The Blackmentos Beauty Box: 2011

Saturday, 24 December 2011

Special: FOTD for Christmas Eve Party look 2011!

I've been down with a flu the past week but that didn't stop me from doing this today! My nose stopped running and I jumped into a last minute christmas party look!

Inspired by the golds and reds of this time of year I decided to go with a fuschia pink lip than the traditional red for a more flirty look!

Continue below for more photos and list of products used!

Get glowing with rosy cheeks and strong pink lip!

Double winged eyeliner to balance, lots of highlighting too!

Rave Review: Kiss me Heroine LONG & Curl Mascara! (before/after photos!)

The same brand as my previous Holy Grail mascara the 'volume & curl' version which I (reviewed here) this one has a different brush but the same fiber and super waterproof formulation.

I swear if I had to have one mascara for the rest of my life I'm glad to say that either one of these from Kiss me Heroine would be a blessing. Made by asians to look amazing on skimpy asian lashes, any girl lacking seriously in the volume, length and curl department you must try this at least once.

This is by far tied with best with the volume & curl version, I can't ask for anything better at such a good price!

Important: I'd like to point out that eye shape, lash type and application are three things that effect how a mascara works on a person. It is not usually possible for a monolided person to have the same effect as a double-lided person.

My lash type: short, fine, slightly curly

Continue below for the review and amazing before & after photos!

Kiss Me Heroine Long & Curl Mascara in 01 black waterproof!

Shopping Haul: December 2011 clothes Indulges!

A huge haul of mostly clothes I got two weeks ago. I've been picking up mostly skirts in recent weeks but I've been craving some jackets and a new handbag. After exams I was lucky enough to be presented with a nice big fat shopping day that won't happen again until probably until after next Feburary.

It's not normal for me to spend so much at one go but it happened and it was sort of my year end 'reward'.

Well, I hope you enjoy looking at the things I picked up. I love everything and really can't wait to wear the heels!

Oh dear, I'm going to come off as a brand whore!

Review on Rubbish: Rimmel Sexy Curves Mascara

I had nothing but high hopes for the well talked about brush but all the claims fell flat for me. I don't know if it's just my experience but the sexy curves mascara sold in Singapore all seem to be old and dry and an absolute waste of money.

I've watched another S'porean youtube beauty guru talk about how she'd rather given her money away to someone than to have bought this exact mascara. I couldn't agree more.

I love mascara and it's just so heart breaking when they don't work and were expensive. I saw that it was one of the cheapest mascaras at the drugstore, heard about it, tired it and....what a complete waste of my $S15.90!

It's too bad there's no such refund/exchange policy here after a product is opened. -BIG frowny face-

Rimmel London Sexy Curves waterproof mascara! Rubbish!

Quick look: NYX Round Lipstick in Hades! (swatches)

Since I've yet to review any of the many NYX round lipsticks I got from my haul (check it out here) I thought it was about time as I've started using some of them. Yay!

I never thought I'd like lipstick, my mother and grandmother are lipstick people. It's the only product they can't go without. Lately I've been using lots of nude type colors on my lips including some of the lipsticks from the haul and they've been working out real well!

Nyx round lipstick in Hades!

Rave review: Silkygirl duo eyeshadows in 08, 06 & 16 (swatches!)

I've been swatching all afternoon and I'm really excited to share these lovely swatches! Please don't just glaze over just because Silkygirl is one of the cheaper drugstore brands, these duos are amazing and I've got swatches and experience to prove it!

One of the earliest eyeshadows I bought was from silkygirl four or five years ago, I got their black and white duo although I never actually used it and it sort of shattered.

Anyway I got another one and these really are amazing for their price. Found at all Guardian and watsons in Singapore and Malaysia this is definitely something nice to pick up from their brand.

Continue below for the review and lovely swatches!

Silkygirl duo eyeshadows in 08 ying & yang, 05 smokey spark & 16 mocha latte

Review: Lancome Absolu Voyage Palette de Maquillage / Travel Palette (Duty free only/ swatches!)

