Powder -BeneFit Cosmetics - Hello Flawless!
whirled 6/3/2009 8:59:00 PM
This is THE MOST amazing powder/foundation ever and I've been using this everyday for the past 3 weeks. I use my MAC 187 and lightly brush it all over my face and voila! Perfect natural look. Yeap, the key word is "LIGHTLY". Even with soft strokes, the coverage is medium to full and depends on how many layers you use. It has no problem concealing the redness around my nose, my panda eyes and some of my freckles. How amazing is that?! I didn't even have to use any concealers. Having said that, DO NOT use the brush included, I didn't as I read how badly it picks up the powder. The best thing about this powder is that it lasts all throughout the day, for me, well past the 9 hours mark! It doesn't budge when you sweat and I may need to blot once a day if I'm out under the hot sun. When I do need to touch up on certain days, again, I just lighly brush the powder over the areas that need coverage again. This is best coupled with a primer, and after trying out a few (including Benefit's That Gal and prep + prime), I think this powder works best with my Chanel Whitening Modeling Effect Base in Rosee. I have this in Petal and the color looks a little ashy in the compact, my skin is more yellow based. Somehow the Chanel primer compliments well with the color and doesn't look ashy on me at all! I did not break out once using this so far. I will continue to use this as I think I've found my HG! BTW, sure, there have been remarks about how little product you get with the high price, but if it covers so well using so little product, and cuts down your make up time in half, why not?! Just buy it directly from their website for some of you Malaysian/Singaporean girls as it is way cheaper online.
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - #187 Duo Fiber Face Brush (Stippling, Skunk Brush)
whirled 4/2/2009 8:10:00 AM
I must've picked a bad one - mine sheds like crazy. I definitely prefer MAC 180 over this for stippling my foundation on. The bristles for this is a little too soft and sparse and it takes forever to apply. Although one should be able to achieve an airbrushed look using this, the final result is never as good as what I get with the 180. Sometimes if I'm not careful, the coverage is not equal all over my face, not sure why. This is not a must have for me (sorry). If I had to choose, it's definitely the 180 over this.
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Makeup Brushes -MAC - 180 Small Buffer Brush ] [DISCONTINUED]
whirled 4/2/2009 7:56:00 AM
I know this is a buffer brush but this is the best brush for stippling foundation on your face! It's so dense and so soft, it also doesn't pick up much foundation. Compared to the 187, this wins hands down! 187 takes forever to apply but with this, it's fast (due to larger surface area) and gives you the perfect airbrushed look and I didn't even swirl (sometimes I think swirling picks up some of the foundation off your face, I may be wrong but that's what I feel). Even though it's much bigger than the 187, I have no trouble reaching the sides of my nose with this either. The handle is just nice and long (or short) enough for my liking. One thing though, it stinks. I have tried washing it a few times but the smell is still there. Hopefully a few more times and it will go away. Not exactly cheap too but it is really worth it! I think this is LE, so if I'm right, go get one while you still can - trust me, this is a very good brush!!!! And oh, the casing that comes with it is horrible.
