Rocaille Redes: Retro Curls without Heat

Credit has to be given to the lovely YouTuber who originally came up with this idea, Maria from The Lipstick Diaries. I strongly recommend you watch her tutorial for the step by step how to on this no-heat technique, but here's the result I achieved:

left: my hair in the evening, right: the end result in the morning

A couple of tips:
1. I used a bit of light hair mousse (TRESemme Naturals Lightweight Mousse) in my hair from ears down for a bit more volume and hold.
2. Even on my long hair, the whole process took about 10 minutes. Super quick and easy!
3. The headband won't slide off your head at night, no worries. It's also reasonably comfortable provided you find a good, not too tight headband.
4. Those curls, as you can see in the photo, aren't perfect, but they're bouncy and voluminous and take the least time from all the methods I've tried so far. And most importantly, this technique won't damage your hair!

Do check out Maria's channel and I hope this was helpful for those of you looking for easy Holiday hair style ideas! What's your inspiration for the perfect Christmas party hairdo?

Review: Clinique High Definition Lashes Mascara

I picked up a sample of this product during the recent online bonus offer and decided to use it during my holiday travels. According to Clinique, the High Definition Lashes Brush then Comb mascara, retailing for $14, "transforms each and every lash with extreme length and definition": first, you're supposed to use the brush side of the wand to "coat with dramatic color", and then the comb side to "separate to perfection".


Here's the effect on my otherwise bare eyes: the first photo shows 1 coat using only the brush side, the second 2 coats after using the comb side and then combing through with a spoolie.


What I like:
- 1 coat of the brush side gives very natural, separated long lashes; 2 coats of the brush side give a bit more drama, but still very much day-time appropriate
- the shade is sufficiently black
- the mini size is perfect for traveling and lasts a long time
- the product didn't irritate my eyes

Comb side: Welcome to Clumptown, plus my top lashes are sticking to the bottom ones!

What I dislike:
- the wand picks up too much product and the excess has to be wiped off on the neck of the tube
- the wand is quite difficult to use without smudging the mascara on the skin
- the comb side is a total mess: heavily coated with product, clumps the lashes together and even a vigourous combing with a spoolie can't fix it
- lashes are coated unevenly, wiggling the wand at the roots gives no effect and most of the mascara ends up at the ends of my lashes
- the mascara flakes off within minutes of application and transfers on the lids

Will I repurchase? No. Initially, I thought the idea was very nifty and after using lengthening mascaras with a comb wand such as L'Oreal Telescopic, I had high hopes for this. I find it ironic that the brush side gives much more definition that the comb side. If the wand was just a regular brush, it would be an okay product, but the addition of the comb totally ruins it for me.

I hope this was helpful! Let me know your experience with Clinique mascaras in the comments. Stay warm, my lovelies! x

Holiday Gift Ideas: Beauty Edition

From stocking stuffers to gift sets... Some ideas for Holiday presents a beauty addict would love to find under the tree!


1. Chloe Eau de Parfum Spray, with notes of pink peony, freesia, lychee, magnolia flower, lilly of the valley, rose, cedarwood, amber and honey, $25 - $110
2. Z Palette, a free form storage miracle for pressed make-up pans, $14 (small) or $20 (large)
3. Urban Decay 24/7 Jackpot, an eyeliner set perfect for both beginners and pros (read my review here), $39
4. NYX 10 Color Eyeshadow Palette, my favorite sets are Champagne & Caviar and Versus, $9.75
5. Lush Snow Fairy shower gel, a candy cane, fruity classic, $8.95 - $24.95
6. EcoTools Mineral Brush set, 4 amazingly soft, sustainable, vegan brushes for both powder and cream make-up, $12.99
7. China Glaze 'Tis the Season to be Naughty and Nice' Holiday 2010 nail polishes, my favorite is definitely Mrs. Claus (read my review here), $3.50 - $.4.50, also available in gift sets, $10
8. Lush wrapped gift sets, great bath products in price ranges accessible to everyone's wallet, $10.95 - $199.95
9. John Varvatos Vintage Eau de Toilette Spray (for men), which smells like 'good, expensive alcohol' to my husband, $58 - $78

I hope this gave you some inspiration for your Holiday shopping! Please share your gift ideas in the comments. Have a wonderful weekend!

