Thursday, August 22, 2013

Review: Benefit POREfessional PRO Balm!

One big concern of many girls out there, including myself, has got to be PORES! :( God knows how irksome huge visible pores can get, and the worst part is that skincare can only do so much to help minimize pores, unless you're talking about expensive laser treatments and the likes.

I'm not too sure why, but ever since I started taking Roaccutane, I've noticed that the pores on my nose have somehow become more obvious! I've always had pitted pores at the sides of my nose, but suddenly, my entire nose seems to be all orange peel-esque and I hate it! Told my derm about it and she said it could be because of the reduction in oil production, which causes my skin to be drier and thus making the pores look more obvious ;( Has anyone encountered similar issues while on Roaccutane as well?

When it comes to "concealing" those troublesome pores though, thankfully, there is Benefit's POREfessional PRO Balm to save the day!

I first tried this product during a Benefit event last year, and I was so sold! Went to a Benefit counter the same week and purchased the POREfessional PRO Balm for my very own!

Couldn't be happier to oblige when Benefit Cosmetics Singapore asked Evonne and myself to take part in a special POREfessional workshop/event, because this is one of those products that I truly believe in! :)

The event was sometime last month, and you might have seen the super cute pop-up booth right outside Tangs Orchard!

There was even a flashmob with spy girls spotting sexy black boots dancing and the most adorable Vespas which rode through Orchard Road! You shoulda seen the crowd! XD

On to the workshop, 8 lucky girls got chosen from Benefit Cosmetics Singapore's Facebook contest, to be given a makeover by 8 of us bloggers! :D

The EDM that went out for the event!

The 8 of us got to dress up as Spy Girls in the signature mint green trench coat and I thought we looked really cute!! :P That's one of the things I love about Benefit, makeup is always fun and interesting with Benefit!

We worked in pairs (I was with Evonne of course!) to do makeovers for two of the girls! Using only Benefit's skincare and makeup products, the girls were given makeovers from scratch ;D

Here's Evonne concentrating really hard on her job as a makeup artist!

I thought I did a good job too, on transforming my lovely model, Carrissa, with a radiant and glowing look!

Jang jang!!! Quite proud of my makeup skills I must say! :D

Team Evonne and Yina! ^.^

Made new friends at the event! :)

Here's the spy girls and the prettily made-up Benefit fans all together for a group shot!

With Mei Ting and Amber from Benefit Cosmetics Singapore after the event ended, thanks for having us!!

As for the product itself: The POREfessional PRO Balm has been a staple on my dressing table for the longest time now, and it's something I always reach out for when I want that extra bit of perfection to my makeup!

“Quickly minimize the appearance of pores & fine lines for smoother-than-smooth skin! Apply this silky, lightweight balm alone, under or over makeup. Translucent, oil-free formula complements all skintones and helps makeup stay put. Contains a Vitamin E derivative, known to protect skin from free radicals.”

The new VS old packaging. New one's so much cuter! Other than that, nothing else has changed about this wonderful formula.

The nozzle is sealed for hygiene purposes, so just peel it off and you're all ready to use the POREfessional PRO Balm :D

This is what the POREfessional PRO Balm looks like, it's skin coloured and has got a firm consistency to it that melts into the skin upon application, leaving behind a smooth surface that feels almost powdery to the touch!

Personally, I like to use a tiny amount of POREfessional on my nose and around it (where my pores are the most obvious) before I apply my foundation on, and I feel that it helps to minimise the appearance of those huge pores, while creating a smoother canvas for me to work on! I don't like to use it for touch-ups because I feel that the POREfessional balm does not adhere as well to my skin when I already have other makeup on, and tends to slide off and cause weird smudges on my skin, especially if I'm getting sweaty and oily in our hot weather.

I was unable to really capture the effect of POREfessional PRO Balm on camera, but I think Evonne did a pretty good job! Read Evonne's review of POREfessional PRO Balm here! :D

Because you only need a very small amount of the product for each usage, the 22ml tube can seriously last you for ages! I've used mine for months, and I feel like it can last me for another year or something. It's a tad pricey but worth the price tag! :)

The Porefessional costs $48 for 22ml of product and is available at all Benefit Counters and Sephora.

