REVIEW: Sephora × Stabilo Felt Liner in Chocolate Break and Summer Holiday

Hello everyone!

Sephora Singapore just held their bi-annual Beauty Pass Sale and in a bid to retain my Black status (as you could probably tell from the drop in my beauty reviews, I hadn’t really been shopping for makeup), I made some obligatory purchases which included a pair of peculiar-looking eyeliners born from the collaboration between Sephora and Stabilo! Yes, you read me right – Stabilo, as in the stationery brand of highlighter fame (they had their chance to release face highlighters but they blew it!).

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liners 2020

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liners 2020

This partnership might come as a surprise to some but considering that even Crayola has ventured into cosmetics, it goes to show that the lines between the beauty and non-beauty industries are blurring. It also makes perfect sense for Stabilo to ink the agreement because as girls transition to women (or boys to men), the need for stationery supplies diminishes thanks to electronic devices. One possible way to win this demographic back would be to appeal to their needs and I’m sure everyone needs makeup at some point in their lives 😂 Sprinkle a dash of nostalgia and we have a winner!

The eyeliner comes in 4 shades (Ink Splash, Back to School, Chocolate Break and Summer Holiday) and retails at S$15 each, or S$12 during the sale. Since I already have a staple black liner, my money went to the brown and blue (and I regret not getting the grey one now). Like the tip of your typical highlighter, the applicator is bevelled to allow for an alternation between thick and thin lines with an uninterrupted colour intensity and evenness from the start to the end of the application. The packaging is modelled after the original design of chunky Stabilo highlighers but maybe only two-third of the size (super cute!), making it convenient to bring around!

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liners in Chocolate Break and Summer Holiday (sealed, front)

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liners in Chocolate Break and Summer Holiday (sealed, front)

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liners in Chocolate Break and Summer Holiday (seal, back)

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liners in Chocolate Break and Summer Holiday (sealed, back)

Rub test

Rub test

Call me bias but I don’t always have a good impression of merchandise sold under house brands so I had my reservations about these claims being translated into reality. (But eyeliners in the form of highlighters? Who can resist?!)

Pardon my unkempt brows

Chocolate Break

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liner in Chocolate Break (S$15)

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liner in Chocolate Break (S$15)

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liner in Chocolate Break

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liner in Chocolate Break

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liner in Chocolate Break on primed lids

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liner in Chocolate Break on primed lids

It was a challenge manoeuvring the tip.. This was the best I could do.

It was a challenge manoeuvring the tip.. This was the best I could do.

Ahh...the gaps

Ahh.. the gaps

Don’t laugh, but the name reminds me of how Ms Yeah created her makeup with cocoa powder in one of her many ingenious videos.

But unlike the sheer payoff of the makeup that she had concocted, Chocolate Break is highly opaque and pigmented. It has a darker undertone as compared to the colour reflected on the packaging, so it appears almost like black which makes it ideal for those who do not wish to deviate too much from wearing the standard beauty look.

There was no bleeding, and attempts to rub this matte dark brown swatch off my hand were largely unsuccessful. Even after 8 hours, the colour still remained reasonably vivid despite wetting my hands on a few occasions! This little wear test took me by surprise, so I decided to wear the eyeliner on my upper lash lines and run 5km around my estate to confirm its longevity the next day. Surely, my oily lids coupled with my acidic sweat would be able to melt the makeup away?

Post-run

Post-run

Fading away..

Fading away..

Left-side going strong!

Left-side going strong!

And you guessed it – the eyeliner budged quite a bit. But even though it barely survived the run, I was glad it didn’t transfer onto my lower lash line and give me panda eyes (throughout my run, I was so paranoid that my eyeliner would smudge and I’d attract a lot of unwanted attention from other park users!).

Summer Holiday

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liner in Summer Holiday (S$15)

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liner in Summer Holiday (S$15)

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liner in Summer Holiday

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liner in Summer Holiday

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liner in Summer Holiday on primed lids (and some of it somehow transferred onto my lashes)

Sephora x Stabilo Felt Liner in Summer Holiday on primed lids (and some of it somehow transferred onto my lashes)

A trip to a faraway destination might not be an option right now because of the coronavirus (I could have been in Bangkok 😭) but that does not mean you can’t feel like you’re on holiday at home (or while heading to the supermarket, whatever)! Transport the sea to your lash lines with this calming blue hue and you’re all set for a Zoom summer party (be sure to use a poolside virtual background while you’re at it)!

When tested on my hand sans primer, Summer Holiday revealed a pigmented coat of matte dark periwinkle colour (which is true to the colour of the packaging). It was mostly smudge-proof (but not as resistant as Chocolate Break to rubbing) and had a consistent product payoff. Again, the sceptic in me wanted to see if it could held up on where they were supposed to be, so I painted on the eyeliner and went for a run on another day.

Post-run

Post-run

Almost gone..

Almost gone..