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Liquid -Christian Dior - Diorsnow Sublissime Whitening Liquid Foundation
whirled 3/26/2009 8:39:00 PM
I can't believe how little review that this product is getting! Seriously!!! This is by far one of the BEST Dior foundation out there (and I've tried most of their range, including Capture Totale High Definition Serum Foundation which isn't so great on me unfortunately - looks perfect at first but it slides and make my skin appear oily just few hours later). Yes, there's only 6 shades to choose from but the lightest one 010 is perfect on my skin! I was a little worried at first because the SA told me the texture is rather thick and would be very matte. However, upon application, it left my skin so luminous and I didn't even have to blot once (I normally have it on from 9am - 10pm straight)! I find it very easy to blend with my mac 180 brush and not at all scary thick! Coverage is medium, but enough to hide most of my acne scars and it made my freckles less obvious. I even use it as a concealer and it covers my dark under eye circles quite well. Basically, it reminds me of BB creams but better. Back to the luminosity it creates, that is beyond description, I really can't find the best way to describe it. It's like it makes your skin glow from WITHIN so it's different from any other foundation that makes your skin look dewy ON the surface (which may later seem oily and blotting throughout the day is vital). It also doesn't oxidise throughout the day and what you see in the morning is what you STILL see at the end of the day. I love it!!!!! It's exactly what I've been looking for in a foundation! And the plus side is that it has SPF 20 (PA++). Two pumps is all I need for my entire face and I lightly dust my Chanel Poudre Universelle Compact to set it. I have tried many Chanel, Clinique, GA, Stila, etc foundation out there and NOTHING comes as close to this. I will be getting Dior's Whitening loose powder next and hopefully it compliments the foundation just as well, if not better! So what made me get this at the Dior counter, despite the little reviews on this up at MUA? It was the new poster with Mylene Jampanoi for their new White Reveal whitening skincare range. And I'm glad I bought this!! Worth every penny!!!!!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Treatments -Christian Dior - Capture Total Haute Nutrition Multi-perfection nurturing oil treatment 
whirled 10/17/2008 8:26:00 AM
A sample of this was given to me in an eye dropper container. Because I have oily t-zone but dry cheeks, I was advised to apply this on my cheeks only - one drop for both cheeks. Upon application, it feels like the oil literally just "sits" on my cheeks the entire night and it felt like my skin could not "breathe". The next morning, I had tiny red itchy bumps all over my cheeks, as if they were bitten by mosquitoes the night before. That night, I stopped using it and woke up to my normal skin again. I think this is too oily for my skin type, glad I didn't purchase the full size.
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Hair Styling Tools -GHD - IV Styler (all sizes)
whirled 10/13/2008 8:55:00 AM
Would I buy this again? Hellyeah!!!!! Only if it gets stolen! I seriously don't think this will ever breakdown! I have tried many straighteners out there since 8 years back, my last recent one was by Phillips and it was alright, until the jade ceramic part started coming off for no reason! I have been wanting to get my own GHD IV Styler since early 2007 but due to the price, decided not to splurge. It was later this year, I caved in, had one shipped to my friend in Texas and had her bring it back to me during one of her recent trips back to Malaysia in September last month. OMG, I wish I have bought this sooner. The first amazing thing I realise with GHD is that, it is SO LIGHT that you do NOT have to use much pressure to hold the ceramic plates over your hair and pull it down the length of your hair! Because it straightens your hair so easily with minimal effort, I have shortened my daily hair straightening ritual from 30 - 45 minutes (depending whether its good hair day or not, using Phillips Jade Ceramic) to 5 - 10 minutes!!!!!!! I AM NOT JOKING!! That is almost an extra 30 minutes of sleep for me everyday!!!! And the next amazing thing is, straightened hair with GHD IV remains straightened until my next wash!!! With other straighteners, I do not get the same kind of straightened hair result - sure it looks kinda straightened after so much time spent on it but at the presence of humidity, it kinks back to its normal wavy state and I really hate that! But with GHD IV, even in humidity, it remains straight! I can tie my hair up for a few hours, and then untie my hair, and it falls down rather straight still. I then run my fingers through a few times, and it is almost as straight as I first had it done in the morning! With other straighteners, there will be some kink and wave where I have tied my hair and it remains un-straight. Third, you can use it anywhere you go because the voltage is universal!! And fourth, just by looking at it, GHD IV is so pretty to look at! It does not look cheap and the first original one (not the pink or pure black or white ones) is kinda blackish + dark greenish under the sun, and the finish is perfect. It does not look like it will break down or die on you through wear and tear. For something so light, it appears to be really sturdy. I really, really, REALLY love this stuff!! I will not turn back to others because there is NO straightener as good as this!!!! OK, how much did I pay for this? I bought this from Amazon for USD$198 including 3 days shipping charge and tax. The price is slightly lower than your normal GHD IV because