[Review] Urban Decay Naked2 Basics, Naked, Naked 3 and Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palettes

A review on some of the products I got on a recent Sephora Haul. :)

Okay, I didn't get the Naked original palette during the haul.

I just couldn't help taking a photo of the two palettes together. :D

I also got the Naked2 Basics palette, but I forgot to take a photo of it until later at night :P

So here's a photo of all my Naked palettes together :D

I also got the Too Faced Chocolate Bar! 

NAKED ORIGINAL PALETTE (link)

What it says on the box: 

It’s the palette that revolutionized neutrals forever. Loaded with 12 bronze-hued shadows in an insane range of textures only Wende and our product development team could dream up—including matte, satin, shimmer and sparkle—Naked proves that neutral is anything but boring. From the palest champagne to the grittiest gunmetal, it’s all here. Whether you’re going for a laid-back, beachy vibe or black-tie drama, you’ll definitely look better Naked.

Every shade features our Pigment Infusion System™, a vehicle for color that holds tightly to pigment and gives the formula its glide. The proprietary blend of ingredients allows color to weave itself through the Eyeshadow formula. What does all that mean? Insane color payout. Sparkle that doesn’t fall. Color that stays on your lids. And a velvety, suede-like smoothness and blendability.

The chocolaty velvet case is emblazoned with the word 'NAKED' in gold foil lettering. (Just wait 'til your friends see you pull this sexy thing out of your bag. Jealous!) The mirrored case also includes a professional-quality, cruelty-free double-ended shadow/blending brush AND an Eyeshadow Primer Potion sampler with resealable samples of ALL FOUR formulas (Original, Sin, Eden and Anti-Aging). Each sample holds about a week’s worth of Primer! 

(Left to Right)
Virgin, Sin, Naked, Sidecar, Buck, Half-Baked 

(Left to Right)
Smog, Darkhorse, Toasted, Hustle, Creep, Gunmetal

What I say:

This was the very first Naked palette I had gotten. It had taken me ages to decide between Naked and Naked 2 and reading reviews online didn't really help much either as there was a 50-50 chance that one blogger would sing praises over Naked, and another blogger would be gushing over Naked 2. I tried to read reviews from bloggers of similar skin tone and eye shape as me, but even their recommendations were half and half. What got me to choose Naked in the end was actually the enthusiastic Urban Decay promoter at Sephora. While I was tottering around between the two palettes again, swiping shade after shade on my skin, walking away and coming back to the palettes, this nice nice lady was attending to another customer (while the rest of the Sephora sales assistants were busy trying very hard to ignore my presence - thank you very much for your help ladies). Once the Urban Decay promoter had wrapped things up with the customer, she immediately came over and asked if I needed any help in choosing the palettes. After asking some questions to get an idea of the kind of customer and user I was in terms of eyeshadows, she recommended getting the Naked palette as the colour range was more workable and friendlier for a noob eyeshadow user. She also highly recommended the palette as it was also more popular (according to her experience) among a wider variety of customers. Hence, I was sold. I gladly and confidently placed the palette into my basket and headed for the checkout counter. 

Upon reaching home, I did what probably every person did when they have just bought a Naked palette - youtube and google for tutorial videos. Subsequently, I realised that a lot of the tutorials were made for people with deepset eyes, and if I tried to copy what they did, I ended up making a huge mess of my eyes and confused myself with identifying my crease, my lid, and all those complicated words associated with applying eye shadow. I realised I had to re-define my search terms and search for tutorials made for hooded double eyelids or simply adding the word "asian" to the search engine. And voila, the results were much more easier to work with, and I had managed to create looks ranging from simple everyday eyes, to a little more edgier and smoky eyes. However, I have to admit, there's still much to learn about making a mean smoky eye - I feel that I tend to border dangerously between almost-there-smoky-eye, and any more would just pitch me straight into panda eye. This isn't a problem of the palette, but rather more of the technique of the user. In this case, I signed up for a smoky eye class from Roseanne (link). I have yet to arrange a date and time to attend, but I hope this will help me achieve the smoky eye look. :) I've attended her basics eye shadow class and I went away learning so much more about the application of eyeshadows now. So I'm pretty psyched about this upcoming smoky eye class. :) 

