a little recap

So my birthday has come and gone. So here's a little recap of the day's events:

- it was a work day, so I spent the day at the office. however there was one surprise though: my new office actually gives out movie tickets on birthday as a gift.
- the bf kept telling me to have my phone out. and he started asking me if I got anything around lunch time.
- then the flowers arrived! Lilac-coloured roses.
- then it was dinner time. Bf took me to Spencer's at the Burlington waterfront. The view was amazing. Food was pretty good as well.

Overall, kudos to my bf for his efforts.

a little change of pace

So today I am not going to talk about makeup.
I am having a wee bit of crisis at the moment. With yet another birthday looming, I feel strangely depressed and uncertain at the moment.

So I think I am going to take this space, this opportunity and the anonymity that goes with it to talk about something that I have had on my mind for awhile. And that is the topic of marriage.

For the longest time, I thought that I would not get married. I got briefly engaged when I was 20 yr old, and that was probably the worst decision for me. Not only was I not ready for marriage to that guy, I was not ready for marriage, period. And the whole experience kind of left a bad taste in my mouth and left me to associate marriage with failure and youthful naivete.

Imagine my surprise when I first started dating my current boyfriend and, all of a sudden, I began to dream of marriage again. Marriage, kids, etc. It amused and scared me, at the same time.

It's scary to realize that I want all of those things. The cliche way of living - I didn't even care that it is cliche. I want it. I want to be happy, married, and pregnant.

This whole new facet scares me. Have I become mundane? Ordinary? Does it matter anymore?

It's the end of yet another long weekend...

and I am just so depressed. It seems like summer has just flied by and we have not had any good weather all summer. Kind of depressing.

It doesn't help that my birthday is also coming up. It is just down right depressing.

MAC Graphic Garden Collection

Here's a sneak peek at the Graphic Garden products:

L'Oreal Telescopic Liquid Eyeliner

So recently, I went on a liquid eyeliner kick. I don't normally wear any eyeliner on a daily basis, as it's not really necessary. But when I do wear it, I prefer a more dramatic look. Hence, liquid eyeliner seems to be the logical choice.

Liquid eyeliner is something that I would not consider buying highend in most instances, especially if it's just for black or brown. Liquid eyeliner is like mascara, i.e. you'll need to throw it out after 3 months anyway, so why spend a lot on it when you don't have to.

Which brings me to my recent trips to the drugstore, in search for a decent liquid eyeliner. Over the course of the last few weeks, I have purchased 6 different liquid eyeliners from various drugstores and I shall do separate review for each. Today, I am going to focus on the worst of the bunch: L'Oreal Telescopic Liquid Eyeliner.

Thankfully, I got this as a gift with purchase with my Telescopic mascara. So I didn't pay anything for it, nor would I ever want to. This is quite possibly the worst mascara that I have ever tried.

The applicator reminds me of a Sephora liner that I've tried last year. The tip is so stiff that it was difficult to distribute the colour evenly. This skips and drags on the eye lid. The applicator basically renders this eyeliner completely not use-able.

There's no reason to go into details about the formula, as the applicator basically prevents this eyeliner from ever looking even decent on the lids. The few times that I've tried it, I ended up having to remove it right away since the lines were so yucky.

Overall, I cannot recommend this product at all. Stay far away from it. Worst liquid eyeliner ever.

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural

I am so proud of myself. I finally finished my MAC MSF Natural! For a person who never finishes anything, this is a huge achievement.

I think I got mine about 1 1/2 year ago. At the begining, I only used it as a touch up powder. While I found the finish to be decent, it really wasn't all that special than all my other powders.

Then I discovered that you can also use it as a powder foundation, and a new love is found.

I like that you can build this up to a medium coverage, without looking cakey. The finish is a nice natural matte. It lasts reasonably well on the skin. I love this so much that I've been using it consistently for the last 6 months.

I can certainly see myself using this in the future. In fact, I've already purchased a back-up for it. Love this product.

My Youtube Channel

In case you don't know, I actually have a youtube channel:

http://www.youtube.com/user/yolandahyng

Go now and subscribe!

MAC Cheek Products

So I was bored the other day and decided to swatch some of my MAC cheek stuff.


I realize I didn't include any of my beloved MSFs. So I will get on that probably this weekend. But in the mean time, for your viewing pleasure (Click for larger picture):

Makeup Traincase

So let me start off by saying that I don't do makeup for a living. So it's actually kind of pointless for me to get a traincase as (a) I don't need to transport makeup to other locations, (b) I have way too much makeup and no traincase would be able to contain them all, and (c) I don't travel much and when I do travel, I prefer to travel with little makeup.

It's curious that I am lusting after makeup traincase. I have absolutely no need for it. But I WANT it. I NEED it.

I am trying to rationalize it. It is my life long dream to go to makeup school, even though I currently do not have the time for it. So I am trying to reason that it will come in handy when I finally go to makeup school, god knows when that will happen, if at all.

