Best Buy Haul!

Well, Friday was interesting. At 7 a.m. a friend sends me a link to Best Buy Cosmetics and I got so excited that there are no words. Basically, they have sample sizes of all cosmetics, and they give you enough to make up the original amount that the company gives you, but at the fraction of the cost. Smart idea, and I love it!

So, naturally, being me, I had to buy stuff. Naturally. The interesting thing is that I ordered it around 7 a.m., and at 4 p.m. this dude called me looking for my building to deliver it! That is by far the quickest delivery I have ever had:



Remember, this stuff is mostly sample sized, so everything is smaller than it appears. So, first up, we have the Clinique Green Flower Pouch (RM 9):



Not much to say about that. It's quite spacious and it's nice. So I'm happy.

Next, we have the Clinique Clarifying Moisture Lotion (RM 52):



Effectively, this is the toner from their 3-step programme which is supposed to be miraculous. I have yet to try it because I have millions of varying items already lying at home.

Anyway, this comes in a pack of 3, with each one being 60 ml. The original bottle of this is 200 ml (RM 78). I'd say it's pretty worth it. If only they had the others! The facial wash was sold out, and they didn't have the oil-free moisturizer, so boooooo!!!

Next we have La Mer's Oil Absorbing Lotion (RM 32):



Let me be clear about this: It is TINY! 5 ml kind of tiny. But apparently you are only supposed to use a little. But tiny nonetheless. Tiny. The instructions on the box read, "Warm a small amount between fingertips to release key ingredients". You have to love things which are heat activated.

Now then, in case you haven't realized, I love eyeshadow. Love. So, when I saw the Estee Lauder Signature Eyeshadow Quad in 03 Smoky Pink (RM 32), I had to buy it:



As you can see, it too is relatively small, which means that it can be carried around in your bag. It stretches open to reveal the quad and a pretty decent mirror. And of course, a sponge tip applicator that people have to stop producing:



The colours here are pretty neutral and can be worn daily:



The pinks:



On the right you have the lighter pink, and on the left the deeper shade, which is relatively sheer.

The silver-brown:



It's a really nice colour. A little shimmery, but nice and neutral nevertheless.

And, the brown:



It's a deep brown which would be perfect for the crease.

Now, the individual colours are much smaller than they appear. They're about the size of Chicklets. If you don't remember/know what a Chicklet is, you're probably too young to be wearing make-up anyway.

Lastly, mascara! Yes, mascara! Estee Lauder's Double Wear Zero-Smudge Lengthening Mascara (RM 30):



The original is RM 85 for 5.6 ml of product. I don't use that much mascara, so odds are that it'll dry up before I use it all, so I'm quite happy with the situation of having two mini ones. Yes, they're quite small, which is a fantastic thing where mascara is concerned:



I have yet to check the wand on this because I already have two open mascaras lying about (of which I will do a review in due time). Basically, you should throw the stuff away after 3 months of opening it because it is just disgusting if you don't. Don't be defective!

In any event, I'm pretty happy with my purchases. They're value for money (except the Oil Absorbing Lotion, but that opinion might change after using it). If you want to try something out, this is where to get it if the counters are being stingy with samples. Don't you find it ludicrous that they give you one of those little pouch thingys that don't hold very much product? That's not really a sample because you're not getting enough time to establish whether you like the product. Annoying.

In other exciting news, Stila has been saved by a buyout, so they will probably be back in action sometime soon! :D

Until next time. Be good, and cure your problems through shopping!

TNS Haul & Hippies

So, my exams are over and I am officially FREE! Best four-lettered word ever invented! Naturally, the end of exams calls for celebration. For frame of reference, celebration = shopping. Actually, everything = shopping. Fact.

In any event, as I was dead tired yesterday, due to the extremely innovative idea of my school to place all three of my papers on the same day, I wasn't in the mood to do much. I did, however, traipse around Ikano with my brother, where a sight I assumed was a hallucination brought about by lack of sleep greeted me. Hippies. Yes. "Real" hippies. Apparently, there are Earth day celebrations going on. Presumably, having a couple of hippies in a tent, doing handicrafts no less, inside a mall is an appropriate manner of celebration.

I kid you not:



That LSD-induced plethora of colour is the tent they were in.

Anyway, on to more exciting aspects of my life. Retail therapy. I initially went out today to get an eye primer. That didn’t work out for 3 reasons:
1) They don’t have Urban Decay in Malaysia
2) They don’t have Too Faced in Malaysia
3) They don’t even have L’Oreal De-Crease in Malaysia!

I appear to be doomed to creasing eye shadow. Oh well.

Anyway, due to my disappointment, I needed to elevate my spirits, so I decide to go buy something I had been eyeing for awhile.

