The Dior Addict Extreme lipsticks and their matching nail polishes are here in Hong Kong!
I have here the Riviera Lipstick, and Vernis 579 Plaza.
Review coming soon!
They’re here in Hong Kong!
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Category Archives: Haul
My Europe Haul from London and Berlin!
**This post is by no means for me to show off my recent purchases. I just want to share with you what I bought, and let you guys know why I bought them, and whether I like them.**
If any of you follow me on twitter, you’d know that I’ve recently travelled to London and Berlin. It’s not really a trip of leisure, but I managed to shop quite a bit. Almost all the beauty products I got from this trip are not available in Hong Kong, so even though they’re not all limited editions or rare finds, I’m so happy I got them! But since I just arrived back home only two days ago, I haven’t had time to try all these products yet, so these are not in-depth reviews!
From Left to Right: Nails in AWOL, Marine Scene, Green Room, Celestial, Parma Violet and Gypsy Night.
When I was still back in New York, the Topshop there had not started carrying their beauty line. So after reading about them on the internet, I knew I had to get some from London. As you can see, I’ve gotten quite a few blues, since I find them the most attractive in their collection. (not that the others aren’t pretty, I just find these a bit more different than the other blues in my own collection.) So the polishes I got are AWOL, Marine Scene, Green Room, Celestial, Parma Violet and Gypsy Night. I haven’t tried them on yet, since I am more excited by the Dior polishes I purchased.
Nailart pens 3-in-1
I also got 2 sets of two Nailart 3-in-1 pens, I really just got them out of curiosity since I don’t think I can do my own nail art. These pens allow you to draw with a nib, paint with a brush and decorate with gems. I’m most interested with the nib, since I’ve always had trouble with dotting tools.
From Left to Right: 537 Riviera, 659 Lucky and 257 Incognito
I’m sure a lot of you have seen these Dior polishes all over the beauty blogosphere! So how could I resist when I finally saw them in Berlin! Surprisingly, they were no where to be seen in London… I got 537 Riviera, 659 Lucky and 257 Incognito from the collection, the reason why I didn’t get 579 Plaza was because I thought it looked a bit too much like Luscious Laura Mercier’s Tres Chic Collection, and I regret it, Plaza should be even brighter, so as soon as it becomes available in Hong Kong, I’ll be running to their counter! I tried on Riviera and Lucky, and they are amazing! I’ll do a more in-depth review later on.
Eye Color Quads 07 Cobalt Rush and 10 Titanium Smoke
I cannot describe how excited I was when I finally saw the Tom Ford counter at Harrods and Selfridges!! Finally I get to see the color products in real person, since stock photos from store websites or his official website don’t do the palettes justice, especially the glitters. I wanted to try all the other products, but of course the most eye-catching ones are the Eye Color Quads. So I decided to purchase another 2 of their eye color quads (I own Silvered Topaz and Cocoa Mirage). All 4 shades in 07 Cobalt Rush are satin finishes, and they’re gorgeous blues. 10 Titanium Smoke has one satin finish shadow, one matte finish shadow, and two glitters. This palette would be perfect for a night time smokey eye look. Even though they’re expensive, they are of high quality and you get quite a lot of product in each palette!
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Shadow Pencil in Barracuda & Rehab, and Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Perversion
I’ve always wanted to try the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil, especially their new one called Perversion. It is described to be the deepest black and very long-wearing. I am perfectly satisfied with my YSL Long-wear Eye Pencils, but I can’t pass up this opportunity to get this liner! I’ve also decided to try their 24/7 Glide-on Shadow pencils, since swatches showed them with great quality. I will have to try them on before deciding if they’re indeed long-wearing though.
Hourglass Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara and Hourglass Film Noir Lash Lacquer
I’m a big fan of Hourglass products, their brushes are heaven, and their Film Noir mascara is definitely one of my favorites. I regret not discovering how amazing this brand is sooner before I left New York. I bought the Film Noir Full Spectrum Mascara as a back-up since I love mine so much. It’s volumizing, lengthening, but at the same time leaves your lashes look natural. I also got the Film Noir Lash Lacquer to pair with the mascara, I haven’t tried it yet, but I’ve heard amazing results with it, so I can’t wait!
Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H Foundation in 01 and 02.
As much as I love my Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation, the longevity of the foundation just doesn’t cut it. So after hearing about the new Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H (24 hours) foundation, I had it on my beauty shopping list for my trip to Europe. The reason why I have two isn’t because I’m in between colors, but because the department store from Berlin gave me the wrong one (02, which is more pink-based). By the time I noticed the mistake it was too late, I had already left Berlin… My face can work the 02, but it’s just not the perfect color for me, so when I was at the Heathrow Airport in London, I decided to get the right color (01, more yellow-based). I have only used it for about 2 days, but I can’t say that retouch is unnecessary (it claims to be a retouch-free foundation). However I did notice less shine which is very important for my combination skin, and the SPF 15 is a plus too.
YSL Teint Resist Long Wear Endless Comfort Foundation SPF 10 in #4
The YSL Teint Resist Long Wear Endless Comfort Foundation, compared to the Lancome 24H one, is not a new product, but I know it’s the product that a lot of beauty bloggers with combination skin use. Unfortunately, YSL in Hong Kong does not carry this particular foundation, so of course this was also on my beauty shopping list! I’ve only tried it for a day, and I must say I’m liking it a lot so far. I can’t say too much about it yet since only one day of use don’t really make a good review. I did notice even less shine and a bit more long wearing than the Lancome Teint Idole Ultra 24H foundation. This foundation also has SPF 10 sun protection.
L
I don’t know much about perfumes, but when I found the L’Artisan Perfumeur store at Covent Garden, I had to go in. This box set not only consists 2 of my favorites in the store, it’s also at a discounted price, so how could I not get it!
Tweezerman Eyelash Comb and Zebra Tweezers
I’ve always wanted a lash comb, so after seeing this high quality lash comb from Tweezerman at Liberty London, I just had to get it. I find lash combs very useful when you find clumps on your lashes after applying mascara, it instantly takes them off, and separates your lashes for a more natural look. You can also scrap some mascara product from the mascara applicator onto the lash comb, and apply mascara with the comb instead, this way you can easily fully coat your lashes with mascara! You can fold this lash comb for easy storage and better hygiene. The slanted tweezer is really just a back up, since I keep losing my tweezerman tweezers. I’m sure a lot of you know how good these tweezers are! And doesn’t the zebra pattern just make it more fun!
Mason Pearson Handy Bristle and Nylon Hairbrush
Mason Pearson hairbrushes are expensive, but according to a lot of people, it’s totally worth it. So when I found one at Liberty London, and at a much cheaper price, I decided to invest in one. This brush is a combination of boar bristles and nylon, perfect for normal/thick hair). At the moment I won’t be able to use it, since I’ve only recently permed my hair, so brushing my hair would only ruin the perm. Mason Pearson brushes are meant to last a long time though (more than 20 years), so it won’t go to waste!
I also bought a few non-beauty-related items. : )
Miu Miu wallet
And just some pictures from Berlin:
Let me know if you want any in-depth review from the products mentioned above!
My Recent Haul!
**This post is by no means for me to show off my recent purchases. I just want to share with you what I bought, and let you guys know why I bought them, and whether I like them.**
Glossy Stain - #19 Beige Aquarelle
Glossy Stain - #12 Corail Fauve
So after purchasing #7 Corail Aquatique, #11 Rouge Gouache, #15 Rose Vinyl and #18 Rose Pastelle, I couldn’t resist owning more of these YSL glossy stains… It’s crazy I know. I purchased #19, which is actually so similar to #18 that I shouldn’t have bought it. I do think #19 is a better pale pink on my lips though. I wasn’t able to swatch them at the counter before purchasing, since it’s not officially released yet.
I went back to Lane Crawford on the day of the official release, and finally was able to swatch the stains. I fell in love with #12, which is a coral pink, (less coral and more pink than #7). #7 was my favorite before, but now… #12 is my new favorite!