it did not come with a (waterproof? heatproof? shockproof? can't remember) mat. The mat is not important to me because I do not use/leave my straighteners in the bathroom. I always use them on my dresser in my room, so getting it wet was not an issue to me. It came in a nice, sturdy box with a CD and two booklets. Have checked online and compared the details and I did buy a genuine GHD IV styler (do your homework! There are many fake ones out there!). Oh yeah, also, it is so easy to play around with this thing. Because I'm sporting a bob with longer hair at both sides in front (kinda like posh spice before her pixie cut recently), I like to have my back hair pouffed up a little. I simply use this to achieve the result by kinda turning it inwards a little as I pull it down the length of my hair at the back. So easy to achieve any result you want with this! Curl your ends in? Flick it out? No problem. For 5-10 minutes everyday for the kind of hair result you want to achieve, so well worth it with this!!! I love this so much better than rebonding because rebonded hair is stick straight and pretty ugly when it's ruler straight! With GHD IV styler, you get straight hair STRAIGHT but its still kinda like natural straight, just as if you are born with straight hair! Even though it has been less than 2 months of using this, I have had so many people coming up to me saying how pretty my hair is. Straight hair seems to reflect colored hair better and that is what I got with GHD IV! It makes my hair look healthy and shiny and so naturally straight! For anyone who has read my review to this very word, how can you still not be convinced that you have to get yourself a GHD IV Styler?! If I'm ever stranded on an island and could only bring one item with me, it would definitely be THIS! Go get yourself one now!!! Good investment for the long run I'd say!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -Stila - Sun Shimmer Dry Oil
whirled 10/13/2008 8:20:00 AM
I bought this last year when it first came out for an instant tan without getting under the sun. You have to shake the bottle to mix the "dry oil" and the sparkles evenly. First, the smell is horrible and its so overpowering (and that is just putting it mildly). It has a kind of "burnt" smell and it lingers on until you wash them off. I have tried using this for my night out clubbing and I come back still smelling of that "burnt" smell! Mind you, after clubbing, normally you will smell like (cigarette) smoke but I still smell "burnt" from this! Secondly, I don't like the sparkles in this. OK for night use but daytime use is just weird with the obvious sparkles all over you. Third, it takes a while to "dry up" (I think the right word is "settle" because it definitely doesn't "dry up") so you have to wait before you put your clothes on. Dry oil it is not, it is definitely quite oily. Fourth, just like the previous reviewer had mentioned, the oil leaks from the nozzle after a few pumps. I still have a full bottle left and it's sitting around collecting webs. Too bad Malaysia does not have a return policy, otherwise back to the store it goes! Very disappointing item from Stila!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Bronzers -BeneFit Cosmetics - Jiffy Tan [DISCONTINUED]
whirled 10/13/2008 8:10:00 AM
Do not get turned off by the dark orangey brown color when it comes straight off the tube. Once applied on your skin, it spreads out nicely with a hint of shimmer (but not the sparkly obviously fake kind). JT absorbs rather quickly so application has to be quick for an even application. If you want a darker "fake tan" just apply another coat after the first coat has dried up thoroughly. It makes my pale skin look healthier, but this will definitely not give you the kind of tan you get from a trip to Hawaii for sure. Washes off easily with soap and water. It has a slight fragrance to it but I definitely prefer this over Stila's Sun Shimmer Dry Oil anytime. The smell from Stila lingers throughout the day and smells "burnt", whereas this smells sweet but fades after an hour or two. Plus, Stila's sparkles are a bit too much and too obvious for daytime use.
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Eyes -Christian Dior - Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil in Black
whirled 10/13/2008 7:57:00 AM
This is the best waterproof eyeliner I have ever tried!!! First, you do not need to apply much pressure (or at all!!!) to get the color on your eye lids. This is very important to me because I tightline my eyes a lot and if I have to apply a lot of pressure, my eyes will tear up and my eye make up gets messed up and I hate starting over. Application is very easy with this one! Second, it may say waterproof but it isn't exactly waterproof. It is more smudgeproof than waterproof. If you touch a wet/damp finger on the line you drew, the black color will come off on your finger exactly where you have touched it (I was actually testing out how waterproof it is). However, the important thing is, at the end of the day, it doesn't get to my lower lash line like it does with the non-waterproof (or smudgeproof) version from CD or other brands (I do not like to have liners near my bottom eye waterline - makes my eyes look smaller). Hence, to the very important third point - IT IS SO EASY TO REMOVE! Because if you have to rub or wipe and tug the skin around your eyes to clean your make up off, you get premature wrinkles and that's a big no no! I always use either Shu or SKII cleansing oil to remove my make up and with this eyeliner, its very easy to clean them off your eyes even if you had your eyes tightlined. All in all, it stays put even in hot and humid weather until you touch it with wet/damp fingers. This is my HG Eyeliner of all time!!!
