Weekly Favourites #17

This was supposed to go up on the weekend but I've been so busy! So... what I've used most and have been loving last week were -

Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation in 143 - One of the sheerest foundations I own, but if you like your skin to look like skin or if you have perfect skin (jealous!), then you will love this on its own. This doesn't quite justify the price tag of $80 bucks for me, but when mixed with other thicker foundations (I favour the Shu Uemura Lightbulb Foundation to mix or MUFE HD Foundation), the results are darn natural yet still with an oomph of coverage.

Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able Concealer in 04 Glow - Refer to glowing review here. I've been getting so carried away in the morning just spot concealing but it's been worth it.

Hada Labo Air Aqua UV SPF50/PA+++ (fresh) - This sunscreen is HG material, babeh. Goes on like a serum, sinks in instantly, so lightweight that I can't feel it, leaves no white cast and keeps me matte all day long. This is a sunscreen like no other, beats the Biore ones hands down.

Selsun 2.5% suspension - This is a very strange item to be in favourites, but here's the backstory. I was stalking reddit/r/skincare as per my recent nighttime reading addiction, and came across some posts that talk about acne being caused by fungus rather than bacteria. The signs of the fungal acne include many small bumps around the hairline and jaw area that don't go away despite using all the traditional acne medications. The anecdotes refer to using anti-dandruff shampoo as a wash or a mask (diluted and spread as a thin layer), specifically Selsun or Head & Shoulders which have the active ingredient of Selenium Disulfide and Zinc Pyrithione respectively. I decided to hunt the Selsun down (no silicones) and give it a shot and whaddayaknow, my little bumps pretty much decreased by 50% after the first use. It also seemed to do wonders for cleaning out my sebaceous filaments (these are not blackheads as most people think!) on my nose and cheeks. I won't say the bumps have completely cleared, but they don't make me want to squeeze them out anymore! So if you are at your wits end like I was, maybe using an anti-dandruff shampoo will work for you. Also, this does tend to be drying so use with caution.

Have a good start of week everyone, and as always, let me know your favourites too!

Marc Jacobs Re(Marc)able Full Cover Concealer Review

Can we just check out this gorgeousness that is the Marc Jacobs Re(Marc)able Full Cover Concealer? Extra points for the punny name too!

This is the most lux concealer pot that I've ever laid my grubby large hands on. It's rather solid, hefty almost and is actually a good substitute as a paperweight, a beauty addict's paperweight that is. I particularly like the filleted (architectural software command that joins 2 lines perpendicular to each other with a rounded corner. hur hur) edges of the glass.

I know that the Marc Jacobs Beauty line does go quite high end, but this concealer retails for SGD$36 which is actually not too bad given that Tarte, MUFE, Nars etc. go for much higher, and even MAC concealers are SGD$30 which is not that much cheaper than the Marc Jacobs Concealer. It's probably one of the more value-for-money items in the range in my opinion ( and also because I might be concealer obsessed).

Enough of the case/tub-gasm. The product inside is unlike any concealer I've ever felt before. I highly suggest that if possible, do go down to a sephora/marc jacobs store to feel it. It's super duper creamy and silky, yet it's almost like all that silky creamy goodness got pressed at an intense pressure to form dense yet airy texture. I am so bad at describing it, so let me give it another go. It feels like an ultra dense meringe mixture before it's been baked. For those who are familiar with the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer, it's like someone whipped that formula then pressed it into a more solid form.

It's whipped delight, that's what this is. (sidenote: this also feels and is chock full of silicones that is probably what gives it its delightful texture)

MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC30, Marc Jacobs Re(Marc)able Full Cover Concealer 04 Glow

I have the shade 04 Glow, which does well on my NC30-35 skin when used on pigmentation and scars. It's not brightening under the eye so if you're looking for an undereye concealer do go a shade lighter. 04 Glow also has peachy undertones, so it would do well if you're a NC35 and above and looking to correct dark circles. I can't use this in large portions because I'm more yellow undertone than peach, but in areas to correct the colour of pigmentation, this does wonders.

For demonstration purposes, I have used my dark eye circles as the rest of my face is being a bitch. When Marc said full cover, he was not kidding. My favourite way of using this concealer is going in with a small brush and to pinpoint conceal lisa eldridge style. It blends out seamlessly into the rest of the face while still giving any marks the coverage that you so desire. I find that using a finger really just wastes product because a finger smears the product around. Also given the relative softness of the product (as compared to other cream concealers), using fingers seem to create a dent in the tub really fast!

Texture wise, it's so creamy that I thought it would be a really hydrating concealer. I was disappointed because the texture actually exposes the rough texture and any dry patches that I have on my skin. Another reason why pinpoint concealing is the way to go. Folks with nice smooth skin/well hydrated skin would best benefit from this concealer.

Longevity is where the other portion of the name comes in - re(marc)able indeed. My combination dehydrated yet oily face went a full 9 hours with minor fading of this concealer in portions of my face that I do not touch like my cheeks. Considering that I find this concealer to be one of those do not not truly set to a finish that doesn't transfer (like the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer), it is very impressive! I wish it did set someone like the MUFE Full Cover Concealer though, would really appreciate something that doesn't transfer.

All in all, aside from the rather crappy shade range, if you're someone who has PIH and smooth skin, or are willing to put in the effort to pinpoint conceal, this would be a comparable concealer to the likes of MUFE Full Cover Concealer but with a better, softer finish. Folks with more textured skin or matured skin, if you enjoy the skin-like texture (because this concealer does reveal the skin texture through it's pigments), then this is also for you.

This is an A product for me, now if only I had smoother skin to make using this product easier. -wistful-

Sponge & Dash

So here I bring you my latest base addiction. In between all the sun and storms we've been getting (all in the span of 24hrs), the humidity is just too damn high. A dewy base in high humidity is tough to maintain, and I try to steer clear of matte bases because I have a flat face, so here's the slap & dash routine that I've been favouring that falls somewhere in between. Oh yes, tool addiction - beautyblender (which I didn't photograph).

Both the Hada Labo BB Whitening Cream and the Topshop BB Cream offerings have spf and pretty darn good coverage that evens out most things. The Hada Labo BB Cream has a dewier finish, while the Topshop BB cream has more of a matte satin, but mixed together, the finish is both lightweight and incredibly skin-like as they offset each other in terms of finish. I find that the trick to getting the skin-like finish is to apply with fingers, quick and easy, no brushes involved. There's none of that sweaty looking dewiness, just a soft... if I might say... glow. 

