During that scary short period when my previous macbook pro had given out on me, I managed to make use of that time away from the computer to do some constructive things to my makeup stash!

By constructive all I really mean is spring clean, get rid of things that needed to be thrown out which ended up not being too successful. Though in the process, I discovered some items that I was really fond of before yet had now chucked to the back of the drawers.

They weren't chucked because they are bad or anything but rather due to rotating and trying new things, I might have forgotten about the old. It was nice to take them out once more and place them on the counter top in plain sight. With that, lately I have been reaching for and using these items for my everyday work look!

Here's a little swatch palette of the above products.

By everyday work look I mean if I were just going to the office and back, simple stuff without meeting or events.

My double eyelids always go through weird phases and in the above you can kinda see how wonky they get sometimes. Super annoying if you ask me!

I actually used a brown liquid liner on the lids but I set it with black eyeshadow to give it that brown-black softened look instead of a harsh black. I also skipped out on using mascara because... well lets just say I've gotten to a fairly lazy stage of daily makeup.

I completely skip out wearing my contacts and trot around in my glasses on a daily basis. It's so much more casual and gives me a couple more snooze minutes too!

It can be quite a chore to wrestle contacts in everyday especially with tired or weary eyes so I've just reached a point where my daily routine and going out routine is starting to differ quite a bit!

I can't imagine how I used to do the full works when I had to be up at 6 plus in the morning with my previous job.

All that aside, I really do like the Revlon Copper Spice quad because it gives the right amount of color and definition while keeping it subtle, it's such a pretty quad with lovely shades! I had done a tutorial about it before so you can check it out here; It's not entirely the same look but it's close.

Products Used:

BROWS/FACE
K-Palette Liquid Brow Liner in 01
Maquillage Brow Wax in 77
Baviphat Fresh sunscreen
Cezanne Powder Foundation

EYES
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Revlon Quad in Copper Spice
K-Palette Liquid Liner in Brown
MAC Powerpoint Liner in Engraved

CHEEKS
LA Girl Powder Blush in Spice

LIPS
NYX Lipgloss in Smoky Look

Highlighted products were provided by companies/distributors,
I was not obliged to use/feature them in LOTDs.

To further emphasize how casual I've taken my daily routine these days I'm actually switching over to either a powder foundation alone or at times coupled with a bb cream instead of my usual liquid foundation.I realized that I have a few bb creams just sitting around while I indulge solely in my liquid foundations so it was time to switch that up.

I received a twitter mention to talk about my current makeup routine so I'm thinking to talk about that because I'm currently loving the Cezanne Powder Foundation, even more so then the ZA 2 Way Foundation or at least what I remember of it. Though more of that soon!

I hope you guys don't mind me rambling more in my recent entries. It's like all of a sudden I feel it's more fun to 'talk' through entries though I know it ends up being wordy which makes me miss making videos but hey I'm not going to get all nostalgic and word vomit here!

Have you rediscovered anything new from your stash of late?

Thanks for reading!

It's been awhile since my last neutral LOTD that it almost seems like I don't do neutrals anymore? In fact, I still do them more then ever, it's just that I hardly document them since half of my LOTDs are probably neutrals.

Though it's about time to feature them once more, and this was also the look I did for the My T.A.K. Shop mini photoshoot that I had done.

I started the look fairly typical and tried my hardest not to solely use my Sleek Storm palette. Theoretically that palette on it's own would have been perfect but I wanted to rotate around my stash and use things I've not touched in awhile, such as my LA Girl Platinum shadows.

The look pre-falsies.

The falsies I used was this old pair I found lying around. I'm not even sure where I got this from but I ended up really liking it! The lash band is rather long so I had to trim some of it off and the band is stiff too, but I find I work better with stiffer lashes for now.

Does anyone happen to know where these random brand lashes are from? I'm suspecting something like Daiso, but I could be wrong. If you happen to know, do let me know!

After adding lashes, the neutral look was too blah so using L'oreal HIP's Color Chrome liner in Gold Charge, I drew a gold line just above the lash band.

I didn't have any lip product on in the above shots but after changing into the outfits, I used YSL's Faubourg Peach. Though you can check out the look with my hair down and proper in the My T.A.K. Shop photos.

