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?

Weekly Favourites #15

Hiya folks! How's the week been? TGIF eh? I actually woke up this morning thinking it was a thursday... and missed my classes because of that. Oops? On the bright side, it gave me time for this post. I haven't really been experimenting too much because my skin's been on the frizz. What I have found to be super duper useful is the Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule.

Yes, it sounds like terrible. I'm putting snail...bodily fluids on my face. Urks! But in all honesty, the Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule just feels like a normal serum despite being...80% snail secretion. That word really wants to make be gag. Anyway, I'm quite psyched about this new purchase because I've literally seen my scars really fade in the last 3 days of owning this product. I'm pretty sure this is physical improvement and not imagined because I've definitely been using less concealer. Also, my dehydrated forehead, something that nothing I used could alleviate, is showing signs of returning back to normal again. I cannot emphasize just how excited I am over the improvements in my skin! Thanks snails, I promise to try my best never to accidentally step on you again!

This week has been a pretty heavy week because of an important presentation I had on wedenesday. That means minimal sleep from last weekend till wednesday and my skin was showing signs of fatigue obviously. Not young anymore! Because of that I've been rather reliant on MeMeMe's Beat the Blues Highlighter in Sunbeam for a glowing complexion. The gold toned highlighter works wonders under foundation for the most subtle sheen on the skin. Fast and easy to use!

I also think I've finally hit the age where I appreciate my  mom's advice of not wearing eyeliner. Boy I am getting old... or maybe I've just hit the age where I feel that eyeliner just makes me look older. Whichever it is, This sample Clinique Eyeshadow Duo in Buttered Bronze has been getting quite some lovin' from me. I do rather like using the brown shade as a wash all over the lid and the white to highlight wherever. Or just the white as a wash to brighten my eyes. Versatile and simple, perfect for eyeshadow resisters like me.

Here are the eyeshadow and highlighter at work, what do you think? What are your favourites? I would love to know!

Weekly Favourites #14

Hiya folks! Sorry I've been slightly MIA, I've been busy with school and my cousin's wedding. Stressful! It was a rather simple and sweet affair, maybe that's why I've been favouring the pinks and nudes this week.

I've been looking out for a simple primer that didn't break the bank, and had an incredibly hard time trying to decide between the matte or hydrating base for the Bourjois Happy Light Base Serum. I'm quite happy I chose the matte version as it's been keeping my skin. The oil control on this is not powerful but it's exactly what I need since my skin tends to get dehydrated so it lets through just enough oil.

With the primer, I've found that I need even less powder and I'm really liking the E.L.F stippling brush to apply powder. Any stippling brush should do the job, but elf's rendition is cheap and doesn't have too many bristles to pick up too much powder. This is the little bear's just right brush.

The Collection2000 Shimmershades in Blushalicious is so awesome I don't even know how I managed to tuck it away. Pretty sure anyone can find their perfect shade in this. I can go pink, or coral, or just highlight even with this nifty little quad. Staying power is pretty darn impressive too.

With late nights galore, I like to pop on MAC's paintpot in Nubile on the lids just to brighten the lids. I find that it makes all the difference in looking that bit more alert. That and a nude liner on the waterline works wonders!

To top everything off, the Etude House Lucidarling Fantastic Rouge Gloss in #6 has been working a treat for a MLBB gloss that hides dry lips for a fantastic pout! A long wearing formula that lasts through small snacks, it's one of the better glosses that I've tried.

What have been your favourites this week? Let me know! 

Weekly Favourites #10 Face

I am quite in love with the eyeshadow combi I mentioned in my weekly favourites, so I thought it deserved a post of its own!

L-R: MAC Eyeshadow Duo in Culturalized (Brule and Retrospeck), Layered Retrospeck over Permanent Taupe, Maybelline 24HR Colour Tattoo in Permanent Taupe, Marks and Spencer's Cheek and Lip Tint in Coral

The M&S Lip and Cheek Tint in Coral does go on quite a scary colour, but fret not it blends out incredibly well! Pardon the hair, I just got it cut yesterday and haven't quite figured out how to work with it - really wish I had fine, tame hair!

I had quite a bit of a problem trying to wear Permanent Taupe on its own - I think it was just a tinge too cool in colour for me. I did quite like Retrospeck in the MAC duo but it does lean quite brassy rather than gold. Layering the 2 colours really warms the taupe up and gives it great depth, even as a single shade all over the lid. Best of all, you could up the intensity of the gold on the center of the lid for even more dimension! Load up the mascara (or in my stingy eyelashes cases, falsies) and there you have it - smokey eye done!