YSL Long Wear Cream Liner in #5 Cherry Black
I have never used cream liners or gel liners (I don’t think the Chantecaille gel pencil liner count right?). So after reading from other bloggers on the internet about this Long Wear Cream Liner from YSL, this liner was added onto my list of products to try. I wasn’t that eager to try it, but once I saw this liner in #5 Cherry Black, I decided to get it. And it’s amazing! It really is long wear and I don’t see any smudges after more than 8 hours of use, and the color is really pretty!
Burberry Eyeshadow No. 9 Rosewood
I love Burberry lipsticks, and I am using the powder foundation for the past few months. I love the texture of their products, and the first Burberry eyeshadow that I own is No. 7 Almond. I like the color and the texture was good. But this No. 9 Rosewood (from the Spring/Summer 2012 Collection), it’s even better. The color is subtle enough that I could just have this all over my eyelids and I don’t need to worry about having too much color on my eyes. Another great thing about this is the texture. It’s an improved formula from the previous shadows and it’s sooo silky smooth, making it really easy to blend the colors. Now I don’t have to spend the time blending and fixing my eyeshadows before going to work.
Burberry Light Glow Blush - No. 6 Tangerine Blush
Also from the Spring/Summer Collection is this No. 6 Tangerine Blush. It’s right between coral and pink, which is a perfect color for me! The texture doesn’t disappoint and it looks very natural. The only thing I can complain about this blush is the brush that came with the compact. It’s not easy to apply the blush evenly with this brush, it is still a softer brush compared to the Chanel ones though.
Cle de Peau Concealer in Beige
I have been using the Cle de Peau concealer since last year, and I love it. I own the Ocher, which is actually not exactly the best color to suit my needs. It is the perfect color to conceal my dark circles, but not my blemishes. I needed something lighter, and so I purchased the color Beige which is one shade lighter than Ocher. Since it’s a rather expensive concealer, I will keep using the Ocher for my dark circles, and the Beige for my blemishes. I love the concealer so much because of the texture, you can easily blend the product with your fingers, and that saves time. At USD 70 apiece, it is quite a splurge, but you actually get a lot of product, and I have been using my Ocher concealer for more than 6 months now, and judging from the amount of the remain product in the tube, I’m guessing I can still get at least 3 months use out of it. So if you don’t mind spending the $70, I highly highly recommend this!
Shu Uemura Hard Formula in Stone Gray
I don’t own a lot of brow products, I only have one brow gel and one brow pencil, and I don’t use them often. But recently I’ve found the need to fill in my brows for a more polished look, and the brow pencil that I’ve been using is from By Terry. I’ve had bad experiences with this brand (allergic reactions), so I never really wanted to keep this brow pencil. I keep it only because of the color, it’s an ashy gray, which I find matches my brows really well. I don’t like using brown on my brows, I don’t think it looks natural at all, but somehow asians like using brown, which I really don’t understand… So after reading from various bloggers on the internet about this brow pencil, I’ve decided to throw out the By Terry brow pencil and purchase the Shu Uemura Hard Formula Brow Pencil in Stone Gray. I love the color and the slanted tip makes it very easy to actually draw hair-like strokes on my brows. I will have to bring it back to Shu Uemura from time to time though to have them sharpened, but I’m sure it’s worth it.
I’ve also bought YSL Les Nuits Fauves Shatter/Crackle polish sets recently, but I’m planning on doing a full review with them, so stay tuned!
They’re here! My Sephora Haul!
My sephora haul
Living in Hong Kong has a few beauty cons.
