Anna Sui Flight of Fancy Perfume

To be honest, I don't really like perfumes. I don't know why but most of the time, perfumes bizarrely give me headaches. And I often find the fragrances too heavy and overwhelming...

You can probably guess that walking past perfume booths is not my favourite thing to do. All the fragrances would invade my nose in a rush and the next time I know, my head is pounding. Talk about sensory overload :/

Then Anna Sui's Flight of Fancy perfume came into my life. 

It was a birthday gift from a friend. At first, I was a wee bit skeptical as my mindset was currently set to "Perfumes = Unwanted headaches". So I braced myself and gave its fragrance a tentative sniff.

The first thing that came into my mind was "holy sh*t!" Ahem...do excuse the language because I was really, really surprised. NO headache! What's more, I even liked the fragrance! It smelt soooo fresh and citrus-sy.

The packaging itself is extremely attractive. I particularly love the intricate floral designs and the pretty peacock. Okay, okay, I love the whole thing! Inside, the perfume was placed in a glam pink box.

I practically swooned at how GORGEOUS it was! The bottle just screams elegance. The top of the perfume is in the form of a transparent peacock with its fully displayed tail. Once again, there are detailed floral designs on the bottle. Aren't the colors iridescent? Look at the pinkish and golden hues of it *sighs* I'm so gonna keep the bottle when it finishes =D

Its fragrance is an exotic blend of Litchi, Yuzu and Java Lemon, sprinkled with Purple Rain Freesia, Rose Blossom and Amber Crystals. It also has tints of White Woods and Skin musk. All together, they provide a nice citrus and floral scent.

I must say that this perfume is absolutely wonderful. Its fragrance is not too heavy, just nice to me in fact. It is best worn in the day. I usually spritz it on my wrists and neck area. Perfume works best when applied to your pulse points.  

Needless to say, this is my only and favorite perfume :) 

Clinique Long-Lasting Glosswear

I wasn't planning on getting any makeup products during my trip to China. But when was I browsing around the Clinique counter in the airport, SOMETHING caught my eye. 

Five sample-sized Clinique Long-Lasting lip glosses which are perfect for travel. I simply couldn't stop staring at them. I mean, they are soooo pretty! Did I mention that I love the colors offered as well? So I told myself that it was fate and got them!

From left: Goldspun ,Guavagold, Cabana Crush, Bonfire, Knockout Nude

Goldspun is a nude color. It doesn't really give color. It's more like a clear gloss. Guavagold is a peachy-pink color. I use it when I want a sheer tint of color on my lips. Cabana Crush is a hot pink which I really adore. It adds such a vibrant burst of color to my lips, love it! Bonfire is a darker shade of red, perfect if you want to go for a more sophisticated look.Knockout Nude has an earthy-brown nudish tone. It looks rather dark in the tube but it is sheerer than it appears when applied on the lips.

These lip glosses have teeny tiny flexes of golden glitter in them. No chunky or rough glitter that makes your lips look over-glittery! Definitely a plus point ^^

I must say that I don't regret buying them. As the name indicates, they are really long-lasting. They stay put even after eating and drinking. And they have SPF 15 too, which further justifies my purchase :)

The only weakness of these lip-glosses is their stickiness. They really are a bit sticky. But other than that, they are great!

Dark Under-Eye Circles

Nobody wants to look like a panda...

Okay, don't get me wrong. Pandas are super adorable creatures, especially the baby ones. What I am focusing on here is dark circles. I have horrible dark circles which is a real pain in the butt because they make me look exhausted all the time. Worse still, they are extremely difficult to get rid of.

Thank goodness that dark circles can be concealed with makeup. Concealers are really a life-saver! Otherwise, I would be walking around looking so freaking sleep-deprived, probably zombie-like...

When choosing a concealer, you should select a color that is a shade lighter than your normal color if your dark circles are blue-black. If you suffer from puffiness as well, choose a shade darker than your typical color. 