Not too bad, but it smeared more than Chocolate Break

Not too bad, but it smeared more than Chocolate Break

Either my body had produced more sweat than usual on that day or this shade couldn’t really withstand humidity because it smudged more easily than Chocolate Break. There was hardly any product left on my lids after most of it migrated into the creases, or simply melted away with my sweat.

Opacity comparison with other brands of eyeliners I own

Opacity comparison with other brands of eyeliners I own

Based on my experience, both eyeliners yielded great results until they got exposed to moisture, so I wouldn’t want to wear it to watch tearjerker films, y’know, just in case. I also wouldn’t consider myself to be a fan of the bevelled tip as it really takes some getting used to. Even as a seasoned eyeliner user myself, angling the tip correctly to draw straight thin lines (especially those feline flicks) posed as a challenge to me 😩

It’s a pity that only a limited amount of colours was released because I could see how popular this would be if there were more to choose from! Perhaps if this is a success, Sephora might consider working with Stabilo again to come up with more interesting shades – this time, hopefully with a touch of fluorescence just like the highlighters 😁

Unfortunately, I don’t think this range is released in the U.S., so if you’re living in the States, you might want to get someone to ship it to you from Asia or Europe (wherever Sephora has stores in).

What do you think of this collaboration? Let me know your views in the comments below or take a quick poll!

Sephora × Stabilo Felt Liners are now available at Sephora Singapore.

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Sephora Black Card x Private Sale Haul (Oct 2014)

Happy Tuesday everyone!

I haven’t posted anything about my shopping haul because there are way too many items bought over the past 5 months (last update was in May) and I haven’t been able to find time for it. But I’ll definitely get my Carousell haul post up soon, I promise! For now, let’s settle for a mini one from Sephora, shall we? 🙂

I remember filling out the application form to be a member of Sephora’s Loyalty Programme at the Orchard ION branch in 2011 but only started using the White card more often when I got hooked onto beauty products about a year later. However, I feel that other than getting a 10% discount upon accumulating enough points, there wasn’t much exclusivity to being a member because anyone can be a White card holder. Also as a huge spender, you’d naturally want to be set apart from the casual buyers. Thus when I learned about the launch of the Black Card, I was super ecstatic! Partly because my White card is becoming a breeding ground for algae (I have no idea how it got there) and I was already planning to get a replacement (not sure if it’s allowed though).

Black Card holders get to enjoy:

  • VIP access to private sales
  • 10% off on next visit with every 250 points earned in 3 countries (Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand)
  • Pretty birthday surprises
  • Receive exclusive invites to events and workshops

To be a Black Card member, you have to accumulate 250 points.

The privileges are not much difference from the White card I guess. But black is a nicer colour, so yeah.

Just so you know, Sephora USA has a similar loyalty programme called the Beauty Insider but it is waaay cooler because it has 3 ranks – Beauty Insider, VIB and VIB Rouge. Of course, the more you spend, the higher you climb the ladder. Why can’t Sephora Singapore implement the same system? 😦

Anyway, these are what I got from the private sale for Black Card members. It’s not a lot though because I already have most of the stuff I wanted. But I would’ve definitely spent more if Urban Decay Vice 3 was available.

Everything at Sephora was 20% off 😀

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2 of my purchases are rather new products which I hadn’t tried.

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Benefit Boi-ing in 02 (S$27.20, UP S$34) & Clarisonic Brush Head for Sensitive Skin (S$28, UP S$35)

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Benefit They’re Real Push-up Liner (S$30.40, UP S$38), Fresh Soy Face Cleanser (S$18.40, UP S$23) & MAC Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Etcetera (S$28, UP S$35)

The cleanser and brush head are items I’d get on a regular basis because I use them pretty often. I’m about to empty my current tube so this sale was actually very timely. 😀

I’ll take this chance to do a quick review of the wearable products if case some of you’re interested.

Let’s begin with my all-time favourite concealer. Are you ready to see my naked face?

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Woke up with a few new tiny zits. (pardon my messy hair)

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NO FILTER: With Boi-ing on top of POREfessional. Only concealed certain areas.

Finally a shade that is a perfect match to my skin tone! I was using 03 previously because I thought I had grown tanner but no, it was so dark on me. It’s strange because 02 used to be too light on me. Well, my skin could’ve returned to its original shade after jogging under shady trees lol.

The award-winning industrial strength concealer camouflages 98% of my flaws. It is by far the best concealer I’ve ever used because the creamy and thick cream doesn’t really get rubbed off even when I apply my foundation over it (yes, my routine is conceal first then apply foundation). It covers even the reddest pimple.

Moving on…

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From The Matte Lip collection: MAC Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Etcetera (UP S$35)

Yes, another product from The Matte Lip! Love this collection a lot. Every lipstick, except for Damn Glamorous, was sold out at Sephora ION outlet. I believe it’s the same for most branches in Singapore.

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Etcetera is a creamy beige.

