Velvet Vanity Cosmetics is a Malaysian cosmetics brand that I have been seeing on social media from various local beauty gurus and how it was compared to Colourpop and even Kylie Lip Kit. Soon after, it became a must have for every beauty hoarders like me.

 As of now, they have three shades of liquid matte lipstick to choose from. 

Initially, I wanted Slam Berry and Libra Baby but the former was sold out so I settled for this. 

Delivery took about 3 working days as I placed my order last friday (13/5) and received it yesterday (18/5) so I was quite pleased with the efficiency.

Price wise, it is not exactly affordable but at the same time, it is still cheaper than most liquid lipsticks in the market.

Color wise, it is a nude with slight pink undertones.
To be honest, I was quite nervous of this color as I am nowhere fair nor tanned so it will either make me look washed out or fabulous.

Packaging

The packaging would look more expensive if they have stamped their brand on the bottle instead. 

Other than that, it looks like any other liquid lipsticks that comes with a doe-foot applicator.

Swatches

Under normal light

Under flash

Application

The scent is very faint. It reminds me of Tic Tac candy.
It takes about a minute for it to completely dry. So apply a thin layer first.

Prior to applying the liquid lipstick, I put on layers of lip balm thinking I could get away with it. They really mean it when you have to exfoliate your lips. Period.
So I did experience crack lips (trust me, it doesn't look pretty) and I just layered lip balm to minimize the damage I have caused.

But the longevity is depending on what you consume. Probably not the safest idea to have oily food which I tried and it didn't exactly fade the entire lipstick! Imagine curry chicken with fried bananas, my lipstick still stayed in tact. I was fairly surprised.

Overall, I do like the liquid lipstick 

Will I repurchase? Yes

Till then, 

x M

Makeup Revolution had always been the makeup brand that I wanted to get my hands on. 

 But it was not sold in stores (boo Malaysia!) so I had to placed my order online via Malaysia's online retailer store. You can check them out here.

All About Bronze palette is being described as a bronzing or contour/highlight palette that comes with 3 shimmers, 3 matte and 2 baked powders.
The palette consists of 13 g which means each pan is equivalent of 1.625g
To be honest, I wasn't bothered about the size if they are not giving me the quality that I truly need.

The first impression I have is the variety of cool and warm undertones, from shimmer to matte, from bronzing to contouring and even highlighting to choose from.

I am somewhat medium skin tone. 

My foundation shade is NC30 for M.A.C and Y305-Y315 for MUFE. 

It is obvious that some of the shades may not seem ideal for contouring nor bronzing on me.

The pigmentation, however, is really good. For a fraction of price from most bronzers and contour kit that I know of, I am pretty amazed. 

Sorry to say, Benefit Cosmetics, Hoola bronzer is no longer my cult favorite. 

I was expecting it to be chalky, extreme powdery and doubt that all of these shades would do me well.

Boy, I was wrong!

Judging on the swatches, they show up so well even though some of it are super light on the pan itself. I tried wiping off and to my surprise, it did not fade away as quick as I expected it to. 

Swatches 

( from the top to the bottom )

I applied fourth shade as contour, sixth shade as bronzer and a mix of the first and last shade as highlighter. To my surprise, you only need a little amount of it. 

First thing I have noticed is that it is very blendable, not like some other bronzers that I have encountered. Definitely plus points for beginners. 

It doesn't feel orange-y as my Urban Decay Naked Flushed bronzer nor it oxidises. 

Do use them dark shades S-P-A-R-I-N-G-L-Y, I mean it.

PROS:

Affordable and budget friendly.

Pigmented and blendable.

Long wearing under humid weather.

Able to use it as eyeshadow, bronzer, highlighter, bronzer, etc.

CONS:

May not appear on olive and darker skin tones

Not available at beauty stores

May not utilize all of the shades given

Overall, I really do like this palette.

Will I repurchase? YES!

Till then,

x M

This will be a guideline on how I do my makeup on a daily basis.

Do like and subscribe! :)

Till then, 

x M

For almost 22 years of my life, I hardly wear foundation ever. 

I mean I do for weddings, special occasions but never on my usual makeup routine. 

The last foundation that I have purchased was Josie Maran's and the rest were freebies/samples of foundation but none of them seemed to suit my liking. 

But this, has changed my life. 

I'm not going to bore you with the whole description of 4K Camera that you could easily access from Sephora but this foundation is definitely worth the hype. I am pretty glad that they have given a sample of their primer since I have been wanting to try that, too. 

Firstly, I am a combination skin and I live in a humid country. So, I am in the shade of Y315 but I think the Sephora assistant should have given me Y305 as it will look more natural with my superb pale neck. Oh well. 

Foundation with a pump is what most brands should continue to do, in order to avoid bacteria transferring. 

Also, I suggest using a primer (I used Laura Mercier's) for it to go on your skin smoothly.

