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

How to Spot Fake MAC Lipsticks on Carousell

Hello guys! I’m back with another “How to Spot Fake” post specially for the Carousell community but I reckon this will also come in handy for the penny-pinching online shoppers who buy frequently on eBay and Duriana.

Click here to read How to Spot Fake Urban Decay Naked 2 Palettes on Carousell.

If you had read my last haul post, you should know how much a lipstick junkie I am lately. But I only use certain brands such as Urban Decay (you guys know that I’m a UD fanatic), Benefit, Anna Sui and MAC, especially Urban Decay and MAC lipstick as their shades are to die for. I have no issues with buying Urban Decay lipsticks off the net because their Revolution line is probably too new in the market to spawn fakes. However the problem comes when purchasing MAC ones because counterfeit MAC lipstick sales is so rampant on Carousell! I had to be extra careful when buying them and thank god I haven’t gotten any fakes so far (I hope).

Singaporeans! Find out how to buy from maccosmetics.com here!

I have personally seen some users ignorantly buy fakes because the seller assured that they are authentic. And if these buyers don’t like what they bought, they resell them and pass them off as authentic ones again. It’s like a vicious cycle. Many a time, I wanted to leave a comment to clarify, but I guess many users take offense to that so I held back most of the time (except for a few occasions when I was terribly moody and wanted to confront someone lol gangsta). So instead of leaving truthful comments on every misleading listing, blogging about it seems to be more feasible since I know many Carousellers visit this site.

Google “fake mac lipstick” and you will get more than 2 million results but I will skip the size and swatch comparison since you most likely are going to pay before touching or viewing the product, and only list and elaborate on 2 simple steps to avoid purchasing counterfeit MAC lipsticks on Carousell.

1. Ask where the product was purchased from

To me, it is more credible if the seller elaborates on which MAC outlet she bought it from, and when. Highly unconvincing if seller claims that she bought it from a reseller who does preorders. Once again, NEVER buy branded stuff through preorders if you don’t know the source as 99.9% of the time, the products are inauthentic! Sellers can assure its authenticity all they want (but it’s always along the lines of “Supplier claims authentic”) but at the end of the day, when you realize that the product is not the real deal, are they going to refund you your money? Of course not, who are you kidding? Maybe half the amount for the nicer sellers, but definitely not the full sum.

However, if seller honestly tells you that she is unsure of its origin (because it was a gift), you can still probe further by asking for a…

2. Picture of the bottom label

The label is a round sticker found at the bottom (duh) of the lipstick. It is not a demanding request so go ahead and ask for this very important additional picture. Some ethical sellers would have probably known about this as I have also seen some voluntarily attach pictures of it on their listings.

For a clearer explanation, I am going to use my own MAC lipsticks to compare against some blatantly fake ones on Carousell.

Images are for illustration purposes so please don’t get offended if yours is used here. Please note that I am only familiar with MAC lipsticks so please do not use this guide to identify fake MAC foundations, blushes, etc, as they may differ in terms of packaging.

On Carousell:

@noor.shahirah.5 but seller makes known the inauthenticity of product so kudos to her!

@n**r.sh****ah.5 – Seller makes known the inauthenticity of product so kudos to her! This is one of the more obvious ones.

@shoppingcart - "Bought from another carouseller, she claim that this is ori(ginal)"

@sh**ping**rt – Description reads “Bought from another carouseller, she claim that this is ori(ginal)” – A classic example of blind reselling as mentioned above.

@rugrat - Another user who also makes known the inauthenticity of the product.

@r**at – Another user who also makes known the inauthenticity of the product.

Apart from the first picture, you can’t really tell the authenticity of the lipsticks unless you compare it with a genuine one. For my example, I’ve included one of different finish to give you a better idea.

Finishes from left to right: Dazzle, Mattene, Amplified, Sheen Supreme, Cremesheen, Retro Matte, Matte, Mineralize Rich, Satin

Finishes from left to right: Dazzle, Mattene, Amplified, Sheen Supreme, Cremesheen, Retro Matte, Matte, Mineralize Rich, Satin

Just a close-up

Just a close-up

Another close-up

Another close-up

Can you spot the difference?

