Makeup Splurge

I am never one to experiment with things. Adventurous? Definitely not me. I am so tame and cautious, I've been using the same type of compact powder (brand and even colour) since at least 10 years ago.

(Oh, I'm a cheapskate too. I use lipsticks that I redeem from the Back-to-MAC program - the one where you return six primary packaging in return for a free lipstick. But let's not dwell on that, shall we? *chuckles*)

Talking about lipsticks, my gang pagar introduced me to the world of matte lipsticks. I love how the plush pigment rich colours would envelope my lips in a velvet matte finish. And the best part... they are long wearing too! Sooooo unlike gloss or shiny lipsticks that would wear off even from just a sip of coffee. So I tried one out, and to cut a long story short - I've been using the same brand and colour since then.

Until recently, a friend enticed me with the world of Colour Pop. Yummy mattifying lippie colours and at a cheap price too! One lippie for USD6... ~RM25. *gasp* Super cheap!! Worth a special mention is the Ultra Matte Lip range - it applies like a gloss, but dries as an opaque matte lipstick. Rest assured that almost all of their lipsticks are vegan. Click on the FAQ at the Colourpop website - it lists colours that are not vegan-friendly. Worth also to note, that certain colours may look similar, but they are quite different once applied at your lips. And last but not least, know what colours will suit your skin tone. For me, I am no Kylie Jenner - I can't pull off the whole mauve look. It made me look like a walking corpse!

Just last month, Colourpop offered free international shipping (yes free!), for orders above USD50. I spent USD65 - and in return I received 13 items - 8 lipsticks, 2 eye shadows, 1 lip primer, 1 lip liner and 1 eye liner. Dirt cheappppppp... Those lippies will definitely last me the whole year!

Since this is not a makeup blog, I won't dwell on the formula, the shades bla bla bla, but instead I''ll let the photos of my recent splurge do the talking:

Free shipping!

Oh those luscious colours.... *drool*

Happy shopping, girls! ;)

The Inspiring Makeup Haul

Here's a continuation of my previous post on makeup.

Inspired by the recent makeup class that I attended, I hauled quite an impressive bulk of makeup in the the span of a few days. Most of them were as recommended by Syed, while the rest were products that the sales assistant managed to persuade me to buy.

Who knew that makeup was so expensive? I mean, a small jar of tinted moisturizer from Bobbi Brown costs RM220? *sweat* A brush (yes one brush) from Makeup Forever costs RM165? *double sweat*

Anyway, I posted a picture of my recent makeup haul in my jumbo acrylic makeup case on my FB recently, and I received a couple of messages from friends asking me to elaborate on what I purchased. I'm not going to do a review on them cos I have only had them for a couple of days, and also because I am no makeup guru. But at the very least you can use this as guidance for your next makeup purchase as these are all Syed's favourites, hence tried and tested by a professional makeup artiste.

So, here goes!

1. Acrylic makeup case. I have 3 sizes in total. I purchased the jumbo one a few years ago in Bonita. I don't think they sell these anymore. But this is an ultra huge size which I probably want to let go soon, because every time I bring this out, people think I work as a makeup artiste! So I recently bought the medium (RM115, 6x9.5x6 inch) and the baby (RM64, 17.5x11x12 cm) acrylic case (I couldn't decide on which one to get so I got both!) from Sephora. The medium is used at home while I prefer to tote the baby size for my makeup adventures in the car.

This is my makeup stash when in my medium acrylic case. Everything fits, even my facial range products and my makeup brushes!

Jumbo, medium and baby acrylic cases.

2. Bobbi Brown tinted moisturizer balm in light to medium tint, RM220. Apply this with a stippling brush from Real Techniques.

3. Urban Decay pore perfecting primer, RM135. Apply this with a small brush. I simply used my fingers! Apply this to your forehead, t-zone and cheeks to give a soft matte finish.

Sephora only has the Urban Decay primer in a big tube, so this will last you for a longgggg time.