Smear on some of the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer on your undereye darkness and press it in with the dry beauty blender and you'll find that it does indeed live up to its creaseless claims. Again, I find this concealer works best with the dry sponge because the sponge presses the concealer into the fine lines to create an even coating over any dark circles. Please, no wet sponges near this concealer because water is repelled from it and you'll just end up wiping off your base. Tried and tested. The shade I have is Light-medium which is a very good peachy shade, similar to the Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Peach.

L-R: Canmake Glow Fleur Cheeks 04, Topshop BB Cream 3.0, Hada Labo BB Whitening Cream 02, Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer Light-Medium

For some beauty and cuteness in your life (and as a welcome to spring in other parts of the world?), you need the Canmake Glow Fleur Cheeks. A brilliant palette that unlike most of the blush range of Canmake which are incredibly glittery has the softest sheen ever that brings the right amount of flush to the cheeks. I have the shade 04 which is a good balance of peach and pink that would suit most skin tones. The brush that comes with it isn't retarded and useless either. Bonus!

Top everything off with a little slice of heaven which is the Guerlain Meteorites to diffuse any shine and pores for simply perfect looking skin. For some reason though, the effect of the Guerlain Meteorites is hardly discernible to me, but when the SA in sephora tried it on me I was amazed. Any tips on how application?

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So there you have it, I can complete my face in just about 5 mins now and be out the door. Great for me because I'm always late. Just call me whirlwind val. 

Top 5 Concealers + 1 dud

L-R: Benefit Fake Up in Medium, MUFE Full Cover Concealer in 7, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard, MAC ProLongwear in NC30, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Medium (I think), Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Light-Medium

Hello! I have made an impromptu trip to Bangkok, so the next few posts will be scheduled posts! Since I'm someone who has plenty to conceal, and with that, plenty of concealer, I thought a round up was in order. I apologize in advance for the majority of them being high end concealers, but I do find that with concealers you get what you pay for. So since coverage is one of my top concerns, the drugstore does not really cater to that - hence the high end concealers. I might be slightly biased towards liquid type concealers due to overall ease of use and blendability.

Best All-rounder - Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (SGD$42)
The Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer is a concealer I tend to keep for special occasions, or for adding coverage on top of already done makeup before heading out the door. This has a thicker creamy and slightly sticky consistency. It provides instant photoshopping to any dark marks on the face, even if applied on after powder, which is probably one of the highest praises I can give. Also does not disappear on an oily face (unless of course you're one that touches your face).

Best for spots/dark marks - MUFE Full Cover Concealer (SGD$52)
What can I say, the MUFE Full Cover Concealer is high coverage indeed. It's all there in the name! The consistency of this concealer is definitely on the thick, creamy side and it goes on darker than it looks on the tube. Be warned, this sets to a budge-proof finish very quickly so quick blending will be your friend. I'm pretty certain that this is water-resistant, or if not, sweat resistant.

Best for large areas - MAC ProLongwear Concealer (SGD$30)
There were points in time I was literally using the MAC ProLongwear Concealer as foundation. The texture of this is very liquidy and thin, yet it still has extremely high coverage and blends well into the skin. 2 layers gives full coverage. I think the thin texture of the concealer has something to do with this concealer looking very natural (for such a high coverage product) on the skin. I've read some reviews that the MAC Prolongwear Concealer was extremely drying on the undereye area, but I've had no such problems myself.

Best for undereye - Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer (SGD$39)
The Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Conconcealer is the concealer that not only has high pigmentation to colour correct my dark circles (of course, please choose the correct undertone), but also is a concealer that creases very very minimally. It's texture is really very much a sticky cream and it doesn't completely set so it has a sheeny reflective finish. I find that this texture helps it to adhere very well to the uneven surface and into the fine lines on the undereye area so that it doesn't crease or migrate, and keep the area well hydrated.

Best drugstore - Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer
The Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is amongst the cheapest drugstore concealers I've tried and yet boasts the highest coverage of all the drugstore concealers. It actually reminds me of the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in texture, however the coverage is definitely not as good. It also doesn't layer great - probably 2 layers max before it starts to look cakey. However, for the price paid, it definitely is the best.

Big Fat Dud - Benefit Fake Up
I dislike Benefit Fake Up so much I saw it as my duty to put it into this post so that you are warned. The concept itself is great, a twist up balm type concealer with a pigment centre core to give hydration and coverage at the same time. I really wanted to like this as the attraction of the ease of use was really great. The finish of Benefit Fake up is the same as the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in that it never ever sets and has that reflective sheen, which ultimately makes it a mess. Application is a mess because the 2 parts (balm and pigment) never quite mix together evenly. Then because it doesn't set, it migrates in seconds. I've tried to use this on dark spots, undereyes, pretty much every part of the face, and each time it just seems to pool in areas of the face. The hydration part will work you think, but a big fat nope. The balm/oils in this product just sat as a disgusting layer of oiliness on my face. How about pigmentation you ask? Actually quite decent, but it migrates away from your spot anyway, so I would say - final answer, zero. Please don't waste your money on this product.

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Hope everyone's having a good weekend! And if you have any good concealer recommendations for me, I'm all ears!

Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer

The Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer, best used with fingers or a dense sponge, gives great coverage and is true to its creaseless title. You can tell this is going to be a rave, can't you?

First off, packaging. Sturdily made, likin' the bamboo cap though it is a gimmick. But, no fingerprints so me likey. The tube packaging is the most sanitary way of packing, but is not the best for a product of this thick consistency. In other words, you/I gotta squeeze like a mofo just to get a tiny amount of product out of the thin nozzle.

L-R: MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC30, Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Light Medium, Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener in Light to Medium Peach

I purchased the shade Light Medium after much deliberation with the intention of using it on my crazy dark circles. It definitely has peach undertones that does bring to mind the Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Peach (I lost my Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Peach so I can't compare for sure), so here's a shot that compares it with the Tinted Eye Brightener instead.

It is an extremely thick, almost creamy, quite sticky consistency (sounds like food doesn't it). It doesn't dry to a powdery finish like the Tinted Eye Brightener, but is more similar to the creamy finish of the Corrector. As you can see, it's rather oily and doesn't quite set. This is where I will tell you to press the Creaseless Concealer into your skin with a very dense sponge or your fingers. This way, the concealer gets into all the nooks and crannies (or fine lines) and fills them out. The stickiness of this concealer is what I guess allows it to last all day without creasing!

