Dear Diary: A Double Celebration For The Month of June

Hello hello there dearies!

This month of June is calls for a double celebration for me. Not only is it my 28th birthday, but I just received news a few days ago that I had been officially confirmed in my job. Alhamdulillah, now my pay scale has increased and I am entitled for medical benefits as well as Annual Leave. Hooraaayyy!!!

The past year as a 27 year old had been a roller coaster ride for me. I had to let go of someone I had loved and who had been a part of my life for a very long time, I was unemployed for more than half a year, worked overnight shifts and dived head first into a job that I had 5% knowledge about with minimal guidance.

At the same time I had also watched my darling Sophia grow into an intelligent toddler and grew with her as a mother, gained confidence in my job and am now doing interviews for recruitment. I had chaired meetings, been part of preparing for inspections that could have made or break the place I work for and came out triumphant. Now I have been confirmed.

Yes, oh yes, I have certainly came a long way from the 27-year old who came back to her hometown from the City with her head down with defeat. Alhamdulillah, they say time heals and I am certainly well on my way there.

I am truly looking forward to entering my 28th year on this Earth and will do so with an open heart and mind, in shaa Allah. May this coming year (and beyond) brings me ways to achieve my dreams as a makeup artist, enrich my experience as a lifestyle and beauty blogger, bless me and Sophia with health and happiness, the opportunity to travel to my number 1 destination at the moment which is Melbourne and meet me with my future husband. Amin.


How old will you be this year? Is there anything that you are celebrating this month? Do share in the comments section below.


Love,
Phy

March 2014 Beauty Haul: And The Lippie Madness Continues..

Hello hello peeps
Oops I did it again. Yup, went overboard buying lip products. Again. Huwaaaa!! But I love, love, love them all so aside from having to be poor for the rest of the month, I don't  have any regrets bringing these bad boys home with me.

Interested to know more? Come and have a looksee...

Taraaaaaa....

Product list:
01. Revlon Colorburst Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain in Sweetheart Valentine
02. Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Standout
03. Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Sultry
04. Za Pure Shine lips in Red Coral
05. Maybelline Lip Polish in Glam 2 (Pink)
06. Maybelline Lip Polish in Glam 3 (Tangerine)
07. Maybelline Lip Polish in Glam 5 (Mauve)
08. Maybelline Lip Polish in Glam (Berry)

L-R: Sweetheart Valentine, Sultry, Standout, Red Coral, Glam 2, Glam 3, Glam 6 and Glam 5

Here are some full-faced lip swatches:

Red Coral

Sultry

Standout

Sweetheart Valentine

Glam 2

Glam 3

Glam 5

Glam 6

The Revlon ColorBurst Balms (both Just Bitten Kissables and Mattes) just glides dreamily on my lips. For those who have dry lips however, you might want to scrub your lips and put on a moisturizing balm before applying the Matte Balms because they tend to highlight the flakes on dry lips.

The Maybelline Lip Polishes are awesooommeee. They to glide on the lips and has a unique texture like I have never come across before. Very smooth, almost slick but not quite. You'd get an opaque color payoff with 2 swipes for the lighter colors. For a darker color like Glam 6, 1 layer is enough for the color to show. (I only used 1 layer for all the lip swatches above).

As for the ZA Pure Shine Lips in Red Coral, the color is not so opaque. As it's name depicts, it's more on the shiny (or rather, glossy side). It also has a moisturizing formula. I think that it is the perfect sweet shade for Spring Season and a great product for those who are just starting to wear makeup.

As I mentioned before, I love all of them but my ultimate favorites would be Sultry (it made into my Beauty Monthly Favorites for March 2014), Glam 6 and Sweetheart Valentine.

Did you see anything you like? If you'd like me to do a review on any of the particular products or shades, do leave your request in the comment section below.

Thanks for reading and I'll see you in the next post. Toodles!

Love,
Phy

Tag: Only One.

Hi there readers..

I love doing tags and it has been a while since I've done one. Imagine my excitement when I came across this tag on Sabrina's blog. It asks you if you could choose one restaurant/makeup brand/clothing store, etc. which would it be? This should be interesting AND hard to do! Let's get started on the tag shall we?

1. If I can only have ONE shopping mall to go to, what would it be?
It would have to be The Gardens Mid Valley because it is huuuuuuugeee and it has most if not all of my fave stores.

Source

2. If I can only have ONE restaurant to go eat, what would it be?
Sushi Zanmai. I can eat only sushi for the rest of my life and Sushi Zanmai serves the best that I have tasted so far.