NAKED 3 PALETTE (link)

What it says on the box: 

Experiment with 12 NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN (and insanely beautiful) rose-hued neutrals—from pale, shimmery pink to deep black matte with rosy red micro-glitter. It's finally here: the long-awaited follow-up Naked and Naked2 (two of the industry's all-time bestselling palettes)! And this time around, we're giving you a dozen NEW ways to get Naked. (Yes, we loaded this palette with 12 NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN shades.)

Choose from every finish imaginable: ultra-smooth mattes, gorgeous pearls and glimmering metallics. From the palest, shimmery pink to deep, warm black, these neutrals will make you want to get Naked all over again. Every shade features our Pigment Infusion System™, the proprietary blend of ingredients that gives each shade its velvety texture, rich color, serious staying power and blendability.

Naked3 includes a NEW double-ended shadow/blending brush AND an Eyeshadow Primer Potion sampler with resealable samples of all four formulas (original, Sin, Eden and Anti-Aging). Each sample holds about a week's worth of Primer!

Our art-school-inspired tin case is a gorgeous rose-gold color (a subtle hint at the shades inside). Embossed on top with a big "Naked3" and cool facets that beg to be touched, it's sure to inspire lots of jealous stares.

What You See Is What You Get: Strange (pale neutral pink matte-satin), Dust (pale metallic pink shimmer w/iridescent micro-glitter), Burnout (light pinky-peach satin), Limit (light dusty rose matte), Buzz (metallic rose shimmer w/silver micro-glitter), Trick (light metallic pinky-copper shimmer w/tonal micro-sparkle), Nooner (medium pinky-brown matte), Liar (medium metallic mauve shimmer), Factory (pinky-brown satin), Mugshot (metallic taupe shimmer w/slight pink shift), Darkside (deep taupe-mauve satin) and Darkheart (smoky black matte w/rosy red micro-sparkle). 

(Left to Right)
Strange, Dust, Burnout, Limit, Buzz, Trick

(Left to Right)
Nooner, Liar, Factory, Mugshot, Darkside, Darkheart

What I say:

I picked this up during a Sephora Members Private Sale this month. I was absolutely delighted when I received the email announcing the private sales where everything is 20% off. I have had this palette in my wish list for quite a while. In fact, I was initially drawn to this palette when deciding which Naked palette to buy for the first time. But subsequently, this was placed on my wish list instead as a majority of the reviews had recommended getting either Naked or Naked 2 first before getting this palette. Naked 3 consists of gorgeous pink, rose-golds, and sunset-colours, and these aren't exactly the colours you'd reach for to make a smoky eye effect. Some of the reviews had also mentioned that everyday looks are also hard to achieve for this palette and that it's catered more towards special events and cocktail parties. However, during a recent basics eyeshadow class I attended that was conducted by Roseanne (link), I had the chance to try out the Naked 3 palette on my eyes for the first time. Under her guidance, it was easier to pick out colours and the result was really good! I found myself thinking that I think I can make the colours in the palette work for me. And hence, the Naked 3 palette shot up to the top of my Sephora wishlist. 

The case of the palette is so much sturdier (and prettier too!) than the Naked palette. It also consists of the same duo eyeshadow brush and comes with the same 4 samples of their eye primer (primer potion). On the side, I highly recommend their primer potions - they are so workable and easy to blend without making you feel like there's stuff on your eyelids. I picked up a full sized version of the Primer Potion in Original too during this month's private sales. 

Once again, I went on a youtube spree looking for tutorials, and I tried an everyday look for today's movie date. I loved loved, absolutely loved, how the colours turned out. This palette is a must-have for those who like things a little more feminine and sweet. In fact, you can also go edgier with a rosy+smoky eye effect too with the colours on this palette (especially with Darkheart - what a gorgeous red-black shade!). 

