My Everyday Makeup Routine | JUNE 2019

Hello June! Yes, posting regularly was the goal I set out in my last post, but again, life got in the way. Apologies! But I’m treating June 1st and my January 1st, so let's get right to the first makeup post of 2019!

I have no idea whether people are still interested in posts like these, but I am! So here goes nothing. These are all the products I've slapped on my face for the past few months without fail. I've really tried to prioritise my spending and limit my beauty buys (#adulting?) and I think you can probably tell - most of these are old school products that probably only I still swear by.

The Ginza Hybrid Day Protector SPF 30 |

I would repurchase this forever and ever if it didn't cost an arm and leg. Lightweight and creates a perfected and smooth base for makeup application. Love!

Maybelline Matte Poreless Fit Me Foundation | 128 Warm Nude

Just a solid choice for foundation - blends seamlessly, offers medium buildable coverage and lasts throughout the day without fading or creasing. Bonus is that it's affordable too!

Maybelline Master Conceal Camouflaging Concealer | 20 Light

I don't hear much buzz about this concealer, but I've been using it religiously for quite a while. It offers good coverage, blends easily (better with a BeautyBlender) and brightens the under eyes. It doesn't completely erase zombie eyes but instead like you got a good night's rest.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder | Diffused Light

TBH, I don't know if this really makes that much of a difference but I have to dust this all over the face after base application for me to feel like I've completed my look. It does seem to blur pores and lines and the tiny flecks of shimmer look quite flattering on the skin.

Jordana Sculpt N' Go Creamy Contour Stick | 01 Light and 02 Medium
Yes, these are very well loved. The lighter shade is my go-to contour shade, even over my Fenty Beauty Match Stix in Taupe (it also helps that it's less than a quarter of the price), and the medium shade is perfect for bronzing. So blendable and easy to use - just use your fingers, blend and voila! Great for travel too.

NYC Smooth Skin Bronzing Face Powder | 720A Sunny
One of the OG bronzers (I don't even think it's sold anymore) and it's easy to see why it's so loved. The orangey undertone warms up the skin and makes you look sun-kissed and healthy.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush | Exposed
A really pretty, neutral nude shade for those of us who aren't super into blush but still want a hint of colour on the cheeks. Perfect shade to complement any makeup look.

Shu Uemura Hard Formula Hard 9 Eyebrow Pencil | 06 Acorn
I made an entire post on this so no need to say more. Holy grail status.

Kevyn Aucoin The Contour Duo | Medium and Candlelight
This is such a useful little duo - I use the contour shade all over the lids as eyeshadow and lightly down the sides of the nose. The perfect contour shade, IMO. The highlighter is also very aptly named - not as intense and blinding as the Becca highlighter in Champagne Pop, but soft and pretty nonetheless and perfect for everyday.

Maybelline The Falsies Push Up Angel Mascara | Waterproof formula

I'm not the pickiest with mascara, but this makes my lashes look long and fluttery and doesn't smudge. So a win in my books!

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat | Pillow Talk
This lip liner deserves all the hype - a gorgeous nude-pink that really does perfect your pout and the creamy formula feels uber-comfortable on the lips.

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick | Pillow Talk
This was the only new makeup item I bought this year - was in love with the liner so obviously had to pick up the lipstick as well. I use this everyday without fail - perfect MLBB shade and a matte formula that isn't drying on the lips. Eyeing the nude-taupe shade Very Victoria next!

A little BTS action with Rileymoo. Until next time!

SAMPLE SUNDAY | YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking Mascara x Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream

YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking Mascara |

I was always skeptical about high-end mascaras until I tested out the Guerlain Cils D'Enfer So Volume Maxi Lash Mascara in the first ever edition of Sample Sunday, and since then I've been on a mission to test out all the high-end mascaras I can get my hands on. This YSL mascara claims to "exaggerate lashes with excess volume from every angle", and reminded me of the Guerlain mascara in almost every aspect - both mascaras gave my lashes volume and lift all day with minimal smudging, has a similar floral fragrance, and are both $32 for the full size. If I had to differentiate between the two, I would say this YSL mascara gives me bigger, more voluminous lashes (at the cost of slightly more clumping), while the Guerlain's short, bristly teethed mascara wand gives longer, more fluttery lashes. Both are great volumizing mascaras (and it really depends on personal preference), but if I had to nitpick, the bigger, bushier YSL wand is trickier to work with in terms of trying not to get mascara on the lids and ruining that bomb smokey eye - that is the worst.

Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream |

After testing out the Bobbi Brown Hydrating Face Cream in the last Sample Sunday, I wanted to stay on the Bobbi Brown train and try out the eye cream sample as well. The Extra Eye Repair Cream claims to repair, revive and strengthen the eye area by targeting fine lines, wrinkles, dark circles, puffiness and dryness. That's an impressive list of claims! First of all, this stuff is thick, so a little goes a long way. It feels rich and luxurious but does take a bit of warming up between the fingertips to spread smoothly under the eyes. The ultra-creamy consistency means it takes a while longer (I give it at least 5 minutes) to absorb fully, so for those of you who like to snooze in the morning like myself, this won't work as part of your 5 minute makeup routine. Under makeup, I have yet to notice any creasing or pilling up which is a good sign. As a nighttime eye cream, this feels wonderfully moisturizing and I do think my under eyes look smoother and my fine lines less pronounced after just a few days, while my dark circles are still beyond repair (excuse the pun). Bobbi Brown does also offer the Hydrating Eye Cream which is lighter in consistency and may be a better option for daytime. So far, I'm loving this Extra Eye Repair Cream as part of my nighttime skincare routine and would be willing to fork over the $72USD for the full size.

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!