End of year hauls for 2012! (make up, skincare, ASOS order, Sleek)

End of year Hauls! I cannot promise this is the last of the 'end of year' hauls as I do have one last one when Watsons had major sales but I guess that will be posted next year!

I've never ordered anything much online but more than a month ago took the chance and got a few pieces of clothes from ASOS.com and make  up from sleek and Allcosmeticswholesale.com!

Continue below for the hauls!

Here's a sneak peak of a load of small hauls that have been happening the last month! I've been trying out everything I've gotten so far except for back ups and have loved everything!

Boxing day dinner and steam boat lunch with family!

Family time and food! My last food post for the year! What happens when asian families get together on visits? Food, food, food! And this end of year was no different when my two cousins came to visit with their parents! I have like 10 cousins on my dad's side but only two on my moms.

Note: I usually love posting my food posts with extra large photos but these are smaller otherwise the post would go on forever!

Continue below to check out our great eats!

Everyone ready to dig in!

Special: Late Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve Dinner at my boyfriends!

Happy post Christmas and pre- New Years?! Oh my, how time flies...unfortunately I'm at home sick with some type of flu like sickness and it's really bothering me. I'm drowning my sorrows with boxes of tissue papers, lots of blogging and reading up for school!

I'm going to start making a list of 'things to do in 2013' as I really must start to learn how to plan time and organize activities to do!

Continue below for dishes prepared by my boyfriend!

Photos of home made Thanksgiving and pre Christmas dinner 2012 at my boyfriends!

Overview: Canmake Powder Cheeks blush!

No more blushes until next year! That's what I'm chanting internally! I don't need anymore, I think I have enough and enough of variety to be satisfied! My favorite silky pigmented blush line is from the Japanese brand Canmake! Here's an overview of all five shades I own!

Check out my individual review for the first two shades here! And the peach shade here!

I've also reviewed one of their duo blushes called 'Cheek & cheek' in 01, read here!

Continue below for the swatches and overview!

Canmake Powder Cheeks single blush in shades PW24, PW18, PW22, PW25, 01 (highlighter)

Speical 2012: Festive dramatic gold arabic inspired look!

Festive times, festive looks! This is look #2! I'm going all out dramatic with this Arabic inspired look using my new Sleek products I just recently received in the mail!

I'm enjoying a slightly more than one week break from my school, a school where make up is restricted and hence I'm going all out for my posts now!

In the week to come I hope to at least haul my recent orders from Sleek and Asos.com before we cross over into 2013!

Continue below for the look and products used!

Special dramatic gold, black and teal Arabic inspired look!

Special 2012: Festive soft pink and gray smokey look!

Happy Holidays y'all! I don't celebrate Christmas. Christ wasn't even born on December 25, go check your official history authenticated by the Vatican Council! Anyways, I celebrate the ending of a year, the beginning of another with lots of food, sales and pampering myself!

I actually did a VERY dramatic look to start of my festive looks posts with but I'm afriad it will scare any passer bys if I posted it first! So here's a soft, refined and very feminine look I did with a single take!

Continue below for the look and products used!

Festive soft pink and smokey gray look with a nude lip!

Rave Review: theBalm's blush in Cabana Boy! (FOTD and day out with friends!)

Soo...Doomsday went real well! For those who were aware of the 21st December 2012 Mayan aapocalypse prediction and how absolutely nothing happened...as usual. This fictitious prophecy stuff has to go!

I was thinking about posting some hauls but this blush by theBalm just couldn't wait, some of you have already asked or mentioned how you liked in on my last post (check out here!) where I was wearing it with the Red Earth eyeshadow!

So happy that I spent some time this afternoon doing a very fancy Japanese looking dramatic eye...I wanted something Arabic and sexy and I think I did it! It will be coming very soon!

Continue below for my review of 'Cabana Boy' blush from theBalm!

theBalm blush in Cabana Boy!

Rave Review: Red Earth eyeshadow in 36 Iced Brownie! (FOTD)

Have you had your 'Iced Brownie' yet? Haha! I'd seen amazing swatches of Red Earth eyeshadows and how they are suppose to be smooth and rich in pigmentation! This is my first eyeshadow from them as I couldn't help but to pick this up at Sasa. It's beautiful and I wish there were more shades of brown, I'd get it all!

Here's a recent mostly skincare haul I did from Sasa! Check it out here!
 
Continue below for the review and look with this eyeshadow!

Red Earth Illusion Lights Beauty Pro Eyeshadow in 36 Iced Brownie!