1. Industry-favourite brands not available. Despite the numerous Japanese/Korean beauty brands here in HK, brands like Dolce & Gabbana, Tom Ford, Urban Decay, Too Faced or even Koh Gen Do (which is a japanese brand) are not available. You can order their items online but most of the time you’ll have to pay a ridiculous amount for the shipping fee. I could have bought a whole another product with just the shipping fee… not to mention you can’t have nail polishes and perfumes shipped internationally…
2. Late Seasonal Collection Releases. Other high end brands such as Chanel, Dior, Guerlain etc has counters in Hong Kong department stores, and I am very grateful for this. However, they are always behind when it comes to seasonal collection releases. Sometimes it’s over a month behind… For someone who’s obsessed with makeup, I can’t wait that long!
3. No online shopping. That sucks because I love shopping online. Of course for makeup it’s always better to see the colors for real before purchasing, but online shopping is definitely a lot more convenient, and you never have to put up with any unprofessional sales persons. And don’t you just love to open the packages that are ‘freshly’ delivered, get excited, and be greeted by surprise? (or disappointment at times…)
4. No returns. What if I purchased something and am not satisfied with it? What if it gives me break outs? There are absolutely no returns for beauty products here in Hong Kong and that’s just a bummer.
My solution?
Luckily I have a very close friend who still studies in the US, and he has so kindly offered to help me with purchasing beauty products. He would mail me some of the products, or bring them back to me when he returns to Hong kong for a vacation. He’s my savior. lol
I was able to purchase the Urban Decay Naked Palette and eyeshadow primer, Tom Ford Blushes and Eyeshadow palettes and some Deborah Lippmann nail polishes at a much lower prices thanks to him!
Recently I purchased a few more items from Sephora and all I have to do now is wait for them to arrive to my doorstep!!! I thought I would show you what I bought and probably this would be a sneak peek to what I will review soon!
Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette
This is the highly-anticipated palette of the year! I have not owned the original palette for a long time, but I do love it. I was hoping that there are a bit more choices in terms of colors for that palette, so this would be wonderful addition to my collection. If this Naked 2 palette is just as amazing as the original one, I think these two palettes would be the only palettes any girl would need. Too bad they don’t sell this in Hong Kong, or else my girl friends would have received this or the original palette as their christmas gifts!
Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion Professional Size
I bought this Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion along with the original Naked Palette a few months ago, and I love it. My shadows do stay put a lot longer, and I love that although it does go on very smoothly, when it dries it’s not too smooth that it’s almost slippery, like the Nars Pro-prime smudge proof eyeshadow base. So now I’m purchasing the professional size which contains 150% more product than the non-professional size!
Koh Gen Do Moisture Concealer
I am absolutely a fan of Koh Gen Do. Their Moisture Foundation is absolutely amazing. The price-point is rather expensive, but it are made of natural botanical ingredients with skincare benefit. They are also fragrance-free, and works with very sensitive skin. It gives you a flawless finish and many Makeup artists use this on actresses for HD cameras! This Moisture Concealer has been highly recommended by a lot of magazines and makeup artists, and the only reason why I haven’t tried this before was because of my Cle de peau concealer. It works absolutely nicely on me, so I wasn’t looking for another concealer. But recently I could not resist the temptation and so I bought it on sephora.com!
Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue Glitter Bonding Eye Shadow Primer
This is the Too Faced Shadow Insurance Glitter Glue Glitter Bonding Eye Shadow Primer. (What a long name!!!) From what I’ve heard this is a strong primer meant to grab and hold glitter. I’ve always wanted something like this, not that I always wear glitter, but when I do wear glitter, I would love to have something that is strong enough to fix the glitter on my eyes so they won’t fall onto my face.
Yves Saint Laurent ROUGE PUR COUTURE Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain
And this is the product that I’m most excited about. I’m sure it will be available in Hong Kong sooner or later, but this YSL ROUGE PUR COUTURE Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain is too much of a temptation. A liquid lipstick stain that has a glossy finish! I’m always a lazy person, and I almost never reapply my lipstick after eating or drinking, and I don’t usually use lip glosses because I’m just… lazy. (lol) So this is absolutely perfect. I can’t wait to try them on!!!
As I’m writing this, my friend sent me a picture of the above items! They have arrived after just 2 days I ordered them! Thankyou Sephora!!!
The Sephora Haul has arrived!!!!
