Sephora has arrived in Malaysia

After a couple years of wishing upon a star, I was super duper excited to see the Sephora logo on the construction walls in front of Starhill, KL some time back.  Now, the store has finally opened!  Yay!

Photo by: Tracelyn Yeoh (Facebook)

Sephora at Starhill, KL opened it's doors to the public during its soft launch today at 12.08pm and from the photos posted on their Facebook, looks like there was a bit of a crowd going on too.  I'll only be flying to KL this weekend so I'll definitely find time to check it out then.

Lips & Nails: Going Pink

The Lady Gaga Viva Glam lipstick and lipglass that came out by MAC last year was a cult favorite.  I wasn't too keen on it thought because pale/light shades don't look that well on my lips.  Still, at the end of last year I decided to pick up the Gaga lipglass and as expected, it wasn't the best color on me per se.

I was sitting around in my room and thought that I should try to pair it with one of my lipsticks and make the color work.  The result...

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in 423 Pink Velvet (Creme)
MAC Viva Glam Gaga Lipglass (2010)

I applied the Revlon lipstick as the base color and then topped it off with the Gaga lipglass from the centre and spread it outwards.  It gives a bit of dimension to the lips too being lighter in the center and darker outwards.  I like this combo.  And I'm super happy that the lipglass purchase was not in vain.

Another thing I tried out this week was the ombre nails trend which I saw on the Elle and Blair website here.  It wasn't perfect but I think it didn't turn out as bad as I thought it would:

China Glaze Nail Polish in
1. Something Sweet (Pale pink-lavender)
2. Sugar High (Candy pink)
3. Heli-Yum (Bright magenta-pink)

My version isn't as smoothly transitioned as the photo on their website (which I will attempt soon) but I kinda like it with the somewhat splatter effect.  Directions and steps on how to create ombre nails is available on their website too.

Blair replied too. She's sweet.
Her twitter: @juicystar007

Tried anything new lately?

the Balm Shady Lady Vol. 2 Palette Swatches & Comparison

I'm not sure if I've mentioned previously but I've been trying to get my hands on the Balm's Shady Lady Vol. 2 palette and was somewhat regretting not picking it up when there was still quite a lot in stock retailing for RM120 (in the US it is available at $39.50).  I was at Sasa recently and these seems to be back in stock for the time being due to high demand according to the sales girl.  Here are some photos and swatches plus what I thought of the palette:

Make Up Basics: Foundation

Foundation is pretty much something that is in everyone's make up collection.  There are so many choices and formulations out there when it comes to foundation.  Here are most of it:

LIQUID FOUNDATION

Foundations with a watery texture are of course known as liquid foundations.  Some may have a thicker consistency and therefore aren't as runny as others.  There are different formulations of liquid foundation that are suitable for either Combination/Oily skins or Normal/Dry skins.  This is generally the most widely available type of foundation in the market.  Packaging for these types of foundation ranges from bottles with (or without pumps) to squeeze tubes.  The actual coverage provided by these types of foundations vary and depend on the product itself.  Normally you can expect a medium coverage and the either a satin/dewy or matte/powder finish.

Sleek iDivine Eyeshadow Palette - Original & Storm

I purchased these two Sleek eyeshadow palettes some time back from Crush Cosmetics.  I've heard a lot of hype about these palettes and could have knocked myself on the head for passing up the opportunity to pick 'em up while I was on vacation in London last year.  I distinctly remembered seeing it and not even swatching the colors.  Anyways, I've managed to get them now and here they are:

The palettes come in a slim matte black hard plastic case which feels quite durable and perfect for travelling.  You get 12 eyeshadow shades in each palette and there are definitely a variety of palette themes to choose from.  If you're more interested in limited edition versions however, I'd suggest searching on eBay (some sellers ship internationally).  Sleek Makeup is a London based company and is available at selected stores in the UK, France and Africa.

Make Up Basics: Face Primers & Base

Let's kick start the Make Up Basics series with face primers and base.  Depending on skin conditions, foundation formulation and whether your make up is casual or for events, applying a face primer and base is pretty much optional.

PRIMER OR BASE?

For face, the primer and base are usually one and the same.  Despite the label, both products perform pretty much similar functions and contain more or less the same ingredients.  Some sunscreens are also formulated to work as a make up base.  However, since these have SPF properties, it's more suited for day time make up.

Make Up Basics : An Introduction To Make Up

Over the years, I've learnt so much about make up application and have been able to experiment and try out different types of products, formulas and brands.  During a chit chat session with some of my high school classmates, and a question about foundations, I was inspired to start a series of posts introducing make up.

Each post will be discussing a different type of product, introducing the different kinds available and I'll share information, tips and recommendations based on what I've picked up so far.  So basically it'll be centered around the 3 main components - Face, Eyes & Lips as illustrated above.

I'm always eager to learn new things (knowledge is power) and I'm super excited to get started on this series.  Hopefully these upcoming posts will be helpful to all of you.  Through this series I am in no way claiming to be an expert in the field but rather using this as a channel to share what I know with all of you.

xoxo ~

Deals & Steals : Lancome Lipsticks on ACW

Click on the image to go to the site

Calling all lipstick lovers, selected Lancome lipsticks from the following lines are selling from $4.99 onwards on ACW:

• Color Fever
• Rouge Magnetic
• Le Rouge
• Color Design

NOTE: These may be lipsticks that have been discontinued (opportunity to pick up and get back ups of your fave shade), unboxed or items in their previous packaging designs.

ACW ships worldwide.  I personally recommend USPS International Express Shipping to ensure safe delivery of orders.

Polly Dolly: Little Black Dress (Week 52)

I've been missing a few of these challenges (which I would probably be doing and will be shown on my Polyvore page here) but here's the latest one with the theme "Little Black Dress" for the Week 52 Challenge:

Polly Dolly: Week 52 - LBD by elixelle featuring black watches

Instead of going for a more classic look, I figured why not add a neon pop to the outfit?  Since spring is all about color blocking this year, I opted for neon green patent pumps and a 3 tone neon yellow top bag.  For a bit more contrast, I picked out a gorgeous dangling gradient toned crystal earring piece and a complementing cluster ring paired with a simple black & gold watch.

The make up is understated with a soft blush and highlight, voluminous lashes, a tint of peach on the lips and electric blue rimming the lower lashes (black on the upper lash line).  To complete the look, I decided on a nude beige nail polish.

Click here to view the Week 52 Polly Dolly Challenge page on Danimezza.com

Upcoming Product: Sigma Make Up Eyeshadow Palettes

@sigmamakeup @simone_sigma
As you can see, I'm a big fan of Sigma brushes.  It's been a pleasure to use and I've enjoyed applying make up with them on myself as well as on friends.  For Spring 2011, Sigma will be launching 3 sets (or more?) of eye shadow palettes as tweeted by the company's owner, Simone.

As with most Sigma packaging, the palettes have a very whimsical geometric look and appears to be constructed with hard cardboard (similar to Urban Decay's Naked Palette).  The form itself looks durable but I would imagine some wear and tear to be visible over time.  The names of each palette are also clearly printed on the casing sleeves and the product package lids as well.