Source

3. If I can only choose ONE handbag brand/store, what would it be?
I love Charles & Keith. Their designs could rival luxury brands and the price is acquirable (is that even a word?).

Source

4. If I can only choose ONE shoe brand/store, what would it be?
Ditto the above. The shoes at Charles & Keith are gorgeous!

5. If I can only choose ONE clothing brand/store, what would it be?
Nichii for sure! They have so many fashionable clothes that fit me and the price is not too steep.

6. If I can only choose ONE accessories brand/store, what would it be?
I'm kinda cheating on this one because I absolutely love shopping for accessories at The Curve Street Market. The sell the cutest accessories at affordable prices. Anggap la The Street tu is a whole store in itself ye. Boleh kan? Hihihi..

Source

7. If I can only choose ONE watch brand/store, what would it be?
I am not really a watch person so I don't have a preference.

8. If I can only choose ONE makeup brand/store, what would it be?
Sephora of course! Need you ask? (It did ask 'store' so technically I am not cheating. Hehe).

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9. If I can only choose ONE lingerie brand/store, what would it be?
Victoria Secret. Love the cute designs and they are soooo comfy.

10. If I can only have ONE dessert/snack store, what would it be?
Baskin-Robbins ice creams. I'd be on the 7th Heaven of Delight whenever I have their ice creams.

11. If I can only watch ONE tv show/channel, what would it be?
Channel 728 which is Life Inspired (LI). It's so well rounded, featuring from home designing to exercise and health programs.

12. If I can only have ONE music/singer/band to listen to, what would it be?
Pink for sure. I love her songs and her live performances are to die for!

Pink's live performance at the 2014 Grammy Awards.

13. If I can only have ONE breakfast menu to eat, what would it be?
Sushi? Lol. Okay I joke, I joke. Am a sucker for fried mee hoon and 2 fried sausages. I have it almost every morning.

14. If I can only choose ONE grocery store to shop at, what would it be?
Cold Storage. Loads of things to see and discover. Lots of imported stuff at competitive prices.

15. If I can only have ONE drink, what would it be?
Assuming this meant aside from water, I'd drink Yoyo's Milky Tea with small pearls for the rest of my life.

Source

Well that was certainly fun! I tag all of you who read this to do this. Link it to this post or share your link in the comments section below. I'd love to learn more about you. Toodles!


Love,
Phy

The Sound Of Silence - Can't Get This Song Out Of My Head

Hello there,

I was watching American Idol Season 13 on Thursday when one of its' participants, Jessica 'Jess' Meuse, sang 'The Sound Of Silence'. It is and old song back from 1964 by Simon & Garfunkel. I can't get the song out of my head since then.

Here is the original version of the song on Youtube:

Original version from 1964

Since I know that you will love the song too and attempt to sing along, here are the lyrics to it:

Hello darkness, my old friend,
I've come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence.

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
'Neath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence.

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence.

"Fools," said I, "You do not know –
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you.
Take my arms that I might reach you."
But my words like silent raindrops fell
And echoed in the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming.
And the sign said, The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls
And whispered in the sound of silence.

Source

What songs are you enjoying at the moment? Do share in the comments section below. 

Thank you for reading and commenting on this post. See you in the next one. Toodles!

Love,

Phy

Spring Trend 2014 - Product List For Flipagram Clip

Hello there..

I posted a Flipagram clip (Click here to watch it) of the look above on my Facebook Page with the promise that I would list out the products that I used here on my blog. It is created as an interpretation of some of the hottest Spring makeup trends for 2014 which are white eye shadow as well as Tangerine-colored lips. If you'd like to know the products I used and how I achieved the look, keep on reading...

Face Products:

1. MAC Prep + Prime.

2. Rimmel London Lasting Finish 24-Hour Foundation in 202 Nude.

3. MAC Strobe Cream.

4. MUFE Duo Mat Powder Foundation.

5. Benefit Posietint

First, I applied MAC Prep + Prime all over my face and neck. Next, I mixed the Rimmel London Foundation with MAC Strobe Cream (With a ratio of about 2:1) to create a luminescent finish to my skin. As the Rimmel London Nude 202 is a full coverage foundation, I used a little bit of the of it as an under eye concealer. Then I dotted Benefit's Posietint on the apples of my cheeks and blended upwards towards my temples. Lastly, I applied MUFE Powder Foundation on my T-zone to set my makeup as I tend to get oily in that area.