What do you think? Is this colour something you would wear?

Weekly Favourites #10

I'm always on the look out for a good moisturizer, and was looking for a sample sized tub of the Origins Ginzeng Moisturizer, but by some chance of fate, ended up with both the Clinique Moisture Surge and this Kitoko Kalani Super Aqua Gel. This came highly recommended by the sales lady complete with a story of a holidaying Taiwanese family purchasing 2 tubes and returning to purchase 6 tubes. I was sold and now I'm in love. This comes out a gel and disappears into water droplets, leaving the face moisturized yet looking quite matte. It literally does not feel like anything on the skin once absorbed and leaves my skin moisturized. When I use it before bed, my skin is not a bit oily in the morning and that's how I know the moisture content in this gel is ace!

I've dug out the Marks & Spencer Lip and Cheek Tint in Coral from my stash and it's become quite a go to as a cream blush. I much prefer a pure cream formulation over a cream to powder as my skin texture isn't the best. Don't be fooled by the pigmentation in the pan - this goes on beautifully and blends into a subtle flush that catches the light due to the glossy formula. This is more raspberry than coral (as per its name) and I can see it working well with all skin tones. It has really been a saviour for stipple and run days.

 I've been reading so much online about the Clinique Chubby Sticks for eyes in Burnished Gold (see what I mean here) and have been lusting for such a colour. Not being prepared to fork out $$$, I decided to get creative with what I had. Layering Retrospeck (gold shade) in the Mac Eyeshadow Duo in Culturalized on top of the Maybelling 24HR Color Tattoo in Permanent Taupe does the trick. The result is what I can best describe as a dirty gold colour and it is (if I may say so myself) gorgeous! And it just lasts and lasts because that's just what the colour tattoos do! Great for nights out about and just in time for the weekend eh?

Do you like anything you see here? Let me know!

August 2013 Favourites

I can't believe it's already the end of August, it seems like it was just yesterday I took a year off from school. At any rate, TGIF people! Oh the good days. It was really hard to narrow down my August favourites because there was just so many things that I was using but wasn't absolutely loving. It's just one of those funks that I fall into... y'know, one of those I-have-nothing-to-wear-but-staring-at-wardrobe-full-of-clothes days. First world problems indeed.

What I have really been loving alongside with my clay masks are these Biore pore strips. I would use this everyday if I could. I love standing in front of my mirror and spending 5 mins just peeling the strip off ever so slowly and witnessing every single whitehead wiggle out of my nose. Just one of my disgusting obsessions. When I was younger, I would just peel the nose strip off so fast that all the plugs would just break off and remain in my nose and I would wonder why the strips didn't work. Slow and steady is the trick girls, slow and steady.

I also figured out the best combination for the Topshop BB cream in 3.0 which I mentioned here, and that is with the MUFE HD Foundation in 120. Together they give a high coverage, soft focused finish that feels like almost nothing on the skin. Also doesn't hurt that I have neither in the right shade (the SA matched the MUFE for me too...Sephora should really improve their lighting) so when mixed together it's a heavenly, creamy blend of the appropriate shade. The Topshop BB cream is slightly fragranced, almost like a grandma scent and the occasional whiff does have me wrinkling my nose. Still, price to pay for nicer looking skin.

My little sister purchased the Sleek Face Form in Light for me when she came back for the holidays and I finally realized the hype over Sleek's highlight/contour products. I'm not such a fan of the rose gold blush, since I already have similar colours and consider it a yesteryear colour, but the bronze shade really works in definition without being too orange on my nc30 skin. The highlighter really holds its own and I use it when I want a stronger highlight than the NYX mosaic highlighter. The kit is so nifty and versatile, i just wish it had a matte blush. Oh, I also used it on my other little sister who is darker than me, and the contour shade still worked! Like I said..nifty and versatile.

The Estee Lauder Double Wear ShadowCreme in Cafe Au Lait is something that I've recently opened after a good... half year? Patting myself on the back for patience. I had to open this to stop myself from purchasing the Maybelline Colour Tatto in Bad to the Bronze (addiction much?). This is a really nice bronze/taupe mixture with multicoloured micro glitter in it. It is not a dupe of Bad to the Bronze and comes off much lighter in colour. The glitter comes off more on the silver side, but for some reason, when on the lids it can look quite golden rather than bronze, especially when a darker brown is blended in. It's a nice subtle shade for all over the lid definition and catches light in all the right places. Best of all, no creasing or fading throughout the day.

Lastly, I've been wearing the Majolica Majorca Blush in OR211 quite a bit this month. In the pan it comes off a rather pale orange, but on the cheeks it transforms to a rather coral shade. The colour pay off is not super intense, which I like for daily wear. Also it's such a tiny cute pan I really can't resist it sometimes.

