What’s on my Dresser? (Skincare & Makeup Reviews)

It’s been a while since I wrote about my skincare and makeup stash, so I thought I’d share about what’s on my dresser today. Don’t worry I won’t list down everything on there coz that could take ages, but just the ones I love the most.

Skincare

(1) Curel Sebum Care skincare range. This skincare range – comprising a Foaming Wash, Lotion and Moisture Gel – offers the skincare essentials to properly manage both skin sensitivity and sebum secretion. This is Japan’s #1 brand for sensitive Asian skin, and with good reason, as it cleared up my pimple infestation last year. I will be forever indebted to this!

(2) Hada Labo UV Moist Emulsion SPF 50+. I use this as my sunscreen, and I love that it’s non-sticky and hardly feels as though it’s there.

(3) Palmer’s Skin Therapy Oil. Even though it’s made of oil, it doesn’t make your skin oily. It is absorbed quickly, and gives you glowing – not oily – skin that is so soft and moisturized that it surprises me. Another thing that I did not expect was that it would brighten my skin and make it look rosier.

Base

(1) Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation. Celebrity makeup artists tout this brand as a great drugstore foundation, and with good reason. Healthy Mix gives you hydrated and luminous skin and has a really fragrant fruity scent. It provides good coverage that looks natural and doesn’t give you “pancake face,” lasts for hours (especially if you use primer), and most importantly, for me – does not oxidize. I have acidic skin which means that makeup I put on my face turns darker hours after I put it on (this is called oxidizing), which has always been a problem for me, but this one solved my problem.

(2) Mac Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation. A one-step powder and foundation that provides a smooth, flawless, all-matte, full-coverage finish. Long-wearing, velvety texture allows skin to breathe. Available in a wide range of colours.

(3) Mac Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF 50. Sometimes I have an event to go to and I know I need my makeup to stay on long because who wants to look haggard in pictures, right? For these moments I use this primer instead of sunscreen because it already has SPF 50. It really works for me. I have combination skin but whenever I use this, my T-zone remains oil-free and makeup doesn’t slide off my face for hours on end. It’s quite pricey but worth using for special occasions.

(4) Mac Studio Finish SPF 35 Concealer. A lightweight, creamy, discreetly opaque concealer. Provides a smooth, long-wearing invisible coverage for all skin blemishes. Water-resistant, fragrance-free and non-acnegenic. This emollient-based, lightweight concealer is so concentrated that a tiny amount can provide opaque coverage of the skin’s imperfections and discolourations. It effectively covers dark circles, blemishes, moles, tattoos and birthmarks. Concealer has broad spectrum SPF 35 protection and is available in a wide range of colours.

Eyes

(1) Nyx Eyebrow Cake Powder.  I think this cheap eyebrow compact is the best one I’ve seen for its price. The compact includes two shades of powder to fill in and define brows and a pot of wax to hold brows in place. The kit also includes a slanted brush for precise application and a roundwand to shape and style.

(2) Urban Decay Naked 2 Eyeshadow Palette. The follow up to the original bestselling Naked palette, this stunning second edition proves that neutral is anything but boring. Showcasing a dozen completely different shades than the first bronze-based collection, it includes a stunning range from pale and deep, to matte and sparkly. You’ll achieve a host of new neutral looks, smoky dramatic eyes, and everything in between. The palette also includes a double-ended, cruelty-free Good Karma Shadow/Crease Brush (available only in this palette), and lip gloss.

(3) Sephora Long Lasting Kohl Pencil. An ultra-pigmented, long-lasting kohl pencil for lining the eye contour and inner rims of the eyes.

(4) Fairydrops Mascara. Like a push-up bra for lashes (it lifts and separates), Fairydrops mascara was created by Japanese celebrity Aya Yasuda who realised that to create a strong impression on TV, she needed to make her eyes even more appealing. So she sat at home and snipped away at mascara wands to create her own brush that would give her the doll-like effect she desired. Fairydrops’ patented brush is unique in having three curves to fit the lashes, designed to deposit mascara and lift lashes in all the right places for maximum volume: the inner corner, the middle and the outer corner. Now Fairydrops is one of Japan’s best-selling mascaras.

