Things I’m Loving Right Now (Makeup, Tools, Skincare, Fragrance!)
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Let’s get right to it!
1. Coastal Scents Mica in Paradise Sunset
This deep burnished copper-fire pigment is freaky-beautiful. Just make sure you use a good base because it will flake and fade like any loose powder shadow.
Get it while they’re running clearance on coastalscents.com!
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2. MAC Shadow in Crystal
I’ve owned this shadow for over a year now and only recently started to use it more. I love that subtle duo-chrome glow as it shifts between a soft ash and a pale lavender. Unique without being too loud!
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3. Shu Uemura Brow Pencil in Hard Formula 9 Seal Brown
It took me awhile to get down to trying these, despite their cult status. Who wants to pay so much for a pencil that you need to bring back to the counter to sharpen unless they have a Shu Uemura counter downstairs?
But one I realised this gives the most NATURAL-looking brows, and just how long the pencil lasts (if you use it normally just to define and fill in your brows, that professionally-shaved sword-tip lasts for around 2 months; I kid you not).
What with work and blogging, I used to go through a full-length MAC pencil once every 3 months. This ended up saving me money in the longer run.
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4. BH Cosmetics Eye Blending Brush
This totally was not a brush I was expecting to like so much. I don’t use this to blend eye shadows. It’s big and thick and soft enough that it’s a FANTASTIC brush for applying setting powder over concealer, under your eyes and blemishes etc. Especially good if you don’t like over-applying powder, and want to be precise and subtle with it.
Plus, it’s $2.96. Link to brush here.
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5. Horse Oil
This might sound like the strangest beauty product to those who’ve never heard of it, but horse oil is popular in Japan as an anti-aging and healing skin aid because of its ability to protect skin barrier.
(No horses are harmed as far as I know. Like Lanolin from sheep, horse oil is literally horse sebum and extracted from their coats/skin.)
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6. Clarins White Plus HP Emulsion SPF20
I love how Clarins skincare and body care products always have the most divine, fresh aromas. This oil-free day lotion is no different.
It’s silky-smooth, lightweight emulsion absorbs quickly, and is fantastic for oily/combination to normal skins that don’t like heavy creams and lotions. I’m not 100% sure about availability in US/EU, as many “white” lines are exclusive to Asia.
If it’s there, it might also be listed under a different name because the West doesn’t share that same Eastern obsession with pale-ness (hence “white plus”).
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7. Guerlain L’Instant de Guerlain eau de parfum
Hopelessly addicted to this honey-based scent. It’s long-lasting, silky and comforting without smelling juvenile or sticky-sweet. Plus, I always buy mine from an offline discount store for a pretty good price. (Under US$50 for a 1.7oz bottle of EDP concentration, vs US$95-100 retail.)
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8. The Body Shop Home Fragrance Oils (Jasmin & Frangipanier, Bois de Santal
& Gingembre)
Jasmin & Frangipanier - I love Jasmine, I love Frangipani. Put essential oils of both sweet, ethereal flowers in concentrated amounts into one bottle and then put it on sale a few dollars? I’m sold.
Bois de Santal & Gingembre - this sweet, ambery, spicy scent reminds me of my S$160 bottle of Five O’Clock au Gingembre by Serge Lutens. Except it’s dirt cheap and concentrated enough to fill up my entire room. LOVE it.
I dilute a few drops of these with pure denatured alcohol, add in water, and then spray it on clothes, bedding, etc.