I got Etcetera after swatching almost every lip pencil (from this collection) on my hand. The other shade I was contemplating about was Staunchly Stylish I think. But of course, being a darker shade, it was outright rejected by Bf who was with me at Sephora. -_-

Something must have distracted me because I had forgotten to wipe off the pencil marks on my wrist. But guess what? They were still there in their original shape after almost 4 hours of constant rubbing against my bracelets and watch. Wow! Full marks for longevity. But removal can be a chore!

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Lip pencils tend to be more on the dry side hence they will not go well as lipsticks on flaky and chapped lips! You are going to have a hard and painful time applying and removing it. But it also does its job well as a lip liner 🙂

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Wore this out to Madame Tussauds last Sunday!

Knowing that it has a long lasting effect, I used this in place of lipstick on my lips. And true enough, it stayed on for the entire day. One of my biggest issues with lipsticks is that I leave behind stains everywhere my lips come into contact with – on straws, spoons, cups, etc. But with MAC Pro Longwear Lip Pencil? Rarely. It stays on until you attack it with a makeup removal wipe.

But of course, I still prefer my lipsticks because they are less time-consuming and dry, and are more vibrant? I’ll just use the lip pencil to line my lips.

Check out my review on lipsticks from MAC The Matte Lip collection!

And finally, for the eyes…

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Benefit They’re Real Push-up Liner. New ones come with an orange plug/stopper at the tip.

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Didn’t manage to capture the process, so here’s the result! (plz ignore those unsightly tiny bumps)

It works almost like any twist up eyeliners but this comes with an Accuflex Tip for easy application. Just twist the base around until a teeny weeny bit of the gel is delivered to the top. You don’t want to dispense too much of the gel because they’d break and clump together like a ball. Trust me, you wouldn’t want your face speckled with fallouts.

My verdict: I’m probably going to use this very often because it’s proven to be budge-proof and it’s relatively easy to apply. Plus I didn’t have to do much to cover the tiny space between my lash line and my lids. The eyeliner automatically fills in the gap for me (thus “lash-hugging”). It’s gonna save me a lot of time on days I oversleep.

However, removal would take a little more time. It shouldn’t be a problem if you’re using a good-quality removal wipe (for the record, I’m using Simple Spotless Skin Quick Fix Cleansing Wipes).

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FANTASTICO 🙂

That’s all for this haul post! Do share with me your thoughts about any of the mentioned products 🙂

Thanks for reading lovelies ❤

April & May Carousell Beauty Haul + Freebies

Hey fellow beautyholics!

I actually planned to have quarterly updates on my Carousell beauty haul but I guess I couldn’t resist not sharing my great bargains any longer! Furthermore I’ve bought quite a number of stuff so if I don’t blog about it now, I’ll probably take forever to get this up LOL.

Scroll all the way down for some exciting freebies!

Click here to read my January-March Carousell Beauty Haul or
here to read my Carousell Beauty Haul 2013.

I’m actually pretty excited to write about my latest haul as I recently bought a new camera (not through Carousell la as I prefer to get gadgets from authorized retailers). In fact it’s a mini DSLR which I hope can capture every minute detail of the stuff that I’m photographing. Let me say first ah, that I’m not a professional photographer so please don’t expect super amazing pictures. But I will try my utmost okay! Haha.

Ok ok I’m yakking too much let’s get started! Once again, let me reiterate that everything I buy from Carousell is 100% authentic. My skin is rather sensitive so I CANNOT use fakes!

I shall begin with blushes and highlighters ‘coz those are the least exciting products of all hahaha. One of my favourite weird pastimes is going to Sephora to swatch everything I see on my hand and ever since owning my first Tarte blush in Blissful, I’ve been going back to test out all the other different shades. I do not have a particular favourite as everything seems to go well with my skin tone but I definitely prefer matte pink to peachy ones. However, you know the prices at Sephora can be really crazy… S$42 for one Tarte blush?! Na-ah, I’d rather spend my money on something else if there ain’t discount. So I turn to Carousell for all my beauty needs!!

Tarte Amazonian Clay in Blushing Bride (top) and Natural Beauty (bottom)

Tarte Amazonian Clay in Blushing Bride (top) and Natural Beauty (bottom) at S$20 each (RTP: S$42)

Tarte Amazonian Clay in Blushing Bride (top) and Natural Beauty (bottom)

Sorry for the poor lighting! Natural Beauty is a little darker than pictured.

Photo credit: shopping-district.net

Photo credit: shopping-district.net

I wore Blushing Bride (totally unintentional ok) for my cousin’s wedding and I absolutely loved how it flushed my cheeks! It looks very pigmented on the pictures but it definitely isn’t 🙂 It comes in a slightly bigger than palm-sized tub but it goes a long way! I’ve been using Blissful almost everyday since last November and I still haven’t hit pan yet LOL so it’s really worth every penny!