NAKED2 BASICS PALETTE (link)

What it says on the box: 

When UD junkies cried out for a palette of matte neutrals, Naked Basics delivered—and left them begging for MORE shades. (And we couldn’t deny them!) 

Cooler in tone than the original, Naked2 Basics complements Naked2 perfectly. We loaded this indispensable palette with six TAUPE-hued matte neutrals, including five never-before-seen shades. These shadows are neutral enough for anyone, from cool skin tones to olive complexions to darker skin.

So versatile you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it, Naked2 Basics is the kind of palette you’ll reach for again and again.

Every shade in Naked2 Basics features our Pigment Infusion System™, the proprietary blend of ingredients that gives each shade its velvety texture, rich color, serious staying power and blendability.

While many brands’ matte shadows tend to be chalky or powdery, EVERY shade in Naked2 Basics has a rich, buttery feel for the perfect application. It even includes one shade with a slight satin finish, Skimp, that’s ideal for highlighting and adding dimension.

Like the original, Naked2 Basics comes in a sleek, soft-touch case that has a suede-like feel and a slight sheen. It’s small and compact so it travels well, yet we still packed it with six FULL-size shadows.

What You Get: Skimp (pale nude satin), Stark (nude-pink matte), Frisk (warm gray matte), Cover (muted red-brown matte), Primal (muted brown matte) and Undone (deep, smoky brown matte).  

(Left to Right)
Skimp, Stark, Frisk, Cover, Primal, Undone

What I say:

The pigments in the naked2 basics palette were...a little disappointing. I felt a difference in the shadows' textures in comparison to the other two Naked palettes as I was picking the colours up with my fingertips to do the colour test on my forearm. The powders were drier-similar to how a compact powder foundation would feel. I had to swipe my fingertip against the pot several times to get enough shadow to show up on my forearm. In fact, some of the shades ended up becoming chalky/powdery as I was swiping.I have yet to try it on my actual eyelids, but I'm just not having that good an impression on it so far. Nevertheless, I will update this post again once I've done so. 

The selection of colours in the palette was what made me decide to pick this palette up instead of the naked basics. It had a dark black (Undone) which could actually compliment Naked as the original palette didn't have a black. In addition, I had also thought that the taupe shades could help offset Naked which is known to be warmer in shades compared to Naked 2 which was touted as having more taupe shades. So the Naked2 Basics was like getting the Naked 2 that I didn't have. In addition, Naked Basics had three shades which kind of disappeared into my skin tone when I had tested it out at the store, and no way was I forking out $45 for just 3 shades that I can work with. 

TOO FACED CHOCOLATE BAR PALETTE (link)

 

What it says on the box:  
The Chocolate Bar experience begins as soon as you open the palette and the smell of sweet chocolate envelops you. The eye shadows are pigmented with pure, antioxidant-rich cocoa powder and includes 16 matte and shimmer shades of natural browns, delicate pinks and luscious plums. Includes our signature how-to Glamour Guide with three looks to get you started. 

What I say:

This was an impulse buy when I was shopping during the Sephora Private members sale. I was always drawn to Too Faced Natural Eyes palette ever since my first Sephora members' sale - but up till now, I have yet to actually buy it. So as usual, I was admiring the colours from their Natural Eyes palette and contemplating whether I should just get the palette in a final attempt to stop pausing there each time Iw walk into Sephora or whether I should get the Naked2 Basics palette, which I had placed in the middle of my Sephora wishlist after reading reviews on how convenient and friendly it was for travel and for simple fuss-free days. This time round, the Sephora sales assistants were much more friendlier (this was at a different store), and the young lady actually highly recommended getting the Naked2 basics rather than this one. She had emphasized quite a bit that the colour payoff and application of the Naked2 basics were much more better than the Natural Eyes palette and that the Natural Eyes palette had more glittery shades than matte so it wasn't that feasible for workday looks either. 