Products Used:

FACE
MUFE HD Foundation
Pore Putty Face Powder (to set)
Kpalette Brow Liquid in 01
Maquillage Brow Wax in 77

EYES
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Bobbi Brown Longwear Cream Shadow in Sandy Gold
MAC Gold Dusk Pigment
Majolica Majorca Palette in 355
LA Girl Eyeshadow in Radiant
LA Girl Eyeshadow in Snowflake
LA Girl Eyeshadow in Beige
K Palette Liquid Liner in Black
L'oreal HIP Color Chrome Eyeliner in Gold Charge
MAC Powerpoint Liner in Engraved
Eyelashes

CHEEKS
I Nuovi Blush in Dolly

LIPSTICK
YSL Rouge Volupte Lipstick in 30 Faubourg Peach

Highlighted products were provided by companies/distributors,
I was not obliged to use/feature them in LOTDs.

I rarely wear the false lashes plus colored contacts combo unless it's for a quick thing like photoshoots whereby it's just faster to get decent shots this way. I can't say I feel 100% comfortable in either falsies or colored contacts so wearing both at the same time is not a walk in the park for me.

Give me mascara and my normal lenses any day! But I have to admit I do like the combined effect they give.

Oh and p.s. I was wondering if anyone would like a post about the b2st fan meeting? It's pretty unconventional, yes, but the photos are just sitting in my folders and I feel I need to share it to make the experience more worth while? Else where's the fun in just me viewing them. But only if you guys are interested (:

Though for kicks, here's one shot I took during the encore stage!

Thanks for reading!

Hello everyone!

Have been busy again but I have good news at work! My company has finally found a dedicatd web designer so I no longer have to juggle two people's workload. Though the workload for a print designer (my post) is pretty epic, it's still a relief. If I could tell you all what I did/where I work maybe it would make sense as to why I'm busy all year round... but anyway.

Back to this entry, lately I've been liking this specific nail polish combination - that is layering a solid black base and a sheerer color on top, typically a shimmery shade.

The love for this combination started back when I painted my nails for Zoukout. I wanted to have on a dark shade yet still have a bit of oomph instead of it just being black. So, I threw on a black base and a sheerer shimmery polish over.

Brandless black nail polish, LA Girl Rock Star Nail Lacquer in Punk

A shoutout and thank you to Kas for having gifted me this lovely LA Girl polish!

This photo doesn't quite do this combination justice as aside from the blue reflects there were purple-ish reflects too. I didn't have my SLR camera with me during this time so the above photos were taken with my mobile phone.

Currently, I have a different combination on my nails but it's along the same 'concept' and coincidentally it utilizes the same brand!

Brandless black nail polish, LA Girl Nail Lacquer in 24K

I included a little close up shot of the glittery effect as it really is more complex then how it looks from afar. There are tiny bits of different colored shimmers all mixed in there but from afar it seems like a blackened bronze - still gorgeous. I love how from angles it almost looks black because the light doesn't reflect off the shimmers.

I've been really liking the end-color of this method thus far, it's almost a trial and error/surprise thing. It's not a new method but it's a nice change from the creams and pastels I have been wearing for awhile.

I own a couple more sheerer polishes so I'll try this method out with them and maybe finally put those polishes to good use.

Alright, the weekends are here, hope everyone enjoys this mini rest period. I have work tomorrow so boo to that. But just a quick parting word, I should have some haul entries (ahem) coming up! Waiting for several things to come in, etc. It's been such a long time since I've hauled, so like finally!

Thanks for reading!

This look is inspired by this photo of Selena Gomez.

Aside from this just being a Selena Gomez inspired look, I had also received requests to do a brown smokey look.
So here is a rendition of it, paired with silver for that brightening effect.

Products Used
EYES
- NYX Eyeshadow base in White and Skintone
- LA GIrl Platinum Eyeshadow in Snowflakes
- Red Earth Tier Set in Bird of Paradise (silver)
- 88 Color Palette (colors mentioned)
- Revlon Colorstay Eyeliner in Black
- Covergirl Lashblast (Waterproof)

CHEEKS
- NYC Bronzer in Sunny
- LA Girl Blush in Natural

LIPS
- LA GIrl Superlicious Moisturizing Lipgloss in Happy

To find out how to get this look done, watch the video tutorial!