NARS in Orgasm

NARS in Orgasm at S$18 (RTP SS$42)

Whoop I finally found Orgasm at a super affordable price as others were selling at close to retail price for a brand new piece. I got this, BRAND NEW AND AUTHENTIC, at only $18 wtf!! Anyway people on beauty forums have been raving so much about this so of course I HAD to lay my hands on this baby! At first glance, Orgasm seems like a shimmery blush but it does not make my face sparkle after application. I would be SO disappointed if it’s really shimmery ‘coz I have oily skin. But it’s actually pretty matte, with very minimal shimmer enough to give your face a healthy glow!

Benefit Rockateur

Benefit Rockateur at S$25 (RTP S$46)

Benefit Rockateur

I am a terrible photographer. I hope you can see the shade haha.

Rockateur is a blusher in rose gold shade but to me it looks like a cross between a blusher and a bronzer because it contours and flushes my cheeks at the same time y’know what I’m sayin? 😛 It doesn’t give you very rosy cheeks for sure (unless you apply multiple layers la) so if you’re looking for a subtle blush for a mild sunkissed cheeks, this is an ideal choice!

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact in Pink Quartz

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact in Pink Quartz at S$20 (RTP US$42)

The shimmer brick acts like a highlighter not too harsh on my face (Benefit’s High Beam can really turn my face into a freakin’ disco ball if not careful). Sometimes I tend to use too much foundation which makes my face look too matte. Instead of reapplying the foundation, I find it way easier to give my face more glow by applying powdered highlighter (the shimmer brick in this case) on the top of my cheekbones, forehead, brow bones, cupid’s bow (the middle dip above the lips) and of course, the nose bridge to make my nose seem more defined and sharp 😀

Benefit Watt's Up!

Benefit Watt’s Up! at S$11 (RTP S$48)

Benefit Watt's Up!

Benefit Watt’s Up! sponge applicator

I guess the packaging is made to resemble a light bulb. Haha so cute hor?

I’ve reviewed the deluxe-sized Watt’s Up before and I was really satisfied with the end result. It’s a stick highlighter but the smaller version doesn’t come with the sponge applicator which is TOTALLY fine with me!! Coz I’d rather use my index finger. People who own the original size would understand – the applicator is completely useless, doesn’t blend the highlighter well like what it’s supposed to do especially when there’s foundation beneath it. Acts more like an eraser instead haha. Anyway, I use this instead of the shimmer brick when I’m in a rush because I’d need a brush for the latter! So yup, easy to apply and lasts a long time!

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl

Benefit Girl Meets Pearl at S$10 (RTP S$48)

Another Benefit product which I got because it was cheap. This is like a sister (or maybe a twin) to High Beam and Moon Beam because it’s also a shimmery liquid highlighter. I read the description several times on Benefit.com and still don’t know what sets it apart from the Beams. Perhaps it’s only the tone – this gives a warmer tone than the rest.

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Beige

Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer in Beige at S$8 (RTP US$24)

It was brand new but I used it before I photographed it. I admit this was an impulse buy because it was only 8 DOLLARS. I’ve seen someone selling the same product at $40 la so of course when I saw this listing, I immediately grabbed it! Obviously shade is a little too light for me (I’m an NC35) BUT I found another way to use this! As an under eye concealer!

I’ll go back to basics and talk about my face make-up products!

Urban Decay All Nighter

Urban Decay All Nighter (old packaging) at S$30 (RTP S$48)

Urban Decay All Nighter (old packaging)

“..won’t budge for 16 hours..” “makeup … always looks just-applied.”

Singapore, as most of you know, is such a HOT and HUMID country and the scorching sun can literally melt every single product on your face – how sickening! It gets really problematic and embarrassing for me when I had to be outdoors most of the time because at the end of the day, all my pores and blemishes would show, and my liquid foundation would turn patchy and flaky. I also do not like touching up my make-up in public. Thus I knew I HAD to get a face primer to hopefully retain 70% of my make-up.

Then I came across this product! The Carouseller was selling both All Nighter and De-slick at S$30 each. Getting both would burn a huge hole in my pocket so I read reviews and decided on All Nighter in the end. It is a face primer which helps to retain the make-up for up to 16 hours and so far, it’s been working really well on me! I’d say, about 75-80% of my make-up stays the same after 11 hours.

Urban Decay De-Slick (old packaging)

Urban Decay De-Slick (old packaging) at S$15 (RTP S$48)

Urban Decay De-Slick (old packaging)

“…ally against oil and shine!”

Then a few days later, another seller was selling this (used lightly twice but strangely it felt like a brand new one to me coz I had to pump several times before the product came out) at half of the price of my All Nighter! Yay a blessing in disguise!

De-slick is formulated to prevent your face (especially the T-zone) from becoming too oily which is also another essential to survive in this humid country. #woesofasingaporean

I use both before applying my make-up now and the result speaks for itself. Very satisfied with both products!

(Saw someone selling brand new All Nighter at S$15 argh, heart pain. Stopthinkingaboutitstopthinkingaboutit)

Moving on to the eyes! Whoop, my favourite section because it’s gonna be mostly about eyeshadow palettes! COLOURS ARE MY DRUG.

