Not Another One...

Dear Readers,

Unfortunately, this blog is going on hiatus... again. I'm really sorry but I will be busy for the next two weeks. I'm forecasting that I will not have the time to blog. However, I will do my best to squeeze in a post or two if and whenever I can.

Regards,
Ty

Triple S: Seize the Day

Carpe diem. If you've watched Dead Poet's Society, you'd know the meaning. If you haven't, you may have come across it somewhere and sometime in your life, whether it's the newspapers, television ads or people talking. In case you don't know what that the special phrase means, it is Latin for "Seize the day".

Life is precious. We all acknowledge that but how many of us actually grasp it? Just like many other things, we take life for granted... until it's about to be taken away from us. Carpe diem has been my life motto for quite some time now. If I were to get a tattoo, it'd be that phrase on my arm, where I can see it and reminded of how time is slipping away. Even if we think that we'll have years away from us, it can all change because of a terminal illness or a fatal accident.

Recently, I watched this very inspirational video of a man who got on Oprah to pass a very important message to everyone. His life has been cut short and he has done everything he could to make the best out of what he has left. I would like to share this video with everyone because it has touched me and maybe it will touch you too.




What's your take on life? What's your motto?

Wicked Wednesday: Eye Makeup Removal

Source: tips4beauty.blogspot.com

I recently came across this article about removal of  eye makeup. No, it's not written by some celebrity makeup artist or by a makeup remover manufacturer. It was written by optometrists/eye doctors. It's really fascinating because what they write in the article is true and not many makeup-wearers are aware of it. Not removing makeup properly does not just clog your pores, your eye makeup will irritate your eyes and affect the quality of your tears. Women who wear lots of mascaras and line their waterlines are more prone to dry eyes.

You might think, "Okay, so what? I can just use eye drops." Yes, but tears are an essential part of your defense/immune system. It contains enzymes that can break down bacteria, which helps to protect the eye from infections. Using eye drops will keep your eyes moist but it will not contain all the natural enzymes that your tears have. Since I've read the article, I've been cutting down on waterlining my eyes. I still wear mascara but since I seldomly wear makeup, it should not affect me. 

However, if you do wear a lot of eye makeup and love and cannot live a day without it, just make sure you take time to remove your it. The article advises against using waterproof makeup and oil removers because it leaves a bit of residue behind. Please read the article for a full explanation. A way to improve the quality of your tears is to eat fish regularly. A lot of fish contain omega 3 fatty acids.

As for actual makeup removal (including eyes), I love Lisa Eldridge's method. She's a high profile makeup artist who has worked with Kate Winslet, Emma Watson and (let's not forget!) Katy Perry, just to name a couple. She's really amazing and very knowledgeable. I thoroughly enjoy watching her Youtube videos.



Summary

• Remove your eye makeup properly!!  
• It affects your tear production, causing dry eyes and poor tear quality.
• Tears are essential for protecting your eyes. 

Do you wear a lot of eye makeup? Do you experience dry eyes? Please share your experience.

Pleasant Surprise!

I hopped on the internet after coming home from an exam paper, just to give myself a bit of a break before I powered on with studying. I logged on to Beauty Heaven and saw that they've announced the winners to their Australian BlogStar Awards competition. I opened up the article, curious to see who won. (I was short-listed for this competition and was up against some really good pro bloggers so I didn't think I'd win. I didn't mind at all. I was just happy to be short-listed.) Then I scrolled down. To my great disbelief, this blog post of mine was voted as the Best Beauty Blog Post for Established Blogs! I thought it was a goner since I didn't receive a lot of feedback or comments from any of the BH members.

I would also like to congratulate the other winners! Everyone did a really great job. I went through all of the short-listed posts some time back and I thought that all of them were wonderful. To check out the other winners and their blogs head over to here!

What was the most pleasant surprise you've ever experienced? Do share!

Triple S: Beauty on Pinterest

Ahh... Pinterest. A site of wonder and enlightment. I can spend hours on that website if I let myself. There are constantly new things on Pinterest, which is what makes it ever so interesting. From recipes, to jokes, to fashion, to DIYs. It's endless!! It's also a huge source of beauty inspiration. Take the hair updo below for example. It looks so simple and beautiful. I have yet to figure out how to replicate this complex style. 

And then there's this gorgeous heavy eyeliner look. It's a Twiggy meets Emma Watson look, except spunkier. I tried this look out and I love it! All you need is black gel/wet eyeshadow eyeliner (use an angled eyeliner brush, much easier) and nude/white pencil eyeliner (to line the lower waterline). Then smack on loads of mascara on both top and bottom lashes. You can pair this with a nude or pink or red lip. It's so versatile!

