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!

HAUL x REVIEW | Inglot Cosmetics

We arrived in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania, around sunset after a long day of driving and exploring, and decided to stretch our legs at Akropolis, a massive shopping centre right outside the city. I walked straight into Douglas, the European equivalent of Sephora, to look for new brands to try out, and that's when I spotted Inglot Cosmetics.

I recall hearing some chatter over Inglot's Freedom System palettes a few years back, where you could mix and match all your favourite makeup products - eyeshadow, blush, lipstick, concealer - into one sturdy, convenient palette, but the brand hasn't been on my radar since. As I've mentioned before, I'm usually not one to splurge on makeup that I haven't done my research on. But of course, my wifi decided to stop working on my phone, and my dad was impatiently sulking in the corner of the store, so I just settled on three products and quickly got outta there. I wanted to try these on as soon as possible, so I improvised and took these pictures on the window ledge of my hotel room the next morning before slapping everything on my face for a test run.

I picked up the Under Eye Concealer in shade 92 which looked like the closet match for me out of the four shades on display. It's a very lightweight, liquidy concealer that feels hydrating under the eyes and dries to a powdery finish. It blends out with ease but loses its coverage once smoothed out - sheer to light coverage at most, and doesn't cover my dark circles. This shade also oxidizes a smidge darker and turns a tiny bit grey, which is odd, and looks rather dull and not at all brightening for under the eyes. Looking back, the first shade in 91 would've been a much better option. It's a shame as I do enjoy the moisturising formula, but the coverage just isn't there and the shade isn't the best match. I'll still reach for this (cos I ain't about wasting money) but only for days when I'm lounging around the house.

Swatched | Blended out

The Freedom System Camouflage Concealers in 124 and 125 also caught my eye, especially with the cooler undertones that I thought would be ah-mazing for contouring. 124 is a warmer milk chocolate brown, whereas 125 is a very cool-toned greyish brown. The consistency of these are stiffer and takes a bit more work to blend out for that seamless finish, but they are hella pigmented and will not budge once set and stays on all day. I use 124 for a more natural contour, and 125 for the rarer occasion when I want to carve out my face and create angles and bone structure I don't even have. Slay, gurl. But do be reminded that 125 can look a tad unnatural if you go overboard - the grey undertones have the potential of looking slightly ashy and muddy - so less is definitely more.

124 | 125

Top 124 | Bottom 125

All three products are decently priced - the Under Eye Concealer retails for 11.50€ and the Freedom System Camouflage Concealers are 5€ each. I wouldn't recommend the Under Eye Concealer if you prefer full coverage, but it could be worth a try for drier skin types and natural makeup days. And if you're contour-obsessed like me, these Camouflage Concealers could be a great (and inexpensive) addition to your arsenal!

REVIEW | Céline Trio Bag

It's been exactly two months since my last post, and I know, it's completely unacceptable. Between taking time off from work, traveling and starting a new job, my life has been cray cray as of late, but I'm finally back on a routine and ready to roll!

I was chatting on here recently about my adventures in Finland, Sweden and Denmark back in June, and shared my mini haul from & Other Stories during my visit in Stockholm in my last post. Well, hold onto your hats, 'cos I'm about to unveil this gorgeous luxury purchase that I scooped up during my time in Copenhagen - say hej to my new Celine Trio Bag!

On the last day of our three day stay in the city, we went and walked along Stroget, one of Copenhagen's most famous spots (as well as one of Europe's longest pedestrian streets). I had two main objectives that day - the first was to visit the beautiful Tortus boutique and studio which has been on my wishlist for years, and the second was to drop by Illum, a Copenhagen-based luxury department store, to browse one of my favorite luxury brands. Just as I thought I would be leaving Céline empty handed, as they didn't have the exact Mini Belt Bag that I had in mind, I caught a glimpse of the massive pile of Celine Trio bags neatly stacked on top of a pristine glass table, and this particular Trio Bag in Smoke, a new colour for the upcoming Fall season, just called out to me. And now, here we are!

