So Obessessed!

I've been obssessed with balayages for a very long time now. Yes, I know. The trend is kinda old but apparently it is still chic to have one. Why didn't I just go and get it done? Well, I'm just afraid it will look terrible on me, especially because I'm Asian. Here are photos of some that I like.

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What do you guys think? Should I get it done? Or is this hairstyle over rated?

P.S. Sorry this is a really short post. I have been really busy at work 'cause we're short-staffed at the moment. I promise that the next post will be a good one!

P.P.S. Have a Merry Christmas!!

Triple S: USA Beauty Haul

You may have noticed that I have not been replying to comments for the past three weeks. That's because I've been away on a big holiday. Where did I go? USA! And of course, for every beauty blogger, it's a standard procedure to follow up with a Haul post. 

Sadly, I did not purchase as many beauty items as I had hoped/expected but I'm sure you're still keen to see what handful of products did I manage to grab.

In terms of makeup, this is what I bought: Duo eyelash adhesive, Stila Convertible in Lilium, UD eyeshadow in Bordello, UD Eyeshadow Primer Potion, MAC eyeshadow palette that I built myself (Brown Down, Naked Lunch, Sable and Satin Taupe) and a MAC 219 brush (it's brown at the tip because I've already started using it). I am in love with my Stila Convertible. I will be doing a swatch and review soon so keep an eye out!

As for skincare, I only got myself one product: La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo. I can tell you now that this is the best acne treatment I have tried so far. Review to come! I was going to buy myself a La Mer Moisturising Cream while I was there. Then, my mum revealed that she has an unopened jar that I can have so I didn't.

As for nail polish, I had initially intended to buy quite a lot of OPI from the US. However, we never managed to find a store that stocked a big selection. I know Sephora has their own version/collection of OPI but I wanted the originals. No big loss because I already have 20 over nail polishes that I hardly use. So all I got were these two: Essie Good As Gold and Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat in 09 Wave Break.

Lastly, I also picked up a copy of Allure Magazine. It was for only $4! I couldn't resist. Plus, Keira Knightley looks smoking hot in this issue. 

Before I finish up this post, here are some of my favourite photos from the trip.

New York

San Francisco

Los Angeles

Have you been to USA before? Which city is your favourite? I can't decide between New York and San Francisco.

Triple S: Style Files #2

It's been a while since I've done a Style Files post. Here are some outfits that have been insipiring me for this very hot summer:

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1. Must be her blue nails and shoes. Or maybe it's the floral dress and the flower in her hair. But I must say that I love her creativity in photography!

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2. Who doesn't love a good maxi dress and a pair of aviators for summer? Oh, and let's not forget the cute and casual side braid.

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3. I have only three words for this outfit: casual but chic.

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4. I know that balayage was all the rage last season but I firmly believe that it has carried on over to this season as well. Love her off-one-shoulder chiffon dress and sandals!

Out of the four outfits, which is your favourite?

Triple S: Alpha-H Liquid Gold Smoothing and Perfecting Mask Review

I'm a fan of Alpha-H products (recall from this review of 3 of their products). Their Liquid Gold Smoothing and Perfecting Mask is no exception. Here are my thoughts on this product after having tried it for a few months now.

 Alpha-H Liquid Gold Smoothing and Perfecting Mask
Claims: Eliminates dryness while absorbing excess oil. Designed to visibly improve all skin conditions such as fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, sun-damage, clogged pores, blemishes, acne and acne scarring, dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis.
RRP: AUD63 for 100g 

Packaging: 5 out of 5

Review: Many praises have been sung for this mask. I had high expectations when I received this products. I desperately wanted it to be the magic bullet for flawless glowing skin. But let's be realistic. No such product exists; and even if it does, it comes in something called Photoshop. However, I am happy to report that this skincare product is worth having in your arsenal. This mask leaves my skin feeling softer and more supple. It helps to dry up any pimples/acne that I have. The glycolic acid takes off all of my dead skin cells, giving me a slightly brighter complexion. My skin also feels fresher and more awake after washing the mask away.

