A quick round-up of stuff which I have been loving lately.  This month is really all about skin pampering, and keeping my makeup to a quick & easy minimum (because I was really busy for a major part of May and didn't have time to fuss with makeup) and really just taking care of my body. 

Let's start with some makeup items - 

Eyeshadows I love [pictured above]

MUFE Aqua Creams #14 and #15 

Le Metier de Beaute Corinthian 

MAC Woodwinked 

NARS Lhasa  (not pictured)

All these eyeshadows are superbly pigmented, and totally not 'some boring brown or taupes' - in my opinion anyway... they are easy to use, and really makes it look like you are using more than just one color on your lids.  These colours naturally enhance your eyes (well, most of the time I am wearing grey lens) and because of how I slap them on my lids and blend up to my crease, my eyes look bigger too. 

Face stuff I love: 

Soleil Tan de Chanel 547 Bronzing Rose (from 2011 Summer collection)

Perfection Lumiere (samples in shade 10 and 20)

Natural Finish Loose Powder 10 Limpide (not pictured)

It seems to be all CHANEL face products this month.. with my Chanel foundation sampling going on (I still rotate a few other foundations but I am paying special attention to these samples to make or break any potential purchases).  The final verdict on Perfection Lumiere - I am definitely buying it, sooner or later - and in the shade 10.  While 20 is also a match for me, I think 10 is a better match and gives my skin that subtle brightening appearance.  Everytime I try it out, I am impressed by the finish, the lasting power and as a bonus I love the scent, and it didn't break me out. 

Another CHANEL item I have been loving (which is not pictured) is the Natural Finish Loose Powder - it is finely milled, sets my foundation, and looks good the whole darn day, sweat and humidity and all. The shade I am using is 10 Limpide.

I have also been using the Bronze Rose - in my opinion, the 2011 summer bronzers are prettier and more user friendly  than the 2012 summer bronzers - I am glad I gave them a miss.  I love the 4 distinct bars of colors, I like to use either my Chanel kabuki brush to dust it on my face and cheeks, or use my MAC 168 to apply the product.  I love that I can use this bronzer as a blush, bronzer, and overall face enhancing powder.  It is not shimmery, and imparts a nice glow that lasts the whole day too. 

Brows!

Bobbi Brown natural brow shaper 03 

I have been on the lookout for a new brow shaper, because my Mac Browset in MINK has been drying out (after 2+ years! and it is LE, so I didn't have a backup).  And I am happy to find a new brow shaper that is dark ashy brown in tone which is NOT shimmery.  The Japanese brand of brow shapers are usually too 'golden' and doesn't suit my coloring at all.  This retails for $42, which is a little pricey, but it is a staple in my makeup routine, and one that will last me a long time to come. 

Skincare products I love!

Lancome Genefique & Visionaire * HOLY GRAIL * serum combination

VICHY Bi-White Reveal Night Cream (not pictured, completely used up)

I realised that my skin is in its best overall condition when I use the Lancome power serum combination.  I think that it addresses all my skincare concerns at the same time, even out skintone, minimize pores, anti-aging, just overall skin condition improvement.  I think I never want to run out of this pair of goodies.  There will be times I venture out to other routines due to review, and my own curiosity, but if I want to stabilise my skin condition, this is it. 

I am not so fussy about day & night moisturisers, I just prefer something that is thick and hydrating enough, especially for night time.  The VICHY night cream is quite good, it smells awesome, and I really enjoyed using it.  (retails for $79, but I bought it during the Watsons sale, and got 30% discount). 

Eye Creams Addiction

Embryolisse Eye Contour Care

Clarins Defining Eye Lift serum

Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Eye Treatment 

I am a very faithful eyecream user - for the past 2 or 3 years at least - I will feel weird if I don't use any eyecreams, like the eye area will be too dry, or lines will appear overnight.   I still have two Origins eyecream which I have in my drawers that I will eventually start using... and I will be able to give you updates on those. 

So far, I use the Embryolisse Eye Contour Care in the daytime, it is a lightweight great basic eyecream.   I sometimes use the Clarins Defining Eye Lift serum underneath - I don't notice any significant effect with this serum, but I will use it anyway as an added preventive measure.

