Holiday Haul... and some life updates

Hi guys! How are you doing?? After 2 weeks of holiday in Jakarta-my hometown and Singapore, I am finally back to sunny but breezy Berlin. Of course it is not easy for me to adjust my holiday mood back to 'reality' with work and uni but life doesn't have any rewind or pause button so I'd better adjust!

My holiday was amazing. I spent mostly my time with family, and good friends of mine - eating local food that I've missed and visiting a lot of new hang out places in town. 2 weeks was not enough at all. That's why now I am having hard time adjusting myself to my Berlin routine. 

Anyway, before my holiday, I promised myself not to buy too many make up and focus more on spending for asian skin care which I did, but still, I bought some make up as well ( how could I resist?? ) So, here is the damage I made..

click for larger view

some duty free perfume deals I couldn't resist..

Finally managed to stock up on my holy grail Josie Maran Argan Oil, 20% off from Sephora Singapore!

I was 2 days in Singapore during my holiday, and was so lucky because Sephora Singapore was having 20% off all store for Sephora member . I was not a member but one Sephora lady told me about the promo and asked me to become the member so I joined and got 20% off my purchase that day. The prices at Sephora Singapore are slightly more expensive than in the USA, but with the 20% off ( + 7% VAT Refund if you are not Singaporean and spend more than SGD 100 in one receipt ), I think the prices are okay. They have a lot of brands that are not available in stores in Germany like Tarte, Josie Maran, Marc Jacobs Beauty ( I tried both of their foundations but they didn't wow me.. the blushes felt powdery and not pigmented enough, the eyeliners were okay but not good enough for the price, so I picked up only 1 lipstick which turned out that the color I picked up was the wrong color. #annoying! ) , Too faced, Urban Decay, Make Up Forever, Shu Uemura, etc etc.. 

I shopped a lot at watsons as well, mostly cute - kawaii asian make up and face sheet masks.. 

Judging from my haul, I think I will have enough blogging material for the rest of the year. lol.

Anyway, here are some pictures from my holiday, which most of them I'd already posted on instagram, but if you don't have instagram, there you go!

The cloudy Singapore captured from my hotel window

asian snacks and Garrett Popcorn! my faves!

Sisterhood!

Mom and daughters moment

My 1st time trying TWG Macarons and was positively surprised! 

I couldn't get enough of these capsule machines!

It was heartbreaking for me to say goodbye to my family and friends after 2 weeks together but my family will come and visit me in 2 months so I am excited! I will also finish my bachelor in a year, and plan to go back to Indonesia afterwards to help my father with his business and also create my own business ( which I am so excited about! ). 

This 2 week holiday had given me a good recharge. For the past year I've been very busy with uni and work, and have barely time to switch off and take some break. I am currently in a phase where I am so bored with Berlin.. I feel homesick almost everyday for the past year which is weird for me because usually I feel very content in Berlin and have no problem living far from home as long as I get to see my family regularly through Skype or once in a year holiday. But this past year has been very very hard for me.. My study contributes the most to my frustration. I even thought to give up my study and just go home and start working with my father ( this thought is still there somewhere in my head, but for now I am determined to finish my last year of uni ). I am lucky to have parents who are very supportive. My parents told me I am free to do what I want and what makes me happy, even if that means I will go home after 5 years of college and Uni with no title. But after long consideration, I decided that I will continue my last 2 terms with less pressure and nothing to lose motto and hopefully I will make it! 

Anyway, enough of my rambling! I am now planning a euro trip for my family who are coming in July! 

Do you have any summer holiday plan?

Love,

Pam

Bigger than BB - Big Easy

It was another impulsive purchase of mine during my lunch break.. Benefit had a huge display of this BB cream and as foundation junkie I just had to give it a try..

The benebabe ( cute how they call their BAs, right? ) applied shade #02 and #03 on my face and we both agreed that #03 suited me better. It swatched darker on my arm but appeared lighter on my face. The benebabe said that this BB cream is color adjusting ( which I find a bit weird as they have 6 shades..if it is color adjusting , then why having 6 shades? ) well anyway, I find that despite of the distinct yellow undertone, the color matched my complexion well. 

The BB cream has thick creamy consistency.  It applies smoothly though, I find it perfect applied with beauty blender as brush application could get streaky. To be honest, I was a bit confused why I bought it as I don't really like it.. I remember it looked very nice at the counter ( ablame the lighting I guess ), but I was not pleased when I tried it the next few days..

I find that it doesn't apply smoothly, and feels heavy.  The coverage is decent but it gives me a dull matte- mask like finish, unflattering. My skin looks uneven, and it accentuate blemishes/milias/pores instead of blurring it.

The oil control is also rather average despite of the matte finish. Writing this review, I questioned myself what was I thinking when I bought it -___-.

one good thing is that this Bb cream has SPF 35 which is high for western brand. 