Well, first of all, the genuine ones do NOT have the brand “MAC” printed again on the bottom label and this is consistent throughout different finishes. Even with some difference in the lipstick packaging (i.e. Mineralize Rich comes in a more luxurious tube), the bottom label still does not bear the brand name. What it has are just the name of the shade and the finish.. which brings me to my next point.

Fakes do not tell you what finish (e.g. lustre, matte, satin) the lipsticks give you. They just have the shade name and the serial number. Hence, do not assume that the lipstick is authentic just because it has a serial number as ALL fakes have one! It’s not that difficult to print some random numbers on the sticker after all! On top of that, genuine serial numbers seem like they are embossed on at random places, unlike those on the fake ones which are typed and aligned according to the shade name. Also, the serial number of genuine MAC lipsticks changes from time to time depending on their batches so don’t be alarmed if yours doesn’t match with those on Google Images!

I’m not sure if you can tell.. but the typeface used on the fake label is also rather tacky and lazy. It’s something that I’d notice at the first glance. Obviously the manufacturers couldn’t be bothered to bold and reduce the size of the serial number. It’s in the default Arial font.. a font which is used mostly by fake factories.

However, counterfeit factories are raising their game these days. They are able to make 1:1 imitation, so close to the original item that even I got deceived! Check out the fake MAC lipstick I bought off Carousell below for (thank goodness) S$5:

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I bought “Viva Glam Cyndi”. Dang, even the box looks exactly like the original. How not to be duped?!

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Wow, seems like these people no longer use stickers! They PRINT the names on the box instead! Just like the original!

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On the other side of the box

The sticker shown above got me a little suspicious, but I’ve seen authentic MAC products sold outside of Singapore with silvery stickers like this pasted on the box, so I closed my eyes on that. The exact same sticker is also pasted at the bottom of the lipstick casing! Furthermore, the sticker satisfies all the criteria of an authentic MAC lipstick: (1) it does not have a MAC logo, (2) the finish of the lipstick is stated and (3) batch number is emboldened and aligned differently from the rest! OMG WHAT. OK IMITATORS, YOU WIN.

By the way, I am not blaming the seller for selling me an imitation. In fact, she did express her uncertainty about its authenticity since it was gifted to her but I took the risk and bought it anyway! I’m actually glad to have bought it because only then would I be able to see and touch a fake MAC lipstick. This post lacks credibility without firsthand experience right?! So here I am, with a fake MAC lipstick that cost me S$5! Ouch. That’s two packets of chicken rice.

It was mailed to me and when I tore open the envelope, the box was already distorted even though it was carefully bubble-wrapped! This never happened to me before. Ignoring those minute details, I excitedly removed the lipstick from the box. Then, I took off the lipstick cap and immediately, I was greeted by a strong plasticky smell and a DISLODGED lipstick bullet! I was like wtf?!?!

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How the dislodged bullet looks like and it’s VERY DISGUSTING AND SMELLY. I tried to put it back into the casing but it was too soft to withstand my touch/grip/whatever (I swear I held it gently enough), thus making a dent on the bullet!

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The lipstick casing isn’t of very good quality too! Look how easily they can be detached from each other! It’s made of thin, light plastic.

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A closer look at Cyndi’s signature. Quite convincing, dotcha think?

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The bullet fell out NICELY and definitely wasn’t pulled out because why? There isn’t any trace of lipstick in the casing! Omg, use a better and stronger glue, won’t you?!?

Now, let’s do a quick comparison between this and an authentic MAC lipstick! I know one common way to distinguish a fake is to compare its weight and size against an authentic one. But I’m really all about convenience and that method is definitely too troublesome for me. So I did something else which could tell me the results in a snap of the fingers!

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Fake on the left, real on the right. You won’t be able to tell which is fake just by looking at their sizes!

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The cap! Clearly, the logo on the fake one is fading.

fakevsrealmac

Watch the animation! I’m sorry that it’s a little slow-mo but I can’t seem to change that on Photoshop.