 This product has a very soft and slightly creamy texture. It glides on the skin very easily. However, if you want to skimp like me; use very little product to cover your entire face, you will have to "work the product" until you get an even spread all over. Really, you don't need a lot. And if you get the mask in full size, it will last you a very long time. In the photo below, I have the mask on. It becomes transparent a minute within application. That's why you can't really see the mask on my face. So I guess if you unexpectedly need to answer the door, no one will be able to tell you have product all over your mug!

The first time I apply this mask it stung. It's because of the glycolic acid. But the stinging sensation disappeared after a minute. The "stinging time" lessened as I used this mask more. Now it only stings the tinest bit upon application and is gone within a second or two. This product comes in a convenient squeezable tube and I cannot find any fault with the packaging. Hence the 5 out of 5. So, this mask does not make my skin flawless (no product can instantly remove pimples/scars) but it does make my skin glow. And that's more than good enough for me! 

Have you tried this mask before? What's your go-to product for glowing skin?

Triple S: Bobbi Brown Creamy Matte Lip Color Review + Swatches

I've been excited about these matte lipsticks since an MUA from Bobbi Brown told me about them. That was back in July. It was a long wait but it was well worth it! I received these lipsticks last month when they were released and have been loving them!

Bobbi Brown Creamy Matte Lip Color  
Claims: Highly pigmented formula that provides intense moisturisation on the lips due to soft waxes and emollients. It is designed to slightly soften with the warmth of the lips and forms a film to provide up to eight hours wear.
RRP: AUD$44

Packaging: 5 out of 5

Review: I'm really sorry ladies but I will be doing a lot of raving in this review! I will do my best to be concise. First off, these lipsticks are very creamy. It glides on with very little resistance but at the same time, it lays down a lot of product. It is highly pigmented and so usually I swipe it across my lips only once. It truly is long lasting. I went out to dinner with my friends wearing this lipstick in True Pink. Even though some came off as I ate, when I checked my lips after the meal, most of it was still intact. It stayed on all night. With my other lipsticks, most of it comes off when I eat, leaving only a rim of colour around my mouth afterwards. 

The packaging is simply luxurious. Although it may not seem obvious in these photos but these lipsticks come in very high quality plastic tubes. The packaging is what I would like to describe as an "all-rounder". It looks simple enough to be an everyday item. At the same time it can be glamorous or elegant. You can pull this lipstick out from any kind of bag in any type of event! The only downside that I can think of is that it feels heavier than other (drugstore/pharmacy) lipsticks. However, once you have it in your bag, you will not notice the weight at all. That is if you're not carrying around 20 of those... Anyway, I can't wait to get more of these gems; I am already eyeing the colour in Pink Lily!

Now on with the swatches! 

Natural light

In the shade

 Below we have Calypso on my lips. I can only describe it as a very fun orangey-pink. I think this would look even more amazing with a bit of gold lipgloss/eyeshadow dabbed onto the centre of the lips.

 Here we have True Pink on my lips. I'd like to think that it's a very neutral pink. It's not too dark or too light. It may have a teeny tiny bit of mauve in it. 

This is the only (relatively) close-up shot of me with True Pink on my lips at the dinner with my friends. Can you tell?

 What's your favourite matte lipstick? Have you tried Bobbi Brown's? 

Please remember that although these lipsticks were sent to me, these opinions are 100% my own! It does not matter whether I receive a product from a company or bought it myself, if I love the product I will rave about it. If I don't, I usually don't bother writing a review on it unless I deem it necessary. This is to clear up any confusion.

Triple S: What's in My Purse/Wallet?

I don't know about you but I refer to "mini money-holding bags for women" as purses. I realise that Americans call them wallets and purses mean handbags to them. For me, wallets are "mini money-holding bags for men". What do you call them? For the purposes, of this blog entry, I will refer to these bags as purses.

Anyway, I just thought I'd do something fun and different today. I've poured all the contents out of my purse (and arranged them neatly) to show you what I carry around with me every day. I have actually left out one item but I will get to that later. 