Firstly it's the first week of my school holiday...and I'm sick! Seems like the onset of a mild flu...so I'm just trying to rest and while I'm at it I thought I'll pull out a couple more posts that I've got prepared!

I travelled more frequently a year ago and so as always I'm entranced by the make up offers only avalible at duty free or on board. This was something that caught my eye! My mom had previously bought an older travel palette from lancome but a shadow had shattered and it was a bit bulky.

I believe the Lancome Absolu Voyage palette retailed for either $69 or $79 SGD on board/duty free. For what you're getting even $80 or above would be a deal. All my family are members of Krisflyer and so on silkair/singapore airline that gives us further 10% discount and points (i think)!

Continue below for the review and swatches!

Lancome Absolu Voyage complete make up palette! Double decked and gorgeous!

Note: The palette includes a mini virtouse mascara which I've since used up!

FOTD: Deepened Gold and Taupe

I wore this school during exam week but I think it'd be nice for festive gatherings or parties. The warm gold and deep taupe give the eyes a sort of Egyptian look to me. I've gotten stuck in a rut using gel liners so often now. For the next few looks I vow to expand my territories!

Products used:

NYX Golden and Walnut Bronze (from trio palette reviewed here)
Revlon Matte eyeshadow (dark brown)
Kate Gel liner in BK-1 (black)

Warm Golden and deep taupe look!

Food: Smoked Duck w/kiwi & cuecumbers!

I'm on a blog roll...literally~! Just a few pics from a dish i prepared a short while ago. You can buy smoked duck either vacuum packed or frozen at the supermarket. I just wished they sold in bigger portions because this stuff is delicious!

This could be a lovely appetizer for christmas events! Just add lots of garnishes and maybe present these slices on crackers or little pieces of toast! Done!

Defrosted via microwave, then sliced and pan seared with nothing but heat!

Food: Green Pumpkin and Bakerzin Bakery! (and some pet pics!)

A bunch of photos of some really yummy breads, my 'oh so amazing' kitty and some good news in our garden!

Wasted kitty cat! She was sleeping like that and I just couldn't resist!

Sleeping kitty! That's how she sleeps when the lights are on in my room!

Sweet ham, mayo and japanese fish floss! Sooo yummy!

Review: Lancome UV Expert GN-Shield BB Base/cream (swatches!)

Another bb cream today! I've own this for over a year now but unfortunately haven't really used it that much like my other bb creams (which makes me feel guilty!) I bought it on a Silkair flight for about $10 less than regular price in Singapore. I believe it was $59 or something around there onboard.

I've dabbled here and there into bb creams but either find that they don't match very well although I'm light skinned or that they are a bit too greasy feeling. I've got combination sensitive skin, I tend to develop oil bumps if the products i use are oil based!

What I found so appealing about this was the the UVA/UVB broad spectrum and the 50++ SPF. It's part of their Blanc Expert or (white expert) line for lightening skin. This comes in one shade (sadly) and in a 30ml tube!

Note: This product is sold under 'skincare' and 'protection' not as a 'foundation' hence the use of the word 'base' as its intended to be a base not foundation.

Continue below for the review and swatches!

Lancome UV GN-Shield BB Base / BB cream!

Review: The Face Shop stick eyeshadow in 03 & 05 (swatches!)

Firstly a big shout out the cosmetic brand "Essence is in Singapore!" I spotted an entire range of their stuff at the Watsons at Takashimaya!! Everything (i believe) is under $10! Single shadows for $3.30 ( I had to grab 2)

I smiled internally as some women walked by gasping and talking about why everything is 'sooo' cheap, as we aren't used to anything single product being less than $15 or $20 here!

I'll be the first to say that the shadows are of great quality! I will be going back for more! Weeee!