Seattle's Urban Craft Uprising 2010

This past weekend, Seattle Center Exhibition Hall hosted another edition of Urban Craft Uprising, an indie craft show featuring lots of Etsy shops and other small businesses selling handmade items. It was a perfect opportunity to pick up great unique gifts for the upcoming Holiday season, so the hall was bustling with busy shoppers and enthusiastic sellers. Just take a look!

photo credit: Mr

I really liked The Victory Garden's Christmas tree ornaments and creative neckwear designs!

MeMe's 'Lush-like stuff', as Mr was eager to observe...

These Devout Dolls' two-headed dolls and little deer toys are absolutely amazing, if a tinsy bit creepy :)

Can you spot two busy beauty bloggers talking jewellery?

I picked up a pair of garnet earrings from ElisabethSpace for mum-in-law, an eyeglass case for my little sister-in-law, and this keyring for myself, both from Maluhia Designs. Magic mushrooms are the best! The little pocket mirror was a bonus, how cute?

Will you be gifting any handmade presents this Holiday season? When I was a teenager, I used to make all of my Christmas gifts, including stamping my own wrapping paper! This year however I'll stick to the above-pictured items, and maybe make some bead necklaces for both mums... How about you?

Review: Urban Decay 24/7 Jackpot set

What's a better time to review this Urban Decay Holiday 2010 offering than the beginning of December? It's been out for a while now and I snatched it at the Sephora Friends & Family sale, but I think it would make an amazing Holiday gift for both a beauty beginner and a make-up junkie. Read on to find out why!


This 24/7 Glide-on eyeliner set comes with 9 colorful mini pencils and 1 full size black pencil, and it's priced at $39. The mini pencils are 0.5 g/ 0.02 US oz, and the full size pencil is 1.2 g/ 0.04 US oz, so they mini one is approximately half of the regular pencil. Here's a size comparison for you:


The Jackpot set includes the following shades:



- Eldorado, a yellow gold with silver shimmer
- Whiskey, a creamy matte red-based brown
- Stash, a golden olive with golden shimmer
- Mildew, a pearly forest green
- Electric, a light turquoise with silver shimmer
- Ranson, a pearly blue-based purple
- Binge, a pearly navy blue
- Rockstar, a pearly dark eggplant
- Gunmetal, a silver grey with silver shimmer
- Zero, a creamy matte black


The set comes in a plastic see-through packaging, which is impossible to use if you plan on storing your pencils in there. Basically, as soon as I started to play with these liners, I got myself a different storage solution: I put all of the mini pencils in a glass votive candle holder, like this:


What I like:
- Urban Decay liners rightfully deserve their cult status. Yes, they're creamy and soft, glide on like a dream, can be smudged for a smokier look, but once set, they do not budge. Not exactly waterproof, but quite water-resistant and longwearing. Amazing quality pencils!
- The shades in the set are thoughtfully selected: there are matte, pearl and shimmery finishes, more toned down colors as well as some funky ones like gold or turquoise. Versatile and easy to use for both everyday and dramatic eye looks.
- At $39 dollars, which is $5 more than a price of two full-sized pencils ($17 apiece), I think it's great value
- Those cute mini pencils are perfect for travelling or carrying in your bag
- The set allows you to try a variety of shades before committing to a full size product

What I dislike:
- The plastic outer packaging of the set is a bit flimsy and difficult to use
- I imagine that after 3 or more sharpenings of the mini pencils, they will become rather impossible to use due to their length
- The transparent plastic lids on mini pencils feel quite cheap and can chop off some of your pencil when you're putting them on (yes, it did happen to me)

Will I repurchase? Given that this is a limited edition product, probably not :) But once I use up my pencils, I will be on the lookout for some other eyeliner sets from Urban Decay that come out from time to time, as I think they're good value for a high quality product and some shades that are quite difficult to dupe otherwise (my favorites being Stash, Ranson and Gunmetal!). I also believe the Jackpot set would make a beautiful and universal present this Holiday season. Get it while you can!

To finish off, here are 4 of the shades in action:


What is your favorite 24/7 eyeliner shade? Which set(s) have you got or will be getting from Holiday 2010 collections?

Eyes of Fashion: Irving Penn

"Sensitive people faced with the prospect of a camera portrait put on a face they think is one they would like to show the world. ...Very often what lies behind the facade is rare and more wonderful than the subject knows or dares to believe." —Irving Penn, 1975.