Basically, upon prior research, I found out that the best ingredients for a toner include rosewater and glycerin. Naturally, I began searching high and low for a toner of this nature, but wasn’t able to find one for about a month. Yes! A month! I know!

So, long story short, I finally found it in The Natural Source (TNS), where they were having an offer. Spend RM 100 and get something for RM 1. Although the accountant in my head was reproaching me in very harsh language, the female in me won out. I’m sure you agree that it makes sense too. If you don’t, you are wrong. And this is MY blog, so go away.

Sidelining: Recently I read a couple of reviews of some of the products from TNS, and they were not good. Nevertheless, since I don’t trust other people’s opinions, I shall find out for myself.

Now then, walking out the door, I was laden with the following:



Yes, doesn’t it look lovely? The reason there are 2 toners is because another friend wanted one too. Let us inspect the items.

First up, the item that started it all. The Terra Firma Wild Desert Rose Water Gentle Facial Toner (RM 30):



It’s this pale pink liquid that resembles the MAC brush cleanser, which was quite disturbing, because I assumed it would smell similar. This is not the case. It actually has the very pleasant smell of roses…shocking isn’t it? Apparently this is supposed to “invigorate your face”. How exciting. The list of ingredients seems relatively harmless, although I’m not sure what a lot of it is.

Ingredients: Purified water (aqua), Cocamidopropyl, Betaine Glycerin, Polysorbate 20, Phospholipid PTC (cocamidopropyl pg-dimonium chloride phosphate), Benzyl alcohol, Phenoxyethanol, Rose fragrance (parfum), Matricaria extract (chamomilla recutita), Simethicone, CI 14720, CI 42090

If I were a chemist, I’d be having a field day. Now, it says rose fragrance, which appears to be perfume, and I asked the salesperson, who said it was made from rose water, so I shall pretend I believe her for now. And since I’m assuming chamomilla means chamomile, I’m quite happy.

Next up is a facial scrub. I initially wanted their oatmeal scrub (because oatmeal is supposed to be good for blackheads) but I was informed that it was for aging skin (which I am happy to say the salesperson insisted I didn’t need, thereby appealing to my vanity). So I got the Daintree Naturopathic Skincare Tropical Sugar Can Antioxidant Facial Exfoliator (RM 65):



It says on the packaging that it can be used daily, but it is advisable to only exfoliate your skin a maximum of twice a week. Moderation is the key to everything, apparently. Anyway, this product has a pretty nice smell. Not exactly sugar cane, but sweet-ish nonetheless. The ingredients here are even more babbly than those in the toner.

Ingredients: Aqua (Purified water), Microcrystalline wax, Sodium laureth sulfate (SLS), Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl betaine, Peg-7 glyceryl cocoate, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Saccharum officinarium (Sugar cane) extract, Xanthan gum, Methylchloroisothiazolinone (and) Methylisothiazolinone, Magnesium chloride, Magnesium nitrate, Tocopheryl acetate (Vitamin E), Ascorbyl palmitate, CI 19140 (Yellow 5), CI 42090 (Blue I).

Now, from the ingredients I did understand, this product should be pretty good because it has most of what you need to keep your face healthy. First there’s purified water. Who needs to drink it when you can put it on your face twice a week? Then there’s SLS which is good for acne, and glycerin which is good overall for something or the other. I believe it’s for lines or acne or something to that effect. Bottom line is that it’s good. And, Vitamin E is good for restoration. So really, this product should work. Should. We shall see.

Finally, we come to a debate-ably exciting purchase. The Camouflage Colour Skin Crayon in Plum (RM 24):



So, what exactly is a skin crayon? My first thought was to run around drawing on people as a child would. But no, I believe that might be considered assault. Further, it’s a deep red. Unless you are a lobster (in which case you shouldn’t be on the computer, but rather on my table with a side of butter), this colour will hardly “camouflage” you. Lies!

The true meaning of “skin crayon” appears to be that it is multi-purpose, i.e. lip liner, eyeliner, etc. And I have been looking for a red eyeliner for about 5 years now. Finally! Because I was so immensely excited, I didn’t realize how tiny this pencil is until I got home. It’s only about 10cm/3.7in long. That is TINY!

All that aside, in my excitement of finally finding a nice red eyeliner, I was determined to swatch mine. Upon touching my skin, this is what occurred:



Anti-climax. Annoyed. Fuming.

Perseverance is the key, so I tapped off the broken bit and this is what it looks like:



I like. Except for the size and breaking parts.

They had a lot of fantastic colours, but because of their sizes, I don’t recommend them.

On that note, I shall end off with this:

PLACEBO!!! Their new album will be released on the 8th of June. I am uncontrollably excited. So much so that I am practically vibrating in a fixed position. They have released their first single, titled after the album: Battle for the Sun. The sound of this track is very similar to what their Black Market Music album sounds like, which is awesome beyond words! Happy!!! PLACEBO!!! <3