HAUL x REVIEW | NYX Cosmetics Lip Liners

The perfect way to cap off a full morning of exploring Tallinn's Old Town was to venture into the nearest shopping center, Viru Keskus, located right across the gates of Old Town. I came back out with a backpack full of snacks and a handful of lip goodness from NYX Cosmetics.

Just like my Inglot haul, I took these pictures the second I got back to my hotel room so that I could finally try them on. I've always had a thing for NYX lip liners - they are very affordable yet high-quality - and the range of colors that NYX offers is huge. The Slim Lip Pencil range by itself has 50 shades, not to mention another 36 shades in their Suede Matte Lip Liner range, and dozens more in other styles and finishes. I firmly believe that lip liners are one of those products you don't need to splurge on (you still can if you want to) and I often just wear lip liner on its own instead of lipstick. After swatching every single shade the store had to offer - my arm was literally stained up to my elbow for the rest of the day - I narrowed it down to these final five (and yes, I do love my neutrals and mauves).

Slide On, Glide On, Stay On & Definitely A Turn On Waterproof, Extreme Color Lip Liners in Sugar Glass | "true nude with yellow undertone"
This is a pretty browny nude that really suits my complexion and complements any makeup look. It looks better when applied on dry lips as opposed to on top of lip balm, as the slip can take away the pigment. The closest match to anything in my collection is my No7 Precision Lip Liner in Nude, which is a tad peachier and deeper.

Slide On, Glide On, Stay On & Definitely A Turn On Waterproof, Extreme Color Lip Liners in Nude Suede Shoes | "nude with pink undertone"
This shade is the most similar to my natural lip color, and makes my lips looks more perfected and pouty. It's a close dupe to my Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillow Talk, which is just a bit darker. I'm also very pleased with this formula - this and Sugar Glass definitely have the longest staying power and the smoothest application.

Suede Matte Lip Liner in Soft-Spoken | "ash rose"
This also has a super soft and velvety consistency, but doesn't last as long on the lips as the Slide On formula. The shade is just up my street - a smidgen darker than one of my all time faves, MAC Lip Pencil in Whirl, and pretty much identical in shade to my Sephora Collection Color Lip Last in Brown Is Back.

Slim Lip Pencil in Mauve | "mauve"
This is a beautiful purple mauve that is perfect for when I want a vampy look that isn't too intense. The formula is a bit more drying but still comfortable to wear. The color is identical to my Make Up For Ever Aqua Rouge Waterproof Liquid Lip Colour in 3 Light Rosewood.

Slim Lip Pencil in Ever | "warm mauve-brown"
This is the warmest, reddest shade of the bunch, and because it is so similar to my MAC Lip Pencil in Soar, I gave it away to my mom who looks gorgeous in it. This helps brighten your face and makes you look more put together.

Sugar Glass | Nude Suede Shoes | Soft-Spoken | Mauve | Ever

If you don't own any of the NYX lip liners, I suggest you go to their nearest store, have an epic swatch fest and haul a bunch for yourself - with so many shades and finishes, you are bound to find a few (or more) that you'll love!

SAMPLE SUNDAY | Bobbi Brown Skin Nourishing Glow Foundation x Wei Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask

Bobbi Brown Skin Nourishing Glow Foundation |

I'm always psyched to try out new products from Bobbi Brown - especially their base products - and my expectations are always sky high. The words "nourishing" and "glow" may sound a tad intimidating for someone with oily skin, but I am always down to try anything and everything. Bobbi Brown claims that this "richly emollient yet lightweight hybrid cream foundation delivers moisture and luminous coverage for a polished, lit-from-within look", and that it contains the skincare benefits of a rich, luxurious moisturizer that makes skin look instantly plump, smooth and radiant. The shade Sand 2 is yellow-toned and matches me to a tee, despite it oxidizing a smidgen darker after application. The gel cream consistency feels very weightless and comfortable on the skin, although I found it a bit streaky in application with a brush and much better with a BeautyBlender. Although it claims to have high coverage, to me it's more of a light to medium buildable coverage, and there are tiny, barely-there shimmer particles that help achieve that lit-from-within, glowy complexion. This wasn't particularly long-lasting on my oily skin and my T-zone got shiny after just two hours - it does advertise to be catered for normal to dry skin types - but it faded away evenly and didn't emphasize any dry patches. This is just one of those products that is very pleasant to use, but too pricey for what it does - the foundation costs a whopping $75USD here in Hong Kong, and my Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation can essentially achieve the same natural, luminous effect, with both better coverage and lasting power. So reluctantly, I'm going to have to pass.