The Céline Trio comes in two sizes - large and small - but I found the difference in dimensions to be quite minuscule. For reference, the large is slightly roomier at 10" x 7" x 2" compared to the small at 9" x 6" x 2". I opted for the latter, just because it looked a bit daintier on my 5'5 frame. The leather strap is adjustable and has a 20" drop, and hits me perfectly at the hip when worn on the shoulder and a bit higher when worn cross body.

The leather feels very soft, smooth and high quality, and the gold hardware adds a touch of flare to complement the simplicity of the design. There are three zipped pouches that are attached together with snap buttons, with the strap permanently attached to the middle pouch. If you detach the front and back pouches and clip them together, it can be used as a clutch. I don't see myself doing this however, as it's quite difficult to snap the pouches on and off without feeling like I'm bending and ruining the leather. Plus, the Céline logo is only embossed on the front pouch, so there really is no point in using the pouches separately.

Despite its flat and inflexible appearance, the bag can surprisingly fit quite a lot - the soft leather allows for some give and the pouches expand to carry a lot more than it seems capable of. I personally choose not to do so because of fear of ruining or stretching the material, since anything that is pointy or more irregular in shape can poke out and distort the leather - which freaks me out. So far, I haven't gotten a single scratch or scrape on it, and I would very much like to keep it that way!

After two months of regular use, this bag has proven to be quite lovely for casual days out, and fits most of my essentials that I can then organise into different pouches. Not gonna lie, most of the time I forget where I put certain things, so I end up having to unzip all three pouches to find what I'm looking for. Now, I stick to putting my most important belongings in the middle pouch, makeup and gum in the front, and keys and random trinkets in the back.

The only gripe I have with this bag is that it doesn't fit my everyday Céline Large Flap Wallet - it takes me a few extra minutes to take out my must-haves (ID, credit card, cash, VIP and loyalty cards) and transfer them into a smaller wallet, and when I'm in a hurry and need to get out the door fast (which is always, 'cos I'm never on time), this becomes a slight hassle. But hey, I opted to get a bag this size, so I really don't have the right to complain.

While I certainly don't believe this is a must-have bag from the brand (unlike their cult classic aka the Céline Luggage Tote), I still think it's a great luxury buy with a lower, more affordable price point and equally amazing quality and workmanship. Currently, I'm rotating between the Trio and my two other newer bag additions, the Mansur Gavriel Mini Bucket Bag and the Manu Atelier Mini Pristine, and I couldn't be happier! Yahoo!

Stay tuned as I share my long overdue mini hauls from Inglot and NYX, as well as the rest of my adventures in the Baltic Sea!

HAUL | & Other Stories

I was pretty excited to say the least when I found out that there was an & Other Stories store conveniently located just down the street from my hotel in Stockholm. So on the day of the Stockholm Marathon, I snuck away from cheering on the sidelines for a bit to see what goodies I could bring home with me.

I've seen countless clothing and beauty hauls online from this brand, but never had the chance to visit a store in person. Since our hotel was located right by the running route of the marathon, and the course involved lapping the hotel twice, I timed my shopping trip perfectly - I waited for my dad to run past the hotel the first time (and took awesome pictures of him in action), then made my way down to the shop and gave myself a good two hours to browse and look around before heading back for his second lap. Right when I walked in, I zoomed straight past the clothing racks and made a beeline for the beauty section.

Since I am not the most patient person when it comes to trying out new products I've just hauled, I took these pictures in our apartment in Copenhagen just the day after so that I open these bad boys up and use and wear them for the rest of my trip. I didn't do too much damage in the store, as I kept reminding myself of my very limited luggage space.