The last pin on Pinterest that I want to share with you is this beautiful combination of sketch/water painting. The lady in the painting looks so elegant and classy. I think this would look amazing in real life. I think one would need a hair donut, black eyeliner, mascara, false lashes, dark blue eyeshadow. Anyone care to give it a go?

Are you a fan of Pinterest? Have you tried anything beauty related that you found on that site? Comment below!

Wicked Wednesday: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser Demo & Technique

 If you can recall my review on LM Tinted Moisturiser, I did say that I would do a demo post and that I'd also teach you how to stretch your money and product further. So below is a photo of my (a part of) my cheek without anything on.

I use LM Tinted Moisturiser in Sand. So here's what the product looks like prior to blending. It has a foundation-like consistency. It's not thick like most moisturisers.

This is after blending it out with my fingers. As you can see, the product pretty much disappears. It's a perfect match for my skintone. You might say that it looks like it doesn't give any coverage what so ever. Well, that's because I've applied very little and a lot of the product probably ended up seeping into my fingers as well. I know it works because I've coverage some light pimple scars with it before.

So how do I maximise my usage of this expensive little product? I usually squeeze out some on the back of my hand. Then using my fourth/ring finger, I dab and dot the tinted moisturiser all over my face. I load my foundation brush up with a bit of regular moisturiser (so that it doesn't take up the tinted moisturiser) before blending the product out. If I feel like my foundation brush isn't doing a good enough job of blending it out, I use a Sigma Angled Kabuki brush to buff it into my skin, after having loaded it with regular moisturiser of course.

What foundation technique do you use? Please do share!

Triple S: Smashbox Photo Set Finishing Powder Review

This finishing powder by Smashbox is a translucent one. I've read a number of reviews online and most people are happy with it. There were an odd few who said that it can give a white cast to their face and ruin their makeup. I was tentative about buying this product but the lady at Mecca Maxima assured me by saying that if I'm not happy with it, I can return it within 14 days. I happily paid $40 for it.

Just like most loose powder products, this one isn't very portable. A lot of powder comes out through the sift when I carry it around in my bag. So I'll just have to set my makeup at home. The packaging is decent, nothing fancy or expensive. I've used it a few times now and it did not give me a white cast, like the MM lady promised. What really impresses me is that it gives my face a smooth satin finish. It lasts few hours and you don't need a lot of product. In fact, the best way to avoid any form of white cast is to use a very minimal amount.

It blends in so smoothly that it's not detectable to the naked eye. I can only feel its presence when I touch my face and get a satin feel. It's does not feel heavy or cloggy as well. I would probably term it "lightweight".

So overall, I am happy with my purchase.

Summary

• Decent packaging.
• Not portable. 
• Amazing satin finish; "lightweight". 
• Lasts a few hours and don't need a lot of product.
• Not cheap but not expensive either.

What setting powder do you love and use?

Wicked Wednesday: May Haul

Okay, I think I've overdone it this time. I can't believe how much I've spent in May! In April, I had told myself I'd cut down on spending. I want to bring my bank figure up by a lot. The shiny plastic card in my purse seems to keep finding it's way into machines, draining my account!

At the start of May, I bought myself a translucent setting powder. At first I was tossing up between a Laura Mercier one and a Smashbox one. But since Smashbox is a tad bit cheaper and the lady at Mecca Maxima said that I could return it within two weeks if I didn't like it, I thought I could not go wrong with it. I've been using it for a month now and am happy with it. It is the Smashbox Photo Set Finishing Powder. Review to come! So that was $40 spent.

I was watch a lot of Youtube. One of the Youtube beauty gurus that I subscribe to is pixi2woo. Tanya Burr was wearing a beautiful pink polish that I've been searching for for a very long time. I tried asking her what nail polish brand and name it is on Youtube, Facebook and Twitter for a few weeks. No reply. Finally, just when I have given up, on her next video she put it in her description box. Essie Fiji. I immediately jumped on eBay and bought one for $9. This is only because the stockists where I live lack variety and I could not be bothered going store to, asking for it.

Source: polishmehappy.blogspot.com

Then, came one of those gloomy Saturdays when my fingers itch to buy something online but I was trying my best to not. I bought myself some brush guards (I'm pretty sure there aren't any stores locally that stock them) online. It was pretty cheap: $14. But that's still money of course. It all adds up, right? In between, I was buying a lot of junk food at uni and believe me, uni food is expensive.

The end of May approached I was so busy that I had to do my Bobbi Brown makeup lesson a couple of days before the win-$500-worth-of-products competition ended. I booked for a Secret to Perfect Skin Lesson. The MUA was so nice that she ended up doing a full lesson for me for free! I was so tempted to buy a product from her because she was so nice. I told my boyfriend about it later that day and he went "so why didn't you?". The next day, I went back and bought a creamy concealer from her.