Wei Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask |
WEI is a skincare brand that I've wanted to try for ages - the products are created based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, which really tickled my curiosity, and the Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask is their best seller. This ultrasoft mud mask is formulated with seven herbs that claim to deeply penetrate the skin and help counteract cell damage, minimize pores, diminish breakouts, refine skin texture, and renew lifeless-looking skin. And let me just cut to the chase and say that I am officially obsessed. This has a nice, subtle scent - an earthy, herbal, perfumy mixture - and has a smooth, velvety consistency that feels oh-so-soothing to apply. It's slightly cooling (and tingly) upon application and dries down quickly, but isn't at all tight and stiff like other mud masks - you can talk and laugh and make facial expressions without feeling like you're creating bloody wrinkles! I rinse it off after the recommended 10 minutes, and the water transforms the mask into a rich, oily consistency that makes my skin feel ultra nourished, soft, and firm. I was sold after just one application, and will definitely be dropping the $42USD to get the full size, which consists of 8 individually packaged pods and an application brush.

REVIEW | Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation SPF17

New year, new me! Just kidding - same me, just with a whole lot more reviews!

My recent trip to Tokyo in October not only resulted in a five pound weight gain, but also a beauty gain in my makeup collection. Here are my thoughts on the Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation SPF 17. With a name like that, do you really expect me to leave the store empty-handed?

Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation SPF 17
4000‎¥‎ at Shiseido Japan | $35 USD at Shiseido, Sephora
30ml | 18 shades

Let me first put out a disclaimer that there seems to be two versions of this foundation floating around  - Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation SPF 17 and Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation SPF 18.  My version with SPF 17 seems to only be sold in Japan and comes with a total of 6 shades, whereas the other version with SPF 18 is being sold pretty much everywhere else in the world, and features a total of 18 different shades. Not sure why this discrepancy exists, but what's important is the actual product inside and how it performs, which I'm confident is completely identical. Now that that's out of the way, on to the review!

Shiseido claims that this foundation "cancels out the appearance of redness, blemishes and visible pores without concealing the skin's natural beauty", and that your skin will look fresh and glow with sheer perfection. The word sheer might scare some people off, but it's right up my street. The packaging is pretty straight forward - not at all glamorous but gets the job done - and its compact size makes it great for travel. 

I hypothesized, the very second I squeezed this foundation out onto the back of my hand, that this would be similar to the MAC Waterweight Foundation SPF 30 - and I was spot on. In terms of consistency, finish and wear, these two foundations are pretty much identical dupes. So in the interest of saving time, if you've already checked out my MAC foundation review and liked what you read, then you can stop here and go about your day, because I can already tell you that you'll be a fan of this Shiseido foundation. If you haven't read that review - uh, where have you been? - go take a gander then come back for some comparisons!

Just like the MAC foundation, the consistency of this Shiseido foundation is very thin and fluid, and spreads out over the skin equally as effortlessly. I would say the MAC foundation is a tad runnier while offering a hint more pigmentation and coverage - Shiseido stays true to its name in terms of being sheer. I've tried out both foundations together on multiple occasions - each base on one side of my face - and I can honestly say they look exactly the same on the skin, as if I'm wearing just one foundation all over. If you really wanted to nitpick, my MAC Waterweight Foundation in shade NC20 is a touch more yellow-toned whereas my Shiseido Sheer and Perfect Foundation in shade O20 Natural Light Ochre, while initially more brightening on the face, dries down to be a smidgen darker.

MAC Waterweight NC20 | Shiseido Sheer and Perfect O20

Both foundations are perfect for those no makeup-makeup days when all you want is to even out your skin-tone and look like you're having a good skin day - which is pretty much all I want everyday! They both give the same natural, skin-like coverage that can be built up to an almost-medium, and are equally lightweight and comfortable to wear. I didn't find either to be particularly great at diffusing the appearance of pores, and because both bases dry down to a dewy, satin finish, my oily-combination skin starts looking shiny after just two hours. The Shiseido foundation does seem to have better staying power - just an hour or two more - as I find the MAC foundation to be more easily transferable, and as I mention in that previous review, have experienced firsthand it streaking down my face during the summer months. Fingers crossed this Shiseido foundation doesn't do the same!

