Origins Eyeliners- Some of the best in the market!

Origins, a brand under Estee Lauder, is probably one of the least raved about brands in the market. VERY unfair in my honest opinion! I will admit that it's packaging is very plain, simple and perhaps to some, dull. However, I can say for sure that for those of you who have yet to try any of Origins makeup are missing out on something GOOD! I will most definitely do more posts on Origins makeup in the future. I have unearthed some really good finds in the past years. =)

Today, I will be sharing with you my love for the Origins Automagically Eye lining pencils.

Let's start of with some pictures of these eye definers, swatches of them and I will end with a short review.


A closer glimpse at how the colors look...



Swatches!~




These eyeliner kohls are seriously good stuff! I tried to clean these swatches off my arm with some toner after taking pictures (I usually use toner to remove eyeshadows and lipstick swatches) BUT they refuse to budge! I had to fetch some eye makeup remover.

These liners will actually LAST on your eyes if you do not have very oily lids like me. However, these work if you want that smudgey look too. You have to start smudging straight away once you have finished lining your your eyes, or else, the line WILL not budge easy!

I love the range of colors Origins carries. Not too many, just enough colors to create just about any color look. I have practically all of them, with exceptions to Jade and Mulberry. I will love to have the remaining two but unfortunately, they are never available at the Origins counters in Singapore!

My favourites are Fudge, Smoke and Mushroom. Mushroom is a gorgeous and unique shade. A beautiful brownish taupe and definitely not an easily duplicated color. I have yet to find a dupe for this amazing shade and I have alot of eyeliners! Check this shade out the minute you pass an Origins counter. I promise you will get hooked!

I always reach for these eyeliners, have backups for a couple of them and I will repurchase when I have run out! Do give the brand a chance girls! =P

A look at Paul & Joe's Eye Colors!

Let me begin this post by answering a couple of questions from readers. =) You may also be thinking of the same questions if you are new to Paul & Joe or to my very new blog!

Q1: Is Paul & Joe a drugstore brand where you are? It's only available at highend stores over here!

A1: Unfortunately for us all, Paul & Joe is a highend brand here in Singapore and everywhere else! =( For example, it's lipsticks cost between SGD 37-39, MAC lipsticks cost SGD28 and Chanel costs between SGD40-43. P&J's Loose Powder cost a whopping SGD77 and its mascaras between SGD40-50! So, I will definitely say Paul & Joe IS indeed highend.


Q2: Why do you have/ need so much makeup?

A2: What is enough or too much makeup in your opinion? I'm aware that there are many people with no makeup products at all, as well as others with tons more than me! =) I can safely say that my addiction is never a need but a WANT. Not a necessity but a luxury! I'm just like any other girl out there with a bag or shoe obsession. Just that my weakness is MAKEUP. (^ o ^*)/

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I'm going to be showcasing my Paul & Joe permanent line of eye colors today. =) Enjoy!

CLICK HERE to access the Paul & Joe website for these eye colors. The swatches on their website are good but not that good. =/

My Stash (opened)


The gorgeous e/s compacts!


The backs of the shadow compacts



Personally, I love Paul and Joe's (P&J) packaging. I love the vintage, girly and pretty compacts, casings and designs! I would willingly pay for the packaging even if the products are crap (I know, I know, I'm a sucker for pretty things!). That said, I am pleasantly surprised by most of their makeup products (That will be another post, some day). Like every other brand, there are the good and not-so-good products in P&J as well.

For these permanent range of new Eye Colors, there are some hits and misses too! But I can safely say that the misses are NOT bad products. I'm just not too big a fan of too much frost or shimmer in my eyeshadows. Some colors in the range are just too light imo. WHY in the world would anyone NEED so many highlighter colors in a range of shadows? HUH?

Another thing I noticed, is the very obvious fact that there are not enough shades of purple!!! Heeeeello? You have greens, blues, greys, browns, neutrals, etc. So where are my PURPLES?

You can't blame me for that outburst. I'm a great fan of purples!


Here are the swatches>>>









The Limited Eye Colors for Asia & DFS


I love those LE colors so much! Very pretty imho. Another big winner is #20. This beautiful shade of black is so shimmery and pigmented in real life. I love to use it wet too. My picture of it does it no justice! I will do a comparison between #20, MAC Black Tied and Jane Clubbing soon.

I urge all of you to go to your nearest Paul & Joe counters to swatch/ try on these colors. They are pretty enough but not all that pigmented compared to many of your favourites like MAC, Urban Decay etc. But if you are after a natural, feminine and soft look, Paul & Joe might just be the brand for you!

A Drugstore CP Haul from the US!

Much thanks & love to my dear fellow Stila Girl, Emily, for shopping for me. I got myself a US drugstore haul! =D I'm one happy happy girl. Gotta love those 99cents lippies!


**CLICK to enlarge pictures**

Here's what came in the huge package yesterday...


My Shopping List
15 WnW lipsticks
3 NYC lipsticks
2 NYX Blushes

What arrived at my doorstep was:
15 WnW lipsticks
3 NYC lipsticks
2 NYX Blushes
2 Jane blushes
1 Mark Bronzer
1 Prestige eyeliner
1 NYX Ultra Pearl Mania
1 WnW Eyeshadow Trio
1 NYX e/s trio (Sadly, that shattered on it's way to me.)

