Friday 13th Haul

I got pretty awesome pressies on my birthday this year and I can't just shut up about it! So I am going to share them with you right here.. I don't mean to brag, I am just super duper excited about them!

The first was no surprise as Mami actually asked me if I would like one -- and yes, I really don't mind another as my make-up stuff were overflowing the clear traincase that I got from Sephora!

It's black, it's huge and also comes with a shoulder strap! Hahahha! As if I am actually travelling with all my makeup, but it's a nice touch. I have not transferred my makeup into this traincase yet though. Before I do that I need to make room on my desk where I get ready first!

Mumu gave me a bag of things;

A vanilla scented candle, Soap & Glory Beauty Sleep Accelerator cream that I was eyeing on the last time we were in Sephora together (which she got, and I asked her to let me know what she thinks of it!) and a funny keychain of quotes on shopaholics! Hahahaha.

Dida got me a pair of martini glasses.. There was a point in my life when I was obsessed with looking for one that was nice but not crazy expensive! I guess she found them and I love it!

I don't even drink martinis (or alcohol for that matter!) but I like having the occasional Shirley Temple in a fancy glass at home..

Encem got me a set of CBTL/Caffitaly capsules that is some sort of the sampler of all the flavours available. It has one each of everything and I find it hard to take one out of the box and leave a gap in it! Hmm..

 

Bestie went overboard this year and did a two-parter of my birthday present;

First he (and Gracie) replaced the Moleskine that he gifted me last year that was snatched a few months ago (I still miss that awesome Star Wars pocket diary!) with this awesome Lego edition Moleskine..

Then a week later he left me a Ciaté Mini Mani Month on my dresser without saying anything! I came back from work, hung out in the living room just chatting with him.. Finally got into my room to take off the uniform (after almost an hour, I think) and there it was! I actually teared up because it was TOO FREAKIN' AWESOME!!!

I felt like hugging and slapping him at the same time! I guess I'll be spending the next two months figuring out what to get him for his birthday..

I myself spent quite a bit (that's an understatement) with the excuse that it is my birthday month. But of all the things that I spent on, this is the ONE thing that I felt like a total birthday splurge;

A large jar Yankee Candle in Crisp Apple Strudel that cost me S$35! I saw the stand while nightstopping in Singapore and told myself that I HAVE to get something! Wasn't planning to get the biggest size there is but Bestie talked me into it!

No regrets though.. The whole apartment smells as if I was baking an apple strudel everytime I burn the candle and it is just awesome!

Awesome as long as I don't work out the currency exchange that is! Hahahahaha

It's been a good month, and I had a wonderful birthday.. I am grateful for the friends and family that surrounds me..

I totally forgot to thank those who wrote me birthday messages on my Facebook wall, is that terrible? I always thought it was cheating because Facebook reminded them of my birthday anyway.. As if all those people would remember on their own! Oh well..

Thank you God for the family and the little friends that fills up my heart.. Alhamdulillah.

Two days 'til new year!! Eeeep!

Follow Me

I'm on a beauty-blog mode, so please bear with me..

I am slowly but certainly starting a collection of NARS products; started with the concealer and eyeliners that I got while nightstopping in Bangkok, then the blush palette that I bought online. Then NARS opened up a store in Pavilion Mall.. *dun dun dunn* I got the lovely satin lip pencil last month, and since then I've bought a lipstick and a nail polish!

So today I'll be writing about the incredible nail polish that I got from their Guy Bourdain Holiday Collection!

This Opaque Nail Polish in the shade Follow Me retails at RM 60. Described as "deep fuschia" on the website, I would have to say that it is pretty accurate. And when they say "opaque", they really meant it! I only had ONE coat on for the picture!

Formulation-wise, it was a dream to work with! If it had came with a wide brush like OPI or Ciaté it would've been perfect! But even without the ideal brush, this is easily one of my favourite nail polish! (Being a NARS product has nothing to do with it!)

The thing that I need to point out though, is the fact that the retail price in the US is $19, which according to my currency exchange app, the nail polish is actually cheaper here (surprise!) where as OPI nail polishes that are also sold at RM 60 here is actually around $9 to $12 in the US!

I don't know about you, but that price difference kinda irks me a bit.

Makes me want to get all the Opaque Nail Polish that I can get my hands on, except that I have way too many nail polishes already!

Naked 3

Lets talk about my new love..

Urban Decay came out with a new Naked palette earlier this month and all I could think about was -- MUST - HAVE - IT!!

I had wanted to buy the Naked 2 palette a few months ago and it seems to be forever out of stock at all the Sephora in Klang Valley! It's alright though, now that I got my hands on Naked 3!