I couldn't resist picking up two silver jewellery pieces to add to my collection - a pair of thin bar stud earrings and an dainty open ring. Delicate, minimalistic jewellery is my jam, and although the store had quite a large selection of both silver and gold jewellery, these two were an instant favourite as soon as we locked eyes. 

My go-to, holy grail nail polish for years has been the Revlon Nail Enamel in Vixen 570, a gorgeous deep wine red (that can be layered until it looks almost black), so naturally the Miniver Wine Nail Colour screamed out to me. It's a lighter burgundy shade with more red undertones, and would look pretty on the nails all year long. The most exciting part of this haul has to be the Sunray Pleat Pearl Crème Highlighter that is just one of the most stunning highlighters I've ever seen! Mind you, the packaging is pretty lackluster, however the product inside is truly mesmerising - it gives off an iridescent, silver-pink-lavender pearlescent sheen that looks almost holographic. I don't have anything like it in my makeup collection! There was only one left on the shelves, so I snatched it up in a second.

& Other Stories Sunray Pleat Pearl Crème Highlighter

Pictures don't do this highlighter justice but I shall try - just look at that holographic sheen! Absolute magic. I will say that this isn't your typical, natural, glowy highlighter, but if you want to up your highlighting game and make a statement, you have to give this a try.

My first haul from & Other Stories was a definite success! And might I mention that the prices are also quite reasonable - this haul came out to be a total of 370Kr, which is around 43USD. For two beauty products and two jewellery pieces, that's a pretty good deal in my books.

REVIEW | Manu Atelier Mini Pristine

I'm coming up on my first work anniversary - seriously, how am I an adult now - and I decided months ago to save up some extra cash and get myself a present to commemorate the occasion. Just a job-well-done, you-survived gift, if you will. So without further ado, here's the big reveal - meet my new Manu Atelier Mini Pristine!

Manu Atelier Mini Pristine

Vegetable Tanned Leather in Reddish Brown

$4135HKD at Lane Crawford | $495USD at Shopbop, NET-A-PORTER

Manu Atelier is a relatively newer brand - it was co-founded by two sisters in Istanbul, Turkey in February 2014 - and their bags have been on my radar for quite some time now. I've been eyeing this gorgeous piece in particular for a few months, but had held off purchasing it since my boyfriend had gotten me the Mansur Gavriel Mini Bucket Bag for my birthday just last November, and I wanted to make sure that bag got some proper loving first. After stalking this baby online for the hundredth time, I decided to bite the bullet last week and strutted into Lane Crawford to finally bring this bag home with me.

Size |

The Pristine bags come in three sizes - Pristine, Mini and Micro - and I had a really difficult time choosing between the Pristine and the Mini. (The Micro bags, although super adorable, are way too small and all come with a chunky gold chain strap that just isn't my cup of tea.) After trying the two different sizes on in-store, I found that the Mini looked the best on my 5'5 frame, whereas the Pristine was just a fraction too big and boxy. The Mini can hold my Céline wallet, keys, and a small makeup pouch with ease, and my iPad mini is just able to fit snuggly inside. Obviously, the Pristine would be a better choice for a roomier fit, but I personally enjoy the Mini's compact size and overall aesthetic. The strap is adjustable and the bag hits me perfectly at the hip (just like the picture below), and can be adjusted longer or shorter depending if I wear it cross-body or just hanging on my shoulder.

Image from Lane Crawford

Color |

When I first laid eyes on this bag, I wanted it in the color black. What else, right? It took a lot of deliberation and self-reflection to finally convince myself that, no, I did not need another black bag. In fact, all the Manu Atelier bags come in such fun and beautiful color variations and combinations that I found it extremely challenging to narrow down my preferences. But I knew my best bet was to go for a neutral color that could complement any look or outfit. Lo and behold, Lane Crawford's website revealed that the only three color variations they had in stock for the Mini were Black, Reddish Brown, and Ice Beige, and one quick glance at Reddish Brown was all it took for me to know that it had to be mine - the color is to die for, and it truly looks amazingly stylish and effortless with anything I wear - obsessed!