Onto the quick review...this is something I picked up a while ago from the Korean franchise The Face Shop easily found Island wide in Singapore. These are their "Stick Eyeshadow with dazzling colors and glitters", I'd consider them to be shadow sticks or just cream eyeshadow in a stick form for convenient application. I originally had 3, all I bought for my mother but as she's completely not bothered with eyeshadows I took them back, the light pink shade missing!

Another example of eyeshadow in stick form is the Covergirl Smokyshadowblast which are sticks of cream shadow (mostly reviewed to be rubbish when worn alone). I'd never wear such a product alone as it's definitely going to be smudging without anything to set it!

The Face Shop stick eyeshadow in 05 golden brown & 03 blue!

FOTD: Winged liner w/teal!

Something I'm really excited about and have been doing a lot lately is sharp winged liner! Yes, I've finally discovered the power of scotch tape for getting that perfect sharpness, no mess, no clean up afterwards! There are plenty of people doing tutorials showing how to use tape so do check out!

Besides a simple black winged look I like adding some color, out of all my eye liners I've got a majority of blues and greens in my colored bunch so here we go!

Products used:

Kate gel eyeliner in BK-1 (black)
Bourjous waterproof eyeliner (blue remix)
High light shade on inner corner and above the liner

Loving the sharp wing and color combo!

Rave Review: Maybelline's the Magnum Volum' Express mascara (before & after pics!)

It's been on the market for more than a year now but I'm still in love with this mascara from Maybelline! As a girl with thin whimpy asian lashes I feel the same slight sorrow when eyeliner doesn't show up or when mascara doesn't work for us because of the size of the brush or formulation.

I used to use it regularly before I discovered Kiss Me Heroine mascara although I do go back to this every now and then as it's very quick and easy to use when I'm in a rush.

Maybelline's the Magnum Volum' Express: bold yellow and purple tube which I love!

Many say that this is the same as the western version 'the Colossal' but it's not at all. I've tired the colossal before, I picked it up on holiday in europe and the brush is cylindrical and much softer (to the point where it didn't grab onto the lashes!) The falsies mascara on the other hand is shaped almost exactly as the magnum, just slightly longer or curved (i believe seeing so) and a different colored tube of course!

I've put this review off for so many months now so I'm grateful for this detailed post! And it's the last week of school for me! It's scary knowing that I have so few months left...! But yay!

How it's sold in most of Asia! No waste of cardboard and hard plastic!

Continue below for dramatic before and after photos!

FOTD: Simple smokey pink aubergine

Thrown together one morning for school! It consist of very simply three products. A gel liner, pink/purple eyeshadow (metallic/shimmery finish) and a highlight color!

Here I used...

Kate gel eyelinr in BK-1 (black)
MAC eyeshadow in Star Violet (veluxe pearl)
Any old highlight shade!

Been totally enjoying smoking out the edges...looks seductive!

Garden: Fruits, vegetables and sunflowers!

These are some photos of my garden here in Singapore from a couple of months back when I managed to grow sunflowers and pumpkins! Year round we have several fruit trees and plants and plenty of green potted plants but the sunflowers and pumpkins were a one time affair I've yet to do again!

Here are a bunch of lovely photos of the flowers, fruits, vegetables and one of our dogs!

Surprisingly my grandmother has been having great luck with 5 pumpkins growing in her tiny little garden. I gave her 2 pots with several pumpkin plants. It seems like they grow very well even when started off in pots.

In full bloom!

Slowly opening....

One of the longer shaped pumpkins all grown from seeds...

Petunias! Beautiful while they lasted for about 2 months...they just weren't meant for pots and singapore weather!

More rounded local types...grown from seeds!

Mr. Sirius, our fluffly husky taking a whiff of the air!

Review: Vichy Aera Mineral BB Cream (swatches!)

I'm sure most ladies in who have been interested with make up must have heard about BB creams by now! I've tried a couple myself but don't use any regularly at all. I prefer using regular foundations and powders as I haven't found a bb cream that matches my shade the way I'd like.

