MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick in Morange

I used to be a lip gloss junkie. Since I fell in love with Rimmel Lipstick in Airy Fairy, I'm a convert. I started to buy more and more lipsticks (my NYX haul) and now I'm officially a lipstick fiend. Don't get me wrong, I still love lip glosses. I just feel the (unreasonable) need to have more lippies.

I was on an orange lipstick hunt since my last post. I want to have more variety in my lipstick collection. I have 3 pinks and 1 blood red so far. I convinced myself that I absolutely need an orange one..

I'm looking for something like this..

I went to a few cosmetic outlets in Midvalley just to hunt for one. I went to Skinfood and saw the Skinfood Coffee Creamy Sheer Lipstick in Orange Salmon OR502. Swatched it on my hand and it is a light peach with pink undertone. The color is too common and not orangey at all.. not what I'm looking for..

Shu Uemura was my next stop. Tried on Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Creme Matte Lipstick in OR534M. It looks almost nude peach on me. Meh.. I want an orange lippy!!! No thanks..

Bobbi Brown.. I saw no orange color lippy displayed there so I didn't bother asking them...

When I arrive at MAC, took one look at the lipsticks, I'm immediately attracted to one that stands out. It is a bold, true orange color. I picked that up and it's Morange. I remembered how strong it was on my friend and I was worried that I couldn't carry it. The MUA there urged me to try it on. I swiped some on my lips and spread it out with my fingers. I love how it looks on me. It brightens up my face and I was sold.

As many reviewers has described perfectly, Morange is a vibrant and creamy, slightly reddened neon orange color with no shimmer/glitter. It is highly pigmented and gives full coverage to the lips.

without flash

with flash

Swatches of Morange..

Morange, to me is such a strong color that it scares me a bit. Here are some pictures of me wearing Morange.

I know I should have some peachy blusher
and bronzer to warm up my face..
 I don't have a either of those.. sorry  :/

This is a full-on application. Opaque and all. It instantly make my face look whiter. My lips are screaming for attention. If you look at me from a far, you can only see a pair of orangey, red lips.. LOL! Okay, this is too much for me. I will only wear it like that for a fun night out with the girls..

Then, I tried putting some lip butter on top. It tones the strong color down a bit.. However, for some reasons it looks redder than before..

sorry for my blur look.. :P

I also tried blotting it down with a piece of tissue and here is what it looks like..

instantly more wearable!

This is with a clear lip balm underneath Morange.. Also tones it down a bit..

I wore a pretty simple eye make-up with Morange. Neutral eye shadow, eyeliner and mascara (white eyeliner on lower waterline) No falsies.. I don't want too much going-on on my face. Morange should be the spotlight here.

In conclusion, this lipstick can be worn with gloss on top for a softer look, can be blot down to create a wearable, soft matte orange reddish lips, or can be applied full force for a very fashion forward and daring look. Take your pick. 

I know I wouldn't wear this very often because I'm more of a pink lip girl. The whole orange/coral lips madness got me stuck with one. However, I don't regret buying this. I know I'll whip this out when I'm feeling feisty and 'in the mood'. So, I'm happy to add this lip color to my collection. My quest for an orange lip color is now completed..

I dabbed it on and spread with my fingers in this pic
(my favourite way to wear it so far)

I'm looking forward to expand my lipstick collection to more variety of colors.. I'm hunting for nude lippies next. Shy girl, Creme d'Nude, Creme Cup, Myth, High Tea, Hug Me, whatever, I'm gonna try them all.. :P

Stay Pretty Girls.. XOXO!

Orange Mania

Every spring/summer, vibrant, happy colors like yellow, lime green, peaches and corals will be spotted everywhere in the fashion scene. Think fruits and flowers. This year, the color ORANGE have been getting a lot of attention. When I say 'orange', it's not like the oompa-loompa orange.

It is orange on the cheeks, eyes and most particularly the LIPS! I'll show you what I mean.

I know, orange lips have been here all this while. Maybe I'm late for a season or two. It's just that I've been fascinated with it recently. Idk why.. Maybe it's an influence from other bloggers. :P
I know, orange is not an easy shade to pull off. Especially bright orange lips. Here are some pictures of fashion spreads, models and celebs that rock the orange lips. (I don't know whether all of them are new, forgive me if they are not). New or not, they are SUPER HAWT!

fashion spreads

Runway Models with Orange Lips

More Runway Model with Orange Lips

Agyness Deyn who rawks it!

Celebs with Orange Lips

and Lady Gaga!

You think only celebrities or models can pull this off? NO! My own friend effortlessly rocks this look! She's super chic and edgy!! The trick is to do it with utmost confidence!

