLINE is the one with a waterproof formula, while HEROINE MAKE and KATE are film type eyeliners.

OIL PROOF: they all claim to be oil proof, but i think HEROINE MAKE is the only one that really does the job well. MAYBELLINE and KATE might melt when there's oil AND heat.

MAKEUP REMOVAL: both HEROINE MAKE and KATE are film type eyeliners, they can be removed with warm water. HEROINE MAKE can come off easily with an eye makeup remover too, but KATE leaves behind a black stain for some reason. MAYBELLINE must be removed by an eye makeup remover and it cannot be removed by warm water at all.

RELIABILITY: HEROINE MAKE is the only eyeliner i can trust since it never melted or smudged on me. KATE and MAYBELLINE both melted on my eyes before (especially if i didn't powder my eyes).

IN A NUTSHELL
based on the formula alone, i really like heroine make's smooth liquid eyeliner because it can be removed by either water or eye makeup remover. why does this matter? because it means i can use it at all times, whether it's water proof makeup (that requires eye makeup remover) or it's a simple makeup (that can be washed away by just water or micellar water).

however, that doesn't mean there's no value in maybelline's hypersharp liner, because i will definitely use it when wearing waterproof mascara since they will be removed altogether by the eye makeup remover! convenient much! plus i really like it for being matte!

as for kate's super sharp liner, it's just not as reliable as heroine make smooth liquid eyeliner. it doesn't add any value to my life at all.

also, if you haven't seen my 2015 favourites, i explained why i love heroine make smooth liquid eyeliner. :) i don't want to sound like a broken record so.. watch it to find out!

did i miss out any qualities that you're interested in? leave me a comment if i did!

Stuff that gets me through difficult times

even the strongest person will feel down once in a while,
it's all part of life, a cycle,
just like the tidal waves.

sometimes, all i need is to pick myself up because it's all in the mind.
if i can get past a little hurdle, i can achieve so much more.
i really believe in the power of our minds because it's our perception that defines our reality.
making myself feel better is the first step to a better reality,
because a good mood paints everything in a lighter (and happier) note.



PRODUCTS USED //

1. MAYBELLINE masterliner (BLACK)
2. DOLLYWINK liquid liner (DEEP BLACK)
3. DOLLYWINK long mascara
4. KATE designing eyebrow N (EX-4)
5. PANASONIC heated lash curler EH2300
6. REVLON colorstay moisture stain (005 parisian passion)

it took me a while to come to this decision of taking a pause from making makeup videos.
i never expected something i love doing to stress me out, not because i don't like doing it anymore,
but because I CAN'T.

my skin has been unstable lately, and pushing myself to do something i can't is stressing me out.
and the more i pine about doing make up in this state,
the worse i felt.

i figured this isn't the feelings i need for my recovery,
so the best thing i can do for myself right now is to break this news to all of you so i can rest with a peace of mind.
my health is my asset, and i need it to create more value in the future,
so it's my priority to nurture it right now.
it's all for the good in the long run, even though it pains me to stop making things for all of you.

thank you so much for understanding and supporting,
i truly hope this is the last time i need to take a break due to health issues.
i'm back to herbs that have worked for me before, so i'm pretty sure this time round things will be more promising than before.

i just need time!

Cherry pink everything!


MAJOLICA MAJORCA'S new spring 2016 collection "open your luck" will be available from 21 february 2016, and they want you to have a smashing impression on others when school reopens! Usually, it's the big eyes that captures others attention first, that's why they've came up with a new liquid eyeliner, together with lip treatments, mascara, and a cherry coloured blush to "open your luck".

all of the limited edition items are in the shade of cherry pink, or sakura pink. how adorable!

MAJOLICA MAJORCA GEL LIQUID LINER | 1026 YEN

with its fine tip (0.02mm) and smooth brush, you can get a strong and fine line easily that last up to 12 hours thanks to its sweat/sebum/tear proof formula.

you can easily adjust the intensity of the colour by controlling the number of clicks at the end of the pen.

available in 5 shades, PK400 cherry pink is a limited edition colour.

MAJOLICA MAJORCA LIP ESSENCE BALM | 648 YEN

provides an instant boost of hydration and a tint of colour. formulated with honey and other moisturizing ingredients, it can draw moisture from the air onto your lips, while forming a barrier that keeps all the moisture locked within your lips. the lip balm is slightly tinted so you can create that naturally pink and healthy looking lips.

available in 2 shades, cherry tint is a limited edition colour.