This palette comes with twelve rosey-hued shades, while its two predecessor were more bronze-shade. I don't mind either but I must say that I love these girly nude shades of the Naked 3!

I couldn't stop using the palette everytime I am doing my make-up from home. Why from home? Because I somehow couldn't bear the thought of bringing it along to a trip and accidentally leaving it in one of the hotel rooms! Just a thought, but still..! (Same goes with my NARS One Night Stand blush palette.)

Oh, I got this palette from Sephora at Sunway Pyramid as they were out of stock in Starhill and KLCC! I was told that they were going to restock them soon but I am not sure if they have as this entry goes up.

Retailing at RM 188 ($52 in the US), it is best if you get them when you have the 10% off from Sephora (once you've collected 250 points for spending SO much on beauty and body products!! Eeep!) or if you're lucky, that 20% off that Sephora has once in a blue moon!

Because honestly, I do think RM 188 is a whole lot of money to spend on ONE make-up product!

I do feel bad when ever I spend so much on beauty products and though I got mine with the 10% off, RM 170 isn't that much different -- but I am just nuts.

And if you've been following this blog for a while, you'd know that I want what I want..

Happy December!

Well, this entry is eleven days late, I'm not going to lie. Earlier of the month I did mention that I hoped to blog everyday.. well.. that's that.

I haven't had as much fun as I did on my birthday weekend and I guess I just couldn't get myself to sit in front of my netbook long enough to write an entry.

Can I just say.. I LOVE it when my birthday falls on a Friday? There is just something awesome about Friday 13th, really..

The week was wonderful to begin with anyway. Flying with Bestie and people I'm actually familiar with really helped. We were rushing through the terminal when the clock turned twelve so that was a bit "ick" but it was alright. I really enjoyed the trip so I was in no hurry to get away from my colleagues.

Daybreak came, and I got to hang out with Bestie (again, as if the trip wasn't enough!) and my favourite ladies. Had a good lunch at Bubba Gump, exchanged gifts (Mumu's birthday on the 17th!), enjoyed some coffee and smokes.. Our normal day out, really!

But the fact that it was my birthday, somehow just made it extra awesome! (Mostly because I didn't get a second to feel miserable and bored at all!)

Then I spent the evening with my family, had a goood dinner at Rakuzen and Kina and the kids were there too! Like seriously, the day was perfect. It was a PERFECT day, and for that, Alhamdulillah..

Encem wasn't around on that day though since he's the best man to one of his closest friends' wedding, but obviously I don't need a boyfriend to be happy! (err..)

Anyway, what have you missed since my last entry? Nothing much other than my birthday! I did some more shopping since payday came early and I had 10% off from Sephora. HAHHAHAHHA!! So I'll probably talk about those things before the year ends.

I also got some incredible presents that I just can't wrap my head around..

I am going back on entries #11 and #10 as I have a little more to add to them. Hopefully that happens after I come back from flight tonight.

Life's been good. It's been an incredible month so far and I am just.. full.

Hello December #12!

This has got to be my favourite product(s) of this year;

I love the whole Soap & Glory bodycare products, really. Just can't keep away from the shelf in Sephora and Boots (Bangkok)!

Their Pink scent especially is just my current favourite scent. So naturally, whatever product that comes in that scent -- I gotta have!

I'm especially pleased by the fact that they make mini travel sizes so I can always smell like S&G products where ever I go. Unfortunately though, my toiletries bag too smells of them now because my tube of Glad Hair Day broke and spilled all over!
The stuff aren't exactly cheap in Sephora though, so I always look forward to get a layover in Bangkok where I could get the awesome deals from Boots!

Anyway, this awesome box of goodness is retailed at RM 78 at Sephora. (If you get the travel sizes on its own, it's RM 19 each if I'm not mistaken..) So not much difference there but this set would be a brilliant and easy gift for anyone in your life!

Hello December #11!

Brown eyeliner..

Perhaps you'd know by now that I like to stray from the normal black ones. After all, my first purchase from NARS was their Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner in Via De' Martelli (chocolate) and Rue Bonaparte (light almond). 

Aaanyway, I must say that I especially love brown, purple and green eyeliners. So it's no surprise that on today's love-list I am featuring this Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner. It's brown, and a liquid liner in the form of a felt tip pen!

The tip is fine, but quite sturdy and the liner do stay all day! My only beef with this product is the price tag!! (RM 65.. Errk!!)

So lets hope that it doesn't dry up too fast that I need to repurchase it anytime soon.

