I’ve been meaning to try out Huda Beauty for a very long time. The mini Huda Beauty Warm Brown Obsessions Palette is my first purchase from the brand which I absolutely adore for its quality at such a good price. It is a mini portable palette that consists of 9 eyeshadows in different finishes. There are 4 colors released for the range and I picked the warm brown as the combination of peaches and warm brick browns are right up my alley!
closer look
Though it is called a mini palette, in my opinion, the eyeshadow is still comparable to full size (larger than the MAC single pan eyeshadow). I am totally impressed with the quality and texture as the powders are densely packed, creamy and smooth to the touch with intense color payoff and absolutely no fallout. For the quality, they are noticeably better than the eyeshadows of the same price range such as Zoeva and Colorpop. The matte colors just glide on silky smooth and easy to blend, that feels even better than the matte shadows from higher-end brands such as MAC etc. The shimmer shade is over the top. It is so intense that you literally need a tiny bit to accentuate for a foil-like finish. I know that Huda is most known for its desert dusk palette, but I think the colors are too bold and dramatic for my style, whereas this palette still has a similar tone but contains more wearable colors with a punch that is great for everyday use!.
Swatch
Verdict – Great price and makeup on point! Highly recommend it!
Labels: EYESHADOW • HUDA BEAUTY
Spring is around the corner for most places and I am enjoying to see all the new spring looks coming out in the stores. I recently added this incredibly pretty floral dress by Ulla Johnson (obsessed with her entire collection for this season!). The color is on point as apparently lavender is the color of the year for 2018! It is a delicate silk chiffon dress that just flows on the body and makes you feel so romantic and pretty. I just found out that it is currently on special on Shopbop with their big promotions (save up to 25% on all orders with code EVENT18). I am wearing it with heels for now – when the weather gets cooler I would totally flaunt this dress with boots and leather jacket for a more edgy look.
Dress – Ulla Johnson (bought here, other colors available here and here)
Earrings – Alexis Bittar (bought here)
Heels – Paul Andrew (bought here, similar here on sale for less than $200)
Bag – Hermes Picotin 18 Gold
Labels: Fashion • HERMES • PAUL ANDREW • PICOTIN • ULLA JOHNSON
For those of you who are into keeping up with the makeup trend and colors, you probably would know that the Tom Ford Lip color Hiro is one of the hottest shades to own. It was originally released in the mini lips & boys version, but since the shade has been a huge success Tom Ford has released the Hiro in the full-size version (bought mine here with worldwide shipping)!
The beauty of Hiro is that it has a beautiful and flattering metallic finish with rose gold shimmer. It looks warm and orangy from the tube, but once it is applied, it translates to a soft peachy pink with rose gold sheen (like peachy mermaid color). The warm lip tone also compliments the warm eyeshadow look perfectly which is trending all over the world. The lipstick has medium color payoff so the finish is soft and pretty without looking too frosty. In a way, it reminds me of the NARS super orgasm but better!
closer look – taken in the sun
As usual, Tom Ford lip color has a luxurious texture that glides on creamy and it doesn’t feather with a long lasting finish. Here are some swatches.
closeup
The Tom Ford Hiro tends to sell out fast as soon as it is replenished. It is still not available on Tom Ford.com and Net-A-Porter but you can check out their swatches for different skin tones. In the US, you can still find them on Nordstrom and Beautylish. I bought the full size exclusive version on Selfridges. It is also available here in Australia.
Labels: LIPSTICK • Tom Ford
I recently had a wonderful beach vacay in Bali and you can check out my holiday pictures on my Instagram! Bali is truly a paradise for the most luxurious resorts and services at relatively affordable prices compared to the other islands. The resort I stayed at was Ritz Carlton in Nusa Dua (south of Bali with 45 minutes drive to the central). It has cabanas by the pool (number 1 criteria for me!), a large kids club with kids pool and slides, and a private beach where you can have a camel ride! I also spotted a few Korean superstars holidaying there! I won’t go into the details of the resort as this post is mainly for sharing my Calvin Klein one piece swimwear (bought here with worldwide shipping) that I got a lot of messages on Instagram for. Overall I really enjoyed my stay there and I would highly recommend it to everyone especially if you have children and you are after a more secluded location.
I became super-conscious with my body after I had kids which meant one-piece swimwear over bikinis at any time. Just like a LBD, a black one-piece has always my weakness. It’s simple yet so chic. For this holiday, I added this piece by Calvin Klein. It has the perfect flattering cut with a scoop neck, and a small logo on the bottom of the piece, and a logo elastic strap at the back that is very Calvin-Klein with a sporty vibe.
Ending the post with 2 of my favorite pictures from the holiday.
Labels: Bali • BEACH • Calvin Klein • HOLIDAY • Swimwear • VACATION
I fell in love with ghd Flat Iron again so I thought I’d share a quick review. I have been using ghd of several different models on and off over the past 10 years. Also, I was using other hair straighteners in the interim. The ghd platinum styler that I am reviewing today is one of their best models from the newer releases – the Platinum styler comes in different colors such as the classic black and white and I got the design in the limited edition nocturne collection. Prior to this one, my last ghd was bought nearly 6 years ago so this new model just works and feels much better!
I love the dark purple floral design of this styler, and the platinum model looks very sleek and feels expensive in the hand. My hair type is very weak, prone to breaking and naturally wavy with medium thickness. The ghd platinum styler glides over my hair smoothly without causing breakage and makes the hair feel ultra smooth, sleek and shiny. You can create unlimited styles with this tool and I highly suggest you check out their hair hub for tons of inspiration and step-by-step tutorials! I personally love using it for creating straight and wavy styles.
