REVIEW | Chanel Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Color x Rouge Coco Stylo Complete Care Lipshine

Even though I don't like wearing lipstick on a daily basis, I still catch myself at times staring at the two Chanel lippies in my collection in adoration - the Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Color and Rouge Coco Stylo Complete Care Lipshine. Just holding a Chanel lipstick in my hand makes me feel a hundred times classier, and I just want to apply them on my lips all the time!

Chanel Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Color

$37USD at Chanel, Nordstrom

0.12 oz | 33 shades

Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo Complete Care Lipshine

$37USD at Chanel, Nordstrom

0.07 oz | 9 shades

440 Arthur | 212 Recit

Chanel Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Color in 440 Arthur |
This is a limited edition, mini-sized lipstick that I received after attending the Chanel pop-up event last year, and it's in the shade 440 Arthur, a medium red-orange shade with a luminous finish. (Fun fact - this is the exact color that Keira Knightley wore in the Rouge Coco ads, but unlike me, she looks effortlessly chic and put together.) It has great pigment and a smooth, buttery consistency that felt very comfortable on the lips. It pulls more coral than red on my pale skin, which I don't think is the most flattering, but I think this pop of color would look beautiful with a tan. Currently, I wear this shade lightly stained on the lips - a perfect popsicle-stained pout - and it manages to subtly brighten my face and complexion. The luminosity and shine disappears after about an hour - this stuff does transfer - but the color stays put for about four hours, even after eating.

Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo Complete Care Lipshine in 212 Recit |
My sister picked this out for my birthday, and for someone who isn't all that into makeup, I think she made a brilliant choice with this gorgeous berry shade. These lipshines claim to have "the intensity of a lipstick, the shine of a lipgloss and the comfort of a lip balm" with a hydrating formula that includes apple seed extract, jojoba oil and coconut oil. It's in a twist-up style (but beware - you can't twist back down so don't be too ambitious!) and this color in 212 Recit is a beautiful berry plum shade with a pearlescent finish, and has teeny tiny gold flecks of shimmer in the tube that (thankfully) doesn't translate on the lips. It is considerably more lustrous and glossy - like a lipgloss - than the lip color in Arthur, but not as opaque upon first swipe. It's buildable from a light mauvey berry shade to a deep plum color. This truly felt comfortable and hydrating like a lip balm, with a very emollient and buttery formula. I also enjoy wearing this lightly dabbed on for an everyday look, as opposed to smeared on at full opacity. This has around the same lasting power - around four hours - but the glossy effect stays put for almost as long. Just like Arthur, Recit does transfer as well, but when it wears off, it leaves behind a beautiful mauve, MLBB stain.

440 Arthur | 212 Recit

So far, I'm impressed with the performance of these two Chanel lip products (but perhaps not as much by the price), so holler in the comments if you have any favorites or holy grails from the brand, as I'd love to check them out in the future!

REVIEW | Winky Lux Flower Balm

Remember last year when the internet properly freaked out over those clear lip balms with tiny flowers suspended inside them? Well, I finally got my hands on one and it is truly as magical and endearing as it sounds - introducing my new Winky Lux Flower Balm!

Winky Lux Flower Balm

$14USD at Winky Lux, ASOS

4 colors

The first flower-infused lip balms I read about were from a Chinese-based makeup company called Kailijumei, and while I ooh-ed and ahh-ed over them like the rest of the world, I never thought twice about going through the hassle of ordering online and getting it shipped to my house. Fast forward to just a few days ago, I was having lunch with one of my besties and she decided to make my day by presenting me with this cute, unassuming floral lipstick box. Boy, was I pleasantly surprised when I twisted the bullet up and saw the tiny treasure frozen inside. It was magical!