However, you shouldn't layer on too much concealer to hide dark circles. It would backfire because the cakey-ness would draw attention to the skin under your eyes. It will scream "HEY, look at my awful dark circles!!!" Definitely a no-no... so use a light touch when you're applying the concealer.

In my case, I use my trusted SkinFood Salmon Dark Circle Concealer Cream.

This cream concealer is absolutely amazing! It spreads easily and does not leave streaky marks once blended well. I usually apply it on with my fingers. It stays on long enough once you set it with powder. What's more, it lasts a long time since you only need a little of it to conceal your dark circles. 

Needless to say, concealer is the one makeup product that I cannot live without :)

Acuvue Contact Lenses

I love wearing contact lenses. There was a period of time when I absolutely adore wearing colored ones which made my eyes appear bigger. I typically wore those by FreshKon, favouring the Sparklers shimmering grey and brilliant brown. 

Unfortunately, most of the contact lenses (including FreshKon) I wore often left my eyes dry and rather bloodshot. I guess my eyes are pretty sensitive :( I was mourning the fact that perhaps contact lenses and I were not meant to be...until I found Acuvue contact lenses.

I got a box for RM45. There are three pair of contact lenses in one box. Each pair lasts for a month.

These contact lenses are extremely comfortable to wear! They do NOT dry my eyes out like other contact lenses. It feels as though I'm not wearing them at all. I have tried wearing them for seven hours straight and still they did not irritate my eyes. Now that is really impressive! When wearing other contact lenses, my eyes typically get irritated after a mere 2 hours or so.

So I guess contact lenses and I are meant to be after all, thanks to Acuvue ^^

Sasa Crease Brush

To be honest, a crease brush was not on my to-buy list. But when my sister told me about this affordable crease brush (RM 9.90) which she bought from Sasa, I was a wee bit tempted to get one for myself. She told me that it performed well enough for her. So I thought "Hey, why not?" and promptly got one for myself.

Sadly, I ended up being disappointed with this brush. Main reason? Well, the second I dragged it across my lid, I gave a howl of pain. Some of the brush bristles were simply too coarse! I tried mending the problem by cutting off some of the annoyingly hard bristles. Epic fail :( There were simply too many of them! 

When I screeched my dissatisfaction at my sister, she nonchalantly told me bad apples sometimes appear among relatively good products. Which is true actually. It was merely a stroke of bad luck that I got this skin-marring brush. Sasa products are generally alright. I got an angle brush from Sasa and it worked just fine.

This brush now lies unused in one of the compartments where I store my makeup. So the search for a new crease brush has begun...

Anna Sui Advertisements

We all know that advertisements play an essential role of promoting a product. They attract potential customers and wickedly tempt them to purchase the products. I wouldn't buy a product if its ad is crappy. After all, ads give consumers a very crucial first impression.

Okay back to the topic. I have always been fascinated by Anna Sui ads. Every time I flip through a fashion magazine, my eyes are inevitably drawn towards them. These ads are so vibrant, colorful and fantasy-like! Here are some examples of Anna Sui makeup ads:

Famous English model, Agyness Deyn, is a typical face on Anna Sui ads. With her blonde locks and piercing blue eyes, she stands out naturally. She looks absolutely fabulous in each ad of course!

What I really love are Anna Sui perfume ads. I prefer them over the makeup ads. Anna Sui totally nails it when it comes to advertising her perfumes. She constantly manages to produce such beautiful and eye-catching ads. I'm always riveted whenever I see them. Here are some examples:

I simply can't get enough of this gorgeous Secret Wish perfume ad. It gives off great fantasy vibes. Whenever I look at it, I feel like I'm whisked away to Fairyland! The pastel colors used also makes the ad a pleasure to look at. I'm just so in love with it!

Here's Agyness Deyn again. Once more, she looks totally chic. I love that the rocker chick look is fused with a hint of femininity, thanks to the purplish-pink hues and pretty butterflies. On the contrary, the other version of the ad emits waves of pure sweetness. It's so girly and innocent.

