Sweet & Sassy Saturday: April Haul

So you know about the Sigma makeup brushes that I bought but those weren't the only things that I bought this month.

One fine day, when I should have stayed in the library to study for an upcoming quiz, I went to David Jones. I'm sure a number of the staff there know me by face now. I think I visit that place way too frequently. Anyway, I was avoiding the Bobbi Brown and MAC counter as much as I could (although I did stop to enquire about a MAC lipstick) because I've been to their counter so many times I feel bad for not buying from them more often. I headed over to the Laura Mercier counter, which I had only ever been to once and never met the counter manager there before. Also, I've heard Sam from Pixiwoo praise LM products on a few of their videos and I wanted to look at their famous tinted moisturiser.

I was swatching their tinted moisturiser on my hand when the LM lady approached me. She was so friendly, talking to me about the product, colour matching me and applying some on my face to get a feel of it. It was so light that I could barely feel it but pigmented enough to cover the redness on my nose. She said that my colour is Sand and it really was a perfect match for my skin, even my boyfriend agreed. At first, I went away to inspect beauty products at other counters, choosing to buy the tinted moisturiser another day. Then, as I discussed about it with my boyfriend, he said that I should get it if I liked it so much. Plus, Laura Mercier has had a price drop and it made it all the more a good deal. So I went back and told the LM lady that I changed my mind. She was more than happy to sell it to me.

That day, I also stopped by Estee Lauder. They had set up a display promoting their Idealist Even Skin Tone Illuminator. As I was examining a bottle when the counter manager, who was also very friendly, came over to talk to me about the product. I was really curious for I've heard and read some good reviews on it, particularly from Emily (Emily's Anthology). The lady was so kind to give me a couple of samples to trial it for a few days. I have yet to give it a go. I'm hoping that it will remove the acne scars that I have and even out my skin tone in general. Getting a radiant glow out of it would be a bonus. I will post a review once I've trialled it, so stay tuned.

I've been wanting a hair donut for a long time now. I finally bought one from Price Attack because it was the cheapest I could find ($10) compared to other stores. I could have easily bought one from eBay for $2 but I'm keeping my promise. I apologise for the terrible photo. I've also made a sock bun and I will be doing a comparison between a store bought and a homemade hair donut soon. I will probably accompany that with a tutorial.

Summary: 

• Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer gives a lovely sheer coverage. Sheer enough to feel like but pigmented enough to even out skin tone.
• Estee Lauder Idealist Even Skin Tone Illuminator sounds very promising. Will trial and review it.
• Hair donut: Store bought versus homemade review and tutorial to come.

Wicked Wednesday: Sigma Brushes

It's been a while since I posted about a haul. Well, that's because it's been a while since I had a realy haul! So I ordered some makeup brushes from Sigma at the end of March and it arrived a week ago. I know what you're thinking and I can hear a loud gasp or tsk from you already. I bought something online! Well, if you must know, I did this prior to my buy-from-local-stores-vow.

I purchased an Angled top Kabuki brush (F84), an Eye Shading brush (E55) and a Small Tapered Blending brush (E45). I shared the shipping cost with a friend who bought a stippling brush. I also used the March discount code for 10% off. Anyway, the purchase came with a gift: a small blending brush (E25). I have yet to try them out yet but running my fingers through the bristles, I'm only truly impressed with the Kabuki brush. The others are a bit disappointing for me. So far, I've washed them, as recommended by Sigma and the tapered blending brush has been shedding a fair bit (before and after the wash). From one look, you don't think it's a good quality brush at all. The shading brush has been shedding a bit as well. It has hairs sticking out here and there. Not only does it look ugly and of lower quality, those hairs are bound to come off: more shedding. The small blending brush has completely lost its shape after the wash, with a lot of hairs sticking out.

These are of lower quality to me because I've been using Bobbi Brown, Benefit and Urban Decay brushes and they are of high quality. They've either shedded only one hair or never sheded before. They always go back to their original shape after every wash (yes, I do know how to wash brushes, in case you think I don't). I bought the Kabuki brush based on Jen's (frmheadtotoe.com) recommendation. There hasn't been any shedding and it looks and feels like a good quality brush. It maintained its shape after the wash.