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In conclusion, the cap of a fake MAC lipstick would not be able to fit onto a real MAC lipstick nicely as it is too loose. On the other hand, the cap of a real one will not be able to fit onto a fake at all. Fakes are made a little bigger than the genuine ones!

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In general, this is the crap I bought.

Hope this is useful information to you! If you have other ways to spot fake MAC lipsticks online, do leave them down in the comments below 🙂

And yes, most of the lipsticks shown in my collection above are my latest haul 😛 Will do a review on them in my next Carousell haul post!

January-March Carousell Beauty Haul

Hey guys! Before the next school term begins next week (and things start getting crazy again), I want to post about my hauls from Carousell! Yes, my addiction didn’t seem to wear off *guilty* but I think I bought lesser stuff this time.

Recently I’ve been obsessed with lipsticks because I find my lips really pale and lacklustre. It wasn’t my first time wearing lipstick excessively though as I used to own lipsticks from Silkygirl (running on a low budget last time as you can see) and Maybelline. Somehow I stopped using them altogether because they made my lips really dry and they didn’t last very long. I got tired of wearing it for an hour and then seeing it on my serviette after meal. I’m also one who doesn’t have the habit of touching up my make up outdoors so I felt putting on lipstick a little pointless.

That was until I discovered Urban Decay’s Revolution Lipstick! I heard and read so much great reviews about it that I knew I had to get it. Back when it was first launched, no one sold the lipstick on Carousell so I went to shop at Sephora for one. I wanted Turn On though but it was out of stock at the Jem outlet. In the end, I got myself Catfight instead. I tried it for the first time on the day I was supposed to attend a friend’s wedding.

And I was blown away!

The lipstick is not only moisturising (bye to dry, chapped lips!), it is also very pigmented and long-wearing! I was pleasantly surprised to see my lips still stained with the lipstick colour after wiping my mouth. Having said that, it also means that it can be rather difficult to remove it entirely.. which happens, but I don’t mind at all. Furthermore I have make up remover wipes which work pretty well so this is no biggie! Since then, I had gone on a search rampage for more Revolution Lipsticks in other shades.

Urban Decay Revolution Lipsticks

My Revolution Lipsticks collection.. crazy I know. BUT IT’S SO WORTH MY EVERY PENNY!! Every one of these was gotten from Carousell except Catfight. Price range between $15-20 each (U.P. $33)

Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick Swatch

My Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick Swatch

I particularly love Protest because it’s the ideal MLBB (My Lips But Better) shade for me. I’m always very worried that I’d look too caked for school but Protest tones down my make up a little. On top of that, my anti-lipstick (for obvious reasons) boyfriend also felt that the colour isn’t too exaggerated and he warned me to only wear this colour when I meet him or else he’ll wipe the lipstick off my lips on the spot -_-

Before I took a picture of the swatches on my hand, I did something really crazy (and silly now that I think of it) but I am still going to include it in this entry anyway because of all the effort I put in…

Swatch on my lips!

… getting all 7 shades on the lips. Well, at least you know how they look like on real lips now. Sadly I can’t really remember which are which LOL. Maybe except for F-Bomb which is obviously the darkest one, and Protest the lightest one.

Urban Decay Protest on me!

(Pardon my eyes) Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Protest on me! It goes really well with my lips.

Protest again

Protest again but without sunlight this time. Somehow it looks a little darker.

Apart from Urban Decay, I also tried lipsticks from other similar high-end brands like Benefit, Anna Sui and Dior which I absolutely adore! No offence to anyone but from this experience, I learn never to buy drugstore lipsticks again! They really pale in comparison in terms of quality. But I guess if money is an issue, you could try lipsticks from Revlon as I’ve also read good reviews about that brand. (And their speciality is supposed to be lipsticks, I heard?)

Benefit Hydra-smooth Lip Colour in Juicy Details

Benefit Hydra-smooth Lip Colour in Juicy Details, at $18 (U.P. S$24 on benefitcosmetics.com)

Benefit Hydra-smooth Lip Colour in Juicy Details

Benefit Hydra-smooth Lip Colour in Juicy Details – swatch

Juicy Details on me!