Thank you so so much Emily. You are a total sweetheart and this post is dedicated to you. **hugzzZZ** Thanks for all the time and gas spent! =P


The arsenal of lipsticks



~ Lipsticks swatches















~ Blushes, Bronzer & Highlighter swatches





~ Eyeshadows and Eyeliner swatches




Enjoy the colors!~

I'm off to shower and then head for bed! Can't wait to get my makeup off! It's been on for 18 hours now. Yuck. Was a long and exhausting day. *yawnzZZ*

Ciao!~

The Magical Weapons against my cursed dark circles!

As promised, I will be revealing my 3 essentials in concealing my dark circles. I know there are probably many others with worse dark eye rings out there but mine are bad enough for my 24 years!

A picture of my dark circles and eye bags, with and without concealer.


Actually, if I were perfectly honest, there are not 3 but 4 Holy Grail products involved in this transformation! Here goes...


1. The base- The Eye Cream



I have tried many eye creams, serums and gel, having worked in the beauty industry for over 5 years. The best that work with a heavy-duty creamy concealer is Paul & Joe Eye Treatment Cream. This product works so well hand in hand with my undereye concealer that I NEVER have to touch up at all. The longest wear up to date (with concealer on) is 16 hours, in humid and sunny Singapore.

P&J Eye Cream has beaten so many highend brands hollow when it comes to acting as a base for both a thick creamy undereye concealer, as well as my P&J Eye Color Primer. It is rich but not to the point of being oily and I have never experienced creasing of my shadows with it on.

Enough said!

*Note: I do not use this eye cream at night. I only reach for this when I am going to use my HG undereye concealer.


2. The cover up- The Undereye Concealer





It's tragic. Stila Undereye Concealer has been discontinued. I have yet to find a replacement and have yet to use one that is as good as it in almost 10 years of searching. Too many tried, tested and failed products. Too much money wasted.

I have tried a variety of high and low end brands. But they always either give me way more wrinkles than I have or do last on my undereye area at all. =(

Fortunately, you can still purchase Stila Undereye Concealer off the internet! Ebay, Strawberrynet, Stilacosmetics (vintage), Yahoo, etc. Good luck in your search for this! You won't be disappointed.

I got 2 backups of this treasure (in 1- Light) off some auctions a couple of months back and store them in a cool, dim drawer.

*Note: One tiny pot of this can last a long time. I have used my lil' pot for about a year now (daily) and have yet to hit pan/ pot.


3. The tool- The Concealer Brush



I use Stila #2 Under Eye Concealer Brush and swear by it. The concealer will definitely not work as well for me without it!

I swirl the brush in the tiny concealer pot and gently dab it under my eyes. No tugging, pulling or jabbing. This brush enables me to get to the concealer without making a mess on my fingers and nails, spread the concealer evenly and do a good job overall without hurting my delicate eye area!

I personally prefer the short handle version and have 2 of these.

Note: Every makeup skill requires practice. You might not do a good enough job the first couple of times but do not give up! Once you get the hang of it, you can't do without it. =)


4. The finishing touch- The Pressed Powder


It's really beat up! I know!


I hit pan! =((

Like many other makeup addict out there, I went through a major 'pressed and loose powder' phase. Bought loads from so many brands and found some lil' gems.

The best that work on top of my heavy-duty undereye concealer is Rimmel Double Act Pressed Powder in Translucent. Just like it's buddy, my Stila Undereye Concealer, it has been discontinued as well. =( The cosmetic companies just keep doing this!!!!!!!!

I only use this pressed powder on my under eye area (I use specific and different products for my under eye and face). I have used my Double Act powder for quite some time. Okay, quite a long time. Don't ask how long! I don't want a lecture on when one should toss products. It's still good so why toss? Right? =p

I am currently trying to find a replacement. My good friend, Carey, from the US, has picked up Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder (it's supposed to replace Double Act according to Rimmel) for me and I cannot wait to try it. *Please GOD let this work out*

I will most definitely do a post/ review on the Rimmel Stay Matte once I have tried it (not any time soon).

* Note: The Rimmel Double Act can still be purchased off the wonderful internet but I refuse to pay the jacked up prices!


To end this post, here's the BF's wallpaper of me on his MAC book.


Thank GOD for makeup. Alleluia!~

The power of my Undereye Concealer.

When I told the best friend yesterday that I was going to post pictures of my hideous dark circles (before and after concealer), her reaction was, 'Wah, so brave huh?'. Looking at the photos now, I'm wondering if I am going to regret posting these. =/ It looks much worse in real life when I am staring in the mirror but anyway, I'm not complaining.

Ok. I showed the BF the pictures and he said that everyone will get scared. =(

Ah! Heck it! Here goes nothing.


Concealer only. Before putting pressed powder.




Undereye concealer has always been my best friend. Now you know why...