From L-R, MAC Studio Fix NC30, MUFE HD Foundation 120, Topshop BB Cream 3.0, Majolica Majorca Blush OR211, Sleek Face Form in Light bronzer and highligher shades, Estee Lauder Double Wear ShadowCreme 22 Cafe Au Lait

What are your August Favourites? Do recommend me some! Happy Friday everyone!

Weekly Favourites #2

I should really set a specific day to get these posts out :S Nonetheless, here's some... mid-week entertainment?

I've been trying out a new oil-free skin-care routine recently to try and reduce the number of comedones I have on my forehead (seriously, I've gotten my cheeks in order but my forehead is a serious bitch). I haven't been very successful, but I did get my hands on this La Roche Posay Hydraphase Intense Serum. According to the SA (she sure was enthusiastic) this was sure to clear up dry skin overnight. I love (and that's quite an understatement) the texture of this serum. It's like a water but infinitely more hydrating and not at all sticky unlike say, the Hada Labo Lotion which takes a moment to sink into the skin. This works extremely well provided you don't use drying medications on the skin..

See my dingy ring in the centre? This is neither skincare/makeup but I thought I'll just give it some lovin'. I've been loving simpler rings lately but my fat fingers can't pull off above-knuckle rings so this was just perfect. Also, +10 points for boyfriend's approval when I bought this!

I cannot get my head around how amazing the Urban Decay Chill Makeup Setting Spray is. Granted, my only experience with setting sprays is the Elf one, which only seem to make my face wet. But this UD setting spray works brilliantly as a primer and setting spray and I will NEVER EVER go out without it now. This made my makeup last a 7am to 10pm day, throughout an extremely hot and humid photoshoot of a house where I had to move furniture around, and still look presentable enough for a dinner. Best of all, when I got home at 10pm, my blush (cheap blush that usually wears off middday) was still on my cheeks, no touchups mind you. How incredible is that!!! I'm also glad I got the Chill version because I still felt like my face was not hydrated enough.

I cannot admit to how long I've been lusting after this Mac Paintpot in Nubile and I finally got it at the Estee Lauder Sale. I don't know if it's only visible to me, but I really like how these brighten up the lid and undereye/inner corner of eye without being as obvious as a white shadow or highlight. Super duper subtle, and long lasting to boot. I've been loving using this on its own all round the eye.

Saved the cutest for last! If I was a lip product fiend, I would've bought the entire collection purely based on packaging. But I'm not. This Tony Moly Petite Bunny Gloss Bars are on par with the Revlon Lip Butters and wayyyyy cheaper. Like SGD7 cheap. I love the minty smell and feel and the colour payoff is pretty darn decent. Glossier than the lip butters too! The different colours have different bunny expressions too it's just too darn cute. I highly recommend!

Have a great rest of the week everyone! And let me know of your favourites or if we share any favourites!

MAC Cream Colour Base - Seaside Frost

Good Tuesday everybutty! It's been a while, and in this little while, I've actually ventured into a part of makeup that I've never really explored before. That is the dreaded eyeshadow. Along with eyeshadow comes the dreaded expenditure of money because there's just so many colours! Luckily for me, I have decided that I'm a neutral eye person. Even so, I feel like I can't seem to find the right neutral shade for my eyes, thus emptying my wallet in search of that colour. I'm doomed...

Anyway, this Mac Cream Colour Base in Seaside Frost I bought at the Estee Lauder sale eons back for my mom actually. The salesrep told me it was a primer of sorts that added a nice sheen to eyeshadow. I liked the shade so I bought it. My mom didn't want it so I took it (yay!). The packaging is larger than the normal potted eyeshadows and smaller than the blushes but essentially the same. Will not elaborate.

The above photo is taken without flash on the left and with flash on the right. I don't seem to have used it much... As can be seen, it's a kind of a deep(?) pinky coral shade that almost seems to verge on a bronze tint. I might be wrong. It also has microscopic (okay, wrong term as I can clearly see it but you get the idea - tiny) glitters in all colours that when seen together come off like a frosty (duh the name) silver sheen. 

It is sort of like a cream eyeshadow, but without the staying power. I'll elaborate more. The texture is nice and smooth, though not too creamy or soft that your finger sinks in. Decently hard and almost feels...oily. 

It is a gorgeous colour I have to say. Just look at the rightmost swatch. This was taken without flash and look at how great it is at catching the light! It's a really nice colour for darker girls like myself as the intensity can be built up or sheered out for fairer girls. I am slightly biased to this colour though, seeing as I have an almost identical shade in the powder eyeshadow - Naked Lunch. That's real nice too. 