What I like about this foundation is that they are medium to full coverage depending on how many pumps you would like to go for your entire face. It's a watery consistency which allows you blend seamelessly without looking cakey and still provide that flawless look. The finish is somewhat satin matte which is great for not being too matte or dewy for my taste. Coverage wise, it managed to last on my face for 5-6 hours but since my nose gets oily easily, it tends to fade away pretty quick on that particular area. 

What I did not like about this foundation is the packaging, there is nothing luxurious about it. It, too, creates a white cast on my face when I tried flash photography. But since I am also using Nars Translucent setting powder, it will definitely create a white cast. Also, the price is not budget-friendly. 

Swatches :

One full pump 

After partial blending

Under outdoor light, 

Indoor with Flash :

Verdict,

It definitely gives me a natural, flawless look whether I am indoor or outdoor. 

I tried applying it with both fingers and brushes technique but the brush definitely gave me a much more seamless finish as compare to fingers. 

The texture is definitely lightweight but at the same time, it was able to cover up my most of my redness and hyperpigmentation without a concealer. 

I would definitely recommend it if you are willing to splurge for the long run. 

But for humid weather, I highly suggest using a primer and setting powder in order for your makeup to stay longer.

Size : 30ml

Shades : Up to 40 shades, mines is Y315 (Yellow undertone - Medium skintone)

Price : RM185

Repurchase? For the quality, yes. And only if I am able to afford.

Till then, 

x M

After uploading a photo of it on Snapchat (@xmichellel), 

I thought why not make a review of it?

I always resort to Avon Cosmetics as they are a much affordable makeup range where you could try various types of makeup without breaking the piggybank. I love my UD Naked Palettes a lot but they are such a hassle to bring in my makeup stash and travelling. 

Luckily, Avon has created the Eye Dimensions eyeshadow which consist of 3 different shades in Malaysia. But I often played it safe and decided to get a much more versatile quad named Khaki Chic.

[All of them have shimmer]

First shade (from top) : A gold hue and possibly the creamiest compared to the rest

I often use it on the centre of my lids to look more awake.

Second shade : It's probably a mix between brown and chocolate

I use it on my crease area to define my lids, obviously.

Third shade : A close to black with gold shimmer on it

I use it very sparingly and usually on the end corner of my lids. 

You will need an eye primer if you tend to have oily lids especially under Malaysia's humid weather

But what I have noticed is that under an eye primer, the colors tend to show better

Possibly my favorite affordable eyeshadow to bring along anywhere

Swatches :

Under normal light

Under sunlight

Colour wise: 

I would prefer if it's much more creamier than powdery as it'll tend to be chalky without an eye primer

Packaging:

Definitely nothing to wow about especially it's plastic and it does not come with a mirror. But it doesn't really bother me as I prefer using my huge mirror to put on makeup. 

Price:

Affordable, I think it's no more than RM24.90 which is a great deal!

Overall: 

It is pretty much a standard and affordable eyeshadow that is a good start for beginners whom would like a cheaper alternative and still able to rock a decent smokey eye. I am not a smokey eye person so I find it good to use it on a daily basis. The lasting power without an eye primer comes down to how oily your lids could be but having a decent eye primer lasts you all day.

Have a great day!

x M

Look out for Avon Boutiques if you would like to know more.

NOT SPONSORED. 

BWAHAHAHA I SHOULD TAKE BETTER PHOTOS IN THE FUTURE.

Colorpop Cosmetics is making its waves all over YouTube. Being a beauty enthusiast, I knew I got to have it, regardless. Due to limited selections sold as ready stock in online shops, I nabbed Fighter and Cookie in a heartbeat. Do look out for online shops that do provide various prices. 

Colourpop Lippie Stix comes in various finishes such as matte, satin/pearlized, glossy, hyper glossy and cream. Coincidentally, both of my lippie stix are matte finishes. 

Packaging wise, I  like it has a little holographic on some of the wordings on the box. 

The tube is versatile enough to bring anywhere like a pen and I was told that it's a much convenient to apply on the lips compare to bullet lipsticks like M.A.C if you are not a big fan of using lip brushes.

Fighter ; described as a perfect true vibrant red in a matte finish. It might make you that much stronger and maybe a little bit harder.  Debuted at the Met Gala, May 4th 2015
Being a die hard red lipstick freak, I just had to get it. Its shade of red is very similar to M.A.C Ruby Woo. Except, it is way smoother to apply. Thus, being a matte finish is like an icing on top of the cake, I purchased it instantly. It's creamy and very easy to glide on.The swatches stayed true it's tube so I am very impressed.

Cookie ; described as true nude beige in a matte finish – forever on the lips never on the hips!
I don't know about you but I am always purchasing nude lipsticks, as well. Clearly, this shade is clearly warm nude. This is suitable for almost all skin tone. I like how versatile it is to use on a daily basis since the tube itself is so convenient to bring along.

Both of these lipsticks are unforgiving on chapped lips so I suggest an exfoliate or apply lip balm prior.