Winky Lux Flower Balm in Pink

Just. look. at. that. So freakin' gorgeous! And yes, that's a real Chrysanthemum flower inside! Okay, let's try and focus here. So, Winky Lux is a New York-based makeup brand that ran with the flower lip balm idea and put their own spin on it - these lip balms are vegan, cruelty-free, paraben-free, and even gluten-free (who knew gluten-free makeup was even a thing!). They also made it more affordable than the Kailijumei version (14USD compared to 25) and more accessible to the masses (now available at ASOS). Huge props!

Now, I have to be honest here and say that the packaging doesn't look (or feel) very fancy - the plastic casing is super lightweight and doesn't feel at all expensive, while the logo on the side just looks printed on. But hey, I'm not hating, just stating! Having said that, however, who gives a cr*p about the outside when the inside looks like that! This is a classic example of not judging a book by its cover. To be fair, I do find the floral packaging pretty darn cute, just not the cheap plastic casing.

In addition to my pink Flower Balm, Winky Lux also offers variations with blue, yellow and green flowers. The clear bullet has a soothing coconut scent (with a hint of vanilla), and is surprisingly very glossy and hydrating on the lips. And the coolest part about the lip balm (besides the pretty flower) is that it actually reacts with your unique pH levels and body chemistry and creates the perfect shade of pink that complements and flatters your skin tone. All this while also keeping your lips moisturized and soft. Yaassss, honey! On me, it lightly tints my lips with a rosy-pink tinge and I am seriously obsessed.

Winky Lux Flower Balm in Pink

And don't be fooled - just because you'll want to reapply this a dozen times a day (and stare at it for hours), doesn't mean you need to. This stuff seriously stains your lips and has great staying power. That swatch remained a lovely pink stripe on my hand all day, despite my frequent hand-washing - makeup lovers, I know y'all feel my pain. 

If you're a lippie lover, or you know one in your life, this lip balm is the perfect present to gift yourself or anyone else. I just can't wait until I finally reach the tiny flower inside, 'cos then I'll have an excuse to get myself another Flower Balm! Flower power!

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!

REVIEW | Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment SPF15 x Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment x Sugar Lip Polish

I have a confession to make - I don't like wearing lipstick. Sort of hate it, actually. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy testing them out and hauling a few occasionally, but I rarely ever wear lipstick on a day-to-day basis. I find them way too sticky and heavy on the lips, especially in this humidity. So instead, you'll almost always find me rocking one of the Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatments SPF15 instead.

Fresh Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment Sunscreen SPF15

$24 USD at Fresh, Sephora

0.15oz | 12 shades

I've gone on and on about this before, but I'll say it again - I love Fresh, so freakin' much. The Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment in Petal was the first item I purchased from the brand, and I've been completely hooked ever since. The lip and face products from Fresh have become some of my must-have staples in my makeup and skincare routines, and these lip treatments are one of my favorite, no-fail picks to gift to family and friends. Definite winner!

As someone who has always had major gripes with lipsticks - they feel heavy, they smear and smudge, they fade super quickly - these Sugar Tinted Lip Treatments have been the answer to my lipstick prayers. They are sort of a hybrid between a lipstick and a lip balm - they moisturize, protect (with SPF15!) and smooth the lips, while providing a sheer wash of color without the dreaded greasy feeling. They also have that signature zesty citrus scent that Fresh products are known for. Yum! I pair these with the Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment underneath to make sure my lips stay smooth and hydrated, as well as exfoliate beforehand using the Sugar Lip Polish to ensure soft, supple, kissable lips at all times. Perfect triple combo!

Rosé | Petal | Tulip | Advanced Therapy

Fresh Sugar Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment

$26 USD at Fresh, Sephora

0.15oz | 1 shade

Fresh Sugar Lip Polish

$24 USD at Fresh, Sephora

o.6oz

Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment in Rosé | 

I got this adorable sample with one of my Fresh purchases a few months ago, and it gives a beautiful sheen to the lips with a subtle, rosy-pink tint. It's quite sheer, and is my go-to for my 'no makeup' makeup days!

Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment in Petal | 

This was the first lip product I picked up from Fresh - the shade is just so me - and it's the perfect MLBB shade that makes the lips look effortlessly pouty and perfected. Ooh là là!