Update;

Now that I've used more of this eyeliner, I've been practically using this liner on my upper lids everyday.. I am more in love with it! It glides over the lids so smoothly, even when I have an eyeshadow primer on. (My NYX liner would usually get stuck as though the tip absorbs the eyeshadow or primer!) And even when you go over your existing line, the tip wouldn't rub it off and simply add on to it. It's also wet enough for you to line that itsy bitsy corner of your eye for that cat-eye look but it isn't runny or smudge around while it sets.

I just LOVE it!

I would definitely repurchase when this runs out.. Still hoping that wouldn't be too soon!

Hello December #10!

My new love, Urban Decay's De-Slick Makeup Setting Spray!

I find that it really manages the part of my face that gets shiny throughout the day. All this while I've been solely using powder, and while that has worked, it also made certain parts on my face looked a little cakey and dry.

This awesome creation of man however had helped me eliminate that cakey bit on my face! Yayy!

This is just the travel size (RM 49, have not checked out the full size bottle), because I really just wanted to try it out to see if it really does anything for me. Now that I know that it does, I will have to purchase the normal size once this is finished!

And I love that the packaging comes with a double cap! 

Love love LOVE!

No regrets on coming back to Sephora just to get this last month!

Update;

The normal full size setting spray is retailed at RM 109 but the one that was meant to prep your face with some vitamin is slightly more.

I just bought myself the travel size of the All-Nighter from Sunway Pyramid (seems like different Sephora stocks different versions of the travel sizes) and I am going to try that once my De-Slick runs out.

Hello December #8!

Can I just have this all?

NARS Satin Lip Pencil in Luxembourg. I had wanted to purchase the lipstick in Funny Face at first but it was out of stock in the store. I got this instead and LOVED IT!!

Very easy to apply, feels great on the lips.. I really don't mind the fact that it is now the most expensive lip product I've ever own. (Well, I've been a drugstore girl -- until NARS came along, somehow!) So RM 85 for a lipstick.. Dayuummm! (But I LOVE it!!)

I'll refrain myself from getting more of these until I finish up some of the other lip products I've been using. I'm pretty sure that I have less than a centimetre left of my Revlon's Balm Stain in Smitten!

Hello December #7!

Now how can I not include this gorgeous palette in my love-list!

NARS One Night Stand cheek palette that I ordered from Sephora online. I want it that bad that I forked out over RM 200 for it plus shipping!

No regrets though, considering a single blush goes for RM 120 at the NARS store here.

The palette included a highlighter, a bronzer and four blushes. My personal favourite is Deep Throat and Goulou, and while I'd never cared much about highlighters or bronzers, it's nice to have it in one palette so I could look right at it and decide if I want to have it on. (I usually do, now. Hahhaha)

One of my best buys in 2013 and I can't imagine ever needing another blush.. I would WANT it, but not need it! Heh

Hello December #6!

One of the BEST bargains at Sephora!

This Stila Holiday Essentials Kit retails at 19 USD or RM 56 over here (bargain!) and with that members' 20% off the other day, I bought it at RM 45! A total steal!

Stila is not a cheap brand.. and this makes SUCH a great gift for a make-up lover! (I bought it for myself, surprise surprise! hahahahha)

This comes with a mini red liquid lipstick, mini black felt tip liner and a mini of Stila's well loved eye-shadow in Kitten.

I bought it thinking of giving the liquid lipstick to a red-lipstick lover friend of mine, but after reading the reviews and tried it on myself, I decided to just keep it! teeheehee. I am not too fond of the applicator though. I find it very easy to mess up the lipstick with the applicator and being a matte finish, it ain't pretty! But the colour, oh the colour! It's called Beso, and I just love the colour!

The eyeshadow is a pretty champagne colour. Perfect for a nude look! And the powder is fine and smooth and a total winner!

The eyeliner.. well, it's an eyeliner. It works fine. Nothing much to say except that I miss my favourite NYX Felt Tip Liner that is nowhere in Sephora anymore and this Stila eyeliner is RM 65 full price!! gahh!

Anyway, this is a great kit to introduce yourself to Stila!

Hello December #9!

I'm not much on accessorizing.. But I am finding myself matching my tops so I could have these necklaces that I got from This & That and Forever 21 on!

I love these to bits but really, it's sad that I don't know how to wear them apart from matching them with a black top. Gahh!!

This is what happens when you didn't grow up being a girly girl..

Hello December #5!

I am not one who collects perfumes. In fact, this CK One Shock Street Edition is the only perfume I bought this year! My favourite perfume ever is still Lancome's Miracle Forever but that is sadly discontinued so I moved on to Davidoff Cool Water for Women. (I LOVE the Men's on Encem!)

This smells sweet and fresh and honestly I don't know how else to describe it! hahahaha!