Food: Things eaten for November 2012! (seafood, japanese, local hawker food)

Foodie post for November! Oh gosh, so much food, everything I want to eat again! And yet...I'm still on track to losing another kilo of weight for my next weight goal! I go one at a time, makes things easier. Over the last few months I've realized that no ones needs to sacrifice good food for good health. It's not difficult, we just need to stop being so lazy and passive about things!

Continue below to explore my dishes from last month!

Review: Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters in Berry Smoothie, Brown Sugar, Strawberry Shortcake! (050, 020, 080)

Balmy, shiny, Lip Butters! I'd believe by now everyone has heard of these babies? Colored balms in a lipstick case, don't you just love how their case matches the shade of the product? I do! Things like this just like Bourjois single blush packaging really gives a product a fun and practical quality!

I picked these three up seperately and when there was 20% sale for revlon products! I bought Brown sugar first a few months ago, then Berry Smoothie and most recently Strawberry shortcake!

Continue below for swatches and the quick review! 

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butters in Berry Smoothie, Brown Sugar, Strawberry Shortcake! (050, 020, 080)

Haul: Sasa End of Year Sale~! (food, chiffon tops, FOTD)

Asian make up glory! That's Sasa! There was a big 20% off on most skin care and make up at Sasa a few weeks ago. I was with my mom and I picked up a few things for her and myself to try. Nothing special but its awesome to try new things!

After a bit of shopping we had some Japanese for lunch and we both picked up some lovely tops!

Continue below for the haul, Japanese dinner and some clothes!

Skincare, make up and tools from Sasa! My mom also bought a large SKII Essence and in total, we spent enough to become a member!

Review: Bobbi Brown's Basic Brush Collection!

Did someone say brushes? Make up brushes! I'm a huge fan of learning how to use new types of brushes for different types of make up. They make a huge difference in how products apply and can be needed in order to use certain products and textures.  

This gorgeous Basic Brush Collection was purchased three years ago in Roma International Airport~!

Continue below for the review of the Bobbi Brown Basic Brush Collection!

Bobbi's Essentials Basic Brush Collection by Bobbi Brown

Rave Review: Sleek Blush by 3 palette in lace!

Sleek craze! That's all I can think about when people hear about Sleek and lust after their products! I have the know how of how to get myself owning some palettes but I just haven't gotten around to getting any! This is my first sleek product and it is amazing, the quality just as great as my favorite lancome blush.

Hopefully by the end of the year I'd like to own at least one palette from Sleek and one single blush!

This I got through the help of my friend, Becky's, make up artist cousin who came to visit us during our graduation back in june! Becky has a lovely blog here on blogspot too, check her out here!

Continue below for the review and swatches! 

Sleek blush by 3 in lace!

Skincare review: Avene Cleanance purifying lotion and gel cleanser!

Soap free skin goodness! My mother has been swearing by a line of skincare by this french brand Avene. There's actually and accent in the 'e' in the name but I'm not so bothered to get the letter right! She uses the line with rich creams and milky toner for her mature skin.

I've went through a few bottles of both the gel cleanser and mattifying toner by now. I initially bought them when I lived in Cambodia a few year back but only got to utsing them last year. This skin care
line is for oilier skin and hence the 'mattifying' and 'soapless' formulas.

Continue below for the review!

Eu Thermale Avene Cleanance purifying lotion and soapless gel cleanser!

The Face Shop haul (nail polishes and skincare!)

Mini The Face Shop haul! I got these things earlier this month. I intended to get nail polish for myself and ended up buying my moms birthday gifts. A brightening emulsion and hand lotion. Got a freebie four pack of face mask to try!

Continue below to see the haul!

Small nail polish haul from The Face Shop and Flebote white crystal emulsion, Hand lotion and mask pack!

Review: Majolica Majorca 'Jeweling Eyes' quad in PK383!

Pink and pretty eyes! Pink isn't just a shade for the cheeks, for those with dark hair and eyes, it looks amazing on the eyelids too! I love the rich shimmery finishes of Majolica Majorca shadows, this quad of pinks is an example of wearable pink shades for the eyes!

Pick this up during a major haul during my birthday month of August, check it out here!

Continue below for the review and look!

Majolica Majorca 'Jeweling Eyes' quad in PK383

Special: Home made wantons and cookies with the boyfriend!

Cookie time! I had a foodie day with my boyfriend two weeks ago, we made fresh prawn and chives wantons as well as chocolate chip cookies. He made himself a GIANT one!

I love spending time with him, either cooking, catching a film or going to do something at the beach however time is precious and both of us are quite occupied with school/work/family.

 PS. As of today, I had to upgrade my google account as I filled up my 1 GB space for albums. I realize that my uploads of fullsize photos 80% of the time has probably contributed to that and the fact that I have uploaded alot of individual photos instead of what i do now. I intend for my upgraded 25GB to last me a much longer time!