4. MAC pro conceal and correct palette in medium, RM145. I apply this with a deluxe crease brush from Real Techniques. (You can also use the buffing brush from Real Techniques for this.) I use this to cover my eye bags and acne marks on my cheeks. Love the coverage so far! But be sure to blend well.

MAC concealer palette - comes in six different shades!

5. MAC foundation in NC30, RM156. Slight regret here, should have bought the Make Up For Ever HD Foundation (RM185) instead as I think MUFE's foundation is lighter and less greasy. Oh well, next time then! I apply this with a MUFE flat paint brush (small size RM165) *cries* For a lighter coverage, you can also opt for MAC face and body foundation.

6. Make Up For Ever loose powder #18, RM122. I dust this all over my face with a fluffy powder brush but I am eyeing a kabuki brush for this too!

Crazy expensive paint brush to be used with the MAC foundation, and then use the MUFE loose powder to set your makeup. Have you ever tried the kabuki brush? So luxurious!

7. NARS eyeshadow base in Copa Cabana, RM140. It makes your eyeshadow last longer and you can simply use your fingers to brush lightly on your eye lids. You can also use the same to highlight your cheekbones and nose bridge. When I was in Nars, I was soooo tempted to also take their sculpting kit in Laguna (RM220?) and blush in Orgasm (RM120) but managed to stop myself in time. The Orgasm blush is a shimmer blush with coral tones to it - lovely! And I am still a novice at contouring so don't think I want to venture into sculpting just yet!

8. Sephora eye crayon jumbo liner in gold (I took beige), RM42. Line the inner corner to outer corner of your lower lid with it to make your eyes look bigger and brighter.

9. Maybelline hyper sharp liner, on sale for RM17,80, and Maybeline rocket mascara also on sale for RM31.80 - both from Watsons. Hey, sometimes expensive doesn't mean better. Cheap can be good too!

10. Shu Uemura eyelash curler, RM65. I have had this for years (10 years maybe), so I decided to get a new one. Even Syed admitted that of all the eyelash curlers that he had used, Shu Uemura is still the best.

11. MAC brow set in toasted blonde (I took bold brunette), RM67. Use this to stroke your brows into place while naturally shading and defining your eyebrows.

In the background is the Nars eyeshadow base (big black tube). In the upper tray is the MAC brow set, Sephora jumbo crayon, the Shu Uemura eyelash curler and the Maybelline eyeliner and mascara.

12. Makeup brushes. I purchased the Real Techniques starter set (RM135) and now I am drooling over the core collection (RM145). But seriously, I regret getting the starter set in KL as it is much much cheaper if you buy it online (USD18). Real Techniques even provide worldwide shipping to Malaysia for just ~USD13 which is about RM45. My neighbour and I are planning to buy more brushes together so we can split the shipping cost.

This is where I store my brushes, especially if I am using the baby acrylic case.

Anway, here's a look on how I keep my makeup in the baby acrylic case for daily use in the car. So only the bare makeup necessities are included in the case. All facial products go into a pouch and the brushes are kept in a separate brush case too. 

The bare minimum.

Super cute!

Anyway, I hope I have inspired you to buy more makeup improve your skills in concealing, blending, contouring and sculpting. Boy, who knew makeup was tougher than baking a cake! *smile*

Syed Faizal Makeup Class

I recently went for a makeup class!

No, no this is not turning into a beauty blog. It is still pretty much a mummy-mummy blog. But mothers are also wives who need to look good for their better halves, if not nanti jadi macam kes Mak Mah. If you haven't read about it or the various spin-offs from her story, read it here. For my international readers (I know I have plenty cos I track where my readers come from - thanks for reading!) please note that the article is in Malay.

My makeup routine is typically whatever I can put on while waiting for the traffic light or when stuck in traffic. I go for routine facials (by routine I mean my beautician calls me numerous times to remind me to come in for my session *haha*) and my occasional trips to MAC for my monthly haul of Studio Fix, but really - that't about it. Compact powder, eyeshadow, mascara, blusher, lipstick, quick check in the rear view mirror - done!

