WEEKEND EDITION | What's In My Bag x Mansur Gavriel Mini Bucket Bag

What better way to do my first ever What's In My Bag post than to feature my Mansur Gavriel Mini Bucket Bag that I got for my birthday last November. I still can't get over that gorgeous brandy color! The contents of my bag aren't all that interesting, but admit it - everyone's a teensy bit nosy, including myself! So here's my invitation for you guys to snoop around and check out what I've been carrying around with me on the weekends!

My Céline Large Flap Multifunction Wallet in Black/Yellow has been by my side for almost three years now, and I'm still loving everything about it - the leather, the functionality, the minimalistic black exterior with the pop of neon yellow on the interior. Céline is definitely one of my luxury faves! I can never leave the house without my Ipad Mini 'cos I have too many games on there that I can't possibly leave unattended (anyone else obsessed with SimCity BuildIt?). I always have a tin of Wrigley's Eclipse Sugarfree Lychee Flavored Mints for minty, fresh breath and a small water bottle 'cos hydration is important, folks! In terms of makeup and beauty essentials, I try my very best to pack light on the weekends and fit everything I need inside this Fresh Beauty Cloth Pouch.

The best lip balm ever, hands down, is the Mentholatum Deep Moist Menthol Lip Balm - I've used this stuff since high school, and my repurchases have probably now gone into the hundreds. The Winky Lux Flower Balm is a new favorite, as it's not only pretty on the lips but also beautiful to look at, and I also bring along a tiny Chanetecaille Mini Brilliant Gloss in Charm just for good measure. I got this dainty Hand Mirror whilst on a trip to Taiwan - it even comes with its own pouch - and I always feel uber fancy every time I use it. As a contact lens wearer, these Rohto C3 Cool Contact Lens Eye Drops are an absolute life-saver when my eyes are feeling dry or itchy, not to mention I'm slightly addicted to the ice-cold, cooling sensation. I always bring a tiny perfume with me at all times, and the Jo Malone Blackberry & Bay Cologne is a current favorite - the scent is a lovely mix of fruity and woody notes. I'm a bit of a germaphobe and this Aesop Resurrection Rinse-Free Hand Wash helps clean my hands without drying them out, and has the same delightfully soothing aroma of their Resurrection Hand Balm. Last but not least, as an oily-skinned gal, Clean & Clear's Oil Control Film is a must-have for keeping my oils at bay and my face presentable.

This is everything fit snugly inside my bag, and as you can see, there's still plenty of room to fit my iPhone 6 Plus, keys, a portable phone battery charger if needed, and of course, snacks!

I am in a serious, committed relationship with my new Mansur Gavriel Mini Bucket Bag, and this Brandy/Raw combination was a brilliant choice - trust me, the color is even more glorious in person. I adore all three of my Mansur Gavriel bags - including my Bucket Bag in Black/Ballerina and Lady Bag in Cammello/Antico - but this one is currently my go-to weekend bag of choice over those roomier options. It's lightweight, easy to carry, fits all my essentials and is in the most fitting spring shade. The perfect weekend bag, if you ask me!

HAUL x REVIEW | Aesop Skin Care and Body Care

So I've totally dropped the ball here - my last entry was posted almost a month ago. Sorry guys, so not cool! Life and work has been hectic recently but I'm finally back at it and so excited to share a juicy haul from one of my beauty obsessions, Aesop! My adoration for the brand is made pretty clear in a previous Sample Sunday post, but I'll say it again - everything about Aesop is #goals.

I hadn't planned on doing a haul so soon after lifting my shopping ban, but I recently received an email invitation from Aesop regarding a ten percent discount promotion they were having in selected boutiques around Hong Kong. To my knowledge, Aesop only offers this discount once (or maybe twice) a year, so you know your girl had to do some damage. Although Aesop is on the pricier side, I'm all for splurging on good, effective (and cruelty-free!) skin care. Good skin = great makeup, folks. Not to mention, all Aesop products smell absolutely incredible. I am sure to overuse words like 'amazing' and 'incredible' in the rest of this post to describe the wonder that is the scent of Aesop products, so please just bear with me.

Fabulous Face Cleanser | 200ml for $345 HKD
If you follow my blog, you'll know that my long-time HG facial cleanser is the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser - I recommend it to anyone who wants a gentle yet effective cleanser that will take the day off and leave your face clean and soft. After staying loyal to Fresh for a few years, I was ready to switch things up and try something new. One small sample packet of this Fabulous Face Cleanser sold it for me (which is why it boggles my mind when companies are stingy with samples - like hellooo!) and I knew I needed the full size. This is a gentle, mild-foaming gel cleanser that is great for sensitive skin, and the smell is an incredible mix of rosemary and other botanical ingredients. I actually look forward to waking up and washing my face with this in the morning as I find it super refreshing and calming to the senses. Unlike the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, this does not excel in washing off heavy makeup, but it isn't really an issue for me since I always double cleanse with a cleansing oil first. The larger 200ml bottle does come with a pump, but I learned the hard way that you can't just stick the pump in from the get-go - it will overflow and ruin your bathroom floor and your day. Rookie mistake!

Sage & Zinc Facial Hydrating Cream SPF 15 | 40ml for $275 HKD 
I was mostly intrigued by the name of this face cream, and when I saw it came in a tube there was no going back. I am a sucker for cool packaging! Yes, I know I previously went on a mini-rant about SPF 15 being too low for my daily sun protection, but for bare-faced days when I'm just lounging around the house or popping downstairs for a quick grocery run with Riley, this face cream with SPF combo is perfect. Apparently it took Aesop ten years to research, develop and perfect this formulation. An entire decade, and they couldn't bring the SPF up to 30? Just kidding (kinda). This has a lightweight consistency that leaves a healthy sheen on the face (without being oily) and of course, the scent is an amazing musky, lavender-esque concoction that has me excited every time I slap it on my face.

Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream | 60ml for $365 HKD
I have been repurchasing this face cream for a couple years now, and I am still obsessed - it's the only cream I use both morning and night. Aesop describes this as "a lightweight, citrus oil-infused moisturizing cream for normal and combination skin" and I find it provides the perfect amount of hydration for my combination skin that isn't too heavy or oily. The scent is wonderful - duh, citrus oil! - with a combination of mandarin, lemon and tangerine rind, and my face seems to drink this stuff up. Not much else to say except love, love, love!

Cepheus Set | $587 HKD
This was a completely spontaneous and unplanned purchase but I just couldn't help myself. Aesop offers six Celestial gift kits that pay homage to six of the eighty-eight modern constellations (such a cool concept!), and this particular Cepheus gift set contains the Geranium Leaf Body Care Trio that includes a body cleanser, balm and scrub. Aesop describes this set as "three aromatic Geranium Leaf Body Care staples offering gentle, thorough cleansing, invigorating exfoliation, and generous hydration and nourishment."

I've always been curious about this range - the green packaging is just so inviting - and kindly asked the sales associate to try the three products on my hand. Look where that got us. First up is the Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser. Sure, I tried to convince myself I didn't need an expensive body wash (since I would be rinsing it off seconds later) but I just couldn't get over the scent. Oh my goodness, the entire range smells like you're getting a massage in an outdoor spa (think mandarins, lemons, citrus oil with a dash of herbal deliciousness) and this cleanser leaves my skin feeling really clean, soft and refreshed. The Geranium Leaf Body Scrub has a gritty, sandy texture that manages to buff away and soften the skin without feeling scratchy or harsh, and you can really feel the botanical oils working together with the granules to both polish and hydrate. The Geranium Leaf Body Balm is slightly thicker in consistency than the usual creams I use, and is that much more nourishing without feeling sticky or greasy. To me, this acts like the top coat over freshly painted nails - it helps lock in all the moisture and keeps my skin soft and velvety and smelling like a freakin' spa. If only they came out with a Geranium Leaf perfume...

And a quick shout out to the packaging because I am still in awe of how beautiful the entire presentation is - from the reflective gold specks on the outside (that actually replicate the constellation of Cepheus!) to the quote by Vincent Von Gogh printed on the inside of the sleek tin box, "I know nothing with any certainties, but the sight of the stars makes me dream." Aesop, please stay the wondrous, poetic, creative brand that you are.

That's a wrap, I hope you guys enjoyed this haul and review! 

My Aesop collection is actually quite extensive - I have a bunch of other products that I absolutely love and one that my skin did not agree with - and I think it'd be helpful to do a review on all Aesop products I've tried and own. Keep an eye out for that soon. Until next time, happy hauling!

SAMPLE SUNDAY | Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm x Aesop Chamomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Masque

This week's Sample Sunday is finally featuring one of my all-time favorite brands, Aesop, along with another appearance from longtime fave, Clinique.

Aesop Chamomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Masque |
Along with Fresh, Aesop is up there in my top favorite skincare brands of all time. I adore every aspect about the brand - the products, the packaging, the stores (the interior design is on point), and the brand's overall aesthetics are completely on par with my own. If I were to design my own brand, it would look something like this - clean, understated, minimalistic. I am a religious user of Aesop's Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque and Primrose Facial Cleansing Masque, but the mere mention of chamomile from the sales associate already had me ooh-ing and ahh-ing and begging for a sample. Like the other two, this is also a clay-based masque but is catered especially for troubled skin, and claims to lift impurities and dry excess oil while calming irritated or inflamed skin. Like all Aesop products, the scent is so soothing - a combination of floral and herbal deliciousness - and it has a silky, refined consistency that dries down completely after ten, fifteen minutes. I found this mask did wonders to calm my skin and those occasional pesky bumps on my forehead, and I even used this as a spot treatment (overnight) on a particularly obnoxious zit above my eyebrow that practically vanished the next morning! It washes away so effortlessly - no scrubbing or tugging - and your skin will feel reset and rejuvenated. So yes, I absolutely will purchase the full size! Aesop, you da best.

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm |
I know I went on a whole spiel about my issue with lipsticks, but that don't mean I'm going to stop trying out new lip products! I chanced upon this generous sample of Clinique's popular Chubby Stick lippie in a local Bonjour store, and couldn't pass it up. It's a nourishing tinted lip balm that contains mango and shea butters that moisturizes the lips while giving off a subtle tint and shine. Sounds like the Fresh Tinted Lip Treatments, doesn't it? I have the shade 16 Voluptuous Violet (the only color they sold) which is described as a "sheer plum violet". I really appreciate that this doesn't need sharpening - which is a pain - and you simply swivel up and voila. This worked exactly as described - it's quite sheer but buildable, and keeps my lips hydrated and gives them a subtle, healthy sheen. This would be a easy, fuss-free lippie option for everyday and especially for those of you who want something low-maintenance. While I don't think this is a run-out-and-buy-this-now sort of product, it is nice and I wouldn't mind picking up the full size, albeit in a different shade - Bountiful Blush or Whole Lotta Honey, perhaps? They both sound right up my street - a girl can never, ever have too many MLBB lippies.

Swatched once | Swatched heavily

I guess my wallet will be taking a hit soon, but I ain't even sorry!