YOUTUBE// Tutorial: Silver & Brown Smokey Eye (Selena Gomez Inspired)

This video tutorial is in partnership* with Selenastyle.com
* = By partnership I am simply providing distributor rights.
I am not getting paid or sponsored for anything in this video

This is a little tutorial styled entry featuring another method to achieving an outer corner effect.
I will probably adapt this to a video tutorial sometime in future because I am not satisfied with the way the photos here turned out. This will suffice for now as one of my readers who requested for this is in urgent need for it, hence I'm posting this up though it's not as perfected as I want.

Never did I know it was this hard to do photo tutorials! Juggling the camera and all... it definitely takes some practice.

Way back, I had posted an entry with some a rough and simple guide on how to locate your 'Outer-V' (read it here) which is a phrase you have probably heard.

I always stress that I am not implying the methods or guides I showcase are the only way. They are merely - as stated - guides. It would be most ideal if you adapt it to best work with your own eye shape and structure. However, I understand that the outer-v does not encompass all eye shapes (even some days I feel it looks funky on me). I had also received enquiries from some asking if there was another outer corner method, as the outer-v didn't look quite right on them. I remember having explained this other method in words over e-mails, but now I am attempting to portray it through a series of photos.

I would like to call this technique the Outer-U, because of the (rough) shape that the outer corner assumes. It is not very far off from the Outer-V, but I find that this outer corner style would probably suit rounder/almond-shaped eyes a little better. That's just me though! As always, this is yet another method that you should try on and fine tune to fit your own eye shape.

So let's begin the pictorial tutorial (bit of a tongue twister there!). I tried to make it informative yet short and simple.

1. The very start, a 'clean' lid - dusted a nude shadow from lid to brow. I took the libery to throw on eyeliner, just cause

2. Get whatever crease color you want on your crease brush. I'm just using a medium-dark brown
(LA Girl's Radiant).

3. Now the tricky part. Half open your eye and what you want to do now is 'trace' the brush over where your eye socket is. Start from the outer edge of your eye and drag it inwards (following your socket line). This would create a sort of sem curved shape on your lids.

4. This is what you should end up with after marking your crease in the above step (pre-blending).

5. Now blend, blend blend that line out! Try blending the color slightly above the crease to give that 'lifted' effect.

6. This should more or less be your final blended outcome. A lot more refining and tuning can be done to get the look that you want, but this is a rough guide to the Outer-U method.

You don't have to stop there. You can also add an even darker shade just at the outer corner of the eye, not blending too far into the crease, like so:

A very minor difference, but you can see how adding a slightly darker color
gives the look a bit more depth.

So that's the tutorial section for the Outer-U technique. I know it's a bit 'doh' for some people who have probably been using this method for awhile now, but this is for the benefit of those who are still facing problems with outer corner methods. I do understand the struggle to get the right outer corner effect as I have been through that and to this date there are days where my eyes are just not working right with a certain outer corner look.

But just to show a wee comparison, here is the outer-u alongside the outer-v.

The outer corners are quite similar, though you can still differentiate the color placement and all.
It might not seem like the look varies a whole lot on my eyes, but If the outer-v does not work for you, give the outer-u a try, you just never know. It might not be impressive but a simple thing like changing color placements can make a world of a difference in a look.

I personally alternate between the Outer-U and Outer-V,
though I tend to lean towards the Outer-V a little more.

So this concludes my mini tutorial-styled post. I hope this was of help to some of you guys!
Again, I will be doing a video tutorial version of the Outer-V and Outer-U sometime in future so if the photos themselves aren't enough, I hope I can better explain things then. Also if anyone has anyone questions (that require demonstration) feel free to list it below so I can address it in the video.

Thank you all for reading!

Another tutorial of a past Look of the Day.
I've been trying to clear the requests for past Look of the Day tutorials as I already have photos for those so in general they are a little faster to get done.

View original LOTD blog entry.

Products Used (in this tutorial):
EYES
- Urban Decay Primer Potion
- MAC Artifact Paintpot
- LA Girl Platinum Eyeshadow in Sterling
- LA Girl Platinum Eyeshadow in Snowflakes
- LA GIrl Platinum EYeshadow in Crushed Cranberries
- 28 Color Palette (colors mentioned)
- Magical Tannsu Gel Liner
- MAC Plushlash Mascara

CHEEKS
- MAC Mineralized Blush in Merrily
- MAC Refined MSF (highlight)

LIPS
- NYX Round Lipstick in Circe
- Majolica Majorca Lipgloss in BE 205

To see the youtube tutorial:
YOUTUBE// Tutorial: Crushed Cranberries & Snowflakes (LOTD)

No mini write-up on here again because I'm just a little caught up with school work. Sorry guys ):
But there isn't too much to say about this product and the video explains exactly how I feel about this product.