However, as I was admiring the Natural Eyes palette before the sales assistance came up to me, I had gotten a whiff of something...sweet. I was thinking to myself, "wow, that smells like some really nice hot chocolate. I wonder who is drinking that in the store? Maybe I should get a cup myself afterwards,". Then I realised it was coming from the display shelves just above the Natural Eyes palette. As my eyes (and nose) drifted towards the scent, I found myself looking at the Too Faced Chocolate Bar and Semi-Sweet Chocolate Bar palettes. The Chocolate Bar palette was a number one favourite of a youtube beauty blogger that I often watch - Soyoung (Soyoung's Beauty Room), and I was quite curious to know why. Hence, I spent some time swatching the colours on my arm and as each swipe I was thinking, "not bad...not bad at all". However, I held myself back from buying the palette despite being drawn very much to it. I told myself not to buy on impulse - so I had initially walked away, purchased my Urban Decay Primer Potion and Naked 3 palette and walked out of the store...to my yoga class in the next building. On the way to yoga, and after yoga class as I was walking back to the store (I was still undecided between the Natural Eyes and Naked2 Basics), I went on an intense google search about the Chocolate Bar palette vs Semi-Sweet. Eventually, I succumbed and picked up the Chocolate Bar palette (after having read raving reviews compared to Semi-Sweet, and also influenced by Soyoung) and the Naked2 Basics.  

The colours of the palette are also pretty workable. I have yet to search on youtube for tutorials, but I can't wait to try out the palette. Each time I open it up, I get a whiff of warm, good quality hot chocolate perfect for a winter night (unfortunately, Singapore doesn't have winter). But I still enjoy the smell very much. Some of the shades are little chalky and hard to pick up such as Strawberry Sorbet (that was disappointing as being one of the few bright pops of colours in the palette, I'd expect the shade to pack in intensity - but on hindsight, perhaps it was meant to be used as a highlighting colour? The colour payoff after all, appears to be a rather pastel pink). I will update this once I have tried it. 

Would I buy it again: Yes for Naked and Naked 3; Maybe for Too Faced Chocolate Bar Palettes, Probably Not for Naked2 Basics

Price: (From Sephora) Naked Basics 2 SGD$45, Naked & Naked 3 SGD$83, Chocolate Bar SGD$69 
*If you're a Sephora black member, take advantage of their members sale - you get 20% storewide! 

Verdict: 9/10

Thanks for reading this! And do share your thoughts about this product!

♥ Apple

[REVIEW] Innisfree Long Wear Cushion

Hello everyone! Sorry for the hiatus, I was busy with attachments after completing my thesis. A nursing student's work appears to be never-ending, and yet, finally it is! It's officially the summer holidays, and actually the last summer vacation before starting work in July/August! Hopefully it won't be the last last one, I still want to pursue Masters. :) 

Anyways, I'm here to do a review on a new product that was recently launched in Innisfree Singapore - Innisfree Long Wear Cushion. 

It comes in 3 different shades: 13 Light Beige, 21 Natural Beige, and 23 True Beige. I usually fall under Natural Beige for all my cushion products (i.e. Laneige BB Cushion) so I went for 21 Natural Beige for this product too. :) 

Product Benefits: 

• suitable for oily / combination (normal-oily) skin
• strong proof against sweat and sebum for long lasting effects - this means it would last even in hot and humid weather, yay! \^^/
• contains sebum control power to keep your skin bright without darkening
• creates a semi-matte and non-sticky finish 
• strong SPF - 50+/PA+++

# How to Use

Apply proper amount to the puff & then spread it thinly on your face all over in the foundation stage.

And pat it lightly. Spread it once again & pat it lightly whenever it is needed.

Instructions for use:
Use the puff included to pat the foundation over face. (I say pat rather than spread as this was recommended by Pony, a popular korean cosmetic celebrity, I usually associate her with Michelle Phan). The patting motion enables a more even, light and natural looking effect. I had initially tried to swipe, but it made the foundation look all cakey and accentuated my pores. So please, do not swipe at all, not even a little bit. 