So, according to the salesrep it's like a primer, right? Very true! The 2 left swatches are a random brown shadow (Visee?) I have. Middle is without the cream base, and leftmost with cream base. For obvious reasons, I would not suggest that you use this with pale shades like whites or creams, or blues or greens unless you want them to turn pink or turn a weird shade. But for colours that fall into a matching/same colour category are indeed much intensified (just look at that brown!) as well as infused with the same sheen the cream base has on its own. 

For people who are looking for a basic primer, I would have to say that this isn't for you. Not only does it have limited colours it can work with, it's not for people who want a matte eye either. For it's basic retail price and limited use, you're much better off spending the money on a NYX or even Urban Decay primer. 

THIS is why I would not suggest wearing the cream base on its own. As gorgeous a shade as it is on it's own, it creases within the first 10 minutes of wear. That's shitty right?! I'm so disappointed. I thought that it might just work like the paintpots minus the hassle of the screw top, but it just doesn't set unless there's some powder on top of it ):

Just a look I did with the base, Naked Lunch (same shade in powder) and the brown that was swatched above. Taken with iphone as my camera decided to play a joke on me today, but you can still see how nicely it reflects light without being glittery. Best of all, I don't look stupid wearing it given my inexperience with eyeshadows.

Eyeshadow on top of the base does last a good 6-8 hours without creasing though I find that the shadow does fade just a bit. 

Oh, just to add, I see the possibility of this being used as a really nice cream blush (a sheer sheer wash of course) but I haven't tried that out as cream blushes essentially wipe off all of my base, exposing my flaws.

People with darker skin tone might see this work as a highlighter.

All in all, this is a decent product and a really decent colour, but I'm not sure if it warrants a repurchase or is in fact worth it to purchase at full price. This is a product for 1) Mac fans, 2) collectors of make up. The normal person looking for a primer should just purchase a normal primer, not a cream base.

Summary:

pros: 

• gorgeous colour that can be worn opaque or sheered out
• sheen, not glitter, no fallout
• intensifies colours well
• gives eyeshadows new life by incorporating a sheen into them
• could be multi-purpose
• slides onto eye smoothly

cons:

• creases almost immediately without powder
• doesn't work with all eyeshadows
• doesn't work for people who want matte looks
• meh wearing time

Lakme Eye Color Quartet (Desert Rose) Review

I recently made a trip down to Mustafa Centre in one of my impromptu bored moods, and came across this palette. I don't trust dubious brands, but I have read about this brand in particular - Lakme, which is quite widely used by Indian women. 

I figured that since Indian women have beautiful eyes that any eye product of a trusted brand of theirs should be pretty decent, and I was proved right. I chose the most neutral of palettes to try, which was the Lakme Eye Color Quartet in Desert Rose. 

For SGD$11.50, it is quite a solid feeling case. The covers hinge is stiff and does not flop back down when open. The case is a little hard to open without nails because it's quite hard to grip, but with nails it's easy to edge the nail into the slot to wedge the case open.

The quartet consists of a nice pale gold and pink, a copper and a plum (which comes out a dark copper when swatched). None are matte. I picked this set because I felt that the highlight colours could also perform quite nicely on my face.

The formulation of the powders are very smooth, highly pigmented and easy to blend. They work fine with fingers for me. They are not as pigmented as the Sleek eyeshadows but seem to go on smoother. There is also no fallout of powder or glitter when used. The above swatch was made without primer. The least pigmented shade would probably be the pink shade, a light swatch would look more silver than pink.

The copper and plum shades do look quite similar in colour when swatched, with plum being slightly darker. It would've been nice if the plum was true to pan. I also don't particularly like the copper and plum shades as I don't feel they're dark enough for me nor suit my skin tone that well, but they would be quite outstanding on someone fairer in my opinion.

A dark brown would have perfected this palette for me as my only qualm is that there are no shades that can double up as an eyeliner shade.

Nevertheless, the colours perform well together and alone as a light wash of colour across the lids. I like it better for a soft look. Just in case anyone thinks that my eye picture looks weird, I did edit my eyebrows out of the picture as they were peeking in at the corner being distracting.

The eyeshadows last about 6 hours on my oily lids (without primer) without creasing. With primer I don't even have to worry about it, so that's pretty awesome!


