Haul / Swatch : Make Up Store - Blusher in Glam Rose

The next few entries would be overdue haul posts that I've accumulated over the past 2 months... Will find time to do reviews when my workload starts to reduce come Mar 2011.. (I hope)..

Alright, this purchase was really an impulse buy. I had originally wanted to get a MAC Blush in Loverush during the Tangs 12% Rebate sale on 10th Feb 2011.

But after a long day of back to back meetings and a major presentation, I wasn't really in the right form to battle the long cashier queues, not to mention I was feeling kind of drowsy from my allergy medication.

Since I figured I wasn't really in need of a blusher, just the need to do some retail therapy, I gave up on the purchase while waiting for the MAC consultant to attend to me.

So feeling a little unsatisfied, I popped by Make Up Store during lunch the next day and came out with one of their blushers, the Glam Rose @ SGD32.00.

Make Up Store hails from one of my favorite European countries, Sweden and have been in Singapore for some time now. It's just that I never quite found the opportunity to browse their products. So, this blusher is actually the first item that I own, under the Make Up Store brand.

The packaging, product offering and prices are very similar to MAC and some may mistake it for being a MAC wannabe. But on a personal note, I find that the quality is actually better compared to MAC's. It is very pigment and the powder is more finely milled, compared to MAC.

So next time when you are near a Make Up Store, be sure to check their products out!

The item straight out from the store.

Minimalist packaging.

It was wrapped in a black thin tissue.

Love the chic details on the cover!!

Glam Rose - 2.5g at SGD32.00. Noticed that it's made in Canada (land of MAC).

Gorgeous pink.

The swatch. A little goes a long way.

Comparison swatch between NARS Deep Throat.

Haul: NARS, Smashbox, Urban Decay and Dior

The christmas season is round the corner and with that, comes the flood of Christmas sales! Last week was pure retail extravagence for me.. To the point that I'm feeling a little guilty now for spending so much. But oh well, it's not as if I don't need the items.

In addition, I've been a real good girl this year. So, it doesn't hurt if I materialize a little of my lemmings, I rationalize.. Yes yes, my feeble attempt to justify my purchases. Anyway, the next few posts would be entries on the things I bought and received last week.

This post is a closer look at the items that I bought from Beauty.com and Sephora@Amazon. There was a lot of other things that came with the parcels but those don't belong to me. So, I'll just cover the stuff that belongs to me.

First up is the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Deauville (~SGD47; inclusive shipping). I'm a foundation junkie and I'm always on the look out to try new foundations. After reading through all the online reviews, I was really intrigued by this foundation. However, since it's not available in Singapore, I could only stash away my lemmings.

The opportunity came when Beauty.com was offering a 20% FF sale. I took the plunge and purchased. I did an extensive research online by using Diorskin Nude 020 as reference and finally decided on Deauville. I was really apprehensive but to my relief, the tone matched, although it was still a little yellow for me but it was no major concern.

I received the NARS Cleansing Oil sample for the foundation purhase.

Next up is the NARS Powder Blush in Deep Throat (~SGD30; inclusive shipping). I was deciding between NARS or Cargo blush. But decided to get the NARS blush because of it's cult status. I had originally wanted to get Orgasm but decided that Deep Throat may be more suitable for me after looking the swatches and reviews online. It was a little peachy for my liking but I love it still the same!!

Next one is the Smashbox Photo Finish Primer on the Go (~SGD18.00; inclusive shipping). This is actually the smaller sized 15ml. I've heard raves about this product and so, when I saw that they have the smaller trial version, I decided to purchase it to try it out.

Next, is the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Yeyo. This is actually a white eye liner glittery eyeliner and I'm thinking of using it to line my inner eye corners for the pop effect.

Lastly, is the Dior Mascara Duo Set (~SGD28.00). I usually don't like to spend on mascaras, as I don't see the need to spend a bomb on something that covers only a small portion of the face. But ever since I've read raves about Dior's mascaras and their performance, I've been wanting to try it. So, when I saw this set on Sephora@Amazon, I didn't hesitate since this was the perfect chance to try out the mascara without commiting too much money on it.

My thoughts: This purchase was really a rushed and unprepared one, and was kind of haphazard. But I was really glad that my first attempt in an online spree turned out well.Next time, I would defnitely be more prepared.

LuxAsia Haul.....

This is way overdue, like the next few entries to come... This entry would be focusing on the items that I bought during the LuxAsia sale. True to be told, I was kind of disappointed by the sale, given the short shelf life of many items. I wasn't exactly pleased with the condition of many items. I've learnt my lesson, instead of spending money on something dirt cheap and end up not daring to use the products, I rather wait for departmental store sales to get the items I want. At least I'm guaranteed of the quality of the products.

The Helicopter view. There were other stuff but I've given them away by the time I found time to take the pictures.

First item, Phytomer Radiant Complexion Program Start-up Kit (S$3.00). Phytomer is a salon brand and this kit offers a trial of the product without commiting too much money. J.Low saw an auntie that took one whole bag of these kits.

 

Next is the Guerlain Pearly White Foundation in 031 (S$18.00). I think I bought a little too fair for my skin. However, it isn't too obvious and so, I guess it's alright.