SUMMARY OF REVIEW

My thoughts:
ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE.enough said.now go get it.

This product is amazing for hot & humid Singapore! The product delivers a matte finish as promised, but there was still some slight glow. I'm serious. not the glowy look which is often unsuitable in Singapore as it may be mistaken for sweat/oil/sebum from overactive sebaceous glands, but a soft soft glow that gives you an ACTUAL LEGIT DEWY GLOW. I'm not kidding, I had not expected this, but when I was looking in the mirror after an hour or so out in the hot humid heat, I was half expecting my face to look half-melted off but oo-la-la, it appears that the heat had actually made my makeup appear even nicer and natural, and that I've finally got a nice dewy look, in Singapore. \^^/ *throws confetti*

Before

After (1 layer)  

The bb cushion also lasted long, about 4 to 6 hours despite me running around back and forth various places outdoors, exposed to the humid climate. It only started to kinda disappear after the 5th or 6th hour of being outside, although some minor oxidation began around the nose and upper lip area after the 4th hour. I'm blown away. This is definitely a must have for me. definitely.

Would I buy it again:
Need I say more? Go get it, my goodness, one of the best products ever. 

Price: 

SGD$34 - it apparently also has refills for sale ($20) too! 

[For a period of time, the cushion + 1 refill is selling for a promotional price of $44!]

Verdict:
10/10

Thanks for reading this! And do share your thoughts about this product!

♥ Apple

[REVIEW] Bourjois Healthy Mix & Happy Light Foundations

Hello readers! I am back again with a review on two products from my UK hauls - Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation (red-capped), and Bourjois Happy Light Foundation (pink-capped). 

Bourjois is a sister brand of Chanel and was initially created by a French actor, Joseph-Albert Ponsin in 1863, when he prepared makeup and perfumes for actors and actresses in the comfort of his own home. Five years later, he handed over this activity to Alexandra-Napoleon Bourjois where the brand blossomed to become internationally known. In 1917, Pierre and Paul Wertheimer took over the directorship of the company, of which remains until this day.  Now, Bourjois actually appeared first before Chanel (that was created by Coco Chanel later in 1909). 

History lesson aside, Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation boasts of its long lasting power - 16 hours! In addition, the foundation is enriched with a fruit therapy formula to enhance your complexion and give it a radiant boost (apricot for radiance, melon for hydration and apple for youthfulness). The foundation also contains crystalline pigments to suffuse a healthy looking glow. It comes in 8 different shades.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 52 Vanilla

 The Happy Light Foundation promises a luminous and flawless complexion under any light. Translucent pigments in the foundation helps to correct without creating a mask-life or cakey effect to form a flawless complexion. It also boasts of lasting for up to 16 hours. It is available in 5 different shades. 

Bourjois Happy Light Foundation in 52 Light Beige

SUMMARY OF REVIEW

My thoughts:

Healthy Mix Foundation: The fruity fragrance made applying this foundation a pleasant experience. The foundation provided medium coverage - I believe this can be increased upon careful layering. I don't believe I have worn makeup for any longer than 12 hours, so I can't say if it would really last for 16 whole hours. However, I would say that the foundation did not start to fade until perhaps the 5th or 6th hour - even in humid weather. So if you work in air-conditioned areas, this foundation may very well last you the entire day! :) The shade I had selected seemed to match and blend well into my skin - in fact, it made my face appear brighter without having that face-neck-no-match dilemma. :) Definitely a recommended product!

Happy Light Foundation: I got this foundation in the same shade number (different name though) as the Healthy Mix Foundation. But...it ended up being a little too dark. However, it also matched my skin if I applied a light layer and blended it carefully. Coverage was light - I'm not sure if it's buildable as I had not wanted to risk having a too dark foundation in the end, but I believe it can still be layered on for those who got the right shade for themselves. :) The foundation did not have a fruity pleasant fragrance like the Healthy Mix, but it did feel lighter compared to it. Blotting may occur at about the 4th to 5th hour, and it doesn't appear to fade until perhaps 4 hours later too. I felt that the foundation wasn't as lasting as the Healthy Mix, but overall still a good product for light makeup days!