Image from Lane Crawford

Leather |
Like all three of my Mansur Gavriel bags, this Mini Pristine also comes in vegetable tanned leather, but has a more refined and polished texture that makes me less anxious about wearing it out in public. Unlike my Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag, which I have to physically shield and protect from everyone and everything when I'm out and about, I can carry this bag around with confidence and not feel the need to baby it too much. Don't get me wrong, this can definitely still get scratched and marked up, but the leather has a smoother, lacquered finish to it that makes it seem much more durable and less delicate than my Mansur Gavriel bags. Only time will tell, but the leather seems to be of premium quality and gets a two thumbs up from me!

As for the other features of the bag, it comes with a sturdy magnetic closure, hand-stitched corner guards, as well as an interior zipped compartment and textured fabric lining. Manu Atelier's overall aesthetic is very much reminiscent of Mansur Gavriel - clean lines, elegant silhouettes and quality leather. It's no mystery as to why I was so drawn to the brand from the get-go.

A word of advice would be, if at all possible, to purchase this bag in person as opposed to online. Speaking from personal experience, I had to ask the sales associate at Lane Crawford for three different versions of the same bag before I found one that was, in my opinion, in pristine condition - meaning no small scratches or veining in the leather. Yes, I understand that this bag may very well get scuffed up in the near future, but I'd very much like to be the one doing the scuffing. Ya feel me?

A week in and I'm absolutely in love with every single aspect of this Manu Atelier Mini Pristine - I can't stop using it! Uh oh, seems like I have yet another new brand obsession...

REVIEW | Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag

Ladies and gentleman, welcome to my very first fashion-related post - and an incredibly exciting one at that! Introducing the newest addition to my bag collection... drum roll please. Let's all take a moment and soak in the gloriousness that is my new Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag. -squeals-

Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag

Italian Vegetable Tanned Leather in Cammello/Antico

$895USD

As someone who is fervently into the minimalist aesthetic - in both beauty and fashion - I see Mansur Gavriel as minimalism at its finest. Clean lines, simple shapes, quality leather. So much yes. You fellow bag fanatics out there will know that Mansur Gavriel bags are hard to come by - they're never on sale and always out of stock. I was one of the lucky few that snagged one during their website restock at the end of March. $895USD later (plus a $75USD international shipping fee, ouch), this bad boy landed on my doorstep.

First off, I have to preface this by saying that this is not my first MG bag - last fall, I got my hands on the highly coveted (and mania-inducing) Mansur Gavriel Bucket Bag in Black/Ballerina that I absolutely, head over heels, adore to pieces. It's become my everyday bag for all occasions, and none of my other bags have gotten much love ever since. Oops. But when I laid eyes on the ads for the Lady Bag, my heart skipped a beat and I knew I needed it in my life. To me, the Bucket Bag is chic and effortless, whereas the Lady Bag exudes sophistication and elegance - especially in this Cammello color. Your girl had to have both!

Image from Mansur Gavriel

Size |

The Lady Bag comes in three different sizes - the Large Lady Bag, the Lady Bag, and the Mini Lady Bag. I wanted a size that was practical, yet wouldn't look awkward on my 5'5 frame. I chose to go with the middle size (with the dimensions of 10.5" H x 13.5" W x 5" D) and it fits me perfectly. It's super roomy - it fits my 13" Macbook Pro, my essentials including my wallet, makeup bag, sunglasses, and a few other knickknacks. I love how this bag comes with a top handle as well as a cross-body strap, making it very versatile for any look or occasion. The cross-body strap is adjustable, and I am able to stand upright and reach into the bottom of my bag when it's adjusted to the shortest setting. Yessss. I'm so not a fan of that awkward length when you have to clumsily prop your bag on your leg or a nearby ledge just to dig out what you need. 