Continue below for photos of the food in the making!

A weekend with my boyfriend, baking cookies, making wantons, watching Walking Dead and eating Pizza Hut!

Review: theBalm stainiac lip stain in 'Beauty Queen'!

Berry stain time! Fall brings out the darker reds, cranberries, greens, blues and earthy hues in the fashion and make up world! Unforunately I don't approve very much of the clothes at this time of year, too dark and sad. The make up however I really am enjoying, the dark lips and smoldering eyes I do love seeing.

This lipstain by the still quite indie brand theBalm is the best stain I've tried so far. Much better than The Body Shop lipstain I reviewed here!

I bought this stain together with a bunch of goodies last year in my theBalm haul from SaSa here in Singapore! (check out the haul here)

Continue below for the review!

theBalm stainiac lip & cheek tint in 'beauty queen'!

Food Craze: Aroy Thai, Straits Kitchen, long Beach and Cedele!

Asian delights! That's what I think when I'm really hungry, I want something tasty, crispy, explosive and fresh! My love for asian cuisine will carry on and I hope to find more places serving yummy bites.

I've yet to find places in singapore serving amazing vietnamese and thai food at good prices so that's a search I must undertake when I've got the time!

Continue below for the photos!

Aroy Thai, Straits Kitchen, long Beach and Cedele

Skin care review: Ducray Keracnyl foaming gel!

Soap free gel cleanser! Its been something I've been going through the last few months. I find soap free, gel type cleansers to be very gentle and great for oilier skin. I decided after using Hada labo AHA/BHA cleanser for several months that I wanted to try something else.

I purchased this at Guardian Pharmacy here in Singapore!

Continue below for the short review!

Ducray Keracnyl foaming gel

Rave Review: Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in shades 52 & 53~!

Healthy Mix for life! That's what I've been saying since I got my hands on this heavily raved about foundation from Bourjois! It has a beautiful semi-matte finish, matches yellow tones and works amazing on asian complexions from fair to light-medium. 

I picked this up along with lots of back ups in Phnom Penh Cambodia when I visited my best friend for her Graduation. I used to study there in the international school. Got this with a whole bunch of other goodies such as the Bioderma Sebium toner in (my haul here!)

Continue below for swatches, comparison and the review!

Bourjois foundation/ fond de teint healthy mix in shade 52!

7 Bright eyes looks and shimmery pink cheeks!

It's not very me to have dark lips and eyes which has been the fall trend! That and I haven't gotten around to experimenting much with make up which makes me a bit sad. Oh well, I will get around to it sometime!

Here are a bunch of bright, wide eyed looks, mostly neutrals with shimmery pink pops of blush on my cheeks. To get my signature pink cheek, I use rosey shades by Bourjois or Canmake. Both blushes are very pigmented and have a very fine texture!

Continue below to see my array of looks!

A bunch of bright wide eyed looks with pink shimmery cheeks

Fancy Chinese lunch with the family at Taste Paradise (FOTD)

There was nothing left! The food I mean! Grandma offered to take us out to lunch at a higher end chinese restaurant called "Taste Paradise", they have outlets in several countries in Asia. We went to the outlet in Ion Orchard. The prices for dim sum were a few more dollars than regular at $5-7 Sgd a portion.


Note: I previous published this post with the name "Din tai fung", that was the wrong restaurant.
  Continue below for the delicious food and my FOTD!

Delicious chinese dim sum from Din Tai Fung restaurant!

Review: Majolica Majorca eyeshadow trio in BR355! (swatches + look)

Everyday shimmery browns! If you're familiar with Majolica Majorca's shadows, you know they are all shimmery! I love how they're trios and quads are well matched and pigmented. Very smooth and very shimmery!

The last time I went to watsons and hauled for my birthday month of August I picked this up. (Check out my haul here!) There was a smokier brown trio but I got this warmer bronzey trio. There was a beauty warm and smokey brown quad but that was limited and it was sold out!


Continue below for the review, swatches and look! 

Majolica Majorca 'Majolook' eyeshadow trio in BR355!

Things to Trash: October empties...and a few pick ups!

Finished finally! That's what I think when I finish products after so long! I actually have been going through shampoos and conditioners way too fast because my hairs long right now. 

Besides finishing a bunch of things and repurchasing those that have worked well, I had to pick up a bunch of small toilettery items for my short trip to Bintan beach resort which was last week!

Continue below for a look at my empties and last minute pick ups!