If I had a POREfessional this size... It would take me ten lifetimes to finish using it. Hahahaha. Just kidding. Go try the POREfessional at a Benefit counter near you and you'd know why it's so amazing, really! ^.^

Get on Benefit Cosmetics Singapore's Facebook for more fun with Benefit! :D

xoxo

Event: Estee Lauder Flagship Boutique Launch at Tangs Orchard

Estée Lauder's new flagship boutique has just opened at the newly revamped Tangs Beauty Hall, and we were treated to a night of opulence and glamour at the grand opening of the boutique.

Evonne and myself walking the blue carpet!

The evening started with a surreal experience, I got to live the life of a celebrity for a few short seconds, with a glamorous waltz on my first "blue carpet" ever!

As part of the event, a blue carpet was set up with a dozen photographers, and we got a taste of how scary paparazzi felt like as we courageously braved the short but intimidating walk through a flood of flashing light bulbs. It was really an unnerving experience!

The new Estée Lauder Flagship Boutique is now bigger and better than ever, and now features different spaces, such as a Global Best Sellers Wall, a 360 Degree Bar and a Skincare Discovery Bar. The space looks absolutely lush and very pleasing to the eye, housing everything from skincare, to makeup and also fragrances. The newly launched Very Estée fragrance will also be exclusively available at Estée Lauder Flagship Boutique too.

Side tangent, I thought I'd introduce my absolute favourite product from Estee Lauder: The highly raved Advanced Night Repair that I use every night!

Good-looking male models at events are always appreciated. Bwahahaha.

A group shot with some of the beauty bloggers who were present! :)

Even managed to get a shot with the handsome Bobby Tonelli!

My spacesuit dress from H&M that I think was attracting a lot of stares when I walked my way from Orchard MRT to Tangs Plaza. Hahaha.

Estée Lauder Flagship Boutique is located on the 1st level of TANGS Beauty Hall, near the entrance closest to Lucky Plaza.

Thank you for extending the invitation to us, Estée Lauder and Brand Story!

xoxo

Review: Kate Cosmetics Fall/Winter 2012

I've been a user of KATE Cosmetics for a long time, and I remember my first foray into the world of liquid eyeliners: The very first liquid eyeliner I ever purchased was actually KATE's Super Sharp Liner!

KATE Cosmetics has sent me some products from their Fall/Winter 2012 collection, and I gotta say, I am loving so many of them!

KATE Powderless Liquid Foundation, SGD34

The most important step in achieving a flawless look with makeup has got to be the foundation. KATE's Powderless Liquid Foundation is named as such due to how the liquid foundation actually turns into a matte powdery finish after 15 seconds, giving you an instantly smooth, shine-free complexion!

As you can see, the liquid spreads easily and blends well into a matte powder finish! Perfect for the lazy girls like me, because it saves the extra hassle of having to set liquid foundation with loose powder! :) Kate Powderless Liquid Foundation also comes in six shades, so you'll be able to find a match closest to your skin tone :)

KATE Deep Shiny Eyes, SGD23.50

One of the star products of the collection, in my opinon! I really love the KATE Deep Shiny Eyes eyeshadow palette! Each palette comes with three complementary shades which can be used together to achieve a lovely shimmery smokey eye look that's perfect for year-end festivities :)

The eyeshadow is extremely pigmented, and if you love shimmery and frosty eyeshadows like I do, you'd definitely love the KATE Deep Shiny Eyes.

Visual from KATE on how to apply the eyeshadow

KATE Slim Create Powder, SGD27

Another product that I am loving to bits from the collection, and have been using on a regular basis! KATE Slim Create Powder is an extremely handy contouring powder that contains a white powder (for highlighting) and a brown powder (for shading)!

A visual within the compact itself shows you where to use the highlighting powder and where to use the shading powder! The compact comes with its own brush as well that I find quite easy to use, especially when contouring the nose/eye areas. Very convenient for carrying around for quick makeup on-the-go!

As you can tell, the shading powder is so subtle, it hardly shows up on my skin! (Or maybe I am just too tan...) But trust me, it really makes a huge difference and can be seen in photos and in real life for sure :)

KATE Super Sharp Liner, SGD17

Last but not least, the KATE Super Sharp Liner, in a limited edition Night Red color! This eyeliner boosts to be the thinnest and sharpest on the Japanese market, at an incredibly thin 0.03mm! The Night Red shade is actually surprisingly wearable, and looks almost black, but less stark. As with my previous experience with KATE's Super Sharp Liners, it's very easy to control and use, even for beginners.