Juicy Details on me! The wind made me look good LOL.

As suggested on its name, Benefit Hydra-Smooth is a really moisturising lippy which never dehydrates my lips. As you can see from the picture above, Juicy Details is a translucent nude shade which is perfect for dress-down occasions. However it’s not very long-wearing so I’d apply a layer first, then dab my Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder (in Translucent) with my foundation brush through a facial tissue over my lips and then reapply the lipstick again to make it last longer.

Rouge Dior Nude in Shade 418

Rouge Dior Nude in Shade 418, at $20 (U.P. S$48 on sephora.com). As you can see I’m constantly looking for nude lipsticks.

This lipstick by Christian Dior is very creamy and pigmented! The shade complements my slightly-tanned skin tone. I know, I only have a pair of lips but I have so many lipsticks! Honestly I’m spoilt for choice but I enjoy trying out new stuff. Trust me, I rotate my lipsticks everyday.

No real-life pictures for the Dior one as I just received this last Wednesday and I was in a mad rush when I wore it on Thursday! By the time I remembered, it was already in the evening and the stain was partially gone. -_-

Anna Sui Lipstick in Shade 301

Anna Sui Lipstick in Shade 301, at $18 (U.P. US$30 on beautylish.com)

Anna Sui has become one of my favourite cosmetic brands for its scented products and floral designs (my weakness). Some of the make up products I own have this strong chemical smell which makes me feel so paranoid about putting them on my face.

This Anna Sui lipstick shade is also approved by my boyfriend but is slightly pinker than my other nude lipsticks (i.e. Protest). Still, I LOVE IT because it gives me healthy-looking and nice-smelling lips. I feel so much happier whenever I use Anna Sui’s products! What’s worse than looking caked? Smelling like make up!

MAC Cremestick Liner in Softwood

MAC Cremestick Liner in Softwood, $7.50 (U.P. US$15)

MAC Cremestick Liner in Softwood swatch

MAC Cremestick Liner in Softwood swatch

On top of lipsticks, I also wanted to own a lip liner to save the trouble of having to manually draw my lips with lip brush (I use the one from Sephora) and lipstick. Then one day I saw someone selling this like more than half of its retail price and I immediately bought it! (I reiterate: I am 100% sure what I bought on Carousell are authentic because I’m like a secret agent on the app who scrutinises every user’s profile)

MAC Cremestick Liner in Softwood on me!

MAC Cremestick Liner in Softwood on me! Lined my Protest with it.

I absolutely love it! It gave me fuller and a more complete-looking pair of lips. It also acts like a guideline for lipstick application LOL. Without my brush, you don’t know how many times I had to wipe off the excess lipstick that bleeds out of my lips. (Blame my shaky hands). Also, can you see that it gives me ombre and two-toned lips? LOVE.

Now, moving on to other parts of the face…

Benefit Benetint

Benefit Benetint, at $25 (U.P. $51 at local Sephora stores)

Benefit Cha Cha Tint

Benefit Chachatint, at $15 (U.P. $51 at local Sephora stores)

Benefit Posietint

Benefit Posietint, at $15 (U.P. $51 at local Sephora stores)

Benefit Posietint and Cha Cha Tint

Benefit Posietint and Chachatint

The “tint” range from Benefit isn’t just for the face but also for the lips as well. It has a dual function as it’s both a lip and cheek stain – like blusher and lipstick in one. I bought Benetint first and I fell in love with it because firstly it’s ROSE-SCENTED (shut up and take my money!!) and secondly it stains really well on my cheeks and lips. If you’re always in a hurry and have no time to apply blusher and lipstick separately, this is the product you need to get! Benetint is in a redder shade and smells like bandung LOL.

Since I was so satisfied with Benetint, I bought the other two tints. They were in funkier shades – pink for Posietint and orange for Chachatint. Not sure if it’s me but both tints aren’t scented 😥 Anyway, Posietint looks rather weird on my tanned skin tone so I reckon it’s meant for fairer people (as Google Image implies to me) but I see myself wearing Chachatint in the future! It’s in this rather oriental orange shade which is perfect for Chinese New Year! 😛 But really, it surprisingly complements my skin tone!