But of course I can't skip out on rating it since I think ratings are a great way of summing up everything mentioned.

Product: 3.5/5
Packaging: 2/5 (does not screw tight and lipstick has a potential of smashing against the top)

Overall rating: Fail / Pass / Merit / Distinction / High Distinction

Quick word, I'm trying out different rating systems and finding one I can keep consistently. As of now I'm playing around with the overall rating system. This grading is used quite often so I am sure most are familiar with it. The one in bold, would be my option. And I do display the rest of the options so those who are not too familiar with the 'levels' can find it easier to understand. The order is quite simple. Fail being the worst, and High Distinction being the best.
I know it's a little cheesy, but I thought it was kind of interesting rating it this way, and I don't feel so harsh or mean. haha. Let me know if it's just too much.
I'll most probably keep the overall rating consistent and shuffle the other qualities (e.g. packaging) around depending on the product.

Would I re-purchase: Not really. Unless they produce a true-nude shade!

Unfortunately I am typing this blog entry single-handed(ly) as the nail polish on my right hand is in the midst of drying. Thus if I seem unenthusiastic enough to be wordy about my descriptions or this entry in general, I do apologize.

Today's look of the day revolves around one of my favorite shades to wear, cranberry/cherry-red eyeshadow shades.
I never thought that I would ever be able to pull off such shades on my eyelids without looking as if I had just gotten a major infection or was hit in the eye. However whilst experimenting with my eyeshadows a while back, I figured that these shades are actually pretty complimentary on my skintone as it warms up my complexion. Aside from that, it is a refreshing change from the usual brown and it isn't as intense as black. Also, it adds a nice punch of color without looking too funky; by funky I would mean being all bright and bold with colors like blue or green.

Products Used:

FACE:
- Silky Girl O2 Liquid Foundation
- Revlon Translucent Powder (to set)
- Contour & Highlight Palette
- MAC Mineralized Blush in Merrily
- MAC Refined MSF (highlight)

EYES:
- Urban Decay Primer Potion
- MAC Artifact Paintpot
- LA Girl Platinum Eyeshadow in Sterling
- LA Girl Platinum Eyeshadow in Snowflakes
- LA Girl Platinum Eyeshadow in Crushed Cranberries
- 28 Color Palette (slight contour on the outer-v, transition from lid to brow bone)
- Cezanne Duo (highlight)
- Magical Tannsu Gel Liner
- Majolica Majorca Lash Bone Primer
- Maybelline Unstoppable Mascara

LIPS:
- Canmake Lip Concealer in 02
- NYX Round Lipstick in Circe
- Majolica Majorca Lipgloss in BE205

Before anyone asks about my hair, I would say this is a mid-way effort at re-creating the Lauren Conrad braid from Blair's (Juicystar07) tutorial.
Click on the photo below to see the tutorial.

I was going to totally do it the whole way but realized that for hair parted my way, with bangs and layers and all, this would be a better way to wear it.
Pulling it across to the back might make one side of my hair too neat whilst the other side's layers would stick out. I'm not sure how good I am at explaining my hair issues, but I am guessing you all get my drift (:

This is how the hair looks:

So that is all!
I am sorry about the lack of updates in recent days. I just haven't got around to doing anything remotely constructive beauty-wise. I will get back into gear with things soon enough. I have a few important updates coming up in the near future so keep a look out for those. (:

Thanks for reading!

So as mentioned in the Collective Christmas Haul - Part 1 entry, how I am affording all these stuff would be because my relatives had given me some Christmas Money since they didn't know what to get me. I mean, it is practical enough to give people cash if you don't know what to get them. Maybe not the most traditional, but I'd rather this then get another bag of socks or underwear or whatever.
You know... aunts.