It is a limited edition though, I suppose I will have to move on to something else once it's finished. I have been eyeing on Taylor Swift's Wonderstruck. I really liked how it smells and was contemplating between that and this CK perfume..

CK won because it was cheaper where I got it! hahahahha!

Hello December #4!

As mentioned two days ago--

I am quite obsessed with the Warm Vanilla Sugar scent from Bath & Body Works.
It started in '09 when Sheryl sent me a care package that had three travel size body lotion from B&BW. Since then I just had to have the rest of the bodycare in that scent!

I bought the body lotion in the picture in Phuket, where I simply stumbled upon it in Tesco. Or was it Carrefour? Oh well, it was in one of those big supermarket. That body mist was from Watsons in Manila! The rest (including a shampoo and conditioner, remained in the bathroom because the bottles were too disgusting to photograph!) were bought online.
Yes, I am THAT obsessed that I bought them online and have them shipped!

Apart from the body butter, these are still unopened. I'm really just stocking up.. Saving them for a special occasion or something.
But I suppose I should start using them since you're not supposed to store anything for too long anyway. So I will. Once I'm finished with my Soap & Glory Clean On Me shower gel, OPI Avoplex hand and nail cream and the 80 THB perfume I got as my work-perfume.. I'll start using these B&BW stash that I've got.

Hello December #3!

My absolute key to a gooood hair day! (When I am not working!)

L'Oréal Professionnel SÉRIE EXPERT Liss Ultime Smoothing Masque (that's a mouthful!) is the best freakin' hair masque I've ever used! Wonderbox sent me a good amount of sample some months ago and I had just been able to purchase this from Shins recently. I am glad that I finally did because I really missed using this stuff! This 200ml tub retailed at RM 67 and I believe it's worth every cent! Somehow drugstore hair masque just doesn't cut it for my colour-treated, half-curly, half-rebonded, dry and damaged hair.
I just love love LOVE my hair after using this masque.

I'd never spent so much on a hair product until I got myself Josie Maran Argan Oil Hair Serum. It was.. bloody expensive! Like.. a heck LOT that I questioned myself after walking away from the cashier. But I chucked the item just seconds after I tried it at Sephora -- it was THAT awesome! It is thick, so two pumps warmed up in your palms should be enough to cover the ends of your hair. I sometimes use three just because I love how it smells! hahaha! It smells like rose syrup to me. I've had it for three months and I've barely used a quarter of it. (I don't exactly wash my hair everyday.)
I do look forward to washing my hair because of this product.. does that sound a bit too much?

Talking about these makes me want to go wash my hair!

Hello December #2!

Not going to talk about make-up today, but something else that makes you feel good and a bit special -- at least it does to me!

I love these IKEA candles.. Especially since most of them smelled of food! hahaha! My favourite is the vanilla scented, and the cinnamon is a close second.
I love sweet scents so this two are simply winners in my book! (I also love a good apple pie, so.. I suppose it made sense.)
I also have the tea lights in the green apple scent (wish they had a proper name!) but they are more "fresh" than sweet so I just keep coming back to vanilla.

If only they burn a little better. I am always left with a good amount of chunk that simply wouldn't burn off! I think I might go to a craft store and get some wicks and re-make these candles with all the leftovers.

I wish we had Bath & Body Works over here. I would love to not go crazy when I see them while travelling! (I keep finding myself stocking up on the Warm Vanilla Sugar scent.)

Hello December #1!

I've decided that I'm going to cheat with my blog and simply post things that I'm loving this December!
("Cheat" because I'm just going to repost my Instagram pictures and maybe elaborate more on them in this blog!)
I'm hoping to blog everyday in the month so I'll probably make things short and simple.

So..

Loving this Urban Decay Black Market Pencil Set that I got from Sephora.
Was planing to get it later this month online but since Sephora here had the members' 20% off discount last weekend, I just HAD to get it then. This retails for 36 USD online and RM 139 at Sephora, but with the 20% off, it was only RM 111.

There are six travel-size 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in the set; Ink, Apathy, Riot, Black Market, Desperation and West. The normal size pencils are weighed at 1.1g and retails at RM 69 while the ones I got were 0.8g and roughly RM 23 each! A whopping RM 46 difference for a mere 0.4g! (If you don't think that's a bargain, I don't know what is!)

So if you're looking to try out the Urban Decay's eyeliner, you really should get this set. The colours are wearable, nothing too crazy, work-appropriate and it really did stay put! Well, I tried Desperation on my lids earlier and it didn't budge nor faded for the ten hours that I had it on.

Anyway, good stuff! Really looking forward to use this throughout the month!