Bobo wearing MAC Morange Lipstick

I personally do not own any orange lip products. I don't know how it would look on me but I would LOVE to try! So, I'm deciding on 1 or 2 orange lipstick to buy. Do you want to get some too?
I got some guide from Temptalia's post about orange lipstick. Check her out! I learnt a lot from her blog..

Picture and list taken from Temptalia's blog

1) Bobbi Brown Orange Lipstick
2) Chanel Exotic Lipstick
3) Dolce & Gabbana Sheer (13) Shine Lipstick
4) Guerlain Gil Lipstick
5) Guerlain Ginger Lipstick
6) Guerlain Gipsy Lipstick
7) Guerlain Giuliana Rouge G Lipstick
8) Illamasqua Temper Intense Lipgloss
9) MAC Morange LIpstick
10) MAC Neon Orange Lipstick
11) MAC Vegas Volt Lipstick
12) Milani Mandarina Lipstick
13) Milani Orange-gina Lipstick
14) NYX 24 Karat Lipstick
15) YSL Tender Peach Lipstick

Stylelist teaches us how to pull of the orange lips. It is an interesting read..

This saucy shade may seem intimidating when you're used to smoothing on a neutral pinks and nudes, but orange lipstick is easy to pull off when done in layers, advises Jennings.

"I love layering first a nude lip pencil then adding the bright orange hue in a lipstick and neutralizing the orange with a golden metallic gloss," says the makeup artist. "I love M.A.C. Dazzleglass gloss!"

One shade that the backstage beauty fixture believes works for all skin tones is M.A.C. Morange Lipstick. "It is a bold statement on its own, but when paired down with neutrals and gold tones it becomes approachable and totally day wear."

And the vibrant shade packs enough punch if you want to pump things up for a hot summer evening soirée, says Jennings.

Orange lipstick can add the finishing touches to a crisp and cool denim jumpsuit or a sharp summer suit.

So, how should you play up or play down the rest of your face when donning orange lips? Jennings suggests donning this lavish lip with barely-there bronzed skin, tons of mascara, and a simple metallic eyeshadow like M.A.C. Bronze and Amber Lights.

If you're feeling really bold this season, learn how to paint your digits with neon nail polish! 

Hope you guys like this post! I'm going off for some orange lipstick hunting and hopefully I can get something nice.. CIAO~


Stay Pretty Gals XOXO!

My Top 10 Drugstore Beauty Buys

I am a drugstore aisle enthusiast who constantly hunts for cheap yet effective drugstore beauty products. I always believe that it is possible to improve your looks and trim your budget at the same time. Below I am going to list down 10 drugstore products that I've bought again and again and again after I finish them. These products are easily available in Malaysia drugstores such as Watsons, Caring or Guardian. I'm not saying that these are the best products in the world. They are just my personal best drugstore buys. Price mentioned are RRP (Recommended Retail Price) and you can often get them cheaper when there are special discounts going on. Without further ado, here they are :

1) Neutrogena - Liquid Neutrogena Pure Mild Facial Cleanser

MUA rating : 77% would buy this product again
RRP : RM15.30 for 100 ml and RM18.90 for 150ml
This is a very simple cleanser. No fragrance, no fancy packaging, just a basic cleanser. This is very good in removing makeup residue and it just makes your skin feels super clean. I got a friend that uses this for many years and her skin is AMAZING. No acne, just super fine pores and clear beautiful skin.
After reading more about it at MUA, I find that a lot of people with beautiful skin uses this simple, basic cleanser in their skincare routine. I changed to this and I'm pleased with it. I'm into my second bottle now. Good stuff! (P/S: I use this to wash my make-up brushes too and it leaves the bristles squeaky clean and soft)

2) St Ives - Apricot Scrub Blemish & Blackhead Control

MUA rating : 80% would buy this product again
RRP : RM19.90 for 170g
This is quite a controversial product. A lot of people say this scrub is too harsh to be used on the face. I think I have thick, insensitive skin and a lot of dead skin cells. I love to use this to keep my pores clean and slough off dead skin cells 1-2 times a week.
As the grains in this scrub are quite beady and rough, don't massage too hard or it will hurt your skin. Make sure you moisturize well after scrubbing to avoid dryness. Every time after I scrubbed, my skin felt soft and supple. Plus, the blemish and blackhead control ingredients also help keep my acne at bay. Super <3.

3) St. Ives - Mineral Clay Firming Mask

MUA rating : 84% would buy this product again
RRP : RM17.90
I always use this mask to balance out my oily complexion during "the time of the month" where my skin is extra oily. Although it is a clay mask, it is not too drying. Every time I use it, I can feel that it purifies and tightens my pores. Fast and easy to use. Smells pleasantly minty. Most importantly, it is cheap for a facial mask. I can apply thick, generous layer without feeling it's hurting my pocket. Currently, I have other masks but this will always be a staple in my skincare cabinet.