This Forbidden Affair ad is one of my favourites. The name itself is so catchy! I adore the packaging of this perfume as well. It is classy and creative. This ad exudes a wonderful magical feel. It is just so dreamy and princessy. The ad really creates the mood of a scandalous forbidden affair. 

I was really captivated when I saw this ad. Instantly, a magic carpet and picturesque Arabian night scenery flashed through my mind. The model in this ad looks stunning. Her whole look really captures the essence of the Night of Fancy perfume. I especially love the peacock embroidered on her headdress.

In short, Anna Sui rocks when it comes to advertisements. One word fittingly describes her ads: Fantabulous!

Glasses and Face Shapes

Glasses have always been an object viewed under a rather negative light. People who are bespectacled tend to be called "geeks", "nerds" or "four eyes". But in my perception, glasses are a superb accessory. It doesn't mean that one cannot be fashionable if one wears glasses. Some celebrities who rock their glasses include:

Tina Fey

Amanda Peet

Alicia Keys

Still, it is crucial that you find a pair of glasses which suits your face shape. So here are a few guidelines on how to find your perfect spectacles.

Round Face

Kelly Clarkson

If you have full cheeks and a rounded chin, go for rectangular and horizontal styles which can make faces appear longer and thinner. You can also choose upswept frames that draw attention to the top of your face. Avoid small and short frames that accentuate face length. 

Square Face

Sandra Bullock

If you have a square face with a strong jaw line, try oval and round frames. You can also go for butterfly shaped glasses. You should avoid geometric and square shaped frames that accentuate the angles of your face.

Oval Face

Eva Mendes

If you have an oval face with high cheekbones, then you are a lucky person. You can go with almost any frame shape. However, do not get frames that are too large for you features. That would drown out our face.

Heart Shaped Face

Scarlett Johansson

If you have a broad forehead and wide cheek bones that narrow to a small chin, go for bottom-heavy frames that add width to your lower face. Do not choose top-heavy frames that pull attention upward. You should also avoid frames with decorative temples that accentuate your broad upper face. 

Glasses come in so many shapes and funky colors. It's real fun to play around with them. All you have to do is make sure that the frame shape goes with your face. Pair your glasses with some makeup and chio clothes. Then you're officially ready to walk down Fabulousity Lane!

Fresh Face Makeup

Makeup is such a wonderful tool. It can help enhance your features and hide your flaws. Overdoing it, however, can lead to disastrous results. Take Taylor Momsen for example.

Her raccoon eyes literally made me shudder in horror...And she is such a beautiful girl. Why ruin her natural beauty with globs of makeup? In my opinion, going fresh faced is the best. You don't need heavy makeup to look gorgeous. Here are some examples of celebrities with fresh face makeup:


Jennifer Lawrence

I couldn't help but gape at this picture of Jennifer. She looks so frigging stunning with her barely there eye makeup, slight tint of blush and nude lips. It is amazing how such a simple look can bring out the full force of her beauty. Her makeup is flawless. Period.


Katrina Bowden

Another fresh faced beauty is Katrina Bowden. She looks ethereal in this picture. Like Jennifer, Katrina has minimal eye makeup and nude lips. Her skin is practically glowing, people! Jadore her hair style as well. It goes beautifully with her subtle makeup.

Emma Watson

With her English rose complexion and fine features, Emma obviously does not need much makeup to look pretty. This picture is proof. This gal never fails to impress. She does it so perfectly all the time. Her makeup is never too heavy. She puts just the right amount of makeup to make a spectacular appearance.


Blake Lively

Blake is one of the those few celebrities who manage to look gorgeous every time. She always has that fresh and dewy appearance. A little dab of shimmery white eyeshadow at the inner corners of her eyes helped to brighten her look. Blake is a whizz at not only makeup but also at fashion. Her outfits are frequently winners.

All the celebrities above dazzle with just minimal makeup. Still, I feel that makeup can only do so much to make your complexion appear radiant. It is best to have skin that glows from within. This is where skincare comes in. It is really important to ensure that your skin is well hydrated and protected from horrid UV rays. Once your skin is healthy, you will look fabulous naturally!