Try not to press it in with a wet sponge because the oil in the concealer causes the concealer not to work well with the sponge and not only will the concealer not blend out, you'll probably just take away any other foundation or makeup you have around your eyes.

It sits nicely over flakies (tried and tested I had the most terrible rash on my eyes that gave me flaky skin on the undereye) and doesn't emphasize them which was a nice surprise. My dry undereyes during that period of time also very much thanked the nourishing and hydrating formula of this concealer.

Probably better to set with powder to avoid transfer should you take to touching your eyes, but I find that setting isn't necessary.

Coverage isn't entirely full, though I must say that the Creaseless Concealer does manage to layer quite well. And if I might say so, it is still one of the highest coverage concealers I've used (comparable to MAC Prolongwear, MUFE Full Cover for me), and I'm a high coverage concealer freak. I'm not someone who goes for the entire highlighted V under the eyes (because honestly, just correcting my dark circles is a feat in itself, let alone going for a highlighted look) and I find this concealer does a good job at correcting the darkness with the peachy tone and because of it's rather reflective finish, subtly brighten the area.

Wear time is good, I could get through a workday with no touchups and minor fading. Should it crease on you, because face it, everything creases if you have fine lines, then just press away the crease and it'll look good as new!

So there you have it, my complete face (pardon the fat face, I have had some weight gain due to a number of reasons) and you can see that I still do have some slight shadows under my eyes, but keep in mind that my dark circles are really horrendous and this is one of the best concealers I've used for the darkness.

Oh, and an extra note - probably not the best concealer to use for raised zits, just because you don't want your zits to shine (like a diamond) and attract attention. But if you set with powder, then I don't see a problem.

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Cons:

• Consistency a bad match for tube packaging
• Oily/Creamy texture that never completely sets
• Doesn't work well with damp sponge
• Probably not the best concealer for bumpy zits

Pros:

• Good peachy colour to cancel out darkness under the eyes
• Sticky texture that allows it to settle invisibly in fine lines and not gather there and crease
• Long wearing 
• Has a reflective finish due to the oily texture that brightens the undereyes
• Medium - almost full coverage, one of the highest coverage concealers I've used
• Doesn't emphasize flakies but instead presses down on them
• Extremely hydrating

Conclusion: This is definitely an A product in my books. My favourite attribute with this concealer is that it is indeed creaseless, something that no other concealer I have ever tried could do - not even with powder. Wish it were higher coverage and slightly more brightening, but this is as close as it gets!

Does Your Face Have Expensive Taste?

Halo good sunday everyone! Buying makeup is slightly addictive isn't it? Until you check your bank balance at the end of the month and realize you're dead broke. I've seen the 'how much does your face cost' tag going around, and decided to find out how much my 'face' actually costs. I'm rather apprehensive because the items I like tend to veer to the more expensive range! Damn you face, why do you need so many products!

This is my everyday look, actually it's slightly more than what I wear to school but if I were to head to work or have a presentation this is what I would wear. There's no budget here for a more extravagant evening look!

Products used!

Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer (SGD$62) to cover dark acne marks, can also double up as a tinted moisturizer when mixed in with moisturizer though I tend not to like doing that.

Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Peach (SGD$43) for my tedious dark circles.

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer (SGD$42) to add coverage for my tedious dark circles and for blemishes on brighter areas of my face. Also used to brighten up my cheeks and nose.

Everyday Minerals Concealer in Pearl Pick Me Up (~SGD$16) as a highlighting powder for under my eyes and cheeks. Seems to have been discontinued, but this seems like the replacement.

Collection2000 ShimmerShades in Blushalicious (~SGD$8) as... blush.

MAC Paintpot in Nubile (SGD$10) to brighten up my lids and undereyes. I pretty much slap it on all round my eyes. SGD$10 because I got it in a sale! If not... I probably would use something else or not use anything at all. I'm cheap like that.

Jealousness Waterproof Eyeliner (SGD$15) most days to line the ends of my eyes, interchangeable with mascara or liquid liner. I'm not particular with what type of eyeliner I use as long as it stays on. Imma pro with all! I kid. Also, when I line my eyes, I'm too lazy to use mascara because it can't be seen anyway.

The Faceshop Faceit Designing Cake Eyebrow (SGD$12) is the only powder I've ever used for my brows and is not running out any time soon. Though with bangs, I feel like I can get away without doing them.

Revlon Lip Butter (SGD13) is a brilliant formula and I heart-eyes it. The usual price is SGD$15.90 which is a rip off and the drugstores have 20% or more sales pretty much all the time so only get it on sale.

Total Cost: SGD$221

Well, that's cheaper than I thought my face would be. Granted, I did not include a foundation, or setting powder, or setting spray (cheating) which would make the total cost nearer $300. If my $300 worth of make up lasted a year, each face would cost me $0.85! I could get a damn good kopi (coffee) from my uni's canteen for that price. Really makes you think doesn't it?

I think that what's more important though is whether my 85c face looks like it's worth 85c (haha, it better look worth more than that!). How much does your face cost and does it have expensive taste? Let me know!

P.S. All links provided in this post are for your clicking convenience only. I am not linked or affiliated to any of the stores.

October 2013 Favourites

Hello! It's November!!! I really can't believe how fast time is passing now. It seems just a moment ago I was lamenting the start of my final school year and now the end is actually in sight! Anyway, I'm here for a very parred down October 2013 favourites because I've been extremely nit picky about what has been going on my skin this month. Also, no thanks to my skin being uber sensitive this month, it pretty much reacted to everything that was going on it, even products that it previously did not react to. Sucks to be me! 

Well, let's start with my current obsession with small bags. I currently have 26 small bags dumped into my cart on an online shopping website. That's how obsessed I've been for the past month (or more hehe). I wandered into Topshop the other day, and found this little Topshop Box Chain Suede Bag on sale for half off! Navy blue + rose gold... No way I was giving it up. The crossbody strap is currently too long for me so anyone with ideas on how to shorten it please lemme know! Unfortunately, the not-so-little obsession has not been curbed...

Skincare wise, the star product of the month has to be the Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule. It heals new scars at a phenomenal rate, and provides just enough moisture for my dehydrated yet sensitive skin. I would put this on 5 times a day if I could!