Benefit (Singapore) is launching Lollitint. The name itself is already so appealing please, and it’s in a purplish shade! I’m so gonna get my hands on the new product.

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow in Shade Honey

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow in Shade Honey, $35 (U.P. $55 at local Sephora stores)

Remember I had a sample size of this in my previous haul entry? I received compliments from my hairdresser that my skin looked flawless when I was wearing it. WOW! (no pun intended) That compliment meant a lot to me because as you guys might have already known, I have troubled skin. So I knew I HAD to get the full-sized one. It wasn’t easy finding this shade on Carousell because Singaporeans are generally very fair so most of the time only the Petal/Ivory shade is put up for sale. This is probably the ONLY full-sized Honey shade that was on Carousell so far.

Anna Sui Liquid Foundation in Shade 103

Anna Sui Liquid Foundation in Shade 103, at $25 (U.P. US$38 on beauty.com)

I received sample sizes of this Anna Sui liquid foundation in shade 102 in my Love, Bonito goodie bag last year at their sale event and had already used up both bottles! Same reason as the Anna Sui lipstick, I love the foundation coz it’s scented and somehow covers up my pores and blemishes rather well. I wanted to get a full-sized bottle in a shade darker at Taoyuan Airport last December but they ran out of stock for it 😦 It’s fine though, because Carousell had it at a waaaay lower price hehehe.

Benefit Agent Zero Shine shine-vanishing PRO powder

Benefit Agent Zero Shine shine-vanishing PRO powder, at $30. (U.P. $47 at local Sephora stores)

I got this from a fellow Carouseller who works at Sephora *yay* so this is guaranteed authentic (I had no way to verify it since it was the newest product from Benefit). I participated in Benefit’s Guess-The-Price for this new product on Instagram but didn’t win because I over-estimated it by $2! It’s quite strange though, that both POREfessional and Agent Zero Shine are priced at US$30 on benefitcosmetics.com but the former is $2 more expensive than the latter here. So I guess S$47 is only a promotional price and will eventually inflate as time goes by.. just like POREfessional (was S$48 last year but has gone up by a dollar the last time I checked last month).

Anyway, I was looking for an alternative to my Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder (from ASOS) so the launch was a timely one. I haven’t tried it yet but looking at the reviews, I don’t think it’s gonna disappoint me!

Anyone wants a review on this? Drop me a comment!

Benefit Dr. Feelgood

Benefit Dr. Feelgood, at $28 (U.P. $49 at local Sephora stores)

Benefit Dr. Feelgood with sponge

Benefit Dr. Feelgood with sponge. I accidentally deleted the pictures of its brand new state. The balm was actually covered with a seal before it was broken my me.

I have been raving about this face balm ever since my previous haul entry and I had already finished TWO sample tubs. When benefitcosmetics.com had a sale a couple of weeks ago, I contemplated carting this out because Dr Feelgood is really pricey here. But I removed it in the end as my total bill had already come up to close to US$100 T_T See that huge hole in my pocket? THANKFULLY, it was a blessing in disguise because about 2 weeks later, some kind lady sold this BRAND NEW piece at a lower price (only a few bucks cheaper than that on benefitcosmetics.com but meh.. still money okay). The full-sized one comes with a sponge which I find totally redundant.. Maybe it’s just me but the sponge made me feel that I’m not applying any product on my face so I tend to apply numerous times ’til I feel something y’know :\ So nowadays, I just use my fingers.