Empties for the month of October: Diaso brush cleaner, vichy toner (review here!), Johnson baby milk wash, Tresemme anti breakage shampoo, Dove straight &silky shampoo, l'oreal perfect clean scrub

Review: The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes in 07!

Shimmer, shimmer, shimma! That's all I think of when it comes to eyeshadows.

I'm one of those girls who has no issues with completely metallic and shimmery shades on my eyes. I think it's so flattering on me and asian ladies, it gives dimension and light on our small lids!

Here's one of the shimmer cube quads I picked up last year in shade 07. The colors are very wearable and actually very fitting for fall!

Continue below for the review and swatches!

The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes in palette 07

Home baked goodie: Rainbow cuppie cakes!

Rainbow cuppie cake goodness! Oh how I am obsessed with anything rainbow! I only wish to make a rainbow cake next to satisfy my rainbow looking cake fetish! Hehehe

I decided one night two months back to make rainbow cupcakes after buying silicone cupcake holders from the Diaso 2 dollar store with my boyfriend! 

Continue below for the making of these yummies!  

How to make...rainbow cupcakes!

Quick review: Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Reflect in shade 537!

Brown shimmery lippie anyone? I've only had a few of these all thanks to my mom who picked them up on airplanes in sets. This is from their older packaging and line, however I find the color very suited for fall and the color palette being seen everywhere!

Continue below for a quick look at the lipgloss!

Dior Addict Ultra Gloss Reflect in shade 537

Haul for Fall! (collective of polishes, blushes, skin care, clothes!)

Happy November everyone! I just got back a few days ago from a short trip to the beach resort in Bintan Island Indonesia! It was fantastics! Photos coming soon!

This is a collective haul for the 'fall' time of this year. I picked up these goodies in the last 2 months. Besides these I've also been splurging a bit at la Senza, they carry the best basic to luxury bras and panties and all the sexy stuff!

I picked up somethings from Diaso and am finally showing some shoes I got a long time ago. Most of all I'm excited to show some Charles & Keith stuff I got with my mom. No more shopping for unnecessary things until New Years!

Continue below for the haul!

Watsons & Etude House: Biore face wash, Canmake blush, Bourjois blush in 'Santal', Essence polish, Baby lips balm, tweezers, Etude House nail polishes in pinks and a trio gradient nail set in turqoise. An ankle guard for my injured left ankle!

Sugar Babe: My favorite peachy nude nail polish!

Nude nails! Always will be 'in' no matter what! I've tried a couple nude type polishes but this one has been my favorite and it's too bad it's finished now and I can't find it anymore in singapore!

Continue below to check out 'Sugar Babe' from Sally hansen!

Sally Hansen Xtreme wear collection in shade Sugar Babe...a lovely peachy pink!

Fall FOTD: Rusty shimmery cranberry brown look!

Rusty, brown and shimmering!

Oh I love pinkish, brownish, goldish shades on the eyes, they are so flattering for brown eyes! This is a look I did that I think is very appropriate for those of you enjoying the 'fall' or autumn season! In Singapore we shall stay hot and wet all year round!

Continue below for photos of the look and products used!

A rusty red cranberry brown eye look inspired for fall!

October food post: #2 (lunch at work, home made spring rolls, chinese dim sum)

Want to see what I eat at work? I've been taking photos of my lunch meals at work! We have asian and western choices of food at work but I prefer the asian choices, I can make far better western food at home!

Continue below for home made spring rolls, work lunch and chinese dumplings!

What I eat during lunch/ evening break at work!

Review: l'oreal ultra-volume collagene mascara! (before & after photos)

Plush and lush! Who doesn't want long, thick, dark lashes?! I've yet to come across any girl who wants mediocre lashes...anything that does less than the best I've experience isn't good enough anymore!

My friend was moving away a few months ago and gave this mascara to me. I know it's not hygenic to share mascaras but she at most used it twice ever.

At a first glance, it seems pretty amazing but not really....up to my standards! I'll let you know why!

Continue below for more photos and the review!

 l'oreal ultra-volume collagene mascara

Review: Bath & Body Works hand soap in Midnight Pomegranate!

Fancy hand soap? I never thought much of hand soap until my brother's girlfriend brough bath & bodyworks soaps for us!

I can't believe how incredibly scented they are, so sweet, so yummy! I've never seen metal stands for hand soaps. We just use them in their bottles, refill and throw! Never decorate them!

Continue below for the quick look!

Bath & Body Works hand soap in Midnight Pomegranate

October foodie post! #1 (german yums, home made quiche, pretzels, seafood dinner)

Eat to live? I think I live to eat! Food isn't always on my mind like a food addict, anorexic or bulimic...it's something that floats around that keeps me happy in my mind. I need to make it a point to spend time to make new dishes and bake!