Irving Penn, New York, 1951

Irving Penn was born in 1917 and graduated from the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Art in 1938. His career began with the publication of his drawings in Harper's Bazaar, but he became truly famous for his fashion photography in Vogue from 1943 onwards. His style was very calm and simple: he was one of the first photographers to pose his models against a grey or white backdrop. His models seemed as if isolated from the real world. Subjects portrayed in this manner included Pablo Picasso, Jean Cocteau, Ingmar Bergman, Simone de Beauvoir and Marcel Duchamp. This clarity and economy of technique earned him the admiration of not only the fashion lovers, but also art collectors. He died at the age of 92, leaving behind the numerous books featuring his work and documents of his working methods.

Marlene Dietrich, New York, 1948.

Girl in Bed on Telephone (Jean Patchett), New York, 1949

Girl Drinking (Mary Jane Russell), New York, 1949

Black and white Vogue cover, 1950

Mouth for L'Oreal, 1986

Kate Moss, 1996

Gisele, New York, April 1 1999

What is your favorite photograph by Irving Penn?

Modest e.l.f. Haul

Tempted by the recent Oxford Jasmine's video featuring her collection of e.l.f. products, I decided to place my first order with the company to try some goodies I'd been eyeing for the longest time (especially their Studio line brushes and mineral lipsticks).


First off, I have a little rant regarding my order: before placing it, I scoured the interwebs trying to find a coupon to save on shipping, which was more or less 40% of the total price of my order. Alas, none of them worked, so I resigned to paying full price ($6.95 FYI). Who knew that about 2 hours after the order has gone through, e.l.f. would send me a coupon code for 25 cents shipping? That really pissed me off.

Another thing that pissed me off was that it took 13 days for my order to arrive. It was packed and shipped 6 days after placing the order and then took another 7 to deliver. I ordered a palette from Hong Kong about the same time and it arrived earlier. I mean, e.l.f., really? 13 days?!

These difficulties aside, I'm quite happy with my goodies as only one item turned out to be crappy. Here's what I got and my initial thoughts:

1. e.l.f. Flat Top Powder Brush ($3)
Number one on my wishlist. I agree with everything that's been said so far about this brush. It is pretty amazing. I haven't washed it yet, so I can't say anything about that, but it being made of taklon should guarantee great results with both powder and cream formulas. It's also dense and stiff enough to help blend cream and liquid foundations in nicely. Get yourself one of those if you don't have it already!


2. e.l.f. Mineral Lipstick in Rosy Raisin ($5)
Again, I've heard so many good things about e.l.f. Mineral Lipsticks that I just had to try one. First of all, I really like the design of a cardboard box it came in: simple and elegant and much more luxurious feeling than the usual e.l.f. plastic packaging. The formula of the lipstick is a bit harder and more waxy than most of the lipsticks I own, which also means the pigmentation is more on the sheer side, but buildable. I don't think it's a bad thing though: the lipstick gives a very natural, soft effect, wears for quite a long time and doesn't dry my lips out. The shade I chose, Rosy Raisin, is the perfect neutral lip color for me - a brownish pink with no shimmer. I imagine it becoming a staple in my collection.

3. e.l.f. Liquid Eyeshadow in Sultry Satin ($1)
Unfortunately, there's nothing sultry about this product. While the champagne shade looks promising in the packaging, in transfers on the lid as a patchy, chunky glittery mess with no pigmentation. The only good thing I can say about this is that it dries quickly and stays put. I'll be passing this one to the younger members of the family.


4. e.l.f. Hypershine Gloss in Flirt ($1)
I quite like this sheer peachy pink. A bit sticky and not the most long-lasting, but I like the brush-on applicator and vanilla-candy scent. I'd be definitely more inclined to repurchase the e.l.f. lip gloss rather than its Clinique equivalent (Vitamin C Lip Smoothie Antioxidant Lip Colour) retailing for $17.50.


5. e.l.f. Custom Eyeshadow in Moondust ($1)
Smooth and pigmented brownish taupe. For your enjoyment, I've swatched it beside MAC Satin Taupe and Inglot no. 402 Pearl eyeshadows - it's a touch more brown than the MAC shadow and a bit darker than the Inglot one. But still, pretty close, and the cheapest of the bunch too.

Given my experience, my advice for online shopping at e.l.f. would be to 1) definitely wait for some decent coupon codes, 2) shop very cautiously and not be fooled by low prices. And that's the moral to this haul, lovely blogettes :) Happy Thanksgiving weekend! x