Color |

This bag comes in a whopping 16 different colors, ranging from black to greens to reds to pastels and neutrals. One of the many aspects that makes Mansur Gavriel unique is that you can also choose the interior color and customize your very own color combination. Many people find that they can choose a neutral, wearable shade for the outside, and be a little risky and go for that pop of color on the inside. I am still a minimalist at heart and went for neutrals for both. There is not a chance that you won't find a color combination that tickles your fancy!

Image from Mansur Gavriel

Leather |

There are two leather options for the Lady Bag (in addition to a canvas alternative), which includes the Vegetable Tanned Leather, which is stiff and untreated, and Calf Coated, which is smooth and softer in texture. The reason I went with Vegetable Tanned Leather (for both my MG bags) is because I love the natural, personable quality of the leather as well as the fact that it is stiffer and will never lose its structure. (I've also heard rumblings that the Calf Coated has a strong, funky leather smell. Not into that). The interior comes either raw or matte patent coated, and I chose the latter since it is much more durable and won't have the risk of shedding like the raw finish. Not to mention, with the coated option you get to pick a contrasting interior color!

Pre-scratched

Now, I have to admit something - I have only used this bag once since I hauled it. I know, it's an absolute crime. But hear me out! First of all, my bag already came pre-scratched. The horror! Ok, it wasn't too upsetting, but when I first took it out of its dust bag, I noticed a few minor scratches on the front of the bag as well as around the corners. I knew then and there that the light tan color of this bag, unlike my black Bucket Bag, would not be kind to scratches and scrapes. And the thought of marking up this beautiful creation made me too anxious to actually use it. Silly right?! I knew exactly how this type of leather would behave when I bought it, but just had preconceived notions that it would hold up as well as my Bucket Bag has. When I took this bag out for a spin that one time, I had to physically huddle over it and shield it from the world - especially in tight, crowded areas - like the offensive line protecting the quarterback. Wait, is that the right analogy? I don't even know football. Anyway, my tip for those of you who want something more practical and less delicate, is to go for a darker color or opt for the Calf Coated version. 

Since I personally prefer the look and feel of the vegetable tanned leather, I just have to keep reminding myself that while this does (and will) easily scuff, and scratches are inevitable, they will just add character and personality to the bag. That's right, I'm going to keep telling myself that. Like Mansur Gavriel eloquently states regarding their vegetable tanned leather, "it is warm, it is strong, and it is personal". Amen.

Lady Bag in Cammello/Antico | Bucket Bag in Black/Ballerina

I hope y'all enjoyed my first fashion post! I really, really love my new Mansur Gavriel Lady Bag, and I trust that it - along with my Mansur Gavriel Bucket Bag - will remain classic and timeless pieces in my wardrobe. Minimalism for the win!

SAMPLE SUNDAY | Fresh Sugar Face Polish x Kiehl's Micro-Blur Skin Perfector

This week's Sample Sunday is going to be all about skincare! The stifling heat and humidity in Hong Kong is really taking a toll on my skin - clogged pores, flaky skin, grossness all around - so it's the perfect time to test out two skincare products that can supposedly help combat these unsightly issues.

Fresh Sugar Face Polish |

Fresh has got to be one of my favorite skincare brands of all time - I love every single product I've tried from the brand (so far), and the clean and minimalistic packaging is right up my street. This generous sample of their best-selling face exfoliating mask is made with "pure brown sugar and real strawberries that creates the appearance of a softer, smoother, more radiant complexion" and the scent is deliciously sweet, like a mix of citrus and strawberry. You're supposed to gently massage a generous amount onto cleansed, moist skin, and leave it on for five to ten minutes before rinsing with warm water. Okay, this makes my skin feel incredible -  so soft and smooth and supple! This is everything I want in a face exfoliator - it's gentle yet effective, leaves my face feeling smooth and hydrated, and the scent is wonderfully sweet. Flaky skin, no more! I will definitely be picking up the full size once I'm done with this sample, fo sho.