I was surprised when she took a fresh new stock from the drawer. It was tiny! Just as well Myer had a 10% off sale on cosmetics that day so I had to pay $41. Is it worth it? I'll let you know in a months time. My boyfriend's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when he saw it. He couldn't stop commenting on how tiny it is. It is Bobbi Brown though. You get what you pay for with her products and I plan on making this product last for as long as possible. 

You're probably thinking. No, you haven't spent that much, girlie. Well, the next expenditure will probably shock a lot of my fellow Asian friends. I went to Oscar Oscar and got a $71 haircut. I have never spent so much on a haircut alone in my life. Never ever. I don't plan on doing it ever again. To be fair, the senior stylist was very professional and nice. Plus I joined their VIP mailing list and got a free $30 Aveda treatment. I also had a 25% student discount. I can't imagine how much I would have had to fork out if not for those savings. Then again, it was the savings that lured me in there. If not for them, I would never have set foot in Oscar Oscar. I tried to get my moneys worth by asking the stylist to cut off more hair. I ended up getting more than what I bargained for. Now my hair is barely past my shoulders. I'll just have to regrow it and go back to $25 haircuts. It's just me.

So that was a lot of money spent in May. I don't plan on buying anything at all this month (June). Let's see if I can live up to the challenge.

Summary

• I spent too much money this month!!! 

Have you ever spent a lot of money on a product/service and regretted it? Do share!

Winner + A Crafty Giveaway CLOSED

Sorry it took so long ladies but I've finally decided the winner for my Caption That Photo contest. It was really tough because I liked all of the entries! Fear not if you're not the winner for this contest! I have a HUGE giveaway coming for the 4th birthday of this blog!! So stay tuned!

And the winner is... Alice!

The winning entry:  "I told you not to be so rough last night..." "Grin and bear it, babe."

Congratulations Alice, you've just won yourself a Rimmel prize pack. Please reply my email within a week to claim your prize or a new winner will be chosen.

Now, on with my next giveaway! This one is for the arts & crafts lovers out there.

The winner will get a range of stickers (for their scrapbooks/greeting cards/art projects) and a Greeting Card Creator software (for Windows XP but Windows 7 should be able to run it).

Rules
1. You must follow my blog (via Google Friend Connect).
2. You must be an Australian resident.
3. You must be 18 or above (or have your parents/guardians consent if you are under 18).

Just fill out the form below to enter this giveaway! Giveaway closes 30th of June 2012.

Good luck!

P.S. I don't believe I have many international followers but if you are one, please leave a comment below to let me know. This is so that my next giveaway will be an international one! 

Triple S: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser SPF 20 Review

I've been using Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturiser for a month now and it's high time I wrote a review for it. First off, I'd like to point out how much I love the packaging. So much so that I've kept the box. It does not have a "luxurious feel" like YSL does but it definitely has the "high quality feel". This product comes in a tube, so we technically should be able to squeeze out as much product as we can (unlike foundations that come with a pump).

As you can see, it says "lightweight flawless coverage" on the packaging. I'd give a big tick for the "lightweight" part. This product does not make you feel clogged up/heavy/saturated like some moisturisers can. As for "flawless", I think it's a very relative term. If your skin is in poor condition, with very prominent scarrings or breakouts, I would not recommend this to you. You're better off with a medium to full coverage foundation because the coverage for this product is sheer to light. If you have wonderfully beautiful skin, then this product is perfect for you. I am by means saying that I have perfect skin. Once upon a time, I did. Now, I'm very far from it. I use this product to cover up the light pimple scars that I have and to even out my skintone.

This is one of those products that isn't for everyone because different people need/want different amounts of coverage. For me, I am quite content with it because it cuts three steps to one. Sunscreen + moisturiser +  light foundation = tinted moisturiser! Great for people who have very little time to get ready in the morning. It's SPF 20 should be enough to protect us in the bus/car or on the streets when we're on our way to work/uni and exposured to the sun. In terms of lasting power, it's not the best. After all, it is a moisturiser and it is mostly absorbed into your skin. So you're guaranteed a hydrated face but not a lasting coverage.

The only downside to this is that it is expensive. However, as I mentioned before in my April Haul post, Laura Mercier prices have dropped in Australia. It now retails for $59. I believe it was previously $80+. You get 40ml out of it, which should last you quite a while if you don't use it frequently (like me). I will be doing a demo with this product in an upcoming post and I'll also show you how to "stinge" on this product; make it "last" longer and stretch your money's worth.

Summary

• High quality packaging. 
• Lightweight. Flawlessness depends on skin condition. Sheer coverage
• Only recommended for people with very minimal pimple scars and blemishes. 
• Mainly used to even out skintone.
• Three steps in one! Has SPF 20. Whoot!
• Expensive 

Do you use tinted moisturisers? What do you think of them?