Polly Dolly: Maxi Skirt

This week's Polly Dolly challenge is to create a look around the maxi skirt.

Click Here to view the Week 47 Polly Dolly challenge at Danimezza.com

Week 47 Challenge : Maxi Skirt by elixelle on Polyvore.com

Since the maxi skirt I chose has a lot of volume to it, I picked out a fitted denim vest over top a simple floral cotton tank top worn with dark brown flip flops and dark brown leather bag (top handle/long strap).  I decided to go with simple clean accessories: light aviator sunglasses, leather cuffs and a hot pink enamel and gold bangle.  For make up, I wanted it to be beautiful and natural (but obviously with a bold statement) so I selected the blush bronze duo -- light blush for the cheeks, bronzer for contouring the eyes and cheeks, and a gorgeous hot pink lipstick to finish off the look.  Here I've chosen just an SPF with argan oil but you can always go for a tinted moisturizer instead.  The look is laid back, casual and most importantly comfortable.  Head out with long loose curls (or a loose bun) to complete the look.

Deals & Steals : Discounted Bare Escentual's Bare Minerals on ACW

If you're a big fan of mineral make up, some Bare Escentuals bareMinerals products are on sale at discounted prices on All Cosmetics Wholesale at the moment.

Click on the image above to check it out

They have a good range of products from the brand (as well as many other awesome brands) on there.  You can find their eyeshadows, blushes, foundation, face powders and a few other products priced from only $5.99.  For instance, regular bareMinerals eyeshadows retails for $13 each (over 50% off!).

A little intro on the website if you're not familiar with it, they sell authentic products be it as an authorize reseller, product overruns and even discontinued products.  I love this site and best part?  They ship internatioinally.  Word of advice though, I recommend Express International Shipping for ease of mind.  Priority International Shipping is OK too but if you're in Malaysia, it might reach you a couple months later than you should.  Other than that, I love this website!

Polly Dolly: Clever Contrast

I've been following quite a few of these Polyvore weekly challenges on my cousin's blog and had always wanted to give it a shot.  So it's not entirely beauty related but I figured since my header also says fashion, why not have some fun with this.

Click here to go to Polly Dolly for Week 46's challenge below

Clever Contrast by elixelle featuring michael kors watches

Theme: Clever Contrast

The theme was inspired by the movie Black Swan and I haven't gone to see the movie yet since it isn't out here til the 24th.  Anyhow, going by the whole contrast idea and a hint of the black swan theme, I decided on a bold yet delicate contrast.  I just fell in love with the Betsey Johnson soft pink with off white lace strapless dress I built this set around it.  I think the dress has a ballerina quality to it and is absolutely gorgeous. Then I decided to pair it with the Paris Hilton Bonita white satin peep toe heels with a single satin flower and Just Cavalli off white leather studded clutch for some edge.  For accessories, I thought the Michael Kors Baguette-Bezel rose gold wristwatch looked stunning and complemented the dress beautifully while a pair of simple John Richard crystal daisy flower stud earrings would tie the look together without being too overpowering.  For a bit of contrast, I chose this gorgeous skinny thin black satin wrapped metal headband with turquoise feathers and jewels.  Make up is pretty simple but connects with the whole contrast concept I was going for.  A teal-turquoise eyeliner (Flipside from Urban Decay) and a pinkish nude lip color (as used in Temptalia's look here).  Last but not least, a nice light turquoise nail polish, the ever popular China Glaze For Audrey.

That was definitely fun.  Can't wait to try out the next challenge.  What is your interpretation for this challenge theme?

Click here to check out Danimezza's other Polly Dolly Challenges

Lip Swatches for MAC's Kissable Me Lipcolours (Peacocky Collection)

As promised, here are the lip swatches of the Kissable Lipcolours I purchased from the MAC Peacocky Collection.

Click Here For The Previous Post & Mega Metal Shadow Swatches

Shade: Strut Your Stuff

Now that I've done lip swatches, I can say this for certain, I love love love this color!  This super bright red totally pops and you can wear it alone without much make up.  Unlike MAC's other lip products, this didn't smell of vanilla but had more of a cookie scent to it.

Urban Decay Shadow Pony & Preen Shadow Box

Last June, I was browsing through the Urban Decay display at Boots in Piccadilly Circus and didn't like most of the palettes I saw mainly because of the chunky glitter in the eye shadows.  I'm really not much of a glitter person.  But I was drawn to one of their palettes which I later found out to be called the Preen Shadow Box (strangely enough it has only just begun selling on the Urban Decay website recently).