Kiehl's Micro-Blur Skin Perfector |
Large, visible pores are a huge insecurity for many people, myself included, and this sample from Kiehl's sounded like it could be the answer to the problem. Touted as both a makeup and skincare product, this claims to instantly minimize the appearance of pores and refine skin texture, as well as provide long-lasting pore and texture correction. Sign me up for some of that! After trying this for a week, however, I'm still torn. As a primer, I do see some improvement in terms of pore minimization and blurring, most noticeably on my nose, and it does make my face feel and look smoother. But it certainly doesn't make my pores look invisible, which I was hoping it would do. This does contain silicone, which makes the texture quite slippery but it glides nicely on the skin and feels lightweight on the face. One issue I had was that the product does separate - water kept oozing out of the packet - and I've read that the same has happened to others. I made sure to blot away the moisture before application and there were no problems. I am definitely more intrigued with this as a skincare product and its ability to improve the skin and diminish pores in the long run. You're supposed to also use this at night as the last step in your skincare routine, and I'm not sure if my eyes are playing tricks on me, but I do see slight improvement on my nose after the week! So I would be willing to give the full size a chance, which costs $35 USD. Will definitely keep you posted on whether this is worth the splurge!

Swatched | Blended out

Thanks for tuning in to the second edition of Sample Sunday! 

Let me know if you guys have tried either one of these products, and if you love it or hate it!

SAMPLE SUNDAY | Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream x Guerlain So Volume Maxi Lash Mascara

I am a hoarder.

A hoarder of beauty samples, to be exact. As I'm staring at my vanity drawer overflowing with makeup, skincare and haircare samples, I've come up with a new series I'd like to call Sample Sunday.

It will be a chance for me to finally stop hoarding and start trying all the beauty samples I have in my possession. The plan is to test out different products every week, and report back on the weekends - short and sweet, no rambling! - about whether I've been impressed enough to consider purchasing the full size. Straight forward, right? Here we go - the first ever edition of Sample Sunday!

Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream SPF 30/PA+++ |
This is my first venture into CC creams, which are supposed to color correct any redness or discoloration on the face and give you a healthy, perfected glow. This Clinique CC cream is oil-free, fragrance free and comes in six shades. Mine is in Natural Fair - shades are named differently in Asia - which matches my face very nicely. It's quite thick in texture and can be hard to blend over the dryer areas on the face, so moisturizing beforehand is a must. You also have to blend rather quickly as the product can get patchy and stiff. Once blended, it does feel light on the skin and offers light to medium coverage, with adequate SPF for everyday. But I just don't find it to be anything special - it's challenging to work with and my tinted moisturizers do a better job - so I will not be buying the full size. Sorry, Clinique - I still love you!

Swatched | Blended out

Guerlain Cils D'Enfer So Volume Maxi Lash Mascara |
I am not a high-end mascara kind of girl - my long time favorite was the CoverGirl LashBlast Volume Mascara - and only recently have I switched over to Benefit's Roller Lash Mascara. Needless to say, I was more than skeptical about what Guerlain could offer in this tiny tube of mascara. The wand is nothing special - plastic with short bristly teeth - but boy, did it really get the job done. This lasts all day and keeps my droopy lashes standing upright and looking voluminous right up until I have to wash the day off, though I did have a teensy bit of smudging on one of the balmier nights. One thing to note is that I did seem to enjoy this mascara more the first few days - when the formula was wetter - than when the formula started to dry up, since it became a bit more clump-prone. But overall, I am very impressed and would definitely consider buying the full size, which retails for $32 USD.

Hope you guys enjoyed this first edition of Sample Sunday! 

I'm so genuinely excited about this new series - I can't wait to share my thoughts on different products and to finally start whittling down this mountainous collection of beauty samples that has taken over my room for way too long. Ah, liberation!

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!