Although I'm considered 'light' skinned the color difference from my face to neck to chest can seem quite drastic. My neck and limbs are tanned whereas my chest and face are much fairer so I typically use different tone products or powder to even out things.

Vichy is easily available in Singapore and the line is what I'd call 'drugstore high-end' things in the range cost from $S25-$65. I'm currently using a couple things from their Normaderm line (for oily/acne prone skin).

Vichy Aera Mineral mineral BB Cream , 40ml with SPF! I like the sleek tube!

FOTD: Simple smoky light brown

The last whole week has been exam week in my school and contrary to how I notice some other people turn up to exams...eg, tired, nervous, dressed down I've been having way too much fun with my make up and dressing a bit nicer.

Ever since I've been wearing eye make up almost on a daily basis I've also at the same time waken up earlier so that I'd have enough allocated time to do my make up. It's quite a good thing actually I find, helps to keep the morning rush to a minimum now that I've made the 'extra' time in the morning.

This was something really simple I did for a smoky light brown look, very wearable and easy to create.

This look could be easily done with any type of medium/dark brown, hightlight shadow and a brown eyeliner. Personally I enjoy shimmery/satin finishes as they really add dimension to my small lids!

Love how it looks natural and yet brings a glow to the entire face!

Continue below for close ups and products used!

Quick Look: Body Shop Delipscious Sheer Lip Colour in 06!

Just a little something quick I'd pulled out. I believe my mother bought this a little while ago from The Body Shop, it's their "Delipscious Sheer Lip Color" and this one is in 06 Sheer Grape.

There are 9 colors avalible in Singapore and the packaging has been revamped and currently has dots on the slim tube.

Paid: $S19.90

Quite the opposite of 'sheer', grape comes off as a coral brown color...

Food: Ribs @ Mignon's Steak &Grill in Taka (yummy photos!)

I've got lots of things I've yet to post but just for some mouth watering variety here are some of my favorite ribs at a small cafe in the food hall at Takashimaya!

The place is called "Mignon's Steak & Grill" ...a plate of ribs are just under $S20...the fries and salad that accompany are delicious!

Hallelujah! Beautiful baby back ribs with a touch of greens and lovely hot fries!

Lovely garden sald...juicy vegetables go well with juicy meat...Hehe

Three Mushroom soup! Very fresh, the smell was strong, fresh mushroom bits were present!

Just a couple thin belts i picked up from F21...$S4 each

Majolica Majorca Jeweling pencil in BK 999 (black) this was for a friend!

Kate Gel Eyeliner in waterproof Black...(also for a friend) it's great on the lower lash line but still won't stay on the waterline!

Thanks for stopping by!

Monday, 5 December 2011

Rave Review: Dior Lipgloss La Collection (Duty free exclusive)!

Hey all! Sorry I've had nothing very exciting recently! It's the middle of exam week at my school so it's mostly study and sleep I'm concerned with. I've been dying to post several things but just have let procrastination get in the way. So while the mood is still in full swing, here's a little something special only at Duty Free!

Just some background info, I've been an avid traveller until about last year but will be again after graduation! I was very into travel palettes and such and have a couple from Dior and Lancome (all are pretty darn amazing). This was called the ...

"Dior Lipgloss La Collection"

Picked it up at the Singapore Duty Free shop though when I came back for holiday once, it was about $S70 dollars Singapore but very worth it I have to say. Enough bantering!

Although...I want to note that even though I don't celebrate christmas I am grateful for the sales, deals and discounts around this time of year!! Have been shopping and taking lots of photos so I need to pick up on blog posts!

Thank you for the few of you who follow or even just skimp through, it's nice to share things with people who have similar interest!

Continue reading for the review, photos and SWATCHES!

The Dior travel exclusive Lipgloss La Collection set! Comes with 5 wearable and conveniently packaged mini tubes!