Knee High Boots ♥

I have always wanted a pair of fantabulous boots. After much thinking, yours truly decided that her ideal boots would have to be: 

• Brown in color
• Made out of soft fabric (so that they would not mar my feet)
• Knee high (ankle boots would make me look shorter, unless worn with leggings or dark tights)

Now I'm thrilled to say that gone are the days where I wished I had gorgeous boots. The boots that I got from Elements actually fit all the criteria that I have listed above. Put plainly, they are my DREAM boots! My favourite aunt bought them for me when we went shopping in Sunway Carnival mall. Love her max! ♥ ♥ ♥ I wouldn't have gotten them on my own for they were rather pricey.

Just looking at them makes me absurdly happy. Crazy right? ^_^

These boots are so wonderfully comfortable. One factor is that they are low-heeled boots. Unlike some other shoes, this baby of mine does not cut into my feet. That means that I can walk in them for hours and hours. This is crucial especially when I'm on a shopping spree. I don't want to wear shoes that would cripple me by the end of the day! Did I mentioned that these boots are also chio? I'm so in love with them!

What I like about knee high boots is that they can make chunky calves appear slimmer. They are also incredibly stylish and flattering. Knee high boots are typically worn with jeans, leggings or short or long hemlines. If you tuck your jeans into your boots for a sleek look, make sure that you are wearing skinny jeans to avoid looking "balloony". Here are some examples of how to wear knee high boots:


Selena Gomez

Blake Lively

 

Taylor Swift

Knee high boots are absolutely lovely, no?

Makeup Guru - Michelle Phan

Aside from being influenced by my sister, makeup tutorials played a huge role in building my interest in cosmetics. I watched several different tutorials by various makeup gurus but Michelle Phan's videos never fail to stand out. She is a Vietnamese-American who became famous by creating makeup and beauty tutorials on YouTube. She is also a spokesperson for Lancôme.

This gal is simply talented and brilliant. After watching her videos, you can tell that she puts in a lot of effort to ensure that her videos are of top quality and professional. Hence, it is no wonder that she has garnered over a million subscribers. She also has more than 150 videos at the moment.

Michelle has a creative and artistic streak in her. The looks she creates for her makeup tutorials are often gorgeous and unique. I like the fact that she caters to the needs of her wide audience. For instance, she does tutorials for masquerades, school, prom, Christmas and Halloween. I particularly love her vampire makeup for Halloween. The finished look is absolutely stunning and ethereal.

Of all her videos, my favourite is her Romantic Valentine's Day Date tutorial. The look she created is natural and subtle but undeniably beautiful. I simply adore the sweet pink, taupe and brown tones that she used to produce this look. It is perfect for a date or a day out. After watching this tutorial, I was immensely interested in Lancôme's Oscillation Powerfoundation and Color Design Haute Sunset Eyeshadow Quad. But they are way out of my budget, so...*resigned sigh*

With her talent and determination, this remarkable makeup guru is definitely going places. Check out her YouTube account at MichellePhan.

Concealing Pimples

You wake up one morning feeling absolutely bright and perky. Prancing happily, you make your way to the bathroom to brush your teeth. And then it hits you. When you look into the mirror, you realize that a humungous pimple has sprouted out on the very center of your nose. Funny how one pimple can sometimes dampen your mood. In my case, you will probably hear a loud, demented shriek of horror...

Do not despair for all hope is not lost! There are ways of concealing zits. Green concealer is typically used to soften and cancel out redness -- pimples and redness around the nose and mouth area. Here are some green concealers which might help:

Make Up For Ever 5 Camouflage Cream Palette

Shiseido The Makeup Stick Foundation (Control Colour)

After concealing the redness of your blemish, apply a flesh-toned concealer on it. This will provide more coverage. I use Maybelline Angelfit Perfect Concealer.