But the one that got my attention is this one from MAC ($279USD):

I love that it's a washable, soft bag housed in a rigid metal frame. Washable being the operative word. I hate it when bags get scummy.

But then I did a little bit more research about the company that makes this bag (Zuca) and I found on their website that they actually offer many different styles of bags that you can customize yourself.

The idea of these bags is pretty neat. The bag and the frame are bascially changeable. So if one gets dirty, you can actually swap it out and wash/replace it. So it is totally customizable.

The Sports line let you pick your own frame and bag. So the combinations are endless. I had quite a bit of fun with the website and I basically make a super preppy pink and green version. However, the Sports line does not include insert pouches, so you`ll need to order your own.

The Pro line comes in either Black or Pink. The included insert pouches are not meant for makeup; they're for clothes. But you can order the makeup pouches from their accessory section. The makeup pouches are clear top, so that you can see what's inside. They're also easier to wipe down (if it gets dirty).

And then there`s the ``Artist Collection``, which is basically the Pro version with clear top pouches. The price is actually more expensive than the MAC version. This one is $295USD! But I love the fact that in comes in PINK. I love love love PINK.

I WANT IT! OK, I need to find an excuse to buy this.... =)

Review: Gosh Darling Lipstick

If you follow the youtuber Laura or "lollipop26"(http://www.youtube.com/lollipop26), whom incidentally is one of my fave youtuber, you will know that she gushes about a particular lipstick endlessly. The lipstick in question is, of course, Darling.

I have to completely honest, I have an attitude towards drug store makeup. I found them generally inferior in quality when compared to high-end products. Plus, their packagings are generally cheap-looking, not something I would want to take out in public. (Sorry, I am a snob) And I found that drug-store lipstick often has that overwhelming old-lady smell that I cannot stnad.

But when I saw Laura's video about this lipstick, I was intrigued. I have actually used some Gosh products before. In fact, I love their Effect powders so much that I have most of the colours available. However buying drugstore lipstick is quite another story.

So I decided to swing by my local SDM for have a look. And I have to say I am pleasantly surprised. This lipstick is what I expected MAC Creme De Nude to be: creamy, pigmented, wearable pale nude. The texture is what I expected the MAC Cremesheen to be: smooth, pigment, quietly glossy. It doesn't have the peachy understone of MAC CdN, which is good news for me as I perfer my nudes without it.

While it still requires sheering out around the edges for me (as I have very very pigmented lips), the effect is, dare I say it, better than MAC CdN. Sexy, pale lips that would look great with smokey eyes.

Price wise, it's actually surprising expensive for a drugstore product. At $15CDN per tube, it's only cheaper than MAC lipstick by $1.5CDN. I was quite shocked to find out how pricy these were. But bear in mind that SDM often has the Gosh line on sale. So you can certainly find it cheaper if you are patient. (Alas, another quality I lack...)

Overall, I would give this lipstick 4/5. It's an excellent lipstick. But it's not something I can just throw on and look good in - it does require some work.

Review: Stila The Front Row Look

I have had this palette for awhile now. It has been lying in the bottom of my makeup drawer, collecting dust, unloved and sad. Heck, it was even in its packaging and I have not even bothered to take it out of the box until last week.

The reason? Because the reviews on Makeup Alley (MUA) and various other forums were less than glowing - I didn't want to waste my time trying it and hate it, forever tarnishing my love of all things Stila.

But I finally dug it out this out last week, because I wanted a grey kohl liner and my MAC Phonenumber Eye Kohl was not cutting it (it was too hard and harsh, and I wanted something ultra soft for my waterline. That's when I remembered that I have a grey Stila Kajal liner waiting quietly, stilll brand new in box.

So let me start off by talking what I don't like about this duo of product:

• the packaging - I really don't care for the rosette or the faux leather outer casing. To be quite honest, I wish Stila would start putting all the palette in something sleeker. For example, the Pon Pon Gerbera trio is a fine example of that. Sturdy and sleek
• The mirror inside - it's not very good. I am a firm believer that a good high-end compact should always come with a good mirror, as is the case with Chanel, Guerlain, Nars, etc. Not just any mirror, but a good one. One that you can actually see yourself clearly and that it would not give yourself a headache when you stare at it for more than 2 minutes. The mirror in the palette is kind of weird and twisted; it's not very usable and it gave me a headache when I tried to do my eye makeup with it
• the softness of the shadows - they can get a little dusty as they're extremely soft. I am extremely OCD, so I feel the need to clean up after each use (wasting precious time)

Notice that I am not complaining the pigmentation of these shadows? Because I don't consider it a con. I actually like that fact that they are not extra pigmented. Admittedly, the light ("all over" shade) can run a little chalky. And I don't know if the colour, a pale pinky beige, is suitable for everyone, but it is, nonetheless, a very pretty colour when apply lightly.

The white pearly shade is more suited for inner corner highlight for most people. I personally love it as an all-over lid colour (I am very pale, btw - so that may explain why). Blended with the aforementioned pink beige shade, this creates a very nice lid colour - a very wearable pale pinky beige with a hint of shimmer, much more so than each of them alone can achieve.

The crease colour actually reminds me a great deal of the MAC Sculpt Powder in the colour Sculpt, which, incidentally, it's one of my favourite eyeshadow colours for creating a softly defined crease. And I have to say, the reason I like this palette has a lot to do with this colour, more than anything else. It's a taupe-y colour that creates a hint of definition that's not overwhelming.

And how can we forget the Kajal liner? I love the Stila's Kajal for my waterline more than any other liner I have came across. It is quite possibly the softest liner I've used. Even with MAC Kohl Power liner, I need to warm the tip up between my finger tips. But with the Stila's Kajal, there's no need. It just glides on, depositing intense colour without much work at all. Love love love.

Sadly, this is not available for sale anymore. You may want to look on eBay or Beautycruch if you're interested.

What's your makeup obsession?

I know a lot of people have a specific perference when it comes to makeup. Maybe it's a specifc brand, maybe it's a type of product. Some people buy a lot of lipgloss but skim on everything else.

I personally started out as a lipgloss addict. You should see my lipgloss drawers. They're literally overflowing with lipglosses of pinky and peachy goodness.

My other obsession is blush. Pink and peach tone blushes. The ones that make me look instantly healthy and happy. I cannot get enough of those.

I am actually pretty minimal when it comes to eyeshadow. Not about buying eyeshadows, but the application itself. On most days, I just stick to one colour all over the lid and mascara. But I am a shopaholic, so I buy multiple of everything I like.

So what's your makeup addiction/obsession?

Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel

I recently got a sample of this, and I have to say I am really impressed with this makeup remover.

Please do not confuse this with any cleansing gel. It's not a soap-y kind of cleansing gel. It's actually more akin to a cleansing oil. Cleansing oil is probably the most efficient way to take off your makeup. Waterproof mascara doesn't stand a chance when you use cleansing oil.

However, not all cleansing oils are created equal. I have been on the search of a good cleansing oil for years. I started off with the DHC Deep Cleansing Oil - which is probably the most popular one out there. It does a good job of removing makeup. And it's quite cheap for the size that you get. However, I hate the smell of the oil and it breaks me out. So now I only use it to clean my foundation and concealer brushes.

I moved on to a cleansing oil gel from Iope (a Korean brand). The first thing that you'll notice with this is how nice it smells. It has a very floral scent. The texture is very gel-like, and you need to warm it up between your hands - otherwise it will not spread easily on your face. But I found that even if I warm it up between my palms, it is still not as easy to spread as the oil. And it didn't do as good a job with mascara as the oil ones.

So then I moved on to Shu Uemura's version of the cleansing oil. I actually started with Enriched version first, since I have dry skin. However, that proved to me too rich for my skin and it made me break out. The Light version proved to be a much better match for my skin. And I was quite happy with it, except for the price and the fact that it's hard for me to travel with the bulky bottle.

Which brings me to the Clarins Pure Melt Cleansing Gel. It is basically a Gel Oil hybrid. So you'll need to warm it up between your hands, as you would with Iope's version. But I have to say that this spreads much better and it's almost as fluid as the oil. It did a great job with removing all traces of makeup, even the mascara. And it washes all easily, and my skin has not reacted so far. So I am very impressed.

I will have to do some calculation to see what the price/vol is for the Clarins version, but hopefully it will turn out to be cheaper than the one from Shu. And the squeeze tube is certainly more travel-friendly than the Shu's pump bottle.

So we'll see.

I am blogging again!!

Yea!!

Well let me start off by saying that I've deleted all my old posts. I feel like I need a new start.

I have been feeling very inspired lately. So I have tried making videos again on my youtube channel, but I have been having problem editing my videos. At the end, I just got tired just with the editing itself. So no videos up yet, but I still need some kind of outlet for my energy.

Hence, I am blogging again.

So, true to the name of my blog, this is still going to be all about all things beauty-related.

I got a few things this week, taking full advantage of the 20X points at Shoppers Drug Mart this week. I got a few new perfumes and makeup items. But the product that I am most excited about has got to be the new lipstick from Guerlain. It's called Rouge G de Guerlain and it's quite possibly my new obsession. The price is astonishingly high ($45 USD/$48 CDN). But the texture of this lipstick is absolutely lovely: creamy, soft and very moisturizing. It is not strongly perfumed, which is a plus for me as my lips have been acting really touchy lately. The finish is a med-pigment soft sheen - what I think the MAC Cremesheen should be, but I guess it's unfair for me to compare the two due to the price difference.

You can read more about Rouge G at www.rougeg.com.