Eye Products:

1. MAC Paintpot in Painterly.

2. Elianto Celestial 2 in 2 Eyeliner in Snow White.

3. Benefit Sexiest Nudes Ever palette (World's Famous Neutrals).

4. Maybelline HyperSharp Liner.

5. Rimmel London Extereme Definition Two-Tone Eye Definer in It Girl.

6. MAC Eye Kohl in I Get No Kick.

7. In2it Clear Lash Gel.

I used MAC Paintpot in painterly as my eye shadow primer by applying it all over my lids up to my brow bone. Next, I used Snow White from Elianto on my lids as a white colored base. Then I applied a white shadow from Benefit's Sexiest Nudes Ever palette which is 'Milk It!' on my lids where I applied Snow White earlier. After that I mixed 'Raincheck?' and 'Pause For Applause' from the same palette on my crease to define my eyes. 

I used Maybelline's HyperSharp Liner to thinly line my upper lash line, winging it out at the outer corners. I then lined the outer three quarters of my lower lash line with Rimmel London's It Girl (the brown pencil). Next, I use MAC Eye Kohl in I Get No Kick to highlight the inner quarter of my lower lash line. 

I used the brown color pencil from Rimmel London's It Girl to lightly fill in my brows. I then used In2it's Clear Lash Gel to comb and set my brows in place.

Lip Product:

Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti.

This is the simplest step of all. I simply applied Revlon's Lip Butter in Tutti Frutti over my lips. I chose this over a full on Tangerine-colored lipstick to make the look work-appropriate. This is also a nice option for those who are taking baby steps towards wearing brighter lip colors.

So there you have it, the product list for this Spring Trend 2014-inspired look as well as how I create it. I'm not used to wearing white shadow but I must say that I am digging it so far. Would you wear white eye shadow out and about? What about orange lips? Do share in the comments section below.

If you like this makeup clip, be in the loop for new updates by liking my Facebook Page. 

Thank you for visiting and commenting. See you in the next one. Toodles!


Love,
Phy

February Favorites: Beauty Products

Hello hello there,
I know that it's kind of late for a February Favorites post but I have just been up to my eyeballs with work the past few days and so blogging had to be put on the back burner until today. So without further chit chat, let's get the show started right away shall we?

Taraaaa....

Face Base

L-R: SimplySiti New Age Simply 5 Cream, Dr. Young 2P Blemish Base.

I have 2 favorite face base for the month of February and they are the SimplySiti NewAge Simply 5 Cream and the Dr. Young 2P Blemish Base. I have had both of these products for years. I have always put off using them because they are too light on my skin and to be honest, there are other face products that I had preferred at that time.

In my last 'Dainty Pearls' post I mentioned that I am trying to avoid wastage and am using products that have been left unloved for years. Initially I dreaded using these two products because I hate the hassle of having to adjust the color with a darker powder. When I started to use them however, I was pleasantly surprised that both products creates a flawless finish to my skin. Honestly, it makes having to put on a darker powder for adjustment totally worth it. 

 Both face bases are swatched and lightly blended on my jaw line. It is obviously too light for my skin.

Swatches are completely blended and topped with a darker powder. It darkens further to suit my skin tone after an hour or so.

Next fave face base product is from The Body Shop and it is their Lightening Touch in 04. This is an oldie but a goodie. I have used this a few years back and this particular on is a repurchase. It kinda got lost in my collection and I have just rediscovered it a few months back. 

 The Body Shop Lightening Touch in O4.

Swatched (Top) and blended (Bottom) under my right eye.

Can you see the difference? For a highlighting pen, it sure conceals really well and it has a light texture to boot. I would repurchase it again once it runs out.

Cheek

 Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Powder Pink

I love Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge in Powder Pink because it helps to enhance my blush color. Have a look at the photos below. On the top left is Powder Pink alone on my cheek. On the bottom left is Powder Pink topped with powder. Lastly on the right is my cheek topped with Bobbi Brown powder blush in Pale Pink. Not sure if you can really see the difference in the photo (I hope you do though!) but trust me, it really makes my blush pop in a good way.

Eyes

 In2it Waterproof Gel Liner in Henna Brown.

I have loved, loved, loved this product since I bought it last year. It applies smoothly and stays on for a long time. This a really nice rich brown color with some brown specks of shimmer. There's only a bit of shimmer in it so it doesn't feel gritty. It's affordable too. my fave way to wear it is my making small dashes across the top of my lashes an then using an angled brush to drag the color along the lash line. Same goes with the lower lash line.

Ain't it purrdee?

Lips

Maybelline ColorSensational Bold Matte lipstick in MAT6.