Continue below for things I've eaten and things I've made! Quiche and pretzels!

German bier, open sandwiches, sausage platter, roasted knuckle! Home cooked udon, spinach, scallops, red velvet cupcakes and black pepper crab!

Rave Review: Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream in shade 27 (honey beige)!

Perfect cover, damn right! After so much talk, reviews and rave of Missha BB creams, their quality and slightly better range of color choice makes them one of the best BB bases on the market! 

I was surprised by the jump between shades, I would've fit best with a shade between this and the previous but this works in thin layers although a tad too dark for my face.

Note: This BB cream is now too dark for me! 

Continue below for the review!

Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream in shade 27 (Honey Beige)

Review: Bourjois little round pot blush in shade 03 Brun Cuivre~!

Blush fever! The perfect way to sculpt your face and add a fresh, pinched brightness is with blush! Ever since I saw all the swatches of these single Bourjois blushes on A Vain Woman's blog I was so enticed to try these blushes as most of them have a beautiful pink, shady rose color which I'm in love with!

I've got three of these, rose ambre, rose de jaspe, lilas d'or, all rosy but of all various finishes. Check out (my review and swatches here) for those!

For the review and swatch of Brun Cuivre continue below!

Bourjois little round pot blush in shade 03 Brun Cuivre!

Japanese lunch @ Sushi Tei with my better half and mom!

Japanese food galore! Who doesn't like Japanese food! I could eat this stuff everyday, all day! Had a lunch a short while back with the better half and my mom, ate too much and had a good afternoon browsing through electronics of all sorts down town!

Continue below for close up of the food and extras!

Japanese lunch! I love everything! sushi, sashimi, rice sets and mini shabu shabu!

FOTDs: 4 looks for fall! (rosey cheeks, bright/ smokey, dark lips!)

Finally after compiling I've got several looks here I've done which seem quite fall appropriate! Not that it matters with the weather being the same during summer here in sunny Singapore!

I've enjoyed doing more dramatic brown eyes, smokey looks, lots of blush ( I love blush!) and maybe some bright and deep lipstick! I've got plenty of dark lippies but rarely reach for them! Such a shame I know!

I recently met up with an old school friend of mine, she's here studying and it was a great evening. We both got new ear piercings! Photos maybe to come soon!

Continue below for the looks and products used!

Four looks for fall! Blush is a must along with an easy eye and maybe a touch of lipstick for drama!

Review: Lancome la petite collection juicy tubes lip gloss! (limited edition/travel exclusive)

Do you like Lancome...Juicy Tubes!? This was a limited edition set of juicy tubes designed by lancome with collaboration with Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama on the packaging. This set was to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Juicy Tube lip gloss by lancome!

This was my first time trying juicy tube lipglosses and there are pros and cons to this product. I've had this for a while now but only now got around to reviewing this. This set reminds me of the Dior lipgloss la collection which I (reviewed here!)

Continue below for the review and swatches!

 Lancome la petite collection juicy tubes lip gloss! (limited edition/travel exclusive)

Special: Birthday haul from Watsons, la Senza and Sea Folly! (make up, skin care, under garmets and swim suits)

Crazy haul time! No more for the next few months! No more major hauls in such large amounts! This was during my birthday month of August where I can 5 times the points of my purchases which I can then use for buying things at Watsons!

I had used up a lot of hair products, conditioner and shampoo, was low of nose strips and needed to back up on powder. So I picked up and stocked up on lots of things for myself, somethings for giving away and somethings were for my mom!

Continue below to check out my Watsons birthday haul!

Birthday haul from Watsons, make up, hair products and skin care!

Review: Milani Baked Blushes in 07 Fantastico Mauve and 08 Coralina!

How's 'fall' been for you? I step into shops now and everythings in a dull, dark and gloomy color scheme! Make up trends have been going the same too, darker, smudgey, grungy and not bright and tropical like during summer!

I completely missed my chance to buy brightly colored shorts from New look during the summer and now as they're clearing out last pieces in store, all the sizes are too big! Oh well, the search goes on in sunny singapore! No rush for more clothes, I've got plenty!

These blushes were bought for me by my brother's wife, then girlfriend when she came to singapore some months ago. When I found out I had the chance to get some make up products that have been raved about so much I decided to get a few of these, I really wanted the bronze shade Terra Sole but she couldn't find it at the time in stores.

Oh! How I just wish such products at such prices were more easily found in Singapore! It' so exciting I wish more girl could try products!

Continue below for swatches and the review!
 

Milani Baked Blush in 07 Fantastico Mauve and  08 Coralina!