So, anyway, this 'Part 2' thing wasn't initially part of the plan as what I had done with the money my relatives gave was split it in half.
One half to get makeup (as seen in Part 1) and the other half to get any other miscellaneous item I wanted such as clothing or whatever.
After hunting through a few malls, I've managed to pick up a beanie at F21 and also a new skirt from Pull And Bear, but that was about it.
I literally had nothing to get anymore because I'm honestly not too big on shopping for clothes. I feel my wardrobe is as crammed as it is, even if my boyfriend keeps urging me to get more clothes and be normal.
Apparently spending on makeup seems adnormal to him. But in the end, I decided to use the remaining cash to get some more makeup, since that is totally what I need right now. Ha!

Here's an overview and a link to the Haul video is at the bottom of the entry.
Also, some of the stuff pictured here were not mentioned in the haul because I conveniently placed them elsewhere and forgot about them.

L-R: Clinelle Moisture Glow, Clinelle Eye Bright, Clinelle Eye & Lip Makeup Remover

LA Girl Blushes (name of colors mentioned in video)

L-R: Sanctuary Eye Gel, Optrex Eye Drops (I accidentally photographed this twice, so you will see it again, but it's the same one)

L-R: Canmake Clear Mascara, Canmake Lash Essence, Canmake Brow Liquid

L-R: Pore Putty Pressed Powder, Pore Putty Concealer
These weren't mentioned in the video

L-R: Maybelline Mascara, L'oreal Lipgloss, Canmake Lip Concealers

L-R: LA Girl Varnish in French Kiss, Sally Hanson Varnish in First Blush, Revlon Varnish (forgot the color, mentioned in video)

L'oreal Makeup Removing Stuffies.

L-R: Rojukiss BB Cream (Not mentioned in video), Witch Cleansing Wipes

Makeup Sponges. (same eyedrop as before)

LA Girl Liners (colors mentioned in the video)

Quick swatch of the LA Girl Liners.

So, here's the link to the haul video:
SEE// Collective Christmas Haul - Part 2

So that's it,
if you wish for me to request anything, simply just drop me a comment and give me a bit of time ;)
Thanks for reading!

<33

I know I have been gone for awhile, but things have been fairly crazy over the past week. What with the whole end of term projects, christmas gatherings and all, hectic was most definitely an understatement.
However, school's finally out and although Christmas is over, it certainly was tons of fun and very rewarding - in a sense.
This haul is definitely somewhat related to the statement I had mentioned above, as my relatives had given me some advanced Christmas cash (or so they call it since they don't ever know what to get me).
The result of that is some maaaajor drugstore hauling since MAC does not seem to interest me all that much right now.

Here's what I've gotten, and be reminded, this is a collective haul (:

L-R: Garnier Eye 'cream' thing, Sally Hanson Nail Varnish Coat, Eyelash seperator comb

LA Girl gloss and Blush in Nautural and Nectar

L'oreal Lipgloss - shade names mentioned in video

Revlon nail varnishes - shades mentioned in video

Canmake Glitter Liquid Liners

Canmake Gel Liners

Maybelline Gel Liners - can I say how much I effing love this stuff!

L-R: Natural Resources Liquid Foundation, SANA UV Milk Lotion

L-R: Maybelline Clear Smooth Gel Foundation, Maybelline Blush Studio Mousse in Pink Marshmellow

L-R: Za Concealer Perfection (because I'm running out of mine), Sally Hanson Lip Inflation in Soft Pink

L-R: Majolica Majorca Mascara, Majolica Majorca 'Case' thing. (I got this to use it as a pocket mirror)

Canmake Mascaras!

L-R: Canmake Lash Curler thing, Canmake Color Stick

Canmake Nail Varnish, Majolica Majorca Tubegloss

Some random Japanese branded Eyeshadow

So that is that for Part 1 of the haul and in the entry for Part 2 I'll explain why there are two parts to this.
So I've been thinking... are my haul entries boring? Because if they are I can stop doing them.
The reason i do these would be for those who don't watch my youtube, or if they do, they get to see the product clearly instead of only for a split second.

Either ways, this is out of point but I am just insanely excited that I have to share (:
I know it's not bad-ass or anything but my dad got me the Nokia E71 for my Christmas present and this is what it looks like:

The image was taken from the web since my camera battery decided to die on me,
but anyway, yes mine's white too and I freaking love it (:
it has wi-fi too so I'll be able to come on here and reply your tags and all of that.
However, I can't surf youtube with this since youtube has 'too much data and all that' that I have to upgrade some software stuff, which I'm not entirely keen on right now.

So, I've blabbered on long enough,
thanks for reading! (: