Must Have Alat Solek [Azwaa X Zalora MY]

Hi lovelies!

Makeup is versatile and there is an infinite possibility of exploring the art of makeup. Nowadays creative ideas are popping on Instagram and Youtube like madness! I've seen people use spoon to contour and draw their eyeliner and the latest craze, the spoon/hairbrush kinda brush that claims to blend your makeup faster and give flawless finish effortlessly. 

So today I'm gonna share with you my must have alat solek (Pardon for using my mother tongue language :P)

Beauty blender

This is the perfect tool to blend wet products like foundation and concealer. It provide the most natural finish by absorbing the excess product and even out the product beautifully. I find it perform the best when used as damp as its dry form is normally stiff. There are tons of dupes sold online with an affordable price.

Dual ended eyebrow brush

Brows are the real best friend to women. The right brows can frame the face and enhance your natural features. When I'm traveling, I always carry this brush in my makeup pouch. They're handy to draw and blend the eyebrow product so it appear soft and natural. Remember ladies, never ignore your brows! 

Mattifying pore pact

I have to have this in my makeup pouch. I have oily skin and by midday my face is a greasy mess. I always blot the greasy area to mattify it and freshen up my look. The finely milled powder also blur out my pores and since its translucent, it can be used by a variety of skin tone. Plus, its small size makes it easier to pack along and comparatively cheaper than the normal setting powders.

Lip balm

Lip balm is life because chapped lips ain't sexy. I have a severe pale lips so I always opt for a tinted balm but the colorless one will do as long as it moisturize my lips. It is also a quick way to polish up my look especially after drinks or meals with my buddies. Its much of a less hassle than applying a full on lipstick where I have to be precise and let's be honest, its time consuming :/

There you have it! My must have alat solek in my pouch :) Special thanks to Zalora for inviting me to do a collab. 

Tell me what's your must have alat solek in the comment below ;)

Take care. XOXO

Age 20's Essence Cover Pact Review

Hi earthlings!

 

Today I bring you a review about a product sold through the home shopping channel GoShop. The brand originated from South Korea but I have never heard of it before. Anyway the package arrive after 4 days. Quite fast considering my address (Sabah). The delivery cost is RM20! Expensive horrr. 

The front cover is made up of metal. It looks super edgy and sophisticated. I look up on Google and fair enough, this product is targeted for women on their 30's (based on personal approximation of the model's age). It also has SPF50+++ so its all good for the skin ay'.

 

I tend to veer off of cream product due to my oily skin yet I've always wanted to try it at the same time because it's always fun to try new makeup! :) :) :) The pact, like its name consists of a mixture of white product marbled in between the main cream product. The cushion puff is just like a regular air puff though I feel like its slightly thinner.

Upper swatch - beige and white mixed together
Lower swatch - beige alone

The overall tone become a tad fairer when mixed together while using the beige tone alone will be too dark for my skintone. The dilemma -.- Upon application, it feels hydrating and cooling at the same time. 

Its lightweight and the air puff makes it impossible for me to cake up my face. It looks invisible on the skin and I'm rather impressed. The finish is a bit tacky for me. It might be just me because I could not tolerate even a hint of tackiness.

 Wearing the pact

From the perspective of an oily skin person, this pact is tolerable if I'm out and about during a windy/cloudy day. It will definitely melt off under the sun because cream product is usually oily, when its mixed with the sebum it will slip and slide everywhere!

The shade match my skin tone, its not too dark or too fair to the point it looks ashy. The funny thing is I feel like the hydrating effect lasts even after 2-3 hours applying it. I cannot comment the longevity since I wore it for only 4-5 hours and it still looking pretty good. Not sure whether it'll last all day.

In a nutshell, its a damn good product for someone with dry/combination skin. It works well with oily skin but it won't last long under the heat from the sun. I personally think this is for women in the 30's who's looking for beneficial makeup with skincare ingredients but hey, you do you ;)

Take care!

XOXO

10pcs Brush Set Review (Unbranded)

Hi readers!

I've seen countless reviews on the brush set originated from China. It was sold cheaply with great quality so I've always been intrigued by them. It almost look like a dupe for Sigma brushes just by looking at the pictures.

I bought the set from an instagram reseller for RM60 + RM7 postage. 

FACE BRUSH

The handles are all sturdy, fat and the length is just right. The gold accent adds more luxurious feeling to the brushes. I believe all of the bristles are synthetic. Each brushes have dense and soft bristles that work perfectly with cream and liquid products.

My personal favorite is the flat top kabuki brush. I use it to blend my foundation and concealer. It reminds me of the cult favorite Sigma F80 brush. Personally, I have never own it because of its price tag.

However, I honestly think this is a decent substitute for the F80 brush. The flat surface and rounded edges makes it a bit difficult to blend the concealer around the eyes. However I find it gives a full coverage, air brush finish without absorbing the product. It can feel a little heavy though it may be caused by putting excess product.

I rarely use the other brushes since I prefer to use my BHCosmetics blush brush and skip contouring on a daily basis. The precision tapered kabuki brush seem to be a good brush for blending products under the eyes but its a tad stiffer for my liking. It feels like I'm tugging my skin and I do not enjoy it.

Oddly, I also use the flat angled kabuki brush to apply my foundation. It doesn't make any difference but I feel it provide a more sheer coverage than the flat top brush. I rarely use the round top kabuki brush and round angled kabuki brush. I've tried to apply blusher with them but its too dense thus it give such a harsh appearance on my skin.

EYE BRUSH

 

These eye brushes are fantastic in term of softness and density, just like the face brushes. However I tend to reach for the blending brush only. I couldn't find any other use for them since the size is too big for my eyelids. 

The blending brush blend my crease color beautifully. Its the perfect size for my crease. I've tried using the flat angled and flat brush to apply highlighter on the cheekbones but it doesn't dispose the product well on my skin so nahhh.

Overall, its a good brush set for its price. Plus the quality is acceptable and I have not suffer any shedding even after washing it a few times already. If you're a beginner and on a budget, this will be a great alternative for a more affordable brushes. :)

Take care!

XOXO

Absolute NY Icon Eyeshadow Palette (Exposed) Review *Urban Decay Naked Palette Dupe*

Hi earthlings!

 

I spotted this particular palette at my local Watsons store. The packaging reminds me of the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette. I swatched it and it seems okay and the price tag is affordable so I decided to buy it.

I've checked out the official website of the brand and there were 3 choices of palette to choose from. However the only one available at the moment is the Exposed palette. I would love to try the Twilight palette. Hopefully Watsons will bring it into their store soon.

100% similar packaging with the Naked 2 palette. I understand that the Naked series palette is a cult favorite among the beauty junkie which probably lead to different brands using the palette as a template in manufacturing their own palette. 

Ballet - Muted - Canvas - Toast - Nude - Nectar - Gilded - Cedar - Flirt - Java - Slate - Gunmetal

The palette comprises of 12 eyeshadow pans with 3 matte and 9 shimmer/glitter shadows. A dual ended brush was provided and frankly speaking, I am fond of the brush. The blending brush work wonderfully but the flat shader brush, not so much. It didn't packed the eyeshadow as good as I've expected it to be.

 

Ballet - Muted - Canvas - Toast 

Nude - Nectar - Gilded - Cedar

Flirt - Java - Slate - Gunmetal

P/S; All swatches were done without primer

The shimmery shadows are outstanding!

It swatches beautifully with even pigmentation and it shows true to its colour on the lid.

However the matte shadows are disappointing. Apart from having less transition colour, it also do not have a matte highlight shade for the brow bone. The shimmer shadow is simply too harsh for highlighting. Further, the pigmentation is a bit lacking but it did show up on my lid after I packed it on a few times.

Overall, this palette is a little bit above average. I'm not crazy about it but I don't hate it either. It blends easily and do not crease. I just wish there were more mattes thrown in it.

 

Outer corner - Java

Browbone highlight - Muted

Eyelid - Carli Bybel Palette

 

Eyebrow - Nyx Tinted Brow Gel (Espresso)

Mascara - Tarte Lights, Camera, Lashes 

 

Lips - Etude House Rosy Tint Lips 05 Baby Peony

Take care! XOXO

Carli Bybel Palette Review

Hello earthlings!

Today I bring you the majestic, highly raved palette by Carli Bybel in collaboration with BHCosmetics. I saw her introduction video about this palette and I was impressed by the swatches shown. I immediately google up reviews and everyone was praising this product.

The price is superb for the quality

The pigmentation is amazing

The shadows are buttery and blends like a dream

The highlight shades are on fleek

Hold on. Hold please. I'm gonna own this palette.

So I've been hunting on this palette for a few months and I've finally found a ready stock item with an affordable price (RM89 plus RM7 shipping = RM96) YASSSSSSS.

The key features of the palette is the grayish white cushion-y design plus a tiny pink penguin beside the Carli Bybel. The packaging is made up of cardboard just like the other BHCosmetics palette. Honestly, this one felt like it was designed, manufactured and marketed better than the That'sHeart palette. I can completely see why since Carli has over 3 millions subscribers on YT, which means criticism will hit rock hard if the quality is not up the par because people expected her to know her stuffs. Y'know what I mean.

Nevertheless, the packaging is definitely eye catching. Vanity deco worth.

W/o flash

With flash

It has 4 matte and 6 shimmer with glitters eyeshadows.

4 highlight shades

When I first swatch it, I immediately notice the fallout especially with the matte shades.

But all is good, the pigmentation is great just occasionally uneven. You'll see it in the swatches.

The shimmers and highlighters are super pigmented and suffer less fallout.

The highlighters are perfection! 

Look at that, super reflective!

I personally love the gold highlight (2nd lightest shade from the bottom)

Can we see the glow? 

Yes we can.

Disco ball.

 

I personally love the pale purple shade on my crease. 

Its wearable aka user friendly eventhough its PURPLE.

I am in love with this palette.

Carli Bybel had done a fantastic job!

Take care. XOXO