Bare arm

[Right] Happy Light in 52 Light Beige
[Left] Healthy Mix in 52 Vanilla

[Right] Happy Light in 52 Light Beige
[Left] Healthy Mix in 52 Vanilla

Would I buy it again:

I really liked the Healthy Mix foundation. It appeared to brighten my face without having two colours on between my face and neck. The smell of this was really pleasant too! I will definitely get another bottle - now about the hefty price tag...

The Happy Light foundation provided lighter coverage, perfect for days when I feel like applying lesser make-up. However, the wrong choice of shade was a bit of a turn-off. Although it isn't glaringly obvious and it also blended into my skin tone when spreading it after a time, I still can't help but feel a tad weirded out whenever I first apply the foundation. Otherwise, I do like this foundation and would get another of it (in a lighter shade this time - perhaps 51 vanilla?) if I ever come across a great a deal as the one I got in Boots. 

Price: 

2 for GBP14 in Boots - approximately SGD14 per bottle

SGD34.90 in John Little

Verdict: 8/10

Thanks for reading this! And do share your thoughts about this product!

♥ Apple

[REVIEW] Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Perfectly Nude Foundation

Hello readers! I apologize for the long hiatus. I had just arrived back in Singapore after being away on a 3-week-long post-graduation trip to United Kingdom.

And when in UK, I couldn't resist picking up some of their cosmetics to try. They costs soooo much cheaper than in Singapore. (see my review of Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Eyeshadow palettes here)

Although Elizabeth Arden isn't exactly a UK brand, one of their products that I was very intrigued by earlier back in Singapore - Flawless Finish Perfectly Nude Foundation - was retailing at a much lower cost. So I couldn't resist and approached the counter. The counter had a foundation matching service where the friendly male beauty advisor used a machine and took photos of my face (after removing my makeup from some areas) in three different areas - namely the jaw line, my neck, and slightly above my eyebrow. The machine would then analyse these photos and recommend two shades which would best match my skin tone from the Foundation line.

Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Perfectly Nude Foundation in No. 12 Amber

The beauty advisor then tested these two shades along my jaw line and I eventually selected the lighter shade (Amber) as it appeared to match my skin tone (both the neck and my face) a lot better.

On the right is the machine they used to analyze my skin. :) 

Product Benefits: 

The foundation is touted to be packed with hydro-pigment colour technology, vitamins and antioxidants to protect and perfect the skin. It has also been proven to minimize the appearance of pores immediately and overtime with continuous use.  In addition, it also boasts of having 26 different shades for all skin tones and ethnicities. 

Recommended Instructions for use:

1. Pump sufficient amount onto the back of your dominant hand (I usually take about 1 to 1.5 pumps)
2. Using a foundation stippling brush, dab your brush into the foundation and dab the foundation on three points of your face - imagine an inverted triangle on your face with the base of the triangle at your forehead.
3. From these three points, stipple (dabble) outwards from the centre of your face. This would ensure a more flawless look. :) and also prevents streaky lines of foundation from appearing like so if you spread the foundation instead.

SUMMARY OF REVIEW

My thoughts:

I loveeeeee how natural it looks! It's like I don't have any foundation on but my face is suddenly looking so much smoother - my pores had disappeared. HAHAHAS.

BEFORE

AFTER

There is not much need to touching up, the foundation is able to last for a good 6-7 hours (good conditions permitting), but with humid sweaty Singapore, if you suffer from facial sweating like I do, in-between blotting your face with tissue to get rid of the sweat beading everywhere, perhaps a good 4 hours? But that's not really the foundation's fault, I mean, I'm sure any make-up you put on will come off when mixed with a bit of your natural facial oils and sweat (a mixture of urea, water, and salts). If it doesn't come off, I'm pretty sure we would have a hard time trying to remove all traces of it with our make-up remover liquids/creams/wipes/etc. 

