Hey there,
The month of June has been quite an eventful month for me with lots of new experiences. I guess I've been trying to cram in as much activities as possible this month because I finally felt that the start of my University life is drawing near. From July onwards I will have to go into full swing preparation for school & hostel, and I will officially be an undergraduate starting from August. Time is flying so fast, and I'm being thrown into sort of a panicky state right now. All the freshmen, tell me I'm not alone, please?
That aside, let's jump right into my monthly favorites for June!
The month of June has been quite an eventful month for me with lots of new experiences. I guess I've been trying to cram in as much activities as possible this month because I finally felt that the start of my University life is drawing near. From July onwards I will have to go into full swing preparation for school & hostel, and I will officially be an undergraduate starting from August. Time is flying so fast, and I'm being thrown into sort of a panicky state right now. All the freshmen, tell me I'm not alone, please?
That aside, let's jump right into my monthly favorites for June!
(From Left to Right)
1. IOPE Air Cushion XP Compact SPF50+/PA+++ Yes guys, this air cushion has finally made its way to my favorites! I got this back in early March, and didn't really like it because it felt sticky and too dewy on my skin. For some reason I found it extremely uncomfortable when I wear this under the sun because the sweat made the foundation feel even more sticky and creamy on my face. However, after almost 4 months of trying this product out, I can finally say that I'm in love with it! |
I really enjoy how convenient it is to use, and in addition I really love the simple yet beautiful packaging. I no longer find this foundation sticky on my skin, and the only trick I used was to forget about the sponge that came with the compact, and substitute it with the almighty beauty blender instead. My gosh, the beauty blender makes such a HUGE difference to the overall finish! By using the beauty blender wet, I can now apply the foundation in sheer layers, which makes it look very natural and less dewy! In addition, I finish the look with the Innisfree sebum control powder which helps to remove the stickiness as well as improve the oil control of the overall base makeup. The air cushion really does help in evening out the complexion, and brings a brightening effect (not whitening!!) to the face, giving a radiant and refreshed glow. |
The shade may appear a little dark, but when applied on skin, it is actually quite fair and blends well with my skin tone.
2. Illamasqua Powder Blushed in Unrequited
2. Illamasqua Powder Blushed in Unrequited
CAN YOU HEAR MY HEAR SHATTERING?!?!? Ok, I bought this online and when it shattered on the way to me and I received a bubblewrapped package filled with pink powder. The moment I opened up the parcel, I mumbled a "FML" to myself. I requested for a refund and got my money back, but I couldn't bear to throw this beautiful thing away. So I decided to try to fix my shattered blush, but for some reason, mine doesn't turn out the way its supposed to, as shown in the youtube tutorials. I have no idea where I went wrong! I even went out to purchase a rubbing alcohol but for some reason everytime the blush dries, it starts cracking and I always end up with a cracked but in place(?) blush. This is the end result after 2 attempts, and I decided I should experiment no more because I have wasted enough of the product. I was thinking maybe i should just make it into a loose powder blusher, but I have no proper container to store them. Such a bummer, really. Nonetheless, the damage did not stop the blusher from giving me beautiful cheeks, and I am still happy for I get to use such high quality and beautiful blush at the price of $0. |
3. The Face Shop Lovely ME:EX You & Face Blusher 09 Cinnamon Dream
This is my go to bronzer for almost a year now, and besides the adorable packaging, I like the blendability of the powder as well as the micro shimmers in it. For the past month, when I feel like going light with my makeup, all I use is my air cushion foundation, my illamasqua blush, an eyebrown pencil and this "bronzer" to contour my nose. Despite looking pretty dark in the photo, this shade transfers really subtle on my skin, and is barely noticeable. But that's what I like about it, because I find most bronzers too dark for me and appear unnatural. With this bronzer, I can keep layering until my desired effect without worrying about it looking fake. The only downside is that the cover is coming loose from the pan. Oh well! |
4. Etude House Play 101 Pencils in #7, #17, #43, #46
These pencils come in different finishes, such as glossy, creamy, glitter etc. They are multipurpose pencils, which can be used as eyeliner, eyebrow, eyeshadow, contour, highlight, blusher, lipstick, lipliner and concealer. AWESOME ISN'T IT? The best thing is that they seriously stay put all day once they set, and does not crease or smudge or flake AT ALL. Even when used on the lips, they last pretty well through eating and drinking, and does not transfer. I got the shades #7, #17, #43 and #46 for myself, and bought #21 as well as #41 for my Mom. #7 was supposed to be a concealer for my under eye, however I realized that when I use #7 on my undereye, it is seriously hard to blend the pencil out using fingers and you can see the pencil strokes drawn. In order to blend, I have to use a small concealer brush to gently scratch at the drawn strokes to make them blend into the skin. This can be quite a hassle and defeats the purpose of how these pencils are suppose to bring convenience. However, for some reason, #7 works really well covering any blemishes or dark spots, and can be blended out easily using the fingers. I don't really get why there's a drastic difference between using on the undereye and the rest of the face, to be honest. | If you've been following me on Instagram or Twitter, you will know that I have been raving about these pencils for quite awhile. I first heard of them from my favourite korean Youtuber - Pony, and finally found them on sale at Qoo10.sg! The price and shipping fee was quite expensive, but now that I've tried them, I feel like they are worth every penny spent! I'm sure they will arrive in the SG stores soon, but I can almost foresee that the price will definitely be higher. Can we just take a moment to appreciate the crazy shade range offered for these Play 101 Pencils?! I wish Etude House sold them in a entire set. Imagine have all the pencils placed nicely into a flat tin box as if they were old schooll color pencils. (squeals!!) |
I'm planning to purchase more shades, such as #14 (orange), #18 (purple), #37 (aqua) and #48 (dark brown). Woop woop! | My Mom and I use #17 & #21 as lipstick and blusher. I seriously love #17 as it is a purplish pink and goes well as a blusher when I use a purple lipstick. I also like to wear #17 on my lower lashline to give it a pop of color. On my Mom, #21 brightens up her face when she wears it on her lips, and make her look well rested and healthy. #43 & #46 are my go to eyeshadow pencils, which i just draw on messily and blend out with my fingers. They are very shimmery/glittery and looks beautiful on the lids. I also use them to highlight the inner corners of my eyes as well as my brow bone. My Mom uses #41 as her crease shadow and also to fill in her brows. |
5. Etude House Bling Bling Eye Stick in #01, #08, #10
June is my month of eyeshadow pencils/crayons overload. Here's another Etude house product, which is a easy to use eyeshadow stick. I got the #01 Shooting star, which is just a shimmery white color, #08 Ivory Baby star which is a peachy brown color (i don't know where the "ivory" came from), and #10 Little Bear Star which is a shimmery brown color.
(Top to bottom): #10 Little Bear Star, #08 Ivory Baby Stars, #01 Shooting Star
I have been hesitant to purchase these eye sticks because several reviews complained that they crease on the lids and does not last long. However, my experience is completely different. Even though after hours, the eye sticks still feel creamy and blendable on my lids, they do not crease or fade, provided that you do not touch them. Being a contact lenses wearer since Primary 3, I have gotten used to not touching or rubbing my eye region for the entire day in fear that eyelashes or makeup may get into my eyes which hurts like hell by the way. So that may be one of the reason why most eye makeup last on me. Oh in addition my eyelids are slightly oily. I use these eyesticks instead of the Play 101 pencils when I don't feel like being overly precise with my application, or when I want to wear an extremely shimmery eye makeup.
6. Collection Eyeshadow Pencil in 01 Vanilla Sky
6. Collection Eyeshadow Pencil in 01 Vanilla Sky
Before you start suspecting whether I'm an eyeshadow pencil/crayon addict, I have to defend for myself by saying that I was kind of pressured into purchasing this. I was at the road show for BHG when 3 sales assistant aunties flocked over to surround me and started hardcore promoting activities. They started showing me testers and demonstrating the products on my/their hands, and even proceeded to help me hold (snatch..*cough*) my bag and drink so that I can try out the products. I really did not find anything that had appealed to me, but they kept talking and didn't let me go. In the end I just grabbed this jumbo pencil that was infront of me and told them that "ok ok I'm going to get this." Despite it being a "sales roadshow", this cost $13.90 (if i'm not wrong), which could have bought be 2 more etudehouse play 101 pencils. I was in the state of regret when I handed my money over to the cashier, with one of the sales assistant aunties still beside me making sure I made the purchase. I suppose commission really is a strong motivating factor for the sales people.
Anyways, I finally had time (and space) to check online for reviews, and realized that many people love this pencil. (PHEW!) It turns out that I am now one of the people who regard this eyeshadow pencil as one of my HG product. This thing is awesome as an inner corner highlight as well as browbone highlight, and I even use it on my nose bridge sometimes. It stays put all day long, no matter how oily your face is, and does not budge until you decide to remove with makeup remover. This works really well even on my waterline.
Anyways, I finally had time (and space) to check online for reviews, and realized that many people love this pencil. (PHEW!) It turns out that I am now one of the people who regard this eyeshadow pencil as one of my HG product. This thing is awesome as an inner corner highlight as well as browbone highlight, and I even use it on my nose bridge sometimes. It stays put all day long, no matter how oily your face is, and does not budge until you decide to remove with makeup remover. This works really well even on my waterline.
7. Dolly Wink Liquid Eyeliner in Brown
I don't think I need to say much about this. I haven't met one person who didn't like this eyeliner. I bought this on impulse during watsons member sales. I have been wanting a brown liquid eyeliner for a long time, and this dollywink one works just right for me. It does not smudge or transfer, and is easy to draw thanks to its super fine tip. I find that it is really easy to wing out the eyeliner using this. Another HG product for me!!
8. NARS Larger Than Life Lipgloss in Penny Arcade
I don't think I need to say much about this. I haven't met one person who didn't like this eyeliner. I bought this on impulse during watsons member sales. I have been wanting a brown liquid eyeliner for a long time, and this dollywink one works just right for me. It does not smudge or transfer, and is easy to draw thanks to its super fine tip. I find that it is really easy to wing out the eyeliner using this. Another HG product for me!!
8. NARS Larger Than Life Lipgloss in Penny Arcade
I have Huisan to thanks for this, for if not for her, I would not have been to the Shiseido warehouse sales, and I will never discover my love for NARS lipglosses. I have made myself clear that I am not a lipgloss kind of girl, but this is an exception. Penny Arcade has a really thick formula, and goes on like a liquid lipstick, pigmented and glossy. It is not excessively stick (mac lipglass...), and last well on the lips unless I eat or drink. I actually did not see much that I liked at the Shiseido warehouse sales, and I also had a hard time trying to squeeze my way to the front of the NARS counter to see what's available. I actually intended to get some of NARS concealer, eyeshadow or lip crayons (cough), but the crowd was so crazy I can barely see anything. In the end I saw a girl waving a tester of this lipgloss, and it look decent enough to work on my skin tone. If it doesn't, I can pass it to my Mom as this seems to be her kind of color as well. So I just pointed to the tester and requested that the sales person pass a new piece to me because I can barely reach the counter. If i'm not wrong, the price for this is $37 under the NARS Andy Warhol Holiday 2012 Collection, and I got it at the sales for I think $13 or $18. Such a steal! The applicator is a small tiny brush which needs some getting use to for someone who is used to see lipglosses with doefoot applicators. After some experimenting, I found that placing the wand vertically and using the brush by its length inside of its tip helps to provide an even application. A little really goes a long way due to its thick and pigmented consistency, and it leaves a beautiful stain after it wears off.
I'm planning to get myself another one in Norma for my birthday! (hehe)
9. Cosmetica Rounded Blending Brush
I'm planning to get myself another one in Norma for my birthday! (hehe)
9. Cosmetica Rounded Blending Brush
I have been looking for a rounded fluffy blending brush as well as a pencil brush, but I could not find the latter. I bought this from the cosmetica counter at Guardian in Vivocity for about $7.90. Super cheap, and works pretty decently! I use this along with the Face Shop ME:EX Blusher in Cinnamon Dream which I use as a nose contour, and it blends out the contour naturally. It does not blend the eyeshadow sticks/cream eyeshadows well, and the bristle will tend to stick to the cream eyeshadows which result in shedding. So I only use this with powder products.
10. Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque
Previously I mentioned in my last month's favorites post that I enjoyed using the grape peeling mask from the same brand. I still use the peeling mask once a week to remove dirt from my skin. In addition, I added this mint masque to my weekly skin care routine, and use it once a week too. This masque is suppose to dry up pimples, rinse away blackheads and shrink enlarge pores. I don't really break out much recently, so I don't know how it will work for drying up acne. However, it really does work at reducing blackheads and shrinking enlarge pores. There is a tightening sensation after washing away the masque, and my skin feels super smooth after using it. The tightening effect is definitely temporary, but with prolong use I'm sure it will make some permanent different in the skin texture. No wonder so many people adore this!
I know it's been a long post with sooo many pictures. My bad, I have a tendency to keep writing when it comes to things I like. If you stayed and read till this part, YOU ARE AWESOME! <3
That's it for now, guys!
XOXO,
Iris
P.S. Do you like my new banner? :D
10. Queen Helene Mint Julep Masque
Previously I mentioned in my last month's favorites post that I enjoyed using the grape peeling mask from the same brand. I still use the peeling mask once a week to remove dirt from my skin. In addition, I added this mint masque to my weekly skin care routine, and use it once a week too. This masque is suppose to dry up pimples, rinse away blackheads and shrink enlarge pores. I don't really break out much recently, so I don't know how it will work for drying up acne. However, it really does work at reducing blackheads and shrinking enlarge pores. There is a tightening sensation after washing away the masque, and my skin feels super smooth after using it. The tightening effect is definitely temporary, but with prolong use I'm sure it will make some permanent different in the skin texture. No wonder so many people adore this!
I know it's been a long post with sooo many pictures. My bad, I have a tendency to keep writing when it comes to things I like. If you stayed and read till this part, YOU ARE AWESOME! <3
That's it for now, guys!
XOXO,
Iris
P.S. Do you like my new banner? :D