TheBalm NUDE'tude

TheBalm NUDE’tude, at $33 (U.P. $50+ at local Sasa outlets)

TheBalm NUDE'tude close-up

TheBalm NUDE’tude close-up

Many people say that this is a dupe for the Urban Decay Naked palette but I beg to differ. The Naked palette is obviously better but this is also awesome in its own way because it has very pretty and usable matt colours (love Sultry and Sexy)! However when I first opened it up to inspect the colours, I found the mirror dusted with the eyeshadow (I can’t remember if it came with a protective sheet. Highly unlikely). Cleaned it and it happened again the next time I opened it, as you can see on the above picture. Zzz! I’m one who uses the mirror that comes with the palette (minus points for those that don’t) because I’m lazy to walk to my full-length mirror which is attached behind my wardrobe door sometimes (and I don’t get the best lighting behind the wardrobe door) so this is definitely unacceptable to me. Furthermore, the packaging is made of paper so I’d have to be extra careful not to touch it with my wet hands. On the overall, it’s a pretty decent palette to own and definitely more travel-friendly than the Naked palette since it’s lighter and thinner. If you on a tight budget, this is definitely a good alternative 🙂

Urban Decay Vice Palette

Urban Decay Vice Palette, at $30 (U.P $88 at local Sephora stores)

I know Vice 2 was already released but I feel that the shades on the first Vice palette were much prettier. Okay yeah actually I prefer the first Vice because of Noise, the electric punch pink colour because I love pink. But don’t you guys agree that the shadows in Vice 1 are more exciting? Anyway, I’ve dipped into every shadow already and I’m relieved that I could pull off the look (or so I thought) because I’m always worried that shimmery colours would make me look 2 times my age :\

UD Love NYC Palette

UD Love NYC Palette at $25 (U.P. unknown but should be around $88 locally back then when it was launched. This is no longer available in stores now)

UD Love NYC Palette Pop-up DIsplay

UD Love NYC Palette Pop-up Display

UD Love NYC Palette shadows

UD Love NYC Palette shadows

The palette is SO GORGEOUS! I’m a design junkie and I wouldn’t mind paying just a little bit more for pretty packaging! This definitely is the prettiest palette I’ve ever owned (the next being Book of Shadows). The pop-up display lights up (you can’t really see from the pictures) when opened and the shadows are really amazing! My go-to shadows from this palette are Perversion, Loaded, Rockstar, Smog, Bordello, Radiuh, Suspect and Psychedelic Sister. Oh yeah, if you haven’t realised, most of the shades here part of the permanent range of UD’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil.

Urban Decay Oz The Great & Powerful Palettes (Front View)

Urban Decay Oz The Great & Powerful Palettes (Front View) at $35 each (U.P. $78 in local Sephora stores)

Urban Decay Oz The Great & Powerful Palettes (Back View)

Urban Decay Oz The Great & Powerful Palettes (Back View)

Urban Decay Oz The Great and Powerful Glinda Palette

Urban Decay Oz The Great & Powerful Glinda Palette. Also includes a Super-Saturated High Gloss Lip Color in Glinda which I forgot to take out from the box at time of photo-taking.

Urban Decay Oz The Great & Powerful Theodora Palette

Urban Decay Oz The Great & Powerful Theodora Palette. Also includes a Super-Saturated High Gloss Lip Color in Theodora which I forgot to take out from the box at time of photo-taking.

We have to give props to Urban Decay for coming up with palettes inspired by fantasy films. If I remember correctly, these Oz The Great & Powerful palettes were released alongside of the Disney’s movie. They also tied in with Disney/Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland 4 years ago to launch a palette with the same name.

I bought both limited edition palettes (yup, no longer in stores already) because of their different functions though I have to admit that the packaging plays a part as well (Theodora’s one is really nice). The Glinda palette leans more towards the neutral and innocent look while the Theodora one gives a more dark and sinister appearance. I personally prefer the Theodora palette because I like Mila Kunis it flatters my darker skin tone better. Also, both palettes come with a step-by-step instructions booklet for you to recreate Glinda’s and Theodora’s looks! AWESOME!!