L-R: Majolica Majorca Blush in OR211, Silkygirl Eyeshadow Duo in Mocha Latte, Everyday Minerals Concealer in Pearl Pick me Up, 3CE Full Cover Concealer in 02

I've been watching one too many korean youtube make up videos, which is probably why I'm favouring dewy skin and orange cheeks. The korean dewy skin look is just rather too dewy for my liking, so I make do with the Majolica Majorca Blush in OR211 which is a matte orange blush that isn't too pigmented, and the Everyday Minerals Concealer in Pearl Pick Me Up as a highlighter. Pearl Pick Me Up really isn't a concealer, rather it's a pearly pink powder that works beautifully to brighten up any dull areas of the face and I find using it on the cheeks, nose and inner eye works wonders.

For the eyes, I've been favouring the Silkygirl Duo Eyeshadow in Mocha Latte for its neutral colours. The pinky colour is an almost dupe for Mac's Naked Lunch, and the brown colour can be used to smoke things out for a more intense look. The pigmentation is really good considering that Silkygirl is one of the cheapest lines in the drugstore. 

Undereye concealer can be a pain to find sometimes, with most concealers being too drying for the undereye area. The 3CE Full Cover Concealer in 02 isn't the highest coverage concealer out there, but is very moist (for lack of a better word) for the undereye area and though it doesn't cover everything, it does brighten. It is the most comfortable undereye concealer I've ever used. Used in conjunction with a corrector, the finished look is somewhat glowy and nice. Mine is a sample, but if I had a chance to purchase the full size I would. 

So there are my very few favourites of a month - not a very good month for me in terms of skincare and makeup finds. What are your favourites?

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer

Hello everybutty! How was your weekend? I always have a late night on Sunday because of the work due on monday (my abysmal time management) , and this is my solution for a sleepless night. This also comes in handy when I'm in an uber rushed panic because I rushed my work till the last minute possible. The Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer is a godsend. It's not the easiest to get your hands on in Singapore (in the shade Custard at least there's a wait list) and it's also not the cheapest concealer at SGD$42, but I'm telling you, you want this. 

The super chic but fingerprint attracting casing is simple enough with a doe foot applicator and twists close to lock in place without misalignment. That is my favourite part. I absolutely cannot stand it when the container does not align - I would rather have it less air tight than aligned if possible (square bottled nail polishes are one of the culprits). Not a lot of product is drawn out each time which is great if you don't have many blemishes. If you're like me and like to conceal your entire face at one go, then you're outta luck. 

L-R: MAC Studio Fix NC30, Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard

The Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard is a yellow based concealer and even though I'm an NC25-30 and it seems much paler, it matches my skin tone very well. The consistency of the concealer is surprisingly thicker than I expected, thicker than most liquid concealers. It's quite creamy (hence the name?) and really adheres to the skin. Because it adheres so well to the skin, it doesn't shift even without a setting powder. 

My dark eye circles are so bad most times I have to wear a corrector but with the Nars concealer I'm able to get away without the corrector. The pigmentation is quite intense, even when blended out which is what I always look for in a concealer. Though it isn't what I would call full coverage, it seems to blur out the imperfections and brighten darkness which just makes everything look better.

It doesn't cling to dry patches nor sinks into fine lines - it just doesn't accentuate any imperfections. This is the only concealer that I am able to wear on my undereyes and on my blemishes without any problems. It is an all rounder indeed. Consider me extremely impressed. I have found that the best way to apply this concealer is with a finger or to blend out with a blush brush. It's interesting because most concealers get rubbed away when blended with a finger but this does not. The blush brush (soft brush) also works better than a stippling brush or flat top powder brush for some reason.

Wear time is something I haven't tested fully, but I would say it'll last a good 7 hours. I don't set it with powder, but when set with Urban Decay's setting sprays this looks perfect on me for 10 hours and up. Are you having a hallelujah moment yet? I had the first time I used this concealer.

That feel the first time.

I am so blown away by the Nars concealer that I prefer to perfect my entire face with just this concealer alone. Mind you, that is no easy feat since I have a serious case of acne scarring. It is quite heart wrending considering the price of the concealer and me having to use it rather liberally but the end result is entirely worth it. This is definitely one hype to believe and buy into.


Summary:

Pros:

• Superb pigmentation
• Creamy and non drying
• Does not sink into fine lines or accentuate dry patches
• Blurs imperfections and brightens darkness
• Does not shift / does not need to be set with powder
• Lasts all day
• Works both on undereye and on blemishes - all rounder
• Doesn't break me out

Cons:

• Expensive

Conclusion: This is my holy grail concealer. Confirm + chop + double confirm. A+++ with furry stickers (furry stickers were cooler than gold star stickers in my time, damn I'm old). This is a brilliant concealer that will solve all your problems. 

Weekly Favourites #12

Does anyone else have the problem of blogger auto contrasting and sharpening their uploaded photos? Blogger seems to be doing that to me and I don't know how to stop it! -Tears hair out- I swear, my photos are much softer than seen on this blog ):

Anyway, TGIF friends! It's been a rather stressful week, and the Nip + Fab Pistachio Sundae Dry Skin Fix Body Butter (that's a mouthful) has been my sleep scent this week. This is such a wonderful, homely and comforting scent and really helps me to sleep happy. Some might find the scent extremely strong and artificial because no kidding, this is one heck of a strong overwhelming scent, but I find the scent to dry down to a yummy scent, and I take whiffs of it whenever I can. The consistency is not too heavy like the Bodyshop body butters and my dry legs thank this.

On my face, I've found myself rationing the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in shade 07 for just undereyes and have been reaching for the MUFE Full Cover Concealer for my spots and acne scarring instead. It's as the name says, full cover indeed. It's also quite tacky and dry, so it doesn't shift or fade too much through the day. If you know me, then you  know I'm always looking for ways to shorten the time I spend getting ready and this concealer covers fast.

I've also taken to using the Everyday Minerals Multi-Tasking Concealer to set my undereye concealer, to use as a eyeshadow to brighten up my eyelids, and as a highlighter for the bridge of my nose. Talk about multi-tasking, anyone? Really finely milled and subtly brightens.

Speaking of brightening, my go to blush (for when I'm not reaching for the bronzer trio) has been the NYX Blush in Angel and I use this right under my eyes for a flush of colour. This is light enough to almost not look like blush, and has a pearly sheen to it that adds to the brightening effect that I'm after. Slightly chalky to the touch in the pan, but brilliant on the cheeks!

And to round it all off, tweezing has never been so fun with those uber cute geisha tweezers that my mom picked up for me. I have no idea where she got them, but a quick Amazon search has found them here.

Do we share the same favourites? Let me know!

