What Is In My Travel Make Up Bag?

It is done!, first year of university is done! Now, it's time to return to the land of Nasi Lemak and Humidity1000. Since I'm in the midsts of packing, I thought why not I show you what make up I'll be packing along for my 3-month long summer break back home to Malaysia. 

It was tough deciding what to bring back, especially with clothes. "Is 6 pairs of denim shorts too much?" "COLOUR. FIT. LENGTH. CUT. THEY ARE ALL DIFFERENT IN THEIR OWN WAY" You see my struggle. Sigh. Make-up wise, I just brought back what I thought would suit the Malaysian humidity and of course what I'd wear on a daily basis. Some of these products are fairly new, so I'm going to be testing them out to see if I like them. Also, can I say I'm really loving this make up bag from @unmasqued (find them on instagram), as it is big enough to fit everything listed below, even the palette and my brushes!

Enjoy!

BULK

[L-R] Make Up Bag | Real Technique & Sephora Brushes | Urban Decay Naked 1 | Essie Nail Polish - Mint Candy Apple | Mario Badescu Facial Spray. 

FACE

[L-R] Sunkiller Daily Sunscreen | Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum | Maybelline Fit Me Concealer | The Balm Mary Lou-manizer | Rimmel Natural Bronzer | Rimmel Stay Matte | BYS Blush Trio - Coral Me In

EYES

[L-R] Maybelline Colour Tattoo - Barely Branded | Maybelline The Rocket Mascara | Rimmel Scandaleyes Eyeliner - Kohl | Heavy Rotation Liquid Pen Eyeliner | Eyelash Curler | Colour Combo Eyebrow Kit - Brown | Face of Australia HD Brow Kit | Urban Decay Naked 1

LIPS

[L-R] Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick - Tantalizing Taupe | NYX Butter Gloss - Madeleine | NYX Butter Gloss - Creme Brulee | Maybelline Baby Lips Berry Crush | Burt's Bees Lip Balm - Pink Grapefruit | Benefit Dandelion Lip Gloss | 

Revlon Just Kissable Balm Stain - Lovesick Passionnee | Revlon Matte Balm - Sultry.

I'm pretty sure this 'collection' of mine would expand when it's time to return to Brisbane, Apologies for the harsh lighting on the photos, I can't get good lighting for nuts in my room here in Aussie. Till the next post... updated from Malaysia, till then! xx

REVIEW: The Balm | Mary-Lou Manizer Highlighter

Highlighting may not be the most important step in your make-up routine. However, if you are like me you'd agree it is one of the most important steps not to miss! From creams, to liquids, to powders, highlighters comes in all forms, and shades as well.

I've heard heaps about this particular highlighter from The Balm, and most definitely from my all time favourite beauty blogger/vlogger Estee (EssieButton!). I had this product on the back of my head for quite sometime now. One day strolling in SASA, I found myself staring at it. For it was quite pricey for just a highlighter, I hesitated. Hogging The Balm counter I was, making a gazillion swatches, like I not already how much of a beauty it was. Ah, fudge it, just get it. and oh boy, it was a well RM65 spent.

Boy I was wrong for saying it was "just a highlighter". For starters, this highlighter is a yellowy-champagne-tone highlighter. The texture of it is like butter on your finger tips, so soft. The pigmentation of it is out of this world as well. I particularly enjoyed this highlighter as it distinctively highlights and brings so much light to the face without having glitter flakes on your face.

Having said that it is an extremely pigmented highlighter, you may want to use a brush and a light hand when applying this highlighter onto the high points of your face. I use the Real Techniques Contour brush to dust this onto my cheekbones, and the Urban Decay Naked I palette brush to apply it onto my brow bone and down the bridge of my nose, cupids bow and inner corners of my eyes. This highlighter is also works great as an all-over-the lid champagne coloured eye shadow.

Overall thoughts, best powder highlighter I've tried so far. Comment below if you think there's a highlighter out there that could top this that I should try!

Till the next post, lovies x.

REVIEW: Benefit Cosmetics | Feelin' Dandy Lip and Cheek Kit

Feelin' dandy anyone? 

Felt completely over the moon when I received this lovely Benefit cheek and lip kit from my dear Mom last Christmas. The kit consists of 4 mini sized Benefit products which guarantees a "radiantly pretty look".

