I'll start with the makeup first, because that's what I'm most excited about! I got a Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Concealer in the shade Medium 22. This is supposed to be a heavy-duty, hardcore, full-coverage concealer, fully capable of hiding even tattoos! I cannot wait to try this! 

I've been lusting after the Anastasia Brow Wiz pencil because of all the rave reviews and Youtubers calling it their holy grail. However, they were a tad bit expensive and I couldn't justify any reason for wanting it so I settled for the next best, the Dipbrow Pomade. It claims to be smudge-proof, water-proof, creamy and a must-have for oily skin and humid climates, so we'll have to wait and see if it does live up to its claims on my overly-oily face in Singapore's 30degree weather!

I've been trialing the Benefit Porefessional primer for quite some time now and wanted to try something new. The Tarte Clean Slate Poreless 12 Hr Primer sells for about $10 cheaper in the States so it went onto the list! It claims to help makeup stay in place for 12 hours and reduce lines and pores while plant extracts provide anti-aging and skin-restorative benefits. Sounds great, especially for city-dwellers! 

After a harrowing two weeks of tests and examinations, I decided to treat myself to a trip down to Sephora! I had a birthday gift card to use up anyway. Surprisingly, I felt myself drawn to M.A.C more than other brand, and ended up picking three things! 

I was searching high and low for the Benefit Pushup Liner but it was nowhere to be found! They had the display for it and everything but THE TESTER WAS NOT THERE. I was so frustrated!!! I was really psyched to play with it and actually see it in person. -okay rant over-

No matter, I picked up two M.A.C lipsticks, Ruby Woo and Chatterbox. Ruby Woo is a bright, cool-toned, vintage, 'perfect 50s' red. It is a retro matte finish and despite the fact that retro mattes are dryer than their regular mattes, I have been lusting after this for AGES and am so excited to finally get my hands on this. Chatterbox is a milky, neutral pink that is definitely brighter than your regular 'everyday' nudes like Creme Cup, for example. It is, however, not too bright or neon, and I think would work as lovely with a smokey eye as with a neutral look!

Their paint pot in Vintage Selection is another one that has been on my 'want' list since I first purchased my first one, Bare Study. It is a light, peachy-pink with a hint of brown and silver (or champagne? I can't really tell) frost. I think this would look perfect just by itself as well! 

Everyone and their mother's pet cat has been raving about the Benfit Gimme Brow since its recent release. Usually I don't bother with such hyped-up products (ooh, look at me being all hipster) but my Catrice Brow Designer just was not cutting it for my messy brow hairs. I also hate faffing with eyebrows early in the morning as mine are the most tedious. 

 

So I have yet another haul that I wanna talk about! My grandma has just recently discovered the magic of ASOS and asked me if I wanted to dump some things into the shopping bag along with a watch she chose, so I said why not? (: I also got an item each from NYX and E.L.F when they had a pop-up store at the local mall! And also, I did say I wanted to get the Maybelline Colour Tattoos in Inked in Pink and Gold Rush so.... Hehe. AND THEN there was a Catrice clearance sale that was too difficult to resist!

One of the items I got from ASOS is the ASOS Front Strap Clutch, $43.57. I was having a difficult time matching bags to maxi dresses, rompers and such, and I realised that what I needed was a plain, versatile clutch bag. The material of this is slightly harder and more 'box-y' than I expected it to be but that doesn't change the fact that it's so chic and sophisticated yet casual at the same time! I can imagine myself using this with many outfits!

I got the Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation, $24.18 at a dollar cheaper than what my local drugstore is offering (cheapskate, I know, but what else can you do when shopping on a budget?).  I was contemplating between this one and the serum version, but I think this one provides more coverage and since that's what I need, I got this! I'm in the shade 52 Vanilla.

