Showing posts with label nail product. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nail product. Show all posts

Thursday, October 24, 2013

OPI Cuckoo For This Color - Matte Version



In Singapore, we don't have 4 seasons (though I wish it did) but since I'm heading halfway around the world in December (tickets bought yay!) I thought I might as well get myself into the mood. Since my nails have been polish free for quite a while I decided to dig through my bigger-than-it-should-be-considering-I-seldom-paint-my-nails stash and found OPI's Cuckoo For This Colour. While I'm more of a creme type of girl with the impression that all metallics and polishes with tiny glitters come from my mom's generation, I do like a good teal and I don't have a creme teal colour. Note to self - invest in a creme teal. Cuckoo For This Colour is a gorgeous deep emerald teal (if that makes sense) and had a metallic tinge with tiny teal glitters in it. It is such a gorgeous teal colour that I currently have 2 bottles of it in my stash, reason being my sister thought it was also a gorgeous colour and purchased it only to leave it with me when she left for the UK. Right, the colour on its own is rather dated or more...halloween themed if you wanna go as a mermaid so I grabbed my trusty Essie's Matte About You and VOILA! Matte teal with a slight metallic tinge, it even looks quite ombre because only the highest point of the nail catches light and the rest remains dark. Perfect for autumn and winter me thinks. I know navy is in and all, but stand out, get a matte teal, it will rock your world.

The end result actually reminds me of Orly's Iron Butterfly, except in a different colour and with much less glitter. Here's a swatch in which I'm cheating and just linking from alllaqueredup.


Will you be wearing a matte teal nail this autumn and winter? Let me know!

Sunday, September 15, 2013

(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!



Sunday, August 11, 2013

Weekly Favourites #5


This is the last weekend before school "officially" starts! I am absolutely unexcited. It's not really fun, being 24 and still in school when all my peers are working adults. I much prefer the working life. Not having to apply makeup everyday does have its perks though... here are my smallies but goodies for the week.

I have a chunky neck, not gonna lie. That makes it rather difficult for me to involve myself in the entire chunky statement necklace trend and I much rather prefer long necklaces. This Accessorize crystal bullet necklace has been making its way into all my outfits. I actually saw it at least 3 months back in shops, but hesitated buying it as it was $33 (If you follow me, you should be able to tell I like to buy things cheap). I liked it so much I even went on to make my own version which consisted of a swarovski ripoff crystal. Anyway, long story short, I snagged it at 50% off  recently (walked into the store by accident - score!!!). I really like it as it adds a certain attitude into plain outfits, and makes girly ensembles that much less girly. Similar ones can be found on etsy, which I am quite lusting after.

I've also switched out my Revlon Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti for the Revlon Lip butter in Sweet Tart. Pinks feel much more feminine than coral somehow. This is a shocking pink that goes on almost fuchsia if layered on the lips. I only like to dab this on in the centre of the lip for a subtle girly pink lip. Really does perk up the entire face!

The Essie Luxeffects in Shine of the Times has been making its way back to my nails after a rather long hiatus and I can't imagine why I abandoned it in favour of cremes. It is just the most gorgeous polish to layer on top of already duo-chrome colours, it just adds so much depth to the polish!!! It has large glitter flakes in it which refract yellow, blue, orange and green in quite a complex manner - the picture really does it no justice. I rather like wearing it on its own, on the tips of my nails so that my nails can just grow out. If you're into hashtags, then this deserves a #ican'teven in a great way. If there was one large glitter flakie polish to have in a collection - this would be it.

What do you like lately? I'm really liking lazy days. :D