The liquid foundation feels so light and breathable too! I can hardly feel it on my skin. :) In addition it contains SPF 15! :)) This foundation provided light to medium coverage with a light dewy finish that doesn't look oily even in hot, humid Singapore. 

The smell of it is not amazing, but hey, they didn't exactly boast of having any fragrances to this product. In addition, it's just how a liquid foundation usually smells like?

And look at the packaging, it looks so...classy. hahahs...I like. 

Would I buy it again:

I had started using it while I was still in the UK and on the last shopping day, I went to get another bottle of it because I know that if I run out of my first bottle, I'd probably be so put off by the price in Singapore that I would wait and wait till the day I get to go back to the UK again before restocking on it.

In addition, I realised that Singapore appears to only have 8 of the available 26 shades, and they don't even have my shade - Amber. (My skin tone isn't an Asian colour...?)

So yes, for those really hoping to try, hopefully they have the occasional sale so that you can get one at a more reasonable price. For those going to Europe or the USA, please buy there, try it there, and if you like it, stock up there too. :)

Price: 

GBP28 in Boots UK - approximately SGD56
SGD70 in Robinsons Singapore

Verdict: 8/10 (the fragrance of the foundation can get a little annoying sometimes, and also...the reduced number of shades available in Singapore - how am I going to restock next time?? :( )

Thanks for reading this! And do share your thoughts about this product!

♥ Apple

[REVIEW] Sleek MakeUP i-divine i-Candy, Oh So Special & Ultra Matte V2 Darks

Hello readers! I apologize for the long hiatus again. I had just arrived back in Singapore after being away on a 3-week-long post-graduation trip to United Kingdom. 

It was my first time travelling in UK and I have to admit, Scotland had stolen my heart away.

And when in UK, I couldn't resist picking up some of their cosmetics to try. They costs soooo much cheaper than in Singapore. Here's a photo of the cosmetics I had bought there: 

[TOP, from left to right]: Sleek MakeUP i-Divine Eyeshadow Palettes in Ultra Mattes V2 Darks, Oh So Special!, and i-Candy
[MIDDLE, from left to right] Elizabeth Arden - Deluxe Compact, Flawless Finish Perfectly Nude Foundation SPF 15, Ceramide Ultra Lipstick, Beautiful Color Lipgloss, Visible Difference Skin Balancing Lotion Sunscreen SPF 15, Green Tea Energising Bath & Shower Gel
[BOTTOM, from left to right] Collection 2000 Lasting Perfection Ultimate Wear Concealer, Collection 2000 Mardi Gras Lip Balm, Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation, Bourjois Happy Light Foundation, Sleek MakeUP Face Form

I'll be posting reviews on most of these products progressively so do come back often!
(alternatively, you can register your email address at the right column to receive an email whenever there is a new post on this site.) 

Should you wish to have a review on any of these items soon, do drop me a comment on this blogpost! Then based on majority (if there is more than one item being requested), I would prioritise the requested ones first. :)

Okay, let's get started. I'll be doing a review on 3 eyeshadow palettes from a UK drugstore cosmetic brand - Sleek MakeUP. Now, don't be fooled by the "drugstore" label. This stuff is AMAZING. I'm glad that it's "drugstore" because it keeps prices more affordable, but at the same time, I can't help but boast of the quality of these eyeshadows. 

I had picked up two palettes from their local drugstore - Boots (a must-must visit) - Oh So Special and Ultra Mattes V2 Darks. The lady at the cashier had remarked that that the Oh So Special palette was very popular among customers and that she, herself, was also a huge fan of it. ^_^

Sleek Oh So Special!

Sleek Ultra Mattes V2 Darks

I went back with these purchases and the first thing that crossed my mind was - now what do I do with them??? I have never included eyeshadows as part of my make-up regime, other than the occasional swipe of Innisfree Eyeshadow Pencil. That's because I usually end up with "you-got-put-eyeshadow-meh??" kind of eyeshadow, or "you-kena-boxed-ah?" kind of eye make. 