The next one was a total disappointment. It's the Guerlain Issima Foundation (S$10.00). The foundation had already separated when I opened the bottle and the consistency was of a type that I don't really want to take the risk with. Totally wasted my money on this...

The next one is REN Multi-Mineral Pore Minimising Detox Mask. I wanted to try a new cleansing mask and came across this product. Have heard good revies of this product before and decided to get it. And the expiry date is way back to 2012.

Coming up is Decleor Ultra Soothing Cream. This is also a salon brand and I came across this brand some years back when I went to facial with another friend. The facial gave me good results but I later signed up with another facial salon using Dermalogica and I haven't revisited that facial salon since. My skin sensitivity sometimes will strike so hard that I'll feel absolutely helpless and lost. So, bought this cream and see if it'll help my worst times to come.

Next is the Lancaster Infinite Bronze Blush Variation in Natural. I totally love the various shades of blushes.

Next one is a RMK makeup base. The one that I have in my stash is the more watery version. So I decided to get the creamier version to see whether it works just as good.

The next item is the Phytomer Seaweed Soap. No particular reason why I bought this item. The price was good and so decided to try this out. I might make it into a giveaway, we shall see.

The last item is Calvin Klein Eternity set. This was also a disappointment. The shower wash and body lotion tubes had already turned yellow. And for the perfume, the liquid had already turned yellowish and the smell was muted and somewhat different from the Eternite that I'm used to. Probably there are some chemical changes due to age.

Lastly, Guy Laroche was on sale and I bought 4 card holders and 1 key pouches to give away as Christmas presents.

On the whole, this was not exactly the best warehouse sale that I've been to. I've been to better ones. Would be more careful when I go for future LuxAsia sales.

Review / Makeup: CanMake - Cream Cheek Blush

Item Name: CanMake Cream Cheek in 01
Size: Not Stated
Price: S$17.90 (Before 20% Discount
Available At: Watsons
Picture Source: klutzbeauty.blogspot.com




Product Description from Manufacturer:

うるっとしたジェル状なのに、質感サラサラ。お肌にやさしいクリームチーク。
頬のせた瞬間すっと溶け込んで、肌の内側からにじみ出るように発色。
頬が自然に紅潮したような仕上がりに。

Bad translation with my poor Japanese:
A refreshing gel like texture cream cheek blush that is easy on the skin. It melts into the skin upon application and gives the check a natural flush that seems to radiate from within.

What it does:
Hmmm.. The obvious function would be as a blusher. But cream blushers usually give a more natural finish compared to conventional powder blushes. However, the crux is in the application. The trick is to go slowly and with a light hand. Slowly blend, blend and blend.

Why I bought it:
Pure retail therapy...

Packaging:
A plastic see through container that is very typical of Japanese drugstore products. Definitely not as exquisite as MM and there is a cheap feel to it. My other grouse is that it doesn't come with a brush, meaning I either have to dip my fingers in or use my own brush. I wasn't prepared to dip my expensive brushes with natural hair into this. So, I used my fingers, after washing them, of course.

Texture:
Similar to that of a lipstick, only that it's in a pan rather than a stick.


Price:
One of the cheapest blushes that I've purchased before.

Road Test:

Now, the actual instruction from the website was to apply a layer of cream cheek, then followed by either the powder or loose powder blushes. But I felt that it would be a little overdoing for my case, I finished off with normal sheer loose powder instead.

The color that I chose wasn't very over the top, it gave me a pinkish flush and the shimmers gave my cheeks a nice glow.

By the end of the day, the product did oxidized a little but all in all, this product performed great.

Verdict:
If you're a blush fanatic with a budget, then this would be a great product to purchase. When it comes to cream blushes, a little goes a long way. Start with a light hand and then build up should you need it.

Other Product Pics:

Random Drugstore Hauls

Some random drugstore buys over the past week...

CanMake Cream Cheek Blush (S$17.90). Ever since my ma used her lipstick as blush on me eons ago, I've been intrigued by cream blushes. However, due to my skin sensitivity, I don't usually use blush since I already have this "natural" reddish tone on my cheeks.

Furthermore, I already have a nice Kose blush that my sister bought me as Christmas present last year.

But being in need of retail therapy, I bought this blush anyway. I got the 01 shade which is a very sheer shimmery pink with a faint peachy undertone since I have to be mindful not to overdo on my blush.

Next is Nivea Facial Cleansing Wipes (S$9.50). I got this out of desperation. We were having our family portrait taken and the ladies who did our makeup went over the top on eyeshadows and eye liners. I had this huge patch of black eyeliner that I almost scared my own self in the mirror. Not to mention that the makeup that they used was causing an itch on the skin.

The cream cleanser that I brought along wasn't performing well and we had to go for a dinner after that. So, I had to run to the nearest Watson's and purchase this fuss-free makeup remover.

A sigh of relief swept through us when we finally can get the gaudy and bad quality makeup off our delicate faces.

The Ingredients...

Lastly, Tea Tree Blemish Stick (S$10.95). The SebaMed pimple gel that I bought wasn't what I would exactly term as "working". So I was thinking maybe this would help (hopefully).

Ingredients....