 
So here are (almost) all the things that I have in my purse every day:

- Money
- USB (You might find it strange but it so handy! My friends are always giving me stuff like music, photos, etc. This way, I never run into the risk of forgetting to bring my USB.)
- Band-aids
- Eye drops (My eyes get irritated a lot and often when I am not at home.)
- Bobby pins
- Rubber hair tie
- Cards

I usually carry this many cards around with me. Some are very useful and others are hardly ever touched. I am not going to name any of the cards. Oh, and in case you're wondering, my purse is from Charles Berkeley. I bought it in Malaysia a couple of years back.

  Normally, I would keep a blister or corn patch in my purse because there's this one toes that has suffered a lot of abrasion and never fully recovered. I love these patches they help keep the agony at bay, particularly when I am wearing heels. I use Compeed because they are quite good. I only wish they weren't so expensive. I have tried a cheaper brand/version but it is just not good enough. If you do know of a good and cheaper one, do let me know! 

I hope this post has been fun and interesting for you. I plan on doing something like What's in My Shoe Closet next, since I have had one or two requests. Hopefully, I will get around to it!

What do you have in your purse/wallet?  

Triple S: Formula 10.0.6 No Time To Shine Review

 I have been trying this oil-absorbing mud mask for quite a while now and I really like it! So I thought it'd do a review and a bit of a demo. Here it goes!

Formula 10.0.6 No Time to Shine  
Claims: Draws out impurities and eliminates excess oil, purifying and conditioning to balance and tone skin. Has cleansing, astringent, healing, soothing, moisturising and anti-inflammatory properties
RRP: AUD$1.99/AUD$8.99 for 9.4mL/100mL

Packaging: 5 out of 5

Review: I have combination skin. I'm oily, but not extremely, on my T-zone (my forehead, nose and chin). The rest of my face is normal skin. This product is really easy to apply. It is creamy and slightly mousse-like. It comes in a plastic squeenzable tube that makes dispensing the product really easy. The product has a slightly greenish tinge and can stain your fingers but don't worry, it comes off after a couple of washes with water and soap. And no it does not stain your face green at all.  I find that my skin feels fresh and oil-free (not dry), after using this mask. However, I always follow up with moisturiser; to put some moisture back into our skin. Otherwise, my skin will go into hyperdrive and produce even more oils to compensate for the loss of moisture. My whole face is then "normal" for the entire day before any oils start seeping out again. 

Now on with the demo! 

Before

 Here's a Before photo. As you can see, my forehead and nose is a bit shiny from the oil on my skin.
 

I applied the mask all over my face, avoiding my eyes and lips. I concentrated the product on my T-zone to absorb all the oil.

When I'm done applying, I usually set my timer to 15 minutes. While I wait for the mask to dry up, I usually read a book or a magazine or watch Youtube videos. The mask has a cooling effect initially.

15 minutes later

You will feel your skin tighten as the mask dries up. At the end of the 15 minutes, I could barely lift my cheeks to smile.

I then washed the mask off with warm water and pat my skin dry with a towel.

After

 Ta-da! Naturally matte skin; less oily, less shiny. Man, I sound like an ad. Sorry! 

After

I'm quite happy with this mask. I'm already eyeing the other masks by Formula 10.0.6. The next one I am keen to try is the Keep Your Cool Breakout Calming Mask! 

Do you suffer from oily skin? Have you ever tried oil-absorbing masks before?

Triple S: Essence Eye Pencil and Lipgloss Reviews + Swatches

It's finally here! The review(s) that I promised. Sorry it took so long.... Anyway, let's jump right into it!

Essence Kajal (Kohl) Pencil in 01 Black 
Retail: AUD$1.95 for 1g

Packaging: 5 out of 5

Review:  We may not have affordable cosmetic brands, such as ELF or Milani, like they do in the USA but we certainly have Essence here in Australia to make up for it. Apart from being affordable, this eye pencil is of relatively good quality. It is very pigmented and its creamy texture glides on smoothly. You don't need to press down hard to lay on the product; it transfers onto skin quite easily. This product smudges but that can be used to our advantage. It is perfect for making a simple black smokey eye. Line your upper lids thickly with this pencil and smudge upwards with a blending brush and voila!