Anyways, as I was looking through the website, I found another palette that they had that offered the exact same eye shadows as those in the Preen Shadow Box.  I was quite surprised because the contents were exactly the same and only the packaging was different.

Preen Shadow Box

Image from UrbanDecay.com

Shadow Pony Shadow Box

Image from UrbanDecay.com

Both palettes contains Snatch (peachy pink with glitter), Mildew (forest olive green), Flash (bright grape purple), Painkiller (turquoise blue), Smog (bronze brown) and Toasted (rustic copper).  They both also comes with a mini size or their cult fave the original Eyeshadow Primer Potion and a small 24/7 Glide On Pencil in Zero.

Preen costs $30 (at time of post, ULTA is offering it for $20 online) while Shadow Pony retails for $20.

Value Bits: Sigma Hollywood Glamour Red Retractable Kabuki

If you follow me on Twitter or if you've been reading my blog, you would know that I love my Sigma brushes.  So here's a really cool promotion for one of their products that I'd love to share with all of you:

Click on the image to grab this offer

(no promo codes necessary)

That's right, 25% off their red retractable kabuki!  This normally retails for $25 but with the current offer, it's only $18.75.  The kabuki features their amazing super soft Sigmax bristles (same as the F80, F82 and F84).  It's convenient for travelling or just throw it in your purse for powder touch ups on the go.

This is a limited time offer and is available internationally.

Photo Credit: Sigma Website

eyes lips face (e.l.f.) Cosmetics

Honestly, I can't remember when I was introduced to elf Cosmetics but I believe it was around the time they had launched their Studio range of products 2 years ago.  elf (or eyes lips face) is a brand well known for their insanely inexpensive products.  They've grown immensely from offering their Essentials line of $1 make up when they started in 2004 to now having Studio, Minerals and Bath & Body lines as well.  elf doesn't test on animals and sell only cruelty free make up.

Product Lines

Essentials- Basic make up products and tools at an average price of $1 each.  

Studio- elf's higher quality make up products and tools range at an average price of $3 each. 

Minerals- 100% mineral products without parabens, chemical dyes and preservatives for the nature conscious beauty at an average price of $3 each. 

Bath & Body- Offers spa range of cleansers and moisturizers at an average price of $4 each.

MAC Peacocky Collection

The MAC Peacocky Collection reached our shores just recently (last Thursday here in KK to be exact) and as expected, a lot of items were sold out without a couple of days.  Fortunately I managed to pick up some of the items from my wishlist:

MAC Holiday 2010: Tartan Tale

I'm really sorry this post came so late.  I just realized I'd already uploaded the photos some time ago but never got around to do a blog post.  I've added a few swatches and comparisons with other products I own so if you missed out on this collection, hopefully you could still get hold of some possible dupes or alternatives.

theBalm Shady Lady Shadow and Batter Up Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow

Previously, the only things I'd gotten from theBalm were their Time Balm Concealer and the Batter Up Creaseless Cream Shadow in Base Hit Kit and I was quite happy with those purchases.  Recently, I'd gotten intrigued with their eye shadows as well and decided to pick up a few from Sasa.  Good timing too because Sasa is currently having their CNY promotions until February 17th.

The in-store promo included purchasing the Batter Up Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow and a Shady Lady Single Eyeshadow for only RM68 (35% savings) and 50% off two of their Shady Lady Single Eyeshadow in shades All About Alex and Just This Once Jamie.

2010 Favorite Beauty Products

We're well into the middle of February and I wasn't sure if I should post this up since it's so late but since I've already put up a video on it early January and might have said I'd have it on my blog as well, I figured why not?

Here are my faves for 2010:

Rimmel 60 Seconds Nail Polish - Blue My Mind

Here's one of my fave brands of nail polishes so far, Rimmel London's 60 Seconds Nail Polish.

The color pictured above is Blue My Mind and is more of an indigo blue rather than a royal blue but vibrant none-the-less.

What I love most of this particular nail polish line is their Xpress Brush (TM) which claims to make application a breeze (1 sec) and it really does.  The brush is wide and flat and more of ten than not, on smaller nails it only requires one swipe.  However, I've noticed that there are still bottles of the nail polishes in this line with the regular polish brush sold at the counters.

The formula is of a good consistency, not too watery and not too thick.  Generally I only need 1-2 coats to achieve the color in seen in the bottle but for this particular shade, I needed a minimum of 3 coats which was disappointing.

As far as wear, it lasted for at least a week for me without any signs of peeling or cracking.  There were only minor tip wear which I think is normal especially since I do a lot of typing.