The next one is the ASOS Coin Cuff Bracelet, $24.20 $12.10. I actually thought the coins were 'loose', but typing this post, I realise that it says 'CUFF' bracelet, silly me. *facepalm* This is not too shabby a cuff, though! It has a lobster clasp so it's adjustable. I have very small wrists and I hate the fact that I can't wear cuffs because they just slide right off! The only downside is that because the coin part is heavier than the chain, it tends to weigh down and so after a few minutes of wearing it, the coins will be at the bottom of my wrist and the chain on top, but occasionally adjusting it throughout the day is not a big issue for me!

I just love pop-up stores by NYX and E.L.F because they don't retail over here! I managed to get the thing I needed the most, which is a green concealer from NYX. It is their Waterproof Concealer Stick, $5.00 USD (can't find it at the moment!). This just did wonders for my red and angry blemishes. It neutralised them well enough so that the redness doesn't peek through. It is quite difficult to blend, but that means that once you really work it in, it doesn't budge!

I have been wanting to try a kabuki brush for ages because of it's supposed powder buffing magic. I picked up the E.L.F Studio Kabuki Brush, $6.00 USD and the moment I put this against my face......... it was like the heavens exploded and and cotton candy pooped on my face. Not even kidding. THIS. IS. SO. >>>SOFT<<<!!!! I can't even-

Needless to say, this applies blotting powder like a dream. However, for really BUFFING powder into the skin to get that really AIRBRUSHED look, I'd say this isn't quite dense enough. The Tarte Airbuki looks great for that, though!

 

I am loving the consistency of the Maybelline Colour Tattoos! So soft and smooth! xD Comparing the formula to MAC's Paintpot in Bare Study, it isn't as slippery and thin in consistency. It is much more thick, opaque and gel-like! Loooooveeeee. I am now officially a convert and have to get all dem shades!

Petrol Shop Boys without flash, with flash

So while I was at it, I saw a Catrice clearance sale and I just went 'HOLY SMOKES' in my mind because everything was 3 for $10 (SGD). I only picked up 2 little things from them, though (because budget), but they were 2 GREAT little (oxymoron, hah) things! They are their mono eyeshadow in 650 Petrol Shop Boys, a blueish sea-green, almost mermaid, color with silver shimmer, and their Cucuba Limited Edition Loose Eyeshadow in C05 Take It Mint, a minty, mossy green. I thought these two would look beautiful together and I was right! 

Left to right: Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 52 Vanilla (it looks too dark for me but it matches my neck), Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Inked in Pink, Catrice Eyeshadow in Petrol Shop Boys, Catrice Loose Eyeshadow in Take It Mint, Take It Mint on top of Petrol Shop Boys 

Please leave a comment if you've tried any of these products and let me know your thoughts about them!!

Hi all! Just got back from shopping for a New Year's Eve dress and obviously had to get some makeup too. Picked up one of Catrice's mono eyeshadows in 400 My First Copperware Party (I said I would get it!) and one of their Long Lasting Lip Pencils in 040 And The Cherry On Top! I also got (well, my boyfriend did) MAC's blush in Peony Petal. I thought Peony Petal, along with Full of Joy and the whole of the Très Cheek collection was limited edition but apparently some stores still carry them! I was actually contemplating between FOJ, PP, and Katie from Illamasqua but settled for PP because FOJ was too shimmery (not good for my oily skin) and I was afraid that Katie might turn a little orange on me.

I might not be reviewing the monoshadow by Catrice if it wears the same as Oh, It's Toffeeful! but just give an update instead, since I'm wearing it tomorrow for Christmas! I'll update about the lip pencil and blush though!

Till then!

Spotted a new-ish brand called Catrice and did some research. Catrice is one of the brands from the company Cosnova, who also owns Essence! So Catrice is basically Essence's sister brand. (: Quite happy that brands like these are popping up in Singapore, since we don't get like 60% of products from brands like Maybelline and Revlon. Anyway, like Essence, Catrice sells extremely affordable makeup that has not bad quality either! I got three things from them, a blush, a mono eyeshadow and a brow/eyelash gel, all for about $10! That's cheap, considering that makeup in Singapore is craaaaay expensive!