But first, let me show you what I bought for my brows!

Anna Sui Eyebrow Color Compact in shade 03

Anna Sui Eyebrow Color Compact in shade 03 at S$12 (RTP US$28)

Anna Sui Eyebrow Color Compact in shade 03

Very easy-to-use brow kit!

I had everything I needed to enhance my facial features EXCEPT for my brows! Honestly I was looking for Benefit’s Brow Zings (still looking for one.. hit me up if you’re gonna sell me one cheap cheap lol) or Gimme Brows but sigh, they’re more pricey than eyeshadow palettes on Carousell O_O Nonetheless, this Anna Sui one works pretty well too but the extreme left shade, which is supposed to define my brow shape, isn’t really pigmented so I had to “draw” several times before I could see the faded outline.

Anna Sui Mascara Base

Anna Sui Mascara Base/Primer at S$18 (RTP US$25)

Anna Sui Mascara Base/Primer

Pretty in purple

I first learnt about this product during my Anna Sui makeover last year. My eyes were semi-shut but I could feel the salesgirl-cum-makeover-artist using a mascara wand twice! So then I asked her what the first time was for and she told me that it was meant to make my lashes stay curled and mascara stay longer. I was impressed with the product as my lashes really remained curled the entire day! Not wanting to fork out money for the full price, I bought one from Carouseller who only sells Anna Sui stuff ZOMG (no negotiation allowed though sianzzzz but it’s still cheaper than retail) and when I met her she even handed me her name card with a big “ANNA SUI” printed on the front!! YES, LEGIT BUSINESS ON CAROUSELL OK! So who needs Isetan/Tangs when you have Carousellers that sell authentic and brand new products at a fraction of the price?!?

Anyway the primer itself is like an adhesive liquid to hold your mascara and is purple in colour. But no, it does not make your lashes purple! It kinda melts and blends into your lashes. *IF* it doesn’t, you can always coat it with a layer of mascara coz that’s ultimately what you’re gonna do right? Also, I feel that Anna Sui should improve on the packaging… Not sure if it’s me but it looks a little unfinished, like an outer layer has been torn off.

Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette

Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette at S$32 (RTP US$55 / S$80) comes with a velvet-lined box

Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette

Gorgeous! I love Junkshow, M.I.A, Evidence, Midnight Rodeo and Deeper!

First impression: very luxurious, even came with a velvet box and the palette itself is made of heavy metallic material! I think this is probably the most value-for-money eyeshadow palette of all because it’s $32 for 15 BRAND NEW shades! I haven’t tried to do a look with this yet as most of the shades are rather bold and they are very inappropriate for my work (as a part-time tutor.. don’t want my students to get distracted by my eyes LOL)! I am very eager to try this though! Perhaps I will utilise this tomorrow since it’s my free day!

Urban Decay Smoked Palette

Urban Decay Smoked Palette at S$35 (RTP S$78)

Urban Decay Smoked Palette

All the dark shades you need to create heavily smokey eyes can be found in this palette!

Pro: Very pigmented. Con: Also very pigmented.

I love smokey eyes but this is unfortunately too dark for my liking. My eyes are rather small (typical Chinese la haiz) and the colours tend to make them look even smaller 😦 It’s also quite hard to control how dark you want the colours to be because they are SO PIGMENTED! I swear, just a slight dip (and I’m just dipping 1/4 of the brush into the shadows) is enough to turn your eye into a black pit.

Though I’m not very fond of this palette, I’m still keeping it because I believe I’d need it one day (deceiving myself) LOL. Actually it’s coz I like to collect palettes which I think you should be able to tell by now HAHA.

Urban Decay Alice in the Wonderland Palette

Urban Decay Alice in Wonderland Palette at S$54 (RTP S$88)

Urban Decay Alice in the Wonderland Palette

This picture doesn’t do justice to the palette. Trust me, it’s really very pretty in real life!

NOT an impulse buy because I actually contemplated for more than a month! Also partly due to the price la… I seldom spend so much on a palette one 😦 But the shades are just too irresistible. Now I understand why so many people requested for the comeback of this palette on Urban Decay’s Facebook page! It’s really that gorgeous!

Urban Decay Vice 2 Palette

Urban Decay Vice 2 Palette at S$60 (RTP S$88)

Urban Decay Vice 2 Palette

Vice 2 contains more smokey, neutral yet versatile shades very suitable for a classy night out. My personal favourites are Prank, Madness, Toxic and Ambush from this palette.

This was only released last September? I remember receiving a newsletter from Sephora about its launch at Ngee Ann City. Now you can hardly find any in stores! I think they discontinued the product or it’s entirely sold out since it’s a limited edition palette.

Got this from a really friendly person who just lives across the road hehe. It was brand new with box so it felt like I bought it from Sephora. You can create quite a number of looks with this palette. Will blog about my looks one day if I remember to take selfies -_-

Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette

Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette (2014 version) at S$30 (RTP US$36 and not available in Singapore yet. Previous version retailed at between S$60-70! The tin is supposed to be in pinkish hue lol. My colour correction made it blue omg sorry.

Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette

Like the previous version, it comes with 3 sets of shades catered for different styles. Have tried “Fashion” (last row) and loved the look!

Too Faced Natural Eyes Palette

A closer look.

Another really gorgeous palette of neutral colours suitable for everyday look. It comes with a guide that teaches you how to create a look for “Day”, “Classic” and “Fashion”. I did the “Fashion” one and it transformed me into a model. LOL ok very lame please ignore.

But yes, if you’re looking for a small and compact palette besides Naked, buy this (when it’s launched in Singapore, or just buy online la easy)! It’s also good for vacation as it definitely won’t take up a lot of space in your make-up bag!

I will find time to review this properly one day because I really recommend this to everyone!!

Too Faced Pretty Rebel Palette

Too Faced Pretty Rebel Palette at S$28 (RTP US$46 / S$60+ if I remember correctly)

Too Faced Pretty Rebel Palette

REALLY PRETTY SHADES!!! (Colours enhanced to show true colours)

Too Faced Pretty Rebel Palette

A closer look…

Another palette that was launched not too long also and is no longer available in Sephora omg WHY?! But doesn’t matter la I will only get it from Carousell anyway. Hahaha!

Rebel 9 to 5

Rebel 9 to 5

Too Faced is probably the best high-end palette for make-up beginners or barely intermediates because so far all the TF palettes I own come with an instruction manual! So of course, this has one too (forgot to photograph) and it also teaches you to do 3 different looks: Rebel 9 to 5, Pretty Rebel (the only look that makes use of the very outstanding Totally Fetch) and Rebel Rocker. I followed the steps for Rebel 9 to 5 and got a really nice smokey look!

Lorac Pro Palette

Lorac Pro Palette at S$60 (RTP US$42 and not available in Singapore)

Lorac Pro Palette

Upper row are matte and bottom are shimmery

Probably my most expensive purchase from Carousell to date together with the Vice 2 palette (not counting the Nintendo Wii I offered and paid for by my boyfriend but that’s another story Lol) but yet the most used and versatile one by far. I absolutely love this palette, even more than my Naked palettes (1, 2 and 3 combined sigh) because it has all the neutrals I would use in one. Furthermore it has an entire row of MATTE shades! Nowadays you can hardly find any palettes even with 30% matte lor!! And the shimmery ones are also very pretty!! Just look at Gold and Pewter!

I was reluctant to pay for this at first but I succumbed to temptation in the end because as mentioned, it’s not available anywhere in Singapore and other Carousellers were previously selling it for at least S$75 with absolutely no negotiation, bitches. Yet were able get buyers within days. With this kind of demand, confirm plus chop must be a very tokong (awesome/powerful) palette. It’s also a pretty rare find on Carousell.

However it’s S$60 without the primer and box. It’s 一分钱一分货. Seller (not a very pleasant experience as well but she appeared apologetic so I’ll let it go~) claimed that it was brand new but looking at the exterior (it’s the same rubbery material used in NARS product, very easily dirtied), I doubt so but the shadows looked untouched when I got it. I’ll just think positively and consider it to be brand new lor.

Ultimately, this palette rocks and that’s all it matters.

Now, for the lips… Also tied with the eyes for my favourite category. Too many pictures so I’ll just spam them from this point onwards lol. All the MAC lipsticks should retail around S$29.

MAC Ruby Woo

MAC Ruby Woo at S$23

MAC Russian Red

MAC Russian Red at S$20

MAC Ruby Woo (left) and Russian Red (right)

MAC Ruby Woo (left) and Russian Red (right) for a matte finish.

You wouldn’t be able to tell the difference between Ruby Woo and Russian Red just by looking at the pictures to be honest, coz they are really similar. You need to swatch it to see the contrast. Russian Red is a lot darker and deeper whereas Ruby Woo has slight blue undertone and is also brighter than the former. I love both! They give me the very sultry look and fuller lips hahahaha.

Sadly boyfriend doesn’t like it when I apply lipstick and he used to forbid me in doing so. It took me AGES to convince to revoke his ban. He now allows me to wear lipstick BUT only in nude shades -_- So all these bold colours can only be used when I’m not with him.

Guys… *shakes head*

MAC Saint Germain

MAC Saint Germain at S$15

MAC Morange

MAC Morange at S$15

MAC Saint Germaine and Morange (Amplified Creme)

MAC Saint Germaine and Morange (Amplified Creme)

Saint Germaine was an impulse buy coz I’m a sucker for anything pink and true enough it doesn’t really go well with my skin tone. 😛 I’m waiting for the day I get fairer so I can pull off such bright colours 🙂

I got Morange because I plan to do an oriental look one day (maybe next Chinese New Year) and orange hues are a must!

MAC Innocent, Beware!

MAC Cremesheen – Innocent, Beware! at S$15

Got this since it’s nude a.k.a Boyfriend-approve.