4) OLAY - Moisturizing Cream

MUA rating : 100% would buy this product again
RRP : RM21.90 for 50g and RM38.90 for 100g
I just found this product 2 weeks ago but I already know that I will continue buying it in times to come. This moisturizer is a simple, effective product that people tend to forget about because there are plenty of more fancy, expensive products in the market now.
Little did we know, some women (like my mum's friend) have been using this since the 80's and until now (in their 50's) their skin is still soft and nice.
I decided to try it out myself. My first impression, light pink cream that smells like Johnson's baby lotion. TOTALLY HESITATING.. but I put it on anyways. It sinks beautifully into my skin without the burning sensation that most moisturizers give. The next morning, I woke up with soft and non-oily skin. IMPRESSED! After a few days using it, I noticed my skin texture improving, no more flaking, no more break outs and my happy skin is behaving nicely (how rare)!! I can even use this during the daytime under my make-up without it greasing me up. I'm neglecting all my other moisturizers now (MAC and Organic Aid: I promise I will use you guys every now and then :/). Forgive me for my long rave. I'm really excited about this!

5) L'OREAL - De-maq' Expert Elixir Concentrate Ultra Make-Up Remover

MUA rating : 59% would buy this product again
RRP : RM27.90 for 100ml
This is perfect for lazy bums like me. I use this to remove everything (foundation, sunblock, mascara, etc) on my face all together in the shower. I've used many other drugstore oil make-up removers before and this is the one I love best. I've used around 9 or 10? (i lost count) tubes of this stuff. The texture is thick, smooth and cashmere-like when you massage it into your dry skin with dry hands. After that, add a little water and continue massaging then rinse it off with water followed by your normal skin cleanser. It takes of the my stubborn water-proof mascaras in a jiffy and it doesn't blur my eyes like the other oil make-up remover does. Love the scent too! If it doesn't remove your make-up, you are using it wrongly.

6) REVLON - ColorStay Eyeliner in Black/Carbon

MUA rating : 74% would buy this product again
RRP : RM30.00
I love this eyeliner for touch-ups and I never leave home without it. I've also repurchase this countless time over the years. I use this on my waterline only (it doesn't glide smoothly on my lids so I use a different liquid eyeliner for that) and it lasts pretty long. I may have to touch up once or twice a day if I want to intensify my eye make-up. But usually one application can last me the whole day. Although it is not the most long lasting eyeliner in the world, it works exceptionally well for something in its price range.

7) REVLON - ColorStay Makeup with SoftFlex SPF6 Combination/Oily Skin

MUA rating : 74% would buy this product again
RRP : RM59.00 for 30ml
This foundation is amazing. It is on par with my MAC Studiofix but with half the price. Excellent staying power, flawless matte finish, medium to full coverage and doesn't break me out. It is better than most of the high end foundations out there. This foundation is highly raved about in the beauty community. I love it!

8) MAYBELLINE - Eye Studio Diamond Glow Eyeshadow Quad in Copper Brown

MUA rating : None
RRP : RM29.90
This is my first daily wear eyeshadow quad. All the colors matches and blends nicely with each other. Natural, wearable colors perfect for my favorite gyaru make-up look. Color pay-off is good with nice, subtle, shimmery finish. Mine is hitting pan now and I want to get another set with the same color. If you want a versatile eyeshadow quad and you are on a tight budget, I highly recommend this. You won't regret it.

9) MENTHOLATUM - LIP ICE Sheer Color Lip Conditioner

MUA rating : None
RRP : RM14.90
This is another product that I can't live without. I always have a tube with me everywhere I go.
Lip Ice is a lip balm that goes on clear then change into a subtle pink on your lips. If you want more color (brighter pink), simply apply more layers to your lips. It contains all kinds of good stuff to moisturize our lips like beeswax, shea butter, macadamia nut oil, jojoba oil, etc. Available in strawberry scent and unscented version.
To me, this is a lip balm and lip stain in one simple, pink tube. One application immediately freshens up my look. Gives me soft, glossy lips with a hint of color. The stain doesn't budge or transfer and it fades slowly and evenly without looking patchy or weird. I first used this when I started playing with make-up about ?? years ago and I've been continuously purchasing it until this very day. Everlasting LOVE~

10) MAJOLICA MAJORCA - Lash Expander Frame Plus Mascara in BK999

MUA rating : 72% would buy this product again
RRP : RM45.90
This is the most pricey of all the stuff I've mentioned here. A really black, lengthening mascara that hold curls really well. Plumps up and defines lashes well without clumping. It is really water-proof, smudge-proof and bomb-proof (joking) which is really great for oily lids. Only removable with an oil-based makeup remover. The packaging is super glam and princessy. Hands-down the best mascara I've used so far (IMHO) until I find a better one.