MAJOLICA MAJORCA LASH EXPANDER EDGE MEISTER PK400 | 1296 YEN

a limited edition colour, the cherry pink mascara will create a loveable first impression (that hopefully make guys want to protect you :P). the waterproof formula will keep this mascara safe from perspiration, sebum, tears, while keep your lashes curled all day long. the duet comb and 4mm black fibres will get your those one-by-one and natural looking long lashes.

use this at the end of the lashes, as well as the bottom lashes as a point colour for best results.

MAJOLICA MAJORCA PUFF DE CHEEKS PK401 | 1620 YEN

also a limited edition colour, the sakura pink blush is a mix of 3 colours. applying it with the puff by lightly patting it on your cheeks will give you natural flush of colour.

it seems like the trend of using pink on the eyes won't be dying down anytime soon! the idea of the vulnerable look appears to be gaining traction, with canmake releasing their secret colour eyes which also contains a pink shadow not too long ago. i won't be surprise to see a pink eyeshadow being released by MJ in the near future.

 

all information and images adapted from shiseido.

Let's tour the island I live on.

it felt a little weird doing a showcase of the place i've lived in for the past decade.
maybe because it's "nothing new" to me!
thanks to my friend, i get to tour around town like a tourist :)
there's still many beautiful things waiting for me to explore and discover even if i've been here for a while.

in fact, i'd like to challenge myself to have a piece of the beginner's mind - to enjoy everything as though it's my very first time.
i think it'll make my life a lot more pleasant that way!



attractions we went to include:

1. UNIVERSAL STUDIOS SINGAPORE
i heard you can get cheaper tickets through travel agencies!


noticed the hovering hand? hahaha!!!


I CONQUERED THIS! i think i ride on the cylon one, if i remember correctly!


had to do it :P the minions are too cute!

2. MARINA BAY SANDS + GARDENS BY THE BAY
it's free entry for both unless you want to be at the paid areas (sky garden and the conservatories).

3. ORCHARD ROAD
some retail therapy for you?

4. NIGHT SAFARI
a new experience for my friend and i as it's not about eating or shopping. just a relaxing night tour in the cooling weather, and walking past coyotes that stare at you as though you are a piece of fresh meat.


the only well lit photo taken at the night safari, and it's this cute otter plushie!

P.S.
the new years eve fireworks was 10 full minutes,
but i only captured a few seconds of them because i decided it's better for me to enjoy it with my own eyes, instead of through my camera screen!
it's a pity seeing so many people recording the ENTIRE show on their phone,
their eyes glued to the tiny little screen.
WHY? WHY ARE YOU ALL DOING THAT!?
they might as well stay home and watch the live telecast on the TV!
when i'm there, i want to be truly there.
i want to be present.

Lips, cheeks, nails, and some extra bonus stuff for you.

now that we've seen the 2015 @cosme hall of fame, best skin care, best base and eye makeup,
it's about time we look at the other makeup products that we can put on our face.

LIPSTICK

1. YVES SAINT LAURENT | ROUGE VOLUPTE SHINE

"colour of a gloss and moisture of a lipstick"

2. MAQUILLAGE | DRAMATIC MELTING ROUGE

3. MAQUILLAGE | ESSENCE GLAMOROUS ROUGE NEO

LIPGLOSS

1. CANMAKE | YOUR LIPS ONLY GLOSS

"a surprise every time as the colour develops according to the moisture level of your lips"

2. OPERA | SHEER LIP COLOR

3. YVES SAINT LAURENT | VOLUPTE TINT-IN-OIL

CHEEKS

1. CHANEL | JOUES CONTRASTE

2. JILL STUART | MIX BLUSH COMPACT

3. VISEE | LIP AND CHEEK CREAM

NAILS

1. ADDICTION | NAIL POLISH

"beautiful colour and gloss"

2. NAIL HOLIC | NAIL HOLIC

3. INTEGRATE GRACY | NAIL COLOR

BODY CARE

FRAGRANCE

1. DIOR | MISS DIOR BLOOMING BOUQUET (EAU DE TOILETTE)

"gives you a gentle veil of feminine floral fruity scent"

2. DIOR | MISS DIOR HAIR MIST

3. JILL STUART | JILL STUART RELAX EAU DE WHITE FLORAL

HAND CREAM

1. MENTURM | MEDICAL VITAMIN PREPARATION CREAM

"doesn't hurt my wallet even if i use it all over my body"

2. L'OCCITANE | SHEA BUTTER HAND CREAM

3. JILL STUART | JILL STUART RELAX HAND CREAM

there're a few more rankings which i've left out (because i'm not interested in those) such as the beauty tools ranking, hair care, and body cream.
you can follow the link and check out the ranking on your own!
(you will have to go under "best in category" to see all the different sub categories)

have you ever had the feeling of "OMG the thing i'm using is on the ranking!" when you check these rankings out?
personally i've experienced that many times,
it's an oddly satisfying feeling because it means that my likings are recognized by others too.

in this entry, i happen to have the canmake your lips only lip gloss and l'occitane shea butter hand cream. i think both item live up to its hype!!!

that's all for 2015's @cosme best cosmetics awards, 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.