Summary:

Pros:

• Pigmented, smooth and easy to blend
• highlighter shades can be used on the face
• long lasting
• Value for money

Cons:

• Darker colours in the pan do not really suit me
• No eyeliner shade

Sleek Eyeshadow Palette in Storm

I don't normally wear eyeshadow unless there's an event. It's too leychey (tiresome) to put on everyday. But here's one palette that I really like, that provides colours for both a neutral everyday look as well as a more intense night time look. It's the Sleek Eyeshadow Palette in Storm.

It's a beautiful sleek (haha pun) palette measuring 14 x 7.3 x 1cm (machiam handphone dimensions). Each colour measures about 2cm in diameter, which is a decent size. The palette snaps shut securely, and doesn't feel like it's made of super cheap plastic despite its super cheap price of SGD$20. (not affiliated, but you can get it here.)  That's like $1.70 per colour!!!! (On a side note, it's only GBP6 so we're already paying a premium and it's still cheap) I feel super auntie with all this price details but SUPER GOOD VALUE YO. It also comes with a full sized mirror where even if you have a big face like me, confirm can see entire face, as well as a pretty good quality applicator which I quite like using.

Above are colour swatches on paper (indoor light) ,in pan (sunlight) and on skin (indoor light with no primer). I tried to show how reflective some of the colours are on the paper, hence some do seem quite bright. The formulations are super smooth and buttery and pigmented. Only the matte shades (3, 11, 12) lack pigmentation. Another good swatch would be below, showing the reflective qualities of this palette in most awesome lighting.

credits: http://avainwoman.blogspot.com/2010/09/sleek-storm-i-divine-eyeshadow-palette.html

1: Antique gold colour with tiny tiny tiny glitters. Satin finish. Colour is true to pan. I super super super super love this shade.

2. Champagne gold colour, almost comes off white. Super reflective. Awesome for highlighting face, or the inner corner of the eyes.

3. Matte milk coffee shade. Rather blah as it's lighter/same colour as my skin tone. Fairer skins will like this as a neutral base colour.

4. True gold. Applies to almost a foil effect because it's soooo reflective. Another one of my favourites in this palette.

5. Golden pink colour. Super smooth shimmery satin finish.

6. Deep maroon colour. Satin finish. Comes off on skin almost like a red tinged copper shade, but when packed on, the purplish hues emerge and is quite lovely.

7. Super intense dark copper/ brown with a satin finish. 5,6,7 almost seem like a nice gradient of intensifying colour. I think this shade would be great for outer corner shades or even as an eyeliner.

8. Greyish dark ice blue is probably the best description I can give this colour. I love how it looks like in the pan. On skin, the base colour is the greyish dark blue, but the sheen is silver. So intense. Slightly crumbly formulation.

9. Dark ivy green. In pan, this colour looks like a really intense deep deep green. I had high hopes for this colour. However when swatched, it comes out almost like a greyish kind of black with a satin finish. The green is barely visible. Still very pigmented though. Formula is also crumbly.

10. Dark electric blue with tiny blue, purple and silver glitters. Fans of blue or brighter colours will like this one. It is quite an awesome and killer shade, but I prefer neutrals and haven't really figured out how to wear this one yet. Formula is crumbly.

11. Matte dark chocolate brown. Not very pigmented but can be layered for intensity. Pretty normal. Can be used for eyebrows.

12. Matte black. Also not very pigmented. Can be worked into some of the other colours to tone/darken them however.


My overall thoughts on this palette:

Pros:

• Packaging is very sleek, sturdy and compact. I really like the mirror and applicator.
• Value for money
• Glitter shades are phenomenal. Super super pigmented, not frosty or chalky, and I love how reflective yet subtle on the eyes these shades are.
• Formulation is soft and smooth
• Good mixture of neutral, light and dark shades to play with
• Colours last on me

Cons:

• Matte shades could be more pigmented, the ones included are good colour choices, but still quite meh
• Only 3 matte shades
• not locally available in stores to try
• shades 8,9,10 are crumbly (if I were nitpicking)

2 looks that I did, 1 neutral and 1 smokey eye (?). 

2 champange gold colour : all over eyelid, as well as inner corner of eye

4 true gold colour : concentrated under the double eyelid line

6 deep maroon colour : concentrated at the outer corner to give depth

5 golden pink colour : to blend 2 and 4 together, also to reflect light and add dimension

1 antique gold colour : all over eyelid
2 champagne gold colour : inner corner of eye
9 dark ivy green : concentrated under double eyelid line
7 intense dark copper : drawn in a > shape into the crease line to give the fold more depth.. blend this shape really well.

I hope this review is comprehensive enough! I apologise in advance for not doing a look for monolids, but that's because I don't have monolids (just uneven eyelids) and thus do not know how to!