So in a nutshell - if you love natural, skin-like bases that don't feel heavy on the skin and are a breeze to apply, you will really enjoy this Shiseido Sheer and Perfect foundation SPF 17. If you already own and love the MAC Waterweight Foundation SPF 30, then there's absolutely no need to splurge on both. If you don't own either foundations and want just one to try out, I would say go for Shiseido purely for the better lasting power and spill-proof, travel-friendly packaging.

Thanks for reading - hope everyone is having a wonderful, positive start to the new year!

REVIEW | MAC Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation

It's taken me years to finally take the plunge and buy my first ever MAC foundation - the whole NC/NW shade system confused the heck outta me, was it just me? - but it's better late than never! When the Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation first launched last fall, I was instantly drawn to the name - like a moth to a burning flame - on account of my unhealthy obsession with lightweight, natural bases with SPF.

MAC Studio Waterweight SPF 30 Foundation

$34 USD at MAC, Nordstrom

30ml, 1oz | 23 Shades

MAC's shade system is one of the most counterintuitive concepts I've ever come across. All their foundations are categorized into either NC (Neutral Cool) and NW (Neutral Warm). Now, if you were to believe you'd match a NC foundation if you had cooler undertones and NW if you were warmer, you'd be dead wrong. Instead, NC foundations all have warm, yellow undertones while NW foundations have cool, pink undertones. Yes, you probably all know this already, but still, what the heck?! And not to mention all the times I've tried getting color-matched at a MAC counter only to be matched to a different shade and undertone. Sigh. But alas, this foundation launched last year and generated so much buzz that I just couldn't help myself.

MAC claims this foundation "delivers color in an ultra-fluid, elastic gel-serum formula with a virtually weightless feel" that not only controls oil, but also provides all-day hydration. The foundation comes in a frosted glass bottle with a dropper applicator, which seems handy but actually gets pretty messy around the opening. The consistency of the foundation is like a serum - very fluid and runny - and blends and melts effortlessly into the skin. It feels weightless, as MAC claims, and has very natural, skin-like coverage that can be built up from sheer to an almost-but-not-quite medium, leaving a dewy, natural finish. This is one of the few foundations that doesn't cake up even when I add on layers, and I find that a flat-top brush give the most coverage and the most seamless finish. While this doesn't have the best lasting power on me - I notice fading after just five hours - it doesn't separate or get patchy, and wears away quite naturally. From the get-go, this looks dewy on my oily-combination skin and I get progressively shinier in the T-zone throughout the day. So powdering and blotting is a must!

I ordered this foundation online and had to base my shade decision off online swatches, and ended up picking NC20 that works fine as my winter shade, but NC25 or NC30 would've definitely been a better match. Since hauling this earlier in the year, I've worn this a handful of times during the hotter months and was not all impressed - this streaked down my face once while I was out walking Riley, dripping down and staining my crisp, white T-shirt. The horror! The humidity also made me look like a greasy, sweaty mess, so if you're also oily and prone to heavy sweating, avoid wearing this in the summer. In the winter, however, this foundation has proven to work wonders. As the weather's now turned chillier here in Hong Kong (thank the heavens, it's about time), I've been reaching for this almost everyday as a natural, everyday base for work. I see this working best for those of you with dry to normal, and even combination skin types that prefer lightweight, natural coverage. Oily girls, don't be afraid to give this a try as long as you accept that this foundation will make you look shiny (and lasting power will be slightly lacking). 

Swatched | Blended out

Side note - I hear this is an exact, and I mean 100% identical dupe of the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Water SPF 30. Same ingredients, same formula, same exact foundation. How, you ask? Well, turns out both MAC and Smashbox are owned by Estee Lauder, so I guess they thought it was a smart marketing strategy to release this new formula under both companies. Smashbox is more expensive than MAC at $42USD for the same amount of product, and offers only 8 shades compared to 23 shades. So unless you're a ride-or-die Smashbox fan, there's a pretty clear winner here. 

Now that I've tried my first MAC foundation (and somewhat figured out the infuriating shade system), I'll definitely be swatching some of the other foundations next time I pass by a MAC counter. Holler in the comments if you have any favorite MAC bases!

HAUL x FIRST IMPRESSIONS | Colourpop, Target and Bath & Body Works

Here is part two of my beauty haul from my short stop in Boston - I featured all the lovely products I picked up at Sephora in part one, and now it's time to share everything I hauled from Colourpop, Target and Bath & Body Works!