Bad huh? =( Nothing helps. Nothing. Only concealer. =(

These dark circles age me so much when I go without concealer! Not to mention how sickly and dull I look.

Any suggestions or tips will be much appreciated and will be shared on this blog! =)

I will go for my shower and head for bed. My bags and circles need all the help I can get! Depressing!!

p.s. I will reveal my 3 secret weapons against my dark circles tomorrow. Night now!~

A quick mini drugstore haul!

So... like I said in the post yesterday, I had to go the drugstore near my place to pick up a Revlon SL lipstick in Mulled Wine for a gal pal of mine. And look what I came back with! *smacks forehead* It was supposed to be 1 lipstick!!! ONE.



All in less than 15 mins. I can explain though! You see, there was a sale. =D

I got my HG Ottie Eye MU remover for SGD15 BOGOF. YAY!
FYI, Ottie is a Korean brand. =)

4 Ottie nailpolishes for only SGD10.

The Revlon lipsticks were still on sale here and they were only SGD12.90 each. I picked up Berry Baby for myself since I already have Mulled Wine! I can't resist these.

Bought a new brand of nail polish remover, Byphasse, that the SA said was better than Sally Hansen (SH). But NAH, I prefer SH. Byphasse evaporates way too fast. The cotton pad soaked with the remover dried before I could remove the polish on my second nail! =/

Shower cap and brow shavers. My necessities.



Ruby Star, Cinema Brown & Magenta Pink are new additions to the family. =) Blood Spy, my mom's HG is the 3rd backup in my collection! Afterall, I'm her favourite manicurist. =P

Here are the swatches>>

I will only use this color on the tips of nails.


Please excuse the left over glitter from Ruby Star! =P


I really love this shade!! A red with gold shimmer.


This color is a pretty deep hot pink. No shimmer.

Check out how pretty Ruby Star is close up


This is officially my first post on one of my favourite lipstick brands- REVLON Super Lustrous (SL)





Swatches>>




These are some of the BEST lipsticks in the market. I know I sound like a broken recorder but honestly, these are superb quality for the price you pay. Very creamy and pigmented. No strong, harsh and irritating scents too! The color selection needs to be expanded. I NEED more of these gems!

Ok. This is it for today. I'm wiped out. Only managed 4 hours of sleep last night and I'm a 10 hour person.

Tomorrow, I will reveal the power of my HG undereye concealer. Before and after pics.

Night now!~

p.s. Darn. I just realised that it's Baby Berry and NOT Berry Baby. Aiyah! Whatever. Eyes closing...

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Just a thought...


I was just wondering what exactly this blog would be all about. Reviews? Hell, no. I stink at describing colors! Taking and posting detailed photos of my entire makeup stash. No way. The Stila Girl contest pictures just about killed me and the BF. See below.



I think I am just going to post on everything that comes to mind about makeup, my number one love since I was a kid. Yah, I used to play with my mommy's makeup just like you. Mommy dear started me off with Estee Lauder (EL) lipsticks. She swears by the brand and has been their ardent supporter since she was 19 (she's now 50 and no less beautiful). I have since added Chanel to her Holy Grail (HG) brands.

Besides my dearest mother, another big influence in my life has got to be www.makeupalley.com (MUA). MUA is the ultimate road of no return for me (and many others) and my makeup addiction. There, you get the most gifted and skillful MUAers showcasing their beautiful mu skills, thousands of product reviews on just about any beauty product under the sun, meeting people from all walks of life, from all countries (with internet connection of course!), with one common interest- Makeup. I am very lucky to have met some really wonderful people at MUA who have touched me with their kindness and generosity. People who are both beautiful inside and out. You know who you are. =)

www.mymakeupvanity.blogspot.com
I really hope this makeup blog will interest and benefit, girls from everywhere in the world (especially Singapore). Honestly, I find us a little behind countries like the US, Japan, Taiwan, HK & Korea when it comes to beauty stuff. We are just not vain enough!!! Come on! Look at the our fellow Asians, the Japanese girls! At how well-groomed and nicely turned out they are. I am not asking everyone of us to spend 3 hours in front of the mirror daily. 15 minutes a day prepping yourself isn't too much to ask, is it? =) If you look good, you FEEL good. Time well spent if you ask me! It's never too late for us to catch up! =P

I will also be sharing good beauty buys that we can get in Singapore. Good drugstore or departmental store products that are worth our attention and MONEY! I am eternally jealous of the ladies in the US and Japan! Have you any idea what drugstore products they have access to?? Our selection and variety in Singapore is just sad. =( But never mind, we will dig and sift out all the beauty treasures we can find here! (^ o ~ *)b

**Everything posted on this blog are my personal thoughts, feel and liking. It does not have anything to do with a particular brand, product or person. What works for you might not work for me and vice versa. I just want to share my love for makeup and hopefully help some other person in the process of searching for the right product or look. Please DO mail me with any tips or products that you would like to share with others. We are here to learn from each other and to hopefully look better each day!

All things said (there will be more pep talks for lazy girls later), just enjoy the blog, learn from one another and buy more makeup! (^ - ^~)!!

~~ There are no ugly women, only lazy ones. ~~

How very true.