Luckily, one of my travelling pals was pretty talented with make-up (she was also the one who introduced me to Sleek!). She showed me one of those youtube tutorials which she had picked up her skills from and also guided me along while I was trying it out. I loved how pigmented and how easy it was to apply the shadows. I experienced no fall-out so I didn't get darken shades in areas which I did not want around my eye. :D In fact, the colours applied pigmented but the overall look still remained subtle enough that I didn't feel like I was going around with "WERKIN-IT!!!" eyeshadow. In case you don't get it, no, I like subtle yet classic looks, not the "VIVA-LA-VIDA" kind of look. 

So I was pretty impressed at the ease and versatility of mixing the shades to create a look that I liked. :) Not to mention, there are a plethora of tutorials for each palette on youtube, so do check them out. 

SUMMARY OF REVIEW

I've separated the reviews into the three respective palettes below!

i-Candy: The creamy sorbet shades accompanied with sweet names like Bubble Gum, Mint Cream, Strawberry Sherbet and Apple Sour makes this palette an absolute delight! It contains an array of matte, shimmer and pearl shades. The pastel colours makes this an ideal palette for those looking for a bit of colour to their eyeshadows, without worrying about the colours being too bright. This can be used daily too to sweeten up your makeup. :)

[TOP, from left to right] Strawberry Sherbet, Bon Bon, Parma Violet, Apple Sour, Pear Drop, Flump
[BOTTOM, from left to right] Liquorice, Blue Fizzle, Aniseed, Bubble Gum, Mint Cream, Cream Soda

Oh So Special!: Definitely my favourite out of the three. This palette has 12 trendy shades that would flatter skin tones of all shades and suit all occasions, both day and night. Definitely a must-have for everyone from beginners to professionals. This versatile palette is something I would definitely recommend to anyone who may just want to get one Sleek palette.

[TOP, from left to right] Bow, Organza, Ribbon, Gift Basket, Glitz, Celebrate
[BOTTOM, from left to right] Pamper, Gateau, The Mail, Boxed, Wrapped Up, Noir

Ultra Matte V2 Darks: Matte eyeshadows are often notorious for being chalky and having a lack of pigment. However, Sleek's Ultra Mattes appeared creamy and was highly pigmented to boot. A little goes a long way when applying this eyeshadow. 

[TOP, from left to right] Orbit, Ink, Highness, Noir, Dune, Pillow Talk
[BOTTOM, from left to right] Thunder, Maple, Flesh, Paper Bag, Villain, Fern

Instructions for use:

Being a newbie at eyeshadow application myself, I don't think I'm in the best position to offer any type of advice at all with regards to how to apply eyeshadow. So I've selected and posted three videos below which I found gave great tutorials for the respective palettes! 

[Note: I'm Asian of Chinese ethnicity and I chose these videos because I felt that these eye-makeup tutorials can be followed with relative ease and also shows up pretty well despite not having the heavy creases like our counterparts with those deep-set-eyes.]

i-Candy:

Oh So Special!: 

Ultra Mattes V2 Darks :

Would I buy it again:
Yes! And I did! Shortly after coming back from the UK, I was viewing tutorials through YouTube and realised the two eyeshadow palettes I have were a little on the dark/neutral side. I wanted to experiment with more colourful (but not omg-bright) colours and after looking through several reviews online, decided to purchase the i-Candy palette. It was just in the nick of time that Luxola was having 37% discount all products time sale the next day. :D Please do check out this amazing website as with its regular discounts and sales, it is one of the best places (probably the only best place) I know where you can get your Sleek MakeUP products at affordable prices while still in Singapore. :) 

Price: 

GBP7.99 in Boots (Buy 1 Get 1 Half Price) so I paid GBP 11.98 in total (approximately SGD 24 for 2)

SGD22 at Luxola.com (Look out for their time sales! - I got one at 37% off - i.e. SGD 13.86)

Verdict: 10/10

Thanks for reading this! And do share your thoughts about this product!
♥ Apple