Closer look at the contoured edges
Straight Hair Look
I love the fact that this tool doesn’t make my hair look too flat. I have lots of hair and the straightening process only takes less than 10 minutes – all with one stroke! The rounded edge of the tool is fantastic for adding a bit of curve at the bottom of the hair, so it makes the hair look full of volume and bouncy that is similar to professional styling. I included some pictures of me in straight hair styled by the ghd platinum styler. As you can see the result is sleek but with airy volume!
Wavy Hair Look
The ghd platinum styler is also a life changer for me for creating wavy hair. I must admit I am very clumsy with styling my hair curly and wavy. I have invested in tons of expensive curling tongs and none of them can be used to quickly add some waves in a few minutes. I know that using flat irons for creating wave is so last year, but I never had any success with my old ghd models, whereas the platinum model is very user-friendly for the most inexperienced user! Again I included some pictures of how I style my hair wavy with this styler. I only spent less than 10 mins to create this look (same amount of effort as straightening my hair). The pictures were taken straight after the styling (with no hair products used) and the curl lasted the whole day. Also, I wanted to show the waves more clearly in the pictures. Normally I would brush my hair several times to make the waves look even more natural and loose. Again you have to check out their wavy hair tutorial hub for more ideas!
(PS changed my hair color again)
Last but not least, the ghd platinum styler has universal voltages and comes with 2 years warranty. For more detailed product features, please check out this page.
Disclaimer: This product was sent for review free of charge.
Labels: FLAT IRON • GHD • HAIR • HAIR STYLER • HAIRCARE • WAVY HAIR
Here is a review of the latest foundation from Dior – the DIORSKIN FOREVER UNDERCOVER 24 Full Coverage Foundation (currently 15% off!). I have been wearing it for the past few weeks, and as usual it has its pros and cons and my feeling for it is quite mixed due to my skin type. I bought mine here with worldwide shipping, and it is also available here in Australia.
PROS:
The foundation comes in a plastic bottle and it’s best to give it a shake before you use the foundation. It has a fluid and milky texture that dries down to a velvety powdery finish within a minute upon application, so there is no need to apply more powder again to set the makeup. The greatest thing about this foundation is the lasting power and it doesn’t budge nor transfer at all throughout the day. The formula would work the best for oily skin type, as it controls oil and keeps the makeup staying fresh with minimum fading for up to 8-10 hours for me. The coverage is full as it claims, as the formula is highly pigmented and a pea size is more than enough for the whole face to cover most of the imperfections, acne marks and pores.
CONS:
I would love this foundation if I had oily skin, but unfortunately I have normal to dry skin so making the formula work for my skin type can be a little challenging sometimes. Since it dries down to a powdery finish, it tends to enhance the dry patches and pores if my skin is not super hydrated. It also gives a full matte high coverage finish which is a bit of a double edged sword because it can look a bit heavy and sit on top the skin if my skin is too dry and the foundation is not fully blended in. To make the foundation look flawless yet natural on me, I need to prep my skin with lots of hydration products, including applying a hydrating primer underneath the foundation – my preferred primers include my go-to Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer or the iconic Guerlain L’Or Primer.
Application:
Fingers and beauty blenders are my preferred application method with this foundation. With fingers, it gives a more flawless look, whereas with beauty blenders it sheers down the formula and adds a hint of luminosity to the skin which works out to be better for my skin condition.
Shade:
Since I am very fair at the moment I bought the shade 010 Ivory which is the brightest shade from the range. It has a hint of a pink undertone and I included a swatch comparison with the Dior DiorSkin Star foundation (reviewed here) in shade 012.
Labels: DIOR • foundation
Introducing another hot shade of the moment – NARS Lip Cover in Hell Gate (limited edition). If you are as obsessed with brown rose lip color as I am, then this is a must-have for you! My heart skipped a few beats the minute I had it swatched on my lips. Hell Gate is done in perfection with the right amount of brown tone with a reddish rose base. Whether wearing it sheer or in full coverage, it makes a statement lips and looks flattering with most skin tones.
The formula has a velvety smooth texture and glides on smoothly without enhancing lines. It feels creamy and non-drying and settles down to a matte stain-like finish with a hint of luminosity that lasts for hours. Pure love and highly recommend it! It is sold out at most department stores so be quick.
Swatch
Lip Swatch – applied sheer with fingers and taken under the sun
Lip Swatch – under indoor lighting
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Labels: LIPSTICK • LIQUID LIPSTICK • NARS
I haven’t bought any nail polishes for a while as I prefer the lazy option of getting shellac done at the nail salon, but when I spotted the new Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour in 606 Aurore (limited edition and available here in Australia), I felt like I needed this color in my life! It’s a very pretty medium true pink with gold shimmer. It stands out for me as it has the right balance of pink intensity whilst still looking quite delicate and flattering on my skin tone.
The lasting power of the re-formulated Chanel Le Vernis line is quite amazing as it stays put for nearly two weeks without chipping on me. To extend the longevity I normally apply a layer of my HG Jin Soon Power & Base coat which helps to keep the nail polish on for a lot longer and finish with a layer of Chanel Gel Top Coat. Aurore applies smooth and streak free. Swatched below with two coats.
Labels: CHANEL • NAIL POLISH
