Love … this bold, happy red that just brightens up the face! The colour is very saturated – so for most, one swipe will do just fine. It looks rich, and feels light and comfortable on lips – though a little more moisturising power would help.

Wear it … with your favourite LBD.

P.S: Never done this before but I just have to add that I did not buy this for the packaging. In fact, I think it’s hideous – the plastic looks tacky, and feels cheap. Also, there is a strong “berry” scent that might bug some girls out there. But if you can ignore all of the above, you’ll love this! 

Tools:

Eyes: Smashbox Bionic Mascara in Black, Esteé Lauder Artist’s Eye Pencil in Softsmudge Brown.

L’Oréal Studio Secrets Magic Perfecting Base. I love this.  

End of review. 

Okay, okay – I’ll gush a bit more. 

I’ve had my eye on this since I first read about it a couple of years ago, so no, this isn’t a new product. Sadly, it’s also not available here in Malaysia, or even Asia. I think you can only find this in the States and in the United Kingdom. (Please correct me if I’m wrong here). 

Now I shall start by first stating the one bit about this primer that I don’t like, just to get that out of the way. It comes in a little tub, and now that I’m past the halfway point, it’s getting increasingly difficult to scoop out, not to mention terribly unhygienic. To get past this issue, I’ve resorted to using a spatula (get the ones from a finished face cream), although I don’t think it would’ve cost L’Oréal that much more to throw one into the packaging, y’know?  

Moving along to the best bits. 

The primer has texture like souffle, or thick whipped cream. It’s spongy to the touch, and is the same shade of baby pink as a Johnson baby lotion, though it goes on colourless. And you only need very little – the size of a small pearl for me – and just rub it in using circular motions, blending out. 

Once on skin, this feels really comfortable, not heavy and smoothes skin out. What you get is a matte, even finish. And while the primer is silicone-based, I’ve not had problems of it clogging my pores. What I love most about its finish is also the fact that the fine lines around my eyes seem to have disappeared. So this smoothes out fine lines, minimises pores, camouflages imperfections, and leaves my skin looking matte and feeling silky – great or what? I’m also thinking that the ones who’ll appreciate this the most are those with slightly more mature skin, or girls with uneven skin tone.

But ultimately, this is a primer, which means it’s meant to prep and prime the skin for make-up. Happily for me, this works as well. The Magic Perfecting Base keeps foundation on, so much so there’s no need for me to touch-up by noon – and why should I, because there’s no shine! By the end of the day, with the right foundation – either my GAC Designer Modelling Compact or my Diorskin Nude, my make-up stays fresh-looking.  

So yes, thumbs up for this one.  

The side without the Magic Base 

And the side with! 

It’s not easy, but shop with a bare face

• Yup – think about it, if you test foundation over all that make-up you already have on, you’re not really matching it to your real skin tone, right?

Can’t find the one? Then buy two!

• Get two colours – one that looks slightly dark, and one that’s lighter. Then simply blend to use.

It’s all in the (fore)head.

• Instead of your jawline, test the colour on your forehead instead – this is where the skin is slightly darker than the rest of your face.

Go natural

• After testing the shade, step out and double-check (use a small mirror or your compact) to see if it still looks okay under natural light, paying extra attention to your temples and jawline.

Or just DIY …

• Add three drops of your favourite liquid concealer to a 50-cent size blob of sunsblock, and you’ll get the equivalent of a medium coverage foundation.

Kimora did it, M.A.C did it, and now Maybelline’s tied up with one of Japan’s most well-loved icon of cuteness, Hello Kitty. I mean, this little bobcat is a worldwide phenomenon, and has been so for decades. 

Ladies, feast your eyes on the Maybelline Volum’ Express Cat Eyes Mascara. 

What I liked … An adorable metallic pink shell. It still resembles the original packaging in terms of colour and some stripey bits. But heck, we’re all suckers for pretty things – and this has to be one of the prettiest mascara packaging I’ve laid eye on.  

Not too great … was the formulation. Like all volumising formulas, this clumps. First layer is fine, second layer starts getting all sticky and clumpy. It’s interesting to note that the “feline” brush is supposed to fatten lashes up – most comb applicators tend to work to lengthen, not fatten. Having said that, the comb applicator does allow for more control.

But does it work? That said, this one works pretty much like the original – it separates your lashes as you comb up, although I’m not too convinced that this does major volumising. What I do like about the comb is that it’s great for defining lower lashes, because unlike fat brushes, this one combs out every single lash. 

It stays on well enough – even at the end of a long day, my lashes look they way they did in the morning – which is good, because the packaging promises up to 18 hours of curl! And being waterproof, this takes extra work to take off – so you need to be a little patient and really soak in your lashes with your remover before you can really get it all off.  

All right then – as they always say, the proof is in the pudding. On to the pudding! 

 Before 

After 

Before

After 

Hang on – I’ve got more Hello Kitty for you!

Did you know … 

• The Kitty was first introduced in Japan 35 years ago? It’s as old as me!
• In 1999, a murderer in Hong Kong stuffed his victim’s head into a Hello Kitty doll. The murder was then known as the Hello Kitty Murder.
• Thai police officers who commit minor transgressions (like showing up late, or parking in the wrong spot) must wear Hello Kitty armbands for a few days as penance.
• There is a Hello Kitty-themed maternity hospital in Taiwan! Walk in and you will be overwhelmed – Hello Kitty is on the receiving blankets, room decor, linens, nurses’ uniforms, and even the birth certificate covers!

Available now exclusively at all Watsons for RM36.90

This is the most – for lack of a better word – bland lip balm I have ever come across. And it is also one of the best.

If you’re looking for something frou-frou that smells of mangoes or cherries or strawberries, something that imparts high shine, or even something that tastes of chocolate or vanilla, don’t look this way, because this lip balm ain’t it. In fact, come to think of it, rubbing this on feels no different from rubbing candle wax on your lips.

What this is, is a no-fuss lip balm, with the most delightful packaging!

I was approached by Organic Island a few months ago to test drive their Shell Lip Balm, and I said yes just from looking at looks of the product. Yes, I was swayed by how pretty it looked. Now what this Australian company does, is scour around for real recycled or damaged seashells, to be used as the containers for their all-natural lip balms. But, the seashells first go through a special blasting process (using sand and water) to clean them, and get the outer shells all nice and glossy. A silver wire cleverly entwined around the shell then holds both sides together.

Inside, you get a tiny mirror that is glued on one side, and your puddle of wax on the other. Depending on the size of your shell, the amount of balm ranges from 3-14g.

The balm itself is made of a natural mixture of coconut oil, mango-seed butter, macadamia oil, jojoba oil, rosehip oil, lanolin and beeswax. There’s no smell or colour as you apply (which you have to do with your finger).

It will remind you of plain ol’ candle wax, but it feels surprisingly light on the lips, and really, you don’t need much. Just a layer works nicely for me in the morning, and perhaps one more later in the evening. This thing moisturises lips really, really well. So well, that this is what’s been keeping my lips from getting all dried and chapped this Ramadhan. It also seems to hold colour nicely too, no issues with my reds sliding off.

All in all, this is a very rustic and charming little thing. And the fact that no two shells are alike makes it even more special. And this not only looks good, it works! Just don’t ask me what to do with the shells it’s finished. Melt my other lip balms to pour in perhaps?

To get your very own Shell Lip Balm, visit www.organicisland.com.au. Of course, do bear in mind that the shells will vary in pattern and size, and that not all shells would be completely sealed due to the varying shapes. The Shell Lip Balm is US$14.50 (before postage) each.