Urban Decay Black Market 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil Set

Urban Decay Black Market 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil Set, at $26 (U.P. $60 at local Sephora stores)

One of Urban Decay’s latest products and I’m so glad I chose to wait instead of getting it off the shelf at Sephora when it was released. As compared to the Ocho Loco set, this comes in shades that I would use. I love the eye pencil series from Urban Decay (already have 2 regular-sized ones in Demolition and Rockstar) because they glide on smoothly and no matter how much I sharpen them, they do not poke nor hurt my lids. I have an eyeliner-cum-eyebrow pencil from Wet N Wild and it pricks! So I had no choice but to use it as an eyebrow pencil. My favourite colour from this set is Desperation.. and can I have another one? Okay, and Black Market.

Benefit They're Real! Mascara

Benefit They’re Real! Mascara

This isn’t my first They’re Real! mascara as I previously bought a deluxe-sized one. It really volumises my lashes and opens up my eyes. With this, falsies are totally pointless (saying this coz I don’t wear falsies myself at all Hahaha). However being mascara, it also has the same problem of clumping. When oh when will there be a non-clump mascara? But anyway I learnt that if you apply a waterproof mascara on your lower lash, it will solve the problem of clumping. So I tried the other day with my Urban Decay Cannonball waterproof mascara and IT REALLY WORKED like magic!

New addition to the brush family!

New addition to the brush family! Sigma Eyeliner E05 brush at $5, Tightline Liner (E16) and Waterline Liner (E17) brushes at $9 each. (All retail at US$12 each on sigmabeauty.com)

I first learned about Sigma brushes from Frmheadtotoe but I didn’t really bother as I thought they were only available in the States (silly me, nothing is impossible with the internet these days) but I was surprised to see people selling them on Carousell! They usually buy in a set from US and sell those brushes that are of no use to them (but have to be careful too because apparently, there are also FAKE Sigma brushes -_-) I personally have an angled eyeliner brush from Sephora but I felt that it wasn’t doing its job well after some time. Perhaps it’s only good in drawing cat eyes but not in lining my upper and lower lids.

Apart from make up, I also ventured into fragrance. I’m not really a heavy perfume user to begin with but I’ve been using Body Shop’s Dreams Unlimited EDP for a longggg time (ok la only 2 years hahaha) and I grew sick of the scent already. That was also my first expensive one as I had never paid more than $15 for perfumes. Boyfriend also recently bought me Marc Jacobs’ Daisy Perfume EDT (tsk, wrong kind) at Changi Airport when he arrived from Bangkok and I totally fell in love with the floral scent!!

I’m not being a snob here (for the record, I still use Rexona deodorant on days when I have to run errands. Rexona okay. Sometimes Dove) but there’s some truth in the Chinese saying “一分钱一分货” which means “the more money you pay, the better quality you get”. Just like how Silkygirl products pale in comparison to my Urban Decay babies. It’s the same for perfumes. If you’re too broke to get from retail stores like me, just Carousell.

Juicy Couture EDP Spray Vaporisateur (50ml)

Juicy Couture EDP Spray Vaporisateur (50ml) at $25. (U.P. $Idon’tknow)

The above EDP was left out from the previous haul post! It was actually bought last year, brand new and sealed. Look at how much I’ve used it already! BECAUSE IT’S AWESOME. I see people going crazy over Juicy Couture (*cough*Xiaxue*cough*) products and I didn’t know why until I bought this perfume. It’s really damn nice sia. I wore it almost everyday until…

Benefit Ring My Bella EDP (30ml)

Benefit Ring My Bella EDP (30ml) at $18 (U.P. US$36 on benefitcosmetics.com)

THIS came into my life! I haven’t personally tried all the Benefit scent but this has all the smell I’m looking for: baby shampoo, sensuous, womanly.. As it’s only 30ml, I’m trying to reduce my usage of this perfume but I fail very miserably every morning. LOL Heck it, finish then finish lor. I’ll buy a new one from the flagship store at Westgate if this empties. (*prays someone sells this on Carousell before it really happens*)

This is off-topic but I believe the name was derived from this song:

RING MA BELLLL

Okay that’s about it! Hope you guys enjoyed my second haul post. Maybe Carousell should appoint me as their ambassador haha.

Before I sign off, here’s another #muotd picture from me:

#muotd

#muotd but not of today. It was like a few days ago LOL.

Thanks for reading!