Let's get into Colourpop first, 'cos I have been obsessed with this brand ever since I did my first haul a few months back. I also totally made good on my promise that I'd pick up more products! Like a total badass, I ordered from Colourpop's website while I was in Rotterdam to have the package delivered to my hotel in Boston, and it got there the same morning I arrived. Talk about perfect timing.

Wisp | Butterfly Beach | Solow | Echo Park | Bichette | Brink

I absolutely love the first (and only) Colourpop highlighter I got, Lunch Money, and decided to pick up two more as gifts for my mom and sister. The price, quality and formula of these highlighters really can't be beat! I chose Wisp (golden champagne) for my sister, who is more warm-toned, and Butterfly Beach (soft peach with gold and silver highlights) for my mom, who has more of a pink undertone. But after swatching these, I am seriously regretting not getting duplicates for myself. What was I thinking?! For lips, I picked up another Ultra Matte Liquid Lipstick in Solow (neutral nude pink) which I found slightly more drying than the others, and tried one of the new Ultra Satin Liquid Lipsticks in Echo Park (warm peachy nude) which I am liking so far. It does transfer quite a bit - on everything my lips touch - but is much more comfortable on the lips and has decent staying power. I also tried one of the Lippie Stix in Bichette (deep red wine), which also transfers like crazy but leaves a stain on the lips thereby increasing the staying power. Lastly, I picked up another Lippie Pencil in Brink (warm dusty taupe) for my sister - I'm still loving mine in Lumière - and chose this shade since online reviews claimed it was a very close dupe for one of my all-time favorite lip liners from MAC in Soar. See the swatch below and you can judge for yourself, but to me it looks pretty darn similar!

Wisp | Butterfly Beach | Solow | Echo Park | Bichette | Brink

Colourpop Brink | MAC Soar

Now onto goodies from good ol' Target. I can spend hours inside roaming the beauty aisles (which I did), but I exercised some self-restraint and only picked up a couple essentials. For years, I've heard rave reviews about L'oreal's Telescopic Original Mascara and decided it was finally time to try it for myself (and will update you once I do!). I got backups of my all-time favorite drugstore concealer, the Maybelline Fit Me Concealers, in 10 Light, 15 Fair, and 20 Sand. The numbering can be confusing - 15 Fair is actually the lightest, pinkier shade, 10 Light is a tad darker and peachier, and 20 Sand is yellow-toned. I picked up some more e.l.f. Cosmetics brushes from their Essentials and Studio lines (and bought duplicates for my sister - aren't I just the sweetest). These include the Essentials Eyeshadow Brush, Essentials Eyeliner Brush (too thick for eyeliner but my go-to eyebrow brush for years), Studio Blending Brush, and the Studio Small Tapered Brush (which works perfect with my highlighter). The quality of the e.l.f brushes are quite exceptional considering the very affordable price point, and I would say these (along with the Real Techniques brushes) are some of my favorite and most-used brushes.

L'oreal Telescopic Original Mascara| Maybelline Fit Me Concealers in 10, 15, 20 | e.l.f Brushes

Last but not least, Bath & Body Works' "2 for $20" candle sale got me, yet again, and I picked up my favorite BBW candle scent, Georgia Peach (which smells like you're frolicking in a meadow of fresh peaches) and Vanilla Bean (that reminds me of my discontinued favorite, Homemade Cookies, and smells like creamy Vanilla and marshmallows). However, as much as I love these candles, I've realized that there might be better, cleaner and safer alternatives out there (such as candles made with soy or beeswax) that are less likely to produce potentially toxic chemicals when burning. This time around, I noticed both candle wicks burning with black smoke, and I guess you can never be too careful when it comes to your health and the environment you're living in. I will definitely keep you guys posted on any good alternatives I find. But I still love you, Bath & Body Works!

Vanilla Bean | Georgia Peach

I hope you enjoyed this two part haul from my trip to the US! As I've accumulated a lot of new products recently, get ready for a whole lot more product reviews and a whole lot less hauling (but no promises). Until next time!

PS. I didn't realize I forgot to include the Sonia Kashuk Undetectable Cream Bronzer until after everything was written and done. Of course. But fear not, it will be featured in my next post! 