Weekly Favourites #11

How's the weekend going for everyone? Mine is taking a chill pill right before stress sets in, yknow, like the calm before the storm. What I've been finding extremely calming to use is the Pond's Cold Cream Cleanser. This cream is really serious cleansing business, I like to put it on quite thick and massage it into the skin for about 5 minutes, then take it off. Though it does get on my nerves because it does not emulsify with water and leaves an oily film on my face (I deal with that by using an extra gentle cleanser), it really does miracles at getting rid of blackheads and sebum plugs. My nose, an incurable sea of sebum plugs that resurface the moment I get rid of them, is almost poreless after using this. My face feels incredibly bump free after cleansing with the cold cream. I also like to use that 5mins as sort of a mind-clearing 5mins when I just have the massage on my mind. Am I crazy?

The NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard is probably one of the harder to find concealers in Singapore, plus it was sold out for the longest time and I finally got my hands on it after being on the wait list. Yeah baby! This baby has a tacky consistency when applied but works beautifully with high coverage when stippled out and lasts and lasts. My face loves this and I'm down to a spot conceal and powder routine! My concealer and I are definitely in a serious relationship here.

The powder of choice to pull things together is the Palgantong Make-up Theatrical Powder in Original Beige. Now that my skin is properly hydrated, powder goes on just that bit nicer and the Theatrical powder is a extremely fine powder that subtly brightens up the face without making me a cake face (this just reminds me of Steve Aoki throwing cake into the audience during his F1 set haha).

Now, no look is ever complete without the right nail polish and fickle-minded me is always in a cyclical matte or glossy bind. Essie's Matte About You gives me a choice to have any matte colour I want and I can't ever see myself ever being without Seche Vite's Dry Fast Top Coat and have no idea how I ever lived without it before. A matte burgundy/oxblood nail is going to be my next polish pick.

Of course, to bring attention to your nails you gotta have arm candy and this right here, is the best DIY of the moment (though I may be a little slow with fashion trends). I actually made my bolt bracelet quite a long while ago (it only cost me $4 and I have leftover bolts to make something else) but have only been putting it on recently. This bracelet is serious street cred imo, and don't DIYs just make you so proud of your handiwork? The white cord tends to get grubby fast though, so I recommend a darker string.

Lastly... I cannot stop listening to The Fox, but this parody here makes me laugh just about everyday now.

(Mostly) Budget Haul!

Just thought I should do a little haul post to keep track of my spending. I seem to have an awful habit of losing track where my $$$ goes. This haul is a knick-knack/beauty haul because there are some really good steals here and they need to be shared!!!

Lovisa is currently having a sale where they have racks upon racks of rings going at 3 for $12. I got myself.... 7 rings for that $12 by searching for the lovely rings that come in a set of 3. I originally thought that the ring that looks tarnished and oil stained was a set of 3 as well (that meant 10 rings for $12!!!) but they're connected by hinges. Aren't they just lovely? This is a score in my book!

The sparkly ring that is never in focus was a orgasm-in-a-ring buy from H&M at $6.50 and I've mentioned it before in my weekly favourites.

I also made a trip to Daiso just for kicks (post meal exercise actually) and got the notebook that all the rings are currently on. I cannot get over the print, it is too incredible. The inside of the notebook is lined, and has different coloured tabs for organisation. The Cath Kidson type print that is functioning as the base for all these photographs was also a Daiso buy. It's actually a plastic place-mat with frilled edges but I thought the print was not to be passed up. 

One can really find just about anything at Daiso, it is sheer heaven. At $2 a pop, it sure doesn't hurt the pocket! These iron on knee/elbow patches in a denim material got me squealing like a small kid and getting a few stares. I believe these are all you need to spruce up an out of style pullover or sweater! I wanted to get all the different colours (they had dark blue denim, black denim, and a grey colour if I'm not wrong) but I needed to have some self control.

My hotspots for beauty shopping are Watsons and Venus - simply because Watsons has constant sales and Venus undercuts Watsons on most items when Watsons is not having a sale. From Watsons, I picked up the Maybelline Pure Mineral Concealer, Revlon Lip Butter, Essence nail polish and Sukin Moisturize Restore Night Cream.

Essence's display in Watsons is a display I will always check out if I stumble upon it as they're few and rare. I love checking out their collection nail polishes, but this polish in 'the boy next door' is part of their permanent collection. I think their nail polishes retail around $2.90 - 3.90 and though not the most long-lasting, are good quality for the price. This colour is a really nice cobalt blue colour but has a pastel edge that I wish it didn't have. 

I could've gotten the Maybelline Pure Mineral Concealer on sale for something like $9... but I bought mine full priced at $15. It's a relatively good and versatile concealer and well worth $9. How stupid. Learn from my mistake and always, always wait for a Watson's sale. At the rate they come up, you probably don't have to wait long.

When the sale did roll around, I picked up the Revlon Lip Butter in Strawberry Shortcake. I really like the formulation of these lip butters, more so than the balm stains. This is probably the most perfect pink I have and I highly recommend the colour. 

Also on sale was the Sukin Moisture Restoring Night Cream. I believe it was around $25 on sale, not the cheapest but this is a HUGE jar. The cream is quite dense and rich and smells so heavenly. It's has a citrusy type scent mixed in. Unfortunately I'm trying to keep most oils away from my face, so I haven't really tried this out yet but the ingredient list (all natural no nasties!) really does look amazing and I can't wait to try it out. 

From Venus I purchased the Mizon Push Out Volcanic Gommage and Kracie Naive Natural Deep Cleaning Oil. Venus can be found at Clementi Central or People's Park Hawker Centre (2nd floor I think).

The Mizon Push Out Volcanic Gommage is a clay-based mask which works rather well in removing excess sebum without drying the face out too much. It would be a close 2nd to my HG Queen Helene's Mint Julep Mask if it did not smell and feel like wood putty. This retailed for $10 at Venus.

I keep the Kracie Naive Deep Cleansing Oil as part of my cleansing oil rotation as it is one of the cheapest I can find at $8-9 (depends on where you go). I much prefer the orange scented one to this olive one, but this olive cleansing oil was 50% off at the People's Park outlet - bringing the price down to $4.90. This works just as well as the cleansing oils from Hada Labo and Aqualabel in my opinion, but it does feel much thinner in consistency and the smell isn't much to my liking.

Lastly, when I placed an order for some supplements on iherb.com, I came across this Morningstar Minerals Derma Boos Rejuvenating Spring Mist. It's supposedly full of minerals, has fulvic acid in it etc. etc. I don't know the full details, but the reviews for more even toned and tightened skin, less achy muscles had me sold. I have not noticed visible improvement on the skin but I do like it as part of my routine for the extra hydration boost.

