American Apparel Mount Royal

I have'nt posted in a while since my nails became thin and yellow. I had to give nail polish a rest so they can breathe. Now that I'm armed Sally Hansen Age Correct No Chip Top and Base Coat, it's time to get colourful!

I lemminged this colour after seeing it in JacieO's blog. I have it on for a few days now and I'm still at loss as to how I can describe this colour. Is it colbalt, indigo or violet sky? (OK I made up that last term.) The colour is retro, like in a sweater pattern from the 80s.

I ordered three American Apparel polishes so could'nt wait to try them all out. Next time in the US, I'll stock up. AA is much more exxy in the UK.

The quality if the nail polish is awesome. So creamy and pigmented. Not sure if the Sally Hansen deserves the credit for the staying power yet. I type all day at work and I'm rough on my nails. So far there are only a few tiny, non-noticeable chips.

However as long as my nails are protected from turning yellow, I'm satisfied!

Imju De Ja Vu Fiberwig Mascara - Paint On False Lashes

I bought this mascara from SASA in Singapore for $25 SGD. The mascara protector and comb was $4 SGD. (If you're not masterful with mascara wands, it works a treat!)

This is the Fiberwig limited edition tube. How adorable is the packaging? Even the silver end is holographic so it beats the plain red packaging any day.

Fiberwig is a top selling mascara in Japan and it's not hard to see why. Firstly it forms "tubes" over your lashes and it washes off easily with warm water. It's the gentlest and most convenient method of removal. Simply wipe them off with your hands in the shower and it's off!

Secondly, it gives noticeable length and holds a curl. I stop at three coats because my lashes get spidery after that. It does'nt give much volume though so I reserve this mascara for a natural look. I use it on the days when I could'nt be bothered with makeup removal.

Thirdly, there is no smudging. Not even on a humid day or if you have oily lids. The formula is moisture resistant. The mascara lasts all day until you wash it off. Perfect!

Jocasi Handbag & Good News

Hello everyone! I'm pleased to report that I finally GOT A JOB in London!!!

*happy dances*

So today is my last day of unemployment and believe it or not, I did'nt sleep in. I surfed the net and had breakfast early. I ordered three bottles of American Apparel nail polish, (thanks to raves from You Got Nail) and a jersey dress. This brand is overpriced in the UK but I thought, "Screw it-I have a job now!"

I went for a walk to one of my favorite charity shops. It's the British Heart Foundation and I have a good strike rate there. The quality of the stock is well selected, the shop is clean and in order. They even play nice music and offer exchanges for anything you buy. And look what I picked up!

I remember when I first saw Jocasi bags in Selfridges. I was drawn to their colourful worn-in leather but thank goodness I did'nt buy at the time. Their stuff is nice but rather exxy for bags made in Indonesia.

So here is my Jocasi bag which only cost £5. I've always wanted a soft leather cross body bag. It's big enough to fit the essentials, including a little umbrella. The brass hardware is excessively chunky but I think it makes a statement, don't you?

Tara Jarmon Skirt and J Crew Hat

Have you ever felt fabric so light and soft, you'd swear it was silk? That's what this skirt feels like but it's actually made of 100% cotton.

The skirt's contrasting print reminds me of Marc Jacobs. I could not believe my eyes when I saw this at the thrift shop. It was brand new with the tag attached for £10.

I researched Tara Jarmon's clothing and her clothes are beautiful. Very elegant and feminine.

The J Crew hat was only £3 and that was brand new too. Great for keeping my head warm and keeping the sun out of my eyes. I like how its not a beanie and you can fold it up without worrying about it losing it's shape.

ASOS Nail Paint By Ciate - Agyness

Bought this from ASOS for £1.50. I'm a sucker for the cute bottle with ribbon bow. This colour is almost identical to Ulta3 Allure.

Aygness is a beautiful dark purple satin. It applies a bit streaky at first but dries super quick. I've applied three coats in this pic.

Looks royal peacock purple in the bottle but when applied its blackish. In the evening it looks like black from a far . Very glam!

EDIT: Just to add, I found this nail polish difficult to remove. It comes off black and if you have dry fingertips like I do, it stains them unless you super-scrub it out!

Boots Natural Collection Rosebud Fig Leaf Caramel Shortcake

At Boots, the Natural Collection cosmetics range is 3 for £5. I've been looking for some nude lipsticks and was happy to find the perfect colours.

Natural Collection is a home brand of Boots. All products are less than £2 each. They have a wide product and colour range but I suspect the quality is not great. Did'nt test their eyeshadows because none of the colours appealed to me. Packaging is simple and cheap. The coverage consistency of their liquid foundations were terrible. But the lipsticks are good!

If you can overlook the plain packaging, the lipsticks are lovely pick-me-ups. They are called Moisture Shine Lipstick and are fragrance free. Texture is creamy and pigmentation is decent. Lasting power is good.

Rosebud is a soft nude pink. It's the perfect Your Lips But Better nude.

Fig Leaf is a pale brown nude. It's a little sheerer than Rosebud.

I also bought a Juicy Lips lipgloss in Caramel Shortcake. The applicator is a bit annoying because it never picks up enough product so I need to dip a few times. The colour is pinkish brown. It smells delightfully fruity but I can tell that overtime, it will smell mediciney.

Swatches: Rosebud, Fig Tree and Caramel Shortcake. Top right: Caramel Shortcake. Bottom left: Fig Tree. Bottom right: Rose Bud.

Overall the lipsticks are the only products which I recommend but only buy these on sale. NYX is still better value by far!

Smokey Eye and Contouring with Sleek Palette Storm

I'm yet another fan of the Sleek eyeshadow palette Storm. It has a versatile range of shadows with satin and matt finishes. The quality of the palette is impressive for £5!

One flaw with Sleek compared to Beautyuk's pallete is that the satin shadows are coarser. There is a thin dusting of fall out in my Sleek palette. But the pigmentation is incredible!

This is my smoky eye look. It's not OTT as you can see that the black eyeshadow doesn't go beyond the socket.

Here's how I achieved the look with the Sleek palette:

1) Highlight the brow bone with the palest shimmery shadow. (Second from the top row.)

2) Apply a base with the matt nude shadow (third from the top row) over the entire lid.

3) I used MAC's Knight Divine on the lower eyelid. But you can use the shimmery charcoal (second from the bottom row) instead.

4) Contour the socket with the matt black shadow. (Last on the bottom row.)

5) Blend, blend, blend so there are no harsh lines.

6) Using a socket brush, line close to the bottom lash line with the matt black shadow. Stop 3/4 of the way from the outside corner.

I lined my eyes with NYX black pencil liner and used white in the inner corners.

If you don't have a contouring kit, you can improvise with the two matt shadows marked below. Experiment to get the right shade and apply with a light hand. You don't want to look you have a five o'clock shadow!

You can use the palest shimmery shadow to highlight. Sweep this under your eyes, down the bridge of your nose and chin with a blush brush.

I learnt this trick from makeup school. We did'nt have contouring kits because eyeshadows and pressed powder foundations are EXACTLY the same products. If you have a wide collection of eyeshadows, chances are you already have the right colours. Remember, use matt for shading and shimmery for highlights.