REVIEW | Chantecaille Just Skin Anti-Smog Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15

Every morning for the past two weeks, I have been blindly reaching for the same base to help the situation on my face, and that would be the Chantecaille Just Skin Anti-Smog Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15. This was one of those iconic products that I had lusted after forever (side-eyeing it after time I passed by their counters), but held off on purchasing due to the hefty price tag. Last Christmas, I decided it was finally time - thank the holidays - to bite the bullet and see just what all the fuss was about.

Chantecaille Just Skin Anti-Smog Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15

$670 HKD at Chantecaille HK, Lane Crawford | $72 USD at Chantecaille US, Nordstrom

50g, 1.7oz | 7 Shades

Chantecaille describes this as a lightweight tinted moisturizer that has anti-irritant, antioxidant and antipollution properties to protect the skin from free radicals, smog and the sun. It aims to provide excellent coverage and smooth fine lines while locking in the skin's moisture, and is suitable for sensitive skin. Not going to lie, don't exactly know how all that anti-whatever works (or how to test those claims out) but it all sounds great and dandy! So how good is it really?

First and foremost, I have to say that this has one of, if not the best texture of any base I've ever tried. It's so incredibly creamy and velvety - to the point where it feels more like applying a face cream - and truly blends seamlessly into the skin, perfecting the face without looking like you have anything on. Just skin. To whoever named this product - bravo, you were spot-on. Now, keep in mind that the coverage is sheer to light, so it's definitely catered to those who have quite good skin to begin with, and not for problematic skin or medium to full coverage junkies. The shade I got matched to, Vanilla, oxidizes ever so slightly, but it isn't at all noticeable on the face. This applies smoothly with just the finger tips, while using a brush gives a touch more coverage. I find that this lasts a good five, six hours on my face before starting to fade, but I do get shiny in the T-zone after just two hours, especially with the lovely Hong Kong humidity. 

I picked my tube up at Lane Crawford for $670 HKD (which translates to $86 USD), so it works out to be a tad cheaper if you get it in the states. You do get 1.7oz of product as opposed to the standard 1oz, but still, dang! The ultimate question is, do I think this is worth the splurge?

My answer is.. it really depends! Here's the deal - if you enjoy a creamy, smooth base that offers light coverage and an effortless, luminous finish (and you don't mind treating yo'self) then you will absolutely adore this. For those of you who simply can't justify the eye-watering price tag but want something similar, then might I suggest trying out the bareMinerals Complexion Rescue ($29.5), NARS' Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer ($44) or Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer ($44). Although none of these are able to exactly duplicate the same velvety consistency, all three give a very similar finish - dewy, radiant skin at a considerably cheaper price point. Out of the three, I would say NARS has the most comparable texture, and bareMinerals the most similar, dewy finish. 

And not to keep rambling on - but I'm gonna - there are two issues I have with this. The first is the flat out awful shade range. Eyebrow raise. The second is with the SPF - what in the heck am I going to do with an SPF of 15? That might as well be SPF 0 in my books. But I find that pairing this with my trusty Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++++ underneath negates the "just skin" effect that it's going for. For now, I've resorted to wearing this around the house or at night (the SPF doesn't seem to give me a white cast as it should in theory). But for the moolah I've shelled out for this baby (and the beautiful finish it gives to the face), I should be able to wear this all day and parade my face around. Sigh.

Swatched | Blended out

So unless you fancy a bit of a splurge and want to experience that creamy texture and naturally radiant, "I-have-amazing-skin-cos-I-drink-eight-cups-of-water-everyday" finish (and you trust all the wonderful skin-benefiting claims), then I would say you could live without this Chantecaille Tinted Moisturizer. Am I happy I bought this? Heck yes. Will I run out and repurchase this when it's finished? For now, probably not. I am more than content with my current collection of tinted moisturizers, but, if you catch me in a spendy mood (which is quite often, unfortunately), I can't guarantee that I won't be spotted lurking by the Chantecaille counters. 

HAUL x FIRST IMPRESSIONS | Kiko Milano

Alright guys, don't judge, but up until a few weeks ago, I had no idea that Kiko was an Italian brand. I had always thought, assumed, that it was Japanese (I didn't know the full brand name was Kiko Milano), and thought to myself, ain't nobody got time to hunt around for those! Then cue my trip to Amsterdam, when I chanced upon one of their glorious stores near Dam Square.