Next, apply your favourite liquid foundation. Make sure to blend it well so that the coverage is even. Finally, apply loose powder all over your face to set the foundation. This will prevent your foundation from slipping and creasing.

These steps should enable you to have a deceivingly flawless face. So now you can strut down the street with full confidence, knowing well enough that you look fab. Ah, the wonders of makeup.  It never fails to amaze me on how makeup can transform one's looks.

Coastal Scents 88 Palette (Matte)

I remember seeing my favourite makeup guru Michelle Phan using this palette and I was like "Wow...that's just FAB!" 88 colors in one whole palette. That's freakin amazing! So there I was, drooling every time it appeared on my laptop screen. But now, I no longer have to sigh over a product I don't own. It's finally MINE, my preciousss! *Think Gollum*

My fantabulous friends bought it as a present for my 22nd birthday this year. Love them heaps  ♥ Coastal Scents is not available in Malaysia so my friends actually purchased it online. They gave it to me when I was in class and I practically shrieked like a banshee. Luckily the lecturer was not there yet... but seriously, I really couldn't believe my good fortune. When I opened it, I was almost blinded by the beautiful array of colors. They are quite pigmented and of good quality. This palette is perfect for a makeup beginner. It has all the colors a person can possibly dream of.

My eyeshadows previously only contained colors like pinks, taupes, golds, browns and purples. These are the colors that I like and I didn't see the point of buying other colors which I will not use. Now with THIS gorgeous palette, I have so many colors to experiment with! I feel happy and thrilled everytime I look at the wide selection of eyeshadows. Crazy right? So now, whenever I see makeup gurus using it, I won't go "Damn, I wish I had that", I'd go "Yay, I have that too!" :)

Nude Colors

I absolutely ADORE nude colors, be it eyeshadows or lipsticks or lipglosses. Nude colors are simply divine -- Browns, taupes and nudish pinks...I can't get enough of them! So you can understand why I got all excited thrilled about Urban Decay's Naked Palette...only to remember that there are no Urban Decay outlets in Malaysia *screams with disappointment* Yeah, imagine my utter frustration of not being able to get such a bee-yoo-ti-ful palette of colors! I suppose it will stay on my lust list forever...:( *sobs*

Alright, enough of my woes of having no Urban Decay here. Moving on to lipsticks. I can't wait to try the YSL's Rouge Volupte range of lipsticks. I have seen nothing but positive reviews about these products on beauty blogs. The products themselves look absolutely stunning. Here are three lipsticks which completely caught my attention:

YSL Rouge Volupte Nude Beige

YSL Rouge Volupte Peach Passion

YSL Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual

My eyes practically glazed over with all the beautiful shades of nude, pink and peach. YSL lipsticks are definitely a must have. And I totally look forward to the day when I can finally get my paws on them ^^

Makeup Primers

Primers, primers...wherefore art thou Primers?

I simply can't find any drugstore face or eye makeup primers :( Of course there are the high ended primers which are too freaking exorbitant. Poor mortals like me rely on drugstore makeup. Makeup primers helps make your face matte by absorbing excessive oil on your face. This is really crucial for people with oily skin (especially around the T-zone and nose area), me included T_T By the end of the day, my makeup would slip and slide and crease on my face *cringes* Not appealing at all...

I read in magazines that L'OREAL has a face primer. It is called the L'OREAL Studio Secrets Professional Smoothing Resurfacing Primer. Sadly, this product seems to be available only in overseas. I really can't find it here in Malaysian stores *weeps bitterly in disappointment*

Another famous eye primer is the Urban Decay Primer Potion. Many makeup gurus use this primer. Once again, it is really difficult to find this product here. I heard that Sephora will be opening soon in KL. Hopefully it will have an Urban Decay outlet...

Runny makeup is something I really, really want to avoid. There are definitely other makeup primers around but these are usually high ended products. I can't possibly afford expensive primers like Lancome's La Base Pro face primer.

For now, I shall continue my never-ending quest for the perfect and inexpensive face primer....