Natural Makeup For Work (Video Tutorial)

Is that how my face look like 0_0

Can't believe I actually filmed my first makeup tutorial in 2.5 years.

I've been away THAT long, always wanted to come back and make more makeup/beauty videos, but just never know when I can do it. I thought it would be a lot more smashing and exciting, but it was just like any other day in reality.

I have not reached that state where I dreamed of reaching - silky smooth, hydrated and problem free skin - I now question if perfection is actually achievable. Nonetheless, I am at a state where I'm happy with what I currently have, and have accepted it to be part of me (still working on it, but I'm doing so well now!). It's so strange to see myself in makeup again after so long. I've grown to really like my own face without makeup, and with some makeup on, it adorns my face so beautifully. It makes me feel great to be able to put makeup on once again!

So with the blemish and flaws that are still present on my skin, I present to you this makeup look which is one of the looks I've been wearing to work the past 2 months.
It's understated, natural, no perceivable eyeliner that set off alarms in most people's eyes.
I love how easy it is, I can put this look together within 15 minutes in the morning rush hour :'D If I don't mess up my brows that is. And I normally don't, so I don't know why I messed it up during recording!



This is the complete eye look, just really minimal. It looks even less obvious in video because the camera washes out some of the colour. In real life, it gives myself beautiful and natural looking depth. Indiscernible to the untrained eyes.

THE PRODUCTS

1. E.L.F. Perfect Finish HD Powder
2. KATE Mineral Powder Foundation (OC-C) 
3. AVENE Very High Protection Cream SPF50+
4. CANMAKE Mat Fleur Cheeks (04)
5. KATE Brown Shade Eyes (BR-6)
6. REVLON Matte Balm (225 Sultry) (Review and swatches here)
7. MAYBELLINE Volum' Express The Magnum Waterproof
8. KATE Lash Maximizer White
9. INNISFREE Auto Eyebrow Pencil (03 Grey)

Compared to my old looks, this look has a lot less products, right? That's mostly because I just started getting back into wearing makeup recently, and I am really cautious this time. I don't want to put on too much just in case it might irritate my skin. So I start with very little products, and slowly add more to it if I want to. Who knows, maybe a few months down the road, the number of products I use will increase exponentially, trying to squeeze every single product from the new releases onto my face all at the same time? Hahaha!




The brushes I used are all from REAL TECHNIQUES (not TRUE TECHNIQUES hahaha). The purple brushes are from their Eye Makeup Starter Kit. Looks like the recently revamped it, kept the brushes the same and changed the case that comes with it (now grey instead of black!).



I've actually been looking at getting a new lash curler, but my old KOJI No.73 is still working fine.. Just need to change the rubber lining every so often because it does break apart, which affects the curl that I can get. Speaking of which, it's time I change to a new rubber lining.

As for the makeup brush cleaning sponge, I bought the sponge from a store that sells household products, cut it to fit the cute tin case my aunt gave me and it's done. Really handy for cleaning the brushes in between different colours, especially when going from dark to light shades. The excess powder collects at the bottom which I then clean out once in a while. Time to wash the sponge soon, it's getting brown!

All in all, I am really glad I can do this again. Even though this gratitude is an afterthought, I still want to note it down. It really helps to reflect upon all that have happened in my life and to count my blessings. Even though things aren't exactly at where I want them to be, I'm still rejoicing at how far I've come, and how much improvements I've experienced. I will continue to keep my body, mind, and skin healthy, and hope to bring more videos with you all.

And now, the video tutorial.

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WHEN I FEEL LIKE SHIT // ANNOUCEMENT

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!

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2015 Favourites of the year

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!

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HOLIDAY MAKEUP // 009 SHINY BAUBLE

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!

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MACAU TRAVEL DIARY // VLOG_#003

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?

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HONG KONG TRAVEL DIARY// VLOG_#002

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 :)

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HONG KONG BEAUTY HAUL

Not a lot, but not that little stuff too.

it's amazing how quickly time flies when you're so lost in the current moment,
it's good to be back in hong kong,
to be honest i can't really recall much because i try my best to be enjoying my time here instead of actively trying to remember what i do.
it's better to enjoy it then and there, than to enjoy it when i'm recalling.
I THINK.
but then again, we as humans love to replay our memories in our heads,
i guess i need to strike a balance somewhere.

i'm going off tangent here! let's come back to the beauty stuff i bought in the past few weeks :)
just doing a quick entry because i'm about to head out to sai kung soon!