I've only heard positive things about this brand, so naturally I took full advantage and tested out pretty much every single thing they carried in the store. After two hours, I walked out of the store with just six products - that shows restraint and discipline, my friends. Trust me, I could've filled my entire backpack with Kiko products.

Extra Sculpt Volume Mascara | Long Lasting Stick 38 | Natural Concealer 04 | Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 107 Mocaccino | Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 109 Amaranth | Glossy Dream Sheer Lipstick in 204 Warm Rose

The first thing I gravitated towards were the lipsticks - look at that packaging! The pictures don't do them justice, guys. You press the button on top and the lipstick bullet comes out of the casing, you then twist and apply, and snap it back into the casing until you hear that satisfying click. Ugh, so gorgeous, I can't get over it.

Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 107 Mocaccino | Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 109 Amaranth | Glossy Dream Sheer Lipstick in 204 Warm Rose

Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 107 Mocaccino | €10.90 
This was the first color I swatched on my hands, a pretty mauve pink - boring, I know - but I'm a sucker for these neutral shades. All these lipsticks are super creamy and apply like a dream, and smell a bit like vanilla cupcakes. Mmmm.

Gossamer Emotion Creamy Lipstick in 109 Amaranth | €10.90
Now this shade just screams my name, but I had to resist and instead picked this up for my sister. As someone who doesn't own too much makeup, I thought this would be a flattering and wearable berry shade to have in her collection. The more I look at it, the more I wish I had picked up one for myself too. Sigh. 

Glossy Dream Sheer Lipstick in 204 Warm Rose | €10.90 
As soon as I saw the word glossy in the name, I knew my mom would prefer this formula over the other ones - she loves lipsticks with a bit of moisture and shine. This is quite similar in color to my shade 107, but glossier (duh) and a bit more sheer.  

And because two of these were gifts for my mom and sister, I actually thought ahead and swatched the testers in the store instead of having to swatch their gifts. Give yourself a pat on the back, Shirley. Well done.

107 Mocaccino | 109 Amaranth | 204 Warm Rose

Extra Sculpt Volume Mascara | Long Lasting Stick 38 | Natural Concealer 04

Extra Sculpt Volume Mascara | €8.90 

I distinctly remember Kathleen from KathleenLights (gorgeous human being, btw) raving about this because she declared it her favorite mascara of all time. That's huge! I've tried it a handful of times so far, and unfortunately I can't say the same for myself. The biggest gripe I have about this is the size of the wand - it's massive. I can't apply mascara without getting it on my eyelids, but maybe that's just an issue with my eye shape. Formula-wise, it's nice and buildable, and my lashes do end up looking quite voluminous. However, it does smudge on me by the end of the day, so I would suggest going for the waterproof version if you want to give it a try. 

Long Lasting Stick in 38 Golden Taupe | €6.90 
These long lasting eyeshadow sticks were calling out to me in the store, and I tried really hard to venture out with a shade that I didn't already own. I failed. This shade is a gorgeous taupe-y brown with flecks of shimmer, and I wore it out to dinner that very night after the haul and there was no creasing and smudging whatsoever. A winner.

Natural Concealer 04 | €5.50
Since color correcting has been all the rage lately, I decided to try this green concealer to help with the minor redness around my nose and to cover up blemishes. I'm happy to report that it's working great so far! I dab a bit on my problem areas, slightly blend it out, then apply foundation on top of it. Flawless.

Long Lasting Stick 38 Swatched | Blended out | Natural Concealer 04 Swatched | Blended out

Wait, I'm not finished! While playing around with the Golden Taupe eyeshadow stick, I found that it looked suspiciously similar to the Urban Decay 24 Hour Eyeshadow Pencils in Juju and Rehab that I had just mentioned in my April Favorites. Lo and behold, they are 99.9% exact dupes (which confirms I did indeed fail, miserably). Golden Taupe can look exactly like Juju or Rehab, depending on the light. In fact, the best way to put it would be if Juju and Rehab had a baby, it would be Golden Taupe. Everything from the shimmery finish to the lasting power is the exact same. Can I get a woot-woot?! I love discovering dupes!

Urban Decay JuJu | Kiko Golden Taupe 38 | Urban Decay Rehab

Hope you enjoyed this haul! Let me know what your favorite Kiko Milano products are!

PS. Just found out, after writing this post, that Kiko Milano is available in Hong Kong. Oops. So if you also live here and want to give these a try, there are stores in Time Square and Harbour City!