These days when I am too lazy to line my eyes with liquid or gel eyeliner, I just swipe some of this product on and I'm good to go. In terms of lasting power, it is pretty decent but it does run under my eyes after a couple of hours. But I have to admit that this happens to me with most (if not all) eye pencils. If you experience the same problem, just make sure you pack on some pressed powder under your eyes after you're down with your eye makeup. The reason I gave this product a 5 out of 5 for packaging rating is because I can't find any fault with it. 

Here's a swatch of the kajal pencil. You might be wondering what the swipe of pink next to it is. It's a swatch of an Essence lipgloss. Please read on for the review.

Essence XXXL Nudes Lipgloss in 03 Nude Kiss  
Retail: AUD$3.50 for 5mL

Packaging: 5 out of 5

Review: This is a pretty pink lipgloss with a slight mauvey tone in it. It contains a bit of shimmer, which helps reflect light, adding to its glossiness. I really like this lipgloss because it is not sticky at all. Like most lipglosses it's not long-lasting from being wiped off or consumed during talking and eating. The applicator is long, slender and soft, which makes it fast and easy to cover your lips with product. All it takes is (approximately) two swipes and you're done. Because of it's clever design, I never scrape my lip by accident with the hard angled plastic in the applicators of some lipglosses. The only thing I am not fond of is the scent. It reminds me of some kind of food that I've tried before when I was younger (its name eludes me).

In case you are wondering, this is not a plumping lipgloss. Just putting it out there in case anyone thought it had a plumping effect because of its name "XXXL". The reason I gave this product a 5 out of 5 for packaging rating is because I can't find any fault with it. Plus, I think the packaging is quite appealing and looks of high quality.

 

The lipgloss is sheer like most other lipglosses but it is pigmented enough to give my lips a bit of colour. See photos below. 

Bare lips

With the lipgloss on

 I like these two products so much so they've become my go-to products.

 Have you tried any of Essence's products? Do you like them? Please share in the comments below! 

Triple S: Revlon's Colorstay Smoky Shadow Stick in 210 Flare Review + Swatches

I hope everyone is having a good weekend! Today I would like to share with you my thoughts on Revlon's Colorstay Smoky Shadow Stick in 210 Flare.

The lighter end of the pencil is a lilac type purple colour. The darker end is a plum shade of purple. Here's what the pencil tips look like.

The lighter end

The darker end

Here are a couple of swatches. For some reason my camera can't pick up the beautfiul dark purple colour. Instead it registers as brown. The lighter colour is a bit more accurate in these photos.

With sunlight

In the shade

Retail: AUD$17.95 for 1.9g

Packaging: 5 out of 5

Review: I love the texture of this product; it glides on like a dream. It is slightly creamy but at the same time powdery (so it's somewhere between the two). I also love how pigmented they are! With regular powder eyeshadows, you would need to apply a least a couple of layers before you can get the same effect. The staying power is also amazing. I wore the lilac colour to work the other day and even after 8 hours, it did not budge at all; it stayed perfectly vibrant. I gave the packaging a 5 out of 5 because I can't find any faults with it. I like how the product comes in retractable tubes (twists up and down like lipsticks) because I hate having to sharpen my shadow pencils. The only downside to this product is that it does not blend as well as powder eyeshadows. Other than that, I have absolutely happy with it!

To achieve this pretty pastel look, simply swipe the lilac colour across your mobile lid (stopping before the crease). Curl your lashes and coat on some mascara and you're done! If you want your eyes to pop even more, just add a little bit of bright eyeshadow like Urban Decay's Virgin onto your inner corners. This look is particulary lovely on brown-eyed girls.

Do you have one of these shadow sticks? If so, what colour(s) do you have? Would you like me to do more eye looks with this product? Please leave a comment below! Thank you for reading!