MAC Ultra Darling

MAC Sheen Supreme – Ultra Darling at S$18

This has a very glossy finish and thus very moisturising on the lips. I’d say this can be considered as a My Lips But Better (MLBB) lipstick!

MAC Paramount

MAC Satin – Paramount at S$18

I LOVE, LOVE THIS. This maroon with a slight hint of deep plum lipstick is one of my favourite lipsticks for this haul! It is also semi-shimmery. Actually I’m starting to like anything that has purplish/deep plum tones because I feel that dark colours really complement my skin tone! And it shows who I am as a person. I’m an introvert with unfathomable thinking *cackles*

..Which reminds me, who is as excited as me for Lorde’s MAC collection??! I AM OMG I HAVE TO GET HER LIPSTICK.

MAC Infused With Glam

MAC Dazzle – Infused With Glam at S$10

Love the colour but too much “dazzle” for me. I would only apply it once and spread it all over my lips with my finger or brush to even out the shimmers.

MAC Candy Yum Yum

MAC Matte – Candy Yum Yum at S$22

Another very daring colour like Saint Germain.. Well, you know why I bought this. But I prefer this to Saint Germain coz the pink in this is really cute!

Mac Relentlessly Red

MAC Retro Matte – Relentlessly Red at S$17.50

Relentlessly Red is a “bright pinkish coral matte” lipstick. Gives you a very cheery colour, see also happy. It’s a perfect combination of red and pink – very gorgeous shade!

MAC Flat Out Fabulous

MAC Retro Matte – Flat Out Fabulous at S$17.50

This is a flat out purple lipstick for adventurous days! I actually need more guts to put this on than super red lipsticks. How common is it to see people wearing unusual coloured lipsticks on the streets?

MAC Lady at Play

MAC Mineralized Rich – Lady at Play at S$19.90

With Lady at Play on

With Lady at Play on

Another MLBB lipstick and also very moisturising! The lipstick tube is also very cool coz it has a magnetic closure!! I love it when manufacturers put effort in the packaging.

MAC Delectable

MAC Mattene – Delectable at S$15

Another MLBB lipstick! Wore this out to meet boyfriend and he didn’t notice anything so I guess it’s also boyfriend-approve.

MAC Dazzle - Sheer Seduction

Limited Edition MAC Dazzle – Sheer Seduction at S$18

MAC Dazzle - Sheer Seduction

So pretty!!

This was from the Temperature Rising collection and probably retailed at more than S$29 coz the box and lipstick tube are really different from the others. Tube is made of rubbery material a la NARS! As this also has “Dazzle” finish like Infused With Glam, I’m just gonna apply once on my lips.

With covers

Some with covers

Bobbi among the Macs

Bobbi among the Macs

Bobbi Brown Fall Lip Palette

Bobbi Brown Fall Lip Palette at S$18 (RTP unknown)

Me

Me

Yup

Yup

Looks like nothing on my lips

Looks like nothing on my lips (and yeaaa my hair damn nice here. If only it’s this nice every day)

Another impulse buy and kinda regretting it. Don’t know what made me buy this since I’m not really fond of Bobbi Brown lip products. Upper row is gloss while bottom row is cream and I’ve tried it once. Not really fantastic. Even the darkest shade didn’t quite show on my lips.

Limecrime in Poisonberry

Lime Crime in Poisonberry at S$14 (RTP US$18)

My FIRST Lime Crime lipstick. Seriously if you guys want to know what’s trending, just take a look at the listings on Carousell. Popular items tend to be listed up a lot and Lime Crime is one of them, even though this brand is not available in Singapore at all. Can you believe that I didn’t know of Lime Crime’s existence before joining Carousell? I don’t! Because Lime Crime lipsticks are really amazing even though I don’t use bold colours often. It’s VERY pigmented and long-lasting! Now only if I have the guts to pull off bold colours! I should go pluck up my courage!

Topshop in Whimsical (left) and Brighton Rock (right)

Topshop in Whimsical (left) and Brighton Rock (right) at S$10 and S$5 respectively (RTP S$19 each)

Topshop has some nice colours but they are rather dry! So I’m just gonna stop at 3 (I have one more which I don’t bother featuring).

NARS Damage

NARS Damage at S$18 (RTP US$24)

This looks matte but it’s actually glossy! I incorporate this into my daily look.

Anna Sui Lip Rouge G in shade 500

Anna Sui Lip Rouge G in shade 500 at S$6 (RTP US$27?)

Yes, I bought this brand new lipstick for only S$6! This also gives a glossy finish. I usually alternate between this and the NARS lipstick above on my neutral days.

Tarte FRXtion Sugar Exfoliator and Lip Balm

Tarte FRXtion Sugar Exfoliator and Lip Balm at only S$2.50 (RTP US$15)

Another impulse buy but it’s just $2.50. I’ll take it as a trial fee hahaha. This Tarte product has in fact already been discontinued. Maybe that’s the reason for the low price.