Swatches :

Under normal light ;

Under flash ; 

Overall, 

I am quite impressed with its price and quality. However, the stix is very fragile as I accidentally dropped one of the shades, there's a lil defect. Was pretty sad about it but as long as I could apply on my lips, it doesn't really matter much.

 I can smell a faint scent of vanilla. I hope they made fruity scents instead. 

Price wise, it is 5usd but I purchased it from online shops locally, it should cost around RM29-35 or more. I purchased it from @februaryndecember on instagram/carousell

Will I repurchase? Definitely. I am eyeing on a couple of shades already. 

Till then,

x M

*I apologize for the photo quality

Being a beauty enthusiast, my biggest pleasure was entering beauty department and stare and swatch red lipsticks and not buying any.The reason was I used to fear what others may think or say about me. Luckily, my mom and my boyfriend encouraged me to do what makes me feel good.

It took a few tries to feel comfortable in the eyes of the public but I'm sure that the lipstick itself gave me a sense of confidence that I never thought I had. 

Avon Ultra Color Rich Lipstick in Poppy Love, 4g. (Discontinue) RM20.90

Satin matte finish | Pigmented | Affordable

The color is bright coral-red and I would recommend it to anyone who are up for a daring look as it may draw attention from a person or two. However, this may smear if you are not too careful. Long lasting even after consuming meals.

Dior Addict Fluid Stick in 754 Pandore, 5.5ml RM103

Glossy texture | Subtle | Pricey

It's more of a rosy-red. I wouldn't consider it a lipstick, more of a more glossy, pigmented lip gloss. Very mild compare to the rest. I find the texture is quite heavy. You will need 2-3 coats to achieve the actual color from the tube. Disappears quite gracefully ; leaving a slight tint. This is probably the prettiest package and that's that. 

NYX in Snow White, 4g RM15

Pigmented | Smells intoxicating | Easily smeared

I love this shade! You probably need the minimalist amount of makeup whilst applying this as it draws attention instantly! I would use this a whole lot often if it weren't for the scent. Overall, I think the price does justification for its quality. The packaging needs to be improved. 

YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 13 Le Orange, 3.8g RM140+

Matte finish | Smells fruity | Difficult to purchase 

It's an orange-red shade that was also used by Kourtney Kardashian in one of their series. I heard it was constantly sold out but fortunately, I have gotten mines from the airport. It's pigmented, smells amazing, glides on like heaven and lasts pretty much the whole day even after consuming meals. The range offers various finishes as my other Rouge Pur Couture is in Satin finish. 

M.A.C in Russian Red, 3g RM71

Matte finish | Nice scent | Not for dry lips

A bloody red! It was initially this or Ruby Woo but the latter was so difficult to swatch even on my hand so I decided to stay safe and gotten this instead. Do exfoliate your lips before applying this. I do noticed that my teeth becomes whiter after applying this lipstick due to its blue-tones. 

Swatches :

Under normal light

Top to bottom : Russian Red, 13 Le Orange, Snow White, 754 Pandore, Poppy Love

Under flash

Top to bottom : Russian Red, 13 Le Orange, Snow White, 754 Pandore, Poppy Love

I hope my review may help you search for the shades that you have always wanted! 

Where to purchase? 

Any Avon Boutique, M.A.C, Dior, Sephora outlets, YSL, however, is only available in KLIA2 airport or neighboring countries such as Singapore. 

Till then,

x M

*I apologize for low quality photos

What do I want in a mascara?

Affordable, Lengthens,holds Curl all day (hopefully all night, too) and Separates my lashes well. 

Often, I resort to luxury, slight higher end brands or my trusty Avon mascaras. 

Then of course, they came out with a new range that comes only in Black. Being a business student, the advertisement of it seemed gimmick and unrealistic. 

Increase your lashes length by 122%? What kind of logic is that?

But I am always trying new mascaras so I thought, why not?

 

The mascara bristle is so unique!
The tip part is similar to Benefit They're Real which is plus points for giving the volumnizing effect.
As for the rest, the brush goes from thin to thick which is convenient for you to brush all of your inner corners perfectly.

In order to see if this mascara is made for Malaysian weather, I bravely applied 2 coats of it when I attended Liverpool match in Malaysia recently.
I know what you are thinking, who the hell wears makeup to a football match?
While we were taking LRT, the train was jam-packed due to rush hour. Imagine us being suffocated with the amount of people in the trains, stadium and mind you, there's no fan whatsoever. I was sweating like mad but my mascara, however, stayed put.

Beginning of the match

You could probably see my face powder is wearing off, I look so sweaty but my mascara?

 Still in tact. Super impressive!

Results :

  10/10 for waterproof and smudge-proof

10/10 for long lasting

9/10 for its color (wishing it is as jet black as Eyeko's Black Magic mascara)

11/10 for its price (RM19.90)

Hopefully this helps!

Price : RM19.90

Size : 10g

Available at all Avon Boutique stores near you. Click here