I bought the Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Eye treatment during the recent Shiseido sale.  It might be an older formula which is being phased out, because I know they have a new White Lucent eye cream out.  But regardless, I am surprised that this is such a rich thick cream since the rest of the Shiseido White Lucent range is quite lightweight.   So I use this eye cream at night.

I have recently received a couple of eye creams for trial and consideration lately, and can't wait to feature them soon!  

 

Samples that are tempting me to make the full sized purchase!  

Caudalie Vinoperfect Day Perfecting Fluid with SPF15

KENZOki Creamy-White Skin Lightener 

The Caudalie day cream is a tinted product, and almost feels like a makeup base.  I am not too sure of the effects, but I do like the texture and how it feels on my skin. I think it is a little pricey though... so I don't think I will run out to buy this soon, until I have used up all my existing day cream type of products.  But this is definitely on my mind. 

The KENZOki creamy-white skin lightener --- I use this a few times at night, it smells awesome, and the next day, my skin is smooth, and firm.  LOVES. Along with Sisley, these are the 2 brands that I am slowly being introduced to, and curious to try out. 

Get OILY! 

Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Bath Oil

Clarins Blue Orchid Face Treatment Oil (sample)

Josie Maran Organic Argan Oil Moisturiser (sample) 

Bio-Oil 

The Body Shop Beautifying Oil (dry oil for face, hair, body) Strawberry, Shea flavours 

I never thought that I would love using OILS on my face and body. But these whole range of oil products are making me think twice.  For one thing, OILS are more moisturising than regular CREAMS.  This is my theory - OILS are concentrated, and seem to have a more theapeutic effect, the scent, the texture is just more luxurious.  Thanks to the new formulation of these oil products, they are light, and easily absorbed - there is no slicky icky sticky after feeling at all. 

Overall, I love the nourishing qualities of these oils, and if in the past, if you tell me to slather oil on my face and body, I would be thinking, are you sure?  But now, I really enjoy using them.  My sis - Meryl who has drier skin swears by these oils (especially the Clarins ones) to keep her skin smooth and moisturised the whole time. 

I love the JM bath oil when I just showered, and I slather this on damp skin.  Then I smell extra good, and my skin is very soft for the whole day. 

I love the Clarins face treatment oil to give my skin an extra boost of hydration once a week.  The tiny sample will last me a long time.  I think I might eventually make a full size purchase soon.  I also have a couple of the Clarins body treatment oils, and I like to rub these on my calves before I go to sleep at night. 

I love the BIO-OIL for fading the little scars on my calves, and softening the dryer skin there too.  This was given to me by the company, and I have never gotten to really featuring it, but if you want an affordable oil treatment product, this really works, and a little goes a long way.  I do recommend the BIO-OIL. 

I tried the Josie Maran Argan oil, it is very rich, and while many people like to use it on their hair, I think I prefer to use it on my skin - it is too rich for my hair, and weigh it down.  I heard that it is out at our Sephora already?  I am keen to try out more products - I got my deluxe sized samples from my Sephora purchases in the US last year (choked up a huge amount of Beauty Insider points!). 

Finally The Body Shop beautifying oil - these are sent to me - I haven't got to trying them yet, but I will start this week.  I tried it once for the first time last night, it is very lightweight, and does not leave any sticky oily feeling. 

Get RUNNING 

I think I have mentioned in my April random chat that I started gymming, and I am happy to report that the whole month of May I have been gymming almost everyday.  For about an hour at the gym I am doing cardio exercises, and while I know it takes time for significant weight loss to be seen, I can already feel my limbs getting slightly more toned, and I just feel better inside out.  I don't really go out of my way to diet (that's impossible, and too sad) but I am very happy to make this whole gym thing a daily habit.  I no longer think it is a 'chore' to pack my gym bag, and go to the gym - it is just an everyday thing I need to do for myself. 

MAKEUP PORN 

See the goodies up there? My first major Burberry and Dolce & Gabanna loots!  I got to sit myself down, take proper pictures, swatch them before I can start using them. Hopefully I get to do all that good stuff this coming week.  That plus a small carton of new products which I need to get through and sort out, and perhaps get to share with you soon.

I am excited to leave for TW with my gfs in two weeks!  Yup, we can't wait - #twfrenzy! 

I hope this rambly entry had been useful, and thank you very much for reading.  If there are any questions about the products I mentioned, please leave them in the comments below.  :)