Surprise, surprise! No Urban Decay this time round.. coz nobody’s selling it 😦 So I bought 3 from Sephora HEEHEE. Share them with you another day!

Last but not least, fragrance!

Benefit Laugh With Me Lee Lee

Benefit Laugh With Me Lee Lee 30ml EDT at S$15 (RTP US$36 / S$50+)

My second favourite Benefit EDT after Ring My Bella. I love how Benefit named their fragrances after girls – how cute! This has a very nice jasmine scent and is also very versatile. I alternate between this and Bella when I run errands.

Benefit My Place or Yours Gina

Benefit My Place or Yours Gina 30ml EDT at S$15 (RTP US$36 / S$50+)

This EDT really lives up to its name coz the moment you spray this on, you feel like a complete vixen LOL. This fragrance makes you feel like a slut (in a good way.. or should I say seductive. Ok wrong choice of word) and if your man is a frequent clubber and the easily-turned-on kind, he’ll definitely love this. Unfortunately… I’m such a good girl so I rarely reach out for this perfume.

Anna Sui Forbidden Affair

Anna Sui Forbidden Affair 50ml EDT at S$18 (RTP S$74)

Anna Sui Live Your Dream

Anna Sui Live Your Dream 30ml EDT at S$20 (RTP S$37.50 on sg.strawberrynet.com)

Other day-to-day fragrances I’d use to preserve my Benefit fragrance. I’ll be so sad if my Benefit EDT runs out!

Marc Jacobs Daisy

Marc Jacobs Daisy 50ml EDP at S$35 (RTP S$132)

THIS is the ultimate great deal. You guys know how expensive Marc Jacobs perfumes are. Last year there was this hype about Daisy and practically everyone on Carousell was searching for it (hence many fakes appeared). I think the craze has died down now so when the seller listed this up, not many people offered! I was very surprised to see it still available after 45 minutes. QUICKLY grabbed it as a back up for my existing EDT which Boyfriend bought for me at the airport. I shan’t elaborate much on this fragrance. It’s really nice-smelling, like daisies 😀

Vera Wang by Vera Wang

Vera Wang by Vera Wang 50ml EDP at S$15 (RTP S$80)

Another high-end fragrance which I was really surprised to see on Carousell at such a low price. Apparently the seller (a very nice working lady) got this as a wedding gift and she sold it cheaply coz she didn’t want to switch fragrance. Ok so YAY another luxury perfume added to my collection!

That’s all for this batch of haul! I know your mouth must be gaping in horror. HOW MUCH IS MY DAMAGE? Don’t know, don’t bother calculating. I believe in #yolo hahaha and I believe in retail therapy! Probably the reason for being so happy-go-lucky and sane in this stressful society is that I shop a lot! 😛  If I’m not shopping for cosmetics, I’m probably shopping for clothes. Of course, you gotta know your limits.. or get a naggy and observant boyfriend like mine.

I do look like I camp on Carousell 24/7. Nah I only camp 12/7. LOL Ok not at all, only access the app when I’m on the go (which is very often) or when I’m bored. I guess I’m just very lucky to be able to clinch so many great deals when I’m on the app!

* * *

OKAY here’s the highlight (yeah after a kazillion images I’M SORRY).

(ADV) ARE YOU STILL WITH ME??

3-for-3 Giveaway

I hope my purchases (all real one hor I can show you my depleting money in my bank HAHA NO I’M JOKING) have enticed you to join Carousell (review here) if you haven’t! If you aren’t a member yet, GREAT! Coz this is the RIGHT TIME to join to attract hungry shopaholics like me! Can you imagine how much you’d earn from me if you were the one selling everything above? LOL.

If you’re already a member but have been inactive all the while, it’s time for you to GET BACK ON!

Carousell is giving away FREE 3 months’ digital subscription to any of SPH Magazines’ fashion and beauty magazines (Her World, CLEO and more!) if you post 3 listings!

Simply follow these 3 simple steps:

3-for-3 Giveaway (Open to Singapore users only)
1. Download the Carousell app + Sign up for a Carousell account (or Log in)
2. Upload 3 listings* in the ‘For Her’ or ‘Beauty Products’ category
3. Wait for your redemption code & instructions on how to redeem your free subscription!

*Listings must be uploaded by 28 May 2014 11 June 2014 (extension granted!). Redemption code and instructions will be sent to users after 11 June 2014.

This is a giveaway okay, not a contest, which mean you’d definitely get it if you do as instructed!

carousell2

Do you have any Carousell hauls to share? Leave your blog link below! I’d love to see it too 😀

Thanks for reading!

(I won’t be revealing my Carousell username any time soon since I buy more than I sell. But if you recognise your item here and know who I am, feel free to say hi! :D)

Read also:
Carousell Review
How to Spot Fake Urban Decay 2 Palettes on Carousell
How to Spot Fake MAC Lipsticks on Carousell
Exposed: Urban Decay Palette Counterfeit Preorder