Here's how the eyeliner looks when swatched.

***

I used the above products to come up with a glam look which I think is suitable for parties and year-end festivities! :D Of course, I think the most important products for this look would be the eye shadow palette, followed by the contouring powder :D :D :D

Loving the final look created with KATE Cosmetics Fall/Winter 2012 collection!

For more pictures/swatches/reviews of KATE's Fall/Winter 2012 collection, do check out Evonne and Jayne's entries, I love how the products look on them!

Have a fabulous weekend everyone, and I'll be back with more updates real soon!

xoxo

FOTD: UD Naked Palette + Clio and Peripera!

dolled up a little today, so i thought i'd share some of the products i used for my Face of the Day! :D

it's a pretty neutral look, just emphasizing a lot on the eyes! oh, i tried to do a semi-centre parting too, but it's kinda messy :/ going back to Salon Vim with Eils baybeh on Monday, can't decide if i should grow out my fringe or do bangs again! probably bangs, cos i wanna look younger for CNY... HEHE.

all the products i used today!

starting with my holy grail BB cream: Biotherm's White D-Tox! i love the light weight texture and the instant brightening effect :) comes with SPF 25+PA+++ and 24 hour hydration!

usually go over it with K-Palette's Oil Control 0 Teka Mat Powder, which is a pressed powder that has light coverage and oil control properties that helps to mattify! it's a daily essential for me, use until i hit pan on it already D:

followed by my favorite cream concealer, BeautyTech ice cream concealer :D use it on my under eyes to conceal my dark eye rings as well as around the nose and on blemishes! the Make Up Store's "Must Have" powder blush is great for a natural sun kissed look.

bought Urban Decay's Naked Palette while i was in KL, and i'm super loving it! all the shades are so useable and i've been using it really regularly. today, i used the following shades Virgin, Smog and Darkhorse :D

like i said, the emphasis are on the eyes today, so here's all the many different eye products i used! :D from top to bottom: Lancôme Virtuose Drama, K-Palette Lasting 2-Way Eyebrow Liner, K-Palette Real Lasting Eyeliner Waterproof, Clio Eye Love You Shadow Pencil in Violet, and Peripera Flash Color Eyes Crayon Liner in Pearl White!

most of these products are regulars in my makeup pouch, except for the following two new products from Clio and Peripera! These two brands have kindly sponsored me some of their best selling products and i'll be reviewing more of them in future entries!

Peripera Flash Color Eyes Crayon Liner in Pearl White. This is a shimmery crayon that glides on smoothly, i use it to highlight the inner eye corners! this product retails at $11.90!

Clio Eye Love You Shadow Pencil in Violet. used this to line my lower eyeliner on the outer corners to add abit of color and to make my eyes look bigger! :) the staying power is pretty good and i like the brilliant shade of violet with a slight shimmer in it. this product retails at $16.90!

close up. i also put on FreshLook monthly contacts in Brown :D Lancome Virtuose Drama mascara was used on both my upper and lower eyelashes! love the lengthening effect and that it isn't clumpy as well. you can see the crayon liner in pearl white on my inner eye corners as well.

swatches of Clio Eye Love You Eyeliner in Violet, and Peripera Flash Color Eyes Crayon Liner in Pearl White!

and my simple neutral eye makeup with the Urban Decay Naked Palette. all i did was to blend some darker colors into the corners a little.

3/4 profile view!

and the final look :D easy peasy!

You can find a wide selections of CLIO and PERIPERA products at the following Watsons outlets:

1. Ngee Ann City (Takashimaya)

2. Vivo City

3. Bugis Junction

4. Compass Point

5. Parkway Parade

6. IMM

7. Katong Mall

8. Tampines One

9. Toa Payoh HDB hub

10. Changi City point

i'll be blogging about a few more products from these two brands again when i get the chance to try them! :D

***

anyway, today's the 2nd day after finishing my detox, and happy to say my weight's still pretty much the same! weighed 52.9KG this morning, which is quite comforting cos i kind of pigged out on dinner yesterday! :D need to tell myself to get a grip though cos i'm still watching my calories :/ 9 more days to CNY, very excited to dress up nice nice and celebrate the festivities with my family!

three random photos of my adorable darlings to wish you a happy weekend!