Benefit claims it to be lightweight, smoothing the complexion, blurring imperfections and having great oil control which I have to say, I experience all the opposites. There are mixed reviews on the internet but mostly say this BB cream is rather average. I wished I read the reviews first before wasting €38 on this T.T

ps : I'm back from holiday and now suffering a post holiday syndrome , I will post my holiday haul that is successfully ruined my financial balance soon :-)

Love,

pam

Kanebo Kate Cream Cheek

Hi guys! Sorry for the lack update! I am currently at home in Jakarta since the 7th of May and the internet connection here is desperately slow and I am constantly busy here so hence the lack of update xD..

I extra requested for Sharlynn from Theblackmentosbeautybox to get me this cream blush from Kate in our second swap and she did! I have tried few Kate products and have been happy with them so far.. And I've been in a creme blush frenzy so let's have a look on how this performs!

The cream blush from Kate is surprisingly tiny! It comes in a tiny glass jar , the size of gel eyeliner from Maybelline if you're familiar with it. I don't have any issue with the packaging as it is compact and cute. The surface is big enough for Real Technique stippling brush despite of the small size.

Sharlynn picked up shade number PK-4 for me. There are 4 shades available and based on my research on the internet, PK-4 is actually the brightest shade amongst all, so it surprised me a bit to see how 'soft' it actually is. PK-4 is a soft rosy pink shade with no shimmer. It is such a beautiful color and I don't own similar shade on my stash. 

The texture is cream to powder and a bit mousse-y. It applies sheer so layering is a must if you want the color to show up. But there is something in the formula that makes it never look too much no matter how many layers I apply on the cheeks, which is a good thing. 

I usually dab some on the cheeks and blend it using Real Techniques stippling brush. It blends easily and provides a very nice soft flush on the cheeks. Because of the powdery finish, it makes a great base for powder blush if you desire longer staying power. I really like how soft and tender it appears both on the cheeks and on the lips. Even though this cream blush is not marketed as a cheeks and lips product, I find it working well on the lips. It is matte and drying though because of the texture, but over a good lip balm, it can perform well. 

The only downside is the poor staying power. I find the need to touch up after 3-4 hours which is kind of annoying. But fortunately the jar is small so it's easy to carry inside my handbag for touch up. Other than the poor staying power, I can't find anything I don't like about the cream blush !

The Kanebo Kate Cream Cheek retails for ca. USD$10 / 3gr. 

Love,

Pam

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Rebellious Rose

A lot of beauty brands have launched a whole bunch of new products this spring, and this new range pure color envy sculpting lipstick from Estee Lauder has been receiving a lot of rave reviews from fellow beauty enthusiasts. Here is what I think about it!

The range has 21 shades available from nude to pink to coral to red and plum. All the shades you need in your life, they have it there! xD

I picked up Rebellious Rose, which according to Estee Lauder color chart, belongs to the mauve  to plum family . I don't agree at all because on my lips, it leans more to a reddish burnt peach. The color is pretty but in a way, I feel like it makes me look 'mature'.  

To the formula, I can totally understand why a lot of people love it. But I'm a bit indecisive whether I like it.. The formula is creamy but very heavy. It reminds me a lot like MAC lipsticks ( which I am not a fan of ) , but this one feels even heavier and waxy on the lips. The pigmentation is extremely intense, one swipe is sufficient and opaque. The texture is creamy but it doesn't apply very smoothly, it can tug the lips a little bit when the lips are not well moisturized. 

Estee Lauder claims it to be hydrating, but I can't really confirm because I don't feel like it hydrates my lips. It is not drying though, but not particularly moisturizing. The finish is creamy matte that turns to completely matte after 1-2hours of wear.

The staying power is okay, but not 6 hours like it claims to. The darker shades might stay longer though, but this one stays on for about 3 hours with minor drinking and eating. It has subtle sweet vanilla scent. The lipstick is housed in a very sturdy-well made bullet with magnetic cap. The bullet looks very nice, luxurious and it weighs well on hand.

I don't reach for this lipstick often, but it might be because of the color.. I am thinking to get another shade that I will reach for more often. Other than the color, I think the heavy texture is just not really my cup of tea. If you love MAC lipsticks, you will love this one!

PS : I stumbled upon this review, and it turned out Estee Lauder launched the 'sheer' version of this range for Asia only! This might be something for me! I will def have a look when I visit Asia next month xD

Love,

Pam

Florita

After reading a lot of rave reviews on the Rouge Bunny Rouge blushes, I couldn't resist the temptation to jump on the bandwagon. This post from Shari must be pleaded guilty for my puchase. :P

I forgot to take picture before I use this blush, sorry for the not-so-mint-condition picture :p

applied heavily for pict purpose

I am a fan of the entire concept of Rouge Bunny Rouge, it is always a joy to browse their website ( not a joy for my wallet though! ) and I think they really managed to become a high end cult brand with excellent quality!

This is what RBR says on its website about the original skin blush range :

Original Skin Blush blends with a sheer, melting touch for a naturally luminous silky glow. A medley of active ingredients, including Uhaloa from Hawaii, (also known as Velvet-leaf) and modern technologies impart a long term brightening effect. Indian Gooseberry Extract stands guard against free radicals. Sheer pearls amplify the creamy soft touch and ensure a limpid glow. Innovative powders entwine with your skin to preserve perfection all day long. Result is 'your skin but better' effect; you’ll wonder how you blushed before.

Kind of snobby claim, isn't it? Well but I must say they don't lie! 

The blush comes in a simple black case with built in mirror. There is nothing spectacular about the packaging but it functions well and doesn't consume a lot of space in my dressing table. 

I settled with Florita, a pinky red shade. Florita has fine shimmer but nothing chunky or flakey. I can imagine Florita looking beautiful on a lot complexions. 

The texture of this blush is incredibly fine and soft that it is almost bordering creamy. When you swipe your finger on the surface, it feels very soft, silky  , light and not powdery at all. The pigmentation is great so you have to be a bit careful with application. I usually apply it using Yachiro blush brush to diffuse the color proportionally on the cheeks. Florita has satin finish, really beautiful and flattering on the cheeks. It gives an instant flush and glow without being over the top. 

Application is easy breezy with this blush as the formula is excellent! It blends effortlessly to the skin despite of the high pigmentation. 

There is something on the finish that makes me swoon over this blush. I think it must be the subtle but remarkable glowing sheen on the cheeks! It compliments the entire look and makes me look younger / fresh in a way.

The staying power is good, I got around 6-7 hours of wear which is okay for me. I don't notice any strong scent either.

If I have to find 1 downside, it would be the price. This blush retails for €28 but we only get 3,5gr of product which is very little in comparison to MAC blush at €23 / 6gr, or NARS blush at €26 / 4,8 gr..

But anyway, this blush is one excellent product!

Have you tried anything from Rouge Bunny Rouge?

Love,

Pam

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Foundation

If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you should have known my unfortunate encounters with some Chanel foundations and make up products in general. But when I first saw this newly launched Perfection Lumiere Velvet Foundation on Viviana's video, I just thought I had to get it!

Chanel described this foundation to be oil free-water based foundation with velvet matte finish. I am not a fan of its bigger sister ; Vitalumiere Aqua, but there is something in this one that made me want to give it a try. 

My shade is #12 beige rose. It has pink undertone but not as pink as the Dior Nudeskin BB Cream. Beige Rose is a little bit too light for me but I always prefer lighter foundation as I still apply bronzer, blush or powder so the foundation doesn't end up being too light after all. 

with-without

after 8-9 hours indoor wearing + 1x blotting with powder

The foundation comes in a plastic square bottle, almost identical to the Vitalumiere Aqua packaging, only the velvet one has all black color. I prefer the black bottle as it looks more sleek and chic.. Only the packaging is finger prints nightmare! :$

Since this foundation is water based, we should give it a good shake before use. There is a mixing ball inside the bottle to make sure it mixes well. 

The foundation has a very liquid and runny consistency. Be careful when you dispense the product because it is like water! The first time I tried it on, I spilt some drops to my black shirt T-T. 

But anyway, this foundation is very lightweight and it blends effortlessly into the skin. I apply it using Real Techniques buffing brush or flat top kabuki and they work well. I don't recommend any make up sponge as they will absorb and waste too much product. It works well when applied with fingers but I prefer brush application. 

The formula is airy and light but the coverage is decent. I usually apply 2 layers of foundation to achieve the coverage I desire. The finish is surprisingly not really matte on my skin. It is more like a satin finish with still a bit of glow peeking through which I really like. Even though the finish is not completely matte on my skin, I still don't see a need to set it with powder, but I do need to blot after some hours. Since I bought this foundation without any high expectation, it surprisingly impressed me. I think Chanel did a good job in creating a matte foundation with decent coverage but in a lightweight consistency because mostly other foundations with matte finish have thicker and heavy duty formula.  I also like how this foundation, despite of the matte finish, still maintain a natural appearance and doesn't look mask-like or too much. It can set / accentuate dry patches though so make sure your skin is well moisturized beforehand. 

The staying power is fairly long. As you can see on the picture above, after 8-9 hours of wear + 1x blotting with powder, the foundation still stayed on really well and looked quite flawless I can say!

after 2 weeks trying out this foundation I have to say I really like it! The finish is natural yet the coverage given is decent. I wouldn't recommend this foundation if you have dry skin, but normal to oily skin girls, you will have a good time with it!

What do you think of this foundation?
Love,
Pam