The items included in this Cheek and Lip Kit are...
1. Posietint, 4mL - Poppy-Pink tinted lip and cheek stain.
2. Dandelion - Face brightening powder.
3. High Beam, 4mL - Liquid highlighter.
4. Ultra Plush Dandelion, 6.5mL - Lip gloss.
* Comes with tips & tricks manual, plus a large mirror too.

The products in this kit are numbered 1-4 in accordance of the manual, a step by step illustration on how to apply these products.

1. Posietint
One of the many Benefit liquid cheek and lip stains. But my take on the Posietint is that it give a very natural sheen of pink to your cheeks and lips, nothing too extravagant. But for the amount of money I would rather spend on one that gives a more noticeable hue, like the Benetint.
*Tip: Apply Posietint on fingers before rubbing onto cheeks to avoid dots being noticeable.

2. Dandelion
Dandelion, their face brightening powder. This product is very well self explanatory. Swipe a hint of this all over your face or at the points where you need brightening, and tada!

3. High Beam
High beam, a liquid highlighter. The product that I was most excited about in the lot. I was contemplating whether or not to get the full sized one, but instead Mom beat me to it with this mini sized one. Which is good as I get to try it out first before committing to a full sized one. Well this would be my favourite out of the 4 products, this liquid highlighter has a creamy consistency but no worries, it goes on the skin smoothly and doesn't leave the skin feeling sticky. The colour has a pink hue to it, suitable for most skin tones. The only downside about the product would be it's packaging, the brush applicator makes removing the remaining product hard resulting in a lot wasted product.

4.Ultra Plush Dandelion Lip Gloss
A sheer pink lip gloss, doesn't have much colour pay off but only a tiny bit of pink, good  for laying over nude lips for some shine. Plus thing about this lip gloss is it doesn't feel sticky on the lips.

Overall thoughts on the Feelin' Dandy Kit: Perfect little kit for people who want a natural everyday youthful look. Products are easy to use and good for travel as well.

REVIEW: The Body Shop | Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder

Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder - 02: Fair Matte

I've always been a big fan of bronzers. Though in Malaysia, it is very hard to find quality yet budget friendly make up, especially bronzers. Drug stores brands which I do know for a fact carry bronzers don't carry them here in Malaysia, which is so sad.

Early last year I stumbled upon this beauty while strolling through The Body Shop, it's called their Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder. I knew The Body Shop carried bronzers but they were the kind filled with sparkles and I wasn't fond of the idea of being a sparkly bronzed up doll. But to my surprise, this Honey Bronzer didn't have shimmer in it, pure matte brown bronzer to perfection, I knew I had to get it. I got mine in the shade 03: Medium Matte, for RM 69.00.

For short, I ABSOLUTELY LOVEEEE this bronzer. It doesn't give an orangey tone like some bronzers do. It certainly doesn't look muddy at all. The pigmentation for the bronzer is buildable to your liking. I personally use this bronzer with a contour brush, swipe it under my cheekbones, along my temple and jaw, this gives the face a more sculpted look and a healthy bronze effect.

L-R : Shade 02: Fair Matte ,  03: Medium Matte

Swatches L-R:  02 Fair Matte, 03 Medium Matte, 04 Deep Matte.
Swatch credited to : http://beautykissxo.blogspot.com/

Now, I've certainly hit pan-broken top-scratched up cover (Much love indeed) with my 03: Medium Matte one. Hence, I was on a hunt for a new one. But as usual, stores in KL no longer carry the Honey Bronzer line, correct me if I'm wrong. But lucky me, I was on holiday in Kota Kinabalu and had a chance to get my hands on them at the K.K Airport. However, the darkest shade they had was 02: Fair Matte, but I still got it anyways. It's a tad bit lighter than 03, but like I said the colour is very much buildable. However, I would still say I prefer the shade 03: Medium matte, less hassle, less product used.


PROS:
- No shimmer!, completely matte
- Buildable colour.
- Not muddy
- Not orangey
- Nice packaging with cute honeycomb design with faint honey smell.

CONS:
Been using this bronzer for over a year now, honestly I just love it, no outstanding cons so far besides...
- Tough to find in The Body Shop stores ( in Malaysia)

Both Essie Button (This bronzer has even made her Top 10 products of 2013) & Miss Glamorazzi have both jumped on the bandwagon with this bronzer. To know that makes my everyday face routine even more enjoyable :3


Available on The Body Shop UK website.