So, that's my 10 favorite drugstore beauty products all in one long post. I love all kinds of beauty products regardless of the price as long as it is effective. Being cheap is just another bonus for me. Hope this post gives you an idea on what to try the next time you walk down the beauty aisle at Watsons or Guardian.

Stay Pretty Girls! XOXO~

Random Cute Stuff #12

ITADAKIMAS~~~~

Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream & Missha M BB Boomer Review

Here comes my 2nd BB cream review. I have high hopes for this one. It's the Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream in #21 Light Beige. I bought the trial size (20ml) this time from ebay as I don't want to waste another entire bottle of BB Cream like the Skin79 Hot Pink one.. :/
I got a couple of Missha sample products from the sweet seller too. One of it is the Missha M BB Boomer. I used that with the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream so I'm going to review it together.

Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream in No.21

I'm not going to babble about what is BB cream anymore and dive straight into the review. You can read it here if you are interested. Here goes..

PACKAGING - The sample size comes in a squeeze tube. I heard the full size one comes with a pump so it's pretty convenient to use.

CONSISTENCY - This feels thicker and harder to spread than Skin79 Hot Pink BB Cream but it is still fairly easy to apply and blend.

Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream consistency

SCENT - This smells pretty strong. It smells like sweet, flowery perfume and the scent do linger around for the whole day. I personally love it but might be too overpowering for some others.

COLOR - Like most of the other BB Creams, this has a greyish tinge to it due to the SPF content. It goes on a bit too pale on me (i'm NC20 ish) especially if I put on too much. However, if I use a light hand, it is acceptable for me. Gonna show you guys some pictures so you know what I mean.

As you can see, my face looks quite pale in these pics. If you look at the last picture carefully, my face do look more whitish and greyish compared to my neck. Only a tad bit though. I don't mind it. There is no noticeable oxidization throughout the day.

COVERAGE - This provides medium coverage. If you have dark or red, noticeable acne scars, you will have to use another concealer to cover it. For me, I just "pat on" another layer of this on areas where I needed more coverage. This evens out my skin-tone quite well. Pores also look less noticeable. I'm pretty satisfied.

it evens out the skin-tone at the back of my hand

It covers the scar on my finger pretty well.
The scar still shows a bit though..

FINISH - The finishing is very natural, not too glowy and not too matte either. The effect looks like "skin" if you get what I mean. It doesn't make you look like you are wearing tonnes of foundation. I just wish that the color matches me better. :/
After a few hours, you might need to blot your nose a bit. Other than that, it's good for the whole day even without powder. If you have oily skin, you can dust on some powder for a more matte finish and better oil control throughout the day.

OVERALL - This BB Cream doesn't break me out at all. Stays on pretty well unlike the Skin79 Hot Pink. Has excellent sun protection SPF 42 PA+++. I love everything about this product EXCEPT the color. It's the best I've ever used so far. If the color matches me perfectly, it will be my HG BB Cream. I will continue using this though. It is perfect for those days where I am too lazy to doll myself up. I just have to be careful not to apply too much or I'll look like I'm wearing a white mask. So, it is a keeper for the time being. The hunt for my perfect BB Cream still continues. :D

SHORT REVIEW FOR MISSHA M BB BOOMER : (pic of full size product on the left and pic of the sample sachet I got on the right)

Missha M BB Boomer

Missha M BB Boomer is a primer for BB Cream. It is described as a BB boosting cream, designed to help BB creams stay in place longer and makes the skin looks brighter. It has a pearl finish containing antioxidant and moisturizing ingredients which will keep your skin hydrated all day long.

I was given a sample sachet of this enough for 2 applications. 

The BB boomer is a pearly white cream that you apply on like moisturizer. Smells like baby powder. It has a pearly sheen to it and after I applied BB cream on top, it gives me a really nice luminous finish. BB cream really does stay on longer with this. My skin felt hydrated and I didn't break out when I used this so it's all good. I will purchase this again..

OTHER SAMPLE SACHETS GIVEN TO ME FOR TRIAL : (pic of full size product is on the left and pic of the sample given to me is on the right)

Missha M Signature Real Complete BB Cream

Missha Time Revolution Immortal Youth Cream

Missha All-Around Safe Block Waterproof Sun Milk SPF 50/PA+++

I haven't try the others yet. I'll let you know what I think once I've tried.

Hope you like my review! Stay Pretty.. XOXO!