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Lip Gloss -Chanel - Amberlight
whirled 10/13/2008 7:38:00 AM
This is from the Fall 08 collection, limited edition. Color is shiny orangey + vermilion + bronze (can't really describe, maybe it is just amber afterall). Lovely color and lasts all day. I love how Chanel's glossimer fades out evenly but even if it fades out, it still leaves a hint of gloss on your lips that stays put throughout the day until you touch up again. I pair this with JC Reflex and the combination is perfect for that healthy glowy natural FRESH look!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Lip Gloss -Chanel - Gold Light
whirled 10/13/2008 7:31:00 AM
What is there not to love about Chanel's LS Glossimers??? Lovely color with gold, pink sparkles on a clear base. Sometimes I use it alone, sometimes over my lipstick. Too bad it's LE!!
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Polishes -Chanel - Facettes D'or Gold Fiction Nail Colour
whirled 10/13/2008 7:29:00 AM
Normally I would say no to gold/silver nail polish because I think they sometimes tend to look cheap/tacky. But, this is not the case with Gold Fiction. After looking at some online reviews and swatches, I decided to get one bottle for myself and love it so much! No regrets of any sort! Two coats on for the perfect gold bar bling-bling-ness. Yes, exactly like the gold you see on gold bars i.e. you look like you have real gold on your nails!! Does not look tacky at all, in fact, it is so pretty I can never stop looking at my nails. Too bad it is LE. Downside is the bottle, good to look at but you cannot tell how much you have used.
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Misc Beauty Tools -Shu Uemura - Eyelash Curler
whirled 10/13/2008 7:20:00 AM
I've been using the same one for many, many years.. for as long as I can remember! When the rubber dries up or crack, I just turn it upside down so it will last longer. What I love about this curler is that, it does not get to my eye lids and seems to curl my stubborn asian eyelashes really well. I just need to curl it once (normally I count to 5) and I achieve a nice curl throughout the day when I use it with my Diorshow Waterproof mascara! I have put it to test, by just curling it without applying any mascara. And somehow, the curl stays on for many hours! HG curler, the one and only one I will use!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Eye Shadow -Chanel - Les 4 Ombres - 83 Smoky Eye
whirled 10/13/2008 7:14:00 AM
I believe the picture uploaded is the US version, because the one I have, the colors are packed round, not squarish. I will be reviewing the Europe one. When I saw the palette online, I knew immediately I had to have it! So I called my regular SA and had her reserve two for me - it was so pretty I bought one for a close friend of mine too, and she loves it just as much!! All the shades has sparkles except the 4th one, which is matte dark gray-ish black, this color is very easy to work with. I would put this matte color over my lower eyelid, blend it outwards and finally put the sparkling dark gray all over it. Sometimes a little light sparkling gray on the inner corner of the eyes, and thats it. I love this palette so much, I even use it during the day at work! Love the sparkling white but I seldom use it because it's a bit too bright/white on my skin (I'm not a fan of white colors on my skin). Maybe it's just me but if I were to use it below my brow bone, I think the overall shimmery effect is too much. Love everything about this palette! Except for two things. The price and the sparkles tend to fall off and you get them on your cheeks and below your eyes. But still a lovely palette!
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BB Cream -Skinfood - Aloe Sun BB Cream SPF 20 PA+
whirled 10/13/2008 7:00:00 AM
This is my very first BB cream, bought it few months back. I used it for a week and my face starting breaking out, not sure why. After that, I went back to Dr Jart+ silver BB cream and have been using it since. This feels like tinted moisturizer on my skin and the coverage is so so only - doesn't really cover much of the redness around my nose or my dark undereye circles. It does give out a dewy healthy look, especially on my cheeks. Because I stopped after a week, I can't comment whether it has lightening effect on scars, etc everything it promises to do with frequent use. And it smells quite strong, so if you don't like your cosmetics perfumed, stay away from this. All in all, for dewy look, I would prefer Skin 79 Gold BB cream over this (very natural color on my skin and doesn't break me out). For better coverage, it would be Dr Jart+'s silver BB cream - with this, I don't need concealer to hide my dark circles and redness.
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