Okay, this is kind of a cheat because I got it at the absolute end of February as featured in my recent haul post. Do hear me out first. My first lipstick is 'Charmed, I'm Sure' from the MAC & Marilyn Monroe Collection last year. It is my ultimate fave and I have been on the hunt for a similar color. When I tried out MAT6, I immediately knew that it had the potential to be a dupe. 

Turns out it's not exactly the same. Have a look at the photo below. I used 'Charmed, I'm Sure' on the top lip and MAT6 on the bottom. As you can see, the color on my top lip is darker and more saturated. The texture of MAT6 is also lighter and the  color a tad orange if that makes any sense. However, MAT6 has still earned a place in my faves of the month because it is a fantastic red color and I love how it looks on me. The slant of the lipstick is curved too so when you apply it, it hugs the curve of your lips nicely making it a breeze to use.

T-B: Charmed, I'm Sure and MAT6.

So there you have it, my faves of the month for February 2014. Do you have any fave beauty products for last month? Do share in the comments section below. I hope you enjoyed this post and I'll see you again in the next post. Toodles!

Love,

Phy

February Haul: Loopy About Lipsticks (Among Other Things)...

Helloooo everyoneee!

This month I discovered that Revlon has released their Colorburst Matte Balms and when I swatched them I was immediately hooked! And you know what? It started a whole obsession towards lip products as you will soon see.

I also did a bit of long-distance shopping. Nope, not online shopping but literally long-distance shopping. My sister went to KL for almost a week you see, so tu la ambil kesempatan minta beli brands yang tiada di sini. So without further ado, let's get to the haul shall we?

Tadaaaa!!!

First up is my KL haul. Initially I had asked my sister to get me Nyx Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk. Unfortunately the Sephora she was at ran out of it and so I contented myself with my second choice, Strawberry Milk (Isn't that just the most delicious name?). I also made my sister swatch every shade available there (Jahat kan? Hehehe..) and fell in love with Rocky Mountain Green as well. Bayangkan, even from a long distance I could 'walk' into a store with one thing in mind and 'come out' buying more than I planned. Hahaha..

L-R: Strawberry Milk, Rocky Mountain Green.

L-R: Rocky Mountain Green, Strawberry Milk

Did you spot a Revlon product in there? Yup, it's the Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Showy. Why on earth did I have to get it all the way from KL? It's because walaupun ada Watson di Keningau tapi malar abis stock. Tinggal tester jak  and everytime I go to Watsons and see the empty shelf, I'd swatch Showy and want it more than ever so in the end I had to enlist my sister's help to hunt this lippy down. Can you believe Watsons in KLCC pun habis stock?! Nasib di Guardian ada. Just goes to show how popular this shade is and why wouldn't it be? It's so gorgeous!

I love, love you Showy my dear..

Next up is an eye shadow set from Benefit. This is one of the 3 World Famous Neutrals palettes. Each palette contains 2 small pots of creaseless cream shadows and 4 powder shadows. The 3 palettes are Most Glamorous Nudes Ever, Most Sexiest Nudes Ever and Most Easiest Nudes Ever. Initially I had wanted the Most Glamorous Nudes Ever but upon closer inspection it kind of looks like the shades from the Naked Palette. Hence, I decided to go with the Most Sexiest Nudes Ever because I don't really have anything like the lilac and purple color with such finish in the palette. Ini pun after berabis meng-Google reviews on the products baru dapat decide while my sister awaits my answer. My sister is the best!

 T-B: Holy Smokes!, Bikini-Tini (Creaseless cream shadows)

L-R: Milk it, Pause For Applause, Raincheck?, Blingo! (Powder shadows)

And now for my 'local' haul at good ol' Watsons ('Cause that's the only place I could get my makeup fix in this town). As you can see, they are all lip products. I literally went loopy over lipsticks this time. Although it's a bit much but I LOVE them all (with 2 exceptions)! I have been wearing them on rotation every chance I get. In shaa Allah, I will be posting reviews on some of these products in the future. 

Here is the list from left to right: 

01. Maybelline ColorSensational Bold Matte in MAT6

02. Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede in Finale

03. Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Shameless 

04. Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Audacious

05. ZA Pure Shine Lips in Apricot Nectar

L-R: MAT 6, Finale, Shameless, Audacious, Apricot Nectar

There you have it, my haul for February 2014. I apologize for the lack of quality in some of the photos. I have tried taking them during the different time in the day but they still come out blurry. At any rate I hope you still enjoyed this post. See you in the next one. Toodles!

Love, 

Phy

P/S: By the way, I have started posting clips of how I put on my makeup for the day on my Facebook Page (Phyllica Robert) so if you're interested to have a look at the them, do visit my page and give it a 'Like'. Thanks!