Base makeup, Eye makeup.

we're finally out of the hall of fame and skin care section!
now onto something that might appeal to more of us - make up!

all information and images from @cosme official website.

BASE MAKEUP

MAKEUP PRIMER

1. CANMAKE | LASTING MULTI-EYE BASE WP

"an excellent primer that prevents melting or bleeding of eye makeup"

2. KISS | MATTE CHIFFON UV WHITENING BASE N

3. NARS | MAGIC PROOF EYE SHADOW BASE

POWDER FOUNDATION

1. MAQUILLAGE | DRAMATIC POWDERY UV

"covers blemishes well with its mousse-like-powder"

2. CHANEL | PERFECTION LUMIERE EXTREME

3. EST | POWDER FOUNDATION SILKY SMOOTH

LIQUID FOUNDATION

1. DIOR | DIORSKIN STAR FLUID FOUNDATION

"defines your facial features with its bright glow"

2. REVLON | COLORSTAY LIQUID FOUNDATION

3. LANCOME | BLANC EXPERT LIQUID

CREAM FOUNDATION

1. RMK | CREAMY FOUNDATION N

"hydrates dry skin to create a smooth and even canvas"

2. RMK | GEL CREAMY FOUNDATION

3. LUNASOL | SKIN MODELING WATER CREAM FOUNDATION

CONCEALER

1. NARS | RADIANT CREAMY CONCEALER

2. SHISEIDO | SHEER EYE ZONE CORRECTOR

3. PAUL AND JOE | ILLUMINATING TOUCH PEN

POWDER

1. COSME DECORTE | AQ MW FACE POWDER

2. CANMAKE | MARSHMALLOW FINISH POWDER

3. ELEGANCE | LA POUDRE HAUTE NUANCE LUXUEUSE

BB CREAM

1. LANCOME | UV EXPERT SHIELD XL BB COMPLETE

2. DIOR | DIOR SKIN NUDE BB

3. DIOR | PRESTIGE WHITE COLLECTION SATIN BRIGHTENING UV BASE SPF 50

CC CREAM

1. SK-II | AURACTIVATOR CC CREAM

"uses light to hide your imperfections while enhancing the glow on your skin"

2. JILL STUART | AIRY TINT WATERY CC CREAM

3. LANCOME | CITY MIRACLE CC CREAM

EYE MAKEUP

EYE SHADOW

1. VISEE | RICHE GLOSSY RICH EYES

"glossy colours create a natural and defined eye look"

2. VISEE | RICHE NUDY RICH EYES

3. CHANEL | LES 4 OMBRES QUADRA EYE SHADOW

MASCARA

1. RMK | W COLOR MASCARA

"enjoy the chic nuance of chic upper lashes and bright lower lashes"

2. KISS ME HEROINE MAKE | LONG AND CURL MASCARA SUPER WP

3. FLOW FUSHI | MOTE MASCARA ONE LIFT UP

MASCARA BASE AND TOP COAT

1. KATE | LASH MAXIMIZER

"transforms sparse lashes to long and full lashes"

2. ETTUSAIS | LASH VERSION UP

3. DIOR | DIORSHOW MAXIMIZER LASH PLUMPING SERUM

EYELINER

1. FLOW FUSHI | MOTE LINER LIQUID TAKUMI

"the brush is spectacular, the eyeliner remains beautiful without smudging"

2. KISS ME HEROINE MAKE | SMOOTH LIQUID EYELINER SUPER KEEP

3. K-PALETTE | REAL LASTING EYELINER

EYEBROW

1. EXCEL | POWDER AND PENCIL EYEBROW EX

"natural gradation in just one product to help you create thicker brows"

2. KATE | EYEBROW COLOR

3. INTEGRATE | EYEBROW AND NOSE SHADOW

WHOAAAAAA that's a mouthful!
too many products in this entry, but it seems right to group them together!
now i really want to try the FLOW FUSHI mote liner, and i will really get my hands on the VISEE riche nudy rich eyes palette (after i'm sick of my recent purchase).

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.

the last part, part 4 (lips, cheeks, nails) will be up next week!