Lips

(1) Mary Kay Satin Lips Lip Mask. The Satin Lips Lip Mask gently exfoliates dead surface skin cells that cause lips to appear dull and lifeless, preparing them for the application of lip balm or lipstick.

(2) Nars Funny Face Lipstick. It took me years to find my HG (holy grail) lipstick shade, and this semi matte fuchsia shade is it. It brightens up my whole face, and I often get compliments when I’m wearing it.

(3) Mac Russian Red Matte Lipstick. It also took me years to consider wearing red lipstick. I love the highly pigmented bright red color that makes my lips really pop. I prefer this over the other famous Mac red shade, Ruby Woo, because RW is extremely drying on the lips, I can’t stand it! This one is matte but it glides on, and has awesome staying power too.

(4) Shue Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Matte Lipstick – M PK375. I don’t like nude or brown lip colors, so this is the most I can go in that direction. I’d say it’s the perfect MLBB (my lips but better) shade, with just the right balance of mid pink and neutral. I was just recently introduced to Shue Uemura’s matte lipstick and I love its formula – highly pigmented and matte, yet velvety and not too drying.

Tools

(1) Beauty Blender. This tiny sponge was created by a top hollywood makeup artist, and I’ve found it to be the best tool to use for applying foundation if you want the airbrushed look.

(2) Real Techniques Core Collection Buffing Brush. I love that I discovered Real Techniques brushes! The face brushes included in the Suesh 16-piece brush set I bought were quite rubbish – they are incredibly bushy and hard to control so I finally chucked them. But Real Techniques brushes, made by famous Youtube makeup guru Samantha Clapman, aka Pixiwoo, are just perfect. The bristles are soft yet not unruly, so it’s a delight to use. I also love that the names of the brushes are engraved on the handles so you won’t have difficulty identifying what they are supposed to be for.

(3) Mac 217 Blending Brush. For shading or blending of colour or creamy products. This brush has fine, densely packed fibers that are arranged in an oval shape. This is probably the most famous blending brush out there.

(4) Tweezerman tweezers.  This is a top choice among celebrities, makeup artists, and beauty professionals, as the brand is known for precise brow grooming and premium beauty tools. I have the tiny purple one, not just because it’s purple but because it’s cheaper, and more portable too!

(5) Shu Uemura eyelash curler. This iconic, best-selling and award-winning eyelash curler was the first pricey beauty product I wanted when I first arrived in Singapore. A friend gave it to me for my birthday that year, and I still have it now, after 6 years, and it still works! A great investment, I tell you.

Scents

(1) Versace Bright Crystal.  Inspired by a mixture of Donatella Versace’s favorite floral fragrances, Bright Crystal is a fresh, sensual blend of refreshing chilled yuzu and pomegranate mingled with soothing blossoms of peony, magnolia, and lotus flower, warmed with notes of musk and amber.This is my favourite signature scent and I love its beautiful bottle too!

(2) Bath & Body Works Pink Chiffon Lotion. I love Bath & Body Works scents. It can easily get confusing in their store, but after sniffing everything in there, I decided that this was my most favourite scent of them all.
Top Notes: Sparkling Pear, Peach Nectar, Wild Berries
Mid Notes: Tiare Flower, Jasmine Petals, Waterlily, Sheer Apple Blossom
Dry Notes: Coconut Milk, Vanilla Orchid, Creamy Sandalwood, Chiffon Musk

 

Whew, I’m finally done! Do you use any of these products, too?

I am looking for good product for contouring and highlighting. I am currently using Nyx, and it’s meh. Do you have anything to recommend? And not just for this, but makeup product recommendations in general! Thanks! xx

This post is part of the A to Z Challenge, a blog hop that goes through the alphabet for all the days of April except Sundays. Today’s feature is D for Dresser.

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