Since this is just my first impression, I will update my review on these brushes somewhere down the line. I guess you get what you pay for. You buy cheap, you get cheap. I probably won't be buying any more items from Sigma. I rather take my money to MAC, Bobbi Brown, Benefit and Urban Decay. You could say that I'm fussy and you're right. Others might be really happy with Sigma brushes but that's them. Unfortunately, I have high standards when it comes to things that I buy. 

Summary:

• Happy with F84, Kabuki brush.
• Not impressed with E55, E45, E25. 
• You get what you pay for.

It's ANZAC Day today. What is everyone up to? Do you commemorate the ANZACs in any special way? Comment below! 

Sweet & Sassy Saturday: Hair Extensions

Sorry about this really late Triple S post. Like I mentioned before, I had assessments this week and have been really busy but I'm keeping my promise: to post on every Wednesday and Saturday without fail. Anyway, on with the post!

I've been obssessed with the idea of clip-in hair extensions lately. As you know, I've been trying to grow my hair out for a while now and it's still not the length that I want it to be. It doesn't help that my hair is falling out a fair bit, since I want my hair thick too. So I thought, why wait around for long and thick hair when you can have it instantly... well, after you buy the hair extensions from the store, of course.



Daven has put together a video on hair extensions. It's a run down on what types are available out there but I feel that it's not as informative as I would have liked it to be. Sorry, Daven. But you're still my favourite hair guru!

The Luxy Hair sisters also made a number of videos on hair extensions but of course, it's mainly about their hair extensions. I find them really good because it's gives me an idea of what I have to deal with if I get a set of hair extensions.



After watching all their videos, I was really tempted to get my hands on some Luxy Hair Extension. Then, I recalled the vow I made. I promised to not buy from the internet and support fellow Australians and the economy whenever I can. Hair extensions are something that are readily available where I live, so I have no reason to look or buy from the internet... Except it's at least $100 cheaper if I buy it from the Luxy sisters. I went from store to store to compare quality and prices. If they are as good as the testimonials claim them to be, Luxy Hair has the best deal by far.

I'm holding it off for now and weighing my options carefully. The most practical thing to do is to not buy any. I'd save myself anywhere from $120 to $299! After all, it's not an essential item and I won't die if I don't own hair extensions.

So now, I'm reaching out to all of you who are reading this and who have some knowledge and experience in this area. Do you have or have you tried hair extensions? Who and where did you buy it from? What advice do you have for me?

Wicked Wednesday: Cat Eye & Red Lips

I hope that everyone had a good Easter break, especially for those of you who are at school or uni, now that it is well and truly over. I apologise in advance that my posts for the next two weeks will be increasingly short because I'll be sitting for exams.

I was in Melbourne towards the end of my one week break. The great news is I got to buy some really nice clothes and eat wonderfully delicious food! The bad news is I hardly studied at all. I lugged two heavy textbooks all the way there, only to have read one section from one of them.

Anyway, while I was there, I noticed a lot of girls (Asian ones in particular) rocking the cat eye and red lip look. They looked simply exquisite! I've yet to pull off a perfect cat eye (usually the angles on both my eyes don't match up) but I vow to practise until I achieve it. Until then, I will not post up a photo of me wearing that look.

Source: corallista.com

Adele has the cat eye look down pat.

Source: jennysuemakeup.com

Megan Fox is wearing the perfect red lips. 

Source: bisanation.blogspot.com

Oui, tres chic.

Please let me know if you need links to tutorials for red lips and/or cat eyes but I'm sure you're capable of finding really good ones yourself. Or maybe, you're so good that you're already teaching others!

Do you rock the cat eye and red lips look?

Sweet & Sassy Saturday: The Thing About "Drugstore Makeup"

In case you don't already know, I'm more of a high-end makeup person. YSL, Bobbi Brown, Shu Uemura, MAC, you name it. Luxury should be my middle name. I rarely buy makeup from pharmacies or drugstores, as the Americans call them. I just love how high-end makeup gives off a good quality feel. I'd like to think that I'm getting what I'm paying for. I'm also trying to practise the "quality over quantity" way of living, especially when it comes to makeup.

I found this Youtube video (below) through the Luxy Hair sisters' Facebook page. It's of a makeup artist/Youtube beauty guru explaining why she doesn't use/buy "drugstore makeup". 




I felt enlightened after watching this video.

What's your take on "pharmacy makeup"?