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE



PRODUCT DETAILS//

all prices are in hong kong dollars, unless otherwise stated



from left to right:

DOLLY WINK | LIQUID EYELINER II | BLACK

$60 | DRAGON CENTRE

(got this in one of the tiny shops within the mall, i don't recommend buying there since i suspect mine is a fake)

DOLLY WINK | LIQUID EYELINER III | DEEP BLACK

$99 | SASA

DOLLY WINK | LIQUID EYELINER III | DEEP BROWN

$99 | SASA

(got these 2 eyeliners with a 20% discount, so each rounds off to about $79)

DOLLY WINK LONG MASCARA 

$95 | SASA

from left to right:

HEROINE MAKE | SMOOTH LIQUID LINER (OLD PACKAGING)

$60 | DRAGON CENTER

HEROINE MAKE | SMOOTH LIQUID LINER (NEW PACKAGING)

$75 | SASA

MAYBELLINE | MASTERLINER | BK-1

$59 | MANNING

MAYBELLINE | MASTERLINER | BR-1

$59 | MANNING

(manning was having a 20% discount on all maybelline eyeliners, so i paid $48 each instead)

from left to right:

KATE | LASH MAXIMIZER EYELASH PLUS | EX-1

$90 | SASA

KATE | DESIGNING EYEBROW N | EX-4

$76 | SASA

INNISFREE | ECO EYEBROW PENCIL | 01 GREY

$38 | INNISFREE

INNISFREE | ECO EYEBROW PENCIL | 02 BLACK

$38 | INNISFREE

from left to right:

MAKEUP REVOLUTION | REDEMPTION PALETTE ICONIC 3

$68 | HAKME BEAUTY STORE

(this shop isn't easy to find, but the address is stated on their instagram, which i've linked above)

KATE | BROWN SHADE EYES | BR-6

GIFTED TO ME BY MY AUNT

CANMAKE | MATTE FLEUR CHEEKS | 04

GIFTED TO ME BY MY AUNT

DHC | LIP CREAM

GIFTED TO ME BY HAZEL

REVLON | COLORSTAY ULTIMATE SUEDE | 035 BACKSTAGE

GIFTED TO ME BY HAZEL

REVLON | COLORSTAY ULTIMATE SUEDE | 095 FINALE

GIFTED TO ME BY HAZEL

REVLON | COLORSTAY MOISTURE STAIN | 035 MIAMI FEVER

GIFTED TO ME BY HAZEL

LUCAS PAPAW OINTMENT

GIFTED TO ME BY HAZEL

MENTHOLATUM | LIP PURE | ORIGINAL

$30.5 | BONJOUR

VISEE | CREAMY LIPSTICK | PK 805

GIFTED TO ME BY MY GF

VISEE | COLOR POLISH LIPSTICK | RD 420

GIFTED TO ME BY MY GF

L'OREAL | MOIST MATTE | PR511 SPRING ROSETTE

$73.5 | MANNING

(also discounted, i can't recall the original price :P)

from left to right:

REVLON | COLORSTAY GEL ENVY | 600 QUEEN OF HEARTS

$68 | WATSONS

(totally forgot to mention this in the video, it's the shade i'm wearing on my nails :P)

VERSACE | EROS | 5ML

$40.5 | BONJOUR

VERSACE | BRIGHT CRYSTAL | 5ML

$40.5 | BONJOUR

(i found that bonjour is the place to get the best price on perfume samples because they give an additional 10% off. $40.5 is the final price i pay!)

as i'm typing the list of things i got, i just remember i forgot to mention the bifesta cleansing express lotion because i already packed it into my luggage! oh well.

TIME FOR ME TO RUN!
hope you enjoyed the video!

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GRWM + Q&A // WHERE AM I FROM, MY ENGLISH

I managed to squeeze 21 questions into 13 minutes.

my second GET READY WITH ME video (you can watch the first one here)!

this time i'm getting ready for a dinner date, since the focus was on answering the questions i didn't get to talk much about my makeup, but i tried! if you missed all the product information both IN THE VIDEO and IN THE DESCRIPTION, here is the list of products i've used.

watch the video below!




PRODUCTS USED//


products not numbered in chronological order.

click on the links to see their reviews and swatches.

1. LAVSHUCA melting eyes (BR)
2. KATE mineral foundation powder (OC-B)
3. REVLON colorstay balm stain (050 precious)
4. L'OREAL super lustrous lipstick (P511 touch of amaranth)
5. KATE designing eyebrow N (EX-4)
6. MAYBELLINE masterliner (BR-1)
7. HEROINE MAKE smooth liquid eyeliner 
8. DOLLY WINK long mascara

BRUSHES USED//




1. REAL TECHNIQUES deluxe crease brush
2. KATE eyeliner brush cut into an angled brush

you can read my review of the real techniques brushes here.

THE LOOK//


close up of the face.

i kept the face bare because of my skin, so the eyes and lips became my focus. i think the milky pink added a bit of colour without it being too overpowering! as much as i love wearing darker lip colours, but i don't want to scare my date away :P


closer look at the eyes.

the shadows are kept to a minimum as with my recent practices. it was just in amounts just enough to justify its purpose - to add a gentle contouring effect to my eyes after i've flattened it with my powder foundation. anything more will look too much, which doesn't fit with my aim of making it look undetectable. instead, i relied heavily on shimmery light shades to draw light into my eyes, especially the inner corners.


tried my best to keep the eyeliner as thin as i can, and made my lashes look incredibly long for a sweeter effect :P

if you have questions to ask, do comment on the youtube page (it's easier for collation of questions!)!

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