Then my neighbour persuaded me to join a makeup class! She was raving on and on about how Syed Faizal (the makeup artiste) taught her how to apply the "natural look" makeup and how she learnt so much from the class... and of course, I bought into it.

But because I didn't want to attend the class alone, she agreed to volunteer to become the model for the class that day so that I could drag her along. The class was held at Paper and Toast restaurant in KL and scheduled to started at 10am, but we were the last to arrive - thanks to Waze. As soon as we stepped into the restaurant, Syed Faizal greeted us and then said that I looked familiar. Oh, what a small world! Apparently he is my step sister's best friend and he was also the makeup artiste for her wedding!

Anyway, the class was split into two parts, first two hours for tutorial where he taught us the basics of makeup, products to use and such, then lunch and then the next 3 hours were for practical where the students were required to put make up on themselves with his guidance. Each student was given their own mirror and a set of smoky eyes eyeshadow. For everything else you can choose to use his makeup and brushes, or bring your own (so you practice with what you use daily).

Syed Faizal in action. And the said neighbour, of course!

Love, love, love the smoky eyes.

End of tutorial session.

Paparazzi!

The tutorial class was great! We learnt everything from scratch. From tinted moisturizer to primer to concealer to foundation to contouring to loose powder to eyeshadow to eye liner to mascara to eyebrow to shading to lips and even false eyelashes! *that was a mouthful!*

He also shared his favourite products and the type of brushes suitable for each. He answered questions and even shared tips and tricks that he had picked up through the years. He gave away so much of valuable information that I went through two pages of scribbles (front and back, mind you!) just noting everything down. Two hours went by in a breeze and soon it was time for lunch. While everyone went for lunch, Aiza and I stayed back to pose for pictures.

Touching up before photos.

Natural look, right?

Syed Faizal even made up her hair and afterwards she posed for pictures for his Instagram.

Even in the most unforgiving lighting - sunlight, the makeup looks natural! Suitable for day use too.

Scrumptious roast chicken from Paper and Toast. Suitable for my diet too... erk except for the potato salad!

Afterwards, it was time for the practical session. Ooooo I was so nervous. All these while I was putting on makeup in the comfort of my own car, and now I have to put on makeup under the scrutiny of a renowned makeup artiste and 11 other critical ladies (participants)??? *shudders*

Good thing my neighbour was around because she then became my sounding board and my query partner. "Babe, nak letak nie Syed suruh guna brush ape tadi?", "Babe, cukup blend tak concealer I nie?" and so on and so forth. Worth to note was my very stiff hands. I couldn't seem to replicate the airy brush strokes that Syed taught us that day. Must be my engineer hands! 

But, I swear, in that 5 hours I learnt more than any YouTube video or MAC artiste could teach me. All the participants were really friendly and most importantly Syed was very approachable. Ask him anything and he would try his utmost best to give you an answer. Totally worth my money!

My made up face with the sifu himself. Unfortunately the lighting was not too good so you can't see my shading and blusher. *phewww*

Nevertheless, if I bump into Syed in any future family events, I hope he doesn't get too critical of my makeup. I can sooo imagine him saying "I dah ajar you semua harituh, so kenape makeup macamnie lagi??!!"

Partner in crime!

So do you think I can use this certificate to climb the corporate ladder? Well, at least I will look good doing it! *grin*

Arrived home and was super inspired by the class that I dug out my stash of (unused) makeup brushes. Wow, I was surprised by how many I owned. Funny thing is, I don't seem to have all the brushes I need as advised by Syed. Time to go shopping!!! *shopaholic*

Brushes galore. Some have been in their cases for too long that even their brands have been stripped off!

I hope I find the time to blog about my recent makeup haul. Enthused by Syed Faizal's makeup class - of course! So stay tuned! #sfmakeupclass