Sugar Tinted Lip Treatment in Tulip |

I am definitely not a bright lip kinda girl, but this shade is a lovely, wearable hot pink that is perfect for the summer, and it instantly brightens up the face while making the lips look plump and oh-so-juicy.

Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment | 

The second you apply this lip balm, you can feel your lips become instantly hydrated and nourished. It's crazy! I love that it really softens up the lips and enhances the application of any lip products on top. The only con is that it can tend to seep into your mouth and leave a rather unpleasant, bitter aftertaste. But that might just be me, and it's so nourishing that I can live with it!

Sugar Lip Polish | 

I mentioned this in my May Favorites already, but this product is wonderful at gently buffing and exfoliating away any dry, flaky bits on your lips while still keeping them moisturized. My lips always feel so soft afterwards, and lip products glide on so much nicer. Mine is a smaller, half-sized mini tub (0.28oz) of the usual full-sized (0.6oz) jar, and it's still going strong after a few months. Apply this dry for best results, and again, try not to get this in your mouth!

Rosé | Petal | Tulip | Advanced Therapy

If I still haven't convinced you to go out and give these Sugar Tinted Lip Treatments a try, then I have failed at life. Just kidding. But seriously, I am not kidding when I say you need at least one - or maybe three - of these lip treatments in your collection. Especially if you're like me and don't like wearing lipstick! Plus, the Advanced Therapy Lip Treatment and Sugar Lip Polish are wonderful additions to step up your lip game to the next level. Go on, you can thank me later.

Chanel Rouge Coco on Tour in Hong Kong | JUNE 2016

Last week, I was invited to attend the Chanel Rouge Coco on Tour beauty event here in Hong Kong. I'm so fancy, you already know. Okay not really - this was my first beauty event and I was pretty stoked.

Image from Chanel Rouge Coco On Tour

The Chanel Rouge Coco On Tour pop-up store was located in Fashion Walk, Causeway Bay, and the interior was stylized like a Rock 'n' Roll video set, complete with a keyboard and drum set corner, minibar, and photo-booth. And let's not forget the most important part - the makeup! The event was catered towards the launch of a new lipstick formula, and new nail polish shades with a reinvented formula. Everyone was having a swell time mingling, taking pictures, and trying on the new makeup products.

Image from Chanel Rouge Coco On Tour

Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo Lipsticks | 
This new formula has the "intensity of a lipstick, the shine of a lipgloss and the comfort of a lip balm", and contains Apple Seed Extract, Jojoba Oil and Coconut Oil to nourish and hydrate the lips. There are a total of eight shades in the range including nudes, pinks, corals and reds.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colors | 
The newly reinvented nail colors now have a long-wearing formula that is not only 5-free (meaning it doesn't contain carcinogens including formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate, toluene, formaldehyde resin, and camphor), but is also formulated with bioceramics and ceramides to help strengthen and improve the quality of your nails.

Upon leaving the event, I received a limited edition Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Color in 440 Arthur, a medium red-orange with a luminous finish, and two Rouge Coco badge pins. I was also notified the next day to pick up a gift bag from one of the Chanel Beauté boutiques. Oooooh. The gift bag included a perfume sample of the Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Toilette, mini samples of the Hydra Beauty Micro Serum and the Le Blanc Light Creator Brightening Makeup Base, as well as a dainty Chanel Hydra Beauty bracelet. Pretty sweet!

Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Color in 440 Arthur

Overall, it was a really fun and new experience for me, and I thought Chanel did a great job at marketing their new product launches. As a complete newbie, I was a bit overwhelmed with the whole ordeal and completely forgot to snap pictures of the event! Except for this selfie. Sorry guys.

Lesson learned for next time - keep calm and take pictures.

If all of this has peaked your interest, be sure drop by one of your closest Chanel counters and check out the new Rouge Coco Stylo Lipsticks and Le Vernis Nail Colors!

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! 

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!