I hope this post has some bargains that appeal to the cheapo soul within you! Let me know if anyone enjoys reading bargain posts like this because the consumerist in me sure likes a good bargain!

Weekly Favourites #8

Hello lovelies! How's the week been treating you? I've had a rather breakthrough week with some of my products and I'm super excited to share with you how I use them.

I've had the Renew Rose Hip Oil for a rather long time. I've used it on and off, always put off by how my skin could not fully absorb the oil. I absolutely detested the oily film it left on my face no matter how long I left it on to sink in. However, I recently dug it up to give it another whirl. This time, on a rather sturdy cotton pad, I put quite a good bit of hyaluronic acid toner (I use the Naris Up Hyaluronic Skin Conditioner) and then 2 drops of rose hip oil, then swipe it all over my face. I find this method allows the mix to fully absorb into my skin and leaves it completely moisturized and plump. My skin seems to be healing more quickly too (might be a placebo effect) and I'm really loving it!

Ah Mac Pro Longwear Concealer... we have a serious love-hate relationship. I could never quite like the texture of the concealer and found it too watery and thin, affecting the coverage that it gave. However, since most of my scarring has gotten slightly lighter and I've gotten fairer, the coverage of this concealer is perfect. It works best with a flat powder brush or stippling brush, rather than fingers (that was my mistake) for higher coverage. It layers rather well, to a maxium of 2-3 layers before it starts to cake, enough to blur out the most obvious imperfections. Most days now I just use this concealer with powder and I've really got the 5 minute face routine down pat. -smug face-

Has anyone ever finished an entire tube of lip balm before it gets lost or purchasing a new one? I have to admit that I lose lipbalms like I shed hair (okay, that might be TMI). However, they more or less do turn up when I clear out my bags. The Maybelline Baby Lips in Smoothing Cherry turned up the other day. It's colourless and massively emollient. It might be odd but I adore the artificial cherry smell (don't judge me). I don't find the moisturizing effects last but the short term effect is just great. Doesn't help that the colour combination of the tube is so adorable.

A repeat favourite! I've been experimenting with the Maybelline Magnum Volum' Express Ultra Comb and testing it to its limits and so far I have not been disappointed. This works well in a single layer (or 2) for the nicest, barely accentuated lashes. I am a sucker for a natural looking lash. I also tried layering this mascara wet, and after 3 layers or so, I got the most incredible volume and length, almost like I was wearing false lashes. The only problem is that the extended portion of lashes tend to droop if I wear the mascara for too long, but since I seldom wear mascara for such extended periods, it's perfect!

A friend once told me, girls are attracted to all things sparkly (upon looking at a Swarovski crystal display case and oohing and aahing) and I could not agree more. I just had to share this H&M ring. It's a blue, green, purple, gold sparkly glittery orgasm in a ring. I am obsessed. At SGD$6.90, it's the perfect pick me up for the day (or week if you must).

Hava great friday night everyone! I'm going to be tucked away at home performing magic on my dissertation. Wish me luck! <3

Weekly Favourites #7

Ah monday blues how I do not like you. As I've been mentioning, I'm trying to curb the spending habit so I've dug through my stash for some oldies but goodies.

Turns out my medication helped most of my face but nicely avoided my forehead. My forehead is a cyclical disaster area for comedones. When I realised that the medication wasn't working, I went to the root of the problem - blackheads. I've been using the Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque quite excessively (every other day) to try to minimize the blackheads. This really works at deep cleansing the skin and ridding all the excess sebum. The Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion stops the comedones from getting inflamed. I used to think the lotion was for under the skin pimples/cysts, but it seems to be working on comedones too. The pair have been working quite well together, enough for me to see steady improvement. My only worry is that I'm drying out the skin but we'll see how that goes.

My love for pinks have fizzled and I've gone orange. My outdoor cheeks have been adorned with the Barry M Blusher in Orange. Honestly, the neon orange scared me at first, but all I need is a little on my cheeks for some life. Since this blush is matte, the NYX Mosaic Blush in Highlighter pops on the subtlest of glows. On the cheeks, nose bridge, cupid's bow, eyebrows, inner tear duct... I probably overuse it. No glitter or sparkles, only a pearly sheen.

My new purchase of the Maybelline Mineral Concealer in 02 Medium was an old favourite 5 years ago and I've rediscovered why. I feel like this has a new formula that's slightly more slippery, but just dabbed on, stippled out with a powder brush and medium to high coverage, easy peasy. My face has never gone on faster. This has been a godsend for my forehead.

The boy has always said eyeliner ages me so I've been ditching the eyeliner in favour of the Maybelline Magnum Volum' Express Ultracomb for school days (Y'know, to try to blend in with the 19 year olds, who am I kidding). This varies from the version with the normal brush as the effect is much more natural. Wouldn't say it gives my lashes that much more volume but I tend to favour lashes that actually look like lashes. 2 coats, definitely waterproofed it's way through a sweaty gym session hour.

Anyone shares the same favourites as me? What are yours? Have a good start to the week!

10 under 10

Good Monday girls! If you don't know, I'm now a student again and school has officially started. Not too sure if that's a good thing, but what I know for sure is that going from a sizeable pay cheque each month to an allowance again is not fun. I definitely had to cut back my spending, and that includes makeup too.

As fellow Singaporeans know, the price of makeup in Singapore is definitely not on the cheap side - a drugstore foundation like l'oreal or maybelline can easily set us back S$30 or more. I have compiled a list of products (that I've used and quite like/don't hate) which fall under the S$10 category which hopefully might help some people start out. All the products here can pretty much achieve a simple everyday makeup look.

Psst I did cheat - there're 11 products!

Elf Studio Line Powder Brush ($6, found at smoochiezz's warehouse/sales or at watson's tradeshows for slightly more expensive)
I use the this every single time I do my make up. It is the only item in my makeup collection I can truly refer to as a holy grail item and I have 3 of these brushes (1 I've thrown away). This brush can do everything! It buffs in liquid and creams like a dream, when stippled gives beautifully blended high coverage. Can be used with mineral foundations, even powder blushes and loose powder when used with a loose hand. If you could only buy one brush, buy this brush. My only complaint is that water tends to loosen the handle so be careful when washing.

Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector 10ml ($2, found at selected watsons)
Okay, I cheated again, this is a travel sized item. I suspect these were leftover stock from beauty boxes. Well, for $2, no harm trying. I don't love this nor hate this item, but it has SPF26 (better than nothing), and is a good yellow-tone for majority of the chinese in Singapore. Also does a decent job at evening out skin tone, though in my case it is just a tad too fair.

Essence Match 2 Cover Cream Concealer ($4.50, found at selected watsons)
I've raved about this insanely here. I don't think I need to rave more. If you're worried about undereye circles, use this and be happy.

NYX Concealer in a Jar ($7, smoochiezz's warehouse/sales or watsons's tradeshows for more expensive)
This concealer is supposed to be a dupe for MAC's Studio Fix Concealer. I don't think it's as high coverage, but I do like that it's has high enough coverage and enough tackiness to cover blemishes and not shift during the day. I used to use it quite a bit, if I wasn't the concealer whore I am I think I would still be using it today. If I'm not wrong the formula has been updated to be slightly creamier but I do have the updated formula in another colour and it works fine.

Elf HD Powder ($10, smoochiezz's warehouse/sales or watsons' tradeshows for more expensive)
I hope this doesn't constitute cheating because it is technically $10 if you know where to find it. Decent setting powder, really does seem to blur out imperfections and really mattifies the skin. Said to be a dupe for the MUFE HD Powder (which I don't have). Don't use it if indulging in flash photography though (google - silica powder flash photography). You have been warned.

Alobon Blush ($5-7, Mustafa)
I usually chicken out from buying facial products from places that sell makeup that's slightly dubious in origin and content, but I did fair amount of research and it seemed alright. I really like this blush, I do. It reminds me so much of the MAC MSFs and is just so pretty and marbled I would buy it just to look at it. And it's just so cheap. It is also incredibly pigmented, some are incredibly sparkly (can be avoided by using a stippling blush) and can double up as highlighter. It has also never broken me out.

Mizon Blooming Tint ($6, Venus at Clementi)
If you're not one to put dubious makeup on your face, then try this Mizon Blooming Tint. The concept is similar to Benefit's Benetint in that it can be used both on the cheeks and lips. I found this to be a thick liquidy texture that is not highly pigmented. For my skintone, it is barely visible on the cheeks, but for fairer people it will be a really nice natural flush of colour though it does take a while to build up. I like it more on the lips as the result is really a rosier, pinker version of my lip colour. It also fills up the fine lines and has a subtle glossiness. Very much love it for its subtlety.

L.A Girl Lipstick ($10, selected guardians)
Extremely pigmented and creamy lipstick in a very large array of colours. Packaging looks cheap, but all the lipsticks from the drugstore brands (aside from Essence) are at almost double the price or more. This works.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Liner ($8.75, found here)
I don't know if this can be found in Singapore yet, but regardless, it's cheaper online. I seem to have misplaced my black version, but this eyeliner is nicely pigmented, creamy and really does last a decent while. I picked a pencil liner over a liquid liner because they're just more versatile in the sense that I can use a pencil liner to tightline, do a cateye, or smudge it out for a smokey eye. Have your pick.

Silky Girl Big Eye Collagen Waterproof Mascara ($14.90, usually on sale at watsons/guardian)
Okay, I really am a big cheat, but this mascara is always on sale when I visit the drugstore. I think I got mine for $8. The only cheaper mascaras would be those in daiso (no way I'm letting a $2 product go near my eyes) and the Essence mascaras (the range is INSANE I don't dare to start testing). It may be astonishing, but this is the only mascara I have found that does not smudge on me. I have tried mascaras from l'oreal, maybelline, majolica majorca, estee lauder, dior, mac and they've all transferred to my under eye without fail. Lord knows why of all brands, Silky Girl would work out. Anyway, this is really quite good, slightly wet formula that coats lashes evenly without clumping. It lengthens the lashes considerable, and volumizes them strand by strand rather than as a clump. No thin spidery lashes for this mascara. I do quite love it.

Maybelline Eyebrow Pencil by Eyestudio ($6.90, selected watsons)
No face can do without brows, you need a brow pencil. This has one of the most neutral brown grays I've seen and would match black hair, brown hair, heck even blond if you like intense brows. Easy to use, doesn't go on too dark, I even use it to line my eyes sometimes. It does tug a little bit if I do my eyes, but it works for a lightly defined eye. Simple and good.

Hopefully that wasn't too long ore tedious a read. What are your top 10 under 10 - Singapore version? I would love to know!



Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated to any of the brands featured, nor were any of the products sponsored. All products featured were paid for by myself.

Current Concealer Face

I have a confession to make. I am a concealer hoarder. I am fickle and unable to stay loyal to any one concealer and have enough concealer for many families. In order to use up my concealers, I have a face routine that consists of no foundation and all concealer. This works for my acne prone and scarred face, because it avoids slapping on a full face of foundation and spot covers instead.

If I could only live with 2 concealers, they would be the Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer (SX10) and the MAC Mineralize Concealer (NC30). Together, they manage to blur out most of my imperfections. If you've followed me for a while, you would know my great love for the SSE. The Kevyn Aucoin SSE is great for coverage and is very thick and creamy. When used with a tiny brush to spot cover, it can really look flawless. Used with fingers however, it can look unnatural on the skin if too much is used.

The MAC Mineralize Concealer has a thin liquid consistency, though not as liquid as the Pro Longwear Concealer. It has medium coverage and can really be built up without looking cakey but I use this mostly on lighter scars or redness. I tend to forget about this concealer sometimes because it does wear off during the day, but is something I always go back to when I'm in a rush. Great concealer that gets lost in all the hype about the other MAC concealers.

The little worn out stub in the top left of the picture is the MAC Studio Touch Up Stick (NC30). This was the very first concealer I have ever used (thanks mom!) and I've forgotten all about it till very recently. What I love about it is that it feels like the Studio Fix Concealer in a stick! I just draw and dot it where I need and it blends and covers like a dream. Sadly, it's discontinued so I've got my eye on the Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil Concealer...

Benefit's Fake Up (Medium) is a much newer purchase of mine and I'm still on the fence about it actually. I don't find that it works under the eyes (wrong colour, too greasy, gets into all the lines). It is however, very easy to just swipe onto my cheeks for great coverage and a non-drying formula. I tested this together with the Laura Mercier Concealers at Sephora and found that this had better coverage actually. Go figure. As this is a very slippery, glossy formula, SET SET SET WITH POWDER PEOPLE, or I guarantee you it will disappear.

The Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener (Light to Medium Peach), Bobbi Brown Corrector (Light Peach) and the Collection 2000 Concealer are my serious eye army. Depending on the coverage I need, I will use either of the Bobbi Brown products and if I feel like even more coverage, I will use the Collection 2000 Concealer. The creamy concealer has better coverage than the tinted eye brightener but it is also more obvious on the skin so it's really a preference. I do prefer the eye brightener with another liquid concealer over it for a more natural finish.

I would love to put my face up, but it's not doing too well and I'm not that confident yet so, hopefully the swatches help!

I think my concealer collection is rather expensive, but ultimately, like foundation, the quality and colour match makes up for the price. For skin like mine (ie blemish prone and not blemish free) a colour match is important because I am unable to sheer concealers out to blend into my skintone. Ease of application is also very important to me. So, what are your everyday concealers and criteria?

Essence Match-2-Cover Concealer and Liquid Ink Waterproof Eyeliner

Happy National Day Singapore! A day late, worth mentioning still :D

It's been a really long time since I felt the want to do reviews. I usually only like to do reviews if the items excite me, not depress me. Here are 2 that I've mentioned in my weekly favourites #4 that I like so much I thought they deserve their own individual review. 

First is the Essence Match-2-Cover Cream Concealer. It is a 2 concealer pact that comes with 2 different tones of concealer, 1 to colour correct and 1 to match the skin tone. There are however, no different colour ranges of this concealer. It is also one of the cheapest concealers that can be found in Singapore at SGD$4.50 (for 2 colours to boot). I say SCOREEEEE!

(Just a note: I apologize if the photographs of used make-up disgust you (they make me cringe haha), but reality is, makeup will look like that at some point. Also, sometimes after working into the product, the colour can differ from when it is new, so I feel that it is a better representation.)

The compact itself is not very large, each colour is about the size of the old 50c coin. The cover states that it comes with 0.08oz/2.3g of product and is made in Taiwan. It also really looks like the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer + Powder Compact. I always imagine that products that look similar (Silkygirl gel eyeliner, revlon gel eyeliner, tonymoly gel eyeliner I'm lookin' at you) emerge from the same supplier and have similar results, which makes me quite the sucker.

It's a simple plastic case that clasps shut. It requires a little bit of nail digging to release the clasp but is relatively easy to open and close. The packaging is very light-weight and might feel a bit cheap, but the hinges are not loose so that's a plus. I feel like it might crack if I happen to drop it at an angle though.

The product itself is a dream to work with. It is super creamy and applies best with fingers in my opinion. The cream does accentuate flaky skin, as with most cream concealers, so try to use this on well hydrated skin. I would compare this to the Bobbi Brown Correctors in terms of texture, though the BB corrector actually feels slightly softer and creamier. The slightly drier texture might be preferred by some people as the concealer doesn't move around so much. Both the BB correcter and the Essence cream concealer crease on me, so I do recommend setting with powder. The concealer fades minimally through the day. 

As you can see above, the compact is for rather fair individuals, the colours are photographing almost white on my skin. That's why I would mostly recommend it for undereyes for people of similar skin tone to me (nc 30, might be fairer now). If you're nc 20/25 and lighter this might work on most of your face. One of the shades has a salmon undertone, though when comparing it to my peach corrector, I think it's more similar to the bisque correctors rather than the peach. The other colour is a neutral beige. Essence says the 2 shades are to be mixed and match to find your perfect shade - doesn't work that way for me because of my yellow undertones. 

This is what blew me away. The coverage of the concealer! Yes my undereyes look kinda dry - guilty of not putting eye cream! Usually, I use my BB correcter without any skin tone concealer on top of it as I find that it brightens my eyes. With this bisque-like correcter, it does brighten up my dark rings but it looks a little unnaturally white, so I have to use the skin tone concealer, which blends on top of the correcter like magic! You know how sometimes layering concealers can get cakey? Well this doesn't! On top of that, the skin tone works to subtly brighten up my complexion. My dark rings are much darker irl than in the photo, so I can vouch for the high coverage that this product has. It's really an ace product and I can't recommend it more. 

Moving on to the Essence Liquid Ink Eyeliner (Waterproof). First things first, packaging! This is the tiniest tube I've ever seen, measuring 8.5cm length by 1.2cm diameter. You get 0.1 fl.oz/3ml of product for SGD$3.90 if I remember the prices correctly. Eyeliner made in Luxembourg

Some liners like the L'oreal Super Liner come with a small pot for ink, and have a longer handle on the brush for easier handling. This liner has a short handle for the brush but I actually feel that the shortness of the brush makes it easier to handle when drawing a line. The brush is also gripped very tightly by the bottle so please be careful when pulling it out, less you get a face full of black ink splatters like I did! The brush also isn't the thinnest brush on the market, though the quality of your line does depend on your skill level. I don't require such a fine line so that doesn't bug me. As you can see, I can draw a decently thin line :D

The formula is a very wet formula which some may not like. It applies glossy, then dries to a deep and intense matte black. I don't think I've ever seen a black so black in my eyeliners. I found that I needed to clear the brush of excess ink before drawing on my lids because if the formula is too wet then i get a glob of liquid on my lids that is thicker than the rest of the line I'm drawing. Also, I found that drawing over the line when the formula is still wet does pull product off, so the best way to draw a smooth line is to draw the line twice, or if you're good, to only draw a perfect line once. Since this product does take a while to dry, it might not be that great if you're really in a rush.

What annoys me is that this does not stand up to water. The waterproof claim is total bullcrap. Little bit of water and rubbing and it comes straight off. I however, do not have watery eyelids (is that even possible?) nor cry alot on a daily basis so that is no problem. I do have very oily eyelids, which is a problem for most eyeliners that I own - gel, pencil or liquid. My lids are no match for this liner and it has made me such a happy girl! I'm pretty sure it can last the entire day, as long as you're not an eye-rubber. The eyeliner also lasts even when I cleanse my face with an oil-based cleanser, so I really have to get in there and rub with the oil to get the eye-liner off. One thing to note is that this comes off in flakes, not evenly so that might be a problem if the liner starts to wear off on your lids.

This is really high up on my list due to the quality vs price. Probably not the liner I would grab if I don't have time to spare, but it beats my quickie eyeliners on pretty much everything else!!!

To conclude, this is probably my luckiest make-up buy of all time, coming it at under 10buckeroos. I am so happy with these products, and for under 10 bucks, there really is no harm trying them says the obsessive compulsive spender me. Good luck!