Some basics...Maybelline mineral powder and concealer! (photos)

Just a quick one...these are products I've been using for a while. In the past I only used powder foundation because of my oily skin but for the last 6 months I've been using liquid foundations with a powder to set which has been far more effective in terms of coverage, mattifying and lasting powder.

Maybelline pure Minerals line...great for oilier skin, blendable, great matches and easy to use!

Review: Biore pore strips! (photos & application!)

One of my must-have, cannot-live-without, everyone-can-do-it products of ALL TIME!! (yes, i'm that amazed by it)....are the "Biore Pore Pack nose strips!"

Ever since I begun using these years ago, I've never stopped being amazing by their ability to remove nose gunk every single time. When applied and used with proper techniques these simple strips can do miracles. If I could only purchase a few beauty items for the rest of my life, these would be on the list!

Continue below for photos (some yucky ones!) and my review!!

Biore pore strips - Original, pineapple, orange, rose & lavender (scented ones are limited edition!)

Biore pore strips -packaging for the original nose strip and the 'Resort' edition which has pineapple and orange scented strips!

Special: Black Swan Inspired Halloween look! (photos!)

I did this just today for the first time and it was amazing! The look is sophisticated, easy to do and can be very dramatic without being complicated! I'm including photos I took a long the way, I simply looked at a photo of this look off the net and basically tried to copy what I saw.

Continue below for step-by step pictures!

Haul from the summer: theBalm! (pictures!)

I don't know why it's taken this long but here's a haul I got during late july when SaSa was having 20% off on a bulk of the brands in store. I had been eyeing theBalm products for the longest time and let loose on getting a bunch of things.

For those who don't know, SaSa is sort of like a beauty/skin care shop that carries premium brands of things that can't be found at normal drugstores.

I love how the prices for theBalm products are pretty much exchange rate prices unlike all other drugstore brands in singapore. Anyway I took the opportunity, begged my mom for about 5 seconds and with the go ahead got a nice lot of things and chose something for mom at the same time.

Goodies! Samples and free make over tickets that I never got to use!

Review: Vichy Aqualia Thermal moisturizer (pics!)

I've actually been using several Vichy products the past few months, mainly from their Normaderm line for oily skin but I picked this up as a richer alternative to my daily neutrogena moisturizer which has been working out fine.

This is a review of..."Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light Fortifying & Soothing 24Hr Hydrating Care"

Yikes...that's a mouthful for a moisturizer!

Vichy Aqualia Thermal Light Fortifying & Soothing 24Hr Hydrating Care- sleek and easy, this could easily be packed to go!

Food: Japanese Eats @ Taka & Somerset 313 (yummy pics!)

Hey there! I've been busy although it's a week off from school for the quarter break. We still have copious amounts of work to do and it's just painful thinking about it. I've actually really begun considering life and all it's aspects ever since the beginning of grade 11 and so taking into consideration all the things we don't really care or pay attention as a kid has already set in.

Anyway...my mom and I have been trying out more places around town and we've eaten at three japanese places recently but here are pics from two! The food at both were very good and reasonable priced. Presentation and taste wise all three outlets are fantastic A++

One is on the basement 2 at Somerset 313 and the other is called 'Tsuru-koshi" on the foodhall level of Ngee Ann city (takashimaya)...

Continue below for more pictures!!

At Somerset 313...amazing Japanese food! Fried chicken, rice paper rolls and meatballs w/fish shavings...

Nothing too special...stuffed with lettuce, cucumbers, tomatos and raddish...

Now...the gyozas (japanese dumplings) were awesome....


Nice and crispy on the bottom, just how I like it....

Stuffed with pork, mushrooms, cabbage and onions....

LOTN: Smokey Purple & night out (photos!)

Just to tag onto the last post with my smokey dark blue this was something I threw together on whim with my only other mac eyeshadow...a veluxe pearl aubergine color. Rockstar!

I had an hour and this is what I came up with, spent the evening with my friend, we played pool, got some bubble tea were suppose to get her tongue pierced but couldn't because she had ulcers in her mouth.

Things used: