Walked by the MAC counter yesterday and saw the MAC Extra Dimension collection in its gorgeous glory. Couldn't resist, of course, and snapped up one Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Superb.
Absolutely loving the texture, the barely-there yet definitely-there sheen and its staying power.
Perfect for highlighting and adding dimension to an otherwise flat face. Well, for me anyway.
Must resist getting the other two shades. (Whisper of Gilt and Glorify)
♥
Liquidsugarlust
It's been forever and a day since we've posted, and I am ashamed to say in the 5 months of MIA, we have been accumulating shiloads of makeup/skincare products that totally need to be reviewed. That, and a ton of FOTDs that should have been documented but never made it to the living daylights of the blogosphere.
We apologize!
But this will all soon change, for the love of monolids. Proper posts will be up in due time.
In the mean time, here's a GPOY with the Naked Palette and some falsies. So easy, so fast and so pretty for monolids. Tutorial coming up real soon!
♥
Liquidsugarlust
Lookie what I spotted at Cosmed in Taipei while I was there recently. Cosmed, by the way, is a drugstore/pharmacy chain in Taiwan.
It's a cute donut-shaped eyelash box! Which I initially had no idea what it was till I saw the graphical description on the side.
So I got two out of curiosity, one in white and one in mint green. There's a third color - pink - but I suppose I didn't need three of these. But I guess I kinda do now, coz I absolutely love this nifty little plastic contraption!
It opens up to look reveal a split compartment for you to pop a pair of falsies in...
...or even two pairs, which is what I did coz I felt it was a bit more economical. Now all your falsie-related travelling woes are solved - no more worrying over whether your lashes might get squished under all the other makeup you have, even if you brought them along inside its original flimsy box. This container by a Japanese brand called Naf keeps them safe, neat and there's no way you can lose it because it looks so cute.
Definitely something I'd use frequently when I go travelling. I can store up to four pairs of lashes in two boxes, and they really don't take up too much space. The donut is about the size of a ping-pong ball, and about half an inch thick. It was also only a couple of bucks - steal!
Wished they didn't have to sell it only in Taiwan though. Unless I may have not noticed them in local stores. Hmmm.
A short and sweet post today because I need to get into packing for a 5-day trip to Taiwan! Absolutely looking forward to the shopping and eating. If anyone knows of makeup products that I should be looking out for in Taipei, please leave a comment below and let me know!
Anyway, back to beauty - I find nude colors very sexy, especially when they are on nails. I'm currently on a hunt for the perfect nude shade, and I guess I've found something close enough in the form of this darling:
OPI Barefoot in Barcelona
Isn't the name itself such a dear? The color is delectable as well - a pinkish-brownish hue that's not too washed out, nor too overpowering.
Two coats and you're ready to roll
I love how it's so easy to slap on, even for clumsy people like myself. It goes perfectly well for those with fair to medium-tan skin, and looks best on short to medium length nails. Any longer and it'll look rather tacky. Otherwise, it's sophistication and class all the way!
So many beauty bloggers have raved about the UNII palette, and when I found out they had a booth at IMATS Sydney 2011, I was ecstatic.
Ecstatic because I was definitely not gonna pay USD 29 to order it online, plus god-knows-how-much shipping charges, and even more elated when I found out these babies were going for only AUD 20 each at the show.
And yes, I kicked myself several times over the course of the past few weeks for only getting ONE.
The UNII palette booth at IMATS Sydney was simple and understated, and the unfortunate part was that they only had 2 colors (blue and lime green) in stock that day due to some shipment issues. I picked Twilight, the fancier name for the blue one.
Really like the feel of the palette in my hands. Simple, sturdy and not too bulky design. Something you can easily fit into your bag, or even an evening clutch without taking up too much space.
I filled mine with Inglot lip colors and eyeshadows, a Kate Media blush as well as some loose pieces from a Coastal Scents palette. It actually comes with a rubber grip that you pop into the case as well, but I took mine out coz there was obviously not enough space. I don't find it a necessity, to be honest.
The mirror is a lovely addition so you can apply your makeup on the go. You can even pop in a couple of brushes into the case to complete this ingenious creation.
Ever since I got this, I have the urge to depot every singe eyeshadow product I own. Which is a bad idea, because I only have one palette which as you can see, is already chock full with items. And that leads to the whole 'damn-why-didn't-I-buy-more-than-one' agony.
For all you makeup enthusiasts, this is definitely a must-get, especially if you want to centralize all your products and not have to dig through drawers just to put together a look. It's travel-friendly and chic, plus, it comes in an array of colors so you'll be spoilt for choice.
Now that I've attaned my UNII, I'd like to check out the Z palette.
I mean, come on, we can never have too many makeup products. :)
♥
Liquidsugarlust
Two of my fave colors - purple and gold - on my lids. And I am happy.
Nothing too fancy here - just the usual two-tone technique and lots of blending to make sure they look flawless together.
Oh look - matte gray nails! Courtesy of Maybelline's Express Finish in Gray-T Glamour and a coat of Essie's Matte About You Top Coat. Fantastic finish, by the way. Who knew matte nails could be so chic? The only downside is that it chips too quickly, say, in about 3 days?
And here's a closer look at my so-very-monolid-but-still-awesome eye in all its made-up glory.
Here's what I used for this look:
Face
- MAC Prep + Prime
- Maybelline Fit Me Foundation in 125 (a tad too light for me, I reckon)
- MAC Select Cover Up Concealer for undereyes
- Inglot Cream Concealer in 21 for blemishes
- NYX Cream Blush in Natural (so natural you can't see shit, unfortunately)
Eyes
- Too Faced Shadow Insurance on lids
- Inglot Freedom System Palette in shades of gold, deep purple and taupe for browbone
- Maybelline Gel Liner in Black
- Daiso falsies
- NYX Eyebrow Cake Powder in Black/Gray
- Fynale Cosmetic Lens, Gara in Pink
Lips
- Inglot Freedom System Palette lip color in deep pink
Have a fantastic weekend, y'all!
Ah, it was a virginal taste of one of the coolest makeup expos in the world.
IMATS Sydney 2011 - Day 1 (24 September 2011) on a cold, blustery Saturday Spring morning. I was freezing. I was sleepy. But boy, was I ready!
So the event was held at the Sydney Convention Centre at Darling Harbour, one of my favorite haunts whenever I'm in the glorious Aussie city. They've got really nice restaurants around the corner, and I personally love the sitting by along the boardwalk and watching seagulls attack other people for mere scraps of chips and burger bits.
Anyway, I digress. So yes, my first experience at this amazing trade show that everyone's been raving about. Sydney is obviously the nearest city to Singapore, and come on, any self-professed beauty junkie HAS to attend an IMATS at least once in her life.
The Inglot booth
Okay, so I didn't manage to take as many photos as I wanted to because I was just too engrossed with everything makeup-related around me. FYI - there were about 37 exhibitors on the floor, ranging from popular brands like Inglot, MAC, MUFE, Illamasqua, Ben Nye to the more localized ones such as Gorgeous Cosmetics, Napolean Perdis and SMiiNK.
The Illamasqua booth - which was virtually unaccessible.
I was at the event at around 9am (doors opened at 8.30am) and the place was already fairly packed! I tried to squeeze myself into the Illamasqua booth, but a lot of stuff were already sold out. Not a surprise really - they were going for 10-20 bucks each...and we all know how expensive their products are at retail counters. I could've swiped a couple of odd-colored lip glosses and cheek stains which I'd never use, but nah. Instead, I wandered from booth to booth, mentally ticking off the things I wanted and then get them the second time around.
Crown Brush!
I ended up spending most of my moolah at Inglot. The MAC counter was terribly congested, and frankly speaking, I didn't want to join the snaking queue, which was not moving a single inch. So yes, Inglot it was, despite having to wait for half an hour for the staff to process my payment. I also grabbed some brushes from Crown Brush (prices were from AUD 3 to AUD 20), a UNII palette (fuck yeah!) and OCC lip tars.
The haul
Eyebrow brush, eyeshadow brush, oval pointy eyeshadow brush, lip brush, stippling brush - all from Crown Brush.
Inglot cream foundation, Inglot cream concealer, Inglot AMC cream blush, a couple of eyeshadow colors from the Freedom System range and a lipstick round.
OCC lip tars in Trick and Hush.
UNII palette.
Unboxed my babies
Considering this was my first IMATS, I didn't exactly spend a ton. That's because I had another 2 weeks in Sydney to spare, and it really wouldn't have been very smart of me to blow all of my vacation money on makeup. Even though it seemed like a logical thing to do for a makeup junkie. Haa.
Anyway, I was still immensely pleased with my haul and the experience. Only wished I had gone with my partner-in-crime, but I reckon she'd have a bigger blast at the IMATS London next year. Reviews of all products will follow, but I can tell you now that I'm absolutely loving the UNII palette. I need to get more of these versatile darlings. Then I can depot all my single eyeshadows and blushes and put them all together in one sassy receptacle.
♥
Liquidsugarlust
I'll be honest - I bought this only because of the name. I personally prefer deeper reds, but come on, who would NOT buy a nail polish called 'After Sex'? :D God, I think I am every advertiser's dream. I get tempted too easily. Just slap on a catchy name and I'm sold.
After Sex in a bottle
It looks like a metallic red in the bottle, but it really isn't when it's on your nails. I've never really been interested in Essie polishes because I find their color range a bit too safe. Until I found this while browsing makeup stores online. If you're in Singapore, this online place sells amazingly cheap nail polishes from OPI, Essie and China Glaze. They also hold flea markets from time to time, which is awesome!
Orgasm on my nails
Excuse the sloppy application - I still have a lot to learn. As you can see, the color goes on rather bright, but with a slight blue undertone. Very flirty and amazing on fair-skinned hands.
I used Cutex's 3-in-1 Base Coat first (although Poshe's Nail Strengthening Base Coat is my fave), two coats of After Sex and one trustworthy coat of Seche Vite to seal all the goodness in. The glossiness is a dream.
Will definitely be wearing this more often, and the best part is telling people what the color is called when they ask.
♥
Liquidsugarlust
"I’m an Asian teenager.
On some days, I wear pajamas to school. I joke that it’s convenient and that I don’t care about my looks. It’s not completely true. I scroll endlessly on shopping websites and flip through fashion magazines, but I never admit to it. I always have people tell me “You should buy…” or “You have got to stop wearing…” Not only is it embarrassing to hear this, but it also hurts so much. I can’t leisurely go out and buy tons of clothing without a conscience.
There’s makeup. I would like to believe that inner beauty exceeds outer and that when someone tells me that I’m beautiful, I am. But I don’t. How can I? They’re all so beautiful with their Mac foundations, twenty shoes, and manageable hair. They’re also my friends; it’s not like they can call me ugly. Yet, they give me helpful critiques, and I don’t mean critique as in a way that they are putting me down. They really are trying to boost my esteem and give me beauty tips. But it’s hopeless, and eventually, they give up. “You are beautiful.” What junk. Some try to be polite and drift to another subject when cornered with deciding whether I’m pretty or not. I sheepishly watch makeup tutorials on Youtube, thinking how it would be amazing to have all those products and have a handsome guy walk up to me to give a compliment. Then reality hits. With my mother’s makeup products that were purchased years ago, I hide myself in the restroom, trying to enhance whatever features I have. Even the Asian monolid tutorials are so unrealistic; they don’t work on me. I have small eyes with barely a lid and a big nose. I could spend hours trying and trying, but I end up with nothing. How can I ever be beautiful?
I pretend that it’s okay when I’m called with derogative words like “chinky” or asked “can you see?” But it upsets me so much. I don’t want plastic surgery; I want to believe I am beautiful and have other believe it as well. Why does size matter? I know your blog focuses size more on weight. What about breast and other features? I’m barely an A cup…they’re “mosquito bites.” I try to forget about my flaws, but I’m in high school. I’m constantly reminded that I’m not good enough by people who look me up and down or ask me a question about my appearance that makes me shrink ten times smaller.
When will I be able to embrace myself? I will never be able to make someone jealous of my looks. I will always be that someone"
Dear Anon,
Your message breaks my heart, not because of the obvious, but because it touches me and my experiences growing up. I, too, barely have a lid and a ginormous nose. I, too, struggled to see myself as beautiful and yearned for compliments that I knew I wasn't ever going to get because I was never that girl.
I am still not that girl, and that's ok. Embracing yourself comes with acceptance. I've always joked that I appeal to a niche market when it comes to looks, and I really believe that I do. Learn to accept your flaws and your good points. Humour is a great tool that I can see you have already begun to use. As for those derogative remarks, the best thing to do is to ignore them. It definitely hurts but it reflects negatively on THEM, not you. It is not ok for them to say that, so don't accept that kind of treatment. Roll your eyes, or move away. March to the beat of your own drum. Do NOT let them bring you down.
You sound like a very intelligent girl, with the right values and the right ideas in place. Remember that people who seem to be on the upper hand in high school more often than not, don't end up on top in the real world. Yes, I said "in the real world". Because even though it is your whole world at the moment, high school is just part and parcel of life. What may seem like a blow to your self esteem is really the formation of strength and character.
Inner beauty does exceed outer beauty. Beauty fades, and not just with youth. If you don't have inner beauty or personality, all you'll ever be is a pretty face with no substance. People won't take you seriously. With makeup, practice makes perfect. I myself didn't start wearing it till I left high school and I am still learning. I look back to my first ever FOTDs and cringe, what a train wreck!
As for body issues, you are still developing. In 5 years time your body will be completely different to how it is now. Our blog doesn't focus on any size or weight. Work with what you got is our motto. Tough it out and wait... if you are still unhappy with your breast size, plastic sugery is an option. Its all about what's important to you. Don't let anyone else dictate your emotions. Always try to figure out what is right or wrong based on your core values. Definitely always listen what people have to say, but you don't always have to accept it. If you strive to be a good person, and always try to do the right thing, who are they to judge you?
Do you know what makes a perfect 10? A girl with energy, passion, humour, looks, and personality. Consider these years in school as the formation of your personality. You are in high school, concentrate on what school is all about: education. Do your best, ace your tests, get out in the work force and start living your life the way you want to. The rest will come, I promise.
XOXO,
Drywords & Liquidsugarlust
PS: our mailbox is always open for a chat, do email us as and when you like at monolidlove@gmail.com
...not Friday!
But what the heck. Just because. So there. :)
Okay, so I cheated a little and used Photobooth. You can still see the gorgeous nail color, no? From The Face Shop for just $2.90.
Slather on a loving coat of Seche Vite's Fast Dry Top Coat, and that's a trendy set of fingers for ya.
Not that you can see them clearly, but I'm wearing Inglot's eyeshadows. A lovely shade of molten gold and deep purple. Sephora's bronzer on my cheeks.
Ah, weekend. Don't rush now.
♥
Liquidsugarlust
